Some nights—and for a few of us, most nights—are restless and sleepless. Whether our lack of sleep is due to anxiety, a crying baby, a sick child, or a reason unknown even to ourselves, we may find ourselves wide awake at night. Over the past two years I have experienced sleepless nights in an intense way. Up most of the night, I am anxious and restless during a time when I should be peaceful and rejuvenated. What Can I Do When I Can’t Sleep? There are a few ways that I have sought help in trying to sleep: Confession Reform Wellness Prayer Turning to the Saints Ceaseless Intercession It is this last way that I would like to share about. The Saints are God’s gift to us. The Saints “do not cease to intercede with the Father for us” and lead us closer to Christ, the source of all grace (see Lumen Gentium 49). They strengthen us in our journey towards our heavenly home, instilling in us the hope of the Resurrection through their life story, witness, and prayer. The more we call upon their intercession, the more we realize how active and effective their friendship is.     Saints to Turn to When You Can't Sleep Here are some Saints to turn to when you cannot sleep at night. These Saints, each in their own unique way, encountered God during the night. They teach us how to endure nightly trials, sufferings, and wakefulness through their trust and intimacy with the Creator of nights and sleep, God Himself. The next time you are unable to sleep, ask the intercession of one (or all!) of these Saints. Saint Joseph God spoke to Saint Joseph at night. God instructed Joseph to “get up...” and act in his dreams (see Matthew 2:13). Is God asking us to do something that we have been putting off? Is God instructing us at night to do something? Do we allow ourselves to have enough space and silence during the day to hear God’s will? Or is the only space and silence that we are giving God to speak happening at night? Let us ask Saint Joseph to quiet our hearts to hear God’s will for us and to act if He is calling us to do something... something that will keep us up at night until we do His will. Saint John Bosco Another dreamer was Saint John Bosco. There is a book entitled Forty Dreams of Saint John Bosco that shares his dreams and how he spiritually interpreted them. In one dream, Saint John Bosco saw tumultuous waters, filled with battling ships. Yet there was one strong and mighty ship. On the water appeared two columns with images atop of each: one of Our Lady, Help of Christians; and on the other column, Jesus in the Eucharist. With all its might and strength, the large ship steered itself towards the two columns and finally anchored itself to them. That is when peace comes. If we are anxious, tired, frustrated, or scared when we are awake at night, let us turn to Our Lady and Jesus in the Eucharist, make a spiritual communion, and ask them to anchor us in the reality of their love for us. Saint Mary Magdalene Awaken early to greet the Resurrected Christ, Saint Mary Magdalene is the nightly watch-woman. “Upon my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves…” (Song of Solomon 3:1). While others slept, the apostle to the Apostles was awake and ready to receive the grace of encountering Christ in the quiet early hours. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati This Blessed in Heaven would spend entire nights in Adoration. One night, while kneeling and adoring Jesus in the Eucharist, Frassati became completely consumed in prayer. A witness saw that hot wax from the candles he was kneeling beside began dripping on him and Frassati didn’t even notice. He didn’t even flinch. When we are awake at night, let our first thought be of Jesus, who asked His disciple in His deepest agony, “Could you not watch one hour?” (Mark 14:37). Saint Faustina Kowalska Saint Faustina would spend hours up at night undergoing temptation and spiritual attacks. Let us repeat her words, “Jesus, I trust in You” each night. Let us trust in Him that He is with us, that He loves us, that He is stronger than any temptation we encounter. And even if our bodies cannot rest, let us rest in that love He has for us. Who are your favorite Saints to turn to when you can't sleep? Let's get our own litany going!   [bctt tweet="Saints to Turn to When You Can't Sleep #BISblog //" via="no"] MARY SHOWS US THE WAY Just as a mother might pass on a beloved family tradition to her daughters, Mary shares the recipe for growing in virtue with us. This study on Mary's Virtues will breathe new life into your everyday, beginning right in Mary's home. GET HOME STUDY

In His goodness, God has turned the shame I carried all my life into His fame. He has made me into a survivor with a purpose: to let men and women everywhere know that no matter what they have gone through, healing is available and possible to all God’s children. I can finally say that I am thankful for my scars. Of course, it wasn’t always this way. It took me years to understand and realize how shame was hijacking my happiness and stealing my joy. Jesus invites you to bring the things you are most ashamed of into His healing light and His love. He gave this power to His priests through His Church in the Sacrament of Confession (see John 20:23). Jesus is longing to show you His merciful love, especially in those dark places where shame has taken root. As a trauma survivor, the biggest problem I see with this type of toxic shame is that most of us don’t know that it doesn’t come from God. Shame comes from the evil one who hates all God’s children and would do just about anything to keep us away from God and from experiencing His love and mercy. Guilt Versus Shame There is also a great misunderstanding that needs to be clarified. That is the belief that guilt and shame are the same. The biggest difference is that guilt needs to be forgiven and shame needs to be healed. Guilt is inspired by God through a well-formed conscience. Guilt is remorse for having committed some offense or wrong, real or imagined. Guilt is able to separate the act from the person. We shouldn't feel any less of a person for sinning, for we know that we are imperfect. We are weak and in need of God’s grace to avoid sin. The second, which is so often confused with guilt, is shame. Shame finds its roots in Satan, for he was the one who first tempted our first parents to sin and to this day he continues to shame us every time we sin. Shame tells us we are unforgivable and unlovable. Shame also tells us that everyone would be ashamed of us if they knew of our deep wounds from sin. Shame makes us hide not only from God but also from our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Destruction Caused by Shame Shame is a powerful, sometimes debilitating emotion that can cause us to withdraw from others. From my own experience, shame is what kept me from talking about the abuse I suffered as a little girl and finding the help I so desperately needed. Shame is also what led me to believe that God didn’t love me and that I would never find happiness. This belief led me to think that I didn’t deserve to be happy. Finally, in my late-20s, I began to realize how I was sabotaging my own happiness by being drawn to people who would hurt me. Most of us have been deeply scarred by shame. Some more than others. Shame can also lead to some devastating self-destructive behavior, such as self-pity, self-hatred, lack of self-confidence, and so on. This toxic shame becomes the lies we carry around with us everywhere we go, and it creeps into every relationship we have with other people. Consequently, these lies become chains. These chains can then separate us from the love of Christ. Christ Can Heal His Children The good news is that, with God’s grace, we can learn how to let go of this type of toxic shame. Our God is a God of restoration and He desires to show us how to replace these lies of shame with His truth and mercy. All we need to do is sincerely turn to Him in prayer. How do we get these truths to go from our heads to our hearts? As with everything, we look to Scripture for our answer. The Apostle Paul talks a lot about the power of prayer. In Ephesians 1:17, he says that he prays “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.” The spirit of wisdom is one that gives us insight. The gift of revelation will help you see like never before—the truth will be unveiled. By praying that God would give us the gift of wisdom and revelation, we are essentially asking God that all His truth about who He is and who we are in relation to Him will move from our heads and into our hearts. Be patient with yourself, since this will most likely take time and practice. Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of Christ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. // Romans 8:38-39 Our wounds and past sins do not separate us from the love God the Father has for us. But, if we allow it, our past can become an obstacle in our love for Him. Once you welcome God into those deep wounds and ask Him to remove the toxic shame you have been carrying, you will then begin to feel free to accept the love and healing He has for you. At this point shame will no longer hold you captive. I don’t pretend to know what type of shame you are carrying. One thing I know for sure is that you matter. Your story matters. Your wounds matter. God wants to come into those places in your heart that shame has taken root and uproot those nasty lies caused by shame. It is helpful to remember that sometimes our hearts are broken by sinning against Our Lord, ourselves, and others. In His endless mercy and through the Sacrament of Confession, the good Lord brings forgiveness to our broken hearts. Open your hearts wide and be ready to receive it! Dear Lord, teach me how to let go of any toxic shame I have been holding on to. Help me to trust in your endless love and mercy. Amen!   [bctt tweet="The Problem with Toxic Shame #BISblog //" via="no"]

While hanging on the Cross and obtaining our salvation, our gracious Lord made the effort to turn our attention toward His Mother. In addition, He instructed her to behold His disciples as her own sons and daughters. While He is her first born, all of mankind is her second born. Christ commanded the fostering of this relationship from the Cross because there is a tie within it to the graces of salvation. As always, Mary was obedient to her Son. Viewing all of humanity as her beloved children, the Blessed Virgin is a perfect mother. She loves, supports, and encourages her children, respecting their free will, but also beckoning them towards all that is good, true, and beautiful: namely, her Son. Approved Marian Apparitions throughout the World Throughout Church history, numerous reports of Mary’s appearance under miraculous circumstances have been made. These claims are never taken lightly by the Church and are scrutinized under heavy investigation. Only twenty-six have been given approval by Church hierarchy, and a distinct pattern can be seen in each of the appearances. Mary always lovingly assures us of her love and care for us, and beckons us towards repentance and greater communion with Jesus. Often she requests the building of a church to be built upon that location, while also imploring an increase in prayer, fasting, and sacrifice. No matter the time or place of the apparition, Mary’s message is universal—a truth made abundantly more clear by the fact that she has appeared to people throughout the centuries and all around the globe! In Africa In all of Africa, only one apparition has been granted approval by the Holy See; the appearance of Our Lady of Kibeho who referred to herself as “Mother of the Word.” Our Lady of Kibeho On November 28th, 1981, Our Lady appeared to sixteen year old Alphonsine Mumureke outside the Catholic high school she attended in Kibeho, Rwanda. With great faith, Alphonsine immediately knew the heavenly identity of the beautiful woman and listened attentively. Mary’s message was a request for repentance and conversion in order to avoid a coming war, but no one believed Alphonsine’s claims. As a sub-par student from a murky region with ties to the practice of magic, many believed it an attempt to garnish personal attention. Humbly, Alphonsine requested that Our Lady would appear to other students in order to make her message more widely accepted. Mary responded affirmatively. On January 12th, 1982, thirteen year old Nathalie Mukamazimpaka witnessed an apparition of Mary in the same vicinity as Alphonsine. To her, Mary echoed the call for redemptive suffering and unceasing prayer. Then, on March 2nd, 1982, Marie Claire Mukangango–a fellow student who had been staunchly unbelieving–was also granted an apparition. Through her, Mary called for more repentance and emphasized devotion to the Rosary and the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Our Lady of Kibeho appeared to the three girls multiple times, with Alphonsine’s visions being the most numerous and lasting until November 28th, 1989. All three girls reported seeing visions of the impending destruction and violence that could be prevented by mass repentance. In 1994, Rwanda fell into civil war and nearly a million people lost their lives to the Rwandian Genocide. After a thorough investigation, Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro approved the apparitions on June 29th, 2001. In Asia Like Africa, Asia has only one approved Marian apparition. Of all the apparitions supported by the bishops, Our Lady of Akita is the only one in which Mary appears in a non-traditional way. Our Lady of Akita In 1973, over the course of four months, Our Lady appeared three times to a middle-aged Buddhist convert who was completing her novitiate with the Institute of the Handmaids of the Holy Eucharist. Though completely deaf, Sister Agnes Sasagawa heard the Virgin Mary speak and was healed. Mary instructed that the inclusion of the word, “truly” be added to a Eucharistic prayer that had been penned by the current bishop. She emphasized obedience and the practice of praying for the Pope, bishops and priests. She warned of a great chastisement and reminded of the Second Coming. A unique aspect to this apparition is that Mary spoke to Sister Agnes via a wooden statue of herself. This statue reportedly bled, wept (101 times over the course of eight years), and perspired in congruence with her messages. The sculptor also declared that the expression on Mary’s face post-apparition was not the same as the one he had originally fashioned. After eleven years of investigation, the apparition of Our Lady of Akita was approved by Most Revered John Shojiro Ito, Bishop of Niigata on April 22nd, 1984.     In Europe Of all the continents, Europe has the most approved apparitions by both local bishops and the Holy See. Eighteen in total, this is likely due to proximity. Since these apparitions take place over the course of many centuries, and the ease of modern travel and communication has not always been available, it is logical to see how these countries were able to more easily communicate with the Vatican than those scattered throughout the globe. Thus, some of the most popular Marian devotions have arisen from these countries (Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, etc.). Due to their widespread popularity, lesser known apparitions from the continent are highlighted below. Our Lady of the Golden Heart At the end of November 1932, Our Lady appeared various times to two sets of siblings in Beauraing, Belgium asking for the conversion of sinners. Over the course of thirty-five days, siblings Fernande, Gilberte, and Albert Voisin, along with their friends Andree and Gilberte Degeimbre reported that she, dressed all in white and claiming to be the Immaculate Conception, appeared to them a total of thirty-three times. In one of her last visits to the children, she revealed to them her heart, which was golden in color. Sixteen years later, Andre Marie Charue, Bishop of Namur, finished the evaluation process and officially approved the apparition on July 2nd, 1949. Our Lady of Siluva The first widely-known apparition in Europe took place in this small Lithuanian village. As a result of the Protestant Reformation, the people of Siluva slowly succumbed to Calvinist belief and abandoned their Catholic Faith. Weeping profusely and holding her infant Son, Mary appeared to four children who were playing and watching over their family flocks. Donned in white and blue, her brown hair loose and flowing, she said nothing to the children. She only turned to them in her great sorrow. The children were chastised by some for their tale, but their persistence and unwillingness to abandon their story eventually won over the people. The entire village returned to their Catholic Faith. This apparition was approved by Pope Pius VI on Aug 17th, 1775 (a couple of centuries later). Our Lady of Lezajsk In 1578, a Polish woodcutter, Thomas Michalek, received two visions of the Blessed Virgin while he was working in the forest. During her first visit, Our Lady requested a church be built at the site to honor her Son and promised to pour out graces to those who visited faithfully. Mary returned a second time because Thomas told no one of her first visit. At her persistence, Thomas obeyed. A little over a century later, the apparition was officially approved by both the local bishop (Henryk Firlej, Bishop of Przemysl on July 2nd, 1724) and the Vatican (Pope Benedict XIV on September 8th, 1752). In North America Our Lady of Guadalupe One of the most popular Marian apparitions took place in Guadalupe, Mexico when Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego on Mount Tepeyacac dressed as an Aztec princess. She requested the construction of a church at the site, which was granted after her provision of a miracle. One of the most important aspects of this apparition was the immense healing it brought to the region. The brutality of the Spanish Conquistadors had left deep wounds among the natives. Most rejected the Catholic religion which had been forced upon them. However, after this apparition in which she appeared dressed as one of them, millions of people converted with their whole hearts. Over the course of ten years, nine million people in total became Catholic which transformed the entire culture of Mexico. Twenty-four years after the appearance, Archbishop Alonso de Montúfar gave his official approval of this miraculous appearance of Mary. Our Lady of Good Help Just four years after the appearance of the Immaculate Conception in Lourdes, France, Our Lady appeared to a Belgium immigrant to the United States in October of 1859 a total of three times. Referring to herself as “Queen of Heaven,” she instructed Adele Brise to evangelize and catechize the children in the surrounding areas of (modern day) Champion, Wisconsin—still somewhat unsettled—that they would know what was necessary for their own salvation. Though the task seemed daunting, Mary assured Adele, “Go and fear nothing. I will help you.” Adele obeyed, traveling on foot a radius of fifty miles regularly to accomplish this task. Her father built a chapel over the site, which remains as the national shrine. This apparition was recently granted episcopal approval on December 8th, 2010 by Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin. In Central America The only approved Marian apparition took place in Nicaragua in 1980. Our Lady of Cuapa Forty years ago, Our Lady illuminated light from a statue as a sacristan, Bernardo Martinez, worked alone within his parish. This experience moved him to personal conversion as he examined his conscience. He made a public apology for divisions he had caused among the people in his small village of 5,000. Mary then appeared to Bernardo a handful of times after this. First, while fishing and praying the Rosary, Bernardo witnessed flashes of lightning before the Blessed Virgin appeared on a white cloud, affirming that she was the mother of Jesus. A second time, while dreaming, he saw different groups of people in stages of holiness, either in Heaven or moving towards it, all of whom were holding rosaries. Another time, Our Lady appeared as a seven-year-old child. At each appearance, her message was the same. She desired the prayerful, deliberate repetition of the Rosary in order to bring about personal conversion and stop destruction within the world. The fourth time she appeared, she wept because of the staunch, unmoved hearts of the people who would not believe Bernardo. She told him that she would appear no more, but to be assured that she is always with us and to never be troubled. Only two years later this apparition was approved by Bishop Pablo Antonio Vega Mantilla of Juigalpa, as well as Bishop Bosco M. Vivas Robelo, Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Managua. In South America Our Lady of Good Success Venerable Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres witnessed multiple heavenly visitors and was a recipient of the stigmata in addition to her reception of Our Lady of Good Success. Over the course of forty years, Our Lady appeared to Mother Mariana a total of four times. On her first visit (February 2nd, 1594), she appeared with comfort and assurance for the abbess who was imploring heavenly assistance for the state of her convent, as well as the world. The Blessed Virgin spoke of being the Queen of Victories, her eloquence planting trust in heart, and insisted she would see the sisters through every difficulty they faced. Throughout the decades, she prophesied of many things to come, including the declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, local events in Ecuador like the election and martyrdom of a truly Christian president, and a decline of faith among the people around the world including priests and religious. Often she appeared holding the infant Jesus whom she would place in Mother Mariana’s arms to adore. This apparition was approved on February 2nd, 1611 by Bishop Salvador de Riber before the final appearance occurred on December 8th, 1634. Reconciler of People and Nations On the feast of the Annunciation in 1976, Our Lady appeared to Maria Esperanza, a mother of seven, in Betania, Venezuela. The property had been prayerfully purchased by Maria and her family as she had been promised by God that great things would come to pass on the land. In this visit, Our Lady revealed her desire to be known as “Reconciler of People and Nations,” that people would be drawn to conversion and reconciliation to God through her. The site immediately became a place of devotion, and numerous people testified to miraculous things occurring (heavenly singing, throngs of flowers springing forth, and movements of the sun to name a few). However, Maria remained the only visionary. Then, on that same date in 1984, a group apparition occurred in which over 108 people clearly saw the Virgin Mary at the site. After three years of interviews and investigation, Bishop Pio Bello Ricardo approved the apparitions on November 21st, 1987. The final apparition occurred in 1990. Our Lady of the Rosary Of all the Marian Apparitions, there is only one-approved apparition that is ongoing and taking place to this day. Beginning on September 25th, 1983 in San Nicolas, Argentina, Our Lady appeared to Gladys Quiroga de Motta, a middle-aged woman with almost no formal education, thousands of times. Dressed in blue and holding the infant Jesus, Our Lady called for the conversion of sinners and the prayerful recitation of the Rosary. She often gave Gladys Scripture passages with which to pray, and warned of impending world dangers should conversion be rejected. She implored the faithful to remember that these are “Advent times,” and the Second Coming is fast approaching. Though ongoing, the bishops serving over the decades could not deny the fruits born of these supposed apparitions. After thorough investigation, Bishop Hector Cardelli of San Nicolas declared that the apparitions are “supernatural” and “worthy of belief” in 2016. From “Eva” to “Ave” // Mother of All the Living In the original Hebrew, Adam names Woman, “Eva” as she is the “mother of all the living.” In many ways our faith assures us that Mary is “New Eve,” the supernatural mother of all the living. These apparitions of Our Lady around the globe and throughout the centuries are no exception. Her message—no matter the time or place—is the same for all her children: personal conversion. Though sin came into the world through Eva, Mary’s love and faithfulness allows for great transformation and conversion. With the sin of “Eva” amended, we find eternal life and sing forever, “Ave” in gratitude to Our Redeemer and His Mother. What are some of your favorite approved Marian apparitions from around the world? Let us know in the comments below!   [bctt tweet="Marian Apparitions from Around the World #BISblog //" via="no"] MARY SHOWS US THE WAY Just as a mother might pass on a beloved family tradition to her daughters, Mary shares the recipe for growing in virtue with us. This study on Mary's Virtues will breathe new life into your everyday, beginning right in Mary's home. GET HOME STUDY

As the academic year comes to a close, it can feel like we are on the cusp of something new, long after we find ourselves counting down the days until summer vacation. New seasons, opportunities, jobs, relationships, and responsibilities call us into scenarios we may have never imagined, or perhaps, have dreamt about for years. Catholic Prayers for New Beginnings Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum of new beginnings, I pray that these words of blessing during times of change, breathe life into your season. A Prayer for a New Season Dear Heavenly Father, please be with me, I pray, as I move on from the old to the new. The joy, memories, and hardships of the last season of my life are behind me. Help me to leave them there, Lord, and not carry them with me into this new season. Help me to let go of all hurts, anger, and grudges, and see all people as the blessing they are, Your children. Thank You, Lord, for this opportunity to begin this new adventure with You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. (source) Blessing for a New Home O heavenly Father, Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to bless and sanctify this house and all who dwell therein and everything else in it, and do Thou vouchsafe to fill it with all good things; grant to them, O Lord, the abundance of heavenly blessings and from the richness of the earth every substance necessary for life, and finally direct their desires to the fruits of Thy mercy. At our entrance, therefore, deign to bless and sanctify this house as Thou didst deign to bless the house of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; and may the angels of Thy light, dwelling within the walk of this house, protect it and those who dwell therein. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Translated by Most Reverend J. H. Schlarman Bishop of Peoria) Prayer for a New Job Blessed St. Joseph, your task as a guardian of the Redeemer and a protector of Virgin Mary made you the head of the Holy Family and the administrator of its material possessions. Today, I am also looking for work, and I am calling on you, as a powerful mediator who, with the help of your spouse, defend me before your Son, to help me find a way to live off the fruits of my work. Teach me how to be active in my search, open to new opportunities, honest in my relations, reasonable in my demands, determined in fulfilling all of my obligations. St. Joseph of Good Hope, pray for me, protect me, guide me and keep my hopes up. Amen. (source) Novena for New Friendship Opening Prayer // Holy God, Mighty God, Benevolent Creator and Lover of All Life, I praise You and I Glorify You! Your beloved Son has called me “friend!” As I quietly come to You to contemplate the great gift of His gracious friendship to me, please calm my mind and still my body. Bring me to a deep awareness, O My Father in Heaven, of Your presence to me right here, right now . . . . above me, below me, behind me, before me, around me, beside me, within me. I lovingly thank You for Your infinite goodness to me, in particularly today in the gifts of Jesus’s friendship with me, and what an example He has given to me for my friendship with others. I thank you for the examples the Saints have given me in the ways and blessings of holy friendship. I ask You to grant me the gift of holy friendships in my life, with individuals who will walk faithfully side by side and arm in arm with me, back to You, as we travel our pilgrim journeys on this earth together. Amen. (source) Morning Prayer // Prayer for a New Day Gracious God, Thank you for the gift of today. Refresh me. Invite me to discover your presence In each person that I meet And every event that I encounter. Teach me when to speak and when to listen When to ponder and when to share. In moments of challenge and decision Attune my heart to the whisperings of your Wisdom. As I undertake ordinary and unnoticed tasks, Gift me with simple joy. When my day goes well, may I rejoice. When it grows difficult, surprise me with New possibilities. When life is overwhelming, call me to Sabbath moments To restore your Peace and Harmony. May my living today reveal your Goodness. (source) Prayer for a Newborn/Newly Adopted Baby God, our Creator, cherish this child. Jesus, our Savior; protect him/her. Holy Spirit, our comforter, strengthen him/her. or: Source of all blessings, protector of infants, look with favor on this child, N. Hold him/her gently in your hands. When he/she is reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, bring him/her into the Church, there to share in your kingdom and with us to bless your name forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen The parents trace the sign of the cross on the child's forehead. N., may the Lord Jesus, who loved children, bless you and keep you in his love, now and forever. R/. Amen (source) Pope Francis’ Springtime Prayer for Farmers Eternal Father, maker of heaven and earth, we bless you and give you glory. Bless this seed, and make it fruitful. Look upon our work this season, and grant that the seeds we plant will produce plentiful crops, providing work and food for many. In your love, give us favorable weather throughout this growing season. Make us truly grateful for all our gifts, and willing to share our goods and talents with others, especially those without adequate food. All praise and glory are yours, Almighty Father, through your son Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. What season do you find yourself beginning at this time? What fruit might the Lord be cultivating in you?   [bctt tweet="Catholic Prayers for New Beginnings #BISblog //" via="no"]

My husband and I were only four months into our marriage when we suffered our first miscarriage. We had so many hopes and so much excitement. After one week of joy, the bleeding began. As I navigated this brand new season of grief in my life–one that involved death in my own body–I clung to the words a priest-friend sent me when he heard the news of our loss. He wrote, “You are a mother… the tiny life is with God now and will forever call you ‘mother.’” These words held me, as I longed to hold my child. From Now On, Always a Mother Although my baby was no longer alive, the gift of motherhood which had been given to me was not taken away. Instead, my new, motherly heart remained. My body and mind also testified to this truth. So much so that, on the one year anniversary, I began to grieve subconsciously! I had not yet realized that the day of this first loss had been carved in my memory. My body knew it was time to grieve even without me having to reach for my calendar. Mothers do not forget. We remember the losses, the milestones, the little things. This is why, often, Mother’s Day can be filled both with joys and with sorrows. Because we both mother and we grieve. My First Mother’s Day In the months after this first miscarriage, Mother’s Day crept around. I remember fearing this day and wishing we could just skip it all together. A dear friend, who also knew the pain of pregnancy loss, sent my husband a monetary gift. She asked that he buy me flowers on her behalf for Mother’s Day. I had no idea about this beautiful, thoughtful gesture until the day I was dreading finally came. Then, in waltzed my husband with two gigantic bouquets of flowers, one bunch from him and one from my friend. We danced and we rejoiced as he recognized me as a mother; the mother of our unborn baby now with Jesus. I was expecting a day full of pain and grief. But instead, my heart was turned upwards to think of Heaven and so I was in turn filled with joy and gratitude. The reality of our circumstance and the suffering of miscarriage could not change what had already come into existence. The soul of our baby continues to exist even after death. Truly, therefore, I was still a mother. I will always be the mother of these two souls whom I pray to one day meet in Heaven when I also meet Him face to face, and also His Mother. For many of us, Mother’s Day is not a “cut and dry” happy day of bliss or solely one of sorrow. It might even look differently each year–one happier than the next or some filled with more sorrow than anticipated.     The Heart of Mary Perhaps it would do us good, sisters, to see that our Mother’s Day–and our identity as mothers– is more like Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart: covered both with flowers and a sword. There is beauty, there is gratitude, there is love overflowing from our motherly hearts. But there is also profound grief. This cannot be done away with; rather, we must learn to embrace it. The grief is, in fact, a sign that we have loved. [bctt tweet="There is beauty and love overflowing from our motherly hearts. But there is also profound grief. This cannot be done away with; rather, we must learn to embrace it. The grief is, in fact, a sign that we have loved. #BISblog //" via="no"] Whether a mother has lost her child through miscarriage, still-birth, a horrible illness in the early years of life, an accident in adolescence, through a violent crime or death in the stillness of the night, a sword has pierced her heart and she can never be the same. This does not mean that she will never know profound joy again. It means that her joys will taste sweeter because the grief and suffering have made way for a more attuned heart, a more refined sight. And she will see that life is not made unbearable by the loved ones we have lost and now grieve for. But instead, our lives are made all the more full and beautiful because we have made space for others and have grown to love in a way that is stronger than death (see Song of Solomon 8:6). We love our children and death cannot stop our love. Our lives are turned upside down, yes, but from the other side, we gain new vision and a new heart–one more like Hers. She was the perfect mother who did not love her Son until the Cross but loved Him all the way through death and into the Resurrection. She never stopped loving. How Can I Celebrate Mother’s Day? As we gather with our families or simply celebrate at home with our spouse, take a moment this Mother’s Day to give thanks. Remember that even if the day may bring heartache or difficult memories, it is because of one reason: you were entrusted with a life; one that, from the moment of its creation, will no longer cease to exist even after death. Recognizing the magnitude of this gift allows us to bow in awe of the Lord’s goodness, even in our grief. I invite you, sister, if your Mother’s Day is also marred in its beauty, to turn to Our Lady, especially on this day. Allow her Immaculate Heart to console you. Take time to pray a Rosary or make a shorter prayer of devotion to her Sorrows. Lastly, if there is a woman in your life whom you know also struggles on Mother’s Day because of her own story of grief, perhaps you may go out of your way to pay her a holy visit, bring her some flowers, send her a sweet gift, or simply write her a message. Remind her that she is still a mother, despite her loss. Her grief is the evidence that she has loved and still does. How will you celebrate this Mother’s Day together with our Mother Mary?   [bctt tweet="To Mother and to Grieve #BISblog //" via="no"] MARY SHOWS US THE WAY Just as a mother might pass on a beloved family tradition to her daughters, Mary shares the recipe for growing in virtue with us. This study on Mary's Virtues will breathe new life into your everyday, beginning right in Mary's home. GET HOME STUDY

Stress is a normal part of life. It can be difficult to manage it, but thankfully there are many verses from the Bible that offer guidance on how to deal with stress and related issues. Scripture Verses to Pray When You're Stressed You might not associate stress with the Bible, but the Word actually contains plenty of examples of people dealing with it. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” // Exodus 14:14 This Bible verse tells us that even when things seem difficult, God is on our side and will help us through whatever challenges come our way. “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” //Psalm 55:22 When we have stressors weighing us down, it can seem like everything is falling apart around us. This Scripture verse reminds us that God is always there to help us and that we can put our trust in Him. “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” //Psalm 27:1 This verse reminds us that no matter what stressors come into our lives, God will always be with us. We can find strength in Him during difficult times. “Be still, and know that I am God.” //Psalm 46:11 This verse is about learning how to find peace in the midst of stress. When we are feeling overwhelmed, it can be helpful to take a step back and just breathe. This verse reminds us that God is always with us and that we can find solace in Him. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” //Matthew 11:28-30 This verse is about Jesus offering us rest. When we are stressed out, it can be difficult to find peace. This verse reminds us that Jesus is there for us and offers us the peace that we need. “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” //Matthew 6:34 This verse tells us not to stress about tomorrow, because worrying will not help anything. We should focus on today instead of getting stressed out over the future. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” //John 14:27 In this verse, John is telling us that Jesus is our peace. When stressors are weighing us down, we can find calmness in knowing that God gives us His own peace of mind and serenity to get through whatever challenges come our way. “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” //Romans 8:32 This verse reminds us that God loves and cares for His children. We can put our stress in perspective, knowing that whatever happens to us, we are always loved by Him. “Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” //Philippians 4:6 This Bible verse tells us that instead of worrying over what could happen or fearing the future, it's better just to pray about issues as they come up because praying helps relieve stress. Struggling with Stress Stress can be a debilitating feeling that keeps us from being our best selves. When stress becomes overwhelming, these Bible verses (and others) can help you find peace and serenity again. With the right perspective on stress through praying or seeking out God, we may be able to make stress less of an issue for ourselves. It’s worth noting that, for some, stress can lead to unhealthy addictions and substance abuse. Both a strong faith and professional treatment can help you heal. Remembering that God is always with us can be a tremendous source of comfort and hope. What's your favorite Scripture verse to pray when you're stressed?   Heidi Bitsoli has been a content writer with Sunshine Behavioral Health since 2019, where she researches and writes articles, guides, and blog posts on mental health and addiction. Prior to that, she wrote extensively on health, medicine, business, and human interest topics for a variety of clients. Her writings have appeared in numerous university publications, magazines, newspapers, and websites. She has a degree in English from Lake Superior State University in northern Michigan. A lifelong lover of learning, she enjoys researching and writing about the complexities of mental health.
   HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

Coffee and conversation: both blessings to behold. Together, they can create community. I recall such good conversations over coffee in college: with my favorite English professor, with my sister and dear friend (scones included, of course!), and with our Bible study group. There’s something about gathering for a warm cuppa that creates warm conversation. Crucial Conversations My favorite coffee-and-conversation memory is with my grandpa. He loved coffee, too. We would leisurely chat about current events, history tidbits, and family lore, one sip at a time. It wasn’t just grabbing a cup of coffee together. It was cultivating meaningful memories. How important it is to take time for good conversation with family, friends, and co-workers alike, especially in our current times. We should take time to check in with colleagues amid hectic deadlines or text or call a friend to chat. We should have that blessed conversation with a loved one who needs some quality time, discussing ancestral history and other interesting topics of mutual interest. That time is precious, for you will uncover knowledge about the other person—and yourself—and maybe even gain greater understanding of family dynamics and heirlooms alike. Presence and Prioritizing Relationships As Saint Francis de Sales put it: To take the air, to go for a stroll, to enjoy a friendly chat, … are such honest diversions that the only thing needed to utilize them well is simple prudence, which gives to all things their rank, time, place and measure. I think what this eminent Saint and Doctor of the Church means is that “a friendly chat” should be enjoyed because of the company it includes. Prudence aids us in discerning who most needs that time of conversation on any given day, time, and place. Perhaps some need all three, as “The Gentleman Saint” noted: fresh air, a stroll, and a good chat. Pray that you can know who that is and respond accordingly. Good conversation may seem like a simple thing but it is truly a necessary part of Christian life. Faith and fellowship go hand in hand. Through speech, we can help others work out a problem or what is causing them to worry or focus on what brings them joy... and everything in between. Cultivating Consistent Chats Practically, how can we add more chats into a life, with or without coffee? Set a time and place. Have a favorite coffee shop? Text a friend and meet. Need to meal plan? Invite your sister who needs to do so, too, and plan together. Have to get your walk in? Call a companion and set out. In need of more family time? Schedule a Sunday dinner for a good meal and, most of all, conversation. Bring a Bible or book or quote of the day. Delve into Scripture while you enjoy your favorite cold brew, latte, or mocha with friends, neighbors, or church group. Or talk about a good read. What speaks to you and where you all are in your life circumstances? What Saint quote inspires you of late? Insights will abound as the conversation flows. Discern what to discuss. What is a topic this person needs to discuss? Pray about it beforehand. Is it a fun diversion, like paint colors or decorating ideas or the latest must-try recipe or must-see show or movie? Or it is something more serious: heartfelt advice on a subject of concern? Sometimes it could and should mean praying together. Also, think of questions you’d like to ask. Maybe you’ve always wanted to know the story behind cherished religious art in your grandparents’ home. Why do they love it? Maybe it’s why you love it, too. Is there a story about a relative that is worthy of retelling? Could the other person offer a new perspective or needed advice to you? Delve deep and you will be blessed. Most of all, focus on the company. As Pope Saint John Paul II put it in his “Letter to Women”: women acknowledge the person, because they see persons with their hearts. Whether you are chatting over coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, or walking and talking out on your favorite jaunt, or at your kitchen table enjoying a homemade meal or treat, whether with friends or family, the persons before you are of supreme importance. God’s daughters or sons are in front of you and need your time and attention at that moment. That knowledge transforms a simple chat into something truly blessed. What's your favorite way to cultivate conversation and community? What challenges have you faced in your efforts to do so?   Amy Smith is the associate editor of the National Catholic Register, a service of EWTN, and the author of The Plans God Has for You: Hopeful Lessons for Young Women. Amy spends her days drinking coffee while editing features; she likes to write about everything from hope and Saints (her favorites are Thérèse and Gianna) to Jane Austen. You can find out more about her here.
   [bctt tweet="Go Ahead, Take the Time for Talking #BISblog //" via="no"]

Have you ever heard of a rule of life? It’s a rhythm that sets the tone and pace of your days to keep your heart and calendar aligned with your priorities. Without a plan I’ve found it’s difficult to keep the “one thing” the main thing (see Luke 10:22). I can so easily get swept away by busyness (or boredom) and fail to do the things that both mean the most to me and make for a beautiful life. If you, too, desire more fruitful days and a more peaceful mind, let me introduce you to the genius (and gorgeous) little book that helped me to make a rule and follow its rhythm all year long. Why Praying + Planning is Better than Just Planning I used to be a person that made lists and scrawled notes haphazardly: in the Notes app in my phone, my prayer journal, scraps of paper, and text messages to myself (yes, really). I knew I needed to organize my thoughts and life, but simply getting them down wasn’t enough. I needed a single place to design my schedule, make to-do lists, and keep myself accountable to the things the Lord was asking me to do. You see, it wasn’t only my work and domestic duties that needed organization, but my spiritual life, too. Enter the Blessed is She liturgical planner to solve all of my scattered ways. This year, a good and holy priest friend recommended that I make a desert day every month, so I turned to my planner to mark off one Saturday a month. With the date set (in pen!), I’ve been able to commit to going into the desert–or, in my case, a Poor Clare monastery–to spend the day with Jesus in silence and the Blessed Sacrament. Similarly, for the past few years I attempted to go to Confession once a week. But without any planning or preparation, it ended up being every couple of weeks at best. Not anymore. Every Friday, I schedule in receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation right after daily Mass. Not only have I been able to make a plan for my prayer life, the planner itself has become a part of my prayer life. Because in addition to discerning and jotting down my daily and monthly commitments, I am inspired by the Scripture verses and Saint quotes on every page and the prayer prompt each month allows me to move from my head to my heart. [elementor-template id="678606"] He Thirsts for You // The 2022-2023 Catholic Planner This year’s Blessed is She liturgical planner is really an expression of my heart’s devotion. Every year, we pray and ask the Lord His desires, His hopes for Blessed is She–and for me. At a revival night in Milwaukee last June, the Lord spoke a life-changing grace into my heart about water. A deep and living word that fueled my prayer for months. I suddenly became aware of the stream of water flowing through the story of salvation, from Genesis to Revelation. Water was everywhere! And water communicated the overflowing healing love and mercy of God and quenched the deepest desires of my seemingly insatiable heart. The profoundly beautiful image of water flowing from the temple in Ezekiel 47 captured my imagination in prayer and from it, the RISE retreat was birthed. That Living Water became the inspiration for and understanding of the Spirit’s movement in and through Blessed is She. As I brought my own thirst to Jesus in prayer, I discovered the depths of His thirst for me, for all of us. From the Cross, Jesus cried out, “I thirst” and in that desperate plea He was calling out for the love of every single human soul, of your soul. Hence, the name of this year’s planner: He Thirsts for You. It is my hope that every hand-selected Scripture, every wise word from one of our Saintly brothers and sisters would saturate the soil of your heart and nourish even the hardest or most barren places. That you would spend time with Jesus every month sharing this deep thirst within with Him, and satisfy His eternal thirst for you. Don’t simply use this planner to schedule your days, pray with this planner to change your life. A Size for Every Scenario We’ve designed the original big, versatile mini, and stylish perfect-bound planner to fit any lifestyle, but the heart of each remains the same–to help you to encounter the Living Water and satisfy the thirst of the One Who made you and saves you. LITURGICAL PLANNERS Our Liturgical Planners are based on the Litany of Humility. Enter into prayer every day alongside this beautiful Litany. Order your days in His peace. GET YOUR PLANNER

I tossed and turned in bed, feeling awfully discouraged and a bit numb. Intellectually, I knew the Lord was there, but my heart told me differently. He seemed woefully distant and my heart felt completely alone–especially here in the dark of night. Yet instead of ignoring or simply wallowing in the feeling as I had done a thousand times before, I directed it to Him. “Lord, where are you?” my heart called dejectedly. No earth-shattering answer immediately came to me, no booming voice rang through the night; but as I fought against insomnia, I became aware of a song floating through my mind. It was a hymn from my youth–a rather annoying hymn, I thought irritably. “I will bless the Lord Who gives me counsel / Who even at night instructs my heart.” The lyrics broke through my mood and struck a chord. Who even at night is right here. The Lord was listening. And He was telling me–specifically, in a way He knew I’d recognize–that He was right here with me. Closer than my own breath. Are We Really Alone? In my experience, believing we are alone is the most convincing lie that Satan likes to tell, and fear is the biggest way he tries to trap us and keep us from growing in relationship with God. We fear facing our wounds, memories, sin, and shame. We fear discerning a decision or making the wrong decision. We think we are the only one who have not connected deeply with a faith community, the only one who struggles with prayer, the only one who feels angry at or forgotten by the Lord, or the only one who can’t seem to hear God’s voice. My grace-filled moment of encounter with the Lord that one night, along with many other small moments, have become irrefutable evidence against these lies. These graces have continually revealed God’s relentless pursuit of me as His beloved–even in moments I don’t necessarily feel it or believe it. Nothing has clarified and reinforced this absolute truth more intimately than the 8 weeks I spent journeying through The Well Mentorship Program in August of 2020 with some dear friends from the Blessed is She team. Since then, I have had the privilege of helping guide more than 80 women along the same journey of encounter to discover how fervently and personally God is pursuing their own hearts. Through the Well, I’ve watched countless women experience healing and freedom from these same lies and fears as they are exposed to God’s light. I’ve witnessed women’s hearts and souls gain new spiritual sight through undeniable, personal experiences of God’s lasting truth and particular love for them. It has been the most incredible gift to my heart to not only experience this freedom for myself, but watch other women discover the same–and it’s a gift I cannot help but desire for every single woman in the entire world. What is The Well? The Well is an 8-week online program dedicated to leading you through an intentional, personalized encounter with the Living God. The Well helps to dismantle your misconceptions about God, prayer, and your own identity and worth–rebuilding a firm foundation of real intimacy, personal connection in prayer, and authentic identity. This happens in several ways through: the guidance of your mentor intentional community the wisdom of the Saints the Catechism and Church documents, and your own experience in the weekly Prayer Practices. The Well is not just another self-help program; it’s truly about transformational intimacy + identity with the Lord! Who is the Well for? The Well Mentorship is for any woman age 18+ who desires to grow in relationship with God. The Holy Spirit knits together each small group with divine wisdom and detail. Hundreds of women of all ages, stages, and vocations have participated in The Well, made lifelong friends, and had their lives completely transformed! You can read some of their incredible testimonies below. What’s the Format Like? When you sign up for your particular date and time option, you’ll first get a confirmation email. Once your section of ten women is full, your facilitator will send you a welcome email with a schedule, session Zoom link, and calendar link to sign up for your 30-minute one-on-one mentorship call with your facilitator! More specifics: There are 8 online sessions total, 1 per week (you might take a short break if there’s a holiday!). Live sessions are on Zoom, last 1 hour and 45 minutes, and are recorded for individual use. You’ll receive a special workbook to store up your takeaways and refer back to after The Well. Sessions include small group sharing, mentor feedback, Scripture time, teaching, and guided prayer. There’s a Prayer Practice every week to help you personally experience what you’ve learned. You’ll have access to a private online group to connect with your small group throughout the week, plus a prayer partner as an extra layer of community! Who are the Facilitators? Your facilitators are women of deep prayer and discernment with gifts of guidance and mentorship. With God’s grace, we do our best every day to really practice what we preach, and help you discern what God thinks is best for you, not just what we think is best! Beth Davis is the creator and mastermind of The Well Mentorship! She speaks, writes, and leads retreats about Jesus, and is especially passionate about teaching women how to develop an intimate relationship with the Lord. She has over 15 years of experience guiding and mentoring women in youth ministry and as the Director of Ministry Advancement for Blessed is She. Claire Dwyer has a deep love of learning about the Catholic Faith, and she loves to share that wealth of knowledge with other women to help transform their lives through practical teaching and profound insights. She is a devoted wife and mom of six, celebrated author of This Present Paradise, and editor for spiritualdirection.com. Megan Hjelmstad has a huge heart for helping women discover and live out of their authentic identity as God’s beloved. She’s a wife, mom, writer, and speaker who loves to connect on a heart level with women. Megan has spent the past 15 years leading, guiding, and mentoring souls as an Army officer, women’s ministry leader, and Blessed is She team member. What Women Say About the Well Not only have I had my prayer life transformed through The Well, but countless other women have found deeper relationship with the Lord and more authentic community, too. Here's what they have to say. "The Well was just what I needed to begin again. It gave me structure while encouraging intimate conversations with our Lord. I loved the wisdom/advice Beth (and the Holy Spirit) would offer during the small group and learned so much from hearing her responses to the other women in our group. It was a beautiful experience and I would highly recommend it." // "Honestly, I'm convinced I'll be unpacking the graces for years to come. In a particular way my heart was especially docile, just in a very exhausted, vulnerable place, and so much of the Well spoke right into that. I do also think that the steady encouragement, the accountability of a group, and teachings that are clear and convicted were indispensable." // "Where to begin?! Besides learning a lot about our faith I literally felt bonds of pain hurt fear loosen via the prayer and practice. I cried a lot ! But as I learned from Megan these were tears of consolation. The truth that God loves me overwhelms me in such a way I don’t want to ever stray away. It was an incredible journey for me." // "I loved the authentic community that formed, and the graces from God our leader nudged us to acknowledge and accept. Wherever I was day-to-day, I felt like I could bring my authentic self to this group of women without judgement and be received with love and compassion." Ready to dive in with the Lord? We can't wait to pray with you.   [bctt tweet="Meet Him at the Well #BISblog //" via="no"]

There are certain biblical characters who, without great detail and explanation of their lives, have captivated me through the written Word. One such holy man is Ananias. There are a few different Ananias’s mentioned throughout Scripture of varying degrees of holiness. I'm referring to the Ananias of Acts 9. Who Was Ananias? Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus during the time of the persecution of Saul. Around the same time of Saul’s dramatic conversion experience, the Lord came to Ananias and informed him that he must seek out Saul and visit the Christian persecutor so that Ananias may give him back his sight. The Lord told Ananias that He told Saul in a dream that Ananias would do so. Ananias, after asking a few clarifying questions of God, did as God commanded him and restored Saul’s sight. Ananias of Damascus is only mentioned in this one chapter. And yet I believe there are volumes to be learned from his example. I believe that Ananias demonstrates the perfect model of anyone in ministry and service, and I believe he does this through his: docility, courage, and humility. Docility Ananias was open and receptive to the promptings of God in his life. When he heard the Lord calling him, Ananias responded with the genuine and surrendering response made so famous by Samuel: “Here I am, Lord.” Only someone who is docile to the Holy Spirit is able to discern the Lord’s call in this busy life and able to respond with such promptness and openness. Within ministry, I believe that docility and openness to the Lord is one of the greatest virtues we can foster. After all, our goal in ministry is to bring others to Jesus and not to ourselves. If we are not listening to His Word, letting Him speak through us, and giving the Spirit the space to work, then we are not truly bringing Jesus to other people. Courage Ananias was undoubtedly courageous. Earlier in the book of Acts, we learn that Saul was well-known for brutally persecuting the Christians of his time. At the beginning of Acts 9 we read that the very reason that Saul was traveling to Damascus was to do just that: persecute the Christians of the land. Saul was infamous among the Christians as someone to avoid. And yet, it is to this man—a man who could have easily killed Ananias—that the Lord called Ananias to minister. Ananias expressed his fear to the Lord in going to see Saul: Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem… // Acts 9:13 And yet, when the Lord asked him to do this thing, Ananias did it. He trusted in the Lord, knowing that He would never leave him or let him down. To do this would require great courage on the part of Ananias. In ministry, we are going to be called to minister to those who disagree with us, who shame us, who make a bad name of us, and who even hurt us. But like Ananias, we can trust that where the Lord leads He also goes with. He will not leave us alone in the frightening and dangerous situations, but can bring great good out of it. We need only be courageous and trust Him. Humility Ananias is only mentioned in this one chapter of Acts of the Apostles. He performs the miracle of giving Saul back his sight. One miracle in one man’s life. And yet it begs the question: if Ananias had not been open to the Lord’s will, would we be missing a Saint that is as influential to all of Christianity as that of the great Saint Paul? Ananias’s service and renown might not seem that great, but without him, where would we be? Similarly, we never know who it is that we might encounter in our ministry. Maybe it is not our calling to become a world-famous preacher or evangelist (it most likely isn’t). But we never know what our small actions might, in turn, put in to action. If we can be humble enough to do our small parts well, then we can trust the Lord to turn everything in to His plan from there. As Mother Theresa so aptly put it, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Learning Lowly Leadership Ananias is an underrated figure in the Bible. But I think we can all agree that, upon closer inspection, he has a lot to teach us. Without people like him all along the way, we wouldn’t be where we are now. I pray that you embrace an Ananias spirit in your ministry, and even in your daily life. You might only end up being mentioned once or twice, and you might never know who you make an impact on. That’s ok. Answer the call anyway. “Here I am, Lord.”   Gracie Muraski lives as a missionary in the beautiful Colorado mountains with her husband. She is passionate about writing, spreading the love of God, building friendships, and anything involving pasta. 
   [bctt tweet="An Ananias Spirit (+ Why Ministry Needs It) #BISblog //" via="no"]

We are called to steward our lives well, and regardless of the personality God gave us, that involves some level of planning. As we grow and mature into adulthood and in the Christian life, we will be entrusted with more responsibility. At Blessed is She, we set out to make your prayerful planning smoother and, well, more prayerful. A Planner for Your Season In that vein, for the last several years, we have offered two different planner layouts to fit whatever your needs are in this season of your life. So which one is better for you right now? Which one will be the most useful tool in the prayerful stewarding of your schedule? We called in two BIS writers on two different planner "teams" to share which planner layout they use and why it works with their particular personality and needs. Bonnie Engstrom shares her passion for the big planner, and Gina Fensterer explains why the mini makes most sense for her life. So pretend you're sitting with your girlfriends over a cup of coffee and they're telling you all about what helps their life function... Team Big // Bonnie I love my BIS planner. I use the academic year layout and I’m on team big. I tried the mini planner one year and my life was a mess. There may come a time when the Mini meets my needs better than the big, but I think that time is many years away and so, for at least the next decade, I’ll be team big. I know teachers who use the BIS big academic planner for their lesson planning. As a college student, I would have loved this planner for keeping track of my meetings, due dates, and extra curriculars. But I am the mom of many, so I’ll tell you how I use my BIS big and why it works so well for me. Academic Layout First, a note about the academic layout. I have eight kids attending two different schools. My husband teaches and coaches for a third school. Everyone in my home lives according to the academic year so it just makes sense for my planner to be on the same schedule. And when I think about the crazy busyness of the end of the calendar year, I shudder to imagine having to begin a new planner. No, thank you! But I love setting up a new planner each summer. I pull out my set of pens and stickers (like the planner stickers from Sweet Little Ones and the BIS shop) and I grab the previous year’s planner. I go through my new big planner, adding birthdays, marking favorite feast days, and noting special anniversaries. In the Notes section in the back, I copy the dates of my godchildren’s birthdays, Baptism dates, and First Communions. I add doodles of fireworks for the 4th of July and pink and purple candles for each Sunday of Advent. It’s nothing special, but it’s fun and colorful and I like it. The Size Now, I love this planner because of it’s size. It’s not bulky, so I can slip it into my diaper bag or a tote bag; but it’s large enough that I have a spot for all my lists and schedules. There are ten people in my family and each of us has an assigned color in the planner: purple for my eldest, bright blue for one son, green for another, gold for my husband, and navy for me. Black ink is used for whole family events. (I keep my pens in a pouch like this, which is always on the front cover of my planner.) As dentist appointments, track meets, and playdates are scheduled I write them down in the roomy squares of the monthly layouts. The same page offers a note section on the far right and there I jot down extra information, like fasting requirements for lab work, details for School Spirit Week, and the claim information for that time I accidentally swiped a car in the gym parking lot. But wait! There’s more! The Monthly Section Each Sunday afternoon I sit down with my planner, pens, church bulletin, school and classroom newsletters, the upcoming forecast, and the sports scheduling app. Referencing the monthly layout and every other resource, I write out our daily schedule for the week. I meal plan, write To-Do lists, and complete the grocery list which grew throughout the previous week. None of it has to live in my head because there is room for all of it—a place for everything and everything can be in its place, written in color-coded ink of course. It’s glorious! Monthly Notes Section A favorite feature is that each week has a full page dedicated to notes. I use these for planning parties, taking notes during ministry or IEP meetings, and jotting notes during phone calls. I always use the page for the week the event will occur so it’s always easy to find. I never have to wonder where the invite and shopping lists for my kid’s birthday party are, because they are written together in the week of his birthday. And of course, I am able to do all of this —organize my life and the lives and schedules of nine whole other people—because the Blessed is She big planner has enough room for all of it. Team Mini // Gina I was in college with my dream on-campus job, sitting down with my new boss, when I became a planner user. It’s not because I’m a “type-A” personality who knew I’d fail miserably if I didn’t once and for all figure out a system to manage my time and commitments. No. My boss told me, “Gina, you’ll start using a planner to stay on top of your courses or you can’t work for me.” That was a gut-punch reality check. So I used that planner, loved every day working that college job, graduated, and promptly ditched my planner habit. I share all that because even a non-planner can appreciate a well-done planner and make it work in her life! If you are like me, a more “go-with-the-flow” type of person, you may just find that you love the Blessed is She mini planner, too. More Than a Planner for Me This planner is made with the Catholic woman in mind. This is “not your grandmother’s free church calendar” that we all bring home from our parishes during Advent. This is a beautifully-designed planner with more than feast days listed through the year. Need a refresher on the mysteries of the Rosary? Those are here, as well as all the prayers in the Rosary (having the Apostles’ Creed nearby is always handy, since I forever mix it up with the Nicene Creed). Need an examination of conscience? Also here. I bring my mini along to Confession (because it’s easily portable!), pray with the examination, and then write down the date of my confession so I can keep track. No more “Bless me Father… it has been… um… I don’t remember but less than five years?” Love to pray novenas but you forget when they begin? This planner has a sweet list of novena start dates to help you remember them. I never knew I would appreciate those things in a planner until I used it. The BIS planner keeps me coming back to it over and over because it works to integrate my daily life tasks with my spiritual life. And now I’m once again a regular planner user, and still a “go-with-the-flow” kind of gal. No Time Slots + Free Spaces That’s why I love the mini, too. Since it doesn’t have time slots on the daily pages, I don’t feel like I’m scheduling all my daily to-dos in any given hour. I’m a stay-at-home homeschooling mom, and my family runs on a routine rather than schedule. Check-the-Box Having the “check the box” list works perfectly for me, so I can jot down appointments and their times, as well as more minor things on my “want to get this done” list so I can track them. The Goals Pages Keeps Me Focused I think I love the mini planner most because not only is it portable (it truly does slip easily into a tote bag or diaper bag), it helps me to keep my life focused on the big picture with the Lord’s will in mind. Each month begins with a page to pray with a theme, to bring any concerns to the Lord before I start adding that month’s to-dos. It also includes my favorite page of all: the goals for faith, family, and fun and a section to record prayer intentions. These pages–the prayer and goals–keep me focused on the most important things with Christ at the center of all my days. What Team are YOU on? So which layout works best for you and your life? Team Big? Team Mini? Or are you on Team Mini with the gorgeous perfect bound binding? Let us know in the comments below! Happy praying + planning! LITURGICAL PLANNERS Our Liturgical Planners are based on the Litany of Humility. Enter into prayer every day alongside this beautiful Litany. Order your days in His peace. GET YOUR PLANNER For Your Prayer Life Deepen your daily prayer life with a planner built around the Liturgical Year. Shop the Catholic Liturgical Planner →

The Easter story hinges on one detail: the Resurrection. Without resurrection, Easter is business as usual... yesterday’s news. The story that the God of the Universe was writing through Jesus’ life and death matters because of what came next: Life from death. It remains an unfathomable entrance of God into our human story, accompanied by an invitation that we, too, might overcome death and enter into eternity with God. Without the Resurrection, there is no Easter joy. Without the Resurrection, Good Friday is a cruel joke. Without the Resurrection, our lives lived in Christ cease to offer hope. But we do have hope. We Have This Hope The entire Easter season is a celebration of HOPE precisely because of the Resurrection. I often find myself resonating deeply with Mary Magdalene and the women at the tomb who went to anoint Jesus’ Body for burial. So convinced were they that the story had ended, there was no imagining a different ending. It felt too much to hope in the somber days following the death of their Friend to imagine there would be more to come. Maybe you find/you have found yourself there, too. And yet. Scripture is fairly littered with foreshadowing and blatant reminders that Jesus indeed will suffer, but will not remain in the place of suffering. Over and again, prophets, disciples, and evangelists echo the seemingly impossible words: He will rise. Scripture Verses about Jesus’ Resurrection He will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. // Isaiah 25:8 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. // Matthew 12:40 He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him. // Mark 16:6 For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. // 1 Thessalonians 4:16 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. // Mark 9:9-10 No wonder Jesus repeated this message over and over. His followers were not ready to grasp the sacrifice and mind-bending promise of eternal life offered from—a reality most of us are still grappling with if we are honest. And yet God’s Heart remains steadfast and patient with our questions, doubts, and shaky confidences. So much so that He offers further invitation to those who would follow Him.     Scripture Verses about the Resurrection of God's People If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. // Romans 6:8-10 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” // John 11:25-26 But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise! Awake and sing, you who lie in the dust! For your dew is a dew of light, and you cause the land of shades to give birth. // Isaiah 26:19 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. // 1 Corinthians 15:21-23 For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. // Romans 6:5 Where Do You Need Resurrection? As much as the Resurrection took on a look no one expected, it’s a reality we need to sit with regularly. God’s ways are perfect and so far above our own. It is important to be reminded that God is a God of infinite Love while remaining a God of mystery. Whether our walk with Christ has been long or short, that second detail is bound to catch up with us. I know that I need this reminder more than annually, but the Easter season is as good a time for me to examine any boxes I may have drawn around the Lord. Have you found yourself in unexpected circumstances, at rock bottom, on top of your game? Have you made faith a convenience? Wherever you find yourself spiritually this season, ask yourself this: What circumstance have I assured myself that God cannot enter into and restore? And then pay close attention to what happens next! [bctt tweet="Scripture Verses about Resurrection #BISblog //" via="no"]

My own earthly father (whom I love very much) was, out of his own brokenness, ill-equipped to be a spiritual father. Growing up, my dad claimed he didn’t believe in organized religion. Sadly, I have no recollection of him ever going to church or praying with us. That was my mom’s job. Years ago, as I was growing in my faith and in my relationship with God the Father, I realized how that had left me with a large father-wound that needed healing. Our experiences with our earthly fathers have a major impact in the way we see our heavenly Father. For some people, having a father-wound tends to make them shy away from getting close to our heavenly Father. Fortunately for me, it made me realize just how much I needed to find my identity in the One Who created me and loves me more than I can fathom. Discovering My Identity I have been blessed to have experienced sweet intimacy with Our Lord in my own heart through my friendship with Him. By having a real relationship with Him, I have come to discover one of the most important things I could ever learn: my identity lies in being His precious daughter. I am a beloved daughter of a Father Who willed me into existence, loves me through and through, and even knows how many strands of hair are on my head. My identity lies in a God Who knew me before He knitted me together in my mother’s womb. That is one amazing Father! The Ministerial Priesthood By the nature of their ordination, every Catholic priest becomes a father. In His goodness, Our Lord instituted the Eucharist as His true Body and Blood and the Sacrament of Holy Orders all at the same time: during His Last Supper with His disciples. During the Last Supper, Jesus offered himself as the Passover sacrifice, the sacrificial Lamb, and taught that every ordained priest is to follow the same sacrifice in the exact same way. Priests are God’s Gift to Us Many are called, few are chosen. What a grace and blessing must be to be called to be one of His priests. Without our priests, we would not be able to participate in the celebration of the Holy Mass and receive Our Lord in the Eucharist. We would not have a way to receive another beautiful gift of our faith: the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When we walk into the confessional, we are walking to talk to Jesus about our sins. This is where we come when we know we have fallen short and fallen into the temptation of sin. Through the priest, we ask Our Lord to have mercy on us and to forgive us. I love what Saint Isidore of Seville had to say about Confession: Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly, do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Of course, in our human weakness, we sometimes keep committing the same sins over and over again. God knew this about us, and that is precisely why He instituted the Sacrament of Confession. In His endless mercy and through the Sacrament of Confession, the good Lord brings forgiveness to our broken hearts, hearts that have been broken by sinning against Him, ourselves, and others. Holy Friendships We moved from Florida to my husband’s hometown of Bismarck, ND in 2008. There, for the first time in my life, I began having the privilege of experiencing amazing and holy friendships with our priests. My husband has a good childhood friend who became a priest, and we had the gift of having him and many other priests in and out of our home. Breaking bread with them, laughing, and witnessing the beauty of a faithfully-lived vocation (while also learning that they as human) was truly a blessing. Once, we had our friend and pastor, Father Guthrie, over for dinner. We enjoyed a nice meal together with great conversation and, as I walked away from the table to clear the dishes, I began to hear the two of them go on and on about their favorite movie quotes. It became clear that both had watched The Godfather many times. They were unabashedly trying to outdo one another as to who could recite more quotes from this iconic movie. I remember thinking how cool it was to watch my husband and our priest being just like two regular guys. Serving Our Priests As I started volunteering in different capacities at our parish, I had the opportunity to join a handful of women in our diocese who started a ministry which concentrated on caring for our priests' daily needs, including cooking for them twice a week. We would take turns cooking for different priests. Watching the pure joy and appreciation in their faces as they got together with other brother priests to enjoy a nice homemade meal was truly beautiful. I began to realize that these holy men were indispensable and a big reason why I love my Catholic Faith. They show us and model to us what it is to live a life of sacrificial love. They give up everything to serve Our Lord in the most unselfish and profound way. The Beauty of Sacrificial Love In a world that is becoming more and more selfish and unwilling to understand the true meaning of sacrificial love, I can see why a vocation to the priesthood will always be inviting to so many faithful Catholic young men who are growing tired of this world’s empty promises. Since moving to the Charlotte, NC area, my family and I now have the blessing of having Fr. John Putnam as our pastor. As a leader of a large parish that now has over 5,000 families, he has proven to be an amazing spiritual leader. Fr. Putnam was the one chosen by God to be used as His instrument to completely heal me from the terrible trauma of the sexual abuse I suffered as a little girl. He walked me through an amazing healing process that has completely changed my life. Thank God for our holy priests, who in their wisdom know how to minister to us when we need it most. Fr. Putnam has played the part of the supportive father, but most importantly, he understands that his first and most important job is to teach and guide his children towards God. I feel the Lord has used him to help prune me and best prepare me for a life of discipleship. I’m blessed beyond belief that God would be so kind as to give me such an amazing spiritual father. Dear Lord, bless and protect all priests. Provide them with all the graces necessary to remain faithful and steadfast in their vocation with fidelity, love and zeal. Amen.   [bctt tweet="My Spiritual Father, My Priest #BISblog //" via="no"]

I’m a big fan of Spiderman and all the Spiderman movies. I love the action, the characters, the morals, and the dialogue. One part of the movies that has stuck with me recently is a line from the newest MJ: “expect disappointment, and you’ll never be disappointed.” It’s fitting and proper to her moody character. And there is an enormous part of me that completely agrees with her sentiment. A Lack of Hope I believe what MJ is referring to is hope, or maybe the lack there of. There are many situations we encounter in life in which we find ourselves hoping for a certain outcome. That hoped for outcome can be anything from an offer of a job, the health of a sick loved-one, a passing grade on a test, or fill-in-the-blank with whatever it is that you are hoping for right now. It is natural, even when we have surrendered something to God, to still hope for a certain outcome. And yet, why do we sometimes not let ourselves actually hope for what we want? Why do we stifle the hope and lie by saying we will be equally fine with either outcome? Why do we constantly brace ourselves for the worst? Why do we expect disappointment? I think it’s because we’ve bought in to the lie that if we expect disappointment, and we are in turn disappointed, we think the disappointment won’t hurt as bad. We’ve started thinking like MJ: “expect disappointment, and you’ll never be disappointed.” But where does hope fit in to this equation? What Hope Is Hope is a theological virtue. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that Hope is when we “place our trust in Christ’s promises and rely not on our own strength” (CCC 1817). Hope is obviously something important, something to strive for. I think we would all agree that we want to trust in Christ’s promises and rely not on our own strength. We also really don’t want to get hurt. And we will go to great lengths to protect ourselves from hurt and disappointment, especially in the emotional realm. I tend to not let myself actually hope for what I want and what I desire out of a fear of being more hurt when it doesn’t happen because I had gotten my hopes up. But is being disappointed actually bad? Is it a bad thing to feel that pain and that hurt? Or have we just taught ourselves that our emotions are bad and something to shut down? Maybe the truth is that our emotions are good—gifts from God—even when they can hurt. Maybe we are denying our heart’s their full capacity to feel and embrace the fullness of life in our attempt to avoid pain. Our Hope is in SomeONE At the end of the day, our hope ought not to ultimately be in someTHING, but in SomeONE. Our hope is in Jesus Christ. If our hope is completely in Jesus, then no matter what outcomes may happen within our certain circumstances, we cannot truly be brought to despair. We might be disappointed, and that might hurt, but Jesus remains, and we can trust that He has a better plan than what we envisioned. We hoped, and we hurt, but we can continue to hope in Jesus no matter what happens. To me, that’s better than not hoping and still hurting. The book of Isaiah tells us: Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. // Isaiah 40:31 If we are able to hope in Jesus, when we are pleased in the outcome and when we are disappointed in the outcome, we will renew our strength. We will fly and run and walk, even in the middle of disappointment. I’m really bad at this. I don’t think any of us are perfect. But my challenge is this: next time you find yourself wanting something good but are scared to lean in to it because of the fear of getting hurt or being disappointed, hope anyway. When you think it can’t happen, hope anyway. When you are scared to death of disappointment, hope anyway. When everything turns out right, hope anyway. When everything seems to go wrong, hope anyway. Your hope was never in a thing at all, anyway.   Gracie Muraski is a missionary in the beautiful mountains of Colorado with her husband. She enjoys writing, building authentic relationships, going on runs, and anything involving pasta.   [bctt tweet="Hope, Anyway #BISblog //" via="no"]

By definition, traditions are handed-down customs, beliefs, and practices. Often, they are created, shaped, and passed down within a family, community, or religion. Traditions are important for many reasons: They cultivate a sense of belonging. Traditions provide comfort and stability in an ever-changing world. When life gets difficult, traditions offer something to look forward to because they bring joy and laughter, peace, and harmony. Traditions create memories. How Traditions Begin Often, we do not think about the origin of our family traditions. For many of us, they are just what we have always done. Perhaps some of our family traditions go back generations. Some of our Catholic traditions go back a millennia or more. When my husband and I were newly engaged, we spent our first Good Friday together. We attended the Church’s Veneration of the Cross, and we also ate a simple picnic-style meal together, which included bread, cheese, and grapes. Little did we know we were establishing a family tradition. Twenty-one years later, we continue to have a picnic every Good Friday. It happens to be one of our children’s favorite traditions. Throughout the years, we have cultivated other traditions within our family, too. We hang stockings on Saint Nicholas Day. We have appetizers on Christmas Eve. We hide Easter eggs and Easter baskets. (The harder the hiding place, the better!) Our family traditions do not just revolve around holidays. We celebrate the last day of school with ice cream. We go apple picking every fall with cousins. Over the years, we have created family T-shirts donning our catchphrase “Team D.” Favorite songs, movies, and recipes are all part of our family culture. Most of our traditions have developed naturally but with intentionality. However, we know they have taken root when our children claim them: “Mom, are we going to have a picnic this Good Friday? You know, it’s our tradition.” “What appetizers are we having on Christmas Eve?” “Make sure to hide my Easter basket extra hard this year.” How Traditions Shift and Evolve As my six children (now 19 to 11 years old) have grown, they have naturally changed. And some of our traditions have grown up and changed right alongside them. One example of a tradition that has changed as my children have grown is how we observe Lent. When the children were younger, they needed us to teach them how to pray, fast, and give alms. We used a Lenten calendar to keep our prayer practices on track. As a family, we collectively fasted from candy or a favorite show. We donated clothes or collected pennies for the poor. Now that most of my children are teenagers, we give them more responsibility to shape their own Lenten season. We still pray as a family. However, we also encourage them to develop their own prayer routine. As parents, we coach them on how to discern what to give up, and we have conversations throughout Lent to help them along. But we do not tell them what to give up; they decide that for themselves. We want them to understand that God calls each of us into the desert of Lent in a unique way. And by the time they leave the nest, we hope they will enter into all the liturgical seasons with a holy desire to draw closer to the Lord. It’s OK to Outgrow Traditions Over the years, we have also had traditions come and go. Some traditions the kids simply outgrow. Others become more difficult to observe because family dynamics change. One of the traditions that has quietly remained in the past is our Jesse Tree. Another one is telling the story of Christ’s Passion using Resurrection Eggs. I look back on these traditions with fondness. They helped form my children’s faith, and I consider them to be springboards for the next step on their faith journey. Carrying on When Children Leave the Nest This is the first year one of my children has not been part of most of our family traditions. She has graduated high school and is currently traveling across the country as a missionary. We missed her presence when we went apple picking this fall. Her birthday was not quite the same without her here. I watched last year’s video of all of us carving pumpkins, and I missed her in a whole new way. When I talk to her on the phone and she updates me on missionary life, she also shares things such as how she is observing Advent, how her prayer life is growing, and what she’s doing for Lent this year. And while I don’t pat myself on the back—all the glory is God’s—I am grateful that many of our family traditions have been a foundation on which she is building her own faith life. Now, as a mom of older children, I remember the past—those years of establishing traditions—with fondness. Yes, it’s bittersweet, and there are days when I miss them being underfoot and some of the traditions we did. But I am grateful for it all! And I focus on being present to the moment right in front of me. These teenage years are just as important as the little years. In fact, each phase of family life contributes to the constant shaping and reshaping of family traditions. Tips for Maintaining Traditions as Families Change As my children grow and as family dynamics change, I have realized that maintaining traditions requires more intentionality. Here are a few tips I have found helpful in preserving those favorite family customs: Plan ahead. // With more schedules to coordinate, it is important to set dates and communicate them clearly. Ask for input. // What traditions are most meaningful to each child? Why? Be flexible. // Focus on the traditions that are most meaningful to the family. As they get older, fewer traditions may be a reality, but those times of togetherness will be extremely important. Be open. // As children get older and offer more input, be open to their ideas for how to observe a tradition. This is all part of the natural, organic establishment of traditions. Let Scripture Be Your Guide With any aspect of family life, it is important to invite the Holy Spirit in. May His Word, His Truth be our guide. As we establish, modify, and preserve our family traditions, let us take these words from Sacred Scripture to heart: Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. // Deuteronomy 6:6-7 Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. // Proverbs 22:6 Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs. // Matthew 19:14 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth. // 3 John 1:4 What are some of your favorite family traditions? How did they begin? How have they evolved over the years?   [bctt tweet="How Traditions Shift as a Family Grows #BISblog //" via="no"]

As we near the last two weeks of Lent, traditionally known as Passiontide, we consider even more the profound sufferings of Christ. Through prayer, especially the Stations of the Cross, we contemplate what Jesus endured physically and also mentally and emotionally. We think about how His suffering, Passion, and Death disfigured His Precious Body and wounded His Sacred Heart. In our meditation, we ask ourselves, “What can I do to comfort Him? What can I do to make up for my part in His Crucifixion and Death? What can I do to make reparation for how Jesus was (and continues to be) treated?” One possible answer is devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. The History of Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus In the mid-1800s, Sister Mary of St. Peter lived in Tours, France. In her cloistered convent, this Carmelite nun experienced a series of private revelations from Our Lord. He told her about a powerful devotion He wished to establish worldwide: devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. Over the course of four years (1843-1847), Jesus spoke to Sister Mary about the numerous blasphemies and profanities taking place throughout the world. And how these offenses not only aroused the anger of God but also pained and disfigured the face of Christ. In His mercy, Jesus informed Sister Mary how “these sins have reached to the very throne of Almighty God.” And to avoid the wrath of God, He revealed a way to make reparation for these grievous offenses. The primary purpose of devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus is to make reparation for sins against God Himself: Denial of God (atheism/communism) Blasphemy Profanation of Sundays and Holy Days The Golden Arrow The first revelation concerning the sins of blasphemy occurred on August 26th, 1843. Jesus said to Sister Mary: “My Name is everywhere blasphemed! There are even children who blaspheme!” According to Sister Mary, Jesus made her aware of how much “this frightful sin wounds His divine Heart more grievously than all other sins, showing me how by blasphemy the sinner curses Him to His Face, attacks Him publicly, nullifies His redemption, and pronounces His own judgment and condemnation.” Our Lord went on to help Sister Mary “visualize the act of blasphemy as a poisoned arrow continually wounding His divine heart.” Then, Jesus gave her a “Golden Arrow,” which would “heal those other wounds inflicted by the malice of sinners.” Jesus dictated to Sister Mary a prayer, which is known as the Golden Arrow prayer. It is the central prayer in the Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus: May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen. In addition, Sister Mary composed a Litany to the Holy Face of Jesus. Saint Veronica and the Holy Face of Jesus Two years into her private revelations, Sister Mary of St. Peter was not making much progress in the work of sharing this devotion with the Church at large. She ran into several obstacles with her superiors as well as with the archbishop. Then, on October 11th, 1845, Jesus revealed further insight into His desire for the devotion to His Holy Face. Jesus made it known that He desired that “His Holy Face is to be the exterior object of adoration in this Work of repairing for blasphemies.” In a time of prayer, Jesus led Sister Mary “to the road leading up to Calvary, and there, He vividly showed me the pious deed of charity which St. Veronica performed towards Him when with her veil she wiped His Most Holy Face covered with spittle, dust, sweat and blood.” Jesus told Sister Mary that when making reparation for blasphemy, we offer Him the same service as Saint Veronica and that He regards us with affection and kindness, as He did for her. “I seek Veronicas to wipe and venerate My Divine Face which has but few adorers!” Jesus shared with Sister Mary. Jesus continued by telling Sister Mary that “next to the Sacraments, [His Holy Face is] the greatest gift He could bestow on me.” The Church Militant’s Role Four years after the revelations began, Sister Mary of St. Peter continued to implore her superiors and the archbishop for this devotion to be made known publicly by a decree from Rome. This was the Lord’s desire, and He chose her as His instrument. As with other devotions now popular in the Church, the process was extremely slow. While Sister Mary often drew discouraged, Jesus comforted her with promises of the intercession of His Blessed Mother, Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Saints. At the same time, the country of France and the entire world continued to offend God, according to Jesus Himself. Communism also was on the rise, and Jesus warned Sister Mary of its “diabolical plots and anti-Christian principles.” Jesus proceeded to explain how devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus fights against communism. He reminded her that the Church Militant has a special role to play through prayer. The Devotion Continues Four months prior to her death, the archbishop’s secretary informed her that "while she was allowed to apply herself personally to the Work of Reparation, she was never again to ask for the establishment of the work in the diocese.” This was devastating to Sister Mary; however, Our Lord comforted her sorrow by telling her that "His Work of Reparation will only become the more flourishing in the future, for it will grow the stronger and more vigorous in the midst of storms, and that like a ship refused harbor at one port, it will happily land at another.” Sister Mary of St. Peter died in 1848, in the 33rd year of her life. In 1949, Blessed Pope Pius IX had the relic of Saint Veronica’s veil displayed for public veneration in Rome. A friend of Sister Mary and devotee of the Holy Face, Leo Dupont, had an image of Jesus’ Holy Face touched to the relic. He hung it in a prominent place in his home and kept a candle burning near it in veneration. Leo’s home became a place of private pilgrimage for the growing number of Catholics devoted to the Holy Face of Jesus. Finally, in 1885, Pope Leo XIII established the devotion as an arch-confraternity for the whole world. The Martin family of Lisieux enrolled in the arch-confraternity, and this devotion inspired Thérèse to take the title: Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. How to Learn More There is so much more to share about the beautiful Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus: The Golden Arrow by TAN Books details the revelations of Sister Mary of St. Peter. Our Lord offers eight promises to those who devote themselves to His Holy Face. The Holy Face medal was shown to Mother Maria Pierina de Michelli in 1936 in a series of visions. Venerable Pope Pius XII approved the medal in 1958. The feast of the Holy Face of Jesus is the day before Ash Wednesday (Shrove Tuesday), as declared by Pope Pius XII. For more information, visit The Holy Face Devotion website. O Jesus! Cast upon us a look of mercy; turn Thy Face towards each of us as Thou didst to Veronica; not that we may see it with our bodily eyes, for this we do not deserve, but turn it towards our hearts, so that, remembering Thee, we may ever draw from this fountain of strength the vigor necessary to sustain the combats of life. Amen. // Blessed Pope Pius IX Do you have a devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus? What compelled you to be devoted?   [bctt tweet="Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus #BISblog // " via="no"]

I was in Adoration on retreat at age 16, tears running down my face while I asked Jesus if I should be a nun. “Just tell me,” I begged, with fear in my heart. “I just need to know!” Thankfully, the good Lord knew I did not need to know that information at age 16. What I needed to know was not my future state in life, but how to know Him better in the present. 5 Common Mistakes in Discernment It’s easy to get confused about discernment. If you’re anything like me, you may have spent time in youth groups, on retreats, or in bible studies only hearing about “discernment” in relation to religious life. In other words, “Are you discerning your vocation?” was often insinuating, “Are you thinking about becoming a sister?” Later on, in college, the idea of discernment also spread to dating. “Are you discerning marriage together?” friends would ask. No one talked to me about discerning my life. 1. Limiting the scope of discernment That’s the first common mistake in discernment: relegating it to one particular question and thinking you don’t need it after that. Religious sisters still discern. Married people still discern. Consecrated singles still discern. Discernment isn’t something that stops once you enter a permanent state in life. Discernment isn’t just about your “vocation” in the formal sense. Discernment is about having an ongoing conversation with God about all the decisions of your life. This includes, of course, big questions like entering a convent or getting married—but it also includes questions of work, family, friendships, and things like how we spend our time and money. 2. Failing to dialogue with the living God Notice the word “conversation.” Sometimes we make the mistake of treating discernment like it’s one big game of “guess what God is thinking.” We act like God is a magic-8 ball: ask your question, shake it around in prayer, and get an answer. Then, we act like we’re robots instead of humans with the gifts of intellect and free will. We just want God to tell us exactly what to do and we’ll do it without thinking. But that’s not how God created us to work. He’s not a magic-8 ball and we’re not robots. In 1985, John Paul II spoke directly to young people about this question of discerning life, explaining that we are both called to take responsibility for our lives and to seek the guidance of God’s will. A human being is a creature and at the same time an adopted child of God in Christ: he is a child of God. Hence during youth a person puts the question, "What must I do?" not only to himself and to other people from whom he can expect an answer, especially his parents and teachers, but he puts it also to God, as his Creator and Father. He puts it in the context of this particular interior sphere in which he has learned to be in a close relationship with God, above all in prayer. He therefore asks God: "What must I do?", what is your plan for my life? Your creative, fatherly plan? What is your will? I wish to do it. In this context the "plan" takes on the meaning of a "life vocation", as something which is entrusted by God to an individual as a task. Young people, entering into themselves and at the same time entering into conversation with Christ in prayer, desire as it were to read the eternal thought which God the Creator and Father has in their regard. They then become convinced that the task assigned to them by God is left completely to their own freedom, and at the same time is determined by various circumstances of an interior and exterior nature. Examining these circumstances, the young person, boy or girl, constructs his or her plan of life and at the same time recognizes this plan as the vocation to which God is calling him or her. // Dilecti Amici, 9 The whole of our life, and what we do with it, is both a gift and a task. It is both given by God to us and done by us. Discernment is an interactive, creative process. It’s not about guessing what God is thinking. It’s about entering into an ongoing dialogue with Him. 3. Forgetting to take action This dialogue happens in prayer of course. Prayer is absolutely essential to discernment. But so is action. Too many of us make the mistake of letting a particular question remain hypothetical. We spend so much time with it in our heads that it’s real to us, but it isn’t actually something we can discern. Discernment is always practical. You can’t just think and pray about going to medical school. You have to actually apply and see if you get accepted. You can’t just think and pray about marrying that guy you saw at daily Mass. You need to actually get to know him. 4. Not considering ourselves And that’s another big mistake: we try to discern without taking stock of what we know about ourselves, practically: our circumstances, our gifts and talents, our particular tendencies. We try to discern generically what is best, instead of what is best for us right now. This is what John Paul II was talking about when he explained that our lives are influenced by “circumstances of an interior and exterior nature.” The Saints' lives are full of stories like this. Saint Gianna really wanted to be a missionary in Brazil. Being a missionary is great, right? Better than being a doctor in your hometown... or at least that’s how she felt. But a wise priest reminded her that she didn’t do well in the heat. Her health wasn’t really suited to doing mission work. Instead, she struggled through medical school, became a doctor, got married, had children, and eventually became a Saint through giving up her life for her unborn child. Her missionary desire has certainly been fulfilled in Heaven! 5. Misunderstanding desire Desire is a tricky thing in discernment. 16-year-old me had a desire to love Jesus and some mixed-up ideas about how to do it. I was petrified that Jesus would ask me to be a nun specifically because I didn’t really want it. In other words, I just assumed that whatever I wanted, God wanted the opposite. I didn't think I could ever trust my own desire. Certainly when we want something evil or sinful, God doesn’t want that for us! But when we want something good (like wanting to be married), we don’t have to automatically assume that it’s forbidden. God wants good for our lives and He wants us to flourish as his children. Discernment helps us sort out what’s going on with our desires for good things and surrender them to the Lord. In other words, we don’t have to make the common mistake of automatically rejecting our desire for any good thing; instead, we can discern those desires through conversation with God and practical action. Keep the Conversation Open Would sixteen-year-old me have been better off knowing that she would get married, but only when her age had doubled? Probably not, and God knew that. He used my desire to love Him to lead me on a long journey of conversation with Him. My desire to know my permanent state in life kept me close, and helped me develop the habit of dialogue with Him, so that when I finally did make vows, I would want to continue that conversation––about everything and anything in life.   Kerri Christopher (MA, STL) is a writer, speaker, and Life Consultant. After spending years researching and teaching on topics like the feminine genius and work-life balance for women, she realized she wanted to serve women practically. Now she offers consulting to help people learn to discern well so they can live with purpose and peace. You can find out more about her here.   [bctt tweet="5 Common Mistakes in Discernment (and How to Avoid Them) #BISblog //" via="no"]