Week Four // Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints. I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me. O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon. Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity. Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation. Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul. Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter. Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world. Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Week Four Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Universal Church. Week Four // Day Five Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter. I am a rule-follower by nature, perhaps to a fault. Hand me a set of instructions, a recipe, or a map, and I’ll stick to it faithfully, trusting that someone else’s knowledge trumps my own and worrying that I might find myself in trouble if I stray from what I’m told. As a result, my driving record is spotless and all I know about detention is what I’ve seen in movies. But, I also find myself lost and insecure when the directions are mine to set. In His generosity, God gives us countless choices throughout our lives. Some, like what career to pursue or who to marry, are easy to remember to pray about. But when it comes to seemingly less significant decisions, it’s all too easy to forget to ask for the Lord’s guidance. God desires our hearts in all of our discernment, big and small, because even the smallest decisions we make can have eternal consequences, for ourselves and for others. That’s what the gift of counsel is about—the ability to identify those decisions that God has a special purpose for and to see and follow that plan. Rather than one point-A-to-point-B list of instructions to Heaven, God presents us with options. Think of it as a trail map at your favorite state park. Some trails are short and sweet, while others are more treacherous, but worth it for the sweeping vista views and waterfalls if you can brave the hike. No matter the trail you are drawn to, they all lead to the final destination, just as long as you stay on the path. Prayer, communion with God, and the gift of counsel enable us to do just that: to always see the arrows spray-painted on the trees pointing us in the right direction. When we receive and welcome him into our heart, the Holy Spirit immediately begins to make us sensitive to his voice and to guide our thoughts, our feelings and our intentions according to the heart of God. -Pope Francis   What decisions in your life right now have you neglected to bring to God? Ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of counsel as you move forward with those decisions. Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners Share one decision you are praying about right now. What do the paths you are discerning look like? Remind each other of the truths of the Gospel and encourage one another. [bctt tweet="Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter. #BISblog #prayerpledge //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

Week Four // Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints. I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me. O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon. Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity. Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation. Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul. Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter. Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world. Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Week Four Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Universal Church. Week Four // Day Four Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul. Overcome. Assault. Danger. Threaten. There are some scary words in this prayer, aren’t there? Well, sisters, it should come as no surprise that that’s because there are scary things in this world. Watch the news, read the headlines, scroll through Twitter, and it is all too obvious how devastatingly far the world has fallen. Families are separated. Countries are divided. Horrific sins have taken place within our own beloved Church. Do you ever wonder if God would flood it all again if He had not promised Noah He wouldn’t, way back in the day? As Catholics, we know without a shadow of a doubt that Satan is real and he hates us. All of the disgusting, heartbreaking, horrifying, terrible things we see on the news? That’s what he wants for us, and much, much worse. But in our daily battle against him, we are never, ever alone. Our warrior of a Mother crushes his head beneath her foot. St. Michael the Archangel casts him into hell. And the Holy Spirit blesses us with the gift of fortitude, enabling us to bravely reject Satan, all his works, and all his empty promises. We are part of the battle and part of the victory that we know belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ. With every gossipy conversation that is awkward to put a stop to, but we do anyway, the gift of fortitude is at work. With every angry word we keep our lips sealed around, the gift of fortitude is at work. With every temptation to use someone for our own gain that we reject and flee from, the gift of fortitude is at work. This world is not easy to live in. Each new day we wake up on this earth is another day we will be tempted, distracted, and pulled away from God if we allow it to happen. Fortitude keeps our eyes on the prize and gives us the strength and courage to fight another day, until we can finally, truly rest in the peace of Heaven. I am not afraid. I was born to do this. -St. Joan of Arc   Identify a situation or area of your life right now where you most need the gift of fortitude to turn away from sin. Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners Share a time in your life when the Holy Spirit blessed you with the gift of fortitude in a moment of need. How did that feel? [bctt tweet="Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul. #BISblog #prayerpledge //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

Week Four // Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints. I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me. O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon. Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity. Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation. Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul. Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter. Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world. Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Week Four Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Universal Church. Week Four // Day Three Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation. Raise your hand if you’ve ever blamed a gap in your knowledge of God or our Faith on “poor catechesis.” Sure, the opportunities and people that have fallen short in passing on the Faith are unfortunately vast and varied, from cradle Catholics to converts alike. Our Faith, in so many ways, is mysterious, deep, complicated, and hard to understand, let alone explain. Thanks be to God, though, we don’t have to know all the right answers before we can know God Himself. Some of the greatest Saints in history, whom God chose for great purposes, knew only the basics of the Catechism (St. Bernadette comes to mind). But they didn’t let that get in the way of their knowing God and discerning His call on their lives. St. Alphonsus Liguori possessed extensive knowledge of many subjects. Born to a privileged family near Naples, Italy in 1696, he received the best available education in philosophy, literature, and the arts. Excelling in his studies, he was awarded doctorates of civil and canon law at age 16 and went on to become known as one of the best lawyers in Naples before he was 20. Knowledge, you could say, was not a gift he seemed to lack. The knowledge he prayed for, though, was not an earthly one, but a heavenly one. As we see throughout the Gospels, as Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, mere knowledge of the “rules” falls devastatingly short of what God calls us to. Knowledge—the gift of the Holy Spirit—does not end with a test we could pass or fail depending on the strength of our childhood CCD program or Catholic school theology classes. Rather, it leads us to know God more intimately by knowing the Truths He has revealed. There lies the difference between the generous gift of the Holy Spirit that St. Alphonsus Liguori prayed for, and knowledge as the world defines it. What aspects of our Faith may God be calling you to learn more about in order to draw you closer to Him? (Perhaps the Eucharist, Mary, the Communion of Saints, the Theology of the Body?) Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners Discuss your answer above. Where can you go to learn more about what you answered? Commit to sharing one thing you learn about your topic with one another next time you talk. [bctt tweet="Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation. #BISblog #prayerpledge //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

Week Four // Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints. I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me. O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon. Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity. Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation. Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul. Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter. Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world. Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Week Four Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Universal Church. Week Four // Day Two Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity. Piety. The word is not a popular one in this day and age—its austere connotations seemingly reserved for priests and religious, disconnected from our fast-moving and rapidly changing world. But sisters, contrary to what popular culture may lead us to believe, how desperately each of us needs the gift of piety! I saw piety in the response of Catholics to the devastating abuse crisis our Church suffers from—Catholics who fled to the foot of the Cross in prayer, ran to the Blessed Sacrament, and faithfully prayed (and continue to pray) for healing, reparation, and guidance. I saw piety when my diocese’s Bishop knelt before the congregation with tears streaming down his face, begging the people he serves to bring their heartbreak and pain to him so he could do whatever he could to help carry it. I saw piety in the lay people who answered the promptings of the Holy Spirit and offered their skills, expertise, and abilities to the Church in order to bring healing and reform a little closer in reach. I saw piety in our brothers and sisters who showed up to Mass on Sunday even though they felt betrayed, and continue to do so, keeping holy the Sabbath day as God commanded. Piety is anything but an archaic virtue. It is something we need in order to live out the Christian life with fervor and devotion in a time when it seems that everything and everyone tries to prevent us from doing so. Our Church needs pious leaders, pious priests, pious religious, and pious lay people to carry our Faith through our modern age. Consider how you have personally observed piety in action, especially over the last six months. Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners What are your biggest roadblocks to asking for or accepting the gift of piety? [bctt tweet="Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor... #BISblog #prayerpledge //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

Week Four // Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints. I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me. O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon. Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity. Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation. Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul. Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter. Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world. Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Week Four Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Universal Church. Week Four // Day One Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints. I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me. O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon. How often do my prayers turn into a list of requests—worded reverently, but requests nonetheless? When I’m being truly honest…most of the time. And I believe this is not altogether a bad thing. We are called to intercede for our loved ones and for our world. God wants us to lay down our sincere needs, our hearts' desires, and even the most insignificant moments throughout the day (“Please, Lord, help me to find a parking spot!”) at the feet of Jesus. But no matter how “much I pray,” if I am only ever asking for things from God, I leave no time to simply love Him. My marriage would crumble rapidly if I treated my husband the way I so often treat Our Lord God, King of the Universe. Eye contact, uninterrupted attention, silenced cell phones, an hour or two of alone time, and the words “I love you” spoken again and again fuel my marriage. How much more do I need to give—and to receive—those same things from the Holy Trinity? St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which we are praying through this week, is a prayer made up mostly of requests. But long before expressing his desires for the good and holy gifts he requests of God, St. Alphonsus Liguori adores God. He professes his love and devotion to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He gives his heart to the Lord before asking for anything. His first request is simply for this: presence. For the Holy Spirit to fill him as He did our Blessed Mother. St. Alphonsus Liguori knew that even in the midst of his incredibly active ministry and mission work, all was for naught if he did not love God actively, if he did not draw near to Him first and foremost. Having worshiped the Holy Spirit, offered himself, and welcomed God’s presence, St. Alphonsus Liguori asks for the gift of holy fear. If God is to answer his request for His presence (which we know He will!), St. Alphonsus Liguori desires a response that is appropriate. As we invite the Holy Spirit more deeply into our lives this week, let us ask for the same holy fear, “that it may act on [us] as a check to prevent [us] from falling back into [our] past sins.” Spend time in prayer today—not asking God for anything, but simply loving Him, worshiping Him, and being in His presence. Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners What percentage of your current prayer life is made up of worship? What percentage is spent praying for different intentions? How may this breakdown need to change? [bctt tweet="I give You my heart. #BISblog #prayerpledge //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

Advent is, by its very nature, a season of waiting and anticipation, not a destination. But to me this year, it does have a sense of being a “grand finale.” It was after last Advent, after all, when a month of festive celebrations, a handful of extra “Christmas mornings” to accommodate different family travels, and Advent candles that were just as tall when we packed them up as they had been when we pulled them out of the box led to a post-December 25th burnout...and the conviction to spend the following year paying attention to the liturgical calendar. Advent was where it all went wrong for me last year, and this Advent, I’m anxious to find out if all we’ve been doing this year has been worth it. But even before Advent begins, I know deep in my heart that it has been. In the Rhythm of the Church Being mindful of the liturgical calendar, commemorating feast days, truly fasting and truly feasting, and digging into the rich history, legacy, and universality of our Faith has drawn me to Jesus this year in a way I never anticipated. As an adult, a wife, and a still-somewhat-new mother, I needed a path for my personal faith life that didn’t rely on my parents guiding me or my university providing the resources. This, the very calendar the Church has used for centuries, has been it. I hope and pray liturgical living will continue to be a lifelong adventure for my family (and for you, too). How to Live Liturgically During Advent Perhaps you’re nodding your head as you read this, heart filled with slightly nervous anticipation to celebrate a “real” Advent. One that doesn’t just look like Christmas arrived too early. Or perhaps you’re where I was last year, when I first heard the concept of saving Christmas traditions for actual Christmas...and that sounds anything but appealing. Wherever this Advent finds your heart, my invitation to you is to bring it to Jesus. Prayerfully ask Him what He is calling you to this Advent, in your specific season of life, and in this moment of your faith journey. Whatever traditions you end up adopting, setting aside, or rearranging, start with a simple surrender and the offering of your days to the Lord. Allow Him to guide you toward Him this Advent season, just as He guided the shepherds to the side of His manger. He longs for your presence and will never deny this request. Take Responsibility In my own family (and I know each is beautifully unique!), I’m the one who decorates our home. I’m the one who either fills our calendar or intentionally carves in blank space. With the full support and unbridled enthusiasm of my husband, I’m the one who has been leading our family’s celebrations of the liturgical year. It would be easy for me to, consciously or unconsciously, “blame” him if our Advent doesn’t look the way I hope it will. But right out of the gate, I’m refusing to do that. If your specific role in your family, your gifts and talents, your time availability, or whatever the case may be mean that guiding your family through Advent is largely your responsibility, take ownership of that and thank God for this opportunity! Trust that He will equip and use whatever you can offer Him. No matter how DIY-challenged you may be (hand raised over here). Adopt Advent-Specific Traditions Let’s resist the temptation to believe that observing Advent means we’re missing out on something. Time and time again, throughout our lives as Catholics, we are called to purposefully wait on something (even something as joyful, good, and beautiful as Christmas celebrations) in order to experience it in its fullness at the specific time God appoints. The waiting may not always be easy, but that doesn’t mean it is empty. On the contrary, the USCCB says “Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight” (source). Delight? Yes, that is something I desire more of. To set Advent apart from Christmas, it needs its own traditions, prayers, and sources of holy delight. Ones you look forward to in their own way, but that always orient your heart toward the celebration to come. Here are a few to consider: Join the Blessed is She community in praying through the 2018 Advent devotional, Bearing Light. Do your best to create a peaceful opportunity each day to use it, whether that means setting your alarm earlier (Advent is supposed to be a little bit penitential too, after all!), fasting from social media or TV until you’ve made the time to read and pray, or asking your husband to help you carve out time amidst your family’s busy schedule (don’t forget to return the favor for his devotional time, too). There’s also an Advent bundle available, which includes a beautiful candle and wristlet to serve as additional reminders to go to God in prayer. Don’t have the devotional? Don’t worry! Choose any other favorite devotional or spiritual book that feels appropriate for this season, and join us in prayer through that. Decorate your home in a special way. Especially if you’re a visual person, refreshed decor can serve as a powerful reminder of a new liturgical season. Don’t hesitate to “deck the halls,” but intentionally differentiate your decorations from what you’ll use for Christmas. This will look different for everyone. But for me, it means focusing on greenery, twinkling lights, and candles (while ornaments, stockings, and pretty much anything red stays packed up until Christmas Eve). Another easy twist: set up your Nativity, but leave the manger empty until the appropriate day. Include your family. If you have children, consider setting up a Jesse Tree, adding a few Advent-specific storybooks to your shelves, or letting your kids “earn” hay for baby Jesus’ manger in your nativity set by doing good deeds for one another. If you’re engaged or married, pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena out loud with your husband/fiance. If you’re single, invite family members or friends to attend extra daily Masses or Holy Hours, or to work on a service project with you. The Christian life is even more beautiful when we walk through it in community! Decide what to save for Christmas. Yes, this part is challenging in our culture and in our hearts that so longingly crave the joy of Christmas. But sisters, the wait will be so worth it. Prayerfully consider what you feel called to reserve for the specific season of Christmas and commit to waiting on those things. Maybe that means holding off on certain movies, not listening to Christmas music, respectfully declining invitations to Christmas parties during Advent, not baking cookies or special treats until Christmas Eve, etc. Note: I cannot emphasize enough that living Advent in such a counter-cultural way may not always be popular amongst loved ones. So we must approach delicate situations with charity and gentleness. This isn’t about a set of rules. It’s about prayerfully and appropriately anticipating the celebration of our Savior’s birth. Stirring up a family feud because you decline to attend the 20th annual Christmas cookie exchange probably won’t help cultivate your peaceful season of prayer. So use your best judgment and discernment when needed. Sisters, I would love to know: how do you make Advent a meaningful time for you and your family? Please share your tips, tricks, and traditions in the comments below so we can learn from one another. Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see. This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We too should always observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this mystery. - Saint Charles Borromeo [bctt tweet="Living Liturgically During Advent #BISblog //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: I am far from perfect at praying the Rosary daily. I put my worldly obligations and my messy kitchen and Instagram before the Rosary again and again and again…But our Mama is patient with me, and I’m getting better. I have gotten better. One simple little trick has made the days I do pray the Rosary outweigh the days I don’t, and that’s the reason I’m writing this post. Not because I am perfect at it, but because the success of implementing this one thing made me wonder: how do other Catholic women make praying the Rosary a daily habit? Why Should We Pray a Daily Rosary? But first, why pray the rosary in the first place, let alone daily? We are so busy, doing very good things. In some seasons of life, setting aside 15-20 minutes for contemplative prayer truly feels next to impossible. Sisters, the reasons we are called to pray the rosary daily could fill an entire book, so I’ll keep it simple. It’s because Our Blessed Mother asks us to. In each one of her apparitions that have been approved by the Vatican, she has implored the world to pray the Rosary. The Promises of Our Lady to Those Who Faithfully Pray the Rosary She even made fifteen beautiful promises to those who pray the Rosary faithfully. These were revealed to St. Dominic, and then to Blessed Alan de la Roche. They are: Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies. It will cause good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for Eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means! The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish. (Referring to perishing in hell) Whosoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of Eternal Life. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the Light of God and the plenitude of His Graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the Merits of the Saints in Paradise. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of Glory in Heaven. You shall obtain all you ask of me by recitation of the Rosary. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death. All who recite the Rosary are my Sons, and brothers of my Only Son Jesus Christ. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination. The Rosary is Fuel for Our Souls What promises for a time such as this! If you have never tried to pray the Rosary daily, there is no better day to start than today. Yes, today. You don’t need to have the perfect plan, the perfect time slot, or even the perfect Rosary (though if you don’t have one, you can find a beautiful one that was custom-made for the Blessed is She community here). I encourage you to ask for Mary’s special graces to make it happen during this month, in which we honor Mary as Our Lady of the Rosary, especially. How Catholic Women Pray the Rosary I asked Catholic women on Instagram how they make praying the Rosary a daily habit. I found myself so inspired by the different ways our sisters prioritize this prayer in the midst of their busy lives. How encouraging is it to know that we are all in this together, drawing closer to Our Lord through His Blessed Mother and interceding for these promises, from armor against hell to a flourishing of good works?! My Quick Tip... Before we dive into their wisdom, I’d love to share that simple trick that has worked for me: downloading a Rosary podcast (I use A Rosary Companion and like the Spoken + Ambient Music versions. But there are many options out there!). I’m in and out of the car often throughout the day and love listening to podcasts, which is why I think this has worked for me. I always queue up the Rosary when I get into the car, before listening to anything else. I’m a rule-follower to a fault, and making this particular rule has been so fruitful! Here are some more amazing tips and tricks for building the Rosary into your day. Pray a Little Bit at a Time “When we say the rosary, I like to imagine that we are safe inside the ‘New Ark’ (a title that was given to Our Lady since the earliest days of the Church), just like Noah and his family were safe and preserved from the floods by entering into the Ark. She has told us throughout all her apparitions about the importance of the Rosary and the graces we will receive to persevere through hard times. We have five kids (one in utero) of all different ages and attention spans. For many years, our nightly routine has been to say between 1-2 decades of the Rosary. It was only recently that our older kids suggested that instead of switching the mysteries each day, we commit to one mystery per week. This week, we have been saying the Sorrowful Mysteries, and next week will be the Glorious. It’s not perfect, but we have faith that it pleases Our Lady because we are trying our best.” - Kelli S. “The fifteen promises that Our Lady has made to those who are faithful to the Rosary are truly life-changing! Powerful, hell-fighting armor, vice destroyer, heresy dispeller--sign me up! Even though there are such amazing reasons to pray the Rosary, I still found so many excuses not to. But, God is persistent and He inspired the design of the Rosary bracelet we sell at ChewsLife that pretty much addressed all of my excuses. It's always on hand, so I don't lose it; it's sturdy, so my kids can never break it; and most importantly, the movable crucifix charm works like a bookmark to keep my place when I get interrupted. It has allowed me to use the quiet moments that are scattered throughout my day to get my Rosary in. God doesn't ask us to be perfect; He just asks us to begin!” - Shannon W. (of ChewsLife) “My husband and I do the first four decades on our own throughout the day, and then do the fifth decade together when we are both home. We think the reason this works is two-fold—it feels more manageable to pray a decade or so at a time, and we get to pray together!” - Lia M. Deepen Your Understanding “As a person currently in the process of converting to Catholicism, praying the Rosary daily is helping to form the bedrock of my life as a Catholic woman, wife, and mother. I pray two decades in the morning while nursing my son, two more decades at various points throughout the day (usually while nursing), and one more decade before bed. I keep engaged by doing scriptural meditations with each prayer—this has done WONDERS for helping me stay focused on the beauty of the Rosary, instead of letting it feel dull or repetitive.” - Courtney W. “I never really prayed the Rosary but I started doing a study by Take Up and Read called Ponder, which is all about the Rosary. It has helped me to meditate on the mysteries and create a daily habit. I started doing just one decade at a time and am working my way up to praying a full Rosary daily!” - Macy M. (Note: Blessed is She offers a wonderful Blessed Conversations series on the Mysteries of the Rosary!) Find Accountability “A group of friends and I got together and decided to pray the 54-day Rosary Novena. We set up a group message and texted each other every day, reminding and encouraging each other to pray. It was so powerful that we started a new novena two days after finishing the first!” - Meagan R. “Find someone who can hold you accountable. For me, it is my husband. Each morning, when we plan our day, we carve out a specific time to pray the Rosary, whether that be individually or together. If our days have been busy and we have failed, we try to give the other person 15 minutes at the end of the day “duty-free” (no kids, housework, etc.) when we can be alone in prayer. Find your person—whether that be your sister, friend, mom, or husband—and just start.” - Carrie G. “I joined a virtual Rosary community with @onehailmaryatatime. Following her helps keep me inspired because she shares so many glory stories from people who have prayed the Rosary! Now, I lead a virtual Rosary group where we video call once a week and pray together. The group holds me accountable and I love praying with women who are all over the country, yet are so similar to me, every week!” - Melissa T. Take Advantage of Mental Idle Time “Exercise is part of my daily morning routine, and I found that using my Rosary bracelet during my exercise allowed me the opportunity to slow down mentally, calm my heart, and cultivate a stronger relationship with God.” - Katlyn Rose I. “I live in NYC and usually spend my subway commute on my phone. Lately, I’ve tried to shut off my phone during my commute (signal is terrible in the subway anyway!) and pray the Rosary instead. Turning an otherwise idle time into prayer time has made me feel very productive and more spiritually fulfilled.” - Vicky W. “I have an hour-long commute to work, and every single day, as soon as I get into my car, I pull up the Risers Resided by Christen Peska on the Laudate app and get out my Rosary to pray along. The mystery traditionally recited that day is the one that plays, and each Rosary recitation is about 20 minutes long. I’ve been doing this for two straight years now—before that, I rarely prayed the rosary!” - Cynthia B. Focus on Intentions “Doing novenas for a reason bigger than myself has always helped me. For example, I did a 54-day Rosary Novena for my dad’s conversion...that was more than enough motivation to make myself pray a Rosary every day. I saw miracles happen. After that, I didn’t want to stop, so I did another 54-day novena for my future spouse. I met my husband a few months later.” - Melissa T. Embrace Imperfection and Keep Praying “We started praying the Rosary daily with our family almost seven years ago. We started the practice for Lent and it stuck because our kids wanted to delay bedtime. We were also going through a difficult time in our family, and after praying the Rosary daily for six months, we noticed all the peace and hope it brought to our lives. It had become a beautiful nightly ritual to bring our family together, screen-free, distraction-free. I encourage my Instagram followers to not focus on perfection and to just try. Mary sees your efforts and she will take your intentions to Jesus. Trust me.” - Kristin (of One Hail Mary at a Time) “Some of the best advice I’ve heard is ‘Just keep praying.’ Sometimes, stuff comes up. Maybe your kid starts crying or someone from work calls or you have to clean up a mess, or any number of things that need your attention—whenever you can, just keep praying through it.” - Trishey N. “Be okay with not always being perfect at it. Some days, you don’t want to, other days, you don’t have time...don’t allow those excuses to make you feel as though there’s no point. Your Mother loves you and meets you wherever you are. I love this quote from St. Bernadette: ‘In the evening, when you go to sleep, hold your beads. Doze off reciting them. Do like those babies who go to sleep mumbling ‘Mama, mama.’” - Carlin N. How do you cultivate the habit of a daily Rosary? We’d love to hear your tips and learn from what has worked for you! Join us over in our app for a live weekday Rosary at 11am ET!  Our new Blessed Is She Rosaries have arrived! Get yours here!  [bctt tweet="How to Cultivate the Practice of Praying the Rosary Daily #BISblog //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love. O my God! I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all eternity. Amen. -St. Therese of Lisieux (source) Reflect Love is shown by little things, by small daily signs which make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life, and life to grow in faith. Pope Francis Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. I recommend listening to "Shine Through Us" by Danielle Rose. [bctt tweet="Sanctify + Love #BISblog #BISrests //"]

My college journey led me to three different schools over five years as I refined my major, and then transferred until I landed on the right program for me. While I never expected to wind up a near-perpetual transfer student, this did offer me the opportunity to experience three different campuses, student cultures, Catholic centers, and more. And I learned how to seek out and find a community in each environment. Here’s the good news: whether you’re at a Catholic college, a small liberal arts school, a giant public university, or anything in between, there are people there who are looking for you, too. One of the most beautiful things about college is that everyone—even people who arrived with seemingly half their high school friend group—is embarking on a new chapter of their lives. Everyone is at least somewhat open to the new people and experiences that chapter will bring. No one person is the “new kid”. Everyone is. How to Find Catholic Friends in College When it comes to finding Catholic friends in college, above all, keep your heart softened and your eyes opened for opportunities to reach out and interact with people. Participate in the Sacraments In college or not, participating in the Sacraments is one of the (if not the) most important, fruitful things we can do. We desperately need the strength and grace we draw from the Eucharist and Reconciliation. We need this grace to grow in relationship with God and to live out our vocations well. This includes the calling to be a student in specific seasons, like in college. As Catholics, we are asked to physically show up to Mass each Sunday. Because there, Jesus physically shows up for us. Our presence matters. I believe God knew what He was doing when He asked this of us. He knew that someday, we’d live in a world of podcast sermons and Sunday live streams. While those things are wonderful, our physical presence matters. Not only does it give us the opportunity to grow in relationship with the Lord and to receive Him in the Eucharist, it also places us side by side with our brothers and sisters. Together, we stand and kneel and bow and sit as one. My number one piece of advice for finding Catholic friends in college, or anywhere else for that matter? Live out your own Faith. Show up for Mass, participate in the liturgy, sign up for a holy hour, serve. As you seek to follow Jesus, others doing the same are bound to cross your path. [bctt tweet="As Catholics, we are asked to physically show up to Mass each Sunday. Because there, Jesus physically shows up for us. Our presence matters. #BISblog //" via="no"] Join Catholic Community Groups Depending on your school, the opportunities to gather with fellow Catholics may be abundant or few. But most schools have at least something. I started college at Franciscan University, where it would honestly be harder to find non-Catholic friends than Catholic ones. Catholic schools are a tremendous blessing in that way! Even still, people were encouraged to gather in specific ways depending on their gifts (music ministry, service groups, mission trips, etc.) and their spiritual charisms and devotions (households, retreats, etc.). Attending a secular school? Seek out your campus’ Catholic center (often called the Newman Center) to find Bible studies, clubs, and service opportunities through the university’s church. Check the FOCUS directory to see if there are missionaries on your campus. I was nervous about finding Catholic friends at the gigantic University of Texas after leaving the comfort of my beloved household sisters at Franciscan. But, knowing I thrive and find so much joy in groups of women pursuing holiness together, I looked specifically for Catholic women’s groups on campus. I came across Mu Epsilon Theta, a national Catholic sorority. The friends I made there are just as precious, and called me on to holiness just as much. And for that, I’m forever grateful. Join Campus Organizations... ...that align with Catholic teachings or culture. Just because you’re Catholic and desire friendships with people of the same Faith doesn’t mean that church is the only place to form those relationships. Is there a cause that God has burdened your heart with, a type of service you feel called to, or a gift you can use to bring light to others? Don’t be afraid to seek out campus groups that aren’t specifically religious. If the mission of that organization corresponds with a Catholic teaching or prominent aspect of Catholic culture, chances are, you’ll find other Catholics (who share one of your passions!) there. Get creative! Look into pro-life organizations, Habitat for Humanity, groups that serve the poor and vulnerable, opportunities to work with children or the elderly, philosophical discussion groups, campus choirs, art history clubs, and so much more. Approach Others I’m an introvert through and through, so putting myself out there does not come naturally to me. But do you want to know how I met at least half of my college friends? I went up to them and genuinely complimented something about their outfit. I’m not exaggerating. I’m willing to bet it’s around 50%. This is an especially easy thing to do at Mass when people are dressed up! Keep your eyes open for opportunities to go first. To be the person who goes out of their way to say, "Hi, can I help you with that?" or "Are you new here?" or "I love your shoes!" I think we all occasionally fall into the trap of believing that we’re lonelier than everyone else. That it’s someone else’s job to approach us. But that’s a lie. More often than not, we can take responsibility for filling our lives with friendships. It just takes a little bit of bravery and vulnerability. Pray for True Friends Never believe the cultural misconception that prayer is passive. Prayer, on the contrary, is one of the most powerful things we can do. Ask God to put holy friends in your path. Pray to become a good friend yourself and to show up for people well. Pray for the boldness to say hello first, to go to an event at church even though you won’t know anyone there (yet!), or to start a Catholic group on campus. God created us to walk alongside one another and He has a perfect plan for the relationships you’ll foster in college. [bctt tweet="God created us to walk alongside one another and He has a perfect plan for the relationships you’ll foster in college. #BISblog //" via="no"] If you’ve been in college for a few years or have already graduated, what wisdom do you have to share with new college students about making Catholic friends? [bctt tweet="How to Find Catholic Friends in College #BISblog //" via="no"]

It started, as life changes often do, with an ugly-cry-in-the-shower session. My son was three months old and we had just returned from spending Christmas with my family on the other side of the country. My mom and I were having a tough time navigating her new role as a grandmother and mine as a mother. I lost track of how many times I spoke harshly to her. I felt isolated from my three younger siblings who were nowhere close to this wildly different season of life I was now in. Recently, I had gone back at work after maternity leave and it was not going well. I hadn’t seen any of my friends since our meal train ended. Worst of all, I was convinced God had made a terrible mistake by giving me this beautiful child because I was far too weak, unworthy, and selfish to be a good mother. Those lies pounded in my heart day in and day out. This massive responsibility of raising a child on top of all the other things I hoped to do well (used to do well) was too much. I couldn’t do it. Saints as Mentors and Role Models In the shower that day, where I had run for ten minutes of uninterrupted tears, God gently pointed me in the right direction. You’re not the first person who has had to figure this out, He whispered to my heart. Look to My daughters who have done it well. Like so many Catholic women, I had long loved St. Therese of Lisieux. Her parents, St. Marie-Azélie Guérin Martin and St. Louis Martin, had come to my attention a few times since their canonization in October 2015, but I knew next to nothing else about them. When I pondered Saints who were mothers though, St. Zélie, as she is known, was the first who came to my mind. Over the next few days, as I poured over The Mother of the Little Flower on the Kindle app during middle-of-the-night nursing sessions, I got to know the woman I now consider one of my dearest friends in Heaven, as well as one of my greatest intercessors. In His wisdom, God has arranged things in a way to remind us that this earth is not our true home. Who Was St. Zélie? At first glance, St. Zélie is a little intimidating. She's the type of person I would look at on Instagram today and wonder, “How does she do it all?” She was a devoted wife and treasured friend to her husband, Louis. They were madly in love and supported, encouraged, and prayed for one another faithfully. She was a loving daughter, caring for her difficult father selflessly until his death. She corresponded regularly with her beloved sister, a Visitation nun, to whom many of St. Zélie's 200+ saved letters were sent. She was a talented Alençon lace maker who ran her own thriving business. It was so thriving, in fact, that Louis ultimately sold his watchmaking business to work with her full-time. And she was a mother of nine, four who passed away in infancy, and five who ultimately became nuns (and Saints). She had many important roles, and she fulfilled them all beautifully. How? As I read her letters and the memories her daughters shared in this book, that answer began to take shape. Why Zélie is a Saint St. Zélie knew that her tasks and obligations didn’t, and wouldn’t, fulfill her. Time and time again, her letters echoed the truth that was so deeply embedded in her heart: the goal of her existence was Heaven. Nothing in the world, no matter how joyful or how much success or prestige it brought her, could make her truly happy. Her confidence in the hope of Heaven completely freed her from societal pressure here on Earth. This woman, who carried so many responsibilities, rested in the knowledge that the only responsibility that truly mattered was pursuing sainthood, and encouraging her husband and children to do the same. The simplest and the wisest thing in all cases is to submit to God’s will, and to prepare in advance to bear one’s cross as bravely as possible. [bctt tweet="St. Zélie's confidence in the hope of Heaven completely freed her from societal pressure here on Earth. #BISblog //" via="no"] Trust in the Midst of Extreme Suffering St. Zélie was no stranger to disappointment, sorrow, heartbreak, or pain. But time and time again, she affirmed her faith in God’s love and His plan for her. She knew there were no accidents. God was with her when running her business felt overwhelming, when her children were being difficult (turns out even Saints misbehave as children—comforting, right?), when she left Lourdes without being healed of the breast cancer that ultimately took her life, and every time God called one of her precious babies to Heaven. While the little things of life did sometimes worry her, as she readily admitted, when it came to the big things, the faith she worked hard to cultivate daily paid off. In every case, she trusted God fully. She placed her life totally in His hands. She believed that if she died, He had a perfect plan for the family she would leave behind. In a word, always active, always devoted, constantly smiling, our mother never appeared to be doing anything extraordinary, but with remarkable simplicity and humility, she tirelessly spent herself for others, and lived always for the good God. [bctt tweet="With remarkable simplicity and humility, she tirelessly spent herself for others, and lived always for the good God. (Celine Martin on her mom, St. Zélie) #BISblog //" username="blessedisshe__"] St. Zélie Taught Me How to Be a Mom I always expected that when I had a baby, I would simply add “mother” to the list of identifiers I used for myself: Catholic, wife, daughter, sister, friend, writer. What I didn’t realize was that becoming a mama would dramatically impact every facet of who I am. St. Zélie showed me through her beautiful life that this was actually a very good thing. Motherhood doesn’t wipe out those other parts of me; rather, it enhances them. It turns me to the Lord in humility and reliance every single day. It deepens my love for my husband and strengthens our relationship. Motherhood increases my gratitude for and understanding of my own mother. It helps me to love my siblings and friends more tangibly, and to turn to them for prayer and encouragement more freely. It gives new purpose and inspiration to my writing. Motherhood is the vocation God chose for me, in His wisdom and infinite love, in order to draw me closer to Him and to sanctify me. Motherhood was St. Zélie's path to sainthood. Maybe it can be mine, too. Any other moms out there? Has St. Zélie encouraged you in your vocation? [bctt tweet="How St. Zélie Taught Me How to Be a Mother #BISblog //" via="no"] This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

When you set a goal to eat healthily and turn to resources to help you do so, one theme you’ll see repeatedly is that the green smoothies and salads you reach for during the week don’t count for much if you then spend all weekend splurging on milkshakes and French fries. Weekends make up 28% of the year, and that number can easily make or break your healthy lifestyle and the results you see from it. Spiritual Weekends In a way, Advent and Lent are like our spiritual “weekends.” Not in a relaxation sense (because I don’t think anyone would call the weeks leading up to Christmas relaxing!), but in a sense that as significant as they are, they make up the minority of the year. These seasons are essential to our Faith lives in the same way that weekends are essential to our health and sanity. The meaningful traditions, extra activities and resources from our parishes, and constant reminders of the promises ahead make it a little easier to remember to pray, fast, serve, and worship. I look forward to these seasons eagerly. I know that, with some effort, they’ll be seasons of renewal and conversion in my heart. Enter the Beauty of Ordinary Time This year, May 21st marked the return to Ordinary Time in the church calendar, which, aside from a few special feast days, will last until the first Sunday of Advent, December 2nd. Sounds far away, doesn’t it? The USCCB has an enchanting description for Ordinary Time: The Sundays and weeks of Ordinary Time… take us through the life of Christ. This is the time of conversion. This is living the life of Christ. Ordinary Time is a time for growth and maturation, a time in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate ever more deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ. This is the time for conversion? The seasons of beach vacations, road trips, burgers on the grill, sunburns, fireworks, back to school shopping, brand new schedules, and pumpkin spice lattes? Yes. We are called to conversion daily—not just in seasons of spiritual highs—but in the everyday, the mundane, the busy…the ordinary. [bctt tweet="We are called to conversion in the everyday, the mundane, the busy…the ordinary. #BISblog //"] Seeking Conversion During Ordinary Time I know many of us begin Advent and Lent by reflecting on how we want to make that season particularly special and meaningful. As we lean in to Ordinary Time, let’s do the same. Here are a few ideas to take to prayer. Receive the Sacraments more often. Experts say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so Ordinary Time provides an abundance of time to create some new routines. If you have a hard time making it to Mass every week, commit to attending every Sunday. If you faithfully meet your Sunday obligation, see if there’s a daily Mass you can attend once or twice a week (don’t forget to check the Mass times of other nearby churches, not just the parish you belong to, for something that may work best with your schedule). Go to Confession every few months when you remember? Put it on the calendar once a month for the rest of the year and then stick to it. The more we receive the Sacraments, the more graces we receive to live our Faith. I think it’s safe to say we could all use a little more of that. [bctt tweet="The more we receive the Sacraments, the more graces we receive to live our Faith. #BISblog //"] Read a little bit of a spiritual book each day. I say “a little bit” intentionally—exactly what that means is up to you. But I firmly believe that little by little progress adds up. This reading time could look like anything from studying Summa Theologica during your hour of morning prayer to keeping a copy of the Diary of St. Faustina in your glove compartment so you can read a section or two while sitting in the carpool line. There are books out there on practically anything you can think of regarding our Faith. Dedicate a few minutes of your day to increasing your knowledge of whatever topics intrigue you. Check out a few lists in the Blessed is She archives to get you started: Best Books About Mary My Favorite Books About Saints 10 Great Books for Catholic Converts Do a Marian consecration. Pope St. John Paul II himself said, “[St. Louis de Montfort]’s teaching has had a profound influence on the Marian devotion of many of the faithful and on my own life.” Our Blessed Mother’s sole desire is to bring us to her Son, so consecrating our lives and wills to hers is a deeply meaningful way to lead us closer to Jesus. Marian consecrations last 33 days, ending on Marian feast days (the next one coming up goes from June 13-July 16). St. Louis de Montfort’s Preparation for Total Consecration to Mary is the “original” and best-known consecration, while I also love Father Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory. Note: the former is incredible, but more time-intensive. So make sure you can carve out about 20-30 minutes per day before committing to it. The latter takes just 5-10 minutes. You are encouraged to renew your consecration every year. So don’t be afraid to do what works for you in your current season of life. Change it up in the future as needed! Fast regularly. I was in my early twenties before I realized that fasting wasn’t “restricted” to Lent. On the contrary, denying myself in order to redirect my heart toward the Lord is something I desperately need throughout the year. Consider choosing one day per month to fast. Or simply practice giving something up (dessert, technology, unnecessary spending, etc.) intentionally every once in awhile. During Lent, I gave up social media and repeated, “For love of you, Jesus,” whenever I was tempted to check in online. It always made my sacrifice feel easier. I have every intention of carrying that practice into Ordinary Time when I make small fasts from time to time. Pray the Rosary daily. Pope Pius XI said: If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors. By praying the Rosary daily, we join in a habit of countless saints who have gone before us. The graces that Mary pours out on those who pray the Rosary daily are second only to those we receive by attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Feel overwhelmed by the prospect of praying the whole Rosary every day? Start with just a decade per day, split the decades up throughout your day, or pray alongside a podcast or YouTube recording. Whatever you need to do to make this habit happen! [bctt tweet="If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country...recite the Rosary. //"] Join (or start) a group. Think back on some of the most significant moments of your faith life. Do they involve retreats, mission trips, or Bible studies? Mine too. God uses our communities and our acts of showing up so powerfully! Consider joining a Bible study, ministry team, or prayer group in your area and commit to attending faithfully. Nothing in your area fit your schedule or desires? Step out in faith and start something! Hosting a Blessed Brunch can be a wonderful way to connect with other women in your community. Let’s not allow the fervor of Easter fade away as we walk through this upcoming season, sisters. Pray with me that the Holy Spirit will set our hearts on fire for the Lord and continue to fan that flame all throughout Ordinary Time. I’d love to hear some of your hopes and plans for the season ahead in the comments below! [bctt tweet="Seeking Conversion in the Beauty of Ordinary Time #BISblog //"] This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

Let us run to Jesus, Heart of Love, Heart full of tenderness. Let us ask Jesus to give us the riches of His pure love—to breathe only for love, to live only for love. -St. Gemma Galgani I first “met” St. Gemma Galgani when I was fourteen years old and had reached the point in Confirmation class when we were told to choose a patron saint. My mom left her book of saints on my bed so I could read it. But—and I can’t remember if it was from any type of conviction or simply laziness—I never made it past the first page. The beautiful, dark-haired girl in the photograph gracing the cover became my patron saint: St. Gemma. Helping Me Find My Way Home For years, she lingered in the background of my heart while I drifted away from the Church in high school, finding my way back the summer before my senior year, just in time to send in my application to a Catholic university I had insisted I didn’t want to attend. And as I journeyed “Home,” I often thought of St. Gemma. I didn’t know anything about her other than that she was a canonized Saint, she was Italian, and she was beautiful. Who was this young woman—who I’m confident was interceding for me for all those years—even though I had never bothered to get to know her? My Spiritual Companion As I fully embraced my Catholic Faith and the Communion of Saints we are blessed to be surrounded by, I admittedly “clicked” with other Saints a lot more. St. Gemma was…too perfect. There are accounts of her wisdom and holiness from the time she was two years old, and her spiritual director shares in The Life of St. Gemma Galgani that “she would have passed through any torment rather than deliberately consent to even the merest shadow of venial sin.” Talk about hard to relate to! It wasn’t until I dove into the aforementioned biography that I learned just how much work, dedication, time, and even (read: especially) physical sacrifice led her to this level of holiness. She put in the work, battled aspects of her own personality that contradicted the faith God specifically called her to, and accepted cross after cross in hopes of becoming more deeply united with the Crucified Jesus. Learning from St. Gemma Galgani Even though my vocation (marriage and motherhood) couldn’t be more different than hers (an almost hermit-like single life), here are just a few of the things I’ve learned from her about loving Jesus and growing in holiness. 1. Naming and writing down habits we want to cultivate is powerful. After making her First Communion, St. Gemma wrote down five spiritual resolutions and committed to living them out—and she did, all throughout her life. While she certainly added more practices to her devotions as she grew up, these five habits, from “[receiving] Holy Communion each time as if it were to be the last” to “[endeavoring] to keep always in the presence of God” formed the core of her spiritual life. 2. Virtues must be actively pursued and practiced. Much of her biography is dedicated to unpacking the virtues St. Gemma mastered, most notably obedience, humility, purity, and simplicity. Her spiritual director reveals that despite how near-perfectly she lived out these virtues, they were a constant struggle for her. Having gazed upon the wounds of Jesus in His Passion during her frequent ecstasies, and even sharing in them through the stigmata, she was deeply sensitive to her sinfulness and took every possible measure to avoid the near occasion of sin. She even prayed, with her spiritual director’s approval, that she might never find pleasure from such an earthly satisfaction as food! Her perspective is summed up well in this quote: I wish to be all and only of Jesus, and what is there to love on this earth now that I possess Jesus? World, creatures, all you are no longer for me, nor am I for you, and so I cannot love you and will not love you more. 3. We don’t need the perfect situation or setting to pursue holiness. St. Gemma deeply desired religious life. When she was miraculously healed from a case of meningitis that nearly took her life, everyone (herself included) thought the reason for her recovery was so that she could enter the convent. However, for one reason after another, and despite the sisters’ love and admiration for her, she was ultimately turned away. She was heartbroken. But when she returned home, she quickly incorporated the lessons and habits from her time with the sisters on retreat into her life with her relatives and siblings. She trusted in God completely, and accepted that her plan, as wonderful and noble as it was, was simply not His plan. It may have been easier for St. Gemma to live out her unique, private, mystical life from within cloistered walls. But striving to live that way in the midst of people who didn’t understand her undoubtedly contributed to her holiness and humility. 4. We do not need to live at the mercy of our senses. How often do we make decisions based on our senses? I’m not going to kneel during Holy Hour because my knees hurt. I want to head home as soon as Mass is over because I’m hungry. I’d venture to guess that our senses, my own very much included, guide more of our lives than we may realize. St. Gemma became such a master of her senses that she could essentially turn them off, entering instantly into communion with God. Her spiritual director revealed: If she wished to commune with Heaven, in an instant, her imagination was silenced and ceased its wanderings; her memory became powerless to remember any created thing as food for thought or expression; the importunate movements of her heart stopped still; and even her physical pains were no longer a trouble or distraction. While I can only pray to grow even remotely close to this level of detachment, I can train myself to become more aware of what earthly desires and distractions are keeping me from a deeper relationship with God. 5. We learn to love Jesus through the Cross. If there is one thing to know about St. Gemma, it is that her greatest love was Jesus Crucified. From an early age, she pleaded with her mother and teachers to explain the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary to her, and she constantly meditated on the Passion of Jesus. In 1899, she received the stigmata for the first time. It lasted from Thursday evening until Friday afternoon and returned each week until the last three years of her life, when her confessor forbade her to accept it anymore. Along with the five wounds of Christ, St. Gemma also experienced each of the sufferings of the Passion: sweating of blood, the scourging, the crown of thorns, and the physical trauma that Jesus experienced carrying the Cross. While most of us will never experience the intimacy with the Passion of Jesus that St. Gemma did, we can draw closer to Christ Crucified, especially with Good Friday still fresh in our minds and hearts. We can meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries frequently and devotedly. We can carry the crosses God gives us and accept suffering with humility and gratitude for the opportunity to unite ourselves more with Jesus. And, since that is so much easier said than done, we can plead to St. Gemma, she who so willingly and beautifully suffered in both body and soul, for her intercession. Happy Feast of St. Gemma Galgani! Sisters, have a blessed feast day of St. Gemma today! If you're interested, I'm sharing a few simple ideas for commemorating this day here. St. Gemma Galgani, pray for us! *Quotes in this post are from The Life of St. Gemma Galgani by her spiritual director, Venerable Fr. Germanus, C.P. [bctt tweet="Learning to Love Jesus with St. Gemma Galgani #BISblog //"] This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

Sisters, please tell me I am not the only one who has, admittedly more than once in my life, lost a palm from Palm Sunday. Some time in between folding it into a cross after Mass (like my mom always did) and remembering to actually do something with it, I have completely forgotten where I put it, only to find it in the back of my desk drawer or the glove compartment of my car a few weeks (months?) later. It’s no way to treat a sacramental* and it doesn’t do anything for me spiritually when I can’t see it on a regular basis, let alone remember where it is. This year, I want to do something different. Remembering the Meaning Behind the Palm Sunday Palm This year, every time I see the palm, I want to call to mind the words of the Palm Sunday Gospel: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:9-10) This year, I want to be continually reminded of the role my sins played in crucifying my Lord—that I am no better than the Jews who greeted Jesus with rejoicing and then turned around and called out for Barabbas to be freed. This year, I want to let the sight of the palm stop me in my tracks and inspire me to rest in the truth that Jesus conquered death, that He opened the gates of heaven, and that He wants me to spend eternity with Him. How to Display Palm Sunday Palms Around Your Home How blessed are we to be a part of a Church that gives us tangible opportunities to be reminded of all of those things and more through something as simple as a palm branch? Let’s keep them out of our glove compartments this year—instead, here are a few ideas of places to display a palm in a meaningful and respectful way. 1. Tuck it behind a crucifix or a piece of religious art. While these items hanging on your wall already remind you of our Faith, adding a palm can serve two additional purposes. One, it will make the wall look different and draw your eyes to it, leading you to gaze upon the cross or an image that resonates with you more often. Two, the presence of greenery reminds us that our faith is something that is alive—it’s not something limited to the days of the Bible or to the time of a conversion. God is always at work in our lives and in our hearts. 2. Add it to your Easter centerpiece. I love the idea of keeping home décor simple and minimal during Lent and then pulling out all of the stops for Easter Sunday: painted eggs, spring colors, and of course, plenty of fresh flowers. A palm or two would make a meaningful and beautiful accent to a vase filled with lilies, tulips, or whatever flowers you choose to arrange for your joyful Easter table. Once you’re no longer using the centerpiece, be sure to carefully dry the palm and then choose one of the other options for displaying it. 3. Place it in your Bible. A palm folded in half serves as a perfect bookmark for a page in your Bible that you want to refer back to again and again throughout the year. Not sure where to put it? You can’t go wrong with the Canticle of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), the Sermon the Mount (Matthew 5), or Jesus’ Passion (John 18-19), to name a few. 4. Add it to your gallery wall. In an effort to incorporate more religious art into our home that also seamlessly fit with our décor, my husband and I added a gallery wall to our living room last year. Much to our delight, it is now one of the most frequently complimented details in our home! My favorite nugget of advice for someone hoping to create their own? Include a mix of flat photographs/artwork and three-dimensional objects. For example, along with a handful of our favorite framed pieces, ours features a crucifix, a holy water font, and a Rosary. Whether you fold your palm into a cross and add it to your display or simply attach it as is, the unique addition is sure to add deeper meaning to the wall (and look beautiful to boot). 5. Display it in a narrow vase. If you have a long palm, you may need to fold it in half first. Let it serve as a reminder to pray without ceasing and place it somewhere you’ll see it often. If you have a specific family prayer table or feast table, that is a wonderful option, but if not, opt for a spot where you could use the reminder to pray—perhaps on a kitchen windowsill where you’ll see it when doing dishes, on your bedside table, or on a (high!) shelf outside of your children’s bedrooms or playroom. What to Do With Your Palm Sunday Palms Before Palm Sunday of next year, you can either return the palms to your church (they’re often burned for the ashes used on Ash Wednesday) or burn or bury them to return them to the earth in a dignified way. I pray that by then, we will have experienced some sweet and unexpected graces as a result of being reminded of today’s feast day throughout the year! How have you displayed palms in your home? *“… sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.” -CCC 1667 [bctt tweet="Ideas for Displaying Palm Sunday Palms Around Your Home #BISblog //"]

My first married Christmas was the first one I had ever spent outside of my parents’ house. It was always my own bed that I woke up in far too early in the morning every December 25th, and I loved it that way. We spent most of my childhood abroad, so while our Christmas traditions didn’t always look exactly the same—at our apartment swimming pool in Singapore or surrounded by lit-up palm trees in Qatar, for example—I always spent them at home with my parents and three younger siblings. Until December 2015. That year, instead of flying south to Texas, my new husband and I bundled up and drove the opposite direction to his childhood home in New York. Your first Christmas together has the potential to be one of the sweetest parts of your first year of marriage; but, let’s be honest, it can also be one of the hardest. Anything from what you eat for Christmas Eve dinner, to when to exchange gifts, to even which Christmas Mass you attend may be steeped in tradition, and more than likely, neither of you will be able to celebrate the exact same way you always have. If there’s a time to exercise the compromising muscle in your marriage, it’s certainly this one. Advent and Christmas Traditions for Newlyweds Letting go of a tradition you hold dear is hard, but here’s the twinkling light bright side: along with carrying on a few of the things from your childhood, the two of you get to create your own traditions together. When you refocus your attention from your past to your present—your marriage, your love story, what the two of you value and appreciate most, and what you hope your legacy will look like—planning meaningful Advent and Christmas traditions together becomes a joyful challenge. Don’t be afraid to get creative! As well as carrying on the most beloved and precious of each of your family’s Christmas traditions, here are some considerations to make as you start new ones, plus ideas for what they may look like. Choose something that can be done anywhere. Many newlyweds, particularly those who moved away from home or are from different places, find themselves crisscrossing the country every holiday season, at least for the first few years of marriage. If that’s your situation (it was mine!), try to think of a tradition that can be done anywhere, and possibly with any number of people, rather than something that needs to take place in your own home. Ideas Buy or make an ornament that is significant to the year. Make a list on Christmas Eve of the blessings from that Advent in gratitude to God. Pop a bottle of champagne with Christmas dinner. Choose a person or organization to serve or donate to in some way. Say a prayer for each family from whom you receive Christmas cards or greetings (even Facebook comments!). Love each other well. Want to know one of the best ways to keep yourself from moping about your holidays being different this year? Focus on loving your husband well and making sure he has a magical Christmas. Seek inspiration from his love language to start a tradition that he’ll find especially meaningful. Ideas Write a love letter expressing how grateful you are for your husband and sharing your favorite memories from the year. Plan a Christmas-themed date night. Surprise your husband with his favorite Christmas cookies—bonus points if the recipe came from his mama. Wake up early to brush the snow off of his car before he heads to work and leave a sweet note on the steering wheel. Plug in some twinkle lights and snuggle up on the couch for a Christmas movie night. [bctt tweet="Focus on loving your husband well and making sure he has a magical Christmas. #BISblog //"] Dream of the future. Even if you don’t have little ones just yet, discussing the ways you may want to teach your future children about Advent and Christmas and celebrate together as a family someday can be a wonderful catalyst for ideas. Who says you need to wait until you have kids (or until they’re old enough to understand) to start some of these sweet Advent and Christmas traditions? Ideas Bake a birthday cake for Jesus to serve for Christmas dessert. Make or buy an Advent calendar to display in your home. Set up a Jesse Tree. Attend your parish’s nativity play. Set out your shoes for St. Nicholas. Sing a hymn together while lighting the candles of your Advent wreath. Focus on Jesus. Because when it comes down to it, this season isn’t about us. It isn’t about our traditions, as much as we may cherish them. It’s about Him. The very best traditions we can start in our families are the ones that will point us to Christ and remind us of the goodness and mercy of God. Ideas Read Luke 2 out loud as soon as you wake up on Christmas morning. Add extra daily Masses or holy hours to your Advent schedule. Pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena together. Commit to reading a spiritual book every Advent and discuss it regularly. Compile a playlist of seasonal hymns to listen to in your home throughout the season. Pray the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary regularly. [bctt tweet="The very best traditions we can start in our families are the ones that will point us to Christ. //"] Wishing you a blessed Advent and a joyful first married Christmas! What are some of your favorite holiday traditions you began with your spouse? [bctt tweet="Advent and Christmas Traditions to Start as Newlyweds #BISblog //"]