Women
In the late '60s, a small group of elite American women convinced an overwhelming majority of the country that destroying the most fundamental of relationships--that of mother and child--was necessary for women to have productive and happy lives. From the spoiling of this relationship followed the decay of the entire family, and almost overnight, our once pro-life culture became pro-lifestyle, embracing everything that felt good. Sixty million abortions later, women aren't showing signs of health, happiness, and fulfillment. Increased numbers of divorce, depression, anxiety, sexually transmitted disease, and drug abuse all point to the reality that women aren't happier, just more medicated. Huge cultural shifts led to a rethinking of womanhood, but could there be more behind it than just culture, politics, and rhetoric? Building off the scriptural foundations of the anti-Christ, Carrie Gress makes an in-depth investigation into the idea of an anti-Mary--as a spirit, not an individual--that has plagued the West since the '60s. Misleading generations of women, this anti-Marian spirit has led to the toxic femininity that has destroyed the lives of countless men, women, and children. Also in The Anti-Mary Exposed:
The antidote to the anti-Mary is, of course, Mary, the Mother of God, known widely as the most powerful woman in the world and the source of the belief that women ought to be treated with dignity. She is a beacon of all the virtues and qualities--purity, humility, kindness, beauty--that oppose this sinister force that has cast its spell upon so many women. Mary's influence is unparalleled by any woman in history. She is the perfect model of Christian femininity, who desires to be a spiritual mother to us all, leading us to her Son, and to the fulfillment of our heart's deepest desires.
Mary Gannon Kaufmann describes the life-giving nature of womanhood and seeks to guide women to live a deeper contemplative life of faith and prayer that can awaken holiness in themselves and others, in their families and the priests and deacons that they pray for.
Even though this call to effectively intercede for others is not new, today the call to spiritually uplift the Church and her clergy stands in new brilliance. Using Venerable Concepci n's work as well as the insights of other saintly women, Awakening a Life-Giving Heart helps women learn to negotiate the ups and downs of their lives as prayerful sacrifices for others.
Who am I? What is my purpose? Where do I belong?
These questions linger in every season of our lives, but, as Mary Lenaburg learned the hard way, answering them becomes possible only when we direct our hearts to the God who made us and loves us best of all. Following Lenaburg's example in Be Bold in the Broken will give you the courage and inspiration you need to accept who you are--the good, the bad, and the awkward--and become the woman God made you to be.
Lenaburg desperately wanted to be part of a girl tribe in middle school. She wanted to belong, to have friends--to be seen. So the unathletic, gangly sixth grader tried out for the cheerleading squad. She didn't have fancy clothes like the other girls and she noticed that everyone else had "a chest." So Lenaburg stuffed a pair of her brother's sweat socks into her bra. You can probably guess the rest: One sock fell out when she started a tumbling routine.
When she was still feeling humiliated after several weeks, her father gave her some life-changing advice: "How about next time you just be you, do your best, and let God figure out the rest."
Lenaburg--the author of Be Brave in the Scared--explores her journey to self-acceptance as she struggled to make sense of who she is and what she had to offer. Relatable anecdotes will make you laugh as Lenaburg answers the questions she is most often asked and shares how she finally learned to own
With personal stories and faith-filled reflections, Lenaburg blazes the path to true identity and purpose in Christ.
What do Joan of Arc, Immaculée Ilibagiza, Corrie ten Boom, and Sojourner Truth have in common?
These women are among those whom best-selling author Marcy Heidish calls Defiant Daughters. This informative, challenging, and entertaining book spotlights the lives of more than 20 spiritual trailblazers and their responses to crises of conscience. They represent different races, denominations, and nations, but all are feisty--often fiery--and always faithful to their callings. What motivated these "defiant daughters," who gave their all for God? Heidish seeks out the decisive juncture where they took a stand for conscience, regardless of the consequences. This stunning and compelling book will bring you face-to-face with an unforgettable female gallery of "profiles in courage."
Paperback
Do you hear yourself saying the same things over and over to your kids?
"Do you need help?"
"Say thank you."
"Wait a minute."
In Don't Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God, Lindsay Schlegel reimagines the common phrases we repeat as parents and applies them to our relationship with God. In doing so, she demonstrates how reflecting on our vocation as mothers can inform and illuminate our role as a daughter of God, drawing us closer to him.
What if we took the statements we repeat to our children and apply them to ourselves?
In Don't Forget to Say Thank You, writer Lindsay Schlegel shares fifteen relatable phrases she frequently uses as a parent and how her faith and life changed when she envisioned God telling her these same things.
When we start to hear the things we're telling our kids as wisdom from God, it's clear that the lessons we are trying to teach our kids are ones we also need to learn as children of the Most High.
Asking her daughter, "Do you need help?" caused Schlegel to reflect on the importance of the Communion of Saints and reaching out for the assistance she needs. Telling her children, "Say you're sorry" reminded her of the necessity of Confession and seeking forgiveness. And pleading that a toddler "wait a minute" while she looked for her crackers forced Schlegel to consider how she needed to have both more patience and more trust that God would take care of her.
Schlegel invites us to apply the same lessons she learned to our own lives as parents and as children of God through reflection questions and a prayer at the end of each chapter. She also suggests saints to whom we can look for inspiration and guidance, reminding us that we are not alone as we strive to more accurately reflect the image of our heavenly Father.
Popular radio host Teresa Tomeo knows from experience that the self-image of American women is being distorted by pop culture. With its emphasis on youth, physical beauty, and sexuality, the secular media is encouraging women--and girls--to see themselves primarily as sex objects.
A professional TV and radio journalist, Tomeo pulls together the latest research on social behavior and trends in order to demonstrate that women are harming themselves and their chances for true happiness by adopting the thoroughly modern, sexually liberated lifestyle portrayed in magazines and movies. Packed with not only persuasive statistics but also powerful personal testimonies, Extreme Makeover shows that it is not the slogans of the sexual revolution and the women's liberation movement that free and dignify women, but the beautiful teachings of the Catholic Church.
So what are women steeped in the Hollywood and Cosmo girl version of reality to do? Undergo Tomeo's Extreme Makeover. With the help of this book, they can shed the toxic messages that objectify and enslave them and embrace the truth about being a beloved daughter of God.
What if you had walked beside the Virgin Mary from the Annunciation to the point at which she and Joseph found Jesus in the temple? How might seeing Christ as a child impact you and your faith?
WINE: Women In the New Evangelization offers its second, six-week scripture study, this time following the infancy and early years of Christ as seen through the eyes of Mary and other familiar and imagined women in the gospels.
Founder Kelly Wahlquist and ten other members of WINE uniquely blend scripture reflections, imaginative encounters, and visio divina "sacred seeing" with practical spirituality and discussion questions that will help you take a prayerful and creative journey through Advent and the Christmas season.
Not much is known about the childhood of Jesus, but the Gospels highlight six key moments in his early life:
Week by week, you will dig deep into each of the scriptural vignettes of Jesus' early life and grow in your faith as you learn about virtues such as humility, patience, charity, reverence, prudence, and courage.
Each chapter uses an image that allows you to practice visio divina, the ancient practice of praying with sacred art. The images are included in an eight-page, full-color insert.
Gaze Upon Jesus will appeal to women who want to deepen their relationship with Jesus during Advent. Contributors to this inspiring scripture study include: Alyssa Bormes, Sarah Christmyer, Mary Healy, Maria Morera Johnson, Stephanie Landsem, Elizabeth Lev, Joan Lewis, Deborah Savage, Kelly Wahlquist, Katie Warner, and Carol Younger. Popular Catholic media personality Teresa Tomeo, also a member of WINE, wrote the foreword for the book.
As an individual or group study, Gaze Upon Jesus is a memorable way to encounter the God who sent his Son to show us his loving Father's heart.
Winner of a 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (second place, gender issues-inclusion in the Church).
Is it possible to be both a Catholic and a feminist? Claire Swinarski, writer and creator of The Catholic Feminist podcast, believes it is: "I'm a feminist for the same reason I'm bold and honest and sometimes ragey: because Jesus was all of those things."
In Girl, Arise!, Swinarski reconciles the two identities by demonstrating the strength and abilities women have to share with the Body of Christ, the importance of women throughout the history of the faith, and how the love you experience through Christ and the Church can change you and the world around you.
In Girl, Arise!: A Catholic Feminist's Invitation to Live Boldly, Love Your Faith, and Change the World Swinarski points out that while both "feminism" and "Catholicism" can mean different things to different people, both feminists and Catholics desire to make the world a better, fairer place. And she shows that by treating women with dignity equal to that of men--by calling them his friends and teaching them--Jesus acted as a feminist as well.
With humor and sass, Swinarski addresses her frustration with the traditional concerns churches ascribe to women, as shown by the many talks directed at women focused on marriage and modesty rather than social justice. But she pinpoints the areas where modern feminism goes too far, arguing against abortion and exploring what it means to serve others rather than focus on our own needs first.
Swinarski also tells the stories of holy women--including Vashti in the book of Esther, Sts. Thérèse of Lisieux and Joan of Arc, Mary Magdalene, and the Blessed Virgin Mary--to show how their faith influenced their actions, even when those actions went against traditional norms and roles of women.
You will be empowered to embrace your God-given abilities as you follow the women who have gone before you in faith who--by announcing Christ to his disciples, believing in God's promises, and being faithful in hardship--changed the world.
Each chapter includes relevant scripture references, quotations from saints or noted Catholic figures, commentary and perspectives from other Catholic writers, and checklists of suggested steps moms can take in bringing better balance and integration to their lives.
From the outside looking in, Rachel Balducci's life was enviable. A mother of six beautiful children, she had a career as a writer and speaker and was married to a busy attorney with his own practice. She was organized, capable of handling it all, armed with a killer to-do list and an up-to-date calendar.
But those on the outside couldn't see that Rachel was a mess, a bundle of anxiety and exhaustion. She was present physically to provide for her husband and kids, but far from present emotionally or spiritually. She stared down every day wishing it were already over.
One night, in desperation, she cried out to God, and he answered in a startling, freeing, and life-changing way. If you are feeling more chaos than peace, more panic than joy, take heart. Make My Life Simple: Bringing Peace to Heart and Home gives you down-to-earth practical pointers to achieve peace and order:
Rachel Balducci and her husband Paul have five strapping sons and one precious daughter. Rachel is a newspaper columnist for the Southern Cross and blogs at Testosterhome.net. She is a co-host of The Gist, a talk show for women on Catholic TV and the author of How Do You Tuck In A Superhero and other delightful mysteries of raising boys.
In a former life, Rachel was a newspaper reporter, and she has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Georgia. These days she writes about faith, family and how keeping her bathroom clean will make her a saint.
Women historically have been denigrated as lower than men or viewed as privileged. Dr. Alice von Hildebrand characterizes the difference between such views as based on whether man's vision is secularistic or steeped in the supernatural. She shows that feminism's attempts to gain equality with men by imitation of men is unnatural, foolish, destructive, and self-defeating. The Blessed Mother's role in the Incarnation points to the true privilege of being a woman. Both virginity and maternity meet in Mary who exhibits the feminine gifts of purity, receptivity to God's word, and life-giving nurturance at their highest.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alice von Hildebrand received a master's degree and doctorate in philosophy from Fordham University in New York. She taught at the Hunter College of the City in New York, the Catechetical Institute in Arlington, Virginia, the Thomas More College in Rome, Italy, Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She lectures in Canada, South America, Western Europe and the United States, and is the author of several books including Greek Culture: The Adventure of the Human Spirit, A Philosophy of Religion, By Love Refined, By Grief Refined, and Soul of a Lion. She co-authored several books with her husband, Dietrich von Hildebrand, including The Art of Living, Morality and Situation Ethics, and Graven Images.
Strong Mothers, Strong Sons: Lessons Mothers Need to Raise Extraordinary Men
- the importance of conveying the values of hard work, community service, and a well-developed inner life
- the natural traps mothers of boys often fall into--and how to avoid them
- the key to raising sons without emotional baggage and limitations
- the best ways to survive the moments when the going gets tough and a mom's natural ways of communicating--talking, analyzing, exploring--only fuel the fire By providing encouragement, education, and essential advice, this empowering book offers a road map to help mothers find the strength and confidence to raise extraordinary sons--so that they will become the men they are meant to be.
Most women would enjoy talking to a good Catholic beauty and fashion consultant, but such consultants are practically nonexistent. Meet Nicole M. Caruso, former beauty editor of Verily Magazine, who unfolds a variety of elegant and tasteful clothing styles on a budget you can afford. Nicole is a mom and wife on a mission: to bring out "the feminine genius" in you.
In this beautiful, first-of-its-kind book, Nicole guides you through the steps involved in cultivating your personal style that celebrates your unique genius, mission, and vocation and that's reflective of a Catholic worldview. You'll learn how to perceive and appreciate your self-worth by owning your own story and celebrating your unique inherent dignity. You'll then learn how to integrate that identity with your faith life and personal style. When all three are combined, you'll be able to harness contagious confidence, which becomes the means through which you can connect with others and evangelize in a compelling way.
You'll follow Nicole's practical guide to curating a wardrobe worthy of the soul who inhabits it. You'll learn expert styling tricks, tips for shopping with intention, and encouragement to embrace the current season of life by discovering how to unite your interior soul with your exterior body. In this lush coffee-table spectacular with gorgeous photos, you'll also learn:
Why modesty and beauty go together
That what you wear and how you wear it is not price dependent
How to find nice clothing on a budget
Why "editing your closet" is a good idea
Tips for an effortless daily skin-care and makeup regimen
How to find your "signature style"
Why and how you should create your personal "first impression"
The keys to cultivating your femininity
Why self-worth is not narcissism
The difference between fashion and style for a Christian
Despite the fashion industry's authoritative rhetoric that often misrepresents the true dignity of women, Worthy of Wearing is both a reminder and evidence that God, the Author of life, is the Creator of beauty. Armed with this truth, you can now reclaim your personal style from the fashion industry's disordered representation of femininity, which actively seeks to destroy both your modesty and your worth.
You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth
An Invitation from God for Belonging and Love
Every one of us is made in the image and likeness of God. We are unique, we are worthy of love, and we are called to greatness.
In this world, though, it can be easy to be distracted from that truth and begin to doubt God's love is real. We live in a world that tells us we are not smart enough, not pretty enough, not sexy enough, not rich enough, not thin enough, and don't have enough friends.
It's easy to focus on the ways we fall short of worldly perfection and to forget that we are already made perfect. We are already enough. God has made each of us for a unique purpose, and he calls each of us to know him in unique ways.
In a world where everything feels fleeting and temporary, we are made for everlasting life; we are meant to experience God's abiding love. In You Are Enough, Danielle Bean uses the timeless tales of the women of the Bible to clarify that truth for modern catholic women.