Autumn 2012

Magazine

TM

Fitness: What’s Your Motivation?

Making Advent Fruitful

Year of Embracing the dignity & beauty of Christ-centered womanhood

AUTUMN 2012

Threads of Hope A SENSATIONAL

Autumn

Letter from the Dignitas Team Since Dignitas was launched earlier this year, we have been blessed beyond expectation with encouraging responses from readers around the globe who support our work and have promised us their prayers. To those who have reached out to us we send our sincere thanks! Your encouragement has not only reassured us that Dignitas’ message is relevant and needed, but it has also allowed us to experience the powerful, encouraging reality of the Body of Christ.

With this in mind, we set out to plan this fall issue with the desire to “pay forward” your gift of encouragement, and the exciting start of this new Year of Faith provided the perfect guiding theme.

In his Apostolic Letter announcing the new Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI called us to intensify our reflection on the content of the Catholic faith as it is “professed, celebrated, lived and prayed.” Our hope is that in this issue of Dignitas you’ll find articles that encourage you to deepen your understanding and practice of the faith. To this end, we’ve covered a wide range of topics that concern our daily living of the faith, including articles on reexamining our fitness habits and the five non-negotiable issues that should guide Catholic voters. We also feature inspiring articles about one college student’s journey to the convent, and another woman’s path to becoming an advocate for impoverished women in Ethiopia.

We pray that this Year of Faith be one of authentic spiritual renewal for our readers and for the whole Body of Christ!

In Him, The Dignitas Team

Abby Pelicano

Co-founder, Creative Director A graphic designer and photographer in the upstate of South Carolina, Abby (25) has been remarkably blessed in collaborating with her sister to create Dignitas Magazine. She shares a passion for spreading the truth about the dignity of the human person—particularly to women—and prays that it will be an aid on the path to holiness and unity with our Lord Jesus Christ.

When away from the computer she is probably swing dancing, hiking in the mountains, or absorbed in a classic black-and-white movie.

Catherine Pelicano

Co-founder, Managing Editor Catherine Pelicano (23) is from a family of eight siblings. She became interested in the topics of human dignity and Christ-centered womanhood after attending a youth conference in high school.

As Managing Editor of Dignitas Magazine, Catherine gets to combine her passion for these topics with her love of the written word. Apart from Dignitas and her job as a K4 Teacher’s Aid, Catherine enjoys cooking, running, and all things British.

Contributors Nicole Crawford - Writer Nicole (26) lives in the desert with a handsome man and two sweet girls. She enjoys many random hobbies and also writes about fitness at www.wellroundedmama.org, and the domestic church at www.forgottenaltars.blogspot.com.

Megan Genn - Writer Megan graduated from Christendom College in 2011, majoring in Theology. She married Christopher in June and is now very excited to be expecting their first child in April.

Mary Lane - Writer Mary (22) is the creator of YoungAndCatholic.net. She is currently working towards her Master’s Degree in Biblical Theology from John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego.

Ryane Murnane- Writer Ryane (34) is a homeschooling mom and the co-founder of Connected in Hope Foundation. She spends her days living and learning alongside her husband and 3 children in upstate New York.

ReNee’ Pelicano - Writer ReNee’ lives in Tennessee with her husband of 19 years and their three beautiful teenage daughters. She enjoys service to family, community, and Church. She is a convert to Catholicism, a homeschooler, and a pro-life author/publisher.

All images on pages 52-59 are property of Connected in Hope and were used with written permission.

Contents

IN EVERY ISSUE Recommended Reading Quotes to Remember Know It. Live It.

ENDOWED WITH DIGNITY 7 Fitness: What’s Your Motivation?

by Nicole Crawford REVIVING FEMININITY 14 A Sensational Autumn HIDDEN PLACES 26 Q&A with Sr. Jacinta Man, O.P. CLOUD OF WITNESSES 34 Seven New Saints by Mary Lane IN THE NEWS 42 “New” Eugenics: a Modern-Day Holocaust

by ReNee’ Pelicano REAL CLOSETS 48 Real Closets with Catherine and Mary Threads of Hope by Ryane Murnane VENUES OF GRACE 62 Making Advent Fruitful

by Megan Genn

Hearing From You

Since our first issue we have heard from hundreds of women from around the globe who identify with Dignitas’ mission of renewing Christ-centered femininity. Your letters have encouraged and inspired us in our work because they prove that there are many women still “fighting the good fight.”

We thought we’d share your words of wisdom and encouragement so that all of our readers could experience what we’ve come to know: no matter what continent you live on, or what your walk of life may be—we’re all in this together!

FEATURED LETTER:

Your mission statement touches me because it resounds with the message that my mother and grandmother have engrained in me all my life: “vai contra corrente”—“go against the current.”

They taught me to have modesty, integrity, and humility and not to pay any mind to the messages of pop culture. It was a difficult thing to do as young girl who desperately wanted to fit in with the “popular” crowd, but as an adult (with a daughter of my own) I now see the urgency of that message and the character and maturity it has given me.

- Patricia, Ontario Canada Thank you for your work. As a young Catholic woman living in a liberal college town, your articles give me hope and inspiration. What you do truly reminds me of my worth and helps me to keep living out the truth.

- Kristen, Wisconsin I think it is absolutely wonderful what you are doing.

Finally there is something for women who want to live the true dignity and beauty of womanhood!!!

- Alejandra; Turin, Italy

[Dignitas Magazine] should be well-known among Catholic women who are under so much pressure to be sexy, immodest, immoral and promiscuous.

Seeing this magazine has done wonders for me as I try to live a virtuous life and “enter through the narrow gate.”

- Nneka, Trinidad and Tobago

As a Catholic teen, it’s been impossible to find a magazine that’s not filled with untrue, Hollywood gossip. I’ve wanted something I can read that talks about fashion, good role models, and ways I can learn about my faith—all in one magazine. Looking at your cover and not seeing Zac Efron, I knew it was going to be good!

It is truly a blessing to know that someone out there is seeing the need for a good magazine for young and old women alike.

-Abbey

We love reading every email you send us! Please email us at dignitasmagazine@gmail.com and let us know what you think about our publication. (Letters received become the property of Dignitas Magazine and if selected for publication may be edited for length or clarity. ) 6

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ENDOWED WITH DIGNITY

Fitness: What’s Your Motivation?

By Nicole Crawford

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Dignitas Magazine | Autumn 2012

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ENDOWED WITH DIGNITY

“Drop seven pounds in seven days with the Vitamin D Diet!”

“Fit into your skinny jeans fast!”

“The secret to sleek, sexy arms!”

These are just a few of the headlines from a leading women’s fitness magazine. If I were to read this magazine in search of good reasons to integrate a workout into my daily life, I would get one answer: to be skinny and sexy. There is certainly nothing wrong about exercising to improve our physical appearance. After all, there is a level of concern about how we present ourselves to others that is an appropriate way of honoring our own dignity. For the Catholic woman, however, keeping the body strong and active has a much deeper purpose than what the mainstream culture presents.

As women of God, our fitness habits can’t just be about enhancing our own self-image. Instead, the wisdom of the Church teaches us that physical activity can actually be an opportunity 8

Dignitas Magazine | Autumn 2012

to honor the image of God we bear in our body, to give thanks to Him for the gift of life, and to grow in virtue and holiness by disciplining our bodies.

Physical Activity as an Act of Gratitude: The human body is God’s work of art—the crowning masterpiece of His Creation. We have the privilege of bearing God’s image on earth and because of this, our whole physical existence is elevated and meaningful.

Everything we do with and through our body should always live up to our dignity and give glory to our Creator.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the dignity and purpose of our body in this way: “THROUGH HIS VERY BODILY CONDITION [MAN] SUMS UP IN HIMSELF THE ELEMENTS OF THE MATERIAL WORLD. THROUGH HIM THEY ARE THUS BROUGHT TO THEIR HIGHEST PERFECTION AND CAN RAISE THEIR VOICE IN PRAISE FREELY GIVEN TO THE CREATOR.”1 Fitness is a special opportunity to fulfill our vocation of giving praise and thanksgiving to our Maker through

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ENDOWED WITH DIGNITY

our bodies. As the London Olympics this summer proved countless times, human beings have remarkable physical abilities and can accomplish amazing feats. How many althetes did we see extend world records by enormous margins and push through the pain of injury to finish as victors. Of course, God created many animals that have astounding physical abilities as well, but the difference between us and them is that they can’t intentionally thank and praise their Maker for giving them the abilities they enjoy. We can, and as this passage from the Catechism teaches, that is just

what we are meant to do. The constant temptation, of course, is to make our fitness habits all about us either by boasting of our accomplishments or by flaunting the athletic physique that results from them. The truth is however, that whether your abilities come naturally or you have labored to achieve them, it is in God that we “live and move and have our being.�2 Accordingly, we ought to turn our successes into acts of gratitude to God by thanking Him for the gift of a healthy body and for the abilities He has given us.

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ENDOWED WITH DIGNITY

Physical Activity as Moral Development: In our modern world, where we are surrounded by computers, fast food, cell phones, and televisions, it’s all too easy to let the body go. However, in the process we not only lose our physical stamina, but we often lose our moral stamina as well. Convenience often leads us down a path of laziness, and physical laziness can quickly turn into spiritual apathy. On this point, Pope Pius XII made the following observation regarding sport and its ability to battle spiritual stagnation and to build character: “SPORT, PROPERLY DIRECTED, DEVELOPS CHARACTER, MAKES A MAN COURAGEOUS, A GENEROUS LOSER, AND A GRACIOUS VICTOR. IT REFINES THE SENSES, GIVES INTELLECTUAL PENETRATION AND STEELS THE WILL TO ENDURANCE.”3 Have you ever considered your physical training as an occasion for growing in virtue? Think about how team sports can be an excellent opportunity for developing the virtue of humility or how individual sports demand special patience within 10

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ENDOWED WITH DIGNITY

ourselves. The virtue of fortitude however, is perhaps the most essential and important one learned through fitness. Anyone who has tried to master any kind of sport knows that it requires sustained will power. Excelling in the spiritual life also requires a great deal of stamina which is why physical activity that strengthens our will to do difficult things is an excellent way to strengthen our spiritual resolve as well. For example, I’ve noticed that sticking to an exercise program makes me more disciplined in other areas of my life. I have more energy for chasing after my two young children and completing all the daily tasks of my vocation when I am regularly active.

Physical Activity as “Refining the Mind” In recent years, more and more studies have been conducted on the relationship between physical activity and mental wellbeing. Because of the positive correlation found, doctors have begun to prescribe exercise for patients who suffer from depression and other mental conditions.

While there are complex chemical explanations for this correlation, I think an even simpler explanation can be made. As the Catechism teaches, man’s

body and soul form a unity; therefore, what we do with our bodies affects our minds. I learned this first hand in graduate school when I found that the best way to prepare for an exam was to take a hike in the woods or to go for a run (after a study session, of course). Physical activity has a way of bringing mental clarity and alertness.

Being aware of this can pay enormous dividends not only for our physical and mental health but also for our spiritual wellbeing. Pope Pius XII commented on this aspect of physical activity as well saying, “SPORT, RIGHTLY UNDERSTOOD, IS AN OCCUPATION OF THE WHOLE MAN AND, WHILE PERFECTING THE BODY, IT ALSO MAKES THE MIND A MORE REFINED INSTRUMENT FOR THE SEARCH AND COMMUNICATION OF TRUTH.”4 Headlines from women’s fitness magazines suggest (from a secular point of view) the purpose of working out at the gym is often looked at as mere preparation for fitting into those skinny jeans. As Pope Pius points out however, our physical activity can actually prepare us for something of

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ENDOWED WITH DIGNITY

eternal significance. Namely, the more we engage in the discipline of fitness the more agile and ready our minds become for the even more strenuous intellectual challenge of tackling the mysteries of Salvation! Can you think of any better motivation to go to the gym?

With more people becoming interested in health and wellness, we Catholics have a unique opportunity to bring the spiritual side of fitness to the table for discussion. As a prenatal fitness instructor, I’m blessed to see many pregnant women thriving during their pregnancies and realizing that the human body is an amazing and tremendous gift. This fills me with hope that more women will come to understand how fitness plays a role in living out our dignity and pursuing holiness. After all, the physical beauty we’re told to strive for through fitness will eventually pass away as will our physical strength and abilities.

Shouldn’t we want our friends and coworkers to know that the work and self-discipline we all put into our fitness habits don’t have to pass away as well?

When God is kept as the focus of our physical labor it takes on eternal value and if we form our intentions and bring them with us to the gym or track, we’ll 12

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begin to see our physical workouts improve our “spiritual fitness” as well.

Practically Speaking: Tips for keeping God the focus of your fitness habits Practice humility: One of the popular sayings in martial arts is “Leave your ego at the door.” Instead of allowing fitness to become an opportunity for vanity and arrogance, let your workout be an exercise in humility and isolate the areas where you can improve.

Update your playlist: Add praise and worship music to your ipod to help keep God the focus when you hit the gym or go for a run. Check out Catholic recording artist Matt Maher’s album The Love in Between. On Spotify?

Check out their 100 #1 Christian Workout Hits playlist.

Offer it up: Offer the physical labor of your workout to God for a special intention, uniting your difficulty with Christ’s suffering on the cross. In fact, bring all the special intentions you’ve been asked to pray for to your workouts, offering up every mile you run, swim, or bike for the specific needs of those you love.

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ENDOWED WITH DIGNITY

Stay feminine: G.K. Chesterton once said that “A feminist is someone who loathes being a woman and who dislikes the chief feminine characteristics.” He was speaking of a certain kind of asexual feminism that disregards the differences between men and women. Female athletes must resist the temptation to let that difference fall between the cracks.

Physical ability is not strictly masculine, but feminine strength is also different from masculine strength. This natural difference between man and woman is a mysterious gift to be explored and cherished, not an obstacle to overcome.

1 CCC 364 2 Acts 17:28 3 Pope Pius XII, Sport at the Service of the Spirit.

July 29, 1945.

4 Pope Pius XII, Sport at the Service of the Spirit.

July 29, 1945.

5 1 Cor. 9:24

Ora et labora: Get the full body and soul benefit out of your fitness routines by praying during your workout.

The rhythmic nature of the Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy is perfect for cycling or running. Also, try meditating on a particular verse in Scripture while you exercise, such as Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians: “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.”5 Copyright 2012 Dignitas Magazine. All rights reserved. No material from this website may be copied, reproduced or distributed without express written permission from Dignitas Magazine.

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REVIVING FEMININITY

Sensationa

A

Autumn

Dried leaves crunch underfoot. Tart green apples tingle your tongue.

The aroma of pumpkin spice candles wafts through your home. Autumn sure knows how to appeal to each of the five senses in a particularly enchanting way, and (in my experience) these trademarks of the season have yet to lose their ability to romance us year after year. When the buzz of summer activity finally fades away these autumn comforts invite us to slow down and get cozy for the long evenings and holiday celebrations ahead. Because this savory season is a special favorite for the Dignitas Team we decided to share our favorite ways to engage the five senses and experience autumn to the fullest.

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REVIVING FEMININITY

al

n

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REVIVING FEMININITY

Taste

With holiday gatherings around the corner, every woman needs a go-to pumpkin recipe. If you haven’t found yours yet, we recommend you give these Pumpkin Bars a try. Moist and rich underneath and sweet and creamy on top, these bars could really be considered a sheet cake. It’s a good thing they’re so simple to make, because after you bring them to your first holiday event you’ll be asked to bring them again and again! Bon appitit!

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REVIVING FEMININITY

PUMPKIN BAR RECIPE 1 cup oil 1 can pumpkin puree (15 ounces) 3 eggs 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon Blend wet ingredients together in a large bowl. Whisk dry ingredients together in a separate, medium-size bowl. Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture using an electric mixer. Pour batter into a 10x15 inch greased and floured jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 min, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Frosting: 8 ounces cream cheese (softened) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 stick of butter (softened) 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until just creamy. Add vanilla, sugar, and butter. Beat until blended and creamy. Frost the bars when they are thoroughly cooled.

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REVIVING FEMININITY

1

3

18

See

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REVIVING FEMININITY

The colors and textures found in nature

during the harvest season provide a rich palette to work from when decorating.

Whether you buy pumpkins and gourds fresh out of the pumpkin patch every

2

year or have a selection of imitation ones, make sure to capitalize on the variety to be found. Maximize the effect of your decorations by focussing your creative energy on a particular area or corner of your home. Fireplaces become a natural focal point of the home this time of year, and therefore become the perfect place to dressup for the season. Try this “formula� for a simple mantle arrangement: (1) A large item for the middle (like a decorative mirror, or a large wreath). (2) Two medium height items on either end for visual balance, pumpkins and gourds of varying shapes and textures at different heights on either end (stacks of old books are perfect for achieving the different heights). (3) Finally, fill in holes with other interest pieces from around your house (candles, antique vases, etc.), as well as leaves and and berries for added texture.

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Touch

REVIVING FEMININITY

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REVIVING FEMININITY

The long evenings in autumn are

an excellent opportunity to indulge your favorite hands-on hobby like

drawing, knitting, or sewing. Now is the time to pick-up an old project or begin a new one. Be ambitious and learn how to paint with watercolor, or get a head start on Christmas gifts by making a project to give away. If you don’t have a pet hobby now is a perfect time to learn.

Tap into your library’s multitude of instructional books, or check out the endless resources online.

So light a few candles and brew a cup of tea. Relaxing and unwinding with a tactile project may become your new favorite way to soak in the season’s long, cozy evenings.

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Hear REVIVING FEMININITY

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REVIVING FEMININITY

Connect with classic stories,

biographies, or informative talks while you work with your hands by listening to audio books. Let’s face it, you’ll make more progress on your project than if you tried to multitask with a movie, and you’ll learn something new while you work. EWTN’s website (www. ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/intro. asp) has an extensive archive of talks on a host of topics from advancing in the spiritual life to apologetics.

Want to knock-off some titles from your bucket list of books to read?

Websites such as Booksshouldbefree. com has hundreds of classic and contemporary audio books you can download for free. {On the Dignitas Team’s autumn reading list: C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series, Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery, The Spear by Louis De Wohl, and Jan Karon’s Mitford series.}

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Smell

REVIVING FEMININITY

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Don’t have any whole cinnamon sticks on-hand? Powdered cinnamon works as well.

REVIVING FEMININITY

You may not have to look any further

than your own pantry and spice cabinet to pull together this simple stovetop potpourri. All you need is the peel from one orange, a handful of cloves, and a few cinnamon sticks. Simply simmer the ingredients in water in a small saucepan on low heat, adding more water as needed. A batch of potpourri will easily last a day, which makes it an easy way to prep your home for holiday parties or to help get you in the mood for holiday baking. {Of course, the sights, smells, and comforts of the season change depending on where you live in the world. Write and tell us about the sensational “autumn trademarks” from your corner of the globe. We’d love to Nutmeg and cranberries also make great additions!

include them in our next “Hearing from You” section!}

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HIDDEN PLACES

Answering the

Call

NAME: Sister Jacinta Man, O.P. AGE: 22 years old ORIGINALLY FROM: Princeton, NJ RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY: Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, Nashville Tennessee 26

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HIDDEN PLACES

Q&A with Sr. Jacinta Man, O.P. DM: When/how did you first begin to think you might have a religious vocation?

SR. JACINTA: Growing up, I was always curious about religious life. I knew there were women in the world who became cloistered nuns and sisters, but I didn’t understand why they decided to enter religious life. I wasn’t closed to the idea of religious life for myself, but I certainly didn’t anticipate that it was what the Lord had in mind for me.

I became more active in my Catholic faith in college where I met other young people who were completely in love with being Catholic. By becoming more involved in the Catholic “scene,” I was introduced to the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia at a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) conference in January of 2010. I was nervous when I met them but once I talked to them

and learned more about their life, I was surprised by how down-toearth they were and how simple yet attractive their way of life was.

It was around that time that I heard a whisper in the back of my mind say, “You’re going to do this.

You’re going to enter the convent,” but I quickly pushed it out of my mind and went back to being a busy university student. Before long, though, I would be sitting in one of my classes and realize that I was wondering what the sisters were doing—Praying? Studying?

Levitating? The knowledge that such a joyful way of living was out there was completely distracting to me, and deep in my heart I knew that I was being drawn towards it. Even though I was happy studying music business at New York University and interning with a wedding photographer, I knew my great life in New York City just wasn’t enough for me anymore. Finally I decided to go on a vocation retreat with the Nashville Dominicans.

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HIDDEN PLACES

DM: What helped you the most during your discernment process?

DM: What about the Nashville Dominicans attracted you the most?

SR. JACINTA: After meeting the sisters in January, I began to go to Eucharistic adoration more often and to learn as much as I could about the teachings of the Church. I read more Scripture, attended daily Mass, and began receiving spiritual direction from a Dominican priest. Although I wasn’t consciously discerning, I knew that I was searching for God’s will for me.

SR. JACINTA: What attracted me to them first of all was their youthfulness and feminine joy, which was exhibited not only by the young sisters but even more intensely by the older sisters.

I saw that their joy wasn’t a façade; rather, it came from a deep love for God and for each other that had been formed by many years of living life in community. I was impressed by their generous spirits and charity for one another. I knew that these were women who truly loved the Lord, loved the Church, and loved their consecration!

Attending the vocation retreat in Nashville allowed me to experience the daily life of the sisters. While I was there, I met not only the newest members of the community but also those who had been faithfully living the life for twenty, forty, or even sixty years. Witnessing the immense care and love of all the sisters was deeply moving. During Eucharistic adoration on the last night of the retreat, I felt an incredible peace in my heart that I had been searching for. That was in May of 2010. I entered the convent just three months later.

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Learning about St. Dominic’s zeal for the salvation of souls, his lively devotion to Our Lady, and his commitment to Truth certainly inspired me to be a Dominican.

However, it wasn’t until after I entered the convent that I really developed my devotion to St. Dominic and to the saints of the Dominican Order.

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HIDDEN PLACES

DM: What stage are you in with your religious formation? Have you taken any vows?

SR. JACINTA: I have been with the Nashville Dominicans for over two years now.

I made my first profession of vows in July or 2012 with eighteen other young women. We professed our vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience for three years, after which, we will renew our vows for two years, and then we will make our perpetual profession of vows (“for all my life�).

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HIDDEN PLACES

DM: What would you say to someone discerning a religious vocation who is unsure about sacrificing the prospect of marriage and a family?

SR. JACINTA: I would say that although a consecrated woman doesn’t have a human husband or children of her own, she doesn’t miss the experience of being a wife and a mother. A consecrated woman is a bride of Christ and a spiritual mother to whomever she meets.

On a natural level, there is the sacrifice of not having one’s own human family; but on 30

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HIDDEN PLACES

a supernatural level, the consecrated woman gives herself totally in response to a calling from God, who has incredible things planned for her. In Scripture, Christ promises to give a hundredfold to whoever gives up “houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of [His] name” (Matthew 19:29). God doesn’t back down from His promises, nor does He always give what is expected or wanted. He always gives what is best.

DM: What was your greatest fear about becoming a religious sister?

What has been your greatest joy?

SR. JACINTA: My greatest fear was that I had made up a “calling” in my mind and that I didn’t really have a religious vocation. I did not feel worthy of such a calling, and that insecurity was a difficult obstacle to overcome. But just living the life each day brought me greater peace and certainty. I drew strength from the prayers and example of the sisters who had entered before me. Eventually, I knew that God was the One who had planted the desire in my heart, so I put my trust in Him to fulfill his plan for me.

Having a chapel in my own home where I can attend daily mass and pray the Divine Office has been the greatest joy for me. I love being able to walk down the hall and be in the Real Presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Second to that is being surrounded by all my sisters! Each one is incredibly unique and brings different gifts and talents that make community life exciting and fulfilling.

My sisters inspire me in different ways: to pray more deeply, to be more charitable, to serve with greater generosity. I know that I am living with true women of prayer, who love Christ above all else, and that we really are companions on this journey to union with God.

MORE INFO Want to learn more about the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia?

Visit their website for information about their daily life, retreat schedules and much more. For vocations questions contact Sr. Peter Marie, O.P. at vocations@op-tn.org

Recommended

Reading

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Catholic for a Reason

by Scott Hahn, Leon Suprenant (back cover description)

Catholic for a Reason explains the teaching of the Catholic Church in a way that allows the reader to see the “big picture”: our heavenly Father’s loving plan to save us. Biblical, dynamic, and very readable, Catholic for a Reason presents God and the Father’s plan as the “family plan” revealed

by Christ.

Magnificat® Year of Faith Companion (description from website)

The Magnificat is a monthly spiritual guide designed to develop your prayer life, grow in your spiritual life, find a way to a more profound love for Our Blessed Savior, and participate in the holy Mass with greater fervor. Every day, the monthly magazine Magnificat offers beautiful prayers for both morning and evening drawn from the treasures of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official texts of the daily Mass, meditations written by the renowned Fathers of the Church, and a great variety of spiritual writings such as essays on the lives of the saints of today and the past. In each Magnificat, you will also find an article giving valuable spiritual insight into a masterpiece of sacred art.

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Dignitas Magazine | Autumn 2012

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CLOUD OF WITNESSES

7 Saints New

by Mary Lane

To kick off the new Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI canonized

seven new saints on October 21st, World Mission Sunday. This particular feast day, set aside for the Church to celebrate and promote missionary work, was especially appropriate for the canonization of these new saints since many of them were missionaries and catechists themselves. While some of their names and stories will already be familiar to you, others are less well-known. Here is a brief overview of each of their lives to help us become more acquainted with these newest members of the Communion of Saints:

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CLOUD OF WITNESSES

Saint

Pedro Calungsod (1654-1672) Pedro Calungsod was a Filipino missionary who lived during the end of the 17th century.

Around the age of fourteen, Pedro was recognized for his great ability to teach the faith and was chosen to accompany the Jesuits in their missionary work on the Ladrones Islands. In 1672, Pedro traveled to Guam with a companion, San Vitores. The missionaries came to the village of Tumon where the village chief’s wife asked them to baptize her daughter against the will of her husband. Even though baptizing the baby could endanger their lives, Pedro and San Vitores administered the sacrament.

When Chief Mata’pang learned of the girl’s baptism he became angry and attacked the missionaries, hurling spears at Pedro and San Vitores. Pedro likely could have escaped, but he chose to stay with his companion. The two men suffered martyrdom together.

Saint

Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) Kateri Tekakwitha lost her parents and brother to smallpox as a very young child, and even though she survived the disease, her face was left scared. She was baptized in 1676 at the age of twenty, and afterward Copyright 2012 Dignitas Magazine. All rights reserved. No material from this website may be copied, reproduced or distributed without express written permission from Dignitas Magazine.

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CLOUD OF WITNESSES

received hostile treatment from her tribe for her strong devotion to the faith. Even still, she would wait outside in the cold every morning for the chapel to open at four and would stay until the end of the last mass because of her strong devotion to the Eucharist and to the Crucified Jesus. Kateri made a personal vow of chastity, even though her foster parents had promised that she would marry a warrior from the tribe. A year after her baptism, Kateri fled to Quebec to live with an Indian community of Christians. She kept her personal vow of chastity until her death in 1680. Kateri Tekakwitha was the first Native American to be declared a Blessed.

Saint

Marianne Cope of Molokai (1838-1918) Born in modern-day Germany in 1838, Blessed Marianne Cope felt a tug on her heart from an early age to enter religious life. However, after her parents emigrated to the United States she remained at home to help care for her eight younger siblings. She finally entered the Sisters of Saint Francis in Syracuse, New York at the age of twenty-four. In 1883, Blessed Marianne was called to Hawaii, 36

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CLOUD OF WITNESSES

where she and six other sisters ministered to those with Hansen’s disease (leprosy).

Not long after she arrived, though, new government regulations were created that exiled those with the disease to the island of Molokai. Blessed Marianne was asked to set up a home on Molokai for girls. Accepting the request meant that she would likely never again return home to see her family and friends; nevertheless, Blessed Marianne responded that she would “cheerfully accept the work” and courageously accepted God’s call, despite the cost. Blessed Marianne cared for the lepers on Molokai until her death from natural causes in 1918.

Jesuit Father Jacques Berthieu (1838-1896) Originally ordained as a parish priest in France in 1864, Father Jacques later came to feel a calling to live his priestly vocation as part of a religious order. In 1873 he joined the Jesuits, and two years later he answered the call to be a missionary in Madagascar. In a letter to a friend, Father Jacques wrote: “I have been designated as a future apostle to the Malagasy [Madagascar]; [I] am supposed to leave Vals at the end of August...probably never to return, which is fine with me.” (http://www.dacb.org/stories/madagascar/berthieu-jacques.html) Father Jacques Berthieu never did return home. In 1896, he was accompanying Christian refugees in Madagascar when another tribe attacked them. He was beaten and taken to their chief who said Father Jacques’ life would be spared if he would renounce his Christian faith. Father Jacques courageously refused and was beaten to death with clubs.

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Father Giovanni Battista Piamarta (1841-1913) Born in Italy in 1841, Father Giovanni Battista Piamarta was ordained a priest in 1865. His passion was ministering to the working class, especially to families and young people. He founded the Istituto Artigianelli, which gave impoverished boys the Christian formation and professional training needed to prepare them to enter the workforce. His work proved to be very successful, providing as many as one hundred boys with housing and education. In 1902 he founded the Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth which ensured that the work would continue after his death. His mother founded a female congregation based off of this model so that young women could also have a place to turn for education and shelter.

Father Giovanna died on April 25, 1913.

Saint

Carmen Salles y Barangueras (1848-1911) Born in Spain in 1848, Carmen Salles was certain of her vocation to religious life from an early age, and eventually she entered the Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament congregation. Part of the community’s apostolate was to train and 38

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CLOUD OF WITNESSES

educate women who formerly led lives of crime and prostitution. Through her ministry, Carmen became convinced that education was crucial for women to do well and to realize their own dignity. She went on to found a new religious order, the Missionary Conceptionists of Hope, and became a champion of defending the rights and dignity of women in society. She died in 1911 at the age of 63.

Saint Anna Schaffer

(1882-1925) The life of Saint Anna Schaffer serves as a witness to the power of redemptive suffering in the Christian life. Born in Germany in 1882, Blessed Anna Schaffer aspired to bring souls to Christ by being a missionary; however, a tragic accident left her paralyzed from the waist down and completely confined her to bed. Anna came to accept her situation as her path to holiness.

She offered her sufferings completely to God, praying for “the most agonizing martyrdom and to [be accepted] as a little victim of reparation.” (http://www. catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=913) In 1910, Anna received the stigmata. Amazingly, Anna maintained an active apostolate from her bed by tirelessly writing letters to those who asked for her spiritual direction and by embroidering sacred linens for churches. She died on October 5, 1925, while making the Sign of the Cross just after receiving Communion. Her last words were, “Jesus, I live in you.”

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CLOUD OF WITNESSES

Year of Faith Connection: Our union with the sanctified members of Christ’s body is a beautiful gift given by Christ to His Church on earth. During this Year of Faith, deepen your understanding of the Church’s teaching about the Communion of Saints.

Reading the brief sections from 946-962 in the Catechism is an excellent place to start. Dig deeper into the lives of the saints and tap into their spiritual wisdom by reading one of the many spiritual classics they wrote, such as Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux, Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, or St. Augustine’s Confessions. Studying the lives of the saints and meditating on their wisdom are powerful tools in helping us advance on our own path to holiness.

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“To a great extent the level of any civilization is the level of its womanhood.

When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women.�

- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Elliot Francois FOTOGRAPHY Copyright 2012 Dignitas Magazine. All rights reserved. No material from this website may be copied, reproduced or distributed without express written permission from Dignitas Magazine.

Dignitas Magazine | Autumn 2012

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IN THE NEWS

by ReNee’ Pelicano

The ever-changing atmosphere of the pro-life

movement can be overwhelming to advocates trying to stay abreast of current issues. So often ignored or misreported by liberal news agencies, pro-life proponents are left to independently research current issues and educate themselves on those issues. One such issue that surfaced this June was the development of a non-invasive method for identifying genetic diseases and mutations in the unborn. This development in the medical field has caused tremendous concern among prolife advocates because of its potential application in the field of eugenics, which would only escalate the modern-day holocaust of the unborn already active in the world.

As the applied science of the bio-social movement, eugenics is aimed at “improving” the genetic composition of a human population. Based on the idea that it is possible to distinguish between “superior” and “inferior” members of society, eugenics makes use of practices such as selective breeding and sterilization to eliminate “inferiors” from the human gene pool.

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IN THE NEWS

Much to people’s surprise, eugenics has played a significant role in the history and culture of the United States even prior to its well-known involvement in World War II and the Holocaust. In fact, eugenics was practiced in the United States many years before eugenics programs in Nazi Germany and actually, U.S. programs provided much of the inspiration for the latter.

diseases and new mutations in the unborn. Using only maternal blood and paternal saliva, researchers then sequence the fetuses’ genome from their parent’s DNA.

While the practice of eugenics in the U.S. is not a new problem, the new method of genetic testing being developed is certain to escalate its use today. In June, researchers at the University of Washington published results in the journal Science Translational Medicine demonstrating the ability to identify inherited genetic

Proponents of the new method, advocate it on the grounds that it would reduce the number of fetuses lost via the amniocentesis procedure. They further claim that it could have beneficial effects since the new procedure could enable early diagnosis of diseases and make it possible to offer treatments that would lessen their severity.

A non-invasive method for genetic testing has been long sought after, since the most prevalent method (amniocentesis) is highly invasive and risks fetal loss. While the cost of this new method is extraordinarily expensive ($20,000-$50,000 per sequence), it is likely to drop rapidly and could become commercially feasible in three to five years.

This new approach to genetic testing is far from perfect, however, and there are justifiable reasons to question its accuracy in identifying

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IN THE NEWS

diseases. In one study using the new sequencing method, there were initially 25 million candidates considered to have a possible genetic mutation. Though statistical approaches narrowed that number to 3,800, that still vastly exceeded the mere 44 mutations actually found after the baby was born. Having so many false positive findings is a legitimate cause for worry and a just reason for moral and legal oversight.

More importantly, however, prolife advocates have pointed out that for every fetus saved from the risk of amniocentesis or from the full effects of a disabling disease, many more will be exposed to the danger of abortion.

Some parents, for example, may be tempted to (or willfully choose to) use this genetic information to predict, and select against, a wide variety of traits—not just diseases. It will allow parents to create “designer babies” choosing eye and hair color, and specific physical attributes. This new technology will also make it possible to know the sex of the unborn child far earlier than current techniques, which would facilitate the already epidemic problem of sex-selective abortion.

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These concerns aren’t without justification. Current medical practices already allow couples choosing conception through invitro fertilization the opportunity to have an embryo genetically tested before implantation into the womb. This gives parents the option to select their future child based on his or her strong genetic profile and to eliminate siblings with lower profiles. Current prenatal screening techniques are also able to diagnose a handful of conditions.

This has resulted in the abortion of an estimated 90 percent of all fetuses pre-diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

It is certain that this new sequencing technology will only escalate this modern-day practice of eugenics and the subsequent holocaust of millions of unborn babies because they are deemed “unfit” to live.

Eugenics tempts one to believe that only a life without disability is worth living, and it promotes the early elimination of those with certain diseases as a cost-saving alternative to researching and curing the diseases themselves. Ironically, eugenics—which removes the illness by destroying the one who carries

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IN THE NEWS

it—is a science antagonist. Real medical science is done when illness is combated, resisted, and overcome.

The advanced technology being developed today should be put at the service of those in need rather than putting them in danger. Only then will we enjoy a true Culture of Life. As Blessed Pope John Paul II once said,

“A free and virtuous society, which America aspires to be, must reject practices that devalue and violate human life at any stage from conception until natural death. In defending the right to life, in law and through a vibrant culture of life, America can show the world the

path to a truly humane future in which man remains the master, not the product, of his technology.”

Resources Consulted: Donovan, Charles A. “Testing Ourselves: Researchers Simplify Prenatal Genetic Scans.” National Review Online. 7 June 2012. Web. Foht, Brendan. “Genetic Control, Abortion, and the New Eugenics.”

National Review Online. 7 June 2012.

Web. Smith, Wesley J. “New Fetal Genome Scan Will Test Morality of Society.”

National Review Online. Web.

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What You Need to Know BEFORE Heading to the Polls on Nov. 6

Making an educated decision to support a political candidate can be a daunting task. It can mean sifting through mounds of information, watching countless speeches, reading an endless supply of contradictory news articles, debating with colleagues and friends for hours about economics and foreign policy, seeing the same tv commercial 10 times in the course of a single hour, and witnessing the annual “sign war” as campaign signs appear over-night on every street corner. It takes time and attention to understand the candidate’s positions on the “issues”.

Where do they stand on healthcare?

Education? Immigration? Regulations?

Taxes? Abortion? The economy? Gun rights? Medicare? National defense?

Marriage? Energy? Job creation?

National debt? Military? Euthanasia? The list of things to consider goes on and on.

The shear number of issues to consider can make prioritizing all of them a challenge. So how do we know what the “big issues” are? How do we know which issues are open to debate and which are non-negotiable issues that we must never compromise on?

The Church outlines 5 current issues that we need to be well educated about before heading to the polls.

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1. ABORTION

Abortion is the intentional and direct killing of a human being and is always and under every circumstance intrinsically wrong. “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” (CCC 2270) It goes against moral law to participate in any way in the procurement of an abortion. That includes voting for a political candidate who would support or create legislation that supports, defends, or promotes abortion.

2. EUTHANASIA

“Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.” (CCC 2277) “Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.” (CCC 2276)

3. EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH “Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo

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must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.” (CCC 2274) Any benefits that would come from experimentation on a human being does not justify the manipulation, exploitation, and destruction of innocent embryonic humans.

4. HUMAN CLONING

“Attempts… for obtaining a human being without any connection with sexuality through ‘twin fission’ (a method of splitting an embryo into two parts to produce identical twins), cloning, or parthenogenesis (a form of asexual reproduction where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization), are to be considered contrary to the moral law, since they are in opposition to the dignity of human procreation and of the conjugal union.” (Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, Doctrinal Notes on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholic in Political Life)

5. HOMOSEXUAL “MARRIAGE”

“Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered… they close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and

sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”

(CCC 2357) Legislation that sanctions the union of homosexuals as “marriage” does harm to the true meaning of marriage and the persons involved by encouraging their actions.

The Catechism informs us that it is our moral duty to participate in the political process by casting an informed vote. (CCC 2239-2240) We should be educated on the candidate’s position on the issues and vote for the candidate that is in accord with the teaching of the Catholic Church on these 5 non-negotiable issues. Unfortunately the situation may arise where there is no “acceptable” candidate. In this case it may be that NOT voting is the only moral course of action, but it is also important to consider the circumstances and prayerfully decide if voting for the candidate that will do the least harm will actually promote good by limiting evil. It is not the same as positively endorsing a candidate but rather an action aimed at limiting evil, which is very good.

May God bless you as you prayerfully cast your vote! And God bless America!

What does the Church teach?

KNOW IT. LIVE IT.

Fall Fashion REAL CLOSETS:

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Catherine’s closet Mustard yellow scarf for a pop of color

White and navy striped long sleeve crew-neck

Wide woven belt

Denim pencil skirt (a fall-closet staple!)

Brown tights and boots complete the autumn look and feel

CATHERINE (23) Works as: K4 Teacher’s Aid Convinced that: Kids say the darndest things Guilty pleasures: Masterpiece Theater and Milano cookies

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Dignitas Magazine | Autumn 2012

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Turquoise earrings for added color

Mary’s

closet

Loose layers in fall colors

Bright jacket with striped cuffs Woven belt to add texture

Dark-wash straight jeans for a trim look

Calf-height boots

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MARY (23) Occupation: Law Enforcement Current ambition: To become SCUBA certified Relaxes with: A good book, a huge mug of coffee, and a pumpkin scented candle.

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REAL CLOSETS

Threads of Hope

by Ryane Murnane

Connected in Hope Foundation is a nonprofit social enterprise committed to helping women from Mount Entoto, Ethiopia achieve financial stability and improved standards of living. Connected in Hope’s co-founder, Ryane Murane, gives us a glimpse into the hardships these women faced as fuel wood carriers and how their lives have been changed since partnerring with Connected in Hope.

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REAL CLOSETS

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REAL CLOSETS

Keriya’s work began long before

the sun rose on Mount Entoto, Ethiopia. She retrieved her walking stick and stepped quietly to the door of the mud hut, pausing just long enough to say a silent prayer for her children’s safety during her absence. For the next several hours Keriya collected fuel wood from the forest floor, always listening for the predatory sounds of hyenas. By early morning, the branches she gathered and bundled together weighed nearly eighty pounds. With the load on her back she began the ten mile hike down Mount Entoto to the markets in Addis Ababa. “Will the guards stop me and demand money? Will there even be

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buyers in the market?” she wondered.

Keriya knew the birr she hoped to earn, worth less than $1, would feed her children just for today. If she was fortunate, she would sell all the fuel wood and start her long trek home by midday. And tomorrow, long before dawn, she would begin again.

Following the adoption of our precious son Joseph from Ethiopia in 2009, my family and I felt compelled to give something back to the loving and generous people of his birth country. During a subsequent visit to Ethiopia we met a group of women from Mount Entoto who, like Keriya, had made their meager living carrying

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REAL CLOSETS

Keriya fuel wood. The women had been taught to weave scarves; however, with a very limited market, they weren’t selling enough to be able to support their families. It was through our interactions with these amazing women, that Connected in Hope Foundation was born.

Connected in Hope was founded to help these women build their weaving business so that it could provide

each of them with a sustainable, predictable, and Fair Trade income.

We pay the weavers upfront for their beautiful, quality scarves and reinvest 100% of the profit made from selling their products in the international market back into programs that

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Dignitas Magazine | Autumn 2012

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REAL CLOSETS

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REAL CLOSETS

support them and their families.

Connected in Hope’s support for these women goes beyond income development to also include improved educational opportunities and increased access to basic health care.

As one of the sixty women working with Connected in Hope, Keriya’s life today is much different than it was just a few years ago. A smile brightens her face as she enters the weaving compound, calling“Selemneu!” (good morning) to the older women busily knotting fringe. Inside the weaving room, she settles onto the bench at the base of her loom, picks up the shuttle and begins work. There are no frightening sounds or thoughts there, only the soft hum of weaving punctuated by joyful conversations and an occasional song. Keriya worries less about the future now. Her income is growing, and she has money to pay for her blood pressure medicine and to provide for her family.

A story like Keriya’s is woven into every scarf sold through Connected in Hope, and by purchasing one of these scarves the buyer not only has an opportunity to financially support the woman who made it, but also Copyright 2012 Dignitas Magazine. All rights reserved. No material from this website may be copied, reproduced or distributed without express written permission from Dignitas Magazine.

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REAL CLOSETS

to connect with her on a personal level. Each scarf purchased bears a tag with the weaver’s name and comes with a card that allows the buyer or individual receiving the scarf to send her a personal note. These notes are translated and shared with the weavers in Entoto, validating their talent and their very worth. Every purchase made through Connected in the Hope makes a real difference in a weaver’s life, giving her more than an income— giving her hope for the future.

MORE INFO {Connected in Hope is offering a special 10% discount to Dignitas readers on any purchase! Just enter DIGNITAS at checkout. So hurry over to Connected in Hope’s online store to view their gorgeous Fall 2012 Scarf Collections! store.connectedinhope.com}

REAL CLOSETS

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REAL CLOSETS

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REAL CLOSETS

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VENUES OF GRACE

Making Advent

Fruitful

by Megan Genn

If you are like most Catholic

woman that I know (myself included) you’ve experienced the tendency of Advent to slip away almost entirely unnoticed. Why is this? On one hand, the four weeks leading up to Christmas are such a busy time of year that focusing on Advent often moves down on our list of priorities.

On the other hand, I believe many of us are still trying to understand what Advent means and how we can live it as mature Catholic women. Yes, we remember the Advent traditions we celebrated as children such as the Jesse Tree and putting pieces of straw in a manger made out of popsicle sticks whenever we did a good deed.

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cannot expect what we did as children to spiritually feed us in the way we need it to now. We must take our understanding of Advent to the next level before we can celebrate it fruitfully as adults and experience the many graces God wants to pour into our souls during this beautiful season.

So what is the season of Advent? The word “advent” comes from the Latin word adventus which means “coming.”

It is a time of waiting and preparing oneself for the coming of Christ. Of course, we all understand that Advent is about preparing our hearts to celebrate Christmas—the time when the Church rejoices the coming of Christ as the Messiah. What really surprises many Catholics is to learn

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VENUES OF GRACE

that Advent is also intended to be a time of growing in anticipation for the second coming of Christ as King. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming.”1 In other words, during the season of Advent we are called to grow in our expectation for Christ’s coming at the end of time by looking back at how the Israelites waited eagerly for the coming of the Messiah.

VENUES OF GRACE

The many rich traditions the Church shares with us during Advent are all meant to help us enter into this “ancient expectancy” of the Savior and to grow in anticipation for when He comes again. Take for instance, the tradition of the Advent wreath.

By looking at the different aspects of the Advent wreath and understanding what each symbolizes, we can better grasp what this Season is about and how we ought to approach it. Fr. William Saunders explains the symbolism behind the number of the candles in the wreath by stating, “The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent...each week [representing] one thousand years to sum up the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming to judge the living and the dead.”2 Even the colors of the candles in the wreath are meant to teach us about the appropriate spirit we should have as we approach Advent. Fr. Saunders writes, “Three candles 64

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are purple and one is rose. The purple candles...symbolize the prayer, penance, preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time.

The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, [called] Gaudete Sunday... the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas.”3 The Advent wreaths that will soon sit on our kitchen tables are meant to remind us of the richness of Salvation in history and of the spirit of penance and rejoicing that should mark our time of waiting for Christmas. The meaning behind the Church’s Advent traditions is much deeper than we could grasp as children which is why as adult Catholics we ought to educate ourselves about their full significance.

Even with our understanding of Advent renewed and deepened, truly entering into the spirit of waiting during this season proves to be difficult. Let’s face it; our culture doesn’t like to wait. Waiting in traffic, in line, or on other people is seen as boring, troublesome and a waste of time. It is so easy to fall into an instant gratification mentality, where

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VENUES OF GRACE

we want everything now and we want it fast. We are tempted to view the season of Advent with this mentality too. Far too often we’re so eager to jump to the parties, music, presents and decorations of Christmas that the season of Advent just turns into an extended Christmas celebration. Of course, when we do this we miss out on the spiritual growth that comes from abstaining from these good things by choosing to wait. Waiting can be a time of surrendering to God and His will and growing closer to Him. As women, we have a special calling to master the art of waiting and to discover the joy that it brings.

For example, in a relationship a woman generally waits for the man to act first. As an engaged woman, the bride-to-be joyfully waits and prepares herself to become a wife.

During a pregnancy, a mother waits nine beautiful months before she can hold her child in her arms. In each of these situations we women are called to grow closer to Christ by patiently and joyfully embracing a season of waiting with excitement for what lies ahead. This too is how women of God must embrace the season of Advent— patiently, joyfully and in excitement for what is to come.

The Catechism states that, “The coming of God’s Son to earth is an event of such immensity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries.”4 If God waited and prepared for centuries before sending His Son, then surely we can rise to the occasion and spend four weeks of our entire year focused on preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ.

I challenge you to make the most of this Advent. Begin by setting a goal for how you want to prepare yourself to celebrate Christmas Day. Then deepen your understanding of the meaning of Advent by learning more about the Church’s traditions. Finally, truly live the “ancient expectancy” of the Messiah with a spirit of patience, penance and joy. If you give this Advent season your special attention, you can be sure to experience a more profound celebration of Christmas than you ever have before.

Your Advent

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VENUES OF GRACE

Game Plan: This year, Advent begins on December 2nd. Spend a Sunday afternoon between now and then to pray about how you want to observe this beautiful liturgical season. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

Scripture: The study and meditation of Scripture is a powerful tool in growing closer to God. Throughout Advent, meditate on the Nativity narrative found in the beginning of both the Gospel of Matthew and of Luke.

Perhaps consider taking the journey from Adam and Eve to the birth of Christ by meditating on the Scripture verses used with the Jesse Tree. Spending time in prayer with these verses will take the childhood tradition you remember to the next level.

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St. Andrew Novena: This Novena, which is also called the “Christmas Novena” or “Christmas Anticipation Prayer”, starts on the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) and ends on Christmas Day. Praying this novena prayer daily for a particular intention is a beautiful way to continually remind yourself what you are preparing to celebrate at Christmas. The Prayer is: “Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.”

Spiritual Reading: Seek out spiritual reading material particular for the season of Advent.

A few titles to consider are: Advent Reflections: Come, Lord Jesus by

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VENUES OF GRACE

Archbishop Timothy Dolan; Dawn of the Messiah by Edward Sri; and Reed of God by Caryll Houselander. Don’t feel discouraged if you only have time for a few minutes of reading a day. The time that you set aside, even if it is short, will help you stay focused on what you are striving for this Advent.

“O” Antiphons: From December 17th-23rd, the Church intensifies her preparation for the Birth of Christ by adding the “O” Antiphons to the Liturgy of the Hours.

These prayers, which date back to the early Church, are an excellent way to enter into the “ancient expectancy” of the Savior because they are based on Isaiah’s prophecies about the Messiah.

Even if you have never prayed the “O” Antiphons in their original form, you are probably already familiar with them, since the traditional Advent song, O Come, O Come Emmanuel is actually a poetic version of the ancient prayers. Visit Catholic Online (www. catholic.org/advent/advent.php?id=7) for an excellent resource for praying the “O” Antiphons this Advent.

The Rosary:

Incorporate a daily rosary into your Advent observance, focusing especially on the Joyful Mysteries and the events of Christ’s early life. Who could be a better Advent companion than Mary? More than any other woman, she truly knew what Advent was all about and lived it in every moment of her life. Pope Benedict XVI has referred to Mary as the “Woman of Advent”, and has encouraged us to “learn from her” so that we can “live a daily life with a new spirit, with feelings of profound expectation which only the coming of God can satisfy.”5 1 CCC 524 2 Saunders, Rev. William. “The History of the Advent Wreath.” Arlington Catholic Herald. (http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/ re0132.html) 3 Ibid.

4 CCC 522 5 http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/popereflects-on-advent-experience-of-expectation/

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Blessed John Paul II, Pray for us!

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