The Catholic Book Blogger
Julie Cragon was born in Nashville,TN. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BA in education and taught and coached part-time at her alma mater, St. Cecilia Academy, an all-girls Catholic High School run by the Nashville Dominicans. After two years, she decided to work full-time in her mother’s business, St. Mary’s Bookstore and Church Supply. Her husband, Allen, joined them to run the Church Goods part of the business after a year in the sporting goods industry.
In the wee hours of the morning, when all is quiet, Julie finds time to write. Her first book, Bless My Child, a mother’s prayer book for every stage of a child’s life, is published by Ave Maria Press. She continues to write short biographies of the Saints for a Catholic Company who represents the Bonella line of Italian holy cards. Julie speaks at women’s groups, mother’s groups, garden clubs, adult education groups and book clubs on various topics surrounding the power of prayer or to inform groups of new titles to further their spiritual lives.
Julie and her husband, Allen, have six children and continue to manage St. Mary’s Bookstore in Nashville, TN.
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Michele interviews author Julie Cragon about her book Talking to God: Prayers for Catholic Women
MICHELE: You have given us an abundance of prayers so that we may begin to “pray without ceasing.” What is your “formula” for keeping tuned in to God and praying without ceasing during the day? How do you remember to do it, to not stop praying? I always have good intentions, but do not seem to be able to do it very well yet – keep my eyes on Christ in all situations, keep that internal dialogue going… there is an internal dialogue going, alright, but I am not sure who I am talking to sometimes! LOL!!! Any pointers? What works for you?
JULIE CRAGON: First and foremost let me say that I am a complete work in progress and I live by the idea that each day is a new beginning, a chance at a fresh start, a do-over if you will. With that said, I try to stay tuned into God all through the day by using words as well as action as intentional prayer. Unless we are in seclusion 24/7 this is the only way we can attempt to follow the words of St. Paul and “pray without ceasing”.
The first moment I wake is an assigned time with God. I find it very important to set the tone of my day with prayer before the kids or my husband wake. When I miss this early alone time, I struggle throughout the day to regain my focus. The first appointment of the day is the most crucial. I take the opportunity from there to go to Mass each day in the Chapel at our Church where I begin working on the idea from the 17th century Carmelite, Brother Lawrence to “make a private chapel in our heart where we can retire from time to time to commune with Him, peacefully, humbly, lovingly; everyone is capable of these intimate conversations with God, some more, others less; he knows what we can do.” This actually works and is working better the more I go there throughout the day. I envision the small Chapel at our church. I go before the Tabernacle, the Stations, the crucifix, Our Lady or St. Joseph, depending on my need and I stay there as those around me complain or gossip or rant and I want so badly to chime in (and sometimes I do). It’s actually very soothing to know that I can escape, if only for a moment, and grab a glimpse of the One who can make it so much better, simpler, calming. Then there are the simple things throughout the day…the sign of the cross and the prayer before meals and maybe the angelus, the rosary as I drive to work and the Divine Mercy Chaplet as I drive home. Before I know it, it’s time for dinner which includes a prayer, homework which needs prayer, night prayers and our end of day examination. I am trying to learn to stop asking why and try to figure out how I can use the craziness going on around me to do better, to be more. I am totally under construction, trying to build something better inside myself and my household that will get us to the next place and at the same time help us to enjoy the journey.
MICHELE: I was surprised and pleased to see a quote from Ralph Martin, he is not one of the usual saints/sages that I run across while reading (unless I am reading one of his books!) How has he influenced your prayer life?
JULIE CRAGON: As much as I have loved “Fulfillment of All Desire,” I have not read other Ralph Martin titles all the way through. I read bits and pieces of most books that come into the store so that I can recommend them and Martin is one of those authors who sells without us having to do much recommending. Because he pulls major thoughts and ideas from the spiritual Doctors of the Church, this book is filled with “tried and true” ways to better our relationship with Christ. Throughout “Talking to God” there are quotes from the great Classics as well as what I consider destined to be Spiritual Classics. This is a purposeful attempt to get others interested in some great “old” books that have made me realize just how amazing it can be to have a close personal relationship with Christ and to understand the truth that He will not be outdone. What is offered to Him is returned in abundance!
MICHELE: I happily read prayers about topics/life areas that I have not thought about taking to prayer, you so thoroughly covered a woman’s life and her loves. Any thoughts of writing a similar book for children, teens, or men? (Although, maybe co-writing would be a more accurate question, since as a woman – you nailed it in covering every hope, dream, and fear that I have lived or know of other women living- a wholly woman’s perspective, a gift of being a woman.)
JULIE CRAGON: There is a book, “Prayers for Catholic Men” by Mike Pacer, also from Servant Publications, with which this book is a good companion. I would love to finish the youth prayer book I have been working on and publish it as a sort of Talking to God for Youth. We’ll see. I believe that from the time after Communion until the time of Confirmation, our choices for books at that age are minimal. I know there are more now but I do believe that if we are going to keep our young ones as excited as they are during their First Communion, we need to continue to feed them and continue to nourish their innocent love for Jesus so that they can carry it through Confirmation on to High School and beyond.
MICHELE: Your book would be a great gift for a woman at any stage in her life – teenager to grandma! Any thoughts on creating a “Journal Companion” for your book? As I mentioned, I plan to write in the margins, but to have an actual journal – I could see that turning into a family “heirloom”, a history of sorts through the life of a family.
JULIE CRAGON: I love to journal. As a matter of fact my first book, “Bless My Child”, was written from journal prayers for my children. That little prayer book as well as this one has some room for women to write their own prayers or prayer intentions. And yes, it would be awesome to pass along a prayer book that has been loved and filled with personal prayer for specific family members and friends as well as special family occasions.
MICHELE: Time for the CBB signature ending question. This is a blog about books. What books are currently on your bookshelf to read?
JULIE CRAGON: I am almost to the end of Fr. Jacques Philippe’s The Way of Trust and Love. I cannot say enough about that book! Phenomenal! Next up is Fr. Michael Gaitley’s The Second Greatest Story Ever Told , Heather King’s “Loaded” and the classic This Tremendous Lover by Dom Eugen Boylan. Always a classic in the mix because one of the greatest books I’ve ever read and that made a huge impact on me as if it were written as spiritual lessons for today is Fr. Walter Ciszek’s He Leadeth Me
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