If you have had the opportunity to watch the first seasons of The Chosen, you too might have extra appreciation for the figure of Peter. In the series, Simon (Peter) is depicted as a hot-tempered, authentic man, experiencing the pressures of daily life and doing his best to follow the Messiah and become what he’s been invited to be: a "fisher of men." Plenty of creative license is taken as the show imagines the personalities and circumstances of the characters and it is a hopeful glimpse at the imperfections and humanity that the Lord chose to work with amidst His followers. Time and again throughout Scripture (and throughout the show), Simon Peter demonstrates our very real dependence upon Christ to follow the will of the Father as opposed to our own desires and tendencies, even when our intentions are good. What's with the Chair? The feast we celebrate today—the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter—may give you reason to scroll through that mental rolodex of Catholic lingo and solemnities and come up blank. Peter we know. But his chair?! Did we miss something? It is a feast worth celebrating, and in order to do so, one that may need a bit of context. Upon This Rock Today’s feast is unique in that, like an icon, Saint Peter’s chair points to a larger reality. Namely, it signifies the papacy and its succession throughout history. Instead of celebrating the chair itself (the symbolic chair which is housed in Saint Peter’s Basilica), it points to the larger significance of to whom the chair belongs and the responsibilities and the spiritual significance of the leadership given to the Vicar of Christ since the time of Jesus. While it gives a nod to Peter, our first Pope who would come to lead and guide the Church on earth, it also recognizes all who have followed in the same role: When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah. // Matthew 16: 13-20 (emphasis added) The Role and Responsibilities Again, after the Resurrection, Jesus tasks Peter with the responsibility to "feed my lambs," and "feed my sheep" (see John 21: 15-17), a responsibility that has been passed to every Apostolic successor since. The Pope should lead in a way that unifies and governs rather than fracturing the Body of Christ. A good analogy might be that of a throne, a specific seat upon which a particular leader guides and governs. A throne highlights the guidance and leadership expected from the office of the person who occupies that seat. However, the throne itself does not command respect, but highlights the position of the one who occupies it. So, in the same way we venerate the wood of the Cross on Good Friday, or the Immaculate Conception of Mary before Christmas, we celebrate today the Chair of Saint Peter, joining our prayer with the whole of the Mystical Body for our Pope, and those whose leadership have brought us to today. I follow no leader but Christ and join in communion with none but Your Blessedness, that is, with the chair of Peter. I know that this is the rock on which the Church has been built. // Saint Jerome to Pope Damasus   [bctt tweet="Rocks, Chairs, and Popes #BISblog //" via="no"]

In my years teaching in public schools, I started to notice a subtle but steady presence of cultural orphan mentality. I talked with 5th graders who did not know anything about George Washington or history in general. I taught 3rd graders who had no understanding of fairy tales and, when asked what lesson a story taught, did not know the meaning of the word "lesson." As a point of clarification, I taught students with some form of a learning challenge but that does not mean all had significant disabilities. Many were in regular classrooms who needed a little extra support. This was often provided in a pull-out model of instruction for a limited period of time weekly. In other words, most of the time they were in their grade-level class. I’m not suggesting rigorous content was absent but something was definitely going on here. I am also aware that many things have to be reinforced at home in order for children to realize and remember how important they are. Without that, schools have limited ability to pass on knowledge that matters. Why We Remember But still, I saw it happening. As technology pervaded daily life more and more, it seemed to be impacting the development of minds and souls. Almost like forgetting anything that came before. Cultural memory includes the stories, events, and people that are remembered in a society. This can be heroes and villains, art, music, literature, and holidays. It can be seen in celebrations, memorials, and what is mourned. Scripture is full of this theme of remembering. Catastrophic things happen when God’s people forget their story, Who they came from, and where they are going. Think of the Israelites leaving Egypt and heading toward the Promised Land. So many of them forgot their purpose and the strength of their God. It led to hard heartedness and death. The Solution is Simple What are we to do about this? I suggest leaning into sacred order and actionable steps that connect with what is eternal. Steward language, write the play, sing the song, light the candle, read the prayer. Bear witness to faith not just with head bowed in silence but also in communal gatherings of remembrance. Feast days can be opportunities for building tradition and memory as well as acts of courage. We can develop immunity to words in our culture that have become weapons of ideology. We know sin is the real problem of humanity, which exists within the religious and without. And for the younger generations who grew up with technology in our relatively new world of iPhones and social media, I invite you to build cultural memory in communal acts together. To practice hospitality and transparent conversations. To believe there is more than individualism and materialism that is being sold as the way to true happiness. To lay your phone down and go have real experiences. To reach out for spiritual mothers and fathers if that is what you need. My life would be lacking in richness without relationships that span ages and experiences. Old and young are necessary to build the kind of cultural memory that lasts and gets passed on. Hear the Trinitarian call in your heart and remember, remember, remember. How are you building cultural memory today?   Jenny Richeson is a Catholic writer who is a lover of language and its mysteries. By day she provides speech pathology and cognitive intervention services to kids. Her main goal in life is to be a speaking stargazer caught up in wonder whenever possible. She makes her home in Kentucky with her husband, Matt. Together they find God in gardening and all manner of outdoor activities whenever they can. Stargazing is a favorite pastime too. You can find out more about her here.   [bctt tweet="Building Cultural Memory #BISblog //" via="no"]

The Lord is kind and merciful. // Psalm 103:1 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

The Lenten Cookbook is a brilliant collaboration of David Geisser and Scott Hahn to share their tremendous gifts to inspire joy in fasting. As a world-renowned chef who has had the honor of serving Pope Francis and hosts his very own television show in his native country of Switzerland, David Geisser takes cooking to a new level. Coupled with Scott Hahn’s deep knowledge of our Catholic Faith, this cookbook brings the sacred to life. The Faith Behind the Fasting In reading through Scott Hahn’s essays, the reader will discover the beauty of the ancient Catholic tradition of fasting and its roots. Scott Hahn’s vast historical perspective of the joys of fasting will inspire you. With each word, I felt more and more blessed to be a part of the sacred Body of Christ that is the Catholic Church. This cookbook surpassed all my expectations since I found it to be both aesthetically beautiful and useful at the same time. In my house, I’m known for always saying that food needs to first look pretty. That's the invitation to get your palate ready for the delicious food you are about to taste. Roy Matter did an outstanding job with all the photography. I completely agree that what he does is nothing less than food art. For a foodie like me, being asked to review this cookbook was a dream come true. The Lenten Cookbook is the cookbook we were all missing in our kitchens. This book will help millions of Catholics look at fasting in a whole different light, remembering that, although fasting can be an inconvenience, it is necessary on the path to holiness. Good Food Brings People Together As I browsed all of David’s carefully chosen recipes (which, by the way, are all very easy to follow with very clear and helpful cooking directions), fond childhood memories flashed through my mind. Growing up in a large family in Brazil with a mom who taught me not only how to cook but to have a love for cooking was a privilege and a blessing. She used to say that there were few things that can connect and bring people together in a profound way... and food is one of them. Now that I have my own family, I can appreciate all those times I spent in the kitchen being my mom's helper and learning all her different techniques. Cooking for 13 of us everyday made my mom very aware of the need to be creative in the kitchen. From my mom, I learned how to use an over medium fried egg to elevate even the most simple of meals like rice and beans (a Brazilian staple) and almost any soup. I love showing my family and friends this simple trick, not only for Lent but also for those times when you feel a little short of inspiration. You Won't Be Bored in the Kitchen this Lent Throughout the book, I noticed how many of these meals were actually very similar to meals I grew up eating while growing up in Brazil. The Pot-au-Feu-Style Vegetable Stew with Sea Bass reminded me a lot of another one of my favorite Brazilian staples for Lent called Moqueca de Peixe (fish stew). There are many versions throughout the country but most will have fish (sea bass or tilapia), shrimp, or crab (and sometimes all three). Everything is cooked with onions and different colored peppers for a pop of color in fish stock and coconut milk and served over white rice. The Lenten Cookbook is a 5-star experience! Bon Apetite my dear brothers and sisters in Christ!   [bctt tweet="BIS Reads // The Lenten Cookbook #BISblog //" via="no"]

Adoration offers time for deep, focused meditation. I often close my eyes. Sometimes, I have visions or dream-like encounters that I believe are guided by the Holy Spirit. Recently, I reflected on the physical face masks we’ve adorned over the last couple of years. My thoughts were led to the invisible symbolic “masks” that we carry with us. We all developed personalities and ways of being in the world when we were young. We learned how to react and respond to situations based on our environment. Some of us learned healthy responses and most of us learned at least some unhealthy responses. These things helped us navigate childhood and develop into the person we are today. But are those responses still serving us as adults? Are the masks we learned to wear allowing us to grow into the person God is calling us to be? The Types of Masks We Wear It is important to acknowledge and embrace the masks we wear now and those we wore in the past. They are a part of us, but they do not define us, nor do we have to continue to hold on to them. Take some time to ponder what your masks include at this point. Perhaps write them down and reflect upon their origination. Here are some examples that many women encounter. Mask of Friendship Are we friends with certain people because we believe they will benefit us in some way? Do we put on a particular face in specific crowds to fit in even if the actions and discussion do not match our values and beliefs? Or do we hide behind our friends such that our own thoughts and beliefs are covered up by others? This is not how God created us to live together. One of the most significant verses in the Bible about friendship is John 15:11-13: I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. The power of true friendship is embedded in a deep love for one another. God’s version of love embraces all of who we are, past mistakes, current sins, and challenges. Mask of Perfection Do we portray ourselves as having everything together? Does our social media account depict pictures of smiling children in a perfectly clean house when moments before or after included tears and huge mess? These images can be beautiful and impactful, unless they are the foundation of a false identity. Do we refuse to leave the house without make-up, feel the need to dress a certain way, and come across as though we effortlessly glide through life? Saint Paul notes: I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ my dwell with me. // 2 Corinthians 12:9 Only God is truly perfect, and He wants to reside within us. Once we fully wrap ourselves around this truth, we can work to release perfectionism. Mask of Independence Do we take on too much to try and prove ourselves to others? Do we feel the need to achieve and do more to earn love and respect? As women, we often feel pressured to take on the weight of the world. We feel responsible for everything to do with our children, family, and household. We think we need to partake in various church activities and school volunteering opportunities. We feel pressure to join in numerous social engagements, neighborhood events, and so much more. It is not a reflection of our motherhood or self-worth to accept the help and support of others. Asking for help and learning to set boundaries can increase our confidence, along with our mental and emotional health. God created us to live and work in community. We need help from God Himself as we are encouraged in 1 John 5:14-15: And we have this confidence in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked Him for is ours. The Love of God for the Truest Us We all have a choice, we can grow, change, learn, and reveal our true identities over time. We must also love ourselves as we are right now, weaknesses, challenges, masks, and all. This can be difficult. Sometimes, it’s easier to forgive and love others—despite their weaknesses—than it is to forgive and love ourselves. Let’s remember that God knows us better than we know ourselves, He knows the deepest desires of our hearts, and the greatest sins. Yet, He embraces us and adores us far beyond our understanding. May you have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. // Ephesians 3:18-19 Once we begin to love ourselves, forgive ourselves, and appreciate our growth, we can move forward. Take time to ponder, as Mary did. Reflect and pray about your own masks, asking God to reveal them to you and help you overcome them, unveiling the unique woman that He created for a specific purpose. Adoration is a wonderful time to be still and listen to the Spirit within you. Even if you only have a few minutes, the quiet time spent with God demonstrates your love for Him and infuses you even more with His love for you. Whatever your masks may be, and wherever you are on your journey, know that you are loved beyond measure, as you are, this very moment. Every effort made to increase your faith and fulfill God’s purpose will further unveil the glorious woman you were created to be.   Barbara Yurasek Conklin is a loving wife and mother of three kids who currently returning to graduate school to finish her Master of Arts in Theology after 16 years of focusing on parenting and leading a direct sales team. She loves hiking, traveling, coffee, deep conversations, adoration, reading, writing, and public speaking. She is passionate about marriage ministry and encouraging women as they discover their unique purpose in life and the beauty of God in their own soul.   [bctt tweet="The Many Masks We Wear #BISblog // " via="no"] HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

February is upon us. The month of heart-shaped candies printed with the classic texts reading “call me,” “soul mate,” and “sweet love.” Throughout my life, Valentine’s Day has stirred up a variety of emotions in me. Some years it has inspired me to plan a wine and dessert night with my girlfriends, other years it provoked loneliness as I compared my single-self to my dating friends, and now I look at it as an excuse for my husband and I to splurge at our favorite restaurant. Regardless of how you are feeling about this year’s holiday, there are so many different kinds of relationships to celebrate: grandparents, siblings, spouse, children, friends, and of course, God and our neighbor. Saint Quotes about Love Here are a few quotations to inspire some good-natured feelings towards February fourteenth. Love for Grandparents While he may not be a Saint, I so appreciate Pope Francis’ respect and admiration for grandparents. Both he and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI have placed an emphasis on how important the role of being a grandparent is, both for their own family, and for the generations to come. “How important grandparents are for family life, for passing on the human and religious heritage which is so essential for each and every society! How important it is to have intergenerational exchanges and dialogues, especially within the context of the family.” // Pope Francis “Children’s children are the crown of the elderly, and the glory of children is their parentage.” // Solomon in the Book of Proverbs Love Within the Home At least for me, sometimes it can be hardest to be patient, humble, and merciful to those who are closest to me. Those in my immediate family know me best, and in knowing me best, they also have seen my worst and have chosen to love me anyway. I also know it can be a temptation to take those closest to you for granted. These words from the Saints help me refocus on selflessness and gratitude. “Wash the plate not because it is dirty nor because you are told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next.” // Saint Teresa of Calcutta “You know well enough that our Lord does not look so much on the greatness of our actions nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.” // Saint Therese of Lisieux “The charity which burned in the household at Nazareth should be an inspiration for every family. All the Christian virtues should flourish in the family, unity should thrive, and the example of its virtuous living should shine brightly.” // Saint John XXIII Motherhood: Physically and Spiritually The Saints have a lot to say when it comes to motherhood, both spiritually or physically. In Claire Dwyer’s book, This Present Paradise, she writes about how Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity praised the Lord through her simple, daily responsibilities. While we often look for signs, “more likely our path is made of breadcrumbs and fingerprints, pointing the way to heaven in smudges of peanut butter. It’s the little things.” These quotations are a reminder that even in our most hidden moments, we can bring great glory to God. “Our body is a cenacle, a monstrance: through its crystal the world should see God.” // Saint Gianna Molla “Women’s bodies, heavy with children, dragged down by children, are a weight like a cross to be carried about. From morning until night they are preoccupied with cares, but it is care for others, for the duties God has given them… The point I want to make is that a woman can achieve the highest spirituality and union with God through her house and children.” // Servant of God Dorothy Day “Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle.” // Saint Josemaria Escriva "Every woman in the world was made to be a mother either physically or spiritually. Here we are not talking of physical motherhood, we are speaking of spiritual motherhood. A women in professional life is happy when she has the occasion to be feminine. The man is the guardian of nature, but the woman is the custodian of life. Therefore in whatever she does, she must have some occasion to be kind and merciful to others.” // Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen Spousal Love Just this past December, Pope Francis wrote a letter specifically to married couples. He encourages couples to live out their “vocation with enthusiasm.” To be joyful. When one’s vocation is lived out well, this is a witness of hope to the world. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man” (CCC 1604). “Love that leads to marriage is a gift from God and a great act of faith toward other human beings.” // Saint John Paul II “We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.” // Saint Clare of Assisi “When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more noble her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women.” // Venerable Fulton Sheen “As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her.” // Saint Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians Love Between Friends Friendship is a gift. Here is what the Saints have to say about it, starting all the way back in the fourth century. “God sends us friends to be our firm support in the whirlpool of struggle. In the company of friends we will find strength to attain our sublime ideal.” // Saint Maximilian Kolbe “You only love your friend truly, when you love God in your friend, either because He is in him, or in order that He may be in him. That is true love and respect. There is no true friendship unless you weld it between souls that cling together by the charity poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Spirit.” // Saint Augustine “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship” // Saint Thomas Aquinas Love for God Saint Bernard of Clairvaux speaks of the four degrees of love. I sometimes still struggle with moving beyond the second degree, which is loving God for your own good and because of your dependence on Him. I am working to be more constantly in the third degree of loving God for His own sake! These Saints remind me to keep striving for this, by reminding me how much God has given to me through His Son. “When a great suffering or some very little suffering is offered to us, oh, let us think very quickly that ‘this is our Hour’ the hour when we are going to prove our love for Him who has ‘loved us exceedingly.’” // Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity “Pure love…knows that only one thing is needed to please God: to do even the smallest things out of great love - love, and always love.” // Saint Faustina “What has He done for me? He has loved me and given me His whole self. What shall I do for Him? I shall love Him and give myself to Him without reserve.” // Saint Ignatius of Loyola “Our Savior’s passion raises men and women from the depths, lifts them up from the earth, and sets them in the heights.” // Saint Maximus of Turin Love for Neighbor In the Gospel of Matthew we are presented with the second commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). The next verse goes on to say that the entire law and prophets depend on the first two commandments (the first being to love the Lord). Here, the Saints tell us how. “We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love.” // Saint Vincent de Paul “If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to Him and them. Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing.” // Saint Katherine Drexel “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” // Saint Augustine “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” // Saint Paul in his Letter to the Hebrews No matter your state in life, I hope you find strength and consolation through these words of wisdom which have been passed on to us. They are certainly better words to cling to than the candy heart words reading “puppy love” and “be true,” but if you happen to find one that says “you rock,” then go ahead and soak it up! What are some of your favorite Saint quotes about love? Share them in the comments below!   [bctt tweet="Saint Quotes about Love #BISblog //" via="no"]

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. // Psalm 1:1 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

If you want to know how Valentine's Day can make single women feel, watch 30 Rock. In the 13th episode of the hit American television series, the unattached Liz Lemon goes to great extremes to avoid Valentine’s Day... even if it means sedation via oral surgery. Better to be unconscious than lonely. Singleness’ greatest sorrows are secretly reinforced every February in the souls of the not-yet-married and those who stare into the abyss of probable disappointment on the most polarized holiday of the year. The chick flicks, charming cards, and chocolate hearts only accentuate further sadness, shame, and spite. Why am I still single? Am I unattractive? Am I unlovable? Lack, Longing, and Love You’ve probably heard this before: "God loves you." But what does this mean, especially on Valentine’s Day, when our lack is heightened and our longing for love further fueled? Lack can drive even the most legitimate feelings into lecherous longings. Lack can trigger insidious insecurities causing us to stumble under the tyranny of “If only....”, all the while masquerading an aching heart. This is where Satan does his victory dance. Satan wreaks havoc in the hearts of women, magnifying their inadequacies, controlling their emotional appetites, and distracting them from the all-consuming, never-ending love of God. Longing for romance, companionship, and marriage isn’t wrong nor is the feeling of loneliness without it. However, when we are in a state of weakness, verging on the precipice of discouragement, these longings can consume us and quickly become dangers. Through meaningless relationships we end up exploiting others to satisfy the security we crave without seeking to love them above ourselves. The cheap pleasures of pornography serve as band-aids and good things like movies and chocolate become alluring escape routes to combat feelings of discontentment. What am I doing that’s feeding my expectations? Do I believe the “if only” lie? But the truth is, regardless of what your relationship status on earth looks like; nothing changes your heavenly destiny. The purest form of love isn’t found in Cupid’s invitation, but in the Father’s unparalleled, unchanging affirmation of you as a beloved daughter. God whispers to us—especially in our longing—setting in motion the surges of our heart. Singleness isn’t a status; it is a throbbing ache for what ultimately satisfies. In bitter-sweet surrender before the Lover of our soul we are awakened to a love that meets all lack and a grace that exceeds all expectations. Free, Favored, and Fruitful Last year, a single friend visited me broken and beaten under the age-old lie: the longer you stay single, the lesser chance you have to find someone good. She looked upon her singleness as a burden. A cross. A thorn in the flesh. God’s refining fire. As she watched friend after friend get hitched, she was convinced that she was worthless and wasn’t going to be whole until she found “the one.” She confessed that she had succumbed to the subconscious lie that she couldn’t experience real wholeness outside of marriage. Sure, marriage is a gift, but it is not the end goal. The maturity that comes from marriage is unique, but so is the gift of divine development available to single people. As much as God loves marriage, He didn’t design it to bear the burden of an eternal purpose. From the beginning, marriage has been the lens through which we experience and express a far greater union—with God, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. The key to experiencing true freedom is walking in the newness of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16). It is turning away from the desires of the flesh to fill ourselves with new fruit—love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self–control (see Galatians 5:22). Perhaps the greatest sorrow of the single life is putting off pursuing the produce of the Spirit until marriage. We foolishly think finding love will mysteriously unlock these fruits. In reality, none of these fruits are reserved only for marriage. They’re the produce of conversion. They’re the fruit of faith. They’re the labor of love. When we expect a groom to make us fruitful, we’re only looking for love, joy, and peace in the wrong places. Let this Valentine’s serve as a fitting reminder that we are favored not because of what we own and who we have by our side on Valentine’s Day, but because we are His beloved. We are created to bear fruit because we are His. The grand mission of life is not marriage. It is fruit-bearing. Instead of seeing the single life as a myriad of agonizing incompleteness, why not see it as a soulful endeavor to wholeness? Instead of seeing it as a shameful waiting room, why not see it as a gracious gift to pursue sanctity and holiness? Instead of waiting for love, why not resolve to give love, to foster the fruit of the Spirit? The Single Salty Life Legend has it that Emperor Claudius in the third century outlawed marriage, believing that his young male soldiers’ sticky family ties would impair their commitment to protecting his borders. Saint Valentine intervened and married the couples in secret. While Emperor Claudius demonstrated self-love, Saint Valentine directed his love towards others. His love was not mere affection but a willingness to die rather than deny Christ. His life bore rich testimony to Christ’s love, a love that overcomes all things—even death. Pope Benedict XVI wrote: Our life now belongs to Christ; it is no longer to ourselves... At His side, and indeed, drawn up in His love, we are freed from fear. He enfolds us and carries us wherever we may go—He who is Life itself! // April 7, 2007 By virtue of our Baptism, the integrated Catholic life isn't anything murky or undefined but one of great adventure, defined by great belonging. A life poured out. Your single life does not have to be a makeshift affair. It can grow into a great quest for compassion, creativity and boundless charity if you allow it. You can press into the wild ride of sisterhood. You can dream dreams and build bridges. You can leave lasting legacies. You can demonstrate that a single salty life in Christ is undoubtedly possible in a self-seeking, self-reliant world. The world hungers for your story. The Church needs your spirit. What interests you? How can you pour out your life in service of others? What if you allowed your single life to be interrupted by needy children, distraught mothers, sick women, and the lonely elderly? His Power in Our Pain Maybe the women’s community at your parish is only restricted to wives and moms. Maybe you’re tired that all people care about is your relationship status. Maybe you’re angry that people make assumptions about your past because you are single. But what if you used this opportunity to reorient your thoughts and redirect your gaze? What if you thanked God for the desires that wreck your heart for happiness because this only means you are fashioned for transcendent gains? What if you chose to see your "light and momentary affliction"—on Valentine’s Day or otherwise—as a stepping stone to sainthood, to prepare you for the heights of Heaven, to be satisfied in such a way that cannot fully be attained on earth? Sister, the luminous Resurrection isn’t something that only happened 2,000 years ago. It is a palpable, present-day reality. The same power that toppled open the empty tomb is the same power that is here, even now as you read, transforming your pain, fueling you forward. You don’t have to numb your aches or drown out your sorrows through television drama. You, (we) can take our sadness to the Cross and dwell on His sacrifice. We can seek His satisfaction, savor His tenderness and seize the glorious opportunity to become part of the most grand, romantic, eternal love story ever known.   [bctt tweet="When You're Dreading Valentine's Day... #BISblog //" via="no"]

I had the privilege and gift to co-lead a pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima a few years ago in honor of the 100th anniversary of the apparitions in Fatima. In planning the pilgrimage to Fatima, we also decided to add on Our Lady of Pilar and Lourdes, since, geographically, they are not that far away. It would be a truly Marian pilgrimage. Lourdes was the first part of our pilgrimage, and I had been there once before when I was in college. Frankly, I was holding out for Fatima. I was content to revel in the enthusiasm of the other pilgrims. Watching their joy and excitement was enough for me. Not that I didn’t think Mary would or could give me grace... I just wasn’t convinced she should. I had been there before. I wasn’t suffering like so many who were making their way to Lourdes. I was leading the group, so I thought I should already have it together or that I was somehow exempt from the healing graces that flow through Lourdes. I was happy to be there, but I thought if Our Lady was going to give special graces, she should give them to the ones I was with: the ones who had never been there or seemingly needed grace more than me, as if there was not enough to go around. Mary Shows Herself as Mother On our first night, a small group of us decided to go to the grotto where Our Lady had appeared to Bernadette. Spirits were high, the lights over the Gave River were beautiful, and the city was relatively quiet compared to the Catholic Disneyland-feel of the town during daytime hours. Peace settled over us as we walked through the square while small groups of pilgrims wandered about at the late hour. We stopped for a picture in front of a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, a picture that would later be the image of our trip. The statue itself is completely white. But in this particular picture Our Lady was wearing her blue belt and gold roses on her shoes. A small crowd gathered in attempts to replicate the picture on their own cameras, but to no avail. To our particular group it was as if Our Lady was saying, “I am here.” Spiritual Reunion Spirits even higher, we walked from there to the grotto itself. This is where Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette and asked her to pray the Rosary. This is where I promptly burst into tears. Tears I was not prepared for, had not anticipated, and definitely did not want to be crying in front of the tour company leader, our pastor, and friends. These were ugly-cry tears, seemingly out of nowhere. However, they were tears of peace, tears of healing. As I stood there beneath the little outcropping where Our Lady had appeared, she gently reminded me of how much she had done in my life since I had stood there as a 20-year-old college student. It was as if she was saying to me, “I am here, I am close.” Pilgrims United The next day, we had Mass in a small chapel adjacent to the main Church. It is so tiny you would miss it walking by, but it is the oldest chapel at the shrine. Saint Bernadette’s father even helped build it. I was particularly excited about it because I had just finished a book about Leonie, one of Saint Therese of Liseux’s older sisters. She had come to Lourdes with the two eldest Martin sisters and her mother, Saint Zelie, to pray that Saint Zelie would be healed of breast cancer. While that particular prayer for Zelie was not answered in the way her daughters’ desired, Saint Zelie’s prayer was. She poured Lourdes water on Leonie and prayed that she might become a saint. Leonie had many mental health struggles throughout her life, but her mother’s prayer at Lourdes was answered, and Leonie's cause for canonization is open. As I prepared for Mass, I imagined Saint Zelie, Leonie, Marie, and Pauline having Mass in this same chapel. That is what I pondered throughout that Mass. Always Answered Prayers The walls of the chapel were covered, floor to ceiling, with ex voto plaques: thank you’s for prayers answered. Many of the plaques in this particular chapel date to just after the apparitions, when Saint Bernadette would have still been alive. Countless prayers answered for countless pilgrims in the almost 170 years since the apparitions. Our Lady was showing me her care for each one of her children and her continual prayer for us. Mostly, she was showing me her tender, motherly heart that is only expansive, never limiting. She spoke to my heart, “I am here, I am close, I am yours.” I had placed limits on our Mother’s love and care. I had limited Our Lady to only giving me a gift at one place, and I figured it would be Fatima. I didn’t think I had anything worth healing at Lourdes (not that I didn’t need healing, but that those things weren’t worth Our Lady’s time or attention). I had anticipated the countless petitions she was hearing there would mean mine would go uncounted. Instead, Our Lady decided to heal my heart in a way I didn’t even recognize needed healing. That little chapel, with countless prayers answered. The lines for the baths, with hundreds of pilgrims. The countless candles marking prayer requests. Instead of feeling small or unseen, I visited a tender Mother who cares about every detail of our hearts. She healed the deepest desires that I didn’t ask for, but she knew I wanted. She saw me. Have you ever been to Lourdes? What was your experience like?   [bctt tweet="Visiting Our Lady in Lourdes #BISblog //" via="no"]

One of the things I have observed about my parents’ marriage and eventual divorce is the fact that they rarely argued in front of my sister and me. I used to think this was something admirable about their relationship until I realized it seriously stunted my ability to address conflict within my own relationships. I was never shown how to argue in a healthy way. Growing up in a household where issues were swept under the rug and never addressed only taught me how to avoid conflict. Is my Marriage Doomed? One of the hardest adjustments in my own marriage was realizing that we would bring up issues—and sometimes the same issues—over and over again. Every time we would start having an argument, my anxiety would fly through the roof. I would hope that we could give each other space to cool off and then, later, pretend it never happened. Of course, with this method we were never going to actually resolve anything. I would wonder, “Is this always going to be a problem? What’s the point of trying if we’re going to fight about it again in a few months?” When my husband and I would sit down to talk things out, I thought my marriage was doomed to the same fate as my parents’. Ironically, it was doing the exact opposite. Having these arguments was forcing us to actually address the issues before they became irreparable. Fighting for Our Marriage I would have these unexpected experiences where I felt deeper closeness and more love for my husband after our fights. I realized it was because he wasn’t fighting to win an argument. He was fighting for me and for our marriage, especially when I felt tempted to just give up. I realized how vulnerable I could be. He would be exposed to some of my ugliest thoughts and actions... and he would still love me. The more we argued, the more we began to understand each other. We communicated better, we learned what triggers us, and even began to anticipate what the other person needs and what love languages to speak. This, ultimately, would lead us to feeling greater love and intimacy with one another. What I have come to accept is that we are human, we make mistakes, and we are creatures of habit (sometimes, not so great habits). We come into marriage as complex individuals with unresolved issues and wounds that have yet to heal, and suddenly, we're trying to figure out how to bring all those things together harmoniously. It is not easy! And that’s ok. We weren’t made for just the “easy.” We were made for greatness, and greatness takes work. Jesus is My Bridegroom This led me to evaluate my relationship with the Lord. How do I go “deeper” in my relationship with Him? The idea of it actually made me quite nervous because I used to think that the “deeper” you go, the more likely you are to make mistakes. I wanted a perfect relationship that always felt nice. And that meant that I would keep Him at arms length. In a twisted way, I thought that if I avoided acknowledging the sin in my life, I could avoid disappointing Him. But much like marriage, Jesus doesn’t want an “easy” relationship with us. He wants all of us. And Jesus is ultimately our Spouse, is He not? He is the Bridegroom and we are His bride. No more shall men call you “Forsaken,” or you land “Desolate,” But you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.” For the Lord delights in you, and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you. // Isaiah 62:4-5 How Confession Saved My Marriage Like with any marriage, there will be moments of conflict within our relationships with God. There are highs and lows. And Jesus is ok with that. God doesn’t want us to hate ourselves or to fall into despair. He sees the good, the bad, and the ugly in us. He sees it all... and He still loves us. There's no greater vulnerability and intimacy than that. But just like we need to do the work in marriage, we need to do the work of repenting and repairing our relationship with Him. The more I would run to Jesus in Confession and do an honest Examination of Conscience, the easier it was for me to own up to my mistakes and say, “I’m sorry,” to my husband. The more I received the graces of His mercy, the easier it was for me to say, “I forgive you.” We are all called to imitate Jesus; we are all called to holiness. When we struggled in our marriage and had to learn to stretch ourselves in order to grow in that holiness, we were reminded of how Jesus stretched His arms on the Cross in order to receive us fully and totally. Conflict is an Opportunity This changed my whole perspective on conflict. It was no longer something I needed to be afraid of. I began to view each conflict or sin in my life as an invitation. It is an opportunity to grow. Repentance and Confession is our chance to be vulnerable and honest with Him. And with our Bridegroom’s forgiveness, we grow in deeper intimacy and relationship with Him. These are important and valuable lessons that I hope to teach my children. My husband and I have gotten better at addressing conflict over the years. It still takes work to prevent our egos from getting in the way and letting it turn into heated arguments, but we are still learning and growing every day. Better yet, we are able to model for our children what it means to work things out in marriage, friendships, familial relationships, and most importantly, in our relationship with God. Have you been fearful of conflict in the past? Are you afraid of it now? Why do you think that is? How might the Lord be inviting you into greater intimacy with Him through your messiness and complication?   [bctt tweet="How Conflict in Marriage Can Lead to Greater Intimacy with Jesus #BISblog //" via="no"]

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. // Matthew 5:3 When we think of poverty, we usually imagine a lack of financial security and material goods. But if we consider a broader definition of poverty, we quickly realize that, along with the aforementioned, poverty is a deeper reality that affects all of us in one capacity or another. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the formal definition of poverty is “a lack of something.” When put in those words, who isn’t affected by poverty? We all lack something. We all need something. All too often what we lack—and what we need—is a greater dependence on God, a greater poverty of spirit. What is Spiritual Poverty? Put simply, spiritual poverty is an emptying of self, especially self-reliance, so that God can fill us with His grace. Saint Augustine said: Thou must be emptied of that wherewith thou art full, that thou mayest be filled with that whereof thou art empty. But in a culture that applauds self-sufficiency, we can easily forget that apart from God we can do nothing (see John 15:5). And so we strive in various capacities of life, thinking we have to rely on our own strength to accomplish this or that. When in reality, we need to remember that we are dependent on God for everything, including our life and our very next breath. He is the Giver of all gifts, after all, and the Source of everything in our lives. Becoming more aware of this, we cannot help but unite our song with the Psalmist’s: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! // Psalm 150:6 Our Lack of Something Can Lead to More Reliance on God Often, we reach a realization that we must lean more on God and less on ourselves in the midst of suffering. Perhaps we are humbled by misfortune or humiliation. Perhaps we reach a point of burnout. Perhaps we have tried everything and have nowhere else to turn. Reaching this point may be difficult, but it is also a great grace. Because when we become more dependent, we become poor in spirit, which can lead to freedom and peace. But how do we get from Point A to Point B? When life feels so hard, how do we let go and begin to let go of control and lean more and more on God?   Let the Saints Be Our Guides Each Saint in Heaven faced challenges on earth. They experienced circumstances in their lives that they had to surrender in order to grow in spiritual poverty, holiness, and love of God. It was not easy for them. In fact, Saint John Vianney said: The saints did not all begin well, but they all ended well. But now they are in Heaven, eager to accompany us on our path to becoming spiritually poor. Below are beautiful examples of Saints who lived in various forms of poverty. At some point in their lives, these holy men and women discovered that dependence on God—becoming childlike and poor in spirit—increased the virtues they needed to draw closer to the Lord and His perfect Will for their lives. Wholehearted Poverty While we do not know many details about the hidden life of the Holy Family, the Newborn King was not born in a palace but in a stable, “because there was no place for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). According to Saint Alphonsus Liguori in The Glories of Mary, “at her purification, in the temple [Mary] did not offer a lamb, which was the offering prescribed in Leviticus for those who could afford it … but she offered two turtle doves, which was the oblation prescribed for the poor.” But their poverty was not only material. Mary and Saint Joseph completely surrendered their own plans when God asked them to take on the role of Mother of God and Foster Father of the Redeemer. In addition, they depended completely on God’s Providence when an angel told them to flee into Egypt to protect the Christ Child (see Matthew 2). Companion to the Poor Saint Katherine Drexel was born into abundant wealth. She had private tutors and traveled the world. In addition, her parents were devout Catholics and gave generously to the poor. As Katherine witnessed her stepmother’s severe battle with cancer, she realized that no amount of money could protect her from pain and suffering. After her father passed away, she used her inheritance to help Native and African Americans, but she soon realized that they needed personal interaction, not just financial help. At the encouragement of Pope Saint Leo XIII, Katherine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She only maintained her wealth in order to help others by establishing schools and missions and financially supporting other religious orders doing similar work. At the hour of her death, she had given it all away for love of God and love of neighbor. For Better or For Worse Probably the most well-known Saint who endured poverty in marriage is Saint Monica. She put up with her immoral, pagan husband, her critical mother in law, and her three impulsive children, including the rebellious Augustine. Monica bore the stress of her familial relationships, but at times, she struggled with controlling the situation. After years of persistent prayer, she realized that only God could change her family’s hearts. This allowed Monica to surrender her family fully to the Lord and completely trust that God would change the hearts of her husband, son, and mother in law—which eventually, He did. From Addiction to Freedom As a soldier, Saint John of God took part in gambling, drinking, and other ungodly activities, and his reputation as a drunkard grew. One day, when he was thrown off a stolen horse, he made an impulsive—but permanent—decision to change his life. Despite his initial conversion, he struggled with spiritual growth. John was visited by Saint John the Evangelist, who encouraged him to be focused more on the needs of others than on his personal hardships. As he began working for the poor, John gained peace of heart. John’s Corporal Works of Mercy were fueled by a deep interior prayer life. Depression Leads to Spiritual Understanding Saint Ignatius of Loyola was born into Spanish aristocracy and had dreams of becoming an accomplished military officer. He did not think of God or living a holy life, until he was brutally injured in battle. During his recovery, he was given the Bible and a book about the Saints, but he resisted reading them. Eventually, the stories within those pages changed his heart. After his initial conversion, Ignatius struggled with severe scrupulosity and depression. Eventually, God drew him out of this darkness, and his experience helped him cultivate an understanding of desolation (and consolation) in the spiritual life. Similar to depression, desolation is a state of restlessness, irritation, doubt, and lack of perseverance in fulfilling spiritual practices. God does not cause desolation (or depression), but sometimes He allows it as a reminder of our profound need for Him. More Saints Who Lacked Something This is only a small sampling of the many human struggles the Saints endured, which ultimately led them to deeper dependence on God. As we prepare for the upcoming liturgical season of Lent, perhaps it is a good time to consider how the Lord is inviting us to grow in spiritual poverty—a greater and deeper dependence on Him for everything. Perhaps one of these beautiful souls can accompany you on your journey toward letting go, surrendering, and deeper settling into a life of spiritual poverty. Or maybe there is another Saint who more closely relates to your personal “lack of something”: Anxiety // Saint Martha Distraction in prayer // Saint Therese of Liseiux Illness // Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro Loneliness and rejection // The hemorrhaging woman in Mark 5:25-34 Pregnancy difficulties // Saints Zachariah and Elizabeth Spiritual dryness // Saint John of the Cross Letting Go of All She Had Along with the Saints, the Blessed is She community wants to journey with you this Lent, as we explore more deeply the spiritual practice of poverty through the Lenten devotional, All She Had. Visit the shop to order your copy, along with a devotional for men and one for children. All you holy men and women, pray for us!   [bctt tweet="Saints Who Lived Poverty in Various Capacities #BISblog //" via="no"] HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” // Luke 5:4 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

The word "mentor" is defined as "a wise and trusted counselor or teacher." To me, a female mentor is supposed to share the Gospel and her life, just like a nurturing mother, teaching and learning from her spiritual daughters that both may walk in God’s ways. She should be an authentic missionary disciple who has been converted, strengthened, and transformed in the Lord. We live in a world that has a very different definition of what it means to be someone’s mentor. Eternal Development People pay high dollar amounts to attend seminars to learn from other successful business people about how they can be better at what they do and amass their own fortune. There isn't anything wrong with trying to be the best that you can be in your career. However, I do think there’s something wrong with being so focused on being successful in this life that we forget that more attention should be given to preparing our souls to spend eternity with God. Most of the books on this subject focus on mentorship as a way to help someone do well in life, achieve financial freedom, and so on. What about the kind of mentoring that focuses on living our life in preparation for our final home in Heaven? A mentorship that’s all about heart and spiritual formation, through prayer and fellowship with the Church through discipleship. My Journey of Faith We can gain a lot of wisdom by looking back and reflecting on our own lives. I am privileged to be in a season of life that is affording me to give back and encourage others. Looking back on my own faith journey, I can see how God, in His goodness, didn’t wait for me to find my way to Him. Instead, I can clearly see how He was always pursuing me and coming after me, using different situations and people to help me get to know Him and His Church. My lack of understanding and knowledge of my Catholic Faith started changing in 2008 when my husband and I decided to move our young family from South Florida to his hometown of Bismarck, ND to be close to his parents. We felt it was important for the kids to grow up near their grandparents if at all possible, and my parents still live in Brazil. Of all places, Bismarck was where God had big plans for my faith life to take flight. The Catholic Faith is alive and well there. We belonged to a vibrant parish and made friends with many great people. My in-laws introduced us to Jerry and Sara, a dynamic couple who were very involved in the parish. David and I were invited to a gathering they held at their house each month, simply called “young adults." Group Discipleship Every month, Sara and Jerry would open their home to dozens of people seeking a closer relationship with God and with their community. They would recruit amazing speakers for our gatherings (most of whom were young priests from the Bismarck diocese). Some of the wives in this group would get together every week at each other’s homes for what we called: coffee. At coffee, we would pray, laugh, cry, discuss the Church’s teachings with great enthusiasm, and watch our little ones play together. Through those monthly “young adults" gatherings and the weekly coffee with my new friends, God was slowly inviting me to the fullness of His community: the body of Christ. These women I met in Bismarck, who would become some of my best friends, knew how to beautifully integrate their Catholic Faith into the fabric of their everyday life. I found this to be very inspiring and hoped it was contagious. They were becoming my spiritual mentors. Here I was, in my 30’s, and for the first time in my adult life, I found myself surrounded by all these beautiful and faithful Catholic women who were not afraid to talk about their faith and their love for Jesus. Being in their presence and learning so much about my Faith made me realize just how starved for spiritual mentoring I had been all my life. The Power of Spiritual Mentoring through Storytelling By nature, human beings are storytellers. Stories have the power to connect us to one another more than anything else. They can help us understand who we are. We shouldn't be afraid that we are not worthy to speak His name or to share all God has done in our lives through sharing our stories. Families are in crisis. Men and women are suffering. Society in general is seeing unprecedented unrest. Now more than ever we need the Truth of the Gospel. It is my hope that God gives us the graces necessary to be a light in our homes, families, workplaces, and communities. One way for us to do that is by learning how to be spiritual mentors to one another. I can honestly say that having all the wonderful men and women who throughout the years have taken their time to spiritual mentor me has been essential in developing my full potential and navigating the variety of pitfalls we all encounter in ministry life. I truly believe we can never succeed in anything alone. A few years ago, I was blessed with the inspiration to write my first book, Wisdom From the Women We Love. The theme of spiritual mentoring is woven throughout this book. Wisdom From The Women We Love is a collection of personal stories from 26 women of different ages and backgrounds who ,by sharing their wisdom, were in a way mentoring us spiritually through their stories. To Need Each Other I love what the Lord said to Saint Catherine of Siena: I could have easily created men possessed of all that they should need for both body and soul, but I wish that one should need each other and that they should be my ministers to administer the graces and gifts that they have received from me. I can see how God was instructing Saint Catherine of Sienna on the need for us to have spiritual mentors. Spiritual mentors are essential if we want to come to a deeper faith in Jesus. My spiritual mentors remain vital today as I try to grow as a missionary disciple. I pray that you are blessed with men and women who will make the time to spiritual mentor you, and that in return you’ll welcome the idea of spiritually mentoring others as well. Have you ever had someone spiritually mentor you? If so, what was that like? Have you thought about the possibility of being a spiritual mentor to someone?   [bctt tweet="The Importance of Spiritual Mentoring #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Our very first Lent book exclusively for men is coming out this year... and it's a special one. Father Innocent Montgomery, CFR, wrote it. He walks the reader through their many baptismal identities with a focus on the example of Jesus as the One Who shows us how to live them out in the desert. I think every man in your life needs one (and mine too!). An Interview with Father Innocent Mongomery, CFR Please enjoy hearing the responses about the book from the man himself, Father Innocent! Father Innocent, tell us about your role as CFR postulant director and the outdoor adventure for the postulants that is a core narrative in your new book, Born of Fire. It is a great blessing for me to be the Postulant Director for our community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. As God calls young men to religious life, they begin a journey we call "formation." This journey is an intense time of growth in the spiritual life as well as our humanity. I love inviting young men on the adventure of formation. I long to remind them that they are beloved sons of the Father, and they have been given a divine inheritance at their holy Baptism. From this place, we dive into our interior life of prayer with God and encounter Him in a deep and new way. As we grow in relationship with Him, we grow to trust Him and allow Him to come and heal the deep places in our hearts that are wounded and hurting. In this encounter, true healing and transformation happens, and then we can live in freedom as sons of God. Men need a concrete invitation to take formation seriously. That is why men need the desert. First, we look to Jesus, the perfect man, who made the desert holy. He went into the desert for 40 days to be with His Father and to teach us how to constantly live in our identity as His sons. Above all, He prioritized His relationship with His Father as the source of His life and identity. From this holy place, Jesus receives everything. I believe that Jesus prepares a place for every man in the desert. That is why I take our postulants brothers to the heart of the Utah desert for 21 days every year. Our exterior journey of backpacking, canyoneering, and rock climbing pushes us to our psychical limits, as it challenges us to dig deep and trust amid the challenges. All of this is at the service of the interior journey. Most importantly, Jesus invites us into the desert to live in a new relationship with the Father. We are called to leave all our comforts and distractions of the world and to receive this gift of intimacy with God. In the desert, we come face-to-face with God and ourselves. In the holy confrontation, we are forced to make real decisions that purify and help us to say "yes" to the men that God desires us to be. This is what makes the desert a holy place. You wrote Born of Fire for men to experience an identity journey. What does that mean for you? In the book, I invite men to go on an "identity pilgrimage." It is the invitation to go on a sacred journey of self-discovery, not from our own human vantage point, but from the Father's. For too long we have allowed ourselves as men to be defined by the world, which leaves us lost and empty. We attempt to "self-define," and we end up living a frustrated existence. The good news is that the Father did not create to live this way. He sent us His Son into the world to save us from our false identities and reveal to use what it means to be true sons of the Father. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, reveals man fully to himself (Gaudium et Spes 22). United to Him, we receive and live our true identity that is given to us by the Father. Our identity as sons of the Father is bestowed on us in a particular way at holy Baptism. The fire of the Holy Spirit is lavished upon us, and we are "born of fire." We are invited to live a new existence as sons of God, constantly growing in our identity to be more like Jesus. When we say "yes" to this journey, our life becomes the "identity pilgrimage." Sons become brothers; brothers become men; men become spouses; spouses become fathers; fathers are mystics; and mystics live as the "new man." This "identity pilgrimage" is an invitation for every man to be fully alive in Jesus Christ. Who did you write this book for? If I’m shopping for my boyfriend, husband, son, or friend, is this book for everyone? This book is written for all men who desire to grow in their identity as sons of the Father. I took great care in my writing to make sure that no matter where you find yourself on the journey of the spiritual life, you could receive the next best step to go deeper. I believe that the "identity pilgrimage" is for every man who desires to be fully alive in his vocation and mission. If the journey is new for man, let Jesus build the foundation of his identity and experience the joy of receiving the gift of who they are in Him. If a man has been on the spiritual journey for a while, let Jesus renew, deepen, and fortify his identity he has received from the Father. Remember, the Father always desires to give His sons "more" in the spiritual life. More life, love, mercy, and fulfillment. I have been asked by a lot of women whether this book would be fruitful for them during Lent. I do realize that it is concretely written for men, but I tell them that if they feel inspired, I think the Lord would definitely use it. Obviously, we all are blessed with our identity as sons and daughters of the Father from our baptism. The Holy Spirit leads us all on this journey of maturity and growth to become fully alive in God. Born of Fire walks through this journey for men, blessing them as sons, brothers, men, spouses, fathers, mystics, and the new man. For women, they are called on the same journey as daughters, sisters, women, spouses, mothers, mystics, and the new woman. Using the simple meditations given in the book, I do think that it would be easy to ‘translate’ to make it personal for the female reader. If I am mistaken in this, at least the book would give some insight into the masculine heart for those women who consistently live before the mystery that is man. What was the biggest challenge of authoring this book? Biggest unexpected joy? I have such a grateful heart to God and Blessed is She for the opportunity to write this book. I never thought I would write a book, so there was so many new graces and experiences. To be honest, when it comes to evangelization in general, I have a fear that my "projects," whether it is preaching, writing, or podcasting, will just be more noise in the crazy world. God knows we do not need more noise or distraction. Over the past couple of years, in particular during my time in the desert, Jesus was moving my heart with this desire to bless people in their identity as sons and daughters of the Father. There was a ton of fire in my heart, and I remember being so moved by the Father’s love for His children and His desire to remind us constantly who we are in His eyes. I remember a deep desire in my heart to be an instrument of the Father’s blessings in this, but I do remember being afraid of what He was asking of me. In many ways, the content of this book is an invitation into my heart as a priest. The call by the Father to be vulnerable and real, and to be an instrument of His blessing for others, is a beautiful challenge and deeply fulfilling. My Blessed is She team is an absolute joy. I have never done this before, so the gift of being cared for every step of the way was incredible. Blessed is She is a family, so I just felt like a little Franciscan brother who was given freedom to be myself and follow Jesus on this amazing journey. Also, it helps that we laughed a lot. I am deeply grateful for all of this. What is your hope for the readers of this book during Lent 2022? As a priest, one of the deepest desires of my heart is to help people pray and experience the gift of their identity as sons and daughters of the Father. So, my hope is that this little book could help people experience intimacy with a God who loves them and comes close to them. My hope that the readers would experience this Lenten journey as a sacred and intense time where the Father can remind them of who they are in their identity. My hope is that the fire of the Holy Spirit that we all received at our baptism would set us ablaze once again to fully live our inheritance as sons and daughters of the Father. Because of the gift of our baptism, every Christian is "born of fire." This fire is the fire of the Holy Spirit that the Father lavished upon us at our Baptism and continues to pour out upon us at every moment of our life. This fire is God’s life that lives in us. My deepest hope is that this book could remind people that there is a fire within, and this fire is the source of our life and mission. Get a free leader guide along with the book, downloadable from the website.   [bctt tweet="Insights from the CFR Priest, Author of Born of Fire #BISblog #BISlent // " via="no"]  

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. // 1 Corinthians 13:7-8 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Friends, we have come to the end of our Prayer Pledge. Each year, this seems to sneak up on me, and I'm never quite ready for it to end (which is the goal!). Whether this year's Prayer Pledge went ideally for you or if you struggled through some days and weeks, we have persevered to our final day together.

Sometimes hope looks a lot like perseverance.  I love the imagery in our Prayer Pledge's verse from Isaiah: when we hope we don't grow weary, we do not faint.