I grew up attending private Catholic schools, youth conferences, and retreats. I was exposed to the Gospel on a regular basis. As a child, and especially as a teenager, I had countless trusted adults remind me, my siblings, and my classmates to “be on guard” and to be careful with what we consumed. They recommended the right books, movies, friends, experiences, and so on. They rightfully wanted us to protect our souls. While I agree wholeheartedly with the objective of their endeavors, looking back as an adult, I’m not so sure I agree with their means. How to Navigate the Endless Streams of Entertainment As I moved through high school and into college, there seemed to be less and less media I could find that was 100% virtuous. Songs on the radio had iffy lyrics, TV shows had questionable content, and it wasn’t uncommon for movies to be more obvious and less discreet in regards to their problematic scenes. Thanks to the efforts of all the authority figures in my life, I understood the untruths that were being portrayed. Because of this, felt extremely guilty about watching or listening to anything with questionable content. At the same time, these bits of secular culture were highly enjoyable for reasons far beyond their bits of shady content. Seek the True, Good, and Beautiful I didn’t know how to rectify these situations. Was I doomed to only watch children’s movies and listen to sub-par Christian music for the rest of my days? I could see how much good was within these ambiguous bits of media themselves, but I often wondered if watching (or listening to) those immoral facets was the same as condoning them. And even if it wasn’t, were these immoral aspects going to change my own mindset? Would I become numb to seeing what was wrong with these actions? Would they cause me to descend down the slippery slope towards a mindset of relativism? My dilemma was actually somewhat agonizing. It wasn’t until developing a friendship with a priest that I was able to gain some clarity on the subject. Following Confession, he applauded my struggle, revealing that I was already absorbing the secular culture through the lens of Faith. I could see what was morally wrong and my well-formed conscience did not approve. Listen to Your Well-Formed Conscience As a Catholic, that was really all I was required to do in order to keep my mind from slipping into immorality. That is kind of the whole point of having a conscience: understanding right from wrong, so that when confronted with both, we can still choose to absorb what is good while rejecting what would cause harm. We don’t have to run and hide from things that are unvirtuous. Thanks to God’s grace, we can face them. We are equipped to look evil in its face and tell him we know he’s lying. This doesn’t mean we should seek out things that are blatantly wrong. It means we can sort through the content presented to us, separating the good from the bad. We can allow ourselves to only accept and absorb the good as truth. Let Imperfections Train You in Virtue Thanks to my priest friend, I’ve learned that being “in the world” but not “of the world” does not mean that we cannot interact with anyone or anything that is not 100% moral. If that was the case, most of us wouldn’t even be able to talk to ourselves! What’s most important is that we view people and situations, whether in real life or in books or on the big screen, through the lense of Christ, the Truth (John 14:6). This is why my priest-friend gave me one last bit of advice before I left the confessional that day: See the goodness and humanity within this show and focus on it. Try to understand the characters from a personal standpoint. Look for ways to love them despite their faults. This guidance served me well. I started to enjoy that show even more than I had before my Confession. It actually helped me learn how to be a better Christian. I learned how to be more accepting and loving towards these TV characters, and therefore, I was able to better acceptant love people in real life with whom I disagree. I know longer focus on their faults, but see them as a whole person. One who is struggling but good at the core, just like me. Guidelines for Consuming Media Through the Lens of Faith Now, I cannot close this post without including some “secret weapons” for insuring the exposure to immorality has no power over me. 1. Do not seek out the immorality. There are certain things available for our consumption that will always be wrong to watch. Porn is an extreme but good example of this. If you are drawn to a song or movie simply because of what’s immoral, be honest with yourself and cut it out of your life. 2. Regularly examine the effects this media has on your life. Is this particular media leading you to love others more or less? If the answer is “less” figure out why and address the situation. If you continue to slip into sin because of the media, consider cutting it out of your life. For example, once, after beginning a new show on Netflix, I noticed the reoccurrence of some impure scenes within my dreams as I slept. Though I wasn’t consciously choosing to rewatch those scenes, they obviously had some sort of hold on my imagination. This became obvious when the scenes started popping into my head during the day. Even though none of those things were intentional on my part, I immediately stopped watching the show before it’s effects could go any farther. 3. Continue to form your conscience. It’s never fully finished forming. You have to “keep it in shape” just as you would your body. The process is continual. Seek guidance and direction from trusted religious figure-heads whether in person, online, in books, or in prayer. 4. Listen to your conscience. A song may be relatively mild but still bothers your conscience when it comes on the radio. Listen to your conscience and turn it off. It’s actually a sin to act against your conscience. If you’re concerned that you may be acting out of scrupulosity, talk to someone who understands the struggle. You can also bring it up when you... 5. Go to Confession on a regular basis. This helps you strengthen weapons #1-4. If media is causing you to sin in minor ways, the graces of the Sacrament may help you to stand firm when faced with that temptation. It will also help you to iron out any situations in which you may have misconstrued your conscience. Mostly it’s important because encountering the Truth of Christ will help you to better recognize and thus defeat lies planted within your heart and mind by the evil one. Being Brave and Smart Sadly, sin will exist until the end of time. However, thanks to Christ, sin is no longer something to fear. I don’t mean that we should be foolish enough to believe we can conquer and avoid these sins without the help of grace. Instead, I think we should seek grace constantly so that we can live courageously, unafraid of the secular world. Do you have personal guidelines for what you watch, read, or listen to? Care to share them in the comments? [bctt tweet="How to View Media Through the Lens of Faith #BISblog //"]

I love NBC’s hit television series The Office. I converted all my family and friends into fans and quotes from the characters are part of my daily conversations. My high school students even printed off a “Join the Fist” flyer (from the episode when Dwight is acting manager and Jim is trying to get him to think that a resistance is forming against him) and taped it to my classroom’s podium. My husband and I named our dog “Beesly” after the beloved receptionist Pam Beesly. Needless to say, I’m a pretty big fan. Can Catholics Watch The Office? I am not denying that the show has its own dose of immorality. I’ve always grappled with those bits. However, by continually forming my conscience in a healthy, non-scrupulous manner (through prayer, frequently receiving the Sacraments, studying Church Teaching, and spiritual direction), I’ve learned that I can sift through a show in search of what is good, true, and beautiful. In fact, next month I'll be publishing a post here on the BIS blog all about how to consume media virtuously as a Catholic. In the final moments of the series, Pam marvels at how the documentary crew was able to capture the reality of what life was like. She ends the show with the statement: There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things... Isn’t that kind of the point? As Christians, this is the lense through which we are called to view all of reality, even fictional reality. There is beauty, love and goodness everywhere, and as St. Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, these are the things which we are called to think about (Phil 4:8). [bctt tweet="There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things... Isn’t that kind of the point? #BISblog //"] The Office and the Beauty of Ordinary Life If I had to pinpoint a reason as to why The Office is my favorite show, it would be because they succeeded in showing the beauty of the ordinary. Here are just three of the ways they illustrated that. Warning: spoilers ahead! Forgiving and Reconciling Just as in real life, there is frequent disagreement among the co-workers of Dunder-Mifflin. Take Angela, a judgey, self-righteous, and hypocritical accountant. Yet, despite her own intense actions, her co-workers are often extend an olive branch for no reason other than it being the right thing to do. An example of this is when Karen and Pam offer to merge the two feuding Christmas parties. Everyone attends theirs and almost no one goes to the one Angela planned. Though Angela had not apologized or shown any remorse for her attempts to sabotage their party, Pam sees the pain of rejection in Angela’s eyes and offers forgiveness in a simple way. Another example is the relationship between Oscar and Angela. In the early years, Angela had ostracized Oscar, becoming especially cruel when she found out that he was gay. Despite this, when Angela and her toddler son are evicted from their apartment, Oscar offers his home as shelter until they are able to recover. Persevering through Marital Problems The wedding of Jim and Pam (everyone’s favorite couple) was truly one of the sweetest moments of the series. Then, much to the viewing audience’s surprise, Jim and Pam have major marital problems just a few years down the road. The emotion was raw and relatable, and many fans were truly worried about how the situation was going to end. I was relieved by the way in which the writers resolved the conflict. Though Jim struggled for months with the decision, he finally realized that having his dream job meant nothing to him if it meant losing Pam. He chose to give up what he wanted in the moment for what he wanted forever. In this pivotal moment, Jim clutches Pam in desperation, hoping with all his might that she might return his affection despite the ways in which he has hurt her. In turn, the camera flashes back to their wedding, when St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians is being read. The words play over the scene as Pam and Jim slowly start to piece their marriage back together: Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails... It isn’t an easy journey moving forward, but Mr. and Mrs. Halpurt decide to love each other despite their wounded emotions. Not many shows attempt to portray love as requiring true commitment and sacrifice, let alone quote Scripture in doing so, but The Office did. [bctt tweet="Not many TV shows attempt to portray love as requiring true commitment and sacrifice... #BISblog //"] Loving the Odd Man Out We all have people in our life who are difficult to love. Maybe it's a person like Jan, who manipulates others for their own good, taking and taking from others while giving little (if any) back in return. Maybe they're like Michael, who is annoying, emotionally needy, and way too invested in his own personal life. Or maybe they’re like Toby, the sad and lonely person who often sucks the fun out of the room. All of these type-casts (and more) are a part of the show. And while there are certainly times where these individuals fail to be kind, there are also moments in which they show great love to one another. Michael takes Jan into his home after she’s lost her job. The entire office is full of joy for Michael when he finds his soulmate and distraught when he announces that he is moving to Colorado in order to be with her. Even Toby finds friends in Pam and Nelly because of their own compassion. The Office does an incredible job of showing how the decision to love others despite feelings of discomfort or dislike changes our perception of those around us. The people who are your biggest headache can become people you love, admire, and respect. [bctt tweet="People who are your biggest headache can become people you love, admire, and respect. #BISblog //"] Like the rest of this fallen world, The Office certainly has its faults. But all in all, it portrays a lot of truth, beauty, and goodness about loving our fellow man… and that is what living a Christian life is all about. Are you a fan of The Office? What's your favorite episode? [bctt tweet="What The Office Taught Me About the Beauty of Ordinary Life #BISblog //"]

When God created mankind, He gave us five senses. Our senses help us to understand and interact with the physical world around us. Being made in God’s image and likeness, we are not merely material beings. We also have a soul, a spiritual reality. What amazes me is how God continues to use my own understanding of the world around me to help me comprehend deeper spiritual realities. For instance, a couple of years ago I was going through a difficult season. I remember standing in the shower, crying, asking God why He wouldn’t just send me the grace to help me fix the problem. Instantly, a memory of Ireland from my college semester abroad flooded my consciousness. What God Can Do with Rain I thought about the week I spent exploring the Emerald Isle. It was cold. Everything was wet. It was cloudy and windy and it rained every single day. Some days it would sprinkle off and on, some days it would be misty, and somedays the rain poured steadily. However, when the rain stopped, the clouds split, and the sun came out... the beauty of Ireland was magnificent. The grass was so green and the colors of the flowers were so vibrant that they took my breath away. God reminded me what He could do with “rain.” He takes things that are unpleasant to the senses and transforms them into things so splendid that one’s senses are overwhelmed with wonder, awe, and gratitude. He never, ever, leaves us in the rain forever. God Uses Rain to Make Things Beautiful Can you imagine how infuriating this must be for Satan? God takes what the devil meant for evil and uses it to bring about good. I mean, look at what we are celebrating as a Church right now! Death came about because of sin. Satan intended for it to be what would keep us from God forever. Instead, Christ came, died, and rose from the dead, forever transforming what Satan has intended to be a tool for mankind’s demise. [bctt tweet="God takes what the devil meant for evil and uses it to bring about good. #BISblog //"] Now, because of God, death can lead to resurrection, which means life’s spiritual struggles can lead to our greatest joys! Just as “April showers bring May flowers,” God can transform the ugliest times of our lives into the most beautiful of creations. He uses those things to “water” us and help us grow, making us into someone that others find breathtaking. Unfortunately, this does not happen at the drop of a hat. I always want my spiritual woes to go away as quickly as my physical aches and pains are relieved by a tablet of aspirin. The thing is, aspirin treats a symptom, not the source of my ailment. God doesn’t want to give me temporary relief… He wants to heal me. True healing takes time. Ask anyone recovering from surgery. God also wants me to grow. It takes the human body almost two decades to reach peak maturity. Why do I think my spiritual growth should happen any faster? [bctt tweet="God can transform the ugliest times of our lives into the most beautiful of creations. #BISblog //"] Spiritual Showers Bring Spiritual Flowers The rains of spring always remind me of this truth, and this year is no different. Though I know all these truths, the struggle can still be somewhat depressing. Thus, I try to face my spiritual “rains” the same way I deal with nasty weather. 1. Wear Boots and a Rain Jacket My rain jacket gets the majority of its use during spring. I carry it with me daily. If it’s raining when I wake up, I leave for work in my rainboots. I do what I can to protect myself from the negative effects of rain. Being prepared and putting on my waterproof gear reminds me of some advice from St. Paul: Put on the whole armor of God… that you may be able to withstand in the evil day... (Ephesians 6: 11, 13) He even outlines what the “armor of God” is: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, the Holy Spirit, and prayer. These things prepare us to face the enemy. While St. Paul calls it "armor," I call it "rain gear." If I’m going through a stormy season of life, I cling to my “rain gear.” I focus on these virtues and graces when I wake up in the morning, hoping they stay fresh in my mind all day. 2. Grab an Umbrella Similar to the rain gear mentioned above, an umbrella can be used to help us stay warm and dry during a rainstorm. Though it doesn’t protect us from all the rain, it certainly protects us from a good chunk of it. In the same way, the Blessed Mother is my spiritual umbrella. There are many Marian prayers within our faith tradition which humbly request the Heavenly Queen to reach down and wrap us within her mantle (her outer garment, the ancient equivalent of a coat). I love this image of a Mother wrapping her child within her own garment, keeping the child warm, safe, and comforted. As my spiritual umbrella, my Heavenly Mother does the same thing. This image helps my soul when it is aching. 3. Drink a Warm Beverage On those brisk spring days when the wind nips, I always rely on a warm beverage to warm my belly and my bloodstream. When I can’t handle the chill of a spiritual storm, I also seek out something warm to consume. I actually meditate on Jesus’ words from the Cross: “I thirst” (John 19:28). He was thirsting for redemption, thirsting for love. I can relate. Often, I grab a literal warm beverage and read through Psalm 22, the one Christ proclaimed from the Cross. He felt abandoned. He felt alone. However, He knew that He wasn’t, and that psalm (which ends in redemption and glory) was an act of faith. In the midst of my spiritual storms, I use it the same way, reminding myself that my struggles will also have a glorious end. 4. Stay Home Sometimes, the storm is really, really bad, and you have to stay home. Sometimes, we are spiritually beat, and we feel as though we have nothing left to give. In those cases, remember that it is okay to rest and/or indulge. St. Thomas Aquinas once said: Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath, and a glass of wine. He understood that humans are both material and spiritual, and that the state of one part of us often affects the other. When you are going through spiritual storms, do not forget to take care of yourself physically! Sometimes this means getting exercise, sometimes it means taking a nap. This does not make you weak… it makes you human. [bctt tweet="Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath, and a glass of wine. -St. Thomas Aquinas #BISblog //"] 5. Remember the Sun Just because it’s cloudy and raining outside does not mean that the sun has stopped shining. The sun is always shining, even when we can’t see it because the clouds are in the way. In your own spiritual difficulty, remember that the Son is still “shining.” He never stops pouring out His grace into your life. The “clouds” might make it harder to perceive, but God is never not there, and you will “feel” His presence once again, just as the sun returns after the rain. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. (Psalm 107:28-30) How do you cope during times of spiritual difficulties? [bctt tweet="Spiritual Showers Bring Spiritual Flowers #BISblog //"]

When my husband and I were expecting our first baby, we knew we wanted to give our baby a name from the tradition of our Faith. Of course, choosing a name for our little one comprised many of our conversations during the pregnancy (along with choosing godparents and planning for a meaningful Baptism). We would toss ideas back and forth, making a mental list of each of our green lights, red lights, and maybes. And while there are countless Catholic baby names to choose from, we wanted something unique (but not too crazy) that also sheds some light on the importance of our Faith. Unique Catholic Baby Names All this brainstorming has resulted in a long list of names, and I'm a little sad we could only use one of them (for now). In the hopes that all my brainstorming Catholic baby names won’t go to waste, I'm sharing this list with you. Maybe you’ll find the perfect name for your own little one! Catholic Baby Names for Boys Ambrose // St. Ambrose was a brilliant preacher who convinced St. Augustine that God exists. Asher // One of Jacob’s 12 sons. Beckett // After the martyr St. Thomas Beckett. Blaise // After St. Blaise (pronounced “Blaze”), who was both a bishop and a physician. Bosco // Rather than the typical and popular “John,” go with Bosco and assign your son the awesome patronage of St. John Bosco. Constantine // The emperor who legalized Christianity and stopped the persecutions of the early Church. Cyrus // After King Cyrus of Persia who frees the Israelites from the Babylonian exile and permits them to return to Jerusalem. Damien // After the science-minded St. Damien. Drexel // A male alternative under the patronage of St. Katherine Drexel. Fulton // After Fulton Sheen (this one is on my short list). Gerard // Most famous for his poem, “Dappled Things,” Gerard Manley Hopkins was also a Catholic priest. G.K. // Another personal favorite, you could name your son after the famous apologist G.K. Chesterton. Guy // After Guy Fawkes; though he isn’t a Saint, he did take a public stand when Catholicism was outlawed in England. Ignatius // Choose between Ignatius of Antioch or Ignatius of Loyola for his patron. Plus, “Iggy” is a fun nickname. Jerome // Without St. Jerome, Scripture may never have been translated from its original Greek. Judah or Jude // Another son of Jacob, or his patron could be Judah Maccabee, or the awesome St. Jude (or all three!). Louis // After St. Louis Martin, father of the Little Flower. Merton // Thomas Merton was an inspiring Catholic monk, writer, and mystic. Rex // The Latin meaning of this name is “king,” so your son’s namesake could be Christ the King. Shepherd // Not only would he have a classic Southern name, but he’d also have an incredible namesake: the Good Shepherd (and you could call him "Shep" for short). Simeon // Another son of Jacob, but also the prophet who foretells of Mary’s Sorrowful Heart. Solanus // After the recently-beatified Solanus Casey (a cute nickname is "Sully," or even "Casey"!). Titus // After the companion of St. Paul. Urban // There’s a plethora of Popes named Urban, and if you’re a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, it’s a double whammy! Xavier // After the missionary St. Francis Xavier. WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Catholic Baby Names for Girls Angelica // After the choirs of Heaven, or the feisty founder of EWTN. Brielle // Shorten the traditional “Gabrielle” and still name your daughter after the archangel. Caeli // Pronounced “cha-lee,” it’s part of the Latin Marian antiphon, “Regina Caeli” or in English, “Queen of Heaven”. Charlotte // This may be a stretch, but Pope St. John Paul II’s given Polish name was Karol, which translates to "Charles" in English, the masculine form of "Charlotte". Colbie // After another polish Saint, Maximilian Kolbe. Dinah // Everyone remembers that Jacob had twelve sons, but Dinah was his only daughter. Dorothy // After the Saint, or Servant of God Dorothy Day (she could go by "Dot" or "Dottie"). Edie // Name your daughter after St. Edith Stein without making her sound like an old woman. Faustina // A bit of a mouthful, but what a Saint she’d have as her patron (you could even call her “Tina” for short)! Felicity // After the new mom and early Christian martyr. Flannery // Flannery O’Connor was a brilliant writer and devout Catholic. Jael // (pronounced “jay-elle”) An Old Testament woman who kills an enemy general while he sleeps to help the Israelite army. Jordan // After the river in which Christ was baptized. Keturah // Pronounced “kah-tur-ah,” this is the name of the woman Abraham married after Sarah died. Lily // After one of the greatest Saints in heaven, St. Joseph. Leah // She may not have been loved by her husband Jacob, but Scripture says that God favored her. Philomena // For the young Greek princess who was martyred for refusing to marry a Roman official (you could call her “Mena” for short). Phoebe // This was the name of St. Paul’s friend who delivered his letter to the Romans. Rosary // A different take for anyone with a devotion to Our Lady (you could call her "Rosie"). Sarai // Sarah’s name before God changed it. Siena // “Catherine” is pretty common, but "Siena" is more unique and specific to this Doctor of the Church. Stella // Another Marian name, after Our Lady, Star of the Sea. Talitha // Hebrew for “little girl,” Jesus uses this phrase when he resurrects the daughter of Jaris (“Tali” would be a cute nickname). Verity // Derived from “veritas” which is Latin for “truth,” this name was made popular by the Puritans, but it reminds me of Pontius Pilate’s struggle to see what is true. Zelie // Canonized very recently, St. Zelie was the mother of St. Therese. More Catholic Baby Names! This book is full of various Marian names for both boys and girls. If you're looking for a name to honor Our Lady, this is a great resource! With over 10,000 Catholic baby name suggestions, this book is a must-have for the Catholic expectant mama! If you want a name from the Bible for your babe, check out this post full of unique Biblical baby names! Do you have any ideas of your own for unique, Catholic baby names? Comment below! [bctt tweet="Not-So-Typical Catholic Baby Names // #BISblog"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

I once read somewhere, that next to silence, music is the only thing that can come close to expressing the inexpressible. This is certainly true in my life. I love music. I love the way in which a melody can match moods, provide company when you’re feeling lonely, and enhance the experiences of your day. The first time I saw a movie trailer for The Greatest Showman, I was hooked. I knew this was a movie I wanted to see in theatres. Usually I like to wait until the DVD has been released because I can rent a film for about one tenth of what I would pay at the box office. However, the glitz, the glam, and (of course) the music made me “anxious-excited” for the day I could finally go see it. Casting & Characters Thanks to Hugh Jackman’s starring role as P.T. Barnum, my husband (who is not a fan of musicals) was actually looking forward to coming with me. I was also pleasantly surprised by the talent of Michelle Williams (who portrays Mrs. Charity Barnum), as I had no idea that she had any musical abilities. She definitely held her own against Hugh Jackman – which is no small feat! After a decade of avoiding movies full of song and dance, Zac Efron also made a return to musicals for the film, even learning a little trapeze for a scene with his character’s love interest. For obvious reasons, Efron had been trying to avoid the musical genre out of fear of type-casting. However, when he was approached about playing Barnum’s business partner, Phillip Carlyle, and was given the opportunity to read the film’s script, he knew he wanted to be a part of this project. The Greatest Showman: A Brief Synopsis The movie begins with Barnum as a young boy. The son of a poor tailor, his greatest possession is his incredible imagination. His best friend is a young girl named Charity, the daughter of one of the wealthier men in town. Thinking Barnum to be a bad influence, Charity’s father sends her away to finishing school. The friends keep in touch by writing letters, and when they are both old enough, Charity leaves her wealth behind and happily marries Barnum. Time passes. They both work hard but are still very poor. They have two daughters at the time when Barnum unexpectedly loses his job. Tired of boring jobs, Barnum tricks the bank into loaning him an obscene amount of money and he buys a museum of wax figures. While the museum is full of stuffed exotic creatures, the Barnum family struggles to find customers. The Idea One night, his daughters tell Barnum that he has too many dead things in his museum. This sparks the idea to recruit all sorts of “unique persons” to be a part of his show. Having lived on the outskirts of society himself, and knowing what it is like to be looked down upon by others, Barnum offers a safe-haven for these individuals, giving them a salary, as well as a place to call home and a new family to share it with. Quickly, business booms. Society is intrigued and enthralled by uniqueness of the show, but there are also many critics. One in particular refers to Barnum’s endeavors as a "circus"; Barnum likes that so much that he begins to use it as the name for his show. Though Barnum has become rich and his employees have found a new home, there are still incredible struggles. Barnum continues to be seen as the kooky son of the town tailor, and though they all buy tickets, nobody in the upper class takes Barnum seriously. For this reason, Barnum recruits the help of Phillip Carlyle (Efron), an elite producer from a prominent family. Dream Team Carlyle brings a lot to the show, and his production capabilities help the circus to continue to grow. There comes a point when Barnum’s Circus has become so famous that even Queen Victoria is intrigued and asks them to travel to London for an audience. It is while they are there that Barnum meets Jenny Lind, the famous European Opera singer. Tired of being accused that all the acts he sells to the public are fake, he offers to bring Jenny Lind to America for a tour across the country. For reasons of her own, Jenny Lind can relate to the feelings of being an outsider and thus is attracted to Barnum’s endeavors, agreeing to his proposition. Sadly, what started out as a somewhat noble endeavor to provide a better life for his family and a place for society outcasts to belong, Barnum begins to lose sight of what is most important. He begins to chase and chase and chase acceptance by society, thinking that whatever his next addition is will bring about that honor and praise. He becomes selfish, and neglectful of his wife, his daughters, his business partner, and his circus family… and his downward spiral makes it evident that he is going to lose everything he built and everyone he ever cared for. I don’t want to spoil the ending, so I’ll simply end it in this manner. The premiere song of the movie is “This is the Greatest Show” and the words of the chorus are: It's everything you ever want / It's everything you ever need /And it's here right in front of you… These words are definitely used as a foreshadowing for the rest of the movie. Final Thoughts on The Greatest Showman The movie moves at a quicker pace that reminds me more of a play than a film, and it was actually not what I expected. However, I mean this in a good way! I thought this was going to be a story about dreams, perseverance, and acceptance, and while all those aspects of truth are included in the film, they are not its main focus. Throughout the entire film, I was most struck by the relatability of Barnum’s character. How often to we start with good intentions in our lives and then let things go to far? We start out by doing the right thing and then forget to do the right thing for the right reasons. I am certainly guilty of this. Too often I lose sight of what’s most important; it’s in our fallen human nature to do so. For this reason, I think The Greatest Showman would make a great family movie. Not only is it flashy, exciting, and somewhat mesmerizing, but it provides a great foundation for so many life lessons. Aside from a little trickery by Barnum, all Catholic virtues are portrayed and upheld, especially the value of the human person and the importance of family. Have you seen The Greatest Showman? What did you think?! Let us know in the comments below! [bctt tweet="The Greatest Showman Review (from a Catholic Perspective) #BISblog //"] This post contains affiliate links. 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The word scrupulous is usually used to describe someone who is extremely thorough and attentive to detail. It’s meant to be a compliment. However, for many Catholics, being scrupulous is something else entirely. What is Scrupulosity? Scrupulosity is a type of religious OCD which is becoming more and more common. For those who have never experienced this themselves, imagine a dose of “Catholic guilt” on steroids. It’s more than having a guilty conscience; it’s having a crippling conscience. A person who is suffering from scrupulosity becomes obsessed with their most insignificant weaknesses and sins, so much so that it becomes their primary preoccupation. With this mindset comes an intense fear of failing God, which results in the inability to make even minute decisions. More than anything, these persons desire to please God and follow His commandments, yet they remain convinced of their constant failure. Because of this, it’s hard - almost impossible - to have a loving, personal relationship with God. Prayer and the sacraments put them face-to-face with anxiety and despair. [bctt tweet="Scrupulosity is more than having a guilty conscience; it’s having a crippling one. #BISblog //"] My Experience with Scrupulosity My scrupulosity manifested when I was eighteen years old, the end product of a manipulative relationship. Because of the abuse, I couldn’t function properly. I didn’t trust my own understanding of reality enough to make decisions. At the same time, I was growing in my faith and wanted so badly to be the woman God wanted me to be. My life centered around being sinless. I only wanted to please God, but I was convinced that any little mistake would have a cosmic impact on my personal salvation. I became diligent, thorough, and attentive to detail with every single aspect of my life. I couldn’t stop myself. If I failed to meet my own standards I became paralyzed with guilt. I was sure that every single failure on my part was a mortal sin. Even mishaps that weren’t my fault had a crippling effect. Once, knowing that I wanted to attend the noon Mass on my college campus, I made sure that I finished my lunch within the time frame needed to keep the fast. Halfway through Mass, a piece of spinach dislodged itself from in-between my teeth. Without thinking, I swallowed it. Looking back now, I know that I had done nothing wrong and I still could have received Communion. Unfortunately, the sickness had too strong a hold on me. I was convinced that I had violated the fast. I panicked and had a full-blown anxiety attack because I was unable to receive Him. Scrupulous Saints If you’re someone who is struggling with scrupulosity (and maybe you didn’t even know it until now), please know that you are not alone. Many canonized saints have struggled with scrupulosity and self-condemnation. St. Maximilian Kolbe’s scrupulosity was so severe that his superior assigned a fellow priest to accompany him throughout his day. Anytime Maximilian had a condemning thought, he was required to voice it to his brother priest. This priest would then show Maximilian where his feelings had led him astray. St. Alphonsus di Ligouri, bishop and Doctor of the Church, is said to have exhausted every confessor in Naples in his search for relief from his own condemning thoughts. Other scrupulous saints include St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Katherine Drexel, St. Francis de Sales, and St. Ignatius of Loyola. They are proof that with the help of God’s grace, we can truly find relief from this burden of scrupulosity. Healing from Scrupulosity In addition to the example of the saints, here are five things that assisted me on my own path to healing. 1. Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary Convinced that I was a hopeless sinner, I turned to the Blessed Mother. I had heard good things about consecrating oneself to Our Lady, but I was most interested in her protection. Since I was fairly certain that I was going to hell, I thought that “buddying-up” with Mary might increase my chances of making it to heaven. Ironically, I almost didn’t follow through with the consecration. I didn’t feel as though I had been zealous enough in my prayer. I was ready to redo it all but my confessor forbid it. Out of obedience to him, I finished my consecration. In all sincerity, I felt a change in myself the very next day. It was no fix-all, but I was no longer in the depths of despair. 2. The St. Benedict Medal Self-condemnation is a symptom of scrupulosity. After my consecration, I started to be able to decipher between God’s voice and the voice of the enemy. Around the same time, I was also introduced to the St. Benedict medal. Containing many different blessings and prayers, my favorite aspect of the medal appears on the back. The Latin reads, “Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana — Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas.” In English this means: Be gone Satan! Do not tell me your lies. Evil are your words, drink your own poison! Whenever critical thoughts began to surface, I found myself repeating these words and I experienced some relief. [bctt tweet="Be gone Satan! Do not tell me your lies. Evil are your words, drink your own poison! #BISblog //"] 3. The Grace of the Sacraments When you’re dealing with scrupulosity, church might be one of the last places you want to be. However, because you’re in need of healing, church is exactly where you need to be. For me, frequenting the sacraments despite my intense fear of God was my greatest act of faith in God’s mercy. Monthly confession helped me to trust in God’s clemency. It also made it clear to me that many of the things I was confessing weren’t actually sins. Once, as a penance, the priest even told me to “stop doing that” in regards to my self-condemnation. It worked. After all, I had to obey him if I wanted to be forgiven. The Eucharist became my life-blood, and gave me a whole new understanding of the sacrifice of the Mass. Never in my whole life had I prayed these words so fervently: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” After four months of receiving the Eucharist daily, I realized a change had taken place in me; I was far less anxious throughout my day. Lastly, asking a priest to administer the Anointing of the Sick was one of the smartest things I did. Scrupulosity is an illness, and this sacrament exists specifically to help those individuals who are struggling because of physical and mental ailments. It helped me to accept my cross and unite my sufferings with Christ. I actually felt better physically because of these graces. [bctt tweet="Frequenting the sacraments...was my greatest act of faith in God’s mercy. #BISblog //"] 4. Personal Prayer This is one of the most beneficial things I did for myself. By spending time talking with God intentionally every day, I learned to recognize His voice. A personal relationship slowly blossomed. I learned that He is good and loving, not Someone who is waiting to judge my every move. 5. Professional Help Unable to find a licensed medical professional in my area, I sought out a spiritual director. He was able to help me see that my scrupulosity was the result of incorrect patterns of thought that had been ingrained as habit. For me, these thought patterns had developed during that abusive relationship. Without the assistance and affirmation of this priest, I would not have been able to move forward as quickly in my healing process. Spiritual directors and mental health professionals are trained to specifically help individuals who find themselves in these types of situations. If you have access to a priest or religious who is also a mental health professional, that would be the ideal. If you find yourself in a similar situation, do not be ashamed to reach out for help. If you’re someone who struggles with scrupulosity, please do not despair. There is hope. There is relief. You can beat this. Just stay close to Jesus. [bctt tweet="If you struggle with scrupulosity, do not despair. There is hope. There is relief. #BISblog //"] Have you ever struggled with scrupulosity? How did you overcome it? [bctt tweet="Scrupulosity: When Catholic Guilt Goes Wrong #BISblog //"]

Fuzzy blankets, hot chocolate, falling snow, and merry movies. To me, this is an ideal way to spend a December evening while snuggling with my cuddle bugs that disguise themselves as dogs and my obliging husband. Since life has lead us to a temporary home in Georgia for the next few years, I think I can pretty much rule out snowfall when it comes to this year’s Christmas experience. But our apartment thermostat is set to a brisk 66 degrees, so blankets, warm drinks, and snuggles are still on the menu. If you’re looking for Christmas movies to watch this December, I’ve compiled a list of the most wholesome holiday movies (with little to no questionable content) to get you in a warm, cheerful, and loving mood with your whole family. 1. Holiday Inn I’m a sucker for old movies (there’s a few on this list), and in my opinion, this film from 1942 outshines most. The plot revolves around two friends (played by Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire), an inn that is only open on major holidays, and a pretty girl (played by Marjorie Reynolds). A successful performer who is ready for a quiet life, Crosby buys a farm in Vermont and plans to settle down. He’s heart-broken by his fiancee who leaves him for Astaire, his supposed best friend. In a twist of fate, Astaire shows up at the farm after she leaves him, too. Once again, these two friends find themselves vying for the affections of the same woman (Reynolds). Charming, old-fashioned, wintery drama unfolds, but at the end, their issues are all resolved and everyone remains friends. Irving Berlin wrote twelve original songs for the movie, including the song “White Christmas,” which would later be used as the title for another Bing Crosby Christmas movie about a decade later. It’s light, it’s warm, it’s funny, and the whole family can watch it together. 2. Little Women Maybe it’s because I have four sisters of my own, but this merry movie reminds me so much of my own childhood. Based on the autobiography of Louisa May Alcott, Little Women follows the life of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March as they grow up during the post-civil war era. Because the March girls are both sisters and best friends, watching them interact with each other always deepens my own feelings of sentiment toward my family. The March sisters are fiercely loyal, generous with what little they have, and true to themselves. Perhaps my favorite aspect is that these sisters are not perfect. The movie displays very authentic vice (vanity, pride, jealousy), but also growth and forgiveness. It’s filled with snowy scenes, ice skating, sledding, Christmas carols, and lots of love - all the ingredients in a perfect Christmas delight. 3. Meet Me in St. Louis In 1904, the World’s Fair came to St. Louis. In the year prior, the whole city of St. Louis is abuzz, including the Smith family. Full of pride and excitement that the whole world will be coming to them in their very own hometown, the four Smith girls (played by Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien, Joan Carroll, and Lucille Bremer) learn lots of lessons about life that year, including falling in love. Unexpectedly, their father gets transferred and they discover they must leave behind their beloved city. Tears and heartbreak erupt, sparking Garland to sing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” to calm her five-year-old sister Tootie on Christmas Eve. What would our modern-day Christmases be like without this staple holiday melody? If you need a good cry and an uplifting of emotions, this merry movie should be able to accomplish that in about 90 minutes. 4. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe At first, you may not think of this book-turned-movie as a Christmas film. Sure, Father Christmas makes an appearance, and the world is caught in an eternal winter thanks to the White Witch. But this story isn’t really about Christmas…or is it? When Christianity began, there was no annual celebration of Jesus’ birth. It wasn’t until a few hundred years after Jesus’ Ascension that this practice began. Some wise former-pagans made a connection between their old traditions and Christian truths. Every year, pagans would hold a feast after the Winter Solstice to celebrate the “turning of the tide.” From that point in the winter season, the amount of light and warmth during the day increases. Pagans used to attribute this to the coming of their gods. It was converts who then attributed this celebration to Jesus’ birth, which brought “Light” into the world. In this story, Jesus is represented by the lion Aslan. It is upon Aslan’s return to Narnia that the evil White Witch’s power lessens and winter begins to end. It really is a Christmas story! Just as Christ came in the darkest days of humanity and saved us from sin’s brisk coldness and Satan’s firm grasp, Aslan returns, bringing spring, freeing the creatures from the power of the White Witch, and dying in the traitor's place. 5. Miracle on 34th Street Six-year-old Susan does not believe in Santa Claus. This dis-belief was instilled in her by her mother, Dorey, who does not think it’s healthy for her young daughter to believe in fantasy. When tasked with hiring the Santa who will pose with kids at Macy's during the holiday season, Dorey enlists a man by the name of Kris Kringle. Kris claims to be Santa himself, but Dorey and Susan remain skeptics, even though they are intrigued by the “magic” he seems to work for all the people around him. When a Macy’s competitor sets a trap to make Kris look mentally unstable and threatening, Kris finds himself institutionalized. A young lawyer, along with Susan and Dorey, comes to his defense. These acts of love result in a little Christmas miracle and a new, happy family. 6. Babes in Toyland If The Wizard of Oz and Once Upon a Time had a baby born in December in the 1980s, it would be this movie. By means of a magical Christmas Eve blizzard, eleven-year-old Lisa finds herself transported to the world of Toyland, a place where toys and fictional characters are real people. Lisa learns to embrace the importance of imagination and make-believe (which she had previously thought of as pointless) as she works alongside her new friends and the “toymaster” to save their home from the evil Barnaby Barnacle. 7. It’s a Wonderful Life This movie was considered such a flop by the studio when it was released in 1946 that they actually let its copyright lapse. By the 70s, there was a festive Frank Capra film available for networks to screen for free. Thus the story of George Bailey was played over and over and over again on multiple channels. It’s because of this that people fell in love with the film and it became the holiday classic it is today. Thank goodness because, let’s be honest, Christmas is not always an easy time of the year. Finances can be tight, family can make things stressful, and other shoppers might inspire us to lose our faith in humanity. This movie is a good reminder of the effects a generous and sacrificial life has on others. No matter how bad things may seem at the moment, life really is wonderful! 8. New in Town Even if you live somewhere it never snows, the amount of fluffy white precipitation in this film really transports one’s mind into the winter season. The scenes are filled with ice fishing, Minnesota manners, and tapioca pudding, which at first doesn't seem too enticing. This is exactly how Lucy, played by Renee Zellweger, feels when her corporate job in Miami sends her to check on their plant up north. Knowing she’s there to restructure the factory, many of the employees go out of their way to make her task more difficult. Never one to back down from a fight, Lucy retaliates and becomes wildly unpopular. It’s not until a near-death experience when Lucy is rescued by the handsome, head-of-the-union widower (played by Henry Connick Jr.) that everyone’s icy attitudes towards one another begin to soften. 9. The Muppets Christmas Carol I have a confession to make: I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat, and all the other Christmas Carol movies actually kind of frighten me (go ahead and laugh). I love the original story - it’s a true classic! However, my sensitive self prefers the story told to me by the friendly muppets, whose silly antics soften some of the spooky parts and make it more bearable for myself and very young children. 10. Radio City Christmas Spectacular I’ve always wanted to go to Radio City Music Hall, and since my husband’s family lives right outside New York City, there’s a good chance that at some point I will be able to cross it off my bucket list. Until then, I’m grateful to Netflix for adding their Christmas spectacular to their queue of holiday movies so that those of us who can’t make it to the Big Apple in person can still watch the snazzy Rockettes sparkling amidst the glow of Christmas lights and music. What's your favorite Christmas movie? Share your picks in the comments! [bctt tweet="Fa La La La Films: 10 Merry Movies #BISblog //"]

The fifth season of the hit show Fixer Upper is underway. You might heard the news that this will be the final season of the show, which stars the husband and wife duo Chip and Joanna Gaines. Their reasons for leaving the show are nothing short of admirable: the desire to spend more time with their children. Still, their decision has fueled genuine disappointment in homes all across the country... including mine. No one can deny that this charming couple makes an incredible team, both on and off camera. They have a knack for making things better and improving whatever they can, and this talent extends beyond renovating homes. Here are four other ways that Chip and Joanna have fixed-up their little portion of the world. Fixer Upper “Fixed Up” Reality Television The irony behind reality TV is that very little of what is portrayed is actual reality. Fixer Upper is different. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m well aware of the fact that parts of the show are scripted. I’ve watched every episode of every season at least three times (don’t judge). The story, or at least the layout of the story, remains the same for every episode: look at three houses, buy the unexpected one, inspect the house before demo begins (sometimes they find a problem, sometimes they don’t), show the clients the home, enjoy demo day, go antique shopping, run into an issue, call the client, order a piece of furniture from Clint, show the Silos or the farm, pass the baton to Joanna, bring the kiddos to visit, reveal the finished product to the clients, end of show. Despite this, it’s obvious that Chip and Joanna have succeeded in bringing about a truly authentic reality show. Who doesn’t love Chip’s childlike enthusiasm? Who doesn’t admire Joanna’s vision? Who doesn’t laugh at their banter and playfulness? As a newlywed, I am thoroughly impressed by their marriage. It’s obvious they get annoyed by each other at times, yet they spend more time encouraging and affirming the goodness in one another than they do dwelling on grievances. It’s refreshing, and based on viewership statistics, I’m not the only person who thinks so. In fact, I’ve noticed HGTV adding a couple new shows that have a similar authentic, family feel to them. I’m hoping this trend is here to stay! Chip and Joanna “Fixed Up” Each Other Chip jokes all the time that he was Jo’s original fixer upper, and if you read their biography, The Magnolia Story, you see many examples of the ways in which Chip has grown because of Jo. Similarly, Chip had a major impact on Joanna as well. The show is much more about their business than their personal lives, but the book gives us a little glimpse into how the show came about. It also shows how much of a hand Chip had in “fixing up” his wife. It was because of Chip that Jo got into design in the first place. Hearing that her dream was to own a little boutique someday, Chip affirmed and encouraged Jo to chase after her dream right then. He helped his naturally cautious wife to take the risk to pursue her dream. They “Fixed Up” How Celebrities Should Interact With News Outlets Okay… maybe we can’t really call this one a fixer upper, but they certainly set a very high standard. Last year, the Gaines family found themselves under fire when it was discovered they attend an evangelical church that supports and preaches in support of Biblical marriage. An employee of Buzzfeed attempted to retrieve a definitive statement from them about their own views on homosexuality. Refusing to comment, their silence lead to a media blow-up and lots of speculation on the matter. After a little time passed, a “New Year’s Revelation” post appeared on Joanna’s blog. It doesn’t mention the fiasco specifically, but the undertones are clear. Written by Chip, the article states that they refused to be baited to use their influence for harm. They’d rather change the conversation: You wanna talk about how to build bridges between people that disagree? We want to be a part of that conversation. Do you want to talk about healing and compassion and kindness and restoration? We’re in the restoration business, we can for sure make time for that. (source) Line by line, I was blown away by Chip’s simple but wise articulation of a loving message; one that made it clear that he was a true follower of Christ, one who is in complete control of himself and chooses only to love his neighbor, including pushy reporters. They “Fixed-Up” Waco Even before landing a TV show, their family business, Magnolia Homes, was a staple in Waco’s small economy. From their construction business, to their rental properties, to their boutique, Chip and Jo were always working to bring more beauty and more goodness into their little community. It reminds me of Mother Teresa’s quote, “find your own Calcutta.” Restoration and rejuvenation are needed everywhere, and it seems as though Chip and Jo are extremely gifted at it. Waco is growing: the population, the businesses, and the tourism. So much of that has to do with the efforts of Chip and Jo. St. Catherine of Sienna said, “If you are who you should be, you will set the world on fire.” To me, it seems pretty clear that Chip and Jo have done just that. While the show is ending, and will be missed by millions of people, we certainly have not seen the last of the Gaines family. Personally, I am looking forward to whatever endeavor they decide to tackle next. Until then, you can probably find me in one of two places: in Target admiring Jo’s line, or on my couch with my husband and my dogs, soaking up every bit of Magnolia charm I can. Do you watch Fixer Upper? [bctt tweet="Fixer Upper Has Fixed More than Houses #BISblog //"]

Glory be to God for dappled things— For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow; For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim; Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings; Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough; And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim. All things counter, original, spare, strange; Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?) With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim; He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise Him. - "Pied Beauty" by Fr. Gerard Manley Hopkins Reflect By means of corporal and temporal things we may comprehend the eternal and the spiritual. St. Augustine Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. I recommend praying with “Dappled Things” by Alanna Boudreau. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3pu9CbQvdg [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Corporal + Eternal //"]