Reading Catholic

Reading Catholic and catholic

Nancy Piccione

Spiritual Combat {Lent Book Series}

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Today the Lent Book Series features Marc Cardaronella. 

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What if I told you that giving up chocolate, or any other food, will not make you truly holy?

I hate to burst your bubble during Lent, but I thought you needed to know.

Of course, fasting and abstinence are part of our Lenten disciplines, and bodily mortifications will always be an important part of Catholic spirituality.

However, according to Fr. Lorenzo Scupoli, focusing solely on fasting and other external sufferings and deprivations will not get you where you want to be. They might even do more harm than good.

So where does real Christian perfection lie and how to you obtain it? That is the subject of Fr. Scupoli’s book, Spiritual Combat: How to Win your Spiritual Battles and Attain Inner Peace. Fr. Scupoli was a Theatine priest during the Counter-Reformation dedicated to renewing the spiritual life of the Church.

Spiritual Combat was very well-known and recognized during this time as a masterpiece of spiritual teaching. It was a favorite of St. Francis de Sales and deeply influenced him. He carried this book in his pocket for 18 years.

The term spiritual combat or spiritual warfare commonly refers to fighting against Satan and/or his demons. You may have heard of deliverance prayers or casting out spirits of oppression in the name of Jesus. In this book, it’s a little bit different. Here the combat is not directly against Satan, but against yourself.

Because of the Fall, we are full of disordered passions and desires. These can lead us astray in so many ways, it’s hard to count. God’s love calls to us. It’s engraved in our hearts, but our hearts are confused. So we have to attack and destroy these wayward desires in order to follow God in truth.

To this end here are the four weapons you need to become a victor in the spiritual conflict. An explanation of these four weapons makes up the major sections of Spiritual Combat.

1. Distrust of Self

Distrust of self is the foundational element in spiritual combat. Without it, you don’t have a chance.

We really don’t have any strength on our own, and yet we convince ourselves that we are completely self-sufficient. We mistakenly think we can take care of any problem on our own. This is a bad idea.

God wants us to see that:

“He alone is the Source of all good, that all virtue and grace descend from Him to us, and that from ourselves nothing can come, not even a good thought that would be worthy of His approval” (p. 13).

 2. Trust in God

Distrust is essential, but it’s not enough.

“There is need to add to it perfect trust in God, in the hope and expectation that He alone will vouchsafe to us every good thing we need: His help and the victory…with the help of our Lord, we may be assured of success at all times, provided that, to obtain His aid, we arm our hearts with a lively confidence in Him” (p. 19).

 3. Spiritual Exercises

This is the largest section of the book. It provides very practical ways to guard your heart, have the right motivation, overcome and resist temptation, turn to God after you sin, and strive for virtue.

 4. Prayer

The final section on prayer discusses the habits necessary to enact all the previous weapons. It’s the glue that holds them together and makes them effective.

“Needful above all is prayer…by means of which we may obtain from our Lord, not only the things already named, but all other good things. For prayer is the means by which we obtain all the graces that rain down upon us from the Divine Fountain of goodness and love. By prayer, if you use it aright, you will put a sword into the hand of God, with which He will fight and conquer for you” (p. 121).

Spiritual Combat is a great exposition of the traditional spirituality of the Church. This is the way Saints are made. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s practical and effective. It’s a serious manual for those who want a powerful spirituality to overcome their temptations and sins.

Consider taking up the challenge and reading this book for Lent. It will open your eyes to the truth of the war going on inside your heart, and give you real tools to win the fight.

I guarantee you’ll never see yourself the same and never simply give up chocolate for Lent again.

Marc Cardaronella is a Catholic writer and speaker living in Champaign, IL. A former Navy pilot, he gave up the fast life for a more rewarding career as a Director of Religious Education. He is currently the father of two young boys and writes about why people believe in Jesus Christ (and why they don’t) on his personal blog. Follow him on Twitter –@MCardaronella and Google+.

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*Marc and I have known each other since both he and my husband Joseph  were both speakers at a local evangelization conference many years ago (the mid to late aughts?).  There was a dinner at a great Italian restaurant (sadly, no longer there) the night before for speakers and spouses. Joseph & I sat with Marc & his lovely wife Shannon. That night, Marc  and Shannon introduced us to the fun and relatively new app called Shazam.  I’m sure you all know about Shazam, but if you don’t go download it–our family uses it all the time to find out what song is playing on the radio.

*Shannon Cardaronella was one of the first “Readers” I featured when I began my column and the “Meet a Reader” feature for The Catholic Post. Reading through this again reminded me how much Shannon and I are  kindred spirits when it comes to books–now I need to find out if she is on GoodReads so we can compare books.

*I had to laugh when I read the first line of Marc’s contribution here–“What if I told you that giving up chocolate, or any other food, will not make you truly holy?”– since I am firmly in the camp of “I.must.give.up.chocolate.for.Lent.” One of the few comments I’ve left on Marc’s blog (though I’m an avid reader) was about that very subject, and how I don’t agree with his view.   I know what people like Marc mean when they say Lent is not just about giving up chocolate, but I personally feel it important to sacrifice for many reasons. Chiefly, I need something tangible that I love to give up and complain about during Lent, in a funny way, that doesn’t make other people miserable (like the year when I gave up caffeine–don’t ask). Yes, I can and do give up or have other spiritual practices no one knows about.  But giving up chocolate is my right as a Catholic and I’m not surrendering it.

*Lest you think I’m negating Marc’s review of Spiritual Combat, know that I’m not.  One of the best and worst things about doing this Lent Book Series is getting to learn about a lot of new or new-to-me  books that are then added to my impossibly long to-read list.  Usually each month I request one or two of the books that each “Meet a Reader” discusses, but Lent for me has been like a six-week long “Meet a Reader” with so many great books to explore.  It’s a bit overwhelming, in a good way.  Spiritual Combat is near the top of the list.

Do you have a favorite book so far in the Lent Book Series?

Time for First Confession Prep {Lent Book Series}

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The Lent Book Series today features Grete Veliz.

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Here we are in the middle of Lent. Have you been to confession?

If you are in 2nd grade at my parish, you’re just getting ready to go to confession for the first time. This year, my eldest child, 8-year-old Maria, is preparing to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist for the first time. While I feel pretty  confident about teaching her about the Sacraments, I was excited to have a new book to help: A Little Book about Confession for Children by Kendra Tierney.  She’s also the blogger behind Catholic All Year.

This well-crafted book is written especially for children (and their parents), and I really appreciate that Mrs. Tierney chooses to explain the different aspects of Confession in simple but not “dumbed-down” language. She knows that children can understand even complicated theological questions, like “How can I know whether a sin is mortal or venial?” especially with a parent by her side to talk it over.

The majority of the book is in question/answer format which my daughter and I read together. The questions were a great starting point for discussion. Since this is our oldest daughter preparing for confession, I haven’t had to teach anyone yet about the why and how of confession before. Mrs. Tierney’s book came at the perfect time for our family. The Catechism and Bible references included could also lead you to further discussion and understanding exactly what our Church says about confession.

Calling on the powerful intercession of the saints might be just what we need in order to prepare for confession. Confession for Children also highlights five saints who have a particular connection to the Sacrament. We can ask for the intercession of these holy men and women, from St. John Vianney, who spent eighteen hours a day in the confessional hearing the sins of penitents, to St. Mary Magdalene, who became a special friend to Jesus after repenting of her sinful ways.

One of the things I especially appreciated about the book is the Examination of Conscience questions. This carefully developed list of questions, based on the Ten Commandments, is listed for children to use in preparation for confession, and even as a daily practice. I especially appreciate the delicate wording regarding the more “grown-up” aspects in the Commandments.

As a side note: Our diocese (the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois) distributes a nice pamphlet that contains another great “Examination of Conscience for Children” that also handles these delicate questions with respect.

This book would make a great gift. The actual book is small, with thick glossy pages and colorful text. My daughter also wanted me to point out that she really liked the drawings. So, we’d like to give credit to illustrator Maria Ashton, as well.

Finally, I love Mrs. Tierney’s recommendation of celebrating the penitent’s first confession by taking her out for ice cream. This is to remind us of the sweetness of God’s mercy. I plan to carry out this recommendation. I just hope no one will notice if we have to suspend our Lenten sacrifices for an afternoon.

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photo by Laura McNeil of Maple Seeds Photography

Grete Veliz is wife to Mark, mom to three daughters, ages 8, 6, and 4 and two sons, ages 3 and 1. She keeps busy by homeschooling, reading, baking, sewing, knitting, reading blogs and hanging out with her husband (and the kids, too). She and her family are members of St. Mary’s Parish in Metamora.

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*Grete is a young mom I really admire since I see her at daily Mass at our parish pretty often for a mom of five young ones.  I recall so vividly how bringing my once-little kids to daily Mass was alternately despair-inducing (the wiggles {and sometimes the actual Wiggles}, the occasional loud noises, the every-so-often mean looks and even mean anonymous letters) and how alternately great (the kind words from the older parishioners, the overwhelming graces at times, seeing my kids at Mass now).   And I want to say, Grete, keep on keepin’ on: Don’t feel compelled to come every day, and yet don’t stay away.  It’s good for you and good for the kids, and good for the rest of us. Plus, my “old kids” loves to smile at your kids.

*Grete was gracious enough to do a Q&A with me  several years ago on two pregnancy books.  You can read that exchange here.

*Elsewhere on the Internet, Grete did a guest post on Bonnie Engstrom’s Advent series at A Knotted Life several years back.  Her contribution: “Advent in Our Home.”

Meet a Reader: Father Charles Klamut

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Sharing the “Meet a Reader” feature that appears on the book page of The Catholic Post every other issue.

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How you know me: I have served as a priest in the diocese since 1999, primarily in Peoria (St Philomena, Peoria Notre Dame, and St Mark’s) and, most recently, in Champaign as chaplain at St John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois. I also write songs and release music CDs occasionally, and I recently started a website/blog called Pastoral Quotient.

Why I love reading: It’s been said that who we are in ten years depends on two things: the people we spend most time with, and the books we read. I strongly believe this!

The mind is like a field: we can let it grow wild, or we can intentionally cultivate it. One way or other, it will put forth. So why not be intentional? Proverbs 24:6 says wise guidance leads to success in battle; and through an abundance of counselors, there is victory.

Reading lets me tap the wisdom of many counselors, most of whom I will meet only through their ideas. Reading is an antidote preventing me from being a lame priest, always a fear of mine (prayer and friendship are two other antidotes). The people of God deserve thoughtful and wise shepherds, and intentional, consistent reading keeps me growing toward this goal. And growing makes me happy! Good reading enhances my pastoral intelligence and makes me a better priest, so I can serve people better.

What I’m reading now: I just finished Unlocking the Heart of the Artist
by Matt Tommey, a Christian artist from North Carolina who is part of a Christian artists’ guild. The book is a beautiful meditation on the spirituality of artists in God’s Kingdom.

I also recently read Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink, a remarkable author who combines extensive research with journalistic readability in his books on many topics of contemporary cultural concern. Drive discusses the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation — and why the latter is proving more and more to be the superior “operating system” for human motivation in business and in education in today’s creativity and knowledge economy. I think the book has profound implications for pastoral ministry as well, which I am thinking through.

I am currently reading Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge by Dr Henry Cloud, a neuro-psychologist and high-level professional business consultant. Dr Cloud helps leaders lead more effectively by understanding how to steward the emotional climate of an organization in positive ways that actually honor the God-given ways people’s brains were meant to perform.

Next in my queue: A book on Flannery O’Connor’s spiritual journey by Lorraine Murray, which was given to me as a gift recently by the author herself after I collaborated with her husband, Jef Murray, at a recent Tolkien conference at Urbana Theological Seminary. On my website, I have a “Resources” page sharing a lot more detail about books and podcasts that have helped me.

My favorite book: The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. People make fun of me because I talk about Tolkien so much! I taught a class at Peoria Notre Dame for almost a decade on LOTR, which was some of the greatest fun I’ve had in all my priesthood. I have actually written a book on the Catholic themes in Tolkien which is currently under consideration for publication.

Local Priest Has New Website, E-Book

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Following is another article of mine that appears in this weekend’s edition of The Catholic Post.

A local priest and author Father Charles Klamut, chaplain of St. John’s Newman Center at the University of Illinois in Champaign, has a new website called Pastoral Quotient: Disruptive Christian Leadership with the mission of “Equipping and inspiring Christian leaders for a smarter, more effective church.”

On Pastoral Quotient, Fr. Klamut posts thought-provoking blog posts like, “Five Leadership Lessons from Gandalf.”  He also has a new e-book out called, What Does Discipleship Look Like?

In What Does Discipleship Look Like? Fr. Klamut offers a challenge for Catholic leaders, and really, any Christian, who wants to share the faith in an intentional and eternally effective way. In a way, he’s “throwing down the gauntlet” to create real, active disciples who will desire to share their faith, as well as understand that faith.

“The church is not a self-referential, self-protectionary tribe fostering its own interests,” writes Fr. Klamut. “The church is commissioned by Jesus and empowered by the Spirit to go forth, announcing God’s Kingdom victory to all people, especially those farthest away, lost on the margins and peripheries.”

What Does Discipleship Look Like? provides, under the framework of core values of teachability, responsibility and missionary discipleship, a starting point for leaders to consider being bold and creative in evangelization. This e-book is a quick read, but the ideas shared, and the helpful Scripture resources at the end, provide a lot of food for thought, prayer and action.

Also of interest:

*Father Charles is featured in this weekend’s issue of The Catholic Post as the “Meet a Reader.”  That Q&A will post tomorrow.  Check back for it, or sign up to receive e-mail updates at the upper right corner of any page here on Reading Catholic.

*Visit Father’s new website Pastoral Quotient here. My favorite recent article, as described above, is “Five Leadership Lessons from Gandalf” as I am a huge LOTR fan, as well.  I also enjoyed “The Minister as Artist“–I haven’t seen the movie Babette’s Feast in years, but Father writes about it here; I think it’s time to go find it again.

*Last year, Father Charles’ writing was featured in America magazine in “That Man is Me,”  writing about how the novel, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, gave life to his priestly vocation.  It was much shared at the time and is well worth a read, or re-read.

Time for a Mid-Lent Re-Set

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Following is my column that appears in this weekend’s print edition of The Catholic Post. I invite your feedback.

It is a truth not universally acknowledged—but it should be—that the best ideas are often difficult—not easy— to explain in a meaningful way. The hallmark of good writing or speaking is simplicity, but nearly always getting there is very hard work.

Case in point: I have a vivid memory from years ago of a good friend, a mom of many, sharing her annoyance at a talk she heard about how mothers always live the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. For instance, the speaker argued that when we feed our children, we are “feeding the hungry,” and so on. My friend was bothered by how gimmicky the talk sounded, and how spiritually unsatisfying it was, despite the promising subject matter.

When I read and love a book like Mercy in the City: How to Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Visit the Imprisoned and Keep Your Day Job by Kerry Weber, I might be tempted to think, “Well, that must have been an easy book to write—try to live out the corporal works of mercy during Lent, and write about it.”

But the book excels not just because of a “good idea,” but Weber’s fresh voice and clear Catholic perspective—and a lot of hard work.

Mercy in the City indeed tells the story of how Weber, managing editor of “America” magazine, tries to live out the Corporal Works of Mercy one Lent in New York City, but it succeeds because of her spiritual maturity and natural ability to share her life and faith.

There are clever touches, like each chapter’s witty title, reminiscent of a 19th century novel, describing what will occur (“In which I attempt to create a Lent-appropriate date”). Those make me smile. But her reflections, some poignant, some gently ironic, on how and why to live mercy, is what makes Mercy in the City great.

Weber invites readers to join her journey trying to the corporal works of mercy, and we see her real stumbles, doubts and successes. She also offers a gentle challenge to us consider ways in which we can be more in tune to the needs of those around us, and live Lent well, no matter where we are.

Mercy is the City is a great mid-Lent re-set book. You know how spirits flag in the middle of Lent—giving up chocolate seems so hard (at least for me!)—so it’s good to have a reminder of what we are meant to do during Lent: pray, fast, and give alms.

Or, as Weber so aptly puts it, “It’s easy to feel broken down in these first weeks of Lent .. when trying to balance the things we want to do with the things we should do, and trying to create as much overlap between the two as possible. And above all, trying to unite these two things with God’s will for us.”

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*Author Kerry Weber is the sister of Matt Weber, author of the humorous Andy Rooney-style book, Fearing the Stigmata: Humorously Holy Stories of a Young Catholic’s Search for a Culturally Relevant Faith. (Read my review of that book here–I really, really enjoyed it).   Clearly, this family knows how to write substantial and yet fun-to-read books that leave readers with both amusing and edifying stories, as well as a gentle invitation to live in the world as a more intentional, faithful and better person.

*Also, frequent and careful readers of Reading Catholic may notice that one of the Lent Book Series guest writers already reviewed Mercy in the City.  Sue Wozniak reviewed this book for the Lent Book Series earlier this month. It’s clearly a book worth reading.

A Lesson in Letting Go {Lent Book Series}

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Today the Lent Book Series features Mary McKean, who’s written here before about her love of Fulton Sheen.

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I never used to worry until I had kids.

Now I worry all of the time.

I suffer when they suffer. If they are sick, I want to make them better. If they have troubles, I want to alleviate them. I want to make their lives less difficult. I want to spare them the sufferings of life.

One of the most difficult things, for me, about being the mother of adult children is to realize that I am not in control. Never was. Never will be. What I would choose may not, in the end, be the best thing anyway.

Being a mother is a lesson in letting go. It’s a difficult one to learn.

Amazingly, the number one thing that has helped me in this journey is a book I read with my Catholic book club, He Leadeth Me by Father Walter Cisek.

No other book has changed my outlook and perspective as much as He Leadeth Me. The funny thing is, I would never have picked it up on my own. It’s about suffering, Russian labor camps in Siberia, and untold hardships. Not usually my cup of tea. But, it grabbed my attention from the very beginning, and I could not put it down.

He Leadeth Me is autobiographical, and tells the story of an American Polish priest who felt a calling to serve the people of Russia. He trained in Rome and found his way across the Iron Curtain. Disguised as civilians, he and another priest went to work in a factory in hopes of reaching the workers there, and perhaps uncovering any remnants of Faith that might still be present in Russia. They were discovered and separated. Fr. Cisek spent years in solitary confinement at an infamous prison before finally serving fifteen years in the hard labor camps of Siberia.

Fr. Cisek’s first book, With God in Russia tells the grueling facts of his life there. He Leadeth Me, essentially a sequel to that book, answers the questions that everyone asked afterwards….How did he survive? What was his strength? How did he face such hardships day after day?

The answer touched me beyond anything I expected. It is simple in its telling, beautiful in its theology, but incredibly difficult in its execution. The answer: to trust and embrace the Will of God. What that means I found penetrating to the core. Conformity to the Will of God was learned “only through the constant practice of prayer, by trying always to live in the presence of God, and by trying to always see everything as a manifestation of His Divine Will” no matter what.

Father Cisek went on to say, “No matter how close to God the soul felt, how blessed it was by an awareness of His presence on occasion, the realities of life were always at hand, always demanding recognition, always demanding acceptance. I had continuously to learn to accept God’s Will—not as I wished it to be, not as it might have been, but actually as it was at the moment. And it was through the struggle to do this that spiritual growth, and a greater appreciation of His Will took place”

What that meant concretely, was that this humble priest could see God’s hand in everything. God knew his situation. God loved him, and cared for Him so much so that He was willing to allow these sufferings to cleanse and purify his soul. Fr. Cisek let go of his worries. He let go of his desire to control his destiny. He placed his life and his future in the hands of God, and was happy in each moment, knowing that he was where God wanted him to be. He tried to do everything he did with perfection, as an offering to God for the Russian people. Because of Fr. Cisek’s obedience and embracing of the Divine Will, many were able to receive the sacraments and to know the love of God.

Life is a journey, and I struggle to let go and see everything through the same lens. As Our Lord once asked St Catherine of Siena, “Why will you not put your trust in Me, your Creator? Because your trust is in yourself.”

Exactly. Sometimes, I even want to tell God the details of how He might go about accomplishing all the many things I ask of Him. I am learning. Each day I learn a little more. Each event which occurs requires me to relinquish my will a little more. I have learned what little control I really have in the end. My adult children are free and independent.

Life and death is not up to me. Suffering and pain is not up to me. Like Fr. Cisek, I am trying to embrace God’s Will, even in the smallest aspects of my life. Unlike this holy man, I still have a long way to go. But at least now, I have a vision. I know where I need to be. In the end, it is a great sense of relief and joy to know that I can turn my life over to One who loves me with so great a love, and wants what is best for my eternal soul.

Mary McKean and her husband, Pete, have been married 35 years and are the parents of  eight adult children. and grandparents of 22 (and counting), where they are members of St. John the Baptist Parish in Bradford.  

Mary’s been a parish organist for more than 40 years (she started as a young teen).   Mary and Pete were Peace Corps volunteers in Ecuador as newlyweds in 1977.

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