Christ is our Hope, in the midst of 2020 and otherwise; through joys and sorrows—through it all. It should come as no surprise, then, that Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite Scripture verse. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. God’s plans are good. Does that mean it will be easy to live hopefully? No. God says His plans are good—not that they will be easy to live out. Models of Hope The Saints attest to this truth. Their lives were marked by difficulties and all manner of trial and tribulation. But they continued along hopefully, doing God’s work where He placed them, because they knew Who Hope was. For this reason, they are excellent models of hope for us. For example, Saint Thérèse, one of my favorite Saints, understood well what hope really means. In her autobiography, Story of a Soul, she writes: Ever since I understood it was impossible to do anything by myself, the task no longer appeared difficult. I felt it was only necessary to unite myself more and more with Jesus, and the rest would be given to me as a bonus. In effect, my hope was never mistaken. Her life was not easy, of course—her mom died when she was 4 years old; her family experienced various difficulties; she had to wait to enter the convent; and she died young. But she lived well her “Little Way” because she trusted that God knows what he is doing. The Present Moment Hope, above all, depends on staying close to God and trusting that Jesus is with us. May we stay close to Him in prayer and through the Sacraments, come what may. The Saints lead the way. Another quote that helps me stay rooted in hope is from Saint Gianna: Live holy the present moment. Living a holy life means we are living hopefully because we are living the way God wants us to; and that is how we can best see how He is working in our lives and showing us His good plans for us via Jeremiah 29:11. Our Lady of Hope Mother Mary is the epitome of hope. One of her titles is Our Lady of Hope. She trusted God no matter what, and she wants us to do so, too. Praying Memorares helps me stay rooted in hope. Hopeful Love Stories My favorite author also bolsters me in hope. Jane Austen’s timeless tales highlight that virtue and good choices lead to hopeful matches, as in truly happy marriages. Her novels reflect true love, which is part of God’s plan; He wants us to live well His plan for love and marriage. The characters trust that there is a good plan for their lives. The heroines and heroes have “a future with hope” because they choose wisely in marriage (as compared to other characters whose choices lead to heartache and less than happily ever after). Pride and Prejudice shows how becoming a better person and encouraging your match to be the best version of himself, too, is the crux of real love, prompting love-filled actions (remember how Mr. Darcy saves the day?). Elizabeth Bennet is rewarded for seeing Darcy’s true character—and her own need for self-growth. Sense and Sensibility reminds us that life and love both require sense and sensibility (emotional sensitivity)—and, of course, it is imperative to steer clear of the Willoughbys and seek out the Col. Brandons. (Obviously!) Persuasion illustrates that “Love never fails” (see 1 Corinthians 13). Are you familiar with this romantic novel? It’s all about waiting for true love. When Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth are reunited after years apart, they know they are meant to be because they understand that real love is anchored in mutual goodness and esteem. “I have loved none but you,” he writes her. “It was overpowering happiness” for Anne. So beautiful! Emma highlights how Mr. Knightley is a true gentleman and real love prompts growth in virtue. My favorite Austen hero is Mr. Knightley because he is a true gentleman (he truly lives up to his name). His care for Emma Woodhouse illustrates the agape version of love, for his love for her compels him to help her become a better person. Lovely lesson! Mansfield Park shows that goodness is the best way to love. After all, Fanny Price’s goodness attracts Edmund Bertram in the end. Northanger Abbey illustrates the importance of not being so obsessed with anything that you almost miss out on love. Catherine Morland is a cautiounary tale (and it’s a good thing Henry Tilney was such a good guy). God is the Center Church weddings, of course, are a must for Miss Austen’s characters, because God is part of any good (and hopeful) love story. There is much more to be said, of course. But, in a nutshell, Austen’s novels reflect hope because of the truth imparted in their themes. (Sidenote: Take a course on Jane Austen, if you can; I did in college; we read all the novels—best. class. ever.) Also as an aside, have you read some of Jane Austen’s prayers? They are simply lovely. One excerpt: “Give us a thankful sense of the Blessings in which we live.” True blessings, of course, include true love. Overall, the heart of Austen stories is hope, as the characters work out the answers to: How can I best fulfill who God wants me to be? Who is best suited for me? These are questions we must ask ourselves, too, as Jeremiah 29:11 unfolds in our lives. Here’s to hopeful living and happy reading!   [bctt tweet="What Jeremiah 29:11 and Jane Austen Taught Me About Hope #BISblog //" via="no"]   Read more about Jeremiah 29:11 and Jane Austen in The Plans God Has for You: Hopeful Lessons for Young Women (Emmaus Road Publishing, 2020), the new book by Amy Smith, who is associate editor of the National Catholic Register, a service of EWTN, where she edits features and likes to write about everything from hope and Saints (her favorites are Thérèse and Gianna) to Jane Austen. Find out more about her here. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Recently, my family and I enjoyed a movie night featuring the new release, Fatima. This movie, which can be seen in some theaters, is also available on demand. It revisits the Marian apparitions that took place in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. These apparitions are approved by the Catholic Church and are some of the most widely known (and believed in) apparitions in modern times. A Brief History of Fatima In Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three children—Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Marto, and Jacinta Marto—between May 13 and October 13, 1917. The six apparitions culminated in the Miracle of the Sun, which was seen by thousands of people. After much rain, the sun came out and could be looked upon without difficulty. Then, it began zigzagging and dancing in the sky. Suddenly, it appeared to fall toward Earth, before it returned to its original place. Since the apparitions took place during World War I, the Fatima apparitions gave people a great amount of hope. But they also angered government officials who were attempting to silence the Catholic Church, as communism grew. Praises for the Fatima Movie There are many things I like about the new Fatima movie. Overall, it is well filmed and produced. It is aesthetically pleasing, with lovely cinematography and costumes. The acting is good and believable, too. I also appreciate that there is a clear and convincing message from the Blessed Mother about the importance of praying the Rosary every day. After seeing this film, there is no questioning what she asks of all of us! The film also does not skirt around the reality of Hell. The scene of the children seeing a glimpse of Hell is frighteningly realistic. In the movie, the important message of Fatima is affirmed for those who already have a devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. And for those who may be less familiar, the movie does an excellent job of introducing viewers to the apparition and inviting them to learn more. In fact the movie’s website has a marvelous selection of additional resources, including children’s activity sheets, an FAQ page, and a video on how to pray the Rosary. A Few Criticisms The new Fatima movie is truly enjoyable. However, certain elements of the apparitions are not explained well. For example, the three secrets of Fatima. The three secrets of Fatima include: A vision of hell. A warning for humanity to stop offending God or another war will begin. Mary also warned against the spread of communism and urged the pope to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart. The death of a bishop dressed in white. While some semblance of the three secrets are included in Fatima, they are unclearly portrayed. Fatima devotees may recognize the various scenes and understand how they are tied to the secrets that Our Lady revealed to the children. However, it is possible that the importance of the secrets is lost to those less familiar with the Fatima apparitions. Also, a very important part of the second secret, which is Our Lady’s warning about the errors of communism and what might happen if it spreads, is missing entirely from the film. A Movie for Such a Time as This Releasing a film about Our Lady of Fatima in 2020 could not be more perfect. In this unprecedented year, the Fatima movie reminds us that the world has endured uncertainty and hardship throughout history. And rather than give into a message of division, hatred, and fear, we must turn to a Heavenly message of hope. Yes, we need the encouraging reminder of Our Blessed Mother to “say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world.” That is what this new movie offers. A Note About the Rating Fatima is rated PG-13 for images of war, the vision of Hell, and a few short scenes where Lucia may be tormented by the devil. My entire family watched this film, and my children range in age from 17 to nine. Every child is unique, so parents should determine for themselves if this film is appropriate for their child. Additional Fatima Resources After seeing Fatima, if you find yourself interested in learning more about the apparitions, here are a few resources for you: More films The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (original 1952 movie) The Day the Sun Danced (animated movie available on Formed) Books Our Lady of Fatima by William T. Walsh Our Lady of Fatima: 100 Years of Stories, Prayers, and Devotions by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle For the Kids Mary and the Little Shepherds of Fatima by Marlyn Monge and Jamie Stuart Wolfe Our Lady of Fatima: St. Joseph Picture Book by Reverend Lawrence G Lovasik S.V.D. Have you seen the new Fatima movie? What did you think of it?   [bctt tweet="BIS Reviews: The New Fatima Movie #BISblog //" username="sarahcdamm"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Poco a poco. The spirituality of making the next best step. It's become a bit of our catch phrase. It's been the name of a CFR album, our Ascension Present's send off, and the name of our podcast. "Poco a Poco" has been thrown on stickers, bracelets, and tattooed on at least one fellow pilgrim's ankle. It’s part of our patrimony and at the heart of our charism. And it’s true…for all of us. Poco a Poco, Little By Little “Poco a Poco” was birthed on a dusty Honduran road between a convent of cloistered nuns and the friars’ medical center. It’s actually part of a larger phrase: Somos Peregrinos. Poco a poco, vamos a llegar. We are pilgrims. Little by little, we’re going to make it. It was generated from poverty for the poor. For a little over ten years now, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal have been running a medical center called the Saint Benedict Medical Center in Comayagua, Honduras. The medical center offers totally free care to the poorest of the poor in the name of Jesus and His Church. Our patients come from literally hours away to receive the medical attention they couldn’t possibly afford, but desperately need. The number of patients we’re able to help each day is much larger than the number of people we can fit in our medical center at a given time, which means that there are frequently dozens of our suffering neighbors waiting outside the clinic each day. And every day, one of our friars would go to accompany and encourage them, with one catch: he couldn’t speak Spanish. Constancy and Encouragement Br. Anthony moved to Honduras as a forty-five year old with a great desire to be with the poor, but learning Spanish was practically futile. Every day he would go to visit the patients waiting to be served, many of them sick and suffering, and try to encourage them. One day, an idea came to his mind, it was Spirit-inspired word of encouragement, and he asked one of the friars to help him: “How do you say, we are pilgrims?” “Somos peregrinos.” And Br. Anthony wrote it down. “Little by little, is ‘Poco a Poco,’ right?” “That’s right.” He writes. “We’re going to make it?” “Vamos a llegar.” “Somos peregrinos. Poco a poco, vamos a llegar?” “Yup, that’s it.” Day after day, Br. Anthony would speak these words to the patients. The staff would hear them as well. Slowly it became a thing, “Poco a Poco.” Often times, he'd throw in one last question: “Donde?” (Where?) “Paraiso!” (Heaven!) And, ain’t it the truth? The more and more life goes on, the more and more we can often relate, at least interiorly, to these suffering souls waiting for help at our medical center. Beat up. Struggling. But fighting. Pushing forward. It’s the pilgrim way. We're All Pilgrims In the official document declaring our Community a Pontifical Order (meaning we’re all grown up), the Holy See described our charism in these words: In imitation of St. Francis of Assisi, the friars seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, as a prophetic witness that life is a pilgrimage to the Father... It’s at the heart of the Franciscan life and witness: We’re pilgrims. Life with the Lord is journey and often times, it ain’t pretty and success isn’t immediate, but we just keep going. We keep trying to, as one of our founders would often say, “Make the next best step.” Sometimes the next best step is waiting on the Lord and His timing. Sometimes the next best step is a good Confession. Sometimes the next best step is stepping out of the boat at Jesus' invitation. But it’s one step at a time. Life’s a pilgrimage and we are all pilgrims. We’re not “home” yet, but we're going to make it. Little by little. [bctt tweet="It’s one step at a time. Life’s a pilgrimage and we are all pilgrims. We’re not “home” yet, but we're going to make it. Little by little. #BISblog //" via="no"] The Spirituality of the Poor Why has this become so influential in the lexicon and spirituality of a generation of friars? It’s struggle bus spirituality. It’s the spirituality of the poor. Hopefully our life as friars is “hardcore.” But it doesn’t mean we’re any less beggars than our brothers and sisters waiting outside of the clinic. Part of the genius of our life, when it’s well lived, is it gets us in touch with our own poverty. We learn to pray, from the core of our souls, “Lord, I need Your help. I can’t do it without You.” We understand that we don’t learn all things overnight and we probably not going to reach the peaks of holiness by our 24th birthday. But each day we begin again, simply seeking to keep making the next best step. We never compromise journeying toward the heights of holiness, but we don’t get scandalized if it takes time. As long as we keep on our spiritual pilgrimage, we’re going to make it. [bctt tweet="We never compromise journeying toward the heights of holiness, but we don’t get scandalized if it takes time. As long as we keep on our spiritual pilgrimage, we’re going to make it. #BISblog //" via="no"] The Next Best Step We’re poor, but we also work with the poor. How often do we encounter the materially or spiritually poor who are discouraged by what they can’t do. They know what they want to do, they know what they “should” do, but they can’t do it. But can you make the next best step? Can you surrender a little more, love a little deeper, trust a little firmer, today? My sisters, we can all make the next best step. The consolation this offers was brought home to me in a conversation I was having with a young adult woman. She was sincerely seeking the Lord; a really beautiful soul. She was aware of the heights of the call, but she was also aware of the fact she wasn’t there. Talking about trust, I asked her, “On a scale of 1-100, how much do you trust the Lord.” “Maybe 80%,” she replied. (Which is pretty darn good! But she, like most of us, was discouraged by the 20% that was lacking.) So, applying “poco a poco spirituality,” I asked her, "Can we try and get to 81%?” And in an instant a burden was lifted from her shoulders. It was written all over her face. It was a revelation. "Yeah, I can do that. I can definitely do that.” 1% at a Time Here’s the thing, we’re journeying toward 100%, but the Lord’s patient and merciful as He showed with His Apostles. Let’s try and get to 81% and then we’ll start working on 82%. And then we’ll go to 83%… Why? Life is a pilgrimage and we're all pilgrims on dusty roads. And that’s why we chose to name our podcast The Poco a Poco Podcast. It’s a podcast dedicated to helping our fellow pilgrims make the next best step. We understand the messiness and the difficulty of life and the discouragement that comes from thinking we have to have it all figured out yesterday. We can handle messy. Because God can handle messy. But also, with grace, we can always make the next best step. That is our prayer for you: that with God’s help, you may never cease making the next best step. Somos peregrinos. Poco a poco, vamos a llegar. Donde? Paraiso. We’re blessed to be on the journey to you. If we don’t meet along the roads of life, we look forward to meeting you in our Father’s house.   [bctt tweet="Poco a Poco // The Spirituality of Making the Next Best Step #BISblog //" via="no"]   Written by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR.

What motivates you to serve? Do you act out of fear, appearances, and the applause of others? Or the love of God and the glory of His Kingdom? A resounding “yes” is what I hope to hear in response to the last question. However, I must admit that I have been struggling with my “yes” these past few weeks. At times, I find myself yearning for affirmation in the work that I do. And because I live in a world that values success based on works of the flesh, I tend to forget that bearing fruit does, in fact, take time and patience. Success doesn't happen overnight! As such, these moments of doubt serve as an invitation to review what it means to follow Christ. The Meaning of Human Struggle: God’s Grace and Truth One day, when disappointment and discouragement superseded gratitude in my heart, I expressed the context in which these feelings arose to my spiritual mentor. Removing me from the pit I wallowed in for a couple days, she posed a question that re-rooted me in God’s truth: “Who told you that struggling is bad, Kate? This is a misconception we were taught to believe. Remember this: if you speak the truth from a place of love and are falsely accused and rebuked for it, do not regret being unable to refute and defend yourself. You know your truth, and so does God. Rest knowing that you’ve done your part. Now let God do the rest and truth shall prevail.” From then on, I felt so much lighter and realized that this was an opportunity to grow closer to Christ, and weed out the bad from the good. The moment I redefined this experience as my chance to imitate Christ and grow in virtue, I felt this rush of warmth, which granted me the grace to see where I fell short, and how to move forward even if I don’t receive an apology. For as long as I am sincere to myself and God, I learned that nothing could go wrong. Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained God permits pain and struggle so that we may learn, and mature in spirit and truth. Growth and change cannot happen without pain and discipline after all. This may sound unappealing and intimidating, but I invite you to revisit this, and identify what suffering reveals about human resilience and God’s Merciful Love. God is Love Oftentimes, we think that God will only bestow His Love upon us if we do whatever is asked of us. Not true! God loves us so much that He gave us free will, so that we may all have an opportunity to do what is right. At the end of the day, He wants us to choose Him, to be free to desire goodness and detest evil. Moreover, God’s Love is not merited, earned, nor deserved. His Love is unconditional! No matter how imperfect we are, there is so much hope for as long as we hold on to our Faith. Creative and wild in offering boundless possibilities, God is so generous that all we have to do is receive the free gift of grace and submit to Him. Therefore, we must be careful not to put God in a box. Instead, we must cooperate with His Truth and Grace in order to proliferate hope, faith, and love. WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Igniting Curiosity Still in the process of solidifying my faith, I tend to fall prey to doubt because of all these uncertainties in life. Lately, I’ve been raising an eyebrow and questioning whether God will help me overcome these obstacles or not. What needs to register in my mind and heart is that nothing is too small or big for God. I need to believe that God can do it, and build on the virtue of certainty in Him. I find it helpful to remind myself that through Christ, God took on the most gut-wrenching path possible, so He knows what human suffering to the worst degree is like, and thus understands us. Every time I recall how Christ was stripped of everything because the world hated Him, I am instantly moved and humbled by His willingness to sacrifice Himself. Christ was and still is willing to walk alongside human ignorance. He knows how to brilliantly use and transform what is incorrect and flawed. What are some flaws you could offer up to the Lord? From there, how do you think you can grow in intellectual curiosity and holiness? Dream High, Aim High Did you know that God does not call the qualified? He qualifies the called! Hence, I believe that the greatest tragedy in life would be not becoming a saint since we are all called to sainthood. It’s a matter of choosing this path to heaven—taking it one step and day at a time. Discipleship: The Road to Sainthood More than being a disciple of God, ask how you can evolve into a disciple-maker. Now, open your Bible and turn to Acts 2:42. Meditate on the four components of discipleship, and outline how you can integrate at least one of them into your life: the breaking of bread, prayer, fellowship, and Apostles’ teaching. Respond to these questions as you discern: Which component resonates with you most? How would you like to focus on one component this week? Which Saint do you admire most? Take note of three things he or she has done. May your journey to sainthood produce abundant fruit!   [bctt tweet="Our Call to Sainthood #BISblog //" via="no"]   Kate Cabigao is from the Philippines. She is a graduate of NYU Steinhardt’s Education Studies program with a specialization in Global and Urban Education. She loves to write about her thoughts, feelings and experiences ranging from the silliest to the most serious moments. Her life goal is to inspire and empower those around her to make the most of their lives and to play to their strengths. Find out more about her here.

Take a deep breath. (Bear with me and give it a try!) Another: in through your nose…and out through your mouth. Stretch your neck from side to side. Relax your shoulders as you breathe deeply once more. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart as we pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.” If that was the first real breath you’ve taken today, this post is for you. Loneliness and Longing I feel inadequate to write about praying as a busy mom. I’ve met incredible, holy women with multiple kids who seem to have it all figured out. Meanwhile, I’m navigating first-time motherhood, with the most energetic 20-month-old you’ll ever meet (seriously, he started walking at 8 months!). I rarely make it to daily Mass, I try to wake up early to pray but can’t remember the last time I actually did, and the likelihood of me finishing a Rosary I started is slim at best. Why do I share this? Honestly, because motherhood can be lonely. Beautiful, joyful, inspiring…but also lonely. We need to know we aren’t the only ones struggling. We need to know that God still loves us even when we don’t have the picture-perfect prayer life. Because here’s the truth—God wants us to pray not because of a checklist or guilt, but because He wants to spend time with us, He wants to give us peace. God doesn’t care if our prayer is messy, if we get halfway through a meditation before the baby starts crying, if we fall asleep while praying, if we only have the energy for a simple, “Be with me, God.” God wants us to love and be loved by Him. Prayer Hacks for Motherhood There is a lot going on right now, and the last thing I want to add on your plate is a lengthy, intensive guide to a prayer life that seems out of reach. Instead, I want to share a few prayer hacks I’ve found that have helped me grow closer to God in this season, and introduce you to an awesome tool that has helped my prayer life: Hallow, a Catholic prayer and meditation app. Live Life with and for Jesus This is a way to reframe the amount of time we have—however small—to spend with God in prayer. I like to think of this as the difference between sitting down and having a deep conversation with a friend and living day-to-day life with them. Both are so great, right? In this time of life, I don’t often get to sit down with Jesus and have a long heart-to-heart (which I’ll talk more about later). But I can invite Jesus into my life in small and simple ways. As a mother, you are literally living out the Works of Mercy: feeding, clothing, caring for the sick, etc. Anytime you feel like you aren’t praying enough, pause and think about how you love your kids. You may not be able to sit for an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament, but you can spend an hour playing with your kids and loving them well. Jesus isn’t asking us to choose between our daily duties and Himself. We can choose Him in our daily duties. He simply desires to be with us, to rejoice with us, to help shoulder our burdens, to delight in our ordinary life. So, what can this look like? Praying Live on the BIS App with the community. Praying an Our Father while changing a diaper. Praying the Rosary on Hallow while out walking. Praying “Come, Holy Spirit” when the toddler is upset. Saying, “Thank you, God,” when you see it’s sunny outside. Praying a minute meditation on Hallow, such as a psalm, when you feel overwhelmed. Imagine Jesus as your best friend who lives with you, sharing in each moment. How can you incorporate talking with Him, noticing Him, and living life beside Him throughout your day? WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Include Your Kiddos Truthfully, this one doesn’t always work with my son (though he does attempt the Sign of the Cross when he hears Hallow play, and it is so cute). But for older kids, incorporating prayer can be as simple playing Hallow while you drive, doing Hallow’s Family Prayers over dinner, or closing the night with Night Prayer or a Bible Sleep Story. For little babies, plug in your headphones and listen to a meditation session from the Calm, Love, or Patience praylist as you hold them while they nurse or nap on you. Schedule Time for Those Heart-to-Hearts Like I mentioned, this part is a lot harder for me to find time for, and I’m sure many of you can relate. I’ve realized that I need this quiet time with God to balance out the noise of each day. One thing I’ve found helpful is to lower my expectations and be gentle on myself. An hour of prayer time is unlikely, but I can set aside 5 minutes. Here, I again lean on Hallow. I pick a time, set my alarm to remember, choose a 5-, 10-, or 15-minute prayer based on how much time I have, and give myself permission to have that heart-to-heart, to spend a few minutes still and quiet with God. Let God Love You Ask God to show you what He loves about you. Ask Him to show you how to pray. Turn to the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul writes in his Letter to the Romans: In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. The Holy Spirit prays for us even when we cannot find the words. How cool is that? Ask God to give you peace in your vocation, to assure you that you are loving Him as you love your family. And be kind to yourself. You are navigating a beautiful but difficult season of life. What has helped your prayer life as a mom? Any advice on prayer hacks for new moms? [bctt tweet="Prayer Hacks from One Mom to Another #BISblog //" via="no"] Abby Fredrickson studied English and Theology at Notre Dame, and is grateful for a job that lets her use both as Head of Content at Hallow. Her favorite things include making her husband and toddler laugh, spending time with friends, hearing people's life stories, and being outside, especially on the beach. You can reach her at abby@hallow.app. THE PERFECT BOOK FOR KIDS Rise Up will open up beautiful conversations with your children about the virtues. . This will bring beautiful fruit to your prayer life and to your children's prayer lives. GET RISE UP

Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. // Matthew 16:25 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Leah of Fearfully Made from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I’ll just name the elephant in the room. This post is about money. Whether you have a lot or a little, you’ve got it, and chances are good that you’re wondering what you should be doing with it. Maybe your reality is the very difficult decision to pay rent or to pay for medication. Maybe you’re eating peanut butter and jelly while trying to pay for college loans, or wondering slack-jawed what college will cost when your infant graduates from high school. Perhaps you are saving for a reliable car, or a first house. Maybe you're agonizing over whether you can retire in a way that will meet your long-term needs. Money, Money, Money, Money Pandemic or not, studies show that most Americans cannot handle an unexpected $400 bill without going into debt. In some cases, debt prevents individuals from pursuing religious life until they can pay off student loans. If this is you, you are not alone. For many, there is just not enough to go around, and equally prevalent is the lack of confidence or absolute fear of looking at the numbers on paper and knowing how to proceed. Add to this the stigma of talking about finances as though we are not in complete control, and we understandably have a real problem on our hands. I will be the first to tell you that I am not an expert in finances. I am a stay-at-home-mom with a husband who works for a non-profit. So while we are well-versed in coupons, Craigslist, and second-hand, I am not writing this piece because we are having hospital wings named after us. Rather, it's because we are frequently in conversation about finances, how to steward them well, what that looks like, and what we can learn. Sorting It Out We learned early on in our marriage that we would need to run a pretty tight ship, financially-speaking. In an effort to do that we have read a lot, tried a handful of methods, and continue to adjust as needed. But this year, we participated in a Catholic finance program, Faith & Money Matters by Compass Catholic Ministries, which really connected the heart of addressing our finances in a way that connects us to the heart of what God desires our relationship with money to look like. Rather than a class format, it was offered as a Bible Study, and we were so impressed by its step-by-step process for helping people to get out of debt and to a place where they could be excited to give money away with an open hand rather than a clenched fist. Finances are an integral part of our daily lives, yet so few of us are really comfortable when the conversation turns to money—even within our own families. Add a pandemic and possible furlough/job changes, and a topic that is usually uncomfortable becomes downright unsettling. Making ends meet can feel like enough of a burden, and the expectation to share on top of it can feel almost laughable. Becoming Stewards He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood” (Luke 21:3-4). Recently I was in conversation with a friend who shared that she has noticed a negative connotation between the term "stewardship" and peoples’ reluctance to give. In her experience, asking folks to be stewards of their time, talent, and treasure most often was heard as giving only treasure, and is typically greeted without much enthusiasm. “How can we change the conversation to one that gets people excited to share,” she wondered out loud? One of the best snarky fundraiser lines I ever heard went something like this: Good news, we have all the money we need for the renovation project. Bad news, it’s still in your wallets. We have all been there on Sunday when the visiting missionary comes to speak at the time of the second collection. Often we are inspired by what they have to share, but there is absolutely reluctance when it comes to actually handing it over. After all, we have worked hard to earn this money and it is ours, fair and square, we assure ourselves. We can already envision at least four ways this money could be put to good use for our own family, right? Reminder: It All Belongs to God Look, the heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to the LORD, your God, as well as the earth and everything on it. -Deuteronomy 10:14 Sure, our paychecks are earned; they are earned by the talents and skills we have been given by God. Returning a portion of the gifts we have received has so much less to do with our generosity than it does with our willingness to collaborate with God by way of responding to the opportunities that arise for us to give of ourselves—and often, they pinch. There are over 2,500 passages in Scripture that speak to a having a positive relationship with money and it all comes down to these simple themes: Be in right relationship with your money by not making it an idol (Matthew 6:19-21). Do your best to stay out of debt; when you get into debt-pay it off (Romans 13:8). Bless others to the extent you are able (Tobit 4:7-11). How Much is "Enough"? This is the million dollar question. Given a popular opinion poll, many of us would respond that 10% of our income is the appropriate amount to give (although this is not a limit). For some, this amount is completely overwhelming, while for others, it might just be another budget line item not given much thought. The key focusing question should be: How much do I desire to give? This says everything about the posture of our giving. If what we desire to give does not match our means, start with what you can do and pray for circumstances that allow for greater generosity. It may surprise you to see the way God shows up in our desire to give. Even if our budget allows for us to include a 10% tithe on a monthly basis, our spirit toward giving can become an autopilot response. On one hand this is a great problem to have; on the other hand it is a good indication that we’re being invited to an embodied stewardship—one that involves ongoing conversations that stretch us beyond setting up automatic bill pay. A healthy relationship with tithing is a regular commitment to giving of our means in such a way as to prioritize our offering, while meeting the needs of our circumstances. Legacy Imagine the joy in helping to support organizations, foster families, and outreach programs that are close to your heart. Some suggest doing this at a local, national, and global scale, dividing your tithe three ways. However you choose to be generous, God intends the experience to be one of joy. Not a grumbling, "How much is enough?" but rather, "How much can we offer?" The key is getting started. Take that drive-thru coffee out of your budget and replace it with something meaningful: funds an organization of your choice can depend on. The Catholic Church has a legacy of being the most charitable institution in the world. Drawing on Scripture, tithing, social teaching, and the practice of giving alms, this is a tradition worth continuing. Of course we cannot give what we do not have. We can learn a lot from the widow’s mite in Luke’s Gospel, combined with the encouragement littered throughout Scripture to steward well what we have. Even if it means starting with small contributions, what kinds of outreach would you be thrilled to support?   [bctt tweet="Tithing // Why, What, How, + Where #BISblog //" via="no"]

I honestly don’t know how many first-year students this blog will be relevant to in 2020. Covid-19 has forced many students to Zoom from home verses zoom across the country to adult in a new way. Still, many students have chosen to head to their dream school, be assigned a random roommate, and start their college careers. For those who are taking this adventure one facemask at a time, we want to help make your heroic effort worthwhile; one that will create a home you feel safe in and grow in relationship with others. Tips for College Roommates Here are some helpful tips on roommates I have learned over the years and through my conversation with students on campus. Reach Out Before You Move In Most colleges will provide you with your roommate’s information well before you move into the dorms. They do this is so you can start to get to know one another before you move in. Connect on social media (maybe ask them to friend you and vice versa). Talk on the phone, FaceTime, or Zoom with one another about family, friends, faith, hobbies, and even majors. Share fears and excitement about college with one another. One fun way to get to know each other is to get on each other’s social media and explain what was happening in specific pictures to share different experiences you have each had in your life. Remember, dorms are small. Communication about what you are bringing and what they are bringing into the dorm can be beneficial so you don’t have two of the same items. You don’t need two mini-fridges in a dorm. Talk about decorating style and possibly even coordinate a little. I’ve realized girls like to decorate and have strong opinions on what they want their room or apartment to look like, so negotiate on styles and come to some way of decorating together. via GIPHY Communicate Expectations Everyone views college and living on their own differently. Some see it as a time to grow in virtue and relationship with others and God. Others see it as a time to throw away the rules and do whatever they want. This is why communicating your expectations and negotiating some rules is of the utmost importance. Rules can include everything from cleaning to quiet hours, to sleepovers, to laundry. You will be amazed at all the little things you do that will drive your roommate crazy, and all the big stuff (or tiny things you make significant) your roommate will do that will cause you to confess the sin of gossip. So let’s try and straighten some things out before you make your bed. via GIPHY Cleaning Not everyone has OCD when it comes to keeping a room or apartment clean. I have had students hang out at the Catholic Center primarily because it is more sanitary than their dorm or apartment. With the fear of Covid-19 in the world, I think roommates will strive for a cleaner environment, regardless, set some expectations for keeping your home clean. Share the cost of cleaning supplies and set a schedule for simple tasks like taking out the trash. An essential rule in any living situation is this: clean your dishes immediately after you eat! Your mess is your mess, not your roommates. I once had a roommate who left a greasy griddle on the counter for five days. I eventually washed it because ants were stuck in the grease (yuck!). If you want another rule for when you share cooking responsibilities, this is a great one: if one person cooks, the other person cleans. Another thing to consider is that doing someone’s dishes is an act of charity, so instead of having a dirty dish create tension, wash the plate and pray for your roommate while cleaning it. It’s a great way to grow in the virtue of charity. via GIPHY Laundry Everyone has laundry, and most college students will let it pile up until the underwear drawer is empty. Back in 1897, an incredible invention that was created, and it’s called the Laundry Basket. Use it! Do not have piles of your clothes and your roommate's lie everywhere. When the nose tells you your clothes are ripe for washing, pay the extra quarters, grab your books, and have a study session at the laundromat. via GIPHY Headphone Hours One of the biggest complaints I hear about roommates is that they are too noisy that I can’t study in my room. Early on, at least during the week, communicate quiet hours where you can study. Most people are respectful about watching Netflix or Hulu on their computers with headphones, but if they are loud with friends over or just disrespectful, talk to them. Establishing quiet hours (aka headphone hours) is a great way to avoid conflict. via GIPHY Discuss Alarm Clocks One of the biggest complaints I hear from college students is that their roommate hits snooze multiple times, and they are the ones who keep waking! Little annoyances such as a snooze button can lead to big problems, especially if it goes unspoken. Class schedules will be different, and your roommate might need to get up at 8:30 am to throw on some clothes, brush your hair and teeth, and be in a class by 9:00 am. However, your class doesn’t start until 11:00 am. Unless you are a person who can sleep through anything, this might throw your schedule. Instead of becoming an issue, wake up at the same time, do your morning prayers while she gets ready, or even make her wake-up time part of your workout schedule or study time. The point is, communicate and don’t let a silly alarm cause tension in your living situation. via GIPHY Sleepovers Whether you are talking about some girlfriends on a weeknight or a boyfriend regularly, sleepovers need to be discussed. If you don’t want sleepovers with friends during the week to study and sleep, say so. Concerning boyfriends or casual hookups, the last thing you want to be is exiled or “sexiled’ from your room. Do not assume your roommate has similar morals as you. If you are uncomfortable with men sleeping over, be strong enough to share your convictions. Your witness is a powerful reminder of your rootedness in Christ and His desire for your purity and dignity. via GIPHY Not Always Going to Be Your BFF I would say that it is rare that your BFF will be your freshman roommate. I mean, even Gilmore Girls showed us that knowing your roommate isn’t always an equation for besties. Rory knew Paris very well, and Paris told Rory, “I am not your mother or your hugger.” Most first-year roommate situations will be good, but they might not result in being best friends. via GIPHY Roommates Present Opportunities for Growth in Holiness Roommates during your college years will teach you a lot—possibly as much as your professors. They might have different political, religious, or cultural views that will help you grow and see the world through different eyes. They might bring you out of your shell or help you slow down and take the world in more. They will engrain in you a conviction of what is most important to you as an adult living in the world. They will teach you a lot about communication and the type of roommate you want to live with and be. Roommates are the best and worst part of college life. When you live in a community that has not formed or raised you since childhood, it is one of the hardest things you will do in your adult life. Lean on adult mentors, resident advisory, priests, campus ministers, and other adults you value to help you through tough situations. Most importantly, pray for your roommate and turn to God during the hard times. He is the best roommate you will ever ask for and will never leave a mess you have to clean up. What advice would you give regarding college roommates?   [bctt tweet="College 101 Series // Roommates #BISblog //" via="no"]

“It sounds like prayer is something you do just so you can check a box.” Her voice was gentle, but direct. A wise friend had asked me about my prayer life, and I had responded honestly: I do the daily readings, reflect on the Blessed is She devotional in my inbox, say the Litany of Trust, pray over my kids...check, check, check. There may not be literal checkmarks involved, but I could not deny it. Right now, my prayer life looks more like a list than a conversation or a relationship. For that reason, part of me feels terribly unqualified to write about making time to pray. It is something I struggle with daily. I feel tempted to start naming my reasons, the countless demands on my time and energy; but deep down, I know I have nothing and no one to blame but myself. Without prayer at the center, even the holiest work can become a crutch we use to politely excuse ourselves from time with the Lord. What’s more, our schedules are constantly changing, our priorities ever-shifting. What works in one season may fail miserably in another. Even if we don’t know when to pray, we do need to pray. Not just to check “pray” off of our mental or physical to-do list, but, to grow closer to the One who deserves to be the center of everything in our lives. Thankfully, He is patient. He extends infinite grace and mercy to us. He is always there waiting when we come to Him. [bctt tweet="Without prayer at the center, even the holiest work can become a crutch we use to politely excuse ourselves from time with the Lord. #BISblog //" username="lisajanelkirk"] How to Make Time for Prayer in Every Season Below, I’ve listed a few practical options that may fit well into different seasons of life. Of course, there are far more of both seasons and ways to pray than I have listed here. Read through them all to see which suggestions may work for you given your unique situation, or which types of prayer you may not have considered before. Making Time to Pray in College For perhaps the first time in your life, you have the freedom to set your own schedule (so much so that my sister used to joke that she would change her major if she was ever required to take a class before 10 A.M.). While you’ll quickly fill that blank planner with classes, study groups, clubs, and intramural sports, consider also setting aside an hour for the Lord by signing up for a weekly Holy Hour. The beauty of signing up, rather than simply saying you’ll go weekly, is that it makes that time an obligation that is much easier to stick to. Your unconventional schedule means that a time slot the church struggles to fill works perfectly for you—maybe smackdab in the middle of the workday or late at night. I had never done a Holy Hour before my freshman year of college. In the midst of a fast-paced schedule and a noisy dorm, that hour became my guaranteed opportunity to connect with God in an intentional way. Sometimes I brought a Rosary or some spiritual reading (I loved reflecting on passages from Divine Mercy in My Soul while in adoration). But often, I simply sat and tried my best to listen. This quote from Saint John Vianney continues to inspire me any time I’m before the Blessed Sacrament: When I first came to Ars, there was a man who never passed the church without going in. In the morning on his way to work, and in the evening on his way home, he left his spade and pick-ax in the porch, and he spent a long time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Oh! how I loved to see that! I asked him once what he said to Our Lord during the long visits he made Him. Do you know what he told me? ‘Eh, Monsieur le Curé I say nothing to Him, I look at Him and He looks at me!’ How beautiful, my children, how beautiful! Making Time to Pray After College I have never craved community as much as I did in my first few years after college. I had followed a job opportunity to a new city where I knew no one outside of work. I ached for the deep friendships I had experienced in college and was not sure where to start looking for them. I complained to my long-distance fiancé about how hard it was to find Catholic friends in this new place. A few months later, he finally joined me in Raleigh. He attended a men’s Rosary meeting within a week of moving...and met someone who has been one of our best friends ever since. Even if you return to your hometown or move somewhere familiar after graduation, the post-college years form a unique season that deserves fresh eyes. That makes it the perfect opportunity to seek out opportunities to pray in community. Join (or start!) a Bible study, Rosary group, small group, spiritual book club, or ministry you’re passionate about—anything that will open up the doors for fellowship and growth. Find people you can be honest with and commit to keeping one another accountable in both your group prayer and your individual prayer. Making Time to Pray When You Have Young Kids From pregnancy nausea and fatigue, to postpartum healing and around-the-clock nursing, to nap schedules and potty training, I imagine that this season involves the most frequent transitions. No two months, let alone years, look the same. We must continually pivot and adjust to changing routines and children’s needs, fighting for time to pray in the midst of it all. While I am a big proponent of waking up before your kids for a few quiet moments and at least half a cup of hot coffee, I also admit that this is not always practical (hand raised for me right now!). What I have found more reliable is designating different prayers to different times of day. That might look like a Morning Offering while you brush your teeth, an Angelus before lunch, the Divine Mercy Chaplet (or a decade of it, which only takes two minutes to say) at 3 P.M., and a Rosary (or, again, just a decade or two) before bed. I love the grace I can extend to myself with this method. Even if I miss one of my go-to prayers in the chaos of the day, I always know another is coming soon. WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Making Time to Pray When You Have Older Kids When I look at the lives of my friends who are a few years ahead of me, one theme often sticks out: many hours of that season are spent on the road. Whether you’re commuting, juggling school drop-offs and pick-ups, and/or shuttling kids to extracurriculars, many women with school-aged kids log miles in the car every day. I love the idea of embracing that time for prayer. That might look like turning up your favorite worship music, tuning into a Rosary podcast, or doing some journaling in the carpool line. It will inevitably vary depending on the day and, ahem, the mood of your young passengers, but it is worth a try if it can turn a routine drive into something so much more. Try looping a Rosary around your rearview mirror or propping up a favorite Saint’s holy card on the center console as a reminder. Making Time to Pray in Retirement While your obligations are far from few, a beautiful aspect of the empty nesting/retirement season is more control over your schedule than you have probably had in a while. This may make it the ideal time to attend daily Mass more frequently, whether that means adding it in once a week for the first time or simply ramping up your attendance. To get the most out of your time at Mass, consider praying with the daily readings ahead of time and journaling about what the Lord is revealing to you. How do you make time to pray in your current season? We would love to hear and be inspired by you! This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She! LITURGICAL PLANNERS Our Liturgical Planners are based on the Litany of Humility. Enter into prayer every day alongside this beautiful Litany. Order your days in His peace. GET YOUR PLANNER

When I called, you answered me. // Psalm 138:3 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Michelle Slough from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

The intercession of the Saints is real and powerful. Throughout my struggle with secondary infertility I have found such comfort and hope in asking the Saints’ intercession. Spiritual Support During the Struggle with Infertility Here are some of my favorite Saints, along with a few beautiful Bible verses, that have helped me during these past four years of my infertility. Even if you don’t experience infertility, please take a few minutes today to ask the intercession of these Saints and pray for the couples who do struggle with it! Bible Verses to Pray And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. // Luke 1:45 I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. // Philippians 4:13 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. // Romans 5:3-5 And he said, “At this season, when the time comes round, you shall embrace a son.” // 2 Kings 4:16 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. // Romans 12:12 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord! // Psalm 113:9 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible. // Luke 1:36-37 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake. // Philippians 1:29 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. // Romans 8:18 We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. // Romans 8:28 Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. // Psalm 37:4 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. // James 1:12 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. // 1 Peter 2:21 WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Saints To Befriend Mary Mother of God (Our Lady of La Leche, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe) Saint Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary Saints Anne and Joachim, parents of the Virgin Mary Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Saint Philomena Saint Gerard Majella Saint Raymond Nonnatus Saint Jude Saint Rita of Cascia Saint Collette of Corbie Saint Nicholas Saint Dominic de Guzmán Saint Elizabeth, mother of Saint John the Baptist Saint Casilda of Toledo Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds Saint Josemaría Escrivá Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Saint Charbel Makhlouf Holy Women, Not Yet Declared Chiara Corbella Petrillo Frances Chesterton, wife of G.K. Chesterton Blessed Joan of Aza Please share any Bible verses or Saints that would help those experiencing infertility! And please share any miracle stories or testimonies you have experienced through the Saints’ intercession in the comments below!   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

In 2005, as secret-sharing apps like Secret and Whisper were making headlines, Frank Warren’s project PostSecret, a digital chronicle, was raking greater heights. New York Times even called it "the PostSecret phenomenon." What started off as a blog asking strangers to write their "secrets" on a postcard and send it to his home, became one of internet’s most popular communities. Evidently, even people with secrets feel the need to be seen, highlighting the fundamental desire within us to be known at deeper levels. Behind the Scenes I was no stranger to secrets. My childhood was turbulent, to say the least. Rage, verbal abuse, control, and resentment prevailed in my home. My parents were Catholic in name only. They constantly fought and threatened to leave the marriage. As a child, this affected me deeply and thinking I could keep the family together, I made every attempt to please them. These efforts were a resounding failure and only succeeded in piercing my young heart with deep emotional wounds. By the time I was 14, I learnt new ways to please and put on masks to hide the insecurities within me. Darkness became a haven and patterns like promiscuity, addictions, and buried anger propelled me to keep dangerous secrets. Reflecting back, I see how I tried to have my emotional needs gratified by others. Seeking marital or family therapy is taboo and therefore not an option in our Indian culture. We immediately reason “log kya kehenge” (What will people say?). It reigns supreme in regulating our decisions and drives to protect any vulnerability lest we be met with judgment. My secrets not only kept me enchained but also brought deep shame, creating a sense of worthlessness within me. I was constantly seeking to be seen, but constantly hiding. Empty and Void My life was devoid of a spiritual base. I lived in a polytheistic culture where it was easy to accept that different paths led to the same end. I concluded Catholicism to be a religion based on fearful obedience. Looking through my lens of brokenness, a God who cared personally for me seemed unreal. Yet the pain I felt was very real. I rejected God and chose atheism. Little did I know that when I rejected God, I rejected all that is beautiful, all that is fully human, and succumbed to a life of lies believing that purity was not an option and that genuine love was out of my reach. The more I sought to deny pain, the more it cut deeply into who I was. At 18 years old, I attempted to take my life. Not once, but three times. Truth Revealed I moved to the Middle East in 2004 where loneliness and depression took on greater depths. But it was here, amidst this spiritual wasteland, that God deeply intervened in my life. By divine orchestration, I crossed paths with a brother who candidly shared the Gospel with me. One afternoon, he poignantly pointed to the quest of my soul: “What do you want? Don’t you want more in life Michelle?" Those words pierced my heart like a sword. He was right. I had believed the lies for so long, but my spirit could not escape the unrelenting approach of the One who had pursued me all those years, whose presence I had so earnestly sought to hide from. That afternoon, God’s relentless love was palpable through the presence of this genuine man. I was tempted to refute God again, but found myself yielding, silently admitting that God was God and followed this brother to a prayer meeting. A few weeks later, I responded to an altar call and gave my life to Jesus Christ. In the moment of that encounter, as the elder laid hands on me, I felt an overwhelming surge of God’s love, the Power of the Holy Spirit pouring over me like an electric current, filling every sense of my being. Found I had learned to skillfully hide my emotions, but at that moment I was weeping like a child, weeping for my years of lostness. All that my intellectual mind had refuted about God, now in a moment of His Glory, the scales of my eyes were removed and I could see. God was real and He was Father. I was finally home; not afraid to be seen anymore. That dramatic encounter 16 years ago began many years of wrestling in prayer for this truth to permeate every part of my human existence and continues to this very day. Knowledge without Shame One of my favorite invitations to be “seen” is found in John’s Gospel where Jesus encounters the woman at the well. Her life could be my life. Hers is a life of many secrets, too painful to sit with in the open. Her shame is tragic even as it is scandalous, stemming from deep pain. She has been hiding from the crowds; hiding from her mistakes, her worthlessness, and deep shame. Yet in her brief encounter with Jesus, Who asks her for a drink, her secrets are exposed, not for the sake of shaming her but to bring her total and complete freedom. As Jesus uncovers the deepest parts of her well, she is able to “see” him. She sees because He has first seen her. Unlike the men in her past, this Man offers her something of incomparable worth. He has seen her at her worst, accepts her, and then gently allows her to see herself through His lens. She sees herself for the first time: worthy, significant, beautiful and dignified. She discovers that His love is authentic and fierce. He doesn’t just desire to address her wounds; He desires to restore her life. His love calls her out from within to call her forward into purpose, power, and destiny. Fully Seen and Fully Loved Notice what happens when shame and fear is gone: she is freed up. John 4:28 tells us that in exchange for the Living Water, she leaves her water pot behind, symbolic of her hidden life, and runs to the very place of her brokenness to declare a new kind of beauty. She issues them the same invitation: Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! -John 4:29 In Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions, this woman is venerated as a saint with the name "Photine" which means "the Luminous One." The Fire of the Spirit set ablaze not just her life but also the entire village through her courageous witness. Her name is so fitting—she is in the Light, not afraid to be fully seen, because she is fully known and fully loved. Brokenness to Beauty Have you had your epiphany moment? Do you need to see yourself with new eyes as did the woman at the well? Are you longing for a better way? Are you hiding? Take heart. Jesus does not play games with us. His knowledge brings dignity and His Truth brings freedom to be known at deep levels of our human complexity. He does not rewind our past, He redeems it. In the economy of grace, nothing of your life is wasted. [bctt tweet="Jesus does not rewind our past, He redeems it. In the economy of grace, nothing of your life is wasted. #BISblog //" via="no"] Today, God has used my brokenness to bring beauty to so many women whose lives are scarred with life’s bitter circumstances and mistakes, especially women in my culture. To be fully seen without reserve is liberating. I am humbled to see what God is able to do with our wounds. Wounds result in scars, but those scars become the very stories that can change our world! Made New We are made for so much more than secrets and brokenness. Healing and freedom are real and love is not a prize to be won but a sacred gift to be received and cherished. Running and hiding does not heal any hurt. Turning to Christ does. And as we groan within ourselves, waiting for the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23), waiting for the day when all will be made new (Revelation 21:4), here and now, we are invited to come to the Cross where true resurrection takes place. Here, we see a glimmer of that eternity that is ours, through the redemptive healing power of the Cross. Here we see even as we are seen, here we behold even as we are loved. Come and “see” a man who told me everything I have ever done!   [bctt tweet="Seen and Loved: My Conversion from Atheism to Catholicism #BISblog //" via="no"]   Michelle Karen D’Silva is a Catholic speaker based in the small little peninsula of Qatar. With an immense passion for discipleship and youth, she finds herself most at home when laughing and conversing with young people over karak and hummus. She is a huge (almost stalker-level) fan of Pope Benedict XVI who constantly inspires her to live out the “call to greatness” as a woman in ministry, wife to a doting hubby, and mama to two constantly hungry sheep. Find out more about her here.

For the past seven months, I have been part of a coaching group that supports me in attaining some personal health goals. Recently, the group went through a significant and sudden change in how it is organized and how it operates. When I initially heard about the change, I was upset. The group seemed fine just the way it was, and I did not see a need for change. In fact, I liked my group; I was comfortable with it. But ultimately, the change was not up to me. So, I had to decide if I wanted to trust the powers at be and adapt to the change, or protest the change and leave the group. While I mourned the loss of my former group, I decided to accept the change. And while I still miss many things about my old group, the elements that made it so helpful remain: support, encouragement, and accountability. The structural change also helped me see that over the last several months, I have grown stronger and more confident in my own abilities. I don’t need the group in the same way that I needed it when I first started. Perhaps I would not have realized this had the group not changed. Life is Full of Change, Uncertainty, and Unknowns No matter how well prepared we are, no matter how much we plan and organize, life is full of unexpected change, uncertainty, and unknowns. Sometimes, we welcome change, such as in the natural and liturgical seasons. By the end of one season, who is excited for the transition into the next? We anticipate change, like the ones we experience in the weather. We keep an umbrella in the car and pack an extra sweater in our bag. Then, there are changes that surprise us and shake us out of our comfort zone, like the change to my coaching group, moving houses, or starting a new school. And of course, there are those experiences that change our reality in drastic ways, such as a serious illness, a job loss, or the death of a loved one. Moving through Change When change (or an uncertain or unknown situation) comes out of nowhere, when it catches us off guard, we can easily feel overwhelmed. Knowing intellectually that change is possible does not make it easier to deal with when it happens. We still experience shock. We still go through stages of grief. We still feel various emotions. No matter what the change is—good or bad, big or small—we need time to adjust, reach a point of acceptance, and surrender it to the Lord. But how do we let go of the familiar or what used to be? How do we surrender? How do we trust that maybe the change, while unexpected, will draw us closer to God and deepen our interior life? WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Prayers for Surrender Below is a list of Scripture verses, prayers, and spiritual books to accompany us, as we experience life changes (big or small) and as we desire to surrender every aspect of our lives more fully to the Lord. Scripture Verses Joshua 1:9 // “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Job 1:21 // “... the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Psalm 56:3 // “... when I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 62 // A song of trust in God alone Jeremiah 17:7-8 // “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.” John 14:27 // “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you ... Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” Romans 8:28 // “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 12:1-2 // “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 1 Peter 5:7 // “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” Catholic Prayers The Lord’s Prayer, or The Our Father, may be the most popular prayer of surrender. In it, we trustingly pray for God's will to be done—whatever it may be. The Suscipe was written by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Traditionally, it is prayed at the end of a Spiritual Exercises retreat, but it can be prayed at any point in life, when there is a need for greater entrustment and surrender to God. Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, All I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me. Thomas Merton, an American Trappist monk, penned a prayer of surrender. It is considered a prayer of abandonment. The Surrender Novena is a nine-day prayer that asks Jesus to “take care of everything.” It was written by Servant of God Dolindo Ruotolo, an Italian priest, stigmatist, and for a time, Saint Pio’s spiritual director. In the novena’s daily prayers, it is as if Jesus is speaking directly to the praying person, and she responds by surrendering herself into His care. Spiritual Books on Surrender Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade Everything is Yours: How Giving God Your Whole Heart Changes Your Whole Life by Kris Camealy Into Your Hands, Father: Abandoning Ourselves to the God Who Loves Us by Father Wilfrid Stinissen Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence: The Secret of Peace and Happiness by Father Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure and Blessed Claude de la Colombière How have you learned to entrust God with unexpected changes that come your way? How have you grown in your ability to surrender to the Lord?   [bctt tweet="Prayers for Surrender #BISblog //" via="no"] This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She! 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

I hate fasting. To be completely honest, I’ve felt a little bit grateful that I’ve gotten out of the Ash Wednesday and Good Friday fasts for the last two years due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. Don’t get me wrong, I do a different kind of penance on those days, like abstaining from sweets or social media. But the two small meals that don’t equal a full meal and one regular sized meal fast...that’s a tough one. I’m a bit of a “grazer,” so on days when I have to forego my second and third breakfasts, my body echoes the words in Romans 7:24: “Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?” Yet, as uncomfortable as fasting is, I do not want to be overcome by my fleshly desires, also known as concupiscence, and I try (sadly, I do not write this as an expert) to offer up my small suffering and unite it with Jesus on the Cross. As St. Alphonsus Ligouri said: He that gratifies the taste will readily indulge the other senses; for, having lost the spirit of recollection, he will easily commit faults. I want to have a strong back-bone. I want to grow in self-mastery. I do not want to be a slave to my passions. I want to embrace the attitude of Saint John Chrysostom who said: Fasting is wonderful, because it tramples our sins like a dirty weed, while it cultivates and raises truth like a flower. Biblical Roots of Fasting Again and again the Bible encourages the practice of fasting. Old Testament As early as the second book of the Bible, Exodus, (and the prophet Elijah in the book of Kings) we read about Moses’ fast in the desert. A time set apart in order to dwell in the midst of God’s glory on Mount Sinai as he wrote the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34:28 “So Moses was there with the Lord for forty days and forty nights, without eating any food or drinking any water, and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten words.” We also know that the Jewish people in the nation of Israel kept fast on the Day of Atonement, also known as Yom Kippur. Leviticus 16:30 “For on this day atonement is made for you to make you clean; of all your sins you will be cleansed before the Lord”." The temptation the Israelites experienced in the desert foreshadows the forty day fast of Jesus in the desert. Deuteronomy 8:2 “Remember how for these forty years the Lord, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness, so as to test you by affliction, to know what was in your heart: to keep his commandments, or not.” New Testament It’s not that the things of the world, namely food and drink, are bad. Everything that God created is good simply because He created it. Therefore, when we fast, we are not giving something up because it is bad, but rather we are giving it up because it is good. By giving up something good, we are practicing self control so that we can more easily say no to temptation. We are strengthening our will. Matthew 4:2 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.” Galatians 5:24 “Now those who belong to Christ (Jesus) have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.” Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Spiritual Fruits of Fasting Fasting Brings Governance I recently heard a priest speak about fasting this way. He said that as humans, we have a rational soul which is made up of our intellect and our will. We also have freedom. We fast because by practicing looking at something we desire, like a piece of chocolate cake, and saying no to it, we are working out our spiritual muscles. We are using our God given intellect and will to say “no” to something good, so that when sin presents itself as something else we desire, we have the strength to say “no,” and to do so more easily. We are then bringing honor and glory to God by using our intellect and will to govern our desires, therefore overcoming concupiscence. Fasting Makes Room For me, a challenging but very tangible way for me to refocus my gaze on Jesus is by fasting from my phone. Have you ever forgotten your phone on your way to work or school and immediately panicked, but then later realized that not having your phone served as a kind of retreat? Too often I allow a little screen to suck me away from the beauty of the present. I look through a screen as an observer of someone else’s reality instead of seeing with my eyes the wonder of my own. In each moment when I notice the inclination to reach for my phone, I am reminded that I can use those few seconds to pray a Hail Mary or look out the window in gratitude for God's creation. When I turn to my phone I am left feeling scattered. When I turn to my Creator, I am left feeling more peaceful and at rest. Fasting from my phone makes room for more of my life and more of God’s life in my life. When To Fast? As Catholics, we are required to fast during the holy season of Lent. In addition, as she teaches us in the Code of Canon Law, we are also called to fast each Friday of the year. In Canon 1251 it reads: Abstinence from eating meat or some other food according to the prescripts of the conference of bishops is to be observed. While the practice of fasting during Lent and on Fridays is laid out for us by the Church, we can practice this spiritual disciple at any time of year. Fasting doesn’t always have to be an intense day of two small meals and one large meal. Fasting can include saying no to dessert or to adding cream to your coffee. The way I have been fasting lately is by choosing to shut the pantry door as I am about to pour myself a bowl of popcorn. At the moment of reaching to grab the snack, I am focused on how my taste buds are about to be delighted. But then I think of a prayer intention on my heart and choose to say “no” to my flesh and offer it up for that specific person or prayer request. Through these small acts of denying my passions, I notice I am calling my heart and mind to Jesus just a little more each time. Is the Lord asking you to say “no” to something? Through this practice of self-denial He is calling you to Himself. What is He inviting you to wonder in?   [bctt tweet="The Spiritual Practice of Fasting (+ Its Fruits) #BISblog //" via="no"]

After I graduated from college, I ached for community. During my time at university, I was active in Bible studies and small group settings. These fed my soul. Once I departed that greenhouse experience and entered the adult world, I felt a little lost. In the midst of transitioning into adulthood, applying for and adjusting to new jobs, and making major vocational decisions, I desperately missed my community groups that were rooted in the Faith. I dabbled here and there in book clubs and girls' nights with other faithful, Catholic women. But I yearned for—I needed—to stretch my roots even deeper into the Word of God. At a time when I was walking paths that would direct the course of the rest of my life, I needed Scripture, the Truth of the Church, and good women to walk alongside me. When I opened the newest young adult Bible study for women from Walking with Purpose (a favorite here at Blessed is She), I knew that this is what I needed then...and what I need now. Opening Your Heart... During times of decision-making, our identities need to be firmly rooted in Christ. When we're uncertain or impatient, the Word of God remains unchanging and ever-new. If our heads are filled with voices shouting various opinions and hot-takes, we need the unshakeable voice of the Catholic Church. In times of crisis and suffering, we need the wisdom of the Saints. And that's what this new series, Opening Your Heart, makes available to us. In my very-early twenties, when I longed for depth of study and friendship, I needed this. Now, nearly a decade later, I long for the same things. Perhaps in an even greater way, our present realities are made easier to bear with the foundation of Truth and holy community. Maybe these last several months have left you lonely and exhausted. Perhaps you're eyes are tired from looking down at a screen—move them up toward the Light. Maybe you're mind is weary from making decisions you never thought you'd have to make—renew your mind by meditating on Scripture. Maybe your will feels weak—strengthen it through the teachings of the Church and the encouragement of the Saints. ...with Christ and with Community One thing I'm struck most by this study is its approach to sharing in community. It can be challenging to let a new group of women into your heart. It's vulnerable to share about your relationship with Christ—whether it's thriving or dwindling. We've all been a part of a small group in which a few discussion questions are asked and we all sit...silent...smiling...staring at each other. It's tough to open our hearts to one another. The beautiful thing about this study is that the questions are geared toward understanding the Scripture and what the Church says about it (more on the structure below!). So, when done in a group setting, these questions are wonderful conversation starters because they have concrete answers. But what you'll find is that having the vocabulary of concrete answers often paves the way to more questions, shared experiences, additional explanations, and authentic conversation. I'm very excited about this aspect. Not only does the content of this study help us open our hearts more with each other, that opening is at the service of the greater embrace—intimacy with Christ. Praying through this study has led me to encounter after encounter with the Godhead, the One Who loves and saves me. A Catholic Young Adult Bible Study for Women I think you will find great inspiration in the Opening Your Heart series. You could easily do this study with a small group. And "small group" can mean anything from your best friend, to your regular parish small group, to a group of women in your neighborhood, to virtual meeting with your #BISsisterhood around the country. This study lends itself to a variety of approaches and group settings. However, you can also do this study on your own. In fact, that's how I prayed through it. It has been immensely impactful and has fanned the flame of my prayer life. Flexible to Fit Your Life + Soul The Opening Your Heart series is divided into three parts (and three separate books). Each part can stand alone, or you can complete them one after the other. From the introduction: Each six-week Bible study integrates Scripture with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church to point us to principles that help us manage life's pace and pressure while living with calm and steadiness. Each week is divided into five "days" in which we read and meditate upon Scripture. These also included a teaching passage written by Lisa Brenninkmeyer, a powerhouse disciple of Jesus Christ and your new imaginary big sister. Finally, there is an answer key in the back. This provides extra clarification and a deep-dive on Church teaching. So what topics does this series cover? Let's look at the three individual parts. Beloved // What Difference Does it Make? This part helps us know Who God is in His essence, and in His relationship to us. Lessons about God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit move us closer to the Heart of God and reveal our identities in Him. Reflections on prayer and grace help us see why relationship with Him makes all the difference in our lives. Unshaken // Solid Ground Upon Which to Stand As we look at the ever-real spiritual battle taking place around and within us, we turn to the mercies of God that strengthen us. The Eucharist, Confession, Our Lady, Sacred Scripture, and the Church are studied in a way that reaches beyond mere apologetics. Get ready for your spiritual dugout to deepen. Steadfast // Put On Your Armor and Pick Up Your Weapons Part three brings it all home by claiming our identities. It leads us in naming, facing, and conquering our fears so that we can be truly transformed. We'll learn how to receive forgiveness and how to suffer with purpose. Finally, we're sent off with practical help and encouragement for reading God's Word and making it a part of your daily prayer. A Series for Now Now is the time to soak in God's Word. Now is the time to root ourselves more firmly in the teachings of the Church. And now is the time to form deeper connections with the Body of Christ—the Saints in Heaven and our sisters here with us. In this spirit of sisterhood, Walking with Purpose is offering our BIS community free shipping* for the month of August on any of their six Bible studies for young women. We are so grateful for their generosity. We can't wait to hear how the Opening Your Heart series helps you do just that. Have you read a Bible study from Walking with Purpose before? Which of your friends would want to pray with through the Opening Your Heart series?   [bctt tweet="A Catholic Young Adult Bible Study for Women, Sure to Open Your Heart #BISblog //" via="no"] *shipping is free to addresses in the United States and Canada This blog post is sponsored by Walking with Purpose.

One of my favorite things to do as a mom is to watch our three children at the beach. Through the years I’ve watched the kids go from being barely able to sit up in the sand, to crawling around eating sand, to the glorious year they can stand on their feet and put their toes in the water. With each passing year, their physical development and their courage allow them to enter deeper and deeper into the ocean. Where once they stayed close to shore with only inches of water covering their legs, my son, Brady, and my daughter, Abby, now head to waters deeper than their bodies can stand in. Our youngest daughter, Mary, still likes to stay close to the shore where her feet solidly touch the ground. I sometimes stand on the sandy shore fiercely watching my older two as they make stroke after stroke in the waters where their feet do not touch bottom. At times I want to call them back because of how deep they are willing to go. Sometimes, to be honest, I do just that because the fear of how deep they are overwhelms me. Other times I take a deep breath and try to remember that they both know the water’s movements, and they have the skills to not only survive but thrive and enjoy the swim. The Beach of Prayer Our relationship with God in prayer reminds me of watching my children on the beach. Our prayer lives begin with us on the sandy shore with Jesus at our side, just thrilled to be with us. He is there whether or not we are aware that He longs to be in relationship with us. At some point, we perceive His presence. I can imagine Him standing with us on the beach, pointing into the ocean of endless possibilities of our relationship with God and asking us, "Are you ready to go into the waters? Do you want to go deeper?" Even though Jesus is right there with us, pointing the way, it is also as if the ocean of spiritual possibility beckons us to enter, awakening in us that same desire to put out into the deep, as it does my kids when they swim. It reminds me of the line in the Psalms, “Deep calls to deep” (Psalm 42:7). This beckoning and searching we feel is the Holy Spirit inviting us and drawing us ever deeper into our relationship with God. This deep down desire is just one of many indications that God longs for us. Stepping into the Ocean When we first enter the waters of relationship with God, we are similar to my kids when they could barely sit up on the beach without help. The waters of faith may feel both exciting and scary. We need extra support in our beginning moments of faith. I would guess that most of us have had teachers and those who modeled for us how to pray. Perhaps we have been immersed in a faith community that held us up in our relationship with God through the liturgical and communal life, wrapping and supporting us through the spoken memorized and communal prayers. As time progresses, we have become more familiar with living a life of faith. As Jesus invites us to go deeper, we are more comfortable to say yes as we lean more and more on the practices of our faith. Two Things to Anchor Us There are two important things for us to remember about this invitation from Jesus to enter the waters of faith. First, He never leaves our side. We are always accompanied by Him. Second, He is always inviting us to go deeper, eventually drawing us into water where we can no longer touch the bottom, and we are invited to even go under and swim in the quiet waters below the surface. No matter where we are in our faith journey, there is more to learn and explore in our relationship with God. WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Let's Go to the Inner Chapel The “inner chapel” is simply a place within each of us where God dwells and where we can meet God. Let’s begin with a short reflection. Perhaps at this moment you are standing in ankle-deep or knee-deep water. Maybe you’ve taken steps further out, and you are up to your shoulders and head. Maybe you are even at the point that your feet do not touch the bottom anymore, and you are swimming in deeper water, trusting both God’s movement in your life and learning new practices of our faith that support your ever-growing relationship with God. One thing is for certain. It’s amazing to know that no matter where we are on this “ocean adventure,” we are not alone. We are supported. We are accompanied. Jesus is with us. We are even being prayed for by the Holy Spirit to help us enter the water or swim deeper. Ocean Reflection I invite you right now to pause and bring to mind the image of an ocean. Where are you in your relationship with God? Are you standing on the sandy shore with Jesus beside you, inviting you in? Are you in inch-deep water? Up to your ankles? Knees? Shoulders? In water so deep that you are not able to touch the ocean floor? Notice where you are. At the same time, where do you feel the magnetic pull of the Holy Spirit inviting you to go? Where do you feel God inviting you to go? Where do you notice Jesus pointing you and showing you the way? Notice, too, where you feel you want to go. Do you want to say yes to the invitation? Perhaps you want to turn and run back along the familiar path you’ve been on and return to the safety of shore, as both of our girls did at first when they entered the ocean. Wherever you are, it is okay. Wherever you are at this moment, there are also two things to remember. God is with you right where you are. And God is inviting you and wants you to go deeper. I’m reminded of the Gospel story in which Jesus invites his disciples to toss nets by “putting out into the deep” (Luke 5:4). How are you experiencing God inviting you to “put out into the deep”? No matter where you are, know that there are prayer practices to support you—where you are and also where God is inviting you to go. Embracing the Promises of God These Scriptures can encourage you as you read them and pray with them. • Psalm 42:1–7 // “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God for the living God” • Luke 5:1–11 // Jesus invites Simon to put his nets out into the deep. • Jeremiah 29:11–14 // “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me.”   [bctt tweet="Spiritual Growth is Like Stepping into the Ocean #BISblog //" via="no"]   Excerpt adapted from The Inner Chapel: Embracing the Promises of God by Becky Eldredge. © 2020 Becky Eldredge. Published by Loyola Press. Used with permission.

Edith Stein was a German-Jewish woman, a Catholic convert, a Carmelite nun, and a respected philosopher. Killed in a German concentration camp in 1942, Edith Stein is revered as a martyr. In order to understand the reality of Edith Stein, it is necessary to view her life, her spirituality, and her writings, in light of her melancholic temperament. An understanding of her melancholic temperament sheds light upon Edith Stein’s path to sanctity as she serves as an incredible example of the melancholic temperament culminated in sainthood. The four temperaments (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic) originated thousands of years ago. Hippocrates, the first to develop personality theory, established the four temperaments according to four type of fluids of the body. Modern scientists have since expanded on personality and temperament theories and the four temperaments have been used to provide insight into human nature. The Depth and Desire of a Melancholic Edith Stein, as evidenced from her actions, her writings, as well as others’ recollections of her, was a melancholic. The melancholic temperament is characterized by perfectionism and idealism. The melancholic longs for perfection and tends to struggle with depression and pessimism. Even as a child, Edith had a rich interior life. She felt emotions keenly but was unable to express any of what she experienced. At a young age, Edith already felt a void within herself. Comparing her interior world unfavorably with the real world caused Edith to turn toward herself. It was only when she found Christ and could unite her sufferings to Him that Edith found peace. Edith’s idealistic nature gave her a drive and determination beyond that of the average student. She wanted to seek truth and she was determined to find answers for the problems which plagued her. In university, Edith struggled to remain indifferent to the current social and political problems. The state of humanity was a constant source of worry for Edith. The Struggle Edith continued to suffer from poor health as a result of emotional and spiritual conflict during her young adult years. Her temperament unperfected and immature, Edith struggled with the seemingly dark nature of the world. Yet, despite whatever inner tension Edith faced, she always managed to be kind and cheerful for her friends and family. She felt that she could not reveal the inner turmoil happening in her soul. As Edith began to pursue philosophy and writing under the guidance of mentor Edmund Husserl, her health began to suffer due to overwork. Edith recalls, “there was a long period during which I totally lost all appetite, and this recurred nearly every year thereafter. I lost about twenty pounds in a very short time.” This alarming description of her health exemplifies Edith’s determination and sense of duty, two vital aspects of her temperament. The melancholic, characteristically appearing smaller and weaker than some of the other temperaments, tends to be prone to small yet draining illnesses. Longing for Rest In 1916, Edith received her Ph.D in Philosophy at age 24. All of Edith’s work in Academia further illustrate her search for truth and peace which plagued her soul. Despite her success in the academic world, much of Edith’s young adult life was characterized by what she calls “her deplorable state.” In a letter to an academic mentor, Edith reflects back on this period of her life. “That condition lasted for years until I found the place where there is rest and peace for all restless hearts.” For years, Edith had struggled against her transcendent desire for truth and goodness. The world only sought to disappoint her. In Christ, however, Edith found the Person to Whom she could surrender herself. She was already His. Edith’s experience corresponds with Art and Laraine Bennett’s assertion that the melancholic, drawn to the highest of ideals, “should focus on personal intimacy with Christ” because nothing else satisfy. Conviction and Conversion Despite Edith’s joy at finding Truth, she struggled with the knowledge that her conversion would pain her family. Consider the enormity of Edith’s action: she was denying the faith of her family and her people at a pivotal point in history. Yet, she continued on in complete faith. Soon after Edith’s conversion, she wanted to become a Carmelite nun. However, both due to the advice of her spiritual director and her mother, Edith decided to wait. Waiting was incredibly difficult for Edith. Diligent, determined, and idealistic, Edith felt she was a stranger in the outside world. Yet, her strong sense of duty prevented her from taking this course of action though she was longing to devote herself completely to Christ. When Edith was finally able to enter Carmel in 1933, she was 42 years old. She took the name Sr. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Entering Carmel was Edith’s response to the truth and the ideals which she had sought for so long. Her melancholic temperament, predisposing her to scrupulosity and doubt, was calmed in Christ. She surrendered her will to God, allowing him to transform her. Her Religious Name Edith’s religious name, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, points to Edith’s spirituality. The “Teresa” and “Benedicta” aspects were chosen for Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Benedict of Nursia. “Of the Cross” alludes to her devotion to the Cross of Christ, the highest ideal in Christianity. Edith, who desired so wholeheartedly to become united personally and irrevocably with Christ, viewed the vocation of every Christian as to help Him carry the Cross. For Edith, joy was not possible without partaking in Christ’s suffering. It is only through participation in the Passion that one can achieve true joy. Edith writes: helping Christ carry his cross fills one with a strong and pure joy, and those who may and can do so, the builders of God’s kingdom, are the most authentic children of God. For Edith, a relationship with Christ did not just consist of merely consolation or even prayer. Relationship with Christ meant choosing to be crucified beside Him. [bctt tweet="Helping Christ carry his cross fills one with a strong and pure joy... -Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross #BISblog //" via="no"] Personality Purified and Perfected In 1942, Edith, along with her sister Rosa, who had join Edith in Catholicism after the death of their mother, were taken by the Nazis. Edith’s reported last words, as she and Rosa were taken by the Gestapo were, “Come, let us go for our people.” She was unafraid. Eyewitnesses report that Edith was distinguished by her silence. Edith, sorrowful to the depths of her soul, intuitively aware of all the pain of those around her, was described as carrying “so much pain that it hurt to see her smile.” Edith and Rosa Stein are reported to have been killed in the gas chambers on August 9th, 1942. Edith Stein provides an incredible example of a melancholic Saint. Understanding her natural preferences and inclinations provides greater insight into Edith’s journey toward Christ. Her high ideals and determination for truth were fulfilled in Christ. She struggled with depression and doubts, but she chose to follow Christ in blind faith. She trusted Him to the point of martyrdom. Edith’s melancholic temperament was perfected through her faith and allowed her to ultimately ascend the Cross beside Christ. She offers a stunning example of the melancholic temperament perfected in sainthood. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us.   [bctt tweet="Edith Stein: Hope for the Melancholic #BISblog //" via="no"]   Mary Grace, born and raised a Texas girl, recently graduated from Benedictine College with a major in Evangelization and Catechesis. She is a dancer, a writer, and a wanna-be explorer. Mary Grace loves to spend her spare time choreographing dances, going on runs, practicing calligraphy, and searching for the best chai tea latte. She is doing her best to go wherever God calls her whether it be Oklahoma, Kansas, Ireland, or back to Texas. Mary Grace is currently living her dream of serving the Church by working as the Marketing and Communications Assistant at a parish in Frisco, Texas. Find out more about her here.