Reading is connected to the life of the intellect more than any other activity. It’s what gets the muscle of the intellect working. An active intellect is always a good thing. This is what distinguishes us humans from the animals— our ability to reason, our ability to know things and to make decisions. Our minds are where our actions begin. Through the intellectual life humans are able to perceive the world, to understand it, and to act upon it. It is important to engage the intellect by making it work, by feeding it with beautiful images or presenting it with hard things to solve.
A Well-Read Mom Member Reflection by Julie from Evansville, IN My WRM group let out a collective sigh after reading In the House of Brede. This book was a pearl of wisdom, one that reminded us that we have a renewed hope to share what is dear in life and to embrace life together no matter…
After a temporary hiatus, while we gave our website a fresh new look, the Well-Read Mom blog is back in action and registration is open for the Year of the Family! From our relationships as sisters to the love family, we are celebrating ten years of Well-Read Mom. Well-Read Mom has a beautiful year planned,…
A Reflection on In This House of Brede by Megan Keyser How delighted I was to see Rumer Godden’s inspiring Catholic novel, In This House of Brede, among the reading selections in this “Year of the Sister.” This was my second reading of the novel, and I was struck, even more profoundly this subsequent time, with…
What are the Criteria for a Well-Read Mom Book Selection Life is busy! For many women, mothers, in particular, personal reading is often viewed as a luxury that gets sacrificed to the busyness of daily life. So when we do make time to read, we want to be sure that we are participating in something good…
THE JOY IN THE HEART OF THE MOTHER OF A RELIGIOUS SISTER by Ana Braga-Henebry Ana is originally from Rio, Brazil, and has a M.A. in Humanities/Aesthetic Studies. She teaches Latin in parochial schools. Ana and her husband Geoffrey, a scientist and professor, raised seven children. Their sixth child is a Norbertine sister in CA.…
January 14, 2021Year of the Sister As part of the annual New York Encounter cultural event several years ago, Well-Read Mom arranged a reading of selected letters from C. S. Lewis’s book, The Screwtape Letters. This book is made up of a series of fictional advice letters from a senior demon to his young nephew, who has…
January 7, 2021Year of the Sister How many times have I made my list of resolutions with some gusto on New Year’s day, only to forget what they were by the end of the month? Good intentions are not enough. They need to transition into a plan. Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan,…
December 31, 2020Year of the Sister The beautiful chaos of the Christmas season should be mostly over. Now is the time to sit back and relax in the glow of the tree lights while soaking in the refreshing peace that comes from enjoying a good book. The ground here in Minnesota is covered with a…
December 17, 2020Year of the Sister We may wince at the prospect of growing in humility—but we so enjoy the company of humble persons. Isn’t this one of the reasons why St. Teresa of Avila is so delightful? She has no pretenses and disarms the reader with her simplicity and candor. She may have been…