When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” // Luke 9:54 Disheartened and angered by what I was reading, I tossed my phone onto the bed. I usually avoid conflicts online and unfollow negative accounts, but after some of the posts and comments I was reading, I was ready to smack people upside their heads! It reminded me of today’s Gospel. The Jews and Samaritans were enemies and had a shared hostility. So when the Samaritans wouldn’t receive Jesus, James and John were outraged and asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” (Luke 9:54). Who couldn’t relate to that kind of anger and frustration? We’ve all felt it. Yet who did Jesus rebuke? Not the Samaritans who snubbed him, but His friends. If I was James or John, I would have thought, What the heck? You’re mad at us? But we’re the ones who gave up everything to follow You?! And then once that anger subsided, my remorse would have set in because Jesus was right. I let my anger and emotions cloud the central message of Jesus—He did not come to condemn, but to save (see John 12:47). Jesus looks at the heart. He offers mercy and healing, not only physically, but more importantly spiritually. When we look at hurtful people, we need the eyes of Christ to see beyond their odious exterior. There are reasons a person becomes hateful, angry, or self-destructive. When we look at a person as a son or daughter loved by God, our hearts can reside in mercy and not judgment. Hearts are changed when they are engaged one-on-one on a personal level. Seeds of conversion are then planted. Unfortunately there will be people with hardened hearts who refuse to listen. In those cases, it’s best to step away. We’d do better by praying that they receive the grace of conversion and repentance. Lord, make us instruments of Your mercy. Let us see hearts through Your eyes of love. Help us to discern when to press on and when to step away. We place our trust in You. Amen. [bctt tweet="Lord, make us instruments of Your mercy. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD! // Job 1:21 I recently met a new patient at our clinic. He was a soft-spoken man with kind eyes, a wrinkly forehead, and calloused fingers. He had several medical ailments and a complex dental history with inconsistent access to dental care. After I completed his dental exam, I informed him of my findings, walked him through his dental X-rays while pointing out several areas of concern, I gave him my tentative treatment plan and answered his questions. Throughout his appointment with me, his constant refrain was, All glory to God. He told me that it has been years since his last dental exam, and he knows he has a lot of work to do. But he said, “At least I have some teeth left. All glory to God.” He spoke of his unemployment due to the pandemic and his desire to find a job that would support him and his family. And again, “But my needs are met. All glory to God.” He told me of his health and his dental pain, his previous job experience and his training. “It’s been hard, but all glory to God.” His financial, health, and material circumstances had been dire. But in whole-hearted sincerity, his refrain was All glory to God. I walked away from that appointment with a renewed conviction. How many times have I watched myself cycle between self-pity and self-righteousness? I’ve told myself, well, if I just prayed harder and better, then this wouldn’t have happened. Or, well, God must be angry with me to let this have happened. It has all stemmed from pride and the lack of acceptance of the role suffering plays in my own life. But my encounter with this patient has left a profound mark on my heart. And I hope yours too because in suffering, all glory to God. In joy, all glory to God. In pain, all glory to God. In prosperity, all glory to God. In anguish, all glory to God. When I’m angry at Him, still, all glory to God. When my prayers are answered, all glory to God. And when He’s silent, all glory to God. Sister, think about what is happening in your own life and how you can give all glory to God right where you are today. [bctt tweet="All glory to God. // @substance_soul" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

"And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham." // Luke 16:20-21 We were visiting friends during a heat wave in the Carolinas. Too hot to do anything else, we had spent the past two days at the pool, sipping sparkling water, reapplying sunscreen to rosy cheeks, and jumping in after our kids when the heat became too much. When thunder began to rumble, the lifeguard whistle blew, and the kids reluctantly climbed out. Back at the house, we settled the kids in with a movie, and I slipped out to their porch to watch the storm roll in. The thunderheads gathered, dark blue-grey against the sumptuous green sweet gum trees. The heat and humidity were oppressive. The wind played, then fought with a tall tree in the distance. A few cool drops sprinkled my bare arms and I sat, transfixed, bearing witness to a miracle. Suddenly a huge thunderclap rattled the panes of the window behind me and I jumped. Sheets of rain pelted the roof and with a crack, a large limb sheared away from a tree in the front yard. Uncharacteristically, I hadn’t bothered to check the weather that week, so the storm came as a delicious surprise. Sometimes we are in the midst of a spiritual heat wave—suffering, grief, survival mode, illness—and we desperately want to look ahead at the forecast. When is this heat going to break? When will we get a respite? But God doesn’t work like that. He asks us to praise Him where we are and promises to provide what we need to survive and grow closer to Him in each season, if we will only surrender each day, each wound, each trial to Him. We can control so few things in our life and are invited to give the rest over to God’s tender mercy and love as Lazarus did. What about you, sister? How can you surrender to the heat wave in your life? Know that as you surrender, relief will come. The God Who allowed you to sit in the discomfort of that heat is the same God Who is sending the sweet relief of the summer storm to comfort and revive your weary soul. [bctt tweet="Praise Him where we are. // Elizabeth Blanke" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

[D]ust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it. // Ecclesiastes 12:8 Death is an everyday experience. The small sacrifices you make for family or friends are sometimes a conscious, yet often unconscious, dying to self. We experience small deaths when a beloved friend moves or a child leaves the nest or when you retire, or the career you put your blood, sweat, and tears into comes to an end. Life may not end, but it is dramatically altered, leaving a hollow space we don't know how to fill. Then, there is death when the "dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:8). This death causes a rupture in the earth's atmosphere and your soul, leaving a cavern deep within the recesses of our hearts. Grief is hard. It comes out of nowhere, triggering emotions you have never suffered and memories that invoke joy and trauma sealed away. A song on the radio, the aroma of perfume or cologne, or even the taste of your grandmother's Christmas punch can open up the floodgates of emotion. We must remember we are the resurrection people. The Apostles’ lives were ruptured when the Son of Man was "handed over to men" (Luke 9:44). Only one Apostle remained to behold Jesus crucified on the Cross. The Apostles even locked themselves in the Upper Room to grieve the loss they felt before Jesus passed through the door and offered them peace. Sister, whatever you are grieving, allow yourself to feel every emotion. Sing that song at the top of your lungs that reminds you of a road trip with your best friend who moved. Spray your husband's cologne on your dog so it feels like he is nearby. Invite the Lord into the areas of loss, emptiness, and sorrow. He wants to meet you there to heal you and reveal the joy of resurrection. Yes, grief is complicated. But when God is holding your hand and revealing His eternal plan, you can display your wounds and surrender them to the Lord. I invite you to do that now. [bctt tweet="He wants to heal you. // @socaltriciat" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Then he said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ // Luke 9:20 “So, religion is really important to you and your husband?” he asked. We had just met this young man at a colleague’s goodbye party. Somehow I landed myself in a potentially polemic conversation. I had no idea where this man stood in terms of faith. Do I keep it light, I wondered, and just say, “Yes” then move onto the next topic? I couldn’t. So I responded vaguely, hoping to stir his interest and keep him open, “Yes, it is very important to us. I was raised Catholic, but that is not why I am Catholic now.” He wanted to know more, and so I was able to share a little of my story. I told him about the day when I began to follow the Lord not because of what “the crowds” were saying about Him (Luke 9:18). I began to live my life for Him when I discovered Who He was for me. There comes a moment in our lives, sister, perhaps even multiple moments, when we have to give an answer to this same question Jesus asked of the disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20). Is He our Savior, our Lord, our everything? Or do we still see Him as the crowds see Him: only as a prophet among other prophets, as a nice man with teachings of kindness, as a teacher but not of a definitive kind? Your answer and my answer to this question will determine how we live. Do we follow Him radically? Or do we simply forge our own path and ask Christ to work a wonder for us here and there whenever we need Him to? Sister, we are invited today to know the Lord more fully. His immense love for us, His identity and the character of His Heart, will transform and transfix us. When we discover Him truly, we cannot help but say, with Padre Pio, whose feast we celebrate today, “I live for Jesus Christ, I live for His glory, I live to serve Him, I live to love Him” (source). [bctt tweet="His Heart will transform us. // Rocio Hermes" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Nothing is new under the sun. // Ecclesiastes 1:9 I sprung into the driver’s seat and held up my old Weezer Blue Album CD. Looking at my kids in the rear view mirror, I told them how they were going to love the music because it was so amazing. It contained pop and rock and fun lyrics and so many great memories of driving with the windows down while my friends and I all belted out the lyrics. How could they not love it?!! The older kids blinked back at me. The younger kids grumbled. Someone asked if it was going to be as bad as the time I made them listen to 90’s Christian ska. Bewildered by their comment, I pish-poshed their worries away and began driving to our local library. Windows down, nodding to the gentle intro, and then air drumming with gusto and one free hand, I knew the music would speak for itself and they would be convinced. They were not. Later that day I reflected on the event and had a thought, which I quickly confirmed with a google search. There were just as many years between when the Blue Album came out and I was sharing it with my kids as there were between when The Beatles’ White Album was released and my dad shared it with me. The writer of Ecclesiastes was correct: nothing is new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The sun keeps rising, the wind keeps blowing, the river keeps flowing, and parents keep trying to introduce the beloved music of their youth to their children with mixed reviews. But unlike the author of Ecclesiastes, we know the glory of the Gospel. We know that God has made all things new (Revelations 21:5). If you’ve been feeling defeated lately, like you can’t do anything right or that none of your efforts matter, please know that you do matter, and share your heart with the Lord and a trusted friend. [bctt tweet="God has made all things new. // Bonnie Engstrom " username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do . . . I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” // Matthew 9:12-13 I glanced up from my phone and studied the long line snaking toward the confessional. It was moving like molasses. The notes I’d been typing as I diligently worked my way through my examination of conscience suddenly seemed silly, even futile. Do I really need to go today? These sins aren’t that bad. It hasn’t been that long. It’s just the same little mistakes over and over. What will the priest think? My eyes panned from the confessional to the tabernacle. Instantly the Holy Spirit’s encouragement welled up from my heart and pushed back. No! If I’m tempted to bail, then I need confession all the more. It doesn’t matter what the priest says or thinks; it’s really Jesus waiting for me. He wants my freedom and healing even more than I do. I need His strength to battle my weakness. The humbling conviction worked its way through my resistance and fear, and my encounter in the confessional that day was beautiful. It’s a moment the Lord often reminds me of when I’m tempted once more to avoid this Sacrament of healing. Saint Matthew must’ve also faced countless temptations as he sat at his post, surrounded by money and might, justifications and judgments. Yet the freedom in Christ’s eyes, His voice, His gaze was so convicting that in a single instant Matthew got up and left it all behind. What allowed him to follow Christ so freely while the Pharisees sat around and touted their own self-sufficiency? The difference between Matthew and the Pharisees was not in their sinfulness. It was in their humility. Matthew was willing to admit not only his sinful condition, but accept his need for healing from it. When we come to the table with the Lord, are we able to admit to the same? Or do we persist in our stubborn ways and shy away from God’s help, no better than the Pharisees who thought they could save themselves? Christ is waiting and longing to free you for the sake of real relationship and fulfillment. Today, ask for the grace to push through the resistance and leave your self-sufficiency in the confessional—then follow Him. [bctt tweet="Christ is waiting and longing to free you. // Megan Hjelmstad" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” // Luke 8:21 The morning my husband was born, his mom went fishing. She floated peacefully in the boat across from her sweet husband and watched him bait his hook, then cast out again and again. The April Arizona air provided for a chilly morning, but the sun warmed everything perfectly as it rose, giving indications of the warmer temperatures to come. They spent the day basking in the sun and cool waters of the lake, sharing a picnic before strolling back to shore, completely unaware that the birth of their first-born son was taking place in a hospital just miles away. Days later my mother-in-law got a call from the adoption agency that my husband had been born and was waiting to be picked up. My husband was given a beautiful life with a mother and father, sister and brother who loved and cared for him perfectly. Their relationship was defined not by blood, but by action, and more specifically by the action of love. When I look at my four children, I too want them to experience my motherhood as one that is not based on genetics, but rather action. To be a mother, or a sister or brother, is a relationship of great intimacy and one that is forged not simply by proximity or bloodline, but by the daily choices we make to love. Lord, help me to be a mother and a sister to more than just those with whom I share a name. Help me to extend my familial circle by loving both more deeply and more widely, knowing that that source of love comes from You and is eternal. [bctt tweet="Love comes from You. // Dr. MaryRuth Hackett" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Refuse no one the good in which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him. Say not to your neighbor, ‘Go and come again, tomorrow I will give,’ when you can give at once. // Proverbs 3:27-28 “Wow, that’s a neat gadget!” I exclaimed to my bonus father-in-law as I watched him grind the pecans. “Whaaat?” he said in his Texas drawl. I raised my voice and repeated myself. He nodded and replied, “Yeah, it does a really good job, and you can use it with other kinds of nuts too. You know I’m deaf in both ears and can’t understand what you’re saying. Do you want one?'' After almost fifteen years of knowing my father-in-law, I know now that if I compliment one of his QVC purchases, I will end up with one. Somehow it ends up in my purse or it is left on the countertop of our kitchen via my mother-in-law per my father-in-law’s request. “Refuse no one the good in which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him. Say not to your neighbor, ‘Go and come again, tomorrow I will give,’ when you can give at once” (Proverbs 3:27-28). I know my father-in-law is masterful at this as I think about the eleven-foot light bulb changer we asked to borrow once and now own. My father-in-law delights in others enjoying what he has, be it Slap Chop, wine opener, a cooler that also warms food, or a tortilla press. At the heart of his readiness to give is a love that runs deeper than the object itself. Today’s proverb can be understood in so many ways, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12), “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31), or my personal favorite quote attributed to Saint Teresa of Calcutta, “Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” My father-in-law encourages me to be joyful in giving to my neighbor (not just gadgets either). His kindness radiates the love of Christ. Sister, are you stingy with what you have to offer your neighbor? Let us pray for a heart that is always ready to give and that others may leave happier when they interact with us. [bctt tweet="Let us pray for a heart that is always ready to give and that others may leave happier when they interact with us. // Mytae Carrasco Wallace" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. // 1 Timothy 2:2 I run a small business from home and am a homeschooling mother, so I don’t leave my work “at the office,” ever. My “to-do” list bleeds from one day to the next. Something is always unfinished: housework, emails, in-progress writing projects, papers to be graded, grocery lists to be made. And somehow I’m supposed to rest on the Sabbath and lead a tranquil life as Saint Paul wrote to Timothy (see 1 Timothy 2:2). Lord, how do I find rest when work is all around? Maybe you can relate to the feeling that all the balls will drop if you hit the pause button to rest. Maybe you feel like Sunday is “the only day to get x, y, z done” because every other day is maxed out with appointments, errands, and urgent tasks. Instead of fully resting on Sunday, instead of surrendering to the gift of quiet and no work, I sometimes feel stir-crazy and anxiously await the end of the day so I can attack the to-do list all over again. Even when night falls, I sit in bed far past my bedtime, typing—not resting or even praying a nightly examen. I prolong my exhaustion to get something else on my to-do list done, striving too long and hard for a sense of self-accomplishment. A whisper from the Holy Spirit unveils this scene from another angle: I’m rejecting the gift of rest that the Lord has given me. Oooof. Guilty as charged. I don’t need to hustle and get more done. Delaying sleep throughout the week and working on Sunday in favor of completing one more silly task (which the Lord probably hasn’t asked of me) is fruitless. In fact, it may be hurting me by drawing me away from the life of tranquility and devotion He has invited me to live. How might the Lord be nudging you to set aside your to-dos and find rest in Him today? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and to increase your devotion to Our Lord. [bctt tweet="Find rest in Him today. // Gina Fensterer" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Now I know that God is with me. In God, in whose promise I glory, in God I trust without fear. // Psalm 56: 10c-12 I ran up the stairs at the end of busy, high-school Monday, smack into my twin brother who was coming down the stairs in an apparently providential meeting—for him. He wanted the car keys even though a) it was my day with the car and needed to get to tennis and b) he just wanted to hang with his buddies. Anger rose in my chest as I prepared to not-so-charitably tell him what I thought of his proposal. Then for the first time in our relationship, I didn’t yell or get annoyed. I took a deep breath, and an incredible peace flooded my soul. All the words I wanted to say fled, along with the desire to say them. Calmly and rationally, I explained that I needed the car and couldn’t change my plans last minute. I walked away peaceful and calm—still going up the stairs, of course, while he huffed off to complain to his friends. As I drove to the tennis courts, I was slightly in shock at how calm I had managed to be and realized the reason for it. I had just come from a retreat with the Eucharist at its literal center. All weekend my heart had been tilled, nourished, and made fertile ground for the Word of God. I could say with the Psalmist, “Now I know that God is with me. In God, in whose promise I glory, in God I trust without fear”(Responsorial Psalm). It was from that place of confidence in the Lord that I was able to respond in charity to my brother. Sister, when we allow our hearts to be rich soil and embrace the Word with generous hearts, we bear fruit—fruits of patience, peace, and gentleness. Where do you need to grow in your confidence in the Lord’s presence in your heart? Where are the thorns that choke off its fruitfulness and leave you anxious and worried? Jesus, may Your Word penetrate my heart today, clear away the rocky ground, and take root in the fertile soil of my heart. [bctt tweet="Embrace the word. // Sister Maria Fatima @sistersofmaryop " username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities. // Luke 8:2 Every time we as women have felt badly treated by our society, within our work environments, or even amongst our peers, we need to re-hear the words of today’s Gospel. The life and teaching of Jesus was meant for all of us. But not only did Jesus preach to everyone, He also included women amongst His closest disciples. In the time and culture of Jesus, the roles of women were very narrow, and their class within society very much second to that of men. But Jesus eradicates these human constructions by healing women, casting out evil spirits from them, and even relying upon them to sustain His ministry as He traveled preaching and healing. The reality of the Gospel and Christ’s love for women is a healthy reminder for me. I may live in the twenty-first century and suffer from far fewer instances of discrimination and ill treatment because I am a woman than previous generations, but I still need the truth of my personhood as a woman being dearly loved and valued by Jesus spoken to my heart. Women closely followed Christ as His disciples while He was alive, and were the first to intimately see His Body resurrected. Saint Paul’s emphasis on the importance of the bodily resurrection is vital to our faith, and in turn vital to how we as women both receive and reveal God to the world. Our identity as women is more than just our equality to men, but each of us have a special and beautiful vocation to bring Christ to the world. How can you bring Christ to the world today, in your life, work, and relationships? [bctt tweet="Bring Christ to the world. // Christy Isinger" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

For I am the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. // 1 Corinthians 15:9 God doesn’t waste time. Early in my conversion of heart, I lamented about the years I had thrown away by chasing lives and loves apart from Him. Even after Confession and an overhaul of soul, I was still tempted toward shame. Quickly, the Lord made it clear that He wastes nothing—even our sorrows and sinful pasts—that is offered to Him in love. I have seen this grand display of mercy in my own life and in the lives of others. God takes what we believe to be unrevivable and resurrects it for His glory. Saint Paul speaks to this in today’s First Reading (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). Jesus transformed one of the greatest persecutors of the Faith into one of its greatest champions. Jesus will transform and use our faults, failings, and fickleness, too, not to elevate us in the eyes of the world, but to point the eyes of the world to Himself. This work is largely hidden, and today’s feast of Our Lady of Sorrows reminds us that transformation is often unseen and won through much suffering, for even her own freedom from Original Sin in her Immaculate Conception was won by the Cross of her Son. Staying with Christ Crucified in confidence and love is a “contradiction,” like Simeon prophesied in today’s Gospel (Luke 2:33-35). Remaining with Him through struggles with sin, overwhelming suffering, and the burdens of daily life involves a sort of piercing of our hearts. But this grace is not ineffective, and Our Lady shows us the Way. She does not let us wallow in our own sorrows, but constantly witnesses to the resurrection Jesus offers us through them. Today, talk with the Lord about the “swords” that are piercing your heart. What are your sorrows? Where is the strife? Entrust everything to Our Lady of Sorrows whose perfect, sinless heart was pierced so that our thoughts may be revealed and transformed for His glory. [bctt tweet="God doesn’t waste time. // Olivia Spears" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. // Philippians 2:7-8 I remember as a little girl, after both my parents had gone to Confession, they would bring me to the huge statue of Jesus upon the Cross. It was located in the back of the church, directly next to the confessional. I was lifted up to kiss the feet of Jesus. At that age, Christ’s sacrifice was beyond my understanding. I don’t even remember questioning why Jesus was bleeding, why He had nails in His hands and feet, or why He wore a crown of thorns. Jesus loves you so much is what my mom would always tell me. I didn’t understand, but with authentic child-like faith, I believed. In today’s Second Reading, we hear, “Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). The last of my teenage years and even now in early adulthood, the only way I could ever describe the reason for Jesus' sacrifice was because He loves us. However, numerous times I’ve mistaken that truth as a cheesy cliche. In moments of deep confusion and disbelief, I would aggressively give Him a bullet-point list of all the reasons why He shouldn’t love me. I’m deeply grateful for the intercession of Mother Mary, who would always direct me back to the foot of the Cross. Sister, we will never find a greater act of Love. Maybe you’ve given Him your own list of reasons why He shouldn’t delight in you. I gently invite you today, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, to place yourself at the foot of the Cross. To press your hand at one of His wounds. To sit by Mary and the women who loyally followed Him until the end. Let His sacrifice reveal His profound and intimate love for you. Mary, we graciously ask that you may always lead us to your Son. In moments of doubt, may you direct us to His Passion so that we remember His Love. Amen. [bctt tweet="We will never find a greater act of Love. // Bella Rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. // Luke 7:15 I walked back and forth and back and forth in the driveway, listening to the message from the doctor’s office again. Irregularities in the brain scans, more testing necessary, call back to make the follow-up appointment. My hands were sweaty from gripping my phone so I switched to speakerphone to wipe them and the side of my face. Irregularities. Inside the window, my four children under six years old were eating a snack, strewing a snack rather, on the carpet. I glanced in and waved to my mom who was watching them. I smiled and turned away to bite hard on the inside of my mouth. It was the Blessed Mother I needed at this moment. I paced more, opening my fearful heart to her in prayer. She received them as she receives all of our prayers, with a soft lap and warm embrace, with the clear comfort of one who believes all things work for the good, that God is with us in the hard stuff especially. And she would know. When Jesus brought the man back from the dead, His first act was to give him back to his grieving mother, surprising her by giving her son life again (Luke 7:15). Jesus gave the Blessed Mother to the Beloved Disciple John, and John to the Blessed Mother, at His crucifixion. This little parallel plays on my heart. We need a mother, a heavenly one. And she desires so much for our re-birth in Jesus, our salvation, our closeness to her. Regardless of your relationship with your mom, how’s yours with Mary, our shared heavenly mother? Start talking with her today. She’s always listening. And my brain scans? No real answers, just waiting to see if/when something happens. In the meanwhile, I have my sweet mom here on earth and perfect mom in Heaven. [bctt tweet="We need a mother, a heavenly one. // Nell O'Leary" 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

Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant. // 1 Timothy 1:14 Can I trust you with a secret? Sometimes I feel silly sharing prayer intentions with friends if I’m not asking God for something traditionally seen as huge, important, or worthy to be shared. If a loved one isn’t in critical condition or something in my life isn’t burning to the ground, I often remain silent at the end of small group when the leader invites us to share our intentions. And if I’m at a meeting where I do feel bold enough to voice a less flashy prayer, more often than not, I add a caveat saying, “I know this is small potatoes, but could you please pray for [insert intention here]?” I know the added qualifiers are unnecessary. No one I know would ever critique a request for prayer, but I also know that I am not alone in this practice because I have frequently heard others do the same. And every time it happens, I find myself shaking my head, letting them know that their desires are not small and are more than worth sharing. Now that you know that secret, can I ask you to hold another? Sometimes I do this in my personal prayer too, which is even more ridiculous when I think about how intimately God knows my heart. Our God hears and loves every single one of the prayers we lay at His feet, even those we think are not dramatic or important enough. Sometimes I wonder if He loves hearing those even more since they illustrate how excited we are to bend the ear of the Divine Promise Keeper. God wants us to share all of our dreams, all of our fears, all of our observations. There is no checklist of criteria our prayer intentions must meet for God to care. So sister, now that you know my secrets, I humbly ask for your prayers. Pray that I may continue to grow in confidence in sharing my prayer intentions with those who generously offer to carry them to the Cross with me and that I may always remember the absolute joy Jesus is filled with every time I offer my heart. And please be assured of my sharing these same prayers for you, dear friend. May the abundant Love of Christ wash over us as we grow in deeper acceptance of its unconditional and everlasting presence. Amen. [bctt tweet="God wants us to share our dreams. // Sarah Rose" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion