I slammed the door and stomped to my car. If one more thing went wrong today, I was going to lose it! Then I saw it—a flat tire. I could feel the emotion bubbling inside until I could no longer contain it. I burst into tears right then and there. Lately, it seemed like one thing after another has gone wrong. I know in my head that these are opportunities to sacrifice and grow in patience, but I am too absorbed in my anger and frustration to grow in any kind of holiness. My cries were reminiscent of today’s Psalm, “O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily” (Psalm 102: 2). After drying my tears, I asked God, “Why are you piling so much on me right now?” He gently replied in my heart, “Why are you trying to carry it all by yourself?” He was right. I was so caught up in everything going on, I lost sight of Jesus. So I knelt before the crucifix and gazed at Him. I could feel the stress dwindle and my resignation to trust in God grow. His grace was being poured upon me. In the days that followed, my problems didn’t automatically go away. I still had to deal with the flat tire, broken appliances, and family issues, but my heart was in a better place. I leaned on Jesus instead of trying to do it all alone. When you’re feeling the crush of a stressful day or the unbearable heaviness of a cross you’re carrying, turn your gaze back to Jesus. Let go of your desire to control the situation and place it in the hands of God. He is waiting for you. listen to today’s devotion [bctt tweet="He is waiting for you. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] What's stacked on your pile of stresses? Remember to ask Jesus for help today.  

Little beads of sweat gathered on my forehead. I wasn’t sure if I could do this. I’d been to Confession before, but it wasn’t until recently that God was beckoning me to go deeper into my faith. Doing so, I realized there was a sin in my past that I never said in the confessional. I tried a couple times, but I couldn’t get the words out of my mouth. I was too ashamed. However, God pressed it on my heart that if I wanted to be healed, I needed to humble myself and get it all out. The time for internal debate was over. The person in front of me left the confessional, and it was my turn. I knelt down and started, "Bless me Father for I have sinned . . ." and with a sigh of resignation, I confessed all that I had been holding back. Moments later, with tears streaming down my face, I heard the words of healing, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” That was one of the most difficult confessions I ever made, but the weight that was lifted off my heart was incredible. After all the excess of the holidays, Lent is like a spiritual cleansing and strengthening of the soul. Just as the people of Nineveh heeded the call of repentance from Jonah, we hear a call from the Church to look deeper into our lives and repent of our sins. Let’s make a commitment today to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation with humble trust in the Lord’s mercy. Whether we’re tired of repeating the same sin or are afraid of voicing a sin we’re ashamed of, the Savior longs to heal your heart and embrace you with His mercy. [bctt tweet="The Savior longs to heal your heart. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion Need a reminder on how to go through an examination of conscience and prepare for the Sacrament? We have that right here for you.  

I laughed when I saw the two laundry room signs at Hobby Lobby: “Sort later” and “Wash tomorrow.” I bought them and hung them on the wall because they accurately described my attitude of “I don’t feel like dealing with this right now, so I am going to ignore it.” This remained humorous until I became a mom, and my kids had the same attitude. I’d hear the whines and complaints of not wanting to clean their room or do their schoolwork. I’d remind them that there was a time for fun and a time to just deal with it and get the work done. I felt a prick of hypocritical guilt as I looked over to the leaning tower of dirty laundry and those formerly cute signs. I sighed. I did not have a legitimate excuse. I just didn’t want to deal with it. On a deeper level, this laundry had become an outward expression of my interior life. God was asking more of me, but I was dragging my feet. Living as a faithful Catholic is not easy. Cultivating a strong prayer life, weeding out sin, building virtue, and living counter-culturally cannot thrive in a life dominated by procrastination, timidity, and lukewarmness. I had to decide what kind of life I wanted to live. All the readings today gave me my answer. Each proclaims one main message—“The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). Look at the world around us. If there ever were a time we needed to get serious about our faith, it’s now. Prayer is crucial. Sacrifices are imperative. Souls are in desperate need of our courageous love. Now is not the time for procrastination, because Jesus is before us imploring, “Follow Me.” [bctt tweet="Jesus is before us imploring, “Follow Me.” // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion Whom can you invite deeper into this faith journey with you? Ask a friend to pray with you today. Lead by your loving example.

“I just finished a thirty-day novena to Saint Joseph, and it was amazing,” she gushed. I smiled and thought, Wow, that’s impressive considering I’ve started numerous nine-day novenas and only recall completing one. I’d never finish a whole month. Yet, something inside me stirred . . . there was a tug to pray this novena to Saint Joseph. I ignored it, but Saint Joseph kept popping up in my life—a holy card found on my desk, his icon on a prayer table, and my assigned devotion today—all pointed to Saint Joseph. He was calling me. My heart has been heavy with special intentions, but in today’s Gospel, Saint Joseph is showing me how to handle them. His world was turned upside down when he found out Mary was with child and he knew the baby wasn’t his. I can only imagine the pain of betrayal he felt! Yet, Joseph’s love for Mary prevented him from publicly shaming her, so he planned to divorce her quietly. However, when God revealed the truth of the situation, he obeyed God’s command and took on the responsibility of caring for Mary and Jesus. As we read further in Scripture, this was not the first time he would face difficult situations. Unlike Mary and Jesus, Saint Joseph was not born without sin. He was human and had to fight his demons, conquer his vices, and strive to live righteously before God. That is the attitude I want to have. When circumstances seem grim, when I feel betrayed by a friend, or when I can’t understand the workings of God, I can still choose to trust in the Father and know that He will always be there to guide me. Like Joseph, I can strive to live an upright and holy life, despite my weakness or human failings. It is also comforting to know Saint Joseph is in Heaven, a known protector, who is ready and waiting to pray and intercede for me. Saint Joseph, most strong and faithful, pray for us. [bctt tweet="Let's Talk Saint Joseph // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion Jump in on this novena to Saint Joseph!

I stared out the window as tiny flakes of ash fell from a smoky sky. Living in California, you become accustomed to fire season, but this fire was getting too close to home. My reverie was disrupted by the ding of my phone. It was a text update about local evacuations. While we were not ordered to evacuate, we were told to be prepared, just in case. I looked around the room. What items should I pack? I gathered essentials and prayed that the fire would be stopped. Thankfully, it eventually was, and we were safe to stay in our home once again. As I put away the items I had packed, I looked around the room at all the things I was prepared to leave behind. Suddenly the room looked cluttered and stifling. Why was I holding on to all this excess stuff that made my house feel like a big mess? I grabbed a box and started emptying shelves and drawers, making more room for the things that really mattered. As I was simplifying my house, I recalled the words a priest recently told me during Confession: “Ask God to give you the grace of simplicity. Whatever is distracting you from living a life filled with God, put it aside.” It seemed that God was simplifying my life physically and spiritually. As I opened myself up to the Holy Spirit, He was revealing to me the things I didn’t need in my life and in my heart. Just as Jesus cast out the people who made the temple a den of thieves (Luke 19:45), the Lord is challenging me to rid my heart of the things that are stealing my peace and keeping me from drawing closer to Him. Today let’s cast out the lies, the negativity, the harmful things—attitudes, acts, people—that keep us from being a holy temple of God. [bctt tweet="Today let’s cast out the lies, the negativity, the harmful things—attitudes, acts, people—that keep us from being a holy temple of God. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion Consider joining us in this year's Advent journal, a book that will deepen your understanding of Who Jesus is in His simplicity.

It feels good to open the Bible, read Scripture, close my eyes, and let the Holy Spirit speak to my heart. You see, it’s been awhile since I’ve done that. I know. That’s not what you want to hear from a devotional writer, but I've been struggling. My prayer life has been dry, not because I feel like God isn’t listening. Rather, I haven’t been giving God the time He deserves. Pre-pandemic, I had a lovely prayer routine going—prayer walks, visits to the Adoration Chapel, devotions, Mass, Reconciliation, etc. However, with Covid-19, I’m sequestered in my home, have limited access to the Sacraments, and my kids are with me 24/7 as we distance learn. Sure, there are moments when I turn my mind to God and speak to Him, but it’s brief. I need more. In the Gospel, the faithful servants were waiting at the door ready for their Master. Jesus has knocked on the door of my heart, but too often I let other things get in the way and I halfheartedly promised Our Lord that I’d spend time with Him later, but later came and went. I’m tired of being too busy. While I can blame this pandemic lifestyle, in honesty, how hard am I really trying? If I can find time to scroll and repost funny memes on Instagram or binge-watch a show, then I can find time to pray and read Scripture. I want to be the faithful servant "ready to open immediately when He comes and knocks" (Luke 25:36) because my heart is aching for Him. So, let today be our reminder to be ready and waiting, not only to face Jesus at the end of our life, but every day, to hear Him at the door of our heart. [bctt tweet="If I can find time to scroll and repost funny memes on Instagram or binge-watch a show, then I can find time to pray and read Scripture. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion Let us pray this litany together, acknowledging how much we need Jesus.

I nervously bit my lip as I waited in line for Confession. I had just gone a couple of weeks before, but I was struggling with a certain sin and felt defeated that I had to confess it again. I walked into the confessional and poured out my heart, sharing my struggles. Breath held, I then waited. Thankfully, the priest was very gentle with me saying, "Be not afraid. Don’t let this fear of your sin stop you (or make you feel incapable of) going deeper with God and loving Him more. He knows your heart. Picture God in the garden calling out, 'Where are you?' He’s not mad, but He is calling you back to His side." As I let the words sink in, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. God wasn’t mad. He was just calling me back to His side. That experience rushed back to my thoughts as I read today’s Psalm: "He who fashioned the heart of each, He who knows all their works" (Psalm 33:15). Sometimes it’s easy for us to doubt God’s mercy towards us. We repeat the lies: "I don’t deserve forgiveness." "I’m hopeless because I can’t get it together." "God is tired of forgiving me this same sin." We may know in our heads that these are not true, but our hearts don’t always believe it. However, God knows our hearts, our thoughts, and our struggles. Rather than being upset when we fall, He calls out our name, hoping we will come back to His side. Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking back to Him and saying you're sorry. See Him wiping away your tears and holding your cheeks in His hand as He says, "I love you and you are forgiven." Let His mercy sweep over you and feel His peace fill your heart. Be not afraid to return to His side. listen to today’s devotion [bctt tweet="He calls out our name. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] If you need a reminder on how to examine your conscience before going to Confession, we have that for you right here.

I saw her across the courtyard and our eyes met. We smiled politely and went about our business. She was an acquaintance, and I didn’t know her well. From our brief encounters, I had my opinion of her. That changed one afternoon when we were together at a function. Our chit-chat turned deeper and she shared a story that gave me a glimpse into her heart. There was pain I couldn’t have imagined. My perception of her shifted, the hard lines of her personality softened, and my unconscious stereotype of her crumbled. Later that evening, I felt ashamed for having judged her without really knowing her. How many times have I looked at someone and automatically had an impression of them by the way they looked, dressed, or talked? I can imagine the Apostles doing the same thing with the Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel. Not only was she a foreigner and non-believer, but Canaanites often persecuted the Jews. You can hear their annoyance as they said, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us" (Matthew 15:23). Jesus’ response seemed harsh, but He knew her heart. His words would test her faith, but also teach the others a lesson. This pagan woman believed in Jesus, persevered in her prayer, and trusted that God would answer. Jesus rewarded her faith with the immediate healing of her daughter as the Apostles, most likely, looked on dumbfounded. There have been many times when people looked at me—a short, plus-sized, brown-skinned woman—and made assumptions about me. Sadly, I’ve done the same towards others. Realizing this, my prayer is: Lord, forgive me for the times I have misjudged people. Help me to have an open heart and see people as You see them—my brothers and sisters in Christ. Grant me wisdom to view both sides of a story and empathy to understand their behavior and why they act as they do. Give me the humility necessary to truly listen and the strength and courage to act when necessary. Change my heart, Lord, so I may change this world for the better. listen to today’s devotion [bctt tweet="Lord, forgive me for the times I have misjudged people. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] Let's pray Bobbi's prayer together today.

I was absentmindedly deleting old messages on my phone when my Mom’s text thread popped up. My finger hovered over the screen as I debated over rereading our last texts. I clicked her name and smiled at her emoji-filled words of encouragement. Then I came across one of the last texts I wrote her. Mom had been incredibly strong as she fought her cancer, but that day she was feeling vulnerable and afraid because she knew what was coming . . . the end of her fight. My text read: I know you are feeling overwhelmed with everything going on now. It’s difficult to face the reality of what’s happening, and now you’re facing the biggest challenge of your life—to trust God and accept His will. You won’t be alone. We’ll be with you every step. I know God will pour out the grace you need to be at peace. I love you so much, Mom. You can do this. You can be brave. They were similar to words my mom had spoken to me, numerous times, when I doubted myself or felt unfit for the task God had placed before me. She was a pillar of support and encouragement, and our family absorbed that concept. Being there for one another, despite our differences, has cemented the idea of sisterhood and brotherhood strong in my heart. We, as sisters in Christ, have the responsibility to look out for one another and offer support during the moments of joy and of struggle. We’re all striving to live by the words of Scripture, "Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm" (Isaiah 7:9). We need faith in God 24/7 but for the times when we falter and doubt, we need our mothers and our sisters (whether by blood or by love) to hold us up. Let’s look around and see who needs a word of encouragement, and when we’re struggling, let’s humble ourselves and seek the help of a friend. We’re all on this faith journey together. listen to today’s devotion [bctt tweet="We, as sisters in Christ, have the responsibility to look out for one another. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] Scroll your phone or your email. Who can you reach out to today with a little prayer or coffee Venmo?

I closed my eyes and sighed. I wanted five minutes, just five minutes to myself when I didn’t have to answer questions, explain a math concept, clean a dirty pan, or wash another endless pile of laundry. I haven’t felt this physically and emotionally exhausted in years, probably since my kids were in diapers. However, circumstances had us together 24/7, and I knew God was going to use this opportunity to teach me a lesson. Because being the loving Dad that He is, He loves to sprinkle lessons throughout my day. I read a quote from Saint Joseph Cafasso, whose feast day is today, and loved it. He said, “We were born to love, we live to love, and we will die to love still more.” I thought it would make a great print to hang on my wall and then I could almost see Our Lord smiling and shaking His head at me. “What, Lord? You don’t like a pretty print? Or maybe it should be on a cute tee or coffee mug?” He lovingly whispered to my heart, “Instead of looking at it and wearing it, why don’t you live it with your kids, and your husband, and that coworker you were complaining to Me about the other day?” Sigh. “Well, that’s no fun, Lord!” But then living the Christian life and walking through “the narrow gate” (Matthew 7:13), isn’t supposed to be easy and carefree. While there are certainly joyful and funny moments, it’s not easy to love like Jesus, and He knows that. Thankfully, He doesn’t expect us to do it alone or to be perfect at it. He wants us to take one moment at a time, offering each little (or big) cross as it comes and whisper, “I do this for you, Lord” or “Help me, Lord” because it’s all those numerous little acts of love that unite our hearts to His. “We live to love” is no longer a catchy quote, but a true way of life. [bctt tweet="He loves to sprinkle lessons throughout my day. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] Read more about this Saint today.

The night seemed quiet, but the dreadful voices of anger and pain in my head refused to let me sleep. I didn’t know how much more I could take before this desperate, hopeless feeling would consume me. I had fallen away from God and was living as I pleased, but my false freedom was suffocating me. I felt worthless and hated myself. I thought I could change things by getting away from my social circle and breaking up with my toxic boyfriend. I tried praying and going back to church, but I only felt emptiness and cynicism. I was too ashamed to face God without barriers and masks. Instead I pretended everything was okay. One night I overheard my mom and brother talking about God’s mercy. I doubted it, but inside me the cynical walls started to shake as hope tried to take root. Later that night, I pictured the scene of the crucifixion and zeroed in on one figure, the Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross. Childhood words flashed through my mind: Mary was our heavenly Mother. I saw tears in her eyes as on my heart, she pleaded with me, He died for you. The words echoed in my mind and a wave of awareness swept over me. Jesus "gives his life as an offering for sin, (Isaiah 52:10)" but it was also an offering of love. He died for love of me. It wasn’t some pretty cliché; it was REALITY. Crumbled on the floor, I sobbed. All the bitterness, hatred, and cynicism were being washed away as I realized that He never left me; it was I that walked away. Many years have passed since that night; however, it wasn’t a single night of conversion, but is an ongoing process. We are never "done" and must continually turn our hearts and minds back to God. So whether this Lent was fruitful or wanting, on this Good Friday, we can reflect on the ways God has saved us and how He calls us into a deeper union with Him. "Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:25). [bctt tweet="He never left me. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion Try to keep between noon and 3pm today as prayerful and silent as is practically possible in remembrance of the hours Jesus hung on the Cross. Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy if you're able.