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Life is tough. Nuns are tougher.

Thursday, November 01, 2012

The Best of Sister Mary Martha

I've taken to writing booklets. I thought it might be a nice idea to compile the shockingly long list of topics and questions, answers and adventures from the blog into categories, print them up and sell them in the shop.

Holy cow is it overwhelming! There are almost 900 different posts. Which means there are hundreds of topics and questions and stories. I began working on it last evening when the house was settled in for the night. The next thing I knew it was 3am! I am offering up my sleep deprived suffering for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.

Which reminds me to put the Poor Souls in Purgatory and how our suffering benefits them and what it means to offer up our suffering on the list of booklet topics.

I have one completed. Not fully completed with all the "I's" dotted and the "T's" crossed. But compiled into booklet form. It's called "Modern Dilemmas #1".  Number one because there are no end of modern dilemmas that we've tackled here on the blog.  We're writing from the intersection of common sense and theology. And, of course, humor.  You really can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. I'm not sure you can catch any flies with vinegar. Although once in a while, you do need to catch them with a sobering boot to the head. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

"Modern Dilemmas #1" covers whether or not you can read "Harry Potter" and "Twilight" (yes, with caveats, and no), tattoos and fashion. Yes, fashion.

I have a booklet on sacramentals almost done. It's being held up because when I wrote about them I kind of just waded in as though everyone knew what I was talking about in the first place. So I still need to write an "Sacramentals 101" primer to kick it off.

I'm hoping to have "The Best of Sister Mary Martha" available soon. I will also include some compilations of our various "life in our (what passes for a) convent" adventures.

I surely could use your help. Let me know what topics you'd like to see discussed, because, you know, we've discussed just about everything. Groups of saints? The Afterlife? Confession?

I'll have to adjust my schedule to get the work done. I'm happy to do my part to help the Poor Souls in Purgatory, but they don't have to live with me. I suppose I'm giving them the opportunity to offer up even more suffering, but I don't want to push it.

8 comments:

Katie said...

All Saints' Day! All Holy men & women!

I'd like a booklet on navigating domestic life with the saints--the usual issues of child-rearing and/or marital troubles.

On that note, Sister, can you help me out? The daily readings lately have been from Paul on the domestic order--pointing to the Divine order, naturally, and I'm wondering what it means for a husband to be the head of his domestic church. How is that supposed to play out?

As the Type A wife in the household, I run the show most of the time, and I'm suspicious that this is not how it's meant to be. I would really like to have my husband "lead."

What are your thoughts?

Anonymous said...

They sound great! I'd like one done about Purgatory and temporal punishment vs. eternal punishment. It's something my (Protestant) husband doesn't get even though he agrees with most Catholic beliefs.

Donna. W said...

I find all your entries interesting. Just be sure and mention us "separated brethren" a time or two, won't you?

Anonymous said...

Make sure you include the one with Martha and the falafel.

Seriously, I randomly think about it and do the most inappropriate and hideous snort-giggle thing. It sometimes even pops up when my client is telling me how they can't even dress themselves because their back hurts so much.

giggle-snort.

Lily said...

I'm excited about the booklets!!!!

Also, I have a saint question. I know there are patrons saints of mental illness, and saints we could pray to for shyness (or living in caves :) ), but is there a patron saint for social anxiety? Who you can pray to when you make a faux pas and agonize over it for the rest of the day, or when yo don't want to talk even to people you know on the phone, or when you simply feel exceedingly awkward around other people. Did any saints ever have these problems?

modris said...

I think all of your entries should be published. Although I will settle for a "best of" book.
Great reading....entertaining and gently enlightening.Stocking stuffers!
Go for it, Sister!

Anonymous said...

There's something that has been puzzling me and I would love to hear how the church would explain the following: you can read numerous stories of after death experiences from all types of people (faith, agnostics, atheists...) having similar experiences: a bright light, feeling of extreme peace, seeing loved ones who had gone before them... Everyone mentions how they didn't want to come back, but was told it wasn't their time. Where does purgatory fit into this? Purgatory is described as a burning, purifying, suffering place to be. Can all these people be going straight to heaven? I hope you can address this one day. Thanks! Keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

Great Idea!

(By the bye: you can catch fruit flies with vinegar! Put a little liquid soap in a bowl, then fill it with vinegar. Place the bowl near the fruit flies favorite hangout.)