Amidst threats of giving un-costumed teens treats of root vegetables for Halloween, I took the badass saints quiz a couple of dozen times so I could get Nancy Wake and dress up, too.
I figured that if I cheated to get this:
So I could pretend to be this:
Then I’d replace this (seriously, who thought it’s a great idea? we’d get egged!):
With a real treat — regardless of the kids’ sizes.
Today is the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila. She’s the very first saint I talk about in my book — a love/hate relationship when I was young and my mother dragged me to her Teresiana school reunions.
I rediscovered St. Teresa a few years ago when I was looking for a patron saint. I wanted a saint that was formidable, strong, and matched a lot of my personal interests. Imagine my surprise to discover the same St. Teresa of Avila whom I had rolled my eyes at and thought was too holy to emulate could be a friend to me. My favorite story about her reminds me of my own shenanigans as a child. She ran away with her brother to fight the Moors — hoping she’d be beheaded and made a martyr.
Ok, well, maybe I wasn’t thinking of martyrdom, but adventure — yes!
Ave Maria Press and I invite you to pre-order a copy of the book today in honor of St. Teresa of Avila. With your purchase you’ll get a PDF of chapter one, which includes my story about St. Teresa. You’ll be able to use this code through the month of October!
Ever since I wrote My Badass Book of Saints, people are crazy wild to send me links to amazing, courageous women in the news. I so appreciate it, and feel like I could fill two more volumes with stories of women filled with courage and grit. Formidable women. You know, badass.
Today I’m over at CatholicMom.com with one of those stories, the story of Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe’s efforts in making peaceful change in Uganda by empwering women and girls with the knowledge of their dignity.
Here’s a little piece of my story…my favorite part where I get to dance a little:
I spoke with Sister Rosemary during one of the lunches at the CPA conference. I shyly approached Sister, but she put me at ease instantly. She was holding her phone with one hand, and waving the other animatedly while dancing in her seat. Her smile captured my heart long before I got close enough to hear the Alur music blaring from her phone.
“Do you know this music?” she asked me, not expecting my positive response.
“Of course,” I said, as I danced around her. That seemed to delight her more. I explained that I’m from the Caribbean and our music shares those rhythms.
After a little giggling and some more music and dancing, we settled into a comfortable conversation about her efforts to educate as many people as possible about the plight of the women in her care and St. Monica’s efforts to provide healing and hope. I noted immediately that Sister does not focus on the women’s victimization, but rather their dignity.
Please follow the link to read the rest.
