It was a random afternoon and I had somehow found myself searching through a plethora of tiny little charms on a website called Tiny Saints. Having little to no idea about any Saint—much less the significance of any of the Saints—I was most definitely out of my element. The tiny charms were adorable and they looked like any of them would make a cute accessory on a lanyard or a child’s backpack. But at the time I wasn’t Catholic, and the huge selection of Saints to choose from was overwhelming. Looking for a Gift… Receiving a Gift You might be wondering, how could someone who was not Catholic find themselves on a website such as Tiny Saints? I was searching for a gift, and although I wasn’t sure if I believed in the idea of Saints at the time, I knew my friend did, and I thought it would be a cute gift for her to add to her lanyard as we headed back to work that fall (she works in a school and carries her work badge on a lanyard). Not knowing much about the Saints, I could’ve easily just read the small information box underneath the charm that stated what the Saint was the patron of, found something relatable to my friend on a surface level, and called it a day. However, I wanted to pick a Saint that I felt would be the perfect one for my friend. I searched and read biographies of each Saint that caught my eye. Looking back, this tells me that I believed in the intercession of Saints more than I realized at the time. After consuming information about several Saints, I found one: I settled on Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. A Patron Chose Me As I read about each Saint, I was trying to determine how and if they related to my friend. Elizabeth and my friend Jessee have many similarities: both are widows, converts, and dedicated to children’s education. I felt excited as I placed my order and waited for the tiny Saint to arrive. But I’m not good at keeping a gift a surprise. The next time I saw my friend, I had to tell her I had something coming for her. It didn’t take long until she pulled it out of me. Having no idea confirmation Saints even existed, I happily told her that I had chosen Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton for her Saint charm. I was confused when I was met with skepticism from my friend. She said something like, “Are you being serious?” Great, I thought, Maybe the Saint I picked offended her. Was that even possible? After all, what did I think I was doing ordering a tiny Saint for someone when I wasn’t even Catholic? After confirming that I had indeed bought her Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s charm she said, “She is my confirmation Saint . . . that’s so weird you had no idea, yet you picked her for me.” I definitely thought it was weird. In that moment, a piece of me wondered if God had played a part in the whole thing. I can say with certainty now that He did, and I believe He must have known that soon I would grow to admire Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton very much myself. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=}  The Saint Who Started My Conversion Months later, I found myself prepared to convert to Catholicism. I had read almost anything I could get my hands on and was overjoyed, feeling like I needed to make up for lost time and learn as much as possible about Catholicism. One day, I decided to read a bit more about Elizabeth. I noticed the similarities between us almost immediately, just as I had seen the similarities between Elizabeth and my friend Jessee, yet Jessee and I are in completely different seasons of life. Sure, some similarities between Jessee and I were shared with Elizabeth, but not all of them. I began to wonder, is Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton the most relatable Saint? She can comfort those working with children in education, in difficult marriages, widows, parents of sick children, converts, those dealing with friends and family members that do not support their Catholic faith, financial difficulties, and the list could go on. Now, obviously, I can recognize that I find Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton relatable because I of course relate to her greatly in some ways. I converted to Catholicism and struggled initially with family members who had a difficult time accepting my conversion, and I understand what it is like to be married to someone who does not prioritize religion on the same level that I do. All of these things have drawn me to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton; however, I think a lot of women could find her relatable in one way or another. Following Jesus No Matter What The most inspiring thing about Elizabeth is that through all of the challenges she faced, she was steadfast in her beliefs and remained incredibly dedicated to following Jesus throughout her life. I encourage you to read more about Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and see if there is at least one thing you can relate to her on, and if so, ask her to pray for you today. Knowing that Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton faced many obstacles of her own and remained so dedicated to pursuing a stronger relationship with God throughout it all brings hope to many women currently struggling with similar obstacles. I love having my Tiny Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton on my keychain as a reminder to strive to live such a faith-centered life just as she did. Consider buying a Tiny Saint for yourself as a reminder to pray and also as a reminder that we are all on our own hopeful journey to becoming saints. Lexie Karlin is a teacher located in Kansas City where she lives with her husband and their Siberian Husky, Dolly. She recently converted from Methodism to Catholicism and is still enjoying learning all there is to know about the amazing Catholic faith.

I knelt slowly within the dimly lit church. Incense rose from the altar to the ceiling, filling the air with a smoky haze. Holy silence as we all watched the priest carry the golden monstrance, glinting in the candlelight, the loving gaze of Jesus penetrating my heart as He came before me. The immense power of being in His Presence removed every fear, every worry, everything that was not of Him from my soul. I was expecting my seventh child, and as I looked at the Lord, I thought of Elizabeth and Our Lady. As my baby girl moved, I thought of Saint John the Baptist as he leapt in the womb of his mother. I thought of Elizabeth’s praise rising like the smoke of incense as she proclaimed that Christ, God in the flesh, dwelt within Mary. My heart swelled with joy, delightedly lost in wonder that Jesus not only comes to me, but dwells in me. Graces unfold in my soul, hidden and sacred, as His divine heart makes a place to abide. He knows me fully and I am astounded. We are all invited to this encounter. “The heart is the dwelling place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place ‘to which I withdraw’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church § 2563). It is within this hidden place of our hearts, a place of silence and deep peace, that the Lord speaks to us. This is the place where Jesus calls us to plunge into rivers of grace and allow them to flow through us, as they sanctify our souls. I encourage you to seek a time of silence in your day: a time to withdraw and place yourself in the Lord’s embrace, if only for a moment. We often feel that we do not have enough time within the day to retreat, to rest our hearts and unite them to His most Sacred Heart. To drink from the cup of living water He tenderly brings to our lips in order to sustain us. Have confidence, dear sister, that the God of the Universe will multiply your time. Pray that the Lord will make your heart a sanctuary for His Holy Presence. He knows you. He loves you. He remains with you.  Pray that the Lord will make your heart a sanctuary for His Holy Presence. #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET {formbuilder:MTAxMDA1} Let Us Pray Jesus, make my heart a sanctuary where Your abundant graces may unfold. For Discussion When can you find a moment of holy pause?  What is the interior disposition of your heart when you’re in silence? Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 4 #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

On July 18, 1880, the lively cry of a newborn rang out on a military base camp in Avor, France. Elizabeth Catez entered the world, as Chaplain Chaboisseau celebrated Mass for the intentions of her parents, Captain Joseph Catez and his wife Marie. Elizabeth was baptized four days later, on the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalen. Surrounded by the sounds of military trumpets, soldiers, and horses, little Elizabeth fell deeply in love with Jesus, expressing her affections by blowing kisses toward the Crucifix at the foot of the altar. Elizabeth had fierce, dark eyes and a fiery temper. Letters written by her mother and her younger sister Marguerite, describe her as short-tempered and prone to “terrible rages.” At one point, her mother considered sending her to a “house of corrections.” However, it was clear that Elizabeth’s fervor could be used for good. When her father died suddenly, the family moved to a home near the countryside. As Elizabeth gazed out of her window, she saw a stone building enclosed by gardens: she saw Carmel. On the night of her First Holy Communion, tears streaking her face, she said, “I am not hungry; Jesus has fed me.” Then she walked to see the Mother Prioress of Carmel who told her that Elizabeth means, “House of God.” The Lord dwelt within her. The sweet whispers of monastic life began to draw her in. Her deepest desire was to consecrate her life to her beloved Jesus, but her mother forbade it. Elizabeth offered this sorrow to the Lord and accepted His holy will above all else. She wrote, “I offer You the cell of my heart; may it be Your little Bethany.” She radiated a supernatural peace, and eventually, yet with deep anguish, her mother relented and Elizabeth entered the iron gates of Carmel. Enclosed with her Beloved, she was eager to live a life of prayer and austerity. Shortly after her entrance into Carmel, Elizabeth became ill with Addison’s disease. Her suffering was profound, and during this time her love for Jesus grew, beautifully radiating from her soul to those around her. She died on November 9, 1906. Her last spoken words were, “I am going to Light, to Love, to Life!” Dear sister, may we seek to be fed by the One who is Light, Love, and Life. I am going to Light, to Love, to Life! // Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET {formbuilder:MTAxMDA1} Let Us Pray Jesus, may Your Sacred Heart mend mine. Amen! For Discussion How do you prepare a dwelling place for the Lord in your heart? When can you pause and adore the Lord’s presence in your soul during your daily life? Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 3 #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

There is a small garden surrounding the Adoration chapel by my home. All is quiet there, except for the gentle trickling of water from a nearby fountain. Amid the ever-present noise of my ordinary life, I am often called there. His extraordinary love meets us in ordinary places. The prophet Jeremiah was called during a time of great turmoil in the kingdom of Judah. A time of uncertainty and suffering. A time of noise and confusion. However, the book of Jeremiah reveals to us the truth of God’s love and faithfulness: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you” (Jeremiah 31:3). The Lord loves us and seeks us in every moment. I feel this truth each time I walk through the garden and arrive at the doors of the chapel. As I welcome the silence, I contemplate that there in the monstrance is the Savior of the World, and that He waits for me. He waits for me in this holy space and before Him I find peace. When I am before Him, every thirst within my soul will be quenched. His love will be lavished upon me. The King of Kings, the God of the Universe is with me. This is the intimacy of the Lord. Always so close. He provides eternal nourishment that can heal, transform, and renew places in my heart that I have long abandoned—places where He has remained, gently restoring me to an indescribable beauty, because He is the Divine Physician. In His gaze, in this great exchange of love and the outpouring of my heart into His, I simply pray, “Jesus, may Your Sacred Heart mend mine.” I believe this is what Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity was referring to when she said, “Make my soul . . . Your cherished dwelling place, Your home of rest. Let me never leave You there alone, but keep me there all absorbed in You, in living faith, adoring You.” Saint Elizabeth kept the Lord in the chapel of her heart, faithfully loving Him and remaining with Him, as He remained with her.  Make my soul . . . Your cherished dwelling place, Your home of rest. // Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET {formbuilder:MTAxMDA1} Let Us Pray Jesus, may Your Sacred Heart mend mine. Amen! For Discussion How do you prepare a dwelling place for the Lord in your heart? When can you pause and adore the Lord’s presence in your soul during your daily life? Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 2 #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

  The decorations are still up. And the carols are still playing in the background. It’s still Christmas, after all. But the explosion of wrapping paper and empty boxes has been cleared away, and only a few Christmas cookies remain in the freezer, almost forgotten. As I continue to liturgically celebrate the Christmas season, I breathe deep relief. The frenzy of the past month has slowed way down. My to-do list has returned to a normal length. And as I look upon the first month of a new calendar year, I see open and empty spaces, inviting me to keep them just as they are. Welcome, Simplicity January is the month when I crave simplicity. After a marathon of holiday celebrations and family gatherings, and after a season of abundant blessings, I desire quiet, stillness, space, and less. Of course I love celebrating the birth of Christ, but after the whirlwind, I reach a point where I long to live the simplicity of the stable instead of the abundance that comes with the modern-day Christmas celebration. I ponder the simplicity of the Holy Family’s home in Nazareth, where “Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor” (Luke 2:52). And I wonder what they have to teach me about holy simplicity and how I can observe it in my own life. What is Holy Simplicity? While we may not know many details about the hidden life of Christ’s family, we know with certainty that they lived simplicity perfectly. As a virtue, simplicity calls us out of ourselves and our attachments. As Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalene notes, it prompts us to move “in one direction only: to God, to live for Him, to please Him, and to give glory to Him” (Divine Intimacy, 853). Yes, if anyone can show us how to live life simply, it is the Holy Family. Jesus Jesus refers to holy simplicity in His preaching and teaching. In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, He instructs, “You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13). In another part of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Mary Mary’s words at the Annunciation prove her incomparable simplicity. “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Joseph Joseph’s obedience attests to his holy simplicity too. “When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him …”  (Matthew 1:24). With the Holy Family as our guides, now seems like the perfect time to return to a more single-minded devotion into which simplicity invites us. After a season of joy and celebration, mixed with busyness and running on too much coffee and sugar, the call to simplicity echoes in the depth of the soul. It is as if the Holy Family is inviting us into their home: “Come, let us show you how.”   {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=}  More Than Minimalism As a virtue, simplicity is more than minimalism. It is more than being organized and clutter-free. To have less for the sake of having less isn’t quite virtuous. Simplicity is deeper than that; it is holier than that. Our reason behind it must be more meaningful. In her book The Little Way of Living With Less: Learning to Let Go with the Little Flower, Laraine Bennett suggests that “without the motivation of truly inspiring goals—to strengthen the bonds of love, to serve others better, to follow Christ more perfectly, to love God with our whole mind, heart, soul and strength—it is likely that we will soon find ourselves frustrated with any decluttering, organizing, or minimizing project.” Therefore, our desire to grow in greater simplicity is rooted in a longing to have a simplicity of heart that mirrors Christ’s. We yearn for the simplicity of the Holy Family. We crave stillness and attentiveness in our souls. Practical Steps Toward Holy Simplicity And yet, because we are human, we learn with our senses and understand the intangible through the tangible. Practical applications help our holy pursuit of virtue. But practical steps are not our goals. Rather, they are a means to a more virtuous end. They are the path toward unity with God in Heaven. Below are a handful of ways we can practice simplicity with the goal of living Christ’s invocation to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind. Simple meals Cook a batch of soup to eat throughout the week Renew the Catholic tradition of meatless Fridays Shop the perimeter of the store, focusing on whole foods Simple home Learn to “quiet the house,” especially after Christmas Create a faith-based focal point Decorate according to the natural and liturgical seasons Simple routines Return to consistent, daily prayer Create margin in your day, week, and month Unplug and welcome silence regularly These few ideas allow us to practice simplicity in our hearts and homes, while focusing on a deeper purpose: cultivating virtue, growing more recollected, and becoming more single-hearted for the Lord. The Saints Loved Simplicity Thankfully, we are not alone in our desire to pursue holy simplicity. In addition to the Holy Family, the Saints chose to practice this virtue, too. Here are their words to keep us inspired and encouraged: “I recommend to you holy simplicity.” // Saint Francis de Sales “Pure, holy simplicity confounds all the wisdom of this world.” // Saint Francis of Assisi “Be humble, be simple, and bring joy to others.” // Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat “Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.” // Saint Therese of Lisieux “Simplicity is a virtue that makes us go straight to God and to the truth.” // Saint Vincent de Paul More Resources To go deeper in the practice of holy simplicity, here are some helpful resources to accompany your journey: Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales The Little Way of Living With Less by Laraine Bennett Making Room for God: Decluttering and the Spiritual Life by Mary Elizabeth Sperry Theology of Home by Carrie Gress Welcome Home: A Cozy Minimalist Guide to Decorating and Hosting All Year Round by Myquillyn Smith Does your heart desire simplicity? How do you feel called to grow in this virtue? Living Simply in the New Year #BISblog // -->> CLICK TO TWEET This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!  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

Happy new year, friend! As we still soak in the Christmas season while looking at the year ahead, we are thrilled to be stepping into 2023 with you, in prayer. Awaken Love Each of us desires to love and to be loved. We are created by Love, for Love. Jesus invites each of us into an ever-deepening relationship with Him. Since God is love, our desire for love is only fulfilled in union with Him. This is the path of sanctity.  During this Prayer Pledge, we will reflect on the “unitive way” to which all the faithful are called. God is our deepest and final Love, and the more we are united to Him on earth, the more ready we will be for the greatest intimacy with Him in Heaven.  As long as we pursue “lesser loves” as the ultimate love, we will be disappointed. But once we realize and live as though God is the only fulfillment of that desire which we all possess, we can start living in His embrace now. To help us on this road toward divine intimacy, we will journey with four female mystics who experienced this kind of Love and allow their example and intercession to encourage toward a deeper communion with Our Blessed Lord: Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity Saint Teresa of Calcutta Saint Gemma Galgani Saint Catherine of Siena What to Expect this Month Beginning tomorrow, four Blessed is She Blog Writers will walk us through the four full weeks of January. Each week will flow as follows: Monday // We will pray with the anchoring Scripture verse for the week, which will pertain to divine intimacy Tuesday // We will meet the mystic of the week  Wednesday // We will look at what the Church says about the Lord as Lover through the Catechism and other Church documents Thursday // The writer will share a story from the life of the mystic that offers us a glimpse into their relationship with God Friday // The writer will share a story from their own life about a time they experienced this kind of love of God Saturday // Through the words of the mystic, we will look at the practicals of this union and four “requirements” for it Sunday // We will end the week with rest with the Beloved and contemplation on a Gospel passage in which Jesus reveals Himself as Love I’ll be back with you for the last two days to wrap it up and send us all forth… in love. Prayer Partners Finally, each day concludes with questions for consideration in your own heart and for discussion with your prayer partner. You and your prayer partner can chat about the questions or that day’s reflection in person, over the phone, or in text/email/Messenger/Voxer. We also encourage you to pray with and for one another during these 31 days and beyond! Other Ways to Participate If you’d like to join in the joy of the Prayer Pledge in other ways, we would love for you to share your thoughts, reflections, or prayers on social media using the hashtag #prayerpledge. Additionally, every night during the Prayer Pledge, one member of Blessed is She will go live in the BIS app (around 9 p.m. eastern most nights) for a brief time of sharing and prayer with our community there. We’d love for you to hang out with us there! We are Invited into Love Please know that we are praying for you as you receive the invitation to divine intimacy in 2023. We are by your side! God is love, and the more we desire Him, the more we will understand what, and Who, love truly is. So let’s be eager to awaken love this year. Let us lay aside doubts, fears, or uncertainties and rest with the One Who made us in love! Let Us Pray God, You are Love. And all our desire for love finds its fulfillment in You. Help us to accept and internalize this truth so that we will turn away from rivals to Your love and embrace the intimacy to which You call us. Help us to let down our guard with You, entrusting ourselves to Your merciful love. Amen! For Discussion On the first day of this new year, are you feeling optimistic about love in general, or has your heart been hurt in love in human relationships? What feelings arise when you consider the language about divine intimacy with God? Hope? Confusion? Fear? Tenderness? Guardedness? Unworthiness? Longing? Where do you think those feelings rise from? Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 1 #BISblog // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

December 12th is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe and it is a very special day in our home. This feast day is significant to many throughout the world, but it is especially important to Mexican-Catholics because of the rich history of Our Lady and her apparition in Mexico. So one might be wondering why this day holds such significance to a little Korean-American family like ours living in Texas. For whatever reason, Our Blessed Mother has chosen to follow our family around for many years under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of All the Americas It was the year 1531, when a poor Aztec Indian named Juan Diego, was walking through the Tepayac hill country in Mexico. He encountered a beautiful lady surrounded by a bright light and she spoke to him in his native tongue. She revealed herself to him as the Mother of the true God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, and gave Juan Diego a specific mission to go to the bishop and request that a church be built in her honor. A miracle took place when Juan Diego stood before the bishop, a cascade of beautiful roses falling from his poncho-like tilma. The bishop and his advisors fell to their knees. On his tilma was a perfect image of the Virgin Mary—the image of Santa Maria de Guadalupe. The bishop believed that Juan Diego had a true encounter with the mother of Jesus and approved her request. Since then, millions of Aztecs converted to Catholicism. Not only was the apparition a miracle, but the image on the tilma has been studied over the years and has proven to be a miracle itself. It can be seen today in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico. A Mother’s Love Growing up in middle school, I had a Mexican-Catholic best friend. At the time, I had a very tumultuous relationship with my own family and had almost no relationship with them aside from living under the same roof. So my best friend’s family lovingly and graciously “adopted” me. I would spend multiple days and nights at her house, go on family vacations with them, and call her parents “mom and dad.” They would jokingly say that they had adopted the Korean girl whenever they introduced me to strangers, and I was fully immersed in their family life. Meanwhile, Our Lady of Guadalupe was working on my husband, Paul, to convert him back to Christ. She would reveal herself to him through the smell of roses and through the powerful prayer of the Rosary. When he was discerning religious life, she was there in a thirty-foot mural on the outside of the friary he lived in, assuring him of her prayers every day that he passed it. Her image would follow him around through several important life stages, always reminding him of her Son’s love and mercy. Our Lady of Guadalupe became very near and dear to Paul’s heart. “My little son, there are many I could send. But you are the one I have chosen.”     An Unexpected Encounter When Paul and I began dating, I started learning more about Catholicism. I appreciated how his Faith had beautifully impacted his life. One night, on December 12th, we went out on a date and went to a cupcake bakery. The employee serving us had a tattoo of Our Lady of Guadalupe on her arm. Paul made a comment about how it was coincidentally her feast day, and that led to an interesting conversation about her. He told me the story of Saint Juan Diego, the miracle of the tilma, and the conversion of millions of people because of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I found it all fascinating, but I was also looking at him like he was crazy. You see, at the time, I knew nothing about Mother Mary. I was born and raised in a hardcore Protestant family. Speaking about the Mother of Jesus was unheard of. Honoring her in any way was considered blasphemous. So when Paul started sharing about her, it made me feel very uncomfortable. I also had a very rough relationship with my own mother. She had unexpectedly left our family one night and then my parents got divorced. It was a very traumatic experience that left me with feelings of abandonment and betrayal. I didn’t understand how a mother could leave her children and it put fears into my own future as a potential mother. “My dear little son, I love you. I desire you to know who I am. I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God who gives life and maintains its existence. All those who sincerely ask my help in their work and in their sorrows will know my Mother’s Heart in this place. Here I will see their tears; I will console them and they will be at peace.” My First Prayer So that night, on December 12th, Paul asked me, “Have you ever just said a prayer to Mother Mary?” I was thinking, Absolutely not! Is that even okay? He asked me if I would like to try. I had no idea what to say. He told me to tell her anything you would say to the best of mothers. So I said a very honest and simple prayer: “Mary, I don’t know what to say to you or how to feel about you. I don’t even have a relationship with my own mother right now and I feel so disconnected. But I know you’re the Mother of Jesus and I think that’s beautiful.” Immediately, I felt immense peace, love, and comfort. She told me, “I am your Mother. I have always been your Mother. And I’ve been praying for you and loving you before you even knew me.” Much like the words she said to Saint Juan Diego. This very first prayer that I ever prayed to Our Blessed Mother was the first step in my relationship with her. It played a big role in my conversion to Catholicism and it also began the work of me finally forgiving my own mother and restoring my relationship with her. “Let not your heart be disturbed. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection?” Coming Full Circle A couple years later, Paul and I were married and pregnant with our first child. I was nervous about being a mother because of my past and all the pain I had worked through surrounding motherhood. My doctor told us we were expecting a baby girl and her due date was December 12th. We were shocked to hear that date but I knew that there was a very slim chance that babies are born on their actual due dates. In fact, it happens in only about 5 percent of pregnancies. So nine days before December 12th, we prayed a novena to Our Lady. And sure enough, our daughter was born on her due date, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the day I became a mother. Much like my childhood friend’s family “adopted” me as their own, I feel like Our Lady of Guadalupe has truly adopted our family. She has always been a figure of peace, joy, and maternal love in our home. We attribute so many blessings and answered prayers to her intercession. And we are forever grateful to call her Mother. How has Our Lady shown her maternal love for you? What would you like to ask her to pray for you?   [bctt tweet="Our Lady of Guadalupe and How She Adopted Our Family #BISblog //" via="no"] MARY SHOWS US THE WAY Just as a mother might pass on a beloved family tradition to her daughters, Mary shares the recipe for growing in virtue with us. This study on Mary's Virtues will breathe new life into your everyday, beginning right in Mary's home. GET HOME STUDY

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. // Isaiah 61:1 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

If you are anything like me, then you love love. You love any way you can express your feelings for the ones dearest to you. Your heart soars when you see couples kiss and public proposals. You love to love and want everyone to love just as much as you do. One of my favorite books that dives into the importance of love and what it means to love well is the well-renowned The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Chapman explains in his work the five ways people show their love for one another—physical touch, quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, and gift giving—and how crucial these languages are for couples seeking to strengthen their relationships. As a single Catholic woman who wears her heart on her sleeve and is a hopeless romantic, however, I don’t get to use my wealth of love languages as often as I would like. I want to share all the love bottled up inside me, but I struggle with a lack of a significant other to spend quality time with or perform acts of service for, no one romancing me with gifts or sweet nothings. Luckily for us, faithful women of Christ, we have a Lord who wants to be the Love of our lives, all of us. Chapman urges anyone reading his book that “for love, we will climb mountains, cross seas, traverse desert sands, and endure untold hardships. Without love, mountains become unclimbable, seas uncrossable, deserts unbearable, and hardships our lot in life”—and if that doesn’t sound like our relationship with Jesus Christ, then I don’t know what does (p. 19). Sending Jesus a Love Letter Back Our Lord Jesus loves us more than any significant other ever will, but it’s easy to forget this. He is the King of Kings, the Savior of all, the Prince of Peace - but He is also our true and loyal Lover every day of our lives. We don’t need to wait to be in a relationship to love and to love well, especially when Jesus wants to be our Lover no matter our vocation. “I found him whom my soul loves” (Song of Songs 3:4). Jesus Christ writes each of us—daughter or mother, consecrated or married life, single or taken—a love letter every day, romancing us in our passions, joys, lessons learned, tears fallen, and especially in the Bible. Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge delves into how the Lord romances us to Himself: “The Great Love Story the Scriptures are telling us about also reveals a Lover who longs for you. The story of your life is also the story of the long and passionate pursuit of your heart by the One who knows you best and loves you most” (p. 117). If He spends his time doing this, pursuing us, how can we love Him well back? I eventually learned that we can use the five love languages to do so, just like any other relationship. How Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Love Languages “Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come!” (Song of Songs 2: 10) Physical Touch The first love language is physical touch. The Lord shares with us a unique way to become one with Him, to be physically close to Him, and that is through the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the Lord’s most beloved gift to us, and receiving Him on Sunday, and if possible, at daily Mass, is our humble present back to Him. In our proclamation of “Amen” and upon consuming the Eucharist, we are telling our Lover that we believe in Him and want to be with Him, to carry Him with us wherever we go. Try to attend daily mass once a month or even once a week as a physical commitment to Christ and to loving Him back. Another powerful way to show our love for Him is by praying the Stations of the Cross regularly. I have found that going from station to station at my parish, physically walking to Calvary with Jesus, has helped me not only remember the sacrifices He made for us but also spiritually be there with Him at a time many were not to show my love and dedication to Christ. “I held him and would not let him go” (Song of Songs 3:4). Quality Time Prayer is the simplest way we can share quality time with the Lord, but there are some specific forms of prayer that allow that time to be sanctified in love. One is reading His words and practicing lectio divina, a contemplative way to read and pray over Scripture. Another is by visiting the church either after Mass or throughout your week and sitting in His abiding peace and quiet. Sometimes we get so excited to talk to the Lord and tell Him everything that we forget one of the main components of conversation: listening. When reading the Bible and/or praying in silence, we can hear Him better and love Him best by sharing, listening, and then responding. Mother Teresa once said, “I see Jesus in every human being . . . I serve because I love Jesus.” Being there for those people who need to see the face of Jesus is a great way to love Christ while also meeting Him in those people as well. We can share quality time with Him in every person we meet, for He Himself taught us that “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25: 40). Spend time with your grandmother, reach out to your estranged friend, sit with the homeless and the poor in your community – they are Christ waiting to be loved back by you. “Draw me after you! Let us run!” (Song of Songs 1:4). Acts of Service My best friend gave up her entire life to serve Jesus as a Servant of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará. While sometimes I wish I could love and serve Him as beautifully as she does, you and I are all called to different acts of service as Christian people. For me, I have always enjoyed taking part in the various ministries at my parish, both at home and at college. Whether it is teaching a class at Vacation Bible School, helping coordinate Community Coffee Sundays, or lectoring at mass, there are so many ministries at any church that could use your time, talents, and treasures to love and serve the Lord and His people. Similar to quality time, volunteering with those faces of Jesus in your community is another loving way to offer yourself and your service to whomever needs it most, and therefore to Christ as well. “His left hand is under my head and his right arm embraces me” (Song of Songs 2:6). Words of Affirmation Words have meaning. A very wise role model of mine shared this expression with me, and her words ring even more true when it comes to love. Words of affirmation are the backbone of praising and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ. We use words of kindness and humility to tell Him how much we love Him, to honor Him and His glory, to speak of His goodness over all the earth. In addition to praise, we also find ourselves in prayer sharing our gratitude for all He has given us. Remember this week to stop for a moment and to thank Him for your day and the blessings at hand. Using words of affirmation with the Lord, however, can be difficult. Finding the right words in prayer does not come easily all the time, and maybe you struggle to vocalize this. If this sounds like you, I encourage you to try singing to Him or listening to praise and worship music. No matter how you say it, think it, listen to it, or sing it, Jesus will hear and cherish every word. “You are beautiful in every way, my friend, there is no flaw in you!” (Song of Songs 4:7). Gift Giving When Jesus is the truest and best gift we could have ever received, what do we give Him back? The first thing you can do is follow Jesus’ lead and offer up the gift of yourself. Make a commitment to Him, a weekly promise, that you are His and He is yours, that you will use the upcoming week to love and serve Him well and to be His disciple. Another way to do this is by giving up something for a day or so, offering up your favorite cheesecake or that hour you normally spend on TikTok for prayer instead. Nothing says “I love you” more than sacrificing for Him who once sacrificed everything for us. Lastly, consider donating to your parish or favorite charity. The Lord loves when we share our treasures and show that our relationship with Him is more important than any dollar sign or bank account. “We will make pendants of gold for you, and ornaments of silver” (Song of Songs 1:11). You Were Made for This Kind of Love The love languages do not have barriers. Love does not have any barriers. Loving Him can look like leading a weekly Bible study or praying a Rosary walk with your family. Be creative, ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and love Christ the way you love best; your relationship with Jesus is meant to be as unique and special as you. However you decide to love Christ back, do it with your whole heart. The Lord knows when acts of love are performed with kindness and joy for Him, and He relishes them. Strengthen your relationship with Him who wants you for Himself, to love and to hold, in sickness and in health, never parted but reunited by death. Jesus of my heart’s center, Be the love of my life, my Savior, now, and forever, and ever. Amen.   [bctt tweet="Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Love Languages #BISblog // " via="no"]   Liz Homick is a second-year graduate student pursuing her M.S. in Library and Information Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. When she isn’t writing or studying to be a professional guardian of books, her friends and family can usually find her making puns, reading thirty books at once, or watching Disney movies on repeat. Liz swears by the Oxford comma, Times New Roman font, Old Bay seasoning, and unconditional kindness.

If you hear the two words “church father” you might be thinking of an ancient, white-haired man who probably did some good things for the church a long, long time ago. At least that’s what I used to think of. But when learning more about each one, like actually learning, I realized how big of an impact their lives have had on my own. For example, Saint Ambrose. It is thanks to him that today I love praying with the Bible using Lectio Divina. And it was Saint Ambrose’s intimacy with the Lord through Scripture that prompted Augustine to take a closer look at the faith—making him a great intercessor for those in our own lives who may have fallen away from the faith, or perhaps, have yet to find it. From Roman Governor to Bishop of Milan Ambrose was born to a wealthy Christian family in 340 A.D. His father died when he was just a child, so his mother brought him to Rome to be trained for a career in law, where he received a great education in the classics and rhetoric. While in his thirties he was headquartered in Milan as governor of two of the northern provinces in Italy. Here there was much fallout between the Christians and Arians, even after the Council of Nicea sought to resolve this heretical controversy. Peace was not achieved, and many people still adhered to the heresy that denied Christ’s divinity. Ambrose continued to work towards this desired peace. The former Bishop of Milan, Auxentius, was in favor of Arianism and thus considered to be in opposition to the Catholic faith. Ambrose himself believed in the Nicene Creed, disagreed peacefully with the Arians, and was abreast of the theological controversies of the time. So after the death of Auxentius, Ambrose gave a discourse on peace and moderation. It was during this that the crowd began chanting, “Ambrose, Bishop!” But this would become much more than just a chant. Through the influence of the people, he was considered elected. So eight days later, December 7, 374, Ambrose was consecrated Bishop of Milan. In eight days he was baptized, ordained, and consecrated (the custom at the time was to wait to be baptized until as close to death as possible). While Ambrose was well-educated, he was a layman and didn’t know Scripture very well. His new role as Bishop launched his deep dive into Scripture reading, and eventually, he started praying using lectio divina as his way of listening to the Lord’s words and the promptings of the Holy Spirit to inspire his preaching and writing. In the words of Saint Ambrose, “When we take up the sacred Scriptures in faith and read them with the Church, we walk once more with God in the Garden” . . . a place where Saint Augustine, a contemporary of Saint Ambrose, had an experience of transformation. Conversion in a Garden Augustine was raised by a Pagan father and a devout Christian mother. For himself, he chose Manichaeism, a dualistic religion that taught that the world was evil and salvation could only be found through knowledge. Like Ambrose, Augustine was known for his rhetoric and eventually became a professor in Milan, where he frequently visited the cathedral just to hear Bishop Ambrose speak. This prompted him to shift his religious views to one that incorporated both the philosophy of the Roman pagans and Milanese Christians. Augustine admitted that he was a sinful man, but he still grappled with overcoming the temptations he so enjoyed giving into. When looking back on a time in his childhood when he stole pears with his friends, he said, “Our real pleasure consisted in doing something that was forbidden. The evil in me was foul, but I loved it.” But no matter how evil or foul his sins, his mother Monica prayed fervently for his eventual conversion to Christianity. As Augustine walked in his garden, reflecting on his life and feeling restless about the choices he made, he heard a child’s voice saying, “Take and read.” He took these words to heart, and picked up the letters of Saint Paul to the Romans. . . . let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. // Romans 13:13-14 These are the words that gave Augustine hope in the truths that Scripture held, and he would become further inspired by Ambrose’s example, seeking him out as a mentor and going to him frequently for advice. The Attractiveness of the Gospel It was Ambrose’s testimony and the witness of the church in Milan that made Augustine attracted to Christianity. He was moved by the witness of the church community, and by how unified they were in their strong resistance to the influence of Arianism. Ambrose taught in such a way that helped Augustine more fully understand the history of the church and the beauty of the mysteries it holds. “Searching Out The Meaning” It was not only Ambrose’s preaching of the Gospel that struck Augustine; it was his personal approach to reading Scripture. When Ambrose wasn’t meeting with people to give spiritual guidance, he himself was pouring over the Word of God. But unlike the custom of the time, he read silently. Augustine wrote in the Confessions: When Ambrose read, his eyes ran over the columns of writing and his heart searched out the meaning, but his voice and his tongue were at rest. Often when I was present-for he did not close his door to anyone and it was customary to come in unannounced-I have seen him reading silently, never in fact otherwise. I would sit for a long time in silence, not daring to disturb someone so deep in thought, and then go on my way. This was unusual, because at the time, Scripture was meant to be read aloud, both for others to hear, and for the reader’s own understanding. Augustine was struck by how familiar Ambrose seemed to be with Scripture, and through this close relationship with the text, how well he lived the faith out. This informed Augustine’s own approach to the faith and on April 24, 387, Ambrose baptized Augustine in the Cathedral of Milan. A Bit Of Honey In addition to being a patron Saint of Milan, he is also a patron of beekeepers and is known as the “honey-tongued Doctor.” There are a few good reasons for this. The word “ambrosia” is Latin for honey, and his rhetoric, as Augustine experienced, was as sweet as honey to the soul. Legend even says that while he was laying in his crib as a baby, there was a swarm of bees flying in and out of his mouth, but never stinging him! Saint Ambrose, pray for us to share God’s word as eloquently as you, coming not from head-knowledge but from an experience of the heart.   [bctt tweet="Saint Ambrose // Walking with God in the Garden #BISblog //" via="no"]

If you're a Catholic who loves a rollicking good tune, you have probably heard of the band "Scythian": two Ukranian Catholic brothers, Alexander and Danylo Fedoryka, accompanied by two of their best buds, Ethan Dean and Johnny Rees, making music for the last two decades. Maybe you went to college with them at one of the Catholic colleges, or with one of their eight siblings, or maybe you were taught by their father, Dr. Damien Fedoryka (may he rest in peace), or their sister Dr. Maria Fedoryka, or your choir in Gaming, Austria was directed by their Julliard-trained mother, Mrs. Irene Fedoryka (may she rest in peace). Or maybe you haven't heard them yet, but you need to this Christmas. Beauty + Memories Their brand-new album, Christmas Out at Sea, provided just the Advent jolt I needed to get into the spirit this week. I cranked it up while making school lunches early in the morning, hummed along during laundry folding with the In the Bleak Midwinter featuring two of the band members wives in their own band (musical folks!), and teared up driving for school pick up thinking about why the world needs beauty and music. Over the many years, I have danced to Scythian's incredible music at pubs, festivals, even at our own wedding. Music holds so many of my most precious moments in a bone-deep memory, one that only floods back when the tunes are flowing. I need beauty, and you do too, to call me to something beyond the normalcy mundanities of dishes, emails, and a child's missing sock. A New Christmas Album You Won't Want to Miss You'll feel familiar and nostalgia all at once, tapping along to reels like the Christmas Eve one, belt along with God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and swing your glass (mine had smoothie, but yours might have whiskey) at Health to the Company. Let All Mortal Flesh is on Spotify, and it offers a particularly heart-resonating sound. Danylo said, "Alex wanted it sound Byzantine style since he said it reminded him of the chant. When I did research, I found that it is indeed an ancient Byzantine hymn from 245 AD, sung only once a year in the liturgy of Saint Basil in Holy Saturday. It was picked up in the Middle Ages by the Latin rite and became a Christmas tune." So you learn a little tune history! It feels like a true chant and very Byzantine with a haunting violin and church bells, too. I'm confident you'll love this unique take on "classic traditional carols through the haunts of traditional pubs and out to sea." Support small artisans, support growing Catholic families, and find an actual album of Christmas Out at Sea on their site here. Listen my kids' fav song over on their YouTube—yes, that's Ethan climbing out of the dryer in the first few seconds.   [bctt tweet="A New Christmas Album with Old Friends #BISblog //" via="no"]

In a culture of selfies and social media posts, others-centeredness takes great intention and practice. When our children were younger, we had a more consistent family prayer routine. During this time, we intended to pray for others, but we often spent our entire bedtime routine praying only for ourselves. To remedy this, we solicited input from our kids about their friends’ needs, which met with mixed results. But then, when I witnessed a friend’s way of addressing her family’s amnesia of others, a lightbulb blinked on. Using her model, we began writing names on a dry erase board, and prayed for everyone on the board and their intentions. Problem solved. Writing names in black and white not only served as a reminder of others, it also showed us how many more needed our prayers than those that first came to mind. Then, another problem arose. We ran out of space on the whiteboard. So we got a larger surface—a bulletin board—and used Post-it notes to attach names of friends, family, church members, and their intentions. “Higher priority” intentions rose to the top of the board while ‘lower priority’ intentions moved down. Our children, in charge of arranging and rearranging names and prayers, took great interest and ownership of “their” list. We lovingly named our bulletin board the Prayer Wall. When Grandmom saw our bulletin board, she “oohed” and “ahhhed,” then made her own version in her house. Instead of a board, she commandeered an entire wall with a chalk-able surface. She added her own touches with pictures and notes to go with prayers. While our Prayer Wall came down during a teen redecorating project, Grandmom’s wall is still up and active. When we visit her, we admire its grand scale while she reminds us that its inspiration came from humbler beginnings. It reinforces our small and ongoing efforts against amnesia of others and the power of sharing our prayer routine with visitors. What creative prayer routines have influenced your time with God?   [bctt tweet="How to Make a Prayer Wall #BISblog //" via="no"]   FB Smit is the author of two bi-lingual picture books, a blog writer, and a teacher. With Mary, Joseph, and the company of the saints, she pursues His designs with the sleuth of Nancy Drew. Read more thoughts on faith and connect with her here.

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. // Luke 3:4 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

In the Gospels, we see that an integral part of Christ's mission on earth was healing. As He traveled from town to town preaching the coming Kingdom of God, He showed forth that that Kingdom involves healing on every level: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Suffering Trauma in Our Humanity While we live as daughters of the King through Baptism, we still live in a fallen world. None of us escape heartache, loss, or trauma. These challenges are varied in type and tempo, but the effects of sin touch all of us. If you have already experienced deep trauma in your life, I am sorry. These experiences give us a front row seat to the fallen state of the world. What happened to you should not have happened to you. The brokenness you feel or have felt is not what was the original intent. Working All Things for Our Good The enemy would have these sufferings derail, deter, and discourage us. He seeks to use our pain to pull us away from hope and from the Lord. But what the enemy intends for our all, God will use for our good. He works all things for the good of those who love Him, and He will take what is formed against us and turn it on its head. God's Heart breaks when we experience suffering or trauma, but He does not leave us there. He is our Protector and Redeemer, and He offers us grace and healing for every wound we bear. Healed and Restored This kind of divine restoration is the theme of the newest book from BIS blog writer Elza Spaedy. In Healed and Restored, Elza walks us through her own experience of deep trauma and how it impacted her life. She is honest about the wounds and doubts she incurred through the experience, and she gives us great hope in her testimony to God's intervention. Elza is a true mentor and sister in Christ. You can feel her compassion ooze through the text. She has an enormous heart for women who suffer trauma. She doesn't sugarcoat it. She names it and honors the pain we may experience. But her Christ-like heart shines through in the fact that she does not let that by the end of the story. Elza did not let her pain be the end of her story—she let God write a redemption. And she offers us the same invitation. Through advice both practical and spiritual, Healed and Restored offers us a path forward in God's light and love. Elza covers the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of healing from trauma, seeking to bring comfort to the whole person. If you or someone you love has experienced deep suffering, please gift them this book. It will provide a light in the darkness and point to the One Who will ultimately make all things new. Have you read this book yet? What did you think?   [bctt tweet="BIS Reads // Healed and Restored #BISblog //" via="no"]

What if we could live the Mass as our highest prayer no matter the circumstance? The stress from work, the drama with friends, the exams nearing at school, the list of errands and chores that don’t end would all take a backseat if we could enter the Mass and live it as if it were our last. A Simple Prayer Maybe that is exactly where we should start. I once heard a story told at our parish of an older man who assisted Mass every morning. He always sat in the first pew, covered in a holy web of scapulars with devotional books in hand. One day, the man went up to receive Holy Communion and when he got back to his seat to pray, died peacefully. We so often partake in the Mass with lukewarm devotion because we assume that we will be at Mass again next Sunday to do the same routine all over again. We may even fool ourselves into thinking that it is no big deal if we miss a Sunday here or there. What if we could change our attitude towards the Mass by beginning to pray a simple prayer? One that has greatly helped me is the following prayer: “Lord, help me to live this Mass as if it were my first Mass and also my last one on this earth.” You can formulate it anyway you like. The point is that we must learn to ask for the grace to live the Mass better. We must desire to live it as our highest form of prayer since it is our “source and summit” as Catholic Christians (see CCC 1324). Remembrance By taking a moment before the start of Mass to say a short prayer such as this one, you give the Lord permission to take you deeper into the sacred mysteries and to experience the Mass as a lived prayer, not just empty recitations. This starting point flows into the second which is to take even just one minute–in between the chaos of arriving at Mass on time or barely making it through the door before the Gospel–to quiet yourself down. Remind yourself in Whose Presence you are in and that you stand before the Holy of Holies with the veil torn open (see Hebrews 6:19-20). Do not try to tune out the noise around you but precisely there, in the midst of it all, for one moment, allow your heart to remember. The Mass itself is about remembering, a memory that is not dead or out of fashion but one that is living and ever-new. The Mass is where the Church as Bride remembers her Bridegroom, His sacrifice to the Father, and His command to “do this in memory” of Him (see Luke 22:19). That is, to make present once more the mystery of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection through the consecration of the bread and wine by the priest who stands in His stead. The bread and wine become what He Himself promised in the beautiful dialogue of John 6: “I am the Bread of Life…this bread is My body…” (verses 48, 51). “Offer It Up” As Catholics, we may be very familiar with this term “offer it up.” It may be easy for us to think about offering up to the Lord our moments of pain or humiliation. We may even be good about offering up our joys to the Lord. Yet, sometimes we forget to offer up the one thing that is the most valuable gift we have: Christ Himself in the Eucharist! When we slip into Mass, do we realize that this is the greatest prayer we can offer to the Father since it is Christ Himself–altar, victim, and priest–that becomes present? The very words of the Mass communicate this essence. Although the four Eucharistic prayers express this differently, the intention is the same: we offer to the Father, “[...] this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life, and the Chalice of everlasting salvation.” Each time we go to Mass, we should be offering up this perfect sacrifice for something or someone. It is as if we have been given a precious jewel and wish to keep it safely in our hands, instead of extending our hands out to others so that they too may benefit from the beauty of the gem. We should not hold on to the graces of the Holy Mass for ourselves, but instead offer up this highest prayer for the countless intentions bogging us down: for the needy, the stranger, the orphan, the friend in depression, the priest on the verge of despair or mortal sin, and so on. This treasure house is ours for the offering. Becoming What We Offer In the third Eucharistic prayer, after the acclamation of faith, the priest prays a similar prayer of offering as the one mentioned above. It contains this beautiful line, speaking of Christ the Victim: “May He make of us an eternal offering to You…” What we will discover is that the more we offer up the Mass as our highest prayer on behalf of others, the more we ourselves will be transformed into an offering. Instead of only offering Christ to the Father, we will wish to offer our very selves together with Him on that altar. The Mass–if we truly allow these words to be more than just words but efficacious prayers–becomes the place where we ourselves become what we offer. We become Who we offer: victims with the Victim. We can pray with greater boldness, then, to the Father since we no longer rely on ourselves and our merits but on Christ. How to Live the Mass More Fully, Practically So if you would like to live the Mass more attentively, aware that it is your own place of offering to the Father, I invite you to join me in these practical steps in addition to what I have mentioned above: Take some time to pray with your favorite part of the Mass or the most striking line in a prayer. Perhaps journal down your thoughts or simply meditate on the words of the prayer that move your heart until they become your own. Study the parts of the Mass and take time to read about the meaning of the gestures and prayers. Here is a great book! Commit a prayer to memory that can help you meditate on the reality of Christ’s Eucharistic Presence within you after Holy Communion. This may be an age-old prayer like the Anima Christi prayer, a short prayer as the one the Angel taught the three children of Fatima, or one of your own. Make time before Mass to look over the readings. You can even make it a habit of doing lectio divina, as a group or on your own. It will make your heart and mind that much more attentive when the words are read out loud in the congregation. What else would you add to the list? Let’s pray together: Lord Jesus, help us to live each Mass as our first and our last as we remember You. Father, allow Your Spirit to make of us an eternal offering to You in union with Christ. Amen.   [bctt tweet="How to Live the Mass More Fully #BISblog //" via="no"]

“I have done what was mine; may Christ teach you what is yours.” These words of freedom spoken by Saint Francis of Assisi’s to his brothers when he was on his deathbed encapsulate Saint Andrew for me. Andrew introduced his brother, Simon, to Jesus, and then watched as Simon became Peter and one of Christ’s inner circle. Selfless Saint Andrew A typical response in that situation might be resentment or jealousy. I am sure many of us have had the experience of introducing friends to friends and watching them become close. While there is happiness for them, there is a twinge of sadness of not being part of that "we" anymore. Andrew even became known simply as “Simon’s brother.” All of us younger siblings know what that is like and how easy it is to be annoyed by it! Yet we don’t see that in Saint Andrew. He is not possessive. He did what was his to do. If he hadn’t, would Simon have become Peter? Would we have the witness of Peter walking on water, or his repentant “yes, Lord, you know that I love you?” Andrew didn’t have 20/20 Gospel hindsight as we do. He didn’t know how their story would unfold, he merely did what was his to do: He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah." Then he brought him to Jesus. // John 1: 41 Saint Andrew and Our Lady At the feeding of the five thousand, Andrew again did what was his to do. Among so many, it was Andrew who notices the boy with the five loaves and two fish. He heard Philip exclaim that 200 days' worth of wages would not provide enough to feed all the people. He could have easily written off the boy’s lunch as not worth mentioning. Instead, he brought it before the Lord, almost with an air of dejection: There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many? // John 6:8 What strikes is the similarity between Andrew’s words and Our Lady’s words at the wedding feast at Cana: “They have no wine.” Neither Mary nor Andrew tell Jesus what He ought to do, they do what is theirs to do and let Christ do what is His to do. All About the Lord's Plan Perhaps this is the best witness of Andrew after all. He didn't tell Jesus his great plan and ask Jesus to bless it. Instead, Andrew held his information lightly before the Lord and was humble enough to let Jesus use it, or not use it, as He willed. Isn’t this a temptation we all have? Often I tell Jesus my plan and hope He will bless it, but what if I instead held it before the Lord, laid it at the foot of the Cross, and saw what He wanted to do with it? Like Saint Andrew, I will probably see a greater miracle than what I was trying to engineer on my own.     Saint Andrew's Life Pointed to Christ Tradition tells us that Saint Andrew spread the Gospel throughout Greece and Turkey after Jesus’ Ascension. He was martyred upon an X-shaped cross. It is believed that he requested this kind of cross because he didn’t feel worthy to die on the same kind of Cross as Jesus. Perhaps he was also thinking that it wasn’t for him to die like Jesus; Jesus had already done that to save us from our sin. Perhaps Andrew knew that the X-shaped cross would make it clear that it was for him enough to die as a witness to Jesus. The Christmas Novena Saint Andrew’s feast day falls at the beginning of Advent, and many of us begin the Saint Andrew Christmas novena today. Though the novena is only named after Saint Andrew because it starts on his feast day, I think the prayer would be loved by him. It is traditionally recited 15 times a day and brings into focus the reason for Advent: the birth of baby Jesus. Like Saint Andrew did with Saint Peter, the Saint Andrew novena points us to Jesus, our Savior. It reorients us each day to what is ours to do in Advent, to remember how blessed “the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.” I can’t help but think Saint Andrew might be a perfect patron for Advent. The planning, the preparation, and the parties make this season extremely busy and full. May Saint Andrew intercede for us so that Christ can show us what is ours—and not be jealous or worried about what is not ours—to do.   [bctt tweet="On Saint Andrew and Doing What is Yours #BISblog //" via="no"]

Gift giving is an important part of the Christmas season. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the tradition of exchanging Christmas gifts began. But even on that first Christmas, wise men from the east brought the Newborn King gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (see Matthew 2). And we certainly can’t think of Christmas without the legend of Saint Nicholas, whose generosity inspired the idea of our modern-day Santa Claus. Yes, gift giving is a longstanding and enjoyable Christmas tradition. There is an excitement about giving gifts that we carefully select for the loved ones on our list. We anticipate their surprise, and we are overjoyed in their delight. But what about those random gift exchanges we are invited to participate in? The generic exchange with coworkers at the office or the silly white elephant game with our book club, for example? These exchanges can be challenging because they take the personable thoughtfulness out of gift giving. And they leave us with things that we really don’t need or want. Even still, we stay active in these exchanges, because we care about the people with whom we share this tradition. We laugh at the silliness of some of the gifts, and our competitive spirit comes alive when the “stealing” portion of the game begins. But more often than not, when the exchange is over, there is a sense of being let down. Why is that? I think the answer is twofold: The very nature of gift giving is thoughtful. It is always about being together. Gift Giving is Thoughtful Normally, we think of the person for whom we are giving a gift, and we carefully consider what he or she would like to receive. But when we partake in certain gift exchanges it is much harder to be thoughtful. Gifts for generic exchanges—within an office setting, for example—are supposed to be one size fits all. White elephant gifts are meant to be silly (the crazier, the better, right?). Gift Giving is About Being Together The reason for any gift exchange is simply to be together. And so, while we may not enjoy the white elephant concept, we want to continue some type of tradition with family and friends. How can we modify the holiday gift exchange to restore meaning and thoughtfulness? How can it become more about simply being together?     Introducing the Favorite Things Gift Exchange When I heard a friend describe her book club’s Favorite Things Gift Exchange, I realized I found the answer. As she shared the gist of it with me, I was quickly sold on the idea. And this Christmas, I hope my loved ones will want to give it a try with me. We All Have Favorite Things Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages, tied up with string. These are a few of my favorite things. This infamous song from the beloved musical, Sound of Music, reminds us that we, indeed, have favorite things. Whether it is a favorite lip gloss, candle, or kitchen gadget, each of us is surrounded by various items that bring us joy, simplify life, or help us to look our best. Likewise, when we hear about someone else’s favorite things—a book recommendation or a treasured recipe—we are more likely to try them out ourselves, trusting the source of the suggestion. Yes, so often our favorite things, when shared, become others’ favorite things, too. As we approach the Christmas season, a time of giving and receiving, why not consider sharing our favorite things with those we love through a Favorite Things Gift Exchange? What is a Favorite Things Gift Exchange? The purpose of a Favorite Things Gift Exchange is to give your favorite things and to receive others’ favorite things in return. This brings a level of meaning and thoughtfulness to gift exchanges that have, in the past, focused too much on one-size-fits-all giving. In addition, with a Favorite Things Gift Exchange, we can avoid the tacky silliness of white elephant games, where most people leave with items they unfortunately do not want. Lastly, it becomes more about being together, because it gives us an opportunity to get to know one another better through the sharing of our favorite things. How to Host a Favorite Things Gift Exchange Below are simple steps for hosting a Favorite Things Gift Exchange. Before the Exchange: Each guest agrees to purchase three of her same favorite thing. Stay within the agreed upon budget. For example, $10 for each favorite thing, for a total of $30. Bring the gifts wrapped. At the Exchange: At the exchange, each guest writes her name on three slips of paper, and puts them into a bowl or basket. Then, everyone draws three names. These are the recipients of your favorite things. Be sure not to draw your own name or the same name twice. Then, each guest takes a turn sharing her favorite thing and why she loves it. After she shares, she gives her favorite thing to those whose names were drawn. How It’s Flexible What is lovely about a Favorite Things Gift Exchange is its flexibility. The number of gifts can be adjusted. For example, each person could just bring one item. Or if it’s a larger group, each person could bring five smaller favorite things. The budget can vary, too. Perhaps, each person brings one item for $10 or two items for under $30. A favorite things gift exchange works well in a variety of settings, too: Families Kids Book clubs Bible study or small groups Co-workers How to Incorporate Faith Into the Exchange Since the Christmas season is all about the birth of Christ, including an element of faith to a Favorite Things Gift Exchange is simple. Here are a few ideas: Who is your favorite Saint and why? Include a holy card of that favorite Saint with your gift. Give the gift of Catholic prayer by sharing your favorite prayer book or journal. What are your must-have Catholic products? Stickers Rosaries Mugs Jewelry This Christmas season, our favorite things will restore thoughtfulness to our gift exchanges. In addition, we will discover a few new favorite things through our loved ones’ suggestions. We will also focus on spending time together, getting to know one another better. Lastly, we can incorporate the true meaning of the season into our gift giving by sharing our faith-based favorite things with others. Have you hosted or attended a Favorite Things Gift Exchange? If so, please share your experience in the comments below.   [bctt tweet="How to Host a Favorite Things Gift Exchange #BISblog //" via="no"] THE PERFECT BOOK FOR KIDS Rise Up will open up beautiful conversations with your children about the virtues. . This will bring beautiful fruit to your prayer life and to your children's prayer lives. GET RISE UP