~ ~ ~

Lent ends on Holy Thursday just before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, but the Triduum sustains the characteristic of Lent.

Trid-a-what?!? Triduum. Pronounce all three syllables; the first rhymes with “rid”: TRIHD-oo-um. It comes from the Latin words for “Three Days,” and has a rather mysterious sound, doesn’t it? That sound helps convey the gravity of this time.

The Three Days are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  And although we refer to this time as three days, it really is one long glorious event that finishes on Easter Sunday.

Something wonderful happens during the Triduum. Create an environment to welcome it. While it’s good to clear your calendar and keep things simple, we no doubt want to celebrate this important time with some special activities. Here are some ideas.

Decorating the Easter Tree

Spray paint a small twiggy branch white. Place the branch in a large vase or flower-pot, and add sand or small pebbles around the base of the branch to keep it upright. Then ask your children to make caterpillars by rolling pipe cleaners around pencils. Hang the caterpillars on the tree. On Holy Saturday remove the caterpillars and replace them with butterflies made from wallpaper scraps, bright-colored magazine pictures, or construction paper and crayons. Add bits of colored tissue paper as flowers. The butterflies remind us of our new life in Jesus. Another idea — on Easter, add colored eggs and symbols to your tree. The egg is also is a symbol of new life. Place Easter promises in each egg. Write things you will do with your child: a walk, trip to the zoo, lunch with grandparents, making cookies, etc. Have children write promises, too. Or you could write conversation starters and open one at the dinner table each day. Whatever the message inside, crack open the eggs throughout the Easter Season to discover the promises of love. (Source: Celebrating Saints and Seasons by Jeanne Hunt)

Delivering a Secret Basket

Set out a basket in a common area of the home and ask all family members to fill it with items throughout the week. On Easter Sunday, deliver the basket to someone who is lonely and needs a joyful treat.

Holy Thursday/Maundy Meal

Some parishes prepare a Seder Supper — attend as a family.  The Seder, or Passover Meal, instituted by Moses under the Old Covenant, was a foreshadowing of the Holy Eucharist, instituted by Christ under the New Covenant. Since the Eucharist has fulfilled and superseded the Passover, a Seder for Catholics would have the value of an educational and devotional experience, but not of a religious rite. More info here.

If your parish doesn’t offer a Seder Supper, prepare your own at home by creating a centerpiece of grapes and bread for the Eucharist, a coin purse for Judas, and a lantern for the soldiers in the Garden of Olives. Serve thirteen things to represent the number of guests at the Last Supper. Conclude the meal by reading John 18:1-9. (Source: Celebrating Saints and Seasons)

Good Friday Family Fast

On this solemn day, agree as a family to spend the day talking quietly to one another and fasting from noise. Some families even institute three hours of complete silence from noon until 3:00 pm. Turn off radios, TVs, phones, and computers. Savor the silence. Leave your car in the garage and walk to church if able.

Resurrection Rolls/Empty Tomb Rolls

On Holy Saturday, or “tomb day,” prepare Easter breads. An easy, tasty recipe to help teach children about the Easter story is Resurrection or Empty Tomb Rolls. You can make with Texas rolls (recipe here) or crescent rolls (recipe here) … or even rainbow resurrection rolls with Easter Peeps! (recipe here).

Easter Story Cookies/Resurrection Cookies

Another hands-on cooking activity kids can relate to is Resurrection Cookies. A cooking activity full of symbolism, and a great way to reinforce the true meaning of Easter with children. 

Alleluia — Sing it loud, sing it proud!

We’ve buried the Alleluia since Ash Wednesday. What a glorious moment when we finally sing during Easter Vigil Mass. How about hanging an “Alleluia Banner” in your home, too? Ideas and printable letters here. 

Wear Your Easter Sunday Best!

If ever an occasion called for festive new clothes, this is it! The assembly gathering for this solemnity in its best dress shows the special nature of Easter.

In an effort to build community and get to know our great listeners, we want YOU to show us your Easter best. By doing so, you’ll be entered to win a really (really) cool prize. If you’ve been listening, you might even be able to figure out the prize.

How to enter? Here’s what you need to do. A new post will be published on Lisa’s blog, The Practicing Catholic on Easter morning. All you have to do is share a photo of you/your family donning your Easter best. Get those cameras clicking and head over here beginning Easter Sunday to upload your photo. No rush — we’ll leave the post open throughout the week, so savor Easter Sunday with your family!

Thanks again for tuning in to Catholic Women Now on Iowa Catholic Radio … now go do the impossible things with God! 

We are women of God, and our exterior appearance reflects the inner beauty imbued by Him. When we are at ease with what we are wearing and know that what we are wearing is stylish and modest, we allow ourselves to be relaxed. Our worry about “how do I look” diminishes and allows our true inner beauty to shine. And that is real style.

~ ~ ~

So what are some styles to consider for this spring? Tami shares some ideas.

The big trend is colored bottoms — skirts, pants, and leggings. Trending colors are any shade of green, blue, orange, pink, and coral. Tami reassured us that all women can wear these colored bottoms. Don’t think you can wear a color such as orange? Give it a try. You may be surprised that you can. Look for a shade of orange: coral, peach pink. Wear it as an accent color via a shrug or scarf. Wearing color may push us out of our comfy cocoon, so start slow with a favorite color you like. Try it! You may be surprised.

Colored prints are everywhere, especially florals. Add one to your wardrobe to create an “on trend” ensemble.

Many of us are in those childbearing years when our bodies change shape during pregnancy (expand) and post-pregnancy (decrease). We tend to wear the same thing routinely. What about those clothes we think we will wear some day? We can’t throw everything out and begin from scratch due to budget concerns. HELP!

Tami to the rescue: Begin the closet overhaul by acting as if you were choosing and packing clothes to take on vacation. No doubt, these will be clothes you like best. Ask yourself: What do I wear the most? Sort them and take view of what you have before you.

Some basic clothing items to have in every women’s closet:

For Tops:

• 4-5 tops, should include 1 white button-down/collared shirt
• 1 black and 1 white t-shirt — short and long-sleeved. We may complain black and white is all we have in our closet, but in reality, these are the things we grab the most. And they’re the most versatile to mix-and-match and layer.  
• 1-2 trendy tops — this is where you can experiment with trendy colors)
• Mix and match your tops and bottoms. Be bold and experiment with new looks, scarves, and accessories.

For bottoms:

• Jeans — include a pair of dressy jeans. And any style: straight leg, flared bottom, boot cut and skinny leg. Find the cut that works best for your body type.
• Black pants
• 1 long skirt — calf to ankle-length
• 1 short skirt — knee-length 
• Leggings

** And don’t forget that tried and true staple … the denim jean jacket, a versatile piece for everyone!

Finally, let’s get it together:

How can our closets stay organized to help us make decisions each morning?

Arrange your clothes in your closet by rainbow color order — ROY G. BIV. Remember that from art class (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet)? This helps to visualize combinations and help to experiment with new looks. You may also see that you have ten white tops and you really don’t need ten!

~ ~ ~

Join us each week on Catholic Women Now! 1150AM, 88.5 and 94.5FM, streaming online via ChristianNetCast or on mobile devices through the Tune-In Radio app. 

Show times: Tuesday at 2:30pm, Friday at 9:00pm, Saturday at 8:30 and 11:30am and Sunday at 6:00pm — all times Central. Tune in and tell a friend … and set an alarm if need be!

Now, you really didn’t think we would announce here? Tune in Tuesday 2:30 pm, Friday 9:00 pm, Saturday at 8:30 am and 11:30 am, and Sunday 6:00 pm. And tell a friend, too!

Flex your St. Patrick prowess against these two contenders by taking the St. Patrick Smack Down quiz.

Up Next Week: It’s Fashion Week on Catholic Women Now! Tune in to hear tips for closet clean outs and wardrobe updates with Tami Smith from Fashions by Hall Tree.

So just how is the Pope elected anyway?

Conclave, secret ballots, black smoke … sounds like a thriller mystery! During this show, Julie and Lisa unravel this mystery — here are some facts to help you be ready with answers when you are asked that next social gathering.

Conclave: The Pope is elected during the Conclave, held in the Sistine Chapel. The term ‘conclave’ comes from two Latin words – cum clave – meaning “with a key.” Once the Conclave begins, the Cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel and the Master of Ceremonies intones the phrase extra omnes which means everybody out. The doors are locked and the voting begins. No more contact with the outside world. To ensure privacy, the chapel is even swept for hidden devices.

All involved in the Conclave — Cardinals, ushers, technicians and secretaries — are bound to an oath of secrecy. If they directly or indirectly disclose information regarding the papal election, they will incur excommunication.

Can all the Cardinals vote? Cardinals who have not reached 80 years of age can elect the next pope. Total number of voting Cardinals must not exceed 120. This Conclave has 115 voting Cardinals.

Did you know that any baptized and unmarried Catholic male over 35 can be elected to pope as long as he is in good standing ecclesiastical or divine law? It’s been 600 years since a non-Cardinal was elected, though. Chances are good our next pontiff will be one of the 115 Cardinals now gathered in Rome.

The secret ballot was introduced in 1621 by Gregory XV. This ensured that social relationships did not influence how the cardinal voted.

And once the Conclave begins, those gathered in St. Peter’s Square keep watch for smoke that is burnt in a stove especially designed for this occasion. Black smoke is inconclusive vote and white smoke signifies a pope has been elected.

Once a pope is elected, he is accompanied to the “Room of Tears,” where he is dressed in the papal vestments for the first time. It is called Room of Tears due to the emotion that can overwhelm the new pontiff as he heads there alone to change into the white cassock for the first time. 

The Cardinal Protodeacon appears on the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and before the crowd, announces Habemus Papam, or ”We have a pope.” Then he announces the first name and surname of the elected cardinal, followed by his papal name. The new pope gives a brief speech and his first papal blessing.

Is the Holy Spirit responsible for who gets elected? Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who as Cardinal Ratzinger, responded to this question in a 1997 interview on Bavarian television:

“I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope…. I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves u much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined.”

Then the clincher:

“There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked!”

Virtues in Vogue

The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1813).

“So faith, hope, charity abide, these three. But the greatest of these is love.”  is an often read scripture at weddings.

All you need is love… so the song goes.  Let’s begin to look at charity up close.

Charity

Charity is the sap that flow that gives life to all the virtues. How do we keep this stirred up in our souls? You may be surprised the first thing is not to go out and do something for someone else. What?  You can’t give what you don’t have.

Be imbued with that deep truth that we are beloved daughters of God, the Father who loves us unconditionally.

So what will this do for me? The deeper this understanding how much Christ loves me,  I am moved by grace and  I am able to love others and respond:

To the teen age when he/she rolls the eyes and mumbles – can love  as Christ loves him/her

To the drive who cut me off in traffic – I can be understanding they be having a bad day

The annoying co-worker in the next cubicle – I can forgive them for their unkind words

I can respond  to “why I love my husband” with deeper appreciation

Hope

“Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire he kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our won strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit,”  (CCC 1817).

How do we keep hope before us? Think of positive spiritual things: the Resurrection, the gift of the Eucharist, Adoration, our priests, our health, our sufferings.

Hope highlights the Lenten sacrifice: the more detached we are from earthly things, the more we grow in hope.

Do little acts of love for God throughout the day: small, quick prayers similar to “Jesus, I love you” to remind ourselves of the great love Christ has for us and is near us. Hmmmm,.. the Lords lift us up from loads of laundry??!!

Hope is knowing that whatever trials come our way, God will provide sufficient grace to navigate through troubled waters.

Our hope is for others. Our priority mission is to do what God asks us to aid our husband, children and thereby myself to heaven.

Faith

Faith is all things hoped for, the evidence of things that are not seen… Hebrews 11/3

Faith gives us a sense of who we are and where we are going.  God has a plan for each us in the everything of the every day.

For the mother who is weary and tired of colicky baby has faith to know and trust God’s plan even though not easily evident

For the husband and wife who long for a child, knowing that God is present in midst of their barrenness with a purpose.

For the parents seeking the grace for the conversion of a child

Faith is knowing that when a seed is planted, unseen, that it will germinate, grow roots and will emerge from  the dirt as a seedling. Plant some seeds with your children and teach them faith.

~ ~ ~

Thank you for your prayers. We are praying for you, too!

Now go do impossible things for Him!

Sojourning on … how can your Smartphone bring you closer to Christ this Lent? There is an app for that. Lisa and Julie highlighted different prayer apps in Tech Talk this week.

Need frequent nudges through out the day to keep tethered to prayer? Add a wallpaper to your smartphone of an image ie Christ to keep reoriented towards God.

A poplar daily devotion is the Magnificat in the book form. Now there is the Magnificat Lenten Companion for mobile devices.

Do you find yourself meandering on and off the path of sacrifice? The Lent Observance Tracker may be the answer. This app tracks everything you are giving up or adding for Lent. Fasting, prayers, or add your own observances, it will show your walk on the path to holiness. Oops, stumbled? You can select an action for making amends, too.

Confession app:  What comes to your mind? A pop up window with a priest sitting in the confessional ready to take your order? NOT! This tool is to help prayerfully prepare for reconciliation. If you have been away for awhile, this app walks you through the sacrament.

Leave the Light on for You campaign: Look for added Reconciliation times in our diocese this Lent. Part of an effort started by the USCCB five years ago.

What did people do without our smartphones? St. Therese to the rescue. St. Therese, in her little way, grew in perfection with sacrifice beads. She kept them  in her pocket and through out the day as she made a sacrifice, she would quietly pull one. At the end of the day she would give her present to Jesus of ten sacrifices.  A great family activity for Lent.

Remembering the important things about Lent, Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. What about discipline, penance, self-denial, charity? Head over to the USCCB and find 10 things to remember for Lent.

“I don’t get it. All you do is give up candy”? “What’s that dirt on your forehead?”

We have heard this queries from friends, co-workers, even strangers during Lent. These inquiries are great evangelizing openers. Need some ideas to respond? Check this 6 Ways to Evangelize over at the USCCB.

It was wonderful chatting with you today.

Go do impossible things for Him!

Julie and Lisa took it to the streets, armed with a recorder, and asked friends and neighbors to finish the following: “I love my husband because . . . ”

The answers were inspiring and beautiful. We had wives who have been married from a few years to 46 years. And why do these women love their husbands?

You didn’t really think we would tell you here, now would you? Tease, tease. Tune into the show and listen to their own words from their hearts. Show times are listed below.

Virtue in Vogue: Fidelity! Fidelity is the virtue that allows us to persevere in living out an unswerving commitment to the marriage vow. Marriage, being a sacrament, is infused with God’s grace to equip us with authentic, Christlike love for our husbands. Fidelity builds the solid marriage bond and is the foundation behind “Why I love my husband.”

We’re keeping the recap brief today as Lisa has captured the essence of our discussion over at her blog. So head over for her “Why I love My Husband” series at The Practicing Catholic.

Coming Up Next Week: This Lent, how can your iPad or Smartphone help you get to heaven? And how do we set limits of where and when to allow our kids to use mobile devices?

LATE BREAKING NEWS: We have been deluged with text messages and emails from many of you since the first airing of the show on Monday. You like it! You like it! You really really like it! We are grateful and humbled by your words of appreciation. All the Glory to God! Thank you for your prayers. We are praying for you, too!

Now go do impossible things for Him!

Tune in and tell a friend! We’re Catholic Women Now — Iowa Catholic Radio’s NEW locally produced show for Catholic women by Catholic women. 

Monday @ 9:00AM
Tuesday @ 2:30PM
Friday @ 1:30PM
Saturday @ 11:30AM

Heard only on 1150 AM, 88.5 FM, 94.5 FM and streaming online 24-7. Contact us at catholicwomennow@iowacatholicradio.com.

With her husband Kerry, Renee teaches natural family planning in the Des Moines area. But she wasn’t always an NFP believer. Renee shared her story of living life to its fullest within a double-income, no-kids marriage. When it came time to start their family, Renee and Kerry experienced a miscarriage. When conception did not happen easily after the miscarriage, Renee began to look for answers within the guidelines of the church. Kerry and Renee took their first class on NFP and were surprised by the beautiful teachings.

What was so captivating? The beautiful thing called love. We are called to love like God does. We are called to love completely our spouse in everything including fertility.

Used with permission from the NFP Program, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved.

Benefits from living NFP has been improved communication between Renee and Kerry. The depth of conversation and sharing goes deeper. It is an emotional intimacy that strengthens the marriage. No longer talking about superficial topics as to schedules and household tasks but to caring about honoring our spouse by giving ourselves completely. More you, less me. Respecting our husband’s dignity as he, like you, is created in the image and likeness of God. This level of sharing from discovering the completeness of love that brings meaning beyond the physical intimacy.

Kerry and Renee also found a healing that has brought them closer to God and to each other.

Rx: Take this pill and call me as needed. Whoa, have you ever considered the effects of oral contraceptives on the woman’s reproductive system? The otherwise healthy, functioning reproductive system is stopped, shut down through oral contraception.

The gals talked about the harmful affects of hormonal contraception, including their abortifacient, or abortion-inducing, properties. To learn more about the facts and science behind hormonal contraception, check out Dr. Janet Smith’s site, Sexual Common Sense. In particular, take some time to listen to her talk Contraception: Why Not.

Virtues in Vogue — Obedience. Obedience can be a scary word or duty, but fulfilling this virtue can lead to many spiritual graces. Through the practice of NFP, Renee and Kerry have discovered perseverance, tolerance, faithfulness, self-control, diligence, joy, and faith.

Perhaps you are feeling a tug to explore a natural approach and to discover the treasures of NFP for your marriage? Here are some great resources.

• Marriage and Family Office, Diocese of Des Moines, Adam Storey, Director

Want to learn more about natural family planning? Attend the Abundant Living Wine and Cheese Social on Thursday, January 24.

• Vitae Family Health Care, Dr. Greg McKernan

Dr. McKernan is one of a few natural family planning-only doctors in Iowa. His new clinic, Vitae Family Care, is now open and accepting patients in West Des Moines. Vitae is the Latin word meaning “for life.” Dr. McKernan seeks to build a culture of life, not only by refusing to participate in abortion, sterilization, euthanasia, in-vitro fertilization, or artificial contraception, but he is also committed to holistic healthcare disease prevention. He is now board-eligible in NaProTechnology — a new technology that gets to the heart of a woman’s fertility.

• Couple to Couple League Natural Family Planning course

For more information on the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning, visit the Couple to Couple League website. The next three-part series of classes is scheduled to begin Sunday, February 10 from 6-8:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines. Cost is a one-time fee of $140 for all course materials, classes, one year of consultation with certified instructors, plus a one-year subscription to Family Foundations magazine. On-line registration is required at www.ccli.org or contact Kerry or Renee at (515) 278-1623 or reneemcguire@hotmail.com.

Renee has also written a few blogposts that highlight more of her story. Read those here.

Thanks for listening today. Know that we remember you in prayer as we walk the path of womanhood in today’s world together as God’s beloved daughters. Stay in touch with us at catholicwomennow@iowacatholicradio.com. 

Go do impossible things with Him.

Tune in and tell a friend! We’re Catholic Women Now — Iowa Catholic Radio’s NEW show for Catholic women by Catholic women. 

Monday @ 9:00AM (Live!) 
Tuesday @ 2:30PM
Friday @ 1:30PM
Saturday @ 11:30AM 

. . .

It was Lisa who enjoyed a welcomed weekend of family time — and what fun the Schmidts had as they went ice skating! Okay, maybe the ice skating wasn’t so relaxing but definitely enjoyable. Julie spent time with 60 energetic Challenge Girls on the annual winter retreat. Julie seemed to be in the “retreat bubble” of exhilaration and shares a bit about her weekend during the show. 

On with the show….

Vocations, Vocations, Vocations

It’s National Vocation Awareness Week. While a vocation is a calling, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has highlighted this week for religious vocations. Joining us in the studio were Susan Downey, mother of two children who’ve discerned religious life; Sara Le Duc, teacher at St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines and organizer of Bella Vita dinners; and Megan Schoop, Youth Director at St. Mary of Nazareth in Des Moines.

It’s Latin to me. Bella Vita. Translated — Beautiful Life: Heard of the Andrew Dinners for young men to learn more about priesthood? Bella Vita is the counterpart for young women. Sara shared the dinners are for women age 16 through 40, and they serve as an opportunity for young women to visit with nuns and consecrated women from different orders. The evenings begin with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Many of the ladies who’ve attended a dinner are surprised that the sisters are anything but the stereotypical, ruler-wielding image. They discover faithful women who are fun and joy-filled as they live to serve Christ. Interested in attending a Bella Vita dinner? All young women are invited to come and discover how these women live their vocation. The next Bella Vita dinner will be in late February. The best way to stay informed is to “like” the Diocese’s Vocation Facebook Page as updates will be posted on that page. 

What?! Did we hear correctly? Two religious vocations from the same family? Susan Downey brought motherly wisdom to the table. Two of her seven children have discerned religious vocations. Her son James is in the seminary and daughter Laura with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. What does Susan feed these children? What prayers does she pray? Inquiring minds want to know! Susan shared the things they have done through the years in their family. Praying with her children and teaching them to pray were vital for all her children to foster a friendship with Jesus. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI agrees. “Young people, if they know how to pray, can be trusted to know what to do with God’s call.” It really can be that simple.  

And what about hearing God’s voice in this day of instant technology, 15-second soundbites, texting and Twitter? Shutting down from time to time in order to listen to God is a challenge for youth. Attending retreats are vital for our youth to unplug and tune in to God. Susan always supported her kids to attend Kairos, Challenge retreats, Youth 2000 and FOCUS retreats to foster this spirit of prayer and quiet. 

Virtue in Vogue: Generosity! This virtue teaches us to give ourselves completely and to work with the maximum of love, not only in great things but also in little things, even the least. How do we imbue our children with generosity? In the small ways: Teach your kids to share their toys, go on missions, complete service projects. How uncomplicated it is when we think about it. The family truly is the seedbed of vocations — marriage is also a vocation. Generosity is also something to think about for us as wives and husbands, mothers and fathers. Children are His gifts to us to nurture and mold into holy men and women. Have you ever thought about your child being a priest or nun?

Prayer for Vocations

A quiet invitation. Ask any priest, sister, deacon or brother to share their vocation story, and it’s rare not to hear that someone invited and encouraged them to consider this life of service to God. It’s even true for Blessed John Paul II. As the story goes, it was 1939 and young Karol Wojtyla had to quit college and work at a quarry to support himself and keep from being deported to Germany. It was there one day in the mines that a fellow miner said, “I think you would make a great priest.” Until that moment, John Paul II had never thought of being a priest. He said, “That man who I worked with already saw me as a priest.”

Hmmm … have you ever been nudged by the Holy Spirit to share such an inspiration with someone who may have  a call? Your children? It is a fine balance of nudging vs. nagging. Prayer for guidance is key.

Buzz. Buzz. We hear the text message notification again. We received another text from a listener today who was inspired by the show. Thank you, girlfriend… we love to hear from all of you, dear friends. Be in touch with us at catholicwomennow@iowacatholicradio.com. And like our Holy Father, we’re on Twitter, too! Follow Julie at jknelsonjulie and Lisa at lisaannschmidt.

Tune in and tell a friend! We’re Catholic Women Now — Iowa Catholic Radio’s NEW show for Catholic women by Catholic women. 

• Monday @ 9:00AM (Live!) 
• Tuesday @ 2:30PM
• Friday @ 1:30PM
• Saturday @ 11:30AM

Downton Abbey — Are you following it? What will happen to Downton Abbey and the Crawleys in post WWI Britain? We are  following along with all of you. But the real question is: how many of your husbands are hooked on the series? And here did you know that Julian Fellowes, the Oscar-winning screenwriter for the series, is Catholic. At a recent dinner, he announced that Catholicism would be entering the storyline (read more here). Mr. Fellowes (or is it Sir?) is currently the Vice President of the Catholic Association of Performing Arts in England.

Christmas in foreign lands — Julie shared about attending Christmas Day Mass in Chaing Mai, Thailand. Rather than doing the talking, we have posted pictures to tell the story. The take away: the universality of the Catholic church and how beautiful faith traditions are melded for those becoming Catholic from other religions.

Outside doorway to Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Chaing Mai, Thailand … in every land

Received during the sign of peace. An elephant with his trunk up is a sign of good luck

Lighting incense – a sign of prayers ascending to heaven

Placing the incense before the Christ child — a melding of Buddhist practice into Catholic practice to encourage converts to find familiarity in the Catholic traditions

Our Bishops are holy shepherds guiding us towards the good — Are you finding yourself anxious about the decline of values in America? You can do something through prayer and sacrifice. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently set forth a simple means to preserve Life, Marriage and Religious Liberty which are “not only foundational to Catholic teaching but also fundamental to the good of society.”  Find more at the USCCB website here. 

Keeping it real and honest — While these may seem a tall order, remember to take small steps. Little by little, step by step, more and more.

Virtues in Vogue — Willpower, the strength to act in an intentional way, despite our moods or undesired circumstances. Be patient! Willpower is not forged overnight with one or two grand, heroic actions. Build the “will power” muscle in your faith life through time, patience and constant repetition.

And what is God putting on your heart for the new year? Order in the court! Lisa shared that the word for the year at the Das Schmidt Haus is order. Stay tuned we discover Julie’s virtue for the year. Have you picked a saint for the year? You can do so here. 

And what is that I hear? A text message alert. We love to hear from you. Today a friend texted while we on the air…. type away, dear friends. And like our Holy Father, we’re on Twitter, too! Follow Julie at jknelsonjulie and Lisa at lisaannschmidt. We enjoy hearing from you especially while on the air. And who knows, we may even give you a shout out! Care to email ideas and feedback? Talk to us at catholicwomennow@iowacatholicradio.com. 

Tune in and tell a friend! We’re Catholic Women Now — Iowa Catholic Radio’s new show for Catholic women by Catholic women. 

• Monday @ 9:00AM (Live!) 
• Tuesday @ 2:30PM
• Friday @ 1:30PM
• Saturday @ 11:30AM