See if you can watch this FULL SCREEN...ENJOY. You'll love it!
Thanks to my friend, Fr. James for the video and the challenge to do it!
"Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic church."~Bl. Pope John Paul II
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
An Advent reflection
St. Clement of Alexandria wrote, “If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.” Hope makes me also think about trust and surrender, which go hand and hand with our belief and love of God. When we have hope in our hearts we will be putting our trust in Our Lord and will be able to put one foot in front of the other each day, serving Our Lord in the people He surrounds us with. To do this, we surrender our lives to God through prayer so that we grow closer to Him and deeper in holiness.
As we light our first Advent candle very soon, a flickering flame will represent hope. Let us pray that we can focus on preparing our hearts to open wider for Our Lord this Advent season. Let’s hope that we can do our best to turn to prayer at every opportunity during a great season of hope and promise.
Perhaps the craziness of the advertising frenzy that flashes around us is too distracting, and we feel that we cannot find peace to pray during a season that is meant to be quiet so that we can prepare our hearts for the Christ Child. The Liturgy of Advent emphasizes quiet, penance, prayer, but also hope, light, joy, and surrender. Let’s strive to find those things. Let’s delve deeper than the surface and also realize that God is in control of everything. We can find quiet even amid the hustle and bustle, by lifting our hearts to God with a great hope and faith that He hears us – that He knows our hearts – that He loves us more than we can imagine!
An awful lot can be accomplished if we allow God to work through us to sanctify our actions and prayers when we offer it all to Him in full surrender. Our Lord calls us to surrender our lives to Him – everything! Surrendering can be as simple as accepting our circumstances, whether it be our living conditions, our state in life, both little and big annoyances, sickness and suffering, being misunderstood, being criticized and belittled for our Christianity. God’s hand is mystically in it all. He knows what‘s going on.
Will we surrender to Him and allow Him to work through us and around us? He wants us to surrender our wills to Him and respond in love to all who are in our midst. Yes, even to love the one who has just stolen “your” parking space or the one who is constantly criticizing you. It’s not always going to be easy. Jesus never said it would be. However, they all need our love; a healing love that will give others hope.
Mother Teresa had said that “Calcutta is all over the world for those who have eyes to see.” Let’s open our eyes so we can minister to the needs of the people that because of God’s divine providence are near us in some way – our family, co-workers, friends and parishioners. Is there someone who needs our love?
When we learn to surrender our lives over to Our Lord, we will have lasting and true peace, and joy of heart. This joy and peace will radiate as a healing balm to others around us; offering them hope for their journeys. Let’s be that ray of hope by giving our hearts to God and allowing Him to work through us during this upcoming wonderful hopeful season of Advent and beyond!
[this article previously appeared at Catholic Mom.Com]
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
"Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship" for Advent
A review of my book Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship (from Amazon.Com). This reviewer recommends this book as perfect for Lent. I'd like to suggest it as a book of reflection for Advent too.
Here's the review:
"This book was a fabulous read during this Lenten season. This book is an easy read, yet so deep. It is a personal, up-close relationship with a Saint, Blessed Mother Teresa. Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle has a gift from God that allowed her to share Christ by sharing Mother Teresa with us-the reader. I found the longing of my heart's search for Christ's passion for our souls in reading about Donna-Marie's relationship with Mother Teresa. Donna-Marie shares intimate moments of her life with us to show us how God works in all things. She shares intimate moments of her friendship with Mother Teresa so that we can be a part of this friendship by doing everything "with Jesus, for Jesus, and toward Jesus." It is not for the "holiest" of us, it is for all who thirst. Mother Teresa's view of serving Jesus in others one person at a time has helped me realize that I don't have to be called to a third world country to help the poorest of the poor. I need to start with the people in my own home, and go from there, loving one soul at a time. Pages 153-156 are some of my favorites.
I read this book while sitting in a whirlpool for my foot during physical therapy.
Agreeing with Donna-Marie, 'there is no such thing as a coincidence.' I shared this book with my physical therapist. It was beautiful! God is amazing!"
*******
You can see this review and others here.
The book and all of my others are available at my website: donna cooper oboyle.com
Thank you very much for your review. May God bless you in great abundance and may Mother Teresa guide you!
Here's the review:
"This book was a fabulous read during this Lenten season. This book is an easy read, yet so deep. It is a personal, up-close relationship with a Saint, Blessed Mother Teresa. Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle has a gift from God that allowed her to share Christ by sharing Mother Teresa with us-the reader. I found the longing of my heart's search for Christ's passion for our souls in reading about Donna-Marie's relationship with Mother Teresa. Donna-Marie shares intimate moments of her life with us to show us how God works in all things. She shares intimate moments of her friendship with Mother Teresa so that we can be a part of this friendship by doing everything "with Jesus, for Jesus, and toward Jesus." It is not for the "holiest" of us, it is for all who thirst. Mother Teresa's view of serving Jesus in others one person at a time has helped me realize that I don't have to be called to a third world country to help the poorest of the poor. I need to start with the people in my own home, and go from there, loving one soul at a time. Pages 153-156 are some of my favorites. Agreeing with Donna-Marie, 'there is no such thing as a coincidence.' I shared this book with my physical therapist. It was beautiful! God is amazing!"
You can see this review and others here.
The book and all of my others are available at my website: donna cooper oboyle.com
Thank you very much for your review. May God bless you in great abundance and may Mother Teresa guide you!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thanksgiving is coming up!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
New Review for A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers
A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers is a delightful retreat with beautiful prayers and quotations to ponder. I especially appreciate the bow to the vocation of single women who make such a contribution to the Church and the world at large. Recognition of the dignity of women is so crucial to lifting women up to their full, God-given potential. The prayers Donna-Marie includes in her book are brimming with joy in the knowledge that God loves each and every woman no matter what their state in life. Donna-Marie's love for God and for her fellow women shines forth in this lovely little book packed with hope and healing. What a great stocking stuffer too (hint, hint)!
[Review by June Archer and submitted to Amazon.Com]
Thank you for your beautiful review, June! May God bless you!
Folks, this book is available through my website at a 10% discount for a very limited time. Go to my website and scroll to the bottom of the main page and click the button on the bottom left to receive the discount. All books come with a blessed medal and will be autographed.
You may also order through Our Sunday Visitor's website, Amazon.Com, Barnes & Noble.Com, or your local Catholic book store.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Prison Ministry
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Catching up!
Hi All,
I will try to post some news very soon. My life is a whirlwind!
God bless and hugs,
Donna-Marie
I will try to post some news very soon. My life is a whirlwind!
God bless and hugs,
Donna-Marie