For my own eyes have seen the salvation. // Luke 2:30 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Mariana Pimiento of Big Apple Catholic. 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

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I was on the phone with a friend, talking about living with anxiety and getting ready to go back to school. She admitted, “I’m scared I can’t do it. I won’t be able to balance school, work, and being social, all while trying to keep my anxiety in check.” I responded, “Well you can’t.” Cue awkward silence. I kept going, “Wait, wait, wait. Let me explain. I don’t mean you can’t do it at all. I mean you can’t do it alone. No one can.” Does It Really Take a Village? We’ve all heard the saying, “It takes a village.” But how often do we actually rely on that village? In the old days, everyone in the village had his or her job. The baker baked her loaves of bread; the butcher supplied the meat for supper. The officer kept the peace; the seamstress wove clothes; the doctor took care of every cough, sneeze, and ailment. Everyone had a role. It didn’t matter if I was a terrible baker because that wasn’t my job. My job was to do something else. I relied on everyone around me to do their respective jobs and do them well, just as they relied on me to do so. Unrealistic Expectations We do not expect a surgeon to spend eight hours in the operating room in solitude. We do not expect one person to put out a fire. A quarterback doesn’t walk on to the field alone. No one in the villages of the past, nor in occupations today, was or is expected to do it alone. So why do we feel the need to do the hardest things by ourselves? We live in a world where there is a stigma on asking for help, yet there is no prize in doing anything alone. Afraid to Ask for Help I am often scared to ask for help. I feel like I am supposed to be this smart, capable, have-it-all-together super-woman. If I were to ask for help with homework or with dinner, I would be disappointing the person I am asking. This, in fact, is not the case. But I learned that the hard way. Reaching Out There is a reason I was talking to my friend about anxiety, just two years prior I had been in the same position. For about eight months, I tried to tough it out and figure it out on my own. Go on more runs, visit Adoration more frequently, keep up with my school work and tests. It wasn't working. When I would talk to my mom about it, she more than once gently suggested I visit the on-campus counseling center. I held out for months, afraid of what might happen in counseling but more afraid of what my family, classmates, and closest friends would think if they found out. I finally did go, and have been for two years now. I had to learn to ask for help, to lean on those around me. First it was just my mom. Then it was my mom and my counselor. Eventually, I told my closest and oldest friends, still scared they would judge me, think negatively me, or no longer want to be my friend because I had finally admitted that I could not do it all on my own. Their responses quelled all those fears. Rather than judge me, they supported me. Rather than think negatively of me, they cheered that I had accepted help when I needed it. A Village Takes Time Your village doesn’t have to be the whole village immediately. It can be just one person. And when you’re ready, invite one more person in. Jesus said “I will be with you until the end of the age,” (Matthew 28:19-20). Sometimes I don’t always see or feel or hear Him nearby. It’s taken me awhile to figure out, in those moments, just exactly where He is. He’s in all the people around me: my roommate when I’m having a difficult time with a new concept from class, my sister offering to get coffee when I just need to get out of the house and let my mind reset. It takes practice, humility, and sometimes vulnerability to actually lean on your village. So ask for help editing your resume. Text the neighbor for help with your kids after school. Seek professional counseling if you think you might need it. Be open with where you are at currently and what you need help and support in. Because no one is asking you to do it alone. Who is in your village? How do you lean on them vulnerably for support? [bctt tweet="Where Is Your Village? #BISblog //" via="no"] Renee Setter is a Nursing student at Benedictine College, pursuing her heart’s desire to care for the mind, body, and soul of each person she comes across, one clinical at a time. She is a lover of all things Christmas, coffee, and Gilmore Girls. You can often find her reading or knitting on a rainy day.

In the musical Wicked, the popular Galinda gives a makeover to her nerdy, offbeat roommate. Galinda presents herself as the fortunate, intelligent friend who, out of the kindness of her heart, deigns to help the less fortunate, the less informed, the lesser. I laugh at Galinda’s presumptuous vanity. But when I minister to others, sometimes I unwittingly adopt that very attitude. It’s easy to simplify my interactions, imagining myself as an angelic messenger bringing light into the darkness. I have to remind myself that, in God’s eyes, I am a beggar sharing with another beggar. And perhaps that other beggar has something important to share with me as well. Those I serve owe me nothing, yet they often bless me in ways I didn’t realize I needed. God provides opportunities to receive His blessing through others in both formal and informal ministries. By recognizing that those I serve are my equals, I allow God’s love to flow freely. [bctt tweet="When I serve someone else, I am a beggar sharing with another beggar. And perhaps that other beggar has something important to share with me as well. #BISblog //" via="no"] Being Served During Informal Ministry Sometimes the Holy Spirit nudges me to say an encouraging word, lend a hand, or give a gift to someone in my community, such as a grocery store queue acquaintance or a member of my small group. With friends, it’s easy to see how giving and receiving often come full circle, and it’s easy to feel like we are all equals. But I have difficulty when I am called to serve someone whose circumstance is far outside my own experience, such as someone panhandling on a street corner. I can get stuck in “Galinda mode,” feeding my pride with each act of service. I Am Poor Like All the Poor A few years ago at a sandwich shop, an older gentleman with frizzled grey hair and smelly clothes asked me for change. I bought him lunch. While we ate outside the sandwich shop, a tall bald man marched up to us and offered to pray with us. My lunchtime companion shrugged, then asked the street missionary to pray for his estranged children and for recovery from an addiction. They turned to me, and I asked them to pray for a loved one who was sick. We stood and held hands, a triangle of people with very different lives, and prayed for each other, asking God to bless each situation and each heart. While I often find myself with a surplus of material blessings to share, I need grace and prayer as much as anyone else. Now, I try to keep my heart open when I serve in a spontaneous informal capacity. Being Served During Formal Ministry In formal ministry, I may represent a parish or diocese, a medical facility, or a professional organization. Strictly defined roles, structured encounters, and behavioral boundaries are important. To protect the ones I serve, I must follow the rules and principles established in Safe Environment training (or its equivalent within the professional entity). It is unethical to accept expensive gifts, elaborate favors, or emotional support from a ministry participant, patient, client, or professional contact. Even so, there are appropriate ways to receive God’s blessings through those I serve. They inspire me, challenge me, and share their wonderful personalities with me. Bringing Light As a Speech Therapist, I often see patients and families in vulnerable moments. They are navigating life with a disability in a world that doesn’t make it easy. Their perseverance motivates me to get through tough days; I am challenged to grow in patience, charity, and self-love. In this regard, there is little I can offer my patients. I can only receive their wisdom and draw strength from their example. Often, my patients do small but extraordinary things to make me smile. During feeding therapy, my patients have offered me slimy bites of strange concoctions. During language therapy, sometimes they talk excitedly about their passions, the plot of their new favorite movie, or an exciting event at work or school. Sometimes, patients give creative compliments or tell funny jokes. On days when I have closed myself off, moments like these crack my heart open, letting the light in. Redefining “The Least of These” Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. -Matthew 25:40 So often I imagine the ones I serve as “the least of these.” After all, often I serve someone who seems “less fortunate” than me—materially, medically, or in some other way. Society views those who need help as “lesser.” But Jesus doesn’t. He calls me to let go of my pride and to treat those I serve as my equals. We are, all of us, “the least of these.” When I acknowledge my own weaknesses and allow those I serve to serve me in their own way if they choose, everyone’s experience is richer. When I am open to receiving God’s blessings through those I serve, I value their dignity as whole persons, and I can truly delight in them. Whether I am serving others spontaneously and informally or in a professional or formal setting, God calls me to be both a conduit and a recipient of His grace and love. How are you both a servant and a recipient of service in your own life? [bctt tweet="To Serve and Be Served #BISblog //" via="no"] Kiki Hayden is a freelance writer and bilingual Speech Therapist living in Texas. She is a Byzantine Catholic. Here is more about how God has changed her life through speech therapy. You can find out more about her here.

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. // 1 Corinthians 1:17 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

For a long time, my husband and I didn’t pray together the way we do now. We’d been together in prayer a lot, praying side by side at church, sharing prayers before meals, leading our children in family prayers and participating in Rosaries with others. We’d been in Scripture study groups and shared prayers there. The One Thing Missing However, it wasn’t until we were invited to speak to a group about the Sacrament of Marriage that we realized—in the middle of the presentation—that our relationship was missing something we were recommending as a foundational component of a strong Christian marriage: setting aside time as a couple every day to be with God in prayer. Perhaps we wouldn’t have been invited had the host known that during our presentation we would discover, and share with the poor souls in the group, our lacking. As we listed the benefits of praying as a couple, I turned to my husband as said, “We don’t do this well. Actually, we don’t do this at all.” Although our story indicates otherwise, we did prepare our talk together. But God revealed in His own time what we lacked in our preparation. I’m grateful; for it was in that moment that we committed, to each other and to the group enduring our insufficiencies, to entering a new intentional way of spending time together with God. We All Know It's Good for Us... We’d heard the exhortations. “A couple that prays together stays together.” And, we believed it enough to tell others to do it. Prayer was not new to us, and we had experienced its fruits in our individual relationships with Jesus. We believed in its power. As many have expressed, prayer doesn’t change God, it changes us. If prayer changes us, then wouldn’t the shared prayer of a husband and wife change their marriage? And those the marriage encounters? But, hidden within many things I say I believe is a twinge of unbelief, just enough to prevent me from acting. “I do believe, help my unbelief!” said the father who sought Jesus’ healing of his son in Mark 9:14-29. God will help, but we must genuinely desire him and ask. My husband and I needed God’s help to believe shared prayer would make a difference. As we began to pray together daily, He began healing our unbelief. What Prayer Does in a Marriage Our prayer not only brought us together in a new way, it helped us encounter God in a new way. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. -Matthew 18:20. When we experience God’s presence in a palpable way in prayer with others, just as Jesus promises, it enables us to recognize His presence in other moments, where it may not be as obvious. Our prayer enables us to hear God’s message for our marriage. Marriage requires work. It is part of the narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14) to unity with Jesus for those who take its vow. Spouses need direction and guidance. In our prayer, we realize we need constant direction, even in how to pray together. When we turn to God together, He helps us see Him in each other. Prayer is an expression of love because it directs our attention to another. Our most intimate friendship, that with Jesus, is shared with our spouse in a personal and vulnerable way. [bctt tweet="When my husband and I turn to God together in prayer, He helps us see Him in each other. #BISblog //" via="no"] 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 What Our Prayer Looks Like We’ve learned that things go better if we pray together daily. Because our selfish human condition rises anew each day, so does our need for God, in our individual lives and in our relationships. The only consistent thing about our prayer (other than Jesus showing up every time) is that it happens each day. Most often, we pray together in the morning. The one who leaves the house first seeks out the other. Wherever the other is found will be the location of the prayer. Sometimes, a child or two or three walks past. We invite them to join us, but only rarely do they accept. They seem to be more interested in observing and listening, perhaps wondering what comes from the prayer of their parents. I trust that God will reveal to them His goodness. Our prayer time has not been one of rote prayers, but rote prayers would make for beautiful shared prayer if that is the desire of the marriage. We have what I often refer to as “open mic with God” where we simply speak from our heart. It’s often clumsy. My husband is quick to give thanks and praise, to kindly tell God good morning and notice the abundant gifts we’ve been given. I am prone to lift up the people in our lives and seek help for the circumstances swirling around us. It is in our varied contributions that the Lord strengthens our bond, our need for each other as husband and wife, and our deep need for Him in our marriage. Moments of Grace One of our morning prayers sits in the memory of my heart. At the time, I wouldn’t have said it was a joyful moment, it brings joy now. In our home, we set important papers and items needed for the next day on a certain part of the kitchen countertop the night before. It’s not far from our coffee maker. The previous night, I had placed in that countertop space several papers that one of our daughters needed the next day for an international service trip. The documents included original notarized signatures and extensive health information. Something unusual happened with the coffee maker my husband generously programs each night, and the papers were soaked with the coffee I desperately wanted in my cup. My second thought—after I realized I would have to wait for coffee—was how much time it would take to redo the paperwork. I hurriedly draped the papers, one by one, over items in the kitchen to dry. My husband calmly said he was sorry about the coffee and made the call to prayer. I didn’t want to pray. I just wanted to get my hair dryer and fix the papers. But as he spoke the words that started our conversation with God, I was reminded to stop focusing on what was wrong, as I often do in struggles, and give my attention to God, my husband, and the very real presence of them both. As my husband thanked God for the “grace to handle the coffee incident,” I felt a twinge of sorrow for running from that grace minutes before. I prayed I could make room for it in that moment. The prayer made the space I needed. A Lifelong Invitation to Pray with My Husband Not surprisingly, we haven’t been invited back to speak about the Sacrament of Marriage. But, the Lord continues to invite us to be together with Him every day. He’s always there, wherever we are and whenever we make the time, waiting for us to share our relationship with Him. As many encouraged us, I encourage you. If you are married, engaged, or dating, pray together in an intentional way with Our Lord. Make it your own. There are no rules. Ask God for help. He will show up. [bctt tweet="How I Pray with My Husband #BISblog //" via="no"] Nikki Frerker is a wife and mother of four who lives in Leawood, Kansas. She spends a portion of her time practicing estate planning law and enjoys serving as a catechist for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at her parish. You may find her running before the sun rises, driving her children around at all hours, or singing praise music just loud enough to embarrass anyone willing to listen.

I still remember all the feelings I had when reading Little Women by Lousia May Alcott for the first time. The writing, the story, and the characters were all so beautiful. When I closed the book, I felt like the world was a better place. The first film version I watched was the 1949 version with Elizabeth Taylor and June Allyson. It may have been that it was the first movie adaptation I watched, but I loved it more than all the other adaptations I would see over the years. I have faithfully watched it every Christmas since. The fact that I watch Little Women at Christmas speaks to the warmth and spirit of the story. It is about family, hope, love, perseverance, and faith. Greta Gerwig’s new adaptation of Little Women truly gets to the heart of what Little Women is about even more so than my beloved 1940s film. Another Adaptation? As someone who has seen every version (I think) ever made of Little Women, I was very skeptical of another adaptation. The story has just been told too many times (I thought), with little change but the actresses and actors. Greta Gerwig shows her genius by reimagining Little Women as a film and a piece of art while staying true to the heart of the story. All other versions of the film have unfolded in the predictable, chronological time frame. Gerwig begins at the end and lets the story unfold in flashbacks. She carefully weaves the story together piece by piece. In doing so, she is able to more fully show the development of each sister and their relationship as a family. This, I feel, is what makes this version feel so much closer and truer to the original story than past versions. This is also why I think it is even easier to relate to the already relatable characters. What We Know about Womanhood Being so familiar with this story, I was surprised by just how emotional I was throughout the movie. I had tears in my eyes the entire time. I had braced myself for the moment of Beth’s death, but that was not the most emotional moment of the film for me. Near the end, there is a scene where Jo is speaking to Marmee about how utterly lonely she is being a woman. A crying Jo says, “Women have minds and they have souls as well as just hearts. They’ve got ambition and they’ve got talent as well as just beauty. I am so sick of people saying love is just all a woman is fit for. I’m so sick of it! But...I am so lonely.” I have reflected on this feminist theme since watching it a week ago. We are still wresting with women’s roles in our culture and in our Church today. We, as a Church, and like Jo, acknowledge the beauty of being a woman. We do have beautiful hearts inclined to nurture and love. Jo feels pigeon-holed by this, and feels she must sacrifice this part of herself to have ambition and to honor her brilliant mind. The tragedy of the scenario hurt me to my core. Partly because I have experienced this tension in my own life, and partly because I have observed it in my friends and family. This conversation needs to be held until the day women realize they don’t have to sacrifice their nature for their dreams. How I wish I could tell Jo in that moment to look to Mary and all the other fierce, talented, and loving women we have examples of in our Faith! Although she is speaking more to the culture she lived in, I think she would find encouragement in her battle. I feel sure Mary’s strong Magnificat would fill her with courage. In St. Joan of Arc she would find a kindred spirit. In all the religious sisters throughout Church history she would find examples of single women who lived out their vocations fully, and married women who did as well. My hope is that at this moment you do not feel as Jo did. My hunch is you have at some point. So this is my humble piece of advice: don’t fall into the lonely, heartbreaking trap that Jo does. Don’t sacrifice your heart for your head or vice versa. Know that God holds all pieces of your identity as a woman in His hands and with care and a sense of importance. He is the God of our homes and hearts as well as the God of our minds and dreams. He can be trusted. [bctt tweet="Greta Gerwig's Little Women + What I Wish I Could Tell Jo #BISblog //" via="no"] Bond Strong lives in the mountains of southwest Virginia with her husband, Reece, and two sons, Willis and Harmon. She can be found on Instagram @bwarnerstrong and her conversion story can be found here.

I have always loved to read since I was a little girl. Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy, the Bobbsey Twins, and various other books geared toward young girls were my best friends growing up. Reading was my recreation. Oh, how I wish Kindles were in existence 40+ years ago! My 1970s Kindle would have had ridiculous amounts of books loaded and ready. Instead, I was at the library frequently, books were passed down between friends and family members, and we purchased books from used bookstores. As an adult, I still enjoy reading. My time now is more limited than when I was a child and I don't get to read as much as I would like. I also tend to read the same genre over and over again. I am not one to venture out of that box too often. Searching for a Book Club To remedy this, I began reading a book about Divine Mercy in our parish's adoration chapel every Monday evening. When I finished that book, I thought it would be great to have a Bible study or other book study with women. However, I knew that I did not want to lead or be the "teacher." I get enough of that role on Monday-Friday in my school classroom. Besides, I am no expert on my Faith. I just wanted to learn more about it and discuss it with like-minded folks. My search began for a book/Bible study. A neighboring parish had a Bible study beginning and I seriously considered going. I knew, though, that I would miss a couple of weeks due to some travel. Additionally, I did not know a soul at this study. Our own parish had nothing going on in this regard either. Again, I could have started one, but I knew I would be deemed "the teacher." What about an Online Book Club? An online book club kept rolling around in my mind. I thought I could set up a private Facebook group with a chosen book as our study. Looking back, I think this was God nudging me. I put out a question via my personal Facebook page and asked who would be interested in an online, private Facebook group Catholic book study. Immediately, a dozen ladies or more messaged me with "YES!" At this point, I decided we would give it a try just for the summer. How to Start an Online Book Club Here are some tips and lessons I learned along the way. Don't be afraid to start your own! Put out Facebook feelers or advertise in your church bulletin. Create your Facebook group and make it private! You will only want group members to see discussions, questions, and other comments made. There are levels of trust associated with doing a study of this nature. Privacy should never be violated and it is of extreme importance to keep confidences shared in the group within the group. Find 3 or 4 books which are faithful to Catholic teaching and might be of interest to your group. Create a poll within your Facebook group for members to vote on the book. I posted links to the books where members could read the summary, see reviews, and all associated materials. Keep the book cost reasonable so that cost does not keep someone from participating. We each paid for our own book and did not ask our parish to fund this. Decide who will be the "facilitator" for this study. This person would be in charge of presenting discussion questions to the group and being the lead person in organizing materials and group. This could certainly rotate each time a different book is studied. Determine a timeline for posting discussion questions. I posted them once a week and left them up for the entire week. Post some rules or guidelines for your group. Ours were 1) Pray before you post, 2) Remember to keep everything that is said in the group private, and 3) Participate when you can. Pros of an Online Book Club Members can answer questions when it is convenient. Night owls can answer in the middle of the night. Early risers can answer in the morning. There is no worry about finding meeting times or securing childcare. Keep your jammies on and your cup of coffee in hand! Questions are posted and answers are not expected immediately. There is "think" time and time for thoughtful reflection when members can post at their convenience. I am not good on the spot, but can process a thoughtful reflection with a little time. Vacations and distance did not interfere. Don't live near the other members? Not a problem—answer when you can and when you have internet. No pressure. ​Cons of an Online Book Club Since members do not meet face to face, you always get the "typed" response. We all know how texts and emails can be perceived incorrectly without the associated body language, inflection, and presentation of our thoughts. Not everyone in the group will actually type responses and participate. If I am being honest, I was a little bothered by this. All of these ladies joined the group, but the same few were the only ones commenting. I worried that the others didn't feel comfortable or were not enjoying it. Later on, an active group member told me that someone else who joined the group and never said a word really enjoyed it and hoped we would do it again. My response was, "Really? She never said a word!" Probably a bit uncharitable and judgmental of me since after that I learned that the "inactive" member was learning so much by simply reading the book and reading the responses. My lesson in this is that God uses things in His way to accomplish His purpose, not what I thought needed to happen. You might not develop the personal relationships with the others in the group since the study is online. That is not necessarily the case in my example, since we all knew one another. If that aspect is important to your group, then set up some outside social time to simply meet for coffee and enjoy one another's company. Try Starting an Online Book Club! Our group ran the gamut from young moms to middle aged to senior citizens. Some were married, some divorced, some widowed, and some single. That aspect of it made it so interesting to me. We saw life experience from the seniors to the struggles of middle aged and younger women and their various stations in life. We all learned from one another. As my family says when I cook something they like, it is a "do-over"! This online book study was a do-over as well! Next summer we hope to tackle a different Catholic book. Have you ever participated in an online book club? What did you enjoy about it? [bctt tweet="How to Start an Online Book Club #BISblog //" via="no"] Noelle Jean is a Catholic wife, mom, and public school teacher trying to connect with other faithful Catholic women and grow in her faith.

Soon after my conversion in 8th grade, I knew I was being called to serve God through His Church. I wasn’t sure what this service would look like, but soon enough, the Lord slowly began to reveal it to me. Maybe God has called you or is calling you to serve in the Church, too? For the role to which God was calling me, I needed to receive formal training at a Catholic University. This involved eight+ years of study, internships, time away from my family, numerous flights, sacrifice and understanding of my family and friends, and oh, lots and lots of money! My parents supported me as they were able, I had side jobs where I earned a little here and there, I even had a small settlement from a serious car accident I was in, but student loans covered much of the expenses. I felt I had no choice. There was no other way to cover the cost of these studies. I felt a calling and I was convicted it was a path I needed to pursue. The Cost of Education for Ministry I believe many feel a similar call. But, at this point in time, the price of Catholic education is nearly impossible for one person to cover, especially for young people from middle class families. In my experience, young people from lower income households have more access to scholarships and grants and upper income families are able to provide more assistance for the annual tuition. Young people from middle class families are pretty much stuck and have to make the choice whether or not to take out loans and hope for the best as they seek the Lord’s promptings or take the safer route of not pursuing a Catholic education. What many of us don’t yet see from this is how this is impacting vocations! We must do something. What Can We Do to Help Lessen the Burden of Student Loan Debt While Working in Ministry? Pray the Our Lady Undoer of Knots Novena One of my biggest struggles during this journey of seeking to pay off my student loans is guilt and worry. Did I do something wrong? Was it pride and ego that drove me to study Canon Law? Was this not the Lord’s will for my life? After all, God does not will us to have bondage in our lives that keep us from being free and who he has called us to be. As I have struggled with these questions, I finally said, “Enough! God, I made this choice in my youth and I surrender any and all sin that may or may not be attached to my past choices.” I went to Our Lady Undoer of Knots to undo any knots in my life from the decisions of my youth. Ask Your Parish Community for Help The parish is the community of faith God blesses us with for our journey. Each of the baptized are called to be active disciples. Parish communities are privileged to journey with you as you you fulfill your call to mission. The parish is where you are fed and receive the support for the journey. What a better group of people to call on for assistance? Let them know of your struggle. Truly, people are good, generous, and want to help! The most important thing to communicate to your parish community is that you feel called to serve and how your student debt is holding you back from service to Christ’s Church. I’ll Say It…Get a Second Job As tough as it may be, to be able to help you for a while, and as you seek to find a solution for freedom, you may need to secure a second job. But only for a short period of time to avoid burnout. From my personal experience, I suggest your second job be something in Church service, too. Do what you can to not hold two jobs that are extremely opposite. Let the positions of service flow from one another and breathe life into each position and the people you have been called to serve. Encourage the Study of Trades, Priesthood and Consecrated Life If you serve with young people, don’t be afraid to encourage different paths of study. We need professional men and women formed in various trades. What about iconography? Carpenters? Sculptors? Organists? Farmers, gardeners, etc. We need strong formation in humanities, but we also need men and women who are skilled with their hands. Look at the incredible work of our ancestors that have come before us! How much do we long for the quality of the U.S. Catholic churches of the late 1800s and early 1900s? For some young men and women, it may not be too soon to pursue the priesthood and consecrated life right out of high school. We need to be providing solid discernment opportunities for these young people earlier on in life. Evangelization must be happening simultaneously as they are receiving instruction on the Catechism. If there is no flame… the instruction will not stick. This is the responsibility of parents and families in conjunction with the parish. We cannot rely on parish staff to provide for our children falling in love with the living God. Trust and Know God Has a Plan for Your Life As St. Pope John Paul II would always say: “Be not afraid!” God does have a plan for your life, even though the loan payments may feel heavy and with no end in sight. Do not be discouraged as God is always working for our good. But you must act and keep seeking ways to obtain financial freedom, because God desires us to be debt free in order to live a generous life and be available to help others! Give Back What is key in all of this though? Once you obtain financial freedom due to the generosity of others or your incredibly hard work and/or simultaneous to you seeking to be debt free, we must give back. This may mean you start a scholarship fund for the youth in your parish, encourage youth to have a plan to avoid debt and to only take out small loans, approach your parish and diocese to see what is in place to help with student loan debt, etc. Most importantly, do not make the journey to be debt free about you! Again, the main reason to be debt free is to live a generous life and be available to God and help others! All is a gift and we are made to be a gift for others. For Further Reading on the Catholic Education Student Loan Crises Why Can't the Middle Class Afford Catholic School Anymore? The Catholic Church Has a Student Loan Problem, Too How Can I Ever Repay You? Catholic Colleges and the Student Loan Crises How have you obtained financial freedom from your student loans? How has it helped you to listen to God and be of service to your local community and the greater Church? [bctt tweet="Student Loan Debt + Working in Ministry #BISblog //" via="no"] Amanda Zurface resides in Pueblo, Colorado, where she serves as the Vice-Chancellor for the Diocese of Pueblo. She also serves as the Catholic Content Specialist for Covenant Eyes. Amanda holds a License and MA in Canon Law and a BA in Catholic Theology and Social Justice. She is the co-author of Equipped: Smart Catholic Parenting in a Sexualized Culture, Confident: Helping Parents Navigate Online Exposure and Transformed by Beauty.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." // John 1:29 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

We're often asked a variety of questions about what the Blessed is She ministry uses to make videos, downloads, and so on. So we're pulling back the tech-y curtain—come on in! Behind the Scenes: Tools + Tech Over the years and as the ministry has grown, we've tried many tools and processes to find the just-right mix of what helps us serve the Lord and the Blessed is She community. Of course, we are always learning and evolving, so let us know in the comments below if there's an amazing tool we're missing! Organization + Productivity G Suite // Google’s G Suite (email and Google drive) is where we keep all our digital documents, including cooperative spreadsheets, resources, calendars, and more. It’s so user-friendly, and it allows us to manage all of our files in one place. Slack // Slack is a workplace app that allows our team to communicate on different channels for different things. This has transformed our operational team's communication. And since most of us work remotely, it allows us to have a place to "gather" (and use GIFs). Trello // Trello is an online project management tool that arranges projects in little boards (almost like bulletin boards) in an easy-to-view spread. We use this for team projects and as individuals to keep track of our own daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. It's also a great tool to use for brainstorming and jotting down quick ideas (you know, like the ones you get in the shower). Toggl // Toggl is an online time-tracking tool to help you keep track of the hours you spend on your projects. So helpful for keeping yourself on track and getting a true idea of how much time you're spending on certain tasks. WooCommerce // The WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is what fuels Blessed is She’s online shop. There are so many functions that we love, and because it’s a plugin, it’s really easy to implement on your own site. HelloSign // Being that the ministry is run almost entirely online, a lot of times we need documents signed over the Internet. Enter: HelloSign. On the subject of team organization and project management, check out these top five apps for remote teams! Content Creation MailChimp // We use this service to send emails. Tidio // This chatbox function allows up to three users on at a time, has set Do Not Disturb times, and looks beautiful! Canva // Spoiler alert! Most of the graphics we make for Blessed is She are done in Canva. This free, web-based graphic design program also comes with a paid business plan, and its templates turn even the most green users into designers. Sticker Mule // We use Sticker Mule to create our stickers! The design process is easy, and production/shipping turn around is so quick. Crowdcast // We love to use Crowdcast for our monthly workshops. Lightstock + Unsplash // If you are looking for stock photography that isn’t cheesy, look no further. Lightstock specializes in Christian photography, so it’s a nice addition to using Unsplash. Community + Social Media Buffer // We schedule our Instagram here (best place ever because they actually put correct spaces in for IG captions!). Planoly // This is where we lay out our Instagram plan. You can lay out all of the pictures in a grid then see what works and what doesn’t. Drag and drop and mix around the pictures. Tailwind // We love Tailwind for scheduling out and auto-publishing pins to Pinterest. CoSchedule // This works right within Wordpress, which is amazing. Right when we schedule a blog post, podcast, or devotion, we can schedule out social media from right within the post. CoSchedule automatically pulls the featured image, it can support so many different social media channels, and it’s honestly one of the greatest plugins we use on Wordpress. Podcast Recording Yeti Microphone // Our microphone is super easy and simple to use. It plugs right into the computer via a USB cord. Super simple. Ecamm for Skype // When Beth and Jenna record with guests for The Gathering Place podcast, they use Ecamm for Skype. When they record with just the two of them, they simply use the Audio Recording function on QuickTime Player. GarageBand + Audacity // We use these software programs to edit each podcast episode. Anchor // This is what we use to simply upload our mp3s which then publishes The Gathering Place to all the podcast apps that exist. Anchor is owned by Spotify! Video Recording Ring Light (and this one) // We use these for easy lighting while recording edited videos and live videos like Teachable Tuesday! iMovie // We use this for editing video and content for Instagram! Lav Mic // This is the mic Beth uses during Teachable Tuesday. Tripod // We use a few different cameras and iPhones to record live videos simultaneously, and this affordable tripod is really easy to set up.   That's about it! What questions do you have? What keeps your good work running?   [bctt tweet="Behind the Scenes of Blessed is She // Tools + Tech #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Community is something we need at all walks of our faith life. Whether we are searching for the Truth and are shown the love of God from our friends around us, whether we have just decided to take the Faith seriously and our friends are embarking on the journey with us, or we have been practicing for many years and our friends help keep us grounded against the sometimes-tumultuous waters of the world around us, community is essential. The road of faith is not meant to be walked alone. Nor is it something that we should try to do alone. Learning about Community The summer after my freshman year of college, I spent the summer in Colorado with 120 other college-aged Catholics. We worked 8 hours a day at the YMCA. During our time off, we prayed, went to Mass, hung out, goofed off, and explored the Rocky Mountains. Together, we learned how to truly live life to the fullest. I’m no expert on community. I don’t know the academic terminologies about how one should be or the logic of how to make one. But I have been reflecting on the best one I have ever experienced and what it has taught me. I learned a lot about community when twenty of us decided to go on a nine-hour, ten-mile hike. Rivers and Forgiveness At the start of the trail, we walked into a vibrant forest abundant with wildflowers and aspen. With every twist and turn through the forest, we seemed to uncover more greenery and flowers. The path was easy and flat. As far as I could tell, this would be the easiest “mountain” I’ve ever climbed. That is, until we hit our first river. Although the river was swift, a huge log that had fallen over it. We were able to cross to the other side. One of the girls asked another to hold her phone as she walked across because she was afraid she would drop it in the water. It was all a very prudent and noble act until the phone-bearer dropped the phone into the river halfway across. This taught me that in a virtuous community, we must learn to trust each other. We also have to learn to forgive and to seek forgiveness when we fail. Climbing the Snowy Slopes Eventually, the trees thinned, our trail sloped upwards, and our path was strewn with snow. As we trudged on, the trail was completely hidden underneath the drifts. We needed to dig holes into the snow and walk in each other’s steps to stay on track and not fall backwards down the vertical incline. After shouts of motivation from the group, each person was able to make it over the incline and take in the wintery view of a frozen lake surrounded by the mountains. We need virtuous community that will challenge us to strive toward Heaven. Let's surround ourselves with people who will help us cling to the snowy slopes to get there. [bctt tweet="We need virtuous community that will challenge us to strive toward Heaven. #BISblog //" via="no"] Losing and Finding At this point in the journey, I assured myself that I had no desire to try to climb any mountain. I had no idea that our journey was not even halfway over. Now we needed to walk down the slope on the opposite side of the mountain. Half the group got a running start to slide down the snowy slopes into a wooded area. We got so caught up in searching out the greatest hills that we lost the trail. We had to search through the forest to find it under the snow. Soon, we found it again, but because we moved so quickly, half the group had gotten lost in the forest. I learned that community is about recognizing when someone gets lost, loving them, and gently guiding them back to the light. This is especially crucial when your friends get lost in a National Forest. Around mile six, the trail stopped at the edge of a 20-yard-wide river. We laughed out loud. The current was strong and the water was up almost to our waist. But, on the other side, we could see the trail start again. We had no choice but to wade across. We jumped in and pulled each other through the swift parts of the current until everyone was across. No tumultuous waters could stop us! Before the end of the hike, we ended up needing to cross the river seven more times, and, thanks to the grace of God, each one of us made it to the other side each time. Our virtuous community must challenge us to face the current of the world around us and strive for Truth and virtue, no matter which way the eddies swirl. Lord, Grant Us the Gift of Virtuous Community! May God give each of us a great community of friends at all walks of our lives—from the green meadows to the raging rivers and everything in between. I hope that, when we finish the hike, we’ll be able to look at those next to us and thank them for giving us the courage to continue bravely on the narrow path to the end. It is worth it. [bctt tweet="Cultivating Virtuous Community #BISblog //" via="no"] Ally Eidemueller is a Sophomore at Yale University studying economics. She loves exploring the mountains, finding the little joys in life, and watching football games just for the sake of rooting for the underdog.

We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage. // Matthew 2:2 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

“Just do it,” my friend said. “You’ll be glad you did.” We were talking about her family’s commitment to gathering on Sunday evenings for dinner. I told her my husband and I had been wanting to start hosting Sunday dinners for our extended family. We wanted to be more intentional about being with family on a regular basis, but we wondered what such a commitment might require of us and whether anyone would be willing to come regularly. I had more than once overheard people say, “I have to go to my aunt/sister/grandmother/mother’s house for Sunday dinner,” in a less than enthusiastic tone. I didn’t want to be that relative. Why Extended Family Sunday Dinners Matter My friend is a mother and a judge with a full schedule, and at the time of our conversation, she lived in an apartment with limited space. Yet, she and her children hosted her extended family every Sunday. I could see her happiness and imagined the joy her gatherings gave her family. As I sat with my fearful complaints, her love in action inspired me and echoed scripture, “Be hospitable to one another without complaining” (1 Peter 4:8-9). My husband and I had a pondering on our hearts, a home to open, food to share and, it seemed, a clear directive. Shortly after that conversation, we sent an e-mail invitation to our extended family to invite them to regular Sunday dinners at our home. They came. All of them. Now, three years later, they still come. They often bring their dogs. Sometimes they bring friends, honoring our invitation to bring anyone who would enjoy sharing a meal and spending a Sunday evening with others who would love to know them. It's Doable! The simple act of extending an invitation for dinner has grown into a blessing of being together. Keeping it simple has been the heartbeat that keeps it going. From the beginning, my husband and I didn’t want anyone to feel pressure to be together every Sunday, including ourselves. We couldn’t commit to hosting every week due to our children’s schedules and other things that call for our time, and we didn’t want anyone else to feel pressure to be there. It was only an invitation. But we committed to hosting each Sunday we were available. We believed a regular commitment would be important for planning and maintaining connections. Those absent are missed, but another Sunday will come. We trust the Lord places those at our table who are meant to be there at that time. [bctt tweet="We trust the Lord places those at our table who are meant to be there at that time. #BISblog //" via="no"] What Our Dinners Look Like Everyone comes as they are. We hope for dinners that are relaxed, casual, and fun. Sports uniforms, church clothes, pajamas, pool attire, and everything in between have made appearances at our dinners. The most important thing is to feel comfortable and be present. We’d rather have someone in a work uniform or stinky sports gear and with us than somewhere else without us. The Food My crock pot is a loyal friend for these dinners because it allows me to complete most of the food preparation before anyone arrives. The important thing is to be together, not to have perfect food. My charcuterie board is also a good friend because it makes almost any random food item you put on it look like it belongs there, from meats and cheeses to nuts, fruits and crackers. It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive. Our family has a food budget, and by the grace of God, our budget has remained the same as it was before we began these dinners. I cannot explain that, but I am grateful. We don’t serve steaks at these dinners, but we’ve filled many with taco bars, BBQ pulled pork, spaghetti with meatballs, and large pots of soups and chili. Many come through our front door with food to share, and that is a tremendous blessing. However, we don’t want anyone to feel that presents of food would be more important than one’s presence. We don’t always know how many people will come. I appreciate RSVPs, but we’d rather have someone unexpected with us, eating from the bottom of the serving platters or a delivery pizza we order last minute, than not with us because they didn’t RSVP. To this date, the Lord has provided enough food for every dinner, even when the numbers have far exceeded my expectations. Like the manna God gave the Israelites in the wilderness and the bread and fish Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000, our provisions are sufficient through Him. And, I have the pizza delivery number on my fridge just in case. The House Our house is never in perfect condition, but Sunday dinners inspire us to clean when we might otherwise not. For transparency, my husband is much more willing to clean than I am, and I am the one who needs inspiration (e.g. people are coming over). I am embarrassed to admit that I apparently don’t consider the five others who live in my home to be people worthy of regular cleaning, and I am working on that. For Sunday dinners, we do our best to declutter, clean, and offer at least one presentable bathroom. When everyone is focused on being together and sharing a meal, they are less likely to notice the dirt on the floor and more willing to overlook it. Together A blessing of these gatherings is the time they give us to be together and share our lives. My husband’s parents and two sisters and their families live near us. His parents are our most regular guests. Thanks to them, we always have three generations of people together. Our nieces and nephews who attend nearby colleges come when they can and welcome us into their lives by bringing friends. We’ve invited neighbors, friends from all walks of our life, priests, seminarians, deacons, and young adults we’ve met through ministries and our parish. It is not us who provide the joy; the joy comes through our front door with each person. We celebrate together the seasons of life and our Church. When weather allows, we spend our evenings outside making s’mores and walking the dogs. In winter, we gather inside with a fire, spilling into the various rooms of our home, eating wherever a seat may be found. We’ve celebrated happy moments, shared conversations about struggles and sorrows, and linked hands in a large circle of prayer, thanking the Lord for all of it. It is a boost of peace and joy for the week ahead. You Won't Regret It If you’ve been considering gathering people to your home for a standing date for dinner, brunch, coffee, wine or any other type of sharing, I pass along my friend’s advice to “just do it.” You’ll be glad you did. [bctt tweet="Starting Extended Family Sunday Dinners #BISblog //" via="no"] Nikki Frerker is a wife and mother of four who lives in Leawood, Kansas. She spends a portion of her time practicing estate planning law and enjoys serving as a catechist for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at her parish. You may find her running before the sun rises, driving her children around at all hours, or singing praise music just loud enough to embarrass anyone willing to listen.

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Many of us probably don’t think twice when we use the term “miracle” in everyday life. We call the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team’s gold medal a miracle. Buddy the elf tells Jovie she looks “miraculous” when they go on their first date. We look at our to-do lists and think it’s going to take a miracle to pull this off. The lightness with which we use this term can allow us to forget that real miracles—that which the Catechism defines as “a sign or wonder, such as a healing or the control of nature, which can only be attributed to divine power”—still happen today. God is as living, active, and interested in our lives in the twenty-first century as He ever was in Scripture. Whether we recognize it or not, He is still making impossible things happen. A Modern-Day Miracle A powerful example is that of James Fulton Engstrom, who was born still and remained dead for 61 minutes before his heart spontaneously began beating. (Did you get goosebumps reading that? I got goosebumps typing it.) James’ mother, Bonnie, whose name you likely recognize from daily devotions here at Blessed is She, shared his story this fall in a moving and important book, 61 Minutes to a Miracle: Fulton Sheen and a True Story of the Impossible. 61 Minutes to a Miracle Bonnie sets up the story with care, both aware of how impossible the situation was and transparent about what she initially experienced when she was in shock versus what she learned later. I felt the movements of the story with her as I read, especially with the knowledge that my oldest son is only days younger than her James. When I was basking in the joy of my healthy baby boy nine years ago, Bonnie was struggling with what would happen to her son. Yes, he came back to life. But there was a period of time where doctors didn’t know what he would be capable of. I don’t want to spoil it for you, so I’ll leave that part of the story for you to discover on your own. Suffice it to say that though I knew the basics from Bonnie’s blog before reading the book, I still couldn’t put it down. I read it in a single night and then started recommending it to everyone I knew. [bctt tweet="When I was basking in the joy of my healthy baby boy nine years ago, Bonnie was struggling with what would happen to her son. #BISblog //" via="no"] Believing in Miracles Which brings me to why I call this book important. It’s important that we are aware of and open to miracles happening. I’d go so far as to say it’s important that we expect miracles. God wants to do beautiful things for us and through us. And He’s probably doing more than you or I have eyes to see. We need to cultivate a joyful anticipation of what God wills to provide for us as well as honest relationships with the Saints, whom we can call on for their intercession. James’ miracle has been approved by the Vatican, and is part of Venerable Fulton Sheen’s cause for sainthood. Thank God for Sheen’s intercession, and thank God, too, for the faith of the Engstroms, who confidently cried out for help when they were in need. (Did you just get goosebumps again?) Reliance on God Our culture encourages us to do for ourselves and take care of number one. God asks the opposite. And we can do as He asks because we can trust Him. If we needed proof, miracles are just that. God’s plan isn’t always going to be what we want, of course. The dead are not always going to physically come back to life. But we need to live with hope. Our Christian communities need us to live with hope. Our brothers and sisters who don’t recognize Christ or acknowledge God need us to live with hope. The world needs our hope, and Bonnie’s book has helped me to remain in that hope and to share it. As we gear up for Christmas, we reflect on the Incarnation, the Word made flesh, God come to dwell among us. It seemed impossible, and yet we know that it was. God is still doing amazing things in the world He created and loves. May we keep our eyes open to see His miracles and our hands and hearts open to share them. [bctt tweet="61 Minutes to a Miracle Book Review #BISblog" via="no"] Lindsay Schlegel is a daughter of God who seeks to encourage, inspire, and lift up the contemporary woman to be all she was created to be. She’s the author of Don’t Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God, as well as shorter nonfiction and fiction pieces, both online and in print. With joy, she speaks about recognizing God’s voice and living the truth therein. Lindsay lives in New Jersey with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their kids. You can find out more about her here.

We toured colleges with our son last spring. In every tour, in every talk, we heard a similar spiel: “We want to get to know you—get a sense of who you are. The best applicants are the ones where students are themselves.” Just Be You? I hate to be cynical, but all the “just be you” enthusiasm made me skeptical since most of these schools admit seemingly five new students a year. Statistically, it doesn’t seem like "being oneself" is as important as SAT scores, GPA, or any other metric that funnels the throngs of applicants into a thread of coveted acceptance letters. Highly competitive schools with high performing applicants are humanizing their cut-throat admission policies with a warm, fuzzy encouragement to simply be oneself. Do this, and as surely as the sun rises in the east, you will shine. Not All About Us Of course, we have all heard the same messages in our own lives. It’s not a bad message either—to just be yourself. In a day when diversity has become a means of deliverance, individualism has become an art of self-love. Still, one can only play Mirror, Mirror on the Wall for so long without becoming utterly bored or an utterly boring narcissist. Loving others has always been where it’s at. It's where we truly feel full, alive, and connected. So, yes, be you. But don’t be all about you. The Unique Love of God One of the things I love most about God is that He loves unconditionally and universally. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28 The world may classify its people into hierarchies, but God has none of that. He made each of us unique and yet loves all of us the same. How fun is that? No competitions or emphasis on what makes you so special. He eliminated that pettiness when He died on the Cross for our sins. It was the great leveler that gave each individual that has ever been or ever will be the same unequivocal opportunity for redemption. Of all the world’s laws, treaties, pacts, covenants, and alliances, I know of not one that compares to Him dying on the Cross so that each and every one of us can have a shot at eternal life. We are Special Because We are His The world is a finicky place. Trends change with time. What is considered special today is merely a spinoff from yesterday. In our world, there will always be someone who shines brighter, looks better, and performs superior. God just wants us to be who He creates us to be, to love fully, and practice mercy joyfully. That journey will look different for each of us. But at the end of our lives, it will be what determines our admission into the great Kingdom of God. Being ourselves is a good thing, but it’s not the true measure of who gets in and who doesn’t. That’s always going to be love. It’s not ambiguous and it’s not unique. My father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? -John 14:2 The place has been prepared. It is open to all of us and no doubt, it beats dorm living. [bctt tweet="Are We Really Special? #BISblog //" via="no"] Lara Patangan is a freelance writer and mother of two boys. She is currently working on publishing her first book about her mid-life mission to do works of mercy. You can find out more about her here.