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The Catholic Post

Meet a Reader: Father Paul Langevin, OFM Conv. { @TheCatholicPost }

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Following is the “Meet a Reader” feature that appears on the book page of the current print issue of The Catholic Post.

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How you know me:

I am the (relatively new) Parochial  Vicar at Holy Family Parish and School (Go Crusaders!). Perhaps you may know of my award-winning cole slaw served at Holy Family’s famous Fish Frys (mark your calendars for first Fridays during the school year and every Friday throughout Lent).  They say it’s some of the very best cole slaw this side of the Illinois River….or maybe they said “this side of the Mississippi” (I told you I’m still new here and trying to get my bearings!!!).  Perhaps our paths crossed before I was ordained to the holy priesthood when I was a clinical social worker for 20 years working with children and families first in Ohio and then for the Department of Children and Family Services in Illinois.  But if we’ve never met and you see me out and about I sure hope you’ll introduce yourself as I love meeting new people and hearing their stories.  Or, if you ever see me jogging down Sterling Avenue give me a honk and I’ll be sure to wave!

Why I love reading:

I must confess, as a child I wasn’t much of a bookworm because it was one of those “have-to-do” things.  But once I discovered that reading opens the mind and the heart to a world of possibilities, I was hooked.  

Whether it’s a novel with a plot that engrosses all my senses (even to the point of losing track of the time!!!) or reading for general knowledge/information, reading is fascinating.  I never read so much so fast as during graduate school at Michigan (M-GO-BLUE) for my Master of Social Work degree.  That is, until I went back to school after 20 years for my Master of Divinity degree at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.  “So many books…..so little time” was the reality I faced both times in graduate school.  

Now it’s good to be reading once again what I want to read.  I’ve also heard that reading helps keep the mind sharp…..and I’m needing all the help with that I can get!

What I’m reading now:

I find myself reading several books at a time.  Right now, I’m reading and meditating on Christoph Cardinal Schonborn’s We Have Found Mercy.

 The message of Divine Mercy (as we understand it through Saint Faustina Kowalska) runs throughout Cardinal Schonborn’s writing and his message of God’s merciful love.  He takes the reader on a spiritual journey of God’s mercy through the Sacred Scriptures, the life of Christ, the sacrament of mercy-which is confession, and the rich catechetical tradition of the “works of mercy” as well as how Christianity throughout history has become an “engine” of mercy in the world.  No literary work on God’s mercy would be complete without considering Mary, the Mother of Mercy.  And Cardinal Schonborn shows us how we can be like Mary: touched by God’s mercy, we become visible signs of His mercy for all people.

I am also reading Daniel Pambianchi’s Techniques in Home Winemaking as I prepare to showcase Buona Ventura Cellars “Tarnished Halo Wines” — a St. Bonaventure Province Conventual Franciscan premier wine made right here in Peoria out of our friary basement.

My favorite book: 

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen is by far my favorite spiritual book.  I have never heard God speak so clearly to me through it as I was coming back home to the Catholic Faith.  I still find it a treasured pearl of great price in my library as it continues to guide me back home to our loving Father’s merciful embrace and the transformation that always awaits me there. 

   

Let Mercy and Grace Lead {My March column @TheCatholicPost }

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Following is my March column that appears in this week’s print edition of The Catholic Post. 

There’s at least one person in everyone’s life, more than one if you’re fortunate.  Being around that person often makes you feel better, braver, and more peaceful  After a conversation with the person, you feel loved and cared for.

This may date me, but to me the concept is most fully expressed in the 1990s Rich Mullins song, “Let Mercy Lead.”  The refrain includes the line:

“Let mercy lead

let love be the strength in your legs

and in every footprint that you take there’ll be a drop of grace.”

This quality doesn’t mean the person is always perfect, or you always have that experience with him or her.  But it does mean that in many interactions, the person is a conduit of grace.

Sometimes the one who “leads with mercy” is a family member, or a dear friend. Sometimes, the person is one we know only as an acquaintance, or only meet on one occasion.

Sometimes, that person can be an author.  One such authors is Dawn Eden, who writes from such a place of peace and spiritual depth that nearly everything she writes contains a “drop of grace.”

Her latest book, Remembering God’s Mercy: Redeem the Past and Free Yourself from Painful Memories,  is an excellent example of this gift.  As Eden writes in the preface: “I wrote this book to share the good news that Jesus Christ heals our memories.”

 

Eden’s 2012 book, My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints, was chiefly written for those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse.  Even for those readers, like me, who have not experienced abuse, that book was relevant and edifying. That book was part memoir and part meditations on what the saints can teach us about wholeness of body, mind and spirit, even in the face of searing memories and experiences.

After the publication of My Peace I Give You,  Eden received many requests to write a book that included the same healing spirituality, but for those who have not suffered abuse.  Remembering God’s Mercy is that book, and it covers in a fresh way many of the same themes.

What sets Remembering God’s Mercy apart is Eden’s focus on the work and words of three Ignatians:  St. Ignatius, St. Peter Faber, and Pope Francis.  Each chapter of the book is titled with a line from Ignatius’ “Suscipe” prayer, (Receive, O Lord, all my liberty…”), and surveys the theme of the line from an Ignatian perspective.  This framework works extremely well in organizing the book and allowing for depth.  Pope Francis’ words on memory, and how God heals our memory, is especially fascinating and well worth pondering.

Ever since she wrote My Peace I Give You, Eden has often been invited to parishes and groups to speak.  People’s questions & comments also helped inform what’s covered in Remembering God’s Mercy.  For instance, a question from a woman asking if there are any parts of the Bible that reference people who block out their memories, and then get their memories back.  After reflection, Eden shares Pope Francis’ writing on memory, and how the first thing Jesus does after his resurrection is “that he restores our memory.”

Remembering God’s Mercy is appropriate during this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy not only because of its title, but primarily because Eden explores so capably how God’s mercy heals and transforms our memories.

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You might also be interested in:

This column is part of the “Brace Yourselves” series.

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Never say you weren’t warned.

Here is my 2012 review of Dawn’s prior book, My Peace I Give You. As I mentioned above, it’s a truly worthwhile read.

Brace Yourselves: The Year of Mercy is Underway {My February column @TheCatholicPost }

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Following is my February column that appears in this week’s print edition of The Catholic Post. I realize that the reference to internet culture may be a bit strange to read online, but keep in mind that my column appears in print, and many of the print readers may not understand about memes.  So I created one to appear in the paper, and it’s republished here. Brace yourselves! 🙂

Those with a bit of internet culture knowledge are doubtless aware of some of the most popular memes—those humorous text boxes overlaid on a photo or GIF (a short photo/video loop) of something goofy, and the Catholic ones can be genuinely funny. If you’re not aware, Google “Catholic Ryan Gosling,” or “Victory Baby”, or “Grumpy Cat,” and you’ll know what I mean. I’ll wait.

One enduring meme is what always thought was Boromir (from The Lord of the Rings), but is actually called “Imminent Ned.” Now imagine that with the text “Brace Yourselves: I’ll be Writing About ‘Year of Mercy’ Books All Year Long.” That’s the visual that jumped into my mind when I realized how much I plan to write about books related to the Year of Mercy during this year.

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This is partially because like many people, I’ve been especially drawn to the messages and the beauty of the Year of Mercy.

It’s also because there are just such a good collection of books that have been released, or are yet to be released, with mercy as the theme.

No doubt many were released (or at least named) specifically for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, but enough have such promise for being spiritually edifying and well-written that I plan to share a number of these with readers of The Catholic Post in coming months.

The start of Lent offers an excellent time to consider some form of spiritual reading and reflection.

A trip to your local Catholic bookstore or online resource offers myriad choices and resources for the Year of Mercy, but let me offer a few stand-outs.

One idea is to explore one or more of an Of Mercy series written by the  Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.

But don’t let the official-sounding author name discourage you from picking up one or more of these eight excellent titles. These are all short (less than 100 pages) of accessible writing about the topic (the sacrament of confession, the parables, etc.) as they relate to mercy. So, for instance, in “The Psalms of Mercy” reflects on the Psalms that relate to mercy, and “Celebrating the Year of Mercy” lists some of the special dates in the year, as well as the rich liturgical life of the Church that helps Christians live mercy through prayer.

For a more visual exploration of the Year of Mercy, there is the Disciple of Mercy Journal, published by the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. (Local connection: several of this order’s sisters are at Peoria Notre Dame High School and St. Jude Parish in Peoria).

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The Disciple of Mercy Journal was designed for use by junior high students and older, but it’s too good for the young to keep to themselves. It’s a substantial resource for all ages to reflect on what mercy means in Scripture, as well as how people can practice it in daily life.

The journal provides 12 weeks of study, each with a focus on a Scripture passage, with guided questions, artwork, lectio divina, and suggestions or challenges for living out mercy in one’s life. The journal can be written in, or not—there are spaces to answer questions and respond to the Scripture and artwork.

Even though the journal follows a weekly structure, there’s no need to rush through it. A reader could spend the entire Year of Mercy working through this journal and benefitting from its many-faceted approach.

Finally, if you’re a fan of fiction, or can find spiritual thoughts in one novel for something completely different, if you like fiction as much as I do.

I just finished Fr. James Martin’s first (fiction) novel, The Abbey: A Story of Discovery. While I’ve been impressed with every book I have ever read of Fr. Martin, especially his moving memoir, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, I confess I was a little skeptical of his foray into fiction. Fiction is so hard to get right-especially religious fiction. Mea culpa for that thought.

But  The Abbey is well worth reading, both for enjoyment and for a look at the spiritual life. The book is a poignant, simple story about grief, spiritual growth, and how God reaches out to each individual in myriad ways.

The novel is told through the stories of several people with little or no religious belief, and their connection with an abbey of monks; the story quietly explores how both the laypeople and monks affect each other. The Abbey presents the concept of spiritual direction in a natural way, as well as showing how God meets us in our everyday lives, our imaginations, and the people around us. It’s a good read.

The Triumph of Grace {My January column @TheCatholicPost }

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Recently, one of my teens had to give an impromptu speech in class on the subject, “If your life were a song title, what would it be?” She had 60 seconds to think, and then two minutes to give the short speech.

I must have had that in mind as I finished, The Woman Who Was Chesterton Nancy Carpentier Brown’s sweeping biography of Frances Chesterton, the wife of celebrated writer G.K. Chesterton.

That’s because I thought, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards surely didn’t have Frances in mind when they wrote, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” but the refrain fits exceedingly well for her life and times.

Frances Chesterton was a poet, a playwright, and a writer.  But she’s best known as the wife of “GKC,” one of the best-known and best writers of the 20th century, who is the author of “Everlasting Man,” “Orthodoxy,” The Father Brown Mysteries, and many, many other books and articles on cultural and Catholic topics.

Their love story, partnership, and her influence on him is  detailed in The Woman Who Was Chesterton. But what’s best about this book is Brown’s careful assessment of Frances’ character and life, and how she bore her misfortunes and struggles with grace and a fundamental hopefulness.

Nancy Carpentier Brown is a writer who’s been a Chesterton authority for some time.  She’s written two children’s versions of Father Brown stories, among other works and writings on Chesterton and Frances Chesterton.

Brown’s The Woman Who Was Chesterton is part a fascinating look at England during a time of vibrant Catholic intellectual and spiritual renewal.  Notables like Chesterton (and eventually Frances) converted to Catholicism with the help of priests like Fr. Vincent McNabb and Msgr. Ronald Knox. And GKC’s own exceptional writing and lecturing career is recounted well.

But the book is mostly about Frances Chesterton, and the many misfortunes, along with happy times, she lived through. She wasn’t perfect, and often began with less than ideal responses to problems she encountered.

For instance, chief among her crosses was infertility. She had written that she and GKC would have “seven beautiful children.”  At first, she found it almost unbearable to see the babies of friends and relatives.  The couple consulted many doctors and Frances had several operations, but all the efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Rather than stay in despair, she not only made peace with it, but became a beloved aunt to her relatives and friend to many, many children over the years.  She also wrote a number of charming religious children’s plays and helped stage them.

And that was true for many of her trials—she struggled in some fashion, but eventually grew into a spiritual and emotional maturity and found a way to rise above things instead of descending into bitterness.

Frances Chesterton’s life exemplifies a triumph of grace, but that was because she cooperated with grace.

Most of us won’t have the trials that Frances faced, or at least not all of them—infertility; the death of two beloved siblings—one to suicide; her own and GKC’s severe health issues; and many more.  But each person has his or her own misfortunes, big and small, that shape us and can affect us. And how we strive to accept and live with these shows our spiritual maturity.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI calls this kind of faith—corresponding with grace even in the midst of reversals or bad things— “a trusting faith, a hoping faith,” instead of just an intellectual faith.  It’s something all mature Christians can do well to learn more about and to emulate.

As Brown writes in the introduction to The Woman Who Was Chesterton, “I hope that this humble effort will give readers the opportunity to get to know and respect her—as herself, and for herself. … My greater hope is that Frances’s life will be an inspiration to all of us, married and unmarried, to live a more faithful, hopeful, and humble life in the midst of good times and bad, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.”

Reading an outstanding biography like The Woman Who Was Chesterton is a great way learn about a fascinating time in Catholic history, and about some of the greatest intellectuals of the 20th century.  But more importantly, the book is a lovely telling of how grace works in one person’s life.

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You might also be interested:

I have reviewed other books by Nancy Carpentier Brown. Here is one of The Father Brown Reader II: More Stories from Chesterton. Here is a Q&A with Nancy Brown when the book first was released.  I also reference Brown’s books in “Good Books for Kids” here.

One thing I neglected to put in my review of The Woman Who Was Chesterton was one of my favorite parts of Frances’ early life–her family hosted a regular meeting/salon on social, cultural, and political topics in their home called the “IDK Debating Society.”  And yes, IDK means “I Don’t Know,” showing how far ahead of the times Frances and her family were. 🙂

Meet a Reader: Sister Aimee Dominique, Apostolic Sister of St. John {@TheCatholicPost}

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IMG_0965How you know me:

I’m a member of the Apostolic Sisters of St. John and part of the larger St. John Community located on Legion Hall Road in Princeville. So you may have seen me if you participated in a Sapientia Saturday, Family Faith Festival, or the Saint John Summer Conference out at the Community. Or you may have seen me at one of the other events we host at our monastery, like the summer Girls Camp or Handmaidens Retreats.

Why I love reading:

Reading is something that has always attracted me.  Funny story: when I was in pre-school I tried to convince my mom that I already knew how to read, by imitating how people move their eyes from one side of the page to the other and flipping the pages of a book.  I had her convinced for about 10 seconds!

I think the attraction to reading is a part of my temperament because I love to learn and I love children’s stories. One of my favorites times during elementary school were the yearly “Read-aThons.” Each student would bring favorite books and a sleeping bag, and read for hours in the school gymnasium. It was awesome!  Above all else, there is the Word of God! I mean, we can READ what God is trying to say to us. That’s great!

What I’m reading now:


I just started 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat In Preparation for Marian Consecration by Fr. Michael Gaitley in order to renew my consecration to Mary and to live Advent with her.


I’ve also been reading Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul which is great for both the Year of Consecrated Life and the Year of Mercy. If anyone is unfamiliar with St. Faustina’s diary, I recommend for those starting to read the diary to read just the parts in bold, which are the words of Jesus to the saint.  Even though it is a private revelation to St. Faustina, I find it very valuable since the Church canonized her and instituted the Feast of Divine Mercy. With the Year of Mercy, I believe that God is really calling us to come to Him with great trust. This book certainly helps get that message across. And my favorite part is “the conversations of the Merciful God with the…” section, starting from #1485. Jesus has a message of mercy for the sinful soul, the despairing soul, the suffering soul, the soul striving after perfection, and the perfect soul. No one is left out!

My favorite book:


My favorite book, which I’ve re-read many times, is the Conversations of Marcel Van, a Redemptorist lay brother. He was a Vietnamese member of the congregation, and he had and wrote about a wonderful interior life close to Jesus, Mary, and St. Therese. I cannot write more… it’s too good. Brother Marcel Van is a servant of God who I hope one day will be canonized. This would be a great book to read for those who love St. Therese.

Books for the #YearofMercy: Be Mercy {My December column @TheCatholicPost }

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Following is my December column that appears on this month’s book page of the print edition of The Catholic Post.

Like most of you, I’ve known about the Year of Mercy, which began on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, for some months. But, and surely like some of you, I still haven’t worked out a “plan” for how I will live it or how our family will mark it.

At first, I was annoyed with myself—why can’t I be totally organized and spiritually ready for this beautiful year?  Then I read a back-of-missalette reflection about how the year of mercy is not just about experiencing the mercy of Jesus through the Church and showing that mercy to others. It’s also a year, importantly, for each one of us to extend mercy to ourselves.  So, for me, the Year of Mercy begins with allowing myself time and grace to figure it all out.

I had planned to review, and still recommend, several books that allow one to experience the Year of Mercy in a deeper way. 


To just name two, there’s A Year of Mercy with Pope Francis: Daily Reflections edited by Kevin Cotter, and A Year of Mercy: Inspiring Words from Pope Francis edited by Diane Houdek. Both books provide short daily reflections from various talks and writings of Pope Francis.  Having on of those books on hand would allow one to keep the theme of mercy in mind each day throughout the year.

But as I read through several newer books, it occurred to me that mercy is an overarching theme in quite a few, even if “mercy” is not in the title, or they weren’t written specifically for the Year of Mercy. These books don’t center the concept of mercy but instead, the books demonstrate very imperfect people who are transformed by God’s mercy and love.

One book about not-perfect parents who nonetheless raised at least one saint, and were themselves canonized earlier this year , is The Extraordinary Parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin by Helene Mongin, translated by Marsha Daigle-Williamson, PhD.

St. Therese wrote of her parents, “The good Lord has given me a father and a mother who are more worthy of heaven than of earth!”  But this book is no laundry list of what makes a flawless parent or family. Instead, it’s an honest and sincere look at two imperfect people, and their imperfect family, who keep trying to create a beautiful family life for their children and the wider community.

One thing that struck me was that The Extraordinary Parents of St. Therese  does not gloss over the shortcomings of the Martins.  For instance, Zelie’s propensity to work to excess, or Louis’ protective instinct for his girls, is covered in a natural way, without justifications or excuses.

The Martins remind me of so many families today — we want to provide for our children, help them get a good education, and guide them well in their practical, personal, and spiritual life decisions. And, like the Martins, parents today aren’t perfect. But one quality we can take from the Martins is that parents should desire most of all that their children will be saints. The Martins show the way through their pursuit of holiness, in fostering a family and individual spiritual life, and in praying for their children. And any parent can do that.

The book is translated from the French, so there can be some artificial-sounding moments.  But overall this is a lovely book about what the parents of one of the greatest saints of recent centuries.

Another book that shows—in the modern world— how God’s boundless mercy extends even into a person’s darkest moments and struggles is 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.

Cooper O’Boyle is a prolific author in a variety of Catholic categories, chiefly for women and mothers.  One standout from several years back, her book, Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship, shared the beginning of a window into her own struggles and faith life, as she corresponded with St.Teresa about how to proceed in different situations.

But nothing could prepare readers for the dramatic revelations and tough knocks that O’Boyle has experienced throughout her life that are shared in The Kiss of Jesus.  She’s been a single mother. She’s been divorced—more than once. She’s experienced toxic relationships and horrifying situations at various times in her life.  Over time, she has persisted in living out her faith.

I was surprised at how fascinating I found The Kiss of Jesus.  It’s not written the same way as a lot of memoirs—there is not a lot of artifice or fancy wordplay.  But Cooper O’Boyle’s simple, straightforward style lends itself well to her unique and difficult story and life path. Perhaps the reason she can write these simple books that are full of good wisdom is the fruit of the struggles in her life, how she has brought them to prayer, and found it all useful and fruitful for growth.

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You might also find of interest:

Though I was unprepared for the Year of Mercy, writing this column prompted me to “get with it” and set some modest, merciful goals for the Year of Mercy. I plan to post some of those ideas, and I welcome hearing yours, too.