During this colder month, it can be difficult to imagine days in the desert. But give it a try. Lent will be here before we know it; and in Lent, we enter the desert.
The desert is a place in which we can no longer run from reality. What is in front of us simply is. We may grow weary in the desert from heat and thirst. We may feel alone. But the desert is also a place in which deep soul-shaping takes place. As Catholics during Lent, we don't go into the desert alone. Jesus is with us. And what is promised on the other side is redemption, mission, and discipleship.
Why Do I Need a Devotional for Lent?
During the Lenten season, we are invited into greater intimacy with the Lord who spared not Himself in order to save us. And as He entered the desert for us, He walks in the desert now with us.
He is the Water of Life, the wellspring that never runs dry. And He is the One Who truly satisfies.
As you journey through the desert with Jesus, we would love to be your companion. As you contemplate what it means to have nothing but Jesus, would you pray with us through our new Lent devotional, All She Had?
This Lent devotional for Catholic women is all about poverty. The title is inspired by the story of the widow's mite in Mark 12:33-34:
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
Why Should I Contemplate Poverty During Lent?
As we live the season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we meditate on the humility of God. He became one of us, vulnerable like us, and went to the Cross for us. He overcame sin death for us. It began with His embrace of poverty.
He was born of a poor girl in a small town. His earthly life was simple and hidden. All He had was the Father's.
This is our call in Lent and always, too.
What Can I Expect from All She Had?
In this year's Lent devotional, we will walk through the six weeks as we always do: soaking in Scripture, sharing our stories, being purposeful in prayer, and seeking the Lord's Heart.
Practically
So what will our journey look like?
On Sundays, we will pray through the Praise of God by Saint Francis, a Saint whose life exemplified poverty.
Throughout the week, we will reflect on various themes of poverty, sharing stories, Bible verses, and deep questions.
Here's what we will pray through during the week:
- Week 1 // Poverty Of Desire
- Week 2 // Poverty Of Security
- Week 3 // Poverty Of Hope
- Week 4 // Poverty Of Control
- Week 5 // Poverty Of Intimacy
- Holy Week // Poverty Of Everything
The Commitment
This Lent devotional is written to be used by both individuals and in groups.
You can pray through this with your best friend, your sister, or your small group from church. And of course, you can use this on your own.
And don't worry about "falling behind." If you miss a day or two, it's not a big deal. Simply pick up where you left off and continue on in prayer. Part of poverty of heart is perseverance, and this can be great practice!
Spiritually
Our prayer for this Lent is that we would all be poured out more for the Lord so that we can be filled more with Him. This devotional will call you to contemplate the ways in which Jesus is asking us to become poorer like Him so that we can reflect His Heart more and more.
We can do nothing without our Lord. He is our everything. And the sooner we realize our utter dependence on our Father, the sooner we can be at peace because He holds it all together. He holds our lives, our experiences, our past, our present, and our future.
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Something We've Never Done Before
In addition to All She Had, we are thrilled to bring you something we've never done before: a devotional for men.
Born of Fire acts as a guide through seven identities to learn from Jesus: son, brother, man, spouse, father, mystic, and ‘new man’ this Lent.
It includes witness accounts of postulants on their desert journey in the wilderness, invitations into prayer, and reflections on our new life in Christ by Father Innocent Montgomery, CFR.
This book meets a man’s need for challenge, adventure, introspection, and formation of his heart after the Heart of Jesus.
Want More Poverty for Less?
See what we did there? ;) You know it wouldn't be a Blessed is She liturgical devotional without some add-on options for those who love to go big or go home.
The Kids' Book
We didn't forget about the kids in your life! All You Have is the kids' companion devotional for this year. Using the same Scripture verses you'll be meditating on, All You Have includes coloring pages, questions, and other activities.
Guys + Gals Bundle
Finally, pick up something for yourself and a man in your life with the bundle of All She Had and Born of Fire!
This winter, prepare to enter the desert for Lent and pray with us, embracing a greater poverty and giving all we have.
All She Had // The 2022 Lent Devotional for Catholic Women #BISblog //Click to tweet
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.
Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky, where sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She holds degrees in Theology and Catechetics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and works from home while enjoying her children and husband. She curates relevant and inspiring content for Catholic women as Blog Manager. She is the narrator of Set a Fire, And Hay Became Holy, and All She Had as well as a contributing author for Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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