Cycle tracking. Fertility awareness. Cycle charting. Fertility Awareness Methods. Natural Family Planning. Fertility tracking. All of these terms seem to get mixed and mingled in many conversations online and in-person, but do we really know what they mean? Furthermore, do we understand the power that exists within tracking our fertility and understanding the gift of our bodies as women? Womanly Wisdom The Catholic Church teaches Natural Family Planning (NFP) as the opportunity for married couples to live out the science of fertility awareness along with the integration of Theology of the Body. As single women, women more often hear this termed as Fertility Awareness (FA), but both definitions encompass what the Catholic Church embraces and proclaims: the goodness of women’s bodies and their fertility. Contrary to popular belief, the Catholic Church does not value women merely because of their reproductive organs. But, can’t we all acknowledge just how amazing it is that women have the ability to create life and be co-authors of such a magnificent job? The Church Celebrates the Feminine Genius The Catholic Church embraces and celebrates the feminine genius, meaning that women are multi-faceted individuals who contribute to all aspects of life. The core of our motherhood—be it physical or spiritual—is what sets us a part to love and nurture those around us. How does fertility awareness tie into this? [bctt tweet="The Catholic Church embraces and celebrates the feminine genius, meaning that women are multi-faceted individuals who contribute to all aspects of life. #BISblog //" via="no"] The Heart of Who We Are Fertility awareness is the practice of charting your cycle to learn the fluctuations of your hormones, identify the different phases within your cycle, and maximize workouts, work, mental, and emotional health through the knowledge of your cycle. This practice, while deeply rooted in scientific methodology and effectiveness, is also spiritual because it gets to the heart of who we are as women and an aspect of ourselves we are so frequently told to cut-off from every other part of our lives. Your body, your fertility, and your period are good and were made good by God. When we honor how our bodies work and learn how our bodies work—whether married or single—we honor our very own feminine genius. The body, and it alone, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine. // Pope Saint John Paul II, TOB February 20th, 1980 We are not merely physical beings or only spiritual beings, but rather we live in the tension of this integrated reality as human beings. It is utterly beautiful and can sometimes be the source of some of our biggest crosses. But, in the process of learning and understanding our bodies, we come to lean into this integration more fully and recognize the unique genius God has endowed to women alone. Your Unique Data If you struggle with loving your body, have never thought about tracking your cycle, or wondering if painful periods will always be a part of your life, I encourage you to lean into the beautiful way you are created by using the tools available to learn you! The power of your body’s data tells a unique story that is specific to you and the care you receive should be tailored to who you are and how your body works. This is the beauty of living an integrated life as Catholic women and honoring our bodies. We are able to lean into our uniqueness and more fully embrace our very own feminine genius that we are called to contribute to the world. How has fertility awareness helped you understand your role and call as a woman?   [bctt tweet="Fertility Awareness and the Feminine Genius #BISblog //" via="no"]   Bridget Busacker is founder of Managing Your Fertility, an online, one-stop shop of fertility awareness resources for women and couples. She is on a mission to fuse the science of Fertility Awareness Based Methods (FABMs) and Theology of the Body (TOB) into the everyday practice of NFP. Bridget is passionate about women’s health and sex education that promotes the dignity of the human person by integrating a holistic approach to self-knowledge of the body.   *Due to the conversation in the comments below, we would like to state plainly that Blessed is She fully submits to the teaching of the Catholic Church. To learn what the Church teaches on FAM and NFP, please read Humanae Vitae (especially paragraph 10), Catechism of the Catholic Church 2368, and this Q+A. In regards to expectations of NFP instructors and those who take on the responsibility of others’ health and wellbeing, the USCCB is clear that NFP instructors are bound to the same ethical treatment of clients as doctors are with their patients. As always, we are praying with you and for you.

By virtue of baptism, every Christian is anointed to serve as priest, prophet, and king within their individual communities. But what exactly does this mean? I confess that, even as a life-long Catholic who always attended Catholic schooling (even for college), this calling often eluded and confused me. How do I—especially as a woman—serve as priest, prophet, and king? Thankfully, teaching Theology to teenagers requires lots of grappling with the mysteries of our Faith in order to explain them well to others. In the past nine years, my understanding of these roles has changed from one that is puzzling to something that is actually quite practical. Inherited from Our First Parents All three roles appear within Scripture at the very beginning of Genesis. In the first two chapters, we learn of our first parents and why they were created (not necessarily “how”). The ultimate reason mankind is created is clear: to love and be loved. However, what is slightly less clear is that living out the roles of priest, prophet, and king is one way in which we achieve this purpose! Priest Genesis 2 tells us that God planted a garden in Eden and placed Adam there “to till it and keep it.” In Hebrew, the phrase is literally, “to serve and guard” which indicates that Adam’s role includes caring for the garden. But it is so much more than gardening (more on this in a minute)! It is extremely rare to find these verbs—serve and guard—paired together within Scripture. However, they are used together in this order once again in the book of Numbers, when the sacred author describes what priests are to do in a place of worship. Thus for the ancient reader studying Genesis, Adam’s commission to serve and guard creation would have had a priestly sound to it. If Adam (who is one flesh with his wife) and Eve were entrusted with this priestly role, then logically speaking, their children and descendants are also meant to carry on the duty. Practically Speaking… How do we live this out? First and foremost, priests offer sacrifice to God. As baptized Christians, the sacrifice we offer to God is the sacrifice of our own lives. This doesn’t have to be complicated. In reality, it’s actually quite simple -- though not always easy! Begin every day with a morning offering when you awake and try to “tune” your heart and mind to truly mean the words as you pray them. The age-old practice within our Faith of “offering it up” when we face difficult moments. Though this is sometimes thought of as a Catholic phrase used to get someone to stop complaining, that is not even close to its ultimate purpose! Instead, it is a reminder to not waste the merits of your suffering (which you have to endure anyway) and to entrust these merits to God as a little “death” or “cross,” knowing that He will allow great good to come into the world because of your priestly sacrifice. (Slight sidenote: good, true, and beautiful moments can also be offered to God for His glory.) In alignment with “offering it up,” there is the acceptance of “white martyrdom.” While red martyrdom is when individuals physically die for their belief in Christ, white martyrdom is a death that is often faced on a day-to-day basis as social persecution because of one’s Faith. Accepting such a cross, facing it with heroic virtue, and offering it as a sacrifice to God is another manner in which one can live out their priestly role. When you attend Mass, be especially present and attentive at the offertory (the moment in which the gifts are being brought to the altar). As the faithful walk towards the front, in your heart and within your mind’s eye, intentionally offer God your life—and everything that is taking place in it at that time. Offer it to Him as a gift, and ask Him to use it for His glory. In all these things, there is an element of protection—or “guarding”—which is part of the role given to our first parents. They were called to serve and guard the temple of creation. You are called to serve and guard the temple of your body and God’s presence within it. Prophet In addition to serving and guarding the garden, God gives Adam the task of naming the animals—a very important privilege! Typically, only the creator of something is the one with the right to name his or her creation. Though God is the Creator, He gives this right to Adam. As this first man goes about completing this task, he is speaking on behalf of God. In all Abrahamic faiths, a person who speaks on behalf of God is referred to as a prophet. Whether male or female, as descendants of Adam (who again is one-flesh with Eve), this role extends to us! Practically Speaking… Not every baptized Christian is called to a professional life of preaching and prophesying. That is not (necessarily) what God is calling us to through this role. Within Scripture, a prophet’s first job was to share God’s word and explain to the people what God wanted them to do. We fulfill this prophetic calling every time we share some of God’s Truth with another person. This could take many forms… When God brings someone into your day and makes it clear they are struggling with something, go out of your way to assist them, even if it is in a small way. Sometimes the only Truth a person needs preached is the basis of the Gospel: that they are loved and valuable. You can speak God’s Truth by the actions you show them. Spend intentional time with God in prayer everyday. This does not need to be long and drawn out. However, it is impossible to be a prophet and share God’s Word with others if we fail to know God’s Word ourselves! For parents raising children, it means making the time to instruct children in the Faith—something God has already equipped you to do! Read Scripture and other virtuous stories with them, explain feast days, live liturgically, etc. Instruct the young in Goodness, Truth, and Beauty and be intentional about it. Don’t just hope it rubs off on them! If one is not a parent, assist the parents you know with this task. Perhaps you have godchildren, nieces and nephews, or neighbors from Church. The more adults children see living out their faith and teaching them, the better! King The final role left to be addressed is actually the first present in Scripture. In Genesis 1, immediately after creating Adam and Eve on the sixth day, God gives them the gift of dominion. In other words, Adam and Eve are meant to rule over all of creation. In a sense, they are above it all as they are the highest physical being He created. This gift of dominion takes on a fuller meaning in light of Jesus. He instructed the disciples that the “greatest” is meant to serve everyone else (Matthew 23:11). Thus to live out our kingly role well, we must learn to serve others well. Practically Speaking… We do not have to look far to do this. Opportunities to serve are encountered each day for all of us. First, we should evaluate the places in which we have been given dominion. For myself, as a parent, campus minister, and teacher, I have many places where I need to exercise authority. The best way for me to do this is with an attitude of humility and service. This does not mean I become a doormat or a push-over in these roles. It means constantly reevaluating my intention behind every action I take, especially when I exercise my authority. I should never possess an attitude of superiority towards my fellow man. There is still an element of “ruling” when it comes to this role, but not in regards to a country or kingdom. As baptized Christians living out our kingly roles, we are supposed to be kings over ourselves, over sin, and over Satan. Anyone who doesn’t master these three things is in all reality, a slave. This could look like binge-watching shows, over-exercising, or even apathy towards fighting a personal addiction. Jesus came to give us power and authority over ourselves and to free us from the things that bind us. Access this kingly power and authority in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist! Both provide graces to help us take hold of this freedom. Our Ultimate Role The call to love is the root of all Scripture. It is the ultimate purpose for which we were made. This is logical considering we were made in the image and likeness of Love Himself. Thus, if we ever find ourselves confused about what the most loving thing to do in a tricky situation, remembering our roles as priest, prophet, and king could be helpful in finding an answer. Perhaps all we need to do is evaluate how we could better sacrifice, share, or serve the world around us.   [bctt tweet="How to Live Out Your Baptismal Call of Priest, Prophet, and King #BISblog //" via="no"]

Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away... // Acts 3:19 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this for free! Log in and download! Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Where is the most unlikely place you have prayed? I mean, of course, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks.” But you have to admit, there are some questionable places we find ourselves praying. I have traveled around the world and recently, I pulled out an old journal and laughed at some of the places I prayed: train stations, basilicas, mountains, and deserts. Then there are the places where I did not take my journal to pray but have had some of my greatest moments of prayer in my life. Unlikely Places I Have Prayed So sisters, keep a tally and see if you have prayed in some or all the places I have prayed, and feel free to add to the list in the comments! In the Bathroom I know I am not alone in this because I took a poll, and what did it reveal? That 100% of moms pray on the toilet because it is one of the few places they have a moment of silence to themselves. Some have even admitted to reading a Blessed is She daily devotional on their throne (you know who you are, and we are not judging). I know sisters who have intestinal issues diseases and they offer up their pain praying on “Les toilette” (it just sounds better in French). The point is, if there is something you need to let go of and surrender to the Lord, there might be no better place than the bathroom. via GIPHY In the Shower/Bathtub My mom always told me the best place to cry and pray is in the shower and she was 100% correct. Did you hear that, Mom? I said you were correct. Consider this an early Mother’s Day card for the world to see. There is something about being vulnerable with God while you are lathered in soapy suds and washing all your cares away. Most of my days start with a shower, so I start by praying the words of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today, let us begin.” Then I give God permission to set my day in motion. via GIPHY The Gym/Exercising When I used to be able to go to the gym, I would have a specific worship playlist to keep me motivated to take care of the body God gave me. Now, I am thankful for silence on a walk in my neighborhood so I can do an examen of my day. However, when I did go to a gym, there were numerous reasons I would pray! Sometimes, I was praying for the chastity of the eyes, while other times I was praying for some women to put on more clothing. Sometimes I pray a Rosary during a brisk walk (I refuse to run unless an ostrich is running after me) in the neighborhood or on the beach, and lately, I have been listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz’s Bible in a Year Podcast. But if I’m being honest, sometimes I just pray to God that I complete the abdominal portion of my workout (who’s with me on this?). via GIPHY Airports Back when I used to travel, I loved praying in the airport. I would pray for and with mommas about to board a plane by themselves and even offer to help them get on board (mommas always need more hands when they have kids). I would pray for the people I would be sitting next to on the flight, hoping that God would provide an opportunity for me to sit next to my future spouse or, at the very least, someone who needed to know the love of God. And I would always pray for the people who worked at the airport from the janitors (thank them if you see them cleaning up the bathrooms or emptying the trashcans), to the air traffic controllers, to the flight attendants, and the pilots. I rarely put my headphones on till the lights went out on the plane in case the Lord pointed out someone to pray with or for while I was flying through the sky. via GIPHY The Cemetery This might seem normal to most, but how I like to pray is a bit different. I love to look at the headstones and pray for all the people who have passed on, specifically in case they are a soul still in Purgatory. Of course, I pray for the loved ones I am visiting, but I also pray for the souls of people I will only meet on the other side and for their families who mourn their passing from this world. via GIPHY Walking the Dog Little do my neighbors know, but when I walk my dog, I pray for all of them by name as I pass their home. Give it a try the next time you are walking your dog or potbelly pig or even just going for a walk in the neighborhood. I also will do a quick examen of my day when I’m walking my dog, reflecting on five things: I start by asking God for light, then I give thanks to God for all He has allowed in my day (good or bad), then I review the day thus far, face all my shortcomings, and then look ahead at how I can do differently. It is great to do mid-day, at the end of the day, or whenever God gives you five to ten minutes of silence. via GIPHY In My Car I have to admit that I’m typically praying for the person who just cut me off on the freeway, but I also pray a lot on my commute to and from work. I talk out loud to God in my car, I sing praise and worship in my car, I call friends at random who God prompts me to call and pray with them or ask them what they need prayer for in my car. I pray in Los Angeles for all the homeless on the streets which breaks my heart for what breaks God’s heart daily. I probably pray more in my car than I do in a church on a given week. via GIPHY With a Waitress or Waiter in a Restaurant Want to give your waiter or waitress something even better than a tip? Ask them if they want to pray grace with you the next time you go out to dinner. I used to do this with my Core Team when I was a youth minister and got two new Core Members because of this. Some people even came back to the Church! The worst thing they can say is “No, I don’t want to.” The best thing they can say is, “Sure!” Then you pray for them and for the kitchen staff who made your meal and brought it to you. It is a great way to give a tip that they will remember longer than the financial one you leave behind. via GIPHY In-Line Anywhere You name the place and I’m praying: the grocery store, Starbucks, Disneyland, a restaurant, or Hobby Lobby. You can pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet while you wait or pray for the people in front of you or bagging your groceries. Rather than read the headlines in the latest gossip magazine, take a moment to offer a prayer of praise. via GIPHY Cooking If you have Discovery+ you have to watch the Lost Kitchen (you will thank me for this binge-watch). I feel like a kindred spirit to Erin and get emotional watching it because it speaks to my soul. I love cooking and find it to be a spiritual experience to add ingredients, cut the produce, and smell the garlic in the air mixed with pure olive oil or butter (the best thing God has created, next to humans, in my opinion). I pray when I cook in a way I don’t any other time of the day. I pray for the ranchers and fisherman, I pray for the gardeners who grew and picked the produce, I pray for my family and friends who will gather around the table to eat what God helped me create. I know cooking for yourself or your family can be a chore but think of it as a spiritual, co-creation moment with God when you are blending all He has provided into something that will satisfy the bodies He created until we are fully satisfied at the Heavenly banquet. via GIPHY Cleaning the House I love cleaning, especially vacuuming the floor and getting those perfect lines on my OCD carpet (such satisfaction, sisters). And when I clean, I often pray about the things that spiritually need a clean-up. I run through a mental Examination of Conscience and contemplate how I need to reconcile with the Lord in my next confession. This simple practice allows me to run to the Father more often than I used to seek His mercy. Give it a try the next time you are scrubbing your toilet or when you are dusting the baby fingerprints off your flat-screen television (great examination on what you have watched and how you might want to confess your latest binge viewing to Padre). via GIPHY God Will Meet Us There So, as you can see, there are a lot of places we can pray that might seem out of the ordinary. Of course, we pray on gorgeous beaches during sunset, on mountaintops during a retreat, and in churches and chapels, but God desires us to pray unceasingly. These are just a few ways I have allowed prayer to fill my days and nights. I would love to hear some of your unusual places you have prayed and how you incorporate prayer in your daily life in the comments!   [bctt tweet="Unlikely Places We Pray #BISblog //" via="no"]

I write to you while sipping on a green juice and munching on a waffle. Evidence of change—balance. This morning I had to stretch the waist band on my underwear so they wouldn’t be too tight. I should really go buy new ones. Evidence of change. I cancelled my Saturday workout and picked up my Bible for some rest, in my body and in my heart. Evidence of change. I read a post written by women’s health and dietitian Renee McGregor. I have been reading her work for years now and have always deemed her information profound. Yet, I also deemed it not for me. Her post today rang in my entire body, awakening the realization of my extremely abrupt and extremely slow body conversion over the past year. Evidence of change. Her post critiqued the notion that "women should not wobble." Intrigued, I read the caption which professed her anthem about healthy body fat percentage and its direct impact on hormones, health, and performance. It wasn’t new information to me, in fact I had read extensively on the topic. Today, it seeped into me like I had never heard it before. Evidence of change. Under Control Exercise was my safe space, my happiness. Food was my fuel, my resource, my nourishment. Together, my health was in my control. And then I couldn’t. And then I didn’t. And then it was out of my control. And that is when it all began to change. Because it is not in my control. When my health escaped my grasp, when my life started spinning around me, when no one had answers—control was no where to be found. It was not in exercise, not in food, not in medicine, or people. There was only the One. There was only the One who has never wavered. The One who never took a step away when I held my health above Him. Who never turned away His gaze when I tore myself apart for eating too much or missed a workout. Who held me when I cried. Who listened to my worst days. Who consoled my soul as I learned the depths of humanity. Who never forgot His promises when my successes crumbled. The One Who Is The Who is the I AM. The I AM is the Messiah. The Messiah is my Savior and Mighty Prince of Peace. He is in control and capable of changing every cell that makes up His beautiful creations, for He is our Divine Potter. His hands mold us. I always went to Him for everything, and He was always there. But not when it came to my body, that was mine, and I had it under control. Coming Undone One year ago, I was thirteen percent body fat. I was at the peak of my "health." I ate a "perfect" diet, and my fitness routine was rock solid. One year ago, I lost my period. I had overwhelming anxiety. I was consumed by fatigue, and made it through the day on caffeine. I weighed myself every day and carefully calculated every nutrient that entered my body. I loved nutrition, and still do. I gave my family and friends sound advice from my hours of research, but experimented on myself. I tried to control His creation. I moved cities, began a new job with the onset of the pandemic, planned and re-planned a wedding. I leaned into Him. I was balancing the stress of work, the gym, and my extreme anxiety trying to figure out why my days were disappearing. I asked Him to prioritize my time, to help me make time for Him. Then the gyms closed. My intense sessions turned to prayerful walks, and I started to lean into cooking for flavor, comfort, and creativity. Leaning In I prayed my first novena to Our Lady, the Undoer of Knots. I heard novenas have been known to bring miracles, and as my prayer life bloomed more and more I wanted to see what it was all about. My devotion to her was for the intention of my health and my absent period. On the eighth day of the nine-day novena, after 322 days without, I started my period. (Needless to say, I love to pray novenas now.) I thought that was the victory. I thought that was the healing moment, the peak of my prayer life, and the return to my health. But it was only the beginning. Praise be to God it was only the beginning. He always has more for us. An Ongoing Surrender Then I lost control of my health. Outlying circumstances kept me from the gym, from work. It sent me to countless doctors appointments, tests, and procedures. I leaned into Him. I spent my time with Him. It got darker, and I spent my time with Him. I became more frightened, and I spent my time with Him. And He revealed Himself to me. Over and over again, little by little, He revealed more of His heart to me. The relationship I once had with Him became The Relationship. He became the soul of my life that began to take control, so that I didn’t have to. It was painful and so peaceful. There are so many layers to the story of my year, and I hope to share more one day. But this isn’t my conversion story, just a small part of my love story. This is the part where He taught, and is teaching me, about surrender. This is the part where He revealed to me the beauty of His creation. He healed my eyes, He is healing my mind, and I believe He will heal my body in His time. Health Can Become an Idol We are made to be womanly. We are made in His image and likeness (see Genesis 1:26). Our body goals are internal. The goals that lead our souls to purity and holiness: the Beatitudes (see Matthew 5:1-12). Our bodies are temples for worship and thanksgiving like Saint Anna (see Luke 2:36-38), for He lives in our souls. “Don’t you know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not on your own?” (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). The Church tells us, "Health is an important value, but not an absolute one. We should treat our God-given body gratefully and carefully, but not be obsessed with it" (CCC 2288-2291). And He tells us, "Their God is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things" (Philippians 3:19). Let us never forget the life in our souls, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Evidence of Change This morning, I opened my devotional, Awaken My Heart by Emily Wilson Hussem, to Week Five: Body Image. I read it with a heart of love. I read it with a heart of gratitude, and I prayed for my body carefully, with intention. A year ago, I would have deemed this not for me. Evidence of change. Exercise was my safe space, my happiness. Food was my fuel, my resource, my nourishment. Now, exercise and food empower my body and promote energy for my life. Now, He is my safe space, my joy. His will is my fuel, His Word is my resource, and His presence is my nourishment. Because now, He is in control. [bctt tweet="The Idol of Health #BISblog // " via="no"] This story is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health. Courtney Cantu is a wife, daughter, sister, and nurse. You'll most likely find her cooking or baking a new recipe. She loves a long walk with friends, chats over coffee, and a good workout. Sundays are her favorite day of the week, and mornings are her favorite time of day. She tries to share this joyful journey to Heaven with all those who cross her path along the way.

"Perhaps you hesitate in prayer because you do not know how to pray. Perhaps you question yourself because although you know numerous vocal prayers, you are not sure what lies beyond vocal prayer and are searching for a particular method of prayer. Perhaps you think that prayer is something allotted to Saints, and you are not a Saint. If you learn nothing else in these pages, know this: prayer is not a formula." // from our new prayer companion, Nunc Coepi Craving a Consistent Rhythm of Prayer? My own prayer life has been stop-start, stop-start for as long as I can remember. I'd go all out some Advent, only to find myself fallen off the Rosary band wagon by Christmas Day. I would resolve firmly that this would be the Lent to beat all Lents. And by the fourth week I would have concluded that I had failed again. But when my husband started talking to me about living a life of prayer, a life where prayer was already woven into my conscious and unconscious parts of the day, I realized maybe I had been approaching prayer all wrong. Prayer is not a graded class in school. It's not an event at a track meet. Prayer is not a formula. It is a line of communication—our relationship—with God. This changed everything for me. I decided I wanted to become a person of prayer. Maybe some of this sounds familiar for you too. My husband and I set out to put together a prayer companion book for you, for us, so that we could all strive to be people of prayer. A Prayer Companion for All Sorts Now if you've ever collaborated with a loved one on a project you can appreciate the fact that we faced some real challenges. I tend to be . . . ahem . . . an active managing editor sort, if you know what I mean. He was in the seminary for many years (years before we met, calm down!) so spiritual reading has been a way of life for him for twenty years now. He brought the wisdom, I brought the Google Docs!   If you'd like to sit with the writings of a spiritual thinker (short snippets because it is dense and I needed lots of time to digest), pray with one-two verses of Scripture during the week, chew on a spiritual maxim, and ponder a few questions on Saturdays about your spiritual journey, I think you'll like Nunc Coepi (noooonc chay-pee). It means "Now I Begin" and is from the Psalms. Let's begin together! We also made a video companion to the book with monthly videos from us, a monthly email with the themes from the book that month, and a Facebook group if you'd like to hang with us more. How is your prayer life right now? In need of a re-start? Let us know if you'll be praying with us!   [bctt tweet="Looking to Start (or Re-Start) Your Prayer Life? #BISblog //" via="no"]

I am personally convinced that, when, some time in the future, the intellectual history of the Catholic Church in the twentieth century is written, the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand will be most prominent among the figures of our time. // Pope Benedict XVI My favorite college course was an ethics class taught by Dr. Maria Seifert Wolter that I took when I studied at Franciscan University’s Kartause. Sadly, it was one of the first times I had taken a philosophy course in my entire life! Those weeks of studying ethics encouraged me to think in ways I never had before, or never had pushed myself to think before. It was challenging, exciting, new, and filled my soul in a unique way that no other class had. Discovering Dietrich During the last few weeks of the course she taught us about one of her favorite philosophers, Dietrich von Hildebrand. I left the semester with a desire to learn more about him. During that Christmas break I read his biography The Soul of a Lion along with his writings too, like, The Heart and Marriage: The Mystery of Faithful Love. The Power of Philosophy He came to mind again a few months ago and I ordered his memoir My Battle Against Hitler. There is something so special about this man, something to be respected. Not just his intellect, but also his virtue. Named Hitler’s Enemy Number One, Dietrich Von Hildebrand stood for and proclaimed truth in season and out of season. The fact that a philosopher was labeled the primary enemy of National Socialism shows the power of philosophy, the power of the love of wisdom. My Battle Against Hitler reads like a thrilling movie and I hope it is made into one soon, mostly because I want people to know more about this great man and his incredible life. Reading his memoirs that were written during such a pivotal time in history made me realize how few people know about this great philosopher! Someone I Could Follow John H. Crosby, the founder of Dietrich von Hildebrand’s Legacy Project, writes of him: Dietrich von Hildebrand was a philosopher I could follow. His heroic struggle against Nazism fired my imagination; his single-minded love and pursuit of truth presented me with a vivid embodiment of the true philosopher; and his passion for music, literature, and art taught me that life without beauty is impoverished and inhuman. I couldn’t agree more! Dietrich von Hildebrand teaches us truth through the way of beauty. He fully lived out the goodness and virtue that he taught. I am always left inspired and yearning for more after reading his writings. Born Into Beauty A devoted Catholic convert, Dietrich von Hildebrand was born in Florence in 1889. With a sculptor father, Dietrich was born into beauty and surrounded by it during his childhood. That love and reverence for beauty continued throughout his entire life. Von Hildebrand began studying philosophy at the University of Munich in 1906. Influenced by philosophers Edmund Husserl and Max Scheler, von Hildebrand became a leading philosopher in ethics, phenomenology, epistemology, and aesthetics. One of the most pivotal hallmarks of von Hildebrand is that he sought to answer, “the crucial questions of human existence by looking first to the nature and dignity of the human person” (source). Conversion Dietrich von Hildebrand converted to Catholicism in 1914 and remained a devoted Catholic. He said that the beauty of Christ and the Saints are what attracted him to our great faith. Catholicism influenced not only his writings but his way of life. He lived out the truth, beauty, and goodness that he so powerfully proclaimed. The truths that Dietrich found and taught in both philosophy and Catholicism allowed him to combat National Socialism during the Second World War through his strong voice and writings. Von Hildebrand opposed anti-Semitism and National Socialism so vehemently that he had to flee Europe for safety. Leaving A Legacy By 1940, von Hildebrand was settled in New York City and began teaching at Fordham University. It is there that he met his second wife, Alice von Hildebrand. He is the author of many books and writing and his ideas on marriage influenced the Second Vatican Council’s teaching. A Challenge Philosophy can be intimidating. Yet don’t dismiss it for that reason! Delve in! Ask questions, research, work through it, and challenge yourself! As Catholics, we are blessed to boast that we have the heritage and beauty of Dietrich von Hildebrand, a great philosopher who championed the dignity of every human person. In every age it is important that we continue to be seekers and lovers of wisdom, that we become philosophers. Start with this great philosopher, Dietrich von Hildebrand. Read his books and his other writings. Check out The Hildebrand Project! I promise you that your life will be deeply enriched if you do! Have you ever read von Hildebrand? What is your favorite of his works?   [bctt tweet="Dietrich von Hildebrand // The Philosopher Every Catholic Should Know #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Being Catholic in an increasingly secular world is extremely difficult. Now imagine putting yourself on a college campus full of young people who have the freedom to be on their own for the first time in their lives. Now, your struggles become that much greater! I have been there, and I am about to come out of the other side of this as a recent college graduate from a large state school. I am now a stronger Catholic than I have ever been in my entire life! Becoming a Devout Catholic in College I want to share with you, dear sister, my best tips for how to thrive as a Catholic woman in college. 1. Start and end every day with prayer. It is easy to focus more on God in your daily life when you begin every day with Him. I take a few minutes right when I wake up to thank God for all of the beautiful blessings in my life, and I devote the rest of my day (sufferings included) to Him. By beginning every morning like this, you will find yourself soaking in more virtues throughout your day. The stresses of schoolwork and the frustrations of your day will seem smaller. The joys of your day will also be magnified! You may also find yourself sleeping better by not starting and ending your day with social media. I know this is a bad habit for a lot of young people, myself included. All of this comes by simply starting and ending your day in a short prayer. 2. Find a Mass buddy. As easy as it seems to find time to go to Mass for one hour every Sunday, college students seem to find reasons to skip it. I know this because I’ve been there. It can be very overwhelming to set aside time to get to Mass when you are studying all weekend for those three exams you have on Monday morning. This is where your Mass buddy comes in handy. Your Mass buddy can keep you accountable for getting to Mass every Sunday when it seems like no one around you goes to church. And on those weekends where you don’t have too much to get done, you have a friend to grab coffee with after Mass! 3. Have Adoration dates with Jesus. College can be a little lonely/stressful/anxiety-inducing at times. During those times, it can be calming to be able to spend quiet time with Jesus. And if you go to college far from your hometown, an Adoration chapel can be your home away from home! Saint Augustine said “Our heart is restless until it rests in You”. Bring your heart to God in adoration, and He will give you rest and peace. 4. Get involved with your college’s parish. Many colleges have parishes on campus or within close proximity to campus. These parishes typically have multiple programs and events for like-minded Catholic college students. I highly encourage you to get involved with these college parishes; you could meet wonderful young people who will help lead you down the right path towards Heaven! It can be a little awkward at first coming to group events where you don’t know anyone, but I can guarantee it will be worth it. You could even find your Mass Buddy here. 5. Do not sacrifice your morals for others. My last tip is the most important by far. Do not, under any circumstances, sacrifice your morals or beliefs for anyone. In my experience, if you share your beliefs with others while exuding confidence and joy, they will admire you for it! And if the people you meet reject you because of your faith or beliefs, then you probably don’t want to be friends with them anyway. By living in an unapologetically Christian manner, you will make friends with the most genuine people. At the end of the day, you will be glad you didn’t sacrifice your morals for anyone! Any other recent college grads out there? What helped you become (or stay) a devout Catholic in college?   [bctt tweet="How to Grow into a Devout Catholic in College #BISblog //" via="no"]   Margaret McCarty is a college student from Tennessee, currently studying Mechanical Engineering. She enjoys hiking in the Smoky Mountains, coffee dates with her friends, and long walks with her Aussiedoodle, Scarlett. She is currently growing in her faith with other young women by leading Zion, the Catholic women’s group at her college.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this for free! Log in and download! Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I am a baptized Catholic who spent my teenage and young adult years running away from God with all my might. Despite my best efforts, I could never quite get away. I had had too many experiences of the True, Good, and Beautiful as a child to be entirely deaf to them once I had grown. When I heard a piece of beautiful music or read a gorgeous story, I would catch an echo of God’s whisper to me. But I preferred, then, to call it “numinous,” a word borrowed from scientist Carl Sagan to describe a taste of the divine without a divinity. Those hooks were enough to keep me lightly tethered to Catholicism. On the morning of 9/11, the first place I went was to locate my atheist boyfriend (now my Catholic husband). The second place I went was to church, somewhere I hadn’t been voluntarily in a half dozen years. I didn’t know why, I just knew I needed it. Needed Him. Whispers in the Dark Over the next few years, these whispers kept arriving. As they were happening, the moments seemed inconsequential, even marginal. When I married that atheist man, I assumed I was done with Catholicism for good. On our honeymoon in Mexico, though, our tour bus took an unscheduled detour from the Aztec pyramids to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and we passed under Our Lady’s mantle hand in hand. We laughed about what we referred to as our hijacking, but God (and Our Lady) whispered another seed of faith into our hearts that day. When we entered graduate school, we enjoyed the company of a Mormon couple (and their adorable toddlers). They argued passionately in favor of a personal relationship with Jesus, for the reconciliation of faith and reason. We argued just as passionately against, for the sake of a good argument, but God whispered to us through their words. Insistent, patient. Truth, Goodness, Beauty, and the Whisper With the benefit of twenty years hindsight, it seems so obvious what God was doing in my twenty-something self. He was whispering to me, using every tool at His disposal, calling out to His lost sheep in the gentle, merciful voice that would not startle her. He worked within the context of a national tragedy. An unexpected detour. A very unlikely friendship. Because of my childhood encounters with Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, I was eventually (slowly!) able to recognize these providential signs for what they were. Or rather, I was unable to not recognize them. They reverberated with the mark of divine love I had already known, moving the strings of my soul to vibrate in sympathy and recognition… and longing. Tuning the Ears of Our Hearts In the years since, God has continued whispering, in my most confusing moments and down twisty, uncertain paths. It is not necessarily any easier to hear Him within those moments than it was when I was twenty. But I have seen now—I have decades of evidence—that those whispers lead somewhere, somewhere good. And that even if I don’t quite hear Him correctly, He will keep whispering until I course-correct. It is worth the risk to follow the whispers, even badly. I tell you these stories for two reasons: to encourage you, and to give you hope. 1. Keep Listening... and Whispering First: Whatever you are doing to introduce others to earthly, human fragments of God’s perfection, keep doing it. Great books, music, art, and your own testimony can be just as important as liturgy and catechism in forming love and knowledge of God. In sharing them, you are introducing your family and community to the whispers, tuning the ears of their hearts to listen well and deeply. Let this be your encouragement to keep practicing your own listening, and to be a willing instrument for God when someone near you needs His whispering. 2. Keep Waiting Second: They still may not listen. And that, ultimately, is between them and God. All you can do is be a willing, whispering instrument; the results are not up to you. My poor parents probably despaired for my soul during my wilderness years, but I had to learn to recognize His whispers without their direct mediation. As do we all. (Here’s the hope: by God’s grace, after an improbably long time, I did.) It takes practice, and it takes failure, and it takes trying again. The results are by no means guaranteed. But chasing God’s whisper is the story of our lives and our salvation, the most important thing we will ever learn to do.   [bctt tweet="How I Chased God’s Whisper Down the Years #BISblog //" via="no"]   Christy Wilkens, wife and mother of six, is an armchair philosopher who lives in Austin, TX. She writes about disability, faith, doubt, suffering, community, and good reads. Her first book, Awakening at Lourdes: How an Unanswered Prayer Healed Our Family and Restored our Faith, a memoir about a Lourdes pilgrimage with her husband and son, will be released by Ave Maria Press in 2021. You can find out more about her here.

When Catholics consider what distinguishes our Faith from Protestant and Evangelical denominations, we naturally think of the Mass. Catholics attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Other Christians do not. As we regard other Catholic attributes, we look to the sacramental life of the Church, as well as to our use of sacramentals. We notice various prayers unique to Catholics, as well as our veneration of the crucifix and other sacred images. Catholic: One, Holy, Apostolic Many things set Catholics apart from Christian denominations. And yet, even within the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, we recognize a beautiful, rich, and diverse history of liturgical tradition. This Catholic diversity is mainly found in six particular liturgical rites comprising twenty-three distinct Catholic churches. That’s right! There are twenty-three unique sui iuris churches within our one Catholic Church! Lexicon: Rites and Churches Before we explore the history and unique expressions of these different rites, let’s define a few terms. Specifically the difference between rite and church:. A rite consists of “the diverse liturgical traditions in which the one catholic and apostolic faith has come to be expressed and celebrated in various cultures and lands" (Catechism Glossary). A church is “a group of Christian faithful united by a hierarchy according to the norm of law which the supreme authority of the Church expressly or tacitly recognizes" (Canon 27). Thus, we conclude that a rite reflects ritual traditions and customs, while a church comprises the people within those traditions. Churches in Full Communion Within the Catholic Church, all twenty-three rites are in full communion with one another, meaning they are not in schism, or separated, like Orthodox or Protestant denominations. You may attend any of these Catholic liturgies and participate in the Holy Eucharist and other Sacraments. While liturgical traditions may look differently among these Catholic rites, based on their location and language, they retain a similar structure with readings from Scripture and the Consecration of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. In addition, all of these churches submit to all Catholic doctrines and dogmas defined by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Lastly, all churches recognize the primacy of the Pope, who is the patriarch over all the various rites within the Catholic Church. From the Beginning All of these churches started in one place: the Upper Room on Pentecost. The Blessed Mother and the Apostles were assembled there, and they received the Holy Spirit. On that day, the Apostles began to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. // Matthew 28:19-20 They went out and preached the Gospel to various nations. As the Gospel took root in different lands, followers of Jesus “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42). Because each Apostle went to a different nation, the liturgical traditions that began to take shape looked slightly distinct. Yes, there was a “diversity in unity, a Church of churches,” as Byzantine Catholic Deacon Daniel Dozier describes. History of Schism However, these churches did not maintain unity. All of them—with the exception of two churches—split from the Roman Rite at some point in history. For example, communion between the Alexandrian and Antiochene Rites and the Latin and Byzantine Rites broke in 451. However, the Latin and Byzantine Churches did not excommunicate from one another until the Great Schism of 1054. The Armenian Church split from the Roman Rite in 1054 as well. It took several failed attempts throughout the centuries before these churches finally returned to full communion with one another. Because the schism lasted so long, many Eastern churches have an Orthodox counterpart that is still not in full communion with the Catholic Church. Eastern and Western Churches One way to differentiate the various rites and churches is geographically. The Latin (or Roman) Rite—with which most of you, dear readers, are familiar—is the largest rite within the Church. It is also the only Western Church. The rest of the various rites are geographically from the East. In 1894, Pope Leo XIII wrote about the importance of the Eastern Churches within our Catholic heritage: The Churches of the East are worthy of the glory and reverence that they hold throughout the whole of Christendom in virtue of those extremely ancient, singular memorials that they have bequeathed to us. For it was in that part of the world that the first actions for the redemption of the human race began, in accord with the all-kind plan of God. They swiftly gave forth their yield: there flowered in first blush the glories of preaching the True Faith to the nations, of martyrdom, and of holiness. They gave us the first joys of the fruits of salvation … Noteworthy Similarities There are several noteworthy similarities among Eastern Churches that distinguish them from the Latin Rite. In most Eastern rites, infants receive all three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation) at the same time. All Eastern rites receive the Holy Eucharist on the tongue, never in the hand. Within some rites, the priest dips the Host into the Precious Blood and then places it on the communicant’s tongue, which is called intinction. Eastern Catholics, in general, fast more strictly than Western Catholics. They have more fasting seasons than Lent. During these fasting periods, they not only abstain from meat but also fish, eggs and dairy products, wine, and oil (noting a few days of exception). Many Eastern Catholics use a prayer rope or beads, called a chotki, instead of a Rosary. It is customary to use the chotki to pray a simple prayer called The Jesus Prayer. Persecution of Eastern Catholics Sadly, another similarity among Eastern Catholics is their experience of persecution for the Faith. Tertullian once said that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” And Eastern Catholics have heroically lived out that old maxim. Throughout history, Eastern Catholics have endured centuries of hatred and cruelty because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Many have been willing to die for the Lord, and these churches never perished. For Roman Catholics, our concept of religious persecution can seem removed. We read stories of Saints who died for the Faith, but there are very few modern-day examples of religious persecution. For Eastern Catholics, however, this persecution has lasted even to the present day. Exploring Each Catholic Rite As we have mentioned, each of the six rites possess ancient roots, going all the way back to the Apostles. For all Catholic rites, liturgy is very important and is considered a type of catechism, central to forming disciples. In the Latin Rite, we say, "lex orandi, lex credendi," meaning "the way we worship is what we believe." Deacon Dozier says that “an entrance into the liturgy is an entrance into the kingdom.” So, even though there are liturgical distinctions among the Catholic rites, together, they create a beautiful mosaic of shared faith. Latin Rite Again, the Latin (or Roman) Rite is the largest rite and the only Western Church. It is expressed within three liturgies: Tridentine (Traditional Latin Mass), Novus Ordo (post-Vatican II Mass said in the vernacular), and Anglican Use. Under the Roman Catholic Church, there are other liturgical rites that date from before the mid-1500s: Mozarabic Rite (Spain) Ambrosian Rite (Italy) Bragan Rite (Portugal) Liturgies of the Dominican, Carmelite, and Carthusian orders Byzantine Rite When most people think of Eastern Catholicism, they think of the Byzantine tradition. It comprises of fourteen unique churches: Albanian Catholic Church Belarusian Catholic Church Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church Byzantine Church of Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro Greek Byzantine Catholic Church Hungarian Greek Catholic Church Italo-Albanian Catholic Church (never split) Macedonian Catholic Church Melkite Greek Catholic Church Romanian Catholic Church Russian Catholic Church Ruthenian Catholic Church Slovak Catholic Church Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Byzantine Liturgical Traditions Byzantine divine liturgies were written by fourth-century Saints John Chrysostom and Basil the Great. The Byzantine Rite uses leavened (instead of unleavened) bread for the Eucharist, and small pieces of the Host are placed into the chalice with the Precious Blood. Then, the laity receive the Body and Blood of Christ utilizing a small liturgical spoon. Another distinction between Latin and Byzantine Catholics revolves around veneration. While Latin Catholics venerate the wood of the Cross on Good Friday, Byzantine Catholics venerate Christ’s burial shroud. In addition, Latin Catholics tend to venerate statues, while icons are venerated in the Byzantine tradition. Alexandrian Rite The Alexandrian Rite consists of two subgroups: Coptic and Ge’ez rites. Within these subgroups are three churches: Coptic Catholic Church Eritrean Catholic Church Ethiopian Catholic Church The Coptic Catholic Church traces its lineage back to Saint Mark the Evangelist, while Ethiopians claim that Saints Matthew and Bartholomew spread Christianity to their area. Alexandrian Liturgical Traditions The main distinction between the Coptic and Ge’ez rites is language. The Coptic Catholic Church uses Coptic and occasionally Arabic, while the Eritrean and Ethiopian Catholic Churches use Ge’ez. One unique attribute to the Alexandrian Rite is when the liturgical year begins. Instead of Advent, it begins in late September with the Feast of the Cross. This feast commemorates Saint Helen’s finding of the True Cross. Antiochene Rite (West Syria) The ancient rite that blooms from West Syria, or Antioch, includes three churches: Maronite Catholic Church Syriac Catholic Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Antiochene Catholics trace their foundation to Saint Peter, who was Bishop of Antioch before he was Bishop of Rome. Therefore, patriarchs of the Maronite (which never split from Rome) and Syriac Churches are considered successors of Saint Peter, similar to bishops in the Latin Rite. Antiochene Liturgical Traditions All three of these churches use the West Syrian Rite in their liturgies. What differentiates them is language: Maronite Catholic Church: Aramaic or Arabic Syriac Catholic Church: Aramaic and Syriac Syro-Malankara Catholic Church: Syriac, Malayalam, or English The Mass, or liturgy, is called the Holy Qurbana, which translates to "holy sacrifice." It is rich in symbolism, as well as symbolic gestures and language. Armenian Rite The only church within the Armenian Rite is the Armenian Catholic Church. It dates back to the fourth century, when Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as their state religion. Armenian Liturgical Traditions The Armenian Catholic Church uses the liturgy of Saint Gregory the Illuminator. He lived in the fourth century and first composed the Divine Liturgy (what Latin Catholics refer to as the Mass) in Syriac. Similar to the Byzantines, when Armenians have an excess of bread that is not consecrated during the Divine Liturgy, this “blessed bread” (or antidoron) is given to the people after as a sign of fellowship. Within the liturgical calendar, there are slightly different seasons. For example, the season equivalent to Advent is called Aratchavorats, which begins on the Feast of Christ the King and lasts six to eight weeks. Chaldean Rite (East Syria) The Chaldean Rite traces its origins back to Saint Thomas the Apostle, and they are endearingly called “Saint Thomas Christians.” Within this rite are two churches: Chaldean Catholic Church Syro-Malabar Catholic Church While Chaldean Catholics have made their home in North America, they originally hail from India, Iraq, and other Middle Eastern countries. Chaldean Liturgical Traditions What sets the Chaldean Catholic churches apart is a red curtain that shrouds the sanctuary. Its significance traces back to the Jewish tradition of the Holy of Holies being separated by a veil, which was only accessed by the High Priest. The Chaldean curtain is similar to the iconostasis (screen of icons) in the Byzantine Rite and the communion rail in the Latin Rite. All Eastern Churches refer to the Eucharistic Prayer as the anaphora, and the Chaldean Rite uses the oldest ones in the Catholic Church (Liturgy of Mar Addai and Mar Mari), which date back to the third century. The vernacular language is typically used in the anaphora, but Aramaic—the language of Jesus Christ—is also used. Within the Chaldean liturgical calendar, there are nine seasons. They do not have Ordinary Time. However, they have Advent and the Great Fast (Lent). They honor the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle as a Holy Day of Obligation. Just a Glimpse This article only offers a glimpse into the six rites within the Catholic Church. However, it demonstrates the depth, richness, and beauty of our universal Church. The Catholic Church incorporates many unique cultures, traditions, and customs, and yet it is fully united in dogma and doctrine. The Catholic Church holds in high esteem the institutions, liturgical rites, ecclesiastical traditions and the established standards of the Christian life of the Eastern Churches, for in them, distinguished as they are for their venerable antiquity, there remains conspicuous the tradition that has been handed down from the Apostles through the Fathers … // Pope Paul VI To Learn More If this aspect of Church history peaks your interest, continue exploring the various rites of the Catholic Church: Attend a Traditional Latin Mass. Visit an Eastern Rite Catholic Church in your area. Study a helpful chart to see how the rites and churches relate to each other. Listen to a podcast that gives a brief history of Eastern Catholic Churches, plus a beautiful lesson in Marian spirituality. Consider purchasing an icon for your home. Pray The Jesus Prayer. Let us know your rite, and which one you would like to learn more about!   [bctt tweet="A Brief Overview of the Various Rites Within the Catholic Church #BISblog //" via="no"]

I decided to re-read The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis this year. There are few things more comforting than curling up on the couch in a fuzzy blanket in the dim of the evening and getting lost in the wonder of the Narnian universe with its talking animals, fauns, and, of course, Aslan. As I made my way through the books, I began to have a much deeper appreciation for the character of Lucy, the youngest of the Pevensie siblings. The more reacquainted I became with her character, the more I felt convinced that she is the perfect literary heroine for our weary, jaded times. Becoming Lucy In the Bible, God tells us of the vision He has for transforming our hearts: A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. // Ezekiel 36:26 Lucy provides such a beautiful example of what this “heart of flesh” looks like. It is one that is pure, courageous, quick to forgive, and above all, confident in Christ’s love. Living life like Lucy Pevensie is the antidote to the fog of despair and cynicism. Her character is a blueprint for how to live out spiritual childhood. Childlike Confidence in God’s Love One of the things that really pierced my heart as I read Narnia this time was how intense and utterly trusting is Lucy’s love for Aslan. No matter the circumstances, whenever she sees Aslan, she runs to him immediately, ready to embrace him, expecting like a little child to receive his love and delight in return. She’s never held back by shame or fear. And sometimes when he leaves, she openly weeps because she can’t bear to be separated from him. She acts like the daughter I want to be with my Heavenly Father! A ll too often we shy away from Him because we don’t understand His kindness and eagerness to receive us. If only more of us had hearts like Lucy’s—open, trusting, always ready to run to God’s embrace, completely confident in His tender love. Courage Lucy's confidence in Aslan’s love bears much fruit, including great courage. With this courage she's able to have the fortitude to stay near Aslan when he is killed by the White Witch, even though it is a painful and terrifying experience for her. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, when she and her friends are caught in a literal cloud of pitch darkness that never seems to end, Lucy sees others around her panicking and despairing. But instead of losing hope, she murmurs a quiet, loving request for Aslan's help and guidance. Aslan’s love lights a fire in Lucy’s heart, a fire that gives her strength for whatever difficulties come. In Prince Caspian, when Aslan asks her to do something difficult, at first she feels afraid, unsure if she can accomplish it. But right away, she leans on him for help and receives the strength she needs: Lucy buried her head in his mane to hide from his face. But there must have been some magic in his mane. She could feel lion-strength going into her. Quite suddenly she sat up. 'I'm sorry, Aslan,' she said. 'I'm ready now.' 'Now you are a lioness,' said Aslan. 'And now all Narnia will be renewed.' Whatever the circumstances, Lucy’s always looking towards Aslan, and that sustains her through fear. Readiness to Forgive Lucy has a refreshing self-forgetfulness that allows her to forgive and move forward, without clinging to past injuries and grudges. When she first meets the faun, Mr. Tumnus, he intends to betray her to the White Witch. When he finally confesses this in a flood of tears, Lucy’s immediate reaction is to forgive him. She even offers him her handkerchief as a token of their friendship. When Lucy's siblings refuse to believe that she’s discovered the magical land of Narnia, it hurts her. And yet, when her Peter finally realizes that she’s right and offers an apology, she accepts right away. A Pure Heart Lucy is often the first to see invisible realities. At first, it is Narnia itself. Then, throughout multiple books, she is often the first to see Aslan when others cannot. I can’t help but recall Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” Lucy’s faith in Aslan has a simplicity that makes it purer than anyone else’s. She doesn’t let other concerns crowd her heart and compete for Aslan’s love. When she sees the truth or when she sees goodness, she simply goes for it without overthinking things. This singleness of purpose in her love frees her to see with clearer vision and experience deep joy. It opens greater adventures to her, makes her life deeper, richer, and more vibrant. Read and Be Ready If you haven't read the Narnia books, I highly encourage you to pick them up this year. Officially they might be children’s literature, but the books are just as valuable reading for adults, if not more so! There is so much spiritual richness to each story that it would take an entire book to talk about each. And if you are an old friend of Narnia, take a little time to revisit it. You will come away refreshed and encouraged, ready to become your own Lucy Pevensie.   [bctt tweet="Becoming Lucy #BISblog //" via="no"]   Maria Bonvissuto works in marketing for a Catholic all-girls school in Northern Virginia. She is always reading at least two books at a time, loves playing classical guitar and writing, and is a major St. Augustine fangirl.

But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed. // John 12:15 Love this print from Ireland Rose of Often Hidden in the Light. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this for free! Log in and download! Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Growing up, I treated Holy Saturday as an early start to Easter. It may not have been the actual celebration of Easter, but I breathed a sigh of relief for making it through the sorrow and fasting of Good Friday and looked towards the rejoicing we would do after Easter Vigil. Now, looking back, I realize that my understanding and reverence of Holy Saturday was lacking as a child. I did not embrace it as a day of watching and praying for the coming of our Lord, and I would not until I read the words of a Lenten audience by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. “Walking Toward Easter” In this audience he spoke of the sorrow that fills Good Friday, but also of its reminder that, through the Cross, Christ brings us victory and hope. A hope which is nourished through the silence of Holy Saturday, our expectation rising in anticipation of Jesus’ rising from the dead. On this day when decorations are taken down from our churches and no special liturgies are held, we have the opportunity to keep vigil with Mary. In sorrow, yes, but also in trust and hope of His Resurrection. The words that reoriented my Holy Saturday were Benedict’s words: It is rightly recommended that a prayerful atmosphere be preserved throughout the day, favorable for meditation and reconciliation...The recollection and silence of Holy Saturday will usher us into the night of the solemn Easter Vigil, ‘mother of all vigils’, when the hymn of joy in Christ’s resurrection will burst forth in all the churches and communities...Thus we shall enter into the atmosphere of Easter. Through an intense living of the Holy Triduum, we open ourselves up to a much deeper experience of its grace. After reading Benedict's words, I regretted looking past so many unique and beautiful opportunities all the previous Holy Saturdays offered me. From then on, I wanted to walk through Holy Saturday with Mary. I wanted to use the day to be more mindful of Benedict’s words, that “We are still awaiting Easter; we are not still standing in the full light, but walking toward it in full trust.” Something we are called to not only on Holy Saturday, but everyday. “Light, Water, and the Alleluia” Benedict speaks of the three symbols during Easter Vigil: light, water, and the Alleluia. Through Jesus’ Resurrection, He brings light to the darkness. “God said: Let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday is the day in which we get to experience this transformation from darkness to light. As candle by candle, the Church is brightened with the glow of soft flames flickering in the air. Little lights that were sparked from the Paschal candle, and that together, make the entire Church aglow. A light that we as Church are called to carry out into the world. The second symbol is water, which holds two meanings. It represents the purification we receive through the water of Baptism as we are reborn and made new in Christ. It not only symbolizes our new birth, but also the graces we receive through the Sacrament to be a living water for others. We are called, as Benedict says, “always to be sources of pure, fresh water, bubbling up from the fountain of his truth and love”! The third and final symbol that Benedict speaks of is the alleluia. A word which we will sing out with joy on Easter’s arrival. “Speech is no longer adequate. He has to sing.” A song which is meant to be shared with all those around us and kept not only to ourselves. The first place that we hear about people singing in the Bible comes after the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, as they passed through slavery to freedom. We repeat their song of praise during the Easter Vigil liturgy, “I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea” (Exodus 15:1). Living in Hope Holy Saturday is a time of being in between great darkness and beautiful light. As Claire Dwyer writes in This Present Paradise, darkness in the spiritual life is like “spending Holy Saturday in a tomb with a hidden Christ who is breaking thousands of years of bondage.” Yet through our baptism, death has been stripped away and we are set free. Christ lives within us. As Benedict says, “the great explosion of the Resurrection has seized us in Baptism so as to draw us on.” If we receive the grace given to us and allow ourselves to be directed by the Holy Spirit, all that we do can take part in transforming the world to a place secure in the warmth of His love. With this confidence, we have a hope we can live in. What has Jesus set you free of this pat Lent? What is He drawing you on to in the coming Easter season?   [bctt tweet="Holy Saturday // Recollection, Silence, and Hope #BISblog #holysaturday //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Today marks the darkest day of the Church year. It is the sobering remembrance of the Word Incarnate, crucified. Liturgically, it is the only day of the entire year that no Eucharistic hosts will be consecrated as a reminder of Christ’s temporary absence. We fast and fall into line to venerate a cross, representing the Cross on which the Savior hung. The universal Church enters the empty, in-between time where Jesus is no longer with us, and not yet returned. Thin Places Mystics and theologians have various names for this kind of space—both the heaviness and anguish that can exist here alongside experiences of deep peace. The Irish call these “thin places,” noting that the space between Heaven and earth feels particularly thin, almost as though one could reach out and touch the other side. Others have referred to it as “liminal space,” the space in time where we are on the way. Our ship has left port and not yet arrived at its destination, so to speak. Our role as pilgrims is perhaps never more felt than on Good Friday. In the cadence of the Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday), the “good” in Good Friday has been confusing at best, and unsettling at worst. In its proper context, with an understanding of Salvation History, the "good" in Good Friday makes sense; but without that, it is hard to hear. Perhaps, even difficult to stomach—after all, how can we possibly find reason to celebrate the darkness of this day? Why is Good Friday “Good?” If you have ever talked through Holy week with a child, it is likely that you have already fielded this question. Or maybe you prefer to call it “Passion Friday” because it feels a more apt description. Either way, it can feel uncomfortable to put "good" in front of anything heart-wrenching. The answer is part semantics and part theology. Linguists share that Good Friday may very well have gotten its name because the words "good" and "holy" used to be used somewhat interchangeably. Ultimately though, we can name this day good because of what it accomplished for humanity in the same we proclaim, “O happy fault” of Adam and Eve’s sin. Each celebrate God’s victorious hand in history which offered salvation to humanity: God’s “drawing straight with crooked lines.” Already and Not Yet Celebrating Good Friday well is embracing our "already and not yet" understanding of salvation. As Catholic Christians, of course we know how the story ends, and it can be difficult to explain the sobering ritual to children or non-believers alike. Yes, Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead once and for all. And we embrace that reality in new ways each year of our lives. I remember, as a child, being horrified by the living Stations of the Cross at our parish—it was so real for me, I sobbed as though Christ were being hung on a cross before my very eyes while we all stood around, watching. Good Friday meant something entirely different to me the year we experienced a death in our family,than it has having had the joy of witnessing friends join the Church during Easter Vigil. Just as I imagine I would have a different experience entering into the Lenten season in the southern hemisphere where winter is dawning and light waning, rather than what I am accustomed to in the northern hemisphere where spring is just unfurling. Remembering In the same way the sacrifice of the Mass brings us back to the heart of the Paschal Mystery (Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection) each time it is celebrated, our annual return to the darkness of Good Friday is integral to our celebration of Easter Sunday. Each year I appreciate the wisdom of the liturgical year on a deeper level. The story doesn’t change, but we do. There is no need to come up with a flashy, new theme or logo. Holy Week will provide all that we can ask for in terms of mourning and celebrating well, arriving just as we are. Thank God the Church is ever ancient and ever new, and has different things to teach us each year we find ourselves walking the Lenten road. Beginning last night with the Holy Thursday foot-washing and remembrance of the last supper, we have ended our Lenten walk and entered into the beauty of Holy Week. However we are arriving this year, my prayer is that we might do so ready to receive whatever it is we need, and that that gift would remain with us throughout the celebration of the Easter season and beyond!   [bctt tweet="The Thin Place of Good Friday #BISblog #goodfriday //" via="no"]

  Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes... // John 12:15 Love this print from Mariana Pimiento of Big Apple Catholic. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this for free! Log in and download! Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Welcome to our Blessed Chats series! Each month, we will dedicate an entire week of blog posts to a topic that affects many of us. These conversations often come up in our Facebook groups and in our real life friendships. We want to share a variety of perspectives on the topic at hand, so we've asked women to share their stories and how the teachings of the Church have guided and comforted them. In this series, we're talking about life as single women. We'd love for you to join the conversation! I sat somewhat uncomfortably beneath the shade of tall pine trees, a gentle wind rustling the canopy and my hair. My journal rested in my lap. I was on a leadership retreat in high school, just learning that I could have a personal relationship with God in prayer. I fidgeted on the cold, hard ground and leaned in hard to hear Him. Like a pen pal catching up a beloved friend after months of missing each other, I poured out my heart in those pages. My monologue of fears and failures, dreams and desires spilled over from one page to the next. But one question, one hope, dominated the landscape of my heart and the contents of that letter: my vocation. A Longing I longed for romantic love, and was preoccupied with it. In every elementary school class I had a crush. Next I fell deeply in love with my junior high best friend. And in between classes as I walked my high school campus, my eyes and heart were always searching for someone. The one. I always imagined having a love that spanned my whole life, so I was eager to get started. After sharing my perfect plan for a Perfect Marriage™, I put the question to Him. Would He send me this man? And for the first time, I heard the Voice of the Lord in prayer. One clear, pure word settled in my heart: wait. Looking back, I still marvel at the peace I felt in the moment. I wasn’t dejected or discouraged, instead I was elated that the Lord listened to my prayer and responded. Waiting didn’t have a terrible, long-suffering connotation. I felt no fear or resentment. In fact, as I made my way back to the hall for our next session, my steps were lighter. God heard me, He loved me, and He wanted the best for me. After all, I reckoned, 17 is still young. Years ticked past and my hopes continued, deferred. The boys I liked never invited me to a dance. My not-so-secret college crush never asked me on a proper date. There was no post-grad office romance, especially since the only man I worked with as youth minister at my new parish was the priest. But still, I prayed. I hoped. And contrary to Padre Pio’s sage advice, I worried. Peace in Eucharistic Adoration Having encountered Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament on another high school retreat, I sought Him out in Eucharistic Adoration. In those early years of ministry, I cried to Him on lonely Friday nights and pre-gamed with Him before youth group every Sunday. I stopped in when I was having a bad day and needed a Friend. The chapel became my safe place, my second home. In it, I filled many more journals recording conversations with the One I had come to know so well. Spring, summer, fall, and winter, morning, noon, and night, I visited Him. Even when I was angry at God about my self-imposed vocation deadlines, I showed up. When I felt unseen, I punched in the little code and sat down before His Eucharistic face. When there was no one and nothing, when there was and then there wasn’t, when my heart broke and I thought I messed it all up, I cried and raged and finally, blessedly, came back to peace in that still, small chapel. [elementor-template id="469410"] Keep Showing Up This devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist changed my life. Like the sinful woman in Luke 8, I daily poured out my heart at His feet. In His True Presence, He purified and rightly-ordered my desires, restored my dignity, and revealed the Love I was longing for. I’ve spent the last twenty years kneeling before Him in dozens of similar chapels, and still my hope for my vocation has not yet been realized. Still I wait. But in those twenty years, I have been deeply loved. The Lover of my soul pursued my heart and called me Beloved and told me again and again how beautiful I am to Him (Song of Songs 4:1). An Invitation Jesus walked with me through those desert years of waiting, grasping, and longing. But as I turn to assess all the ground we’ve covered, I find that the cracked and parched earth has begin to bloom where His footsteps landed. His presence floods the dryness, giving grace to past seasons. And that same grace is available to you, sweet friend. Can I ask you to do one thing as you wait for the desires of your heart? Commit to a weekly Holy Hour. Go to Him no matter the weather or circumstances or emotions that may try to deter you. In His Presence, that seemingly insatiable desire for understanding, acceptance, healing—for love—will be satisfied by the Living Water. Because beneath the very real call and desire for your vocation lies the ultimate call, the deepest desire of your heart: Love Himself. We weren’t made for marriage, or religious life; we were made for Jesus Christ.   We want to hear YOUR story. Please share in the comments below! And if you want more help with finding your own story, our popular Write + Pray course offers 9 topics, nearly an hour of guided video, and almost 50 Scripture verses and questions for you featuring Managing Editor Nell O'Leary. Find your story today.   [bctt tweet="Blessed Chats: Single Women // Prayer #BISblog #blessedchats //" via="no"]