Catholic App Spotlight: Confession

I've promised to share Catholic Apps that might be of interest to Catholic Post Book Group readers, and I expected to share the many Catholic Apps I use on my iPhone.

But in the last few days, there's been quite a bit of chatter around about Confession, a "Roman Catholic App."

Lisa Hendey of CatholicMom.com shared her generally positive experience with it.  And I first saw the App highlighted on Mary DeTurris Poust's post on the OSV Daily Take blog, to which I responded, "I love Apps!"

I did download it because, hey, I love Apps!   And I love to support Catholic developers, especially since Apps are so inexpensive--this one is  $1.99.   But I have not used it yet, and I must confess (pun intended?) I'm totally sold on the concept.  I'm not sure that I'm willing to use an App, even a password-protected one, to prepare for Confession (or to take into the confessional), but it might be good for a nightly examination of conscience.

Have you used this App?  What do you think about this idea?

The Grace to Race Question: How are Your New Year's Resolutions Coming Along?

So how are your New Year's Resolutions coming along?

Now that we're almost through January, it's a good chance to reflect on the goals we've set and how we've done.  The Grace to Race was a book that inspired in me an effort to be more spiritually and physically mindful.  And Smart Martha's Catholic Guide for Busy Moms has prompted me to tackle certain areas of home organization.  First on my list is a printable grocery list of regularly purchased items.  Haven't done that, but it helps to write it down.  Maybe it will get done in February.

I'm surprised--not sure why--at the lack of progress on my main areas that I had planned to do.  I had determined to write down my new year's resolutions this year, and other than a quick email to my husband with some ideas for "family resolution" possibilities, I didn't do much.  I do think I have made some progress in things, but being more concrete is going to help me feel like progress is happening.  I have started using the Teux Deux app, and I love getting to cross things off the lists, but it hasn't quite become second nature yet.  Some days I use it, some days not so much.

Here's one resolution I am actually beginning to keep:  After a not-so-great phone interview recently, I determined to get more practice in this area.    So I've decided to interview one person I know per week (for no more than 30 minutes) for "practice" in writing up the questions and being a good listener to bring out the best in those I interview.  I send the friend the questions ahead of time, and then do the interview over a cup of tea or coffee.

This week I had my first--I interviewed a longtime friend who also happens to be a physical therapist, about her work and its benefits.   We had a lot of fun, and I had some great practice.  One of the tips that she gave is that posture is very important in keeping our bodies healthy.  As I write this, I'm trying to sit a little straighter.

Next week, I'll interview a choir director about music, and in return I will teach her how to play backgammon.

Are you making progress on your New Year's Resolutions?  If you chose a "word" to focus on for the year, how's it working out?

Local Author Father Gary Caster to sign books this Saturday at Lagron-Miller this Saturday

This weekend, readers can meet a local author who has a new book based on the spirituality of St. Therese.


Father Gary Caster, author of The Little Way of Lent:  Meditations in the Spirit of St. Therese, will be signing books at Lagron Miller Catholic book and goods store, 4517 North Sterling Ave., Peoria, Illinois, from 1 to 3 p.m. this Saturday, January 29.

Father Caster is a priest of the diocese of Peoria, but currently based at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass.  I'll be reviewing Father's book for the blog soon, and I hope to have a Q&A with him as well.

Our family has a connection with Father Caster that we like to laugh about, every year.  Many years ago, Father was my boss when I was a teacher at Peoria Notre Dame High School.  When I announced I would not be returning to teaching because I was expecting, Father was gracious and asked for my due date.  I told him early November, and he said, "I hope you have the baby on November 30, because that's my birthday."  I told him, laughing, "I hope I don't, because that means the baby will be three weeks late!"

I bet you can guess our oldest daughter's birthday.  That's right--November 30.

And Father Caster sends a card every year.

Happy Feast of St. Francis de Sales

Today is the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, the patron of this blog, (as I explain in the "About" page).  St. Francis is the patron saint of journalists and writers.

In a procrastinating move to avoid my to-do list- quick check of what people are saying about St. Francis on this, his feast, I found a couple of interesting tidbits:

Universalis, as often is the case, has a nice little reflection on today's saint. Here's what he has to say about St. Francis:

"St Francis taught that we can all attain a devout and spiritual life, whatever our position in society: holiness is not reserved for monks and hermits alone. His wrote that 'religious devotion does not destroy: it perfects,' and his spiritual counsel is dedicated to making people more holy by making them more themselves. ....

  St Francis is the patron saint of writers and journalists, who would do well to imitate his love and his moderation: as he said, 'whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.'"

I've read Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis' best-known classic, many times--it is usually on my Lenten reading list.  Since I've not done so in a few years, I've already set it aside for this Lent.  That's why it's really great to see a new generation of Catholics discover this fantastic saint.

*Jen at Conversion Diary (who will be speaking at this year's Behold Conference in our diocese) has decided to take on a year of St. Francis de Sales.  She has a great way of translating St. Francis' writing for a modern audience, as you can read in this post on "banishing the spiders." 

*'bearing', a blog I visit occasionally, is also blogging through Introduction to the Devout Life.  I haven't had a chance to read too much of the series, but again it's nice to see some of the "young 'uns" writing and learning about this great saint.

*The Ironic Catholic has a free e-book giveaway for today only.   I already have this book and it is fun to read! (St. Francis de Sales is also the patron of her blog, proving she has great taste in saints, in addition to her excellent sense of humor).

 Today is also the baptism anniversary of our oldest daughter.   We tend to really mark baptism anniversaries in our house, so we'll be celebrating at our house tonight!

Why Does "The King's Speech" Have an R Rating?

Have you seen "The King's Speech" yet?  The small independent film is getting lots of awards and nominations--Colin Firth won a Golden Globe for best actor, the film earned 14 nominations by the BAFTA, the British equivilent of the Oscars.  Next week when the Oscar nominations are announced, I won't be surprised to see this wonderful film getting quite a few nominations.

"The King's Speech" is based on the true story of Prince Albert, who struggled with stuttering during his life, and is helped by speech therapist & actor Lionel Logue.  When his older brother Edward abdicates the throne so that he can marry divorcee Wallis Simpson, Albert becomes King George VI and is able to rise to the task of leading the nation during WWII in the age of radio and newsreels.

My husband and I saw the movie last weekend and we loved it; we found it beautifully made and acted.  Since I'm a confirmed Janeite, I was quick to spot a little interesting casting:  the wife of Lionel Logue is played by Jennifer Ehle, who was Lizzie Bennet opposite Colin Firth's Darcy in the BBC miniseries of "Pride & Prejudice" that made Firth a star back in the 1990s.

But we were completely perplexed as to why the film received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America.   There is one short scene in which the speech therapist encourages fluency by having the prince say swear words repeatedly.  Indeed, as the  Plugged In Online review reports, "The Weinstein Company sued the MPAA for assigning The King's Speech an R rating, ... 'While we respect the MPAA,' said owner Harvey Weinstein, 'I think we can all agree that we are living with an outdated ratings system that gives torture porn, horror and ultraviolent films the same rating as films with so-called inappropriate language.'"

I not only agree with that statement-- I would go farther.  More than a few PG-13 movies have all those elements and are much more inappropriate for younger viewers overall than any moment in this "R" film.  I'll be taking my 13-year-old daughter to see "The King's Speech" this weekend, and we wouldn't mind our younger children seeing it when it's on Netflix (though we might fast-forward through the one scene of swearing so as not to inspire any 7-year-old copycats, not that that's likely given the context).  I highly recommend it as enjoyably instructive about the WWII time period, with good things to say about friendship, family and doing the right thing, not just through those who do the right thing, but through those who don't, like King Edward VIII.  Peggy Noonan has an excellent column describing some of the good elements about the film and people acting like grown-ups.

I'm so perplexed and angered by this rating for "The King's Speech" that I want to open a discussion:  why do films get the ratings they do?  How do you screen movies for your family?   What do you think about the movie rating system, and would you propose anything different?

Our favorite site for this is Plugged In Online--they review all sorts of media, not just films.  The reviews are exhaustive in content, so we know what to expect, but also considered is artistic quality and age-appropriateness.  The reviews even warn about plot spoilers so you don't have to read ahead if you don't want to.

Finally, the website for "The King's Speech" has an excellent trailer that tells the story of the film, that I can't seem to embed here, and a link to the actual speech given by King George VI, that I can:

Q&A with Sister Madonna Buder, author of The Grace to Race

I had the good fortune to interview Sister Madonna Buder, author of The Grace to Race, a few days back.   My Catholic Post review of the book makes it clear how much I enjoyed this book, and Sister was gracious enough to talk with me on the phone for a long conversation about her racing and her vocation.  Following is the best of our conversation.  Thank you, Sister for your time and for your wonderful book!

First of all, I loved your book.  Well done!  Let me ask a kind of bold question:  why is a nun doing triathlons?   

Well, it can seem different to what you would expect a nun’s life to be.   But I’ve always been active, mountain climbing & other adventuring, and I need to use that gift for His glory.  I’ve learned that if the Lord gives you a talent, and you recognize it and you know it’s a gift, then you are almost duty bound to use it as a compliment to the Creator.  To ignore it is insulting the Creator.  Once I was climbing a mountain and the answer struck me, “I gave you a gift and you are complimenting me to use it, and if you don’t, it’s lost.”    This thought was the one that helped me persist because I knew the attitudes in society of what a sister “should be.”

Do you see racing as your primary ministry?  How is that part of your vocation?

It seems to have developed into that, but it is a mystery to me as to how this has all come about.  All I can do is say is, “Yes, Yes, Yes, Lord.”   In fact, the last few days have been snowy out here, and it’s been difficult for me to run to Mass, even with my YakTrax.  So I can only say, “Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord.”

How are you able to recognize that it’s not just you out there, but really something that is given by God?

That is really discernment, and that’s both a thought process and a heart process.   Is your heart really into it? If you try to strip yourself of all the trappings of 'what’s in it for me,' and consider the effects an action would have on other people-- that’s helpful in discernment.

 I’m a runner (I’ve even raced a sprint distance triathlon, along with all four of my sisters—a great experience!) and I’ve always found it hard to explain to others how I find it spiritually and emotionally productive to run, especially long distances.

Could you explore a little what you mean by what you call “a different kind of prayer posture” and how your racing relates to your prayer life?

Prayer is not a place.  When you talk about posture, that indicates a static movement.  To me, prayer is being in constant communication with the Beloved.  That does not require any kind of posture.  If kneeling is a posture that puts you in a state of reverence, then it’s productive.   But other ways of being can be prayerful; what matters most to God is that you’re thinking about Him.  And you can be thinking about Him no matter where you are or what you’re doing.  For me, I find my comtemplative spirit is on the run, so to speak. (pun intended!)

One of the things you capture well in the book is that there’s something special about running or being active that can really connect with you God in a different way.

It certainly draws a person into a sense of wholeness. You’re not a compartmentalized in denying the body and spirit.  You are in harmony as one being, and this is what we have to be mindful of for our wholeness’ sake. 

Some people are a little top heavy, mentally, and so their body gets neglected.  Other people are so intent on bodybuilding that their mind and emotions get neglected.  Other people are emotional 'touchy-feely' and their mind gets pushed aside.  I think we actually spend our lifetimes attempting to get into balance.   Racing helps me to be more whole as a human.

Following up on the previous question:  I was part of a discussion recently about the Theology of the Body, John Paul II’s series of talks exploring that we are meant to speak the truth not just with our words, but with our bodies.  I was reflecting about how while the Theology of the Body is primarily discussed in the context of vocation to marriage, it really applies to everything we do with our bodies. For instance, I like to dedicate each mile of a race to a family member, and in a sense that is an offering for them.  Do you have any thoughts on that?

It’s very common to dedicate a race or a portion of a race to a person.  I like to do this.  And that helps with the focus being on other people, not just me.  Paradoxically, it’s as much to the runner’s spiritual and emotional benefit as it is to the person we want to benefit.  That goes back to the focus.  For one, if you’re thinking about every step you’re taking it becomes drudgery, but if you thinking about your reason for doing this, it uplifts you.  Also, offering it for others helps get our prayers and thoughts in alignment.  Prayers and thoughts are very closely linked.  So that’s why we have to watch we think!   

Ultimately, it’s the intention with which we do anything that makes it worthwhile.  And the intentions we offer for others can be very powerful, especially for someone who needs prayers for a peaceful death.

After all these years, do you still enjoy racing?

I don’t know if I would call it racing anymore (laughing).   Well, as far as putting forth the effort, I don’t mind that, especially the running.  But what I enjoy most is the camaraderie -- being out there with like-minded people who are enjoying the gift of physicality.  How they express their gift is totally individual, but it’s all God-given.

How do you feel you minister to the other people at races?  You write a lot about that in The Grace to Race.

I think I do this just by being me.  A lot of it depends on the very fact that I am a religious, you know.  Even an atheist feels a little bit interested running next to a spiritual person.

People minister to me, too, as I help them with spiritual matters.  One time, during the Capital City Marathon (in Olympia Washington), a man started talking to be at about mile 20, which is when things tend to get tougher in a marathon.  I guess he knew who I was, and he wasn’t very spiritual, so he wanted to talk with me about my beliefs.  It actually was a very productive conversation, and he thanked me after we finished the race for talking with him.  But I don’t think he realized how much he helped me to finish.  The talking helped me to push through.

When is your next race?

I plan to run the Boston Marathon in April.  I want to open a new age group for women if possible.  I don’t know if there’s been an 80-year-old woman to run Boston.  When I last ran Boston in 2008, there were several men in their 80s, but no women.

This month at the Catholic Post Book Group blog, we’re talking about new year’s resolutions and making changes.   Any thoughts or words of wisdom to share with people who might want to start getting active?

Well the first thing is just to put one step in front of the other.  Some people look at a distance and think, 'Oh, that’s too much'.  Start by putting one step in front of the other, and you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve gotten.  Then you keep increasing it until it becomes a routine.

You write in The Grace to Race of your love for the Blessed Mother and for St. Therese.  Is there a patron saint of triathletes or racers?   Could you recommend a particular saint for this, especially for newer athletes?

Actually, we are all called to be saints, if we recognize the Christ within us and Christ in others.   Even if we don’t have the capital “S” in front of our names, we can all try to be little saints running around.

Anything else you would like to add or wish that I had asked?

I just want to say one word to anybody who is attempting to do a race or to get physically active when they haven’t been:  'Godspeed.'   It's an old Anglo-Saxon term, a meaning-well term:  'Godspeed.'

Q&A with Tami Kiser, author of Smart Martha's Catholic Guide for Busy Moms

Here is my Q&A with Smart Martha author Tami Kiser.   I am so grateful for Tami's willingness to fit this interview into her busy schedule, and to write such an excellent book.  Thanks, Tami!

I loved the encouragement in Smart Martha’s Catholic Guide for Busy Moms. Explain how you got the idea for “Smart Martha.”

I began just doing “organization” seminars for women.   A few years ago as I began planning on how to expand my seminars, I was deeply struck with the gospel reading about the Mary and Martha story.  I felt like this is what my seminars were missing!  It was a light bulb moment.  We women tend to not only need help with organizing our busy lives, but more importantly, we need help finding Jesus in our busy lives.

Tell me about your Smart Martha seminars.

The Smart Martha seminars are usually held at parishes sponsored by women’s groups.  Throughout the five-hour event, there are presentations, group activities, small group discussions and usually a catered lunch.  Each attendee gets a workbook that contains all of the information presented as well as room to make additional notes and personal worksheets.  The women who attend have a great time and leave with inspiration, new ideas, and a fresh perspective.  The topics we cover are:  Having a Mary Attitude during our Martha Tasks; Managing Everyone’s Schedules and Activities; Toys!; Dinner; Laundry; and Keeping It All Clean.  I have traveled to many different cities and states averaging about one seminar a month.

One intriguing aspect of your book is your take on Stephen Covey’s “sharpening the saw,” about rethinking routines and taking the time to implement them to save time and grief in the long run.  What’s a good example of that?  

I give the example of a key rack at the seminar.  For the longest time, our family struggled with lost keys or not having the right set of keys for the vehicle that was needed.  We were inconvenienced by this for the longest time.  If I wanted to take the small car to get a loaf of bread and milk, I had to track down the keys from whoever had the car last.  To solve this, all I needed to do was to purchase a key rack, hang it up, and then get everyone to always put his keys on it.  Now, the right set of keys are always available. This is the example of “sharpening the saw.”  I could have just gone on with our lives always being inconvenienced by the lost or missing keys—causing the family a little stress and a little time.  This is like a person sawing wood with a dull blade who says he is too busy to sharpen his saw.  There are lots examples I could give: Cleaning out the closet so people can find their coats more easily; designating a place for shoes so that no one ever has missing shoes; or hanging up hooks for backpacks so that mom doesn’t have to clear them off of the kitchen counter. 

You champion a Martha/Mary balance that promotes organization in order to be present to one another more fully.  Why do you think moms need to hear that message?

We moms have a lot of responsibility and by nature, tend to be very task oriented.  This is why the Martha story resonates with so many of us.  We feel that we need to measure our success by how much we have accomplished on our “to do” lists.  Our society is also very much that way.  We are bombarded with messages that our family needs to do more and have more.  Because of this, mothers need to be reminded of what is really important in our vocation.  We need reminders of what God says we need, not what society says we need.

What would be your number one practical tip for moms looking to save time and improve their organizational skills in the new year? 

One thing?  That is tricky.  OK.  Simplify.  Get rid of things and activities.  You don’t need to organize things if you don’t have them.  And this will save you so much time. I have seen too many “organized” moms have great closets filled with bins and baskets of lots of stuff very neatly organized, but for what reason?  Get rid of what you don’t need.  Don’t just organize it.  Simplify life and enjoy people without having to worry about all of the stuff.

Is there anything I didn’t ask, or that you would like to add? 

If you are interested in monthly reminders—since we all get caught up with our stuff, I offer 3 different ones.  Since I encourage moms not to spend too much time on the computer, I make these brief and to the point.   The first reminder is a simple tip to FOCUS on organizing, cleaning, uncluttering, or simplifying as well as a reminder to be more like Mary.  The second reminder is to help moms with DINNERTIME since that is such a great opportunity to spend time with the family.  And the last reminder comes at the end of the month and has a couple of suggestions for simple family CELEBRATIONS involving the church calendar to do the following month.  You can learn more about them at www.smartmartha.com.