When it comes to planning an event, conference, or parish night for Catholic women, there are so many details to handle and decisions to make. At the top of that list is the question of finding an engaging speaker. You want someone who is easy to work with, who will prayerfully prepare for your event, who presents dynamically, who is faithful to the Magisterium, who has a message relevant to today's modern Catholic, and who has a passion for Christ. Many of our devotional writers and other Blessed is She team members speak professional and fit that exact description. We've included their information below so that those of you planning and organizing these powerful Catholic events for women can meet and contact some of the best Catholic speakers around. Catholic Women Speakers Annie Deddens Annie is a writer and producer who works with people who want to grow deeper in their faith and prayer life. She believes spending just a few minutes in prayer each day can make all the difference in your relationship with God and in how you get through this imperfect, messy life. Annie has worked at CNN as well as a handful of other TV, radio stations, and newspapers, as a writer and producer, but now she uses those same skills to run a prayer ministry with her husband, called Pray More Novenas, where they pray with more than 450,000 people around the world. As an extension of that ministry, she also produces online retreats for Lent and Advent. When she isn’t working on Pray More Novenas or on her online retreats, she’s writing over on her blog, Catholic Wife, Catholic Life or for Blessed is She, where she’s a devotional writer. Her favorite saints are St. Anne—for her inspiring faith and hope during dark times, St. Maria Goretti—for her willingness to suffer for Christ, and St. Joan of Arc—for her strength and faithful resilience. Annie and her husband have been married for six years and they live in Dayton, Ohio. Potential Speaking Topics Pray More Novenas: The Power of Prayer & Need for Community Unanswered prayers Suffering Evangelizing through beauty Travel Availability Annie is able to speak in and around the Dayton area, and she is also happily willing to travel near and far! Contact You can reach Annie at annie@deddensmedia.com.     Katie Cassady Katie Cassady is a wife, mom, writer, avid gardener, and Midwestern transplant in the Denver metro. She holds a Master’s degree in Pastoral ministry and has worked in young adult ministry, Theology on Tap, and social service programs. She has a heart for Theological reflection, marriage prep, the dignity of women, Catholic Social Teaching, and the stewardship of time, talent and treasure, with particular attention to reflecting on our relationship with the natural world as a part of that stewardship call. She wrote Sunday Fun for Faith Filled Families and loves inviting people to heed the call to Sabbath and rest.  Potential Speaking Topics Sabbath Stewardship Laudato Si The Christian life and beekeeping Women in Scripture Edith Stein and the dignity of women Advent Epiphany Lent Catholic Social Teaching Service group reflections Theological Reflection Visio divina Open to other mutually-agreed upon topics Travel Availability Katie is available in the Denver metro, and open to traveling outside the metro area depending on dates and distance. Contact You can contact Katie by email at katie@unexpectedhoney.com. Michelle Karen D'Silva Michelle Karen D’Silva is an Indian-born, international Catholic speaker, residing in Qatar, with her husband, Jensil and her two children, Kristen and Nathan. As a former atheist, Michelle passionately shares her conversion story at retreats and conferences across the Middle Eastern, Asian, Far Easter, and Oceania regions. Michelle has held various leadership roles, both at local and international level. Under the mandate of the Charis Youth Asia Oceania team, she co-authored the book Life in the Spirit: Youth Edition which has resulted in animating a number of trainings, workshops, and seminars internationally. As a worship leader and lover of music, Michelle has led worship in multiple countries, including the World Youth Day. Having also pioneered the first Catholic Charismatic youth group in Qatar in 2012, Michelle is popularly sought for mentoring young adults and speaking at Youth Conferences. In 2021, Michelle felt a deep desire to encourage women in their faith. That tug resulted in her podcast show “Unravel.” Michelle is also the founder of WellSpring Women, a private Facebook community that has hosted several virtual events comprising a sisterhood from over 30 nations. She continues to remain an active member of the National Service of Communion (NSC), overlooking the pastoral needs of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Qatar. Potential Speaking Topics Conversion testimony from Atheism to Catholicism Seeing God as Father Series on the Holy Spirit Identity in Christ Mission and evangelization Mary, model for young people Vocation and calling Spiritual growth and maturity in Christ Media and the current culture Discipleship Raising Godly leaders The feminine genius Repentance, forgiveness, and mercy Jesus and women Lent and Advent themed topics Open to other topics Travel Availability Michelle lives in Qatar. She is willing to travel depending on dates. Contact Michelle has written a diverse range of Bible studies, faith-formation resources, and tools for youth ministry, all of which are featured on her website www.michelledsilva.com. Bonnie Engstrom Bonnie Engstrom is a popular blogger and speaker. She and her husband live with their seven children in Central Illinois and her son’s alleged miraculous healing through the intercession of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen was submitted to the Vatican for Sheen’s beatification. Bonnie has traveled nationally to present at various moms’ groups, schools, fundraising galas, parish events, and retreats. She has addressed audiences as small as 25 and as large as 850. Bonnie is a devotion writer for Blessed is She and can be found online at her blog A Knotted Life or on Instagram @BonnieEngstrom. Potential Speaking Topics James' approved miracle through the intercession of Fulton Sheen Following Mary's example to find peace and joy in suffering Building community Bringing the liturgical year into our homes Travel Availability Bonnie lives in Central Illinois but is happy to travel outside of the Midwest. Contact You can read more and contact Bonnie here. MaryRuth Hackett MaryRuth Hackett holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and has a passion for helping others understand human development throughout the lifespan. She is the host of the podcast Parenting Smarts which is a joint project with the Diocese of Phoenix, and is a contributing author to our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. You can find her on Instagram @maryruthhackett, see more of her work here, or listen to her podcasts via iTunes. Potential Speaking Topics Practical parenting Child development Catholic family life Domestic church Our identity as women Living our your vocation Developing virtue Travel Availability MaryRuth lives in the Southwestern United States but is willing to travel anywhere. Contact You can contact MaryRuth by email at mhackettaz@gmail.com. Debra Herbeck Debbie Herbeck has shared with many her personal journey of faith from Judaism to Christianity and subsequent entrance into the Catholic Church. For the past thirty-five years, Debbie Herbeck has worked extensively in youth and women’s ministry, led mission retreats and mission trips, and mentored and discipled high school and college age women. She is the founder and director of Pine Hills Girls’ Camp and has spoken at women’s, youth and adult conferences and events throughout the world. Debbie is the founder and leader of the Be Love Revolution, a ministry that exists to help young women know the personal love of Jesus, to live freely and confidently, and be empowered to spread God’s Love to all they meet. She has written Safely Through the Storm, 120 Reflections on Hope and Firmly on the Rock, 120 Reflections on Faith, and Love Never Fails, 120 Reflections on Love. She and her husband Peter have co-authored a book entitled, When the Spirit Speaks, Touched by God’s Word. Debbie is a frequent writer for Blessed is She, an online community for Catholic women. Potential Speaking Topics My personal testimony from Judaism to the Catholic Church Enough is Enough: Finding our Identity in Christ Freedom in Christ Spiritual warfare Talks for moms about raising daughters Media and the current culture Discipleship Evangelizing youth My personal encounter with Mother Teresa Our vocation is love Debbie also plans and leads many junior high and high school retreats for girls with a team of young women from Be Love Revolution. Travel Availability Debbie lives in the midwest and is willing to travel almost anywhere. Contact You can reach Debbie at dherbs24@gmail.com. Rocio Hermes Rocio Hermes is a Dominican-born, US-raised, part-time nanny who is excited about building community, writing poetry, and sharing the message of the Theology of the Body. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology and lives in Berlin with her husband, where they are secretly the best cake-baking team in town. She is a contributing author to Blessed Conversations: Dwell. Potential Speaking Topics Theology of the Body Our identity as children of God The Father’s Heart The Eucharist Vocational Discernment and Religious Life Dating and Marriage Miscarriage and Suffering Our Baptism and the Inner Life The Sacraments and Healing Open to other topics Travel Availability Rocio now lives in Berlin, Germany but is excited and open to travel for ministry. She was raised in the Tri-State Area and travels there often. Contact You can reach Rocio by email at rocioesthermaria@gmail.com. Megan Hjelmstad Megan Hjelmstad is a wife and hockey mom 24/7 and an Army Reservist in her “spare” time. She calls Denver home and loves to connect authentically with women. Through many years of physical suffering, the Lord has led Megan to a deep transformation of heart into real intimacy with Him—for which she is forever grateful. When not writing, speaking, or leading The Well Mentorship Program. Megan is a fervent bibliophile, tea drinker, sleep lover, and avid admirer of Colorado’s great outdoors. Megan has experience with small to large groups, keynotes, and retreat settings. Potential Speaking Topics Authentic Identity and Worth The Feminine Genius Spiritual Motherhood Foundations of Relational Prayer The Ignatian Rules of Discernment Discovering Meaning, Hope, and Purpose in the Midst of Suffering Courage in the Midst of Fear Freedom through Detachment Lent and Advent topics Other topics and tailored talks upon request Travel Availability Megan is available to speak in the Denver area may be available to travel depending on dates and distance. Contact You can reach Megan by email at megan@meganhjelmstad.com or explore her website here. Liz Kelly Liz (Elizabeth) Kelly, a native Minnesotan, is a noted speaker, retreat leader and award-winning author, whose works include short stories, arts and music reviews, books on prayer and worship, and meditations on faith, spiritual struggle, and Christian womanhood. She has written seven books, including May Crowning, Mass, and Merton: 50 Reasons I Love Being Catholic, which won the Catholic Press Association first place award for Best Popular Presentation of the Faith in 2007. She is also the author of “The Wind,” a short story nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2001. Kelly contributes to various periodicals, including Our Sunday Visitor, and her written works frequently appear in the Magnificat’s Lenten and Advent Companions. Her monthly column, “Your Heart, His Home,” is published throughout the United States. Kelly’s newest book, Jesus Approaches: What Contemporary Women Can Learn about Healing, Freedom and Joy from the Women of the New Testament, is a compelling and practical guide to healing and immersive prayer. Jesus Approaches is the winner of the Independent Press’s “Distinguished Favorite” award and the Catholic Press Association’s award for Popular Biblical Studies, both in 2018. It was chosen by the US Catholic Book Club as the October 2018 selection. In addition to writing, Kelly serves as a spiritual director, having received her certification as a spiritual director from the Cenacle of our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spirituality in association with the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2015. She leads retreats using the Ignatian exercises, with a particular focus on helping women to flourish in their faith. Because of this work, she is in demand as a retreat speaker and has been a featured guest on radio and TV shows, including spots on National Public Radio, Relevant Radio, EWTN, The Christophers, and Salt and Light Television. (Two of her talks can be found on this website: click on Recorded Talks on the top menu bar.) Recently, Kelly was awarded the New Ulm Area Catholic Schools Humanitarian Award (2017). The award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional personal courage and whose faith and actions have served as an inspiration to others. Another of her loves is music, in which Kelly has a long background, having performed as a jazz vocalist with some of the best artists in the world, in venues including the North Sea Jazz Festival and the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. She has recorded two CDs, It Seems to Me and Anima Christi. Presently, Kelly works as managing editor for Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, a highly regarded academic journal published out of the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota, while also serving as adjunct professor of Catholic Studies there since 2009. Potential Speaking Topics Women of the New Testament Silence Ignatian prayer The Last 7 Utterances Giving women permission to “fail” “Catholic" means "help” Conquering perfectionism Forgiveness Reasons I love being Catholic Women and flourishing Christian friendship, wisdom Flourishing in the single state Compassion and the humanity of Jesus Beauty as necessary to human flourishing and a life of faith What the shepherds can teach us about Advent preparation “Created for Mercy” (retreat) “The Receptive Feminine Heart” (retreat) “Tidings of Comfort and Joy” (retreat) Jesus Approaches women’s study Travel Availability Liz lives in MN but will travel anywhere. Contact Please inquire at LizK.org for more information, podcasts, reviews, and references. Susanna Parent Susanna Parent loves waking up to the sunrise in her Minnesota backyard and experiencing life anew through the eyes of her children. A firm believer in Saint Mother Teresa’s words, “To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it” she finds joy in filling her lamp through study, good books, travel, a strong community, and finding “flow” through writing. Susanna has experience with small to large groups and keynotes. Potential Speaking Topics How My Parents Helped Me Keep The Faith Hospitality as Mission The Beauty of Priesthood and the Religious Life and Their Complementarity to the Laity Intimacy With The Lord Through Silence Hope Amidst Suffering Experiencing God Through Your Children How To Live Prayer With Your Children Having Fun Through Marriage & Motherhood The Beauty of Pilgrimage How God Calls Us Forth One Step At A Time How To Live In The Present Moment Our Calling As Laity Open To Other Topics Travel Availability Susanna lives in the Twin Cities and is willing to travel. Contact You can read Susanna’s work here and contact her at s.bolle.210@gmail.com. Elza Spaedy Since her miraculous healing from the painful trauma of sexual abuse, Elza Spaedy has been on fire for the Lord, ready to let Him use her and her story to heal others. In addition to being an author and public speaker, Elza is the Founder and Director of Healed and Restored, a nonprofit she created to help women heal from their deep wounds caused by physical and sexual abuse, including sex trafficking. She’s also the host of the Healed and Restored Podcast. She works as a realtor in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina. Elza loves to entertain and enjoys preparing and sharing a great meal with her family and friends. She has been married to her husband David for over 20 years and they have three children. Potential Speaking Topics Her personal testimony of healing from childhood trauma from abuse and finding freedom through Christ Healing through forgiveness and self-compassion The transformational power of suffering The need for spiritual mentorship Reclaiming your identity as a beloved child of God Learning to listen to God's voice Replacing satan's lies with God's truth Becoming wounded healers to a hurting world Travel Availability Elza lives in North Carolina and is willing to travel throughout the country. Contact You can reach Elza at elzaspaedy@gmail.com. Tricia Tembreull Tricia Tembreull is a California girl with a boundless passion for life. After two decades of ministering to teens and youth ministers as a trainer, ministry mentor, and speaker in Catholic youth ministry, Tricia now serves as Campus Minister at USC Caruso Catholic Center. She loves adventure and seeks it everywhere she goes. As an avid foodie, she enjoys testing new recipes out on friends and family, gathering them around the table to encounter Christ in one another and be drawn to the satisfying unity we crave in the Eucharist. You can find out more about her here. Potential Speaking Topics Theology of the Body Spiritual health and finding a prayer life Identity Single life, dating, and relationships Ministering in the Church College life and how to live out your Faith on campus Mercy and healing Restoring Truth, Beauty, and Goodness Hope and suffering Other topics: open to consideration Travel Availability Tricia lives in Southern California, but depending on dates and distance, she is willing to travel to serve. Contact You can reach Tricia by email at tembreulltricia@gmail.com. So, who will you be bringing to your next Catholic women's event?! [bctt tweet="Catholic Women Speakers | Blessed is She Team Members #BISblog //" via="no"]

We know you have a lot on your plate this Thanksgiving week (literally and figuratively) and we wanted to make your Christmas shopping easier. After all, don't you want to complete most of your list before Advent begins so you can enter more fully into the season? Perhaps this year more than ever, we have a unique opportunity to support small businesses. And we wanted to make it easy for you to shop, purchase, and buy from Catholic women-owned businesses. So we put together this Catholic holiday gift guide highlighting Catholic women-owned businesses (including several Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday coupon codes just for Blessed is She readers!) to help you with your intentional and meaningful shopping. You can feel great about supporting these women as they use their God-given gifts and fostered skills to create true, good, and beautiful products. ART + PRINTS  Studio Senn Studio Senn has two new Catholic children's books this Christmas season! A book of faithful photo riddles titled Seek and You Will Find: Treasures of Our Faith is a Catholic take on a childhood classic. Immerse your children in sacramentals, symbols and mementos of our Faith as they dive into the whimsical photos. And a new board book, Call Me Mama, teaches your littles that even though Mary has appeared many ways in her visits she is always Our Blessed Mother. Plus much more including prints, cards, accessories and home décor available for your gifting needs. 15% site wide through December 31st, no code needed PLUS an additional 15% with code GIFTGUIDE23 at studiosenn.com Garden of Her Womb Place yourself in the security, warmth, love, and tenderness of the womb of your mother in Heaven. Garden of Her Womb is a collection of artworks inspired by Our Lady in the glory of her motherhood. “Receive Him This Christmas” offers a full gift wrapping collection which includes personally designed Christmas cards, wrapping paper, washi tapes, gift tags, and exclusive prints, hand drawn by Vivienne Boddy. Limited stock available, order now! Enjoy 20% off everything from Black Friday to Cyber Monday with code: ATLAST20 Novena Cards Have you ever told a loved one you would pray for them, and then wanted a meaningful way to send them the encouragement of your prayers?⁣ Novena Cards was founded to help you do this! They have greeting cards to send loved ones after you pray a Novena, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet for them, or pray for them at Mass or during Eucharistic Adoration. They also have Prayer Cards, Prayer Planning Kits, and Art Prints.  Check out their Catholic Monthly Devotions Prayer Card Bundle which includes 12 prayer cards - one for every month of the year. This is a great gift for someone who loves the Catholic faith!   Use code BIS2023 for 15% off your order NOW through Cyber Monday. Just Love Prints Shop small, Catholic, and USA-made with Just Love Prints this season! From home decor, temporary tattoos, and over 100 Catholic (dishwasher safe!) sticker designs, you're sure to find something for everyone on your list! Home of the St. Benedict Medal sticker sheets.  Nov. 23 - Nov. 28: 20% off everything. Discount automatically taken at checkout. Anytime: Use code BIS15 for 15% off your order. This code does not expire. Abundance of Grace Abundance of Grace was created to provide you with access to the beauty of the Catholic Faith through Scripture, tradition, and the Saints. Their main passions are to help others find God’s grace in their everyday lives, rather it be through a prayer or encouraging verse/quote on an affirmation card, and to help other families build up their domestic church. Be sure to check out their Liturgical Living collection designed for families and our new homemaking collection with recipe cards, affirmation cards, and notepads to bring order to your days.   Use code BIS23 for 10% off the entire shop now through December 15th.  Faith + Family Collective This mother + daughter team believes in the power of a family! Their mission at Faith + Family Collective is to create practical, beautiful, and innovative tools that help families share faith in their homes in simple and meaningful ways. Check out their Advent Family Activity Kits, the perfect way to walk through Advent as a family. Use code BIS15 for 15% off the entire shop now through December 31st, 2023! Gratia Design Co Gratia Design Co is a creative studio that seeks to celebrate the beauty of God’s grace and inspire joy through art and design. Bringing you quality made cards, mugs, stickers, notepads, and gifts, we offer something for everyone on your list! Be sure to check out our assortment of Christmas Greeting Cards, including our new Christmas Spiritual Bouquet Cards! Receive 15% off your entire order now through December 15th, use code BIS2023 Olive & Fire Designs Olive & Fire Designs features the work of Ugandan artist Olivia Owino. Olivia launched Olive & Fire in October 2023 to support her family and share her passion with the world. Inspired by her Catholic faith, Olivia strives to capture the dignity and beauty of daily life through her art. Her ready-made art is available for purchase in a variety of formats through the Olive & Fire Society 6 storefront, while she accepts orders for custom, digital download portraits through the Olive & Fire Instagram account. Every purchase goes a long way toward helping this Catholic mama achieve her dreams! Discount for BIS readers November 20-December 20: 20% off custom portraits (high quality digital downloads, download and print as many times as you want!). That’s just $12 per portrait! DM @olive.fire.designs on Instagram to place your order and claim your discount with code BISSIS. JEWELRY The Little Catholic Home of the Holy Family Hearts. Ethically Handmade Catholic Jewelry, Catholic Home Decor, Accessories, Catholic Wedding Rings, & Gifts For Men Made in America. Give a Gift that gives back, Shop with intention this year.    Use code BIS15 for 15% off the entire site! Telos Art Shop This year, share the beauty of our faith with Catholic jewelry! Telos Art offers unique Catholic jewelry subscription boxes and one-of-a-kind vintage religious jewelry for your best friend, spouse, or godparent. Our popular quarterly subscription boxes are sent once per quarter, so it is the gift that keeps on giving all year long. Use code for an exclusive Blessed is She discount and bonus gift.    Blessed is She Reader, you will receive 10% off your first order this holiday season with the code “BIS23” through December 31st, 2023. Orders over $100 will automatically receive a velvet gift bag, while supplies last.  Stella & Tide Stella & Tide offers dainty Catholic necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings in gold, silver, and rose gold. From affordable to heirloom-quality, their Catholic jewelry is perfect for every occasion and stage of life. Since 2018, they've handmade and shipped over 25,000 beautiful Catholic pieces worldwide. With 2,500+ 5-star reviews, free U.S. shipping, and a generous warranty policy, they guarantee you’ll love your experience with their shop. We're excited to again offer your readers an exclusive discount for 10% off their first order from stellatide.com this holiday season! Here's the discount code: BIS10. The code will remain active until December 31, 2023. BEBEATI It is in stillness and prayerful contemplation that ideas to hand make timeless, original, and versatile Catholic jewelry pieces develop here at BEBEATI. It has been said that jewelry is the perfect gift. In light of this, BEBEATI endeavors to seize this opportunity to evangelize by producing each piece of jewelry with faith and a feminine modest aesthetic in mind. Their motto is, “It’s not fashion, it’s devotion.” May this work BEBEATI [be blessed] for His Glory and our salvation.  Some new releases are; Sacred Heart Jesus, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Benedict Medals, Scapular and more.  GRATIAMBIS23 to receive 10% off “available” ready-to-ship pieces (Offer exp. Nov 30.)  Tune in to their IG stories for flash sales. House of Joppa If you are looking for beautiful Catholic home décor, jewelry, art, Rosaries, or other Catholic gifts, look no further than House of Joppa. Each product is curated from artisans throughout the world and is designed to uplift your spirit and share the beauty of our Catholic Faith. Gifts By Beth Gifts by Beth seeks to enrich your prayer life by bringing you a selection of handcrafted rosaries so you can connect with our Lord through the beautiful and powerful prayer of the Rosary. Whatever the occasion, Gifts by Beth isn't just a gift you give to others - it's also a gift from me to you, infused with prayer. New this season are beaded religious necklaces.   Blessed is She readers can use code BLESSED for 10% off their orders through December 15. For VIP discounts, sign up for the Gifts by Beth newsletter at https://bit.ly/GiftsByBeth CLOTHING + TEXTILES Little Way Design Co. Little Way Design Co. is a small design studio outside of Pittsburgh owned by Katerina Deem and dedicated to supporting the new evangelization efforts of the Church. We focus on creating designs that lift our hearts to the divine and remind us whose we are and that Heaven as our ultimate goal. Inspired by The Little Way of Saint Thérèse, we focus on providing unique Catholic gifts for all occasions and ages like blankets, Christmas ornaments, stickers, greeting cards, wall decor, and Catholic apparel that support Catholics in their faith journey. The entire shop will be up to 40% off Black Friday through Cyber Monday (11/24-11/27). Get 15% off your order any time until December 10th when you use code: BIS2023. Totally Catholic Tees Totally Catholic Tees has been in the t-shirt business for 30 years (founded in 1993). They are family-owned and operated and are committed to providing quality Catholic apparel for everyone to wear and share in The New Evangelization. Our annual Advent Sale is from November 24th to November 27th. It is 30% off regular priced tees and hoodies. Code is "ADVENT2023" Then, we have our last chance Christmas Sale from December 1st - December 15th which is 15% off storewide. Code is "CHRISTMAS2023"   Annunciation Designs Annunciation Designs offers practical products to help your family call to mind the sacred in the midst of the ordinary.  With hand-lettered designs on ethically produced goods, you’ll find something for each person on your list. For your youngest loved ones, be sure to check out their Future Saint Dry Erase Activity Cards and Water Reveal Books, as well as our monthly snail-mail letter, The Wanderlust Catholic! Huge sale 11/20-25 includes discounts, free gifts, and more!  See website banner for code and details. For a free surprise sticker, use code BIS any time! The Anastasia Co The Anastasia Co is an apparel and stationery brand based in Omaha, Nebraska. Our mission is to create thoughtful gifts + goods. We strive to share encouragement and plant seeds of truth through intentional apparel, journals, cards, prints, and other lifestyle goods. Code BIS20 = 20% off entire purchase + free shipping $50+  (Code good through December 31, 2023) DEVOTIONAL ITEMS Meyer Market Designs Meyer Market Designs is your go-to shop for Catholic Gifts and meaningful home decor. Whether you’re looking for a children’s gift, paper goods, Catholic themed pillows and art, we’ve got what you’re looking for! Bernadette’s work is Saint-inspired and seeks to provide something beautiful to gift or fill your home with! Use coupon code BIS15OFF for 15% off of your purchase! Little Rose Designs Raquel started this shop after becoming a single mom and having a major reconversion to the faith. She wanted to take ownership of her faith and pass it on to her daughter in a very authentic and tangible way. The mission of the shop became: "bringing faith into everyday life".  Whether it’s wrapping your baby in a Swaddle, enjoying a cup of coffee in a Prayer Mug while watching the kids have tea parties with their Collectible Saint Dolls, or wrangling the kids at mass hoping they'll stay somewhat quiet with a "Where is Jesus?" or Mass Quiet Book… Raquel wants faith to be a part of the simple everyday things—because that’s where she encounters God the most. Use BIS10 for 10% off anytime! Della Madonna Rosaries Della Madonna designs Rosaries and jewelry that bring joy to your prayer life.  They are made with quality gemstones, cast bronze medals and lots of love! A perfect gift of faith for the special people in your life.   Coupon code for Blessed is She is BIS15 for 15% off (evergreen code). We will also have a sale Black Friday through Giving Tuesday with discounts ranging up to 20%. West Coast Catholic West Coast Catholic is a lifestyle brand with a mission to help you experience a foretaste of Heaven through modern, intentionally designed, lifestyle products and prayer tools. They’re rapid growth and popularity is attributed to their signature gemstone Rosaries, but have expanded their collection to so much more. By infusing the faith into everyday items like jewelry, home goods, apparel, and more, we are reminded of the love of God and the beauty of our faith daily. What makes this brand unique is that WCC products help fill your life with the beauty of the Church without compromising your personal aesthetic, it's just perfect for your modern Catholic woman! Friday (November 24)  - Tuesday (November 28) the entire site will be up to 50% off. This is the biggest black friday sale we've ever had! (no code needed) Every day there will be an additional sale or promotion stacked on top for extra savings! Sign up for our emails and text club here to be in the know about those extra sales. HOME GOODS + DECOR Kerygma Candle & Co Kerygma Candle & Co aims to be a one-stop-shop for all of your Catholic gift giving needs this season! From cozy sweatshirts, their best-selling Candles, Bath & body, Home decor and more - they've got you covered. Kerygma was started by a single mama who had recently escaped an abusive relationship, in the middle of a pandemic. The goal was to share the light of Christ and her rediscovered faith through beautiful handcrafted goods. Since then they have expanded not just as a family business, but also into categories like home altar goods, and apparel. Everything they create is prayerfully handcrafted and designed in house by a small Catholic family in Orlando FL using the highest quality ingredients available. At Kerygma Candle & Co, there's something beautiful and intentional for everyone. Black Friday Weekend BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR 25% off the ENTIRE shop! BIS10 for 10% off your entire order! Lata's Catholic Home Lata’s Catholic Home offers originally designed and crafted mini shrines, rosary pouches, stickers, jewelry boxes, Catholic decor and so much more!…All tailored for the modern traditionalist! Each piece is lovingly made with dedication to re-evangelizing the world through beauty and truth. Beautiful and affordable gifts for everyone on your list! Enjoy 15% off your entire purchase AND FREE US Shipping with code: BIS15 The Little Rose Shop Raquel started this shop after becoming a single mom and having a major reconversion to the faith. She wanted to take ownership of her faith and pass it on to her daughter in a very authentic and tangible way. The mission of the shop became: "bringing faith into everyday life". Now, 9 years later, she has 6 more babes (3 Heaven side, 3 earth side) and they give her a wealth of inspiration. Whether it’s wrapping your baby in a Mary's Mantle Swaddle, enjoying a cup of coffee in a Prayer Mug while watching the kids have tea parties with their Saint Dolls, or wrangling the kids at mass hoping they'll stay somewhat quiet with a Mass Quiet Book… Raquel wants faith to be a part of the simple everyday things—because that’s where she encounters God the most.  Use code BIS10 for 10% off to the BIS community anytime! Corda Candles Create a place of peace and prayer in your home with CORDA - these are Catholic candles like you’ve never seen or smelled before! The candles are made with clean coconut wax and custom fragrances directly inspired by saints and the faith, and are handcrafted by a husband-and-wife team. Each candle comes beautifully packaged and ready for gifting, with the story behind the scent inspiration on the box. And the simple design of the candle leads with beauty, helping you share the faith in a lovely and meaningful way.  Explore CORDA’s beautiful Catholic candles and, through December 31, 2023, save 10% with code CHRISTMAS at cordacandles.com Faith + Family Collective This mother + daughter team believes in the power of a family! Their mission at Faith + Family Collective is to create practical, beautiful, and innovative tools that help families share faith in their homes in simple and meaningful ways. Check out their Advent Family Activity Kits, the perfect way to walk through Advent as a family. Use code BIS15 for 15% off the entire shop through December 31st, 2023! Gloria & Praise From the BRAND NEW St. Peter Catholic Sensory Box to the ever-popular Catholic Christmas Crackers, Gloria & Praise creates products for a mission: to bring families together through faith and fun!  Run by a family of fun, Italian-American, Church-loving Catholics who also love babydoll sheep, old houses, family, friends, and coffee, you can gift with confidence that you are giving a high-quality item made with love.      Shop during Thanksgiving weekend for 25% off and free gifts OR use code BIS-10 for 10% off through December 31! Fawnly Fawnly is a home goods brand with heartfelt and encouraging original designs. With high quality bamboo cotton muslin blankets, swaddles, fine art prints, and other goods our goal is to bring hope, healing, and encouragement into your home. One of our best selling products is our Mini Muslin Blanket. It is 8-layers of buttery soft bamboo cotton in the perfect size for the car seat, the stroller, or used as a lovey. 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Code: BLESSED10 (one-time 10% off entire order) Little Meadows Little Meadows is the family business of Ginny Sheller, Catholic mom to 9, maker of chrism salve, goat milk soap, naturally dyed organic textiles and other handmade goods. Take 10% off chrism salve through November 30th with code BLESSED10.  Nazareth Pottery We are a faith based shop that specializes in functional, Catholic pottery. Everything in our shop is handmade with love and prayer. We hope to be able to supply every household with faith based pottery by offering high quality stoneware products that will stand the test of time and kids!   Evergreen BIS reader code: BIS10. Black Friday Code: EARLYBIRD10. Christmas Shopping Code: HOLIDAY10 BOOKS + RESOURCES Every Sacred Sunday Hi BIS sisters! We're Every Sacred Sunday, creators of the ESS Mass journal—welcome! We are two Catholic friends from Houston with a love for beautiful books and the Mass. In 2017, the Holy Spirit led us to create the first ESS Mass journal which was funded through Kickstarter, and we are honored to create the 7th edition this year! Each Mass journal contains the full Mass readings, key responses, space for notes, liturgical artwork, and seasonal reflections. Thank you for checking out our full shop and joining us in saying "yes!" to God, one Sunday at a time! Enjoy 10% off any purchase using code BIS10 until December 31, 2023 (does not apply to past orders). Emily Wilson Ministries Emily Wilson Hussem a speaker, YouTuber, award-winning author, wife and mom who shares her faith online and travels the world sharing her witness of faith at conferences and events across the globe. Emily’s social channels (@emwilss) have a combined follower count of over 250,000. Her YouTube channel alone has over 130,000 subscribers and tens of millions of views. 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Discount Code: BLESSEDISSHE2023 20% off for all CFC items including subscriptions Valid for 1x used per customer, discount code is valid until December 31,2023 Lazy Liturgical by Call Her Happy Lazy Liturgical activity sheets are for the families who wish to celebrate the liturgical year, but have a hard time remembering to plan something meaningful. Instead, purchase the Growing Bundle of activity sheets, and you will have access to hundreds of crafts and coloring pages that require no prep at all. Build your domestic church the easy way! Use code BISSISTER for 10% always on everything.   Thy Olive Tree Thy Olive Tree sells beautiful, Catholic books by independent authors. Shop for baby memory books, Rosary books, planners, journals, children's books and more! Find unique and meaningful gifts for all ages! Interested in self-publishing? Join the Fiat Self-Publishing Academy (https://academy.thyolivetree.com) to learn how to self-publish your own good, true, and beautiful book!   Into The Deep Into the Deep creates faith formation resources that help Catholic parents build a legacy of faith in their homes. These resources are easy to use, made to be used with the whole family, and teach the Catholicism through beauty. Our resources aim to make disciples who know about Jesus, and also know Him. We long to raise up a generation who loves and deeply understands their Catholic Faith! From November 19-27, get 15% off everything in the shop, no code necessary!  TOYS Saintly Heart Saintly Heart is a woman owned and family run Catholic Educational Resource Company creating faith based educational toys. Our goal is to provide high quality toys that will enrich peoples lives through faith, education and play. Use code BIS15 at checkout for 15% off your entire order. 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The Baroque church had a bone-chill dampness to match the dreary Italian evening. I crossed myself, shoulders hunched, and went to the front row. The Rosary had already started, the leader’s voice echoing in the vast church with its sweeping arches and domed ceiling, followed by a choral response. The young man—who looked comfortingly not-Italian, with his casual t-shirt, floppy blond hair, and scuffed shoes—was in his place two rows back. He had a bent posture, rosary between his hands. I looked at him a moment, wondering if he was a foreigner like me. Wondering, if so, what he was doing in this quiet town. Daily Mass every day, and Adoration once a week, was my attempt to reconnect with the faith I’d somehow grown weary in. I had begun to wonder, though, if this was more of a self-inflicted punishment. A year and a half of slowly climbing out of the pit I’d dug myself in. How do you live with the guilt? Taunting words from someone hostile to the faith years ago at university, come back to haunt me. What guilt? My snarky, poorly-catechized self had shot back. An elderly man coughed. His gruff voice cut through the rhythm of the Rosary without disturbing it. I lifted my eyes now to where figures representing the virtues looked down on us. CLEMENTIA. FORTITUDO. FIDES. I wasn’t sure I had much of any of those three. Being with Him My eyes went now to Jesus in the monstrance. I always sat as close to Jesus as I could during Adoration because this was as close as I’d been able to get lately. At first, I’d hoped to have one of those spiritual moments. Not that I was worthy of an experience like St. Catherine of Siena, so lost in ecstasy she couldn’t be revived. But perhaps something like what I read about in those blog posts I insatiably consumed, some overwhelming sense of peace and love. Something to both ease my guilt and prove to me that I was on the right path now. I stared at Jesus. I stared harder. I still felt nothing. Perhaps I was too far removed from God’s grace. That’s how it was supposed to work, after all, right? I was cut off. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=}  The Comfort of Contemplation I pulled out my own rosary beads and followed along with the Hail Marys until they got to the next mystery and I could properly catch up. Initially I’d been annoyed that they always said a Rosary before Mass. Annoyed that I couldn’t sit in peace and quietly say the Rosary by myself. I’d finally joined in with the group because the frustration of concentrating so hard to not let them get me off track became too much. And . . . I’d come to enjoy it. The smooth lilting Italian of the leader, the meditative choral response to finish each prayer. Contemplating Jesus on the altar now, the one day they had Adoration before Mass. No one knew me here. I still didn’t know a soul at this church I’d gone to every day for the past month. The older Italians didn’t talk to me and, well, I was the youngest here by about thirty years, other than Mr. Non-Italian Floppy Hair who didn’t look at anything other than the marble floor or Jesus. I’d bet he’d remained faithful no matter what secular society tried to seduce him with. Meanwhile I was a ghost, wandering in and out, invisible. I began to wonder if God even noticed me. Only the participation in this Rosary, and the subsequent Mass, gave me a tether, however thin, to a community. And yet, I returned each day. I prayed. I stared at Jesus even if I wasn’t sure He was looking back. Because I now knew the price you paid for a lazy faith. The Rosary ended with its typical solemn yet powerful litany, a tympanum beating out a final cry for justice before echoing out into a vast nothing. The priest came to take Jesus out of the monstrance, and we all got down on our knees. A few minutes later, the Mass started. The priest was elderly—as most were in Italy—and I strained to understand his weak voice. All the same, I fell easily into the comfortable rhythm of the Mass. After my years in this country, the Italian responses now came more naturally to me than the English ones I’d grown up with. I was rediscovering the faith both through my reversion and through experiencing it in a new language. Waiting and Watching When it came time for the reception of the Eucharist, I sat down. As always, I wondered if anyone noticed, wondered why the girl who was seemingly pious enough to sit in the church an hour before Mass and who participated in all the responses wasn’t receiving Jesus. Due to pandemic regulations, instead of forming a line, everyone remained in their spot and those who wanted to receive the Eucharist stood, while those who didn’t sat. It always felt more conspicuous to me than merely not slipping into the line. I remembered the first time I did this, nearly two years ago. The courage it took to acknowledge the situation I was in, that I would not be disposed to receive Jesus until I could get out of it. Realizing that ultimately it was better for my soul to not receive the Eucharist as I worked on climbing out of the pit. Now I was holding onto the edge. The first time, I was sure I’d be the only one to sit down at this point, imagining the stares, the quiet wonders. Instead, it seemed that many people around me sat down as well, unified. Not in obstinacy in our sin, nor in humiliated oppression, but in humble acknowledgment that we shouldn’t receive Jesus with soiled hands, not until we could clean them. Catholic Guilt, secular society said. It was easy to mock it when you had no idea what you were gambling. When your values were so torn apart, you’d lost any sense of right or wrong. At the start of my reversion, a true “trial-by-fire,” I had been consumed with scruples, worrying if every little thing wrong I said or did was further damning me. A priest once told me scrupulosity was a form of pride—which then made me worry I’d committed the sin of pride. After further reflection, though, I realized how liberating it was to look outside of myself. To look at a bigger picture, to aim for beautiful things—for goodness and truth and beauty. It wasn’t my Catholic beliefs that were oppressive, as I’d once thought. It was rather the intimidation of secular society, the ever-changing fads to keep up with, the pressures to be successful at the cost of relationships, the manipulation to think a certain way though you knew in your heart it was wrong. The priest cleaned out the chalice now. I’d come to love this meditative part of the Mass, come to enjoy watching him go through the same calming routine of polishing the cups, neatly folding the linens, and putting them away. I said my Spiritual Communion prayer to myself, welcoming Jesus into my heart. Imagining, as I did so, that He would be like this priest, gently rubbing my heart clean, purifying me, preparing me for when I’d be disposed to receive Him again. That day would come. I had only to hold onto the edge for a little while longer. Living with Him When Mass ended, I left, alone, catching the door the woman didn’t hold for me. It had begun to drizzle. I popped open my umbrella and glanced at the sky. Despite the rain and clouds a faint glimmer of stars shone through. Sister, despite the seemingly cut-and-dry “rules” of our faith, life is messy and complicated. Sometimes we find ourselves so mired in sin it takes more than a single trip to Confession to get out of it. Rather than falling into despair and giving up, we should always keep our eyes lifted to the One who sustains us, who is constant even when we’re not. When I finally did pull myself out of that pit, a kind priest shared these words that have resonated ever since: “Jesus Christ did not die on the cross for you to be enslaved by your fears and worries.” Alexandra is a wife and soon-to-be-mother living in northern Italy. Along with writing, she teaches English as a Foreign Language and enjoys playing the flute for her church choir. She refuses to get into the debate over whether Italian coffee is better than American, preferring both.

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It was a random afternoon and I had somehow found myself searching through a plethora of tiny little charms on a website called Tiny Saints. Having little to no idea about any Saint—much less the significance of any of the Saints—I was most definitely out of my element. The tiny charms were adorable and they looked like any of them would make a cute accessory on a lanyard or a child’s backpack. But at the time I wasn’t Catholic, and the huge selection of Saints to choose from was overwhelming. Looking for a Gift… Receiving a Gift You might be wondering, how could someone who was not Catholic find themselves on a website such as Tiny Saints? I was searching for a gift, and although I wasn’t sure if I believed in the idea of Saints at the time, I knew my friend did, and I thought it would be a cute gift for her to add to her lanyard as we headed back to work that fall (she works in a school and carries her work badge on a lanyard). Not knowing much about the Saints, I could’ve easily just read the small information box underneath the charm that stated what the Saint was the patron of, found something relatable to my friend on a surface level, and called it a day. However, I wanted to pick a Saint that I felt would be the perfect one for my friend. I searched and read biographies of each Saint that caught my eye. Looking back, this tells me that I believed in the intercession of Saints more than I realized at the time. After consuming information about several Saints, I found one: I settled on Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. A Patron Chose Me As I read about each Saint, I was trying to determine how and if they related to my friend. Elizabeth and my friend Jessee have many similarities: both are widows, converts, and dedicated to children’s education. I felt excited as I placed my order and waited for the tiny Saint to arrive. But I’m not good at keeping a gift a surprise. The next time I saw my friend, I had to tell her I had something coming for her. It didn’t take long until she pulled it out of me. Having no idea confirmation Saints even existed, I happily told her that I had chosen Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton for her Saint charm. I was confused when I was met with skepticism from my friend. She said something like, “Are you being serious?” Great, I thought, Maybe the Saint I picked offended her. Was that even possible? After all, what did I think I was doing ordering a tiny Saint for someone when I wasn’t even Catholic? After confirming that I had indeed bought her Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s charm she said, “She is my confirmation Saint . . . that’s so weird you had no idea, yet you picked her for me.” I definitely thought it was weird. In that moment, a piece of me wondered if God had played a part in the whole thing. I can say with certainty now that He did, and I believe He must have known that soon I would grow to admire Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton very much myself. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=}  The Saint Who Started My Conversion Months later, I found myself prepared to convert to Catholicism. I had read almost anything I could get my hands on and was overjoyed, feeling like I needed to make up for lost time and learn as much as possible about Catholicism. One day, I decided to read a bit more about Elizabeth. I noticed the similarities between us almost immediately, just as I had seen the similarities between Elizabeth and my friend Jessee, yet Jessee and I are in completely different seasons of life. Sure, some similarities between Jessee and I were shared with Elizabeth, but not all of them. I began to wonder, is Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton the most relatable Saint? She can comfort those working with children in education, in difficult marriages, widows, parents of sick children, converts, those dealing with friends and family members that do not support their Catholic faith, financial difficulties, and the list could go on. Now, obviously, I can recognize that I find Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton relatable because I of course relate to her greatly in some ways. I converted to Catholicism and struggled initially with family members who had a difficult time accepting my conversion, and I understand what it is like to be married to someone who does not prioritize religion on the same level that I do. All of these things have drawn me to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton; however, I think a lot of women could find her relatable in one way or another. Following Jesus No Matter What The most inspiring thing about Elizabeth is that through all of the challenges she faced, she was steadfast in her beliefs and remained incredibly dedicated to following Jesus throughout her life. I encourage you to read more about Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and see if there is at least one thing you can relate to her on, and if so, ask her to pray for you today. Knowing that Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton faced many obstacles of her own and remained so dedicated to pursuing a stronger relationship with God throughout it all brings hope to many women currently struggling with similar obstacles. I love having my Tiny Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton on my keychain as a reminder to strive to live such a faith-centered life just as she did. Consider buying a Tiny Saint for yourself as a reminder to pray and also as a reminder that we are all on our own hopeful journey to becoming saints. Lexie Karlin is a teacher located in Kansas City where she lives with her husband and their Siberian Husky, Dolly. She recently converted from Methodism to Catholicism and is still enjoying learning all there is to know about the amazing Catholic faith.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. // Isaiah 61:1 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

If you are anything like me, then you love love. You love any way you can express your feelings for the ones dearest to you. Your heart soars when you see couples kiss and public proposals. You love to love and want everyone to love just as much as you do. One of my favorite books that dives into the importance of love and what it means to love well is the well-renowned The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Chapman explains in his work the five ways people show their love for one another—physical touch, quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, and gift giving—and how crucial these languages are for couples seeking to strengthen their relationships. As a single Catholic woman who wears her heart on her sleeve and is a hopeless romantic, however, I don’t get to use my wealth of love languages as often as I would like. I want to share all the love bottled up inside me, but I struggle with a lack of a significant other to spend quality time with or perform acts of service for, no one romancing me with gifts or sweet nothings. Luckily for us, faithful women of Christ, we have a Lord who wants to be the Love of our lives, all of us. Chapman urges anyone reading his book that “for love, we will climb mountains, cross seas, traverse desert sands, and endure untold hardships. Without love, mountains become unclimbable, seas uncrossable, deserts unbearable, and hardships our lot in life”—and if that doesn’t sound like our relationship with Jesus Christ, then I don’t know what does (p. 19). Sending Jesus a Love Letter Back Our Lord Jesus loves us more than any significant other ever will, but it’s easy to forget this. He is the King of Kings, the Savior of all, the Prince of Peace - but He is also our true and loyal Lover every day of our lives. We don’t need to wait to be in a relationship to love and to love well, especially when Jesus wants to be our Lover no matter our vocation. “I found him whom my soul loves” (Song of Songs 3:4). Jesus Christ writes each of us—daughter or mother, consecrated or married life, single or taken—a love letter every day, romancing us in our passions, joys, lessons learned, tears fallen, and especially in the Bible. Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge delves into how the Lord romances us to Himself: “The Great Love Story the Scriptures are telling us about also reveals a Lover who longs for you. The story of your life is also the story of the long and passionate pursuit of your heart by the One who knows you best and loves you most” (p. 117). If He spends his time doing this, pursuing us, how can we love Him well back? I eventually learned that we can use the five love languages to do so, just like any other relationship. How Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Love Languages “Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come!” (Song of Songs 2: 10) Physical Touch The first love language is physical touch. The Lord shares with us a unique way to become one with Him, to be physically close to Him, and that is through the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the Lord’s most beloved gift to us, and receiving Him on Sunday, and if possible, at daily Mass, is our humble present back to Him. In our proclamation of “Amen” and upon consuming the Eucharist, we are telling our Lover that we believe in Him and want to be with Him, to carry Him with us wherever we go. Try to attend daily mass once a month or even once a week as a physical commitment to Christ and to loving Him back. Another powerful way to show our love for Him is by praying the Stations of the Cross regularly. I have found that going from station to station at my parish, physically walking to Calvary with Jesus, has helped me not only remember the sacrifices He made for us but also spiritually be there with Him at a time many were not to show my love and dedication to Christ. “I held him and would not let him go” (Song of Songs 3:4). Quality Time Prayer is the simplest way we can share quality time with the Lord, but there are some specific forms of prayer that allow that time to be sanctified in love. One is reading His words and practicing lectio divina, a contemplative way to read and pray over Scripture. Another is by visiting the church either after Mass or throughout your week and sitting in His abiding peace and quiet. Sometimes we get so excited to talk to the Lord and tell Him everything that we forget one of the main components of conversation: listening. When reading the Bible and/or praying in silence, we can hear Him better and love Him best by sharing, listening, and then responding. Mother Teresa once said, “I see Jesus in every human being . . . I serve because I love Jesus.” Being there for those people who need to see the face of Jesus is a great way to love Christ while also meeting Him in those people as well. We can share quality time with Him in every person we meet, for He Himself taught us that “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25: 40). Spend time with your grandmother, reach out to your estranged friend, sit with the homeless and the poor in your community – they are Christ waiting to be loved back by you. “Draw me after you! Let us run!” (Song of Songs 1:4). Acts of Service My best friend gave up her entire life to serve Jesus as a Servant of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará. While sometimes I wish I could love and serve Him as beautifully as she does, you and I are all called to different acts of service as Christian people. For me, I have always enjoyed taking part in the various ministries at my parish, both at home and at college. Whether it is teaching a class at Vacation Bible School, helping coordinate Community Coffee Sundays, or lectoring at mass, there are so many ministries at any church that could use your time, talents, and treasures to love and serve the Lord and His people. Similar to quality time, volunteering with those faces of Jesus in your community is another loving way to offer yourself and your service to whomever needs it most, and therefore to Christ as well. “His left hand is under my head and his right arm embraces me” (Song of Songs 2:6). Words of Affirmation Words have meaning. A very wise role model of mine shared this expression with me, and her words ring even more true when it comes to love. Words of affirmation are the backbone of praising and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ. We use words of kindness and humility to tell Him how much we love Him, to honor Him and His glory, to speak of His goodness over all the earth. In addition to praise, we also find ourselves in prayer sharing our gratitude for all He has given us. Remember this week to stop for a moment and to thank Him for your day and the blessings at hand. Using words of affirmation with the Lord, however, can be difficult. Finding the right words in prayer does not come easily all the time, and maybe you struggle to vocalize this. If this sounds like you, I encourage you to try singing to Him or listening to praise and worship music. No matter how you say it, think it, listen to it, or sing it, Jesus will hear and cherish every word. “You are beautiful in every way, my friend, there is no flaw in you!” (Song of Songs 4:7). Gift Giving When Jesus is the truest and best gift we could have ever received, what do we give Him back? The first thing you can do is follow Jesus’ lead and offer up the gift of yourself. Make a commitment to Him, a weekly promise, that you are His and He is yours, that you will use the upcoming week to love and serve Him well and to be His disciple. Another way to do this is by giving up something for a day or so, offering up your favorite cheesecake or that hour you normally spend on TikTok for prayer instead. Nothing says “I love you” more than sacrificing for Him who once sacrificed everything for us. Lastly, consider donating to your parish or favorite charity. The Lord loves when we share our treasures and show that our relationship with Him is more important than any dollar sign or bank account. “We will make pendants of gold for you, and ornaments of silver” (Song of Songs 1:11). You Were Made for This Kind of Love The love languages do not have barriers. Love does not have any barriers. Loving Him can look like leading a weekly Bible study or praying a Rosary walk with your family. Be creative, ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and love Christ the way you love best; your relationship with Jesus is meant to be as unique and special as you. However you decide to love Christ back, do it with your whole heart. The Lord knows when acts of love are performed with kindness and joy for Him, and He relishes them. Strengthen your relationship with Him who wants you for Himself, to love and to hold, in sickness and in health, never parted but reunited by death. Jesus of my heart’s center, Be the love of my life, my Savior, now, and forever, and ever. Amen.   [bctt tweet="Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Love Languages #BISblog // " via="no"]   Liz Homick is a second-year graduate student pursuing her M.S. in Library and Information Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. When she isn’t writing or studying to be a professional guardian of books, her friends and family can usually find her making puns, reading thirty books at once, or watching Disney movies on repeat. Liz swears by the Oxford comma, Times New Roman font, Old Bay seasoning, and unconditional kindness.

In a culture of selfies and social media posts, others-centeredness takes great intention and practice. When our children were younger, we had a more consistent family prayer routine. During this time, we intended to pray for others, but we often spent our entire bedtime routine praying only for ourselves. To remedy this, we solicited input from our kids about their friends’ needs, which met with mixed results. But then, when I witnessed a friend’s way of addressing her family’s amnesia of others, a lightbulb blinked on. Using her model, we began writing names on a dry erase board, and prayed for everyone on the board and their intentions. Problem solved. Writing names in black and white not only served as a reminder of others, it also showed us how many more needed our prayers than those that first came to mind. Then, another problem arose. We ran out of space on the whiteboard. So we got a larger surface—a bulletin board—and used Post-it notes to attach names of friends, family, church members, and their intentions. “Higher priority” intentions rose to the top of the board while ‘lower priority’ intentions moved down. Our children, in charge of arranging and rearranging names and prayers, took great interest and ownership of “their” list. We lovingly named our bulletin board the Prayer Wall. When Grandmom saw our bulletin board, she “oohed” and “ahhhed,” then made her own version in her house. Instead of a board, she commandeered an entire wall with a chalk-able surface. She added her own touches with pictures and notes to go with prayers. While our Prayer Wall came down during a teen redecorating project, Grandmom’s wall is still up and active. When we visit her, we admire its grand scale while she reminds us that its inspiration came from humbler beginnings. It reinforces our small and ongoing efforts against amnesia of others and the power of sharing our prayer routine with visitors. What creative prayer routines have influenced your time with God?   [bctt tweet="How to Make a Prayer Wall #BISblog //" via="no"]   FB Smit is the author of two bi-lingual picture books, a blog writer, and a teacher. With Mary, Joseph, and the company of the saints, she pursues His designs with the sleuth of Nancy Drew. Read more thoughts on faith and connect with her here.

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. // Luke 3:4 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

May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings. // Psalm 122:6-7 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

Let me paint the scene: It was a girl’s day out, everyone was grabbing some lunch, and I was stuck in the ordering line having an existential crisis about whether or not to buy a three dollar bagel. To fully understand the scene, let's add some paint to the background. At the time of the scene, I was working as a missionary. This fact and the bakery line crisis were inseparably linked by one reality: money. Working as missionaries, my husband and I were paid, but not very much. We did our absolute best to stay on top of our expenses and budget out our money. We were big Dave Ramsey fans. Missionary Tithing In fact, one of our first big decisions as a married couple had been regarding how we were going to handle our money. This included tithing. Prior to our missionary life, I had not been ignorant of tithing, but had never really practiced it. I had somehow always, falsely, viewed it as something you did once you were “well-established” in a career, whatever that means. Needless to say, when my husband first brought it up in our budget discussions, I was pleased but surprised. Our conversation went something like this: “First, we need to factor in a tithe to our budget.” My pause was long. “That’s a good idea, but, we are missionaries. We are the kind of people that other people tithe to. I didn’t think that really applied to us…” “Gracie, we are tithing.” And the matter was settled. My heart, on the other hand, was the slightest bit unsettled as we graphed out the chart and I watched that 10 percent be subtracted; 10 percent that we absolutely could have used for gas or groceries at the time. But we figured it out and decided to give it a go. A Greater Reliance And slowly we noticed the strangest things start to happen: insanely good deals and discounts would just pop up under our fingers, people started just giving us the exact things that we would be hunting for, waiters and waitresses even started taking care of part or all of our check. I’m not making this up. We were still living simply, but we were simultaneously living very well and found ourselves never stretched or stressed in the financial department. Everywhere we turned, the providence of God was making itself known. Seek First the Kingdom I had never before witnessed some of the words of the Bible as being so true. Thanks to my husband’s leadership, we were seeking first the Kingdom of God, and everything else that we could have been concerned about was being taken care of. Life was still expensive, especially when a baby came along, but with good friends, communication, prayer, thinking ahead, and maintaining that monthly tithe, it was never as tight as we expected. Back to the bakery line. I reluctantly ordered the bagel, knowing that I was hungry and it was a good opportunity to bond with my friends. But I felt a little guilty. After all, we were missionaries. I got my bagel and went to our table. Five minutes later, the last of our friend group walked up, holding two bags. “One for me, and one for you, Gracie,” she says handing me the bag. I look down at my plate. “But, I already got my food.” “It has your name on it, and your exact order, and has been sitting up there for five minutes and no one grabbed it. Two for the price of one, I guess it’s your lucky day!” It was such a small thing, but I knew it had nothing to do with luck. Store Up Treasure in Heaven Let God be the center of your finances, and He will provide for you in the big and small ways. If you don’t already, I encourage you to incorporate a monthly tithe in to your budget. God will bless it abundantly. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. // Matthew 6:19-21   [bctt tweet="Bagels and the Providence of God #BISblog // " via="no"]   Mary Grace “Gracie” Muraski lives and works in the mountains of Colorado with her husband. She is passionate about the outdoors, intentional conversation, and anything involving pasta.

In this Year of the Eucharist, I have constantly been called by Our Lord to visit Him. As a mom of five littles, that doesn’t look like frequent Adoration in our parish’s Adoration chapel. It doesn’t always come in the form of daily Mass. In this state in life, in this moment in time, my desire to visit Our Lord is made manifest in my day-to-day and the attitude with which I carry out my daily tasks. I’m humbled many times as I do these things imperfectly. Adore Him Always Yet, every day, visiting and adoring Him occurs when I’m present with my husband and children. Do I start off our day with morning prayers? How am I leading them to Him that day? How do I react when there’s an argument? What do I do when my Italian nature shows its true colors and I allow my impatience and temper to reign? Do I resign to my weakness and sum of my failures, or do I run, returning to Him, acknowledging and adoring His Eucharistic power? Since our goal in this life is to visit Him permanently and adore Him always in the next, we ask our Lord to keep our feet firmly planted in His will and His way, always returning to Him when we stray. Eucharistic Power // A Poem Here I sit In front of God Holy ground below, my Sinful feet dare trod To honor and adore You In Your presence, Lord Alive I remain because My life, You graciously afford It is for this reason And because of it, I live You created me for You For Your love to give Let me desire none other Than to relish this time To feel my heart beat for You Body and soul, ecstatic and sublime Just being in Your sight Holy Host, powerful be You root myself firmly My being planted in front of Thee All a dream, these moments In Heaven, I wish here to stay A glimpse of the life I desire When death whisks me away My God, omnipotent Host Take me that hour to Thee By Your Eucharistic power Make my dream reality   [bctt tweet="Eucharistic Power // A Poem #BISblog // " via="no"]   Danielle Erwin is a Catholic wife, a homeschooling mother of 5, and she loves writing poetry whenever the Holy Spirit inspires her! She has published a book of poetry she wrote after her miscarriages (Holding On: Poems on Coping With Loss After Miscarriage) and a book of poetry on the Catholic Faith (Something More: Poetic Moments With God).

His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. // Daniel 7:14 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

Their voices enter my room and I become a part of their conversation. My bedroom wall separates us, but I can hear each voice clearly and in turn. First, Mariusz poses a question: "Mass on Sunday… Christ the King or Assumption?” Michael is quick to respond, “Christ the King!” Ann May doesn’t wait long, “Christ the King!” Exasperated and out of turn, Mariusz interjects, “Christ the King?! Same thing over and over and over again!” Larry, being the sensitive man that he is, offers a courtesy, “Um, Assumption?” I chuckled and my attention returned to the space that I was in. The Joy (and Challenge) of Predictability Days later, I continue to let this scene play behind my eyes. I grin as I see it taking place. It is ordinary, but from within it our friends teach. At L’Arche, we have a general routine for each day and a rhythm to each season. Daily, we can all count on eating, cleaning, and praying together. Throughout the year we have an array of shared holidays and our own traditions unique to L’Arche that we anticipate. While traditions are lovely, they can also be exhausting. And while routines create stability, they can also be a bore. So, as I hear the conversation again, and listen to Sunflower House discuss where to go to Mass on Sunday, I can identify with Mariusz. As an assistant, I too crave change; however, some of our core members are more robust. God's Pattern of Routine In G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy he illustrates several scenarios involving routine and invites the reader to question whether our routines are boring or if we who experience them are lacking. In this, I see Mike, Ann, and Larry’s decision to go to the same church every week, at the same time, and to sit in the same pew week after week after week. Again, this silly church debate scene repeats in my mind and while it plays I hear Chesterton’s voice explaining something about routine to me. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to bless monotony. God says every morning, "Do it again," to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may be that God makes every daisy separately, but never got tired of making them. It may be that He has an eternal appetite for infancy. Learning to Lean into Routine I realize that my whole life is made up of routines. My waking hours are scheduled around my sleeping hours. My chores are scheduled around my activities and everything is scheduled around when I eat! I can take a vacation from my daily routines, but they’re always around when I return and they make up the meat of my life. My friends at L’Arche are always teaching me and as I continue to share life with them perhaps I might learn how to relish in routine. Do you balk at routine or do you see the value in it?   [bctt tweet="To Relish in Routine #BISblog // " via="no"]   Taylor Fuller is a newlywed who spent her honeymoon galavanting around Ireland, scoping out Marian Apparition sites, and chasing hairy coo in Scotland. Stateside, she shares life at L’Arche Jacksonville in Florida with her friends with and without disabilities who live together in community.

It can be an elusive chase. We shift schedules, we say "no," we set boundaries, we buy the next product that makes promises. We all long for peace, and we are willing to work hard to obtain it. And those efforts are worthwhile and can bring a steadiness to our days. But true peace cannot be grasped; it is a gift we must receive. The Prince of Peace This title of the Lord from the prophet Isaiah is one of the most beloved for Christ. Not only does it provide a lovely alliteration, but it speaks deeply to the role of peace in the economy of salvation. We want peace; peace is a Person. And that Person is both Peace itself and the One Who holds authority—prince-ship—over it. So if we want lasting, sink-down-into-our-souls peace, we must come to Him daily, allowing Him to give us peace and be our peace. Peace Paupers We understand this well enough, and we believe it. But in trying to live it, we encounter various obstacles. It seems that, at every turn, something threatens to "steal" our peace. We are beggars on this journey, and we often accept any counterfeit "peace" in order to feel a moment of satisfaction or manufactured rest. None of us are exempt from this temptation, which speaks to how incredibly transformational peace is in the spiritual life. The enemy offers us poor exchanges for Peace, and every time we can turn from that to the One Who holds us steady is a victory. An Inventory of Peace So where do we stand in regards to peace, then? Have we taken time to evaluate where we stand in light of the Prince of Peace? The upcoming Advent season is an ideal time to reflect upon how much of our lives we have (or have not yet) handed over to the newborn Prince of Peace. We invite you to pray through the first section of questions before or at the beginning of Advent. Keep a "score sheet" of some sort in a journal or in your Notes app to help you remember. Then, walk with us through Peace Has a Name as we examine all the various aspects of this true Peace into which we are invited. To Reflect on Before Advent On a scale of 1-5, 1 being absolutely no peace and 5 being perfect peace, rank the various areas of your life. Feel free to jot down responses to the questions are you pray through them, too. Relationship with God // Am I at rest in my relationship with God? Am I content in my prayer life and growing closer to Him, or are there areas of distraction and woundedness keeping me from Him? Relationship with others // What is the status of the current relationships in my life? Do I have a thriving community, or am I desperate for just one friend? Do I have friendships that dive below the surface and call me to a higher way of life with Christ? Is there unresolved anger or conflict in my relationships that steals my peace? How do I need to forgive and be forgiven? Relationship with self // How do I view myself? Am I at war with myself over my personality, life choices, confessed sin, shame, feelings of abandonment or self-reliance, or a desire to control? Have I brought my wounds to the foot of the Cross? Am I taking care of my most basic needs so I can operate out of a place of human peace so that divine peace may work through me? Body image // How do I view my body? Am I disturbed in my soul every time I look in the mirror? How do I speak to and about myself? Do I lack gratitude for what my body does for me? Vocation // Am I at peace in my vocation? Why or why not? If I am waiting for my vocation, am I at peace? Why or why not? Regardless of vocation, how am I trying to control that which is out of my control? Am I resentful? Am I ungrateful? Am I unwilling to change for the better? Do I withhold love or forgiveness? In what ways do I feel unrest in this area? Work // To what work has the Lord called me? How do I accept this invitation? Do I labor diligently for His sake, even when I am overlooked or under-appreciated? Am I resisting a prompting from the Holy Spirit to move into a new season of my mission? Leisure + hobbies // Do I rest? Do I make time to enjoy what I enjoy simply for the sake of enjoying it? Am I filling my schedule and my brain with distractions so that I miss opportunities to partake in true leisure? How does this influence my mental space and approach to duty when I don't make time for delight? Once Christmas arrives, revisit this post and pray through the set of questions again. How have your answers changed? Have you experienced more peace in one or more areas of your life? How has the Lord moved in and purified your heart during the Advent season? How can you maintain a proper perspective on peace as you go throughout the coming new year? [elementor-template id="761780"] To Reflect on After Advent On a scale of 1-5, 1 being absolutely no peace and 5 being perfect peace, rank the various areas of your life. Feel free to jot down responses to the questions are you pray through them, too. Relationship with God // Am I at rest in my relationship with God? Am I content in my prayer life and growing closer to Him, or are there areas of distraction and woundedness keeping me from Him? Relationship with others // What is the status of the current relationships in my life? Do I have a thriving community, or am I desperate for just one friend? Do I have friendships that dive below the surface and call me to a higher way of life with Christ? Is there unresolved anger or conflict in my relationships that steals my peace? How do I need to forgive and be forgiven? Relationship with self // How do I view myself? Am I at war with myself over my personality, life choices, confessed sin, shame, feelings of abandonment or self-reliance, or a desire to control? Have I brought my wounds to the foot of the Cross? Am I taking care of my most basic needs so I can operate out of a place of human peace so that divine peace may work through me? Body image // How do I view my body? Am I disturbed in my soul every time I look in the mirror? How do I speak to and about myself? Do I lack gratitude for what my body does for me? Vocation // Am I at peace in my vocation? Why or why not? If I am waiting for my vocation, am I at peace? Why or why not? Regardless of vocation, how am I trying to control that which is out of my control? Am I resentful? Am I ungrateful? Am I unwilling to change for the better? Do I withhold love or forgiveness? In what ways do I feel unrest in this area? Work // To what work has the Lord called me? How do I accept this invitation? Do I labor diligently for His sake, even when I am overlooked or under-appreciated? Am I resisting a prompting from the Holy Spirit to move into a new season of my mission? Leisure + hobbies // Do I rest? Do I make time to enjoy what I enjoy simply for the sake of enjoying it? Am I filling my schedule and my brain with distractions so that I miss opportunities to partake in true leisure? How does this influence my mental space and approach to duty when I don't make time for delight? The Purpose of Peace Hopefully, as you have journeyed through the four weeks of Advent and have come back to reflect on these questions again, you have seen how the Holy Spirit has shaped you again and again into a new creation in Him. Hopefully, you have understood even more deeply that Jesus alone is the Prince of Peace, the One Who can gift us that for which we ultimately long. The primary purpose of peace is to keep us anchored in the truth that we are never alone or abandoned by God. He never once turns His gaze from us. He never once ceases to be concerned with all that concerns us. This is where we find our rest: in the Sacred Heart which endlessly burns with love. We are forever loved, forever desired, and forever cared for. It is in this that our peace is offered and where we can accept to live in it. Are you satisfied with the amount of peace you have in your life or do you long for more? How is Jesus inviting you to accept the kind of peace He offers, the peace which the world cannot give?   [bctt tweet="Am I at Rest? // An Inventory of Peace #BISblog //" via="no"]

You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives. // Luke 21:17-19 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

A few summers ago I was in my poetry residency for the week. The instructor gave our class a writing assignment: produce a poem about food. That night, I sat for a while looking at a blank page, wondering what to write. For context, I began baking more that summer. I became focused on making the perfect pound cake and sharing it with others. Baking was not a loved hobby but I found a recipe that inspired me. The longer I reflected, the more I felt led to process something vulnerable and write it. I was surprised with what followed, but it was well received by my classmates, which gave me courage and affirmation. Pound Cake // Something was missed mashing together all I wanted. I’m the best darn mother there is, if only I had the kids to prove it: Birthday cakes I never got to make. Brownies I never sent to school in a lunch box. But this cake’s not as dramatic as the frosted layer, not as simple as a cupcake. Centuries old, a no fail 1 pound of flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. Half and half, vanilla extract, dash of salt, mixed smooth and creamy - bowl to lick! Predictability, control by shaping matter. Pound cake for the dinner party. Pound cake for the new neighbor. Pound cake and coffee. Lemon, chocolate, vanilla pound cake. Serve on paper plate or heirloom china. Dense, sweet, bread like yum. Baked in a bundt, captured on a cooling rack, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Fecundity taken in another direction. Not giving birth to the world, just feeding it. Motherhood in Another Direction Can you hear the longing, the desire, the question, and finally the attempt to soothe this thing that was and has always been within me? I was asking a question, “What does motherhood have for me, a childless woman? Is there more to this desire than simply teaching and nurturing kids in a classroom? Have I missed my moment?” What’s more, I know I am not the only woman who lives out these questions. Childlessness can feel like its own kind of infertility—a sense of loss at never having had the chance. There are many stories, and many of my sisters who carry their own experience of motherhood, with all its deepest joys and sometimes sorrow. But He is the Restorer and when this is handed back to God, He can make it beautiful. In my case, it is taking steps toward foster parent training with an open heart for adoption—and having peace in the process. It is not only waiting for the right time, but then trusting and moving forward in faith. Allowing God to be the builder. Knowing He put the desire for motherhood within me and He will see it fulfilled. How is God speaking to you about motherhood? Where is He asking you to build mother culture? He can be trusted. Our dreams and sorrows find a home in His heart. This is a call for all women, even those who have never felt the desire to have children. The feminine gifts brought to bear in our communities make us all better. Rightly-ordered femininity does not have to compete with or for men, it does not have to demand a place at the table. If anyone changed the view of women in culture, it was Jesus Himself. He was a radical inviter of those typically uninvited. Know you are being invited by Him where you find yourself right now.   [bctt tweet="Childlessness, Pound Cake, + Mother Culture #BISblog //" via="no"]   Jenny Richeson is a Catholic writer who is a lover of language and its mysteries. By day she provides speech pathology and cognitive intervention services to kids. Her main goal in life is to be a speaking stargazer caught up in wonder whenever possible. She makes her home in Kentucky with her husband, Matt. Together they find God in gardening and all manner of outdoor activities whenever they can. Stargazing is a favorite pastime too. You can find out more about her here.