Community is something we need at all walks of our faith life. Whether we are searching for the Truth and are shown the love of God from our friends around us, whether we have just decided to take the Faith seriously and our friends are embarking on the journey with us, or we have been practicing for many years and our friends help keep us grounded against the sometimes-tumultuous waters of the world around us, community is essential. The road of faith is not meant to be walked alone. Nor is it something that we should try to do alone. Learning about Community The summer after my freshman year of college, I spent the summer in Colorado with 120 other college-aged Catholics. We worked 8 hours a day at the YMCA. During our time off, we prayed, went to Mass, hung out, goofed off, and explored the Rocky Mountains. Together, we learned how to truly live life to the fullest. I’m no expert on community. I don’t know the academic terminologies about how one should be or the logic of how to make one. But I have been reflecting on the best one I have ever experienced and what it has taught me. I learned a lot about community when twenty of us decided to go on a nine-hour, ten-mile hike. Rivers and Forgiveness At the start of the trail, we walked into a vibrant forest abundant with wildflowers and aspen. With every twist and turn through the forest, we seemed to uncover more greenery and flowers. The path was easy and flat. As far as I could tell, this would be the easiest “mountain” I’ve ever climbed. That is, until we hit our first river. Although the river was swift, a huge log that had fallen over it. We were able to cross to the other side. One of the girls asked another to hold her phone as she walked across because she was afraid she would drop it in the water. It was all a very prudent and noble act until the phone-bearer dropped the phone into the river halfway across. This taught me that in a virtuous community, we must learn to trust each other. We also have to learn to forgive and to seek forgiveness when we fail. Climbing the Snowy Slopes Eventually, the trees thinned, our trail sloped upwards, and our path was strewn with snow. As we trudged on, the trail was completely hidden underneath the drifts. We needed to dig holes into the snow and walk in each other’s steps to stay on track and not fall backwards down the vertical incline. After shouts of motivation from the group, each person was able to make it over the incline and take in the wintery view of a frozen lake surrounded by the mountains. We need virtuous community that will challenge us to strive toward Heaven. Let's surround ourselves with people who will help us cling to the snowy slopes to get there. [bctt tweet="We need virtuous community that will challenge us to strive toward Heaven. #BISblog //" via="no"] Losing and Finding At this point in the journey, I assured myself that I had no desire to try to climb any mountain. I had no idea that our journey was not even halfway over. Now we needed to walk down the slope on the opposite side of the mountain. Half the group got a running start to slide down the snowy slopes into a wooded area. We got so caught up in searching out the greatest hills that we lost the trail. We had to search through the forest to find it under the snow. Soon, we found it again, but because we moved so quickly, half the group had gotten lost in the forest. I learned that community is about recognizing when someone gets lost, loving them, and gently guiding them back to the light. This is especially crucial when your friends get lost in a National Forest. Around mile six, the trail stopped at the edge of a 20-yard-wide river. We laughed out loud. The current was strong and the water was up almost to our waist. But, on the other side, we could see the trail start again. We had no choice but to wade across. We jumped in and pulled each other through the swift parts of the current until everyone was across. No tumultuous waters could stop us! Before the end of the hike, we ended up needing to cross the river seven more times, and, thanks to the grace of God, each one of us made it to the other side each time. Our virtuous community must challenge us to face the current of the world around us and strive for Truth and virtue, no matter which way the eddies swirl. Lord, Grant Us the Gift of Virtuous Community! May God give each of us a great community of friends at all walks of our lives—from the green meadows to the raging rivers and everything in between. I hope that, when we finish the hike, we’ll be able to look at those next to us and thank them for giving us the courage to continue bravely on the narrow path to the end. It is worth it. [bctt tweet="Cultivating Virtuous Community #BISblog //" via="no"] Ally Eidemueller is a Sophomore at Yale University studying economics. She loves exploring the mountains, finding the little joys in life, and watching football games just for the sake of rooting for the underdog.

The air in the chapel contains an allure, powerful yet gentle. And I am drawn into the intensity of God’s love for me. It is so present, so tangible. It is almost overwhelming. But am I just being silly, like a girl being wooed by a handsome prince in some fairy tale?...

Several years ago, I had an ongoing vision in my Christian imagination of Jesus and me on a playground. When the image first entered my prayer, I asked, “On a playground, Lord? Really?†And in reply, Jesus laughed! And with a glimmer in His eye and a warm smile across His face, He extended His hand in invitation...

As we close the Advent and Christmas seasons, we enter a brief but beautiful moment of Ordinary Time. And then, in just a matter of weeks, our journey to the Cross will begin. We would love to walk the way of Lent with you. Where Are You this Season? The Blessed is She 2020 Lent Devotional for Catholic Women is here. It is called Here, Too: Where We Meet God. It's all about encountering God in the unexpected times and places of our lives: in the desert, at home, on the road, in a storm, up on the mountain, in the garden, at the tomb. Where are you this season? No matter if your heart is parched and dry, comforted, cold and frightened, seeking peace, or facing the darkness of loss, Jesus is here, too. This Lent, we will spend time reflecting on all the ways we encounter Christ in the ordinary moments of daily life. The Inspiration Behind Here, Too Scripture is filled with stories God meeting people right where they were: at home, on the road, in desert moments, or in the storms of suffering. So this Lent, we hope to journey through the different places of our lives where we have encountered God. The seven writers of the Lent Devotional connect the stories of their lives to the stories of Scripture. We might not think of ourselves as meeting God face-to-face in the same way that people encountered Jesus in the Gospels, but the personal reflections that the writers share speak to how universal these experiences are in our lives: meeting God in our joys, sorrows, doubt, and questions. Our faith reminds us that God's presence never depends on our situation: God is with us everywhere and always, even when we can't see it. We hope that Here, Too reminds you that God is your companion on the journey—that no matter whether you feel close to God or wandering far away, God wants to find you and lead you back home, especially in this beautiful journey of Lent. What to Expect in the 2020 Lent Devotional for Catholic Women Each week of Lent a writer will walk us through a particular place (literal and figurative) in which we meet God. Every day, we will spend some time with Scripture. We will hear from the writers about their own experienced encountering God in various life circumstances, we will reflect on questions (and journal about them if you like), and dive into the Gospels. We will also lean into the Psalms. The Psalms have the whole range of human emotion—anger, delight, despair, fear, wonder—yet they are still the holy Word of God! We can find ourselves in their honesty and vulnerability. Want to Join Us on the Road to the Cross and Resurrection? Here, Too is now available for purchase, and we would love to pray through Lent with you. You can use this devotional in your small groups, with a friend, or on your own. We will be sharing our hearts and takeaways on social media throughout Lent using the hashtag #BISLent. We invite you to share with us that way, too! The 2020 Lent Bundle If you'd like some extra prayer support and encouragement this Lent, check out this year's Lent Bundle. It includes Here, Too, a stretch and wrap Rosary bracelet made exclusively for our community, and a lightweight canvas tote (perfect for your Bible and Lent Devotional!). We also have a Lent + Easter Bundle that includes Here, Too and Risen (our Easter devotional) at a discounted price. Where We Meet God Friends, we're looking forward to journey alongside you this Lent. As we reflect on God's omnipresence and everlasting love, may our eyes be opened to truly see that no matter where we are, He is here, too. Do you have your Lent Devotional yet? What is your intention for this year's Lent? Share with us in the comments below! [bctt tweet="Here, Too: The 2020 Lent Devotional for Catholic Women #BISblog #BISLent //" via="no"]

The pain and suffering were like nothing I had ever endured. I could not believe how much had been given and taken away in such a short amount of time. It felt unbearable...

Last year, my husband Mike and I went through a period of time when we didn’t pray together. It was disastrous. Thank God that time was short lived; but we saw first hand the detrimental effects of having a marriage without prayer. Prayer is the lifeline of a marriage. It is the lifeline of a family. When we are far from prayer, it is often Mother Mary who brings us gently back to her Son. I’d love to share a story about the importance of prayer and how Mother Mary strengthened my own prayer, marriage, and family. [bctt tweet="When we are far from prayer, it is often Mother Mary who brings us gently back to her Son. #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] A Diagnosis and Some Advice I have been experiencing secondary infertility for the past three years. Even as a nurse, I never knew about secondary infertility until my diagnosis. Mike and I were able to have a baby right after we were married. But after trying for a second child, we have been unable to conceive. People always have advice, especially when it comes to children and babies. When I would share with people about my secondary infertility, one of the things that kept coming up was something called the Our Lady of Pompeii Novena. It is a 54-Day Rosary Novena, often prayed during desperate situations. When I first heard that it was 54 days, it sounded like forever. It sounded like 54 years to me. So I put it off and kept putting it off...until one night. The Night That Changed My Marriage Mike and I have a huge devotion to St. Giuseppe Moscati, an Italian doctor and miracle worker. One evening, while I was writing this post about him, I was surrounded by books about him. As I was typing, Mike picked up one of the books to read. He came across a story about the friendship between St. Giuseppe Moscati and a man named Bl. Bartolo Longo, whose life is a powerful witness to God’s mercy and deep love for us. Bl. Bartolo Longo Bartolo Longo grew up Catholic but fell away from the Church during college to the point of becoming a Satanic priest. By the grace of God and through the help of a Dominican priest, he had a conversion and returned to the Faith. Yet anxiety and despair about his sinful past filled his heart and mind. One day, he almost took his own life. Thankfully, Bartolo was reminded of something he learned from his Dominican priest friend about Mother Mary. The priest had told him that no soul is lost that honors her. He declared that when we pray the Rosary, she is always with us and will always bring us to her Son. Bl. Bartolo Longo spent the rest of his life, beginning in the city of Pompeii, spreading devotion to the Rosary, especially the 54-Day Rosary Novena. He built the Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Pompeii, composed novenas, and wrote books about the Rosary. Miracles began occurring during and after his death and he was named a blessed by Pope St. John Paul II. No Sin Is Too Big For God No sin is too big for God and His mercy. I was deeply touched when Mike shared the story about Bl. Bartolo Longo with me. Too often I look back on my life and become filled with anxiety about past sins or what I could have done differently. Yet God is found in the present moment, and He is running toward us, yearning to embrace us and fill us with His mercy and love. 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 The 54-Day Rosary Novena Discovering the connection between our favorite Saint and Bartolo Longo—along with Bl. Bartolo’s incredible story of mercy and our desperation for a miracle—prompted us to start praying the 54-Day Rosary Novena that next day. God Answers Every Prayer Even though I didn’t conceive after praying the 54 -ay Rosary Novena, I can see the fruit of this novena in so many aspects of my life. God answers every prayer. It may not be in the way or time that we like, but one thing this novena has taught me is to truly pray, “Thy will, not mine, be done.” His plan, His time, and His way is always the best and is always for our salvation and holiness. Strengthening Our Marriage The biggest gift from this novena was the strengthening of our marriage. Being faithful to praying this novena meant that we spent a solid thirty minutes in prayer together each evening. It quickly became my favorite part of the day. I saw our love and joy deepen. At the end of the 54 Days, instead of turning on a show, we missed praying the Rosary and decided to start another novena! A Deeper Devotion to Mother Mary Another gift from the 54-Day Rosary Novena has been a deeper devotion to Mother Mary. To grow in relationship with someone, we need to spend time with that person. Not only was I spending more time with Mike in prayer, I was spending time with Jesus’ Mother. My love for her is deepening each day and I can’t stop thinking about her! I began looking up Catholic Marian YouTube videos and came across Fr. Don Colloway’s talk about the Rosary. It changed my life and made me want to promote the Rosary and 54-Day Rosary Novena even more. Our Lady loves us so deeply and always leads us to her Son! The Gift of the Rosary God has given us the gift of a Mother in Heaven—His Mother. So often in her apparitions, she has asked us to pray the Rosary. Fatima visionary Sr. Lucia said that, “There is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.” Want to Learn More? Here are some helpful links: 54-Day Rosary Novena Prayers How To Pray the Rosary Bl. Bartolo Longo Have you prayed the 54-Day Rosary Novena? Do you have a Rosary miracle? Please share in the comments below! [bctt tweet="Why You Should Pray the 54-Day Rosary Novena #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]

As I enter the chapel, I immediately notice that I’m not alone. The presence of Another is so real, so palpable; it fills the entire space. I kneel down before Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, housed in the beautiful gold monstrance upon the altar. I feel His eyes on me, and He smiles. He has been waiting for me...

I was so excited when my sister and brother-in-law asked my brother and I to be godparents to their first child, Xavier. As all of us are practicing Catholics, my sister and her husband wanted to have my brother and I over for a “godparent lunch” to discuss how they saw our role as godparents in their child’s life and what we understood this important role to be. More than Just a Title Over breakfast quiche, homemade waffles, and mimosas, the four of us had a very honest conversation. My sister said it was important that we did not just show up for birthday parties, but were to play a key spiritual role in the formation of their son. It was important that we take seriously our role as spiritual mentors for our godchild and to be an active part of his entire life. I was struck by this intentional way to choose and discuss the importance of the role as a godparent. Part of my current role as a Pastoral Associate in a parish is teaching the Baptism prep class for parents wanting their child to be baptized. I have seen a different families attend class with varying levels of belief or commitment to the practice of the Catholic Faith. Some know it is important to have a child baptized, but may not see the importance of weekly Sunday Mass or being a part of the parish community. Some may be well catechized and others may not. How to Choose Godparents for Your Child One of the things I spend a significant amount of time discussing in the class is the great importance of the role of godparents and the importance of choosing the right ones. Things to Consider How long have you know the person you are considering? What kind of relationship do you have with him or her? Is he or she a practicing Catholic? Are they comfortable with being a frequent spiritual witness in the life of your child? Is this a person striving to follow Jesus? Do their actions and words properly align? What traits or characteristics do you most respect or enjoy about this person? In what ways could this person be a good spiritual big brother or sister to you child as he or she grows up? What Godparents Are … and Are Not Godparents are not something to be chosen at random. This is not something you go down the role call of family relatives or friends thinking, Well Uncle Joe is up, let’s ask him! Or, Cousin Sarah is the only option because she still occasionally practices her Faith and goes to Mass. Godparents are not to be lightly considered. Godparents are spiritual mentors. They are critical faith role models to help be a part of a child's developing faith story. As a little one grows up, he or she can rely on their godparents when maybe they have questions or are wrestling with their Faith. More Questions to Consider For many faithful Catholics, it can be difficult to find good practicing godparents for a variety of reasons. Sometimes people pick well-intentioned godparents, but then the godparents may leave the Church. A helpful tool to have in your Catholic toolbox in this area is a set of questions to ask people you are considering to be the godparents of your child: What is your understanding of the role of a godparent? How do you see yourself being involved in our child’s life as a spiritual role model? Do you see this as an important spiritual commitment? Share some of your own faith journey. Are you a practicing Catholic? Do you attend weekly Sunday Mass? Do you pray regularly and go to Confession on a frequent basis? How can you help support us as parents to help our child grow in faith? These questions are just a guide! They are not a catch-all, and you may want to edit these and add your own. Pray About It The critical point is to set aside time to reflect, pray, and think about whom would fit this spiritual role well for your child. The importance of choosing godparents matters too much to not have an honest conversation with people you are considering. The choosing of godparents is not necessarily an easy task, but it is a matter of grave importance. If anything, these questions and ideas to consider will help streamline the process for you in making that important decision. How have you typically gone about picking godparents for your child/children? When considering someone, what are the most important things you consider before making a decision? [bctt tweet="How to Choose Godparents for Your Child #BISblog //" username="amoderngrace"]

We have spent this first week together diving more deeply into the mystery of the Heart of Jesus: so merciful, so gentle, and so personally loving to each one of us. What a gift to start 2020 with several weeks of reflection and prayer of the gift of the Heart of Jesus to us! There are many different types of prayers of consecration to the Sacred Heart. Today we reflect on one from St. Margaret Mary Alacoque...

Like many little girls growing up, I found joy and creativity in using my imagination to play dress-up or house or to write short stories based off the American Girls book series, which I dearly loved. However, when it came to playing dress-up, I differed from most other girls my age...

It’s almost time. In a few days, one of the most beautiful and beloved times of the year will come to a close. And for me, that’s always a little hard. The combined Advent and Christmas seasons invite us to enter into the miraculous story of Salvation History. We carve out special time for prayer and reflection. We light candles and wait in joyful hope. We prepare our hearts and homes for the birth of the Babe who changes everything. And then we celebrate! Not only for a day, but for eight … and then twelve … and then through the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. Yes, there is a warmth and glow to the Advent and Christmas seasons that I love! And when it’s time to pack it away for another year, I feel an emptiness in my heart and home. Grateful for the Seasonal Life Thankfully, we live within the rhythm of a seasonal life. The natural and liturgical seasons, coupled together, don’t allow me to hold onto one season or another too tightly. Rather, they propel me forward and beckon me to fully enter the present moment. So I unplug the twinkle lights and box up the ornaments. I welcome a new season: Winter’s Ordinary Time. [bctt tweet="The natural and liturgical seasons, coupled together, don’t allow me to hold onto one season or another too tightly. Rather, they propel me forward and beckon me to fully enter the present moment. #BISblog //" via="no"] Liturgical Living Between Christmas and Lent This block of Ordinary Time does not last very long. It begins just after Christmas and ends when Lent begins. Here are a few ways to live liturgically during winter’s Ordinary Time: January: the Holy Name of Jesus January can be filled with expectation. We hope to accomplish specific New Year’s resolutions. We also dare to hope for what the new year could bring: health, hope, love, financial security, and so on. This can cause our hearts to grow restless because we want to control the outcome of our hopes, dreams, and goals. It is fitting, then, that the month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. Because while we do have some control over our resolutions and goals, this dedication reminds us that Someone far greater has all the control, and we can entrust our new year to Him. To practically dedicate January to the Holy Name of Jesus, consider praying with your favorite Name for Jesus. It could be Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, Lord of Lords, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, or something else. Whichever one resonates with you, write it out and place it wherever you pray. Invite Jesus, under this particular title, to reign in your heart and take care of you, as you begin the new year. Solidify Prayer Practices Speaking of prayer, Winter’s Ordinary Time encourages us to recall our encounter with Christ this Christmas and decide how we want to practically live it out in the ordinariness of life. Hold onto your prayer practices of Advent and Christmas, and solidify them into a daily prayer routine. One way to do this is by praying with the daily Psalm or Gospel reading, which can be found online or in a printed format, such as the Magnificat. Journal about how God is speaking to you personally through His Word. Add a Rosary, or even just a decade, to your day. Discern whether the Holy Spirit is prompting you to begin a weekly Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament. Order Our Days in Peace As you begin adding birthdays and other special dates to your new calendar, decide how to make this year more spiritual. Pencil in what time you will pray each day. Schedule time to attend an extra Mass each week and Confession each month. Decide what feast days you want to celebrate and devotions you want to add. Select the spiritual books you want to read. The key is to not add all the spiritual things at once. Rather, be mindful of what is already present in your life and build (slowly) from there. February: the Holy Family The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family. For those who prayed with All the Generations Advent + Christmas devotional, this is a perfect time to continue asking God to reveal your unique place in His family. It is also be a lovely time to pray intently for your own family’s needs, asking the Holy Family to intercede in a special way. Keep Your Nativity Up If you’re still having a hard time putting the Christmas decor away, tradition suggests that Catholics keep their nativities up through the Feast of the Presentation, since it points us toward Jesus’ birth. The Presentation is celebrated on February 2nd, 40 days after the birth of Jesus. We find this event in the Gospel of Luke 2:22-40, and we meditate on it in the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Under the Law, Joseph and Mary presented their first-born son in the temple. This is another ‘epiphany’ celebration insofar as the Christ Child is revealed as the Messiah through the canticle and words of Simeon and the testimony of Anna the prophetess. -from Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year Learn about Sacramentals The Presentation is also called Candlemas, since this mini-epiphany expresses that Jesus is the Light of the World. Candlemas leads us to a deeper understanding of the purpose of sacramentals within our Catholic Faith. Sacramentals, such as holy water, the Rosary, and candles are “sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments” (CCC 1667). They strengthen our devotion to and love for the Lord. On Candlemas, it is customary to have candles blessed. If there is a parish near you that observes this tradition, bring candles that you will use in your home on the Sabbath or feast days and have them blessed. Receive an Extra Blessing Those blessed candles are put to work right after Candlemas. For the following day is the feast of St. Blaise, who was a physician and bishop. He is attributed for saving a child who was choking on a fish bone, and this miracle led to the blessing of throats on his feast day. Placing blessed unlit candles upon a person’s throat, the priest prays Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you free from every disease of the throat, and from every other disease. In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This blessing is especially comforting to people with throat-based illnesses. For example, I have thyroid issues, and I find great solace in having my throat blessed every year. But really, a blessing upon the throat can be good for all of us as we fight colds and flus this winter. How do you plan on growing in your faith during these ordinary winter days? [bctt tweet="Liturgical Living Between Christmas and Lent #BISblog //" via="no"]

Over the history of the Church, there have been many strong intellectual minds that have left us with ideas and thoughts to reflect upon. In more recent times, one such theologian is our previous Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. In his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, he writes: “He has loved us first and he continues to do so; we too, then, can respond with love." ...

Art, music, and words are powerful tools for revealing the glory of God. Many of us have had profound experiences while observing the beauty of nature or a stunning cathedral. The language of beauty, truth, and goodness speaks to the deepest parts of the human heart. Today, I offer you this image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for prayer and reflection...

Have you ever read a verse of Scripture or listened to a particular story in the Gospels and wondered, "What is Jesus talking about?! This _____ cannot possibly be as simple as He explains it!" The verse to guide our prayer today from the Gospel of St. Matthew is one such verse for me...

I have heard the names Andre and Bessette in my life lately, as friends have used them as names for their children. I know in at least one case that this was to honor the Saint Andre Bessette, whose feast we celebrate today. This man’s virtue and example led to his beatification in 1982 by Pope John Paul II and his canonization in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. The Early Life of Andre Bessette In 1845, Alfred Bessette was born to a large family in the province of Quebec, Canada. Orphaned and adopted at the age of twelve, he began his work in a diverse area of trades including work as a shoemaker, baker, blacksmith, and factory worker. Due to his frail health, he was unable to hold a job for very long. Finally, when he was twenty-five, he submitted his application to the Congregation of the Holy Cross, whose motto is Ave Crux, Spes Unica meaning “Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope”. This motto calls on those in the community to bear the cross as a gift and share the hope of the Gospel with others. Despite his desire and willingness to bear this cross, his entrance did not come with ease. While Alfred’s childhood pastor sent a note of recommendation, saying, “I am sending you a saint” the community initially denied him entrance due to his poor health. Eventually, after the prompting of the Archbishop of Montreal, he was admitted into the community. He took the name Andre, in honor of his childhood pastor. A Shared Simplicity Andre Bessette’s example reminds me of the humility of St. Joseph. He received the simple tasks he was given with meekness. He served diligently as a doorkeeper, sacristan, and laundry worker. French Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet wrote, “It is only an extreme simplicity that can render the heart obedient and accommodating.” Bossuet makes the point that it is only in striving to fully surrender ourselves to God that we can come to complete unity with Him. It is this surrender and union to God that enabled Andre to serve so obediently and humbly with his community. He approached his everyday, menial tasks with the same attitude that St. Joseph would, with obedience and positivity. In Andre’s words: My only ambition is to serve God in the most humble tasks. Mundane to Majestic His joyful spirit in these mundane duties proved his faithfulness and perseverance. It would prelude the great mission that God had in store for him. A mission to fundraise for what would become the world’s largest shrine, dedicated to a man with whom he shared much in common: the humble and simple St. Joseph. While Brother Andre only stood five feet tall, the monument that he helped to found stands at the highest point in Montreal. It is taller than even Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London or Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. His Great Mission Brother Andre was given permission to start fundraising in 1900 and the original chapel officially opened in 1904. This basilica, called St. Joseph’s Oratory, began in 1924, on the fiftieth Jubilee of Brother Andre’s Final Vows. The cornerstone of the basilica was blessed before a crowd of over thirty-thousand people. Unfortunately, Brother Andre passed away before the basilica was completed. Yet after his passing, construction continued. But not without the help of thousands of workers. Finally, on March 19, 1955 , the Feast of St. Joseph, it was inaugurated as a Minor Basilica. A Peek Inside A friend and I made a pilgrimage to Saint Joseph’s Oratory a few summers ago, we dubbed the road trip “The Great Canadian Adventure.” My arrival to the destination was met with a deep sense of St. Joseph’s presence. I felt him most closely not in the basilica itself, but rather at the end of the votive chapel downstairs, which is near both the crypt church and the tomb of Brother Andre. This art-deco votive chapel was designed in the late 1940’s and it holds objects like canes and crutches which were left behind by grateful pilgrims showing off the graces and healings which have been granted through St. Joseph’s intercession. A Candle Glowing Imagine 10,000 candles lit all around you. This chapel glows with the light of them and you can even feel the heat of these small flames as you walk past. The flickering lights led me to an unassuming hallway at the end of the chapel where there stood a small statue of St. Joseph. In contrast to the votive chapel, one solitary wick floats on the surface of a basin containing vegetable oil in front of the statue of St. Joseph. I knelt down to pray with him there and I felt such peace. I felt like he was praying there right beside me. It was only later that I learned that it was the statue where Brother Andre took a bit of oil from a lamp that was burning in front of it, and he offered that oil to those who were sick, telling them to rub it on their body and to ask for St. Joseph’s intercession for their healing. This oil is not meant to be used as a treatment, but rather a form of faith. This candle burns day and night and the oil is given to pilgrims as they entrust their petitions into St. Joseph’s fatherly intercession. Great Humility The location of this statue of St. Joseph was not fixed in a place of great prominence, reflecting his great humility, the same humility he shared with Andre. Now, nine years after Brother Andre’s canonization, I have a canister of this oil in my home, a wedding gift from friends of mine, two Holy Cross Priests. This oil is a reminder to follow Saint Andre’s example and more fully surrender my heart to God. We can trust in His plan, because even if our everyday life looks like a routine of mundane tasks like Brother Andre’s, God will bear fruit out of our everyday yesses. [bctt tweet="St. Andre Bessette #BISblog //" via="no"]

The song we are reflecting today is one of my top three favorite worship songs. A few months ago, I was flying home from the Southern BIS Shine Retreat when I had a powerful encounter with God on the airplane as I was listening to this song...

We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage. // Matthew 2:2 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Abigail Katherine Rose from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper