tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34480804927573057492024-03-05T18:56:04.862+00:00The Pearl of Great PriceChiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-44343756616408910022020-04-04T21:04:00.000+01:002020-04-05T00:04:59.983+01:00The Domestic Church - Making the Stations of the Cross for our Domestic Liturgy <div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last night we tried something new. Something we had never needed to do before or ever planned to do. We took</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> it for granted that our Churches would </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">always </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">be open! Although we have always immensely </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">valued the Domestic Church, we had never imagined </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that it was going to be (at least for a time) the exclusive centre of our Faith.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here we are with a community of people, small and big, depending on us parents, to guide them through this desert, holding on to us, holding on to the Faith passed onto to us from our parents, knowing that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“</span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> – </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?t=niv&q=mt+18:20" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #3366b4; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">Matthew 18:20</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As it was Friday in Lent we would have attended the "Stations of the Cross' devotion in the Parish...Instead we put up our handmade stations around the house, beginning in the kitchen and ending in the little girls’ bedroom, and set off on a journey around our domestic Jerusalem. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The younger children learnt the responses and Pierpaolo, - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxfiqcXlu7M" target="_blank">the Bishop of the Domestic Church</a>- led the liturgy and sang the verses from the Stabat Mater. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lucia held a candle in front of each station as we moved through the house. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a beautiful moment of prayer and one we’ll do again on Good Friday.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u><b>How we made the Stations of the Cross:</b></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I wanted something easy for the children to put together, something they needed little help to do but where the final result would be nice and tidy! So as we had been learning about Stained Glass window techniques I thought that kind of pattern could work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I ordered some <a href="https://pdqpatterns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=1140&zenid=74b53a4c0c7b8f15145ad79fb9865b5b&fbclid=IwAR00PXjDhpsd97Lh5IhrkrlCu4aPqeoL1xz4AwTiO-zuQvniFvZme3Jbabc" target="_blank">downloadable patterns </a> and we started this project hoping for a good result as well as finally learning the order of the Stations.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We tested a great number of types of paint but decided that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">children's liquid </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Acrylics worked best. We also painted on side B</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">It took the girls a very long time to paint them all, and everyone - or most of us - had to, at some point, help with the painting as we had to finish them in time for our family liturgy (so make sure to give yourself 3 days to complete this project or a whole afternoon with no interruptions).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">Once the the paint was dry, we turned the pictures over to the side you are meant to see (Side A) and </span>I applied a very thin layer of gold leaf glue to the halos and swords and after a few seconds applied gold leaf to each picture (Gold paint would also work). I did the same with swords using Silver leaf instead. This really lifted the pictures and brought the colours to life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We cut the pictures following the circle of the pattern and glued them onto some brown card, I had laying around, where we had pre cut a smaller circle than the picture to allow light to come through the tracing paper from the back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elena, wrote the number of each station directly below the picture on the brown card with a Gold Sharpie. We then applied gold leaf on the Roman Numerals as well as the borders, once again, applying a very thin layer of glue, waiting for a few seconds and applying the leaf with the intent to have an 'antique look' of Gold coming off and missing in some parts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Family Liturgy was very moving and because it wasn't static and was done by candlelight the younger ones found it fascinating. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">We started from the kitchen, at the heart of our domestic life, and went around the downstairs rooms then up the stairs to calvary. We strategically finished the procession in the yourger children's bedroom, naturally accompanying them to bed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The girls were put in bed, the candle was blown out and we experienced a sort of bitter sweet joy, longing for something we never knew would be hidden from us for a time.</span></span></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-38042800400970292302020-03-02T00:23:00.000+00:002020-03-02T09:30:37.897+00:00Coronavirus, Lourdes and St Damien of Molokai<br />
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Last night as part of our Lenten routine with the children we decided to watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZEKSHBJtdc" target="_blank">'Molokai: The Story of Fr Damien'</a> , the story of an ordinary priest who truly gave everything and more for the love of Christ and the pastoral care of the flock that he had been entrusted.<br />
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Damien knew that by boarding the ship to that little island full of Lepers he was probably signing his own death sentence but nevertheless the call to serve those who most needed the love and comfort of Christ was stronger.<br />
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As he arrived in Molokai two actions mark his mission... As he enters the Church he kneels down by the crucifix and offers himself completely to God with no reservation and second looking at a young leper in the eyes, seeing his suffering he shakes his hand almost as a sign of agreeing to bear their cross with them.<br />
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In the pit of death, in the darkest hour, when everything was lost and despair was waiting to conquer, Fr Damien comes to bring a ray of light. He comes to restore the dignity that belongs to every human being which no human authority was willing to grant to these people doomed to die.<br />
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Christ, through Damien, comes with power in Molokai, people are converted, are fed with both spiritual and natural food, they start praying, singing, farming, children start playing again... joy is restored, suffering embraced and a community of people walking towards heaven established little by little.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ffPvkXMciygM8535HWovo52yo_9P58huZ870YZw0Maf81YCC9E24C6VdlNH44b42jxVHuCqagRWnABjpXDH8DSfSAsbgqAmVFhbWsS74ZlICR0WIqTgDgoIQ6Lxk2VCYfaO4XIFDQN2U/s1600/IMG_0277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ffPvkXMciygM8535HWovo52yo_9P58huZ870YZw0Maf81YCC9E24C6VdlNH44b42jxVHuCqagRWnABjpXDH8DSfSAsbgqAmVFhbWsS74ZlICR0WIqTgDgoIQ6Lxk2VCYfaO4XIFDQN2U/s320/IMG_0277.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
We went to bed truly thanking God for the great example of the Saints and asked Saint Damien to pray for us...<br />
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We awoke to see the headline that the baths in Lourdes had been closed for the foreseeable future to avoid the spreading of the Coronavirus. This came as a total shock to us and as we got ready to attend Sunday Mass we could hardly articulate what we were feeling...<br />
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Firstly how ridiculous it all was... Was this really happening? On what grounds? ... on the grounds that some 'might be ill'? Wasn't it Our Lady herself who told Bernadette to "Go to the Spring, drink of it and wash yourself"? For over a century people with all sorts of illnesses have gone with the hope of being healed, whether spiritually or physically to these waters.<br />
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I have been to Lourdes so many times over my 40 years and my first memory of it was when I was 3 or 4 years old... I remember seeing so many pilgrims - disabled, disfigured, blind, with skin diseases - all queuing up to be bathed in those waters where Our Lady had invited the faithful to wash. No one was ever refused, no sinner, no cripple, no matter how unwell they were! No one was ever denied entry and no one ever got ill from bathing in the same waters as a 'leper.'<br />
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So what has changed? We have changed, the Church has perhaps changed! As <a href="https://rosaryshrine.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fr Lawrence Lew</a> pointed out this morning in a Facebook thread we started "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">our official reactions to the threat of this pandemic reflects our loss of faith, and an absence of both the sense of the supernatural and of the value of redemptive suffering.</span>"</span><br />
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Has Europe completely lost her faith? Why does the Church feel the need to constantly lower herself to the people and play by the law of the world rather than raise her people up closer and closer to God through Christ our Redeemer?<br />
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Yes we have become lukewarm Christians and a people who doesn't believe that Christ is alive and that having Heaven as our ONLY goal is where our happiness and fulfillment abides. We invest in education, career, possessions, fame, success... We can't put up with the slightest discomfort and everything is done for ourselves. We have become selfish. We have replaced Christ with our SELF. We are afraid to die and we are trying to do anything possible to live longer... we perhaps live with the illusion that we WILL live forever.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpXq62cHWjhA1GZe1u9mGsgAjPiBVVu-DvGINsp7bPM1_OccD10YKq3t313qURW5lqYn2kwsNs0cn4Kn9Pv6LY7tHZ66FNXgzDiwKRCC9MHNuxiXw8W_kgZQqozCY4WSy3j0slf_oU-oq/s1600/aa5f0803-d2ce-473f-a309-d24b57960f9f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpXq62cHWjhA1GZe1u9mGsgAjPiBVVu-DvGINsp7bPM1_OccD10YKq3t313qURW5lqYn2kwsNs0cn4Kn9Pv6LY7tHZ66FNXgzDiwKRCC9MHNuxiXw8W_kgZQqozCY4WSy3j0slf_oU-oq/s320/aa5f0803-d2ce-473f-a309-d24b57960f9f.jpg" width="320" /></a>Europe has lost that sense of the Supernatural ... Where have most of the miracles of newly Canonised Saints taken place? Certainly not in Europe... St Gianna Molla, Brazil, St John Henry Newman, America, and the same goes for the soon to be Blessed Fulton Sheen... Not a single one happened here!! Why? Because we do not believe... and it seems as if Jesus is almost saying 'I am done here' ... 'you refuse to believe...I can't force you to'.<br />
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But this is not who Jesus is... He does not give up on us.<br />
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Damien of Molokai was a man who placed the Sacraments and the other above everything else, above the fear of contagion. He is a Saint of the same Church standing here today. Why do we forget these examples?<br />
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The Coronavirus 'incident' in Lourdes comes as a wake up call that the world does not need the Church to be yet another institution that will do what it is expected of her according to common sense... but rather a Mother who comes with authority and with fearless strength calls her children to real heroism, to go out there, to not be afraid... to reach out to those who need to encounter Christ. To live for Christ knowing that we are in this world but are not of this world!<br />
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The world needs Saints and this calling is for us, today, now and if the Church as an institution has lost faith in herself, the example of the many Saints who have gone before us stands firm and is more than ever asking of us to follow in their footsteps reminding us that:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">"whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it". Matthew 16:25</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span>Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-31726306151518767502019-10-31T18:24:00.001+00:002019-10-31T19:19:28.580+00:00Motherhood. Our Path to Holiness <br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the end of October approaches the arguments over Halloween start up again year after year without fail…but as the sun dawns on the next day, Catholic Mothers all over the world unanimously agree on celebrating together with the community of Saints their feast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sleepless nights, sick children, younger and older children, stressful days, long days with husbands away for work, or with constant long working hours... stay at home mothers, working mothers, single mothers. Mothers of many or mothers of none… </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Motherhood is the greatest challenge of our time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a world that encourages instant gratification and everything for the pleasure of the self… motherhood comes almost as a form of masochism… why would anybody give up their life and comfort for another person who is going to require one’s full commitment … body and soul for 20 years minimum? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All Saints’ day comes as a reminder that we were not made for ourselves but for God’s Glory. The life of the many Saints who have gone before us witness that ‘there is no greater love than to give your life for your friend” it might suggest that in a way mothers have been given a preferential path, not an easier one, but certainly a clearer one towards heaven… a path that, daily, asks everything of themselves, unceasingly. And without rest.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">St Therese of Lisieux once said that ‘God is amongst the pots and pans’... but most days that is very hard to believe. Will the neverending folding of the washing and the continuous mess truly bring a mother closer to God? In the suffering of labour, she clearly finds herself close to Christ …physical pain seemed almost easier to bear than the real struggles of a hard unchanging routine of a house that’s too small to contain the life of a family. There is no glamour in the hidden life of a mother and this path to holiness seems to lack heroism.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is too easy to fall into the trap of feelings of worthlessness and desire of a ‘ higher’ life, of holiness and contemplation. It is almost inevitable for </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mothers to feel isolated and disheartened … alone in their vocation. In this world that often rejects life, the bearers of it are the ones who feel the struggle most keenly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Following the life of the Saints one can’t fail to notice the wonderful connection between them all and how holiness is so attractive to the point of becoming contagious. One only needs to look back at St Francis and how his outpouring love for Christ touched the lives of so many around him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was to support mothers, strengthen them in the Faith and journey together towards holiness that, Catholic Mothers, a little online community based in London was founded in 2014. Within a few years the facebook community has blossomed into an incredibly active international group. With members from every nation, the group never sleeps, the wall is filled day and night with prayer requests, requests for practical advice and support as well as encouraging scripture passages and of course some good old Catholic humour.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/catholic.mothers" target="_blank">Catholic Mothers</a> Facebook group has also become a place where more serious questions are addressed, a place where serious moral or marital issues are raised and where members and moderators ensure that proper answers are delivered.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mothers are helped in suffering, encouraged in virtue, sin is called by name and members see miracles happen before their eyes knowing that there is no irregular or complicated situation that cannot be solved because the Church is a wise and older mother who has the answers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-for-catholic-mothers-conference-2020?fbclid=IwAR3m_OYeUmb6EKAJSZrHxyZB56bIAb4jVKYDdOAQQmn8sjak1CbFUv8u08Q" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seeing and sharing as much or as little as members want to, helps mothers to see that they are not alone in their struggles and that the path of holiness on which God has placed them, though unique, shares some common grounds. Ours is a calling to give ourselves completely, without holding anything back like Our Lady did … So it happens when a Saintly mother pops up in the group, makes a comment, shares a picture and in her written words the light of Christ is reflected, the entire community rejoices and the desire of holiness is lit in those who touch that life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To reach out to more and more mothers and transmit the need to truly finding Christ in our vocation Catholic Mothers has lately joined the vibrant prayer community </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://hozana.org/en/community/8513-catholic-mothers-apostolate&source=gmail&ust=1572632443967000&usg=AFQjCNHDi_jEMqWaPf0qvLXfBlbl35NHpg" href="https://hozana.org/en/community/8513-catholic-mothers-apostolate" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hozana</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, with the same aim to bring people closer to Heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 0.916667rem; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the upcoming feast of all Saints, the Catholic online community joins forces to remind mankind that God wants to make us holy where we are and that together with the Saints who have gone before us, if we truly believe and abandoned ourselves to the will of God, we too one day will share in (no longer virtually but in the most real way possible) the heavenly banquet.</span><br />
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Book a place for our Iconography Course<a href="https://www.tickettailor.com/events/catholicmothers/310379/" target="_blank"> here </a></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-29307081550549821522018-10-18T16:29:00.000+01:002018-10-18T16:33:21.277+01:00Stay Connected - Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGTdh8yTHTTeGKc3-u5lzoFrWJViFacv76mIuxxvgDKeyQ9pCh87GkitSGIJOEkzMbSQKE0V_DvijybBoJ5_E_ac6Y_CQjjIH3g_yhsZs7i4vtBoJ3uDtSDqCKzTIoWsd7TodaO43wCHl/s1600/41NfY9Z1HeL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGTdh8yTHTTeGKc3-u5lzoFrWJViFacv76mIuxxvgDKeyQ9pCh87GkitSGIJOEkzMbSQKE0V_DvijybBoJ5_E_ac6Y_CQjjIH3g_yhsZs7i4vtBoJ3uDtSDqCKzTIoWsd7TodaO43wCHl/s400/41NfY9Z1HeL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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The daily struggles of life are many and we all bear crosses that sometimes seem to crush us and don't always seem to give us any glimpse of the Resurrection, yet one can't have a taste of that same Resurrection unless we go through the cross.</div>
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I grew up knowing that in order to develop a deeper relationship with Christ, in order to get to know the Father and to discover who I was, I had to grow closer and closer to the Scriptures. The Bible was not a collection of books retelling stories and events of the past but that among those pages not only would I find my own past but my present and my future as well. That Word was alive and active and brought life and straightforward answers (most of the time).</div>
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The other day for instance it was one of the many days of discomfort and difficulty I have been experiencing during this pregnancy... I was upset and I was complaining to God, telling him how I wished that I had that ideal mother living next door who would alleviate all my sorrows and would take over for just one day so that I could rest, and moaning that I wanted the ideal father would just turn up and provide for what I needed without me asking because he just knew what I was going through ... </div>
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As I started my Lectio Divina with my mothers group, God was quick to console me and in various passages of the Bible He presented me with Mary as my mother and He clearly showed himself as THE Father I needed! NO! I refused to listened ... I KNEW THAT...but I WANTED PRACTICAL HELP... nevertheless I carried on... The more I went from one parallel passage to another, the more He clarified who He was and what I really needed.... I found peace, even if for just that day, went home refreshed, the daily battle began and I was reminded of the importance of being closer to the Scripture when the times are bad as well as when they are good, because the Word is vital to my life as a Christian.</div>
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I know I was very lucky to be brought up to lean on the Sacraments as well as the Word and for this I thank my parents, the catechists who formed me and Christ himself, yet sometimes the busyness of life blinds you so much that you start to think that you have no time to spend some quiet moments with the Word of God.</div>
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This is where 'Stay Connected' comes in. A book that doesn't ask too much of you but that will give you a taste of the treasures that Scripture contain.</div>
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The 'Stay Connected' journal for Catholic women by<a href="https://reconciledtoyou.com/" target="_blank"> Allison Gingras</a> is a perfect friend to help you discover the joy we Catholic can find through the Word of God.</div>
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Allison shares her own Faith journey as she guides the reader towards a closer contact with Christ and with the inner self constantly struggling and yet wanting desperately to connect with God.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4k1M_8ieExOu8J36maH5MTQbua_cPKrneV7fftZST7uOMxTtrckhoicNmQcFCv55iQdD5aE222SFJcBL_Vo00o4ppuC2ZH7v1BYKUEEWrxAa5kOHt8toi61m7ezp59s9uu9S6yHtNLfb/s1600/STAY-CONNECTED-INTERIOR-PAGES.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1140" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4k1M_8ieExOu8J36maH5MTQbua_cPKrneV7fftZST7uOMxTtrckhoicNmQcFCv55iQdD5aE222SFJcBL_Vo00o4ppuC2ZH7v1BYKUEEWrxAa5kOHt8toi61m7ezp59s9uu9S6yHtNLfb/s400/STAY-CONNECTED-INTERIOR-PAGES.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Each chapter starts with an 'opening prayer', offers plenty of points to reflect on, helps you to relate and reflect on around half a dozen scripture passages and by asking some practical questions offers the opportunity to develop that sought after deeper relationship with the only One who can give us life. The chapters end with discussion or sharing points and a closing prayer that summarises the themes, the feeling and the experience of that particular chapter. </div>
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If you are not familiar with Lectio Divina this journal is a great starting point and a good tool to lead you through uncharted waters. If, however, you are used to doing regular Lectio Divina this book could work perfectly for a study group as it presents a very clear structure to follow as well as practical questions that will lead the group to interesting and thought provoking discussion points.</div>
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As St Jerome said: 'Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ' ...so if up until now you thought getting to know the Bible was something that only belonged to other Christian denominations perhaps it's time you get with the programme and start discovering and enjoying that life-giving gift we Catholics have been given <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">;-).</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHodtNEfcZsPgCBCOYkb171BLhsy4d22UQzNafSN46qxsxWzoVMKtPiPULBl9dEkcrI41AOBusZDAY3lAcXzK10-zSa-TQFd-L1L9SETABbtuHonh6vSCK8WX7k-2u57VIna5nd1XbHQAn/s1600/allison-purple-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHodtNEfcZsPgCBCOYkb171BLhsy4d22UQzNafSN46qxsxWzoVMKtPiPULBl9dEkcrI41AOBusZDAY3lAcXzK10-zSa-TQFd-L1L9SETABbtuHonh6vSCK8WX7k-2u57VIna5nd1XbHQAn/s320/allison-purple-3.png" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allison Gingras, Author </td></tr>
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<br />Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-86966340077690009982018-10-09T23:43:00.000+01:002018-10-10T13:34:28.953+01:00Pull Up A Pew #9 ~ Meet Kimberly Hahn <div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 47.25pt; text-indent: -47.25pt;">
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<i style="text-indent: -47.25pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The 16th of March arrived very quickly and it was time for us at last<b> </b>to<b> enjoy a lecture given by Dr Scott Hahn</b> </span></span></i><i style="text-indent: -47.25pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>in person </b></span></span></i><i style="text-indent: -47.25pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">on the occasion of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn1tWuIoZsg" target="_blank">inauguration of the Holy Rosary Shrine</a> in Belsize Park, </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">London. H<b>ere in England, we don't often have the privilege to listen live to the great Apologists of our time and have to make do with YouTube videos and podcasts</b> so as you can imagine the excitement was high. I knew I would not be able to talk to him but I was determined to deliver a parcel with a letter on behalf of my Catholic Mothers addressed to Kimberley, his beloved wife.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I had nothing to lose...I had to try and see if I could arrange an interview with her for my group of mothers. After having managed to reach Fr Mike, thinking he would NEVER agree to be interviewed, my attitude of 'I have nothing to lose ...I can but try!' has become even stronger and more fearless! </i></span></span></div>
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<i style="color: #444444; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -47.25pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">( I hope to interview Bishop Barron too sooner or later... I have already spoken to him face to face at the Adoremus conference and am on the case... Will God surprises us once again?... I will keep you posted.)</i></div>
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<i style="color: #444444; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -47.25pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I prayed and asked my friends, the Saints and JPII in particular to help me somehow deliver the little Catholic Mothers tote bag I had carefully packed for Mrs Hahn.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -47.25pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>My hopes were low as we arrived at the church a bit later than I had planned ... but as the doors opened and we were asked for our tickets, I realised one of the organisers was an old friend of my husband's... so I asked him </i></span></span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -47.25pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">kindly </i><i style="color: #444444; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -47.25pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">to deliver the bag... all my hope was in that bag and with him. </i></div>
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<i style="color: #444444; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -47.25pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks passed and to my surprise (God never stops to surprise me when it comes to this) I was put in touch with the wonderful Kimberley Hahn whose kindness and patience towards me and my crazy little projects was infinite considering I was just a mother running a tiny group in the virtual Catholic world... and she a well known author and speaker. Yet again I was touched by the humility and spirit of service of these 'famous' Catholics, 'wasting' some of her valuable time for the littlest of their brothers and sisters.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Many members of the Catholic Mothers Facebook group submitted questions for the interview and I put some of them along with my own to Kimberley Hahn! </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many Catholic Mothers out there who are waiting and praying for their spouse to join them in this journey of Faith to be able to walk this path together as one. What was your husband’s approach towards you in those 4 years as he waited for you to join him?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Briefly, he prayed a lot, shared when he could, begged God for insight, and challenged me. It was the most difficult time in our marriage. If faith matters to you – and it mattered SO much to us both – our differences were exceedingly painful. It was a time of a loss of dreams without seeing how we would ever be united truly again. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I’d recommend people read “<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0898704782/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0898704782&linkCode=as2&tag=thepeaofgrepr-21&linkId=5c146bea0b1e9fc6844a9637122cb27e%22%3ERome%20Sweet%20Home:%20Our%20Journey%20to%20Catholicism%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thepeaofgrepr-21&l=am2&o=2&a=0898704782%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Rome Sweet Home</a>: Our Journey to Catholicism” which goes chapter by chapter through the same time frame from Scott’s perspective and then through mine. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When Scott became Catholic, we had two little boys, ages 3 and 1 ½. I became pregnant soon after with our daughter, Hannah. When I became Catholic, they were the only children we had, ages 7, 6 1/2, and 3. I don’t know how much they picked up on the intensity of our struggles, but we presented as united a front as we could. Scott let me know the week after he became Catholic that he had committed to raising the children Catholic, but that he wouldn’t press that immediately. By the time our oldest was 5, he no longer wanted us to attend a Protestant service though I was free to go when I wanted. By the time our eldest was 6, Scott signed him up for classes for First Confession and First C</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -47.25pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ommunion. Again, it was my decision to remain Protestant or not, but I faced being the only Protestant in my Catholic family.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are many more details about this journey in “Rome Sweet Home.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What did you do to try to incorporate the Faith into your daily lives and to incorporate the Liturgical calendar too - Easter, Lent, Advent, Saints' days etc? (Patricia)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I talked with Catholic moms, gathered ideas from books, and tried traditions to see what would work well given our children’s ages, whether or not I was pregnant, and what Scott could assist us with. There are so many beautiful traditions – you can’t do them all. You want to do what can be meaningful without feeling like someone’s going to judge you for doing it differently than your neighbour. In my book “<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0867168919/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0867168919&linkCode=as2&tag=thepeaofgrepr-21&linkId=4674293f68c17485712aa019b86c1efa%22%3EGraced%20and%20Gifted:%20Biblical%20Wisdom%20for%20the%20Homemaker%27s%20Heart%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thepeaofgrepr-21&l=am2&o=2&a=0867168919%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Graced and Gifted</a>” I give more concrete ideas for liturgical celebrations. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our youngest of 6, David, is now 19, so we’re almost through the teen years. I think they are a great age – full of deep thoughts about life, love, Godk, the world… </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -47.25pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dads are key – they coral them for daily Mass and after-dinner Rosary. The dads help demonstrate that religion is not a “kid” thing. We emphasize how essential it is for them to reach for heroic virtue, to know their faith well so they can defend it, and to give Christ everything! Too often, teens are short-sold on faith, begging them to come with us to Mass rather than telling them what time we’re going. This is true for daily Mass while they are under our roof. We just decide to go and take them. If someone says, “Do we have to go to daily Mass?” I counter with, “We don’t have to, we GET to!” Often they chime in with me with a small smile and a shrug. Afterwards, they have been grateful they went. It’s a limited time offer, while they live under our roof. Don’t miss the opportunity to help them form habits which will help them in later life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How does one "know" for certain that the number of children you have is it? </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>You know for certain when you hit menopause and can’t have any more.</b> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">☺</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’ve never heard of anyone saying in later life they wish they had had one less child – but I’ve heard countless people lamenting they were not open to one more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Seriously, think about your whole life – how long will you live? How long will you be married? Of those years, how many times will you conceive? And how many of those children will you get to bear to delivery and raise? Again, it’s a limited time offer. I would really encourage you to get a copy of “Life-Giving Love: Embracing God’s Beautiful Design for Marriage” which I wrote years ago. The first half of the book explains the Church’s teaching and how beautiful it is. The second half deals with many difficult situations and how we can respond well to miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility, secondary infertility, and sterilizations, as well as quick answers to the 58 most common objections to being open to one more child.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>How do you know you're done, or you've accomplished God’s will for family size? (Glynis)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>God’s will is tricky to understand</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> – he knows and we don’t.</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We pray, we seek counsel, we talk with our spouse to understand each other’s hearts, and then we act in good faith, only using Natural Family Planning if we believe we are not led to be open to another child at this time. Contraception for the purpose of not conceiving is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">always</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> serious sin. No exceptions. That’s NOT God’s will. Ever.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How did you find your homeschooling journey? What would you do differently? (Annalisa)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I first heard about homeschooling from a radio broadcast called <a href="https://www.focusonthefamily.com/?utm_source=family.org&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=vanityURLredirects2016">Focus on the Family</a>. I looked up that author and began reading about it when my youngest was 1. I went to a conference to learn more and to see what materials were available. It was amazing!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I homeschooled all 6 of our children</b>, most of them all the way through high school, for 26 years. It has been one of the greatest joys of my life. <b>I highly recommend it.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If a parent does not have the option to homeschool or send their children to Catholic school, what are some things that parents can do? (Leanne)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You’ll need to really pay attention to what your children are being taught. Discuss it with them. Find out if Planned Parenthood (or some such organisation) is coming to your child’s classes to give them information and require your child not be present. They go to classes as young as kindergarten! They are the largest abortion provider networks in the US and as such, use their classroom presentations to work toward their future clientele for contraception and ultimately abortion. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of sons is their fathers.” (Proverbs 17:6) What role do Christian grandparents have in their grandchildren’s life?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Grandparents have a wonderful role to play</b> – to delight in your offspring as parents and be their major support; to delight in their offspring and enjoy them without feeling the burden of disciplining them; to pray for them every day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have a journal for each of my grandchildren that I write in periodically. I didn’t have the time to do that for my children, but that’s something I can do for my grandchildren. I’m so grateful to be able to write about meaningful bible verses, challenge them in their faith, comment on funny things they’ve said or done, speak words of love and encouragement to them, and share how God is teaching me. I plan on giving them their journals sometime after they turn 18.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: #eff1f3; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> How do you support your husband as head of the family when you are a leader yourself?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Your husband is the head of the home</b>; you are the heart of the home. Which is more important? Neither. You are both greatly needed. Yet in the dance of marriage, someone needs to lead, and the Lord has designated that role for the husband. In fact, the example is Christ and the Church – do they co-lead, or does the Lord lead the Church? This is not something that squelches a wife, because the husband’s leadership is to demonstrate the kind of service Christ demonstrated for the Church as he laid down his life for her – for us. </span></span></div>
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Pierpaolo Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16814971708357236517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-75288902654472903752018-07-18T15:08:00.000+01:002018-07-18T23:15:17.838+01:00Surprised by a Beautiful Dream!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The picture of a book with a burnt chicken on the cover was all over my blogging circles... people were talking about it, reading it and writing about it... I didn't pay too much attention, I was not really interested, I didn't register the name of the author nor the title of the publication.<br />
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Again as I was sipping a nice glass of sherry, enjoying some tapas, flamenco tunes playing in the background and some good company, my friend mentioned a certain author and her latest book by the title of 'One Beautiful Dream'... She sounded like an ideal candidate for the next Catholic Mothers Conference as we shared the same view of life... and although I hadn't read her book yet, I trusted my friend's judgement and enquired about having her to come to talk at our next conference.<br />
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All excited, I sent her the email and all depressed I read the answer a few days later... once again 'My beautiful dream' of getting American speakers to come to our conference was crushed by the exorbitant fees... which over there are normal but over here are inaccessible 1. because of our Catholic reality being very very small... and 2. because of Catholic Mothers being only a young apostolate has no money to invest... yet.<br />
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The day after the email I received a phone call from my mother in law all excited about this article she had read about this book of certain Jenifer Fulwiler that she thought I would very much enjoy and that could be read in my Thursday's mothers group.<br />
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At that point although I was still annoyed about not being able to afford the American speaker... and before having to deal with another invitation to read that book ... I opened my laptop, ordered it and at the same time gave it as summer reading to my mothers group as suggested by my mother in law.<br />
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After the first few chapters I was even more annoyed about having been pushed into reading it... I kept on asking to myself why this book was having so much success. It was yet another blogger writing a longer post on paper... and the more I read the more I really thought I knew how this would end ... rags to riches, the American dream in 200 pages. 'Well, I am not American' ... 'NO! you can't have it all'... I told my husband 'I am going to be brutally honest when I review this book, and if at the end I don't like it.. I am afraid my review will be very different from the ones I have read so far'... and frankly I was kind of bored of having to read about another couple who couldn't be bothered to learn NFP properly...<br />
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I stuck with it because I guess I didn't really believe it would get any better, I wouldn't be moved from my prejudgments and I was looking forward to writing a really catty review...<br />
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But... It didn't quite go as I had planned it... I started to enjoy the book and I was not ready for it. The book was funny and genuine. I could relate so much with all the afternoons interrupted by unexpected visitors she describes in the books, afternoon upon afternoon planned and carefully organised for writing or painting... I was glad to know it wasn't God's personal vendetta with me or His ruse to make me exceptionally patient and hospitable. So many times in the last few months I wished I had that 'BLOW UP THE WORLD NOW' button, she mentions in the book... because the money was too short and house too small.<br />
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The book brought me back to when straight after the birth of our second child, I received a phone call from a relative to commiserate me rather than to congratulate me for his birth. She told me how the time of her children's early childhood were the 'dark ages' of her life... a time when she held her breath, put her life on hold, hardly ever went out, didn't travel... till the children were older enough and she could finally get her life back...Though that phone call happened 16 years ago I still remember the conversation vividly. Maybe that had worked for her but that couldn't have possibly worked for me who had another 20 plus childbearing years ahead. I was only 21 with the plan, God willing, to have a big family... For me and Pierpaolo, it was very clear we didn't want to hold our breath until this 'better future' arrived but that what we really wanted was to live our life happily NOW, breathing it in deeply with open lungs and living it to the full with all its sacrifices but enjoying our vocation as spouses and parents. The 'Wholeness of Vision' the author talks about in the book, was what gave us strength in the difficult moments ... looking beyond the immediate... embracing the difficulties and always looking at the Risen Christ.<br />
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After almost 20 years of marriage as the money situation appears to be particularly tricky and the house incredibly small... that Vision was cloudy, I wanted that button and was ready to hold my breath till God would finally showed His mighty Providence with an envelope full of money through the letter box and a phone call of someone offering us a bigger house (with a laundry room and a study) at a ridiculously low price. I could see the immediate suffering but had lost the vision. I had even started dreaming about moving, giving up the wonderful network of family and friends and the incredible community we had build in 20 years...<br />
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'This book is going to upset me so much!!! In this book the author is going through some of the same issues I am', I said to Pierpaolo, 'And what is going to be more annoying it's that she is really going to have it all... the money and the big house... the career ... probably too ...you know American style.'<br />
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The more I read the more her situation became difficult and problems seemed to arise unnecessarily. God was truly testing her faith through unexpected pregnancies and her poor health and both husband and wife found strength from one another and together from God.<br />
The conversations between Jennifer, the author, and Joe, her husband were the exact same conversations Pierpaolo and I had had many times on similar issues. Joe's positive attitude towards life and his love for his family was heartwarming... the clear list of priorities and his choice to willingly and happily, not take the path of a successful career for the sake of the family... It really felt as if it was my husband speaking! Joe became my hero, he was clearly Jennifer's rock in the same way as my husband had to rescue me from myself many times throughout our life together. My heart softened, my attitude towards the book changed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG7CBkID7d5Fc1w4HvOAHmTZC_zhUPuTbtfwCsgaVZFs5JR5kHr32KOam2mGIn4AEUgF3kYl_JL_yFoR4iDQIaecWu5p54U7ge-LdBAbImeX88PDk66qJbq153X8CMURPitbykisEhTP8/s1600/obd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG7CBkID7d5Fc1w4HvOAHmTZC_zhUPuTbtfwCsgaVZFs5JR5kHr32KOam2mGIn4AEUgF3kYl_JL_yFoR4iDQIaecWu5p54U7ge-LdBAbImeX88PDk66qJbq153X8CMURPitbykisEhTP8/s400/obd1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The book wasn't about the American dream as I had pictured it in my mind, it wasn't about success, money or fame, the book was a book about family, about spousal love, about discovering the joy of parenting, about the gift of parents and grandparents, about relationships, about the importance of community, about reordering priorities, about unexpected friendships, about trust and openness to God's will.<br />
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As I turned the last page of the book... my house was still as small as ever, the money as short as before but the desire to have a change of heart that would allow me to truly say this IS my life... and enjoy it NOW not WHEN and IF we have a bigger house or we are in better financial position... But NOW... was all I was left with as my family's harmonious symphony played in the background.Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-3844400884111603662018-06-13T11:16:00.000+01:002018-06-13T16:07:12.000+01:00Humans, Dogs and the Beauty of Creation.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpce3WtJUs0HPDABhzJ9MNDYDY210J5sXeyJeOzt57Me33teAR3X2GEoRhcZmJWGWedbvXvFA-rq55p0ndC253Zy3w5Fm1aTY3Ra1M7iBAwSuMGPI48pGJ1yOuR5sDP2MqRuHYXRMQIVAm/s1600/SanAntfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="450" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpce3WtJUs0HPDABhzJ9MNDYDY210J5sXeyJeOzt57Me33teAR3X2GEoRhcZmJWGWedbvXvFA-rq55p0ndC253Zy3w5Fm1aTY3Ra1M7iBAwSuMGPI48pGJ1yOuR5sDP2MqRuHYXRMQIVAm/s640/SanAntfish.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Today is the feast of St Anthony of Padua, a follower of St Francis, renowned lover of nature and animals and himself the protagonist of a number of famous miracles where animals were involved such as preaching to the fish when the humans wouldn’t listen and correcting a heretic about the Real Presence through the reverence shown by a mule to the Blessed Sacrament. Ettore, our resident animal lover and aspiring vet decided to write a post on the two things he loves most: animals and faith!</i></span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-72da9cda-f88e-3595-bae0-da33f1185c56" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Respect for the integrity of creation</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2415</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">195</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">196</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2416</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Animals </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">197</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2417</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">198</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2418</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Animals have always played a special part in my life and I have loved them for as long as I can remember, because of this I have also had a special devotion to St Francis of Assisi patron saint of animals, and the way that he saw animals and nature is an important example that we should all follow. St Francis of Assisi was as we should all strive to be, deeply in love with God, and as a man who smells the sweet scent of his spouse’s perfume is reminded of his love for her, so St Francis found a similar effect in contemplating God’s glorious creation. He loved nature because it reminded him of God, we too should look at nature and contemplate the benevolence of God. Nature speaks of God because of its beauty and because of God’s divine providence. Contemplation of God’s creation fills you with awe and wonder, things such as a chameleon changing colour or the beauty of a bird of paradise, an apt name for birds that are so beautiful that they speak of God. </span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4ed9fffe-f898-5f08-62f9-350c95dac98e"><span style="color: ivory; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img height="349" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/N1-a9o5qlXGX8NL-NYMN2mU-B6932x-RddMDQModeh-AAqA7YaQHs5czFTTbMxcOE2z37PMNHPo0D763iYcf-_WXBPCOXr_kSLbHAeIrT7HINF0Q01YAXZCbarOb9dp0JaJ3ko-6" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624" /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We share the same planet and as stewards of the earth had creation entrusted to us, and because of this we must always treat animals and nature with dignity, but never over and above human beings. God’s caring and providential hand has been seen through nature, and animals have even been instruments of his help for humanity. Early man would have remained nomadic and could not have settled if it were not for the domestication of the wolf, which led to us be able to herd cattle instead of moving with an uncontrollable herd. Or the superior hunting ability of dogs has kept man’s belly full from as far back as 10,000 years ago. Man flourished off the back of the superior senses of the dog and its herding ability, allowing us to domesticate cows, pigs and sheep, not to mention guarding man while he slept from the dangerous beast. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now the dog has remained a faithful servant, a companion to the lonely, a protector of the weak and a helper to those who work. We can also learn from the dog’s loving nature. Abba Xanthias, a Desert Father said - “a dog is better than I am, for he has love and he does not judge.” words to live by. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having said this we must not forget the fallen state of nature, the fact that it is self destructive, for one species to survive it must destroy the other, this may not have always been the plan but because of the fall, this is how things worked out, nonetheless by direction of the Church we can make the best of a bad situation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7b9bff68-f8a2-e1e7-0e4d-fe9b5b0e3b16"><span style="color: ivory; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/n82VogZ7FiaQVgZEimHKzIt3uSasfBaZkcqobls-C7cdTC7Sg6aFUffs9duyF5k-VEb5aTiBo8orDXq_EQsqopwo0CjTJNCrLm0zrdsAal0gLMFNQ-c72EoXQHVQYdQpF9LGll7Z" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="320" /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The healthy love for animals is a good and necessary thing, however fallen humanity in its disordered exaggeration of all things, like the overflow passions has also done the same with the natural love and care we feel towards animals. The care, love and energy that should be for children has often been directed towards animals, now it’s not unusual for a young couple to get a dog first and then maybe think about a child, whereas the dog ought to be for the children as an addition and enrichment for the family not </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> family itself. The phenomenon of ‘doggy parents’ is distorting and confusing the care we feel towards animals and the natural desire to have children. As a consequence of this unhealthy love towards animals, animals suffer and more importantly children too. Why? In my understanding of dog ’psychology’ dogs do not do well when treated as if they are humans and don’t have a natural dog role in the family, they act out and behave badly, they get confused because they are a dog and we treat them as if they were humans. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Church is, as always right, if we stick with the natural law and the catechism even our dog will behave better, who’d have thought that the church would be one of the first animal psychologists! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a healthy and an unhealthy love of animals: and the nearest definition of the difference is that the unhealthy love of animals is serious. I am quite prepared to love a rhinoceros, with reasonable precautions: he is, doubtless, a delightful father to the young rhinoceroses. But I will not promise not to laugh at a rhinoceros. . . . I will not worship an animal. That is, I will not take an animal quite seriously: and I know why. Wherever there is Animal Worship there is Human Sacrifice. That is, both symbolically and literally, a real truth of historical experience.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">— G. K. Chesterton</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is exactly what we see in our world today, animals are worshipped and unborn children are murdered simultaneously, this fact was seen when the Cecil the lion ‘controversy’ hit the headlines. At the same time another story came out that Planned Parenthood was selling baby body parts. Which do you think received the greater coverage and which of the two did more people weep for? Cecil the lion swamped the planned parenthood stories and not a tear was shed in the media for the countless children murdered and whose body parts were sold. We must return to a culture of life that loves all life but in the way God wants, this will most fulfill both animals and more importantly humans.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘Let all creation help you to praise God. Give yourself the rest you need. When you are walking alone, listen to the sermon preached to you by the flowers, the trees, the shrubs, the sky, the sun and the whole world. Notice how they preach to you a sermon full of love, of praise of God, and how they invite you to proclaim the greatness of the one who has given them being.’ </span></span></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-43700661125688585402018-04-13T00:08:00.000+01:002018-04-13T09:58:32.779+01:00Pull Up a Pew #9 Jenny Ryan ~ The Ryan Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The importance of the dinner table is underestimated in today's culture. Our life is so full of activity and to do lists that time for meals gets squeezed and dinner can become a quick affair that doesn't necessarily take place around a table and mostly happens on the go. </div>
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A couple of times during lent while the family were eating we took turns reading aloud the Gospel of Mark. It struck us as we read that Jesus went from one meal to another and that some of the greatest things he taught to his followers happened around a dining table! To this you can imagine the children exclaimed... "You see! We always knew Jesus was Italian"...</div>
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We always joke that the ideal pass time for an Italian is talking about food while seated at table for a meal and even online I can never resist a beautiful photo of some home-cooked food in a family setting so when I stumbled across @the_ryan_table while checking my Instagram, I was hooked. Jenny was always cooking something new and the pictures reflected a happy household full of children, good food and love and care for the family. I had the pleasure to chat with her several times and decided I wanted to get to know her better.</div>
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Here on the blog with us today is Jenny Ryan: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhvp6SsP_ZjyzPGGFnVGkL6Zuf76T5-PlBIRZW0G1I2yWSP_OwRUt9I4DjXd2Hx9TTx1nXer_foekPBhxQRgpNuhKi3MDn26UOk1-awkGTX3bsdjeyLqWkU_nZdpfuEgYINCWTacvfKr4/s1600/30176985_10155310729272554_989540656_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1075" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhvp6SsP_ZjyzPGGFnVGkL6Zuf76T5-PlBIRZW0G1I2yWSP_OwRUt9I4DjXd2Hx9TTx1nXer_foekPBhxQRgpNuhKi3MDn26UOk1-awkGTX3bsdjeyLqWkU_nZdpfuEgYINCWTacvfKr4/s640/30176985_10155310729272554_989540656_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your Catholic background.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like one of my favorite religious authors, Caryll Houselander, I like to call myself a rocking horse Catholic. I remember very well when my father came back to the faith and my mom converted. I was six years old and a very holy priest guided my parents to the Catholic Church. When they entered the church and turned their civil wedding into a Catholic sacrament I was so proud to be their flower girl. I never could understand why my poor mother hated it when I proudly told strangers that I was at my parents wedding! We started attending Mass every Sunday and I fell in love with everything about the church. I was at a great age to be enchanted with the many beauties of our faith. I went on to get my degree in theology and worked for a time as a campus minister. My faith certainly was challenged with the gift of motherhood. I would say it was through my vocation as wife and mother that my faith truly started to mature. God's love and mercy is very much found in struggle, and there is plenty of that to be found when trying to live one's vocation!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPb_3A_LYoE3u-gWWpo8KYGwvcNfUIGeMGAdkps1jYc5_fGpf-Xp93mWvMabVAm_wYeDtvpkuvHfkdW1hz-i98D0E6WTvFk01iVEWRTvSEy4ZiS7f7lpPDzIkrJf4YugWbecdGtqVlCbH/s1600/IMG_6782-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPb_3A_LYoE3u-gWWpo8KYGwvcNfUIGeMGAdkps1jYc5_fGpf-Xp93mWvMabVAm_wYeDtvpkuvHfkdW1hz-i98D0E6WTvFk01iVEWRTvSEy4ZiS7f7lpPDzIkrJf4YugWbecdGtqVlCbH/s640/IMG_6782-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b id="m_6511167565765116459gmail-docs-internal-guid-a90f14d4-71ad-38c5-7824-1aaba2236a3b" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. When did you discover your passion for cooking? Was is something you matured with age or was it always there and accompanied you growing up?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am so glad that you asked. It came first out of necessity, and even boredom. I struggled with leaving work and becoming a full-time mom. I wanted a hobby but I couldn't think how to find the time to do a hobby and I am not a crafty/hobby kind of person. I happened to watch the movie, Julie and Julia. It's a true story about a young woman who decided to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook and blog about it. It was an inspiration to me and I started a blog about being a mom the next day. However, It wasn't until we discovered that one of my newborn twins had a milk allergy that I truly started to cook. I suddenly had to eradicate every drop of milk, cooked or raw, from my diet</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I felt as though I was starving for a few weeks, nursing twins, caring for my two and three year old, and trying to sort through what I could and couldn't eat. Even the smallest amount of milk would cause my poor baby to scream. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I read label after label I realized that even the bread we ate had milk. I started struggling through the process of learning to make my own bread, then soup, and my love of cooking took off from there. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Why is it so important to make the table the focus of family life?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The table is the schoolroom of life and relationships. It is where we learn to make connections, to ask questions, and to listen with interest. It is around the table that we learn manners and to eat what we are served (and what a valuable life lesson that is!). Besides the wonderful skills family meals teach, it is the one place where, if done intentionally, we stop what we are doing to focus on each other, connect, and love without distraction. Traditions and memories are formed around food. I like to joke that one of my life goals is to be a better cook than any of my children's future in-laws so that they come to us for the holidays. But in all seriousness, good food and good times keep your family coming back for more good food and good times. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"> Follow Jenny on IG @the_ryan_table</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Can you tell us your greatest success and greatest cooking disaster?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would say my greatest success was very recent. We are a big fan of St. Joseph in our house and I heard that the tradition is to cook Italian food for the solemnity celebrated on March 19th. I got together with one of my friends and we spent the day making homemade tortellini. Not only was it fun, but it was not as difficult as I thought it would be! We made a four course meal (if you count ice cream as a course) out of it. The kids were thrilled and excited for our “fancy dinner.” I was very proud of the taste of everything, and overall it was a great food memory and now a new family tradition. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have had many food disasters. Goodness. I would say the worst was in our first year of marriage. We were living in a little apartment and I decided to try and make steaks for the first time. I did not have a clue what I was doing. It didn't take long for me to fill the apartment with smoke, burn the steaks entirely, and ruin our brand new cookware. We opened the patio doors, fire alarm blazing and smoke billowing out. We as we choked on the smoke flowing through the doors we heard sirens and dreaded seeing fire trucks pull up under our patio. Luckily, the sirens were not for our false alarm. I did eventually, years later, learn how to make a wonderful steak. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. What is the secret of a happy kitchen?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We must remember why we cook. Ultimately, like all things we do, it should be done for love. We can get (or is it just me?) stuck on our own idea of how we wanted a dish to turn out or an evening to unfold. As things don't turn out the way we wanted or expected, we can lose our temper, our joy, or our sense of humor. We don’t want to run around frazzled and resentful like poor Martha. Jesus wasn't upset with Martha for making all the food </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> someone had to prepare dinner! His gentle reminder to her had to do with joy and peace! “Martha, Martha, you are worried about many things . . . " Serving with love is to cook alongside Jesus and “choose the better part” Sometimes a happy kitchen means cereal for dinner because that is what you can serve with a smile and sometimes it may mean homemade pasta with an appetizer and desert. "If we have not love we are nothing" but if we cook with love, well then, we we have the luckiest family around. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Not every woman feels attracted by the art of cooking and presentation but most of us have to do it as a service to our family and for the survival of the species! How would you encourage reluctant cooks to embrace art of cooking and what advice would you give them?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first step for me was to let go of any resentment from being the one who "had to do it". Once you accept that someone has to cook, and it turns out that person is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> then you can start challenging yourself and having a little fun. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recommend taking some special time to cook once a week. Don’t set out to make a great meal every night, I don’t know if anyone caring for a bunch of humans can do that! Once a week is a great place to start and you may have to get creative with this time if you have little ones around. Maybe your spouse can take them out for a bit, maybe a friend can come over and keep you company while your kids play together, you can try preparing dinner during nap early in the day, or maybe your kids are old enough to enjoy cooking with you </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> think outside the box. Once you have a night picked out for some special cooking time then pick a dish you enjoy eating. Search the internet for a recipe that looks like you could handle, or at least attempt with moderate success. When it comes time to cook, pour a glass of wine, turn on some music, and just try it. I started with bread, trying it at least three times before I got something edible. Once I was confident in that skill it led to my desire to learn more. Find a food you really want to learn how to make, start there and build upon that. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Are you a clean or a messy cook?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodness. Messy. I am truly working on that. Slowly. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. What is your favourite single ingredient?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love onions. I love how versatile they are and how they affect the food. I love caramelizing them, or using them raw and finally minced in a salad. It's amazing how you can change the flavor of onions and how they can change a dish. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. What dish has the greatest religious meaning for you?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can't think of one. I will say that I love all food with ritual or community. I love artichoke because when we eat it we gather around, pull off leaves, and dip in the same bowl </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> it's very communal. Coffee is also ritualistic and communal in nature. I love to share coffee with others because it means friendship and sharing confidences. I didn't answer your question, so sorry! But these types of foods are more significant to me than others because of the relationship they convey. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Can you share a favourite Easter recipe with our Catholic Mothers?</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My favorite would be my family’s </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://theryantable.com/recipe/no-rise-easy-cinnamon-rolls/&source=gmail&ust=1523655328726000&usg=AFQjCNE0qy8yNCn12WlBnr-92j3VlaODXg" href="https://theryantable.com/recipe/no-rise-easy-cinnamon-rolls/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no-rise cinnamon rolls</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Growing up I made these with my dad for any special occasion and now my kids love making them with me. It’s a simple recipe that can be prepared the night before and then popped in the oven for breakfast. I love even just thinking about eating them with friends and family as part of a celebration. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Jenny met her husband, John, at Belmont Abbey, a Benedictine Catholic college. There she earned a bachelors in Theology Pastoral Ministry. Although born in Canada, Jenny has lived her entire adult life in the United States. Jenny and J</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">ohn have been married for almost 11 years and live in North Carolina with their six children, 9, 8, 6, 6, 3, and one due in August. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Jenny enjoys cooking with and for her family, hosting others in their home, and is currently learning how to garden and keep flowers (mostly) alive. You can find Jenny regularly over at </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.theryantable.com&source=gmail&ust=1523636695875000&usg=AFQjCNE3iGefHKufilQyUM8QCdedHZHQ7A" href="http://www.theryantable.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.theryantable.com</a></span></i></span></div>
Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-63999548509113597762018-03-16T13:59:00.001+00:002018-03-16T23:55:34.274+00:00SPUC Youth Conference 2018<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Ettore (age18 in June)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The day started like any other, it was a Friday and the weekend
was coming. I just needed to get through a double period of chemistry and then
I was free. But my weekend was going to be very different. I was going to
engage in something truly meaningful! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My brother and I met up at home in London then left for the
North. After a two hour journey and a taxi ride we arrived to the conference
centre, late as Italians<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>normally are,
but better late than never (we unfortunately missed Fiorella Nash’s talk on the
fact that women are being told that their babies are hijackers or parasites,
which I heard was very good) . We had a quick fish dinner and enjoyed the life
themed quiz night, team names were very amusing, the pick of the bunch was
‘should have gone to SPUCsavers’. The prizes were also life themed, for example
‘Cadbury’s marvellous creations’ were the prize of choice as we are all a
marvellous creations! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The next day the day started as any good day should, with
Confession and Mass followed by another great thing, English breakfast! Then we
had many different workshops, I went to the workshop on social media use for
the spreading of the pro-life message, it was very useful and told us to avoid
the week long flame wars on the comment sections of facebook and instead try
and bring it into real life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then we had a talk on the effects of assisted suicide laws
given by Prof. David Paton, who warned of the great dangers of implementing an
assisted suicide law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Later we had a talk on the rights of conscience in European
and international law, and why British medical staff should be protected. An
important talk for those of us who were planning a career in medicine (of which
there were many.) He explained the protections under the law which
conscientious objectors had in an aspects of medicine, be it doctors, nurses or
pharmacists to not perform abortions or sell abortifacient drugs and
contraceptives. It was a relatively positive talk on how justice triumphs in
this case, giving us the right to object and not face any consequences like
being fired. Having filled our stomachs on a lunch of chilli con carne followed
by cake we moved on to the next talk. This one was given by Prof. Patricia
Casey on mental health and abortion. She's a psychologist who has dealt with
many cases of women who have been affected by abortion both indirectly and
directly. I particularly enjoyed this talk as she dissected studies done on
whether or not abortion causes mental health. She commented on the fact that we
do tend to exaggerate the consequences of abortion on women, of course some
feel regret,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but many deal with it
‘well.’ In addition she spoke of the risk factors that increase the likelihood
of women developing post abortion mental health issues, like being coerced,
being a teen, history of previous mental health issues or religious beliefs.
Although this may not seem very useful to the apologetics side of things, it
does help us to speak the truth more fully. However she didn't leave without
giving us ammunition, the studies also said that women who seek an abortion and
did not receive one did not have an increase mental health issues. Basically
discounting the fact that abortion is a cure for the so called dangers to the
mental health of the mother. So the 96% of abortions done in the name of
preventing damage to the mother's mental health are carried out for a reason
that has no basis in science. But hey what do we know we're just crazy
antiscience nuts, for some reason in this case several peer reviewed studies on
the topic don't mean anything! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then SPUC Scotland
gave a talk on the work Project Truth does by spreading the pro-life message
and getting to the heart of the issue by having genuine conversations all
around Scotland in a tour bus. This was followed by March for Life organisers
who rightly said ‘people always ask us why Birmingham, and so this year we
decided to do it in London instead, in the capital.’ he urged us to come and do
something instead of being bystanders to a genocide. So I invite you all to
come, the greater the number the better it will be. We cannot stand and do
nothing, especially since we know the extent of the evil that is happening all
around us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then there was a talk by Prof. Priscilla Coleman who gave a
stream of statistics on the effects of abortion on mental and relational
health, and good couples that undergo abortion have their emotional and sexual
relationships fractured for good <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dinner was next and that was followed by ceilidh a fun night
of dancing and socialising with like minded young people, (we even met people
via Catholic mothers!) which is refreshing to someone like me who is usually
the only one in the room with a different opinion, don't get me wrong I enjoy
debating and putting my ideas to the test and an opinion echo chamber is not
good, but from time to time it's nice not have to be on your guard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After the ceilidh we stayed up talking into the early hours
of the morning trying to solve the world's problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The day started with Sunday Mass and then breakfast. This
was followed by a panel of speakers who answered questions about pro-life
apologetics, they helped us to answer difficult questions like abortion in the
case of rape and the backstreet abortion question. We need to change minds one
conversation (or debate) at the time, and we need to give good answers to
difficult questions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then there was the highlight of the conference (in my
opinion) Aisling Hubert ‘counting the cost - a winnable battle. ’ It was a
tough talk about the reality of the injustice that is going on all around us.
And that we must be ready to lose our life for it. ‘If you cling to your life,
you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.’
(Matthew 10:39) and what is a more just cause than the defence of the innocent.
Hubert told of taking some abortionists to court for performing sex selective
abortions, but her case was dropped on two occasions because it was not
considered to be in the ‘public interest’ and she was stuck with £47,000 legal
fees at the age of 20. She was faced with a choice, to go to prison or attempt
to pay the fees. After long consideration she did not want to put the burden of
the fees on others so was willing to go to prison. A few weeks before she was
due to pay a Christian charity came to the rescue and helped her to pay the
legal fees, despite her acceptance of going to prison. We saw a harrowing video
of actual abortions being performed at different stages of gestation, to show
us the reality of what is going on. She compared the pro life movement to the
American civil rights movement, and spoke of the horrors that they went through
to defend human dignity, and told us this is what is awaiting us, but there is
also a great reward: eternal life. So we should take up our cross and follow
Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We ended with that rallying cry, a call to arms with Christ
as our model and general leading us to battle. ‘with God on our side who can be
against us?‘</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Mattia (age 16)</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">My experience at the SPUC youth conference was quite overwhelming. It made me wake up and realise the extent to which abortion is a crime against human rights.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The array of talks that there were from how to be pro life on social media to the psychological effects abortion can have on a woman kept you eager to listen as you were always listening to something different. This was all of course accompanied by good laughs, new friends and a lot of food.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The talk that I will remember the most was the last one where Aisling Hubert showed us a video of an abortion taking place. I was instantly disgusted and teary eyed. However it was necessary to help us understand the horrors that take place within an abortion clinic. Straightaway I realised that I wasn’t doing enough to help these poor innocent and defenceless babies. This really pushed me to think where to go and what do next to further my journey as a pro-life activist and to expose the atrocities that take place within an abortion clinic but are so carefully swept under the carpet by today’s media and our modern day society.</span></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-85410209835149045262018-03-08T23:48:00.004+00:002018-03-09T21:45:56.510+00:00Pull Up a Pew #8 Meet Fr Mike Schmitz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of months ago when yet another great YouTube video from Fr Schmitz was shared on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/catholic.mothers" target="_blank">Catholic Mothers</a>' wall I said to myself... 'He is the next on my list! I am going to interview him on behalf of my Mothers group!' </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although I was sure he'd be too busy I tried. God granted for this to happen through the help of a great friend and thanks to Fr Mike's kindness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a mother of two growing boys I always wonder where God will lead them and what He will ask of them as men. I pray for them, as I do for all our children, that they may say Yes to God when he calls and that they may respond positively to whatever plan He has for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our duty </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as parents</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is to lay the foundations of our children's Faith so that growing up they will clearly recognise the voice of the Lord and will leave their nets to follow Him to whatever He asks of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">A phrase that Pope St Pius X said often comes to my mind: '</span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;">A vocation comes from the heart of God, but goes through the heart of the mother</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whenever we watch and listen to any of Fr Mike's YouTube videos with my children, my sons especially are full of admiration for him, as for me, all I can think of is how blessed his mother must be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the Interview below, Fr Mike Schmitz, answers some of the questions our Catholic Mothers from around the world asked him about his own vocation, the role that his family and in particular his mother played in his vocation and much more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In our virtual conversation I was touched by Fr Mike's openness, humility and willingness to serve a stranger... I'm full of gratitude to Fr Schmitz for taking the time to give me this interview and share his insights on making a home that nurtures the next generation of priests!</span></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-30967258882438421182018-03-07T21:36:00.000+00:002018-03-12T14:27:27.556+00:00March for Life UK 2018! SAVE THE DATE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">YES! This year we march in LONDON on the 5th MAY 2018!!!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our family will join the march for the second time and we are so happy we won't need to travel as much to get there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">March for Life 2017 was held in Birmingham (which is quite a drive from London), the weather was really terrible, when the march started the rain came down heavy on us, but that did not discourage anyone. What a sight that was: people from all nations peacefully marching together side by side in defence of the unborn. A beautiful witness for us and for our children, who came home full of great questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The opposition tried to stop the march several times with some success... but we got through in the end and as the rain came down even harder on us, we offered our little discomfort for those women and children who have suffered and still suffer the effects of abortion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Last year's experience has left us full of admiration for the people actively involved in the fight, people in the front line always ready to take upon themselves insults and unfair attacks; mothers, fathers, religious, men, women and young adults courageously standing there to give a voice to those who can't speak for themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We feel very honoured that on the 5th May, London will be hosting the march this year and both myself and the older children are hoping the get involved a little bit more. It is the city where we live after all, and like good hosts we feel the need to serve and help as much as we can to facilitate the success of such an important event.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Throughout the morning there will be workshops, live music, a pro life exhibition, opportunities to pray and to meet old and new friends before the March starts. (<a href="http://www.marchforlife.co.uk/" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more info)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This year's 'March for Life' keynote speakers have lately been announced:</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://catholicpearl.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/the-good-counsel-network-saving-londons.html" target="_blank">Clare McCullough</a> </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">one of the founders of the Good Counsel Network fighting in the front line of the Pro-life movement for over 20 years.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Noel '</span></b></span><br />
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</span><i> 'Noel is Irish born and has spend over 18 years in the NHS where he worked in both psychiatric intensive care and for over 4 years in obstetrics and gynecology surgical theaters assisting in surgical abortions.
During his time in mental health he supported more people with post abortion syndrome than postnatal depression and when he made his journey from indifference to pro life he suffered horrendous bullying where he worked as for becoming pro life. His personal testimony is changing minds in the Republic of Ireland where the government are pushing to repeal the 8th amendment and make on demand abortion up to full term.'</i></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/MarchForLifeUK/photos/a.1544262895843793.1073741829.1464101100526640/2045703135699764/?type=3&theater</span></span></i><br />
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As with all big events there is an army of people involved behind the scenes to ensure the day will run smoothly. There are many ways in which each one of us can help in assuring the success of such an important day, here are 3 suggestions:<br />
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<b>1. GET INVOLVED.</b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'WE NEED YOUR HELP!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Could you organise a coach, mini bus or simply a group to come to this years March for Life? We can help you!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">We can tailor posters that advertise your coach, we can give you our official posters and leaflets, there is a pulpit announcement that you can have along with an insert to a newsletter in your parish. We are here to help you. There is a coach page on our website and als</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">o a travel info page which has loads of useful information.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please contact us if you are bringing a group </span></span></span></div>
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<a data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marchforlife.co.uk%2Ftravel-info%2F&h=ATO-cv5TRDCLpBEdCgltM1GxQcqntqQKE8nx3O-3WmOEknhjsTpb7sx4MteASU_jTjXfexZ_dsgeQzEeNcd-_1MNMxFRe2Gax7ZphbnX7beSMbPNst0u" href="http://www.marchforlife.co.uk/travel-info/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.marchforlife.co.uk/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;"></span>travel-info/</a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">(</span><span style="color: #990000;">https://www.facebook.com/MarchForLifeUK/photos/a.1464114467191970.1073741828.1464101100526640/2046226042314140/?type=3&theater)</span></div>
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<b>2. COME TO THE MARCH, </b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">just come along, encourage as many people as you can to attend the march. Share the event among the people that you know. Don't hesitate... come! You will not regret it, come and join us. Let's stand together side by side to witness to the dignity of the unborn.</span><br />
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<b>3. DONATE. </b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Behind every grand event there are also a lot of expenses to face and as we all know not much happens if there isn't money available. People's generosity is always surprising and very moving. No matter how small your contribution is, it will make the difference, so don't be shy... <a href="https://www.marchforlife.co.uk/donate/" target="_blank">DONATE NOW</a>, organise coffee mornings, table sales... do what you can to support the cause, your reward will be greater in heaven where an unfortunately great number of children will be there to open the gate for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We are all really looking forward to this and we hope to see you there too! </span></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-32681992141862679102018-02-08T23:45:00.002+00:002018-02-08T23:45:40.918+00:00Pull Up a Pew #7 Meet Beverly Stevens - The Woman Behind Regina Magazine <div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;">
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<span style="color: #500050; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Anyone who's been inhabiting the Catholic internet in the last few years will not have failed to notice the arrival of an innovative and unique new media presence in the shape of Regina Magazine. Fascinating articles and stories interspersed with beautiful photography and a combative style in the comments section blend to make Beverly Stevens's brainchild one of the most distinctive and attractive new Catholic media outlets. I had the honour of interviewing this inspiring Catholic wife, mother and magazine editor on my virtual yellow sofa to find out more...</i></span><br />
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<b style="color: #500050;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tell us a bit about yourself? What is your Catholic background?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was brought up Catholic, in an Italian immigrant family in New York. I had great Dominican teachers, up until their Community imploded in the wake of Vatican II. Then, like most young Catholics, I dropped the Church. After learning the lessons that living in the world without the Faith teaches one, I returned. Just in time to accidentally stumble over a beautiful indult Latin Mass in the Connecticut suburb where I lived. I was blessed to be able to raise my kids in the Faith.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>What inspired you to create Regina Magazine?</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was teaching Finance on an MBA program on an RAF base in England, and the idea of creating a Magazine wouldn't leave me. I think it was Our Lady. I finally gave in, though I didn't tell my husband for a good three months. We became a 501C3 organization in 2016, so now we can accept tax-deductible donations from US taxpayers. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What would you say is unique about Regina?</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you're talking about the Magazine, people tell us it's the stunning visuals. I also think it's the intelligent, non-specialist writing. For example, we show ordinary Catholics that it's possible to have beautiful, deep liturgy without getting into the weeds in the partisan liturgical wars. And beyond liturgy, REGINA shows beauty that is possible, unique to the Catholic way of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you're talking about REGINA's popular Facebook Page, I think it's the policing. Social media attracts all kinds, and we are often warning and banning people who cannot behave themselves. This creates an atmosphere where normal people can feel free to comment, learn from what we post and from each other. It's pretty unique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For both, I would say it's the international perspective. We have fans and readers from over 50 countries.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Tell us about the team behind Regina Magazine?</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First, everyone is a volunteer. Second, our writers, photographers, editors, film-makers, social media support and designers have come from all over the world. Third, while some are professionals, most are amateurs who simply love the Faith and want to see its beauty demonstrated. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Who is Regina Magazine aimed at?</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I started out thinking I was creating a Magazine for Catholic women over 50. I now have a Magazine and a Facebook Page where the median age is 35 -- about equally male and female, and about 80% Catholic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">REGINA Trips, on the other hand, focuses exclusively on Catholics aged 21-35. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Let’s face it, Catholic media has not exactly been at the forefront of art and design for a long time, while Regina is full of beautiful images. What inspired you to put so much effort into the visual aspect of the magazine?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, I am Italian-American, and Italians are possibly the most visually-oriented culture in the West. Also, I lived and traveled around Europe -- old Christendom -- for seven years, until recently. It struck me that the most evocative and beautiful sites are inevitably connected with the Church and the culture she inspired around her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In contrast, moderns are surrounded by ugliness. Almost everything built after WWII, in most of the world, is ugly. Now, this ugliness ranges from the banal and depressing all the way to the over-the-top grotesque. This especially applies to Catholic churches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The architects of the Counter-Reformation knew what they were about. Beauty draws people. In a world such as the one we inhabit today, showing people Catholic beauty is bound to draw them to the Faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the best thing is -- there are SO MANY Catholics out there creating the Good, the Beautiful and the True. All REGINA does is give them a platform.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>What publications, Catholic and secular have been most influential in your editorial formation?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, I liked the intelligent perspective of <i>First Things</i> and the <i>Wall Street Journal</i>. But too much dense type turns people off, especially online. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also remembered how easy it was to read <i>People </i>and <i>Rolling Stone</i> back in the day, because of their interview format.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally, the old LIFE Magazine was a huge hit, because of the photos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I came up with a Catholic LIFE Magazine, chock full of images and interviews with interesting people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>While many print magazines and newspapers are floundering or moving online, you’ve taken the revolutionary step of starting a print edition of Regina magazine, what was behind that decision?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Honestly, because we were hounded into it. I got tired of the emails complaining that people wanted to hold REGINA in their hands. So after four years, we decided to take the risk. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, whether people will support the Magazine is still an open question. We will have to see how sales go for this edition, before taking any more steps. (The Magazine can be purchased <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://bit.ly/2zcacQw&source=gmail&ust=1518198943106000&usg=AFQjCNFm9qz13Q5tWHL3Yg2KeoM-MW_bsQ" href="http://bit.ly/2zcacQw" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">HERE</a>)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Many of the most famous and successful magazine editors have been women, what do you think the feminine genius brings to a role like yours?</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have no idea. It's just natural for me to do this. Possibly because it's creative work that doesn't require much in the way of confrontation, unlike my days on Wall Street. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to showcase what others are doing, and to spread the real Faith.</span></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-83501675205976890352018-01-08T06:00:00.000+00:002018-01-22T12:28:19.725+00:00Pull Up a Pew #6 ~ The Answer to a Calling ~ Jenna and the 'Blessed is She' Ministry<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;">
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">Next week I will be hosting the third 'Blessed Brunch' in London. I am really looking forward to getting to know the ladies who have signed up, many of whom I will be meeting for the first time...</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">Growing up I always used to avoid hanging out with girls as much as I could... I went to an all girls convent school so every day I had no choice, but once the school day ended most of my friends were boys as I enjoyed their company much more and most of all (unlike most of my female friends) I enjoyed playing all sorts of sports. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">Looking back at my life I see God's incredible sense of humour. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">Today my life is very different... I don't do much sport... and not only has God sent me 4 daughters... I am constantly surrounded by women, and what is more I now feel the NEED to be in contact with like-minded women.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">Being a mother and especially a Catholic mother in a secular country can be even more isolating...</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">We are in this beautiful world but we are not of this world and for that reason we Christians are drawn towards each other and feel the need to form communities where we can grow in faith and help one another to focus on our ultimate goal... Heaven.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">Although the world keeps on insisting that there is no difference between men and women, and everyone seems to play along with this 'Emperor's New Clothes' scenario... I've discovered that women's spiritually is quite different from men's and that it is vitally important to build a community of spiritual sisters.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">The 'Blessed is She' community was introduced to me by a friend and has already given many of us food for our souls, great material to deepen our knowledge as we explored Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church and has provided many opportunities to live, experience and form little communities of sisters brought together in Christ.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;">Sitting on my virtual yellow sofa today is Jenna Guizar, the lady who was inspired to start it all...</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Tell us briefly about yourself and your faith journey so far.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am a wife and mother of four girls (one in the womb!). I saw Jesus' face for the first time looking straight at me when I was 16 years old, and I haven't been able to rid myself of that memory since then. He has moved me and transformed my li</span><span style="background-color: white;">fe and who I am in so many ways. The Lord has blessed both my husband and me with free spirits, and we love moving in whatever direction we feel called to as a fa</span><span style="background-color: white;">mily. Blessed is She is one of those examples.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>What is 'Blessed is She' and what inspired you to start it? </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessed is She is a women's ministry that began in September 2014. I was looking around the Catholic Church and wanting to find a good, solid, welcoming women's community, and I kept coming up dry. Where do I fit in? was one of my main questions -- as a young wife and mother, as someone who doesn't work in young adult ministry but also doesn't fit in with beautiful ministries for older women. So the Lord opened my eyes to start something. I reached out to about twenty other writers and bloggers I knew and asked them if they'd like to start this women's ministry with me. A few said no, but a lot said yes, and then Blessed is She was born.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://blessedisshe.net/" target="_blank"><img alt="When I picture God I always see Him sitting on a throne and I can’t lift my eyes to His face. I tend to keep my head bent just gazing at his feet. I always thought of it as reverence, but lately I question if something else is holding me back—Fear? Self-doubt? Guilt of past sins?I don’t want my prayers to God to feel distant or awkward. I want to be able to imagine myself holding the hand of my Heavenly Father and pouring my heart out to Him. I want to know in my heart, and not just my head, that God loves me as a precious daughter..Read today's #BISdailydevotion written by @bobbi_rol on the site." src="https://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/c0.135.1080.1080/26154350_164346444336360_2355901596077916160_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>How does Blessed is She work? </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessed is She sends out daily devotions every single day on our website and in your email, along with the daily readings from the Lectionary every day. We have over 40 writers, and they all read the readings, pray about it, and write based on 1. How the Lord is speaking to them through the readings, 2. their stage and phase in life (we have college students, single women, married women, mothers, grandmothers, and sisters on the writing team!), and 3. How this applies to women everywhere.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Who are the women behind Blessed is She and how were they chosen? </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of the women are right here: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://blessedisshe.net/the-authors/&source=gmail&ust=1515190883679000&usg=AFQjCNFWol6QcYhw7UEEKbNaHTif7u4pCg" href="https://blessedisshe.net/the-authors/" target="_blank">https://blessedisshe.<wbr></wbr>net/the-authors/</a>. They are either the initial group I reached out to three years ago (just ladies I friended on the internet), friends of friends, or women who are writing beautiful words online. I found Erica Tighe, our designer, on Instagram!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Why did you feel it was important to spread this ministry to Europe? </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Lord really just took it there. It wasn't intentional by any means (not a lot of this was, at the start). We just kept moving where the Lord wanted us, created products women were asking for, helping them find resources to build Catholic female friendships in their own cities and towns.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Why do us women need each other on this journey towards Heaven? </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Catholic female friendships have been life-changing for me. Whenever I am going through a really rough time in my life, I am continually loved on and picked up by my friends. They know me sometimes better than I know myself, they can speak life into me when I though hope was lost, they pray with and for me. Female relationships rooted in Christ are truly going to change our lives, and I deeply desire those friendships for every woman.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Tell us about the new study course ‘Blessed Conversations’. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessed Conversations studies were made out of our desire as a Blessed is She team to meet women in real life. We do not want to be just an online ministry, we want women to meet, to pray together, to hear each other's stories, to be in relationship with each other. We created studies to help facilitate small or large group get togethers for a deepening relationships with the Lord and with each other.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>What would you say to every woman who feels called to starting/leading a BiS group but feels inadequate for the task? </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am the last person I would have asked to start a women's ministry, let me tell you! I lack organizational skills, I am SO not type-A, I have always sort of started things and then not followed through, I am simple and not so heady with theology and catechetical knowledge. The list goes on and on. The same is true for you, in your own personality that the Lord gave you. You may feel or seem different than what the "perfect" person for the job would be. But nope. If He set it on your heart, then it's for YOU. Not for the girl next to you or in front of you. It's for YOU. He will equip you, just like he did the apostles, just like he did the Saints. None of us will ever feel perfectly adequate. So we take our inadequacies, and we say, "Lord, do with me what You will!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That would be amazing! We are organizing six retreats throughout our main regions of the US for 2018, but it would be a dream to come to Europe! It's just a matter of God opening up the right doors to make it happen. We are always open to where He'd like us to go next.</span></div>
Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-4222615776408637822017-12-11T23:59:00.000+00:002018-01-12T14:15:43.647+00:00Our Hopes and Dreams for 2018<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Driving with the girls towards Brighton to visit some good friends of ours, I asked to Pierpaolo the question he hates me to ask him: "So Pier... what are our hopes and wishes for the new year?". He briefly looks at me as if to say' this can't be a serious question', laughs and the list starts...</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A bigger house</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A new car</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More money</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Affording music lessons for the children</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A dog for Ettore </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rest</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The not so serious list carries on and starts verging on the ridiculous... The house described not only becomes huge but has an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a sauna...ah! A gym and of course a fully equipped recording studio, an art room, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a few horses, a unicorn for Virginia... and Maria, our 18 month old chips in to the conversation in her really funny way of speaking ... "mnmn have some?" (which we think means can I have some) what ever is that the children are saying she would like to have some. Without mentioning the amazing gadgets our new car would possess... tables that come out of the floor, sweet dispensers, a mini cinema... and a compart for the dog of course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The nonsense finishes, the car goes quiet, my mind wanders and my list begins... yes... I start wishing for a bigger place... with a MASSIVE laundry room and yeah... why not a new car too... though I am sentimentally attached to our Big Blue van and I would miss not having to kick the door to open the boot. (I don't ALWAYS do it... so Pier don't worry ;) ).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pierpaolo puts up the volume of 'All I want for Christmas is You' and the noise is restored ... The girls sing at the top of their voices and that joyful thrill of the season is more present than ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The boys phone to let us know they have woken up and that they will spend Saturday afternoon building the Christmas crib. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyone is happy! There is nothing we lack.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://reconciledtoyou.com/cwbn-blog-hop.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="No automatic alt text available." height="536" src="https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/24862076_10212487363676746_5365599007552724816_n.jpg?oh=10ab738b2ee2a751d6c7a91534349042&oe=5AC7F997" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444340; font-family: Arimo, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">This post is part of the Catholic Women Blogging Network Blog Hop. Click on the picture for more posts on this topic.</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What can I desire for? What can I hope for next year? What do I wish for? I look around me... I have more than I deserve. A husband who has given everything up for me and us, loving and obedient children, a roof, clothes and above all we have God in our life! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Straight away everything becomes clear and my wishes and hopes for the coming year are obvious. I want to be grateful at all times, especially when it gets hard, I lose focus on what's really important, when things don't go as I want them to go and are not perfect before my eyes! I want to be able to trust in the Lord fully, from the beginning. I want to trust in His Providence without ever doubting that perhaps this time He won't help us out. I want to love without reservations. I want our children to have confirmation that God is Love.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="chapternum" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; bottom: -0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="chapternum" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; bottom: -0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Psalm 31</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-1" id="en-KJV-14333" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="chapternum" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; bottom: -0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;"> </span>In thee, O <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-2" id="en-KJV-14334" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-3" id="en-KJV-14335" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-4" id="en-KJV-14336" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-5" id="en-KJV-14337" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>God of truth.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-6" id="en-KJV-14338" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-7" id="en-KJV-14339" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-8" id="en-KJV-14340" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-9" id="en-KJV-14341" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>Have mercy upon me, O <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-10" id="en-KJV-14342" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-11" id="en-KJV-14343" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-12" id="en-KJV-14344" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-13" id="en-KJV-14345" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-14" id="en-KJV-14346" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>But I trusted in thee, O <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>: I said, Thou art my God.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-15" id="en-KJV-14347" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-16" id="en-KJV-14348" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-17" id="en-KJV-14349" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>Let me not be ashamed, O <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-18" id="en-KJV-14350" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">18 </span>Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-19" id="en-KJV-14351" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">19 </span>Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-20" id="en-KJV-14352" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">20 </span>Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-21" id="en-KJV-14353" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">21 </span>Blessed be the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-22" id="en-KJV-14354" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">22 </span>For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-23" id="en-KJV-14355" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>O love the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, all ye his saints: for the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-31-24" id="en-KJV-14356" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </span>Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>.</span></i></span></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-27397878453109477962017-12-08T00:08:00.000+00:002018-01-22T00:03:22.194+00:00Pull Up a Pew #5 - A Catholic Voice -<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span class="im"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2013 Pope Benedict referred to the digital social media as the new 'agora' , the new open space where </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">thoughts</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, opinions and information is e</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">xchanged, an open square in which new relationships and communities are created.</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="im"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span></i></span></span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>These spaces, when engaged in a wise and balanced way, help to foster forms of dialogue and debate which, if conducted respectfully and with concern for privacy, responsibility and truthfulness, can reinforce the bonds of unity between individuals and effectively promote the harmony of the human family. The exchange of information can become true communication, links ripen into friendships, and connections facilitate communion. If the networks are called to realize this great potential, the people involved in them must make an effort to be authentic since, in these spaces, it is not only ideas and information that are shared, but ultimately our very selves.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The development of social networks calls for commitment: people are engaged in building relationships and making friends, in looking for answers to their questions and being entertained, but also in finding intellectual stimulation and sharing knowledge and know-how. The networks are increasingly becoming part of the very fabric of society, inasmuch as they bring people together on the basis of these fundamental needs. Social networks are thus nourished by aspirations rooted in the human heart." (Pope Benedict XVI Message for World Communications Day 2013)</i></span></div>
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<i style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Caroline Farrow, woman, wife, mother and journalist has truly embraced the calling to speak out and witness to the Truth openly in the virtual sphere. She is an ever-present Catholic voice in the media who is not afraid of being in the spotlight and faithfully communicating the Church's viewpoint.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Though we've never met in person I have had the great pleasure of following Caroline's social and traditional media output over a number of years and t</i></span><i style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">oday I have the great pleasure of introducing her to you on my little virtual cosy space. </i><br />
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<i style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Meet Caroline Farrow.</i></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/CF_Farrow" target="_blank"><img alt="Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, closeup" height="400" src="https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23754848_10214851779826131_6132389562222086698_n.jpg?oh=28127a0792a6fa9ef224db1e93fe50c4&oe=5AC9A53D" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="im"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Tell us a little bit about yourself and your Catholic background.</b></i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I was baptised into the Catholic church as a baby and while I was always aware of this during childhood, my upbringing was, to borrow the phrase of Father Ted, ‘an ecumenical matter’. My father is an Anglican and was the organist at our local church, which is where my sister and myself attended every <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1492972665" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> both for the morning and service and for Evensong where we sung in the choir. We also used to enjoy earning 50p, which was then the going rate for singing in the choir at weddings!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The only time we attended a Catholic Church would be during the school holidays when we would go to visit my grandmother who lived in Devon and attended Buckfast Abbey. In fact Buckfast Abbey feels very much like my spiritual home. Not only was I baptised there, but my first memories of Catholic liturgy are there and I remember being transported by the smell of incense, the monks’ chanting and being transfixed by the vibrant stained glass window of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel where we sometimes sat during Mass. One of my earliest memories is of sitting on the floor in that chapel clutching my palm on Palm <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1492972666" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span>.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One great sadness is that despite being baptised, my sister and I never received First Holy Communion. When we began to attend secondary school, the local vicar called my sister and myself to the Rectory one <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1492972667" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday</span></span> morning and told us that we needed to make a decision in terms of what denomination we were. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We returned feeling quite confused and reported the conversation to our parents, whereupon my mother sped off to the Catholic secondary school we were attending in order to speak to the headmistress, a nun, who determined that of course we must be Catholic and ought to attend the school Mass every <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1492972668" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span>. (We were day pupils at a Catholic boarding school). I don’t think the sisters were aware we had not received any kind of catechises so we were instructed simply to attend and copy what everyone else was doing at communion. My sister is a few years older than me and I remember my mother teaching her how to make the sign of the cross which she would need at school. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So it’s not surprising that I later lapsed as we had little in the way of instruction either at home or even at school. We went to Mass on Sundays, high days and holy days, but this was in the mid-eighties, the community was dwindling and it was presumed that by the time pupils got to secondary school they already knew all about confession and so on. It was only when I was well into maturity that I learned that you were supposed to go to confession before receiving the Eucharist, or what you were supposed to do with a rosary, or why you genuflected. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>When was the crucial point of your reversion to Catholicism and in what way did your life change?</b></i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My conversion was a gradual process rather than a dramatic Damascene affair. I’d always had a basic belief in God and Jesus Christ, but had fallen away from going to church and from Catholicism thanks to the difficult teachings on contraception and sex, which I didn’t understand and preferred not to think about. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There were several steps on the journey along the way. One being when my daughter was a tiny baby and I was breastfeeding her to sleep while reading a copy of Brideshead Revisited for the first time. As I reached the end of the story when Charles’ conversion is described, I began to weep and decided that even though I was a miserable sinner who had done everything wrong in life, I was determined that I would not allow the same to happen to my daughter and would do whatever I could to give her the gift of faith that I had lacked as a child. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started attending a Baptism course and then Mass every <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1492972669" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday</span></span> and began to explore the Catholic faith more and more deeply. I had realised through my own experience that the Catholic Church was right about abortion and contraception, therefore I wanted to learn what else she taught and why. I knew I believed in Jesus, but I wanted to understand how best to follow him and know more about the faith into which I had been baptised and to which I felt I intuitively belonged. I had to alter the course of my life which involved making some difficult personal decisions. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Tell us about your job</b></i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My vocation is no different to that of any other wife and mother, though being married to a Roman Catholic priest is in and of itself, something of a vocation, meaning that you often have to subordinate your own needs and desires to that of your husband’s ministry. I often find myself cancelling work arrangements and interviews because his vocation takes priority, which wouldn’t necessarily be the case for other Catholic women who work. It’s why I feel strongly that a married clergy is not a panacea, especially in a world which demands that male and female careers are of equal importance. My husband doesn’t have a job, but a vocation which carries incredible spiritual responsibilities, therefore my vocation is to support him, which many contemporary women find hard to understand. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In terms of the job I am most well-known for, I work as a freelance Catholic journalist and media commentator. It involves being very switched on and plugged into the news cycle and being ready to produce an written article or commentary at a moment’s notice, on anything to do with either feminism, motherhood or the Catholic Church at a moment’s notice. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m also doing some freelance work with a number of different Catholic media outlets, and am enjoying planning and producing multimedia content, such as forthcoming radio shows, which is giving a fascinating insight into life behind the camera and I’m enjoying honing my interviewing technique which is an entirely different skill set altogether, where you get to showcase a guest. It really helps being involved in Catholic organisations where your faith is taken as a given, celebrated and understood, rather than treated as a curiosity and misrepresented. </span></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></b></i><img alt="Image may contain: 2 people, people sitting" height="360" src="https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23755580_10214851901829181_57297102881221676_n.jpg?oh=71bbc760aca83e7631f680dc456e6362&oe=5A944794" style="font-size: 12.8px;" width="640" /><br />
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<i style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Social media today is a very efficacious means to get your point across and let your voice be heard. You are a very active member of the virtual community, at what point did you decide that was necessary?</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social media was an organic development. I never really consciously decided that I was going to become an active member of the virtual community, but I realised by the number of social media followers I gained and the amount of interaction and responses I was receiving, that this was something I could use productively, without actually taking up too much off my time. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was quite flattered the other day to be called a Catholic opinion former, which is really not how I consider myself and something of a responsibility. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="im"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>In 2009 Pope Benedict encouraged us to take the Gospel message to the Internet, how do you think that call is progressing?</b></i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I’m honest, I think the internet and social media needs to be used more productively in terms of promoting the Gospel message, which is something all of us, myself included need to give more serious thought to. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are some fabulous resources out there from trusted names, such as Catholic Answers and EWTN which are so helpful in terms of informing one’s faith and certainly helped me and my husband at various points in our different journeys of faith. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The downside of the internet for Catholics is that it is giving a lot more information and news than was every previously possible about the possible political machinations inside the Vatican and there’s a danger that we become over-invested and obsess about things which we have little of chance of changing or influencing and we begin to fret or even become despondent. It is good that Catholics are becoming more informed, we just need to ensure that we respond productively. Internecine squabbles are never a good witness to the faith. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We need to use the internet first and foremost to develop our own interior and prayer lives, which is vital if we are to be able to effectively evangelise others. It’s sometimes easier said than done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="im"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Social media requires a lot of our attention and there is always the danger of feeling that you have to be engaged all the time or you might miss something. How do you balance that with your family life?</b></i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></b></i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social media only takes up as much time as you let it. The joy of an app is that it is easy to dip in and out of social media as and when you have a spare five minutes. The danger is that reaching for your phone can become an addictive and time-consuming habit. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It helps that I am a touch typist, able to type very quickly and so I tend to use Facebook, which lends itself to longer posts and more nuanced engagement, mainly when the children are in bed. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I make a habit of putting my phone away whenever I am spending quality time with the children and I’m too busy either first thing in the morning when I am getting the children ready for school, or when I have picked them up and am preoccupied with dinner, homework, bath and bed, to be distracted by the phone. I set myself a time limit in terms of social media and then stick to it. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In terms of catching up with the news cycle I have a few key accounts which I follow to keep in touch with developments and of course if a big story breaks, I will get a notification on my phone, but as I said, if I’m spending time with the family, I just put the phone away in a drawer or somewhere so I can’t be distracted by it. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you recall the most surreal conversation you had on social media and the most edifying one?</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve had so many surreal conversations on Twitter that it’s difficult to single out the most striking one. I think it might have been Ben Cohen from Pink News attempting to claim that my opposition to same-sex marriage rendered me anti-Semitic on the grounds that liberal Jews support it and therefore I was trying to deny them religious freedom!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most edifying conversations tend to take place privately when people message me with various questions about the faith, or express support for what my public stance on various issues of faith and morals which they feel prevented from speaking out against. I am always delighted when people share their faith experiences with me and it’s gratifying when people who may otherwise be politically opposed to you, accept that you are approaching matters from a perspective of good faith. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 13pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been humbled that I count two gay men amongst my friends on social media who don’t know me in real life, but have been able to see that I harbour no hatred, animosity or ill will towards them. These types of friendships are crucial and I really appreciate the generosity and open-mindedness of people who do not demand that I abandon my beliefs before friendship, respect and mutual co-operation can be achieved. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 13pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="im"><i><b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is your family policy on social media especially with regard to your children?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span></b></i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #500050; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My younger children are all too young to have social media accounts or even want them at this stage. I love sharing photos of my children but am very careful to select ones which won’t cause them any embarrassment when they are older.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now my eldest is a teenager I do not share any photos of her at all without her explicit consent. As a result of my public profile, I have unfortunately and perhaps inevitably, attracted various cyber-stalkers over the years which has caused my family distress and deterred my daughter from social media as she is worried that she too may be become a target. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be honest, while the circumstances surrounding this may be unfortunate, my daughter doesn’t feel as though she is missing out in any way, but she is well aware of how to keep safe on the internet if she does change her mind in the future. I’m hoping that she stays away from social media for as long as possible and continues to model this for her younger siblings. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="m_3723719980500522817gmail-kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While she does have a tablet which was a school requirement this year, she doesn’t tend to use it, other than to catch up on Strictly Come Dancing and play Candy Crush! Our internet is pre-filtered and there is some excellent software available which monitors and limits children’s device use and the rule is that no technology is allowed in the bedroom after <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1492972670" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">9pm.</span></span> We also have software which sends us copies of text messages sent and received. Children are going to have to cope with mobile devices and internet etiquette as adults, therefore it’s beholden on parents to help them learn good habits and to keep use of devices in perspective. </span></span></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-40021754400736658392017-11-17T23:09:00.001+00:002017-11-17T23:11:02.788+00:00Two Degrees of Separation from Sanctity<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_S6GNQ0AcnMUALs6j8oeVuSJXk5Fp_T25CBc8DCycPotGRxeYjWk9nZL5lr0QHhZblYJxUZzdyINe_y4lj5Dy17XUby77kTcvHkGqeFNMqgzV_WQVTJC1etIkMtBaJZvEzawctKx9NDy/s1600/martires_paules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="1078" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_S6GNQ0AcnMUALs6j8oeVuSJXk5Fp_T25CBc8DCycPotGRxeYjWk9nZL5lr0QHhZblYJxUZzdyINe_y4lj5Dy17XUby77kTcvHkGqeFNMqgzV_WQVTJC1etIkMtBaJZvEzawctKx9NDy/s640/martires_paules.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Spanish 20th Century Martyrs of the Vincentian Family</td></tr>
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>My nephew's fiance is staying in our home for a couple of months as they prepare for their marriage next year. Last weekend she headed back to Spain, not for work nor for a wedding but for the Beatification of her Great-great Uncle. The saints can sometimes seem impossibly far away, haloed ancients in another dimension yet It was amazing to suddenly be brought into such close contact with a bona fide martyr of the Catholic Church. </i></span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white;">I asked my nephews Marco and Victoria to write about what it's like to see a family member raised to the glory of the altar!</span></i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Blessed Enrique Pedro Gonzalbez Andreu</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A few months ago we received an invitation to attend the beatification of Enrique Pedro Gonzalbez Andreu in Madrid, together with 59 other Spanish martyrs of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. This was particularly significant as Enrique is Victoria´s great-great-uncle and I had never witnessed a beatification ceremony in person. It was with excitement that we boarded our plane on a cold </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">night in London, heading to Madrid, where we would meet Victoria´s extended family, who travelled from Cartagena, in the southeast of Spain. Over 30 of us made the trip to bear witness to the Church´s recognition of these martyrs´ lives and deaths. The Mass and beatification would take place </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">on Saturday 11th November at the Palacio Vistalegre in Madrid. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Enrique Pedro (“Pedrin”) Gonzalbez Andreu was born in Cartagena in 1910, and at the young age of 19 joined the Sons of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal a group belonging to the Society of St Vincent de Paul. A devout Catholic, he was becoming known for his writing and 23 of his articles had already been published in local newspapers. At the height of the Republican persecution of the Church in Spain in 1935 he wrote an article entitled “Denial” in which he encouraged his readers to confess their faith in Christ and God during difficult times, with a great love for the Catholic Church and his country. D</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">uring the turbulent beginning of Spain’s Civil War, he was detained with two friends, Allepuz and Ardil, who would become his companions in martyrdom: the three of them would find encouragement in each other to give up their lives for God. Two days before his death Enrique wrote to his family: “To those at home, I know you have heard of the sentence against me. I am calm and pray you don’t give in to despair, trust in God, as I do. A hug to all of you, Pedrin”. At the age of 26, he was shot on the morning of 22nd September 1936, wearing his Miraculous Medal. Victoria´s family still has this medal as a precious relic, together with his last letter. Before dying, the three friends explicitly forgave their executioners. Enrique´s only fault was being a Catholic.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Before the Mass started, we were shown videos detailing some of the martyrs´lives, and Victoria even got interviewed by the local TV station! After the opening hymn, the beatification rite was beautifully conducted by Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the body of the Church that investigates cases that lead to the canonization of saints. Many parts of the Church joined the Cardinal in this celebration: families, priests, nuns, bishops and archbishops. in particular, Marco was pleased to see Rouco Varela, Archbishop Emeritus of Madrid and open defender of the Church in Spain’s “culture war” with former President Zapatero in the early 2000s. At the end of Mass, the choir was joined by the assembly in singing the “Salve to Our Lady of Charity”, a popular hymn from Cartagena, composed by one of the martyrs being beatified that day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This was a wonderful experience for us, as not everyone can say they have a Blessed in their family, who can intercede for them. We witnessed how 60 ordinary people lived extraordinary lives, by truly living their faith in the face of adversity. The humility and courage with which they lived the last days of their lives is something which we all aspire to. For Victoria and her family, this day firmly united her family within the Church; for Marco, this experience brought him closer to his fiancé and her family.</span>Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-79935601419861042322017-11-14T21:30:00.000+00:002018-01-22T12:32:59.091+00:00Pull up a Pew #4 - Saints and Superheroes<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #660000;"><b>It seems that every couple of weeks a new
superhero film hits the cinemas, London Buses are permanently plastered with advertisements
of muscle-bound heroes and heroines, caped and masked, ready to save the world…
again. For us Catholics the idea that there are beings in or from another place,
dimension or time, ready and waiting to help us is not so strange – after all,
the saints we know, love and pray too also have uniforms, special powers and
easily recognizable symbols . I’ve often used the superhero analogy when explaining
the communion of saints to confirmation candidates so I was super-excited when
I came across Maria Johnson’s latest book: Supergirls
and Halos a fun and thought-provoking exploration of the world of lady saints
and super-heroines. I recently had a chance to interview the author about her book
and her own journey towards super-sanctity!</b></span></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Tell us about yourself? How do you juggle
family life, faith and writing?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now that I am retired and fully enjoying
the benefits of the empty nest, I thought I’d be writing more – but that hasn’t
exactly been the case. When the children were little, and even up into their
high school and college years, I would set aside special time to write. But
now, I find that having all that “extra” time gets filled with volunteering or
enjoying spontaneous outings with my husband. I’ve gone back to a writing
schedule in the very early morning. I dedicate that first hour or two of the
day to prayer and writing, and that way, anything I do later in the day is a
bonus!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>What inspired you to write this book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The idea that the heroes in popular culture
have some value for talking about virtue has been on my mind for decades. It’s
only been in the last decade or so, with a reawakened faith, that I can see the
value of this exercise through a faith lens. When I saw that there was a Wonder
Woman movie being made, it hit me like a bolt of lightning! This is a book for
our time. So many of us are seeking something…the good…which you and I
understand is God. But so many people are seeking and not finding the Truth. I wanted
to write a bridge for them. To speak to them where they are in the culture, and
point them toward the saints, toward the Blessed Mother, who will lead us to
Jesus. I start with Wonder Woman and write about Our Lady of Guadalupe in the
last chapter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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superhero as you were growing up?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My favorite hero was definitely Lt. Uhura
from Star Trek, but I can’t remember having a favorite saint. The Blessed
Mother was always a presence in our home, especially under the title of Our
Lady of Charity, so maybe my favorite was Mary! But really, I probably had an <u>un</u>favorite
saint in St. Teresa of Avila. That’s a long story, but it involved having to
attend a lot of my mother’s school reunion lunches. She went to a Carmelite
school and so I took it out on St. Teresa when I’d have to give up my Saturday
afternoon to visit with my mom’s childhood friends. St. Teresa and I have made
up and become friends since those days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Wonder woman was the first female
superhero to star in her own film. What do you think female superheroes bring
to the table which is distinctive and helpful to us mere mortal ladies?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The superheroines on the big screen give us
a chance to have adventures vicariously. It would be cool to fly, or control
nature, or have the strength to throw a railcar across a shipyard. It’s not
very useful to me on a daily basis, but it’s cool. But you know, being able to
throw a train, and having the temperance or prudence not to do it…that’s
meaningful. We see heroines on the big screen control their powers, or use them
for good, and we can be encouraged to do the same. I don’t have much use for
picking up cars, but really, I have a weapon in how I use words. Modeling that
temperance, that self-control, in how I use my words is also a heroic act. I
can destroy or build up. The Superheroines teach that. Wonder Woman,
especially, because she’s in the culture right now, is an even greater example
of how as women, we can lead with love. I’m sure we’ll see it next month in the
release of <i>The Last Jedi</i>, where we’ll
not only see Rey tackle a hero’s journey, but we’ll see a glimpse of General
Organa (Princess Leia) lead with spiritual motherhood. It’s a wonderful time
for girls and women to see these heroines on the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Every superhero has her nemesis or
weakness, what do you think stops women from becoming saints?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the book I describe these hindrances to
our holiness as capes. Remember in <i>The
Incredibles</i>, Edna Mode refused to add a cape to Mr. Incredible’s suit? She
said capes got in the way of his work. We put on capes in our lives that hold
us back from holiness. Sin, of course, is what I’m talking about. While we
might not be able to avoid sin, we do have powerful tools in our faith utility
belts. We have frequent reception of the sacraments, reconciliation and
communion! We have prayer and devotions! We have the rosary!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>How do you avoid the risk of trivializing
the importance of the saints by comparing them with imaginary caped crusaders
of various shapes and sizes?</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That’s such a great question because, of
course, my intent is to inspire! I start each section by talking about the
heroine and identifying her human virtues and strengths. These characters
exhibit a kind of heroism that is over the top, in your face. They are
characters that popular culture hold up as role models. I acknowledge that they
have traits that are admirable and worthy of emulating, but then I introduce
the saint and discuss the same kind of virtue in the context of the cardinal
virtues. I point out the very human
experience of the saint. Heroic virtue, as exhibited in the lives of saints, is
presented not only as the ideal, but attainable. We are all made to be saints
and are all capable of heroic virtue in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I hope this book inspires women of all ages
to release the capes getting in the way of leading lives of holiness. Too often
we think Sainthood is unattainable, that somehow the Saints have some extra
ingredient that makes them Super-Holy. That extra ingredient is Grace, and it
is freely given to us, not earned. We all have the makings of sainthood. I hope
this book shows the way to real heroic virtue. And I hope it entertains,
inspires, and brings out the saint in each of us.</span><br />
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-65501901406467076622017-10-23T00:07:00.001+01:002018-01-22T00:01:22.819+00:00Let's All Dance for Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was September 2015 when my super active pro-life eldest son, Ettore shared a link to our Facebook about a very appealing event.<br />
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I had always heard stories told by my parents in law of the beautiful dinner dances organised by the Italian community in London once upon a time... wonderful dresses, incredible food and amazing music, and the even more extravagant stories told by one of my sisters in law who constantly attends posh dinners, banquets and balls.<br />
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I loved listening to the tales of these wonderful parties but felt maybe they weren't for us. I still dreamt of one day attending a ball, where long dresses would float around the room, and gentlemen would look dashing in their tuxedoes and where live music would fill the air.<br />
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I didn't have to wait long for my dream to come true... that link my eldest son had sent me directed me to an event organised by the <a href="http://www.goodcounselnet.co.uk/" target="_blank">Good Counsel Network</a> ... not just a dance for the sake of it but .... A PRO LIFE CHARITY BALL!!!<br />
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Full of enthusiasm I phoned Pierpaolo who obviously had to tell me to calm down, I then phoned my sister telling her she had no choice but to come, did the same with my sister in law who attends the many wonderful parties... got a few other members of the family excited and within minutes filled a table... God had granted me my wish...<br />
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Yes it was a lot of money for us but the fact that it was for the greatest cause imaginable... that of helping this great organisation to offer a choice to the poor mothers who assumed abortion was their only choice, was worth every penny... even if that meant eating pasta or beans on toast for the next two months.<br />
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The day of the ball arrived and the dress was slightly too tight... and it was not because I had eaten too much in the previous days.. we were going to attend that very same pro life ball with a secret we wanted to keep for ourselves... a new life would be our chaperon and not just for the ball but, God willing for the next nine months and more... Yes! that long awaited baby number 6 was finally on the way.<br />
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The journey (may not have been by limousine, we went in Big Blue ...our very old 9 seater Caravelle) was great fun, we all felt like a million dollars inside and we were determined we were going to dance the night away and enjoy ourselves as we always do when we are together.<br />
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The venue was very elegant, the food delicate, the wine abundant, the waiters polite and the company superb. The time for the speeches arrived and one of the many mothers who had received the GCN support, spoke with strength and firmness. She brought tears to my eyes as she stood there with her gorgeous little daughter.<br />
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As the band played the first dance the music took us and real fun began...<br />
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I will remember that night dearly!<br />
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On our way out I thanked the organizers for the wonderful evening and promised I would bring more people the following year.<br />
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The count down to the Good Counsel Network Pro-Life Ball 2016 began as we stepped out from the hotel...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ScHmxo1VffQSNwtoEqllUF3mbSStMhyPzTbYTjPEyPzCvWYkkEYPPnj9qE5GCDPJFAI51_uyDfrPOV0CBRFmJ7J3lw3qNVEcq00L4Q7k3O4O9UqP98ykPtviWeoy-4MUuGidd53oq9LE/s1600/15032695_10153884871342554_7107629117696024214_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ScHmxo1VffQSNwtoEqllUF3mbSStMhyPzTbYTjPEyPzCvWYkkEYPPnj9qE5GCDPJFAI51_uyDfrPOV0CBRFmJ7J3lw3qNVEcq00L4Q7k3O4O9UqP98ykPtviWeoy-4MUuGidd53oq9LE/s320/15032695_10153884871342554_7107629117696024214_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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The money was even shorter for the 2016 ball... Maria Bernardette was born on 18th July 2016 and I was on unpaid maternity leave. That wasn't going to stop us either. It was for a good cause and we trusted in God's providence anyway. I found my dress on Ebay for about £20, borrowed my sister in law's bag and wore my mother's posh cape once again. A few more people joined our table...<br />
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Maria had a great time too and another successful night was spent among family, old and new friends... Maria fell asleep just in time for the dance and we went home once again full of joy and looking forward to another year.<br />
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A year has already passed, the dress is ready (in fact it has been ready since June....) and the Pro-Life ball 2017 almost here.<br />
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This year unlike the previous years we won't be going in 10 or 12 but rather in 30!!! Thanks to the generosity and openness of the many beautiful women and men who have happily accepted a simple invitation to a ball, a ball that, as it did for Cinderella, will change the life of not just a woman but of a future Mother and her child for whom we danced the night away!<br />
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If you'd like to join us it's still not too late!<br />
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<br />Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-32994690568732432372017-10-10T00:35:00.000+01:002018-01-22T12:30:29.615+00:00Pull Up a Pew #3 Married to Mary's Meals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Our journey with '<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/catholic.mothers/" target="_blank">Catholic Mothers</a>' has given us the chance to meet some wonderful women who tirelessly work to live according to the teachings of the Gospel whether in the public eye or in the background.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span><i style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Often behind the scenes we women have been given a very precious task to carry out, that of serving our family with all of ourselves... Not an easy task, </span></i><i style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">at times,</span></i><i style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and one that today's world doesn't value or recognize. </span></i></div>
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<i style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For this reason, we need to be reminded constantly of the importance of the role we have been entrusted and we need to encourage one another in this important God-given vocation.</span></i></div>
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<i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today I have the great pleasure of introducing Julie Macfarlane-Barrow, wife of </span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Magnus </span></i><i style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Macfarlane-Barrow, founder of <a href="https://www.marysmeals.org.u/" target="_blank">Mary's Meals</a>, and a mother of 7.</span></i></i></div>
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<i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Founded in 1992 Mary's Meal, named in honour of Our Lady, is a charity born to provide nutritious daily<a href="https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/what-we-do/school-meals/" target="_blank"> school meals </a> to children in some of the poorest parts of the world. </span></i></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Julie's love for the Lord, her devotion to her husband and love for her children play a very important role in the life of her family and she is an inspiration especially to the wives of busy husbands. In her interview she opens a window onto a family whose work is to feed a million children every day.</span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Enjoy.</span></i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>Tell us a little bit about yourself. What's your Catholic background?</b></i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am blessed with catholic parents who have a great love for Our Lady. We
were that family who was at everything that was going on at church - May
devotions, family prayer groups, First Fridays, First Saturdays, the
lot. My parents took all four of us to Rome, Lourdes and Medjugorje, and
made sure we could attend any and every church youth event we wanted to,
including two of my siblings attending World Youth Days. We even used
to do all night vigils during Lent! It was an incredible experience.
As we became older things changed and we all began opting out of the things Mum and Dad were still faithful to. I think without a life-changing
trip to Medjugorje when I had just turned 16 years old I would have a very
different life now.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>How did you meet your husband? </b></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I had qualified as a Staff Nurse a year earlier when war broke out in the
Former Yugoslavia. It was 1992. We were contacted by the
MacFarlane-Barrow family, with whom we had previously stayed at their
home, Craig Lodge Family House of Prayer. They had begun a response to
the terrible suffering in and around Bosnia and they asked if we could help in any way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some time later, I was woken in the middle of the night by a voice calling my
name. It was a warm, deep voice. I knew it was God! In that
instant I knew He was calling me to go to the former Yugoslavia. It was a
moment of absolute clarity. I just didn't know how I would get
there! My first thought was how would I tell my parents, especially my
wee Dad, who is the most gentle and loving of souls, and would be terrified at
the thought of his daughter going into a war zone. So I
prayed. The following morning we were at breakfast and my
saintly Dad said to me "I think you should go to Bosnia." I
nearly fell off my chair! I knew that God had placed in his heart the
same call He placed in mine. For me it was clear. So now I had to
find a way to get there. That's when I met Magnus. I literally phoned him
and asked for a lift. And the rest, as they say, is history! I
always say to folks, say Yes to God! He always has something much greater
in mind than you could ever imagine. Look at what happened to me. I
thought I was going to help some people, thought I would change the world in my
own way, but God had something for me beyond my wildest dreams. He gave
me Magnus.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>'Behind every successful man there is a great woman'. What is your role in Mary's Meals?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Well,
I think behind all of us is The Greatest Woman ever - Our Lady! I
love to support my husband in his work, of course I do, as do our kids,
but I know that it is Our Lady I have to thank for where we are today
and no amount of support on my own could have ever helped Magnus reach as many
children with Mary's Meals as he has. How have I helped Mary's
Meals? Firstly, through prayer. This work really is a fruit of
prayer, and I have been blessed with a faith that has shown me the need for prayer
and the fruits of those prayers. I have also been blessed with a
real sense of serving my husband. I love being married! It is
my joy to serve my husband and help him carry out his mission. I now play
a small role in that mission, thanks be to God. Our youngest
is at school and this year I started working a few hours a week for Mary's
Meals. I love it! I'm part of the admin team based here in
Dalmally, in the famous Shed. It's a joy to be part of a team that feeds over
1.2 million children every school day.
It’s a far cry from 25 years ago when it was just me banging out thank
you letters on an old, donated manual typewriter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 106%;"><i><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is your advice to wives of busy husbands?</span></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Pray! Pray, pray, pray! That's the best advice I can give to
anyone. Trust your marriage as your call to holiness, not just a state in
life. This is our path to salvation. We were made for this!
And thank God each and every day for your husband. He was made for
you, created for you to lead you closer to God. He is God's
greatest gift to you. I have been blessed with a deep awareness of God's
Love for me. He made me Magnus! He created him for me! That's
how chuffed I am to be his wife :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>Has Mary's Meals made you think differently about feeding your own children?</b></i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Yes, absolutely. We had just had our third child, Martha, when the first
Mary's Meals were served. I had often contemplated the suffering a mother
must endure when she has nothing to feed her child. Magnus had travelled
widely over the 10 years before Mary's Meals was born and always spoke of the
many hungry children he would encounter through his work. The desire to
feed these kids kept growing until Mary's Meals was born. The first
Mary's Meals were served to around 200 children, way back in 2002. Now
1,230,171 children will have received Mary's Meals today! We have calculated
that we have served over one billion meals! One billion! It's amazing!
But we are more aware than ever of the millions of children still hungry,
waiting for Mary's Meals to come to their school, to their country. As a
mother of 7, knowing how much it takes to feed my own gang, I pray every day
that we can reach more children. More than ever, I am painfully aware of
children who will know hunger all their lives. As a mother, how can
I not feel for them? Let us pray and work hard so that we
can reach the next child.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mary's Meals has alleviated physical hunger in the third world, what can we do to
satisfy spiritual hunger that is so prevalent closer to home?</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mary's Meals brings both the physical nourishment of the daily meal, and it
feeds the soul of the hungry child. It shows them that they are loved,
that people around the world care so much for them that they would do
extraordinary things to help them eat and learn at school. It shows them that
there is indeed a Loving and Merciful God who hears their cry. Mary's
Meals feeds our souls too! We, who have been given so much, have the
opportunity to share what is not ours to keep, to help children at the other
side of the world know that they are loved, to play a small part in God's plan
for salvation. I think the works of mercy are not just hugely
important for us living out our call to holiness, they are often the
way someone comes to know the Love of God! Through each work of
mercy - whether that be feeding the hungry child, helping the mother in a crisis
pregnancy, visiting in prison, etc - we become more fully aware of our part in
God's plan and our souls are fed. Our desire to help grows, our love
grows, and our inclination towards prayer grows. We see this every day in
Mary's Meals. People can feel God's Love. They are changed by it
and desire more of it. Prayer is at the heart of all good. I was
raised in a family who prayed the rosary, our own family prayer includes the rosary
every day. Pray, pray, pray. It's the only way!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b>Has the success of Mary's Meals affected the family in any unusual ways?</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lots of ways! There is a lot of love for Mary's Meals in the world.
It seems whereever we go, we will find someone who loves Mary's Meals.
Our kids are growing up knowing their Dad is very loved. It's incredibly special.
I would also say that Mary's Meals makes us happy. Very happy!
There are lots of funny stories over the years, special visitors to our house
or unusual invitations to wonderful things. Our eldest two sons,
Calum and Ben, have both visited Malawi and spent time working
with the Mary's Meals team out there. We hope, please God, that we
will be able to give this experience to each of our children. There are some
very funny stories of Magnus meeting famous people and staying in unusual
places. His life is such a mixture of experiences! There was the call
that came on a very hectic, family Sunday evening. You know the sort,
getting all the kids bathed and school bags ready, trying to find gym kit and
finish homework. Magnus answered the phone whilst losing a battle with
our then toddler Gabriel, who was dripping wet and did not want to be wrapped
in a towel. The voice at the end of the phone said it was the Vatican
calling and could Magnus and I come to Rome to meet the newly elected Pope
Francis! Magnus had to hand the still dripping toddler to one
of his older siblings and ask the caller to repeat it because he couldn't
quite believe his ears! So yes, there have been many unusual experiences
in our family! One of the funniest though was when we got a call from
Time Magazine a couple of years ago to say Magnus had been included in their
list of the 100 Most Influential People In The World, 2015 I think, to
which he responded, laughing, "I'm not even the most influential person in
my own household!" My son,
Ben, has just reminded me of some of the strange and weird experiences Magnus
and I had in the very early days of this work, when we were driving lorries
full of donated aid to the people of Croatia and Bosnia – me passing the HGV
driving test but Magnus failing, being run over by wild dogs as I slept under
the stars beside a UN check point somewhere deep in the middle of Bosnia,
blagging our way onto a Ukrainian UN helicopter piloted by a barely sober crew
pretending the blue UN mail sacks draped over our arms were in fact the required
flak jackets (which we didn’t have) for all passengers, whilst a decidedly
unsober crew member got out of the helicopter in an attempt to kick the doors
closed when the broken, hydraulic system failed to close them properly, and
then not knowing if the dramatic side to side flying by our pilot was the
intended anti missile style of flying or the result of too much slivovitz before
breakfast …. Yes, perhaps I won’t talk much more about that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is your favourite family dish? </span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> That's an easy one! Sunday roast dinner when Magnus is home, Calum our
eldest is back from university, with Ben and Toby waxing lyrical about their
rugby and football games while Martha and Bethany laugh at their tales of
sporting prowess, meanwhile little Anna sneaks one more roast potato onto
her plate without any of us noticing, and Gabriel swings his growing legs that
don't quite yet reach the floor as he leans into his dad and smiles a
smile that speaks a thousand words. Dad is home! I love it! </span><br />
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-32014830614871099842017-10-09T00:01:00.002+01:002017-10-09T17:04:10.398+01:00Presenting the First Catholic Mothers Conference <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament one afternoon, the words of John Paul II 'Do not be afraid, open wide the doors to Christ' resounded within me. </div>
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As I left the little Chapel, in haste I phoned Pierpaolo to tell him how much I felt we had to respond to the wonderful love and firm teaching that we had received under our beloved John Paul II.</div>
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We had the grace to grow up with him by our side. His love for humanity was immense, the dignity we received as young people tangible, his devotion for Our Lady was great and his total submission to God was an inspiration.</div>
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With his encouragement to follow Christ we discovered the beauty and strength of femininity, the value and greatness of masculinity, we entered marriage understanding its importance and looked forward to become co creators with God to build His Church.</div>
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As I was on the phone I told Pierpaolo we could not stay still, we had to do something to pass on what we had received and not just to our children. What we had was not just ours but we needed to reach people in our little world and tell them that our life, our marriage, our fatherhood, motherhood with Christ was the way to happiness. </div>
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Walking towards the school as the clock was ticking and my lunch break almost finished, I bombarded my poor husband with a list of talks and events we HAD to organise for us and for the community of faithful who thirst for the truth and are hungry for the Word of God.</div>
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The phone call ended as most of our phone calls do... 'Ok, ok we will talk about it later... you CRAZY woman'.</div>
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That conversation happened about a year ago today... </div>
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In that year my prayer was always... "God I think this is what you want from me (us)... and if it is, please you lead the way!" </div>
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The conference was the first of the many projects I felt inspired to put together... </div>
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I started with some crowdfunding for the event with the help and support of some wonderful women, and started contacting some speakers I dreamed of hosting in England, I sent a letter to Gianna Emanuela Molla, the daughter of St Gianna Molla (not exactly a letter... but that's a story for another time), got in contact with Costanza Miriano and started enquiring about possible venues.</div>
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The crowdfunding didn't really go as expected though I witnessed the generosity of many incredible people... and none of the people I was trying to reach was really answering.</div>
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Perhaps I had misunderstood what God wanted and yes I was this CRAZY woman trying to do something way bigger than her abilities. I didn't really think about it too much and again said to God, "I am not going to stress about this... if this is what you want make it happen, I am here waiting".</div>
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Around the time of Pentecost I received Gianna Emanuela Molla's phone call expressing the desire to come to England and to speak about her mother. This and many other events confirmed God wanted me to go ahead.</div>
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Aylesford wrote back to us and was available to book for the Divine Mercy Weekend...</div>
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Costanza Miriano agreed to meet me for coffee and Pierpaolo to drive me to Rome to meet her, while on holiday. (One can never stop working for the Kingdom not even on holiday ;-) ).</div>
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Today <span style="text-align: center;">I am delighted to present to you the programme of the first ever </span><span style="text-align: center;">'Catholic Mothers Conference'!</span></div>
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To book a ticket or to sponsor a mother please follow this link <a href="https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/118141/chk/e42d" target="_blank">https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/118141/chk/e42d</a></div>
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Places are limited and many tickets have already sold. </div>
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<a href="http://www.catholicmothers.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.catholicmothers.co.uk/</a></div>
<br />Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-14133846546226188402017-09-08T08:00:00.000+01:002017-09-20T22:35:28.371+01:00Pull Up a Pew #2. Michele, Emily and 'The Friendship Project'<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having a big family (or being a mother in general) means there is very little time for leisure... Finding the time to read, in my case, has become an arduous quest... The pile of books on my bedside cabinet is becoming an increasingly frustrating reminder of how much I'd like to do and how little time I actually have. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Though I lack time (I am sure this is a common problem) and my retirement reading list becomes bigger and bigger, God doesn't stop surprising me... I was given the possibility to read an advance copy of the </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">'The Friendship Project', the </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">latest book by the authors of </span><a href="http://catholicpearl.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=divine+mercy" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">'Divine Mercy for Moms'</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">'The Friendship Project', just like 'Divine Mercy for Moms' is a book that comes from the heart. Emily and Michele have truly experienced and embraced 'perfect friendship' and together have walked the extra mile to spread the Good News.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As Pope Saint John Paul II said 'In God's plan, nothing happens by chance', and both books landed at my feet at just the right time... the first when I was looking for Christ's Mercy the most and the latter to confirm the importance and the need of pure friendship in Christ. </span></span><br />
<span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1594717613/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1594717613&linkCode=as2&tag=thepeaofgrepr-21&linkId=f5c4d20a3358e5c6bd6ce12cb45b6eb4%22%3EThe%20Friendship%20Project:%20The%20Catholic%20Woman%27s%20Guide%20to%20Making%20and%20Keeping%20Fabulous,%20Faith-Filled%20Friends%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thepeaofgrepr-21&l=am2&o=2&a=1594717613%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><img height="400" src="https://www.avemariapress.com/size/files/dcce69be89f81bd579d018ff8732831e/9781594717611.jpg.x625.jpg" width="258" /></a></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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Christ himself called us friends "<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and told us that giving our life for our friends is where true love lies!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;">The authors explore friendship through the life of some famous Saints who were friends with each other, proving that sanctity is contagious and that in this journey of faith we need each other, we need to support, encourage and love one another as He has loved us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;">Easy to read, the book is pleasant and genuine. Written with a spirit of service Emily and Michele effortlessly manage to create a very intimate friendship with the reader herself, touching their heart and moving them toward the achievement of that friendship that only comes from Christ. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just like their previous book, this one asks you to act, it moves you and encourages you to put into practice what you read... and offers you the great opportunity to fully enter friendship thanks to the study group format which is easy to follow and pleasant to deliver.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The experience of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5qFuvYyyiI&t=2s" target="_blank">'Divine Mercy for Mums' study group</a> was a wonderful one and the gift of another study group ready to access is a real blessing. I look forward to starting it soon and walking towards Heaven alongside the wonderful people I have met on this journey of faith and the ones I will meet thanks to 'The Friendship Project'.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><b>"Friendship is complete agreement about all things human and divine with benevolence and affection" (Cicero)</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><i>Time to meet Michele and Emily, the authors of the book ... Enjoy!</i></span><br />
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<i style="color: #990000; font-family: times; font-size: 23pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can you briefly introduce yourself? </i></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Michele) I am a wife and mother of four, ages thirteen to three. I work full time as a school nurse, but my greatest passion is evangelization. I am the co-director of the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference, an author and speaker. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Emily) I am a wife, mother of seven, ages 18 years to 18 months. I’ve been involved with women’s ministry for over 10 years with my radio apostolate, A Mother’s Moment and I am also part of the leadership team for the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference. I enjoy sharing the message of the gospel as an author and speaker. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times"; font-size: 23pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Michele,What qualities were you looking for In your most important friendships e.g in Emily?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Michele) In The Friendship Project, we wrote about eight virtues: faith, hope, charity, prudence, gratitude, loyalty, generosity and prayerfulness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we had to boil it down to just a few, we’d say we would want all of our friends to be faithful and faith-filled.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As we wrote in The Friendship Project, “a loyal friend is faithful to her word….looking through the eyes of our loyalties reveals a lot about our hearts.” True friends are there in good times and bad, showing support in difficultly and also celebrating the good times. However on top of loyal and faithful, having a friend whose eyes are fixed on Christ and helping you grow closer in your relationship to God is the most important quality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times"; font-size: 23pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>At which point did you decide that your friendship was of value and one worth investing in? </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Emily) We both realized in college as we had our own awakening and deep conversions of heart that spiritual friendships were important to invest in. As we continued to grow in our faith in our adult lives and work in ministry in our adult lives together, we also realized we were spending our time focusing on doing good things and spreading the Gospel instead of gossiping or making idle talk. We quickly came to realize how God was using our friendship to sanctify us and push us along in our faith journeys</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-family: "times"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times"; font-size: 23pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What do you think Christianity added to Aristotle's concept of friendship? </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Michele) Christianity added the art of spiritual friendship, or inviting God into the friendship. These friendships, according to St. Aelred of Rievaulx must “begin in Christ, continue with Christ, and be perfected by Christ” and are true friendships. It is through these friendships that lead us closer to God that our friendships can last into eternity!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times"; font-size: 23pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>How do you stop friendship from becoming cliquey ?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Emily) It’s hard when you are satisfied with the dynamics of a group of friends to invite others in, but it’s important to be open to new friendships and deepening friendships with friends who you may only be an acquaintance with. One thing we both really strive to do is be inviting to our bible study groups or women’s groups to invite everyone. One thing my mom ingrained in my upbringing was to be hospitable and that “all are welcome – the more the merrier!” She has been a great example to me to open up my home and my heart to others and I have been so blessed by that in my life</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-family: "times"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times"; font-size: 23pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>When did you realise friendship is an important part of our journey of faith?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think both of us realized early in our adult lives the difference it made having good friends who encouraged us in our walk as Catholics. As we read what the saints wrote about friendship, we came to understand it more fully. St. Francis deSales shares that we live in a world that is indifferent, even hostile at times to our faith, so it is not only helpful to have spiritual friendships, but necessary!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times"; font-size: 23pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Why did feel it was important to write a book about friendship? </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Michele) As we travel around the country speaking about our first book, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.divinemercyformoms.com/posts/book/divine-mercy-for-moms/" target="_blank">Divine Mercy for Moms</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.divinemercyformoms.com/posts/book/divine-mercy-for-moms/" target="_blank">,</a> women often approach us and share that their favorite part of the book is when we talk about our friendship. Emily and I have been blessed to know each other for over 20 years, since college. I met my husband at Emily’s wedding and we have worked in Women’s ministry together over the past 15 years. Many women shared with us that they too desired to have a close friendship in faith, so we knew that this was a topic women wanted to read more about. As we researched friendship, we were overjoyed to see the amount of writing that the saints have done on the topic of friendship and its importance. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friendship isn’t optional, but necessary! St. Augustine writes “In this world two things are essential: life and friendship. Both should be highly prized and we must not undervalue them. Life and friendship are natures gifts.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We also began to read about many of saints who had other saint friends while here on earth. It was really eye opening to see that many of the great saints had close friendships on earth, and because of their mutual desire to serve God, they were able to help each other grow in holiness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times"; font-size: 23pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What did writing this book teach you?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Emily) We booth took a serious look at how we were living the virtues in all our relationships and made a conscious effort to grow in each of the eight virtues we wrote about. We also realized how many relationships that we have let grow cold or die because of lack of attention. While we can’t have deep and close relationships with everyone, we have learned that a little time and attention to relationships can bring new life into them. We’ve both had the joy of reconnecting with old friends in the past few years while working on this project. Writing about the saint friends was also very inspirational, and we both hope that we can be the type of friend that helps others get to heaven!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-family: "times"; font-size: 23pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>What advice would you give to ladies who are considering starting a Study group?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We promise you will be blessed! We lead a group of over 30 women from across our diocese in the pilot study of The Friendship Project this past fall. Most of the women in the group didn’t know each other, but many wonderful and beautiful new friendships were made. We’ve made it easy for you with free invitations, ice breakers, recipe ideas, a downloadable journal and videos you can stream right online at <a href="http://www.thefriendshipprojectbook.com/">www.thefriendshipprojectbook.com</a>! Not only is it easy, but also, all you need to purchase is the book – no extra charges for journals, videos or leader materials. We feel so strongly about helping you develop these friendships, we want you to be able to lead a group without an extra financial burden. Check out our “quick start guide” for simple instructions on getting started.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #353535; font-family: "times"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<br />Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-13128587967480970552017-08-12T23:06:00.000+01:002017-09-20T22:36:03.561+01:00Pull Up a Pew #1. Fiorella Nash. Spreading the Pro Life Message at Home and in the Media<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBZ6JRuqApZZK0uZhZe3cqROPLitCLCcouhULLoqBNK08Vd3w3tywY9U3tLp4CL8orQtPzboRPJslQvafcAUQL9uyIb23bEnYxwqoSAVYgz7heDjRb4n5INq2PMexIX6hSZbyd-onXEQ-/s1600/18033567_10154374307947554_7499749021430782472_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBZ6JRuqApZZK0uZhZe3cqROPLitCLCcouhULLoqBNK08Vd3w3tywY9U3tLp4CL8orQtPzboRPJslQvafcAUQL9uyIb23bEnYxwqoSAVYgz7heDjRb4n5INq2PMexIX6hSZbyd-onXEQ-/s640/18033567_10154374307947554_7499749021430782472_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The first episode of 'Pull Up a Pew' interview for Catholic Mothers was supposed to be recorded on 13th May this year... Things didn't really work out that day, the sound system as well as the recording equipment gave up on me. My husband had an important meeting he couldn't miss, my high tech children were not available so we had to give up... man proposes and God disposes! Although that first episode never happened I have hopes for the future... in the meantime we decided to conduct the interview by correspondence and i</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">n the past few days I have had the honour of having a wonderful email exchange with Fiorella Nash: M</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">um, tireless pro-life campaigner and novelist to find out how she balances writing, media work and motherhood.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Today, (though not on our</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCed3L-xASZ8ZIdWBQeXG-1Q" style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank"> Catholic Mothers YouTube channel</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">), I have the pleasure to introduce</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> you to this wonderful woman.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Tell us something about yourself?</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am married with four young children. I am a novelist, journalist and campaigner, specialising in pro-life feminism. This year, I have branched out a little with my writing and published my first work of detective fiction, following the exploits of Benedictine sleuth Fr Gabriel.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>What inspired your interest in the pro-life movement?<u></u><u></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Can you remember a moment or incident when you decided this was going to be your life’s work?</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can’t pretend that there was a single moment when I ‘discovered’ the pro-life movement or realised that my life was heading in that direction. It was a slower process than that. I remember hearing a White Flower Appeal at my church when I was about 14 and being appalled by the scale of the abortion tragedy. I had a strong sense already that abortion was a tragedy but I had never appreciated before then how common abortion was and what it actually involved. I became a member of SPUC soon after that and eventually became involved with student activism. I never initially imagined that I would work for the pro-life movement, I was mostly involved with left-wing social justice groups at that point, but I came to the realisation that social justice begins at home. I have always believed that pro-life campaigning should hold a central place in the struggle for justice, alongside fighting poverty and other forms of oppression.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Apologetics for Mothers</b></span><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>As mothers we are in contact at school and playgroups with the people who have the greatest say in the abortion debate, mothers themselves. What do you think is the best approach? Good arguments/ strategies</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t think there is a single strategy that works but there are a number of things to consider. I think it is important in these settings to establish friendships as it is always easier to have a difficult or controversial conversation with people you trust and have had a chance to get to know a little. I would also say, don’t be afraid to join in with the difficult conversations. Quite often, subjects such as abortion come up as part of a discussion about a particular news story that’s doing the rounds. A moment like that can offer the possibility of a much deeper conversation. I would also caution against assuming that everyone will be against you. In spite of the widespread acceptance of abortion in this country, many people are extremely concerned about abortion and are genuinely unaware of precisely what abortion involves.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also think it is important to make it clear that you respect women and that you respect bodily integrity. I am keen to point out that, in the end, I oppose abortion because it ends a human life. I believe in freedom and equality for women, I have benefited and my daughters will continue to benefit from female emancipation, but in the end, freedom cannot be bought at the expense of human life.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">People are often deeply invested in their point of view either because they or someone close to them has had an abortion. What is the best way to approach people without making them feel judged or condemned, or is that the best way?<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I would never want to judge or condemn anyone – whatever they had done. I think that goes beyond the abortion debate. There is a difference between being honest about the wrongness of an act and shunning or shaming the person responsible. I don’t believe we have any right to do that. When it comes to abortion, if you have been personally touched by abortion, if a close friend or relative has had an abortion, I think it is important to acknowledge that. I always feel that there is a tendency to think that pro-life women live in some kind of a bubble, but that is simply not the case and it helps to dispense with that myth as early as possible. One of the reasons I believe in establishing friendships with others is precisely because it avoids the possibility of becoming judgemental. I am aware that women can be left in a desperately difficult situation during pregnancy, that abortion is sometimes mooted as the only option. I always start by acknowledging what might have led to the abortion and to make it clear that I am there for the person involved. Only then is it possible to start talking about the wrongness of abortion itself. Truth and compassion are not enemies.<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>In the UK where the abortion debate seems so niche in comparison with the United States what’s the best we can hope for?</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To win! My daughter is a competitive figure skater and one of the first things she learnt was – never aim for mediocrity. Aim to get on the podium, even if you know the odds are against you. If you aren’t going to aim to win, why are you entering the competition in the first place? In the UK, we hope to do what any pro-life movement in the world hopes to do in the long run, change hearts and minds, make abortion unthinkable, build a culture of life in which both the pregnant mother and her baby are truly valued and protected.<a href="https://www.spuc.org.uk/" target="_blank"> SPUC</a> is fifty years old this year and when the Society was first founded, I doubt anyone believed the battle would be so long-drawn-out, but we must never lose hope. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Media work</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>You’ve often been interviewed on the radio and TV. What’s your experience?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have a lot more experience of radio than TV, partly because it is more practical – you can be interviewed for radio over the phone without having to go to a studio, so there tend to be more opportunities there and it is my favourite medium. I like the intimacy of the radio setting. Unlike TV, where there is a certain showmanship needed to appear before the cameras, speaking on the radio is more personal. People tend to listen to the radio alone – in their cars, pottering about the kitchen – so there is more of a sense of having a personal conversation with somebody, even you are having that conversation with thousands of individuals at the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>How do you prepare for media interviews?</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I do as much background research as possible, which will include extensive reading and usually discussions with experts in the field and other members of the team at SPUC. I will usually alert friends via social media or personal messages to pray as I always feel more at ease if I know there are people praying when I go on air.<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Have you had any real successes?</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is difficult to gauge how successful an appearance is, though my brief Woman’s Hour appearance generated a lot of feedback. I was happy with how it went because I was able to get a couple of points across in spite of the undisguised hostility of the presenter and the fact that she declared beforehand that a minority opinion like mine only required 4 minutes of airtime.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Have you experienced some real disasters?</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hahaha, now that would be telling! I have never had a complete and utter meltdown, but then I don’t think many people ever do. I have had occasions where I have felt very disappointed and upset afterwards because I have felt that I did not get my points across well or focus enough, particularly when I first started. The first speech I ever gave – ten days after starting the job – was an unmitigated disaster, but fortunately it was not recorded!<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>When the odds are stacked against you can any good come of such appearances?</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A resounding YES to that, but I would qualify that by saying that one has to pick the right outlets. We are not media tarts, if you’ll forgive the expression, and no one is obliged to say yes to every media request. If there is a situation where the environment is going to be so hostile and the odds so stacked against you that there is no way you will ever be able to get your point across, it may be more constructive to decline. I have certainly had occasions where I would have declined if I had known that my opponent was going to be an aggressive, condescending bully and the promised ‘lively, light-hearted discussion’ a vicious slanging match.<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Spreading the good news on social media</b></span><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The space for discussion of abortion online is becoming ever more restricted. Pro life websites have been banned in France. What’s the current situation in the UK?</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am not aware of any pro-life sites being banned in the UK and in many ways, the rise of social media has invigorated pro-life debate. The media no longer has complete control over what stories are broadcast and which opinions are permitted airtime. Social media levels the playing field, allowing pro-life campaigners to get their message across more effectively. It has also made it much easier for groups and individuals to network and exchange ideas with organisations all around the world.<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Mother’s groups and websites are very active on facebook/mumsnet etc. It’s not unheard of that people considering abortion practically put the decision to an online poll. Can and should we get involved and how?</b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When a woman is openly discussing the possibility of having an abortion, I think it is important to be the person who offers an alternative. I have heard women who regret their abortions say that if just one person had suggested an alternative or said ‘you don’t have to do this’ they would not have had the abortion. Go gently, maybe post the number of a helpline they could talk to. They may not pick up the phone, but at least you will know that you gave life a chance. The thing to avoid in a situation like that is getting into slanging matches or coming across as preachy. I once read a rant written by a woman instructing a post-abortive woman to ‘learn to save sex for marriage in future’ and the woman turned out to be married. All it did was to make the pro-life intervener look ridiculous and to provoke a venomous exchange from other posters. As with all online interaction, the first rule is: remember that you are dealing with another person here, imagine that you are interacting with them face-to-face before you post your comment.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Bringing up a pro-life family</b></span><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>What do you do in the home to pass on the pro-life message?</b><span style="color: #454545;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I answer all my children’s questions on life, marriage and sexuality as openly as possible, whilst keeping my answers age-appropriate. The most important piece of advice I ever received about building a pro-life ethos in your home is to avoid harsh words and criticism. I once read an article by a mum who talked about the damage done by parents who talk negatively about other people in front of their children and how it breeds a culture of fear and shame in a home. More than anything else, I try to build trust and respect within the family unit and to keep channels of communication open. I want my children to know that every family member is welcome and that, whatever they do, whatever mistakes they make in life, they are loved, the home will always be a place of safety for them and we can always try to work things out together.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Fiorella and her Novels</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiorella-De-Maria/e/B00551E4RO/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1502570901&sr=1-2-ent" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="575" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3PNpeCKun-ui4_xgJLbMz6Re4ttiYGeUSb1zh0-ZslyETaEscgu3uXzsbP8bvwExYFRVt9fI48lTRarNWIEjjdaaQ1LBNWo3M7pmdzZq-4pwq8UTbghvoFUW3xSLpfPpmPX_MgoojL-H/s640/4093fiorellajpg_00000003571.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="im"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Which books inspired you to write your own Catholic fiction?</b><span style="color: #500050; font-size: 12.8px;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I never set out to write Catholic fiction, but I have wanted to be a writer since I was a child and there have been too many influences on my writing to count. I once joked to a journalist that I would ‘like to be Evelyn Waugh’ but a friend told me that my books are so dark in places that I come across as much more a disciple of Graham Greene! If I were to name my two biggest inspirations, I would probably say Viktor Frankl’s <i>Man’s Search for Meaning</i> and Solzhenitsyn, both as a man and as a writer. I remember reading <i>Ivan Denisovich </i>when I was at school and being completely overwhelmed by how vivid it was. I kept thinking how amazing it would be to be able to write like that. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Are you setting out to write a really good Catholic novel or a good novel that happens to be Catholic? </b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Definitely the latter. First and foremost, I am a novelist not a propagandist or a theologian, nor do I write for an exclusively Catholic audience. However, I very much believe that if one lives and writes within the Catholic moral universe, the Faith will be very much present in the story.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>What genre do you think serves your purpose best and why?</b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My novels are mostly historical fiction, simply because I have an interest in history and in reconstructing the past. I am very interested in how we are influenced by past events and how the lives of ordinary people are changed by being alive at a particularly cataclysmic moment, such as the outbreak of war or the height of the Mediterranean slave trade.</span></div>
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<span class="im"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Are there any genres you would like to try in future? </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been challenged to write a comedy – and that really would be a challenge! Who knows, maybe I will pluck up the courage to tr</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">y one day…</span></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-89160725695207746262017-07-18T11:08:00.001+01:002017-07-18T11:08:13.821+01:00Passing on the Faith onto Our Children<i><span style="color: #990000;">"Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"</span></i><br />
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Priest: What names have you given your children?<br />
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Pierpaolo & Chiara: Ettore Maria, Mattia Maria, Elena Maria, Lucia Maria, Virginia Maria, Maria Bernadette.<br />
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Priest: What do you ask of God’s Church for Ettore Maria, Mattia Maria, Elena Maria, Lucia Maria, Virginia Maria, Maria Bernadette.?<br />
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Pierpaolo & Chiara: Baptism.<br />
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Priest: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>You have asked to have your child baptised. In doing
so you are accepting the responsibility of training
them in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to
bring him/her up to keep God’s commandments as
Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbour. Do
you clearly understand what you are undertaking? </b></span><br />
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Pierpaolo & Chiara: We do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNGJ2LxZ7etSijhh4saFETKBENh57RrOTMgA1j3FEZPZuXv4Tuv03_pUT_rqYPlDRnYrOnV-ww36s7-JASo2i0i4b4jYHVDWdJiCTh8GnjGQV_2x6z5ZUIRYtjiGdG-PFdmZspKJPUzie/s1600/19647980_10154579602702554_757242114_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1334" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNGJ2LxZ7etSijhh4saFETKBENh57RrOTMgA1j3FEZPZuXv4Tuv03_pUT_rqYPlDRnYrOnV-ww36s7-JASo2i0i4b4jYHVDWdJiCTh8GnjGQV_2x6z5ZUIRYtjiGdG-PFdmZspKJPUzie/s640/19647980_10154579602702554_757242114_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The priest to the godparents:<br />
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Priest: Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their
duty as Christian parents?<br />
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Godparents: We are.<br />
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Priest: Ettore Maria, Mattia Maria, Elena Maria, Lucia Maria, Virginia Maria, Maria Bernadette, the Christian community welcomes
you with great joy. In its name I claim you for Christ our
Saviour by the sign of his cross. I now trace the cross
on your forehead, and invite your parents and
godparents to do the same.<br />
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When we, Christian parents, asked for baptism for our children we promise to co-operate with the Church in bringing our children up as true children of God and to teach them to love him and to serve Him every day of their life.</div>
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There are many baptisms over the year in our parish, but I wonder how many people truly recognise the weight of those words pronounced by the priest in response to our request:"<span style="color: #990000;">You have asked to have your child baptised. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him/her up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbour. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?" </span>This is serious stuff...we are entrusted and are given the privilege to bring up the children of God. </div>
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Growing up as a young mother I remember being afraid of losing my children along the way, I still have a vivid the memory of the many prayers sent up to heaven for the boys to remain in and find strength in the Church.</div>
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What were we to do? How could we prevent them from leaving when they were older... that brought real anxiety at times. I was so afraid to fail that task I was being assigned. </div>
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God has been a true Father throughout this journey of Faith. He little by little showed us that we as parents had nothing to worry about, that He had everything thought out.</div>
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In Baptism, our parents made our first 'profession of faith' on our behalf and from that day on the Church has nourished us, has fed, enriched us, has given us values and we have found freedom in her teaching.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;">Do you renounce Satan,
and all his works and empty promises?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;"> I do. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;"> Do you believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth? </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;"> I do.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;"> Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered death and was buried,
rose again from the dead
and is seated at the right hand of the Father? </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;">I do. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;">Do you believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who today through the Sacrament of Confirmation
is given to you in a special way
just as he was given to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost? </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;"> I do. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;">Do you believe in the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting? </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;"> I do.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;">This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church.
We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. </span></i></div>
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<a href="http://reconciledtoyou.com/cwbn-blog-hop.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="334" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtdsH8URyrujCQI6CKoP-CxpB9dRm9m_bu-dox4ui43T_wnELKUBL4hxhAy6NGTYbgX9C5Sfq1DvvPQIJjoWa-Crg_17lvIjaUBGVnonjEg9ICeOgcY_1m3S6UFOJSA7H42iqAsNIgnGR/s640/20158494_10154636792722554_1391935576_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Creed is, as St Ambrose states, the spiritual seal, our heart's meditation and an ever present guardian; it is unquestionably, the treasure of the soul.</div>
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Here was where I found the answer to my prayers and the end to my anxiety!</div>
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That profession of faith that my parents once made on my behalf, those words proclaimed not long after I was born into this world, were not meant to stay dormant. The seed planted at Baptism had to become a solid tree with its roots in Christ.</div>
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We Christian parents are called to profess the Creed, day in and day out as a witness of that LOVE that saved us all, so that we could enter in communion with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the whole Church.</div>
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The mother Church is there to guide us as individuals as well as parents, she has the right words for the right times (even if sometimes these words seem harsh, it is is always a relief to trust in her wisdom), the right 'activities' and resources for us and our growing family.</div>
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Based on her tradition and her teaching that has been successful over thousands of years we have nothing to worry about and nothing to reinvent. It is all there ready for us to access.</div>
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So to the question 'What are you doing now in the hope of keeping your kids in the Faith?<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">'... </span></span>we are living with coherence the same Faith of our ancestors, traced back all the way to the apostles and Christ himself... </div>
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We pray together, we receive the Sacraments together, we talk openly together, we discuss life in all </div>
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its aspect in the light of the faith,we eat together, we celebrate together, we moan together, we argue but we never let the sun go down on our anger, we suffer but have been given a meaning to our suffering and in turn we remind one another of this.</div>
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We fully live and draw strength from the strong liturgical seasons however badly we end up living them because of life... which shows us that no matter how imperfect, sinful, forgetful we are He still comes for us.</div>
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On Crafts and Activities:</div>
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Though we love our crafts and the odd activity here and there, I feel that the weight of the liturgical season and its focus can sometimes easily shift towards those pretty, fun and disposable projects... and these end up replacing the beautiful liturgies and the continuous life-giving gifts that the Church has to offer.</div>
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Crafts and activities are a lovely way to accompany some of the teaching especially for younger children but should never take the place of the wonderful traditions that have been passed on from one generation to another for centuries.</div>
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Children need to be part of the greatness of the Church. It is important not to underestimate the understanding and intuition of the children. Their participation will increase with age and God will slowly establish a personal relationship with them. </div>
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Taking young children to Sunday Mass, the Triduum, Penitential Services can be very tiring and at times disheartening, but the sacrifice that us as parents (and in particular mothers if the spouse is active in the choir, or a cantor or is involved in any other kind of service) is of immense value and won't be for long... Thanks to our persistence, coherence and service, our children will little by little have access the the immensity of the Faith. </div>
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<b>I claim you for Christ</b></div>
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Our life should speak of Christ... we are not perfect, we fall daily, we have many weaknesses but it is in Him that we find our strength, the children have witnessed this many times in us and as they grow up they are discovering it for themselves. </div>
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So what happens if they will one day lose faith or fall away... well they have been anointed... they have been claimed for Christ... God wants to save them more than I do, so I know He will be on their case.</div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-90966638396088261752017-05-12T00:33:00.000+01:002017-05-12T00:40:30.762+01:0013 Reasons Why... We should pray the Rosary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfymQ7eD9iKmD1cbjNOIWqhLV7St3X7xKmuXErQnCxO7ySx4jxZSLCeD9SvFpTEu1dDm5FfCoWsjMeYTpzj62M52aQJvz7as3WAuM3VPaB21p1sRXXHNH4N2UGxI2yZ4iTBG8Yy1d7W1aX/s1600/18405625_10154436292397554_1029009978_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfymQ7eD9iKmD1cbjNOIWqhLV7St3X7xKmuXErQnCxO7ySx4jxZSLCeD9SvFpTEu1dDm5FfCoWsjMeYTpzj62M52aQJvz7as3WAuM3VPaB21p1sRXXHNH4N2UGxI2yZ4iTBG8Yy1d7W1aX/s640/18405625_10154436292397554_1029009978_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The 13th May... 100 years ago on this day Our Lady appeared to three little shepherds in Fatima; 36 years ago, in 1981, John Paul II was shot on the same day that I turned 1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is a day which is full of meaning for me, a day that speaks so strongly about life, its beauty and its fragility, death and eternal life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-family: Times;"><i>“Behold, your Mother!” </i>(Jn 19:27) </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jesus said to John at the foot of the Cross. The gift of such a graceful mother was not exclusive to the disciple but in pronouncing these words to John, Jesus gave us his own and entrusted us to her.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When a baby is born his mother is the whole world, so much so that he hardly realises she is a different person. As the Christian child grows older and discover their unicity, the bond with the earthly mother is gently untied and a greater bond with the Heavenly Mother acquired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Praying the Rosary should be at the heart of every household. It is a simple prayer that strengthen that motherly bond and ties us to heaven.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this period running up to the 13th May when we celebrate the Centenary of the Fatima apparitions Netflix is proposing a series which gives 13 reasons why the main character </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">chooses to commit suicide. I on the other hand, will give 13 reasons why we should pray the Rosary, reasons that will definitely bring light to our day and will give us and our family fullness of life.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Here are 13 Reasons why we should pray the rosary</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How many times have you wished your children would do something just because you say so. To trust that we have the best for them at heart. That we don't ask them to do things arbitrarily but because we want the best for them and we want them to cooperate with us in doing what needs to be done for the whole family. Mary told the children at Fatima to pray the Rosary every day. What would be the best answer from us: why should I? Or OK, I will do my best! I know what I'd want to hear from my children.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Because it brings us to Christ</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everything in the Rosary is centred on Christ, the Hail Marys themselves are centred on His Holy Name. Each mystery bring us closer to the events of the life of our Lord and saviour. Mary shows us the way to Him and from Her we learn how to bring Jesus into the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>3. Because it brings the family together</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes it seems that everything around us militates against the members of the family really coming together. School, work, technology, TV, mobiles, social media, computers. The family rosary can become a moment when all of that is put to one side, all the surrogate communication is left behind and the real business of communicating with God together takes place. It's not always easy but nothing that is worthwhile ever is! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Because It's a defence for the family</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It may be repeated endlessly but it doesn't make it any less true: '<i>The family that prays together stays together.' </i>The question is why? It's all about prioritisation. Jesus was a great management guru as well as all the rest, 'seek first the kingdom of God and all the rest will be given you as well'. Do you want your family to stay together? Then seek Jesus first without embarrassment, we strong-arm our children to do the things we consider important, homework, washing, chores but are we willing to place prayer at the top of that list? </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5. Because in the Rosary we pass on the Faith to our children</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Both of us are involved in teaching yet it's rare that we ever feel it necessary to add any explanation to the rosary. It's an eminently practical lesson. A Father leading the Rosary says more than a hundred discussions on what is prayer. A Mother kneeling with her beads shows where she gets the strength to carry on. An older brother praying out loud for help at school shows to whom we turn in our hour of need. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>6. Because children learn meditative prayer from an early age</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Think of your average children's cartoon. The colours are bright, the action is manic, the music is loud everything is screaming for your passive attention. What could be more different than the soothing, quiet rhythms of the rosary that call you out of your passivity to think of Jesus, of Mary, of the people for whom you are praying.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7. Because it forces us to come out of our selfishness</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bedtime prayers with children can quickly become a repetitive event. Children rattle off a list of friends and relations which barely changes from day to day. In our house each person can propose an intention at the beginning of each decade. We make sure that we think carefully to whom we wish to apply these powerful prayers. We make a small sacrifice of time and effort for the good of someone else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>8. Pray for Pope's intentions</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first part of the Rosary is traditionally said for the Pope's intentions. You can find out what these are every month on the <a href="http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-prayer-intentions-for-may" target="_blank">Vatican website</a>. It's important to bring our children into a relationship with the universal Church. We can end up becoming very provincial and closed in our parish preoccupations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>9.You get to know your Heavenly Mother</b> <b><i>“Behold, your Mother!” </i>(Jn 19:27)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>10. Because you can learn to rest in prayer </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A household with many children is an endlessly busy place. Every moment can be filled with something that needs doing. Sitting in one place for twenty minutes seems like a luxury we can't afford. Yet it's an important lesson. Pause for prayer and rest in the Lord.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>11. Because it's effortless </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Spontaneous prayers are all very well and the endlessly imaginative prayer sessions one gets in school and parish sessions might be good in small doses but sometimes we just need to sit at the feet of Mary with a prayer which has been handed on to us perfectly formed by the great Dominicans of the past, developed by Pope St John Paul II ready for us to simply offer to God. No effort, no imagination, no invention!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>12. Because it's a physical prayer</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are physical as well as spiritual beings. Our body needs to be engaged in prayer too, not just our mind. The rosary is an eminently physical prayer, we can kneel, finger the beads, recite it antiphonally, look at an image. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>13. Because we need help at the hour of our death</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a society where death is hidden and never mentioned in the rosary we speak of it over and over again. It is in the end our greatest fear and a prayer which does not shy away from helping us with what we fear most is surely worthy of regular recitation from now until the hour of our death!</span>Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3448080492757305749.post-45829914675194305992017-04-28T23:01:00.002+01:002017-04-28T23:01:45.953+01:00Why Hope - My Guest Post on Everyday Ediths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;">Over at the great <a href="https://everydayediths.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank">Everyday Ediths</a> blog I was asked to write something a post on Hope which is something I've been thinking about for a while. Easter is a season of hope and in this post-Christian world we need it more than ever! Here's a link to my meditation on hope and the differences between hope and optimism.</span></div>
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<a href="https://everydayediths.wordpress.com/2017/04/27/why-hope/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9DluRp-mmvx4HDohw2cqt7XDbZxF6kwLWk9cq2lk9u3fAmnQwBqpc2DaqE-9cRNL88UQCHhAU2M6ZJjU8iuw-7LNN2pr0RFFGKtMF1g5ddftJtBE9gSftsYIh-0w3cBXL3NTAN4TL7w9/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-04-28+at+22.47.59.png" width="522" /></a></div>
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Chiara Finaldihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07883714232202530771noreply@blogger.com0