Patron Saints of Beekeeping The third Sunday in August is celebrated as National Honey Bee Day in the United States. Honeybees have become more or less a darling of conservationist groups in recent years and with good reason. All bees (not just honey bees) have a significant role in the health of our environment and in ensuring that the food we love can grow. As a beekeeper, I am heartened by this enthusiasm. Perhaps surprisingly to some, the Church herself has had a long-standing relationship with the keeping of bees, and with bees as a metaphor for the Christian life.  Monastic Life The greatest example of this, of course, is religious life. The metaphors are mind-blowing. If you have spent time in a monastery or convent, more than likely you have heard the private rooms referred to as “cells.” This is the exact terminology for the individual hexagonal honeycomb where the queen lays each egg, and the bees live and grow. Add to that the fact that the entire bee colony (besides the queen) is celibate, going about the greater community making wax and gathering nectar and pollen—not for their gain, but for that of the greater good of the whole hive.  Sound familiar? The presence of a hive (or a monastery) means the flourishing of life in the greater community. In the same way that bees pollinate and collect nectar from the diverse vegetation of an area and allow for crops to grow, so, too, the religious community adds a flourish to its surrounding community by providing health care, education, prayer, agriculture, and service. Many monasteries are producers of honey specifically! Each does so not for personal gain, but for the greater good, the Body of Christ. “The bee is more honored than other animals not because she labors, but because she labors for others.” // Saint John Chrysostom {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Liturgy While bees have been in the Latin text of the Easter Vigil Mass since the ninth century, it has only been since 2011 that the mention of bees was returned to the English translation of the Easter Exsultet. The honey bee gets a significant shout-out when the Exsultet invites us to celebrate Christ Our Light, and acknowledge these tiny creatures that help to bring it about: On this, your night of grace, O holy Father,accept this candle, a solemn offering,the work of bees and of your servants' hands,an evening sacrifice of praise,this gift from your most holy Church. But now we know the praises of this pillar,which glowing fire ignites for God's honor,a fire into many flames divided,yet never dimmed by sharing of its light,for it is fed by melting wax,drawn out by mother beesto build a torch so precious. (Easter Exsultet) All candles used for all Masses are at least half beeswax. Their aroma, purity, and long-burning characteristics are a little-noticed hallmark of our communal worship which are intended to remind us of the purity of Christ.  Scripture How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  // Psalm 119:103 Sacred Scripture is littered with references to the fruit of the bees’ labor: honey. It is used to indicate abundance, sweetness, balm, medicine, and a delicacy. Over and over the Promised Land is described as a place ‘flowing with milk and honey.’ Manna, the bread from heaven, is described as tasting like honey, and King Solomon certainly included honey in the Song of Songs! Bees are only mentioned by name a handful of times. They are often described as a potential threat. In both cases, as a threat or a symbol of abundance, Scripture is clear about the long-standing relationship cultivated between the people of God and this tiny creature. Patrons I have often smiled at the memory of the reporter who described Pope Benedict XVI as being dressed for “Earth Day” in his green Ordinary Time vestments, but he wasn’t wrong about the late Pope Benedict XVI’s commitment to stewardship. During his papacy, Pope Benedict was gifted with many hives in celebration of caring for creation, a fitting gift in honor of a long-standing relationship between the Church and bees.  Out of curiosity, I began to do some research into the patron/patroness of beekeepers. Having our hives blessed, we had invoked the prayers of Saint Benedict of Nursia, the sixth century founder of the Benedictines, but I have since learned that many claim that title, and for a variety of reasons!  Saint Valentine, Saint Ambrose, Saint Gobhalt, Saint Benedict,  Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Kharlamii, Saint Bartholomew, Saint Dominic, and Saint David, pray for us! In honor of this day, all who work to promote greater stewardship, and the efforts large and small to bear fruit and bring the Light of Christ, we ask for the intercession of these many Saints! **Beautiful video on beekeeping & its spiritual components. Article on the return of bees to the Exsultet

“Go, and announce the Gospel of the Lord!” More often than not, this is how we are sent forth from Mass. A friend of ours says jokingly that a better English translation would be: “Go out! What are you still doing here?!” Because ultimately the Mass, modeled after Jesus’ ministry, does two things for the faithful: It gathers & sends. We are a people who are more than called—we are commanded—to gather for worship. What that worship does, after we have offered God the worship and gratitude He deserves from us, is fuel us up with the Good News to re-enter the world, our workplace, and our daily responsibilities with a deeper sense of our purpose and call. Done well, this is what defines us. “We do not want, as the newspapers say, a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world.” // G.K. Chesterton What makes the Church compelling is this topsy-turvy Good News spilling over into the rest of our lives—lepers healed, blind who see, the hungry filled, life from death. This kind of evangelization is only possible for those who are awake to the invitations of the Lord. If we are asleep to God’s work in our lives, our in-name-only faith does as much damage as its potential good. We are not called to perfection, but to active pursuit of God’s will for our lives. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} The Lord says to us, “Return to me with your whole heart” (Joel 2:12a). For many, this verse is muscle memory. It transports us to Ash Wednesday, but it is appropriate any time. We hear very little from the Prophet Joel, but he packs a punch in a short book.  The life of the Christian is one of re-conversion. Having been called to a higher level, we are constantly asked to “die to” our old habits, our old selves. This practice of pruning, or shedding, allows us the freedom to return to the source of life with humility, joy, and integrity.  None of us has ventured so far astray as to be excluded from this invitation to fullness of life. What will be your response? With full trust in the goodness and mercy of God as demonstrated by parables like that of the Prodigal Son, we are gathered and nourished. To receive that as a gift is the invitation. What we choose to do with that gift remains up to us, gathered & sent.  The next time we gather for Mass, would that we enter in, as Joel encourages us, with our whole hearts. Pray that it be spiritual sustenance for the journey. In so doing, let our sending be an enthusiastic and “world moving” response of those who have been nourished with the Good News! *When you do return to Mass, if you have been away for a while, make sure to return to the Sacrament of Confession before you receive the Holy Eucharist again in Communion, since receiving Communion is a sign of our unity with Christ and the Church in grace.

On the surface, the Parable of the Prodigal Son is a story of returning. Dig a little deeper and you will be captivated by the beautiful illustration of the nature of God’s love for us: unexpected, unmerited, generous, surprising, and forgiving. This story of the son’s dramatic exit and humble return home can speak to many circumstances of our own creation. However, Luke’s Gospel takes a major twist: While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. // Luke 15:20b Most of us can relate to the son, squandering something foolishly: an opportunity, inheritance, relationship, prayer life—you name it. And perhaps the real-time outcome for us was less than forgiving. What can we expect? We deserve it, we chide ourselves.  What the Parable of the Prodigal Son (and all of Scripture) aims to demonstrate is just how far the love of God reaches beyond our human understanding, and how far God will go to lavishly bestow that gift upon us. The Lord is forever inviting us to return! {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} There is no more tangible place to receive that love, God’s holy presence, than at Mass. Whether you attend Mass daily or haven’t been back for a long time, Jesus reminds us constantly that He desires us to return to Him, again and again and again. This truth is so radically important for us to understand that God becomes present in four distinct ways when we gather for the Liturgy: The Word Proclaimed: God is revealed to us in Scripture because “the Word became flesh & dwelt among us (John 1:14). The Community: Christ promised His presence to those who gathered in His name (see Matthew 18:20).  The Priest: The priest celebrating the Mass acts in persona Christi, in the person of Christ, making present the same Sacrifice of Christ that was offered on the Cross. The Eucharist: The Bread of Life, given to us at the Last Supper (see Luke 22:19-20).  Should we ever seek the consolation of a God who is near to us—in our joy and sorrow—our opportunity to gather to worship together at Mass is God’s very self revealed, and He is awaiting our response. In a particular way, in this year of the Eucharistic revival, awakening our sense of God’s nearness in the Eucharist couldn’t be more timely. “In an ever-changing world, the Holy Eucharist is a constant reminder of the great reality of God’s changeless love.” // Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta A favorite priest of mine liked to compare Mass and prayer to a tennis match—a back-and-forth conversation—a call and response. What he and so many holy men and women have come to understand about God is the radical way that the God of the universe becomes available to us: simply, profoundly, daily. Perhaps the slower cadence of the summer’s lingering days offers an opportunity to accept the invitation to return to the Lord through the Mass. Haven’t been to Mass in years? Return and come home. Haven’t gathered for Mass since COVID? Return to Community. Looking for God’s presence in your life? Return to a deeper rhythm of prayer. Already go to Mass every week? Return to the Eucharist with new awareness.  WANT TO DEEPEN YOUR PRAYER? Get ready to be radically changed by the Lord and His presence. Be drawn into intimacy with the Lord by way of weekly videos, a community within the Blessed is She app, and invitations into reading scripture in a whole new way. BEGIN THE WELL: ABIDE

One of the most insightful questions anyone has ever asked me was this: to which Person of the Trinity do you most frequently turn? Let that question sink in for a minute on this Trinity Sunday. When you pray, do you notice to Whom your prayers are directed? Do you speak to Jesus as a friend? Are you seeking the consolation or protection of the Father? Are you inclined to the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit? Why do you imagine that is? Has it always been that way? What might happen in prayer if you stepped out of your habit and invited God to respond to you from a less familiar place? Let God surprise you  Speaking for myself, this is one of those phrases that is much more palatable embroidered on throw pillows, than in my daily routine. Is it safe to do so? we might wonder. If you have ever read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, you might remember Aslan the Lion, who symbolizes God, described not as safe, but good! That is exactly what we have signed up for, as well as the beauty of our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Who is as described by Saint Augustine as ‘beauty ever ancient and ever new.’ Pare it down Anytime I teach religious education, I like to ask students to tell me about how they would explain the topic of the day to their younger brother or sister, or how adults might describe it to a niece or nephew. I find it so helpful for myself and others to pare down to the absolute core, what we know to be true as a foundation to build upon. With a topic like Trinity Sunday, it feels right to begin the same way. Without fail when it comes to the Trinity, the littlest grades will come barreling out of class bearing their coloring sheets describing the Persons of the Trinity: The Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, the Spirit is not the Father. All three Persons are distinct, but One. All true, and pretty deep for kindergarten catechesis! {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Metaphors Further down the hall—others introduce analogies like the three parts of an egg, the leaves on a shamrock, or the sun’s light, heat, and fiery appearance to help simplify this tremendous tenet of our faith—all of which are helpful in some ways but eventually break down.  A more advanced metaphor that I have come to treasure comes from the Greek term  Perichoresis, a word describing the constant movement of the Persons of the Trinity in communion with one another: the constant gift of self the Father offers the Son and the Son offers the Father in return, animated by the Holy Spirit Who proceeds from this mutual self gift. One translation even describes the relationship as a dance. I like the dancing metaphor: beautiful, graceful, creative, embracing, in motion, etc. Important adjectives as we think of the distinctions and unity present in the Persons of the Trinity as manifest in Scripture, as well as in our lives. Today’s Feast While this Sunday stands out in a particular way as a day to recognize and celebrate this pillar of our faith, we reclaim our belief in a Triune God every single Sunday at Mass when we recite the Apostles’ Creed.  I believe in God, the Father Almighty . . .  I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord . . . I believe in the Holy Spirit . . .  As an exercise in prayer, take some time with Scripture verses that you love (or use the examples listed below) that describe each Person of the Trinity. Sit with them in prayer and ask God to reveal something new to you about who God is. Step out in faith and ask the Lord to accompany you and to surprise you this week! // Father …And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18). “This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions (Matthew 6:9-13). Son For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:5). And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Holy Spirit And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you (John 14:16-17). When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them (Acts 2: 1-3).

Leprosy has a long history in Scripture and beyond. If you are familiar with the story of Jesus’ encounter with the leper (Luke 5:12-16), or the story of the ten lepers that we hear around Thanksgiving (Luke 17:11-19), you can picture the scene. Lepers in Jesus’ time were required to announce themselves ‘unclean’ to provide fair warning to friends and strangers to keep their distance from their contagious disease. To have been diagnosed with leprosy in Biblical times was a social and emotional death sentence with no hope for physical reprieve.  So it is no wonder why the leperous man is bold in his request to be healed of his infirmity: ‘“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. (Luke 5:12-13) In both encounters with the lepers in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus’ proximity to those who had been infected was scandalous! In a culture that took purity laws very seriously, this was no small thing. Fast forward almost two millennia, and things hadn’t changed all that much An outbreak of leprosy had gotten so bad in Hawaii, that by 1866 the island of Moloka'i was designated as a leper colony. Those suffering from the disease were arrested and sent to live a life separate from society. Several times a year, boats would dock to deliver persons as young as 13 to the colony (without their consent), for the protection of others. In total, nearly 8,000 people were sent to Kalaupapa leper colony, as it later came to be known. Model of Saint Damian? Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Jozef de Veuster of Belgium was in formation as a priest in the order of the congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, where he took the name, Damien. Around the same time, the order received a request for priests to serve the people of the Hawaiian islands. Damien’s brother had been selected to serve in this way but due to an illness acquired before departing on this mission, Damien was chosen to go in his place. Damien arrived in Hawaii in the spring of 1864 and was ordained two months later. His first several years were spent catechizing and building churches—having no connection at all to the leper colony. It wasn’t until 1873 that Father Damien was among those asked to serve the colony of lepers. As providence would have it, he was the first to volunteer for the dangerous assignment.  {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} ‘My fellow lepers’ At the beginning of his assignment, he was encouraged not to touch or eat with the men and women he served, advice that he did not follow for long. There had been discussion of rotating priests so that no one was exposed to the disease for any length of time. Instead, Father Damien trusted that the Lord would protect him from the disease of leprosy as long as the Lord needed him, aware of course that his loss of health would immediately affect the work of the mission. As it turned out, Father Damien faithfully served the lepers of Kalaupapa for eleven years before contracting the disease himself. One account of his response to this surprising turn of events was that rather than addressing his congregation at Mass as ‘My dear lepers,’ he greeted them instead as, ‘My fellow lepers.’ Father Damien did what many feared to do, and suffered the consequences that many feared he would. However, he did it with the same mercy and tenderness that we see in Jesus’ encounter with the lepers. Not keeping them at arm's length out of self-protection, but living among them, making the Sacraments available, and ultimately dignifying their lives (and deaths) in ways that the world around him was not accustomed to doing. ‘Look for the sources’ While many have critiqued Saint Damien’s motives for serving the leper colony, Mahatma Gandhi had this to say of him: "The political and journalistic world can boast of very few heroes who compare with Father Damien of Moloka'i. It is worthwhile to look for the sources of such heroism." Gandhi was deeply moved by the life and solidarity that Saint Damien lived while serving in the leper colony (M.S. Mehendale’s 1971 account, Gandhi Looks at Leprosy). Look for the source, indeed! The source of Father Damien’s great tenderness toward the lepers is clear. Not only did his ministry shape the care of those suffering from leprosy worldwide, but his care for those who had been removed from everything they knew and loved, to suffer physical effects in isolation, was compassionate. His example to enter into the suffering of the people he loved was Christ-like. Passing the baton By the time Father Damien was too ill to serve, he was accompanied by a group of Franciscan women from Syracuse, New York, who had also accepted a call to serve the lepers of Moloka'i. Among these women was Sister Marianne Cope. She accompanied Father Damien as he died, and afterward the Franciscans took up his banner and carried on the work he had begun. Despite her many years of service to the people living on Moloka'i, Sister Marianne never contracted the disease. Saint Marianne Cope was canonized in 2012, making her the eleventh American to be named a saint. Both are deeply honored by the Church and the country for the self-sacrificing nature of their work serving the ‘untouchables’ of Hawaii during a time of need and great fear. Saints Damien and Marianne of Moloka'i, pray for us!

Both my family and my husband’s family have long-depended upon the intercession of ‘the Theresas.’ My dad and his siblings all attended Saint Thérèse grade school. My husband’s family lineage may stem from the same line as the Little Flower, and my oldest chose Saint Teresa of Calcutta as her Confirmation saint a couple of years ago. My grandfather shared with me that he picked Thérèse as his intercessor while he was at war. When I asked him which one, he replied, “all of them.”  Which, it turns out, is a lot.  Perhaps a bit like being born a Kathryn in the ‘80’s—there are a lot of us too! It wasn’t until college that I stopped having to write my last initial behind my name to decipher myself from the sea of other Katies. I’ve since wondered if Saints ever experience that same anonymity when called only by their first names? Lesser-known stories Like many holy men and women, Saint Teresa of the Andes was introduced to me by way of Meg Hunter-Kilmer’s book Saints from Around the World. In her illustrated write-up, she describes Saint Teresa (whose given name was Juana Enriqueta Josephina de Los Sagrados Corazones Fernández Solar) as a pretty relatable young woman: someone who was playful, loved to be the life of the party, and sometimes got a little wild. On occasion she was even described as self-centered and hot-tempered. Influenced by another Thérèse Despite these tendencies, or because of them, Juanita gradually allowed Jesus to become more and more the center of her life. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (the Little Flower) died just three years before Juanita was born. Her writing had a lasting impact on the young Juana, as did receiving her First Communion. Upon reading Saint Thérèse’s autobiography, she realized that a life  most closely modeled on the Lord’s would call her from her selfish tendencies into loving others well. Those who have read her diary entries have noted a marked difference after this time in Juana’s spiritual writings. When she was 18, she entered a Carmelite monastery near her home and was given the name Teresa, though her time as a discalced Carmelite was short. She died nearly one year after she had entered, possibly having contracted the Spanish flu. She is remembered for the letters she wrote about God’s love. Larger impact Teresa of the Andes was the first saint canonized from the country of Chile. She is the patroness of Santiago, young people, and the sick. Saint Teresa was also chosen to be among the ‘young witnesses’ during the Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment in 2018. These young, international men and women serve as inspiration to the wide variety of callings and gifts given to be used in the name of Jesus in the world. It is a happy coincidence and Providence that both Teresa of the Andes and Thérèse of Lisieux are represented on this list.  Thank heaven for the witnesses we have been given, and those who are determined not to let their stories be lost to history or region. We need to be reminded of the breadth of the Mystical Body, the abundance of our gifts, and the variety of those who have responded to the call to love God so that we are equipped to bring our love of God into the world in our own particular time and place.  {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Prayer for surrender to the heart of Jesus Only God can satisfy us. He is truth and unchangeable good. He is eternal love. Oh, my Jesus and my Mother, may I belong to Him forever. May nothing on earth claim my attention but the tabernacle. Preserve me pure for Yourself so that when I die I can say: how happy I am now that at last I can lose myself in the infinite Ocean of the Heart of Jesus, my adored Spouse. Saint Teresa of Jesus Fernández Solar of the Andes (source) St. Teresa of the Andes, pray for us! *For further information, FORMED has put out a six episode mini-series about the life of St. Teresa of the Andes.

Being both Irish and Catholic, it was no surprise to receive a Saint Brigid’s cross from an aunt’s trip to Ireland, on the occasion of our second daughter’s birth. While the gift was appreciated, it wasn’t until we received it that we learned about the significance of the cross, and thereby the patroness of Ireland.  What’s in a Name? There are many renditions of her name in English, old Irish, Welsh and contemporary Irish, as well as throughout history: Brigit, Brid, Ffraid, ‘Mother St. of Ireland,’ and ‘Mary of the Gael.’ She remains the only patroness of Ireland, and was affectionately named for her likeness to Jesus’ mother, Mary, by those she ministered to most closely in the Gael. Stories abound of Saint Brigid, like this one from her childhood. Most agree that her mother, who was baptized by Saint Patrick, had been instrumental in forming her faith. Her father was a chieftain, which meant that Brigid was born a slave. However, because she shares a name with the Celtic goddess, Brigid, there is some gray area between her saintly life and the legends that surround Brigid. Historically, the majority of Irish Catholic families had Patricks and/or Brigids, celebrating their heroic patrons. Because of this tradition that was locked in the Gaelic language, in addition to the lack of printing presses and suppression of education for the Irish people, much of this history was lost for a time. Well-meaning English speakers mistakenly provided images and stories of Saint Bridget (of Sweden), who lived in the 1300s. Because of this miscommunication, many began to inadvertently spell their children’s names as depicted on prayer cards of Saint Bridget. Only recently have the history and tradition of Saint Brigid of Ireland begun to be reclaimed.  {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Brigid’s Ministry in Ireland Saint Brigid began her monastery in Kildare in 480 on the site of the shrine to the goddess Brigid–a symbolic beginning, which left a fuzzy trajectory for historians. Her feast day is shared with a pre-Christian festival called Imbolc, which originated as a celebration of spring. For the first time this year, Saint Brigid’s feast day (February 1st) will be celebrated as a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland. This Irish feast is also the first marked in honor of a woman.  One famous story remembered of her was a visit she made to a man who was dying. He was experiencing anguish of both body and soul. Over the course of her visit, Saint Brigid gathered rushes off of the ground and began weaving them into the shape of a cross. As she wove, the man was intrigued and began to ask her about the cross. She was able to share the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The pagan man converted and requested Baptism before he died. The design of the cross that illustrated the conversation between Brigid and the dying man has been dubbed St. Brigid’s cross. Saint Brigid’s life and love of Christ had a lasting impact on the people of Ireland and the surrounding region. It is exciting to learn that some of what may have been forgotten of her—in Celtic Catholicism, the spelling of names, and images such as this simple cross—is being brought back to light and recognized for her influential ministry.  As her witness and influence continue to unfold, we ask for the intercession of Saint Brigid, the Mary of the Gael. She is remembered as the patron saint of poetry, learning, healing, protection, blacksmithing, livestock and dairy production. Saint Brigid, pray for us. How has your understanding of/relationship with beloved saints evolved over time?   Saint Brigid, you were a woman of peace. You brought harmony where there was conflict. You brought light to the darkness. You brought hope to the downcast. May the mantle of peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world. Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made. Brigid, you were a voice for the wounded and the weary. Strengthen what is weak within us. Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens. May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit. Amen.

“The measure of love is to love without measure.”// Francis de Sales   Whenever the opportunity avails itself and I find a young man holding open a door for me, or anyone else, I try to compliment them by saying that they are a “gentleman and a scholar.” Most often I imagine the compliment falls on deaf ears, but I’d like to think that it has stuck with one or two, planting a seed that their helpful gesture is both noticed and appreciated. It says a lot about them.  Model of Meekness As luck would have it, Saint Francis de Sales, the French saint whose feast we celebrate today, was both of these things—not to mention patron of those who are hearing impaired. Pope Francis has called him “the model of meekness” and published an apostolic letter about him at the end of last year, on the 400th anniversary of the death of this Doctor of the Church. Of the many Saints who bear the name Francis, de Sales is often found camouflaged in the wings. His life’s work had tremendously far-reaching ripple effects, but it was done with very little fanfare—thus ‘the model of meekness.’ Call to religious life Being born into a noble family, Francis was expected to take up the life of a gentleman. Educated and poised to do so, he was trained in fencing and horseback riding. One day while riding, he fell from his horse on three different occasions and each time his sword and scabbard landed in the shape of a cross. Francis took this as a sign that the inner prompting he had been feeling toward Holy Orders needed to be heeded. Though his new direction did not please his family, he was ordained in 1593. Patron of Writers and Journalists Early on, after his ordination to the priesthood, Francis was assigned to Geneva, which had become primarily Calvinist. Taking this assignment was dangerous and he was met with a great deal of contempt. He preached publicly against Calvinism and eventually found handing out pamphlets on the Truth of the Catholic Church to be most effective. It is estimated that his writing was connected to some 70,000 Calvinist conversions to Catholicism, thus his role as the patron of writers and journalists. He used his gift of writing with spiritual directees and as he penned his most famous books: An Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on the Love of God, each a spiritual classic. His influence on his contemporary, Vincent de Paul, in both of these works was profound. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=}  Spiritual Director Among his many directees was a widow named Saint Jane Frances de Chantal. Together they started a women’s religious community, the order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, in Annecy in 1610. A widow herself, Chantal found it difficult to join many of the more austere orders. The Visitation order was set apart in several ways, primarily in that they were not strictly cloistered, and unlike other orders, they accepted members who were sick and aged. At the time, it was ground-breaking for women to be taking part in active ministry, and this was met with criticism. Francis supported the ministerial role of the women and wrote The Treatise on the Love of God for their community. Universal Call to Holiness Francis held and instructed that all Christians, no matter their state in life, were called to holiness. His book Instruction to the Devout Life was written for lay people who wished to live lives of holiness, a notion that at the time was met with skepticism by many clergy. In this way, he served as a bridge between early Church fathers and the Second Vatican Council, which recognized and emphasized the universal call to holiness, not reserved for a select few. This “model of meekness” responded to God’s promptings as a French nobleman, a priest, bishop, spiritual director, and advocate for lay people. In so doing, he made religious life accessible to women for whom it had formerly been out of reach. He had tremendous influence on Saints Jane de Chantal and Vincent de Paul, who each went on to start religious orders and become saints themselves. His published works invited people from every walk of life to endeavor for holiness, and in so doing, his thousands of yeses to the Lord, he was named a Doctor of the church.  It begs the question—where might our yeses to the Lord lead us?

Whenever I pack to go camping, it’s inevitable that I will find myself asking the same question. Generally between stops at the store, and cramming sleeping bags, tents, cookware, rain gear, toilet paper, ice, meals and water into the car, I will pause and think: Remind me why it takes so much stuff to slow down and live simply for the weekend? I value the simplicity of spending time in the woods. But if I’m honest, staying home feels like the simpler option. You know this feeling too, I’m sure. Wearing two hats (or more!) for the weekend or as a vocation. Maybe you chose them both, maybe you didn’t choose either: wife and caretaker; working and mom; leader and introvert. Absolutely none of these things are mutually exclusive, but we all resonate with the feeling of having more than one calling at one time. We understand the need to be true to ourselves while being faithful to our call. In other words, we are well-versed in paradoxes. Saint Martin of Tours is a fascinating study in what it means to live in paradox. Saint Martin of Tours Born into a pagan family, Martin began attending a Christian church as a boy and chose to become initiated in the Church against his father’s wishes. Christianity had become legalized only three years before Saint Martin was born. Followers of Christianity were not highly regarded at this time, particularly among people of means. As the son of a military family, Martin was required to become a soldier in the Roman army. After his Baptism in 354, however, Saint Martin declared his allegiance to Christ rather than his commanding officer: "I am the soldier of Christ: it is not lawful for me to fight." In response, Martin was jailed and called a coward. Martin offered to go unarmed to the battlefront, and leaders nearly took him up on the offer but the battle never occurred because their opponents unexpectedly sought peace. Saint Martin was released from military service. Martin the Merciful Among the many marks of his saintly life, Martin of Tours is most famously known as "Martin the merciful" after an encounter with a naked beggar. A Roman soldier at the time, Martin cut his own cloak in two and gave half to the beggar. Later in a dream, the face of the man to whom he had given the cloak was revealed to be Christ. Beautifully, this image is heralded by those in military service as well as those aligned with pacifism. He is celebrated as both patron of soldiers as well as conscientious objectors. In fact, his feast day (November 11th) is also the secular observance of Veteran’s Day in the United States, on which we recognize and celebrate all soldiers living and deceased who have fought on behalf of their country. His unique example made him a bridge between two distinct camps: pacifists and soldiers. His Defense of the Truth Following his military service, Martin became a follower of Hilary of Poitiers and a staunch defender of the Church against Arianism. For this he was beaten and exiled by the Arian Archbishop. In 361 he became a hermit and established a hermitage that attracted many followers. Ten years later, Martin was selected as Bishop of Tours. Legend has it that he was so opposed to this post that he hid in a barn full of geese, but their cackling gave him away. (Thus arose the connection to his title as patron Saint of geese). Despite naysayers who thought him too disheveled to serve as bishop, he rallied and served to eliminate pagan temples and statues, all the while establishing monasteries. Eventually, he established the monastery of Marmoutier, where he could be near Tours while living his call to the monastic life and avoiding public attention. Living the Call of Christ The shrine of Saint Martin de Tours continues to be a popular stopping point for those pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago Compostela in Spain. Martin himself remains an important figure in the tradition of the Church that holds room and celebrates his loyalty and commitment as a soldier, as well as his prayerful discernment to opt out of conflict he could not fight in good conscience. Saint Martin, although raised pagan, chose Christ. While serving in the Roman army, he chose to serve Christ rather than his anti-Christian leaders. In his public role as bishop, Martin found creative solutions to lead while maintaining commitment to his call as a monastic. In your own walk with Christ, have you been challenged to serve with creativity between different callings? How does Saint Martin inspire you to persevere? Let’s pray: Lord God of hosts, who clothed your servant Martin the Soldier with the spirit of sacrifice, and set him as a bishop of your Church to be a defender of the Catholic faith; Give us grace to follow in his holy steps that at the last we may be found clothed with righteousness in the dwellings of peace through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen. Saint Martin de Tours, pray for us!   [bctt tweet="Saint Martin the Merciful #BISblog // " via="no"]

Confused about the current "Synod on Synodality" you have seen in your parish bulletin and maybe heard about in passing? Synodality is what God expects of the Church in the 21st century. // Pope Francis The meaning of the ten-dollar word “synodality” is "mutual collaborative listening, guided by the Holy Spirit, in which all of the faithful have something to learn from each other, in order to know what God is saying to the Church." This Synod// A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity Traditionally, synods have referred to an assembly of bishops who gather to discuss matters pertaining to the Church and the faithful. The gathering of the Second Vatican council broke new ground in seeking to include the input of theologians, scholars, vowed religious, laity, and ecumenical representatives in a new way. In the case of the current synod, the bishops will consult uniquely with lay Catholics worldwide to get a sense of their lived experience as well as their needs (where the Church is meeting the needs of the people, and what growing edges exist to meet Catholics living lives of faith in this contemporary). "Both before and after Vatican II, a theology of the laity was developed. It “emphasized that ‘the Church’ is not identical with her pastors; that the whole Church, by the action of the Holy Spirit, is the subject or ‘organ’ of Tradition; and that lay people have an active role in the transmission of the apostolic faith” (Sensus Fidei 41). The synod of bishops provides an important channel for the voice of the faithful to contribute to the lived experience of a Church still in search of a response from her Risen Lord on those difficult matters that present themselves from time to time" (source). Under Francis’ papacy, several synods have been called: Syond on the Family (2014), on youth (2018), and the Church in the Pan-Amazon region (2019). “Consultation of the faithful must be followed by discernment on the part of the Bishops chosen for the task, united in the search for a consensus that springs not from worldly logic, but from common obedience to the Spirit of Christ. Attentive to the sensus fidei of the People of God—‘which they need to distinguish carefully from the changing currents of public opinion’—the members of the Assembly offer their opinion to the Roman Pontiff so that it can help him in his ministry as universal Pastor of the Church…. When it is therefore a question involving the faith itself, the consensus ecclesiae … is the outcome of the working of the Spirit, the soul of the one Church of Christ’ ” (Apostolic Constitution Episcopalis communio 7). The "Synod of Synodality" is a two-year process that began in October of 2021 and will last through mid-October 2023. During this time, Pope Francis has opened a process for both listening and dialogue amongst the hierarchy and the laity of the Catholic Church. Bishops around the world are invited to lend an ear to the experience of Catholics everywhere. As our pastor says, to be invited to participate in the work of a Synod is a once in a lifetime opportunity. An Epic Compilation All Catholic parishes have been invited and encouraged to host gatherings of prayer and reflection for parishioners to share their input on questions pertaining to the life of the parish community. In most cases, gatherings have been scheduled and delegates from each parish are assigned the task of compiling and condensing input for submission to the Archdiocese. The Archdioceses, in turn, have been tasked with reading through the specific parish feedback and creating a document that reflects the themes and input from the archdiocese as a whole. When these documents have been compiled, they will be submitted to the Vatican to help illustrate the strengths and needs of the Church by world-region. As we might imagine, liturgies and worship have a particular flavor in urban cites that differs significantly from rural parishes. Parishes with schools and lots of young people have different needs than those with an aging population. Catholics in Europe where the church is waning experience community in a much different way than the burgeoning global south. Church communities in areas of poverty have a different lived experience than those with tremendous affluence. Parishes who lean more heavily on the Corporal Works of Mercy have something to share with parishes who lean heavily on Spiritual Works of Mercy, and vice versa. We Have the Same Goal As the largest church in the world, it is good and necessary to have the opportunity to gather and communicate about the wants/needs/hopes/stirrings of the Church that serves and guides us. In her wisdom, the Church provides that to us, and we are all better for it. Synods, though not new, afford us a fantastic way to work collaboratively as a body of believers who are diverse and plentiful. Have you participated in your parishes synod discussion groups? Whether or not you were able to participate in the conversation, be on the watch for the Archdiocesan document that is compiled for your specific area. Or find the document from an area different than yours and see how they compare.   [bctt tweet="The Synod on Synodality (+ Ways to Pray) #BISblog //" via="no"]

For all of the causes for concern that are splashed across our screens day after day, I have noticed a trend that is heartening. Over the past several years, entertainment companies and individuals alike are extending themselves to reach the audience that, in years past, has either been too insignificant or not lucrative enough to merit the investment of major motion pictures that land in a public theater. Sure, you might find the occasional sponsored screening of an uplifting story by a group or parish, but rarely (if ever) do these overtly Christian shows make it to the big screen, or gasp, into mainstream media. On many levels, this makes sense. One thing we can be assured of is the research done by groups creating content and marketing it. If there is a profit to be made, it’ll happen. Traditionally, people have gone to the movies to be entertained. Let’s face it, for a long time, despite the many heroic, sacrificial, and beautiful themes of the Church and the body of believers, the Christian/Catholic genre was unfortunately seen as lacking in this regard. Sensing a Change If, however, we were to put our feelers out, we see a growing list of successful movies with an overtly Christian message: Soul Surfer (2011) Silence (2016) The Star (2017) The Shack (2017) Unplanned (2019) Mary Magdalene (2018) Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018) Breakthrough (2019) A Hidden Life (2019) Fatima (2020) The Chosen Christmas Special (2021) Fr. Stu (2022) The list is not exhaustive, but it does illustrate a growing trend of people willing to spend actual dollars to learn about/support/be entertained or take a chance on the truths that the story-lines of these features have to share. A Sign of the Times? Maybe this trend has to do with not being able to put a bow on the realities we see around us. Hard things happen–are happening—to good people, and I believe many are becoming aware that what they wanted to believe would sustain us simply doesn’t. So there is a hunger; there is an earnest seeking for something worth holding onto when the going gets tough, because the going has gotten especially tough. I want to focus on the most recent film. Fr. Stu was released during Holy Week 2022, highlighting the story of a relatively unknown priest from Montana. Stu had such a spell-binding life and conversion story that director Mark Wahlberg picked it up and funded the project when no one else would. Fr. Stu // Making Meaning from Suffering It is in our very nature to be averse to suffering, but nowhere on earth do people spend more money to avoid it or become more uncomfortable with the prospect of experiencing suffering than in the United States. I include myself. Suffering is not pretty, but it can be sanctifying. One thing the movie illustrated about the life of Fr. Stu is that, although his suffering was real and tragic, it was not wasted. His parents, sibling, fellow seminarians, parishioners, and the people he knew (and those of us who learned about him through this movie) all had a front row seat to his mortality and, ultimately, his trust in God’s work in his life. In many regards, Fr. Stu’s story is a slam-dunk in the realm of Hollywood. He was an unruly, un-churched boxer from a broken family turned priest, amusing and delighting folks everywhere. He represents not the perfect, un-relatable holy figure we sometimes imagine, but rather a messy man grappling with his own life’s lacking direction, surprising those in his path (as well as himself) when he stumbles into his vocation. Is Fr. Stu Appropriate for Children? Fr. Stu is rated R and for good reason. Although a compelling story, it is not appropriate for children. The language is coarse to illustrate the downright hostility in Stu’s family related to his father’s extended absences as well as the trauma they experienced through the inexplicable loss of his brother at the will of what they imagined to be a vindictive God. Stu’s revelation that he will begin seminary brings up a lot of anger and grief for his parents in particular. To say the least, they are not keen on the idea. Although lovable, he is about as rough around the edges as the seminary community is prepared for, and often a little extra. Cultivating Beauty The arts are so often where we turn while we hurting. You've likely heard that sentiment. Music, movies, photographs, poetry, books, paintings–each of these modes of naming and expressing feelings are God-given gifts that people have to share, and in many cases, to make not only meaning, but beauty from suffering. I absolutely recommend seeing the movie Fr. Stu. It offers a modern-day reminder that God still leads us, that nothing of our experience is wasted when offered back to God. His example may give occasion to consider our own vocation more deeply and stand in awe of the grace of others doing the same. What is one way God has surprised you in the way that you have been called to follow Him? How might we use the gifts of creativity, or suffering, to honor the Lord?   [bctt tweet="BIS Reviews // Fr. Stu #BISblog //" via="no"]

As the process of selecting Confirmation Saints looms near at our house once again, I find myself doing a lot of name-dropping in case anyone is looking for inspiration related to choosing a patroness with some moxie. “Saint Rita,” cough, cough. “Mary Magdalene was the first one that the Risen Christ appeared to…” “My grandpa told me there are so many Theresas (Avila/Lisieux/Benedicta of the Cross!). Ask for their help and someone will hear you!” “Saint Edith Stein,” wink wink. Thinking Outside the Box Since I have learned her story and begun reading about her life, Edith Stein (Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) has quickly moved to my short list of favorite female Saints. Edith exudes deep self-awareness, intelligence, introspection, friendship, discernment, suffering, and selflessness. She was ahead of her time, and speaks a much-needed truth to all of us living in the context of a society that has boxed up what it is to be a Catholic woman and left us all short-changed. Edith was highly intellectual. Many credit her study of philosophy as the training ground for her deep spiritual life. But it was the lived witness of her friends and the Saints that helped to move her from her head to her heart. Edith Stein's Conversion to Catholicism I’m a sucker for conversion stories and Edith’s is a good one. She was born into a devout Jewish family in Germany, in 1891. She lost faith as a teenager, in part because of the conflict she had observed in World War I. For a time, she served as a nurse, but later pursued her doctorate in Philosophy. While studying, she was surrounded by Catholic friends. After witnessing a friend who had been widowed and grieved with hope, Edith’s curiosity was piqued. Later, after picking up a book about the life of Teresa of Avila, she decided to become Catholic. Out of respect for her mother, whom she did not want to grieve by formally leaving the Jewish faith, Edith continued the very unusual business of lecturing and teaching at the university (at a time when doing so was nearly unheard of for women) before being received into the Catholic Church. These years may have afforded her the opportunity to give great attention to the themes that she spoke of so eloquently. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross' Take on the Feminine Genius Each woman who lives in the light of eternity can fulfill her vocation, no matter if it is in marriage, in a religious order, or in a worldly profession. This idea, for her time, was really quite remarkable. To some, it still is. Women have a vocation to bring the light of Christ to the world—a task that can be done from the cloister, the cry room, or the university. Her language is so beautiful and encouraging that it invites deeper reflection and offers hope to women in all stages of life to be attentive to her particular calling within her circumstances. Edith Stein spoke highly of the unique gifts the women in particular brought to world through their many vocations The woman’s soul is fashioned as a shelter in which other souls may unfold. Because of her unique role as an educator and mentor, alongside of her devotion to the Blessed Mother, Edith came to understand the particular abilities and opportunities that women have to nurture those around her. The world doesn’t need what women have, it needs what women are. The Fullness of Who We Are Edith was an eloquent advocate for women knowing and bringing the entirety of themselves into all that they did. Bringing her entirety to her day and age must not have been easy, living in the rising tide of Nazism, though it may be how she learned to attend to particular circumstances. Already in a letter dated 1933, she described her Holy Thursday prayer in this way: I told our Lord that I knew it was His cross that was now being placed upon the Jewish people; that most of them did not understand this, but that those who did would have to take it up willingly in the name of all. I would do that. At the end of the service, I was certain that I had been heard. But what this carrying of the cross was to consist in, that I did not yet know. Her Witness in Death Being a Jewish convert to Catholicism in Nazi Germany, and having the well-known name as a presenter of the time meant that Edith attracted the attention of the Nazis. The Carmelite order made efforts to conceal her whereabouts and transferred her and her sister Rosa to a convent in the Netherlands. However, on July 26th, 1942 the Dutch Bishop’s conference condemned Nazism across the nation and, in response, all Jewish converts were arrested. Edith and her sister were among nearly one thousand Jews transported to Auschwitz that day. They are believed to have been killed on August 9th, 1942. Maximilian Kolbe is often the first Saint that comes to mind as the martyr of the Holocaust, but Edith (now Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) also experienced the horrors of the day. Each bore witness to Christ and to hope in the midst of deep suffering and despair. Each gave their lives along with their Jewish brothers and sisters. With the Lord, Nothing is Wasted Her remarkable and meandering story illustrates the deep attentiveness of the Lord to our unique callings and the ways in which nothing is wasted. Edith’s life offers a tremendous witness to embracing our own callings in a way that offers a refreshing take on the universal call to holiness. To what particular circumstances are you being asked to bring your entire self? How might Edith Stein’s example help inspire you to do so?   [bctt tweet="Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross + the Feminine Genius #BISblog //" via="no"]

Pope Francis declared the 4th Sunday of July as the world day for grandparents and the elderly, coinciding with the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. Sure, there is a hallmark holiday of sorts in September, but this feast does well to put it into context. What a beautiful opportunity to take stock of the elders in our lives who have had a lasting impact on us, and continue to offer wisdom and love in the way that the Lord called this holy pair to demonstrate. There is much to love about Saints Joachim and Anne: They are married Saints whose feast is celebrated together. They are the parents of the Immaculate Conception. Their tremendously important role in paving the way for Christ, is primarily behind-the-scenes. Grandparenthood: A Unique Calling “If I knew having grandkids could be this much fun, I would have had them first.” If I had a nickel for every time I have heard the expression, I would have a tidy little sum. I love to hear the delight in the voices of those in the company of the next generation. There is a different emphasis, after all, a privileged role, that grandparents have. Rather than reinforcing bedtimes, driving carpool, and cooking dinner, they are in the unique position to be present without an agenda in a way that parents simply cannot. I love the variety of names that Grandparents are known by: Gigi, Pops, Nana, Grandma, Grandpa, Gram, Grammy, Granny, Oma, Opa, Bapa, Papa. These terms of endearment are often spoken from the mouths of babes and worn with tremendous pride. Joachim and Anne each wear the title of Saint, but they were called by other names, too! Multi-Dimensional Figures For this reason, it is worth imagining Saints Joachim and Anne not just as Mary’s mom and dad, but as Jesus’ grandma and papa. Brother Mickey McGrath created a wonderful image of Jesus with His grandparents. When I heard him speak about it, he mentioned imagining the child Jesus having a sleepover at their house. Pure joy! As I have gotten older, I have met grandparents in a variety of roles. Some are raising their grandchildren. Many don’t see their grandchildren as often as they would like. Some are faithfully present, while others take little interest. Some keep a running tally of the growing number or their brood, while others yearn to meet their children’s children and grieve that void. In many cases, older neighbors, godparents, teachers, or friends simply become adopted into the role, regardless of relation. The Gift of Grandparents In a culture that has lost much of its reverence for the wisdom of older generations, and in light of this feast, we are in a unique position to celebrate those in our lives who walk or have walked with and nurtured us, as well as those who hold out those precious gifts to our own children. If the nurturing of a grandparent isn’t your current experience, invite the Lord to bring someone into your life who might. If perhaps you are someone holding onto the ache for grandchildren (or, what’s a couple more?!), invite Jesus to make clear a family in need of time and energy you might desire to share with them. Within the Context of a Family The fact remains that the God of the universe took flesh and did so in the context of a family–not just parents, but aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. The Holy Family is not as distant as we sometimes believe. They are as available to us as our own relationships–chosen or otherwise. Let’s glorify God in these important connections! Prayer to Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, Grandparents of Jesus Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, you were ever faithful to God, trusting in Him in your lives and while you prayed for a child. Your patience and perseverance in prayer are an example to me. I ask that you pray for me, that I may be ever faithful and trusting in God. May I always keep my focus on Him and trust in His timing in my life. May my love for God and my faith in Him never waiver, no matter what happens in my life. May I appreciate the faith of others (like you two) and be inspired to a deeper faith. May my life of faith in God be richly blessed. May I know, love, and serve God with all of my heart. Saints Anne and Joachim, thank you for your example of faith. Thank you for your wonderful daughter, my spiritual mother Mary. Thank you for the love of God and the faith you inspire in me. Grandparents of Jesus, pray for me. Amen. (source) Who have been influential grandparent figures for you and how might you honor them today? How might you be called to step in as a grandparent, or reach out to someone who is particularly good at nurturing the faith for you or your family?   [bctt tweet="Jesus' Grandma and Papa #BISblog //" via="no"]

“If you really wanted to confess something, why not just talk to an empty chair and pretend Jesus is in it? Why would you put yourself through that when you can see you’re talking to another flawed human,” asked my indignant high school friend. Fair point, I had to admit. Why trouble myself with the humiliation of naming my sins and shortcomings to anyone else, when I could just speak them into the void and call it good? Is Catholicism worth the hassle? There are so many seeming add-ons that other traditions don’t ask of them. Growing up I was surrounded by friends who deeply loved Jesus, who knew Scripture and wanted the same for me. They just didn’t seem to imagine I could find that in the Catholic Church and challenged me on it frequently. It turns out I was a bit of a late bloomer in terms of coming to an intimate understanding of the Liturgy, the Sacraments, and the Tradition present therein, so naturally I wondered if they might be right. Their questions and promptings came from a good place and didn’t allow for me to become stagnant. Ultimately, their curiosity and prompting led to a place of discernment. Was the Faith I’d been Baptized into my own? Did I want it to be? I remember my mom encouraging me to give a final fair chance before I let it go completely. [elementor-template id="707561"] I scheduled a time with my parish priest for Confession and to talk over my questions and the inherent struggles in deciding whether or not to stay Catholic. “Shouldn’t the Faith I’m choosing serve to comfort me? Why choose a Faith that asks so much of me?” I demanded indignantly. He listened to me lovingly and patiently. The conversation was a beautiful one, one in which he shared his own deep need for Sacraments–specifically Confession–and the grace that comes with self-awareness, humility, and a contrite heart. I was so touched by his sharing that I knew an empty chair (for starters) could never replace the grace promised for bringing myself, warts and all, to the Redeemer who knows my heart better than any. The invitation to be on a journey with the Lord (rather than inviting the Lord along for my journeying) served to help me come to the decision to remain on the days when choosing faithfulness means choosing to be refined by the struggle. // What has challenged you/challenges you about your Catholic Faith? What has inspired you to remain and make it your own in the past? Now? // Is your faith experience one where you invite Jesus along from time to time, or one in which the Lord is ever present, even amidst the struggles?   P.S. Grab this free wallpaper for your phone or computer to remind you of your focus during this summer series (and beyond)!   [bctt tweet="REMAIN Series // Staying Catholic #BISblog //" via="no"]

As the academic year comes to a close, it can feel like we are on the cusp of something new, long after we find ourselves counting down the days until summer vacation. New seasons, opportunities, jobs, relationships, and responsibilities call us into scenarios we may have never imagined, or perhaps, have dreamt about for years. Catholic Prayers for New Beginnings Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum of new beginnings, I pray that these words of blessing during times of change, breathe life into your season. A Prayer for a New Season Dear Heavenly Father, please be with me, I pray, as I move on from the old to the new. The joy, memories, and hardships of the last season of my life are behind me. Help me to leave them there, Lord, and not carry them with me into this new season. Help me to let go of all hurts, anger, and grudges, and see all people as the blessing they are, Your children. Thank You, Lord, for this opportunity to begin this new adventure with You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. (source) Blessing for a New Home O heavenly Father, Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to bless and sanctify this house and all who dwell therein and everything else in it, and do Thou vouchsafe to fill it with all good things; grant to them, O Lord, the abundance of heavenly blessings and from the richness of the earth every substance necessary for life, and finally direct their desires to the fruits of Thy mercy. At our entrance, therefore, deign to bless and sanctify this house as Thou didst deign to bless the house of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; and may the angels of Thy light, dwelling within the walk of this house, protect it and those who dwell therein. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Translated by Most Reverend J. H. Schlarman Bishop of Peoria) Prayer for a New Job Blessed St. Joseph, your task as a guardian of the Redeemer and a protector of Virgin Mary made you the head of the Holy Family and the administrator of its material possessions. Today, I am also looking for work, and I am calling on you, as a powerful mediator who, with the help of your spouse, defend me before your Son, to help me find a way to live off the fruits of my work. Teach me how to be active in my search, open to new opportunities, honest in my relations, reasonable in my demands, determined in fulfilling all of my obligations. St. Joseph of Good Hope, pray for me, protect me, guide me and keep my hopes up. Amen. (source) Novena for New Friendship Opening Prayer // Holy God, Mighty God, Benevolent Creator and Lover of All Life, I praise You and I Glorify You! Your beloved Son has called me “friend!” As I quietly come to You to contemplate the great gift of His gracious friendship to me, please calm my mind and still my body. Bring me to a deep awareness, O My Father in Heaven, of Your presence to me right here, right now . . . . above me, below me, behind me, before me, around me, beside me, within me. I lovingly thank You for Your infinite goodness to me, in particularly today in the gifts of Jesus’s friendship with me, and what an example He has given to me for my friendship with others. I thank you for the examples the Saints have given me in the ways and blessings of holy friendship. I ask You to grant me the gift of holy friendships in my life, with individuals who will walk faithfully side by side and arm in arm with me, back to You, as we travel our pilgrim journeys on this earth together. Amen. (source) Morning Prayer // Prayer for a New Day Gracious God, Thank you for the gift of today. Refresh me. Invite me to discover your presence In each person that I meet And every event that I encounter. Teach me when to speak and when to listen When to ponder and when to share. In moments of challenge and decision Attune my heart to the whisperings of your Wisdom. As I undertake ordinary and unnoticed tasks, Gift me with simple joy. When my day goes well, may I rejoice. When it grows difficult, surprise me with New possibilities. When life is overwhelming, call me to Sabbath moments To restore your Peace and Harmony. May my living today reveal your Goodness. (source) Prayer for a Newborn/Newly Adopted Baby God, our Creator, cherish this child. Jesus, our Savior; protect him/her. Holy Spirit, our comforter, strengthen him/her. or: Source of all blessings, protector of infants, look with favor on this child, N. Hold him/her gently in your hands. When he/she is reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, bring him/her into the Church, there to share in your kingdom and with us to bless your name forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen The parents trace the sign of the cross on the child's forehead. N., may the Lord Jesus, who loved children, bless you and keep you in his love, now and forever. R/. Amen (source) Pope Francis’ Springtime Prayer for Farmers Eternal Father, maker of heaven and earth, we bless you and give you glory. Bless this seed, and make it fruitful. Look upon our work this season, and grant that the seeds we plant will produce plentiful crops, providing work and food for many. In your love, give us favorable weather throughout this growing season. Make us truly grateful for all our gifts, and willing to share our goods and talents with others, especially those without adequate food. All praise and glory are yours, Almighty Father, through your son Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. What season do you find yourself beginning at this time? What fruit might the Lord be cultivating in you?   [bctt tweet="Catholic Prayers for New Beginnings #BISblog //" via="no"]

The Easter story hinges on one detail: the Resurrection. Without resurrection, Easter is business as usual... yesterday’s news. The story that the God of the Universe was writing through Jesus’ life and death matters because of what came next: Life from death. It remains an unfathomable entrance of God into our human story, accompanied by an invitation that we, too, might overcome death and enter into eternity with God. Without the Resurrection, there is no Easter joy. Without the Resurrection, Good Friday is a cruel joke. Without the Resurrection, our lives lived in Christ cease to offer hope. But we do have hope. We Have This Hope The entire Easter season is a celebration of HOPE precisely because of the Resurrection. I often find myself resonating deeply with Mary Magdalene and the women at the tomb who went to anoint Jesus’ Body for burial. So convinced were they that the story had ended, there was no imagining a different ending. It felt too much to hope in the somber days following the death of their Friend to imagine there would be more to come. Maybe you find/you have found yourself there, too. And yet. Scripture is fairly littered with foreshadowing and blatant reminders that Jesus indeed will suffer, but will not remain in the place of suffering. Over and again, prophets, disciples, and evangelists echo the seemingly impossible words: He will rise. Scripture Verses about Jesus’ Resurrection He will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. // Isaiah 25:8 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. // Matthew 12:40 He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him. // Mark 16:6 For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. // 1 Thessalonians 4:16 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. // Mark 9:9-10 No wonder Jesus repeated this message over and over. His followers were not ready to grasp the sacrifice and mind-bending promise of eternal life offered from—a reality most of us are still grappling with if we are honest. And yet God’s Heart remains steadfast and patient with our questions, doubts, and shaky confidences. So much so that He offers further invitation to those who would follow Him.     Scripture Verses about the Resurrection of God's People If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. // Romans 6:8-10 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” // John 11:25-26 But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise! Awake and sing, you who lie in the dust! For your dew is a dew of light, and you cause the land of shades to give birth. // Isaiah 26:19 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. // 1 Corinthians 15:21-23 For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. // Romans 6:5 Where Do You Need Resurrection? As much as the Resurrection took on a look no one expected, it’s a reality we need to sit with regularly. God’s ways are perfect and so far above our own. It is important to be reminded that God is a God of infinite Love while remaining a God of mystery. Whether our walk with Christ has been long or short, that second detail is bound to catch up with us. I know that I need this reminder more than annually, but the Easter season is as good a time for me to examine any boxes I may have drawn around the Lord. Have you found yourself in unexpected circumstances, at rock bottom, on top of your game? Have you made faith a convenience? Wherever you find yourself spiritually this season, ask yourself this: What circumstance have I assured myself that God cannot enter into and restore? And then pay close attention to what happens next! [bctt tweet="Scripture Verses about Resurrection #BISblog //" via="no"]

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. // Luke 1:38 "Whenever an angel of the Lord comes to you and tells you not to be afraid–get ready for a big assignment!" A dear priest friend of mine used to include this wry bit of wisdom in any reading that included the words "do not be afraid." This encounter is no exception. Mary's Posture During the Annunciation Nothing about the Annunciation is particularly new, it’s a well-known Scriptural story for many of us. What I like about it is that Mary models a beautiful posture with which to receive prophetic, even startling news about the uncanny way God chooses to move in our lives. I can’t help but wonder what the world might begin to look like if we would respond to even one percent of our collaboration and discernment in the same way. The angel appeared to deliver a significant announcement. And just like that, in ten short verses, the course of human history is forever altered. God was to become man and arrive from the womb of a woman—the new Eve, Mary. 5 Key Moments in the Annunciation Exchange This weekend. our family will welcome our littlest into the Church through Baptism. Fitting, as a year ago, after many years of infertility, we unexpectedly found that we would be welcoming a child again (our own experience of God presenting seemingly impossible news). In this way, God’s providence through the Annunciation to Mary and her fiat resonate deep in my bones and I am loving the chance to delve deeper. Hail A greeting that communicates joy and peace. When Gabriel appears to Mary, he greets her with the words, “Hail, favored one.” Despite the wild meaning of his words, Gabriel uses a greeting of peace and assurance. Isn’t this the nature of our loving God to calm our anxious hearts, even in delivering unbelievably difficult or confusing news, knowing our limited understanding and offering solace from the beginning? Behold Translated: What I’m about to tell you is pretty remarkable. It is more than anyone could have ever dreamed up or imagined in terms of how God is willing to demonstrate His perfect love. I’m asking you to take it in, in all of its unimaginable goodness before you say anything in response. The angel’s gentle coaxing offers good guidance to us as to a posture of receiving information–whether expected or unexpected, good news or bad. How? We do not know the span of time this encounter lasted. Five minutes... two hours? What we do know is that when Mary does respond, she asks, “How?” We can almost imagine her stammering, eyes wide. Not with the self-assurance of Abram or Zechariah who have each reached their own conclusions about the limits of God’s desire and ability to show up in their lives. No, Mary’s question is far from doubt, but more of a bewildered, humble, hopeful plea for clarity. Overshadow All Mary receives for an explanation is the angel’s response that the Holy Spirit will "overshadow" her, which is deeply significant (and hardly clarifying). What we do know about other experiences of the Holy Spirit overshadowing can be found in the creation account when the "mighty wind swept over the waters," or Adam was cast into a deep sleep while God fashioned a helpmate for him. The disciples experienced an overshadowing of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus’ own Baptism illuminates the Person of the Holy Spirit descending as a dove, accompanied by the voice of God from Heaven. In other words: have confidence. God is going to show up in a big way; likely one you cannot comprehend, but simultaneously one you will not miss. Behold As the angel prepares to depart, Mary responds with the same greeting of peace and joy with which the conversation began: Behold! She seems to have integrated this message in a way that bolstered her courage and resolve to actively sign on for the wild ride Gabriel had described. It is a beautiful exchange between Gabriel and Mary, and especially Mary and the Lord. In a very particular way, God offers Mary a tiny glimpse at the hope for salvation and proceeds with the Incarnation after Mary’s "yes," her fiat. Our Response Likely the major life changes we experience won’t be heralded in by celestial beings. And, there are plenty of times when our calling finds us before we are ready, before we have offered our own "yes." The Annunciation offers a touching reminder of the love and intentionality with which our God invites us to roles of active participation in an unfolding plan much larger than ourselves. We may not see it, let alone understand the invitations we receive, but would that our response be as full of confidence as Mary’s. When have you been invited to respond with a quaking "yes" to the Lord’s invitation in the past? What response is being asked of you by the Lord today?   [bctt tweet="Behold // The Feast of the Annunciation #BISblog //" via="no"]