In her new book, “Living the Blessed Life: Seven Keys to Trusting God and Embracing Joy,” Melissa Overmyer offers a delightful, simple, seven-week guide to deepening our relationship with God and thus finding the happiness we all seek. Weaving in personal stories of finding happiness in the wake of various hardships and even tragedies, she demonstrates how to find happiness and joy by growing closer to God, regardless of the waves that rock our boats. 

Ascension recently published a new guide to the Mass titled “Pocket Guide to the Mass” by Father Mike Schmitz and Dr. Edward Sri. As the title suggests, it is brief and small enough in size to fit in your pocket and carry with you to Mass. The first sentence in the guide asks, “Do we really understand what is happening in every Mass?” That very question motivated my own journey.

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee . . .” We know the prayer, but do we know the prayer? How often do we sit and reflect with the Hail Mary? Do we say the prayer or do we pray the prayer? 

My mom regularly threatened my siblings and me with cotillion. Weekly, it seemed, our manners would horrify her at the dinner table, and she would tell us she was going to sign us up for the dancing and etiquette class that’s so popular in the south.

How often do you wish you could take your words back? How much time do you spend practicing virtuous speech? We train our bodies and our minds, but have you ever considered training your tongue?

God made you good. Satan attacks that truth, particularly with women and their bodies and health. We as women often find ourselves caught in one of two extreme camps when it comes to our health.