Opportunities are all around us

Small Opportunities to Be Saintly Surround Us

No, we don’t need to take a course in sanctity to become a saint one day– it’s all mapped out for us and right under our noses...

Check out my latest installment about the saints for youth at the Goodness Reigns website here.

My brand new saints' blog

The Stuff of Saints

“God knows just what each of us needs to become a saint. It’s when we decide to respond in love to all of the little details of life we are immersed in that we are heading in the right direction.” Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle

Take a look at my brand new saints' blog on the Goodness Reigns website for youth by clicking here.

New Review for Catholic Saints Prayer Book

"The saints are here to inspire, guide, and pray for us. They started out as ordinary people, just like us. But they chose to be saintly. This choice was not an easy one for any of them and the temptations of this world were not always easy to overcome. Who then will better understand our plight as we strive toward holiness?

Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle has put together a beautiful little book. Perfect for purse, pocket or backpack. Each saint entry includes an inspirational peak into the life of the saint, their feast day, a relevant quote, an illustration of that saint, and a brief meditational prayer. The only thing I would have liked to see in this book is an index listing the saints by their feast day.

Saints include: St. Anne, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Augustine, St. Benedict, St. Bernadette, St. Bridget of Ireland, St. Catherine Laboure, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Faustine Kowalska, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Francis Xavier, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. John Chrysostom, St. John Neumann, St. Joseph, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, St. Maria Goretti, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Monica, St. Padre Pio, St. Patrick, St. Peregrine, St. Rita of Cascia, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, and St. Thomas More.


'Let us invoke the saints often, asking for their holy assistance, even praying along with them, striving to imitate their virtues while praying to become saints ourselves.'

This little book will help you do just that."

(This review can be found here.)

In case you missed this...

If you didn't get a chance to watch the recent EWTN's Bookmark segment in which Doug Keck interviewed me about four of my books: Prayerfully Expecting, The Heart of Motherhood, Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers and Catholic Saints Prayer Book, you can listen by clicking here. Just scrolll down to audio # 212.

Free Books and Inspiring Fun Monday Morning!

I think you'd better get a steaming cup of coffee or tea ready and give yourself a treat to listen in to some good Catholic stuff to get your Monday morning going!

Tune in on Monday morning TWICE! I will be interviewed by the inspiring Dina Marie at 8:00 Central time and for me it's 11:00 Eastern time.

I will also be doing my "Mom's Corner" radio segment with Teresa Tomeo on her show on "Catholic Connection" Ave Maria Radio at 9:15 AM Eastern time. It should be informational, inspiring, and lots of fun! It always is! Teresa and I are really like Lucy and Ethel and recount the story every once in a while about our trip to the Vatican congress earlier this year and all of the bloopers and blunders we experienced together - all good stuff! It was at that point that we nicknamed ourselves Lucy and Ethel. She's Lucy and I am Ethel.

As a matter of fact, one time Teresa surprised me when I was about to come on her show with the theme song to the "I Love Lucy" show. She's a riot! You can hear the segment by checking the archives I have posted on my blogs and website.

I hope that you will tune in to both shows! Did I mention that we are giving away books?? I will be giving away a lot of my saints' books, Catholic Saints Prayer Book on Dina Marie's show since November is a great month for the saints. We may be giving out some of my other titles as well. You'll have to tune in to find out. I hope you may be one of the fortunate callers who wins! :)

Who knows, I may give out some more books on Teresa's show, our "Mom's Corner" too! Tune in to find out!

So here are the details for the shows:

November 10, 2008, 8:00 AM (Pacific Time)
Catholic Radio
click here at “KBVM Live” (88.3 FM)
with Dina Marie Hale
http://www.kbvm.fm/
Portland, Oregon


Also November 10, 2008 9:15 AM Eastern time
"Mom's Corner" on "Catholic Connection"
with Teresa Tomeo
click here at avemariaradio.net


You can tune in LIVE to each of these shows by clicking on the links and then hit the "listen live" button on the websites.

Talk to you soon!

God bless!

Donna-Marie

My interview on EWTN's Bookmark segment is now available on audio here

If you didn't get a chance to watch the recent EWTN's Bookmark segment in which Doug Keck interviewed me about four of my books: Prayerfully Expecting, The Heart of Motherhood, Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers and Catholic Saints Prayer Book, you can listen by clicking here. Just scrolll down to audio # 212.

We celebrated St. Padre Pio's feast day yesterday

PRAYER OF SAINT PADRE PIO FOR AFTER COMMUNION


Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes, death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.

Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it, but, the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for. Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity.

Amen

A new review of my saints' book

Go on over to my blog, Moments of Inspiration with Your Favorite Saints" to see the latest review of my book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book

First stop - Chicago and St. Charles for the RBTE!

My publisher, Our Sunday Visitor invited me to do a book signing of my newest book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book at a HUGE annual event called the RBTE or Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit. I signed between 200 and 300 books in about an hour! The RBTE was held at the beautiful Pheasant Run Resort in St.Charles Illinois not far from Chicago.

I am told that over 300 Catholic and Christian Book store owners come to this event annually to look over the newest releases and decide what they would like to carry in their stores.

Many Catholic and Christian publishers had booths showing off a nice selection of their wares. It was enjoyable to get a chance to stroll through the many aisles of the convention to browse the well represented publishing houses and see many familiar faces before my scheduled book signing event.

EWTN (Eternal World Television Network) had a radio set up right there in the middle of the hub bub. So, while I was at the RBTE, I was asked to be on Al Kresta's live radio show. It was so nice to meet Al and to have a friendly chat with him on his show about my newest book and my other books, as well. I wish I had a photo to share with you of our chat. Perhaps I may be able to get the audio and share it with you in the near future. :) I'm not sure if that is possible, though. Here is a link to the show information.

Al Kresta has a regular radio show on Ave Maria Radio which is the same station that produces "Catholic Connection," the show that I am on regularly with Teresa Tomeo. Al Kresta's fascinating Bio is here.

Come back for another visit soon and I will fill you in on some more of my last few day's adventures! I have to go unpack now and tend to some overflowing hampers of laundry. For some strange reason, my washing machine shuts down when I am not home!

God bless your day!

Donna-Marie

Catholic Saints Prayer Book interview with Teresa Tomeo

Check here for my interview with Teresa Tomeo about my Catholic Saints Prayer Book . You can listen right from your computer!

Okay, running to Chicago now and then down to EWTN!!

Thank you for your prayers!

God bless and hugs,

Donna-Marie

My interview with Chris Cash on Catholic Spotlight today!

You can hear my interview with Chris Cash today at Catholic Spotlight. Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee and pull your chair up to the computer. Chris and I talk about my visit to the Vatican, Mulieris Dignitatem, and Pope John Paul II, as well as my books and my new book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book coming out in about a week! When you're ready click here!

The reviews are coming in!

Catholic Saints Prayer Book
by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle
Our Sunday Visitor, 80 pages

The Church’s hagiography has inspired whole libraries of books, the best of which paint a distinctive portrait of one or more of our beloved spiritual mothers and fathers. We love to hear and tell these stories over and over, for these stories provide our only real connection in this life with our spiritual forebears, our only opportunity to know them as we would like.

The Catholic Saints Prayer Book reminds us of another important reason to ruminate on the lives of the saints. This reason is perhaps best summed up in the words of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the spiritual mother of the author of this charming little book: “The Church of God needs saints today. This imposes a great responsibility on us. We must become holy not because we want to feel holy, but because Christ must be able to live His life fully in us” (p.10).

Each of the thirty-two saints contained in this book remind us that the pathway to holiness is not easily traversed. It is a way of suffering. Of grief. Of struggle against our basest impulses. In the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola, “There is no better wood to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross.”

Above all, it is a way of prayer. And for this, the Catholic Saints Prayer Book provides a simple yet eloquent resource for those who want to grow closer to our heavenly family. Each chapter includes a list of patronages, brief biography, and closing prayer to lead you gently yet deeply into that “blessed communion, fellowship divine.” Delicate illustrations are scattered throughout, making this a wonderful gift for birthdays, Mother’s Day … or simply for your own prayer corner.

Heidi Hess Saxton
Editor, “Canticle” Magazine
Author, Behold Your Mother: Mary Stories and Reflections from a Catholic Convert

***

In a time of profound confusion and chaos, the books of Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle provide meaning, inspiration and direction for all those who are seeking the truth in these troubled times. The Second Vatican Council reminded the Church that we are all called to holiness. This book will help us attain our goal.
Fr. James Farfaglia, Pastor
St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Catholic Church
Corpus Christi, Texas

Book Contest for "Catholic Saints Prayer Book"

You still have time! Don't forget that I am running a book contest for my new upcoming book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book. The details are here.

My newest book, "Catholic Saints Prayer Book"

My newest book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book is now listed with its cover image on Amazon.Com. This book will be released in March 2008 by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Company and can be pre-ordered through my website or Amazon.Com.

Announcing my new book, "Catholic Saints Prayer Book"

I am excited to announce that my new book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing) will be released in March 2008! Amazon.Com already has it available for preorder! In a month or so the cover image will be posted at Amazon. To preorder from me for a signed copy just follow this link to my "Author's Store" for details.

This Saints book would be ideal for Confirmation kids who are deciding upon their patron Saints. It's also a wonderful little book to learn more about our friends the Saints, our intercessors in Heaven! This book is a compilation of 34 Saints that I chose to bring to you! It is appropriate for anyone wanting to learn more about the Saints and what they have to offer us on our own journeys. There is a biography of each with an original prayer to each one as well as inspiring quotes from them included in this book. It is a hardcover book in a smaller format so that it is suitable for carrying in one's purse, briefcase, diaper bag or to leave on the coffeee table or nightstand for those times when it can be pulled out for some inspiration.