Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. // 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Download and share these beautiful wallpapers from Erica of Be a Heart. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper You can get this beautiful design in an 8x10 downloadable print, head to the shop. If you are a Blessed is She member, you get this downloadable for free! Head to your Freebies for Members library.

Act of Charity O my God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things, because You are infinitely good and perfect; and I love my neighbor as myself for love of You. Grant that I may love You more and more in this life, and in the next for all eternity. (source) [bctt tweet="Grant that I may love You more and more in this life, and in the next for all eternity. #BISrests //" via="no"] Reflect When you are totally consumed by the Eucharistic fire, then you will be able more consciously to thank God, who has called you to become part of His family. Then you will enjoy the peace that those who are happy in this world have never experienced, because true happiness, oh young people, does not consist in the pleasures of this world, or in earthly things, but in peace of conscience, which we only have if we are pure of heart and mind. Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati [bctt tweet="True happiness...does not consist in the pleasures of this world. -Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati #BISrests //" username="blessedisshe__"] Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. I recommend listening to “Higher I Go” by Bethany Barnard. [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Heart + Fire #BISblog #BISrests //"] Curated by Elise Howe. You can find out more about her here.

Sometimes, restlessness consumes us. Have you ever caught yourself tapping your phone awake every other minute awaiting a response? Refreshing your email every 90 seconds in anticipation? Perhaps you find yourself as a concerned mother waiting for your child’s, “I made it home safely”; a high school senior eagerly anticipating, “Congratulations on your acceptance!”; a recent college grad looking forward to, “We’re delighted to have you on our team”; an enamored young woman looking for an “I love you too”... While we wait, we are restless. Single and Waiting Relationships too have the ability to deplete us. The pursuit of love already consumes us. Our infinite thirst for the three A's (attention, affection, admiration) can drive us to borderline insanity. We grasp and grasp. We download dating apps, drag our feet to Catholic/Christian Young Adult events, pull ourselves to parties where our brain whispers, maybe you'll meet someone this time. While we wait, we are restless. As we await a response, our heartbeats misalign and anxiety settles over us. What can possibly quiet our impatience? The answer: a response. Yet, when all is said and done, the response we waited for brings only temporary solace. Then another concern emerges. It demands yet another response, feeding the cycle of craving into fulfillment into craving again. Similarly, the relationship we desperately chased and prayed for does not fulfill our heart’s deepest longings, although it may seem to momentarily. The truth is, we seek infinite satiety. What are We Really Craving? I discovered (somewhat recently) that a craving for dark chocolate can only be satisfied by consuming dark chocolate. I tried satiating my thirst with a smoothie, a cookie, ice cream, and even milk chocolate. But, since it was really dark chocolate I was craving, dark chocolate I sought. One piece of dark chocolate later and the craving is satisfied. But the next day I’m sure I’ll crave again, and again, and again… So, it follows: our infinite thirst for love can only be satisfied by infinite Love. Do you read those words and know it to be true in your head or do you read those words and know it to be true in your head and heart? There is a huge difference between knowing a truth abstractly and knowing a truth in reality. Knowing in Our Head and Our Heart For example, we all know about death. We hear about it almost daily. But few of us really know the reality of death from losing a loved one. An even smaller subset of us have had a near-death experience. For those who have tasted their life beginning to slip from their hands, death was a reality. For those who watched their beloved aunt, uncle, cousin, sister, brother, mother, father, friend, or spouse slip into the deep sleep, death was a reality. For those of us who have never experienced death as a reality, we only understand it abstractly and try our best to empathize (some are better than others) with those for whom it is a reality. Love is the same. Few of us know the reality of being loved infinitely. Most of us (hopefully) know the reality of being loved imperfectly and humanly. Ideally, the love we encounter from our friends and family is a reflection of God's infinite love for us. A handful of us Christians know the abstract, yet we do not fully comprehend. How can we truly know, in the depths of our hearts, the reality of God's love for us? God is the Answer It took heartbreak after heartbreak to come to know the reality of God’s love in my own life. In my last relationship, I found myself frustrated when my boyfriend could not read my mind and know exactly how I felt and exactly what I wanted. I found myself kicking and screaming, begging to be let go because my yearning for love was not being fulfilled. I was desperate to be known, to be understood. How silly of me to think that this man could fill my emptiness! How could a finite man offer himself up for my infinite appetite? In order to know the reality of God’s love for us, we must experience it. In order to experience it, we must allow ourselves to experience it. This requires an openness. Openness demands we make room in our hearts. The empty space beckons to be filled by Goodness. The Response We no longer await a response, for the response has been given. We are now the ones who must respond to God. We no longer await a perfect relationship, for the relationship is offered to us each day in the words “this is my Body, this is my Blood, given up for you.” Everything has changed now that we hear “I thirst” coming from the Man on the Cross. He thirsts for you. It is up to us to respond. Now, while He awaits our response, He is restless. [bctt tweet="While We Wait, We are Restless #BISblog //" via="no"] Sabrina McCormack is a high school Biology and Theology of the Body teacher in northern Virginia. She’s a big fan of Our Blessed Mother, St. John Paul II, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha. In her free time, you can find her hiking on the Appalachian trail, playing guitar on her front porch, reading books by Venerable Fulton Sheen, or planning her next big European adventure.

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

Summer is here, and many of us have trips or vacations on the horizon. Think back to your last vacation or holiday. You probably created some great memories then, but did you notice your prayer routine may have faltered during that time? Vacations can be difficult for Catholics when it comes to maintaining a prayer routine. Typically, I love to start my morning with the Blessed is She Daily Devotion or open my Bible and meditate on a passage. But on my last trip, early morning flights and late nights really threw a wrench into my routine. Since then, I’ve been thinking of ways to remain prayerful while traveling. Why Pray While on Vacation? So why is it important to remain prayerful while traveling? I’ll explain with a short story. I once relayed some difficulties I was experiencing to a priest. He asked, “Well, when did you stop praying?” His question urged me to look deep in my heart. I realized it had been quite a while since I’d spent time conversing with Jesus. When we try to go on any journey alone without the guidance of Jesus, obstacles become bigger and the path becomes more confusing. However, with the guidance of Jesus, gained through prayer, our path becomes straighter and our obstacles appear smaller. We’re told in Proverbs 3:6: In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. How to Remain Prayerful While Traveling Whether you are traveling for work or vacation, there are a few things you can do to stay in conversation with Jesus. Keep these tips for prayer in mind on your next vacation, holiday, or work-related travel. 1. Bring a prayer journal. Distractions are plentiful when we’re on vacation or traveling. It can be difficult to find a quiet space to pray. A prayer journal makes it easy to pray in loud or crowded places. Writing down your thoughts prayerfully allows you to have a private moment with Jesus even in a room full of people. A small notebook is easy to pack in a carry-on bag or purse. You can also carry it with you day to day so you can use it at any time. 2. Look for a Catholic church in your travel destination. With over 1.2 million Catholics around the world, it is likely there will be a Catholic church in your travel destination. Do some research online ahead of time to see if there are any Catholic churches nearby. Attending Sunday Mass at a new church can give you a renewed sense of awe for the beauty of the ceremony and the Eucharist. Additionally, many tourism destinations house beautiful cathedrals you can visit not only for Mass but also as a sightseeing activity. For example, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City is marvelous with multiple shrines and the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans’ French Quarter is also a beautiful site. 3. Download the Laudate app on your phone. Cell phone apps make it so easy to get daily readings right in the palm of your hand. A Bible or Rosary may not make it into your luggage, but your phone is something you’re sure to always take with you. Apps such as Laudate provide excellent prayer resources for Catholics. On the app you can easily access daily readings, prayers, and even guided Rosaries and chaplets. 4. Turn travel time into prayer time with a Catholic podcast. Use the time you spend driving, flying, or commuting to listen to a Catholic podcast. Travel can leave us with the feeling that we don’t have enough time to pray. However, consider the hours-long drives and flights we take. Perhaps we are being called in those hours to talk to Jesus or listen to His Word. My favorite way to listen to God’s Word while traveling is through podcasts. I recommend the Blessed is She podcast or one of our other favorite Catholic podcasts. 5. Pray at bed time. An ideal way to remain consistent in your prayer while traveling is to pray at night. Even though our schedules go through tremendous change when we travel, each day must come to an end. We all put ourselves to bed every night. Bed times might get later while we’re having fun on vacation, but we can still set aside a few minutes to pray. Try praying a simple, “Thank you God for the opportunity to travel and the experiences I’ve had today.” Fill the next few minutes with thoughts you’d like to share or remain quiet and let God speak to you instead. 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 Blessed Travels! Take these five tips for prayer with you on your next travel endeavor. Remember that prayer is meant to keeps us alert. It will strengthen your relationship with Jesus and also give you an alertness during your travels. For we are told: Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. -Colossians 4:2 What are some ways you maintain a spirit of prayer while you're away from home? Share your ideas with us in the comments below! [bctt tweet="How to Remain Prayerful While Traveling #BISblog //" via="no"] Isabella Rose Lee is a young Catholic woman who lives in the beautiful state of Tennessee with her husband and their two pets. She is a freelance writer pursuing her calling to share God’s love through writing and storytelling. Find out more about her here.

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

I address a heartfelt appeal that the logic of profit not prevail, but rather that of solidarity and justice. At the center of every situation, especially work-related, should be the person and his or her dignity. -Pope Francis Every single person has dignity. Every person is deserving of respect. This is a fundamental truth that we cannot ignore. Millions are fighting for this very thing every day. Fast Fashion and the Dignity of the Human Person Almost a year ago, my eyes were opened to the importance of upholding the dignity of the human person within the fashion industry. Last July, I came across a documentary called The True Cost. This film explains the fast fashion industry and the need for our world to embrace ethical fashion. In this documentary, I witnessed the poor fight for their lives as they support our excessive materialistic society. I was truly shaken to the very core of my beliefs about our world, our society, and our material goods. Since that moment, promoting ethical fashion and material goods—always with the goal of upholding the dignity of the human person—is my passion. There are many lives and stories behind each piece of clothing we wear. It’s the mother who travels many miles to work for mere pennies to support her children. It’s her child she has to send away to another village to be looked after and cared for. And it’s the village that resides near fields owned by corporations that are pumped with pesticides to ensure the “best” materials. [bctt tweet="There are many lives and stories behind each piece of clothing we wear. #BISblog //" via="no"] Our Brother's Keeper As Catholics, it is our duty to respect and help our brothers and sisters in need. Every person has dignity. Ethical fashion (clothes that are created by people experiencing fair and just employment opportunities and safe working conditions) seeks to uphold this dignity. We must put into action our values and our core beliefs. It is time to reassess our habits and our purchases. Before discovering the reality of fast fashion and the people it affects, I would impulsively make clothing purchases. I would see a picture of a beautiful shirt or dress and immediately covet it. In a way, fashion was becoming an idol. After seeing the people who were affected from my shopping addictions, I began to change. Practical Ways to Shop Ethically My first choice is always to wear what I already own, borrow from a friend, or purchase second hand. If I am considering buying a new piece of clothing, I ask myself these five questions before making a purchase: Do I need this article of clothing? Who made this piece of clothing? Was it made under ethical conditions? Did the person who made this garment receive a fair wage and were they making it in safe working conditions? Can I wear something that I already own instead? Can I purchase something similar second hand? Is this piece of clothing well made? Is it modest? Ethical Shopping on a Budget Ethically-made clothing is often an investment. This is because ethically-made clothes are typically high quality pieces, with their makers receiving fair wages and just treatment as they create these clothes. Instead of purchasing multiple fast-fashion pieces of clothing that may fall apart in the short-term, ethically-made clothes can be worn for many years. The investment pays off, and you save money while contributing to a cleaner and safer global environment. 6 Ethically-Made, Modest Dresses If you are in the market for a new dress this summer, here are six modest dresses that check all my boxes. Each dress listed is under $100. People Tree // Magdalena Wrap Dress Elegance Restored // Blush Rose Dress Mata Traders // Varenna Maxi Dress Humble Hilo // Hilo Dress-Blanca Elegantees // Savannah Maxi Dress in Tandori Spice Linenfox // Limona Dress Which dress is your favorite? [bctt tweet="6 Modest Dresses for Summer (That are Ethically-Made) #BISblog //" via="no"]

Discernment is different for everyone. We all walk such a unique path in our journey to Heaven. I stood in my bedroom, the hanger forgotten in my hand as I looked at the face of the child on the television screen. A foster child, asking the world for a home. It pierced through me in a way that the nearly twenty years since have not dulled. How could these children be alone? Where were the families to take them in? That seed was planted. The first call outside what I thought my life would look like had sounded. It worked in my heart for years, slowly distilling into an urgent calling. Each Sunday, I would kneel after Communion and a weight would settle onto my heart: my children are out there. Desire Waves of life soon carried me further from the call. A wedding, a new life growing within soon after. Then came the baby who didn’t sleep, who always cried, and the waves of life started pouring in over me. Every day was a struggle for survival, the waves receding so slowly it took a year to look up and realize I once again stood at the bank. Perhaps I’d survived the worst, maybe we could consider another baby. Slowly, hesitantly, like a fern, reflexively closing again at the slightest breeze, we opened our hearts to a second baby. As we crept towards our daughter’s second birthday, we began to wonder. Is something wrong? How could we get pregnant so easily the first time and now nothing? Years of longing began to roll into each other. We took tests that came back inconclusive, we began to talk about adoption. Joy and Loss Then, unexpectedly, right before our daughter’s fifth birthday, I was pregnant. We had one day of transcendent joy. The long-awaited baby was coming. Our daughter would have a sibling, one she’d been fervently praying for since age three. The next day, I began to bleed. Testing showed low progesterone, so supplementation began. But, on a Monday morning—the day I was waiting for the second blood draw results—everything shifted. A sudden, searing pain radiated through my right abdomen. The Holy Spirit urged me out the door to the hospital, contrary to my brush-it-all-aside-and-push-through nature. My doctor discovered an ectopic rupture. I was bleeding internally at a life-threatening rate. I woke from surgery minus one fallopian tube and one baby. Both were gone. The loss of blood left me so weak, it was days before my emotions fully resonated with the experience. The Call to Foster Parenting In the wake of grief, I felt a firm push that now, now was the time. After nearly a decade of slowly growing in intensity, the call was sounding loudly. The answer wasn't in us, it was outside us. It had risen to the level of an alarm bell in my soul, warning me I was missing God’s timing in our lives to resist any longer. So, slowly, my husband and I began talking about fostering, what it would look like in our lives, whether we both felt comfortable with it. I somewhat jokingly refer to myself as the "gas pedal" and my husband as "the brake". You need both for a safely moving car, so it's a good pairing, but one that can cause tension. Perhaps it's the holy tension of two souls making their path to Heaven. Perhaps it's a little less holy and more frustration filled, depending on the day. Discerning with Your Spouse I walked around with an internal weight for months of the alarm sounding. My husband eased through information, digested it slowly, and moved to the next step at a rate that left him no doubt to his footing. I tried to force a wild scrabble up the cliff face. This tension refined us in ways I didn’t anticipate. It grew our empathy for each other, it taught me how to be a better communicator, and to appreciate the way my husband analyzed the world (even on the days my impulsivity screamed out against it). Even as I struggled not to be the pacesetter, the Holy Spirit clearly worked in my heart that I couldn’t walk this path any way but next to my husband. I couldn’t run out ahead, I couldn’t drag him along. We needed to be all-in together or walk away altogether. We would be a team or we would be nothing in this journey. The day we walked into the agency for initial interviews, it was together. Aligned in purpose. United in resolve. This is where we should be, this was where God was leading. Bravery and Foster Parenting My jump into fostering was a wild leap with abandon, the resolute commitment to years of tension building in my soul. My husband took some time, made sure we had the information and resources we needed, and then he walked into it with the bravery and determination of a man who knows he's embarking on a difficult journey. When I think of our path to that day of decision, I think he was the braver of the two. Our foster placements have taught the hard truth these souls aren't mine. There is no guarantee. They are what God is calling me to learn with each of our children. I must care for them, all-in, all the way until they don't need us anymore. Slam straight into the wall of love and loss so that they can know the complete love we're all striving to give our children. People call fostering brave. For me, it’s brave like breathing is brave. It’s brave like being my whole self is brave. I don't feel brave. I feel worried and uncertain and blind to what my future looks like. We all have pieces of our journey that ask bravery, of which we're uncertain. We all walk through some area of our lives with our hands along the wall, feeling for the next step. We all have breathless moments where the call on our hearts outweighs the fear and we run our hearts into danger. I don’t know how to do it without getting too attached. We go in scared of loving and losing, we get too attached. We have broken places in our hearts of the children who have left our home. Yet, those broken places are precious. They let God in more than before, breaking us open. Knowing If You're Called to Foster Parenting This call is the voice of God that leaves no rest until answered. The Holy Spirit called, increasingly loudly, urging me to jump. I could feel the unrest in my soul building until we leapt. Now, it's the peace of the flight, the landing is left to God. It may be a crash landing where we are built anew again. It may be a sweet story of how our family grew. But always our hearts are growing in the gift of giving them away. [bctt tweet="Discerning Foster Parenting #BISblog //" via="no"] Annie Tillberg is a work-from-home homeschooling mom. She's faced secondary infertility, pregnancy loss, and the loss of a foster child after she spent 2 1/2 years with their family. You can find out more about her here.

That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world. -Philippians 2:15 Reflect The vocation of woman is to establish sanctuaries of love and life amid the shattering reverberations of the world’s darker inclinations. Pope St. John Paul II Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Blameless + Innocent #BISblog #BISrests //"] Curated by Mo Hurley. Mo is a case manager, baker, and picture book maker from South Dakota. She loves writing, documentaries about storm chasers, and The Flash.

I’m a planner. I need to have a plan for every little detail or I get stressed. I don’t like not knowing what’s going on. Scheduling things relaxes me. So as you can imagine, as a senior in high school with many changes on my horizon, this past year has been a bit stressful. What I Thought I Wanted... Ever since I was young, I’ve had an incredible urge to be famous. I masked that idea by a “dream” to become an actress or singer. I am no actress, I’ve never acted once in my life. But I thought it was my ticket to fame and success. So I grew this idea inside me for years, promising myself that my intense desire for fame was acceptable. But when I really looked inside myself, I felt trapped. I felt that I couldn’t do anything that wouldn’t attribute to my fame. It may seem that I didn’t care about what God’s plan for me was, but I actually did. I prayed long and hard about it day after day. But what I realized later was that I wasn’t praying for His plan, I was praying that He would validate my plan. Although all I wanted was to follow His plan for my life, I was subconsciously refusing to let go of my plan. Seeking What God Wants During my Spring Semester of senior year, I only considered majors that I believed would lead me to stardom. Not inherently bad majors, but majors that didn't interest me. But I believed they would lead me to fame. The more I looked at majors and tried to figure out careers, the more lost I felt. I felt like I had to figure out every detail of my life and it was driving me insane. All the while, I was praying so hard, begging God to reveal His plan to me. At this time, I was also increasing my prayer life. By increasing my prayer life by reading more Scripture, trying to attend daily Mass, and truly being present in Mass, I began to feel more peaceful. But my heart was still in turmoil when it came to the future. It came to the point that, during Holy Week, I felt so lost and unmotivated and scared. I would break down at the mere thought of the future. What is YOUR Plan, Lord? As Holy Week went on, I felt more lost and more frustrated with every passing moment. I became frustrated with God. I had been praying for months for the Lord to reveal His plan to me, but He hadn’t. Or so I thought. When I asked the Lord to show me His plan, I still held fast to my strict plan for the future. I was frustrated that the Lord wasn’t signing off on my plan. On Easter day, I realized something that changed the way I had thought about and planned for the future for over twelve years. I realized that the Lord had been showing me parts of His plan for me for months, but I had been pushing them away. I wanted so badly to be this famous actress, yet no doors opened for me, even when I tried so hard. It seemed that every time an opportunity seemed to arise for this, it was shut down. For about three months, I have had the opportunity to work with a startup on a marketing internship, an opportunity that almost fell into my lap. Throughout my internship I excelled in marketing, growing the company’s social media presence. And I had fun doing it. But I never considered that for a career because it didn’t follow my plan for becoming famous. God's Plan is for Us to Flourish On Easter Sunday I realized that I do not need to be famous. That is not success, and it does not always correlate with happiness. I knew that concept for years, but I couldn’t truly grasp it until this breakthrough. After this simple yet life-changing realization, I felt freedom like I never felt before. I saw afresh all of the different opportunities I had in my life. I finally took a step back and looked and my talents and interests and realized that I had been so wrong. God had been so right. I had been begging Him to show me His plan for me, and He had all along. It was just different than my own plan. If you’ve ever felt like you’re following God’s plan for you, you know the utter peace and excitement for the future that comes along with it. I still don’t know exactly what I want to do in my career, but that’s ok because I know what I don’t want to be. With the Lord by my side, the world is my oyster. Have you ever struggled with knowing God's plan for your life? How did you discern His will? Mary Burke is currently a senior in high school who loves coffee, the outdoors, and anything creative. You can find out more about her here. LITURGICAL PLANNERS Our Liturgical Planners are based on the Litany of Humility. Enter into prayer every day alongside this beautiful Litany. Order your days in His peace. GET YOUR PLANNER

It seems like each week a new picture or story about Pope Francis pops up in the news. The love of God the Father is revealed in the beautiful and personal way he connects with people who come to see him, looking for answers. Part of the appeal of Pope Francis is his sincere belief that God is radically present to his people right now. Pope Francis desires to bring everyone into relationship with Jesus. Because we can’t all visit him in person and because of his deep conviction that God wants to speak to all of us, Pope Francis’ writings reach out to us with the same passion and care as those who experience him in person. Gaudete et Exsultate: An Overview In his new Apostolic Exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate, Pope Francis outlines a path for holiness in the modern world. He reminds us that sanctity is possible in our era just as it has always been in the past. It just may look a little different. Wholeheartedly committed to our growth in sanctity, Pope Francis, in his own humble way, offers us "the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time, with all its risks, challenges and opportunities" (#2). [bctt tweet="Pope Francis reminds us that sanctity is possible in our era just as it has always been in the past. #BISblog //" username=""] The Universal Call to Holiness Pope Francis has a style of writing that both affirms and challenges the reader. His desire that everyone grow in holiness is mirrored in the way this document is constructed. You can hear him preaching this as a homily. He begins with telling us that we are all called to holiness, and he’s going to help us see how to be holy right now. If your first objection was to push back and say you aren’t really set up to be holy, Pope Francis begins the document with a chapter dedicated to the universal call to holiness seen throughout the history of the Church, and particularly stated in the documents from the Second Vatican Council. Pope Francis believes you can be holy! Francis even highlights particularly beautiful “feminine styles of holiness” as “essential means of reflecting on God’s holiness ” (#12). Heresies Against Holiness The second chapter is a warning of the common pitfalls of holiness–Gnosticism and Pelagianism. These heresies were refuted in the early centuries of the Church. But their spirits live on in the temptation to overconfidence in our own abilities. In highlighting Gnosticism, Pope Francis warns us against making our religion too intellectual. It is not something we can abstract and therefore fully understand. Similarly, Pelagianism can find us relying too much on our own will power. We become convinced that we can muscle our way to holiness. Both are heresies because they reject the vulnerable and docile heart that must be characterize the Christian, a heart open to the Holy Spirit. The Roadmap to Holiness In the third and fourth chapters, Pope Francis gives us a roadmap and some signposts for holiness in our own lives. He goes through every beatitude (Matthew 5) and the Great Criterion (Matthew 25) in some depth. These ancient teachings of the Church are as relevant to the believer today as they were when Jesus first spoke them. Pope Francis warns that living our lives modeled on Christ will not be safe or easy. They are contradictory to the world. Pope Francis doesn’t want a life of conflict for us. Rather, he desires for us an extraordinary one, lest we “sink into an obscure mediocrity” (#90). Pope Francis ends the meditation on each beatitude with a simple, one-sentence description for holiness. Those eight phrases would be perfect for a multi-week Bible study or personal retreat. Careful not to neglect our duty to our neighbors, Pope Francis stresses the importance of mercy and compassion. He acknowledges that the suffering we witness in the modern world is uncomfortable: “For Christians, [recognizing the dignity of each human being] involves a constant and healthy unease” (#99). "Deeds of charity for our neighbors are not something ancillary to the Christian life, but a response to God’s love and mercy for us and the measure of our own conversion" (#105). What Does Holiness Look Like? The fourth chapter is Pope Francis’ markers on the path to holiness. Armed with the beatitudes and the works of charity, these five characteristics are essential to a Christian in today’s world. While he is careful to say that these are not the totality of holiness, Pope Francis considers these traits essential. “...five great expressions of love for God and neighbor that I consider of particular importance in the light of certain dangers and limitations present in today’s culture” (#111). I was delighted by the qualities Pope Francis listed. He mentions a sense of humor, boldness and passion, and a sense of community as vital to today’s Christian. I have witnessed the evangelizing power a sense of humor and passion can have on hardened hearts. Pope Francis shows himself completely attuned to the modern situation with his observations. He concludes with a final reminder that the Enemy is very real and will attempt to dissuade us from the life of virtue. Pope Francis warns against spiritual sloth and (consistent with his Jesuit formation) recommends training in discernment. Holiness in the Modern Era For Pope Francis, the life of the modern Christian should not be characterized by sadness or stinginess. It should manifest as an open heart and open hands. I felt deeply loved and shepherded by the Holy Father’s letter of encouragement. We can see from the title he chose for this Exhortation (“Rejoice and Be Glad”) that Pope Francis considers joy the hallmark of the modern Christian. Joy is necessary for both for her own salvation and for the salvation of souls. [bctt tweet="Pope Francis considers joy the hallmark of the modern Christian. #BISblog //" via="no"] Pope Francis desperately wants to reach out to you and I, and does it through this beautiful missive. He mentions us all early on as signs of encouragement to him: ...the holiness present in the patience of God’s people: in those parents who raise their children with immense love, in those men and women who work hard to support their families, in the sick, in elderly religious who never lose their smile. (#7) I believe this exhortation is what Pope Francis would say to me if we had some time alone together. Pope Francis wants the true life that Christ promised to us and will stop at nothing to inspire us. [bctt tweet="A Look at Gaudete et Exsultate #BISblog //" username=""] Chelsea Piper is passionate about the religious formation of youth and young adults, despite it being a conversation-killer at rooftop parties and family get-togethers. She spends her time attempting to (and generally failing at) keeping houseplants alive. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

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

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

Ever notice how the virtues we pray for grow in proportion to the number of times they’re tested? It’s common sense, really, but somehow it always still seems to surprise me. As much as we’d like to be handed virtues on a silver platter of holiness, we can’t, for example, pray for patience without expecting to land in the longest line at airport security or bearing with our own and others’ faults for the umpteenth time. Humility...Ouch Humility is another one of those virtues. The more I pray for humility, the more I find myself getting humiliated. This is a problem for a perfectionist who has spent her life building her identity in how well she performs. See, I rather like being extolled, honored, praised, and approved. Being told that I’ve failed or otherwise feeling I’ve made a fool of myself stings, and often leaves me questioning my worth. I’m sure you’ve been there, too, sister. We live in a culture so bent on worldly success and achievement that we forget that, as Leon Bloy once put it: The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint. The goal of this life is to reach sainthood, and I should be working toward holiness with all that I’ve got. But instead, I spend most of my time thinking of how best to represent myself on all fronts—on social media, in my relationships, in my work—so as not to risk heaping embarrassment and overwhelming reminders of my littleness. [bctt tweet="...the only real failure...in life is not to become a saint. -Leon Bloy #BISblog //" via="no"] The Litany of Humility Enter the Litany of Humility: guaranteed to increase holiness if we pray it frequently, though not without first pruning our pride. But how exactly does that happen? The response in the last part of the litany seems fairly straightforward: “Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.” The dispensation of grace is left under the Holy Spirit’s purview. I can keep praying for the grace to desire humility, but I can’t control exactly when or how it will arrive. Faithful, earnest recitation of this part of the prayer seems to be enough here. And at first glance, asking Jesus to “deliver me” from pride in all the ways the Litany stipulates in the first stanza seems like something that is also out of my control. I’m still craving action steps, though, and this litany is definitely not designed to let me off the hook. While I might be asking Jesus to do the heavy lifting of deliverance, I can still pick up a couple of spiritual two-pounders and do my part to show Him I’m serious about this. Embracing Embarrassment When I feel humiliated as a result of a failure to achieve, accomplish, or perform, my focus turns inward and the situation becomes all about me. What must they all think of me now? What might happen if I worked on turning outward instead? If I focused my efforts to grow in humility on the hard, Christ-centered work of loving other people rather than on fearful and selfish attempts to save my own reputation? I’ve come up with the following list of ways to begin doing this, and to therefore live the Litany of Humility in some practical ways. I’m sharing them in the hopes that they will be helpful to you, too. How to Practice Humility in a Culture Focused on Pride Spend a day, week, or month on social media without posting anything yourself. Instead, meaningfully engage with other users. Comment on their photos. Read the links they promote back to their blogs. Support their businesses. Visit your Blessed is She regional Facebook group and pray for the intentions of your sisters. Write a review for your favorite podcast, the last book you really enjoyed, a local business whose customer service blew you away, or a product you ordered from an Etsy shop. Lift up the work that someone else is doing. Give someone a sincere compliment to someone that has nothing to do with how they look or what they’re wearing, and everything to do with who they are. Call out the holiness in and the blessing of someone else. Remind them of the ways in which they are a gift to you, simply by being who God created them to be. Pray for the people you envy. We know that life is never consistently as great as our social media feeds would suggest. We also know that the nature of being human means that everyone is fighting some sort of battle, even if we don’t know what it is. So why not pray for that person who seems to have it all together instead of harboring resentment toward them? Give thanks, asking for Mary’s intercession. The Magnificat is the cry of a humble soul who has recognized God’s blessings with utmost gratitude. Why not make it your prayer, too, as you count the good things God has already done in your life? Seeking Humility Together Here’s to the hard work of growing in humility alongside one another. I’ll be praying for you, sister. Have you ever prayed the Litany of Humility? What has your experience been? [bctt tweet="Practicing Humility in an Achievement-Driven Culture #BISblog //" via="no"] Sarah Zentner is a graduate student in English literature, who believes the written word is often an extraordinary place to witness the grace and goodness of God. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys indulging in all things “hygge”, crafting the next great pun, and singing loudly along to the car radio.

Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me. -Cardinal John Henry Newman, from "Lead, Kindly Light" Reflect I think the difference between me and some people is that I'm content to do my little bit. Sometimes people think they have to do big things in order to make change. But if each one would light a candle we'd have a tremendous light. Sister Thea Bowman Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Little + Light #BISblog #BISrests //"] Curated by Molly Walter. You can find out more about her here.

Growing up, I was never Marian. My mother was and my grandmother, even more so. In high school, I was surrounded by the Protestant mindset, and therefore, lost a fair chunk of my Catholic doctrine. It wasn’t until I went to college that Mary really became available to me. Meeting Mary through the Missionaries Attending Ave Maria University would be the appropriate place to find an appreciation for the Blessed Mother. From Rosary walks to the Angelus, I was given more than enough opportunities to know my Heavenly mother during my undergraduate studies. Yet, I still didn’t give her much thought. During my junior year, I traveled to Kolkata, India on mission through the Mother Teresa Project at AMU. I never felt more inclined to know the Blessed Mother than when I went to India. Serving, praying, and living among the Missionaries of Charity was one of the most life-changing experiences I’d had in my life. I made it two decades on this earth without truly living. The sisters pray various times a day and the prayers evoke both Christ and Mary. Soon after the mission, I took two classes specifically on Mary and consecrated myself to her for the first time. While in Kolkata, I needed a guiding force to find consultation for the suffering Christ. I needed a mother. And I needed to be a mother to so many. The everlasting thirst of motherhood became real for me. I could see the true pain and suffering in others that didn’t make me sit in somber and sulk. In fact, I felt the Spirit guide me to do the exact opposite! It threw me into action. In Action with Mary Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah. -Luke 1:39 During the Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth, Mary went in haste. There was no, “Let’s just sit, relax, and enjoy this moment.” Like Mary, I saw the value in bringing the Good News to all who were in my midst. There was the child who couldn’t walk or even crawl to the lunch table because their limbs were so severely deformed. I would run in haste, being called by the child’s fear of being left behind. Looking back, I realized that I was the vessel of Christ. Comforting the afflicted. There was the woman who wailed in pain. She had only an aspirin to ease her. She was in a crib with a broken leg propped up (on a contraption only a Missionary of Charity sister could possibly have made). I would run in haste to her side with a cup of water, falling to my knees to be able to look into her eyes and reassure her that it was going to be okay. Comforting the sorrowful. Serving Like Our Lady I have countless memories like this that flash through my mind in adoration, Mass, or meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary. I have found the root of service for the Kingdom is found in each corporal and spiritual work of mercy. And for women, it is to emulate the Blessed Mother by being a mother to whole world. But Pope St. John Paul the Great makes a better case for us. In the light of Mary, the Church sees in the face of women the reflection of a beauty which mirrors the loftiest sentiments of which the human heart is capable: the self-offering totality of love; the strength that is capable of bearing the greatest sorrows; limitless fidelity and tireless devotion to work; the ability to combine penetrating intuition with words of support and encouragement. In my meditations on the Blessed Mother and praying for the souls I met in Kolkata nearly three years ago, I have found fascinating correlations. How Mary Calls Us to Christ Firstly, the aspect of haste. We are told in this post-modern world to go, go, go! But why are we going to fast and where are we going? There is no true progress if we don’t understand the path of the goal. Our goal as Christians is Heaven. Therefore, to be in a place where all is holy, we must make sure our actions are haste but holy, or at least with that intention. Secondly, I noticed the true essence of the Blessed Mother wanting us to stay focused on that goal. So, what are the two most important times in our life? Mary, giving us the Rosary, has shown us. “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” That line is intrinsic! And how many of us just zip through it to finished the bead, decade, or even the whole thing? Haste. Now. Death. These three words associate our journey to heaven with the Blessed Mother. We must go in haste to others, bringing food, good word, encouragement, or thanksgiving. The Spirit guides us where to go in haste, bringing Christ with us, just as Mary did with Elizabeth. Set Out with Mary We do not know the day nor the hour that our time or others will come. The hour that you get sick, get a promotion, or leave this world. Our deepest prayers can be encapsulated in the simplicity of the “Hail Mary”. But remember, her response to us will always be: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). May we learn from the obedience, grace, and humility of our Blessed Mother. Ask her, the first Christian, to intercede for you all the days of your life, guiding you to the Light that dwells within her. Where is Christ calling you to go with His mother? [bctt tweet="Setting Out with Mary #BISblog //"] Katie Trudeau graduated from Ave Maria University. She works in political campaigns around the country, but has her hopes of being a Presidential speechwriter one day. She is a proud member of the co-worker branch for the Missionaries of Charity. You can always catch her flying somewhere or at the nearest Chick-fil-a. Her go-to books of the Bible are Job and Proverbs.

On the day you were born, God gave your parents a rule book. It gave them all the instruction necessary for raising their specific child. Ever thoughtful, He replaced it with updates as needed every two to three weeks when all of the old rules inevitably were outdated. New books came with each child to account for the differences in personality. It was very simple. Those who followed the rules of the rulebooks were heroes. Those who did not were villains. For you, there were many villains. Parenting Now Now that you have children of your own, you see that the rulebook has not changed, only internet updates are available to remind you. It seems more complicated and yet it is not. How to make baby sleep, how to make toddler obey, how to quiet the articulate thinker so you can read one blog post, how to calm the pre-teen, how to keep the teenager’s eyes in place without rolling. You can understand why those conversations you have with yourself late at night are so logical. You are not following the rulebook, the step by step instructions on how to be a good parent. If you could only follow the instructions, their lives would culminate in the great understanding that you were their greatest hero. No hero ever succumbs to the role of villain, not even for a moment, for a second, for a thought. Only villains do that. The good news is you knew the rulebook never existed. There's No Rulebook in Parenting Parenthood alternates in terrifying and thrilling qualities. Adulthood can do the same, in general, although it is easier to stay scared, to hide in the dark, hoping the rulebook somewhere says, “stay put.” It does not. In parenthood, the parents must keep moving, keep adapting. Just when you think you’re licked, the toddler crawls up into your arms, puts his arms around you, and squeezes your shoulders because that is as far as his chubby little hands reach. Your oldest dresses without being told, eager to please you, saying she slept well the night before. You wonder if it is true, or if you just guilted her with your words last night, adding one more rung to that complex she will carry around as an adult. We are the heroes of their story, but we are so fallible. Only when we reach maturity do we understand the rulebook was wishful thinking. We are meant to make mistakes. You are meant to make mistakes. You are human. Your mistakes lead to make-up kisses. Your Past Doesn't Define Your Present or Future The villains were not villains because they did not follow the rulebook. They were villains because they did not love you. They sought to use you no matter what the consequences. Or they neglected you, forgetting about you as soon as you left the room when they should have kept you always in the back of their mind. You will succeed. You'll be the wounded healer, the broken hero, the truthful mother who brings her children to life or the humbled father who shows the way. You have it all within you to succeed. And I know you will. You are writing the rulebook as you go, changing it every two or three weeks when all of the old rules become outdated. The best part of your rulebook is the clause you added after your first child, which you try ever so hard to follow but often forget entirely, “go easy on yourself.” You got this. [bctt tweet="There is No Rule Book in Parenting #BISblog //"] Kathryn Anne Casey is a graduate of Divine Mercy University, freelance writer, housewife and mother of four children. Her weekly newspaper column "Here's to the Good Life!" and blog focus on art, psychology, consumerism and the importance of local community. You can find out more about her here.