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Sheila, thank you so much for this post. Marketing is hard, when the friends of friends of one’s friends run out. The library was a resource I hadn’t thought of. And there is so much more practical advice given. Again, thank you. And the very best to you.
Frances, you are very welcome. <> Funny!
Frances, thank you so much. "Marketing is hard, when the friends of friends of one’s friends run out." Funny!Or the people who promise to buy a copy and then don't.
We Catholic authors soldier on!
Thank you, Sheila. I really can’t think of a time when good Catholic literature is so needed. Let’s tell the stories of heroes like Maximillian Kolbe, the journalists who cover wars in the Middle East, how Christianity is disappearing in the Holy Land.
Well said.I will continue to write stories of hope.
Sheila wrote: "Well said.I will continue to write stories of hope."
Let's also focus on the daily readings. Today, when we are having an eclipse and conflict in Israel, I find this morning's 1st reading interesting:
Reading 1 Jl 4:12-21
Thus says the LORD:
Let the nations bestir themselves and come up
to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
For there will I sit in judgment
upon all the neighboring nations.
Apply the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe;
Come and tread,
for the wine press is full;
The vats overflow,
for great is their malice.
Crowd upon crowd
in the valley of decision;
For near is the day of the LORD
in the valley of decision.
Sun and moon are darkened,
and the stars withhold their brightness.
The LORD roars from Zion,
and from Jerusalem raises his voice;
The heavens and the earth quake,
but the LORD is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the children of Israel.
Then shall you know that I, the LORD, am your God,
dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain;
Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall pass through her no more.
And then, on that day,
the mountains shall drip new wine,
and the hills shall flow with milk;
And the channels of Judah
shall flow with water:
A fountain shall issue from the house of the LORD,
to water the Valley of Shittim.
Egypt shall be a waste,
and Edom a desert waste,
Because of violence done to the people of Judah,
because they shed innocent blood in their land.
But Judah shall abide forever,
and Jerusalem for all generations.
I will avenge their blood,
and not leave it unpunished.
The LORD dwells in Zion.
Carmen, this is so appropriate, so timeless. Thank you very much for posting it.
That’s just wonderful news about the abortion provider in the Gaza Strip, Madeleine. To my Message 5 I’d like to add the name of Edith Stein. She was a Carmelite nun who died at Auschwitz, but before that she was a Jewish scholar who converted to Catholicism.
I'm sorry, I deleted my message in an attempt to edit. To sum up--I agree with Frances about Carmen's post--I start my morning most days looking at the readings for daily Mass.EWTN had a movie about Edith Stein's life--very well done.
I think we're experiencing a renaissance in Catholic literature and journalism, and that's exciting.
About Gaza--one of the Israeli targets hit successfully was Gaza's only abortion provider.
I was briefly a member of the Catholic writers guild, and attended a conference in Lancaster, PA. Nice people, but I didn't derive much benefit from membership. Anyway, on the topic of Gaza, these horrendous attacks shake the soul, and can make us wonder what good it does to hunker down and scribble away on our stories. I've found it tough to clear my mind to work on my silly Catholic romcom. But the world needs truth and beauty, especially when the darkness closes in. I tell myself, people still need to laugh and fall in love. So, maybe I'll get back to work.
The same feelings and questions hit me this week, Kevin. But I remember when Peter was asked what he was going to do when the future wasn't yet clear to him after the resurrection. He said, "I'm going fishing." He was going back to what he knew until more was revealed--John 21:3. After he fished, Christ appeared and asked for some fish. The talents I have, these loaves and fishes I can offer for His blessing, happen to be creative. I'll keep on writing until further notice.
Frances wrote: "Carmen, this is so appropriate, so timeless. Thank you very much for posting it."I'm happy the reading spoke to you, Frances. I was especially struck by:
"Sun and moon are darkened,
and the stars withhold their brightness.
The LORD roars from Zion,
and from Jerusalem raises his voice;
The heavens and the earth quake,
but the LORD is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the children of Israel."
This passage comforts me with the belief that in the most difficult times, God is in control.
Sheila, I wish your comment could be written on a plaque and hung on the walls of creative writing seminars. What insight and depth! Thank you.Kevin, please don’t refer to your work as ‘’my silly. . . anything.’’ The world needs caring writers. Several years ago, I read this, which I’ve never forgotten: Some time ago, a Russian sub went down, with all its crew aboard. There was no way to reach it in time to prevent the tragic loss of life. When at last the sub was recovered, the rescue crew discovered that, before they died, members of the doomed sub had scrawled their life stories on its walls. We are a story-telling species. It’s as necessary to us as breathing. And though everything we write won’t be beautiful, there will from time to time be gems among the ore. Please do “get back to work.”
Frances wrote: "To my Message 5 I’d like to add the name of Edith Stein. She was a Carmelite nun who died at Auschwitz, but befo..."The story of Edith Stein is indeed appropriate right now, Frances. Some say the brutal attacks on October 7 remind them of the Holocaust. I also take comfort thinking that Our Lady of the Rosary is comforting these 'children of Israel.'
Carmen, I think the attack on Saturday was deliberately planned for October 7 because that is the feast of the Holy Rosary, established to commemorate the victory of the Christian fleet over the Ottoman Turks in the great sea battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. It’s been noted that the terrorists choose their times with specific dates in mind.You wonder, don’t you, how much can one people endure?
Frances wrote: "Carmen, I think the attack on Saturday was deliberately planned for October 7 because that is the feast of the Holy Rosary, established to commemorate the victory of the Christian fleet over the Ot..."Wow!!!!
I had not thought about the Battle of Lepanto connection!!!! But you are correct, Frances!
I went to a Marian Conference over the weekend and the Vicar General of our diocese shared that he had just returned from Medjugorje with a recent message from Our Lady to pray and fast for peace. Our diocese is planning to unite in prayer this coming Tuesday.
Frances, thank you for your kind reply and for the timely historical information. Carmen, thank you for posting the reading from Joel. I pray Israel's leadership is turning to God for guidance with each step they take..
ya know.... this is precisely why i wrote my book on the end times -- It's nowhere near time for the actual END of days, but we're basically in the beginning of a chastisement period. All of this has pretty much been spelled out.... everything from the insanity in the Church and all the mixed messages.... to the attacks on Christians both in the Middle East and the ever-increasing hostility everywhere else. I guess I've always had a thing for Marian apparitions... my family being from Portugal - Our Lady of Fatima was always a huge "thing" in our lives. It's a bit more difficult to parse through all the false apparitions today -- which we've also been warned about .... hence, the book. The "short answer" is the same message as always -- repentance. Stop offending God, prayer, and sacrifice. If we live as God commands, we're blessed. If we don't, we're punished. I'm absolutely NOT going to stop writing -- mostly because God keeps prompting me to write more. I'm not even a "writer"!
Dear Friends, Would you want to be on my ARC (Advanced Review Copy) list for my new chapter book?
Here's the little intro: "Who owned the donkey? What happened to them after they were given this great honor? In this fictional tale, the author weaves sacred scripture and faith into this curious event. This story will inspire and set the mind to wonder as we prepare for Holy Week."
I'll probably get the PDF to you in January or December. The expected release date is Feb. 14th.
Let me know. You'll have to friend me here and then I'll need your email so I can send it to you,
Have a blessed day,
Christine Calabrese
Donna wrote: "ya know.... this is precisely why i wrote my book, "This Is Your Last Warning: An Authoritative End of Days Timeline" -- It's nowhere near time for the actual END of days, but we're basically in th..."Yes, the chastisement, but all meant to draw us to God, always, right? You chastise your children so that they repent and come back to you. So I pray, like you, for the conversion of many.
Divine Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, deliver the Holy Souls from Purgatory.
Sheila wrote: "Frances, thank you for your kind reply and for the timely historical information. Carmen, thank you for posting the reading from Joel. I pray Israel's leadership is turning to God for guidance with..."Thank you, Sheila,
There is a call from Jerusalem for Prayer and Fasting for Peace on Tuesday, October 17.
Thank you, Carmen, I hadn't heard about it.
Frances wrote: "Thank you, Carmen, I hadn't heard about it."I first heard the message this Saturday night from our diocesan Vicar General who just returned from Medjugorje with the same message from Our Lady of Peace.
Christine wrote: "Yes, the chastisement, but all meant to draw us to God, always, right? You chastise your children so that they repent and come back to you. So I pray, like you, for the conversion of many."ABSOLUTELY! that's exactly it! Right now, God is calling people to be "prayer warriors".... prayer and sacrifice... and the good ol' catholic theme of "offer it up!" :)
Donna wrote: "Christine wrote: "Yes, the chastisement, but all meant to draw us to God, always, right? You chastise your children so that they repent and come back to you. So I pray, like you, for the conversion..."I think it important to stick with Christian/Catholic thought. I don't know of any evidence of "chastisement." I can only think of judgement like in what Trump and his supporters are suffering for their criminal behavior.
But from Catholic sources like apparitions of Our Blessed Mother or from Pope Francis, I only know of calls for prayer and fasting.
Carmen wrote, "There is a call from Jerusalem for Prayer and Fasting for Peace on Tuesday, October 17."
Today at our noon Mass our pastor announced this and encouraged participation. Tomorrow at 6:30 PM at St. Ann's in Coppell, TX.
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Madeleine wrote: "Today at our noon Mass our pastor announced this and encouraged participation. Tomorrow at ..."Wonderful, Madeleine!
Yes! Our Lady of Peace in Medjugorje is also calling all of us to pray, pray, pray!
Thanks so much, Madeleine and Carmen.
Carmen wrote: "I think it important to stick with Christian/Catholic thought. I don't know of any evidence of "chastisement." ..."well.... this is all very catholic... and all from church-approved apparitions. My family is from portugal - so i started life knowing every little detail about THAT one.... "If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. " the consecration was finally done by JPII, but too late - russia spread her errors through the world -- we haven't seen nations "annihilated - (yet). But Sister Lucia said that if JPII had not done the consecration when he did, we would have had WWIII in the early 80's. (instead of seeing the berlin wall fall).
Cuapa, Nicaragua "...if you don't change, you will *HASTEN* (not prevent) the arrival of the Third World War."
Also the apparitions at Kibeho, Akita, and several others, including mystics like Saint Faustina. All Catholic.
and by the way ... Medjugorje is NOT a Church-approved apparition! They allow people to travel there, but the apparitions have not been approved.
Donna wrote: "Carmen wrote: "I think it important to stick with Christian/Catholic thought. I don't know of any evidence of "chastisement." ..."well.... this is all very catholic... and all from church-approved..."
Understood, Donna, and thank you for your response.
You are correct that Fatima is approved, while Medjugorje is still ongoing. But both sites are devotional, meaning that they are not doctrine like the Creed is doctrine.
Different people have different feelings about the apparitions of Our Lady. I was educated by Dominican sisters at schools named after the Immaculate Conception, a doctrine and core belief of our Church. But political views about Russia, etc. while shared by many, are not fundamental to our faith.
May God continue to bless you.
Excellent clarification, Carmen. Thank you.
Frances wrote: "Excellent clarification, Carmen. Thank you."Thank you, Frances.
God bless you.
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