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Join me at my Manhattan book signing Feb. 27

Stop by Pauline Books & Media, 64 West 38th Street in Manhattan, on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m. for a book signing to celebrate the release of my two new books, Cravings: A Catholic Wrestles with Food, Self-Image, and God, and Everyday Divine: A Catholic Guide to Active Spirituality. Read more

‘Take and eat.’ The food-faith connection and Jesus

Today’s reader question is one I had hoped to address during the CNN interview, but we ran out of time. So I’m happy to address it now. Here’s the question:

“Someone told me that every time Jesus had an important teaching, food was present. Do you think He was just getting people to listen or is there something special about eating together when we pray?” Read more

Knock, knock…

So the doorbell rings at 7:45 p.m. tonight and sitting on our front porch is a tiny little package from an undisclosed location in Mobile, Alabama. Addressed to me. I open it, and inside is the rooster you see here, with a pig on top of its head. Needless to say, I was somewhat freaked out, assuming some nut job had located me. Not that any of you are nut jobs. With all due respect. Read more

Bring a little balance to your new year and your life

Body. Mind. Spirit. They’re all connected. If you think that diet you’re on has nothing to do with the prayers you’re saying — or not saying — think again and read on. I’m offering lots of goodies on this topic in this week’s issue of OSV Newsweekly.

The main story in the In Focus section includes a feature on the mind-body-spirit connection with practical tips from experts and a list of resources. The related essay talks about this connection from a personal perspective — mine. I also wrote this week’s “Openers” column, but that one is open only to OSV subscribers. Read more

Life in My 50s: What day will be special enough?

Do any of you out there collect things, purchase things, ask for things, only to store them away in a closet or drawer for a day you imagine will be special enough to deem them worthy of use? Case in point: my collection of handmade soaps, beautiful bath gels and loofahs, body lotions, and more. I’m a bit of a hoarder when it comes to this stuff because I’m always waiting for some magic moment when all the planets will align and I will know for certain that THIS is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice, and use special soaps! Read more

The world in silent wonder waits…

How are you waiting today? Are you rushing from store to store trying to finish up your shopping? Are you preparing food for a big family dinner? Are you wrapping gifts, or cleaning house? Read more

Creating calm amid the Christmas chaos

Need a little less crazy in your Christmas season? Today I’ll be talking about restoring some sanity to your life — over at Huffington Post. I’ll start you here and link you there:

Chances are that right about now the Christmas season is getting the best of you. At least that’s how it’s going at my house. Just last night I suggested to my husband and kids — amid the fighting over who opens which door on the Advent calendar and who hangs which ornament on the Christmas tree — that maybe we should just pack it in and pretend there’s no Christmas this year, which is kind of missing the whole “reason for the season” in a pretty glaring way. So we tried to regroup and declare a do-over on the lead-up to Christmas. Read more

From today’s TU: ‘A new kind of Catholic’

The Times Union featured me on the front page of the Capital Region section today. Here’s the story, with a link:

Delmar author works to make spirituality a part of life in a secular world

By Kristen V. Brown

BETHLEHEM — In early November, Delmar resident Mary DeTurris Poust flew to Baltimore to address a conference of Catholic bishops on a topic of the utmost urgency: social media.

“Today, like it or not, I think Facebook is the new parish hall,” Poust, a veteran Catholic journalist and blogger, told the bishops, who would convene the next day for the annual U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Read more

Zen and the art of fall lawn maintenance

I was sitting in my office this afternoon, trying to ignore the constant buzzing, droning sound of the neighbor’s leaf blower, when I remembered a section of Everyday Divine that focuses on the power of repetitive motion, specifically raking. So I thought I’d share it here for all those folks who will be piling and hauling and bagging leaves this weekend. And if you happen to be among those getting a little snow, there’s something for you as well. Read more