Friday's show and contests!

Hello!

Did you see yesterday's show: "Upholding Dignity Through Contradictions"? Did you like it? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Also, please tell EWTN by "liking," "sharing," and leaving a comment on their post on their Face book page: https://www.facebook.com/ewtnonline/photos/a.157114462581.116591.34701792581/10152515290767582/?type=1&pnref=story

You can also send EWTN an email to "viewer services" and type "Catholic Mom's Cafe" in the subject line since they receive a lot of emails. :) You can send your comment about the show to: viewer@ewtn.com EWTN will ultimately decide about continuing the Catholic Mom's Cafe series based on the favorable responses to the show. Thank you in advance for expressing your thoughts to them. It truly helps.

So, there's lots of buzz going on with the launch of my new TV series on EWTN Catholic Mom's Cafe. I am running contests all week during the launch week (after running them all month too). Here's a blog post from yesterday about the contests. Check it out to see the prizes, etc.

To be entered into the contests to win, chocolate, coffee, pampering, lots of books, a cool Williams Sonoma gift card, and more (which are shown in the link above), watch the shows this week. Here's a description of the shows and guests:

What's on the menu today? 

Today's guest is Karen Edmisten. We discuss "Dealing with loss through miscarriage". The first show aired this morning at 3:00 AM ET and will air again at 6:30 PM ET tonight.

Here's a short video of today's show: 

Here's what you need to do to be entered into the cool drawings this week:

1) Watch the shows so you can answer a question from me and be entered.

2) To be entered into the contests, please "like" my face book pages: Catholic Mom's Cafe: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomsCafe

and my "fan" page: https://www.facebook.com/donnacooperoboylefanpage

3) To be entered into the  GRAND PRIZE contests, please write a review (can be very short if need be) for Amazon for any of my "Mom" books you have read or are reading, which are listed right below the next sentence. This also helps a great deal to let potential readers of the book to know what others have thought about them.

4) Create a short video of your children doing a good deed (yes, it can be staged to illustrate your point).

Catholic Mom's Cafe: 5-Minute Retreats for Every Day of the Year 

Embracing Motherhood 

The Domestic Church: Room By Room: A Mother's Study Guide 

Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers  

A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers  

The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home 

Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine Month Novena for Mothers to Be 

Rooted in Love: Our Calling as Catholic Women

Grace Cafe: Serving up Recipes for Faithful Mothering

After leaving a review today or sometime this week, or after "liking" my Facebook pages, or after answering the question about the show each day, LEAVE a comment on this blog post or any of the posts this week telling me what you have done. THEN, please email me (DMCOBoyle@aol.com) the answer to the question, or the review, or telling me that you "liked" the pages.

You may enter more than once all throughout this week!

THE QUESTION ABOUT TODAY'S SHOW IS: What is one of the suggestions given on today's show "Dealing with loss through miscarriage"?  PLEASE DO NOT answer in the comment section of this blog. Rather, leave a comment on this blog to tell me that you are emailing me with the answer. So, I'd like to hear from you in two places--this blog (telling me what you are doing to enter), and in an email (DMCOBoyle@aol.com) please, to give me your answer or other. The subject line should be "Catholic Mom's Cafe contest." Then, you will be entered into these contests!

TO BE ENTERED INTO THE CONTEST FOR THE GRAND PRIZE: Write a review for my books (described above) and/or create a short 3 to 5 minute video of your children doing a good deed. You can easily do it with your Smart phone. It doesn't need to look professional! :) Let me know in the comments on this blog that you have done so or will do so by week's end and then send the video to me by email: DMCOBoyle@aol.com. The subject line should be, "Catholic Mom's Cafe video contest."

Please consider subscribing to my email newsletter(s) which is easily done through my website: www.donnacooperoboyle.com

Enjoy the shows...God bless you!

Donna-Marie

Wonderful endorsement from Fr. Mitch Pacwa S. J.

So many people are so busy.
Moms find it difficult to structure a time for personal prayer, especially stay at home Moms. So many variables are beyond her control feeding and its concomitant processes in infants, illnesses, emergencies, etc. Finding time for prayer is a luxury in a world determined by the demands of others, particularly loved ones, particularly when they are little ones. This book is a handy tool to bring relief by setting aside a short time with profound and relevant meditations for Moms by a Mom. When a few quiet minutes appear, this is a great spiritual help with the cup of coffee and some time with our Lord.
Certain great saints are gourmands of the spiritual life. Doctors of the Church, such as St. Catherine of Sienna, O.P., St. Theresa of Avila, O.C.D., and many others were able to savor spiritual delights over many hours of deep and mystical prayer. The vocations opened these opportunities to them.
The vocation of motherhood opens eternal opportunities that most religious sisters miss sharing life's adventures with a man [her husband] whose love can open up a life of whole new adventures, some of whom enter the world crying, hungry, needing special consolations, including dry diapers and nursing through illnesses. 
The adventures of husbands and children generally place limits on the amount of time available for savoring spiritual nourishment. However, the quality of spiritual food need not be compromised just because the time for savoring is short. Of course, a person might snack on spiritual junk food that gives a sugary high, or a saccharine substitute for authentic spiritual sweetness, a fried potato or corn chip that fills the hunger with empty spiritual calories all of which can be found in New Age falsehoods or superficial Christianity.
On the other hand, an appetizer that tides one over until there is time for a meal can be truly healthy, delicious and full of spiritual nutrition. These short daily meditations in Catholic Mom s Café are a long table full of tasty, spiritually nutritious appetizers for the soul of a busy Mom. One can snack on them in a short period of time each day and savor the tastes in those moments that pop up between busyness. The quotes in the "Ponder" sections of this book are full of wisdom, and they have been chosen wisely. Each time one returns to those quotes, one can learn still more. The "Offer" reflections both draw out good ideas from the "Ponder" quotes and suggest things to do within family life. Enjoy, grow and find some refreshment in your busy schedule. --Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S. J.
[as seen on Amazon.com]

Today's Reflection

From Catholic Mom's Cafe for June 25th:

PONDER:

True love causes pain. Jesus, in order to give us the proof of his love, died on the cross. A mother, in order to give birth to her baby, has to suffer. If you really love one another, you will not be able to avoid making sacrifices.~Blessed Mother Teresa

OFFER:

Again and again, Blessed Mother Teresa lets us in on that secret of love--the suffering part. Moms are well aware of the toil, tears, and sweat that go into their homemaking; but we must not forget to count the joys and satisfactions amid the difficulties. Ask God for the grace of his joy today.

PRAY:

Lord Jesus, grant me your graces. Mother Mary, open my heart to love. Act of Love, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

SAVOR:

Love and sacrifice intertwined brings solace and spiritual growth to my family.

Exclusive offer for Catholic Mom's Cafe followers!

Catholic Mom's Cafe is for EVERY day of the year - not just for Mother's Day!

I have exciting news to share with you! If you leave a simple short comment on this blog post about what the beautiful vocation of motherhood means to you (you don't have to be a mother), AND if you subscribe to this blog (in the left hand column) I will email you a special link to receive $3.00 off every copy of Catholic Mom's Cafe book you order through the link! The offer is for a limited time though.

So, if you'd like to take advantage of this amazing discount, please act soon. After you leave your comment, then you can email me at: DMCOBoyle[AT]aol[DOT]com to let me know and I will email you the exclusive code!

I'm looking forward to your comments and for you to join this blog so I can offer you a great discount on my book!

God bless you and yours!

Donna-Marie

First stop along the Catholic Mom's Cafe blog tour!

Thank you very much to Jennifer Rey at Our Sunday Visitor for this interview which kicks off my Catholic Mom's Cafe blog tour!

Daily retreats for busy moms: An inside look with author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle

Editor's note: OSV Daily Take is the first stop on Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle’s "Catholic Mom’s Café" blog tour.

With five children Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle knows how difficult it is for busy moms to maintain a robust spiritual life. In response, the author, blogger, speaker and EWTN host developed five-minute daily retreats for moms on-the-go in her new book, Catholic Mom's Café: 5-Minute Retreats for Every Day of the Year (Our Sunday Visitor, 2013).

Catholic Mom's Café is a 365-day devotional book for Catholic moms with reflections that highlight the virtues of faith, hope and love. The following interview gives an inside look at her new work.

Our Sunday Visitor: What was your inspiration for Catholic Mom's Café?

Donna-Marie: I am a Catholic mother of eight — five on earth and three in heaven. The vocation of motherhood is my life. And, because it is, I know firsthand how totally inundated and busy a mother can be. That’s why I wanted to write this book — to offer busy faithful moms something they can sink their teeth into, but in small enough portions they can fit it into their extremely demanding lifestyle. We have to face the facts — a mother's life is not her own. Her role is a 24/7 schedule since she is on call every minute caring for the needs of her family. There's no telling when one of the little ones will spike a fever in the night or wake up suddenly with teething pains, or any number of needs throughout the day with the young and the older children.

I am also very familiar with the lack of affirmation and encouragement available from our society for Catholic moms today. Because we Catholic and Christian moms not only care for the exteriors, but also for the spiritual welfare of our children, we work hard to keep them away from indecent films, inappropriate clothing, and everything that is harmful to them.

I believe there's a great need to rally together and offer one another encouragement whenever possible.

OSV: You're not a coffee drinker, so why did you choose the café theme?

Donna-Marie: You're right, I don’t drink coffee but I do love tea and teas can be had in a café! I titled this book Catholic Mom's Café because I envisioned the experience as a sweet café of time to drink in inspiration. When I think of a café I envision nourishment and even taking a quick few minutes to refresh oneself.

I wrote this book thinking of the busy mom plunking down at the kitchen table in the morning with her children around her. After grace before meals is said together, hopefully the mom can open to the appropriate page and read the short verses to set the tone for her day. If the breakfast table doesn't work for her, hopefully she can designate a time when she can drink in the spiritual nourishment and be given her "spiritual vitamin" for the day.

OSV: Did your relationship with Blessed Mother Teresa help with writing this book?

Donna-Marie: Yes, I believe that knowing Mother Teresa has helped in writing this book because she touched my life so profoundly that I think her wisdom and love just naturally spills out into all I do and say and write about. I feel very passionate about inspiring Catholic and Christian mothers to go deeper into their faith, to trust God in their mothering, and to work hard at raising their kids in the Faith because God is counting on mothers to do so.

OSV: What made you focus on the theological virtues?

Donna-Marie: The focus in this book is about living lives of faith, hope and love within the vocation of mothering our children. God as a free gift gives us these wonderful theological virtues at our baptism. These virtues are key to living a Christian life, and I think sadly sometimes we forget about them. I thought it would be helpful to write a book in this way, which offers the busy mom a chance to discover the virtues already present in her life, but unfolding more and more each day. I think the book can be a reminder to "flex" a particular "muscle" of virtue each day to "grow" the virtues! Practicing these virtues makes us more like our Creator.

OSV: How does each day work?

Donna-Marie: Each day has four elements to work with: Ponder, Offer, Pray and Savor. Moms can pick up the book to the page of the day and read the verse at the top in the "Ponder" section, which sets the tone for the day. It could be a verse from the Bible, a snippet from the Catechism, a quote from a saint or from a well-known figure. She moves to the next section, which through an illustrative story invites her to "Offer" something — a suggestion of how she might work on a virtue, discover the blessings of the day, or teach her family something. After that, she can say the prayer in the "Pray" section. Finally, she is offered something to "Savor" — a thought to take her through the day to keep the message fresh on her heart.

OSV: How can this book benefit busy moms' spiritual lives?

Donna-Marie: I feel it's beneficial to provide bursts of inspiration in simple short devotions that will help bolster a mom’s spirits and give her the Catholic "tools" to get through her busy day (and night!). Moms can pick this book up at a set time of the day or simply weave it in as time allows — no worries, no pressure — simply bighearted inspiration always ready to serve.

OSV: Is there a way for readers to connect or to delve deeper?

Donna-Marie: I have created a "Catholic Mom's Café" blog and a "Catholic Mom's Café"Facebook page.  I love to create camaraderie among Catholic and Christian moms by giving them a place to meet and share their faith. Additionally, I often remark that when you get a bunch of faithful women together — watch out — amazing things can happen with faith, hope and love!

OSV: Can you tell me about the TV mini-series, "Catholic Mom's Café"?

Donna-Marie: My TV mini-series on EWTN is called "Catholic Mom's Café," same as the book! I linked them together by using the same title to again offer a warm inviting "environment" for Catholic and Christian moms. The television show is like an extension of the book. The moms reading the book will hopefully feel connected to the show where they can see me interviewing guests, offering advice, and speaking about that miraculous yet crazy vocation of motherhood.

Get your copy of Catholic Mom’s Café!

Autographed copies of Catholic Mom's Café are available for purchase at Donna-Marie's website. You can also purchase it through the publisher, Our Sunday Visitor, or at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your local Catholic bookstore.

PLEASE go on over to the Our Sunday Visitor blog to see this post there and to comment if you'd like or to use the social media icons to share through Twitter and Facebook and more: http://www.osvdailytake.com/2013/04/daily-retreats-for-busy-moms-inside.html

Are our lamps burning with love?

My son, Joseph with Blessed Mother Teresa

"Joy is love, the normal result of a heart burning with love. Our lamp will be burning with sacrifices made out of love if we have joy."~Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"Mother Teresa tells us that when our lamp burns with love it will be filled with joy. Being a parent means that we will endure many sacrifices  to raise our children properly. Even so, our lives will be filled with immense joy through it all knowing that we are answering our divine calling by raising little saints to heaven! How is your lamp burning? Does it need more oil? You can refuel it with extra love and prayer."~from my book, Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa

Lent begins in nine days!

I'd say it's time to come up with a plan. What are you planning to do for Lent in your domestic church? Please share with us.