Teresa Tomeo has said in her endorsement for my memoir The Kiss of Jesus:
“In this amazing true story of faith Donna-Marie shares painful details of her past struggles as well as a very honest discussion concerning life’s many challenges. This is not so her readers will feel sorry for her but instead to show all of us that even in the most challenging of circumstances God is with us. He turns the greatest tragedies into triumphs and in Donna-Marie’s case the Lord turned her misery into a powerful ministry.”
I enjoyed being with dear friend and radio host Teresa Tomeo on EWTN’s “Catholic Connection” this morning chatting about my memoir The Kiss of Jesus. In case you weren’t able to tune in, I have the entire interview right here for you to listen when it’s convenient for you.
I was honored to visit with Al Kresta of “Kresta in the Afternoon” the other day. Here is what Al Kresta had said for his endorsement after he had read my memoir The Kiss of Jesus:
“The things we carry with us, the stories that make us who we are usually remain hidden from the watching world. Until now, that has been true of Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle who, for years, I’ve known as a writer of rare luminous simplicity and maternal sensitivity whose spirituality bears the mark of her encounters with Mother Teresa. But I was unprepared for the shocking assaults, penetrating injuries, wounds of betrayal, shame of poverty and neglect that alternately enraged and grieved me as I read her memoir. These dark episodes form a devilish veil that can only be pierced by the sword of Christ’s severe mercy. This is no mere conversion story. The power of His grace far exceeds God’s momentary acceptance of a sinner. Here grace is an active, personal force molding, shaping, nurturing, and transforming her. Transformed for love and service. She is led into moving evangelistic encounters with family, strangers and neighbors. So please, don’t deprive yourself of the tough, relentless grace that fills this book. Take up and read. Share in the dispensation of grace Donna-Marie has received and you will learn love and peace in the midst of tribulation.”~ Al Kresta, President, CEO Ave Maria Communications, Host, Kresta in the Afternoon
On his radio show the other day, Al asked me about my life and what I have detailed in my newly released memoir The Kiss of Jesus: How Mother Teresa and the Saints Helped Me to Discover the Beauty of the Cross.
If you didn’t get a chance to tune in yet, you may listen in here at your leisure. I hope that you will enjoy our visit.
Yesterday morning I had the great pleasure of visiting with Brian Patrick and the wonderful crew on the new EWTN Morning Glory radio show. We talked about the Rosary, Mother Mary, persevering in times of trouble, my life, and my memoir The Kiss of Jesus!
Today is the official launch day for my memoir, The Kiss of Jesus. I think it’s very nice that it “happens” to land on the feast of the ArchAngels!
One woman shared her thoughts after reading The Kiss of Jesus:
I read the whole book after returning at 10:00 PM from choir practice and finished it in TEARS at 3:00 AM. God bless you for such a true descrption of your life, I still cannot envision the hardships and trials that you have endured and survived with such a positive, loving attitude.There are so many lives you have touched and changed for the better.
Here is the official press release for The Kiss of Jesus:
Suffering as The Kiss of Jesus?
Accomplished author recounts how years of sorrow led to redemption and mercy
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29, 2015 – Few people who follow Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, popular author, radio and TV host and inspirational speaker, would have guessed that her life had been rife with so much suffering. While her story sometimes reads like a heart-pounding novel, it is, nonetheless, a true story, which Cooper O’Boyle tells in a beautiful, selfless fashion in her latest book, THE KISS OF JESUS.
Cooper O’Boyle has had an eventful life. The seventh of eight children, she enjoyed a relatively normal youth. However, all that would change, as she would come to endure horrors few could imagine.
In the years that would follow, Cooper O’Boyle had her freedom taken away by a troubled man who held her hostage, lost three babies to miscarriage and dealt with a husband’s drinking problem. She also suffered abuse, divorce and single-motherhood.
As trying as her life was, Cooper O’Boyle did experience unexpected joys along the way. She was blessed to raise five children, and claimed a memorable 10-year friendship with Blessed Mother Teresa, who served not only as a close friend, but also as a spiritual mother.
Throughout it all, Cooper O’Boyle’s faith buoyed her spirit. Not only has she survived, but she has thrived and discovered the beauty of the Cross.
“This extraordinary story will bring hope to all who are suffering,” Dan Burke, executive director of the National Catholic Register, says of THE KISS OF JESUS.
I recently visited the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas to present talks and a retreat to the military women there. I was honored to speak to such gracious and heroic women.
While in El Paso, I met a man named Bernard. I had observed him standing on the side of a busy street as I was being driven back to my hotel after giving a retreat on Saturday.
Bernard was holding a message on a tattered piece of cardboard. I asked my driver Karen (a woman from the military group at Fort Bliss) if I could possibly hand something to the man. She rolled down her window and I yelled out to him. He hurried over to the driver’s window.
I was able to give him my new water bottle, as well as a blessed Miraculous Medal, which I kissed before placing it in his outstretched hand. I told him that I hope and pray that he will receive many graces from the Blessed Mother through Her blessed medal. I also asked if I could hold his hand for a quick moment. Time stood still as his hand was intertwined with mine and Karen’s hand too, through the open window. His entire demeanor exuded his happiness to connect with us.
I asked him his name and he told me that it was “Bernard.”
“God bless you, Bernard!,” I said. “God loves you! I will pray for you. Please pray for me too.”
And then our beautiful moment had to end there because we needed to drive on since the traffic light had changed. We quickly bid our good byes.
As we pulled away, I turned around to watch our new friend. He was doing something that really touched my heart. I can still see him now in my mind as I write this to you. Bernard was kissing his blessed blessed Miraculous Medal over and over again. My heart was soaring and I was feeling extremely thankful to God for gifting me with that blessed encounter with someone that Mother Teresa would call, “Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor.”
Bernard will remain in my heart and prayers. Please say a prayer for Bernard, and of course, for all the unfortunate, the poor, sick, suffering, dying and troubled.
A Time to Ponder and Pray
The Gospel message in Matthew which Mother Teresa lived wholeheartedly rings in my heart, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me.”
Am I attentive to the needs around me? Can I stop even for a moment from my busy schedule to reach out to someone in need? Do I realize that simple loving interactions can make a huge difference in someone’s life?
Can I pray for the graces to reach out beyond my comfort zone and share God’s love with others?
Not all “needy” people are homeless or beggars. Many look like they are all put together upon meeting them when we are out and about in the community or at the workplace.
Some might even be within our own families and are silently craving our love. Let’s take a moment to ponder and pray who it is that Our Lord is calling us to love with His love.
Join me for #FamilyFaithChat on Wednesday, Sept. 9!
Next week, I’ll be a guest on Liguori Publications’ Twitter chat #FamilyFaithChat! I would love for you to follow along and join the conversation about what it means to be a Catholic family in today’s messy real world.
See the details on how to join and follow the conversation below! We’ll be chatting about building up your domestic church, a topic I wrote about in the newly released Family, the Church, and the Real World.
“Building Up Your Domestic Church” #FamilyFaithChat
FOLLOW: #FamilyFaithChat and @Liguori_Pub on Twitter
UP NEXT: Lisa Hendey at Wednesday, September 16, 11 a.m. CT
Three Ways to Follow the Twitter Chat
1. Follow Liguori Publications on Twitter: @Liguori_Pub. Liguori Publications will be tweeting chat questions, retweeting my answers, and retweeting discussion highlights. If you’d like to see a simplified overview of the discussion rather than every single #FamilyFaithChat tweet, then follow @Liguori_Pub.
2. Follow the #FamilyFaithChat hashtag on Twitter. Search for the hashtag on Twitter and see who’s tweeting with it! The “Top” view will only show the most popular tweets, so you’ll want to click the “Live” view for real-time updates. Refresh your page regularly to see the latest tweets. If you want to see every tweet in the discussion, follow the hashtag or do #3 below.
3. Use TweetChat.com.TweetChat.com is an easy tool you can use to follow and participate in Twitter chats. Just go to TweetChat.com and enter the hashtag #FamilyFaithChat, or go straight to this link: http://tweetchat.com/room/familyfaithchat It will open the conversation in a live chat setting and automatically add #FamilyFaithChat to the end of your tweets. This is an easy way to follow the Twitter chat without constantly refreshing.
TWO Ways to Participate in the Twitter Chat
1. Tweet a question you’d like to ask me!Ask me any question you want about Catholic family life and building up your domestic church. When you tweet your question, make sure to tag Liguori Publications (@Liguori_Pub) and use the hashtag#FamilyFaithChat. Liguori Publications will tweet questions from the audience for me to answer during the Twitter chat. If you have a question, tweet it to Liguori anytime in the next week or during the Twitter chat, and they’ll add it to the list! The sooner you send in your question, the more likely it’ll be featured in the discussion.
2. Share your thoughts in the conversation.During the Twitter chat, Liguori Publications will tweet numbered questions (Q1, Q2, etc.) and I’ll respond. Jump into the conversation and share your own thoughts on each topic! Make sure to use the hashtag #FamilyFaithChat.
One more thing! You can click here to have easy-peasy copy to put into your Tweet!
I hope that you will join us at our party, I mean Twitter Chat!
There’s a new cover for my memoir: The Kiss of Jesus. It’s pretty similar to the earlier cover except that the designer “turned up the contrast” on certain parts to make it more striking and tweaked some things. What do you think?
From Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros., this upcoming movie (November 13th) THE 33 will stir your heart and make you weep. It is an exciting movie about the powerful true story of the 33 Chilean miners who spent 69 days and nights together trapped underground in a collapsed gold and copper mine. They rationed out the little food they had with them and turned to prayer for survival.
Antonio Banderas and Lou Diamond Phillips star in this film. In theaters Nov. 13th.
I’m happy to report that my Catholic Mom’s Cafe television series will re-air on EWTN television this month! Watch a promo here.
Here’s one woman’s comment from face book: “Absolutely enjoyed the show tonight. Please keep this show and more coming! Programming like this is exactly what Mom’s of today need!”
Set your DVR’s! Here are the dates and times (ALL EASTERN TIMES):
8/24/15
CATHOLIC MOM’S CAFÉ: PT. 1
3:00 AM
6:30 PM
“The Skinny on Catholic Fashion”
Lisa Mladinich is my guest.
8/25/15
CATHOLIC MOM’S CAFÉ: PT. 2
3:00 AM
6:30 PM
“Kids and the Culture”
Marge Fenelon is my guest.
8/26/15
CATHOLIC MOM’S CAFÉ: PT. 3
3:00 AM
6:30 PM
“Going it Alone” (single Moms and Moms who feel single)
Woodeene Koenig-Bricker is my guest.
8/27/15
CATHOLIC MOM’S CAFÉ: PT. 4
3:00 AM 6:30 PM
“Upholding Dignity Through Contradiction”
Lisa Hendey is my guest.
08/28/15
CATHOLIC MOM’S CAFÉ: PT. 5
3:00 AM
6:30 PM
“Dealing with Loss through Miscarriage”
Karen Edmisten is my guest.
A heartfelt thanks to Mark Shea for his endorsement of my upcoming memoir: THE KISS OF JESUS:
“Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle’s The Kiss of Jesus is no ordinary spiritual autobiography. It is a gripping account of spiritual adventure and an emotional roller coaster telling of God’s faithfulness in times of terror, abuse, and profound encounters with grace and holiness. The world is richer for her existence, her work, and her fidelity.” ~ Mark P. Shea, Author, By What Authority: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition.
Earlier this year in March, Mark Shea had me as a guest on his radio show “Catholic and Enjoying It.”
Family life is both messy and holy. I’m sure you’ll agree. I am happy to report that I have written a portion of a new book for families titled, Family, the Church, and the Real World due to be released on August 1st in time for the World Meeting of Families.
My contribution is about the “Domestic Church.”
A description from Liguori:
If you embrace only the holiness, or if you just get lost in the messiness, then you miss the fullness of the experience that is living as a family – both in the domestic church and the Institutional Church. Here you’ll find inspiration from Scripture and modern advice that does more than just tell you how family life is “supposed” to be. This book gives you real, practical wisdom on how to navigate the holy messiness of family life.
Insights have been gathered from experts in every area of family life, including: Dr. Sean Reynolds, Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak, Lisa Hendey, Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, Dr. Don Paglia, Christopher West, Fr. Andrew Wisdom, Dr. Tom Neal, and Greg and Jennifer Willits. You’ll discover that Catholic Church teaching on marriage and family is rooted in our ultimate calling – to love with all we can muster, even through those messy moments.
Here’s a link to the book’s description and other details at the publisher.
You can pre-order the book (which sells for $15.00) at my website here.
We have just completed our Lenten journey and are now celebrating our Easter JOY!
It might seem odd that I am already speaking about our next Lenten journey. But, I want you to know that I’ve got you covered! I have a brand new family Lenten book (fourth in my series) for you! Here is the book cover image.
I hope you like it. It will be available in early October! As always, for a ridiculously low price of under $3.00.
I loved visiting with Doug Keck On EWTN’s Bookmark show. He is such a gracious and very brilliant television host. I have been honored and blessed to have visited with him on several Bookmark shows.
I am striving to reach the kids with solid teaching on the Angels, their invisible companions (based on Scripture and St. John Paul II’s catechesis on the Angels) and also teaching them about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for their Confirmation preparation and for LIFE!
We chatted about my books “Angels For Kids” and “My Confirmation Book.”
I recently had the honor and blessing of being a guest on Mark Shea’s radio show: “Catholic and Enjoying It!”
We discussed a number of Catholic things and focused a lot on my upcoming memoir which is due to be released in August: The Kiss of Jesus: How Mother Teresa and the Saints Helped Me to Discover the Beauty of the Cross.
You can learn more about The Kiss of Jesushere and you can also sign up for updates.
You can listen in to our visit right here. Perhaps you’d better pour a beverage for yourself and pull up a chair. This is a long one.
Enjoy!
Here’s the dusk jacket text with a few of the endorsements:
When Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle was growing up, she had no thought of one day becoming a popular author and television host. She was fully immersed in her life as the seventh of eight children in a Catholic family. Sometimes that life was carefree and fun, spending time with relatives dancing the festive Polkas at family weddings, and enjoying picnics in her back yard. Other times, life for Donna-Marie was very dark and tarnished with struggles and pain. Struggles that she felt were perhaps best left a secret.
Donna-Marie retreated to the beauty of nature, thanking God for its splendors, pondering and meditating. She plunged her heart and soul into a deeper meaning of life as she tried to navigate the ups and downs in a large struggling family. She turned to God for help especially as she became increasingly misunderstood by her family and her peers.
Life took some bizarre turns, and Donna-Marie was forced to deal with a crazed man who managed to take away her freedom and hold her hostage. Eventually escaping the nightmare of her prison, Donna-Marie married and began raising her family, believing she had finally found her true vocation. But she couldn’t seem to get out from under the shadow of the Cross. She lost three babies to miscarriage, struggled with her husband’s serious drinking problem and was later abandoned by him just before she gave birth to her third living child.
Raising her family alone, she was subjected to abusive neighbors, appalling living conditions, and did her best to overcome the obstacles, hanging onto hope for better days.
Her knight in shining armor finally came on the scene. Or, was he? Another unexpected adventure unfolded causing Donna-Marie to be thrust into a more affluent yet controlled life. “Prince Charming” had charmed his way into Donna-Marie’s life. But under the veneer of his charm was a dark side.
Survival mode eventually took over as Donna-Marie had to fight for her life and for her children’s safety. Thankfully, a saint or two had crossed paths with Donna-Marie—one was Blessed Mother Teresa who would become her spiritual mother.
The Kiss of Jesus is an inspiring true story told by the woman who lived it. It is a story of struggle, suffering, and ultimately of faith, hope, and profound love.
“I have no doubt that this extraordinary true story can and will bring hope to those who are suffering or have suffered and are struggling to make sense of it all.”
– Dan Burke, Executive Director, National Catholic Register
“In Donna-Marie’s beatific smile and warm eyes, we glimpse her earnings from a life fraught with poverty, denied friendships, betrayal, abandonment, and real violence, yet filtered through a most unexpected, and arduous, ‘vocation to love’. The Kiss of Jesus is a courageous, sometimes stunningly personal memoir.”
– Elizabeth Scalia, Author, Strange Gods: Unmasking the Idols in Everyday Life
“The Kiss of Jesus is no ordinary spiritual autobiography. It is a gripping account of spiritual adventure and an emotional roller coaster telling of God’s faithfulness in times of terror, abuse, and profound encounters with grace and holiness.”
– Mark P. Shea, Author, By What Authority: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition
“The Kiss of Jesus runs the full gamut of virtue and vice, flesh and spirit, demonic and holy. Donna-Marie’s extraordinary life bears witness and hope to us all that ‘nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ ”
– Jim Pinto, Co-Host of EWTN,@ Home with Jim and Joy
Today is the fourth day of a nine day novena to the illustrious Saint Joseph which will end on his feast day, March 19th. As Foster Father of the Holy Family he certainly knows a thing or two about family life and takes an interest in our families. Don’t hesitate to call upon him. Saint Teresa of Avila said he never failed her.
O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me all spiritual blessings through thy foster Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer thee my thanksgiving and homage.
O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thine arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.
