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

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

He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. // Matthew 28:6 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Throughout the centuries, many arguments disregarding the validity of the Resurrection have emerged. In fact, the various explanations began on the very day in history that Christ rose (see Matthew 28:13). Since then, Apostles, Evangelists, Saints, and the faithful have given beautiful rebuttals to every argument insisting the Resurrection was made up by Jesus’ followers who—in non-believers’ eyes—were mortified they had been so wrong about Him. The Witness of Women One of my favorite pieces of evidence in support of the Resurrection is the inclusion of the narrative about the women at the tomb. At that point in history, women were not considered credible witnesses. They could not even testify in a court of law! Yet the Evangelists share the detail that it was women who were the first to encounter the empty tomb. If the Apostles had made up the story about Jesus’ Resurrection, they never would have based their story on the experience of a group of females. No one would consider it credible! However, the Apostles and Evangelists include these details because it is the truth—and it is the truth to which the Apostles are testifying (see 1 John 1:13). Although the rest of the world may not have considered women worthy witnesses, God sure did! The Women at the Tomb + Their Backstories While the male disciples hid in fear, these women approached Jesus’ tomb with a love that casts out all fear. Because Jesus died so close to the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath (which begins at sundown on Friday), the burial process was rushed and only included the bare minimum. Thus, these women returned to Christ’s resting place, wishing to anoint the Body grandiosely, in the manner they felt He deserved. God rewarded this act of love with one of His own by allowing them to be the first to see the effects of the most glorious event in human history! Please note: The Evangelists do not share identical lists in regards to the women present. However, this is not a contradiction in facts. The Evangelists were writing for different audiences and thus had different persuasive goals in mind. The names of some women may be included in one Gospel, but not in another. This may be because the Evangelist’s audience knew that woman and thus could go and speak in person with her about what she saw. In addition, each Evangelist included details pertinent to their specific story. So while John only mentions Mary Magdalene by name in his Gospel, it does not mean other women were not there. Rather, that Mary Magdalene is a protagonist from whom he does not wish to detract. No matter the differing details, explanations exist for all of them. Mary Magdalene (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) The most prevalent of these women is Mary Magdalene. Across the Gospels, she is mentioned by name twelve times (more than most of the Apostles)! Two major contributing factors led to a misunderstanding that Mary Magdalene was either a prostitute, the woman caught in adultery, or the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. The first is her surname, which is indicative of her hometown. Magdala was a small city on the shores of the Galilean sea. Its land was fertile, its fishing exemplary, and its location a major crossroads for travelers no matter which direction they were headed. It is possible that the fertility of the city of Magdala itself played a role in her own financial wellness which she in turn used to financially support Jesus and the Twelve. However, Magdala was also a city of immorality and prostitution was prevalent in the area. This may have contributed to the notion that Mary Magdalene was quite immoral herself. The second major factor which contributed to this misinformation was a homily given by Saint Gregory the Great. While trying to inspire the faithful to repent with great hope during a trying time in human history, he muddled the lines between Mary Magdalene and the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet. The message of his homily was impactful. The faithful found immense hope in the story of a great sinner who became notably holy. Consequently, the message spread and reverberated. Mary Magdalene has been portrayed inaccurately in homilies and Hollywood for centuries since. Who She Truly Was In reality, Mary Magdalene was a wealthy woman with unnamed weaknesses. She was deeply afflicted by seven demons, and was restored to full physical and spiritual health by the touch of Jesus. Consequently her reciprocal love and devotion was incredibly strong. She became a disciple of prominence, always mentioned first (with one exception) in the lists of women followers (much like Peter is listed before all the men). A leader, Mary Magdalene was continuously a part of Jesus' traveling entourage, using her wealth to support the group. Her unwavering devotion conjured the necessary courage to be present at Christ’s crucifixion and burial, in addition to returning to the tomb twice. Although her distress led to her misidentification of the Resurrected Jesus as the gardener, her intensity in this moment is astounding: “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away” (see John 20:15). Such a bold and fearless assertion! Mary Magdalene is the only woman included in all four Resurrection accounts, another indication of her prominence in Jesus’ ministry. It was she who ran to tell the hiding male disciples that the tomb was empty, and then informed them again after encountering the Risen Lord, making her the Apostle to the Apostles. When you think about it, the whole belief of Christianity is dependent upon her initial testimony!     Mary, The Mother of James (Mark, Luke) This Mary was the aunt of Jesus. Married to Clopas (also known as Cleopas and Alpheus), she was the mother of the Apostle James the Lesser. A silent character in the Gospels, she is mentioned various times and in various ways. She was a disciple of her Nephew throughout His ministry and also present for His crucifixion and burial. Surely, she was a source of emotional support for her sister-in-law, the Blessed Virgin, who was a widow and had lost her only Child. Mary's husband, Clopas, was the brother of Saint Joseph. He was a main character in Luke’s Emmaus narrative and it is possible that Mary was the second unnamed disciple in the story. In these small details, it is apparent that Mary was devout in her relationship with the Divine, passing that on to her children. Mother to at least four sons, two of them served as the first and second bishops of Jerusalem within the early Church (the first being Saint James the Lesser). Salome (Mark) During this point in history, the prominence of the name “Salome” for Jewish girls was second only to the name “Mary.” Thus, it is debated which Salome from the early Church was the one present on Easter Sunday. The most accepted stance is that she was Salome, mother of the thunderous Apostles James and John. Her husband was Zebedee, a fisherman with such a successful business it allotted them the finances to afford servants. It is speculated that she had ties to the Jewish High Priest, either familial or social, which is why John was able to get inside his home for Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin (see John 18:15-17). Salome was captivated by Jesus from the start, allowing the sons she raised to leave home and follow Him. A disciple herself, she must have felt familiar with Christ as she asked for seats of honor for James and John in the coming Kingdom. Jesus kindly corrected her, assuring that they would share in His suffering, but not sit at His side. God built upon this spiritual moment, and Salome went on to witness Jesus’ suffering firsthand at the foot of the Cross. Her sons went on to serve as bookends for the Apostles’ martyrdoms, the first and the last of the group to die, suffering for the Kingdom as promised by Jesus. Joanna (Luke) Only included in the Gospel of Luke, Joanna was an upper class woman who had been on the receiving end of a healing miracle (see Luke 8:1-3). Her husband, Chuza, was a steward of King Herod. As such, they were significantly wealthy and able to live a lavish life. Despite the goodness of her wealth, Joanna found greater satisfaction in Jesus. Out of gratitude, she became a financial backer of His ministry. Joanna was a devoted disciple, at times even traveling with Jesus and the Twelve proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of God. No doubt she brought incredible stories of Jesus back to the palace. Perhaps she was even present for Jesus’s brief trial before Herod since she likely lived there full time (Scripture makes no mention that she was). The Other Mary (Matthew) "Mary" was the most common name for Jewish females at the time of Jesus. This is why there are so many “Marys” needing to be distinguished from one another in the Bible. Though it is possible Matthew was referring to Mary of Bethany, the absence of Martha being named specifically alongside her makes this unlikely. In all probability, this was simply Matthew’s way of alluding to Mary, the Mother of James, who is mentioned in the narrative by the other Synoptic Gospels. The Other Women (Luke) Luke, who was writing to give an ordered account, shares that other women were present besides those mentioned specifically. We cannot know with certainty who these women were, but we can allow our imaginations to insert the possibility of female disciples named earlier in the Gospel. Perhaps Mary, Martha, and Susanna (another known financial support and recipient of healing) were among them. What about the Blessed Virgin? There is no one who loved Jesus more than His Mother, Mary. Why did she not return to the tomb to finish burying her Son? The explanation is simple. Mary was perfect in love and perfect in discipleship. She had listened and adhered to her Son’s teachings all along. Thus, when He predicted His Death and Resurrection and everyone else was somewhat confused, Mary understood and believed. She did not return to the tomb on Sunday morning, because she knew the tomb was only temporary! Although Scripture does not share these details, tradition provides insight into Mary’s whereabouts on that day. Saint Vincent Ferrer writes that Mary, believing in the Resurrection, kept vigil all night on Holy Saturday, waiting for the return of her Son and King. Saint Vincent, Saint Bridget of Sweden, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Pope Saint John Paul II, and many other Saints all agree that the first thing Jesus did when His soul reunited with His body was to rejoice in God’s mercy with His Mother. This is, in fact, why the tomb was empty when the rest of the disciples approached it! Crucial to the Cause Luke gives one mention of these beautiful women in the book of Acts when he includes them collectively in the list of the 120 disciples gathered prayerfully in the Upper Room (see Acts 1:14). This means that these ladies were also witnesses to the ordination of Matthias, attendants at Pentecost, and contributors to the early Church community. Their presence and testimonies were surely imperative to the Apostles, Evangelists, and converts. Who knows... if not for the details these women were able to provide about the Passion, the climax of the Gospels could look different on paper! Which woman at the tomb are you most fascinated by or interested in?   [bctt tweet="Which woman at the tomb are you most fascinated by or interested in? #BISblog //" via="no"] MARY SHOWS US THE WAY Just as a mother might pass on a beloved family tradition to her daughters, Mary shares the recipe for growing in virtue with us. This study on Mary's Virtues will breathe new life into your everyday, beginning right in Mary's home. GET HOME STUDY

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

“ …About to hand Himself over to death, [He] entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity, the banquet of His love…” The opening prayer for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday sums up what the holy days of the Triduum are all about. The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper is the beginning of the sacred days of the Triduum, which conclude with the joyful celebration of the Easter Vigil. At Holy Thursday Mass, we remember that this banquet of love—new for all eternity—is the Eucharist, and our hearts respond in thanksgiving. The Church even provides a tradition for us to be able to offer our gratitude. The Seven Churches Pilgrimage for Holy Thursday At the end of the Holy Thursday liturgy, instead of the closing prayer (which we will not actually hear until the Easter Vigil) there is a procession to the altar of repose. This is where Jesus in the Eucharist will be in reserve for the faithful to spend time in prayer and adoration until midnight. It’s an extension of the invitation the Lord gave His disciples in the agony in the garden to "watch and pray" (see Matthew 26: 40-41). The altar of repose is usually beautiful, dark, and quiet. It is filled with many adorers who are remembering the gifts Jesus gave us that first Holy Thursday night (the gifts of the Eucharist and priesthood) and what was coming (the agony in the Garden, betrayal, and arrest of Jesus). It is my favorite tradition during the Triduum. A few years ago, a priest was visiting the convent for our “last supper” before we entered into the silence of the Triduum. He brought up the tradition of the seven churches pilgrimage, something I had never heard of but was intrigued by. Essentially, it’s visiting seven local altars of repose on Holy Thursday night. Spiritually, it’s a deep expression of keeping watch with the Lord in the Garden, and an experience of the "catholicity," universality, of the Church. Pilgrimage Among the Saints The original pilgrimage dates back to Saint Philip Neri in the 1500s. Known as the second apostle of Rome, He would lead a pilgrimage to the four major basilicas and three other minor basilicas on Wednesday of Holy Week. You can follow in his footsteps today. Covering about 12 miles, it’s a pilgrimage among the Saints. It winds through the heart of Rome, visiting the churches where Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Sebastian, Saint Justin, and Saint Lawrence are buried. That pilgrimage has expanded in Rome during Lent, with the tradition of the “Station Churches.” Each day of Lent there is a church to visit and pray in. The churches of the pilgrimage were established by Saint Gregory the Great as a way to honor the early Church martyrs. Falling out of tradition when the Pope moved from Rome during the Avignon papacy, it has experienced a revival of sorts since the 1970s. You can read more about it here and here. I love pilgrimages. Pilgrimages are important in both the Old and New Testaments. There are countless traditions of pilgrimages—to the Holy Land, Lourdes, the Camino—to name a few. Long or short, messy or easy (99.9% of the time it's messy) they can be a powerful encounter with God’s grace and gifts. We have a chance to find refuge in the Lord and pray among the Saints on Holy Thursday night as we participate in the altar of repose. So when the priest shared about the seven churches pilgrimage during the time of the altar of repose, this added the opportunity for a concrete expression of the pilgrim road in my heart. I was hooked. How to Participate in the Seven Churches Pilgrimage for Holy Thursday How do we participate in the seven Church pilgrimage? First, check with your diocese and see if there is an official list of churches participating and the times of the altars of repose. Or, you can build your own pilgrimage from your parish to other nearby parishes. Be sure to check the times of the altars of repose, some close earlier than others. At each altar, you can spend time meditating on Jesus’ experience in the Garden (here is a booklet to help). However, in my experience, I spend my time in thanksgiving and awe. I gave thanks for the great gift of the Eucharist and priesthood instituted on Holy Thursday night. I marvel in awe of the beauty of the universal Church. Last year, our pilgrimage included the Cathedral, two Hispanic parishes, a Polish parish, an Irish parish, a Traditional Latin Mass parish, and a downtown young adult parish. Talk about an experience of the Catholic Church! Each parish, as different as they were, were universal in the reverence and honor given to Jesus in the Eucharist. I hope you have a chance to participate in this tradition. If not, I hope at least you can visit your parish altar of repose. May it renew your love of the Eucharist and awe at His coming to us and staying with us. Have you ever made the seven churches pilgrimage on Holy Thursday? What was your experience like?   [bctt tweet="The Seven Churches Pilgrimage for Holy Thursday #BISblog //" 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. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

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

Cornelia (Corrie) Ten Boom was born on April 15, 1892 in Haarlem, Netherlands, the youngest of four children. Her father was a watchmaker and their family lived in a home they called the Beje. Her family was not wealthy, but Corrie didn’t know otherwise, because her mother was always packing baskets of food for Corrie and her sisters to deliver to other families in need. During World War II this Dutch family hid hundreds of Jews from the Nazis, before being eventually betrayed and imprisoned. The book The Hiding Place tells their story. Alert: there are spoilers in this post. A Family of Faith Raised in a devout, Calvinist family, Corrie noticed that her father, Casper, was a man of no prejudice. She entrusted her big life questions to him, including her fear of death. Her father responded to her fears by asking her, “When you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket”? Corrie answered, “Why, just before we get on the train.” Her father replied, “Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things, too. Don’t run out ahead of Him.” Corrie’s mother, Cornelia, whom she was named after, was a very thoughtful and generous woman. One day when Corrie was saddened by the thought of people who were unable to leave their rooms due to poor health and fragility her mother said to her, “Happiness isn’t something that depends on our surroundings, Corrie. It’s something we make inside ourselves.” This advice would become very important to her, as her own physical surroundings would soon become bleak. The Hiding Place During World War II, the Ten Boom family had invented a warning system to protect Jews from surprise and spontaneous raids. The family came to meet a “Mr. Smit” who was one of Europe’s most famous architects. He came to their home and installed a false brick wall in Corrie’s bedroom to create a hiding room. The family went to great lengths to protect both the young and old, no matter the risk. This included crying babies and elderly women with unrelenting coughs. But no matter who they were, all who entered the Beje for protection had to learn the seventy-second drill for hiding. Mr. Smit taught them how to pay attention to every detail, not leaving a trace of their whereabouts. This included turning mattresses over in order to keep the German Sicherheitsdientst (Security Service) from finding warm spots on the bed. Betrayal and Bugs A fellow Dutchman eventually betrayed the Ten Boom family for concealing Jews. While most of the family was separated, Corrie and her sister Betsie remained together. They lived in two work camps before being transferred to Ravensbruck, the women’s extermination camp. During this train ride, women were cramped so tightly together that when a woman fainted, her body remained upright. When they arrived at their barrack, Corrie was relieved to find an empty space of hay where she could sit down, only to find the straw crawling with lice. Eventually she had no choice but to spread out her blanket on the rustling, infested straw and sit on top of them. Her and Betsie’s skin became so devoured by the bugs that the sisters even found refuge in the icy waters of the showers which were mandated upon arrival. God’s Provision By a miracle, Corrie escaped being searched when she entered the camp, allowing her to sneak in her Bible. This became an immeasurable comfort for countless women in the camp. Betsie often read from the Scriptures, preaching to the other woman in the barracks verses like the ones found in Romans chapter eight: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Scripture reminded them to think of Jesus hanging naked on the cross as they had their weekly medical inspection. Even on the coldest of days they were unable to cross their arms, ordered to leave their hands at their sides as the guards smiled and gawked at them. Betsie would urge others to be patient with all, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and “in all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Even for the fleas. Due to rare observance in their barracks, there soon came to be regular religious services. Betsie and Corrie would read their Bible in Dutch and translate it aloud in German. They would then hear the words being translated into French, Polish, Russian, and Czech. They later learned the reason for low surveillance: the guards were afraid of the fleas! It was then that Corrie remembered Betsie’s prayer of thanks to God for all creatures, even the bugs which Corrie found no use for. “Look at Jesus Only” Because Betsie suffered from anemia, her health quickly deteriorated in Ravensbruck. When not working quickly enough, Betsie was struck with a belt on her chest and her neck. When she saw Corrie staring at her she told her not to look at it, but to “look at Jesus only.” While Corrie prayed daily to have the opportunity to show God’s love to her fellow prisoners, Betsie prayed daily to have the chance to show God’s love to their persecutors. Before dying of malnutrition, she told Corrie that they “must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here.” She died just weeks before Corrie was released. His Will is Our Hiding Place At fifty-two years old, Corrie was released right before the New Year of 1945. Corrie rolled over and over in her head the “what if” Betsie had lived just a bit longer. But then she could hear her sister saying. “There are no ‘ifs” in God’s kingdom. His timing is perfect. His will is our hiding place.” Corrie wasted no time on starting the home that she and Betsie had talked about in the camps. A place where people could come to heal from their experiences during the war. She dedicated the rest of her life as an evangelist, telling her story of living in concentration camps and preaching on forgiveness. She traveled to every single continent except Antarctica and never accepted payment. Just a place to sleep and a meal. When Corrie returned to Ravensbruck in 1959 she learned that she had been released by accident. A clerk had mistakenly recorded her number in a list of those meant to be freed. Her name was on the list of those to be executed! In Corrie’s words, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” What unknowns in your life are you being asked to entrust to Jesus?   [bctt tweet="BIS Reads // The Hiding Place #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She! HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

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

Growing up, my Easter basket was filled solely with candy. I loved it! After fasting from candy and sweets for almost six weeks, a basket of candy was a welcomed treat Easter Sunday morning. It wasn’t until I started dating my husband, Mike, that I realized that some families put gifts other than candy in their Easter baskets. The first Easter I celebrated with Mike’s family—after a long night shift working as a nurse—is so memorable. I was given an Easter basket from his family with different gifts, each incredibly meaningful and beautiful. It was the beginning of a new tradition for me, one Mike and I would implement in our own family. Now, one of my favorite things to do is to pick out one or two gifts for the Easter baskets I prepare. Children Love Simplicity The more I learn and grow as a mother, the more I realize how children love simplicity. They find joy in the smallest gifts and treasure our presence more than anything else. The greatest gift we can give our children—whether it is our spiritual children, children we teach, godchildren, adopted, or biological—is our love and presence. If you decide to gift your child with an Easter basket this year, keep it simple. Like Christ teaches us on the Cross and within the tomb, the greatest gift we can give our families is ourselves, who we are, our presence, our joy, and our love. Catholic Easter Basket Ideas for Kids Here are some Catholic-themed gift ideas to consider including in your child’s Easter basket this year. May you have a blessed Easter season! Into the Deep Mass Unit Study Saint Anna Want Paper Doll Camino Socks * Mother Teresa Bib Marian Stole and Chasuble Scapular Saint Thérèse Doll Mass Magnet Play Set * Catholic WordsCard Matching Game * The Adventures of Loupio, Volume * use code CLAIRE for discount What are some of YOUR favorite gifts to include in Easter baskets? [bctt tweet="Catholic Easter Basket Ideas for Kids #BISblog // " via="no"]

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

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

Age is an interesting concept. What was once considered old, our modern experience now perceives as the prime of life. Likewise, what we currently qualify as middle-age, our ancestors might categorize as rather elderly. Thus, when seeking to fully understand another’s life–including important figures within our Faith–it is key to understand how they perceived the world. This includes one’s understanding of ages and life-expectancy. This newfound awareness would surely affect our understanding of the Saints and perhaps allow us to connect with their lives in novel ways. Saints Who Had Conversions Later in Life The Catholic canon of Saints is full of young, vibrant Saints like Carlo Acutis, Chiara Badano, and Pier Giorgio Frassati. Their youthful brilliance, though inspiring, may leave those of us who found Jesus later in life feeling a bit like we wasted too much time. To combat those negative thoughts, I have pulled together a list of Saints who were unconcerned with God until later in life in the hopes that it qualms those unfavorable inner voices. A Viking Queen, age 25-60 A viking princess married at 15 to Prince Igor of Kiev (an area covering parts of modern day Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia), Saint Olga was born sometime between 890 AD and 925 AD. When her husband was murdered by a neighboring tribe, Olga assumed the throne, acting as regent for their three-year-old son. The first woman to ever occupy the throne in that area, her hand in marriage was sought by another prince– the ruler of the Drevlians, the very people who had killed Igor. Publicly, she accepted the proposal, but in reality she plotted revenge. Utilizing her keen warrior sensibilities, Olga devised a plan to protect her territory. The first group of Devlians to arrive with the proposal were carried in their boat by her guards (a gesture they saw as an honor). Borne to her court, they were then thrown into a pit where Olga had them buried alive. Unaware of the fate of their tribesmen, the Devlians dispatched a second group whose task was to escort Olga to their prince. Olga had them burned alive in a bathhouse. After this, Olga and her people traveled to the Devlian territory where—at the funeral feast she had requested for her late husband—she had her severely intoxicated enemies slain. Needless to say, this action fueled a year-long siege which ended only because of Olga’s cunningness. Ordering a tribute of three sparrows and three pigeons from each household, the viking widow instructed her warriors to attach sulfur wrapped in cloth to each of the birds. At nightfall, they were set aflame. The birds returned to their nests in the city, and in doing so, burned the whole place to ashes. Over the following years, Olga accomplished amazing things as Queen of Kievan Rus. She was deeply respected by her subjects and truly feared by their enemies. In the 950s, Olga (who was somewhere between the ages of 25-60) traveled to Constantinople where she was exposed to Christian teaching. It was there that she was baptized and eventually brought Catholicism back to her kingdom. Her intensity never wavered. With the same fierce drive, she used her position and wealth to bring missionary efforts to her kingdom—a place quite resistant to the outsider’s religion. Olga gave money to the poor, built and funded hospitals, and sprinkled Christian teaching into her public announcements. Olga’s son never converted, and continued to rule Kievan Rus as a pagan nation. However, Olga’s efforts to bring peace and truth to her people never faltered. Because of her witness and instruction, her grandson Vladimir eventually converted. He inspired the conversion of the entire nation from the throne, and went on to become a Saint as well. Thus, in the Eastern Church, Olga is considered equal to the Apostles, as it was her efforts that brought Christianity to Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Not bad for an old lady. A Scholar, age 44 Saint John Henry Newman was a man who believed in God from a young age. Naturally shy, good natured, and diligent, he endured many conversion experiences over the course of his life which helped him to deepen his Christian Faith. Ordained an Angelican priest at the age of 24, he was highly intelligent, becoming one of the most well-known pastors at Oxford. So keen was his spiritual insight that people flocked to the pews in numerous throngs to hear his Sunday sermons. Eight volumes of his sermons were published, and one of his theological poems was even set to music by Sir Edward Elgar. Within the Anglican Church, Newman was a household name. A lover of truth and knowledge, Newman became a member of the Oxford Movement, a research group with great appreciation for the Early Church Fathers. It was research as a part of this establishment that led to a pivotal realization. He recognized that the beliefs and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church were the most cohesive with those of the Early Church Fathers, and as such, the most cohesive with the Church established by Christ through His Apostles. A truly humble man, Newman could not ignore his conscience. At the age of 44, he converted to Catholicism, shocking all of Great Britain. Two years later, Newman was ordained a Catholic priest and became arguably the most prominent English-speaking Theologian of the century. Unsurprisingly, he was elevated to the office of bishop and eventually cardinal. As a Catholic, Newman wrote thousands of letters and forty books which heavily influenced the direction of the Church in her catechetical and evangelical efforts. They also had a major influence on the Second Vatican Council. As such, Saint John Henry Newman’s conversion and influence has had a major impact on all of our faith journeys today, even if we didn’t realize it! A Runaway, age late 20s Saint Margaret of Cortona had a stepmother that was so cruel that Margaret sought love and acceptance outside her family. At the age of 17, she ran away from home and lived with the family of her lover, Arsenio. She desired marriage, but her beloved was in no rush to fulfill that which he had promised her. In the meantime, Margaret happily engaged in their sexual encounters and the two of them had a son. One day, when Margaret was in her late twenties (considered middle-aged at the time), Arsenio’s dog returned home without him. Margaret went in search of her companion and was traumatized when she discovered his murdered body in the woods. His death served as a wake-up call to her own mortality. When she returned to her family in repentance, she was rejected. She took her son to Cortona where she found love and support from the local Franciscan order. She became a Franciscan tertiary, serving the community in unending ways. Her son eventually became a monk. A Soldier, age 30 Saint Ignatius of Loyola was born to a Spanish noble family in the late 1500s. The youngest of thirteen children, Ignatius was highly ambitious with lofty dreams of knighthood and becoming a courtier. His family sent him to the King’s court to serve as a page. In the frivolous environment, Ignatius’ pride and desire for greatness was inflamed, eventually leading to his career as a soldier. Life in the military was full of action—both on and off the battlefield. Ignatius enjoyed the rivalry but had his life turned upside down during the Battle of Pamplona when a cannonball struck his leg and inflicted a career-ending injury. Throughout his recovery, laying in bed, there was nothing for him to do except read. The only books his caretakers had available were the Bible and a book about the Saints. This lack of literary diversity is what sparked Ignatius conversion at the age of thirty. Ignatius went on to become a spiritual master—hitting a few roadblocks because of his age along the way. His intense persistence and reliance on Christ lead to two incredible contributions to the Catholic Church: his founding of the Society of Jesus and his authorship of The Spiritual Exercises. A Social Climber, age 37 Saint Angela of Foligno lost her father at a young age and had a mother who was inattentive and uninvolved. Beautiful, vivacious, and incredibly vain, Angela was unconcerned with spiritual matters though brought up in the Church. Motivated greatly by a desire for wealth and social standing, she married young, choosing a prestigious local as her husband. Though she bore him several sons, Angela remained more concerned with mirth than her family. She spent the majority of her time scandalously within society—including dabbling in adultery. In her early thirties, Angela’s secure and lively life was hit with great difficulty. Foligno was struck by a severe earthquake. Shortly afterwards a hurricane hit. And before the community had fully recovered from either disaster, her Tuscan town was further weakened by ongoing war with the neighboring territory of Perugia. This immeasurable discontent paired with the guilt of a particularly devastating sin led Angela to attend the Sacrament of Confession. She was 37 at the time, and the graces of that Sacrament changed her entire life. Her new-found faith carried her through the next tragedy that struck—a plague which killed her mother, husband, and children. The only surviving member of her family, Angela sold all her possessions and at the age of 43 joined the order of Saint Francis of Assisi (a Saint who had appeared to her in a vision around the time of her conversion). Let No One Despise Your Age In a personal letter written to his beloved mentee, Saint Paul told Saint Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). The great Apostle knew that, when our efforts are united with God, age is never a limiting factor. In fact, God is precise in our stories, calling each person exactly when He means to. Although this Scripture verse alludes to the value of youthful witness, these stories of “older” Saints elucidate the value God sees in those of us who have been around for a little while longer. No matter our age, God multiples the sincere gifts we bring before Him. What other Saints who had conversions later in life do you love?!   [bctt tweet="Saints Who Had Conversions Later in Life #BISblog //" via="no"]

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. // Psalm 34:9 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. // Luke 1:38 "Whenever an angel of the Lord comes to you and tells you not to be afraid–get ready for a big assignment!" A dear priest friend of mine used to include this wry bit of wisdom in any reading that included the words "do not be afraid." This encounter is no exception. Mary's Posture During the Annunciation Nothing about the Annunciation is particularly new, it’s a well-known Scriptural story for many of us. What I like about it is that Mary models a beautiful posture with which to receive prophetic, even startling news about the uncanny way God chooses to move in our lives. I can’t help but wonder what the world might begin to look like if we would respond to even one percent of our collaboration and discernment in the same way. The angel appeared to deliver a significant announcement. And just like that, in ten short verses, the course of human history is forever altered. God was to become man and arrive from the womb of a woman—the new Eve, Mary. 5 Key Moments in the Annunciation Exchange This weekend. our family will welcome our littlest into the Church through Baptism. Fitting, as a year ago, after many years of infertility, we unexpectedly found that we would be welcoming a child again (our own experience of God presenting seemingly impossible news). In this way, God’s providence through the Annunciation to Mary and her fiat resonate deep in my bones and I am loving the chance to delve deeper. Hail A greeting that communicates joy and peace. When Gabriel appears to Mary, he greets her with the words, “Hail, favored one.” Despite the wild meaning of his words, Gabriel uses a greeting of peace and assurance. Isn’t this the nature of our loving God to calm our anxious hearts, even in delivering unbelievably difficult or confusing news, knowing our limited understanding and offering solace from the beginning? Behold Translated: What I’m about to tell you is pretty remarkable. It is more than anyone could have ever dreamed up or imagined in terms of how God is willing to demonstrate His perfect love. I’m asking you to take it in, in all of its unimaginable goodness before you say anything in response. The angel’s gentle coaxing offers good guidance to us as to a posture of receiving information–whether expected or unexpected, good news or bad. How? We do not know the span of time this encounter lasted. Five minutes... two hours? What we do know is that when Mary does respond, she asks, “How?” We can almost imagine her stammering, eyes wide. Not with the self-assurance of Abram or Zechariah who have each reached their own conclusions about the limits of God’s desire and ability to show up in their lives. No, Mary’s question is far from doubt, but more of a bewildered, humble, hopeful plea for clarity. Overshadow All Mary receives for an explanation is the angel’s response that the Holy Spirit will "overshadow" her, which is deeply significant (and hardly clarifying). What we do know about other experiences of the Holy Spirit overshadowing can be found in the creation account when the "mighty wind swept over the waters," or Adam was cast into a deep sleep while God fashioned a helpmate for him. The disciples experienced an overshadowing of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus’ own Baptism illuminates the Person of the Holy Spirit descending as a dove, accompanied by the voice of God from Heaven. In other words: have confidence. God is going to show up in a big way; likely one you cannot comprehend, but simultaneously one you will not miss. Behold As the angel prepares to depart, Mary responds with the same greeting of peace and joy with which the conversation began: Behold! She seems to have integrated this message in a way that bolstered her courage and resolve to actively sign on for the wild ride Gabriel had described. It is a beautiful exchange between Gabriel and Mary, and especially Mary and the Lord. In a very particular way, God offers Mary a tiny glimpse at the hope for salvation and proceeds with the Incarnation after Mary’s "yes," her fiat. Our Response Likely the major life changes we experience won’t be heralded in by celestial beings. And, there are plenty of times when our calling finds us before we are ready, before we have offered our own "yes." The Annunciation offers a touching reminder of the love and intentionality with which our God invites us to roles of active participation in an unfolding plan much larger than ourselves. We may not see it, let alone understand the invitations we receive, but would that our response be as full of confidence as Mary’s. When have you been invited to respond with a quaking "yes" to the Lord’s invitation in the past? What response is being asked of you by the Lord today?   [bctt tweet="Behold // The Feast of the Annunciation #BISblog //" via="no"]

A few months ago, I overheard my daughter Kristen talking over the phone with her friend. She beamed as she relayed how I had accepted her not-so-good grades with calm and composure. She explained that she was expected to work hard and give it her best shot, but that it was okay if things didn’t turn out the way she’d hoped for. That felt good. But it wasn’t always this way! When Kristen began pre-school, I felt compelled to see her succeed. The impulsive perfectionist within me believed success in school meant success in life. But all through kindergarten, Kristen couldn't hold a pen nor read or color as a child her age should. I panicked. I worried. And I beat myself up. Why isn’t she like the other kids? What’s wrong with me? Am I Enough? A recent survey revealed that 60% of 13,000 moms interviewed experienced deep guilt in the first year of parenthood. The pungent idea of "not enough" in our earn-your-way-up culture has a well-intentioned way of saying, "Life is hard, but you’ve got this because you’re a strong independent woman." While that may seem uplifting to women, it is not the full truth. We were made to be flawless crowns of creation. We were meant for higher things than just “enough.” We were meant to live in perfect harmony with God. But sin encroached creation and we became distorted versions of ourselves. We are not enough—not in ourselves. When we’ve tucked the kids in bed and still have laundry to do, when we’re lying awake at night but have that report to complete, when we’re toggling between the manic and mess of motherhood, it’s okay to recognize our "not-enoughness" before a God who desires to pour out nothing but endless reserves of His grace. Illusions of Control Over the years, I began to understand how my unrealistic expectations were, in fact, false illusions of control. I began to recognize dysfunctional patterns resulting from the way I was parented. As I came to grips with this humbling reality, I encountered a freedom to profess a larger truth: it is okay that I am not enough. Creating expectations of how life should turn out can open our hearts for disappointment. This is where Satan would want us to entertain that dangerous thought: Where is God in all this? We can end up justifying and distancing ourselves from God, reducing our relationship with Him merely to items on a checklist. I prayed, I served, I cooked, I cleaned. But do I want a life that is safe, predictable, and goes by the book? Or do I want a story that pushes me to rely on Him? As a mom, I am not always discerning enough to know what is the highest good of my children. But I can rest knowing that God does. My children know how to push my buttons, but God isn’t fazed by pushed buttons. When I mess up, I don’t have to brush away my sin with self-glorifying platitudes. I can run, I can turn to Him in my not-enoughness to find more-than-enough grace and mercy to carry on. Mothering a Prodigal A few years ago, parents of a young man visited our home. The mother sketched years of heartbreak recounting her oldest son’s waywardness. My heart broke as she lamented over her prodigal’s wasted years. Guilt loomed large as she remembered how fervently she had prayed for him and how she had doubled all her efforts to see him return to the heart of God. But the truth is: our protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering don’t exempt us from living with grief and concern. There is pain this side of eternity, a result of the Fall and not necessarily our failure. The oft-quoted words of Proverbs 22:6, “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray,” is not an exemption but an exhortation to be consistent with our plea before Heaven, an invitation to go deeper as intercessors. The addictive lifestyles, moral abandonment and anaemic faith are reasons for worry. I know, as a mother, how tempting it is to fix everything. I want to protect. I want my children to encounter Christ and radically change the world. But as noble as those thoughts are, I also know that faith is a personal journey. I cannot protect at all times, but I can pray. As we prayed that evening, the fog lifted and this grieving mother was able to see past the immediacy of her pain and capture instead a glimpse of her son as a searching and wandering soul whom Jesus loved dearly. She resolved to stop focusing on her son's choices and start focusing on God's compassion for Him instead. And she (and I) recognized that she needed to subsume her role as tormented mother under that of being a trusting daughter—waiting, leaning, surrendering—before a God in whose presence there is extravagant love. A Mother Who Understands Mary’s traditional title Theotokos or “God-bearer” underscores what Scripture tells us: Jesus is both Divine and human. The Holy One had her DNA and blood running through His veins. This great mystery invites us to ponder deeply on what it means for a woman to bear God—a task not just reserved for mothers but anyone who desires to carry Jesus, to become a vessel of God’s goodness to the world. When Mary said yes, she was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and brought to the deepest levels of her poverty. Mary understands unmet expectations. In Mary, we see a woman braving the harshness of pregnancy, taking the arduous trip to Bethlehem and battling the terrifying flight to Egypt. In Mary, we see a mother light up as she watches Jesus grow in wisdom, heal the sick, and raise the dead all the while knowing that the "sword" she has treasured in her heart all these years will soon be cast out: the Cross will come. Mary’s choice to “bear God” is not without suffering. And neither is ours. Every day, children with the best sort of spiritual and moral instruction run away from home, become alcoholics, get addicted to drugs, break windows, and commit suicide. Every day the stones within our walls cry out with stories of losses and longing, for healing and for deliverance. The suffering we bear is real, but so is our glorious responsibility as mothers. We are part of a reality beyond the borders of our homes and the peripheries of our desires. We bear the suffering of others. We suffer with mothers estranged at refugee camps, we unite with those grieving beside frail sick bodies and we join with those on the margins—the vulnerable, the elderly, the homeless, the broken-hearted—bearing God, bringing Hope, living in trusting expectancy. The Sum of the Father's Love There is pain on this side of eternity. There is hope, too. We don’t have to wait until eternity to see with eternal eyes. Our King stands before us now, holding our drooping hands, strengthening our feeble knees, comforting our broken hearts. He is for us. He is with us carrying us through all the mysteries of motherhood even when we cannot see. Kristen is now several inches taller than me. I quake with gratitude seeing how loving and strong she’s turned out—a work of Grace, not my doing. She is not the sum of her "grades," she is the sum of the Heavenly Father’s love for her. I can rest in this truth. And I can find comfort knowing that in embracing my daily, cumbersome, inefficient crosses, I only join Him, whose burial culminates in glorious Resurrection. It is He who does exceedingly abundantly more than I could ever hope or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). How have you faced unmet expectations in motherhood?   [bctt tweet="Navigating Unmet Expectations in Motherhood #BISblog //" via="no"]