Sometimes I struggle to keep up with all the mess in my life. And trust me, with a 18-month-old little boy, more often then not there is a lot of it. More laundry, more toys to be picked up off the ground. More dishes to be washed. And let’s not even talk about the bathroom that hasn’t been deep-cleaned since we moved in. Does this sound familiar? It is tempting to judge ourselves by our failures. As a stay-at-home mom, it feels like my job is to keep house, like my primary duty in life is to match socks and scrub floors. When this doesn’t get done, it feels a lot like failing. Are We Failing? We all have mess in our lives. You may be better at keeping your house tidy than I am. But I bet some corner of your life is covered with dust and cobwebs—whether figuratively or literally. And it weighs on you. But equating our worth with the cleanliness of our kitchens is toxic and frankly, blatantly false. Homes were made to serve the people who live in them. Beyond that, they have no dignity of their own. A house is just four walls with a roof over it, and your stuff is well … stuff. There is nothing morally better about cleanliness. We clean our houses to serve the people in them. I find this helpful to remember when I am struggling beneath the weight of housework. Reflecting on this fact reminds me that while housework is important, it is not the most important thing I will accomplish in a day. And if, for whatever reason, it doesn’t get done, that’s okay. The Better Part Remember what Jesus said to Martha? She was running around the house, trying to make sure everything was perfect for her guest. And when she saw her sister sitting around, apparently doing nothing, she snapped. Here’s what Jesus had to say: Martha, Martha. You are anxious and worried about many things. Your sister has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her. He says the same to you. Being present to the people around us is the better part. Taking a break to rest, pray, or do something that brings you joy? That’s the better part as well. We don’t need to struggle on when it becomes too much. There’s beauty and grace to be found in admitting that we can’t do it all. [bctt tweet="There’s beauty and grace to be found in admitting that we can’t do it all. #BISblog //" username="erinann_11"] A Few Practical Tips for the Messy Home So what should we do when we are totally overwhelmed? Obviously I’m no expert, but here’s a few things that help me when I feel like that weight on my shoulders has become a bit too heavy to bear. 1. Pray As Catholics, our first line of defense should always be prayer. That’s obvious, but I find that a reminder is sometimes helpful. Say a Hail Mary, read the Bible, or even just sit silently with God for five minutes. It will make a world of difference, even if you don’t feel better immediately. 2. Set a Routine Even if you don’t like sticking to a strict schedule, having some sort of routine in place can help bring order into your life. For example, I like to tidy the house during my son’s nap time and right after he goes to bed. Having set times to do this task frees me from worrying about it at other times during my day. 3. Take a Shower This might sound silly, but whenever I’m feeling stressed out or unable to tackle a particularly daunting task, taking a shower almost always helps. I don’t know if it’s the relaxing effect of the warm water, the forced time-out, or if I’ve created a habit that hits some sort of internal reset button, but there is just something real and tangible about washing of the dirt of the day and starting over. 4. Set a Timer and Do Something Else Sometimes you just need to do something else for awhile, be it spending a little intentional time playing with your kids, reading a good book, working on a creative project, or sitting down for a cup of coffee. I’ve found that setting a timer on my phone is super helpful. That way my little break doesn’t turn into a three hour session and I don’t end up even more stressed when I realize half of my day is gone. Order is Good There is nothing wrong, of course, with keeping a clean house. Cleanliness and order are good things. They help create beauty, and beauty soothes our soul, drawing us closer to God. Beyond that, order helps us think more clearly, work more efficiently, and play harder. Cleanliness even keeps us healthier. No one wants to eat off of a dirty plate, after all. There’s a quote from Mother Theresa that has been circulating the internet recently, that I think is particularly applicable. “Wash the plate not because it's dirty, nor because you're told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next.” How often do we get so caught up in the work, elbows deep in the mess of our daily lives, that we forget that the chores we complete are more than check marks on a never-ending to do list? Chores are more than actions, completed because they need to be done. They are acts of service. By changing diapers, folding laundry and dressing screaming toddlers, you are clothing the naked. By fixing meals, day after day after day, you are feeding the hungry. And by washing those dishes? You are loving the people who will use them next. Do you struggle with a messy home? How have you found ways to be attentive like Mary and productive like Martha? [bctt tweet="To the Mom with a Messy Home #BISblog //" username="erinann_11"] Erin Rebar is a freelance writer, blogger, and author living in the Pacific Northwest with her husband Brian, son Clark, and very large dog Flash. When she isn’t writing or wrangling her toddler, she enjoys adventures and curling up on rainy afternoons with a long book, an oversized sweater, and a large cup of tea. You can find out more about her here.

We’re moms, all of us. That’s what we have in common, along with our Catholic Faith. Every Monday, we drop our big kids at school and meet in the choir room of our church, which is full of toys and has a miniature table to gather around. I don’t remember anyone ever complaining about the tiny chairs we sit in or the goldfish cracker crumbs that need to be vacuumed from yesterday’s child watch during Mass, which was held in the same room. Rosary group is a joyful gathering that we look forward to each week. We lament when our kids are sick or we have another commitment and can’t make it. We keep in touch all week long through prayer requests in a messaging app we made a point of downloading. As busy women, we don’t have a lot of extra bandwidth on our phones or in our lives, but we choose make time for prayer, each other, our kids, and our community—priorities that feel most important and life-giving. The Format of Our Rosary Group The format is simple. We start by oohing and ahhing over each other’s littles as they arrive. Who’s wearing a sweet bow? Who said something precious at children’s liturgy? Who’s getting so big? We notice, and we love them like our own. Then, we redirect the kids to each other, so we can chat. Often, this involves raucous laughter. We met by showing up to prayer and have become good friends. Eventually someone says, “We should get started.” I usually nudge one of the extroverts to start with their intentions because some people have a gift for getting the attention of a chatty room. Sharing Our Hearts Then, we go around the circle and give each woman a voice and opportunity to share what’s on her heart. Though technically we meet to pray for the kids and everything going on with the school across the street, we are open to any and all prayer requests. Sometimes, we have a heart full of praises. Other times, laments. Usually we are praying for others, but sometimes we need support for what we are going through as individuals. As women who are typically the doers and the givers in our community, sometimes this is the only time all week we’re asked, “How are you really doing?” Over the years, we’ve been through the adoption process, death of siblings, infant loss, grief, depression, difficult relationships, miscarriages, health crisis, teenage drama, and kids with all kinds of issues including mental illness and open-heart surgery. We open our hearts to each other, accept each other, and listen without judgement. Celebrating One Another We also celebrate each other’s accomplishments. Members of our group have planned fundraisers, started non-profit organizations, run marathons, become board-certified OBGYNs, gone on fabulous vacations, had beautiful babies, and been blessed in countless ways. It is a safe place to suffer and shine with Christ through the ups and downs of life. Praying the Rosary Together When everyone has had a chance to share, we take turns leading decades of the Rosary. Since we meet on Mondays, we always pray the Joyful Mysteries, which I tailored into meditations for the needs of the kids at the school across the street. Then, we pray. Yes, we pray the whole Rosary with small children in the room. I want you to know it is possible. We’ve had as many as 15 at once, but usually 5-10 show up. Sometimes a preschooler will lead a decade for his mom, and it’s the sweetest thing in the world. Other times, a preschooler will pick a fight with her sibling the moment it’s her mom’s turn to lead a decade, and we can all relate. Often, a hush falls over the room when we start to pray. The Mother of God is clearly present with us in a powerful way. The kids seem to feel it and get into a gentle rhythm of play. We may never know all the blessings that flow into our community through our consistent devotion to prayer, but the grace is palpable and so are the fruits of the Holy Spirit growing in our hearts over time. Many Blessings Within Our Group Over the years, we’ve grown from the original three prayer warriors to a pool of 30 women, who come when we can. Anywhere from seven to 15 tend to show up at once. Out of this group, friendships have been forged, along with a committee called Navigating Technology Together that support parents to set limits on screen-time. We have planned candlelit prayer vigils for sick babies, started meal trains for families in need, and gathered with schoolchildren to pray through surgeries. We’ve created coalitions to swap watching each other’s kids and blessed items like prayer shawls and Rosaries for those in need. We’ve showed up boisterously to daily Mass on feast days with all of our preschoolers in tow, hilariously livening up an ordinarily quiet Mass time. Together, we’ve crafted faith notes and laid hands to pray over each other through devastatingly difficult times. Together with our Divine Mother’s help, we have created a safe place to journey closer to the Lord in authentic Christian community through the Rosary. We consider each other sisters and celebrate joyfully when new members arrive. We want to share this sisterhood in Christ with others. How to Start a Rosary Group at Your Child's School If you don’t have a weekly rRsary group at your child’s school, I pray you have the grace to start one as beautiful and genuine as ours. Here’s how. Find another interested mama or two (remember we started as a group of three before growing to 30). Decide on a time that works naturally into your schedules (I think our group is successful because it flows naturally with when we already have to drop our kids at school). Commit to that time (in our group, there are three who very rarely miss, which keeps the meeting time solid for those who come and go). Invite others (personal invitations are most effective, but we also advertise in the school e-newsletter, parish bulletin, and on Facebook). Bring extra Rosaries and printouts of the mysteries. Be real (our group is successful because of the open-hearted women, who are willing to be vulnerable and embrace each other wholeheartedly). Welcome new members joyfully (make sure they know it’s okay if they don’t have the prayers memorized or feel comfortable sharing). Listen and love (don’t give advice or try to fix anyone’s problems unless specifically asked—sometimes we just need to be heard and accepted as we are). Stay connected throughout the week (group texts and messaging aps like GroupMe help). Thank God and each other (it is a pure gift from Heaven to have a weekly prayer group with other faith-filled women)! 📿 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 → Let's Pray for More Rosary Communities! Mother Mary, thank You for being our Divine Mother. Please help us to draw more groups of women together to pray the Rosary once per week. Bless our families and schools. Teach us to be genuine friends to one another, and give us the grace to be better mothers to our own children. Have you ever considered starting a Rosary group at your child's school?  Nicky Gant is a mother of four who is passionate about Christ's miraculous ability to transform lives through the power of prayer. A lifelong student of spirituality, she is a practicing Catholic with a heart for social justice, the spirituality of motherhood, and cultivating a personal connection with God in silence. You can find out more about her here.

But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' // Luke 18:13 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

After turning on the news and seeing all of the turmoil that is going on in the world, it's easy to think that the world has abandoned God altogether. It’s easy to feel that the number of good Catholic Christians is dwindling down to nothing day by day. However, if The Lion King reminds us of one thing, it should be that the world is crying out for God’s presence. Major Themes in The Lion King If you haven’t seen The Lion King before, there are spoilers ahead! The Lion King begins with a monkey presenting Simba, the son of the reigning King Mufasa, to the rest of the animal kingdom on Pride Rock, their home. Mufasa is so proud of his son, who has done nothing at this point except exist, that he wants to share him with the world. Although the world tells us that we don’t have any value until we start making money, this movie reveals the desire we have to be valued for just being who we are. Rescuing and Reconciliation Fast forward a little bit, and Simba and Nala have gotten themselves into a pickle. They ran away from Zazu, Mufasa’s right-hand bird, and are now surrounded by hyenas. Before the hyenas attack them, Mufasa rescues them. He then has Zazu take Nala home so he can talk with Simba alone. Mufasa teaches Simba a life lesson not through anger or bitterness, but with love and patience as they gaze up at the sky together. He uses Simba’s shortcomings and failings as a way to teach Him about the world. They then proceed to play and roll around in the grass because at the end of the day, Mufasa still delites in Simba no matter what he has done. That’s the same relationship we have with God the Father who loves us no matter what we do. The Ultimate Sacrifice Later on in the movie, Simba, who still has basically done nothing but get in trouble at this point, is tricked by his evil Uncle Scar and becomes trapped in a gorge while a wild herd of wildebeests is stampeding through. Upon hearing that his son is trapped, Mufasa runs to the gorge to save Simba. Knowing that the stampede is fierce and he may not come out alive, he jumps into the gorge to save his son. He successfully gets his son to safety but dies in the process. If this doesn’t remind you of Christianity, nothing will. This is the same kind of sacrifice that Christ made for us on the cross, one of redemptive love. Mufasa truly showed Simba the love of a Father for his son just like the love God the Father and Son have for us. Running Away Although Scar is the one who killed Mufasa, Simba, thinking that he is responsible for his dad’s death, runs away to another part of Africa where he meets his two friends, Timon and Pumba. They teach him the phrase, Hakuna Matata, which means “no worries.” This phrase is meant to symbolize the meaninglessness of life and that nothing really matters. It’s a common viewpoint that many people have today, although it is very seldom sad overtly. Through preoccupation with social media, video games, the internet, and much more, people have become detached from the real world. They begin to feel isolated and often feel like their lives lose more and more meaning. Living in sin also detaches us from God and can make us feel depressed and ashamed which leads to withdrawing from relationships. This place can also be analogized to hiding in our sin and guilt out of shame. We don’t want to face our wrongdoings and would rather run away than admit we were wrong and fight for what’s right. The Promptings of the Holy Spirit One day, a lion attacks Timon and Pumba and Simba steps in to find that the lion is a lioness and his old friend, Nala. She had been searching for help to save Pride Rock. Nala tries to convince Simba to come back to Pride Rock and save the kingdom from Scar. She sees the good in him despite him running away and tries to convince him to come back and save Pride Rock. At first, he denies her, but he then receives motivation from the monkey who tells him his father lives on inside of him. This is kind of like when the Holy Spirit lights a fire in us. Sometimes we feel that we are against all odds and are too small to accomplish something. This is when God inspires us with the mindset that it is not about who we are, but who He is and what he can do through us. Relationships and Triumph Simba returns to Pride Rock and is followed by Timon and Pumba. They have realized that when you care about someone, life has meaning. We are meant to be in relationship with one another. Simba fights and valiantly defeats his Uncle Scar. He is able to save Pride Rock, takes his rightful place as king, and restore the kingdom to beauty. Good triumphs over evil; love triumphs over hate; beauty is restored. It’s a story we hear so often, but so desperately want to be repeated. The Longings of the Human Heart If there’s one thing you take away from The Lion King, please let it be that the world is not rejecting God, it is crying out for Him. In this time of need, we as Catholics, need to point the world to Christ. Have you seen The Lion King live action adaptation? What symbolism did you see? [bctt tweet="BIS Reads: The Lion King #BISblog //" username="lilliandorablog"] Lauren Cook is a food and faith blogger. She started her blog, LillianDora, to share healthy and yummy recipes with others and bring people closer to God through food. You can find out more about her here.

Grasping. Clinging. Containing. Owning. Hiding. Hoarding. Defending. These can be our immediate tendencies when something good is within reach. We find ourselves grasping for things and trying to possess them. We attempt to control and own, to protect and hide. We fall into the lie that God is not truly a God of abundance, that He is somehow limited and so we must take care of things. There is enough for others, but when it comes to me, will there be enough? After all, don’t we live in a world of scarcity? A World of Scarcity If someone gets a promotion at work, that inevitably means that someone else did not. If someone wins a race, someone else necessarily loses the race. Some people have plenty, to the point of conspicuous luxury, while other people barely survive. We see scarcity all around us: hunger, thirst, disease, homelessness, loneliness, and spiritual poverty. We watch churches burn and wars unfold. We see starvation in our own cities. We even personally feel scarcity: the scarcity of understanding, affection, or compassion. Our world is a world of scarcity. And we often let this worldly paradigm of scarcity seep into our spiritual lives. We have seen sparsity in the world and we apply these experiences to our relationship with God. We project our false beliefs on Him so that He does not seem totally sovereign, but somehow seems insufficient. And now, suddenly, God is not Who He says He is. This sounds a lot like the first sin, doesn’t it? Eve had to grasp for the fruit because God wasn’t enough. He was holding something back. It’s an all too familiar set of lies. God is not enough and so we must grasp and control. What to Do When You Doubt God's Abundance So how do we combat these untruths in our lives? Read the Word Let us first turn to Scripture to combat this dangerous lie of an exiguous God. During our Savior’s time on earth, He was unceasingly showing us that His love is a love of true abundance. At the wedding at Cana, Christ had the servants fill the stone jars “to the brim” (John 2:7). He didn’t just provide wine for the wedding feast, He provided an abundance of it. His miracle filled the jars all the way to the very top. When He multiplied the loaves and the fishes, there were seven baskets with leftovers (Matthew 15:37). Now, it seems that our omniscient Savior would know exactly how many people He needed to feed and multiply accordingly, doesn’t it? He is showing us that He will always give us more than enough. He will provide so that we may be perfectly satisfied. When our Savior forgave sins, He also healed bodies. And when He died for us, He gave every last thing He had, holding absolutely nothing back. He wouldn’t even take a mixture of wine and gall (a concoction given to criminals to numb some of the pain of execution) before His crucifixion (Matthew 27:34). Even after He expired and handed over His spirit to the Father, Jesus still wasn’t finished giving. In a the ultimate exemplification of His love, Christ’s Sacred Heart gushed forth blood and water (John 19: 32-27). Our salvation story is unquestionably a story of abundance. Learn from Our Lady Let us also turn to our Mother Mary in order to learn to trust in His abundant love. While Eve grasped and clung, Mary held her hands open to receive all that God wanted to give her. She believed in the Father’s providential care. She lived out a perfect trust in Him so that she never had to wonder if His plan was going to be enough. She will take us under her protective mantle and help us to see how plentiful His divine love is for each of us. So let us come and sit at her feet to learn all that she has to teach. So here, through deep Scripture study and the intercession of our beautiful Mother, is an invitation to live more fully in the abundance of our God. Trust that He will give you exactly what you need and more. He will endlessly and generously bestow plentiful grace upon your heart. His abundance is limitless and His plan is greatness. In Him, we have enough. [bctt tweet="When You Doubt God's Abundance #BISblog //" via="no"] Catherine Gilmore is a third grade teacher at a Catholic School in Saint Louis, Missouri. She enjoys reading quality children’s literature, studying the art of coffee roasting, and engaging in conversations about the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I'm going to preface this by saying that infertility is devastating. It has always been. If we look back through human history, through literature and the Scriptures, we can see the heartbreak that infertility has wrought. I am not going to suggest that anything about our modern world causes the pain of infertility. Being unable to have the children you so desperately want is a tragedy in and of itself. What I do want to consider, however, is whether all the means the world offers women to “control” pregnancy and childbirth contribute to an unhealthy obsession with perfection…and result in a greater sense of disappointment when things don’t work out like we had hoped. Seeking Perfection As we know, the Church teaches us the beautiful truths about NFP and family planning, but the world offers women many different options. We are presented with birth control to avoid pregnancy until we feel ready, and then there are fertility treatments when we are not able to conceive like we planned. When it comes to childbirth, pregnant moms are inundated with information about homebirths, birth centers, midwives, and doctors. We can read blog after blog, complete with professional Instagram-worthy birth photography, describing seemingly magical birth experiences. All these things taken into account, in the eyes of the world, it doesn’t seem unreasonable for women today to plan their perfect family. In fact, we are expected to. Young women are told, over and over again, to take their pill and avoid pregnancy until they have competed school and established their career. Women who experience an unplanned pregnancy are often ridiculed. “Don’t you know what causes that?” Moms with little ones close in age are asked, “Why didn’t you plan better?” Older moms are challenged with, “Was this one planned?” And the list goes on. Enter Disappointment Any foray into a moms group, both in “real-life” or those on social media, reveals the dissatisfaction of motherhood not going as expected. We see moms devastated that their planned homebirth ended in a C-section. We see gender disappointment when a mom is only planning on two children and both end up being girls. Moms seek advice for marital problems stemming from one spouse wanting to deviate from the agreed upon family size. The truth is, despite having more power over reproduction than any other time in history, these worldly options still don’t give women complete control. Birth control fails. Fertility treatments don’t always work. Adoptions fall through. Childbirth can go haywire in the blink of an eye. And suddenly, it can feel like all our hopes and dreams are coming crashing down. What we have been raised to expect does not meet the reality of our experience. Enemy of the Good Is it wrong to be disappointed? No, of course not. When unexpected things happen that make our life more difficult, it is natural to feel upset. And when we are not able to grow our family like we deeply desire to, it can be truly devastating. But we do need to keep in mind that perfection is oftentimes the enemy of the good…and causes us to overlook the truly tragic. We need to evaluate our perspective and ask ourselves... Am I setting myself up for unhappiness? Is my expectation of control contributing to my frustration when things look different than I had planned? Is my quest for perfection causing me to lose sight of the good in my life? Am I unable to give the needed support to my sisters struggling with infertility because I am overly-focusing on the less-than-perfect aspects of my own family? Just like there is nothing wrong in feelings of sadness, it is ok to work and plan for the future. It is normal and healthy to have dreams for our families. We just can’t let our modern obsession with controlling our bodies paint an unrealistic picture of the reality of fertility. We can't ignore what Mother Church teaches us about the beauty of our fertility. And the reality is this: biology is profoundly and heartbreakingly unfair. Sometimes, we can exhaust all our possibilities, and there is simply nothing we can do to change that. A Catholic Perspective on Fertility and Childbirth It can be tempting to think that we, as Catholic women, are immune. But that is not the case for even those who choose NFP over birth control, or adoption over certain fertility treatments that are detrimental to the dignity of the human person. The pressure and prevailing mentality of our modern society can be all-encompassing. We are often bombarded on a daily basis on social media with images of perfection. It can be incredibly hard not to internalize it. Yet, at the heart of the Catholic Church’s teaching on reproduction we find this: respect life. We must respect life in its imperfection and unpredictability, cherish it in its many forms. Will our family look exactly like we always hoped it would? Maybe, maybe not. One thing is for certain though: it will never be perfect. There is no “perfect family” here on earth. Accepting the beauty in what we cannot control and opening ourselves up to the gifts of God that we could never plan for or imagine is the only antidote, allowing us to be truly open to life in all its unforeseeable possibilities. Have you ever struggled with perfectionism when it comes to family size, timing, and birthing? What has helped you refocus on God's will and goodness? [bctt tweet="Fertility and Childbirth: Does More Control Mean More Disappointment? #BISblog //" via="no"] Cheryl Witty-Castillo is a mother, freelance writer, and director of the Writing and Language Center at St. Mary's Seminary.

I have always had big dreams. I was one of those kids that had a crazy answer to what they wanted to be when they grew up. While other kids wanted to be teachers and doctors, I wanted to be a detective (thank you, Nancy Drew), a world traveler, a National Geographic photographer, and especially a Disney animator. While these all seem like crazy dreams, I can see how God used my ability to dream big and to think outside of the box to prepare me for the path He invited me to follow. My Upbringing as a Catholic My name is Carmen Briceño, but everyone calls me “China” (sounds like Cheenuh), and I was born in Venezuela but I have lived in the United States for most of my life. I can honestly say that I took my Faith for granted growing up since all of my friends were Catholic. I went to a Catholic school and, culturally, most Venezuelans are Catholic. Sure, I prayed every so often, but I didn’t really have a relationship with God and honestly didn’t know that you could or were supposed to! All of that changed when I moved to the United States as a young adult and met my first Protestant friend, Sandie. We played volleyball together and her joy and faith were so attractive to me. She loved Jesus in a way that was authentic and real and that I had never seen before. I wanted what she had. Through this friendship my faith grew exponentially not only because she taught me how to have a relationship with Jesus and to read the Bible, but also because she asked sincere questions about the Catholic faith that in my ignorance I had no idea how to respond. Providentially, at the same time, God placed in my life a priest that through his friendship and accompaniment taught me to find the answers I was seeking and in doing so to find the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith. It was Fr. Juan who introduced me to Theology of the Body which dramatically changed my life. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of John Paul II’s teaching on human love and sexuality. I burned with a passion to share this incredible teaching, especially with the young. I was convinced that if we understood the profound meaning of our sexuality and of our call to love that our lives and relationships would never be the same. The Turning Point The turning point came in 2005 when Fr. Juan invited me to World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany with a group of young adult pilgrims. I knew a couple that met at World Youth Day. She was from Bulgaria and he was American and they met and fell in love at World Youth Day so I thought that perhaps the same could happen to me. Couldn’t I also find my significant other in the midst of over 500,000 pilgrims? As you can see, my intentions were not purely spiritual but God has a sense of humor and can use all things for our good. Throughout World Youth Day, I was challenged to love Jesus and to be open to His will. It was here that for the first time I was faced with the proposition that God may be calling me to belong exclusively to Him. While some people say that when they were called they felt great peace, I was a wreck. I was anxious, nervous, and skeptical. Me? No way. I had other plans, I wasn’t “holy” enough, and up until that point I had never even considered it as an option. Yet, there was an agonizing attraction to this new possibility. I told Fr. Juan what was happening in prayer and once we returned from the pilgrimage we began a lengthy process of spiritual direction. A Sisterhood I was very lucky that Fr. Juan knew other women who were also discerning consecrated life and we moved together into a house of discernment. This house was not attached to a specific order, but allowed us to continue to work and study all the while living with other women who were discerning. We were able first to discern if God was calling us to belong exclusively to Him and then we could discern the concrete form of consecrated life He was calling us to. This was such a gift because consecrated life is so expansive. When I thought of consecrated life, I only knew of religious life, but there is much more such as secular institutes, societies of apostolic life, consecrated virgins, etc. Consecrated Virginity Throughout my two years there I visited many orders and communities but I fell in love with Consecrated Virginity. Consecrated Virginity is one of the most ancient forms of consecrated life within the Catholic Church. Even before there were religious sisters, there were women who at first made private vows of perpetual virginity and they lived with their families and dedicated themselves to prayer and the Works of Mercy. These were among the first virgin martyrs who when asked to marry a Roman noble man declared themselves already married to Christ and were denounced as Christians and martyred for their Faith. Later, this vow was no longer a private vow but a public vow. Among the famous early consecrated virgin was Marcelina who was the sister of St. Ambrose and was consecrated by Pope Liberius into the Order of Virgins. Order of Virgins does not mean a religious order but rather the term “order” refers to a specific group of people as in the “Order of Deacons”, “Order of Presbyters”, “Order of Virgins”. Is Consecrated Virginity the Same as Religious Life? A consecrated virgin is not a religious sister but is a member of consecrated life. All religious women are consecrated but not all consecrated women are religious. This means that we do not wear habits nor are we called “sisters”. We do not live in community nor have a religious superior. We do not profess vows but rather state our “propositum” of perpetual virginity. We owe obedience to our Diocesan Bishop, who is the one that consecrates the virgin, but this obedience is different from the obedience we find in religious life. For starters, consecrated virgins must work and make their own income since the Diocese is not responsible for her financially. This means that she is free to work in accord with her talents and vocation rather than be assigned to a specific job. That is why you find a variety of professions among consecrated virgins from missionaries to lawyers, artists, teachers, doctors, and musicians to name a few. As a consecrated virgin our charism is to be a Bride of Christ in the world with the gift and talents that God has given us. Life as a Consecrated Virgin After being accepted as a candidate by my Bishop, I had two years of formation. On August 22, 2009 I was consecrated into the Order of Virgins. Throughout my years as a consecrated virgin I have been able to see God use and transform my desires and talents. My youthful desire to travel the world has been transformed into an apostolic zeal that has taken me as a missionary around the world to places like the Dominican Republic, India, El Salvador, Cuba, and Europe. It has led to a speaking ministry where I travel and give talks and retreats in both English and Spanish to youth, young adults, and parents. My desire to be an artist has been realized by making original and whimsical images of the Saints, illustrating books on prayer geared for youth and young adults, and creating Catholic apparel and products that are meant to evangelize the culture. My passion for Theology of the Body has allowed me to teach a program in local Catholic schools called “The Gift of Human Sexuality.” It amazes me how God has not wasted any of my desires and dreams but has purified, transformed, and set them on fire. What if I Feel Called to a Vocation as a Consecrated Virgin? For any woman who is discerning this vocation, the first step is to spend quality time in prayer and to have a spiritual director. Next, I would recommend visiting www.consecratedvirgins.org as they have wonderful resources on the history of the vocation as well as on the discernment process. They also have an informational conference once a year where one can meet many consecrated virgins as well as attend talks and conferences on the vocation and discernment process. Also, it would be very helpful to read the recent Instruction from the Vatican called “Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago” on the Ordo Virginum (Order of Virgins). God has a unique plan for each one of us. He is calling us ever deeper to Himself. Many times, He uses our talents, dreams, and desires to attract us to Him. Let us not be afraid to open the door and let Him in. Let us not be afraid to allow Him to transform our desires. Let us not be afraid to dream big for Him. [bctt tweet="My Life as a Consecrated Virgin #BISblog //" via="no"] Written by Carmen Briceno. Find out more about her here.

There is something magnetic and enchanting about old Italian families who for generations have produced wine, cheese, or olive oil. Whatever the endeavor, current members speak with pride of the family that handed down the trade, leaving a legacy reflected in land, cultivated crops, livestock, and a coveted product. Perhaps a great-great-great-great grandfather merely eked out a living by planting olive trees or grape vines in hopes that he could bottle enough of its fruit to feed his growing family. Today, centuries and generations later, not only is there a business, but perhaps an old manor house, majestically worn, or an ancient stone barn situated among a beautiful vista of craggy hillsides overlooking the ocean, or vines ambling up a hillside reaching up to a medieval fortified town. Some properties are sumptuous, others more modest, but there is something about these families and their lands—their legacy, their history, their striving for excellence, their sense of family—that we instinctively want to wrap our arms around. How do I get that? How do I create a legacy that hints, even in the slightest of ways, at the essence of this kind of family legacy? Legacies capture our imaginations, which is why a show like Downton Abbey was so popular. They involve a building up, a sacrificing for people not yet known, for children’s children, a gift to pass along to the future. Families like these don’t happen by chance but involve vision, trust, sacrifice, hard work, perseverance, unity, and love. As Scripture says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (Prv 13:22). Economy and Love More than three millennia ago, Aristotle spoke of the importance of community life. To live outside of it, the pagan Greek philosopher stated plainly, requires that one be like a god or beast. What he meant was that outside of community, we must be either very holy like the gods or the isolation will make us little more than a savage beast. This ancient idea of community was captured in the Greek word oikos, which is where we get the English word for economy. Economies started with a household, with the community of people who worked together to not just survive but hopefully thrive. Oikos also refers to the idea of a legacy, to provide something for future children, future generations to receive, to give meaning to the family name, and to establish something that wasn’t there before. The real fabric of a home and any kind of a legacy is woven together with love, particularly caritas, the willing of the good for others. This specific kind of love is what unites a group of people thrown together, despite different temperaments, goals, dreams, and desires. Love is the great unifier among any kind of division. “And over all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col 3:14). Without love, our relationships become just a contract, a business, a partnership, often prone to splintering and division, and certainly not strong enough to pass along the best the world has to offer to the next generation. This not-so-secret ingredient is what motivates and solidifies the family striving for a legacy. As the Psalms say: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! . . . For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life for evermore” (Ps 133:1–3). Material Matters Detachment is an important element in the Christian life, but the detachment of Catholicism is not like the detachment of Buddhism. Material is important. We are embodied souls who have the capacity to create harmony among the aspects of who we are, to find balance between the requirements of our bodies and the necessities required to feed our souls. The two are not mutually exclusive but work together for the sake of true human flourishing. There is a desire in the human heart for both the material and the spiritual. The material is a curious thing because it can be just a thing—to be used properly for a real function—but it can also lead us to something beyond the thing itself. The material, as found in icons, art, and statuary, can help us go deeper, to access the infinite. Our homes are a fantastic example of this. Trends in our culture are being driven by this oft unexpressed but keenly felt desire. Home improvement shows, cooking channels, homesteading; all of these stir our imaginations by connecting what it means to be human with the immediacy of rich sensory experiences. But few of these, in order to make a true legacy, can be done in isolation—one does not cook all day for an empty table or plow a field for one’s own dinner. As award winning chef Samin Nosrat said, “Cooking is not about the food, but what happens at the table,” just like making a home isn’t about the house but about what happens in that house. Our efforts are not for the structure and things themselves; they are for the people and enduring connections established in this place. What this interwoven tapestry points to is a legacy worth weaving. Families who are conscientious about legacy tend to prize ceremony, tradition, family, and togetherness. They are generally families with a lot of stories, like how great grandfather started doing such and such or how their grandparents met. Meaning is given to things and acts that manifest connections to the past: land, photographs, family traditions, ancestral lore. All of this ultimately rests on the human desire for eternity and communion. Legacies provide a type of permanence amidst the constant change of life, while serving as a grounding reminder of timeless values their family holds fast to, no matter what fashions may come and go. All of these desires—for eternity and communion, and for the signs and symbols which point to them—direct us quietly not just to these good things but also to sacramental life. [bctt tweet="BIS Reads: Theology of Home #BISblog //" via="no"] Excerpted and adapted from Theology of Home by Carrie Gress, Noelle Mering and Megan Schrieber. Copyright © 2019 by Carrie Gress, Noelle Mering & Megan Schrieber. Published by TAN Books. Used by permission. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

In the twenty-first century, Flannery O’Connor seems to have more of a presence in Catholic conversation, though she’s been a prominent figure in the American literary canon for quite some time. Yet, whenever I mention her to fellow readerly Catholics, it seems many have still not read her work. The descriptions of her fiction as dark, Southern-gothic, grotesque, and confounding seem to be a turn-off. I was introduced to O’Connor by my brother-in-law many years ago in the midst of the resurgence of all things Tolkien thanks to The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Although I greatly appreciated Tolkien’s work, my reading tastes tended to be a bit...darker. My brother-in-law suggested that I might enjoy O’Connor. O'Connor's Characters are Really Many essays I’ve read about O’Connor mention the initial shock, repulsion, and bewilderment often experienced after digesting one of her stories. True, her stories are not preferred by those used to tidy, mainstream, romantic reading. However, O’Connor’s work is essential reading for modern Catholics facing a world that itself has become quite grotesque and hostile to faith. O’Connor seemed to anticipate the post-Christian era we are in, and her writing, both fiction and non-fiction, imparts a unique perspective that is valuable for the modern faithful to understand. First, let’s get this word, which is the most common description of O’Connor’s work, out of the way...“grotesque.” Many associate the word “grotesque” with horror or monstrosity, but these qualities are not always present in the grotesque. The grotesque is about contradictions. We are reading about people and events that are both ugly and beautiful, horrifying and funny, dynamic and wicked. A grotesque character is both saint and sinner, an irritant and a salve, a monster and a hero. She's Writing About Us O’Connor is a master with these kinds of characters and situations. She introduces us to a charming serial killer, a girl who sees the divine in a hermaphrodite, a little boy whose moment of grace comes through drowning, a predatory Bible salesman, and a woman who’d rather be terminally ill than pregnant, to name a few. These characters are strange, but don’t they also seem familiar? She is writing about us. When we read O’Connor, we see our own warped, crippled, contradictory selves. We see the ways we rise and fall, and O’Connor emphasizes that sometimes in order to rise, we must fall. Christ Meets Us Here This is where Christ meets us in O’Connor’s stories, for He descended and fell to death on a Cross in order to rise for our redemption. This great contradiction is reflected in every image, every character, and ever story O’Connor crafts, even if Christ is not overtly mentioned. She doesn’t hold back. O’Connor is honest. Brutally so. The shocking, strange, violent images are there for a reason—to jolt us out of our modern complacency. O’Connor makes us uncomfortable because so much of what impedes grace from working in our lives comes from being too comfortable. O’Connor commands our attention, and once she has it, she reveals the human condition exactly as it is: flawed, earnest, convicted, weak, inspired, burdened, cruel, tender, hardened, and vulnerable. Sometimes all in one person. Opportunities for Redemption In O’Connor’s stories, no one is perfect. But then again, no one is a lost cause either. Everyone has the opportunity to grab a hold of grace. Unfortunately, many opt to let grace pass them by to their own peril. Yet O’Connor is not preachy or judgmental in her writing. She gives her readers an image, a character, a moment, a choice, and either redemption or damnation. Then, she leaves us to ourselves. We are left pondering, wondering what the heck we just read, and reflecting on our own warped—yet redeemed—selves. How to Start Reading Flannery O'Connor To get started with O’Connor, I recommend Mystery and Manners. Here we see O’Connor’s astonishing intellect as she explains her perspective as a Southern Catholic writer and warns against the pitfalls of sentimentality and self-righteousness in fiction. She also offers a compelling explanation on how readers, writers, and Christians need to adjust their lenses in order to truly see the world as it is in order to create honest, effective, true art. Her anthology A Good Man Is Hard to Find is a good start for her fictional work, particularly the short story of the same title. I also highly recommend listening to her work on Audible. I recently downloaded A Good Man Is Hard to Find in order to introduce O’Connor to my husband during our longer car rides, and the reading by Marguerite Gavin is fantastic. Bronson Pinchot also gives a worthy reading of her novel Wise Blood. I’ve come to believe that O’Connor’s stories are only enhanced when heard rather than just silently read, mainly to enjoy the rhythm of her writing and the cadence and drawls of her characters. And, for a glimpse into the makings of a woman striving to love her Lord, desperate to be a good writer, and wary of the suffering she suspects would lead her to holiness (she would later be diagnosed with lupus, which she would endure and later succumb to at the age of thirty-nine), then pick up A Prayer Journal. This intimate work moves me as much as any of her fiction and reveals the makings of a modern-day literary saint. Have you read anything by Flannery O'Connor yet? If not, what would be your first pick? [bctt tweet="Why the Modern Catholic Needs Flannery O'Connor #BISblog //" via="no"] Jacqueline Hollcraft lives in central California with her husband Patrick and their seven vibrant children. She is a lecturer in the English department at Stanislaus State, is an editor and contributor for The Daughters of Mary Blog, and has also written about Flannery O’Connor for Seeds of Truth Ministries, which was founded by her brother-in-law. In her free time, she enjoys serving in hospital ministry with her husband, hiking (especially in Yosemite), drinking craft beer, and reading or watching murder mysteries.

Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you." // Luke 17:19 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

Where we come from matters. Despite our experience of family life, our origin stories play a large role in who we are today. What our grandmothers, and great-grandmothers, and great-great-great-great-great grandmothers lived through greatly influences the course of our own lives. The story of our family—for better or worse—is also our story. It was the same for Jesus. Family Matters The story of Salvation History really walks us through the building and cultivating of God's family, culminating in the Incarnation of God Himself. When we read the Old Testament, we get to shake hands with Jesus' family—the men and women who came before Him, paving His way. These aren't irrelevant details in the life of Christ. On the contrary, the events in the life of His ancestors profoundly influenced His hidden life, His public ministry, and even His salvation of the world. And while many parts of God's family's story are beautiful and faithful, there's a lot of mess, too. So if you feel like your family is less-than-holy, you're not alone. So was Christ's. There are murderers and adulterers and liars and cheaters and cowards in Jesus' earthly family. And yet God used them to construct the most incredible story ever lived. Knowing Jesus' Family, Knowing Our Own Families It is with this knowledge that we at Blessed is She set out to craft this year's Advent Journal. At the heart of All the Generations, you'll find Scripture that introduces you to the lineage of Jesus and encouragement to reflect on and pray for your own family. Family life is beautiful and difficult, and God is no stranger to that. In this Advent Journal, we will walk by His side—and alongside one another—through the story of His family. We will talk with Him about our own families' stories and how they have influenced our life. We'll bring our hurts to the mercy of His Heart. We'll entrust any division, brokenness, wounds, and unforgiveness to the promise of His redemption. If Jesus can bring Resurrection from His own imperfect family, He can certainly do the same in ours. [bctt tweet="If Jesus can bring Resurrection from His own imperfect family, He can certainly do the same in ours. #BISblog //" via="no"] All the Generations Advent Journal So what can you expect from this year's Advent Journal? Well, the first new surprise is that it is not only a journal for the Advent season. All the Generations takes us through both the Advent and Christmas seasons! For years, you all have asked for a prayer resource for Christmas as well, and we're thrilled that this journal will help you continue to pray through the joy of the coming of the newborn King. The Writers This year's Advent Journal is written by the entire Blessed is She team. Each day is written by a different woman, allowing multiple perspectives shine through. The Rhythm Every day, there is a different Scripture passage about the events of God's family: from Genesis to you. We start in the beginning, and build toward the coming of Christ in history. You'll have space to reflect on some questions that are provided for you. You can use these questions during your individual prayer time, or as a part of a small group if you're praying through this journal with others. Then, you'll find a short reflection written by a Blessed is She writer. Finally, each day closes in a prayer, specifically for our families. It's no secret that all of our families, in some capacity, are in need of healing. We don't always ask God to move in mighty ways in the midst of our family pain. This Advent, while we lean on Our Blessed Mother and one another, we're going to do just that. Will You Pray with Us this Advent and Christmas? We would love to pray along side you this Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, and to bear witness with you to His glory in the Christmas season. Would you please walk this journey with us? Grab All the Generations here, and let's get to praying for our families. [bctt tweet="The 2019 Catholic Advent Journal: All the Generations #BISblog //" via="no"]

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." // Luke 17:6 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Sarah Ann Design 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

In 2004, I was an awkward, gangly freshman with an unfortunate haircut (weren’t we all?). My new high school had no lockers, no athletic fields, no bleachers in the gymnasium. And no, I wasn’t homeschooled! I had the unique experience of attending our diocese’s brand-new Catholic high school and was part of the first class to attend all four years. When my high school opened its doors in 2004, it welcomed 100 students, only freshmen and sophomores. My high school experience was undoubtedly very unique (we each had a laundry basket to hold our books because of the aforementioned lack of lockers). But it’s an experience I’ll always cherish. I loved my high school for many reasons, not least of which is the patroness under which it was founded: St. Theodore Guerin. In 2004, this Saint was not yet canonized. The name of my high school actually changed during my time there—from Blessed Theodore Guerin Catholic High School to Saint Theodore Guerin Catholic High School. I’d never heard of Mother Guerin before starting high school, but my life will never be the same since coming to know her throughout my teenage years. St. Theodore Guerin was Obedient to the Call Known to us now as St. Theodore Guerin and recognized as the first Indiana Saint and 8th American Saint, Mother Theodore was born Anne-Therese Guerin on October 2, 1798, in Etables-sur-Mer, France. She had a rough start in life and bore the responsibility of caring for her mother and sister after the death of her father and brothers. Finally, at age 25, she was allowed to fulfill the desire of her heart and call from God to enter religious life. She joined the Sisters of Providence at Ruillé sur-Loir, France. When the bishop of Vincennes, Indiana wrote asking for an order of sisters to come help with the influx of Catholic immigrants in the area, it was decided that Mother Theodore was the only one up to the task. She did not want to leave France, especially for what was at the time completely untamed wilderness in Indiana. Yet she was obedient to the call and agreed to make the difficult journey. Together with five other Sisters of Providence, they took on the mission of bringing Christ’s love to the settlers of southern Indiana. Mission in the Wilderness The sisters arrived to a remote area of Indiana, with no town or other neighbors in sight. They were tasked with establishing a motherhouse, opening schools, and ministering to the pioneers who had settled in the area. During their first winter, the mission at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods consisted of a rough log cabin chapel and a small farmhouse where Mother Theodore, her fellow sisters, and a few postulants lived. During their first winter in the wilderness, harsh weather, cold, and frequent hunger plagued the sisters. Not to be deterred, they converted the house’s porch into a chapel and were comforted by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Mother Théodore said, “With Jesus, what shall we have to fear?” [bctt tweet="“With Jesus, what shall we have to fear?” -St. Theodore Guerin #BISblog //" username=""] Endless Challenges, Endless Trust Mother Guerin faced numerous challenges during her early years in Indiana, including fire, hunger, crop failures, prejudice, a split between the diocese of Vincennes and the diocese back in France, separation from her original order, and severe illness. When you read accounts of Mother Guerin’s time establishing Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, it sounds surreal. How did one woman endure so much hardship, sorrow, and physical challenges? Her answer was simple: trust in Providence. Trust in Providence Providence is defined as “the protective care of God.” Mother Guerin put all her trust in God, trusting that He would protect, guide, and care for her and her missionary sisters as they tackled the immense tasks set before them. She trusted that He would see her through all the trials and tribulations and imbue her with the necessary strength. She trusted that God was good, even when things didn't go as planned. In many ways, her faith was very simple and straightforward. St. Theodore Guerin + Our Own Wilderness As I reflect on St. Theodore Guerin’s life and legacy, I often wonder what wilderness God is calling me to. He may not be asking us to sail across an ocean and establish schools, hospitals, and a religious order in the middle of the untamed forest. But He is calling us all to something. Often that “something” is not clear to us. Or if it is clear to us, it can feel daunting or overwhelming. I can’t imagine what it was like to set off into the wilderness with no guidebook, no plan, no Google in the palm of my hand. But I do know what it’s like to be called to something, and feel ill-equipped. As I mother my two young children, I often feel ill-equipped. As I take on the sacrifice of a husband who works night shift, I feel ill-equipped. When people ask me for advice on basically anything under the sun, I feel ill-equipped. I often wonder if I’m the woman for the job. I wonder, as Mother Guerin traveled to the wild frontier of Indiana, if she felt the same. Maybe your wilderness is your vocation to your family, your classroom, your workplace with co-workers who believe differently than you, your family of origin who doesn’t understand. Maybe your wilderness is a broken marriage, the weight of singleness, or the cross of infertility. May We Have Great Trust! Whatever wilderness God is calling us to, may we respond with the bravery and confidence of St. Theodore Guerin. May we “have confidence in the Providence that so far has never failed us. The way is not yet clear. Grope along slowly. Do not press matters; be patient, be trustful.” May we, like Mother Theodore, submit willingly to the will of God, holding nothing back from Him. May we place ourselves gently in the hands of Providence, with full knowledge that in a life with Christ, we have nothing to fear. St. Theodore Guerin, pray for us! [bctt tweet="St. Theodore Guerin + Trusting in Providence #BISblog //" via="no"]

“We don’t care what it is, so long as it’s healthy.” I heard this response when parents were asked, “Do you hope it’s a boy or a girl?” A mother did not want to say she hoped the child was a girl if it implied she would be disappointed when a boy was born. Then I heard pro-life advocates say, “Well, what if it isn’t unhealthy?” What would you do then? I had a child who was unhealthy. He carried a rare and life-threatening genetic condition. He lives and thrives, but it did not come easily. When I was pregnant again, what I did I hope for? “Please don’t let her have that condition.” She did not have that condition, we learned at her twenty-week ultrasound. She had anencephaly instead, a condition considered incompatible with life because the child develops in the womb without a brain. Our daughter died during birth. What Matters to Me We find ourselves with the unlooked-for blessing of another child. My eldest questions about hair color, eye color, gender, everything she can think of to form her expectations of what we will discover when this little one comes into the light. Exasperated with the questions and tired of considering these elements I said, “None of that matters to me, as long as it's healthy, that is the only thing I want.” Today I attended the Rosary of a child who died the week before. He was almost 6 months old. He was not born healthy. My son and this mother’s son were not born healthy. But my son is three and a half, and she is living through one of the worst days of her life, the day she buries her child. There was a moment when overcome by fear early in the pregnancy I went to a crisis pregnancy center to get an early ultrasound. I needed to know if my baby was alive if it could survive that pregnancy without miscarriage. After the revelation of a jelly bean jumping on the screen a whisper in my thoughts said, “If there had been something wrong, we would have faced it.” Later ultrasounds revealed the son I would know, whose life my life would revolve around. I'll Take It All I will take the medical gloves, the dressing changes, the medical pumps that beep in the night, the emergency room visits, the hospital stays, the commute to monthly clinic visits. I will take the tears, the desolation, the act of clinging to a God unseen who walks with us unseen as we carry a child unseen or may or may not survive this pregnancy and childbirth. I will take the strain of navigating a health crisis while awkwardly navigating my pregnant body around the hospital room. I will face the possibility of delivering this baby while a caregiver delivers my son to the emergency room. I will take what God gives us. 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 Being Pro-Life This is what it means to be pro-life in the face of health risks and unexpected pregnancies. We accept the most frightening, the most challenging, the most isolating events in our life knowing that even in these things, God will work all things for good for those who love Him and trust him. And so we entrust ourselves, our son, and our unborn child into His Hands, knowing we cannot know the mind of God or be His counselor and that we cannot fathom the riches and the wisdom of what He has planned for us. Let Him take us as we are, in our doubts, in our uncertainty, in our fears as we tread lightly a path untrod before. There are many who have tasted it, but each path of childrearing and child-grieving is unique and must be cut through as one navigates alone, alone by oneself, alone with one’s spouse, alone with one’s children, alone with one’s family, alone with one’s community. Except that God said we are never alone. “I will send an advocate, a comforter, who will show you the way to go.” Oh the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How did I get to this point? Through prayer, therapy and tears. Never Alone Are you walking a similar path or know someone who has a high-risk pregnancy or received a prenatal diagnosis? Please consider sharing this devotional with them, Journey in Love: A Catholic Mother’s Prayers after Prenatal Diagnosis, published by Our Sunday Visitor, available in print and as a free downloadable ebook. [bctt tweet="A Mother's Prayer When Baby Isn't Healthy #BISblog //" via="no"] Kathryn Anne Casey is a graduate of Divine Mercy University, freelance writer, housewife and mother of four children. Her weekly newspaper column "Here's to the Good Life!" and blog, www.KathrynAnneCasey.com, focus on art, psychology, consumerism and the importance of local community. Her book, Journey in Love: A Catholic Mother’s Prayers After Prenatal Diagnosis, published by Our Sunday Visitor is available now.

But you . . . pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. // 1 Timothy 6:11 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

Have you ever met a real-life Jim & Pam Halpert? His jokes always seem to make her laugh, her hand on his arm always seems to make him smile, they have great friendships and thrilling intellectual conversations. In a variety of different ways, they just seem to be so right for each other. I always wanted that kind of marriage, but never knew how to make it happen. I always kind of assumed it would just happen to me. Then, I met my fiancé (cue the cheesy swoon). Building a Marriage Through Deepening Levels of Intimacy While we were dating, Chris shared some great advice he had received. Building a romantic relationship means we work to deepen in intimacy across all areas of our lives. Our intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual intimacy should all deepen at about the same rate. When they’re all in sync, a real freedom and synergy begins to exist between the couple. I picture a bar graph. All five areas (intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual intimacy) increase evenly. If your intimacy is dramatically higher or lower in one area, the relationship loses its balance and problems can arise. Engagement is the perfect time to focus on growing and balancing these five areas. As you prepare for the ultimate intimacy of marriage, thinking about these five areas can help you build a solid foundation. Of course, this balance is key throughout the entirety of a marriage, too. Intellectual Intimacy We’ve all heard the classic first date questions: “How many siblings do you have?” “What do you do for a living?” “What do you like to do for fun?” Intellectual intimacy is built when two people grow in understanding of each other. When you first started dating, you probably learned something new about each other in every conversation. By now, you can probably order his coffee and buy him a shirt he’ll love because you know him so well. As an engaged woman, you can trust your beloved more deeply when you really know him: not just his likes and dislikes, but the way he processes new information, his values and beliefs, and his temperament. By spending time learning and exploring each others’ personality traits now, you can avoid potential miscommunications down the road. Here are some ways to consider your level of intellectual intimacy: Is there anything about my life, habits, or past that I’m intentionally avoiding telling my fiance? Are there patterns of behavior in my fiance that I don’t understand? Does my fiance love to hear about my dreams for the future? Do we regularly have conversations without phones, TV, or music distracting us? Does our intellectual intimacy balance with the other areas of intimacy? Social Intimacy There’s a very real stereotype that, when two people start dating, it’s a big deal to meet each other’s parents. Chris is Canadian and I’m American, so when he came to meet my family for the first time, it meant thousands of miles and an expensive plane ticket. Not only that, but he came to visit for (American) Thanksgiving, so within hours of meeting my parents and siblings, Chris also met a couple dozen cousins, aunts, and uncles. As you can imagine, it was a significant leap in social intimacy. Social intimacy is when a person grows closer to people who are closest to you. This means meeting parents, friends, coworkers, your childhood best friend, and your tennis partner. The more your partner becomes entwined in your other relationships, the more intimate you two will become. Engagement is a great time to consider: Are there key relationships that I haven’t yet invited my fiance into? Does my fiance know most (if not all) of the people who we’re inviting to our wedding? If not, can he meet them? Are we spending an appropriate amount of time together, considering we’re not yet married? Does our social intimacy balance with the other areas of intimacy? Emotional Intimacy Do you remember the first time you told your fiance you loved him? Most people do. It’s a significant step forward in emotional intimacy. Whether you’re a naturally emotional person or not, you probably recognize that sharing those words of love, and eventually, sharing all your joys, sorrows, frustrations, hopes, and dreams with your future spouse brings you closer together. While we were dating long-distance, Chris and I talked for hours on FaceTime about anything and everything. When we got engaged, I felt more free than ever to be honest about everything in my life. Engagement is the time to share your heart even more fully with your future husband. He loves you—enough to ask you to marry him—and your intention in marriage is to share your whole life. That includes the good, the bad, and the ugly stuff in your heart. It can be difficult to tell where to draw the line for emotional intimacy in engagement, but here are some questions to consider: When we’re together, am I comfortable and confident about myself? Have I ever been afraid or reluctant to tell him what I’m thinking or feeling? Why? Do I share my heart freely with my fiance because I know he cares about me, or because I’m attention-seeking? Does our emotional intimacy balance with the other areas of intimacy? Physical Intimacy It’s no surprise many couples struggle to moderate physical intimacy during engagement, especially when you’ve already decided to give yourselves totally, faithfully, freely, and fruitfully to each other in a few months. Engagement is a time to build virtue. It would be easy to be selfish, impulsive, or indulgent, but building a strong marriage is about trust, patience, self-sacrifice, and joy. I’m so grateful that Chris provides strong leadership in this area and challenges me to practice the virtue I strive to live in the other areas of my life. What better opportunity to build holy habits than the physical intimacy of engagement? During engagement, your physical intimacy can and should grow, but this does not mean license to come “just short” of the intimacy of marriage. Chris described our experience like this: “We're striving to to show physical intimacy by using actions intended to show affection, not to indulge lust. All the other intimacies in our lives have grown, so of course our affection for each other also grows in appropriate, beautiful, and private ways.” A couple’s physical relationship should always be an expression of love directed toward the whole human person; it’s never ordered toward self-gratification or lust. Consider your physical intimacy: Do I feel we’ve gone too far in the area of physical intimacy? Have we made excuses to ourselves about our level of our physical intimacy? Have I been limiting our physical intimacy during engagement because of fear or shame? Am I excited about giving myself to my husband on our wedding night? Does our physical intimacy balance with the other areas of intimacy? Spiritual Intimacy How do we invite our future spouses into the most intimate relationship of all: our relationship with God? Before Chris, I couldn’t really imagine what spiritual intimacy looked like for couples. I saw couples praying the Rosary together during college and wondered if that was the extent of shared intimacy with God. Thanks to Chris, I’ve learned that the source of spiritual intimacy is the personal intimacy we each have with Jesus. Now, we just get to share that Divine intimacy with each other. For example, if we’re on a walk, Chris will spontaneously thank God for the beauty of nature or ask for the Holy Spirit’s presence in a particular situation we were discussing. These are things he might have done internally before, but now he’s doing them out loud and inviting me to be a part of them. In engagement, spiritual intimacy means letting your future husband to be a part of your relationship with God. It means setting aside times to speak to God together as a couple (and in marriage, we should strive to find this time together daily). It means receiving the Eucharist together. Together, seek spiritual formation by reading Scripture, discussing your favorite spiritual reading, or studying the Sacrament of Matrimony that you’re preparing to embrace. To consider your spiritual intimacy, ask: Am I seeking intimacy with Jesus Christ daily in prayer? Do my fiance and I joyfully go to Church every Sunday? How can we start the habit of praying together? Have we been learning about the Sacrament of Marriage and discussing it together? Am I relying too much on my fiance to keep my prayer life together? Does our spiritual intimacy balance with the other areas of intimacy? A Lifelong Task If one or two of the areas of intimacy stand out as areas to work on, then be honest with your fiance and make a plan to focus on them. If there was ever a time to build virtue and strengthen areas of weakness, it’s engagement. As I write this, I have about a month to go until the big day. I know the challenges of married life will come. But because Chris and I intentionally work on our relationship every single day, I’m confident that the intimacy we share with Jesus and each other will be the strong foundation we build our marriage upon. What's your best advice for building these levels of intimacy during engagement? [bctt tweet="How to Build a Marriage During Engagement: Cultivating 5 Levels of Intimacy #BISblog //" via="no"] Written by Becca Arend.

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