Book Review -The Seed Who Was Afraid to Be Planted - Author Anthony DeStefano

The following book review was written by Rosa Sautner, a Catholic homeschooling mom of two.

A very charming rhyming book illustrated with touching images of a frightened little seed.  The story of the seed who is afraid to be put into the ground and planted contains many truths about our life.  It offers pleasant rhyme to help children learn about dying to oneself in order to live in Christ.  The story can also be used to help explain why we are afraid to die in this life.  We don't know what joy the next life contains, we only know the "now" of our existence.  If we trust the Divine Gardener and let him do as He wills with us, we will see all the joy that He has planned for us in the next life .  These are profound truths that can be told in simple story form for children.  A lovely book that would be a very appropriate gift for Lent or Easter.

Video

Review -Me & My House - Catholic Parenting Course Videos

by Patrick Sullivan - Evango

Patrick Sullivan has put together an excellent resource for parents in his new parenting video series entitled, "Me & My House."   While I am not a new parent, my twin girls are now age 10, I learned a great deal from watching his videos.

Patrick takes you on a step-by-step path on how to bring up children who are affectionate, loving, and desirous of having a deep relationship with their parents and above all with God.

The videos are divided into four modules:

1. Parenting in God's Plan - He explores the foundations of Catholic parenting.
2. Habits in Parenting - He discusses good and bad practices in parenting.
3. Do's and Don'ts of Parenting - He explains good discipline techniques, what works and what doesn't work.
4. Parenting Them in the Faith -  He gives good suggestions of things you can do to raise children who will find joy in their faith.

These videos are very practical.  Patrick gradually introduces ways to help you implement solid, Catholic teaching in your home, in raising your children, and in relating to your spouse.  

One of the biggest impacts of the videos is the example of Patrick's children themselves.  Whenever they appear in the videos they seem very gentle, sweet, and well-mannered.  Patrick relates one story where he is looking all over for his son one day, only to find him hiding under the covers on his bed saying a Rosary!  This dear man surely knows what he is talking about if his little boy can do something like that.

One of the best features of these videos is Patrick's calm, soft-spoken demeanor.  I was very relaxed each time I watched and that was a big plus!

This is really a worthwhile series for all Catholic parents.  There is always something we can learn to help our children grow up to be loving, respectful children who love God.  Patrick Sullivan has put together a functional, Catholic guide to parenting.  I truly enjoyed watching the videos.   I am sure all parents will greatly benefit from the wisdom and practical advice they will receive from watching the "Me & My House" Catholic Parenting course.

For our readers we have a the discount code for $15 off the purchase price, and the code is JOSEPH. Click HERE for more details.

 Reviewed by Rosa Sautner, Catholic homeschooling mom of 2.

St. John of the Cross - 3 Cautions about the world

https://youtu.be/hLYVX0WcVEA

The Golden Rules of Detachment by St. John of the Cross

The soul must always be inclined to:

-  not to the easiest thing, but the hardest;

-  not to the tastiest thing, but the most insipid;

-  not to t he thing that gives the greatest pleasure, but to those that give the least;

-  not to restful things, but to the painful ones;

-  not to consolation, but desolation;

- not to more, but to less;

- not to the highest and dearest, but to the lowest and most despised;

-  not to desire for something but to have no desires.

- 

Saint Pope John Paul II Message for Lent

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
FOR LENT 1979

You ask: “What has happened to Lent?”. Going to some small extent without food does not, you think, mean much, at a time when so many of our brothers and sisters are victims of war of disasters and are undergoing such suffering, both physically and morally.

Fasting concerns personal asceticism, which is always necessary; but the Church asks the baptized to mark this liturgical season in yet another way...

Read the rest HERE.

Lent - Unmortified Habitual Inperfections

"The smallest imperfection is opposed to the will of God because Go cannot desire the slightest imperfection."
- St. John of the Cross

Examples of unmortified habitual imperfections:

1.  Talking too much;

2.  Unrestrained curiosity;

3.  Attachments to the little things whether persons or objects such as food and so forth which the soul refuses to give up;

4.  Attachment to one's comfort;

5.  Attachment to one's own opinion and reputation.

Lent - Jesus' Words to St. Faustina Regarding Sanctification and Salvation

Jesus told Sr. Faustina during His retreat that her sanctification and salvation was assured and available through the sacraments, especially Holy Eucharist and Confession and by:

1.  Totally abandoning herself to His will;

2.  Putting her self-love in the last place;

3.  Shunning gossip like the plague;

4.  Acting kindly to those who sought her harm;

5.  Hiding in His heart whenever confronted by temptation and discouragement;

6.  Trusting He is always with her;

7.  Praying for the sick and the dying;

8.  Always being adorned by the virtue of humility, purity of intention and love.

This is also true for us.

Ash Wednesday - How to Grow Spiritually this Lent via the Saints and Holy People

The following are from a couple of sources and are shared as a way of helping you become holier.

"O Holy Spirit, 

quench my thirst at the torrent of Your delights,

so that I will no longer wish to taste the poisonous delights of the world."

St. Augustine

---

"Jesus Christ was the only man ever born into the world in order to die."

Father Andrew Apostoli about Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's quote

---

Precious Blood wash over me and protect me from the wickedness and snares of the devil.

---

"...teach me how to nourish my prayers to be really like Yours, by true, generous sacrifice-

renouncing some well-earned repose, detaching myself from creatures, being silent and 

interiorly recollected.  Grant that I may be faithful in performing my duties, that I may

prove my love by little voluntary mortifications, and may joyfully accept Your will in

all circumstances of my life."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D**

---

"Anything that does not contribute to our sanctification or to the sanctification of

others is useless, a waste of time, and should be courageously eliminated."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

---

"I do nothing by myself, I act according to God's inspiration, in order to do

what is most pleasing to Him."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

---

"I beseech You, Lord, grant me that grace without which I shall never be at

peace with my neighbor, but will every be prompt to take offense.  

It would be far better for me to correct my own faults than to criticize the actions

of others!

If I expect others to bear with my defects, I must likewise bear with them."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

---

"Let us consider nothing too difficult when it is a question of winning souls."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

---

I promise to declare a merciless war against myself.  My weapons for the battle will be prayer, the practice of the presence of God, and silence... I will arm myself with sovereign confidence in

You; with patience, humility, conformity of Your Divine Will, and supreme diligence..."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

---

"One single, unmortified appetite is sufficient to fetter the soul."

St. John of the Cross

---

"Renounce everything, be detached from everything."

St. John of the Cross

---

**Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year

Miracles of the Eucharist

Book Review -Around the Year with the von Trapp Family by Maria Augusta von Trapp

My sister will now be the book reviewer on this blog.  The following is her latest review.  Please note:  the publisher Sophia Institute Press is offering a 25% discount to readers of this blog. 

Use Discount Code radio25 when ordering book to get the discount when using this link:  http://sophiainstitute.com/aroundtheyear  

God bless,

Esther, A Catholic Mom in Hawaii

Book Review by Rosa Sautner,

(Catholic homeschooling mom of 2)

When I began homeschooling, I was determined to teach my daughters to love the Catholic Church, to love living the Liturgical Year, to enjoy participating in the life of the Church.  I used an actual Catholic calendar, looked up the feasts, holy days, seasons and prepared my lessons accordingly.  

How I wish I had had this book by Maria Augusta von Trapp!  Maria, you may well know is the Maria of the Sound of Music fame.  As a former postulant in an Abbey, she must have had a deep love and knowledge of the Catholic Church and a devotion to all the beautiful traditions of the Austrian people.

As she writes in her introduction, when her family was "transplanted" to America, those long held traditions served to firmly root her family in America by helping them to live the life of the Church as they had when they were in Austria.  

This lovely book will also help you live the Liturgical Year with your own family in much the same way she did.  She provides lovely stories of each season of the year, the preparations they made, the foods they cooked, and especially the music they sang.  Each season is explained and carefully broken down so that your preparation can follow very simply by putting into practice her customs and traditions.  Beginning with Advent and ending with All Souls Day, Maria takes us through the Liturgical year and ends the book with an entire chapter on celebrating feasts, such as birthdays and baptismal days.

This beautiful book is a reprint of the 1955 edition.  It is simply a treasure.  I highly recommend it as a most useful and inspiring addition to any Catholic home library.

 

The Most Holy Name of Jesus

O Lord, give me Your peace; let it establish Your kingdom in me and make me a praise of glory of Your Holy Name.

Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

The Power of the Holy Name of Jesus ~ Fr Isaac Mary Reylea

Standing with our Bishop and Pope

The following is a quote by Pope Pius XI and found in the self-retreat book I Believe in Love by Father Jean C. J. d'Elbee. Published by Sophia Institute Press.

Your bishop and the Pope are the golden chain which connects you to the Divine Redeemer.  You must be with the Pope, because whoever is with him is with the very foundation of the Church; for it is against him, and the Church founded on him, that the gates of Hell shall not prevail."

Plenary Indulgence - New Years Day

If you recite the Veni Creator Spiritus.  Thanks to Janette at Truth Himself for sharing.

Veni, Creator Spiritus 

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator

This hymn was probably written by Rabanus Maurus (856), Archbishop of Mainz.  In addition to its place in the Pentecost liturgy, the Veni Creator has also been assigned as the official opening prayer for Church councils and synods. It is recited and sung by the faithful all over the world at the start of important undertakings, such as the beginning of a school year, at conventions, missions, retreats, and on many similar occasions. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite it. A plenary indulgence is granted if it is recited or sung on January 1st or on the feast of Pentecost.

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.   Amen.

Prayer Source: Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs

by Francis X. Weiser, S.J., Harcourt, Brace and Co, New York, 1958

The Best Christmas Gift