I walked along the edge of the water, approaching the park bench with trepidation. The sun reflected off the lake and covered the top of the water in bright bursts of light. The day was warm and lovely. However, amid the beauty my dear friend sat, hunched on the bench, shoulders shaking as she sobbed uncontrollably. Her eyes were swollen and bleary. Her face etched with anguish. She was experiencing deep suffering in her marriage. Remembering the Holy Spirit As I sat beside her, she placed her trembling hand in mine. Her words spilled out and her tears flowed. I felt myself trying to catch everything she was saying. Trying to think of a way to respond that would ease her burden. Trying to hold this sorrow-filled conversation in my inadequate hands. Doubt and apprehension seeped into my heart. I was worried I would say the wrong thing. Worried that my lack of wisdom would further wound her heart. However, the warmth from the summer breeze reminded me of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It reminded me of the great Helper, who blessed the Apostles with tongues of fire. By the power of the Holy Spirit they went forth and proclaimed the Gospel with their hearts enflamed with His gifts. This is the same Spirit that we meet as the healing waters of Baptism flow over our heads. The same Spirit that is nourished within us when we receive the Eucharist. The same Spirit that we are sealed with at our Confirmation. Asking for His Gifts The gifts of the Holy Spirit—wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord—are supernatural graces that are available to us. In that moment, I needed to be reminded of the power of the Holy Spirit. I needed the reminder to ask Him to sanctify my words, to sanctify that conversation, and to bless my tongue with His holy fire so that I would say what He desired. I needed to ask Him to bless and move in my every thought and pray by His power my words would be a healing balm to my friend. The Holy Spirit, the mighty Comforter, was with us. How would our conversations go if we intentionally invited the Holy Spirit to guide us? If we asked for a generous outpouring of His gifts before we spoke? Imagine how arguments, misunderstandings, and all the challenging conversations that we encounter in daily life would be transformed and anointed. Not Relying on Our Own Strength We can feel a deep sense of worry, confusion, or frustration when we must discuss something difficult or painful. In our overwhelm, our words might be laced with anger, or escape us completely as we find ourselves sinking into the abyss of uncertainty. Uncertainty about how to approach a conversation in a way that is loving and charitable. Uncertainty about how to comfort someone who is hurting. Uncertainty about how to share our own hearts, especially when we are deeply longing to do so. Praying for an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and opening our hearts to be receptive to His movements and promptings will bless our conversations. A Daily Practice How do we do this in a practical sense? Stay close to the Sacraments. The Sacraments shower us with grace, which allows these gifts to grow deep roots in the rich soil of our souls. Think of the sweet, life-giving breath of Jesus entering your soul and enkindling the Spirit within you. Each time you receive His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity your soul is set ablaze with His love. Each time you approach the Sacrament of Penance, and His healing mercy floods your repentant heart, your soul is set ablaze with His love. I also encourage you to cultivate silence in your daily life. I know this is challenging in our very noisy world. Noise seems to intrude whether we desire it or not. Our lives feel full and busy. We may have little ones to tend to, work to finish, meetings to attend, and people to serve. I share this same struggle. Give yourself grace, and even if you are setting aside only a few minutes of silence at a time initially, trust in what Jesus can do with that time. Stepping away from the noise and entering prayerful silence gives us the chance to recognize the movements of the Holy Spirit. Silence allows us to see all the beautiful ways that gifts of the Holy Spirit are pouring into our souls and gives us the space to nurture them with prayer. We become more attentive listeners, and we can have conversations that are pleasing to the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify your day. Ask Him to sanctify your words and your thoughts. Ask for the fire of His love to be on your tongue as you speak. Ask Him to be present in every conversation and to help you speak in a way that glorifies God. Turn to the Spirit, sisters. Turn with your whole heart. Our Lord is a generous giver. He desires to make you holy. He desires to give you the graces you need to become a saint. Come, Holy Spirit. Have you ever seen the help of the Holy Spirit in the midst of a difficult conversation?   [bctt tweet="How to Bring the Gifts of the Holy Spirit into Hard Conversations #BISblog //" via="no"]

It may bear fruit in the future. // Luke 13:9 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Our devotion for the spouse of Mother Mary should not have ended with the conclusion of the Year of Saint Joseph. Rather, it should continue to blossom and unfold each day of every year. Saint Joseph is a powerful intercessor, a strong heavenly friend, and a witness to holiness. Ways to Show Devotion to Saint Joseph Here are some ways that we can foster our relationship with the head of the Holy Family. Consecration to Saint Joseph One of the most spiritually transformative experiences that I have had is consecrating myself, my family, and all of my belongings to Jesus through the intercession of Saint Joseph. I did this through Father Donald H. Calloway’s book, Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father. It was a powerful experience and I continue to see many fruits of this consecration in my life today. This book is a more formal consecration, consisting of thirty-three days of prayerful preparation prior to your consecration day. Though I strongly recommend Father Calloway’s book due to its spiritual benefits, you don’t need to practice something so ceremonious prior to consecration. A simple prayer, like this one from Saint Bernardine of Siena, also consecrates you to Jesus through Saint Joseph: O my beloved Saint Joseph, adopt me as thy child. Take charge of my salvation; watch over me day and night; preserve me from occasions of sin; obtain for me purity of body. Through thy intercession with Jesus, grant me a spirit of sacrifice, humility, self-denial, burning love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet and tender love for Mary, my mother. Saint Joseph, be with me living, be with me dying, and obtain for me a favorable judgment from Jesus, my merciful Savior. Amen. Whatever form of consecration you choose, remember, you are entrusting yourself and all you own to Jesus through the protection of Saint Joseph. Jesus did just that as He lived in Nazareth, and it would do our souls well to do the same! Honor Our Lady Whenever I am honored, my husband is honored. Whenever my husband is honored, I am, too. It is a beautiful mystery that when spouses are married, they become one. We draw closer to Saint Joseph when we show his spouse love. We can do this through: Pondering Scripture about Mother Mary. Praying a Rosary. Wearing a Scapular. Going on a Marian Pilgrimage. Consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary. Going to Mass on Saturday mornings in honor of her weekly Feast. Teaching children the Hail Mary. Images in Our Home After consecrating my family to Saint Joseph, we put a large image up of the Holy Family in our home. As I walk by it each day, this picture reminds me of the virtues of Saint Joseph and beckons me to strive for holiness. This image of the Holy Family also serves as a witness to those who enter into our home. Recently, when a repairman came into our home, he saw the image and shared with me that he had not been to church in a long time. I told him that he is always welcome to come back. Holy images in our homes bless our own families, and all those who we welcome into our space. Here are some of my favorite images of Saint Joseph to put in the place where you dwell: This Holy Family Candle St. Joseph, Patron of the Church Image Three Hearts Holy Family Framed Print (use code CLAIRE for discount!) The Sleeping St. Joseph Statue Pray There are many beautiful prayers composed in honor of Saint Joseph. His litany is a powerful one to pray, as is my favorite, the Holy Cloak Novena. This novena is a Carmelite tradition and is prayed for thirty days. This prayer of protection and intercession is powerful: O Glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, you who were chosen by God above all men to be the earthly head of the most holy of families, I beseech you to accept me within the folds of your holy cloak, that you may become the guardian and custodian of my soul. From this moment on, I choose you as my father, my protector, my counselor, my patron, and I beseech you to place in your custody my body, my soul, all that I am, all that I possess, my life, and my death. Look upon me as one of your children; defend me from the treachery of my enemies, invisible or otherwise, assist me at all times in all my necessities; console me in the bitterness of my life, and especially at the hour of my death. Say but one word for me to the Divine Redeemer whom you were deemed worthy to hold in your arms, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, your most chaste spouse. Request for me those blessings which will lead me to salvation. Include me amongst those who are most dear to you and I shall set forth to prove myself worthy of your special patronage. Amen. Learn From the School of Saints Throughout Church history, God raised up men and women who found favor through their devotion to Saint Joseph. Researching their stories, learning about them, and imitating how they practiced devotion to Jesus’ earthly father will help us grow in holiness. Here are some Saints who had a strong devotion to Saint Joseph: Saint André Bessette Saint Teresa of Avila Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Blessed William Joseph Chaminade Saint Francis de Sales Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich Saint Josemaría Escrivá Pope Saint John Paul II What are some of your favorite ways to show your devotion to Saint Joseph? Do you have an image of Saint Joseph in your living space? Let us know in the comments below! Saint Joseph, pray for us!   [bctt tweet="Ways to Show Devotion to Saint Joseph #BISblog //" via="no"]

Mental illness doesn’t discriminate. It touches the lives of people in every corner of society: from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and sports figures. And, of course, those in our families and church community. Yet the subject of mental illness is still rarely spoken of, a taboo of sorts which threatens to continue its rampage unless we stop and take notice. The biggest stigma surrounding mental illness is that mental illness is a sign of weakness. In reality, the opposite is true. It takes a lot of strength and courage to be able to share our struggles. And once we share them, we find that a lot of people will express their gratitude for our willingness to go to those dark places. When we share our stories of pain and sorrow, we can become a much-needed healing balm to someone else who’s going through a similar experience. Trauma and Mental Health Depression, anxiety, and PTSD seem to be the most prevalent when it comes to long-term mental and emotional effects of trauma. In the last two years, our world has changed with unbelievable speed. Our lives have never seen so much disruption. Families are in crises, and many are struggling with anxiety and depression. It is precisely in times of crises that those who have gone through deep trauma in their lives and haven’t found the proper healing will suffer the most. My Own Crisis My bouts with depression happened in 2008 when my husband and I decided to move our growing family from South Florida to his hometown of Bismarck, ND to be closer to his parents. We felt it was important for the kids to grow up close to their grandparents if at all possible (my parents still live in Brazil). A few months after we moved, the first cold Bismarck hit and I had a rude awakening. Years earlier, I had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and the pain is worse for people living in cold climates. Coupled with the fact that I didn’t know anyone except my in-laws, I felt very isolated. It was freezing outside, but inside, I felt like a spiritual desert. And that's when I began to fall into a very deep and dark depression. The complex condition of depression has mental and physical symptoms that can interfere with your ability to function. When I think back on my depression, Saint John of the Cross’s “dark night of the soul” comes to mind. I believe this amazing Saint was commissioned by God to go through his own terrible and long-lived depression so that the Church and her people could best understand this troublesome malady. Desolation and Desperation From my own experience, I can say that depression can be an absolute darkness that takes hold of your soul like an endless desolation. For me it also felt like a culmination of all the lies the evil one had planted in my soul: God doesn’t love you! You’ll never find happiness! You’ll never amount to anything! I would also describe my depression as a glimpse of what hell would be like: a complete disconnection from God Who is the One we desire. Saint Augustine said it perfectly: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” I can say that my heart, at that time in my life, was very restless. I was desperately trying to figure out to whom and where I belonged. One of my many symptoms was this sadness that I just couldn’t shake. I would cry for no reason at all. I felt I was losing my mind, unable to control my emotions. To compound this I was very lethargic, always tired, and had no motivation to get up in the morning. Thank God my precious children were small; sometimes it was purely the fact of knowing how much they needed me that got me out of bed. Seeking Help with Past Trauma I hadn’t dealt with my childhood trauma in a proper way, and when I found myself in the middle of this huge life change, my mind just couldn't handle it. I remember going to my doctor’s office and telling her that I thought I was going crazy. After patiently and compassionately listening to me, she hugged me and told me that I was not going crazy but was depressed. In her wisdom, this lovely doctor (who also happens to be a devout Catholic) had recognized my affliction right away. I have to be honest: I was one of those people who didn’t believe depression was a real medical condition, or at least, I thought people exaggerated it. I had to find out the hard way that depression is very real. This wonderful doctor recommended a low dosage of an antidepressant. I was reluctant at first, but agreed to try it. And thank God for that, because this medicine probably saved my marriage. Much of my story is about the healing I have experienced through spiritual means, but here I want to make the point that there are very real and positive means to healing through medicine and therapy. We should never seek to overcome our pain purely through earthly things, yet God has blessed us (especially in this modern age) with powerful tools that can combat things like depression. Of course, we cannot abuse these things and become too dependent on them. We must always depend on God first. But we mustn’t write them off either, and we shouldn’t feel guilty or ashamed for taking them. Allowing Our Wounds to Console Others I had to learn from my own experience that, yes, depression is real. I now have a much better understanding of this and more compassion for anyone dealing with this terrible disease that’s so often still looked upon as a weakness or even as a personality flaw. If someone has cancer, we all offer them our love and support, and rightfully so. But why don't we see the same support and compassion shown to people suffering from this deep pain in our soul that we call depression? What I have learned from having depression is that the invisible can absolutely kill you if left untreated. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, or any other type of mental illness needs to be looked at seriously and compassionately. Freedom through Christ God desires that all his children live in freedom. This freedom was bought for us at a very high price with the shedding of the Blood of His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The good news is that our God is a God of restoration. He is a Father who loves us more than we can fathom and would like nothing less than to be our Healer and Comforter. I believe that God allows us to go through some dark periods in our lives that may purify us, mostly from the illusion that we are in control of our lives. If you or someone you know is dealing with this type of pain, I want to encourage you to look for help. A good place to start is by confiding in a family member, a friend, a priest, or a trusted Christian counselor. Do not hesitate to acknowledge your pain and seek professional help. My hope is that by sharing some of my past struggles, I can, in some way, help lift the stigma and shame associated with mental illness. My prayer is that God will continue to equip each of us to assist our brothers and sisters who are struggling and are in the blink of despair because of the pain mental illness can inflict upon the souls of those going through it. Additional Spiritual Tools The devil, the world and the flesh may be trying to cause havoc in your life or that of your loved ones. If we persevere in faith and bring everything to the foot of the Cross, we will find Christ waiting for us there. At the Cross is where He offers us the weapons we need to fight and win the battle. When we bring our burdens to Him, is His goodness and out of His immense love for us He makes those burdens light (see Matthew 11:28-30). The good news is that if we place our faith and belief in God at the center of our entire lives—including our mental health—we can learn to use faith-based coping skills to help ease the pain of depression, anxiety, and all other types of mental illness. Here are just a few examples of those tools: the Bible, the Living Word the Mass and the Sacraments dedication to daily prayer faith-based counseling community spiritual direction spiritual reading Dear Lord, teach me how to best surrender all of me to You, especially my mental health. Help me to trust You more and to believe in the immense love You have for me. I choose to set my focus on You instead of my wounded emotions. Amen.   [bctt tweet="The Link Between Trauma + Mental Health #BISblog //" via="no"]

Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be married. I was always "falling in love" with boys and looking forward to being a mother. However, when my parents divorced during my teenage years, that led to some serious doubts and wounds regarding marriage. It suddenly became something very scary. Years later, when I met my husband, I knew after a month that I wanted to marry him. I can’t explain how I made that jump except to say that I finally fell in love with Jesus, Who transformed my heart. That led to a deep dive into the purpose and beauty of marriage and what that means for my life. Fast forward to present-day: I have been married to my best friend for almost nine years and we have four beautiful children. Discerning marriage is a deeply personal experience that builds upon a personal relationship with Jesus. We are all called to the universal vocation of holiness and that looks different for each of us. For some of us, it may include a call to marriage. Best Books for Discerning Marriage I hope that this list of books will encourage you in your journey of discernment and give you a deeper understanding of how God wants you to live out your holiness. For the Intellectual First, let’s lay the foundation of what marriage is: what it means, why God created marriage, and the mission of marriage. Anyone who is discerning vocations should start here. Some of these books may be a bit “academic” but there is so much beauty and truth here. Three to Get Married by Fulton J. Sheen Marriage is impossible without God. He is a very active and vital participant in the union between husband and wife. So on your wedding day, you are not only making a vow to your spouse, you are also making a vow to live out your vocation of marriage with Jesus at your side. Fulton Sheen, in all his saintly wisdom, beautifully covers the true meaning of love, the role and purpose of marriage, and the mysterious and unbreakable bond that marriage creates. Love and Responsibility by Pope John Paul II One of the things that I love about Pope Saint John Paul II is his ability to speak to the heart of every man and woman with love and truth. He had a way of addressing the needs of the wider Church while making each individual feel seen and understood. Love and Responsibility came at the height of “sexual revolution,” a time when the world needed so much transformation. His wisdom will change the way you view the opposite sex, the way you date, and the things you are looking for in your future spouse. Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love by Edward Sri This book is very good at unpacking Love and Responsibility and making it accessible to every reader. You’ll be able to examine your heart and apply JPII’s vision to your own life, in whatever stage you find yourself. I also really appreciate the discussion questions at the end of each chapter, which makes it a good book study for a small group or an engaged couple (or maybe if you’re on a date and you want to get straight to the point). Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II Another beautiful gift from John Paul II is a collection of his addresses that have revolutionized the way Catholics view identity and sex: the Theology of the Body. We live in a world where sex has been skewed, twisted, and surrounded with lies. But we know that sex goes way beyond the physical act. It is a total gift of self: in mind, body, and soul. JPII dives into the mysticism of marital and sexual union and brings much clarity, renewal, and healing to the Church and world. It is so refreshing to read his insights, especially coming from the Holy Father at the time. Good News about Sex & Marriage by Christopher West If you find Edward Sri’s practical application of Love and Responsibility to be helpful, this book by Christopher West would be the practical companion to Theology of the Body. West has a beautiful way of simplifying the profound beauty and intricacies of the Theology of the Body. This book has a very straightforward, Q&A style format which makes it super easy to read and understand. For the Practical Now that we have that foundation laid, let’s get into the practical help. Throughout courtship and marriage, you’ll find yourself going back to these books and talking about it with your significant other. My husband and I have found these books to be incredibly helpful as we navigate the joys and challenges of marriage. Emotional Virtue by Sarah Swafford I truly believe that anyone who is pursuing dating needs to read this book. We frequently hear about being chaste and “saving yourself until marriage” but when do we ever hear about emotional chastity? Instead of focusing on all the things we shouldn’t do, this book gives helpful and beautiful insight into all the things we should be doing to build healthy relationships. In friendship, dating, and courtship, we can work to protect our hearts and the hearts of the opposite sex. The Temperament God Gave You by Art and Laraine Bennett “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you,” God tells us in Jeremiah 1:5. And He gave each and every one of us a personality, too! Our environment and childhood have a profound effect on us, but there are innate parts of ourselves that make up who we are and these are our temperaments. Choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic... which one are you? Similar to personality tests, this book reveals so much of who we are and how we perceive the world, especially in relationship with one another. Being aware of our temperaments can help the way we interact and understand each other. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman You may have heard of the phrase “love language” in Christian circles before, but have you ever stopped to consider how you express and receive love? (Spoiler alert: it may not be the same as your significant other!) So much can be miscommunicated and your bids for love may be totally missed if you and your partner are not speaking the same love language. This is not only a very helpful and practical guide for your marriage, but for all your relationships: with your parents, siblings, friends, coworkers, and even your kids! The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman In a world where over half of marriages are end in divorce, we may feel disheartened and skeptical of the possibility of a lasting marriage, especially if we have personal experience with divorced parents and broken families. After 25 years of extensive research, Dr. Gottman has been able to pinpoint the main causes of divorce and predict the success of marriage with almost 95% accuracy. He also presents life-changing and daily practices that can prevent divorce. He brings the perfect balance of science and romance to create a practical guide to emotionally balanced and long-lasting marriage. The Gottman Institute has personally given me so much hope in believing that I do not have to repeat the mistakes of my family’s past and that I can truly have a happy and holy marriage. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey When you become one with your husband, you also become one with your incomes, bank accounts, spending habits, and pending loans. A huge part of marriage involves finances and it’s important to talk about because it’s not just about money. We attach very personal meanings, memories, and values to money. Throughout marriage, career changes, kids, retirement, and life in general, talking about money is going to be a very regular occurrence. It’s best to start before you tie the knot. This book allowed my husband and I to have very honest conversations about debt, budgeting, and our financial goals. Achieving financial freedom has changed our marriage and given us one less thing to stress about and more things to dream about our family’s future. Not everybody agrees with Dave Ramsey’s philosophy on finances and that’s ok, as long as it can help initiate those conversations surrounding financial expectations and bring about financial unity during marriage. For Fun I’ve included a few fun reads because discerning marriage should be fun! It is a wonderful time of wonder, anticipation, and growth as you reflect on what kind of love story God has in store for you. Love Letters to My Husband by Gianna Beretta Molla I really enjoyed reading this book during my engagement because of the way Saint Gianna carried herself with grace and holiness throughout her engagement and marriage. It made me think about the kind of wife and mother I want to become and she was a huge inspiration to me. The way she writes about her feelings for her husband, Pietro, are full of romance and hope and it is evident that their mutual love for the Lord is what made their relationship stronger. By Love Refined: Letters to a Young Bride by Alice VonHildebrand If a newly engaged or newly married friend asked me, “What do you wish you had known before getting married?” I would hand her this book. It is written in the style of C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters and it presents a very realistic but hopeful view of marriage. It’s like if you had written letters to moms, aunts, friends, and other women in your life whom you deeply trust asking for their advice, and received these letters in response. This book is a collection of letters that show the ups and downs of marriage with very applicable guidelines on how to love your husband more, how to become the woman and wife God is calling you to be, and how to strive for holiness in your vocation of marriage. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers This is one of my favorite books and one that I read again every few years. It is a romance novel modeled after the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer. A man falls in love with a woman and rescues her out of prostitution. But the main story is about how God rescues this woman by proving His love to her. The book is also a reminder that no one’s past is too great for the Lord to redeem and that true love covers a multitude of sins. It is two love stories in one book, and every time I read it I fall more in love with my husband and the Lord each time! Holy Sex! By Gregory Popcak Sex is a very integral and important part of marriage. It is a gift from God for a husband and wife to enjoy. Even in marriage, we are called to be chaste and pure while enjoying each other in the marital embrace. When we get married, we enter a new world of sex, and that can lead to a lot of questions. Dr. Popcak explains how we as Catholics can enjoy a rich and satisfying sex life with our spouses while still holding true to the teachings of the Catholic Church. It also includes questionnaires and quizzes that can help open up honest communication about sex, which might otherwise be an awkward dialogue. Just a fair warning, this book does go into some intimate details regarding the act of sex, so if that is something you’re sensitive to, it may be best to read this book after you are married. It would be fun to read it with your husband! Instruction manual from IKEA Okay, this one is kind of a joke, but my husband and I have always said that they should make furniture-building a part of every marriage prep course or Engaged Encounter retreat! Building something complicated together (especially if it comes with a very unhelpful, wordless instruction booklet like IKEA furniture does) can reveal so much about your relationship: how you communicate, how you divvy up responsibilities, and how you (inevitably) deal with frustration. It may just make or break your relationship, but the hope is that you come out of it learning how to resolve conflict and tackle projects without killing each other! The World Needs Holy Marriages We are all uniquely made in the image of God, along with our beautiful differences and our individual callings. Maybe your calling is to marriage, and it is a beautiful vocation. The world needs more examples of happy and holy marriages. It is equally as important as seeing examples of happy and holy priests and religious. As you discern the unique path the Lord has laid out for you, it is vital to stay close to Him through prayer and the Sacraments. I hope that you would use those opportunities to respond to His love and His will. As you take the steps to actively discern your vocation, I pray that you would find clarity, conviction, and peace of heart. What are your favorite books for discerning marriage?   [bctt tweet="Best Books for Discerning Marriage #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

I couldn’t believe what I had just heard: “Be open to discerning everything all over again.” How could this be happening? I did everything correctly. I left my almost two-year-long relationship and found a spiritual director. I entered a house of discernment where I lived in an intentional community focused on prayer, service, and healing. Then, finally, I entered the Carmelite convent as a postulant. This was supposed to be it! How could five years of discerning my vocation lead to this moment filled with uncertainty, disquietude, and confusion? Could I actually just get up and leave the very thing I had pursued for so long? A Vocational Reality Check I had been in the convent almost a year by the time I was having this very-necessary conversation with my former spiritual director. The Sisters were having their formal meeting to assess whether they would invite me to enter into the novitiate. At the same time, they were awaiting my “yes”—my fiat. After the first months of learning and unlearning habits, missing my family and friends intensely, and the experience of culture shock (it’s really a thing!), I felt calm enough to begin diving into my new life. The more I dove, the more I could sense the lack of joy. I am a happy person by nature, yet I knew something was missing. Because I had many good Religious sisters and brothers in my life, I knew that I ought to have the sense of “being at home” and of profound joy even amidst hardships. Although this was not yet the case for me, I thought the day would come when the pieces would all fit together. Perhaps this was just a trial of my perseverance and faith? So I was determined to continue forward. The Moment of Truth Yet the wisdom of my Mother Superior was never lacking. She listened to my honesty and, after some silence, her response unsettled me. She reasoned, “It could be that this is just a trial, but it could also be that the Lord is trying to tell us something.” She called my former spiritual director and asked him to meet with me. After Father’s words to discern everything again surprised me, I left the parlor and sunk into my assigned place in the chapel. I began to weep at the reality of what this could mean. How could I come to terms with leaving, if, in fact, the Lord made that clear to me? I would have to begin again. I would have to go back home and tell everyone I was wrong. How could I go back? These were questions founded on my pride in that moment more than a true desire to follow the Lord’s will. Yet, I was in interior turmoil. My throat throbbed as I tried to hold back more tears while the heaviness of the decision and its implications bore down on me. The Lord Speaks In this very moment, I perceived the Lord speaking truth over me in His love and mercy. I was overcome with a sense of His fatherhood, His care, the fact that He knew me and loved me, and that I was His daughter. All of these questions took the back seat and I began to understand that what I thought was the most difficult thing I had ever done–saying goodbye to my family and friends and passing over the threshold of the Carmelite enclosure–was not actually it at all. The most difficult thing I would have to do now, thanks to my immense pride and fear of being wrong, was to actually cross back over that threshold into the world I left behind and say, “I was wrong.” Confidence in Who I Am in Him Although for a moment I was tempted to think that maybe it would be better to simply stay where I was rather than to “give up,” I knew that the Lord was inviting me to stand in courage and in truth. My decision to stay or leave could not be grounded on fear but on His faithfulness and love. I finally had to come to terms with the desires of my heart and the reality of religious life. I knew that the Lord was inviting me to make a free choice and to be honest about my desire for marriage, to own up to my longtime fear of displeasing Him that had followed me into the convent, and to truly trust in His fatherhood. [bctt tweet="My decision could not be grounded on fear but on His faithfulness and love. #BISblog //" via="no"] In this moment of anxiety and fear, light and clarity pierced through. I knew that I had to respond in faith. As His daughter, I was learning that I was not called to live and move under fear: fear of others’ rejection or disapproval or fear of the future. Instead, I was called to live from faith in the abiding and transforming love of the One who knows me better than I know myself. The Lord was holding my future and He also holds yours. It is one that is full of hope. What Decision are You Faced with Today? Is there something on your heart right now that you know deep in yourself the Lord is asking you to do or to leave behind yet you feel frozen or afraid? I will share with you the tender words the Father spoke over me and I pray that you can sit under this word and receive it deep in your soul: “You are my child…” May you be overshadowed by this declaration over you. The Father cares for you. You can trust Him with that decision that is burdening you or the fear that arrests your heart. If the hard thing you are avoiding or afraid of has anything to do with your vocation, I would highly recommend spending some time with a good spiritual discernment book. This gem from Mother Clare, a friend and fellow missionary, addresses religious life specifically. No matter what difficult step you are being faced with right now, no matter how uncertain the rest of the road may seem, take the leap. Shuffle that foot of yours even just a little forward. He will walk with you. What are you discerning with the Lord right now? How can you decide in love and confidence as a daughter rather than in fear?   [bctt tweet="Making Difficult Life-Changing Decisions #BISblog //" via="no"]

“Go where you can love God best.” My spiritual director shared this advice at a Holy Hour for discerning women. The thought rankled me. Shouldn’t I go where I could serve God best? Shouldn’t I go where I could pray best? “Love and do what you will.” Again, this sage command from Saint Augustine rankled me. The spiritual life is a lot more complicated than that, Saint Augustine. What about being a missionary? Should I go to Latin Mass or should I go to a charismatic Mass? Should I have a Franciscan or Dominican spirituality? “Enjoy yourself as much as you like, if only you keep from sin.” Umm, seems a little dangerous here, Saint John Bosco. What about custody of the senses, modesty? What about fasting? Shouldn’t I always pursue the hardest route; won’t that win more graces? What stirred in my heart when I came across these statements throughout the years was that they did not measure up to my personal definition of holiness. My definition of holiness included specific prayers and novenas, devotions and acts of service. Holiness looked a specific way: both exteriorly and interiorly. Yet these were very holy people placed in my life, and our definitions of holiness were not congruent. And since I don’t have the "Saint" in front of my name, the one in need of correction must be me. What Must I Do? Good teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life? // Matthew 19:16 At some point in our coming closer to the Lord, we have asked this same question. Some of us are rule followers, some are rule benders, but we all face the same struggle. We can get caught in the mire of all-the-things when, ultimately, all-the-things are there solely to bring us into a relationship with Christ. What does the Church have to say about this? In addition to the Ten Commandments, she gives us something that “guarantees to the faithful the very necessary minimum” (CCC 2141) for growth in holiness: the precepts of the Church. It seems strange to talk about the bare minimum in the context of holiness, but the Church, in her wisdom, shows us that what is below this baseline is sin. There is no limit to what is above the baseline, as there is no limit to holiness. This is an important consideration, especially for those who struggle with scruples. Am I living the precepts of the Church and following the Ten Commandments? Then, I am in grace. What are the Precepts of the Church? So what are the precepts of the Church? And what do the Saints—the holy men and women who have gone before us—say about them? "You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor." Once, Saint Teresa was overwhelmed with God’s goodness and asked Our Lord, “How can I thank you?” Our Lord replied, “Attend one Mass.” “The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer.” // Pope Paul VI “Martyrdom is nothing in comparison with the Mass, because martyrdom is the sacrifice of man to God, whereas the Mass is the Sacrifice of God for man!” // Saint John Vianney "You shall confess your sins at least once a year." "In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself, not myself from You." // Saint Augustine "My daughter, just as you prepare in My presence, so also you make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light. // Saint Faustina "Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls." // Saint Faustina “Our soul is like a hot air balloon. If by chance there is a mortal sin, the soul falls to the ground. Confession is like the fire underneath the balloon enabling the soul to rise again. . . It is important to go to confession often.” // Blessed Carlo Acutis "You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season." "There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us." // Saint Jean Vianney "When you approach the tabernacle remember that he has been waiting for you for twenty centuries." // Saint Josemaria Escriva "If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." // Saint Maximilian Kolbe “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.” // Blessed Carlo Acutis "You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church." “Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity." // Saint Augustine “Never forget that there are only two philosophies to rule your life: the one of the cross, which starts with the fast and ends with the feast. The other of Satan, which starts with the feast and ends with the headache.” // Venerable Fulton Sheen "One of the meanings of penitential fasting is to help us recover an interior life. Moderation, recollection, and prayer go hand in hand.” // Pope Saint John Paul II "You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church." "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” // Saint Teresa of Calcutta “Love God, serve God; everything is in that.” // Saint Clare of Assisi “The future is in your hearts and in your hands. God is entrusting to you the task, at once difficult and uplifting, of working with Him in the building of the civilization of love.” // Pope Saint John Paul II "The precepts of the Church and the Ten Commandments are ordered to love. They are given to us a means to draw closer to the Lord, as a roadmap to His Heart. “Today Christ is asking each of you the same question: do you love Me? He is not asking you whether you know how to speak to crowds, whether you can direct an organization or manage an estate. He is asking you to love Him. All the rest will ensue.” // Pope Saint John Paul II May we not get caught up in the shoulds and coulds, the do-it-yourself holiness kits. The Church shows us the way. Let’s be His.   [bctt tweet="The (Actual) Essentials of Holiness #BISblog //" via="no"]

Is almsgiving something you practice seasonally during Advent and Lent? Is almsgiving something you give more thought to when the priest reminds you of the needs of the parish and greater community? Or is it a regular habit that you maintain? Wherever you fall in the action of almsgiving, it is important to take a moment to reflect upon why you give, how you give, or why you don’t. If you need some guidance, read this post about becoming interiorly poor. Our external way of giving is often reflective of our interior poverty. Giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God. // Catechism of the Catholic Church, no 2462 Creative Ways to Give Alms this Lent (and Beyond) Understanding what drives our motives towards almsgiving can help us increase our desire to be charitable, or derail it completely if our intention(s) is mostly out of obligation. Spend some time thinking about these questions before you commit to the way you will give alms this Lenten season. It will make a difference in how you give and what you receive. Remember when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage. // Saint Francis of Assisi Treasure Going on a grocery run? Perhaps add a thoughtful meal for someone else in your cart. If you are already at the store, maybe double up on the recipe you are making to bless another family or someone in your circle of friends. We can accept the invitation to be charitable without needing to wait for a crisis. Being open to demonstrating love isn’t exclusive to a person who is grieving, recovering from surgery, experiencing job loss, or welcoming a brand new baby. Our day-to-day lives can be a bit mundane and the thoughtfulness we can offer to one another can change our attitude of complacency to a more joyful disposition. Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance. // Saint Francis of Assisi Books This is a hard one for me. I love my book stacks. I have stacks on my nightstand and on the floor in the living room. (No wonder my kids don’t understand why they have to put theirs away.) Some of them have accrued dust and some of them I rotate depending on the season I am in. There are so many books sitting on my shelf that I take more pride in owning them than in reading them at this point. All of those book recommendations from Instagram accounts I follow are waiting to be broken open. If I’m being radically honest, I probably won’t read them anytime soon and could pass them on to someone else who would benefit from reading them. If letting go of your precious books is too much to ask, then maybe consider lending them out so they aren’t just accumulating dust. This is a good way to ease into getting a feel for what it would be like to live without them. If, in a week or so, you don’t miss them, you can slowly make your way through other titles that you can donate. Almsgiving isn’t merely about giving; it helps cultivate a proper detachment. Even something as inconsequential as giving away books can properly order our desires and help us create more space in our lives. What Is Your Treasure? Books may not be your treasure, but what is it that you are attached to that makes you feel like you could never give it away? Sometimes we are attached to things because we were at a point in our lives where we had to really work hard for that item and, as a result, won’t give it away even if we no longer have any use for it. Almsgiving is a great way to invite Jesus into those areas of our lives that we cling onto stuff knowing it doesn’t do anything for us anymore. Give away those shoes that you are never going to wear again. I know you paid for them with your hard-earned money; but imagine what it will be like when you detach yourself from them. Imagine the freedom that will come with it. If it's not shoes, maybe it's your purse collection, clothes that may still have tags on them, or maybe clothes that you are holding onto from your 20s that you are hoping to fit into someday. Almsgiving doesn’t just serve our neighbor, it frees us from the bondage that can take root when we own too many things. Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt. // Pope Francis [bctt tweet="Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt. // Pope Francis #BISblog //" via="no"] Time and Talent Giving of our time is probably one of the best ways to give generously, especially if money is tight or is something that you are still figuring out how to give on a regular basis if you don’t do so already. Time and talent offerings are usually spoken about separately, but technically, if you have time, then it may be a good way to put your talents to use as well. Tech Help Is there a nursing home nearby? If you are good with technology maybe you could offer a Spotify list for the home. Perhaps the staff could take song requests and the gift of your time and knowledge of using Sound Cloud, Spotify, or other music hub will gift others with nostalgia, comfort, promote memories, and give joy to any otherwise regular day at the nursing home. If your computer skills are more than just connecting to WiFi then maybe consider offering your help to someone who doesn’t know how to clear cookies or other potential viruses on their computer. Sometimes the time and patience we offer to our elderly through our talents is a way for them to feel important. If you aren’t sure where to begin, ask your parents or grandparents if they know of anyone who could use some tech help. Tutor at No Cost Are you good at math? English? A foreign language? Another subject? Offering your skills at no cost is another way to give freely and meaningfully. Perhaps there is a middle schooler in your neighborhood that could use help in math. Use the Lenten season to give of yourself in a way you have never done before. Take the time to pour yourself into someone who is behind in a certain subject or could use the nudge that only you know how to give in a certain subject. Music Do you play the piano, guitar, or another instrument? Offer your gift to someone with kids. Music lessons can be really expensive and most parents don’t always want to play taxi. You may not be a good babysitter but having a jam session with someone else’s kids can give you the opportunity to share music while giving a mama a break. If that’s not your thing, consider helping out at the parish as the Lenten season is busy and sometimes a backup pianist or cantor is a luxury. Local School Help Maybe you are part of a moms' group and understand the power of women on a mission. Call a local inner-city school and identify what the needs are. Maybe they could really use some new titles in their class library, fresh pencils, or notebooks. Something that would be financially feasible for a majority of us may not be when you are living below poverty. Sometimes one phone is all that it takes to open the door to help others. After you coordinate school supply donations, remember the teachers by baking them a fresh batch of cookies. Kind acts like these make almsgiving less of an obligation and more of a way for joy to overflow from us because of our love for our neighbor. Thoughtfulness is never restricted to one way of doing something for someone else or a group of people. The Giving of Your Presence What is one thing that only you can do? Not in a way that’s prideful, but in a way that is meaningful to your own unique identity that the Father has given you. We see in Scripture that Jesus offered His own presence. He didn’t offer monetary donations to the poor. Instead He would offer a word, eat with sinners, heal the outcast with just one touch of His Hand, etc. I know we aren’t Jesus, but what we learn from Him is the gift that we are to others. Can we offer our presence as a lasting form of almsgiving to someone close to us? It's easy to send flowers or an Amazon care package in the mail, but what about our presence? The presence of a lengthy phone call or video call or the presence of committing to something you have to show up to rather than writing a check (although the Church needs both). Additional Resources If you need other ideas on ways to give practically during Lent scroll down to read ideas to get out of your comfort zone. Use that coffee, boba tea, or other treat money towards a meaningful non-profit. Denying yourself that $6 beverage for forty days is $240 that could benefit one of these worthy causes: Vagabond Missions Mary's Meals The CFRs Sidewalk Advocates for Life Saint Bryce Missions However you decide to give alms this Lent, let it be from a place of detachment and a sincere desire to do a “work of justice that is pleasing to God.” [bctt tweet="Creative Ways to Give Alms this Lent #BISblog //" via="no"] MARY SHOWS US THE WAY Just as a mother might pass on a beloved family tradition to her daughters, Mary shares the recipe for growing in virtue with us. This study on Mary's Virtues will breathe new life into your everyday, beginning right in Mary's home. GET HOME STUDY

Murder mysteries abound these days, but how many are modeled on the parable of the Prodigal Son? In a Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem is a captivating piece of historical fiction and a book that takes its inspiration from Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son. The book is a tale of Hollywood glamor, murder, family, and forgiveness, all set in Los Angeles during the Great Depression. Entertainment that Also Feeds Our Minds While I’m a sucker for classic literature and believe that everyone should read greats such as Jane Austen and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, I also love contemporary fiction. I get particularly excited whenever I discover a new Christian or Catholic novelist who isn’t C.S. Lewis or Evelyn Waugh (much as I love them). Unfortunately, it’s rough world out there in terms of modern-day fiction. I have lost count of the number of books I’ve picked up, intrigued by dust jacket descriptions or rave reviews, only to throw them away after discovering one-too-many explicit scenes. Even contemporary fiction with no objectionable content often has little in the way of substance. Sure, beach reads are fun, but they’re like candy. They don’t make us stop and ponder deeper realities. They don’t feed our souls. That’s why I was so pleased to discover In a Far-Off Land. This novel manages to pull off a perfect balancing act of exciting, page-turning plot with beautiful themes and plenty of fodder for discussion and reflection. And not only that, but Stephanie Landsem is a gifted writer—her prose is strong and descriptive, not overly wordy, but full of small period details that make the story’s setting come to life. An Exciting Exploration of the Human Heart The story opens with Minerva Sinclaire, a twenty-something aspiring actress who’s trying to make it big on the silver screen in LA during the Great Depression. She attends the party of a famous Hollywood actor in the hopes that it will lead to the break she’s been waiting for, but everything goes wrong when the star is discovered murdered the morning after the party and Minerva becomes the prime suspect. She is forced to rely on the help of her agent, Max, and a Mexican gardener, Oscar, to stay one step ahead of the law and discover the real killer. In the meantime, the reader discovers that Minerva has a checkered past of her own and that Max and Oscar are both wrestling with demons even as they try to help her. Fans of historical fiction—and anyone who is intrigued by old Hollywood—will love the careful attention to detail that Landsem put into this book. She sets scenes carefully, from her descriptions of Minerva’s outfits to details of the colonia where Oscar and his family live, to incorporating side characters who were real-life Hollywood stars such as Charlie Chaplin and John Barrymore. It’s a rich and eventful period of history to draw from. Not only was the Great Depression in full swing, but Hollywood was also making the transition from silent films to talking ones. Multi-Faceted Storylines Landsem also does a masterful job weaving in another important event that was happening in Los Angeles during that time—the Mexican Repatriation. Between 300,000 and 2 million people of Mexican descent who were living in Los Angeles in the 1930s were forcibly removed from their homes and taken across the border to Mexico. An estimated forty to sixty percent of these people were actually citizens of the United States, and many children were included in the roundup. In the novel, Oscar’s family lives in constant fear of deportation and must deal with the effects of the Repatriation. Landsem paints a truly striking contrast between the stunning wealth of Hollywood stars with the poverty of the hired help. At the same time, it is clear that the rich and famous are often the ones to be pitied, while family’s like Oscar’s are rich in what actually matters—faith, family, and a community rooted in honor, hard work, and love. For Mature Readers In a Far-Off Land touches on difficult subjects such as sexual assault and abortion, so it is definitely a book for mature readers. However, Landsem treats these sensitive topics with care and avoids graphic descriptions. This novel looks unflinchingly at its characters’ woundedness and ultimately offers the hope that healing and forgiveness are always possible. Unsurprisingly for a book that models itself after the Prodigal Son story, mercy and forgiveness show up as major themes of In A Far-Off Land. All of the main characters struggle either to give or receive mercy and love. There are those who think they are too far gone to deserve these things, those who struggle with anger and a consuming thirst for justice, and those who simply want to forget their past, bury it deep down, and hide in the darkness of past sins. The book’s ending is a moving reminder of the reality of God’s desire to bring all His children home. After closing the book, the reader is struck by Landsem’s main message: no one is ever too far gone to experience God’s redeeming love. Have you read this book yet? What did you think?!   Maria Bonvissuto works in marketing for a Catholic all-girls school in Northern Virginia. She is always reading at least two books at a time, loves playing classical guitar and writing, and is a major Saint Augustine fangirl.   [bctt tweet="BIS Reads // In a Far-Off Land #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

I run into many people who can’t believe I have “so many” kids. Whether at the grocery store, at the library, at church, or at public gatherings or parties, people have been impressed, confused, and shocked about the fact that I have eight kids. I realize we don’t come across large families very often. Of course, it depends on where you live and who you socialize with; but in general, the number of children per immediate family has decreased significantly. But for most of human history, most parents had quite a lot of kids. People have done it. People have done it for much longer than we haven’t done it. In the 1800s, families had, on average, seven or eight kids. Today, average families tend to have one or two kids. But, if you look around, you can still find big families. You can find them in your neighborhood, your city, and your state. In other countries and in other cultures, having a lot of children is still seen as a blessing and is even still the norm. The Difficulty of New Parenthood One reason people think they can't have a lot of kids is they envision having a newborn. And having a newborn might be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do in life. Or maybe it was your pregnancy. Maybe that was extremely uncomfortable and painful. Or maybe, right now, you have a teenager and it seems like there isn’t anything more exhausting that that. We extrapolate and assume. Our brains tell us we will feel that same difficulty again with 100% of the same problems recurring. But that’s not really what is going to happen. Having a newborn and only a newborn can be isolating, tiring, and almost impossible. That’s why we make meals, clean the house, have baby showers, and much more to help a first-time mom. That’s why some first-time moms hire doulas or have their mothers stay at their home for weeks at a time to help. Being a first-time parent is all-consuming and there isn’t much to prepare you other than books. But reading about it isn’t living it. Even watching others isn’t living it. Think of any other life experience, wouldn’t you say the first time was the hardest? The second time is always easier. There is a learning curve. There is a lack of confidence and experience. The Beauty of Family and Community Support With the second baby, all the adjustments you made as first time parents have already been made. You aren’t sacrificing your kid-free life anymore. All those activities you do and those things you spend money on when you don’t have kids are already gone, or maybe just adjusted. You have given them up or modified them. The baby equipment is probably in your house. You probably figured out breastfeeding and bottle feeding already. You most likely have baby sheets, blankets and clothes, and a car seat. You still have to grow that baby, deliver that baby, and take care of that baby. But it’s often significantly easier in terms of experience. My third pregnancy was twins, so that was harder. But, at the same time, I had three times the help. Everyone I had ever met and people I had never met just showed up at my house to help me and my husband. So, in a way, having the twins wasn’t as hard. With help, it was maybe 40% of the work that the first-time baby was. Although breastfeeding two babies and making sure they had their premie formula in the milk, pumping, and feeding constantly was a challenge. But people came and held them and helped with laundry, cooking, and cleaning. It Comes Down to Trust This idea isn't just applicable to the newborn stage. The same goes for the toddler stage, preschool stage, etc. Even teenagers. Once you’ve had a teenager and have gone through those murky waters, you already have somewhat of an idea what to expect. You are more prepared, more aware, and more competent. If you change your thinking about this topic and remind yourself everything is easier every time you do it, you’ll feel better, calmer, and more confident in having another kid. Whether it’s time, love, patience, money, or something else, you probably think there is something of which you don’t have enough. We all fall into that trap! In various areas of life we can tell ourselves that we don’t have enough of something. If you feel called to bringing another life into this world, my main advice is to trust. Trust you will have enough of all that is needed. Trust that you will be enough. And when you fall short, trust that our Lord will be enough for your children.   Lauren is a wife, mom and life coach from Northeast Ohio. Her hope is to show all women a better and healthier way to think and feel about themselves, the world and our Lord. You can read from her here.   [bctt tweet="Having Another Kid Without Losing It #BISblog //" via="no"]

Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble. // Psalm 91:1 Love this from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I was a bit skeptical when learning about a girl who is just 10 years old and on the way to canonization, but then I remembered about others who were canonized Saints at young ages. For example, there are siblings Jacinta and Francisco Marto who saw the vision of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. Both are canonized Saints who died at the ages of 10 and 11, respectively. Then there is Saint Maria Goretti who was violently martyred at age 11 after resisting and then forgiving her attacker and murderer. I recently just learned of another young Saint-on-the-way in Elizabeth Kelly’s book, Love Like a Saint: Cultivating Virtue with Holy Women. Her name is Anne de Guigne and she was declared venerable on March 3, 1990 by Pope Saint John Paul II. “The Little Tyrant” Anne was born to a wealthy family on April 25th, 1911 in their beautiful home in Savoy, France which overlooked the pristine Lake of Annency. Her family wintered in Cannes on the French Riviera. Her parents were not only well educated, but also well-learned in the Faith. The firstborn of four children, she was not thrilled with the addition of her first sibling. While on her way to sainthood now, she didn’t always exemplify holiness. As a toddler she was known to be bossy (as the oldest child can tend to be) and mischievous, even attempting to rub sand into her little brother’s eyes. In addition to her nickname of "Nenette," she also was sometimes called “the little tyrant.” The Little Nurse A pivotal point in Anne’s life and demeanor came during World War I. While Anne’s father had retired from military service when he was married, he joined again at the start of the war. After suffering many injuries, he had to return home to convalesce. Four-year-old Anne would then act as his little nurse, caring for him in whatever way she could find. Each time her father recovered, he always returned to the service. He was killed in battle after his fourth return back to the war. In Love Like A Saint, Liz Kelly includes a quotation by Anne’s biographer who wrote: She set to work first of all to comfort her mother in every way she could. All day long she tried to be thoughtful and to remember the things she had been told to do-and tried to make the others remember too… If she herself had started on the way of perfection, she meant to carry them all along with her. Sanctity Through Obedience Just weeks after her father’s death, Anne’s prayer life grew deeply and noticeably. She had a deep awareness of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist and loved talking with him while visiting the Blessed Sacrament. She gained such a thorough knowledge of catechesis that her formators recommended that she receive her First Communion at age six. The local bishop gave his approval, but only after having seen her pass a lengthy interview full of questions regarding the Faith and testing her preparedness. After gaining his consent, she prepared even further during her communion retreat where the motto was, “Obedience is the sanctity of children.” Little Anne took this motto to heart. After her communion day she wrote: My Jesus, I love You, and to please You, I resolve to obey You always. Her life’s goal was to be obedient in everything, just as Jesus was obedient to His Father. She wanted to prevent anything that would wound the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Loving Through Sacrifice She practiced virtue by being quick to forgive her siblings when they made mistakes, finishing her siblings prayers when they fell asleep, and encouraging them to make their own sacrifices to Jesus. In her words: We have many joys on earth, but they don’t last; the one that lasts is to have made a sacrifice. When Anne was eight years old she began suffering from a weak spine and constant headaches. Her pain was so great that she was unable to focus on schoolwork. Two years later she was diagnosed with meningitis, an infection of the fluid which surrounds both the brain and spinal cord, often causing swelling. The pain could be so intense that it sometimes disfigured her face. During the final weeks of her life, her lungs became so deteriorated that she struggled to breathe, yet Anne considered each additional suffering as an opportunity to offer it up for the souls who needed her prayers the most. She said: We ourselves have to love the Lord even more, for those who do not love Him. She trusted Jesus had a plan for her suffering. A Young Saint for Those Who are Stubborn She passed away on January 14, 1922 at just ten years old. Shortly after she died, her little brother ran around the house and started creating relics by touching religious objects to her hands. For me, stubbornness is not easy to overcome. This is why I find Anne to be a very fitting intercessor. If a young child has the grace and open heart to put others before herself, then surely I, an adult, should be quick to do the same and adhere to the Scripture: Be doers of the word and not only hearers. // James 1:22 How does Venerable Anne prompt you to be a doer?   [bctt tweet="Venerable Anne de Guigne // The Power of Obedience #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

At the imposition of ashes, I looked everywhere for signs and symbols. Big ones, that might say something loud. I talked to the cross, the person hanging there. Asked questions, asked for favors. Later, behind the monstrance, light through the cracked door was soft blue. Door said Cloister. Top of the door was not straight, but arched like the sky. I thought it might be nice to slide through, receive, ascend. Then I thought of how some things endure longer than the sun, the moon. The Familiarity of Ash Wednesday As I looked at the manger scene this past Christmas season, I remember feeling astounded that the sweet baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes is the same Person hanging on the Cross. Likewise, with Ash Wednesday. This is a holy day grounded in the Truth of life, death, and the journeying of Lent. Essentially, there is dirt on our foreheads in the shape of a cross, symbolic of so much meaning. As a Catholic revert, coming back into the Church from a Protestant tradition started with sitting in churches. Specifically, sitting in Adoration at a cloistered monastery. I was encouraged by my writing teacher at the time to find a third place—somewhere to go, reflect, and write. She was not Catholic, but had chosen a monastery for her place. I decided that would be my place, too. I didn’t fully know then what I now know about the Faith, particularly hidden gems like the role of Mary and who she is. What I did know was that Ash Wednesday was familiar to me and I wanted to sit with that idea. I was learning to look in detail and use language to express things so easily unseen with just a passing glance. Drawing Me Closer I remember noting the color of soft blue as the sun fell through the window and illuminated the space, the monstrance, the arch of the doorway, and the cross. This led me to consider things that endure and last. Essentially, to consider eternity in bite size chunks I could understand. Also the concrete and tangible that I need to hold, see, and smell to grasp harder concepts. Ash Wednesday, I thought. How strange, how lovely, how much more I want to know. The echoes of the above poem ring with such ordinary things but invite me to go deeper: ashes - eternity - cross - enduring - monstrance - receive - door - ascend. And so with you this Lent. What are the ordinary things you notice that allow your heart to leap to something more Jesus wants to show you? You don’t have to write a poem to note it but maybe a prayer or a few sentences on your impression of the moment. He gladly meets us where we are. May Ash Wednesday be invitational to you in this Lenten season.   Jenny Richeson is a Catholic writer who is a lover of language and its mysteries. By day she provides speech pathology and cognitive intervention services to kids. Her main goal in life is to be a speaking stargazer caught up in wonder whenever possible. She makes her home in Kentucky with her husband, Matt. Together they find God in gardening and all manner of outdoor activities whenever they can. Stargazing is a favorite pastime too. You can find out more about her here.   [bctt tweet="A Poem for Ash Wednesday #BISblog #lent //" via="no"]

Looking back at past Lents, I can recall doing Whole30, giving up alcohol, giving up sweets, and then there were a couple of years when I didn't up food at all due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. Lenten Penances and Practices ... and Pivots Pregnancy and breastfeeding are two conditions in which the Church provides an exemption from fasting, but it also excuses “the physically or mentally ill”. If you are reading this and suffer from conditions like diabetes or disordered eating, fasting from food this Lent would be unwise. The Church is looking out for you, and she cares about your health. Ultimately, as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said in his 2009 Lenten Message, the penitential practices of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting are intended “to prepare us to better celebrate Easter and thus experience God’s power.” Lent isn’t about white knuckling your way through a difficult forty days. Lent is “directed to eating the ‘true food,’ which is to do the Father’s will,” just as it says in the Gospel of John 4:34. There are scriptural roots for fasting and even an ancient liturgical hymn speaks to Lenten fasting with the words: Utamur ergo parcius, / verbis cibis et potibus, / somno, iocis et arctius / perstemus in custodia Let us use sparingly words, food and drink, sleep and amusements. May we be more alert in the custody of our senses. Let’s talk about how we can grow in self-control of our senses, and we’ll start by focusing just on “words” and “amusements”. Use Sparingly Words Fast From Complaining During undergrad my roommate and I fasted from complaining. This would have been so much easier if we weren’t spending the Lenten season in the frigidly cold Midwest! While there were some early morning walks to class that made this Lenten practice challenging, it also altered our mindset. Over time, it almost felt less cold outside because we weren’t spending so much time talking about it. When we did feel cold, it was an opportunity to offer it up and also say a prayer of gratitude for the blessing of the shelter of a warm and heated house. Fast From Gossip Sometimes people fast from sugar and caffeine for Lent in the hopes of making a “lifestyle change” which would continue even after the Easter season. Fasting from gossip would be a game-changer if it could carry on beyond just 40 days. You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” But what if you used this opportunity of fasting from gossip to give others the benefit of the doubt, and maybe even find a reason to help restore their good reputation and build them back up? Fast From Interrupting I am definitely writing directly to myself here. There are too many times when I find myself interjecting my voice as my husband is speaking. It’s not so much a malicious attempt to cut him off as it is impatience to have my own thoughts and voice heard. I know that if I work more intentionally to pause before cutting in I will probably learn more from hearing his complete thoughts, and in addition, be more faithful to my wedding vows by honoring him. Use Sparingly Amusements Fast From Social Media This is probably one of the most common Lenten practices that I witness my peers practicing. And for good reason! In Pope Francis’ Message For The 48th World Communications Day he said, “It is not enough to be passersby on the digital highways, simply ‘connected’; connections need to grow into true encounters. We cannot live apart, closed in on ourselves.” What I love about his message is that, while recognizing the pitfalls that we allow ourselves to fall into through social media use, social media can also provide an opportunity for evangelization. But it must be rightly ordered. A 40-day fast from social media could be a helpful way to re-examine why and how we use social media as well as how we might choose to re-enter into this public-sphere. Fast From T.V. Watching a favorite T.V. show together is one of the ways that my husband and I love to relax and spend time together at the end of the day. Even if you aren’t prone to binge-watching television, giving up an episode or two a week can be a sacrifice. Fortunately, there are other ways to fill up this time, even if it might take some more mental energy. Instead of collapsing onto the couch with remote in hand and eyes glued to the flashing lights of a screen, consider using this time to read, write a letter, pray and journal, or call a friend. Yes, it admittedly takes a little more work, but the payoff is much more rewarding. Fast From Secular Music/Podcasts/Radio Shows It can be almost impulsive to reach for my favorite form of audio when I get into my car. After all, a drive provides just the right amount of time to get through a short podcast, a chapter of an audiobook, or an upbeat song for which to raise the volume. Driving in silence feels almost monastic. This is probably why some of the people I respect the most say that they use their commute time for prayer and contemplation. In the words of Saint Teresa of Calcutta: The beginning of prayer is silence. If we really want to pray we must first learn to listen, for in the silence of the heart God speaks…we cannot speak unless we have listened, unless we have made that connection with God in the silence of our heart. How is Jesus asking you to connect with Him this Lent?  [bctt tweet="Fasting Ideas for Those Who Shouldn't Fast from Food #BISblog //" via="no"]

Our annual season of fasting and repentance is days away. Many of us have yet to determine what we will do to foster a closer relationship with God during this time. For those of us who are still undecided, I propose we follow the example of Christ in the desert and focus on memorizing passages of Scripture. After all: the blossoms, if we may call them that, of faith and piety do not grow in the desert places of a memory-less catechesis." // Catechesi Tradendae 55 I do not mean that Jesus spent His time in the desert memorizing Scripture–He didn’t. He had been memorizing Scripture throughout His childhood as a part of His Jewish education. Instead, I mean to draw attention to the fact that when Jesus was tempted by Satan in His most destitute moments, He was able to utilize the exact words of God to combat Lucifer’s lies (see Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus’ knowledge of God in the Scriptures is what allowed Him to be confident in the truth and resist temptation. Since Jesus used Scripture as a weapon to oppose His enemy, it makes sense that we should imitate His tactic—especially since Satan does not change tactics and consistently lies to all of us! Forty Short Bible Verses to Memorize During Lent Below is a compilation of forty Bible verses from both the Old and New Testaments. They are all short and encouraging. Most importantly, they speak truth that will come in handy during moments of self-doubt throughout our day. Exodus 14:14 // “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be still.” John 3:16 // “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:17 // “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” Hosea 2:14 // “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. 1 Chronicles 16:11 // “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually!” 2 Timothy 1:7 // “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 // “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Hebrews 13:8 // “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” Colossians 3:2 // “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Matthew 7:7-8 //“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Jeremiah 29:11 // “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Wear a reminder on your t-shirt, too!) Proverbs 3:5 // “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” Philemon 1:25 // “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Psalm 37:4 // “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Deuteronomy 32:4 // “The Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Psalm 119:105 // “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Matthew 18:20 // “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Psalm 56:3 // “When I am afraid, I put my trust in thee.” Psalm 139:8 // “If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there!” Matthew 11:30 // “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Philippians 4:13 // “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” Romans 12:12 // “Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 // “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Proverbs 10:12 // “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Joshua 24:15 // “...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20 // “He who gives heed to the word will prosper, and happy is he who trusts in the Lord.” James 2:17 // “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” Proverbs 12:25 // “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Deuteronomy 8:3 // “Man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” Matthew 4:10 // “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Isaiah 9:2 // “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” John 14:6 // “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” Matthew 5:16 // “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” Hosea 6:6 // For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings. Mark 10:27 // “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Isaiah 53:5 // “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.” Matthew 28:19-20 // “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” John 21:25 // “But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” James 1:2-4 // “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Revelation 21:4 // “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” Practical Ways to Implement Scripture Forty verses were chosen for this post because of the symbolic meaning of that number and its significance to the season of Lent. However, it has to be acknowledged that memorizing forty verses in forty days could actually be a significant challenge, especially in this day and age when so much information that used to be memorized is now stored in our phones! If forty verses sounds like too many, never fear! There are many ways to work on committing Scripture verses to memory for the Lenten Season. Choose 10-15 verses from the bunch, put them in a jar, and draw them out one at a time throughout Lent. Don’t pull out another verse until the one drawn has been committed to memory (this could be the same day, or 3-4 days away). Work at your own pace. Of the verses, choose seven (another important Scriptural number) and memorize one per week for the seven weeks of Lent. Read through the list again and highlight all the ones that speak to your heart and your current situation in life. Use Lent to commit those to memory. More importantly, spend time meditating on their meaning for your relationship with God. Choose one verse that stands out, and use Lent to try and implement its meaning into your daily life. … or any other method and combination that suits you! Other Scripture Verses to Memorize Looking for other Scripture verses to memorize? Give a gander to these options! Scripture Verses to Pray When You're Mad at God Scripture Verses to Pray When You're Missing Someone Scripture Verses to Pray During Times of Anxiety Scripture Verses to Pray When You Have the Winter Blues Scripture Verses to Pray When You're Disappointed Scripture Verses to Pray for Your Marriage Scripture Verses to Pray When You're Grateful Scripture Verses to Pray When You're Cold [bctt tweet="40 Short Bible Verses to Memorize for Lent #BISblog //" via="no"] GOD'S WORD CHANGES LIVES When we let God form and shape our lives through His Word, we become changed women. His words are Spirit and Life, so let them give you life. The Blessed is She Bible is your trusted companion on your walk with Jesus. ORDER MY BIBLE

…all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. // Psalm 139:16 God is the ultimate Author—the most romantic and creative. He is also the ultimate planner: precise, detailed, and organized. God is behind everything truly beautiful that causes us to marvel. The unexpected shooting star, the cliffs of Moher, the elderly married couple slow dancing at their 50th wedding anniversary. When we see something truly good and beautiful we know that the Lord has orchestrated it. Trusting in a Good Plan It’s in the moments of suffering where we tend to forget where beauty comes from and are left to wonder if God’s plan is actually good for us. More practically, this is often the case for single Christians who desire authentic love but only see a world that marvels at sin. I’ve seen it time and time again: Christians begin to doubt, hearing the whispers of society: “It’s just not practical in this day and age to be chaste... Men only want sex, and if you can’t give it to them they will find it from someone else… loosen up don’t be a prude.” We start to question. Maybe they’re right? Wrangling to Write Our Own Story This is when the devil waltzes in, as he did with Eve in the Garden. Suddenly the lies of the world seem slightly more manageable and a life of faith a little far-fetched. As a response—if our faith isn’t strong enough—we fall into desperation and attempt to “take the pen.” As God is writing our story according to His divine will and plan for our lives, we are anxiously tempted to rip the pen out of His hand and manically try to write our own story on our own terms and timeline. Forgetting God and prayer, we try to take matters into our own hands. We decide on shortcuts instead of following the path God sets for us. Instead of entrusting ourselves to God in our singleness, instead of looking for a compatible partner who is faithful and virtuous, we take the pen and grasp for any relationship. In our pursuit of love, we lower our standards and allow others to treat us badly. Then we continually allow the people who have hurt us to re-enter our lives with no consequences, all because we are afraid to be alone. We subtly start to justify our sins and our changes in character. We begin to live with a dreaded, pitted feeling in our gut. Something within us tells us, “This isn’t right, this isn’t what God wants.” But we learn how to brush off the feeling through another act of self-sabotage. There is No Fear in Love This process of taking the pen is slow and hard to realize. It’s a series of one small compromise after another as we teach ourselves how to believe our own lies. This is not the will of God. We forget is that when we run from the will of God we run from ourselves. We are running from our heart’s true desires and running from eternal life with Christ. We grasp for the pen like Eve grasped for the fruit. Maybe Eve let herself believe that her taking matters into her own hands was an act of independence, but it was really an act of fear. And there is no fear in love (see 1 John 4:18). Ways to Increase Trust in the Author What if we lived fearlessly in our singleness instead of settling for the standards of the world or settling for the wrong person? What if we learned to trust that God is currently doing something beautiful with our lives? How does this work? How do we live in God’s grace and get what we want from life? 1. Accept Your Individual Story First, we have to accept that our story is going to be unique and incomparable to anyone else. We have to stop falling into the sinkholes of comparison. What are the obstacles that cause your foot to slip? Have you seen one too many Instagram proposal posts? Are you finding yourself comparing your timeline to your siblings or friends? Be vigilant about these feelings. Don’t brush them off like they mean nothing. Listen to your longings, but remind yourself that God hasn’t stopped working. 2. Watch the Company You Keep Second, don’t entertain bad company. When we feel desperate, our defenses let down and our fortress is left vulnerable. Your heart is that fortress. Bad company can comprise of: the "friends" who make those not-so-subtle snide remarks those who are fun to be around but don’t support your path to Christ the date that made you second guess yourself and your values the date who has you on a roster as if you’re not a person, but a number. Bad company and a vulnerable disposition can confuse you into thinking you deserve nothing but the worse. 3. Draw Close to Him Finally, pray more. This can be one of the points we want to brush off. I’m not suggesting that if you pray more rosaries your spouse will show up sooner. When we pray, we are close to the Lord, when we are close to the Lord we receive grace. We can’t see grace, we can’t touch it, we can’t measure it, but grace is the fuel of our faith. God especially gives His grace when we are at our lowest so we can overcome the hurdles of this life. This grace gives us patience in our singleness, discernment in confusion, joy in the present, trust in the Lord’s process, and, finally, peace in whatever comes out of your story. Have have you learned to let God remain the Author of your life throughout your single years?   Madeleine Hamm was born and raised in Northern Virginia. After leaving home to become a missionary in Rome, she spent six years living in several countries throughout Europe. The experience fostered a deep love for culture, language, and storytelling. Madeleine is also the kind of girl who is not afraid to express her undying love for pop culture, her rescue puppy, Dorothy, and Taylor Swift. 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

In the afternoon between 2-4 p.m. you can find me in a rocking chair, holding my daughter, and reading a book. I know... I’m supposed to be on a tight napping regime where she sleeps in her own crib with a white noise machine and black-out curtains. For the sake of enjoying my newborn and perhaps a bit of procrastination, I haven’t taken to sleep training. So I hold the most precious gift God’s given us—Gemma—and surrender my to-do lists. Habits for Wholeness One of my latest reads is Habits for Holiness by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR. His radical devotion to the Lord pours out in thoughtful prose that spoke to my soul and intellect and tugged on my heartstrings. I suddenly found myself taking pictures of his words and sending them to friends. Whether it is Fr. Mark-Mary’s clear outline of the sanctity of family life, or his recounting of opportunities that changed the posture of his heart as a novitiate, Habits for Holiness is a book for our time. Habits for the Human Person I had been flirting with minimalism when I picked up Habits for Holiness, but I couldn’t grasp onto the “Marie Condo” spirit. I didn’t want to aimlessly hug my slippers and wait for a “spark.” If I step two feet into an Anthropologie, everything gives me a spark! Rest assured, I can easily buy spark-giving things. But of all the wisdom imparted by Fr. Mark-Mary, our Catholic call to “live simply so others can simply live” was the most provocative phrase to express my desire to eliminate capitalist overconsumption and to centre others instead of things. I started to think of the conditions of the factory workers making the clothing I so easily cycle through each season. I thought of the Amazon drivers piling packages at our front door after a long day and some consolation shopping. I pictured the hundreds of under-housed people that seek refuge in our local parks turned into tent cities. Filled with humility, I recognized that my desire to live simply wasn’t just a countercultural inkling but movement of the Holy Spirit confirmed for me by Fr. Mark-Mary and his encouragement to slow down, step back and to tell myself “that’s enough.”   I started lending out my copy of Habits for Holiness because it spoke so directly to my heart and to the pain and confusion felt in the modern world of “never-enough-ness.” The truth plainly put forth by Fr. Mark Mary is that a life filled with things is not a life fulfilled. Our fulfillment as Catholics is looking towards Jesus, centering our lives on Him and answering His call to love others with a deep and radical commitment. If the name Fr. Mark-Mary sounds familiar, it’s likely because he is! He can be seen or heard as a guest on the Blessed is She podcast or on his podcast, Poco a Poco, filmed by Spirit Juice. Have you read this book yet?! What did you think?   Olivia DiGiammarino is a wife, mother, artist, and educator in Toronto, Canada. She loves God and her family, and she never says "no" to tiramisu.   [bctt tweet="BIS Reads // Habits for Holiness #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!