A Priest Affirms Women: An Enclosed Garden, A Fountain Sealed

A Priest Affirms Women: An Enclosed Garden, A Fountain Sealed

I met Fr. Samuel this morning in Corpus Christi, Texas!

In San Antonio!

I am in San Antonio, Texas - arrived last night after traveling through thunderstorms and torrential rains, and two BUMPY flights. God is good and all is well. I will be leaving my hotel room shortly to go over and do a book signing at a very special retreat put on by the Pilgrim Center of Hope here in San Antonio.

I was greeted by a sweet family last night and here are the two children I met in the airport who were there along with their mother. They warmed my heart!

Please pray for everyone who will be there. I have a lot of catching up to do with all of you! I've been quite busy but plan to continue my Rome story as soon as I can.

Here's a sweet picture of the faith-filled boys and girls at Mass this morning whom I was blessed to be with due to the kindness of one of the Moms whom I met last night. I prayed for all of you at Mass and during the Rosary this morning.

I better get ready. My ride will be here shortly! Pray for all of us please. God bless you!

Our Home on the Range: The Catholic Company Book Review: A Catholic Woman...

Our Home on the Range: The Catholic Company Book Review: A Catholic Woman...: "A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle This is a little hardcover book (just a bit bigger than 4' x 6') that is j..."

Great video on Confession!

Very excited about the release of my new book!

A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers! I am excited to be getting around at various book signings and events with my new book published by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Company.

This prayer book speaks to ALL women - single, married, mothers, and consecrated Religious! It covers the joys and difficulties of being a Catholic woman in our world today. It encourages the reader to strive for a closer relationship with God and it filled with prayers, verses and is sprinkled with inspiration and profound words from our Church and the saints.

Chiara Luce Badano to be Beatified Just 19 Years After Her Death

Here is a short yet very inspirational video on Rome Reports.Com about Chiara Luce Badano to be Beatified just 19 years after Her death.

Texas-bound...

I am getting ready to speak at the ninth annual Catholic Women’s Conference, “Come to Me,” sponsored by the Pilgrim Center of Hope, A Catholic Evangelization Ministry located in San Antonio, TX. I'll be book signing Friday night, October 1st and speaking Sat. morning (Oct. 2nd) and signing throughout the day. Here's an article which will explain more

Eternal Word Television Network: Blog - by

Eternal Word Television Network: Blog - by

My friend Joan Lewis has much to teach us. Check it out!

Pray, trust, and don't worry! Feast of St. Padre Pio

Padre Pio was born in Pietrelcina, Italy, on May 25, 1887. Ordained a Capuchin priest on August 10, 1910, Padre Pio stayed home for six years due to ill health. In September 1916, he was sent to the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo, where he remained until his death.

Padre Pio was the first priest known to receive the stigmata, the visible wounds of the Cross. He bore these wounds for fifty years as he carried out his priestly ministry, inflamed with the love of Jesus.

His Masses usually lasted one and a half to two hours, and in his teaching, he stressed the nature of the Mass as a holy sacrifice.

Padre Pio was known as a great confessor, hearing confessions for ten to twelve hours a day. Millions came from all over the world seeking his counsel and consolation. He also possessed the gift of reading people’s hearts. Pio’s life can be summed up in three words: simplicity, humility, and obedience.

Unjust accusations led Rome to order Padre Pio to stop saying Mass in public and hearing confessions while he was investigated (1931-1933). Although it caused him suffering, he abided by the restrictions without bitterness, until the matter was resolved.

Padre Pio possessed a great love for the poor. He lived a life of great sacrifice and deep prayer. Demons sometimes tormented him, but he was close to the holy angels, calling upon them often for assistance and protection. He was never without a rosary and preached that the quickest way to heaven is “dear Mother Mary.”

Word about Padre Pio’s saintliness spread around the world. More than eight million people came to see him in his last years. On September 23, 1968, Pio voiced his last words, “Jesus, Mary,” before breathing his last breath at the age of eighty-one. In the years following his death, miracles occurred around the world through his intercession as his reputation for sanctity continued to grow.

The friar was beatified on May 2, 1999, and then canonized on June 16, 2002. Many are comforted with St. Padre’s famous but simple statement: “Pray, trust, and don’t worry.”

Prayer to Padre Pio

Dear St. Padre Pio, you were an extraordinary servant of God, following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. In heaven you continue to serve God by interceding for us. Your heart went out to the poor. Help me to have eyes to see those in need around me and ears to hear the cries of the poor. Pray for me, please, that I may receive the graces I need to participate deeply in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Please help me to desire humility, simplicity, and the spirit of obedience in my walk of life. Help me to realize the power in suffering united with the will of God.

St. Padre Pio, pray for us and for all who invoke your aid. If it is in God’s holy will, please grant me (here mention your request). Amen.

Taken from “Catholic Saints Prayer Book” by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle. Can be ordered through her website: www.donnacooperoboyle.com

See more here at the GR blog.

Words for your Wednesday...

"God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His wo rk. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about."

- Source: Cardinal John Henry Newman (from Daily Catholic Meditations for Faith, Listening, and Peace (http://www.silentinsight.com/)

Special thanks to Maria for sharing this prayer today!

St. Therese novena...

St. Thérèse's feast day is coming up on October 1st. Traditionally, novenas can be said 9 days prior to the feast day of a saint to obtain graces according to God's will. I know that some people start their novena to end just before the feast day and some end up on the feast day (9th day). So, you may begin the novena this Wednesday (tomorrow) or Thursday, whichever you are accustomed to doing.


THE MIRACULOUS ROSE NOVENA
The novena consists of 24 “Glory Be’s”
for nine consecutive days to thank God
for the blessings given to Saint Thérèse
of the Child Jesus duringthe 24 years of her life.

One may add this prayer:

Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and
God the Holy Spirit, I thank Thee for all the
blessings and favors Thou hast showered upon
the soul of Thy servant Thérèse of the Child Jesus,
during the 24 years she spent here on earth, and
in consideration of the merits of this Thy most
beloved saint, I beseech Thee to grant me this
favor, if it is in accordance with Thy most Holy
Will and is not an obstacle to my salvation
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. (Say 24 times)

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

Time for the Pope to return to Rome

Insider's View of Papal trip to Britain...

While at the "Church Up Close" conference I attended last week in Rome, I met Paul Burnell from BBC Online who also attended and became fast friends because he is such a joyful and faith-filled man. We were blessed to enjoy precious conversations over meals and gelato. I also had the pleasure of meeting up with my friend and colleague, Mary De Turris Poust whom I have known for a few years because of our Catholic writing work, but had not the chance to meet face-to-face until we both traveled to Rome from the east coast of the U.S. to attend the Catholic journalist's conference. Needless to say, I was constantly thanking God for the blessed opportunities to meet up with such wonderful people and get more up close (no pun intended!) with our Church too!

Sarah Hayes (OSV), Mary De Turris Poust, (OSV and author) and me after a very long day of lectures and events and
a lot of walking (blisters to prove it) in search of a certain restaurant.

Enjoying a moment of conversation and gelato in Piazza Navona after a full day of lectures
[Paul and me]

And, what I'd like to share with you now, before I have a chance to continue with my blogging (Part Four) about my journey to Rome, is this wonderful piece at the OSV Daily Take below. Fellow conference-mate Mary De Turris Poust asked Paul to share his insights since he is there right now covering the Pope's visit to the UK. You'll love his vivid account weaving the past with the present.

First, Mary's Intro...

"I met Paul Burnell, a UK-based Catholic journalist, at "The Church Up Close" program in Rome earlier this month. Paul checked out of the newsroom to attend the beatification Mass for Cardinal John Henry Newman as a regular member of the faithful this weekend. I asked him if he would be willing to share his experience with OSV Daily Take. Thank you, Paul, for giving us this exclusive insider's view:"

"Pope Benedict came to Britain to beatify John Henry Cardinal Newman – one shy intellectual Catholic genius honouring another. But in a certain sense the pope’s visit resembled that of the forgotten hero in the Newman story – Blessed Dominic Barberi, the Italian Passionist who received Newman into the Church.

Pronouncing the Church’s latest Blessed at the massive outdoor Mass in Birmingham on September 19, the Pope revealed that his feast day would be October 9, the day when Blessed Dominic arrived soaked to the skin and freezing at Littlemore near Oxford after traveling on top of a stage coach to Oxford from the North of England. Blessed Dominic believed in the conversion of England, a vision that had inspired his order’s founder, St Paul of the Cross. Little did he know how profound – yet unsung -- his role would be in English Catholicism’s Second Spring.

Like Dominic I arrived freezing and soaked to the skin for the outdoor Mass in a park close to Newman’s grave and the hills where he sought R and R. We were delivered by our coaches – the police decreed no pilgrim could travel on their own – to a post industrial wasteland, the site of one of the UK’s biggest ever car plant..." Continued here.

ZENIT - Author: Mother Teresa Still Teaches Us How to Love

ZENIT - Author: Mother Teresa Still Teaches Us How to Love

Catholic Moms of North East, Ohio Adoring Our Lord!

Catholic Moms of North East, Ohio Adoring Our Lord!

The Pope beatifies Cardinal John Henry Newman in Birmingham

The Pope beatifies Cardinal John Henry Newman in Birmingham

My Rome Journey: Part Three

I began blogging about my recent journey to Rome for the Church Up Close conference for Catholic journalists. Part one is here and part two is here in case you haven't had a chance to read them.

I left off where I was taking a little rest in the homeless shelter, graciously allowed by the MC sisters in Rome.

 I got up from a very short rest, straightened up the bedspread on the bed and made my way over to the chapel to prepare for Mass.

The chapel was beautifully decorated for Mother's feast day. How comforting it felt to be there in that holy and loving place. Time stood still for me at Mass. God was blessing me, I had no doubt. I spoke to Him about all of His blessings for me and asked for a place to stay that night until I could get the keys the following day to where I was supposed to be staying.

The Mother Superior told me that a family she knew (who didn't speak English) would take me right after this Mass over to the other convent across town where the 7:00 PM Mass would be held. I had previously got word to my friend Mary while still in the U. S. (who was going to the Church Up Close conference as well) about the 7:00 PM Mass and hoped that she may be able to attend too.

After the Mass, another sister whom I met last year gave me a big hug outside the chapel. Feeling so filled with grace after the Mass, it was extraordinary to hear her words to me. She said something like,

"Donna-Marie! Mother Teresa brought you here to us this day - her feast day! She wanted you to be in our shelter and feel these feelings!"

It was as if she read my mind and heard my heart! I felt that her words to me were such an amazing confirmation about my earlier conversation with our Lord! God is so good. I was extremely thankful for His loving care and was so happy and humbled that He allowed me to experience all of this on dear Mother's feast day.

I talked a bit with sister there outside the chapel and then went to get my luggage and give more of my books to the Mother Superior. Then, it was off with the generous family who drove me across town to the other convent. It was there in the monastery next door that I was told I'd stay for the night.

Upon arriving to the big church next to the convent, I had to get my HUGE suitcase up the many stairs that led to the church. The kind gentleman who drove me assisted me. I felt that I needed to constantly apologize for my heavy suitcase. When you're an author, you bring your books to give away, and books are heavy! They didn't understand a word I said which made it all the more embarrassing.

I went over to the convent to see if I could let Sister S. know I had arrived. But, I was told that she wasn't there yet. She was over at Mother Teresa's exhibit. As I headed over for Mass, I turned a corner and there was the Cardinal coming towards me, reaching out his hand. I took it and kissed his ring. God was blessing me again!

I made my way into the huge crowd to find a seat for Mass. Droves of MC sisters filled the church along with the laity. Many of the sisters humbly sat in the back over to the side and on the floor. I squeezed through some people with my lap top computer case hanging on one shoulder and my purse on the other and managed to get a seat a couple of rows from the back of the packed church.

"Wow, two Masses on Mother's feast day - God is good!" I thought. The music started and Mass was beginning. I bowed my head in prayer and then just moments later felt someone tapping on my shoulder from behind. I turned to face a MC nun.

"Donna, it's me, Sister S., please come with me." She took me by the hand and led me through the crowd standing in the back of the church because she wanted to speak with me outside.

"Donna, where will you be staying tonight? We can't put you up here. It's a men's shelter," she explained. My heart sank and I felt that little tear well up in my eye again (exhaustion can do that to you).

"Oh, that's okay, Sister, I thought I was staying here but my friend Mary may be at this Mass and I'll see if I can arrange something or find a hotel." Sister said she'd be praying that Mary would be there. And I knew that it was getting later by the moment (and this would be a long holy Mass) and I wasn't sure where I would end up - would any hotels have vacancies?

I went back to my seat, set down my things and prayed. "Oh, Lord, what am I to do? But, thank you for bringing me to this holy place, I know You have a plan. I surrender everything over to You."

I felt our Lord tell me "I had no place to lay my head." I thanked Him profusely for allowing me to feel these feelings and to have the grace and really no other choice than to depend on Him.

To be continued...

Review: Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship

Review: Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship

Prints of Grace: A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers

Prints of Grace: A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers: " If I only knew Catholic wife, author, and mother of five Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle from reading her books, I would have been looking f..."

Arriving in Rome on Mother Teresa's feast day: Part Two

Last night I began to recount my journey in a blog post regarding my recent trip to Rome where I attended the "Church Up Close" conference for Catholic journalists. I "happened" to arrive in Rome, Italy on Mother Teresa's feast day. Those of you who know me I'm sure realize that Mother's feast day is a big deal to me. Here's the first post in case you didn't read it.

So, there I was at the Missionaries of Charity convent, feeling quite exhausted as well as a bit awkward because of the way I showed up at the convent unannounced and with baggage, inquiring about a place to stay. I wasn't supposed to be there until later that evening to accompany the sisters to the feast day Mass at the other convent's church.

Earlier, the Mother Superior told me that the plans had changed and the sisters would not be going to the 7:00 PM Mass. She explained that there would be a 5:00 PM Mass for Mother Teresa's feast day right there at the convent's chapel and I was welcome to come.

"Great!" I thought. "I'll not only be able to get to Mass for my Sunday obligation, but I'll also be with the MC sisters on this beautiful feast day. God is so good to me!" Sister showed me where we'd store my suitcase for the time being and then ushered me to the the women's shelter and showed me a bed that wasn't being used. "You can rest on this bed," she told me.

Then, off to the dining room where I was given a plate of food. As I ate my meal, a young woman from the shelter came quietly into the room and sat right across from me at the table. She seemed very interested in watching me eat. I asked her if she'd like some of my food and she said, "Si."

So, I cut her pieces of my nectarine and handed her one at a time. She ate them right up and thanked me by nodding and smiling. I couldn't help but see Jesus in the young woman as she took each piece of fruit and asked me for more with her eyes. I was so thankful for God's grace on Mother's feast day - He was allowing me to experience this encounter of what Mother would describe as encountering "Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor."

I then felt inspired to take out a Miraculous medal from my purse and asked the woman if she'd like it. "Si," she replied. I helped her to put it onto her plastic heart necklace that adorned her neck. She seemed so happy to be wearing it. I asked her if I could snap her photo. She was delighted. After a while, she left the room to sit out in the courtyard with the other women who lived in the shelter.

My dinner "guest" wearing her new Miraculous medal

I didn't plan to nap or rest even though I was really very tired and sore. I knew I'd probably feel worse from the jet-lag after a nap and Mass would be coming up soon as well. I wanted to make a visit to the chapel and have a little time to be with Jesus to express my thanks for all of His blessings. So, after I cleaned up my dishes, I made my way over to the Blessed Sacrament. On the way, I passed the huge bronze statue of Mother Teresa that I had seen last year while in Rome, only this time she was adorned with a necklace of flowers for her feast day.




In the MC courtyard near the chapel






In the M C chapel on Mother's feast day


Later, Sister came and found me in the chapel and suggested that I rest. I did what I was told and laid down on the bed for about fifteen minutes or so, because it was already almost time for Mass to begin. I felt tremendous grace again, being given a unique experience to once again be in a women's shelter, lying on one of the beds.





My bed


I had once stayed in Harlem, NY at the MC's women's shelter when I was there for a long week end to help with the soup kitchen and participate in the prayer life of the sisters while also being guided by a retreat at the convent given by my spiritual director, Fr. John A. Hardon S. J. I recounted that Harlem shelter experience in my book: Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship.

That Sunday in Rome, I was feeling a great gift from God, allowing me to be at the shelter and MC convent, all the while still feeling a bit "homeless." This part of my experience is very difficult for me to articulate. The combination of being allowed to feel "homeless" and cared for at the same time is a grace that filled me with joy and gratitude.

"Trust and surrrender" echoed in my heart...

To be continued...