How easy is it, sisters, to believe what the world tells us about Our Savior, Jesus Christ? People in society have molded Him into a convenient spokesperson who justifies our current desires creating various anti-Christs. One anti-Christ belief will tell us that we do not need the Sacrament of Reconciliation because we can just be sorry in our own hearts as God will understand. Another tells us that as sinners we cannot preach the Gospel, and sinners cannot judge others by speaking the truth. Then there is the anti-Christ belief that there is no God, and that we can thrive without His grace and Sacraments. Both readings today were written by the Apostle John, and he had one message: Jesus is our source of light, life, and truth. Anyone or anything that teaches otherwise is not of God. I'm going to share the pep talk I think we all need to hear! In 2019, how will you place Jesus in the center of your life? How will you fight the messages we receive each day that tell us we are in control and religion is for the weak-minded? How will Jesus be your light, life, and truth? Let Jesus illuminate all that you think, say, and do. Since God is love, live your life by loving. Speak the truth when you hear otherwise. Let's all start tonight by inviting Jesus into our celebrations of this year passed and the year to come. Would you invite Jesus to your celebration tonight? If not, how can you change your plans to make Him proud? Who can you celebrate with or pray for as you ring in the new year? Is there a person who needs community or forgiveness? Be on the lookout for messages that tell us we can control our lives this year if we just (fill in the blank). Give this new year over to God. Tell Him that you trust Him and you accept whatever is to come. You can make big strides towards Heaven this year, but you need God’s grace to do it. Let Heaven be glad and Earth rejoice this 2019! [bctt tweet="Let Heaven be glad and Earth rejoice this 2019!" username="callherhappy"] Begin the new year with a fresh start and receive the Sacrament of Penance. Find out how to go and use the examination of conscience here. Jenna Hines has a teeny army of four children and is married to a bearded fellow named Mike. They are a homeschooling family who just moved out to the country. Find her books and illustrations in her shop. You can find out more about her here.

In the Christmas season, I often want to celebrate in a way that masks any underlying pain. I push down vulnerability in order to put on my holiday smile and try to squeeze myself into my most loving self like it’s a party dress after too many desserts. Happy, bright, sparkling love that dusts everything like glittering snow on a pine tree. But in Colossians, Saint Paul is not talking about holiday cheer. He is talking about charity, which is God’s love and so much deeper. Love is the bond of perfection of our other virtues: “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another” (Colossians 3:12-13). I know that I struggle with these qualities, those qualities that help us to put on love. A few years ago, I marked December 23 with arguing and tears. That fight hovered over the Christmas season until I left the family celebrations on December 30. I did not put on love that week. Neither did I put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, or patience. I had nothing to bond together in perfection with love. I don’t want to bond together my frustration and impatience and pride. I need to put on the qualities that underpin perfect, Christian love. We have plenty of the Christmas season left to celebrate this year. Maybe you (like me) have struggled to put on the true love of Christ this season. Instead of beating myself up over my shortcomings as a sister, daughter, or friend, today I am choosing to embrace and put on the virtues being offered to me. Christ does not require perfect love of me on my own but rather, offers the grace to help me begin to love more fully. Maybe you need to have compassion for a trying family member, gentleness with an overtired child, patience in situations that could instead create an outburst. Throughout the rest of this Christmas season, put on these virtues of love. With each virtue, we build lives that are just a little more loving every day. [bctt tweet="Throughout the rest of this Christmas season, put on the virtues that lead us to love." username="br1gid"] Watch & listen to the insights on family prayer from Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa). Brigid Hogan is a high school English and ESL teacher who lives in northeast DC. She is passionate about Catholic social teaching and tries to live it out daily in her relationships and community. Most of her pleasures are guilty ones like television, burritos, and Twitter. Find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations Mystery: Beloved found here.

If I’m being completely honest, I kind of zone out when I hear the word 'commandment.' Whether that be at Mass as the readings are read, or in my own personal quiet time each morning—the word ‘commandment’ comes up—my mind checks out. Why? I think I know it all. Keep the commandments? Great! I can do that, I’ve heard and learned about the commandments since what feels like the beginning of time. I’m good to go. And again, there I begin to zone out. My mind and heart often fail to see the beauty—the true relationship with Him that we are called to—through the commandments. Through His words, His guidance, His desires for each and every one of us. And as I sit with the readings for today, I recognize my automatic response to the word ‘commandment’ and pause. There is more to my relationship with Him than simply hearing and learning the commandments. “[W]hoever claims to abide in Him ought to walk just as He lived” (1 John 2:6). I want to walk as He lived. I want to share His light and His love. And His commandments allow me, lead me, in fact, to do just that. I don’t want to zone out simply because I’ve heard it before. His light shines into the cracks of what I think I already know deeply and reminds me that there is truly so much more—to know, to learn, to pray through, to be. His commandments call me into action. His commandments allow me to experience this life as He has created me to—fully, abundantly, and with great joy. And so I sit with His commandments and His presence comes alive in and through them. I am, as a servant of His, filled with peace. I am fulfilled simply because He calls me on; He lights my way; and His words become honey to my soul. [bctt tweet="I sit with His commandments and His presence comes alive in and through them." username="blessedisshe__"] Let's pray together this prayer for after Mass that we may grow closer to God by Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church. Shalini Blubaugh is a Minnesota transplant living in Denver, Colorado with her sweet husband, Matt, their quite large GSD pup, Sully, and baby on the way. She is a health coach and loves pizza, because #balance. Shalini graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, served with NET Ministries, and went on to attend Law School. She graduated with her J.D. and happily leaves all things Law behind! Some of her favorites include travel, re-connecting with old friends and making new ones, the ways in which God so beautifully brings all things full circle in His time, and a good, loud thunderstorm. Find out more about her here.

My four years of undergrad were spent in an intricate relationship with light. As a photography major, steeped in the arduous process of developing pictures by hand, I was intricately aware of the effects of light. Without at least some exposure to light, the piece of paper being washed over with chemicals just wouldn’t produce an image. No matter what I tried, the picture was not coming. As women of God and members of humankind, we are created as beautiful images made in the likeness of our Creator. Often we allow our sin and shame to darken who we really are. We can become ensnared believing we are beyond repair and past hope. In the dark room, it was well known that if something appeared on the photo being developed, even if it was overly dark, the photograph was still savable. By adding more light in the development stage, a dark exposure could still produce a lovely image, and the details would start to shine through. And so it is with our God. He Himself is the Light, and as we are exposed to Him, through His Word, Sacraments, and overwhelming Love for us, we develop into a beautiful picture of who we are meant to be. By allowing the Light of Christ to pour into our darkest parts, we open ourselves to the hope of freedom. Christ continues to shine and release us from any darkness, entrapments, and snares. Let us walk in the light, sisters. (see 1 John 1:7) Evil seeks to extinguish us in the darkness, but the Light always prevails. And it is found that our true selves are revealed most fully in relation to the true Light. [bctt tweet="Evil seeks to extinguish us in the darkness, but the Light always prevails." username="blessedisshe__"] Light and dark in Catholic art work are phenomenally captured by Caravaggio, this painting in particular. Sarah Ortiz is a Catholic convert, wife, and mother to four boys while living in a 200 year old farmhouse. When not folding laundry, she can be found reading, experimenting in the kitchen, or snagging amazing antique furniture deals. You can find out more about her here.

Do you remember a time in your life when you felt greatly loved? I was about eight years old and my dad was taking me out on our first Daddy-Daughter Date Night. I had a new haircut to match my new dress. He bought me a corsage and dozen red roses. We went to dinner and had fun going to the theater to see Dennis the Menace. That day, I felt that I was so special to my dad and it's a sweet memory I cherish to this day. Saint John the Apostle was known as 'the Beloved,' the disciple whom Jesus loved. I often wonder if the other Apostles ever felt uncomfortable with this unique title for Saint John, or maybe even a bit jealous. I know I would have. But what would happen if you inserted your own name here? ________, the Beloved, a disciple whom Jesus loved. Can you relate to that? Do you even believe that? Is there something holding you back? There are plenty of voices trying to tell us we are not loved, perhaps even your own. But this is the only way Jesus looks at you, the one whom He deeply loves. All those other words you may identify with: shameful, lonely, unloveable. . . . . . Jesus still loves us and helps us repent and grow in our love of Him." You are cherished and treasured by a God who created this world for you to love and grow in it. Beloved, one who is greatly loved. It is how He looks at you. [bctt tweet="You are cherished and treasured by a God who created this world for you to love and grow in it." username="amoderngrace"] Scroll through this passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on God's nature, especially section 221. Patty Breen is a full-time lay minister who finds joy in running, strong cups of coffee, and all things Ignatian spirituality. A Midwest gal from the mitten state, she is constantly learning to find grace in all things. She is passionate about ministry to divorced Catholic and women whose relationships have been impacted by sexual addiction. Find out more about her here.

I spent hours, if not days, agonizing over future conversations. I used to feel almost sick, as the stomach knots grew tighter, while thinking about just the right words so much. Saint Stephen does not appear to have had this problem. I imagine he didn’t have time to agonize over just the right way to share the Good News. Instead of worrying about what to say, he was “filled with grace and power” from the Holy Spirit, worked wonders, and spoke boldly. I’m touched to the core that even as others snarled at him and literally dragged him to his death, he witnessed to the Lord. To the very end, he confidently trusted the Lord’s promise that he would "be given at that moment what [he was] to say" (Matthew 10:19). Oh, how I long for that trust and confidence! Jesus’ promise to the disciples is the same to me. He tells me, and you, "do not worry about how are you are to speak or what you are to say," (Matthew 10:19). I know that He longs for me to believe this and trust Him. The longer I sit with the words from both readings and the Psalm, the more clearly I realize that all too often, worry takes all the space in my heart that the Spirit should fill. Jesus’ words are more than a cliche; they are the how-to guide to making room for the Spirit. I believe Jesus’ promise, but I still worry about what to say. With a doubting teen, friends who question the Church’s wisdom, and struggles in my marriage, the weights are heavy on my heart. Worry can consume me. I’m far from being as trusting as Saint Stephen. But when I echo his last-breath prayer with my own, "Lord, take all that I am and lead me," a transformation happens. Slowly, worry lessens the grip on my heart and the Spirit fills me with grace instead. Grace moves me to a place of peace, and renews my resolve to trust the Lord in His promise. [bctt tweet="Grace moves me to a place of peace, and renews my resolve to trust the Lord in His promise." username="blessedisshe__"] Learn more about Saint Stephen's noble martyrdom here. Gina Fensterer is a Colorado native at heart, but the West Coast beach life suits her just fine. She currently lives in small coastal area of California with her husband and six children. She loves the Jesus prayer, coffee at any time of day, homemade salsa, photography, and sleepy toddler snuggles. You can find out more about her here.

Have you ever stopped to wonder which Christmas song Saint John the Baptist might like the most? (Me neither, until writing this devotion.) After ruling out a few, I came to the conclusion that one of his favorites must be “Go Tell It on the Mountain”–can’t you just hear him now? Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born! I imagine John’s deep voice belting out the proclamation of what he testified with the entirety of his life: Jesus is here! This is He! In today’s Gospel we read, "A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him" (John 1:6-7). What a powerful witness for us, sisters. Like John the Baptist each of us is sent by the Lord. Each of us is called to proclaim the Good News of Christmas: the Word made flesh has come to dwell among us (cf. John 1:14). Now is the time to celebrate the miracle of the Incarnation of Our Lord—Emmanuel. God with us. In this Christmas season, let us lift our voices with Saint John the Baptist, for indeed, Jesus Christ is born! Yes, may the wonder of Christmas inspire each of us to "sing a new song to the Lord "(Psalm 98:1). For there is no other voice quite like yours, sister; no voice God desires to hear more than yours, His beloved daughter. Let us pray for the courage and grace to use our voices for His glory, ever announcing the peace and Good News of Christ’s birth. May our lives be a song leading others to the One who is truest, purest, most brilliant Light. [bctt tweet="In this Christmas season, let us lift our voices with Saint John the Baptist, for indeed, Jesus Christ is born!" username="inendlesssong"] Watch this Midnight Mass Procession "Transeamus usque Bethlehem" at Saint Agnes Church in Minnesota with the full choir and orchestra. Jesus has arrived! Elise Howe is a wife, mother, vocal artist, teacher, and writer. A lover of authentic beauty, Elise is most joyful when creating with the inspiration of the Divine Artist. A born-and-raised Midwestern gal, she happily resides in Michigan after several years "living the dream" in New York City. Elise has a heart for ministry, dark chocolate (but not too dark) and coffee with a generous amount of cream + sugar. Find out more about her here.

One of my favorite things about the years I spent living in Alaska was the drama of the seasons. In the spring, in Anchorage, you gain six minutes of sunlight a day—spring is literally erupting all around you. In the summer, you could easily read outdoors until Midnight or later. It was delightful. Always an adventure. And in the fall, the darkness would descend and cloak and brood and usher in the chill, the snow first appearing on the mountain tops and then, creeping, bit by bit, down and down, until it was deep and thick under your feet. It would not be stopped. I felt my utter insignificance against this mighty force, snowbanks reaching high above stop signs and snowfalls that measured in feet, not just in inches. During Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the weight of so little daylight only added to the longing I felt for that little Messiah to come and rescue me. By midnight I had already spent more than a full day in total darkness and had another ten hours to go. Winter in Alaska is a radical test of faith in the spring sun’s return. My first winter there, I found this rather ominous and I wondered if I was tough enough for the climate. I had not yet had the experience of Alaska in spring. I did not know yet what was coming if I would only wait a while and trust in God’s spectacular plan for this magnificent part of the world. Which brings me to Bethlehem. It cannot be a random chance that Jesus, Light of the World, joins us in darkness, hidden in a cave, helpless as a fawn, utterly vulnerable to the wild world around him. The paradox of the spectacular plan for his life is ever about him—God-man, child-Savior, Almighty-Infant King, Light in the Darkness. And though the darkness of this world may feel overwhelming, unstoppable, today, on this glorious Eve, a little baby breaks through and reminds me, “the dawn from on high shall break upon us.” Lord, let me never forget, You are the unstoppable promise of life everlasting. [bctt tweet="Lord, let me never forget, You are the unstoppable promise of life everlasting." username="blessedisshe__"] Saint Bernadine of Siena offers a simple and beautiful sermon on the name of Jesus. Read and ponder how you can share the glory of His Holy Name. Liz Kelly is a jazz singer who fell in love with Jesus. She writes, teaches, offers spiritual direction and retreats with a special interest in helping women to flourish in their faith. She’s written six books, including the award-winning Jesus Approaches and the Jesus Approaches Study Supplement. And she still sings jazz, but mainly in the tub and while washing dishes. Find out more about her here.

I couldn’t sleep the other night. As the sound of the fan whooshed through the quiet of our room, my mind began blaring the distress signal. It started as a whisper, a fear-riddled thought with a toss and a turn and a walk down the hall for a drink of water. Because, for some reason, God has asked us to jump. He has asked us to trust and to follow and to rely on Him. And it’s terrifying. Because I’m no good at the descent. I like the safety of the ledge, the familiarity of the dirt beneath my feet. But we signed those papers anyway, my husband and I. We tied ourselves to a new address and a new life and a fixed monthly mortgage payment with an unfixed freelance salary. And if I’m honest, I don’t know how this one will turn out because here we are, right in the middle of the fall. Arms flapping, heart racing, don’t look down! So much of me wants to reach for that ledge, to hoist myself back up to the security of what is familiar. And I have to imagine that Mary felt much the same, that when the angel Gabriel appeared, fear grasped at her heart. What would have happened if she had listened to it, if she had remained hunkered down in what was familiar to her? Jumping isn’t easy, but it’s always worth it. Because when God calls, He always provides. So, to you, the one who is free falling without the safety of your ledge, "[b]lessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled" (Luke 1:45). He’s got this, sister. Let Him catch you. [bctt tweet="Jumping isn’t easy, but it’s always worth it. Because when God calls, He always provides." username="IamBritCal"] Have you prayed the Annunciation Novena? It's okay to start anytime! Brittany Calavitta is an enthusiastic advocate for a good book, strong coffee, and a hopeful heart. After battling years of infertility, she and her husband welcomed their first child on September 11, 2016. You can find out more about her here.

Christmas is coming . . . what do you have your heart set on receiving this year? A shiny new something? Quality time with loved ones that’s somehow stress-free? Health and good fortune? What if you had to choose between that gift you most want . . . and the gift of Jesus? The women in today’s readings know what it is to long for good things. Yet they’re also unbelievable examples of radical trust and strength when it comes to worldly detachment (1 Samuel 1:24-28, Luke 1:46-56). Hannah faithfully prayed and waited over ten years for her heart’s desire—a child. We feel both her ache of longing and unbounded joy when she speaks of her son, Samuel. Yet our hearts are stunned when she literally and joyfully gives him back to God, entrusting her most precious gift to His care for the rest of his life. And then there’s young Mary of Nazareth. No doubt she shared the same desires any new mother might crave: affirmation and acceptance of the new life within, support from family and friends, and, most certainly, practical help like a hot meal and rest. Instead, she faced the opposite: the punishment du jour for pregnancy outside of marriage was death by stoning, Joseph could very well leave her, and the best she’d likely get from her neighbors was a hot dish of disdain with a side of scorn. Yet Mary trusted God’s abundance enough to give up every bit of worldly comfort and consolation. She exercised detachment not only from her most treasured possessions and relationships, but from her life itself—and in return, received the most fulfilling joy, intimate love, and everlasting life. Generations later, we still unquestioningly call her blessed. As this season of giving and getting gears up, it would do us good to take a deep dive into the desires of our hearts. Are we holding so tightly to our desires that we can’t fully open ourselves to what God is longing to give? Maybe we, like Hannah and Mary, can work toward detachment with radical trust and confidence—knowing that God has only better gifts to give in return. [bctt tweet="Maybe we, like Hannah and Mary, can work toward detachment with radical trust and confidence—knowing that God has only better gifts to give in return." username="PosImperfect"] Ever heard of "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis? It's available for a free download here. It offers many beautiful perspectives on the interior life, detachment, and radical trust. Megan Hjelmstad is a wife and mom 24/7 and an Army Reservist in her “spare” time. She’s a bibliophile, tea drinker, sleep lover, and avid admirer of Colorado’s great outdoors. When the writing bug hits, you can find out more about her here.

We clustered nervously in the hallway outside the door to her room, clutching containers of bubbles and sidewalk chalk as the children bounced around, impatient for the fun to begin. Her face appeared in the crack—one eye, the side of her nose. Then the door opened wide. “Well, hello!” she beamed at us. She had entirely forgotten who we were. As we all rode the elevator down to the lobby, we chatted about the weather and the purple shirt she was wearing. We led her out to the patio, where the kids blew bubbles and ran circles around her, calling her over to see their chalk drawings. Robins twittered in the woods nearby, where the late afternoon sun flashed through the pine trees. She reminisced about playing jacks when she was a girl and said, “So pretty! So pretty,” over and over again. Her smile lit up her eyes. And it wasn’t a perfect visit, but it was pretty close. The ministry of presence is a powerful thing. When Mary visited Elizabeth in today’s Gospel reading, she brought the gift of herself—a comforting presence for the remainder of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. That Spirit-filled moment of her arrival was marked by babies leaping in wombs and women embracing and crying out loudly and (shortly thereafter) bursting into song. That moment defined joy—not just for the two women standing there in the doorway of Elizabeth’s house, but for each of us who encounters another as a gift. Every time we pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, we can place ourselves there with Mary and Elizabeth and witness the power of what happens when one woman shows up for another. Mary came that day to share her love and to share Jesus. This is exactly what we do when we visit our relatives with Alzheimer's, or carry a meal to a new mother, or invite that lonely neighbor for coffee. We carry Jesus to the world by showing up for the people who need us. Every time we do, the Lord, Our God, is in our midst, rejoicing over us with singing. [bctt tweet="We carry Jesus to the world by showing up for the people who need us." username="dere_abbey"] Read this wonderful speech by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the Visitation. Abbey Dupuy is the Assistant Theological Editor for Blessed is She and writes her life as a homeschooling mama of four frequently barefoot children. She muses about imperfect parenting, practicing gratitude, and celebrating the liturgical year with her young family on her blog. In her spare time, she enjoys running, gardening, coffee, and cookbooks, not usually at at the same time. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations: The Virtues study found here.

As I sit down to write each devotion, I say a simple prayer. Come Holy Spirit. Allow me to write exactly what these women need to read. Allow Your message to flow through me, according to Your word. My favorite Bible verse is Luke 1:38. I aspire to be the handmaid of the Lord. I pray for the perfect faith and trust of the Blessed Virgin. I sit a while with that prayer while I read through my assigned scripture. Often, some passage or element jumps out at me and I am drawn to convey a particular message. Whenever I’ve tried to force my writing into a particular direction, it has gone poorly and the Holy Spirit gently nudges me back on track. Sometimes, it’s not so gentle. This is one of those times. Today’s Scripture was screaming at me. It was as if His words were jumping off the page. I could feel the power of His words. He wanted to pierce my heart with a simple, yet powerful, message. I am coming, are you ready for me? I stopped in my tracks. Am I? I’ve been doing my Advent devotional and we light our Advent wreath. I prayerfully ponder upon the nativity scenes in my home. We sing Advent songs at Mass. I talk to my children about how Jesus is coming and we will be able to add Him to our manger. But is my heart ready? Throughout today’s readings, I was struck with this strong image of Jesus’ arrival—down to Earth, into my home, into her womb, and into my heart. Over and over, I saw a rush of images, a swirl of home and heart. He is telling the world to prepare for His coming, but asking me to prepare my own heart. He has that personal message for each one of us. The Lord could not be more clear with His message for us today—Get ready! I am coming. [bctt tweet="The Lord could not be more clear with His message for us today—Get ready! I am coming." username="Substance_Soul"] As we prepare ourselves and meditate on the Blessed Virgin Mary's journey as well, enjoy these images of a pregnant Mary from all around the world. Dr. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm is a wife to Paul, mom to three little ones, and practices dentistry at a public health community center for low income families in the Bay Area, California. She (unashamedly) thinks ice cream is its own food group, loves anything Harry Potter, does not leave the house without wearing sparkly earrings, and is an enthusiastic proponent of the Oxford comma. Find out more about her here.

Five months ago, I was in the Holy Land on pilgrimage and had the opportunity to pray in Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity and the Shepherd’s Fields were full of pilgrims singing Christmas carols (in July!), but a surprise grace came while visiting with some nuns at the hilltop Convent of Carmel-Bethlehem. While standing outside in the garden, I gazed down upon the Church of the Nativity situated in the little town of Bethlehem. Sister mentioned that we were standing in the Shepherd Fields of David. Bethlehem is called the City of David and I was in the very place where David was anointed King. The link between King David and Christ the King was palpable. Our Savior’s lineage traces directly back to David, the Root of Jesse’s stem (O Radix Jesse). We hear today’s O Antiphon in the Alleluia verse: “O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for his people: come to save us without delay!” Jesse was the father of King David, whose earthly kingdom eventually split, was conquered, and destroyed. And although many gave up hope, there was still a remnant that prayed: "O Come, Thou Root of Jesse’s stem, From every foe deliver them That trust Thy mighty power to save, And give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!" Yes, there was a miraculous spark of life that sprung from a seemingly dead stump: "Lo, how a Rose e’re blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming, As men of old have sung. It came a flow’ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night." So, as we wait in joyful hope for our King to come, let us pray together with today’s antiphon from the Canticle of Mary in Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours: "O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid." [bctt tweet=""Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid."" username="blessedisshe__"] The "O Antiphons" are a beautiful poetic set of prayers. Integrate them into your prayer life and learn more here. Rose Coleman is a contemplative in action who delights in all things beautiful. Her adventurous heart has traveled many places—from circumnavigating the globe on a ship during college to some years in the convent as a religious sister. Exuberant from her childhood, she is an elementary school teacher who learns so much from her students. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations: Ways to Pray study found here.

"She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). “God saves”—that’s the mystery of this season. The name “Jesus” even means “God saves.” What does it mean to you that God comes to save you? To me, it means that I can stop trying to save everything, and everyone. I can stop trying to make things happen or fix things by my own power. That’s God’s work. I can let go. And let God. Letting go can feel vulnerable, can’t it? It's hard to surrender. It's so hard to trust sometimes. It can feel scary when we are not in control. But if Jesus became a vulnerable little baby fully dependent on Mama Mary and Saint Joseph to raise Him and keep Him safe, I think we can also surrender and be the children that we truly are before Our Father in Heaven. He’s got us. He’s in control. It is Jesus who saves. This season can get a little crazy. There’s so much to do and so many responsibilities. Let’s remember that Jesus is with us. He comes to save us. This is His work and He’s got it under control. "For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save" (Psalm 72:12-13). Let’s let Jesus save us and those we love this Christmas. That’s what He’s coming here to do. [bctt tweet="Let’s let Jesus save us and those we love this Christmas. That’s what He’s coming here to do." username="blessedisshe__"] Pray More Novenas offers so many novenas, but this one for surrender is a great one to embrace this Advent. Email a sister or friend; do it together. Mary Catherine Craige enjoys spending her time creating art, writing, and playing her Irish harp. As a life coach, she encourages and challenges women in all walks of life to bravely discover their purpose and to more fully live in freedom as the person they are created to be. You can find out more about her here.

It may not be the most popular Gospel passage in the New Testament, but there is something about the genealogy of Christ that really moves me. Maybe it's the monotony of the names, and how you're reading, reading, reading until they all begin to blur, and then you're hit with it . . . "Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ" (Matthew 1:16). The Christ. As I mediated on why this passage so moves me, it's because I'm so utterly reminded of the humanity of Jesus. His lineage is of flesh and blood, and too often I forget. Yet here, despite His name being the Name above all names, it falls into place in a list that reads like a history book. The list is tediously long, hard to pronounce, and maybe even feels irrelevant. But the magic here lies in this cataclysmic intersection of the Holy Spirit, and in the fiat, when Mary's yes gave way to Jesus Who is the Christ. It moves me because it's a reminder that He's real. Because despite my faith and how much I know to be true, the fact that He really, actually lived is something that isn't on mind very often. It's the God reigning on His heavenly throne I see, or our crucified Lord over the altar, or our humbled Savior hidden in the bread and the wine. . .but a man? It's almost shocking to be reminded of it. Yet now is the time, isn't it? In these dark, cold days of Advent awaiting our Great Light to burst forth from the stable in Bethlehem. Now is the time to ponder the mystery, of who begat whom and how it all led to this. What's been written in the books since the dawn of time, the reality of our holy Faith, the sacred history of a real people: family, fathers, sons, and a supernatural and sin-shattering yes at the lips of a woman, Mary, the wife of Joseph, the son of Jacob. [bctt tweet="Now is the time to ponder the mystery, of who begat whom and how it all led to this." username="blessedisshe__"] We believe that Jesus was fully God and fully man, something called the "hypostatic union." Read more about Jesus' nature over at the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Blythe Fike is the wife of Kirby and mother of 8 smallish kids. She loves the quiet life in small town SoCal. You can find out more about her here.

Sisters! Happy Gaudete Sunday! Have you been to Mass yet today? Have you seen your priest in his rose-colored vestments or lit the rose-colored candle in your own Advent wreath? Will you or your family members wear that same color to Mass to honor this special day in the Church year? Have you read today's readings proclaiming j-o-y to the rooftops? It's so easy to gloss over Gaudete Sunday as just another Sunday in Advent, but its meaning is just too profound not to celebrate. The message of the Scriptures today is that our waiting and pondering this Advent is almost at an end. We long for the birth of our sweet Jesus and the readings of the Mass today make it clear: The Lord is near. Take heart! Be joyful! "The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in His love" (Zephaniah 3:17). Today's readings remind us that Jesus comes to save each of us. Not as a collective hodge-podge of humanity, but for you and for me as His beloved daughters. He knows our worries and sorrows in this Advent season. He knows our timid hopes for Christmas and the New Year. He sees our hearts and rejoices over us, all of us—the joyful parts and the not so joyful parts. And He whispers, "I'm in your midst. I'm almost here." Let's not allow this beautiful day of joy to slip away from us without being honored and acknowledged. In just nine days our hearts will awaken to Christmas morn, when the whole world is made new by His birth. But we're not there yet. For now, let's rest in today's "Gaudete!" that He is near, and He is on the way. [bctt tweet="Let's rest in today's "Gaudete!" that He is near, and He is on the way." username="blessedisshe__"] Do you follow Blessed is She on Pinterest? Find ideas for your Gaudete celebration and living an intentional rest of Advent. Karen Schultz hails from the Land of 10,000 lakes, where she is often found in or near one of them. As a doula, lactation educator, and FertilityCare Practitioner, she finds joy in helping women to embrace the gift of their bodies. Downtime is found in quiet adoration chapels, farmers markets and gardens, listening to bluegrass music, and embracing the diversity of Minnesota’s seasons. You can find out more about her here.

Coming down from a mountaintop experience is challenging! Just ask Saints Peter, James, and John. They witnessed one of the most defining moments in Christ's time on Earth in the Transfiguration, and they couldn't comprehend what they saw. Jesus had to spell out how Saint John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah (wait, so Elijah himself isn’t coming back?), and that people did whatever they wanted (yep, they beheaded John), and the same fate (you got it, death) was awaiting Him down the mountain. So, what does Jesus do? He packs them up and takes a hike toward His destiny. Wait, can't we just put up some tents and roast some s'mores, Jesus? Full account is in Matthew 17:1-13. At some point in our faith journey, we will each have a mountaintop moment or two. Maybe you've had one already. Perhaps it was an intense encounter with Christ in Adoration, or someone prayed with you when you needed it most, or you've had an intimate experience of God on retreat. Whatever the moment, the question we have to ask is, are we ready for what we will encounter off the mountain? When you completely follow Christ, expect people to enter your life who need healing, mercy, and love. These are the people Jesus and the Apostles met the second they descended the mountain. God didn’t select these three from the twelve for this mountain moment so that they would feel superior to the other Apostles. No, He gave them this moment because He knew they would need it to push through the tough days to come, as well as the doubt, and persecution. So, if you find your life more challenging since your mountaintop moment came to pass, you are in good company. It means you are following Christ closely. Retain the memory of the mountain, but keep your feet in motion, and lose the tent. He does not want you stagnant in faith. He has plans for you beyond your comprehension. [bctt tweet="He has plans for you beyond your comprehension." username="SoCalTriciaT"] Raphael painting Christ's Transfiguration as his final masterpiece. It's housed in the Vatican museum. See it and its story here. Tricia Tembreull is a California girl with a boundless passion for life. After two decades of ministering to teens and youth ministers as a trainer, ministry mentor, and speaker in Catholic youth ministry, Tricia now serves as Campus Minister at USC Caruso Catholic Center. She loves adventure and seeks it everywhere she goes. As an avid foodie, she enjoys testing new recipes out on friends and family, gathering them around the table to encounter Christ in one another and be drawn to the satisfying unity we crave in the Eucharist. You can find out more about her here.