Spiritual Woman

Trusting that Something Good Will Come

2013-05-17T18:43:00.004-07:00

May is a month especially dedicated to Mary, our Mother in heaven. And all of us mothers here on earth can look to her for example.

Ginny Kubitz Moyer offers a beautiful reflection on Mary and motherhood in the Mary 2013 issue of St. Anthony Messenger: Mary, Exemplar of Faith.

She writes:

Over the six years that I’ve been a mom, I’ve learned that there are certain qualities that are very useful for parents to have. These include a sense of humor, the ability to multitask, and the knowledge of which battles to pick (note: forcing a toddler into a sweater he doesn’t want to wear is the very definition of “lost cause”). As important as all these are, though, I think the most useful parental quality is faith.

What is faith? I’d define it as the ability to trust that there will be good things ahead. It’s the knowledge that this moment—this crosscountry flight with a screaming baby, this child’s scary bout with pneumonia—is not the final chapter. Something good is waiting to happen. Often that something good is over a distant horizon, impossible to see from where we stand. Faith is the certainty that it is there all the same.

Every parent faces countless situations where faith is required. When I think of Mary, it’s clear that she was an expert in this area. She gave birth on the road; she had to escape to a foreign country for her baby’s safety; she even lost her teenage son for a few terrifying days. When her child was an adult, she saw him saying things that hit a little too close to the bone of the powerful ones, who ended up killing him.

All of it must have taken extraordinary faith on Mary’s part. And yet, even she must have been surprised and overjoyed at the exact nature of the good things that were finally revealed: a resurrection, eternal life, a fleet of devoted friends who would travel the globe to share the message of her son.

Please read the full article here: http://www.stanthonymessenger.org/article.aspx?ArticleID=56&SectionID=39&PageNum=1

Saint's Names of the Day - Gwen and Theodore

2013-05-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day for the Ave Maria Facebook Contest and the featured names are Gwen and Theodore.

Gwen is a Welsh name meaning "white wave" or "white browed."

Variations include Gwenesha, Gweness, Gwenata, Gwenite, Gwenn, Gwenna, and Gwyn.

St. Gwen (fifth century) was a daughter of Brychan of Brecknock. She married St. Fragan and was martyred by pagans. According to legend she had three breasts. For this reason, she is invoked for women's fertility.

Theodore is a Greek name meaning "gift of God."

Variations include Teadomiro, Tedor, Teodus, Teos, Theodon, Theodor, Theodorus, Todor and Tolek.

Some saints with the name Theodore are St. Theodore of Bologna, St. Theodore of Chotep, St. Theodore of Egypt, St. Theodore of Emesa, St. Theodore of Pavia, St. Theodore of Pelusium, and St. Theodore of Tarsus.

St. Theodore (d. 310) was a deacon at Pentapolis, Lybia. He and Saints Irenaeus, Serapion, and Ammonius were tortured by having their tongues cut out. All survived the ordeal and died of natural causes, but they are considered martyrs due to their willingness to die.

For more information on saints and names, please pick up a copy of The Catholic Baby Name Book

Today's Saint Names of the Day - Diana and Stephen

2013-05-15T19:22:00.002-07:00

Today's featured names on the Ave Maria Press Facebook Contest are Diana and Stephen.

Diana is a Latin name meaning "divine"
Daiana, Daianna, Dayana, Deana, Dianna, Diaanah, Dianah, Dianalyn, Dianarose, Dianatris, Dianca, Diane, Dianelis, Diania, Dianiah, Dianiella, Dianielle, Dianita Dianna, Dianya, Dianyah, Dianys, Didi, Dihana, Dihanah, Dihanna, Dihannah, Dyana
Bl. Diana d’Andalo (d. 1236) was born into a noble family in Bologna, Italy. She became a Dominican nun and helped found the Monastery of St. Agnes. She was one of the first three Dominican nuns in Bologna.

Stephen is a Greek name meaning "crowned"
Estefan, Estevon, Stefanos, Steffan, Stefos, Stepanos, Stephan, Stephanas, Stephano, Stephanos, Stephanas, Stephens, Stephfan, Stephin, Stepven, Steven
St. Stephen (d. 33) was a deacon and preacher who became the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death by angry Jews. Saul, who would later become St. Paul, was present.

For more information about names and patron saints, please pick up a copy of The Catholic Baby Name Book

Thank you to Wendy Wiese and Christine Capolino

2013-05-14T17:55:00.002-07:00

Many thanks to Wendy Wiese for having me on her radio program today: On Call with Wendy Wiese and to Christine Capolino for her kind review of The Catholic Baby Name Book: I Have Called You by Name

Today's Saints Names of the Day - Julia and Nathan

2013-05-14T17:45:00.001-07:00

Today's featured names on the Ave Maria Facebook Contest are Julia and Nathan. If you have that name or know someone with that name, please head on over to enter.

Julia is a top 100 Name that comes from Latin. It means "youthful."

Variations include: Iulia, Iuliana, Jewelea, Jeweleah, Jewelia, Jeweliah, Jewelya, Jewlya, Jewlyah, Juelea, Jueleah, Jula, Julea, Juleah, Juliah, Julica, Juliea, Julienne, Julija, Julita, Julity, Juliya, Julka, Julya

Saints with that name include St. Julia Maria Ledochowska, St. Julia of Billiart, St. Julia of Carthage, St. Julia of Corsica, St. Julia of Merida, St. Julia of Troyes

St. Julia of Corsica (seventh century) was born in Carthage to a noble Christian family. She was captured by Vandals and sold into slavery to a pagan named Eusebius. When the ship landed at Corsica, she was commanded to take part in a pagan festival. She refused. Her hair was torn out of her head, and she was martyred.

Nathan is a Hebrew name meaning "gift of God"
Variations include Naethan, Naethin, Naethun,Naethyn, Naithan, Naithin,Naithon, Naithun, Naithyn, Natan, Nate, Nathann, Nathean,Nathian, Nathin, Nathun, Nathyn, Natthan, Naythan, Naythun, Naythyn, Nethan

Nathan in the Bible was a prophet who lived in the time of King David. He reprimanded David for his relationship with Bathsheba. He also wrote histories of the reigns of King David and King Solomon. King David named one of his sons after him. His story is told in the books of Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 2 Chronicles.

For more information on Catholic Baby Names, please pick up a copy of The Catholic Baby Name Book

Today's Saint Names of the Day - Audrey and Leonard

2013-05-13T18:28:00.002-07:00

Today on the Ave Maria Facebook Contest, the names of the day are Audrey and Leonard.

Audrey is a top 100 Name. It is an English name meaning "noble strength."

Variations include Adrey, Audey, Audra, Audrah, Audray, Audre, Audrienna, Audrienne, Audrin, Audriya, Audrye, Ethelreda, Etheidreda, Etdelreda

St. Audrey (d. 679), also known as Ethelreda or Etheidreda, was an English princess. She had taken a vow of virginity but was married anyway. Her first marriage ended after three years when her husband died.

The marriage had never been consummated. Her second husband
did not wish to live a celibate life and asked St. Wilfrid to release Audrey from her vow
of virginity, but he refused. He instead helped her to escape. Her husband followed her, but he eventually gave up and married someone else, and Audrey became a nun. She founded the Abbey of Ely and lived an austere life. She died of a large tumor on her neck.

Leonard is a German name meaning "brave as a lion."

Variations include Leanard, Leanardas, Leanardus, Lennart, Leonardis, Leonardo, Leonart, Leonerd, Leonhard, Leonhardt, Leonidas, Leonnard, Leontes, Lernard, Lienard, Linek, Lionard, Lnard, Londard, Lonnard, Lonya, Lynnard, Lyonard

Saints with that name include: St. Leonard, St. Leonard Kimura, St. Leonard Muraildo, St. Leonard of Noblac, St. Leonard of Port Maurice, St. Leonard of Reresby, St. Leonard Vandoeuvre, St. Leonard Wegel

St. Leonard (d. 559) was a Frank courtier who converted and became a monk at Micy. He lived as a hermit at Limoges. The king asked him to pray for the queen who was having a difficult delivery. When she delivered successfully, the king offered him all the land he could ride around on a donkey for a day. On that land, he founded Noblac Monastery. He is invoked to help women in labor and for prisoners of war.

For more information on name meanings and patron saints, please visit: The Catholic Baby Name Book

A Prayer for New Mothers

2013-05-12T18:16:00.000-07:00

I was thinking today how this was my 13th Mother's Day as a mom. That first Mother's Day, my little David was only one month old. I was exhausted and completely overwhelmed and I recall that he puked all over me during our Mother's Day dinner. I can look back and laugh now, but those were tough days.

Two years ago, Mother's Day was two weeks after I had just been handed two small children. I was once again exhausted and completely overwhelmed. At least, by this time, I had the wisdom and experience to tell our moms (and my sister) that "We love you all and wish you a Happy Mother's Day, but we will not be hosting Mother's Day Dinner because I just can't do it."

And so, today, I'd like to offer a prayer for all new moms, whether it is their first or their tenth, who are tired and stressed and weighed down by motherhood. May God be with them as they navigate this new season of their lives and give them strength in this life that He has called them to.

Blinded by the Darkness, Three Short Fantasy Stories

2013-05-12T18:05:00.001-07:00

For only 99 cents, you can enjoy Three Short Fantasy Stories by Catholic writer Karl Erickson. Karl writes:

This e-book contains three very different short story offerings from writer Karl Bjorn Erickson. "Stars Within the Glass" is a fantasy, set in a bizarre world where nothing is as it should be. The character's journey explores the finality and tragic nature of suicide.

While "Light in the Darkness," also falls into the broad category of fantasy, it could not be more different from the first tale. Have you ever wondered if there are mermaids swimming along the Oregon Coast? Read on to discover if their purpose is for good or ill.

"Into the Darkness" began as a different kind of story altogether. It almost could be described as a western serial. Plans of including an historical subplot within my new novel were discarded, and that left me seeking a home for this worthy tale. (Be sure to read the author's note after this featured story appears.)

To read these stories, please visit: Blinded by the Darkness, Three Short Fantasy Stories

A Moment of Beauty for Today

2013-05-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

The tulips are mostly dead now, but that is okay - the whole world seems to have come into bloom. Still, this one dying on my windowsill struck me as unusually beautiful.

Thank you to Cheryl Dickow for her Review of The Catholic Baby Name Book

2013-05-09T18:26:00.005-07:00

Cheryl Dickow has written a lovely (and funny!) review of The Catholic Baby Name Book for the Association of Catholic Women Bloggers. Read it here: Catholic Baby Names and Tugboats

Today's Names of the Day - Virginia and Kevin

2013-05-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

The featured names of the day on the Ave Maria Facebook Contest are Virginia and Kevin. Know someone with those names? Go over and tag them for a chance to win.

Virginia is a Latin name that means "pure" or "virginal". Variations include Ginata, Ginger, Gingia, Ginia, Vergie, Verginia, Virge, Virgene, Virgen, Virginio, Virgy, and Virjinia.

St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli (1587-1651) was the daughter of the Doge of Genoa. She entered into an arranged marriage to Gasparo Grimaldi Bracelli, who was a drinker and gambler. He died after five years, and she was left a widow with two small children. She raised her children and spent her free time in prayer and charity. After her children were grown, she devoted herself entirely to charitable efforts, opening her home to the needy. She built extra housing and started a hospital. She started the Sisters of Refuge in Mount Calvary and the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2003.

Kevin is one of the Top 100 most popular names. It is a Gaelic name meaning "handsome." Some variations are Kaiven, Keaven, Keivan, Kevan, Kevian, Kevinn, Kevis, and Keyvin.

St. Kevin (d. 618) was the son of Leinster nobility. He lived with monks from the age of twelve and studied for the priesthood at Cell na Manach. After being ordained, he lived as a hermit for seven years. He attracted many followers and founded a monastery at Glendalough, where he served as abbot. In time, it became a town and is now part of the archdiocese of Dublin.

For more information on names and saints, please pick up a copy of The Catholic Baby Name Book

A Mother's Day Moment

2013-05-08T18:05:00.001-07:00

Last year's Mother's Day was a bit of a disaster with both my big boys forgetting to make me a card. They did make up for it, taking me out for ice cream the following Sunday, but we would all prefer not to have a repeat of that misstep.

I was just tucking David into bed and he told me "I just spent twenty minutes on your card."

"And was I not worth twenty minutes?" I asked, bracing myself for the answer.

"Mom, you'd be worth an hour and a half." he said as he gave me a big hug.

I laughed. - I'll take it! :)

Today's Saints Names of the Day - Helen and Ethan

2013-05-08T13:14:00.002-07:00

The two featured names of the day on the Ave Maria Press Facebook Catholic Baby Name Contest are "Helen" and "Ethan" - in honor of this I thought I'd feature a little bit more about these names here:

Helen is a name of Greek origin and means "light" Variations of the name include Eileen, Elana, Elena, Ena, Halina, Hela, Helan, Hele, Helean, Heleen, Helene, Helin, Helon, Helyn, Holain, Ileana, Ilene, Ilyne, and Yolanda

St. Helen of Skovde (d. 1160) was born to a noble family in Sweden. After her husband died, she gave all her possessions to the poor and made a pilgrimage to Rome. When she returned, she was falsely accused to being involved in her son-in-law's death. By the time her innocence was proven, she had already been executed. Many miracles were reported at her tomb.

Ethan is a Hebrew name meaning "strong" or "the gift of the island." It is a very popular name. Variations include Aitan, Eathan, Eathen, Eathin, Eathon, Eathyn, Efan, Efen, Eithan, Eithon, Ethon, Eythen, and Eythyn

Ethan in the Bible was a cymbal player in King David's court. He is the author of Psalm 89.

For more information on names and saints, please pick up a copy of The Catholic Baby Name Book

Saint's Names of the Day - Ava and Gregory

2013-05-07T09:59:00.001-07:00

The two featured names of the day on the Ave Maria Press Facebook Catholic Baby Name Contest are "Ava" and "Gregory" - in honor of this I thought I'd feature a little bit more about these names here:

Ava is a name of Hebrew origin and is one of the top 100 most popular names. It's meaning is "life" Variations of the name include Aeva, Avada, Avae, Avah, Ave, Aveen, and Avis.

St. Ava (ninth century) was the daughter of King Pepin. She was cured of blindness by St. Rainfredis and became a Benedictine nun at Dinart, Hainault, where she was later elected abbess.

Gregory is a Latin name meaning "vigilant watchman." Variations include Gergely, Gergo, Graig, Greagoir, Greagory, Greer, Gregary, Greger, Gregery, Gregg, Gregorey, Gregori, Gregorio, Gregors, Gregos, Gregrey, Greigor, Greigore, and Grzegorz.

There are several saints with the name Gregory including St. Gregory Barbarigo, St. Gregory Nazianzus, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Gregory Palamas, St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, St. Gregory the Enlightener, St. Gregory the Sinaite, and St. Gregory the Great.

St. Gregory the Great (540-604) was the son of a Roman senator. He gave up the world and turned to God, becoming one of the seven deacons of Rome. He was appointed Chief Magistrate of Rome by Emperor Justin the Elder. He built six monasteries in Sicily and one in Rome. He became a Benedictine monk when he was thirty-five. He was elected pope in 590. He was a prolific writer and made great contributions to the liturgy of the Mass and the Divine Office. He is a Doctor of the Church and a patron saint of teachers.

For more information on names and saints, please pick up a copy of The Catholic Baby Name Book

The Catholic Baby Name of the Day Contest

2013-05-06T17:33:00.001-07:00

In celebration of the launch of the next CatholicMom.com book, The Catholic Baby Name Book, Ave Maria Press is launching the Catholic Baby Name of the Day Contest on its Facebook page.

Follow along Monday through Thursday for the next two weeks. Each day, we will post two names—one girl’s name and one boy’s name—from The Catholic Baby Name Book. If your name is posted, or you know someone with that name, leave a comment under the post and/or tag your friend with the name on Facebook. You AND your tagged friend will be entered to win a book from our spring 2013 releases.

Winners will be notified Friday, May 24th.

About The Catholic Baby Name Book

With more than ten thousand names of saints and biblical figures, this first-ever guide to Catholic baby names helps expectant parents find a beautiful and creative name for their child. Each entry includes the meaning of the name, language of origin, variations in form, a capsule biography, and relevant feast days and patron saint information. While it has become increasingly popular to name a baby after a town or a food, readers will discover here a bounty of names that are fun, creative, and Catholic. This new book in the CatholicMom.com Book series boasts thousands of names of saints from Christian tradition and the scriptures, including those newly canonized by popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Among the fun facts to be discovered: there are ten ways to spell Regina, the perennially popular name Jayden means “thankful” and “God has heard,” and Sophia–the most popular girl’s name in 2012–was a saint who had three daughters named Faith, Hope, and Charity (who were also saints!).

The Catholic Baby Name Book

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield Need Your Help

2013-05-05T18:33:00.001-07:00

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield are in dire financial straits and need your help. Like many religious communities, they are facing an aging population and lack the resources to care for them. These are women who gave their lives to God and have given of themselves every day of their lives. They were the sisters who founded and run both the high school and college I attended. There are very few Catholics in Western Massachusetts whose lives weren't impacted in some way by these devoted women.

Their financial situation was front-page news in the local paper today:

Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield face 'dire' financial situation with hope, faith

If you can help them, please visit: http://www.ssjspringfield.org/partner-with-us/make-a-gift.html

Thank you!

Quote of the Day from St. Catherine of Siena

2013-05-03T09:45:00.001-07:00

I was at St. Catherine of Siena Church this morning and saw this quote on the social center wall. It spoke to me today:

“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”
― St. Catherine of Siena

Springfield (MA) Area Crisis Pregnancy Centers

2013-05-02T18:47:00.003-07:00

An important part of being pro-life is supporting Crisis Pregnancy Centers in order to help those women who find themselves in difficult situations.

Here are three in my local area:

Bethlehem House is a pregnancy care center in Easthampton that provides free confidential pregnancy tests, counseling, and information to support expectant and new mothers (families). Baskets are given to newborns at four area hospitals and UMass in Amherst. Thankful for its many volunteers, current needs now are for knit booties, bibs, newborn blankets or quilts (approximate size 30" x 32") Their crisis line is 413-262-8527. Regular calls are 413-527-2861.

New Women's Center, Inc. is located at 2465 Main Street, Springfield. They provide educational support, counseling, pregnancy tests and life-affirming choices to pregnant women and young families in close proximity to Planned Parenthood. They very much need more volunteers and counselors; classes are provided. Contact them at 413-455-3493, newwomenscenter@gmail.com or at www.newwomenscenter.org.

Springfield Pregnancy Care Center (SPCC) is located at 704 Sumner Avenue, Springfield. They need baby wash, baby wipes, and diaper bags. They always need receptionists and counselors. Contact SPCC at 413-732-2006 or info@springfieldpcc.org to volunteer.

Book Review: Imitating Mary

2013-04-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

Imitating Mary: Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom

by Marge Fenelon

Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2013

What can mothers today learn from a poor Jewish woman who lived two thousand years ago? If the woman in question is Our Blessed Mother, the answer is everything. Marge Fenelon explores ten of these lessons in the new book, Imitating Mary: Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom. Fenelon writes Mary is “the answer for all moms . . . with God’s grace and Mary’s example, we can overcome any obstacles to becoming the loving, wonderful mothers we’re meant to be.”

Fenelon focuses on ten scriptural events from Mary’s life and explores the virtues Mary exhibited in each of those instances. We can all learn from Mary’s patience as she waited for Joseph to make a decision about their marriage, her trust as God’s handmaiden, her obedience in God in all things, her endurance as she gave birth in a stable, her courage, her hope, her faith, and her joy.

Fenelon writes in a friendly, conversational style. She has an intimate relationship with Mary and this is evident in her words. As a mother with grown children, she understands all the stages of mothering. She shares experiences from her own life and her hard-earned wisdom with all of us in the trenches. She knows the challenges of modern mothering and how we often struggle with self-doubt. She wants to encourage mothers in their vocation:

“You’re a better mother than you think you are. Mothers have an innate tendency toward self-criticism. . . We also like to compare ourselves to other mothers, and that only makes things worse. You can’t be that other mom; you can only be you and you are beautiful – inside and out! Take time every single day to acknowledge something good about yourself.”

Each chapter of “Imitating Mary” features a relevant excerpt from scripture, Fenelon’s reflections, thoughts to ponder, and questions to consider. This book would be wonderful to use in a mom’s book group or Bible study. There is so much each of us can learn from Mary’s example.

CatholicMom.com Books for Catholic Mothers

2013-04-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

Just in time for your Mother's Day Shopping, Lisa Hendey has put together an Amazon listing of all the books currently available under the CatholicMom.com books imprint from Ave Maria Press (including The Catholic Baby Name Book)
:

CatholicMom.com books

Book Review: Dear God, I Don't Get It

2013-04-26T18:31:00.001-07:00

Dear God, I Don't Get It
by Patti Maguire Armstrong
Liguori Publications, 2013

Why does God answer some prayers and not others? This is a question that plagues even adults. Sometimes, we pray so hard and think we know what God should do in our lives. And then, God does something else or He does nothing. What gives? For children, these questions can be even more acute. Without a lifetime of experience to rely on, God ignoring a prayer can be a faith-shaking incident.

That is the premise behind "Dear God, I Don't Get It." Patti Maguire Armstrong tells the story of sixth-grader Aaron Ajax. His father just lost his job and he has to move from Montana to North Dakota as a result. He prayed and prayed that this would not happen, and God just didn't pay attention. He has to leave his friends behind and while his younger brother Luke is making new friends easily, Aaron seems to only be making enemies. Nothing is going well for him. He concocts a plan to be a "hero" in order to get some positive attention, but that blows up in his face as well. Yet, God can use even bad things for good, and by the end of the story, everything has worked out, and Aaron decides that God knows what He is doing after all.

Armstrong writes with a good sense of humor that will appeal to the 8 - 12 age group that this book is targeted toward. It is a story with an important lesson on prayer for children, and the adults who care for them (and who might read this book with them). For those interested in delving into the story on a deeper level, there are discussion questions in the back.

This is the first in a new series with the second book coming out next Spring.

Book Review: Finding Grace

2013-04-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

Finding Grace
by Laura H. Pearl
Waterford, MI: Bezalel Books, 2012

“Finding Grace” by Laura H. Pearl is a Catholic coming-of-age novel set in the 1970s. Grace Kelly shares a name with the famous princess, but little else. She’s a plain, awkward girl entering her teen years, struggling to find her place in the world as she grows up in Plattsburgh, New York. She has devout Catholic parents, a house full of older brothers, and a best friend, Irene, who possesses all the beauty and grace she lacks.

What Grace does possess is the desire to become a saint. At her father’s urging, she begins to read lives of the saints and tries to fashion her life after them. Admittedly, this isn’t always easy. She is starting high school and becomes the favorite target of Sister Immaculata, the much-feared Latin teacher. She also becomes friends with two young men – Jimmy Sullivan and Tom Buckley, one who she dreams of being with, and one who dreams of being with her.

The novel follows Grace and her friends from 1972 – 1980, when she is studying to be a teacher in college. This was a turbulent decade when many of the world’s morals were changing. Grace struggles to keep her virtue and her resolve to be a saint. Her friends struggle with their choices as well.

Pearl depicts the era well, especially the changes wrought by Roe v. Wade. Two characters in the novels become pregnant and make very different choices. Pearl explores what those choices meant to the character’s future lives.

“Finding Grace” is a long book and not a quick read, but it is worth spending time with and following Grace as she grows into a beautiful young woman.

Amazon Reviewers for The Catholic Baby Name Book wanted!

2013-04-23T19:12:00.001-07:00

My Amazon listing for The Catholic Baby Name Book could use some reviews (hopefully good ones!) If you would be willing to post a review there, please contact me at pfmacarthur@comcast.net. I don't have any hard copies yet, but I do have a .pdf of the book I can send you. It should only take a few minutes to look over and get a feel for the book. Even a couple lines singing its praises (if you find it worthy) would be so appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Shakespearean Names with Catholic Connections

2013-04-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

Today's Shakespeare's birthday and in light of that and the new The Catholic Baby Name Book, I thought I'd see which of his character names had some Catholic connections. For those who wish to give their child a name with Catholic roots and a Shakespearean legacy, there are loads of options. I accessed a list of Shakespearean names from Baby Center and then cross-referenced them with The Catholic Baby Name Book.

Baby girl names

Adrian - (Coriolanus, The Tempest)
Adriana - (The Comedy of Errors)
Alice - (Henry V)
Aliena - (As You Like It)
Anne - (Henry VIII, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Richard III)
Audrey - (As You Like It)
Beatrice - (Much Ado About Nothing)
Diana - (All's Well That Ends Well)
Eleanor - (King John)
Elizabeth - (Henry VIII, 3 Henry VI/Richard III)
Emilia - (The Comedy of Errors, The Winter's Tale, Othello, The Two Noble Kinsmen)
Gertrude - (Hamlet)
Helen - (Troilus and Cressida, All's Well That Ends Well)
Helena - (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Hermia - (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Hermione - (The Winter's Tale)
Isabel - (Richard II, Henry V)
Isabella - (Measure for Measure)
Isidore - (Timon of Athens)
Jessica - (The Merchant of Venice)
Julia - (The Two Gentlemen of Verona)
Juliet - (Romeo and Juliet, Measure for Measure)
Katharine - (Love's Labour's Lost, Henry V)
Katherina - (The Taming of the Shrew)
Katherine - (Henry VIII)
Lavinia - (Titus Andronicus)
Luce - (The Comedy of Errors)
Luciana - (The Comedy of Errors)
Margaret - ( 1/2/3 Henry VI/Richard III, Much Ado About Nothing)
Maria - (Love's Labour's Lost, Twelfth Night)
Mariana - (All's Well That Ends Well, Measure for Measure)
Marina - (Pericles)
Miranda - (The Tempest)
Morgan - (Cymbeline)
Octavia - (Antony and Cleopatra)
Olivia - (Twelfth Night)
Paulina - (The Winter's Tale)
Phebe - (As You Like It)
Portia - (The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar)
Regan - (King Lear)
Robin - (A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor)
Rosalind - (As You Like It)
Rosaline - (Love's Labour's Lost)
Silvia - (The Two Gentlemen of Verona)
Ursula - (Much Ado About Nothing)
Valentine - (Titus Andronicus, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Twelfth Night)
Valeria - (Coriolanus)

Baby boy names

Aaron - (Titus Andronicus)
Abram - (Romeo and Juliet)
Adam - (As You Like It)
Adrian - (Coriolanus, The Tempest)
Alexander - (Troilus and Cressida)
Alonso - (The Tempest)
Angelo - (The Comedy of Errors, Measure for Measure)
Antonio - (The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing)
Barnardo - (Hamlet)
Bartholomew - (The Taming of the Shrew)
Benedick - (Much Ado About Nothing)
Berri - (Henry V)
Bertram - (All's Well That Ends Well)
Brandon - (Henry VIII)
Caius - (Julius Caesar, Titus Andronicus)
Cassio - (Othello)
Cassius - (Julius Caesar)
Cato - (Julius Caesar)
Cesario - (Twelfth Night)
Charles - (As You Like It)
Claudio - (Much Ado About Nothing, Measure for Measure)
Claudius - (Julius Caesar)
Cornelius - (Hamlet, Cymbeline)
Demetrius - (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Titus Andronicus, Antony and Cleopatra)
Diomedes - (Troilus and Cressida, Antony and Cleopatra)
Edgar - (King Lear)
Edmund - (King Lear)
Edward - (2/3 Henry VI/Richard III)
Emmanuel - (2 Henry VI)
Fabian - (Twelfth Night)
Ferdinand - (The Tempest, Love's Labour's Lost)
Francis - (1/2 Henry IV)
Francisco - (Hamlet, The Tempest)
Frederick - (As You Like It)
George - (2 Henry VI)
Gonzalo - (The Tempest)
Gregory - (Romeo and Juliet)
Henry - (King John, 1/2 Henry IV, Henry VIII, 1/2/3 Henry VI, Henry V)
Hero - (Much Ado About Nothing)
Hubert - (King John)
John - (King John)
Joseph - (The Taming of the Shrew)
Justice - (Measure for Measure)
Lance - (The Two Gentlemen of Verona)
Leonardo - (The Merchant of Venice)
Lorenzo - (The Merchant of Venice)
Lucio - (Measure for Measure)
Lucius - (Julius Caesar, Titus Andronicus, Timon of Athens)
Marcellus - (Hamlet)
Michael - (2 Henry VI, 1 Henry IV)
Morgan - (Cymbeline)
Octavius - (Julius Caesar)
Oliver - (As You Like It)
Oswald - (King Lear)
Paris - (Romeo and Juliet, Troilus and Cressida)
Peter - (2 Henry VI, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew)
Philip - (The Taming of the Shrew, King John)
Philo - (Antony and Cleopatra)
Prospero - (The Tempest)
Richard - (Richard II, Richard III)
Robert - (King John)
Sebastian - (The Tempest, Twelfth Night, The Two Gentlemen of Verona)
Shaw - (Richard III)
Timon - (Timon of Athens)
Valentine - (Titus Andronicus, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Twelfth Night)
Vincentio - (Measure for Measure, The Taming of the Shrew)
William - (As You Like It)

Moments of Beauty from My Garden

2013-04-22T18:48:00.001-07:00

Each year I plant my tulips and daffodils in the fall as my act of faith that spring will come. This year, spring has been slow in coming. The plants started growing back in February but then they stayed sort of mid-growth all March. I wondered if they would actually be able to grow, but even with my minimal gardening ability, they never fail me (one of the main reasons why I plant them.) The daffodils started blooming a couple weeks ago. The tulips emerged the past couple days. I've also included a photo of the stone angel that keeps guard over my garden all growing season.