A mystic and reformer. St. Teresa of Avila’s heart, mind, and soul were absorbed in all that is Divine and she longed to be with her Spouse, Christ, in Heaven. This deep desire to be in union with her Spouse fueled her passion to be a living witness in the world and to urge others to live a life of greater perfection. In her words: I am bursting and cannot burst because of my desire for the renewal of holy Church, for God’s honour, and for everyone’s salvation. St. Teresa of Avila and Reformation Born in Avila, Spain in 1515, she entered the Carmelite convent of the Incarnation in Avila when she was twenty years old. She noticed that her community was failing to zealously live out the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. With her zealous heart, she, along with her good friend St. John of the Cross, initiated a reform. Despite the many oppositions she faced, her efforts bore fruit. Within her lifetime she founded seventeen convents which more faithfully lived out these counsels . She was canonized a Saint just forty years after her death. In 1970, she was proclaimed one of the first woman doctors of the Church. The Interior Castle St. Teresa’s most famous work is The Interior Castle. Her writings in this book give us a glimpse into her spiritual life. In it she uses the example of a castle with seven rooms to reflect seven stages of the spiritual journey. These stages bring us, at the end, to union with God. She writes: I thought of the soul as resembling a castle, formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal and containing many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions. Some of us might consider ourselves perfectionists. But how are we doing in our call to the perfection of our Christian life? Long ago, many people believed that not all Christians were called to a life of perfection. They were under the impression that if one was not a consecrated religious, then one could not expect to have the life of prayer or perfection that St. Teresa of Avila spoke of. This kind of thinking can be dangerous, and it is this idea that tempts us to sell ourselves short as Christians. In the words of the famous football coach, Vince Lombardi, “...if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” The Way of Perfection St. Thomas Aquinas says that the perfection of the Christian life lies in charity. St. Teresa’s path to perfection focuses on the different levels of prayer. God wants to enlarge our heart so that he can more fully enter in to it. As we stay with God in prayer, and continue increasing our desire for Him, He cannot help but purge our heart and cleanse it in order to make room for Him to fill it to an even greater capacity. St. Teresa said: A beginner must look on himself as one setting out to make a garden for his Lord’s pleasure, on most unfruitful soil which abounds in weeds. His Majesty roots up the weeds and will put in good plants instead. Let us reckon that this is already done when the soul decides to practice prayer and has begun to do so. The Universal Call to Holiness All Christians are to orient their lives in such a way that it leads to perfection. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “You, therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus would not call us to something that he did not intend for us to attain. When we participate in the fullness of Christian life and learn to grow in perfect charity, we will better be able to be a leaven in the world. Lumen Gentium reads, “it is therefore quite clear that all Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of love...the forms and tasks of life are many but holiness is one”. What form of life are you in? What task is God calling you to in your current state in life? [bctt tweet="St. Teresa of Avila: Mystic & Reformer #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!

Chiaroscuro is a term used to describe the contrast of light and dark in a painting. The artform was made famous by Italian painter Caravaggio in the painting “The Calling of St. Matthew.” This painting is found in San Luigi dei Francesi, a church in Rome, Italy. This contrast between light and dark is also an appropriate analogy for what this painting portrays, by giving us a glimpse into what was happening in the heart, mind, and soul of St. Matthew. When called by Jesus, Matthew was called from a life of darkness and into the light of truth. Jesus’ divine light poured into the darkness of his sin. Matthew’s calling is our calling too. The Calling of St. Matthew Caravaggio brings a deeply spiritual theme to earth for us in this painting. He brings divinity into our everyday life through the story he portrays via his work of art. In this painting we meet a group of regal, well-dressed men who are counting money. They are in what looks like the corner of a dark tavern. On the right side of the painting we see two men. An older man, the Apostle Peter. Behind him stands Jesus. What captures the eye in this image is Jesus’ hand below the cross of the window, pointing towards the tax-collector Matthew sitting at the table. Jesus has just spoken the words found in Matthew 9:9, “Follow me.” Light floods into the painting from above Jesus’ hand. It falls on St. Matthew, who responds by pointing to himself, as if to ask “Me?” In the very next sentence we learn that Matthew said "yes" to Jesus’ call and he “got up and followed him.” St. Matthew's Call is Our Call Art historians have caught a unique and important detail in this portrayal of Jesus coming to meet us in our humanity. The hand of Christ which Caravaggio painted is a likeness of Adam’s hand which was painted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel’s “The Creation of Adam”, a masterpiece where we witness Adam encountering God. As Adam reaches out to God in hope of his great mercy, we are reminded of his fall in to original sin. Yet despite his great sin, he continues to reach out. Caravaggio reminds us through the painting that Christ is the second Adam, and he willingly walks into the darkness of the tavern to redeem Matthew. This painting portrays not only Matthew’s redemption, it also portrays our own. Are We Counting Money? Perhaps we are “counting money” in our own homes and are sucked into the short-term happiness which material goods may buy us. Are we looking down at our money like Matthew’s friends in the tavern, or are we looking up and responding to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him? Maybe we hear God calling out to us, feel Him reaching out to us, and we are tempted to ask, “Are you sure you want me? Don’t you see where you are meeting me, here in my weakness?” He is sure. Jesus sees you, and He wants you, right there in your weakness. He is calling you to be recreated and resurrected with Him. Let us take His hand, look up to His face, and, together with St. Matthew, reach out to Heaven. A Scripture Meditation Study Seek His Kingdom Pray with Scripture through the Gospel of Matthew. With guided reflections, prayer prompts, and space to journal, this study helps you respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him more closely. Explore the Matthew Study → How will you celebrate the feast of St. Matthew by leaving the darkness and walking into the light of Christ?

Eight years of prayer and study pointed to one incredible day. Laudate Dominum rang through our ears as we sang praise to the Lord that this day had finally come. My Brother-in-Law, the Priest I sat with my husband and his parents in the very front pew of the Cathedral. There were only three chairs in front of us. One chair for my brother-in-law and two for the other transitional deacons who were about to lay their lives down out of love for their Bride, the Church. These men made it to this long-awaited day to make their promises of celibacy, obedience, and simplicity of life as newly ordained diocesan priests. After the proclamation of the Gospel, a bittersweet moment took place. The deacons were each summoned by name. They moved from their place—sitting with the rest of the congregation—to the altar. They were no longer meant to be sitting with us as we participated in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Their new place was to become in persona Christi Capitis, in the person of Christ the Head. They were to serve the people of God, especially through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Minutes after they moved to their place on the altar, the Bishop laid his hands on their heads and invoked the Holy Spirit. Their soul was then imprinted with an indelible sacramental character, a mark which would set them apart for the fulfillment of their vocation: the Sacrament of Holy Orders. This Sacrament configures the recipient to Christ by a special grace of the Holy Spirit, so that he may serve as Christ’s instrument for his Church. -CCC 1581 The Joy of the Priesthood As the newly ordained processed out of the church, "O God Beyond All Praising" resounded within the walls of the Cathedral. People smiled from ear to ear as they breathed deeply from their chest, belting out “...whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, we’ll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still: to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways, and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.” My brother-in-law, now Father, encourages me to marvel at God’s beauty simply by his witness of love. After his Mass of Thanksgiving, he shared with everyone there that when people ask him why he decided to become a Priest and to live a life of celibacy, he responds, “I did it, because of Love, and it is a Love that I want you to know too. If you want to know how to find that Love, please talk to me. Or talk to your parish priest, or any priest you know.” Do we know that deep kind of love? The kind of love that makes us want to give up everything in order to respond to that love in the fullest way possible? When was the last time we gave ourselves the time to sit with Jesus and really let His love for us sink in, and sink in deep? When was the last time we considered Jesus our brother, companion, and friend? St. John Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests Today we celebrate St. John Vianney. A priest who is known for spending up to to sixteen hours each day hearing confessions. This is a remarkable gift of self to his bride, the Church. In 1929, Pope Pius XI made Saint John Vianney the patron of parish priests. Pope Saint John XXIII spoke of him saying: ...when the priest adores Christ Our Lord and gives thanks to Him, or offers satisfaction for his own sins and those of others, or finally when he prays constantly that God keep special watch over the causes committed to his care, he is inflamed with a more ardent love for the Divine Redeemer to whom he has sown allegiance and for those to whom he is devoting his pastoral care. Praying for Our Priests In celebration of Saint John Vianney’s feast day, let’s pray specifically for our parish priests today. Let's pray for those men who are discerning calls to the priesthood. Let's be sure to give them a sincere "thank you" the next time we see them. Thank them for devoting their life to helping us fall in love. Who are the priests in your life who call you closer to Jesus? [bctt tweet="Praying for Priestly Vocations with St. John Vianney #BISblog //" via="no"]

Just over one hundred and fifteen years ago, little Maria Goretti was killed in Nettuno, Italy. The Short and Saintly Life of Maria Goretti Maria’s father died of malaria when she was just nine. After his death, Maria repeatedly said to her mother, “Be brave, God will help us." Maria’s family lived in poverty, sharing their home with another family. She was unable to go to school and did not know how to read or write. While her mother, brothers, and sister worked as farmers, she was responsible for the duties within the home. Her Martyrdom On a hot summer day in July, twelve-year-old Maria was faithfully tending to her household duties, hemming a shirt in her home in the small village of Le Ferriere. It was then that her eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alessandro, ran up the stairs where she was sewing. Grasping her, he forced her in to her bedroom. As she cried out for help she said to her attacker, “No, God does not wish it…it is a sin.” She prevented him from raping her, but he then viciously stabbed her fourteen times. She died less than twenty-four hours later. Courageous Virtue Maria courageously surrendered her life to Jesus and held true to the Christian virtue of faith. Not compromising her morals, she sacrificed her own life. In her simple spirit, Maria stayed close to Jesus, trusting in His goodness and love for her. This trust was fostered by the great faith and example of her parents, who knew that their family was a domestic church, the primary place where their children would learn to grow in holiness. Their witness of faith was the groundwork for Maria’s spiritual life and her heart of mercy, which brought her to the point of forgiving her own murderer. A Model of Chastity Chastity is a struggle. Even though we may hope that the lives of our young people are safeguarded by naiveté, it seems that young people struggle with this virtue the most. Thankfully, the Church, “…continues to defend and to champion the value of sexuality as a factor that involves every aspect of the person and must therefore be lived with an interior attitude of freedom and reciprocal respect, in the light of God’s original plan” (Pope St. John Paul II). Maria exemplified this reciprocal respect when she was concerned not only for her safety, but also for the state of her attacker’s soul. The Miracle of St. Maria Goretti's Murderer Just as Maria’s life of virtue was founded upon the example of her parents, Maria’s example planted a seed of faith in her attacker’s life. Alessandro was very bitter and unapologetic after his thirty-year prison sentence was given to him. But his life changed after a dream where he saw Maria gathering flowers for him. When he came to realize the sin he committed he begged pardon from God. He also asked for forgiveness from Maria's family when he was released from prison. In 1950, Maria was canonized a Saint and her attacker, Allessandro Serenelli, was among the 250,000 people gathered to honor her on that day. [bctt tweet="St. Maria Goretti's murderer was present at her canonization. Her witness changed him. #BISblog //" via="no"] Meeting Maria Goretti The reliquary containing St. Maria Goretti’s body is in the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces and St. Maria Goretti in Nettuno, Italy. Here her bones are enveloped in a wax likeness of her body. I have made a pilgrimage to her shrine. Though I had not known much about her before my visit to Nettuno, I experienced so much grace just by being in the presence of her body and learning about her witness of mercy, and of her reciprocal respect. It challenges me to think of who I need to forgive. Where can I show mercy? If a child of twelve can courageously endure fourteen painstaking stabs and still forgive her attacker, then I ought to more easily be able to forgive my neighbor for much smaller injustices. As Pope St. John Paul II said: The only way to peace is forgiveness. [bctt tweet="The only way to peace is forgiveness. -JPII #BISblog //" via="no"] Finding Peace Are you at peace? I know that I will be asking St. Maria to pray that I have a more merciful heart. I hope that you too will consider adding her to your list of prayer warriors! Does anyone have St. Maria Goretti as a patron saint? If so, happy feast day! [bctt tweet="St. Maria Goretti: Peace Through Mercy #BISblog //" via="no"]

Most every day, my dad would stop by the same parish on his way home from work to pray for his children, their vocation, and their future spouses. He would lay these intentions before the parish’s icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Knowing this, I hold a tender spot in my heart for this devotion to Our Lady. I look upon her with gratitude, knowing that she has been faithful to my father’s prayers. The Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help If you are not familiar with this icon, it is an icon which holds great symbolism and a beautiful representation of Jesus and Mary’s life. Here are a few of the symbols in the image... The Star The star at the top of Mary’s mantle is a symbol for her namesake, Mary, Star of the Sea. She is the star leading us safely to our home in Heaven. Her love brings Christ’s light to a world in darkness. Mary's Eyes Mary’s eyes are painted large to show that her gaze is fixed attentively upon us. She sees each and every need held closely within our hearts. Her Mouth Her mouth appears small in order to express how little we read of her own words in Scripture. It is also a symbol of Mary’s deep prayer and contemplation, of her pondering heart. The Colors The red she wears beneath her mantle was the color worn in her time by those who were virgins. The deep blue of her mantle was the color worn by Palestinian mothers. Mary and Jesus You will see that Jesus’ Hands have His palms turned down. This shows that He is safeguarding the graces of redemption in His mother’s hand. Mary’s left hand holds Jesus, emphasizing her maternal comfort and protection both to Jesus and to each of us, her children. Finally, my favorite symbol in the icon is not easy to see upon first or even second glance. If you look closely at Jesus’ Feet, there is just one sandal falling from His Foot. This is a symbol to show His Divine Nature. His other Foot, with the sandal still secure, shows His human nature. A symbol of Jesus’ human and divine nature. Two natures in one Person. The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston As providence would have it, the first time I visited Boston’s Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual help, the homily that morning focused on the power of prayer specifically through novenas. This is a form of prayer to which this Shrine is no stranger. In fact, during World War II, between 1941-1945, over 20,000 people came together every Wednesday to participate in the Shrine’s Novena prayers dedicated to the Basilica’s patroness. It is by these people’s faith and prayer that several miracles have been received by those who have prayed at the Basilica for a Novena of nine Wednesdays. In fact, you can still see the crutches which have been left at the shrine from those who have been healed through Our Lady’s intercession. By 1984, the Novena could be viewed on television and can now be viewed online. This towering and ornate Romanesque church with spires reaching two-hundred and fifteen feet high is a celebration of Boston’s religious freedom and is staffed by the Redemptorist religious order. Celebrating Her Feast Day Today, on the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, let’s go to her with confidence that our Star of the Sea will keep our feet Heavenward. Let’s embrace her depth of contemplation and trust that she will comfort us in our weariness and our fears. Trust that she will make our joy complete. She is our Mother, and just as she comforts Jesus and holds him close, she holds us close to her heart as well. Do you have a devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help? Never heard of her before? Let us know in the comments below! [bctt tweet="The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help #BISblog //" username=""]

The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the church and to the whole world. -Pope St. John Paul II It is commonly repeated from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life’” (CCC 1324). With this in mind, it is no surprise that the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. [bctt tweet="The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life'. #BISblog //"] The Feast of Corpus Christi Pope Urban IV declared the Solemnity of Corpus Christi a universal feast in 1264. He requested that great Doctor of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas, compose the liturgical texts for this feast day. Aquinas is known for his Summa Theologiae and for showing the natural harmony between faith and reason. It was a timely request. It came during a time when many scholars debated Jesus’ true presence in the Eucharist. Aquinas on the other hand, provided the philosophy behind his definition of transubstantiation. He wrote that God extends his action “...to the whole nature of being” and that, in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: ...the whole substance of the bread is changed into the whole substance of Christ's body, and the whole substance of the wine into the whole substance of Christ's blood. Hence this is not a formal, but a substantial conversion; nor is it a kind of natural movement: but, with a name of its own, it can be called "transubstantiation". -ST III. Q75. A4. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said about Aquinas, "The beautiful hymns that the liturgy of the Church sings to celebrate the mystery of the real presence of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Eucharist are due to his faith and theological wisdom." These hymns include texts which Aquinas wrote for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi such as Adore te Devote, as well as the Tantum Ergo, both of which are often sung during Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction. Eucharistic Processions In addition to the beautiful hymns that our Church sings to celebrate the Real Presence, we also have the tradition of Eucharistic processions. Processions are an ancient tradition which have taken place from the Old to the New Testament. From the Ark of the Covenant in the Old to the procession of Jesus on Palm Sunday in the New. The Council of Trent encouraged the tradition of processions in order to emphasize the Catholic Church’s belief in the True Presence. In medieval times, whole towns and cities would participate in the procession, including nobility and military guards. As the Eucharist passed by the townspeople’s homes, they would kneel outside of their homes in reverence. This custom provides us with a great opportunity to give a public witness of our Faith. It reminds us that as we walk with Jesus before us, we are also walking with Him on our earthly pilgrimage to Heaven. Bringing Christ Enfleshed with Us Everywhere Benedict XI said that the tradition of the Corpus Christi procession gives us the opportunity to “immerse [Christ], so to speak, in the daily routine of our lives, so that he may walk where we walk and live where we live.” This Solemnity, I will be evaluating how well I am immersing Christ in the daily routine of my own life. Are you aware of Jesus’ presence in your walk and in your home? If not, ask Him how He wants you to bring Him into your daily routine. Ask Him to make His presence known to you as you walk with Him each day. Remind Him that He is invited into your home. Happy Feast of the Most Precious Body and Blood of Jesus! [bctt tweet="Corpus Christi: The Secret of the Day #BISblog //"] 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

It has been just over six years since I made a pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland to visit the Shrine of the Divine Mercy. I was able to pray in the Chapel where St. Faustina is buried and venerate the original miraculous image of Merciful Jesus (the popular Divine Mercy image). Because it was the Feast of Divine Mercy, the tram from the city center to the Shrine was free, proving the strength of the Catholic Faith in Poland. Meeting Divine Mercy At the time of this pilgrimage, I did not have a great devotion to Divine Mercy nor the great Church mystic St. Faustina. What this pilgrimage did do was provide grace. It planted the seeds for me to be open to reading the Diary of St. Faustina four years later, when my older brother bought it for me, challenging me to read it during Lent. St. Faustina kept this diary at Jesus’ request, as well as at the order of her two confessors. In her diary, she goes in to the details of her deep spiritual life and her intimate relationship with God. Refreshingly, she also speaks of her human weaknesses and worldly challenges. With a book of over seven-hundred pages, I was hesitant to begin and I was not expecting it to capture my attention. But what I noticed is that with each diary entry, I was hungry for a spiritual treasure from St. Faustian’s words. In my reading, Jesus burrowed me more deeply into His blazing and Sacred Heart of love. A couple of months after starting the Diary, I finished the book on Divine Mercy Sunday itself, celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. The Message of Divine Mercy Jesus appeared to Sister Faustina in her convent cell on February 22, 1931. He asked her to paint His image just as she saw Him in the vision. This is where the image of the Merciful Jesus, or Divine Mercy, comes from. He spoke to her: Paint an image according to the pattern you see: with the signature: ‘Jesus, I trust in You’. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel and [then] throughout the world. -Diary 47 In this image of Divine Mercy, there are two rays coming out of Jesus’ Heart, one red and one pale. These rays represent the Sacraments. The blood reminds us of Jesus’ Passion and the Eucharist while the water recalls our Baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Trust in His Mercy The message of Divine Mercy is complete trust in God, despite the discouragement we may feel after falling in sin. Jesus spoke to St. Faustina: My daughter, write about My mercy… souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight in Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. -Diary 1146 Jesus cannot punish even the greatest sinner, so long as we implore His ocean of mercy. His mercy is inscrutable! Divine Mercy and New Life St. Faustina died of tuberculosis in Krakow on October 5, 1938 at just thirty-three years old. She was canonized sixty-two years later on April 30, 2000 when Pope St. John Paul II instituted her feast day as a feast for the whole Church. With the grace of the Sacraments, we can heed Pope St. John Paul II’s message given in Krakow in 2002 that: The message of Divine Mercy is able to fill hearts with hope and to become the spark of a new civilization: the civilization of love. We are the civilization that he is talking about. We are to be an example, a “spark” of the fire of love Jesus wants to share with the world. Will you make an appeal to His compassion? With the Easter graces we are living in, let us take to heart Jesus words to St. Faustina: At three o’clock implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. -Diary 1320 How do you celebrate the feast of Divine Mercy? [bctt tweet="Divine Mercy and the "Spark" of the Sacred Heart #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!

Sometimes you just need a pick-me-up. T minus 4 years ago I developed a heightening concern for my appearance. Comparison, as we learn from Theodore Roosevelt, is the thief of joy. My increasing self-consciousness about how I looked was due in part to comparing myself to a particular friend of mine. She was beautiful, both inside and out. Throughout our friendship, I observed how men were attracted to her, both for her good looks and her beautiful soul. I couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous. Interestingly enough, this all came about just after I had prayed for an increase in humility. Asking for Humility I tried to use this unexpected struggle as a tool to grow in self-knowledge (as hard as it was to recognize my uncomfortably apparent sin of pride) and as an opportunity to invite God to speak His truth and His beauty into my life. I decided to turn to my Mother Mary. “Blessed Mother,” I prayed, “I have been asking Jesus for humility and I see He is answering my prayer. Mary, I entrust my heart to you.” The next day in prayer, I felt Jesus say to me, “You will find your beauty in Me.” I was encouraged and filled with hope, anticipating what He had in store! I only had to wait a short time. Just weeks after sending this prayer to the heavens, I was out for drinks with my friend. Of course, it was one of those days that we all have at one time or another (probably more frequently than we would like to admit), where I just felt like a scrub. As we ordered our drinks and caught up on life, a handsome young man slid into our booth. To my surprise, he slid in next to me. “Score!” I thought. Ten minutes later, I discovered his true motives as he leaned toward me and said, “Now don’t get me wrong. You are super, super cute; but she is gorgeous!” as he made a head-nod in the direction of my friend. That night, I sunk into bed holding back tears. Just a couple of weeks earlier I felt Jesus say He would show me my beauty, and it felt like the opposite had happened. Discovering My Beauty in Him Well, God is faithful. I just needed to be patient. The next morning, He spoke to my heart. I was walking out of morning Mass when Jim, an elderly widower and one of my favorite Mass regulars and newfound friend, greeted me. Just a few days earlier, we had finally introduced ourselves after crossing paths on the way out of Mass. As I walked up to Jim for our now regular morning pleasantries, he looked at me with his bright, blue eyes and said, “Now, I can say this because I am an old man. But if I was younger, I’d be chasin' ya. You are very beautiful!” When I thanked him, he said, “Don’t thank me, thank your mom, your dad, and God for that!” His genuine words spoke directly to my soul and were a source of joy and strength for me not only throughout that day, but even now, four years later. His words to me were so specific and so intentional; they provided me with not just words to hear, but a truth to savor. That I was beautiful, with a beauty worthy of praising God. Do You Know You're Beautiful? Psalm 139:14 is a commonly quoted verse in the Bible, but how many times do we take the words to heart? How many times have we confidently exclaimed to the Lord the words “I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works!”? Our beauty is found in Christ, and it is not an act of vanity to praise Him for creating us “so wonderfully." When we proclaim these words in awe and wonder of God’s creation, we honor Him by our worship of His great craftsmanship. Even on the days when you do feel like a scrub, remember, Jesus does not make mistakes. Your very self He knows, and your bones are not hidden from Him. He formed you and He finds you beautiful, with a beauty worthy of praise. Sisters, are you confident in the beauty God has given you? Why or why not? I encourage you to take this to prayer today! [bctt tweet="Beauty Worthy of Praise #BISblog //"]

The season of reading pink, chalk-like candy sweethearts with anecdotal sayings like “I love you” and “True Love” is upon us. So what is true love? Can you find it in a children’s book, a biography, a novel? Sometimes you might want a light-hearted story to read, while other times you may want a book that digs deeper. Below are a few of my favorite books that talk about love in a variety of forms. Love shared between friends, love shared within the family, and also that deep, burning, can’t-quite-quench-it-on-this-earth kind of love that God has for all of us. Spiritual Books about Love The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen This book was recommended in our Best Books About Mary post, but it is such an eye-opening book that it is worth recommending again. In these pages you will be inspired by Venerable Fulton J. Sheen’s portrayal of the Blessed Mother’s life. He speaks specifically to women, placing importance on our great dignity, unique gifts, and ability to bring healing. He also emphasizes Mary’s heart—which burns for her children—showing her deep love for us. The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis This book holds one of my favorite quotations, “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” The beloved British writer and author of The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity shares his insight on the nature of love and how it plays out in our day-to-day lives. He categorizes them into affection, friendship, Eros, and charity. In his study of love, do not be surprised if you find you have the strength to begin opening up your heart and allowing Jesus to pull you close. Catherine of Siena by Sigrid Undset This biography is written by one of the greatest novelists and Nobel Prize winners of the twentieth century. This same author wrote the classic book Kristin Lavransdatter. The author—a third order Dominican herself—will ignite in you a love for the great St. Catherine of Siena. Undset will give you a close-up look into the passionate love shared between St. Catherine and her Lover, Jesus Himself. As you flip through these pages, you too will taste the intense and consuming love that God is inviting you to receive. Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West In this book we receive a thorough, understandable, and condensed version of Pope Saint John Paul II’s teaching on the Theology of the Body. The human body is created to be a sign of God’s divine love, and in this book you will discover how you can experience the kind of love you long for. The Way of Trust and Love: A Retreat Guided by St. Therese of Lisieux by Father Jacques Philippe One of St. Therese’s great gifts is that she surrendered herself so trustingly to God’s love. This exploration of St. Therese’s writings was first shared by Fr. Jacques Philippe during a retreat. Through his words, we will learn from the Little Flower how we, too, can embrace the virtue of humility and trust in God’s loving tenderness and goodness, just as she did. Stories about Love The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows This #1 New York Times bestseller is coming to the big screen in April! This love story takes place in the mid 1900s and transports you between the warmth of a book club on a tiny island to the big city. The main character in the book, writer Juliet Ashton, lives a dramatic life in the bustling city of London. She begins to receive letters from Dawsey Adams, a native from the small island of Guernsey, who came across her name in a book. Dawsey shares with her about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—a book club held on his island with tightly knit friends—which began after the German occupation. Before long, she leaves her life of drama in London and sets off for Guernsey. This decision changes her life forever. Will she choose to return to London and her suitor there, or embrace the new-found life on Guernsey? You are Special by Max Lucado Have you ever dreamed of receiving a love letter? Here is one you can re-read, each and every day. It is a love letter to you, reminding you that you are loved for simply being you. This book may have been written as a children’s tale, but one never tires of hearing that “You are precious in His sight.” If you do have little ones, snuggle up on the couch and get ready for a cozy and comforting read. A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart by Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes In this photographic collaboration between two friends, you will get a glimpse into the precious, morning moments which so often go unseen. Although these two women had only met in person once, they maintained a friendship through their mutual love of capturing the simple moments in life. A fresh cup of dark and bold coffee, warm buttered toast, a bouquet of fresh flowers. As you page through these images you may find yourself reflecting on how you have expressed your love to your children, your spouse, your friends, by doing the very same things that these two women have captured and shared. These pages show the stuff of life! All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr This is a beautiful story about a father’s love for his daughter, Marie-Laure. Marie lives in Paris where her father works as the keymaster of the Museum of Natural History. When she was just a child, she lost her sight. As a gift to her, her father built her a miniature model of their neighborhood so she could use her sense of touch to memorize it and find her way around town and to her home. When the Nazis occupy Paris, Marie’s memorization of this miniature model may be the hope she needs to survive. This book, which is written so poetically, was ten years in the making, a #1 New York Times Bestseller, and Pulitzer Prize winner. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien This book may seem intimidating to pull off the shelf due to its length, but this fear will soon dissipate as you enter into a world of deep friendships. You'll read with a twinkle in your eye, a smile on your face, a shudder down your back, and perhaps a few tears. In the first few chapters, you will get a glimpse into the friendship of Bilbo Baggins and his young friend, Frodo, in the cozy region of The Shire in Middle-earth You'll learn what friendship looks like when friends love with a truly selfless love. A Severe Mercy: A Story of Faith, Tragedy and Triumph by Sheldon Vanauken I don’t often cry, but this book had me near tears. The author was a good friend of C.S. Lewis, and letters from him are included in this love story. As you flip through these pages, you will delve into the relationship of a man and woman who desire nothing to break the “shining barrier” in their marriage. When the wife, Davy, has an encounter with God, this barrier is threatened. The couple learns how to navigate their differences in what they think about God’s existence and why suffering happens. [bctt tweet="I Heart Books: About Divine and Human Love #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!

The Lord speaks to our hearts in innumerable ways, and delighting the senses is an ideal way to evangelize through hospitality. Imagine flying ten hours overseas with overcoming jet lag heavy on your mind. Now imagine biting into a soft, buttery pastry called cornetto (an Italian twist on a French croissant, often filled with hazelnut-flavored chocolate) followed by a sip of steamy hot, dark-as-night espresso. Suddenly, jet lag seems like a far off memory. This Italian breakfast was served to me and about twenty-five other friends and family members, in the home of a young couple who moved from America to Rome nine years ago (John and Ashley Noronha). A group of us traveled to Rome the day before to attend my future brother-in-law’s Diaconate Ordination later that week at St. Peter’s Basilica. When I heard that his family was invited to an Italian home for breakfast, I thought it was a kind gesture for this couple to welcome us. Later, I learned that this invitation was not just for his immediate family of four, but for all of those who traveled to Rome for his ordination. We wondered how they were going to fit nearly thirty people in their Italian apartment while making and serving coffee and breakfast for all of us; but they insisted, and in our weariness, we were not about to turn down such a thoughtful invitation. The Holiness of Delight As we walked to the couple's apartment, we were greeted by one of our hosts, John, who was walking up to the front gate with a large box of freshly baked cornetti in his hands. His wife, Ashley, welcomed us at the door downstairs and led us up to their living room where the sound of soft music, the scent of fresh flowers on their table, and a colorful spread of cornetti, fruit, Italian cured meat, juice, and espresso awakened our tired senses. The couple’s home was made warm by their loving welcome, great attention to detail, and attentiveness to their guests. Even before stepping into their home, I felt a sense of comfort just by seeing their smiling faces. Why did they show so much genuine interest in each of us and go out of their way to prepare their home to welcome us? Why, on a work day, did they offer their time to show us care and love? How to Evangelize Through Hospitality A few days after the ordination, I saw John and Ashley at Mass, and afterward I thanked them again for their generous hospitality. Ashley told me that showing hospitality is what they love to do and that it is part of their family mission as a couple. She shared about the charism of hospitality that they wrote for their family, which is: “To offer a place of warmth and welcome where the visitor - Christ - can discuss any topic in an atmosphere filled with Christ’s love. We pray for all who enter our home.” She also shared with me their entire mission statement: "Simplicitas et Humilitas cum Compassio et Cartias, cum Delectatio" which means, “Simplicity, Humility, Charity, and Compassion...with Delight.” Through the living out of this charism and mission, I saw how John and Ashley evangelize through hospitality. I experienced their love for Christ through the love they showed for us and their ability to see Christ in each of us. Simplicitas (Simplicity) To detach themselves from worldly things that are not of God, while keeping at the forefront of their minds Philippians 4:11-13, which speaks of knowing one’s strength because of Christ who empowers us and provides all we need. While at their apartment, never for a moment did I feel that there was an object in their home too valuable or too fragile to touch. Through their gentleness, they opened their home as though it were my own. Your home and life do not have to be fancy in order to evangelize through hospitality. Humilitas (Humility) To embrace authentic humility by acknowledging their gifts and talents and responding to these strengths with a spirit of thanksgiving and deep gratitude. The couple showed great humility during our visit. One of the very first things they did after we settled into their living room was to share with us a brief introduction of who they are and what they do. This was immediately followed by a question of my brother-in-law’s parents, asking them to share with the group what it is like to have raised a son who is entering the Priesthood. They were genuinely curious and interested in their guests. They desired to hear how God has made His love and presence known in the lives of other families. Caritas (Charity) To nurture a spirit of loving neighbor through their Love of God, based on the theme of their wedding, "As I have loved you" (John 13:34) and "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Their charity was made evident by how they took sincere interest in each person who entered their apartment. Compassio (Compassion) To offer both sympathy and empathy as they treat others as they themselves would like to be treated. As I watched John and Ashley interact with their guests, I read compassion on their faces as they reacted to the trials their visitors spoke about. They opened their doors and their hearts to evangelize through hospitality. Delectatio (Pleasure) To delight in each other and radiate the joy and happiness that comes from the reason for our hope. John and Ashley were so excited to hear about the fast-approaching wedding of myself and my fiancé. I could see the joy and love that John and Ashley had for one another. They enthusiastically expressed how amazing the call to the vocation to marriage is, and in their joy, they radiated Christ’s love. It made us even more excited for the Sacrament of Marriage! Show the Love of Jesus Pope Saint John Paul II encourages us to evangelize through hospitality by pointing to 1 Peter 3:15-16: Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence. This young couple concludes their mission statement with the same idea: to give others the reason for their hope (this reason being Christ and the Church). They have heeded John Paul II’s words when he said: Only those who have opened their hearts to Christ can offer a hospitality that is never formal or superficial, but identified by ‘gentleness’ and ‘reverence’. John and Ashley welcomed us into their home, while giving us ample reason for their hope, simply by virtue of who they are as individuals and as a couple. They welcomed each visitor with the goal of showing reverence to them as they would show reverence to Christ. By seeing Christ in each visitor, the couple pointed us toward Jesus, helping each one of us grow in awareness of the deep love He has for us. A Further Mission John and Ashley recently founded The Truth & Beauty Project. It was just approved as a 501-c non profit. They are coming to the United States to do a fundraising tour! For more information about this extended mission and how you can meet them and get involved, visit their website. [bctt tweet="Evangelize Through Hospitality #BISblog //"] In the comments below, tell us about a time when you received the love of Christ through the hospitality of another!