As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. // Romans 6:10 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Jazmin De Guzman from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. // Matthew 10:27 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Brass and Mint Co. from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

The Litany of the Saints is a powerful and ancient form of Catholic prayer. We hear it at Easter and All Saints Day, and during Ordination Masses for new priests. It can be sung in a church or prayed silently in solitary prayer. It calls on the holy men and women in Heaven to aid those of us on Earth. How to Write a Personal Litany of Saints In my own prayer life, I keep a running list of Saints to whom I have a particular devotion—my own personal litany. The featured cast has transformed many times over the years, while a few remain the same. I’ve prayed the litany before bed, in the Adoration chapel, or silently in my head when I’m upset or anxious and need to recenter myself on God. While the length of the litany and the names included change, the simplicity and repetitiveness of a litany that speaks directly to my heart has been a rock and a comfort in my prayer life. Here’s how I form my personal litany of Saints. Mary I always have an apparition or title associated with Mary in my litany. When I was in college and had a particular attachment to Carmelite spirituality, Our Lady of Mount Carmel topped my list. Now, one of Mary’s titles speaks to me—Mary, Cause of Our Joy—so I include that as my appeal to the Blessed Mother. The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (also called the Litany of Loreto) includes many invocations to Mary that could be brought into your personal litany. Angels and Archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are powerful intercessors, and one of them almost always shows up in my litany. The traditional litany of the Saints usually includes all three, as well as an appeal to all the angels. You might also include your guardian angel, especially if the Guardian Angel prayer is a regular part of your prayer life already. Confirmation Saint My Confirmation Saint (Saint Thomas More) has had a place in my personal litany for as long as I’ve performed the practice. It keeps the memory of the full completion of my Baptism alive and present and allows me to regularly call on one of the most significant intercessors of my life. Name Saints Are you named after a particular Saint, or do you share part of your name with a Saint? Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne is another old standby in my personal litany because of my middle name. Does your birthday or Baptism day fall on a Saint’s feast day? These, too, can be great intercessors to add to your litany. Your Parish Patron To keep my personal litany rooted in the community of the Church, I often include the patron Saint of my parish in the list. It also reminds me to pray for my parish community and for all priests. Patron Saint of Your School or Profession So much of both the joy and frustration of our everyday lives comes from our jobs, and it can help tremendously to entrust our daily activities to the Saints. There is a patron Saint for almost every career or state of life imaginable, and adding one to a personal litany serves as a reminder to pray for your coworkers, your kids, your customers, or your teachers. For you stay-at-home moms, Saint Monica is a powerhouse of a patron. If you find yourself looking for a new job, Saint Cajetan can help. Those who work in healthcare might turn to Saint Agatha or Saint Luke. If you're a student, there are many patrons to choose from. When I was teaching and in graduate school and needed all the spiritual help I could get, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Benedict, Saint Ambrose, and Saint John Bosco showed up in my litany regularly. However you spend your days, there’s a Saint to help. Saint of the Year On All Saints Day each year, I have a practice of choosing a patron Saint for the upcoming year (Jen Fulwiler’s Saint Name Generator can help with this). Including this Saint in the litany helps me get to know them and build a devotion. Saints for Special Intentions Of all the Saints in the litany, these last few change most often. If I’m praying for someone in a special way, their patron—or a patron I pick for them if they don’t have one—is added. If there is a need in my own life that I’ve been taking to prayer often, the patron Saint for the situation ends up in the litany. Assign an intercessor to whatever is happening in your life and the world around you, and ask for the help of those Saints constantly. My Home Team I like to think of having a personal litany of Saints as adding players to my home team. It reminds me to call on them, and makes me feel like I have a set of awesome friends who are cheering for me and interceding for me in Heaven. Who is on your heavenly home team? What Saints would show up in your personal litany?   [bctt tweet="How to Write a Personal Litany of Saints #BISblog //" via="no"]   Abigail Saffert lives and works in rural Minnesota. Her Catholic Studies background, her M.A. in English, and the unnecessary amount of library cards crammed into her purse testify to her lifelong love of reading and writing. She appreciates that there’s a patron Saint for coffee houses because she thinks it justifies the amount of coffee she drinks in a day. You can find pictures of that coffee, among other things, by following her on Instagram.

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. // John 3:16 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Lauren Thomas from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

One of the most inspiring reasons to practice a deep and personal devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is that it unites you to the "Heart of the Church." The month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart, is a perfect time to grow closer to His Most Sacred Heart. This month also highlights this devotion with the Feast of the Sacred Herat of Jesus, celebrated on June 19th. Devotion to and Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus The practice of devotion to the Heart of Jesus has been lived out since Saint John the Apostle placed his head on the breast of Jesus at the Last Supper. This devotion is for all the faithful who are members of the Body of Christ. There are many important aspects of this devotion, but one that is far-reaching is to enthrone your home to the Heart of Jesus. The idea of Enthronement is a spiritual surrender where we allow Jesus to touch us in a way that is life-changing. The simple act of placing the Heart of Jesus as the King of Love in your home can give you new graces to deepen your relationship with the Lord. In a vision to Saint Margaret Mary, Jesus shared that: Wherever the Image of My Sacred Heart is publicly exposed and honored, I will pour out graces of sanctification and salvation, I will touch unfeeling hearts, I will reunite divided families, I will help them in all their needs. Now more than ever we need to have the strength and grace to live out our Faith in the home. As Jesus promised, devotion to His Sacred Heart will reunite divided families. This also gives us an opportunity to pass our Faith on to our family in a new way! The Heart of Jesus in the Church Devotion to the Sacred Heart is based on Scripture, Tradition, the Church Fathers, and Doctors of the Church. This foundation is best explained in an Encyclical of Pope Pius XII entitled Haurietis Aquas (On Devotion to the Sacred Heart) which is a Latin phrase from Isaiah 12:3 meaning “You will draw waters.” The full quote from Isaiah 12:3 is “With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” In this encyclical, Pope Pius makes the point that the principle objective of devotion to the Sacred Heart is to unite ourselves to the Divine Love that flows between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the living water that Jesus invites all of us to drink, which was foreshadowed in the Old Testament prophets and brought about from Christ’s side on the Cross. Pope Pius concludes that devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the most effective school of the love of God, which is the foundation on building the Kingdom of God in the hearts of individuals, families, and nations. Some of the more recent endorsements for devotion to the Sacred Heart from our popes come from Pope Saint John Paul II: We are called not only to meditate on, and contemplate, this mystery of Christ’s love, we are called to take part in it. It is the mystery of the Holy Eucharist, the center of our faith, the center of our worship of Christ's merciful love manifested in his Sacred Heart. And most recently, Pope Francis stated: The Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God's Mercy, but it is not an imaginary symbol, it is the real symbol. Which represents the center, the source from which Salvation for all Humanity gushed forth. Christ the King When Christ reigns in both our hearts and our homes, we give Him the opportunity to pour forth His mercy and graces. Not only for ourselves but for those closest to us. Let’s allow the Lord to use these uncertain times as a means of strengthening our love for Him and for others. To learn more about enthroning your home to the Sacred Heart, click here. [bctt tweet="Why You Should Enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Your Home #BISblog //" via="no"]   Emily Jaminet is a Catholic author, and her latest book is Pray Fully: Simple Steps for Becoming A Woman of Prayer published by Ave Maria Press. She is the Executive Director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network and co-founder of www.inspirethefaith.com. Emily lives in Ohio with her husband and children and manages to keep busy with ministry work, raising a large family and always trying to make time for friends! This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” // John 20:21 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Zelie and Lou from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Many months ago, during a period of moderate doubt and discouragement in my life, I was given a penance after Confession which has since rocked my world. Unlike the typical five Hail Mary’s and five Our Father’s, this one was more out of the ordinary, more challenging. But it was also much more fruitful. I was told to write a personal litany. A few days before, I had received the same advice from a dear friend. God was definitely inviting me to this form of devotion. My Personal Litany The following personal litany is the one which I wrote soon thereafter: From the fear of being unseen Deliver me, Jesus (repeat after each invocation). From the fear of being unwanted, From the fear of being unloved, From the fear of being judged, From the fear of other’s opinions, From the fear of overthinking, From the fear of being untrue to myself and others. From the fear of losing others, From the fear of scaring others away, From the fear of losing control, From the fear of the future, From the fear of choosing wrong, From the fear of being alone, From the fear of messing up, From the fear of scrupulosity, From the fear of being a burden, From the fear of having to prove myself, From the fear of being pitied, From the lie of comparison, From the lie of inadequacy, From the lie of perfectionism, From the lie of not being enough, From all jealousy, From all envy, From all pride, From distrust of You,   That I may be fully present where my feet are, Jesus, grant me the grace to improve (repeat after each invocation). That I may be patient with myself, That I may know my worth fully in You, That I may see myself through Your eyes, That my outlook may remain positive, That I may always assume the good in uncertainty, That I may surrender my emotions to You, That I may rejoice in the goodness of others, That I may be always others-focused and free from self-centeredness, That I may love with Your overwhelming mercy, That I may trust all those who deserve my trust, That I may be freed from wounds of the past, That I may be always aware of Your constant presence, That my trust in You may be radical and complete, That I may surrender my past, present, and future to You, That I may be content in You and You alone. How to Compose Your Own Personal Litany If this litany strikes you at all, I encourage you to pray with it. But more importantly, I encourage you to form a litany of your own. There is a power to putting into words exactly those things with which we are struggling and areas in which we need God’s grace and help. Ask Jesus to Show You This practice can be very humbling and vulnerable, but ask Jesus to help you acknowledge the core of your current struggles. He will give you the strength to admit them. Pray with Pre-Written Litanies I found it helpful to pray with other pre-written litanies I knew as well. The Litanies of Trust, Humility and Joy are beautiful pieces which might give you a good starting point or a good formatting idea. Insert Your Own Struggles and Desires Don’t be afraid to branch out from the pre-written litanies. If there are particular lies or fears which you can pinpoint as present in your life and heart, I encourage you to name them openly and honestly. He wants to hear about each and every aspect of our lives, and nothing is uninteresting to Him. After all, Hebrews 4:15 tells us: ...we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. In the end, I hope this random but divinely-inspired penance is as fruitful to you as it has been for me. [bctt tweet="The Power of a Personal Litany #BISblog //" via="no"]   Mary Grace Tillman, or Gracie, is a student, daughter, sister, friend, and full-time extrovert. If you don’t find her on the nearest soccer field, she is probably lost down some country road with the windows down and tunes blaring. She loves to praise God through music and sports and she strives to live life to the fullest.

Right off the bat, in a pointed preface titled “Crippled”, Christina Chase offers the kind of memoir I want to read. The illustration of her experience as a woman living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy will teach me through that human inclination to put yourself in the other person's shoes. She reaches into the depths of her experience and, by doing so—expressing her aching realization that she is alive and no one else can live the life she has—I am invited to think for myself what this means. What it means for others like her who are handicapped unlike me, what it means in my love for my son who has a chronic medical condition, and also what it means in my own weaknesses. Because, as she says, we are all crippled. It Is Good To Be Here In seven sections, Chase walks the reader through elections begun in meditating her own condition, then spreading them out like water poured from a vessel, touching the lives of those around her, reaching even unto us, who have never met her. She begins by opening us up to the wonder of creation. That wonder is challenged when we encounter illness and deformity. If as a woman, pregnant while I read it, I wish my vocation were not so bodily so that I could spend my hours praying and meditating. Chase reminds just how are earthly Christ's humanity is. As I progressed through the internal journey of these reflections, I found the other meditations I planned slipping away as this simple work from the heart and mind of a woman, dependent on those around her for her care, unfolded my fears for my unborn child and soothed them with the hard-won wisdom of this woman. Those Touched In the second section, she expands the scope of reflection to her parents' experience, the experience I am closest to as a mother of a child with complex medical needs. When her parents heard her diagnosis, the doctor said, “she will always have her smile” (32). With tears of affirmation, I read on: the momentous day of my diagnosis was also the first day that [my parents] began to discover their own deep strength and unique gifts. they possess understanding, acceptance, patience, selflessness, generosity, and undaunted joy—strengths and gifts which were not readily apparent in their grieving, but which slowly unfurled within them. Love was the key that opened their hearts to Divine Grace, so that they could recognize the truth, beauty, and goodness of self-sacrificing love and be fulfilled and who they were created to be. Love was the key that opened their eyes so that they could see the truth about themselves, their children, and the terribly beautiful and sacred wonder of human life. It was like the Lord speaking to me. The littleness of our lives and God is actually greatness. The Incarnate Word Chase digs deeper in her meditations on the humanity of the Incarnate Word. The perfect human being - God in the flesh - did not use divine power to overcome a struggle or avoid hardship. He used divine power so that he could suffer … Our natural limitations are sacred because the full reality of being human is sacred. We are walking with Christ, we are living Divine lives, even when we are tempted, so long as, in our reactions and decisions, we trust God and remain lovingly with Christ, striving to choose wisely. As a mother I spent my days thinking more of Mary because she was the mother, and here is Christina thinking of Christ, the Son the one who is wounded. Her focus reminds and reassures me of the good life available to my son who will suffer, but whose life is not diminished by his suffering or his differences. Lessons in Suffering So often we stand apart from suffering, from the disabled, or as Chase refers to herself, the crippled. We are all crippled, she reminds us. Being generally able-bodied but pregnant at the time of this reading, one delighting in my ability, it as easy to forget this lesson. It was easy to just want to return to the freedom of it all. Is was easy to be afraid. Christina showed me the hard truth that the best way, the most joyful way, just might be the hardest way. God made us human. And to be human is to be limited. And to be limited, here and now is to be wanting. And to be wanting is to be seeking. To be seeking is to be willing. To be willing is to be open. To be opened is to be awed. To be odd is to be redeemed. To be redeemed is to be fulfilled. To be fulfilled is to be full of divine love. To be full of divine love is to be joyful. Chase is a poet in the truest sense. Her words throughout the book ring deeply through my heart and echo in the world around me. In a society that emphasizes diversity and giving voice to those so often pushed to the periphery of society, this a book the world needs. Rejecting the overdone victim-oppressor narrative, Chase offers us a vulnerable glimpse into her own life, and by doing that, challenges us to look at our own. [bctt tweet="BIS Reads // It Is Good To Be Here: A Disabled Woman's Reflections on the Sacred Wonder of Being Human #BISblog //" via="no"]   Kathryn Anne Casey is a Northern Californian wife, mother of five children on earth and three in Heaven, speaker, newspaper reporter, columnist and author of Journey in Love: A Catholic Mother’s Prayers after Prenatal Diagnosis, and the upcoming Peace in Pregnancy: Devotions for the Expectant Mother. She splits her time reading, writing, homeschooling, attending to her son’s medical needs, and shuttling him to appointments at University of California San Francisco while listening to her favorite podcasts. To read more of her writing, click here.   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

The 1985 movie Back to the Future is a cultural phenomenon. One of the best quotes is uttered by Marty: “Wait A Minute, Doc. Are you telling me you built a time machine?” Picture his enthusiasm, his unbelief! I was right there with him. Oh, the places I would go. It was easy to get caught up in Marty’s valiant efforts to ensure his parents were married, thus securing his own existence. As I watched this play out, I was dreaming of my own time machine. How quickly Marty (and my older self) realizes the trap of trying to change the past while not affecting the present day and the stress of knowing too much about the future. And yet, we are caught in the same trap: trying to redo our past and control our future. All the while missing out on the gift of the present moment in front of us. Out of the Past So much of our life can be spent obsessing about the past: past sins, past experiences, past relationships, and past hurts. However, sitting in our history and letting it hold us hostage is not living. What part of your story are you carrying with you today? Is it the shame over a sin that you’ve allowed to define you? Has someone hurt you and you haven’t granted them forgiveness? We cannot store our past in sealed boxes, buried in our hearts. These boxes take up the room Jesus wants to occupy. Take these hurts, sins, and experiences to Jesus. Take the lids off and empty those boxes. Some of these boxes can find healing by working with a therapist or conversations with a trusted friend. However, the confessional is a great place to take many of the boxes. There is no sin too great for God’s mercy and love. Mercy, forgiveness, and healing are real, possible, and available to you. In this beautiful Sacrament, Jesus meets us where we are, looks on us with His loving eyes, and forgives and frees us. Take that step. Jesus is waiting. Back to the Future On the other hand, the worry many of us have over the future can be paralyzing, also preventing us from living. Fretting about our health, our kids, our jobs, or our finances doesn’t change any of the potential outcomes; it only exhausts our radiant souls. For me, I experience this level of worry as plate spinning. Trying to keep my finger on every aspect of every family member's life. Other words that may hit home: micromanaging, helicopter parenting, trying to keep all the balls in the air, and restless nights spent trying to anticipate every possible scenario at work. Exhausting, right? So what are we to do? St. Padre Pio offers some excellent direction: Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer. Back from the Future Surrendering our trust to the Lord is not easy and takes time. God is there for us, we are never alone, but we have to learn to turn to Him and build a relationship with Him. It is impossible to trust someone we don’t know. How do we build this relationship? We spend precious time with Our Lord and Savior. This may include increasing our daily time commitment to prayer, attending Mass an extra day during the week, praying the Litany of Trust, sitting before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, listening to worship music, or reading Sacred Scripture. The most important act is to take that step. Jesus is waiting. Here in the Present Where does that leave us? It leaves us right where Jesus wants us: in the present. Living only occurs in the present. The moment at hand or the person in front of you is all we can truly influence. How do we influence the present? As Christian women, our power to influence the here and now is with our love. A love that is deeply rooted in Jesus Christ. How we react to the interruptions from our children, how we respond to the request for help from our aging parents, and how we embrace the vulnerability of a friend expressing her shame are all opportunities to be like Christ and share His love. Over and over in the Gospels we witness Jesus’s beautiful, merciful love in how He receives the sick, the possessed, the broken, the lost, and the sinner. Let us strive to love like Jesus. Let us begin with ourselves. We should grant ourselves patience, gentleness, and kindness on our journey to salvation. Let go of your fear of failure, self-loathing, anger, and hurt. Take a moment to pause right now and live in the truth that you are a daughter of a loving and merciful God. We are created in His image, made for goodness, and more precious to Him than any gem. From this place of truth comes our worth, our knowledge that we are enough, and our joy. Speaking from experience, this is the toughest and yet most treasured gift you can grant yourself. If you’re having trouble hearing God’s voice; seek out a trusted friend who can speak these words of truth or a spiritual director who can guide you to this truth. Take the step, live in the truth. Jesus is waiting. Bearing Fruit that Will Last...into the Future When we abide from this place of truth, the Holy Spirit is able to make His fruits bountiful in our lives. Each of these gifts are to be used to spread Christ’s love and there is no better time than right now to add more love to the world. Taking the step to allow Jesus to heal our past through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the daily step of surrendering our worry about the future to God’s providence, and the step to live in God’s truth can be scary and difficult. Fear not! We are trusting our hearts, our very lives, to the one who chose us to be His. Take the step out of your past, back from your future, into your present and trust the one who loved you first. St. Therese of Lisieux’s reflection offers us further encouragement: If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient, but I only look at the present, I forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future. Take the step. Jesus is waiting. [bctt tweet="Back to the Future #BISblog //" via="no"]   Linda Schwartz recently decided to “pause” from administration and management and focus on her vocation as a wife to Andrew and a mother to their teenage boys. She is a cradle Catholic, but proud to have had her adult conversion to Christ in recent years.

“Be perfect,” Jesus tells us, “as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). For years, I thought this meant I had to eliminate all my flaws as fast as I possibly could. Whenever I made a resolution to do something and failed, I’d beat myself up. I would perceive certain parts of my temperament that caused me problems again and again and I’d feel angry at myself for being that way. I’d sin and spiral down into a pit of discouragement that lasted for days. I would get upset when I wasn’t making the progress I wanted in the timeframe I wanted. I’d think God couldn’t love me because I wasn’t living up to His expectations. All of this angst drained my hope and made me afraid of God. A Shift in Perspective Recently though, I discovered something revolutionary. The only way to a truly deep, close relationship with God is through rejoicing in our weakness. To peacefully, even joyfully, accept our flaws. But we need to fight sin, don’t we? How can we strive to be saints, but also be at peace with our flaws? Saint Paul speaks about the importance of bearing with your own imperfections in a beautiful passage from Corinthians. He describes a “thorn in the flesh,” some sort of personal trial that he wanted to be rid of and asked God for release from repeatedly. God, however, had different plans: But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12:9-11 Saint Thérèse on Weakness Saint Thérèse of Lisieux helped me see how crucial is this joy in our own weakness. Thérèse talks about how, far from causing us worry and anxiety, our flaws should give us confidence in God’s love. God is drawn to the weak. His grace flows into our misery—provided we’re open to it—just as water flows downhill. Instead of trying to fix ourselves on our own, we run to our Heavenly Father and show Him our weakness. We acknowledge our dependence on Him, and we ask Him for help. This humility and confidence attracts His love, generosity, and healing. According to Thérèse, the weaker and more wretched we are, the more confidence we should have in God. He wants to help us. But He can only do that if we admit that we need Him and give Him the space to work. Thérèse writes: We would wish to fall generously, nobly…What an illusion! We would never want to fall? What does it matter, Jesus, if I fall at each moment? It shows me my weakness and for this reason is a great gain for me. It shows you what I am able to do and now you will be more tempted to carry me in your arms. If you do not do it, it is because it pleases you to see me on the ground. Then I am not going to be disturbed, but I shall always stretch out my arms to you in supplication and full of love! I cannot believe that you would abandon me! [bctt tweet="I shall always stretch out my arms to you in supplication and full of love! I cannot believe that you would abandon me! -Saint Therese #BISblog //" via="no"] Rejoicing in Your Weakness Frankly, it feels terrifying to rejoice in your weakness. It means giving up any sense of control you thought you had over your spiritual life. It means embracing the fact that you were never that great or that holy to begin with. While it may seem admirable to be hard on yourself after you fall, this harshness and irritation usually stems from pride. Often, when we sin or when some part of our personality is found wanting, we’re upset because it shatters the image we had of ourselves. We realize that the emotions and desires we thought we were capable of handling have gotten the best of us and we aren’t self-sufficient. The good news is, God always extends a hand to help us get back on our feet if we ask. Saint Thérèse goes even further. She says that God will take us up in His arms and carry us to where we need to go. Unlike us, He is patient and gentle in dealing with our sins and the areas of our lives where we just can’t seem to ever get it right. Free Birds Saint Francis de Sales once compared the soul struggling desperately against his flaws to birds captured in nets. By fighting against the ropes so much, the birds actually entangle themselves more and make the problem worse. “Therefore,” he says, “whensoever you urgently desire to be delivered from any evil, or to attain some good thing, strive above all else to keep a calm, restful spirit.” We must do our best to fight temptation and grow in virtue, but when we fall, the crucial thing is not to lose our peace. When we fall, we should immediately put it in God’s hands and tell Him, “Lord, I’m sorry. I need you.” We can go to Confession. And then we get right back at it. God will be able to do much more with this than hours of agonizing over our faults. Trust in His Merciful Love This is not an easy thing to do. But the truth is, God already knows every single one of our sins. He knows all about that one thing you swore you were never going to do again and then did five minutes later. He wants to love us and help us anyway. The more we embrace our dependency on Him, the more at peace we will be. Because we realize we don’t have to carry the burden of our darkness ourselves. We don’t have to never fall. All we have to do is give our fight to Him. [bctt tweet="How (and Why) to Rejoice in Your Weakness #BISblog //" via="no"]   Maria Bonvissuto is originally from Nashville and currently lives in Washington, DC. She works in marketing and communications for a school in Northern Virginia. She loves writing, reading at least three books at a time, playing classical guitar, dancing, and traveling.

On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. // John 14:20 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Jazmin De Guzman from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war. -Our Lady of Fatima For years, I was inspired to daily pray the Rosary. Yet, I often struggled with making it a habit to the point that I would go many months without praying it. I knew all the great things about the Rosary: how powerful the prayer is, how Our Lady is constantly asking us to pray it in her apparitions, how helpful it is to meditate on the Mysteries of Christ’s life, and how much Mary blesses us when we do pray the Rosary. To be sure, when I did pray the Rosary, I often felt a peace and consolation doing it. I deeply admired people who had a strong devotion to praying the Rosary. In fact, there was a time in my life, when I first was inflamed in my Faith, that I did have a strong habit of praying the Rosary. As the years went on, and I became more busy and less on fire, I couldn’t seem to get myself motivated enough to make it a habit once again. There’s Never Enough Time or Energy While I had the desire to pray it, it just wasn’t strong enough to overcome the difficulties and overwhelm that I had in my life. How was I to have the mental and emotional energy to focus on the Rosary at the end of the day? By the end of the day, I either wanted to zone out a little (or sometimes a lot) on television or social media, or crash into bed. I also tried to wake earlier in the morning. This didn’t seem to work out, either. Why is it that, when you finally motivate yourself enough to wake up early to pray before your children wake, they always seem to wake earlier, too? It’s almost like they have an internal sensor that tells them when I get up! In addition, over these past five years I have been consistently sleep deprived, either waking frequently due to pregnancy symptoms or by babies and toddlers who constantly wake all night. Every Stage is Busy In this season of life, I needed all the extra precious moments of sleep I could get. While it seemed to me that maybe I was just not in a season of life to be able to commit to praying the Rosary, the reality is, I have struggled with this long before I was a mother. When I was in college or when I was working full-time, I never seemed to have enough time or energy to commit to saying the Rosary daily. Not having it as a daily habit made it that much harder for me to be motivated enough to pray it when I did find myself with a little time or energy. 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 Perfectionism: The Enemy of Action I realized that I had fallen into a perfectionistic, all-or-nothing thinking that was halting any attempt to pray the Rosary. I had it in my mind that, if I was going to pray the Rosary, then I needed to pray the full five Mysteries, daily, at the same time of day, in complete silence, and at a time when I could give my full attention to it. That's how you create a habit after all, by setting aside a particular time every day and giving your full attention to it. While this is good advice to help get a regular habit going, it wasn't practical for my season of life. Instead of creating a solid habit, this mentality was keeping me from trying at all. Making the Rosary a Daily Habit In order for me to get in the habit of praying the Rosary, I just needed to try and fit in the Rosary in the everyday, nitty-gritty parts of my life. I needed to focus on saying a decade or two at a time, while doing the dishes or driving in the car, when rocking or nursing the baby at all hours of the day or night, or when putting the kids to bed. I needed to resist the discouragement that came when I failed and hadn’t prayed it in days or weeks, and thought, “What’s another day?” I needed to focus on small, realistic goals for myself, and have courage to get back up and keep at it. In this way, I was able to create a habit of praying the Rosary throughout my busy day and take the pressure off myself to do it the “right way.” I soon found that the more I prayed the Rosary, the more I experienced the fruits of peace, joy, faith, and patience. Experiencing these fruits strengthened my desire and will to make the Rosary a part of my everyday life. While I do still enjoy a good podcast or music when I drive or do the dishes, I have been able to create the habit of making this wonderful prayer a priority in my daily life and am so grateful for this gift. 📿 Make It a Daily Habit Find Your Perfect Rosary From the Blessed Mother to St. Therese, St. Joseph, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, our rosaries are made to pray for your intentions every day. Shop All Rosaries → In what ways can you creatively incorporate the Rosary into your daily life, and experience the blessings and graces that Jesus has in store for you through His Blessed Mother?   Join us over in our app for a live weekday Rosary at 11am ET! Anna Maria Sevilla is wife to a wonderful man and mother of three sweet, young boys. She is a homemaker and homeschool mom, and enjoys spending time in nature, reading, writing, crafting and dancing. Find out more about her here.

When I was a little girl, my godmother was divorced from her abusive husband and could not remarry in the Church without an annulment (which she refused to try to obtain). She was not at fault in the divorce and would have stayed married to my uncle had he not filed for divorce from her. She was in her 40s and longed for a partner in life. She is and was my favorite aunt. She accepted all of this, but I did not. Ever since then, I’ve struggled with the Church’s teachings on sexual morality and marriage. A Struggle and a Search I’m 37 and have been primarily single the majority of my adult life with a few multi-year relationships thrown into the mix. I’ve dated Catholics and non-Catholics, Christians, Jews, Agonistics and even a Muslim. I’ve dated eligible and ineligible men, have lived with my boyfriends, and even had a child with one of them. I’ve never been in a truly chaste relationship. I have consistently battled with my desire for physical, emotional and spiritual intimacy and the Church’s teachings on sexual morality, and the cultural norms of behavior while dating, both casually and more seriously. It has not helped that others have approved of what I was doing and it has not helped that others have disapproved of what I was doing. My Unrelenting Conscience When it came down to it, I was fully aware that I was living out of integrity with my conscience while in sexually active relationships. I’ve tried every manner of excuse and rationality to convince myself otherwise, but it just hasn’t been the case. So, almost two years ago now, I decided to stop dating until I could come to peace with wanting a chaste relationship. I decided to focus on my son, on myself, and on my career. It’s been a good choice and a beautiful journey—one that I’m still on and working through. Don't Look, Jesus A year ago I moved into a new home. Of course, I hung my religious art throughout the house. But the one room where I refused to hang a crucifix was my bedroom. I didn’t want to feel judged (apparently, by my own conscience) by my Crucified Savior looking over me if and when I made the decision to invite a man behind the locked doors of my own bedroom in my own house. I wanted to keep that option open, even though I was embracing temporary celibacy. It was spiritually schizophrenic, I know. I just wasn’t ready to make public the inward commitment I had made. Come In, Jesus. Yesterday, that changed. I had been struggling with feeling alone on many levels and I was finally facing the fact that I was afraid of the loneliness. That admission prompted me to take another big step along this journey of loving being in alignment with all of the Church’s teachings, not just the ones that are comfortable and easy for me. I let Christ Crucified back into my bedroom. I placed the crucifix on the empty wall perpendicular to my bed. I stood before Him and wept. I placed my whole self—my life, my work, my son—into the hands of my loving Father. I recommended myself to His protection and care. I made the leap of Faith that I had been hesitant to make. And today? Today I woke up under the loving gaze of my Savior. I woke up peaceful and happy. Safe in His Hands Letting Christ Crucified back into my bedroom was a profound display of loving trust that He is guiding the steps of my life. I trust that He is taking care of all of my physical needs and desires. I am fully and totally safe in His Hands. Are you struggling to let Christ into your bedroom? Today, take the step. Let Him transform your heart, and your entire life. [bctt tweet="The Day I Let Christ Into My Bedroom #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post was written by an anonymous cradle Catholic, single mom, and business owner.

I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me. // John 14:6 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Brass and Mint Co. from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Our culture is saturated with porn. Most of us have either suffered from addiction to porn or know someone who does (even if we aren't aware of it). Pornography is a gripping addiction, and it takes its toll on relationships, but there is hope! Resources for Pornography Addiction We wanted to provide you with a list of concrete resources for help, in addition to prayer and the Sacraments. Books First up are books for both the addicted and those they love. Understanding Sexual Addiction Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction by Dr. Patrick Carnes Your Brain on Porn: Internet Pornography and the Emerging Science of Addiction by Dr. Patrick Carnes The Pornography Trap by Ralph H. Earle, Jr. and Mark R. Laaser Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain by William M. Struthers The Porn Myth: Exposing the Reality Behind the Fantasy of Pornography by Matt Fradd Delivered: True Stories of Men and Women Who Turned from Porn to Purity by Matt Fradd For the Partner Boundaries: When To Say Yes, How To Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend Real Hope, True Freedom by Milton Magness and Marsha Means Facing Heartbreak: Steps to Recovery for Partners of Sex Addicts by Stefanie Carnes (workbook) What Can I Do About Me? Healing from the Trauma of My Husband’s Pornography and Sexual Addiction by Rhyll Anne Croshaw Moving Beyond Betrayal: The 5-Step Boundary Solution for Partners of Sex Addicts by Vicki Tidwell Palmer Intimate Deception: Healing the Wounds of Sexual Betrayal by Dr. Sheri Keffer Mending a Shattered Heart: A Guide for Partners of Sex Addicts by Stefanie Carnes Your Sexually Addicted Spouse by Barbara Steffens and Marsha Means Shattered Vows by Debra Laaser Intimate Treason: Healing the Trauma for Partners Confronting Sex Addiction by Claudia Black For the Addict Facing the Shadow: Starting Sexual & Relationship Recovery by Dr. Patrick Carnes (workbook) Contrary to Love: Helping the Sex Addict by Dr. Patrick Carnes In the Shadows of the Net by Dr. Patrick Carnes Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction by Mark R. Laaser Clean: A Proven Plan for Men Committed to Sexual Integrity by Dr. Doug Weiss For the Couple Intimacy: A 100-Day Guide to Lasting Relationships by Dr. Doug Weiss The Couples Guide to Intimacy by Bill and Ginger Bercaw Restored: True Stories of Love and Lust After Porn by Matt Fradd For Children Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids by Kristen A. Jenson Counseling/Therapy Here are some resources for professional counseling and therapy. Some are location-specific, but some offer telehealth. Ken Adams and Associate (CSATs) 26862 Woodward, Suite 102 Royal Oak, MI (248) 398-0740 www.sexualhealth-addiction.com Hope Ray Therapy (LPC, CSAT, CHFP, disclosure specialist) Local Intensives (586) 307-6107 Elizabeth Jackson, MA, LLP, CSAT Novi and Ann Arbor (734) 656-8191 www.restoredhopecounselingservices.com John Becker (CSAT , Marriage & Family) Plymouth Rd. Ste. 150 Plymouth, MI 48170 (734) 233-7678 Grace Counseling Center (Tim Hogan and Randy Clark-CSAT) 20801 Moross Rd. Grosse Pointe, MI 48236 (313) 343-9000 www.growinghealthypassion.com Dr. Doug Weiss Intensives and phone groups Heart to Heart Counseling Center, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 (719) 278-3788 www.drdougweiss.com Bethesda Workshops (intensives and healing workshops) 1035 Acorn Dr. Nashville, TN 37210 (615) 467-5612 info@bethesdaworkshops.org Dr. Milton Magness Sexual Addiction Intensives https://www.hopeandfreedom.com Professionals Trained in Sexual Betrayal, Compulsive Sexual Behaviors, and Partner Trauma The Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists (APSATS) International Association of Certified Sexual Addiction Specialists (IACSAS) Christian Sex Addiction Specialists International (C-SASI) Betrayal Trauma Therapy Recovery Groups My House Men’s Sexual Integrity Group (734) 453-0326, ext. 308 myhouse@olgcparish.net My House Women’s Group (734) 453-0326, ext. 308 myhousewomensgroup@gmail.com Men of St. Michael (St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor) (734)-644-8978 menofstmichaelsta2@gmail.com My House Women’s Group (Christ the King, Ann Arbor) (734) 516-6896 ekbladmom9@gmail.com SANON (586) 997-7518 Sexaholics Anonymous Sex Addicts Anonymous Sexual Recovery Anonymous Recovering Couples Anonymous Websites Dr. Doug Weiss Peter Kleponis For teens and young adults // Fight the New Drug L.I.F.E. Ministries My House Initiative Accountability Service Covenant Eyes Safe Eyes   [bctt tweet="Resources for Pornography Addiction #BISblog //" via="no"]   Amy E. Ekblad has been married to Jesse for 25 years, is a homeschooling mother of 14 children on earth, 15 babies in Heaven, and grandmother of two. She is fueled by Jesus and coffee, in that order. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. // Acts 2:28 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Abigail Katherine Rose from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I had a plan. He was pretty much perfect, and I knew exactly how things would go for us. My imagination ran wild with ideas for the future which seemed inexpressibly bright and full of hope. All those St. Joseph novenas were finally being answered. Then, that conversation happened. You know, the one where he says you’re not the one. I remember the ironic warmth of the day and the sounds of laughter from a park nearby. The universe was blissfully unaware of my broken heart. Looking Forward to the Future When the Present is Painful How do we look forward to the future when the future just crumbled before our eyes? As a musician, I continued traveling and performing and writing music. But really, I stood still for months. Life washed over me, but I didn’t move. One rainy afternoon, I walked into my friend Kirsten’s house for a co-write. I know this is weird, but in Nashville, writing sessions are scheduled (as if creativity is something you can plan). Kirsten asked how I was doing. Tears streamed down my face as I told her the story and my inability to let go of my version of happily ever after. She looked at me lovingly and explained that I wasn’t alone. And she finished by saying something strikingly beautiful: Our neat and tidy idea of the future is never secure, but we are always securely held by the Father. Preach, sister. I needed to hear that. A Melody of this Moment In light of this conversation, we wandered towards the piano and began to write lyrics.... I don’t have the answers I wish that I had At the end of my questions is One brave new step I don’t have tomorrow Just one more deep breathe At the end of my sorrow is One brave new step It takes bravery to walk forward in a direction you never intended to walk. I am realizing the promise was never a comfortable, predictable life. God wants us to be brave, brave like Our Lady whose "yes" to a change of plans changed the world. One Brave New Step Today, there is so much uncertainty, but each brave new step brings us closer to a God Whose plan is for you to be with Him. We are always walking towards Home if we are walking by faith. I’m reminded of a quote from my spiritual fairy godmother, Ann Voskamp: Maybe grieving over plans changed is part of the plan to change us. My friend and I finished “Brave New Step” in just a couple of hours. As Kirsten and I exchanged stories from friends who have miscarried, lost jobs, lost loved ones, lost their way, I realized quickly that my heartbreak wasn’t the only thing going on in the world. Many people were taking much braver steps than I was. We are all living unplanned and unforeseen lives. A Song of Thanks + Trust A couple years later, I would be lying if I told you that I am always perfectly joyful in this new journey. This story does not end with me dating the Catholic Tim Tebow and out on a rescheduled (Coronavirus-free) world tour. I honestly don’t know where I am being led, but I know Who is leading me. That is enough of a reason to be brave. I clung to the ashes I didn’t want to forget But I am ready to let go Take one brave new step This video was created by people around the world to thank all the brave health care workers who are working tirelessly and risking their own health to keep us safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. [bctt tweet="Brave New Step: When All Our Best Laid Plans Change #BISblog //" via="no"]   Marie Miller is a singer/songwriter and mandolin player from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. She grew up on a small vineyard with her parents and nine siblings in an old house named Glenway. Her most notable performance was for Pope Francis and 700,000 attendees at the Festival of Families in Philadelphia, PA.