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October 6, 2014

This week\\u2019s episode:

\\u201cBlessed are They\\u201d: St Anna Schaffer

\\u201cAmong Women\\u201d Guest: Mary Ellen Barrett

This week we look at the difficult subject of losing a child to death. My guest, blogger and Long Island Catholic columnist Mary Ellen Barrett, reflects on the fifth anniversary since the death of Ryan, her 14 year old son\\xa0who died during a camping trip. The search for Ryan, who at first was thought to be lost, went on for many hours. Many, including myself, were glued to the internet for news of him during that time. Listeners familiar with this event will be encouraged by the musings and memories of Mary Ellen, his mother. Those uninitiated will be blessed by the faith of this Long Island family.

Mary Ellen and Ryan Barrett

Since this is Respect Life Month, Mary Ellen and I celebrate the life of Ryan \\u2014 his Christian devotion even as a young boy with special needs \\u2014 as well as the ups and downs that he faced in family life and elsewhere. We discuss the outpouring of support from near and far for this grieving family, plus offer tips for helping others facing a similar grief.

In our saint segment, I once again look at the life of St Anna Schaffer, whose life of prayer and acute physical suffering offers a witness to us for how to make our heartaches and pains a path of redemptive suffering.

Links for this episode:

Walk Humbly with Your God by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR

USCCB\\u2019s Respect Life webpage

Magnificat magazine

Mary Ellen Barrett\\u2019s blog: Tales from the Bonny Blue House\\xa0

Best blog posts or articles about Ryan:

Ryan Barrett

The Only Gift I Can Give\\xa0

\\xa0The Triumph of the Cross\\xa0

Yup, He\\u2019s a Teenager\\xa0

\\xa0A Vocation for Ryan\\xa0

Almost Twelve

Catholic Digest article on grief from Mary Ellen Barrett:\\xa0\\u201cGrief: Does it Ever End?\\u201d \\xa0

Seton Magazine article by Mary Ellen Barrett: \\u201cLife Gave Me A New Dream: My Autistic Son Ryan\\u2026\\u201d

LI Catholic articles from Mary Ellen Barrett

Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs)

The Art of Loving God by St Francis de Sales

Other shows of related interest: