Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. // Luke 1:38 "Whenever an angel of the Lord comes to you and tells you not to be afraid–get ready for a big assignment!" A dear priest friend of mine used to include this wry bit of wisdom in any reading that included the words "do not be afraid." This encounter is no exception. Mary's Posture During the Annunciation Nothing about the Annunciation is particularly new, it’s a well-known Scriptural story for many of us. What I like about it is that Mary models a beautiful posture with which to receive prophetic, even startling news about the uncanny way God chooses to move in our lives. I can’t help but wonder what the world might begin to look like if we would respond to even one percent of our collaboration and discernment in the same way. The angel appeared to deliver a significant announcement. And just like that, in ten short verses, the course of human history is forever altered. God was to become man and arrive from the womb of a woman—the new Eve, Mary. 5 Key Moments in the Annunciation Exchange This weekend. our family will welcome our littlest into the Church through Baptism. Fitting, as a year ago, after many years of infertility, we unexpectedly found that we would be welcoming a child again (our own experience of God presenting seemingly impossible news). In this way, God’s providence through the Annunciation to Mary and her fiat resonate deep in my bones and I am loving the chance to delve deeper. Hail A greeting that communicates joy and peace. When Gabriel appears to Mary, he greets her with the words, “Hail, favored one.” Despite the wild meaning of his words, Gabriel uses a greeting of peace and assurance. Isn’t this the nature of our loving God to calm our anxious hearts, even in delivering unbelievably difficult or confusing news, knowing our limited understanding and offering solace from the beginning? Behold Translated: What I’m about to tell you is pretty remarkable. It is more than anyone could have ever dreamed up or imagined in terms of how God is willing to demonstrate His perfect love. I’m asking you to take it in, in all of its unimaginable goodness before you say anything in response. The angel’s gentle coaxing offers good guidance to us as to a posture of receiving information–whether expected or unexpected, good news or bad. How? We do not know the span of time this encounter lasted. Five minutes... two hours? What we do know is that when Mary does respond, she asks, “How?” We can almost imagine her stammering, eyes wide. Not with the self-assurance of Abram or Zechariah who have each reached their own conclusions about the limits of God’s desire and ability to show up in their lives. No, Mary’s question is far from doubt, but more of a bewildered, humble, hopeful plea for clarity. Overshadow All Mary receives for an explanation is the angel’s response that the Holy Spirit will "overshadow" her, which is deeply significant (and hardly clarifying). What we do know about other experiences of the Holy Spirit overshadowing can be found in the creation account when the "mighty wind swept over the waters," or Adam was cast into a deep sleep while God fashioned a helpmate for him. The disciples experienced an overshadowing of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus’ own Baptism illuminates the Person of the Holy Spirit descending as a dove, accompanied by the voice of God from Heaven. In other words: have confidence. God is going to show up in a big way; likely one you cannot comprehend, but simultaneously one you will not miss. Behold As the angel prepares to depart, Mary responds with the same greeting of peace and joy with which the conversation began: Behold! She seems to have integrated this message in a way that bolstered her courage and resolve to actively sign on for the wild ride Gabriel had described. It is a beautiful exchange between Gabriel and Mary, and especially Mary and the Lord. In a very particular way, God offers Mary a tiny glimpse at the hope for salvation and proceeds with the Incarnation after Mary’s "yes," her fiat. Our Response Likely the major life changes we experience won’t be heralded in by celestial beings. And, there are plenty of times when our calling finds us before we are ready, before we have offered our own "yes." The Annunciation offers a touching reminder of the love and intentionality with which our God invites us to roles of active participation in an unfolding plan much larger than ourselves. We may not see it, let alone understand the invitations we receive, but would that our response be as full of confidence as Mary’s. When have you been invited to respond with a quaking "yes" to the Lord’s invitation in the past? What response is being asked of you by the Lord today?   [bctt tweet="Behold // The Feast of the Annunciation #BISblog //" via="no"]

If you have had the opportunity to watch the first seasons of The Chosen, you too might have extra appreciation for the figure of Peter. In the series, Simon (Peter) is depicted as a hot-tempered, authentic man, experiencing the pressures of daily life and doing his best to follow the Messiah and become what he’s been invited to be: a "fisher of men." Plenty of creative license is taken as the show imagines the personalities and circumstances of the characters and it is a hopeful glimpse at the imperfections and humanity that the Lord chose to work with amidst His followers. Time and again throughout Scripture (and throughout the show), Simon Peter demonstrates our very real dependence upon Christ to follow the will of the Father as opposed to our own desires and tendencies, even when our intentions are good. What's with the Chair? The feast we celebrate today—the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter—may give you reason to scroll through that mental rolodex of Catholic lingo and solemnities and come up blank. Peter we know. But his chair?! Did we miss something? It is a feast worth celebrating, and in order to do so, one that may need a bit of context. Upon This Rock Today’s feast is unique in that, like an icon, Saint Peter’s chair points to a larger reality. Namely, it signifies the papacy and its succession throughout history. Instead of celebrating the chair itself (the symbolic chair which is housed in Saint Peter’s Basilica), it points to the larger significance of to whom the chair belongs and the responsibilities and the spiritual significance of the leadership given to the Vicar of Christ since the time of Jesus. While it gives a nod to Peter, our first Pope who would come to lead and guide the Church on earth, it also recognizes all who have followed in the same role: When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah. // Matthew 16: 13-20 (emphasis added) The Role and Responsibilities Again, after the Resurrection, Jesus tasks Peter with the responsibility to "feed my lambs," and "feed my sheep" (see John 21: 15-17), a responsibility that has been passed to every Apostolic successor since. The Pope should lead in a way that unifies and governs rather than fracturing the Body of Christ. A good analogy might be that of a throne, a specific seat upon which a particular leader guides and governs. A throne highlights the guidance and leadership expected from the office of the person who occupies that seat. However, the throne itself does not command respect, but highlights the position of the one who occupies it. So, in the same way we venerate the wood of the Cross on Good Friday, or the Immaculate Conception of Mary before Christmas, we celebrate today the Chair of Saint Peter, joining our prayer with the whole of the Mystical Body for our Pope, and those whose leadership have brought us to today. I follow no leader but Christ and join in communion with none but Your Blessedness, that is, with the chair of Peter. I know that this is the rock on which the Church has been built. // Saint Jerome to Pope Damasus   [bctt tweet="Rocks, Chairs, and Popes #BISblog //" via="no"]

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the culmination of Christmastide is celebrated at last during the arrival of the Magi. Gifts aren’t exchanged among families until the Christ-Child would have received gifts Himself—by uninvited and savvy star-gazers anxious to arrive where the newborn King could be found. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. // Matthew 2: 10-12 The Recurrence + Importance of Uninvited Guests Scripture abounds with stories of uninvited guests who seemingly pop up out of nowhere! The wedding feast where people are invited from the highway and hedgerows. // Luke 14:23 The woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive oil at table. // John 12:3 Dinner at Matthew, the tax collector's house. // Matthew 9:10 Abram and Sarai’s/Elizabeth and Zechariah’s reception of their long-awaited sons—guests that arrived in unexpected circumstances. // Genesis 18:1-15, -Luke 1:5-25 Jesus Himself arrived in the least likely way and surprised,Mary, Joseph, and the whole weary world along with them! // Luke 1: 26-38 It is noteworthy that those who do not fall within the parameters of those on the "guest list" so frequently have something to teach us about ourselves and about the nature of Who God is. So often they are met with similar responses by other guests. Namely, that the God of the universe is not nearly as limited as we might allow ourselves to believe... and that perhaps we are. Examining Our Guest Lists I wonder if Epiphany isn’t an opportunity to evaluate our guest lists a bit. Do we include room to be surprised by others? By God? Do our encounters with others spark "a-ha moments" that invite us to love and serve God better, or do they serve to keep us comfortable in our echo chambers? I know which camp I am likely to fall into most days. Good thing Advent ushered in the Church’s New Year, and there is still plenty of time to add to our resolutions. Epiphany to the rescue! Our Own Epiphany One of my favorite details about the feast of Epiphany is that it is a word that has been adopted into mainstream vernacular. It isn’t out of the question that we might hear about an "epiphany" in a class discussion, a business strategy meeting, or a spiritual direction session. All of them imply having made a discovery of significant importance, all stemming from this same root experience of the Magi themselves coming upon the Child Jesus. Each time I hear this word, I am jolted back to this awareness that God continues to be at work, weaving together the seemingly discombobulated aspects of daily life. Not only does Epiphany extend our Christmas-ing another week beyond the 25th, but I would suggest that it does more than that: it invites us to a vibrant and growing life of faith that allows us to be surprised by the substantial things that God reveals to us in unlikely places. Mangers, dinner tables, Sacraments, timelines, lavish hospitality, deep devotion, family life, business deals, charity work, and repentant hearts. By Another Way The feast of Christmas continues on this Three Kings Day and it is intended to give us room to arrive where we might not have expected to end up, to celebrate, and to be on our merry way, encouraged and inspired by the Good News of Emmanuel, God-with-us. Some would say this is where the "work of Christmas" takes hold. In some ways, the 12-day Christmas celebration is not one to lallygag and sit around waxing nostalgic, but a springboard into action: to follow the lead of the Magi who had been affirmed in their faithfulness, and returned to their home in a very different way. Would that we all re-enter Ordinary Time "by another way." In what way(s) do you hope to adopt the spirit of Epiphany at the close of the Christmas season?   [bctt tweet="Epiphany // Uninvited Guests + Savvy Star-Gazers #BISblog //" via="no"]

Warning: This post contains unseasonable encouragement to step back from purchasing during this highly-consuming month. Permission to Make a Switch Perhaps I have given myself particular permission to do less this year with the preparation for a December baby. Not that we need to have an expanding family for this invitation to apply to us, but the entire season of preparation has taken on a different spin as my family literally prepares for the arrival of a child—and everything else has taken a back seat. It has been heartening to realize that the arrival of this little one has taken precedence over the other excitement of the season, especially for our kids! Often we can find ourselves in the mindset that changing the norm or adjusting our expectations would just be too much for the kids/for mom and dad/for Aunt Myrtle, but when we actually ask, we might be surprised to find that isn’t the case at all. You know your family best, and for those who need some inspiration, the internet abounds with helpful brainstorming activities to move away from stuff and toward preparation and celebration. Mounting Pressure For years, like clockwork, the exchange of Christmas gifts inevitably brings me to tears. I have just come to expect it: one big, ugly cry. Not for any sentimental reason, but there has been and continues to be this sense of emptiness around gift exchanging for me when all is said and done. Not because I am not doing my best to offer thoughtful gifts to others, and certainly not because others are not generous and kind toward me. It is simply my least favorite part of the season, and when it is all over ... stick a fork in me, I am done. Given that the calendar currently reads December, it is likely that you are already in the gifting frame of mind. And this is not a bad thing! It is a valuable time of the year to ask ourselves, why? What is at the heart of our purchasing? Is it a long-awaited surprise or desperate shopping in order to have something to wrap? To keep things even? Particularly in a time when jobs and finances are anything but dependable, it’s worth consideration and conversation. I know that I am not alone in experiencing deeply the pressure to think of all of the things: to match the generosity, to remember the less fortunate, to decorate festively, to acknowledge all of the people, to write the cards, to take the photos, to shop local, to wait in joyful hope, to keep Christ in Christmas... Seasonal Heart-Check Certainly I can appreciate the connection to the Magi, offering the deeply symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child. And yet rarely can I equate my own gifting with this level of significance. This is probably why I have been captivated by the impulse to intentionally do less at this time and beyond. While also capitalizing on opportunities to give meaningfully when possible. Because of the particular difficulties in supply chain and gift ordering this year, trying out the idea of simplifying might not be something we opt into as much as it is an opportunity to necessarily try on. The challenge may be to see it for what it is: an opportunity to enter into the holiday season with a smaller emphasis on the physical things we add to it. Hopefully this seasonal experiment will prove fruitful in unexpected ways. The Real Freedom of Simplifying The true hope of simplifying is not keeping score of who does it best, but whether or not we are free with our time and our resources to make this season a celebratory one for ourselves and others. Do we have the headspace to quiet ourselves to prepare for the Lord’s coming? Do we have margin in our schedule or our budgets to go out of our way for those who weren’t penciled in? What if we focused our attention on those whose needs are unmet, instead of lavishing upon those who have everything they need? What if we let the gift of the season be Christ’s presence in our lives, and share that with others? What if our homes were places of hospitality and cookie baking gathering spaces for more than one month of the year? What if food banks and charities had what they needed in March, April, and August out of consistent commitment rather than a once a year gift? What if we committed to doing less so that all of those in our community could thrive as well? I can’t help but feel that doing less meaningless gifting would free us up to be on the watch for the modern-day Christ Child that is being born at this time as well: The incarnation began with Jesus and it has never stopped . . . God takes on flesh so that every home becomes a church, every child becomes the Christ-child, and all food and drink become a sacrament. God's many faces are now everywhere, in flesh, tempered and turned down, so that our human eyes can see him. // Ronald Rolheiser, OMI Owning Things, Rather than Being Owned by Them For all that minimalism is and is not, it comes down to a response to materialism: choosing to own (rather than be owned) by our things. Using what we have so that we might be available to respond to the promptings and invitations of our particular circumstances rather than the obligation to expend energy on maintaining, collecting, insuring, or curating the things we own. It is foolish to think that we will enter heaven without entering into ourselves. Thank God for the things that I do not own. // Saint Teresa of Avila Have you considered adopting a simpler lifestyle during the holiday or in everyday life? What appeal does it hold for you? Where have you found success living more simply?   [bctt tweet="Committing to Minimalism During A Consumer Month #BISblog //" via="no"]

Is there anything I can say at this time of year that isn’t cliché when it comes to the passing of time or the general sense or urgency where we hope to find peace? As we head into the final weeks of ordinary time that propel us into the gentle and earth-shattering season of Advent, one thing is for sure: Rest is likely about to get put onto the back burner again (if it hasn’t been already). Particularly as we look forward to moving collectively back into a more traditional season of gathering, this time of giving gratitude may very well have the feel of an accelerator rather than the opportunity to catch our breath. However, there is good news, friends! We are not the first to feel this dissonance—and we do not have to stay in this mindset. Cadence of Rest Even if we have gotten out of the habit, we have been commanded to rest ... weekly! This is such glorious permission to step off the treadmill of productivity. Not just when we are overwhelmed or in a season of spiritual growth, but consistently, each week. Sundays were never intended for laundry and groceries, but for actual nourishment and revitalization. Perhaps this season, rest is the gift we are being offered; not because we have "earned it," or our lists have been checked off, but because it is a grace always available to us and offered to us in love by the One who knows us best. Gathering Wisdom from the Saints God gave us the commandment to rest because He knew how self-important we would find the uninterrupted work of our hands. Without the opportunity to step away from work, we might begin to believe that our worth (or the course of the earth) is dependent upon our productivity, rather than the One who created us to do said work and offers respite to our souls. We need frequent reminders that the fate of the universe is not dependent upon our efforts. God lovingly provides that for us if we are open to it. You Don’t Have to Take My Word for It Do you remember watching Reading Rainbow in grade school? In every episode, LeVar Burton would introduce and recommend a great new book to the audience, before panning to a gaggle of children ready to endorse the goodness or silliness of the book and he would say: "But you don’t have to take my word for it." In the same way, I take comfort in the fact that we are not the first to need encouragement to offer a commodity as precious as our time to the Lord. As I imagine the daily lives of the Saints, I have no doubt that they could have filled their every waking hour with the Corporal or Spiritual Works of Mercy. So involved were they in promoting the mission of the Gospels that they, more than most, might well have been consumed by the work of their hands. However, they offer wise insight into the heart of a servant who is willing to let the final outcome rest on the work of God’s hands, rather than their own. Saint Quotes When You Need Rest Should we need reminding (and I know I do!), here is some fantastic wisdom from a few spiritual giants, on whose shoulders we are privileged to stand. It is such a folly to pass one's time fretting, instead of resting quietly on the heart of Jesus. // Saint Therese of Lisieux God is there in these moments of rest and can give us in a single instant exactly what we need. // Edith Stein (Saint Theresa Benedicta of the Cross) We find rest in those we love, and provide resting place to those who love us. // Saint Bernard of Clairvox If there were no tribulation there would be no rest; if there were no winter there would be no summer. // Saint John Chyrsostom Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed. // Saint Francis de Sales Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you. // Saint Augustine My strength returns to me with a cup of coffee and the Psalms. // Servant of God, Dorothy Day An Invitation to Rest Maybe this year, rather than sacrificing ourselves in the name of scheduling and to-do lists, we consider offering our undone lists, our unstructured time for the Lord to use as He sees fit? What do we stand to lose? Better yet, what might we stand to gain?   [bctt tweet="Saint Quotes When You Need Rest #BISblog //" via="no"]

In Catholic circles, the word "discernment" is often thrown around. And with good reason. Making decisions prayerfully and intentionally is one of the best ways we can honor God by our actions. And it remains one of the trickiest processes to define. What is discernment? How do I know if I’m making a discerning choice? Can I discern more than just my vocation? Must I? How do I discern major decisions with someone else? Discernment Begins with Trust Too often, I find that people with the best of intentions go about the work of discerning as though their lives depend on it (and it can absolutely feel that way!). However, I would encourage us to remember that it is the God of the universe with Whom we make decisions. To imagine that God can only work with the most agreeable and convenient of circumstances is to disregard the very nature of Whom God has consistently shown us to be throughout human history. For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—says the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. // Jeremiah 29:11 Thank God the Spirit isn’t limited by our imperfect understanding or lack of cooperation! How to Navigate Discernment as a Team I will not claim to have any particular expertise on the matter of discernment. But I have worked with spiritual directors for years, been married for more than a decade, moved cross-country (twice), and have spent years working with young adults trying to decide what’s next. I have learned over and again five consistent tools that make the process of discerning God’s will in my own life feel more tangible. Adding another person/group to the process certainly requires more conversation, but can look much the same. These are important questions and points to consider in discernment as a team. 1. Identify what is at stake. What is prompting the question at this time? This could mean anything, including: loss of income, desire to more faithfully follow God, dissatisfaction with current circumstances, invitation to something more exciting, and so on. Next, identify the risks of following through (or not). 2. Take these risks to prayer. Sometimes our desire not to change can pose as great a risk to our well-being as a giant leap of faith! Tell Jesus about your motivations, excitement, anxiety, and circumstances that have prompted you to come to this metaphorical crossroads. This can be done in a journal, in Adoration, or in your pajamas before bed. The essential piece is naming the desires of your heart before the Lord and being attentive to the response you receive. Very often you will experience peace and consolation, or the awareness of desolation at which point you will understand that “no” or “not yet” is the response to the change proposed. 3. Mention your plans to those who know you best. Obviously, if you are making a major life decision, you are going to include your significant other/fiancé/spouse/family. Beyond the basic details, mention your hopes, questions, and the deepest desires of your heart to your best friend, a parent, sibling, or spiritual director. Their response to our efforts can be especially enlightening. Are they delighted by your idea? Inspired and encouraging to proceed? Or are they confused, concerned, or discouraging of your venture? At the end of the day, they alone do not get final say in the decision (although their role in your life will carry varying weight of opinion and influence). But their read on who and how we are in the world, not to mention their desire for our well-being, is generally spot on. We are wise to pay attention. 4. Sit with it both ways. Allow yourself some time to sit with both outcomes. For a day or a week, allow yourself the idea of taking the job—how does that feel? For another day or a week, allow yourself the idea of not taking the job. How do you feel about that decision? Ask yourself which scenario brings greater peace. In discernment as a team, invite the other into this practice. 5. Compare notes. Lastly, come back to a place of honest conversation with one another. What are the gifts/challenges you foresee in either outcome? What consolation/desolation did you experience in prayer? What input did those closest to you have to offer? Finally, consider what is being asked of you personally. Courage? Patience? Trust? Compromise? Self-control? Prudence? Self-care? Moving forward Whether at this point you know with certainty, or whether moving forward with a decision at this point feels like an act of faith, you can trust that you have prayerfully and intentionally weighed your options and are capable of making a decision. “God draws straight with crooked lines,” is a phrase I re-visit often when I put mounting pressure on the outcome of a decision that I am ultimately putting in God’s hands. Trust in God’s goodness and regular practice of working "for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). Let's close, then, with a prayer for times of discernment: My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. // Thomas Merton   [bctt tweet="Discernment as a Team #BISblog //" via="no"]

I know exactly one person who knew as a child what she wanted to be when she grew up. One. She told us in second grade what she planned to do for a living, and she was right. She might tell the story differently as far as how that all unfolded, but from the perspective of an outside observer, she hit the nail on the head. That said, many of us take a meandering road toward our calling, and even then only dabble in the pursuits that make our hearts sing. Very often, however, we notice that those gifts we uncover later in life were planted in us early-on. Sometimes the hobbies or tendencies we experienced as children shed a great deal of light on our "blue flame" later on. A Woman of Many Talents Saint Hildegard of Bingen fits beautifully into both camps. Her early encounters with the Lord made it clear that her life would be particularly inspired, not to mention the wide array of talents she had up her sleeve. Though quiet at first, her willingness to trust the Spirit’s guidance for her life blessed the world tremendously. There is a lot to love about Hildegard. She was a great many things in her lifetime: poet, theologian, pharmacist, artist, composer, and mystic to name a few. She is the 35th Doctor of the Church, and the fourth woman to be given the title (alongside Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Saint Therese of Lisieux). It was as recently as 2012 that Hildegard was canonized as a Doctor of the Church. Our Particular Callings In many cases people were reluctant to believe that one person could be gifted in so many different ways—that is my initial response as well! “No way,” I think to myself. No way one person has been so divinely inspired in so many ways when so often I feel like a mediocre disciple trying to hone in on one area where I might have more to offer. Turns out I have been overlooking one major factor. Trust in my particular calling (and others’ for that matter). People had suspicions about Jesus, too. “Is he not the carpenter’s son?” "Where did all of this extraordinary grace and wisdom come from?" they muttered out of suspicion. But, we know something the people of Jesus’ time did not. We know exactly where that grace and wisdom were coming from. Though their identities are entirely distinct, I suspect we can confidently say the something similar of Saint Hildegard, they have one defining characteristic in common: Jesus, and Hildegard (and all of the saints) through His grace, exemplify the abundantly fruitful lives we are capable of living when we place our trust in God’s plan for us. Each had a radical confidence in what the Father was entrusting to them. My Own Capacity to Trust I read a comment from Mother Angelica recently that made me wonder at my own capacity for trust, and how much more the Lord would accomplish through me with my willingness to trust that I too might be a conduit for grace in large and small ways. I am not afraid to fail, I am scared to death of dying and having the Lord say to me. 'Angelica, this is what you might have done had you trusted me more'. // Mother Angelica Saint Hildegard may have been ahead of her time. Perhaps she was just too busy to give in to worry about the variety and magnitude of her particular call. She was both confident and humble in the sharing of her gifts. There is no question that she was given a tremendous capacity to serve God. She stewarded it well and the ripple effect has been substantial. Has your own playing small served the greater good? Where have you felt compelled to a place of greater trust? All of creation is a song of praise to God. Love abounds in all things, excels from the depths to beyond the stars, is lovingly disposed to all things. // Hildegard of Bingen   [bctt tweet="Saint Hildegard of Bingen #BISblog //" via="no"]

As a summer girl at heart, I do not need a lot of encouragement to celebrate. Hot days, stormy afternoons, fireworks, ice cream ... I am in! And, I am not one to pass up the opportunity to capitalize on one more reason to embrace these long, sunlit days, either! I did come upon a connection recently that I found especially noteworthy: a vast majority of the saints whose feasts we celebrate over these hot months were contemporaries, dear friends, and in some cases, family to others whose inspired relationships had a significant and long-lasting impact! 7 Summer Saint Connections I am delighting in these examples that show we need one another in our lives of faith, coupled with the reminder of the potential of our influence our peers and circumstances. Saint Bridget of Sweden and Saint Catherine of Sweden // mother + daughter Bridget’s vocation began as a wife and mother for twenty years, although her deep devotion to Christ began during her childhood. After the death of her husband, she went on to begin the Brigittine order of monks and nuns. Later, after her daughter Catherine was widowed, she joined her mother’s religious community and upon the death of her mother, became one of its leaders. During this time, Catherine of Sweden and Catherine of Siena are said to have become good friends. Saint Bridget is remembered as one of the six patron Saints of Europe. Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica // twin brother + sister Benedict, founder of Western monasticism, established a Rule for vowed religious communities. He is remembered as the patron Saint of a happy death, as well as the twin to his sister, Scholastica. The two are said to have met annually between their homes, where, one year, Scholastica prayed fervently that the two would get a longer visit, whereby a sudden heavy thunderstorm allowed the two to continue their visit another day. Saint Scholastica is remembered for her prayerfulness and as the foundress of Benedictine women’s monastic communities and the patroness of reading. Saint Jane Francis de Chantal and Saint Frances de Sales // spiritual director/directee + friends Jane and Francis met as spiritual director and directee after the death of Jane’s husband. Although she was inclined to become a nun, she deferred the decision under his guidance and went on to form a religious community for women. They were to emulate the life of Mary as understood in the story of the Visitation. Thus began the Visitation sisters. As Bishop and writer, Francis had a profound impact on the life of Saint Vincent de Paul, and remains the patron on more than one Salesian orders.   Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Frances Xavier // Jesuit priests + best friends Ignatius and Frances Xavier worked together to form the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. At its inception, Ignatius became its leading founder which would eventually embody the mission to "seek God in all things" through education and missionary work. Frances Xavier, Ignatius’ best friend, died while serving as a missionary in China. Today the Jesuits are the largest Catholic religious community in the world. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Saint Maximillian Kolbe // contemporaries While unrelated by blood, the lives of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) and Maximillian Kolbe are inextricably linked by their witness to Christianity in a dark time. They shared experiences of being martyred alongside of their Jewish brothers and sisters in the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1941 and 1942. Kolbe is remembered for having voluntarily taken the death sentence in place of a young husband and father; Stein for being a Catholic nun of Jewish descent. Saint Clare and Saint Francis // co-founders Clare and Francis were an unlikely pair: Clare from nobility, Francis who had denounced wealth out of love for Lady Poverty. Clare, who had heard Francis preach, decided to embrace a life of poverty rather than the life of luxury that had been offered to her. She became the first woman to follow Francis. Together they would co-found one of the largest religious communities in the world, due in large part to Clare’s guidance after Francis’ death. Saint Monica and Saint Augustine // mother + son This mother and son duo are as well-known as unlikely to be Saints celebrated side-by-side. Monica, Augustine’s mother, desperately and consistently offered prayers for her son’s conversion to the Christian life. Augustine, who eventually did convert, became one of the most influential Church fathers in Western Christianity. After years of promiscuity and secularism, it is difficult to capture the breadth of his influence on the Church or on the world. Saint Jerome, another contemporary, said of him: “(He) established anew the ancient Faith.” Ripple Effects This is a tiny glimpse of the ripple effect of the Christian life in our particular time and place in history. I doubt I am even scratching the surface. What a tremendous sequence of days to pray that in the same way our lives might be permeated with a lingering holiness and that we ourselves be surrounded with others who do the same. Perhaps one day, we might even be blessed to see the fruits of these seeds planted! Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. // Henri Nouwen Who are your favorite Saints who were contemporaries?!   [bctt tweet="Saints Who Lived at the Same Time #BISblog //" via="no"]

Since early in the new year, I have been tuning in to Father Mike Schmitz’s Bible in a Year Podcast. Recently, we heard the Gospel of Mark. Over and over again I have been reminded of Mark's generous use of the word "immediately." It is quite literally tossed throughout his short Gospel as though throwing confetti—and in a sense, he is. Jesus is the Messiah! Jesus is Lord! The Lord has come! "Mark is a man after my own heart," I have thought to myself on more than one occasion. The Pace of Holiness If I were to have been inspired to contribute to Sacred Scripture, I suspect it would sound an awful lot like Mark’s firehose of miracles. No lag time. No cliff-hangers. Just getting to the heart of the life-changing message that people have been aching to hear, without so much as time for a breath. I like the pace of "immediately"—particularly in the spiritual sense (probably because it has not been my experience and there are plenty of times I wish that it were). I can think of stunning metaphors about growth and waiting, I probably even have a scripted plaque somewhere to remind myself that "God is never in a hurry, but always on time." And yet, I cannot help but find myself in the place of impatience. Overnight shipping, digital pictures, wifi hotspots, tween clothing, Netflix marathons, bullet trains. We are people who hate to be on the way. Yet that is exactly what we are: Pilgrims. We are Pilgrims The word “pilgrim” reminds me of those who have participated in the Camino, the way of Saint James through Spain. Whether someone has walked one mile, or all 500, they are known as “pilgrims,” travelers making their way to a holy place. So we all are. We face crises to remind us that we’re pilgrims, still on the way. The Father uses these moments to change us, to speed us along the way, to transform pilgrims into saints. // Scott Hahn I wonder if the Lord is hoping to teach me something about patience and persistence in prayer, beginning again? Long Awaited The hemorrhaging woman bled for twelve years before she received Jesus’ healing on a crowded street (Mark 5: 25-34). The whole of Jerusalem waited for days to see if Jesus would rise from the dead. Abraham and Sarah waited well into their nineties before they realized their hope for a child (Genesis 18: 9-15). The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years (Exodus). Many Saints have stories of long waits: Edith Stein (Saint Theresa Benedicta of the Cross) waited to convert to Catholicism in an effort to ease the pain to her Jewish mother’s heart, all the while soaking in Faith like a sponge and teaching at University. Saint Ignatius of Loyola had a major conversion while awaiting recovery from a cannonball to his leg. Saint Teresa of Calcutta famously experienced decades of silence in prayer while serving the "poorest of the poor." Come to think of it, Mark may be the enviable outlier; the exception to the rule. A great storyteller in the sense that he captures the imagination of the listener with these vignettes, even when our own lived experience is less-than-expedited. Without question and in every case, the Lord was moving, working, melding circumstances and hearts to be precisely where they were needed at the right time. The Lord is still moving, working and melding circumstances and hearts—often in ways we had not imagined and would not have guessed. Our identity as pilgrims offers a helpful reminder of our role as travelers who are on the way, incomplete and reliant on our divine Companion. A Pilgrim’s Prayer Lord, you who called your servant Abraham out of the town of Ur in Chaldea and who watched over him during all his wanderings; you who guided the Jewish people through the desert; we also ask you to watch over us, your servants, who for love of your name, make this pilgrimage to Santiago de COmpostela. Be for us the companion on our journey, the guide at the crossroads, our strength in fatigue, our shelter from the heat, our light in the darkness, our consolation in discouragement and the perseverance of our intention. So that we under your guidance, safely and unhurt, may reach the end of our journey and strengthened with grace and virtue, secure and filled with happiness, may return to our home. Through Jesus Chrsit, our Lord. Amen. Apostle Saint James, pray for us. Holy Virgin Mary of the Way, pray for us. (source)   [bctt tweet="Pilgrims Persistent in Prayer #BISblog //" via="no"]

Welcome to our Remember series, where we pause to reflect on how God has proven faithful in the past so to help us place our trust in Him in the present. We look to the future, knowing that God always keeps His promise and that He always makes a way. We invite you to pray with us, to write your own Psalm (see the end of the post!), and share with others about how God has been faithful in your life. After I finished preparing for a career in social work during college, I was invited to consider serving for a year as a volunteer in a social service agency as a part of a year-long volunteer program. Obviously, a decision like this had big financial implications. While my "yes" didn’t make sense to my parents, or on paper, it was the thing at that time that I couldn’t not do. Although in my bones and in my prayer I felt like this was the right decision for me, the financial impact was real as a newly-minted college grad with student debt. While I was able to put my loans into deferment, money was sure to be tight as a participant in this program. Looking for affirmation that I was making the right call, I prayed for some kind of sign that I was on the right track. I echoed the plea from my favorite Thomas Merton prayer: My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going…but I believe the desire to please you does in fact please you. I had heard—as I am sure you have—about dramatic responses to prayer. Sure signs, impossible to ignore. Roses a la Saint Therese. Receiving the perfectly-timed letter in the mail. The providential chapter of a book or conversation in spiritual direction. That did (and still does) appeal to me, but none of those responses are what I received at that time. What I did receive was my tax return for the year as a student employee: one hundred and fourteen dollars in a legal envelope. Not particularly exciting, except that it was exactly the same amount as the flight I had been looking at to get to my service program! My answered prayer didn’t arrive with fireworks and fanfare. What it offered was quiet confidence in my decision to spend a year in service, and God’s provision to do so. It was direct, simple, and tangible. There was no need for further wrestling. This is how I asked God to respond to me: with clarity. In the grand scheme of things, this small answered prayer was not meant to convey God’s greatness to the masses, but it was a moment I was assured of having been seen and heard in even my small needs. Likely there are countless examples just like this, strewn across my days. Maybe you have also asked the Lord for something in prayer and hoped for a "powerful wind" in response? Especially because we know and believe God to be all loving and all powerful, big replies are welcomed. From time to time, we are reminded that God’s loving, no-less-clarifying response is in the "gentle whisper" instead. The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. // I Kings 19:12 If you would like, we invite you to write your own psalm to help you remember the marvelous works of the Lord. We walk you through it here. Keep this psalm handy. Pray it when life makes it difficult to see Who reigns sovereignly.   [bctt tweet="REMEMBER Series // A Miraculous Mission #BISblog //" via="no"]

Everyone loves the stories of the young hero/heroine. Our hearts swell along with the music when justice is done and good conquers evil. Really, we need these stories to remind ourselves of all that is good and true in the world. This is why our imaginations are captivated by characters like Luke Skywalker, Frodo Baggins, and the Pevensie children who encounter the very real struggle—and win! Each of these characters reminds us of our own humanity. At the same time, the stories smack of the struggle to overcome whatever insurmountable obstacle we find ourselves up against: Luke’s search for identity away from the dark side, Frodo’s struggle to overcome temptation , The Pevensie’s inexperience in fighting for Narnia in the face of the white witch. In a fictional way, they make the story of Christian life feel tangible, if even in a small way. The Stories of the Saints The Saints in particular can remind us of these themes as well—which is why it is important that we know them (and know a lot of them!). Thankfully, the lived experiences of the Saints are so varied that we do not have to go back to the same underdog story to imagine that God could use our circumstances—no matter how unlikely or absurd. After all, who but God would have imagined the potential for grace in the lives of people like Servant of God Dorothy Day, Edith Stein (Saint Theresa Benedicta of the Cross), Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Therese of Lisieux, Saint José Luis Sánchez del Rio, Saint Josephine Bakhita, and Saint Clare of Assisi? Each of their circumstances were unique and unrepeatable. All of them, permeated by the movement of the Holy Spirit. At the beginning I said there were Personalities in God. I will go further now. There are no real personalities anywhere else. Until you have given up yourself to Him you will not have a real self. Sameness is to be found most among the most “natural” men, not among those who surrender to Christ. How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different are the saints. // C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions The Saint we celebrate today has such a story. Charles Lwanga was born in Uganda in 1860. At the time, Catholicism was new to Uganda and was received favorably by Uganda’s King, Mutesa. However, that changed after his death. His successor, King Mwanga, was hostile toward the presence and implications of the people’s desire for Christianity, particularly as a pedophile who was known to prey upon the pages in his service. When King Mwanga ordered the murder of a visiting Anglican Bishop, Joseph Mukasa, a Catholic who served as the King’s chief page renounced his actions loudly. He was quickly beheaded, leaving Charles Lwanga as the King’s chief page and the primary defense of the other pages against the King’s advances. Charles was 25 years old. As tensions increased between the King and the faithful in his court, it became clear to Charles and the other pages that their lives were in danger. Once King Mwanga realized that the pages were preparing for Baptism, all pages were questioned and the Christians were separated from the others. Given the opportunity to renounce or claim their Faith, the fifteen young men declared their faith in God “until death.” In total twenty-two young men were martyred, burned alive. The True Triumphant End Perhaps this is less of the heart-swelling ending we hope for, but it is a very real reminder of the stakes of faithfulness in hostile territory. Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions chose Faith over participation in an unconscionable culture, even in their youth. Not all of us will be asked to give all for our belief in Christ in the same way. Although we are each asked to be decisive about whom we will serve. There are very real and challenging circumstances that surround each of our lives. Likely, our story does not have the grandeur of a trilogy, or the lives of the Saints (yet!), but these particular circumstances are the path we walk toward Heaven. In that way we can ask for the courage of Saint Charles and Companions. Saint Charles Lwanga is known as the Patron Saint of African Catholic Youth Action. Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, pray for us!   [bctt tweet="On the Feast of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions #BISblog //" via="no"]

Recently my daughter and I attended a retreat for those preparing for Confirmation. In retreat fashion, the group was in the church basement acting out a skit from the scene of Pentecost: disciples gathered, exchanging greetings in different languages, when suddenly a rushing wind (a.k.a. a theatrical 3rd grader) came soaring through the room. It was a good effort, and it made me wonder about its inspiration. What would it have been like to be in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit descended? When tongues of fire appeared, not as floppy tag board, but true flames? When the crowd could understand one another in different tongues? All the Anticipation The first Pentecost might have been a sensory and emotional roller coaster: Fear/hiding/waiting/locked doors Rushing wind Fire Many languages Praise Peace Reception of the Holy Spirit Any one of these occurrences might have startled us, but certainly all together would have been reason for excitement while providing a great deal to unpack. And, chances are, other than a rousing and celebratory Liturgy, our experience of Pentecost today will likely feel different. How do we embrace the awesome gift of this day, now? 7 Ideas for Celebrating Pentecost Wear Red A closet staple for any Catholic wardrobe is something bold and red. Red is the color used to celebrate the blood of the martyrs, fire as in flame or the "fire of charity", and Jesus’ Passion. Among the days that celebrate both fire and a group burning with Christian charity, Pentecost is it! Light a Candle The gift that Jesus shared with the Apostles was not a one-time grace—it is offered to each of us. Light a candle during prayer, or leave it burning throughout the day as a reminder of the Advocate Jesus gave us. Connect Whether you have sponsored someone, or you have chosen someone to sponsor you during the Sacrament of Confirmation, reach out. What is he or she doing in the world? Let them know how they continue to be a light in your life. Go for a Walk/Hike Choose a location where you can feel the wind on your face—an open field or a mountain top, and allow yourself to be reminded that God speaks so often to us through the gentlest breeze (1 Kings 19:12). Raise Your Voice I love the description of the crowd raising their voices to praise God (Acts 2:1-11). Whether you speak one language or six, take the opportunity to raise your own voice in praise. Gifts Consider the gifts of the Spirit—thank God for one that comes easily, pray for one that doesn’t: Wisdom Understanding Counsel Fortitude Knowledge Piety Fear of the Lord Seek/Offer Forgiveness In the Gospel for Pentecost, Jesus tells His Apostles: Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. // John 20:19-23 What a great reminder of the power of forgiveness. What forgiveness do we need to extend to someone else or seek for ourselves? This could be a great day to seek out the Sacrament of Confession. The Exclamation Point of Easter Pentecost serves as a kind of exclamation point at the end of the Easter Season—the longest season in the Church year! Pentecost means "fiftieth", for the fifty days after Easter. For as long as Lent feels, the Easter party adds an extra ten days to the celebration, ending today. Just like at the Apostles, we are reminded that through our own Confirmation, we have been sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to carry us back into the fray, or the mundane of ordinary time with the gifts necessary to do so. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. // 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7 How will you celebrate Pentecost today?   [bctt tweet="Pentecost: The Exclamation Point #BISblog //" via="no"]

Today marks the darkest day of the Church year. It is the sobering remembrance of the Word Incarnate, crucified. Liturgically, it is the only day of the entire year that no Eucharistic hosts will be consecrated as a reminder of Christ’s temporary absence. We fast and fall into line to venerate a cross, representing the Cross on which the Savior hung. The universal Church enters the empty, in-between time where Jesus is no longer with us, and not yet returned. Thin Places Mystics and theologians have various names for this kind of space—both the heaviness and anguish that can exist here alongside experiences of deep peace. The Irish call these “thin places,” noting that the space between Heaven and earth feels particularly thin, almost as though one could reach out and touch the other side. Others have referred to it as “liminal space,” the space in time where we are on the way. Our ship has left port and not yet arrived at its destination, so to speak. Our role as pilgrims is perhaps never more felt than on Good Friday. In the cadence of the Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday), the “good” in Good Friday has been confusing at best, and unsettling at worst. In its proper context, with an understanding of Salvation History, the "good" in Good Friday makes sense; but without that, it is hard to hear. Perhaps, even difficult to stomach—after all, how can we possibly find reason to celebrate the darkness of this day? Why is Good Friday “Good?” If you have ever talked through Holy week with a child, it is likely that you have already fielded this question. Or maybe you prefer to call it “Passion Friday” because it feels a more apt description. Either way, it can feel uncomfortable to put "good" in front of anything heart-wrenching. The answer is part semantics and part theology. Linguists share that Good Friday may very well have gotten its name because the words "good" and "holy" used to be used somewhat interchangeably. Ultimately though, we can name this day good because of what it accomplished for humanity in the same we proclaim, “O happy fault” of Adam and Eve’s sin. Each celebrate God’s victorious hand in history which offered salvation to humanity: God’s “drawing straight with crooked lines.” Already and Not Yet Celebrating Good Friday well is embracing our "already and not yet" understanding of salvation. As Catholic Christians, of course we know how the story ends, and it can be difficult to explain the sobering ritual to children or non-believers alike. Yes, Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead once and for all. And we embrace that reality in new ways each year of our lives. I remember, as a child, being horrified by the living Stations of the Cross at our parish—it was so real for me, I sobbed as though Christ were being hung on a cross before my very eyes while we all stood around, watching. Good Friday meant something entirely different to me the year we experienced a death in our family,than it has having had the joy of witnessing friends join the Church during Easter Vigil. Just as I imagine I would have a different experience entering into the Lenten season in the southern hemisphere where winter is dawning and light waning, rather than what I am accustomed to in the northern hemisphere where spring is just unfurling. Remembering In the same way the sacrifice of the Mass brings us back to the heart of the Paschal Mystery (Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection) each time it is celebrated, our annual return to the darkness of Good Friday is integral to our celebration of Easter Sunday. Each year I appreciate the wisdom of the liturgical year on a deeper level. The story doesn’t change, but we do. There is no need to come up with a flashy, new theme or logo. Holy Week will provide all that we can ask for in terms of mourning and celebrating well, arriving just as we are. Thank God the Church is ever ancient and ever new, and has different things to teach us each year we find ourselves walking the Lenten road. Beginning last night with the Holy Thursday foot-washing and remembrance of the last supper, we have ended our Lenten walk and entered into the beauty of Holy Week. However we are arriving this year, my prayer is that we might do so ready to receive whatever it is we need, and that that gift would remain with us throughout the celebration of the Easter season and beyond!   [bctt tweet="The Thin Place of Good Friday #BISblog #goodfriday //" via="no"]

Last Easter, I distinctly remember getting dumped with snow, spending a large part of the day online (whether Zoom or Mass), and scratching my head about what just happened to the Triduum as I packed up the ham I purchased with a bigger crowd in mind. Although I sincerely feel more hopeful about celebrating Lent and Easter this go around than I did this time last year, there is still a lot yet to be determined as far as favorite traditions and accommodations given the various protocols of gathering or celebrating during the pandemic. We have been at this liturgical living from home business for over a year now, so it seems realistic that we are up to the challenge. Ideas for Participating in Lent This Year Particularly, because much of the past year has been likened to its own Lent, we will need to be intentional when it comes to making meaning and making do when it comes to celebrating within set guidelines. To set this season apart from the drudgery or monotony that we have become familiar with, I have come up with a handful of ideas that could be worth incorporating as we journey together toward the cross this Lent. When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you. // Matthew 6:16-18   Think Outside Many churches, retreat centers, and religious communities have outdoor Stations of the Cross on their grounds, or prayer gardens that are ideal for prayer that is both liturgical and "socially distant." Try putting together your own Stations that you can use throughout the 40 days. DIY For folks who enjoy putting together egg hunts/scavenger hunts, Resurrections Eggs are a fun kid-approved way to combine the fun of Easter eggs with the telling of the story of the Paschal Mystery (and can be used before Easter). *Also available for purchase if crafting isn’t your thing. Pray/Fast/Give Ideas like this or this are fantastic ways to put faith into practice and conversation at home. Gather online with a friend or family member near or far to pray together or go through a Lenten devotional together. A quick online search will deliver more Lenten reflections than you can shake a stick at. Eat Differently Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Recipes from around the world offer an awesome opportunity to go meatless while adding some culture to Lenten cuisine. Praying for and learning about the cultures represented each year is a beautiful act of solidarity that goes beyond giving up meat. Spread Joy Maybe this is the year to spread joy—a year we know people are in desperate search for hope. Would that they see our joy rather than our gloom that set us apart as we fast, give, pray for the brokenness in the world to be healed by the One Who overcame death. Whatever that looks like for you: pay it forward in the drive through lane, roll down your window and talk with the person asking for assistance, shovel a neighbor’s driveway anonymously, send a card of encouragement, make a double batch of soup and drop it off at a neighbor’s house. The possibilities are truly endless. Lenten Beans to Jelly Beans This is Lent’s version of adding manger straw to the manger at Christmas for doing good deeds, being caught doing something good. Instead of using straw, try using a jar full of dry beans to acknowledge sacrifices and opportunities taken to die to ourselves. Celebrate a Seder Meal on Holy Thursday Celebrating our Jewish history alongside of the Last Supper. The Seder meal is intended to be prayerful and symbolic walk through the Passover tradition that Jesus celebrated with His disciples on Holy Thursday. This is a two-fold opportunity to learn from our Jewish brothers and sisters, while connecting Jesus’ last meal to the institution of the Eucharist. Are We Ever Ready? I don’t know about you, but I never quite feel "ready" for Lent The truth is we never are. But we are changed by the season in unforeseen and necessary ways. Heading into Lent can feel like heading into an exam that you have studied for, but is still going to put you through your paces. And, in so many ways this is our moment. The Christian community has the tools to lead the charge into the hopelessness and helplessness that have become so closely associated with these lenty and "unprecedented times." I suspect, at least I hope, that if we play our cards right these practices might rightly lead into the Easter season and beyond. Let’s make this a season that leaves those around us murmuring, "See how they love one another." How are you celebrating Lent this year? What's different than usual for you?   [bctt tweet="Ideas for Participating in Lent #BISblog //" via="no"]

Imagine you are in a dark chapel. It is peaceful and you decide to stay and pray. You take a seat in front of the image of Mary and the Christ Child. Notice Mary’s gaze. Where is she looking? At Jesus? At you? What does her posture indicate? Is she pointing, beckoning, nursing? Is she inviting you to draw nearer to her? Her Son? Where are they? Where is Jesus’ attention? What other symbols are present in the background or foreground? Candles flicker from within the red glass. Here you are in the first quiet moments of prayer, and already the images have naturally led you to a contemplative space. The purpose of icons is not just to add beauty to a place of worship, although they do, but to also add depth and inspiration for prayer within that space. Religious art forms contribute in a variety of ways, none more than icons. Pay Attention to Icons One of my favorite ways to make prayer feel more guided or tangible is to use images. Art can offer great, prayerful invitations both to the artist and to the viewer. Likely many of us have had a similar experience where a picture has inspired us to think of God in new ways. Formally this has been called visio divina, or sacred seeing—the sister to lectio divina, or sacred reading. I love the variety of ways that the stories from the Saints and figures from Scripture can be pulled out and brought to life in living color in the prayerful hands of an artist. Icons, in a very particular way, call the viewer to a posture of prayer by connecting the audience with God through the use of holy figures and scenes. Not only that, but the icon itself is intended to offer a loving, heavenly gaze to the viewer. In technical terms, the viewer doesn’t view an icon, she "reads" it. The Symbolism in Icons The symbols included in each icon are significant enough to tell a bigger story while remaining simple: Saint Joseph, for example, would likely be depicted with a lily and/or some sort of carpentry tool such as a square to remind the viewer that Joseph was a carpenter as well as head of the Holy Family. Saint Mary Magdalene is most often depicted pointing to an egg, the symbol of new life, calling to mind her discovery of Jesus at the empty tomb in the Resurrection accounts in the Gospels. The Trinity is famously depicted as three identical but distinct Persons whose clothing color distinguishes the various attributes of each person of the Godhead which communicates their heavenly, royal, and earthly identities. Even the corners of the table in the image is meant to signify the fulfillment of the four Gospels. There is so much more to reading this particular icon and all icons, I’ll refer you to further resources below. An Opportunity for Deep Prayer and Understanding Iconography is a very specific art-form. We can thank the Eastern Orthodox Church for really holding onto this tradition and in a particular and sacred way. There was a time when icons were seen as idolatry and looked upon as scandalous rather than symbols that lead the faithful into deeper reflection and many have been destroyed. The Making of an Icon Icons always depict a religious theme, but not all religious art are considered icons. Unlike other art forms that can be equally prayerful, iconographers adhere to a somewhat regulated and intentional process. From start to finish, the creation of an icon is an exercise in prayer and is littered with symbolism from materials to practice. Because icons tell a larger story, the content of the images is of the utmost importance. There are clear guidelines related to how God the Father, Son, and Spirit can be depicted to offer the clearest theology to those who will use it for prayer. The result is intended to be a window into Heaven: Icons are painted on wood. The wood serves as a reminder of the Tree of Knowledge and life before the Fall. The wood is wrapped in linen. The linen is a symbol of the cloth Jesus was wrapped in while in the tomb. The artist prepares and cleans the block and prays for a specific image to “write.” Icons are often detailed with gold gilt to emphasize the light of God. The clay and glue used to finish the icon itself is intended to remind the artist of the creation account in which Adam was formed by the clay of the earth. Even if you don’t have a collection of fine art in your own home, chances are that you have encountered icons of Christ or Saints at your parish, on retreat, or even in art museums. These are easiest to identify by the halo around the image, signifying the illuminating light of Christ. Icons can be as large as wall art or as small as a prayer card. Entering Into Prayer, Visually In the same way, each of us is a unique manifestation of God’s creative love, it should come as no surprise that forms of prayer vary widely, too. Having a wide variety of options for prayer is a tremendous gift. Whether that means we adopt one tried and true method our whole life through, or we change frequently to supplement our prayer lives, paying attention to the best way to be drawn into conversation with God. Although I hope you have been captivated by the depth and significance of icons, and how and why they should be used in prayer, I have only scratched the surface of their depth or history. I want to encourage your further exploration. If you have a favorite icon to pray with, consider finding a book at the library and digging deeper into meanings you might have missed. If you haven’t prayed with icons before, a quick google search or a trip to your local Catholic bookstore can be an eye-opening endeavor. For further reading // Why Icons Should Be Part of Cathoilc Catechetics Icons in the Western Church, Jeana Visel, OSB The Art of the Icon, Paul Evdokimov Icon Writing (video) Do you have a favorite icon? What strikes you most about it?   [bctt tweet="The Beauty + Significance of Icons in the Church #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

By the time I was preparing for Confirmation, I was mucking stalls after school, attending horse camp in the summer, and "Cowboy Take Me Away" was basically the anthem I wanted to live by. Not an especially spiritual worldview, but one that had my full attention. Thankfully, God meets us where we are and is never far from the things that bring us life. I remember the assignment to select a Saint as I prepared for Confirmation. My sponsor was so sweet and took me out to lunch so that we could discuss some of my ideas as I selected a patroness. I remember telling her that I was taken with Elizabeth Ann Seton—wait for it—because she was an "experienced horse woman." To this day, I still cannot find where her horsemanship skills were so acclaimed amongst her many accomplishments. To her credit, my sponsor was supportive despite my lackluster discernment. So it was decided that Elizabeth was the patroness for me. It was a simple decision-making process and admittedly, I didn’t give it much (deep) thought. I later came to regret that, but that was before I realized that I was being spiritually tailed. Spiritually-tailed As it turned out, there wasn’t much call for cowgirls in my area, so by deciding to study Human Services, I had inadvertently adopted a different dimension of my patroness’ life of service to those on the margins: specifically to women and children. I didn’t notice until after college during my volunteer year that Saint Elizabeth had connections to the Vincentians, the very charism that had propelled me to spend a year in service in the first place. Later, in my first full time job, I began my case management work in a place called the Setons’ Women Center! As it turned out, this year ended up being one of the most formative of my young adult life and I don’t doubt that there was some prayerful support coming from my patroness, Elizabeth. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the United States of America’s first Saint. In her lifetime, she experienced conversion to Catholicism, separation from her husband, becoming a widow, and raising five children and losing two of them. In addition, she established a Catholic girls school and founded an order, the Daughters of Charity of St. Joseph, which was the first order founded in America and tailored closely after the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been; how gloriously different all of the saints have been. // C.S. Lewis On the Move Statistics and studies done on recent generations assure us that people are moving more frequently, changing jobs, and switching careers more often now than ever before in history. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton offers a hopeful reminder of the tremendous versatility in the callings we may receive in one lifetime. [bctt tweet="Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton offers a hopeful reminder of the tremendous versatility in the callings we may receive in one lifetime. #BISblog //" via="no"] Likely at the dawn of her marriage, she imagined her life was going to take on a particular shape, which it did. Like many of us, she didn’t see herself as anything beyond a wife and mother, much less, the patroness of Catholic schools, widows, and seafarers. Vocations within Vocations So often God has more in mind for our lives than we might have imagined—or at least a wider breadth of callings. Vocations within vocations. Which can feel both exhilarating and unnerving as creatures who tend toward having some control, expectations, and "five year plans." Just as Saint Elizabeth imagined her vocation as wife and mother to define her life. And yet, her call prepared her for much more. This feels timely while we trudge on in our push toward post-pandemic life. Perhaps you are also finding yourself called upon to be a teacher in addition to work outside of the home. Maybe 2020 has made you a caregiver in ways you hadn’t foreseen, or in processing the experience of providing medical care amidst a pandemic, you have discovered art as an outlet. The possibilities are inexhaustible because God is infinitely creative and we instinctively mimic this trait. The Saint of Possibility In the hope of all that new years and new calendar pages bring, 2021 is pregnant with possibility. Inspired by Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, would that we be attentive to our own callings within callings! Maybe this is what will get us though the lingering wait, believing that our gifts and talents add a particular value for this time, as surprising as we ourselves might find it. In a season that has made us all students, and many teachers, perhaps Saint Elizabeth’s intercession is just what we need at the dawn of a New Year. O God, You called Elizabeth Ann Seton to be an instrument of your loving mercy. Despite loss and sorrow, she was an example of hope and love. Inspire us with your Blessed Sacrament to live our life for others. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Teacher. Amen. // Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Prayer for Students Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us! Anyone else celebrating a feast day today?   [bctt tweet="On the Feast of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton #BISblog //" via="no"]

In an interesting "which came first" scenario, this week we celebrate two inter-related feast days. Later this week we will celebrate the popular feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which goes hand in hand with the one we celebrate today—the feast of Saint Juan Diego. We celebrate Juan Diego as a bearer of Mary’s apparition and request for a church. We celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe because of Juan Diego’s willingness to speak on her behalf. Simple Obedience Saint Juan Diego’s story began on a rural hillside outside of Mexico City in 1531 where the Virgin Mary appeared to him and requested that he speak to the Bishop about building a church in her honor on Tepeyec Hill where they were speaking. Juan Diego was an indigenous man of no particular means or connection, and honored her request and proposed the idea to the bishop. The bishop was skeptical of the encounter and asked that he return with a sign. Meanwhile, Juan Diego’s uncle fell ill and Juan Diego nearly missed his second appointment with the bishop. Instead, the Virgin reassured Juan Diego that his uncle would live. She instructed him to collect the roses (growing unseasonably) on the hill and bring them to the bishop as a sign. Juan Diego did as he was told. When he presented the flowers to the bishop, an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe became visible inside of his tilma (cloak). With the appearance of this sign, a church was constructed in her honor. A Legacy of Love and Our Lady Today the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (in Mexico City) is one of the most frequently visited pilgrimage sites in the world. Juan Diego’s tilma bearing Mary’s image can still be viewed inside of the Basilica, though its rough and poor fabric likely should have disintegrated long ago. The Virgin of Guadalupe is the patroness of Mexico, which is overwhelmingly Catholic, as well as the Americas. Many believe that this apparition endeared the Mexican people to the Mother of God and to the Church in a special way. There are two aspects of this story that I especially love: Mary chooses to appear to a simple indigenous man without connections or means, to receive her message. As it happens with Marian apparitions, Mary appears as an indigenous woman herself; connecting immediately to those with whom she speaks. Saint Juan Diego’s Witness If there is any downside to being a part of a Church with such a rich and vibrant cloud of witnesses that have gone before us, it might be that it can be intimidating to find our own circumstances particularly inspiring. And this is why I love Saint Juan Diego: he is obscure, and in his obscurity he ushers in and has fostered tremendous devotion to Jesus and His Mother. Mary could have chosen someone with influence or means who could have built the Basilica themselves. But, lost would have been the image in the tilma and the ongoing exchange between Juan Diego and Our Lady, and the message that the lives of seemingly obscure folks do not escape the significant and loving gazes of Jesus and Mary. The Virgin of Guadalupe and People on the Margins In 1531 there would have been a wide array of artistic renderings of Jesus and Mary, but likely none that reflected the experience and appearance of all who would look upon them. Mary’s distinct appearance at Tepeyac echoed familiarity to the hearts of Juan Diego and a Mexican people ready to receive it. Our Lady’s radiant appearance communicated a relationship with the divine that could be both holy and familiar and that God has always had particular love for those who are marginalized. Marian Apparitions Apparitions like this one have communicated to people all throughout time and geography that they are seen and loved by God and His Mother in their most specific circumstances. Mary has appeared to men, women, and children all over the world. Her invitations offer opportunities and instruction to those who hear her to grow closer to her Son. Our Lady of Fatima, Lourdes, Knock, and Guadalupe are well-known apparitions, but only a few of the many places Mary has made herself available to the people of the world. As we journey through Advent during a very unique season of our own history, we do so in good company. Saint Juan Diego offers a timely reminder that even in our obscurity we can offer our very selves to the greater glory of God. Our Lady of Guadalupe assures us of the possibility to be employed in heavenly errands. Saint Juan Diego, pray for us!   [bctt tweet="On the Feast of Saint Juan Diego #BISblog //" via="no"]