May 14, 2021
May 14, 2021
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A Writer’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Jen Norton captures the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary in a powerful way in Surrender All.   If you do  not already own a copy of this full-color devotional journal, please do yourself a favor and get one! Jen was kind enough to give me permission to use her artwork to illustrate the reflections here — if you would like to see more of her artwork, or purchase prints, be sure to check out her website at Jen Norton Art Studio. Last week I introduced you to Fr. Ubald and his “Rosary of My Life.”   I asked you to think of the five “mysteries” that […]
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May 7, 2021
May 7, 2021
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A Writer’s Rosary: Fr. Ubald on “The Rosary of My Life”

I’ve been told (by those who have experienced both life-changing events) that there are some surprising similarities between writing a book and giving birth to a child: The process can often be painful, messy, and even a little embarrassing. But there is great joy in the end. Because of this, I like to offer a rosary on Fridays for my authors. In his book Forgiveness Makes You Free, Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga (RIP) writes about the “rosary of my life,” identifying five painful moments from his own life that he continually offered back to God (see pages 10-15). His early memories of his parents, both of […]
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April 30, 2021
April 30, 2021
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What to Do BEFORE You Query

Do you have a favorite author website? I’d love it if you would post a link here! As an editor, I’m always working with authors to help them develop their ministry platforms — and a good social media presence is really essential to their success. About the picture: Until you get to know them, editors can be scary people. But we really do want you to succeed! And for Catholic non-fiction authors writing their first book, the key to your success will be how close your proposed book “fits” with your existing ministry. I’ve learned that there tends to be a high correlation between strong […]
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April 27, 2021
Catholic Writer's Almanac 0427
April 27, 2021
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Happy Birthday, Brennan Manning! (Catholic Writer’s Almanac: April 27)

He was a complicated man who understood one simple truth: His Father in Heaven loved him — loves all of us — more than we could possibly imagine. Rest in peace, dear Ragamuffin.
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April 26, 2021
April 26, 2021
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Things that go “ring” in the night.

“Mom?!”  Bleary-eyed, I took my cell away from my face long enough to see the time. It was 4:15 in the morning. My heart leaped in my throat. “Christopher? Are you okay? Are you at work?” He had just started a new job, working 4:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Fridays through Sundays, at a bottle manufacturer about 40 minutes from our house. Although I had initial reservations about him driving that far, at that time of day, Craig and I agreed that it was time for him to start making adult choices. And so far, he seemed to be doing well. Now he was in […]
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March 30, 2021
March 30, 2021
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Praying Across America Begins…

Craig has a dream. He wants to see all 47 of the National Parks in the continental U.S. with me and whichever family members are around to enjoy it. I have a dream, too. I want to see my husband fulfill his dream without giving up running water and indoor plumbing. Or beds with actual sheets and pillows. Is that too much to ask? As it turns out … not at all! This little beauty will be ours on Friday. That and the vehicle Craig is picking up as I type this, large enough to pull it from state to state. Would you like to […]
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March 14, 2021
March 14, 2021
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What’s a #PrayerStory?

I love hearing people’s prayer stories — how they put their faith on the line with Jesus (or, in some cases, with his mother, who is also a powerful pray-er. Kind of like my mother). And somehow, their prayers were answered, often above and beyond what they originally asked. Now, God is not some great Bubblegum Ball Machine in the Sky. You can’t force his hand with selfish demands, like a petulant teenager. “Okay, God, either you give me ____ or I won’t speak to you again” won’t wash with the Almighty. Or his mother. But God is a patient Father — a patient adoptive […]
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January 8, 2021
January 8, 2021
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Remembering Fr. Ubald (RIP 1/7/2021)

The first thing you’d notice was not his collar, but his smile. Despite the great sorrows he had experienced — or perhaps because of them — Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga was full of joy. I think that this joy was actually a source and sign of his healing gift, for both things emanated from the same place: an unshakable trust in the God who never failed him. Not when he lost first his father, then his brother and mother and dozens of members of his own family, in the genocide against the Tutsi people. Not when his own parishioners cast him out of the parish he […]
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