Brandon Vogt's Blog, page 24

Learning from a Woman Leader in the 8th-Century Church

Today we continue our regular series called “Learning from the Saints.” Our guide is expert Bert Ghezzi, a dear friend of mine and the author of numerous books including Voices of the Saints, Saints at Heart, and Discover Christ: Developing a Personal Relationship with Jesus.

His more recent books are The Heart of Catholicism and Prayers to the Holy Spirit. You can learn more about Bert and his work at BertGhezzi.com.

Today, Bert profiles St. Leoba, an eighth-century missionary to Germany.

The last thing we might expect to find in the “Dark Ages” is an educated and holy woman who was a world-renowned leader in the Church. But such was Leoba, an Anglo-Saxon missionary, scholar, abbess, counselor to monks and bishops, confidant of kings and queens—and a saint.

Aebba, Leoba’s mother, dreamt that her womb bore a church bell which, when delivered, chimed merrily. So when her daughter Thrutgeba was born, she dedicated the baby to serve Christ. She nicknamed the girl “Leoba,” which means “beloved.” At age 7, Leoba was sent to the monastery at Wimbourne, where two other outstanding women, Tetta and Eadburga taught her the liberal arts and Scripture.

Rudolf, Leoba’s biographer, reported that once she had a dream that revealed her vocation:

“She had a dream in which one night she saw a purple thread issuing from her mouth. It seemed to her that when she took hold of it with her hand and tried to draw it out there was no end to it. And as if it were coming from her very bowels, it extended little by little until it was of enormous length. When her hand was full of thread and it still issued from her mouth, she rolled it round and round and made a ball of it.”

An elderly nun at Wimbourne with a prophetic gift explained that the dream announced Leoba’s great work:

“By her teaching and good example she will confer benefits on many people. The thread coming from her mouth signifies the wise counsels that she will speak from the heart. The fact that it filled her hand means that she will carry out in her actions whatever she expresses in her words. Furthermore, the ball which she made by rolling it round and round signifies the mystery of the divine teaching. It is set in motion by the words and deeds of those who give instruction. And it turns earthwards through active works and heavenwards through contemplation, at one time swinging downwards through compassion for one’s neighbor, again swinging upwards through the love of God. By these signs God shows that she will profit many by her words and example, and the effect of them will be felt in other lands afar off wherever she will go.”

The dream came to be when St. Boniface, a cousin of Leoba, invited her to assist his church-planting work in Germany. He wanted Leoba to care for women in his communities. So around 733, Leoba left Wimbourne and Boniface made her the abbess at Bishofscheim, where she led hundreds of nuns.

At the monastery, Leoba trained many young women in both secular and Christian studies. She herself became an accomplished scholar of Scripture, the Fathers and canon law. St. Boniface arranged for her to be an adviser to the elders at Fulda, the main center of his work. And Charlemagne and Hiltigard, king and queen of the Franks, sought her advice.

Thus, for nearly four decades Leoba served the infant Catholic Church in Germany. She died at Bishofscheim in 779.

Dreams with divine messages startled both Leoba and her mother. God seems to have worked in their imaginations to orient them for his service. I doubt that these women were focused on their dreams, recording them dutifully and hoping to find their life’s direction in them. More likely, they kept their lives, minds and spiritual ears open to God, and he spoke to them. Their example is a good one for anyone, who hankers after guidance from God.

 

 

(Image Credit: Roldez)

 

 

Read more from Bert at his website www.BertGhezzi.com, or check out his many books on Amazon.



 
 
 
 

 

The post Learning from a Woman Leader in the 8th-Century Church appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

“Jousting with the Devil” Giveaway!

“Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.” – St. Augustine

 

Since I’ve built up a large collection of extra books and resources, every week I give some away absolutely free, no strings attached.

Each giveaway lasts seven days with a new one beginning every Friday. You can enter any time during the week. Check out my past giveaways here.

Thanks to the American Chesterton Society, today I’m giving away THREE copies of the new paperback version of Fr. Robert Wild new book, Jousting with the Devil: Chesterton’s Battle with the Father of Lies.



 

 
Jousting with the Devil: Chesterton’s Battle with the Father of Lies

Fr. Robert Wild

American Chesterton Society, 194 pages, paperback

 

 

G.K. Chesterton believed in the Devil before he believed in God.

Jousting with the Devil: Chesterton’s Battle with the Father of Lies explores G.K. Chesterton’s encounter with the reality that is Satan. Whether or not you are familiar with Chesterton, you will be surprised at how familiar Chesterton is with this subject.

Though he seems to have an intuitive sense of truth whatever his subject matter, when Chesterton writes about the Devil, he knows what he is talking about for more than intuitive reasons because his wisdom is supplemented by personal experience.

 

 

I’m using Rafflecopter to help with the giveaway, which is cool because it allows you multiple entries for commenting, posting on Facebook, sharing on Twitter, etc. Click below to enter:

(If you’re reading this through email or RSS and don’t see the giveaway widget, click here.)

By entering this giveaway you agree to occasionally receive email updates from me—no spam, just updates about free books, cool links, and exciting news.

 

 

The winner(s) will be randomly selected next Friday and the books will be sent out, free of charge, shortly thereafter.

In the future I’ll be giving away more books and resources, sometimes multiple items per giveaway! So subscribe via feed reader or email to ensure you never miss your chance to win.

(Since I’m covering the shipping costs, only residents within the continental United States are eligible to win.)

The post “Jousting with the Devil” Giveaway! appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

Scripture: God’s Handbook for Evangelizing Catholics [Book]

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Scripture: God’s Handbook for Evangelizing Catholics by Stephen Binz (Our Sunday Visitor, 2014)

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According to the recent Synod on the New Evangelization, the Bible “should permeate homilies, catechesis, and every effort to pass on the faith.” It’s the ground of effective evangelization, as Stephen Binz well knows. For decades he’s helped Catholics to read and love the Bible. In his newest and most important book, though, he unlocks its evangelizing power. You’ll discover how reading Scripture equips you to share its message and how saints throughout history evangelized with the Bible. Read this book and you’ll become a potent evangelist yourself.

The post Scripture: God’s Handbook for Evangelizing Catholics [Book] appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

How the Incredible Fine-Tuning of the Universe Points to God

Many non-believers claim, “Science has buried the idea of God.” But is that true?

Not according to contemporary science itself, which continues to reveal extraordinary support for belief in a super-intelligent, transcendent, creative power standing at the origins of our universe—what most people call “God.”

One example is the apparent fine-tuning of the universe. The initial conditions of the universe, in the Big Bang itself, appear to have been exquisitely calibrated for the existence of intelligent life.

For example, take the cosmological constant. If this constant were changed in its value by just 1 part in 10120 parts, the universe would expand either too rapidly or too slowly. In either case, the universe would be life-prohibiting.

Another example is the mass and energy of the early universe. If it were not evenly distributed to an incomprehensible precision of 1 part in 1010123 parts (note that that is 10 to the power of 10 to the 123rd power!), the universe would not be hospitable to life.

Top physicists today, including many atheists and agnostics, affirm this incredible fine-tuning:

 

Wherever physicists look, they see examples of fine-tuning.Sir Martin Rees
atheist astronomer, President of the Royal Society

The remarkable fact is that the values of these numbers seem to have been very finely adjusted to make possible the development of life.Stephen Hawking
agnostic physicist, University of Cambridge

If anyone claims not to be surprised by the special features the universe has, he is hiding his head in the sand. These special features are surprising and unlikely.David Deutch
atheist physicist, University of Oxford

Why did [our universe] have to be the kind of universe which seems almost as if, in the words of the theoretical physicist Freeman Dyson, it “must have known we were coming”?Richard Dawkins
atheist biologist, author of The God Delusion

In light of this extraordinary fine-tuning for life, we must all ask the question: what explains it? There are only three possibilities. Either the fine-tuning is due to physical necessity (in other words the constants must have had the values they do), or it’s due to chance (the constants randomly settled on these values), or it’s due to design.

Which of these options best explains the evidence? William Lane Craig answers in this clear and helpful six-minute video:

 

 



 

 

For more on the argument for God from fine-tuning, and many other arguments for God backed by contemporary science, check out Trent Horn’s new book, =Answering Atheism: How to Make the Case for God with Logic and Charity and Fr. Robert Spitzer’s fascinating (but challenging) text, New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy.

The post How the Incredible Fine-Tuning of the Universe Points to God appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

“My Sisters the Saints” Giveaway!

“Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.” – St. Augustine

 

Since I’ve built up a large collection of extra books and resources, every week I give some away absolutely free, no strings attached.

Each giveaway lasts seven days with a new one beginning every Friday. You can enter any time during the week. Check out my past giveaways here.

Thanks to Image Books, today I’m giving away TEN copies of the new paperback version of Colleen Carroll Campbell’s book, My Sisters the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir.



 

 
My Sisters the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir

Colleen Carroll Campbell

Image Books, 240 pages, paperback

Released on September 23, 2014

 

 

A poignant and powerful spiritual memoir about how the lives of the saints changed the life of a modern woman.

In My Sisters the Saints, author Colleen Carroll Campbell blends her personal narrative of spiritual seeking, trials, stumbles, and breakthroughs with the stories of six women saints who profoundly changed her life: Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, Faustina of Poland, Edith Stein of Germany, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Mary of Nazareth.

Drawing upon the rich writings and examples of these extraordinary women, the author reveals Christianity’s liberating power for women and the relevance of the saints to the lives of contemporary Christians.

 

 

I’m using Rafflecopter to help with the giveaway, which is cool because it allows you multiple entries for commenting, posting on Facebook, sharing on Twitter, etc. Click below to enter:

(If you’re reading this through email or RSS and don’t see the giveaway widget, click here.)

By entering this giveaway you agree to occasionally receive email updates from me—no spam, just updates about free books, cool links, and exciting news.

 

 

The winner(s) will be randomly selected next Friday and the books will be sent out, free of charge, shortly thereafter.

In the future I’ll be giving away more books and resources, sometimes multiple items per giveaway! So subscribe via feed reader or email to ensure you never miss your chance to win.

(Since I’m covering the shipping costs, only residents within the continental United States are eligible to win.)

The post “My Sisters the Saints” Giveaway! appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

6 Ways to Turn Your Commute Into a Daily Retreat

I’m a husband. I’m a dad. And I’m confident in my vocation.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not drawn to the monastic life. The rhythms of prayer and work, silence and liturgy, study and service beckon like an enchanting voice from another world. I’m sure part of it is the whole “grass is greener on the other side” phenomenon, but I think there’s something else, too. Many of us uncloistered folk yearn for the silence and spiritual depth which seem to elude our hyper-active world, riches we think are only attainable within a priory.

For a long time, I thought it was impossible for the ordinary layperson to cultivate regular times of deep, undistracted prayer. With office jobs and bills and dinner and bath times there was simply no room for that.

But then something changed. I realized that I already had space for it, I just wasn’t using it well. I already had a sacred period every day when I was alone with my thoughts and open to prayer.

My commute.

In a typical day, I spent 30-60 minutes in the car and I usually wasted it. It was filled with cell phone chats, banal news, or talk radio, and through all those things I was giving up some of the most sacred time in my day.

This is probably true for you, too. Whether in a car, a train, or a bike, your commute offers a Benedictine cell, a place cut off from the demands and noise of the world.

What if you began to see it this way? What if you decided that your commute would be your sacred space? What if you turned your car into a monastery or your train into a convent?

Here are six ways I sanctified my own commute:

1. Listen to Catholic audiobooks, talks, and podcasts.

 

Instead of screaming at political commentary or zoning out to music, use your commute to strengthen your faith. Download an audiobook from Audible.com (click here to get a free Catholic audiobook). You can also find plenty of free public domain titles from Librivox.org. For example, here are fifty free Chesterton audiobooks (you’re welcome.)

When it comes to Catholic talks, the go-to source is Lighthouse Catholic Media. They have hundreds of CDs and MP3s from top Catholic speakers, past and present. For just a few bucks you can listen to Fulton Sheen, Mother Teresa, Scott Hahn, Peter Kreeft, and many more.

Podcasts are also great options. I listen to several every week, including many Catholic shows. These are some of my favorites (all of them are free through iTunes):

Fr. Robert Barron’s Word on Fire podcast –Here you’ll find Scripture commentary from one of the Church’s brightest minds. Fr. Barron reflects on the upcoming Sunday Mass readings and offers plenty of insights. The best part is that he usually uploads new homilies in the middle of the week, which means you can prepare for Mass a few days early.

Catholic Answers Live – The most popular Catholic radio show in the country with a strong focus on apologetics and evangelization. Most episodes are open Q&A, with calls from Catholics, Protestants, and even atheists. If you want to become better at defending and explaining your faith this will help.

Taylor Marshall Catholic Show – The popular Catholic blogger covers many topics like the Bible, the Church Fathers, and Medieval Philosophy, but it’s not stuffy. The fun and accessible episodes provide tips on how to have a life full of meaning, hope, and encouragement.

The SaintCast – Dr. Paul Camarata is on a recording sabbatical, but his podcast is still the best way to study the saints. Here’s his own description: “With profiles of these holy heroes, interviews, and through ‘soundseeing’ tours, Paul takes the listener from the catacombs of Rome, to the Areopagus Hill in Athens, to San Giovanni Rotondo, and to churches and holy places frequented by the saints all over the world. Taking a light-hearted approach to recounting these stories, he helps bring stories of the saints alive in our daily lives.” Even though new episodes are rare, you can browse the 141 archived episodes and listen to any you choose.

2. Stream an audio Bible.

 

If you have trouble finding time to study Scripture, this is a great solution. Most modern audio Bibles are more than dry, monotonous reading. They use music, aural effects, and professional voice actors to draw you into the text.

My favorite version is the Truth and Life Audio New Testament. It uses the RSV-Catholic Edition, and features several award-winning actors. It’s also endorsed by the Vatican and boasts an Imprimatur. I’m listening to the Book of Acts right now and find it completely absorbing. To get a feel, listen to samples at their website and download the Gospel of Mark for free.

3. Reflect through sacred music.

 

Nothing soothes the soul like Gregorian chant, or stirring lyrics from Audrey Assad or Matt Maher. Melodies like this can soften your heart before the day and relieve it on the way home. I find it so much easier to pray and reflect with sacred music streaming in the background, and you may too. It provides the perfect atmosphere to center your mind and place yourself in God’s presence.

Also, just a personal preference, but film soundtracks also affect me the same way. My current favorite is the work of Hans Zimmer. He’s the genius composer behind Inception, Batman Begins, The Lion King, Gladiator, and Pearl Harbor. When I crank up his music during my commute, my soul soars to epic new worlds.

4. Pray the Rosary.

 

Now this one’s a little tricky. Fingering the beads while driving is tough, though I’ve yet to see a car crash attributed to Our Mother. Like many people I keep a Rosary draped over my rear-view mirror. It’s a constant reminder to pray and I typically pull it down for a decade or two. You can pray the Rosary quietly, out loud, or, if you would like accompaniment, there are several guided Rosary CD’s which feature beautiful music and helpful reflections.

5. Embrace silence.

 

This might seem to contradict the first four recommendations, but the key is to alternate each strategy. Some days you need to feed your mind with podcasts. Others you can lose yourself in song. But other times you need nothing but quiet.

In our world, silence is rare. It’s tough to find amidst screaming kids, chatting co-workers, and blaring televisions. Your car, however, is a sanctuary—the one place where you can roll up the windows and block out the world. Deep down we all know how valuable this silence is, especially in the spiritual life. As Mother Teresa says, “God is the friend of silence.” Remember it was the quiet, contemplative Mary whom Jesus praised—not the busy, audible Martha. As an added bonus, your creativity will flourish. Most of my best ideas have come during a silent commute. If you’re a writer, blogger, speaker, or creative, sit quietly for thirty minutes and your mind will bubble over with ideas.

6. Talk to Jesus.

 

This might sound crazy, but instead of silent prayer I often talk to the Lord as if he was sitting in the seat next to me. It’s really helped the relational aspect of my faith. If you’re like me you pray plenty of formal and elegant prayers through Mass and other devotionals. And these are good. We need kingly language when speaking with royalty.

But Christ is not just Lord; he’s also Brother and Friend. Your commute is the perfect time to build this type of intimacy. When I drive to work, I confess what I’m worried about and I tell the Lord all that excites me. On the way home, I review the day with him, asking forgiveness where it’s needed and giving thanks everywhere else. In other words, your commute is perfectly suited for a daily “examination of conscience.” If you have trouble squeezing it in before bedtime, try it on the way home.

These are just six ways I create my portable monastery, but you probably have more. However you do it, though, don’t waste your commute. Take control and transform it. Turn it from a boring drive into a monastic cell, a place to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

It may have four wheels instead of four walls but it can be just as sacred.

Do you have any car-time spiritual practices? Share your ideas in the comments!

 

The post 6 Ways to Turn Your Commute Into a Daily Retreat appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

Fioretti: The Little Flowers of Pope Francis [Book]

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Fioretti: The Little Flowers of Pope Francis by Andrea Tornielli (Ignatius Press, 2014)

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Almost a thousand years ago, God commanded St. Francis, ‘Rebuild my Church.’ And through a collection of stories, sayings, and colorful anecdotes—the original Little Flowers —we discovered how St. Francis did it. Andrew Tornielli introduces those same flowery scents, hints of the aroma of Christ, wafting throughout Pope Francis’ first year. His new book is full of memorable anecdotes and insightful reflections, which will help you sense the fragrance of this new Francis.

The post Fioretti: The Little Flowers of Pope Francis [Book] appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

Vote for Your Favorite Catholic Speakers! [Link]

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Vote for Your Favorite Catholic Speakers!

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Support a Catholic Speaker Month 2014

September 15, 2014

Click the image below to choose your favorite Catholic speakers for Support a Catholic Speaker Month 2014. The purpose is to raise awareness about the many Catholic speakers out there and to support them.

Pssssst. When you’re voting, I’m on the bottom right

The post Vote for Your Favorite Catholic Speakers! [Link] appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

Shameless Monday! (September 2014)

Shameless Monday is back! Every couple months my blog becomes your platform. It’s your chance to shamelessly promote your project, website, or favorite link.

I was inspired by Jon Acuff‘s “Shameless Saturdays”. Here’s the idea:

 

“Post a link to whatever it is you’re all about with no shame or apologizing or feeling like you’re making a comment on a post you really don’t care about but are instead secretly trying to promote your own blog.

 

(I’ve done that myself many times. The best way to do it is to say, “That’s an interesting post. It reminds me of something I wrote recently on my blog ……”)”

 

Whatever it is, we want to hear about it:

 

What’s your blog?

What’s your cause?

What’s your project?

What’s your book?

What’s your ministry?

What’s your product?

What’s the link you want people to see more than anything else?

 

Tell us in the comment box below and be sure to provide a link to whatever you’re sharing.

 

The post Shameless Monday! (September 2014) appeared first on Brandon Vogt.

“The Feasts” Book Giveaway!

“Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.” – St. Augustine

 

Since I’ve built up a large collection of extra books and resources, every week I give some away absolutely free, no strings attached.

Each giveaway lasts seven days with a new one beginning every Friday. You can enter any time during the week. Check out my past giveaways here.

Thanks to Image Books, today I’m giving away TEN copies of a new book by Cardinal Donald Wuerl and Mike Aquilina titled The Feasts: How the Church Year Forms Us as Catholics.



 

 
The Feasts: How the Church Year Forms Us as Catholics

Cardinal Donal Wuerl and Mike Aquilina

Image Books, 209 pages, hardcover

Released on September 18, 2014

 

 

Every day is a holiday in the Catholic Church. In their latest collaboration, Cardinal Wuerl and Mike Aquilina examine the history and traditions behind both favorite and forgotten holidays, from Christmas to Easter, from the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity to the Feast of the Holy Angels.

Catholic faith is festive, and the Catholic faithful count their days by celebrating the mysteries of Jesus’ life. There is a message to be found in the passing of days, weeks, and seasons. Through the feasts, ordinary Christians learn the life of Christ, share it, and come to imitate it.

This book continues the work the authors began in their books The Mass and The Church, exploring the meaning and purpose of the most basic and beloved aspects of Catholic life. Each chapter uncovers the biblical origins and development of one of the great feasts or fasts — Advent, Epiphany, the Holy Angels, all the Marian feasts, and even this very day. The calendar can be a catechism for Catholics who know how to live it.

“The feasts form us,” write the authors, “They help to make us and remake us according to the pattern of the life of Jesus Christ. We number our days as we walk in his footsteps, from his birth to his baptism, from his passion to his resurrection, from his Ascension to his sending of the Spirit to make us saints. We do this faithfully every year, and it defines us as who we are.”

 

 

I’m using Rafflecopter to help with the giveaway, which is cool because it allows you multiple entries for commenting, posting on Facebook, sharing on Twitter, etc. Click below to enter:

(If you’re reading this through email or RSS and don’t see the giveaway widget, click here.)

By entering this giveaway you agree to occasionally receive email updates from me—no spam, just updates about free books, cool links, and exciting news.

 

 

The winner(s) will be randomly selected next Friday and the books will be sent out, free of charge, shortly thereafter.

In the future I’ll be giving away more books and resources, sometimes multiple items per giveaway! So subscribe via feed reader or email to ensure you never miss your chance to win.

(Since I’m covering the shipping costs, only residents within the continental United States are eligible to win.)

The post “The Feasts” Book Giveaway! appeared first on Brandon Vogt.