Kathryn Griffin Swegart's Blog, page 2

Going on a Road Trip?

Teenage friends on a road trip on a summers day

…Here is another suggestion.

As I pointed out in my last post, nothing makes a roadtrip speed right along than an exciting audiobook to keep the kids entertained. Hopefully, you all gave Perilous Days a try. It is one of my favorite books. Everyone loves an exciting dog story.

https://www.amazon.com/Perilous-Days-Brave-Hearts/dp/B07SH1Q2MZ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0

Time to give my book Martyrs a listen. Here is what one happy reader had to say.

5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book!

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2020

Verified Purchase

Kathryn Swegart has written a beautiful and inspiring story about the life, ministry, and martyrdom of Father Sebastian Rale (1689-1724). Readers who enjoy historical fiction and are in search of a well-told story will love this book. Martyrs (Brave Hearts Book 2) is full of adventure, courage, and compassion – all necessary elements in a memorable tale. Yet, perhaps most importantly, the author inspires readers to follow the example of Father Rale, and through his work, the Wabanaki people, as they longed to know, love, and obey God – especially to regularly encounter our Savior in the holy eucharist.
Swegart’s style of writing draws the reader into the story. Her descriptions of sights, sounds, and feelings bring characters and events to life. I found this aspect of her book especially appealing.
The setting for this story was especially interesting to me, as one of my ancestors, 22-year-old John Webb III of Northampton, Massachusetts, was captured by an amalgam of native peoples called “Albany Indians” on 9 Feb 1689/90 and taken to Canada. John was freed or escaped by 5 Mar 1692/3, when he married Anna Corneliszen in Hackensack, New Jersey, before returning to Springfield, Massachusetts. I’ve often wondered about John’s life among the native peoples in Canada. His survival suggests that he may have encountered the same humanity – Christian charity – that we read about in this book.
I especially enjoyed reading about Father Rale’s faithful ministry. His actions, prayers, admonitions, and advice all reflect the character of a true servant of God. I highly recommend this book!

https://www.amazon.com/Martyrs-Brave-Hearts-Book-2/dp/B07X1M5DTL/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0

Enjoy and happy travels!

The post Going on a Road Trip? first appeared on Kathryn Swegart.

Win a Free Book!

Seriously…and no strings attached!

This summer we celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the first ecumenical council. The Nicene Council was called by Constantine who was the first Christian emperor of Rome. It was convened in response to the Arian heresy that denied the divinity of Christ. How amazing to think that every Sunday we say the Nicene Creed that dates to 325.

We all know of the murderous persecution of Christians under Roman emperors. So how did it happen that Constantine became sympathetic to Christians? In the year 318, General Constantine commanded the Roman Empire’s western province with an army of 20,000 men. He prepared to battle another Roman general, Maxentius, who led an army of 190,000 soldiers. Constantine’s army prepared for battle with a sense of doom. How could they win a fight in which they were so greatly outnumbered?

One night before the battle, Constantine had a vision of a fiery cross that appeared in the sky. Later, in his tent, he had another vision in which a mysterious man appeared carrying a banner emblazoned with the cross. The man said, “In this sign you will conquer.”

Against all odds, Constantine’s army won the battle, became emperor of Rome, and stop the persecution of Christians. You can read this amazing story in my book Miraculous II. Also found in this book for young readers (ages 7 and up) you can read about the stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi, the discovery of St. Peter’s tomb, and the mysterious apparition in Knock, Ireland…and more. Here is the link.

To win the book, simply be the first to email me through this website. Include your email and mailing address. I will not share this information. 

The post Win a Free Book! first appeared on Kathryn Swegart.

Taking a Roadtrip?

…and want your kids to be engrossed in an exciting book?

Nothing makes the miles pass by than an engrossing audiobook. Here is my recommendation: Perilous Days. This is one of my favorite dog stories. Unlike most of my books, this one has many fictionalized characters including an intrepid German Shepherd and many plot twists.

Here is a review by one happy reader.

Meet Felix Culpa Schmidt, 16, in Germany in 1941. His grandmother has just died and his grandfather, who fought in WWI, is predicting hard times ahead. By Felix’s side is Rolf, a German shepherd pup. Willy, 5, is disabled. The priest at Mass the following Sunday describes Adolf Hitler as evil and wanting to dispose of the elderly and disabled, calling them “useless eaters”. Is Willy safe? Grandfather was right. Life is about to change.

Indoctrination of all youth through the Hitler Youth Corps membership had been made mandatory in 1936. What happens when Felix is chosen to carry the banner? In 1943 Felix and Rolf find themselves at the canine corps training center in Frankfurt. Rolf is to be trained to find injured German soldiers. A month later they are off to the frozen plains of Russia.

Whilst based on strong Catholic theology this is still an excellent historical fiction read. Due to the situations involved I would not recommend this for younger children but definitely for teenagers and above. It is unusual to read a book from this era that does not focus on the Holocaust. The book is well written and VERY believable. In fact at the end you can read some short biographies on some of the real characters.

Enjoy the story and safe travels.

https://www.amazon.com/Perilous-Days-Brave-Hearts/dp/B07SH1Q2MZ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0

The post Taking a Roadtrip? first appeared on Kathryn Swegart.

Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena

Inspiration for the Feast of Corpus Christi

Peter of Prague, a German priest traveling on pilgrimage to Rome in 1263, could never have imagined he was about to witness a miracle. Given permission to say Holy Mass at the tomb of the martyr St. Christina, he prepared for the celebration. Nagging doubts preyed on his mind. Was Jesus truly present in the consecrated Host? Peter tried to shake the thoughts, for he was a pious priest. Still, doubts buzzed in his mind like bees. 

Time for the consecration. “Take this. all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body which will be given up for you,” he prayed. 

Suddenly, blood seeped from the Host, down his hands and onto the altar linens. Confused by the miraculous turn of events, Peter attempted to conceal the blood. That proved impossible. In front of the astonished eyes of the congregation, Peter stopped the Mass and hurried to nearby Orvieto where Pope Urban IV resided.

After an investigation, the miracle was confirmed. A short time later, the Hosts and blood-stained linens were brought to the cathedral in Orvieto. One year later, the pope wrote a papal bull establishing the Feast of Corpus Christi, celebrated this year on Sunday, June 22. Pope Urban IV commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the Office of the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours for the new feast day. St. Thomas also composed the hymns “Pange Lingua” and “Tantum Ergo” to celebrate Corpus Christi.

This brilliant saint pondered transubstantiation and wrote, “Faith for all defects supplying when the feeble senses fail.”

Italian Renaissance artist Raphael (1483-1520) painted a fresco depicting the famous Eucharistic miracle of Bolsena.

In the month of August 1964, the church celebrated the 700th anniversary of the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi. St. Pope Paul VI celebrated Mass at the altar in Orvieto where the blood-stained corporal is enshrined in a gold reliquary. The Pope arrived by helicopter, thus becoming the first pope to fly by that mode of transportation.

Peter of Prague likely would be amazed at this story. He might not have imagined that God knew of his doubts, of his feeble senses. Time and time again, God turns human weakness into strength. So might we be comforted in times of doubt.

The post Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena first appeared on Kathryn Swegart.

Pilgrims at Paine’s Creek

Observe the young couple walking along a beach on Cape Cod. Occasionally, the woman will pick up a shell or point out a periwinkle etching tracks in the mud flats. The man is quiet, ruminating on a profound decision in his life. Does he know that she knows the secret? The secret is hidden under his green baseball cap. 

Onward they walk until they come to a tidal stream that flows out to the Atlantic Ocean. It is called Paine’s Creek and is a favorite spot of those fishing for striped bass. The couple stands silent, mesmerized by the endless flow of salt water that meets the shore. 

It is now or never. 

The young man takes off his green cap and takes out a small jewelry box. Inside is a diamond ring. 

Now my life really begins, the woman thinks. Now the fun begins. And I get to play tennis every day! 

By now you have probably guessed that I was that young woman. You probably also have guessed that I was happy about the prospect of marriage, but clueless about the depth and breadth of the endeavor. Never did I imagine that one day soon I’d cradle a newborn. My attire would be a t-shirt adorned with spit up and a cloth diaper slung over my shoulder. Tennis togs were relegated to the attic. 

Recently, my husband and I celebrated 44 years of marriage by visiting Cape Cod. We stood on the banks of Paine’s Creek and watched the river meander towards the wide Atlantic, unchanging in its journey.  

Many years ago, I did not know how much I would have to change. I did not know the meaning of that gift of self-giving offered every day in many ways.  

Children graced our lives. In labor, my daughter arrived “sunny side up.” I had never experienced such pain — all forgotten when I first held her and gazed into those trusting blue eyes. We bought a little Cape Cod house and soon prepared for the birth of our son, so strong and ready to charge into life. Five years passed and with it came three miscarriages. My father died suddenly on the same day as one of those miscarriages. 

My heart had an emptiness, yearning for another child, yet believing that would never happen. January of 1989 brought another miscarriage. Two months later, I was pregnant again. A dark cloud settled over me, believing that I would endure another loss. To my surprise, months passed, and the baby continued to develop in my womb. On December 1, I held a healthy newborn son in my arms. 

Marriage is more than a romantic adventure

Dr. Jeff Mirus, co-founder of Christendom College, reflected on the meaning of marriage in an article for CatholicCulture.org. In his perception, young couples look upon marriage as a romantic adventure filled with “a whirlwind of joy.” He wrote: 

A great many of those funny old couples who — after thirty, forty, fifty or sixty years — look to you like you’ve worn out just about everything that is good about marriage, actually know a depth of love that you aren’t yet capable of understanding.  

Mirus did not intend to criticize young couples. Rather, he affirmed the sacrament of marriage in which “love grows deeper and more powerful day by day.” 

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 I stood at the banks of Paine’s Creek, feeling like this was a sacred spot. Through all those decades of married life, I seldom thought about this tidal stream. Still, it flowed out to the great Atlantic, steady and true. Likewise, many days I never thought about God. I look back and realize that His love poured out on me every day, steady and true. 

The post Pilgrims at Paine’s Creek first appeared on Kathryn Swegart.

Happy St. George Day!

It is a joyous day in merry old England!

St. George

Visit merry old England on April 23 and you will become part of a joyful celebration is St. George Day! After all, the English must celebrate their patron saint. Village squares will be festooned with the Red Cross flag, used in remembrance of this solder-martyr. 

To study the history of St. George is to discover a detective story in which historians untangle fact from fiction. 

It is thought that he died in 303 and was canonized in 494. Popular in the Middle Ages, stories still abound that he is a holy helper of England. One story goes back to World War I. In 1914, British soldiers were surrounded by German troops with no means of escape. The British sheltered in foxholes, looked up, and saw winged army swooping down to protect them. In their hands were crossbows used in the Middle Ages. Many thought it to be St. George.

Just as the Germans were ready to launch their attack, they paused and the British escaped.

This summer look for the release of my next book, Rescued II and enter into the adventure of Catholic history, filled with heroes and death-defying moments. John Folley has really outdone himself with the spectacular cover of St. George fighting the legendary dragon. Watch this blog to know when my next book for Catholic kids is available for purchase.

Happy Easter to all!

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The Barbed Wire Crucifix

The miracle of Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun…

Today I will tell you the story of a crucifix not designed in an artist’s workshop. It was created by a Jewish Marine pilot in a Chinese POW camp during the Korean War. 

Christ in Barbed Wire was the work of Captain Gerry Fink, a marine reservist and World War II combat pilot who volunteered to serve in the Korean War. One day in August 1951, he flew his fighter jet low over an enemy convoy and was shot down. With quick action he was able to parachute into enemy territory, only to be captured by the North Koreans. With hands bound, he was dragged from village to village to Pak’s Palace, a notorious interrogation camp. After several months he and other officers marched 225 miles to a Chinese prison camp along the Yalu River. 

To his immense surprise, Fink discovered a totally different environment than he had experienced at Pak’s Palace. Prisoners looked out for each other, cared for each other and prayed together. The new arrival was confused. Why is this camp different? He asked the same question over and over. Each time the answer was the same, “Father Kapaun …Father Kapaun.” Why were they still talking about this Kansas farm boy who became a Catholic priest? 

Marine warrant officer Felix McCool and a devout Catholic, had the answer.  He described Father Emil Kapaun. 

He was a man of God. He would hold evening prayers, wash the clothes of the sick and hear confession. Doing all this while he was slowly eaten by disease, caused by lack of proper food, sanitation and clothing. 

Father Kapaun died of pneumonia and starvation in a Communist death house on May 23, 1950. Just before he died, the heroic priest asked other prisoners to continue to say prayers and pray the Rosary. They promised they would.  

Intrigued and inspired by the story, Captain Fink decided to use his skills as an amateur wood carver to honor Father Kapaun. Fink got to work carving a crucifix. The first step was to scrounge around for a large piece of wood. Amidst the rubble of a nearby building he discovered a four-foot hunk of scrub oak for the corpus. The cross was fashioned of cherrywood. He created carving knives from metal arch supports in decrepit boots, and gutter pipes were transformed into chisels. Drills were made from barbed wire. For two months Fink carved in secret. Pieces of radio wire became the crown of thorns. 

One day a guard saw him working on the 22-inch corpus. 

“Who is that?” the guard asked suspiciously. 

“Abraham Lincoln,” Fink replied. The guard shrugged and walked away. 

He needed one more tool to create the finishing touches. When the guards were not looking, he broke a window and used pieces of glass for sanding and smoothing. Finally, it was finished. Felix McCool stared at the crucifix and saw the suffering face of Jesus. He also saw the face of his beloved priest Father Kapaun, a man who rescued 30 wounded men on the battlefield. Fearlessly, Kapaun would race toward enemy fire to administer Last Rites or carry men back to safety. To the men suffering in the Chinese prison camp, the courageous priest became another Christ. 

As the Korean War dwindled to a close, the men named the crucifix Christ in Barbed Wire and hung it from the ceiling of their cell. On July 27, 1953, the war came to an end. Operation Big Switch oversaw the exchange of prisoners. Upon their release, McCool and two other prisoners were able to smuggle the crucifix past guards. 

Christ in Barbed Wire nowhangs in an exhibit case at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School in Wichita, Kansas, inspiring the next generation. 

Servant of God Emil Kapaun was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for valor in war. For 70 years, his body was missing in action. Through a miraculous chain of events, his body was identified. In 2021, Father Kapaun was given a hero’s welcome by the people of Kansas. Thousands attended the emotional funeral Mass attended by some of the Korean War veterans who still spoke with awe of this unforgettable priest. 

 His cause for canonization is moving forward. 

The post The Barbed Wire Crucifix first appeared on Kathryn Swegart.

Mary’s Magnificat

How an early-spring picnic led me to ponder the mystery of the Annunciation.

My dear husband can, at times, be a puzzling gentleman. Perhaps you can relate to this statement. I present to you a case in point.

On the Solemnity of the Annunciation, he wished to celebrate the feast in a unique way. He conjured up the perplexing idea of having a picnic. That may sound fine to you, but we live in central Maine, near the Canadian tundra. Technically, spring had arrived. A peek out the window told a different story. Clouds shrouded the sky and temperatures were a chilly 45 degrees. Heavy mist hung over the lake, still covered with ice.

“Let’s have supper at the lake!” he declared.

Now that is a surprising announcement considering his dislike of cold weather. Still, I ( grudgingly) packed a simple meal in the wicker picnic basket and we drove off for our next adventure. Thus began a dreary hour in which I wrapped myself in a blanket and munched on sourdough bread. All was solitary until a majestic bald eagle soared overhead and swooped down on us in search of fish carcasses. My husband gasped in delight and tried to capture the moment on video.

Attention now shifted westerly to dense, low-lying fog that floated over the ice, undulating in patterns, drifting like ghosts. I was enraptured, but soon it was time to pack up and leave. We drove home in silence as I pondered how this wintry picnic celebrated the Annunciation. That night I got my answer.

At dawn I woke up with a start. Images of the mystical fog came to mind. Yes, white fog hovered like the finger of God, real as that Incarnate moment of the Annunciation and of Mary’s Magnificat.

The post Mary’s Magnificat first appeared on Kathryn Swegart.

How to Reduce Your Child’s Screen Time

Here’s a fun tool to reduce screen time.

Since the advent of Smartphones in 2010, research has shown health risks associated with too much screen time for children. Recently, I learned of an invention that offers a positive alternative. It is called Yoto. 

What is Yoto?  

That’s a fair question, one that I had last Christmas upon visiting my son and his busy family of five young children. Blessed to live in northern New England where children enjoy sledding, skiing, and snowball fights, they also wage another battle inside their renovated farmhouse on a hill.  

Like many families, my son and his wife are vigilant about reducing screen time for their children. Classic hardcover children’s books are tucked in handy bookshelves or piled in a cozy book nook for the little ones. Every Friday they have a family movie night. 

All of these strategies have worked well over the years. On a recent visit I noticed a new tool in their anti-screentime toolbox. It is called Yoto, a screen-free audio device powered by physical smart cards—it’s not connected to the Internet at all. Fascinated, I watched as my grandchildren listened to classic stories like Make Way for Ducklings and The Magic Treehouse book series. I listened to a kid-friendly podcast in which a man with a delightful British accent told riddles and played Simon Says. 

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Yoto was developed in 2015 by two friends, Filip and Ben. Both were concerned about the negative effects of too much screen time on their children. The American Academy of Pediatrics had warned of the dangers of excessive screen time including obesity, sleep disruption, and attention problems. 

Ben noticed that his children thrived at a nearby Montessori school. Part of the philosophy was to give children independence in exploring the world using physical objects. Could they invent a screen-free audio device with physical cards that are inserted by the child in the device? 

As self-described “technophiles” with a specialty in digital music, Filip and Ben created a boxy prototype with a collection of smartcards. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, they launched their new business, selling out quickly. Their friend Tom, an industrial designer, improved the design, adding stereo and Bluetooth capacity. Families loved the product, and its popularity grew. 

An ever-growing catalogue, filled with high-quality selections, is impressive. Bestsellers include Paw Patrol, Chronicles of Narnia, Animal Songs, My First One Hundred Words, and The Boxcar Children. 

Dependence on screentime can be a tough habit to break. What a blessing for families to have a positive alternative that introduces children to an enriching world of entertaining music and classic literature. 

The post How to Reduce Your Child’s Screen Time first appeared on Kathryn Swegart.

Christmas in Maine

 It was to be a quiet Christmas, with our farmhouse buried deep in snow and a blizzard bearing down, tracked by radar from the Kansas prairie. Treacherous road conditions cut us off from civilization. At noon on the day before Christmas, a dim sun rose, rimmed with a dark circle…an ominous sign. Bitter winds blew from the east. 

Our son made it home in time to help us bring wood on the porch. Bedtime came early that Christmas Eve. I felt the old house shake as gales blew across the field. Snow drifted on the windowpanes and piled up on our door posts in shapes spooky as sheeted ghosts. Pulling blankets over my head, I fell into a deep sleep. I awoke on Christmas morning to a new world, filled with glistening light under the rising sun. Gone was the brush pile, now covered with a white dome of snow. We sipped hot coffee and ate fresh cranberry bread, gearing up for shoveling. The air was crisp and clean, with a cloudless blue sky. Thanks to the strong arms of my son, we cleared a path to the car and leaned on our shovels. We looked at each other and knew what we would do that afternoon. We would strap on snowshoes and hike in the woods behind our house. 

I felt exhilarated by the woods after a blizzard. I listened to the swish of my snowshoes plowing through powdery drifts. Dark-green fir trees stood laden in dazzling crystal snowflakes. Wisps of wind blew snow off the branches into my face. It was slow going pushing through drifts and I was tired. We stopped at an old pine tree. I heard scratching high up in the uppermost branches. A little critter looked down at me. I was surprised to see him, and he was surprised to see me. It was a flying squirrel. The critter leaped off the trunk and swooped in front of my face. It startled me. 

Startle is good on Christmas morning. After all, the Incarnation is a shocking event. God became Man and dwelt among us. Catholic convert and novelist Annie Dillard agrees. At Mass she hears bland sermons, observes lackadaisical parishioners and feels puzzled, wondering if people believe a word of the Gospel. She writes, “It is madness to wear straw hats and velvet to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews.” 

That night I turned on the white candle lights that sit on our windowsills. Colored lights twinkle on our Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments, reminding me of a birth in our family or the death of a loved one. Even as a child, these rituals made me think of the interplay of darkness and light, of good and evil that played out on that first Christmas day. Even as Jesus lay in the manger, Herod made plots to kill him. The Holy Family had no time to linger at the stable. They fled for their lives.

            It is all so fabulous and strange! I snowshoed in the winter woods, touched by the beauty of God’s creation, surprised by the wonder of Christmas Day.

The post Christmas in Maine first appeared on Kathryn Swegart.