Friend. Redeemer. Lord. Creator. Almighty. Savior. These are all titles of God that we are familiar with, and often use to address God. However, the title of husband is not one we hear in worship songs or devotions, and might even make us squirm a little bit.

The Baroque church had a bone-chill dampness to match the dreary Italian evening. I crossed myself, shoulders hunched, and went to the front row. The Rosary had already started, the leader’s voice echoing in the vast church with its sweeping arches and domed ceiling, followed by a choral response. The young man—who looked comfortingly not-Italian, with his casual t-shirt, floppy blond hair, and scuffed shoes—was in his place two rows back. He had a bent posture, rosary between his hands. I looked at him a moment, wondering if he was a foreigner like me. Wondering, if so, what he was doing in this quiet town. Daily Mass every day, and Adoration once a week, was my attempt to reconnect with the faith I’d somehow grown weary in. I had begun to wonder, though, if this was more of a self-inflicted punishment. A year and a half of slowly climbing out of the pit I’d dug myself in. How do you live with the guilt? Taunting words from someone hostile to the faith years ago at university, come back to haunt me. What guilt? My snarky, poorly-catechized self had shot back. An elderly man coughed. His gruff voice cut through the rhythm of the Rosary without disturbing it. I lifted my eyes now to where figures representing the virtues looked down on us. CLEMENTIA. FORTITUDO. FIDES. I wasn’t sure I had much of any of those three. Being with Him My eyes went now to Jesus in the monstrance. I always sat as close to Jesus as I could during Adoration because this was as close as I’d been able to get lately. At first, I’d hoped to have one of those spiritual moments. Not that I was worthy of an experience like St. Catherine of Siena, so lost in ecstasy she couldn’t be revived. But perhaps something like what I read about in those blog posts I insatiably consumed, some overwhelming sense of peace and love. Something to both ease my guilt and prove to me that I was on the right path now. I stared at Jesus. I stared harder. I still felt nothing. Perhaps I was too far removed from God’s grace. That’s how it was supposed to work, after all, right? I was cut off. {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=}  The Comfort of Contemplation I pulled out my own rosary beads and followed along with the Hail Marys until they got to the next mystery and I could properly catch up. Initially I’d been annoyed that they always said a Rosary before Mass. Annoyed that I couldn’t sit in peace and quietly say the Rosary by myself. I’d finally joined in with the group because the frustration of concentrating so hard to not let them get me off track became too much. And . . . I’d come to enjoy it. The smooth lilting Italian of the leader, the meditative choral response to finish each prayer. Contemplating Jesus on the altar now, the one day they had Adoration before Mass. No one knew me here. I still didn’t know a soul at this church I’d gone to every day for the past month. The older Italians didn’t talk to me and, well, I was the youngest here by about thirty years, other than Mr. Non-Italian Floppy Hair who didn’t look at anything other than the marble floor or Jesus. I’d bet he’d remained faithful no matter what secular society tried to seduce him with. Meanwhile I was a ghost, wandering in and out, invisible. I began to wonder if God even noticed me. Only the participation in this Rosary, and the subsequent Mass, gave me a tether, however thin, to a community. And yet, I returned each day. I prayed. I stared at Jesus even if I wasn’t sure He was looking back. Because I now knew the price you paid for a lazy faith. The Rosary ended with its typical solemn yet powerful litany, a tympanum beating out a final cry for justice before echoing out into a vast nothing. The priest came to take Jesus out of the monstrance, and we all got down on our knees. A few minutes later, the Mass started. The priest was elderly—as most were in Italy—and I strained to understand his weak voice. All the same, I fell easily into the comfortable rhythm of the Mass. After my years in this country, the Italian responses now came more naturally to me than the English ones I’d grown up with. I was rediscovering the faith both through my reversion and through experiencing it in a new language. Waiting and Watching When it came time for the reception of the Eucharist, I sat down. As always, I wondered if anyone noticed, wondered why the girl who was seemingly pious enough to sit in the church an hour before Mass and who participated in all the responses wasn’t receiving Jesus. Due to pandemic regulations, instead of forming a line, everyone remained in their spot and those who wanted to receive the Eucharist stood, while those who didn’t sat. It always felt more conspicuous to me than merely not slipping into the line. I remembered the first time I did this, nearly two years ago. The courage it took to acknowledge the situation I was in, that I would not be disposed to receive Jesus until I could get out of it. Realizing that ultimately it was better for my soul to not receive the Eucharist as I worked on climbing out of the pit. Now I was holding onto the edge. The first time, I was sure I’d be the only one to sit down at this point, imagining the stares, the quiet wonders. Instead, it seemed that many people around me sat down as well, unified. Not in obstinacy in our sin, nor in humiliated oppression, but in humble acknowledgment that we shouldn’t receive Jesus with soiled hands, not until we could clean them. Catholic Guilt, secular society said. It was easy to mock it when you had no idea what you were gambling. When your values were so torn apart, you’d lost any sense of right or wrong. At the start of my reversion, a true “trial-by-fire,” I had been consumed with scruples, worrying if every little thing wrong I said or did was further damning me. A priest once told me scrupulosity was a form of pride—which then made me worry I’d committed the sin of pride. After further reflection, though, I realized how liberating it was to look outside of myself. To look at a bigger picture, to aim for beautiful things—for goodness and truth and beauty. It wasn’t my Catholic beliefs that were oppressive, as I’d once thought. It was rather the intimidation of secular society, the ever-changing fads to keep up with, the pressures to be successful at the cost of relationships, the manipulation to think a certain way though you knew in your heart it was wrong. The priest cleaned out the chalice now. I’d come to love this meditative part of the Mass, come to enjoy watching him go through the same calming routine of polishing the cups, neatly folding the linens, and putting them away. I said my Spiritual Communion prayer to myself, welcoming Jesus into my heart. Imagining, as I did so, that He would be like this priest, gently rubbing my heart clean, purifying me, preparing me for when I’d be disposed to receive Him again. That day would come. I had only to hold onto the edge for a little while longer. Living with Him When Mass ended, I left, alone, catching the door the woman didn’t hold for me. It had begun to drizzle. I popped open my umbrella and glanced at the sky. Despite the rain and clouds a faint glimmer of stars shone through. Sister, despite the seemingly cut-and-dry “rules” of our faith, life is messy and complicated. Sometimes we find ourselves so mired in sin it takes more than a single trip to Confession to get out of it. Rather than falling into despair and giving up, we should always keep our eyes lifted to the One who sustains us, who is constant even when we’re not. When I finally did pull myself out of that pit, a kind priest shared these words that have resonated ever since: “Jesus Christ did not die on the cross for you to be enslaved by your fears and worries.” Alexandra is a wife and soon-to-be-mother living in northern Italy. Along with writing, she teaches English as a Foreign Language and enjoys playing the flute for her church choir. She refuses to get into the debate over whether Italian coffee is better than American, preferring both.

“Give me a drink.” (John 4:7) These are the words of the Lord to us this day as we come to rest with Him and spend precious time with Him in prayer. He is the One who invites us to this rendezvous. 

We can bear it all with Him. Join us for Lent 2023. Get New Wine here. Phone Wallpaper Desktop Wallpaper

One might be tempted to think that it must have been easy for Mother Teresa to be united to the Lord. There were even occasions when “the Voice” (Come Be My Light, 85) spoke to her interiorly. Jesus communicated Himself in a very intimate way with her. If that was the case for us, we might argue, how easy things would be!

After my time as a missionary in a foreign country had come to an end and the convent life before that was already only a memory, I returned to the US with many questions and a lot to unload.

Mother Teresa spent hours each day in prayer before the start of her service to the poor and at the end of a long day. She did not use her work, immense physical labor, or fatigue as an excuse to forgo time with her Lover and Intimate Friend.

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, New Wine? This Lent devotional for Catholic women is all about how suffering shapes us. Taken from Jesus’ image of new wine in the Gospels, we will contemplate how being “crushed” is a necessary part of becoming a saint. As we live the season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we meditate on the fact that God is ever with us in our suffering. He became one of us, vulnerable like us, and went to the Cross for us. He overcame sin death for us. He has already born all we bear, with us and for us, and He does not abandon us in that. What Can I Expect from New Wine? 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? Father John Parks kicks us off with a prayerful meditation. With narration from Claire Dwyer, we will explore the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, pray with corresponding Scripture passages, enter into the stories of Rocio Hermes, Bella Rol, Susanna Spencer, Dr. MaryRuth Hackett, Debra Herbeck, Megan Hjelmstad, and Beth Davis, and sit with sacred art. 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 This Lent, let’s take to heart the fact that our sufferings are not wasted. When we bear them with the Lord and offer our broken hearts to Him in love, He will take our humble grapes and transform them into wine. If you’re ready for a newness of life that can only be found in the Suffering Servant who conquered death, this one’s for you. A Lent Devotional for Men In addition to New Wine, our devotional for men is now available. 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. Something for the Family Looking for something for the whole family? Bundle and save! The Kids’ Book We didn’t forget about the kids in your life! New Wine 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. Lent Bundle Snag an accompanying candle and crucifix with this year’s Lent bundle! Guys + Gals Bundle Finally, pick up something for yourself and a man in your life with the bundle of New Wine and Born of Fire! This winter, prepare to enter the desert for Lent and pray with us, knowing that we are all made to be new wine.

Most of us have seen some romantic comedies—whether as teenagers, in our hopeless college years, or perhaps even later on in life. Who doesn’t like a good, sappy romance movie during the Christmas season? As women, one of our deepest longings is to be pursued and to be loved and these movies stir up those exact desires. We may easily look to others to fulfill this expectation of “lover” while hesitating to see the Lord in this way. Maybe it is because we do not often get the butterflies-in-my-stomach kind of feeling when we go to Adoration or sit in silence to pray. Yet the truth is that, as a baptized person, I have become part of the Church, His Bride. If Christ, then, is our Bridegroom, the Lover par excellence, should I not seek to see Him as such? What does it mean to be a lover—a true one, not just the fabricated fantasy we find in novels or movie scripts? In the letter to the Ephesians, when instructing husbands and wives on how to be lovers to one another, Saint Paul tells them to do so in imitation of Christ (Ephesians 5:25). Jesus, the Lover of souls, (see Wisdom 11:26) expresses His love for the Church by giving His life for her and to her. He nourishes His bride and cherishes her (see Ephesians 5:29).  A true lover does not grow weary—even when we have grown cold in our devotion or tired in loving. Christ pursues us since He has won our hearts for Himself through His Incarnation, Passion, Death, and Resurrection. We are rightly His and yet He honors our will and comes daily as a beggar for our love.  As members of the Church, sister, you and I are called to respond to the Lord in His request for love. As Christ is a Lover, we too are called to be lovers of Christ. We are called to pursue, cherish, and nourish Him as He has done for us.  What does it mean to be a lover—a true one, not just the fabricated fantasy we find in novels or movie scripts? #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET   Let Us Pray Lord, with what holy devotion we would burn for You if we truly allowed ourselves to be conquered by You. You are the Greatest of Lovers and so we pray humbly, that You would reveal more of Your love to us today that we might long for You and seek to be Yours all of our days. For Discussion Do you struggle to see the Lord as a Bridegroom or Lover? Why do you think that is? How can you begin today to foster an understanding of yourself as bride, called to love the Lord with your whole heart? Perhaps by repeating a short prayer or tender word to the Lord or writing a letter to Him from your heart?

The first time I was “stopped in my tracks” by Mother Teresa was when I was a teenager. I sat next to my mom to watch a documentary about her life that came up on television. Her genuine desire to leave all that she knew to go serve the Lord in a country that was not her own moved me. She was determined. She knew that if the Lord called her, she must not hesitate to respond. This theme would follow her for the rest of her life. Later, she made a vow under the pain of mortal sin (with the permission of her spiritual director) to never refuse Jesus anything (Come Be My Light, 60).   Mother Teresa was born in northern Macedonia to Albanian parents. From a very young age she desired to belong to Jesus completely and become a missionary. She felt a particular call to aid the Church in India. At eighteen, she left her home for Ireland where she entered the religious order of the Sisters of Loreto who had missions in India. She was soon sent to India and fulfilled her childhood dream of bringing Christ’s love to that land. She was a beloved teacher and eventually became the principal of the all-girls school where she taught. And yet, the Lord had more for her. Mother Teresa received what she called “a call within a call” from Christ to leave the comfort of the convent and school and tend to Him in the poorest of the poor (Come Be My Light, 78). Although this call was clear and direct, she submitted this desire to bring poor souls to Christ to her spiritual director, superiors, and bishop. Mother Teresa was determined, as always, but ultimately wanted the will of God. Her patience bore fruit and she was given permission to begin her work in the slums. It was there, in the dark places, that the Missionaries of Charity were born. She was to be Christ’s light in the darkness (Come Be My Light, 85) and this, in fact, is what she became through her daily small acts of love and kindness.  Mother Teresa was to be Christ’s light in the darkness and this, in fact, is what she became through her daily small acts of love and kindness. #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET Let Us Pray Jesus, Intimate Friend of my heart, You know my fears and my dreams. In the depths of my heart You are willing to come in and dine with me. May I spend time with You there, that I may learn to hear Your voice gently guiding me. For Discussion Sister, do you feel inspired by the testimony of Mother Teresa in radically following the Lord’s particular call on her life? Or do you feel deflated, thinking you could never respond as she responded?  Are you able to bring either sentiment to the Lord today in prayer and ask Him to give you the grace to respond to His call? Are you aware of the daily call to spend time with Him and unite yourself and your desires to His? Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 10 #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

Our quads were burning as we continued walking higher, higher, and yet still higher, with the goal not yet in view as apartments and gift shops surrounded us on each side. But it was a beautiful, sunny day, and we had just spent days savoring cheese and croissants, so we didn’t mind the exercise.  It was our last day in Paris, and my husband and I were spending our last evening walking to the highest point in the city, Montmartre, The Mount of Martyrs. A place where a number of Christians were martyred, including Saint Denis, Paris’ first bishop and patron, who was beheaded there. This is a famous spot, not only for its picturesque and panoramic views of the city of lights during sunset, but also for the spiritual significance it holds as the location of the Basilica of Sacré Coeur (The Basilica of the Sacred Heart).  Small Offerings Made Big With eleven million visitors annually, Sacré-Coeur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Paris. Groundbreaking for the basilica began in 1875 and the church was completed in 1914, finally being consecrated in 1919 after the end of World War I.  This is no small building. It stands at 272 feet tall, 115 wide, and 272 feet long. This is almost as tall (and long) as the height of the Statue of Liberty! With a space this large I would assume that it was commissioned by a number of generous and wealthy benefactors, but this was not the case. In fact, large sums of money were refused. Only small offerings from private individuals, dioceses, congregations, etc. were accepted and the names of these donors are engraved in stone. Even Saint Thérèse of Lisieux contributed to the basilica. While on pilgrimage to Rome with her family, her group stopped in Paris for Mass in Sacré-Coeur’s crypt (as the basilica was still under construction). Afterwards Thérèse herself offered one of her gold bracelets to be melted down for use in the basilica’s monstrance.  Looking for Jesus This basilica is known for its adoration chapel, so when we arrived, my husband and I circled the perimeter looking for the Blessed Sacrament. We peeked into every side chapel, but still didn’t spot Jesus.  After spending a few minutes confused that we couldn’t find the place where we heard so many friends speak about praying, we decided we would just take a seat in one of the pews and pray in the nave. It was then that we found Who we were looking for. Sure enough, Jesus was present in the Blessed Sacrament right above the main altar. We had missed him because the monstrance was standing far above eye level and suspended several yards higher than the altar’s tabernacle. If we had looked more closely around the center of the church, we wouldn’t have been able to miss Him. It was so refreshing to see Jesus exposed front and center, and not off in a side chapel like in so many churches.  {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=}  A Bombing and Pandemic Since August 1 of 1885 perpetual Adoration has remained uninterrupted in Sacré-Coeur. That’s over one hundred thirty-five years of perpetual Adoration! One of the Benedictine Sisters of the Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre said in an article for the National Catholic Register that “adoration hasn’t stopped even for a minute, including during the two world wars…Even during the 1944 bombing, when some fragments fell right next to the basilica, the adorers never left.” Then, in 2019, when the pandemic posed difficulty for perpetual Adoration to continue as the basilica was closed to the public for over two months, the fourteen nuns of this community reorganized their life in order to make sure someone was always with Jesus in the sanctuary. This meant that each sister had two holy hours each day . . . or longer if one of the sisters accidentally slept through her middle-of-the-night alarm.  Night Adoration Adoration is open to the public every day from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and even overnight for those who register for a night hour. Adorers are free to choose the time they want to pray during the night and are then given a pass to enter the basilica. A small fee is taken for adorers to sleep in a dormitory, but the night includes compline sung in the basilica with the Sisters, a 10:00 p.m. Mass, lodging in the guest house, morning Mass, morning prayer, and a simple French breakfast before departing.  Two of our very own BIS writers have experienced a night hour with Jesus at Sacré-Coeur. While neither one of them experienced the kind of midwestern or southern hospitality that some of us might be familiar with, they were blessed with a time of intimate prayer. Olivia Spears spoke of how her night hour was a time of “spiritual resting” in a “little haven” in the city. Grace Bellon also spoke of the peacefulness in the dark and quiet chapel. She also noted the fact that the basilica is literally surrounded by the Red Light district with Moulin Rouge just down the street. “Looking back . . . it makes perfect sense: ‘where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more’”  (Romans 5:20).  This reminds me of the motive behind the Eucharistic Revival, which began this past summer on the feast of Corpus Christi. The USCCB website reads: In the midst of these roaring waves, Jesus is present, reminding us that He is more powerful than the storm. He desires to heal, renew, and unify the Church and the world. Jesus desires to bring this to completion through the grace of the Holy Eucharist, just as the summit of Montmartre points to the source and summit of our faith.  How has Jesus healed and renewed you through Eucharistic Adoration? How is He equipping you through this Sacrament, to be a source of healing and renewal for others?  Sacré-Coeur // The City of Lights Made Brighter #BISblog // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

Therefore, I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her… And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will take you for my wife in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord. // Hosea 2:14, 19-20 These words from the prophet Hosea strike the depths of the human condition. As he addressed the divided kingdom—Israel in the north and the kingdom of Judah in the south—he also addresses us now, wherever we find ourselves. The lament of the Lord expressed through Hosea is that the people of Israel have gone astray. They have given themselves over to the worship of false gods (see Hosea 2:13) and are accused of crimes against the commandments (see Hosea 4:1-2). They have forgotten the love of their youth and no longer know the Lord. In the midst of life’s troubles, the duties of everyday living, and even the stress and demands of ministry in the Church, we may find ourselves like the kingdom of Israel: divided, distracted, and disillusioned. We begin to give precedence to people-pleasing and comforts, pride and a getting-ahead attitude, laziness and a plethora of excuses to not spend time with Him. We become disillusioned with Him and seek satisfaction elsewhere. We flex our Martha muscles and forget that we are called to be Mary at His feet, with devoted eyes and a heart fixed on His face (see Luke 10:38-42). We come to accept the lie that we must choose between God and others, divide our time between work and prayer, when in reality, only one thing is necessary (see Luke 10:42): remaining with Him.  Divine intimacy is about learning to remain with the Lord in our inmost selves—in the secret place where Jesus tells us we should go and pray (see Matthew 6:6). This is the wilderness into which the Lord invites us: the dryness, the stillness of our own hearts where the quiet breeze can pass through, carrying the whisper of His voice speaking tenderly to us (see Hosea 2:14).  The Lord makes a bold promise to us in this passage as He did to the wayward people of Israel: “…and you shall know the Lord” (Hosea 2:20). This does not just mean head knowledge, but heart knowledge. Knowing someone, in the Biblical sense, means you really know them; it means intimacy. In Mother Teresa we see an example of how the Lord brings us into this wilderness of heart, precisely to know Him more. Divine intimacy is about learning to remain with the Lord in our inmost selves... #BISblog // -->> CLICK TO TWEET {formbuilder:MTAxMDA1} Let Us Pray Jesus, I want to know You. I want to see You each day in those whom I serve and live with, in the big and small things, learning to remain with You in the secret place where You alone are Lord. Espouse me in love and mercy. Amen. For Discussion How can you place yourself in the Presence of the Lord throughout the day that He may “speak tenderly” to you, even in the midst of mundane tasks? Can you observe seasons in your life when you have forgotten the Lord? How did He restore you to intimacy with Him? Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 9 #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

In the early morning light, I ponder the beauty of a quiet house at rest: the sweet sounds of sleeping children stirring gently, the low hum of slow, deep breaths. I reach for the small Crucifix by our bedside. The edges of the wood are slightly worn from all the years it has been in our family. Before I rise I kiss the Crucifix. I ask for strength for the day. I ask for blessings. I ask for peace. It is a simple prayer, but with it, I am reminded of my place. God calls me His daughter. I am loved, known, and seen. I am not alone. I am not without my Beloved Jesus, not even for a moment. Every ache, every smile, every task is all His. All humbly offered at His feet, and I watch with joy as He makes it all holy. I am reminded that every drop of His Most Precious Blood was shed for love of me, and love of all those I love. I can rejoice on this day because I have encountered the Lord. I invite you to contemplate the hemorrhaging woman in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 8. Contemplate the encounter with Christ that healed her, saved her, and set her free. She had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years, cast aside and forgotten by the community, no longer seen or spoken to by those around her— surrounded by people but feeling deeply alone, as no one met her gaze anymore. Sorrow had overwhelmed her heart as hope began to fade, because doctor after doctor couldn’t heal her. Then she hears of Jesus, and she comes up behind Him, afraid of being seen, burdened by years of shame and loneliness. She reaches out and touches the hem of His garment, and she is immediately healed of her affliction. But Jesus gives us abundance and does not only heal our physical bodies— he heals our very souls. He asks who touched Him. When she realizes that she could no longer hide, that she cannot hide from the Lord, she comes trembling before Him. He meets her gaze. He looks at her and for the first time she feels seen. He calls her daughter. She belongs. She is loved. “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 8:48). Dear sister, I encourage you to seek an encounter with the Lord today. You are His daughter, and the flames of His Heart will consume your every sorrow and transform you. Reach out to Him and be healed. Let His gaze fall upon you and find rest. Be reminded of your place as the daughter of the King of the Universe. Seek an encounter with the Lord today. #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET {formbuilder:MTAxMDA1} Let Us Pray Jesus, You are the healer. I give You everything. For Discussion What is a simple way you can start the day with the Lord? Where do you desire healing?  Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 8 #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

There is a beautiful photograph of the Sisters of Carmel standing before a large wooden Crucifix, each of them holding a single candlestick burning brightly in the dark room. Their faces are obscured by their veils, and underneath the photo it says, “A certain freedom of soul is felt upon walking through the courtyard gate of the Carmelite monastery. Peace reigns here. When you pass through the doors of the monastery, you enter a world apart. The noise and values of the world have no place here.” Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity was called to this life of prayer and silence. Ablaze with the love of Christ, she entered a hidden place to intercede for the world. Her time was spent in silence and prayer. The tender voice of her Beloved spoke and she listened. In her spiritual writings she said, “O Word eternal, Word of my God, I want to spend my life in listening to You . . . May our life flow into His . . . There let us become silent that we may listen to Him who has so much to tell us . . . that we may hear everything that is being sung in His soul.” Jesus waits for us, dear sister. Every moment of our lives is an invitation to encounter His love for us. Even the seemingly mundane moments are an opportunity to unite our hearts with His Sacred Heart, which burns with passion for our souls, for our very being. We may not be called to the cloister where silence prevails, but the profound peace and union with the Lord found there is also offered to us. We can make a “little Bethany” in our own hearts. We can meet the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and allow Him to gently pull back the veil revealing every part of our souls. He knows you intimately, and in His tenderness He waits for your invitation. He longs for your trust in His love and His immeasurable mercy. Surrender your time to Him, and watch Him provide for your every need. Allow Him to sanctify every hour, every minute, every second of your day. In times of silence and in times of great noise, ask for the grace to quiet your soul and find peace in His holy Presence.  O Word eternal, Word of my God, I want to spend my life in listening to You... // Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET {formbuilder:MTAxMDA1} Let Us Pray Jesus, I surrender every hour to You. Sanctify my day and dwell in my heart.  For Discussion How can you make your heart “a little Bethany” for the Lord? What are some “noises and values” of the world that the Lord is asking you to let go of? Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 7 #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

Recently during Advent our family hosted what the kids named Blessed is She Advent kids’ club. We invited my son’s classmates to join us in doing the Blessed is She Advent kids’ journal on Sundays. We were already going to do it as a family, so what was another couple of kids? I had no idea what this would look like or what it would be like, as I had never attempted anything like this before. To be honest, I was extremely hesitant to follow through with this idea because I didn’t want to be judged for the way our house looked or the fact that it’s not an HGTV-looking home. As I worked through these insecurities and remembered the reason why we were doing this, though, the apprehension slowly went away.  A Gift to Kids and Parents All four Sundays during Advent the parents of my son’s classmates were extremely kind and warm. They took turns bringing snacks, good snacks, too (you know, the kind that adults get to enjoy as well).  My insecurities and hesitations were quickly filled with gratitude at the outpouring we received for hosting. Parents who I normally would not have had an opportunity to interact with or hadn’t met before went from being so and so’s parents to actually having names. The resistance I built in welcoming new faces into our household helped me see that although I may fare well in the hospitality department, I could still work towards welcoming those who I may not know as well as my inner circle.  A Lesson on Welcoming Strangers Through the Holy Family The wise men have always been a mystery to me. They heard Jesus had been born and wanted to pay him homage (see Matthew 2:2).  When I picture myself in this scene it plays out very differently than how Our Blessed Mother responded. If strangers (or even relatives) come to our house unannounced, you know I am running up the stairs with the baby and making my husband handle it! When I am holding a newborn and recovering from birth I’m not the type of person that welcomes anyone dropping by. Postpartum me and unexpected visitors just don’t bode well together. I don’t even like receiving an Amazon delivery because it means the doorbell will ring.  Our Blessed Mother, on the other hand, didn’t refrain from welcoming the wise men. She didn’t demand any explanation from them or shoo them away. There was no peep hole to look through and tell Joseph to handle it (unlike I would).  There isn’t much written about the dialogue between the wise men and the Holy Family but we can gauge how these strangers were welcomed:  …and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. // Matthew 2:11 Our Blessed Mother witnessed the reverence these unknown men had toward her son and she didn’t need further explaining. There were no further introductions needed.   Perhaps this is why Our Blessed Mother didn’t feel threatened by them. These perfect strangers through their presence potentially affirmed for Mary what she already knew about her son.  Her fiat was firm in all things and all circumstances—even in this scenario.  These strange men didn’t just pass by; they went further by offering gifts. They weren’t required to, but who wouldn’t travel this far without bringing gifts fit for a King?  They also didn’t share with Mary that they were warned to go a different way; they simply did it without causing alarm. What a gift another person’s foresight can be, even when we don’t know that person is looking out for us.   {formbuilder:OTk3ODc=}  Welcoming Strangers Like Kids Do  Over the course of the last couple of years my kids have shared stories of their best friends. Best friends who I had never met before and had only known by name. They shared stories of games they played when their school was continuing to be cautious against COVID, like shadow tag (instead of tagging someone on the shoulder, you tag someone’s shadow with your foot).  They never had to go into their best friend’s home to know, welcome, or meet them where they are.  Their innocence is a vessel of welcome because they haven’t been corrupted by the world. Their welcome for another person is real and unfiltered. They don’t size someone up before they can spend time with them. I see what a difference it makes in trying to live this way as an adult. When you have a heart for others you don’t know—like kids do—the walls come down sooner and you can receive the joy of getting to know someone else with sheer delight.  In today’s culture it has to be the right time or the right season to welcome someone into our home. We have to go to coffee dates, play dates, and even out to dinner before we allow people into our home. Every stranger who knocks on our door is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ, who identifies himself with the foreigner who has been accepted or rejected in every age (cf. Mt 25:35-43). // Pope Francis Your Home is a Place of Encounter Our home is the most vulnerable place where we can invite others and maybe that’s a bit scary sometimes, because we want to keep people at a surface level. We worry that we won’t be regarded as highly if we let people in. Maybe it’s too much of a risk some of us aren’t willing to make.  The wise men didn’t enter a physical structure but a place of encounter with Jesus Himself.  We are all looking for a welcoming place. We see that every Sunday when we congregate for after-Mass donuts or attend other social events at our local parish. None of us want to stay strangers, but sometimes we do have to take the first step in being inviting. It takes a lot of prayer, courage, and forgetfulness of self, but look at the magi and how they became the first to welcome the King of Kings.  Let’s be the first to welcome and host, because it is Jesus Whom we are ultimately inviting. Scripture Verses To Pray With When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? // Matthew 25:38  Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God. // Romans 15:7 Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. // Hebrews 13: 1-2 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. // 1 Peter 4:9 More on the Epiphany Just in case you need a refresher on today’s feast day, here are two worthy blog posts for you to read:  Witness of the Epiphany Celebrating the Epiphany On the Epiphany and Welcoming Strangers #BISblog // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

I watched my little boy run through the tall grass in our backyard. He laughed as he scooped up a fistful of dirt in his tiny hand, full of wonder, captivated and curious about everything around him, joyful and free … and blissfully unaware of the fear that crept into my heart. A fear that wrapped itself around my mind like tangled thorns, threatening to stifle the beauty of this moment. We were awaiting medical results for a lump we found on his leg. His doctor assured us that it was probably nothing, but anxiety is a cruel and demanding adversary. I was consumed with worry and ashamed at what I perceived as a lack of faith. My heart longed for peace, but I felt like I was drowning in my distress, sputtering and struggling for breath. I went to the adoration chapel and knelt quietly as tears ran down my cheeks. In this place, where God gazes at me with infinite love, I prayed the only prayer that came to mind: “Jesus, I trust You.” A deep cry from the depths of my heart. As I prayed, a woman walked in carrying a large image of Divine Mercy. At that moment, I knew the Lord was with me. His wounded hands revealed His heart, a heart that was poured out and emptied for me. I was being held within the rays of His Divine Mercy. Jesus knew my every worry. Jesus knew me entirely. He saw my pain and revealed to me His constant Presence. I am never without His tender embrace. I am never without His love. He is faithful. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you” (Jeremiah 31:3). This is a promise from our Savior. He is the lover of our souls. Every burden, every weary sigh, every tear, every cry from the depths of our hearts is seen and heard. We are fully known by Him. Love abounds. Jesus is the lover of our souls. Every burden, every weary sigh, every tear, every cry from the depths of our hearts is seen and heard. We are fully known by Him. #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET {formbuilder:MTAxMDA1} Let Us Pray Jesus, I trust in Your love. I trust in Your promises. You are faithful. For Discussion What are some hidden hurts that you can surrender to the Divine Mercy of Jesus? What does it mean to be loved with an “everlasting love?” Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 6 #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET

Snow covers the garden that surrounds the stone walls of Carmel. Within the walls, beyond the iron grille that separates the sisters from the outside world, Elizabeth is in agony. Her stomach twists with searing pain, and she is unable to eat or drink. Weakened by her disease, in deep spiritual and physical torment, Elizabeth places a pen to a thin sheet of paper and begins to write. These writings would include prayers of adoration for her beloved Spouse, and retreats to encourage all those she loved to seek Him. Amid her profound suffering, Elizabeth abided in love, and united all her anguish with Christ Crucified. Her heart was inflamed with love. And while only a few drops of water could touch her tongue, she was joyfully serene, fed by the immeasurable nourishment of Jesus— fully receptive to His holy will and immersed in the love that He lavished upon her. Her ear was listening to His voice. Her mouth proclaimed His goodness. Her heart united to His, her life became a living prayer. Everything was for Jesus. Elizabeth had a mystical experience of divine love. This was evident long before her entrance into Carmel, long before her final breaths led her closer to the One she called, “All Love.” There is a story of Elizabeth as a young girl at a dance party. It was said that her face radiated the love of God so immensely that the young men present remarked to one another, “She is not for us; look at her expression. Elizabeth sees God.” May our prayers echo Elizabeth’s when she wrote, “May my life be a continual prayer, a long act of love. May nothing distract me from You, neither noise nor diversions . . . I submit with all my heart for love of You.”  Amid her profound suffering, Elizabeth abided in love, and united all her anguish with Christ Crucified. #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET {formbuilder:MTAxMDA1} Let Us Pray Jesus, everything I have is Yours.  For Discussion How can you find peace in uniting your sufferings with His? What “noise” is distracting you from deeper intimacy with Jesus? Awaken Love: The 2023 Prayer Pledge // Day 5 #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET