Love is a radical force that can profoundly transform our lives. Its initial moments might feel like sipping fizzling bottled-up sunshine on a July afternoon—captivating, sweeping us off our feet, leaving us delightfully distracted—yet love’s unfailingly mysterious. Deciphering whether someone’s attention is just friendly or something deeper can be an arduous feat. Today, we’ll explore seven unmistakable signs that reveal the truth: He is not only interested in you . . . He is enamored with you. Eternally. 1. He is like an answered prayer. Chances are, if you're reading this article, you're already close to this guy. You've poured out your heart to Him and revealed parts of yourself you’ve rarely exposed to anyone else. And He has done the same. When He drops everything to listen intently and gently to your every word, understanding your deepest desires in a way you’ve never experienced before, know it’s a testament to His love. Only love can foster such deep understanding that feels like a miracle. 2. He won’t give up on you. Love is patient, kind, and embodies forgiveness. If He desires what’s best for you, never giving up on you despite your stumbles and falls, if His attention is unconditional and He shows up for you even when you hold grudges or ignore his texts and calls . . . If He meets your inconsistency with constancy, always ready to embrace you, what you have is more than just friendship. He’s not going anywhere. Do everything possible to keep Him around. 3. He’s got a Divine sense of humor that comes out around you. Beyond being strong and sensitive, He has a dry sense of humor that turns up in unexpected moments. Perhaps He uses his wit to lighten serious conversations, sprinkling random yet perfectly timed comedic comparisons into challenging moments. If He feels comfortable revealing this unexpected hilarity around you and is absurdly skilled at bringing a smile to your face, it's a clear indication of His love. He genuinely wants you to be happy and actively works to remind you that life is meant to be lived laughing. 4. He leaves you random signs and messages. Have you ever stumbled upon a message or sign that unmistakably reminds you of Him? Maybe it's in a puddle on the street, a perfectly timed plate of cookies at work, or even words spoken by a stranger. These sweet little gifts that appear in your path are His subtle reminders that He's right there with you, thinking about you. Keep your eyes peeled for these enigmatic surprises. You never know when a Divine text message will be sent your way. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} 5. He's always looking at you in a crowded room. Picture yourself in a crowded room filled with whispers, conversations, and music. Despite the chaos, you can’t help but notice Him, gazing down at you with a gentle, adoring look. When someone is head over heels for you, their attention remains fixated on you alone, no matter how big the crowd. If you find yourself captivated by His unwavering captivation, even in the midst of a packed Mass, it's a clear sign of His affection. 6. He writes you a book. When someone loves you, they want to communicate with you. If He's always texting you first or leaving you voice messages, it’s a sign that He desires more time with you. But if He goes above and beyond and writes you an entire book—a love letter filled with love songs, poetry, wisdom, and best advice—don't think twice. It's like receiving a handwritten note from your crush, except this one contains seventy-three books and His secrets of eternal life and boundless love. If you've experienced this, it's a clear declaration of love. 7. He helps you be your favorite version of yourself. When you’re in love, you want the best for the person you adore. If He shows up like your personal cheerleader, always encourages you to be your best self, stands right by your side through messy moments, supports your frantically-scribbled-down dreams and is the first one to celebrate your successes, He wants the best for you. Maybe you feel that with Him by your side, everything glows a little more. You can conquer anything together. That, dear reader, is true Love. Hopefully it has become clear that the one who adores you unconditionally, leaves subtle reminders in your path, and answers your prayers is none other than Jesus Himself. Through Scripture, His guiding presence (Jesus’ gaze from the Crucifix), His unwavering support, and His Divine sense of humor (see: some of His comments in the parables), Jesus continues to reveal His profound love for you. There’s no doubt about the fact that you, sister, are cherished. So, embrace this extraordinary bond, and let this surefire love move your life in ways you never imagined.    Bio: Ellie Maxwell is a recent graduate who spent a year living and teaching English in Spain. Simultaneously navigating post-graduate life and a new culture, she found solace in writing. Passionate about theology, edtech, language, and travel, she also enjoys making like a tornado in the kitchen. Read more at www.withlovefromlogrono.com.

Right next to the pew I grew up in is a stained glass window of the Visitation. The image filled with hues of blue depicts Saint Elizabeth pregnant with Saint John the Baptist, with both arms wrapped tightly around our Blessed Mother, newly pregnant with Jesus, our Incarnate God. As a young girl gazing up to that tall window on Sunday mornings, all I really saw was that old, wrinkly woman from Scripture who used to be barren. But boy, was I missing something huge. I still sit in that same pew today as a married thirty-two-year-old. My husband and I live and work in my hometown, and we attend my home parish where I received all of my Sacraments. But as I glance over my shoulder in Mass, not as a young girl but now as a wife, I see that Saint Elizabeth’s witness has much more to offer. My husband and I have carried a cross of infertility for almost four years, and through our season of waiting, Saint Elizabeth has become a close friend and intercessor. As I’ve grown in relationship with her, I’ve come to appreciate her not only as the obvious beacon of hope and perseverance in the depths of infertility, but also as an inspiring example of how to wait for an answered prayer. And how to wait well. Waiting is Active “Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly” (Luke 1:6). Scripture tells us in the first chapter of Luke that Saint Elizabeth and Saint Zechariah lived their lives as faithful servants of God. And the two adjectives “righteous” and “blameless” speak volumes. Elizabeth and Zechariah chose to show up in the ordinary and mundane realities of everyday life as faithful servants of their Lord, not because He had answered their prayer, but because of Who He was. They were obedient not because of what He had done for them, but because He was their God. In their long wait not only for a child, but also for the Messiah, they waited actively, not passively, living out their vocations as husband and wife faithfully and quietly, day in and day out. And this witness in Scripture made me realize I’m called to do the same in my season of waiting. “Vocation” is just another word for our path to sainthood. Whether we are single or married, priests or religious, a mom of one or a mom of six, we all have the same call: to be a saint. If we consider the lives of the Saints, we see that they didn’t become Saints because of a perfect set of circumstances. They became Saints in spite of imperfect circumstances. So when it comes to chasing sainthood, there really is no time to waste. Saint Elizabeth has taught me that I’m called to grow in holiness now, in the exact season and circumstances the Lord has me in today. My parish priest once told me in confession: “God has already given you everything you need to become a saint.” So today I rest knowing that I lack nothing. Today there is His work to be done and His good news to share. Through God’s grace, I’m seeing more and more each day just how valuable being present in a season of waiting can be in molding me into the saint He is calling me to be. Waiting isn’t Just About Me “Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, ‘What, then, will this child be?’ For surely the hand of the Lord was with him” (Luke 1:65-66). Saint John the Baptist was born with a very specific purpose as the forerunner of Jesus, sent to prepare His way, and his birth required great obedience from Elizabeth and Zechariah. But what was impossible to see in the circumstances of Elizabeth’s daily life was the effect John the Baptist’s conception, birth, and life as the Messiah’s precursor would have on Salvation History. There was no way for her to know the full impact her witness and the life of her child would have—not only on her immediate community, but on the entire world for generations to come. Saint Elizabeth has taught me that my wait really isn’t just about me. My circumstances and my story, my witness as a wife and future mother, the lives of my future children, my family, and my marriage all have a specific purpose in building up the Kingdom of God and making disciples of all nations. She proves that a simple life of humble obedience, mixed with some waiting and suffering, and topped off with some impossible circumstances, is the perfect concoction to bring about miracles and a witness that will change lives and the course of history. That is the stuff of the Saints. That is the kind of life we are called to live as radical followers of Christ. “‘What, then, will this child be?’ For surely the hand of the Lord was with him,” is a verse I love to take to prayer when praying for our future children. It reminds me to stay the course. Of course my husband and I are eager to see how God uses us and our future children to further His Kingdom. But what brings greater comfort is knowing that if, like Elizabeth and Zechariah, we give God room in our story to move how and when He wills, there will be no room left for others to doubt His goodness and existence. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Waiting is Worth It “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:43-44). Can you imagine Elizabeth’s joy? That after an excruciatingly long season of waiting, God answered not one of her prayers, but both? That in embracing our Blessed Mother and hearing her greeting, she not only recognized Mary as “the mother of my Lord,” witnessing the coming of her long awaited Messiah, but also felt her own baby leap in her womb for joy? I think I, too, would exclaim, “[H]ow does this happen to me?” One day, all at once, God revealed what He had been working on all along. Not on Elizabeth’s timeline and not in a way she could have ever dreamed up on her own. Days, months, years, and decades ticked by, praying for what seemed like two hopeless intentions. And then there came the day when God moved. And He moved in a really big way. Saint Elizabeth’s wait played an invaluable part in God’s salvation of the world through His only begotten Son. If that wait wasn’t worth it, I don’t know what is. "It’ll be worth it” can be such a cliché phrase tossed around in seasons of waiting. Not getting what we want right when we want it is countercultural to say the least. But I truly believe that if we could immediately see the abundant fruit of our waiting and suffering when it is united to Jesus' suffering on the Cross, we’d beg God for the chance to wait and suffer with Him. Our good and gracious Father only knows abundance. He can only give us His best because that’s all He knows. Surrendering to God in a season of waiting is not a waste. Through the eyes of the world, it looks passive or indifferent. But through the eyes of eternity, it’s the most active act of faith we can make. Nothing given to God is ever wasted, so when we give Him our waiting, our emptiness, our suffering, and whatever we think we lack, He most certainly will bring out of our poverty His most glorious riches. And if you ask me, that really is totally worth it. Don’t Miss Out As I continue in my own season of waiting, I now look at that same stained-glass window in a much different light. And just like Saint Elizabeth, I, too, fling my arms tightly around our Blessed Mother and Jesus with joyful hope and trust that God is using my wait to work many, many miracles. Whether I live to see them in my lifetime or not. Whether I can see the fruit of them now or not. Don’t miss out on a season that can be the very instrument God uses to make you the great saint you are destined to be. If God is asking you to wait, He is inviting you into a sacred space. And rest assured that in His loving providence, if He is asking you to wait, it’s for His greatest glory and for your greatest good.   Bio: Megan Medeiros is a wife and high school Spanish teacher living in south Mississippi. Her favorite saint is Saint Mary Magdalene, who inspires her to seek daily “the need of only one thing.” In her free time, you’ll find her traveling with her husband, cheering on her college alma mater, and counting down the minutes until her next Holy Hour.

I was fourteen years old when I learned that I was losing part of my left leg to a rare form of cancer called Myxoid Liposarcoma. To this day, the hardest thing about my experience with cancer is the fact that no one around me had been through anything similar. Even though my peers tried their best to be there for me, all I wanted was to talk with someone who had been in my exact shoes. We are often told that we should look at the lives of the Saints as examples, but I am a skeptical person by nature so I remember thinking to myself, There is no way there are Saints for limb loss. Even Saint Peregrine was able to keep his left leg. One fateful Google search in 2022 led me to find a couple of Saints/Venerables who have experienced this specific cross in their lives, but I was particularly drawn to one: Venerable Antoinetta Meo. She was a six-year-old from Italy who loved the Lord with all of her being despite suffering so much at such a tender age. I ended up reading the book that contained the letters and writings that led up to her death entitled: Lamp & Lily: The Letters and Writings of Venerable Antoinetta Meo. Through her writings, I compiled a list of takeaways that we can learn from her short yet meaningful life. 1. Suffering teaches us to love After Antoinetta had her amputation, she wore a prosthetic to be able to walk. At the time, prosthetics were not as developed as they are now and hers gave her much discomfort. Yet, when faced with such a frustrating situation, her response was, “Every step I take is a little word of love.” As someone who has been an amputee for almost ten years, this quote has inspired me to remember that every single step I’ve taken since being cancer-free is an act of love. It is the Lord’s abundant love that allows me to walk this Earth so freely and this trial has expanded my capacity to love even more deeply. 2. Our worth in Christ has nothing to do with outward appearances Scripture says in 1 Samuel 16:7: “God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The Lord looks into the heart.” I learned very early on that my self-worth never had anything to do with what I looked like. While the rest of Antoinetta’s peers enjoyed playtime without much pain, she did not have that same luxury. I lost my leg at an age when outward appearances were everything. You can imagine the initial shock I had when I learned that I would no longer have two legs like everyone else. There was a temptation to hide by wearing long pants all the time and never putting on a skirt or a dress ever again, but the Lord did not craft us to spend our lives hiding. He longs for us to walk in the light and to be seen. After my amputation, skirts and dresses became my go-tos, because why would I be ashamed of the most tangible mark of God’s love for me?  3. A life well-lived is more important than living a long life Venerable Antoinetta Meo died on July 3, 1937, at the age of six. Death is always a hard thing to grasp fully, but even more so when someone young who seemingly had their whole life ahead of them passes away. Yet, when I read her writings, it is clear to me that she understood the value of her life. While other people grow old searching for the purpose of their lives, she knew what hers was at a young age. Antoinetta offered up her sufferings for the conversions of people who did not know God. She spent her short life close to the Father’s heart. Surely that is worth more than living a life that is long but devoid of the love of Jesus Christ. It is not how long we live that determines how good our lives were, but rather how much we loved that defines a life well lived (see Psalm 90:12). I have been very fortunate to be given nine additional years so far since surviving cancer at fourteen, but I know that one day I will also return to the Father. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} 4. Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young 1 Timothy 4:12 is one of my favorite Bible verses and it says: “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.” One of the most interesting parts about being a cancer survivor at such a young age is the pedestal that some people will put you on. I can’t completely blame people for treating me that way. It is a difficult feat to face cancer head-on and emerge from it with a ton of joy, but I attribute all of that to the Lord. He preserves my childlike wonder and joy just as He did with Antoinetta. 5. We should long for Jesus above anything else in this life Anoinetta’s letters were very repetitive. She would often say the same thing about longing to be close to Jesus and wanting to be close to Mama Mary. Leading up to her First Holy Communion, she talked about how she desperately wanted to receive Jesus. It’s so beautiful to witness a six-year-old who knew what the most important thing was in this life. She did not take Jesus for granted, and her life completely revolved around loving the Lord. As each of us continue on our journey towards Heaven, we can look to Antoinetta’s life as an example of how to be so in love with our Lord that this love consumes us in the same manner that we consume Him every Sunday at Mass. Although I always imagined meeting another living person and talking with them about our experience as amputees, the Lord has a funny way of answering prayers. Through Antoinetta’s writings, I have gained a deeper appreciation for my life as an amputee and my hope is that just like Venerable Antoinetta, every step that I take is an act of love. HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

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“Congratulations on making your First Communion!” our pastor announced to the almost 100 elementary-aged kids at our parish on a recent Saturday morning. “Now when will your second Communion be?”  “Tomorrow!”  They all cheered in unison, loud enough for the back pews to hear.  “That’s right!” our pastor affirmed. “Parents, be sure to bring your kids to Mass tomorrow and every Sunday after!” Having shepherded and formed our kids to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, it was a beautiful liturgy with friends and family to cheer on our children. But with all the logistical stress and pomp of the day, it sure can feel like a kind of “graduation” ceremony, one that we participate in once and then move on with our lives.  But the our reception of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is not meant to be a one-and-done event! Being the very Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, the Eucharist is “the source and summit of our faith” (Catechism of the Catholic Church §1324). The Mass is offered by priests around the world, every day, every hour, of the year. In my travels internationally, I’ve been able to witness the beauty of our faith centered around the Lord’s Supper from Australia to the Americas, and everywhere in between. Now, as a parent, it’s my job to instill an understanding and love for Jesus in this holy sacrament. Not an easy task, especially with little ones who are still squirrelly!  Our life in the Sacraments is ultimately about a relationship with Jesus—not a graduation from the Catholic faith or yet another hoop to jump through. I don’t tell my husband “I love you” once and say, “Well, that’s enough! See you at Christmas and Easter.” That kind of relationship would fall apart! A relationship requires that we nurture it and it's our job as parents, the primary educators of our children, to show them what discipleship looks like, day in and day out, long after the ceremonious day of their First Communion.  Consider some of the ways I’ve found help to refocus our family on the Eucharist:  Talk About the Mass Talk to your kids about how you yourself can get bored or distracted during the Mass, and how it’s important to be attentive to what’s going on during the Liturgy. Talk to your kids about the different parts of the Mass, such as the Psalms, the Liturgies of the Word and the Eucharist, etc. If we don’t understand what’s happening and why it’s important, we naturally tune out.  Teach After Communion Prayers We’ve taught our children little prayers after communion. A simple “thank you, Jesus” is enough to bring our hearts back to the present moment of Who we have received. Or a modified version of Padre Pio’s After Communion Prayer, simply repeating the words, “Stay with me, Lord.” Ask your kids what prayer they feel most speaks to their hearts and remind them to pray that as you return to your pew.  {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Read the Readings  We can read Scripture with them before or after the Mass. In hearing the readings multiple times, the Word of God has a chance to “soak in” and our kids get excited when they “know the story” being told. Our daughters love this graphic novel version of the Bible and have devoured its comic book imagery, cover-to-cover.  Model a Love of the Eucharist We also need to look to our example as parents. Do we make time for Jesus? Do our kids see that? My husband and I were blessed to be a part of Ascension’s newest sacramental program Renewed and Received, which is a whole-family model of preparing young people for their First Reconciliation and Communion. In the accompanying leader videos designed for catechists and parents, we note that “monkey see, monkey do”—do our kids see us taking time out of the week to stop and pray, visit a local adoration chapel, or make time for a Daily Mass? That kind of parental witness has been what has moved the hearts of young men and women who became great saints of our Church: Saint Pope John Paul II, Saint Therese, and Venerable Fulton J. Sheen. If we don’t walk the walk and make time for God, how can we expect our children to?  Kids (generally) don’t become saints after one reception of Communion. It’s a journey of deepening our intellects and surrendering our heart to God, a project that can take a lifetime! Thankfully, God is merciful and patient (especially on our efforts as tired parents), and he’s pouring out all the graces for us to receive through His Church’s Sacraments. We need only  ask!   Jackie Angel is a full-time traveling speaker, singer/songwriter, and worship leader from Orange County, CA. In 2006, she became an artist with Oregon Catholic Press, with whom she has released two albums. Her husband Bobby Angel is a native Floridian who worked for eight years as a campus minister and teacher at an all-boys school. Jackie and Bobby have spoken and written on Catholic marriage, discernment, and Theology of the Body. The pair are regular video contributors on Ascension Presents, including in the new programs Renewed: Your Journey to First Reconciliation and Received: Your Journey to First Communion. They currently live in Dallas, Texas with their four children. Featured Image Credit: Ascension Renewed and Received program

I was sitting at my desk when someone said, “You’re surrounded!” Sure enough, there, on three walls in my office, was Our Lady of Perpetual Help, only one image of which I had personally placed there. As she does so often in my life, she was present without me even realizing. The original image can be found in Saint Alphonsus Church in Rome, and can be traced back to 1495, though there is a tradition that holds Saint Luke the Evangelist originally painted it. As an icon it is considered a window into Heaven by the Eastern Church. Celebrating her Feast Day today, let us contemplate the meaning behind this famous image.  What draws us in first is Our Lady’s expression. Sad? Serious? Solemnly she looks directly at the viewer, perhaps in dialogue with us. The child Jesus, however, looks towards the side over His shoulder, and on further inspection, we see his gaze on the angel. We know from the Greek letters that it is Saint Michael and Saint Gabriel that flank Our Lady and Jesus and hold the instruments of the Passion: Gabriel to remind us of the Annunciation and Incarnation, and Michael to remind us of our angelic helpers. It’s interesting to note that the angels are holding the instruments as if they are presenting them, almost like a gift or a trophy. We don’t typically think of our sufferings as gifts when we are in the midst of them, but when we are able to look back on them through the eyes of faith, we can see the triumph of the Cross in our own crosses. Our Lady and Jesus wear crowns, signifying their own triumph over the Cross. Mary is Queen and Christ reigns as King, and we are theirs.  Jesus, in an almost startled response to the instruments of His Passion, clings to His mother’s hands, so eager for her comfort and care that He has lost His shoe. Another interpretation of the shoes is that one is bound closely to His foot, representing His Divinity, while the other hangs loosely, representing His Humanity. For me, it is a reminder of Our Lady’s care for every aspect of our life. Whether great or humble, day-to-day, or once in a lifetime, Our Lady is present to it. I can be like Jesus and run to Mary for anything, great or small.  Our Lady herself wears red, the color worn by virgins, and blue, the color worn by mothers in the time of Christ. Our Lady knows how to navigate the complex mysteries and paradoxes of our own lives.  {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Mary’s hands are the midpoint of the icon. Even the slant of her hands tell us something—they are pointing to her Son, our Redeemer.  She gazes at us and points to her Son—emphasizing her role as Mediator between us and Jesus. This is not a diplomatic mediation because both parties can’t get along, but rather a maternal mediation. She takes us and presents us to her Son.  As the Council Fathers of Vatican II stated, “This maternity of Mary in the order of grace began with the consent which she gave in faith at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, and lasts until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this salvific duty, but by her constant intercession continued to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into the happiness of their true home”  (Lumen Gentium, 62). Jesus clings to His mother’s hands as He looks at the instruments of His Passion. He reminds us to cling to Mary when we face our own crosses.  She too is eager to hold us, carry us, guide us. She accompanies us on the journey. As she does physically in my office, Our Lady is eager to surround us with her care.

I’m lost in what could or couldn’t be. Not what is. I’m painting myself.  Let me be Your canvas. Paint me with colors untold to eyes; make art in me. You, Painter of painters, the Composer of myself.  Choose my dimensions as You see fit. Fill the missing crevices with Your life-giving brush. Without Your hand, I am nothing more than oil paint.  Bring me to life in the dreamscape of Your mind. I surrender my brush to You. Make art of me as You will.   Kateri Campbell is a recent graduate of Salem State University with a B.A. in English and a concentration in Professional Writing, living in Peabody, Massachusetts. Besides spending time with and preparing to marry her fiancé in July 2023, she enjoys knitting, baking, hanging out with friends, traveling, and adoration. An avid writer since high school, she has recently felt called to share her poetry and writing beyond her computer files. She enjoys composing pieces about God's love for His creation and her relationship with Him. She hopes that her writing will help spread the message of God's intrinsic love to other women.

An Irishman taught me about the Spanish mystic, Saint John of the Cross, and I can’t imagine a better teacher. I learned from Irish Dominican Professor, Father Paul Murray, a poet, writer, and professor. He taught all about Saint John, with special attention to his poetry and specifically his poem, The Dark Night of the Soul.  The saint was born on June 24, 1542, to a poor family in Avila, Spain. In his early twenties he entered the Carmelite monastery in his hometown, the same town where he would meet his good friend, Saint Teresa of Avila, and later become the confessor and vicar of the monastery where she became the prioress. Both were reformers and both would become Doctors of the Church, passionate about the slow but essential work of purifying one’s soul and striving for Christian perfection.  A Hard Confession A few years ago I was in Confession, confessing my struggle to forgive and have mercy (a common theme for me). After the priest had listened to my sins, he gently quoted Saint John of the Cross to me: “Where there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love.” I left with my soul clean, but my head confused.  What did this mean? Did it really mean that I could draw love out of a place where there is no love, simply by the love I put there myself? Did that then mean that I would have to be the source of the love I was seeking? And if so, how does that make sense, and how is that comforting?  Getting Context This quotation was found in one of his letters to a prioress in Spain. Saint John had spoken against attempts that were being made to change Saint Teresa of Avila’s constitutions. This in turn left him without an office. While he accepted this, others became very frustrated, one of whom was a prioress living in Segovia. He wrote to the prioress, saying:  “Do not let what is happening to me, daughter, cause you any grief, for it does not cause me any. What greatly grieves me is that the one who is not at fault is blamed. Men do not do these things, but God, who knows what is suitable for us and arranges things for our good. Think nothing else but that God ordains all, and where there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love.” These written words came from a man who was imprisoned by the Carmelites in his own monastery in Toledo. After he worked to bring positive reform to the order, they kidnapped him and kept him in a tiny cell for nine months, barely big enough to lie down in. He had a meager diet of bread and water and was lashed in front of his community weekly. This man, who was not at fault, trusted that what was done to him, however unjust, was done for his good.  {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Love Permeating Through Redemptive Suffering So going back to the words, “[W]here there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love,” what are we to make of this?  I asked a priest friend of mine about these words, and he agreed that it is a confusing statement. Yet he said that it sounds like Saint John is offering his wisdom on how we are to engage the world, especially in times of suffering. For example, when we encounter pain and suffering in the world, we have an opportunity to love in the same way that Jesus did as He suffered for us on the Cross. Through uniting our suffering with Christ’s, and through the mystery of redemptive suffering, love will pervade.  With this I can answer my earlier question of whether or not I had to be the source of love that I was seeking. And the answer is no. No matter how much I try, I can’t possibly be the source of my own love and comfort, because all love comes from Him.  “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love . . . if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us” (1 John 4: 7-8, 12).  I live because He lives in me. I love, because His love is within me.  “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me” (Galatians 2:19-20).  Love Is Not A Feeling What these scriptures remind me of is that love is not a feeling. As hard as it might be to love in a trying circumstance, I don’t have to feel the warm fuzzy feeling of love while I am choosing to offer it to God. I might not even be promised that the gift of my love will be appreciated or reciprocated. But in the selfless act of putting love where there is none, Jesus will fill in the gap with Himself. If we die to self and invite the Lord to love in us and with us, He will be there when we don’t feel strong or courageous enough to do it on our own. When we invite Him into our hard circumstances, His love will pervade, and through His grace, love can then be drawn out. 

Jesus looks us in the eyes and asks us gently, “Do you want to be healed?” He gazes at us, not seeing our brokenness, but knowing the depths of our hearts, and asks if we want to be healed, to be whole (see John 5:6). A season of healing is a beautiful, often painful process. One in which vulnerabilities are made known and tears are abundant. Often we feel so overwhelmed by the need and process of healing that it’s easier to hide our faces in shame than bring our broken hearts to Him. We might say things like: “Oh, that was so long ago, it doesn’t even matter anymore.” “I can never be fully healed, it hurts too much.” Or even: “My emotions are too much for anyone to handle; no one understands.” We might recall what our original parents did and sew fig leaves to cover where we feel exposed. Sisters, He felt them all. He knows what it is to weep over loss (see John 11:35), to be betrayed (see Luke 22:61), and to be in the desert (see Mark 1:12). He knows what it is to be human. And He wants to make you whole again. The temptation to run away and sit with the hurt is so real. It’s messy. But how can we open our arms to receiving when we’re clutching our grief to our chests? How do we keep our hearts tender and open to His love during seasons of healing? Allow yourself to feel the emotion. Jesus often felt emotions, varying from exultant joy to deep sorrow. Your emotions are not bad, and, in fact, they can point you even more to Jesus. Write or say honest prayers to Him—don’t be afraid of speaking what you feel. Then, allow Him to speak back to you. Don’t hide your nakedness from the only One who truly knows you. You don’t have to be afraid of allowing Jesus to see all the messiness. Root yourself in Scripture. There is nothing the evil one enjoys more than to kick us while we’re down. Often the process of healing can lead to different areas of doubt, confusion, or hurt. The evil one wants to implant lies so that as we go through this vulnerable time, we grasp at lies instead of receiving truth. It is so important to root yourself in Scripture, armoring yourself with truth. Maybe even pray with the Book of Psalms. King David, writer of many of the psalms, was a man of intense emotion. The psalms often express deep areas of the heart and soul. Scripture contains such abundant truth for all walks of life. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Remember that there is no pressure in the journey. I remember advice a dear friend gave me when I was going through a difficult time: “The healing process is not linear. There will be ups and downs, good days, bad days, great days, and worse days.” That thought greatly comforted me. There is no timeframe, no need to be perfect and whole again after x amount of weeks, months, or years. The Lord is not pressuring you to be better by a certain time, nor should you pressure yourself. He meets you where you are, every day. He never gets sick of hearing about your heart or consoling you in your tears. Jesus will never rebuff, reject, or leave you broken-hearted. Whether it be one week or ten years, Jesus is with you in every moment of your healing. Surround yourself with community. Don’t weep alone. You are made for community. It can be scary to be vulnerable, but press into that! Allow yourself to be cared for and loved. You are worthy of peoples’ time, love, and care. Like the friends of Job in the Bible, they can sit with you in your grief and simply be. Not only can they sit with you in your emotion, but they can also accompany you to joy once again. I can recall so many instances where my roommates have both comforted me in my tears and then brought me back to joy through fun experiences. There is no easy way to enter into healing. But you are not alone. I ask you that this time, you will choose not to sew fig leaves. And when you hear Father God calling, “‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9), you hear a loving Daddy asking why His beloved child would want to hide from Him. And you run to Him, into His arms, knowing that you are infinitely safe there. Wait on the Lord in this time. In the darkness, He promises light. Our Lord will never leave us destitute or alone. He is faithful. He is tending the soil of your heart. He sustains. He knows every little desire of your heart.   Maggie Agra is a junior Theology major at Franciscan University of Steubenville. She enjoys learning all things Theology, especially Theology of the Body. When not weightlifting or watercoloring, you can find her enjoying a cup of coffee with friends or trying something new and adventurous.

Jesus’ love for me is effortless. Aboundingly rich in grace and mercy. Jesus, I come to You to liberate me of sin, Imploring You to forgive Me of my faults by Your death; please know That I can never repay You for the gift of Your sacrifice. How immeasurable is Your sacrifice, Utterly effortless. When pondering Your death, I know Tears ricochet down my face for You, Jesus. As You do so for me, give me the grace to forgive Others whose actions are synonymous with sin. In Adoration, I ponder the roots of my sin While sitting in front of You in the Unbloody Sacrifice. You generously died to forgive Me before I even existed in the name of effortless Love. Every conviction draws me closer to You, Jesus. How can I repay the way You know Every heartbeat before I was even formed, know Each freckle on my body, and absolve me of every sin That transgresses against You, Jesus? How do I deserve the Sacrifice  Of Your death and love, so effortless In intention. Please allow me to forgive Myself of my mistakes as You continue to forgive Me. Aid me to know Your wholly perfect, and effortless Gifts of mercy, taking the place of my sin. Make my life an entity of sacrifice All for You; my Savior, Jesus. Thank You for saving me, Jesus. Your selfless acts of mercy forgive Me; a price only paid by Your painstaking sacrifice On the Cross. Help me know That You have paid the price for my sin, And wait in effortless, Earnest patience for me to return home to You, Jesus. Aid me  in remembrance of Your sacrifice to forgive sin, and Allow me to hold Your mercy, so utterly effortless, in my heart.    Kateri Campbell is a recent graduate of Salem State University with a B.A. in English and a concentration in Professional Writing, living in Peabody, Massachusetts. Besides spending time with and preparing to marry her fiancé in July 2023, she enjoys knitting, baking, hanging out with friends, traveling, and adoration. An avid writer since high school, she has recently felt called to share her poetry and writing beyond her computer files. She enjoys composing pieces about God's love for His creation and her relationship with Him. She hopes that her writing will help spread the message of God's intrinsic love to other women.

When I first started to grow flowers I learned about “pinching” wherein you willingly cut back a substantial amount off of a healthy stem and leaves – sometimes more than half of the plant! At first, it felt like I was destroying all of the hard work, time and resources I diligently spent on caring for my little plants. But, trusting the wisdom of those with more gardening experience, I gave them a chop, which provided the energy needed for each plant to grow fuller and produce even more blooms. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. The beauty that blossomed from that trust was immeasurable. Blessed is She recently announced the ending of their regional Facebook groups, which was met with some concern regarding the loss of a community many women felt a connection to. And, while I sympathize with the natural pain felt with the ending of something good, I am incredibly hopeful that the closing of this door will open many others for even deeper community and sisterhood to develop and flourish, just as the pinching of certain plants in my garden encouraged the growth of even more flowers. Just like with gardening, I am not an expert in Facebook groups (or social media in general), but I do have my own experience of the beauty that has come from my local Blessed is She group (which I have never come across in the regional groups run specifically by BIS). In hopes of bringing consolation to those who feel hurt by the closure of the regional groups as well as stirring up some excitement within the local groups that already exist and in those women feeling called to begin a group for their own local community, I wanted to share some ideas for facilitating your own local Catholic women’s Facebook group. 1. Just Begin Too often we wait for the perfect moment, the perfect amount of training or insert another self-posed barrier here to lean into a call the Holy Spirit has placed on our heart. If you can’t find a Catholic women’s group local to your town or city, start one! If one exists but isn’t very active, reach out and volunteer your time or just start a conversation thread to get the community chatting. If your group is active and you’d still like to participate more, engage on the posts and consider reaching out to the admin team to see if you can be more involved.  *I will say that having a team of administrators in a group does lighten the load. If you’re beginning from scratch, you will have to be the one to engage the community (whether in posts or gatherings) but others that want to be involved will naturally rise to the surface and a direct invitation or ask for them to assist will bear fruit.  {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} 2. Get Creative There are SO many ways to build community, both online and in person. You don’t have to have a degree in Theology to foster friendships based in faith.  My local BIS group coordinates a variety of events with various topics (or no topic at all) in hopes to meet others where they are and with what they are interested in. Here are a few of the events we’ve scheduled:- A monthly meeting to dive into one of Blessed is She’s “Blessed Conversation” studies. We met at a central location with a few restaurant options. This not only lightened the load of regularly hosting in someone’s home, but we also found it was helpful for women who were hesitant to go to an unknown home with people they’d never met.  - A weekly Zoom meeting to pray with the BIS devotionals. This started during Covid when we could not gather in person, but continued past 2020 allowing those who could not meet in person due to childcare, transportation or another reason, to gather and share where God was moving in their prayer.  - Regular social events to just gather in community and chat. These range from brunch at someone’s house to dinner at a local restaurant. We’ve also held a “Friendsgiving” potluck the past two years at a local metropark pavilion, which is a group favorite.  - Weekly Community-Building Posts on Facebook. In addition to the typical posts from group members asking for recommendations of local resources (doctors, parishes, VBS, etc.), the admin team for our group has started themed post for community engagement that include sharing selfies of what we are drinking on Monday mornings, a weekly prayer thread, and a random icebreaker-like question for the group to answer.  - A clothing/religious item swap. This was a fun way to get rid of those jeans that no longer fit and that religious statue you were given that you want to go to a home where it will actually be displayed. (It also involved a potluck. We love gathering with food!) - A local pilgrimage. Admittedly, the one we planned for this summer has been moved to the fall, but we’re so excited to visit a local holy site.  - A “Secret Magi” gift exchange. This was basically a “Secret Santa” exchange but timed around Epiphany given the full schedules leading up to Christmas day. Gifts were mailed or dropped off in person. - A craft night. We made indoor Marian gardens, but this could be anything and doesn’t need to be religiously themed! - Book Club. This summer we are starting our first ever book club with fellow book lovers from our Facebook group! - Family centered activities. Last year we held a “Birthday Party for Mary” where we partnered with a local parish. After attending Mass together, we had a birthday cake in honor of the Blessed Mother. We all sang Happy Birthday to her! In past years, our group gathered at another local shrine for Mass and then went to brunch together.  These are a few of the ways we’ve worked to cultivate a local Christ-centered community, but the ways in which you build yours is not limited to just this list! Life with Christ is abundant and you never know what other ways He could be calling you to foster community within your local group. 3. Focus on Quality Over Quantity Every post or event or other form of engagement will not have remarkable participation. You will get 10 RSVPs to an event and have only 3 women show up. You will share a post that has just one like. And the enemy will whisper in your ear that you have failed, especially in comparison to the numbers seen in the former Regional groups. Even in ministry, we can fall into the trap of numbers defining our success, but as we know from Matthew’s Gospel, “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).  Those three women that came to your potluck might have been overwhelmed in a larger group and not made a solid enough connection to schedule a coffee date the following week. The post that you shared may have been an answered prayer to the woman who liked it, or moved others to prayer away from social media, forgetting to respond. God’s goodness is beyond our full comprehension, and a big part of faithfulness is trust.  So as we mourn the loss of a Facebook group we’ve grown attached to and pray about how we ourselves can work to cultivate true community and sisterhood, may we remember to trust that God’s abundance will pour out in new vessels and in new ways that we may have never even imagined.

Pierced Hands and Heart In Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina, commonly referred to by Anglophones as the “Church of the Gesù,” there is a startlingly powerful image of Jesus Christ in a side chapel. This painting, housed in the first Jesuit church built in Rome, Italy, leaves all who view it changed. Both the tourist who comes to observe the church solely for its stunning Baroque architecture and the pilgrim who comes to pray can’t help but be moved by Pompeo Batoni’s depiction of Jesus. In the painting, Jesus’ left hand stretches out towards the viewer, displaying His Sacred Heart grasped in this same hand. His right hand is extended in the supine position, tilted slightly inward towards His Heart, yet angled out just enough for the observer to realize that He is inviting the beholder to not only gaze at His Heart, but also reach out and take it.  At first look, the most alarming thing about the painting seems to be Jesus’ eyes, painted in such a realistic way that they penetrate your soul and make you either want to run towards Him or run away from Him. Yet if you’re brave enough to stay and contemplate the image for a few minutes longer, you’ll realize that it’s not just the eyes that startle, it’s a much more subtle detail that will end up shaking the soul: Jesus’ pierced hands offering His Pierced Heart.  The Weight of Love Gazing at this image, the viewer has an insight on how Jesus presented Himself after His Resurrection, when He first appeared to the Apostles, who were hiding in fear. The Resurrected Jesus entered the Upper Room, revealing His wounded hands and side, signs of our sin against Him. Yet He didn’t stop there. He offered them His Sacred Heart as well. He had every reason to come into that room full of revenge and anger, reprimanding the Apostles who in His greatest moment of need, ran away from Him in fear during His Passion and Death.  Yet He doesn’t enter the room to terrorize. And this is what makes the image of the Sacred Heart in the chapel in Rome both startling and powerful—Jesus, the Wounded One, comes in peace. Jesus, the Wounded Healer, comes in love. He breathed peace into the Apostles after showing them His wounds. He comes in peace, He comes in mercy, He comes in love. His wounds reveal the weight of His love for us. His love is the most incredibly life-transforming reality there is. That within the greatest sin there ever was and ever will be—that we humans put the Son of God to death—the response to that greatest sin is merciful love, a wounded hand pointing to a Merciful Heart.  We Too Must Forgive Within the offering of Jesus’ mercy and love to us there comes a call to extend that same mercy to others. In the Upper Room Jesus invites Saint Thomas the Apostle to, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side” (John 20:27). A gaping, open wound—large enough to fit a man’s entire hand within it—that is Christ’s call for us to extend Christ and His love into the peripheries and enter completely into the great suffering, the large woundedness of others. If we, great sinners, are forgiven by Him, we too must forgive. Within His Pierced Sacred Heart is forgiveness, gentleness, humility, and peace—and He offers it to us. We too must offer others the same.  {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} Safe In the Sacred Heart Yes, offering our own hearts as Christ offered His may leave us injured and hurt. One of the most stirring aspects of Pompeo Batoni’s painting of Jesus is how vulnerable and exposed Jesus’ Sacred Heart is. Sometimes, holding out our heart to others causes our heart pain. Our hearts may be pierced, mocked, manipulated, broken, scourged, trampled, and forgotten. When we experience this, we must ask Jesus to heal our hearts. Christ, the Gardener of our hearts, always brings healing. If your heart that you held out so lovingly and vulnerably, has been injured, or is being hurt, run to the Sacred Heart. Fall in love with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let His Heart romance your heart. His Heart is safe. He will not hurt you. He wants to show you His love for you. When we fall deeply in love with Jesus’ Sacred Heart, our own heart is strengthened to such a degree that nothing can separate us from His love. His love becomes our love, His mercy becomes our mercy.  Today on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, let us ask Jesus to give us the grace and gift of fortitude and of courage—that we may always run to His Sacred Heart when we are tempted to flee, and find refuge there. Once safely hidden within His Wounded Heart, let us learn the lessons of love found there within. Filled with the grace of the Sacred Heart we will be able to love as He loves us, and show one another that we are His disciples, because we love (John 13:35).  A Prayer To Jesus’ Sacred Heart Lord Jesus, let my heart never rest until it finds You, who are its center, its love, and its happiness. By the wound in Your Heart pardon the sins that I have committed whether out of malice or out of evil desires. Place my weak heart in Your own Divine Heart, continually under Your protection and guidance, so that I may persevere in doing good and in fleeing evil until my last breath. Amen. // Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Jesus, You said Your most painful, unrecorded Wound from Your Passion was the bloody, Painful slice of the wooden Cross  Rubbed so angrily into Your shoulder. You bore the heavy weight of a Cross, A Cross that You chose to carry, A Cross that no earthly man could bear But You did it with tender, heartfelt love. You said this pain was unrecorded  By man. I seek to bring light to the  Tragedy of pain, encompassing   Your beloved body. The pain was visible in Your shoulder,  Spilling blood onto the splintering wood Of the cross. Let me make this agonizing  Wound now visible to the world; Not to glorify myself, But to give praise to every ounce of Your suffering. I thank You for this Sacrifice, So gently, selflessly, taken on for my restoration. Here I am: I pray these humble words illustrate  What no man has done before. Let my words console Your Heart, And one day, let my soul rejoice with You, forevermore.   Kateri Campbell is a recent graduate of Salem State University with a B.A. in English and a concentration in Professional Writing, living in Peabody, Massachusetts. Besides spending time with and preparing to marry her fiancé in July 2023, she enjoys knitting, baking, hanging out with friends, traveling, and adoration. An avid writer since high school, she has recently felt called to share her poetry and writing beyond her computer files. She enjoys composing pieces about God's love for His creation and her relationship with Him. She hopes that her writing will help spread the message of God's intrinsic love to other women.

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One aspect of the Church I have always found comforting is her timing. The Church makes proclamations of light and truth amidst the darkness and confusion of certain time periods. For instance, the specifics regarding Jesus’ natures within the Incarnation were not spelled out until the Council of Nicaea in the fourth century. It was timed as such because that is when confusion began to arise throughout the world. People within the Church were making the claim that Jesus was not fully Divine, but a sort of super-human (the heresy of Arianism). To combat this falsehood and confusion, the bishops made many official declarations at the conclusion of this council, one declaration specifically ironing out any confusion about Jesus’ two natures as both God and Man . . . because in the midst of darkness and confusion, the Church spreads light and clarity. Similarly, in the thirteenth century, a priest found himself confused and doubting the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This was during a time in Church history when many theologians were promulgating these doubts. God gifted this priest a profound answer to his doubt: a Eucharistic miracle during the moment of consecration while he celebrated Mass. This miracle, combined with the ongoing efforts of the mystic Saint Juliana of Mont Cornillon, led Pope Urban IV to institute the Feast of Corpus Christi universally just one year later . . .  because in the midst of darkness and confusion, the Church spreads light and clarity. My Own Time of Darkness When I was nineteen years old, I found myself living in the darkest and most upsetting year of my life. An on-again, off-again manipulative relationship caused me to lose many friends and confuse my spiritual life. Without realizing it, I tied my perception of God to this abusive significant other who was constantly placing all fault on me. New to college and enrolled in a highly competitive nursing program, I was majorly stressed and struggling to keep up with its demands. Additionally, I knew no one in the city and was no longer surrounded by the close-knit family and small-town community which had supported me my entire life. I was a true mess, upset to the point where I thought maybe it would be better for everyone if I was just “gone.” Already feeling unable to carry the load of all my wounds and burdens, another blow came into my life when I returned home for Christmas break. Catching up with my best friend over lunch one day, she shared shocking news with me regarding my little sister. Mary had started dating someone months prior and had been living a secret life laden with sin since then. This friend brought no judgment along with the delivery of the news, only serious concern for Mary’s well-being.  As I drove home from the restaurant I remember crying out to God and thinking, “Not this too! I can barely handle all the issues I’ve got.” I was angry and overwhelmed, and I had no idea what I was going to do. “Do I tell my parents? Do I talk to Mary first?” These were all streams of thought running through my head as I walked up the stairs to my bedroom. The Holy Spirit made it clear, though, as Mary entered our shared bedroom only minutes after me. A question regarding all I had heard spilled out of my mouth. Mary, caught off guard, turned around to hang something in the closet before denying what I’d heard. As she turned around again I calmly asked her, “Why are you lying to me?” At that, Mary burst into tears and exclaimed, “Because I don’t want you to hate me!” That was a pivotal moment in my life. It revealed God’s profound love in a way I had never experienced before. I held Mary, crying in my arms, assuring her of my unconditional love, and I realized how God feels about me—and all of us. Our sin does not diminish His love for us. Just as there was nothing Mary could ever do that would make me stop loving her, there is no sin so great that God stops, either. Mary and I had a brief but direct conversation. She admitted faults, failings, and struggles to stop. I supported and empathized as best I knew how, while also encouraging her to keep struggling and fighting to break the cycle, reminding her that she was one of the strongest people I know. “You aren’t going to tell Mom and Dad, are you?” Her tone suddenly became quite hostile. “Not immediately,” I responded. “Only if things don’t get better.” She looked at me with hatred in her eyes. “I will never speak to you again if you do,” she threatened. The words cut like a knife, and my reply came out muffled:: “As much as that would kill me, I care a lot more about you being in Heaven than about you speaking to me in this life.”  Reconciliation and Prudence: Light Dawning  I don’t remember Mary’s response to that statement, but I do remember my mom calling up the stairs that she was headed to Confession and extending the invitation for people to join her. Once again, the Holy Spirit was leading, as I had no idea whether I had made the right decision and I needed spiritual guidance. Quickly, I ran down the stairs, out the door, down the street, and found myself in a confessional. After receiving my penance, I asked Father for advice and spelled out the situation for him. Peace of mind flowed from his response:  “Do you remember that time in the Gospel that Jesus spoke to a situation like this?” he asked. Obviously, I didn’t. He directed me to Matthew 18:15-17, which reads: If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. “You did what Jesus instructed,” my pastor assured me. “Take peace in that. Though teetering, she was somewhat receptive to what you had to say. And you did tell her that you would tell your parents if necessary. To me, it sounds like you are doing the right thing.” Full of gratitude for the grace of the Sacrament and guidance, I did find peace. However, it also made way for another problem to arise: how was I going to help Mary? In a few weeks I’d be returning to campus and she would remain at home finishing up her senior year of high school. This was in the days prior to ample WiFiand free text messaging. Besides that, Mary did not yet have a cell phone. How would I know what was happening? More importantly, how could I assist her without being there? Remembering a renowned Catholic speaker with a story similar to Mary’s, I reached out to him through his website asking him for help. His email response was incredibly fast: “The Eucharist is the most powerful prayer we have on this earth—and the most powerful times are at the moment of consecration and the moment you receive. I would encourage you to go to Mass as often as you can, and pray for Mary during those two moments,” he advised. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} The Eucharist: My Light and Clarity Desperate, I did exactly as he had suggested. Despite my intense schedule, I was able to attend daily Mass every day. And every day I poured my heart out and pleaded for Mary at the moment the priest lifted the host and chalice. I did it again at the moment Jesus’ Precious Body and Blood touched my lips. Day after day, week after week, month after month, I repeated my prayer, entrusting my dear sister to the God who loves her more than I. Gradually, things with Mary took a turn for the worse instead of improving. Issues popped up at school that led to a suspension, she repeatedly snuck out in the middle of the night, she even tried to run away at one point. After this, I knew it was time to tell my parents, and I phoned home revealing everything to my mom and dad. Their loving and firm action was immediate—and Mary erupted like a volcano.  In the following months, she was incredibly volatile. Our home was filled with torment and turmoil, and when Mary turned eighteen, she packed up her things and moved out.    Although Mary’s situation had essentially detonated, I realized something profound while sitting in Mass one day. Even with the chaos swirling around me, I was different. The Eucharist had changed me. I was healing from all my own deep personal issues. They weren’t completely resolved or gone—but I had found a source of peace. A remedy for much of my own anxiety, depression, and darkness. Most importantly, my twisted ideas about God and His love for me were being unraveled. I continued to go to Mass and pray for Mary, and I began to tack on as many “extra” prayers as I could: Rosaries, Divine Mercy chaplets, Adoration, daily sacrifices, etc. I lifted Mary up constantly, praying continuously in every moment throughout the day. I had immense hope in God’s mercy and faithfulness. Chains Broken: Return Home and Return to Rome After months of turmoil and heartbreak, small victories arose. Most importantly, Mary returned home to live with my parents. Weeks later, her boyfriend thoughtlessly betrayed her, causing a blow that shattered their relationship beyond repair. Devastated, Mary was most surprised by our response. There was no “I told you so” or “serves you right” or anything of the sort. In truth, we were all heartbroken for her and she was caught off guard by our compassion. A turning point for the entire family, there was still a long road towards healing, trust, and unison. We all continued the path of faith, seeking support from God’s grace to get us through it all. In time, we all healed, as individuals and as a family. I continued to go to daily Mass, receiving the Eucharist as often as possible. I felt like I had found life’s secret to happiness: a source of power that could carry me through anything. In His Body and Blood, Jesus had not only saved my sister and restored my family, He had shown me love and faithfulness like I had never experienced before. He did not condemn me in my faults as my woundedness would have had me believing perpetually. Instead, He paid for them with His Blood and gave Himself to me as Daily Bread to sustain me. By His wounds, I was healed, restored, and renewed.  How great is our God! Have you ever had a profound experience with the Eucharist? Share your story with us in the comments below! THE GREATEST GIFT In this study on the Eucharist, we explore the truth that Jesus is the answer to your every need. Join us as we explore John chapter 6 to learn how the reality of the Holy Eucharist applies to our lives. Discover what a gift He is. GET THE GIFT STUDY

In the early 1980s, Pope Saint John Paul II recognized rising problems within marriage and family life. He appointed Cardinal Carlo Caffarra to head a new Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. Because the institute was under the patronage of Our Lady of Fatima, Cardinal Caffara wrote to Sister Lucia dos Santos, a Carmelite nun who was one of the three children to whom the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. Not expecting a response, he was surprised when he received her reply, which included these words: “Father, a time will come when the decisive battle between the Kingdom of Christ and Satan will be over marriage and the family. And those who work for the good of the family will experience persecution and tribulation. But do not be afraid, because our Lady has already crushed his head.” A Game Plan Forty years have passed since this correspondence between Cardinal Caffarra and Sister Lucia. And all we have to do is scroll through social media or turn on the evening news to know that this prophecy has come true. Not only are marriage and family being attacked, the very dignity of who men and women are created to be is being eroded. This is why, now more than ever, it is so important to turn to the Lord and ground ourselves in His plan and purpose for those whom He created in His image and likeness. We do this by rooting ourselves in Biblical truths that reveal God’s design for the dignity of men and women, specifically lived out in marriage and family life. Moreover, we turn to qualified, reliable experts steeped in knowledge of Catholic doctrine to strengthen our own understanding of the authentic and beautiful purpose for marriage in the family, Church, and society. Fr. Robert Altier is one such expert. A priest for more than 30 years, Altier has taught catechetical programs that have aired on television throughout the world. He is also a major contributor to Catholic radio and his sermons are widely sought after on YouTube. During a month-long series of prayerful experiences in 2019, the Lord gave Altier the material to write a book on marriage. He said in an interview that as quickly as the information came to him, it one day ended. And he knew he needed to compile all of it into a book format, even though he does not consider himself a writer. A New Book on Marriage Published by Sophia Institute Press, God’s Plan for Your Marriage: An Exploration of Holy Matrimony From Genesis to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, explores the foundation of marriage from the beginning of creation and how it will be fulfilled in Heaven, at the marriage banquet of the Lamb. God’s Plan for Your Marriage is not your average how-to relationship book. That is because “marriage is first and foremost a spiritual reality,” writes Altier. “The purpose of this book is to help married couples to know and understand the dignity and beauty to which they have been called and to provide some insights to help them to live their sacrament in a spiritual way.” The book is organized into seven chapters, which build upon one another: 1. From the Beginning 2. God Is Love 3. What God Has Joined 4. The New Creation 5. Consummatum Est 6. You Are a Temple 7. The Banquet of the Lamb A Fresh Perspective Worth Pondering When I opened God’s Plan for Marriage, I had no idea what I was in for. I had no idea how deeply moved I would be. I had no idea I would learn so much about the sacrament I have been living for more than 20 years. That is because, of all the marriage books I have read, and workshops and retreats I have attended, none have approached the topic from a strictly spiritual perspective. Before reading this book, I had received a lot of practical advice, such as communication dos and don’ts. However, Altier really emphasizes the spiritual reality of being married, of being man and wife. Not so much how we live that out, but simply who we are within it. And this fresh perspective is key to making us better men and women in order to be better spouses in better marriages. A Few Key Takeaways God’s Plan for Marriage is dense with profound insights into God’s intention for marriage from the beginning. Here are 10 key takeaways that I found to be incredibly meaningful and impactful: “The human person is created for truth, love, and life—to live in relationship with the Trinity.” “Our nature is very good, and our dignity is immense.” At the time of the Fall, “our nature was wounded but not corrupted.” “God took that which was closest to the man’s heart and built it into the person whom Adam would love and who would love him.” “So there are emotions that come with love, but love is not an emotion . . . Love is an act of the will . . . It is a choice.” “God made marriage to make married people saints.” “Christian marriage is a prefiguration of eternity.” “. . . there is a real and true union of persons—souls—that occurs when the couple professes their vows in a sacramental marriage.” “God cannot be excluded from any part of the marriage; this means He should not be excluded from the intimacy of the couple.” “In the garden, Adam and Eve did not eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life; but, in a garden two thousand years ago, the Cross became the Tree of Life . . . The fruit of the Tree of Life is the Eucharist.” {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=} A Final Note God’s Plan for Your Marriage is complete with thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter that can be used for personal reflection. They also can serve as prompts for fruitful discussion between spouses. God’s Plan for Your Marriage is a must-read book for Catholic married couples. For engaged or newly-married couples, it will serve as a firm foundation that you can return to as you grow together in experience. For couples who have been married for a while, it will bring refreshment and renewal to your relationship, as you embark on the next chapters of life together.

My sweet Jesus, If I could wipe every tear from Your eye and collect the jewels of Precious Blood from Your crucified Body, I would. I desire to love You with even the smallest percentage of Your unending, perfect love for me. My heart yearns for more of You. I ask You to impress Your love upon my heart till the end of my days. If it be Your will, grant me peace, joy, and consolation, even in my most desolate moments. Thank You for the gift of Your life for mine; a priceless sacrifice and the most tender gift my soul will receive. Keep my soul caged within Your heavenly confines of love so that I may savor every drop of You in this life and infinitely more in the one to come. Amen.   Kateri Campbell is a recent graduate of Salem State University with a B.A. in English and a concentration in Professional Writing, living in Peabody, Massachusetts. Besides spending time with and preparing to marry her fiancé in July 2023, she enjoys knitting, baking, hanging out with friends, traveling, and adoration. An avid writer since high school, she has recently felt called to share her poetry and writing beyond her computer files. She enjoys composing pieces about God's love for His creation and her relationship with Him. She hopes that her writing will help spread the message of God's intrinsic love to other women.