It was just a few weeks into my pregnancy and my nervous self was concerned that I hadn’t yet started feeling pregnancy nausea. “How many weeks along was I when I first started feeling sick with my first?” I pondered and calculated. Just in time for my unhelpful and escalating worries, I received a relic of Saint Gerard from my mother-in-law. A relic she requested all the way from off the coast of Scotland by contacting the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer or “Transalpine Redemptorists.” These monks live on Golgotha Monastery Island and have a devotion to the Italian Saint Gerard. They send their prayers along to anyone who asks, along with a relic of Saint Gerard. Their website reads, “In this age, when the sanctity of life is attacked on all fronts, it is a privilege for the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer to provide the relic of Saint Gerard for any mother who requests one, or for whom one is requested.” The relics that they send are each touched to a First Class relic of Saint Gerard and made into a gold ribbon belt with a sewn on image of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour. The relic is also sent along with the prayers of these holy monks. Here is the story behind it. Patron of Expectant Mothers + Those Hoping to Conceive Born in April of 1726, Gerard is popular today in particular for his patronage over expectant mothers and those trying to conceive. His patronage may be due in part to his own poor health as an infant which persisted throughout his life. In fact, when he was older, two religious orders turned him away, claiming he was not strong enough. In time, he was accepted as a brother in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as The Redemptorists. A congregation founded just years earlier by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (patron of arthritis sufferers). Gerard was known for his long hours of praying before the Blessed Sacrament. This made him a welcome companion to his brother monks who often invited him to join them when they made house calls to the sick. One evening, as Gerard was heading home after spending some time with his friends, a young girl ran out of the house because he had left his handkerchief inside. He replied to her by simply saying, “Keep it. It will be useful to you someday.” Years after this incident, as the girl grew into a young woman, she kept this handkerchief in safe-keeping. A relic which provided her a miracle as she was delivering her first child. During labor, both her and her unborn baby were in grave danger of death. It was then that she recalled the gift from Gerard and asked that the handkerchief be given to her. After placing the fabric upon her body, the danger miraculously disappeared and she gave birth to a healthy baby. Miracles of Saint Gerard After this first miracle, the devotion to Saint Gerard couldn’t help but be promoted in his small Italian town. Eventually the handkerchief was passed on from mother to niece, and then on throughout the generations. Generously, pieces of the cloth were cut and distributed to be shared with other mothers in the area. It was not only mothers who popularized this devotion, but also the Founder of the Redemptorists himself after Saint Gerard died from tuberculosis at the age of twenty-nine. After his death Saint Alphonsus began distributing his portraits and relics, encouraging his fellow Redemptorists to do the same. When his tomb was opened up just over one-hundred years later, a sweet, fragrant oil could be seen pouring out of his bones. Later that year two doctors and Ecclesiastical Authorities were called in to both witness and research this miracle. They then dried the bones and put them in a white-silk lined box. Just a few hours later they opened the box, finding again, the same fragrant oil pouring out from Gerard’s relics and atop the white silk. This miracle continued, spreading to other monasteries where his relics were being kept. A Community of Saints If you are looking for more Saints to intercede for you in your own fertility and motherhood, check out this amazing list that comes along with a downloadable litany. And don’t forget your Blessed Mother! The month of October is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. She is just waiting to pray with you and for you! Who is your go-to Saint when it comes to pregnancy and motherhood?   [bctt tweet="Saint Gerard // Relics and Redemptorists #BISblog //" via="no"]

  If you’re like me, you may tend to keep the Rosary at a comfortable distance. For example, I have one inside my night stand, one inside the center console of my car, and one in my diaper bag. It’s always there if I want it. What I don’t do consistently is make the actual praying-of-the-Rosary a priority. Of course, a daily Rosary is not a requirement, it is a devotion. Yet every year, when the month of October rolls around (a month dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary), I am convicted that I need to again redouble my efforts and accept the invitation to intercede alongside my Blessed Mother. And here’s why. Devotion of the Rosary In Pope Leo XIII’s 1883 encyclical letter Supremi Apostolatus Officio, on the Devotion of the Rosary, he writes how it is a Catholic habit to run to Mary when in need. After all: it is her greatest pleasure to grant her help and comfort to those who seek her, it cannot be doubted that she would deign, and even be anxious, to receive the aspirations of the universal church. Thus, Pope Leo decreed the month of October to be consecrated to Our Lady of the Rosary, a month which also includes the Feast Of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th. So what is the history of this devotion in the Church, and why did Leo see to it that there was an entire month dedicated to this prayer? The Battle of Lepanto The origin of this feast day comes, believe it or not, from a 16th century battle in Italy. Pope Pius V had formed a Holy (or Catholic) League which included a number of Catholic states in Italy as well as Spain. At the time, the Turks of the Ottoman Empire were attempting to dominate all of Europe. On their way they killed millions of people while also imposing their Islamic religion upon anyone who survived. In order to protect Italy from invasion, The Holy League entered into battle with the Turks on October 7th of 1571. A battle taking place just East of Italy on one of the gulf shores in Greece. In anticipation of this fight, Pope Pius V had the churches of Rome opened both day and night, urging Catholics to pray the Rosary and ask the Blessed Mother to intercede. Despite being small in number compared to the Ottomans, they did have the advantage of not only more firepower, but also of much more powerful prayer. Just what they needed to achieve victory over the Turks, in what is known as the Battle of Lepanto. When the Pope heard of the Holy League’s victory he declared October 7th as the feast of Our Lady of Victory, later renamed by Pope Gregory XIII who changed it to the feast of the Holy Rosary.   Entering Into the Mystery If you do desire to commit to this prayer more regularly just ask the Blessed Mother to inspire you! We have a helpful step-by-step guide on How to Pray the Rosary and a study specifically on this Marian prayer: Mystery. The study is intended to run for five months with a focus on each of the mysteries of the Rosary: Sorrowful, Glorious, Luminous, and Joyful. Each of the four mysteries is studied over the course of five chapters, making it a total of twenty chapters and includes a reflection, as well as questions for reflection and discussion. W hat’s great about this study is that it can be done with just you and another girlfriend, or a huge group from your parish or community! And bonus, there is an Imprimatur from Bishop Thomas Olmsted with the Diocese of Phoenix! In the words of Bishop Olmsted, “When we pray the Rosary and spend time in the presence of Jesus and Mary, we grow in freedom from selfishness and become freer”. What is your favorite Marian prayer?   Join us over in our app for a live weekday Rosary at 11am ET!  Our new Blessed Is She Rosaries have arrived! Get yours here!  [bctt tweet="Our Lady's Greatest Pleasure #BISblog //" via="no"]

A few years ago, my husband and I approached our Pastor after Mass and asked him to give a blessing over the newly-formed baby growing within me. I was expecting a simple blessing, something like him making the Sign of the Cross over me and saying a couple of quick words. Instead, he brought us to the sacristy and pulled out the Book of Blessings. I didn’t expect him to pray over me with a prayer specifically written for mothers before childbirth. It moved me deeply. The Blessing of Expectant Mothers Before the blessing itself, the priest spoke of how Jesus Himself became human through the Blessed Mother’s womb. He then spoke a few words in preparation saying: The reason for the blessing of a mother-to-be is that she may await her hour of delivery in faith and hope, as the partner of God’s own love, may already cherish with her maternal love the child in her womb. Wow! Awaiting my “hour of delivery in faith and hope”! I did not realize how much I needed that prayer until I heard the words spoken over me. How frequently I fell into doubt and despair, fearing the worst for my child: miscarriage, infant loss, a high-risk pregnancy, etc. But here, in the early weeks of life growing inside of me, I was called out of the temptation to grasp in vain for a “control” that I could never truly attain. The Prayer of Blessing Then, the Prayer of Blessing was prayed over me: Lord God, Creator of the human race, your Son, through the working of the Holy Spirit, was born of a woman, so that he might pay the age-old debt of sin and save us by his redemption. Receive with kindness the prayer of your servant as she asks for the birth of a healthy child. Grant that she may safely deliver a son or a daughter to be numbered among your family, to serve you in all things, and to gain eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Centered on Salvation In the very first sentence, the life of the Trinity takes center stage, just as it does in our Baptism and in the words of the Apostles' Creed. As it reads in the Catechism, “The faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity...It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them.” It is so fitting that this blessing should include the transformative power of the Sacrament of Baptism, as well as be a reminder of how we are to live out our call baptismal call. Honoring a Mother's Heart Then in the second paragraph the prayer shifts its focus to the mother receiving the blessing, as well as her unborn child. It honors the desire of every mother’s heart: a healthy child, a safe delivery, and an eternal home among our family in Heaven. These desires may be simple, but I just love how the Church recognizes the very real and practical hope a mother has for her child’s health and safety. Yes, their eternal health and safety, but their earthly safety too! It’s not selfish to want things like an uncomplicated pregnancy, a smooth delivery, and prompt recovery. We may not always be granted these things, but the Church honors the very real and human concerns so present during this time. A Petition for Virtue and Strength The blessing ends with the concluding rite: May God, the source of all life, protect you by his goodness. May he deepen your faith, build up your hope, and constantly increase the gift of his love in you. At the hour of delivery may he be attentive to your prayers and strengthen you with his grace. and may almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These final lines repeat the sentiment of the preparatory words asking for deepened faith and rising hope. It then asks for the virtue which mothers need most, the virtue of charity. God’s grace is needed for a mother to hold within her a nurturing spirit and a heart of patience. I also love how this prayer asks specifically for help “at the hour of delivery.” In my own experience, this is the most unknown, intimidating, and vulnerable hour of the 6,720 hours of pregnancy! Praise God we have a prayer for it! Pregnant Mothers, Ask for This Blessing! If you are expecting and haven’t yet asked your Priest for a blessing over your pregnancy, I can’t encourage you enough to do so. For me, it was an experience both of strengthened faith and greater comfort in the maternal nature of our Church. A Church so ready and eager to pour out God’s grace, sometimes even when we don’t realize we even need it. Are you expecting a child? Have you ever received this blessing? For those struggling with infant loss and/or infertility, Blessed is She devotional writer Laura Kelly Fanucci has a beautiful resource. She has written beautiful prayers for pregnancy, including one specifically for couples trying to conceive. You are not alone in this cross you are carrying. I am praying for you!   [bctt tweet="The Church's Blessing Over Expectant Mothers #BISblog //" via="no"]

I was nineteen and it all happened very gradually. First I was noticing achy knees and feet, but thought it was due to all of the running I had been doing since the onset of summertime. Then I found myself struggling to walk up the stairs, but simply chalked it up to morning stiffness because of my early hours as a barista. But then it became hard to tie my shoes, and I had to take my time tying them when before it was an action which barely required much thought. It’s not a good sign when your body fails to recognize the difference between your healthy cells and those that are foreign. But this is exactly what happens when we talk about autoimmune disease, one of the most common being rheumatoid arthritis. This is a disease when one’s immune system attacks the healthy cells and tissues, thus causing inflammation and potentially organ damage. A disease in which it would be nice to have a special intercessor. Saint Alphonsus, Special Patron Perhaps you have heard of Saint Peregrine, the patron Saint of those suffering from cancer. Or maybe Saint Lidwina, the patron Saint of the chronically ill (she herself became paralyzed after gangrene set in after an ice-skating accident). But did you know that there is a patron Saint of arthritis sufferers, too? His name is Saint Alphonus Liguori, a former lawyer, bishop, moral theologian, and now a Doctor of the Church. He is also the Founder of the Redemptorists Order, an order whose charism is to serve the poor, both materially and spiritually. Sharing His Gifts As A Talented Lawyer Liguori was born near Naples, Italy in 1696, the first of seven children. His mother came from a family of nobility and his father was a captain in the Royal Navy. His parents' devotion to him and to his education landed him doctorates of civil and canon law from Naples university at the age of sixteen. This was four years earlier than normal! It was common for nobles to join the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy. He joined when he turned eighteen, serving with a compassionate heart as he took care of those in the hospital who were considered “incurable”, feeding them and washing their clothes. Even decades ago one couldn’t escape the pressure given by their parents, despite this pressure being given out of good will. Liguori’s father desired him to be a lawyer, and before he even reached the age of twenty he was considered to be one of the most talented lawyers in the city of Naples. It was believed that he had not lost a single case, until the one he lost right before he left the career. Despite his popularity and the praise he was so often given, it was not enough to satisfy him. He longed for something deeper. While he had been ministering to those in the hospital he heard a voice saying “Leave the world and give yourself to Me." This call gave him the courage to face the disappointment of his father when he resigned as a lawyer to enter the priesthood. He was ordained at twenty years old. The Redemptorist Mission There is no doubt that this man had passion. He was a man of zeal both when it came to the law, and as a priest. The poor were close to his heart, and he could not abandon them. Eight years into his vocation as a very popular priest and confessor, he knew he needed to leave his family and friends in order to give himself more fully to serving the poor. He found others to accompany him in this mission and thus began his founding of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists. A Redemptorist mission would bring together the congregation's priests and brothers to share the Gospel and minister to the spiritual needs in specific areas. They didn’t just preach a mission and depart. The priests and brothers lived together in the community where they were sent on mission. This allowed them to do their mission work in a way which showed the people the true love of God. A love which does not leave or forsake. When Alphonsus came to speak, the people would follow him to the neighboring churches and towns where he preached. He had a way of connecting with the poor and uneducated and he served them tirelessly. In addition to his life immersed with the poor, he also wrote over one hundred books. One of his most popular books is titled Visits to the Blessed Sacrament. This book is a thirty-one day to day guide to meeting with the Lord throughout the course of a month. Each day Liguori offers a meditation and a prayer to Jesus, but he does not neglect our Mother, including a prayer to the Blessed Mother to conclude each Eucharistic visit. He always encouraged prayer, writing, “If you pray, your salvation will be secure.” A Companion for those Suffering Alphonsus didn’t fail to serve the sick and the suffering, but even he too could be considered in those very categories. Later in his life he suffered from the pain of arthritis which eventually necessitated the use of a wheelchair as well as a permanently crooked neck. An experience which now makes him a patron for those struggling with the same afflictions. In addition, he struggled with scrupulosity, a kind of “crippling conscience”. In his times of hardship he would gather with his friends to pray, often to Our Lady, the one whom he wanted by his side on the day he would die. The night before he died, he asked for Our Lady and asked for her intercession throughout the night, holding her image in his hands. He died at the age of ninety one on August 1st, during the ringing of the noon Angelus bell. He would be canonized a Saint just fifty-two years later in 1839. Any other arthritis sufferers out there? We have this incredible Saint praying for us!   [bctt tweet="Saint Alphonsus Liguori + Rheumatoid Arthritis #BISblog //" via="no"]

Imagine having to learn Scripture, not through paging through the pages of your Bible, but by walking into your church and viewing its artwork. The Legend of St. Joachim, Meeting at the Golden Gate is a fresco painted by one of Italy’s most remarkable painters of the 14th century, Giotto di Bondone. Giotto is known for his beautiful panel paintings done by Fresco. During the 1300s, most of Europe was unable to read, nor did they have easy access to the Bible which at the time, was written by hand. Giotto’s artwork served as illustrations for Scripture, a visual aid for people to understand and enter into the Bible’s stories. The Legend of the Golden Gate This illustration by Giotto shows the story of Saints Joachim and Anne. The legend goes that while Joachim was traveling, an angel appeared to him, telling him to meet his wife Anne at the golden gate in Jerusalem. The angel brought Joachim an answer to his prayers and told him that his wife had conceived. The same angel then gave this message to Anne and departed from her. They then joyously met one another at the gate, embracing and kissing one another. While what we know about these two Saints is passed on through tradition and legend, it is believed that they suffered the cross of infertility for years before they conceived their daughter Mary. Through their patience and faith, we can turn to these two Saints when we are striving to live more fully in the present moment and trust in God’s plan. The Home of Saints Joachim and Anne Upon entering the Old City of Jerusalem there is a Romanesque church which can be found just inside the Muslim Quarter. This is the site of the beautiful and well-maintained Crusader Church of Saint Anne. The church is known for its spectacular acoustics that resound off the austere stone walls, making one quiet voice amplified as it bounces off every crevice. Below the church is where historians believe that Jesus’ grandparents lived and where Mary grew up. As you walk into the church there are stone steps which lead down to the crypt chapel. While today it looks like a cave, this is where you can see the remnants of Saints Joachim and Anne’s home. Just a few steps away from Saint Anne’s you will find the Pools of Bethesda. This is the spot where Jesus healed the paralytic in the Gospel of John, telling him to rise up and walk. The home where Mary grew up is also near the start of the Via Dolorosa, or Stations of the Cross. This paralytic was asked to take up his mat and walk while Jesus was asked to take up the cross and walk. A walk which would lead to the healing and transformation of all of us who are paralyzed by sin. Teaching Virtue Today the Church of Saint Anne is entrusted to The White Fathers who carry with them the mission of passing on the Faith through evangelization and education. The White Fathers are continuing the same task of Jesus’ grandparents. Mary’s parents raised their daughter with a solid formation and reading of Scripture. They provided her with a faith she could pass on to her own Son. We must not forget the important role that Mary’s parents had in her upbringing. Even Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has addressed the significance and value of the family and the role that grandparents play. He said: Thinking of grandparents, of their testimony of love and fidelity to life, reminds us of the Biblical figures of Abraham and Sarah, of Elizabeth and Zechariah, of Joachim and Anne, as well as of the elderly Simeon and Anna and even Nicodemus: they all remind us that at every age the Lord asks each one for the contribution of his or her own talents. Again, we can call on the intercession of Saints Joachim and Anne to help us rise up to the occasion of sharing the Good News of the Gospel. A “Catholic” Grandparents Day One of the great joys of our Catholic Faith is celebrating the great faith of the Saints who intercede for us from Heaven today. Here are a few ideas inspired by teachingcatholickids.com for celebrating the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. You can participate in these activities whether you are single, married, or have children. If your grandparents live nearby, invite them over for a meal and go for a walk outside afterwards. If you live too far away from your grandparents to join them for a meal, give them a call or send them a card, thanking them for the gift that they have been in your life. Are you looking for some wise counsel? Consider asking them some of your own life questions. Reach out to an elderly neighbor or visit them in a nursing home. If you have children, have them design cards which they can bring along as gifts. Another fun activity you can do with children is to color this Saints Joachim and Anne coloring page and send it to grandparents. Finally, pray for your grandparents. Here is a beautiful prayer written by Pope Benedict XVI. I included a part of it below! A Prayer for Grandparents Lord Jesus, you were born of the Virgin Mary, the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne. Look with love on grandparents the world over. Protect them! They are a source of enrichment for families, for the Church and for all of society. Support them! As they grow older, may they continue to be for their families strong pillars of Gospel faith, guardians of noble domestic ideals, living treasuries of sound religious traditions. Make them teachers of wisdom and courage, that they may pass on to future generations the fruits of their mature human and spiritual experience. Amen.   How will you celebrate the lives of Saints Joachim and Anne? What intentions do you want them to intercede for on your behalf? Entrust your heart to the parents who helped to form the Mother of God.   [bctt tweet="Meeting at the Golden Gate // Saints Joachim and Anne #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. I felt like a drooping daisy waiting for the sunshine to bring its petals back to life again. It might have been a sunny morning as I walked out the doors after Mass, but my mood was sullen. The night before, I was catching up with a friend over drinks when someone slid into our booth. The young man spent the rest of our time there trying to get my friend’s number. What had started as a light-hearted night out turned into an evening where I felt like the third wheel. Normally, I might have been able to let something like this slide right off my back. Yet I was already in a vulnerable place of feeling single and lonely. So rather than be excited that my friend had caught someone’s eye, or even enjoy the humor of it all, I turned inward. Like a daisy at night, I looked down to the world to tell me who I was. If I had kept Jesus’ gaze, my heart would have held steady and firm like the woman of worth in the book of Proverbs (see Proverbs 31). A woman who was clothed with dignity and strength, laughing at the days to come because she had hope and confidence that her future would be full of joy. In moments of hurt or despair, I have a variety of reactions. The first is usually to tell God that I don’t know why He is letting me go through what I am going through. The second is to plead with Him that my suffering is just a page—or maybe a short chapter—in my story. Then I wait, and I look for Holy Spirit moments. My dad always prayed for “Divine Appointments”, which has become a habit of prayer which I have taken on, and an exciting one at that! My Divine Appointment came on that droopy-daisy morning. On most mornings after Mass, I would walk out around the same time as a very polished and well-dressed elderly man. As he opened up his car door to drive home, I passed him on the sidewalk on my walk to work. He typically sat a few pews in front of me, and I always admired his deeply peaceful demeanor. I decided that morning would be the day that I would finally introduce myself. From that moment on, my morning commute would never be the same. I know that the Holy Spirit placed him in my life. On the day we first met, he spoke the words of affirmation that my soul so longed to hear. He continued to be an invaluable source of encouragement to me as we chatted each morning, and there is no doubt that he challenged me to grow more deeply in my friendship and commitment to the Lord. When he learned of my job, he gave me a book of the Saints trying to find the patron in my field, and telling me about Saint Susanna. On the days it rained, he lent me his umbrella. He made a point to make sure I could see the hierarchy of angels in the Cathedral cupola by offering me his binoculars. What may have been most meaningful, though, is when he invited me to join him in a nine-month first Friday Mass novena, because in His words, “I want to do it before it’s too late.” He made sure I never missed. Today, I look back on our novena and I am ever so grateful that we were able to share those graces together. It has been over a year since he passed away, but his legacy lives on. I met his family at his funeral, and one of his children invited me to talk over a cup of coffee. It was there that she shared with me more about this dear man’s life, and gifted me with the crucifix that hung in his coffin during the visitation, along with some of his old Rosaries and favorite books. Today, that crucifix hangs in our home and his books are safely kept along with his handwritten notes inside of them. This man was like a grandfather to me, and through God’s grace He allowed me to know him even more deeply after his death. After my friend passed away, I feared there would never again be anyone like him in my life. It is true, there will never be anyone just like him, but I pray that the Lord will allow me to be a blessing for someone, just like he was a blessing to me. In the meantime, I continue to pray for Divine appointments while keeping my eyes wide open for how His grace will be revealed. How has the Holy Spirit intervened in your life? 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 // Finding an Unlikely Friend #BISblog //" via="no"]

Marguerite Bays was born to a farming family in Switzerland in 1815, the second of seven children. She grew up helping her parents with household chores and gardening. In her teen years, she gained a life-long skill as an apprentice seamstress, a talent she would pour out for others when she sewed clothing for the poor. Prayer, Play, and Petition Marguerite devoted her time to getting to know the Lord through daily Mass, the Rosary, and Eucharistic Adoration. While she savored these moments with Him, she never forgot to invite others to come alongside her in worship. In her spare time, she worked in the parish teaching children the catechism, visiting the sick, and caring for the poor. The children she taught referred to her as “Godmother”. She was a woman who incorporated not only prayer into her life, but also play. She brought the gift of her presence and a listening ear to the anxious and burdened housewives she visited. When these mothers had loved ones who were sick and dying, they turned to Marguerite to unite them in prayer. Her compassion for others and desire to serve and care for the human person eventually led her to a vocation of chastity as a member of the Franciscan Third Order (Secular Franciscan Order). Holiness in the Home Many people questioned Marguerite’s decision to stay in the home rather than enter religious life within a convent. But she felt that her call to holiness was to be present to her family right where she was. In time, they would all return home and need her. Her older brother’s wife, Josette, was a woman with a quick tongue and a distaste for Marguerite. Josette would ridicule her for her devoted life of prayer. Despite the humiliation it caused Marguerite, she did not complain, but instead persevered in patience and in prayer. Eventually, at the end of Josette’s life, the only person she wanted by her side was her sister-in-law. Marguerite would also care for her sister Mariette who returned home after a failed marriage. Her brother, Joseph, a bachelor, lived a dangerous life which ended up serving him a prison sentence. When he was released, Marguerite cared for him too. Then there is Claude, her older brother, who had a child before marriage. Marguerite took responsibility for her nephew Francois, and made sure that he was raised with a proper education. Through her witness of love and mercy, her siblings would each turn back to Christ. Suffering in Silence At the age of thirty-eight, Marguerite started feeling sharp stomach pains, nausea, and dizziness. While she tried to hide her illness, her family noticed her body weakening and finally had her see a doctor. She was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. Surgery provided no help nor relief. She began to implore Our Lady asking for healing and to help her understand her suffering. The next year, the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed by Pope Pius XI, and her prayer was answered. Bedridden and in pain she placed a medal of the Immaculate Conception to her pain and immediately she was healed and able to walk about her house. When her family found her on their way home from Mass they found her praying the Rosary in her room. She was known to say to others in their suffering, “pray the Rosary, you will see that all will then be better." Shortly after her healing, Jesus gave Marguerite a new opportunity to suffer for souls. To suffer as He did on the Cross. She was given the stigmata (the wounds Jesus had on His hands, feet, and chest). These wounds would burn in red blotches on her skin. She suffered especially on Fridays and Good Friday, united to Jesus on the Cross through her wounds. Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows and The Sacred Heart As she neared her death, Marguerite would kiss her crucifix and pray as she looked at the image of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. She often said, “Honor Our Lady of Seven Sorrows. We will never realize how much She suffered for us." Marguerite prayed to die “in the wound of Thy Sacred Heart”. After twenty-five years of increasing pain, she died on June 27, 1879, the last day of the octave of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She is buried in the cemetery of the parish church of Siviriez which now holds a chapel in her name as well as her relics. Her tombstone reads: She lived doing good. Her memory will remain blessed. Venerated sister, dear and tender Godmother, do not forget those that you have left on this earth. She was proclaimed a Blessed by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1995 and canonized by Pope Francis on Sunday, October 13, 2019. During her canonization Mass, Pope Francis spoke of her saying, “She speaks to us of the power of simple prayer, enduring patience and silent self-giving ... Such is the holiness of daily life ... Let us ask to be like this, ‘soft lights’ in the darkness of the world”. What darkness do you see in the world? Where is the Lord asking you to be a light to shine into it?   [bctt tweet="Saint Marguerite Bays // From Seamstress to “Godmother” #BISblog //" via="no"]

White sand beaches, towering sea cliffs, coral reefs, and vacation destination. This might be how some would describe Molokai, Hawaii’s fifth largest island. But one-hundred and fifty years ago, it was a place that Saint Damien would speak of as a “special Calvary”. Saint Damien’s Heart for Missions Joseph De Vuester was born in Belgium in 1840. Nineteen years later he followed in the footsteps of his older brother, August, joining the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Upon entering, he took the name Damien. His heart’s desire was to serve in the missions and he prayed daily, asking for the intercession of St. Francis Xavier (patron of the missions). It wasn’t long before his prayer was answered, but perhaps not in the way that he expected. His older brother had been asked to serve in Hawaii, but was prevented from traveling after becoming ill with typhus. Damien received permission to accept the mission post on his brother’s behalf. He arrived in Honolulu in March of 1864 and was ordained a priest just two months later. The Untouchables In the mid 1800’s, leprosy had become a pandemic in Hawaii and there was no known treatment or cure. Those who were afflicted were banned from all social contact. Consequently, those who contracted leprosy were seen as rejects and untouchables. In fear, the people pleaded with their king to do something about it. His response was to pass the “Act to Prevent the Spread of Leprosy”. This act segregated the healthy from the lepers by deporting all those infected to a settlement called Kalawao on the Island of Molokai. Here the lepers were left to die. Damien’s mission had concerns that the lepers on Molokai would die without the spiritual aid and comfort of the church. While the Bishop wanted to send help, he did not want to order that any priests be sent to Molokai, because he knew it would mean almost certain death. Despite the serious risk, Damien and three other brothers volunteered to go, with Damien being the first to leave on May 10th, 1873. Life With the Lepers While the Bishop had organized these four volunteers to serve the lepers in three-month rotations, when Damien saw nearly a thousand lepers upon his arrival and more arriving by the boatload, he decided to stay there indefinitely. His Bishop honored his request to dedicate the rest of his life for the lepers. Damien was no stranger to manual labor. He threw himself into any need that he saw. He did not shy away from cleaning wounds or amputating infected limbs. He also built houses, built a water pipeline, and buried the dead with a dignified burial. It is believed that he built over sixteen hundred coffins. While he cared for the physically sick, he did not forget about their spirit. As their loving and thoughtful spiritual father, he was known to celebrate feast days by putting on processions with music to accompany them. A Friend and Foe When we hear stories of heroic Saints, we often assume they must have been universally loved during their lives. However, at least in Saint Damien’s case, there were plenty of people who found something to complain about. He was well loved by those that he served, but could be short with others when they ignored his requests for more supplies. What caused most of the hatred towards Damien was the fame and recognition he was receiving for his selflessness and service to the lepers. His work was recognized internationally, causing jealousy among other mission groups and even the Board of Health, who made fun of him for it. Even priests grew in jealousy of Damien as his popularity grew. But Damien would not allow humiliation to slow him down. A Legacy Left Damien was indeed willing to die among the lepers, but not to throw caution to the wind. He took safety precautions to do what he could in order to prevent contracting the disease, knowing that the longer he stayed healthy, the longer he could best serve and love the sick. His diligence protected him for eleven years, until he did finally contract leprosy. During his illness he wrote to his bishops, telling them that the more advanced his disease became, the more he found himself content and happy. He credited this to the grace he received on the day of his vows. Through the five years he would suffer with leprosy, his face was disfigured, his lungs became infected, and his hands and feet were covered with sores. Eventually the disease took his life at the age of forty-nine. He died on April 15th, 1889 and was buried under the same tree that he had slept beneath when he first arrived on Molokai. Today, his legacy lives on. Honored in Our Nation’s Capitol He is honored not only by the Church, but also as one of two Saints represented in the National Statuary Hall of the Capitol in Washington D.C. (the other being Saint Junipero Serra). The artist chosen for this important commission was Marisol Escobar, a woman known for her abstract and surrealist art. She designed the piece from a photo of Damien as he was suffering from leprosy. While the statue isn’t pretty, neither is the disease. Marisole herself admitted that her stout looking statue was ugly, for she chiseled Damien’s face with scars, carved his hands weathered, and showed his work shoes as clunky and heavy. But there he stands, steadfastly holding on to his guava cane which he made himself, bearing with grace the special cross that Jesus allowed him to carry. Our Opportunities to Sacrifice During Damien’s beatification homily, Pope Saint John Paul II recognizes Damien’s exceptional virtue in choosing to live life with the lepers. John Paul II challenges all of us to love selflessly as well, saying: In your daily life, you are called to make choices that ‘occasionally demand uncommon sacrifices.’ This is the price of true happiness. We are not lacking in opportunity. There are the homeless at the busy intersection, the elderly in the nursing homes, the vulnerable unborn, and the friend or family member who is hard to forgive. What uncommon sacrifice is the Lord calling you to make? How is he asking you to restore another’s dignity and value?   [bctt tweet="Saint Damien of Molokai // His Heart for Missions #BISblog //" via="no"]

Welcome to our Blessed Chats series! Each month, we will dedicate an entire week of blog posts to a topic that affects many of us. These conversations often come up in our Facebook groups and in our real life friendships. We want to share a variety of perspectives on the topic at hand, so we've asked women to share their stories and how the teachings of the Church have guided and comforted them. In this series, we are talking about vocational discernment. We'd love for you to join the conversation! Meet my husband at twenty, get married at twenty-one, and have our first child at twenty-two. That was my original “discernment” plan. However, while I had gone on a few dates with some really wonderful men throughout my college years, I was nowhere near getting married to any of them. But what God had given me was a wonderful community. I was majoring in Catholic Studies, and many of my friends and classmates were seminarians and women discerning religious life. Being immersed in such a community made me wonder if maybe I should give God more of a chance to tug on my heart. I felt like if I was really uncertain of my vocation, I had to give religious life a fair shot. Discerning Religious Life During my Junior and Senior year of college, I researched various religious orders and found charisms which I thought aligned with my interests and desires and I went on two “come and see” discernment retreats. During these retreats young women have the awesome opportunity and privilege to get a glimpse of a day-in-the-life of a religious sister while also getting to know other women discerning the same call. During my second discernment retreat I remember praying in Adoration late into the night, after everyone else had left the chapel. I was begging Jesus to just give me a sign if He wanted me to be a Sister. I truly felt like my heart was open to it... but no sign came. The Role of Spiritual Direction in My Discernment Throughout my years of discernment, I spoke regularly with my spiritual director. I remember at one point I was talking with him and I was really frustrated about not knowing what my “big V” Vocation was. Then, after a pause, he gently and slowly asked me a very simple question. “Has Jesus ever proposed to you?” When he asked, I realized that the answer was no. While I had experienced many moments of intimacy with the Lord, accompanied with outpourings of grace and consolation, what I had not received was a marriage proposal. Jesus was indeed my dear Friend, but He did not romance my heart in the same way as He would if He were asking me to be His bride. Initially I was a bit saddened that He hadn’t chosen me in that way, but quickly, through my answer of my spiritual director's question, my heart opened to a new sense of freedom. While suddenly I had gained a greater confidence that I was not called to religious life, what followed was not a sudden boyfriend and engagement. Over the course of the next several years I dated a few different men. One of those men even ended up becoming my husband, but not in the way you’d expect. WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Meeting My Husband... Sort Of During my Junior year of college I had a group of tight-knit friends, and after studying abroad for a semester, I returned to find that one of my best friends’ older brothers had joined our group. I’ll admit, I was a little protective over my friends and was hesitant when they wanted to invite him to our get-togethers. Despite all of my efforts to avoid and exclude him, he eventually became my friend, too. It helped that we often ended up carpooling back to our home-state for the holidays, a drive of several hours. Towards the end of one of those drives, my heart started pounding. The car ride home had been filled with laughter, and I had a pretty good feeling he was about to ask me out. I was nervous, but also eager to say yes. Our first date was incredibly intentional, and I had a great time! But after a second date, I called it off and gave him the classic line, “I’d love to continue a friendship with you, but nothing more.” I greatly enjoyed his company, but I just wasn’t sure I wanted to move from a good friendship to a romantic relationship. More Closeness Instead of what usually happens when a couple says “let’s just be friends”, after a short period where we didn’t see much of each other, our friendship actually deepened. After we ended things, each of us had put the other in the “no” box and our walls came down. We saw each other often, as we had the same close mutual friends. In time, my friends said that it looked like I was interested in him. I chalked it up to us just knowing each other really well. But two years after our first date, my heart was again pounding in hopeful anticipation when he asked me out a second time. Once again, our second first date did not disappoint! Nor did the ones to follow. He thoughtfully and creatively planned dates that had the butterflies in my stomach fluttering like crazy. Which might make you wonder why, after four months, I called it off. While our relationship was strong, my problem was falling into comparison and putting too much pressure on myself. Four months into our relationship I hadn’t been hit with the proverbial “ton of bricks” yet, and I just wasn’t sure we were meant to be married. Even though there is no rule that says you have to know after four months, that pressure felt real, and I ended up breaking things off again. Discovering What I Really Wanted While I thought I had made the right decision in breaking things off, my feelings quickly told me otherwise. You know the feeling in the pit of your stomach when you’re homesick? He lived only two miles away from me, but I felt like he was two countries away. It was hard for me to think of anything else but being in his presence. Two weeks later we were dating again, and this time I knew just where I hoped it would lead. Breaking up with him helped me to see what I was unable to at first. During our time apart I realized how much I desired to rely on him. I learned that although I could be self-sufficient and independent, he made me better. Not only did I feel safe and secure in his presence, but in it I was also encouraged to challenge myself to make my goals a reality. One of the most telling things for me during our two week breakup was that I couldn’t imagine being with anybody else, and I certainly didn’t want to imagine him with anybody else. I wanted to be the one to pack his lunches, be the one he came home to at the end of the day, and for him to be the father to my future children. Our Vocation is Love Now today, you won’t find me packing his lunches (and he often gives me a hard time about that when I tell this story!). But you will find my daughter and I eagerly awaiting his arrival home from work, watching for him from the front yard. My wanting “nothing more than a friendship” turned into marrying the man who is more to me than I knew I needed, and has taught me how to live out the vocation that Saint Therese of Lisieux reminds us that we are all called to, no matter our state in life. Our vocation is to love.     We want to hear YOUR story. Please share in the comments below! And if you want more help with finding your own story, our popular Write + Pray course offers 9 topics, nearly an hour of guided video, and almost 50 Scripture verses and questions for you featuring Managing Editor Nell O'Leary. Find your story today.   [bctt tweet="Blessed Chats: Vocational Discernment // Surprises #BISblog #blessedchats //" via="no"]

Growing up, I treated Holy Saturday as an early start to Easter. It may not have been the actual celebration of Easter, but I breathed a sigh of relief for making it through the sorrow and fasting of Good Friday and looked towards the rejoicing we would do after Easter Vigil. Now, looking back, I realize that my understanding and reverence of Holy Saturday was lacking as a child. I did not embrace it as a day of watching and praying for the coming of our Lord, and I would not until I read the words of a Lenten audience by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. “Walking Toward Easter” In this audience he spoke of the sorrow that fills Good Friday, but also of its reminder that, through the Cross, Christ brings us victory and hope. A hope which is nourished through the silence of Holy Saturday, our expectation rising in anticipation of Jesus’ rising from the dead. On this day when decorations are taken down from our churches and no special liturgies are held, we have the opportunity to keep vigil with Mary. In sorrow, yes, but also in trust and hope of His Resurrection. The words that reoriented my Holy Saturday were Benedict’s words: It is rightly recommended that a prayerful atmosphere be preserved throughout the day, favorable for meditation and reconciliation...The recollection and silence of Holy Saturday will usher us into the night of the solemn Easter Vigil, ‘mother of all vigils’, when the hymn of joy in Christ’s resurrection will burst forth in all the churches and communities...Thus we shall enter into the atmosphere of Easter. Through an intense living of the Holy Triduum, we open ourselves up to a much deeper experience of its grace. After reading Benedict's words, I regretted looking past so many unique and beautiful opportunities all the previous Holy Saturdays offered me. From then on, I wanted to walk through Holy Saturday with Mary. I wanted to use the day to be more mindful of Benedict’s words, that “We are still awaiting Easter; we are not still standing in the full light, but walking toward it in full trust.” Something we are called to not only on Holy Saturday, but everyday. “Light, Water, and the Alleluia” Benedict speaks of the three symbols during Easter Vigil: light, water, and the Alleluia. Through Jesus’ Resurrection, He brings light to the darkness. “God said: Let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday is the day in which we get to experience this transformation from darkness to light. As candle by candle, the Church is brightened with the glow of soft flames flickering in the air. Little lights that were sparked from the Paschal candle, and that together, make the entire Church aglow. A light that we as Church are called to carry out into the world. The second symbol is water, which holds two meanings. It represents the purification we receive through the water of Baptism as we are reborn and made new in Christ. It not only symbolizes our new birth, but also the graces we receive through the Sacrament to be a living water for others. We are called, as Benedict says, “always to be sources of pure, fresh water, bubbling up from the fountain of his truth and love”! The third and final symbol that Benedict speaks of is the alleluia. A word which we will sing out with joy on Easter’s arrival. “Speech is no longer adequate. He has to sing.” A song which is meant to be shared with all those around us and kept not only to ourselves. The first place that we hear about people singing in the Bible comes after the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, as they passed through slavery to freedom. We repeat their song of praise during the Easter Vigil liturgy, “I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea” (Exodus 15:1). Living in Hope Holy Saturday is a time of being in between great darkness and beautiful light. As Claire Dwyer writes in This Present Paradise, darkness in the spiritual life is like “spending Holy Saturday in a tomb with a hidden Christ who is breaking thousands of years of bondage.” Yet through our baptism, death has been stripped away and we are set free. Christ lives within us. As Benedict says, “the great explosion of the Resurrection has seized us in Baptism so as to draw us on.” If we receive the grace given to us and allow ourselves to be directed by the Holy Spirit, all that we do can take part in transforming the world to a place secure in the warmth of His love. With this confidence, we have a hope we can live in. What has Jesus set you free of this pat Lent? What is He drawing you on to in the coming Easter season?   [bctt tweet="Holy Saturday // Recollection, Silence, and Hope #BISblog #holysaturday //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

#selfcare. It’s what we might say when we buy the large mocha with an extra shot of espresso or impulsively buy the dress in the store window. Or if you’re like me, you’ve attempted to squeeze in self-care by watching a movie on the couch while simultaneously using your laptop, or by listening to an audiobook as you’re scrubbing the floor. Both are great forms of multi-tasking, but none of these examples actually achieve authentic care of self. #Selfcare Vs: #Treatyourself Oftentimes the culture seems to paint self-care as self-indulgence. Speaking from experience, certain indulgences like a new item of clothing and having a fancy espresso in hand can put a pep in my step. Yet these purchases are not a means of deeply caring for my body, mind, and soul. Multi-tasking while doing something I enjoy doesn’t fit the bill, either. While he may not have used the term selfcare, St. Paul of the Cross offers us guidance saying, “Refresh your mind with some innocent recreation and needful rest,” even “if it were only to saunter through the garden or the fields.” Of course, in the wintertime there are rarely any gardens or wildflower fields to be found, and maybe that wouldn’t be your form of renewal anyway, and that’s where we have to do a little work. True self-care requires self-discipline, we have to discover what caring for ourselves actually looks like. So while I became more aware of my tendency to do multiple things at once, I decided I wanted to correct my bad habit. Ways to Care for Yourself Here is how I am trying to take better care of my body, mind, and soul this year. Making A Priority While I am not one to make New Year’s Resolutions, I was noticing how I was longingly looking at books placed all over my house that I have been wanting to read for quite some time. The thought came to me to try to find audiobook versions so that I could get through the books more quickly. But relaxation and rejuvenation didn’t come to mind when I recalled the last time I cleaned the house while trying to keep my headphones in my ears. As my stack of books around the house started growing, I decided to do something that would provide me the time to actually sit down and savor them. In order for that to happen I had to make reading a priority. I decided to commit to reading for thirty minutes each day. This took self-discipline. I had to pause the washing of the dishes, or opt to sit down instead of jump on the elliptical, but once I got into the habit of doing it, it became a half hour that I protected and anticipated. Before long, I had finished the book on my nightstand, read through my spiritual reading book and the one lent to me from a friend. I already love reading, but once I saw how fast I could go through books when I actually read them, it became even more addictive. What is Your Form of Self-Care? Self-care can take on a variety of forms. Maybe your refreshment comes from something more along the lines of what Saint Thomas Aquinas says about sorrow being “alleviated by good sleep, a bath, and a glass of wine.” Or maybe it’s closing your eyes and listening to a relaxing playlist (I highly recommend Debussy’s Clair de Lune). Journaling or Letter Writing How often do we put pen to paper these days? When we want to add bread or milk to our grocery list we don’t even need to touch our screen, we can simply ask Siri. But there is something therapeutic in actual handwriting. Huffpost wrote that handwriting can help with memory retention, speeds up physical healing, promotes positivity, and improves overall quality of life. In fact, a study done by the University of California showed that those who keep a nightly gratitude journal were found to have better overall rest! Cooking Cooking is an art form! I do not claim to be a seasoned chef, but I have a growing love and appreciation for it. From intentional meal planning to pulling out a tender filet of salmon from the oven, I think there can be a sense of calm and joy throughout the process. Especially with bread baking! Oh the sweet satisfaction of watching a kneaded ball of dough transform into a beautifully braided and glossy Challah. Plus, there's the added stress-reliever of punching the dough and kneading it down. Watercoloring The subtlety of watercolors have the ability to make a wanting blank piece of paper into a masterpiece. I have several friends who are soothed through the peaceful process of this art form, one which can be savored in silence or accompanied with music or an audio book. I recently received the gift of watercolor pencils and have found calm through the soft blending of water and color and experimenting with different designs. Going For a Walk It is not news that exercise pumps up endorphins, leaving you with a spring in your step. That being said, I am writing from the Midwest where it is currently -2 degrees outside. It’s not exactly a good day for walking, and to be honest, cold weather isn’t easy for me. But come weather in the twenties and thirties, you’ll find me mustering up the courage to brave the chill, because I know it is always worth it. My daughter and I will bundle up and overcome the snowy hurdles as we change up our scenery from our four walls to the rolling hills and ponds of our neighborhood trails. Every walk we go on, I return home with the good feeling of blood pumping through my veins and renewed energy. God’s Goodness With the changing of the season comes a fresh and exciting opportunity to change up our rhythm of life and incorporate more rest and leisure. With leisure comes wonder, contemplation, and a greater appreciation for the goodness of God's creation. As author Josef Pieper wrote: When we really let our minds rest contemplatively on a rose in bud, on a child at play, on a divine mystery, we are rested and quickened as though by a dreamless sleep. How will you care for yourself today?   [bctt tweet="Finding Ways to Care for Yourself (Ideas Beyond Self-Care) #BISblog //" via="no"]

Welcome to our Blessed Chats series! Each month, we will dedicate an entire week of blog posts to a topic that affects many of us. These conversations often come up in our Facebook groups and in our real life friendships. We want to share a variety of perspectives on the topic at hand, so we've asked women to share their stories and how the teachings of the Church have guided and comforted them. In this series, we're talking about college. We'd love for you to join the conversation! It was the night before I was about to move from home and away from my parents, friends, and family. As I laid in bed I had a pit in my stomach. What was I thinking? Sure, the summer had been exciting and full of hope as I anticipated the new adventure of transferring to a school a state away. Yet in the twelve hours before that move was to be made, I could feel doubt and fear rising up within me. I loved my life. I grew up in a loud and joy-filled home with my parents and six siblings. We lived within walking distance of our cousins and were part of a large community of families who lived life together ever since I was a baby. Now here I was about to say goodbye to it all. I was afraid that all I had held on to so tightly would slip right through my fingers. When You're Moving Away from Home for College In my moment of fear, I was forgetting God’s provision. You can’t look forward when you are looking back. I was forgetting that He had opened the doors for me to enter into a new chapter of my life, a part of my story that He desired for me. While slightly nervous, I was determined to embrace this path that I knew the Lord had set me on. So, from one who was very prone to home-sickness, here is what helped me to find community, purpose, and joy when I transferred schools my Junior year of college. Stay in touch with family. Moving away from home doesn’t mean you check out of your family and friends’ lives. I recommend calling regularly, but in moderation. Having a specific day of the week to call home can give you something to look forward to and be a helpful benchmark. The moderation part is key because it can be tempting to call too often when we feel a pang of homesickness. But when it feels challenging, it is really important to invest in the people around you whether this be a friend you’ve just met or housemates. Allow them to bring you comfort. If you only share your heart with your loved ones back home, it will prove extremely difficult to form relationships. Early on, it was hard for me to call my parents and I would get choked up. But maintaining that connection with them outweighed the ache. In time, that ache subsided. Don’t go home for six weeks. This was the advice one of my old friends received from her mom when she moved to a different state for school. Her mom’s point was that if you come home every weekend because you are home-sick or afraid of missing out on something, you are holding yourself back from developing connection and community where you are. When I moved away I chose to embrace this idea, and it was really rewarding. To help distract myself from breaking this commitment, I spent those first six weeks pouring into on-campus activities, learning about groups and clubs to sign up for, and saying yes to coffee, lunch, and dinner invitations. That’s where my next tip comes in. Be brave. Join a Bible study, extracurricular, or intramural sport. My housemate invited me to join the Bible study she was leading on campus. I looked forward to these weekday evenings when my friend and I would walk to the dorm where our study was held to talk Scripture for a couple of hours. It was at one of these Bible studies that I met one of my dearest friends. I participated in the Students for Human Life group that was on campus and got to know my classmates better by spending time with them at our meetings and events. Committing to the same group of people for a consistent period of time is one of the best things you can do to meet people and build friendships. For those of you who are more athletically inclined (not me), intramural sports can also be a great way to meet people. Be gentle with yourself and rest. It was the weekend two or three weeks after having moved and I was exhausted. I called my dad to vent. “All I want to do is stay home and not do anything,” I said to him. I had been pouring myself into so many different events and introducing myself to so many people, but I still felt guilty for wanting to stay home on a weekend. Thankfully, he offered me the wisdom I needed and let me know it was okay and important to take a night off from social activities. That was a turning point for me! My dad’s advice to be gentle with myself helped keep me from getting burned out from over committing and re-energized me for the coming week. WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Be intentional with your roommates. When I transferred my Junior year, I moved into a house a few blocks off campus with three girls who I barely knew. Thankfully, each of them were wonderful and warmly welcomed me into their lives, introducing me to their friends and inviting me to join them at the fair, movies, or out to eat. The key to keeping our house running smoothly was our weekly house dinners. Each week we would rotate who was cooking. On the weeks when we skipped a house-dinner, I could feel tensions rising. The space between our shared meals created space for misunderstanding. I would convince myself that one of my roommates was upset with me, even if we hadn’t had any disagreements. Then, when we would all sit down again for dinner, we all caught up like normal and I would realize that my anxious feelings were due to the fact that I hadn’t been intentionally communicating. Make a budget for restaurants and entertainment. Looking back on my college experience, I wish I had been slightly less frugal. That might sound crazy, but I was very focused on making my dollar stretch and paying off student loans as quickly as possible. Financial responsibility is incredibly important and I don’t want to make light of saving, but it is good to set aside at least a small amount of money to have fun, too! There were many evenings where I would decline invitations out to dinner with friends, or forego going to a movie on opening night. Sometimes these decisions needed to be made, and sometimes I needed to make the splurge in order to get to know people better. Create an allowance for a night out, and when money is in a pinch, plan a pizza making party or girls night in. A part-time job can also be a great way to earn a little extra cash for these types of splurges, and be an opportunity to meet people! Find an Adoration chapel. First and foremost, remember that wherever you are, Jesus is. In times of struggle, run to Him and He will meet you. When the world isn’t bringing you comfort, let Him be your saving grace. There were many a night when my peace, security, and joy were found in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. As you prepare for this move, spend a few minutes researching where your closest Adoration chapel is to campus. Maybe there is even one on-site!   This is just one of many stories about college life and discernment. We want to hear YOUR story. Please share in the comments below! And if you want more help with finding your own story, our popular Write + Pray course offers 9 topics, nearly an hour of guided video, and almost 50 Scripture verses and questions for you featuring Managing Editor Nell O'Leary. Find your story today.   [bctt tweet="Blessed Chats: College // Moving Away from Home #BISblog #blessedchats" via="no"] HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

Clive Staples Lewis, popularly known as C.S. Lewis, was not only an incredibly influential writer during his lifetime, but has continued to draw thousands of readers over the years. He was born in Ireland in 1898 and grew up surrounded by book lovers. One of his favorite authors was Beatrix Potter. He later tutored at Oxford where he was part of a small discussion group called “The Inklings” with J.R.R. Tolkien. A C.S. Lewis Booklist He wrote dozens of books during his lifetime, spanning the course of three decades. Here are some of his most well known works: The Screwtape Letters (1942) The Screwtape Letters is a classic when it comes to fighting off the whispers and lies that the devil so consistently and stealthily breathes into our ears. It is written in the form of letters between the high ranking demon, Screwtape, and his nephew and tempter-in-training, Wormwood. Throughout the correspondence Screwtape is coaching Wormwood on how to gain the soul of a new Christian. The way he is instructed to tempt the young man is simple, yet effective. Bring fully into the consciousness of your patient that particular lift of his mother’s eyebrows which he learned to dislike in the nursery, and let him think how much he dislikes it. Let him assume that she knows how annoying it is and does it to annoy...and of course, never let him suspect that he has tone and looks which similarly annoy her. Fun Fact: Lewis dedicated this book to his friend J.R.R. Tolkein. The Great Divorce (1945 ) This book is an allegorical tale in which the writer is aboard a bus on a journey from Purgatory to Heaven. He makes this journey as a transparent being, a “ghost”, yet his surroundings are all solid. So solid that he is unable to bear the weight of a leaf or walk among the sharp blades of grass. He won’t be able to engage with creation until he accepts the paradise that God designed. It isn’t that the ghost had a negative assumption of what a leaf or a blade of grass is like, it’s just that it was a mere shadow of how it is in Heaven. Our earthly reality makes it impossible for us to really fathom what Heaven is like. If the ghost prefers his idea of what his surroundings are like, and refuses to try to comprehend God’s reality, he can choose to return to the “grey town” where he began. However, if he chooses to go back, what started out as Purgatory, will become his decided hell. Some ghosts prefer returning to this place because there they are in control of their own lives. As Lewis wrote: There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened. Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956) Lewis wrote and published The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1950. Little did he know that he would continue writing to make it a seven book fantasy novel series. The story takes place in the land of Narnia where there is magic, mythical creatures, and talking animals. The protagonists are human children from earth who traveled to Narnia through a magic wardrobe. Here they follow the direction of Aslan the lion, who describes Narnia as “always winter and never Christmas.” With Aslan’s help, the children courageously fight to keep Narnia from falling permanently into the evil plans of the white witch who froze the land into a one-hundred years winter. Of all Lewis’ books, The Chronicles of Narnia has sold the most copies. Fun Fact: Lewis dedicated The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe to his godchild Lucy Pevensie who he based one of the characters after. In the front of the book he wrote her a letter, saying: I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. Mere Christianity (1952) In this book, Lewis so powerfully explains how the foundation of all Christian faiths can bring unity among us. Even the Wall Street Journal wrote about Mere Christianity: “It is not surprising that Lewis’s time-proven views are still flourishing while most other mid-20th-century works are nearly neglected.” He tackled a variety of topics including moral law, our disposition toward sin, and the Trinity. He did this keeping in mind that it needed to be easy to understand for the general reader, rather than highly philosophical. He wrote: If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. Fun Fact: The four books in Mere Christianity were broadcast on a BBC radio series during World War II. This series of 15-minute talks by C.S. Lewis was titled, “Right and Wrong: A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe.” You can tune into one of the 15-minute talks here. The Four Loves (1960) As I mentioned in a previous post about books on divine and human love, this book is the source of one of my favorite quotations, “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” Lewis shares great wisdom on the different categories of love as well as how they play out in our everyday life, writing about them with their Greek names. Affection storge: This is the cozy, comfortable kind of love that we experience in familiar and fond places whether that be the home we grew up in, our place of worship, or our college community. Friendship philia: Lewis calls this kind of love the most fully human. It is the kind of love we share with another when we find something in common. Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one'. Romantic eros: This love gives us a glimpse of what being in the presence of Eternal Love will be like. It is the kind of love that dies to self and anticipates the needs of the other. It is an image of God’s love for the world. Charity agape: This is where we ought to live, for the Beloved and as the beloved. We learn to have charity through the other three loves, but we are created to know and love God Himself. Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose. If love is to be a blessing, not a misery, it must be for the only Beloved who will never pass away. A Grief Observed (1961) After just four years of marriage, Lewis’ wife, Joy, died from cancer. This book was written after her death, and is a must read for anyone suffering the loss of a loved one. In this book Lewis will mourn with you: “I not only live each endless day in grief, but live each day thinking about living each day in grief.” He will question God with you: “Can I meet her again if I learn to love you so much that I don’t care whether I meet her or not?” He will also find comfort with you, despite the unknown: “When I lay these questions before God I get no answer. But rather a special sort of ‘No answer.’ It is like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze. As though He shook His head, but not in refusal or in waiving the question. Like, “Peace, child; you don’t understand.” By the end of his book, Lewis didn’t find all the answers. But he did find consolation in knowing his wife died with a spiritual peace. This is what I love about Lewis. His humility and honesty. He isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, and even when he doesn’t fully understand the answer, his faith persists. Whether you are looking for a fantasy novel, a book to pray and meditate with, or one with a more philosophical angle, the writing of C.S. Lewis is a great place to find what you are looking for! Have you ever read the work of C.S. Lewis? Which one of his books is your favorite?   [bctt tweet="BIS Reads // A C.S. Lewis Booklist #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

It is the Advent season, and I think we are all ready for some Christmas cheer. Read on to find out how the Blessed Is She blog writers will be celebrating this year. The Blessed is She Blog Team's Favorite Christmas Traditions Grace Bellon // Blog Contributor For four years of my childhood, my parents homeschooled us. During that time my mom introduced a tradition she referred to as "Advent Angels" which was similar to "Secret Santa" but with some major differences. Before Advent began each year, my siblings and I would all choose someone in our community who we thought needed some extra love and hope at Christmas (a neighbor, a friend from church, someone in a nursing home, etc). Then, we would send each of them a letter which let them know that they were being remembered in a special way during the season of Advent, while keeping our identity a secret. We would pray for them daily, and send 2-3 more letters throughout the season. Then, right around Christmas, we would pay them a visit and reveal our identity as their Advent Angel and give them a small gift of some sort. It's been over twenty years since we've done it as a family, but it is still a cherished memory. It was a perfect way to fill Advent with Hope and Joyful Expectation. Mytae Carrasco Wallace // Devotion Writer and Blog Contributor One of my favorite Christmas traditions is making tamales with my mom. She makes her red chile sauce from scratch, shreds the chicken by hand, bathes the cornhusks, and perfects her recipe each and every year. There is nothing like seeing the steam come out of a fresh tamale as you gently peel the corn husk away—it’s like unwrapping a present! Tamales aren’t just a reminder of home for me, but the coming of Christ as well. The anticipation of the birth of Jesus should include special meals that require extensive physical preparation and tamales certainly fit into that category. The process begins before the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe so that we can all start enjoying them on Our Lady’s Feast day, December 12th, until they are all gone. It’s such a joy to be able to share our table of tamales with our friends and neighbors. There is something so special about the sharing of food that happens during Christmas. It’s a sign of how much we need to be in community with one another. Katie Cassady // Blog Contributor One of my favorite Christmas traditions as a child, and now, is selecting livestock from the Heifer International Christmas catalog to give to families in developing countries, as a family Christmas gift. It's an organization that offers agricultural education to families in rural communities to help provide for their families and pass on the gift of nutrition, and education to their children and neighbors. I remember my own delight as a kid imagining a family receiving a goat from our collective neighborhood Christmas party, and I love helping my own children understand the nature of gifting in a way that keeps on giving! Valerie Keinsley // Blog Contributor My favorite Christmas tradition is looking at stars on Christmas Eve. We accidentally started this tradition last year, when my husband and I were on our way home from my parents house, and I blurted out, "The stars are beautiful! Pull over!" With sleeping babies in the backseat, we stood by the side of the minivan next to a nondescript Indiana cornfield and looked up at the Heavens. Something about it felt so fitting—thinking about how Mary must have felt that Christmas Eve thousands of years ago. Maybe she, too, stared at the sky as they finished their long journey into Bethlehem. Was she staring at the stars from her spot in the stable? We don't know, of course, but I love thinking about it. From now on, stars will always remind me of Christmas, and I hope it's a tradition we continue year after year. Susanna Parent // Blog Contributor Each year I tape pieces of twine to the ends of one of our doors and use mini clothespins to attach Christmas cards to it. When it comes time for the Christmas decorations to be put away, I unclip each Christmas card and place it into a box where my husband and I pray. Then, each morning, we take one card out and say a prayer for that individual or family. This tradition provides plenty of Holy Spirit moments when we text them that they were included in our prayer intentions that day. Somehow the timing works out just right. Olivia Spears // Blog Manager Growing up, my family had a tradition of driving around town to look at Christmas lights. Similar to so many families, this yearly tradition was accompanied by hot chocolate and freshly-baked cookies. We would often have dinner with friends beforehand, and when I was really young, I'd just dress in my pajamas, because falling asleep in the car was guaranteed. Now that I have my own young family, looking at the Christmas lights around town has remained a beloved tradition handed on. We have been intentional about placing this tradition on the feast of Saint Lucy, the Saint of light. On this night, my parents join us as we drive past houses we know and love for their legendary displays. We carry with us freshly-baked cookies and hot chocolate. And I dress my kids in pajamas, because they are guaranteed to fall asleep in the car. Tricia Tembreull // Blog Contributor One of my favorite Christmas Traditions is taking gifts to the neighbors in my neighborhood. They are typically cookies, candles, mugs, or something small to brighten their day, but everyone does this so we can visit and catch up during the busy season. I am blessed with neighbors who look after one another and really care for one another, so this chance to spread some Christmas cheer is a blessing during the holidays. Share a Little Christmas Joy Looking for a thoughtful gift to brighten a neighbor’s day? Our Joy to the World Candle brings together a warm Christmas Spice fragrance and the joyful message of Christ’s birth. Pair it with a handwritten note for a simple way to share warmth, hope, and Christmas cheer with someone you love. Shop Joy to the World Your Turn! Whether your family’s Christmas season includes Advent Angels, donating livestock, stargazing, or something unique to you, we hope that you joyfully embrace this treasured time with your loved ones! Happy Advent!

You know the commandments. These are Jesus’ words to the rich young man who is on his knees before Jesus, asking him what he must do to inherit eternal life. In an effort to move past the mediocrity he has identified in today’s culture, Pope Francis gave a series of papal audiences on the Commandments. In them, he discourages us from settling for what passes away. In his words, “the life of young people is about moving forward, being restless, healthy restlessness, the capacity not to be content with a life without beauty, without colour.” How to Live the Commandments We can find this life of beauty through the Commandments. In this way, the commandments we have known since we were small can become more than just a list of “Thou Shall Not’s”, and instead serve as a guide to living more beautifully. Commandments on the Love of God First Commandment // I am the Lord your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve. This means we should not treat people, special events, or things as more important than God. So often in today’s culture we are told that we are our own gods, and that the primary good is to “find your own happiness” and “live your truth.” In doing so, we make ourselves into idols. Pope Francis says that “idols enslave. They promise happiness but do not deliver it and we find ourselves living for that thing or that vision, drawn into a self-destructive vortex, waiting for a result that never comes.” It removes us from reality. A concrete way to live in the truth is by starting your morning with the Lord and forming a habit of prayer with him before the hustle of the day begins. Second Commandment // You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. The world is saying God’s Name in vain constantly. Most often I think it’s out of ignorance rather than malice, but still it makes me cringe. I want my Creator’s Name to be revered, and to be kept sacred. I don’t want the glory of His Name to ever be spoken indifferently or absentmindedly. We can practice reparation for both intentional or unintentional disrespect of his name by saying, “I love You, Jesus” every time we hear His Name used in vain. Third Commandment // Remember to keep holy the Sabbath. When is the last time you, or anyone you know for that matter, didn’t feel “busy”? Our culture gives us so many options, activities, and forms of entertainment, we rarely take time to rest and enjoy the company of those we love the most. When viewed through that lens, this commandment really feels more like an invitation to something we know we need rather than a rule to follow. As it reads in the Catechism: The sabbath brings everyday work to a halt and provides a respite. It is a day of protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money. -CCC 2172 This is much easier said than done, but there are many small things we can do during our Sunday to bring more rest into the Sabbath. Consider trying to do any extra studying, work, or grocery shopping on Saturday instead of Sunday in order to reserve a few extra hours of rest and leisure with your loved ones. Commandments on the Love of Neighbor Fourth Commandment // Honor your father and your mother. When I was little, my dad really disliked the Disney Channel because the children in the shows were often disrespectful to their parents and made their mom and dad look silly and out of touch. With the benefit of hindsight, I see that my dad was spot on. These T.V. shows portrayed a lot of disrespect to elders. As I have grown older, I come to appreciate my parents more with each passing year. Still, as adults, there are different ways we can be tempted to dishonor our parents, such as being impatient when offering IT support when they need help learning Facebook video calling, sending a photo via text, or making a pick-up order online. Or maybe they have differing political views, or the same political views, but express them more radically. Yes, it can be easier to be impatient with family, because we’re comfortable with them, but that is no excuse. Now, when I look at my own daughter, I am reminded to show my parents the same patience and care that they gave to me from the moment I was born. Fifth Commandment // You shall not kill. While at first read this sounds pretty straightforward, this commandment is also one of the main texts which informs the Church’s teachings on abortion, sterilization, and unjust killing. Furthermore, it includes sins which can put others down and harm their reputation, for example, the sin of gossip. When a woman confessed the sin of gossip to Saint Philip Neri, her penance was to take a feather pillow, rip it open, and watch the feathers blow with the wind. Then, she was to go and collect each one of the feathers that had been ripped out. His point of course, is that we cannot undo our words. I try to think of this story when I am tempted to fill a silent void with gossip. Sixth Commandment // You shall not commit adultery. Chastity is not popular in today’s society, nor is it easy. In fact, the media tries to normalize lust, claiming that it’s all just fun and games. Chastity of thought, word, and action requires integrity and self-mastery. In practicing control of the will, one can break free from the enslavement of the passions. We don’t have to look far to see all the ways the world is telling us that chastity is unimportant and old-fashioned, but living this commandment well offers a path to an unbelievable freedom to love instead of using others for our own pleasure. You’ll have to fight for it, but freedom from lustful addictions can be found. Seventh Commandment // You shall not steal. This commandment isn’t just talking about shoplifting, it’s calling us on to generosity. It is Jesus directing us to be good stewards of our time and possessions. In the words of Pope Francis, this commandment means to “love with your goods, make use of your means to love as best you can. Then your life becomes good and your property truly becomes a gift.” He reminds us that our life is meant to be given as a gift. In uncertain times, it can be easy to hoard, but Jesus invites us to lean into surrender and trust. Eighth Commandment // You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Revenge and getting even is tempting, but Jesus is telling us here to remember what the Book of James tells us about God being the lawgiver, not us. Jesus shines the way for living out this eighth commandment when he stands before Pontius Pilate and testifies to the truth. We need to pray for the same steadfastness as Jesus had. We need to pray that He will help us speak words out of love and with love, even at times when fraternal correction is needed. Ninth and Tenth Commandments // You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. These last two commandments sound a lot like sixth and seventh commandments. Pope Francis explains that what this points out is that all offense against God is rooted in evil desires. Failure to follow the ninth commandment leads to divorce and popularization of dating sites geared for those who are already in committed relationships. Failure to obey the tenth commandment can lead to a “Keeping up with the Joneses” mentality and as a consequence, a loss of joy. We obey the ninth commandment by honoring and respecting our spouse and loving them wholeheartedly. We obey the tenth commandment by having a heart of gratitude for what we have, and avoiding the comparison game. Help from the Holy Spirit We cannot overcome temptation on our own. When we do it on our own, we eat the apple in the garden just like Adam and Eve did. We need to ask the Holy Spirit for help every day and throughout the day. If we ask Him, he will come, and he will help us to enter into the freedom which following the Ten Commandments provide.   [bctt tweet="How to Live the Commandments When the Culture is Trying to Put Them to Death #BISblog //" via="no"]

Does your phone give God glory? Is it a crutch you use to “check out” of life, or is it a tool helping you to “check in” with people and resources that help you grow closer to God? What's Your Media Intake Like? This question about keeping priorities straight has been on my mind a lot lately. Reflecting on it has helped me to make better choices on what I spend time consuming throughout the day, and I don’t just mean social media. News A while back (you know, before 2020 happened), I made an effort to follow the news. Learning what is going on in the world is a good thing. However, with COVID-19, protests, and an election, I’ve gotten sucked into the daily news, grasping for as many specific details of world and national events as I can. Unfortunately, it isn’t too often that this news provides me with the answers I am looking for. Instead, I am left with even more questions. I noticed that reading the news instills in me more fear than hope, so I need to be careful in how I consume it. The happy medium I’ve found for right now is informing myself from sites that I know are well-renowned and respected. For example, for health concerns I’ll call my doctor or research a topic on a health website I trust. For current events I listen to a daily podcast (more on that later) and also look for what the Catholic voice is saying in our local Catholic newspaper. I also visit a website every Friday to see a summary of some of the biggest events that took place throughout the week. This helps me to stay informed, but not be bogged down with minute-by-minute updates. Television Binging on Netflix is rarely a good thing, but there’s nothing wrong with having a favorite TV show or two. Before getting married I hardly ever turned the TV on, but now one of my favorite ways to spend an evening with my husband is by building a charcuterie board, pouring glasses of wine, and watching an episode of one of our favorites series. I often ask myself if watching TV is a healthy way for us to spend time together, especially when our latest favorite is the series by BBC, The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes. So when my husband and I do watch a show, I ask myself the question “Is this habit unhealthy and in need of reordering, or is this something that is benefitting our marriage?” What I have found is that our TV watching hasn’t become unhealthy. We don’t watch TV every night, when we do we are generally watching for less than an hour, it’s not the only way we spend time with each other, and it actually generates good conversations between us. Articles As a writer, I have a special love for reading articles. I have a list of sites that I aim to read daily. One is for my spiritual life (thank you, Blessed is She), another for married life, and one more for mama life. This is where I really try to stay. While I have some personal blogs I enjoy checking in on, I know that when I pull their page up I have to be guarded. While they are beautiful, the photos are often posed, edited, and/or everything looks picture perfect. For me, it is so. easy. to. compare. In this area, I need a healthy dose of self-knowledge, and I try to stick to what I know will help me grow in my belovedness as a daughter of God, a holy, loving wife, and a joyful mama. WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Movies For my husband and I, watching movies is a rare occurrence. We find that when we try to squeeze a movie into our night, it tends to limit the time spent on other things we value. When we do watch a movie, we put a lot of thought into it. There is an understanding between us that we will not choose to watch anything that we know will make it hard to say no to temptation. Usually our favorite movie nights are documentaries, comedies, and movies based on real events. Music If I look honestly at my music choices, I cannot say that I only choose the most virtuous lyrics to listen to. There’s definitely some catchy songs, whether they be pop or country, that I love to crank the volume up for, despite the crassness or angsty lyrics. What keeps me in check is my one-year old daughter. Right now I know that she can’t understand the words, but as she grows, I don’t want her mind to be infused with negative messages. But you don’t need to wait until you have a child to clean up the music you listen to. As I’ve started cutting out negative lyrics, I’m realizing how much power the words we listen to are, even if we tell ourselves otherwise. Each year I create a playlist for the year, and my “2020” playlist has songs including clean, fun pop songs, love ballads, and praise and worship. Now this playlist includes soul-friendly go-to’s that divert my daughter’s carseat tears into smiles, which is a win win for everyone. Podcasts I listen to podcasts daily, so this is one which was really important for me to filter so I actually have time to listen to them. My podcast priorities are similar to that of the list of the daily websites I check in with. One podcast on recent national and international news, another is a discussion of socioeconomic issues, and a couple of podcasts I listen to help me deepen my relationship with the Lord. While each of these podcasts is personally enriching on several levels, I do have to check myself in terms of when I tune in to them. The podcasts I listen to won’t be fruitful if I am putting the show host as my first priority, rather than the person in front of me. For example, sometimes I try to listen while cleaning the house, but I need to be mindful of pausing the episode when my husband walks into the room so that I can be present to him. What I’ve found is that the best time for me to invest my time in learning from the show hosts is by putting headphones in when my daughter and I go for our daily walks. She is happy watching nature, and I have a solid half hour to really focus on the topic. Here's a list of some favorite Catholic podcasts! The Who, What, Where, and When Who are you listening to and reading, and do you feel uplifted after doing so, or do you feel deflated? What are you watching on your screens? Is it something that rejuvenates you or does it feel like you’re getting pulled into a black hole? Where are you when you’re listening to a podcast or scrolling through the news? Is it an appropriate time set aside, or does it become a wall between you and whoever is around you? When are you focused on these things, does your prayer come first, or does scrolling through the news become your instinct when your morning alarm goes off? Take the time to evaluate the who, what, where, and when of what you are intaking. What is God asking you to prioritize?   [bctt tweet="An Examination of Media Intake #BISblog //" via="no"]

Labor Day is a day of rest, given to us to slow down from our fast-paced world. Author Josef Pieper offers us a way to find true and restorative rest everyday, whether it be a federal holiday or not. Leisure, the Basis of Culture He does this in his book, Leisure, the Basis of Culture, by showing us how to transport ourselves “out of the weariness of daily labor into an unending holiday”. Section 1 // Leisure as Contemplation Did you know that the history of the word “leisure” comes from the Latin word scola meaning "school"? It indicates the place where we learn and also where we teach. The root word for leisure becomes easier to understand when we think of education as taking the good of the entire person into account. Pieper writes: Education concerns the whole man, man capax universi (meaning "containing all"), capable of grasping the totality of existing things. This doesn’t mean being trained in one particular thing or the other, it means to have the ability to contemplate, and to contemplate means to experience leisure. Section 2 // Difficulty Does Not Equal Better Hard work is celebrated, as it should be. But we must watch out for the danger of falling into a Kantian way of thinking that the more difficult something is, the better it is. Aquinas refutes this idea in his Summa Theologica where he states “the essence of virtue consists in the good rather than in the difficult. Not everything that is more difficult is necessarily more meritorious.” For example, having a good time while hosting friends for dinner is a good and beneficial thing. No hardship is necessary to make it meritorious. Pieper also points out the importance of not counting the cost of our suffering. We do not suffer simply to say we endured something difficult and therefore our actions are “higher.” We suffer because it leads us to salvation and ultimate happiness. Pieper quotes Aquinas' words, “The end and the norm of discipline is happiness” and as we practice virtue, we are able to choose the moral good more naturally. Section 3 // Leisure, Idleness, and Acedia Our culture today often equates leisure to idleness, but Pieper begs to differ. He writes that idleness means that man “does not want to be as God wants him to be, and that ultimately means that he does not wish to be what he really, fundamentally, is.” This leads one to the sin of acedia, a sin which makes leisure impossible. Pieper writes that acedia takes place when man realizes that God resides within him, but is saddened by this realization because he doesn’t want to live as God intends. When I first read this idea that man could be saddened by the knowledge of God living in him, I was confused. But then I was reminded of how easily we become conditioned to have sin live in us and the security we find in our weakness (like the false feeling of control). Just think of the rich young man in the Gospel of Matthew. When he asks Jesus what is needed to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven “he went away sad” because it meant he would have to sell his many possessions and give alms to the poor. Embracing Jesus means embracing His call to us. Choosing to live a life of virtue is not easy, but it is what God created us for. So what do idleness and leisure look like? To go to the beach to enjoy a sunny afternoon and the glistening of the water is leisure. Being able to sit back, to be at peace, and to sense God’s love is leisure. Idleness on the other hand, is a “deep-seated lack of calm which makes leisure impossible.” It would look like being at the beach, but mindlessly scrolling through your phone. As author Dr. Michael Naughton writes in Getting Work Right: Labor and Leisure in a Fragmented World, “modern leisure amuses us into escaping from our lives”, it removes us from uncovering our identity as it often takes us out of reality. Leisure allows one to be steeped in the wonder and contemplation of God’s creation and to worship God through recognizing its goodness. My favorite line that Pieper gives is when he describes leisure as “like a man falling asleep, for one can only fall asleep by ‘letting oneself go.’ When we really let our minds rest contemplatively on a rose in bud, on a child at play, on a divine mystery, we are rested and quickened as though by a dreamless sleep.” Of course, this doesn’t mean we are to always be “sleeping.” Work is necessary to, after all, income is needed in order to support the family. Yet we must put work in its proper place. Section 4 // Vocation Over Career Pieper describes that to be addicted to work is interiorly impoverishing. He argues that if man is only fulfilled by the utilitarian process of his work or career “his life has shrunk inwardly, and contracted, with the result that he can no longer act significantly outside his work, and perhaps can no longer even conceive of such a thing.” Pieper is not saying that fulfillment in the workplace is a bad thing; indeed it is very good. The point he is making is that work should not be the only place we find fulfillment. It is key that fulfillment be found in our faith and our community, and this leads us to what Pieper describes as “festivity.” [bctt tweet="To be addicted to work is interiorly impoverishing. #BISblog //" via="no"] Section 5 // Leisure = Celebration/Festivity Now it’s time to party! At least that’s what Pieper would say, for in his own words, “to hold a celebration means to affirm the basic meaningfulness of the universe and a sense of oneness with it, of inclusion within it.” The kind of celebration he is implying is not the holiday that is created by society or political powers, but celebration in terms of feast days and holy days. Celebrating holy days and the Sabbath are excellent ways to foster leisure and prioritize and honor one’s vocation over their career, through generously offering ourselves through worship. Worship not as a means to an end, but worshipping God for His own sake. The Catechism of the Catholic Church even encourages us to celebrate through leisure: The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, and religious lives. -CCC 2184 Finding Leisure Contemplate and Receive Take a few minutes of silence to receive the world around you. Is this a bouquet of flowers in your home, the depth of your child’s eyes, birds singing outside, or the turning color of the trees? As Pieper writes, leisure is “a receptive attitude of mind, a contemplative attitude...the capacity for steeping oneself in the whole of creation.” Listen to Music Taking five minutes of my day to listen to Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune fills my heart with peace and gratitude. I can’t help but have awe and wonder of God’s creation as I listen to the notes of the piano. Praise God through praise and worship, either by sitting and being mindful of the words, worshipping with your voice, or playing your own instrument. Celebrate Holy Days As Catholics, we have a variety of reasons to celebrate throughout the year, for example, feast days! Celebrate by going to Mass or spending time in Adoration. Then, think of an activity that corresponds with the day. For example, on the Feast of Saint John Paul II you could cook a Polish meal to celebrate the country of his birth. How will you find leisure today?   [bctt tweet="BIS Reads: Leisure, the Basis of Culture #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!