The word "motivated" means, “having an incentive or a strong desire to do well or succeed in some pursuit.” Being a motivated woman is important. A woman of hope, a woman who is pursuing the good, true, and beautiful, and a woman whose goal is heaven can change lives, starting with her own. Being a motivated woman enables us to fulfill the tasks of our vocation and our goals. It allows us to be generous to others, fully giving of ourselves from a place of abundance. Examine Your Motives Before discussing ways we can get motivated, we must distinguish between good and bad motivations. One way to discern this is by asking ourselves the “why” behind our actions. What is our motivation? As Catholic women, our motivation should be to “to seek God, to know Him, and to love Him with all our strength” (CCC 1). All we do should be motivated by this: to know, love, and serve God in this life so that we may know, love, and serve Him in heaven. More Than A Feeling Too often, I go in waves of feeling motivated and unmotivated. Some days I feel like I can accomplish anything, while other days I feel weak, dry, and uninspired. Something I do that helps me with this is to do my daily tasks and complete my goals no matter how I feel. Feelings are good and important, yet feelings do not always align with reality. When we complete a good action, no matter how we feel, we are practicing discipline and using our will. The Saints show us how to do this. I think of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, a woman who, for most of her life, didn’t “feel Christ’s presence,” yet was able to accomplish her goals of service and charity because she was motivated by love for Christ. We may not always feel motivated. In fact, working towards becoming the best woman we can be may even be a painful process at times. Yet if we are faithful to what we are being called to do, if we discipline our will through good actions, and faithfully strive towards our goals, we will see the fruit and God’s incredible movement in our lives. Ways to Get Motivated (When You Haven't Been for a While) Get To The Root Is there something that is causing you to be unmotivated? Is there something that is blocking you or distracting you from striving towards Heaven? Once a week, I try to discern what that is for myself. It could be as simple as the change in season, when I don’t want to climb out of bed for an early morning workout when it is dark. It could be as complex and heavy as the loss of a friend, and I don’t even want to accomplish my daily tasks. Whatever it is, take time, whether daily, weekly, or monthly, to get to the root of your lack of motivation. When we do this we are able to address the issue instead of covering it up. Spiritual direction, frequent Confession, counseling, and/or therapy helps us both pinpoint what may be affecting us and discover tangible ways we can work through loss of motivation. 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 Know Your Vocation Our vocation is our mission in life, it’s what God made us to do. Clearly knowing what our vocation is allows us to order our life and our priorities. We are able to discern what our tasks are. It gives meaning to our life and focuses the motivation behind our actions. When we understand, embrace, and live out our vocation, we begin to live the abundant life. (John 10:10) Knowing our universal vocation of holiness, to love and serve God, our primary vocation of the gift of ourselves as married, religious, single, or consecrated women, and our secondary vocations of professional work in and out of the home helps us discover our motivation and outline our goals. Define your vocation, write down your duties, and set time aside for each of your daily tasks. Set Your Goals and Plan of Action Clarity can bring freedom. What do you want? What are your desires and dreams? Establishing goals allows us to create meaning, intention, and focus each day. We feel much more energetic and motivated as we look forward to growing as individuals. We want to be the best versions of ourselves for God, for ourselves, and for one another. Setting goals is one way we accomplish this. Write down the goals that you have in mind. No goal is too small or too big. It could be the goal of folding clothes right when they come out of the dryer or walking the Camino. It could be making it to daily Mass. That’s why knowing our vocation is so important. It helps focus your goals as you set them. What I try to do every evening is to write down three goals for the next day. I also have ten monthly goals I make with my husband, Mike, at the start of every month. Whatever timeline you choose, or however many timelines you choose, I recommend writing your goals down somewhere you can see and check them off. Set A Routine I’ve shared my Rule of Life before and my passion for establishing a rhythm to my day. Routines create structure and space for our duties and tasks and at the same time allows room for the freedom to create, be spontaneous and flexible, flourish, and thrive. Instead of thinking about our to-do lists or being thrown into our day with no roadmap, we know each task has a designated time and we are able to live fully and freely in the present moment. It Takes A Village It is essential to surround ourselves with motivated, like-minded women! That’s (one of the many reasons!) why Blessed is She is so amazing. Even if you live in a small community or don’t have many goal-oriented friends, we are part of an amazing community of women. Message someone who leaves a beautiful comment under a picture on IG, or host or attend a Blessed Brunch! Find a prayer partner and ask them to hold you accountable to your daily tasks and goals. When we are part of a community and surround ourselves with people who share the same goals and passions, we begin to flourish. The root word of "happiness" in Greek means "to flourish." We are called to flourish for Christ. It’s also good to remember that we have to be a good friend to other women. When we get to the root of our problems and work through them, when we fill ourselves with Christ through the Sacraments and live a life in the Church, and when we discipline our will through action, we are able to give to others from a place of abundance! Other Helpful Resources Atomic Habits by James Clear A Mother’s Rule of Life by Holly Pierlot The Pope and the CEO by Andreas Widmer Deliverance Prayers: For Use by the Laity by Father Chad Ripperger Planner 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 This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. -Catechism of the Catholic Church 336 An Old Prayer Made New For as long as I can remember I prayed the Guardian Angel Prayer every morning. It’s a simple sentence that only takes a few seconds to say: Guardian angel, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side to light, to guard, to rule, to guide. Until recently, I prayed these words out of habit. Yet, after listening to a talk about angels by Dr. Mark Miravalle, a Professor of Theology and Mariology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, I have since prayed this prayer intentionally and lovingly. One of my daily goals is to foster a relationship—a friendship—with my guardian angel. Since making communication with my guardian angel a priority, the fruits have been beautiful, not only for me personally, but my entire family. I have such peace entrusting my son to his guardian angel each day and night. My heart is filled with joy in asking my guardian angel, and my husband’s, to protect our marriage. Guardian angels bring peace and joy. What Are Angels Like? In his book, Time To Meet The Angels, Dr. Miravalle writes that “Angels are created spiritual persons without bodies. They are pure spirits, created by God out of nothing as part of the wonder of divine creation. In the natural order, they are beings created with the closest possible image and likeness to God. Their principal goal is to glorify God and to act as messengers of God to us.” Guardian Angels: Specifically For You All nine choirs of angels were created by God to glorify Him. The ninth choir is where most of our guardian angels come from. Something very powerful to meditate on is that our guardian angels aren’t recycled. Meaning, after we die, our guardian angel isn’t assigned to another person. In fact, our guardian angel has been waiting for each one of us since creation! This shows God’s deep, unique, individualized love for us. A Gift From God Our guardian angels are a heavenly gift to us from God. Saint Bonaventure preached that they, “guard, comfort, and support humanity.” It is true that many aspects of our guardian angels remain a mystery to us, yet it is a beautiful opportunity to trust in Christ and the Church’s teachings, and place our confidence in these spirits who are aiding us on our journey to Heaven. A Holy Love God has given our guardian angels the knowledge necessary for our holiness. He has also given our guardian angels a love that resembles His love for us, a perfect love. That means that no human here on earth can or will know us or love us like our guardian angel knows and loves us! It is important for us to call upon our guardian angels each day, throughout the day. Our guardian angels will never leave our side, no matter how deeply we sin. It would be wise of us to ask their intercession in both the joys and sorrows of the day and request them to protect us from evil and keep us safe from harm. Fostering Friendship The Opus Angelorum Sanctorum, a spiritual movement within the Catholic Church that encourages devotion to our guardian angels, lists four ways we can foster a friendship with our guardian angels: Attend Mass and Adoration. Contemplate God, asking our guardian angels to help guide our thoughts and hearts. Ask our guardian angel to help us offer our daily sacrifices to God in reparation for sin. Ask guidance from our guardian angel within our vocation. Another way to grow closer to our guardian angels is through consecration. In the Great Jubilee Year 2000, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith officially approved this consecration prayer to our guardian angel. Whether it’s the simple guardian angel prayer memorized from childhood or a formal prayer of consecration, it is important to communicate to and entrust ourselves to our guardian angels. Turn to them always. Learn More About Guardian Angels Time To Meet The Angels by Mark Miravalle Opus Angelorum Sanctorum Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Section About Angels (Saint Thomas is known as the “Angelic Doctor” because of his work and teachings about the Angels in the Summa Theologiae.) The Catechism of the Catholic Church Works of Saint Bonaventure (Saint Bonaventure is referred to as the “Seraphic Doctor.”)   [bctt tweet="The Guardian Angels #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Padre Pio said that, “Once I take on a soul, I also take on the entire family as my spiritual children.” I know this to be true. My son has always been drawn to him and that devotion has only continued to grow. When asked who his favorite Saint is, he always says, “Padre Pio!” My son’s devotion to this great Saint has encouraged our family to take him on as our patron. Spiritual Children Even though I had gone on a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo, I was never naturally drawn to Saint Padre Pio. In fact, I was intimidated by him! A man who bore Christ’s wounds in the Stigmata, could bilocate, read souls in the confessional, and is now incorrupt seemed too great of a Saint for me to even approach. It was my son, who was born almost a decade after my pilgrimage, who taught me, through his pure, child-like confidence, to ask Saint Pio’s intercession with joy and trust. Since doing so, my life has truly transformed. Do Not Be Afraid My son helped me understand a beautiful lesson: never be afraid or intimidated by the holiness of the Saints. Approach them with confidence and love. There are so many graces available to us when we ask for their intercession. Fear is not of God and all that the Saints desire is for us to be in Heaven with them, glorifying God beside them for eternity. They have all struggled, they have all sinned. They know that the remedy of sin is Jesus Christ. Their lives, their witness, always encourage and point to Him, our salvation. The Communion of Saints Because of our son, and now our own devotion, we have filled our home with images of Saint Padre Pio and we are learning more about him through books and film. We have venerated his relics at a chapel close to our home and ask his intercession each day, throughout the day. His words have given us such comfort, as well as the many miracle stories that we continue to read about him! A Saint of Our Time Francesco Forgione (Padre Pio) is a Saint of our time, born during the late 19th century in Italy. His parents were devout Catholic peasant farmers. Francesco was a devout child and dedicated his life to Christ at a young age. Francesco entered the Capuchin Franciscan Friars in Morcone, Italy, where he took the name Pio. Pio finally became a priest, after years of study, filled with illness and frequent spiritual warfare. Saint Pio served briefly during WWI, yet because of his poor health was discharged twice. After his permanent military discharge in 1918, Padre Pio moved to Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary in San Giovanni Rotondo. It was there that Padre Pio started a medical clinic for the poor, a place that now serves as one of the greatest research hospitals in Europe. Saint Pio’s greatest joys were offering the Sacrament of Mass and Confession. He, like all the great Saints, loved Our Lady and encouraged devotion to her. On September 23rd, 1968, Padre Pio died. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II, the pope he had met and offered Confession to decades prior, in June 2002. Miracles continue to occur through his intercession. Words From Padre Pio // “Fear nothing. Jesus is and will always be totally yours, and nobody will take him from you. Do not allow yourself to be overcome by discouragement if you don’t always visibly see your every effort crowned. Jesus sees, rewards, and commands good will and not good success, because the latter does not depend on human efforts and work.” // “Place all your cares in Him alone, because He has very great care of you.” // “Don’t be discouraged if you experience spiritual dryness. This does not mean that the Lord has abandoned you. All that is happening in your soul is due to the exquisiteness of Jesus’ love for you. He wants you entirely for Himself, He wants you to place all your trust and all your affection in Him alone, and it is precisely for this reason that He sends you this spiritual aridity, to unite you more closely to Him, to rid you of certain little attachments which do not appear as such to us and which, in many cases, we do not even recognize or detect.” // “How happy are those souls who live by faith; who adore the holy plan of God in everything.” // “Try as best you can, without excessive anxiety, to do what you must and wish to do with perfection. But once it is done, think no more about it, but rather attend only to what you must and want to do or to what you are doing. Walk with simplicity in the ways of the Lord and do not torment your spirit.” // “Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart.” // “O daughter of little faith, I also repeat to you with the divine Master, Why are you afraid? No, do not fear; you are walking on the sea amid the wind and waves, but be sure that you are with Jesus. What is there to fear? But if fear takes you by surprise, you too shout loudly: “O Lord, save me!” He will stretch out His hand to you; and this hand is precisely that tenuous ray of trust in Him which you feel in the depths of your soul. Squeeze His hand tightly and walk joyfully, at least in the apex of your soul.” A Prayer Written By Padre Pio Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You. Stay with me Lord, because I am weak, and I need Your strength, so that I may not fall so often. Stay with me Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor. Stay with me Lord, for You are my light, and without you, I am in darkness. Stay with me Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me Lord, for I desire to love you very much, and always be in Your company. Stay with me Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love. Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late, and the day is coming to a close, and life passes, death, judgment, eternity approach. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile. Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You. Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart. Stay with me Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to you, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love. Stay with me Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation because I do not merit it, but the gift of Your presence, oh yes, I ask this of You. Stay with me Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more. With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen. Here For Us Saint Padre Pio suffered not only physically, but also spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. We each have a cross and the Saints, like Christ, help us in our suffering. The intercession of the Saints is powerful. Call upon Saint Padre Pio to be with you in both your joys and suffering. And rest in knowing that you are never alone, you are surrounded by a communion of Saints, a communion of grace. Are you a spiritual child of Padre Pio? What will you entrust to him today? [bctt tweet="Be a Spiritual Child of Padre Pio #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]

Welcome to our first Blessed Chats series! Each month, we will dedicate an entire week of blog posts to a topic that affects many of us. These conversations often come up in our Facebook groups and in our real life friendships. We want to share a variety of perspectives on the topic at hand, so we've asked women to share their stories and how the teachings of the Church have guided and comforted them. In this first series, we're talking all about fertility. We'd love for you to join the conversation! Secondary infertility is a deep wound. It’s a wound that pierces who I am as a person. It has affected every aspect of my life and has led me to moments of overwhelming sorrow. And it can totally consume me if I allow it to. It’s brought heartache and heartbreak. It’s left me empty and lonely. Secondary infertility is a cross. Yet precisely because of this—the penetrating pain, the sorrow, the cross—it’s led to joy. It took me four years to enter into the mystery of the joy of suffering. By a miraculous gift from God, I was able to understand the truth that everything God allows to happen in my life He will use for my salvation. Everything He permits is for His greater glory. Knowing this truth has allowed me to trust in Him and His plan for my life. It has brought joy. [bctt tweet="Everything that God allows to happen in my life He will use for my salvation. #BISblog #blessedchats //" username="findphilothea"] Big Family Dreams Ever since I was young I always dreamt of having a big family. I have five siblings and they are counted among my greatest joys. I became pregnant with my son just two months after marrying my husband, Mike. The thought of possibly being infertile was the last thing on my mind. Secondary infertility is defined as being unable to become pregnant, or to carry a full-term pregnancy, following the birth of one or more children. I don’t remember learning about secondary infertility in nursing school; and if I had, like most, I passed by it without a thought. Yet after months of physical tests and exams, it became my diagnosis. For a few weeks, it was a diagnosis that totally and painfully consumed my heart, mind, and soul. When I found out from my doctor that I was experiencing secondary infertility, my entire being filled with sorrow and anger. I felt foolish for all the pregnancy tests I had purchased over the past two years. I felt like I had wasted time each day wondering when I would be pregnant, keeping a room open for a nursery, and daydreaming about Peter as an older brother. The diagnosis sounded cold and harsh. I told God that I knew it is completely in His power to allow me to become pregnant, and it is a good and beautiful thing that I want to become pregnant. So why, why God, wasn’t it happening? 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 Getting to the Root There is always an underlying issue for infertility, and with my secondary infertility diagnosis came another diagnosis: polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS. Through practicing NFP and tracking my cycles, my doctor was able to confirm that PCOS was one of the causes for my secondary infertility. It was during that time I was introduced to Natural Procreative Technology, NaPro Technology, a natural and pro-creative approach to fertility. NaPro helps discover the “why” behind fertility issues, offering hope not only in a diagnosis but also with treatment. After my diagnosis, conception was my goal and I worked closely with my doctor who practiced NaPro techniques. Shifting My Focus After another two years of trying to conceive and taking medications to help ovulate and hcG shots to raise my low progesterone and estrogen levels, I decided to focus on my health instead of conception. This shift in my mind and heart changed everything for me. Though I had been exercising consistently and eating well since my diagnosis, I felt free for the first time in years. Free from taking such time-sensitive medications, free from the pressure I was putting on myself and my husband to conceive. With this new goal of health, I felt renewed and full of hope. It was during this time that I decided to have an ovarian wedge resection, an OWR. Though there is no cure for PCOS, an OWR is the closest thing to it. An OWR removes a section of the ovaries so that there are essentially less cysts to cause issues and side effects. During my OWR, my NaPro surgeon, Dr. Kyle Beiter, also found Stage I Endometriosis that he removed. My recovery aligned with Lent, and it was one of the most powerful of my life. Suffering and Mercy A few hours before Lent began, I decided to fast from Instagram. Instead of scrolling, I filled my time with reading the Diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska. In those pages I discovered Faustina’s journey with suffering and the deep joy she found in it. She wrote of not only comforting Christ but saving her own soul and other souls through her suffering. She wrote that God revealed to her that if angels could be jealous of men it would be for two things: the Eucharist and their ability to suffer. As I was finishing her Diary and reading these powerful words, I realized how terrified I had been to suffer. Physical suffering scared me and I had been trying to avoid it at all costs. I had been afraid of the pain of surgery before my OWR and as I lay recovering I was scared for my heart to continue to suffer with the cross of infertility. I was full of fear. Yet I had opened the door just enough for Christ to enter into my heart, and grace began to pour into my life. Jesus healed me not only physically but also spiritually and emotionally. A few days before Lent ended, I sat on my bed and looked at the San Damiano crucifix that hangs in my bedroom. I saw the suffering Christ, hanging, dying, for me. I looked at Him and repeated, “I surrender.” I told Him I surrender to all He has in store for my life. I said yes to the infertility, if that is what He willed for my life. I said yes to the suffering, if that is what His plan was for me. The most profound peace and joy I have ever experienced immediately flooded into my entire being. That joy has continued to grow as I surrender each day to Him and His will for my life. There is freedom in the surrender. There is joy in knowing that our suffering has merit. [bctt tweet="Jesus healed me not only physically but also spiritually and emotionally. #BISblog #blessedchats //" username="findphilothea"] You are Bearing Fruit If you are experiencing infertility, know that your life is bearing fruit, and you are called to be a Christ-bearer. We may not all be called to carry our own children physically within us, yet we are all called by Christ, by name, to live out His mission of discipleship. We are called, as women, to bear Christ just as Our Lady did—in all we think, do, and say. When we do this, when we surrender to His plan for us, we will flourish, we will be free. Say yes to all He has in store for your life, say yes to His will for you. Do not be afraid of His answer. Do you experience infertility or secondary infertility? Please share your story with us in the comments below! If you want more help with finding your own story, our popular Write + Pray course offers 9 topics, nearly an hour of guided video, and almost 50 Scripture verses and questions for you featuring Managing Editor Nell O'Leary. Find your story today.   [bctt tweet="Blessed Chats: Fertility // Secondary Infertility #BISblog #blessedchats" username="findphilothea"]

The intercession of the Saints is real and powerful. Throughout my struggle with secondary infertility I have found such comfort and hope in asking the Saints’ intercession. Spiritual Support During the Struggle with Infertility Here are some of my favorite Saints, along with a few beautiful Bible verses, that have helped me during these past four years of my infertility. Even if you don’t experience infertility, please take a few minutes today to ask the intercession of these Saints and pray for the couples who do struggle with it! Bible Verses to Pray And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. // Luke 1:45 I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. // Philippians 4:13 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. // Romans 5:3-5 And he said, “At this season, when the time comes round, you shall embrace a son.” // 2 Kings 4:16 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. // Romans 12:12 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord! // Psalm 113:9 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible. // Luke 1:36-37 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake. // Philippians 1:29 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. // Romans 8:18 We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. // Romans 8:28 Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. // Psalm 37:4 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. // James 1:12 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. // 1 Peter 2:21 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 Saints To Befriend Mary Mother of God (Our Lady of La Leche, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe) Saint Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary Saints Anne and Joachim, parents of the Virgin Mary Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Saint Philomena Saint Gerard Majella Saint Raymond Nonnatus Saint Jude Saint Rita of Cascia Saint Collette of Corbie Saint Nicholas Saint Dominic de Guzmán Saint Elizabeth, mother of Saint John the Baptist Saint Casilda of Toledo Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds Saint Josemaría Escrivá Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Saint Charbel Makhlouf Holy Women, Not Yet Declared Chiara Corbella Petrillo Frances Chesterton, wife of G.K. Chesterton Blessed Joan of Aza Please share any Bible verses or Saints that would help those experiencing infertility! And please share any miracle stories or testimonies you have experienced through the Saints’ intercession in the comments below!   HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

When my husband Mike and I got married, we knew that we would be open to life within our marriage. In fact, we both wanted children right away. Though we took Natural Family Planning (NFP) classes together during our engagement, once we were married, we didn’t track my cycles right away. Difficulty With Natural Family Planning A reason I didn’t record my menstrual cycles was because I didn’t like charting. Though dislike for charting seems like a petty reason not to, my cycle had always been irregular and I felt very disconnected from my body—especially my reproductive system—because of the irregularity. I questioned what I observed and charting became a stressor within our marriage. NFP was a challenge for me. My cycles were different every single month, ranging from thirty to sixty-five days. The classes we took focused on the Creighton Model Fertility Care System, an NFP system that utilizes different biological markers to track cycles, something extremely difficult to pinpoint with irregular cycles. A Gift and A Cross Thankfully, even without tracking my cycles, I became pregnant two months after we got married. Once my son Peter was born, we started trying to have another child. Yet, a child never came. Instead, my irregular cycles returned, coupled with mid-cycle bleeding and a lot of pain. Time to Re-Learn I went to my OB/GYN and she said I should start tracking my cycles again, something I hadn’t done since Mike and I were engaged. She would be able to better understand what my body was going through and how she could help. Mike and I resolved to start tracking my cycles and we are so thankful that we did. A Diagnosis of PCOS Fully practicing NFP with the Creighton Method allowed my doctor to diagnose me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS. Using my chart as a baseline, my doctor was able to tell me when to get bloodwork and ultrasounds done that confirmed PCOS. NaPro Technology It was during that time I was introduced to Natural Procreative Technology (NaPro Technology), a natural and pro-creative approach to fertility. NaPro helps discover the “why” behind fertility issues offering hope not only in a diagnosis but also with treatment. How NFP Helped Me While Trying To Conceive After my diagnosis, conception was my goal and I worked closely with my doctor who practiced NaPro techniques. Though my goal has shifted more towards health this past year, I am thankful that NFP allowed me to properly take the different medications that I was prescribed to help me conceive. The ovulation medications and the hCG shots I took were very time0-sensitive, meaning I had to take them on certain days of my cycle for them to properly work. I truly could not have done that without my NFP charts. Focusing On Health After two years of trying to conceive and taking medications to help ovulate and hcG shots to raise my low progesterone and estrogen levels, I decided to have an ovarian wedge resection (OWR). Though there is no cure for PCOS, an OWR is the closest thing to it. An OWR removes a section of the ovaries so that there are essentially less cysts to cause issues and side effects. During my OWR, my NaPro surgeon, Dr. Kyle Beiter, also found Stage I Endometriosis that he removed. Recovery was about six weeks and I have never felt better in my life! I keep telling my husband that I didn’t know it was possible to feel this good (I really did feel made new!). The most exciting part for me is that immediately after surgery, I started having a normal twenty-eight day cycle for the first time in my life! Other NFP Benefits Practicing NFP led me to discover the underlying reasons for my infertility. Yet there have been so many other benefits of practicing NFP. NFP has allowed Mike and me to be completely vulnerable with one another, which has led to the strengthening of our trust and love. It’s helped us to communicate more clearly. It’s shown us, especially through our journey of secondary infertility, that we are completely and totally dependent on God. Not only are we communicating better with one another, we are communicating with God more, too! PCOS and NFP Though there are many methods of NFP, I really recommend the Creighton Method and NaPro Technology if you have PCOS, infertility, irregular, or painful cycles. The most common medication prescribed in mainstream medicine for PCOS is birth control. Birth control is a carcinogen that leaves women with PCOS feeling disconnected from their bodies and not knowing where their cycles are to get proper treatment. NaPro technology is natural and gets to the root of the problem instead of covering it up with artificial hormones. Keep Trying! If you are struggling with the idea of NFP or having difficulty practicing it, I would encourage you to keep trying, even for a few months. Meet with someone who is certified and can clearly explain the method you choose to use and answer your questions. NFP methods are the safest, clearest, and most comprehensive way of gaining knowledge about our reproductive health. [bctt tweet="NFP methods are the safest, clearest, and most comprehensive way of gaining knowledge about our reproductive health. #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] Working With Our Bodies NFP is such a beautiful way to uphold our dignity and worth as women as it naturally guards against the objectification of women. With NFP you are working with your body instead of against it. No matter what state of life we are in, it’s vital for our reproductive health to track our cycles. I wish I had remained faithful to it years before I got married! Even if you aren’t married, your fertility health is of utmost importance. Helpful Links Here are some links that may help you. Creighton Method Billings Method NaPro Technology How to Find a CrMS/NaPro Consultant Catholic Women with PCOS Facebook Group Fertility Care Creighton & NaPro Support Facebook Group The Privilege of Being a Woman by Alice von Hildebrand Please share any links you have found helpful in the comments. Also, if you practice NFP, please share what method you use and what has helped you to practice NFP successfully!   [bctt tweet="How NFP Helped Me Diagnose PCOS #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

When Jesus appeared to Saint Faustina, He told her: The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy. Father Jean d’Elbee’s words bring comfort, too: And if you give Him your many miseries with great humility and confidence, then you give Him His great joy—His joy of being Savior. We must be convinced of the profundity and horror of sin, not to fall into despair, but rather to discover the full opportunity of grace and mercy that is available to us. To be fully healed and to receive the fullness of grace offered to us by the Merciful Christ, we must first acknowledge our sin. Sin is horrific, yet let us always remember in joyful hope that it is Jesus who takes away the sin of the world. Romans 5:20 proclaims, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” Christ’s mercy is always available to us through the Church and the Sacraments. What is Sin? To better appreciate and accept the mercy offered to us through Christ, we must admit our faults. That’s why it is so important for us to know what sin is, so that we may realize its deadening effects and continually strive for conversion. When we identify sin, we are able to remove it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines sin as, “an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as ‘an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.’ Sin is an offense against God and sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it.” (CCC 1849, 1850) Capital Sins Sins are distinguished according to their objects, the virtues they oppose, and the commandments they violate. There are different kinds of sins, namely mortal sin and venial sin. Yet all sin is like the first sin. All sin is disobedience. Our Church has identified seven capital sins, often referred to as “deadly sins,” because they each give rise to other sins. A Remedy Following Saint Paul’s proclamation to the Romans, our Church in her wisdom does not leave us without remedy. Grace abounds all the more with the seven lively virtues that combat and assist us in the triumph over the seven capital sins. The Catechism teaches us that: A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions. -CCC 1803 The Seven Deadly Sins Pride // When man aims higher [supra] than he is, because he wishes to appear above what he is. (Summa Theologiae) Avarice // An inordinate love of riches, an immoderate love of possessing. (Summa Theologiae) Envy // The sadness at the sight of another’s goods and the immoderate desire to acquire them for oneself, even unjustly. (CCC 2539) Wrath // A desire for revenge, evil is found in wrath when one is angry more or less than right reason demands. (CCC 2302, Summa Theologiae) Lust // Disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes. (CCC 2351) Gluttony // An inordinate desire for eating and drinking. St. Gregory the Great says gluttony occurs when we consume food and drink, “hastily, sumptuously, too much, greedily, or daintily.” (Summa Theologiae) Sloth // To refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness. (CCC 2094) The Seven Lively Virtues Humility // A humble man is someone inclined to the lowest place. (Summa Theologiae) Charity // The theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. (CCC 1822) Kindness // A fruit of the Holy Spirit. Mercy, compassion, grief for another’s distress. (Summa Theologiae) Forgiveness // Pardon or remission of an offense. (CCC 976) Chastity // The successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. (CCC 2337) Temperance // The moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion. (CCC 1809) Fortitude // The moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. (CCC 1808) Strive to Live A Virtuous Life Saint Gregory of Nyssa said that the goal of the virtuous life is to become like God. Sisters, let us have heaven as a goal and live like Heaven as a goal. Let us recognize the horror of sin, identify the sins in our own life, seek God’s mercy and grace made ever-available to us in the Sacraments and Church, and then extend that same mercy to others. Our lives will transform and we will become, “like God.” Resources and Ideas for Leading a Virtuous Life Make an act of contrition and receive the Sacrament of Confession regularly. Schedule it in! When we are in a state of grace we are able to recognize sin more clearly and strive to avoid it. Find an experienced spiritual director. Participate in daily Mass. Watch this video by Bishop Barron. He beautifully outlines the deadly sins and lively virtues according to Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’. This video transformed my spiritual life! Pray! When we converse with Christ we are more sensitive to sin and we grow in virtue. We are better able to hear the voice of Christ and become more like Him. Pray everyday, throughout the day!   [bctt tweet="The Seven Deadly Sins + the Seven Lively Virtues #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Mothers are Christ-like in that they lay down their lives for their children. Whether it is in the delivery room, the office, the kitchen, or many miles away interceding on our behalf, our mothers teach us the important message of Christ: that there is no greater love than sacrificial love. Our homes are meant to represent the Church, specifically the celebration and sacrifice of the Mass. We are called to imitate the same love that Christ has for His Bride. At Mass, we are fed both spiritually and physically. So, too, within our own homes. Meals from Our Moms Reflecting upon this reality, I thought about my own mother and how she nourishes both the body and soul of my family. Some of my most treasured memories are of my mother baking in our kitchen. Her inviting warmth and love—as she stood over the counter peeling apples and rolling out dough—helped me through the struggles and joys of childhood. She wasn’t just indulging our family’s sweet tooth, she was imparting to our family a gift of herself. She was offering her time, energy, and love for our joy. In honor of Mother’s Day, I asked some women to share how their mothers fed them both spiritually and physically. These beautiful women shared the impact their mothers had in their Catholic Faith along with their favorite meal. I hope these witnesses of love along with these delicious dishes inspire you! (I’m sharing my mom’s apple pie recipe at the bottom!) Christie Peters // Mom's Salsa “All my life, I've seen my mother pray. In the morning, in her chair, she carved out a special time to be with the Lord and give Him her attention. Even as a young child I was amazed at her consistency and slightly wondered how she could spend so long praying. I remember asking her about it once, and she said she was no good to anyone if she didn't take the time to let herself be filled up first. It's something that has always stuck with me. And now as an adult, when I'm tempted to skip my own prayer time or get caught up in my own to-do list, I am reminded of a lifetime example of watching my mother pray. And I remember the type of woman I want to be.” Mom’s Salsa Ingredients: 7-8 roma tomatoes 1 fresh jalapeno (remove seeds) 1-1 ½ lime 1 bunch cilantro 1/4 or 1/8 onion 1-2 cloves garlic 1/2 tsp salt (to taste) 1/8 tsp oregano 1/8 tsp cumin or chili powder Instructions: Wash all ingredients and pat dry. Blend 1 tomato, garlic, and lime juice in a high speed blender Add in half of remaining ingredients at a time and blend on low setting. Add in handfuls of cilantro in between tomatoes and blend to desired consistency. Serve immediately or store in an airtight jar. Lasts up to two weeks in the fridge. Christie Peters is an art teacher turned full time artist and co-founder of Every Sacred Sunday. She specializes in watercolor and has illustrated the last three Every Sacred Sunday journals as well as writing and illustrating for other independent projects. This past year she started taking aerial dance classes for fun and likes to daydream about joining the circus. Come say hi to her here. Melissa Tablada // Tortellini with Pesto “My family is culturally Catholic, based in our Italian heritage, but we were not practicing the Faith and I had no concept of the role Jesus wanted to play in my life. I am so grateful that my mom saw the importance of me receiving the Sacraments as I grew up. I was baptized, received my First Communion and Reconciliation, went through Confirmation, and occasionally attended Sunday School, all due to her promptings. It wasn't until I was 18 years old that I had an encounter with Jesus that transformed my heart and life. My mom planted the seeds that God would water and cultivate over time, and would later blossom into deep faith. She played a profound role in allowing the foundation to be formed and I am so grateful for that.” Tortellini With Pesto “Although my mom was not the cook in our family growing up, there were a few things that she put together that I still absolutely love to this day. My all time favorite is a simple, yet delicious, tortellini with pesto dish. She would always use the Buitoni brand of tortellini as well as Buitoni's pesto. She would chop up some cherry tomatoes to throw into the mix, along with pine nuts and Romano cheese. It is such a classic, it can be ready to eat within 20 minutes and my mouth is now watering.” Melissa Tablada is a devoted Catholic & wife of two years, living in Miami, Florida. She works as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Creighton Fertility Care Practitioner and SoulCore Leader. She is passionate about healthy relationships, fostering community, and exploring the outdoors. You can follow along Melissa here! Fabiola Millican // Corn Lasagna “My mom, Fiorella Grillo, was a beautiful woman inside and out. She was a woman of faith that showed kindness and love with a gentle smile. My mom taught us to love the Lord and give thanks often. We had a beautiful and blessed life with constant reminders from that it was all thanks to Him, our Savior. My mom had a love for the Eucharist and for the Holy Spirit that I admired from a young age. I wanted to grow up to be just like her, with faith as strong as hers. When my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017, she held onto her Faith in a beautiful way. She felt peace knowing that she and her health were entirely in God’s hands. Instead of fearing the inevitable truth that she faced, she gave thanks for the beautiful life she lived. She opened her eyes every morning with joy and said, “Thank you for another day.” When the day came that God called her home, her last moments consisted of receiving the Eucharist with a smile on her face, making the Sign of the Cross, and waving to her husband and three daughters as she slowly went away. I feel her with me every single day.” Corn Lasagna Ingredients: Shredded mozzarella Parmesan cheese Heavy whipping cream No-boil lasagna pasta Sweet corn Aluminum (lasagna) baking pan Instructions: Preheat the oven 350-400 degrees. Pour a half inch of heavy whipping cream at the base of the baking pan and lay the pasta side by side creating the first layer. Pour enough cream on the pasta layer to cover the pasta and then top by mozzarella and sweet corn, be as generous as you’d like. Repeat Step 3 until you have built at least 4 layers. Cover the last pasta layer with mozzarella, sweet corn, and add parmesan cheese this time. Stick into the oven and cook for at least 30 minutes (monitor depending on the oven temperature). Note: A crispier top is more delicious, so maybe low broil towards the end. Fabiola Millican is a Florida girl with an Italian mom and Venezuelan dad. Her two sisters are her best friends. Family (as you can tell) is the most important thing to her. She is married to her favorite person in the world, Cole. They were blessed to be married in St. Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City. She is a marketing manager that specializes in Social Media. She speak three languages, has traveled to over 30 countries, and loves Jesus with her entire heart. Her biggest and most beautiful blessing is in her belly right now: a little boy arriving in May 2020, God willing. She loves the beach, the sun, and talking about how good God is in almost every sentence. Follow along here! Allison Seitz // Coffee Cake "My mom took great delight in helping and serving others and passed that on to me. Growing up, I remember fondly making meals for families who just welcomed a new baby, doing laundry for someone who just lost a parent, and being a place where children knew they were always welcome. She taught me how to be a servant. My mother has a profound trust in God. She taught me the importance of prayer, always, but especially when faced with uncertainty. When my father left, there were some very hard years, but she kept on serving, she never stopped loving, and she relied completely on God to get her though. She taught me how to trust that God will provide. A little over three years ago, she packed up her life in New York and moved in with our family in Indiana. We are very grateful. She continues to love and serve in our home, as well as in our community. She recently went as far as watching a 15 month-old, for 5 days, while his mother was in the hospital having her second baby. I was out of town loving my best friend whose mother had just passed. Oh, and all three kids in her care got sick! She is still teaching me how to love radically. It was never difficult for me to know what God’s love is like because I have a mother who truly embodies God’s love. What God pours into her, she gives, and gives. I pray that I can become more like my mother." Marmie Paolini’s Coffee Cake Ingredients: 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter - soft 3 eggs 2 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 1/3 cup sour cream Topping: 3/4 cup flour 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup soft butter 1-2 tsp cinnamon Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and mix well after each. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Then add to the butter mixture. Stir in sour cream until just blended. Option 1: Put in a greased 9x13 pan; Option 2: Put in 2 greased 8 inch round pans. Mix topping together in a separate bowl. Sprinkle topping and cook for 18-25 minutes. Use a toothpick to check if the cake is cooked. Allison Seitz currently lives in Indiana with her husband, two sons, and mom. She spends her days running after her boys and making rosaries. She enjoys singing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with her sons, drinking hot tea, making rosaries, and binge watching Netflix. You can see more of the beautiful items she makes and sells here! Claire Couche // Apple Pie "When I think about Catholicism, I think about my mother. She carries with her the strength, dignity, determination, and passion of her patron, Saint Catherine of Siena. She loves Christ with all her being. She taught me about the Faith through her witness and has always spoken and defended the Truth in season and out of season. She has always transformed her suffering into beauty and makes every opportunity to use the graces Christ bestows upon her. Even though we live many miles away, I feel her intercession throughout each day and know she continues to sacrifice for me through her love and prayers." Mom’s Apple Pie Pie Crust Ingredients: 2 cups flour 2/3 cup and 1 tablespoon butter flavored Crisco pinch of salt 1 teaspoon sugar 1/4 cup cold water, or more as needed Pie Filling Ingredients: 10 medium apples or enough to fill but not mounding pie plate, peeled and thinly sliced (Mom uses a mix of Cortland and Empire) 1/4 cup flour 2 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes 3/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons apple pie spice Instructions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, with oven rack in middle. In a medium bowl, combine flour, Crisco, salt, and sugar. Using a knife and then your hands, mix ingredients until completely combined. Slowly add cold water and mix until a ball forms. The dough should be soft, but not sticky. Cut the dough ball in half. Flour your surface and rolling pin. Take half of the dough ball and roll out to about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer it to a 9″ pie plate, and trim the edge so there is only 1/2-inch of overhang all around. Fill the pie plate with apples. Sprinkle flour, sugar, butter, and apple pie spice onto apples. Lift and gently shake the pie plate to distribute ingredients. Gently set the pie plate back onto the surface. Roll out the top crust on a floured surface. Slit pie openings. Place over filling. Press the top crust to the bottom crust gently to seal, then trim the excess top crust away, leaving just 1/2-inch overhang all around. Tuck the overhang under itself, making a thicker edge around the pie plate. Use your fingers and crimp the edges to seal. Bake pie at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for fifteen minutes. After fifteen minutes, turn down the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for another 35 minutes, or until golden-brown. Happy Mother’s Day! Please share a favorite recipe from your mom or how she inspired your faith life in the comments below!   [bctt tweet="Meals from Our Moms #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. Jesus’ words to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalsa, as recorded in her diary, paragraph 699 Two Different Feelings, Same Feast Day I remember the first Divine Mercy Sunday that I worked as an oncology nurse during the night shift. I went to Mass after a particularly trying shift feeling feeling exhausted, empty, and numb. My legs shook from overuse as I stood in the long Confession line after Mass. The only reason I knew it was Divine Mercy Sunday was because the priest mentioned it during his homily. I didn’t plan anything for Divine Mercy Sunday other than making it through Mass awake. I didn’t feel anything, really. I didn’t feel Jesus’ Mercy, His love, nor the joy of Confession. Yet I was fully receiving Jesus’ Divine Mercy, I was deeply in love with Jesus, and I had been forgiven fully and wholly in the Sacrament of Confession. This year I am excited, ready, and yearning to “do all the things” for Divine Mercy Sunday. My list of liturgical living ideas has been planned for weeks. I’ve been preparing my heart and eagerly awaiting this grace-filled feast day. Love is Willing the Good Our world tells us that feelings dictate reality. However we must remember what love truly is. It isn’t a feeling. Love is willing the good of the beloved. What better example of this do we have than Jesus’ Divine Mercy? Each year (especially this year), Divine Mercy Sunday looks a little different. Yet the one constant is Jesus’ love for us and our desperate need for His mercy. In fact, it is often the years when I feel prepared to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday that I need His merciful love the most. His Mercy is Enough The beauty and power of Jesus’ Divine Mercy is that it is a pure gift. We don’t have to do anything to obtain it, save for having a heart open and a willingness to receive the gift of His Mercy. Whether you are exhausted from a night shift of caregiving to patients or children this Divine Mercy Sunday, or excited and fully ready to delve into the day, know that you are loved by a merciful God. His mercy is enough. Liturgical Living Ideas for Divine Mercy Sunday These Divine Mercy Sunday liturgical living ideas are instruments to help us grow in and reflect upon Jesus’ Divine Mercy. Pick one or two things—or one thing from each category—to do. Know, however, that the most important thing isn't accomplishing things on this list, it is knowing that you are loved completely by Jesus and accepting His merciful love. Divine Mercy for the Soul Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Divine Mercy Novena. Set up a Divine Mercy space in your home. It could be as simple as placing the Divine Mercy image on a table and lighting a candle. Invite your family or roommates to help you come up with ideas for the space and to write down intentions and place them in front of the image. Participate in your parish’s Divine Mercy Sunday services. Parishes often offer Confession, time to pray to Jesus in Exposition, and other devotions around 3:00 pm, the hour Jesus died, the Hour of Mercy. If you are unable to attend a Divine Mercy Sunday service, spend a few minutes in prayer and silence at 3:00 pm. Reach out to someone you need to ask forgiveness from or feel called to forgive through a phone call, letter, text, e-mail, or by sending them red or white roses. Receive a plenary indulgence through participating in Divine Mercy prayers and devotions, prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament, reciting the Our Father and the Creed, praying a prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus, and receiving the Sacrament of Confession within 21-days of the Feast. Click here for more information about this indulgence. Divine Mercy for the Mind Start reading the book 33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Consecration to Divine Mercy by Michael E. Gaitley, MIC. Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit, open Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalsa, and read the first few paragraphs you see. Spend time in prayer with what you read. Watch this video of Bishop Barron speaking about the power of Jesus’ Divine Mercy. If you have children, print out a coloring sheet of Divine Mercy and sit with them to color it. Ask them what they see, describe Who is in the image, and tell them what the rays signify. Divine Mercy for the Body Wear red, white, or pale blue in honor of the rays depicted in the Divine Mercy image. In St. Faustina’s Diary, she writes that Jesus explained to her, “The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls" (Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalsa 299). Go for a hike in honor of Pope St. John Paul II who enjoyed outdoor adventures with friends. Pope St. John Paul II canonized St. Faustina and instituted the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. Make a Polish meal in honor of St. Faustina and Pope St. John Paul II. Homemade Pierogi, Bigos, or Galumpkis would all make delicious dinners! Decorate heart-shaped sugar cookies with rays of red and blue frosting. Make Divine Mercy ice cream sundaes, using strawberries and blueberries (or whipped cream if you want a white ray!) to represent the image of Divine Mercy. [bctt tweet="Liturgical Living Ideas for Divine Mercy Sunday #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]

To the other saints, the Lord seems to have given grace to help us in some of our necessities. But my experience is that St. Joseph helps us in them all; also that the Lord wishes to teach us that, as He was subject on earth to Saint Joseph, so in heaven He now does all that Joseph asks. I only request whoever will not believe me will test the truth of what I say, for he will see by experience how great a blessing it is to recommend oneself to this glorious patriarch and to be devoted to him. -St. Teresa of Avila   Led to St. Joseph I prayed so hard for a new start at the beginning of this liturgical year. The previous year had been difficult and I was ready, even desperate, to start anew in Christ. After receiving the Eucharist on the first Sunday of Advent, I felt a deep call to consecrate the liturgical year to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, under the title “Queen of the Universe” and to Jesus’ Divine Mercy. I felt such joy and peace as I prayed, “Mary, Queen of the Universe and Jesus, in Your Divine Mercy, I consecrate this year to you.” What I didn’t realize at the time is that, with this prayer, they would soon lead me to their favorite person, St. Joseph. The Consecration to St. Joseph: A Book That Changed Everything A few days before Christmas, my husband and I were given this book by Father Donald Calloway, MIC. A week prior, I had seen Father Don give a powerful talk about the Rosary so I couldn’t wait to start the book. I opened the book and read that we could start the consecration any day, but Father Don recommended starting on dates that ended on a feast day associated with St. Joseph. I looked at the dates and saw that the next day was a recommended date! That little miracle was just one of the many we experienced during our consecration to Saint Joseph. The Newness for Which I Prayed I had made consecrations to Mary, but a consecration to St. Joseph? This was something I never even considered doing. Admittedly, I rarely thought of St. Joseph prior to this consecration. A few years ago, I had given him my vocation as a nurse and had asked his intercession during some shifts, but calling upon him had become a rarity. Yes, I loved him and honored him, but he didn’t come to mind often. That all changed the moment I opened the consecration book. As I read each day’s reflections and prayers, an entire aspect of the Faith opened up to me that I never knew existed. Now I can’t stop thinking about him! What is Consecration To St. Joseph? What is consecration to St. Joseph? Father Don explains that consecrating ourselves to St. Joseph means that: ...you acknowledge that he is your spiritual father, and you want to be like him. To show it, you entrust yourself entirely to his paternal care so that he can lovingly help you acquire his virtues and become holy. Total consecration to Saint Joseph means you make a formal act of filial entrustment to your spiritual father so that he can take care of your spiritual well-being and lead you to God. The person who consecrates himself to Saint Joseph wants to be as close to their spiritual father as possible, to the point of resembling him in virtue and holiness. Saint Joseph, in turn, will give those consecrated to him his loving attention, protection, and guidance.   Now is The Time For Joseph Sisters, our world needs St. Joseph. Now is the time for St. Joseph. In a world where marriage is attacked and broken, we need the strength of Joseph, the father and figurehead of the Holy Family. In a culture that mocks masculinity, we need the manhood of Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons. In a society where purity is attacked and lust is encouraged, we need the chaste heart of Joseph to triumph. As our Church heals from crisis, we need the fatherhood of St. Joseph. We need to run to St. Joseph in this hour of need! We need his protection, guidance, and strength. Now is the time to consecrate ourselves to St. Joseph. [bctt tweet="Sisters, our world needs Saint Joseph. Now is the time for Saint Joseph! #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] After Our Lady, the Greatest of Saints God has given us the gift of St. Joseph. St. Maximilian Kolbe taught that, “with the exception of our loving Mother, Saint Joseph stands above all Saints.” Doctor of the Church St. Gregory Nazianzen explained that, “the Almighty has concentrated in Saint Joseph the combined light and splendor of all the other Saints.” If we have a strong relationship with Our Lord and Our Lady, we understand this. Of course, God the Father would create and ordain the holiest of men to lead, protect, and nurture Mary and Jesus! We are Part of the Holy Family It was fitting that Jesus and Mary led me to St. Joseph after consecrating the liturgical year to them because St. Joseph did the same thing. Deepening my relationship with St. Joseph deepened my love for Mary and Jesus. Father Don writes that we are not part of single-parent spirituality. Mary and Joseph’s hearts are united and full of love for us, their spiritual children. The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father Please consider consecrating yourself to St. Joseph. The book is a thirty-three day preparation that culminates with a consecration prayer on the last day. Each day focuses on an aspect of St. Joseph’s holiness from the Litany of St. Joseph. The book also includes words and reflections about St. Joseph by other Saints, Blesseds, Popes, and Doctors of the Church, along with the wisdom of Father Don. It has a wellspring of prayers, devotionals, and even pilgrimage sites. I have never felt more peaceful, protected, and loved. God is inviting us to have a relationship with His servant, Joseph! It is such an exciting time in the history of our Church! St. Joseph Links Believe me, after consecrating yourself to St. Joseph, you can’t get enough of him! So here are some Joseph-themed resources, devotionals, and sacramentals: This beautiful necklace from The Little Catholic (use code CLAIRE10 for 10% off!) Sleeping Saint Joseph statue Joseph, Patron of the Church wood plaque (my favorite image of the Holy Family) Wedding of Joseph and Mary image (this is my go-to wedding gift) This fun mug from Just Love Prints Have you consecrated yourself to St. Joseph? Do you have a devotion to him? Want to learn more about Saint Joseph, patron of the Universal Church? Check out this incredible video series with our own Beth Davis!   [bctt tweet="The Consecration to St. Joseph #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

I get into bed after a long day. My feet ache from chasing my three-year-old, preparing meals for the weekend, and running errands. I feel the sharp twinge of pain in my lower left abdomen as I lay down and am reminded of the shot I took earlier in the day for infertility. My heart breaks anew. I can feel myself turning inward, focusing on the aches and the pangs. I open up my phone and see the article I saved to read earlier that day. The first paragraph makes all my little pains seem so insignificant. I am reminded that thinking of others instead of ourselves is often the greatest cure for pain: On Good Friday 1940, the Nazi SS Guards of Dachau Concentration Camp found pretext to punish sixty-some priest-prisoners with an hour on “the tree.” One former Dachau prisoner describes the torture saying, ‘They tie a man’s hands together behind his back, palms facing out and fingers pointing backward. Then they turn his hands inwards, tie a chain around his wrists and hoist him up by it. His own weight twists his joints and pulls them apart.’ The barbaric aptitude of the guards of Dachau incarnated the demonic for the some 2500 priests condemned to incarceration in the camp during the years 1933–1945. Priests were crowned with crowns of barbed wire while groups of Jewish prisoners were forced to hail them as kings. Guards mocked, spat upon, and forced priests to carry railroad ties, all in imitation of the crucified Lord. -Br. Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P The Brave Priests I think of those brave priests, uniting their horrific suffering to Jesus’ Passion in such a literal way. I reflect on what their thoughts must have been, or if they were even able to think. I wonder what prayers and petitions they must have offered up. What if their prayers, their holy courage, and their martyrs' blood was for me? For us? What if they offered it up for the Church—for you and for me? May their blood and cries to God not be in vain. Taking Up Our Cross Why is there so much suffering in the world if God is good? It’s a question most of us have asked. It’s a question I asked after reading about the sixty priest-prisoners hanging on the tree. I opened up the Catechism for an answer, and this is what I found in paragraph 618: Christ calls His disciples to ‘take up their cross and follow Him’, for ‘Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example so that we should follow in His steps.’ This is achieved supremely in the case of His mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of His redemptive suffering. Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.   [bctt tweet="Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven. -CCC 618 #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] What Our Lady’s Suffering Teaches Us “Achieved supremely in the case of His Mother.” That sentence penetrated my heart. Mother Mary teaches us how to suffer because she followed Jesus’ example of redemptive suffering the most perfectly. Not only did she suffer greatly at the foot of the Cross, she suffers with us, her children. St. Teresa of Calcutta, one of the greatest Saints of modernity, wrote that, “Our Lady’s role is to bring you face to face with the love in the Heart of Jesus crucified.” There is Merit in Suffering Our Lady, in perfect imitation of her Son, teaches us that there is merit in our suffering. From the cross comes our salvation. After the Passion, there is the joy of the Resurrection. One day, we too will share in her Glorious Mysteries and be with Him body and soul in Heaven and crowned in glory. Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette Today, on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, I am reminded of a young French girl who was accustomed to suffering, St. Bernadette Soubirous. Mother Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France eighteen times between February 11th and July 16th, 1858. Our Lady, who always began and ended the apparitions with the recitation of the Rosary, communicated to Bernadette, “You must pray to God for sinners.” The Message of Lourdes The message of Lourdes is a call to penance and prayer, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation to God. St. Bernadette spent the remainder of her life doing just as Our Lady asked. Because of her own “fiat” there are countless miracles still occurring today at the healing spring and baths of Lourdes. St. Bernadette’s suffering—the humiliation and mockery she experienced, her physical pains, and the deep longing to see Our Lady’s heavenly beauty again—was united with Christ’s suffering, redeeming both her soul and ours. Christ in His Mercy Gave Us A Loving Mother Yes, Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection is enough. As one of the greatest Marian Saints, St. Louis de Montfort reminds us that Mary is, “less than an atom” in comparison with the infinite majesty of Christ. Yet, he continues to say, “God having willed to commence and complete His greatest works by the most Holy Virgin ever since He created her, we may well think He will not change His conduct in the eternal ages.” New Meaning to Suffering At Lourdes with Bernadette, just as she did at Calvary with John, Mother Mary teaches us to unite everything to her Immaculate Heart so that she may perfect our offering and present it to her Son. She invites us to give her our pain, sorrow, joys, frustrations, and anxiety. Our suffering has merit, for our own souls and for others. “By His passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to Him and unite us with His redemptive passion” (CCC 1505). Tangible Ways to Unite Our Suffering To Christ Through Our Lady How do we unite ourselves and our suffering to Mother Mary for our own souls and the souls of others? Some beautiful ways are through the recitation of the Rosary just as Mary gave as an example in Lourdes, or through Marian consecration. Wearing a scapular or reciting a Hail Mary are powerful ways, too. Yet, my favorite way is just a simple prayer St. Teresa of Calcutta would pray throughout each day, “Mary, lend me your heart and keep me in your most pure heart.” Our Lady of Lourdes, give us your heart so full of love for your Son, Jesus, and for sinners, that we may always see the face of Christ in all we meet. Keep us safely within your most pure heart, so that when we meet Christ in Heaven, He may see only your deep, indescribable love for Him—the love you had as you held Him, as you first gazed at Him in Bethlehem, and as you beheld Him at the foot of the Cross. Amen. How has Our Lady impacted your view on suffering? [bctt tweet="Our Lady of Lourdes and Redemptive Suffering #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]

Last year, my husband Mike and I went through a period of time when we didn’t pray together. It was disastrous. Thank God that time was short lived; but we saw first hand the detrimental effects of having a marriage without prayer. Prayer is the lifeline of a marriage. It is the lifeline of a family. When we are far from prayer, it is often Mother Mary who brings us gently back to her Son. I’d love to share a story about the importance of prayer and how Mother Mary strengthened my own prayer, marriage, and family. [bctt tweet="When we are far from prayer, it is often Mother Mary who brings us gently back to her Son. #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] A Diagnosis and Some Advice I have been experiencing secondary infertility for the past three years. Even as a nurse, I never knew about secondary infertility until my diagnosis. Mike and I were able to have a baby right after we were married. But after trying for a second child, we have been unable to conceive. People always have advice, especially when it comes to children and babies. When I would share with people about my secondary infertility, one of the things that kept coming up was something called the Our Lady of Pompeii Novena. It is a 54-Day Rosary Novena, often prayed during desperate situations. When I first heard that it was 54 days, it sounded like forever. It sounded like 54 years to me. So I put it off and kept putting it off...until one night. The Night That Changed My Marriage Mike and I have a huge devotion to St. Giuseppe Moscati, an Italian doctor and miracle worker. One evening, while I was writing this post about him, I was surrounded by books about him. As I was typing, Mike picked up one of the books to read. He came across a story about the friendship between St. Giuseppe Moscati and a man named Bl. Bartolo Longo, whose life is a powerful witness to God’s mercy and deep love for us. Bl. Bartolo Longo Bartolo Longo grew up Catholic but fell away from the Church during college to the point of becoming a Satanic priest. By the grace of God and through the help of a Dominican priest, he had a conversion and returned to the Faith. Yet anxiety and despair about his sinful past filled his heart and mind. One day, he almost took his own life. Thankfully, Bartolo was reminded of something he learned from his Dominican priest friend about Mother Mary. The priest had told him that no soul is lost that honors her. He declared that when we pray the Rosary, she is always with us and will always bring us to her Son. Bl. Bartolo Longo spent the rest of his life, beginning in the city of Pompeii, spreading devotion to the Rosary, especially the 54-Day Rosary Novena. He built the Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Pompeii, composed novenas, and wrote books about the Rosary. Miracles began occurring during and after his death and he was named a blessed by Pope St. John Paul II. No Sin Is Too Big For God No sin is too big for God and His mercy. I was deeply touched when Mike shared the story about Bl. Bartolo Longo with me. Too often I look back on my life and become filled with anxiety about past sins or what I could have done differently. Yet God is found in the present moment, and He is running toward us, yearning to embrace us and fill us with His mercy and love. 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 The 54-Day Rosary Novena Discovering the connection between our favorite Saint and Bartolo Longo—along with Bl. Bartolo’s incredible story of mercy and our desperation for a miracle—prompted us to start praying the 54-Day Rosary Novena that next day. God Answers Every Prayer Even though I didn’t conceive after praying the 54 -ay Rosary Novena, I can see the fruit of this novena in so many aspects of my life. God answers every prayer. It may not be in the way or time that we like, but one thing this novena has taught me is to truly pray, “Thy will, not mine, be done.” His plan, His time, and His way is always the best and is always for our salvation and holiness. Strengthening Our Marriage The biggest gift from this novena was the strengthening of our marriage. Being faithful to praying this novena meant that we spent a solid thirty minutes in prayer together each evening. It quickly became my favorite part of the day. I saw our love and joy deepen. At the end of the 54 Days, instead of turning on a show, we missed praying the Rosary and decided to start another novena! A Deeper Devotion to Mother Mary Another gift from the 54-Day Rosary Novena has been a deeper devotion to Mother Mary. To grow in relationship with someone, we need to spend time with that person. Not only was I spending more time with Mike in prayer, I was spending time with Jesus’ Mother. My love for her is deepening each day and I can’t stop thinking about her! I began looking up Catholic Marian YouTube videos and came across Fr. Don Colloway’s talk about the Rosary. It changed my life and made me want to promote the Rosary and 54-Day Rosary Novena even more. Our Lady loves us so deeply and always leads us to her Son! The Gift of the Rosary God has given us the gift of a Mother in Heaven—His Mother. So often in her apparitions, she has asked us to pray the Rosary. Fatima visionary Sr. Lucia said that, “There is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.” 📿 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 → Want to Learn More? Here are some helpful links: 54-Day Rosary Novena Prayers How To Pray the Rosary Bl. Bartolo Longo Have you prayed the 54-Day Rosary Novena? Do you have a Rosary miracle? Please share in the comments below! 

Maybe it’s because our names share the same meaning, but I’ve always felt a connection to Saint Lucy. Both Lucy and Claire mean “light” and I am reminded of G.K. Chesterton's words that, “Coincidences are spiritual puns.” Everything happens for a reason. Discovering that St. Lucy and I share the same name-meaning is what initially attracted me into learning more about her story and life. God uses the most intricate and personal ways to draw us in! St. Lucy: Virgin and Martyr St. Lucy, a virgin and martyr, gave her life to Christ at a young age. She was born of nobility in Italy during the time of the Diocletian persecution. St. Lucy had a strong devotion to St. Agatha, and Lucy’s own mother experienced a miracle through her daughter’s prayers and Agatha’s intercession. Courageously keeping her vow of virginity, St. Lucy refused to marry the Governor of Syracuse and was brutally tortured because of her choice. One tradition holds that her persecutors gouged her eyes out and tried to burn her. When the fire kept extinguishing, the torturers killed her by thrusting a sword in her neck. The Beauty of Purity St. Lucy teaches us the supreme nobility of chastity and purity. It’s incredible to think that men and women have sacrificed their lives for the sake of purity. Purity for Christ and His Kingdom is supremely beautiful and worthy of honor. Whenever we feel tempted or drawn to the impure, let us find courage and strength in St. Lucy’s story of sacrifice, bravery, and love. God and His Saints The devotion a person has to God’s Saints does not end with the Saints themselves, but rather reaches ultimately to God through the Saints. It pleases God and gives Him glory when we honor those who excelled in love of Him. When we honor God’s Saints, especially on their feast days, we celebrate God’s love for His people and the hope that we too may one day sit on the throne beside Him (Revelation 3:21). St. Lucy’s Day As her name suggests, St. Lucy remains a light to many nations. St. Lucy’s Day is celebrated in her Italian homeland and in many other countries throughout the world. A beautiful thing about Catholicism is that it beckons us to celebrate specific heritages and traditions, yet it also reaches beyond all cultures and races. The word "catholic" means "universal" and we see this unity in a special way within God’s Saints. Celebrating in Sicily St. Lucy’s Feast Day coincides with the Winter Solstice, a time where light within darkness is both appreciated and yearned for. In Sicily, the location of her martyrdom, a procession takes place on her feast day. Remembering when St. Lucy saved them from famine in 1646 when a boat full of grain miraculously appeared on her feast day, Sicilians honor her by refraining from consuming pasta and bread on December 13th and instead celebrate by eating cuccìa, a pudding made of wheat berries and sugar. Celebrating in Sweden Sweden and other Scandanavian countries focus their celebration on Saint Lucy’s charity and bravery. Tradition holds that Saint Lucy would bring food and refreshment to Christians hiding in the Catacombs during Diocletian’s persecution. She would wear a candle-lit wreath to light her way and free her hands to carry as much aid to her fellow Christians as possible. Now, every St. Lucy’s Day, a young girl is elected to represent St. Lucy and leads a procession, wearing a white robe with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head. Honored Throughout the World From novenas recited in the Philippines to Naples’ tradition of lighting fires by the sea at dawn, St. Lucy is loved and honored by many faithful throughout the world. It’s exciting to think that we can participate in her feast too, even in some small way! Here are a few simple ideas to celebrate the life of this Saint of light! Wear white or red in honor of St. Lucy’s purity, virginity, and martyrdom. Make cuccìa (this recipe looks great!) or Saint Lucia Buns (I’ll be using this recipe). Or you could simply make store bought cinnamon rolls like Lisa did last year! Attend Mass or pray the Liturgy of the Hours. If you have children, make a paper wreath crown for them to wear. Pray for those experiencing illness of the eyes or blindness. The Communion of Saints However you celebrate St. Lucy’s Day this year, know that you are loved by God and by her. Know that you are never alone because we are part of the Communion of Saints. Carry the light of the Resurrection and the hope of eternal life in your heart this St. Lucy’s Day. St. Lucy, pray for us! [bctt tweet="The Feast of St. Lucy + Meaningful Traditions #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

A Saint is a person in Heaven who lived a virtuous life in a heroic way for the Faith and who is worthy of imitation. It is pleasing to God and gives Him glory when we honor those who excelled in love of Him. The devotions we have to Saints do not end with the Saints themselves, but rather reaches ultimately to God. Universal Call To Holiness The Saints are in their glory, contemplating God and stand before Him in perfect joy, peace, love, and happiness in Heaven. As different as all the Saints are, there is one thing they all have in common: they lived out their specific call of Christ, that universal call to holiness. Every Saint is a man or woman who desired a friendship with God, and who fell in love with Him, our King. The Communion of Saints The witness of their heroic love stories with God can inspire, and even change our own lives. Whenever I feel dry or apathetic, reading stories about the lives of the Saints and calling upon their intercession always rekindles and ignites my faith. Their witness of love, joy, and fidelity to God within their obstacles, pain, and even their own dryness inspires and uplifts my soul. St. Giuseppe Moscati In retrospect, during the most pivotal moments in my life I was asking the intercession of a specific Saint. Many of my memories are accompanied with the name of a Saint. As a child I remember reciting the words on a Marian prayer card at night. In high school I asked St. Bridget to be with me during a particularly painful year. During nursing school I offered my vocation as a nurse to St. Joseph. When I was single and discerning I called upon the intercession of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Throughout my pregnancy with my son, Peter Karol, I asked Pope St. John Paul the Great to protect us. And now, I have a devotion to St. Giuseppe Moscati. Doctor of the Poor I first discovered St. Giuseppe Moscati two years ago after watching a film about him. I was immediately drawn to his story of fidelity, courage, sacrifice, and strength. Moscati was a brilliant Italian doctor, professor, and miracle worker. Known as the “holy physician of Naples,” St. Giuseppe Moscati saw Christ in each of his patients. He went to Mass and received Jesus in the Eucharist each day before visiting his patients. His pure love for God and neighbor culminated in the vow of chastity and poverty that he made. Moscati lived simply in order to serve the poor without cost, and never charged a fee to priests or religious. Miracle Worker Miracles happened while he was alive and continue to occur after his death. Healings from cancer, accidents, and other ailments, including infertility, take place through his intercession. St. Giuseppe Moscati lived out the Beatitudes, serving Christ in the sick, poor, lonely, homeless, and suffering. Saints Change Our Lives Saints change history because they change lives. After watching the film and learning more about St. Giuseppe Moscati’s life I was inspired to create a medical scrub line in his honor, Moscati Scrubs. Before becoming a stay at home mother, I worked as an oncology nurse. It’s been a joy combining my passion for the Faith and the medical field. My life truly has not been the same since discovering this incredible Saint and I see his intercession in my life so clearly. Our Friendship With Christ There is nothing more attractive to me than a person living for Christ, when it is clear that a person truly has heaven as a goal and lives like Heaven is their goal, just as St. Giuseppe Moscati lived. Those are the people I’m drawn to and that is the person I want to be. My goal is for Christ to shine through me so that people may see Christ and have a friendship with Christ. Our world needs that. People in the world are yearning for that! Our world needs you; the world needs your friendship with Christ. [bctt tweet="The world needs your friendship with Christ. #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] Three Challenges for the Feast of St. Giuseppe Moscati Here are three challenges for us on this Feast of Saint Giuseppe Moscati: Do You Want Heaven? Ask yourself if you want Heaven. Do you want to be with God, do you want to be His Saint? Do you want the glory, joy, peace, love, and happiness for eternity? If your answer is yes, make Heaven your goal in the way you live. Live like you want Heaven. Start praying each day, even if it’s a few seconds or saying the words, “Jesus, I want heaven, help me become a Saint.” And if your answer is “no” or you aren’t sure if you want Heaven, please say a little prayer asking God to place that desire for Heaven in you. Because we want you in Heaven. God wants you in Heaven. He wants to spend eternity with you. [bctt tweet="Live like you want Heaven. #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] Fall in Love with Christ Begin falling in love with Christ. Let your heart be romanced by God. Falling in love with our Creator is the greatest love story. God loves us deeply and profoundly. He loves us no matter what. No sin is too big for Him. And once we fall deeply in love with Christ, we are better able to love people here on earth. Find Heavenly Friends Make a Saint your best friend. It could be your confirmation Saint or the Saint your parents named you after. Or if you don’t know where to begin, ask God to send you one—He will! You could even Google some of your hobbies and who the patron Saint is of that hobby. For example, if you love music, St. Cecilia is the patron Saint of music. Or pick up a book about the lives of the Saints and if you feel drawn to one, begin asking them to be with you throughout the day. Be a Saint! Sisters, you are beautiful. You have gifts and talents that God gave you, that He wants you to use and share with the world. You are the light of this world, a world that is often full of darkness and despair. You are God’s joy. You are His joy! You are loved by Him. You are meant for that perfect joy, peace, love, and happiness in Heaven. Saint Giuseppe Moscati, pray for us! [bctt tweet="The Life of St. Giuseppe Moscati #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]

Often, when I think of St. Francis of Assisi, I feel overwhelmed by the legacy of his holiness. At first glance, the heights of his sanctity seem out of reach. His radical charity, his desire for poverty, and his extraordinary joy are difficult to comprehend, let alone live out. It is easy to think of great Saints like Francis and become disheartened. How can I, a wife and mother, live out Franciscan charity, poverty, and joy? After prayer and reflection, the answer was pressed upon my heart. St. Francis was charitable because Christ was charitable. St. Francis chose poverty because Christ was poor. He was joyful because of Christ’s joy. [bctt tweet="St. Francis was charitable because Christ was charitable. St. Francis chose poverty because Christ was poor. He was joyful because of Christ’s joy. #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] Lovers and Imitators of Christ No matter what state of life or vocation we're in, we are called to be lovers and imitators of Christ. When I started thinking of Francis’ life as a beautiful love story instead of a giant list of virtues, I became inspired instead of discouraged. Fall in love with Christ and the charity, poverty, and joy will fruitfully follow. Knowing, loving, and imitating the life of Christ leads to holiness and sanctity. This is true whether we are a Franciscan friar walking the streets of Assisi or a mother walking the halls of her home. The Communion of Saints We all have unique gifts that God desires to cultivate and that we in turn are called to share. We have specific talents, strengths, and virtues that help build the Kingdom of God. Yet we cannot do it alone. We are a community of Faith that depends on one another. God gave us the gift of the Saints and we can learn from their example of holiness and imitate them in their outstanding virtues. The Best Bible Interpreters Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI spoke of this in a General Audience when he said: The Saints are the best interpreters of the Bible. As they incarnate the Word of God in their own lives, they make it more captivating than ever, so that it really speaks to us.   Pope Benedict continued to proclaim that the witness of St. Francis of Assisi: who loved poverty as a means to follow Christ with dedication and total freedom, continues to be for us too an invitation to cultivate interior poverty in order to grow in our trust of God, also by adopting a sober lifestyle and a detachment from material goods. St. Francis and Lady Poverty The poverty of St. Francis of Assisi is often seen as his hallmark virtue. From the time he stripped naked and renounced his father’s riches to the moment of his death bearing the wounds of the Crucified Christ in the stigmata, Lady Poverty reigned supreme in his heart. Poverty was a virtue St. Francis of Assisi lived both in his interior and exterior life. He had a poverty of spirit, a poverty that, if lived out, has Heaven as a reward (Matthew 5:3). From this poverty of heart sprung exterior signs of poverty. This was not only in the way he dressed, spoke, and looked, but also in his service and love for the poor and sick. Three Ways to Become Poor Like St. Francis Sisters, that same poverty that Christ lived and that St. Francis imitated is obtainable for us here and now, no matter what our state of life or vocation. We are called to not just desire poverty, but to delight in it! How? The life of Saint Francis teaches us how to do this through keeping our eyes fixed on the Crucified Christ, through complete trust in our Creator, and through rejoicing in moments of poverty. Keep Our Eyes On the Crucified Christ St. Francis’ great love story began at the Cross. It’s where he was told to rebuild the Church and it’s where he gathered the grace and strength to do so. Francis’ life was completely and wholly Christ-centered. Everything He did was for Christ and to make Him known and loved in this world. There is no greater poverty than the poverty of the Crucified Christ. Vulnerable, despised, naked, and alone, Jesus hanging on the Cross is poverty embodied. St. Francis fell in love with the poverty of Our Savior on the Cross. When we gaze at a crucifix, let us realize that because of Christ’s great poverty we are able to become poor in turn and rebuild His Church. Let us see that the true riches of this earth are found in love and sacrifice. [bctt tweet="There is no greater poverty than the poverty of the Crucified Christ. Vulnerable, despised, naked, and alone, Jesus hanging on the Cross is poverty embodied. #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] Complete Trust in Our Creator Do we truly, completely, wholly, and fully trust in God, our Creator? I have had small moments of this kind of trust with Him in my life, and they have been the most sanctifying and graces. Yet like St. Peter on the water, my feet (and heart) often fail and fall into the ocean of anxiety, which always leads to distrust. St. Francis placed all his trust in God. Because he fell so deeply in love with the Crucified Christ, and knew that He lovingly died for him, he found Him trustworthy. Trust is a fruit of love. Christ is worthy of our full and complete trust! Our lives will never be the same if we live out the words, “Jesus, I trust in You!” Rejoicing in Poverty Every time I pay bills or a financial “stress” happens, I am tempted to become anxious. St. Francis and his companions rejoiced in these moments. They gladly accepted everything Christ laid before them because they saw it as an opportunity and invitation to trust in their Creator. They cried out, “God will provide!” and He always did. And He always does. We can do the same thing in our work, with our children, at home, as a religious, or wife. We can delight in these moments of exterior and interior poverty, crying out to our Creator in trust, and watch the miracles unfold. How do you imitate the poverty of St. Francis within your particular vocation or state in life? [bctt tweet="Ways to Imitate the Poverty of St. Francis No Matter Your Vocation or State in Life #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]

This past August, my husband Mike and I made a commitment to make exercise part of our weekly routine. I have always loved to exercise and was a marathon runner, but I had slowly let my exercise routine fall wayside. Yet when I received a diagnosis of secondary infertility, I knew I needed to make exercise a priority again. It feels so good to be taking care of our bodies in this way, and the benefits are plentiful! I wake up earlier with more energy, and have more productive days! I am more motivated to improve other areas of my life, too. Only a few days into exercising regularly, I realized that I was praying more. I had the energy and desire to spend more time with God in prayer. We are Both Body and Soul We are both body and soul, and we must do our part to make sure that both are healthy. The health of one can often affect the health of the other. Our bodies are a gift, made in the image of our Creator. One way we can glorify God is through keeping our bodies healthy through exercise. [bctt tweet="Our bodies are a gift, made in the image of our Creator. #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] We Glorify God in Our Suffering, Too I want to express that if you are physically unable to exercise, do not feel badly about yourself or that you are not glorifying God through your body. In fact, you are glorifying Him even more in your suffering. Christ is close to us in our health, and close to us in our illnesses and disabilities. What My Patients Taught Me During my time as a critical care nurse, I encountered many people who were unable to exercise, and I know that not everyone is able to participate in the gift of exercise. After seeing patients who were not able to exercise, and thinking of the times that I have personally been sick, it has helped me to appreciate when I am physically able to exercise. Health is a gift that we cannot take for granted. Catholic Exercise Trainers There are two beautiful ladies, Camille San Souci and Shalini Blubaugh, who have created their own fitness regimens. They incorporate Catholic teaching within their programs to motivate and connect how the physical is linked to the spiritual. I’ve conducted little “interviews” with each that more fully expresses the beauty of these women and the programs that they’ve created. Shalini Blubaugh and ZYIA Active Hi, Shalini! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m originally from Minnesota but now live in Denver, Colorado with my husband, Matt, our seven month old little girl, Callan, and our pup, Sully. I graduated from the University of MN - Twin Cities in 2012, served with NET Ministries, and went on to law school at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. I’ve always had a passion for health and fitness. I graduated from law school in 2017 and just knew that it wasn’t for me. So I went back to my roots, my passion for health and fitness! I was a health coach for about two years and decided that it was time to be certified as a personal trainer. I still wanted to be active in all things health and fitness as I studied to be certified, though, and that's when ZYIA fell into my lap. Total God thing! I couldn't be more happy to be exactly where I’m at! What is the name of your program and its mission? ZYIA Active is an active lifestyle brand. Our mission is to inspire and uplift by making activity a fun and essential part of life. Who doesn't feel great about a workout when you're in the right clothes? No tugging, no pinching, no adjusting. And who doesn't feel more confident overall when they're comfy and yet still put together? From pieces for us ladies, to our dudes, to our littles, we've got you covered. Why do you personally love exercising? I truly believe that when we care for ourselves, we are best able to love and serve and care for those that God places in our lives. We are His vessels—His hands and feet! I want to take care of me so that I am best able to care for them, whoever "they" are! Exercise just makes sense from this lens. Why do you love training? There is something so beautiful about encouraging another to do better and be better, one day at a time. Sometimes it takes someone else believing in us before we are able to believe in ourselves and the goals for our health that we have. Seeing women not only reach goals, but also begin to see themselves as He sees them—beautiful, beloved and worthy—leaves me speechless. We do what we do not to become more beautiful, beloved and worthy, but because we already are! Why is it important for women, specifically Catholic woman, to exercise? Ultimately, because we are temples of His. We are body and soul. When one part thrives, the whole thrives. When one part suffers, the whole suffers. Exercise is a natural progression of all of that. We are better, more able, more healthy all around when we take care of our bodies. I think it’s also so important for us as Catholic women to set a good tone for our own kids, particularly our girls. I want to see myself as He sees me. So that I may pass that vision on to my own daughter. We are little churches! We house Him! What a gift. Camille San Souci and More Than Sweat Hi, Camille! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Hey friends! My name is Camille San Souci, and in my job as a certified fitness trainer, I teach group classes, train personal clients and have online wellness programs with my specialty being prenatal/postnatal fitness. While training is my career, I am a wife and a Mama first. My husband Nick and I live in Montana with our four kiddos, Lilia, Evangeline, Raphael, and Ignatius. What is the name of your program and its mission? The name of my online health and fitness program is “More Than Sweat” because I believe that exercise is so much more than just sweat, more than just the physical. I designed and created More Than Sweat to give people all of the physical tools necessary for living a healthy lifestyle: an app-based exercise program, nutrition guidance, deep core education, and accountability! I am probably not the typical trainer on the block, de-emphasizing physical appearance. My ultimate goal for you as your trainer is not the perfect body composition, but rather wellness from the inside out. I want your heart to be literally and figuratively well. To me, that is when the magic really happens, when we will be doing health and fitness the most closely to the way that God intended. Our bodies will be healthy, but it will also be well with our souls. Why do you personally love exercising? Sweat has been a part of my life since I was a kid with a variety of sports which turned into a true passion for general exercise because I have personally found it to holistically improve my quality of life. Sure, the physical, of course, but also the mental, emotional and spiritual. Why do you love training? Ultimately my love for exercising led me into training; I wanted other women to experience the same benefits I was. Exercise is a catalyst for overall well being on so many levels, and I consider it a true honor and blessing to encourage women in that journey. Why is it important for women, specifically Catholic woman, to exercise? I believe as Catholic women, we are called to exercise. Not so that we can fit into those skinny jeans, but so that we are fully equipped and ready to fulfill the vocation to which we are called. Be it the single life, married life or religious life, exercise enables us to do that to the best of our ability. We will be less hindered by physical limitations and more grounded in our mental and emotional health so that we can spiritually serve in the way that God has individually called each of us. Made in His Likeness What are your favorite ways to exercise? The gym or at home? With a program or trainer? Does exercising come naturally to you, or do you struggle to find the time and energy? Share with the Blessed Is She community in the comments below! [bctt tweet="Exercise + the Theology of the Body #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]

This past Easter Sunday, my father called to wish me a happy Easter. It was such a gift to hear his voice and to catch up with him. I remember thinking throughout the phone call how happy he sounded. And even though my father is the most optimistic, joyful person I know, there was something so deeply rich in his voice. Something different. It wasn’t until the end of our conversation that I found out why. A Life-Giving Conversation Before saying goodbye, my father told me that he was watching a series about the Holy Spirit on Formed with Father Dave Pivonka called The Wild Goose. Hearing the name made me smile. Father Dave was stationed at Franciscan University’s campus in Austria when I studied abroad during college. He is a priest who, through his witness of faith and love of God, makes you want to run to Christ and give your life completely to Him. My father ended the conversation with, “Claire, the series is changing my life, you should really watch it.” The Gift of the Holy Spirit That evening my husband Mike made an account with Formed and we began watching The Wild Goose. My life truly has not been the same since. I’ve been raised Catholic, went to a Catholic college, and studied theology there. Yet I have never been touched so deeply by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The joy and peace that I experienced watching each episode in the series was healing and profound. You are a Light to this World Matthew 6:22 proclaims that, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.” Sisters, what we choose to watch, what we choose to look at, what we choose to fill our minds, souls, and hearts with, is of momentous importance. Later in the New Testament, St. Paul tells us to think about, “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8). The movies we watch, the pictures we look at, and the television shows we view affect our innermost being. We are created to be lights; to be a light we must fill ourselves with His light. A Catholic Media Option The Wild Goose series is one of the many powerful shows you can watch on Formed. Formed is an online platform that offers incredible Catholic content including movies, podcasts, video series (like The Wild Goose), books, audiobooks, and study programs. From personal study to children’s catechesis (my son Peter loves watching the Brother Francis series!) to sacramental preparation, Formed offers something for everyone. Most parishes offer a code to access all the materials on Formed. If you aren’t sure, ask your parish priest. And if your parish doesn’t offer access, you can sign up on your own. In a world where Netflix reigns, it’s so beautiful to support an evangelization ministry like this in the media. My heart is uplifted and my soul is set ablaze with His love every time I choose to watch something on Formed. On the contrary, when I choose to watch more secular shows, I am often left drained, unfulfilled, and even lonely. Top Three Formed Picks Here are my top three picks to watch on Formed! St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor to the Poor All or Nothing: Sister Clare Crockett The Wild Goose: Discovering A Deeper Relationship With the Holy Spirit What are your favorite shows or movies on Formed? Be sure to share with the Blessed is She community in the comments! [bctt tweet="What to Watch on Formed #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]