I finally found a book about women’s spirituality that is (a) not about single life and (b) one I like! That is a rare find. I read (and write) a lot about being a single Catholic woman. There’s a market for it. There’s also a need for materials that explore women’s spirituality, but that usually… [Read More]
Learning to Follow (A Reflection on “The Three Parts of Dance & the Trinity”)
I’m learning to dance. I’ve always loved to dance, even since I was the little girl in shiny gold shoes tearing it up at my uncle’s wedding. True story. I did tap and ballet for about a year when I was four. Since then, it’s been all about freestyle. I have rhythm, which helps a… [Read More]
Clothes On, Heart Full (Review: The Thrill of the Chaste, Catholic Edition)
In my happy journey through every book on chastity known to Christian man, I made a stop at The Thrill of the Chaste back in 2012. The book had been out for years; I tend to be a later adopter. My favorite aspects of that edition were Eden’s utterly realistic experience and her comments about… [Read More]
Backing Your Way Into the Truth about Love (Review: “The Love That Satisfies”)
I’m no stranger to reflection. I think my life would be very different if I were not such an introspective person by nature. I can point to a few specific moments when my habit of thinking deeply before acting has actually changed my life. Generally, though, I trust my own thoughts more than anyone else’s,… [Read More]
Conversations I Don’t Have
When people find out that you have four kids, they often say strange things to you. Sometimes they try to “justify” why they have fewer children, which always seems to reveal some regret or disappointment in their past. Other times, they make you feel like you’re crazy. In an effort to keep things happy and… [Read More]
The ACTUAL Reason Contraception is Wrong
Lately, I’ve been on the Internet. Depressing, I know. But I have. And in particular, I’ve noticed a widespread rash of anger directed at that crotchety old institution full of crotchety old men with crotchety old ideas: the Catholic Church. Seems there’s this thing happening out there in the “real world” (a phrase whose quotation… [Read More]
Beauty of Truth Podcast – Ep 14 Why restrict sex?
Ep 14 Why restrict of sex? Questions 1. Why should people have children if they’re not ready? 2. Why can’t a couple have sex anywhere anytime they want? 3. If abortion and contraception are legal, why doesn’t the church allow it? Catechetical Moment CCC #2370 Living the Truth How can we promote… [Read More]
Beauty of Truth Podcast – Ep 13 What is the purpose of sex?
Ep 13 What is the purpose of sex? Questions 1. Why can a celibate priest teach about sex? 2. So what is the purpose of sex? 2. Is sex is about love, why should there be any restrictions? Catechetical Moment CCC #2333 Living the Truth How can we embrace our sexuality in… [Read More]
Unsolicited Advice on Kissing
There’s something to be said for a good kiss. That said, what is to be said cannot be said because it loses something in the saying. So say what you will, but to say that you can say all that needs to be said about a good kiss is to say that you can say… [Read More]
How Far Is Too Far?
There are some questions that never seem to get properly answered when you ask them. “Daddy, why is the sky blue?” “Mommy, where do babies come from?” “Aunt Edna, could you help me reconcile the thermodynamic principle of entropy with the theory of evolution?” But the one that probably most frustrates high school teens, and… [Read More]
Parents: Quit Dumbing Down Sex for Your Kids
“Oh, we haven’t had ‘the talk’, but I’m dreading the day he asks,” a friend recently lamented. I was at a loss for what to say. You see, I think we dumb down the wrong things for our kids and focus, instead, on the silly things.We’re quick to buy that ticket to “Magic Mike” or… [Read More]
To Bikini or Not?
“Moooommmm. WHY do we have to wear a coverup with our swimsuit?” my oldest daughter whined. “Because, sweetheart, it’s what girls do,” I replied. But is it really what girls do? Do girls and women really know how to be modest? Do they know how to feel beautiful without adding sexy into the mix? I’ll be… [Read More]
Marriage & Saltwater
Catholics believe that it is impossible for people of the same sex to marry each other. This particular Church teaching is one of the most often attacked from without (and, unfortunately, dissented from within). In order to better understand this doctrine, I would like to focus on one particular aspect of this doctrine: the necessary… [Read More]
Clothes On, Eyes Open (Review: “The Thrill of the Chaste”)
As I’ve mentioned before, I am a big fan of the theology of the body (TOB). It has changed the way I view past and future relationships and the way I relate to other people in my life, male and female. Most of what I’ve learned about TOB has been from Christopher West or from… [Read More]
The Search for Real Men (Review: “Wild at Heart”)
I am not sure that men and women will ever truly understand one another. I am a woman of faith, though, so I know that there are some things I accept and believe without understanding them; they’re called mysteries. Similarly, I can’t quite pin down why I had such a different reaction to Wild at… [Read More]
More Like “Drab” (Review: “Captivating”)
As a Catholic woman, I like to read books and articles about Christian femininity. I have many friends who are wives and moms. Their Facebook links to articles from places like Faith and Family Live keep me from getting too complacent in my singlehood. One of my old housemates recommended Captivating, by John and Stasi… [Read More]
Sex Is Good
Catholics aren’t known for being knowledgeable about sex. The extreme stereotype says we’re ashamed of it, and our bodies. We have sex only because of marital duty and we shouldn’t enjoy it. The stereotype says that we acknowledge we need to do it, but almost as a necessary evil. Wow. I know aspects of this has existed in time… [Read More]
