The Heart to Heart Prayer Prompt Journal encourages a posture of stillness and receptivity, helping you become more aware of God’s presence and voice in your life. 

Gift, the new Blessed Conversations study from Blessed Is She, invites us to rediscover the treasure that God gives us in the Eucharist.

Abide in His Love invites us to quiet the clamor, listen intently, and intimately connect with Jesus in Sacred Scripture.

Looking for ways to live liturgically during the Easter season? Here are eight ideas to consider.

The Well Overflow is all about our mission as baptized Christians to share the Good News with others, not on our own but in companionship with one another. Sign up today; it begins Easter Monday.

What do we do when someone disappoints our illusion of them? Here are three ideas to consider.

This Lent, pray with these nine Bible verses to keep your mind and heart at rest as we pray, fast, and give alms.

A good Lent doesn't just happen. Explore practical ways to prepare for Lent, including the observance of Septuagesima.

This Lent, as Jesus enters into His Passion, Blessed Is She invites you to meet Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, where it all began. We want to journey with you through our new Lent devotional, Under the Olive Tree, which is now available.

Looking for a way to renew your prayer this last week of Advent? Meet the O Antiphons!

 Christmas in Heaven, a sweet new Christmas book that is sure to bring hope into our children's lives . . . and our own.

This Advent, Blessed Is She would like to walk with you in hope through our new Advent devotional, A Thrill of Hope.

Here are five guidelines families can follow to help their children keep a proper ordering of sports.

While summer is winding down, may we continue growing in our relationship with the Lord, so we can live in Christ’s peace in every season of our lives.

This summer, join the Blessed Is She community as we dive deep into the true peace of Christ through the new devotional, The Promise of Peace. For twenty-one days, we will pray for and reflect upon the peace Christ promises through Scripture, Church teaching, saintly wisdom, and personal reflections.

I was named after two extraordinary women: my aunt Janet and Saint Catherine of Siena. I know my aunt to be a devoted wife, talented chef and seamstress, and someone who exemplifies beauty in her home. I know Saint Catherine to be a devoted spouse of Jesus, dedicated servant of the poor and sick, and someone who displayed a feminine strength that was grounded in her identity in Christ. While one woman taught me by practical, tangible example, the other has modeled for me an authentic spiritual life. Whether practical or spiritual, women have a great calling to bring beauty and goodness that ultimately point to the truth of Jesus Christ into this world. It is our feminine genius—our inherent gift to our communities, the Church, and the world. But sadly, a woman’s purpose is often confused, and in many instances, it is being rewritten or erased altogether. That is why we women need mentors who bring us closer to authentic womanhood. Because in this day and age, now more than ever, we need to remember, return to, and reconnect with true womanhood and femininity, in order to flourish in the very essence of who God created us to be. My aunt and Saint Catherine are two of my mentors. Who are yours? If you need someone to look up to, especially in the spiritual realm, may I introduce you to Saint Catherine of Siena? Especially on her feast day, it seems fitting to get to know Saint Catherine and discover how she is a role model of Catholic womanhood for our times. Woven throughout her life story are four lessons we can learn from this Doctor of the Church. The Early Years Lesson #1: No matter our calling, we must do it with passion and conviction. “Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.” // Saint Catherine of Siena Catherine was born in Siena, Italy, on March 25, 1347. She was the youngest of twenty-five children, although half of her siblings did not survive childhood. From an early age, Catherine was a joyful, pious child, sensitive to the things of Heaven. When she was six, Catherine received her first vision of Jesus seated in glory. He was surrounded by Saints Peter, Paul, and John, and from His throne, He silently blessed her. Throughout her childhood, she remained focused on the Lord by building a monastic cell inside her mind, where she spent much time in prayer. She loved our Lord completely, and she knew His love for her. She is known for saying, , “We are of such value to God that He came to live among us [ . . . ] and to guide us home. He will go to any length to seek us, even to being lifted up high on the cross to draw us back to Himself. We can only respond by loving God for His love.” Catherine had great devotion to her family. She viewed her father as a representation of Jesus, her mother as our Lady, and her siblings as the apostles. This helped her serve her family with love and humility. When Catherine was sixteen, her sister Bonaventura died. Catherine’s parents suggested that her brother-in-law marry Catherine, but Catherine opposed this idea. She began fasting, and she cut her hair short to taint her appearance. This persuaded her parents, and she was not forced to marry. Spiritual Life Leads to Public Life Lesson #2: Our work grows out of our prayer. “You are rewarded not according to your work or your time, but according to the measure of your love.” // Saint Catherine of Siena, Dialogue 165 While Catherine remained deeply religious, she was not called to enter religious life. At the age of eighteen, she joined the Mantellate, lay branch of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. This allowed her to live a life of prayer at home, while also associating with a religious order. The Mantellate taught Catherine how to read and write. In 1368, when Catherine was twenty-one years old, she experienced a mystical marriage to Christ and claimed to receive an invisible wedding ring from Him. At the same time, a more public apostolate grew out of her contemplative life. She became well-known for her holiness and compassion, and many people sought her spiritual advice. At this time, Catherine also began visiting the sick and poor. As Catherine became known as a santa donna, or holy woman, her renown led her to become involved in politics. She traveled throughout Italy, promoting peace and repentance in a time of civil and religious unrest. Truth Flows From Goodness Lesson #3: As disciples of Jesus, we are called to speak Truth in our corner of the world. No advanced degree required. “Preach the Truth as if you had a million voices. It is silence that kills the world.” // Saint Catherine of Siena Catherine grew in courage to speak truth, even to those in authority. For example, she encouraged Cardinal Pietro of Ostia, Italy, “to be occupied with nothing but loving God, saving souls, and serving the sweet spouse of Christ.” Catherine even corresponded at great length with Pope Gregory XI. And she helped influence him to return to Rome, ending seventy years of the papacy reigning from Avignon, France. His death was followed by the Great Schism, and as a result, Catherine traveled to Rome, where she urged princes and cardinals to promote obedience to Pope Urban VI. While the corruption in the Catholic Church during her lifetime caused Catherine great distress, she loved the Lord so much that she could never abandon His Church. And while it was unusual for women in her time to have such public influence, Catherine demonstrates that when we remain women of deep prayer and are confident in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can truly be who God created us to be. Set the World on Fire Lesson #4: The Lord desires the Church to transform the world, not the other way around. “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” // Saint Catherine of Siena Catherine composed more than 400 letters and prayers. She is most known for The Dialogue, which is described as a series of her conversations with God. While deeply personal, the truths contained in The Dialogue are universal in nature, allowing anyone to benefit from them. In 1375, Catherine received the stigmata, although like her mystical wedding ring, it was only visible to her. Five years later, at the age of thirty-three, she became ill, most likely due to rigorous fasting. Catherine died on April 29, following a stroke. Her last words echoed the words of her Lord from the Cross: “Father, into Your hands, I commend my soul and my spirit.” Pope Urban VI celebrated her funeral at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. Catherine was canonized in 1461. She is regarded as one of the greatest mystics and spiritual writers in Catholic history. Because of her spiritual work, The Dialogue, she was elevated to being named a Doctor of the Church. Saint Catherine’s feast day is April 29. She is the patroness of fire prevention, illness, Italy, Europe, miscarriages, people ridiculed for their faith, sexual temptation, and nurses. Saint Catherine of Siena, pray for us! Check out our Saint Story on Saint Catherine of Siena!

This Thanksgiving, there will be one less person around our dinner table. My husband's father—my children's grandfather—passed away this year on Father's Day. We have already experienced "firsts" without him. His presence was missed as we watched fireworks on Independence Day and remembered his birthday in October. But now, as we prepare to celebrate a holiday that centers around gratitude, I wonder what that will look like. How will our expression of gratitude look different this year? When Life is Not So Wonderful In many ways, Thanksgiving begins a season of holidays that is deemed “the most wonderful time of the year.” And that can certainly be the case. Often, we gather with family and friends, renew traditions, and reflect on all the good we are grateful for. But some years don’t feel so wonderful. We want our hearts to be overflowing with gratitude, but we find ourselves coming up empty. How do we give thanks in the midst of a breakup? Or when we are facing unemployment or serious illness? How do we give thanks when that empty seat at the table reminds us of how much we miss him? Or when the heartache of not being able to conceive is too much to bear? How do we give thanks when our spouse or child is suffering, and there is nothing we can do to ease the pain? Scripture encourages us to “Rejoice always,” and “In all circumstances give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). But we wonder: How are we supposed to do that when we are experiencing pain, suffering, loss, or hardship? We Can Do Both The answer, I believe, rests in the fact that it is not simply “either-or.” It’s “both-and.” We can acknowledge the painful emotion caused by suffering. We can feel the loss. We can lament the hardship. And we can still give thanks. This is not necessarily easy, but it is worthwhile. Because it leads to a deeper sense of gratitude, as we discover the unexpected blessings that come from the hardest parts of life. Because let's face it: When times are good, it is easy to be grateful. We can even run the risk of taking our blessings for granted, as if they are always going to be there. But in times of difficulty and uncertainty, we realize how much of life is out of our control. And here we have a choice. We can allow the difficult circumstances to overwhelm us, which could spiral into ingratitude, bitterness, or anger toward God. Or we can come to a place of deep acceptance, which leads us to greater appreciation for all that surrounds us—even to the point of better recognizing the little things we may otherwise take for granted, like hidden treasures which are always there but often overlooked. By choosing the second option, we learn how to bless the Lord’s name no matter the circumstances—when life is good, and when life is tough; when He gives and when He takes away (see Job 1:21). As Saint John of Avila is believed to have said, “A single ‘Blessed be God’ in adversity is worth more than a thousand acts of thanksgiving in prosperity.” An Act of Faith A while back, my husband was laid off from work. For months prior, I prayed for the Lord to deliver him from his toxic job, which was taking such a toll on him and our entire family. I didn't expect the Lord to answer my prayer through a layoff. At first, it felt like we were moving from one bad situation to another. I was frustrated and confused. I worried about how we were going to make ends meet. At one point, I didn’t feel an abundance of faith in the circumstances (or in what the Lord was doing). But I chose to make an act of faith anyway. Living in less-than-ideal circumstances while ascending to a place of greater faith helped me consider: If I don't have what I want—in this situation, it was a job for my husband—what do I have? And here, in the quiet of my seeking heart, the Lord showed me the hidden blessing of his unemployment: the drastic improvement in my husband’s overall health and wellbeing. He was simply better off. At this realization, unexpected gratitude swelled up for the gift of him no longer having to work in such difficult conditions. Where Are the Hidden Blessings? Focusing on the hidden blessings changes how we view uncertainty and disappointment. Our attention isn’t solely on the bad anymore. We finally see the circumstance through a "both-and" lens. Several years ago, I received a pretty firm rejection. My dream was shattered, and my heart was crushed. I ran to the Lord and surrendered my disappointment to Him. When I opened my Bible, through tears, I read this passage: “[B]ut ‘yes’ has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him” (2 Corinthians 1:19-20). In the midst of my devastating news, I was comforted knowing that even the no I received was a yes from Him, because this no was part of God's better plan for me. And over time, He revealed it to me. Other examples of hidden blessings could include: When facing a chronic illness, we can be grateful for the kind nurse at the clinic or the friend who brings us flowers. When missing someone this holiday season, we can be grateful for so many memories with her. Perhaps we can share them together, around the table. When healing from a breakup, an act of faith can increase our gratitude that God is even using this heartache for our good (see Romans 8:28). When various stressors take a toll on our family, we can be grateful for how coming together to support and encourage each other in the midst of it strengthens our relationships. This is not about stuffing the pain. The pain is real, and we should spend time feeling it. But by finding unexpected gratitude in the difficulties of life, we are able to deepen our trust and offer the aching part of our heart in a unique way. And this transforms our faith, increases our hope, redeems our suffering, and restores our peace. This Thanksgiving This Thanksgiving, if life isn’t wonderful, if circumstances are not ideal, bring this to the Lord. Attend morning Mass before gathering with family and friends. Place all of your sorrows on the altar at Mass. Unite them with the Lord’s suffering on the Cross. And in an act of faith, expect to see what you could not see before. The blessing in the unexpected. The beauty in the pain. The peace in the midst of the storm. “Bless the Lord, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts, Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills, Who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with mercy and compassion, Who fills your days with good things” (Psalm 103:2-5).