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"Count the Stars" Shows Seven Women Who Believe in God's Promise

Posted on: Wednesday, 13 August 2008, 09:00 CDT

What sort of woman -- bright, beautiful, educated -- turns down marriage and professional success to become a consecrated member of a religious movement?

"Count the Stars," a newly released book from Circle Press(R), shows how seven women said "yes" to God.

Their lives are a living echo of God's promise to Abraham: "Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Just so will your descendents be" (Gn 15:5). Like Abraham, they took a leap of faith, and their gift of self in the Regnum Christi consecrated life has made them spiritual mothers to many souls.

As the book begins, the reader walks in the shoes of Abraham to discover what it means to be called for a mission:

      I stood up and looked at the clear blue sky: "Lord, where is that      place? Where will you lead me?"  I waited but no reply came. "Lord,      will you speak again?" Still there was no reply... I must go from my      family. And then the Lord would show me this land." (vi) 

The book then launches into the stories of seven women: Denise Funke, Dorrie Donahue, Phoebe Wilson, Luly Fernandez, Mary Maher, Alexis Crow and Lauren Hawkesworth.

Each story shows how God chose women from a variety of family backgrounds, ages, interests and gave them a vocation and a mission in the consecrated lay life in the Regnum Christi Movement. Their unique paths show how each vocation is a personal love story between God and a soul -- and how, in the end, it is only in faith that we make the daring leap to follow God.

 --  Denise Funke, a pro-life leader in Canada, was completely sure that     she was called to be a wife and mother... until God showed her another way     of giving life to souls.      --  When Dorrie Donahue, a competitive horseback rider from Virginia and a     nursing student, felt John Paul II's hands on her face in St. Peter's     Square, she wondered what was her place in the Church.      --  Phoebe Wilson, from a mostly Southern Baptist town in Arkansas, found     her vocation in high school, thanks to a summer away "at the beach."      --  Luly Fernandez, from Monterrey, Mexico, tells the story of how her     vocation unfolded from Christ himself telling her, "I want you close to my     heart." Her story unfolds against the backdrop of her mother's struggle     with leukemia.      --  Mary Maher's story begins with an eleven-year-old tomboy from Michigan     who was planning on becoming the next president of the United States. As     time went by, this spunky girl found her true mission in the consecrated     life and in the wide horizons of the apostolate.      --  Alexis Crow, a Minnesotan medical student and competitive diver who     had never before considered the idea of a vocation, found herself searching     for "something real." Her quest for authenticity brought her to the     consecrated life.      --  Lauren Hawkesworth, from South Africa, was the first of three sisters     to embark on a new adventure of consecrated life. Her younger brother is     now a Legionary of Christ. Her story is also her family's story of faith.      

After narrating the seven vocation stories, the book closes with a brief history of consecrated life in the Church.

With its engaging style, "Count the Stars" will refresh any Christian with a renewed sense of his or her personal vocation and mission. Seeing the action of God in these lives reminds all who read the book to listen for the voice of God and to answer with the faith like Abraham, "Here I am."

The book is available through the distributor, Maritza Silva 401-949-2820 or msilva@inteducators.org for $16.95. A special discount is available for buying the book in bulk.

 Contact: Jim Fair 630-858-6398 Email Contact

SOURCE: Legion of Christ

Source: MARKET WIRE

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