Five Lenten Resources for Writers

Blessed Lent!

There are many ways to approach Lent: as a season of penitence and/or conversion, as a time to grow spiritually, etc. This year I’m focusing on the fact that Lent is the Church’s retreat for the entire People of God. Having made a full-time 30 Day Retreat last year, I am actually looking forward to making this Lent as a retreat.

What makes a good retreat?

• The intention to enter fully into the retreat, making our relationship with God central to our day
• Open, listening attitude to God’s Word and work in us
• Extra time and/or a particular focus for our prayer
• Silence

I want to use this Lent as a retreat not just for my spiritual life, but also for my writing. Here are five great resources for a retreat for creative types:

1. The Soul Tells a Story: Engaging Creativity with Spirituality in the Writing Life by Vinita Hampton Wright. This wonderful book, which I’ve blogged about before, gives amazing insights into the connection between our spiritual lives and our creative lives. While it’s not a book specifically directed to Lent, reading this book is its own journey and could definitely complement a Lenten focus. Some of the practices that I’ve developed for my writing life are affirmed and deeply explored in this book, such as creating balance, nurturing creativity, forming oneself as a creative artist. The Soul Tells a Story is also much more than a book to read. Each chapter begins with a series of quotations from other writers and ends with a series of writing exercises to deepen the theme of the chapter. Really great for both advanced and beginning writers, the only wish I have for this book is that it had been laid out in a format that gives a bit more space, as the content of each chapter is so rich. (I am very fond of the workbook approach in such books as Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, or How To Handle Worry Workbook: A Catholic Approach by Marshall Cook.)

2. Praying Freedom: A Book of Lenten Meditations by Vinita Hampton Wright. This small book creatively offers a focus for the six weeks of Lent. Each chapter offers a Scripture passage and reflection with questions, an exercise for the reader’s imagination, a practice and prayer for the week. A wonderful resource I look forward to using this year.

3. Daily Reflections for Lent: Not By Bread Alone 2013 by Bishop Robert Morneau. While I haven’t read this yet (it is a new release for 2013!), Bishop Morneau’s reflections always include examples and insights from the arts, particularly poetry and literature. His special emphasis on beauty in his reflections always inspire me.

4. The Power of Small Choices: A Creative Approach to Your Lenten Journey  by Hilary Brand.   Essentially, this is a five-week Lenten course that uses two amazing films, Shawshenk Redemption and Babette’s Feast to delve more deeply into the Scriptures and focus on the choices that we make in our lives. A wonderful course to do by one’s self or with a group!

5. Seven Last Words by Fulton J. Sheen. It’s been a while since I’ve read this classic, but as one of the best writers and preachers of the 20th century, Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s writings continue to help us not only grow in our spiritual lives, but learn how an expert communicates Christ effectively.

What resources have you found that are most helpful to making Lent a time of spiritual and creative growth? I look forward to hearing your suggestions in the comments, as well as your feedback if you decide to use any of the resources I’ve posted about. Your input/feedback may inspire another reader’s Lent!

Resources To Reflect on Pope Benedict’s Legacy…

Here are some wonderful resources to help us reflect on the past eight years with Pope Benedict XVI, and to continue to pray for him and now for the Church in this time of transition!

Prayer for the Church at This Time

Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI–multiple resources and links from Pauline Books & Media.

Timeline of Pope Benedict’s Life & Papacy

Father Thomas Rosica’s Reflection on Pope Benedict’s Resignation in today’s Globe and Mail, and Father Thomas Rosica’s Comments with City TV News yesterday.

Announcements and Updates–from Whispers in the Loggia

 

Overcoming Doubts: A Writer’s Asceticism

In light of this morning’s announcement, let us hold Pope Benedict XVI and the Church in our prayers.

* * *

This Sunday’s readings really struck home for me this weekend. All of them are about being called by God, and all include a reference to the immense unworthiness the called person felt: Isaiah, Paul of Tarsus, and Peter the Apostle.

This sense of unworthiness really resonates with me for many reasons, but especially right now.  I’m almost at the midpoint of my first major rewrite of my book on the Eucharist, and I’m starting to undergo my midpoint doubts: “You don’t have anything worthwhile to say”; and especially, the doubt particular to this project: “You aren’t worthy/ready to write about the mystery of the Holy Eucharist.”

No matter how much I write, doubts like these always surface at these points:

1) Right about the time I’ve committed to the work and have a deadline

2) From 1/3-2/3 of my first draft

3) Beginning any major rewrite

4) Midpoint through any major rewrite

Sometimes the doubts are so strong I want to give up. But giving up is a mistake. Giving up shakes my self-confidence in general, not just for writing. Overcoming the “inner obstacles” to fulfill our call to write requires a particular asceticism, in addition to the usual asceticism we practice as Catholics and in our spiritual lives. (Asceticism in the Christian sense is the discipline that helps us to free ourselves from tendencies–sinful or not–which can be obstacles in the spiritual life. Mortification, training, moderation, and self-restraint are all terms that highlight particular aspects of asceticism.) Since we start Lent this week, I’ve been thinking a bit more about asceticism.

Blessed James Alberione, who has developed a wonderful spirituality for communicators as the Founder of the Pauline Family, encouraged an approach to asceticism that I find especially helpful. While he recognized the need for discipline and mortification, he felt that it was really important to “replace” whatever we give up with something positive. Alberione’s Pauline spirituality, focused on the person of Christ, encouraged communicators to live Christ in our minds, wills, and hearts. Perhaps because they were less spoken about in his day, he focused in a particular way on sanctifying our thoughts and feelings. He encouraged replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, and nurturing holy desires to replace desires that don’t lead us to Christ. 

Since I intend to complete my rewrite during Lent, what ascetic practices could helpful for me to continue, even when I undergo strong doubts?

Sanctify my thoughts

*Let go of or dismiss overwhelming doubts
Sometimes it helps if I challenge my doubts with reality. (e.g. “My editor must think I can write this book, since she accepted the project.” Or: “One of my test readers liked the chapter they read.” This happened to me just the other day, when someone called to tell me what a difference my book, See Yourself Through God’s Eyes, has made in the life of his friend.) Sometimes it is helpful to see my persistent doubts as a temptation from the devil, so that I bring them to prayer right away, asking Jesus to overcome them. 

*Make a habit of thinking positive thoughts about my writing and about this project.
Positive thoughts are not to build up my ego, but simply to encourage me through the challenges. High expectations derail my writing, so it’s important to stay rooted in reality and let go of fantasies like writing “the best book ever.” Realistic, positive thoughts such as this can give me the encouragement to keep going: “My book might help some people to begin adoration, and it might help others to deepen their appreciation of the gift of the Eucharist”

Sanctify  my will 

*Don’t stop writing no matter what.
Some ways that I keep up a writing momentum:
–Start each new writing session with a writing exercise or brainstorming
–If necessary, break my writing down into small steps and just focus on one step
–Take a break by doing a practical task that I can complete in an hour or less. 

If I really get stuck, switching to another writing project can be extraordinarily helpful.

*Take care of myself spiritually, emotionally, physically; practice moderation in my day to day choices even more than usual.
When my writing session is going really well or really poorly, I tend to get overly preoccupied and start to ignore things like meals or exercise. In this case, living with other people is helpful, even when it interrupts a great writing session. The convent schedule helps provide a balance: prayer together, meals, meetings, recreation, etc. (My community and I have agreed that one day a week is a more intensive writing day, and the sisters know that I won’t be present at certain times that day.) On my more intensive writing days, it’s even more important than usual to stick with a healthy routine that includes exercise, enough sleep, etc.

Sanctify my heart

*Watch out for the emotional highs and lows that come with writing intensely.
For me, this involves: accepting the intense feelings, offering them to Jesus, and letting them go whenever possible. Journaling or talking with a trustworthy friend about the intense highs and lows can also help me to process intense feelings so that they don’t become overwhelming.  

*Let go of paralyzing fears
Though I may still feel fearful, I don’t focus on my fears. When fear becomes particularly intense, I pray for the future readers or viewers of my project. Focusing on their needs helps to keep my fears in perspective.

*Entrust the project and all my feelings about it to Christ, so that He can make of it what He wants.

None of us will ever be “worthy” of our call, whatever we write. Following Christ is not about becoming worthy, but it is about trusting in Him and His love. As I continue to pray with yesterday’s Gospel (Luke 5:1-11), I ask for you and myself that we may put aside our doubts and wholeheartedly put our trust in Christ so that we can “put out into the deep” in our writing. 

How To Maintain a Writing Focus

I am facing a relatively new challenge in my writing these days.

Usually, challenges to my writing focus more around how to delve into my writing, or how to go back and forth between the highly introverted self that is able to dig deep and write from that deep place, and the highly functional, friendly, almost-extroverted “public” self that gives lectures, plans and hosts events, leads faith and film dialogues, makes “cold calls” on the phone, etc. While I enjoy both “modes” of being, they represent extremes for me. Going back and forth between these extremes–especially when I’m writing deeply, or doing a series of workshops/lectures, is actually painful and disorienting for me. This continues to be my greatest challenge in writing–perhaps in part because I’m juggling so many deadlines as well.

This week, I have transitioned from almost two weeks of nonstop events where I’ve been my more “public” self, to a place where my introverted self can safely write more deeply–hopefully for the next two weeks. (My hope/goal this week is to write the second draft of two and half chapters of my newest book on the Eucharist.) I do not often have the opportunity to “delve deep into writing” in my day-to-day life, but the topic of my book–adoration of the Eucharist–requires a more introspective mode to write. I have to admit, I’m quite excited because out of the two “modes” of being, this mode is definitely my favorite. But two anxieties continue to hover in the back of my mind:

1. That I have nothing of value to say 

2. That I won’t be able to maintain focus and write; that my energy and focus for these two weeks, which requires intensity, depth, and long hours, are going to wear out in less than a couple of days 

Praying for the gifts of the Holy Spirit for writers: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, and knowledge.

The first worry is always present, something that I suspect most writers just learn to live with, and I’ve blogged about it a lot.  But the second is a relatively new concern, since I’m only used to one-day intensive writing days, or perhaps a two-day stretch. I’m thinking “onscreen” here: how can I maintain both focus and stamina in the midst of my everyday life? 

Perhaps I need to re-visit previous blog and journal entries about nurturing my writing self and the writing life. Here are a couple of things I will try…and I’ll post how it goes for me. 

1) Less is more. 

I’ve set my goal for this week, and now I need to forget it. Taking it slow has always worked for me. Even to the point that sometimes, I “waste” my first writing session by just journaling, unwinding, brainstorming. The problem is that I like to feel in control and I like to evaluate my progress constantly. But that’s not really writing, which is about listening, surrendering in the moment, and discovery. Pushing myself when I’m writing is like driving while looking behind me–not only will I be distracted, but I’ll likely crash into something.

2) Take care of myself. 

This is a requirement for most of the time that I’m writing. Writing this intensively requires that I be relatively serene, rested, nurtured, exercised–perhaps even more than usual. When I make a retreat, the first thing I make sure to do is to rest. (I even try to arrive for retreat well-rested, but if not, then I make sure to get extra sleep those first couple of days.)

3) Immersion.  

Holding my writing project gently in mind, allowing it to be always present, always “on my mind” is a great way to keep focus and to allow my subconscious thoughts and feelings about the writing to emerge. Even when I’m not writing, I’m writing. Of course, I will take breaks during the week, such as emptying my mind before I go to bed, or in chapel, or during short snacks. But in those in-between moments of my day, whether I’m stuck in traffic, taking a walk, or waiting for water to boil, I can return to this project gently.

The key for me here is to be “gentle.” What is the writing saying to me? Is the Holy Spirit inspiring me? How do I feel about the paragraph I’m working on, or the focus of this chapter?

4) Trust. 

To combat the daily, hourly, or momentary doubts that always arise during my writing, I will make a simple act of trust in the Lord. The main reason that I write is because I feel that the Lord has called me to–and in this case, I feel that the Lord has invited me to write this particular book. Never mind that I don’t feel ready, or worthy, or that I’m writing about one of the greatest mysteries of faith, a Mystery that theologians and saints have struggled to express.

My act of trust will be spontaneous, but I suspect will be something like: Jesus Master, I trust in You, in Your call to write, in Your love for me and Your presence with me. Hold me in Your Heart and inspire my every keystroke and word. I trust in You, Sacred Heart of my Master! 

Sr. Rose as “Mediator at Crossroads of Faith and Film” at NYTimes.com

Our dear sister, Sr. Rose Pacatte, FSP, and her role “Acting as a Mediator at the Crossroads of Faith and Film” is featured in a lovely article published on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul at the NY Times.com.

Pope Thoughtfully Explores Social Media: My Non-Expert Take

My desk this morning: the Pope and Social Media!

On Dec. 12, 2012 (the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe), Pope Benedict sent his first tweet. How appropriate then, is the theme of his message for the 2013 World Communications Day: social media! Titled Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization, the Message is a thoughtful exploration of social media—especially the opportunities they offer to build human relationships.

Over the years, I have found these Messages for World Communications Days gems for understanding the gifts that the media are to humanity, as well as helpful tools for using them responsibly, ethically, and as a means for evangelization.

In a particular way I welcome the Pope’s message this year, as I am no expert in social media. In fact, due to a lack of time, I still use social media in a very limited way. (Perhaps I will juggle my priorities so I can make more time in the future!) My friends know that I’m not often on Facebook: right now, I use it to announce events and encourage young women discerning their vocations, and not for much else. Up till now, my Twitter account (SisterMPaul) is limited to notifying followers when I’ve posted here on my blog. I’d like to be online more, and I’m putting together some great resources for the web pages I’m currently developing that are specifically focused for readers of my books (or those who use the See Yourself Through God’s Eyes app).  Social networks allow people to connect, share common interests, and develop relationships—both digitally and in “real” physical space.

Pope Benedict’s thoughtful appraisal of the characteristics of social media really resonates with me, helping me to discern how I can more effectively use the strengths of social media, and what to take special note of so that the limitations don’t damage the quality of my online communication and relationships. In his Message, he comments on:

• Conditions that foster the best of social media: where dialogue and debate thrive
• The aspirations of the human heart that drive social networks
• Challenges that the culture of social networks offers to communicators
• The understanding and language of social media (briefly)
• Evangelization and social media: suggestions for communicating faith, and the faith that we need to nurture as communicators

Pope Benedict’s last couple of messages clearly show how the Church has come to understand social media as a public space in which the Church needs to have a wise, inclusive, and dialogical presence. This year’s Message calls social media a new “agora.“  Like all media, social media are both a product of human activity and an influence that shapes human activity; in a specific way, social media directly connect to human interactions and relationships.

 * * *

I want to highlight two points which resonate with me in timeliness and my own approach to media. First, in speaking about the “new language” of social media, Pope Benedict says:

Effective communication, as in the parables of Jesus, must involve the imagination and affectivity of those we wish to invite to an encounter with the mystery of God’s love - Message for the 47th World Communications Day

In this postmodern, post-Christian era, engaging the imagination and emotions of those with whom we communicate is an absolute necessity. Storytelling has become essential not just in retaining attention, but in truly engaging people’s attention in the first place. Stories appeal to our hearts and minds–a very holistic approach encouraged by media apostle and Pauline Family Founder, Bl. James Alberione. When stories are exceptionally well-told:

1. they engage our emotions by drawing us into the situation of the character, hopefully to the point that we are able to identify with their experience.
2. they engage our minds as we ponder the meaning of events that unfold (God is in the plot, rather than as one character)

A new book entitled, Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence offers scientific evidence that stories respond to the ways our brain works. Author Lisa Cron develops this point by point, helping writers craft stories that, from beginning to end, will engage those who are listening, watching, or reading. This book is on my list to read, but as a developing feature screenwriter, as a public speaker and author of books on spirituality, I discovered years ago that stories are essential if I want to effectively communicate with others. This is not a new principle—Jesus takes advantage of this—but in recent years both my own experience and religious communicators like Pierre Babin have helped me appreciate much more how absolutely essential it is to tell stories if we want to be effective communicators today.

The second point I wish to reflect on in this Message is that, no matter how new are the media with which we engage, what is “behind” them is always the same: the human heart.

The basic human desire to love and be loved, and to find meaning and truth—a desire which God himself has placed in the heart of every man and woman—keeps our contemporaries ever open to what Blessed Cardinal Newman called the “kindly light” of faith. – Message for the 47th World Communications Day

The human heart is always the same…and while the technology might change and develop (even at astonishing speeds), the needs that we seek to fulfill, whether in person or digitally, are the same. What this means for me as a communicator is that I want to strive for authenticity, the best of my humanity, and the deepest of faith in all of my communication and relationships. Love—specifically God’s saving love manifested in Christ—is always what we are called to point towards!

Saints Alive! — Title of My New Books

Our new books will soon be on the shelf in our PBM Centers!

I just received exciting news: the new saints books that I have co-authored and edited with Sr. Mary Lea Hill, fsp, (of Basic Catechism fame), finally have finalized titles and release date!

Saints Alive! The Faith Proclaimed
and
Saints Alive! The Gospel Witnessed

Each book has about thirty lives of the saints, organized according to theme (more on that later). We wrote the books to show how the saints are real people, who face the kinds of challenges that we face (and sometimes much greater), but who allow God’s grace to work in them. Their challenges become their way to holiness. 

Dramatizing the Saints

What makes these books different than other books on the saints? Because they make the saints accessible. Each story zooms in on one big, important moment from the life of that saint and dramatizes how they heroically choose God…whether it’s a parent going after a rebellious son, a priest answering a missionary call, or a mother discovering she has cancer. The dramatized story is rounded out with a summary of the whole life of the saint or blessed, as well as a “lesser known facts box” that gives fascinating details about the saint. (And the saints are truly fascinating people!)

The idea of dramatizing a moment for each saint’s life comes from the classic Daughters of St. Paul saints series that was published years ago under the titles, Moments of Decision, Heroes from Every Walk of Life, and Every Man’s Challenge. We even took some of the original stories and revised or updated them, but both volumes of Saints Alive! are completely new books, with many new saints and blesseds, extra features, etc. 

These saints books took less time to write than I expected, but much more research, so it’s incredibly exciting to also have a release date of September, 2013! I’m hoping I’ll be able to do some book-signings and talks in both the Toronto and Boston areas throughout the fall. 

The Star That Guides Us…in Life and in Writing!

My writing journey for 2013 started with revising my new book on the Eucharist, and researching what it means to have a writer’s platform–specifically how I can better “get the word out” about  our new books that will be released in 2013. Unlike many writers, for me a writing platform is not to promote me or my name, but to evangelize.

Making this distinction then led me to think about the focus of my writing life/mission as a Daughter of St. Paul, which I journaled about quite a bit. It’s always good to revisit one’s personal mission statement, especially at the beginning of a new year. At today’s feast day Mass of the Epiphany, my reflections led me to think about the Magi and how they so courageously followed a star. Poetically that’s very beautiful, but if a friend told you they were going to drop everything in their life and go on a journey, following not a planned itinerary, but a star, mightn’t you think they were crazy? With the lens of time,  we know that the Magi weren’t crazy, but very, very wise. But I doubt if they were always sure of  that.

And this led me to muse: What has been the “star” on the spiritual journey of my life? What has consistently given me purpose and meaning, and guided me closer to Christ? Surprisingly, I realized that what guides my spiritual journey also guides my writing journey.

The “Star” guiding me on my writing and spiritual journey(s) has been God’s love. Even when I didn’t know it, God’s love has guided my choices, revealed my path, even when it’s only been one step at a time. As I grow, God’s love has also become my “safety net” that allows me to take risks, to dare, to go in new directions.

What is the “Guiding Star” of your life? of your writing journey? How are they connected? I would love to hear  what inspires you to write in the new year!

Thanksgiving for 2012

I have many special reasons to feel blessed by the Lord at the end of 2012

• My 25th Jubilee of Religious Profession
• Making the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius  and all the graces that continue to flow from this month-long retreat (I really need to blog about this once-in-a-lifetime experience…soon!)
• Teaching a course on the Pauline mission to our postulants (of the Daughters of St. Paul–three of whom have gone on to become novices)
• Meeting so many wonderful people. This is true most years, but it’s something to thank God for every year.
• New and deepened friendships (you know who you are!)
• Discovering and joining the Catholic Writers Guild
• Completing two half-books (on the saints) and finishing the rough draft of a new book on the Eucharist
• The opportunities to write for the Catholic Register, to offer regular movie commentaries to Salt + Light Radio, and to write for our newly developing Video Department
• The many ways the Pauline mission has touched the people of Canada–including our Cinema Divina nights, our Pauline Cooperators, our discernment days and mini-courses…
• My improved health

A surprising number of these blessings are connected to writing. And there are many, many blessings that I have not listed here, but will be thanking God for in a special way tonight, as we “pray out” the old year and “pray in” the New. Feel free to share the blessings you’ve received this year!

Te Deum laudamus! 

The A’s of Advent for Writers: Alive!

My last “A” for Advent (borrowed from Father Richard Rohr’s Preparing for Christmas with Richard Rohr–Daily Meditations for Advent) takes us right into the season of Christmas: Alive! Advent is a season of waiting for new life.

The “perfect imperfection” of three evergreens

The prophet Isaiah and the prologue of the Gospel of John make it very clear that God doesn’t stop creating. God is always giving us new life: The Father continually re-creates us in His love, sustaining our existence; the Son continually saves and heals us–no matter how much we struggle or fall into sin, we can always go to Him for forgiveness, strength, and healing; the Spirit continually guides and inspires us–He is the Fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to “be with us always.”

Christmas is a celebration of the new life of a Baby–both the most human of events and the most divine. The Infant Christ who takes His first breath in a musty stable also wants to come into the imperfect, stained stable of our hearts, so that He can bring us life. While we want to prepare our hearts to receive Him–that’s why we strive to live awake, aware, and alert!–the most important thing is that we open our hearts to Him, no matter what state they are in.

We are imperfect beings, and yet, God loves us in our imperfection. There is a solidity about the physical imperfection of our world, and a “realness” about our human imperfection. This “realness” is where God wants to enter in. Otherwise, the Lord would not have chosen to be born in a stable, but perhaps in a palace.

As writers, we also want to open our hearts to how the Lord can work through the imperfection of our writing. Writers who are like me are never satisfied with their work. Even after it is posted or published, we wish we could go back and tweak it, or in some cases, completely delete it.

If I wait to feel that any of the pieces that I write are “ready,” I would never publish anything. No one would ever see what I’ve written.

Yet, some of the pieces that I feel most vulnerable about are the ones that readers tell me moved them deeply. As a writer and communicator for the Christ Child born in a stable, I need to accept the imperfections of my work, knowing that those “faults” or “cracks” in my writing that I simply cannot fix may be just what is needed for someone else to deeply connect with what I’m trying to say.

As Catholics and as writers, we are called to live in newness of life this Christmas, and to share that abundance of life with others, notwithstanding our imperfections.