This Saturday, at the Easter Vigil, men, women, and children across the world will be brought into the Catholic Church. People will be baptized and confirmed, they'll receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time, and even marriages will be blessed in the Church. What a night to rejoice with our brothers and sisters in the salvation found in the Resurrected Christ and His Church! Our Blessed is She Sisters Becoming Catholic There are many women in our Blessed is She community who will be among those initiated in the Church this Easter, and we are so thrilled for them! We asked those candidates and catechumens in our community to share a bit about what has drawn them to the Church. Their answers serve as both inspiration and worthy reminders of our own mission as Catholics. Why I'm Becoming Catholic “I’m coming into the Church at the Easter Vigil! I’m becoming Catholic because I’ve been searching for years for the Truth, and I kept (reluctantly) coming back to Catholicism. I was drawn to Mary, especially after I had my son 4 years ago. Right before Lent last year, I decided to pray the Rosary daily and see what happens. Well, I started going to Church the Sunday after last Easter and never stopped. With encouragement from friends, I joined RCIA in the fall, and now I can’t wait until I can receive Communion at Easter!” -Jenn C. “I'm coming into the Church this year because God has led me to it my whole life. It feels like home. I can never get enough of Mass, Adoration, and praying the Rosary. I'm in love with the richness of the Faith.” -Brittany W. “Everything I didnt understand about being a Christian makes sense now. There is so much depth to the Catholic Faith. With every step closer, I feel nothing but complete peace with my life. I've never been so happy, and everyone in my life can see the joy radiating from me.” -Natasha K. “At first, I was converting to Catholicism for marriage purposes. After spending Monday nights in RCIA, I’m converting for not only myself but for my relationship with God.” -Cynthia V. "I wasn’t raised with any particular religion in my life but I believed in God always (my parents were baptized Baptist and have since converted to Catholicism). Fast forward to college where I attended in Rome IT and I became exposed to Catholicism everywhere I went and studied. Fast forward to life after graduation where I met my husband and started a family. My husband is Catholic and we agreed to baptize our children in the Catholic Faith. Last summer, we lost our 3rd baby (baby boy) after five days of life. A month later, while working through my grief and pouring my heart out to God and Mama Mary, I asked my husband if we could do RCIA together in September (he needs to complete his Sacraments) because it is what our Son and God and would want. Plus, I desperately want to see my baby boy again. We enrolled and our lives have drastically changed since starting this journey. God has been working on me and calling me home my whole life. Our small BIS group has been such a blessing to my life and these ladies and the Blessed is She community has educated and supported me in more ways than I can count." -Ashley A. "When I was nine years old and first went to St. Patrick’s in NYC, I wanted to be Catholic. It’s been a long journey and almost 30 years. At first, I went to the Episcopal church. It was the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and a devotion to Mary that pushed me into RCIA." -Kelley A. "It was honestly just a pull, well more of a literal kick in the butt. I was thinking about it for a while (I was baptized Catholic, but I never had any other Sacraments). But I was always terrified to go to Mass because I had a perception of Catholics being a better person than I was at the time. It was the middle of Lent last year and I got this huge push to go to Mass. I asked God to show me a sign, to tell me what to do. Right after that, a very deep urge to go to Mass the next day occurred. It was a couple of weeks before Palm Sunday. The homily was the defining point for me. Then I jumped in full force and I have met the most amazing people I know through Church, and I love them with my entire heart. These first people were the people that validated my path, and I am here now." -Amber H. "I had been attending Mass with my boyfriend for about a year. I enjoyed Mass, but didn't feel compelled to convert and didn't mind missing the Eucharist. But one day, as he went up for communion and I stayed in my seat as usual, I just became overwhelmed with sadness and started crying. I suddenly knew I was missing out on something amazing and decided I would enroll in the next RCIA." -Kristin B. "I was drawn to the Catholic Faith by Jesus in the Eucharist. Communion in the Protestant faith had become so under pronounced and wasn't taught or given the importance Christ gave it. I am anxiously awaiting my First Communion in the Catholic Faith, knowing I have the true Christ Jesus in me." -Elizabeth P. "When I was young, my father led me to believe that Christianity was filled with damnation and hate. I was abused both physically and mentally and subsequently loathed all Christian belief. Once in high school, I was called to the Faith and had a slow journey towards the Catholic Church. Now in college, my supportive best friend called me to learn more about Catholicism and I experienced my very first Latin High Mass. I was instantly drawn to the sacredness, sacrifice, and reverence of the Latin Mass. Since then I have devoted myself to RCIA classes, reading daily Scripture, memorizing prayers, and doing all I can to be a faithful Catholic." -Meghan R. Welcome Home, Sisters! Sisters, we are praying for you on this night and beyond. We are so happy for you. Congratulations! Thanks be to God for the good things He has done and will continue to do in your hearts and lives. Friends, let's celebrate our sisters who are joining the Church! Send them your love and prayers in the comments! [bctt tweet="Why I'm Becoming Catholic #BISblog //" via="no"]

You know the stereotype: Catholics don't know the Bible. Unfortunately, I perpetuated that stereotype in my own life until my early 20s. I grew up Catholic and understood the Sacraments, but had little knowledge of Sacred Scripture. I didn't know what was contained in Scripture (beyond the ever-popular preschool stories), I didn't know how to read Scripture, and I didn't even know that praying with Scripture was a thing. It wasn't until a college professor opened my eyes to the Word of God that I understood the profound importance of the Bible, both for where we've been, and for where we're going. Longing for a Bible Study... I know I'm not alone in my desire to want to know Scripture more, to understand it more clearly. In fact, that's what brings many of us in the Blessed is She community together! We desire to know the Lord more through His Word. This leads many of us to desire to partake in a Bible study. We want to know and love the Bible, but we need someone to teach us. We need some help diving into the history, meanings, senses, and rhythm of Scripture. However, when it comes to finding a Bible study, the search can be frustrating. There are plenty of options, but how do we know which one will best suit us? Moreover, finding a solid Bible study is what causes most of us to stop in our tracks. What if it's an incorrect interpretation of Scripture? What if it contradicts Catholic teaching? A Bible Study that Works for Real Life Finally, most of us are looking for a way to read, study, and pray with the Bible that works with our actual lives. We're busy women with hundreds of spinning plates, but we want to make time for the Word. We might not have hours each week to attend collegiate-level Scripture courses, but our desire to meet God in Scripture is strong. So we need a Bible study that is thorough, engaging, beautiful, concise, and worth every minute. Many of us want to find a Bible study we can do with our small group from church or our local Catholic community. Some of us would like to find a Catholic Bible study we can do with our spouse or significant other. And some of us just want a Bible study to journey through on our own, in the nooks and crannies of our daily lives. Unique Catholic Bible Study Options If you're looking for a way to dive into the Word in a way that also immerses you in the Catholic Faith, be sure to check out our Matthew Scripture Meditation Study. This study will help you fall in love with Scripture, one chapter at a time. A unique way to dive more into Scripture is through Misericordia, our study on the Works of Mercy. You'll not only read Scripture about the mercy and female Saints who lived them out fully, but also hear from women in all different seasons about what the the Works of Mercy mean in their lives. If video or audio is your thing, pray through #BISVBS, our virtual Bible study on various books of the Bible (so far we've done Mark, Acts, Galatians, 1 Corinthians, and Ephesians!). Finally, if you want to start soaking in Scripture right this minute, we recommend beginning by reading the Psalms. The Psalms are a beautiful expression of the human heart, making them ideal in giving words to the ebbs and flows of our emotional and spiritual lives. You can open your Bible and begin hearing God's voice now.   What are You Looking for in a Catholic Bible Study? What are some of the best Catholic Bible studies you have discovered over the years? Do you prefer to move through a study on your own or in a group? Let us know in the comments below!  [bctt tweet="Finding a Great Catholic Bible Study #BISblog //" via="no"]

It's the middle of December. Most of us are up to our eyeballs in Christmas preparation while also preparing our hearts throughout our Advent journey. But I'd love to direct your attention toward the new year—just for a moment—to invite you to join us for the 2019 Prayer Pledge. The Blessed is She Prayer Pledge Every January, our Blessed is She community comes together, across the globe, to dedicate the first month of the new year to prayer. As many of us formulate goals and articulate dreams for the new year, we link arms and encourage one another to put our relationship with the Lord at the very top of our list. So for the first 31 days of the new year, we pledge to pray together. We set ourselves on the path of this good practice with the hopes that our daily time spent with Christ this first month of the year would carry over to a daily prayer habit for the rest of the year...and for our entire lives. New Year, New Pentecost This year's Prayer Pledge theme is New Year, New Pentecost. As a play on the oft-used phrase this time of year, "new year, new you," we're focusing our attention on praying for a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. It is He who will ultimately create an everlasting transformation in our hearts, lives, and world. Each week of January, one Regular Blog Contributor will walk us through one prayer or hymn to the Holy Spirit. We will reflect on five different prayers and hymns to the Holy Spirit and what this means for our relationship with Him. Our hope is that we all grow to know, love, and serve God more through this prayer time together. What to Expect Each Day Every day of the Prayer Pledge, there will be a new post on the blog. The daily posts, as aforementioned, will include a section of a prayer or hymn to the Holy Spirit and will be followed by a brief reflection. Our daily posts will close with both a personal reflection question or encouragement and a deep question to discuss with your prayer partner (more on that below). If you're like me and could use a daily reminder about the Prayer Pledge, sign up to receive the Prayer Pledge posts straight to your inbox. If you subscribe to our devotions, then you're familiar with the setup and how much easier this makes it to remain faithful to our pledge! By signing up, you'll also receive five gorgeous printables with excerpts from each week's prayer or hymn that yo can print and hang throughout your home. Prayer Partners Another great way to enter into the new year with a renewed pledge to deepen your relationship with God is by buddying up. We really encourage each of us to choose a prayer partner for the Prayer Pledge. If you already have a thriving Bible study or prayer group, perhaps you can team up and bring the Prayer Pledge content to your next meeting or text thread! As prayer partners, you'll hold one another accountable to read the daily posts. But not in a annoying way, you know, just a regular-person-trying-to-help-you-do-what-you-really-want-to-do way. Like we mentioned above, each day's post will contain a question for you to discuss with your prayer partner. You can do this in whatever way you so choose (email, text, phone, Voxer, over coffee, etc.). But these questions go a little deeper than the typical, "What struck you about this reflection?" We're really striving to be vulnerable here and form a bond with our prayer partners while strengthen our bond with Christ. Most importantly, as prayers partners, you'll be dedicated to praying for one another through the month and beyond. We encourage you to reach out and select your prayer partner before the Prayer Pledge begins if possible! Text them the link to this blog post so they can sign up, share it on social, or email it to a friend. Interceding for a New Pentecost The final aspect to the 2019 Prayer Pledge, in conjunction with our theme, is a group intercessory prayer for an openness to the Holy Spirit. Each week, we will be praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on various people and groups. We'll start small, and widen our intercession as the month moves forward. We'll pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit: Week 1: In our own souls Week 2: In our families Week 3: In our local communities and dioceses Week 4: In our Church Week 5: In the entire world What to Do Now to Get Ready for the Prayer Pledge Ready to get ready for the new year? Ready for a "new you" by praying for a new Pentecost in your soul? We are, too, sister. Here are our next steps: Sign up to receive the Prayer Pledge to your inbox in the colorful box above. Ask the Lord if He has someone in mind to be your prayer partner. Then reach out to them! Share about the Prayer Pledge by word of mouth and on social media. Use the hashtag #prayerpledge We're going to be praying powerful prayers, friends. Can you imagine what it will be like to have thousands of us praying for an increase of openness to the Holy Spirit in our world?! Keep walking through Advent and preparing your hearts for Christmas. We'll catch you in the new year. Prayer Pledge Days Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Will you be joining us for this year's Prayer Pledge? Let us know who your prayer partner is in the comments! [bctt tweet="New Year, New Pentecost: Join Us for the 2019 Prayer Pledge! #BISblog #prayerpledge //" username="to_the_heights"]

So you're all moved in to your Blessed is She planner. You've recorded birthdays, anniversaries, upcoming trips, and work conferences. You've determined your goals for the year and have found the rhythm of your weekly meal plan, prayer intentions, and feast day celebrations. But what do you do with the blank section in each weekly planning page? What do you do with the last section of your planner? These are your two Notes sections, and I'd love to show you how I use mine. But first... There's No Wrong Way to Use a Notes Section Many people (including myself) get a little angsty when first moving into a planner. It's so pretty, and we don't want to mess it up, right? We fear the same when it comes to the Notes sections. What if we use it for something one week but end up not liking it? Are we married to that approach? What if we don't love our hand writing? Is that a reason to skip this section every week? Of course, the answer is no. We can't mess up our planners, friends. The only way to mess it up is to buy one and not use it because we're afraid of messing it up. So let's try hard to get over ourselves and start using this tool to steward the life we've been given by our Creator. So What are the Notes Sections? The Blessed is She liturgical planner comes in two sizes: mini and regular. The mini planner has one Notes section in the back of the planner, indicated by a labeled tab. The regular planner has two Notes sections I'll show you today: The same large Notes section in the back of the planner, just like the mini; and A half-page Notes section present in each weekly planning spread. Personally, I use the regular planner, so I'll be referencing both types of Notes Sections How to Use the Notes Sections of Your Blessed is She Planner The most important thing to remember when considering ways to use your Notes sections is that these are flexible spaces. What works for me may not work for you. What works for you in one season may not work for you in another. That's the point: we get flexibility here, because life is fluid and ever-changing. My best advice? Use the Notes sections however they will best serve you and your life. The Weekly Spread Notes Section First up is the Notes section that’s include in your planning pages in every single weekly spread. Now in the newest planner, it doesn’t say “Notes” at the top (like you see in the photos and video in this post), which I think allows for even more freedom and flexibility for us to use this section however we wish. Here are some ideas for using this section: Actual notes // Jot down anything you want to remember for the week, use it as a place to take notes from meetings, podcasts, or phone calls, or simply use it as a place to record important things that happened/are happening that week. Overflow to-do list // I often use this section in this way. I like to keep track of my personal to-dos in the designated To-Do section of the weekly spread, and I keep my work to-dos in the Notes section. It helps me to keep them separate in my brain and on paper, especially during busy weeks. Budgeting // You can track your spending throughout the week to help you manage your finances. Wellness Tracker // Have something you need to track? Food sensitives, anxiety, exercise? Divide this Notes section by days and record any relevant information. For example, if you suspect a food sensitivity, write down everything you eat in a day and note how you feel afterward. Journal // Use this section to journal your thoughts, dreams, and prayers to the Lord. The Back-of-the-Planner Notes Section The second Notes section is the one located in the very back of your Blessed is She planner. It's separated by a tab, and you have several note pages to use. You can be even more creative here. Ready for some ideas? Actual notes // Again, record notes or lists from classes, meetings, conferences, spiritual direction meetings, and so on. School schedules // Many people like to use this section to record their or their children's school schedule. You can write down teacher names and contact information, along with important times throughout the school day like lunch and recess. Gifts // A personal favorite, I use this Notes section to record gift ideas for family and friends. I divide a page into sections and assign a section to my husband and children, our parents, extended family, and close friends. Throughout the year, I try to pay attention to any hints they drop about something they'd like to have. I write it down on this page. Then, when birthdays or Christmas roll around, I'm not stressed trying to figure out what to get them. Cleaning routine // I like to use a Notes page to record irregular but predictable cleaning chores. I divide the page into quadrants and note which household chores need to be done weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually. I reference this page when planning my weeks and incorporate necessary cleaning tasks into the week. There's more detail on this in the video below! Projects // Brainstorm house, work, and volunteer projects. Set deadlines or budgets for them. Check them off when you've done it! Book lists // Use a Notes page to keep track of your TBR list. Or, use it to record the books you've read this year. I like to record the book title, author, number of pages, date finished, and even a star review to help me remember how well I liked a book. Bucket list // What are some fun things you want to do this year? Keep a running list of adventures and goals in this section! Ok, I'm dying to hear from you. How do you use the Notes sections of your planner? Give me some more ideas! LITURGICAL PLANNERS Our Liturgical Planners are based on the Litany of Humility. Enter into prayer every day alongside this beautiful Litany. Order your days in His peace. GET YOUR PLANNER

My husband often jokes that our life revolves around my planner. He's completely right. Like most of you, our lives are full of good things like family, work, appointments and commitments, community events, volunteering, and self-care. In the midst of it all, there are the daily tasks that need to be complete to keep our home and family running. Like trash day. All of this requires some planning. Are We Overwhelmed or Stewarding? When we step back and examine everything we need to do in a given week and everyone who relies on us for something, it's easy to feel entirely overwhelmed. We can feel defeated by a week before it even begins. This is how I feel 60% of the time. But the other 40%, when I take a deep breath and place my heart in the hands of the Lord, I have a different perspective on my to-do list. Instead of seeing my responsibilities as a source of stress, I try to see the blessings in them and turn them into opportunities for praise. Do I need to make a doctor's appointment for a sick kid? Praise God for doctors and the ability to help my child in this way. Will a grocery run and preparing meals in advance take an entire day? Thank you, Lord, for giving us food that nourishes us. Is it a busy workweek full of meetings? I'm so grateful to have good work I enjoy. Should I do something about the post-apocalyptic scene that is my house? Praise Jesus I have a roof over my head and rooms to clean. It sounds simple (because it is), but this subtle shift in approach changes the entire way I plan and organize my week. I understand that preparing for a week is not managing stresses but stewarding blessings. God has entrusted me with these responsibilities, and it is my duty and joy to steward them well. And I steward them best when I'm intentional about setting aside adequate time and energy for them. Once I settle into this attitude of praise and stewardship, I'm ready to organize my week in the joy of the Lord and the light of the Holy Spirit. [bctt tweet="Preparing for the week ahead is not managing stresses, but stewarding blessings. #BISblog //"] Everyone's Different This is well understood by most of us, but it's worth mentioning here: we're all different. How we plan, organize, think, and operate is as varied as the responsibilities we each have in our lives. Knowing our personality, temperament, energy level, and priorities is vital when it comes to finding a system for planning that best suits us. What works for me might or might not work for you. I have a girlfriend who lovingly rolls her eyes at my weekly planning because so much structure and forethought would reduce her to tears. She operates best on a moment-by-moment basis (which would reduce me to tears) and her life is so joyful, she gets all of her things done, and she's a saint in the making. So find what works best for you and yours. The Father gave you a unique brain and heart and personality, ask Him how to best steward the time and responsibilities you've been given. Here's what works for me. How I Organize My Week Sundays are typically my weekly planning day. It's a slow day for my family and my husband is home all day. After Mass and breakfast, I usually pour another cup of coffee and sit down with my planner while the others play. I use the Blessed is She weekly planner, so first, I open it to the new weekly planning page. I take note of the verse of the week and write it on the chalkboard in our kitchen. This is always our Scripture memory verse for our homeschooled pre-schooler (and the adults!). Then, I use the To-Do column to brain dump. I write it all down. Appointments to be made, errands to run, things to buy, closets to organize, etc. I also look at the goal-setting pages to determine any progress I can make on larger goals and habits this week. I get it all out of my brain and onto the to-do list. In the quiet of my heart, I set my prayer intentions. Next, I make note of calls or emails to make. Phew, I already feel better. Planning Our Priorities Then, I flip to the weekly layout (don't worry, we'll revisit the rest of the weekly planning page in a moment). I usually plan my week in waves: First, I fill in time-definites. These are regular-occurance things like my husband's work schedule, appointments, meetings, classes, and so on. Anything that happens at a certain specific time that week goes on the schedule first. Next, I schedule and organize the things that absolutely need to get done but aren't tied to a specific time. For us, these are things like daily prayer and time with the Word, my work hours a weekday Mass, Adoration, read-aloud times, time at the gym, date night, and the items and errands on my to-do list form the weekly planning page. This step also includes the more random occurrences like play dates, nights out with friends, and family events that are happening that week. This wave involves everything that is more flexible and can happen on several different days/times. I'll then make note of any feast days we want to celebrate with more gusto. I write down any supplies we need or materials I need to organize for that feast day. I love The Lazy Liturgical for simple but meaningful liturgical living ideas. Then, I plan our meals. I take a look at each day and determine what meals will work best that week. I do most of my cooking in the crockpot in this season of life, but if we have a free afternoon one day, I might take my time with a meal that requires more chopping, sautéing, and baking. This is also when I flip back to the weekly planning pages and record meals and the grocery list for the week. Getting on the Same Planner-Page Once the week is filled in, I sit with my husband and go over everything with him. We find that we operate best when we're on the same page for the week. We are more generous with one another when communication and expectations are clear. So he jots down appointments, my work schedule (when he'll have the kids), his to-do's from my large to-do list, and times of prayer and exercise.  The Last Step is Important Once everything is completed, I look at what kind of week it's going to be. Is it a calm week where not much is happening? Then I'll determine to try to catch up on some sleep at night. Is it a busy week that's going to stretch us thin? I'll make a note to be extra affectionate with my husband, to look my children in the eye longer, and to add an additional time of prayer (especially when I don't feel like there's any time left for prayer). Is it a week that's throwing us off our typical routine? I'll remember to be more patient with my children and to plan good snacks and activities in advance to help with any meltdowns. Including my own. Knowing what's coming helps me to cover any deficits. I jot down these thoughts and prayers on my weekly planning pages to remind myself when everything is falling apart (wink). Finally, I say a prayer over our family and our week, understanding that the week will absolutely not go according to my beautifully color-coded schedule. I surrender it all to Jesus, and make an act of faith and trust that His plans are better than mine. I ask for a heart open to the Holy Spirit's movements, a heart that is more concerned with God's calls than my list of phone calls to make. Then, we get on living. Do you plan your weeks or days? What's your system? Do you have the Blessed is She planner yet? I would love to hear what works (and what doesn't work) for you. Let's talk about it in the comments below! LITURGICAL PLANNERS Our Liturgical Planners are based on the Litany of Humility. Enter into prayer every day alongside this beautiful Litany. Order your days in His peace. GET YOUR PLANNER

As Catholics, we have an incredibly rich spiritual buffet presented to us. Holy Mother Church offers prayers, devotions, liturgies, and traditions that speak to every personality and life stage of her children. One such tradition that has been practiced throughout the centuries is Marian consecration. Consecrating oneself to Our Lady is a profoundly spiritual and impactful path to sanctity. What is Marian Consecration? One of the definitions for the word "consecrate" is to "dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose" (source). Marian consecration is the act of entrusting one's body, soul, possessions, works, and entire life to the protection, guidance, and intercession of Our Lady. The act of entrusting oneself to Mary's care and intercession is nothing new. Jesus Himself entrusted His beloved disciple, John, to Mary while He was on the Cross (John 19:26-27). The early Christians and Church fathers recognized Mary's holiness and her significance as the Mother of God. We've been asking for Mary's intercession and intervention in our lives since the beginning of the Church. She is, after all, our mother, too. A more formal method of consecration to Mary was developed by Saint Louis de Montfort in the 1600s. His 33-day prayer consists of short instructions on why one would even consecrate themselves to Mary in the first place (more on that below) and praying the Rosary and other various prayers to Mary and God. This period of prayer culminates in a beautiful prayer of consecration that one makes in conjunction with the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the reception of Holy Communion, ideally on a Marian feast day. Why Should I Consecrate Myself to Mary? What's the point of consecration to Mary, anyway? What if I already have a devotion to Mary, pray the Rosary, and ask for her intercession? Consecration to Mary is simply a furthering and deepening of our devotion to and relationship with Jesus through Our Lady. If you already have an affection for Mary and talk to her often, consecration is a natural next step. But even you don't really know Our Lady yet and aren't convinced of the hype, Marian consecration can be that bridge that unites you to her more deeply. When we consecrate ourselves to Mary, we give her our entire lives and selves as well as the merits of all our prayers and works in order to belong more fully to Our Lord. We give Mary everything we are and do to present to the Lord and use at her disposal. Why give Mary everything? Because she's a good mom. She only wants what's best for us and for all her children. Mary wants us to know, love, and serve Jesus more. She wants us to get to Heaven even more than we do. She's invested in our happiness, both temporal and eternal. Mary takes all the good we are and do, adds her grace, and presents us to her Son. The best part? When she presents us to Jesus, in all our littleness and with all our feeble efforts, He does not refuse her, because she never refuses Him. Can't I Just Consecrate Myself to God? Yes! And ultimately, that's exactly what Marian Consecration accomplishes. When we consecrate our selves to Mary, really we are consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary. They are so intimately united that truly giving ourselves to Mary can lead to nothing but total surrender to God. By consecrating ourselves to Mary, we leap with faith and joy into the arms of our mom, knowing that she advocates for us, loves us, and wants to see us become saints. We cannot go wrong with Marian Consecration. The Fruit of Her Womb A beautiful companion for your Marian consecration journey. Shop Now Want to learn more about Our Lady, check out these books about her! What Do I Need to Start My Marian Consecration? To complete a Marian consecration, you really just need a willing heart. Just begin with a desire to know Jesus more deeply through His Mother. You'll probably also want a guide. St. Louis de Montfort's Preparation for Total Consecration is timeless and has been used for decades. St. Maximilian Kolbe's 9-day formal consecration to Mary is also beloved by many. In more recent years, Fr. Michael Gaitley wrote 33 Days to Morning Glory, which focuses on the Marian spiritualities of four Saints. I suggest taking a look at each one and praying about which best suits your soul at this time. Again, you can't go wrong here, so don't stress too much about which form of consecration you select. It is customary to renew one's consecration to Our Lady every year by repeating the 33-day process and ending on the same Marian feast day. You can always select various methods of consecration throughout the years, too! The Ultimate Goal of Marian Consecration We are all called to holiness. God created us to be saints. We are made to know the Lord, to love Him, and to serve Him. Consecrating ourselves to Mary is one way that we grow in that knowledge, love, and service. We allow Mary to take us by the hand and lead us to her Son. She knows, loves, and serves Him best. We have so much to learn from her life, and so much to gain by placing ourselves in her hands. Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Church, and Our Mother, pray for us! Have you consecrated yourself to Our Lady? Is your heart stirred to it for the first time? A Beautiful Companion Preparing for consecration? Our Blessed is She Rosaries are beautiful companions for your journey. Shop Rosaries → [bctt tweet="What is Marian Consecration? #BISblog //" via="no"] This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting this ministry! MARY SHOWS US THE WAY Just as a mother might pass on a beloved family tradition to her daughters, Mary shares the recipe for growing in virtue with us. This study on Mary's Virtues will breathe new life into your everyday, beginning right in Mary's home. GET HOME STUDY

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a great gift to Catholics. But sometimes we don't avail ourselves of this grace as much as we should. Sometimes fear or uncertainty keep us from His Divine Mercy. But, sisters, there is so much hope and healing in this Sacrament. Maybe we just need to be more comfortable with the process in order to be more confident in going to Confession. Why Should I Go to Confession? From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1446: Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. We go to Confession in order to restore our relationship with Christ and our relationship with the Church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a Sacrament of Healing because we are cleansed, restored, and strengthened. In the life of a Catholic, frequent Confession should be a high priority. It is in this Sacrament that we weed out anything that keeps us from Christ and are given the graces to resist temptation and to grow closer to Him going forward. How to Go to Confession Maybe it's been a while since your last Confession. Maybe you're a little intimidated by the process and the fear is keeping you from this moment of mercy. We've all been nervous to go to Confession before, so you're not alone. But let's not let fear prevent us from running to the loving arms of our Father. Sometimes, fear can be eradicated simply by being prepared. Many of us worry that we will forget the "right words" or that we won't remember how to participate in the Sacrament. Together, let's walk through the process of going to Confession so that we can be confident in approaching the throne of grace. 1. Examine Your Conscience The first step in the Sacrament of Reconciliation comes before our confession begins. It's important to take the time to examine our conscience. We pause and reflect on our life and look for the ways we have done wrong or failed to do good. The important part of this process is to reflect on our sorrow over our sins and how they have hurt Christ or others in our life. There are many wonderful Examinations of Conscience that can walk you through this process step-by-step. Blessed is She has created one for you, and you can download it at the bottom of this post. If it helps, print off your Examination of Conscience and bring it with you. Make marks by the sins you've committed, or make notes in the margins. I've done this before and it helps me to relax and not worry so much about remembering everything. Once you've examined your conscience, you're ready to celebrate the Sacrament! 2. Pick Your Preference Depending on where you go to Confession, you might have the option to either sit with Father face-to-face or to kneel or sit behind a screen, keeping your identity anonymous. Either way is acceptable and no one way is better than the other. Of course, the beautiful thing about Confession is that it can be celebrated anywhere. That means you might not have this option if you're going to Confession in an airport or outside or in a restaurant. 3. Greeting and Blessing Father will usually greet you with a smile and will open by blessing you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At this point, it is common to let the priest know how long it has been since your last Confession. If you can't remember exactly, an estimate is fine. 4. Confession of Sins Here's where you list your sins. If you can recall, let the priest know how many times you've committed each sin. It helps him understand what you struggle with most. It can be difficult and, frankly, embarrassing to admit our sins. But let me offer some comfort. There is no sin that a priest has not heard confessed. I promise that nothing we say will shock the priest, and he will not judge us. Most priests forget our specific sins (think of all the Confessions they hear!), so we don't need to worry about him thinking horrible things about us the next time we see him at the fish fry. 5. Acceptance of Penance After you've listed your sins, the priest will take a few minutes to offer guidance or reflection. Then, he will give you a penance to be performed in reparation for your sins. Sometimes our penance is a list of prayers offered for specific intentions. Sometimes it's an act of love to be completed. Ideally, our penances will correspond with our sins, offering us another opportunity to choose Jesus over sin. 6. Act of Contrition Once the priest has given you your penance, he will ask you to make an Act of Contrition. There are so many beautiful Acts of Contrition available to us, and we can even make one up on the spot. Here's a lovely one to keep on hand: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because I have offended you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen. 7. Prayer of Absolution After you pray your Act of Contrition, Father will pray the Prayer of Absolution over you: God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This prayer holds such beauty, freedom, and healing. It's my favorite part of the Sacrament. 8. Closing The priest might close with the words: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. And you respond: His mercy endures forever. Not all priests say this, though, so don't sweat it if it doesn't come up. That's it! See? Not so scary. 9. Perform Your Penance The final part of Confession is fulfilling our penance. Sometimes this can be done rather quickly in church after the Sacrament, and sometimes it takes more intention and time. An Examination of Conscience for Women {formbuilder:MTAwODU0} We at Blessed is She are happy to offer you an Examination of Conscience for Women. We use the Seven Deadly Sins as a framework to examine all the aspects of our lives. At the end, we reflect on what Heavenly Virtues we can seek to live out in place of the sins that keep us from Christ. What's your favorite grace of Confession?