This year during Lent, the founder of Blessed is She, Jenna Guizar, donated some of our Lent Journals to a local prison ministry who serves women in the local prison. The response blew us all away. The BIS Lent Journal + Prison Ministry Our contact with the prison ministry, Janet, was kind enough to tell us about what she witnessed Christ do through this small act of love. She also gives us ideas for serving incarcerated women in our areas. Let's all commit or recommit to this invaluable Work of Mercy! Tell us a little about your involvement with the local prison in your area. I have been in recovery myself due to an abusive home growing up, so I have always felt called to get involved in Prison Ministry. A friend of mine was involved, so we were talking about it one day. I decided to get badged, so I did and asked God to show me where He wanted me to go with it. I always felt my calling was to work with the youth. But I wanted to see what my friend did—since I had no idea what a service would look like—so I went with her to a local prison for women. My friend knows my story, and right before we got to the jail, she asked me to give my testimony. (Gasp! Panic! I thought I was only coming to watch, not to say something!) As I told my story, all the women started to cry. I knew I connected with all of them. Right then, I knew I was in the right place. This was where God wanted me to be! I have computer skills, and the Prison Ministry leader at the Diocese needed help. So I took over the volunteer coordination for that prison for the Diocese. I absolutely love working with the women! I just want them to know they are loved and prayed for and to help restore their dignity as women. How did you first get connected with Blessed is She? I live right by St. Andrew's parish in Phoenix. I’ve seen the Blessed is She events on Facebook and several of my friends have been going. One of my volunteers was connected to Jenna, and Jenna had mentioned the Lent Journals to her. Dawn forwarded the message to me. I talked to Jenna and got a picture of what the books looked like. Then, I sent it to the Chaplain for approval. Since there were no staples, etc., they were approved. If the women filed a tank order (request form), they could request a copy. What inspired you to make the BIS Lent Journals available to the women? I looked through the journal and I loved that it included Scripture and great questions for the women to think about. It was easy to understand. The girls love things like this. I am always telling them not to waste time sleeping the days away, but to use this time to build up their spiritual muscles so they are stronger to avoid temptation when they get out. What kind of reception did the journals get? The girls immediately started filling out their tank orders to get their books as soon as I told them about them. In fact, they were excited to know that my girls were the first ones to get the opportunity to get one. But each time I went back to do my service and I would mention the book, someone in the room had already gotten one. They gave such an amazing testimony about the book—that was all the advertising I needed. I didn’t have to say another word! The women’s testimony was enough! What fruit have you seen come from making these journals available? The girls started doing Bible Studies in their dorms (there are 300 girls in a dorm, but only 30 can come to my service at a time). Those who got a book invited other girls to come and join them and they were doing group studies. One girl said, “This is the best book I’ve ever read! I loved the examples of how to apply this to my own life!” The information in the books made it real for them. Even though Lent is long passed, I am still getting more and more requests every week for the books! Did anything in particular seem to resonate most with the women? The real life examples helped them understand how this applies to “me” and not just another book preaching at them. This is something they could use in their daily lives, whether locked up or on the outside. If someone wants to be involved in prison ministry, or make resources like this available in their local prison, where do they start? Well, most prisons can certainly use more volunteers. Check with your local dioceses to see how you can get involved. As far as resources go, the women love to have the current missals for the year with all the readings for Mass. However, we can’t afford to buy them for everyone, so we don’t hand them out. In the past, I've collected old Magnificats from my friends and the girls can request those via tank order. It’s still Scripture with great stories in them, they just aren’t brand new. They sure jumped on the Blessed is She books and ate them up! If you have the means, consider purchasing future Journals for the women in your local prison. [bctt tweet="The BIS Lent Journal + Prison Ministry #BISblog //" via="no"]

This past Easter Sunday, my father called to wish me a happy Easter. It was such a gift to hear his voice and to catch up with him. I remember thinking throughout the phone call how happy he sounded. And even though my father is the most optimistic, joyful person I know, there was something so deeply rich in his voice. Something different. It wasn’t until the end of our conversation that I found out why. A Life-Giving Conversation Before saying goodbye, my father told me that he was watching a series about the Holy Spirit on Formed with Father Dave Pivonka called The Wild Goose. Hearing the name made me smile. Father Dave was stationed at Franciscan University’s campus in Austria when I studied abroad during college. He is a priest who, through his witness of faith and love of God, makes you want to run to Christ and give your life completely to Him. My father ended the conversation with, “Claire, the series is changing my life, you should really watch it.” The Gift of the Holy Spirit That evening my husband Mike made an account with Formed and we began watching The Wild Goose. My life truly has not been the same since. I’ve been raised Catholic, went to a Catholic college, and studied theology there. Yet I have never been touched so deeply by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The joy and peace that I experienced watching each episode in the series was healing and profound. You are a Light to this World Matthew 6:22 proclaims that, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.” Sisters, what we choose to watch, what we choose to look at, what we choose to fill our minds, souls, and hearts with, is of momentous importance. Later in the New Testament, St. Paul tells us to think about, “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8). The movies we watch, the pictures we look at, and the television shows we view affect our innermost being. We are created to be lights; to be a light we must fill ourselves with His light. A Catholic Media Option The Wild Goose series is one of the many powerful shows you can watch on Formed. Formed is an online platform that offers incredible Catholic content including movies, podcasts, video series (like The Wild Goose), books, audiobooks, and study programs. From personal study to children’s catechesis (my son Peter loves watching the Brother Francis series!) to sacramental preparation, Formed offers something for everyone. Most parishes offer a code to access all the materials on Formed. If you aren’t sure, ask your parish priest. And if your parish doesn’t offer access, you can sign up on your own. In a world where Netflix reigns, it’s so beautiful to support an evangelization ministry like this in the media. My heart is uplifted and my soul is set ablaze with His love every time I choose to watch something on Formed. On the contrary, when I choose to watch more secular shows, I am often left drained, unfulfilled, and even lonely. Top Three Formed Picks Here are my top three picks to watch on Formed! St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor to the Poor All or Nothing: Sister Clare Crockett The Wild Goose: Discovering A Deeper Relationship With the Holy Spirit What are your favorite shows or movies on Formed? Be sure to share with the Blessed is She community in the comments! [bctt tweet="What to Watch on Formed #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"]

Here at Blessed is She, we believe in sisterhood so firmly that it's at the very heart of the ministry. You see it in our hashtag (#bissisterhood), all over our devotions, blog posts, retreats, workshops, and gatherings. It's our sisterhood in Christ that bonds us in spiritual family! But What is Sisterhood...Really? But if you're like me, sometimes sisterhood an elusive concept. Great, got it! Sisterhood! Be . . . sisterly? I harken back to sharing a room with my sister and her never wanting the closet light on and me always wanting to hog the covers. Or when we lived together in college and listened to each other's boyfriend woes over cheap pizza (kinda tasted like cardboard, but you know). Sisterhood also has meant being polite when I was completely destroyed by a friend who flaked on helping because she didn't feel like it, saving the wrath for a text to my husband and processing with her when I was less . . . prickly. And flying out for that friend's graduation from her master's program because we did have a truly loving bond, one that could sustain ups and downs. Our sisterhood rooted in our shared Faith means we have a chance to dip into the well that is God's fruitful love, and then share that love with one another. Through frustrations and FOMO, discouragement and discernment. Sisterhood through it all. A Free Series on Fruitful Sisterhood To dive deeper into what sisterhood means and what it looks like, we have a special 8-part email series starting on August 15th (because Our Lady is the original ultimate sister). You'll receive short emails, every other week, focused in on a virtue/vice combo that is elevating us or holding us back in this fruitful sisterhood we are meant to experience. You'll find a little research on what the Church in all Her wisdom teaches us, a little anecdote, and lots of heart-to-heart vibes. Want to know and grow in how to be in a sisterly relationship? Join us. Let's Be Sisters! We are so excited to see you then, and we will be praying for your sisterly relationships. May they have less cardboardy pizza and more impromptu trips. May they lead you closer into His Sacred Heart, a place of fiery love that burns beautifully in each and every one of us when we invite Him in. Will you be joining us for the free 8-part email series on fruitful sisterhood? Let us know how you define fruitful sisterhood in the comments below!

A year ago, I would have said I didn’t have any problem trusting God. That sometimes, sure, I balked a bit at His will or His plans. But in general, I was pretty apt to trust Him with my dreams, desires, hopes, and disappointments. With everything! Fully Trusts in God: party of one. Yay for me! And then I stumbled upon the Litany of Trust. The Litany of Trust The Litany of Trust is a prayer penned by the Sisters of Life, a religious order based in New York (it is specifically attributed to Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V.). I don’t even remember how I came across it, but ever since it crossed my path, I have prayed it every morning. It’s been nearly a year now. Praying this prayer daily has revealed just how much I need to grow in the trust-in-God arena. And while that may seem defeating, it’s actually been incredibly fruitful. The prayer hits on so many areas where we might struggle to fully trust the Lord. And every time I recite the prayer, I’m moving closer to full and total surrender and trust in Jesus, even if that movement is imperceptible to me. If you feel discouraged about how hard is it to trust in God, take heart! The Bible and Church history are full of Apostles, leaders, and Saints who also struggled to trust God. He doesn’t demand or expect perfection. He simply asks for a heart turned toward Him and for us to continue to seek Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. The Litany of Trust will help you on your way.     How to Pray the Litany of Trust If you want to incorporate this beautiful prayer into your life, here are three of my favorite ways to pray the Litany of Trust! Pray a couple of lines per hour throughout your day. One of my favorite ways to pray this prayer is to use my phone to create a series of reminders throughout my day, at each hour interval. I add a note to the reminder with a few lines of the prayer, and make those lines my focus for that hour. There are 29 lines in the prayer, so you could have ten hours worth of prayers if you pray roughly three lines per hour. But, feel free to divvy it up however you want! Here’s an example: I’d set a reminder on my phone for 8:00 a.m., and include in the reminder’s note the first three lines of the prayer: From the belief that I have to earn Your love … Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear that I am unlovable … Deliver me, Jesus. From the false security that I have what it takes … Deliver me, Jesus. When the alarm goes off, I silently recite those three lines, and continue to focus on those throughout that hour. Listen to the audio version while you walk, drive, or do chores. The sung litany is short, just five minutes, but I love to listen to it a couple times through while walking with my kids, driving in the car, or doing chores. Or—if I’m being completely transparent—locked in the bathroom while taking deep breaths in the middle of a chaotic morning. It is a great prayer to center yourself and reorient things if your day (or week, or month!) has gone off the rails. Match Scripture to each line. One of the most powerful ways I’ve prayed this prayer was to meditate on it, line by line, for a good month. During this time, I seek out Scripture to accompany the theme of each line. It took the prayer much deeper. It also helped me commit some verses to memory to recall when I struggle in certain areas (discouragement, anxiety, fear). For example, for the line that reads: From the fear of what love demands, deliver me, Jesus. I meditated on the following Scripture passages about what it means to love as Jesus commands: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. -1 Corinthians 13:4-5 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. -1 John 3:16-18   For the line that reads: That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You, Jesus, I trust in you. I meditated on the following Scripture passages about not knowing or fearing the future: He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. -Deuteronomy 31:8 ...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. -Phillippians 1:6   How to Find Relevant Scripture Verses You get the picture! As for how to find verses that coincide with each line, good old Google has always been my standby. We also have some posts about verses for different situations. Scripture verses to pray when you’re mad at God are perfect for the line, “From all suspicion of Your words and promises, Deliver me, Jesus.” There’s also a post about Scripture verses to pray in times of scandal. These would work well for any seasons when you feel angry about something that occurred and anxious or unsure about what the future might look like. This post has some great options for several lines of the prayer, including, “from anxiety about the future, deliver me, Jesus,” and, “from resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past, deliver me, Jesus.” As mentioned, there are 29 lines in the prayer. So it’s nearly perfect to spend an entire month meditating on one line per day! Have you ever prayed the Litany of Trust? Do you have a favorite way to pray it? Chime in with a comment—we’d love to learn from you! [bctt tweet="How (and Why) to Pray the Litany of Trust #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

Everywhere I turn, I’m reminded that my ultimate autonomy is crucial to my success as a female in 2019. I need to be an independent woman who doesn’t need a man. Feelings are illnesses that can be caught and people always leave, so I shouldn’t trust any of them. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first lady to stand up and clap for the women working in male-dominated professions, paying their own bills, or living out their singlehood. But really, what's so wrong about needing someone? Especially the One? We're Told Not to Need Anyone But Ourselves For as long as I can remember, until fairly recently, asking for help or looking for support too often meant admitting defeat. Whether it was regarding a difficult math equation, a deeply-rooted sin, or a soccer drill. It was a fault, not being able to accomplish life and its various challenges alone. Looking to God? Well, that was just the ultimate cop-out, a sort of last-ditch effort. As a woman, weakness was not something I wanted to exude. I knew I was not living alone in this lie. So many of us can fall into the belief that if we admit that there are things we can’t tackle alone, we must be failures. Something is wrong with us. We may find ourselves trapped and confined by this, living within it for long periods of time, in silent, isolated desperation. However, I challenge all women to rise up and seek the truth. As daughters baptized in the name of God, we are called to much more. We are called to challenge society’s notion of strength and the pinnacle of womanhood. We were made to live our lives in community. We were created to participate in relationship. We are Made for Community The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “God did not create man a solitary being” (CCC 383). We were designed to desire relationship; so naturally we do, no matter how hard we try to deny it. The idea of relationship, however, can be hard to pin down. We have many definitions and ideas as to what a relationship pertains. When we get to the root of any relationship, there is love. St. Thomas Aquinas defines love as, “to will the good of another.” Working to will the good of another isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. It includes sacrifice and difficulty. By proclaiming the vows of marriage, a man and woman commit to loving their partner “through good times and bad.” In the same way, honoring God’s will for us, we are to love and be loved by the people who are present in our lives. To do so more deeply, we share our triumphs and our trials. It’s a relationship of give and take, through every high and low. We Desire Connection We were designed to desire connection: here with fellow humans and especially with our Father in Heaven. God has revealed his innermost secret: God himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and He has destined us to share in that exchange. -CCC 221   Just as He wants our works, good deeds, and successes, our God wants to take on our burdens and needs as well. He offers us this relationship, as He offered Jesus to take on our sin. He wants to give us rest, to solve our troubles. We must only welcome Him. 1 Peter 5:7 says: Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares for you.   Our God is personal and calls us to intimate relationship with Him. When we choose to participate in this, we are rewarded. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.   In true freedom and peace, we may strive forward with the Almighty God who roots us. We are Made Strong through Our Reliance on Him Living out our trust in Christ and each other is a true sign of our feminine strength. It can be difficult to swallow our pride and admit we can’t do it all, but a space like this one certainly helps. The Blessed is She community accepts and supports with reckless abandonment. Edith Stein, later known as St. Teresa Benedicta, said, “The woman’s soul is fashioned as a shelter in which other souls may unfold.” This sisterhood exemplifies this idea so well. We have been gifted a unique, feminine capability to welcome candor without reserve and model it ourselves, too. There is so much comfort and liberation to be found when we open up and welcome our sisters into our most vulnerable places; bringing us ever closer to the open arms of our Father. Let us rest in our reliance on our One God, knowing that this is what brings deep fulfillment. How do you stay reliant on God in a culture that demands we be independent from everyone but ourselves? [bctt tweet="Staying Reliant on God in a Culture of Independence #BISblog //" via="no"] Cara Grimmer is student and future educator living in the Midwest. Bubbly, blonde, and constantly bursting into song, she strives to live out the beauty and truth of her Catholic Faith in the way St. Teresa of Calcutta encourages, by doing “small things with great love.”

Who doesn’t love the idea of liturgical living—of bringing fun, beauty, and deliciousness into our homes according to the rhythms of the liturgical year? It stirs excitement, creativity, a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves and, most importantly, leads us into deeper comprehension of our Faith. That is the ideal. Is Living Liturgically Overwhelming You? The reality is that sometimes, adding one more thing to your daily to-do list can feel like a spiritual stumbling block. What started out as an attempt to grow spiritually can become a near occasion of sin due to the stress of bringing it all to fruition. After our momentary undoings, we then find ourselves feeling guilty, defeated, and wondering… “Is it even worth the effort?” The good news is that it doesn’t have to be like this. Chances are, you may be comparing your efforts with those liturgical living experts who testify time and time again that it took them years of building to find what worked naturally and smoothly for their families. Don’t compare and don’t fret. With time you’ll find what works best for your family, and here are some tips to help. Keep It Simple Most of us have meals that are easy family favorites. My go-to move for liturgical living for beginners is to take those meals I already make and see how I can connect them with the feast days of that week. Sometimes it’s clever (like grilling on the feast of St. Lawrence) and sometimes its basic (like eating a pasta dish on the feast of an Italian Saint). But it is always easy! Then, while we eat, we talk about the connection between the feast and the food. Whether it’s a short discussion or a long one doesn’t matter. We’ve “lived liturgically.” Quick-Fixes for August Feasts August 5 // Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major When it comes to Marian feast days, I keep a recurring ingredient: blueberries. They can show up by themselves, or in a recipe, and we can have them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Truly versatile and connected to Our Lady by their color. August 6 // Transfiguration of Jesus Anything with grapes! August 8 // St. Dominic The color white is one of the first things that comes to mind for this Saint because it is the color of the Dominican habit. Make meals that incorporate this color: yogurt at breakfast, creamy pasta at dinner. Maybe even some white wine. August 9 // St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross I pay tribute to her German heritage with the bratwursts we have for dinner. August 10 // St. Lawrence Famous for his line, “Turn me over, I’m done on this side,” the Roman Saint was martyred by being burned alive over a grill. As long as the weather cooperates, we take whatever ingredients we have on hand and grill out. August 12 // St. Jane Francis de Chantal A French Saint bodes French-inspired cuisine. Since their culinary arts are a tad more complex, I try to buy French baked goods to go with a meal. Try croissants, baguettes, eclairs, or macaroons! August 13 // Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus One was pope, the other was the antipope. Both died as martyrs on the island of Sardinia. If you’re a fan of sardines, this day would be especially appropriate to indulge in them. We’ll stick to a caesar salad, or maybe just include pretzels as a snack (since their relationship was a little salty before their reconciliation). August 14 // St. Maximilian Kolbe To celebrate this Polish martyr we turn to unstuffed cabbage rolls, a simpler version of the traditional but time-consuming Polish cabbage rolls. If it’s too hot for a heavy meal, try a cherry-dipped ice cream cone from your favorite local ice cream spot for dessert (cherry because its red, red because it's the liturgical color associated with martyrs). August 15 // The Assumption of Mary Blueberry pancakes, or blueberry muffins, or blueberries in oatmeal, or in yogurt, or tossed in a salad, or baked in a pie… August 16 // St. Stephen of Hungary Paprika Chicken is fitting since the spice is quittisential in Hungarian cuisine. August 19 // St. John Eudes See suggestions for St. Jane Francis de Chantal August 20 // St. Bernard of Claivaux Another French Saint, see above! August 21 // St. Pius X An Italian pope! It’s hard to go wrong with Italian cuisine. But since he is best remembered as the pope who encouraged frequent reception of the Eucharist, perhaps a nice, freshly baked loaf of bread from the bakery would be appropriate. August 22 // The Queenship of Mary Something with blueberries! August 23 // St. Rose of Lima A Peruvian Saint, we draw inspiration from Peruvian cuisine, using ingredients such as quinoa and chili peppers with dinner. August 24 // St. Bartholomew Also known as Nathaneal, Bartholomew is the disciple whom Jesus saw under the fig tree. Thus, I might grab a package of fig newtons at the store that week. Or even the figs themselves if I’m feeling really adventurous! August 27 // St. Monica A dish with the use of any of the following spices (alone or combined), as these are commonly used in the region of Africa from which she hails: cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, paprika, coriander, saffron, mace, cloves, fennel, anise, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, fenugreek, black pepper. August 28 // St. Augustine Hailing from the same place as his mother, Monica, we simply eat leftovers from the night before. August 29 // Passion of St. John the Baptist As it is the feast which remembers the day this man was martyred, we make sure our main meal for the day contains red meat. Liturgical Living for Beginners: Dine with the Saints One of the traditions I brought into our marriage is the inclusion of a small prayer. At the end of saying grace before meals, we all say “Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.” My husband loves it so much that he added more Saints to the mix, mostly family patrons, as well as whichever Saint he feels we need assistance from that day. Ever since I've gotten into liturgical living, he’s always sure to add the name of the Saint whose feast it is. The running joke is that we have to pray a litany before we can eat our meal. He always retorts, “You all can thank me when we get to Heaven.” His cheeky response has given renewed focus to my liturgical living efforts. They are meant to lead me and my family deeper into worship and closer to Christ so that we can spend eternity with Him. Rather than allowing this to “increase the pressure,” I think about the simplicity of the narrow path, and wisdom of Mother Teresa who encouraged the world to do small things with great love. It's made all my liturgical living goals simpler and our home more focused on Heaven. What are your best tips for liturgical living for beginners? [bctt tweet="Liturgical Living for Beginners: Start with Food #BISblog //" username="grace_swap"]

If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. // Colossians 3:1 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Michelle Slough from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

On a rainy May afternoon I ducked out of the drizzle through the double glass doors of the Mistlin Art Gallery in the city’s historic downtown to join an intimate gathering of local opera lovers. Patrons gathered around mezzo-soprano Nikola Printz, artist, performer, and remarkable stage presence for a solo recital titled, “Women & Matters of the HeART.” The theme allowed Printz the opportunity to select and perform those songs closest to her own heart. What are Women’s Matters of the Heart? Printz began with, “Neruda Songs,” a series of sonnets written by Pablo Neruda and set to music by Peter Lieberson. Romantic love, its devotion and emptying out in self-gift comprised the sonnets’ core matter. Their haunting quality affirmed immediately the otherworldliness of love, taking us beyond time and space. Pope Emeritus Benedict wrote in Deus Caritas Est, “love promises infinity, eternity—a reality far greater and totally other than our everyday existence.” (Deus Caritas Est, 3) That man is made of body and soul presents the call to elevate love beyond eros, a “divine madness” that comes with a gripping passion neither planned nor willed. We know too well in this world that without discipline and elevation of spirit, love can degenerate into something misguided or tragic at the influence of original and chosen sins, falling short of the lofty vision, leading the broken-hearted to pronounce, “this isn’t what I thought love would be.” Falling in Love Within or without religion, the notes of falling in love and total self-gift sound throughout history in music, literature, theater, and art. We hear of the desire to melt into the beloved. We witness the heroic acts in the name of love. As teenagers, we dreamt on our beds, emoting to music, praying someday our prince would come. The listener traveled with Neurda through the seasons of love, from love’s awakening to the realization of what loss could mean. These songs echoed the Lover’s search in the Song of Songs. As the music grew in vibrancy spellbound listeners heard the tale of love opening the beloved up to the world, as if the world was only then transformed into color. The possession of love allows one to see life as it really is, as good and complete as it really is, as vulnerable as it it really is. Such a longing opens the soul to the divine and to true discovery of the beloved. Pope Benedict defined the ecstasy of love and transformation as “an ongoing exodus out of the closed inward-looking self towards its liberation through self-giving, and thus towards authentic self-discovery and indeed the discovery of God: ‘Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it’ (Luke 17:33)” (Deus Caritas Est, 6) Printz translated the final act: “If you die and I don’t, let’s not be sad because we will find each other in every plane of existence…” Neruda wrote, “Oh little infinity! We give it back!” Love Opens the Door Love indeed opens the lover up to infinity, to the eternal, to God. It cannot end with romantic love. It must go beyond. For woman was not meant to exist only in relation to man, only for romantic love. Feminism proposed such a notion; Christianity defined it; entertainment neglected it. Thus we see, recent experiments in cinema with themes like sisterhood, female friendship (without a boy to fight over), motherhood, and aging easily garner popular praise among female viewers who themselves have learned there is more to life than boys.     My playlist (that is, self-recorded cassette tapes) was once the soundtrack to the life I imagined in which the boy realizes he loved her all along. After my own meet-cute, dating, and marriage, the drama moved from in the relationship to the world surrounding the relationship. Romantic love was no longer the quest. It was a source of companionship, as we faced the challenges brought to us by life, the world, and the bearing of children. The discovery of the beloved prepared us to openness and the discovery of our children. Sadly, none of these themes arose during the recital. The second half took the listener on a tour of the effects of original sin, too often the case in modern art and entertainment. We paint with detailed strokes the act of falling in love and quest to possess the lover. Broad strokes or an abrupt ending follow once the mendacity of marriage sets in. A Reduction of the Heart Too often we reduced the heart to romantic love alone. All other loves must be interpreted through that. The reduction of a woman’s heart to only romantic love fails society because in order for woman to continue on the path of her heart, she needs female companionship, spiritual or physical motherhood. She must face the prospect of aging when she moved out of society’s spotlight. The need to address these matters presses upon her during early motherhood, in times of transition and crisis. We so often seek it, but no longer know where to find it. Our early education in romantic love did not prepare us for this. The Feminine Genius in Art Catholic art offers a counterpoint to this tendency (see Elizabeth Lev’s How Catholic Art Saved the Faith). The Virgin Mary is depicted in reference to God, from the sisterhood shared in the Visitation, to the motherhood of nursing her Infant King, to relative old age as she stands beside the Cross supported by John the Beloved. In a love that goes beyond romance, to the trial, to the Passion, to the Cross, we find the most beautiful and glorious art, beyond hints of the depth of love, beyond the little eternity, to Love Himself, infinite and unchanging. We find the place where the beloved is swept up to Heaven, made complete in a self-gift in which the giver never dissolves and the gift is never exhausted. There, we find those matters that concern and compel a woman’s heart. [bctt tweet="The Feminine Genius in Art #BISblog //" via="no"] Kathryn Anne Casey is a freelance writer in Hughson, California, and author of Journey in Love: A Catholic Mother’s Prayers after Prenatal Diagnosis. Find out more about her here.

Dear First-Time College Student (words I wish I had heard at the dawn of my college experience), I am so excited to hear that you are headed to college soon. I’m sure you’ve already chosen some classes and you may have even heard from your new roommate(s). Maybe you’ve selected a new planner, some extra-long sheets for your dorm room, and a stack of framed photos of the people whose faces you know you’re going to need to see as you transition to this new space. This might be the first time that you’ve lived so far from home, paid your own bills, or cooked for yourself. The anticipation is palpable. As you know, there are boundless opportunities and experiences waiting for you once you pick up that freshman orientation swag bag. In it, you’ll probably find important magnets with phone numbers to places like student activities, the on-campus security line, the clinic, the counseling office, the bursar’s office, etc. You’ll receive a map of local public transit stations, and locations of places like the library, gym, stadium, bookstore, Newman Center, alongside some local parks and attractions. Things Will Change Now Once classes begin, there is a good chance that you will read a book that rocks your world—and your perceptions of it. You might get involved with registering students to vote. Maybe you'll attend a protest. You might meet your future spouse. You might turn 21 sooner/later than your peers and have to make some important choices. Perhaps you’ll sign up to study abroad. Maybe your world will look smaller when you choose to participate in a service trip in a place of great need. Maybe you’ll juggle classes and a job. It is going to take some getting used to. This whole college experience has evolved from what might have once been a surface-level academic endeavor to one that now (wisely) includes a four-year formation of person. This may include everything from building community to taking financial and health literacy classes. It might include living with someone you may not have chosen and working on your interpersonal communication skills to work through conflict. This is a tremendously growing experience. Statistically-speaking, attending college is an opportunity very few people enjoy world-wide. What you do with your time matters, both to you and to the one(s) making it possible for you: God, your family, your employer, the donors of your scholarships, etc.     What I Hope You Do as a First-Time College Student Hindsight and the Holy Spirit have given me these three tenants by which to evaluate the choices that are inevitably coming for you in these next four years (and beyond): 1. Take care of you—body and soul. This probably sounds self-explanatory, but it can be easier said than done. When school begins and the homework is assigned, invitations from friends or to clubs start rolling in, it is vital to remember a few important and grounding parameters to work within. Get rest. Professors make more sense when you do. This is also key to staying healthy, especially during finals! Eat well. Don’t write off the cafeteria when you need a good meal and don’t have time to cook. Or cook up something yummy for yourself or let someone else introduce you to a dish you’ve never tried before. Say your prayers. Sit with the Word when you get up, before bed, or all throughout the day. Exercise. Get to know your new space on foot. Make friends. So much of your experience on campus is defined by those you surround yourself with. Choose wisely and evaluate often. Trust your gut. If that nagging voice is telling you something about a situation isn’t right...listen! Call your family. Keep them in the loop. Commit to a faith community. Find a Newman Center or local parish where you can grow. Be invested there so they’ll know you enough to miss you when you’re not there and follow up. (This is also a great way to score a homemade meal or off-campus hospitality!) 2. Take advantage of the resources at your fingertips. I probably didn’t appreciate this fully until I lived in a college town and used their library and attended cultural events that I then had to pay for. I now marvel at the opportunities available to all students when they watch for e-mails, flyers, or even the stall-street-journals. So often I have attended presentations by famous people or seen orchestras or plays all because I was near the campus where the performance was being held. I have hoped to one day live in a town near a campus for this very reason. Read your e-mails. Attend speakers/performances offered on campus, whether or not you’ve heard of them. Access bright and passionate scholars to mentor you as you grow. Utilize the top-notch library resources/academic support. If you’ve ever considered counseling services, they are easily accessible on campus as you deal with the newness or complexities of a more adult lifestyle. 3. Get involved and remember why you’re there. Ultimately, you are headed to college to become more educated in a particular field of study. This can begin to feel like a real drag when compared to ultimate Frisbee practice, volunteering at the humane society, or pledging for a sorority. This does not necessarily mean that you’re on the wrong track, it’s just simply more fun to play than it is to work. So there is a level of self-discipline required when choosing how to spend your days. Becoming involved is part of the whole experience that makes you a well-rounded dentist/biologist/meteorologist/theologian/non-profit manager/urban planner. Balance your extra-curricular involvement with your actual classes and responsibilities. I found out early that you cannot major in extra-curriculars! Service trips can be a great way to get to know new folks over breaks. It can even give you real-world experience in something you're interested in. Look up. Look people in the eye and reserve the use of your phone only for particular times of the day. Operate with integrity. Show up and do what you say you’re going to do. Your future employer will actually want to hear about the ways you were involved outside of the classroom,and how that shaped you into their ideal candidate. Think about how these two complement each other and be able to talk about it. Shine This next chapter of your life is going to shape you and mold you in beautiful ways. You have gifts to bring that only you can offer. Bring your whole self and take care of that self; doing so models for others what that looks like and gives them permission to do the same. You are made in the image and likeness of God. Let your light shine! The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. -John 1:5 Are you a first-time college student this year? What are you most excited for? Nervous about? Let us know in the comments below! 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

My husband works a high-risk job. Maybe yours does, too. The reality of the dangers of his job are not lost on me. With two young children now, it can sometimes feel overwhelming thinking about all the what ifs. How to Deal When Your Husband Works a High-Risk Job Nothing in my life up to this point has challenged and grown my faith as much as my husband stepping into this role. For the first time, I’ve had to come face to face with the idea—the actual possibility—that my husband might not come home. That I might end up raising our small children alone. That thought can send me into a tailspin of panic, or it can send me straight to the arms of God for comfort and strength. I’m grateful that, for the most part, it’s been the latter. Accepting the Reality Without Living in Fear When your husband works a high-risk job, there is a very fine line between accepting the reality of the danger his job entails and living in fear. Accepting the reality that his job is dangerous allows me to not sweat the small stuff and soak up our time together. It makes me especially grateful every time he comes home safe. But if I’m not careful, I can dwell too much on the danger and start to live in fear and “what if.” I’ve found that accepting the reality of the risk is freeing. It frees me from getting too upset about the things that didn’t get done or the little annoyances that come with marriage. It frees me to love more fully and truly soak up the time we have together. Knowing that there are many women out there who no longer get to cook dinner for their husband or fold his clean clothes brings perspective that helps me to live in the moment and give thanks for it. But when I’m living in fear, it’s paralyzing. Living in fear, for me, looks a lot like checking my phone every ten minutes to see if he’s texted back. It looks like staying up too late because I’m anxious. I’ve learned to notice the difference between the two feelings—a feeling of freedom vs. a feeling of paralysis—and to intentionally seek out help when I veer towards the latter. Deciding Jesus is Enough A few years ago, I heard a podcast episode with a woman who was recounting a very dark time in her life. Her infant son was dying and her marriage was on the brink of collapse. She recalled how she asked herself a very difficult question: Would Jesus be enough? If her son died and she no longer had a child, would Jesus be enough? If her husband left and she was no longer a wife, would Jesus be enough? That podcast forever changed me, and I think about it so often in light of my husband's job. When your husband works a high-risk job, and the reality of danger feels too close for comfort, I’ve found it’s helpful to simply repeat to myself, “Jesus is enough.” If the unthinkable were to happen and my husband was taken away, Jesus would be enough. If he were injured on the job and our lives changed forever, Jesus would be enough. And if absolutely everything I love was stripped away, Jesus would be enough. Some days, repeating that phrase feels like the epitome of “fake it til you make it.” I sometimes don’t feel like I believe it. But I say it anyway, trusting that God will turn my unbelief into belief, and that His promises are true. That no matter what, in every trial, Jesus truly is enough. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff This is such a cliche, but it’s also so true. When your husband leaves for work and that work sometimes includes putting his safety on the line, so many things are put into perspective. I am so grateful for Matt’s job and the ways it has brought us closer as a married couple. It has empowered me to let go of a lot of things that would normally annoy or irritate me. Because in the grand scheme of things, it just doesn’t matter. We certainly aren’t perfect, and I have a long way to go. His job has made me better able to let things go and not get too bent out of shape about the little things, and has made me much more mindful of and grateful for our time together. Place Yourselves into the Hands of Providence Most days, before my husband leaves for work, we pray a simple prayer together as a family. I pray for protection over Matt’s life, and ask God to bring him home safely. I pray for strength for me, for peace and comfort, and that God would cover our family with His protection. I pray the Guardian Angel Prayer silently to myself. This practice of praying for my husband as he drives away, heading to a job which might include danger and could take his life, is a practical reminder that our lives are not our own. That we are called to “place ourselves gently into the hands of Providence,” as one of my favorite saints, St. Theodore Guerin, once said. Turning Fear Into Faith It is hard to send your husband off to a high-risk job. But here is what I know to be true: God will never leave or forsake us. He blesses our efforts. He will never turn us down when we pray to turn our fear into faith. God is there with open arms, ready to flood our hearts with the peace that surpasses all understanding. In our overwhelm or anxiety, let us turn to Him, our good, good Father, who will never let us down. Does your husband work in a high-risk job? How has that impacted your faith? What are your best tips for dealing with all that a high-risk job entails?

I work on the border of Thailand and Myanmar in a small town called Ranong. Here, Burmese migrants come across to Thailand to work in the fishing and other industries. The work is dirty, dangerous and demeaning, but the migrants can earn three times as much here in Thailand than they would back in Myanmar. Poverty and Education Although Thai law admits all children into the state school system, the reality on the ground is that many migrant children do not access education. Many Burmese parents are poorly educated themselves and they need their children to work to help support the family. They might be able to let the children go to school until age twelve, but beyond that, it’s a struggle. They not only struggle with poverty, but also with the discrimination that goes with being a migrant worker in a foreign land. Exploitation is rife, as are diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Leadership So what has Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and leadership got to do with all of this? Well, here I am, managing a Burmese Learning Centre, one of about ten small schools trying to provide the migrant children with education options. Our ninety-five students range in age between twelve and eighteen, so we are catering for high-school aged children who would otherwise be working in fish or charcoal factories. I have been here in Thailand for nearly two years, but only took on the management of the Learning Centre last October. My first few months in the management role were very challenging. Our staff are Burmese, Thai, and English speaking. While many have two or three of these languages, I have only English. Hierarchy, position, and age are very important in both Thai and Burmese cultures whereas my own culture values cooperation, teamwork, and flat leadership structures. I’m also a foreigner, and this has the potential to fuel distrust. Because of these considerations, and despite having held leadership positions in my native New Zealand, I was very reluctant to take on leadership here and "exert authority" in a culture where authority has often been oppressive. I did not (and do not) want to become some kind of dictator who, because the respect and deference given to managers and leaders, wields and abuses power to achieve my desired outcomes. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen to the Rescue Around the time I took on this role, I was listening to some recordings of Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen preaching. I was very struck by his advice about authority. Yes, I had been given authority. But it was to be used for service and love. Over time, I have discovered that my best moments at work are when I can walk around the school and see and hear the students in their classes learning with their teachers. I know that my efforts at timetabling, leading meetings, organising professional development for teachers, and working out the budget (among other things) are enabling this learning to happen. If I keep the idea of service at the top of my mind, I feel myself relax and really try to listen to what my staff need. Even a trip to the stationary shop becomes an act of service, as it allows the teachers to spend their time on planning and preparation for their classes. Servant Leadership Jesus gave us the best image of the servant leader when washing the feet of His disciples. Washing their feet would likely have been a grubby, dusty job. One question I challenge myself with is, "Am I asking my staff to do something I would not also do?" Are our deadlines for reports and exam marking sensible? Are we having too many meetings? Not enough for good communication to happen? Leadership involves daily decision-making, both big and small. A leader needs to think about the big picture all the time when presented with requests and questions. An act of service sometimes means serving the wider vision rather than an immediate need or want. It is in the small daily decisions that the next part of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s message becomes important: Authority must be exercised because one loves. Love in Action I’m blessed in that I love my students and I want them to have the best education possible. This love "in action" constantly takes me out of my comfort zone. It means: Smiling, smiling, smiling at my students who I cannot fluently converse with. Trying to listen carefully to each request of staff and students. Following through on student discipline in a spirit of loving correction. Supporting creative staff initiatives that make learning more enjoyable and real even when I’m not sure of a "successful" outcome. Eating lunch with our first year students once a week even though I find it awkward because of the language barrier. Being ready to take students to the medical clinic during or after school hours when parents cannot afford it or have no transport. Taking a break when I need to in order to love myself, too. Love requires different things of us at different times and in different seasons of our lives. When I leave my apartment in the morning, I sometimes help myself get into the right frame of mind by repeating these words from Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: “Authority is for service and love.” Are you in a leadership position? What does this advice from Venerable Fulton Sheen mean to you? [bctt tweet="Learning About Leadership with Fulton Sheen #BISblog //" via="no"] Katie Fisher works on the Thailand/Myanmar border with the Catholic mission, Marist Asia Foundation. She is attempting to learn to speak Thai and Burmese and spends her free time reading, listening to podcasts, and trying to stay cool in the tropical heat. You can find out more about her here.

For my husband and me, it was a relatively easy decision. Even though I was a product of Catholic school myself. Even though I had taught in a Catholic school before our kids were born. When it came time for us to send our oldest son to kindergarten, it was to the local public elementary school. It wasn’t that we were denying our Faith. We didn’t have a child with special needs that made public school our only option. And while it would’ve been tight, we could have paid the tuition for our parish’s school. Like many, many other young parents in our shoes, though, we chose to utilize the public school in our neighborhood because it was the best fit for our family. The Public School Option There are so many options available to parents when it comes to educating their children. There’s Catholic school, homeschool, public school, private school (both religious and secular), co-op schools, and the list goes on. But very often in Catholic communities, we only discuss the first two options: Catholic school and homeschool. Rarely do we talk about public school as a viable option for our Catholic kids. More often than not, it’s seen as the back-up plan or the sad alternative we don’t actually want to choose. For many Catholic parents, though, public schooling isn’t that at all! As we near the beginning of another school year, let’s take a look at some of the things that public school parents would like our Catholic community to know. What is the main reason(s) you send your child(ren) to public school? For most moms I know, there are two main reasons that their families have chosen to utilize their local public school. They mention the high cost of Catholic schools. They indicate the quality or high rating of the public school in their area. As someone I know and love once put it, “When it comes to our family’s education dollars, the bucket is only so full. Where do we think it's wisest to spend those dollars, in third grade or for college?” And there’s no denying that, for many people, even the scholarships or sibling discounts available wouldn’t bring the cost of Catholic school into reach. Of course, we all want the highest quality education for our children. In my area of Florida, we are particularly blessed with excellent public schools. Since our tax dollars are already paying for them and they consistently rate highest in the state, we are quite happy to make use of them. Other Reasons to Public School For sure, there are as many different reasons behind educational choices as there are families. Some reasons people offered were things I hadn’t even thought of before! Here’s what they had to say: Their child needs an IEP (individualized education plan) or has special needs and can’t get the services they require at a private school. They like the diversity found in a public school setting. Moms are grateful for the exposure to what it means for their children to have to learn to live their Faith in the world (among others of different faiths/lifestyles). Public school offers higher quality arts/music programs. One parent isn’t Catholic. The nearest Catholic school is too far away. One or both parents teach at the public school. Their child(ren) experienced bullying at the Catholic school. The parents themselves are the products of public schools. How do you ensure that your child(ren) learns/lives their faith while attending public school? I think if we’re being honest, we can all answer this question by saying, “I don’t have all the answers, but I’m doing the best I can.” Whatever name it goes by at your parish, religious education is a mainstay in how we help our kids learn the tenets of their Faith. PSR, PREP, RE, CCD—they all mean a big commitment to a family and are how we bring our children to the beauty of the Sacraments. Liturgical living (celebrating feast days, incorporating art/food/Saints into daily life) can be great for kids and families, too! Just like Catholic school parents, we spend time in family prayer, we take our children to Sunday Mass, and even daily Mass on occasion. We teach them the importance of being involved in our parish and seeing it as an extension of our own family. Promoting involvement in activities like youth groups, altar serving, music ministry, boys and girls clubs, and service organizations are both fun and enriching! Another important way to teach our children the value of the Faith in their lives is through family discussions. As our children get older and advance through public school, they are going to witness a lot. Having conversations about what they experience in the world and how to see it through the lens of Faith is vital to forming both their Catholic identity and their worldview.     What do you wish other people knew about public schooling Catholic kids? In my experience, there are a lot of assumptions people make when they learn that Catholic parents are sending their kids to public school. At one point or another, we may even feel like others are judging us because of which school our child attends. So, in an effort to affirm and encourage our public schooling sisters, allow me to share some heartfelt sentiments that many of us share. First and foremost, our choice to send our children to public school is not a reflection on how dearly we love our Catholic Faith and how much we want to pass it on to our children. It’s not a cop-out or an easy choice. And we certainly aren’t alone! Every parish has some sort of religious education program for school kids. It’s great for our kids to see friends from church out “in the world” at their schools. Other notions people have shared with me are: Public school is an early start in the “mission field” of life. It gives our kids an opportunity to choose to make their Faith their own. God made all kinds of different people and this is one way to be able to love them. Our kids get to bring their Faith to school, too. Public school gives kids a great opportunity to excel academically. Sometimes, we do feel a little “Catholic guilt” for our choice even though we know it’s the right one for our family. Going to Catholic school does not ensure your children will stay Catholic, and public school doesn’t ensure they won’t. Have a Great School Year! Regardless of what choice your family makes concerning school this year, I hope the year is a good one! Best of luck and abundant blessings on all of our educational endeavors! And may you and your children bloom in knowledge, in character, in virtue, and in the love of the Lord over the coming months and always. Do your kids attend public school? I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments below! [bctt tweet="Public Schooling Catholic Kids #BISblog //" via="no"] THE PERFECT BOOK FOR KIDS Rise Up will open up beautiful conversations with your children about the virtues. . This will bring beautiful fruit to your prayer life and to your children's prayer lives. GET RISE UP

And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. // Luke 11:9 Download either or both of these beautiful free wallpapers from Sarah Ann Design from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper 1 Phone wallpaper 2 Desktop wallpaper 1 Desktop wallpaper 2

You, or someone you know, may have walked The Camino de Santiago. This is the very pilgrimage which leads to the tomb of St. James the Apostle. Or maybe you have seen the movie The Way, starring Martin Sheen, which follows one man's journey on the Camino. The Camino is a compilation of routes from major cities in Europe that lead to this pilgrimage site in Northern Spain. After Jerusalem and Rome, it is considered the next most important Christian pilgrimage. Over two and a half million people visit Santiago de Compostela every year. Today the route is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Who is St. James the Apostle? Son of Thunder. Son of Zebedee. St. James the Greater. The Apostle James goes by a few different names and is not to be confused of James the Less, another of the Twelve Apostles. He was one of the first disciples called by Jesus. As Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were mending the nets of their boat. Upon Jesus’ call to James and his brother, they both left their father and followed Him. When Jesus summoned the Apostles up to the mountain with Him, He appointed, “James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom He named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). These two sons of thunder were reproached by Jesus in Mark 10 when they sought authority above the other Apostles saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” When Jesus asked them what this was, they answered, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus replied, “...to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” Jesus then used this as an opportunity to teach the Apostles about true humility. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. -Mark 10:43-35   The Innermost Circle Despite St. James’ need for correction, we refer to him as James “the Greater” because he, along with St. John and St. Peter, shared in an especially close relationship with Christ. These three men were the only ones with Jesus when He raised Jarius’ daughter from the dead, when He cured St. Peter’s mother-in-law, and who witnessed the Transfiguration. These three also accompanied Jesus during His Agony in the Garden (albeit sleeping). I love the fact that Jesus’ closest friends were so real, so human! St. Peter doubted Jesus when He walked on water, yet Jesus still made him the rock of our Church. James ignorantly told Jesus that He should do whatever James asked of Him, and yet Jesus continued to love him and remain close friends with him. This should give us great hope! St. James’ Life After Jesus’ Ascension After Jesus’ Ascension, St. James traveled to the Iberian Peninsula to share the Good News of Jesus. When he returned to Judea in 44 AD, he was martyred by King Herod Agrippa I who had James beheaded. He is considered to be the first of Jesus’ Apostles to be martyred. Powerful Patron After his death, St. James' followers brought his remains back to the Iberian Peninsula, or what is now known as Galicia in Spain. These remains are believed to be buried in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. He is considered the patron Saint of Spain and also of pilgrims. Not only did St. James make pilgrimage to Spain to spread the Gospel, but his followers made the same pilgrimage to Spain to put his body to rest. This site is now venerated by millions of people every year. St. James is also considered a patron of arthritis. Legend tells us that when James was being led to his execution, he heard a man call out to him who had been suffering from this crippling disease. In his deep faith, this man pleaded with the Apostle to pray for his cure. St. James then said to him in reply, “In the name of Jesus Christ, for Whom I am being led to execution, stand up and bless your Creator.” Upon his words, the man was healed, stood up, and praised God. How to Find Him In Christian art, the Saints are often depicted with a symbol that is closely connected to the person’s life. If you are trying to spot St. James in Christian art, keep your eye out for the attire of a pilgrim. He is often depicted with either a staff, a gourd (for drinking water), riding on a horse, or a scalloped shell. Why a Scalloped Shell? Why is a scalloped shell a symbol of pilgrimage? In the Middle Ages, it was common for priests to require pilgrimages as a form of penance. Upon completion, the pilgrim would have to prove his penance was fulfilled by providing a local souvenir. Scalloped shells can be naturally found near St. James' tomb on the coast of Galicia, making it a fitting (and free) souvenir. Shells have also been used in the Sacrament of Baptism. As Baptism is the beginning of one’s Christian journey, the symbolism of the shell as pilgrimage is very fitting. Keep your eye out for shells when you see baptismal fonts, as they are sometimes used to decorate the font, or may be used to hold the holy water poured over the one being baptized. A Festive Celebration The feast of St. James is a festive celebration, specifically in Santiago de Compostela, where they celebrate his life with a two-week long celebration concluded by fireworks. Perhaps you could join in celebrating his life by lighting up a few sparklers with your family and friends! Do you have a devotion to St. James the Apostle? [bctt tweet="On the feast of St. James the Apostle #BISblog //" via="no"]

The other day, I heard something deeply disquieting. At first, it just made me wrinkle my nose and think, Huh, that doesn’t sound right. However, the more it settled onto my heart, the more it troubled me. Over coffee with a close friend of mine, I found out that some wonderful, holy, and dedicated young Catholic men in my community were being taught that women are a distraction in their formation as men of God and the formation of their faith. It’s important to note that these young men are not in a seminarian discernment program. Because in that case, this advice would actually be very wise and prudent. But seeing as these are just young men striving for holiness and balance in their lives, I found this to be a very alarming statement, as well as an enormous disservice to both men and women. Why? Well, let’s start with the word distraction. What is a Distraction? Distraction is defined as, “...something that distracts: an object that directs one's attention away from something else” (Merriam-Webster). Okay, well, at first that doesn’t seem too off-base. Women are the pinnacle of God’s creation, so of course we’re going to turn a few heads! However, I think the synonyms for distraction provide a more accurate definition for the context we’re looking at: disturbance, interference, hindrance. Now, let’s look at the claim women are a distraction to men in their faith journey, replacing the word distraction with one of its synonyms. Women are a disturbance to men in their faith journey. Women are an interference to men in their faith journey. Women are a hindrance to men in their faith journey. Does that sound off to anyone else? Are women truly a disturbance, interference, and hindrance to men in their journey towards sainthood? I mean, I’m biased (being woman and all)... but absolutely not. One of the most crucial pillars of being a faithful man—or woman—of God is taking responsibility. Not only for our actions, but for how we nurture our faith despite what personal obstacles we are met with. Spoiler alert: women (and men) are not these personal obstacles. What are these personal obstacles, then, if not women? If not men? These personal obstacles are concupiscence and sin. Sin is a Distraction from Holiness In reality, sin is our only distraction from holiness, from sainthood. Sin is what leads us astray from God. It is what obstructs our view of what is good and holy and true. Sin is what hinders our ability to give ourselves completely to God. Sin is our distraction. Not women. Not men. To teach that women are a distraction to men, or vice versa, is a grave injustice to both parties. How are men and women ever supposed to understand God’s true vision for the vocation of marriage, a sanctifying relationship, when we are taught our future spouse is distracting us from God? How are we ever supposed to develop relationships, friendly or romantic, with our brothers or sisters when we believe they are the reason we are falling down in our faith? There is nothing inherently obstructive about a woman’s presence to a man’s faith, or a man’s presence to a woman’s. In fact, God actually shows us it is the complete opposite. How We Were Created In the beginning, He made us for one another so we may be battle partners to fight the good fight against sin together. The Catechism tells us, “God created man and woman together and willed each for the other...he created them to be a communion of persons, in which each can be "helpmate" to the other…” (CCC 371,372). He, the Perfect Creator, knew that men and women needed each other to help one another reach sainthood—hence, the holy vocation of marriage. Women aren’t the reason men fall down in their faith, temptation toward and consent of sin is. And sin is something that no one can force you to do. It is a conscious choice made by ourselves to disobey God. Our sin or distraction is not rooted in a particular person, but rather, in ourselves. As the Catechism states, “Sin is a personal act...[and] the root of all sins lies in man's heart” (CCC 1868,1873). It’s time that we start taking responsibility for our shortcomings in our faith rather than blaming them on an outside force. Because, while we may be influenced by certain circumstances or people, in the end, it is always our decision to sin. Being True Helpmates Toward Holiness Does this mean that men and women should deliberately be distracting or make it difficult to avoid temptation and sin? Not at all. We have to remember that while the men and women are not inherently a distraction or sin, how we choose to treat each other can easily become one. This is why we are called to help protect each other's purity; not only for our own soul’s sake, but for the sake of the other’s soul as well. It is our responsibility, out of love, to help each other achieve sainthood. This journey is a difficult one already, why not help lighten each other’s load? When we love how God created us to, we are not a distraction from each other’s faith. Rather, our relationships become one of the most beautiful and holy sources of strength and sanctification. God made us for one another. And it is good. [bctt tweet="Why Women Aren't a Distraction #BISblog //" via="no"] Payton Kline is a desert baby who, after dancing ballet professionally in Minnesota for a stint, moved back home to sunny Arizona. She now studies English at Arizona State University and enjoys embracing what the season of college brings—including (but not limited to) rock, paper, scissors tournaments, people-watching on the lightrail, and long coffee-talks with friends. When she isn’t writing, you can find her playing with her big-fat-orange-kitty, Henry, or watching early 2000s rom-coms with her tribe of girlfriends.

Recently on a hot afternoon at the park, my kids and I headed for the shade of a picnic pavilion at a nearby lake. We were marveling at the dragonflies and ducks and red-winged black birds over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when a group of teenagers approached, each carrying a net. Their language was rough. I could see my oldest eyeing them suspiciously. Truthfully, I was eyeing them suspiciously. How often are a group of tweens traipsing innocently along the shores of a lake on an idle Wednesday? (Not enough, is the obvious answer.) As we continued eating, my curiosity got the best of me. “What are you catching?” I asked. “Tadpoles,” they said. I asked if we could take a look at their catch and they agreed. A deep, Tupperware bin filled with large, emerging frogs sat on the shore. Needless to say, my kids were enraptured. We began trailing the teens like little ducklings. They pointed out the bullfrogs under the dock and how they were scooping up the maturing frogs. We half-heartedly picked at our lunches and continued to watch them. To my heart’s delight, I watched them pull trash out of the pond, release the tadpoles, and gift my children with their net. As quickly as they’d arrived, they left; blowing all of my preconceived ideas about them out of the water. Preconceived Notions about the Saints I don’t know about you, but I tend to approach Saints in the same way. I have often let my preconceived ideas about the Saints get ahead of me. Beautiful as they are, it can be hard to measure up to the likes of some of these holy folks. There are two categories that I find myself sorting them into: Things they are known for: Living a life that radiated holiness Starting a religious order Having some kind of miraculous prayer life Practicing austerity and self-denial Things they probably aren’t known for: Having a complete mid-life change of direction Having a pleasant marriage Rocking the boat Admittedly, my list of what they probably didn’t do is getting shorter as I learn about more and more folks who have given a holy witness with their lives. Saint Bridget of Sweden is one such Saint. St. Bridget of Sweden Surpassed My Assumptions Despite my efforts to learn about the whole person who has been declared a Saint, I fall into old habits of holding them up on this pedestal of unattainable perfection. Clearly this is not a fair interpretation of any one person. We are each the sum of our entire lives, not only our best (or worst) moments. It’s also not especially helpful for me. Rather than allowing myself to be inspired by the lives of the Saints, I’ll admit that it can turn a bit sarcastic. Where is the humanity? Where is the struggle? Is there any joy? Humor? Do I know anyone like this? St. Bridget’s life meets many of my preconceived notions of holiness…and breaks the rest to bits. Her life, from beginning to end, really did radiate holiness. She did found a religious order. She wrote extensively about her exchanges with Christ. And that’s about as far as my prejudices get me (note to self). Major Life Changes Bridget is said to have been happily married to Prince Ulf, and to have borne eight children (among them, St. Catherine of Sweden). Both Bridget and her husband were underwhelmed by the frivolity of their royal lives and they became Pilgrims on the Compostela. Her husband died following this trip. Bridget was prompted in a vision to begin a monastery in Sweden before relocating to Rome. At this point, St. Bridget did experience a change in vocation. Her role as widow and mother turned quickly to one of pilgrim and advocate against the sins of injustice of the time, particularly slavery. She had harsh words for the Pope (Urban V) and is remembered for strongly reprimanding said Pope for negligence of duties and souls. Bridget is a woman who feels a bit more accessible in her witness, simply because she was moored in familiar circumstances, and she did it with grace. Timely Reality Her life direction shifted, not because of a major conversion or change of heart, but because of the changing circumstances. She used the gifts she could share from that place, which feels like a timely reality. How many of us have started and stopped careers based on the needs of the day? She certainly did shake things up—particularly for a woman of her time. Her devotion combined with her wisdom commanded respect from her contemporaries, even the Pope, who eventually approved of her rule for the Brigittine community. Happy Marriages, held up There are countless stories of Saints that include some sort of unfortunate marital arrangement or endurance tests, because they are plentiful. Another detail about St. Bridget’s life is that she flourished in her vocation of marriage with her husband. They raised a family, ministered to the marginalized, and grew in faith and in holiness, together. True, her calling was beyond marriage. But we need stories like hers to remind us that we are sanctified in our vows and callings to loving relationships and marriages. What might a standard of holiness look like for individuals who are married? Individuals who have children? There are blessed few to choose from. St. Bridget gives a firm foundation upon which to form an answer to these questions. St. Bridget, pray for us! [bctt tweet="St. Bridget of Sweden + Preconceived Notions #BISblog //" via="no"]

What if I told you we all have to change our mindsets and the narratives we believe when it comes to NFP? What if I told you we’ve all been raised on the culture of death, contraception, and sex-on-demand, and that it deeply affects the way we view NFP... even as Catholics faithful to the Church’s teaching on sex and marriage? What if I told you that changing the narrative that we believe, and the way we talk about NFP and sex, would actually go further in helping us accept unexpected pregnancies and necessary times of abstinence? Our Culture Has Separated Sex from Life No matter how committed we are to the Church’s teachings on sex and contraception (that sex cannot be separated from its life-giving nature by using artificial means such as birth control pills, IUDs, or condoms), we’re all living and breathing in a culture committed to the contrary. Our world has completely separated sex from new life. Birth control has become a supposed “human right.” Sex on demand a foundational way of expressing one’s identity as a human person. Babies—if desired at all—must come when and only when parents want them. As Catholics, we know these are not ways to view our lives and the purpose of sex and love. But we can’t help but be affected by it. And it has impacted the way we view and practice natural family planning. This View Has Influenced Our View of NFP We’ve come to expect natural family planning to be as easy to use, as predictable, and as instant a way of postponing pregnancy as birth control. This is based on some of the clinical research based numbers put forward by NFP methods and organizations. These numbers and science are supported. But they depend upon the knowledge of the couple using the method, working with a trained NFP professional, and the physical health of the woman. We aren’t told—and rarely understand—how unique our body’s physiology is as women. Understanding a method and then being able to chart and understand our own fertility may take time. Time that’s measured in cycles, months, and sometimes years. Not simply a once-every-three-years IUD implantation appointment. Sex is a Major Part of Marriage We don’t understand before we’re married that sex is something that affects every aspect of our married lives. It's key to our relationship with our spouse. Conversely, our lives and relationship may make demands upon how we practice NFP. We rarely can imagine how difficult abstinence might be during times of fertility. Or how much we want to express our physical married love when the time for conception may be easy. We fail to estimate the cost abstaining demands. We fail to estimate the sacrifice of love it can be for our spouse, ourselves, and our family when we discover the need to postpone another pregnancy. These are just some of the many factors that impact how we use NFP in our marriages. A few of the many ways practicing NFP in real life can be so much more demanding and strenuous than taking a pill and forgetting it with birth control. Has NFP Failed Us? (No.) As Catholics, we say we believe in openness to life. But it is easy to become embittered when we feel “NFP has failed us,” resulting in an unexpected pregnancy. Or when it means prolonged times of abstinence when responsibility towards our family demands that sacrifice. I believe this is, in part, due to the narrative with which we view natural family planning. It is often one of complete control and convenience. The same one that the contraceptive culture we live in brought us up on. We haven’t been formed by a world that recognizes the reality of the purpose and importance of sex. Rather, it denies its power and suppresses it through contraception. Changing the Narrative This change in the narrative from one of focusing on how much we can control our fertility and maximize our sex lives, to one of understanding that sex really does equal babies, is radically divergent from the poisonous culture we have been raised in. It requires immense self-knowledge, deeper marital communication, and continued daily sacrifice. This is in addition to discernment, acceptance of God’s will for our lives, and living with the power of our combined fertility as two unique people called to the vocation of marriage. The way in which that we view our sex lives, family planning, and marriages needs to change from one control to one of sacrifice and self-giving. We need to shift our mindset from sex within marriage as an on-demand entitlement to a mutual gift and expression of love. One that may require us to make difficult, adult decisions about whether or not right now is a responsible time to engage in the thing that creates new human life. Abstinence in Marriage We need to change the way we see abstinence within marriage. From an unjust act of self denial to a tangible expression of sacrificial love for our spouse, children, and ourselves. We need to understand that our intimacy as married people is not solely expressed through physical intimacy. We need to change our concept of NFP. From a failsafe program that should guarantee us as much sex as possible, only yielding babies when we want them, to the reality that it is a science that enables us to understand our own unique fertility. Then we make decisions based on this knowledge. A Life-Long Process Changing our internal narratives and beliefs about sex, fertility, and natural family planning may take our entire lives. It’s not an overnight decision that frees us from the toxic messages we’re surrounded by. But living in the truth and freedom of what the Catholic Church teaches when it comes to the beauty and power of sex can give us the gift of living in harmony with reality. And this fulfills our potential to be fully human in the way God created us to be. [bctt tweet="Let's Talk about NFP: Here's What Needs to Change #BISblog //" via="no"]