St. Patrick's Feast day!

"St. Patrick's Breastplate" prayer

(A special treat below this prayer!)

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through the confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the Judgment Day.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of demons,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

(also sometimes called "The Deer's Cry" or "The Lorica")

And put to music here (thanks to Karen Edmisten).

Book Reviews - Coming up!

I am very excited to be reviewing these books by Teresa Tomeo, Molly Miller, and Monica Cops. They are a breath of fresh air for today's girls!



and...




Stay tuned!

updates at "Daily Donna-Marie" regarding Wednesday's rally at the Capital

Be sure to check out "Daily Donna-Marie" for updates about tomorrow's rally at the Capital in Hartford to oppose the proposed Bill 1098 which affects the Catholic Church and is a violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Action needed now for the Church

Please go over to my blog, "Daily Donna-Marie to read about what you can do to help Connecticut and the Catholic Church! Just click here,

Lenten Reflection: Searching

We are constantly searching for signs and wonders, never satisfied, always looking, seldom quiet or still enough to listen. Pope Benedict said, “As long as we live in the world, our relationship with God consists more in listening than in seeing; and even contemplation comes about, so to say, with eyes closed and thanks to the inner light lit within us by the Word of God.”

He said, “Human life is, in fact, a journey of faith and as such, progresses more in the shadows than in full light, and is not without moments of obscurity or even complete blackness.”

Each day we get up to face a new day. We may feel we have our lives figured out to a certain extent, but in actuality, we are always venturing into the unknown, walking in faith. Our Holy Father also told us that the Blessed Virgin “advanced in her own pilgrimage of faith day after day.” We should remember that although she was the mother of Jesus, she was human like us and needed to be steadfast in prayer to walk in faith.

Humbly listening to the voice of the Lord, Mary meditated on the Word of God through Scripture and through events in the life of her Son in which she knew and accepted as the voice of God.

By remaining close to our Lady, we can progress in our faith through the shadows of this Lent and the uncertain days ahead in our lives. We can seek the Blessed Mother’s help in our journey, asking her to teach us to be quiet so that we will be able to listen.

Our Lord is always present even when He seems obscure or absent. He is always waiting for us to communicate with Him and listen to His loving words to us. We have to learn how to be still to hear Him. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament help us to quiet our thoughts and move aside the clutter of our minds that gets in the way of a real communication with our Lord. Resting in our Lord’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament will refresh our souls. Seeking out more time for prayer in the stillness of our hearts wherever we are in our walks of life will help us come closer to our Lord and His holy will for us.

Our Holy Father specifically told the faithful during Lent to “listen to Him in His Word, conserved in Holy Scripture…listen to it in the events of our own lives, seeking to read therein the messages of Providence,” and finally, “to listen to it in our brothers and sisters, especially in the smallest and the poorest, towards whom Jesus Himself calls for a concrete display of our love.”

Jesus gives us this message through His Vicar on earth asking us to begin to truly listen for Him. We can take some time out each day to pick up the Bible, the Divine Office or the Readings of the day and after reading, pause to listen. We can be more attentive to the nitty-gritty of our lives and the events that fill our days. Nothing is a coincidence. Is our Lord speaking to us?

We need to look outside ourselves and find the “smallest” and the “poorest” in our families and in our neighbors and coworkers and respond with a “concrete display of our love.”

Pope Benedict told us that our Lord “always speaks to us, and expects us to pay the greatest attention, especially in this period of Lent.” Our Lord is speaking to us. Do we hear Him?


Go on over to These Forty Days and see my Lenten Reflection.

Feast of Saint Frances of Rome

Merciful Father,
in Frances of Rome
You have given us a unique example of love in marriage
as well as in religious life.
Keep us faithful in Your service,
and help us to see and follow You
in all the aspects of life.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns
with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
+Amen.
From the Collect of the Mass on the Feast of St. Frances of Rome

My new book: The Heart of Catholicism

Many of you know that I have been working away on writing my new book, "The Heart of Catholicism" for Alpha Penguin. I'm on the home stretch with it now. It is due to be released this fall and you can pre-order through my website: Donna Cooper O'Boyle.Com or through Amazon.Com right here.

Grace Cafe: Serving up Recipes for Faithful Mothering Review

A review from Elena Maria:

"I started reading Grace Café by Donna-Marie Cooper-O'Boyle in Cool Beans Coffee Shop in Bellefonte on one frozen February morning. My husband and I can often be found there on Sundays while CCD classes are in progress. Cool Beans has comfortable arm chairs and a gas fireplace; it is the perfect place to curl up with a cup of coffee and read a wonderful book. It was especially suited for reading Grace Café, which further develops many of the themes put forth in The Domestic Church, but in a more personal and conversational style.

Once again, Donna-Marie shows us the meaning in the meaningless. That is, we have been convinced by the world that everything we women do in order to run a home is meaningless, since we are not bringing in a pay check to do what we do. Here are some lines that I highlighted in my copy of the book:

We live in a society where, sadly, a woman's value is most times measured by the size of her paycheck or lack of one. If a mom decides to devote her time to her family's care without pursuing outside employment, she may be considered to be less significant or inferior....

I have experienced jabs of jealousy and criticism from others at times because I was committed to raising my children full time....Others would say, 'Oh, it's nice you have the luxury to stay at home.'

Yet I believe that it is not a luxury~ it is a choice and a decision to do without some material things and comforts to be there for our little ones; it also requires putting aside our own aspirations for achievement in a particular field or direction. We have brought children into the world or accepted children through adoption, we should care for them assiduously. (pp.24-25)
While Grace Café is an immensely charming book, it takes a searing look at the attacks upon the family and upon women which masquerade as liberation.

A woman is given a role to care for others, specifically because she is a woman, because she is feminine. Femininity is a beautiful thing! Radical feminism is ugly. Woman have to realize that from their femininity will blossom many graces and blessings for society and for their families. Attempting to change a woman into a man does nothing but confuse matters and destroys families in the process....(p.96)
Since not all women are called to be mothers in the physical sense, Grace Café explores the different ways of "mothering:"

Obviously, not all women are mothers; however, they can be mothers to others in their midst because women are given motherly hearts. I know many women who are not mothers but who are mothers to so many around them. (pp.96-97)

Rich in quotations from Scripture, saints, and pontiffs, Grace Café combines simplicity and profundity in an amazing manner. With Our Lady and St. Joseph as companions, we can find holiness in the fulfillment of the everyday duties of our states of life. Even when Donna-Marie is pointing out the flaws in our society, her tone is always one of hope and encouragement; it is a book which uplifts and energizes, not just in a sentimental way, but in a manner that inspires transformation in behavior as well as in attitude."

(Visit Elena Maria's blog here)

*******

Thank you very much, Elena Maria for such a lovely review!

God bless you and your family!

Donna-Marie

Grace Cafe Review

RECIPES FOR FAITHFUL MOTHERING

"I chose to read and review Grace Café: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering based on this description: “Ever wish you had a cookbook for life as a Catholic wife and mother…. a step-by-step guide for various “domestic church” situations.” While there are no recipes for tasty dinners, the author does give ‘recipes’ for ways to incorporate our Faith more fully into our daily personal and family life.
From the beginning, O’Boyle acknowledges that a mother’s life is busy but still our Lord is calling us to holiness. She reminds readers that our Lord “placed mothers in the heart of the home” and that we can be sanctified in the everyday tasks of wife and mother.

We are reminded to find time for prayer, teach our children to pray and to remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. O’Boyle shares a long list of practical suggestions to make Sunday a more special day in our family while acknowledging that the world doesn’t share the same outlook.

I love the way the author inserted quotes from Scripture, the Catechism, saints, encyclicals, and even a Catholic dictionary. Each chapter begins with a quote and ended with a ‘recipe card’. The only thing missing from this book are discussion questions. I will be recommending this book to our parish's Moms’ Ministry for consideration for reading and discussion next year."

You may visit the reviewer's blog here.

*******

Thank you very much, Renee, for a lovely review. You can check out my book, The Domestic Church: Room by Room: A Mother's Study Guide for study questions. :)

Along with all of my books, it's at my website: http://www.donnacooperoboyle.com

God bless you and your family!

Donna-Marie

The winners!

It's been extremely busy here. However, I wanted you to know that the the entries in my latest book give-away contest were phenomenal! I was supposed to pick one winner who would receive an autographed copy of one of my new books for mothers (winner's choice) and an autographed copy of my Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers for some Lenten reading.

There was no way that I could pick one winner. The entries were all so compelling. After I read the first one I already knew that each person would be a winner. :) I will be emailing you all who have entered to get your addresses so that I can send out your books!

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Oops, oops, oops!

So sorry about the lack of post regarding the contest. I have been inundated here. I shall post the details on Tuesday. :)

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Yes, yes, yes!

Yes! I will fill you in on the details of my latest book-give-away contest. I'm sorry that I haven't yet. It has been a very busy start of the Lenten season. I'm planning to write a post later on today or tonight with the contest winner details.

Stay tuned...

Enjoy your Sunday!

Donna-Marie

New Review of Grace Cafe

"It arrived at just the perfect time. On a bright Friday afternoon, coming home from the hospital with our newest baby, we stopped by the mailbox, and there it was, all wrapped in white: Grace Cafe by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, my newest review book from The Catholic Company. I was looking forward to it because I hadn't liked either of my other two review books and, well, I figured something had to give. I was delighted from the start. I loved this book for its conversational style, its short, easy to read chapters, its encouraging tone, and its very practical advice. In fact, I'll likely read it again before fall, just to make sure all that encouragement and good advice sinks in. :-) I loved it best of all for its clear portrayal faithful Catholic mothers as dignified, beautiful, and, yes, even heroic. Now when was the last time you thought of yourself as heroic?

Weaving into her own experiences advice from Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul II, Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle encourages us toward holiness with warmth and wisdom. She covers everything from finding time for prayer to self sacrifice to raising our children to be saints to keeping the Sabbath to living in the present moment. There is a lot to think on and glean here. Just to keep it real, though, I'll air my only complaint about this book. (Of course I have a complaint. I'm a picky reader.) There are way too many exclamation points. Those things should be used sparingly, in my opinion, and never twice in a row. Still, that's pretty minor, don't you think? You'll like this book. I think it would make lovely Lenten reading, if you haven't settled already on something else. As for me, I already have another of her books in my shopping cart. Even over-used exclamations can't keep me away."

Visit Jennie's blog here.

*******

Thank you very much, Jennie, for your lovely review. I'm glad that you enjoyed my book. Congratulations on your new baby!

God bless!

Donna-Marie

PS The exclamation points hopefully convey a much needed expression of joy in our lives. :)

Review for Grace Cafe

This review is from Barry Michaels:

"I came upon Grace Cafe before my wife did. It’s for mothers, but familiar with Donna Marie Cooper-O’Boyle’s work, I took a look and knew my wife would like it. I quickly found out I was right, because she made several comments to me as she read it about how good it was. When I picked up the book later, I noticed that she had highlighted several passages and even made notes to her self in the margins. Seems to have been worth her time! And it led me to spend even more time with the book, too. Much of her wisdom is just as relevant to being a good dad and husband as to being a good mom and wife.

Donna Marie eaily weaves practical, personal experience together with the wisdom of the saints and the teaching of the Church. I love that she can write about teaching a child to pray, doing laundry, and handling family dinners that are less than Norman Rockwell-perfect as comfortable and helpfully as she can draw out the teachings of Pope John Paul II and the Second Vatican Council.

This book is a sure recipe for a healthier, happier family life."

*******

Thank you very much, Barry for a very nice review. I'm glad that you and your wife enjoyed my book!

God bless!

Donna-Marie


Check out Barry's blog here.

Releasing souls from Purgatory

Check out this post at "These Forty Days" to see how you can aid the souls in Purgatory this Lent.

The winner is...

The winner is...

Well, I told you I would announce the winner today. Suffice it to say that EVERYONE who entered the book give-away contest WON! Each person will win at least one book. Congratulations!!!

I will give you more details about this tomorrow because it's been a very long day and I need to get to bed.

God bless your night!

Donna-Marie

Ash Wednesday thoughts

God bless your Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time to repent and repair. We should be prayerful, of course and mindful that we need to make up for our past sins. What more better time to do so than Lent? As Catholics, we are blessed with the Liturgical seasons and now here we are in Lent. A great time to ponder and pray.

We may wonder what to give up, how about "getting up" a little earlier for those of us who can to get to at least a couple of extra Masses during the week. If we can't get out due to small children health issues, or other obligations, we can use that extra time to pray. We can commit to a daily Rosary which will take fifteen or twenty minutes of our time but will be life-changing!

If you get a chance, please listen to the radio segment which is posted under this post some place to hear my conversation with Teresa Tomeo when we discussed some Lenten ideas. Then, afterwards, take a few minutes to think about which "thief" you will be, the one on the left or the right of Jesus? You'll need to listen to the segment to understand fully what I mean.

You can also go over to "These Forty Days" for Lenten inspiration. The information is in a post below. That's it for now. It's a busy day.

God bless you as you embark upon your Lenten journey! Let's pray that it's the best one yet!

God bless and hugs,

Donna-Marie

Taking time to speak with Our Lord

Some words to calm us and guide us during Lent..."It is good when a soul loves solitude; it's a sign that it takes delight in God and enjoys speaking with Him."~St. Jane Frances de Chantal

Announcing the winner...

I will announce the winner of the book give away contest tomorrow, Ash Wednesday.

God bless!

Donna-Marie

More on Lent

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Penitential Practices for Today’s Catholics:

“Fridays During Lent — In the United States, the tradition of abstaining from meat on each Friday during Lent is maintained.

“Fridays Throughout the Year — In memory of Christ’s suffering and death, the Church prescribes making each Friday throughout the year a penitential day. All of us are urged to prepare appropriately for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday.”

Ash Wednesday, Good Friday

Canon 1251: “Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless (nisi) they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Canon 1252: “All persons who have completed their 14th year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their 60th year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.”

Canon 1253: “It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.”

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Penitential Practices for Today’s Catholics:

“Traditionally, the canonical obligation of fasting has been understood in the Church as the taking of only one full meal a day.”

Radio segment about Beginning our Lenten Journeys

Here's the link to this morning's radio segment about starting our Lenten journeys with Teresa Tomeo and me. Just click here.

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Lent Stuff

Hi Everyone,

I'll be posting my segment soon (maybe later today) from my radio show with Teresa Tomeo this morning. We discussed things to do and maybe not to do during Lent. I'll be having regular posts over at "These Forty Days" Blog all throughout Lent. The link is in the post below this one. Check that out when you get a chance because there is a lot of great stuff there from others too.

I'll also offer suggestions here for your Lenten journey.

God bless you!

Donna-Marie

Check out my Lenten article...

Check out my Lenten article, "A Mother's Lenten Strtegies" over at These Forty Days

I'll be posting excerpts from my book, "The Domestic Church: Room by Room" throughout Lent over at "These Forty Days."

God bless you as you prepare for Lent.

Donna-Marie

"A Generous Serving of Love at Grace Cafe"

This review is from Dawn at A Helping Hand blog:

Donna Marie Cooper-O'Boyle has given us just that in her beautiful book Grace Cafe.

She fills you up with truths from Church documents, encyclicals and inspiring words from such saints as Therese of Lisieux and St. Joseph. She truly shines her light on Christian motherhood.

Donna Marie shows us mothers how to turn our everyday lives into one constant prayer and offering to the Lord. Beginning our day with prayer for our families. Asking Our Lord to bless our families and our husbands.

As wives and mothers we are placed by specially appointed keepers of our domestic churches. The opportunities to holiness are endless. Holiness is found in the teaching of prayers to your children, in fixing supper for your husband and even in the laundry piled high.

I highly recommend this book for those occasions when you feel overwhelmed by it all. This book ends with some beautiful prayers and poems that will renew and refresh you.

*******

Thank you very much, Dawn, for your lovely review!

God bless you!
hugs,

Donna-Marie

Tune in tomorrow for "Mom's Corner"

I may be on a little sooner than 9:15 AM Eastern time tomorrow morning on my "Mom's Corner" segment with Teresa Tomeo on Catholic Connection, Ave Maria Radio. Check below in the post with the photo of Teresa and me for details for tuning in.

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Review of the Domestic Church: First Chapter

This is a review from Sarah at "With a Hopeful Heart" blog

I've decided to post a book review of the above by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle in weekly segments as I read it. The book is done in a format that I think will work well for a weekly review.

In case you haven't heard of this book, hopefully my very amateur review will help you decide if it is one you'd like to add to your own library. It is available from Circle Press. This book can be used as a part of a study group or for individual use. Each chapter is broken up into 'rooms' for the reader to contemplate different topics and identify them as rooms in their domestic church. My hope is that each week I will read the chapter for that week and then be able to give you several points to ponder and excerpts as well in Monday's post. Hopefully. I think it will also serve as a wonderful way to walk the journey of lent as I focus on my domestic church in the process.

I am really enjoying this book so far and in the first chapter I have already repeatedly gone back to re-read what I've highlighted in order to refocus my meditations on the subject. As I said, this book is written in Study Guide type format for weekly meetings with other women and mothers. It comes complete with thought provoking discussion questions at the end of each chapter as well. It is much more than a study guide though, because it brings to light Catholic teaching through Scripture, papal encyclicals, apostolic letters, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the words of our great Saints. They are sprinkled throughout as a wonderful addition to the eloquent words of the author.

This Week's focus:

The Foyer: Our Blessed Mother Mary and Motherhood

How can I aspire to imitate such an amazing Mother as Blessed Mother Mary? That's a big question. Mary's "Yes" to the angel Gabriel was a courageous "Yes" to God. It was not a mediocre surrender to God's Will. It was a full, complete surrender to her becoming the Mother of Jesus. What is my answer when I am asked for that surrender in my vocation of wife and mother? I must admit, it is not always the full-hearted "Yes" that Mary gave. I should consider all of my responses to God as a mother, reflecting upon my willingness-or lack thereof-to accept everything that God has for me. This is not always easy as a mother, but I desire that complete "Yes" to my motherly vocation. Like Mary when she visited her dear cousin, Elizabeth, while with child herself, I desire to have Mary-like sensitive attentiveness to the care and needs of others. I love that phrase! Sensitive attentiveness. I will admit that sometimes I do not have sensitive attentiveness towards members of my family and that it does not always come easy. This will be a wonderful phrase to stick on my fridge for this week so that I may become more aware of improving it in my domestic church.

How can we as mothers and women follow Our Blessed Mother more faithfully and discover peace as we follow her "Yes" with sweet surrender? Here's a few things to ponder from the book that I picked out for this week:


A mother can learn from Mary by asking for God's grace to entrust herself completely to him with the "full submission of intellect and will".



For mothers, it means service first in her family and then reaching out to the world. At times, good intentions and a mother's loving heart may cause her to stretch herself too much to administer to the needs of others outside her home. It's wonderful and holy to want to help, yet mothers must remember that their love begins first and foremost at home. Being sure that her family is properly cared for before she embarks in other areas of ministry will ensure that she is not inadvertently neglecting her family in the process of helping others.



Silence can ironically be found in the busyness of a mother's day as a mother learns to retreat to her heart even as she is involved in the care of her family. Within the "silence" of a mother's heart, Our Lord can speak.



It is when she realizes that Our Lord actually wants to use her attentiveness to her family's needs that she will understand the value and prayerfulness in performing little things with great love. The mother becomes an everyday example to her family as she raises her children in holiness and goes about with a prayerful heart, striving to emulate the Blessed Mother's virtues.



Isn't that just beautifully said? I think these are all such important things to remember as mothers. I am striving to keep in mind that my small acts throughout the day and my little prayers and offerings in my mind and heart bring holiness and blessing to my home. How important are the needs of my family and the manner in which I attend to them! They are my simple offering that I give daily, along with my morning offering of all my works,joys and sufferings that I pray before the day begins pulling me in all directions. This week I have a lot to focus on and meditate upon as I enter the season of lent. I will need to write some of the quotes down in order to call them to mind frequently this week. I just wonder if I'll have enough room on my bathroom mirror and my fridge to hold them all??

Blessings this week as you focus on your domestic church's foyer!

Next Week: The Garage!!

*******

Thank you very much, Sarah, for your beautiful review! Your blog is so lovely, by the way. Enjoy your journey in The Domestic Church: Room by Room!

Time is running out for the book give-away!

You don't have much time to send in your entry for my contest which is here! Check it out

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Tune in on Tuesday to "Mom's Corner!"

Tune in to "Mom's Corner" on Catholic Connection at Ave Maria Radio on Tuesday, Feb. 24th at 9:15 to 9:30 AM. Teresa Tomeo and I will be chatting about ways to get your Lent kick-started. I hope that you can join us. Feel free to call in with a question or comment.

Tune in at 9:15 AM Eastern Standard Time by clicking here at avemariaradio.net and then click "listen live."

Talk to you then!

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Busy, busy, busy!

Taking a moment here to say that I have been totally inundated as of late with writing my new book, "The Heart of Catholicism" for Penguin publishers. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to blog and hope you will understand that I have to make my deadline which is fast approaching!

In the mean time, I thought I'd run a little contest. :) You only have a short amount of time to enter. The acceptance for submissions will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 24th at 5:00 PM so that I may pick the winner before Ash Wednesday which is the following day. The winner will receive an autographed copy of one of my newest books: The Domestic Church: Room by Room: A Study Guide for Mothers" or Grace Cafe: Serving up Recipes for Faithful Mothering AND a copy of my book, Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers! You get to choose which of the new titles you would like and I will throw in my Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers so that you will have something that will hopefully give you cause to pause and ponder about your marvelous vocation of Motherhood during Lent. :)


You can send your entries to me at: DMCOBoyle(at)aol)com. Please put "book give-away contest" in the subject line. Oh yeah! You need to know what to do...In a paragraph or less, tell me in the email why you want one of these books for Lent. The winner's reason will be published on my blog. I will pick the one that I feel inspired to pick based on your reasons.


I should also mention that it's okay if you're not a mother yet or if you are not even married yet. :) You can still enter. Hopefully these books will help pave the way! :) And you may enter for someone else that you feel is deserving of these books. Just tell me the reason why.

Okay now, what are you waiting for? You don't have much time until next Tuesday the 24th when the contest closes!

God bless and hugs!

Donna-Marie

New Review for "The Domestic Church: Room by Room"

"One of the hardest tasks in the world is to stay home alone all day with small children, doing all the minuscule yet vital tasks which keep a family physically and spiritually healthy, but which the world no longer values. Work is measured in terms of how much money it makes. It is forgotten that children have only one childhood and the love they don't get from their parents they will never get at any other time. What greater success in life is there than the raising of happy, faith-filled children? To do that properly requires one's entire being.

There is a wisdom about life and people which can only be learned by being a mother. The Domestic Church: Room by Room by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle is redolent with such wisdom. We have forgotten the secret to sanctity that past generations possessed. Holiness is to be found in the present moment, in the humblest tasks which, when performed with love, are of greater merit in the eyes of God than works that are magnificent but loveless. Donna-Marie discusses the nature of a mother's sacrificial love, as follows:

The list of sacrifices and sufferings is endless, as is a mother's love. If we really love our children properly, there must be sacrifice; otherwise, there is no real love. A mother's connectedness to her child, which continues even after the umbilical cord has been severed, allows her to truly experience a sacrificial love- a love that puts her own interests and needs on hold, a love that continues to give even when it hurts. (pp. 156-157)

Donna-Marie explores many issues which at times beset mothers of families, saying:

Mothers, as we know, have a difficult job in the home coupled with the fact with the fact that society oftentimes demeans the role of a mother by 'measuring' her worth by the size of her paycheck. There are areas that a mother may try to 'escape' to in order to feel more accomplished while inadvertently neglecting her family....

Diapers, demands, laundry, and dishes are not the only activities filling a mother's time. However, a mother may begin to feel frustrated and dwell on what she feels is her lack of accomplishments. She may also fail to see Our Lord's hand in her housekeeping because of the mixed messages from our society aimed at mothers and also because she may be exhausted and in need of encouragement. Mothers should strive to help one another with Christian camaraderie and encouragement for the journey. (pp. 113-114)

The book integrates the basics of Christian spirituality with the practical side of running a home. Although the means of giving apostolic witness may seem limited for housewives, we are reminded about the power of the little things which are at our disposal. To quote:

While remembering that our example speaks louder than our words, we can feel confident that even out at the grocery store, the post office, the bank, and other places where we do our errands, God is sure to put people in our path. A simple smile, a door held open, a listening ear to someone we meet who has an immediate need, giving a hand to a mother with many children in tow- all kinds of situations arise in which we can lend a hand....Through little acts of kindness, miracles do happen. A simple smile and a kind word may have been just the little act of love that a lonely person absolutely needed so as not to fall into despair that particular day.... (p.213)

Donna-Marie is an excellent teacher; after reading The Domestic Church it came as no surprise to discover that the author is a lay Missionary of Charity, following the path of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. I am especially impressed by the order and clarity with which this book is written, complete with study guide that would make it perfect for a parish discussion group or a wonderful companion on a retreat. Quotes from Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI about the condition of marriage and family life in the modern world make the book particularly relevant to the present time. I am looking forward to next reading Donna-Marie's newest book, Grace Café."

************************

Thank you very much for your beautiful review, Mary-Eileen!

(To visit Mary-Eileen's blog, click here)

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes!

My review of FIREPROOF, the movie at the National Catholic Register

Capt. Caleb Holt (Kirk Cameron) and his wife Catherine (Erin Bethea) are engulfed in more than a mere “seven-year itch” in their marriage in the movie Fireproof.

The couple’s frigid demeanors are keenly felt through the screen as the first scene opened. Coming in from work, the couple passes by one another in the kitchen, avoiding eye contact, and speaking only when necessary.

Without a doubt, the flame of their devoted love had extinguished with no sign of stray embers to be stoked. As the movie dramatically and realistically unfolds, the couple is forced to decide if what they once had is at all worth saving.

On Jan. 27, Fireproof the DVD hit stores and will be available in English and Spanish, complete with bonus features that include ministry tools. Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, chairman of the Committee on Marriage and Family for the U.S. bishops’ conference, said, “Fireproof is an excellent film that makes marriage commitment real and attainable with Christ’s grace.”

I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with the producer of Fireproof, Stephen Kendrick, about the making of the movie, behind the scenes scoop, and how he has experienced God’s hand in all of it. The storyline for the movie Fireproof came as an inspiration to Stephen’s brother, Alex Kendrick. The brothers who both hold ministry roles in the Baptist church are co-producers and writers with Sherwood Pictures.


(Continued by clicking here)

Review of The Domestic Church: Room by Room

"It’s truly a privilege to write a review on The Domestic Church - Room by Room by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, for The Catholic Company.

The title of the book intrigued me. As the mother of a large homeschooling family, it’s not too difficult for me to see our home as the Domestic Church…our faith is rooted in everything we do and our home reflects our rich, Catholic heritage.

I was immediately taken by the warm, friendly and inviting tone set by the author as she seeks to lead us “room by room” on a spiritual journey of self-discovery…one that ultimately leads us to a deeper appreciation of our role as “the heart of the home. I’m quite sure the sweet metaphor of each “room” will charm you, so I’ll not give much away…

The Domestic Church - Room by Room is well written, with thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter. This book is well suited to large group study, and yet, was a delight for this busy mom to curl up with, all alone at the end of the day. As a wife and mother with more than a quarter century of experience, I can honestly say I found great encouragement in the words of Donna-Marie, the beautiful scriptural passages, quotes from papal encyclicals and from Bl. Theresa of Calcutta.

If you find yourself in need of a “mini-retreat,” this is the book you’re looking for. Set aside a bit of time each day and allow Donna-Marie to lead you gently through your Domestic Church…you’ll enjoy the journey!"

******************

Thank you very much, Kimberly for your lovely review. I'm glad that you enjoyed my book and I appreciate that you have passed the word to other busy Moms. :)
God bless your journey!

Donna-Marie

Visit Kimberly's blog here

Mother's Study Group!

Here's a Mom's Study Group "LIFT-ID" (Ladies In Faith Together), in Idaho studying my book, The Domestic Church: Room by Room: A Mother's Study Guide.


They said, "We all absolutely love the quotes, lines for answering the questions, clear type, wide margins for jotting thoughts, and the way it all speaks to a mother's heart. Thank you and God bless."

Review of Grace Cafe: Serving up Recipes for Faithful Mothering

Book Review: Grace Cafe by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle

I’m so blessed to be a part of The Catholic Company’s blogger review program. I get little pieces like this book, the title in it’s entirety is Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering.

It is written very much like a letter that your good friend across country would write you. It was a very easy read (3 days with two preschoolers underfoot and a household to run, AND a 13 hour birth I doula-ed for). Each chapter has a Theme Ms. Cooper O’Boyle addresses. All of which are very applicable to every mother out there.

I took from this book many examples from my personal favorite holy person, Pope JPII the Great, as well as Blessed Mother Teresa and various other saints in our history… our current Pope, Benedict XVI is quoted with his feelings on motherhood, and parenting in general.

You might be surprised if you’re expecting an A, B, C “guide” per se to being a faithful mother. This is more a work of encouragement- that being a mother IS a true, valuable vocation- even if society devalues a woman that has the “luxury” of staying home. Truth be told, I work a business from home because we cannot afford, on two incomes, daycare for our children. So we budget and do without a lot of things my husband and I took for granted when we were a family of three. I came from reading this book refreshed that I am valued for what I’m doing, regardless of what our bank balance is.

This book also gave me a bit of encouragement that I can be a loving mother and a spiritual woman at the same time. God wants us to lift up the elevated blood pressure and dirty dishes. A “God please help me on this” is just as valuable in His eyes than the Litany of the Saints…at the same time, He wants the “Thank you Father” when your 3 year old FINALLY has an accident-free (toilet) day…

Another point that struck me is the emphasis on making Sunday a day for God and your family. While my husband works evenings on Sundays, we make sure to have breakfast and family time after mass, before he has to go to work. I’m sure it’ll pay off with interest when our children are grown and on their own, as well as when I’m watching my life with God in Heaven.

I really recommend this book if you’re feeling a little jaded or overwhelmed being a mom (and that goes for working moms too!).

Visit the reviewers blog here: Superdoulamom

Helping the Welborn-Dubruiels

Go on over to Lisa Hendey's blog at Catholic Mom.Com to see how you can help. Lisa suggested that we bring Michael Dubruiel's (the beloved husband and father who died suddenly yesterday at the gym) ranking at Amazon sky high! He was a fine Catholic author and was married to Amy Welborn.

Thanks for your help and prayers especially,

Donna-Marie

Please pray for Amy Welborn's family and her husband's soul

Please dear friends, pray for Amy Welborn and her family. Her husband, Michael Dubruiel died suddenly today. Here's a link. They are very well known and beloved in the Catholic world. The family is devastated over this sudden death.

Thank you for your prayers.

God bless,

Donna-Marie

Presentation of the Lord

"The portrayal of the Presentation of the Lord in this magnificent stained glass gives us an opportunity to reflect on the great gift the Holy Family of Mary and Joseph is offering to the world. Their gift of Jesus, the Lord remarkably is one that heralds not only the Jewish requirement of presentation for young males into the faith of Judaism, it is also a seminal moment for all peoples that have in the past or will in the future faithfully believe in the Father’s promise of salvation and redemption for all peoples.
This poignant scene reminds all of us that the unfolding of Jesus’ life brings many significant events that affect the life of the Holy Family. Jesus still a baby is presented to Simeon and Anna by Mary and Joseph who will frantically search for the child Jesus, presumed lost but actually discussing scriptural passages with the elders. Later, after the crucifixion the proverbial, Temple of the Lord’s Body Mary once again presents Her Son to the world through the Cross..." (Continued here)

Happy week end!

Happy week end All!

I'm sorry I haven't been able to post much here lately. I am very busy writing my new book, The Heart of Catholicism which takes up just about every waking moment. I will be giving some retreat days coming up which are on my schedule at my website here. I have to add some in when I get a minute. We are all snowed and iced in here in Connecticut where I live.

I hope and pray that the families and people without power due to the icy weather are doing okay. I pray that warmth and electricity will be coming to them very soon.

Have a happy and BLESSED week end!

hugs,

Donna-Marie

Now, that's a powerful kiss!

London, Jan 28, 2009 / 02:31 am (CNA).- A woman who doctors believed could remain comatose indefinitely recently revived after her husband asked her for a kiss.

Just ten days after giving birth to her son, Telford, Shropshire resident Emma Ray suffered a heart attack and collapsed while shopping with her husband, Andrew. Andrew performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her, after which she was taken to a hospital where doctors were able to restart her heart.

“She could wake up the following day, she could wake up in a month, or you may be left with a sleeping beauty,” Andrew Ray said a doctor told him, according to the Daily Mail.

Andrew went to great lengths to try and rouse his 34 year-old wife from her comatose state, playing recordings of their baby son Alexander and of their daughter Ella and songs from their wedding reception.

“I would speak softly to her, clasp her hand, pinch her fingers, all the time telling her I loved her or begging her to wake up. By the time I asked her to kiss me I was approaching my wits' end,” he told the Daily Mail.

He bent over his wife’s hospital bed and said “Emma, if you can hear me, please just give me a kiss.”

“'What happened next was beyond my wildest dreams,” he told the Daily Mail. “She turned her head towards mine, puckered up her lips and gave me a little kiss.”

“I couldn't believe it. My heart felt like it was going to leap from my chest –it suddenly felt like a huge weight had been lifted.”

Doctors who witnessed the kiss were astonished by her response.

Emma ray continued to drift in an out of consciousness. Her brain had been oxygen-starved after her heart attack, resulting in short-term memory loss.

She was eventually allowed home but requires ongoing rehabilitation for the brain damage.

“The recovery is awful because I have so little memory,” Emma told the Daily Mail.

Her husband said he was grateful his wife had survived.

“She can walk quite well holding hands now, and at least our kids still have a mother and I still have a wife,” he said, according to the Daily Mail.

(See article here)

Peanut butter recall

Oh boy! You had better check this list from the US Food and Drug Administration about the recent peanut butter recall. It's extensive!

God bless!

Donna-Marie

The Domestic Church: Room by Room - A Review

Review by Katie:

When I ordered The Domestic Church: Room By Room, A Study Guide for Mothers by noted Catholic author Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, I was expecting something of a hands on guide to whipping my physical "domestic church" into shape. What I got was something much more meaningful!

Much more than simply a Bible study, Cooper O'Boyle weaves together Scripture, the Catechism, papal encyclicals, as well as quotes from the apostolic letters and various saints, inviting mothers ponder and live out their vocation with the fullness of our Catholic faith.

Starting with the foyer and ending at the patio, each chapter's theme is a different room (for example, Chapter Two: The Garage focuses on the husband wife relationship, while Chapter Three: The Nusery looks at children and openness to life). The chapters are broken into two parts, each ending with questions and space to write out thoughts, as well as a summary. This layout works fantastically for busy mothers, allowing you to stop easily without becoming lost. Instructions for group usage are included at the beginning, but the book also works perfectly for independent study.

Cooper O'Boyle treats the vocation of motherhood realistically and respectfully, and with a warm and gentle tone that compliments and rounds out the myriad references through out the book. Mothers of all stripes, of many or few children, adoptive mothers, some-day mothers, and those whose children have all grown and gone; all will find The Domestic Church an affirming and inviting exploration of the beauty of our faith and the joy of our vocation.


This review was written as a part of the Catholic Book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company.

*********

Thank you very much, Katie for your kind words! Thanks also to the Catholic Company!

The March for Life and the slaughtered precious unborn

On this anniversary of Roe VS Wade, let us pray for everyone in Washington DC and all over the world who are standing up for LIFE! Let us pause to pray for our innocent brothers and sisters who have been murdered in their own mother's wombs; sadly by their own mothers. Our Lord said, "Even if a mother could forget her child, I will not forget you. I have carved you in the palm of My hand." We have to beseech Our Lord on our knees! We need to make reparation for all of the sins of abortion and beg His mercy on all of us. What better day than today?

Below is a blog post from Fr. James who is based in Texas:

"There have been more babies killed by abortion since Roe v Wade than people killed in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and both Iraq wars combined. An average of 150 convicted murderers, proven guilty, are killed by the death penalty in Texas every year. 90,000 innocent babies are killed in Texas every year by abortion.

Since 1973 there have been over 49 million abortions in the U.S. alone. Consider the estimated populations of some of our major U.S. cities: New York – 8,143,197; Los Angeles – 3,844,829; Chicago – 2,842,518; and Houston – 2,016,582.

If we can kill an innocent child in the womb of a mother and that no longer shocks us as a nation, then we can justify anything such as unending wars, abuses in capital punishment, violence, and social injustices.

Abortion undermines civil order because it affirms that everyone is not equal under the law.

Let us remember the haunting words of Mother Theresa: "Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion”.

When legalized abortion has ended, we can move on to other pressing concerns."
Visit Fr. James's blog here.

Send in your group photos!

Hi Ladies!

Send in your photos of your Mom's groups who are studying my books. I have featured two groups so far on this blog and they are featured on my website www.donnacooperoboyle.com. I will also put the names of the groups into a drawing at some point in the near future for a contest to win a cool prize for your group! So, what are you waiting for? Bring you camera to your next meeting and smile! I'll look forward to your photos. You can send them to me a DMCOBoyle@aol.com.

God bless you all on your journeys!

Donna-Marie

PS These are the books that the women choose to study:






I have a study guide book that can accompany The Heart of Motherhood.

This is one they generally use for prayers for their meetings:



as well as this one:



They are all available (and autographed and inscribed) at www.donnacooperoboyle.com. I offer discounts for groups!

Grace Cafe Retreat

I never had the chance to finish telling you about the retreat in Illinois recently. I started in a post below. I've been extremely busy writing my new book every waking moment! For now, I'll at least post some photos and I'll try to finish the story later on. :) Here's the beginning to the story here which is also below.





Taking a moment to pause with a new friend at "Grace Cafe!"




I was so excited when I found out that this was my view outside my bedroom door! I got to be so near Jesus for two nights!




One of the highlights for my daughter, Mary-Catherine was to hold this precious baby!


The women were all wonderful, as were the hosts who took very good care of my daughter and me. It was a pleasure to meet them all!

God bless!

Donna-Marie

PS Thank you so much everyone for all of your prayers for us for a safe flight home in the wintry weather. :)

My "Mom's Corner" radio show this morning

If you missed my segment this morning with Teresa Tomeo on our "Mom's Corner" segment, you can click here to listen at any time.

Teresa and I chatted about the new book I am writing as well as taking the time to pause and recharge your "batteries" by going on retreat and with prayer.

Pull up a chair and grab a cup of your favorite beverage. I hope you enjoy the 15 minute segment.

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Grace Cafe Review

Grace Cafe by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle - A Review

by Father Walter Schu, LC

Grace Café is an aptly titled book. How does one discover grace - that sublime reality so distant from most people's vocabulary today and, sadly, so often absent from their lives?

Within these pages, seasoned author Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle makes that elusive encounter with grace seem as casual and natural as a mid-morning rendezvous with an old friend to share a cup of coffee at the local corner café.

Grace Café is addressed specifically to moms, "serving up recipes for faithful mothering," as the sub-title indicates. Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, "Beauty will save the world." If that is true, then this simple book could bring many moms one step closer to salvation. Even and especially in the midst of the daily trials of raising a family, such as being confronted with a steadily growing mountain of unfolded clothes, the beauty of motherhood alights from the page to capture hearts.

In response to the culture's utilitarian exalting of careerism for women, O'Boyle ponders the value of being a mother, the transcendent mission it entails: "Women have been put through the mill, so to speak. However, as Christian mothers, we can consider the fact that nothing can be more meaningful than to be part of the creation of a human being, to be able to nurture it within our bodies, and then raise our child within a loving home - preparing him or her for eternal life. In my opinion, nothing compares - nothing!"

The simple prose reveals a warm mother's heart, as O'Boyle conveys hints on how to carve out time for prayer and savor the grace of the present moment in a family where the young ones always seem to grow up just a bit too quickly. Interspersed with personal anecdotes are succinct quotes from the wisdom of the saints - especially Pope John Paul II and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, with whom the author was a personal friend for ten years.

All mothers know that their vocation entails its share of difficult moments, and O'Boyle tackles this aspect of motherhood head on in the chapter "Discovering Grace within Suffering." She reflects, "This whole concept of giving and hurting may seem absurd, especially in today's culture. Why should we feel uncomfortable - God forbid - or selfless, when we can avoid it? It's because the love in our motherly heart calls us to it; it beckons us to give of ourselves unreservedly. Real love demands blood, sweat, and tears." She sums things up with these encouraging words from St. Ignatius of Loyola: "If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that he has great designs for you, and that he certainly intends to make you a saint."

The book concludes with poems and prayers that any mother will surely identify with. Particularly touching is one entitled "Seen by God Alone."

Her hands are red, wrinkled, and chapped from the bitter wind
As she pins the clothespins, one after another,
To the line of clothes, already stiffening in the freezing temperature.
The bitter wind mercilessly lifts at the hem of her coat,
Attempting to blow through her clothes and whip at her back.

She briskly continues her loving tasks,
Unnoticed by the speeding motorists passing by.
Only Our Lord sees her putting out her family's laundry to dry,
Stretching out her arms,
Hanging out one wet article of clothing after another,
As only a mother's love can.
Our Lord will never fail to notice all mothers'
Seemingly hidden loving acts of service to their families
All around the world.

__________________________________________________

Father Walter Schu, LC, is the author of Splendor of Love, also available through Circle Press. He grew up on a small farm in Minnesota, the second of seven children. He studied for the priesthood in Rome and has an STL in moral theology summa cum laude, specializing in marriage and family. He was ordained a priest in 1994 and currently teaches at the Legion of Christ Seminary in Cheshire, Connecticut.

A Mom's Group in Texas studying "The Heart of Motherhood!"

Pictured below is the "Archangel Mothers Ministry" at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Colleyville, Texas.





God bless you all on this journey! I pray that you will be deeply inspired and blessed with grace as you share your faith and Catholic Camaraderie!

God bless and hugs,

Donna-Marie

"Mom's Corner" on Monday..Be there!

Stay tuned. Teresa Tomeo and I will be chatting on Monday, January 19th at 9:15 AM Eastern time on Ave Maria Radio to kick off a pro-life week. I hope that you can join us.

Tune in at 9:15 AM Eastern Standard Time by clicking here at avemariaradio.net and then click "listen live." Talk to you soon. :)

God bless your day!

Donna-Marie

My Grace Cafe week end...

A few highlights from my week end...I flew to Illinois to give a retreat to a group of over 100 lovely women. The theme of the retreat was Grace Cafe!

The travel was interesting! I traveled with my darling daughter, Mary-Catherine. On Friday morning we checked out the flights to see if there would be any delays. Even though it had been snowing in Chicago, the flights were running on schedule according to the Internet. We arrived at the airport and checked our baggage in and got our tickets. The woman then told us that there would be a three hour delay due to the snow and ice in Chicago! Darn! If only we had known, we wouldn't have hurried to the airport. Oh well, my daughter and I would spend the next four hours - yes, four, since we arrived an hour early, at that little airport. Oh, I forgot to mention that the woman also told us that there may be additional delays and that we should listen for announcements. I wondered if I would make it to the retreat on time.

So, after saying "good bye" to my husband and older daughter, Jess who was on her way to the train to go into NYC, we made our way upstairs to find a little coffee shop. We ordered a couple of sandwiches and as I took the first bite, we heard a garbled announcement that sounded as if our flight was going to board in ten minutes. I walked over to the next table to ask two gentlemen sitting there if they had heard the announcement. They confirmed that it was indeed our flight. They would be scrambling too. A few quick bites of my egg salad sandwich and we had to rush to the boarding gate. As we grabbed our gear and headed out of the coffee shop, another garbled announcement told us that we should board in four minutes!

We arrived to a person-less gate. What now? I asked someone passing by what we were supposed to do and were instructed to go outside. I asked why we were boarding so quickly after we were told about the three hour delay. The woman said, "If we don't get you there now, we're not going at all because there's another snow storm coming to Chicago later on."

I dragged my carry-on suitcase stuffed full with Grace Cafe books through a snowy runway with Mary-Catherine at my side. What? Where was our plane? The wind was blowing, my arms were full, and it was freezing cold out. I tried to grab the hood of my coat from behind me with one hand and throw it over my head to cut the wind. We walked and walked and approached a plane that someone had pointed to. We had to climb up the stairs with me dragging up the carry-on. Stepping into the plane, I banged my head and couldn't believe that the plane was so small. We found our seats and I took out my cell phone before we were told to turn them off, to call the woman at the retreat house. I asked that she please go back into the chapel and say a few prayers for us because of the rinky dink plane we had just boarded and the whole cartoon feel to the situation. Would this plane make it through the snowy weather?

Actually, although I welcomed as many prayers as we could get, I felt that God certainly had His hand in this because the three hour delay changed so dramatically and we were allowed to board much sooner than we had anticipated. I was glad about that since I knew there was another snowstorm coming later that evening. I wanted to get there in between storms so we would be safe. I don't really like traveling in the winter.

To be continued (Sorry, but I'm tired)...

Stay tuned for news about my trip to Illinois!

Stay tuned! I'll be posting about my retreat week end in Illinois which centered around my book Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering.

Radio show with Dina Marie at KBVM

Hello Everyone,

Here's a link to a radio segment of show on which I was a guest. This is from a while ago, but I am just getting a chance to post it now. In this segment, we talk about all of my books, some background on my home-life and stories about me, as well as lots of good Catholic stuff! Get yourself a cup of coffee or tea and pull up a chair and stay a while. I hope you enjoy our chat.

Here's the link to click on to listen.

God bless!

Donna-Marie

So much to say and so little time!

I'll try to catch up with everyone tomorrow. I have been wanting to share thoughts of late, but so many things have prevented it. The holidays were very busy, family-filled, and wonderful! We also had to contend with a lot of sickness.

I'm busy getting ready to fly to Illinois and give retreat based on my book, Grace Cafe! It will be fun, and by God's grace, inspiring.

"Talk" to you tomorrow!

Sweet dreams!

Donna-Marie

Reviews of my new books!

Karen Edmisten has posted reviews of my new books at her blog. I have printed them below...ENJOY!

Grace Cafe: Serving up Recipes for Faithful Mothering

Donna Marie Cooper O'Boyle is a prolific writer. Her latest books -- yes, plural! Two of them! -- are as lovely and inspirational as her other work, most of which is built on the conviction that mothers are living out an indispensable vocation.


Grace Cafe offers "recipes" that will nourish any mother, perhaps especially anyone struggling with her vocation as a stay-at-home mom. I readily identified with this passage:

"Others would say, 'Oh, it's nice that you have the luxury to stay home.'

Yet I believe that it is not a luxury. It is a choice and a decision to do without some material things and comforts ...."
This has certainly been true in our case. At times, it doesn't feel like a luxury at all to be at home, but rather like the sacrifice that it is. Don't get me wrong -- I love being an at-home mom, and it is a privilege. But a privilege is not the same as a luxury. Serving God is always a privilege, even when it's hard. Financially, emotionally, and in other ways, being a stay-at-home mom can be hard. But mothering has eternal value, and Donna-Marie knows this truth.

The truth is reinforced with quotes from Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, and various saints. And, don't all moms need such authoritative and powerful reinforcement? Particularly the kind that helps us to find holiness within our homes, rather than encouraging us to seek it elsewhere. Grace Cafe includes one of my favorite quotes on holiness for moms:

"It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find him in her housekeeping."

The Domestic Church: Room by Room: A Mother's Study Guide

The Domestic Church: Room by Room covers much of the same territory, but Donna-Marie never seems to exhaust it. Though an individual would benefit from reading, this book is arranged as a study guide for a group, with discussion questions at the end of each section. (And, pssst ... don't worry, busy moms -- the answers are there, too! So don't worry about passing class.)


The Domestic Church, like all of Donna-Marie's books, backs up its exhortation with solid sources such as quotes from Scripture, encyclicals and saints.

I love Donna-Marie's realism, too. In this book, she includes a beautiful quote from Blessed Teresa of Calcutta:

"A living love hurts. Jesus, to prove His love for us, died on the Cross. The mother, to give birth to her child, has to suffer. If you really love one another properly, there must be sacrifice."
And she honestly addresses "temptations to abandon the heart of the home," noting that mothers can get discouraged, or feel unrecognized and unappreciated. She writes: "A mother who is fighting this interior battle may feel, or even state that she is 'just' a mother. I have heard this so often, and I will tell the mom that she is 'not just a mother!'"

This is the heart of Donna's message, and this is her mission: to help other moms realize that their work is a vital, vibrant, holy vocation.

I highly recommend Donna-Marie's books to newly married women and new mothers, and to moms of any age who seek encouragement and affirmation in their vocation.

And so, dear moms, if you have any doubts about the worth of your daily struggles, sacrifices and joys, dig into these books. When you've finished, you'll close them with a contented sigh, knowing that someone out there understands your worth and knows what you're going through ... that you are storing up treasures in heaven.

*******

Thanks so much, Karen! You can visit Karen's blog here.

Pope Benedict calls children a "treasure and blessing to the world"

Vatican City, Jan 6, 2009 / 11:03 am (CNA).- During the Angelus on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the children of the world, especially those who live in countries suffering from conflict or who are abused in different ways.

The Pontiff recalled that in many countries Epiphany is “the feast of the children,” and therefore he addressed “a special thought to all children, who are a treasure and blessing for the world, and especially to those who are denied a peaceful childhood.”

“I desire, in particular, to call attention to the dozens of children and young people of the western province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who in these last months, including the Christmas season, have been kidnapped by armed gangs who have attacked towns and have caused numerous victims and wounded,” he added.

The Holy Father called on the "authors of such inhumane brutality" to return the children to their families and to allow them a "future of security and development, which is their right and that of all of those beloved people.” (Continued here)

Check out Karen's post about the twelth night!

Go on over to Karen's to check out her post about the twelve days of Christmas and the Epiphany here

I'll be posting more soon.

Enjoy!

Donna-Marie

I love this prayer!

My friend, Mary Catherine sent me this beautiful prayer and said it reminded her of my story that I told last Christmas and a new version this Christmas on my Mom's Corner segment with Teresa Tomeo called, "Jesus at the Post Office (scroll down to find the radio segment below)." I hope you like this prayer.

"Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in
traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that
day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the dishes & laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the
biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity.

Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Working for God on earth doesn't pay much......but His retirement plan is
out of this world."

Happy New Year and Happy Feast Day!

Happy New Year! happy feast of Mary, Mother of God!

I hope that you will all have a very Blessed and grace-filled year of 2009! I'll catch up with you all soon. I have been sick as well as my family. I've also been trying to be in the moment here with all of the wonderful family times, despite the illnesses.

Warmly,

Donna-Marie