My Badass Book of Saints: Courageous Women Who Showed Me How to Live<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=thecatbooblo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1594716323\")
.<\/em><\/p>\nMICHELE: Knowing that the list of saints (courageous, badass, women) is virtually endless, how did you choose the ones for your book, or did they choose you?<\/strong><\/p>\nMARIA JOHNSON:<\/strong> I love that you asked if the saints chose me because, in fact, some did! I tried to have a nice balance of well-known saints that readers would recognize such as St. Joan of Arc, and a few obscure ones such as St. Christina the Astonishing, to introduce readers to the idea that not all saints are these cookie-cutter models of virtue we see on holy cards. They were real, and often messy \u2014 like us. I started with the characteristics I discussed in the chapters, and searched for the saints who had those virtues. It was part match game and part wild goose chase, but in the end, we found each other. What I love is that I\u2019ve developed a friendship with these saints, and sometimes it seems like they seek me out. I encounter them in unexpected places, and it feels like a little nod from heaven.<\/p>\nMICHELE: I appreciate the \u201cQuestions to Ponder\u201d at the end of each chapter and especially the suggestions<\/em> for living life more fully.\u00a0 If you could combine all of your<\/em> badassness (wisdom, beauty, strength, joyfulness, living life fully) into one quote, part of scripture, one sentence, a motto, an image, a favorite book, etc. \u2013 what would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\nMARIA JOHNSON:<\/strong> My favorite book is The Little Prince<\/em> by Antoine Saint-Exupery. I\u2019ve been drawn to it at different times in my life, and gleaned some wisdom from it each time. There\u2019s a well-known quote from it that has lead me to great periods of reflection: \u201cWhat makes the desert beautiful, is that somewhere it hides a well.\u201d<\/p>\nI\u2019ve interpreted that quotation a number of ways \u2014 but I always go back to the mystery of what\u2019s hidden, and the joy of its discovery. Recently, I have thought of the beautiful, sweet, almost imperceptible smile on Mary\u2019s countenance in the image of Guadalupe, and the time she must have kept silent about the well of living water within her. It\u2019s pretty mind-blowing to me. It reminds me of the exhortation in Philippians: \u201cFinally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable\u2013if anything is excellent or praiseworthy\u2013think about such things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Look at that. You got a favorite book, a quote, a part of scripture, an image \u2014 all wrapped up in one!<\/p>\n
MICHELE: I could not put your book down, but as I reached the last chapters, I realized that I never wanted it to end!\u00a0 What do you believe the next chapter of your life has in store for you, in terms of being <\/em>La Tremenda?<\/strong><\/p>\nMARIA JOHNSON:<\/strong> Wow! Thanks for that awesome compliment! My husband and I have taken a giant leap of faith. I took an early retirement and we have moved to a seaside community to fulfill his dream of retiring to the ocean. You read about our life story and the impact of his illness in the book, so you understand why that\u2019s important to me. To us. I can\u2019t wait to sit on our porch and watch the sun come up while we drink our coffee. I\u2019ll have time to read more books, and write more books, too! Not exactly badass \u2014 but I\u2019m feeling pretty fearless. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s next, but I am sure that Jesus has some big plans for me. I\u2019m ready!<\/p>\nMICHELE: What is your \u201cgo to\u201d prayer, devotion, or prayer practice that sustains you daily?<\/strong><\/p>\nMARIA JOHNSON:<\/strong> I have a number of devotions that I try to incorporate into my daily life. I\u2019ve always been fond of the rosary, and embraced it whole-heartedly when my children were in school. Some years ago I consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary by following the 33 Days to Morning Glory retreat. In the past few years I\u2019ve added the Angelus, but I admit to forgetting about as often as I remember. Our new home is close to a church, and we hear the Angelus bells ring, so I\u2019m thinking I\u2019m going to get better at that. I also pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. That devotion has brought me a great deal of consolation with a brief prayer that I say often throughout my day, \u201cJesus, I trust in you.\u201d It\u2019s simple. Easy. And gives me peace.<\/p>\nMICHELE: Time for the signature ending CBB question. This is a blog about books. What books are currently on your bookshelf to read?<\/strong><\/p>\nMARIA JOHNSON:<\/strong> I was going to say I have too many books, but that\u2019s ridiculous. One can never have enough books! I\u2019m always reading and rereading a lot of literary classics because I just retired from teaching college literature.<\/p>\nThe last book I (re)read was Mistress Bradstreet: The Untold Story of America\u2019s First Poet<\/em> by Charlotte Gordon. I ended my career on a poetry unit. It was grand!<\/p>\nI\u2019m also in the very last part of Elizabeth Scalia\u2019s wonderful book, Little Sins Mean A Lot<\/em>, and I\u2019m going to go finish it right now! Highly recommended!<\/p>\nI\u2019m also reading a novel by Debra Dean, The Madonna\u2019s of Leningrad<\/em>. It\u2019s a story about the impact of dementia on a family, the matriarch and her daughter. The story alternates between the present day challenges of caring for an Alzheimer\u2019s patient, and the patient as a young woman saving art pieces from the Hermitage during the siege of Leningrad. I love the story, but I\u2019m also drawn to the author\u2019s finesse in moving between the two time periods. I\u2019m reading it as much for the entertainment as for the technical lessons in the writer\u2019s process. Nerdy? Yeah.<\/p>\nFinally, I have Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist <\/em>by Tim Federle on my coffee table and I peruse it every once in a while. It\u2019s a hilarious book of cocktail recipes, so that\u2019s useful (one of the saints I feature is St. Bibiana, patron of hangovers!). Although it has some classic recipes such as The Pitcher of Dorian Grey Goose, it also has recipes for non-alcoholic delights, such as Pear The Wild Things Are, which is a refreshing spin on lemonade.<\/p>\nIf you ask me tomorrow, I\u2019ll probably have another eclectic collection of books. Thank you so much for asking these questions and giving me the opportunity to not only share a little bit about me, but also share a little part of my bookshelf!<\/p>\n
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