This morning, Father approached the ambo, offered the customary greeting and announcement, and began to read the assigned Gospel passage from Mark. As I stood listening, it struck me: “I was here this morning.” The passage chronicled Jesus’ call of Levi (Matthew) and subsequent dinner arrangements and proclamations, inferring that He is the physician sent to the sick of soul. This was not the first time in recent memory that this account had been presented to me; I had used it less than four hours earlier for my morning meditation. (I find it nice to read the Scriptures before hearing them at Mass.) I really appreciate passages with concrete images and encounters into which I can easily place myself. I find them much more conducive to meditation than lofty, philosophical discourses. But, that could just be me; everyone’s different. Placing Myself Before Him in the Word When I pray with Scripture, I follow a simple process. First, I call to mind Christ’s presence. This works especially well when praying before the tabernacle, but can be done anywhere. I hand over to Him any concerns which may be weighing on my heart. I open up to the Scripture passage I’ve chosen, and slowly read it. I picture the scene and reflect upon it. I put myself there and relate to Him. I speak to Him, and take time to try to listen to Him. After a time, I re-read part of the passage or move on a bit. I ponder, speak to Him, and listen some more. I close my prayer time with thanksgiving. Encountering Him In this passage, we were told of Levi’s concrete, life-changing encounter with our Lord: As He passed by, He saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Him. // Mark 2:14 This morning, in my own time of quiet prayer, I, too, had encountered Jesus. Like Levi so long ago, I had met Him, present with me in the tabernacle of our chapel. Now I was meeting Him again as the Scriptures were read aloud. Soon, in the most extraordinary way, I would be meeting Him at Holy Communion! Meeting Him in the Morning It is beautiful to be able to meet Jesus several times a day, in the Scriptures, in “the Breaking of the Bread,” and in the people I encounter. I encourage you, dear sister in Christ, to take time in your busy day to meet Jesus in His Word. It can be an amazing experience, giving purpose and direction to your day. I don’t know about you, but I have a ways to go in being more conscious of His holy presence with me throughout the day. A step in the right direction, though, is meeting Him for a morning visit.   [bctt tweet="The Ways of the Word #BISblog //" via="no"]   Sr. Christina Neumann is a Franciscan Sister serving the elderly and disabled at St. Anne's Living Center in Grand Forks, ND. Along with office work, gardening, and duties in the chapel there, she also writes a weekly blog for her religious community.

Throughout my life as a Catholic Christian, I have had moments of abundant grace and peace when my life is well ordered, I am centered on Christ, and prayer comes easily. In those periods of spiritual joy, I am eager to pray with Scripture, frequent the Sacraments, and read edifying books. These times in my life are pure gifts from God. Over the years, however, I have learned that just like the ocean tide flows in and out, so does my spiritual life. It ebbs and flows. And a period of spiritual joy is likely to be followed by a spiritual funk. Suddenly, my prayer becomes monotonous, even unappealing, and slothful habits like reaching for my phone instead of my Bible sneak back into my life. Being in a spiritual funk is hard, frustrating, lonely, and relentless. As much as we want to avoid a season of spiritual dryness, the only way to get out of it is by going through it. Movements of the Heart In his Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius of Loyola describes these spiritual movements as consolation and desolation. It is important to be aware of these movements of the heart. And in our awareness, we are invited to relate them to the Lord. Saint Ignatius offers an approach for understanding the different movements produced in the soul, and for recognizing which movements are good (consolation) and which ones are bad (desolation). This is commonly called the Discernment of Spirits. Consolation Consolation is a gift of the Holy Spirit who gives “courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations, and peace. This He does by making all easy, by removing all obstacles so that the soul goes forward in doing good” (Spiritual Exercises #315). In consolation, or spiritual joy, we experience a desire to do God’s will. We see our lives bearing fruit, because we are abiding in Christ. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. // John 15:4-5 When we are in consolation, we often experience graces, such as: courage a sense of community happiness humility (being dependent on God; rejecting self-sufficiency) being held by the Father hope   Desolation On the other hand, desolation is not a gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the work of the evil spirit who is inclined to “harass with anxiety, to afflict with sadness, to raise obstacles backed by fallacious reasonings that disturb the soul. Thus, he seeks to prevent the soul from advancing” (#315). When we are in desolation, or a spiritual funk, we can experience a “darkness of soul, turmoil of spirit, an inclination to what is low and earthly, restlessness rising from many disturbances and temptations … The soul is wholly slothful, tepid, sad, and separated, as were, from its Creator and Lord” (#317). During a spiritual funk, we can feel an imbalance in our souls that is manifested in a number of ways: disappointment discouragement doubt fear feelings of inadequacy isolation How to Get Out of A Spiritual Funk As mentioned above, the only way out of a spiritual funk or time of desolation is by going through it. And we do this with patience (with ourselves and God), trust, and surrender. Because, as Saint Ignatius says, “consolation will soon return” (#321). In the midst of desolation, Saint Ignatius advises us to preserve our established prayer habits. He even finds it helpful to intensify prayer, meditation, examination of life, and penance. “In time of desolation we should never make any change, but remain firm and constant in the resolution and decision which guided us the day before the desolation, or in the decision to which we adhered in the preceding consolation” (#318). Here are a few spiritual routines and uplifting activities to maintain during desolation: daily prayer daily lectio divina weekly Mass monthly Confession time with faith-filled friends service (intentionally focusing on others, rather than ourselves) Through these prayerful and edifying pursuits, we maintain a posture that permits the Lord to move us through desolation. Consider the following ways to accept, and even embrace, our desolation: Remember a time of consolation and the graces we received. Hold onto the Biblical promises of Christ. Trust in the Lord to move us through desolation. Accept that we cannot do this without Jesus. Rest in the Lord. The Blessing of a Spiritual Funk This may sound contradictory, but we can find blessing in our spiritual funk or our desolation. We can approach this time of suffering as an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord, lean into His promises, and cultivate deeper self-knowledge. Above all, during a spiritual funk, it is important to remember that just like the ebb and flow of the ocean tide, we move in and out of spiritual consolation and desolation many times throughout our lives. These movements of the heart are a natural part of the spiritual life. And when we invite God into each moment, we grow in confidence that “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).   [bctt tweet="How to Get Out of a Spiritual Funk #BISblog //" via="no"] HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

When I was a kid in elementary school, I started watching a series called The Amazing Race. I loved analyzing every task and making decisions based on the clues as if I was running the race myself. I loved the element of mystery as competitors found out your next destination when you read your clue. I became even more mesmerized when I witnessed a father-daughter duo competing. As a child I thought, "One day, I am going to do the Amazing Race with my dad." A Dream Later Realized The Amazing Race. I wrote it on my childhood dream list. Then, life happened. I went to high school, moved to Australia and met the most handsome man on the planet, went to university, began a career, got married, and started a family. A beautiful husband, our beautiful girls, a great relationship with my parents and brothers, surrounded by a few good friends... I felt like this is what my childhood dreams were made of. One day, in God’s perfect timing, I was reminded that one of my childhood dreams hadn’t yet been fulfilled. The wild one, the one that I said outrageously without inhibition, before I was aware of such a thing as comfort zone or fear or limitations: competing on The Amazing Race with my Dad. I saw an advertisement encouraging people to apply for the upcoming season and I thought, why not? A Hope for Evangelization I was fearless about applying but only because God had planted seeds in my heart through the previous Australian season. In that season, a team of religious sisters from the Missionaries of God’s Love were competing. During their time on the race, they were so bold in their faith and even once stopped their race to pray for healing over the de-militarized zone in between the border of South and North Korea. They did this knowing that a few seconds can cost them the whole race! Another team I loved were a husband and wife duo who reminded me that our children are a source of inspiration to reach greater heights and in turn we inspire them to dream big with the Lord! So on the final day of submissions, I grabbed my camera and approached my dad. “We are going to film an audition video for the Amazing Race” I told him, and pressed record. Throughout the whole selection process, my dad was in disbelief. “I have better chances of winning the lottery than getting casted for the Amazing Race.” As we progressed along the selection process, my Dad still remained unconvinced. "There are so many people being interviewed for the season, let’s just go for the ride." Until one day, we were sitting in front of the executive producers of the show via Zoom. This was when we realized how close we actually were. Hope in the Wait I had been praying for my childhood dream to come true. But when a few weeks passed after the final interviews and we hadn’t heard from the casting team, my prayer changed to, “Lord, if this is not Your will, please remove the desire from my heart. I do not want to be heartbroken. Please give me the grace to accept that whatever is on the other side of this as part of your plan." The day after that prayer, I got a phone call from the casting team. "A team is no longer able to compete in the race. Are you and your dad still available?” It felt like the Lord was ensuring that my intentions were aligned with His. Not that He needed the clarity, but I did. And We're Off I packed my bags. I brought the essentials: my Rosary, the BIS journaling Bible, and my miraculous medal. When I left home, I said goodbye to my husband and children with an unshakeable sense of peace. This is how I knew that the journey we were about to embark on was God’s plan for my life. This sense of peace was a reassurance that God had His hand over this very season. This peace—the peace that I often misplace as I go about my daily life—was so profound that it could only be pointed to the Lord and His peace that surpasses all understanding. In our first leg of the race, Dad and I were in danger of elimination. Serving a penalty on the mat isn’t usually positive in The Amazing Race context but our Faith teaches us to wait not in desperation but in hope. Trusting that whether we went home that day or got to keep racing, God has a plan on the other side of it. Thankfully our journey wasn’t finished yet. Racing for Opportunities Throughout the race, we prayed for opportunities to shine God’s light, to have opportunities to be counter-cultural in a competition by helping others, and for the grace to hold on to our virtues especially when the competition got tough. Dad and I loved praying the Litany of Trust, together and sometimes individually. Looking back now, I can truly say that our strongest days racing were the ones we began holding hands in prayer and ended with thanksgiving to the Lord. As the race progressed and competition got tougher, it became difficult to get further when our intention was to remain true to our virtues and abiding by the race rules. One sunny day on a beach in beautiful Queensland Australia, we were the last team to check in and we were eliminated from the race. It was bittersweet as I realized that my childhood dream came to an end but my grown up dream of a family with my husband is waiting for me to come home. A Final Consolation As a reassurance from God that this season of my life and the way the race unfolded was a part of His plan, the doors of our final hotel opened to face beautiful doors of a Catholic cathedral. We were in the state of Queensland, very far from our home state of Victoria and also far away from the restrictions and church lockdown that was brought by the pandemic. The day before I went home to my family and the lockdown that awaited in my home state, I was able to meet Jesus in Reconciliation and Eucharist in person. My dad and I received Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time in six months, and that may have been just the most extravagant consolation for my then-wounded heart. What followed were a few long months of grieving the end of our race journey and processing the shift in my life. Competing in the race was the final fulfillment of all my childhood dreams. Finishing my time on the race it was like fully closing the childhood chapters in my book of life and now with thanksgiving, I get to fully step into what the Lord has planned for me in adulthood. Nothing is Too Marvelous for the Lord The Lord is so extravagant. His plans for us are so great and nothing is too marvelous for Him! He remembers the details—even childhood dreams that we forget as adults. What are your childhood dreams? Bring them to the Lord once again today!   [bctt tweet="The Amazing Race + God's Amazing Grace #BISblog //" via="no"]   Jobelle Collier and her husband, Alan, are raising two girls in country Victoria, Australia. Together, they seek to grow in God's call to a life lived to the full. In 2020, Jobelle got to live out her childhood dream of competing in the Amazing Race with her dad.

Halloween and All Saints' Day are behind us. Thanksgiving and Advent are imminent. And Christmas and New Year’s Eve are only a few weeks behind. While this time of year is certainly festive with songs promoting peace and joy ringing through the airwaves, it is also a time when it is easy to be swept up in busy-ness, tasks, and even family drama. It can become a time that is anything but peaceful. To help prepare myself to make it through this incredible season with love and virtue ruling in my heart, I turn the Saints and their quotes about peace to refer back to when I find myself losing it. False Impressions of Peace There exists an incredibly common misunderstanding about peace. Too often we fall for the idea that in order to find peace and maintain it, we have to reach a certain goal or place in our lives. It can be as simple as “when grad school ends,” “when summer is over and the kids are back in school,” or “as soon as I get this promotion.” We have all bought into the lie that experiencing peace is opposed to facing adversity. But as Christians, that is actually the exact opposite of what Christ taught—in fact, He assures us that we will always have tribulation (see John 16:33)! Yet, in that same verse, our Shepherd says, “I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace.” Jesus came so that we would have His peace in the midst of our hardships; peace that the world cannot give (see John 14:27). Saint Quotes About Peace The Saints are saints because they were able to find this peace. No matter what hardship they faced, they remained masters of their inner selves ... undisturbed and unprovoked. This does not mean they were not sometimes angry, heartbroken, or down-trodden. It means that they chose to take all those things, surrender them to God, and exchange them for His peace. They understood the truth that peace is not some destination to be reached, but instead, a manner of traveling through life. Christ came to give us this peace, and the Saints are full of advice in how to “find” it. On Ways to Achieve Peace “The tree that is beside running water is fresher and gives more fruit.” // Saint Teresa of Avila This running water is the living water of Jesus. Spend intentional time in prayer—even just for a few dedicated minutes—will bring more peace to your day. “Come to Christ where all is love.” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina Many times when we are lacking peace, it is because we ourselves have not experienced true love from people that day. We are made to be loved! "Peace is not just the absence of war. Like a cathedral, peace must be constructed patiently and with unshakable faith.” // Pope Saint John Paul II Do not rush the process of peace, or condemn yourself for not being perfect at it right away! That will bring about the opposite of peace! “Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labors.” // Saint Therese of Lisieux In other words, if we can remember what is really important and focus on the reward of Heaven, we will find greater peace in that situation. So maybe learning more about Heaven and what Heaven will be like would be helpful! “Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people’s, if we are always criticizing trivial actions—which are often not real defects at all, but we construed them wrongly through our ignorance of their motives.” // Saint Teresa of Avila Essentially, we become upset when we make assumptions about other people and why they are doing what they are doing. If we do not assume, and refuse to judge their motives, and are content with the fact that we do not need to know, we will have more inner peace in the day-to-day. “Go to the tabernacle in spirit when you are not able to do so physically!” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina Easy enough and super effective! “If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.” // Saint Teresa of Calcutta Even if we are not gossiping when speaking to our friends, it often does very little to improve a situation other than to bring about some fleeting momentary relief. If we talk with our enemy—not even necessarily in a hashing-it-out sort of way—in an authentic, open way in which we are honestly attempting to love them, over time our opinions about our “enemy” can change. “Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” // Saint Francis de Sales Stop the rush! And maybe make time to read the Introduction to the Devout Life by this great spiritual master. “Don’t be so engrossed in the activities of Martha that you forget the silence and surrender of Mary. May the Virgin who reconciles both duties so well be your model and inspiration.” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina More simple advice. Fly to Mary for all your needs! “Opting for peace does not mean a passive acquiescence to evil or compromise of principle. It demands an active struggle against hatred, oppression and disunity, but not by using methods of violence. Building peace requires creative and courageous action.” // Pope Saint John Paul II It is good to be disturbed by injustice, but violence (even aggressiveness or virtue signaling on social media) is never going to bring us peace. Rather, we go to the Creator in prayer and seek a creative and courageous solution. “You pay God a compliment by asking great things of him.” // Saint Teresa of Avila Ask Him for the peace the world cannot give, especially in the midst of your greatest difficulties! “Pray, Hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless.” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina Did you know that you can reject worry? When you feel it creeping in, say in your heart, mind, or even audibly, “I reject you, spirit of worry, in the Name of Jesus. Holy Spirit, fill me with all good things.” “If certain thoughts bother you, it is the devil who causes you to worry, and not God….” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina Once again, verbal rejection in the moment is powerful! When We Need Comfort, Strength, + Encouragement “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need anything more? Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.” // Our Lady of Guadalupe A quote that always brings me reassurance. I imagine myself in Our Lady’s arms and wrapped within her cloak. "Even if the world were to capsize, if everything were to become dark, hazy, tumultuous, God would still be with us.” // Saint Pio of Pietrelcina The better understanding we can gain of God’s limitless love and power and the more we increase our trust in Him, the more comforting the idea of God “always being there” becomes. “May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.” // Saint Teresa of Avila A prayer for each of us, from the great Doctor of the Church, who herself experienced the dark night of the soul. “The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.” // Saint Frances de Sales This visualization exercise from Saint Frances is one that almost always brings me to tears when I meditate upon Jesus doing so with my crosses! The Effect of Our Peace on the World Striving for authentic peace is a mark of a true Christian seeking holiness, as ultimately it is a testament to our belief in the Gospel: that Christ can and has conquered anything and everything! And while securing this peace is certainly beneficial for our own lives and homes, it can have a wider effect than we may ever realize… “Acquire interior peace and a multitude will find salvation through you.” // Saint Seraphim of Sarov A multitude! What are your favorite Saint quotes about peace?!   [bctt tweet="Saint Quotes for When You Need Peace #BISblog //" via="no"]

As a 20-something unmarried gal, I pretty much have full reign over my daily schedule including how and when I pray. This state of life brought about a sweet season of spontaneity with the Lord, but did not inspire a lot of consistency on my part. I found myself falling asleep while trying to pray at night, or only being able to stop by the chapel for five minutes and calling that encounter sufficient for the day. Feeling the gentle invitation to go deeper and make connecting with Him a daily priority, I felt called to set aside time for daily prayer in the morning. The Bible, especially the Psalms, point towards morning prayer in particularly poignant ways: For to you I will pray Lord; in the morning you will hear my voice; in the morning I will plead before you and wait. // Psalm 5:3-4 My alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. on weekdays. As a non-morning person, this comes much too early for my liking most of the time. I began attempting my new morning routine in earnest, but was immediately confronted by my own weaknesses. I hit the snooze button one too many times and even found myself dozing when trying to pray. Using Your 5 Senses in Morning Prayer As Catholics, we are blessed to have numerous examples of prayer and sacrament that engage our physical senses to draw us to God. For me, the key to being successful (i.e. not falling back to sleep and really connecting with the Lord in the mornings) came from creating habits in my morning prayer that engage all five of my senses. Prayer Feels Like One of the biggest game changers when it came to making time for daily prayer was setting aside a place. My place is an arm chair in the corner of my bedroom. It’s comfy, large enough to curl up, and has a big basket of blankets right beside it. For me, prayer feels like sitting down in my chair and wrapping up in a blanket. I’m instantly comfortable, relaxed, and ready to be with the Lord. Even if you don’t have a space specifically designed for prayer in your home, make sure you get out of bed and move to a different part of the house. Whether it’s the couch or kitchen table, physically moving yourself to a new location ensures you are more alert. Head to the same place each morning and eventually your brain will connect the habit, recognizing that spot as the place you pray. Prayer Sounds Like When engaging in mental prayer, I definitely recognize the importance of silence. It is important to give the Lord room to speak in our hearts. However, first thing in the morning, it is easy to let our minds drift or doze, especially if we're praying silently. Whenever I find myself getting off track, I start talking to Him audibly. This forces me to focus on what I am trying to relate to Him and ensures I’m really having a conversation with the Lord (as opposed to just thinking about my problems). Prayer Tastes Like Every morning before I begin in prayer, I make a brief pit stop in the kitchen to visit my Keurig. I’m not a coffee gal, but as an avid tea drinker, starting the day off with a London Fog (a heavenly combo of Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup) always puts me in a good mood. I like to make my drink before I settle into to prayer for two reasons: The time it takes to make it ensures I’m even slightly more awake then I normally would be if I went straight into prayer. Caffeine. Sipping throughout prayer helps me to wake up and focus more clearly, sooner than if I was just rubbing sleep out of my eyes. There’s just something sweet about chatting with the Lord over a warm beverage like you would any friend. Consider having your morning tea (or coffee) with Jesus. Prayer Looks Like When my mind wanders in mental prayer, sometimes it is just a flitting distraction that comes and goes, and sometimes it is enough to get me really off course. When this happens, it can be helpful to have visual cues in your line of sight that can help direct your attention back to the Lord. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, it can be as simple as a prayer card you keep in your journal or a crucifix in your room. Having something to look at when you’re distracted is a gentle reminder to get back to what you’re there for: connecting with the Lord. Prayer Smells Like One of the most powerful senses we have as humans is our smell. Whether it is the smell of freshly cut grass that brings us back to summer nights or chocolate chip cookies that make us feel at home, smell can transport us instantly. For me, prayer smells like a very specific scented candle. I light the same candle each morning when I go to pray. It is a candle I only use when I'm praying, and I’m careful not to light it at any other point in the day. It is just another way to ensure there is a physical cue that reminds me to enter in. This can be any scent you want (I personally love the smell of incense and my prayer candle smells just like it!) And as an added bonus, the warm glow of my prayer candle reminds me of the candle that burns next to each tabernacle. Outside the tabernacle it signals to us the Lord’s presence within, and I love looking at my candle in the morning and being reminded of the Lord’s presence with me there. How Do You Engage Your Senses in Prayer? Prayer may feel, sound, taste, look or smell different for your personal morning routine, but hopefully by engaging your senses in new ways you will be able to connect more deeply with the One who can’t wait to converse with you.   [bctt tweet="Morning Prayer + Our 5 Senses #BISblog //" via="no"]   Shelby Hennen is a young professional who hails from the Midwestern metropolis of Kansas City, MO. She loves a good book, a good chat with a friend, and a good taco joint.

We have our favorite sins: those sins we find ourselves confessing over and over again. Those sins that always seem to make an appearance, despite our greatest efforts at overcoming them. We have those sins which we naturally tend toward, and consequently, are the sins which we strive the most to overcome. “I’m gonna read a book about purity so I can overcome my sins of lust.” “I’m gonna pray the Litany of Humility everyday to overcome my sins of pride.” “I’m gonna fast from all condiments, add ons, and all drinks except soda so I can overcome my sins of gluttony.” “I’m gonna tithe 15% instead of 10% so I can overcome my sins of greed.” “I’m gonna pray a rosary everyday for the people who irritate me so I can overcome my sins of impatience and frustration.” We’ve all been there. Trying to Muscle Our Way to Holiness While these efforts are noble, we can think we are experts at thinking of ways to muscle our path to virtue. “If only I do _______ then I can make myself holy. If only I do _______ then I can become the kind of person I am meant to be. If I only work hard enough, I can achieve perfection. And then I wind up again in the confessional, even more frustrated than before. We Are Not Alone We are fallen individuals. We easily fall prey to temptation. Even the strongest of us is not able to stand in the face of sin and always turn our back. Like so many aspects of our human lives, we try to go at it alone, and yet we cannot do it alone. The good news is: we aren’t alone. God desires to give us the graces we need in order to overcome sin. You want to become a better person and avoid sin more in your life? Great. The secret is to stop striving so hard and rather surrender it to God. Pray for God’s grace to present in your areas of weakness. Practice remembering His presence when you find yourself in a near occasion of sin. Ask for His assistance when you feel yourself starting to fall. Ask for Help Maybe it’s a humility problem, but as humans, we want to do it all ourselves. It is so hard for us to ask for help. But that’s exactly what the Lord wants to hear. He doesn’t expect you to be able to do it alone! He just wants you to surrender it to Him to help. You are imperfect, and your greatest efforts can’t change that. But we do have a perfect God, who is readily available to give you the grace to transform you into Himself. Our only task is to keep moving forward in steady surrender. Stop striving and start surrendering.   [bctt tweet="Stop Striving and Start Surrendering #BISblog //" via="no"]   Gracie Tillman lives in Colorado as a missionary. She is passionate about hiking, music, quality time with friends and family, and all things involving pasta.

Now that November has arrived, our attention turns to the approaching holidays. We began to make lists and plans, bake treats and ideas for gatherings, and renew our commitment to preparation and prayer. Even before December arrives, Advent begins, and you might be considering how you want to pray through this liturgical season this year. For me, Advent is such a special spiritual time that I guard my prayer time fiercely. There are so many beautiful Advent traditions and prayers. I'm drawn toward many of them; however, I know that I cannot complete them all. So I have to pray about what the Lord is asking of me and I must decide how I am going to spend my prayer time as we await the coming of the Messiah. Maybe you're the same. Questions You May Have about And Hay Became Holy While I would highly suggest incorporating this year's devotional from Blessed is She, And Hay Become Holy, into your Advent prayer rhythm, I understand that you may have questions or hesitancies before committing. There's plenty of space for questions so I thought I could answer some here (and I'd love if you asked some in the comments, too!). Is this devotional just for young moms? No. Just like our daily devotionals, the Advent devotional is written with all Catholic women in mind. In it, you will find prayers and stories that speak to women across generations, cultures, vocations, and lived experiences. It is our deep desire to give you a devotional that speaks to your heart, no matter who you are or where you are at in life. How can I know if I'll resonate with the theme? Perhaps you're wondering if the theme of the Advent devotional will speak to you in this season. What if it's a topic that misses the mark for you right now? Great news: the theme of And Hay Became Holy is the manger scene. In terms of preparation for Christmas, there's not a much more specific focus one could have. Throughout Advent, we will spend time with various characters surrounding the manger scene and what they teach us about coming to worship the Newborn King. This theme is for you. Is it worth the money? Cost is, of course, always a factor, and perhaps more than ever this year. We think the investment in your own spiritual formation during Advent will pay dividends as it bears fruit in your life. However, if the cost is prohibitive, please know that we offer a digital download of the devotional. I never finish these kinds of things. What if this is no different? Are you someone who starts a task or practice with vigor only to wane after a few days or weeks? Maybe you have tried an Advent devotional before and you can never seem to keep up or finish. We get it, and we wanted to give you the freedom to fit this in the context of your life circumstances. The devotional gives you lots of space to "catch up" if you miss a few days without feeling overwhelmed. I always miss a day or three during Advent, but the way the BIS Advent devotionals are structured doesn't leave me feeling discouraged or behind. Rather, I am able to jump right back in and still find a fruitful rhythm of prayer. I'm already using a devotional from someone else. Should I consider yours? There are so many beautiful resources for Advent available! What a gift. We encourage you to first ask the Lord if there is a specific direction in which He is calling you. In And Hay Became Holy, you will receive a variety of prompts that will draw your heart toward God. We will pray with Scripture, meditate on prayerfully-curated questions, practice visio divina (prayer with sacred art), and receive guidance from the tradition of the Church for our contemplation. We believe that this devotional will engage our senses, our minds, and our hearts. We would love to pray through Advent with you. What questions do you have about And Hay Became Holy? Let us know below!   [bctt tweet="You're Thinking About Getting the BIS Advent Devotional, But... #BISblog //" via="no"]

"Forgiveness is letting the prisoner go free, only to know the prisoner is me" is an adage that could not be truer in Corrie ten Boom’s life. In her book, The Hiding Place, the Dutch Christian writer describes her experience in Amsterdam during World War II where she and her family hid Jews from the Nazis. One day, after an informant reported them, her family was seized and deported to the concentration camp. Corrie never saw her father again, and her sister died in the camps. Years later, Corrie travelled throughout Europe speaking on the forgiveness of God until she experienced a moment that forever changed her spiritual life. After one talk, a man approached Corrie to thank her for her message on forgiveness. Corrie immediately recognized him as one of the guards from the concentration camp, and memories of the brutal camp came flooding in. “Will you forgive me?” he said, extending his hand. But Corrie’s arm stayed frozen, her blood draining ... remembering, reliving. She whispered in her heart, “Jesus, help me! I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.” Immediately something like warm current began to flow in her shoulder, then down her arm, eventually ending into their joined hands. “I forgive you, brother, with all of my heart,” Corrie reciprocated. The prison doors were flung open. What Forgiveness is Not How can I forgive this? How do I forgive someone who’s not even sorry? Who among us hasn’t been hurt, angered, or wounded? We wrestle in prayer, wanting to forgive but find ourselves licking old wounds again, frustrated with our failed attempts to truly forgive. I believe we often resist forgiveness because we lack understanding of what it means. We equate “forgiving” with “forgetting” assuming we have to let our offender off the hook and forgo justice while we suffer. Other times, we confuse loving with liking considering forgiveness as complete only if we have "joined hands" in reconciliation. Such an inaccurate view on forgiveness can be very damaging. Do I have a right to feel anger or hurt? Absolutely. The Catechism reminds us: It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense. // CCC 2843 In other words, God doesn’t suggest we forgive and forget as a way of ignoring our broken hearts and allowing for gaping wounds to fester. It simply means He is leading us to something greater. This higher calling demands our decision. Therefore, forgiveness is a decision—a decision that opens doors to our healing, to our own freedom. Rewrite the Script A few years ago, a close friend’s betrayal left me hurt, embarrassed, and angry. Not only was I judged falsely, I was also slandered in the community. I held on to Jesus’ admonishment to forgive as we are forgiven, but found myself withholding love. Cynicism dressed like a security guard, protecting my pain. On some level, judging him made me feel safe. "I will forgive only when you are sorry." One evening, I was led to Matthew 5:23-24: So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift..." Oh I knew this verse so well, yet the reality of prison doors had never been more poignant. The word “reconciled” in Greek means "commanded to go." In other words, you initiate the action. I was suddenly seized with the inescapable painful realization—I was living under the tyranny of another’s sin. I was waiting for my offender to extend his hand, while I kept mine frozen. Like the unforgiving servant (see Matthew 18: 21-35), I was grasping at the collar of my offender, losing sight of my own debt. I was holding him imprisoned. I was holding myself imprisoned. God Has to Do It That week in all of my anger and brokenness, I cried out to God. As I vented my pain, I heard in my heart, “I need you to forgive so he and you can change." How contrary this was to my own script. God’s healing for both sides had begun. It had begun the moment I had desired to re-write the script, reverse the lies and choose love all over again. As I stretched my hands heavenward, I felt it – the rush and rain of the Holy Spirit, cleansing my heart, shifting my perspective, loosening my grip. My heart was exposed but it was stretched, for more mercy, more healing. I could trust the unchangeable God to turn my great affliction into a game changer. A week later, I met my offender. Though I desired reconciliation, he did not. But in that moment, I discovered something powerful. People can hurt us, but they can never take away our peace, freedom, and joy. Freedom isn’t conditional on them wanting our forgiveness, only in our willingness to live free. I extended my hand, then an embrace, and walked home... free! Ongoing Journey of Healing It was not until that moment that I realized how insidious the roots of unforgiveness are, how they make the heart so impervious to God’s mercy (see CCC 2840), how they convince us that we can only be happy if our offender pays. Forgiveness isn’t a destination; it’s a doorway to healing. This healing is an ongoing journey that may possibly end only in the grave. But for healing to be active, it requires both our intent and God’s power. As we ‘choose’ to forgive daily, we tear down illusions of hurt and heartlessness. We learn to crucify the flesh and its strongholds. We die to pride, selfishness, and all things that prevent us from seeing another human formed in God’s image. And we discover God’s Kingdom found in poverty, in meekness, and in the least likely places. Are You Struggling to Forgive? We can be so hard on ourselves when there is no closure. But don’t we deserve so much more than the pleasure we get out of our grievances? This irrational pleasure not only distracts us from God, it derails our witnessing. Henri Nouwen reminds us that we are "wounded healers" who need to heal our own wounds before we can witness to heal others. My own ongoing healing consists of studying specific Scriptures on unforgiveness, frequenting the Sacrament of Reconciliation, learning from the Saints, and listening to people’s stories. If you have a spiritual director, talk over your grief with him/her. If you don’t have one, talk to a priest. I also recommend writing a letter to the one who hurt you, even if you don’t share it. Journaling can be therapeutic in so many ways. Like Corrie, we must depend on the Holy Spirit for our healing. He alone can turn our “injury into compassion” and transform our “hurt into intercession” (see CCC 2843). It takes vulnerability to face our wounds. It requires humility to cry out like Corrie “Jesus, help me." Sister, God isn’t done writing your story. If you allow Him to, He can weave all your life’s injustices into greater good (see Romans 8:28). Remember what Jesus did for you will always be greater than what has been done to you. In His Resurrection, Christ retained the scars of His wounds so He can accompany your broken road, so He can release you to freedom, so He can bring you home. I whisper a prayer as you make the choice to extend your hand.   [bctt tweet="What to Do When You Struggle to Forgive #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate link. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

My two younger brothers both like to read books and watch movies. One is more focused on sports and can spend hours playing baseball, while the other is drawn to music and takes drum lessons. They make their own breakfast and empty the dishwasher. They love their four siblings, but do not hesitate to argue with us, and voice their opinions. While they have distinctive personalities and interests, both brothers share the similarity of having Down syndrome. A Discovery in Down Syndrome October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month according to the National Association for Down Syndrome. For Catholics, this year’s celebration took on especial importance as Jerome Lejeune, the physician and geneticist who first concluded that Down syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome on pair 21, took steps toward sainthood in January. Following his discovery in 1958, Lejeune dedicated his career to improving the quality of life for people with Down syndrome and their families. He pioneered a clinic in Paris that focused on treating children with Down syndrome, and supported people from around the globe. A devout Catholic and pro-life advocate, Pope Paul VI appointed Lejeune to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 1974, and he became the first president of the Pontifical Academy for Life founded by Pope John Paul II in 1994. Lejeune died on April 3, 1994 and the cause for beatification and canonization was opened in Paris in 2007. In January 2021, Pope Francis advanced his cause for sainthood and Lejeune is now considered venerable. Dedicated to Defending Dignity Lejeune’s research brought astounding advances to the scientific understanding of Down syndrome, but also created issues for his pro-life ideology. Now that there was a known genetic cause for Down syndrome, the research could be used to identify unborn children with Down syndrome and lead to their abortions. To address the ramifications of his research once pro-abortion laws began to surface, Lejeune spoke at conferences around the world defending the right to life for children with Down syndrome. Through his advocacy and care for patients, Lejeune strove to improve the quality of life for people with Down syndrome and change society’s negative perceptions of disability. Lejeune’s work remains necessary today. The number of people living with Down Syndrome has decreased in many countries, coinciding with a rise in prenatal genetic testing. A 2015 study in the American Journal of Medical Genetics estimated that the birth rate of children with Down syndrome were reduced by 30% as a consequence of Down syndrome-related elective abortion in 2007. Supporting Parents and Providing Resources Abortions resulting from prenatal genetic testing bring to light the crisis of misconceptions that the world maintains about people with Down syndrome. Disability-elective abortions may result from parents believing that a diagnosis of Down syndrome presents a burden, that constant distress and hardship will muddle both their lives and their children’s. Future parents need to understand that people with Down syndrome experience full ranges of human emotion, have the capacity to contribute to society, and find meaning in careers, relationships, and faith. I see my brothers internalize Jesus’ friendship through personal prayer and the Sacraments. As Pablo Pineda—the first man with Down syndrome to earn a university degree in Europe—said: I always say I am Pablo Pineda and that I have Down's syndrome. There is a big difference between 'having' and 'being.' 'Being' can crush you down and 'having' shows it is only one feature. The Ears to Hear Lejeune’s story exemplifies compassionate servant leadership by placing God at the center of all aspects of life, including career. Lejeune understood that fighting against abortion was not enough to promote high quality of life for people with Down syndrome. He remained present to his patients’ life experiences in order to ensure their personal well-being and success. This year, we can follow Lejeune’s example by listening to people about their experiences so that their stories can triumph over misconceptions about Down syndrome: “Seriously, I have a great life! I have lectured at universities, acted in an award-winning film and an Emmy-winning TV show, and spoken to thousands of young people about the value of inclusion in making America great. I have been to the White House twice—and I didn't have to jump the fence either time.” // Frank Stephens, actor, Special Olympian and advocate “We have the same wants and dreams as everyone else. We can do anything anyone else can do. We are more alike than we are different. I can drive, go to college, maintain a job as the Manager of Grassroots Advocacy at the National Down Syndrome Society and be the first registered lobbyist with Down syndrome. We want to date and get married. We want the American Dream, same as anyone else.” // Anonymous woman, National Down Syndrome Society "My family always told me I was like anybody else—I just had an extra chromosome. Sometimes it took me longer to learn, but I did it." // Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, first fashion designer with Down syndrome to have her work showcased at London Fashion Week, owner of fashion line Down To Xjabelle “A long time ago when I was very little, I dreamed about being on stage. Some people told me I would never be able to do it, so I only paid attention to those who told me that I could.” // Lauren Potter, actress   [bctt tweet="The Near-Saint Who Discovered the Extra Chromosome in Down Syndrome #BISblog //" via="no"]   Grace Spiewak is a librarian and writer living outside of Chicago. Her work has appeared in publications including America Magazine, Busted Halo, and Ancient World Magazine. When she isn’t writing about Latin, history, and faith, Grace enjoys biking along Lake Michigan, reading, and practicing her golf swing.

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. // Saint Augustine In the past, I wrestled with this concept a bit. Even though I'm a faithful person, supernatural trust and surrender are not easy. For most of my adult life I thought, if I want something to happen, I need to hustle constantly. But that always ended up being the hard way. What's more reassuring? You're the only one responsible for all.the.things in your life and business, or you have help? How to Tame Your To-Do List I have discovered that peace, joy, and achievement can all work together. To put it in the simplest terms, it comes down to how I begin and end my day. If you're feeling like you can never rest because your to-do list is too long and for some reason it's all important, try one or all three of these tools. 1. A nightly brain dump. Get it all out of your head and onto paper, put the list on your nightstand, then get some rest. First thing in the morning, reread your list. Your brain does a lot of repair work at night (have you ever felt like you solved a problem overnight?). After you've read your list with fresh eyes, ask God what He wants you to work on for the day. Then focus on that one thing for the day. This simple but effective tool works because you have the choice to renew your mind and choose your input before your day even begins. Divine intervention helps, too. 2. Time block your schedule. Designate blocks of time on your schedule for family, work, and play or rest. For me, this means while my boys are in school I meet with clients and get some “alone” time in. Once I pick them up at school, it's time to be present for them through dinner. 3. Give your day a theme. Try focusing on one thing each day. For example, Mondays focus on personal development, Wednesdays only wash towels and sheets, Fridays follow-up and catch up from the week. You get the idea… Which one will you try? Let us know in the comments or better yet, rest.   [bctt tweet="How to Tame Your To-Do List #BISblog //" via="no"]   Liz Montigny coaches Catholic women to go from daily chaos to simplicity so they can love life. She is a wife and a mom to three boys. Tea, big earrings, living a non-toxic lifestyle, and creative evangelization are some of her other loves. You can find out more about her here.

We all long for community. That's one of the reasons this ministry exists: we know we are made for community. In my personal spiritual life, I have been most encouraged in prayer and holiness when I am a part of committed small group. Starting a small group can be intimidating, but it's easier than you might think! But keeping one going presents a different set of challenges that can be navigated with intention. All Small Groups Experience Bumps We all dream of having a small group that lasts through the years. We want women with whom we "do life" and pass through life's triumphs and trials. Any small group that has lasted for more than a few months will assure you that this kind of unity and commitment does not come without a price. It takes sacrifice and intentionality to gather women in various vocations and jobs and with different schedules and obligations. Of course, there are the more tender difficulties of hurt feelings or clashing personalities. But most of the time, maintaining a small group comes down to just that ... time. How to Restart Your Small Group Maybe you've been a part of a small group that recently fizzled. Maybe everything was going great and then COVID happened or school started or the host moved away. Maybe you all simply lost touched and too many months went by without meeting and now it feels ... weird. Don't let weird keep you from wonderful! It takes courage to be the one to step back out and "get the band back together" but it will likely be worth it. Just remember that everyone longs for community, and the other women are probably missing the companionship of the group as well. If you need some help reaching out to restart your small group, we have some ideas! 1. Reach Out in the Regular Medium Does your group normally communicate through text? Voxer? Messenger? Email? Be the brave one and reach out first in the typical way. They will be happy to hear from you! 2. Call It What it Is You don't have to pretend like it hasn't been a while since you've been together. Be upfront about it! Some women may be feeling insecure. They may fear that they've just been excluded from the group or that they did something. Dismiss any fears or insecurities by touching briefly on why you all haven't met in a while. Hey! It's hard to believe that it's been over a year and a half since the pandemic started. I miss seeing you all! I know we haven't met since Cindy moved away, but I would love to get together again. It's been so busy for everyone and I know we haven't be able to meet in a while. I think that means we need fellowship even more! 3. Have Something Specific in Mind It can be helpful to have something to unite around. It helps "re-break" the ice and creates excitement about meeting together again. Find a Bible study to suggest or a liturgical devotional to center your discussion around. Blessed is She offers a free three week study guide you could use to jumpstart your small group. 4. Offer to Host If you have not hosted in the past, offer to host. Consider reaching out to the previous host privately first; but she might be relieved to meet with everyone without the pressure of hosting. Sometimes people get so busy or feel so overwhelmed that no one wants to invite other people over. Offer people a safe, comforting place to come and lay down their cares for a while. And don't worry so much about the state of your home—people just want to be with each other. 5. Discuss Dates Immediately We have all been a part of the conversation that ends with, "We should get together sometime!" We never get together. Leaving things vague is a recipe for a persistently inactive small group. People don't maliciously refrain from following up—we just forget. The best way to avoid this is by setting a date to meet right then and there. It will feel so good to have ti on the calendar! 6. Commit to Praying for One Another Finally, re-commit to praying for one another. Ask people for their intentions so you can pray for them until you all meet again. Or simply let them know that you are offering your fast/Rosary/Mass/Holy Hour for them that day. Community is Worth It It takes effort to start and maintain a small group. It takes even greater effort to restart a small group that was once thriving. But it is worth it. Walking alongside people who also love the Lord and desire sanctity is a great gift. It can make all the difference in our spiritual lives. So send the text, grab a devotional, and plan a date. The others will thank you for it!   [bctt tweet="How to Restart Your Small Group #BISblog //" via="no"]   WANT TO DEEPEN YOUR PRAYER? Get ready to be radically changed by the Lord and His presence. Be drawn into intimacy with the Lord by way of weekly videos, a community within the Blessed is She app, and invitations into reading scripture in a whole new way. BEGIN THE WELL: ABIDE

Author J.R.R. Tolkein once stated, “Not all who wander are lost.” Many of us might desperately wish that these words were true of us. Adulthood often feels like one long exercise in wandering. It is difficult to find value in seasons when we just want some answers but cannot seem to find any. Whether you feel called to a certain vocation and it hasn’t worked out yet or you have just been trudging through adult life for a while, unsure of where your path is leading, wandering for a prolonged period of time can be painful. Each of us has a deep desire to discover her unique calling from God. When that’s unclear, the ache is very deep. When you’re in the thick of uncertainty, it is tempting to think you have been forgotten or rejected by God. Maybe you wonder how you can possibly pursue holiness when you are not even sure what you are called to. Take heart! God’s Providence covers everything, even your confusion and uncertainty. You are precious to Him, even if you feel like a lost sheep. The Road Trip Not too long ago, I felt directionless in my life. I was extremely anxious and frustrated and told a priest I knew about the confusion I was going through. I hoped he would give me some sort of step-by-step guide about what to do next, courtesy of the Holy Spirit. Instead, he shared with me a parable of sorts. It completely shifted the way I think about uncertainty and vocation. He put it this way: You’re walking along the side of the road and suddenly an old, beat-up car with a creepy-looking guy in sunglasses pulls up next to you. He tells you to hop in, because he’s going on an adventure. Are you going to join him? Of course not! Now, picture your best friend doing the same thing. How would you respond then? Most likely, you would get into that car without a second thought. You might not even ask where you are going, because you know that wherever it is, you get to spend time with your friend who you love and trust. Now, he said, picture Jesus driving up in that car. He’s inviting you to join Him on a road trip. Jesus is that friend—the One Who you would be so excited to hang out with that you would leap into the car and just go. This is the kind of life—the kind of adventure—we’re called to. We are invited into a relationship with One Who is so trustworthy that no matter what twists, turns or unexpected pit stops we make, all will be well. 3 Saints Who were Wanderers Happily, there are Saints who have trodden this long, winding road before us. Their lives were anything but straightforward and they remain a testament to God’s loving providence. No matter how random you may feel like your life is, every second, every decision matters. Holiness is possible even if you feel like you have not yet found your “call.” Here are three Saints whose path to their vocations was anything but straightforward: 1. Saint Louise de Marillac Saint Louise de Marillac (1591-1660) felt a calling to religious life as a young woman. However, her confessor was not supportive of the idea, and she ended up marrying and having a son. Eventually, Louise’s husband became ill and suffered through a long, difficult time as an invalid while she cared for him. After his death, Louise approached St. Vincent de Paul and asked him to be her confessor. For a long time, busy with his many duties, he put her off. But at long last, he not only consented to give her spiritual guidance, but also helped her establish the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. Even after the order was begun, it took a long time for Saint Vincent to grant Louise and the three other women with her permission to take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Louise’s life was certainly one of patience and perseverance. 2. Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Saint Benedict Joseph Labre (1748-1783) was a wanderer his entire life. He tried entering different monasteries three different times, but was rejected. In spite of this disheartening experience, Saint Benedict continued to follow Jesus in what ways he could, and spent most of his days as a poor pilgrim. For a while he even lived in the Colosseum. He is invoked as the patron Saint of the homeless. 3. Blessed Lindalva Justo de Oliviera It took a while for Blessed Lindalva Justo de Oliviera (1953-1993) to find her permanent “vocational home.” As a young woman, she drifted through a variety of professions, getting a diploma as an administrative assistant and then holding jobs in retail and at a gas station. After taking care of her father as he died from a terminal illness, she decided to pursue nursing. It wasn’t until the age of 35 that she entered religious life, joining the Daughters of Charity. With them she was able to pursue her great love for serving the poor. A Prayer for the Road We can wear ourselves out looking at our lives through the narrow lens of our own plans. Or we can choose to look at each phase of life as an adventure that God has lovingly prepared especially for us. Surrender to this adventure allows us to step into a new kind of freedom—the freedom of a daughter of God, who is loved purely and simply for who she is. If you’re going through a season of wandering, don’t lose hope. Your Heavenly Father is watching your every step and cares deeply about this time in your life, even if it feels dry. When you are with Him, you are never truly lost.   [bctt tweet="3 Saints Who were Wanderers #BISblog //" via="no"]   Maria Bonvissuto is originally from Nashville and currently lives in Washington, DC. She works in marketing and communications for a school in Northern Virginia. She loves writing, reading at least three books at a time, playing classical guitar, dancing, and traveling.

Do I know Jesus? Do I truly know Jesus with my heart? We tend to grow indifferent to the Lord as we live out each day, sometimes in subtle ways and other times in big ones. We either become so familiar with God that we cease to truly know Him and enjoy His friendship or we get caught up in the routine of prayer exercises and our knowledge of God becomes just that: routine. Faith depends on knowledge because we cannot trust someone we do not know. Taken further, our speech mirrors our faith and knowledge: Beloved, you excel in everything: in the gifts of faith, speech and knowledge. // 2 Corinthians 8:7 Building Our Faith We are called to excellence. Faith gives us hope when things are not going according to our plans. It gives us the strength and courage to dive into something the Holy Spirit has continuously put on our hearts, calming all our worries and reminding us not to fear (see Isaiah 43:1-2). Faith allows us to hold on during moments of weakness, sickness and loss because we believe that a new heaven and new earth await (see Revelation 21:4-5). When we possess faith, we can speak life into situations and people. We ask and we speak because we know who is in charge and what He can do. Our own faith, then, becomes the propellant which helps other people’s faith journeys to start off, or perhaps re-start. The gift of faith—gifted to us—allows us to see life through the lens of God’s plan and desires for us. When our eyes of faith are open, we are in a position to see the great and wonderful things God is doing in our lives, especially today (see Hebrews 11). Training Our Tongues The Lord gave me my tongue as a reward and I will praise Him with it. // Sirach 51:22 Throughout Scripture we are reminded of the need to keep our tongues clean of sin. James 3:2 tells us how those who make no mistake when they speak are perfect and able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. Yet, more often than not when things do not go our way, we say a lot of unnecessary things. Some of us do it more than others but the reminder and invitation stand: our gift of speech is called to excellence and, by the help of the Holy Spirit, we should learn to tame our speech, respectively. We can start today by speaking words which reflect faith even if we presently believe otherwise. When we believe it, we will see it. Psychology says that the more a lie is repeated, the more it begins to seem like the truth. Imagine if we utter only faith-infused words so that our speech convinces and ultimately leads us to have more faith. Imagine just how much our thoughts will transform into positive, hope-filled cogitations. Praising God also means not using our tongues to speak to ourselves in ways God would disapprove. Speak gently to yourself. The best way to embrace the gift of speech we have been given is to praise God (see Psalm 100:1). Now Proclaim that Truth to Others Have you ever met a person who knows things and then another who knows? As baptized Catholic Christians, we know the Truth in its fulness. But if we do not fuse all the knowledge that has been gifted to us by the Church through various channels, with the gifts of faith and speech, what good is our knowledge? If we speak without knowledge, our words are without insight and pretty helpless (see Job 34:35, 38:2). If we use our gift of speech to showcase our knowledge from a place of pride, our knowledge is helpless because it is destructive. As we evangelize and or proselytize we must always remember that our gift of speech should share our knowledge in a loving manner. Winning hearts for Heaven should be our only task when we share knowledge. We have faith that the Holy Spirit will do His role to convince and convict and so we should leave that to Him and do our part (see Ephesians 3:19). If we use our gifts of faith, speech, and knowledge well, we will excel in everything God has called us to do.   [bctt tweet="Believe, Know, Speak #BISblog //" via="no"]   Written by Nyasha Masuku.

The Holy Spirit has inspired me many times, and oft have I written down the rhymes He’s given me. Ahh, what better way to spend my talents than by glorifying He Who bestowed them upon me! With a title surpassed by no other, this prayer of praise was written in the Presence of our Blessed Lord. A Poem about the Eucharist As I contemplated Him, I felt this insurmountable joy course through my bones. It was a feeling like no other, and one which I wish would never have left me! Prayer Before The Most Blessed Sacrament The surge of joy within me Cannot be contained When Your holy priest, there Holds the Host, now raised The bells, then ringing Alerting those who answer Your call Your Son’s Sacrifice is finished Perfect remedy for man’s sinful Fall Bowing my head in happy surrender For Who I behold is completely You Weary traveler finding rest and solace Gazing upon all that is Holy and True Whether before this moment I was attentive in full Now am completely captivated By Your beauty’s pull The Sacred Host, in vict’ry raised The battle, You have won Chalice of Your most Precious Blood, so praised Oh Lord, God’s glorious Son! Now, humbly I approach You Unworthy sinner, though I be Joy running through my every bone As I kneel and gaze upon Thee You enter under my roof I excitedly invite You in O Divine Physician, You heal my every sin You gather me in Your Arms I pray rejoicing, my head bent You bring me comfort and joy once more Through the most Blessed Sacrament!   [bctt tweet="Insurmountable Joy // A Poem about the Eucharist #BISblog //" via="no"]   Danielle Erwin is a Catholic wife, mom of five, homeschooler, dog mom, author, poet, and master of puns. She has helped moms through their miscarriages with the poetry she wrote following her own pregnancy losses. Danielle is now working on compiling all of her poetry on the Faith into a book…and a few other author-y projects when she gets the time.

The other day, my daughter and I were having a conversation about Heaven. She thought that everybody in Heaven were “grandmas and grandpas”, innocently assuming that people only ever died of old age. I reminded her that people pass away at all different ages, including her little brother who was not even born when he passed from this life. The thing about death is that it can happen to anyone at any time and can even feel random or unfair. As believers, we know that God is the Author of life, and that even though death may not make sense to us at the time, we have confidence that God has his reasons for allowing it. But does that ease our grief? There is No Heartbeat I’ll never forget that moment when I looked up at the ultrasound machine and there was a deafening silence. The ultrasound tech couldn’t say much, but I already knew. We lost our baby. It’s hard to say what I was feeling at that moment, but a few days later, I was overcome with guilt and anger. I wondered why God would take away something so special. I wondered if He had done it because it was an unexpected pregnancy and I was initially regretful about having another baby so soon after my first. I wished I could go back in time and not waste any second feeling worried or anxious. I felt like I deserved my miscarriage because I was so selfish and unwilling to trust God with my body and with my family. I know what I was feeling was grief, and some days I was sick to my stomach with it. Other days, I just felt nothing. It was a bitter emptiness caused by an empty womb and an empty heart. A Word from Saint Zelie Around this time, I started to read more about an amazing and quite ordinary saint named Zelie Martin. She was a wife and mother to some incredible children (including Saint Therese of Lisieux), but she also experienced the excruciating loss of four out of her nine children. I couldn’t begin to imagine her pain and grief until I read some of her letters. I knew Saint Zelie was reaching out to me in those moments of grief to give me glimpses of hope and to guide me through the grieving process she had been through so many times. She had, what I believe, a gift from the Holy Spirit to gain beautiful insight into her vocation as a mother and the deaths of her children. When I close the eyes of my dear little children and when I buried them, I felt great pain, but it was always with resignation ... I don’t think the sorrows and problems could be weighed against the eternal happiness of my children. So they weren’t lost forever. We’ll see them again in Heaven. // Saint Zelie Martin, Letter 72 Finding Hope Despite our sadness, my husband and I wanted our baby’s presence to be known. We knew that he had a special purpose, despite his short life on Earth, and we had to give him a name, an identity, and a special place in our family. We named him Francis Nathan and we made it a habit to ask for his prayers every day. As time went on, my grief certainly didn’t just go away, but I was able to find a lot of healing and blessing at the thought of Him being perfectly content and fulfilled in the next life. What a blessing it is to know that from the moment of conception, my son was as physically close to me as he could possibly be. What a blessing the Church gives us in the reasonable hope that we will once again see our babies when we, by God's grace, experience the Beatific Vision! Finding Joy Again Whether you experience the loss of a child, a parent, or a friend, I pray that you are okay with feeling grief. It is a completely natural and normal part of the healing process, and grief can look like something else entirely from one person to another. But I also pray that you don’t suffer in silence. Don’t believe for a second that your grief doesn’t matter or that others will find it too difficult to listen. Whether it’s through conversation, or writing, or creating art—whatever it is, tell your story. I pray that you find consolation from your friends and loved ones, I pray that you are able to mourn through this emotional process with someone you trust. I hope that we can honor the people we have lost because they deserve to be known. I’ll never forget the moment when someone reached out to me online and asked if it would be okay for her to ask our little baby for his prayers. It was a moment of absolute pride and joy. What an honor to be asked such a thing on behalf of my son. It clicked for me then, that while I was grieving, I also had an opportunity to rejoice. The Body of Christ Jesus reminds me that it is okay to grieve—that it is possible to grieve and have faith at the same time. He Himself grieved when Lazarus died. But He also raised Lazarus from the dead and showed us that joy can come from suffering, just as redemption came from His crucifixion and Death. He reminds us that He loves us more than we can imagine and wants nothing more than to be with us for eternity. One of the greatest joys of being Catholic is knowing that there are a Communion of Saints who are cheering us on. I know that my son is not alone. He was never alone when he was with me in my womb, and he will never be alone now. When is a time in your life when you felt sadness and grief? What was your mourning process like? How has your faith helped you during that time?   [bctt tweet="How to Have Faith in the Midst of Grief #BISblog //" via="no"]

I rise early after only snoozing my alarm once. I creep past my children's bedrooms as they slumber. I start the coffee. I light the candle. I sit down in my prayer spot and grab my Bible. I take a deep breath, rub my eyes, and settle in to pray. And then, I run through the list. Round and round my mind swirls, considering my to-do list that needs organizing, decisions that need discernment, friends that need intercession, appointments and meetings that need scheduled, texts that need to be sent. My intended moment of prayer passes before I realize. Did I even talk to God? Moving from the Cycle of Distraction . . . When my typically fruitful prayer time morphs into this spinning cycle of consideration, I know it's time to zero in. Sometimes I want to bring so much before the Lord that I end up bringing nothing. And really, He just wants my heart. During these times I double down on my need for concentrated meditation. But too much input can aggravate the distracted pace which my mind is already running. So I choose one thing: one devotional, one book of the Bible, one Gospel for lectio divina, or one theme in prayer. And I allow that to be my focus. I entrust the rest to Jesus. . . . to a Resting Place of Praise Something tells me that, after the last couple of years, I am not the only one who experiences distracted prayer time. There's so much to grieve, to hope for, to confess, to forgive, to question, to sacrifice for, and to ponder. Maybe you feel like your prayer time has turned into "to-do list" time, too. Maybe the silence in which you normally flower with Jesus is now so polluted with noise and distress and nothing is growing. In these cases, I have found that setting my mind upon a singular theme in prayer has provided the kind of spiritual nutrients the soil of my heart needs. It allows me to shift my focus from seeking earthly solutions to giving heavenly praise. Instead of beginning my days in stress, I begin them in stillness. And all the other things I'm worried or thinking about? They become clearer once I have a focused moment with Him. [elementor-template id="495700"] Look to the Life of Our Lord When it comes to zeroing in on a specific prayer practice, I like to turn to the Gospels. I find that meditating on a certain moment in the life of Our Lord offers me endless inspiration and food for thought. It helps me focus on what matters most. I can see more clearly the answer to all my questions: Jesus Himself. This type of contemplation of the life of Christ draws me to worship Him, the only posture that truly brings me peace. With this in mind, then, I am eager to refocus my prayer once again this upcoming Advent season. And Hay Became Holy This year's Advent devotional from Blessed is She is called And Hay Became Holy. The focus is singular: the nativity of Christ. At a time when many of us are facing distracted and disjointed prayer, this devotional gives us an opportunity to get small, to be quiet, and to focus on the Baby in the manger. An Advent-Slow Pace During each of the four weeks of Advent, we will spend slow time with a different character in the creche scene. Moving from lowest position to the highest, we will contemplate the Newborn King with: The ox and donkey The shepherds and angels The Magi The Holy Family We will pray through what each character signifies according to Church tradition and what that means for where we are in our walk with Jesus. Whether you feel closest to the donkey or Mother Mary, this devotional will show you that you have a place in the stable right beside the Savior. To Hold and to Have This year's Catholic Advent devotional is unique in that it incorporates visio divina with sacred art. These images prompt our prayer and guide our meditation. On Sundays, we are encouraged to keep something from Mass as a reminder of our communal worship: a clip from the song sheet, a flower from outside the church, a quote from the readings or homily. Having something to hold and art to observe engages our senses, helping to remedy the problem of distracted prayer. Then, we move into the rest of the week. On Mondays, I help lead us into the week with a reflection on the character we are worshipping alongside. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we will sit with Scripture and allow our minds to consider only that verse. We offer you some questions for thought, too, to help direct your mind to the singular focus. On Wednesdays and Fridays, you will hear stories from Sarah Rose, Gina Fensterer, Leana Bowler, and Bobbi Rol that invite you to consider your own story. Finally, Saturdays allow us to focus on domestic worship by praying with the Psalms. "Zeroing In" on the Newborn King This Advent, I am excited and thankful to be simplifying my prayer with And Hay Became Holy. I'm ready to turn my attention, my mind, and my heart from a swirl of thoughts and questions to the One Who fulfills them all. Would you be willing to pray with me through this devotional? Let me know how you'll be praying: And Hay Became Holy And Hay Became Holy for Kids (or the adult + kid bundle) The Advent Bundle with And Hay Became Holy, a Rosary, and mug And Hay Became Holy + Emmanuel for the Christmas season I pray this Advent devotional helps zero in your prayer so that the Lord bears the most beautiful fruit during this season!   [bctt tweet="The Importance of "Zeroing In" in Prayer #BISblog #BISadvent //" via="no"]

Admittedly, I am frequently annoyed by “Christian catch-phrases.” By this, I mean those phrases and words that get thrown around within Christian circles, label you as a "church person," and can be classified under the language of “Christian-ese.” Early on in my journey of faith, one such word that grew to irritate me was the word “intentional.” I heard all about the importance of being intentional in my friendships, in my prayer, and in my interactions with others, yet I had no idea what being intentional actually looked like. I wanted to look like it, because I thought that in order to become the good Christian girl I desired to be, I had to look and be intentional. And yet I was sailing at sea with no compass in an effort to be something when I didn’t even know what it meant. What Does "Being Intentional" Really Mean? We don’t want to succumb to just talking the talk of Church lingo. We actually want to live it out. But to live it out, we need to think about and discuss some of these ideals and phrases. What does it mean to actually be a woman of intentionality? I believe it is very noble to strive for intentionality. I believe that when women foster intentionality, the world has the capability to be changed. So how do we grasp intentionality? To be intentional, I believe, can be further explained as embracing three things: purposefulness inconvenience discomfort 1. Purposeful To be intentional means to be purposeful. It means to perform your actions for a reason. It means looking the cashier in the eye and saying hello, not so they will get you through the line faster, but so that you can actually see them as the individual they are. It means putting your phone away when you’re catching up with friends. It means saying, “We should hang out,” only if you actually mean it. It means focusing on the present moment and the person in front of you instead of thinking of all the things you still have to do. Walking with this kind of purpose throughout our daily interactions, can be extremely inconvenient. Which brings me to my second point. 2. Inconvenience Women who desire to embrace intentionality must be willing to welcome inconvenience. The truth is, the to-do lists are not growing any shorter these days, and the amount of things that can distract us from the present moment is immense. It would be much more convenient to text those five people I need to respond to while waiting in the check out line than interacting with the person in front of me. It might “save time in the long run” to be thinking about other separate situations while talking with a friend over coffee. It can be easy to turn our prayer time into simply wind-down time rather than conversation with Jesus. There are always things we can choose to distract us. But to be intentional means to give those things their own time, and focus on the current matter at hand. It means losing some of the time spent on menial tasks in order to give our parents a phone call. It means losing a little bit of sleep at night in order to crack open the Bible. Intentionality cannot be divorced from inconvenience. So we’re left with the question: will we avoid the inconvenient or embrace it? 3. Discomfort Lastly, to be intentional requires that one is capable of experiencing discomfort. Sitting down and having a personal conversation with someone can be extremely awkward. Intentional conversations are frequently filled with long silences, nervous laughter, and left with an awkward feeling. Being intentional is not always pretty. It doesn’t always feel natural. Sometimes, your efforts at being intentional won’t be appreciated or will simply be misunderstood. But you continue the conversation, you continue the habit, you continue the eye contact, knowing that what starts as uncomfortable can grow into something beautiful. The Language of Intentionality It can be extremely challenging to live purposefully, embrace inconvenience, and remain in discomfort. But the good news is, we are not alone in the fight. Not only are there women across the globe who are striving for the same thing, we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses of intentionality in the Saints. Christ Himself purposefully set time aside for prayer and He stopped at the well to meet the Samaritan woman. He made time for the hemorrhaging woman while He was on the way to heal another. He never brushed by anyone, He never moved around distracted from His surroundings. And we don’t need to look further than the Cross to know He embraced the inconvenient and the uncomfortable with wide open arms. So be a woman of intentionality. Don’t just say the word, live it. And I pray that when you live it, the witness of your life becomes a language of its own.   [bctt tweet="The Woman of Intentionality #BISblog //" via="no"]   Mary Grace “Gracie” Tillman is a full-time student and full-time extrovert. If you don’t find her with her friends, odds are she’s lost on a backroad with her music all the way up. She loves sports, writing, one-on-ones over coffee, and all things related to Divine Mercy. She strives to life live every day to the fullest and be a joyful disciple of Jesus.