— 1 —   This Week’s Post:   Freedom in Self-Control   May you be richly blessed by the words of Dietrich von Hildebrand!

— 2 —  Dear Cindy:  This is a new series that will include your questions and my answers!  Next week, I will answer the most common question I receive from my 30+year-old Readers:  “Is it too late and what advice can you give me on how not to fall into despair?”

 —3 —   Spotlight On:  This week’s spotlight is once again on Emily Stimpson.  As you know, I am reading her book, These Beautiful Bones and I plan to write a review of it soon.  If any of you have ever struggled with body image and your relationship with food (my hand is raised), Emily’s article, What The Pope Taught Me About Food And Sex, is for you.  The article gives you a foretaste (get it?) of her fabulous book!

— 4 —  Lady Alice von Hildebrand: This week’s post had a quote from Dietrich von Hildebrand.  His wife, Alice, is another very strong inspiration for me.  She was recently invested as a Dame Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great. I just love her.

 — 5 —     Not Alone Series:  This week’s topic was Favorite Single-People Sites and Posts and was hosted by Morgan.  Check out the awesome resources these girls have pulled together!  I felt honored to be listed in Jen’s post, Britt’s post and Nikki’s posts.  Thank you so much! 

— 6 —   The Veil Theory:  Morgan’s post this week led me to Verily Magazine and this article by Monica Gabriel.    As I was reading it, the concept of The Veil just jumped out at me.  A guy can be attracted to you and not pursue you and that is not necessarily a bad thing.  Frustrating, yes. I love what she wrote at the end:

“…Now whenever I begin criticizing Mr. Totally Into Me for missing his cue, I check my pride and give him the benefit of the doubt. I simply ask myself one question: is he pursuing me? If the answer is no, then he is just a man who is attracted to a woman which is, as I understand it, about as unique as a moth drawn to a flame.

So I have stopped worrying about the guys who are attracted to me and have turned my attention solely to the men who pursue me–no more psychoanalysis, no more prideful wound licking.”

— 7 — Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church:  This is a great commentary on Saint Luke’s Gospel by this Saint and Doctor of the Church: 

The Three Parables of Mercy

“It is not without purpose Saint Luke has set three parables before us one after the other: the sheep that was lost and was found, the drachma that was mislaid and was found, and the prodigal son who was dead and came back to life, so that, encouraged by this threefold medicine, we might heal our wounds… Who are the father, the shepherd, the woman? Are they not God the Father, Christ and the Church? Christ who took your sins on himself carries you in his body; the Church goes looking for you; the Father welcomes you home. Like a shepherd he brings you back; like a mother it seeks you out; like a Father he clothes you. Mercy first of all, then rescue, and finally reconciliation.

Each of these details is appropriate to each one: the Redeemer comes to our help, the Church rescues, the Father reconciles. The mercy of the divine work is the same but the grace differs according to our worthiness. The wearied sheep is brought back by the shepherd, the missing drachma is found again, the son retraces his steps to his father and returns wholly repentant for the wandering off he rejects…

So let us be glad that this sheep who strayed in Adam has been restored in Christ. Christ’s shoulders are the arms of the cross, it is there I have set my sins, on the noble neck of that gibbet have I found rest.”

God love and bless you!

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