Archive for the 'inspiration for moms' Category

Help! I’m running and I can’t catch up!

hsaxton July 11th, 2007

It’s been a while since I last posted here. Sorry for the break.

I am now putting on the finishing touches of the Sept/Oct issue of Canticle. Where does the time go? Just got back from ETWN, where I taped two shows for Johnnette’s program that will air this fall. I’ll post the dates when I get them for anyone who’s interested. One show is about Mary, the other about my upcoming book entitled Raising Up Mommy: Virtues for Difficult Mothering Moments.

Speaking of difficult moments, do you have any special customs or traditions you like to do to comfort someone who is bereaved? I’ve included one such idea at my mother’s blog.

In Streams of Mercy, I’ve written a bit about the Holy Father’s recent letter concerning the Latin Mass. Feel free to comment, if you like.  Blessings!  Heidi

Sneak Preview…

hsaxton May 19th, 2007

In the July/August issue of Canticle, we will be running a special feature on St. Edith Stein, enhancing the article with an image painted by Sister Celeste Marie Fadden, O.C.D.

For a sneak preview of the image, click here. Sister Celeste Marie (1927-2005) belonged to the Carmel of the Lady of the Mountains in Reno, Nevada. The sisters support themselves with their artwork by printing beautiful yet inexpensive greeting cards, which you can purchase here. Stop by and check it out — and don’t forget to tell them I sent you! 

Does the Church Hate Women?

hsaxton March 31st, 2007

When I first read the post, my first thought was that she was probably just one of those “why can’t I be a priest, I want to be a priest, too” types. But as I continued to read, I thought better of it … and as I read as one after another guy leaped to “correct” her … well, frankly, I began to empathize a bit.

My friend, I don’t think the solution, as you suggest, is a full-blown church-wide ladies’ strike.  Though at times our role is less visible — and certainly less glamorous — it is one of utmost dignity, as the Church has always taught, for it is one shared by the Blessed Virgin herself … we are the very image of the Bride, the Church.

The ordained clergy, as the image of the Groom, are doing their best to fill very large shoes (admittedly with clay feet at times.) Their task is infinitely harder … and we must give them our full, patient understanding and support if at times they fulfill their role in ways that seem heavy-handed or short-sighted. As the Bride, we can trust that God will continue to guide His Church through these men — and that He will continue to bless us if we will humbly and faithfully submit ourselves to their spiritual authority.

We are the Bride. Never forget that. When we get to heaven, God will not ask — He will not care nearly as much – if we projected the readings sufficiently as we lectored as if we lived them consistently every single day with humility and grace. He WILL care if we “honored our father and mother” — including our spiritual ones — all the days of our lives.

I’ve posted a response to your strike post here. Enjoy.

Huddle Time

hsaxton March 30th, 2007

Yesterday on Catholic Connection (if you missed the show, you can listen to the archive here), Teresa Tomeo observed that it can be hard listening to all the horror stories all the time. She’s right … so much is going on in our culture that we need to be aware of that is negative, damaging, and harmful — things we need to be aware of so we can protect our children  and ourselves. And yet there are times when we also need to “huddle.” And as we enter Holy Week, this is the perfect time to do just that.

One of the best movies I’ve seen in recent memory was a documentary that caught the imagination of the American public: March of the Penguins. Those Daddy penguins made it through that harsh, respiteless winter for one reason only: They huddled together and they took turns on the outer fringes, where the work was the hardest.

I’ve been thinking about this a great deal lately. You see, it’s time for Vacation Bible School, and this year I’m helping to organizing it with one other mom. Already I’ve noticed that people have stopped looking me in the eye when they see me coming at church, afraid that I’m going to ask them to do something. I realize this happens in a lot of places — still, it’s a little disconcerting to be on the receiving end of the “Bambi blink.” But I’m trying not to take it personally. The more we work together, the happier we’ll be.

“No God a Lod”

admin February 21st, 2007

Christopher has penmanship like his father’s: A cross between a serial killer’s and a neurosurgeon’s. With a burst of newfound literacy, his words run together without capitals, spaces, uppers and lowers jumbed together. It has a profoundly confusing affect. We offered him a dollar for each exercise page, a knock-off of a typing exercise from decades past: “The quick brown fox jumps. The lazy dog sleeps.” To no avail.

So you can imagine my mixed feelings this morning, coming out to find the following sign posted on his bathroom door: “Sarah is not a lod in this bathroom!” It was his first independent expression … a cry for privacy. I took it down and put it in the pile of papers to be saved. The sentiment was not exactly condusive to peace and tranquility (if Sarah were old enough to read, I imagine she would camp out in the bathroom just to get her brother’s goat). But to me it was a sign that my little boy is growing up.

Christopher’s handmade sign has implications for each of us. As we contemplate our Lenten offerings … no candy, no alcohol, no (gasp) T.V. … most of us have some area that would be especially difficult to offer back to God. For me, it would be either Diet Coke or lunchtime “Judging Amy” reruns. When I was in the full-time working world, I gave up Diet Coke — it turned out to be more a sacrifice for my secretary, who treatened to quit if I ever pulled a caffeine deprivation stunt like that again.

As we enter the Lenten season, let’s take a moment to consider not only what we will offer God out of a desire to grow in perfect love for Him. Candy … and compassion. Alcohol … and adoration. Diet Coke … and the desire to keep it a secret from the world around me, making my little sacrifice a true labor of love.

Why Can’t I Get Any Writing Done…?

admin February 19th, 2007

In your vocation as wife and mother, do you sometimes wonder if you will ever see your name in print again?The next time you feel discouraged, check out my latest post on the “Mommy Monster” blog, entitled “A Day in the Life of a Foster Mom.” You’ll feel better. I promise. Go to http://mommymonsters.blogspot.com

Under the Mercy…

So … You Want to Write for Canticle?

admin February 14th, 2007

The other day I had an unfortunate experience with a writer that I’d like to share with you, not to embarrass the poor (and unnamed) soul but to educate my faithful writers on some of the finer points about the selection/acceptance process.

When I work with authors to develop articles, I always try to remind them that I cannot guarantee that after it has been submitted in “final” form a piece will appear in print. The vast majority of the time, it does … and yet, there have been a couple of times (thankfully, only a couple) when I’ve had to delay publishing or even reject a piece after accepting it for a particular issue. After I pull together each issue, it is reviewed by a small group of people who may decide to change or omit something. In the most recent example, I had to pull two articles from our Lent issue in order to make room for a piece about Lent. (oops.) This doesn’t happen often — as I said, only a couple of times — but it has happened.

Other times, the execution of an article fails to deliver on its original pitch, even after some back-and-forth. I’ve done this myself (for other magazines), so I know how frustrating it can be. When I first joined Canticle, I sometimes ran a less-than-perfect piece anyway, just because I needed something on a particular topic. But as good writers have continued to submit pieces to me, the need for this has declined noticeably. Thank God.

Finally, I’ve had some writers contact me to ask about the status of an article they submitted over a year ago … Some going back even longer than that! If this is you, I’m afraid you’ve slipped into the “editorial black hole.” Please reread the writer’s guidelines and resubmit if you think it’s something we can use.

Now … if you still want to write for us after all this, here are some things I can really use:

  • Articles (NOT biographies) on the saints. Choose one whose feastday is at least four months away, and pitch it to me first. We have an excellent one on Elizabeth Seton in the most current issue.
  • Articles on “hot button” topics that face real Catholic women. We’ve covered domestic violence and eating disorders most recently. Upcoming issues will cover divorce, homosexuality, and other real-life problems. What does it mean to “stand in the gap” when someone you love is struggling?
  • Stories related to Women of Grace — retreat and study group experiences, etc. Also evangelization-related articles about how to share God’s love with another person.

Hope this helps! Happy writing …

Under the Mercy.

Authentic Catholic Womanhood

admin February 13th, 2007

Hello!Welcome to this first installment of “The Silent Canticle,” where I give my favorite writers (you know who you are) the inside scoop on developments in the magazine, and other literary tidbits that cross my desk. This is for those who have already read the writer’s guidelines as well as the actual magazine (bonus points if you subscribe!).

This is also the place that I invite you to offer your thoughts and other constructive input about the magazine — what you like, what you don’t, and what you’d like to see more of. Just as I try to offer my writers constructive criticism to help them grow as writers, I need your help in order to do my job better!

Last week I was in Florida, meeting with Johnnette’s team, and we discussed the mission of the magazine. We also made a significant decision regarding format: Starting with the May issue, we will be going full color interior … and will be reducing the page count to 32 pages. This means that there will be fewer articles in each magazine — and that writers need to pay even closer attention to word count than previously.

However, today I’d like to share with you a short reflection that I put together for the meeting, in hopes that it inspires you. When we say Canticle’s mission is to help women live out their vocations with authentic Catholic femininity, what does that mean? How are we most “authentic” (being most genuinely the person God created us to be)? Can we ever hope to emulate (that is, to “equal or excel”) the perfection of any other human person?

While the examples of holy men and women may inspire us to run the race with greater confidence, God is best glorified when we are most fully ourselves. “Let us run with endurance… fixing our eyes on JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

Resolved: To be “authentic” in Catholic womanhood is to grow in perfection (that is, in love) according to the state in which we find ourselves, recognizing that this perfection must be attained both within ourselves and in relation to one another, particularly within the family (the domestic church) and the Church (both within our immediate faith community and by drawing from and applying the treasury of our faith). (See CCC 1368).

Authentic in our lives: Transparent yet humble and consistent in our witness, making progress in virtue, faithful to our families, and diligent in service to God and His Church.

Authentic in our praise: Recognizing God as the Source of all we are and possess, and seeking to know, love, and understand that Source through every means He gives us.

Authentic in our sufferings: Allowing God to turn weakness and pain into empathy (bearing one another’s burdens) and holiness (replacing false securities with authentic virtue).

Authentic in our prayer: Like an iceberg, far more of the spiritual life transpires away from the public eye than is accomplished in it. As women, our ability to carry out the tasks entrusted to us depends upon the consistency with which we allow God to transform us from the inside out … through prayer.

Authentic in our work: Our task is not to compare our own progress or our individual accomplishments with those of other women. It is to discern and take up willingly what has been entrusted to us, confident that He will give us what is needed to carry it out. It is to recognize the seasons of life and of family, and offering ourselves wholeheartedly in the measure and manner appropriate to that time and season.

Let us all help one another to grow in perfect authenticity

Under the Mercy…

A Writer’s Surrender

admin November 11th, 2006

In a recent release, The Nativity Story: Contemplating Mary’s Journey of Faith, contributing writer Sister Marie Paul Curley reflects on the similarity between Mary’s “Journey of Surrender” and that which most writers experience.

As a writer, I have repeatedly felt invited to surrender — and yet felt that surrender was impossible…. Although I increasingly valued the time and ability to write I was being given, I also became increasingly anxious about anything to do with it. I asked myself: What will people think of my work? Is my writing process too slow? Am I writing honestly and deeply enough? The list could go on. At one point, my anxiety so paralyzed me that one paragraph could take hours to write. Living in such a heightened state of anxiety was too painful; I started thinking about giving up writing entirely. Concerned friends repeatedly offered me the simple advice that I was trying too hard and simply needed to “let it go.” In theory, I saw the value of letting go, but in real life I was too anxious to loosen my grip….

Recently, however, I received an unexpected insight: the “letting go” my friends encouraged wasn’t really enough…. Letting go means abandoning my writing to free fall without a safety net. Surrendering, instead, means entrusting my writing to Another…. In its essence, surrender to God is not about passivity at all; it is about trust (p.37).

The author goes on to compare how Mary’s “yes” is one we all get to make. Each time we sit at the keyboard and wait desperately for those first glimmers of inspiration.

Yes.

When those streams of thought flow like molasses in January.

Yes.

When I’m editing someone else’s work, caught in a snarl and dreading the painful process of smoothing it out.

Yes.

May all your “yesses” bring forth the Light of Christ. (Thanks be to God.)

How to Break Into “The Business”

admin September 14th, 2006

Dear Heidi: I have fairly extensive freelance/editorial experience. However, I have felt that God has been calling me to write more Catholic/Christian articles. Do you have any tips forbreaking in to this niche? If so, I’d love to hear them.

Dear Kate:

I’ve had people ask me this question before, and frankly I’m always at a loss about what to tell them. My “career path” was a bit unconventional — starting with a serious car accident that marked the beginning of a spiritual conversion, to Bible school at a missionary training center and several short-term stints overseas, two years interning at a Christian book publishing house that was attached to the missionary training center, more schooling in California (International Studies and Communications)… Then a very dark year that culminated in my conversion to Catholicism. From there, a “hand of God” appointment to Servant Publications (a woman in my RCIA class was a media consultant, and recommended me for the job), where I was for seven years. During that time I edited Johnnette’s book and met most of the people as authors who are now helping me in other areas of my career.

Here are a couple of thoughts that might help you, however.

1. Networking is everything. Never turn down an opportunity to meet and greet those in the industry — writer’s conferences, other conferences and church events. Look for ways to contribute to these functions, so you have a leg up on those who are merely attending as far as getting some “face time” with speakers. For you, it might be putting together an article for Canticle, and interviewing them on the spot. This means always being prepared — business cards, tape recorder, etc.

2. Do what you need to in order to build your “brand.” Keep building your writer’s vitae even if you have to work for free at first — contribute articles to CatholicExchange.com and CatholicMom.com. Build your own blog and/or website and become an “expert” on some area that people will want to read. For me, it was adoptive parenting.

3. Build your skills. If you need more theological training to give you the credentials and insights you need to write, get it. Study the Chicago Manual of Style, and learn your proofreader’s marks. When you meet editors at the conferences, etc., ask them if they need freelance proofreaders and editors, and hand them your card. It goes a lot farther than a cold resume. Then follow up with a note and a tear sheet from one of your articles, so they know that you do in fact have some writing background.

4. Last, but most importantly, pray. Ask God how He wants you to use your talents, and be sensitive to doors that are opening around you. Remember, too, that there are seasons of life — and you won’t be able to be as active with your writing when you don’t have time to write. Seems obvious, but it took me a while to catch on to this. When the children are very young, concentrate on capturing the memories in your journal. The magazine articles will come later. Trust me.

I don’t know if this is what you are looking for, but I hope it give you some insight.

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