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Jul 19, 2021
Faith· Life· Resources

5 Catholic Books for Busy Women: Nurturing Your Faith When You’re Running on Empty

This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Are you completely spent by the end of the day?

Do you go, go, go, until all of a sudden it’s bedtime?

It can be difficult to do any kind of self-care when you are working full-time or when you have young children.

I am so tired at the end of the day.
So reading a book is often the last thing I want to do.

Or I want to read, but I’m so tired, my brain is not exactly in the place to comprehend thick texts that have been written by a very wise Harvard professor.


However, there have been a few lately that I have really enjoyed reading, even after a long tiring day!

Catholic Books for Tired Moms

These are not parenting books. . . .although I should probably be reading those. These books help us grow in faith with the Lord through His Sacred Heart, His Mother and the Saints.

The first I recommend reading is:

Consecration to Saint Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father

Personally, I enjoyed reading this book. I didn’t start it in a true effort to “consecrate” myself to Saint Joseph. Honestly, I just love Saint Joseph and was curious to learn more about him. I was not disappointed. I learned a few things about our faith that I don’t recall ever learning about before!

I love how this type of book is set up. Day one – read these pages . . .then Day 2, here are some more pages. This worked for me since it was a short read and gave me time to scroll social media before I passed out from total exhaustion.

Your Blue Flame: Drop the Guilt and Do What Makes You Come Alive

“The Glory of God is man fully alive.”

Saint Irenaeus

Every one of us has a blue flame–a special skill, a personal passion, a gift or talent. But when caught up in life’s busyness, it’s too easy to make a habit of suppressing our most joyful contributions to the world.

I actually read this book last summer. I remember being on vacation with my in-laws and after reading one page – going over to my sister-in-law, handing her the book and saying, “you have got to read this”! It was a great, inspiring story that made me say, “no way” as I read it!

Called By Name: 365 Daily Devotions for Catholic Women

So a little disclosure here – I wrote two of the three hundred sixty five devotions 🙂

This devotional was put together by the women who run WINE (Women in the New Evangelization) . . . I mean, how could I not be a part of such an awesome Catholic ministry!

This daily devotional follows the liturgical seasons and includes major holidays and some feast days. You can begin your reading journey at any point in the year. As with all WINE offerings, you are invited to read, reflect, and respond using lectio divina. Each day includes

  • a Bible verse or passage for meditation;
  • daily reflections;
  • a closing prayer to focus your heart on an important truth or goal; and
  • a tangible action you can carry out each day, such as volunteering, going to Confession, or donating clothes to charity

A Painted Rosary

In full disclosure, I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You might notice that this post actually has more than 5 books listed. One reason for this is because this book, is more a prayer aid than a read.

Praying the Rosary is such a gift in my life that feels like constant running and perpetual overwhelm. It gives my mind time to slow down and be still. But, there are always distractions. This book was created to help us focus on the mystery and the meditation. It’s also a nice visual to hand to a hyper child during a family Rosary!

A Painted Rosary cleverly pairs a modern and sleek design with the richness of traditional sacred art to transform how you pray the Rosary. Increase prayerful focus and deepen your meditation as you become immersed in the 20 mysteries of the Rosary through paintings from the 11th – 17th centuries. With limited distractions and containing just enough content without being overwhelming, A Painted Rosary is designed to be used while praying. 

Secrets of the Sacred Heart: Twelve Ways to Claim Jesus’ Promises in Your Life

This is an easy read with such comforting reminders of how much Jesus loves you. When Emily came out with this book, I reached out to her and said, “Please, can I review this book!”

In Secrets of the Sacred Heart, Emily Jaminet—executive director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network—weaves personal testimony, teachings, and reflection questions while exploring and applying each of Christ’s promises.

This book is set up like the Consecration of Saint Joseph book . . .Day 1/Promise 1; then next day, next promise, etc. This again is great for a tired mom at the end of a long day.

 Exploring the Catholic Classics: How Spiritual Reading Can Help You Grow in Wisdom (Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women #2) 

I read this book a while back and I have to include it in the “books for busy moms” post!

The Catholic classics are full of wisdom, advice, and inspiration to enrich the lives of modern women, and Exploring the Catholic Classics is a great way to access that wisdom and apply it to your life.

Tiffany Walsh introduces readers to carefully selected excerpts from each spiritual classic and offers her own insights before inviting you to respond to reflection prompt

A chapter of this book inspired the post Saint Francis De Sales’ 5 Practical Tips for a Better Day (free printable included)

What books do you recommend?

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Be Yourself! Journal

Journal for tweens and teens

prayerwinechocolate

Grandparents are such a gift! I remember each of Grandparents are such a gift!

I remember each of mine so fondly.

I see how my children react when we mention their Grandparents.

I hear their excitement when they hear the are going to get to spend time with Gram, MomMom or Pop.

I hear them often say they miss PopPop.
❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙
If you are a Grandparent, never doubt your importance, your relevance or your impact.
❤️❤️😘❤️❤️😘❤️😘😘❤️❤️😘🤗
Let us continue to pray for our grandparents souls!

Share a happy Grandparent memory in the comments!

#Grandparent #Catholicmom #Grandmother #Poppop #Catholicfamily #catholictradition #RomanCatholic #Catholicsonline
New post up on the blog!!! A few weeks ago I had New post up on the blog!!!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing @askacatholictherapist Dr. Matthew Breuninger 

We talked about why prayer journaling is so beneficial for both our mental and spiritual health.

Read the whole article and tell me what you think!
Link in bio🤗
#prayerjournal #prayerjournaling #Catholicjournal #Catholiccoach #Catholicfamily #Catholicmom #Biblejournal #catholicmentalhealth #beyourselfjournal #Catholics #Catholicsonline #Catholicinfluencer #catholictherapist
Give a child a Catholic book for Easter! Make sure Give a child a Catholic book for Easter!
Make sure they have a BIBLE first!
#readyourBible #Catholicbook #Catholicbooks #Catholicauthor #osv #OurSundayVisitor #osvkids #Catholicsonline #Catholickids #catholicsofinstagram
Do you ever feel like you are not doing enough? O Do you ever feel like you are not doing enough?

Often I need this reminder - God doesn't want us to feel stressed.
He wants us to rely on Him - trust Him.

He wants us to love.
Be patient and kind.

Many saints have discovered this and have advised us in their own words.

Saint Katharine Drexel said, "peacefully do at each moment what needs to be done."

Saint Teresa of Calcutta stated, "never worry about numbers, help one person at a time and start with the person nearest to you."

Saint Therese', the Little Flower, demonstrated again and again how much Jesus delights in her little way.

You don't need to be stressed.
Your little acts of love and trust for Jesus delight Him.

Have a better day 😉
#Catholicquote #LittleFlower #CatholicSaint #Catholicsaints #catholicencouragement #Catholicinspiration #CatholicsofInstagram #CatholicInstagram #ChristiansofInstagram #InstaCatholic #Catholicsocialmedia #CatholicsOnline
Easter is the perfect time to encourage prayer wit Easter is the perfect time to encourage prayer with a gift!
These gifts and more available in my little shop!

#Catholicshop #Catholickids #Catholicwife #CatholicChristian #CatholicEaster
Easter gift ideas for Catholic boys… #Catholicbo Easter gift ideas for Catholic boys…
#Catholicboymom #Catholicmom #Catholic #Catholics #Confirmationgift #CatholicChristian #catholicmemes #catholicreels
Be Yourself Journal on sale for $17.00… today on Be Yourself Journal on sale for $17.00… today only!!!
“Be who you are and be that well. So that you may bring honor to the Master Craftsman whose handiwork you are.”
~Saint Francis DeSales 

#Catholicbooks #CatholicSaints #CatholicMom #Catholicgifts #boystomen #Catholickid #Catholictween ##Catholickids #saintquotes
Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… 

This type of advice can be really helpful for all of us… especially for a young girl navigating middle school or her early teens.

This advice would have helped me.
Why?

Because it takes some pressure off the high expectations often felt by us as individuals.

It makes God’s will for us feel achievable and realistic.

It’s totally relevant to a student in junior high
(And a slightly stressed out adult)

This page in the Be Yourself embraces scrapbooking fun- just like the back cover. Only this page encourages photographs. Yes, actual printed ones 🎞️📸

Take a deep breath.
Love the next person that comes near you.
#Catholicmom #Catholicsaints #middleschool #juniorhigh #Catholicquotes #inspirationalquotes
A prayer and the story behind the picture… Oh S A prayer and the story behind the picture…

Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, 

I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord; 

so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. 

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. 

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen.

My children had off from school on Friday. I had committed to an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from to 2 to 3 during Lent… so since they had off, they had to come with me.
It was stressful.
They CAN NOT sit still.
Once I got one to stop walking around or talking, another one started.
But in the middle of all this… I witnessed a sweet moment.
I hesitated to pull out my phone because I really try not to during Adoration.
But, the beauty of the moment struck me, and I had to capture it.
📸 
Motherhood is hard. Parenting is difficult.
But I’m often reminded it’s like farming… and I’m planting seeds.

I just hope and pray I’m planting more good seeds then bad ones.

Thank goodness we can pray and ask for prayers from others!

Saint Joseph, pray for us!
#Catholic #Catholicmom #mustardseedfaith #catholicteacher #CatholicChristian #CatholicSaint #CatholicSaints #catholicparenting #liturgicalliving
THANK YOU! Thank you! Thank you! If you have left THANK YOU! Thank you!
Thank you!

If you have left a review on Amazon for either of the Be Yourself Journals… thank you from the bottom of my heart!

When you leave a review on Amazon it makes me SO HAPPY… plus it sends a signal to Amazon to show more people these books!
I’d love for more girls to get this book in their Easter Basket this year!

I’m so grateful this book is being used and appreciated!

God is good!

If you like this book and haven’t left a review, please write one! It’s okay if you didn’t buy it from there!

Tag someone with a 10 or 11 year old girl!

#Catholic #Catholicmom #liturgicalliving #litany #Wwp #CatholocChristian #CatholicEaster #CatholicEasterbasket #ComeHolySpirit #trueidentity
I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 videos on YouTube!

And last week’s interview with Dr. Matthew Breuninger (@askacatholictherapist ) still has me thinking about the “psychology of prayer journaling “!

The last 4 videos posted consist of two new interviews (Jessica Castillo from @athrivingcatholic and Dr. John Spitzer @johnspitzermd ); 

a box opening of @pinksaltriot ‘s latest JOY BOX and finally 

a “how to” video that demonstrates how girls can design the back cover of Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Girls!
Whew!

Dr. John Spitzer shared parenting advice for moms and dads of tweens;

Jessica Castillo shared how our physical and spiritual health are connected;

The Joy Box had some fun surprises… one will be going in my daughter’s Easter Basket;
And my friend’s daughter was the perfect co-host in the “how to design “ video!

Tell me which topic interests you the most… maybe I’ll dedicate an Instagram post highlighting that content!

#Catholic #BeYourselfJournal #CatholicYouTube #Catholicyouth #CatholicsOnline #catholicsofinstagram #Catholicblog #Catholicauthor #Catholicblogger #catholicinspiration #Catholictalk #joybox
FLASH SALE ON BOY’S Journal ends tonight!!! Link FLASH SALE ON BOY’S Journal ends tonight!!!
Link in bio!
#Catholic #Lent #bhlent2023
“I got this for my 10 yr old daughter’s Easter “I got this for my 10 yr old daughter’s Easter basket. She immediately was attracted to it. Later, she came to me and said that it was her favorite item in her basket. She loves it and really has spent time with it. It is motivational, inspirational, engaging and most importantly, designed to encourage a habit of prayer and meditation at a young age. All while focusing on God’s love for us and our uniqueness…”
Review left on Amazon about Be Yourself:a Journal for Catholic Girls
#Catholic #RomanCatholic #BeYourselfJournal #BeYourself #Catholicmom #Catholicgift #Christianyouth #Catholicyouth #journal #prayerjournal #catholiccrafts #Catholics #Tweengirls #tweengirl #Youthministry #bookstagram #Catholicfamily #catholicphotography #Catholicprayers #catholicreels
FLASH SALE!!!! Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!! FLASH SALE!!!!
Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!!
Finish up Lent strong… and add this fun book to an Easter Basket!
Link in bio!
#Catholickids #Catholicmom #Catholicyouth #CatholicChristian #Catholic #catholicyouthministry #Catholicdad #Catholicgift #Eastergift #Easterbook #Easter #easterbasket #Lent
I adore you Jesus, true God, and true man, pres I  adore you Jesus, 
true God, and true man, 
present in the Holy Eucharist, 
kneeling before you 
and united in spirit 
with all the faithful on earth 
and all the saints in heaven. 

In gratitude for so great a blessing, 
I love you with all my heart, 
for you are worthy of all praise 
and adoration. 

Lord Jesus Christ, may I never offend you with my lack of love. 

May your Eucharistic presence refresh me in body and soul. 

Mary, Mother of the Eucharistic Lord, pray for me 
and obtain for me a greater love for Jesus. Amen.

#EucharisticAdoration #Lent #EucharisticRevival #BlessedSacrament #40hours #prayforvocations #Catholicmom #Catholicsonline #manyhailmarysatatime #catholicsofinstagram #Holyhour
Seriously, if all the @catholicsonline shops had a Seriously, if all the @catholicsonline shops had a mall I’d… I don’t even know… it would be AMAZING!!!
#RomanCatholic #Catholicgifts #Catholicmom #Catholicwoman #Catholicwife #Christiangifts #SaintJude #CatholicSaints #Catholicshop #Eastergift #Eastergifts #Catholicsonline #Catholicreels #catholicsofinstagram #prolife
Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… thes Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… these numbers are NOT in my favor?

Years ago, I was lonely, depressed and wondering if I would ever not be lonely and depressed.

I dreamed of falling in love and getting married.

But, I wanted to marry a faithful Catholic man… and I believe I saw that only 22% (?) of Americans were Catholic.

And then I thought…
Half of them aren’t men, a large percentage are not practicing and … also how many are BOOMERS?

Lucky for me, God math goes like this…
5 loaves 
2 fish
=
5,000 meals and leftovers 

This is my handsome husband and our awesome nephew with the Bishop that Confirmed him on Friday.
Matt was -and is- such a proud Sponsor and Uncle!
God bless Grayson Patrick FRANCIS!

Thank you God for all of your gifts!!!
“You pay God a compliment when you ask big things of Him.” ~ Saint Teresa of Avila

#Catholic #confirmationsponsor #CatholicSacraments #EucharisticRevival #EucharisticAdoration #ComeHolySpirit #Saintquotes #CatholicSaints
Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a retreat and you see joyful faces! 

Listen, this is the best retreat hack for Catholic girls!
****The Be Yourself Journal Scrapbooking activity.****

Give each girl a Be Yourself Journal.
Explain how, “We are all called to holiness but we take different paths.” ~ Saint Katharine Drexel.

Have each girl pick out a Holy card and two Catholic stickers.

Put scrapbooking paper and Catholic washi-tape (thank you @thestumpofjesse ) on the tables and get them started with decorating the back of their journals.

As they work add more stickers and quote cards to their table.

Point out that they were all given the same set of instructions… yet each cover design is unique.

The same is true for their calling!
God has a unique mission for each individual.

He calls us to follow the Commandments, embrace His Word and trust the teachings of the Church…
same set of basic instructions, different yet BEAUTIFUL results when followed!
“Be who God meant you to be and you’ll set the world on fire!” ~Saint Catherine of Siena
Huge thank you to the women who donated journals and holy cards!!!
#holycards #Catholickids #Saintquotes #BeYourselfJournal #Catholic #Catholicstickers #Catholiccrafts #Saintquotes #Catholicyouth #Catholicyouthgroup #Catholicretreat #Confirmationretreat #Catholicretreat #catholicteacher
Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? 

Holy cards can be a fantastic prayer journal prompt. 

Copy the prayer off the back and glue the card to the page ;next to, underneath or above where you wrote the prayer).

Follow me for more prayer journaling tips!
#Catholicjournal #biblejournal #Prayerjournal #prayerjournaling #bissisterhood #Catholicsonline #Jesusandcoffee #Lentideas
Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this week Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this weekend!

So excited to help these young Catholics see that each is called to holiness… but each mission is unique and unrepeatable!

Huge thank you to the women who donated journals for the retreat (11 donated!!!) and the women from my Bible study group who donated Holy cards!

If you would like to donate a Journal for one of the girls attending the retreat this weekend… send me a private message and I’ll explain how!

Holy cards are GREAT prayer journal prompts!

Which Holy card would you put in your prayer journal?
#prayerjournal #Catholicsaint #Confirmationretreat #Catholicretreat #catholicprayer
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