Rooted in Love

Folks, I’m delighted to introduce to you a brand new book from my friend and colleague, Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, Rooted in Love: Our Calling as Catholic Women.

I’m sure you already know the work of this award-winning author and journalist, speaker, reviewer, and the host of EWTN’s Everyday Blessings for Catholic Moms. But, let me tell you a few things you probably didn’t know. Donna-Marie enjoyed a decade-long friendship with Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and became a Lay Missionary of Charity. In 2008, she was invited by the Holy See to participate in an international congress for women at the Vatican to mark the twentieth anniversary of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s On the Dignity and Vocation of Women. She’s received apostolic blessings on her work from both Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. She’s authored numerous other books on prayer and spirituality, some of which I’ve had the great privilege to review and endorse.

Aside from her professional accomplishments, I can say with first-hand knowledge that Donna-Marie embodies what she writes – she’s a faithful, inspiring, thoughtful, and godly friend. This shows in her interactions with others, but also in her writing. You’ll see what I mean when you read Rooted in Love. It’s like sitting across the kitchen table from Donna-Marie, sipping tea and taking in all of her wisdom and encouragement!

The book is laid out in five parts: “Discovering Myself in Christ,” “Christ is My Strength,” “Christ is My Life,” “Meeting Christ in Others,” and “Christ is My Joy.” Each section is filled with uplifting prose that addresses all the various aspects of being a Catholic woman in today’s world. Every chapter contains wisdom gleaned from Donna-Marie’s own life and the lives of others, including the saints, and ends with a reflection, questions for personal meditation or group discussion, and then a beautiful prayer to lead you on your way to answering your calling as a Catholic woman.

Here’s the reflection from Chapter 3: “Always at My Side.”

“It is quite amazing that God remains by our sides even as we are far from perfect in our lives. Such a loving God has created us in his image and likeness and wants us to live up to our high dignity and calling. He gives us countless opportunities, even in the course of  one day, to turn to him in prayer for our needs and our lives.

Incredibly, God continues to seek us as we are “drawing water” throughout the midst of our demanding days. No matter how busy or distracted we might be, God is forever seeking us out to converse with us, to love us!

He reminds us, “I will be with you.” (Ex 3:12)”

I asked Donna-Marie to tell us about why and for whom she wrote Rooted in Love. Here’s what she said:

“I wrote Rooted in Love for all Catholic and Christian women (single, married, mothers, and consecrated religious) because I feel they could indeed benefit from a good dose of loving support and affirmation in their lofty mission as a Christian woman. I want to encourage and affirm them so they won’t feel so alone or discouraged trying to navigate all that comes at them from the mass media and our lopsided culture, and even the demands that they may heap on their own shoulders trying to do it all.

As I said in the Introduction, “Catholic womanhood is steeped in tremendous love, transforming grace, and fulfilling joy. Our mission and vocation are rooted in love of God, who actually stoops down to serve us, his creatures, even as we strive to serve him. Amazing!”

I believe that somewhere beneath the surface of our lives exists an incredible God-given and magnificent dignity as a woman. The reason I say it’s “somewhere” or imply that it’s hidden is because for many women, when they recognize their true dignity, it is a sheer delight, perhaps even an unexpected surprise. They’ve endured so much throughout the centuries and sometimes find it difficult to recognize their amazing dignity in God’s eyes.

Throughout my book, Rooted in Love, I endeavor to offer women the Catholic tools they need to stay firmly on the road that leads to LIFE, despite all of the struggles and hardships they might be facing. I hope they will feel embraced by our Church when reading this book because I have woven a good amount of Church teaching throughout which will help them to discern their true calling as well as discover a deep and abiding joy as a Catholic woman who is intensely loved by our Lord Himself!”

What more can I say? This book is much-need for our time, and belongs on the bookshelf of every Catholic woman, married, single, or consecrated. Click on the cover image to order your copy from Amazon, and don’t forget to get a copy for your wife, best friend, or sister (Christmas is fast approaching, you know!). Or, click on Donna-Marie’s image to go directly to her website.