My husband handed me a prayer book one winter morning about two years ago. “Magnificat†read its beautiful cover.

I first heard of Reform Wellness during Lent on this episode of the Poco a Poco Podcast. I, like so many, have been spiritually formed by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and know that anyone invited on the podcast shares a similar heart for the Friars and their work. “Reform is a functional medicine and holistic wellness practice rooted in Christ. We redefine health as the state of the body and soul together.” Naturally, afterwards I began following Reform on Instagram and really became intrigued with the idea of Christ Centered Wellness: Our mission is to empower people to grow in wholeness and become the best versions of themselves: physically, mentally, and spiritually. Choosing Reform Wellness There isn’t anything in the Catholic sphere that really bridges the gap of physical wellness regarding the mind, body, and soul. I have seen other businesses that tackle one or the other but not the integration of all three. I knew Reform would be more than what came to mind when I heard the word "wellness," which is homemade kombucha, some sort of green smoothie, and an exclusive gym membership that gives you access to a spa-like resort (that’s probably due to living in Las Vegas, NV, and seeing all spectrums of fitness and wellness to the extreme). Because Fr. Innocent is the chaplain of Reform I had a feeling the course would be unlike one I had ever taken and that the influence of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal would be a part of the process which is what intrigued me to begin with. As I continued to prayerfully discern if I was in the right season and could place myself in the right posture to receive what the program had to offer, I became aware of my answers to the following questions. Is God Calling You to Reform? We invite you to prayerfully consider Reform Online™ if you find yourself… Switching between diets that don’t work or craving food freedom Losing sleep and struggling to manage daily stressors Craving community and feeling isolated Confused, exhausted, and chasing an image of health Searching for meaning in the mega and mundane moments Overextending yourself while ignoring your health in the process Feeling unbalanced in your work, home, and social lives Craving change or a better way of living Filling your calendar with busy work solely to feel productive/keep busy Living reactively instead of proactively Feeling disconnected from your faith and purpose The last time I was in any type of wellness routine was before I got married and had kids which was a little over ten years ago. With so many changes to my body over these last couple of years, I realized it had been a long time since I had taken a sincere inventory of the state of my overall wellness. During the last couple of years I have been very focused on my prayer life and growing in community with my Blessed is She small group which has brought me immense joy and gratitude. However, other areas of my life felt disconnected to my overall wellbeing. With an increased awareness of how I talk to myself with judgement instead of compassion, being burnt out from doing work outside of the home that was unfulfilling, settling to be the people pleaser and never saying “no,” the time felt right to pursue Reform Wellness. During The Course At first glance, the program looked too good to be true. Would I really be able to work my way through Reform’s nine wellness pillars of faith, nutrition, functional movement, rest, community, personal growth, environment, play, and stress management through a Catholic lens? Reform’s motto is: Take care of your body as if you are going to live forever and take care of your soul as if you are going to die tomorrow. // Saint Augustine It is such a radical statement, and yet one I had never considered. I figured fatigue, exhaustion, mood swings, sleepless nights, and craving sugar were just part of being a mom of small children. I hadn’t considered that there could be other matters at play. When I reach for that dark chocolate or pick-me-up latte at 3 p.m., I just thought I was participating in refueling myself for the next leg of the day. You know the homework, dinner, and bath time routine. While refueling isn’t unhealthy in of itself, what and how I was refueling my body was misaligned with what my body was actually asking me for. I didn't have the mindset to question why I was eating the sweet treats I was reaching for, or the reasons I was overcommitted to things outside of the home. I was just used to volunteering for this thing or being involved in that thing and never gave a second thought as to how any of these things took away from my energy, joy, or time. Being able to have the space to consider the nine pillars and the areas where I felt I disconnected helped me start to do the slow work of bringing order to those places of my life that were begging for it. Jesus-Centered Formation The Holy Spirit will open your eyes to the things you have had on the back burner because maybe at the time it felt too hard to face the realities of certain unhealthy habits or a lack of boundaries left you feeling defeated. The truth is that God is always asking us to surrender every part of our humanity over to Him, body and soul. Reform opened my mind to new ways of praying, listening, and actively looking for the Lord in my daily life as a wife and stay-at-home mom. It helped me realize how deeply interconnected every aspect of our person is and how it all belongs to Jesus. He doesn’t just want to take care of our spiritual lives; He wants to take care of our mind and body too. The Hard Truth It is hard when you are doing this and your spouse may be on a different journey in terms of wellness or your kids don’t need to change their diet or their lifestyle. However, the beauty of Reform Online is that because you are growing into new habits it will affect your family incrementally. While I did have a tiny inclination to overhaul at the beginning, the Reform team continued to remind me and other students that that is the way of the world and not how Jesus produces new fertile ground for growth. Even when I caught myself thinking, “I am falling behind,” I would remember that the format of the program is there to help and not to add stress to Type A+ personalities like myself. As lay people, we may think that sisters, brothers, priests, and other religious don’t have it bad because they are in the right environments that don’t produce as much stress, toxic relationships, burn out, fatigue, or tax their mental health. But, after all, they are human beings. They too need rest, to reduce stress, and to recommit to placing Jesus at the center of their lives each and everyday. The difference is we fall out of obedience or a desire to be committed to a rule of life that will help us cultivate ways to become a Whole™ person in order to be Holy™ (as Reform teaches). Living in the world we fall prey to making excuses and being okay with complacency without really knowing that we are. In my own prayer life I have compartmentalized the order of things that I thought were most important to take to the Father when in reality every aspect of my well being is connected. Discover Reform Wellness If you are interested in journeying on the next Reform Online course consider joining this free webinar to learn about Christ-Centered Living or read Fr. Barry Braum’s blog post to help you discern if this course is for you. Lastly, if you are a CFR fan and want to read Fr. Innocent’s Reform journey check it out here. The next Reform Online Lenten class begins February 28th and goes through May 20th. Don’t allow cost to discourage your wellness journey. Reform Wellness offers payment plans as well scholarships through Reform Alms. To find out when scholarships are available sign up here. Reform doesn’t replace health for an Idol. It empowers you to take the discouragement that you may feel in some areas of the pillars of faith, nutrition, functional movement, rest, community, personal growth, environment, play, and stress management and provides you with concrete steps to do something about it with Jesus leading the way. Reform offers a community Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer every Wednesday at 12p.m. EST. The zoom link is always posted on the Reform IG account prior to the community prayer. Reform is offering our readers a 10% off discount of all products and services through January 31st. Use code BIS10.   [bctt tweet="Your New New Year's Resolution #BISblog // " via="no"]

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the culmination of Christmastide is celebrated at last during the arrival of the Magi. Gifts aren’t exchanged among families until the Christ-Child would have received gifts Himself—by uninvited and savvy star-gazers anxious to arrive where the newborn King could be found. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. // Matthew 2: 10-12 The Recurrence + Importance of Uninvited Guests Scripture abounds with stories of uninvited guests who seemingly pop up out of nowhere! The wedding feast where people are invited from the highway and hedgerows. // Luke 14:23 The woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive oil at table. // John 12:3 Dinner at Matthew, the tax collector's house. // Matthew 9:10 Abram and Sarai’s/Elizabeth and Zechariah’s reception of their long-awaited sons—guests that arrived in unexpected circumstances. // Genesis 18:1-15, -Luke 1:5-25 Jesus Himself arrived in the least likely way and surprised,Mary, Joseph, and the whole weary world along with them! // Luke 1: 26-38 It is noteworthy that those who do not fall within the parameters of those on the "guest list" so frequently have something to teach us about ourselves and about the nature of Who God is. So often they are met with similar responses by other guests. Namely, that the God of the universe is not nearly as limited as we might allow ourselves to believe... and that perhaps we are. Examining Our Guest Lists I wonder if Epiphany isn’t an opportunity to evaluate our guest lists a bit. Do we include room to be surprised by others? By God? Do our encounters with others spark "a-ha moments" that invite us to love and serve God better, or do they serve to keep us comfortable in our echo chambers? I know which camp I am likely to fall into most days. Good thing Advent ushered in the Church’s New Year, and there is still plenty of time to add to our resolutions. Epiphany to the rescue! Our Own Epiphany One of my favorite details about the feast of Epiphany is that it is a word that has been adopted into mainstream vernacular. It isn’t out of the question that we might hear about an "epiphany" in a class discussion, a business strategy meeting, or a spiritual direction session. All of them imply having made a discovery of significant importance, all stemming from this same root experience of the Magi themselves coming upon the Child Jesus. Each time I hear this word, I am jolted back to this awareness that God continues to be at work, weaving together the seemingly discombobulated aspects of daily life. Not only does Epiphany extend our Christmas-ing another week beyond the 25th, but I would suggest that it does more than that: it invites us to a vibrant and growing life of faith that allows us to be surprised by the substantial things that God reveals to us in unlikely places. Mangers, dinner tables, Sacraments, timelines, lavish hospitality, deep devotion, family life, business deals, charity work, and repentant hearts. By Another Way The feast of Christmas continues on this Three Kings Day and it is intended to give us room to arrive where we might not have expected to end up, to celebrate, and to be on our merry way, encouraged and inspired by the Good News of Emmanuel, God-with-us. Some would say this is where the "work of Christmas" takes hold. In some ways, the 12-day Christmas celebration is not one to lallygag and sit around waxing nostalgic, but a springboard into action: to follow the lead of the Magi who had been affirmed in their faithfulness, and returned to their home in a very different way. Would that we all re-enter Ordinary Time "by another way." In what way(s) do you hope to adopt the spirit of Epiphany at the close of the Christmas season?   [bctt tweet="Epiphany // Uninvited Guests + Savvy Star-Gazers #BISblog //" via="no"]

One of the clearest expressions of joy in the Gospel came from one of the most hope-filled women, Saint Elizabeth.

What leads to discouragement? Discouragement enters into our lives when we place hope in ourselves, in others, or in created things.

I have a friend who inspires me to be holy through her actions. When I feel distraught or tempted to despair, her response is always prayer, service, and sacrifice.

Ringing in the new year rekindles our hopes and dreams. It’s time to celebrate a fresh start, turning the page to begin a new chapter. We look forward to new opportunities and adventures. The deep desires of our heart float up to the surface, and we can’t help but wonder: What if this is the year for ______________? What is right around the corner? What else is in store for me? The dawn of a new year can also leave us feeling hesitant to hope. We worry about being let down… again. Perhaps we made resolutions in years past that fizzled after a month or two, and the expectations of ourselves fell flat. And again, we wonder: Will this year be another disappointment? What if this new year is no better than the last? What if I fail again in making real change in my life? Approach the New Year With Prayer In order to sort through this array of emotions, we must approach the new year with prayer. Through prayer, we can bring our hopes, dreams, and fears about beginning anew to the Lord. And as we entrust it all to Him and listen to His response, we realize God’s plan of sheer goodness for us (see Catechism of the Catholic Church 1). Through prayerful dialog, His plan will unfold and our hearts will increasingly open to His holy will for us. What do you want to do in my life this year, Lord? What area of my life needs attention? Will You be my strength, Lord? Because I can’t begin anew without You. As we pray about the new year, let us consider six themes: Start right where you are Reflect on the past Trust in the Lord Look forward with hope Make resolutions Don’t give up Saint Quotes for the New Year Moreover, let us contemplate what the Saints say about starting over in the new year. After all, their desire is to help us not only reach our new year’s goals but our final reward: eternity with God in Heaven. On Beginning Anew The Saints have much to say about the simple idea of beginning anew. They know that January is not the only time to start over. Rather, God’s mercies are new every morning (see Lamentations 3:22-23). So everyday of the year, we can begin again. “The saints did not all begin well, but they all ended well.” // Saint John Vianney “Begin now to be what you will be hereafter.” // Saint Jerome “Always we begin again.” // Saint Benedict “Everyday I say to myself, today I will begin.” // Saint Anthony of the Desert “It is right that you should begin again every day. There is no better way to complete the spiritual life than to be ever beginning it over again.” // Saint Francis de Sales “Begin now … Believe me, don’t wait until tomorrow to begin becoming a saint.” // Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Start Right Where You Are In order to begin anew, we need to embrace where we are in this very moment of the brand new year. This is exactly how God wants us to come to Him in prayer. “Trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.” // Saint Teresa of Avila “Go to our Lord just as you are. Be natural in your meditation. He wants the thought and prayer of that heart as the genuine expression of its love for Him.” // Saint Peter Julian Eymard “He who climbs never stops going from beginning to beginning, through beginnings that have no end. He never stops desiring what he already knows.” // Saint Gregory of Nissa Reflect on the Past Once we accept where we are in this present moment, it is good to reflect on the past before we move forward: How did I get here? What went well this year? What was disappointing? "Do not let the past disturb you—just leave everything in the Sacred Heart, and begin again with joy.” // Saint Teresa of Calcutta “Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.” // Saint Augustine “It is only through shadows that one comes to know the light.” // Saint Catherine of Siena “Do not look back to the past, nor forward to the future. Claim only the present, for it holds God’s will.” // Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne Trust in the Lord With a clean slate from the past and acceptance of where we are in this present moment, we can entrust any anxiety we have about the new year to the Lord. “Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude.” // Saint Thérèse of Lisieux “Learn to live in God’s hands.” // Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross “We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can, namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us.” // Saint Teresa of Avila “When you have nothing left but God, you have more than enough to start over again.” // Saint Teresa of Calcutta Look Forward With Hope And we also can fully embrace, with expectant hope, the surprises God has in store for us this coming year. “Let us begin, brothers, to serve the Lord God, for up until now we have done little or nothing. He did not consider that he had already attained his goal, but tireless in pursuit of holy newness, he constantly hoped to begin again.” // Saint Francis of Assisi “Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.” // Saint Benedict of Nursia "Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly." //Saint Ignatius of Loyola “To have courage for whatever comes in life, everything lies in that.” // Saint Teresa of Avila Make Concrete Resolutions Coming up with new year’s resolutions is easy. Honing in on just one or two can be hard to discern. So, we invite God into our plans, asking Him where He desires us to improve. If we long for healing, growth, and flourishing, we can be certain He wants that for us even more. “You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.” // Saint Augustine “Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” // Saint Francis of Assisi “When we once begin to form good resolutions, God gives us every opportunity of carrying them out.” // Saint John Chrysostom “Without love, deeds even the most brilliant, count as nothing.” // Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Don’t Give Up Will we execute our new year’s resolutions perfectly over the next 365 days? Absolutely not! But that does not mean we should give up. Rather, beginning anew is an ongoing process, one that allows us to start fresh again and again. “We stumble. We stutter. We rise. We are lifted.” // Saint Anthony of Padua “Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew.” // Saint Francis de Sales “Don’t despair over your shortcomings. Start over each day. You make spiritual progress by beginning again and again.” // Saint Francis de Sales “When tempted, invoke your Angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel.” // Saint John Bosco “If you should fail, be humble, make a resolution to be submissive to God’s will and then get up, and carry on.” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina “The work is never finished, we have continually to begin again …” // Saint Francis de Sales Ready to Begin Anew? Whether we are excited or anxious, we are not alone as we step over the threshold of the new year. The Lord hopes we will invite Him along. And His saintly friends promise to intercede for us, as they share their wisdom on beginning anew.   [bctt tweet="Beginning Again // Saint Quotes for a New Year #BISblog // " via="no"]

The evening of June 8, 1985 was a memorable one for Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. With her community of Carmelites, Saint Thérèse listened to the obituary of Sister Anne-Marie of Jesus, a fellow Carmelite Sister in a neighboring monastery.

Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. // Hebrews 10:23 Hope and trust. These two words roll off our tongues so easily. Yet it is difficult to plant these words deep within our hearts and it takes much more effort to live them out. Unwavering hope and trust is only possible through Someone Who is the source of hope and Who is completely trustworthy. We must fall in love with Christ, we must truly get to know Him, His Person. Only then can we see the fruits of His love for us, both the quiet and the radical ways He transforms our lives. We will come to learn that He is trustworthy, He is worthy of our trust. Our love stories about Christ will in turn give others that same hope we have found in Him. The more we spend time with Him, the more convicted we will become to hold on to the Good News that gives us hope, our confession of faith. We get to know Him through prayer, reading His Word, Daily Mass, Adoration, Confession, and by simply talking to Him. We get to know Him in the men, women, and children who surround us. What is His promise to us? His promise is eternal life. Our hope is found in the Resurrection! That is our hope! That is what we are called to share! That is our Good News. There is life and life in abundance through Him, with Him, and in Him! There is Eternal Life and we have a place in His Kingdom. Hope and trust in Him and in His promise. That is a sentence that doesn’t roll off the tongue so easily, but it is the sentence I want to embed deeply within my heart and, even more, live out. Hope and trust in Him and His promise, for He is trustworthy.   [bctt tweet="Unwavering hope and trust is only possible through Someone Who is the source of hope and Who is completely trustworthy. So we must fall in love with Christ, we must truly get to know Him. #prayerpledge //" username="findphilothea"]   Let Us Pray Lord God, help us to have hearts receptive to hope. Help us to know You and love You more, increasing our hope in Your promise through relationship with You. Reveal to us the ways that we do not trust You, those areas in which we do not believe You're faithful. Send Your Holy Spirit to shed the light of Truth upon those areas. We are Yours! Amen. For Discussion In what areas do you struggle to trust the Lord? Dig deep and spend time here... Why do you think that is? How would your life look different if you entrusted that area(s) specifically to Jesus? How would you feel, act, and decide?   [bctt tweet="They That Hope: The 2022 Prayer Pledge // Day 2 #BISblog #prayerpledge //" username="findphilothea"]

I love this feast day that honors the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus. By virtue of her divine motherhood, Mary has become mother of us all. What an amazing gift that is. Mary has been referred to as the first Christian, since she was the first one who opened her life and heart to Jesus by giving him her perfect yes. I love that we can call her by so many different names, such as: Mother of Love, Mother of Sorrow, Mother of Mercy, Mother most Holy, just to name a few. Sometimes I like to call her simply Mama Mary! [bctt tweet="By virtue of her divine motherhood, Mary has become mother of us all. #BISblog //" via="no"] The Motherhood of Mary For as long as I can remember I have loved Mary. But I have to say that my love and appreciation for her has blossomed since becoming a mother to my oldest daughter almost 18 years ago. I suddenly realized that if I wanted to become the best mom to my children, I had to call on Mary to help me with my motherhood. There have been countless times when, not knowing how to proceed, I have turned to Mary to supply her wisdom for my poor human deficiencies. Entrusting my family to her on a daily basis has become one of my favorite prayers. Mary, who was conceived without the stain of Original Sin, did nothing to deserve this gift. She was simply chosen by God to merit this grace. God desires that His mercy triumphs through her as our mother. And just like a good Catholic mother, Mary desires to form all of us into another Christ. Her perfection and skills surpasses that of all earthly mothers. Measuring Up in Motherhood My own earthly mother, who has taught me so much of what I know, is someone I have a true admiration for as well as a stronger appreciation for now that I am a mother myself. My parents had all eleven of us in a fifteen-year span (that alone blows my mind). Growing up in Brazil, I remember hearing people ask my mom why she and dad had so many kids. She would answer them with a question: “And which one of the eleven do you think I should have said no to?” I have always seen my mom’s answer as a powerful testimony about children as a blessing and gift from God, each of us made in his likeness and for a special purpose. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but in the depths of my heart I had many anxieties about not being able to be as good of a mom as my mother was to me. Sometimes I feel burdened by my own insecurities and shortcomings and will assume that any struggle my kids are having is a reflection of my parenting. By God’s grace and with Mary’s help, I have learned that is not from the Lord. The evil one, who is a master manipulator and the father of all lies, would like nothing less than for us to feel inadequate in pretty much everything we do, motherhood included. That’s not to say that I haven’t made and will continue to make plenty of mistakes in mothering my children. However, I have come to learn and accept that God is ultimately my children’s true Parent. He loves them more than I can ever come close to loving them in my human weakness. The Perfect Example of Holiness Mary is a sublime and perfect example of holiness. She can aid us in becoming more like her. Just like Mary, all of us women have an enormous capacity for compassion, sacrifice, and so much more. I believe we all have a special role in God’s plan, just like Mary did. Saint John Paul II said it beautifully in Redemptoris Mater: In the light of Mary, the Church sees in the face of women the reflections of a beauty which mirror the loftiest sentiments of which the human heart is capable: the self-offering totality of love; the strength that is capable of bearing the greatest sorrows; limitless fidelity and tireless devotion to work; the ability to combine penetrating intuition with words of support and encouragement. I am always awed and deeply-inspired by our Blessed Mother’s courage as we see in the Gospel of Luke. God used the angel Gabriel to deliver His risky ministry invitation. He asked if she would be willing to be the mother of the Savior of the world. The young Mary knew that her yes to the Lord would mean risk of harsh judgment from others and of personal scandal. Still this brave young woman responded with, “May it be done to me according to your will.” Following Mary’s Example It is Mary’s example that I was trying to emulate when I felt God calling me to establish Healed and Restored, a much-needed nonprofit program to help women from all over the country heal from the deep wounds from the trauma of all types of abuse, including sex trafficking. And as I have seen many times before, God never gives us more than we can handle with Him and through His help. When He calls us to a certain mission, He always provides all that is necessary for us to accomplish His mission. I have learned that just like with Mary, the only thing God is looking for is our yes. Once we have given Him our yes, He takes care of all the details. The fact that God invited me to be a part of his plan is both humbling and encouraging. I pray that 2022 will be the year that we will continue to learn how to best listen to God’s voice speaking to us in the midst of all the noise that surrounds us every day. May we, like Mary, open ourselves to say a confident yes to the Lord, even when what He’s asking is something completely different than what you thought He would ask of you. You will be amazed at all the beautiful things He will do in you and through you—all for His Glory and to bring other souls to Him. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!   [bctt tweet="The Motherhood of Mary #BISblog //" via="no"]

Happy new year, friend! As we still soak in the Christmas season while looking ahead to the dawn of a new year, we are thrilled to be stepping into 2022 with you, in prayer.

Living in the mountains, I see a lot of wind. I also feel it and hear it. Feeling a gust of wind on a cold day is one thing, but sitting and watching it from the comfort of your home, ideally with a warm beverage in hand, is another thing. I love watching the wind. Well, you can’t actually see wind, but I love watching the effects of wind. The dancing leaves, the swaying branches, all the buffeting and blowing... I love it. The strength and power of something completely invisible. Invisible and yet undeniably real. But my favorite thing to watch in the wind is the clouds. The Silent Movement of the Clouds I remember the first moment I realized noticed them and their reaction to the wind. Watching a large white heap glide seamlessly and gracefully in between the peaks of the mountains, changing shape every moment fluidly and gracefully. It never stayed the same. It was new every moment, rushing its way to who knows where, at the very whim of the wind that held sway over it. And the whole time it was silent. There are so many connections we can draw between the spiritual life and God’s creation, but for this moment, I’d like to focus on that silence. Surrender, Not Resistance The trees, the grasses, the leaves, and even the flags in our front yard all stand in stark contrast to the wind in this way: their reaction to the wind involves a lot of noise. They interact with the wind, but it’s an interaction of resistance. The stand against the wind, and jerk, rattle, bend and sometimes even break against it. Clouds, on the other hand, remain silent. Their attitude towards the wind is not one of resistance, but surrender. They know they are nothing against it’s moving power, and so they don’t fight it. They give in, and giving become a part of a beautiful dance of change, shift, and motion. They are silent. They are beautiful to watch. And they are peaceful. Do We Move? This is the question: How do we react to God’s grace and the impulses of the Holy Spirit in our lives? When we feel Him nudge, what in creation do we resemble? Do we stand firm, stubborn, and resistant to Him like the trees in the wind? Do we rattle and cause a huge fuss because we don’t want to follow Him? Do you feel a lot of noise and confusion in your life as a result? Maybe it’s time to become like the wind. Maybe it’s time to feel that nudge, and let go of what we want and desire. Maybe it’s time to give in to where He wants to lead us and guide us. Maybe it’s time to embrace surrender in exactly those moments when we want to resist. The choice is ours. But I believe that if we choose to become like the wind, the shift and flow of our lives will become a thing of beauty. It will become a thing of silence. It will become rest. Will we choose resistance or surrender?   [bctt tweet="Contentment in the Clouds #BISblog //" via="no"]   Gracie Tillman lives and works in Colorado as a missionary. She loves the outdoors, music, spending time with friends, and anything involving pasta. She strives to be a joyful follower of Jesus and live life to the full.

I was crushed. Angry. Defeated. I had done everything I was supposed to do. I had gotten the right internships, made the grades, put in blood, sweat, and tears. This shouldn't be happening to me. I did everything right. The year was 2020 and Zoom was no longer just the platform where I connected with friends, it was the app I hopped on one day to find out I had lost my dream job due to the financial strain of the pandemic. My world was instantly thrown off its axis. Glorifying the Grind We live in a culture that glorifies the grind. Look at everything from music to movies, podcasts to social media. As women we are constantly presented with this image of perfection that can be attained if we are only willing to hustle for it. We are told that there is nothing that can’t be ours if we have the right mix of determination and hard work with a dash of self-care thrown in. Because, as we all know, you can’t take on the world without treating yourself to an iced coffee and now and then. If you’re willing to work for it, the promised land of perfect job, handsome hubby, size 2 jeans and blossoming social life will open up before you. You can do it, you are in control, and you are a self-sufficient #girlboss. I’m ashamed now at how bought in I was to the whole idea. I took pride in my ability to do it all. Until life brought me to my knees. Rock Bottom Big events in our lives force us to stop and take a beat. Whether it’s job loss, illness, a death in the family, the end of a relationship we never saw coming, suddenly we remember we are not in control. Our illusions of self-sufficiency are shattered, often painfully so. Our hustle becomes worthless, the grind screeches to a halt, and we are left feeling lost. Two Choices When Things Grind to a Halt We can choose between two paths in this moment: one of anger that takes us further down the road of self-determination, or one that beckons us to a deep intimacy with the Lord. Choosing to let go of hustling, grinding, and self-sufficiency is a lifelong process. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a counter-cultural move, one that takes intentional work on our part. Self-sufficiency // Dependence When I lost my job, I lost a lot of my independence with it. I moved back in with my (sainted) parents and looked to them for guidance. They never shied away from my pain, my needs, or my big emotions. They were a soft place to land in a world of upheaval. And as much as I resisted depending on them again, I needed them. The answer to our desire for self-sufficiency comes in the form dependency. Dependency on another person can only come from a deep level of trust. I trust my parents implicitly because of my experience with them. I know them and I know they love me beyond a shadow of a doubt. I have years of knowledge and personal experience I can draw from that leads me to that undeniable conclusion. In turning away from self-sufficiency, we are invited to become dependent on God the Father. Our Father. But it is absolutely impossible to be dependent on someone we don’t know. So we have to get to know Him. Learn who He is, see what He’s done. Get to know who He wants to be to you. You’ll find all of that in the pages of your Bible. He longs to not only reveal Himself to you but to be everything for you, including your Provider. Take time in Scripture to let Him into your life and heart. Grinding // Wasting Time The antithesis of striving and grinding is wasting time. As women, we are maximizers, multitaskers, and borderline professional time managers. Give me half an hour of time to myself and I will have listened to a new podcast, folded my laundry, made happy hour plans, and snuck in a quick call to my grandma. In a world that constantly encourages us to rush, do more, consume, and achieve, wasting time can often feel physically uncomfortable. Be intentional with how you waste your time. Wasting time with the Lord is life giving, wasting time scrolling Instagram is life draining. Spend time in an Adoration chapel. Wake up and catch the sunrise with the Father. Dive into some spiritual reading. Have conversations with faithful friends. Take a conscious step to get off the hamster wheel and spend time with the Lord and people who point you towards Him, with no agenda other than just to be. Hustling // Abiding in Gratitude The very definition of hustle reads as follows: to obtain by forceful action or persuasion. If we accept this mantra as the way we receive things in life, it can lead to an incredibly warped view of both ourselves and the Lord. Either the blessings we have in life are the result of our forceful actions and successful attempts to persuade God, or the gifts of a doting Father who loves us and longs to give us every good thing. It can’t be both. Lucky for us, we don’t have to wonder which lens is correct: If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. // Matthew 7:11 When we shift from hustling to recognizing the Lord as the Giver of all good gifts, we develop a new sense of gratitude and understanding of His limitless generosity. Cultivate it by beginning prayer in thanksgiving, taking time to jot down moments you were grateful for, or just stopping to say thanks when something wonderful happens. This means giving thanks not just for the big stuff (health, family, etc.) but the small moments as well. Catching a cool breeze as summer slips away, the text of encouragement that came at just the right moment, hearing your favorite throwback on the radio. As we recognize and acknowledge the Lord, we move away from self-determination and towards the Lover of our souls. A Soft Place to Land Take a deep breath, relax and lean into Him today, sister. He is our soft place to land. You don’t have it all together and you can’t do all the things. But the great news is, you were never expected to.   [bctt tweet="Grinding... to a Halt #BISblog //" via="no"]   Shelby Hennen is a young professional who hails from the Midwestern metropolis of Kansas City MO. She loves a good book, a good chat with a friend and a good taco joint.

As I approached the steps of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, I saw white and blue fabric billowing in the wind, fabric from the habits of the Sisters of Life. My family was there to witness the final vows of our good friend Sister Magnificat Rose. She was about to make her vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and a fourth vow particular to the order, “to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life.” What Does a Normal Day Look Like for a Sister of Life? The Sisters of Life were founded in New York in 1991 by Cardinal John O’Connor and their missions are dedicated to respecting and honoring life from conception to natural death. I interviewed my friend about the beautiful ways in which they live this out! Blessed is She // What does a typical morning look like for a Sister of Life? Have you always been a morning person, or have you learned to become one? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // I will start by saying I have never really been a morning person! But God gives you the grace for whatever He asks of you! Most days of the week we start our day at 5:00 a.m. with prayer and Mass in the chapel which really allows us to dedicate the very first part of our day to the Lord. We fast from the time we wake up until breakfast at 7:30 a.m. What is really beautiful about this time is that all of the sisters in our community are united together in prayer. All of our works for the day flow out of our prayer. What many people find to be interesting about our life is that we try to live our mornings in silence (as our apostolate allows). Doing our work quietly helps us to cultivate deeper prayer and to have a contemplative outlook (seeing God in everything) throughout the whole of the day. Blessed is She // What does your afternoon look like and what do you and the other sisters do in their personal time? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // In the afternoon we have midday prayer and lunch together. We share all of our meals together as sisters, which is a great blessing and really forms unity. After lunch we have a bit of personal recreation time. The purpose of this is really to be “re-created.” Some sisters will do spiritual reading during this time, go for a walk or exercise, spend time together, do water-coloring, play music, or even take care of our own personal things like laundry. After that the rest of the afternoon is devoted to our apostolic work. Depending on the ministry a sister serves in, she could be meeting with pregnant women in need, planning a retreat, cooking, etc. Some of our apostolic missions include: serving vulnerable pregnant women in need, hosting retreats, evangelizing on the dignity of the human person, serving women who have suffered after abortion, and outreach on college campuses. Whatever one’s apostolic mission, our unifying charism really forms and colors the meaning of even the littlest tasks. So even for our sisters who are at the retreat house who might be cleaning or in the kitchen and not directly serving pregnant women, all of our life is offered on behalf of life. Peeling carrots in the kitchen can even be offered for someone who’s really struggling with the meaning of their life. It doesn’t really matter so much what you’re doing, but rather finding meaning through our vows and our charism. Blessed is She // What are some of your favorite aspects of your apostolic work? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // I love celebrating people! Throwing birthday parties for the women we serve brings a lot of meaning to me because often they haven’t experienced people rejoicing in their life. They receive so deeply and it is really powerful. I also love entering into conversations with the women that we serve and getting to listen to their fears and their dreams. It is also a joy to meet with college students: listening to them, encouraging them, and giving them the space to more deeply discover who they are and what God is inviting them into. Blessed is She // What does a typical evening look like, and what kinds of recreation do you and your sisters enjoy? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // The prayer schedule might look a little different in each house, but typically we’ll have our Holy Hour, Rosary, and evening prayer followed by dinner. During dinner we will either listen to a talk or a sister will read from a book. This allows us to not only be nourished by our food, but also spiritually. After dishes we usually have community recreation. We really enjoy playing games together, playing music, creating art and crafting, going for walks, or just sitting together to share our joys and sorrows. Blessed is She // What is something surprising about your life that not many people are aware of? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // I think what surprises people is the aspect of silence we live out in the morning. It is just so counter-cultural. Yet it really helps us to recognize how the Lord is at work throughout our day. I also think people are surprised to learn that we delight in the normal human joys of having fun together whether this be playing a game or a sport together. Blessed is She // With Jesus as your Spouse, how do you experience Him continuing to pursue and allure you? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // I really cherish our time of Examen at the end of the day. It’s a time to look back over the day with the Lord. To ask Jesus, “What did You see today? How have You revealed yourself to me in my work?” It’s a time to see His light in different parts of the day and to see how He has personally loved me, even in the smallest moments through ways that only He would know how to love me. It could be a little flower showing up, or experiencing great joy during a conversation which I was originally intimidated by. I so often experience His faithfulness, constant patience, and mercy, and sometimes it’s just in the small, little whispers. Blessed is She // What is it like being part of a family with over one-hundred sisters? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // I didn’t grow up in a big family, but I would imagine people in a big family would be able to relate to it. It’s so, so awesome because with the Lord, there is always more. You have the sisters who you might be closer to because you have lived with them, and those particular friendships within the community are really beautiful. And then, when we come together as a whole community, the experience is even more rich! What we share is really bonding, and it gives you that confidence to know that even if you get missions in the future with sisters you don’t know as well, you’re not afraid of it. You may suffer the grief of leaving the sisters you know, but there is also a confidence in getting to know new sisters. Of course, life is real and there are difficulties and miscommunications—it takes work to learn and get to know another person, their personality, and work style—but no matter what culture or background a sister is coming from, there’s something deeper uniting us. Blessed is She // What is your advice for other women who are in discernment and questioning whether their call is to marriage or religious life? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // I would say to take courage and have peace. The Lord knows what He is about. He has a beautiful plan and His timing of unfolding that plan is perfect. Keep your eyes on Him and be real with Him about your desires, struggles, and questions. Also, be sure to open your heart to hearing whatever He wants to speak to you, because He is the one who knows your heart better than anybody else, and His plans are better than anything you could dream up! Blessed is She // Can you tell me about your name, Sister Magnificat Rose of the Joy of Jesus and the Little Way? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // The “Magnificat” part of my name came from praying with Mary’s prayer. I see it as an invitation to offer my life as a song back to God and to praise Him in all things, united with Our Lady. The “Rose” is in honor of my confirmation Saint Therese of Lisieux. It is also the flower that our Founder, Cardinal John O’ Connor, would wear on his jacket in honor of the unborn. The “Little Way” is from Saint Therese’s teaching on spiritual childhood and reminds me to depend on the Lord and to allow Him to carry me. The “Joy of Jesus” comes from the Last Supper Discourse where Jesus says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). I long to be united to Jesus’ joy in His Father and His joy in bringing souls to His Father. Blessed is She // Is there anything else you want to share? Sister Magnificat Rose, S.V. // I just want to remind readers that the Lord is for you and loves you! What other questions would you add for Sister?!   [bctt tweet="A Day in the Life of a Sister of Life #BISblog // " via="no"]

He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. // Luke 2:51 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

It’s so easy to become wrapped up in shopping for the perfect Christmas presents. In our attempts to beat the crowd and to ensure everyone on our list is gifted with what we think he or she really wants, it is so easy to forget the real reason for the season, how we really prepare for Christmas. There is no guessing what Jesus wants from us in preparation for the celebration of His birth. He wants us to ready our hearts with prayer, growing closer to Him, the One Who is all that matters. He seeks the gift of our hearts turning towards Him. He desires for us to glorify, honor, love, and worship Him in thanksgiving for the gift of His Christmas presence. Christmas Presence // A Poem Always a rush To get the best It’s the final push So you forget the rest Without regard To your fellow man Your sight is marred As you grab what you can Tryin’ to find The right Christmas presents Go out of your mind ‘Til your neighbor resents Who you are You’re not content Did you forget the Christmas Star And the real Christmas Presence This is a season Of unencumbered peace Christ is the reason We fall to our knees Lookin’ through sin We cease To let Him in And for us to decrease Are you blind Still searching for the perfect Christmas present Real reason out of your mind What’s the season's intent He isn’t that far So be content Follow the Christmas Star To the real Christmas Presence In all that you do This holy season Remember what’s True Remember the real Reason When you seek to find The best Christmas present Keep Christ’s Presence in mind Think of the season’s intent Invite Him into your heart To His peace, consent He’ll do His part The perfect Christmas Presence [bctt tweet="The True Christmas Presence // A Poem #BISblog //" via="no"]   Danielle Erwin is a Catholic wife, mom of five, homeschooler, dog mom, author, poet, and master of puns. She has helped moms through their miscarriages with the poetry she wrote following her own pregnancy losses. Danielle is now working on compiling all of her poetry on the Faith into a book…and a few other author-y projects when she gets the time.

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. // Luke 1:39 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Get this image of the Visitation in a printed holy card here. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper