Catholic Fire

1. Valentine's Day -- Here are the cards we shared with one another. Bill's is on the left and mine is on the right. 2. We decided rather than go out to eat in.  Here is what I prepared for our Valentine's Day meal: shrimp cocktail,  keta salmon with a tasty rub, asparagus, and baked potatoes. It is so easy to prepare and super healthy as well as delicious. 3.  Here is my Valentine's Day gift from Bill -- a diffuser which is so relaxing at bedtime. I combine lavender essential oils with absolute rose and it produces a heavenly scent! 4. What have you been reading this Lent? Here is what has been on my night stand: The Autobiography of Dina Belanger (a French-Canadian Blessed), The Lenten Magnificat, Magnificat Year of Mercy Companion, and The Word Among Us -- Lent 2016. I am really enjoying reading about Blessed Dina, but am taking my time reading this volume, as there is much to savor here. 5. Lenten music -- For Lent, I tend ...

With Lent beginning tomorrow, February 9, on Ash Wednesday, it's time to take a look at some inspiring reading material to help us grow in holiness. Here are some suggestions: 1. The Kiss of Jesus: How Mother Teresa and the Saints Helped Me to Discover the Beauty of the Cross by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle This book is ideal for Lent as it teaches us about suffering, God’s grace, and living a holy life. It also touches on God’s great love and mercy in this Jubilee Year of Mercy. In this candid, astonishing autobiographical account, this soft-spoken, delicate, and devout Catholic media celebrity reveals the shocking struggles she has tackled in life. She became engaged to a drug addict who held her against her will, threatening harm to her family. She faced miscarriages, abuse, serious illness, divorce, financial difficulties, custody battles, and single motherhood – all with great inner strength and tremendous courage. Through God’s providence, she met Mother Teresa,...

With Lent only two weeks away, it's time to start looking at some inspiring reading material to help us grow in holiness. Of the books I have read, the following are my favorites for Lent: 1.   Bringing Lent Home with St. John Paul II: Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Familie s by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle 2. Bringing Lent Home with St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Families   by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle 3 . Seven Saints for Seven Virtues by Jean M. Heimann (helpful in learning to replace sin with specific virtues) 4. Practical Theology: Spiritual Direction from Saint Thomas Aquinas   by Peter Kreeft 5. The Grace of Yes: Eight Virtues for Generous Living by Lisa Hendey 6. Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross by Edward Sri 7. Magnifcat Lenten Companion All of these books are very readable and relevant. 

Using St. Therese of Lisieux as a spiritual guide, author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle effectively assists families in experiencing a deeper spiritual growth and conversion during the holy and penitential season of Lent in Bringing Lent Home with St. Therese of Lisieux . The daily devotional begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday, providing prayers, reflections, and activities for the entire family. Each day, the family gathers together in the morning or evening to read a quote from St. Therese, reflect on points to ponder, read a brief excerpt from the life of St. Therese, discuss and choose fasting and almsgiving suggestions, and pray a simple, yet poignant prayer.  In this way, the three essential components of the Lenten season are fulfilled: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. I was very impressed with both the spiritual depth of this book for families, as well as the practicality of the format. As a Doctor of the Universal Church, whose spiritual doctrine co...

What will you be reading this Lent? Here's a taste of some of the books I will be reading: The Seven Last Words by Fulton J. Sheen My Catholic Women's Bible (New American) by Fireside Press The Magnifcat Lenten Companion Numerous books on the saints -- too many to mention here. Here are some recommended reads for this Lenten season: 1. Imitation of Christ -- Thomas a Kempis 2. Introduction to the Devout Life -- St. Frances de Sales 3. Journey to Easter by Pope Benedict XVI 4. 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation -- St. Alphonsus Liguori 5. Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ -- Anne Catherine Emich 6. Kisss from the Cross -- Ronda de Sola Chervin 7. Back to Virtue -- Peter Kreeft 8. Live Well, Die Holy -- St. Robert Bellarmine 9. Self - Abandonment to Divine Providence -- Fr. J.P. De Caussade, S.J. 10. Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius -- St. Ignatius of Loyola 11. The Virtue Driven Life -- Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR 12. City of God -- St. Augustine 13. Confessions -- S...