With the children and teens we teach getting badly misled by images of beauty that are degraded, as well as superficial and unattainable, it’s more important than ever to talk about beauty, body image, and some of the many ways God speaks to us through beauty. Maureen Smith has been talking about some of these critical issues, here at AmazingCatechists.com.
Deeply linked with these topics is the cultural fear of aging and the ways our fears can chain us to the past and become obstacles in our relationship with God. These issues hit many catechists hard, since we are aging in a culture that denigrates us, even as we are laboring to bring the light of God’s love to the young. We need to know our own worth in the eyes of God so we can lift each other up and be radiant witnesses to faith!
I’ll be giving away five copies of my new book, True Radiance: Finding Grace in the Second Half of Life, on my birthday, November 11th!
To be entered to win, follow the instructions, below-any time between now and the drawing, on the 11th, and sign up for our newsletter, if you’re not already subscribed (see home page sidebar form and provide your name and email address–we will never share your information with anyone).
But first, here’s what people are saying about the book you are entering to win!
What People Are Saying About “True Radiance”
Lisa Mladinich helps mature women see themselves as God sees them: His beautiful and beloved daughters, increasing in authentic feminine beauty through all the stages and ages of their lives.” – Susan Tassone, Author of Day by Day for the Holy Souls in Purgatory: 365 Reflections
Age may be “just a number” but for women living in the Youth-Idolizing-and-Madison-Avenue-Compliant West, any age above about 45 becomes a “negative number.” With this splendid gift of a book, Lisa Mladinich invites us to find the “God codes” that sacramentalize our aging into a kind of “new math” — where all of our advancing numbers are positive and the very real minor (and often major) adjustments they require become a sum-total of real grace, and real sanity. True Radiance is a wise book, written by a woman whose wisdom shines bright. – Elizabeth Scalia, Author of Strange Gods: Unmasking the Idols of Everyday Life
“We think about beauty more than we realize,” says author Lisa Mladinich who underscores women’s “hard wire” to recognize beauty. Through True Radiance women are invited in out of the cold of our youth obsessed culture to “steal” back our true God-given feminine beauty and encouraged to walk in love, through grace. Expressive anecdotes, caring sentiments and the author’s insightful guidance are guaranteed to lift your spirits and even change your life! – Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, Award winning author of twenty books, including: The Kiss of Jesus
You don’t have to be sporting gray hair or walking with a cane to appreciate the beauty and poetry of Lisa Mladinich’s view of women and aging. In fact, each of us need this holy and hopeful perspective, and I plan to share this book with all of my women friends, whatever age they are. This book is a gem that I will enjoy more than once! – Sarah Reinhard, Author of Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary
Many of us approach our more “senior” years in life with dread and grief, as though aging robs us of our dignity and joy. With her new book True Radiance: Finding Grace in the Second Half of Life, author Lisa Mladinich reminds us why this time in our lives is filled with unique and precious abundance and overflowing with vast potential. Lisa equips us with the tools to shine in a world greatly in need of our gifts and the inspiration to see God’s blessings every step of the way. This book combines the wisdom of strong women with the profound truths of Church teachings to offer a primer for not just surviving–but also thriving–into our mature years and towards our ultimate destiny. – Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and author of The Grace of Yes
Lisa Mladinich digs deep into the meaning of true feminine beauty, especially its spiritual aspects, which only shine brighter with age. A luminously personal take on the theology of the aging body.” – Karee Santos, Author of The Four Keys to Everlasting Love: How Your Catholic Marriage Can Bring You Joy for a Lifetime
Women over 45! Do you want to enter “Act II” of your lives with faith, confidence, and joy? Then read True Radiance. Author Lisa Mladinich helps us confront the things that get us down: body image craziness, regrets over past sin, empty nests, and temptations to endlessly compare ourselves with others. Her recipe for joy is a pleasing combination of the wisdom of Catholicism, the example of the saints, and the testimony of everyday Catholic women who have “been there, done that.” – Daria Sockey, Author of Everyday Catholic’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours
Lisa Mladinich quickly establishes connection with the reader through the frank sharing of her personal experiences with aging. After only reading a few pages, it was clear Lisa understood women, their bodies, and the role of faith in the process. Her stories and insights communicated to this reader, that whatever Lisa had to share in the rest of True Radiance, it was trustworthy information. – Allison Gingras, host, A Seeking Heart on www.RealLifeRadio.com
GOOD LUCK!
This Lent I have found that my prayer has led me to strengthen my relationship with God the Father. The Liturgy and the various traditions of this Holy Season draw me into solitude and I have become mindful of my dependence on Him, who cares for His little daughter.
