Don’t give an opening to rumor Living properly isn’t always enough, St. Basil tells a bishop who had been the victim of nasty rumors. We must appear to live properly as well, so that people don’t think ill of us. After all, we represent Christ, not just ourselves. One of the hardest things to do—almost impossible, in fact—is to rise above slander. I am quite sure of this, and I imagine your excellency is as well. Yet it is possible... Read more
Author Amy Welborn and illustrator Ann Engelhart have teamed up once again for another children’s book worth checking out. Adventures in Assisi: On the Path with St. Francis joins cousins Gianna and Lorenzo as they spend the day touring Assisi with their uncle, Brother Antonio. He takes the two young children throughout the city to see many sites . At the end of the book your child will have discovered numerous places of significance in the life of St. Francis. They... Read more
This week Laura and I both conduct the author interview. PETE: What inspired you to write Olivia and the Little Way? NANCY C. BELANGER: A lack of Catholic fiction for pre-teens and nudges from The Holy Spirit and St. Therese, I believe. I was just so tired of the dark, foreboding novels I was seeing for this age group in the bookstores. Black covers, stories about vampires and evil people. Such darkness! Our children deserve so much better. LAURA: You founded... Read more
Give praise instead of blasphemy “I can’t help it,” we often say when we’ve cursed and used bad language. St. John Chrysostom has a practical suggestion: if you can’t help saying something when you get hurt, teach yourself to speak in thanksgiving instead of blasphemy. But, you say, you are not able to be silent when goaded by pain. And I do not hinder you from speaking. But instead of blasphemy, speak praise. Instead of discontent, express thankfulness. Make confession... Read more
Ignore insults and keep silent Is someone abusing or insulting you? Best to keep silent, says St. Ambrose. You will keep yourself from sin, and people will think better of you. But we must also guard against anyone who provokes us, and spurs us on, and exasperates us, and supplies what will excite us to licentiousness or lust. So if anyone reviles us, irritates, stirs us up to violence, tries to make us quarrel— let us keep silence. Let us... Read more
Don’t return insult for insult The devil tempts us to snap back when someone insults us, says St. Ambrose. Or, often enough, the devil doesn’t have to do it, because someone else is willing to whisper in our ears. But we will always come out on top if we keep cool and silent. So, then, you should also guard your humility. But if you are unwilling to appear too humble, you think like this, saying to yourself, “Am I supposed... Read more
This week publisher Harvey House Publishing sponsors their first CBB giveaway. One lucky winner will receive one copy of Olivia and the Little Way by Nancy Carabio Belanger (you can read my review here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. The contest starts at midnight tonight EST and will end 12AM EST Wed 12/26 with a winner being announced later that day. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
Run away from mockery Making fun of people makes us like Satan, says St. Ephrem the Syrian. Not only should we avoid doing it ourselves, but we should flee if we even hear mockery. If you love derision, you are just like Satan; and if you mock your fellow, you are the mouth of the devil. If you delight in calling people names because of their defects and flaws, Satan is not in creation but you have seized his place... Read more
Today Carmel Communications marketing firm for Ignatius Press sponsors a special CBB giveaway. One lucky winner will receive one copy of the 2-Disc Collectors edition DVD of Mary of Nazareth (you can read my review here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. The contest starts at midnight tonight EST and will end 12AM EST Wed 12/25 with a winner being announced later that day. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
Laura is back this week with another review of a book for young readers. Olivia and the Little Way by Nancy Carabio Belanger is a book that not only introduces the “Little Way” of St. Therese, but also shows young readers how they can put it into action. Children will draw inspiration from fifth-grader Olivia who is just beginning to use the little way. Olivia provides a wonderful example for young souls helping them apply the little way in their... Read more
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