Still Grateful

Our annual Thanksgiving table decorations

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had fewer dinner guests this year, but the weekend was still full of family and food. Today I am thankful for

• Four-day weekends
• Leftovers for lunch
• Having all 5 siblings + 3 significant others under one roof for a moment
• Dinner out with old friends
• An excursion to DC that involved areas beyond the Mall
• The glorious experience that is homemade gluten-free stuffing made of bread you baked yourself
• Backgammon tournaments
• Baked acorn squash with hazelnut butter
• The fun challenge of bridesmaid dress shopping
• College friends who stay in touch
• A Sunday movie matinee where we were the youngest couple by 25 years
• Warm weather that permitted walks under the stars
• A new Mass translation that feels like an early Christmas present

Occupy These 7 Quick Takes, Vol. 14

--- 1 ---

I have been blown away by the thoughtful comments on my Mormonpalooza post about the shiny, happy evangelization of Mormon housewife blogs. You ladies had some great insights, and showed me I didn't have it all figured out. Keep it coming!

--- 2 ---

All my late-night Mormonpalooza writing has made me realize that I am in academic writing withdrawal. Compared to my scattershot short posts this time last year, I am practically an essayist here. I never thought this day would come, but I actually miss collecting footnotes and outlining dozens of pages.

--- 3 ---

True confession: I have seen all the Twilight movies on opening night, but I don't really care that I wont see Breaking Dawn. The protagonists are so insufferable that at this point I'm Team Charlie, Bella's bewildered dad.

--- 4 ---

Last weekend my family survived the epic matchup of Oldsmobile vs. Bambi. On the way to an engineering open house at Virginia Tech, Brother #2 and my Dad got a lesson in the physics of collisions. Now we have a totaled car and a teenage concussion, but the deer is missing a leg. I'd call that even. Also, the iPhone flashlight app is very useful in times like this.

--- 5 ---

In happier news, The Beau passed his dissertation defense with flying colors! Now comes the fun part of writing several hundred pages on representations of martyrdom in late 17th century England.

--- 6 ---

When I look at coverage of Occupy Wall Street, I see 19th century revolutionary protests. He sees the late Stuart period. I love when we have nerdy conversations like this one:
 Him: "I should just take the train up [to NYC] and get myself arrested. I'm studying 50 feet from the station."
Me: "I don't know if I would have enough money to bail you out...But I would publish a pamphlet with woodcut illustrations about your ordeal!"
Him:"I am intrigued by this account of the protestors pointing at blood on the ground saying 'That's our blood!' Did they dip cloth in it and keep it [like a 17th century person would]?"  

--- 7 ---

The soundtrack of The Mission makes for epic invoicing background music. The only thing better than Jeremy Irons' voice is Jeremy Irons as a Jesuit priest.

Via BritishCinemaGreats.com

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Mormonpalooza Part 2: Housewife Blogs and Evangelization Envy

The past few years have seen the rise of the hip Mormon mommy/housewife blog phenomenon. There seems to be an endless network of them, and good gravy are they popular. Thousands of followers, dozens of sponsors, weekly giveaways popular. Personally, I am hooked on The Daybook, Nat the Fat Rat (Happiness Curator! Lover of Anne of Green Gables!), Rockstar Diaries, and Mormon in Manhattan to name a few.

The stinkin' cute Sydney and Tyson of The Daybook. 

In Salon this January, highly educated journalist Emily Matchar asked the question on many young women's minds (including mine): “Why can’t I stop reading Mormon housewife blogs?” She concluded that, unlike the uber-intense mommy blogosphere, these ladies make marriage and motherhood look like fun adventures.  At VirtuousPla.Net, Julie Rodrigues recently observed that these blogs "give beauty slowly," countering the modern obsession with instant gratification. Jen Fulweiler chimed in that it’s the inherent female nurturing, giving instinct that makes PhD candidates pore over posts about recipes and decorating.

I agree with all these women, and very much identify with Matchar and her friends. Reading cookbooks and stalking other people’s domestic bliss were my main coping techniques while thesis writing. It was a world so comforting, and yet slightly exotic compared to the library stacks.

There's been some discussion in the Catholic blogsphere about what an effective evangelization force these Mormon bloggers are. Such artsy diaries make show that we church-going folk are happy, creative, and normal.  These women blend modernity with faith seemingly effortlessly. They are in the world but not quite of it, often more subtly than we Catholics seem to be. But before we go running out to create knock-off hipster Catholic blogs, there are some key points to consider.

Mormon housewife blogs are up-to-the-minute trendy. 
These women use Instagram, sell handmade accessories on Etsy and dish about makeup trends.  Their trendiness seems authentic, not self-consciously commercial. When readers ask, "What makes Mormons so cool?, they reply that they just look for beauty in everything, and that includes Forever 21.

These blogs are written for a wide general audience – lifestyle first, LDS a distant second.
 “Just frolicking in the city, pushing this stroller in my hipster glasses and red lipstick. Have you tried that new burger place across town? Oh and I’m excited about General Conference and hosting some missionaries for dinner on Sunday.”

via ClothedMuch.com

Similarly, clothing discussions are about fashion, not just modesty. 
You'll never see these stylish girls in tank tops or short skirts, but they don't feel the need to tell you that constantly. Their posts are all "Hey, look at these cute blouses! I found the sweetest necklace on sale!"

I once told my parish priest that he should give up his pipe dreams of a modest clothing line, because the Mormons have that locked down. Three words: Shabby Apple dresses.

By far the expert Mormon fashion blogger is LA-dweller Elaine Hearn at Clothed Much. Her blogroll of Mormon fashion bloggers is comprehensive, and her use of items from both department and thrift stores is brilliant. With nary an ankle length jumper in sight.

They offer artistic quality and positivity, not preaching to the choir
Mormon bloggers' layouts are uncluttered and their photos use natural light, not garish flash. They write about what is good in life, instead of just clutching their pearls about THE CULTURE.

There is a time and place for hashing out the minutiae of theology and liturgy, and then there are times to be more approachable. Endless debates about NFP and homeschooling get tiresome, as does the millionth mediocre rehash of Theology of the Body. This is where Mormon bloggers enchant and inspire me in a way Catholic mommy blogs often do not. It's refreshing to see something practical and beautiful, not just hand-wringing about immorality on TV.

Who cares what horrendous things the kids on Jersey Shore are wearing; what would be a good outfit for work tomorrow? How could I still unleash my creative side once I am chasing after little ones? How do I relate to my secular colleagues? More importantly, how could Catholic life be relevant to them? Women like Sydney and Elaine give me hope that I can participate in modern society but also stay true to my beliefs.

Via The Rockstar Diaries

This is where I as a Catholic blogger/cultural historian do some serious pondering. 
Do we blog to evangelize or to talk amongst ourselves? Should Catholic young women write with our theology more "undercover"? Personally, I love the like-minded community of spiritual support I have found through blogging. Should I put my money where my mouth is and switch to posting recipes and daily outfit photos? Or would that be watering down my faith?

Do any Catholic lifestyle blogs with a large secular following already exist?  Do you think Catholic women should embrace a new online evangelization strategy? What do you think?

Mormonpalooza Part 1: Born in the USA

I find the Church of Latter Day Saints fascinating. The Mormons I know are some of the nicest, most well-grounded people I've ever met. As an historian, I know their place in the American religious landscape is significant. As a Catholic, I obviously don't share all their beliefs but know we have significant common ground.


So this week at Beaten Copper Lamp it's going to be Mormonpalooza as I consider the Latter Day Saints in 21st century pop culture. 

First, a little history lesson. If you only know one this about American religious history, it should be this: unlike our European forebears, the young American republic grew as a religious free market. Yes, there are many episodes of prejudice and discrimination, but the Constitution still protects freedom of religion.Thanks to the first amendment, you can attend any church you want. Your state's government is not Anglican or Reformed or whatever. If you want, you can even start your own denomination.

Destiny made manifest:
The Brigham Young monument
in Salt Lake City telling settlers
"This is the place!" 

Americans are nothing if not inventive, and so in the 1800s people created a lot of denominations. Many of these utopian communities and free-lance preachers without seminary training lasted only a few years. Somehow though, the Mormon combination of frontier settlement and close-knit community has survived. The LDS Church is the only religion purely indigenous to the United States, and the historian in me thinks that is pretty cool. It's fitting that the Book of Mormon presents America as the final chapter of salvation history. If Jesus and the Israelites came here, and Act III of the Bible was hidden here, then Amer'ca must be pretty darn awesome.

So, people should just simmer down about the Mormon faith of Mitt Romney or even Twilight author Stephanie Meyer. The aren't out to enslave the country in a cult, they just belong to a faith that takes American exceptionalism to its logical extreme.

Although Catholics may get nervous when two eager young missionaries show up at the door, there is a lot we have in common with the LDS community. They are clean living, family-oriented folks involved in a church with a clear hierarchical structure. They value modesty, chastity, and marriage, especially when vows are exchanged in one of their impressive, fancy buildings.

Sometimes, it’s easy to wish we Romans were more like them. They are  so darn cheerful! Why can’t we have “family home evening” every week? Wouldn’t giving a year or two to mission work make our young men self-confident and devout?

In Our Sunday Visitor Brandon Vogt recently observed the LDS church's outstanding web presence. He suggested that Catholics would do well to imitate Mormons' 1. ubiquity in every social media outlet 2. utilization of lay expertise and 3. personal stories as evangelization. Tomorrow I'll consider some specific examples of effective LDS online presence.

7 Quick Takes Vol. 13?

--- 1 ---

I have Veteran's Day off, something I didn't realize until three days ago. This morning I am thinking about World War I (since this was originally Armistice Day), and considering a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project.

--- 2 ---

Speaking of veterans, I finally visited the Stonewall Jackson Shrine that randomly lurks off I-95. Check out my post about it on my museum blog.

--- 3 ---

Last night I turned to Brother #3 and said, "In the morning, I'm makin' WAFFLES!" Our parents have this sweet George Foreman grill with waffle iron plates. You don't even need non-stick spray! My last GF waffle experiment was quickly gobbled up by even the normal eaters.

--- 4 ---

It even has POCKETS!

This week I reached an adult milestone: I now own a wool-blend suit. Like the kind professional people wear. All those Anne Taylor Loft sale emails were not total spam. This is the jacket, and there are pants to match.
My Fall fashion mantra is, "A jacket covers a multitude of sins." Seriously, pair a blazer with a cute necklace and no one will notice your faded jeans or the fact that you lost a shirt button on your way to work.

--- 5 ---

By this time next week, The Beau should be ABD! That's academese for "all but dissertation," meaning your coursework and qualifying exams are done and your advisors have approved your research proposal. Please say a prayer for him, because there are few things more nerve-racking than asking someone to validate your life plan.

--- 6 ---

On a happier note, my job is still awesome. We accountants are usually the last to leave, so by 5:30pm things get a little loopy. This week we had a stirring group rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," which prompted our new Russian team member to retaliate with YouTube videos of dancing Cossacks.

--- 7 ---

I've been pondering it for a while, but I've decided it's time to make this happen: next week is going to be Mormonpalooza on this blog. The LDS Church fascinates me, so I'm going to ponder their role in modern American pop culture. I'd love for you to check it out next week!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Facebook has boundaries issues

This week's Bright Maidens topic is about PDA in the digital age. Here are my two cents.

StuffChristianCultureLikes.Com

We've all seen it in our Facebook news feeds. The sappy  wall posts. The albums of smchoopy, kissy face photos. The googly-eyed status updates about how crazy in love they are with their amazing significant other. Liberal use of the nickname "Pookie," which should not be applied to anyone over age 5.

Sometimes, internet-age oversharing makes me want to gag.

Thanks to reality TV and Mark Zuckerberg's persistent idea that we want to publish the minutiae of our lives, seeing intimate moments play out in public seems normal. On dating game shows like the Bachelorette and Flavor of Love, an entire nation can watch a semi-celebrity go one dates and whispers sweet nothings with not just one, but multiple people. Thanks to social media, we can eavesdrop on personal wall conversations and see the details of someone's vacation without talking to them. So is it any wonder that internet PDA can seem like a requisite part of a "real" relationship? That if you don't brag about it on Facebook, it isn't official?

Sure, when you first fall for someone or get eneaged, you want to shout it from the rooftops. You tell all your friends, gush about how you're in love with a wonderful guy, or scream "I love this woman" in an Italian piazza. An FB post about your 10th anniversary can be a great witness to the commitment marriage requires. And sweet understated gestures like holding hands or an arm across the back of their chair shows the world you are proud to be connected to the person you love.

Still, your friends want to focus on the intimate, day-to-day events of their own families and relationships. I think perpetrators of online PDA need to consider why they are using that medium. Wouldn't a private text message, email, or FB message be just as effective? Does this show a simple lack of boundaries or a deeper need to brag about how awesome one's life is? Especially as Christians, do we need to one-up each other with declarations about "God's perfect plan for my life," or how "blessed" we are?

Just a thought. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to visit The Beau in New Jersey for the weekend. I won't bore you with the details :-P

I can see your halo, halo, halo

The Calling of St. Matthew; Caravaggio; 1599-1600; San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome

Today is the day to think about All the Saints, and I am reflecting on the many patrons to whom I owe thanks, some old and some new.

St. Jude and St. Therese have been unexpected novena friends. Today I realized that St. Matthew is the patron of accountants, and thus my pal now too. I always loved his conversion story.

Then there are the English martyrs that The Beau has been researching, like priest and poet Robert Southwell. Blessed John Henry Newman is more connected to my own "scholarship," and their spiritual descendant.

And then of course the strong women whose names I share. St. Philomena, the idealistic and brave teenager whom I claimed in Confirmation. Sarah, the patriarch's wife who laughed when God told her His plans. I like to think she regretted her hard-headed mistakes.

Also the Elizabeths - a queen of Hungary and an Episcopalian convert. Ms. Bayley Seton and I should be better friends - she lived in the early republic! She was a Vincentian! My high school is named for her! She's totally historically significant! Elizabeth Ann, please pray for your fellow American down here.

Since I'm a historian, the Communion of Saints is one of my favorite Catholic concepts ever. Those who went before us are not just words on a page - they're alive! We can talk to them, they can help us out just as if they lived down the street and sat a few pews over at Sunday Mass. There is such a tangible sense of power knowing I can make personal connections with the past.

All you holy men and women, pray for us.