May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. // Galatians 6:14 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Welcome to our Sisterhood Series! It's our birthday month, and we are celebrating by introducing you to some of the beautiful women in our community. We can't wait for you to meet them. Even though I’m from a sprawling city of 1.6 million, I’ve spent most of my life in the same 12 square miles. Nestled in the northeastern most part of Philadelphia, an area affectionately known as “the Neast,” is where I was raised and where my husband and I stayed to raise our family. The parish of my childhood is the same parish where my children were baptized and confirmed. It’s the same church that we travel to (1.1 miles) every Sunday for 6:30 am Mass. I work at the Catholic university I attended as an undergrad on the same campus as the grade school and high school I attended (1.1 miles in the other direction). High school sweethearts, we have been married for 30 years and have raised three children—now 30 (and married!), 24, and 22. And though we’ve lost three parents over the past seven years, my children had the marvelous experience of spending their childhood with nanny and poppy and grandmom and grandpop, because we all live so close. Community and friendships evolved naturally from relationships our children made at school. Their friends’ parents became our friends. As the youngest parents in our firstborn’s class, we learned so much from the experienced moms and dads who took us under their wing and helped us navigate “school days.” Over the years, some of those ties have fallen away but some have remained, growing tighter. One thing that has been the common thread throughout is our shared Faith. We’ve celebrated first Holy Communions and Christmas pageants, gone to first Friday Mass at school, and shed tears together at funeral liturgies. Even to this day, people in “the Neast” identify themselves by the parish they grew up in and swap funny stories about the religious sisters who taught them. I always say I am a product of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the founding order who raised me throughout almost my entire academic career. The congregation was founded in 1875 by Blessed Frances Siedliska. The charism of the order is based on “living the spirit of Jesus, Mary and Joseph whose lives were centered in the love of God and one another.” Even though I come from a strong, Catholic family, it was the Sisters who really laid the foundation of my relationship with the Holy Family and taught me how to pray. My favorite way to pray is now, and I think has always been, in community. I’m not a huge sports fan but I do love being caught up in the collective effervescence surrounding a big game. I get that same feeling when I’m praying with a group. I no longer have the prayer community of my younger days and it can be so easy to feel disconnected and alone. Blessed is She and, particularly my friend Beth Davis, have helped facilitate the transition from the faith of my childhood to the nourishing and rich faith life I’m enjoying now as an adult. She has invited me into community again and helped me find other women with whom I can walk on this exciting journey. She gives me the confidence I need to share God’s Word and the message of His love with my close girlfriends and with women at work, further widening the boundaries of my faith community. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I hope that I will continue to learn and grow in understanding and encourage others the way these two groups of amazing women have inspired me along the way. Now we want to hear about YOU! How has friendship and community inspired your faith?   [bctt tweet="BIS Sisterhood Series // Shannon #BISblog #BISsisterhood //" via="no"]

Since I didn’t get married until I was 45 years old, I lived the state of single life for quite a long time. In my early years of college, graduate school, and young adult life, I had different and wonderful roommates. Starting in my 30’s and after moving back home to Kentucky, I lived by myself for 12 years as a single woman. During that time, I was diagnosed with adult onset asthma—which was discovered due to chronic sickness in the form of very painful and intense sinus infections. Starting around 2012 until my sinus surgery in 2018, there were many highs and lows that were part of living with ongoing sickness. Dark and Desperate Days Around 2017 things were starting to look and feel desperate. There was hardly a time during the year when I was not on multiple medicines to control the asthma or another infection. I would have 2-3 months of health and start to believe that I was past it when I would get sick again. During that time I was also healing from a broken engagement and immersed myself in things I love to bring encouragement to my heart. The Life-Giving Art of Catholics One of these was another semester in my Master’s program in poetry/creative writing. As part of my study, I became interested in other artists with a distinctly Catholic ethos in their work: the poet Dana Gioia, Pope John Paul II’s Letter to Artists, writer Flannery O’Connor, and even singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen whose work was influenced by his early life in the Catholic Church. I remember talking to my professor about these people and ideas and he was wise to suggest I follow them and see where they would lead in my own writing. Hope Bursts Through One particular morning, I woke up feeling extremely sick and in much pain. When my face would hurt to the touch, my top teeth ache without end, my head pound with heaviness, and my breathing difficult, I knew that I had another sinus infection. It was often hard to know what to do living alone and being sick, but I always found the grace to call family or friends and ask for help. On this day, it was early and I was up. It was dark, cold, and raining. It was toward the end of a long winter and Spring was trying to come forth. I was sitting on my enclosed front porch waiting until the doctor’s office would open and I could make an appointment. I felt terrible and was starting to get sickness-related depression after years of the same heavy cross. Here we go again, I would think. My misery is immeasurable. How long, how much more can I take? But then I heard birds singing. I couldn’t see them in the dark, cold rain of a morning just starting to break through, but I knew they were there. It’s hard to describe how Hope can suddenly burst forth in the mind and heart, but it can. And in my experience, it’s usually after a season of longing and lament. Did I mention this was also during Lent? How fitting that my small story would mirror the same story of our Lord during His own walk to the Cross. The Cry of My Heart I sat in both darkness and hope at that moment and I wanted to soak it all up in my very weak and human condition. I felt despair and deep love at the same time. From that place, I wrote the following poem. In the early morning rain when branches glisten with swollen bellies of water weighing them down and reach up as arms for a drink; or when singing birds echo each other as if it were a warm sunny day, not weeks into cold that won’t yield to spring, making everyone groan for light and warmth—I try to speak, to explain what I see. But it doesn’t come out right except to comment on the weather again. What I can’t convey is sadness that Judas has his part to play and Peter must be pruned. Wanting words I can’t remember but can’t forget. Wishing the good country people of the world were not scattered, but together. That the crease in time, that birds and trees slip through despite the rain—tells me about a world they can’t stop singing of, reaching for. The Clarity of Hindsight When I sat down to write this reflection, I annotated my own work as I reread the poem. What I noted when I was removed from this moment was a clear story God is writing with my life. The good country people (thank you for the phrase, Flannery) are the Church and my desire for unity, community, help, and support. The words I can’t remember but can’t forget (thank you, Bruce, for this phrase) is about my own personal memory with God. This is something I have built over many years, but at that time I could not access His faithfulness in a tangible way. I could not bring myself to worship Him even as I knew He deserved it, no matter the state of my own heart and mind. The crease in time I wrote of was a tension that exists between chronos (chronological time) and kairos (the right, critical, or opportune moment). The birds were singing of another Kingdom. The trees, too, were reaching up to that Kingdom. In my understanding, they were trying to usher in Spring and singing of something not yet manifest. The Rhythm of the Spiritual Journey The spiritual journey is so often marked by purification, detachment, and dark nights. To experience that is normal and human, but talking about it can be difficult. Even though I am a few years past this hard place, I am asking myself how I can continue to be a bearer of such very good news, despite the hard times that come in a life of faith. And so for you ... where do you need to hear your singing birds and hold onto them? Do you need a minute to sit down and see the tree branches as something more—growing up toward the sun and giving praise to God? In other words, building your own memory with the King and His Kingdom, in every season. These are our treasures. Sadness and struggle can be purified into a beautiful lamentation and God Himself is ready to pour out His grace for us in these moments. May you be blessed to sit down and receive and not wait until the pain is past to notice the nuance of love and hope moving in your own heart.   [bctt tweet="More Rejoicing in Heaven Over One Lost Poet Found #BISblog //" via="no"]   Jenny Richeson is a Catholic writer who is a lover of language and its mysteries. By day she provides speech pathology and cognitive intervention services to kids. Her main goal in life is to be a speaking stargazer caught up in wonder whenever possible. She makes her home in Kentucky with her husband Matt. Together they find God in gardening and all manner of outdoor activities whenever they can. Stargazing is a favorite pastime too. You can find out more about her here.

Welcome to our Sisterhood Series! It's our birthday month, and we are celebrating by introducing you to some of the beautiful women in our community. We can't wait for you to meet them. Hi Amy! Tell us a bit about who you are and where you're from! // My name is Amy Heyse, and I’m from Fort Collins, Colorado. I met my husband, Kevin, in a college drawing class and we have been married for 10 years. We have two little girls, Holly and Mayumi. I do the stay-at-home mom thing while also working part-time as a paint/sip instructor. My true passion is making personal artwork inspired by my prayer life whenever I have a spare moment. I have a little Etsy shop with prints and stickers of my artwork on the side. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be an artist when I grew up and I’m so grateful and blessed for the opportunities I have had to create art. What is your favorite way to pray? // My favorite way to pray is a combination of prayer journaling, imaginative prayer, and creating artwork based on those prayer experiences. I try to write in my journal every day. It starts off with me just “dumping” everything out on the page, good and bad. I try to get it all out of my head and onto the page, even if it’s just a song lyric that’s stuck in my head. Once I’ve written down everything that has been on my heart, I pause, close my eyes, and try to be receptive to what God wants to talk to me about. Sometimes I can visualize things and other times I write in my journal what I perceive God is telling me. In my journal, I draw a cross next to anything that I believe might be from God. I’ll go back and highlight the passages in my journal that stick out to me. Often, if I go back and look over the last week or month, I can start to see patterns emerge. Almost all of my drawings and paintings that I create are inspired by the conversations I’m having with God that are revealed in the pages of my prayer journal. An image from imaginative prayer or a passage I’ve written in my journal entries becomes the springboard from which a piece of artwork begins. The act of creating art is what helps me feel the most connected to God. Working on a drawing or painting is helping me work through and process the conversation that I’m trying to be receptive to in our prayer time together. Why is community important to you? How has it felt when you have had good community? // Community helps you to feel like you’re not alone on the journey. I live in the same city that I went to college in. Because Fort Collins is a college town, there tends to be a lot of transition. Really wonderful friends I made in college moved away when I graduated. Friends I would make at work would transition to new jobs or places to live once I finally felt like I was getting to know them on a deeper level. It was hard to be a stationary person in a transitional city! I think what I learned during that time was that it was always worth it to continually put myself out there and try to build friendships with other people, even if there was risk of them moving. I’ve seen how God likes to work in seasons, and just because you might only have a friend or set of wonderful coworkers for only a season of your life, that season can still be fruitful and transformative. When I was a new mom, I started attending our local mom’s group. I’m introverted, so it was really hard to put myself out there and make friendships at first. However, I just kept showing up meeting after meeting and I now have some really beautiful friendships with other moms in a similar season of life as myself. When I gave birth to my second daughter, the women in my mom’s group, some of whom I didn’t even really know, brought our family meals. These same women prayed for my brother when he was hospitalized and got him a prayer shawl knitted by some other women who had formed a knitting ministry at the church. I have also found a beautiful community of fellow Catholic artists and creatives online (yes, you can have real friendships with people you meet on the internet!). During the pandemic, I joined a Zoom book club with some fellow Catholic artists. We became really close and have been each other’s biggest cheerleaders. In early August, almost all of the artists in our little group got to spend time in person on a weekend artist retreat. I’ve also gotten to meet some of my sisters from The Well session we did with Beth Davis at The Fly retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona back in April. What about something about what a friend has done in your life that has radically changed your life? // I was really struggling with depression and anxiety when my oldest daughter was a toddler. Those days were pretty dark and there was many a day that went by where I felt like I wanted to fall asleep and never wake up. I wanted to hibernate through that season of life. My husband saw the pain of my heart and worked it out with his boss so he could work from home to help take care of me. He worked from home for a couple of months so that I wouldn’t be alone and would have more support. I will forever be thankful for his “yes” during that time. It was very humbling. I am also incredibly thankful for his boss’ “yes.” My husband’s friendship with me as well as the friendship between him and his boss helped me to recover and find healing. What is the biggest quality you look for in a close friend? // I have always appreciated friends who are easy to talk to because they are open and accepting. I love a good conversation, even if it’s only about something silly or trivial. My closest friends are the types of people who I can talk to about anything and everything, often in the same conversation. I love having really fluid conversations with people that start off being about small things like, ”What was the last movie you saw?” and they flow easily into the bigger or heavier things. I have friends from childhood who I don’t get to see as often and I always love it when we can have a conversation where it feels like no time has passed since our last visit. I also love the friends where I can be sitting in their car or at their house and a conversation that feels like it has only been 30 minutes has in fact been 3 hours long! Those are my people. What kind of friend do you hope to be? // I hope to be someone who is a safe person to talk to. I strive to be empathetic towards others. I know that it’s hard to share or be vulnerable, so I want to be the kind of friend who is willing to take the time to listen without judgment. Everyone has times in their life where they feel like the black sheep and I want to be a friend who can provide a safe pasture. Tell us about a time a friend led you closer to Jesus. // When I was a freshman in college, there was a day that I thought about whether or not I should continue going to church. Since the beginning of the school year, I had been going to church every Sunday but hadn’t met anyone in the parish community. I can remember sitting in the pew at church thinking to myself, “Why do I even bother?” I asked the Lord to send me a sign. The church had a sky light window and at that moment, the sun’s rays shined directly into my face throughout Mass. It felt like being under a spotlight. At the end of Mass, a girl from the church choir came up to me and introduced herself. We realized we were in an art class together and she invited me to join the church choir, which I ended up doing. If she hadn’t come up to me after Mass, I might have seriously considered not coming back to church. Her invitation to join the church choir led me to meet young Catholics who truly loved the Faith, which was something I hadn’t experienced up until that point. Church choir led to going on a retreat that changed how I viewed being Catholic, and sowed seeds that would later lead to a more intimate relationship with the Lord. Now we want to hear about YOU! Answer one or any of the questions in the comments below.   [bctt tweet="BIS Sisterhood Series // Amy #BISblog #BISsisterhood //" via="no"]

More and more the Church is coming to a deeper understanding of the irreplaceable role Saint Joseph played in the life of young Jesus. Along with this understanding has come the desire for more knowledge of Jesus’ earthly father—and even the desire to be one of his adopted children through consecration! Thus, it is no surprise that “Joseph” has been a popular choice for baby names for centuries. Since 1921, over two million males born have been given the moniker by their parents. Surely, this amounts for one of the reasons the saying “average Joe” came to be—there are so many guys who sport the name! Though ironically, Joseph himself was anything but “average.” A “Twist” on the Traditional The names “Joseph” and “Josephine” are total classics which will never go out of style. Be that as it may, people have a wide range of preferences and styles when it comes to baby names, and for at least part of the population, something more unique is desired. Below is a list of baby names that are less of a literal take on Joseph’s name, but still inspired by his life and story. Names with Masculine + Feminine Forms Axel // A Scandinavian version of the Hebrew, “Absalom,” the name means “father of peace.” Jesus is the source of all peace and Joseph is obviously his father. Conley // This Irish name meaning “chaste fire” is the perfect way to describe the way Joseph loved Mary. Connery // “Warrior lord;” the end of the Litany of Saint Joseph ends with the reminder that Joseph was made “Lord of [God’s] household.” Felix or Felicity // Latin for “happy, fortunate,” Saint Joseph has long been invoked as the patron of a happy death since tradition shares he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Griffin // Welsh for “strong lord.” Another nod to the biblical roles of both Josephs in the bible; both were given command over the household of the king. Henry or Henrietta // Both names mean “home or estate ruler” and Joseph was the head of the Holy Family. “Hank,” “Harry,” “Hattie,” and “Etta” are all cute and traditional nicknames. Justin or Justine // The Bible describes Joseph as “a just man.” Ramon or Ramona // Spanish for “wise protector;” Joseph is hailed for both these qualities in Scripture and his litany. Riley // A title of our heavenly friend is “Joseph, Most Courageous.” This English/Irish name literally means “courageous.” Sawyer // A tradesmen name meaning “woodcutter”—perfect to honor the holy carpenter from Nazareth Stylianos or Stellina // Greek for “pillar,” this name works perfectly with the title “Pillar of Families.” “Styles” would be a suave way to shorten it for a boy, while the feminine form could easily be shortened to “Stella” or “Lina.” Quinn // An Irish moniker meaning “chief leader;” could be another nod to Joseph’s role within the Holy Family. Wynn // Welsh for “fair or pure;” Joseph is well known for his chastity and justice. Names for Girls Adele // French for “noble”; Joseph is referred to as the “Noble Offspring of David” in his litany. Aina // Pronounced “EE-na” or “A-EE-NA” this Scandinavian and Finnish name means “mirror” and reminds one of Joseph’s title, “Mirror of Patience.” Aisling // God spoke to Joseph through dreams, thus this popular Irish name meaning “dream” could be in honor of their main form of communication. Lily // The flower that has long served as a his symbol of purity due to the legend of the flower blooming from his staff at the time of choosing a worthy spouse for the Virgin Mary. Minette // A French name meaning “faithful defender;” Joseph is both referred to as the “Protector of the Church,” but also “Most Faithful.” Of course, he defended his family against King Herod and all sorts of undocumented difficulties. Nolita // A Latin name with the meaning “unwilling” might initially bring to mind a stubborn person. However, it makes me think of the line in Scripture when Joseph found out about Mary’s pregnancy and was “unwilling to put her to shame.” Nora // Means “light” and could allude to Joseph’s title, “Light of Patriarchs” (any other baby name with the same meaning could also work). Pilar // Spanish for “pillar;” another nod to his title, “Pillar of Families.” Prudence // A virtue which is often incorrectly associated with being a prude. Rather, it’s about making good decisions, and Joseph is hailed as “Most Prudent.” “Pru” is a cute and traditional nickname. Valora // A name meaning “courage” to remind one of the virtue that Joseph must have utilized countless times in life (taking Mary into his home, fleeing to Egypt and living there for years, living in poverty, dying knowing the suffering his wife and Son would face, etc.). Zelia // Means “zealous, ardent;” a title from Joseph’s litany is “Zealous Defender of Christ.” Names for Boys Argus // Joseph is called the “Guardian of Virgins” because of his relationship with Mary and Jesus, but also because of his fatherly eye over professed religious. Thus a Greek name meaning “watchful guardian” is super fitting. Beacon // Both an illusion to his title, “Light of Patriarchs” and also his lesser known symbol of the lantern. Carver // A trades name meaning “wood carver,” which Joseph was. Coen // A name meaning “bold advisor” to allude to all the help and nourishment Joseph would have given Jesus. Declan // Growing in popularity, this Irish name means “man of prayer,” which Joseph certainly was. Deimos // Pronounced “DAY-mos” this Greek name means “terror” and harkens to mind my personal favorite of all Joseph’s titles: “Terror of the Demons.” Foster // After the foster father of Jesus. Frey // Short and cool-sounding, this Scandinavian name means “lord, exalted one.” Joseph is, of course, Lord over the King’s household and is exalted by all of Heaven. Granger // A trades name meaning “worker of the grainery”; it reminds me of the comparison between the Josephs of the Old and New Testament and how they both saved the Bread of Life. Guy // “Guide or leader;” another illusion to Joseph’s role in the Holy Family and how he lead them through life’s difficulties. Milo // A name with both Latin and German roots. It means, “soldier or mercy.” Joseph was merciful in deciding to divorce Mary, but he was also young and strong and capable of defending his family. Naylor // An old English occupation name; Joseph is both the “Model of Workmen” and also a carpenter who would have worked with nails quite a bit. Redmund // “Wise protector;” another name to honor Joseph’s guardianship of his family and the Church. “Red” would be a keen nickname. Salvatore // Spanish for “Savior” and traditionally attributed to Christ, this name could also allude to Joseph, the “Savior of the Savior.” Tekton // This is the Greek word that describes Joseph’s occupation. It includes carpentry, but also great craftsmanship and artistry. Not a name to be found on any baby name websites, it would certainly be one of a kind! Walker // In reference to Mother Angelica’s statement (which was in regards to the disagreeing Theologians about Joseph’s age): “Old men don’t walk to Egypt!” More Names to Ponder Didn’t see a name you liked? Not sure who you want to name your baby after? Need some faith-inspired baby gear? Check out these other posts about expecting babies! How to Name Your Baby (Catholic Style) Not-So-Typical Unique Catholic Baby Names Unique + Usable Biblical Baby Names Catholic Baby Registry (Catholic Gift Ideas for a Baby Shower) Have a Catholic baby name you love (and we failed to mention)? Share it with us in the comments!   [bctt tweet="Baby Names Inspired by Saint Joseph #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Welcome to our Sisterhood Series! It's our birthday month, and we are celebrating by introducing you to some of the beautiful women in our community. We can't wait for you to meet them. Hi Jenn! Tell us a bit about who you are and where you're from! // My name is Jenn Bartley. I live in the suburbs of Chicago in a town called Westmont. I am 52 years old and have been married to my husband Brian for 28 Years this September. I have four children: Jake, who is married my beloved daughter-in-law, Kate; Joe; Bethany; and Nate. I have been the Director of Youth Ministry at my parish for nine years. I was blessed to have all my children and their friends go through our program over the years. What is your favorite way to pray? // My favorite way to pray is what I call soaking prayer. This style of prayer has evolved for me over the last few years. I would define soaking prayer as a time that is set apart, mostly in the mornings, to sit with the Lord in Scripture, surrendering and revealing my heart to Him until I feel His presence. It takes time and space. My life is full and very blessed but I find that when I don’t set this time aside I burn out from relying on my own strength. This doesn’t happen every day, but I try to set the time aside at least once a week. I find that that soaking gives me the grace to know that the Lord is with me in all that He calls me to do in my family and ministry. And when I start to feel the absence of His presence, I know it is time to soak again. Why is community important to you? How has it felt when you have had good community? // My husband and I belong to a monastic-based community called The Brothers and Sisters of Charity founded by John Michael Talbot. When we were young adults, we were involved in a retreat ministry that really showed us how important community was. We desired to walk with others in our faith journey beyond the retreat ministry. We found other young adults who desired the same things we did, mostly to raise our families together in an intentional faith community. We spent two years discerning what that might look like. At the end of that discernment time seven families moved to Westmont within one year all within a one mile radius of the parish we desired to join. The Brothers and Sisters of Charity seemed to be the right community for our families. The Monastery is located in Berryville, Arkansas and has celibate brothers and sisters living there as well as families. This community was able to minister to our whole family. We live a monastic way of life as domestic members out in the world. It’s been a blessing beyond measure. You can read more about our community here. What about something about what a friend has done in your life that has radically changed your life? // I believe joining community opened my heart up to the idea of sisterhood in a way I never experienced before. I did not have a sister growing up. But when I joined community, the Lord hand-picked women that I would journey with. These women may not have been the ones I would have picked, but the Lord knew they were the sisters I needed. In our community, we make promises to try to live poverty (needs before wants), chastity, and obedience according to our way of life. These vows for the monastic members are more intense than the domestics promises. It calls us to live a simple life keeping our hearts and minds always fixed on Jesus, and not on the world. "Monastic" comes from the word mono which reminds us that we are to be alone with God. My sisters have been a great source of encouragement, example and accountability to living this way of life. They help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and we learn together how to love Him better every day. What is the biggest quality you look for in a close friend? // My close friends help me to keep Jesus my top priority. They also help me see myself as He sees me. And when I stray from that they are faithful to remind me who I am to Him. That support and encouragement is priceless. What kind of friend do you hope to be? // I try to be that kind of friend to all I meet. I want people to know Jesus better from knowing me and my love for Him. I want others to know that if they come to me they can count on me to turn them to Jesus. I long for everyone know that they are beloved to the Father. Tell us about a time a friend led you closer to Jesus. // When I was 19, my mom invited me to the retreat ministry I mentioned before. I was in a bad place. My parents divorced when I was a sophomore and my world fell apart. I felt like everything they had taught me was a lie. I pushed away from them and the Church. I was hurting so badly but wouldn’t let anyone into that pain. On this retreat, I heard the Gospel preached by my peers in a way that I had never heard before after attending Catholic school for 10 years. One of the girls that was leading my small group really went out of her way to make me feel seen and known. I had never had anyone in my life pursue and invest in me the way she did—not only on the retreat, but after for many years. Her love was a direct reflection of the Father's love for me. We remained friends since then and we both, with our families, joined the community I mentioned earlier. The Lord gave me a life long friend and sister to walk through the rest of my life with. He is such a faithful Father to provide what He knows we need to stay close to Him. Now we want to hear about YOU! Answer one or any of the questions in the comments below.   [bctt tweet="BIS Sisterhood Series // Jenn #BISblog #BISsisterhood //" via="no"]

Anyone who has been involved with online schooling in any capacity can attest to its challenges. Being a first-year teacher, I knew last school year would be difficult, but nothing I read about or discussed in my college classes could prepare me for entering the classroom in the midst of a global pandemic. I survived the year with copious amounts of coffee, frequent Taylor Swift car jams, the incredible support of my community, and, of course, daily prayer. In particular, I found myself turning to the Saints for inspiration and intercession as I navigated the school year. That’s why, in October of 2020, I was overjoyed to learn about Blessed Carlo Acutis and add him to my Heavenly support team. Carlo Acutis: Online Evangelist Blessed Carlo Acutis was from Italy and lived from 1991-2006. He was a typical kid: he went to school, he wore blue jeans, and he loved playing video games. However, he was atypical in his immense love for the Eucharist. At a young age, he used to walk the streets of his hometown with his mother and ask to stop in every church to say hi to Jesus. He saw what a powerful force the Eucharist was in his own life, and he wanted to share this message with others. He decided to teach himself computer programming and build a website documenting all of the known Eucharistic miracles around the world so that everyone could learn about this incredible gift from God to humanity. Although his life was short (he died of leukemia at the age of 15), he made a monumental impact on the lives of those around him and in the universal Church, which resulted in his cause for canonization being brought to and approved by the Vatican. Still today, he inspires those in the Church through his immense love of God and his desire to bring others to Jesus in the Eucharist. This modern-day hero is now just one step away from being pronounced the first Saint to live in this millennium! "To Always Be Close to Jesus" While so many aspects of Blessed Carlo Acutis’s story have resonated with my heart, a few in particular have granted him A-list status on my litany of Saints. The more I learned about this holy young man, the more I felt called to pray through his intercession for my students. He and they share so many similarities: playing video games, spending time online, and especially navigating the challenges of pursuing holiness amidst a world that is full of distractions and temptations. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, Blessed Carlo Acutis replied, “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.” He clearly understood that his first priority had to be his relationship with God, and I pray my students will learn that same lesson and I can be a part of that journey with them. [bctt tweet="When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, Blessed Carlo Acutis replied, “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.” #BISblog //" via="no"] Encouragement to Be More Conformed to Christ To share Jesus with my students, I know that I need to conform my heart to His. Blessed Carlo Acutis reminds me how to accomplish this through his simple yet profound observation: the more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus. Amidst the chaos of the past year, I found myself clinging to the Eucharist more than ever. I knew that to successfully navigate my first year of teaching and minister to my students well, I needed to remain close to Jesus, particularly through the Sacrament of the Eucharist. On many Sunday mornings, I exhaustedly fell to my knees at Mass, desperately praying that Jesus fill me with His strength, perseverance, and love as I prepared to begin the new week. And each week, Jesus met me in the Eucharist and bestowed His refreshment and nourishment upon me, just as He promised. Blessed Carlo’s words and example remind me to draw my strength from Jesus in the Eucharist in order to share His love with those entrusted to me. Serve Him in All Circumstances I am confident that Blessed Carlo Acutis will always be a powerful intercessor for me and my students. His example shows me how to faithfully serve God in all circumstances and how to help those around me encounter Jesus through the witness of my own life. Throughout the past school year in particular, I was grateful for his prayers and inspiration. As we worked to keep our school community healthy and engaged in learning in the midst of the pandemic, we relied on technology like never before. Blessed Carlo spent years of his life finding ways to use the Internet to bring people closer to Christ, and because of the witness of his life and the way he inspired me this past year, I have come to view him as the patron Saint of online learning. As I connected with my students both in-person and virtually, I looked to Blessed Carlo for guidance in how to help my students encounter Christ. Driving to school each day, I called upon his intercession to help me live my life in the service of God as he did and to help me lead my students closer to God, however I could encounter them that day. God Knows What We Need I don't think it’s a coincidence that Blessed Carlo Acutis was beatified in the midst of this school year that was unlike any other. God knew that all of us needed a patron to intercede for us and an example to look to during this time, so he generously gave the Church the gift of Blessed Carlo. For all of us, he exemplifies how to keep our eyes on Heaven in all that we do, how to find unexpected ways to lead others to God, and how to humbly serve God wherever we are. Even as many of us return back to a more normal routine at school, my admiration and appreciation for the example of Blessed Carlo Acutis has not diminished. As I get to know my new group of students, I am continuing to entrust them to Jesus through the intercession of Blessed Carlo. As the Church prepares to celebrate his first feast day this October, I am reflecting on the ways that his example helped guide me during this past school year and the ways that he continues to inspire my life and my work. I am grateful for his intercession as I navigated the challenges of teaching through a pandemic and of helping my students and me grow in faith and knowledge during this unpredictable year. He truly is my patron Saint of online learning, and I thank God for the gift that his witness is to the Church and in my life. He continues to teach me that no matter the circumstances of my life, my priority should always be to stay close to Jesus—especially in the Eucharist—and to help those around me do the same. Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us!   [bctt tweet="Blessed Carlo Acutis: Patron Saint of Online Learning #BISblog //" via="no"]   Katie Eilerman is a St. Louis transplant to Kansas City, where she teaches English at a local Catholic high school while studying to earn her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership through Creighton University’s Magis program. She finds God’s love in iced vanilla lattes, walks at the park, and genuine conversation with friends and shares it through liturgical music, contagious laughter, and words of affirmation.

Be not afraid. // Pope Saint John Paul II Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

“How was James’ first day?” I asked a friend recently. “Oh, you know, he had some trouble getting on the right bus …” she started to tell me, and then she stopped talking, and her eyes filled with tears. My friend’s sudden emotion did not surprise me. This is a hard time of year. Whether we’re sending little kids to kindergarten or big kids to college or figuring out homeschooling or trying a new charter school or enrolling in online education, we’re all adjusting to big changes. It can be hard to find peace in the midst of all that. What Keeps You Up at Night? Years ago, at the start of a new school year, I read an article by a Christian homeschooling dad who had decided, for a variety of reasons, that homeschooling was actually harmful to his family. He was choosing to send his kids to school instead, and encouraged others to take a hard look at what he called “blind spots” in our family lives—the negative consequences of our decisions, the gaps in our plans, and important things that might be falling through the cracks. I didn’t actually need encouragement to look at those things. I was lying awake most nights worrying about them. It’s important to weigh consequences, seek outside opinions, and examine our motives as parents, but in my experience, most of us are doing a lot of that already. And we’re tired. Tired of being second-guessed and being encouraged to second-guess ourselves. Tired of feeling defensive about parenting decisions. Tired of being warned about all the ways that, despite good intentions and exhaustive efforts, we are probably failing at this Catholic family thing.   An Invitation Into Greater Trust Well, I’m here to tell you that you are not failing, and to remind you to trust in the goodness of God. One of the most powerful prayers I have learned to pray as a parent is: “Lord, glorify Yourself in my need.” God can use imperfect parents who make imperfect decisions to accomplish mighty things. He fills in where we are lacking. Years ago, when I read that writer’s description of how he and his wife regretted putting outward appearances before love in their own family, I knew that failures like these had little to do with schooling decisions. They weren’t homeschooling blind spots; they were human ones. We’re all blind. We all judge when we shouldn’t, make selfish and prideful decisions, fall down in our faith, and fail at love. We all get tired. [bctt tweet="God can use imperfect parents who make imperfect decisions to accomplish mighty things. He fills in where we are lacking. #BISblog" username="daniellebean"] We Don't Do This Alone But, whatever changes or decisions might be stressing you at the start of this school year, let’s remember that God doesn’t throw our children into our arms and tell us, “Hey, good luck with these! You’re all they’ve got!” God is with us. We are not all they’ve got. Thank You, God, for that. Are you tired this back-to-school season? Tired from late nights and early mornings? Tired from the draining demands of work, home, and family? God sees you. And he can be glorified in your need. Grace Enough for Right Now One recent evening, I entered the kitchen and found a greasy mess left from dinner. I grabbed a sponge and began scrubbing the stovetop. While I scrubbed, one of my daughters returned home from an evening out with friends and filled my ears with cheerful stories of her day. Tired or not, in that moment there, I had strength enough to clean a stovetop, one greasy spot at a time, and give attention to my happy daughter. I don’t have enough love for a lifetime. Not even close. God doesn’t give me all the grace I need for a great big lifetime in a great big family all at once. He gives me love enough, and grace enough, for right here, right now, one greasy little spot at a time. Mother Teresa once said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Just one. The one standing before you right now. Whatever it is that makes us tired these days, I’ve come to realize that it’s not about the specifics. It’s not homeschooling or sending to school or working from home or getting all the kids to soccer practice that is especially hard. It’s just plain loving that is especially hard. But it’s a joyful privilege too. I pray for perspective, so that I might not fail to see that. A Greater Love Especially during the back-to-school season of challenge and change, all parents should lean hard on God’s grace. Because though our details might differ, God calls every one of us to sacrificial love through our family lives. And that’s not likely to come easy to any of us. God doesn’t give us grace sufficient for a lifetime. He gives us grace sufficient for a day, and we can respond to that grace, one little yes at a time.   [bctt tweet="Finding Peace in Back-to-School Imperfection #BISblog //" username="daniellebean"]   Danielle Bean is a speaker, podcast host, and author of several books, including her newest release, Whisper. You can find out more about her here. THE PERFECT BOOK FOR KIDS Rise Up will open up beautiful conversations with your children about the virtues. . This will bring beautiful fruit to your prayer life and to your children's prayer lives. GET RISE UP

Welcome to our Sisterhood Series! It's our birthday month, and we are celebrating by introducing you to some of the beautiful women in our community. We can't wait for you to meet them. Hi Denelle! Tell us a bit about who you are and where you're from! // I am a wife, mother to three young daughters, and a retired (just kidding) former elementary school teacher. I currently am the Advancement Director for my daughters’ school and manage the accounting for our family business. I was born and raised in Southwestern Arizona, but recently took a leap of faith with my husband after feeling God calling us to relocated our family to DFW. I love cooking, but cannot follow a recipe. I have an unhealthy addiction to iced coffee, and drink it year around regardless of the weather. After three miscarriages in a rather short amount of time, I discovered a deep connection to the Blessed Mother and really sunk into the beauty of personal suffering. What is your favorite way to pray? // I love the peace of Adoration and praying through song and worship, which unfortunately does not happen often during this stage of life. With the chaos of little children and running a household, I find it extremely difficultly to carve out hours to pray. I find myself enjoying the little moments praying the Rosary with daughters, and sneaking random moments of gratitude and conversation with the Lord during school car line and driving solo. Why is community important to you? What has it felt like when you did not have good community, and how has it felt when you do? // I experienced a reversion three years ago. I grew up Protestant and despite my attending Catholic school for 6 years, I did not covert until my twenties. I attended RCIA, but never took the Catholic Faith seriously. I continually complained about what I was not getting. My husband and I left the Church for two years for the “lack of community”: we were lonely, and felt we could not share our faith with anyone because no one really lived the Faith. Upon returning to the Catholic Church, we knew that the community was what we made of it and we had to seek it out. I had discovered BIS on Instagram and became engulfed by this idea of faith-filled women living in community together. I immediately reached out to a few friends I knew were Catholic, but have never discussed Faith with. Two years later, our group has grown from four women to over 15. We meet twice a month and are constantly sharing in our group text prayer requests, praises, struggles, liturgical living ideas, and random recipes. It has become a safe place to pour out of hearts and share how Jesus is working. The Holy Spirit used my reversion to spark a deep desire for sisterhood and seek out those around me whom also longed for community. What about something about what a friend has done in your life that has radically changed your life? // I had a good friend suffer a tragic loss in her family, a child. At that time, we were friends, but our friendship had not blossomed yet into what it is today. My heart broke for this friend and as a “Martha” by nature and I had to do something, and I would not take no for an answer. She allowed me in, she let me witness her rawness; through her own suffering she saw my own desire to want to help her and allowed me to. This seems so silly to say that this radically changed me, but she did not push me away. She allowed me to be who God made me—a Martha—in her time of despair. She allowed me to be her friend out of authenticity. Her devotion for her Catholic Faith, the Blessed Mother, and tradition helped show me the true love of Jesus through her friendship during this terrible time. She allowed others to love her through her heartbreak and in return led others closer to Jesus through her example. What is the biggest quality you look for in a close friend? // Someone who is faithful, true to herself, and authentic. Someone who not only allows herself to be vulnerable, but takes my messiness and loves me anyways. We live in such a judgmental world that is it hard to be ourselves. Competition is everywhere. Friends that can be happy for your accomplishments and pray you through your trials are a gift. What kind of friend do you hope to be? // I lived most of the adolescent life and my twenties trying to keep up with those whom never saw me for who I was. I was trying to play the “popular” game, dressing the part, having the right material things, and not saying what I truly wanted to, living my faith on the inside and not the outside. Then I realized God made me. He gave me qualities to use and thoughts to share because they are from Him. He gave me those things to bring witness to others, to my friends. I hope to be a friend that does not bare false witness. A friend that is empathic, but truthful. I want to be a loyal, loving, trustworthy, and authentic friend who is known for her love of Jesus. Tell us about a time a friend led you closer to Jesus. // The Well with Blessed is She led me closer to Jesus. I know that The Well is not a “friend”, but The Well along with Beth Davis is a beautiful collective group of sisters in Christ that through the Holy Spirit led me closer to Him. The gift of a prayer partner and having someone to talk to throughout the mentorship was a gift. I remember sharing with the group what was on my heart various times (what I thought was complete word vomit and probably made no sense) and my partner would say how beautiful it was. My broken messiness was beautiful to someone. God takes our stories and uses it to touch other people and led them closer to Him. The Holy Spirit was using Beth and my prayer partner’s words to draw me closer to Him in a more intimate way. Now we want to hear about YOU! Answer one or any of the questions in the comments below.   [bctt tweet="BIS Sisterhood Series // Denelle #BISblog #BISsisterhood //" via="no"]

“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.” // Proverbs 22:6 “Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." // 3 John 1:4 “But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” // Matthew 19:14 Scripture is layered with reminders of our responsibility to educate children in the Faith, to lead them on the path of Truth, and to invite them into relationship with Jesus. The Lord delights in the evangelization of children, and He charges us with this important responsibility. But engaging children can be difficult, and they often have tough questions about the Faith. 10 Catholic Resources for Kids In my own experience as a Catholic school teacher, I have found that my students want to go deeper in their faith, and they want answers to their difficult questions. So I am constantly searching for resources that will help me answer their questions, engage their intellect and faith, inspire them, and encourage them to pursue a relationship with Jesus. Over time, I have curated a list of resources that I have found helpful in educating kiddos of all ages on our Catholic faith. I hope these can help you! YOUCAT YOUCAT (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church) has a website, books, and an app appropriate for multiple age groups. The website provides an informative introduction into the purpose and products that YOUCAT offers as well as free study resources. Both the YOUCAT (appropriate for adolescents and youth) and YOUCAT for Kids (appropriate for children ages 8-12) break down the Catechism of the Catholic Church into kid friendly questions and answers. The app is a valuable resource for adolescents and youth, providing daily Gospel readings, a quick teaching from the Catechism, and a challenge or reflection for the day. All of the YOUCAT resources are very user friendly, brightly colored, and clearly organized, providing many opportunities for youth to dive deeper into their faith. Catholic Sprouts Podcast “To plant one little seed of faith each and every day.” I love this essential goal of the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. Appropriate for kiddos of all ages, this fun podcast offers short daily episodes on a Catholic topic and concludes with a simple, concrete challenge for listeners. If you are looking for a fast resource to introduce or reinforce a topic your children are exploring, Catholic Sprouts Podcast is the perfect place to go! Catholic Central These short, entertaining, and informative videos are appropriate for middle school and high school students. Hosts Kai and Libby begin each video with a brief, humorous introduction and then tackle common questions about Catholicism. The videos are full of appealing graphics, entertaining dialogue, and valuable information. This is a great resource to use as a catalyst for conversation or instruction about Church topics ranging from why we believe in God to understanding Catholic Social Teaching.   Lectio Divina Meditation I love doing a guided lectio divina meditation with children, because it not only provides them an alternative way to pray, but it also invites them to dive into the Father’s heart through His Word. Guiding children in this prayer practice anchors them in understanding that the Word was made for them, in the here and now. Reading a Bible passage several times and creating sacred silence to allow the children to ponder a word or phrase that God is calling their attention to helps them to focus their prayer and to identify one specific takeaway from the scripture. Lectio divina meditation makes Scripture accessible to kids, and is a great way to help them practice physically looking up verses in the Bible. This website is a great place to get started in planning a lectio divina meditation for kiddos, and depending on their ages, you can cater this prayer practice to meet their needs. Rise Up: Shining with Virtue This cute devotional book, written by Blessed is She writers, is divided into fifteen chapters that focus on different virtues. Each chapter is organized into daily reflections that include quotes, Scripture verses, prayers, and fun illustrations. Appropriate for ages 8-12, Rise Up invites children into a deeper faith and understanding of the Father’s heart. I especially love how the reflections end with the reminder of the Lord’s steadfast love: “I love you with my whole heart.” St. Mary’s Press This dynamic website offers religion resources for all ages. Most of the resources are catered towards a classroom lesson plan but can still be used for any sort of religious education for kids. From prayer meditations, to videos about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to instructional PowerPoints, this website has something for everyone, and the search bar and filter option make the website easy to navigate. If you are looking for multiple kid-friendly resources on a specific topic, this is an excellent place to begin your search. Life Teen While this user-friendly website is mostly intended for youth ministers, their blog offers tons of consumable information for teens. Coherently organized and attractive, the Life Teen blog is an excellent resource if you are looking for relevant and relatable articles to engage your teenagers. Ranging on topics from faith, prayer, relationships, life, and culture, the Life Teen blog gives advice, offers meaningful reflections, and invites teens to become more anchored in their faith. Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz Videos If you are looking to seriously address tough topics and questions with your teens, Fr. Mike Schmitz has the answer. In these brief videos, Fr. Mike candidly tackles many difficult subjects by giving concise and coherent information, sharing anecdotes, and providing concrete takeaways. Ranging in topics from gossip, to race and reconciliation, to healing from sexual sin, Fr. Mike profoundly articulates truths of our Faith for both teens and adults. Watching these with your teens can renew your own convictions, spark meaningful conversations, and challenge you both to grow in holiness. Formed Formed provides a myriad of resources for all ages.You need a subscription to access their materials, but most parishes have a code available to parishioners. If you don’t have one already, your parish bulletin may have it listed. The Youth Programs tab on Formed offers a diverse range of video series appropriate for young children to high school age teenagers. Each series provides a short but informative summary about what to expect from the series, as well as an instructor’s guide and printable resources to supplement the videos. The kid’s movie section on Formed offers both movies and series episodes ranging in topics from the Eucharist to Catholic Saints and heroes. Many also include discussion guides and supplemental activities. With tons of variety in topics, Formed is an excellent place to go when looking for faith formation resources. Holy Heroes In addition to selling Catholic books, CDs, and games for kids, Holy Heroes also has some awesome free resources that change depending on the season. My favorite freebie is their Sunday Mass preparation program. It includes a short video, coloring page, quiz, and readings. This can be great for a classroom setting or to encourage your kiddos to find one takeaway from the Mass readings. You can also subscribe to the Holy Heroes blog, and they will send you emails with relevant articles to support you in educating the important children in your life. What Would You Recommend? Whether a teacher, a mother, a godmother, an aunt, or a friend, we all have youth in our lives that need to be nourished in our faith. Hopefully these resources help you in educating the spiritual and intellectual sides of your kiddos! What’s your favorite Catholic resource for kids?   [bctt tweet="10 Catholic Resources for Kids #BISblog //" via="no"]   Mercedes Shirts works as a sixth grade teacher in Idaho. When not indulging in a good read and black coffee, she enjoys cooking, traveling with her husband and working in her garden. You can find out more about her here. THE PERFECT BOOK FOR KIDS Rise Up will open up beautiful conversations with your children about the virtues. . This will bring beautiful fruit to your prayer life and to your children's prayer lives. GET RISE UP

Welcome to our Sisterhood Series! It's our birthday month, and we are celebrating by introducing you to some of the beautiful women in our community. We can't wait for you to meet them. Hi Alison! Tell us a bit about who you are and where you're from! // Hi! My name's Alison Fram and I'm from Northern Virginia. I was born and raised in the same suburban town that I still live in, with the option to drive one way and reach farmland and cows, or to drive another and reach one of the bigger cities. I'm really close with my family and spend a lot of time with my mom and my sister's family, including my super fun niece and nephew. I'm in my 9th year working full-time in parish ministry, overseeing college, young adult, and young family ministries at my home parish. My work brings me a lot of joy! What is your favorite way to pray? // I love to just come away and sit peacefully before a tabernacle or in Eucharistic Adoration. It slows me down and gives me a chance to tell God about how I'm really feeling. I also love to take long walks with my dog Daisy and talk with Him as I go. Why is community important to you? What has it felt like when you did not have good community, and how has it felt when you do? // For years and years, I asked God to give me good friends. Eventually I started asking for friends with faith. For a while, even when I was working in Church ministries, I was trying to do everything on my own. I felt that lack of true community each time I realized how I filtered my words based on who I was with. God was so good and blessed me with an abundance of great Catholic friends in the past few years, starting in college and continuing through my late-20s. To know that I can pick up my phone and have multiple people and groups to share a prayer request with or ask for support from is so comforting and reassuring. What about something about what a friend has done in your life that has radically changed your life? // One of those friends that came into my life a few years ago is my friend Jen. We met through our parish on a mission trip, and for a while we bonded over our shared love for our dogs, being aunts, and early morning workouts (where most of our exercise came from laughing). It was actually through following the Blessed is She Instagram account and reading a BIS blog post about working out that we first really started talking about God and our faith. My friendship with Jen has absolutely and radically changed my life. We trust each other enough to share the real things—the hardships of trusting in God through awful circumstances, the big challenges of being Catholic in an imperfect and hurting world, and how we just want to make being a young Catholic who loves God "normal." She shows up for me, whether it's to deliver coffee to me at work just because, or by coming to several funerals for my loved ones. Jen's friendship has taught me to be a better friend and a better person! When we sit together at Daily Mass or at Adoration, I still feel so, so grateful that God brought her into my life. What is the biggest quality you look for in a close friend? // Quality time is one of my top love languages, so it's important for me to be able to just spend time enjoying life with my closest friends. It doesn't need to be fancy or a big plan; just sitting with some coffee or ice cream and swapping stories will bring me a lot of joy. I really appreciate friends who can have those deeper conversations, too, and for me that means trusting that they're really listening! It's not easy for me to open up, so it means a lot when someone gives me their time in that way. What kind of friend do you hope to be? // My friends set the bar high here, so I'll list some of my favorite qualities about them that I hope to be able to reciprocate. I hope I'm the kind of friend that makes space in my day to show up for what's really important. I want to remember what they've told me so I can show them I care by remembering a special day, or sending a text before a big meeting, or bringing their intentions before the Lord in my prayer. I also hope I can understand that my friend might be really different from me, and it's ok for us not to react the same way to everything. We can be different people and still share this special relationship. Tell us about a time a friend led you closer to Jesus. // I have to tell you about my friend Kara, who I met when we were "friend-matched" to be prayer partners through BIS's The Well Mentorship Program. Kara and I live about three hours apart and spent hours each week on the phone before we ever met in person. I know that Kara is one of those friends I prayed for. She always encourages me to bring everything to Jesus. Even more than that, Kara has done two things to lead me closer to Jesus. The first is that she writes down all of my prayer intentions and really, really prays for them. Her prayers are powerful! And second, she offers to do spiritual things with me. If I mention that I think I need to revisit a part of our Well program, she says she'll do it with me! Or if I really feel the need to go on a retreat, she right away offers to sign up for one with me. I can't even say how much it has helped me grow in my relationship with Jesus to know that my friend Kara is walking right beside me. Now we want to hear about YOU! Answer one or any of the questions in the comments below.   [bctt tweet="BIS Sisterhood Series // Alison #BISblog #BISsisterhood //" via="no"]

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. // James 1:21 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Three years ago, I started making my way back to the Church after an extremely worldly life. I had been living in China for at least three years at that point, and being out of my grandmother’s safe haven, I had spiraled out of control. One night, I went to bed and had a life-changing dream. I knew it all had to stop. Fornication, sugar-daddies, wild parties, and more. So I decided to return to the Lord, start fresh. I expected it to be all rosy, and for a moment it really was. Then I went for a retreat and picked one paper during an activity and the word on that paper turned my life upside down. Trust. What is Radical Trust? Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and on your own intelligence rely not. // Proverbs 3:5 A simple, yet loaded line. Trust requires a solid relationship and a relationship requires interest, but radical trust requires total surrender and abandonment to the will of God. Radical trust will have you looking and acting like a crazy person. And that is the point we all need to reach. The point where we believe beyond a shadow of reasonable doubt that "God will provide a way out of my _____ (marital problems, financial meltdown, falling grades, tumultuous relationships, childlessness, problems with children, loneliness, etc.) because of His promise in Jeremiah 20:11." The Father will provide a way out because He cares for you and everything that concerns your life (see Luke 12:7, Exodus 3:7-8). Jesus will hold your hand through it all because He understands how you feel and wants you to be in perfect peace. The Holy Spirit will inspire you with ideas and the strength to do what you need to. Beloved, God is interested in you and everything about you. Are You Interested in God? But, are you interested in God? Not just His blessings but God Himself. Are you interested in what God wants for you, and all that He has in store for you and all that interests you? It is only possible to trust when we are certain of Whom we are working with. Trust is a fruit of a relationship and developing or strengthening that relationship is what we should focus on. Effort to grow that relationship is all God asks of us because He will work something out. Even if His will is contrary to what we hope and yearn for in that moment. Truthfully, at times, God’s will is painful. Very painful. And it is alright to feel that pain and cry it all out. Thankfully, God’s way is perfect (Psalm 18:31), marvelous (Psalm 40:6), and pregnant with hope (Jeremiah 29:11). You can confidently abandon yourself in God’s loving will for you because it is what you need. To Heaven Today, it might not seem to be what you want but in future you will realize it was what you needed, even if it is not on this side of Heaven. You can radically trust God and confidently do all that the Holy Spirit is calling you to do. And you can confidently surrender and abandon yourself to God’s will (whatever it looks like today) because it will lead you to Heaven.   [bctt tweet="The Wildness of Trust #BISblog //" via="no"]   Written by Nyasha Masuku.

Dana Gioia’s 99 Poems New & Selected is a varied collection of well-crafted pieces that also demonstrates understanding of what it means to be fully human, skillfully expressing private experiences in a universal way. Gioia’s selections are organized topically. Fifteen poems are new while the rest are selected from his previous four collections. The sections include Mystery, Place, Remembrance, Imagination, Stories, Songs, and Love. The Catholic Heart From the arrangement alone, I felt a connection with Gioia. I knew he was a Catholic writer but, had I not, the themes of his poetry felt as familiar as a Scripture meditation or Sunday Mass reading. I relate to him as both a fellow Catholic and writer. In The Dyer’s Hand, W.H. Auden suggests questions to ask when reading a poem. Some of these include: Here is a verbal contraption. How does it work? What kind of a guy inhabits this poem? What does he conceal from the reader? What does he conceal even from himself? Gioia writes about ordinary things of life but applies craft and mystery that gives a glimpse of something beyond the veil. In doing this, he tells us about himself. The Ritual of Poetry In his craft book, Auden says “a poem is a rite, hence its formal and ritualistic character. Its use of language is deliberately and ostentatiously different from talk ... Poetry can do a hundred and one things, delight, sadden, disturb, amuse, instruct—it may express every possible shade of emotion” (page 58, 60). An example is in Gioia’s poem "Pentecost", written after the death of his son. In it he writes: Comfort me with stones. Quench my thirst with sand I offer you this scarred and guilty hand Until others mix our ashes. This powerful lament is certainly different from talk. Not only is it sad but also sensory as it seeks to express and honor the life of his dead son as well as the process of grief. Art Form and Heart Form Then again in "A California Requiem", Gioia confirms that he is a poet of place and nature mourning the loss of land to real estate development. We read: My blessed California, you are so wise You render death abstract, efficient, clean Your afterlife is only real estate And in his kingdom Death must stay unseen. This one was a favorite and I read it many times silently and aloud. I kept asking myself why I liked it so much, why I wanted to laugh and cry, why I wanted to share it with others. The conclusion I came to is that this piece does many things I want to do in writing. As for structure, there are ten syllables in each line and it is written in quatrains. It also has a specific scansion to it that was difficult for me to identify. But, I know enough to realize this is part of the appeal. The combination of stressed and unstressed word syllables gives it predictability and rhythm. In The Dyers Hand, Auden instructs “rhymes, meters, stanza, forms, etc., are like servants. If the master is fair enough to win their affection and firm enough to command their respect, the result is an orderly and happy household.” On sound level and form alone, this is a great poem. With further reading this piece also instructs through the line “Teach us the names of what we have destroyed” then disturbs and surprises through “We cannot ask forgiveness of the earth/For killing what we cannot even name.” His Poetry Tells Me Something about Myself Additionally intriguing was "Vultures Mating" because it aroused conflicting emotions. First, vultures are gross and ugly and I don’t care about them. But Gioia used an observation of these birds to tell me something about life that I do notice and think about which led me to enjoy the piece: "The stink and splendor of fertility arouses the world.” Then later: “Desire brings all things back to earth/charging them to circle, stretch, and preen.” And again in the line: “yearning to burst, to burn, to blossom, to begin.” The use of alliteration and imagery tells me about myself, my desires. The vultures demonstrate that desires encompass a lot in the human psyche and can be beautiful and unattractive. As a person of faith, I look for messages like this that teach about the natural world and longings, where to go with what is wanted, how to know and seek the good. As a writer, I also look for unique language to express human experience. Where Are We Going? I did not like the topics of some of Gioia’s poems simply because I don’t have a natural interest or prior knowledge of Novalis as a person or the horror film Nosferatu. Since I don’t expect to love every work in a collection this was not a disappointment. When first reading "Meditation On A Line From Novalis", I was bored compared to the excitement from some others. When analyzed further, I realized this poem is celebrating someone who came before by writing about him and I liked that. Particularly noticed was the same line at the end of each stanza: Where are we going? Home, always back home. Auden says “this (poetry in a democratic society) forces the poet to constantly search below the external surface which is palpable to the senses in order to read the inner soul.” Similarly, I often ask myself where I am going with my writing. That may mean with the next piece or in a broader context, as in, what I am going to do with this? Sometimes, I even wonder if I really know how to write. I don’t overreact to this because doubt is part of being human. I like this specific poem because it’s lucid. The piece repetitively asks a question then gives an answer. This technique gives a meaningful border to the words and gave me something to ponder and consider after the details were forgotten. Passing the Baton Gioia’s collection is like reading not only a poet but also a philosopher, a saint, a simpleton, a sinner. It’s reading someone who possesses a weighty and whimsical heart, a mastery of language. I took the opportunity to read his essays Can Poetry Matter? and The Catholic Writer Today during this study of Gioia. In coming to understand his insight into poetry, faith, and culture, I felt as if he was exhorting and passing the baton to a younger generation of faith based writers. Catholic imaginative literature as expressed through poetry is a worldview I would like to express well. For this reason, studying Dana Gioia’s poetry and letters both and now and in the future will keep me connected to a community that will enhance my understanding and writing life. I am grateful for the gift. Any other poetry fans out there? Have you read Gioia?   [bctt tweet="The Catholic Influence in Dana Gioia's Poetry #BISblog //" via="no"]   Jenny Richeson is a Catholic writer who is a lover of language and its mysteries. By day she provides speech pathology and cognitive intervention services to kids. Her main goal in life is to be a speaking stargazer caught up in wonder whenever possible. She makes her home in Kentucky with her husband Matt. Together they find God in gardening and all manner of outdoor activities whenever they can. Stargazing is a favorite pastime too. You can find out more about her here.   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

It was a Friday night in college. I ran down the hallway to the common area of my dorm, four freshly popped bags of popcorn clutched in my arms. College girls have to eat something. My presence was greeted with shouts of enthusiasm as we nestled in to watch who-knows-what romantic comedy for the fourth time that semester. “You know how they say, ‘You are what you eat?’” one of my friends joked, ice cream pint in one hand, soda pop in the other. We all laughed, but I didn’t think much more of the comment until the next morning. The next two hours I had specially reserved for being swept-off my dirty college couch seat by a blue-eyed rugged actor while I vicariously played the part of the unsuspecting colleague. The experience was everything I wanted it to be. And then real-life started playing again the next morning. What's the Purpose? I had made a habit of hosting these movie nights in an effort to foster community. And I quickly noticed that nothing brought on a crowd of women like a classic romantic comedy. And yet the truth was, as I became more and more infatuated by the on-screen romances, I was becoming more and more frustrated by the off-screen romance I was living. Off-screen, I was dating the man who is now my fiancé. There was absolutely nothing wrong in our relationship: no red-flags, no lack of attention, no poor habits creeping in. If anything, I knew we were making leaps and bounds as a couple in communication, companionship, discipline, and all sorts of other good things. And yet, there was a restlessness in my heart. Thankfully, I had the wisdom to recognize it was not a restlessness worthy of attention, but rather an unholy restlessness. It was a desire for something that I knew I did not need. By the grace of God, I had a realization within prayer about the cause of my uneasiness. I was wanting the kind of romance I was seeing onscreen to be my kind of romance offscreen. What Real Love Looks Like The truth is that we can so often let the media/movies/messages we consume affect the way we perceive true love and distort our expectation of romance and relationships. In his masterpiece book, Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love, author Edward Sri summarizes this point perfectly. Sri speaks about how the culture in which we live contains, “love songs, romance films, and TV shows which constantly play with our emotions and prompt us to long for quick, emotionally thrilling relationships like the ones people seem to find in the movies.” I painfully realized that the discontent I was feeling in my relationship was nothing less than me expecting my boyfriend to make me feel the whirlwind of romance that actors were playing onscreen. I was limiting our relationship by expecting a full cinematic feature, while disregarding the genuine, real-life love story we were writing every day. I was limiting him by expecting a Hollywood award-winning air-brushed actor, while disregarding the perfectly imperfect man who was choosing to love me over and over every single day. That is when I decided to go on a rom-com detox. Not Bad In and Of Itself There are two extremes I want to make sure we avoid on this topic, and in doing so, we should make a couple of points. Romance is Good Romance and warm-and-fuzzies are good and necessary things in real-life romances! By no means am I saying you should not want any level of that. All I am saying is that real-world relationships will not and should not look like the ones on the movies. When we build up our expectations to that level, we will only become frustrated and discontented in even the most holy and healthy relationships. As Edward Sri puts it: Real love, however, is very different from Hollywood love. Real love requires much effort. It is a virtue that involves sacrifice, responsibility, and a total commitment to the other person. Hollywood love is an emotion. It’s something that just happens to you. The focus is not on a commitment to another, but on what is happening inside you—the powerful, good feelings you experience when you’re with this other person. I found myself desiring the emotion of Hollywood love instead of recognizing the virtue of real love that was being performed right in-front of my nose. The paradox present here is that while Hollywood love might be exciting and engaging for a short period of time, only real love will be fulfilling for a lifetime. Prudence is Key The second extreme is to think that any and all watching of rom-coms is sinful and degrading of our expectation of love. This is objectively false. Do I think there are certain rom-coms which cross a line and shouldn’t be watched? Yes, absolutely. Do I think that obsessive watching of rom-coms (like I did in college) can taint our vision of genuine love? Yes, absolutely. Do I also think that we can watch rom-coms in a prudent manner, keeping God’s vision of love and relationships intact in our minds, while enjoying a funny movie with friends? Yes, absolutely. You know yourself, and at the end of the day, you have the self-knowledge and understanding to recognize when what you are watching is affecting you negatively. My advice is that if you find yourself expecting in your own life what you see on screen, or becoming frustrated with what you have in real-life because it is not what you seen on-screen, maybe it is time to give it a break. It does not have to be a life-long break, but maybe just take a season to regroup and recenter your expectations of love. It worked wonders for me: the discontent and restlessness lifted, and I was actually able to recognize and receive the ways in which my boyfriend was genuinely loving and pursuing me. We are What We Consume Like my friend said: “you are what you eat.” That doesn’t apply to taste only. We are affected by what we consume. Let’s be people who make sure we are watching real-love, so that we can become it in the real-world as well.   [bctt tweet="Why I Went on a Rom-Com Detox #BISblog //" via="no"]   Mary Grace “Gracie” Tillman is a full-time student and full-time extrovert. If you don’t find her with her friends, odds are she’s lost on a backroad with her music all the way up. She loves sports, writing, one-on-ones over coffee, and all things related to Divine Mercy. She strives to life live every day to the fullest and be a joyful disciple of Jesus.   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

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