At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” // Matthew 14:27 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Jazmin De Guzman from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Over the course of a career, teachers are tasked with the important job of helping thousands of individuals develop their God-given gifts with which they will (hopefully) better society and build up the Kingdom of God. It should come as no surprise then, that the job itself is far from easy. Long school holiday breaks do not always make up for the constant physical, mental, and emotional energy demanded by the profession. Litany of Saints for Teachers Divine grace is truly needed, which is why we compiled a Litany of Saints for Teachers. While it’s certainly true there are numerous Saints whose patronage would be of benefit to educators (Saint Drogo as the patron Saint of coffee, for example), the Saints in this litany are all men and women who know firsthand the cross that accompanies the profession and were able to persevere in virtue and grace. Saint Cassian of Imola An Italian bishop and teacher in the 4th century, it was discovered Cassian was a Christian when he refused to pay homage to Roman gods. Condemned to death, the Romans invited his students to be the ones to carry out the deed. Relishing the opportunity for revenge for all the times their teacher had punished them in class, Cassian’s pupils tied him to a stake and stabbed him with iron styli (the writing utensils they used for their school work). Clearly Cassian was familiar with teaching students who disliked him, so we can ask for his intercession with difficult students in our own classrooms. Blessed Leonella Sgorbati An Italian woman of the twenty-first century, Leonella was a religious sister who spent 30 years serving the poor in Kenya and Somalia. A nurse herself, Leonella instructed local men and women in the profession, eventually starting and running a school of Nursing with the help of her religious order. Leonella empowered her students to better their own lives and serve their community. She was sadly killed by an Islamic extremist in 2006 and was declared a martyr of the Church. May we all learn to share our personal passions with our students that they can be formed to improve the community around them. Saint Agatha Lin Agatha was a 19th century Chinese woman who devoted her whole life to evangelizing in a country where it was highly illegal. Born to Christian parents, Agatha actually received her schooling from consecrated virgins. She studied hard, eventually becoming a teacher (and consecrated virgin) herself. Initially she was an instructor at the house of formation for the consecrated virgins, but through prayer and discernment, left her home and moved to a village in the Langdai district that was inhabited heavily by the Miao people (an ethnic minority). Her main focus was the informal education of women, but she couldn’t help but introduce the richness of the Faith as well. Within two year, all of Agatha’s students converted. Eventually her teaching efforts caught the attention of the government and she was beheaded. We may never face the physical threats she faced in teaching, but we can ask her to intercede on our behalf when we are being threatened by other outside forces (such as upset students and their parents). Saint Albert the Great A Dominican friar who lived during the 13th century, Albert was one of those “once in a lifetime” kind of teachers who had a major impact on all the pupils he taught. He developed strong relationships with each of his students, encouraging them to look at issues from multiple angles in order that they would become masters of all that they studied. Albert’s most famous student was Thomas Aquinas; Albert’s method of approach towards issues can be seen in his student’s writings, in particular the Summa Theologica. Albert knew well the strengths and weaknesses of each student. When Aquinas’ classmates referred to him as a “dumb ox” because he was large and spoke slowly, Albert retorted, "We call this man a dumb ox, but his bellowing in doctrine will one day resound throughout the world." Albert is proof of the incredible impact a good teacher can have on generations, and we ask through his intercession for the grace to do the same. Saint Francis de Sales While the majority of the Saints in this litany are noted for their work in educating the underprivileged, Saint Francis de Sales focused his effort in one-on-one instruction with “the elite,” souls that he recognized had particular aptitude for spirituality. Francis did so not because he thought these people to be more important than others, but rather he recognized their gifts were meant to help the whole Church and these souls often had no idea how to develop them. What I found to be most interesting is that the majority of these “elite”souls who received his instruction were women (at a time when Europe was anti-feminist), and Francis received a lot of flack for this. Still, on his own time (as he was not a formal teacher but a bishop) he provided instruction, encouragement, and education according to the personal needs of each soul, a sentiment that may be shared by personal tutors and homeschooling parents! May we all recognize those souls we encounter with this elite potential and help them to develop their gifts for the benefit of the world! Saint John Cantius It’s no wonder that Saint John Cantius is the patron Saint of teachers and students. Extremely well-learned himself, he was a teacher and Department Director at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland in the 15th century. He cared deeply for his students, assisting in their spiritual, academic, and personal needs. John’s approach towards teaching is apparent in his own words, “Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.” We ask for his ability to love and correct our students the way in which he did! Saint Aloysius Gonzaga Saint Aloysius Gonzaga died of a plague at the age of twenty-three because he bravely ministered to the sick. Though he was never an official teacher, he was so wise that he taught catechism classes to others when he was just eleven years old. Sometimes as teachers, we have students who are smarter than us, or older than us and those nerves can creep their way in. May Saint Aloysius serve as a reminder of our abilities when we encounter moments of fear and doubt about our abilities in the classroom. Saint Joseph Calasanz Saint Joseph Calasanz was a priest with advanced degrees in theology and law, but he walked away from those careers because he was deeply stirred by the need of the poor for proper education. Upon receiving permission and finances to open a school, an influx of excited students was immediate. The school size needed to be increased soon after opening their door, more men were drawn to the mission as teachers, and they became recognized as an official religious order, the Piarists, by the Church. Joseph was named their superior and proved himself to be incredibly virtuous in the face of adversity. As the order grew, so did the difference of opinions. Joseph was demoted because of his friendship and support of Galileo (and because he sent students to study under the astronomer), but he handled the entire situation with grace and humility. His name was not cleared until eight years after his death. Saint Joseph Calasanz is a great comrade to call upon when we find our efforts being criticized by others. I think it’s also important to note that the work of his order continued. Some of the most famous people to have benefitted from the free education offered include Wolfgang Mozart, Francisco Goya, Franz Schubert, Gregor Mendel, and Victor Hugo. Imagine how different the world would be if not for Saint Joseph Calasanz’s obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Saint John Baptiste de la Salle Saint John Baptiste de la Salle is often referred to as the Father of our Modern Education. It was he who implemented the division of students by age into classes, as well as trade schools, high schools, and formal training for those who desired to teach as a profession. He truly believed, “You can work miracles by touching the hearts of those entrusted to your care.” May Saint John Baptist de la Salle assist us all in touching hearts, working miracles, and developing better systems to educate future generations. Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara An Indian priest and social reformer in the 19th century, Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara stooped below his social status to make sure that the “untouchables” received the education they deserved. He even broke the law to ensure they learned sanskrit. In addition, he knew that his students would get more out of their schooling if they received a midday meal to sustain them, a “luxury” many poor families could not afford. He instigated a program where other students donated bites from their own plates every day; they discovered there was more than enough to feed everyone when they did this. The program was so successful Kuriakose took the idea to the king and it was implemented in all government schools. May the intercession of Saint Kuriakose Elais Chavara encourage us to serve the lowest of our community while also empowering our students to take care of one another. Saint John Bosco An Italian priest who created a school for boys because he saw too many of them who lived on the street end up in jail, Saint John Bosco created a lasting legacy in the field of education. He not only gave these boys a home and an education, he set up apprenticeships with local tradesmen so the boys would be successful when they outgrew the school. Furthermore, he provided each boy in his school with personal guidance (much like Saint Francis de Sales, which is why Bosco named his religious order the Salesians). The love and care the boys received had a lasting effect; many returned to join the order and teach at the school and others became virtuous, contributing members of society. Two of my favorite quotes from St. John Bosco are advice he passed on to his fellow teachers in regards to dealing with difficult students: “Get them to love you and they’ll follow you anywhere” and “It’s not enough to love them, they have to know they’re loved.” May St. John Bosco help us all to help our students know that they are loved. 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 Saint John Henry Newman A convert from the Angelican faith, Bishop Barron describes Saint John Henry Newman as a pivotal player in the field of theology and the eyes of the Catholic Church. Yet the Saint himself proclaimed, “Education has always been my line.” He worked as a tutor, a teacher, and also an administrator, establishing Catholic universities of the same caliber as other great English institutions. He called for an educated Catholic laity—and didn’t shy away from teaching secular subject matter like evolution and darwinism. He believed the laity needed to be educated in these matters so to be able to live out their Faith in the fullness of truth. May St. John Henry Newman assist us all in preparing our students to live virtuous lives in a secular world. Saint Miguel Febres Cordero An Ecuadorian religious brother who belonged to the order established by Saint John Baptiste de la Salle, Saint Miguel Febres Cordero was a teacher for over 32 years. As is often the case when it comes to teaching, textbooks were bad or non-existent, so Miguel authored his own. His textbooks were published in the areas of Spanish, Literature, Linguistics, and Teaching Methods (just to name a few). They were of such high quality that the government adopted them for use in all public schools. May Saint Miguel Febres Cordero, by his intercession, assists us all in the creation of quality materials for all students. Blessed Jutta of Disibodenberg Blessed Jutta of Disibodenberg left a wealthy, noble family to become a hermitess and live a quiet life following God. She was revered for her spiritual wisdom and she taught local girls in order to make a living. Her most famous pupil was Saint Hildegard of Bingen—one of only four women to be declared a Doctor of the Church. May Blessed Jutta assist us in instructing our students so well that they surpass us in knowledge and skill. Saint Angela Merici Saint Angela Merici founded the Ursline Sisters who dedicated themselves to educating young girls during a time period when the education of women was under attack (a result of the Renaissance and Enlightenment).They succeeded in their endeavor and the order continues to run schools for girls to this day. May Saint Angela Merici assist us in moving against the waves of society’s popular opinion! Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton shares an experience to which many of the teachers reading this blog can relate: she was a working mother. She had five children, and when widowed, started the first American Catholic parish school to support her family. Her efforts at the school lead to the founding of a religious order, the Sisters of Charity, as well as the establishment of the first American Catholic orphanage. May Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton help us to lovingly fulfill all the unique responsibilities of the vocation God gives to each one of us—especially when they are a-typical! Saint Mary Helen MacKillop The first and only Australian saint, Saint Mary Helen MacKillop founded her first school to help support her family. When this was successful, she was joined by many other women teachers, and under the direction of a priest, they established the first Catholic school in the country. This success led to the creation of a new religious order, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, as well as the explosion of over 40 Catholic schools across the continent. Shockingly, due to a disgruntled priest who had the ear of the bishop, Mary was excommunicated when she objected to changes the men wanted to make in regards to the order’s religious constitution. Mary showed great virtue through the turmoil, and the bishop himself restored her to full communion on his deathbed. May Saint Mary MacKillop intercede for us when we are misunderstood and under scrutiny by our bosses! Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was an Italian religious sister with a desire to be a missionary in China. However, her bishop saw a need elsewhere: in New York City where the vast population of Italian immigrants were facing loads of injustice. “Not to the East, but to the West,” he told her, and Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini obeyed. She immigrated herself, faced incredible adversity, but stopped at nothing to accomplish her mission. In addition to her many, many works, she and her sisters established schools in all over the country, as well as in Europe and South America, educating the poorest of society in an attempt to help them rise above their difficulties. May we all be as resilient and persevering as Mother Cabrini when assigned duties that are the opposite of what we want! Saint Katharine Drexel A wealthy socialite and heiress, Saint Katharine Drexel had a heart for philanthropy that was instilled by her parents. Upon their deaths, she used her entire inheritance to establish schools for Black and Native American children who were unable to attend “regular” school because the law did not permit it. Under the guidance of the pope, she also founded a religious order to work in those schools and served as their superior. Additionally, Katharine financed the printing of a Navajo-English Catechism, and founded Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic University in the United States for Black people. By the time of her death, she had financed over 100 schools across 16 states. May we all learn to be as generous in giving of ourselves to our students as Saint Katharine Drexel was! Blessed Contardo Ferrini The son of a teacher who then went on to become one himself, his life of virtue and instruction lead to Blessed Contardo Ferrini to be dubbed the patron Blessed of universities. Incredibly well-learned and considered an expert in many fields, as well as speaking several languages, Contardo discerned that his vocation was as a lay single-person. His life was lived in total service to others. Let’s Join Them There’s an old saying: “Those who can’t do, teach.” These holy men and women certainly prove the inaccuracy of that sentiment. Teachers are often those people who were brilliant and the best in their fields but entered education specifically to help others. The holy men and women in this litany share many of the same qualities and characteristics that we see within teachers today. Sacrificing better jobs and cushier lives, these Saints dedicated their lives to ensuring the development of other people, often even using their own money to do so. This sounds like the majority of the teachers I know. This year, when the going gets tough, we invite you to return to this litany, praying it over and over again in the hopes that it will result in waves of grace cleansing your classroom! Maybe, with their help, we’ll find our own names added to a new litany of Saints! Print your copy of the free graphic here and keep it tucked in the pages of your academic planner! 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

In this day and age, education is a necessity. And as a necessity, it often causes a lot of stress and turmoil. Because of the strife, it’s sometimes hard to remember that an education is also an incredible privilege, as access to education has not always been the norm. In fact, it was the efforts of Catholics throughout the centuries who saw to it that everyone was educated regardless of personal wealth or social status. A Litany of Saints for Students Despite the immense privilege, life as a student comes with all different kinds of challenges. A truth that even the Saints know! The following is a litany of Saints (handpicked because of their experiences and difficulties as a student) that we hope will blanket your academic efforts with buckets of grace! Blessed Peter Kibe I am not sure I have ever heard of a student more devoted to pursuing God’s will in the face of rejection. Born in 17th Century Japan to Christian parents, Blessed Peter Kibe attended Jesuit Seminary with the goal of becoming a priest. However, after graduation he was denied entrance to the Jesuit Order as the superior was not convinced Peter had what it took to be a priest in such a hostile environment. Despite the rebuff, Kibe knew the priesthood was his vocation so he persevered. For almost a decade he continued to work alongside the Jesuits before traveling to China, then India, unsuccessfully seeking ordination in both places. From Goa, Kibe walked to Jerusalem (becoming the first Japanese person to see the Holy Land) and then to Rome—a journey of roughly 3,700 miles (the rough equivalent of walking from the east coast to the west coast in the United States). After making his case to the ecclesial authorities, Kibe was finally ordained. His return home was an adventure itself, but he eventually made it back to Japan where his life ended in martyrdom. Let’s ask God for the same grace of perseverance granted to Blessed Peter Kibe when we face rejection while pursuing His calling in our own lives. Blessed Stanley Rother An American farmer from Oklahoma who flunked out of seminary because of difficulties with Latin, Blessed Stanley Rother understood the sting of failure. However, when an opportunity to attend a different seminary arose, Rother accepted the invitation. He was ordained in 1963 and five years later became a missionary in Guatemala. One of the greatest gifts Fr. Rother was able to bring to the locals in his parish was his extensive knowledge of farming—most of which he had learned in the years working the family farm after he failed seminary the first time. A decade into his assignment, civil war broke out. Rother saw his deacon and many of his parishioners killed before he himself was also martyred. May Blessed Stanley Rother’s story serve as a reminder that sometimes “failure” is a part of God’s plan for our lives. Saint Augustine of Hippo In his Confessions, St. Augustine of Hippo describes his frustration with school as a child. He hated many of the subjects and thus hated having to spend time and energy learning them. Though he had no difficulties intellectually, he felt his teachers were educating with the wrong end in mind (that of wealth and glory). Looking back on his life, Augustine believed it was the vain stories and incorrect morals of his teachers that lead him to his sinful life. As a part of this litany, may St. Augustine guard our hearts and minds, redirecting them towards God when we encounter immoralities within the halls and walls of our schools. 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 Saint Isidore of Seville Saint Isidore came from a very holy family with high expectations. His older brother, Leander (also a canonized Saint), was Isidore’s teacher and had such high demands that Isidore literally ran away because he could not handle the pressure. He hid in a forest, embracing the solitude, when he noticed a rock that was being worn down by droplets of water. Drip by drip the water was cutting into the stone and Isidore had a revelation. To this point, his studies and desire for complete understanding had stressed him. However, the water and the rock made him realize that he only had to take each concept “drop by drop” and that complete comprehension all at once was not necessary to be successful. He returned home with this new mindset, applied it to his studies, and made more progress in his education than anyone ever thought possible. May Saint Isidore remind us continually that mastery of a subject is gradual, and provide us with relief and comfort when we feel overwhelmed by the expectations of others. Saint Thomas Aquinas A quiet student, socially awkward, and of rather large size, the classmates of Saint Thomas Aquinas gave him the nickname, “Dumb Ox.” His teacher (who we know now as Saint Albert the Great), recognizing the potential of Aquinas, reprimanded the class by prophesying that this “dumb ox” would bellow so loudly that the whole world would hear. May we turn to Saint Thomas Aquinas for solidarity and wisdom when we feel misjudged and misunderstood by our peers. Saint Therese of Lisieux The Little Flower actually describes her years of schooling as the saddest of her life. As an eight-year-old, she was far more capable than her classmates and the nuns who ran the boarding school advanced her to the classes with the fourteen year olds. Therese was still bored by those classes, and in addition, was hated by the rest of the students because of her great abilities. In addition, she struggled greatly with two rather crucial subjects: mathematics and spelling. Her struggles became so unbearable that her father eventually withdrew her from school and hired a private tutor. Saint Therese—a Doctor of the Church—understands the isolation and boredom that can often result from genius, as well as shame when certain subjects make you feel shame. Saint Ignatius of Loyola A great Saint for anyone who has started or gone back to school later in life, Saint Ignatius of Loyola had to attend grammar school and learn Latin with school-boys half his age before he was able to be ordained. Thank goodness for his humility and willingness to do so, or the world may have never been graced with the Society of Jesus, which he went on to found. Saint Joseph of Cupertino Saint Joseph of Cupertino was slow, awkward, and quite honestly no good at anything. His inability to grasp easy concepts, as well as finish a sentence when speaking, made it incredibly difficult for others to be around him—even his own mother. He decided to join the Franciscan Friars when he witnessed one of them begging for food (something of which he thought he was capable). They taught him to read and write, though he was never proficient, and when it came time for his “final examination,” Joseph of Cupertino knew he was in grave danger of failing. Though unintelligent, the man really had given all his effort to his schooling, so he prayed that God would help him pass his exam. The next day, the instructor asked him to expand on the one Gospel passage he had memorized and always felt comfortable expanding upon. For this reason, Saint Joseph of Cupertino is the patron Saint of test-takers; however, we should not ignore the lesson of doing everything we can to pursue our callings while ultimately placing our trust in God. Saint John Vianney Saint John Vianney began his studies at the seminary, only to have them halted because of the French Revolution when he was recruited to join Napoleon Bonapart’s army. A series of events made him an unintentional deserter who then had to remain in hiding until granted amnesty. At that point, he returned to seminary, but struggled greatly as his meager education had not prepared him well enough. Vianney made it through only because of the help of a tutor, massive amounts of effort, and prayer to sustain his perseverance. He was eventually ordained not because of his intelligence, but because his growing holiness and virtue was simply undeniable. When “life” interrupts our studies and makes things harder, may we rely on the intercession of Saint John Vianney, and follow his example of relying on grace and developing skills and knowledge simultaneously. Saint Bernadette Soubirous Saint Bernadette was such a sickly girl that she spent more time out of school than in it, and thus knew almost nothing about her catechism. However, it was precisely because of her ignorance that the parish priest immediately believed her when Bernadette revealed the name given to her by the mysterious Lady. Bernadette memorized the words Mary had given her, “I am the Immaculate Conception,” but she had no idea what they meant. She also had no idea that just four years earlier, the Magisterium had declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. To her, they simply sounded like two big words. When she spoke them to the priest, who knew of Bernadette’s ignorance, he became convinced that the girl was indeed having visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May Saint Bernadette serve as a reminder that God can do just as much with our ignorance as He can with our intelligence. All He needs from us is faithfulness. Saint Dominic Savio Saint Dominic Savio was twelve years old when he began attending Saint John Bosco’s oratory for boys. He was dutiful and virtuous, enjoying both school and play. Well-liked by his peers, he used his influence to organize a club that strived for holiness—of which almost all the members went on to become Salesian priests themselves. We pray that as a result of utilizing this litany, that we all become a little more like Saint Dominic Savio who was a positive and loving influence on the entire school. Blessed Zepherin Namuncurá The son of a Mapuche Chief of the Araucanian-speaking Indians (a native tribe of the Argentine Pampas), Blessed Zepherin sacrificed much for the benefit of his people. Believing it would make his son a better advocate for their nation, Namuncura’s father enrolled the eleven-year-old boy in a military school where he was the one and only native. Unsurprisingly, it did not go well for Zepherin and a family friend who was a Salesian priest suggested the boy transfer to their mission school in Buenos Aires. There, the environment was less hostile and, as years went by, Namuncara made friends and grew to enjoy the school. When classmates said offensive things, he showed true meekness (which is not the same thing as weakness) though it often made him cry in private. The more time he spent in prayer at school, the more he desired greatly to bring “the true religion” to his native people. Sadly, he died of tuberculosis before reaching his thirtieth birthday. May Blessed Zepherin Namuncura intercede for us all, that we may grow in meekness when friends (or enemies) show insensitivity and offend us. May he also intercede for us all as we grow in understanding of cultures that are not our own. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati This popular blessed failed an entire academic school year—twice—and felt great shame because of it. He wrote letters to his parents and a teacher apologizing. After each failure, his parents enrolled him in the Istituto Sociale, a private school operated by the Jesuits. This allowed him to complete two years of schooling in one academic year and thus not fall behind peers of the same age. Though emotionally a bit of a blow, it was Frassati’s time spent with the Jesuits that helped him develop a deep relationship with Jesus. His struggle with education lasted until his death, when two exams remained before he could obtain his degree. However, on the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Royal Polytechnic Institute of Turin passed a special resolution posthumously granting Pier Giorgio his beloved degree in mining engineering. May Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s story remind us that our studies are not the most important part of life, but our journey towards Love is. Saint Gemma Galgani Saint Gemma went to live at a boarding school from a very young age. Despite enduring the loss of the lives of three siblings and her mother, Gemma was known to always be reliable, conscientious, with a smile on her face. In a letter, the prioress noted Gemma’s use of reason from a young age, as well as the depth of her spirituality. When a whooping cough epidemic wrecked havoc through the town, the prioress asked Gemma to intercede on everyone’s behalf. Almost immediately, the epidemic ceased and no one at the school got sick. May Saint Gemma’s intercession help us all to be a calming and encouraging present to our school communities. Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Famous because of the great love she displayed for her unborn child, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla displayed that same love for others throughout her entire life. Within her family, Gianna’s parents encouraged all their children to obtain higher degrees of education—but not for security, wealth, or power. The entire Beretta family pursued education for the sake of serving others. Gianna was not a natural student, and she struggled greatly with her studies. Still, she pressed on, receiving passing marks until she finally obtained her degree. All this she endured with the goal of serving others. When we find ourselves struggling with our classes, may Saint Gianna intercede and remind us that we only need to pass so as to serve God and others with our knowledge. Keep These Friends Handy It’s easy to get caught in the hustle and bustle of the school year and forget that the grace to get through any difficulty abounds. To help keep this reality at the forefront of your mind, we made a free printable of the litany that can be printed and kept someplace convenient (like an academic planner). Pray it routinely so that you can be reminded of the solidarity of the Saints! Which of these Saints will you be turning to for intercession this academic year? 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

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a Missa Cantata on a Monday evening at our local parish. The Missa Cantata, which is Latin for “sung Mass,” is a form of the Traditional Latin Mass, sometimes referred to as the Tridentine Mass. As I sat silently listening to the priest pray in Latin, I took a minute to look around. I knew the priest had spent time preparing and learning the complexities of the rubrics. There was a small choir, along with an organist who had spent time practicing before Mass began. College students and seminarians had driven across the city during finals week to serve. My son and his school friends had skipped after-school activities to prepare the altar and to serve. Birettas had been found, linens were pressed, and candles were lit. There was incense, and a parishioner had set up a makeshift altar rail. There were people scattered about the pews, some praying silently, while others were flipping through the worship aid, trying to follow along with the unfamiliar Latin text. There were mothers and fathers holding their tired, fidgety children. It was going to be at least twice as long as an ordinary daily Mass, and considerably more effort. I thought for a moment: Was this really necessary? Was it not a bit excessive? Surely everyone there was busy on a weekday evening. No doubt homework, dinner, laundry, bills, and family obligations were waiting at home. Wasn’t this a little much for a Monday evening? The answer, I think, is yes. Why "A Little Much" is Completely Appropriate A Missa Cantata on a Monday evening is like Mary pouring out expensive perfume at the feet of Jesus and washing Him with her hair. It is extravagant, perhaps to the point of seeming unreasonable, past what is required or deemed necessary to fulfill any obligation. In Mary’s encounter with Love Incarnate, she showed no restraint, no moderation in her response. Why should she? And just as Lazarus’s house was filled with the sweet smell of perfume, the smell of incense filled our ordinary, suburban church. Jesus’ answer to the question of ‘why?’ is the same for us today: because He is here. Christ is made present to us in the Sacrifice of the Mass, in the midst of our busy lives. [bctt tweet="Christ is made present to us in the Sacrifice of the Mass, in the midst of our busy lives. #BISblog //" via="no"] God's Movement, Our Response Is that not truly the height of extravagance, to the point of absurdity? That our Creator would come to us, to be consumed by us, to save us? I am reminded of the words of Saint Francis: Let the entire man be seized with fear; let the whole world tremble; let heaven exult when Christ, the Son of the Living God, is on the altar in the hands of the priest. O admirable height and stupendous condescension! O humble sublimity! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the Universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation he hides Himself under a morsel of bread. That should compel us to respond with excess, with our highest effort. Not because we have to, but because we want to. Even to the point of seeming inordinate or ridiculous to those looking on. Finding a Missa Cantata I think that’s the reason so many made their way to that particular Mass that evening. Not in spite of the extra time or effort, but because of it. We felt called in that moment to do something more than necessary, to participate in something beautiful and sacrificial. We have each experienced, in some way or another, the lavishness of God’s love for us, and the only satisfying response is to pause our ordinary lives and pour ourselves out with whatever beauty and goodness we can muster. Find a Traditional Latin Mass in your community here. Have you ever attended Missa Cantata? What was your experience like?   [bctt tweet="Missa Cantata on a Monday Evening #BISblog //" via="no"]   Cheryl Witty-Castillo is a mother, freelance writer, and director of the Writing and Language Center at St. Mary’s Seminary. You can find out more about her here.

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. // Psalm 148:8 Love this beautiful print from Carolyn of Brass & Mint Co. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Click here to get the download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saintsand be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Saint Zélie Martin Zélie was born in France in 1831 and used her gifts to operate a highly successful lace-making business. When she married Louis, he assisted her in running the business and they were blessed with nine children, three of whom didn’t survive infancy and a fourth who died at age five. The remaining five all became nuns, most famous of all being the youngest, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Zélie was a clever and hard working business owner who treated her employees with fairness. She was an attentive and loving mother who educated her girls and brought them up in the Faith. She wrote that her goal was to raise children up for Heaven. They started their days with a morning offering and ended them with an examination of conscience. She died of breast cancer in 1877 when Thérèse was only four. She and her husband are the first married couple canonized together. Her ability to instruct her children and ultimately set them on a vocational path to holiness is a striking example for us all. [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Zelie Martin #BISblog //" via="no"]   Saint Zélie Martin, pray for us! 

Our lives are full of decisions. From the significant to the seemingly minor, living an intentional life means we pay attention to those decisions—being active participators rather than passive observers. Even more, as Catholic women who desire the Lord to be the center and King of our lives, and we entrust our decisions to Him. If you need a primer for making prayerful decisions, check out this podcast episode. Saint Ignatius of Loyola outlined fourteen rules for discernment that have been used for centuries. They're presented straight from him below. The Fourteen Rules for Discernment Rules for becoming aware and understanding to some extent the different movements which are caused in the soul, the good, to receive them, and the bad to reject them. First Rule // In the persons who go from mortal sin to mortal sin, the enemy is commonly used to propose to them apparent pleasures, making them imagine sensual delights and pleasures in order to hold them more and make them grow in their vices and sins. In these persons the good spirit uses the opposite method, pricking them and biting their consciences through the process of reason. Second Rule // In the persons who are going on intensely cleansing their sins and rising from good to better in the service of God our Lord, it is the method contrary to that in the first Rule, for then it is the way of the evil spirit to bite, sadden and put obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on; and it is proper to the good to give courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing, and putting away all obstacles, that one may go on in well doing. Third Rule // Of Spiritual Consolation. I call it consolation when some interior movement in the soul is caused, through which the soul comes to be inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord; and when it can in consequence love no created thing on the face of the earth in itself, but in the Creator of them all. Likewise, when it sheds tears that move to love of its Lord, whether out of sorrow for one’s sins, or for the Passion of Christ our Lord, or because of other things directly connected with His service and praise. Finally, I call consolation every increase of hope, faith and charity, and all interior joy which calls and attracts to heavenly things and to the salvation of one’s soul, quieting it and giving it peace in its Creator and Lord. Fourth Rule // Of Spiritual Desolation. I call desolation all the contrary of the third rule, such as darkness of soul, disturbance in it, movement to things low and earthly, the unquiet of different agitations and temptations, moving to want of confidence, without hope, without love, when one finds oneself all lazy, tepid, sad, and as if separated from his Creator and Lord. Because, as consolation is contrary to desolation, in the same way the thoughts which come from consolation are contrary to the thoughts which come from desolation. Fifth Rule // In time of desolation never to make a change; but to be firm and constant in the resolutions and determination in which one was the day preceding such desolation, or in the determination in which he was in the preceding consolation. Because, as in consolation it is rather the good spirit who guides and counsels us, so in desolation it is the bad, with whose counsels we cannot take a course to decide rightly. Sixth Rule // Although in desolation we ought not to change our first resolutions, it is very helpful intensely to change ourselves against the same desolation, as by insisting more on prayer, meditation, on much examination, and by giving ourselves more scope in some suitable way of doing penance. Seventh Rule // Let him who is in desolation consider how the Lord has left him in trial in his natural powers, in order to resist the different agitations and temptations of the enemy; since he can with the Divine help, which always remains to him, though he does not clearly perceive it: because the Lord has taken from him his great fervor, great love and intense grace, leaving him, however, grace enough for eternal salvation. Eighth Rule // Let him who is in desolation labor to be in patience, which is contrary to the vexations which come to him: and let him think that he will soon be consoled, employing against the desolation the devices, as is said in the sixth Rule. Ninth Rule // There are three principal reasons why we find ourselves desolate. The first is, because of our being tepid, lazy or negligent in our spiritual exercises; and so through our faults, spiritual consolation withdraws from us. The second, to try us and see how much we are and how much we let ourselves out in His service and praise without such great pay of consolation and great graces. The third, to give us true acquaintance and knowledge, that we may interiorly feel that it is not ours to get or keep great devotion, intense love, tears, or any other spiritual consolation, but that all is the gift and grace of God our Lord, and that we may not build a nest in a thing not ours, raising our intellect into some pride or vainglory, attributing to us devotion or the other things of the spiritual consolation. Tenth Rule // Let him who is in consolation think how he will be in the desolation which will come after, taking new strength for then. Eleventh Rule // Let him who is consoled see to humbling himself and lowering himself as much as he can, thinking how little he is able for in the time of desolation without such grace or consolation. On the contrary, let him who is in desolation think that he can do much with the grace sufficient to resist all his enemies, taking strength in his Creator and Lord. Twelfth Rule // The enemy acts like a woman, in being weak against vigor and strong of will. Because, as it is the way of the woman when she is quarreling with some man to lose heart, taking flight when the man shows her much courage: and on the contrary, if the man, losing heart, begins to fly, the wrath, revenge, and ferocity of the woman is very great, and so without bounds; in the same manner, it is the way of the enemy to weaken and lose heart, his temptations taking flight, when the person who is exercising himself in spiritual things opposes a bold front against the temptations of the enemy, doing diametrically the opposite. And on the contrary, if the person who is exercising himself commences to have fear and lose heart in suffering the temptations, there is no beast so wild on the face of the earth as the enemy of human nature in following out his damnable intention with so great malice. Thirteenth Rule // Likewise, he acts as a licentious lover in wanting to be secret and not revealed. For, as the licentious man who, speaking for an evil purpose, solicits a daughter of a good father or a wife of a good husband, wants his words and persuasions to be secret, and the contrary displeases him much, when the daughter reveals to her father or the wife to her husband his licentious words and depraved intention, because he easily gathers that he will not be able to succeed with the undertaking begun: in the same way, when the enemy of human nature brings his wiles and persuasions to the just soul, he wants and desires that they be received and kept in secret; but when one reveals them to his good Confessor or to another spiritual person that knows his deceits and evil ends, it is very grievous to him, because he gathers, from his manifest deceits being discovered, that he will not be able to succeed with his wickedness begun. Fourteenth Rule // Likewise, he behaves as a chief bent on conquering and robbing what he desires: for, as a captain and chief of the army, pitching his camp, and looking at the forces or defences of a stronghold, attacks it on the weakest side, in like manner the enemy of human nature, roaming about, looks in turn at all our virtues, theological, cardinal and moral; and where he finds us weakest and most in need for our eternal salvation, there he attacks us and aims at taking us.   [bctt tweet="The Rules for Discernment from Saint Ignatius of Loyola" via="no"]

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saints and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Blessed Natalia Tulasiewicz Natalia was born in 1906 in Poland and was a martyr in the Ravensbruck gas chamber in Germany during World War II. She was a single woman, a teacher, and an active leader in the lay apostolate. She was a member of the Polish Underground and volunteered to go along with the prisoners of work camps, intent on bringing them spiritual comfort. She taught them religion, singing, and music! After a period of time, she was arrested, tortured, and condemned to death when they discovered her mission. Even while enduring torture, she did not feel humiliated by the Germans or tempted to give up her co-conspirators. Her love of God deepened in this unthinkably dark time. One Good Friday in the camp she stood on a stool in the barracks, extolling the Gospel truths of Jesus dying and rising. On Easter Sunday, she was put to death in the inhumane gas chamber. Ravensbruck was liberated two days later. Her suffering did not make her bitter, instead, she experienced an increase in her love for God. Would that we could channel His grace and love in times of stress and suffering. [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Natalia Tulasiewicz #BISblog //" via="no"] [elementor-template id="546630"] Blessed Natalia Tulasiewicz, pray for us! Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saints and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo Victoria was born in 1848 in the capital city of Antananarivo, Madagascar. Her grandfather was the prime minister as was her brother. She was baptized Catholic at fifteen despite her family objecting. From her position of authority and power, she worked tirelessly to keep the Church alive as Protestantism took hold in Madagascar throughout her lifetime. She kept schools and churches open, comforted the persecuted Catholics throughout the country, and worked hard to reinstate the missionaries who had been ejected. They came back to minister to their 21,000 faithful! She spent countless hours a day in prayer and passed away in 1894. Her staunch support of, and then ultimately success in bringing back, missionary priests shows the depth of devotion to her fellow suffering Catholics. May we comfort and act as we are able to bring joy to the sorrowful! [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Victoria Rasoamanarivo #BISBlog //" via="no"] [elementor-template id="546630"] Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo , pray for us! Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saints and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Saint Anna Schaeffer Anna was born in 1882 in Bavaria, Germany, into a poor family. From a young age, she was unusual in her private prayer life. As an eleven year old, she prayed that Jesus would accept her offer to atone for all the injuries against Him. She dropped out of school at fourteen to work to help support her family, giving up dreams to pursue a religious vocation. At sixteen, she dedicated herself to the Blessed Mother, and Jesus appeared to her in a vision that she would suffer greatly but not die. It was in 1901 that she fell into a vat of boiling laundry water when trying to fix a damaged stovepipe working as a servant. Her legs were so badly burned and damaged that ultimately the doctors couldn’t offer her any further help. Her wounds never healed and she suffered horrific pain, affirmed by Jesus in another vision that she would receive the gift of suffering for Him in the Blessed Sacrament. A daily communicant, she offered up her suffering for the living and the dead, showing us how to embrace even the worst suffering and let it unite us to Christ. She died in 1925. [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Anna Schaeffer #BISblog //" via="no"] [elementor-template id="546630"] Saint Anna Schaeffer, pray for us! Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. A Study on the Works of Mercy Misericordia Walk with the saints, including Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and discover practical ways to live the Works of Mercy. Explore Misericordia → Saint Teresa of Calcutta Mother Teresa is a world-famous Saint. She was born in Skopje, Macedonia, in 1910. She responded to a “call within a call” when she asked permission to found a new order of sisters, leaving behind the Sisters of Loretto, and instead leading the Missionaries of Charity in 1948. Jesus revealed to her His great pain at the abandonment of the poorest and the sickest. She answered His call to “Come be My light” and after receiving permission, she opened the first house for her new order. Calcutta, India, was replete with people living on the streets—abandoned, sick, and dying. Each day she would walk out, rosary in hand, to serve the “unwanted, unloved, uncared for.” After her death, a stunning revelation came to light that for the majority of her life, she suffered from a “dark night of the soul” wherein she didn’t feel or experience communication from God, but rather separation and rejection. Nevertheless, she counseled the doubtful and served the poorest of the poor while herself feeling abandoned. She is such an example of being steadfast in our Faith regardless of the struggles and dryness we inevitably will face. [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Saint Teresa of Calcutta #BISblog //" via="no"]   Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us! Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saints and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Saint Lucy Yi Zhenmei Saint Lucy was born in Mianyang, China, in 1815. A devout girl from a young age, she made a chastity vow at twelve. She grew in her faith and discipline of prayer after she became very ill at age twenty. She taught children about the faith in various capacities, not accepting payment but delighted to share her love of it. It was when her mother died that she moved to do missionary work in a country that was strongly anti-Christian. She was forced to return home once again when she fell ill, but in her recovery once more she returned to her missionary work, despite her family’s objections. When she was forty-seven, she went with a priest to build a new mission in Jiashanlong, but faced terrible persecution. She and four others were murdered because they refused to renounce their faith in 1862. She believed in the Truth and lived it, even in the face of death. May her example of living without fear of offending sinners inspire us as we gently but honestly share our Faith. [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Lucy Yi Zhenmei #BISblog //" via="no"]   Saint Lucy Yi Zhenmei, pray for us! Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saints and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Servant of God Maria de la Luz Maria was born in 1907 in Mexico. Her mother passed away when she was a baby and her education was in a religious run school. Her nickname was “Lucha” which means “a fight,” and yet her temperament was cheery and sweet. She was a third order Franciscan. When she was in her 20s, she lived through the Cristero War where the anti-Catholic government was intent on stamping out the faith. The Marxist governor expelled priests and religious and closed churches, and she witnessed much of the carnage to the Faith. When she learned that violent government thugs planned to burn down her parish, she rushed to it during a children’s Mass and tried to protect them by stalling the enemy outside. She was shot dead, arms outstretched, shouting Viva Cristo Rey! (Long live Christ the King!). She died in 1934. Under these dangerous circumstances, she offered her brave heart to Our Lord, knowing she would be killed. Let us take comfort in the face of death. [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Maria de la Luz #BISblog //" via="no"]   Servant of God Maria de la Luz, pray for us! Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saints and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Saint Maria Goretti Maria was a farm girl born into an Italian family in 1890 and is one of the youngest canonized Saints. Her father died when she was nine, and her poor family shared a farm and living quarters with another family. When she was twelve, the son of the other family Alessandro who was eighteen, attempted to rape her. She fought back, shouting that it was a mortal sin and that she’d rather die than submit to him. He stabbed her nearly fifteen times, and she ultimately died from her wounds. Before she died, she forgave him and wished he would be in Heaven with her. The year was 1902. This was a man who was unrepentant and uncommunicative for the first three years of his sentence until she appeared to him in a dream, handing him lilies. When he was released twenty-seven years later, he begged forgiveness from her mother. He lived a changed life, one of devotion to the faith and prayer. As he stood there at her canonization surrounded by her mother, siblings, and hundreds of thousands of people, he wept for joy. It was her forgiving heart that visited his jail cell and brought him healing. May we bring love and healing to those imprisoned in our lives. [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Maria Goretti #BISblog //" via="no"]   Saint Maria Goretti, pray for us. Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saints and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Venerable Edel Quinn Edel Quinn was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1907. Her early life was filled with daily Mass, music, sports, and a joyful family. She learned about the lay movement called the Legion of Mary, intent on outreach and works of mercy to the community. She became involved and tended to women in their darkest times, reaching out to women working as prostitutes while keeping up daily Adoration and all fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. Despite tuberculosis, she went on to answer the call to evangelize in Africa. She traveled all throughout East Africa to form lay leaders so they could minister to their communities. Stories are told of her creaky old car sounding out into the still African night, en route to a mission station. She believed in showing up, repeatedly, despite her weakened health, to nurture and tend to those who needed to hear the healing balm of the Gospel. Her devotion to Our Lord and Lady was evidenced by her generous yes to sharing the kingdom. She died in Africa in 1944. Not only did she visit the sick while being sick herself, but she brought the Gospel truth to those who needed spiritual birth. May we be unafraid to be generous in our “yes” to Our Lord and His Mother as they ask us to visit the sick in our lives. [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Edel Quinn #BISblog //" via="no"]   Venerable Edel Quinn, pray for us! Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saints and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Servant of God Julia Greeley Julia was born into slavery in Missouri sometime in the 1830s-50s. Her early life exposed her to the worst in people, the deep evil of slavery and abject poverty. She was half-blind from a whip catching her eye while her mother was beaten. She was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and worked for various families. When she worked in Colorado, she found her home in the Catholic Church. For the remainder of her life, she let Jesus’ Good News shine out in all aspects of her life. She was a third order Franciscan who shared parish leaflets with every fireman and firehouse. If anyone was in need, she would give all she had, and then go on to beg on their behalf. A daily communicant, she fasted regularly and sought out others who needed anything: food, wood, coal, mattresses, a baby stroller, or a doll. Not simply content to share her meager monies, she sought out specifically what poor white people needed and delivered them at night to avoid their embarrassment due to racism. She died in 1918. She’s the first person (and first lay woman) to be interred at the Denver cathedral. Reading about her life reminds us that we can always give to others in need, even if we are giving from our own poverty. Learn more about her remarkable life here. Servant of God Julia Greeley, pray for us! Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!

Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good. -Pope Saint John Paul II Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship. The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all. The Saints, Our Friends We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women! The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study. Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom. Find more companionship with our sister Saints and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia! Servant of God Dorothy Day Dorothy Day is a household name for many American Catholics. She was born in Brooklyn in 1897. Her journey in her faith was a winding road. She described her first twenty-five years as her “searching” era, her middle years as her “natural happiness” when she birthed her daughter, completed her conversion to Catholicism, and then her later years “love is the measure” when she co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement. During those searching years, she had an abortion. During those middle years, she and her common-law husband had a surprise pregnancy and a daughter. As she grew in her faith journey, he could not accept that she and their daughter chose to be baptized as Catholics. She ultimately ended the relationship. Later she co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement, working to bring the poor and suffering and homeless into the public eye for Catholics. The Catholic Worker Movement opened houses where hospitality reigned and where meeting people where they were mattered. Donations for food and clothing poured in. The communities tending to the poor and offering them a safe place still exist today. Dorothy believed that lay people should strive to be saints by suffering for justice, acting in charity, living in community, regular spiritual reading and writing, and desiring to share Christ’s love with those in need. She passed in 1980. She provided literal shelter for the homeless but also outreach to those who needed to hear from a loving faith-filled woman who understood their sins and struggles. [bctt tweet="Friends with Saints Series // Dorothy Day #BISblog //" via="no"]   Servant of God Dorothy Day, pray for us! Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!