It’s always a little unnerving when a well-loved novel gets a cinematic makeover, isn’t it? It can go so, so well. But it can also leave you feeling disappointed, confused, and even saddened when what you see on the screen doesn’t adequately reflect what you loved about a book. Unfortunately, the latter was the case when my 10-year-old daughter and I went to see A Wrinkle in Time. My Impression of the A Wrinkle in Time Movie The movie—starring newcomer Storm Reid as teenage heroine Meg Murry—tells of a young girl’s journey through time and space to save her father from the evil forces of the universe. Her younger brother, Charles Wallace, and her friend Calvin, accompany her. They are guided by three celestial/angelic creatures: Mrs. Who (played by Mindy Kaling), Mrs. Whatsit (played by Reese Witherspoon), and Mrs. Which (played by Oprah Winfrey). Disappointingly, while we were entertained by the movie and the shiny glamour and adventure it portrayed, when the lights came up, we both felt it lacked the heart and soul that made L’Engle’s 1962 novel such a treasure. The Good Stuff Let me be clear. My daughter and I both enjoyed the movie...as a movie. It was definitely entertaining and, if you haven’t read the book, I don’t think you’ll come out of the theater thinking you wasted $10 and two hours of your life. As a movie, A Wrinkle in Time is amazingly well-done. The scenery was stunning! The costumes and makeup were enchanting. The diverse and multiracial casting of the Murrys and the three “Mrs Ws” was a lovely depiction of modern society. It genuinely added to the movie’s appeal. Alas, pretty is as pretty does. And as lustrous and visually-appealing as the movie was, it simply didn’t have the depth necessary to carry the themes the book so beautifully addressed. The Bad Stuff Before you read any further, know that I am assuming that you are familiar with the characters, plot, and general themes of the story. There are massive spoilers ahead! So if you haven’t read the book but plan to, stop reading now. Characters: So confusing! Missing characters, added characters, confusing characters...oh my! This movie had ‘em all. Missing Characters Sandy and Dennys—twin brothers stuck in the middle of the Murry family between super-smart yet slightly oddball Meg and super-intuitive yet somewhat other-worldly Charles Wallace—simply didn’t exist in the movie. In removing them from the story, the writers took away a touchpoint we, as the audience, need. In my daughter’s words, how are we supposed to know just how nerdy Meg is or just how strange Charles Wallace is without their normal brothers to compare them against? Added Characters A Wrinkle in Time, the movie, also gives us a new character, Veronica, the “mean girl next door” who bullies Meg and acts as a seemingly perfect foil to Meg’s oddity. She didn’t add to the story line at all, in my daughter’s opinion, and only convoluted the plot with her presence. Another change that was made was with the character Happy Medium. In the book, the seer is definitely feminine. In the movie, it is played by Zach Galifianakis as some sort of strange yogi/love interest for Reese Witherspoon’s Mrs. Whatsit. Yes, it is as odd as it sounds. Plot: No wrinkles, just big holes! Turning a novel into a 2-hour movie necessitates some cuts in the plot. But when cutting part of the plot leaves giant, gaping holes in motivation and theme, it seems a bit foolish. The most gaping hole we found took place after the children had been reunited with Mr. Murry and Charles Wallace was taken over by It, the evil “brain” that is threatening the universe. In the novel, Mr. Murry saves Meg and Calvin by tessering to the planet Ixchel. On that planet, the large beasts shower the travelers with love and the three Mrs. Ws return. It is there that Meg realizes that she alone can save her brother from It. Mrs. Which tells Meg that she must use what It lacks as her weapon against evil and Mrs. Whatsit tells Meg to remember that she is loved. In the movie, Meg is instead simply abandoned to fight It and win back the possessed Charles Wallace. She must somehow figure out, on her own, how to use her “faults,” a gift she was previously reminded of by Mrs. Whatsit, to save the day. When she finally comes around to using the love she feels for her brother to break the bonds Evil holds on him, it leaves the audience wondering...Is love of her family another one of Meg’s faults?! Themes: Sanitized and secularized The story that Madeleine L’Engle gave us is one rich in science and rich in faith, one filled with theories and theology. It is a story where a character who couldn’t use words of her own quoted from the Bible alongside other major works. One that, when listing off the names of people throughout time who had fought the darkness of Evil with the light of Good, calls Jesus Christ by name. Through her story, L’Engle teaches us that evil can’t be broken by anger, but it must be tamed by Love. The filmmakers, though, denied it all. Quotes from the rap group Outkast and the musical Hamilton are added for the benefit of modern audiences. Any quotes from the Bible were cut. The names of the warriors-for-good include modern-day people like Maya Angelou alongside Einstein and DaVinci. Yet, Jesus is noticeably missing. And instead of being shown that Love is what brings the ultimate victory, Meg is told by Mrs. Which that “the only thing faster than light is the darkness,” and by Mrs. Whatsit that she should remember her “beautiful faults.” It’s a shame that director Ava DuVernay and the rest of the production crew couldn’t see that the true beauty and richness in Madeleine L’Engle’s work is more than skin deep. A Wrinkle in Time: The Final Take If you want to see this movie and you’ve never read the book or have any desire to do so, go and enjoy it! The wild ride DuVernay has created is truly entertaining and incredible. It really will be enjoyable! However, if you love the story, if you are a L’Engle super-fan, if the removal of religious themes in favor of pleasing a mass market doesn’t appeal to you, this might not be the movie for you. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. // John 3:19-21 Have you seen the A Wrinkle in Time movie? What are your thoughts? [bctt tweet="A Wrinkle in Time Review #BISblog //"] This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

The last day of the year. A 2.5-hour drive to a friend’s house in Sycamore, IL became a harrowing 7.5-hour excursion toward and then away from South Bend, IN. Though I’m unsure of exactly how it happened (but geographic reasoning is not my strong suit), this experience showed me how easily discouragement takes hold of my heart. Lost and Losing Hope At the beginning of the trip, I had been reflecting on the beauty of the snow I saw along my route in Illinois—how it rests brilliant and evenly on all things, and endows them with beauty. In that moment, God was rest, a unity of self and landscape. When I crossed into Indiana, I ran into a heavy patch of Lake Effect snow on the highway, and the snow was no longer beautiful. It was blinding, and as I sat there shaking, gripping the steering wheel, and keeping my distance from the truck in front of me, I began to lose hope. For a time, I did not know I was entering into a moment of desolation. Honestly, in the midst of this small blizzard, I forgot God for a time. It was only as I was winding my way along Indiana’s country roads in an effort to find the highway back to Illinois that I remembered Him. And I was furious. It had begun to snow again. The sun had suddenly slipped like a dull coin into an envelope of snow clouds, and my GPS had momentarily lost signal. A kind man in a Casey’s noticed my chapped face, and gave a few good directions, but my geographically challenged brain still struggled to grasp where I was going. In the fifteen minutes it took for my GPS to find a signal, I railed against God. “Help me! You know I have no idea where to go! Why won’t you help me? I hate snow!” Discouragement is from the Devil During this trip, the devil, whose name is Discouragement, gripped at my heart for awhile. I felt an impending sense of dread. It seemed inevitable that I would go off the road; that no one would be around to help me; that the frigid temperatures and my fear would finish me. The word despair means "to be separated from hope." On the last day of the year, I felt that I had, in some small space deep within, turned away from God. I had finally shown the hand that I had, until this moment, kept close to myself. I had finally revealed that deep down I did not trust Him. I did not trust that He was holding me close in these hours of panic. Driving in the snow and in the darkness, fear blotted out hope. Though I finally made it to my friend’s house, I was shaken by the experience. I was left wondering: What can I do with this utter lack of trust? The way my faith wavers in moments of distress? Peter and Hope When I think of discouragement in Scripture, I think of Peter. There are so many moments where I imagine he momentarily experienced deep discouragement: when Jesus entered his boat to preach and Peter had caught nothing after fishing the entire night before; on a harrowing journey across a storm-tossed lake where Peter walked toward Jesus on the water and began to sink when he noticed the whipping wind and the rising waves; when Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me Satan,” after Peter tried to deny that Jesus would have to suffer and die; when before Jesus’ crucifixion Peter denied ever knowing Jesus. I think of an evening after Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, the evening before Peter and his fellow disciples discovered the Resurrected Jesus on the shore. Peter said to the other disciples, “I am going fishing,” and watched the placid sea all night. He caught nothing. I wonder if Peter despaired during that night. His relationship with Jesus had been broken by betrayal and fear; yet, in the morning, at Jesus’ familiar words to fish the other side of the boat, Peter jumped out of the boat to get to Jesus. And Jesus proceeded to feed both Peter’s body and soul. He forgave Peter his weakness and called him to feed the flock he would soon serve as pope. In this scene, Peter’s discouragement was brief. Mine was too. Yet this experience awakened in me a need to recommit myself to hope. Finding Peace in the Midst of Discouragement If discouragement is a cross you carry, I want to tell you that you are not alone. We live in an anxious world that chips away at our peace. I pray that each of our hearts is able to rest in a reality bigger than our worries: that our Lord does not stand by watching us in our discouragement, but with a compassion fuller than we can imagine, feels our grief, our anxiety, and even our despair, and actively seeks to comfort us. A dear spiritual friend, St. Therese of Lisieux, elaborates on this truth: “As the sun shines both on the cedar and the smallest flower, so the Divine Son illumines each soul, great or lowly, and all things work together for its good.” He sees all. He is present in all. Though I felt incredibly fearful that night, Christ shielded me from harm. Though dark and snowy, He led me to the right road, and ultimately to my destination—to a town with snowless roads, to a house still filled with Christmas lights, into the arms of a waiting friend. Though I still struggle with the temptation toward discouragement, like Peter, I want to continually turn toward Christ, and invite Him to plant His hope deeper in my being. How do you cling to hope during times of discouragement? Is there a prayer you say or a Scripture you read? Please share with us in the comments below. [bctt tweet="Whose Name is Discouragement #BISblog //"] Lindsey Weishar is an MFA candidate in Poetry. She enjoys discovering beauty in the little things and endless cups of tea. She has written for Verily and the Young Catholic Woman. A chapbook of her poems is forthcoming from Leaf Press in the spring.

When my husband and I were expecting our first baby, we knew we wanted to give our baby a name from the tradition of our Faith. Of course, choosing a name for our little one comprised many of our conversations during the pregnancy (along with choosing godparents and planning for a meaningful Baptism). We would toss ideas back and forth, making a mental list of each of our green lights, red lights, and maybes. And while there are countless Catholic baby names to choose from, we wanted something unique (but not too crazy) that also sheds some light on the importance of our Faith. Unique Catholic Baby Names All this brainstorming has resulted in a long list of names, and I'm a little sad we could only use one of them (for now). In the hopes that all my brainstorming Catholic baby names won’t go to waste, I'm sharing this list with you. Maybe you’ll find the perfect name for your own little one! Catholic Baby Names for Boys Ambrose // St. Ambrose was a brilliant preacher who convinced St. Augustine that God exists. Asher // One of Jacob’s 12 sons. Beckett // After the martyr St. Thomas Beckett. Blaise // After St. Blaise (pronounced “Blaze”), who was both a bishop and a physician. Bosco // Rather than the typical and popular “John,” go with Bosco and assign your son the awesome patronage of St. John Bosco. Constantine // The emperor who legalized Christianity and stopped the persecutions of the early Church. Cyrus // After King Cyrus of Persia who frees the Israelites from the Babylonian exile and permits them to return to Jerusalem. Damien // After the science-minded St. Damien. Drexel // A male alternative under the patronage of St. Katherine Drexel. Fulton // After Fulton Sheen (this one is on my short list). Gerard // Most famous for his poem, “Dappled Things,” Gerard Manley Hopkins was also a Catholic priest. G.K. // Another personal favorite, you could name your son after the famous apologist G.K. Chesterton. Guy // After Guy Fawkes; though he isn’t a Saint, he did take a public stand when Catholicism was outlawed in England. Ignatius // Choose between Ignatius of Antioch or Ignatius of Loyola for his patron. Plus, “Iggy” is a fun nickname. Jerome // Without St. Jerome, Scripture may never have been translated from its original Greek. Judah or Jude // Another son of Jacob, or his patron could be Judah Maccabee, or the awesome St. Jude (or all three!). Louis // After St. Louis Martin, father of the Little Flower. Merton // Thomas Merton was an inspiring Catholic monk, writer, and mystic. Rex // The Latin meaning of this name is “king,” so your son’s namesake could be Christ the King. Shepherd // Not only would he have a classic Southern name, but he’d also have an incredible namesake: the Good Shepherd (and you could call him "Shep" for short). Simeon // Another son of Jacob, but also the prophet who foretells of Mary’s Sorrowful Heart. Solanus // After the recently-beatified Solanus Casey (a cute nickname is "Sully," or even "Casey"!). Titus // After the companion of St. Paul. Urban // There’s a plethora of Popes named Urban, and if you’re a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, it’s a double whammy! Xavier // After the missionary St. Francis Xavier. WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Catholic Baby Names for Girls Angelica // After the choirs of Heaven, or the feisty founder of EWTN. Brielle // Shorten the traditional “Gabrielle” and still name your daughter after the archangel. Caeli // Pronounced “cha-lee,” it’s part of the Latin Marian antiphon, “Regina Caeli” or in English, “Queen of Heaven”. Charlotte // This may be a stretch, but Pope St. John Paul II’s given Polish name was Karol, which translates to "Charles" in English, the masculine form of "Charlotte". Colbie // After another polish Saint, Maximilian Kolbe. Dinah // Everyone remembers that Jacob had twelve sons, but Dinah was his only daughter. Dorothy // After the Saint, or Servant of God Dorothy Day (she could go by "Dot" or "Dottie"). Edie // Name your daughter after St. Edith Stein without making her sound like an old woman. Faustina // A bit of a mouthful, but what a Saint she’d have as her patron (you could even call her “Tina” for short)! Felicity // After the new mom and early Christian martyr. Flannery // Flannery O’Connor was a brilliant writer and devout Catholic. Jael // (pronounced “jay-elle”) An Old Testament woman who kills an enemy general while he sleeps to help the Israelite army. Jordan // After the river in which Christ was baptized. Keturah // Pronounced “kah-tur-ah,” this is the name of the woman Abraham married after Sarah died. Lily // After one of the greatest Saints in heaven, St. Joseph. Leah // She may not have been loved by her husband Jacob, but Scripture says that God favored her. Philomena // For the young Greek princess who was martyred for refusing to marry a Roman official (you could call her “Mena” for short). Phoebe // This was the name of St. Paul’s friend who delivered his letter to the Romans. Rosary // A different take for anyone with a devotion to Our Lady (you could call her "Rosie"). Sarai // Sarah’s name before God changed it. Siena // “Catherine” is pretty common, but "Siena" is more unique and specific to this Doctor of the Church. Stella // Another Marian name, after Our Lady, Star of the Sea. Talitha // Hebrew for “little girl,” Jesus uses this phrase when he resurrects the daughter of Jaris (“Tali” would be a cute nickname). Verity // Derived from “veritas” which is Latin for “truth,” this name was made popular by the Puritans, but it reminds me of Pontius Pilate’s struggle to see what is true. Zelie // Canonized very recently, St. Zelie was the mother of St. Therese. More Catholic Baby Names! This book is full of various Marian names for both boys and girls. If you're looking for a name to honor Our Lady, this is a great resource! With over 10,000 Catholic baby name suggestions, this book is a must-have for the Catholic expectant mama! If you want a name from the Bible for your babe, check out this post full of unique Biblical baby names! Do you have any ideas of your own for unique, Catholic baby names? Comment below! [bctt tweet="Not-So-Typical Catholic Baby Names // #BISblog"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

We are all invited to be part of the world’s greatest love story. God’s ultimate desire is for us to become one with His complete and perfect love. And if we say "yes," our souls will be filled and our lives will be free. If we love Him with all we have and in several dimensions, the more capacity we will have to love others as well. And the closer we are to Heaven on earth. In fact, God knows that living out our love for Him is so critical to our fulfillment, that He commands it. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus says: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. What Does This Mean? In order to fully comprehend and live this commandment, we first must know what it means to love God with our hearts, souls, and minds. Let's break it down. Loving God with All Your Heart Loving God with your heart means to love Him with your life. Right here. Right now. The average human heart beats for 79 years. Love God with your heart by living a loving, faith-filled, and purpose-driven life. This requires letting God lead the way. It means living each day in close connection with Him so we can recognize our calling. Once I started to actually do this, to let Him lead, my life changed. Filled with joy and passion for our Faith, sharing that joy with others and loving God with my whole heart became my primary mission. Loving God with All Your Soul Loving God with your soul means to love Him for eternity. When our hearts stop beating, our souls keep living. And God wants our relationship with Him to last forever. Once, I struggled with trying to love Jesus in the same way He loves me. In an effort to deepen my friendship with Him, I completely changed the way I approached the Eucharist. Typically, after receiving Communion, I prayed a nearly-memorized prayer of thanksgiving, and then asked for guidance in various areas of my life. It was rehearsed and impersonal. And so, on a random Sunday in November, I did something different. At the moment of the consecration, I mindfully envisioned Jesus actually sitting on the steps in front of the altar, smiling, reaching out, and beckoning me to come closer. Once I received the Body and Blood of Christ, I closed my eyes and imagined myself sitting on those steps right next to Him. I could feel Him next to me and I spoke to Him from my heart. Jesus was there. Right by my side. And He was listening. And that was it. I was His. Completely devoted, captivated by His love. The Eucharist strengthened my friendship with Christ, which then naturally led to a soulful love and adoration of the Lord. Loving God with All Your Mind Loving God with your mind means to love Him unconditionally–because we know that He is worthy of love–even when we don’t feel like it. Even when we feel like life is unfair or when we think He’s abandoned us (even though He never leaves our side). It’s hard to love someone you know nothing about, so it’s important to make an effort to get to know God. By spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, attending Mass, and pondering His teachings, we learn about who He is, what He cares about, and why He is so deserving of our love. God sent His only Son to die for us. He forgives us. He knows all of our faults and still loves us with an everlasting and relentless love. This dimension of love is especially important for the times when we are feeling unenthused, discouraged, hopeless, or just plain sad. When we love God with our minds, we solidify our relationship with Him on an intellectual level. This level can weather the fiercest of storms. As followers of Christ, we are called to fearlessly love God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds. Fueled with that complete and perfect love, we are empowered to take that love and share it with the world. And our broken, lost world desperately needs His love. How do you grow in loving God with your heart, soul, and mind? Let us know in the comments! [bctt tweet="Loving God with Our Hearts, Souls, and Minds #BISblog //"] Stacy Miller is a joyfully inept stay-at-home-mom of two who makes up for her shortcomings with her fiery love and passion. She lives in Reno, Nevada, where she is amazed by the people she’s met, the beauty in the skies, and the endless opportunities for adventure. You can learn more about her here.

Perhaps the best person to teach us about the life of Christ is His mother, Mary. After all, she was there with Him from the moment of the Incarnation to His Ascension into Heaven, and she now enjoys eternal life with Him! That's why the Rosary is such a powerful prayer in the life of a Catholic. Our Lady holds our hands as we dwell on the life of Christ and what He means for our lives. In an effort to help us all learn about and discover the rich meaning of the Rosary, Blessed is She created the Mystery Series as a part of our Blessed Conversations. This Rosary study is a four-part deep dive into each set of Mysteries, enabling us to grow closer to Christ through prayer and community. The Rosary is the storehouse of countless blessings. // Pope St. John Paul II [bctt tweet="The Rosary is the storehouse of countless blessings. -St. JPII #BISblog #blessedconversations //"] What is the Rosary? The Rosary is a long-beloved prayer within Catholicism. It serves as a spiritual foundation for priests, religious, and lay people. There are four sets of Mysteries of the Rosary: the Joyful Mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Glorious Mysteries. Each of these sets have five mysteries within them that focus on a different moment in the life of Christ. Traditionally, for each mystery of the Rosary, we pray an Our Father, ten Hail Mary's, and a Glory Be. We pray different sets of Mysteries on different days: Mondays and Saturdays - the Joyful Mysteries Tuesdays and Fridays - the Sorrowful Mysteries Wednesdays and Sundays - the Glorious Mysteries Thursdays - the Luminous Mysteries Why is the Rosary Important? The Rosary allows us to enter into deeper reflection on the life of Christ in union with the person who was closest to Him on earth, His mother. When we pray the Rosary, we ask Our Blessed Mother to help us understand more fully the life, miracles, teachings, suffering, and redemption of Christ. The Rosary strengthens our souls against temptation and can grow our devotion to the Lord. Still not convinced the Rosary should be a part of your prayer life? Here's what the popes and saints have to say about it: When people love and recite the Rosary they find it makes them better. // St. Anthony Mary Claret If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. // Pope Pius XI To pray the Rosary is to hand over our burdens to the merciful hearts of Christ and His mother. // Pope St. John Paul II You must know that when you ‘hail’ Mary, she immediately greets you! ... If you greet her, she will answer you right away and converse with you! // St. Bernardine of Siena The Rosary is the 'weapon' for these times. // St. Padre Pio The power of the rosary is beyond description. // Venerable Fulton Sheen Additionally, in every approved apparition of Our Lady, she has asked continuously that we recite the Rosary frequently and with great love. So we have the charge straight from Our Mama! The Mystery Rosary Study Inspired by this great love and call to pray the Rosary, Blessed is She set out to create a resource for those desiring a greater understanding of the Mysteries of the Rosary. The series is divided into four booklets for each set of Mysteries, giving you the option to obtain specific, individuals sets, or the entire set of Mysteries. Each Mystery offers four sections: Scripture related to the Mystery; reflection by the author on that Mystery; questions to reflect on personally; questions for discussion. We examine our lives mirrored in Mary’s as we ponder a different layer of our relationships in each of the five Mysteries by focusing on vocation, community, home, God, and family. [bctt tweet="I'm praying with the Mystery Rosary study! Join me? #blessedconversations //"] Behold (the Joyful Mysteries) Written by Laura Kelly Fanucci, this Rosary study covers the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of Our Lord, the Presentation of Our Lord, and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. Beloved (the Luminous Mysteries) Written by Brigid Hogan, this Rosary study covers the Baptism in the Jordan, the Wedding Feast at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist. Belong (the Sorrowful Mysteries) Written by Sister Maria Kim Bui, this Rosary study covers the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion. Believe (the Glorious Mysteries) Written by Bonnie Engstrom, this Rosary study covers the Resurrection, the Ascension of Jesus, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary, and the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. This is a perfect place to start during the Easter season! Who Can Use this Rosary Study? Short answer: everyone! Blessed is She has a heart for creating community among Catholic women, so Mystery can easily be incorporated into a group setting. It is ideal for small groups, Bible studies, moms' groups, and even for a Voxer chat between you and your best girlfriend. Mystery can also be studied individually! Let's Pray Through Mystery Together! We are elated to pray through Mystery with you, sisters. Our hope and prayer is that this Rosary study brings us all closer to Jesus through Mary. Let's pray for one another as we learn more about the life of Our Lord through the Mysteries of the Rosary. Once you have your Rosary study in hand, please share it with us! It's so much fun to see you participating. Feel free to share pictures and reflections on social media, and use #blessedconversations so we can all find each other! | Get your copy of the Mystery Rosary study series here | What's your favorite Mystery of the Rosary?   Join us over in our app for a live weekday Rosary at 11am ET!  Our new Blessed Is She Rosaries have arrived! Get yours here!  [bctt tweet="Introducing MYSTERY: Discovering the Depth of the Rosary #BISblog #blessedconversations //"] Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky, where sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She works from home as an editor and social media manager while raising her children and laughing with her husband. Although she now spends most of her free time away from the internet, past adventures are still on her blog. You can find out more about her here.

A poor but noble man was once betrothed to a beautiful, virtuous young woman. Before the wedding, his fiancé became pregnant. But she was—and would remain—a virgin the entirety of her life. This man honored his commitment and married her anyway. The neighbors, no doubt, whispered. The baby arrived far from home in cold and danger, no friends and family present to celebrate the birth. He fled with His family to safety in a foreign land, protecting his wife and caring for his adopted Son the rest of his days. This man said "yes" to one simple, beautiful thing: life lived alongside a good woman. And that commitment made before God turned his life upside down. He reaffirmed his "yes" every step of the way, and today the entire universal Church honors him for it. St. Joseph, patron saint of our families and our Church, pray for us. Lessons from St. Joseph Like St. Joseph, we can commit to one thing and suddenly discover that one thing has become more than we anticipated. When suffering accompanies these amendments, it is natural to question where God was in that original commitment or where our misstep since occurred. Was this the right career? Was he the right man to marry? Should I have had all these kids? And like Saint Joseph, we may not see the end of the story this side of Heaven. We may never have tangible proof that our suffering was not in vain. His life, however, consoles us through these uncertainties. Through the example of St. Joseph, we find several ways in which to overcome the temptation to doubt and despair. Humility in Prayer St. Joseph maintained a humble and receptive relationship with God the Father. When faced with difficult decisions that did not have a singularly moral answer, he was able to hear and respond to the voice of God. When we are already decided on a course of action, even a good one, it can be difficult for the Lord to lead our hearts elsewhere. A truly docile heart affords God the opportunity to fashion us into saints and set the world on fire. In your prayer life, do you seek to hear and obey the will of the Father above all else? From the love of my own comfort, and from the fear of death or trial, deliver me, oh God. Humility in Name St. Joseph allowed his good name to be misunderstood and very possibly ridiculed by a community he loved. He honored the promptings of God despite the threats to his reputation. He very literally placed his identity in the eyes of God before his identity in the eyes of the world. Delivered from the need to be understood and accepted, the boundaries we place on our decisions and actions disappear, giving God true freedom to direct our lives. When making decisions, do you seek to please God before all others? From the need to be understood, and from the need to be accepted, deliver me, oh God. Putting Others First Had St. Joseph approached Mary’s pregnancy with his good in mind, he probably would have left. When he fled his homeland, he was not personally in danger; he left to protect Jesus. The tough calls he made and the challenges he endured as a result were for the good of another. Today’s cultural narrative leads us to believe that serving others in this costly manner diminishes our freedom and inhibits our potential. The example of the Foster Father of Jesus says otherwise. When the good of another demands personal sacrifice, do you respond in charity? From the fear of serving others, deliver me, oh God. St. Joseph Teaches Us to Not Be Afraid St. Joseph was uniquely blessed in life to rest at Jesus’ feet. Through his example and intercession, we can lay our lives at Jesus’ feet as he did. If each commitment and all it entails is made with Jesus’ council and a humble heart that seeks to know, love, and serve Him, we can step forward in faith, trusting God to keep us and our decisions close to him and his good will for us. Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Amen. How are you celebrating St. Joseph's feast day today? Want to learn more about Saint Joseph, patron of the Universal Church? Check out this incredible video series with our own Beth Davis!   [bctt tweet="Giving Our Lives to Jesus: Lessons from St. Joseph #BISblog //"]   Kayla Sanmiguel lives in Saint Paul, MN with her husband Javier and their (almost) four children. She works in Institutional Advancement for The Saint Paul Seminary and otherwise spends her time soaking up these fleeting years when toddlers run amok. You can find her thoughts on faith and psychology at Mind & Spirit.

The Father’s love does not force itself on the beloved. Although he wants to heal us all of our inner darkness, we are still free to make our own choice to stay in the darkness or to step into the light of God’s love. God is there. God’s light is there. God’s forgiveness is there. God’s boundless love is there. What is so clear is that God is always there, always ready to give and forgive, absolutely independent of our response. God’s love does not depend on our repentance or our inner or outer changes. -Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son Reflect When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." Luke 23: 33-34 Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. I recommend praying with “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury (inspired by the prayer above). [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Forgive + Heal #BISblog #BISrests //"] Curated by Patty Breen. You can find out more about her here. This post contains an affiliate link, which means Blessed is She will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through our link. Thank you!

Sometimes you just need a pick-me-up. T minus 4 years ago I developed a heightening concern for my appearance. Comparison, as we learn from Theodore Roosevelt, is the thief of joy. My increasing self-consciousness about how I looked was due in part to comparing myself to a particular friend of mine. She was beautiful, both inside and out. Throughout our friendship, I observed how men were attracted to her, both for her good looks and her beautiful soul. I couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous. Interestingly enough, this all came about just after I had prayed for an increase in humility. Asking for Humility I tried to use this unexpected struggle as a tool to grow in self-knowledge (as hard as it was to recognize my uncomfortably apparent sin of pride) and as an opportunity to invite God to speak His truth and His beauty into my life. I decided to turn to my Mother Mary. “Blessed Mother,” I prayed, “I have been asking Jesus for humility and I see He is answering my prayer. Mary, I entrust my heart to you.” The next day in prayer, I felt Jesus say to me, “You will find your beauty in Me.” I was encouraged and filled with hope, anticipating what He had in store! I only had to wait a short time. Just weeks after sending this prayer to the heavens, I was out for drinks with my friend. Of course, it was one of those days that we all have at one time or another (probably more frequently than we would like to admit), where I just felt like a scrub. As we ordered our drinks and caught up on life, a handsome young man slid into our booth. To my surprise, he slid in next to me. “Score!” I thought. Ten minutes later, I discovered his true motives as he leaned toward me and said, “Now don’t get me wrong. You are super, super cute; but she is gorgeous!” as he made a head-nod in the direction of my friend. That night, I sunk into bed holding back tears. Just a couple of weeks earlier I felt Jesus say He would show me my beauty, and it felt like the opposite had happened. Discovering My Beauty in Him Well, God is faithful. I just needed to be patient. The next morning, He spoke to my heart. I was walking out of morning Mass when Jim, an elderly widower and one of my favorite Mass regulars and newfound friend, greeted me. Just a few days earlier, we had finally introduced ourselves after crossing paths on the way out of Mass. As I walked up to Jim for our now regular morning pleasantries, he looked at me with his bright, blue eyes and said, “Now, I can say this because I am an old man. But if I was younger, I’d be chasin' ya. You are very beautiful!” When I thanked him, he said, “Don’t thank me, thank your mom, your dad, and God for that!” His genuine words spoke directly to my soul and were a source of joy and strength for me not only throughout that day, but even now, four years later. His words to me were so specific and so intentional; they provided me with not just words to hear, but a truth to savor. That I was beautiful, with a beauty worthy of praising God. Do You Know You're Beautiful? Psalm 139:14 is a commonly quoted verse in the Bible, but how many times do we take the words to heart? How many times have we confidently exclaimed to the Lord the words “I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works!”? Our beauty is found in Christ, and it is not an act of vanity to praise Him for creating us “so wonderfully." When we proclaim these words in awe and wonder of God’s creation, we honor Him by our worship of His great craftsmanship. Even on the days when you do feel like a scrub, remember, Jesus does not make mistakes. Your very self He knows, and your bones are not hidden from Him. He formed you and He finds you beautiful, with a beauty worthy of praise. Sisters, are you confident in the beauty God has given you? Why or why not? I encourage you to take this to prayer today! [bctt tweet="Beauty Worthy of Praise #BISblog //"]

At long last, winter is giving way to warmer temperatures and spring is on the horizon. More sunshine, more time outside, and spring cleaning. I love purging the clutter and excess in order to let some air and peace flow through the house. After practicing minimalism for eight years now, spring cleaning is an event I anticipate like a kid waiting for Easter morning. There’s something so inviting and calming about a life renewed through simplicity. A Different Kind of Minimalism Minimalism is one of those big trends that has spawned smaller trends. It seems like it’s not enough to say you like to live simply, how you do it matters almost more. And aside from choosing your own minimalist method, making it last becomes prime as well. I can honestly declare, however, that choosing a simple life was much less something I found on my own, and much more of a holy stirring in my soul. I’m not the type who whittled family possessions down to one hundred items, or who touched every dang thing in the house to see if it “sparked joy.” Living simply transcends a cultural craze. It is meant to be as unique to us all as our souls, because pursuing simplicity in the light of Jesus is what makes it last. Christian minimalism looks to Jesus to learn what He wants for our lives. Then, it applies that mission to both our material and temporal needs. From this comes peace, order, and a holy contentment knowing that we have what we need and, if we lack, the Lord will sustain us. “Come, Follow Me.” My favorite story about living simply is the account of The Rich Young Man (Mark 10:17-31). It’s one of those stories that makes me cringe but also encourages me to eliminate distraction. The young man confronts Jesus, asking the Lord what it takes to gain eternal life. He says he keeps the Commandments and wants to know what he's missing. “Sell your possessions, give to the poor, and follow me,” Christ responds. Following Jesus is what we Christians are repeatedly and perpetually called to do. Jesus beckons each of us to a custom-made plan, a charge suited to our God-given gifts. And He equips us with graces to do it. What is it that God wants of you and for you? What fuels your passion and makes you feel like a woman on a mission? It’s here that Catholic simplicity begins. Holy minimalism means keeping what we need to follow Jesus and detaching from the rest. What do you need to follow Jesus the way He’s asking you to follow Him? [bctt tweet="Holy minimalism means keeping what we need to follow Jesus and detaching from the rest. #BISblog //"] God calls me to my husband and our kids as well as to making our home welcoming to family and visitors. We have enough undies, towels, and plates to go around. We have enough space to breathe, but not too much, so I can keep tabs on the kids. We can have friends over to eat or play. Our home is not run over with stuff, but it definitely looks “lived in.” God has also called me to my work as a speaker and writer, so I have a reliable computer and a desk where I work. Material simplicity means whatever is enough to say "yes" to God is enough. [bctt tweet="Material simplicity means whatever is enough to say "yes" to God is enough. #BISblog //"] Don’t Walk Away My cringe at The Rich Young Man comes when the young man walks away sorrowful, “for he had many possessions.” This is the part when my eyes go wide with disbelief. For real?! How could this guy be so stuck on his stuff that he walks away from Jesus? But then I check myself, because the fact is that I do it all the time. I lose sight of God’s minute-by-minute call to me and I go my own way. I shop (or eat chocolate) when life gets hard, my “screen time" is slightly over the top, and when I want something, I get totally fixed on it—almost obsessed—until it’s mine. Purging What Doesn't Matter to Make Room for What Does Life is chock full of attachments that distract us from following the Lord. We have to let go of what’s holding us back. Do you need to put your phone or computer away so you don’t lose sight of the priceless souls in your family? As a stay-at-home mom, I have to stop myself from putting off quality time with my kids for the sake of cleaning that can wait a bit, or checking “one more thing” online. Every so often, I have to cut our excess. During what I call "purge week," I approach every corner of our house with ruthless detachment. If something fails to serve some kind of purpose, whether for the body or soul, it goes. Even if something meshes with how we’re following Jesus, I cross-check it with a more challenging question, “Could someone else use this or be more grateful to have it?” Treasure in Heaven Of course it’s not wrong to keep what we want or use, but occasionally giving up something of more personal value gives way for a deeper devotion to God. Store up your treasure in heaven. A priest friend of mine joked, “I never saw a hearse pulling a U-Haul,” because you can’t take it with you! What’s distracting you from having that John 10:10 scene (i.e. living life to the full) Jesus wants you to have so badly? What are you holding onto that someone else needs or could appreciate more? Nothing has opened my eyes to the dignity of others like living simply. I initially jumped on the minimalism band wagon just to make sure our little house would fit our growing family. Decluttering had its perks like a renewed home and less anxiety caused by clutter, but as I kept detaching from “stuff” and giving to anyone in need, I saw clearly how much people matter. It brought me so much joy to look for others’ needs or ways I could help their days be easier. If you have extra time, make a bigger dinner and invite friends over. If you use two of the same thing, try living with just one. You’ll adapt and that fear of holding on to things “just in case” will disappear in time. [bctt tweet="Nothing has opened my eyes to the dignity of others like living simply. #BISblog //"] What the Rich Young Man Should Have Asked Practicing minimalism in light of God’s unique call for your life lifts a big load off your shoulders. It yields peace and freedom previously unrealized, as well as renewed gratitude and joy in Christ. Getting there, however, is no easy feat, especially when our hearts look anything like the Rich Young Man's heart. Jesus even affirms all this further in the story, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” I wish the Rich Young Man had stuck around, despite his discouragement. Then he would have heard the Lord, and maybe he would have asked for God’s grace. I’d like to argue that the Rich Young Man’s downfall was not necessarily his attachment to his “many possessions,” but that he didn’t ask for help. Jesus doesn’t call us to follow Him and then leave us to go it alone. He walks with us and sustains us. The Lord surrounds us with support, and it’s likely He planted our desire for simplicity in the first place. Minimalism as a movement will likely disappear from the cultural zeitgeist; but if we regard simplicity as a holy effort toward answering the Lord’s desires for and from our lives, and as a means of recognizing the worth of others instead of stuff, then it goes beyond trends and becomes a matter of the soul. Intentionally keeping what we need and cutting out what we don’t unearths a life more connected to Heaven. Christian simplicity yields closeness with Jesus, trust in His will, and a peace beyond understanding. Do you practice minimalism? What fruits have you seen in your own home and soul? [bctt tweet="Catholic Simplicity: Soulful Minimalism #BISblog //"] Katie Sciba is a national speaker and five-time Catholic Press Award-winning writer. Her work is focused on vulnerability with Jesus, holiness in marriage and family, Catholic minimalism, as well as her retreat Courageous + Captivating. Katie and her husband Andrew have been married for 10 years and live with their children in Omaha, Nebraska. You can find out more about her here.

Like a new year, Ash Wednesday can come with excitement, plans, and goals. We are determined that this Lent will be the best Lent ever! Perhaps you had at the ready your Blessed is She Lenten Journal, your regular journal, your BIS Journaling Bible, your other Bible, a handful of spiritual books, your Rosary, your Bible study group, your small group study, your devotionals, and your plans to give up chocolate, to exercise each day, and not to let a negative word leave your lips. Maybe you planned to never raise your voice at your kids or get irritated with your husband. You were not going to get impatient commuting to work, or think a single negative thought about your annoying coworker (or student or classmate), or procrastinate on any of your papers or studies. This Lent you were ready to become the saint you are called to be. All by Easter Sunday. And then perhaps, life happened and you may have found that it has been more difficult to stay committed to your Lenten practices than you expected. When you notice that you haven’t stayed true to this year’s Lenten commitments (or maybe you have even forgotten some of the things you wanted to do this Lent), you might be tempted to throw in the towel. But I’m here to tell you that if you if you are feeling like you’ve “failed” at Lent, it’s fine! You are not alone, (I’m with you too), and it’s not too late. Lent is still here and there is still time for God to work! Let God Work I have lived through a few Lents trying to do “all the things.” I added in more Adoration and joined Bible studies, said Rosaries, went to daily Mass, added in spiritual reading, and reading of Scripture, and quiet prayer time, and another small group, too. All this in addition to giving up a couple favorite foods, not listening to music in the car, and refraining from buying extra things for myself. It got to be too much. I not only couldn’t do all of those good things, but I also kept forgetting them, which ultimately was me forgetting the real purpose behind trying to do them in the first place! Eventually it ended in a sort of Lenten “spiritual burnout.” After eventually trying to learn from those experiences, I went to the other extreme. Instead of trying to do all the things for Lent, I did nothing. That’s right, the Lenten penance I chose was to do “nothing.” I did not go to Bible study or a small group. I did not pressure myself to go to Adoration or pray a daily Rosary. Instead, I would go into the chapel and be still. I would sit there and do “nothing.” Rather than doing a million good things, I focused on being. It was fruitful, and also very challenging. What I considered doing “nothing” was actually creating space for God and allowing “Him” to do a wonderful “something” within my soul. [bctt tweet="Rather than doing a million good things, I focused on being. #BISblog //"] Being Vs. Doing I’m not saying you should quit your Bible study or small group or that you should stop going Mass and Adoration or that you should stop praying the Rosary. Of course not. But sometimes there is value in doing less and being more. What I learned from letting go of trying to do so many good things is that holiness is less about all the things I do, and more about what God does in me. All of my “doing” was getting in the way of you actually “being” with God. Ultimately, I needed a radical shift to let God in and for Him to work. [bctt tweet="Holiness is less about all the things I do, and more about what God does in me. #BISblog //"] Renewal and Encouragement for Lent If you feel like your Lent is not going so great, and that maybe you’re “failing” at Lent consider the following: 1. Let God work. Perhaps you can take a moment to simply invite God to come and do the work of holiness and conversion within you. The heart of Lent is simply returning to the Lord and inviting Him to work within us. If you feel like you are nothing, you have nothing to offer, or especially if you feel like you have done nothing so far this Lent, consider inviting God to act, just like He did in the beginning in Genesis. Let Him create something good and beautiful in you “out of nothing.” Ask Him work in you. 2. Learn something. What have you learned about yourself this Lent? What have you done well? Not so well? Why? What have been the challenges this Lent? How will you show up for the remainder of Lent? 3. Feel free to adjust. It’s totally fine to change your Lenten commitments halfway through if you feel like something different might serve you better. Ask God if He’d like you to do something different or to keep your original plans. 4. Get support. What kind of support do you need to have this remaining time of Lent be fruitful and positive for you? Can you ask a friend to go to Adoration with you or to take a weekly Rosary walk? Do you need to place your Bible or journal on a clear space, perhaps on your nightstand, so that you will see it more easily and be reminded to pray first thing in the morning? What about setting an alarm on your phone at 3 p.m. if you’ve committed to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet? A stickie-note on the bathroom mirror with a Scripture quote or reminder to stay committed to positive thoughts rather than criticism throughout the day? Make shifts in your environment around you, invite others to join you, and find ways to add in little supports to help you stay accountable. Get creative and have fun. Lent is a time of penance and sacrifice, but our sacrifices can also be joyful and life-giving. [bctt tweet="Our sacrifices can be joyful and life-giving. #BISblog //"] 5. Begin again. The spiritual life is about beginning again, returning to the Lord and starting over. Simply start again. Today. Right now. It doesn’t matter if you only got to read your BIS Lenten Journal the first day of Lent or haven’t even begun. If that is something that you feel may be helpful and supportive to you now, why not pick it up today and start right where you are? Lent is About Holiness Lent is here for you. It is here to help you and support you in holiness. But remember, this is God’s work. He is the one who will ultimately do it in you. See what happens if you can stop, let go, and truly allow God to work. Wherever you are and however your Lent is going, turn to Him today, right now, and begin again. How are your Lenten sacrifices and promises going? What encouragement do you need as we near Easter? Let us know in the comments. We will pray for you! [bctt tweet="Renewal and Encouragement for Lent #BISblog //"] Mary Catherine Craige enjoys spending her time creating art, writing, and playing her Irish harp. She uses her experience as a Montessori teacher and catechist to serve young children through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. As a life coach, she encourages and challenges women in all walks of life to more deeply discover their purpose and live their full potential. You can find out more about her here. GOD'S WORD CHANGES LIVES When we let God form and shape our lives through His Word, we become changed women. His words are Spirit and Life, so let them give you life. The Blessed is She Bible is your trusted companion on your walk with Jesus. ORDER MY BIBLE

I stand in line in the grocery store, and my line of vision drifts to the magazine stand next to me. And suddenly, I’m inundated with images of women. Women who have defined abs, the perfect tan, and really white teeth. “How to lose 10 inches and 10 pounds in a week!” reads the magazine next to it. My heart immediately goes in two different directions. The first: I’ll never look like that or be like that. And because of that, I am less than. I am insignificant. I am unworthy, unloved, and unseen. My heart sinks and simultaneously thumps a bit faster. Then comes grace. The second: I am loved by the Maker of Heaven and earth. I am known and loved by my Father who is Love itself. He sees me, He knows me, He has created me in His image and likeness, and I am enough. I am more than enough. And in this moment, my heart lifts once more. I am beloved. Always have been, always will be. But to live as one who is loved, we must choose to accept and actively choose this truth over and over again. Learning to Believe I'm Beloved Believing I’m beloved in every moment is not something I’ve mastered. But over time, I’ve grown to recognize the goodness, the beauty, and the Truth that we are vessels of God. I've realized that our bodies, our strength, our health, and the opportunities we are given each day to take care of ourselves are gifts. The numbers we so often use to measure ourselves have no hold over us. They do not dictate our value, our worth, or our capacity to be loved. They do not make us more or less lovable; they are an arbitrary worldly measure. What if, sisters, we stopped waiting for the world around us to give us permission to be loved? What if we stopped waiting for the world to tell us that we are beautiful, beloved, and worthy? What if we stopped seeking affirmation, validity, and the measure of our worth from those magazine covers, and instead, actively reminded ourselves of Who created us out of Love? I’m willing to bet we would live loved. It’s not always easy, but His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Living Loved We were made for more. We were created with these bodies that were made to live lives of abundance. Our bodies were created to bear children, to run, to lunge, to carry groceries, to live fully and freely in His love. And yet, we remain caught up in the definitions of this world. We wait for permission to live loved. My hope and prayer for each of us today is that when we look in the mirror, we see ourselves the way He sees us: beautiful, beloved, and worthy. I pray that we quit picking ourselves apart, that we stop with the negative self-talk. I hope that we are able to begin (or continue) to see ourselves, our bodies, as gifts to be taken care of and loved. My hope and prayer is that you take care of you today. Seek His affirmation and His alone. Until we truly choose to see ourselves as He does, we will continue to seek the measure of our worth and value from this world. Worthy of Being Cared For I think that we, as women, often struggle with the idea of self-care. We are busy. We work, we attend school. We are mothers, wives, and friends. We are pulled in countless directions, and we often place ourselves and our health on the back burner. We end up in last place on our "to take care of" lists. But here’s the thing: these bodies we have are temples of His. If we fail to take care ourselves, we wither mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. And when we wither, we fail to love and serve those placed before us to the best of our ability. Ever feel like you’re too tired, too overwhelmed, too busy, or too weak to do one more thing? Me too. Until I began to believe that I am beloved. Until I began to realize that when I love and care for myself as He so desires, I grow more into the best version of myself. The rest always falls into place. I am more kind, appreciative, and loving. I have more energy to work hard, to focus, and to keep up with all that I am called to be and do. I am a better wife, friend, and disciple. When we begin to believe and live as we are–beloved–we grow. And I want to grow. I want to grow into the woman He’s created me to be. I want to grow toward being the best me I can be each and every day. I want to measure my worth and value not by the standards of the world, but by the certainty He sets on my heart each new day: I am His and He is mine. I am beloved. All else flows from this truth when I actively choose to receive and believe it. And once I do, my life changes. Slowly and steadily, it changes. You are loved. Far beyond measure. You are seen. Far beyond the world’s eyes. Next time you’re standing in that checkout line, remember the truth: you are beautiful, beloved, and worthy. Period. Do you believe it? Let’s care for ourselves today, not so that we may become more beautiful, beloved, and worthy, but because we already are. [bctt tweet="You are loved. Far beyond measure. You are seen. Far beyond the world’s eyes. #BISblog //"] How have you made strides toward believing you're beloved? [bctt tweet="Believing I'm Beloved #BISblog //"] Shalini C. Blubaugh lives in the great state of Colorado with her sweet husband and their 6-month-old German Shepherd pup. She’s a health coach and is studying to become a personal trainer. You can find out more about her on Instagram and on her blog.

Many people are disengaging from their smartphones and tablets. They're deleting apps and shutting down their social media profiles. So often, it seems that when something becomes such a big part of our lives as smartphones and social media have, the best way to fight their negative effects is to go cold turkey. We shout "Get behind me, Satan," and cut ourselves off from it completely. However, in the words of the great Saint Augustine, "Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation." It's easier to cut ourselves off from temptation completely than moderate our behaviors. A Smart Use for Smartphones If you're like me, your goal is not to completely disengage, but to learn how to use these resources for our improvement. It seems odd to say that we can use our smartphones to bring us closer to God. But thanks to some computer-savvy Catholic companies out there, it is becoming a reality. Awesome Catholic Apps I want to share with you some of my favorite Catholic apps that might just be what you're looking for to assist your walk with God! Blessed is She Yes, Blessed is She has an app! It is the perfect place to read the Daily Devotions, to find women and friends in your area, to grow in holiness in an encouraging and safe space! These are just a few of the amazing Catholic apps available. All of these are available for Apple and Android systems. There are countless others that can help you in your goals to pray more often, study the Bible, or just keep up to date on information relevant to you as a Catholic. Many of these apps have wonderful features that help you remember to take time for God in our busy world!   Hallow Hallow is the #1 Catholic Prayer and Meditation app; think Headspace or Calm but for Catholics! With over 500 audio-guided prayers and meditations, Hallow provides a beautifully designed way to spend more time with God and meditating on His Word. Set reminders, create or join prayer groups, share prayer intentions with loved ones, and meditate from one minute to a Holy Hour. Some of the amazing content on Hallow includes Daily Gospel reflections, Minute Meditations, the Daily Rosary, Litanies, Divine Mercy, a Daily Examen, and Praylists on important topics such as Discernment, Calm, and Love. Hallow even features some of your favorite Catholic speakers with Guest Sessions and Sleep Stories. Fall asleep to Jonathan Roumie reading from the Sermon on the Mount or Father Mike Schmitz reading The Gospel of John. Hallow is for ladies in all walks of their faith journey, allowing you to go as deep as you’d like. There is so much content, with more always being added, that you will never cease to find a few moments to spend with God. Pray As You Go "Pray As You Go" is probably my favorite for any woman who struggles to find dedicated, quiet time in her life. The 15 minute (or less) segments are a perfect way to start my mornings as I drive to work. The music is always wonderful and the reflections are encouraging and thoughtful without being too deep for a 6:30 a.m. commute. "Pray As You Go" also offers audio prayers, Imaginative Contemplation Exercises, an audio Rosary & Stations of the Cross, and an audio Examen. Reimagining the Examen "Reimagining the Examen" is an interactive App that leads you through a series of Examens, encouraging you to sit in prayer with God each day. You can select an examen (relationships, habits, fears, etc.) and select your own background music. This would be the perfect app for someone needing guidance during evening prayer or reflection during Adoration. Laudate "Laudate" is the classic, all-encompassing Catholic app. It offers daily readings, the Liturgy of the Hours, a Confession app, prayers, links to the Catechism and other Church documents, and so much more. It is a useful tool for any Catholic wanting just about anything related to your Faith at your fingertips. Formed.org "Formed.org" is like Catholic Netflix. It offers studies, videos, audio recordings, ebooks, and a range of materials for kids. It is the perfect app for media-loving Catholics who really want to help their media consumption be more fulfilling and spiritual. While "Formed.org" does require a monthly fee for access to all the materials, check with your parish, as many offer their parishioners' free access to all the wonderful content. Relevant Radio "Relevant Radio" is essentially Catholic podcasting in an app. This is a free app that grants access to all the shows produced by Relevant Radio, available in live streaming or downloadable content. It also includes audio prayers, a Confession "helper," and Catholic news from around the world. It's perfect if you're looking for ways to fill long commutes or travel with something more uplifting. Magnificat "Magnificat" is the app from the same company that brings us the monthly Magnificat Missals. It gives you access to the daily readings along with various articles, Hymns for the Month, Lectio Divina, and resources for blessings and prayers. One of the great things about this app is that you can set alerts to remind you of morning, evening, and nighttime prayer. This is not a free app, but the low cost gives you access to a wide variety of materials. There is a free trial month when you first download the app! Mass Times for Travel "Mass Times for Travel" is the perfect app for any traveling Catholic. It allows you to find a Mass nearby, wherever you are. It often offers additional information on availabilities for Adoration and Confession. The app also provides directions to help you fulfill the Sunday obligation while on the road.  And if you're looking to use your smartphone wisely, check out this post on organizing your apps in order to keep your priorities straight. How do you use your smartphone or tablet to further your faith? Is there an app we missed that we should know about? Drop us a line in the comments to share!   [bctt tweet="Awesome Catholic Apps #BISblog //"]

Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; Exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast. -Introit, Laetare Sunday Reflect Let the period of Lent stimulate us, therefore, to carry out our Christian duties. Let us find again the joy that participation in the Eucharist gives us. Let Sunday Mass become for us the climax of every week. Let us find again the joy that comes from repentance, from conversion, from this splendid sacrament of reconciliation with God, which Christ set up to re-establish peace in man's conscience. Let us undertake the spiritual effort that Lent demands of us in order to be capable of accepting with all the depth of the spirit this call of the Church today: "Laetare, Jerusalem." Pope Saint John Paul II (source) Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to the BIS Rests playlist here. I recommend listening to “Laetere, Jerusalem”. [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Rejoice + Exult #BISblog #BISrests //"] Curated by Elise Howe. You can find out more about her here.

My dad died suddenly two years ago. The day was traumatic and a lot like I imagine hell to be; a disorienting collapse of reality, overwhelming fear, and plain old horror. That is the word I would use to describe laying a loved one in the ground: horrific. I could never have anticipated my reaction. I had witnessed death before, read about it, expected it (or so I thought), and even looked forward to meeting Jesus. I guess that was all in theory. This was reality: he was gone, and he wasn’t coming back. Drowning They say that in order to deal with your grief you need to face it head on. I did not know how to do that. I had to function, to get through each day, and to care for my family. I woke up every night and raced outside to get air. I felt like I was suffocating. Every time I realized that the world no longer housed my dad, my vision blurred and my lungs constricted. I had to set it aside. I wanted no part of that bleak and foreign world. I couldn’t live in it. I would confess week after week that I had no prayer life and kept missing Mass. I knew in my head that it was wrong and harmful and that I needed God, but I didn’t feel anything. Priest after priest told me that it was okay to be mad at God, but I wasn’t mad. I wasn’t mad at God. I understood redemptive suffering and a God whose vision reached so far beyond my own that questioning "why" seemed silly. I didn’t wonder why. I didn’t think anything. I only felt. And what I felt was too terrible and frightening to live with, so I more or less lived life like a zombie. Grappling with God in Grief Where was God? He was right next to me. I knew that. But I couldn’t find Him. And I wasn’t really trying, because all my energy was going towards reading a book to the kids with some semblance of a smile and asking my husband how his day went. After this very bare minimum, I had nothing left. And then I got pregnant and it was hard, and my husband worked around the clock and it was hard, and we lived with mean neighbors and it was hard, and I continued to throw out half-hearted Hail Mary’s and sing songs about Jesus with my kids and spend my time between putting them to bed and going to bed watching Fixer Upper and browsing Anthropologie’s latest collection. I thought I was learning how to live without my dad. And I knew Jesus was with me and I was grateful for His company, but we didn’t really speak. I didn’t let Him hug me, and I certainly never hugged Him. He was there, I just couldn’t quite find Him. We carried on like this for about a year. Then my sweet Isabel was born. We brought her home from the hospital. I looked at her beautiful little face, and suddenly the world was different. The world had her, but it didn’t, it couldn’t, also have my dad. Everything came crashing down and I could no longer stem the tide of fear and helplessness. Sorrow overwhelmed me. I couldn’t breathe. I was trapped here, in this new world. With my daughter, without my dad. And everything in my old world seemed far away. My husband and children, everything I knew. It was just Isabel and I, and as much as I loved her, I needed to reconcile my worlds—to claim my life—my real, new life. With Isabel, without my dad. But I didn’t know how. And I couldn’t find God. Even though I saw Him standing right there. Letting God Find Me It was in this place—this rock bottom place where all hope was lost and I didn’t recognize myself and doctors debated how to address such severe postpartum panic disorder and my husband had to stay with me every minute of every day for weeks so that when the world crashed and my vision blurred someone was there to catch the baby or grab the steering wheel—that God found me. I had been hiding, and He loved me so much that He respected my walls. Even though the slightest whisper from Him would have sent them tumbling, He waited. Even though it took months too long, pillows too tear-stained, and loneliness deeper than He ever wanted for me, He waited. And when in sheer desperation and utter nakedness I revealed my heart to Him, He leapt in with the all the force of a hurricane and all the tenderness of a father and reclaimed that heart. And I began to heal. Because the grief was too blinding to find God, I had to let Him find me. I didn’t know how, but He did. And He waited for me. Sometimes healing is just that. Letting God hold you. If you can’t seem to find a way, take heart. He will find a way. [bctt tweet="Finding God in the Midst of Grief #BISblog //"] Kayla Sanmiguel lives in Saint Paul, MN with her husband Javier and their (almost) four children. She works in Institutional Advancement for The Saint Paul Seminary and otherwise spends her time soaking up these fleeting years when toddlers run amok. You can find her thoughts on faith and psychology at Mind & Spirit.

To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. -Timothy Keller Last January, my husband was in RCIA, discerning whether to join the Catholic Church. As my beloved began exploring the truths of Catholicism, it fanned a flame over the barely glowing embers of my own faith. We were married in the Church, but struggled in our faith journey for the first six years of marriage. By this time, I had returned to regular Mass attendance and had recently made my first Confession after an eight-year absence. I was plugging away in the day-to-day spiritual realities of young motherhood with two little boys running around the house and expecting another in the fall. Spiritual Reversion While I was back in the Catholic routine after a lengthy period of questioning, my lingering anxiety surrounding Confession remained. I would fulfill my yearly obligation, but any attempt to receive the sacrament led to intense feelings of shame and guilt. Why couldn’t I just keep things between me and Jesus and not have to admit them to a priest? I finally brought my struggle to prayer. Jesus knew I had no doubt of His power, but I could not comprehend His love for me. I needed personification of this truth: He has infinite power and He loves me unconditionally. Not in the general sense of loving His entire creation, but uniquely, individually me. The next morning, while perusing social media with a not-yet-cold-enough-to-reheat cup of coffee, a Facebook memory popped up. …from college. …from a time I was not living out my faith. At all. I was suddenly in a whirlwind of thoughts: “Why was that hairstyle a thing?!” “I forgot that party ever happened! But I definitely remember what happened after that dinner.” “Wow, I was a bit of a hot mess for the duration of 2007.” “I wasn’t going to Confession or Mass at this time!” “I completely forgot to confess this time in my life when I returned to the Church!” It was a true, honest mistake. I never intentionally withheld these sins in Confession. Now that I remembered them, though, I was counseled to confess them the next time I received the sacrament. Not because they hadn’t been forgiven previously (they had!), but for my own healing. Looking back, Christ was giving me the greatest gift. The opportunity to show someone my brokenness and receive love and acceptance in return. Jesus wants to enter our lives and transform our woundedness into His glory. However, our human understanding can’t always comprehend this. I needed a human image of His love. Luckily for me (and you), the Church gives us this human image of Christ’s love and mercy in a beautiful, safe sacramental space. Meeting St. Agnes It was January 21, 2017. The feast of St. Agnes of Rome. Patroness of chastity and little girls. I took a deep breath, prepared to shed light on my secrets from ten years ago, and walked into the confessional on that chilly Saturday morning. After I finished confessing, the priest smiled and said, “This is so perfect on St. Agnes’ feast day.” I did not even attempt to hide my feelings. “She is the patron saint of chastity! She’s a virgin martyr! I am the opposite of her!” I fired back. My kind, patient pastor smiled a little wider and nodded, “I know. For your penance, I want you to say three Hail Marys and ask Mary to take you to St. Agnes.” To this day, I’m still not sure where "eye rolls toward your confessor" falls on the spectrum of sin severity. Begrudgingly, I sat down in the pew and in an exasperated tone, I prayed, “Alright, Mary. I’m supposed to ask you to take me to St. Agnes. I don’t see why. My life is the complete opposite of everything she was. This is embarrassing and so ridiculous!” Immediately, clear as day, I heard St. Agnes speak to my heart: Do not compare our lives. I am the patron saint of little girls. I saw you as a little girl. You were hurt very young. You did not stand a chance at chastity until those wounds were healed. Do not compare our stories. Jesus knew I needed to hear those words. Poor choices I made later in life were the result of wounds I experienced as a small child. These wounds were not an excuse for the sins I committed as an adult; but Jesus extended the invitation to allow Him to heal me. To remind me that He knew the whole story. He saw me when I couldn’t protect myself as a child, and His response was gentleness. I needed to treat myself with that same gentleness. Confession Heals Wounds "Do not compare our lives." St. Agnes is a saint because of how she lived her story, how she fought her fight, and how she finished her race. I can be a saint based on how I live my story, how I fight my fight, and how I finish my race. Until those wounds were healed. It was time to forgive myself, stop living out of the wounds, and allow Christ to bandage up the hurt. My dear sisters, holiness isn’t a prize we get once we cease to be broken. Holiness is found when we allow Christ in to the brokenness. After thirty years, it was about time to begin living as a (mended) daughter of the King. Are you living out of woundedness? Christ saw that wound when it was first inflicted. Maybe you, too, didn’t stand a chance until you found healing. Who is He putting in your path to speak His truth to you? He doesn’t want to condemn you. He fully knows you, and He truly loves you. He wants to mend you, his daughter. A daughter of the King. [bctt tweet="The Healing Power of Confession in My Life #BISblog //"] Bekah Knobeloch is a midwestern mama of three crazy boys and wife to a mountain man from Colorado. She is registered nurse, Marquette Model NFP instructor, and loves to travel, write, and host dinner parties. She unashamedly runs on coffee, wine, and an abundance of grace.

When it comes to development of our spiritual and social lives, the type of journey we set out on comes in a variety of forms. I think of the hobbits setting forth from the Shire in The Lord of the Rings and learning that they, too, are warriors capable of standing up to great evil. I think of Sidney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities, who out of love for a married woman, lays down his life for her husband. The Scapegoat In Daphne du Maurier’s The Scapegoat, readers are taken into perhaps a more modern journey whose landscape is largely interior. Readers meet John, a British professor of French history with no connections. He’s been living a quiet, lonely life, and has decided to end his latest trip to France with a stop at a monastery. He wants to know what he can do with what he deems to be a failed life, and hopes the monks will have some answers. He stops in Le Mans for a drink. Enter Jean de Gué, a man who not only has a family, but is actively trying to escape them and his life of responsibilities. And to their mutual surprise, John and Jean are doppelgangers. Jean decides to get John drunk and to leave John with his life—his family, his failing glass factory, and his tangled relationships. The Switch At first, John tries to unveil his mistaken identity, but no one will believe him. He ends up taking on the charade that Jean has created: he enters Jean’s house as Jean de Gué, and the family accepts him as their husband, father, son, and brother. The book follows John over the course of a week, a week in which his actions and reactions shape the life of Jean’s family in both harmful and beneficial ways. In helping Jean carry out deception, John must parse a striking reality: that by existing, we influence—and even change—the lives of those around us. John must bear the repercussions of Jean’s negligent treatment of the family: a weak and jealous wife, a dramatic daughter, a morphine-addicted mother, an overworked and suspicious brother, a bitter sister. John must figure out how to respond to the family’s needs, either as he believes Jean would, or in accord with his growing affection for them. As the week progresses, John begins to feel the weight of the responsibility that’s been laid upon him: One had no right to play about with people’s lives. One should not interfere with their emotions. A word, a look, a smile, a frown, did something to another human being, waking response or aversion, and a web was woven which had no beginning and no end, spreading outward and inward too, merging, entangling, so that the struggle of one depended upon the struggle of the other. (page 74) Greener Grass In realizing his responsibility for this family’s well being, John also comes to realize an inexplicable love for them. When Jean returns home, and the two switch back into their own lives again (you’ll have to read to find out how this happens), John no longer wonders what to do with failure, but rather, “What do I do with love?” A confidant gives John a striking answer: You give it away…but the trouble is, it stays with you just the same. Like water in a well. The spring remains under the dried depths. (pages 372-73) As the well is an image that figures throughout the book as a place of old tragedy, broken hope, and eventual reconciliation, equating it with love transforms the image and reflects John’s transformation in the novel. He starts the novel unattached and empty. At the novel’s end, he’s found purpose, connection, and community among those who were under his care. Communion I’ve found a great deal of comfort in this book, especially at this time of life: one of transition, one of waiting to discover whose lives I might be asked to enter. I’ve also found here a reminder about the risk of love—that, as John finds, to love is to be willing to suffer: I knew suddenly, with conviction, that it was not a stranger’s curiosity that drew me to them, a sentimental attraction to the picturesque, but something deeper, more intimate, a desire so intense for their well-being and their future that although akin to love it resembled pain. (page 325) The book ends mid-journey, as all stories of lives still being lived do. In telling the story of a life of loneliness transformed by human selfishness (Jean de Gue’s in trying to escape his family) and a slew of errors (John’s often failed attempts to understand and interact with Jean’s family) du Maurier’s story highlights the dignity and value of each human life—that our connections with each other are powerful, and therefore, should be treated with reverence. Have you read this book before? What did you think?! [bctt tweet="The Heart’s Search for Community: Daphne du Maurier’s 'The Scapegoat' #BISblog //"] Lindsey Weishar is an MFA candidate in Poetry. She enjoys discovering beauty in the little things and endless cups of tea. She has written for Verily and The Young Catholic Woman. A chapbook of her poems is forthcoming from Leaf Press in the spring. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

God has given us the gift of life! To live our lives well involves commitments and decisions that can be daunting and intimidating, even more so if you are trying to navigate it alone. To be single, without a companion or helpmate, is a singular experience in the world and in the Church. You may want to go for a hike but you don’t because it may not be safe to do so on your own. You’d love a steak dinner and a glass of wine, but you don’t want to go to a restaurant alone. The hostess says, “Just one?” You feel the pity eyes of the people around you. You stare at your phone the entire time to not feel so alone. Alone in the Church? The same can go for getting involved in a parish community or diocesan church. You’d love to go to the respect life banquet, but yet again you don't, because you don’t have anyone to accompany you. The list goes on and on… Around this time last year, I was flooded with dilemmas like these. I had recently moved back to my hometown after being away for more than thirteen years. I had a core group of friends when I left. When I moved back, it wasn't the same. My high school friends had moved away or had taken different paths in life and we no longer shared the same focus. I was thirty, single, without my dearest friends, and in a community in which I needed to start over. I wanted to do this with spiritual and moral integrity—I needed support, and I knew I needed it from the Church. How the Church Can Support Single People Thankfully, I received support from being in relationship with three particular people in the Church: my spiritual director, the parish priest, and the director of religious education. They taught me what I think every single person needs in order to thrive in their state in life. What they taught me is what, in my opinion, the Church needs to articulate more and more to single people: 1. Encouraging people to live singleness well. I remember talking with my spiritual director about the struggle of being alone and the hesitations I was having about attending events and activities on my own. He shared with me that in his parish growing up, the most beautiful and inspiring individuals for him and his siblings were people who were single. They were faithful, gentle, and generous individuals. Father explained to me that by them living their singleness well, they inspired him to give of his life through the priesthood. Generosity attracts generosity, he explained. When I was hesitant to do things alone, he simply said: “Just go!” This worked for me. 2. Acknowledging that single people have much to give. Over and over again, I have been thanked by people in all states of life for my service to the Church. They have recognized that at this point in my life, I am not giving of myself to a spouse, children, or religious order. They see that I am giving of myself in the ways I am able to in the parish community, whether it be through teaching, organizing events, serving as lector or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and so on. Because I am not yet married or a religious, I have much to offer as a single person that I may not necessarily be able to offer if I were married or consecrated. 3. Being intentional about inviting singles to get involved and serve. After having been back in my hometown community for a few months, the director of religious education invited me to teach CCD. I truly believe this is the best thing a community can do to affirm, encourage, and bring singles and young people alike into the life of the community. It gave me a mission and a way to enter into relationship with others in the parish. It motivated me to keep returning to the parish each week, instead of church hopping. 4. Listening to singles’ ideas and providing offerings that are attractive. I was at the parish for only a few months when I was in conversation with the parish priest about offerings for singles and young adults. We discussed the possibility of forming a young adult group with a particular focus on Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. The priest saw these ideas through and it provided an opportunity for not only my own spiritual growth, but for others' growth as well. The priest listened and cared to provide offerings that would be appealing. Living Single Life to the Full God has given us life. It is up to us to live it to the full. If you are single, your state in life is not incidental to God’s providence, which intends you to be a gift to the Church and to the world. Your state in life gives you a unique opportunity to serve and to love, to witness and to celebrate. To feel sorry for yourself is to diminish or reject the grace God holds for you to build up His Body. We need each other to be the Body of Christ. Now. You may pout about your vocation for one more minute, but never again. To do so is to miss it! Where are my single ladies? What would you add to the list? How can the Church support you? [bctt tweet="How the Church Can Support Single People #BISblog //"] Amanda Zurface resides in Pueblo, Colorado, where she serves as the Vice-Chancellor for the Diocese of Pueblo. She also serves as the Catholic Content Specialist for Covenant Eyes. Amanda holds a License and MA in Canon Law and a BA in Catholic Theology and Social Justice. She is the co-author of Equipped: Smart Catholic Parenting in a Sexualized Culture, Confident: Helping Parents Navigate Online Exposure and Transformed by Beauty.