Blood Circulating in the Body of the Cosmic Christ

Blood Circulating in the Body of the Cosmic Christ

All human beings are born to share forever in the eternal circulation of love that is the divine life. But to participate as fully as possible in the divine life, we have to learn to selflessly give and receive the gift of self in love. That’s what we’re here to learn how to do. And the more fully we learn to do that, the more fully we can share in the divine love and life and bliss.

But how could we humans possibly share in the divine life of God? How could we, who are finite beings, be united with the infinite God? There is an infinite chasm between us finite human beings and God. We cannot leap over the abyss separating the finite from the infinite. We need a lifeline of some kind to be thrown across to us from the shores of infinity, a bridge of some sort that will span the abyss and enable us to cross over into the divine realm. Jesus Christ is that lifeline; Jesus Christ is that “vaulting bridge” who spans the abyss separating us finite beings from the infinite God. Jesus has forever united the human with the divine in himself, thereby making space for all human beings (indeed, the entire cosmos!) within the divine life of God.

Think about it: God and humanity, the infinite and the finite, united in the one person of Jesus Christ, in such a way that the path for us to transcend our finitude and participate in the infinity of Being, to share in the divine life of God forever, has been opened up to all human beings and to the entire cosmos. Seemingly impossible; seemingly incredible. But if it is true (which it is), then this one person would be the answer to the riddle of human existence. That is why our individual destinies are determined by our answer to the single most important question confronting us in life: Yes or No to Jesus Christ, which is a Yes or No to love and therefore a Yes or No to God and to our ultimate fulfillment as human beings. We were all born to be “blood circulating in the Body of the cosmic Christ,” in Balthasar’s beautiful phrase. By uniting ourselves to the Body of Christ, we are united with God and with all the other members of that Body. By uniting ourselves to the Body of Christ, we join in the eternal circulation of love that is the divine life and find therein our ultimate fulfillment.

* This article is an excerpt from Rick’s latest book, The Book of Love: Brief Meditations (https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/thebookoflove/)

Copyright 2023 Rick Clements

Photo by Alexandru Acea on Unsplash

Cath-Lit Live: America’s Mary

Cath-Lit Live: America’s Mary

“Cath-Lit Live!” features brief interviews with Catholic authors who are releasing new books. Hosted by Catholic author and speaker Amy J. Cattapan, “Cath-Lit Live!” gives viewers a glimpse into the latest Catholic books while getting to know a bit about the author as well.

 

 

America’s Mary: The Story of Our Lady of Good Help by Marge Steinhage Fenelon

In 1859 on the Door County Peninsula of northeast Wisconsin, Mary appeared three times to a young Belgian woman named Adele Brise. She identified herself as the Queen of Heaven and gave Adele instructions to teach the children their catechism, pray, do penance, sacrifice, and receive the sacraments frequently. Adele was initially met with skepticism, and during her lifetime she experienced many trials, including persecution. Still, she maintained that she was telling the truth and courageously carried on the mission the Blessed Mother had given to her. Based on historical documents, testimonies, personal interviews, and expert analysis, America’s Mary: The Story of Our Lady of Good Help chronicles for the first time the United States’ only Church-approved Marian apparition.

 

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About the author: Marge Steinhage Fenelon is an award-winning author, retreat leader, internationally known speaker and Catholic media personality. She has written several books on Marian devotion and Catholic spirituality, including the best-selling Our Lady, Undoer of Knots: A Living Novena (Guided Reflections from the Holy Land) and the award-winning My Queen, My Mother: A Marian Pilgrimage Across America. Her newest book is America’s Mary: The Story of Our Lady of Good Help. She is an instructor for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Deacon Wives Program and holds certificates in Spiritual Mentoring and Mariology. Her podcast, Simply Holy, airs weekly on many popular podcast platforms. Visit her website at MargeFenelon.com.

 

 

You can catch “Cath-Lit Live” live on A.J. Cattapan’s author Facebook page. Recorded versions of the show will also be available to watch later on her YouTube channel and Instagram.

 

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Copyright 2022 Amy J. Cattapan
Banner image via Pexels

Three Different Types of Editing (and why the title “Editor” is confusing!)

 

“I sent it to an editor and it came back with so many errors!” 

“My beta readers said I really need an editor, but I had it proofread,
so I don’t understand what they mean!”

“My manuscript is completely finished and now
I just have to get it into the hands of an editor who will publish it!”


Maybe you’ve heard writer-friends say things like the above? If you’re thinking that it sounds like these hypothetical authors all have different concepts of what an
editor is and does, you’re spot on, and if you are new to writing and publishing, it can be very confusing! Before I started working at a literary agency, I worked for an editing and design company, helping authors take the necessary steps to self-publish or find a publisher for their books. I received emails all day long from people who needed help sorting through their editing options.

I’m going to outline the primary types of editing for you below, but if you’d rather listen to me speak on this subject than read about it, you can also find a loose reproduction of the text here on my YouTube channel, The Book Barr.

THREE TYPES OF EDITING

  1.       Developmental Editing

Most manuscripts need to start here. Developmental editing can be formally done by an industry professional or informally by a critique group or beta readers. This type of editing looks at the big picture — plotting, organization, pacing, dialogue, character development, worldbuilding, etc.

Both fiction and non-fiction authors need developmental work, and they need it long before they are ready to move on to the other types of editing that focus on more minute details like spelling and grammar. So much can change in a manuscript during developmental editing! The goal is to take a step back and look at the work as objectively as possible to increase readability and maximize impact.

People often assume that when you “hire an editor,” you’ll get both high and low-level help, but commonly, you’ll find editors gifted in one or the other, but not both, types of editing. Most of us are either concept people or detail people, right-brain or left-brain thinkers, highly creative or highly meticulous. Editors are no different. I’m sure you can think through the wide range of personalities and giftings God has given us and see why some people are going to lean more toward proficiency in developmental editing than what comes next, which is…

  1.       Line Editing

This kind of editing is also sometimes called copyediting, though there are subtle differences between the two. Because these terms are used interchangeably, it’s very important to determine what exactly you’re paying for when you hire any editor.

Line editing looks at grammar and syntax, line-by-line. A line editor looks at each word used and whether it conveys the intended meaning, is redundant, or sometimes even whether or not it’s offensive or archaic. A line editor may make suggestions about the paragraph-level organization, but not usually on issues that span the whole chapter or manuscript.

If a line-level editor makes a distinction between line editing and copyediting, what they usually mean is that copyediting is where very specific mechanical rules are examined. This is especially important in non-fiction when academic style guides like MLA or the Chicago Manual of Style are used. Fiction authors have a lot more leeway, and a line editor will be the one to make sure house-style (the preferences of a particular publishing house) is followed and grammar rules are consistent—whether or not to use an Oxford comma, for instance. (The answer is yes, by the way.)

  1.       Proofreading

Proofreading is the very last (and usually the cheapest) step. A manuscript should be as “done” as an author can get it before it goes to proofreading. Proofreaders look for misspellings, repeated words, missing words, incorrect punctuation, and other things that are easy to pass over when you’ve read something many times.

Proofreading is not the discount version of line editing. Proofreaders can get justifiably frustrated when they are paid a lower rate to clean up a very messy manuscript. Most of us in this industry love words, and no one wants to see a book go out into the world unpolished. So be kind and hire the right kind of editor to ensure they are getting paid to do the job they signed up for.

PUBLISHING HOUSE EDITORS, BETA READERS, AND BEYOND

To further add to the confusion, the primary contact for authors at a publishing house is also called an Editor. These are not freelancers that you hire, though they may be talented as developmental or line editors and may even do some of that work on the side. These Editors are the professionals who see books through from acquisition to publication. They are the ones you have to impress with your polished manuscript – which very well may mean you need to hire an editor before you can approach an Editor (capitalization is mine, but useful for thinking about these roles).

And as I touched on before, there are other ways to approach editing. You may have a group of writer friends read and give you feedback or hire someone for a brief manuscript critique. Your literary agent (I wrote a post about who needs one here) may also act as an editor to get your project as ready as possible to land that book deal.

Writing is usually done in solitude, but really good writing almost always involves a team. Don’t be afraid to add editors to your roster!

 

Copyright 2022, Anjanette Barr

Love Speaks

Kimberly Novak recreates a decisive moment when a single light conveys God’s voice. 

When I feel the cool morning breeze and gaze upon the dew-kissed grass glistening in the sun, Love speaks. As my body rests peacefully on an empty chair nestled in the meadow, Love speaks. The chair’s shape cradles me as I prayerfully accept God’s embrace. Turning toward the sun with eyes closed, I listen, and Love speaks. Colors change behind my rested eyes from red to yellow, signifying God’s enduring love and my euphoric happiness. Listening to the songs of birds nearby fills my soul, and Love speaks. As a brilliant pause takes over, I settle in and open my heart to the one who gave me breath, and God speaks.

 

 

Nothing declares love more than the Sacred Heart of Jesus—signifying the divine and human love that Jesus has for his Father and us. It also symbolizes Jesus’ ministry and the sacrifice he made. Many artists’ renderings and sculptures show us the genuine love and care Jesus has for all the world. The Sacred Heart speaks with a love that billows from both the divine and the humanity of Jesus. 

For the last few days, I have been on a small retreat at a place considered sacred ground. I’ve visited here on many occasions, all of which hold glorious moments of healing and transformation. It was on the first retreat that I arrived with my grandmother’s pocket-sized Sacred Heart of Jesus medallion. The theme for that retreat was love. During my stay, I scripted an enduring letter to God and placed it in the snow at the feet of the Sacred Heart Statue.  The gesture of that moment was both pivotal and healing. My life has changed in many ways since then, and I’ve often wondered if God had read my letter.

June is the month of the Sacred Heart, which brings to light the significance of what God allowed me to experience today. A large part of my retreats is allowing time for a prayerful walk. God has taken the time to create such beauty, and I must bask in it. Nestled among over 50 acres are wonders of nature, and the blessedness calls my name. Surrounding a brilliant open meadow, where the deer frolic and play, are trees as tall as the sky, with outstretched branches allowing light to shine through in just the right way. The landscape filled with God’s creations is dotted with benches in grottos and tear-stained places where those on retreat have prayed and wept. 

As the sun slowly descended from the sky and the hymn of the songbird was soft, I approached the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I suddenly felt the urge to rest. A sense came over me that I was standing upon the threshold of a divine God-filled moment. Inhaling deeply, I fixed my gaze upwards when I saw a single light shining upon the heart of Jesus. The light encompassed only the left half of the heart and illuminated the flames surrounding that side. I reached my hand to my own heart, exhaling fully in God’s grace. In my heart of hearts, I knew this was God’s response to my letter written so long ago. 

As quickly as it appeared, it was gone, like the flicker of a candle as it’s extinguished.  My heart, however, was full of light and grateful for the outpouring of love God so graciously bestowed on me. The events of this moment and the immense beauty will forever live in my heart. As the retreat ends, I leave with serenity in my soul. I am certain letters from my heart and prayers kissed to the heavens will always be a form of worship. Life will challenge, tears may fall, and God’s Love will carry it all.  When God speaks, Love speaks.

Images Copyright Kimbery Novak 2022

Cath-Lit Live: Awakening at Lourdes

“Cath-Lit Live!” features brief interviews with Catholic authors who are releasing new books. Hosted by Catholic author and speaker Amy J. Cattapan, “Cath-Lit Live!” gives viewers a glimpse into the latest Catholic books while getting to know a bit about the author as well.

Awakening at Lourdes: How an Unanswered Prayer Healed Our Family and Restored Our Faith by Christy Wilkens

The grotto at Lourdes is known as a place of healing. But sometimes the miracle that occurs is not physical, but something much deeper. Christy Wilkens made the long trek to Lourdes with her husband, Todd, and their toddler, Oscar—who was plagued by mysterious seizures—through a program with the Order of Malta. In Awakening at Lourdes, Wilkens shares that while Oscar’s condition did improve after their visit, the real healing took place in her heart and her marriage. In Lourdes, her family discovered a deeper love for each other, a renewed sense of community, and an abiding confidence in God’s mercy.

Christy Wilkens

 

About the author: Christy Wilkens is a Catholic wife, mother of six, and the author of Awakening at Lourdes: How an Unanswered Prayer Healed Our Family and Restored Our Faith. She writes for CatholicMom.com, Blessed Is She, and Accepting the Gift. In 2019, she was invested as a Dame in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

You can catch “Cath-Lit Live” live on A.J. Cattapan’s author Facebook page. Recorded versions of the show will also be available to watch later on her YouTube channel and Instagram.


Copyright 2021 Amy J. Cattapan

Cath-Lit Live: Sweet Jesus, Is It June Yet?

“Cath-Lit Live!” features brief interviews with Catholic authors who are releasing new books. Hosted by Catholic author and speaker Amy J. Cattapan, “Cath-Lit Live!” gives viewers a glimpse into the latest Catholic books while getting to know a bit about the author as well. In this episode, Maddie Evans turns the tables on host Amy J. Cattapan, interviewing her about her new book for teachers.

Sweet Jesus Is It June Yet cover

 

Sweet Jesus, Is It June Yet? 10 Ways the Gospels Can Help You Combat Teacher Burnout and Rediscover Your Passion for Teaching by Amy J. Cattapan

You work hard to motivate your students every day, but where can you find the inspiration you need when teaching gets tough or your passion for the classroom starts to wane?

Veteran teacher Amy J. Cattapan invites you to look to the greatest teacher of all time — Jesus. With humor and stories from the trenches, Cattapan draws valuable insight and tools from the Gospels and shares ten life-changing principles every teacher can learn from Jesus. In Sweet Jesus, Is It June Yet?, she’ll help you hang onto your sanity and fulfill your calling even when you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and on the verge of burnout.

About the author: 

Dr. Amy J. Cattapan is an author, speaker, and middle school English teacher from the Chicago area. Her books include Sweet Jesus, Is It June Yet? 10 Ways the Gospels Can Help You Combat Teacher Burnout and Rediscover Your Passion for Teaching from Ave Maria Press, as well as two award-winning novels for young readers: Angelhood and 7 Riddles to Nowhere. Cattapan earned a bachelor’s degree in English Education from Marquette University and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Loyola University Chicago. Her writing has appeared in children’s magazines as well as Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She is a regular contributor to the Homeschooling Saints Podcast as well as the host of Cath-Lit Live! Follow her at www.ajcattapan.com.

You can catch “Cath-Lit Live” three times a month live on A.J. Cattapan’s author Facebook page. Recorded versions of the show will also be available to watch later on her YouTube channel and Instagram.


Copyright 2021 Amy J. Cattapan

Cath-Lit Live: Answering God’s Call by Barbara Lee

“Cath-Lit Live!” features brief interviews with Catholic authors who are releasing new books. Hosted by Catholic author and speaker Amy J. Cattapan, “Cath-Lit Live!” gives viewers a glimpse into the latest Catholic books while getting to know a bit about the author as well.

Answering God's Call book cover

 

Answering God’s Call: A Scripture-Based Journey for Older Adults by Barbara Lee

This book is an introduction to Biblical figures who are good spiritual role models for older adults. “Older adults” is not defined by age, but includes retirees, “empty nesters,” caregivers and people who have experienced various kinds of losses. There are familiar figures such as Abram and Elizabeth, as well as less familiar ones, such as Miriam and Lydia. The calls they experience, such as to trust, rejoice, be creative or be hospitable, can inspire people of all ages, but are particularly relevant to those who may be asking, “Who am I now?” “Where is the grace in this?” and “How do I pray about this?”

 

About the author:

Barbara Lee is a spiritual director with a ministry to the aging who lives in New York City. She is a retired federal magistrate judge and a long-time member of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, an organization of retired people who do volunteer work among the poor. She is the author of God Isn’t Finished with Me Yet: Discovering the Spiritual Graces of Later Life.

You can catch “Cath-Lit Live” three times a month live on A.J. Cattapan’s author Facebook page. Recorded versions of the show will also be available to watch later on her YouTube channel and Instagram.


Copyright 2021 Amy J. Cattapan
Photo credit: Portrait of author Barbara Lee copyright Rebecca Pearson, all rights reserved.

Cath-Lit Live: Simple Mercies

“Cath-Lit Live!” features brief interviews with Catholic authors who are releasing new books. Hosted by Catholic author and speaker Amy J. Cattapan, “Cath-Lit Live!” gives viewers a glimpse into the latest Catholic books while getting to know a bit about the author as well.

Simple Mercies

 

Simple Mercies: How the Works of Mercy Bring Peace and Fulfillment by Lara Patangan

Written with humor and insight, Simple Mercies is for anyone who has every questioned their contribution to the world or struggled with finding God’s purpose for them. Every day in countless ways, the world communicates that we need to do more to measure up or even just keep up. Too many of us feel like we don’t make a difference or that our service is too mundane to matter. Simple Mercies encourages readers to realize that their acts of kindness make a difference in exponential ways and can surprisingly be a source of peace in their own lives. (Our Sunday Visitor)

 

Lara Patangan

About the author: Lara Patangan is a freelance writer and inspirational speaker. A wife and mother of two boys, Patangan spent a year doing works of mercy. She writes about the life-changing power of mercy at comin a way that is humorous, relatable, and rife with humility. Her book, Simple Mercies: How the Works of Mercy Bring Peace and Fulfillment, is available for purchase wherever books are sold.

You can catch “Cath-Lit Live” three times a month live on A.J. Cattapan’s author Facebook page. Recorded versions of the show will also be available to watch later on her YouTube channel and Instagram.


Copyright 2021 Amy J. Cattapan

Cath-Lit Live: Parents of the Saints

“Cath-Lit Live!” features brief interviews with Catholic authors who are releasing new books. Hosted by Catholic author and speaker Amy J. Cattapan, “Cath-Lit Live!” gives viewers a glimpse into the latest Catholic books while getting to know a bit about the author as well.

Parents of the Saints: The Hidden Heroes Behind Our Favorite Saints
by Patrick O’Hearn

Discover the hidden heroes behind Sts. Faustina, Giana Molla, Josemaría Escrivá, Pope John Paul II, Maximilian Kolbe, Padre Pio, Thérèse, and countless others. Learn how over 100 parents formed their children into great saints by way of their virtuous lives, namely their seven hallmarks: sacramental life, surrender, sacrificial love, suffering, simplicity, solitude, and the sacredness of life. Each chapter of this book examines a particular hallmark in depth.

Patrick O'Hearn

About the author: Patrick O’Hearn grew up in the Midwest and spent close to three years in a Benedictine Monastery before discerning the call to marriage. He graduated with a master’s in education from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a bachelor’s in marketing from St. Ambrose University. He founded Contemplative Heart Press to lead readers to a deeper union with God.

You can catch “Cath-Lit Live” three times a month live on A.J. Cattapan’s author Facebook page. Recorded versions of the show will also be available to watch later on her YouTube channel and Instagram.


Copyright 2021 Amy J. Cattapan

Cath-Lit Live: ‘A Love Affair with God’

A Love Affair with God by Mary Kathleen Glavich, SND

G.K. Chesterton said, “Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.” Humans exhibit certain characteristics toward a loved one, for example, constantly thinking of them and delighting in being together. When you are involved in an intimate relationship with God, these characteristics hold true for God and you. In A Love Affair with God, twelve of them are explained. Each chapter presents how God shows one trait toward you and how you reciprocate if you are love God. It is a goldmine of ways to express love for God. Scripture verses, quotations, and stories are woven through the book. Questions for reflection are included. This book promises to make you more aware of the immense love God has for you and to stir you to love God back with all your heart. This love affair is for time and eternity. It makes life worth living.

About the author:

Mary Kathleen Glavich is a Sister of Notre Dame from Chardon, Ohio. She is the author of more than eighty books on spirituality and religious education for children and adults. Formerly, she taught every grade from first to twelfth and served as a vocation director for the Diocese of Cleveland. She enjoys giving talks and retreats, playing the piano, and crocheting baby blankets.

You can catch “Cath-Lit Live” three times a month live on A.J. Cattapan’s author Facebook page. Recorded versions of the show will also be available to watch later on her YouTube channel and Instagram.


Copyright 2020 Amy J. Cattapan