“Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.” That was the mealtime prayer I grew up with in my God-filled Lutheran home. Other mealtime prayers were offered on occasion, such as my preschool favorite about the Lord’s goodness in the sun, the rain, and the apple tree. Do you remember that catchy tune and the round of “Amens” at its conclusion? When I met my future husband, he introduced me to the prayer he grew up with in his Catholic home. Bless us, O Lord, and these, thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Now, although our family periodically has “open mic” prayer before meals where we speak spontaneously from the heart, we most often pray the traditional Catholic mealtime prayer of my husband’s youth. Why Mealtime Prayer? Prayer before meals could possibly be the most widely practiced prayer. Its deep meaning is often overlooked because of its familiarity and repetition. Not to mention the distraction of the food that we could eat if we could just get through the prayer. I’ve prayed tens of thousands of mealtime prayers. I know I’ve missed their deep truths more times than I’d like to count. Considering that such prayer offers an opportunity to give praise and thanks to God, the Provider of everything, and to make space for Him and all others at the table, I believe it’s worth reflecting on its beauty. Mealtime Prayer in Scripture Whoever observes the day, observes it for the Lord. Also whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while whoever abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God. -Romans 14:6 In Scripture, Jesus teaches us many forms of prayer. He showed us how to bless and give thanks for our food. [Jesus] ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. -Matthew 14:19 What Mealtime Prayer Produces in Our Souls Mealtime prayer is one of the most accessible and brief forms of prayer. As such, its beauty can seem inferior to what we might consider deeper forms for prayer. If we allow it, however, it can carry us far beyond gratitude for food. In giving thanks for a meal, we may consider the natural resources that nurtured the food, the people who grew it, those who designed and operated the machines that harvested and transported it, the vendors who sold it, our gifts that enable us to earn resources to pay for it, those who prepared it, those who served it, the time to eat it, the body to enjoy and be fueled by it, the presence of all others at the table or the peaceful solitude of eating alone, and the gifts of every person involved in all those things who collaborated with God to bring about the food on the table in front of us. And in our gratitude, we hold close to us those who hunger. The Last Supper + Communion If we’re willing to go further, it is an opportunity to recall the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples before he died for us. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body” (Matthew 26:26). Our meals are not a participation the Eucharist. But when we break bread together and share a blessing, we can spiritually commune with God for a quiet moment before we commune together at the table. It’s a most beautiful place: around the table with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, our Father and the others with us. Beyond our place of food and drink, we withdraw to the depths of our hearts to sit with our living God, the Provider of it all. It is a taste of the eternal celebration to come. [bis_form 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 Mealtime Prayer as Evangelization Mealtime prayer need not be confined to our homes. Our family has not always been committed to praying together before meals at restaurants. However, the same God provides the food, no matter where we’re sitting when we eat it. He’s teaching us courage to pray in new places. Prayer in public should not be about the piety of the one praying. It is all about the One providing. If it is seen by others, perhaps the Lord might grow fruit from it. In some workspaces and other secular settings, a prayer might not be spoken before a meal. But a prayer in your heart is always heard by God. In circumstances when I am uncertain about whether to offer a spoken prayer, I pray for the courage to invite others to pray with me and the wisdom to know when it might not be God’s time to do so. I have prayed for forgiveness for the opportunities I have missed to share God’s love through prayer. Prayer and Endless Grace All prayer is a precious gift. A grace. An eternally open and accessible lifeline to our Lord. Trying to grasp it can be like trying to shovel smoke. And like the smoke that rises in wild patterns from the incense we burn at Mass, our mealtime prayers rise to God and He gathers into His arms every single thought, word, and detail. May the mealtime prayer that your family shares take you to a place of gratitude and unity with Our Lord and each other. Perhaps you or someone you know hasn’t made a commitment to pray at mealtimes. Today is a good time to start. [bctt tweet="The Importance of Mealtime Prayer #BISblog //" via="no"] Nikki Frerker is a wife and mother of four who lives in Leawood, Kansas. She spends a portion of her time practicing estate planning law and enjoys serving as a catechist for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at her parish. You may find her running before the sun rises, driving her children around at all hours, or singing praise music just loud enough to embarrass anyone willing to listen.

I have been thinking a lot about the dark as the northern hemisphere creeps toward the longest night of the year. As an early riser, I notice these changes as I tiptoe downstairs to the kitchen to savor a cup of coffee in the stillness. As the mother of an early riser, I feel like this topic comes up...frequently. And with much less enthusiasm. How can we seize the day when it feels like night, after all?! We've Been Waiting in Darkness All Along Do you remember much of your childhood included waiting? Specifically waiting in the dark? Waiting to fall asleep when you weren’t quite ready for bed and others could stay up later. Waiting for the porch lights outside to flicker on, which signaled trick-or-treating could begin. Waiting to be bigger. Waiting for a younger sibling to be born. Waiting in the dark in a lingering dawn on the morning of your birthday. Waiting through the dark of a scary thunderstorm. Waiting for the fireworks to begin on the 4th of July. Waiting for the other girls at the sleepover to wake up in the morning. That’s a lot of waiting. So much of what we know about waiting, we remember and learned from our childhood. The waiting game is not specific to kids, however. Just ask anyone who is waiting for an organ donor, waiting to meet "the one," waiting for a positive pregnancy test, waiting for the key in the door that signals a loved one making it home safely. We know this waiting game—and in general, we don’t like it. Never mind that sometimes the wait yields good news. We are undone by the grueling process of un-knowing and wish to avoid it at all costs in the future so as to never run the risk of unsettling news if we can help it, thank-you-very-much. We are in a hurry to get to where we’re going without the in-between. The Beauty of the In-Between However, the in-between, the "liminal space," is exactly where we are privileged to find ourselves during Advent. Liminal space is another expression for standing on the threshold. We honor the experience of those who are engaged: not yet married, and no longer single. We recognize the journey of pregnancy: not yet holding an infant, still bearing new life. Though these places of threshold may try our patience, they serve to deepen our experience of where we are now by honoring where we’ve been and where we are going, aware that our current circumstances are distinct from both of those experiences. Waiting in the In-Between of Advent This is the perfect posture with which to receive the news of Emmanuel this Advent: as a phase wholly different from the next. Before the birth of Jesus, the news of the Incarnation was as unsettling for Mary, or later, King Herod, as it is for us today. We can dress it up with calendars and cookies, lights and evergreen boughs. The gnawing reality is that we do not enter this season the same person we entered it last year. We have changed and our experience of this season will change us, too. We are entering into mystery and mystery cannot be rushed. [bctt tweet="We are entering into mystery and mystery cannot be rushed. #BISblog //" via="no"] Growth in Darkness As counter-intuitive as it is, we plant bulbs in the dark soil as the life around them goes to sleep. It is the work of the darkness alongside the changing light that transforms those papery seeds into the hardiest of spring blooms. Rather than just showing up one day, the Son of God gestated for nine months in the womb of His mother. Jesus’ Resurrection, too, was preceded by several days in a dark tomb before the Resurrection. Already and not yet. It’s no surprise that, in the golden age of instant gratification, waiting for an entire season poses a real challenge to those of us who are ready to jump in and celebrate the good stuff when it comes to preparing to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. Tack on the encouragement to wait in "joyful anticipation" and it feels nearly punitive. With all of the what-ifs and unpleasant waiting games we are trudging through, necessarily but half-heartedly, the season of Advent may feel like a lot to rally for. After all, we know what’s coming, right? But maybe there is some new shaft of illumination for you and I in this season that we can only see when looking with eyes that have adjusted to the dark, adjusted to the wait. What growth, what peace, what mystery might we encounter if we have the courage to wait it out in the dark? Not out of allegiance to what was last year, or anticipation of what is coming soon? The in-between changes us. [bctt tweet="Waiting in Darkness #BISblog //" via="no"]

Maybe it’s because our names share the same meaning, but I’ve always felt a connection to Saint Lucy. Both Lucy and Claire mean “light” and I am reminded of G.K. Chesterton's words that, “Coincidences are spiritual puns.” Everything happens for a reason. Discovering that St. Lucy and I share the same name-meaning is what initially attracted me into learning more about her story and life. God uses the most intricate and personal ways to draw us in! St. Lucy: Virgin and Martyr St. Lucy, a virgin and martyr, gave her life to Christ at a young age. She was born of nobility in Italy during the time of the Diocletian persecution. St. Lucy had a strong devotion to St. Agatha, and Lucy’s own mother experienced a miracle through her daughter’s prayers and Agatha’s intercession. Courageously keeping her vow of virginity, St. Lucy refused to marry the Governor of Syracuse and was brutally tortured because of her choice. One tradition holds that her persecutors gouged her eyes out and tried to burn her. When the fire kept extinguishing, the torturers killed her by thrusting a sword in her neck. The Beauty of Purity St. Lucy teaches us the supreme nobility of chastity and purity. It’s incredible to think that men and women have sacrificed their lives for the sake of purity. Purity for Christ and His Kingdom is supremely beautiful and worthy of honor. Whenever we feel tempted or drawn to the impure, let us find courage and strength in St. Lucy’s story of sacrifice, bravery, and love. God and His Saints The devotion a person has to God’s Saints does not end with the Saints themselves, but rather reaches ultimately to God through the Saints. It pleases God and gives Him glory when we honor those who excelled in love of Him. When we honor God’s Saints, especially on their feast days, we celebrate God’s love for His people and the hope that we too may one day sit on the throne beside Him (Revelation 3:21). St. Lucy’s Day As her name suggests, St. Lucy remains a light to many nations. St. Lucy’s Day is celebrated in her Italian homeland and in many other countries throughout the world. A beautiful thing about Catholicism is that it beckons us to celebrate specific heritages and traditions, yet it also reaches beyond all cultures and races. The word "catholic" means "universal" and we see this unity in a special way within God’s Saints. Celebrating in Sicily St. Lucy’s Feast Day coincides with the Winter Solstice, a time where light within darkness is both appreciated and yearned for. In Sicily, the location of her martyrdom, a procession takes place on her feast day. Remembering when St. Lucy saved them from famine in 1646 when a boat full of grain miraculously appeared on her feast day, Sicilians honor her by refraining from consuming pasta and bread on December 13th and instead celebrate by eating cuccìa, a pudding made of wheat berries and sugar. Celebrating in Sweden Sweden and other Scandanavian countries focus their celebration on Saint Lucy’s charity and bravery. Tradition holds that Saint Lucy would bring food and refreshment to Christians hiding in the Catacombs during Diocletian’s persecution. She would wear a candle-lit wreath to light her way and free her hands to carry as much aid to her fellow Christians as possible. Now, every St. Lucy’s Day, a young girl is elected to represent St. Lucy and leads a procession, wearing a white robe with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head. Honored Throughout the World From novenas recited in the Philippines to Naples’ tradition of lighting fires by the sea at dawn, St. Lucy is loved and honored by many faithful throughout the world. It’s exciting to think that we can participate in her feast too, even in some small way! Here are a few simple ideas to celebrate the life of this Saint of light! Wear white or red in honor of St. Lucy’s purity, virginity, and martyrdom. Make cuccìa (this recipe looks great!) or Saint Lucia Buns (I’ll be using this recipe). Or you could simply make store bought cinnamon rolls like Lisa did last year! Attend Mass or pray the Liturgy of the Hours. If you have children, make a paper wreath crown for them to wear. Pray for those experiencing illness of the eyes or blindness. The Communion of Saints However you celebrate St. Lucy’s Day this year, know that you are loved by God and by her. Know that you are never alone because we are part of the Communion of Saints. Carry the light of the Resurrection and the hope of eternal life in your heart this St. Lucy’s Day. St. Lucy, pray for us! [bctt tweet="The Feast of St. Lucy + Meaningful Traditions #BISblog //" username="findphilothea"] 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

One of the most beautiful parts of Christmas is seeing the church overflowing with people. No matter what your church attendance is like or where you are in your faith journey, we at Blessed is She pray that you know this truth deeply: you are so welcomed and wanted in the pews of a Catholic Church. Especially as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. The more, the merrier! What to Wear to Christmas Mass? If this Christmas marks the first time you’ve been to Mass in a while, or if it’s your first time ever, feeling a little anxious is completely normal. Anytime I’m faced with a new situation, I’ve found that confidence I’m dressed appropriately helps make me feel more comfortable and present. That is our heart behind this post. While it ultimately does not matter what you wear to church—your presence means more than anything—some outfits are more fitting for the sacredness and reverence of the Mass than others. Christmas Mass Outfit Ideas To help guide your outfit planning for Christmas Mass, and hopefully ease some nerves along the way, I asked a few Catholic blogger friends to share an “outfit recipe.” Each of these looks would be both perfect for the occasion and easy to replicate. Try recreating your favorite style using pieces in your wardrobe! Or browse the products I found at a variety of price points for more ideas. Simply Elegant Outfit Recipe #1: a detailed blouse + black pants + festive heels   Styled by Lisa of Something Pretty Especially at Christmas, the smallest details—a delicate wreath, a strand of lights, a perfectly tied bow—can have the biggest impact. I feel the same way about clothes. I love putting a seasonal twist on my signature classic style this time of year. A pairing as simple as a romantic ivory blouse and black pants becomes instantly Christmas-ready with the addition of a bright red lip and d’Orsay heels. Feminine blouses: ruffle-detailed, embroidered bell sleeve, floral lace, lace bell sleeve Festive heels: red suede bow pumps, burgundy bow slingback heels, polka dot block heels, tartan bow pumps Vintage-Inspired Velvet Outfit Recipe #2: velvet dress + statement booties + dainty clutch   Styled by Janet of Ever Easter, photographed by Emily Hannon I can’t think of a fabric that feels more quintessentially Christmas-y than velvet. Janet (who you may recognize from her fabulous online vintage shop, Ever Thrift) put a sophisticated and fun spin on this winter texture by pairing a vintage velvet dress with metallic booties, statement earrings, and a dainty purse. When browsing velvet dresses, she recommends opting for a more fitted style that falls to, or just below, the knee. Velvet dresses: mockneck midi, twist detail, burgundy pleated, sleeveless boatneck Statement booties: black embossed, silver metallic, leopard print, gold metallic Fun and Feminine Outfit Recipe #3: black bodysuit + red midi skirt + black tights   Styled by Claire of Finding Philothea A bodysuit may not be your first thought when dressing up for church, but here’s the beauty of them: they stay perfectly in place so you won’t need to worry about adjusting them as you sit, stand, and kneel. Claire paired hers with a red A-line midi skirt, black tights, and black heels for a festively feminine look. Black bodysuits: Scoopneck, v-neck, sheer sleeves, three-quarter sleeves Red skirts: A-line, pleated, jacquard, tweed Sophisticated Textures Outfit Recipe #4: patterned midi dress + faux fur vest + knee-high heeled boots   Styled by Nicole of Nicole M. Caruso One of my favorite styling tips is to add a “third piece”—an additional layer, accessory, or piece of statement jewelry to take any outfit from simple to memorable. Nicole demonstrates this perfectly by wearing a faux fur vest over her floral midi dress. The resulting combination of textures feels both bold and elegant. Patterned midi dresses: watercolor red plaid, floral flutter-sleeved, tartan tie-neck, subtle cheetah Faux fur vests: light brown, medium brown, sheering detailed, winter white Knee-high heeled boots: cognac microsuede, slouchy suede, espresso suede, caramel suede Classic and Festive Outfit Recipe #5: turtleneck + pencil skirt + heels + red lipstick   Styled by Kelsey of With a Little Grace Comfortable, festive, and warm enough for the winter, this combination is a classic for a reason. Kelsey styled her Audrey Hepburn-esque black turtleneck with two Christmas-inspired touches: a black watch plaid skirt and a bright red lip. To keep this combination feeling modern and fresh, opt for a skirt that is either knee-length or midi-length and pair it with heels. Turtlenecks: slim fit, slightly drapey, cotton, wool Pencil skirts: classic wool, houndstooth, lace, corduroy The Lord is So Happy to See You at Mass! Whatever you choose to wear, we can’t wait to welcome you to Mass this Christmas! Further Reading Ways to Find Community Within the Church How to Join the Catholic Church How to Go to Confession Do you know what you'll be wearing to Christmas Mass? Give us some more ideas in the comments below! [bctt tweet="Christmas Mass Outfit Ideas #BISblog //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

I slipped into a quiet and empty chapel near my apartment at my absolute wits end. I’ve written about my struggles with severe PMS, endometriosis, and NFP before. But at that moment I was at the end of my rope and tired of being tired of the roller coaster of chronic pain, crippling anxiety, and frustration that hit me hard every few weeks. I prayed for some kind of relief or consolation in my suffering, even if just in a small way. A few months later, it was suggested to me to pursue counseling as a way to work through some of the repetitive trauma and emotional distress this constant battle with pain threw at me every single month. I’d never been opposed to going to a therapist. It was just something I’d never considered. How Counseling Has Transformed My Spiritual Life I’ve been seeing a counselor for well over six months now, and I see it as an answer to the desperate prayer I made in that chapel. Making my mental health a priority and getting professional help to do so has had an indelible impact on every area of my life, especially my spiritual life. The Way I View the Past Going to therapy has dramatically transformed how I view the past. Before, every few weeks when PMS hit, I was sent reeling not only into the very real physical and emotional struggles but also the compounded anger and frustration of being in pain for months and years on end with little to no relief. Admittedly, a lot of this anger and frustration were directed at God for making me suffer this way. Talking through this pain and anger with my therapist, and looking at why it created such strong emotions, was the first step to processing what was later considered to be a sort of post-traumatic stress disorder. But on repeat every single month. EMDR, or “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing,” an amazing psychotherapy treatment that is used to address PTSD and the negative emotions and feelings that are triggered, was a God-send in helping me to peel back the emotional layers and many past experiences with my chronic pain that caused anger, severe anxiety, and borderline depression every single month. Both talk therapy and EMDR helped me to climb out of one of the lowest points I’ve ever been in. Facing it head on with the tools to help process the trauma of chronic pain have made it so that things that were once triggers hardly elicit any emotional response from me at all just a few months later. The Way I See Myself As a naturally self-deprecating person and a perfectionist, I went into therapy with many false ideas of who I am and where my value comes from. During times of the month when I was already anxious and depressed, the self-berating thoughts increased. Talk therapy has helped me “debunk” a lot of the lies I’ve told myself. It’s helped me let go of the awful habit I used to have of seeing a bad situation I had no control over and then feeling worthless for not changing it. It’s helped me realize that emotions are human. Now, I more quickly remind myself that I am human and therefore imperfect, and this should not be cause for self-deprecation. I’ve learned what actual humility is: seeing myself for who I am, just a human trying her best. The Way I See God Having been terribly scrupulous in the past, counseling, along with spiritual direction, has gone a long way in helping me not see the smallest, inconsequential things as sins. By helping me set aside that thought pattern, I am finally able to more clearly see that God is not “out to get me” and catch me in minutiae. I can do nothing to make Him love me any less. Most importantly, perhaps, is the fact that counseling has cut my perfectionism to its core. It has forced me to take a hard look at the outrageous standards I set for myself in terms of prayer, exercise, relationships, and work. Rather than prioritize what I think I need to be doing, I now focus instead on what God wants me to do. I’m getting so much better at reminding myself that, in most situations, I am not in control. God is. Why Counseling? Sometimes people of faith try to spiritualize mental health problems. The thought is that enough prayer and pastoral support will help anxiety or depression simply go away. That isn’t always (or rather, is most often not) the case. I prayed and begged for relief. And God answered that prayer with legitimate mental health treatment. God wants us to pray and receive the Sacraments. He also wants us to get the help, support, and treatment we need to heal and process things that weigh heavily on us emotionally and mentally. Be Not Afraid We go to medical doctors to ensure our bodies are operating at peak efficiency. Why would we not do the same for our mental and emotional health? You don’t have to be experiencing a crisis to benefit from talking to a counselor. It can help you work through harmful patterns of thought, process traumas, and see situations more clearly and for what they actually are. Though society is seeming to become more open to talking about mental health, there’s still a stigma. It’s something that isn’t talked about enough, and when it is talked about, it’s often in hushed, condescending voices. I want to help change that trend. Anxiety, depression, PTSD… they’re all real. And therapy can help immensely. I’ve seen the other side of this and can say that by God’s grace counseling has changed my life, including my spiritual life, in innumerable ways. [bctt tweet="How Counseling has Transformed My Spiritual Life #BISblog //" via="no"] Sarah Coffey is a freelance writer and copyeditor and also works for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. She and her husband, Jesse, both converted to Catholicism in college, and they reside in the St. Louis area with their cats, Stella and Cayden. You can find out more about her here.

The first time I heard her story, I had to lift my jaw from the floor. I had asked for an example of a holy woman of God who was daring, unique, and a little bit sassy. A model of femininity and virtue. Basically, I wanted a Catholic Wonder-Woman. But the woman I got was so much better. St. Perpetual: A Model of Holiness Through the Ages Despite being an early Church martyr, St. Perpetua has so much to teach us as modern women. Two thousand years after her death, St. Perpetua has left a legacy of valiant womanhood through her radical courage, her surpassing purity, and her undying confidence in the Lord. Her Radical Courage St. Perpetua was born into a noble family and would’ve had life easy as a Roman citizen. Her conscience and the gift of faith, however, pursued her until she came to believe in Christianity. In so professing her belief in Christ, Perpetua knew she would make enemies, including within her own family. Perpetua’s father was extremely disappointed in his daughter and begged her to change her mind. But the love of the Lord had hooked Perpetua, and there was no reeling her away. Her pull towards Christ was so strong that she was willing to both lose family and face torture and martyrdom for the sake of her newfound love. Today's Martyrdom As modern women, we are not usually called to face brutal death for the sake of our Faith. But professing and living the Faith in the modern world can frequently serve as a form of social martyrdom. How often have you received strange glances when making the Sign of the Cross before meals? Have you ever been ridiculed and publicly belittled for being a Catholic? Perhaps the more important question is, however, have those glances led you to omitting the Sign of the Cross at your public gatherings? Have you chosen to stay quiet about your beliefs for fear of the condemnation you may receive? We live in an era in which we cannot be passionately Catholic and “fit in” with society. The two have become mutually exclusive. In St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians he told them that they are in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom they must shine as lights to the world (Philippians 2:15). We, the women of today, are also so called to shine our lights in the world. Our lights may not be welcome, and they may not be in style, but that is no excuse to stop shining. Her Surpassing Purity During the course of her torment and martyrdom, St. Perpetua was thrown to the ground and her torn cloak exposed her leg bare. Yet even in this moment, Perpetua was aware of the dignity of her body, and fixed her clothes for the sake of modesty. The virtue of modesty can be manifested in many ways, including the way we interact with people, the things which we read or see, and the manner in which we clothe ourselves. Modesty and purity are all about recognizing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our bodies, and thus treating the temple of our body with the utmost respect. Modesty does not mean hiding the body because it is bad or sinful, but protecting it because it is good and precious. We were bought with a great price, the Passion of Jesus Christ, and in return we ought to glorify God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20). Her Undying Confidence in the Lord Personally, I find that the world is in the midst of a “confidence craze.” Everywhere we turn, we are bombarded with messages telling us to be self-confident and affirming us in our insecurities. Children are reinforced that they can be anything that they want to be if they just dream big enough. We are assured that if we are just confident enough in ourselves and in our abilities, we will be strong enough to complete any difficult or challenging obstacle. This “confidence craze,” is coming from a good place, but I know from personal experience that it can be taken too far. Yes, we can do anything, but not through our own power. I’ve played soccer for the greater part of my life. I misplaced all my trust and confidence in myself and my abilities. This worked really well on the good days, but on the tough days, it left me feeling very confused and very hurt. If I was good enough by myself, why did I sometimes fail? If I only needed to be confident in myself, why were there days that what I could do simply wasn’t enough? I had put all of my confidence in something as transitory and unstable as my soccer skills. This “self-confidence” that was supposed to fix all my insecurities was not working. It was a long and painful process, and one I’m still working on, but I have chosen to stop thinking of my goal as “self-confidence,” but rather as “God-confidence.” When we are confident in God, rather than in ourselves, we can praise Him for the gifts He has given us. When we are confident in God, rather than in ourselves, defeat does not appear as a failure, but as an opportunity for growth and the chance for us to lean on His strength. Through the Eyes of God When faced with martyrdom, St. Perpetua rejoiced. She did not view her life through her own eyes, but through the eyes of God. The moment of her story which solidified St. Perpetua as a Saint-crush for me took place during her brutal torture. After being injured, she stood up in the arena. Then, fully aware of her dignity and of the beauty of the death she is about to endure, she confidently pinned up her disheveled hair for the whole crowd to see. St. Perpetua was not able to power through by any power of her own. Her driving force was the Holy Spirit. She never despaired. Her confidence was rooted in Someone much, much stronger than herself. Rather than being confident in herself, she was confident in Christ. And that confidence did not fail her. A Beautiful Intercessor St. Perpetua lived as a model for all Christians, and bears proof of the fact through her title of Saint. I believe, that through her radical courage, her surpassing purity, and her undying confidence in the Lord, she particularly serves as an example for us women of today. I pray, that following in her footsteps, we may all one day shine that example to women of the future. St. Perpetua, pray for us! [bctt tweet="St. Perpetua: An Early Model for Modern Women #BISblog //" via="no"] Mary Grace Tillman, or Gracie, is a student, daughter, sister, friend, and full-time extrovert. If you don’t find her on the nearest soccer field, she is probably lost down some country road with the windows down and tunes blaring. She loves to praise God through music and sports and she strives to live life to the fullest.

Advent is here and as is the case every year, modern disciples are looking for ways to better enter into the liturgical season. We seek the collective wisdom of the masses, reaching out on social media and in person, asking for ideas from other Christian women about how to avoid being swept up in the secular and better focus on Christ’s coming. So I’d like to present you with a theological tidbit from a Doctor of the Church and give you some practical things upon which to meditate and put into action. The Three Comings of Christ In a sermon given back in the 11th century, St. Bernard of Clairvaux relayed the teaching of the Three Comings of Christ. That’s right, three… not just two. It was a concept I had never heard of before college. It might have been one of the reasons that I didn’t know Jesus was present now on earth and that he was not just some distant Being off in Heaven I’d meet at the end of my life. St. Bernard says that the first coming of Jesus was His historical coming: when He was born in Bethlehem, ministered to the world for three years, and suffered His Passion for our salvation. The second coming of Christ is within the heart of every individual. It is a conversion of heart and a relationship founded. The third coming is what we often refer to as the “Second Coming” of Christ when He will physically come to earth again in power and in glory. All three of these comings are important in the life of a Christian, as all three of them have a hand in our personal salvation. Thus, Advent is the perfect time to meditate upon them and try to observe them in some way. Observing the First Coming: Christ in History Over 2,000 years ago, God became man. The Eternal entered time, and now almost everything about this world is measured according to that event. No one has had as big of an impact on this world as Jesus of Nazareth. The absolute best way to observe this coming is to spend time over the next twenty days exploring the Old Testament stories leading up to Jesus. How to Live It There are a plethora of ways you can do this, but here are just a few traditional practices of Catholics throughout the Advent Season. All the Generations Advent and Christmas Devotional from Blessed is She // It explores Jesus’ lineage through the ages, connecting it all the way into modern times directly to you. A Jesse Tree // Don’t feel like you have to go “all out” in order to observe this custom. You don’t need a tree or ornaments or symbols. All that stuff is simply icing on the cake. Find a good online source, and simply read. You'll read about the mistakes mankind made and the mercy God continued to show them. Use this for your own personal prayer time without the added fuss. A Children’s Bible // You’re busy… you probably can’t read through the entirety of the forty-six books of the Old Testament within the next few weeks. However, you might be able to borrow a children’s Bible (from your kid or the library) and make your way through that before Christmas comes! Reading all the stories in such a short amount of time will give you a new found appreciation for—and maybe even some new insights into—the story of Salvation History. Observing the Second Coming: Christ in my Heart About five years ago, I remember sitting in the church pew on Christmas Eve, waiting for the vigil Mass to begin. I just felt “icky.” That season had been so busy, so stressful, so rushed. I just felt as though I had been the absolute worst version of myself for that entire month. I took this emotion to Jesus in prayer, feeling ashamed and unworthy as I presented it to Him, getting ready to apologize for not being “spiritually prettier” for His Coming. He stopped me and said, “That’s kind of the point.” Jesus came to earth to save me from the most vile version of myself. And He continuously comes, day after day, year after year, to help me. Since then, especially during Advent, I pray specifically for Christ to enter more fully into my heart. How to Live It The best ways to observe this coming are to focus your efforts specifically on conversion of your own heart. The St. Andrew Novena // I love the sentimentality behind this novena. Andrew was the first disciple of Jesus, and it was he who brought Peter and some of the others to Christ saying, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41). This novena invokes his intercession, asking him to do the same for us. It began a few days ago on November 30th, his feast day. But you still can start now! If the official novena seems too cumbersome a task for you, that’s ok! Pray to St. Andrew and ask him to bring you to Christ anyway! He won’t refuse! Foster a devotion to Divino Niño // The Divine Infant. This was one of Mother Angelica’s greatest devotions and has brought with it multiple miracles. In my own life, the idea of inviting an infant into my heart is much more inviting and much less threatening than the omnipotent God of the Universe. Pray the Sacred Heart Novena // Not surprisingly, this novena is meant to draw you into union with the Sacred Heart. What better way to prepare for Christ’s Coming in your heart could there be? Make a Spiritual Communion // If you are unable to make it to daily Mass, say the prayer of Spiritual Communion every day leading up to Christmas. The words of the prayer literally invite Jesus into your heart. The best part is that you can say this prayer as many times a day as you want, and Jesus comes every time. Observing the Third Coming: Christ in Glory At the end of time, Christ will come again in all His power and glory. In Matthew’s Gospel, right before the Triduum begins, Jesus preaches a sermon on the end of times. He uses three parables to teach his disciples how they should live as they wait for His return: the parable of the wise and foolish maidens the parable of the talents the separation of the sheep from the goats The behavior of the maidens teaches us that we can’t put off holiness. We have to be striving to grow closer to God and ready for Christ, the Bridegroom, to return at any moment. The second parable teaches us that we can’t just sit on our hands and admire the gift of faith that God has given to us. We are meant to be busy building the Kingdom of God here on earth. Lastly, the separation of the sheep from the goats instructs us to love God by loving the people around us. How to Live It Below are practical ways we can do such things: Go to Confession // Take advantage of the opportunities afforded by your local parishes this Advent season. Make sure you have enough “oil” to light the way for others. Evaluate Your Gifts and Talents // Think of one way you can do something to help the Kingdom “grow” this Advent. Maybe it’s something as simple as joining the choir or baking some cookies for a fundraiser. Whether big or small, do one concrete thing using your talents to help the Kingdom grow. Practice the Corporal Works of Mercy // Look for ways to tangibly love others. Is there someone you could invite over for dinner? Is there a relative in a nursing home you haven’t been to visit? Can you “shelter” someone who would otherwise be alone at Christmas? Read the list, pray about it, and put it into action. Be a sheep. The Number 3 Biblically speaking, the number 3 symbolizes wholeness or completeness. It actually appears in Scripture a total of 467 times, second only to the number 7. It represents “the fullest extent” of whatever scenario it is describing. For example, Jonah is in the belly of the whale for three days, which symbolizes a complete conversion. Similarly, Peter denies knowing Jesus three times, but then is redeemed in proclaiming his love for Christ three times (complete rejection, complete repentance). In the book of Revelation, the Lamb of God is proclaimed to be “Holy, Holy, Holy…”; in other words, perfectly perfect. A More Complete Picture Knowing this, it makes sense that the three comings of Jesus allow for a more “complete” picture of Him and our salvation. In fact, they actually build upon and complete each other, helping us to fully know Jesus and to be ready for His Final Coming. The first coming is the foundation, as neither the second nor the third could happen if the Son had not stepped foot in time. Now, because He came in History, we can know Him personally and intimately in our hearts. Likewise, His coming in our hearts helps us live better lives and ultimately, long for His return. His Final Coming is the end of this world and the beginning of the next, when hopefully everyone who is reading this will enter the Kingdom. There we will know God fully. So my sisters, I pray: may Christ be more fully present in your knowledge. May Christ be more fully present in your heart. May Christ be more fully present in your life eternal, which truly has already begun. Have a beautiful Advent. [bctt tweet="How to Celebrate and Observe the Three Comings of Christ #BISblog //" username="grace_swap"]

“Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).   This instruction from Jesus has provided the inspiration for thousands of missionaries over the centuries. Attending Catholic school from kindergarten through grad school provided me numerous opportunities to participate in mission trips to various locations around the world. With the accessibility of flights, now more than ever, it’s easy to travel the world in the name of Christ. Preparing Your Heart and Mind for an International Mission Trip Before you go on a mission trip, there’s lots of preparation required, both logistically and through prayer. One of the ways I love to prepare my heart and mind for the journey ahead is through books. Here are some of my favorites that I hope will help you as you prepare to travel! Daring to Hope: Finding God’s Goodness in the Broken and Beautiful by Katie Davis Majors Katie Davis Majors is the founder of Amazima Ministries. She lives full time and raises her family in Uganda. But before all of that, she was a high school student on a short term mission to Uganda from the United States. Daring to Hope is the second of her two novels (the first, Kisses from Katie is also amazing!) and shares stories from her day-to-day life in Uganda. Katie shares about what it’s like to raise a family while striving every day to improve the quality of life in Uganda for the most vulnerable. Her stories are honest and heartbreaking, showing what it truly means to walk alongside one’s neighbor. Beyond her inspiring story, Katie has a deep and abiding love for God that motivates her in her work. She shares her faith freely with her readers. True to her title, this leaves all who read her story with an enduring sense of hope. Before You Go: A Daily Devotional Guide by Jack Hempfling This book was given to me by my best friend prior to my first mission trip to Jamaica, and I refuse to go on a trip without re-reading it. Using different Bible verses, Before You Go provides short daily devotions for the 40 days leading up to your trip. Each day hits on a different aspect of life during your short-term mission and wraps up with a prayer. There are also different prayer guides to help you through various aspects including praying for your team, fundraising, and more. I highly recommend reading this book with friends or other members of your travel group. It is a great way to come together in prayer as well as share your hopes and fears for the trip ahead. I Will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda with Liz Welch I Will Always Write Back tells the story of two unlikely friends: Caitlin, a middle schooler in Pennsylvania, and Martin, a young student from Zimbabwe. Originally paired together as part of a pen-pal project, Caitlin and Martin develop a deep and lasting friendship through writing letters back and forth. Throughout the course of the novel, we get to read these letters and hear from both perspectives as they learn how similar they are in spite of growing up in dramatically different circumstances. Caitlin goes on to become an advocate for Martin, and, with the help of her family, Martin, an incredibly gifted student, is able to come to college in the United States on a full-ride scholarship. Their story shows not only the power of connecting with others around the world, but the abiding love and true transformation that can come from those relationships.     Helping without Hurting in Short Term Missions (Leader’s Guide) by Stephen Corbett and Brian Fikkert If you are traveling on an international mission trip, I hope you have been surrounded by support from your church community, family, and friends. But sometimes people critique mission trips and your choice to go on one. Helping without Hurting in Short Term Missions is an essential read before you go, whether you are serving as a leader or even a participant on any team. It addresses many of the critiques of short-term missions. Helping without Hurting explores not only the history of short-term missions, but the real modern-day ramifications of them. It takes a look at the religious motivation behind missionary travel and provides applicable tips to ensure you and your travel group are serving the community you are traveling to, and not causing long-term harm. Miracle on Voodoo Mountain by Megan Boudreaux Miracle on Voodoo Mountain, like Daring to Hope, shares the story of a young American missionary. Megan Boudreaux moved to Haiti alone at the age of 24, without any real plan for what she would do there. Building on a calling from God, she began learning the language and working with children, eventually exposing the crimes of those trying to sell children in the aftermath of the earthquake. Megan continuously faces spiritual warfare, living and working in the shadow of Voodoo Mountain, so close she can hear the drums of Haitian voodoo ceremonies. Her faith is tireless as she works to expose all around her to God’s love and care by providing for their needs, primarily through education. Her book is an incredible lesson in compassion and a long term commitment to the place she serves. What books would you recommend before serving on an international mission trip? Let us know in the comments below! [bctt tweet="5 Books to Read Before Your International Mission Trip #BISblog //" via="no"] Shelby Hennen is Catholic young professional who hails from the Midwestern metropolis of Kansas City, Missouri. She loves a good book, a good chat with a friend, and a good taco joint. 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

Today is the second day of Advent. An entire season, filled with joyful anticipation and expectant hope, awaits us. The candles on the Advent wreath stand tall, eager to help us count down the days and weeks until the birth of Jesus. And we feel a peaceful thrill about this season. We want to savor the days and enter into what it means to “stay awake” and “be prepared,” as Jesus instructs in the Gospel. But this desire for Advent—for waiting, watching, hoping, and preparing—can be easily overpowered by a cultural mindset that is already celebrating Christmas. Carols start playing on the radio before Thanksgiving Day. The stress of shopping for the perfect gift appears to be the pinnacle of the “holiday season.” And for practical purposes, school pageants, holiday office parties, and other festive events all happen early in December. How can we, who long to be present to the liturgical moment, wait until December 25th to celebrate the birth of Jesus? How can we uphold a spirit of Advent, while still living in the world? It might be hard, but it is possible with a few intentional ideas. How to Wait to Celebrate Christmas + Live Advent Abundantly Here are six ways to hold off on celebrating Christmas, even in a culture that starts (and ends) celebrating too early: 1. Savor your prayer time. During Advent, we often desire to refresh our prayer practice by starting anew or adding something extra to our time with the Lord. No matter how crazy the season feels, hold onto this longing to draw close to Jesus this Advent. Schedule prayer in your planner. What time of the day can you regularly enter into the presence of God? Journal through an Advent devotional or pray with the daily Gospel. This helps to stay present to Advent and not jump ahead to Christmas. Add a Eucharistic holy hour (or half hour) to your week. Consider how the shepherds and wise men adored the Christ Child in Bethlehem, and how we can adore that same Christ Child in the Blessed Sacrament every day! 2. Light your Advent wreath. This simple custom slows down the hustle and bustle that tries to invade our Advent peace. Lighting one candle per week and seeing the slow progression from darkness to light helps us realize how dark our world is without the light of Christ. In what ways is God calling us to move from darkness to light, so Jesus can be born in our hearts this Christmas? Place your wreath in a central location. Bless your wreath with special prayers and a sprinkling of holy water. Light it at the same time every day. Perhaps during your personal prayer time, family prayer time, or dinner. 3. Wait for it. It’s good to feel excited about decorating our homes, listening to Christmas carols, and immersing ourselves in all-things Christmas. But waiting to do these things will help us savor Advent. It will also make celebrating the birth of Christ more meaningful when Christmas finally arrives. Delay decorating your home until the third Sunday of Advent—Gaudate Sunday—when we light the pink candle and joyfully remember that our waiting is almost over. Make the Nativity the decorating exception. Set it up early in Advent for meditation and prayer, but leave the manger empty as a reminder of for Whom we are longing. Instead of listening to Christmas carols during Advent, create an Advent playlist to enjoy (or listen to ours). Or savor the peacefulness of these Advent hymns by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. 4. Be intentional. As invitations to parties come in, as the calendar fills up with pageants and band concerts, and as the to-do list grows longer by the minute, it is important to be intentional about how we spend our time during the short season of Advent. What is truly necessary, and what is possibly optional? Seek God’s help as you prioritize. He will surely shed His eternal light on your schedule, if you ask Him! Jesus delights in our desire to make Christmas special for our family and friends. But He also doesn’t want our work to cause anxiety (remember what He said to Martha!). So prayerfully consider declining an invitation, opting out of the cookie exchange, and crossing a couple of tasks off of your list. See how this frees you up to remain present to Advent. It might be difficult to delay all holiday tasks during Advent, especially baking, shopping, and wrapping. But is there a way to simplify them? Only bake two or three types of cookies, instead of 12. Shop online to avoid stressful crowds. As you write out cards and wrap gifts, pray for the people who will receive them. 5. Celebrate Advent’s feast days. Celebrate a couple of Advent’s wonderful feast days. Doing this makes Advent festive and fun, especially for kids, while still maintaining a spirit of waiting and preparing. Fill shoes or stockings with small treats on the Feast of St. Nicholas (December 6th). On December 9th, attend Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (a holy day of obligation). Place flowers by a statue of Mary, either at church or in your home. Enjoy a Mexican-themed dinner on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12th). Serve cinnamon rolls (or authentic St. Lucia buns) for breakfast on December 13th, the feast of St. Lucy. 6. Save Christmas merriment for Christmas. While the world packs away Christmas on December 26th, the festivities are really only beginning with the Octave of Christmas (December 25th-January 1st). The 12 Days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day and go through Epiphany. And the entire Christmas season lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, which is January 12th this year. There are many fun Christmas traditions that don’t need to be crammed into the four short weeks of Advent. We can spread them out during the official Christmas season. Host a movie marathon with your favorite holiday movies. Crank up the Christmas carols and sing to your heart’s content. Celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas by learning what each day symbolizes. Cozy up by the Christmas tree and bask in the glow of its twinkling lights. Thank God for sending His Son Jesus into this world on Christmas, to rescue us from darkness and light our way back to the Father’s loving embrace. How do you wait until Christmas to celebrate? Please share your ideas in the comments below. [bctt tweet="How to Wait Until Christmas to Celebrate (While Still Living in the World) #BISblog #advent // " username="sarahcdamm"]

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. // Matthew 24:42 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Brass and Mint Co. 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

For years now, St. Andrew has intrigued me. It all started when this Blessed is She reflection landed in my inbox back in 2016. Emily’s words resonated with me deeply two months into motherhood, when I was feeling more invisible than I ever had. Since then, St. Andrew’s name has stood out to me as if highlighted every time he pops up in the Gospel readings for the day. He’s not mentioned too often, speaking up even less—just twice in the Gospel of John. Other than that, he’s always referred to simply as part of the group. In those two instances when his words were recorded, though, they bear a striking similarity. In both cases, they perfectly demonstrate how well he kept his ears open and then was unafraid to speak up. Listening... One of my biggest struggles throughout my life has been listening. Perhaps it’s a bit of a perfectionist streak, my nagging longing to be liked, or my lifelong identity as a writer that makes me feel as though I always need the perfect words. Whatever the cause, I often have to force myself to listen well when someone speaks, rather than plan out the next thing I’ll say. I know this is a weakness. I don’t believe it’s one St. Andrew shared. John tells us that Andrew was an apostle of St. John the Baptist. When St. John the Baptist uttered, “Behold the Lamb of God” as Jesus passed (John 1:35-36), St. Andrew was nearby. St. John the Baptist didn’t outrightly tell his friends to get up and follow Jesus. But, in this case, he didn’t need to. St. Andrew had clearly been listening to the message of this final prophet during their time together: that another was coming. He was listening in this moment when he found out exactly Who that was. He listened. Andrew heard. He got up and followed Jesus (John 1:37). And then...he spoke up. ...and Knowing When to Speak And boy, did his speaking up rock the course of history. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas (which is translated Peter). -John 1:40-42   What if Andrew hadn’t been listening that day? What if he had kept the news of Jesus’ presence to himself? And how often am I not listening? How often am I missing the opportunity to share truth, encouragement, or wisdom because I didn’t hear what I needed to hear in the first place in order to offer those things? Bringing What Little We Have “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish,” he told Jesus, “but what good are these for so many?” -John 6:8-9 This is the second quote of St. Andrew’s recorded in the Gospels. I think you can picture the scene as vividly as I can; we’ve heard it time and time again. There’s a hill crowded with thousands of people. There is a tension of restlessness, trying to see and hear the Messiah, and supernatural calm that there, there He is. And there is the sun starting to sink in the sky and one individual realization after another that no one packed food. We don’t know if St. Andrew was the one who spotted the boy in the crowd of five thousand plus, clutching his measly dinner. We don’t know if the boy presented the food to him, identifying something approachable about the Apostle. But what we do know is that even though this offering seemed insignificant, St. Andrew still brought it to the Lord. “But what good are these?” Those words ring so true to me. What good are my gifts and talents, when there are others so much more skilled? What good is my donation when a need is so great? And what good is my voice when the world is noisy? Jesus’ response to St. Andrew is the same ones He gives to us. He takes our tiny offering with gratitude. Maybe He’ll simply accept it with love. But maybe...maybe He’ll use it to work a miracle. St. Andrew, pray for us! Don’t forget, the St. Andrew novena in preparation for Christmas begins today. As we pray through Advent, may he intercede for us to listen attentively and speak up boldly, just as he did. [bctt tweet="On the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle #BISblog //" username="lisajanelkirk"]

It is not filth and hunger that make saints, nor even poverty itself, but love of poverty and love of the poor. -Thomas Merton   It is really possible to love poverty? Some Saints certainly did seem to embrace it whole-heartedly on their journey here on earth. St. Francis of Assisi springs to mind, as do many others who have pursued material poverty in some way, shape, or form. Are we all called to love poverty in some way? Various Kinds of Poverty Material poverty as I have experienced it here in Ranong, Thailand working amid the Burmese migrant community sometimes looks like this... You live in a wooden shack in a row of similar wooden shacks that have two or three rooms. You are at the mercy of your boss, your health, and immigration law. If you or a family member gets sick, you face the choice of eating or going to the clinic for medicine. There are smells from poorly constructed and maintained drains or from rotting garbage. There are piles of rubbish just outside your front door. You are forced to make the decision to eat or to send your children to school. How Much Should We Give Up? I’m not sure what there is to "love" about that. I’m pretty sure that our loving God does not intend for his children to live in such a state of degradation. And yet, in order to serve the poor and to find personal holiness, many Saints have renounced their possessions and vowed to live in a state of "poverty." Mother Teresa, for example, left her relatively well-off convent school in India to work in the slums amid the poorest of the poor. For her this meant (among other things) owning only two saris and eating very simple food. Her example has been a huge challenge to me and to many others in our wealth and comfort obsessed world. The question for me is: how much should I give up my possessions and my comforts in order to help lift up the truly poor? How far does God expect me to go? A Spirit of Detachment To the rich man in the Gospel, Jesus said: 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth. -Matthew 19: 21-22   Many times I have reflected on these words of Jesus. I've come to the conclusion that, for me, it’s a spirit of detachment to materials things that is important. That, right now, God is not expecting me to take everything I own to the nearest charity shop, throw on a raggedy robe, and wander around living off what others give me from time to time. Only God Can Give Us a Love of the Poor Pursuing poverty or even simplicity in life can actually become a kind of idol. We can take a perverse kind of pride in it and then try to convert others to our way of living. We can end up being miserable in our efforts to live without any comforts at all if we believe that this in itself can make us holy and close to God. After many years of working in New Zealand in my profession and earning a reasonably good wage, I felt called to come to Thailand to work among the Burmese migrant population. Many of these migrants are indeed very poor. Not just in a material sense, but also in a sense of lacking education and thus hope for their and their children’s future. Poverty and discrimination has curtailed their educational choices to a large extent. I am not Mother Teresa and I own far more than two items of clothing. In fact, I am given clothing and fabric all the time by my students as they know I love the colours and patterns of their native dress. Despite the challenges of living in a different country, I can live fairly comfortably here in Thailand. The food is always tasty and the people are generous and helpful. Having given up some of the luxuries of my ‘first world’ country, I have not managed to live a life of poverty in the way that many of my students do. Indeed, when I have holidays I am able to travel inside and outside Thailand in a way that they cannot. This is not just because of money, but because of visa and work permit restrictions. For all my commitment to following Jesus and giving up many of my possessions to be here, I am still materially wealthy in comparison to the majority of the world’s population. So What Does Love of Poverty Mean? Perhaps it means not to be afraid of poverty. Not to be afraid of that state because really and truly all we need is Jesus. Jesus is enough. The witness of those great Saints who lived lives of material poverty shout this message loud and clear. Jesus is enough. [bctt tweet="Love of Poverty and Love of the Poor #BISblog //" via="no"] Katie Fisher works on the Thailand/Myanmar border with 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.

On our baptismal days, my husband, my kids, and I know what to expect from my mother- and father-in-law: a card-sized white envelope, our names written on the outside in my mother-in-law’s naturally calligraphic hand. Within is the same card every time, one with an image of a stained glass window and these words in gold, “May the Peace and Blessing of Almighty God descend upon you and remain with you forever.” Inside the card our parish secretary has typed (with a typewriter!) the date and time of the Mass that will be offered for us. This information will be transferred to the church bulletin the week of said Mass, and our names will be specifically included in the Prayers of the Faithful on the chosen date. We’ll make a special effort to be at that Mass, to show our thanks. If you’ve ever wondered how those names of the living and dead make their way into the Prayers of the Faithful, here you go. Mass Cards are the gift that keeps on giving, the thing that you get for the person who seems to have everything. What is a Mass Card? A Mass Card is a physical manifestation of an intention offered for an individual or family. It’s a way to tell the person being prayed for about the intention. It can be a welcome gesture for celebratory events like birthdays, baptismal days, and wedding anniversaries, or a means of remembering the dead to relatives on their anniversaries. Offering prayers for the living and the dead is a spiritual work of mercy. A small donation to the church may be suggested when you go to obtain one, but this doesn’t mean you’re paying for indulgences. No financial payment is necessary to have prayers offered for someone you have in your heart or on your mind. How Do You Get One? At my parish, the process is very simple. You either call or email the parish secretary with the name of the person for whom the Mass will be offered and a few suggested dates on which you’d like the Mass to be celebrated. “As soon as possible” is an okay answer for the latter, as is a feast day for a particular Saint or the actual day being marked by the prayer. There is generally a limit to how many intentions can be offered at one Mass, so the sooner you make your request, the better. When the prayer card is ready—usually later that day because our secretary is wonderful—you stop in to pick it up, offering about $10 per Mass, if it’s possible. More or less is okay, too. My parish is always grateful for financial help in keeping our ministries afloat. I appreciate the opportunity to help in this way. Why Do We Have Mass Cards? As I mentioned above, praying for the living and the dead is a spiritual act of mercy. The Church is a community—a moving, living being—and we are called to care for each other. Prayer is one such way we can do that. In my experience, the times I’ve prayed for myself have been powerful, but the prayers others have offered for me (when we lost a baby to miscarriage, for instance, or even recently, as we moved across town), have been even more so. The Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life,” and the graces therein are real. Trusting in and offering the benefits of this Sacrament, instituted by Christ, works to build up the Kingdom and support our loved ones in times of need and in times of joy. In light of the recent Pew Study that less than a third of self-identifying Catholics believe in the True Presence of the Eucharist, I would love to see a Mass Card revival. Let’s each offer a Mass for someone in our circles this year. Maybe as a gift in a family Secret Santa, perhaps for a friend mourning the loss of a parent, or even simply for a friend on her birthday. Let’s live out the truth of the beauty and power of the Eucharist. An Act of Trust We know that prayers aren’t magic. Miracles happen. But more often God moves at a pace that feels slow to our worldly mindsets. Offering a Mass for someone shows trust and patience in God’s timing. It honors God for who He is and what He can do. It praises Him for His goodness and petitions Him with the confidence of a child. It reminds the person for whom the Mass is offered that she is loved and worthy, just as she was created to be. Do you send Mass Cards to people in your life? Have you ever received one? [bctt tweet="What are Mass Cards? #BISblog //" via="no"] Lindsay Schlegel is a daughter of God who seeks to encourage, inspire, and lift up the contemporary woman to be all she was created to be. She’s the author of Don’t Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God, as well as shorter nonfiction and fiction pieces, both online and in print. With joy, she speaks about recognizing God’s voice and living the truth therein. Lindsay lives in New Jersey with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their kids. You can find out more about her here.

My First Holy Communion day was one of the most memorable days of my childhood. I had a private Mass said just for me, and my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all came to witness me receiving Jesus in the Eucharist for the very first time. The priest gave me the Rosary that I still use to this day, and my parents gave me a near-identical porcelain doll donning a white gown and veil and the same straight-across brown bangs as myself. Of all of the gifts I received on that special day, however, the most meaningful gift ended up being the smallest one, and something that I still use every single week two decades later. It was a prayer card featuring an image of the Child Jesus on one side and a prayer called “Little White Guest” on the other side, given to me by my godmother. While most of my other “holy cards” found their forever home in one of my two large albums designated for them (yes, they were my most prized collection), this particular card I carried around with me for years until the words on the backside spewed out from memory every time I received the Body of Christ upon my tongue. To this day, the interval of time immediately proceeding the receiving of Holy Communion and before the final blessing is my favorite time of the Mass. It is an opportunity for me to truly enter into communion with my Lord and to thank Him for allowing me to receive this precious gift—the gift of Himself. It is a time to—quite literally—be with Him for a few minutes and to reflect upon all He has given me and all that He is. 3 Prayers to Pray After Receiving Communion The following three prayers give me pause for reflection and prompt me to enter into true conversation with Him before the end of Mass. 1. Little White Guest I remember trying to wrap my small head around the concept of transubstantiation in second grade, attempting to understand what it really meant to consume His true Body and true Blood in the Eucharist. I’m not going to lie—it definitely sounded scary and confusing. The little prayer card I received on my First Communion day with the prayer “Little White Guest” printed on it truly helped me to visualize this union with Jesus in the Eucharist. It allowed me to realize that I was not just eating a small wafer of bread, but I was receiving and welcoming a Little White Guest into my body and my heart. It was a concept that helped me then, and still helps me now. Learning this prayer has taught me how to talk and listen to Jesus during those most intimate moments when He is not only with me but within me. It has helped me remember to cultivate this habit of immediately entering into conversation with Jesus upon receiving Him every single week. The Prayer You have come to my heart, dearest Jesus, 
I am holding You close to my breast; 
I'm telling You over and over, 
You are welcome, Little White Guest. I love You, I love You, my Jesus, 
O please do not think I am bold; 
Of course, You must know that I love You, 
But I am sure that you like to be told. I'll whisper, "I love You, my Jesus," 
And ask that we never may part; 
I love You, O kind, loving Jesus 
And press You still nearer my heart. And when I shall meet You in Heaven, 
My soul then will lean on Your breast; 
And You will recall our fond meetings, 
When You were my Little White Guest. For Your Prayer Life Deepen your daily prayer life with a planner built around the liturgical calendar. Shop the Catholic Liturgical Planner → 2. Anima Christi I first discovered the Anima Christi prayer while flipping through an old Pieta prayer book in high school. The beautiful words pierced me with their sharp imagery. I started carrying the prayer book with me to Mass so that I could add this prayer to my after-communion prayer arsenal. While this prayer is widely attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola, its actual origins are unknown, as it actually has been dated back several centuries before St. Ignatius’s time. If “Little White Guest” introduces the idea of transubstantiation, “Anima Christi” makes it abundantly real, as this prayer reveals that we receive Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist. It also evokes vivid images of Christ’s Passion, thus prompting us to meditate on His Passion and Death. It begs Christ to stay close to us, and it is a popular prayer to say after Communion precisely because that is when He is the closest to us. I can’t imagine more beautiful words to unite us with Christ immediately following our receiving Him in Holy Communion. The Prayer Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the side of Christ, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesus hear me; Within your wounds hide me; separated from you, let me never be; From the evil one protect me; At the hour of my death, call me; And close to you bid me; That with your saints, I may be praising you forever and ever. 3. The Divine Praises Because we so often only call upon God in prayer when we need something or have a special petition, it’s important that we still remember to sing His praises as well. For this reason, I love reciting the Divine Praises following Communion, as it reminds me of who God is and why we call Him “blessed.” Most commonly prayed during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (after Benediction but before the Host is placed back into the tabernacle), this prayer is a wonderful way to show respect and praise not only to God, but to His Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and all the angels and Saints. It reminds us of the key role the Holy Family should play in our daily lives, and is therefore a wonderful prayer to keep in our back pocket at all times. However, by reciting the Divine Praises right after Holy Communion and before the close of Mass, it orients us to really reflect upon the Divine for the coming week. The Prayer Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His Most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy. Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her Glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. A Time to Commune There is no greater gift than God’s gift of Himself to us in Holy Communion, and there is nothing more rewarding than taking advantage of that intimacy by uniting in fervent reflection and prayer during that precious time immediately upon receiving His Body and Blood. Are there any special prayers you recite after receiving Communion? We'd love to hear about them in the comments below! [bctt tweet="3 Prayers to Pray After Receiving Communion #BISblog //" via="no"] Madeleine Coyne is a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer with an affinity for anything concerning the written word and a penchant for learning about the lives of the Saints. She writes regularly for Verily and Natural Womanhood, and shares too many pictures of her daughter on Instagram. THE GREATEST GIFT In this study on the Eucharist, we explore the truth that Jesus is the answer to your every need. Join us as we explore John chapter 6 to learn how the reality of the Holy Eucharist applies to our lives. Discover what a gift He is. GET THE GIFT STUDY

Our 2019 Advent Journal, All the Generations: From Genesis to You, is an offering written by our entire Blessed is She team! For the first time this year, we will be journeying together as a community not only through the Advent season, but through the Christmas season as well. We want you to get to know the women who will spiritually walk by your side through these transformative seasons. In order to help you get to know the heart behind the Advent Journal, for the next several weeks, we'll sit down with the writers for each week of Advent and Christmas. Coffee Break with the Advent Journal Writers Consider this a quick moment over coffee with the Advent Journals writers. We asked the writers of each week the same questions: Why she shared the particular story she shared in her Advent Journal writing. Her favorite Scripture passage from the day. Her hope for us all in healing we're praying for in ourselves and our families. Let's hear from the writers of Week 6. Sister Maria Kim // Writer for Blessed is She 1) My reflection is heartfelt acknowledgment of how reconciliation is one of the most challenging things we are asked to do as disciples but at the same time it is *the* thing Jesus Himself came to do. When I prayed about forgiving and reconciling with people who have hurt me I had to come face to face with my poverty and my need for His grace. 2) "Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). 3) I pray families will be strengthened in love and experience the power of Jesus’ closeness. Jenna Hines // Writer for Blessed is She 1) I shared my story because I didn't think it was a story; I thought it was my boring life. It turns out that my "boring life" is what God is using to sanctify me. 2) "[W]alk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called" (Ephesians 4:1). 3) It's sometimes easier to be kind to strangers; I pray this book opens our eyes to the struggles and stress in the lives of our family members, so we can finally heal our relationships. Brittany Calavitta // Writer for Blessed is She 1) My story deals with the hurt that was caused by my birth father. It is a story of pain, but it is also a story of redemption. We all have broken pieces of ourselves, and I chose this story as a way to bring hope and healing to those fractured parts of our lives. 2) "[W]hen each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16). 3) My desire is for the reader to see hope in the midst of despair. Because there is always healing and wholeness and love to be found in Him . . . no matter how broken things seem. Shalini Blubaugh // Writer for Blessed is She 1) I chose the story I did because I am still, years later, so overcome by the healing hand of God and His unending generosity. I truly believed that I could never love or be loved again because of the woundedness my former relationship left me with. All I chose to see were the emotional scars that remained, yet God saw me just as He created me: whole, beloved, and worthy of newness all around. To love and be loved again! 2) "[A]nd this is a great mystery" (Ephesians 5:32). 3) I pray that the women that read this devotional find comfort in knowing that they are not alone. That their struggles are not unseen. That their crosses, though heavy, are shared simple because they are walking with Him. My prayer is that each woman finds family healing here, knowing that her story is not unlike ours. Bobbi Rol // Writer for Blessed is She 1) I chose this story because I wanted to bring hope and encouragement to sisters who didn’t have the best experience growing up or who made many mistakes in their past. God’s love and mercy can turn lives around and create beauty from ashes. 2) "Honor your father and mother" (Ephesians 6:1). 3) Healing begins when we humbly open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit. I pray this book helps us open the door of our hearts and heals the hurt we may not even realize we have, so that new life may spring forth from our lives and the lives of our families. Katie Prejean McGrady // Writer for Blessed is She 1) I wanted to share about a time when I was not only intensely scared about what was surrounding me, but also acutely aware of what that fear & hurt was causing me to feel. And in that fear and hurt, I was able to come closer to Jesus. 2) "Put on love" (Collossians 3:12). 3) I really hope this book provides moments of reflection and fosters reconciliation where it is needed. We all carry so much, and that usually means we’re moving so fast that we don’t take time to notice where healing needs to occur. This book can provide the time and space to take note of those things. Sarah Ortiz // Writer for Blessed is She 1) Whenever I think about the holidays, my mind immediately considers my siblings. They hold such an intimate place in your growing up years, and then that jump into adulthood happens, and it's always a gamble as to how it will play out. 2) "Perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). 3) We all carry broken wounds especially from those closest to us, and I hope this book allows us all to peer into those wounds and let the Divine Healer in. Come Pray with Us? We cannot wait to share our stories, hear your stories, and help you find the healing that God so desires in your family this Advent and Christmas season. If you haven't grabbed your Advent Journal yet, you can find it here!

I was driving home from Mass one Sunday this summer. A friend suddenly was unable to attend our plans for a concert at a local church. She had double booked herself on her calendar. While I understood, I drove home feeling a little disappointed. My disappointment led me to thinking about other parts of my life I feel less than thrilled about at times: being single, navigating online dating (oh ladies, it is special!), or coming home to a silent apartment. Begrudgingly, I knew what I needed to start doing to acknowledge how I was feeling in the present moment: counting my daily gratefuls. I coined the term several years ago when my counselor gave me a homework assignment to practice for several months. Each day I had to write in a gratitude journal for 5-10 minutes all the things in my life I was grateful for all the ways God loves and blesses me in the present. Some days I sat down and wrote in the journal and other days I counted my gratefuls as I drove to work or was out running errands. After several months, my counselor asked me to report back what I had learned. Reasons to Practice Counting Daily Gratefuls Counting my daily gratefuls each day has taught me some important lessons about myself and life, regardless of whether I felt hopeful or messy about life, or a little bit of both. Regular Gratitude Positively Affects Our Perspective Science is catching up and realizing that there are positive effects to practicing gratitude in our daily lives. Counting your daily gratefuls will actually benefit your physical and emotional health ... and help you sleep better! Who would not want more of that?! When You Look for Things to Be Grateful For, You Start Seeing Them If you train your brain to be on the lookout for the good, beautiful, and positive, your brain is trained to see it more and more! Think of this as a heart shift. You begin to look at the life around you differently. Perhaps you pay attention to things you never noticed before. Maybe you find yourself reconnecting with the simple, little pleasure you are usually too busy to notice. A Reminder that the Present Will Not Be Forever Sometimes when life feels overwhelming, messy, or confusing it is very easy to bemoan and think, “It will always be this way.” I know I struggle with this from time to time. One of the most helpful things I have learned in this practice, is that I am reminded (though naming my daily gratefuls) that life is not stagnant and permanent. It will not always be “this way” forever. Does that mean life will work out the way I anticipated or even want? No. But living with a perspective of gratitude challenges me to simply live in the present moment, not in the future with fear and anxiety about what may or may not come. Frequent Gratitude is an Act of Intentionality G.K. Chesterton once said that “thanks are the highest forms of thought,” and “gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” Gratitude is not a magic eraser that will wipe away those days you feel sad, lonely, or overwhelmed. It is not a “quick fix” to a life situation you wish were different. The practice counting your daily gratefuls is a brave act of intentionality. [bctt tweet="The practice counting your daily gratefuls is a brave act of intentionality. #BISblog //" username="amoderngrace"] Gratitude Causes Us to Pause If we honestly look at our lives, we see that much of it we navigate through and are distracted, hurriedly trying to get the next item checked off our to-do list. Choosing to be grateful makes space for awe and wonder in the hum-drum daily living. Even when I feel my worst on some days, I know there is always something to be grateful for. Even if it is the most basic thing like my next breath or waking up to another day of life. The month of November is most easily associated with the national holiday of Thanksgiving. But we don’t have to wait for November to roll around each year to begin counting our daily gratefuls. You can start right now. Today! Set the timer, use your morning shower, or use your drive to the office to begin counting all the ways God blesses and cares for you. No, it won’t change the messy life situations immediately, but your heart will change over time. Allow God to change your perspective. Start counting and be amazed at what will happen. Do you count your daily gratefuls? What fruit have you seen in your own life from this practice? [bctt tweet="The Practice of Counting Daily Gratefuls #BISblog //" username="amoderngrace"]

There’s a pretty funny meme about our Grace Before Meals that’s been making the rounds lately. In the background is the painting of an old man with his hands folded and his head bowed over his daily bread. Above that, the caption reads something like, “No rapper can pray faster than a hungry Catholic” while the speech bubble coming from the man says, “blessusolordandthesethygift….” And I’ve got to admit, every time I see it I chuckle. Not just because it’s funny (which it is), but because it’s true! My grandad was legendary in our family for literally being able to say grace in the time it took him to make the Sign of the Cross. Now, there’s no way that man was ever anything less than respectful and reverent. I truly think he prayed that fast because he had raised seven kids. And whenever we had whole-family dinners there couldn’t have been less than 30 people waiting to eat, many of whom were small children. If he hadn’t prayed quickly, there might have been mutiny! Taken for Granted That said, it’s easy for our common, everyday prayers to be said flippantly. When we say something so many times a day, every day, every year, our whole lives long, how can we not start to take it for granted? Of course, that doesn’t mean that we don’t believe what we’re saying or disregard the meaning behind it. But when was the last time, in the hustle and bustle of life, that you really considered every word you prayed as you bowed your head over your dinner? The Deep Meaning Behind the Prayer Before Meals So, that’s just what we’re going to do now. Line by beautifully-simple line, let’s work our way through the Prayer Before Meals. Bless us, O Lord… Funny, isn’t it? We start our prayer by asking God to bless us, not our food! When we ask for this blessing, we’re asking God to make us holy or consecrate us. We ask that He pour His divine favor on us. At every time of day, whenever we take the time to nourish ourselves physically, we ask God to nourish us spiritually. ...and these, Thy gifts… These same words have been said over everything from a multi-course gourmet meal to a bowl of Cheerios. And every one of those meals is gift. Whether we are alone or with a group, in public or private, we ask our Heavenly Father to bestow on our food the same favor and blessing we asked for our bodies. Whether it’s hamburgers or steak, it doesn’t matter. We need to recognize that our food is a gift that we use to nourish our bodies and sustain us as we go. My husband’s Methodist grandfather always prayed that God would, “bless this food for the use of our bodies and us for Thy service.” I always loved it when he put it that way. ...which we are about to receive from Thy bounty… Raise your hand if you have ever said this line with food in your mouth (I expect to see every one of your hands raised!). We’ve all been there—thanking God for the food we are about to receive while that food sits in a half-chewed wad in our mouths. Here’s another question for you. How many of you have ever gone apple picking? Or, if not apples, then maybe berries or something. Or maybe you are one of the lucky ones who have a green thumb and you have your own gardens in your own backyards. Is it not true that when you know exactly where your food comes from, if you’ve picked it yourself even, it just tastes better? Wouldn’t it stand to reason, then, that if we look at our food as being a gift from God’s loving bounty, we might appreciate it more? ...through Christ our Lord. What does it mean to pray or to ask for something “through Christ our Lord?” Well, in this instance, I believe we are asking our Brother, Who is fully human and fully divine, to shower His grace upon us and our sustenance during our meal. The same Jesus who broke bread at the Last Supper. The same Jesus who comes to us during the ultimate meal of Thanksgiving during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. “But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4:7) Amen. Amen simply means I believe! I believe that God wants to send His blessings upon each one of us, our bodies, and the food that we eat to sustain us. I believe that our lives and the food we eat are gifts that come from the bounty of the Lord. And I believe that the grace to use that food as nourishment to go into the world and live the life our Father would have us live comes to us through Christ. Amen? Amen, indeed! [bctt tweet="The Prayer Before Meals #BISblog //" via="no"]