Who is she?  Men and women throughout the centuries have tried to define her…all I know for sure is that she was freed and healed from 7 demons, stayed with Our Lady at the foot of the Cross, and was chosen by Christ to be the first witness to the Resurrection…she would become the Apostle to the Apostles…that’s enough for me.  Wow!  Who is she?  One of the greatest saints…ever!

One of the best conversations we’ve had about St. Mary Magdalene was with the wonderful Amy Welborn, author of “Decoding Mary Magdalene”
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Artists and musicians have tried to capture Mary Magdalene;  here’s a beautiful tribute to their efforts:

“Be Saints!  An invitation from Pope Benedict XVI”, edited by Amy Welborn and illustrated by Ann Engelhart is simply wonderful, a must for every family library.  Marvelous for children and adults alike, this compilation is taken from the talks given by Pope Benedict to children during his 2010 visit to England.  In this conversation with Ann Engelhart, we discuss this work.  We  also discuss the nature of art and beauty, in particular for children, and it’s ability to evangelize.

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You can find the book here

From the description:

In this very colorful book by acclaimed artist Ann Englehart, the Pope’s words come to life as he interacts with the children, showing all children how only God can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts.

Interspersed are prayers and quotes from various saints including Saint Francis, Saint Ignatius, Mother Teresa, St. Paul, St. Peter and more. They all emphasize that the most important thing we can become in this life is a Saint, a true friend of Jesus.

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Well, it would be difficult to write a book more poignant and compelling than this…obviously, it came straight from the heart.  Amy Welborn uses her incredible gift with words to paint an unforgettable picture of how grief and regret can be transformed, by grace, into hope.  It’s  a journey on a winding, sometimes bumpy road.  But what Amy has discovered through the help of her husband Mike, her kids, the land of Sicily, and ultimately, God, is that it is really true, there really is a light at the end of the tunnel.   As she says, “tragedy and joy, loss and understanding death and life are constantly mixed together…and the beauty of the Catholic faith is that it is all there….we have the whole picture.”  Its about faith, about hope, about love..and that is what is really eternal.

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You can find the book here

“Amy Welborn’s latest book is a must-read spiritual treasure. It reveals not only the heart-wrenching dynamics of grief but also the odd and wonderful way grace illumines even the thickest darkness. Funny, engagingly written, spiritually profound, Wish You Were Here is a gem.”  –Fr. Robert Barron, author of Catholicism.

Be sure to visit Amy’s blog’s Charlotte Was Both  http://amywelborn.wordpress.com

and “Booked” the travel blog - http://booked.amywelborn.com

So many find it fashionable to quote her…how many have the courage to truly read her?  Someone asked me once why I love Flannery O’Connor?   At first, I wasn’t sure how to answer.  She is a challenge.  I suppose she islike your favorite fitness trainer; when you’re done you feel something has changed.  Reading Flannery causes you to look in the mirror; watch out you may not like what you see.  She causes you to practice the virtues in a way you may never have thought; so that when you encounter a moral challenge in life, you’ve already “flexed your virtue muscles”.  And isn’t that the key to great literature anyway?  “A Good Man Is Hard

To Find” was the first short story I read by Flannery…it was the first serious short story I had ever read (what a piece to cut your teeth on).   I was 13…I didn’t get it.  I read “Wiseblood” at 16…I didn’t get it.  At 48, do I get it?  I think I’ll leave that to God to answer.
Do I think she is a saint?  Yup, no doubt in my mind.  Will the Church ever declare her a saint…I don’t know, and in the end does it really matter what we think…God’s got her.

Here’s a little piece I found on her life…not great, but not bad..

Here is an “Inside the Pages” discussion with Amy Welborn about Flannery O’Connor
[powerpress url=”http://discerninghearts.com/interviews/Inside_the_Pages-Amy_Welborn_Flannery_O_Connor.mp3″]Download (right click & choose “Save Link As”)

An unprecedented book-length interview given by a Pope, Light of the World by German journalist Peter Seewald, is an absolute must for those who look to our Holy Father for guidance and direction as we attempt to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ. I am beyond delighted to have Amy Welborn with us to discuss this important conversation Pope Benedict XVI is actually having with us all.  Amy, the author of numerous books, has written extensively on the teachings of Pope Benedict; I couldn’t have anyone better to go “Inside the Pages” of this work that tackles some the greatest issues facing the world today.

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Check out Amy Welborn’s blog  “Charlotte was Both“

You can find our more at igantius.com the website for Ignatius Press