“But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” // John 16:32 These words of Jesus have become an anchor for my life. As a single woman, I spend a lot of time alone in solitude and silence. My life might appear lonely and unattractive in the eyes of the world, but I do not feel alone. I know that the Holy Trinity dwells within me and is calling me right now to a contemplative life. It is a unique vocation that is surprisingly joyful. I truly love my life. I do not think that my freshman-year-in-college self would have believed that my future self could be happily living alone in an artist loft after six years of community life in a convent. I do not think that she could imagine the freedom I experience in being attentive to the Holy Spirit and radically available to be poured out in love to the needs that arise in my family, friends, and parish. I also think that she would be surprised to see how the solitude that God is calling me is a place of deep union with Him and a school of profound dependence on His Providence. It has taken me several years to come to this place of peace in the Father’s will. My life has zigzagged all over the place. I have struggled through many troubles, fears, and lies. There have been some very dark moments of discouragement and confusion. But even in the midst of this darkness, Jesus was my light. I knew His presence, especially in the Sacraments. I experienced His faithfulness. Christ was gentle and patient as I learned to trust the Father more and more. I still have a lot to learn, but it is so helpful to be reminded of Jesus’ words: “I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” Do you know this truth today?

Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us? // Luke 24:32 Sister, have you encountered the Risen Christ in your prayer? Have you walked with Jesus like the disciples on the Road to Emmaus? Have you felt your heart burning within you as Christ opened the Scriptures to you? The heart of Jesus longs to encounter us, especially in the Scriptures. When I first began going to Daily Mass in my early twenties, the Scriptures became more alive to me. I knew many Bible stories from my childhood and had systematically studied the Old and New Testaments in school, but something new began to happen as I received the Scriptures at Daily Mass. Holy Mother Church is a good Mother who feeds us perfect portions throughout the liturgical year. It seemed like the Holy Spirit intentionally highlighted one particular phrase each day from the First Reading, Psalm, or Gospel. I was attentive to the Word of God in a new way. It was fresh and exciting. But the greatest gift to me were the holy priests who would open the Scriptures for me at several different parishes in my neighborhood. As I look back at who God had placed on my path during those years, three of those priests became bishops and several of the other priests had a beautiful charism of preaching. My heart felt so nourished by both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and this nourishment kindled a fire of love within me. During this season of Easter, let us be attentive as Jesus desires to open the Scriptures to us. Christ loves us and knows how to speak to our hearts in a way that we can understand. He is accompanying us on our journey, whether we recognize Him or not. Invite Jesus to stay with you today and always.

Abel, for his part, brought one of the best firstlings of his flock. // Genesis 4:4 Several years ago, an acquaintance of mine named her son Abel. I had never met anyone with this name, so I asked her to share how she and her husband chose that name. She explained to me her admiration of Abel in the book of Genesis. Abel offered his very best to the Lord. This mother desired for her first-born son’s life to be a pleasing offering to God. I appreciated her fresh perspective of this passage. I was familiar with the sad account of Cain killing Abel, but had never given much thought to the hearts of these brothers. Cain and Abel both made offerings to God, but one was more pleasing to the Lord. Abel offered his first fruits and found favor with God. The offering of first fruits is a sign of Abel’s humility, generosity, and trust. In the pursuit of holiness, I want to grow in these virtues of humility, generosity, and trust. I want to offer my first fruits and find favor with God. When I pray the Morning Offering, I offer to God “my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.” I know that my little offerings of distracted prayers, imperfect work, pleasant joys, and painful sufferings are piddly in comparison to Jesus’ offerings to His Father. This is one of the reasons why I have made Daily Mass a priority for the most of my adulthood. When my little offerings are united to the heart of Jesus, this becomes an act of worship to the Father. The Father truly delights in this offering. The Father wants us to experience the favor that He finds in being His beloved. What will you offer to Him today?

“And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” // 1 John 5:11 Thank You, Father, for Your gift of Eternal Life. Through the sanctifying waters of Baptism, You have given me a New Life: Eternal Life is in Christ Jesus, my Lord. As we set off into this New Year of 2023, give me the Grace to remember my identity before you. On the day of my baptism, You witnessed the birth of Christ’s life in me. Help me to perceive the supernatural reality that when You look at me, you see Christ. I find profound rest in Your words of Truth: “You are My beloved daughter, with you I am well pleased” (see Mark 1:11). How is it that I can forget the indwelling of the Holy Trinity within my distracted heart? May Your presence be my joy and strength! And while I may inadvertently overlook Your choice to dwell within me, I remain grateful for Your faithful presence throughout every moment of my life. I am poor. You are rich. I am weak. You are strong. I am unworthy. You are worthy. And I am loved unconditionally. My imperfections do not hinder Your repeated choice of me. Nothing can separate me from Your love. Nothing! Continue to purify my heart. Guide me to a deeper discovery and delight in the warmth of Your unwavering presence. My heart is Your home. I look forward to the life of the world to come (see Nicene Creed). What a joy it will be to see each other face-to-face. Maybe then I will start to comprehend the endless heights and depths of Your love.

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. // Luke 1:57-58 A dear friend of mine got married in her late thirties after nearly two prolonged decades of waiting and searching for a Catholic spouse. She was in her forties when she gave birth to her first-born son. There was so much rejoicing in God’s faithfulness at both her wedding and baby showers. Now my friend was probably quite a bit younger than Saint Elizabeth, who conceived John in her old age after years of barrenness, but the barren women of the Bible can be such beautiful companions during times of waiting in our lives. As we come to the end of Advent, the Gospel today recounts the birth of Saint John the Baptist. His birth was not only both a mercy and joy to Saint Elizabeth, but it was also a cause of great celebration for her neighbors and relatives. Can you imagine the baby showers and meal trains those women might have planned for her? These hidden women of the Gospel were probably each carrying their own suffering; they may have been waiting for God to answer the prayers in the silence of their own hearts. I wonder if they received a renewal of hope as they rejoiced with Elizabeth? Or were some of them too overwhelmed and not quite ready to celebrate with her? The feminine heart is sensitive and complex—and we must hold space for those who grieve in the midst of joyful news. In God’s perfect time, hopefully we will be able to see with clarity that when God blesses one of us, it can become a blessing to all of us. We have a God Who wants to fill our hearts with joy. We have a God Who provides for us on His timeline. We have a God Who stretches our hearts in love during the times of waiting. We have a God Who fulfills His promises in the most surprising ways. And isn’t this what Christmas is all about? As we prepare to welcome the Baby Jesus into our hearts this Christmas, let us lean into the goodness, faithfulness, and generosity of our Heavenly Father. And as Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist at Christmas Mass, let every heart prepare Him room! [bctt tweet="We have a God Who wants to fill our hearts with joy. // Rose Coleman " username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” // Matthew 9:37-38 Have you experienced the effects of the labor shortage in our current post-pandemic world? Retail, manufacturing, hospitality, health care, and education are just a few of the industries experiencing significant staffing shortfalls. Labor economists continue to analyze the supply chain woes and the painful pinch of inflation. Doom and gloom fills the news cycle. In today’s Gospel, we catch a Biblical glimpse of another labor shortage. We see how beautifully Jesus’ Heart became attentive to the distress of those around Him. Our Lord could have said, “All right everyone, we are completely short staffed right now, so I need all of you to take on extra responsibilities and work double shifts. We will get the job done if everyone just works harder and longer. No complaining—you can do it!” As frustrating as the current economy may be, we must remember that the Kingdom of God operates in a radically different way. The supernatural life of grace is at the heart of Kingdom living. Jesus instructs His disciples to directly ask the master to send out more workers. There are no supply chain issues in His Kingdom! The King of Kings and Lord of Lords has an endless supply of resources, and He simply desires for us to ask Him for more. This is the heart of intercessory prayer, dear sister. We need to be courageous and bold in our requests. Let our generous Father in Heaven lavishly pour His love into your heart. Go to Him in prayer and imagine how His Heart is moved with pity for the current suffering in your life. He sees all the ways that your particular heart feels troubled and abandoned. Our Father knows how to communicate His love to you in a way that you can understand. Do not be afraid to ask Him to provide more laborers for His harvest. God is faithful and desires to shepherd you into a supernatural life of grace, hope, and joy. [bctt tweet="He sees all the ways that your particular heart feels troubled and abandoned. // Rose Coleman" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

[L]ive temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ. // Titus 2:12-13 “Why does your Church have so many rules?” asked one of my friends in college. “Isn’t freedom important? I don’t know why anyone would subject themselves to such torture!” “Well,” I replied, “Have you heard the phrase ‘Holy Mother Church?’ I view the Church as my mother—a good mother who nourishes, protects, and provides boundaries so that I can live in the freedom of who God created me to be. Sure, it might seem like there are a lot of rules to keep track of, but I see these as guides that are leading me to my home in Heaven.” “I don’t understand why you would want to live a miserable life, deprived of earthly pleasures,” she replied. “You are missing out by being so devout.” My friend shut down the conversation, and my heart sank with sadness for her. How I wish that she knew the joy of the Gospel! Yes, the Gospel demands sacrificial love, but it is a life-giving love united to the Heart of Jesus. The Cross is always fruitful and leads to the resurrection. And we do not have to wait until Heaven to experience this new life in Christ. Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, whose feast we celebrate today, helps to unlock this mystery for us. She wrote, “It seems to me that I have found my Heaven on earth, since Heaven is God and God is in my soul. The day I understood that, everything became clear to me. I wish to tell this secret to those whom I love so that they also, through everything, may also cling to God” (Letter 122). Sister, as we strive to live a life of virtue and “await the blessed hope,” let us never forget that the Holy Trinity is dwelling within our souls. How will we let Holy Mother Church nurture this life of grace within us today? [bctt tweet="The Cross is always fruitful and leads to the resurrection. // Rose Coleman " username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will . . . . Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” // Luke 10:21, 23 After queuing through the congestion of airport security, I walked down the terminal to my airline gate. I was traveling by myself, and they were beginning to board the plane. Most people were listening to their headphones with their eyes glued to electronic devices. As I found my seat on the airplane, it seemed to be a flight full of business commuters. Another day, another flight for so many of them. A sweet family took their seats in the row behind me, and I could hear the chatter of a young, inquisitive child. This must have been his first flight. As a loyal member of #TeamWindowSeat, it was charming to overhear some observations of the curious child in the window seat directly behind me. The airplane taxied to the runway, and the child became excited with anticipation. As we accelerated for takeoff, this child began laughing with absolute delight. He enthusiastically started shouting out, “We are flying! We are in the air! We are higher than the clouds! This is amazing!” The purity of his joy in this magical moment was contagious. Passengers looked up from their work, glanced at each other with smiles, and giggles erupted throughout the aircraft. This little passenger helped us see with his eyes of wonder. In today’s Gospel, we learn that Our Father has hidden things from the wise and the learned and revealed them to the childlike (Luke 10:21). May God give us childlike hearts that are able to see our world with wonder and joy. Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, whose memorial we celebrate today, had a pure, childlike heart oriented towards God. Let us ask her to guide us along her Little Way as we pray with these lines of her May 31, 1897 poem, Abandonment Is the Sweet Fruit of Love: No, nothing worries me. Nothing can trouble me. My soul knows how to fly Higher than the lark. Above the clouds The sky is always blue. One touches the shores Where God reigns. I await in peace the glory Of that Heavenly abode, For I find in the Ciborium The sweet Fruit of Love! [bctt tweet="Give us childlike hearts. // Rose Coleman" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood Him and remained unscathed? // Job 9:4 Father, You have created me in Your wisdom. You have brought me to this day, with my hopes, joys, fears, and pain. I need You to be my strength today. You are mighty and sometimes I find it mighty hard to joyfully follow You. I cannot always understand Your holy will. I want to follow You unreservedly, but sometimes there is resistance in my heart. I do not intend to withstand You or impede Your work within me. I want Your will to be done. I know there is a cost to following Jesus, but I find myself afraid of the suffering and pain. Be gentle, O Divine Physician. I know that You love me as You do what is necessary to bring true healing to my heart. In the darkness, You reveal only what I need. If I saw the future, I might just run away. But I will remain here with You. In Your Kingdom, there is always more to give and even more to receive. Let me be made into the likeness of Jesus. Conform my heart to deeper union with His Heart and His Cross and Resurrection. Make me fit for Your kingdom. I will not remain unscathed. I am not afraid to be wounded by Your Love. I will follow You wherever You go. The costs are high, and there are no conditions, no distractions, no excuses. Following You will bring me the most perfect peace and a foretaste of Heaven. Let there be a miracle of Grace today. Allow me to experience peace and joy in my suffering, humiliation, and poverty. I am content with Your perfect will. I give thanks to You in all things. Help me to rejoice in You, always. Amen. [bctt tweet="I will follow You wherever You go. // Rose Coleman" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. // Luke 1:45 The Church honors Mary in a special way today as we celebrate the Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary. Let’s receive this invitation to pause and reflect on the powerful name of Mary. Over eight hundred years ago, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux wrote a famous homily about the name of Mary. He wrote: “In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may more surely obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for a guide, you shall never go astray” (Hom. II super Missus est, 17: PL 183, 70-71). There have been many Saints who have died with the name of Mary on their lips. Our Heavenly Mother prays for us “now and at the hour of our death.” I have a very vivid memory of my family’s last visit with my ninety-nine-year-old great-grandmother before she died. I was twelve years old and this was the first time I had been with someone so close to death. My great-grandmother was unresponsive to us when we arrived at her nursing home room. We noticed a cassette tape player near her bed with a recording of the Rosary on it. My family played the recording and began to pray the Rosary together. My great-grandmother became more attentive and began to move her lips to say her prayers. These prayers were deeply written on her heart; I wonder how many thousands of Hail Marys she said throughout her life. What an unforgettable witness to see how my great-grandma did not let Mary’s name depart from her lips, even in her final days. Let us take Mary as our patron and be formed by her Immaculate Heart. Keep the name of Mary on your lips and say with her, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior" (Luke 1:46). [bctt tweet="Let us take Mary as our patron and be formed by her Immaculate Heart. // Rose Coleman" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt. // Jeremiah 31:4 Have you ever felt your life crumble to the ground? Sometimes it is difficult to remain hopeful when our heavenly Father allows us to suffer such difficult things. I literally had to rebuild my life with Jesus when I discerned to leave religious life after six years in the convent. My parents graciously took me into their home, and there was a lot to figure out. I opened a bank account, acquired new clothes, bought a phone, updated my resume, found a job, purchased a vehicle, reconnected with friends, and found a new spiritual home in a parish. The Lord also provided several very helpful people to me: + “One of the most important things I have learned in the last few months is how to receive love,” described my cousin who was recovering from breast cancer. + “My whole life changed and Jesus led me one step at a time,” shared my friend who celebrated sobriety after a destructive addiction to alcohol. + “Jesus will help you,” promised my grandma who had been widowed for twenty-three years. + “We have received encouragement from countless people whom we would have never encountered without our son’s diagnosis,” shared a friend whose child had special needs. + “I know how you feel; I once had to rebuild my entire life, too,” said my friend who had escaped an incredibly abusive marriage with her three young children. These women were signs of hope to me. With their unique paths to holiness, they grew in closeness to Jesus through the suffering of the Cross. And they had come to a place of genuine peace and rest. They were joyful witnesses of the Resurrection as they received God’s particular love and mercy. And with their companionship, I continued to let God restore and rebuild my life. Sister, no matter the size of the trauma we might have experienced, remember that we have received the gift of Faith through our Baptism. We must hold onto this Faith and let Jesus lead us in love to His Merciful Heart. Here Jesus will console us, heal us, and turn our mourning into joy. [bctt tweet="Let Jesus lead us in love. // Rose Coleman" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison. // Matthew 14:3 Saint John the Baptist is quite a mysterious figure in the Gospels. In today’s reading from Saint Matthew, we hear how a suggestive dance at Herod’s birthday party led to the beheading of Saint John the Baptist. The perplexing course of events ended with such an extreme act of violence. While praying with this scripture passage, I was drawn to imagine Saint John the Baptist sitting alone in a cold, dark prison cell in the hours right before his death. What were John’s thoughts, feelings, and desires? Which virtues helped him maintain hope? I was so struck by his humility and was reminded of these phrases from the Litany of Humility prayer: From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being approved, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being despised, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, O Jesus. Saint John the Baptist was a victim of another man’s sin. This is something that many of us can all relate to. While we deserve to be understood, heard, and respected with dignity, we know that unfortunately this does not always happen in our fallen world. We can let the witness of Saint John the Baptist and his example of humility help us navigate through the suffering in life. Although we live in a fallen world, let us pray together today that the Holy Spirit will continue to strengthen the virtues within us so that we might grow in holiness. [bctt tweet="Grow in holiness. // Rose Coleman" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

When Hezekiah was mortally ill, the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him: “Thus says the LORD: Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you shall not recover.” // Isaiah 38:1 In March, I received news that my childhood pastor was in hospice care. Father was eighty-nine-years old and served as a priest in our Archdiocese for sixty-four years. He was my pastor for twenty-two years, and we stayed in contact after his retirement. When I heard that Father was dying, I had a very strong desire to go visit him. As I drove to the nursing home, I did not know what to expect. I knocked on the door to his room and was greeted by his sister, brother, and two nieces. I had never met them before, but they welcomed me right in. Father was in stable condition, but unresponsive. The family and I visited and prayed together. I left that evening at 6:30 pm and received word the next morning that Father peacefully passed away at midnight. As we prepared for the funeral, several people commented to me that Father had “put his house in order.” He had planned his funeral, chosen his burial plot, set up his health care directive, and made arrangements for his finances and belongings. But more importantly, he lived a simple life with Jesus Christ at the center. Father knew that his home was in Heaven, and he ordered his life to this end. The sacred moments at the end of life are powerful. Father had “put his house in order” and had given his life so beautifully to Christ and His Church. This priest joyfully accompanied me throughout my life. I felt like I was standing on holy ground as we accompanied him to eternal life. Sister, let us remember today our eternal home in Heaven. Are there practical steps you can take today to put your house in order? We cannot take anything with us to eternal life; may this inform our decisions as we walk our paths to holiness! [bctt tweet="Our eternal home in Heaven. // Rose Coleman" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

“This is how you are to pray.” // Matthew 6:9 A few years ago, I accompanied a friend through a very difficult season in her life. She felt overwhelmed and discouraged in her suffering. She tried to maintain hope that God would provide for her needs, but she could not see any immediate relief for the situation in the near future. One day tears streamed down her face as she confided to me, “This is so incredibly hard. I just wish I was holier. Why can’t I simply offer up my suffering with joy? I am trying not to complain, but I can barely handle the pain. And the hardest part about this whole thing is that I can’t pray. God seems so far away, and I just wish that I could hear Him in prayer. I get so distracted when I try to pray. When I try to take a few moments for silent prayer, I don’t even know what to say to God. I am tired, confused, angry, and frustrated.” As I listened to my friend, I knew that Jesus understood her heart perfectly. I encouraged her to ask Jesus to help her see the situation with His eyes. My friend and I talked about prayer, and I encouraged her to keep it simple. She was drawn to the words of the Our Father prayer, and they became her refuge. A few weeks later, I noticed a new glimmer of hope within my friend. She shared with me, “My suffering remains, but I am keeping the words of the Our Father on my lips. Sometimes I don’t even make it through the whole prayer. These are the words that are bringing me the most consolation right now: Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.” Sister, the Our Father prayer is such a gift! When we feel discouraged in prayer, return to these words of Jesus with great hope. Jesus wants us to experience the consolation of the Father’s love. Will you open your heart to Him in prayer today? [bctt tweet="Return to the words of Jesus with great hope. // Rose Coleman " username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

[Saint Paul] went to visit them and, because he practiced the same trade, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. // Acts 18:3 Have you learned a trade? Do you have a particular skill set, knowledge, or ability that has taken years to perfect? What has it taken to hone your craft? Who have you encountered along the way? Can you imagine the conversations Saint Paul must have had with other tentmakers in Corinth? They shared daily life together and hopefully grew in friendship. Saint Paul’s trade gave him access to a very particular group of people who could learn from the witness of his life. God has placed you in a particular family, in a specific place, in this exact moment in history. He has designed your personality, strengths, and weaknesses and will provide you with the grace to grow in holiness right here and now. God has put you in the place where He wants you to become a Saint. Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, a joyful priest who is known as the “third apostle to Rome” after Saints Peter and Paul. There was great upheaval and unrest after the Sack of Rome in 1527; Saint Philip Neri surrendered his desire to be a missionary to India and followed a call to stay closer to home. If you make a pilgrimage to Rome, I hope you can pray at the tomb of Saint Philip Neri and visit his private rooms at the Chiesa Nuova Church. It is one of my favorite places in Rome. Some of the most memorable artifacts displayed in the extensive collection are the written correspondences with his friends, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Charles Borremeo, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Saint John of the Cross. Isn’t it amazing to think about the friendships that Philip had with Ignatius, Charles, Teresa, and John? I wonder how they encouraged each other in sanctity. Holiness begets holiness! In 1622, Saint Philip Neri, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Ignatius Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier, and Saint Isidore were all canonized together on the same day. It was the first canonization of multiple holy people on the same day. They practiced the same trade: the art of becoming a Saint. Who is helping you grow? Who is witnessing to you? Consider your friendships today. [bctt tweet="God has put you in the place where He wants you to become a Saint. // Rose Coleman" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

[H]old fast to the word I preached to you. // 1 Corinthians 15:2 Saint Paul reminds us today to hold fast to the Word of God. There are certain Scripture verses that make deep roots in our hearts and can especially sustain us through suffering. When it feels like we are drowning or trapped or stuck or hurt or misunderstood or completely exhausted, the Word of God can become an incredible source of strength and consolation. Jesus’ words to Saint Thomas in today’s Gospel have been a deep source of grace for me throughout many years: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus has reminded me of His words countless times in prayer and continues to deepen the layers of wisdom within. I often ask Christ to show me the way, reveal the truth, and bring new life. This Gospel passage is proclaimed every year on this Feast of Saints Philip and James; today is also my birthday and I am grateful to receive this annual reminder and hold fast to Him as my way, truth, and life. This scripture verse is also the inspiration for one of my favorite hymns, "The Call." Ralph Vaughan William composed this hymn to accompany this beautiful poem by George Herbert. The hymn begins with these words: Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life: Such a way as gives us breath; Such a truth as ends all strife; Such a life as killeth death. What a consolation to know that Jesus’ way gives us breath, His truth ends all strife, and His life kills death! If you feel like you are drowning today, receive His life! If you are amid strife, receive His truth. If you are surrounded by death, receive His life! Let Jesus be your way, truth, and life. [bctt tweet="Receive His life. // Rose Coleman " username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Tell the people everything about this life. // Acts 5:20 Do you share our magnificent Catholic life with the world? Countless generations have treasured our beautiful heritage and intentionally shared the Good News of our Resurrected Savior with others. I have such curiosity about the Catholic life of my ancestors and am indebted to them for my spiritual inheritance. Who is in your lineage of Faith? My elderly grandmother peacefully passed away five months ago, and her deep faith was such a strong anchor for my family. She was a powerhouse of prayer who joyfully and naturally shared her faith with nearly everyone she met. Grandma knew who she was, and she was not ashamed of her life in Christ. She suffered greatly throughout her life, but found joy in the Cross. Her bright light of faith was such a gift to our family. She lived with expectant hope and the truth that “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). Our Catholic faith is incredibly countercultural today. We are surrounded by people who prefer darkness to light and often our own hearts prefer darkness to light (John 3:19). Our Sacramental Life in the Church strengthens us to live in the light, but we are so often attracted to these worldly thoughts: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. #YOLO, you only live once. Carpe Diem. Sister, we must remain clear-minded. We need to remember how our Heavenly Father has lavishly bestowed on us the gift of eternal life. Do we long for our beautiful home in Heaven? Jesus calls us to courageously walk in His light with our eyes fixed on His truth, beauty, and goodness. The Holy Spirit is generous with His gifts as we live sacramental lives of grace. We experience the gift of the Church and are called to tell others everything about this life. Is there a family member, friend, or colleague in your life who could benefit from hearing about your life in Christ? Let’s pray together for the gift of boldness in sharing the Good News today. You are part of the lineage of faith for many people. [bctt tweet="Courageously walk in His light. // Rose Coleman " username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion