Whenever my younger brother comes over to our house to visit us, one of the first things he does is grab our largest, fluffiest blankets so he can curl up on the couch and rest. He doesn’t always fall asleep, but I think something about cocooning himself in blankets brings him comfort. Comfort is something that my brother needs during this challenging season of his life. Over the last couple of years, he has been especially fragile. On top of the daily struggles being a young man with autism, he has been seeing a therapist to help with his post-traumatic stress disorder. Most of the time I see him or talk to him on the phone, he seems fine. He usually laughs and chatters about new games or films he likes. But sometimes what starts as a normal conversation can take a really sudden and unexpected turn that leaves me worrying when I hang up the phone. My family sometimes feels like we're walking on eggshells when conversing with him, so I can see how insulating himself in blankets can be the physical representation of wrapping his heart in bubble wrap. Offering Warmth Instead of a Cold Shoulder After one particularly upsetting phone call with my brother, I sent out a prayer request to my Catholic mom’s group. I asked for prayers for my brother and my parents who are his caretakers. One of the women in my group informed me that the church had a prayer shawl ministry. Volunteers from our sister church knit or crochet prayer shawls that are then blessed by the priests and donated to people who are in need of comfort. Knowing my brother’s love for blankets, I knew that her offer was an answer to my prayer. The prayer shawl she dropped off for my brother was beautifully made. The yarn was soft, but had a good weight. Among the rows of crocheted steel blue yarn hung a small Mary medal and a note that read, “Lovingly made for you by…” The woman who crocheted this prayer shawl probably had no idea how big an impact the work of her hands would have for my brother. He was touched that he was given a gift. But I think he was more touched that someone he didn’t know would take the time to make something for him, let alone a group of strangers would be praying for him. One Small Gesture My brother wears his prayer shawl regularly. I think it brings him a lot of comfort. I also gifted a prayer shawl to a close friend struggling with chronic illness and emotional trauma. She said it offered instant comfort the moment it rested on her shoulders. It offers the recipients physical and spiritual warmth. I imagine God wrapping His arms around my brother and my friend whenever they wear theirs. Extending Comfort to Others In what way can you offer warmth to someone who is struggling? Oftentimes, the people who need help the most don’t actively ask for assistance. Maybe they think they’re being a burden to others or maybe they find it hard to admit that their suffering is a personal cross. We can tell others, “You can call me if you need anything,” but sometimes we need to be the ones who reach out and offer that assistance without being prompted. What ministries does your church have for people who are suffering? Do you feel called to be a Stephen Minister, knit/crochet a prayer shawl, or make a dish for a funeral? Can you drop off a meal or start a meal train for a family in need? Do they need help doing things around the home like laundry, cleaning, or mowing the lawn? Do you have a friend with chronic illness or know someone who is lonely that would appreciate a weekly phone call? Is there someone you can pray with or invite to Adoration? Can you write their name in your church's prayer intention book or light a prayer candle for them? Do you know anyone who would benefit from an encouraging handwritten note? Can you drop off a bouquet of flowers on someone’s doorstop anonymously? [bctt tweet="Oftentimes, the people who need help the most don’t actively ask for assistance. #BISblog //"] Intentional Christian Service Take time in prayer to think about the people God has placed in your life and how you can offer them warmth. Maybe there’s a special kind of service you can immerse yourself in or a way you can offer small everyday services to the people you interact with on a day-to-day basis. Think of your family, co-workers, strangers, or your enemies. Perhaps you feel called to do a secret service that remains anonymous but is just as loving. We all have unique gifts and talents that we can use to help serve others. How is God calling you to be of service to others? [bctt tweet="Offering Warmth #BISblog //"] Amy Heyse is an artist and mother who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her graphic design husband. You can often find her trying to squeeze in time for personal art-making between motherhood and working as an art instructor at a local paint and sip studio. You can find out more about her here.

Fashion affects so many lives, from the farmers growing and picking the cotton for your favorite t-shirt, to the garment workers sewing your jeans. There are a lot of human lives that are touched, both positively and negatively, by the garment industry. By choosing to shop ethically, you can turn the tide to positively affect lives. When you get down to it, it’s an issue of human dignity. It’s an issue of solidarity. It’s an issue of stewardship of creation. Ethical fashion is truly an issue of social justice as a whole. In his encyclical Laudato Si, Pope Francis reminds us that: Purchasing is always a moral—and not simply an economic—act. Our choices matter to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Think of every purchase as a vote. Are you voting to keep the fast fashion industry alive and running? Or are you voting for positive change? For fair wages, safe working conditions, environmental sustainability? Making Ethical Shopping Possible There are, of course, times when it’s not realistic to invest in a quality garment that will last your forever. Maternity pieces, for example, are meant to be temporary. This is where consignment, thrift stores, and even rentals are great ethical options. These are also good options for postpartum months when you may be still rapidly changing sizes. Another great option is borrowing. Call your mom, your sister, or your best friend. I bet she has something that might fit the bill for the wedding or theme party you have coming up and she’d be happy to loan it to you. [bctt tweet="Purchasing is always a moral—and not simply an economic—act. -Pope Francis #BISblog //"] 3 Ethical Fashion Staples First of all, one of the best ways to revamp your wardrobe is to get rid of what you never wear. Whether it is a poor fit, a color you decided isn’t for you, or a piece that no longer fits your lifestyle, consign or donate the pieces you simply don’t wear anymore to your local St. Vincent de Paul and let your closet breathe! Once your closet is clear, you can see all the garments you love more easily. You might be inspired to create new outfits from what you already have. But, if you feel like you need some new classic pieces, these three items are staples that virtually every woman will wear. Before you go out and purchase any of these items, be sure to take stock of your closet and make sure you don’t already have a similar piece. Wearing what you already have is the most ethical choice you can make when it comes to clothing! Finding Philothea has a great checklist to go over before making any clothing purchases. It’s also important to take a look at your daily life, and be realistic. Do you work in an office? Maybe look for a dress with a more tailored fit and structured fabric. Are you pregnant or nursing a child? Maybe a stretchy organic cotton jersey dress that will stretch with your body and that you can pull down to nurse is the way to go. Breton Top – Seasalt Cornwall Breton Stripe Tee – Fair Indigo Black Dress – People Tree Black Lace Dress – Mata Traders Camel Cardigan – Lenvers Fashion Grey Crew Sweater – Fair Indigo 1. The Breton Top Ah, the classic Breton stripe top. It's suitable for everything from coffee dates to casual Fridays at the office. The Breton top in a durable fabric like organic cotton will serve you well for years to come. Pair it with your favorite jeans and ankle boots, or an A-line skirt and your favorite sweater. There are so many ways to wear and love this versatile piece. 2. The Black Dress The staple of all staples, every woman needs a versatile black dress in her wardrobe. The two options above from Mata Traders and People Tree are a great place to start looking if you’ve determined you have a wardrobe gap and are on the hunt for your perfect black dress. 3. The Perfect Sweater For cold fall nights out or simply to cozy up on the couch with a cup of tea, the perfect sweater will last you hundreds of wears for years to come. Be sure to take a look at what colors you already have in your closet to be sure your sweater can go with a variety of outfits. Do you have all neutrals? Perhaps a pop of your favorite color would be suitable choice for your perfect sweater. Do you already have multiple colors in your wardrobe? A classic neutral like ivory, camel, black, or grey will go with all of your current pieces. Keep it in Perspective Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? -Matthew 6:25 Let’s remember that our clothing is just that—clothing. If you have a piece in your wardrobe that doesn’t feel absolutely perfect, that’s okay! If an ethically-made piece comes along that you feel would be a good replacement, then go ahead and replace it. But try not to spend hours agonizing over the perfect capsule wardrobe. So do not worry and say, "What are we to eat?" or "What are we to drink?" or "What are we to wear?" All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. -Matthew 6:31-33 Have you revamped your wardrobe to be ethically-made? What are your favorite pieces? [bctt tweet="3 Ethical Closet Staples #BISblog //"] Carly Matthews is an Ave Maria University graduate who lives with her husband, son, and lab mix in Orlando, Florida. She works at Catholic Charities of Central Florida and enjoys weekends filled with visiting local parks, attempting to catch up on sleep, and sewing. You can find out more about her here.

As I was sitting in our church before Mass this past spring, I though of those who had generously prepared our sancutary for another day. My eyes rested on the beautiful white cloths that adorned the altar. They reminded me where we were: the Easter season. We were embarking on a seven-week season celebrating our salvation through Christ’s victory over death once and for all! I scanned the church, noticing all the touches of white that made our great celebration uniquely beautiful. They reminded me of our Easter Vigil, when we began in darkness and ended in light with trumpets and alleluias. I thanked God for loving a good party as much as we do. I was grateful for the visible reminders that it was still Easter, because although we were only two weeks in, my worries and desires that tether me to this world had already distracted me from God’s goodness that I tasted at the Vigil. The Liturgy Reminds Us As my eyes rested on the white adornments, an image of our liturgical calendar popped into my mind. The liturgical calendar is the colorful, circular calendar of 52 weeks that marks the seasons and days of our Church year. I noticed the purple seasons of preparation, white times of celebration, green of ordinary time, and other observances, including the red of Pentecost. The calendar’s colorful representation of the Church seasons reveal where we’ve been, where we are, and where we hope to go. Special days are devoted to Saints. Holy days invite us to worship in community. Celebrations like Pentecost help us stoke the fire of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. Every day, we are invited to turn to God in a new way. But this invitation isn’t limited to worship within the Church’s liturgical seasons. We each have an individual journey full of activity and unique needs for preparation, celebration and rest. Perhaps the gifts we receive from the Church seasons could also be received in the seasons of our individual lives, enriching our journeys. [bctt tweet="Every day, we are invited to turn to God in a new way. #BISblog //"] The Unending Rhythm of God's Love The most beautiful thing about our liturgical calendar is that each day points to the center. It is from there that God shines His love on the entire year. As its ordered days meet our human desire to live in a world defined by time and season, they unfold the history and mysteries of Christ’s life, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the eternal love of our God who transcends time yet is always near. Each year is different for us, not because God changes, but because we do. Yet, in each liturgical year, each day is present for us as it has been present in every age. And each day reveals the newness of Christ and an opportunity for growth and renewal. Preparation and Celebration I thought about the purple seasons, when we are called to prepare for our major Church celebrations. Four weeks of Advent are offered to prepare for Jesus’s birth at Christmas. Six weeks of Lent invite us to prepare to accept our Risen Lord at Easter. I thought about the pain from pruning when we sincerely turn to the Lord in these seasons. About the work it takes to deepen a life of prayer or to simply get one started. I need time to prepare for celebrations. Just as I clear my calendar to prepare for birthdays and other special events, God offers time to clear my heart to make space for Him. The mystery of our God Incarnate, fully human and fully divine, and His Death and Resurrection are incomprehensibly generous gifts to receive. When my heart is cluttered with distractions, wants and worries, I have little room for God’s gifts. My ability to sincerely seek His will over mine is limited. The party at the end is always worth our effort. The celebration will come, and God uses what little or much that we give to prepare us. Rest Praise God for His generosity with Ordinary Time! We would be exhausted without it. The season's name doesn't do it justice considering the extraordinary growth and rest we receive during its days. Its green color invokes images of grass fields on which to sit with God and listen anew to the stories of His life and teachings. Instead of taking our breath away as might a celebration (or a painful pruning), Ordinary Time allows us to catch it. And catch it we must. For the days of our liturgical year keep moving, encouraging us to be ready in each moment. The Liturgical Year as Invitation God always offers preparation, celebration, and rest for each day, event, and transitional season. He waits patiently for us in each season of our liturgical year. If we open our hearts to Him, He will make us ready. God invites me into His liturgical year. I long to invite Him into the daily life He’s given me. The most beautiful walk is one where our liturgical year and the gifts we receive from it are woven together with our individual daily lives. God loves life and relationships. He celebrates birthdays and anniversaries with us, just as we celebrate Christmas and Easter with Him. He celebrates our gifts and milestones, encouraging us to move forward with a freshly stoked fire, just as we move forward from Pentecost. Jesus cradles us on the days marked with sadness, loneliness, and longing. He urges us to move forward in our brokenness, just as He cradles us on Good Friday. As we mourn with Him and sit at the foot of His Cross, we know we will move forward in the glory of His Resurrection. [bctt tweet="God offers preparation, celebration, and rest for each day, event, and season. #BISblog //"] Prepare, Celebrate, Rest When we prepare, celebrate, and rest with God in our unique journeys as we do throughout our liturgical year, the highs and lows may be covered in His love. Christ’s life gives meaning to our days and guidance for our lives. He encourages us to move forward in hope and anticipation of eternal life with Him. How is God moving in your life during this liturgical season? [bctt tweet="Life in the Liturgy #BISblog //"] Nikki Frerker is a wife and mother of four who lives in Leawood, Kansas. She spends a portion of her time practicing law in the area of estate planning 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. You can find out more about her here.

Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, "Peace to you," grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. E nlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples of the earth becomes as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all. -Blessed John XXIII Reflect Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Unity + Peace #BISblog #BISrests //"] Curated by Sarah Stanley. You can find out more about her here.

Every year on Father’s Day I get a little sentimental. I can’t help it. You see, I am a daddy’s girl, through and through. I know what it is to feel a father’s unconditional love. My own daddy taught my siblings and me all about that. I know what it is, as a mother, to watch a man grow into a father. My husband has shown me that. And, most likely without even realizing it, these great men have witnessed to me just a glimmer of what our Father God’s love truly is. Not Just Going Fishing When I was about 9 years old, my daddy took me on my very own fishing trip. Just the two of us. Daddy got home from work on a Friday night and we loaded up the back of his 1984 Chevy Blazer with sleeping bags, fishing gear, lawn chairs, and the snacks and soda that I got to pick out special. We drove the couple hours down to Meramec Springs and “camped” in the back of that Blazer. My poor, 6’4” dad! Then, in the morning, he took me out to breakfast and I got to order whatever I wanted from the campground diner. After breakfast, we grabbed our poles and bait and hit the water. Daddy taught me how to bait my hook by myself and reminded me how to cast my line. I’m sure I chatted the poor man’s ear off about all manner of terribly important nine-year-old things. I’m also sure that I scared away the fish with my nonsense! But Daddy listened. He kidded me and let me talk the day away. And somehow, through some sort of fatherly magic, I managed to catch more fish than he did. Being Known and Loved By a Father Now, at the time, of course, I just thought it was really cool that I got to do something that my siblings didn’t. As the oldest, that was always fun! Looking back, though, I see that it was so much more. It was a chance that a very hard-working man had to relax and spend some one-on-one time with his daughter. To pass on to her an interest that he had that they could possibly share. This man worked tirelessly to provide for his family, pray with us, play with us, and discipline us. And he loved us more than we could understand. He knew how important it was to treat his daughter in a way that proved to her how special she was. And to this day, I love to see his cell number pop up unexpectedly on my phone. I love when I’m talking to my mom and I hear him yell from the other room, “Tell my Bebbie I said hi and I love her.” The gentle ways this giant of a man has showered his family with love have helped me believe in a good and loving God from my earliest days. Our Father Loves Us Sisters, I know that not all of us have witnessed this kind of love in our lives. And for that, I am deeply sorry. Because, you see, it’s precisely through experiencing this paternal love from my own dad (and now, as a mother, seeing the same in my husband) that I can know, feel, and believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that our God is a loving and good Father. He isn’t just some white-bearded old man in the sky who is waiting to judge us and watching us as we goof up while we grow. No! Jesus Himself told us that God is our Father. He guards us, guides us, and loves us through all of our successes and our failures. He loves us with a love beyond all telling and wants us to know that we are His. We find our true home in the Father. [bctt tweet="We find our true home in the Father. #BISblog //"] Pray for All Fathers So let us pray for all of our fathers this Father's Day. Let’s join our prayers together for the daddies, dads, pops, grandpas, uncles, godfathers, and yes, all of the priests and deacons in our lives. All of those men who have blessed our lives with love and those who have perhaps not given us what we needed. With one voice, let us ask our Heavenly Father to especially bless these men with everything they need to fulfill their vocation here on earth. With strength, dignity, and an abundance of love, may they lead our families home to Christ. What dads in your life are you celebrating this Father's Day? [bctt tweet="The Father's Love: Felt, Seen, and Believed #BISblog //"]

I grew up attending private Catholic schools, youth conferences, and retreats. I was exposed to the Gospel on a regular basis. As a child, and especially as a teenager, I had countless trusted adults remind me, my siblings, and my classmates to “be on guard” and to be careful with what we consumed. They recommended the right books, movies, friends, experiences, and so on. They rightfully wanted us to protect our souls. While I agree wholeheartedly with the objective of their endeavors, looking back as an adult, I’m not so sure I agree with their means. How to Navigate the Endless Streams of Entertainment As I moved through high school and into college, there seemed to be less and less media I could find that was 100% virtuous. Songs on the radio had iffy lyrics, TV shows had questionable content, and it wasn’t uncommon for movies to be more obvious and less discreet in regards to their problematic scenes. Thanks to the efforts of all the authority figures in my life, I understood the untruths that were being portrayed. Because of this, felt extremely guilty about watching or listening to anything with questionable content. At the same time, these bits of secular culture were highly enjoyable for reasons far beyond their bits of shady content. Seek the True, Good, and Beautiful I didn’t know how to rectify these situations. Was I doomed to only watch children’s movies and listen to sub-par Christian music for the rest of my days? I could see how much good was within these ambiguous bits of media themselves, but I often wondered if watching (or listening to) those immoral facets was the same as condoning them. And even if it wasn’t, were these immoral aspects going to change my own mindset? Would I become numb to seeing what was wrong with these actions? Would they cause me to descend down the slippery slope towards a mindset of relativism? My dilemma was actually somewhat agonizing. It wasn’t until developing a friendship with a priest that I was able to gain some clarity on the subject. Following Confession, he applauded my struggle, revealing that I was already absorbing the secular culture through the lens of Faith. I could see what was morally wrong and my well-formed conscience did not approve. Listen to Your Well-Formed Conscience As a Catholic, that was really all I was required to do in order to keep my mind from slipping into immorality. That is kind of the whole point of having a conscience: understanding right from wrong, so that when confronted with both, we can still choose to absorb what is good while rejecting what would cause harm. We don’t have to run and hide from things that are unvirtuous. Thanks to God’s grace, we can face them. We are equipped to look evil in its face and tell him we know he’s lying. This doesn’t mean we should seek out things that are blatantly wrong. It means we can sort through the content presented to us, separating the good from the bad. We can allow ourselves to only accept and absorb the good as truth. Let Imperfections Train You in Virtue Thanks to my priest friend, I’ve learned that being “in the world” but not “of the world” does not mean that we cannot interact with anyone or anything that is not 100% moral. If that was the case, most of us wouldn’t even be able to talk to ourselves! What’s most important is that we view people and situations, whether in real life or in books or on the big screen, through the lense of Christ, the Truth (John 14:6). This is why my priest-friend gave me one last bit of advice before I left the confessional that day: See the goodness and humanity within this show and focus on it. Try to understand the characters from a personal standpoint. Look for ways to love them despite their faults. This guidance served me well. I started to enjoy that show even more than I had before my Confession. It actually helped me learn how to be a better Christian. I learned how to be more accepting and loving towards these TV characters, and therefore, I was able to better acceptant love people in real life with whom I disagree. I know longer focus on their faults, but see them as a whole person. One who is struggling but good at the core, just like me. Guidelines for Consuming Media Through the Lens of Faith Now, I cannot close this post without including some “secret weapons” for insuring the exposure to immorality has no power over me. 1. Do not seek out the immorality. There are certain things available for our consumption that will always be wrong to watch. Porn is an extreme but good example of this. If you are drawn to a song or movie simply because of what’s immoral, be honest with yourself and cut it out of your life. 2. Regularly examine the effects this media has on your life. Is this particular media leading you to love others more or less? If the answer is “less” figure out why and address the situation. If you continue to slip into sin because of the media, consider cutting it out of your life. For example, once, after beginning a new show on Netflix, I noticed the reoccurrence of some impure scenes within my dreams as I slept. Though I wasn’t consciously choosing to rewatch those scenes, they obviously had some sort of hold on my imagination. This became obvious when the scenes started popping into my head during the day. Even though none of those things were intentional on my part, I immediately stopped watching the show before it’s effects could go any farther. 3. Continue to form your conscience. It’s never fully finished forming. You have to “keep it in shape” just as you would your body. The process is continual. Seek guidance and direction from trusted religious figure-heads whether in person, online, in books, or in prayer. 4. Listen to your conscience. A song may be relatively mild but still bothers your conscience when it comes on the radio. Listen to your conscience and turn it off. It’s actually a sin to act against your conscience. If you’re concerned that you may be acting out of scrupulosity, talk to someone who understands the struggle. You can also bring it up when you... 5. Go to Confession on a regular basis. This helps you strengthen weapons #1-4. If media is causing you to sin in minor ways, the graces of the Sacrament may help you to stand firm when faced with that temptation. It will also help you to iron out any situations in which you may have misconstrued your conscience. Mostly it’s important because encountering the Truth of Christ will help you to better recognize and thus defeat lies planted within your heart and mind by the evil one. Being Brave and Smart Sadly, sin will exist until the end of time. However, thanks to Christ, sin is no longer something to fear. I don’t mean that we should be foolish enough to believe we can conquer and avoid these sins without the help of grace. Instead, I think we should seek grace constantly so that we can live courageously, unafraid of the secular world. Do you have personal guidelines for what you watch, read, or listen to? Care to share them in the comments? [bctt tweet="How to View Media Through the Lens of Faith #BISblog //"]

Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony, please come around. Something is lost and cannot be found! I grew up praying this small prayer whenever I misplaced my keys, a notebook, you name it. I didn’t know much about this much-beloved saint, and I especially didn’t know that one day I would study for six months in the city that claims him. Who is St. Anthony of Padua? June 13th is the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua (1195 – June 13, 1231), who was born just 13 years after St. Francis in Lisbon, Portugal. Baptized Fernando, he entered the order of St. Augustine at age 15. He studied in Coimbra, later combining much of his study of Augustinian theology with Franciscan. In fact, when he witnessed five Franciscan martyrs’ bodies being returned from service in Morocco, he asked for permission to join the Franciscans, and did so, taking the name Anthony. Anthony was sent to Morocco, but became ill shorty after and then, through a series of events, ended up somewhere near the coast of Sicily on his journey attempting to return home. It was through this accident that Anthony’s true gift was revealed. The strangers who took him in near Montepaolo asked him to give a short sermon. His hopeful life of quiet prayer was changed and he suddenly became a public preacher (sometimes with crowds of 30,000 people). God Changed Anthony's Plans Traveling throughout northern Italy and France, making an estimated 400 trips, he chose to enter the cities where the most heretics were present. His focus on love and the great beauty of God, as well as reconciliation with a loving Father, contrasted with those who preached only about proving others wrong or condemning specific actions. Franciscan Media notes: Over and over again, God called [Anthony] to something new in his plan. St. Anthony responded humbly and obediently, using his gift for preaching to illuminate God’s Word for others, especially the poor, and bring them close to Jesus in the Good News. Often depicted holding the infant Jesus, a lily, or a book (or all three) in his arms, this Saint lived a life of courage despite its many ups and downs. These symbols indicate his gift of oration and love of the Son of God. He is patron saint of lost items, travelers, and the poor. The Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy In fact, St. Anthony’s gift for speaking is so well known that the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy (about a 20-minute train ride from Venice in Northern Italy), holds a chapel of his relics, including his tongue, jawbone, and habit. While I studied in Padua as a junior in college, I visited and worshipped at the Basilica often. It’s a beautiful building inside and outside, an astounding work of architecture for a wonderful Saint. I would go there after class sometimes and sit in the pew to watch all the tourists and faithful visitors solemnly touching the tomb of St. Anthony. His tomb is adorned with pictures of loved ones, of lost ones, of silver lockets for hopeful love, and messages of prayer scrawled onto paper. The side is worn down from fingers rubbing it, getting as close to this saint as possible. St. Anthony Finds My own aunt has a “St. Anthony story” of an answered prayer. She was on a trip to Italy with a friend and learned that people pray to St. Anthony for “matters of the heart.” She decided to pray for a special request to meet someone, and just a few weeks later when she returned home to the States, she met her now husband. Six years later, she had an opportunity to go back to Italy with my uncle and placed a silver heart necklace on the statue of St. Anthony in the church where she first visited in thanksgiving for hearing her prayer. According to my friend Laura, who has lived in Padua her entire life, this is a popular prayer. In fact, the Pope commented on this particular intention from the "Padovani" as well. This Saint has clearly won many hearts for his humility, his insight into Scripture, and his devotion to the poor. Celebrating St. Anthony Celebrate him on his feast day by reading from your Journaling Bible, volunteering for the poor in your neighborhood, or having some cannoli (or all of the above). Let us pray: Almighty God, you have given St. Anthony to your people as an outstanding preacher and a ready helper in time of need. With his assistance may we follow the Gospel of Christ and know the help of your grace in every difficulty. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do you have any stories about St. Anthony in your life? Has he ever helps you find something you lost? [bctt tweet="Lost and Found with St. Anthony #BISblog //"] Mary Grace Mangano is a high school English teacher in Harlem, New York, having also taught middle school Language Arts and Religion in Chicago. She has written for Verily, Darling magazine, The Catholic Woman, and other publications. She is passionate about education and social justice, loves writing poetry, running, reading, hiking, and learning new things. You can find out more about her here.

It was 2 a.m. and I couldn’t sleep. Granted, my team and I had just won a national championship a few hours ago, but I knew that that wasn’t the reason for my restlessness.
 I was upset at myself for losing my individual match and feeling like I didn’t contribute to our victory enough. Obviously, I was ecstatic that our team had just won the title we had been working toward for three years. But there was a feeling inside me that wasn’t satisfied because I felt like I didn't do my part.
 I should’ve done better. Is it Enough to Be a National Champion? I didn’t want to feel that way, but I did. I kept reminding myself to enjoy the journey and cherish every moment. But the fierce competitor in me wouldn’t stop telling me that it wasn’t enough. My effort wasn’t enough.
 I wasn’t enough. This is just one example in my life where the competitor in me hurt me and spoke contrary to what Jesus wanted to tell me. Maybe you can relate. As a top Division 1 athlete aspiring to play professionally after college, I am extremely hard on myself. Sometimes to my detriment. My biggest challenge is to avoid overthinking things and overworking. Maybe you aren’t a D1 athlete. If you can’t relate with athletics, maybe there is another aspect of your life that you are constantly pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion. I know a lot of people are like that with school. Some people are like that with work. Or relationships. Whatever it is, you find yourself constantly evaluating your performance. And it’s never good enough because you want to do better. The Space Between Striving and Contentment Many of us struggle to be happy with our performance or thankful for what we have. Call it overachieving, perfectionism, or the pursuit of greatness, but I believe that we feel like that when we judge our performances by the world’s standards. The world tells us that we need to do everything perfectly for people to think highly of us and feel satisfied with ourselves. As athletes, we are constantly taught to never be satisfied, but to keep reaching and striving for our dreams. When we get there, we need to set new goals. And that’s healthy. That’s how we improve and get better. But we can’t let our results define us as a person or we will feel like we are only worth the merits of our performance. I think all the athletes, overachievers, and people who are hard on themselves should remember this simple message:
 No matter what we do, we will never be enough for the world. But we are enough for Jesus, right now as we are. He, in His unending mercy, loves us whether we succeed or not.
That should comfort us and make us realize that it really doesn’t matter how we do at all. [bctt tweet="No matter what we do, we won't be enough for the world. But we are enough for Jesus. #BISblog //"] Ultimately Playing for An Audience of One While that message is nothing new to me (and it probably isn’t to you, either), my human nature still reverts back to harmful ways of judging my performances by worldly standards. The competitive nature in me wants to compare myself to others and to always do better than the person next to me. A year before our win, I vowed I would never worry about what other people thought about me or my performances. I told myself I wouldn’t compare myself to others, because it really didn’t matter. And I was doing so well with it. But there I was, after becoming a national champion, upset that I didn’t do a better job. What more could I want?! One of my favorite quotes is from St. Gianna Molla: The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day. A Little Perspective Everything we are given is a gift from God. Our human nature will tell us to want more in every situation. But when that temptation arises, it is our duty as Christians to stop and be thankful for where we are right now. We are so so blessed, but we forget to look around and see our blessings. We are too focused on trying to get, to be, more. Jesus loves you and me right here and now. That alone is more than anything else we could desire. I could lose everything in my life that I love, but I would have nothing to fear because I have Christ. My happiness and joy are in that. So from one stubborn overachiever to the next, take time to be thankful today and remember that you are enough. You are enough for Him, so be enough for yourself. Do you struggle with perfectionism? Do you find it difficult to accept the unconditionally love of Christ in your life? [bctt tweet="National Champion #BISblog //"] Josie Kuhlman is a recent college graduate from the University of Florida where she competed on the women’s tennis team for four years. She currently traveling the world and pursuing my dream of playing professional tennis. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family in Florida, reading, taking pictures and writing for her blog. Her hope is that her story can inspire others to passionately pursue the true joy found in Christ in their own lives. You can find out more about her here.

“The path to hell is paved with good intentions.” I remember a family member casually using this maxim one day. I, a teenager at the time, was jarringly repelled by the thought. The phrase made me think of a world-trap designed by an evil genius, a life with rules vulnerable to manipulation. After doing your best to play and strategize by the rules, you might still be thrown under the bus by an ill-tempered, overarching divinity in the end. I imagined myself, completely spent after a life of trying to do the right things and love the good, perplexedly staring at the gates of hell. God Doesn't Play Mind Games “God doesn’t play mind games with you.” A priest in Belize spoke these words to me. They were words I anxiously wanted to hear and trust. Something in the jungle of my heart was twisting my mind. I was afraid of consciously desiring, of passionately wanting. I felt as if simply desiring an object or goal was insufficient and yet dangerously potent a force for self-deception. Would it actually make whatever I desired less attainable? If I could have good desires, good intentions, and my life could still wind up a mess, why spend time expressing those interior desires? Maybe it was best to ignore them so as not to be swept away. It was as if, even though the maxim about good intentions leading to hell had repulsed me, I was living under its influence. It's Easy to Choose Good Intentions Over God's Intentions My dilemma wasn’t completely irrational. There is some evidence that we are less likely to achieve goals when we speak about them with others. When we discuss and share about a goal we want to achieve, we send a shot of dopamine to a pleasure center of our brain, which makes us feel almost as if we have already achieved that goal. The satisfaction we can get, just from speaking of what we desire to achieve, subtracts from our drive to actually reach our goal. Subconsciously aware of this, I knew that if I really wanted something, there was reason to guard it carefully and talk to almost no one about it. No distractions. Good Intentions While Working for God Moreover, I had experienced well-intentioned business meetings and support groups where inspirational talk or friendly social banter boomeranged about the walls but, after the lights had been shut off and individuals parted ways, no authentic positive change occurred. Good intentions seemed so often to idle away time and even veer people away from what needed to happen. “’All good feelin’, sir—the wery best intentions, as the gen’lm’n said ven he run away from his wife, ‘cos she seemed unhappy with him,’” as a character in Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers put it. I had even encountered a number of situations where good intentions were abundant. But the non-profit, ministry, or educational institution failed because of a lack of practical knowledge or technical skills. Their missions stated their deception to bring Christ to the world. But these individuals and institutions wound up manipulating others, leaving bitterness and disillusionment in their wakes. I still hesitated to think that these do-gooders would wind up in hell. But I saw clear instances of good intentions rationalizing or simply ignoring decisions that caused grave harm. Often, what had been needed was a little less well-intentioned conversation, a little more truth-filled action. Evidently, desiring and wanting and meaning good things wasn’t enough, and execution did matter. A whole lot. Ways We Choose Our Own Intentions First G. K. Chesterton wrote, “Only Calvinists can really believe that hell is paved with good intentions. That is exactly the one thing it cannot be paved with.” This is, he said, because things were created by God as good, though they can be twisted by the devil. He makes a fair point. And yet, while they may not literally pave the way to hell, good intentions devoid of the proper object can certainly distract from the work God desires most for us. This happens when we become so absorbed by work or a volunteer position at our job, parish, or school that we begin to neglect the needs of our family. This happens when we become so committed to getting to daily Mass on time that we neglect the homeless person in our path along the way. While our best-intentioned efforts to glorify God can fall short of the Christian life He calls us to, I firmly believe that what the priest told me that day in Belize is true and serves as a necessary counterpoint to the failure of human intentions. God doesn’t play mind games with us. His intentions for us are good, and they are enough. Discovering God's Intentions God’s intentions are never manipulative and do not lead us to hell. On the contrary, they pave the road to Heaven. In the quiet of our heart, He speaks His intentions for us. His plan for us reverberates in our deepest desires, purest longings, and strongest inner tugs. As St. Augustine of Hippo, a desiring soul if ever there was one, said: You do not see yet what you long for, but the very act of desiring prepares you, so that when He comes you may see and be utterly satisfied. God speaks into and through our desires. The more we strive to align our will to His, the more we can trust our desires. We can be confident that we will not look up one day, bewildered, unexpectedly standing at hell’s gates. We can never be perfectly certain if we are living God's intentions for us. But, developing a habit of gentle questioning can refine our desires. Why do I want to call that friend, take that volunteer position, or hire that particular person? Is my motivation for sending this text message actually about reaching out to the other, or is it about seeking affirmation? The Holy Spirit's Guidance Asking the Holy Spirit to breathe His desire into ours is at the core of discernment in daily life. The words are comforting and bear repeating: God does not play mind games with us. His intention is not to manipulate or trick. He wants to guide each person according to the needs of his heart, to draw each heart to fulfillment in His love. The road to heaven is paved with God’s intentions: How can I better listen to Him speaking His desires into my life? [bctt tweet="Good Intentions Vs. God's Intentions #BISblog //"] Savanna J. Buckner is an M.B.A. student at the Saint John Institute in Denver, Colorado. Previously, she spent two years as a missionary teacher at a junior college in Belize, followed by a year of teaching preschool and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in northern Virginia. She loves film, philosophy, and art, and especially enjoys reading Evelyn Waugh, Czeslaw Milosz, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Every year, I look forward to the longer and slower days of summer. And every year, it seems that those summer days fill up more quickly than I anticipate. There are parties, barbecues, sports activities, weddings, pool days, camping trips, and countless other items on our summer bucket lists. Most of us are happily busy with fun stuff in the summer. However, it can feel like we do a lot of getting together, but not so much gathering. The first is fleeting as we run off to the next event. The latter is intentional, fun, and lasts long after we depart. [bctt tweet="It seems that we do a lot of getting together, but not so much gathering. #BISblog //"] The Need for Rest and Community Sometimes, in the middle of all the fun we're having in the summer, we need space to breathe, relax, and connect with other women. We need an excuse to pause the car pool to the pool, the home improvement projects, and the road trip planning in order to refuel. In the midst of our gardening, the Gardener desires to tend to our souls. The antidote to summer burnout is summer sisterhood. Gathering with women who are, like you, seeking the Lord's Heart while in the trenches of daily life provides us support, encouragement, and resources. And that's what Blessed is She strives to help you experience. photo via Kelly Velasquez from this year’s BIS Summer Gathering The BIS Summer Gatherings If you've ever heard of or attended a Blessed is She Advent Gatherings, then you know how deeply beneficial an event like this can be to your spiritual and communal life. Now, we're bringing that same opportunity for prayer and pow-wow to the summertime! What is a Summer Gathering? The Summer Gathering is a FREE online series from Blessed is She. It's a chance to gather with other women of Faith for a day of prayer and fellowship. You can gather with one other woman or 50 other women. You can meet at someone's home, at a parish hall, or in a conference room. Many women like to gather with their small groups and extend an invitation for people to bring a friend. Others like to invite women who are new to their parish, or their co-worker, or their mom. There are no limits as to who or how many attend or where you meet. The hope is simply that you gather together. In addition to those you're with in person, you'll be virtually attending with hundreds of other women from around the world! How awesome is the universality of our Faith?! Give Me the Details. This summer, the focus of the Summer Gatherings is cultivating the Fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives. There are three days when the free Summer Gatherings will be streamed live online: June 19th July 24th August 21st Each session will air at 7:30 PM Eastern. But the good news is that, if none of those days or times work for you and your friends, you can watch the replay at any time. Each session will include one talk, time for quiet journaling or prayer, and small group questions to help facilitate discussion and connection. [bctt tweet="The BIS Summer Gathering is the summer break you really need. #BISblog //"] photo via Kelly Velasquez I Want to Host a BIS Summer Gathering! What Do I Do? Hooray! All it takes for a fruitful gathering like this to take place is someone willing to get the ball rolling. Here's your plan of action: First register here. We'll send you a hostess packet with all the information you need for the details of the Gathering. Needed links, discussion questions, and flyers for invitations are all included and sent right to you. No stress. Invite people! Again, you can gather with one person or 500. Brainstorm a list of people you think would like an event like this and start reaching out. It doesn't have to be formal. Decide on a location. This, of course, will depend on how many people you have in mind. If you need to reserve a conference room or parish hall, make those calls before setting a final date. If you're hosting in your house, you're all ready! Gather supplies. All you really need is a smile, internet access, and a TV (although a computer works just fine for smaller groups!). On the day of the Summer Gathering, you are not required to provide refreshments, but it's always a bonus! It doesn't have to be anything fancy if you don't want it to be. Water, lemonade, or tea with chips and dip can soothe a woman's weary soul. Desserts will never be turned down. Some Gatherings are treated like potlucks and everyone can bring a dish to contribute. Remember, this is meant to be enjoyable, so approach food, drink, and decorations according to your preference and current bandwidth. photo via Kelly Velasquez Ready to Gather this Summer?! That's it! That's all you need to enjoy a Summer Gathering. Take the time this summer to feed your soul and feed your friendships. You won't regret spending a day in fellowship and prayer. Remember, if you can't watch it live, the replay will always be available to watch! Let this be the reset and real summer break you need. Are you hosting or attending a Summer Gathering?! We can't wait to see you there! [bctt tweet="How to Host a Blessed is She Summer Gathering #BISblog //" username="@blessedisshe__"] [bctt tweet="How to Host a Blessed is She Summer Gathering #BISblog //"] Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky, where sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She works from home as an editor and social media manager while raising her children and laughing with her husband. Although she now spends most of her free time away from the internet, past adventures are still on her blog. You can find out more about her here.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart form that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me. -Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude Reflect All God wants for you is love. If you are bound by this love, you will do everything you can do to be of service wherever you are. St. Catherine of Siena Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Desire + Love #BISblog #BISrests //"] This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

When I say I’m in love, it will be holy. When I say I’m in love, it will be a sacred phrase. When I say I’m in love, I mean I am in Love. And when I say I’m in Love, it’ll be beautiful. It will be he and I sitting in the Father’s Heart, infinitely blessed by a God so powerful yet so gentle. I’ve been thinking a lot about being in Love, to know that this is right where I’m meant to be, to know that we are right where we’re meant to be, that our beautiful Lord and Savior cradles us in His hands, in His heart, in Himself. That kind of place, to be there, to be in Love must be beyond glorious, immeasurably so. So when I say I’m in Love, it won’t come easily. It will be the fruit of countless choices to give of myself, to will the good of another so deeply that I no longer rest in the same place. It will be the fruit of the gentle Spirit of God creating space for us to dwell with Him. And when I say I’m in Love, it’ll be beautiful. It might not be today, or tomorrow, next week, or even next year When I say I’m in Love, it could be just He and I Or it could be he and I. I love Him and I want to be in Love with Him. I’m growing and I’m getting there. He’s so in Love with me, waiting for me to trust, to give, to fall into His Hands, His Arms, His Heart. When I say He’s in Love, I mean He is Love and He wants me to drown in the ocean that is Him, to stop trying to tread and allow myself to sink to the bottom, allow myself to recognize that I can breathe underwater. When I say He is Love, it’s a little overwhelming to know that the ocean is waiting to overtake you if only you would step out on the water, to realize that drowning is the only way to be truly alive. When I say I love Him, I mean I know that the ocean is true and good and beautiful but I also know that I’m still trying to tread. But back to being in Love. When I say I’m in Love, I mean that Love will be in me and I in Him and maybe he and I together and maybe we’ll both be breathing underwater. When I say I’m in Love, it will be holy. And when I say I’m in Love, it will be beautiful. [bctt tweet="When I Say I'm in Love: A Poem #BISblog //"] Kim Krings is a recent graduate from Benedictine College with degrees in Theology and Psychology. She currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska. She is passionate about mission/service, redemptive suffering, and seeking beauty. When not at a coffeeshop or thrift store, you can probably find Kim on Pinterest looking up ways to live a more eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle. You can find out more about her here.

Two weeks before I got married, I went on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, Italy with my mother, my dear friend, and the priest who was going to marry my husband and me. During one of our visits inside a church in Rome, my mother pointed out a side chapel to me. It contained a strikingly beautiful image of Jesus. He was holding out His most Sacred Heart in His right Hand. If you stood in front of the image, it looked like He was looking right at you. His expression was profoundly serious. Yet even more so, it was filled with love. The Vulnerability of the Heart of Christ What struck me the most about the entire image was how Jesus held out His Sacred Heart in His Hand. His Heart looked so exposed and so vulnerable. I wanted to protect it, to love it, to tell Him to keep it safe. I knelt in front of the image of Jesus and thanked Him for offering His Heart to me. As soon as I knelt and prayed, I realized that what I wanted Jesus to do–to keep His Heart safe instead of holding it out for the world–was not what we, as Catholics, are called to do. Jesus was teaching me a lesson, and the timing of that lesson, just two weeks before I got married, was perfect. I am called to hold out my heart, just as Christ does, to my husband, Mike. I'm called to hold out my heart, exposed and vulnerable, to my son Peter. I am called to hold out my heart, in pain and in joy, to my neighbor in need. Jesus was teaching me to hold out my heart to others just like He does. I must take the risk of it being broken and hurt, yet also take the risk of it being deeply and profoundly loved. The Sacred Heart Heals Our Hearts A woman’s heart is a beautiful masterpiece. Sisters, God formed and fashioned our hearts to know, love, and serve Him. Jesus wants our hearts to flourish. He wants our hearts to be pure and free! He wants to tend to the gardens of our hearts. Let Him be the gardener of your heart. Christ, the gardener of our hearts, always brings healing. He brings strength. Sometimes, holding out our heart to others causes our heart pain. Our hearts may be pierced, mocked, manipulated, broken, scourged, trampled, and forgotten. When we experience this, we must ask Jesus to heal our hearts. [bctt tweet="A woman’s heart is a beautiful masterpiece. #BISblog //"] The God-Man Heals Our Wounds from Men As I continued to kneel and pray in front of the image of Christ and His Sacred Heart, my mind was filled with the times I was hurt by men. In the past I held out my heart to men. In return, I felt pain and was left broken-hearted. So I asked Christ to heal my heart and to strengthen it. I asked Him to forgive me for hurting other hearts. I begged Him to prepare my heart for my husband. And I felt Christ’s love and forgiveness. He became the Divine Physician of my heart. He not only mended it, but He strengthened it, too. I left the image joyful, knowing that Christ loves me completely. If your beautiful heart that you hold out so lovingly and vulnerably, has been hurt by a man, or is being hurt, run to the Sacred Heart. Fall in love with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let His Heart romance your heart. His Heart is safe. He will not hurt you. He wants to love you. When we fall deeply in love with Jesus’ Sacred Heart, our own heart is strengthened to such a degree that nothing can separate us from His love: ...neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39 [bctt tweet="If your heart has been hurt by a man, run to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. #BISblog //"] Coming to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Healing Here are three simple prayers to pray to the Sacred Heart. These prayers are powerful in asking Jesus’ Sacred Heart to heal our own hearts. Jesus, I trust in You. O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, within Your Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to You with trust saying, Heart of Jesus, help me. (source) Holy Heart of Jesus, Sweet Sanctuary of rest, bring peace to my soul and settle my spirit. I vow to place all of my worries and fears into the wound of your Sacred Heart, there to be tended to in accordance with your perfect will, which desires only the best and highest good. Your love alone is enough, and I surrender to it; clinging to the hope of a swift resolution and trusting with confidence in all of your promises. (source) [bctt tweet="Heart of Jesus, Sweet Sanctuary of rest, bring peace to my soul and settle my spirit. #BISblog //"] [bctt tweet="Finding Healing in the Sacred Heart of Jesus #BISblog //"]

Summer is here! That means vacations, cookouts, sleeping in (maybe?), and all kinds of adventures. I love using summer to really make a dent in my booklist. Beach Reads that Won't Kill Your Soul So whether you’ve got the warm sand between your toes, or a hammock attached to your cabin in the mountains, or even just your favorite reading spot on the couch, here is a list of books to check out that won’t leave you feeling like you need to go to Confession! Make It Happen by Lara Casey Some of you may have seen your favorite bloggers or Instagram handles mention the Power Sheets by Cultivate What Matters. Well, that company was founded by a woman named Lara Casey. She wrote a phenomenal book on living your life with intention while keeping Christ at the center of your goals. Lara discusses how exhausting the chase for “perfection” can be, especially in a society that is constantly provoking us to compare ourselves to those around us. This book is centered on not living our lives by accident, but on purpose. You'll be inspired to approach all that you do with and through Christ. The Mother of the Little Flower by Celine Martin This book is short but sweet. If you’ve ever wanted a closer look inside the Martin family or wondered what St. Therese the Little Flower was like as a child, this book is for you! Celine Martin walks us through the life of her mother with stories and excerpts from letters. You will find yourself falling in love with Zelie Martin and her take on motherhood and holiness. Zelie was bringing up her girls to be saints (success!) with both tough love and sweet affection. If you’re looking to expand your knowledge of the saints or a quick read, I highly recommend this book! A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro Where are my Sherlock Holmes fans? The book A Study in Charlotte is a modern take on the classic Sherlock mysteries we love so much. Charlotte Holmes (a Sherlock descendant) and Jamie Watson (a Dr. Watson descendant) find themselves attending the same prep school in Connecticut. If you enjoy the BBC Sherlock series and Elementary on CBS, then you’ll certainly find this book delightfully entertaining. It’s a light read, with a few suggestive events (but nothing to make you blush). This book is the first in a trilogy. So if you find yourself wanting more after the last page, you’re in luck, dear Watson. Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait by Fr. Leo Maasburg If you’ve been looking to learn more about Mama T but have no idea where to start, look no further. This book was written by Fr. Leo Maasburg, her close travel companion for many years. The book takes you from the streets of Calcutta to the Kremlin in Moscow. Mother’s humor will have you laughing to yourself and her pure faith will have you wiping away tears. Reading this book feels as if it was you walking alongside her as she served the poorest of the poor, both materially and spiritually. Strangers and Sojourners by Michael O’Brien In case you’re looking for something a little heavier to read this summer, I highly suggest this book by Michael O’Brien. Set in the early 1900’s of British Columbia, this novel weaves the story of a growing family, their children, the people around them into a beautiful tapestry. This book is filled with the richness of our Catholic Faith and poetry that will touch your soul. The characters in this book speak to humanity in a way that only few authors have ever done before (read: O’Connor, Tolkien, and Lewis). You will find yourself deeply attached to each person in this novel, cheering as they cheer, and mourning as they mourn. Once again, if you find yourself wanting for more, this book is the first in a thrilling trilogy (that really speaks to our current times, I might add), so you need not weep (at least for too long) at the end. A Simplified Life by Emily Ley If you are feeling overwhelmed and swallowed by schedules, events, meals, jobs, and clutter, this book is exactly what the doctor ordered. Emily Ley breaks down ten categories in our lives (finances, meals, and space, just to name a few) and goes over how to simplify and organize each particular area in your life. She does a wonderful job of breaking down each section into manageable bites. Emily is realistic and reasonable and knows that change comes with time and patience. One of my favorite aspects is that she tells you not to buy anything. You don’t need fancy containers from the container store. You already have everything you need, especially after you purge your belongings. With quick action items and journaling pages included, you will be ready to put her words into action as soon as you put down the book. I hope you all have a wonderful summer of page turning, drink sipping, and nap taking! What's on your booklist this summer?! [bctt tweet="Beach Reads that Won't Kill Your Soul #BISblog //"] Susana Starbuck is wife of a youth minister and mother to four littles five and under. She lives in Phoenix, AZ and enjoys reading a good book, posting her highlight reel on Instagram, and drinking wine. You can connect with her here. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking through one of these links, Blessed is She will receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this ministry by using our affiliate links!

The Resurrection is so much more than a mere Biblical or historical event to be celebrated once a year by believing Christians. It is an event that ought to be lived and celebrated every moment of our earthly existence, because we are truly an Easter people. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the resurrection of Christ as: “The bodily rising of Jesus from the dead on the third day after his death on the cross and burial in the tomb” (CCC glossary). There is probably not one single Christian who does not profess this in the creed and uphold to its certainty. But how many of us realize its implication in our lives? The Catechism goes on to include in its definition one more reality: “The resurrection of Christ is the crowing truth of our faith in Christ.” What does this mean – “the crowning truth of our faith”? It ought to mean everything. It ought to be the game-changer for every professing Christian. Because of the Resurrection, we know that death is not the end. Like Christ, we too are immortal souls living in a mortal body. Jesus' Resurrection... Once upon a time Jesus lived on earth. He is truly God and truly man. He suffered during His Passion, died once, rose from the dead once, and ascended to Heaven once. These events are never to be repeated, and with His Death the gates of Heaven were open wide for all repentant sinners. Man is made in the image and likeness of God. This means that we, too, live once and die once. We live one temporal life and spend an eternity somewhere else–Heaven or hell. At the moment of our death, we see the risen Jesus face to face, and we receive Particular Judgement. Either our souls go immediately to heaven, some temporarily to purgatory; and some to eternal damnation (see CCC 988-1014). Three glaringly important truths are revealed by the Resurrection: Our eternity is based on how we love here on earth. Our time on earth is temporary and the afterlife is eternal. We have one life to know, love, and serve the Lord on earth. Christianity is upheld by these truths of our Faith. St. Paul tells us: “If Jesus is not raised from the dead, our preaching is in vain and we are the most pitiable of men" (1 Cor 15:17). The Resurrection cannot be dismissed as an illusion nor can it be rationalized as a myth or a symbol. Bishop Barren, commenting on the Resurrections says: It comes down finally to this: if Jesus was not raised from death, Christianity is a fraud and a joke. But if he did rise from death, then Christianity is the fullness of God’s revelation, and Jesus must be the absolute center of our lives. There is no third option. ...Makes Possible Our Own One of my favorite Old Testament scripture passages attest to this reality: I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him. -Deut 30:19-20 Eternity rests on our choice. We can either choose for God or submit to the ways of the world. In faith we assent to Jesus as being the Truth, and the assurance of things to come. We can be assured that there is so much more than this world. What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him. -1 Cor. 2:9 Heaven awaits for the man, woman, and child who conforms to the life of Christ. And He will give grace upon graces to do the will of His Father to those who trust in His ways. An Easter People Because of the Resurrection, we can be assured that there is something more for us. Something glorious awaits us! We ought to be the most hope-filled people of all. There will be suffering, but we can exclaim with St. Paul, “We are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8). And so, we long for the Heavenly kingdom while sojourning in the earthly one. Live in Christ and live for heaven! [bctt tweet="Living the Resurrection in Daily Life #BISblog //"] Cheryl Reinking currently resides in Rogers, MN with her husband of 28 years and their three grown sons. When she is not chasing after them on snowmobiles or fishing with them on frozen lakes, she enjoys leading bible study classes and writing.

Ask any mom and she will be able to tell you that there is a very definite distinction between a trip and a vacation. I have four kids. Going away from home for any quantity of time with them is definitely more of a trip than a vacation! In fact, when they were younger and we would travel somewhere as a family, I would say that my husband went on vacation, but I took a business trip with all of my associates along for the ride. Not because he sat back and relaxed while I did all the work. It was simply the fact that he was escaping—vacating—his workaday reality while I continued to do everything I always did. Just in a different, slightly less convenient location. A Vacation is Traveling with My Husband Now, traveling together when it’s just the two of us? That’s a different world. A calm world. A lovely world. When we travel together, we go places we want to go. Together. We experience things we might not have experienced before. Together. We travel to places we can’t (or simply don’t want to) take the kids! It honestly doesn’t matter where in the world we go. Staying close to home or venturing farther away isn’t the point. It’s facing the world together as the couple we were before we were parents. It adds so much to our marriage that we simply can’t get in our everyday lives. The Benefits of Travel Without the Kids So there are no kids. What are the benefits of that? Really? How much time do you have? I’m kidding! (Mostly.) 1. Less distractions=more focus! Date nights are wonderful, but they’re easily overlooked in a busy schedule of kids and jobs. They are fleeting. You know you only have a short time before falling right back into the everyday insanity. When we leave those things at home, our focus totally shifts. It’s less other and way more us. 2. Do things you otherwise couldn’t. When you travel with your kids, there are so many interests and needs it’s hard to make everyone happy! When it’s just us, we can go to that museum, eat that late dinner, see that play, or simply lounge around doing absolutely nothing at all. It’s up to us! 3. Cost effectiveness is real! When you only have to buy two tickets for something, whether it’s a ballgame or airfare, it’s significantly less expensive than buying 5, 6, 8, or however many. You can get one hotel room instead of two, better seats in the stands, go to a nicer restaurant, or rent a smaller car. Maybe even get a plane ticket or two completely free by using up credit card or travel reward points! 4. Let the kids depend on someone else for a while. This is a big one, folks. Kids need to know that there are other people they can depend on in this world. They need to learn what the authority of another adult looks like. The person they stay with (or who comes to stay with them) may not do things just like you would, and that’s ok! Your kids will survive. They’ll adapt and they’ll be better for it. And, believe me, so will you! But, how do you make it work? You might be thinking that, while this sounds delightful, it also takes some work. It definitely does! But, like the saying goes, anything worth having is worth working for. Here are a couple of hints to help with your preparations and make your vacation that even more relaxing. First, find someone you really trust to watch your kids. That may seem like a no-brainer, but if you have even the slightest worry about what will happen while you’re gone, you won’t be able to relax and soak up as much of the wonderful as you otherwise might. Who could this be for your family? Second, start talking about leaving in advance. Kids don’t want to be surprised by the fact that Mom and Dad are taking off. By talking about it ahead of time, you can alleviate their stress and help them find their own stuff to look forward to! Next, contact the proper authorities. Contact your kids’ schools, coaches, and group leaders. Make sure they have the contact information of your caretaker and know that someone else will be responsible for the kids for a while. Also, look ahead to pay any bills, make any phone calls, and update any prescriptions before you go. Lastly, make a survival guide for the caretaker. This is going to look a little different depending on the ages of your kids. When ours were little, the survival guide might contain information on which lovey they liked to sleep with or how they liked their grilled cheese cut up. As they got a little older, information such as what movies and television shows/channels were approved and which weren’t was included. More information means an easier go for all involved! All the hard work is done. Now what? Now, sisters, you enjoy yourselves! Get dressed up for dinner. Revel in the fact that the only person whose food you will cut up is your own and that nobody will be in the bathroom stall with you. Look for free or discounted things to do wherever you are. Nobody says that traveling as a couple has to break the bank! Eat late and have a couple cocktails. It’s amazing the conversations you can have over a 4-course meal and drinks. Hold your husband’s hand as you walk through a park (and not your 4 year old’s). Walking not your thing? Go for a run or kayak or canoe or rest in an oversized hammock! Explore a place you don’t know. Try new restaurants or find fun little shops. We have found the best pubs, breakfast spots, parks, etc. just by asking locals! And, if you forget all the rest, here’s your takeaway... Remember that, after your commitment to God, the commitment you made to each other comes first. Kids, houses, jobs, school…it’s all secondary. Your marriage is the foundation that everything else is built upon. Support it, nurture it, and help it to just keep getting better and better. Reacquaint yourself with the person with whom you share your life. Give yourselves the chance to slow down and like the other person again. Flirt with each other. Kiss in the elevator. Rekindle that fire that fatigue tends to put out. And really, truly look into each other’s eyes when you talk. Remind each other and yourself, just by being together, not only why you fell in love in the first place, but what keeps you in love now. Sisters, I really hope this encouraged and inspired you to hit the road with your honey sometime this summer! Take the opportunity, even for a quick night away, to give your cares and your kids over to God and give yourselves to each other. I promise you’ll be glad you did. Do you travel with your spouse? What fruits have you seen? What tips do you have for leaving the littles? [bctt tweet="Why You Should Travel with Your Spouse (and How to Make It Happen) #BISblog //"]

Every once in a while you get lucky, as a parent, to encounter a teacher who completely understands your child. My daughter’s third grade teacher was a wonderful angel in disguise who saw into my little girl, understood her, and accepted her. At a parent-teacher conference, while discussing my daughter’s perennial habit of rushing and turning in sloppy work, this teacher said, “You know, she’s not a kid that’s ever going to take your word for it.” I felt truer words were never spoken. A Child's Personality All of our attempts to discuss the importance of effort and legible handwriting seemed to fall on deaf ears. Our daughter would nod and agree but then return, within the hour, to blasting through assignments with record speed and little precision. She does not deal with the currency of our words. She has yet to experience value in slowing down and doing careful work. So she’s sticking with her tried-and-true method of getting it over with as fast as possible, regardless of the outcome. My Natural Questioner My little girl’s mind moves faster than her body. She is filled with wonder, curiosity, and a fairly sizeable dose of skepticism. Like her teacher accurately summarized, she won’t naturally accept something as fact until she’s probed it, tested it, and found it worthy. This doubt also extends to Faith. She’s a modern-day Thomas who wants to see the nail marks and stick her fingers into the side of Christ. As her mother, this attitude can be challenging. Everything requires a litmus test. “How do we know Jesus was a real person?” “If prayer doesn’t work all the time, how do you know it’s not just luck?” “Why aren’t the dinosaurs in the Bible?” I want my daughter to believe and encounter all the beautiful promises the Lord fulfills. I want her to be wrapped in the comforting embrace of our Catholic Faith. But I also realize that, despite my wants, this is her journey. Her doubts and questioning are part of her Faith formation. I am here to help facilitate, but not to control. How to Mother the Skeptic in Love and Patience Coming from this perspective, here are some approaches that I’ve found helpful in mothering my own little Doubting Thomas. 1. Pray I include my daughter in my personal daily prayers to our Father. I ask Jesus to walk beside her and Mary to bring my child to her Son. For myself, I ask for patience and understanding as my daughter finds her way. Prayer makes me feel like I am doing something, even as I recognize that God will take care of this for me in His own time. 2. Never Force The fastest way to get someone not to do what you want them to do is to force it. I want to create an invitation instead of resistance, so I never force my daughter to declare her belief as a condition for participation. In our home, attendance at Mass and Religious Education is not optional. Joining in the family prayer before meals is not optional. But I do not couch these activities as available only to those who believe without question. God can handle our doubts and everything else we throw at Him. These are activities we do as a family that help us encounter our Faith and learn more about God. It is my hope that repeat exposure with gentleness will someday translate to love of Lord and His Church. 3. Live by Example The family is an important holy unit within God’s larger Holy Church. How we act and how we choose to spend our time as a family communicates what we believe is important. We attend Mass together and pray together before meals. We try to be plentiful in professions of thanksgiving and praise to God. I tell my children how thankful I am that God chose them to be my children here on earth. By setting an example, I am demonstrating the different ways Faith can be professed. 4. Allow Questions I allow my daughter to ask whatever questions she needs to ask to develop her faith. There’s nothing off-limits. If it’s standing between her and God, I want to do what I can to help her. I cannot definitively answer a lot of her questions. For example, I can provide no tangible proof that we will go to Heaven when we die, but I can acknowledge that I’ve struggled with the same doubt. I can tell her that belief in Heaven has been with us for thousands of years and people just like her have doubted. But the belief still stands. I can tell her that Jesus is a widely accepted historical figure, not just for those who are religious. So He really walked the earth. There is truth to it because lies don’t withstand the test of time. Questions show that my daughter is engaged, and I will never discourage her engagement. 5. Encourage the Positive My daughter loves to sing. She’s in our parish’s children’s choir. She goes around the house singing hymns. I tell her all the time how happy it makes God to hear singing for His sake. I am sure at the moment, children’s choir is a fun, social activity that she enjoys with her friends. But in time she may come to feel the lyrics as beautiful prayers. If there is something a child loves about the Faith (the stained glass, the bells, greeting Father after Mass), I capitalize on it. Because that love can serve as a future inroad. 6. Make Faith Fun Neither of my kids will say Mass is the most interesting way to spend an hour each week. That’s to be expected. In our family, we try to engage in religious-themed activities that are kid-friendly and enjoyable. On some Sundays, we visit nearby cathedrals that provide a change of scenery. We celebrate the feast days of our patron Saints, cooking special food and reading about their lives. We take day trips to destinations that have religious significance. This summer we have plans to visit a monastery and a local Lourdes shrine. The kids may not fully grasp the religious significance of these sites, but they will eventually associate happy family times with spiritual pilgrimage and growth. 7. Be Patient As parents who have found comfort in the Lord, we naturally want our children to experience the same comfort and belief. When I feel frustrated that my daughter has not wholeheartedly accepted our Faith, I remind myself of my own journey. Mine has gone in fits and starts. My daughter’s journey will be her journey. It will take as long as it has to. God works in His own time. I must be patient, and all will be realized. Facilitating Relationship with the Lord in Faith It is hard, as a mother, to feel an essential part of your child’s well-being is underdeveloped or lacking. I want to step in and facilitate, to draw her toward the Lord using my limited, earthly powers. But belief that my daughter’s spiritual path will develop at its own pace and along its own,unique route is also part of my faith formation. I must trust that her belief will progress according to His plan and that she will grow to be among those who are blessed to believe without having seen. Do you have a child who is naturally skeptical? Do they question certain aspects of the Faith? How do you handle those situations? [bctt tweet="Mothering the Skeptic #BISblog //"] Katie Maggiore is a wife, mother, and full-time corporate employee who looks to find faith in all her life's unique circumstances. She loves writing, reading, watching her family grow up, and being in the beautiful outdoors. You can find out more about her here.