And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. // Luke 11:9 Download either or both of 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 1 Phone wallpaper 2 Desktop wallpaper 1 Desktop wallpaper 2

The other day, I heard something deeply disquieting. At first, it just made me wrinkle my nose and think, Huh, that doesn’t sound right. However, the more it settled onto my heart, the more it troubled me. Over coffee with a close friend of mine, I found out that some wonderful, holy, and dedicated young Catholic men in my community were being taught that women are a distraction in their formation as men of God and the formation of their faith. It’s important to note that these young men are not in a seminarian discernment program. Because in that case, this advice would actually be very wise and prudent. But seeing as these are just young men striving for holiness and balance in their lives, I found this to be a very alarming statement, as well as an enormous disservice to both men and women. Why? Well, let’s start with the word distraction. What is a Distraction? Distraction is defined as, “...something that distracts: an object that directs one's attention away from something else” (Merriam-Webster). Okay, well, at first that doesn’t seem too off-base. Women are the pinnacle of God’s creation, so of course we’re going to turn a few heads! However, I think the synonyms for distraction provide a more accurate definition for the context we’re looking at: disturbance, interference, hindrance. Now, let’s look at the claim women are a distraction to men in their faith journey, replacing the word distraction with one of its synonyms. Women are a disturbance to men in their faith journey. Women are an interference to men in their faith journey. Women are a hindrance to men in their faith journey. Does that sound off to anyone else? Are women truly a disturbance, interference, and hindrance to men in their journey towards sainthood? I mean, I’m biased (being woman and all)... but absolutely not. One of the most crucial pillars of being a faithful man—or woman—of God is taking responsibility. Not only for our actions, but for how we nurture our faith despite what personal obstacles we are met with. Spoiler alert: women (and men) are not these personal obstacles. What are these personal obstacles, then, if not women? If not men? These personal obstacles are concupiscence and sin. Sin is a Distraction from Holiness In reality, sin is our only distraction from holiness, from sainthood. Sin is what leads us astray from God. It is what obstructs our view of what is good and holy and true. Sin is what hinders our ability to give ourselves completely to God. Sin is our distraction. Not women. Not men. To teach that women are a distraction to men, or vice versa, is a grave injustice to both parties. How are men and women ever supposed to understand God’s true vision for the vocation of marriage, a sanctifying relationship, when we are taught our future spouse is distracting us from God? How are we ever supposed to develop relationships, friendly or romantic, with our brothers or sisters when we believe they are the reason we are falling down in our faith? There is nothing inherently obstructive about a woman’s presence to a man’s faith, or a man’s presence to a woman’s. In fact, God actually shows us it is the complete opposite. How We Were Created In the beginning, He made us for one another so we may be battle partners to fight the good fight against sin together. The Catechism tells us, “God created man and woman together and willed each for the other...he created them to be a communion of persons, in which each can be "helpmate" to the other…” (CCC 371,372). He, the Perfect Creator, knew that men and women needed each other to help one another reach sainthood—hence, the holy vocation of marriage. Women aren’t the reason men fall down in their faith, temptation toward and consent of sin is. And sin is something that no one can force you to do. It is a conscious choice made by ourselves to disobey God. Our sin or distraction is not rooted in a particular person, but rather, in ourselves. As the Catechism states, “Sin is a personal act...[and] the root of all sins lies in man's heart” (CCC 1868,1873). It’s time that we start taking responsibility for our shortcomings in our faith rather than blaming them on an outside force. Because, while we may be influenced by certain circumstances or people, in the end, it is always our decision to sin. Being True Helpmates Toward Holiness Does this mean that men and women should deliberately be distracting or make it difficult to avoid temptation and sin? Not at all. We have to remember that while the men and women are not inherently a distraction or sin, how we choose to treat each other can easily become one. This is why we are called to help protect each other's purity; not only for our own soul’s sake, but for the sake of the other’s soul as well. It is our responsibility, out of love, to help each other achieve sainthood. This journey is a difficult one already, why not help lighten each other’s load? When we love how God created us to, we are not a distraction from each other’s faith. Rather, our relationships become one of the most beautiful and holy sources of strength and sanctification. God made us for one another. And it is good. [bctt tweet="Why Women Aren't a Distraction #BISblog //" via="no"] Payton Kline is a desert baby who, after dancing ballet professionally in Minnesota for a stint, moved back home to sunny Arizona. She now studies English at Arizona State University and enjoys embracing what the season of college brings—including (but not limited to) rock, paper, scissors tournaments, people-watching on the lightrail, and long coffee-talks with friends. When she isn’t writing, you can find her playing with her big-fat-orange-kitty, Henry, or watching early 2000s rom-coms with her tribe of girlfriends.

Recently, I’ve been fascinated by documentaries about the ocean and the life that inhabits it. I’ve learned so much about God’s creations—the intelligent dolphins, the majestic humpbacks, the misunderstood sharks, and the mesmerizing cuttlefish. Many of the creatures in the sea have extraordinary survival capabilities. Certain types of sharks are able to survive months on end without food. Other species work together to survive, such as the octopus and the grouper who hunt together to find food. Sea lion mothers fiercely protect their young and fight for survival in the cold arctic air. However, one of the things that has piqued my interest has been learning about the marine life residing in the Mariana Trench. The Trench The Mariana Trench is the deepest natural trench in the world. The tiniest of creatures find their home here, withstanding extraordinary amounts of pressure and living without a single ray of light. They survive against all odds. Learning about the ocean has opened my eyes to greatness of our Savior, in some new way. It got me thinking: if God can take care of the creatures and plants on the earth, then He can surely take care of us. More than Just Surviving It’s easy to sometimes feel like we’re just surviving. Surviving another day at the office, another bill to pay, another heartbreak. It’s easy to feel as though we’ve been overlooked when we see another person seemingly thriving, yet we’re struggling to understand God’s plan for our own lives. What if we believed God orchestrates everything perfectly? That all His plans are to allow us to not only survive, but to thrive? Like each and every one of His creations, He has equipped us with everything we need to face the situations at hand. Why do we doubt that He knows what is best for us? No matter how dark things get in the “trenches” of life, we need to remember that God has an unimaginable plan for us. He sees everything: the past, present, and future. He knows our needs. God knows the deepest desires of our hearts. He wants us to trust that He has designed each and every one of us perfectly and uniquely. He wants us to thrive. Why do we often worry or grow anxious when we cannot see the big picture? Trust in His Promises When we start to surrender to Him and trust that He will guide us through the stormy seas, something happens. We begin to find a peace in our hearts that only He can bring. We begin to see ourselves and others in a new light. His love for us is as vast as the ocean. As someone who likes having a plan for everything and worries when the future is uncertain, I can often lose sight of His promises. But then, I remember that verse in Matthew: If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think He'll attend to you, take pride in you, do His best for you?   [bctt tweet="An Ocean of Promises #BISblog //" via="no"] Sasha Knock is a native Arizonan. A daydreamer and a glasses-half-full kind of girl, she has a passion for inspiring people through her lens. When she’s not behind the camera, she can usually be found spending time with her family and friends, exploring the outdoors, traveling to new places, delighting in thrift store treasures, and quoting movies on a regular basis.

          There is a difference between living a life that is organized and living a life that is ordered. Plenty of people strive to live an organized life but one that isn’t necessarily ordered toward a specific end. On the other hand, a person who’s life is ordered may or may not be organized, depending on the person. What is the Difference? There is a lot of buzz about organization in todays world. There are numerous methods, meticulous planners, and charts upon charts. Many people are looking to methods such as the KonMari method to help them organize their lives. Organizing ones life is a noble—and some may add, necessary—thing to do. However it only makes sense inso far as the context of the end, the why one is organizing. If the end is simply organization without a greater purpose in which organization serves, no matter what method one uses, it won’t stick. The Importance of Order Ordered lives are essential. What do I mean by ordered? In the beginning when God created the world, He created man with an innate order in his being. Man was created in relationship to four things: God creation himself other humans In the garden, harmony was present because man was ordered the way that God intended. But after the fall, man became master of himself in a new way. He thought he could do better than God at ordering his life and so he decided to chose for himself what he thought was the highest good and what was less important. In turn, man actually lost his self mastery to all the temptations of the world. Food, passions, and feelings now rule man. Man does not even realize that he is no longer master over himself because he is getting what he thinks he wants. He is driven with desire for things of this world that are of little consequence to mans actual end. Self-Mastery God’s desire for man is to be master over himself, as man “is the only creature on earth which God willed for itself” (Gaudiem et Spes 24). It is something innate in our dignity to be able to be master over ourselves. In order to regain this mastery we must reorder our lives to reflect God’s design. To order oneself means to put oneself under something or someone else; in this instance, God. Only by putting ourselves under the protection and guidance of God will we be able to reclaim our status of master over ourselves and creation as God commanded in the garden.     How to Be Properly Ordered Here are some practical ways to put oneself back in order. Under God Make a daily act of surrender to God’s will, such as: Lord, You know better than I what is good for me. Come soften my heart to be able to say, I surrender my will to Your merciful and loving Heart. Take me as I am and place in me Your will in place of my own. I trust You, Lord. Help me trust You more. I love You, Lord. Help me love you more. Amen. Bring your daily decisions to God in prayer. Ask God what He would like you to focus on in a particular season. Over Ourselves Prioritize your schedule and life to reflect your final end. For example: prioritize prayer and the Sacraments, time with your family and friends, and so on. Recognize any addictions you may have, whether it be food, social media, television, always needing to be right, etc. Make a plan of little steps to help you break free of those things that have their hold on you and your will. Practice the discipline of fasting and recognize that denying yourself something is still a free decision of your will. Next to Our Neighbors Choose with your will to serve those closest to you out of the love in your heart, whether that means making dinner for your family without grumbling or choosing to take time out of your day to listen to someone who needs to talk. Identify where you are being selfish instead of serving others in your relationships and actively work to change your approach. Look each person you encounter in the eye and act in a way that lets them know their dignity. Over Creation Recognize that you were created to have dominion over the earth, plant a garden and tend for it, or buy a houseplant and look after it. Take care of the piece of earth that has been entrusted to you to take care of. Behold the beauty of creation that the Creator made for you to enjoy. These are just a few ways to begin to order one's life. The real task is in the everyday; every intention, every act, and every word. Begin today by asking for God’s help to undertake this transformation. What are some ways that you see your life in order with God’s design? How can you reorder your life to be more in harmony with His plan? [bctt tweet="Ordered vs. Organized #BISblog //" via="no"] Laura Jean is a student, creator, and a lover of beauty, pursuing a masters degree in marriage and family in Austria. She blogs about her adventures, hobbies, and how God is pursuing her heart as she balances her life between two continents. You can find out more about her here. LITURGICAL PLANNERS Our Liturgical Planners are based on the Litany of Humility. Enter into prayer every day alongside this beautiful Litany. Order your days in His peace. GET YOUR PLANNER For Your Prayer Life Deepen your daily prayer life with a planner built around the Liturgical Year. Shop the Catholic Liturgical Planner →

Since my early childhood, my has family raised a handful of sheep each year. I have fond memories as a girl, wandering to our back pasture to feed the sheep leaves from our apple tree. I loved to watch them peacefully chew their cud, to pet their soft ears and to run my fingers through their thick wool. In growing out of these childhood days and into my Faith, I am drawn to the biblical metaphor that I am a sheep belonging to the Lord’s flock. This beautiful biblical imagery of sheep found throughout Scripture is humbling and profoundly insightful into humanity’s need for an intimate relationship with God. Imagery of Sheep in Scripture Scripture is layered with images of sheep. From Isaiah 40:11 to Psalm 100:3 to John 10:1-18, sheep are portrayed as slightly defenseless. They need constant care and love from their shepherd. These verses tell us that a good shepherd will do anything for his sheep to ensure that they are protected from harm. I am so touched when I ponder these verses. Even as a meek and needy sheep, the Lord gave His life to show me His ceaseless care, love, mercy and compassion. Drawing Parallels We are often foolish. We act rashly and sometimes stray away from God in moments of fear and distress. But we are also deeply complex, loving, nurturing, and playful. We desire to feel deeply loved. Likewise, sheep are often clumsy. But they are also calm and peaceful, gentle and nurturing. Sheep, like children, are curious, active, and social. They bound about and play with one another. They are communal and they thrive on being surrounded by their own kin. A sheep who is left alone becomes greatly troubled and distressed. In isolation, our own hearts, too, become troubled and afraid. God shows us in these parallels between sheep and humans that even in our mistakes and shortcomings He recognizes our strengths, our beauty, our longing hearts. He sees our need for community and desires to lovingly shepherd us as His flock. Discovering a Relationship of Reliance Many Scripture passages depict sheep as vulnerable and fragile. They require constant protection and guidance from a trustworthy shepherd. Mark 6:34 reminds us: “When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.”   Though a sheep’s need for constant shepherding is perhaps a weakness, it is also an opportunity for a relationship of reliance to grow between a sheep and his shepherd. Likewise, recognizing our own fragility and need for direction as humans allows us to respond fervently to the Lord’s invitation to rely on Him. We weren’t made to endure life’s trials on our own. In our weakness, as we look to the Good Shepherd for guidance, comfort, and safety, we are made stronger and holier. Discovering this relationship of reliance can be humbling but also extremely comforting. The Lord tells us through this metaphor that He feels our pain. We don’t need to feel lost because He is there to lovingly comfort and instruct us. Freedom in Relationship John 10:27 tells us that: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”   The imagery in this verse demonstrates a relationship of freedom and companionship between a sheep and his shepherd. A shepherd does not put a halter on his sheep and drag them from pasture to pasture. Rather, he wisely guides them, and the sheep trustingly follow him. We, too, have freedom in our relationship with God. When we stop listening to all the other noises in our lives and allow ourselves to respond to God’s voice, we follow Him because we know in our hearts that He is the ultimate Source of everything good. The Lost Sheep Luke 15, the Parable of the Lost Sheep, narrates a shepherd’s joy in finding his one lost sheep. A good shepherd cares for his sheep. He becomes greatly troubled when one goes astray. He desires to protect them. A shepherd seeks to lead them to verdant pastures, rushing streams, and cool shade, away from predators. This parable isn’t just poetic. It is real and intensely symbolic of our relationship with the Lord. The Lord becomes concerned for us when we stray away from Him. He seeks to draw us back into relationship. Like the lost sheep, the Lord treasures every moment we commit to returning our lives to Him. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He knows our hearts. He wants to guide us and console us during our daily struggles, to shelter us from life’s perils. The Lord is My Shepherd Psalm 23 encapsulates the essence of the human experience. We sheep sometimes walk in darkness. We need sustenance, comfort, and safety. There is a need for restoration in our souls. Only the Lord, our Good Shepherd, with His limitless love and light, can offer us this life of abundance. Be Like Sheep in His Flock Instead of seeing our relationship with God as abstract, internalizing this biblical imagery brings our connection to God to an earthly level. This poetic metaphor of sheep found throughout Scripture is an opportunity for us to tangibly understand the Lord’s tenderness and His desire to be in an intimate, loving, and protecting relationship with us. When I return home to visit my parents, I still love to wander out to the pasture and feed the sheep apple leaves and watch them graze. When I close my eyes and imagine myself resting by still waters, like a sheep in green pastures by a stream, I feel overwhelmed by the Lord’s incomprehensible grace and mercy. I am a sheep and I belong to His flock. What more could I need? [bctt tweet="Belonging to His Flock #BISblog //" via="no"] Mercedes Shirts lives in Idaho, land of the potatoes, with her husband, bulldog, and cat. When not indulging in a good read and black coffee, she enjoys eating street tacos, running, and listening to Texas country music. You can find out more about her here.

Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” // Luke 10:25-37 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Brass and Mint Co. from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

The other day I was rushing to get somewhere when I was stopped by a red light. A very long red light. Heart-pumping, brain-whizzing, grip on the steering wheel clenching, I felt certain the world would end if the stoplight didn’t turn green that instant. I watched enviously as cars whizzed by wondering when it would be my turn, wondering if the light was broken, wondering how much longer I could possibly wait as all of humankind seemingly passed by at an unimpressive 40 miles per hour. That’s what it feels like with God sometimes. An agonizing, monotonous wait. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. -2 Peter 3:8 God's Time Certainly, God’s timing is not my own. I have known this for some time. While I try not to begrudge it, there are moments in my prayer life where I feel the same urgency I did that day at the stoplight. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. -Matthew 7:7   Stop at a red light and it will turn green. Presto. Prayer answered. I feel like that Scripture should come with a Bible-sized addendum outlining exceptions, exclusions, and caveats to explain the time gap between asking and receiving. Because sometimes the wait with God feels like an eternity. Especially when we are constantly reminded of life’s brevity, encouraged to make the moment count, and are certain that we know exactly what’s best for us. With all that going on, why would we wait? How could He ask us too? Why can’t He just give us the signal we want? Doesn’t He want us to get the show on the road so we can do all the great things He created us to do? The Most Faithful at Red Lights Yet so often, we wait. As much as this sometimes frustrates me, it’s also when I feel the most faithful. We have a choice with God. It’s like the lyrics from that song by the Clash, “Should I stay or should I go?” We don’t have to wait for God’s answers to move forward. We can rely on ourselves and plow ahead. It may be like dodging cars at an intersection after running a red light: reckless, dangerous, and selfish. Yet it’s our choice to make. Waiting for God to answer our prayers requires patience, trust, and faithfulness to His will. It’s hard. We don’t know how long it will be before we get an answer and we aren’t guaranteed the answer we want. We get annoyed when Garth Brooks sings, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” Still, it’s at this crossroads when we decide if we are going to be faithful to God as He remains to us. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. -Proverbs 3:3   A Different Light I could have chosen to run the red light that day to put an end to that agonizing wait. Even though it would have been dangerous, I would have felt more in control than I did waiting helplessly for the light to change. But in all my gritting and grunting, in all the ways that my need felt paramount, urgent, and imperative, I knew it was best for me and for others that I wait Our faith journeys may not always be smooth. We may encounter bumps along the road, breakdowns, and long waits. But then our faithfulness will get us where we long to go—in an entirely different kind of light. [bctt tweet="Waiting at Red Lights #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.

I remember when my mom bought me my very first planner. I was in the 6th grade, and since I was going to have to keep track of homework for different classes, she bought me a small floral planner for that year. From that moment on, the planner became my absolute favorite back-to-school item to shop for. While my day-to-day schedule has changed quite a bit from my Texas History homework and awkward junior high dances, I still love to keep my plans for each month all in one spot. I Wished for a Catholic Planner Over the years I have tried a lot of planners. A lot. While many of them worked just fine, at the end of the day I was always wishing for something that helped me incorporate my faith life. There were several lovely options made available by our Protestant sisters, and while those were a step in the right direction, they began to make me wish a Catholic planner existed…. I’m sure you can guess what happened next. Not long after I found myself wishing for a Catholic planner, Blessed is She announced the arrival of their Catholic planner. Since that very first planner was released, I have been using the BIS academic year planner every year. I don’t ever see myself using anything else. As a mom of five (three of which will be in school this year!), working part time, and the wife of a youth minister, I find that I need my planner almost more than when I was trying to keep track of assignments in college. How I Use + Why I Love the BIS Academic Year Planner I know some of you may be on the fence about the BIS Planner or wondering what really makes it so spectacular. So I’ve decided to walk you through it and mention all my favorite features, as well as give honest commentary on the areas I don’t use very often. The Pocket Who else always has loose papers on the kitchen counter? You know what I’m talking about. Save the dates, receipts, bills, grocery lists, etc. When you open the planner, the first thing you see is a pocket for all those papers that need a home! At the end of each week, I go through the pocket to see if there is anything to get rid of or add to it. The Saints Would Approve The front page says “Made For The Modern Catholic Woman,” but I can think of several saints who I’m sure would have enjoyed this planner. The Vital Front Pages The first few pages of the planner break down every aspect and show you how to get the most out of the pages. This is so incredibly helpful! Wondering when a certain feast day is? Don’t worry, there is a whole page listing the major Saint feast days of each month. Plus, those same feast days are on the monthly and daily spread as well, which saves you some time of having to write them in yourself. I can still remember watching my mother lay out her calendar and the Church calendar every year and transferring everything over by hand! Following the list of feast days is a very important list of Holy Days of Obligation, as well as start days for certain novenas. Also in the beginning are a few pages of prayers that the BIS team pulled together just for you! Sometimes I can’t find the words when I pray, so I’ll flip to those pages and just let the Holy Spirit guide me to the one my soul needs to speak. The Full Spread Now we’re getting to the heart of the planner (*rubs hands together excitedly*). Since this is the academic planner, we open up to a full spread of the month of August. Monthly Spread Monthly spreads are color-coordinated liturgically. Like I mentioned above, they contain all the major feast days. There is also a Saint quote at the top of each monthly spread. I love using the quote as a small guided meditation to focus on throughout the month. Finally, each monthly spread has a space dedicated for important notes in the “don’t forget" section. I use this if I need a reminder to schedule something that maybe I can’t put on the calendar just yet because something else is pending. Weekly Planning A lot of planners will just jump straight into the daily layout immediately after the monthly spread. Not this planner! Before jumping into each week, there are two whole pages dedicated to meal planning, a grocery list, goals, prayer intentions, a to-do list, and open notes. A Scripture verse at the top reminds that we can do all the planning you want, but at the end of the day, we must hold fast to God and His Word above all else. Weekly Layout Then we dive into the week! Each day is marked by time (starting at 6:00 a.m so you early early risers may need to write in a 5 a.m.). I’ll admit, this is a part of the planner that took the longest to get used to. I originally liked my planner lines unmarked because things change and I’m a bit of a control freak. I don’t like it when my day doesn’t match my planner, but that’s a different blog post for a different day. I have gotten much better at using the times as a simple guideline. Now, I can’t imagine using a planner without them! To-Do List Each day also has a small to-do list section which is so helpful when, at the beginning of the week, I find that I have a crazy amount to get done. The smaller lists on each day allow me to take things in bite-sized pieces. It also gives me space to add in things as they come up (because they always do). The Most Important Things to Do Underneath the smaller to-do list on the daily spread is a section for you to check-off. Have you loved your body, mind, and soul today? I’ll admit this is not a section I use very often. However, that’s probably an indicator that I am not loving on those things each day, which is something I’m trying to change. Gratitude Finally, at the end of each day, there is a section to record your gratitude. This section is perhaps the most underrated portion of this whole planner. How different is your day when you have gratitude on the forefront of your mind? In the chaos of life, it’s easy to see all that we “think” we’re missing. The gratitude section of this planner helps you remember that everything you need is right in front of you. The Notes Section The end of the planner contains a few extra pages for notes and another wonderful pocket for all those papers that you need to keep. An Act of Self- and Family-Care I love taking time on a Sunday afternoon to sit down with some Topo Chico or a glass of wine and work through my planner for the week. I like to use colored pens to help brighten things up, but that’s just a personal preference. While this planner is full of wonderful things, at the heart of it, it’s quite streamlined. In its simplicity, it allows the owner to make it fit their vision. So whether you’re a stickers and washi tape person, or a black ink only person, this planner is for you. Whether you’re a small business owner, an empty-nester, a college student, a mother of ten, or a young adult, this planner is for you! Susana Starbuck is a regular contributor to the BIS blog. She is wife of a youth minister and mother to four littles five and under. She lives in Phoenix, AZ and enjoys reading a good book, posting her highlight reel on Instagram, and drinking wine. You can connect with her here. LITURGICAL PLANNERS Our Liturgical Planners are based on the Litany of Humility. Enter into prayer every day alongside this beautiful Litany. Order your days in His peace. GET YOUR PLANNER For Your Prayer Life Deepen your daily prayer life with a planner built around the Liturgical Year. Shop the Catholic Liturgical Planner →

For freedom Christ has set us free. // Galatians 5:1 Thank you for these beautiful free wallpapers from Brass and Mint Co. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

One of the beautiful things about being a millennial is that I have never known a world without Mother Teresa. I didn’t know much about her when I was a child, but I knew she took care of poor people in India. I had just turned eleven when she died. As I came of age, she was beatified and then canonized. Now, I have a little girl whose middle name is Theresa (spelled with an “h” to also honor my mother-in-law of the same name). For many of us, St. Teresa of Calcutta has always been a light in the darkness of our world. Somewhere along my journey in the Faith, I learned that Mother Teresa struggled with depression. I haven’t borne this cross myself, but in recent years, I’ve striven to accompany a couple of dear, faithful women who are living with postpartum depression. In hopes of inspiring and encouraging them, I sought to learn more about this “Saint of darkness.” I went to my favorite avenue for spiritual book recommendations—my regional Blessed s She Facebook group. Mother Teresa's Private Writings The ladies of the Northeast delivered quickly and in chorus. I was to read Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the “Saint of Calcutta”. Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., whose commentary puts Mother Teresa’s letters in context, is well qualified to do so. He joined the Missionaries of Charity Fathers when they were founded in 1984, and later served as the postulator of Mother Teresa’s Cause of Beatification and Canonization. Darkness While Mother Teresa wasn’t diagnosed with depression in her lifetime, she did experience decades of darkness and emptiness. Fr. Kolodiejchuk describes it as, “profound interior suffering, lack of sensible consolation, spiritual dryness, an apparent absence of God from her life, and at the same time, a painful longing for Him.” Time and again, in fact, she struggled to even put into words her pain and suffering. She served Jesus despite her struggle, and really, through it. In accord with a private vow she’d made to never refuse Jesus anything, she consistently strove to respond to God’s will with a smile, even when it was only on the outside. That may sound strange, and she often worried she was deceiving her sisters with an expression of happiness that didn’t live much below the surface. However, she discerned that her near-silence on the state of her interior life was a sacrifice she was being asked to offer up. She didn’t speak openly about her struggle and wanted her letters burned (clearly, that didn’t happen). The spiritual poverty she experienced opened her to more fully experience the poverty of those she and her sisters served. “It often happens,” she wrote, “that those who spend their time giving light to others, remain in darkness themselves.” Her Particular Call to Sacrifice I don’t mean to suggest that those suffering depression should eschew counseling or treatment in the name of holiness. Mother Teresa’s situation was carefully guided by a series of devoted spiritual directors. She wasn’t trying to be strong or suck it up or anything of the sort. Rather, in every moment, she actively participated in serving Jesus in the Missionaries of Charity (what she called “His work”). In doing so, she was sustained, even when she felt so alone and empty. Through the guidance of these spiritual directors, she was able to see the redemptive potential of her pain. “(A)ll the desolation of the poor people, not only their material poverty, but their spiritual destitution must be redeemed, and we must have our share in it,” she writes. An Understanding of the Human Soul She wanted so much to bring souls to Christ. Fr. Kolodiejchuk writes, “Mother Teresa understood the anguish of the human soul that felt the absence of God, and she yearned to light the light of Christ’s love in the ‘dark hole’ of every heart buried in destitution, loneliness or rejection.” The purpose of her suffering was not to purify her from her sins so much as it was suffering of reparation. In a way unique to her vocation, she endured Christ’s pain at Calvary, His thirst for souls, and His Mother’s agony. She didn’t see it for years, but her thirst for God was evidence of His presence. One of Mother Teresa’s spiritual directors, Father Neuner, commented, “No one can long for God unless God is present in his/her heart.” Catholic Life is Full of Joy and Suffering And so we are left with an image of a woman who was closely united with Christ, who lived with joy, peace, and serenity. But those qualities did not come without suffering. What a benefit it is for us to see a contemporary example of the depths and reality of the spiritual life, as painful as hers was. We need to acknowledge that this Catholic life is not all rainbows and sunshine. In doing so, we recognize the reality of many followers’ journeys and hopefully we can encourage one another to persevere and trust in His love. Mother Teresa had a beautiful soul, but not beautiful in the sense of unbroken or shiny and showy. In her words, “Suffering in itself is nothing; but suffering shared with Christ’s Passion is a wonderful gift.” A Model of Radical Obedience While her missionaries lived charity so fully and beautifully, I learned that even more compelling in this Saint was her obedience. She loved Jesus, even when she didn’t feel it. She is described as being “totally, passionately, madly in love with Jesus.” Jesus in the poor, Jesus in the Eucharist. She wrote, “I want to love Him as He has never been loved before—with a tender, personal, intimate love.” It seems to me, that’s exactly what she did in her time on earth, and I know it’s what she continues to do in eternity. Have you read Come, Be My Light? What impacted you the most? [bctt tweet="BIS Reads: Come, Be My Light #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. This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

It feels like the worst thing ever to have a heart that feels a lot. Particularly in high school, there were times that I would see leaders in the Church who weren’t acting in the fullness of leadership and I would cry. I could see hearts and souls that were just becoming part of the system only to leave unaffected because of laziness or lack of focus or vision. I continued to see unfulfilled needs beyond high school, and I got frustrated. Why isn’t this person doing this thing, this thing, or this thing?! Then I would get frustrated with myself for being so affected, for being sensitive, emotional, and too much. No More Frustration The proper response here isn’t blame. It’s also not frustration at yourself for daring to feel. For having your heart entangled with the wellbeing of others. That’s something we get from our Father—His heart is moved with pity for us. So, there’s a place for this heart movement. And it can be powerful. The fact that it’s so powerful is affirmed by how attacked and distorted it can be by the enemy. He doesn’t waste his time. He goes after the big stuff, the high stakes. I realized pretty quickly that I had a choice. I could be bitter and I could blame. Or, I could intercede, dream, and create. In this life, you are going to see needs. You are going to see needs and you are going to see mountains of lack. You are going to be disappointed by leadership, by community, and by people in general. There will be crises, scandals, and wounds that come from people who should have been something, and weren’t. You will see opportunities missed, productivity traded for laziness, and maybe sometimes even a disregard for the greater good. There will be frustration. There will even be heaviness, there will be disappointment, and maybe even tears. And you have a choice to make. You can choose to get so wrapped up in all of the shortcomings, being frustrated with why people aren’t doing what seems obvious. Or you can make peace with what is out of your control. You can make peace with people’s faults, even as you make peace with your own faults. And you can choose to be unafraid to step into needs. Be Part of the Solution You’re created to be a solution. Start something. Develop something. There’s a reason that you’re sensitive to needs, there’s a reason that you notice needs. There’s a reason that you have passion, there’s a reason that you are sensitive to specific needs. You were created for such a time as this. You don’t need to wait until you have the degree, are set in your vocation, or know what you want to do in your life. Follow the needs that you see, and dream so big that it hurts. Again and again in Scripture, we see examples of the unlikely candidates being called into mission, beyond what made sense or how capable or ready they felt. At the beginning of time, God knew everything that was going to be going on in the world when you came around. He placed you here for a reason, and the enemy doesn’t want you to know that. The enemy wants you to get stuck in bitterness and despair, declaring that nothing can be fixed or changed and clinging to blame. You were created to bring reach places that other people have deemed unreachable. Moving in Our Call This isn’t a call to start some war against a greater political system. I’m not about starting a rebellion. I’m about moving in the fullness of our call. I’ve seen move how they are called to on mission. It awakens apathetic hearts to get in the game. You are capable, and you have power and authority in Jesus. You have the power to change lives. I think sometimes we’re afraid to move for the sake of unity. While the Lord speaks in peace and prudence, there are times that you are going to make the apathetic uncomfortable by your passion. And you can’t withhold for the sake of preserving comfort. If you want to change the world, you’re going to have to die. You give up your “right” to be comfortable. If you see a need, there’s nothing helpful or productive about becoming bitter towards whomever “should” have been fulfilling it all along. We cannot afford to partner with bitterness. We can’t afford to partner with blame. Acknowledge the need, yes. Maybe even be affected to the point of grieving it. And then ask the Lord how He’s calling you to step into it, to dream into it. Or maybe how you’re called to empower someone else to bring abundance into it. Look for the Need, and Act If you see a need for worship, start a worship night. If you see a need for community, start investing in people and bringing them together. Let it be messy and let Him be glorified. It’s scary to step into need when you might fall. But the bigger the risk, the bigger the victory. Really, it’s not risk at all, when you’re moving where He calls and seeking to glorify Him. We have to let go of our vision of success for His plan. We have to give up control for grace. Let’s not shut down our hearts, sisters. Let’s be affected by needs and let’s move. The time of revival is now, and it starts with your “yes.” [bctt tweet="To the Women with Big Hearts on Mission #BISblog //" via="no"] Anne Marie Schlueter is studying Communications and Theology at Ave Maria University. She's passionate about worship, dreaming big, and breaking out of comfort zones, and can usually be found shoeless. You can find out more about her here.

At some point, we’ve probably all faced the accusation that Catholics can't claim to serve the poor while building expansive (not to mention expensive!) cathedrals. While our bishops are dressed in fine clothes and golden jewelry. If we would truly follow Jesus’ command and sell all that we have, we could feed the poor. And in our own lives, should we really justify our own use of gold or silver? On the surface level, it’s a fair assessment. It can feel impossible to talk about Corporal Works of Mercy when we are standing in the midst of what seems to be the pure opulence and overindulgence of cathedrals throughout the world. Or even within our own lives. I certainly encounter this as a Catholic jeweler. But I think the question of building cathedrals—literal or figurative—actually goes much deeper. A Scriptural History of Extravagance There are a few Scripture verses that may come to mind in thinking about the role of extravagance: the golden calf, serving two masters, a camel passing through the eye of a needle. However, worshipping wealth is one thing. Understanding the inherent value of something is another thing altogether. The reality is that Scripture overflows with references to gold, silver, and gemstones of every kind. Exodus is filled with details on the creation of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant out of gold, silver, and bronze. In fact, gold and silver are mentioned approximately 200 times in the Old Testament each. In Exodus we also find: And they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. -Exodus 24:10   Imagine the beauty of a sapphire. The facets of light that capture our imagination. We experience the same childlike awe at a beautiful gemstone as we experience at a sunset, because it’s an incredible representation of God’s artistry. It’s important that the comparison is not only to something beautiful but also to something that is prized and expensive - heaven is more than just a beautiful place but also a prize that exceeds all the money in the world. How expensive is a pavement of sapphires? Even just one square foot would range in the millions of dollars. The references to diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, gold, silver occupy the pages of Scripture. God inspired these references for a reason. The inherent value of certain physical materials is part of God’s vocabulary of creation. Formed deep within the mantle of Earth under extreme temperatures and pressure, diamonds are raised to the surface by deep-source volcanic eruptions. God is really telling us something important when it comes to His creation of gemstones. It speaks to our own value in the eyes of God more than most other things found on earth. We are His gemstones. Throughout Church History Think of another example in the history of our Faith. One of the most famous jewelry purchases in the history of the world was St. Catherine Laboure commissioning the famed goldsmith Adrien Vachette to create the Miraculous Medal. Why would Our Lady request this piece of jewelry if purchasing gold or silver is at odds with serving the poor? And let us be honest here. Commissioning the original piece would have come at some cost. The labor of a highly-respected artisan and the materials themselves would not have been a “cheap” order. In this vision of Our Blessed Mother, Mary would not lead us astray. Instead, she shows us that outward expressions of our faith can lead us to new graces. Mary is not asking us to superstitiously put our trust in a medal; rather, she is asking us to use this medal to remind us daily of our Faith and also to share our Faith with the world. Some Things are Precious Think of wedding rings. Although alternative materials are available, most couples continue to be drawn towards rings of gold or platinum. I don’t think this is vanity. It is born from the unspoken belief that some things are more precious than others. When we gaze upon the monstrance, we are not surprised to see it crafted out of precious metals. In fact, we would be surprised to see Our Lord hosted in any other way. While nothing can come close to being valuable enough to host our Lord, we certainly would feel shock at a monstrance made of cheap plastic. Likewise, I think a silicone wedding band strikes us as unfitting for the weight and importance of sacramental marriage. This is not about stretching ourselves to spend more than we ought on jewelry or about being overfocused on the status we might gain through fine jewelry. It’s about understanding that God regularly uses the language of created materials to speak to us. The Beauty of Cathedrals I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our most beautiful cathedrals are overflowing with this: gold paint, bronze statues, gemstone shapes. These things are beautiful and beauty brings our hearts to God. He is beauty itself-the source of all that is good, true, and beautiful. We can worship anywhere we find the Eucharist. But just as we learn better in a classroom than in a crowded bar, the beauty and splendor of cathedrals prime our hearts to connect on a deeper level, using a language that can’t be spoken in words but only through the experience of precious art. If you’ve traveled anywhere in the world with a magnificent cathedral, you know that it’s a language that speaks to the faithful and non-faithful alike. Lines form around the buildings to get a taste of what God has to offer. Money Isn't the Problem I spent the last 10+ years of my career as a nonprofit executive before returning to the family business of jewelry. And, as anyone in nonprofit will tell you, money is not the problem. Yes, nonprofits need money to do their good works. Money plays a role. But all the money in the world won’t solve the underlying issues that most nonprofits are working to resolve. Hunger isn’t just about buying more food. It’s about access, generational poverty, physical geography, and a number of other complicated issues. As with so much else, it’s about issues of the heart and about issues of sin on a larger scale. So should you sell your possessions and give to the poor? Maybe. That isn’t my question to answer. It’s a personal conversation between you and God. But I will venture to say eschewing all our precious items and deciding to stop the construction of cathedrals it isn’t “The Answer” to helping the poor. That answer is found in community, in prayers to heal our hardened hearts, and in sharing the Good News to others. I personally feel we do best to share the truth about God when we begin with beauty. Pope Emeritus Benedict says it best: True knowledge is being struck by the arrow of Beauty that wounds man, moved by reality.   When we see something beautiful, it wounds us. We cannot be the same (at least not in that moment) and we must acknowledge there is something true beneath it. I say we build more cathedrals, we create and share more beautiful Catholic art, and we create a pathway of sapphires to lead people to God. [bctt tweet="More Precious Than Gold #BISblog //" via="no"] Angie Ross is a convert to the faith and a consecrated artist. She and her husband are regularly refining gold, silver, and themselves in the crucible while raising their four children in Orlando, FL. You can find out more about her here.

The end of last summer for us was marked by a miscarriage and topped off with sick kids, so feelings of weakness and despair were frequent. A friend had invited me to a get together at her house with snacks and prayer—children welcome—but I lamented to her over the phone that I didn't feel comfortable bringing my phlegmy offspring around anyone else's. "Do a drive by," she said. "Your kids can stay in the car and we'll pray with you outside." Drive By Prayer So I sat in my car one August morning with sniffling, coughing little ones strapped in their car seats behind me. I'd arrived a little early, so we waited in the stillness of her neighborhood as the trees surrounding us silently surrendered to the approaching season change. Then, the sound of car engines crept into the quiet. I looked up to see my friends' cars processing down the street toward us, one after another. They were coming from daily Mass in their minivans and SUVs. One by one, they passed by me like tanks proceeding into battle. These women were older than me, with more children and more years of experience navigating the trenches and scaling the illustrious mountains of motherhood, all with Christ as their gentle but fierce Commander-in-Chief. Watching them exit their vehicles gave me goose bumps. I felt like I was witnessing warriors dismount their mighty steeds. They eagerly motioned for me to join them on the driveway. As I approached, I felt truly honored to have these fighters in my corner. They embraced me, and immediately, my friend opened her Bible and filled my wounded, worn-out heart with the exquisite peace that only the Spirit can give. 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 Here We Stand Amid the Battle As a Christian, I'm aware of the war taking place around me. I'm aware that we battle not against flesh and blood, and so we wield neither firearms nor blades. St. Paul notes that our fight is against principalities and rulers of the darkness, and they're seeking to sap our strength and gladness and guide us into a pit of despair. We are lured to this pit in all sorts of ways, sometimes through faults of our own, such as pride or too much time comparing ourselves on social media. But often, it is simply the natural occurrences of this life that leave us weary, overwhelmed, and easily led to this pit of hopelessness. It's at the edge of that abysmal pit where I sat dipping my toes into the darkness that day. Weakness and hopelessness were winning, that is until my fellow warriors approached. We Do Not Fight Alone More seasoned in the battle than I, they knew what I needed and how to provide it when I felt little more than loss. They arrived at my side, not with questions of how they could help, but armed with the fierceness of fellow soldiers certain of how to assist me, certain of victory. I hope one day I can be that courageous companion to a dejected friend. Not for the sake of valiantly arriving in my minivan, but to provide the soul nourishment and reassurance that we are called to offer one another throughout this journey. We are all weak at times, and it is then that the strength of Christ is able to shine most brilliantly through others. Unveil the Frailty It’s tempting to conceal our distress, our weakness. We often make jokes about the trials of parenthood and marriage. But it’s rare to vulnerably admit to a friend, a family member, or a spouse in all seriousness that we are teetering on the edge of despair. Or even flat-out swimming in it. It’s okay to be weak. It’s okay to be human, especially amidst difficult circumstances such as the devastation of a miscarriage. I was thankful that I’d revealed to my friend what I was going through so that she could act and encourage me to find a way to be present for their prayers. I’m not advocating for victimizing ourselves. I think we should carefully consider to whom we expose our hurts and only do so for the sake of receiving support, not attention. But this battle is not one to be fought alone. If we’re going to walk in peace despite the pandemonium that comes with marriage, motherhood, and life in general, we must surround ourselves with others who will nourish our spirits with their faith. And also some laughter and wine. Not Alone Despair is one thing, but despair without friends to confide in is tough stuff. I once went through a rough bout of postpartum depression while living in a brand new city. Every day that my husband left for work, the loneliness was palpable. And so I prayed not just for companions, but for soul sisters to rely upon. You know what? God totally knocked it out of the park. My social circle now is even richer in love and virtue than the one I had before the move. Don’t shy away from asking God to send you friends, or from reaching out to someone who may be in need of one. Companionship is one of the Lord’s specialties, among many others, and He longs to fill our deep-seated need for it. Say a prayer today for women experiencing loneliness and despair, that they will make soul-nourishing connections with those who can lift their spirits. [bctt tweet="Drive By Prayer #BISblog //" via="no"] Liz Pardi is a New York born, Virginia raised, Ohio dwelling freelancer. She spends her days, learning, laughing and running her way through this journey with her superstar spouse and their charming little ones. Although it's rare for her to stay awake through an entire movie, she uses significant scenes from film to relay insights on faith, marriage and parenthood on her blog. You can find out more about her here.

Bring Him all the praise you know. Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Michelle Slough from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I go through seasons of using different catchphrases and filler words when speaking. In high school, I overused “like” to no end. As a teacher, my students kindly pointed out to me that I ended every sentence with “okay.” Recently, I have noticed that “or whatever” has infiltrated my vocabulary. Though my use of “like” and “okay” bothered me, my use of “or whatever” has struck a different, frustrated chord that I want to unpack. The Implications of “Or Whatever” I know that often I use “or whatever” innocently, merely as a filler in conversation to replace words like “so” or “like” or “yeah.” But I have also noticed that sometimes I use this phrase when speaking rashly. Or that I use it as a shield, an opportunity to not fully commit to what I am saying out of fear of what other people will think. I have also noticed that it makes sense that society has gravitated toward this phrase because it reflects a worldly, relativistic perspective. One that ascertains that we are entitled to do and say whatever we want. My use of “or whatever” frustrates me because I don’t want my speech to reflect entitlement. I don’t want my conversation to be full of word vomit. I want my words to be focused and clear and meaningful. Jesus: Terse, Concise, Compelling In articulating my desire to cleanse my vocabulary of "or whatever", the Lord has gently reminded me that our words carry weight and shouldn’t be used recklessly. I need to be prudent with my language. Just as Jesus is, the Lord wants us to be emphatic and convicted yet shrewd in our speech. When Jesus speaks, His words are concise, often terse, and full of profound emotion and meaning. From commanding a man ill for thirty-eight years at the pool of Bethesda in John 5:1-9 to “Rise, take up your mat, and walk,” to reminding us in John 15:12 that “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you,” Jesus speaks calmly, decisively and emphatically. He isn’t loose or ambiguous with His words. While many of my words have caused more harm than the use of “or whatever,” in examining my frustration with this phrase, I recognize that I desire to communicate like Jesus did. I want to articulate, to choose, to use my words carefully. Prudence with Words In addition to using Jesus as a model for speaking directly and avoiding careless speech, throughout the Old Testament, I am also reminded that God actually commands us to be purposeful and prudent with our words. Proverbs 31:26 tells us that “She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue.” Further, in Proverbs 10:19 God reminds us that “Where words are many, sin is not wanting; but those who restrain their lips do well.” How beautiful that in gifting us with the ability to speak, God gently tells us that we are to be sage and thoughtful with our words. How beautiful that He has given us the capacity and opportunity to discern restraint and prudence with our words. Precision of Language God doesn’t call us to be lukewarm in the way we communicate. Scripture isn’t filled with “or whatever.” The Word is filled with conviction, with confidence. It’s precise, it’s assertive, it’s energetic. It’s sure, it’s cogent, it’s compelling, it’s true. I want my communication to reflect Scripture. I want my words to be pure, convincing, and powerful because they are rooted in God’s love, not in my earthly stream of consciousness. Whether struggling with breaking the habit of “or whatever,” of gossip, or of the inability to be articulate, may we pray to our God of grace, healing and abundant wisdom for prudence and guidance that we may use our words to build His Kingdom. [bctt tweet="Choosing and Using Our Words Prudently #BISblog //" via="no"] Mercedes Shirts lives in Idaho, land of the potatoes, with her husband, bulldog, and cat. When not indulging in a good read and black coffee, she enjoys eating street tacos, running, and listening to Texas country music. You can find out more about her here.

Welcome to our summer Lay Member Series on the Blessed is She blog! This week, we will hear from several different members who are lay members of various religious orders. We'll learn about their walk with Christ, their vocation, their discernment and formation process, and what it looks like to live out their vows in the framework of their primary vocation or state in life. Samantha, A Lay Dominican Today, we chat with Samantha Yee, a lay Dominican. Tell us a bit about your journey with Jesus. I grew up Catholic, with a family that was involved in nearly every ministry at our parish. Serving the Church was just something we did, but a strong prayer life and a personal relationship with Jesus was not something that was emphasized. When I started college at UC Berkeley, I struggled to find my place. I had no friends, and for the first time in my life I was not doing well in school. My identity was, understandably, shaken. I had been told my whole life that I was smart and I had come to use that one thing to define myself. I fell into a deep depression that took me years to recover from. I reverted back to the faith at age 19 at a Steubenville conference (I’m 25 now) and I realized my true identity came from being a daughter of God. You can find more of my personal conversion story here. What first drew you to the Dominicans? I attended Mass at a Dominican parish as an undergrad and my Confirmation saint was St. Catherine of Siena. I chose her because my mom’s name is Catherine. But beyond that, I had no other connection to the Dominican Order when I entered. What are the charisms and motto of your order? The Dominican charism is to preach the Gospel with our words and our lives. We have three mottos. Veritas (meaning “truth”) Contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere (“to contemplate and to give to others the fruits of contemplation”) Laudere, benedicere, praedicare (“to praise, to bless, to preach”). Underneath all of these mottos is an emphasis on learning Christ through prayer and study, and letting that love and knowledge overflow naturally into ministry. How did you know you had a vocation to the Dominican order? What did your discernment process look like? It’s funny, some people take years to discern being a lay Dominican (in fact, there was a woman in my chapter who had thought about it for 10 years before joining). But for me, it was a whirlwind love affair. Everything happened within the span of a week. I had played Mary in a very public and very large living Stations of the Cross down San Francisco’s Embarcadero on Good Friday 2018. It was the most spiritually-intense experience of my life. I truly saw and felt the Passion through a mother’s eyes. That night, I received a little miracle from Mary, the smell of rose incense, and I could do nothing but pray and weep for my sins and for the sins of others. It was gutting, and God was so real to me in that moment that my immediate reaction was, “I need to enter a convent right now. I need to love Him every second of everyday. I need to do something.” Over the next few days, I kept having dreams of black-and-white veils. This was odd because, though I had discerned religious life, the only orders I’d seriously considered had blue or brown veils. The following Tuesday, I was at school, and I kid you not, the Dominicans randomly came up in conversation at least 50 times. For example, I had a burger for lunch and the customer next to me nudged me, pointed to the baseball game on TV, and said, “The Dominicans are really good, huh?” It was the strangest thing, but I didn’t think anything of it until a friend who had come back from the shrine of St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin de Porres in Peru gave me a medal of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, which had the phrase “Truth in Love” engraved on it in Latin. Later that night, unable to sleep, my Google searches for "veritas" led me to the Dominican Order. I found out that all three saints were third order Dominicans. The first step to entering my local lay chapter was getting approval from the prioress, who just happened to be my brother’s godmother. I called her the next day and had an interview with the council that Saturday. They unanimously voted yes, despite the fact that I was younger than everyone in the chapter by 20-45 years. And so it began. ​​Were there any particular tools you found useful in your discernment? I think I’ve been equipped with tools throughout the years. Books like St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle, The Soul of the Apostolate, and The Fulfillment of All Desire were instrumental. I also had countless conversations with women and men religious. Discernment is really developing a practice of recognizing God’s voice and presence in your life. How has God spoken to you in the past? When were you sure God was working? I know how God speaks to me, He always makes it clear. So it was easy for me to say, “This is God,” and act. But part of that was leaving room for God to speak, making space in my life for silence and prayer and listening, and having a relationship with God already. Why do you think the charisms of this order are useful to you in your path to sanctity? The more time I spend with Dominicans, the more I realize that my personal spirituality is Dominican spirituality. I’m always talking with and about God. I grow deeper in my faith through reading books, and I’m a firm believer in lifelong learning. I share what I’ve personally received in prayer in my writing and in my talks. I’ve been “preaching the Gospel” to atheists in parties, bars, and classrooms for as long as I can remember. I have a deep love for Mary and the Rosary, and fasting is a huge part of my prayer life. Joining a religious order’s family is, in a sense, finding people who experience God the same way you do within the Catholic Church, and the Dominicans were 100% for me. What is the formation process like? Where are you in the discernment process? The first two years as a lay Dominican involve formation and mutual discernment. You get to know the order, they get to know you, you attend monthly chapter meetings, you regularly meet with a formation director, and you complete reading and writing assignments about topics such as Dominican rule, community, the life of St. Dominic, the Eucharist, and the Rosary. I just finished my first year of formation. After the second year of formation, I can make temporary professions for 1-3 years at a time. Then, if I wanted, I could make a lifelong profession three years after my first profession. What are the daily practices and other requirements/practices of lay members? How do those look lived out in your particular life and vocation? As a lay Dominican, I make a daily commitment to go to Mass and to pray the Rosary and the Liturgy of the Hours (morning, evening, and night). I must also nurture a devotion to Mary, read Scripture, fast on certain days, pray for deceased Dominicans, and go to Confession at least monthly. It’s definitely doable, but there are days when I still struggle to wake up for 8 a.m. Mass because it’s the only daily Mass in the area. Or I try to start a Rosary at 11:59 pm (whoops). Or I fall behind on my spiritual readings. There’s no one making sure I do these things and I don’t get punished for it, but I do make a promise to my chapter and I intend to live up to those promises. Being a full-time college student, freelance writer, and speaker who constantly travels, while balancing being a contemplative and prayerful Dominican is not easy, let me tell you. But it is possible. How has being a lay Dominican changed your own heart? What about your relationships with your family and friends? I can’t say that being a lay Dominican itself changed my heart and relationships so much as a consistent prayer life did. But I do know that entering the Dominican Order, because it was truly a vocation and a calling, has made me much more fulfilled, at peace, and encouraged in what I do. That has influenced how I encountered others. What advice would you give someone considering a vocation to a third order? Do it… And entrust your discernment to Our Lady. She wants to see everyone grow closer to her Son, and she’ll lead you to the right order for you. It’s also important to note that a “yes” to a third order doesn’t mean a “no” to married life or religious life. You can join a third order if you’re married or dating, or a different order as a religious sister. So don’t be afraid. Start looking at lay chapters near where you live. Contact someone. Attend a meeting. If it’s not for you, you can discern out at any time. [bctt tweet="Lay Member Series: Lay Dominican #BISblog //" via="no"] Written by Samantha Yee. This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Welcome to our summer Lay Member Series on the Blessed is She blog! This week, we will hear from several different members who are lay members of various religious orders. We'll learn about their walk with Christ, their vocation, their discernment and formation process, and what it looks like to live out their vows in the framework of their primary vocation or state in life. Molly, CSJA Today, we chat with Molly Durbin, a member of the CSJ Association. Tell us a bit about your journey with Jesus. I am a “cradle Catholic.” It would be safe to say that my journey with Jesus began when I was really young. I am 24 years old and I’m sure the Lord has felt every single minute of our journey together. From what I have been told, the early days were great. My mom would serve at Mass and my brothers and I would sit in the pew and actually behave. As I got older, things got harder. I grew further away from the Lord. Looking back, I think I struggled with being Catholic or really anything that my family identified with because I struggled with who I was. I grew far apart from peers my own age and felt very alone. We just didn’t have the same interests. The parish we attended was not a good fit. All of these emotions peaked my sophomore year of high school when an athletics coach told me, “You’re just not good enough.” Ouch. After that, I transferred to Catholic school. In the winter of my junior year, I was invited on a trip to see the Pink Sisters in Philadelphia, PA. I absolutely loved everything about it. I was fascinated with the way they lived their life and the fact that their habits were pink. The next day I started casually exploring more about Sisters. I spent the better part of eight years discerning religious life. My last two years in High School, my entire college years, and a couple of years after. I thought that, since no man seemed interested in me, I was destined to be Sister. I was set aside by God to glorify Him and love his Son by living into that vocation. I went to college at a secular university and did my best to live like the convent was where I was headed. I strove for it. That was my goal. Sometimes my commitment would waiver, but my faith never did. As I visited convents and met with my spiritual director, it became clear that the convent wasn’t where I was called. On both good days and bad I repeated the same prayer, “Lord, whatever You do with my life, please make this worth it.” I prayed it every single day for the duration of my college experience. One day, I got my answer. In my heart, I heard a challenge from the Lord. “If you trust me, quit your job.” I immediately went upstairs and quit my job. The only question I had was, “How am I going to explain this to my parents?” I had bills to pay. I had a ton of things coming up that would require money, like applying for a graduation audit. Fortunately, they were receptive but put a time frame on it. “You have until June for God to help you find a job or you’re coming home, Molly.” Yikes. I had been applying to jobs for what felt like a lifetime. I received rejection notice after rejection notice. I had interview upon interview and nothing came through. I knew the voice I heard was the voice of God. I had no doubt. I just had to wait. One day, I got an interview for a job that I really really wanted. I interviewed and got a second interview, and so on. Now I’m here, and I couldn’t be happier. What first drew you to the CSJA? They serve a wide range of needs. If there is a need, there is probably a Sister of Saint Joseph. The Sisters primarily work in healthcare, education, and service to the poor. However, you can still find them in other areas like social services, foster care, race relations, and politics. What are the charisms and motto of your order? The language from the CSJ Association flyer articulates our charism beautifully: The CSJ Association is a community of women and men who in association with the Sisters of St. Joseph seek to be conformed to Jesus Christ in his love for God, for all people, and all creation. Associate members journey with the Sisters of St. Joseph by living the charism of unity in their daily lives by uniting neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God. How did you know you might have a call to this order? What did the discernment process look like? I knew I had a vocation to this order when I visited the Motherhouse. I continue to feel a joy when I visit—words don’t do it justice. My actual discernment process isn’t one of drama. I didn’t have a vision, or a dream, or a Eucharistic miracle. I was just openly seeking God’s will for my life and found myself here. Were there any particular tools you found useful in your discernment? There are so many things that I did seasonally through the eight years I spent discerning, and some that I continue to this day. The most important tools we have in discernment are the Sacraments. As you go through your discernment process, and then move into your vocation, the number one priority should be participating in the Sacraments. The Lord may place daily Mass on your heart. He may call you to encounter him in Adoration. Maybe He knows that because you’re conversational, He sends a spiritual director into your life. My discernment was fluid and I used different tools at different times and in different seasons. It is okay if you do, too. Why do you think the charisms of this order are useful to you in your path to sanctity? At the heart of the ministry of the Sisters of Saint Joseph are service and intention. I didn’t realize how hard my heart was toward the environment or toward the poor. Living into the charism of unity has softened my heart toward my brothers and sisters in need and causes me to reflect on the impact my daily habits have on our eco-system & those in developing countries. What is the formation process like? How long have you been a member? The formation process is a year of monthly sessions where you gather with your regional group and your sponsor to cover 12 separate topics regarding the Sisters and their history, their ministry, and charisms. I made my profession as an Associate in April of 2017. What are the daily practices and other requirements/practices of lay members? How do those look lived out in your particular life and vocation? There is one requirement the Association has outside of living the charism and that is to attend monthly meetings with our prayer group. Ways that I live out the charism in my life include being a Eucharistic minister, serving meals to the poor, weekly Adoration, and daily Mass when I can make it. When I was in formation, we talked at length about temperament and how that makes all the difference in what you do. Joyful work is noticed by others and delights the Lord. I’ll give you an example. I smile. A lot. I smile a lot at Mass, I smile at work, I smile when I make awkward eye contact with people. I just like to smile. When I serve as a Eucharistic minister at Mass, I do my best to smile at everyone who comes up for communion or for a blessing. One woman thought I did such a good job that she made it a point to stop me after Mass and thank me for being a Eucharistic minister. I’ll share one more for good measure. Keep in mind what I just shared about smiling. This example comes from serving the poor. It was a colder, rainy day. We were wrapping up our leftovers to take to a local non-profit and cleaning the facility. Because it was rainy, I let some of my new friends stay indoors until we left. While I was sweeping the floor, one gentleman asked, “Are you actually enjoying yourself?” I couldn’t help but smile. How has being a CSJA changed your own heart? What about your relationships with your family and friends? I mentioned earlier that I had such a hard heart toward the poor without even realizing it. I also never took a moment to think about how my actions were indirectly impacting the environment and varying communities. This is painful to admit, but very true. I’ve always had a strong moral compass, but it was never tempered with concern for others. I practiced strong morals out of pride. While pride doesn’t go overnight (or two years), I am slowly learning to live a moral life out of love for another. When it comes to my family, they have actually been really supportive. They attended my promises ceremony and serve alongside me when they can. My boyfriend (who isn’t Catholic) also attended my promises ceremony and serves alongside me as well. What advice would you give someone considering a vocation to a third order? Bring it to the Lord If you feel called to more within your single or married state, pray about it. I used to hate that advice: “Pray about it.” I always felt like I was being dismissed. I used to think, “Prayer doesn’t solve problems. Action solves problems.” True and false. Prayer is how we connect with God. Action is how we build up the Kingdom. Prayer fills our cup while we actively pour into others. I promise you, you can trust in the Lord. He is good and He will provide for your needs. You simply need to bring them to Him. Go on retreats Did you know that you can go on retreats with Sisters specifically to gain insight into their order? If you didn’t, now you do. It’s a thing. Be mindful that the offerings of particular orders vary. What may be offered by one won’t necessarily be offered by another. Visiting the website would be the best way to learn more about what a particular order offers. Another retreat you should look out for is a Diocesan Women’s Vocation retreat. These retreats are the perfect opportunity to ask about Third Order or Association opportunities. Unpack your bags Living out a vocation is not an escape, nor is it a bandage solution to a problem. That bag you carry about any lie related to your identity as a daughter of God will get heavier if not offered to the Lord. If you have bags that need unpacked with a licensed professional, do that. There is absolutely no shame in getting the help you need so you can become everything you were meant to be. Remember your identity You are loved. You were created by a God who loves you, who has huge plans for your life, and who desires nothing more than your whole heart. [bctt tweet="Lay Member Series: CSJA #BISblog //" via="no"] Molly Durbin is a CSJA who is passionate about sustainability and Total Societal Impact. She spends her days in Corporate Learning and Organizational Effectiveness. She enjoys Ted Talks, iced coffee, Chick-fil-A, and Fall.