One of my favorite things to do to prepare for a trip is to make a list. This list includes beautiful places to sightsee and to hike, restaurants to sample the local cuisine, and places to remain prayerful while traveling. On an upcoming summer trip to Bermuda, I was excited to find several churches in the area, offering plenty of options for where to go for Mass. But upon closer examination, I had to be careful to differentiate between the Anglican churches and the Roman Catholic churches. Being a British Territory, Bermuda has many Anglican churches, and it took a bit of digging to determine which Churches offered valid Sacraments. Once I did, a few new Catholic pilgrimage sites were added to my travel list. One includes the oldest Catholic Church on the island. Finding a Pilgrimage Site Wherever You Go Sometimes it might take some sifting through, but I have yet to visit an area that doesn’t offer a Catholic church in close proximity. Whether you are making an international trip this summer, or sticking closer to home, chances are there will be a Catholic site for you to visit. Here are a few places to start. Out East One unexpected site that I came across while accompanying my husband on a work trip to Boston was inside a shopping mall! Tucked inside a corner of Boston’s Prudential Center is the Saint Francis Chapel, which was built in 1969. The chapel is staffed by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. The mission of the chapel is to provide a place of refuge for those to find peace in the middle of a busy day, in a busy world. Inside of this little chapel of a massive mall are relics, including a bone of St. Faustina, as well as pieces of hair from both Pope St. John Paul II and St. Maximilian Kolbe. This chapel not only offers a quiet place to pray, but also offers three Masses every day during the work week. There are seven Mass times offered on Sunday, including one in Spanish, as well as daily Confession and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Saint Francis Chapel is surely a breath of fresh air in a busy, fast-paced mall. The Midwest Did you know that near Green Bay, Wisconsin, you can find the only approved Marian apparition site in the United States? The apostolate of this shrine draws from the heart of its visionary, Sister Adele Brice, who began seeing visions of the Blessed Mother in 1859. Sister Adele received from Our Lady a twofold message: the first was a mission of prayer for the conversion of sinners, and the second was to teach the catechism so that souls might come to know Jesus and obtain salvation (making this site an especially perfect place for you to pray for strength in your vocation if you are a religion teacher). The Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin was named a National Shrine by Bishop David Ricken on the Feast of the Assumption in 2016. The West Coast A few girlfriends and I traveled to Napa for a wine-tasting weekend a few months before my wedding. Through word-of-mouth and a little bit of research, we were able to find a resort which had an on-site chapel and was connected to a vineyard and wine cellar owned and operated by a Catholic family. Also serving as a retreat for visiting priests who are willing to say Mass, it was such an awesome experience to wake up and go to daily morning Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of Grapes. And it was just a short walk from our hotel room! Heading South As mentioned, there always seem to be wonderful Catholic places to visit, from an approved Marian apparition site to a small chapel inside of a resort. Of course, there are also more well-known places to visit as well, like in Sante Fe, New Mexico. You can visit the Loretto Chapel which is home to a miraculous wooden staircase believed to be built by Saint Joseph, patron of carpenters. This staircase has two 360 degree turns with no visible means of support. Jet-Setting Across the Sea If you are looking for a pilgrimage site to visit in another country, visit Catholic Passport, a website created by one of Blessed is She’s very own writers. This website was created by Rose Coleman in order to help others plan their own Catholic pilgrimage, whether it be a solo trip or one with friends and family. On her site, she has a 12-step list for planning your pilgrimage, as well as an extensive list of countries where she offers ideas for visiting. For instance, if you are going to Paris, check out the beautiful Sacre-Coeur and the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, perhaps say a prayer at the ruins of Notre-Dame. If you’re heading to Florence, don’t miss the Basilica de Santa Croce. When it comes to traveling, be it near or far, there are countless places to pray. It may take a little time to find a Catholic site in a remote village. But even there, there’s hope of finding a gem. Find your next destination and pencil it into your calendar! Have you ever been to one of these pilgrimage sites? [bctt tweet="Finding a Pilgrimage Site Wherever You Go #BISblog //" via="no"]

Lately my eye has been catching all of the trendy t-shirts women are wearing which read “Feminist” across the front. At first glance I find myself thinking, "What a cute shirt!” But within seconds my next thought is, “But, I could never wear that t-shirt, it would send too many mixed messages.” What’s a Girl to Do? Our current cultural portrayal of feminism demands that women fight for their “reproductive rights” and join in the women’s march if they're really feminists. Quite honestly, with all of this demanding and marching, it truly does seem like a fight. I sense that there are feelings of both anger and resentment in the women who display their participation in the cultural feminist movement. And unfortunately, they have some legitimate reasons to feel this way. But why, as a Catholic woman, do I feel like I can’t join in this mainstream movement proclaiming female empowerment, even though I believe in the feminine genius? Why do I feel like there is discord between what the popular culture is telling me to be angry about and what the Catholic Church teaches me about the topic of human dignity and personhood? Do I have to pick a side? What is authentic feminism after all? Feminism: A History Let’s start with a little history. The word “feminism” wasn’t used until the 19th century. The general goal of the movement is to help women flourish. Feminism can be thought of in three waves. The first wave began in the late 19th century with the goal of creating equal rights for both men and women, especially in terms of voting rights. The second wave began in the mid 20th century and its focus was on equal pay, sexual freedom, and various reproductive rights, like the right to have an abortion. The third wave, at the end of the 20th century, included racial, economic, and religious issues. Unfortunately, as Amanda Bambury points out on FemCatholic: When the sexual revolution hijacked the women’s movement, it warped feminism by basing it on a destructive and false premise: that women must become like men...in order to be equal.   So instead of women being fully themselves, they can only be equal if they are like men? Equal does not mean the same. And when did being male become the standard for being human? Doesn’t that tenet of feminism sound like a movement which is more anti-women than truly for authentic womanhood? Defining Feminism Feminism, according to Merriam-Webster, is “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes” or “organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests”. Okay, so the dictionary connects feminism to social equality of the sexes. I’m all for that! On the matter of equality, the Catechism tells us that: Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity (1934).   Analyzing Expressions of Feminism Given what the Catechism teaches, I can’t disagree with Merriam-Webster’s definition of feminism. If, as it says, feminism is against exploitation and discrimination of women, then I can get behind that. Yet it is important to carefully analyze movements within the current cultural feminist movement in order to determine its legitimacy. John Paul II wrote to women, encouraging them to promote a “new feminism” which would highlight the feminine genius. He says to us in Evangelium Vitae, “You are called to bear witness to the meaning of genuine love, of that gift of self and of acceptance of others.” So, when analyzing a specific type of feminism, ask yourself if it serves the common good. If it does, is it in accord with Catholic teaching? Does it promote the wellbeing of all persons, from conception to natural death? What Do Female Saints Say about Feminism? St. Edith Stein, also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, wrote that “the strength of woman lies in the emotional life.” The emotional life? If you read that line like I initially did, it can sound like she’s saying our strength is actually a weakness. I don’t exactly equate feeling emotional with feeling strong. But then again, when I allow myself the time to sit with my emotions and acknowledge that my feelings are valid, I do find strength in sharing these feelings with others. St. Edith Stein goes on to show how it is the emotional life that instills in women the desire to love, “a longing to give love and to receive love, and in this respect a yearning to be raised above a narrow, day-to-day existence into a realm of higher being...and furthers the desire for perfection in others.” This desire to love comes from women’s innate maternal instinct. An instinct that drives us to protect and nurture. Nothing weak about that. Our emotions are connected to love, and love aids us in our yearning to serve the common good. And who loved most? The Blessed Mother. The Feminism of Our Lady St. Hildegard of Bingen (one of the four female Doctors of the Church) wrote, “Because a woman [Eve] brought death a bright Maiden overcame it, and so the highest blessing in all of creation lies in the form of a woman, since God has become a man in a sweet and blessed Virgin.” St. Hildegard points to Mary as being the greatest feminist. When asking my friend about how she viewed feminism, she too pointed to Mary as a true feminist. She said: I believe it began with Eve, as she was created to nurture and love in a way that comes naturally in many different forms for women. But this was fully restored in Mary after the Fall. Mary’s yes alone began this movement. It was not only a yes to salvation. It was a yes to how we as women give totally of ourselves. Feminism is having a strength in our weakness. It is holding onto something for a greater good—even if it has nothing to do with us. We are incredibly strong humans who have been created to live out this Heart of the Creator.   But What Does this Authentic Feminism Look Like? The Founder of FemCatholic, Samantha Povlock, wrote a letter titled Catholic Feminism Is a Call, Not a Contradiction. She offers great insights for those of us who struggle with the idea of being a perfect model of Mary. She says, “I struggled to reconcile my boldness with the quiet, docile picture of Mary that every song at church seemed to paint.” Then, she learned of Mary’s bold heart, of her “Mama Bear” instinct which is fierce and obedient. Through Mary’s obedience, her power shines forth and the devil cowers. This means that we, as women, need to be attentive to the emotions in our heart. We need to listen to the Lord’s voice and His call for our life. In turn, we rise forth in holy boldness and obedience, living our lives in a way that promotes equal dignity among all. Our call is to be maternal in this world, in all its beautiful expressions. Jesus is for this Authentic Feminism Feminism, in light of what the Catechism teaches us about equality, makes Jesus a feminist, too. He made His mother the mother of the Church. He gives her to us with the hope that we will learn from her virtue and her heart. This being said, I do think that Catholic women can be feminists. However, we must be careful to practice the “new feminism” that Pope St. John Paul II speaks of, not immerse ourselves wholeheartedly into the modern culture’s idea of feminism. How We Can Work Together, and How We Differ There are some areas where modern feminists and the feminists that JPII speak of can agree and work together. For example, we can all agree on the importance of equal pay and opportunity for women and rooting out the abusive behavior that has been exposed in the #metoo movement. But when it comes to belittling men in general in the process of celebrating women, or the pro-abortion movement—which rejects fertility and motherhood and consents to racism and ableism—we need to part ways. In the words of C.S. Lewis, have “courage, dear heart.” Do not be afraid to let Mary be your guide in sharing your maternity with the world, in whatever form that takes. How do you live out your feminine genius and work for authentic feminism? [bctt tweet="What is Authentic Feminism? #BISblog //" via="no"]

On May 13th, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot in Saint Peter’s square on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. One of the bullets missed his heart by just inches. John Paul II credited his survival and the offering of his suffering as Providence and said, “one hand pulled the trigger and another guided the bullet,” recognizing Our Lady of Fatima for protecting him. The next year he gave the bullet that had nearly killed him to the shrine in Fatima to be placed in the crown of Our Lady. So who is this Lady of Fatima? Apparitions Begin May 13th marks the anniversary of Our Lady appearing to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. She appeared to Lucia at age nine, and her cousins Francisco, who was eight, and his sister Jacinta, who was just six. But before Our Lady appeared to the three children, they were first visited by an angel. These apparitions started in 1916 during World War I. During one of these apparitions, in the backyard of Lucia’s house, the angel said to the children, “Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners.” He forewarned them that they would experience great suffering and pleaded with them to offer up this cross in order that more souls would be won for Christ. Messages from Our Lady When Our Lady finally appeared to the children, she appeared in the pasture where they were shepherding their flocks, next to a holm oak tree. The area was known as the Cova da Iria, or Cove of Peace. She appeared “more brilliant than the sun” and told the children that she came from Heaven. She wore white with a gold-edged mantle. In her hand, she held a Rosary, a prayer which the children would all pray when she appeared to them on the 13th of the month for six consecutive months. (It is believed that the Rosary began in 1214 when Our Lady appeared to St. Dominic and presented him with both the beads of the Rosary and the prayers which accompanied them.) She came to the children asking them to “pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war.” During her third apparition she gave the children a vision of hell saying, “You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.” She also told the children that in October she would perform a miracle so that all would see and believe. Miracle of the Sun On her sixth apparition on October 13th, she told the children that she wanted a chapel built in the place of her appearance and to be built in her honor. She identified herself saying “I am the Lady of the Rosary.” (The month of October had previously been dedicated to the Holy Rosary in 1883 by Pope Leo XIII.) 70,000 people were in attendance in order to witness the promised apparition. This Miracle is known as the Miracle of the Sun. The Miracle or “dancing of the sun” included the sun changing in color while swirling in the sky and even coming towards the earth. The ground which had been soaked in rain, and even peoples drenched clothing had been completely dried. People reported physical healings of the blind and crippled and numerous witnesses made public confessions and committed their life to Christ. It was reported that the miracle of the sun was even seen up to twenty-five miles away. These proofs led the Bishop to approve the apparition in 1930 and it has now been approved by the Church. The Sanctuary Over seven years ago, while studying abroad in Rome, a few friends and I made a pilgrimage to The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal where there are many different places to pray. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima stands at the site where three young shepherds saw a sudden flash of lightning on May 13th, 1917. The Basilica holds chapels with the remains of Blessed Jacinta, Sister Lucia, and Blessed Francisco. There is also a 200-column Colonnade in the Sanctuary. In order to accommodate a growing number of pilgrims, a new church called the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity was built and dedicated in October of 2007. Between the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Most Holy Trinity is a large prayer space and one of the most important sights to see, the Chapel of the Apparitions. The Chapel of the Apparitions is the place where Our Lady spoke to Jacinta, Lucia, and Francisco and where she asked that a chapel be built in her honor. The space which occupies Our Lady’s statue is the location where she appeared to the shepherds. It is common for pilgrims to walk to the Chapel of the Apparitions on their knees, while praying the Rosary. I have a specific memory of this from my own pilgrimage. Kneeling Pilgrimage When I visited Fatima, it was not warm and balmy but rather dreary and cold. My friends and I said goodbye to any chance of looking like polished travelers and piled on as many layers as we could. For me, that meant I wore leggings, jeans, and sweatpants. With that attire, I made my kneeling pilgrimage on padded knee...and it still hurt. But that’s not the point of this story. What stood out to me from this kneeling pilgrimage was the woman in front of me. A very thin, bony and elderly woman was making the kneeling pilgrimage in front of me...but with her jeans rolled above her knees. As she slowly knelt her way to the Chapel, her dear husband held her hand all the way through. The sight of her and her spouse made my perspective radically change. I focused less on my own aching knees and instead knelt in awe of the deep spiritual strength and devotion that this woman had, and the loving support of her husband. There Will be Peace This couple I witnessed in Fatima were clearly supporting one another in their goal of salvation, of eternity in Heaven. They were supporting each other in what the message of Fatima emphasizes. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI states that the central meaning of the message of Fatima is this, “The exhortation to prayer as the path of ‘salvation for souls’ and, likewise, the summons to penance and conversion.” He goes on to encourage us in the faith, because we have the freedom to choose the good and “the freedom to choose evil no longer has the last word.” Let us walk with Mary in confidence and devotion to her Immaculate Heart (you could event start with this daily devotion), and like she promised, “there will be peace.” [bctt tweet="The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima #BISblog //" via="no"]

Tithing is such an important gift to the Church. Yet, it can sometimes be a sensitive topic. After all, it can be uncomfortable, and maybe even confusing, when you feel like you have to give a portion of your hard-earned money on a regular basis. This is why I am so glad that my dad taught me to tithe as soon as I had my first job at the age of fourteen. His tithing lesson instilled in me that all I have is gift. What is Tithing? The word tithe comes from an Old English word meaning “a tenth part.” In the very first book of the Bible, we read the words from Jacob: This stone that I have set up as a sacred pillar will be the house of God. Of everything you give me, I will return a tenth part to you without fail.   We also read in Leviticus 27:30,32 that: All tithes of the land, whether in grain from the fields or in fruit from the trees, belong to the Lord; they are sacred to the Lord...The tithes of the herd and the flock, every tenth animal that passes under the herdsman's rod, shall be sacred to the Lord.   Traditionally, we give 10 percent of our income to the Church. Bthere is not a specific percentage of our wealth we are mandated to give. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states in paragraph 2449 that the Church talks about tithing as a matter of the Old Covenant. So it is not binding us in the New Covenant. However, we are still called to live by love. If it is not a matter of putting food on the table, then 10% is a good percentage to tithe. What is important is that we give what we are able and give from our heart. It reminds us that all we have is given to us from God. At the end of our life, we will be called to give an account of how we spent our treasure. Why Do We Tithe? Tithing is a recognition that 100% of what we have is God’s. One day we will be called to answer to how we spent our time, talent, and treasure. If you have the means to tithe, then seriously pray and consider tithing. If however, you are in the red, and all of your funds are going towards school or paying off loans, start by putting $2.00 in the collection basket at Mass every Sunday. It’s not entirely about how much we give, but that we make the sacrifice of giving. Remember the widow in Luke 21:1-4? When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, ‘I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.   The Heart Behind Tithing What does tithing look like for you and me? Is God calling you to give up a cup of coffee each week in order to put your “two small coins” into the collection basket? If it is, remember, Jesus saw her as giving “more than all the rest” because she gave all she have. We tithe because it is what we are taught in Scripture. There is a mosaic in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome at the Altar of Ananias and Sapphira called “Altar of the Lie.” This image shows the story in Acts 5: 1-11 where a couple is punished for keeping money that they had said would be given to the Apostles. They lied to St. Peter about who they had given their money to. This image, which is a copy of a painting by Cristoforo Roncalli, is placed in front of where the priest walks out as he leaves the sacristy to celebrate Mass. It is placed there as a reminder that the priest is called to give himself totally to God while not holding anything back. Where Should Our Tithe Money Go? Our Parish First, start with your local church. The Catechism says in paragraph 2179, “A parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful established on a stable basis within a particular church...It is the place where all the faithful can be gathered together for the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. The parish initiates the Christian people into the ordinary expression of the liturgical life...it teaches Christ’s saving doctrine; it practices the charity of the Lord in good works and brotherly love.” Our parish gives so much to us. Just start with the Source and Summit of the Church, the Eucharist. I can’t think of a better place to tithe to then the very place which provides us with the grace to continue living our baptismal call each day. To live the Good News and share it with others. Finally, if every parishioner tithed to its parish, there is a good chance that parishes would not be suffering financially as severely as they are now. Other Efforts However, that is not to say that all of your tithe needs to go to your parish. If you would like to give a portion of your tithe to other things, consider the things you believe in and that are authentically doing God’s work. Look at the organizations that have made a meaningful impact on your spiritual life. There is a pregnancy resource center near our home. Even though they are not explicitly religious, we strongly believe in their values and we give a portion of our tithe money to them. We also give a portion to a non-profit which offers outdoor Catholic Youth Expeditions for high schoolers and young adults. This organization allowed both my husband and I to have a deeper encounter with Christ. If you are an art-lover, consider commissioning a work of art for your Church. Or perhaps purchase a painting at your parish’s silent auction. Most importantly, just ask the Holy Spirit where He is leading you to give. He will point you in the right direction. [bctt tweet="Tithing: What, Why, and Where #BISblog //" via="no"]

You have probably heard the popular Bible verse, “Be still and know that I am God.” But do you know the context of where this verse is in the Bible? It is nestled in Psalm 46, a short Psalm of twelve verses where God shows us how His activity invites us into stillness. The Psalm reads, “though nations rage and kingdoms totter, He utters his voice and the earth melts. The Lord of Hosts is with us” (Psalm 46:7-8). It goes on to tell us that He “breaks the bow, splinters the spear, and burns the shields with fire; Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10-11). God's Activity Invites Us to Stillness The Lord of Hosts is with us and He does not want us to forget His power. He fights for us so that we can be still and know of His presence because He wants us to be with wholly His when we come to Him. Jesus Needed Solitude, Too It is true that our lives are busy and our world is overly-stimulating. But it is important to remember that even Jesus needed to get away. He, too, needed solitude. He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening He was there alone. -Matthew 14:23 Rising very early before dawn, He left and went off to a deserted place, where He prayed. -Mark 1:35   Jesus’ need for solitude gives us permission to seek out the same silence. We Need Silence Another good reminder of our need for quiet comes from Cardinal Robert Sarah’s book The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise: We must uproot ourselves from the world, from the crowd and from all activity, even charitable works, in order to remain for long moments in the intimacy of God... We all run the danger of being preoccupied with worldly business and concerns if we neglect the interior life, prayer, the daily face-to-face encounter with God... For silence is where God dwells. He drapes Himself in silence.   We are called to uproot ourselves from the world. But roots are strong right? If we have our roots in the world, how do we pull them out in order to find ourselves under the drape of silence with the Lord? I believe the answer lies in Eucharistic Adoration. What is Eucharistic Adoration? Eucharistic Adoration is the simple act of spending time in prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, exposed on the altar. The Eucharist is often exposed on the altar in a ciborium or a monstrance. Some chapels or churches offer what is called Perpetual Adoration. This means that, with the exceptions of times for Mass, the Eucharist is exposed in the monstrance on the altar 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What is a Holy Hour? Although you can spend any length of time before the Blessed Sacrament, it is customary to spend one hour in Adoration. We receive this tradition from Jesus' words to His Apostles in Matthew 26:40: So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?   If you're looking for suggestions about how to spend your time in Adoration, I offer some ideas later in this post! A Communal Time of Adoration Sometimes, you might make a holy hour in a more formal setting with a group, like on a retreat. For these times of Adoration, there is a beautifully rich liturgy that consists of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (when the priest brings Jesus from the tabernacle and exposes Him in the monstrance), benediction (a special blessing the priest gives with the Eucharist), and reposition of the Blessed Sacrament (when the priest removes the Eucharistic Host from the monstrance and places Jesus back in the tabernacle). This is all accompanied with moving prayers and hymns.     How to Spend a Holy Hour Ready to make a Holy Hour? Here are a few practical tips to get started. Become Small When entering into prayer, think of how Jesus chose to come to us in the state of infancy. In such a small and weak state, He perfectly adored His Father, just as He did upon the Cross. This shows us the importance of practicing stillness in the form of littleness by putting aside our own judgment, our own will, and our own strength so that we, too, can more perfectly adore our Father in Heaven. Upon entering into this act of humility, make an act of faith that you are indeed in the presence of God. Enter into Silence with ARRR I pray regularly using the acronym ARRR which stands for: acknowledging, relating, receiving, and resolving. Acknowledge: Give God the messy. In your prayer, acknowledge all of the thoughts and feelings going on in your heart and mind. Don’t be afraid to share all of yourself with Him. Be honest with yourself and be honest with Him. Relate: Share with God all that you are acknowledging. If you are angry, sad, or disappointed, tell Him. If you are joyful and hopeful, share that with Him, too. Receive: After sharing with the Lord, ask, “God, how are you loving me right now? What are you trying to say to me?” Then, receive whatever it is that He has for you. This could be a word, a phrase, or even the Lord pointing you to a particular Scripture verse. Let that word, phrase, or verse really soak in. Let it “drape” over you and sit with it. Resolve: Make a resolution and be purposeful. What do you resolve to do after receiving what the Lord offered to you in prayer? This could be something as simple as journaling His word to you and going back to it daily. Or maybe it is something more active like confrontation or offering someone forgiveness. Spiritual Reading With spiritual reading, the goal is to to connect with God and to read with an open heart. A variety of spiritual books are appropriate for Eucharistic Adoration. Finishing the book is not the goal of spiritual reading, nor is walking away from prayer with more ideas or more smarts. Sometimes I find myself fighting against the temptation to cruise through a book because I have it in my head that I need to get through it and be on to the next. Instead, allow yourself to take time with your reading, page by page, and encounter God in each sentence. Reading too quickly can impede the opportunity for your heart to be filled and enlarged with the Holy Spirit. A great companion for settling into silence to hear the voice of our Father is the book I mentioned above, The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise. If you are hoping to grow closer to our Blessed Mother in your time of prayer, Ven. Fulton J. Sheen’s, The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God, is a book which helped me delve into the heart of Mary and tethered my heart more closely to hers. Another book you may not normally consider, but will give your prayer life an incredible encouragement, is Max Lucado’s You Are Special. This is a favorite childhood and adult book of mine. It will fill your heart with warmth as you recall how much God cherishes you! If you haven’t read it recently, it’s time to pick it up again! Any books written by Fr. Jaques Philippe are great companions for Adoration. Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman's Guide to Eucharistic Adoration is a beautiful book to bring to your Holy Hour! Journaling Journaling is one way in which I pray with ARRR. After spending time acknowledging what I am feeling, I journal to the Lord as my way of relating it to Him. I continue to do this when I am receiving His words. I often journal what I hear the Lord speaking so that I can go back to His promises to me. I also love to journal because it is a chronological list of how God has worked in my life. It reminds me that God is indeed faithful to His promises. Why a Holy Hour? I want to leave you with the deepest insight Jesus had for me while I was pondering the importance of being still. I was talking to my mom and asked her why she thought it was important to be still. Her answer was simple, “The best thing in life is to be with God. This is where all fulfillment comes from!” She went on to quote St. Therese of Lisieux who said: It is not to remain in a golden ciborium that Jesus comes to us each day from heaven; it’s to find another heaven, infinitely more dear to Him than the first: the heaven of our soul.   Run to Him in Adoration and find Him in the heaven of your soul! Live-Stream Eucharistic Adoration If, for whatever reason, you are unable to physically make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, you can adore Him via live-stream any time. Thanks be to God for this holy use of technology! A Holy Hour Cheat Sheet Are you planning to make your first Holy Hour? Or would you like to share about a Holy Hour with someone you love? {formbuilder:MTAwOTI0} We put together a simple guide explaining what a Holy Hour is and how to make one! You can download the full PDF here, or save as photos on your phone: Page 1 // Page 2 // Page 3 What is your favorite way to spend time in Adoration? Are there any books or prayers you regularly bring to your Holy Hour? [bctt tweet="How to Make a Holy Hour #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! THE GREATEST GIFT In this study on the Eucharist, we explore the truth that Jesus is the answer to your every need. Join us as we explore John chapter 6 to learn how the reality of the Holy Eucharist applies to our lives. Discover what a gift He is. GET THE GIFT STUDY

Who is this man we celebrate today? In the 4th century, Maewyn Succat was born in Britain to a family with Roman citizenship. At just sixteen years old, he was captured by Irish raiders during a raid on his family's estate. He endured six years of captivity in Ireland before managing to escape and return to his native land. When this boy grew up and became a priest, he took the name "Patrick," which had the Latin root "pater,” meaning "father.”. After years of studying the faith, he was ordained a deacon in 418 and a bishop in 432. It was then that he felt it was his mission to return to the place of his captivity in order to share the gospel. The years he spent in slavery there had provided him with an understanding of Irish culture, which helped him communicate the faith in a very relatable way. For example, he used the symbol of the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. He died about thirty years after his return to Ireland. At the time of his death, he had converted almost the entire island to Christianity, increasing the number of churches, monasteries, and Christian schools. In 2011, the Irish bishop’s conference remembered him as a “pioneer in an inhospitable climate”. The St. Patrick’s Day Tradition Irish immigrants to America brought their Irish tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s feast day with the first recorded parade, not taking place in Ireland but New York City in 1762. With the increase of immigrants in the 19th century, this celebration became popular. Today, it brings in about two million observers, and that doesn’t include the one-hundred and fifty thousand parade participants! History of the Parade This celebration, honoring both Ireland and the patron saint of the Archdiocese of New York, was organized by Irish expatriates and Irish soldiers stationed in the New York colonies while serving in the British army. Fun fact: this parade took place fourteen years earlier than the signing of the Declaration of Independence! At the time when the parade began, the wearing of the color green was banned in Ireland. This was not so in the United States of America, so those in the parade showed off their freedom by wearing the color green and honoring their culture with song and dance. Following the War of 1812, Irish fraternal and benevolent societies assumed the responsibility of organizing the parade. You may have heard of “The Fighting Irish.” It is the name that the 69th Regiment (a National Guard Army unit) earned during the American Civil War. This 69th Regiment started to lead the parade in 1851 and have continued to do so to this day. Following them in the parade lineup are a number of Irish societies, including schools and colleges. Around 1851, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) became the official parade sponsor. The AOH is the oldest Irish Catholic Fraternal Organization in America and there are over 46,000 members in the United States, Canada, and Ireland. It’s goals are to support the reunification of Ireland and the Church’s mission, as well as Irish culture. Overcoming, Just Like St. Patrick In the 1990, the parade was attacked for being too “traditional”. After 150 years of the parade being organized by the AOH, the control of the parade was transferred in 1993 to a separate, independent committee due to a controversy over religious beliefs. This controversy, however, did not have to do with redirecting the route of the parade. From the beginning, it’s been customary to march past St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The only difference today is that this brings the marchers up 5th avenue, whereas the original St. Patrick’s Cathedral (now the Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral) is located on Mulberry Street. St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral This cathedral was the first church of the Diocese, established by Pope Pius VII in 1808. Joseph Francois Mangin, the architect behind the iconic New York City Hall, is celebrated for his role in shaping the city's architectural heritage. His design of the City Hall, completed in 1811 and still in use today, stands as a testament to his vision and skill. When the cathedral was completed in 1815, it was the largest Catholic church in the United States. The interior suffered extensive damage from a fire in 1866, yet it was reconstructed and reopened on St. Patrick's Day two years later. Only eleven years after its replacement by the new Cathedral of St. Patrick on Fifth Avenue, the old cathedral was not left behind in memory. On March 17, 2010, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI honored the Old Cathedral by elevating it to the status of a basilica. St. Patrick’s “New” Cathedral While this Cathedral is no longer the largest Catholic Church in the United States (this honor goes to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.), it is the largest Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral in the country. The church covers an entire city block and it can seat 2,400 people. The new cathedral was built by Archbishop John Hughes, who announced at a ceremony in Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral that he wanted “to erect a Cathedral in the City of New York that may be worthy of our increasing numbers, intelligence, and wealth as a religious community, and at all events, worthy as a public architectural monument, of the present and prospective crowns of this metropolis of the American continent.” The church stands across the street from the Rockefeller Center and today is considered one of the most apparent symbols of Roman Catholicism both in New York City and the United States. I think this would make St. Patrick proud, as he wrote in one of his letters: I pray to God to give me perseverance and to deign that I be a faithful witness to Him to the end of my life for my God. With the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City being celebrated over fifteen hundred years after his death, I’d say he is still very much a faithful witness. Have you ever been to the St. Patrick's Day Parade? [bctt tweet="The History + Meaning Behind the St. Patrick's Day Parade #BISblog //" via="no"]

Several years ago, as an eager Confirmation student, I remember paging through The Book of Saints. I attempted to get a snapshot of several Saints to help me determine who I wanted to pick for my Confirmation name. This was a responsibility I did not take lightly. I wanted to pick someone to whom I not only felt drawn, but also someone who was drawing me to them. I wanted my namesake to be someone I could place my confidence in to intercede for me. Someone in Heaven who would remain my spiritual warrior. I found what I was hoping for in the Apostle Peter. He is the rock of our Church, and the man we celebrate today on this Feast of Saint Peter’s Chair. Peter’s Humanity As I learned more about St. Peter, I was in awe of his great humility. He made a few mistakes along the way and often ended up in some pretty embarrassing and regretful situations. For example, the doubt that caused him to sink when Jesus invited him to walk on water. Or maybe his naivete when Peter recommended to Jesus that they build three tents when Moses and Elijah appeared to them on the mountain. In his human weakness and yes, cowardice, he even denied knowing his friend, Jesus. He did this not once, but three times. It wasn’t Peter’s mistakes that made me feel drawn to him. It was the fact that Jesus loved him in spite of his mistakes. What I admire in this great Saint is that, after all of his mistakes, he continued to repent and pursue virtue. His humility is the quality which I am most in awe of. The virtuous humility that grabbed my attention most was what took place right before his martyrdom. Peter’s Humility St. Peter did not think himself worthy of being killed in the same manner as His Lord. So instead of being crucified as Jesus was, he begged his persecutors to crucify him upside-down. Italian painter Caravaggio portrayed this scene so beautifully in his piece, The Crucifixion of Saint Peter. Here, Peter is portrayed with a sense of longing in his eyes, a longing to be reunited with his friend Jesus. He remains unshaken by the terror all around him. But rather, he was a symbol of what his name in Greek represents, Petros, or “rock.” Jesus said to him, “...you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Despite all of Peter’s shortcomings, Jesus made him the rock upon which he built His Church. This is a great encouragement to me. If Peter can deny Christ, but later refuse to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord, I hope that Christ will redeem me in my own sinfulness, no matter the gravity of my sin, and approach the Lord with the same humility that Peter did. Today, the obelisk that stands in the center of St. Peter’s Square in Rome is likely the very last thing that Peter laid his eyes on before dying. It stood in the Vatican Circus where he was martyred. The obelisk originally stood as a monument to draw people to watch persecutions. Now it stands as a beacon in St. Peter’s Square, where it draws people to the heart of the Church. The Altar of St. Peter's Chair Today, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, you can visit the Altar of the Chair, in which you will see the beautiful alabaster Holy Spirit window. Here in this chapel is a twenty-three foot tall gilded bronze throne which was made by Bernini in the seventeenth century. Encased in this throne is an old wooden frame of what is believed to be St. Peter’s own chair (or “cathedra” which means the official throne of a bishop). It was later embellished with oak and ivory in order to help hold the chair together and to decorate it. What the Chair Represents This chair appears to be supported by four Doctors of the Church. There are two Western doctors, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, and two Eastern doctors, St. John Chrysostom and St. Athanasius. These figures show the universality of the Church as well as how consistent the theologians’ teaching is with the doctrine of the Apostles. Although the chair seems to be supported by the four Doctors, it is actually supported by the clouds which surround it. The Clouds, the Angels, and the Mission What I love about this image is that the clouds represent God’s glory. They show that the Church is dependent not on men, but on the Holy Spirit. The clouds which surround the chair show that although the Doctors support the Church by passing it on from generation to generation, it is through the Holy Spirit that the doctrine of the Church is passed on. Above the chair are angels which bear a tiara and keys which symbolize the Pope’s teaching as well as his spiritual and moral authority. On the golden background of the altar is the Latin inscription: “O Pastor Ecclesiae, tu omnes Christi pascis agnos et over.” This means, “O Pastor of the Church, you feed all Christ’s lambs and sheep.” Pointed to Prayer On this Feast of St. Peter’s Chair we are reminded not only of our first pope and his humility, but also of his successors. Today let us ask for St. Peter’s intercession as we pray for our priests so that they, like St. Peter, will be open to the movement and direction of the Holy Spirit in their lives to continue building up our Church. [bctt tweet="The Feast of St. Peter's Chair #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!

Did you know that Catholics officially celebrate Christmas through the beginning of January? The feast day which marks the end of this season is the Epiphany, which takes place on January 6. In fact, the early Christians celebrated Epiphany long before the celebration of Christmas was formalized on December 25 in the fourth century. The History of Epiphany Epiphany comes from the Greek word epiphaneia which means “appearance” or “manifestation.” Historically, this feast day celebrated not only the revelation to the Magi, but also Jesus’ baptism and the miracle at the wedding at Cana. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that: The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with the baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. -CCC 528 Insights from Pope Benedict XVI In one of his homilies on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord, Pope Benedict XVI started out by saying: Epiphany, the ‘manifestation’ of Our Lord Jesus Christ, is a many facetted mystery...The Eastern tradition...gives priority to the moment of Jesus’ Baptism in the River Jordan when he manifested himself as the Only-Begotten Son...John’s Gospel, however, also invites us to consider as an ‘epiphany’ the Wedding at Cana, during which, by changing the water into wine, Jesus ‘manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him’ (Jn 2:11).   At the wedding at Cana, Mary believed that Jesus could multiply the wine. This points to the Last Supper when Jesus turns the wine into His most Precious Blood. The Gifts Given to Jesus Matthew 2:10-11 reads that the Magi “were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Gold was the customary gift for royalty. The giving of this gift shows that the magi understood that Jesus was King of all. In Old Testament times, frankincense was considered to be very precious. It was used both medicinally and in the worship of God, as it was used to make incense. Though always mentioned last, at the time of Jesus’ birth, myrrh was prized more than gold. It was used to relieve pain. It was also as an embalming agent, symbolizing suffering, death, and life after death. This gift was prophetic for the great suffering and death that Jesus would endure. Cultural Celebrations In various countries like Italy, the nations of Latin America, and Spain, some families choose to give their children gifts on Epiphany rather than Christmas. You may also recognize the Polish tradition of using blessed chalk to mark the main entryway to your home. I’ve been in homes where either on January 1st or the Feast of the Epiphany, someone will write with chalk the first two numbers of the year followed by either “K+M+B” or “C+M+B” and then the last two numbers of the year. The CMB combination stands for the latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat” meaning “Christ blesses this house.” The KMB version is after the three magi, Kaspar or (Caspar), Melchior, and Balthazar. Others celebrate Epiphany with “Majorcan Roscon” or a King’s Cake. Every year, where I work, there is an office which buys a beautiful sweet bread to celebrate Dia de los Reyes Magos, or Three Kings Day. This colorfully green and red pastry has mini plastic Baby Jesus baked into the cake. In Mexican culture, the person who finds the Baby Jesus is responsible for hosting a dinner or providing tamales and atole to their guests. At our office, it just means you have to bring in a snack on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. In the Christian world, this feast traditionally marks the last day of Christmas. What This Feast Calls Us To ...what should we say, dear brothers and sisters...who are every day witnesses and ministers of the ‘epiphany’ of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist? The Church celebrates all the mysteries of the Lord in this most holy and most humble Sacrament in which he both reveals and conceals his glory. ‘Adoro te devote, latens Deitas’ in adoration, thus we pray. -Pope Benedict XVI   Benedict continues to talk about how Dante describes God as “the Love which moves the sun and the other stars.” The galaxy and the universe are governed by God, not by an unknown force. In this we can rejoice. We can rejoice because we live in a creation which is held in the protection of God our Father, a God of Love. Let us, with the magi, be “overjoyed” by what the star represents. Let's soak in the mystery and never fail to give God the adoration that is His due. Also consider what you can do—yourself or in your family—to celebrate Epiphany. Let us believe with the same confidence that Mary had when she entrusted Jesus with her request at the Wedding at Cana. Do you have any special traditions surrounding the Feast of the Epiphany? [bctt tweet="Witnesses of the Epiphany #BISblog //" via="no"]

Week One // Prayer to the Holy Spirit by St. Augustine Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy. Week One Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit within our own souls. Week One // Day Five Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy. Amen! I love how the concluding lines of St. Augustine’s prayer conclude with a sense of trust. There is an added word that jostles the rhythm of the prayer that no other stanza of the prayer includes. The word “then.” This word is defined as “at that time,” “soon after that,” and “as a necessary consequence.” We have made our requests of the Holy Spirit, and here is where we surrender it. Here is where we lay it all out before the Holy Spirit, and entrust to Him our entire being. This is exciting! This is where we trust that “as a necessary consequence” of our prayers, we will indeed be guarded and led on in greater holiness. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to accompany us, to light our way, to guide us, and to guard us. We read in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22: But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; He has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.   Here we learn that the Holy Spirit is given to us as our foundation for living the Christian life. And He isn’t just there in the beginning. His presence becomes stronger and stronger in our lives. When I flip the pages of my Bible to the Bible Dictionary in the back of the book, I read that "Amen" is a Hebrew word meaning “certainly” and “truly.” It was used to give approval to something someone said, a blessing or a prayer, etc. It is as if to say, “So be it.” When we pray this prayer of St. Augustine, let’s pray it with true belief. Just as you are asking the Holy Spirit to guard you today, ask yourself how you can help be a guardian to another. This could mean having a greater observance of a sibling or friend. Invest time in paying closer attention to those in your life who you hold dear. Does it seem like they might need some time to open up about a struggle in their life? A coffee date or quality time with you could be just what they need. What do you want to see in your life as a result of inviting the Holy Spirit to come into your life in such a radical way? Name it! And proclaim your confident and hopeful “Amen!" Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners Ask your prayer partner in what ways they desire to be guarded in their life. Of course, guarding ourselves too much emotionally can be unhealthy, but protection is a good and healthy thing. Ask your friend if there is anything that you can do to help provide that protection in their life. Assure them that you believe that the Holy Spirit will hear your prayer, because you believe, and you are saying, "Amen! So be it!" [bctt tweet="Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen! #BISblog #prayerpledge //" via="no"]

Week One // Prayer to the Holy Spirit by St. Augustine Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy. Week One Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit within our own souls. Week One // Day Four Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Strengthen means to become stronger. By virtue of our Baptism, we are made strong by having received the Holy Spirit. This strength is nourished in the everyday by things like prayer, reading Scripture, and receiving the Eucharist. Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, grace abounds and the movement of the Holy Spirit intensifies, thus calling us to action. The Catechism reminds us that, “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed” (CCC 1285). By this point, I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit has been strengthening you and strengthening me. We are breathing with Him, acting with Him, and being drawn by Him. Every moment that we call upon Him, He continues to increase in our life. Yes, we are already strong, but we are also tasked with defending the Faith. This is why we must pray that He increases our love, so that we are sensitive enough to notice when it is time to defend what is holy, yet also have the courage to boldly act. Take a few moments to reflect and ponder your last three days, on your journey with the Holy Spirit. Before today, have you noticed Him strengthening you? How has this taken shape in your life? Have you noticed a growth in your ability to act virtuously? Has this growth in virtue put you in a position where you felt the need to defend the Faith? Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners Ask your prayer partner if they have experienced a time when they felt called to defend the Faith. Were they able to speak up? Why or why not? Together, try to think of at least one way you can practically live out the call to “defend all that is holy.” [bctt tweet="Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. #BISblog #prayerpledge //" via="no"]

Week One // Prayer to the Holy Spirit by St. Augustine Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy. Week One Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit within our own souls. Week One // Day Three Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. I love how beautifully the words of this prayer build upon the words that proceed it. First, we are quieting our souls. Then, we are opening our hearts wide to the Holy Spirit so that we can be vessels of Christ’s love. We must continue asking the Holy Spirit to move us so that He can lead us further in His direction. Next, we invite the Holy Spirit to draw our hearts, to allure us. I do not doubt that after two days of breathing with the Holy Spirit and inviting Him into your conversation with others, that He has begun to more deeply draw your heart. When I am more conscious of the Holy Spirit acting in my life, I can’t help but smile at all of the moments when He chooses to show Himself. A beautiful sunset on a drive into the city, the twinkle of my husband’s eyes, and a kind word from a waitress or barista are all ways in which I have experienced the Holy Spirit making an appearance in my life. It’s like He is gently, sometimes jovially, saying, “Look at Me! Did you notice that I was there when you asked? When you needed me?” The more attentive we are to the Holy Spirit, the more evident His movement will be in our lives. Today, ask the Holy Spirit to draw your heart. Read the words of Hosea 2:16: Therefore, I will allure her now; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak persuasively to her.   His allurement will draw you in to a deeper love for what is holy. Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners Text your prayer partner Hosea 2:16 today and encourage one another to keep your senses in tune to the way the Spirit makes Himself known to you. Then, at the end of the day, ask them how they saw the Holy Spirit alluring them. [bctt tweet="Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. #BISblog #prayerpledge //" via="no"]

Week One // Prayer to the Holy Spirit by St. Augustine Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy. Week One Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit within our own souls. Week One // Day Two Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Now that we have practiced the habit of breathing with and being open to the Holy Spirit, we have properly disposed ourselves to His action in our lives. If I do not free up my mind and heart for the Holy Spirit to reign, then I am not in a good position to invite Him to act in my life. And if I am in an unrestful state and I invite Him to act, I may not be in a place to move. To act means to move. So in a sense, today’s prayer is a two-part prayer. We first must invite Him to act in us, and then, we need to be ready, or at least willing, to move. This is the toughest part of the prayer for me, because in order to step into an act of holiness, I have to be intentional, receptive, and bold. For me, this sometimes takes place in conversations with loved ones. They may say something that I do not know how to respond to, or if I do, I may feel uncomfortable with saying the words on my heart. In this case, I have to pause and intentionally pray to the Holy Spirit that He enters into our conversation and provides me with the right words to say. I then have to be receptive to His direction. I have to say, “Okay, I hear You, and I will obey You.” Then. The boldness. Whatever I feel called to do or say, I must actually act upon. I cannot let His words sit stale in the air. His words need to move. Emboldened by the Spirit, my work too, can then be holy. Today, friends, be bold! Psalm 138:3 says, “On the day I cried out, you answered; you strengthen my spirit.” The Holy Spirit is accompanying you. Be convicted of His presence and move forward with boldness, “...since we have such hope, we act very boldly" (2 Corinthians 3:12). Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners Today, ask your prayer partner what challenges they faced. Were they able to intentionally invite the Holy Spirit to be with them, to lead them, and to help them act with confidence? If so, how did they notice this prayer making a difference in their day and, specifically, in their situation? [bctt tweet="Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. #BISblog #prayerpledge //" via="no"]

Welcome to the 2019 Prayer Pledge! We're so happy you're joining us. Check out this post for more details on the Prayer Pledge and to sign up to receive each day's reflections in your inbox. Let's jump in to Week One! Week One // Prayer to the Holy Spirit by St. Augustine Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy. Week One Intention We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit within our own souls. Week One // Day One Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Merriam Webster has many definitions for the word "breathe." This includes the basic understanding of drawing air into our lungs and exhaling. But a few others to note are the definitions: to live to pause and rest before continuing to feel free of restraint Of course our breath is what sustains our life, but I rarely stop to reflect on the fact that breathing necessitates pausing and resting. Not only this, but when we breathe mindfully, it encourages our body to be at peace, to relax and let go of control. When my husband senses that I am overwhelmed or stressed he reminds me to breathe, and breathes deeply with me. At first, it felt silly to me to breathe deeply into my stomach and slowly, ever so slowly, let that breath out. Every time I do it, the end result is calmness and a greater sense of peace. I am freed of restraint. Today, I invite the Holy Spirit to breathe in me, so that He may purify my thoughts. I know that when I invite Him to come He will transform my mind and soul and direct them towards Christ. In this transformation, more space will be created for the Lord to reign and less room for my own desire to control and dominate. My encouragement for you today is that you will be more aware of your breath. And every so often, make your breath a prayer. Inhale, “Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,” and exhale, “that my thoughts may all be holy.” Amen. Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners Consider sending your prayer partner a quick text today, reminding them to breathe with the Holy Spirit today. He is breathing with us, and when He does, we live more fully alive, and we live more freely. At the end of the day, follow-up with them and ask them if they noticed any difference in their day. Did their soul seem more at rest or their mind at ease? And if you haven't found a prayer partner yet, it's not too late! Reach out to someone today! [bctt tweet="Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. #BISblog #prayerpledge //" via="no"]

I learned about St. John of the Cross over a three-month course while studying abroad in Rome. Fr. Paul Murray was our Irish Dominican Professor, who also happened to be a poet, a professor, and a writer. For three hours each week I eagerly opened my mind to all he taught us about St. John of the Cross. One of the phrases which is commonly associated with St. John of the Cross is “the dark night of the soul.” This is a stage where we are so closely united to Christ that we long to be with Him, and to be separated from Him brings us pain. Thinking about the pain of this separation makes me grateful for Fr. Paul Murray’s words, “It is enough to want Heaven and it is enough to want to want Heaven.” Of course, this doesn’t let us off the hook. In order to grow in holiness we need to overcome our own ego and conform our wills to God’s. Thankfully, we have St. John of the Cross to lead the way. [bctt tweet="It is enough to want Heaven and it is enough to want to want Heaven. -Fr. Paul Murray #BISblog //" via="no"] St. John’s Formation Saint John of the Cross was born in the mid-sixteenth century in a small village near Avila, Spain. His family was very poor and his father died when he was just a young boy. At 18 years old he entered college and towards the end of his college education, he sensed a clear calling to the religious life. At 21 he entered the Carmelite monastery in his hometown. He continued studying humanities and philosophy for three years at the prestigious University of Salamanca. Four years later he was ordained a priest and celebrated his first Mass in his hometown. It is here that he met his soon-to-be good friend, St. Teresa of Avila. Friends and Reformers Shortly after they first met, St. Teresa shared with John her hopes to reform the Carmelite order to its original rule with the hopes of helping the order embrace the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. She asked St. John for his help and support in this mission. Just five years after their initial meeting, and at St. Teresa’s request, John became the confessor and vicar of the Monastery where St. Teresa was the prioress. Not only did the two share a great friendship, but together they were also reformers and later became Doctors of the Church. One of his major works, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, closely resembles St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle. Both of these literary masterpieces shed light on the slow, but vital purification of the soul towards Christian perfection. Imprisonment St. John’s work to reform the Carmelites did not come with ease. In fact, he received orders from his own superiors telling him to depart from Avila and return home. However, John stood his ground and refused to leave because he had already received approval from the nuncio, a greater authority within his order. The Carmelites, who did not respect the authority of the nuncio, then kidnapped John and imprisoned him in the monastery in Toledo. He lived for nine months in a tiny cell that was hardly big enough for him to lie down in. His diet consisted of bread and water, and every week he was brought out to be lashed in front of the community. One friar had mercy on John’s soul and would kindly smuggle paper to him which John used to write poetry. He did not let the darkness of the cell stifle the light of Christ in his soul. [bctt tweet="St. John of thee Cross did not let the darkness of the cell stifle the light of Christ in his soul. #BISblog //" via="no"] The Three Ways St. John wrote about the three stages of the spiritual life, including, the dark night of the soul. 1. The Purgative Way (Spiritual Childhood) This is when one begins to break bad habits, overcome temptation, and grow in virtue. At the end of this stage one can experience something called the “dark night of the senses.” It is a stage when God calls us to detachment not only from material things, but also from spiritual consolations. Here God purges sin from our heart in order to make more room for Him to reign. 2. The Illuminative Way (Spiritual Adolescence) This is a time of continued growth in virtue, charity, and prayer. One may still experience the “dark night of the senses,” but in this time of detachment we are growing in the life of virtue and God is further revealing Himself to us. 3. The Unitive Way (Spiritual Adulthood) In this stage, one has fallen so deeply in love with God that their desire is for Him alone. One has moved beyond the “dark night of the senses," but may then experience the “dark night of the soul.” This stage is one which can cause what St. Teresa of Avila calls a “wound” of love, a “delightful pain.” She writes: This action of love is so powerful that the soul dissolves with desire...This pain reaches to the soul’s very depths and that when He who wounds it draws out the arrow, it indeed seems, in accord with the deep love the soul feels, that God is drawing these very depths after Him. Let’s remember that like St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa was also a mystic. Her words may seem beyond us, but they do still give us a glimpse of how deep her love for Christ was. The deepness is mysterious. Getting There In the Ascent of Mount Carmel St. John of the Cross writes about how to achieve this Divine Union and ascent to the top of the mountain. He writes: In this detachment the spiritual soul finds its quiet and repose; for since it covets nothing, nothing wearies it when it is lifted up, and nothing oppresses it when it is cast down, because it is in the centre of its humility. He speaks of uniting our sufferings with Christ and clinging to the Cross. He sketched an image which shows Jesus at the moment He surrendered His spirit to the Father. When we surrender our own Spirit to the Father we allow ourselves permission to be removed from the noise of the world. Then, in the “quiet and repose” which St. John speaks of, we find freedom. Just think of the Our Father prayer, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done....deliver us from evil.” In our surrender, we are given the grace to be freed from the bondage of sin. Reaching the Summit Someone once told me that it is not that our will ought to be conformed to Christ, but rather that it should be united with Christ. To conform means to be obedient to, but to unite means to become one with. When our wills have become united with Christ’s, we do not have to put so much effort forth in fulfilling His will, because already we are walking in-step with Him. What spiritual stage do you find yourself in? What things do you think God is asking you to detach from in order to make more room for Him to dwell in your heart? [bctt tweet="St. John of the Cross: Reaching the Summit #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!

For the last couple of years during the holiday season, my husband and I have carved out time away from our kids and normal routine for an “end-of-year retreat.” Maybe the word “retreat” conjures up visions of sleeping bags on gym floors, or team-building exercises, or passing the tissue box around a circle of weeping women. But in its most basic form, a retreat is simply a chance to get away from your usual routine, an opportunity to quiet the distractions and noise, a period of time where you withdraw from the to-do lists and iPhone notifications. During our end-of-year retreat, we get away for a night, go out to dinner, and talk–like, really talk–about the year we’re leaving behind and the one up ahead. Why Make an End-of-Year Retreat? This practice has become one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. A chance to take a step back and evaluate, to celebrate the victories and talk through the hardships. To recap what the past year held for us each individually, as well as our family as a whole, and to dream about what the next 365 days might bring. Whether you’re married or single, a college student or empty nester, I think the concept of an end-of-year retreat is really valuable. For me, it is a huge part of my desire to live with intention instead of by default. It’s a beautiful way to close the door on one year and prayerfully embrace the next. [bctt tweet="An end-of-year retreat is a beautiful way to close the door on one year and prayerfully embrace the next. #BISblog //" via="no"] How to Make an End-of-Year Retreat Whether it’s a morning at home with no distractions, two hours at the coffee shop with your headphones in, or a night away with your spouse, a time of retreat is truly a gift you can give yourself. Clear the calendar and commit to giving yourself the gift of time to recap, reflect and dream, and pray! I love to have a notebook or journal, Bible, and this goal planner with me during my retreat time. If you’re interested in doing an end-of-year retreat yourself, here are my top five tips to try! 1. Count the Fruit We like to start our retreat by counting the fruit. What can we give thanks for? What good things grew? In the day-to-day, it can sometimes be hard to see what God is up to or how He is answering our prayers. It can start to feel like the whole year was a wash, that maybe we have nothing to show for it. The point here is to zoom out a bit and look at the past year as a whole. Good things grew, no matter what your year looked like. Name those things. Write them in a journal, even. We get out our wedding album and jot a few highlights down on one of the blank pages at the end. Imagine fifty years from now, having a record of all the best parts of your years. What a gift! 2. Dig into the Nuts and Bolts Next, we talk about what’s working and what’s not. What elements of our routine are really serving us and our family well? What needs improvement? How do we feel about our kids' school situations, or our current jobs? Does our budgeting system need work? Because we are list people, we just write it all down on a sheet of paper. One column for things that are working, and one column for things that aren’t. This helps us know where to focus our efforts. There’s no point fixing something that isn’t broken. So making a list helps us to devote our energy to tweaking the routines, rhythms, and systems that really need to be tweaked. 3. Revisit (or Write!) Your Value Statement We have a family value statement that helps guide all the decisions we make for our family. During our end-of-year retreat, we revisit this value statement. As we change and grow as individuals, as our family changes and grows, this value statement evolves as well. We tweak our value statement as necessary and talk about ways we can live it out in a tangible way. For instance, our family statement might include a commitment to serving others. How can we practically live that out? Maybe it means visiting a soup kitchen one Friday a month to serve a meal with our kids, or shopping for the parish giving tree gifts together. We brainstorm about how to turn these lofty ideals into real-life experiences for our family. The point here isn’t to necessarily make solid plans, but just to get the wheels turning on how to turn the things you value into the way you live. If you’ve never created a value statement for yourself or your family, this post has some really great tips! 4. Set Some Goals Once we’ve revisited our value statement and brainstormed some ways to turn those values into actionable plans, we set some goals for the year ahead. They might be financial goals like saving a certain amount for a car or paying off a certain amount of debt, or parenting goals like being more present with our children. They might be small goals or God-sized goals that feel a little impossible. We talk about all areas of our lives: our health and wellness, finances, friendships, family, marriage, jobs and faith. We chat through some goals in each area. We'll write these down on a sheet of paper to revisit throughout the year. Writing it down also helps us be accountable to one another. 5. Offer Your Year to God I always love when we can include Mass or Adoration (or both!) as the final part of our end-of-year retreat. To end our time of reflection and dreaming by giving it all to the One who makes it all possible. After all, you can talk, reflect, dream, and plan all you want but it’s all pretty lifeless without inviting God into it, amen? Whether at Mass or Adoration, I envision myself laying all my dreams and plans for the coming year on the altar, my offering to Jesus in that moment. In surrender, I ask Him to take everything we’ve talked about and to make His ways clear, to close the door on the opportunities or dreams we aren’t meant to pursue and to fling wide the door to the ones we are. I pray for an abundance of blessings, as well as the strength to suffer well all the crosses that will surely come our way over the next year. [bctt tweet="I pray for an abundance of blessings, as well as the strength to suffer well all the crosses that will surely come our way over the next year. #BISblog //" via="no"] Taking this Retreat is Worth It You are worth setting aside some time to reflect, pray, dream, and plan. Your goals and callings are worth it. Your marriage and family are worth it. Living with intention certainly takes effort, time, and planning. But in the end, it is so worth it. Do you take an end-of-year retreat? What does yours look like? LITURGICAL PLANNERS Our Liturgical Planners are based on the Litany of Humility. Enter into prayer every day alongside this beautiful Litany. Order your days in His peace. GET YOUR PLANNER

The Advent season is coming up. It's one of my favorite times of the year. I am beginning to contemplate how I can best meditate on the sacrificial journey Joseph and Mary made to Bethlehem along with the humble nativity of our Lord. One example that has recently encouraged me to look forward to Jesus’ birth with joy and expectant hope is the Apostle Andrew. When I reflect on the miracles he witnessed while spending time with his friend Jesus, I am struck by how Andrew, even after witnessing Jesus’ repeated goodness, was still continually learning to have greater trust in his friend. The Loaves and Fish In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 14, Jesus speaks of His Father’s Kingdom to a gathering of five-thousand people (not including the number of women and children also gathered there). The people were hungry. But the Apostles could only find a total of five loaves and two fish, given to them by a small boy in the crowd. The Apostle Andrew said to Jesus in regards to the young boy’s offering, “What is that between so many?” Andrew couldn’t see how such a small amount of food could have an impact on such a large number of people. It turns out, it was quite significant. Jesus took those five loaves and two fish, prayed to His Father in Heaven, and the food was multiplied. It was multiplied in such vast quantities that, after everyone had eaten their fill, the disciples gathered twelve baskets of bread. There wasn’t just enough food for everyone to keep from starving. They ate till they were full, and more bread was leftover! Be Brave in Your Asking St. Andrew may not have had great hope that Jesus would perform a miracle. But he at least asked Him the question, “What is that between so many?” Maybe we feel that way sometimes. Like what we are praying for is too small or insignificant for Jesus to pay attention. Or maybe, like Andrew, we think our problem is far too large for Jesus to intervene. Yet what I have learned from this story is that Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish. He shows that He cannot and will not be outdone in generosity. [bctt tweet="Jesus shows that He cannot and will not be outdone in generosity. #BISblog //" via="no"] Christ's Generosity Pope St. John Paul II gives the following reminder: “Place your lives in the hands of Jesus. He will accept you, and bless you, and He will make such use of your lives as will be beyond your greatest expectations!” Beyond our greatest expectations! Do not forget, Jesus not only provided for the hungry five-thousand, He provided them with food to spare! Let us reflect on this for a moment. Jesus is omniscient; He is all-knowing. He could have multiplied enough food simply to fill the basket, with no need of multiplying enough to have extra...but He did. I think He was trying to prove a point. He longs to fulfill our desires, even more than we expect Him to. Do we have the boldness to ask? What if we ask him intentionally, confidently and specifically this Advent season? The Christmas Novena of Andrew the Apostle Because St. Andrew’s feast day falls so close to the beginning of Advent, a prayer has developed called the Christmas Novena or St. Andrew’s Novena. Traditionally, it is recommended to be prayed 15 times each day, from the start of St. Andrew’s feast day (November 30th) to Christmas. Personally, I am not committing to pray the prayer 15 times each day. But I do intend to pray it slowly and meditatively at least one time each day to prepare for the moment of Jesus’ birth. Where to Find the Novena The prayer is as follows and a beautiful print can be downloaded for free in the Blessed is She Shop. Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen. What do you ask of Him when the air gets cold and the wind starts blowing? [bctt tweet="What Do You Ask of Him? On the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle #BISblog //" via="no"]

Last month, a line in a book I was reading caught my attention. The author was making the claim that true wisdom, Godly wisdom, can only be acquired through worship. I closed the book and reflected on that for a minute; it caught me off guard. When I think of worship, I immediately picture Christian rock concerts or humming along to Matt Maher on the car stereo. I envision swaying in the front pew during Sunday Mass as we sing a favorite hymn. Worship has always been, in my mind, another term for “praising God” and I almost always equate it to music. I asked myself, is that true? Do we acquire wisdom through worship? Wait a second…how do I even define wisdom? I hadn’t really thought about it before. What is Wisdom? After spending some time pondering and reading, I think biblical wisdom can be pretty easily summed up as “knowing and doing God’s will.” When I think of the wisest people I know, faith wise, their lives have the same common thread. They are active seekers of Christ, always longing for more of Him, and striving to discern His will and carry it out in their daily lives. Biblical Wisdom Of course, there are tons of verses throughout the Bible that paint a beautiful picture of what Godly wisdom looks like. Wisdom is humble; the truly wise are marked by their humility. -Proverbs 11:12 Wisdom is peace, mercy, goodness, sincerity. -James 3:17 Wisdom is soothing, calm and collected – not quick to temper or rage. -Proverbs 29:11 Wisdom is pleasantness. -Proverbs 3:18 It’s totally clear: a life characterized by true wisdom is a life marked by peace, joy, humility, and goodness. When I think of women in my life who I would call truly wise, those characteristics come to mind. They seem to float through life. Not naively or immune to the struggles and sorrows. But with the surety that comes from knowing they are beheld by their Creator. They deeply believe in His goodness and promise to see them through. It’s the kind of life–and faith–I want for myself. [bctt tweet="A life characterized by true wisdom is a life marked by peace, joy, humility, and goodness... It’s the kind of life–and faith–I want for myself. #BISblog //" via="no"] What is Worship? When I read that line in the book, it felt too easy. I can get true wisdom, this seemingly elusive but super important virtue, through worship? Play enough K-Love Radio and it will make me wise? Of course, it’s not as simple as that, and requires us to dig deep into what it means to truly worship our God. Worship is, according to Webster, to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission. True worship is a life of holiness that stems from a heart overflowing with love of God. It is not centered on honoring God for what He does, but who He is. True worship is the act of laying down our plans, desires, and will at the foot of the Cross and desiring only what God wants. And when we adopt this posture of true worship that seeks to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission, we begin to develop true wisdom. That is, the ability to know and do God’s will. The more we revere, honor, and adore God, the more we understand who He is. The more we understand who He is, the more we can hear Him speak in our life and can heed His call. [bctt tweet="True worship is a life of holiness that stems from a heart overflowing with love of God. #BISblog //" via="no"] Three Ways to Acquire Wisdom Through Worship Suddenly it feels like I have such a long, long way to go in truly worshipping God. Let alone acquiring wisdom through it. God meets us where we are, though, of this we can rest assured. And even the smallest start is just that:a start. If you’re wanting to start a habit of worship that leads to wisdom, here are my top three tips. 1. Reflect on the characteristics of God. I find that when I’m focused on who God is instead of what He does (or in my limited view, appears to not do), my worship is much deeper. Some of the characteristics you might meditate on are: God is infinite, God is immutable (unchanging), God is omnipotent (all-powerful), God is omniscient (all-knowing), God is omnipresent (He is everywhere), God is good, God is just, God is merciful, God is faithful. 2. Give thanks for things outside of your petitions. I find that when I go to give thanks or write in my gratitude journal, I tend to focus first on answered prayers. I treat it kind of like a checklist for my list of petitions. “Did God answer this one? Hooray, I’m so grateful! Jot that down.” That’s not a bad thing at all. But it tends to keep me focused on the tally of things God has done or not done for me, rather than truly adoring Him regardless of what prayers He’s answered. It keeps my worship self-focused rather than focused on God Himself. When I work to notice and give thanks for other things, like the light through the trees while I’m on a walk with my kids, or the way the fog lingers over the field, or the hummingbirds gathered around a flower in the yard, I’m often able to honor and adore God in a deeper way than when I’m only reflecting on my petitions and prayer requests. Suddenly I have eyes to see all the good that exists just because. Not because I asked for it, but simply because God in His goodness wants us to be blessed. 3. Practice being in God’s presence. A mindful practice of entering into God’s presence will help you adopt an attitude of reverence and adoration. Maybe it’s a Holy Hour in the Adoration chapel, a Rosary on the commute to work, or simply sitting in silence for a few minutes during naptime. I find that when I truly silence the distractions and give myself wholly to the Lord, for whatever length of time, I am awed with love of Him. A daily practice of entering mind and spirit into God’s presence is an amazing way to create a rhythm of worship that leads to wisdom. How do you cultivate an attitude of true worship in your life? How has God-centered worship lead you closer to wisdom? We’d love to hear your tips as we walk this road together! [bctt tweet="Worship as a Means to Acquiring Wisdom #BISblog //" via="no"] HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY