Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering

by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

Ever wish you had a cookbook for life as a Catholic wife and mother ... a step-by-step guide for various domestic church situations? Consider your prayers answered. The recipe theme may be... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933271213
• ISBN13: 9781933271217
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Circle Press
• Length: 218 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

What richness!

I started reading "Grace Café" by Donna-Marie Cooper-O'Boyle in Cool Beans Coffee Shop in Bellefonte on one frozen February morning. My husband and I can often be found there on Sundays while CCD classes are in progress. Cool Beans has comfortable arm chairs and a gas fireplace; it is the perfect place to curl up with a cup of coffee and read a wonderful book. It was especially suited for reading "Grace Café," which further develops many of the themes put forth in "The Domestic Church," but in a more personal and conversational style. Once again, Donna-Marie shows us the meaning in the meaningless. That is, we have been convinced by the world that everything we women do in order to run a home is meaningless, since we are not bringing in a pay check to do what we do. Here are some lines that I highlighted in my copy of the book: "We live in a society where, sadly, a woman's value is most times measured by the size of her paycheck or lack of one. If a mom decides to devote her time to her family's care without pursuing outside employment, she may be considered to be less significant or inferior.... I have experienced jabs of jealousy and criticism from others at times because I was committed to raising my children full time....Others would say, 'Oh, it's nice you have the luxury to stay at home.' Yet I believe that it is not a luxury~ it is a choice and a decision to do without some material things and comforts to be there for our little ones; it also requires putting aside our own aspirations for achievement in a particular field or direction. We have brought children into the world or accepted children through adoption, we should care for them assiduously." (pp.24-25) While "Grace Café" is an immensely charming book, it takes a searing look at the attacks upon the family and upon women which masquerade as liberation. "A woman is given a role to care for others, specifically because she is a woman, because she is feminine. Femininity is a beautiful thing! Radical feminism is ugly. Woman have to realize that from their femininity will blossom many graces and blessings for society and for their families. Attempting to change a woman into a man does nothing but confuse matters and destroys families in the process...."(p.96) Since not all women are called to be mothers in the physical sense, Grace Café explores the different ways of "mothering:" "Obviously, not all women are mothers; however, they can be mothers to others in their midst because women are given motherly hearts. I know many women who are not mothers but who are mothers to so many around them." (pp.96-97) Rich in quotations from Scripture, saints, and pontiffs, "Grace Café" combines simplicity and profundity in an amazing manner. With Our Lady and St. Joseph as companions, we can find holiness in the fulfillment of the everyday duties of our states of life. Even when Donna-Marie is pointing out the flaws in our society, her tone is always one of hope and enco

Grace Cafe...the transcendence of Catholic Motherhood!

Donna Marie Cooper-O'Boyle has once again hit a home run with her latest work, Grace Café! Her latest book is a great testimony to the vocational call of motherhood that manifests itself in a sublime sacramental and pragmatic manner in our Catholic Church. The examples of feminine individuality and determination that Donna presents in such illustrious characters as Teresa of Calcutta, Theresa of the Little Flower, The Virgin Mother, Saint Mary Madeline and so forth are stirring examples of the critical importance women play in the daily sanctification and evangelization of the Catholic faith. The most incredible points are when you take graced spiritual moments and apply them to the 21st century pursuit of holiness...such as a "domestic prayer chapel" and the raising up of domestic activities as part of the overall developing plan of God's creation are moments that deserve great prayer and pondering by all faithful people. Grace Café is an exceptionally fine example of putting Catholic theological concepts into practical everyday illustrations of our Catholic worship. What I find especially uplifting is the central focus Donna places on the maternal role of leadership in prayer and faith that is often times forgotten in our harried and secularized lives. The proper formation and education of the Catholic faith rightly belongs to Catholic parents, especially roots of faith catechesis and evangelization focused in the Catholic home and hearth. However, the inclusion of Fulton Sheen in the last chapter truly shows how important the planting of the Gospel message in the fertile ground of Catholic family life is so critically important for the future of the growing and living Church. The mentioning of the 50's iconic Archbishop Sheen strongly places an emphasis for all parents to consider catechesis through the familiar teachings of our own foundations of Catholic Theology. The message of Archbishop Sheen was simply a magnificent tool of Catholic faith exegesis through the simple grace filled moments of everyday living. Donna Marie's Grace Café clearly reminds all of us, that our faith is indeed nurtured by all of the special moments we all share as sons and daughters, mothers and fathers and grandchildren as we live our faith in a daily unfolding of God's grace and sanctification. Donna's stories and personal reflections are indicative of our common religious upbringing, such as recalling your grandmother's apartment, and saying the family rosary are magnificent signs and anchors of the transmission of faith that truly is nourished and enhanced by the everyday domestic trials and tribulations of Catholic motherhood. Most significantly the maternal obligation and responsibility incumbent on all Catholic mothers illustrates the magnificent nurturing nature that is Catholic motherhood and the development of Catholic spiritual coherence. Grace Café clearly heralds the great ministry of Mary, the Mother of Jesus as she set the model and example for

Delicious Recipes for the Mother's Soul

In Grace Café, Donna passes along the blessings and lessons of love which she has learned in her life on her spiritual and maternal journey, weaving it with much wisdom and love, offering encouragement, praise, camaraderie, and guidance. In her usual gentle and gracious manner, Donna speaks to women heart-to-heart and captures their full attention by dishing up delicious recipes for the mother's soul. She begins by inviting her readers to make themselves "a cozy cup of tea" and take a little time to refresh their souls. And, refresh them she does! From the moment I opened Grace Café to the moment I closed it, I felt as if I had been bathed in an abundance of graces which lifted up my heart and soul. Donna's recipes are delectable and power-packed! Each chapter consists of various combinations of the following: enlightening excerpts from papal encyclicals on love and the family, brief passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as the Holy Bible, penetrating quotes from some of my favorite saints (St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Augustine, St. John of the Cross, and many more), personal anecdotes, practical tips, spiritual poems on motherhood, mother's miracle stories, prayers and so much more. This was truly a work of love that will lift up mothers in their vocations, help them see what their true role is according to God's will, and encourage them in the challenging role that they face in society today. Grace Café was primarily written for mothers, but I believe that it is appropriate reading material for all those who plan to be mothers one day - both Catholic and Christian women - and would be a wonderful supplement for: pre-Cana classes, marriage encounter groups, adult education, NFP groups/classes, Christian/Catholic women's groups, and book discussion groups. For anyone who is planning to be a mother - this is an excellent gift. Highly Recommended!

Another Wonderful Books for Any Woman

Grace Cafe is the "cookbook" we each wish we had for living life as a Catholic wife and mother - a realistic, yet very prayerful guide towards living out our vocation. When reading this book, I found myself reflecting back to younger days with my now teenage sons and wishing I'd had this resource back then! Donna-Marie reminds us in Grace Cafe that mothering is a lifelong role filled with many joys and a few struggles too. She gracefully gives wisdom for dealing with all ends of the mothering spectrum. Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle's books are always firmly rooted in Catholic doctrine and filled with references from the Catechism, scripture and papal encyclicals. And yet, Donna-Marie has a true knack for helping this sometimes heady material seem both relevant and accessible. When you read Grace Cafe, you will be both edified and inspired - I can hear Donna-Marie's soothing voice and uplifting words like a warm hug from a special friend in both books. Buy two copies - one for you, and one for a beloved friend or family member. Grace Cafe is one to share and enjoy over and over!

A Cookbook for Mothering

I'm not really a fan of books about motherhood. I've read a few, but it's not a genre I generally seek out. That makes me doubly glad for having discovered Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle's Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering. She starts the conversation with a truth I've witnessed over and over, among friends and women from all over: "Mothers today don't have many opportunities to receive a pat on the back." She continues, later in her introduction, "We can certainly benefit from encouragement and praise to aid and uplift us on our pilgrimage throughout the challenging vocation of motherhood. We can and should extend a hand to help each other along the way." In eleven chapters, Donna-Marie serves up advice gleaned from her experiences and observations. I felt, reading it, that we were sitting down and having a discussion over a cozy cup of tea. This book is perfect especially for mothers who are around their children all the time - I hesitate to say "stay at home" because I am not a "stay at home" mother, but I am around my children for big chunks of time, and I benefited from reading this book. Mothers who find themselves struggling with the demands of motherhood and the many expectations and pulls from the world around, gather! This book is for you! Each chapter has a central theme - "How can I find myself through the vocation of motherhood?" for example - and a "recipe" to guide you through to the answer. I found the poems and prayers concluding each chapter a good point of reflection and a helpful reminder of Whose design we're supposed to follow. Throughout, Donna-Marie sprinkles the wisdom of modern-day saints - notably John Paul II and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. She tackles more than just the easy challenges of Catholic motherhood, and she made me think about why I am the way I am. There were a few points that made me stop reading - I wasn't sure I agreed with what Donna-Marie was saying. Going back, though, I appreciated Donna-Marie's conversational style, which leaves room for thought and growth. Do you find yourself at home, looking around with a weary heart and an over-busy mind, running the rat race of motherhood with no joy? Stop and brew a cup of tea, and sit down with this book. It's a boost of support, and not just for Catholics! All Christian mothers will benefit from O'Boyle's wisdom and advice, and will find themselves discovering the satisfaction of their vocation.