Monday, October 21, 2013

Ha Nacido Una Madre Especial

The very week my book A Special Mother is Born was published two years ago this month, I received an email from a Peruvian priest on the way to Rome. His sister in Peru was expecting a child with Down syndrome and the good Padre asked me if A Special Mother is Born was available in Spanish. I was delighted to be able to answer "yes, someday". My friend Marta who publishes "Fe, Fuerza Y Vida" the Spanish language diocesan paper of Rockville Centre (Long Island, NY) was working on a translation. Sadly, Marta became ill and the translation was not finished.
It must have been God's will that the book become available in Spanish. Last year,  I made a friend in London, journalist and Catholic mom to a daughter with Down syndrome, the gracious Francis Phillips. We are both devoted to Servant of God, Dr Jerome Lejeune, who she wrote about her article Dr Lejeune, Patron Saint of Down's Syndrome? Note that she was able to write to Dr Lejeune for advice when her daughter was born in 1990. Francis was kind enough to review my book for the UK Catholic Herald and  Spero News. She also mentioned my book to her friend, Esther Greciano, acquisitions editor for Edicciones Rialp who contacted me this spring about publishing A Special Mother is Born in Spanish.
I have been keeping this a secret for nearly half a year, and today Esther gave me the go ahead to announce that Ha Nacido Una Madre Especial  will be available in November.
You may purchase it from the Rialp catalouge or from any one of my blogs via the PayPal button, where you may have it autographed.
I am grateful to God who blessed the work of not only my hands but the other parents whose stories are in the new book, and for my new friends Francis and Esther who understand our love for these beautiful gifts of God. And thank you once again, Dr Lejeune, your heavenly intercession which is being felt as your legacy of love and care for those with Down syndrome lives on
.



Bookmark and Share

Sunday, October 20, 2013

World Mission Sunday Fundraiser: Gabriela's Mission Trip to Eduardor

On World Mission Sunday I am offering the profit I make on my book, A Special Mother is Born as a donation to my daughter Gabriela's mission trip to Ecuador next March. She is going with Franciscan University of Steubenville and is raising funds for it now. Order my book by clicking the PayPal button on the upper right of the blog, order a book,  and I will donate my $6.00 profit to Gabbi's trip and ship you a copy of my book.
That way, everyone wins, you get a collection of inspiring stories from holy Catholic parents, and Gabbi gets closer to her goal of helping the poor in Ecuador.

Bookmark and Share

Friday, October 18, 2013

True Beauty lies Within


Lord Byron has written a timeless poem about a beautiful woman. If you read it carefully, most of this woman's beauty is spiritual,
 "The smiles that win the tints that glow,
 But tell of days in goodness spent,--
A mind at peace with all below, 
A heart whose love is innocent."
That's why my innocent, loving daughter is the perfect illustration for this poem.(Did I mention that she also has raven tresses!)








"She walks in beauty, like the night"


She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meets in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellow'd to that tender light 5
Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress
Or softly lightens o'er her face, 10
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek and o'er that brow
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent
The smiles that win, the tints that glow, 15
But tell of days in goodness spent,—
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent.


Bookmark and Share


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Monday, October 7, 2013

Where do you pray your Rosary?

In honor of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, I asked my holy,prayerful Facebook friends this question.
I pray it at bedtime.
Where do you pray your Rosary?
Here are there responses:
Bookmark and Share