Eight years of prayer and study pointed to one incredible day. Laudate Dominum rang through our ears as we sang praise to the Lord that this day had finally come. My Brother-in-Law, the Priest I sat with my husband and his parents in the very front pew of the Cathedral. There were only three chairs in front of us. One chair for my brother-in-law and two for the other transitional deacons who were about to lay their lives down out of love for their Bride, the Church. These men made it to this long-awaited day to make their promises of celibacy, obedience, and simplicity of life as newly ordained diocesan priests. After the proclamation of the Gospel, a bittersweet moment took place. The deacons were each summoned by name. They moved from their place—sitting with the rest of the congregation—to the altar. They were no longer meant to be sitting with us as we participated in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Their new place was to become in persona Christi Capitis, in the person of Christ the Head. They were to serve the people of God, especially through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Minutes after they moved to their place on the altar, the Bishop laid his hands on their heads and invoked the Holy Spirit. Their soul was then imprinted with an indelible sacramental character, a mark which would set them apart for the fulfillment of their vocation: the Sacrament of Holy Orders. This Sacrament configures the recipient to Christ by a special grace of the Holy Spirit, so that he may serve as Christ’s instrument for his Church. -CCC 1581 The Joy of the Priesthood As the newly ordained processed out of the church, "O God Beyond All Praising" resounded within the walls of the Cathedral. People smiled from ear to ear as they breathed deeply from their chest, belting out “...whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, we’ll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still: to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways, and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.” My brother-in-law, now Father, encourages me to marvel at God’s beauty simply by his witness of love. After his Mass of Thanksgiving, he shared with everyone there that when people ask him why he decided to become a Priest and to live a life of celibacy, he responds, “I did it, because of Love, and it is a Love that I want you to know too. If you want to know how to find that Love, please talk to me. Or talk to your parish priest, or any priest you know.” Do we know that deep kind of love? The kind of love that makes us want to give up everything in order to respond to that love in the fullest way possible? When was the last time we gave ourselves the time to sit with Jesus and really let His love for us sink in, and sink in deep? When was the last time we considered Jesus our brother, companion, and friend? St. John Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests Today we celebrate St. John Vianney. A priest who is known for spending up to to sixteen hours each day hearing confessions. This is a remarkable gift of self to his bride, the Church. In 1929, Pope Pius XI made Saint John Vianney the patron of parish priests. Pope Saint John XXIII spoke of him saying: ...when the priest adores Christ Our Lord and gives thanks to Him, or offers satisfaction for his own sins and those of others, or finally when he prays constantly that God keep special watch over the causes committed to his care, he is inflamed with a more ardent love for the Divine Redeemer to whom he has sown allegiance and for those to whom he is devoting his pastoral care. Praying for Our Priests In celebration of Saint John Vianney’s feast day, let’s pray specifically for our parish priests today. Let's pray for those men who are discerning calls to the priesthood. Let's be sure to give them a sincere "thank you" the next time we see them. Thank them for devoting their life to helping us fall in love. Who are the priests in your life who call you closer to Jesus? [bctt tweet="Praying for Priestly Vocations with St. John Vianney #BISblog //" via="no"]

In the summer of 2015, I had the privilege of following the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola on the Camino Ignaciano in Spain from Loyola to Barcelona. It’s a pilgrimage similar to the Camino de Santiago, except Ignatius literally journeyed in the opposite direction of the other pilgrims of his day #classiciggy. The Fascinating Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola Along the way, my classmates and I were blessed to visit places like the Loyola family home, the room where Ignatius recovered after a cannon ball shattered his leg in battle, and the beautiful statue of Our Lady of Montserrat where he laid down his armor and life as a soldier, promising his service to God. We visited the cave at Manresa and the River Cardoner and even flew to Rome to visit la Storta and the Church of the Gesu. T he details of his story and the significance of these locations can be fleshed out with a simple Google search or a chat with alumni of the hundreds of Jesuit institutions around the world. But I don’t think that is what Saint Ignatius would want us to be focusing on. In fact, Ignatius greatly protested the writing of his autobiography. He feared focusing on his own story would lead into the sin of vainglory. It was only after the persistence of his brother Jesuits and their insistence that his life journey could bring others to Christ that he agree to have it recorded. The Camino Ignaciano I embarked on that 200k Camino hoping to know more about this Saint who I’d been learning about for nearly 10 years. I hoped to grow closer with him and to learn to more fully understand his heart. And to my frustration, throughout the long days of mile after mile in the record breaking heat, I felt nothing for Ignatius at all. If anything, with each step I felt myself moving further from him. What I did notice, however, was an increased appreciation for those first two hours of silent prayer in the morning as the journey began each day. I noticed each gentle breeze and every sliver of cooling shade. I gave praise for the nourishment of a simple meal or a satisfying sip of fresh water. Relationships were formed with my fellow pilgrims, classmates, and professors as we encouraged and accompanied one another along the way. The generous hospitality we received overwhelmed me. I'll carry the memories with me for a lifetime. Closer to Christ: The Mission of St. Ignatius of Loyola My time on the Camino Ignaciano did not bring me closer to St. Ignatius, it brought me closer to Christ. And that is exactly what he would have wanted. Throughout the Spiritual Exercises and steps of the daily examen, Ignatius invites us to recognize God in all things. In the good and bad, in the big and small. He chose to name the religious order he founded the Jesuits (or Society of Jesus) so that they would always point to Christ and strive to do everything for the greater glory of God. For St. Ignatius, it was all about Christ. Today, we remember this amazing man. We celebrate his life and all the good he and the Jesuit order have done for the Church. Let us remember the true focus and intention of his heart and ours, our loving Creator. St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us. [bctt tweet="Walking with St. Ignatius of Loyola #BISblog //" via="no"]

The first time I remember learning about St. Anne was when I was in the fourth grade and I had to write a short paper on whichever saint I wanted. I chose St. Anne since we shared the same name. I actually recently got to reread the paper I wrote, and in it, I said, "Anne was a holy woman who kept praying even when it seemed useless." To me, she's the patron saint of doing so. St. Anne and her husband suffered from infertility for years before they were able to conceive. But from what we know about Sts. Anne and Joachim (which is only through tradition and legend, so it's not very much and it's hard to know if it's entirely true), we've been told that they continued to be faithful and continued to pray during that time. The remained faithful during that time of not yet, that time of waiting, that time of preparation. The Mom and Dad of Our Mom And I'm sure the preparation couldn't have been rushed, because they were preparing for something that changed the course of their lives and our entire world. They were preparing for the conception, birth, and raising of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Even if we don't really know much about Sts. Anne and Joachim, we can infer from the fact that they were the parents of the mother of God that they were holy people, hopeful people, and praying people. Sts. Anne and Joachim and Waiting I love the story of their waiting because it's such a strong reminder to me that the time we spend waiting for our prayers to be answered is not wasted time or a stagnant time. It's a time full of hope with what the Lord has in store for us. It's time that we can work on abandoning ourselves to His will and seeking it out every single day. I like the way Henri Nouwen wrote about waiting. He said that a waiting person is a patient person, and that the word "patience" means "the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us." He also specified that, "waiting is never a movement from nothing to something. It is always a movement from something to something more." That last note especially tells me that as I wait for X, Y or Z, that this time has purpose -- and that I do too, as I wait. Living with Christ in the Present Moment So the feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim represents for me a day to live fully in the present moment, even if it's not what I wish it were. This feast day reminds me to live through this present moment with hope, which is when we place our trust in God's promises and rely on His strength, and not on our own. If you're waiting for His answer to your prayer or if you're feeling like you're in a rut just waiting for something or someone, I want to nudge you a little closer to our grandmother today, St. Anne, and her husband, St. Joachim. Like all grandparents, I trust that they want what's best for us, that they adore us, and that they are talking all about us to our Lord. We have so many great saints to call on for intercession, and for hope and in times of waiting, I think of St. Anne and St. Joachim first. Do you have a devotion to Sts. Anne and Joachim? How have they impacted your life? [bctt tweet="The Feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim #BISblog //" via="no"] Annie Deddens is a writer and producer. She runs a prayer ministry with her husband, called Pray More Novenas. She has a heart for the sick & suffering, and she writes about living with greater faith (hope & love, too) in this imperfect world as a Catholic wife on her blog. You can find out more about her here.

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Maybe you have read about Mount Carmel in the Old Testament or have a devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Edith Stein, St. Teresa of Avila, or St. John of the Cross. Maybe you have a monastery of Carmelite brothers or sisters near you. Maybe you have no idea what Carmelite spirituality is, but reading this post has given you a sudden craving for salted caramels, caramel corn, or caramel apples. Mount Carmel: The Place I am currently in the middle of a solo pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I strategically arranged my itinerary so that I would be on Mount Carmel for Our Lady’s feast. Mount Carmel is located near the city of Haifa which is on the Mediterranean coast, north of Tel Aviv and west of the Sea of Galilee. There are several caves on this mountain where hermits have been praying for centuries in the spiritual tradition of the prophet Elijah. In the thirteenth century, some of the hermits created the Carmelite Order, devoting their hidden lives to contemplative prayer within the solitude of the cloister. If you ever have the chance to visit Mount Carmel, several religious communities offer accommodations for pilgrims. This is such a privileged way to witness their life more closely. Here on Mount Carmel, there are a few places of pilgrimage which you can explore. Cave of Elijah // The place where Elijah lived and prayed before God triumphed over the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:1-40). Muhraka Monastery on the summit of Mt. Carmel // The place of Elijah’s competition with the prophets of Baal. Stella Maris Monastery // A monastery and lighthouse dedicated to Our Lady, Star of the Sea. The Rule of Carmel There are thousands of Carmelite communities throughout the world (Carmelite priests, brothers, sisters, nuns, and third order members) and you can encounter their spirituality by praying with them. The Rule of Carmel is based on these four points: Encounter with Christ takes place through the Sacraments and the Liturgy. Mutual knowledge and love deepen through intensified mental prayer. Presence of the Beloved becomes real through Eucharistic Adoration and common life in the mystery of fraternal charity. Conformity of the will grows through self-discipline and prudent self-denial. The Brown Scapular There is also the popular Marian devotion of being enrolled in the brown scapular. In the 13th century, after a Crusader’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land, St. Simon Stock had a vision of Our Lady and encouraged people to wear a scapular (little square pieces of brown fabric worn under your clothing around the neck) to symbolize Mary’s loving mantle of maternal protection and her mediation of grace. Today is a great day to ask your priest to be enrolled in the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Resources for Carmelite Spirituality If you are interested in learning more about Carmelite spirituality, consider reading some of these books: Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross The Impact of God (Soundings from St. John of the Cross) by Iain Matthew The Complete Works of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity The Hidden Life by St. Edith Stein Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux The Way of Trust and Love: A Retreat Guided by St. Therese of Lisieux by Fr. Jacques Phillipe I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teaching of St. Therese of Lisieux by Jean C.J. d’Elbee Carmelite Music On this feast, you may want to celebrate by listening to some Carmelite music. The Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles have music here. Supporting Carmelites Also, many Carmelite Communities live on Divine Providence, living their vow of poverty by relying on the generosity of others to provide for their material and financial needs. On this Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, consider using some of your tithing money to make a donation to a local community. Most Carmelites observe a simple diet, so sometimes it is helpful to call the monastery and ask if there is anything in particular they are in need of. Simple practical items include: fresh fruit and vegetables, flour, oil, fish, toilet paper, and postage stamps. Carmelite Intercession The Carmelites are powerhouses of prayer! My grandma frequently calls the Carmelites and asks them to get on their knees for particular intentions. In fact, the Carmelites sustained her in prayer during a difficult pregnancy, and so I have an aunt named Marycarmel. On this feast today, consider sending your prayer requests to the Carmelites via snail mail, voicemail, or online request. Hymn to Our Lady of Mount Carmel I’ll leave you today with the words of this Carmelite hymn to Mary, Flos Carmeli. Flower of Carmel,Tall vine blossom laden;Splendor of heaven,Childbearing yet maiden.None equals thee. Mother so tender,Who no man didst know,On Carmel's childrenThy favors bestow.Star of the Sea. Strong stem of Jesse,Who bore one bright flower,Be ever near usAnd guard us each hour,who serve thee here. Purest of lilies,That flowers among thorns,Bring help to the true heartThat in weakness turnsand trusts in thee. Strongest of armor,We trust in thy might:Under thy mantle,Hard pressed in the fight,we call to thee. Our way uncertain,Surrounded by foes,Unfailing counselYou give to thosewho turn to thee. O gentle MotherWho in Carmel reigns,Share with your servantsThat gladness you gainedand now enjoy. Hail, Gate of Heaven,With glory now crowned,Bring us to safetyWhere thy Son is found,true joy to see.Amen. Happy feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel! ✨ Featured Resource Learn More About Our Lady Just as a mother might pass on a beloved family tradition to her daughters, Mary shares the recipe for growing in virtue with us.This study on Mary's Virtues will breathe new life into your everyday, beginning right in Mary's home. Shop the Study → This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

Growing up, I remember packing my sit-upon and mess kit to attend Camp Sacagawea as a camper, and later, as a counselor each year through high school. My grandfather whittled Native American figurines out of bars of soap for my cousins and I on summer visits. Names like Mahtomedi, Minnehaha, Minnetonka, Kawishiwi, and Winnibigoshish are part of my geography. As part of J-term at my environmental high school, we rafted a portion of the Lewis and Clark (and Sacagawea) expedition through North Dakota and Montana. We grew up with an awareness of and a deep sense of respect for the Native American people. Tradition and Influence I’ve been thinking some about this influence recently. My daughters have discovered a story series about a Nez Perce girl growing up in the 1700s. Both girls are mesmerized by the life and rituals described in these stories. We listen to the stories on audio collection. I’ve been listening closely, too. The depiction of family, spirituality, adventures, and courage, are compelling. Imagine the excitement then, when our family drove through a part of the Mille Lacs Indian reservation in Northern Minnesota recently. It is a unique experience. Billboards advertising snowmobiling, fishing, colleges that promote language preservation, casinos, museums and historical markers, road signs in a foreign and beautiful tongue, all surrounded by forests and lakes. It is a unique place. Certainly it is not one without its own, difficult story. This is an interesting parallel to the life of St. Kateri ,whom we honor today. Set apart, beautiful, and part of a complex story. St. Kateri Tekakwitha Kateri was born to a Christian mother and a Mohawk chief. Her parents and brother died during the smallpox epidemic. She lost a great deal of her eyesight and scars covered her face. Because of her scarring, Tekakwitha wore head coverings and avoided social gatherings. The name ‘Tekakwitha’ is translated to “she who bumps into things.” "Kateri" is Mohawk for her Baptismal name, St. Catherine of Siena. She was viewed with much suspicion by her extended family and tribe after her conversion. Under the advisement of a Jesuit priest, Tekakwitha fled to a Jesuit mission in Canada where she was able to live her faith more completely. Tekakwitha is remembered for her deep piety and acts of suffering, which she would offer on her behalf or that of others. She died at the age of 24. At her canonization, Pope Benedict XVI declared Kateri Tekakwitha a model for young people in 2012. Modeling Her Spirit We all probably know a piece of a story like this. A single mom advocating for a co-worker’s well-deserved raise. A retired neighbor earning a high school or college diploma they didn’t have the opportunity to earn earlier. The parents of a special needs child, creating individual learning plans each year. A quiet force. Someone who finds themselves in circumstances that are less than ideal. Rather than being defined by them, they instinctively seek to make a more fitting and fruitful situation. This was the life of Kateri Tekakwitha. Remembering her mother’s devotion to God, she sought out opportunities for herself to grow in faith after her family died. This was at her own risk, given the period in history and the suspicious relationship between missionaries and Mohawks. She was ostracized. She walked hundreds of miles with limited vision to a community of believers with whom she could safely practice her Faith. Sent Into the Wilderness Several years ago, I heard a mesmerizing story-teller speak. Her grasp on the stories and the way she delivered them still can give me goosebumps. They were stories she’d collected from all over the world, and Scripture, too. One of my favorite prompts that she shared that day was something like this: After years and years of slavery, in service to Pharaoh, the Israelites are led to freedom by Moses. He parted the sea, led them across it and into a giant desert. They had no supplies and they didn’t know how long they’d be gone. They only hoped it would be better than where they’d been. With all these thoughts swirling in your heads, I’d like to ask…Who would you go into the wilderness for? Because in every sense, Kateri’s life and conversion were invitations for her to go into the wilderness. In reflecting on Kateri today, it is an important question for us, too. For whom would you go into the wilderness? Are you being invited into the wilderness? [bctt tweet="St. Kateri Tekakwitha: Lily of the Mohawks #BISblog //" via="no"]

It started, as life changes often do, with an ugly-cry-in-the-shower session. My son was three months old and we had just returned from spending Christmas with my family on the other side of the country. My mom and I were having a tough time navigating her new role as a grandmother and mine as a mother. I lost track of how many times I spoke harshly to her. I felt isolated from my three younger siblings who were nowhere close to this wildly different season of life I was now in. Recently, I had gone back at work after maternity leave and it was not going well. I hadn’t seen any of my friends since our meal train ended. Worst of all, I was convinced God had made a terrible mistake by giving me this beautiful child because I was far too weak, unworthy, and selfish to be a good mother. Those lies pounded in my heart day in and day out. This massive responsibility of raising a child on top of all the other things I hoped to do well (used to do well) was too much. I couldn’t do it. Saints as Mentors and Role Models In the shower that day, where I had run for ten minutes of uninterrupted tears, God gently pointed me in the right direction. You’re not the first person who has had to figure this out, He whispered to my heart. Look to My daughters who have done it well. Like so many Catholic women, I had long loved St. Therese of Lisieux. Her parents, St. Marie-Azélie Guérin Martin and St. Louis Martin, had come to my attention a few times since their canonization in October 2015, but I knew next to nothing else about them. When I pondered Saints who were mothers though, St. Zélie, as she is known, was the first who came to my mind. Over the next few days, as I poured over The Mother of the Little Flower on the Kindle app during middle-of-the-night nursing sessions, I got to know the woman I now consider one of my dearest friends in Heaven, as well as one of my greatest intercessors. In His wisdom, God has arranged things in a way to remind us that this earth is not our true home. Who Was St. Zélie? At first glance, St. Zélie is a little intimidating. She's the type of person I would look at on Instagram today and wonder, “How does she do it all?” She was a devoted wife and treasured friend to her husband, Louis. They were madly in love and supported, encouraged, and prayed for one another faithfully. She was a loving daughter, caring for her difficult father selflessly until his death. She corresponded regularly with her beloved sister, a Visitation nun, to whom many of St. Zélie's 200+ saved letters were sent. She was a talented Alençon lace maker who ran her own thriving business. It was so thriving, in fact, that Louis ultimately sold his watchmaking business to work with her full-time. And she was a mother of nine, four who passed away in infancy, and five who ultimately became nuns (and Saints). She had many important roles, and she fulfilled them all beautifully. How? As I read her letters and the memories her daughters shared in this book, that answer began to take shape. Why Zélie is a Saint St. Zélie knew that her tasks and obligations didn’t, and wouldn’t, fulfill her. Time and time again, her letters echoed the truth that was so deeply embedded in her heart: the goal of her existence was Heaven. Nothing in the world, no matter how joyful or how much success or prestige it brought her, could make her truly happy. Her confidence in the hope of Heaven completely freed her from societal pressure here on Earth. This woman, who carried so many responsibilities, rested in the knowledge that the only responsibility that truly mattered was pursuing sainthood, and encouraging her husband and children to do the same. The simplest and the wisest thing in all cases is to submit to God’s will, and to prepare in advance to bear one’s cross as bravely as possible. [bctt tweet="St. Zélie's confidence in the hope of Heaven completely freed her from societal pressure here on Earth. #BISblog //" via="no"] Trust in the Midst of Extreme Suffering St. Zélie was no stranger to disappointment, sorrow, heartbreak, or pain. But time and time again, she affirmed her faith in God’s love and His plan for her. She knew there were no accidents. God was with her when running her business felt overwhelming, when her children were being difficult (turns out even Saints misbehave as children—comforting, right?), when she left Lourdes without being healed of the breast cancer that ultimately took her life, and every time God called one of her precious babies to Heaven. While the little things of life did sometimes worry her, as she readily admitted, when it came to the big things, the faith she worked hard to cultivate daily paid off. In every case, she trusted God fully. She placed her life totally in His hands. She believed that if she died, He had a perfect plan for the family she would leave behind. In a word, always active, always devoted, constantly smiling, our mother never appeared to be doing anything extraordinary, but with remarkable simplicity and humility, she tirelessly spent herself for others, and lived always for the good God. [bctt tweet="With remarkable simplicity and humility, she tirelessly spent herself for others, and lived always for the good God. (Celine Martin on her mom, St. Zélie) #BISblog //" username="blessedisshe__"] St. Zélie Taught Me How to Be a Mom I always expected that when I had a baby, I would simply add “mother” to the list of identifiers I used for myself: Catholic, wife, daughter, sister, friend, writer. What I didn’t realize was that becoming a mama would dramatically impact every facet of who I am. St. Zélie showed me through her beautiful life that this was actually a very good thing. Motherhood doesn’t wipe out those other parts of me; rather, it enhances them. It turns me to the Lord in humility and reliance every single day. It deepens my love for my husband and strengthens our relationship. Motherhood increases my gratitude for and understanding of my own mother. It helps me to love my siblings and friends more tangibly, and to turn to them for prayer and encouragement more freely. It gives new purpose and inspiration to my writing. Motherhood is the vocation God chose for me, in His wisdom and infinite love, in order to draw me closer to Him and to sanctify me. Motherhood was St. Zélie's path to sainthood. Maybe it can be mine, too. Any other moms out there? Has St. Zélie encouraged you in your vocation? [bctt tweet="How St. Zélie Taught Me How to Be a Mother #BISblog //" via="no"] This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

One of the things I love about the Catholic Church is that she is both old and new at the same time. The tradition of the Church is 2,000 years old, and yet it’s still relevant and still being expanded upon today. That means we celebrate saints like Augustine, who died in the fourth century, as well as ones like Louis and Zélie Martin (St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s parents), who died in the late nineteenth century and were canonized—together, as a married couple—in 2015. The Special Feast Day of Louis and Zélie Martin Most Saints’ feasts are celebrated on the day on which they died and entered into Heaven. The feast of Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin is an exception to the rule. Their feast is celebrated on July 12, because it is the day on which they were civilly married, with a religious ceremony taking place at midnight on July 13, as was common for couples who wanted a quiet service where they could receive Communion. The Martins were holy people who lived with true and contagious devotion for the Lord. But while today we can see that marriage and family life were certainly their vocation, the path to their Sainthood wasn’t as linear as you might think. Following the Spirit Zélie Guerin and Louis Martin both initially wanted to become religious, but were denied by the communities they approached. Zélie began to make lace, and Louis, watches. They married just three months after they met, intending to stay celibate. However, guidance from a spiritual director encouraged them to enter fully into married life—and thank goodness they did! Of the nine children they had, five grew to adulthood and entered convents. Their youngest, of course, is St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Their third child, Marie Léonie, is also a candidate for Sainthood. Obviously, Sts. Louis and Zélie are prime intercessors for concerns with marriage or family life. But as beautifully as they lived their marriage and made themselves open to receiving the graces of the sacrament, what we can learn from them goes beyond the vows of matrimony. Trusting No Matter the Cost Imagine feeling called to the religious life, being ready to make an enormous sacrifice of your independence, your will, your body and soul, only to be told, “No, thanks.” Can you fathom the emotions Louis and Zélie must have experienced when this happened for each of them? Perhaps they doubted that they were really hearing the voice of God. Maybe they wondered where they’d gone wrong in their discernment. I imagine, at least for a moment, they were each at a loss for what the rest of their lives held. How would they serve the Lord they loved so dearly, if not in this way that seemed so clearly set out for them? Time passed and a closed door became the means to an open window, as they say. It’s been recorded that when Zélie first saw Louis, she heard our Blessed Mother tell her that this was the man she was to marry. I wonder, was she utterly joyful at this revelation, or was she still a little uncertain of her calling? Whatever her first impression, she quickly found courage and responded to God’s grace to follow a path she hadn’t expected for herself. First by marrying, and then again by having children. It’s Not Easy Being Holy! Zélie’s letters reveal that daily life was challenging for her. She was raising young children, mourning the losses of her four children who died young, running a business, all while trying to care for her marriage and stay close to the Lord. To some of us, this sounds very familiar! But even if this isn’t your experience, the trust and hope that Zélie in particular exhibited can be encouraging. Following the Lord will always require sacrifice. Loving will always mean giving something up. But no matter where your path leads you in this world, when Christ is your guiding light, you can trust that there is great joy and an eternal reward awaiting you. Honoring Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin Feast days are something to celebrate! Here are some ideas to make the most of their feast day tomorrow: To Eat and Wear The Martins were French, so start the day with a croissant or crepes. Add a touch of lace to your outfit today to recall the business by which Louis and Zélie eventually supported their family (her business was more profitable than his). To Create If you are artistically inclined, as lacemaker Zélie was, devote some time today to creating something beautiful for your own home or to gift to someone you love. To Pray Parents and spouses, especially, offer this prayer to these great saints: Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, today we turn to you in prayer. By fulfilling the duties of your state in life and practicing the evangelical virtues as spouses and as parents, you have modeled for us an exemplary Christian life. May the example of your unwavering trust in God and your constant willingness to surrender all the joys, the trials, the sorrows and the sufferings that filled your life encourage us to persevere in our daily challenges and to remain in joy and Christian hope. Amen. To Seek If you’re single, ask God, through the intercession of Sts. Louis and Zélie, to continue to guide you toward Him, whether you are called to the single life or marriage is farther down the line for you. To Love If you’re married, hug your spouse (and child/children) a little more tightly tonight. Make an effort to express your love in words or actions. Let your husband know you’re grateful for who he is and that you have been called to this life together. Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, pray for us! [bctt tweet="The Holiness and Example of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin #BISblog //" via="no"] Lindsay Schlegel is a daughter of God who seeks to encourage, inspire, and lift up the contemporary woman to be all she was created to be. She's the author of Don't Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God, as well as shorter nonfiction and fiction pieces, both online and in print. With joy, she speaks about recognizing God's voice and living the truth therein. Lindsay lives in New Jersey with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their kids. You can find out more about her here.

Just over one hundred and fifteen years ago, little Maria Goretti was killed in Nettuno, Italy. The Short and Saintly Life of Maria Goretti Maria’s father died of malaria when she was just nine. After his death, Maria repeatedly said to her mother, “Be brave, God will help us." Maria’s family lived in poverty, sharing their home with another family. She was unable to go to school and did not know how to read or write. While her mother, brothers, and sister worked as farmers, she was responsible for the duties within the home. Her Martyrdom On a hot summer day in July, twelve-year-old Maria was faithfully tending to her household duties, hemming a shirt in her home in the small village of Le Ferriere. It was then that her eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alessandro, ran up the stairs where she was sewing. Grasping her, he forced her in to her bedroom. As she cried out for help she said to her attacker, “No, God does not wish it…it is a sin.” She prevented him from raping her, but he then viciously stabbed her fourteen times. She died less than twenty-four hours later. Courageous Virtue Maria courageously surrendered her life to Jesus and held true to the Christian virtue of faith. Not compromising her morals, she sacrificed her own life. In her simple spirit, Maria stayed close to Jesus, trusting in His goodness and love for her. This trust was fostered by the great faith and example of her parents, who knew that their family was a domestic church, the primary place where their children would learn to grow in holiness. Their witness of faith was the groundwork for Maria’s spiritual life and her heart of mercy, which brought her to the point of forgiving her own murderer. A Model of Chastity Chastity is a struggle. Even though we may hope that the lives of our young people are safeguarded by naiveté, it seems that young people struggle with this virtue the most. Thankfully, the Church, “…continues to defend and to champion the value of sexuality as a factor that involves every aspect of the person and must therefore be lived with an interior attitude of freedom and reciprocal respect, in the light of God’s original plan” (Pope St. John Paul II). Maria exemplified this reciprocal respect when she was concerned not only for her safety, but also for the state of her attacker’s soul. The Miracle of St. Maria Goretti's Murderer Just as Maria’s life of virtue was founded upon the example of her parents, Maria’s example planted a seed of faith in her attacker’s life. Alessandro was very bitter and unapologetic after his thirty-year prison sentence was given to him. But his life changed after a dream where he saw Maria gathering flowers for him. When he came to realize the sin he committed he begged pardon from God. He also asked for forgiveness from Maria's family when he was released from prison. In 1950, Maria was canonized a Saint and her attacker, Allessandro Serenelli, was among the 250,000 people gathered to honor her on that day. [bctt tweet="St. Maria Goretti's murderer was present at her canonization. Her witness changed him. #BISblog //" via="no"] Meeting Maria Goretti The reliquary containing St. Maria Goretti’s body is in the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces and St. Maria Goretti in Nettuno, Italy. Here her bones are enveloped in a wax likeness of her body. I have made a pilgrimage to her shrine. Though I had not known much about her before my visit to Nettuno, I experienced so much grace just by being in the presence of her body and learning about her witness of mercy, and of her reciprocal respect. It challenges me to think of who I need to forgive. Where can I show mercy? If a child of twelve can courageously endure fourteen painstaking stabs and still forgive her attacker, then I ought to more easily be able to forgive my neighbor for much smaller injustices. As Pope St. John Paul II said: The only way to peace is forgiveness. [bctt tweet="The only way to peace is forgiveness. -JPII #BISblog //" via="no"] Finding Peace Are you at peace? I know that I will be asking St. Maria to pray that I have a more merciful heart. I hope that you too will consider adding her to your list of prayer warriors! Does anyone have St. Maria Goretti as a patron saint? If so, happy feast day! [bctt tweet="St. Maria Goretti: Peace Through Mercy #BISblog //" via="no"]

Freedom is not free. I saw these words on a wall at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. this past fall. I was there on a trip with 15 of my high school students while we attended the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. I watched my students take in the larger-than-life statues of real veterans who lost their lives in the Korean War. I watched them wander the memorial and take in the scene, nodding solemnly at the words: Freedom is not free. Celebrating Freedom Today, in the United States of America, we celebrate Independence Day (more commonly known as the Fourth of July). On this day in 1776, our nation’s founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, marking the U.S.A. as a country founded on freedom. Particularly, it is founded on the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. So often I take for granted many of the freedoms I have. As a woman in this country, my right to vote was earned for me. As a daughter, my parents worked to provide my sisters and me with a good childhood and an education at schools we chose freely. As a citizen, I am grateful for those members of society (including both my grandfathers and brother-in-law) who have fought in wars to defend our country. Especially today, as freedom of religion and so many others are dissected and diagnosed by politicians, it’s important to remember the human, dignified lives who are behind these freedoms. These freedoms weren’t always there. Sacrifice and Freedom As Catholics, we know about freedom. We also know about sacrifice. I don’t think we can consider either one without the other. Our God sent His only Son, Jesus, to sacrifice Himself for our lives. Though it might not seem like it from the outside, that’s true freedom. God sent Jesus to do His will, but Jesus always had the freedom to refuse. In His last hours, He asked God the Father to take the cup from Him. He did not want to die on the Cross, but knew it was His Father’s will. So He chose to accept it freely, even though it meant the greatest sacrifice from Him. What Free Will Really Means Our God also gave each of us a free will. This means we can make our own choices. With well-formed consciences and the guidance of the Spirit and Magisterium, we can choose to do what is right. Our secular world frequently misunderstands freedom and thinks that it means doing whatever you want, when you want, and how you want. Explaining free will to my students, I gave them an analogy. Imagine you have a crush on someone, I said (something that’s not hard for a teenager to imagine). Imagine that you also have powers to force this person to like you back. In this way, you get what you want. But is that love? Are you happy? Has this person chosen you freely? So, too, God does not force us to love Him and choose Him. We are free to either accept or reject His invitation to love Him. Some days, or even hours, we accept and others we reject. But God always gives His children the freedom to choose. Examples of True Freedom We have the perfect examples of this kind of rightly-ordered freedom in Jesus and Mary. We also have the examples of the holy men and women who have been recognized by the Church as Saints to show us how to choose to love God even (and especially when) it requires great love and sacrifice. During his visit to the United States in October 1995, St. John Paul II (then Pope) said Mass in Baltimore, which is the birthplace of Catholicism in America. In his Homily to those gathered at Oriole Park, the Pope said: America has always wanted to be a land of the free. Today, the challenge facing America is to find freedom’s fulfillment in the truth: the truth that is intrinsic to human life created in God’s image and likeness, the truth that is written on the human heart, the truth that can be known by reason and can therefore form the basis of a profound and universal dialogue among people about the direction they must give to their lives and their activities. [...] Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought. [...] We must guard the truth that is the condition of authentic freedom, the truth that allows freedom to be fulfilled in goodness. Praying for True Freedom in the Hearts of All Regardless of who governs our country, or which political party is in power at the time, we remember that Jesus is King of Heaven and Earth. And we can choose to let Him be King of our hearts by loving Him and serving Him in our lives each day. May God bless the United States and everyone in it—men, women, old, young, migrant, refugee, disabled, sick, rich, poor—and all those who have fought for freedoms here. If you’re celebrating today, thank God for the many gifts He has given to you and prayerfully reflect on the ways you can defend freedom of all kinds in this country. Happy and blessed Independence Day to our sisters in the U.S.! [bctt tweet="America, God, and True Freedom #BISblog //" via="no"] Mary Grace Mangano is a high school English teacher in Harlem, New York, having also taught middle school Language Arts and Religion in Chicago. She has written for Verily, Darling magazine, The Catholic Woman, and other publications. She is passionate about education and social justice, loves writing poetry, running, reading, hiking, and learning new things. You can find out more about her here.

Most every day, my dad would stop by the same parish on his way home from work to pray for his children, their vocation, and their future spouses. He would lay these intentions before the parish’s icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Knowing this, I hold a tender spot in my heart for this devotion to Our Lady. I look upon her with gratitude, knowing that she has been faithful to my father’s prayers. The Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help If you are not familiar with this icon, it is an icon which holds great symbolism and a beautiful representation of Jesus and Mary’s life. Here are a few of the symbols in the image... The Star The star at the top of Mary’s mantle is a symbol for her namesake, Mary, Star of the Sea. She is the star leading us safely to our home in Heaven. Her love brings Christ’s light to a world in darkness. Mary's Eyes Mary’s eyes are painted large to show that her gaze is fixed attentively upon us. She sees each and every need held closely within our hearts. Her Mouth Her mouth appears small in order to express how little we read of her own words in Scripture. It is also a symbol of Mary’s deep prayer and contemplation, of her pondering heart. The Colors The red she wears beneath her mantle was the color worn in her time by those who were virgins. The deep blue of her mantle was the color worn by Palestinian mothers. Mary and Jesus You will see that Jesus’ Hands have His palms turned down. This shows that He is safeguarding the graces of redemption in His mother’s hand. Mary’s left hand holds Jesus, emphasizing her maternal comfort and protection both to Jesus and to each of us, her children. Finally, my favorite symbol in the icon is not easy to see upon first or even second glance. If you look closely at Jesus’ Feet, there is just one sandal falling from His Foot. This is a symbol to show His Divine Nature. His other Foot, with the sandal still secure, shows His human nature. A symbol of Jesus’ human and divine nature. Two natures in one Person. The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston As providence would have it, the first time I visited Boston’s Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual help, the homily that morning focused on the power of prayer specifically through novenas. This is a form of prayer to which this Shrine is no stranger. In fact, during World War II, between 1941-1945, over 20,000 people came together every Wednesday to participate in the Shrine’s Novena prayers dedicated to the Basilica’s patroness. It is by these people’s faith and prayer that several miracles have been received by those who have prayed at the Basilica for a Novena of nine Wednesdays. In fact, you can still see the crutches which have been left at the shrine from those who have been healed through Our Lady’s intercession. By 1984, the Novena could be viewed on television and can now be viewed online. This towering and ornate Romanesque church with spires reaching two-hundred and fifteen feet high is a celebration of Boston’s religious freedom and is staffed by the Redemptorist religious order. Celebrating Her Feast Day Today, on the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, let’s go to her with confidence that our Star of the Sea will keep our feet Heavenward. Let’s embrace her depth of contemplation and trust that she will comfort us in our weariness and our fears. Trust that she will make our joy complete. She is our Mother, and just as she comforts Jesus and holds him close, she holds us close to her heart as well. Do you have a devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help? Never heard of her before? Let us know in the comments below! [bctt tweet="The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help #BISblog //" username=""]

I think we all have a friend who seemingly has been our friend forever, and we can’t even really pinpoint when that friendship began, or how. We just know that person has been there. Sometimes that friendship does blossom in a noticeable way later in life, and it’s when we look back that we can see how that person was present all along. You may also have heard people in the Catholic world talk about a saint “stalking” them, or talk about choosing a saint for the year. I don’t have a “stalking” experience. And this year, when I tried to choose a saint, no one connected with me (sorry, Saints!). No one, that is, except for Saint Josemaria Escriva. It was only because my sister-in-law gifted me his collection of short pieces of advice, The Way. Now I realize that St. Josemaria is one of my heavenly “forever friends”, and our friendship is beginning to blossom. Meeting St. Josemaria Escriva St. Josemaria likely has been looking out for me my whole life, even though I haven’t paid him any attention until a few years ago. I started a blog series called Embrace the Ordinary with the purpose of looking back on my week to see where God had been present in the simplest, most ordinary situations. Where and when did I encounter grace? Those moments build a life of relationship with Christ. Those grace-filled moments of my ordinary life hopefully will lead to greater holiness in my spiritual journey. I invited others to share their experiences, too. One blogger, another mom of many who certainly understands the struggle to pursue holiness within the noisy and chaotic walls of a bustling home, added a quote from St. Josemaria to her “Embrace the Ordinary” posts. The words she chose made me realize that this life of seeking holiness in the mundane is possible, even desirable and necessary. . . . there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it . . . there is no other way, my daughters and sons: either we learn to find our Lord in ordinary, everyday life, or we shall never find Him” -from St. Josemaria Escriva’s 1967 homily "Passionately Loving the World" Ordinary, Extraordinary Holiness Suddenly my life changed in a quiet way. This saint understood me. He not only understood my heart’s desire to seek God in the messy and (dare I say) dull moments of my life, he encouraged me to do so! This call to holiness is attainable! I so appreciate St. Josemaria’s encouragement to discover Christ in my ordinary life. I’m a wife and stay at home mom. The ordinariness of my life tends to lead me wondering what I’m missing, questioning whether I’m on the right track in serving and loving our Lord. Perhaps you feel that, too? Are you a college student still trying to settle into a major? Or a professional on a successful career path? Maybe you’re a single woman trying to hear God’s call to a specific vocation? Or a recently-retired woman who longs for something more to do with her life? Let St. Josemaria walk with you daily to find those hidden gems of the divine. Josemaria Escriva Gives Us a Great Example While I’ve been reading his book The Way this year, I recently also started learning a bit more about St. Josemaria’s life. As a young teen, he already lived the life of seeking God in the ordinary, even before he put the spiritual practice into words. I love the story of a winter day, when 16-yr old Josemaria saw footprints in the snow left by a bare-footed Carmelite friar. When he thought of the dedication shown in those footprints, he wondered about his own call to give his life to God. I’m struck by how this small and almost insignificant sign made a lasting impact on Josemaria. Footprints left nearly anywhere last but a short while. But in this short-lived whisper of holiness, Josemaria heard a call in his soul to give himself to God. Even though he didn’t know exactly God’s plan, he gave himself to the Lord after this encounter. I believe that Josemaria lived each day in the way he taught others: by carrying out the duties of each moment. Being faithful to those everyday tasks likely helped him determine what his specific call would be: to found Opus Dei and lead Christians of all walks to offer their daily duties to God. For Josemaria, this makes the world holy. Seeking God ought to move us to sanctify our daily work. St. Josemaria Escriva, My Forever Friend Each time I sit to read a few more spiritual “tips” from The Way, I feel as if I’ve had a quick chat with a friend who knows how to inspire me once again. I feel like he “gets” me. He knows my heart longs to serve the Lord and yet...there’s so much laundry. I’d love to sit down and talk with this man as a spiritual mentor over a cup of coffee one morning. Or with a glass of wine on our back deck while my kids run around and my husband and I listen to his spiritual wisdom. Sanctity in the Small After all, those are the moments in which we soak up grace to keep doing the nitty-gritty everyday tasks. It’s these moments, these duties (the pile of dishes, the laundry, the studying, the emptying the trash bin, the appointments, the meetings) which make up our days. And when done with a spirit of seeking God and giving Him glory, they will make us saints. Sanctity is not for a privileged few. The Lord calls all of us. He expects love from all of us—from everyone, wherever they are; from everyone, whatever their state in life, their profession or job. For the daily life we live, apparently so ordinary, can be a path to sanctity: it is not necessary to abandon one’s place in the world in order to search for God…because all the paths of the earth can be the occasion for an encounter with Christ. -Letter 24-III-1930, no. 2 Now I’m pumped to go start those loads of laundry and tackle the mountain of clutter and to-dos filling my calendar. How about you? [bctt tweet="St. Josemaria Escriva: Embracing the Ordinary #BISblog //" via="no"] Gina Fensterer is a Colorado native at heart, but the West Coast beach life suits her just fine. She currently lives in small coastal area of California with her husband and six children. Gina finds daily life to be more than enough to practice virtue. She loves the Jesus prayer, coffee at any time of day, homemade salsa, photography, and sleepy toddler snuggles. You can find out more about her here. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

As I was sitting in our church before Mass this past spring, I though of those who had generously prepared our sancutary for another day. My eyes rested on the beautiful white cloths that adorned the altar. They reminded me where we were: the Easter season. We were embarking on a seven-week season celebrating our salvation through Christ’s victory over death once and for all! I scanned the church, noticing all the touches of white that made our great celebration uniquely beautiful. They reminded me of our Easter Vigil, when we began in darkness and ended in light with trumpets and alleluias. I thanked God for loving a good party as much as we do. I was grateful for the visible reminders that it was still Easter, because although we were only two weeks in, my worries and desires that tether me to this world had already distracted me from God’s goodness that I tasted at the Vigil. The Liturgy Reminds Us As my eyes rested on the white adornments, an image of our liturgical calendar popped into my mind. The liturgical calendar is the colorful, circular calendar of 52 weeks that marks the seasons and days of our Church year. I noticed the purple seasons of preparation, white times of celebration, green of ordinary time, and other observances, including the red of Pentecost. The calendar’s colorful representation of the Church seasons reveal where we’ve been, where we are, and where we hope to go. Special days are devoted to Saints. Holy days invite us to worship in community. Celebrations like Pentecost help us stoke the fire of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. Every day, we are invited to turn to God in a new way. But this invitation isn’t limited to worship within the Church’s liturgical seasons. We each have an individual journey full of activity and unique needs for preparation, celebration and rest. Perhaps the gifts we receive from the Church seasons could also be received in the seasons of our individual lives, enriching our journeys. [bctt tweet="Every day, we are invited to turn to God in a new way. #BISblog //"] The Unending Rhythm of God's Love The most beautiful thing about our liturgical calendar is that each day points to the center. It is from there that God shines His love on the entire year. As its ordered days meet our human desire to live in a world defined by time and season, they unfold the history and mysteries of Christ’s life, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the eternal love of our God who transcends time yet is always near. Each year is different for us, not because God changes, but because we do. Yet, in each liturgical year, each day is present for us as it has been present in every age. And each day reveals the newness of Christ and an opportunity for growth and renewal. Preparation and Celebration I thought about the purple seasons, when we are called to prepare for our major Church celebrations. Four weeks of Advent are offered to prepare for Jesus’s birth at Christmas. Six weeks of Lent invite us to prepare to accept our Risen Lord at Easter. I thought about the pain from pruning when we sincerely turn to the Lord in these seasons. About the work it takes to deepen a life of prayer or to simply get one started. I need time to prepare for celebrations. Just as I clear my calendar to prepare for birthdays and other special events, God offers time to clear my heart to make space for Him. The mystery of our God Incarnate, fully human and fully divine, and His Death and Resurrection are incomprehensibly generous gifts to receive. When my heart is cluttered with distractions, wants and worries, I have little room for God’s gifts. My ability to sincerely seek His will over mine is limited. The party at the end is always worth our effort. The celebration will come, and God uses what little or much that we give to prepare us. Rest Praise God for His generosity with Ordinary Time! We would be exhausted without it. The season's name doesn't do it justice considering the extraordinary growth and rest we receive during its days. Its green color invokes images of grass fields on which to sit with God and listen anew to the stories of His life and teachings. Instead of taking our breath away as might a celebration (or a painful pruning), Ordinary Time allows us to catch it. And catch it we must. For the days of our liturgical year keep moving, encouraging us to be ready in each moment. The Liturgical Year as Invitation God always offers preparation, celebration, and rest for each day, event, and transitional season. He waits patiently for us in each season of our liturgical year. If we open our hearts to Him, He will make us ready. God invites me into His liturgical year. I long to invite Him into the daily life He’s given me. The most beautiful walk is one where our liturgical year and the gifts we receive from it are woven together with our individual daily lives. God loves life and relationships. He celebrates birthdays and anniversaries with us, just as we celebrate Christmas and Easter with Him. He celebrates our gifts and milestones, encouraging us to move forward with a freshly stoked fire, just as we move forward from Pentecost. Jesus cradles us on the days marked with sadness, loneliness, and longing. He urges us to move forward in our brokenness, just as He cradles us on Good Friday. As we mourn with Him and sit at the foot of His Cross, we know we will move forward in the glory of His Resurrection. [bctt tweet="God offers preparation, celebration, and rest for each day, event, and season. #BISblog //"] Prepare, Celebrate, Rest When we prepare, celebrate, and rest with God in our unique journeys as we do throughout our liturgical year, the highs and lows may be covered in His love. Christ’s life gives meaning to our days and guidance for our lives. He encourages us to move forward in hope and anticipation of eternal life with Him. How is God moving in your life during this liturgical season? [bctt tweet="Life in the Liturgy #BISblog //"] Nikki Frerker is a wife and mother of four who lives in Leawood, Kansas. She spends a portion of her time practicing law in the area of estate planning and enjoys serving as a Catechist for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at her parish. You may find her running before the sun rises, driving her children around at all hours, or singing praise music just loud enough to embarrass anyone willing to listen. You can find out more about her here.

Every year on Father’s Day I get a little sentimental. I can’t help it. You see, I am a daddy’s girl, through and through. I know what it is to feel a father’s unconditional love. My own daddy taught my siblings and me all about that. I know what it is, as a mother, to watch a man grow into a father. My husband has shown me that. And, most likely without even realizing it, these great men have witnessed to me just a glimmer of what our Father God’s love truly is. Not Just Going Fishing When I was about 9 years old, my daddy took me on my very own fishing trip. Just the two of us. Daddy got home from work on a Friday night and we loaded up the back of his 1984 Chevy Blazer with sleeping bags, fishing gear, lawn chairs, and the snacks and soda that I got to pick out special. We drove the couple hours down to Meramec Springs and “camped” in the back of that Blazer. My poor, 6’4” dad! Then, in the morning, he took me out to breakfast and I got to order whatever I wanted from the campground diner. After breakfast, we grabbed our poles and bait and hit the water. Daddy taught me how to bait my hook by myself and reminded me how to cast my line. I’m sure I chatted the poor man’s ear off about all manner of terribly important nine-year-old things. I’m also sure that I scared away the fish with my nonsense! But Daddy listened. He kidded me and let me talk the day away. And somehow, through some sort of fatherly magic, I managed to catch more fish than he did. Being Known and Loved By a Father Now, at the time, of course, I just thought it was really cool that I got to do something that my siblings didn’t. As the oldest, that was always fun! Looking back, though, I see that it was so much more. It was a chance that a very hard-working man had to relax and spend some one-on-one time with his daughter. To pass on to her an interest that he had that they could possibly share. This man worked tirelessly to provide for his family, pray with us, play with us, and discipline us. And he loved us more than we could understand. He knew how important it was to treat his daughter in a way that proved to her how special she was. And to this day, I love to see his cell number pop up unexpectedly on my phone. I love when I’m talking to my mom and I hear him yell from the other room, “Tell my Bebbie I said hi and I love her.” The gentle ways this giant of a man has showered his family with love have helped me believe in a good and loving God from my earliest days. Our Father Loves Us Sisters, I know that not all of us have witnessed this kind of love in our lives. And for that, I am deeply sorry. Because, you see, it’s precisely through experiencing this paternal love from my own dad (and now, as a mother, seeing the same in my husband) that I can know, feel, and believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that our God is a loving and good Father. He isn’t just some white-bearded old man in the sky who is waiting to judge us and watching us as we goof up while we grow. No! Jesus Himself told us that God is our Father. He guards us, guides us, and loves us through all of our successes and our failures. He loves us with a love beyond all telling and wants us to know that we are His. We find our true home in the Father. [bctt tweet="We find our true home in the Father. #BISblog //"] Pray for All Fathers So let us pray for all of our fathers this Father's Day. Let’s join our prayers together for the daddies, dads, pops, grandpas, uncles, godfathers, and yes, all of the priests and deacons in our lives. All of those men who have blessed our lives with love and those who have perhaps not given us what we needed. With one voice, let us ask our Heavenly Father to especially bless these men with everything they need to fulfill their vocation here on earth. With strength, dignity, and an abundance of love, may they lead our families home to Christ. What dads in your life are you celebrating this Father's Day? [bctt tweet="The Father's Love: Felt, Seen, and Believed #BISblog //"]

Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony, please come around. Something is lost and cannot be found! I grew up praying this small prayer whenever I misplaced my keys, a notebook, you name it. I didn’t know much about this much-beloved saint, and I especially didn’t know that one day I would study for six months in the city that claims him. Who is St. Anthony of Padua? June 13th is the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua (1195 – June 13, 1231), who was born just 13 years after St. Francis in Lisbon, Portugal. Baptized Fernando, he entered the order of St. Augustine at age 15. He studied in Coimbra, later combining much of his study of Augustinian theology with Franciscan. In fact, when he witnessed five Franciscan martyrs’ bodies being returned from service in Morocco, he asked for permission to join the Franciscans, and did so, taking the name Anthony. Anthony was sent to Morocco, but became ill shorty after and then, through a series of events, ended up somewhere near the coast of Sicily on his journey attempting to return home. It was through this accident that Anthony’s true gift was revealed. The strangers who took him in near Montepaolo asked him to give a short sermon. His hopeful life of quiet prayer was changed and he suddenly became a public preacher (sometimes with crowds of 30,000 people). God Changed Anthony's Plans Traveling throughout northern Italy and France, making an estimated 400 trips, he chose to enter the cities where the most heretics were present. His focus on love and the great beauty of God, as well as reconciliation with a loving Father, contrasted with those who preached only about proving others wrong or condemning specific actions. Franciscan Media notes: Over and over again, God called [Anthony] to something new in his plan. St. Anthony responded humbly and obediently, using his gift for preaching to illuminate God’s Word for others, especially the poor, and bring them close to Jesus in the Good News. Often depicted holding the infant Jesus, a lily, or a book (or all three) in his arms, this Saint lived a life of courage despite its many ups and downs. These symbols indicate his gift of oration and love of the Son of God. He is patron saint of lost items, travelers, and the poor. The Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy In fact, St. Anthony’s gift for speaking is so well known that the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy (about a 20-minute train ride from Venice in Northern Italy), holds a chapel of his relics, including his tongue, jawbone, and habit. While I studied in Padua as a junior in college, I visited and worshipped at the Basilica often. It’s a beautiful building inside and outside, an astounding work of architecture for a wonderful Saint. I would go there after class sometimes and sit in the pew to watch all the tourists and faithful visitors solemnly touching the tomb of St. Anthony. His tomb is adorned with pictures of loved ones, of lost ones, of silver lockets for hopeful love, and messages of prayer scrawled onto paper. The side is worn down from fingers rubbing it, getting as close to this saint as possible. St. Anthony Finds My own aunt has a “St. Anthony story” of an answered prayer. She was on a trip to Italy with a friend and learned that people pray to St. Anthony for “matters of the heart.” She decided to pray for a special request to meet someone, and just a few weeks later when she returned home to the States, she met her now husband. Six years later, she had an opportunity to go back to Italy with my uncle and placed a silver heart necklace on the statue of St. Anthony in the church where she first visited in thanksgiving for hearing her prayer. According to my friend Laura, who has lived in Padua her entire life, this is a popular prayer. In fact, the Pope commented on this particular intention from the "Padovani" as well. This Saint has clearly won many hearts for his humility, his insight into Scripture, and his devotion to the poor. Celebrating St. Anthony Celebrate him on his feast day by reading from your Journaling Bible, volunteering for the poor in your neighborhood, or having some cannoli (or all of the above). Let us pray: Almighty God, you have given St. Anthony to your people as an outstanding preacher and a ready helper in time of need. With his assistance may we follow the Gospel of Christ and know the help of your grace in every difficulty. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do you have any stories about St. Anthony in your life? Has he ever helps you find something you lost? [bctt tweet="Lost and Found with St. Anthony #BISblog //"] Mary Grace Mangano is a high school English teacher in Harlem, New York, having also taught middle school Language Arts and Religion in Chicago. She has written for Verily, Darling magazine, The Catholic Woman, and other publications. She is passionate about education and social justice, loves writing poetry, running, reading, hiking, and learning new things. You can find out more about her here.

Two weeks before I got married, I went on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, Italy with my mother, my dear friend, and the priest who was going to marry my husband and me. During one of our visits inside a church in Rome, my mother pointed out a side chapel to me. It contained a strikingly beautiful image of Jesus. He was holding out His most Sacred Heart in His right Hand. If you stood in front of the image, it looked like He was looking right at you. His expression was profoundly serious. Yet even more so, it was filled with love. The Vulnerability of the Heart of Christ What struck me the most about the entire image was how Jesus held out His Sacred Heart in His Hand. His Heart looked so exposed and so vulnerable. I wanted to protect it, to love it, to tell Him to keep it safe. I knelt in front of the image of Jesus and thanked Him for offering His Heart to me. As soon as I knelt and prayed, I realized that what I wanted Jesus to do–to keep His Heart safe instead of holding it out for the world–was not what we, as Catholics, are called to do. Jesus was teaching me a lesson, and the timing of that lesson, just two weeks before I got married, was perfect. I am called to hold out my heart, just as Christ does, to my husband, Mike. I'm called to hold out my heart, exposed and vulnerable, to my son Peter. I am called to hold out my heart, in pain and in joy, to my neighbor in need. Jesus was teaching me to hold out my heart to others just like He does. I must take the risk of it being broken and hurt, yet also take the risk of it being deeply and profoundly loved. The Sacred Heart Heals Our Hearts A woman’s heart is a beautiful masterpiece. Sisters, God formed and fashioned our hearts to know, love, and serve Him. Jesus wants our hearts to flourish. He wants our hearts to be pure and free! He wants to tend to the gardens of our hearts. Let Him be the gardener of your heart. Christ, the gardener of our hearts, always brings healing. He brings strength. 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. [bctt tweet="A woman’s heart is a beautiful masterpiece. #BISblog //"] The God-Man Heals Our Wounds from Men As I continued to kneel and pray in front of the image of Christ and His Sacred Heart, my mind was filled with the times I was hurt by men. In the past I held out my heart to men. In return, I felt pain and was left broken-hearted. So I asked Christ to heal my heart and to strengthen it. I asked Him to forgive me for hurting other hearts. I begged Him to prepare my heart for my husband. And I felt Christ’s love and forgiveness. He became the Divine Physician of my heart. He not only mended it, but He strengthened it, too. I left the image joyful, knowing that Christ loves me completely. If your beautiful heart that you hold out so lovingly and vulnerably, has been hurt by a man, 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 love 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: ...neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39 [bctt tweet="If your heart has been hurt by a man, run to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. #BISblog //"] Coming to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Healing Here are three simple prayers to pray to the Sacred Heart. These prayers are powerful in asking Jesus’ Sacred Heart to heal our own hearts. Jesus, I trust in You. O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, within Your Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to You with trust saying, Heart of Jesus, help me. (source) Holy Heart of Jesus, Sweet Sanctuary of rest, bring peace to my soul and settle my spirit. I vow to place all of my worries and fears into the wound of your Sacred Heart, there to be tended to in accordance with your perfect will, which desires only the best and highest good. Your love alone is enough, and I surrender to it; clinging to the hope of a swift resolution and trusting with confidence in all of your promises. (source) [bctt tweet="Heart of Jesus, Sweet Sanctuary of rest, bring peace to my soul and settle my spirit. #BISblog //"] [bctt tweet="Finding Healing in the Sacred Heart of Jesus #BISblog //"]

The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the church and to the whole world. -Pope St. John Paul II It is commonly repeated from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life’” (CCC 1324). With this in mind, it is no surprise that the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. [bctt tweet="The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life'. #BISblog //"] The Feast of Corpus Christi Pope Urban IV declared the Solemnity of Corpus Christi a universal feast in 1264. He requested that great Doctor of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas, compose the liturgical texts for this feast day. Aquinas is known for his Summa Theologiae and for showing the natural harmony between faith and reason. It was a timely request. It came during a time when many scholars debated Jesus’ true presence in the Eucharist. Aquinas on the other hand, provided the philosophy behind his definition of transubstantiation. He wrote that God extends his action “...to the whole nature of being” and that, in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: ...the whole substance of the bread is changed into the whole substance of Christ's body, and the whole substance of the wine into the whole substance of Christ's blood. Hence this is not a formal, but a substantial conversion; nor is it a kind of natural movement: but, with a name of its own, it can be called "transubstantiation". -ST III. Q75. A4. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said about Aquinas, "The beautiful hymns that the liturgy of the Church sings to celebrate the mystery of the real presence of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Eucharist are due to his faith and theological wisdom." These hymns include texts which Aquinas wrote for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi such as Adore te Devote, as well as the Tantum Ergo, both of which are often sung during Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction. Eucharistic Processions In addition to the beautiful hymns that our Church sings to celebrate the Real Presence, we also have the tradition of Eucharistic processions. Processions are an ancient tradition which have taken place from the Old to the New Testament. From the Ark of the Covenant in the Old to the procession of Jesus on Palm Sunday in the New. The Council of Trent encouraged the tradition of processions in order to emphasize the Catholic Church’s belief in the True Presence. In medieval times, whole towns and cities would participate in the procession, including nobility and military guards. As the Eucharist passed by the townspeople’s homes, they would kneel outside of their homes in reverence. This custom provides us with a great opportunity to give a public witness of our Faith. It reminds us that as we walk with Jesus before us, we are also walking with Him on our earthly pilgrimage to Heaven. Bringing Christ Enfleshed with Us Everywhere Benedict XI said that the tradition of the Corpus Christi procession gives us the opportunity to “immerse [Christ], so to speak, in the daily routine of our lives, so that he may walk where we walk and live where we live.” This Solemnity, I will be evaluating how well I am immersing Christ in the daily routine of my own life. Are you aware of Jesus’ presence in your walk and in your home? If not, ask Him how He wants you to bring Him into your daily routine. Ask Him to make His presence known to you as you walk with Him each day. Remind Him that He is invited into your home. Happy Feast of the Most Precious Body and Blood of Jesus! [bctt tweet="Corpus Christi: The Secret of the Day #BISblog //"] 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

I’m sure I am not alone in thinking that the winter of 2017/2018 will go down in history as the longest winter ever. Well into April, freezing temperatures and snowfall upon snowfall plagued our sisters all over North America making us wonder… Will summertime ever arrive? Are we destined to freeze forever? But we know better than that, don’t we? We know that our good and gracious God isn’t stagnant and neither is the world He created. We believe that: For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) And now, here we are at the end of May. The school year is wrapping up. Grocery stores are having sales on everything from charcoal to hamburger buns. And sunscreen has made its inaugural appearance on your shopping list. A Mother's Prayer for Summer So, take a moment with me now, will you? As we sit on the precipice of another summer and all the fun and beauty it brings, join me in prayer. A prayer of thanksgiving and hope and protection for all of our sisters, our families, our friends, and the adventures that summer will bring us. WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Dearest Father… You are the Creator of the seasons and the Master of the sun. With winter now past and spring in full bloom, we thank You that, once again, You have brought us from glory to glory. Out of the cold of the snow into the refreshing rains of springtime, You have faithfully been with us. When we didn’t think we could take one more snow day or one more chilly night, You sent us sunshine. When everything in nature seemed brown and lifeless, You made things to grow and bloom. We thank You, Lord, for the cold that makes us appreciate the warmth and for the rains that make the sun appear even brighter. Many of our families were touched by illness this winter, Lord, so we thank You for healing and for the restoration the warm weather brings. And because of the studies and activities and obligations that have kept us hopping for months on end, we thank You for the promise of rest, relaxation, and the slower pace of summertime. Jesus, our Brother… Journey through the summer with us. Be with us as we sink our toes into the sand, hike through the mountains, and play on the playgrounds. Laugh with us when our kids’ goggles are too big and bathing suits won’t quite cover their little bottoms. Sit with us on porch swings and poolsides, beaches and bicycles. Run with us in the sunshine and sit with us in the shade. And, Jesus, when the days of rains come or the heat gets to be too much, rest with us. Wherever our summertime quest takes us, never let us forget to find You in all things. Remind us that You are always with us, no matter where we roam. And inspire in us a desire to seek You out in every new place, new church, new destination. Because in finding You, we find our home. Spirit of Mercy… New adventures and increased family time are so much fun, but can honestly be a bit taxing at times. Please help us to show Your mercy and love to our children, no matter what excitement they undertake. Keep them safe in the water and wherever else they venture. Help us to be brave when they want to try new things, be it sleep-away camp or a new sport. Please, Holy Spirit, let them not forget every single lesson they learned in school last year. Lead us not into too much screen time, but deliver us from the complaints of boredom. Inspire in us some extra creativity to fill the long days, and grant us peaceful rest through the nights. Bless our families and friends and communities, this summer, Lord. Amen. [bctt tweet="A Mother's Prayer for Summer #BISblog //"]