Relevant Mercy

I recently went away for a four day high school girls's vocations discernment camp. It was my second year going. And it was tough. I was working through a lot of things, as well as trying to deal with some personal struggles. There was a person I wasn't on very good terms with at Fiat, too. Yipee. 

Sunday evening, the day for drop-off, Fr. Jaffe celebrated Mass and gave a homily about "opening your eyes" and showing mercy to others. I didn't think it was very relevant to me and where I was in my state of life right then, so I was kind of thinking, "yeah, yeah, whatever."  

Well, unsurprisingly, I was wrong. Truth is, mercy is very relevant. 


A few of the many things I learned:

1) Have mercy towards yourself, first and foremost.
It's hard to show love and mercy to other people when you don't love your own self. 
Second day at Fiat, I spilled my guts out in confession. The priest reprimanded me, and I cried...in a good way. He told me that I shouldn't worry about who I was, what I looked like, and whether I was outgoing or not. What matters in the end is becoming a saint and being holy. I think that's relevant advice for all of us. 
No one's ever going to love you like Christ does. If you want a reminder, the perfect thing to do is kneel before a crucifix and contemplate the nails driven into His hands and feet, the thrashes, and the thorny crown He endured for you. You're welcome.

2) People aren't always who you think they are. 
A girl I used to be friends with but had hurt me very badly a few years ago came to me seeking forgiveness. I did not see that coming. I discovered every person deserves a second chance...or a third chance, or a fourth. I found out that I had been labeling people for too long. Truth is, people are bigger and so much deeper than labels. The biggest mistake you can make is thinking a person's one way and never getting to know the other side of them.

3) Prayer is your BFF.
I was struggling with a lot, and the only thing that kept my head above the water was prayer. I slipped into the chapel when I was close to tears. I prayed for charity toward the person I wasn't expecting to see there. I prayed myself to sleep. And guess what? I came out of those four days stronger, more confident, and more dependent on God than ever before.

And want to know something even awesomer? A foe became a friend. I found healing from a bad experience in my past. I loved the person God made me to be. I became open to His will for my life. 


P.S. All the young women who read this blog are in my prayers. I hope you continue growing in your relationship with Christ and Mama Mary. Keep praying and being loving and merciful!

Food for Thought: C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity

Mere Christianity is divided into four individual, but coherent, books: Clue to the Meaning of the Universe, What Christians Believe, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality. C.S. Lewis, the author, addresses morality, human nature, the cardinal and theological virtues, sexual morality, Christian marriage, forgiveness, and pride. 
A few quotes really jumped out to me. In Book III, Chapter 8, C.S. Lewis wrote, "the more (pride) we have ourselves, the more we dislike it in others...the point is that each person's pride is in competition with everyone else's pride." I liked this passage because it made me uncomfortable. One, I really do dislike pride in others. Two, I could remember lots of times my pride had been in competition with other people's pride and how I had acted toward them. This passage definitely didn't make me feel warm and fuzzy, and I'm glad it didn't. It was a nice little rebuke that put me back in my place. 
One thing to realize, as C.S. Lewis points out, is that everyone is driven by something--anger, greed, and so on, but everything is rooted in pride--pride in self, pride in possessions, etc. It would be a good habit to start exercising acts of humility to combat that pride.  

C.S. Lewis also describes the meaning of "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God." He explains that you should stop manufacturing feelings in yourself, trying to make yourself love God. Instead, we should ask ourselves, "'If I were sure that I loved God, what would I do?'" (Book III, Christian Behavior, Ch. 9)  

This is just a short review showcasing of the gems of wisdom that Mere Christianity offers within its pages. It if you have time on a rainy afternoon, pick up a copy of C.S. Lewis's book at the library and take a look at it. And read whatever jumps out at you. 

Other Books by C.S. Lewis 
                                                                       

DIY Saint Medal Earrings

I love making these earrings--they're super simple, a cute way to wear saint medals, and they make great gifts. 

Supplies:

-- a pair of saint medals

--silver fish hook earrings

--jewelry pliers

--jump rings

1. Replace the original ring on the saint medal with two jump rings.

2. Close the top silver jump ring around the fish hook earrings.

3. Make one pair for yourself and another for a friend!

Giveaway: Tea and Cake with the Saints

The time has come for a giveaway! 

We'll be giving away Tea and Cake with the Saints, by Alice Cantrell. The book is split into four parts: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Each section contains delicious recipes (my favorite being the Vanilla Tea Cake and Cream Cheese Mints), simple yet charming gift ideas, brief lists of saints' feasts, and engaging articles (a few being about Mary Gardens, tea, and letter writing). Tea and Cake with the Saints also provides spiritual bouquet cards and recipe cards to be printed off and further decorated. There are also easy party suggestions for all four seasons, like cookie exchanges and picnicking.

This really is a wonderful book--and definitely an essential one for Catholic teen girls! In my own copy, you'll find that there are many dog-eared pages and smudges on all the recipes. 

So, enter, enter, enter!

                                                       Rafflecopter giveaway 


Even if you don't win, make this book a part of your collection! You can find the book here at Amazon.

Winter Reading

I recently ordered a few books from Amazon--just in time, too! I spent the entire morning wrapped in a blanket, drinking caffe mocha, and reading them while snowstorm raged on outside.

I bought the Catholic Women's Devotional Bible after happening to pick up my older sister's copy and ended up liking it so much that I wanted a one of my own. I originally had the standard New American Bible, but the nice thing about the Catholic Women's is that it contains articles on Biblical women, Tradition, and has daily devotions, prayers, and meditations scattered throughout. It also has a lectionary in the back if you're interested in reading daily Scripture readings. Another book I purchased was 33 Days to Morning Glory to go along with my copy of Saint Louis de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary. Eight popes have done the consecration to Mary through the True Devotion book and have highly recommended it. 33 Days to Morning Glory by Micheal E. Gaitley, MIC, breaks the Consecration into smaller steps and makes the Devotion easier to perform and simpler to understand. Vatican II stated that "everyone should have a genuine devotion to Mary and entrust his life to her motherly care." What better way to honor our Blessed Mother and grow in holiness as young ladies? Try starting this Devotion by forming a small group with your friends and beginning it together.

If you're looking for even more good books to read during your wintry evenings, be sure to check out The Ultimate List of Catholic Books here.

Consecration Prayer to Mary
I, (name), a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy hands the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before. In the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose thee this day for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God in time and in eternity. Amen.

10 Flicks for Girls' Movie Night

It seems so hard to find a good movie to watch, doesn't it? Look no further. Now all you need is a bowl of popcorn, a cup of hot chocolate, and a friend to watch a movie with.

1. Leap Year 

Leap Year, starring Amy Adams, is about a young woman who has a plan to follow her boyfriend to Dublin, Ireland and propose to him on leap day, according to Irish tradition.


2. Soul Surfer 

Soul Surfer is based on the true story of teenager Bethany Hamilton. After Bethany (played by AnnaSophia Robb) loses an arm in a shark attack, she determinedly plans to continue surfing and competing. 

3. Cinderella 
Ella soon finds herself left in the care of her cruel stepmother after her father passes away. Soon after, she meets a handsome stranger and her life takes a turn for the better.


4. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Based on the novel by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice portrays spirited Elizabeth Bennet and pompous Mr. Darcy. To the dismay of Elizabeth and the reluctance of Mr. Darcy, they soon find themselves slowly falling in love.

5. The Parent Trap
Twins Annie and Hallie meet at summer camp and scheme to get their divorced parents back together. 

6. The Princess Diaries
After Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) finds out she is heir to the throne of the European principality of Genovia, her grandmother, Queen Clarisse (Julie Andrews), begins giving her "princess lessons."

7. Titanic 
Rose meets poor, aspiring artist Jack Dawson and together they experience the tragedy of the R.M.S. Titanic.

8. Little Women
The March sisters experience financial struggles, family hardships, and romantic interests during the 19th-century in their home in Massachusetts. 

9. You Again
Marni (Kristen Bell) is horrified to learn her brother is marrying her nemesis from high school. Marni is determined to reveal Joanna's evil side to her family before it's too late.


10. The Help
An aspiring author (Emma Stone) puts her friendships and life status at risk by writing a book describing the African-American maids' opinions of the families they work for and their everyday struggles.

  

Make a Teacup Bird Feeder

In honor of Saint Francis’s feast day on October 4th, create this simple, unique, and inexpensive bird feeder in just a few simple steps! All you need is a teacup and saucer, durable adhesive glue, string, scissors, and birdseed.

STEP 1. Find a teacup and saucer. You can find inexpensive ones for less than 50 cents at thrift stores. STEP 2. Wash your teacup and saucer with warm water and pat dry.

Photo Credits: Avery Thomas

STEP 3. Run a line of adhesive glue down one side of the teacup and onto the center of the saucer. Firmly place your teacup on the saucer so that the handle faces upward.  

STEP 4. Let the glue set for at least 24 hours. Lay strips of tape across the teacup and saucer to secure its position.

STEP 5.  After the glue has set, pull off the tape, fasten a string to the handle of your teacup, fill it with birdseed, and hang it from a sturdy tree.

This bird feeder would also make a great gift for your mother, grandmother, or a friend. Or keep it for yourself, hang it outside your bedroom window, and watch the birds flutter around it as winter approaches...

Photos: Copyright Avery Thomas

The Ultimate List of Catholic Books For Catholic Girls

Ernest Hemingway once said, “there is no friend as loyal as a book.” Saint Alphonsus Liguori also said, "Without good books and spiritual reading, it will be morally impossible to save our souls." Below is the ultimate list of Catholic books that most Catholic teen girls should take the time to read. I have included a few favorite Christian books of mine. They're not necessarily Catholic, but noteworthy all the same.


                                     Tea & Cake with the Saints, by Alice Cantrell

The Youcat, the essential Catholic handbook

Beautiful Girlhood, by Karen Andrea 

Pure Faith prayer book

Ablaze: Stories of Daring Teen Saints, 

 by Colleen Swaim

Radiate: More Stories of Teen Saints,

by Colleen Swaim

That One Girl, by Christina Mead

An Easy Way to Become a Saint, 

by Fr. Paul O'Sullivan

Fictional Catholic books

NOTE: The books below have some very mature themes, so if you're under 

fourteen years old, check with your parents to see if you can read them.

Ten Commandments for Kissing Gloria Jean, 

by Britt Leigh

The Shadow of the Bear, 

by Regina Doman

I am Margaret, by Corinna Turner

This is where my list ends! I hope this was helpful to you. Please pass it on. And do tell, what are your favorite Catholic books? What do you think of the books I've listed? Comment below!