“What do you want for Father’s Day?” “Ummm...nothing. I don’t know. Surprise me.” Am I the only one having this same conversation every May/early June, year after year?! As a wife to an incredible husband and amazing father to our two children, I deeply desire to celebrate my husband big and well on days like Father’s Day. I love the idea of showering him with gifts that are meaningful or useful (or both!). I want him to feel appreciated, valued, and most of all, convey how grateful I am for all he does for our family. Not to mention, I need to celebrate and honor my own amazing dad, too! But man, picking out gifts for the guy(s) in your life can be hard, right? Here is a little Father's Day Gift Guide especially for the Catholic men in our lives! Father's Day Gift Guide for Catholic Dads I’ve spent a lot of time browsing the wonderful wide web and asked some friends on Instagram for ideas. I’m hopeful that this Catholic Father’s Day gift guide will make this year’s gift-giving a bit easier for us all! Prayer Books Getting a book to help dive into prayer for the entire year sounds perfect for a guy who loves structured prayer. Nunc Coepi Prayer Companion is the perfect prayer companion for men to use every single day. For the guy who likes structured prayer, this makes a great gift. Magnificat subscription + leather Magnificat cover While it’s true that you can get the daily Mass readings online or in an app format, sometimes it’s nice to have the actual printed version. Not to mention, the monthly books include extra prayers and other writings to aid in faith formation. An annual subscription to Magnificat is affordable and useful (the books show up in your mailbox about a month in advance). The books are great to keep in the center console of the car, a briefcase, or a desk drawer. Bonus: this cool leather cover would keep them from getting torn up. Cocktail kit Pair this Crate & Barrel boxed bar set with the fun + cheeky book Drinking With the Saints and you’ve got a gift match made in Heaven for the guy who likes to pretend he’s a bonafide mixologist (anyone else’s husband?!).  Masculine Rosary I don’t know about you, but now that we’re real adults, I find myself wanting to upgrade things like our Bibles and Rosaries from our junior high versions. These rosaries by Blessed is She are so great for men: Saint Joseph Rosary, Saint Charbel Rosary, and the Saint Maximilian Kolbe Rosary.  Horse Soldier Bourbon Right after 9/11, a group of elite Green Berets were sent to north Afghanistan to help rally the rural tribes against the Taliban. These soldiers were nicknamed the “Horse Soldiers” because of they had to literally travel by horseback to reach some of the remote areas. These same soldiers went on to found American Freedom Distillery, who makes Horse Soldier Bourbon. If your husband, brother, or dad likes military history, America, or bourbon, they will love this. Pair it with a copy of the book Horse Soldiers, or set a time to sit down and watch the movie portrayal, 12 Strong, together. Classic leather wallet A staple on any gift guide for men: the leather wallet. But really though, every guy I know could use a new, nice leather wallet to replace whatever ratty one they have (or to replace the binder clip they’re currently using!) Here is a classic one that is made ethically in Peru or a pocket one made in the USA. Coffee mug to inspire him The "Do Something Great" quote by Saint John Paul II is perfect to inspire men every single day to pursue the Lord in virtue and in faith, which is why it's perfect on this black stainless steel rambler. Wooden pocket cross These crosses are small and designed specifically to be carried in a pocket as a reminder throughout the day to pray, hope, and not worry. An alternate, also pocket-sized idea is the pocket oratory, designed to aid in prayer while on the go. Engraved leather mousepad This full grain leather mousepad is handmade in the USA and can be engraved with up to 15 letters. Consider something other than his initials, like "AMDG". This stands for Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, the Latin motto of the Jesuits, which means "For the greater glory of God." The phrase “soli deo gloria” (glory to God alone) would also fit. A conversation-starter tie Would it even be a Father’s Day gift guide if there wasn’t a tie included?! If you’re shopping for a guy that rocks a tie on the reg, consider this Our Lady of Guadalupe option, this Marian symbol design, or this one featuring the Benedictine cross. We hope this Catholic Father's Day gift guide helped you! If you have any more ideas, share with us in the comments! [bctt tweet="Father's Day Gift Guide for the Catholic Dad #BISblog //" via="no"] This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

On May 13th, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot in Saint Peter’s square on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. One of the bullets missed his heart by just inches. John Paul II credited his survival and the offering of his suffering as Providence and said, “one hand pulled the trigger and another guided the bullet,” recognizing Our Lady of Fatima for protecting him. The next year he gave the bullet that had nearly killed him to the shrine in Fatima to be placed in the crown of Our Lady. So who is this Lady of Fatima? Apparitions Begin May 13th marks the anniversary of Our Lady appearing to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. She appeared to Lucia at age nine, and her cousins Francisco, who was eight, and his sister Jacinta, who was just six. But before Our Lady appeared to the three children, they were first visited by an angel. These apparitions started in 1916 during World War I. During one of these apparitions, in the backyard of Lucia’s house, the angel said to the children, “Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners.” He forewarned them that they would experience great suffering and pleaded with them to offer up this cross in order that more souls would be won for Christ. Messages from Our Lady When Our Lady finally appeared to the children, she appeared in the pasture where they were shepherding their flocks, next to a holm oak tree. The area was known as the Cova da Iria, or Cove of Peace. She appeared “more brilliant than the sun” and told the children that she came from Heaven. She wore white with a gold-edged mantle. In her hand, she held a Rosary, a prayer which the children would all pray when she appeared to them on the 13th of the month for six consecutive months. (It is believed that the Rosary began in 1214 when Our Lady appeared to St. Dominic and presented him with both the beads of the Rosary and the prayers which accompanied them.) She came to the children asking them to “pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war.” During her third apparition she gave the children a vision of hell saying, “You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.” She also told the children that in October she would perform a miracle so that all would see and believe. Miracle of the Sun On her sixth apparition on October 13th, she told the children that she wanted a chapel built in the place of her appearance and to be built in her honor. She identified herself saying “I am the Lady of the Rosary.” (The month of October had previously been dedicated to the Holy Rosary in 1883 by Pope Leo XIII.) 70,000 people were in attendance in order to witness the promised apparition. This Miracle is known as the Miracle of the Sun. The Miracle or “dancing of the sun” included the sun changing in color while swirling in the sky and even coming towards the earth. The ground which had been soaked in rain, and even peoples drenched clothing had been completely dried. People reported physical healings of the blind and crippled and numerous witnesses made public confessions and committed their life to Christ. It was reported that the miracle of the sun was even seen up to twenty-five miles away. These proofs led the Bishop to approve the apparition in 1930 and it has now been approved by the Church. The Sanctuary Over seven years ago, while studying abroad in Rome, a few friends and I made a pilgrimage to The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal where there are many different places to pray. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima stands at the site where three young shepherds saw a sudden flash of lightning on May 13th, 1917. The Basilica holds chapels with the remains of Blessed Jacinta, Sister Lucia, and Blessed Francisco. There is also a 200-column Colonnade in the Sanctuary. In order to accommodate a growing number of pilgrims, a new church called the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity was built and dedicated in October of 2007. Between the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Most Holy Trinity is a large prayer space and one of the most important sights to see, the Chapel of the Apparitions. The Chapel of the Apparitions is the place where Our Lady spoke to Jacinta, Lucia, and Francisco and where she asked that a chapel be built in her honor. The space which occupies Our Lady’s statue is the location where she appeared to the shepherds. It is common for pilgrims to walk to the Chapel of the Apparitions on their knees, while praying the Rosary. I have a specific memory of this from my own pilgrimage. Kneeling Pilgrimage When I visited Fatima, it was not warm and balmy but rather dreary and cold. My friends and I said goodbye to any chance of looking like polished travelers and piled on as many layers as we could. For me, that meant I wore leggings, jeans, and sweatpants. With that attire, I made my kneeling pilgrimage on padded knee...and it still hurt. But that’s not the point of this story. What stood out to me from this kneeling pilgrimage was the woman in front of me. A very thin, bony and elderly woman was making the kneeling pilgrimage in front of me...but with her jeans rolled above her knees. As she slowly knelt her way to the Chapel, her dear husband held her hand all the way through. The sight of her and her spouse made my perspective radically change. I focused less on my own aching knees and instead knelt in awe of the deep spiritual strength and devotion that this woman had, and the loving support of her husband. There Will be Peace This couple I witnessed in Fatima were clearly supporting one another in their goal of salvation, of eternity in Heaven. They were supporting each other in what the message of Fatima emphasizes. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI states that the central meaning of the message of Fatima is this, “The exhortation to prayer as the path of ‘salvation for souls’ and, likewise, the summons to penance and conversion.” He goes on to encourage us in the faith, because we have the freedom to choose the good and “the freedom to choose evil no longer has the last word.” Let us walk with Mary in confidence and devotion to her Immaculate Heart (you could event start with this daily devotion), and like she promised, “there will be peace.” [bctt tweet="The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima #BISblog //" via="no"]

The blogger Elizabeth Duffy once wrote: If motherhood is hard at times, it’s probably because it allows us, without going terribly far out of our way, to mimic Christ.   Like her, I think there is great benefit to us in acknowledging that we can unite our motherhood―whatever it looks like, physical or spiritual―with Jesus' sacrifice for us. Motherhood is, in fact, a cross, and not just a cross, but for us as women, the sweetest cross, the sweetest suffering. The Family Sanctifies Those two words don't usually get put together: sweetness and suffering. Here's what I mean by the sweetest cross: the cross is chosen perfectly for you. It is your cross, not anyone else's cross. Christ chooses the particular cross that he wants you to bear in motherhood. He promises that His yoke will be easy and His burden light. But that promise is true only if you take up the yoke that He has fitted perfectly to your shoulders. It only works if you don't try to take on someone else's yoke, someone else's idea of perfect motherhood. And sometimes that even means your own idea of perfect motherhood, if it conflicts with the motherhood that God has in mind for you. Motherhood is a path for mothers to sanctify their families, and for mothers, in turn, to be sanctified by and through their families. And moms, in order to do this, God gives you the family that you need. I want to reemphasize that. He gives you the family that you need. He doesn't give you your neighbor's family, or your best friend's, or your frenemy's. He may not even give you the family you want, the family you hoped and prayed for, the family you dreamed of since you were a young girl. For many of us, it means a family bigger or smaller than we imagined. But He gives you the family that will sanctify you. Now the next logical question is, how does that sanctification happen? How do we cooperate with it in our roles as mothers? It starts in our being faithful in the mundane, repetitive tasks of our daily lives. We as mothers are uniquely suited to the work of receiving and bearing Christ's love to the world. We are designed to receive grace, in our souls and especially in our bodies, and to bear it forth to others. The Sanctifying Work of Motherhood That is why the work of our bodies matters so much, why so much of mothering is about the care and feeding of bodies. The wiping of sticky hands. The making of casseroles. The baths, the dressing, the undressing, the tucking in. I sweep the kitchen floor, and I sweep it again, and when I turn around 10 minutes later it is dirty, so I sweep it again to keep the baby from choking to death on a raisin. We work with our feet firmly planted on the ground and our hands at the service of our families. But at the same time, our minds and hearts must be constantly turned toward Heaven. Just as we are called to be faithful in the ongoing tasks of our daily lives, we are called to offer all of it to God. We know, by faith and by practice, that there is more to our work than what is happening with our bodies. We know that as our bodies move, our souls are moved too. It matters! And what matters is not how perfectly our days are going according to plan, but how perfectly we are surrendering our plans to Him. Motherhood is a Blend of the Particular and the Universal While writing this, I asked my children what mothers do. And the answers I got were really telling. See if you can spot the pattern: they protect their children they lead their children to Heaven they hold life they keep the houses clean they give baths they get presents for Christmas, Easter, and birthdays It was a perfect summary. Motherhood is a blend of the particular and the universal. You can think of those two levels—the ordinary everyday actions of our bodies, and the great offering of those actions to God—as the vertical axis of the cross. It stretches from earth, at our feet, to Heaven. We as mothers are to be a conduit, in both directions, to bring heaven down to our families and to offer our families back up. The horizontal axis reaches from the past to the future, and here, too, we are called to surrender. We ache over yesterday's mistakes. We worry about what the future holds for our children. But Christ calls us to live here, now, in the moment we hold in our hands this second. It is only here, at the exact center of the cross, between Heaven and earth, between yesterday and tomorrow, that we get those occasional, exquisite glimpses of heavenly joy in our mothering, when time seems to stop. When you reread your favorite chapter book to the third child who is now old enough to hear it, and they delight in it as much as you did. When your son brings you a fistful of grubby wildflowers, beaming with pride (or, as happened to me once, a dead rat swinging by the tail). When you watch your baby sleep. Or receive First Communion. Or graduate. Or get married. Or ordained. When you know, with every fiber of your being, that you are exactly where God wants you and that you are doing his work. The Glorious Work of Motherhood Sometimes, yes, the repetition, the worry, the heartache—they are all enough to break your heart. And in truth, God is trying to break your heart. But not for sorrow. He uses motherhood to break your heart so that it breaks open enough for Him to come inside and reign there. All of those cracks are to empty us of ourselves so that God can fill in the spaces. Motherhood is designed to bring us to the very end of our own ability so that we recognize our powerlessness before Him. We are to recognize His mercy pouring out and filling every minute of our lives. The results are not up to us. But the everyday effort, the work and the offering, the receiving and bearing forth of grace, living in the present moment...that is up to us. Rest at the center of the cross, and enjoy the work. [bctt tweet="The Work of Motherhood #BISblog //" via="no"] Christy Wilkens is a full-time mother, part-time armchair philosopher who lives in Austin, TX but wishes she lived in Lourdes. She is a wife and mom to six kids, all of whom are special (but some are specialer than others). She writes about special needs, faith, doubt, suffering, and good reads. You can find out more about her here.

When my husband and I were engaged, one of the first things we did was sit down to figure out which state to get married in. We finally made the decision when we thought back to the first time we had walked into the church I was attending in Raleigh, North Carolina. As our eyes took in the blue, star-covered ceiling, the glow of the stained glass windows, and the old wooden pews, we glanced at each other and tried to hold back our smiles. We weren’t even engaged yet, but a little piece of us knew: someday, that’s where we could get married. It feels fitting, therefore, that since we chose our wedding location based on our church that the ceremony was the number one thing our guests commented on most. Not my dream-come-true wedding dress. Not the details I had agonized over (I was working as an editor at a national wedding magazine when I got married. To say I put a lot of pressure on the aesthetics of the day is an understatement). Not even the signature cocktails! Four years later, we still receive affirmation from loved ones about the joy and reverence of our wedding ceremony. Our wedding certainly wasn’t perfect, but I can gratefully say that our ceremony was one thing that felt as near perfect as it could be. Ways to Share Your Faith Through Your Wedding Ceremony Between planning my own wedding, attending many, and serving as a volunteer on my church’s wedding committee for a few years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing some truly breathtaking, Holy Spirit-filled ceremonies. I’ve also seen a handful of weddings that left guests awkwardly stumbling through their participation in a nuptial Mass, prayers interrupted by clicking cameras, and couples nervous about how non-Catholic guests may react to certain moments. There are countless ways to lovingly share your Faith through your wedding, ranging from simple to creative. I would consider these five to be the essentials. Print a thorough program. I know a multi-page program costs extra money and time to create. Both of those things are in short supply during the last few months of wedding planning. But let’s be honest: Catholic liturgy can be overwhelming to someone who has never experienced it and has no idea what to do and when to do it. The absolute best thing you can do for those beloved people in your life is to give them all the tools they need to follow along with and understand your ceremony. At a minimum, include the order of the ceremony with the responses and actions guests should be aware of, should they choose to actively participate. This includes both the verbal responses and the physical responses—when they should sit, stand, or kneel. To make it as easy as possible to follow along with, consider including the text of the greeting, Penitential Rite, Gloria, readings, Rite of Marriage, and Liturgy of the Eucharist as well. Your officiant will be the best resource as you work through this! You may also want to consider adding brief explanations to different parts of the Mass, explaining their significance and meaning. While this isn’t as necessary as the former details, it undoubtedly helps people understand what is going on and enter more deeply into prayer alongside you. For example... Here’s an example of a portion from my wedding program: Gospel Reading (Mark 10:6-9) Before the Gospel, the priest will state its origin. All respond “Glory to you, O Lord,” while making a small cross on their foreheads, lips, and heart. This serves as a reminder to us to keep the Holy Scriptures on our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts as we work to spread the Good News of the Gospel of Christ. Jesus said: “From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. (Please be seated) Request an unplugged ceremony. In this day and age, it’s rare to witness an entire ceremony during which no one, from teenagers to sweet grandmas, pulls out their phone to snap a picture. The best way to keep this to a minimum is to request an “unplugged ceremony.” Cameras/phones can far too easily become a distraction to you, to other guests, and even to the person taking the photo who is focusing on their composition rather than remaining truly present to you and to God. On a lesser, but still very important note, guests popping out into the aisles or blocking the photographer's view can be a huge hurdle to getting beautiful photos you’re paying a professional to take. In most churches, the photographer is restricted to certain areas, so even one guest unexpectedly in the way can ruin their shot. An unplugged ceremony helps them to do their jobs well and get the best results they can...resulting in photos you can happily share with your guests later! For example... Here is how we made the request in our program: Please note: Lisa and David ask that out of respect for this sacred place and the sacrament they are about to receive, all guests please keep all cameras, cell phones, and other technology put away and on silent for the duration of the ceremony. In appreciation, they would be happy to share pictures from their professional photographer with you after the wedding. Thank you! Choose your readings and songs with care. While a Catholic ceremony doesn’t offer the unlimited options that getting married, say, on a mountain would, don’t believe that this means your ceremony won’t be personal to you and your husband-to-be. Take the time to pray, together and individually, about the options for your first and second readings, Gospel and Gospel Acclamation, and Responsorial Psalm. Which ones resonate most with your relationship, your vision for your marriage, or your prayers for your future together? Since these readings are one of the most significant ways you can “personalize” your ceremony, be sure to make them count. As long as your music is religious in nature and played live, there can actually be quite a bit of flexibility in the choices. Do you want your ceremony to feel joyful and exuberant? Solemn and contemplative? Sweet and lighthearted? Music helps set any of these tones and more. Get to know your officiant. Many guests at your wedding may be most familiar with ceremonies officiated by close friends, family friends, or mentors—likely all people who know the bride and groom extremely well. Hopefully, you know the priest or deacon who is officiating your wedding. But if, for whatever reason, you don’t (perhaps due to schedule changes, a wedding in a city you don’t live in, or new clergy at the parish), schedule a meeting with him at least a few weeks before the big day. Better yet, invite them to dinner! Take some time to share a little bit of your story, your testimonies, why you chose your readings, and what you’re most excited about as you look ahead to married life. You don’t get much (if any) say in the message of the homily. But if your officiant knows the two of you and what’s important to you, he can be equipped to personalize it as he sees fit. Pray for your guests. For some guests, your wedding may be the first time they have ever stepped foot into a Catholic church. What an incredible opportunity for you to welcome them with open arms! As you count down the days to your wedding, take some time to lift your guests up in prayer. Ask for healing from any fears or wounds that may have kept them from the Church in the past. Pray that their eyes, ears, and hearts may be open to the Holy Spirit. And then, sweet friend, sit back and let God work through the Sacrament you have so generously invited your guests to witness. What would you add to this list? Let us know below, and if you’re currently planning a wedding, please know of our prayers for you! [bctt tweet="Ways to Share Your Faith Through Your Wedding #BISblog //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

“Look, Mom! That lady is feeding her baby while she drives!” shouted the alarmed voice from the backseat. Confused by this outburst, I looked around to find the woman in question. It didn’t take long for me to put the pieces together. We’d pulled up alongside of a woman who was pumping under a nursing cover, I imagined, as she drove to work. I fist-bumped her, one (former) car-pumper to another. I explained to my daughter that the woman was indeed feeding her baby while she drove, but there was no infant behind the steering wheel (crisis averted). Today is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. What’s the connection? There is precious little detail provided in Scripture on Joseph’s life on earth beyond his own "yes," after the visit of the angel, encouraging him to take Mary as his wife (Matt. 1: 20-21). His brief Scriptural appearances speak volumes about the nature of his relationship with God, as well as his relationship with Jesus and Mary. Joseph is known as the patron of the Universal Church, fathers, a happy death, and social justice. He is nearly always depicted with a lily, symbolizing purity, or a carpenter’s square, representing his vocation as a carpenter. How do we integrate the charism of St. Joseph the Worker into our daily lives? We have so little information on this pivotal character in the story of the life of Christ. What we do have is often presented as a patron Saint for men. As women, how do we integrate the charism and wisdom of St. Joseph into our daily lives? What do we know about Jesus’ earthly father? Theologians and Scripture scholars agree that based on the details we have on St. Joseph, there are three clear themes that we can learn from. 1. Working in the Margins The most clear picture we have is the fact that Joseph worked as a carpenter to support their household. This was a trade he knew, and the trade he would teach to Jesus. More than likely, this was a job for Joseph that took place within his home, in the margins of their family time. Unlike the schedules of today, where careers are often associated with a particular place and time, Joseph could integrate his work as well as his apprenticing Jesus, to the rhythms of their daily life. Maybe you are working a job that provides that certain "blue flame" as Jennifer Fulwiler has described. I hope so. So often as women, the callings that give us the most life are the ones that require us to carve out time and space in the folds of our days. Not because we are being paid for them, rather, we simply can’t not do them. St. Joseph inspires me to integrate the gifts I have to share—somewhere, anywhere they’ll fit in the space of a day. 2. Humbly, in Silence St. Joseph was entrusted with an incredible responsibility as Jesus’ earthly father. And yet, there is a reverberating humility that surrounds all the details of his life. With all reason to be assured that he was doing the will of God, even influencing the shape of human history, he does it quietly and in the background. Aren’t there times when our obedience, our "yeses," our own sacrifices and self-gift feel a little bit as though they might be worth celebrating? And yet, they aren’t. This is a viscerally human experience, and perhaps one Joseph understood well. Like Jesus, Joseph’s very nature seems to be content to point back to the Lord with the actions and (limited) words of his life. We can learn a lot by emulating him in this quiet way. 3. Provider Joseph’s role as provider for the Holy Family is likely what he is best-known for. In concrete physical and spiritual ways, he supported the lives of Mary and Jesus. The work of his hands literally put food on their table and bolstered their faith by putting it into practice. It can be easy to separate ourselves from the lives of the Saints. To put up walls around the holy work done by their hands and to assume we are not called to (or capable of?) the same. But I think this is a misconception. In the same way that St. Joseph understood his particular call to provide materially and spiritually for Jesus and Mary, we too can understand our calling in our day to day experience. St. Joseph the Worker Animates Our Service to Others Whether for the Children’s Liturgy of the Word program that you volunteer to teach, the food drive you organize at work, the 5k you run to support a cause close to your heart, the margin-work you make time for because you have a God-given gift to be shared, the precious ounces of breast-milk you pump during your daily commutes, the faith life you support by sponsoring an RCIA candidate, the foster children you open your home to, you are doing the work of the Church. This is the supporting ministry of St. Joseph the Worker at its finest. How can you imitate the work of St. Joseph in your own life today? Want to learn more about Saint Joseph, patron of the Universal Church? Check out this incredible video series with our own Beth Davis!   [bctt tweet="St. Joseph the Worker #BISblog //" via="no"]

At the parish I work at, one of my new responsibilities is overseeing the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). While there were a few learning curves, the experience of walking with these people has been so lifegiving to my own personal faith. We had a unique group this year, in that of our ten candidates and catechumens, all were female except one! They came from very different backgrounds. Some were raised Catholic and some had no religious upbringing of any kind. Another was Jewish and a handful were unbaptized. Working with mostly women, my heart has become attuned to the better ways our parish community can help support and nurture the growing faith of these women as they enter full communion with the Catholic Church. In getting to know each of these women over the last year and a half, we have done both the Blessed is She Advent and Lent journals together. Some of them have attended different women’s ministry events like retreats or Bible studies. I bought each of them the Catholic Journaling Bible and Scripture memory cards to help them pray with and get to know Sacred Scripture more. It has been such a blessing to be a part of their growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. The Richness of Our Faith As a cradle Catholic, I think sometimes it is easy for me to take for granted the Faith I was raised in. I can too easily take granted the riches of the Faith that I have been blessed to have in my life from the day I was born. For that reason, I am so grateful for the witness of men and women who intentionally choose to become Catholic Christians. It inspires my own faith and gives me hope, especially in this confusing, painful time for the Church. Ways Parishes Can Support New Female Converts For someone who becomes Catholic, they often may not know a lot of Catholic people. They need extra support, connection, and ways to grow in faith and have community. Blessed is She is a faith community for women of all ages, so we want to highlight specific ways that parishes can offer programming to help our new sisters who have or are in the process of entering the Church. Walking with Purpose Founder Lisa Brenninkmeyer converted to the Catholic Church but quickly realized there was a lack of relevant Bible studies that were open to women of all ages. She took it upon herself to change that! Walking with Purpose is a parish-led, small group Bible study that is a great fit for women of all ages and states in life. There are also specific studies for young adult women and middle school girls. This could be a great thing for a mother and daughter to do together, or go with a group of girlfriends! If you want to hear more of Lisa’s story, she was recently on the Blessed is She podcast and The Catholic Feminist! I know after listening to Lisa speak, it made me more excited to try the study this Fall at the parish I work at. Start a Blessed is She Community Group Starting a small group can feel overwhelming and maybe bit outside your comfort zone. Not to fear! At Blessed is She, we offer all the tools to get you started in forming and creating a small group right from the beginning. We have lots of resources that you can use in your small group like studies on the Rosary. We have lots of groups of different sizes all across the country. Not to mention, we’ll help you get started! There is also a special Facebook group for women leading a BIS Community Group in their local area. Be sure to join and get ideas, support, and encouragement. Host a Blessed Brunch Who doesn’t love a reason to get together with some gal pals over some brunch?! That is one of my secondary love languages. Hosting a Blessed Brunch at your parish or home is a great way to get to meet other Catholic women in the local area. It can also serve as a great pre-curser for forming a Blessed is She community group. Hosting a brunch doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. You can add your own personal touches to make it feel special and inviting. We have a hostess guide to help guide your time together. But there’s room to be creative! I know groups that meet to eat and discuss a Teachable Tuesday video. Some have a local speaker come to give a short talk. I have hosted these a few times at the parish I work at, and there has been a great response to them. If you have never hosted a brunch, I would encourage you to do so! I have never regretted doing it myself. Endow Study Groups Endow study groups are another great option for meeting in small group communities with other Catholic women trying to learn and grow in their faith. The small groups meet once a week for about one hour-and-a-half to two hours. The studies range from different doctors of the Church, female Saints, papal writings, and more. It is a way for women to grow in relationship with each other while also reflecting upon the deeper mysteries of life and our Faith. Welcome Home! If you are a woman who is new to the Catholic Church or coming back after years from participating, we are so glad you are here! We need you in our Church. We want you in our Church. Your voice, story, gifts, and creative ideas are needed to help build Jesus’ Kingdom here on earth. Welcome home sister, we are on this journey with you! [bctt tweet="How Parishes Can Support New Female Converts #BISblog //" username="amoderngrace"]

Most people are familiar with the creation story found in the first chapter of Genesis. God creates the world in an ordered fashion over the course of seven, poetically-flowing days. It is such a well-known narrative, that even individuals of other faiths (or no faith at all) know the story. However, a Christian concept that is not as commonplace throughout the world is the notion of the eighth day of creation. You see, in light of Christ’s Death and Resurrection, everything is “made new,” sin and death are no more, and all of creation is restored to its original form. Thus, in the eyes of the Church, every Sunday is also known as “the eighth day” or “the Octave,” and the number eight became symbolic of new life. Historically Speaking Under the Roman Emperor Constantine, whose legalization of Christianity ended the persecution of the Early Church, Christianity boomed. While the blood of the martyrs certainly bore great witness to the Truth and miraculously attracted more people to convert, the formal legalization of the Faith allowed for the construction of actual buildings. Gone were the days of worshipping God hidden away in private houses and the catacombs! After construction was completed, the dedication of the basilicas at Tyre and Jerusalem were observed. The festivities lasted for eight days, signifying “new life” in the Church. After these once-in-a-Church-lifetime occasions, it was decided that major liturgical feasts should also be celebrated with an octave in order to help the congregation more fully comprehend their magnitude. Explosion and Revision of Octaves Over the next eight centuries (how’s that for irony?), people got a little “slap-happy” with the practice of octaves. They began to celebrate almost every feast with eight days of jubilee. And while the Church is all about celebrating the glorious things God has done through and for the Saints, some of these observances were causing confusion among the faithful. If the feast of Christ’s Resurrection is being celebrated in the same way as the feast of a “lowly” Saint, it is bound to breed some misunderstanding of the difference in significance between the two. Thus, many revisions were made by multiple popes over the course of a few centuries. Catholic Feasts with Octaves As of 1969, only two feasts are deemed worthy of a liturgical octave, Christmas and Easter. Christmas The Christmas Octave runs from Christmas Day (December 25th) until the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary (January 1st), with related feasts being celebrated during that time period. These include St. Stephen, St. John, the Holy Innocents and The Holy Family. Liturgically, the Church walks us through the Gospel’s infancy narrative. This is encouragement to take these mysteries to prayer, to greater reflect on this Child and the wonders of His birth, and to personally and intimately come to a fuller understanding of Who He is. Not just as a Church Figurehead, but in relation to each one of us specifically. Thus the feasts, celebrated together as an octave, are meant to help propel us forward in our comprehension of Christ. On the final day of the Christmas Octave, we get an answer as to who this Child is: He is God. We rejoice in this together—as it is another Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics—and we honor Mary, the sacred God-bearer. Easter Easter is the mother of all other feasts. I love this imagery (and took it straight from the USCCB), both for its natural symbolism and its modern meaning. Naturally speaking, mothers give life. The Resurrection “gives life” and meaning to every other aspect of our Faith, almost literally! Our Church wouldn’t exist if Christ hadn’t risen from the dead. Had this not occurred, the world could have concluded that Jesus was a fraud and Christianity wouldn’t be a thing. But it did happen. This makes Easter Week the greatest week of the entire Church year. Modernly speaking, if something is “the mother,” it is the boss. It is a major finding, strikingly powerful, and/or something that is hard (if not impossible) to overtake. This is also true of Easter. It is “the mother” of all feasts. Unlike at Christmas, no other feast is ever celebrated during the Easter Octave. For eight days straight, every day is Easter (liturgically speaking). The Gospels throughout the Masses that week all tell different aspects of the Easter story. What a lot of Catholics don’t realize is that most of these stories actually took place on the same day as Jesus’ Resurrection. The ones that don’t happened only days later. All of them are a part of the Resurrection story, which is why all eight days are Easter. Easter Monday // Mary and the Other Mary find the Tomb Empty (Mt 28:8-15) Easter Tuesday // Mary Magdalene Returns to the Tomb, Weeps, Sees the Resurrected Lord (Jn 20:11-18) Easter Wednesday // Jesus Appears to Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35) Easter Thursday // Jesus Appears to the Hidden Apostles (Lk 24:35-48) Easter Friday // Jesus Helps the Apostles Fish (Jn 21:1-14) Easter Saturday // Jesus Instructs the Apostles to See, Believe, and Preach the Gospel (Mk 16:9-15) Why These Readings? To the faithful, Jesus made His identity clear. He was alive again (proven by His appetite). He was the same person (helping the Apostles make a great catch of fish), but glorified (He could walk through walls, appear and disappear). By choosing these readings as the Liturgy of the Easter Octave, our modern Apostles are echoing these same truths to us. They are propelling us forward in our understanding of what the Resurrection meant for all mankind, but also for us individually. Jesus is God and God had mercy on humanity. This truth was specifically highlighted for the Church by the great Pope St. John Paul II who officially declared the Sunday after Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday. How To Celebrate the Easter Octave St. Augustine called the Easter Octave, “the days of mercy and pardon.” You can do anything to celebrate. Try to keep it centered around Christ, but also make it festive! Here are “eight” suggestions. Go to Daily Mass He died and rose to save us. We access those graces with every reception of the Eucharist. This is by far the best way to celebrate the Easter Octave. There are actually special graces promised to those who receive communion throughout the Octave, especially the Octave Day of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)! Read the Gospel Sometimes it’s impossible to get to daily Mass. If you can’t, make an effort to read and reflect on the daily Gospels. Seek out reflections and explanations from other knowledgeable sources. Spend Time in a Garden Be like Mary Magdalene, although you don’t have to weep while you’re there! Take a stroll, do some planting, have a picnic, and so on. Lots of Botanical Gardens offer free admission. Reflect on the connections between gardens and the spiritual life while you’re there. Go Fishing Just like the Apostles. They had one of the biggest catches of their lives after the Resurrection. It’s a reflective and restful endeavor, as well as a great bonding opportunity. You could also do this metaphorically... Go to the Beach In another Gospel account, the Apostles encounter Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. They have a campfire, roast fish, and enjoy breakfast together. You could pack a picnic and take a day trip, provided you live close enough. If not, and you have the ability to do so, make a vacation of the week, citing liturgical living as the excuse. Go to Confession Return to the Lord just as St. Peter did. While on the beach, Peter and Jesus have a heart-to-heart. Three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” This is seen by many theologians as a “reversal” or redemption of the three times Peter denied Christ during His Passion. If you found yourself failing in love of others during the business of the Easter Triduum, this might be a good time to reconnect with Jesus in humility and accept His constant forgiveness. Go for a Walk Like Jesus and His disciples did on the road to Emmaus. Go by yourself as time of prayer and reflection, or go with friends and build community. Break Bread With Friends Like Jesus and His Apostles. It doesn’t have to literally be bread; simply share a special meal with friends and/or family. Maybe do something on theme, like preparing eight simple dishes (including entree, sides, and desserts). No matter what you choose, the emphasis should be fun and festive as we rejoice in the mercy of God! How will you be celebrating the Easter Octave? We want to know in the comments below! [bctt tweet="The Magnitude of Eight: Why the Church Celebrates in Octaves #BISblog //" via="no"]

Happy Earth Day! Perhaps you’re wondering what this secular holiday has to do with the modern Catholic woman. A lot, in fact! The discussion about creation is not a new one, and there’s been a lot of buzz in recent years within the Church about the care and concern of our planet. If you haven’t read Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si, today is the perfect day to dive in. The reality is that caring for our planet isn’t simply a secular issue or a millennial issue. As Christ followers and faithful Catholics, we are called to be diligent in caring for our planet. Here’s why. God and Nature Nature, in all its beauty, leads us back to the One Who created it to begin with. Since I was young, I have always felt incredibly close to God when I’m nature. Whether it’s laying in the grass in the backyard with my kids making cloud shapes or sleeping under the stars on the edge of the Grand Canyon, I rarely feel closer to God than when I’m in His creation. There is something so powerful about the fact that God gave our human parents—Adam and Eve—a natural world to inhabit and care for. He didn’t give them a grand palace or strong fortress. He gave them a garden. We are created with an urge to seek out nature and to meet God in the midst of His creation. Being in nature brings a peace and tranquility few other things do, especially in the hectic, ultra-connected world we live in. To that end, Pope Saint John Paul II offered this beautiful sentiment at World Youth Day in 1990: The aesthetic value of creation cannot be overlooked. Our very contact with nature has a deep restorative power; contemplation of its magnificence imparts peace and serenity. The Bible speaks again and again of the goodness and beauty of creation, which is called to glorify God.   Creation Whispers God's Goodness Maybe you’ve experienced this yourself. The breeze blowing through open windows on the first spring day. The crunch of vibrant leaves under your feet in the fall. The feeling of being in the woods, or listening to the sound of the rain. Watching buds burst bravely forth after a long winter. A cloudless blue sky in June. These things all whisper to us of God’s goodness and His presence. The Catechism words it simply and well: The beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator and ought to inspire the respect and submission of man's intellect and will. (CCC 341)   Our Call to be Stewards In Genesis 2:15, it says: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it.” The call to care for and steward our natural world is a Biblical call that stems from this verse in Genesis. God made all things and called it good. Everything in existence praises Him simply by existing. Therefore, we are called to treat the natural world with respect as the handiwork of God the Father. This call is also reflected in the Ten Commandments, the seventh of which is “Thou shall not steal.” Again, the Catechism expounds on this in the following paragraph: The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorce from respect for moral imperatives. Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation. (CCC 2415)   In short, we are commanded to care for nature in a way that respects not only our current generation, but also generations to come. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: The environment is God's gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole. (Caritas in Veritate [Charity in Truth], 2009, no. 48) Practical Steps to Care for the Earth We are obligated to use the earth’s goods responsibly. This big question is... how? Today provides the perfect opportunity to consider our current actions and evaluate where they fall in terms of sustainability. Are there things we could be doing to reduce our impact on the planet, and the burden on future generations? Every person is in a different season with a different capacity, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this. One family might be able to own one car, compost, grow all their own vegetables, and buy all organic clothing. Another family might not have the capacity for any of these things. But we can all assess our own actions and see where we might be able to make some changes that demonstrate “respect for the integrity of creation.” Maybe it’s keeping a reusable coffee mug in your car for your coffee shop run, or switching from paper towels to cloth towels for kitchen clean-up. Maybe you can host a clothing swap instead of shopping for new clothing (the conventional fashion industry has a tremendous impact on the environment). Caring for Creation this Earth Day and Beyond The good news is that no matter your age, stage or season, there is something you can do to “cultivate and care for” the earth, and every tiny step is worthwhile and beneficial. In the words of St. John of Damascus, “the whole earth is a living icon of the face of God.” This Earth Day, and every day, let us live and act like it. [bctt tweet="On Caring for the Earth: Living Earth Day as Catholics #BISblog //" via="no"]

This Saturday, at the Easter Vigil, men, women, and children across the world will be brought into the Catholic Church. People will be baptized and confirmed, they'll receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time, and even marriages will be blessed in the Church. What a night to rejoice with our brothers and sisters in the salvation found in the Resurrected Christ and His Church! Our Blessed is She Sisters Becoming Catholic There are many women in our Blessed is She community who will be among those initiated in the Church this Easter, and we are so thrilled for them! We asked those candidates and catechumens in our community to share a bit about what has drawn them to the Church. Their answers serve as both inspiration and worthy reminders of our own mission as Catholics. Why I'm Becoming Catholic “I’m coming into the Church at the Easter Vigil! I’m becoming Catholic because I’ve been searching for years for the Truth, and I kept (reluctantly) coming back to Catholicism. I was drawn to Mary, especially after I had my son 4 years ago. Right before Lent last year, I decided to pray the Rosary daily and see what happens. Well, I started going to Church the Sunday after last Easter and never stopped. With encouragement from friends, I joined RCIA in the fall, and now I can’t wait until I can receive Communion at Easter!” -Jenn C. “I'm coming into the Church this year because God has led me to it my whole life. It feels like home. I can never get enough of Mass, Adoration, and praying the Rosary. I'm in love with the richness of the Faith.” -Brittany W. “Everything I didnt understand about being a Christian makes sense now. There is so much depth to the Catholic Faith. With every step closer, I feel nothing but complete peace with my life. I've never been so happy, and everyone in my life can see the joy radiating from me.” -Natasha K. “At first, I was converting to Catholicism for marriage purposes. After spending Monday nights in RCIA, I’m converting for not only myself but for my relationship with God.” -Cynthia V. "I wasn’t raised with any particular religion in my life but I believed in God always (my parents were baptized Baptist and have since converted to Catholicism). Fast forward to college where I attended in Rome IT and I became exposed to Catholicism everywhere I went and studied. Fast forward to life after graduation where I met my husband and started a family. My husband is Catholic and we agreed to baptize our children in the Catholic Faith. Last summer, we lost our 3rd baby (baby boy) after five days of life. A month later, while working through my grief and pouring my heart out to God and Mama Mary, I asked my husband if we could do RCIA together in September (he needs to complete his Sacraments) because it is what our Son and God and would want. Plus, I desperately want to see my baby boy again. We enrolled and our lives have drastically changed since starting this journey. God has been working on me and calling me home my whole life. Our small BIS group has been such a blessing to my life and these ladies and the Blessed is She community has educated and supported me in more ways than I can count." -Ashley A. "When I was nine years old and first went to St. Patrick’s in NYC, I wanted to be Catholic. It’s been a long journey and almost 30 years. At first, I went to the Episcopal church. It was the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and a devotion to Mary that pushed me into RCIA." -Kelley A. "It was honestly just a pull, well more of a literal kick in the butt. I was thinking about it for a while (I was baptized Catholic, but I never had any other Sacraments). But I was always terrified to go to Mass because I had a perception of Catholics being a better person than I was at the time. It was the middle of Lent last year and I got this huge push to go to Mass. I asked God to show me a sign, to tell me what to do. Right after that, a very deep urge to go to Mass the next day occurred. It was a couple of weeks before Palm Sunday. The homily was the defining point for me. Then I jumped in full force and I have met the most amazing people I know through Church, and I love them with my entire heart. These first people were the people that validated my path, and I am here now." -Amber H. "I had been attending Mass with my boyfriend for about a year. I enjoyed Mass, but didn't feel compelled to convert and didn't mind missing the Eucharist. But one day, as he went up for communion and I stayed in my seat as usual, I just became overwhelmed with sadness and started crying. I suddenly knew I was missing out on something amazing and decided I would enroll in the next RCIA." -Kristin B. "I was drawn to the Catholic Faith by Jesus in the Eucharist. Communion in the Protestant faith had become so under pronounced and wasn't taught or given the importance Christ gave it. I am anxiously awaiting my First Communion in the Catholic Faith, knowing I have the true Christ Jesus in me." -Elizabeth P. "When I was young, my father led me to believe that Christianity was filled with damnation and hate. I was abused both physically and mentally and subsequently loathed all Christian belief. Once in high school, I was called to the Faith and had a slow journey towards the Catholic Church. Now in college, my supportive best friend called me to learn more about Catholicism and I experienced my very first Latin High Mass. I was instantly drawn to the sacredness, sacrifice, and reverence of the Latin Mass. Since then I have devoted myself to RCIA classes, reading daily Scripture, memorizing prayers, and doing all I can to be a faithful Catholic." -Meghan R. Welcome Home, Sisters! Sisters, we are praying for you on this night and beyond. We are so happy for you. Congratulations! Thanks be to God for the good things He has done and will continue to do in your hearts and lives. Friends, let's celebrate our sisters who are joining the Church! Send them your love and prayers in the comments! [bctt tweet="Why I'm Becoming Catholic #BISblog //" via="no"]

One of the gifts of Catholicism, because of the primacy of the Incarnation, is the importance of the human person. Our Faith acknowledges that we are not just spiritual beings. We have a body, mind, and soul. Each aspect of our being needs to be tended to and cared for. A way to tend to the garden of both our bodies and souls is through reflecting on the beauty of holy artwork. Statues and artwork depicting God, biblical scenes, and lives of the Saints are hallmarks of our Faith. It is meant to lift our senses, our thoughts, and desires to all that is good, true, and beautiful. Good Friday in Art May these images of Christ in His Passion and Death lead you closer to His Merciful Heart this Good Friday. The Agony In The Garden Artist: Giovanni Bellini Location of Artwork: The National Gallery, London Let Us Pray Lord, awaken my soul! Breathe life into me and let me always be fully alive in Your presence. I know I often fail You in the slumber of sin, yet Your mercy and love is unfailing and unchanging. Let my heart be a garden of love for You, a place where You may always rest. “Lord, You may sleep in my boat, I will not wake you.” (Saint Therese of Lisieux, Poem 17) The Taking of Christ Artist: Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio Location of Artwork: National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin Let Us Pray My Lord, may my heart always be faithful to You. For the times I have betrayed You, have mercy on me. For the times I have betrayed Your little ones, have mercy on me. For the times I have betrayed Your Bride, the Church, have mercy on me. For the times I have betrayed my family, have mercy on me. For the times I have betrayed my friends, have mercy on me. For the times I have betrayed those in need, have mercy on me. Jesus I love you, Jesus I trust in Your Merciful Love. “God is greater than our hearts.” (1 John 3:20) Christ Taken Before Caiaphas Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn Location of Artwork: The Cleveland Museum of Art Let Us Pray When we see someone alone or in need, let us remember that when we serve them through our presence and love, we are serving You. “All the Gospels are an exhortation to believe. Jesus’ great question throughout the Gospels is: Do you all believe? Do you individually believe? The Church steps forward and declares to the whole world: ‘I believe!’ And would God not love the Church after that?” (Father Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap.) Peter’s Denial Artist: Carl Bloch Location of Artwork: The Museum of National History, Frederiksborg Let Us Pray When haunted by regret and shame of past sins, deliver us Jesus. Let us begin anew in Your mercy. Let us always live in the present moment, where grace is found. “He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17) Ecce Homo Artist: Antonio Ciseri Location of Artwork: Gallery of Modern Art, Florence Let Us Pray Jesus, You are with me when I am deeply humiliated and You are with me even in the small embarrassments of life. May I always remember this moment of Your Passion when I feel humiliated or embarrassed. May Your silence, Your humility, Your patience, and Your sacrificial love be my strength. “The person who remains silent under criticism gains a great freedom from concern and worry about other people’s opinions. No longer living as a slave to others’ minds, such a person more easily soars into the divine mind.” (Father Thomas Dubay, S.M.) The Mocking of Christ Artist: Fra Angelico Location of Artwork: Wall of Cell 7, Convento di San Marco, Florence Let Us Pray In remembrance and honor of Your scourging, keep my body and actions pure, O Lord. In remembrance and honor of Your crowning with thorns, keep my mind and thoughts, pure O Lord. In remembrance and honor of Your mocking, keep my tongue and words pure, O Lord. “If you are experiencing trials or are sad, behold Him bound to the column, filled with pain, with all His flesh torn in pieces for the great love He bears you; so much suffering, persecuted by some, spit on by others, denied by His friends, abandoned by them, with no one to defend Him, frozen from the cold, left so alone that you can console each other. Let us walk together, Lord. Wherever You go, I will go; whatever You suffer, I will suffer.” (Saint Teresa of Avila)   Christ Carrying the Cross Artist: El Greco Location of Artwork: The Met, 5th Avenue, Gallery 958 Let Us Pray Just as Saint Simon of Cyrene helped You carry Your Cross, may I help others carry theirs. “The everlasting God has in his wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost Heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His Holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the All-Merciful Love of God.” (Saint Francis de Sales)   Christ of Saint John of the Cross (The Crucifixion) Artist: Salvador Dali Location of Artwork: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Let Us Pray Jesus, I love You. May I always have the courage to stand at the foot of Your Cross, and not run and hide in fear and shame. You are my rock, my fortress, and my heart’s desire. “And even if the sins of soul are as dark as night, when the sinner turns to My mercy he gives Me the greatest praise and is the glory of My Passion.” (Saint Faustina, Divine Mercy in my Soul, 378)   The Pieta Artist: William Adolphe Bouguereau Let Us Pray Mother Mary, hold us close as you held your Son. May we always take you into the home of our hearts, just as Jesus asked of His disciple when He spoke His final words on the Cross. Mother Mary, thank you for saying “yes.” Teach me to say “yes” to God’s will for my life. “In the Passion, Mary was united to the redemptive love of Christ. That love, like all forms of authentic love, bore fruit. It was, and remains, generative. And so Mary’s participation in the Passion could be likened to the pains of childbirth. To become the spiritual mother of all Christians she labored and suffered tremendously in spirit. And truly, her sufferings were not in vain. Mary, Our Mother and Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” (Brother Hyacinth Grubb)   [bctt tweet="Good Friday in Art #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]

You might have heard that there are various rites within the Catholic Church, but you might not be sure what exactly that means. In order to more fully understand the origin and celebration of these rites, we asked an active member of our Blessed is She community, Jen, a Byzantine Catholic, to break it down for us. We hope that this Catholic rite Q&A gives you clarity and appreciation for the beautiful diversity of our Faith! A Look at the Different Rites in the Catholic Church What is a rite within the Catholic Church, and why are there different rites? When the Apostles began to spread out to share the Gospel, the way that Christianity developed in each geographical place was influenced by many different factors, including the culture and history of the people becoming Christian. God works through our humanity to build the Church, and that resulted in a wealth of diversity! All of these peoples received the same Faith from the Apostles, but they each have their own spirituality, approach to theology, and liturgy, which led to the development of unique rites. A rite is sort of like a family of churches within the family of the whole Catholic Church. In the early Church, there were five sees based in the most significant cities in the ancient world, each with apostolic origin: Jerusalem was the starting point of them all, followed by Antioch Alexandria Rome, and Constantinople, which was a slightly later addition that grew out of Antioch. The five sees saw further development into more than one distinct rite. Throughout history, the number has fluctuated. The See of Rome also used to have multiple rites, in fact, some of which are still in limited use. Today, there are a total of 24 self-governing sui juris churches that make up the Catholic Church as a whole. These churches fall into the six different rites: Latin, or Roman Rite Byzantine Armenian West Syriac (Maronite and Syro-Malankar) East Syriac (Chaldean and Syro-Malabar) Alexandrian (Coptic and Ethiopian). The Byzantine, Armenian, and Syriac rites all grew out of the See of Antioch. The most common Byzantine Catholic churches in the United States are Byzantine Ruthenian, Melkite (Byzantines originating from the Middle East), Ukrainian, and Romanian. There are a few Russian Catholic and Italo-Albanian parishes or missions. So are all Eastern Catholic rites in line with the Magisterium and in communion with Rome? All Eastern Catholic churches are in communion with the Apostolic See of Rome, and as such also the Pope as he is the Bishop of Rome. The Bishop of Rome is understood as having a certain primacy as first among equals, like the eldest among brothers. Each bishop, however is the primary guardian of the faithful in his church. I'm Roman Catholic. Can I attend the liturgy of an Eastern Catholic rite on Sundays to fulfill my obligation? What should I know before I visit? Absolutely! You can always attend any Catholic church of any rite. And you are always welcome to receive the Eucharist in any Catholic Church as long as you are properly disposed. You can also go to Confession to the priest there if you like. In the Byzantine rite, the priest usually hears confessions standing in front of an Icon of Christ. He will also use a different prayer of absolution. It’s a very beautiful experience! Receiving the Eucharist in an Eastern Rite One thing to be aware of when visiting a for Divine Liturgy is that we use leavened bread for the Eucharist. This symbolizes that the Lord is alive and has risen. The yeast is likened to the soul. It is alive, and because Christ is risen, the East has always seen leavened bread as fitting for the Eucharist. In the majority of Eastern churches the Eucharist is dipped into the chalice, and then given to the faithful from a spoon. Others, like the Melkite Church, will use intinction, where the priest will dip the Eucharist in the chalice and then place it in the mouth of the communicant. The priest might ask your name as you come up, as he says a short prayer that usually includes your name. Otherwise he will say “the handmaiden of God.” You can just go and see what the practice is and follow suit. But if you would feel more comfortable, you can let the priest or someone know ahead of time that you want to receive Communion and aren’t sure what to expect. They’ll be happy to show you! How can I tell the difference between an Eastern Catholic church and an Eastern Orthodox church? Ideally, just the name on the door! It is important to remember that the various particular churches developed their diversity long before they split, and they all came back into communion at different points in history, in different circumstances. Their theology, spirituality, and traditions were not meant to change. However, all of the Eastern churches have experienced some Latinization—the adoption of traditions of the West. Often, unfortunately, at the expense of their own traditions. An Eastern Catholic church (in line with the Pope and the Magisterium) is likely to have more Latinizations than an Eastern Orthodox church (not Catholic/submissive to the Pope). Beauty in Diversity The Church has emphasized the importance of all the churches diversity being restored and protected so that it can as Pope St. John Paul II said, “breathe with both lungs again.” In Orientalem Ecclesiarum the Second Vatican Council declared that: History, tradition, and numerous ecclesiastical institutions manifest luminously how much the universal Church is indebted to the Eastern Churches. All Eastern rite members should know and be convinced that they can and should always preserve their lawful liturgical rites and their established way of life, and that these should not be altered except by way of an appropriate and organic development. Easterners themselves should honor all these things with the greatest fidelity. Besides, they should acquire an ever greater knowledge and a more exact use of them. If they have improperly fallen away from them because of circumstances of time or personage, let them take pains to return to their ancestral ways.   This is a slow process though, and you may see instances of it to varying degrees it still. But we recognize that it is important to move closer to our identity. Not because anything is wrong with the Latin customs that have been adopted in and of themselves, but because the Church does not want us to lose our diversity. In a well-known speech at the second Vatican Council, the Patriarch of the Melkite Catholic Church at the time, Patriarch Maximos IV, spoke of the mission of Eastern Catholics: to ensure that Catholicism remains open to every culture, every spirit, and every form of organization compatible with the unity of faith and love. At the same time, by our example, we must enable the Orthodox Church to recognize that a union with the great Church of the West, with the See of Peter, can be achieved without being compelled to give up Orthodoxy or any of the spiritual treasures of the apostolic and patristic East, which is opened toward the future no less to the past. The Byzantine Catholic Rite What is the history behind the Byzantine Catholic rite, and what are the hallmarks of the Byzantine tradition? How is the Divine Liturgy different from the Mass? The Byzantine Rite is a family of churches that grew out of the See of Constantinople, which grew out of the ancient see of Antioch. Collectively, we are sometimes called “Greek Catholics” as opposed to “Roman Catholics." But we’re not necessarily ethnically Greek, just like Roman Catholics aren’t necessarily Italian. The Divine Liturgy We all primarily celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom as our form of worship. Prayer is very communal in the Byzantine churches, even outside of Divine Liturgy. Prayer in the home is influenced a great deal by the festal cycle and often adapted from Morning and Evening Prayer of the Divine Office. The basic structure of the Divine Liturgy is very similar to the Mass. The first half consists of the proclamation of Scripture, followed by the celebration of the Eucharist. There will be lots of incense! The Divine Liturgy is entirely sung, and we go through a cycle of eight tones, to help everyone in the congregation to participate in singing. There are variations from one church: the eight tones in a Melkite church sounds different than a Ukrainian Catholic Church. Translations vary, and sometimes we commemorate different Saints. But for the most part, the calendars and lectionary are the same and the Divine Liturgy is fundamentally the same in any church of the Byzantine rite. The altar is hidden by an iconostasis, or a wall of some sort, covered with icons of especially important Saints, and an icon of Christ and the Theotokos. The doors, traditionally adorned with the icon of the Annunciation, open throughout the Liturgy, signifying that Heaven is being opened for us. Postures have different meanings from one rite to another. In the Byzantine rite, we typically worship standing. There are specific times that call for kneeling and prostration, which has a more penitential character. But not on Sunday, which is a day of rejoicing in the Resurrection. Rather than genuflection, we make what is called a metany, or a deep bow, signifying conversion, when approaching the altar or icons. What are the differences in the celebration of the Sacraments in Byzantine and Roman traditions? The Sacraments (often called Mysteries in the East) of initiation—Baptism, Chrismation (or Confirmation), and Eucharist—are received all together in the East. The idea that the Eucharist or Chrismation should be postponed until the Sacraments were understood never developed in the East. We recognize that we can never fully understand them. The sacraments, in fact, are what form our understanding of the grace of God. Holy Communion and the grace of Chrismation nurture the divine life placed in us at Baptism and understanding follows from that. There are also married priests in the Byzantine Rite. Priestly celibacy is a discipline, not a doctrine. St. Peter himself was married! The Church, both East and West, has ordained married men to the diaconate and the priesthood at different points from the earliest days, although a man may not later marry after being ordained. For many centuries, however, bishops have always been chosen from among celibate clergy, normally monastics. The families of priests add a wonderful element to community life of a parish, lending stability both to the community and in the priest’s life. He brings his experience of natural fatherhood and being a husband to being a spiritual father and understanding to the experiences of the laity. There is an important place for both in the Church! Do Roman and Byzantine Catholics venerate the same Saints? What about the liturgical calendar? We recognize and venerate the same Saints, but our liturgical calendars often focus on Saints of special significance to our own tradition. We have our own titles and devotions to the Mother of God, for example. Sometimes we commemorate the same Saints but on different days, and sometimes feasts differ in their significance. For example, the feast of Theophany, or Epiphany, is of even more importance to our festal cycle than Christmas (although we love Christmas, too!) In the East, Theophany emphasizes the Baptism of the Lord more, whereas in the West the adoration of the Magi is more prominent. Although the feast does commemorate both events, the emphasis is just different. How can I find an Eastern Catholic church near me? Where can I learn more about the Byzantine rite and other Catholic rites? I would start by just searching on Google for “Eastern Catholic Church near me” and see what pops up! You can also search for a specific tradition by looking up Melkite Catholic, Byzantine Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic, Chaldean, Maronite, etc. The types of Eastern Catholic churches near you will vary quite a bit depending on the part of the country you’re in. And although you can’t receive communion there, don’t be afraid to visit an Orthodox non-Catholic church if you’d like to learn more about it if you don’t have an Eastern Catholic Church nearby. The best way to learn about any church, regardless of rite, is to participate in the liturgy. Then, build a relationship with the community. What we pray teaches us what we believe. Are you an Eastern Catholic? What's your experience like? Are you a Roman Catholic with some follow-up questions about Eastern rites? Feel free to ask in the comments? [bctt tweet="Byzantine Catholic Liturgy + Tradition #BISblog //" via="no"] Written by Jen Rego.

Here’s a little baby shower game for you: let’s list the very worst things about a traditional baby shower. Ready? The relentlessly perky atmosphere? The obligation to purchase a bushel of onesies no multipara needs? Those mortifying traditional baby shower games? Or maybe those are just my hangups. But I’m in my thirties now and have attended more than my fair share of baby showers, not a few of them for me. And that’s why I’ve been so grateful in recent years for the introduction of a mother’s blessing into my life. I can’t claim credit, certainly. At the time our little local tradition got its start, I was laid low with morning sickness and could barely hobble to the first mother’s blessing. But in the last couple years, our chapter of Blessed is She has thrown many such jamborees, and they’re always such an uplifting event for me. What is a Mother's Blessing? In these mother’s blessings, some elements of the baby shower remain: treats are (rightfully) still present, usually assembled by potluck. There’s often tea, and there might or might not be some attempt at decoration. But here the similarities between baby showers and mother’s blessings end. At a mother’s blessing, there are no (or very few gifts) and, mercifully, no games. In stripping down the baby shower to its essentials, a mother’s blessing does away with many of the pressures of a traditional baby shower. Gone are the financial obligation, the baby registry, the suffocating dictatorship of “theme.” The absence of these components can be liberating, making hosting much easier. As a hostess, I never find myself late-night searching Amazon for coral pink scalloped-edge napkins. As a guest, I skip the stress of assembling a gift bag of baby miscellany that is simultaneously cute, useful, and coordinated. While a traditional baby shower can still be a welcome rite of passage for new mothers in need of supplies, abandoning the gift-giving focus makes mother’s blessings a better fit for women who already have all the baby clothes they’ll ever need but could use a little cheering in those endless last weeks of pregnancy. Because here, the main event is prayerful encouragement. What a Mother's Blessing Can Look Like The amount and flavor of formal prayer—usually at the conclusion of the mother’s blessing—varies according to the new mama’s personality, with varieties of prayer ranging from the laying on of hands to a fairly brisk closing prayer crowned with a Hail Mary. I could also see a group Rosary working well in this space, or the conclusion of a novena. The format becomes ultimately less important than the communal spiritual act of focusing with a singleness of attention on the needs of this particular mother and child. As a guest, your job is simply this: loving on the expectant mother, arming her for the hard work of birth, be it unmedicated or surgical. You’re preparing, logistically and spiritually, your pregnant friend for the challenge of adding a new member of the family, whether her family is expanding from three to four or from eight to nine. You’re reminding her—and, if you’re a mother, reminding yourself—of the beauty of motherhood, but also of that eternal truth that something can be good and still be hard. Sharing Wisdom and Stories Balancing a plate on our knees as we cram on a couch, nestled on the floor with a cup of tea, we talk about our own experiences and we draw on the wisdom of ages. Spontaneous intergenerational chatter breaks out. We talk about one woman’s home birth assisted by her husband, how another friend owns the group records for both longest and shortest births. Of course, we complain about pregnancy symptoms! We talk about how our babies got their names, and we guess what this new little one might be called if the mama is tight-lipped. But what makes these gatherings so special is how we move beyond our own limited visions of motherhood. Encouragement from Scripture and the Saints Each woman comes equipped with a Scripture verse or or an encouraging passage. It’s dazzling to see all the sources these women pull from: Sigrid Undset and Dorothy Day, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. Pope John Paul II. One woman often gives Laura Kelly Fanucci’s beautiful Prayers for Birth. For awhile, a statue of St. Gerard embarked on a walkabout from expectant family to expectant family, though he has recently been lost where all good maternity jeans go, in some postpartum shuffle or another. The Sendoff At the end of the mother’s blessing, the mama-of-honor leaves with a book of encouragement and a tummy probably overfull from sweet things. But she also leaves reassured that she is not the first to feel her own aches and uncertainties. She is reminded that she is joined in this pregnancy, in this good, hard fight, by other striving, struggling Catholic mothers. And, better, she's accompanied by all the godly mothers of the Church Triumphant as we celebrate this new little soul. Have you ever attended a Mother's Blessing? What was your experience? Let's share some ideas in the comments below! [bctt tweet="What is a Mother's Blessing? #BISblog //" via="no"] Katherine Grimm Bowers is a Catholic revert and former librarian. She lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, John, and their children, where she homeschools her eldest, bakes a mean loaf of sourdough, and helps run her church’s chapter of Blessed is She. You can find out more about her here.

I appreciate that our nation dedicates the entire month of April to celebrating poetry. Every spring when April rolls around, I relish in reading my favorite poems, most of which are secular. This year, however, I wanted to go a little deeper and explore the works of Catholic poets. I did some reconnaissance and discovered that a lot of Saints were actually poets too, and I found a world of incredible Catholic poetry. Celebrating National Poetry Month with the Saints These five deeply spiritual poems by Catholic saints are refreshing, joyful, sacred, and capture the essence of our Faith. “Do It Anyway” by St. Teresa of Calcutta This is a beautiful poem to read when we are tempted to feel annoyed, bitter, or defeated. I love how St. Teresa advises us to take the high road and to live virtuously regardless of how others might perceive us. People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway. “Let Nothing Disturb You” by St. Teresa of Avila St. Teresa of Avila’s words recall the unconditional comfort that God offers us. Her poem reminds us not to be afraid, for God triumphs over evil. While things of the earthly world shall pass, He endures forever. Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices. “I Won’t Take No for An Answer” by St. Catherine of Siena This short, concise poem by St. Catherine of Siena makes me smile. I absolutely adore the imagery of God opening His arms to dance with us and refusing to take no for an answer. This is the perfect poem to read when needing a reminder that God is always ready to embrace us. “I won’t take no for an answer,” God began to say to me when He opened His arms each night wanting us to dance. “Our Need for Thee” by St. Francis of Assisi This deeply passionate poem by St. Francis examines our need for God. St. Francis reminds us that when we are sweet and kind, when we forgive and love, God draws closer to us and we experience His peace and love. In our ever present need for thee: Beloved, let us know your peace. Let us be your instruments that break every shackle, for do not the caged ones weep. And give us our inheritance of divine love so that we can forgive like you. And let us be wise, so that we do not wed another’s madness and then make them in debt to us for the deep gash their helpless raging lance will cause. Darkness is an unlit wick; it just needs your touch, Beloved, to become a sacred flame. And what sadness in this world could endure if it looked into your eyes? God is like a honeybee. He doesn’t mind me calling Him that; for when you are kind—sweet—He nears, and can draw you into Himself. What is there to understand of each other: if a wand turned the sun into a moon would not the moon mourn the ecstatic effulgence it once was. We are all in mourning for the experience of our essence we knew and now miss. Light is the cure, all else a placebo. Yes, I will console any creature before me that is not laughing or full of passion for their art or life; for laughing and passion— beauty and joy—is our heart’s truth, all else is labor and foreign to the soul. I have stood in His rain and now fill granaries as do the fertile plains; giving is as natural to love as sound from the mouth. There is a courageous dying, it is called effacement. That holy death unfurls our spirit’s wings and allows us to embrace God even as we stand on the earth. “Late Have I Loved You” by St. Augustine of Hippo An excerpt from his Confessions, in this poem St. Augustine expresses his categorical love for God. His urgent, descriptive account of how God emphatically persisted in calling St. Augustine back to Him calls us to remember that God is always seeking to be in communion with us. Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you! Lo, you were within, but I outside, seeking there for you, and upon the shapely things you have made I rushed headlong – I, misshapen. You were with me, but I was not with you. They held me back far from you, those things which would have no being, were they not in you. You called, shouted, broke through my deafness; you flared, blazed, banished my blindness; you lavished your fragrance, I gasped; and now I pant for you; I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst; you touched me, and I burned for your peace. Poems by Saints Become Our Prayers I enjoy reading these Catholic poems, because unlike other poems I like to read, these are prayers, these nourish my soul and bring me back to God. This April may we grow in faith and draw nigh to God as we celebrate the saints and their beautiful poetry. What is your favorite poem by a Saint? [bctt tweet="Celebrating National Poetry Month with the Saints #BISblog //" via="no"] Mercedes Shirts lives in Idaho, land of the potatoes, with her husband, bulldog and cat. When not indulging in a good read and black coffee, she enjoys cooking, running and sipping red wine. You can find more about her here.

An Act of Contrition With a cynical heart, I stand obediently in church, Holding my young son’s hand, In line with other adults whose hearts May or may not be ensconced in the same shell of cynicism as mine. It is late morning, And the blinding sun bears down at a slant through tall clear windows Illuminating the nave, the pews, these many children in a line, And my crusty cynicism. This is not the same church In which I was raised. The church of my childhood had stained glass windows—not clear— Which threw green and crimson and fiery orange Transgressions like lightning bolts bouncing crossways about the church. The altar was draped and muted; our school uniforms were woolen and heavy; The bulbous microphones were intermittently staticky and shrill. The stolid candles were always lit but never, never melted. Unchanging. Immutable. And then there was The Dark Place. That “forgive me Father for I have sinned” closet That upright coffin of terrifying intimidation Within which resided all those Secret selfish sins, That I was powerless to conquer Being merely seven. Merely seven, my young son, Who holds my hand lightly With nearly clean fingernails, Is not riddled with debilitating apprehension Is not dreading the loss of Heaven or the pains of hell. No. He simply awaits his turn in line For his Sacrament of First Reconciliation. This is not the same church In which I was raised. This church has priests who sit openly in public, whispering gently to its penitents, With airy organic cleanliness With golden shafts of late morning light With transparent reconciliation of its own cloaked past. We move up in line. My cynicism, progeny of 35 years of apprehension, Begins to soften, to melt like candle wax. I look around to witness these children Confess their secret sweet sugary sins To priests who merely nod, but never scowl. I took candy from my brother. I disobeyed my father. I got in a fight with my sister. We are second in line. We are first in line. It is his turn. He releases my hand, And without looking back (because he fears nothing!), He steps up onto the altar and takes his seat in the metal chair. Facing the priest, his back to me, He signs himself, dutifully recites, “Bless me Father for I have sinned.” And proceeds to have himself A fine little chat, a fine little chat indeed. I watch his feet, which do not touch the ground, Swinging beneath the metal chair, Utterly unconscious of the miracle of transubstantiation. My son returns to me within minutes (not hours!) And holds up his prize (a bookmark!) And reports he must say three Hail Marys (only three!). And so we kneel together in the church which is not the same church In which I was raised. After our requisite silence, I ask him the question I always dreaded being asked, And which I firmly resolved, with the help of Thy grace, to avoid, (But alas, I am playing the role which was handed down to me, In which I am obligated to test with medieval ruthlessness the purity of my child’s soul) I ask, “Do you feel any different?” My son, my son, my beloved son Of whom I am moderately pleased, most days, Who, like this church, will surely outlive me And whose children may still enter a wholly different church, Shrugs. Pauses. Opens his mouth to speak. Stops. Begins again. Says, “Yeah, I think so.” Pauses. Says, “Like I can start over.” Smiles up at me. Smiles up at me in the utterly clear Utterly unstained Utterly timeless Late morning sun. Oh my God I am heartily sorry For having ever doubted Thee. Eileen McKeagney is a wife, mother, Catholic high school English teacher, daughter, sister, and lifelong writer. She lives in San Juan Capistrano, CA with her husband, who hails from Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and their three children. As a literature teacher, she gets to teach love stories, each and every day. In her spare time, Eileen is a minivan chauffeur for her children, makes a mean jar of homemade preserves in the summertime, and occasionally writes poetry and prose. Read more of her original work and learn more about her here.

  Ever hear bells ringing at your church in the morning, at noon, or in the evening, and wonder why? In a time before smart phones and fitness-tracking watches, the bells served as a call to stop what you were doing and pray the Angelus, a prayer that offers an opportunity to meditate for a few moments midday on Mary’s discipleship and radical obedience to God’s will. The Angelus is yet another beautiful tradition of our Mother Church. It is a simple yet powerful means of dramatically opening your heart up to receive God’s grace. I’ve found this short, daily prayer to be a spiritual game-changer in the fast pace of twenty-first century living. It’s an opportunity to reflect on how I’ve handled the morning and what was asked of me, especially those things that didn’t go according to my plan. Mary understands this self-gift intimately. She responded with grace and courage to God’s unexpected call in her life. I strive to do the same. And so this prayer also encourages me to take on the rest of the day with renewed commitment. I renew my desire to serve God and love all those I interact with from that point forward. Recalling Mary’s “Fiat” Today’s feast of the Annunciation—that is, when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ was conceived in her womb—is prime time to reflect on this centuries-old prayer. It’s this event in Salvation History (also remembered as the first joyful mystery of the Rosary) that we recall in the Angelus. The Angelus is a kind of spin-off from the Liturgy of the Hours. It started as a triple ringing of bells following Compline, or the evening prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, in 1061. In the 1200s, three Hail Marys were added. In the next century, a morning Angelus was introduced. The midday Angelus was added around 1475. While the thrice-daily ringing of the bells remains in many churches today, it’s the noontime recitation of the prayer that’s now most common. The prayer is simple—a few lines of Scripture, three Hail Marys, and a concluding prayer. I’ve found it an essential means of recentering myself on Christ and my vocation midday. I especially love to say it with someone else. The exchange of voices helps me to recall both Mary’s interaction with Gabriel at the Annunciation and her conversation with her cousin Elizabeth at the Visitation (much of which comprises the Hail Mary).     Incorporating the Angelus into Your Day Set a daily reminder for noon in your phone. Bookmark a link to the text of the prayer in your browser (here you go). You might even make the alert tone that of bells. It will help you to recall the significance of this prayer being said all around the world, every day, in every time zone—no matter how close to a church you find yourself. At first, you may need to read the text. But if you are able to say it every day, you may surprise yourself with how quickly the words settle into your heart and mind. While it’s ideal to say the Angelus at noon each day (and 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., if you’re up for it), you can also make a habit of saying it before lunch, whatever time that is. When I worked in an office and noticed it was noon, I paused my work at my computer to pray silently in my heart. Now, I pray it call-and-response style with little voices before my kids dig into their sandwiches around the kitchen table. Wherever you say it, however you say it, the Angelus can serve as a midday check-in or even a mini-retreat. It is a moment away from the day to remember why you do what you do. Two Minutes Can Make a Difference Mary didn’t know what God had planned for her—the heartache, the joy—when Gabriel approached her about becoming the Mother of God. Nor do I know all of what God will ask of me at the start of each day. What I do know is that I want to give my “fiat” with the same trust and faith that she did. I want to live with a wholehearted “yes.” And when life gets busy, as it inevitably seems to, this two-minute prayer helps me stay on track and stay close to Christ. A Note for the Easter Season One more thing: Traditionally, the Angelus isn’t prayed in the Easter season, when it’s swapped for the Regina Caeli, or “Queen of Heaven,” which focuses on Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. Every year, I relearn this prayer and seem to get it memorized just a few days before Pentecost, when we switch back to the Angelus! Is the Angelus a regular part of your daily prayer? If not, how do you think adding it to your conversation with God could change your relationship with Him? [bctt tweet="The Significance of the Angelus #BISblog //" via="no"] Lindsay Schlegel is a daughter of God who seeks to encourage, inspire, and lift up the contemporary woman to be all she was created to be. She's the author of Don't Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God, as well as shorter nonfiction and fiction pieces, both online and in print. With joy, she speaks about recognizing God's voice and living the truth therein. Lindsay lives in New Jersey with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their kids. You can find out more about her here.

In October of 2018, Pope Francis canonized the seven newest Saints in the Church. Among them was Bishop and martyr, St. Oscar Romero, whose first feast day we celebrate today. This day has been anxiously awaited by many, but maybe nowhere more enthusiastically than in Central America where he served as the Archbishop of San Salvador. This appointment feels particularly appropriate paired with Pope Francis’ call for clergy to be “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.” If Oscar Romero is a familiar name to you, you’re likely familiar with his iconic black-framed glasses and his powerful words spoken on behalf of those on the margins. If not, here is a quick glimpse at the man we celebrate today. Either way, let us sit together with the challenge he lays before us: God is not satisfied with appearance. God wants the garment of justice. God wants Christians dressed in love. -Saint Oscar Romero   Romero was and continues to be a figurehead of what the Gospel looks like when it is lived out, particularly in the face of social sin. This speaks to both the beauty and risk that Christians in positions of authority face while taking up the cause of the people they represent. Like all saints, Oscar Romero’s life was a witness to love made manifest by Jesus Christ. Smelling Like the Sheep Oscar Romero was among the most unlikely to be chosen for his assignment as Archbishop of El Salvador. Due to the tumultuous and violent time in the country’s history, his appointment was expected to be a non-event by local government. It was feared to be a non-event by local clergy who had seen the outright abuse of the Salvadoran people and their need for a voice. However, Romero’s heart along with his leadership were transformed by the people whom he shepherded. These people were at the mercy of a corrupt government. Rather than being elected as one who might maintain the status quo in times of political unrest—keeping clear distinct lines between Church and state—Romero became a champion of the poor. In doing so, he invited tremendous controversy in his local community and beyond. When we speak for the poor, please note that we do not take sides with one social class. What we do is invite all social classes, rich and poor, without distinction, saying to everyone let us take seriously the cause of the poor as though it were our own. -Saint Oscar Romero   In the midst of the Salvadoran Civil War, after the attacks and murders of many priests and nuns, Romero had the gumption to call out soldiers who were not living out their Baptismal call by their persecution of the poor. He also called upon the countries who were providing assistance to the party in power. Romero was assassinated while saying Mass on this day in 1980. The Legacy of St. Oscar Romero Today is the first opportunity we have had to celebrate the sainthood of Oscar Romero. Many Saints have long-celebrated histories of celebrations unique to them. But Romero’s feast day is an invitation for reflection on the holy life of this new Saint and to incorporate traditions that fit with his life and values. I can easily think of ways we’ve celebrated familiar feast days. Photos of deceased loved ones on All Saints, green milk on Saint Patrick’s Day, King Cake on Mardi Gras, red, glittery hearts for St. Valentine’s Day. How to Celebrate to Feast of St. Oscar Romero Admittedly I don’t have much practice with imagining ways to commemorate the life of an inspirational figure. But here are a few possibilities that come to mind, following his lead: Reflect honestly: Where do I notice social sin and speak out against it? Where might I? Do I stay with the story beyond the headline? How might I hold those who are being unjustly persecuted in prayer? How can I help them in more tangible ways during Lent and every day? Enjoy empanadas or tamales in celebration with Romero’s native San Salvador. Purchase and brew fair trade coffee or chocolate in reverence for the coffee growers and migrant workers Romero was supporting in his community. They reminded him of the image of God. Learn about the organization and people that grows and harvests one product you use. We Need Romero's Brand of Holiness Romero offers a rare and vital witness to a life that is uncompromising in Gospel values in the life of Church and state. For many, his witness is uncomfortable. It pushes past where we might prefer our comfort zone to stretch. This is exactly why we need him. His faithfulness is remembered today. In a special way, we celebrate his commitment to accompanying—even to death—those whom the world had forgotten and exploited. By contrast, whoever out of love for God gives oneself to the service of others will live, like the grain of wheat that dies, but only apparently…Only in undoing itself does it produce the harvest. -Saint Oscar Romero   In the same way that we depend upon the truth-speakers in our lives that will tell us when we have the proverbial “spinach” in our teeth, or when we have stepped completely (or even partially) out of line, we have a distinct need for Saints that challenge us to step outside of ourselves in faith on behalf of others. These treasures are few and far between. When we find them, we know in our bones the treasure they are. So it is with those not-so-quiet, holy companions who model for us and direct us toward a life of Gospel living. Saint Oscar Romero, pray for us! [bctt tweet="Why We Need St. Oscar Romero #BISblog //" via="no"]

“Angela, be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Bishop Kelleher said to me on that spring day in 1991. “Amen,” I answered. “Peace be with you.” “And also with you.” What a day that was. Can you remember the moment of your Confirmation, sister? Be Sealed I remember that I was wearing a purple and pink floral dress with a corsage that had a white rose. My hair was french-braided down my back and I was wearing real life high-heels for the first time in my almost 14 years. My sponsor, my aunt Teresa, stood behind me with her hand on my shoulder, gently guiding me on my journey of faith. Eighteen years later, I was my husband’s sponsor as he went through RCIA and entered into the fullness of faith in the Catholic Church. Seven years after that, I watched from my place in the choir as a family friend sponsored my oldest son for his Confirmation. And again this spring, I will watch from that same place as my dad sponsors our second son. Confirmation Gift Ideas What a gift it is, friends, to walk with a young person as they complete the Sacraments of Initiation of our Faith. Our community prays for all young people choosing to be Confirmed. May they feel the stirring up of the gifts the Holy Spirit on their special day. Confirmation Gifts for Girls For your book lover, check out Emily Wilson-Hussem’s books I Choose the Sky or Go Bravely. Pink Salt Riot has a variety of necklaces and other jewelry that stylishly display themes and words of faith. Bee Still Design offers Rosary bracelets, medals, and lots of unique and beautiful pieces of art. And for the young woman who is looking to proudly display her faith to the world, Brick House in the City tees (or even a gift card!) are an amazing gift. Of course, in our own Blessed is She Shop, we have all kinds of wonderful gifts! The Catholic Journaling Bible and the Future with Hope tee are just two things that would make excellent Confirmation gifts. For saintly studies, consider the Study Time candle! Another favorite from the BIS Shop are the Miraculous Medal earrings which are gold and dainty and beautiful for all ages! Our stretch wrap rosary bracelet made by ChewsLife is also so lovely. We also have the Encourage Bible Verses. These 73 cards are 5x5 and press printed on 130lb paper. They are hand-lettered and perfect for memorizing Scripture and incorporating it more into their life! To encourage their personal, prayerful reflection, a lined notebook is a great gift. Confirmation Gifts for Boys These stained-glass and cross cufflinks are amazing and will be a reminder of his Confirmation day for years and years to come. With these Choose Your Catholic Saint keychains, you can probably find the medal of the Saint your confirmand chose as his patron! Personalize it further with (or without) his initial. This baseball cap from Just Love Prints embroidered with Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s beloved phrase “Verso l’alto” ("To the heights") is another great option. Perhaps the young man would appreciate the Saint Michael prayer poster hanging in this room to remember and pray this powerful prayer. To help this young man get started in daily prayer, consider gifting Nunc Coepi, our prayer companion for a whole year. An heirloom piece like a watch or a compass engraved with a Bible verse, the date, or the young man’s initials are wonderful ideas for gifts from a parent or sponsor. Gift Ideas for Both Printable Prayers offers an invitation/keepsake for Confirmation for your loved one. Just Love Prints, Sweet Little Ones, and Someday Saints Designs all have beautiful, frame-worthy prints to commemorate the day. Queen of Heaven Gifts makes auto Rosaries for the older confirmandi who will be driving themselves around soon. The book Follow by Katie Prejean McGrady is inspiring and funny as it encourages your teen along their road of faith. Pink Salt Riot creates both a necklace and cufflinks with the Latin words “Totus tuus,” the papal moto of Pope St. John Paul II. Inspirational and beautifully made! Zuver Goods Co. has hand crafted hefty wooden rosary rings. Each rosary is hand finished with a coat of non-toxic shellac to accentuate the beauty of the wood. Comfortable and portable, perfect in their pocket or backpack! Telos Art offers a liturgical calendar on satin paper with a solid wood frame, wonderful for the newly confirmed to be more liturgically aware and invested. Providential Co. offers prints, candles, and prayer cards that are as modern and beautiful as they are faith-centered. Learn how to discern God's will in your life with Ascension Presents speakers Jackie and Bobby Angel, in collaboration with Fr. Mike Schmitz with Pray, Decide, and Don't Worry: Five Steps to Discerning God's Will. May God bless all the young men and women being confirmed this spring! May the Holy Spirit bless them abundantly and be with them always. [bctt tweet="Confirmation Gift Guide #BISblog //" via="no"] This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!