Growing up in my family we were not the type that ever read the Bible together or learned how to pray pray with Scripture.
I always heard Scripture at Mass and I knew lots of stories about different saints. But I never had a personal relationship with the Word of God.
It wasn't until my mid to late twenties I really began to fall in love with Scripture in a much more personal, intimate way.
Several years ago I started to discover the many heroic, strong women of the Old and New Testament.
I came to see myself and my story in the stories of women like Ruth, Judith, Tamar, Esther, Mary Magdalen, Martha, and Anna the prophetess. Each of them taught me something deeper about myself.
So when I heard the the Blessed Is She Lent Journal would feature a variety women from both the Old and New Testament I got super pumped!
Written by Laura Kelly Fanucci, it promises to be as rich and fruitful as the one she also wrote for Advent this year. Each week will look at different women of the Bible.
Over the course of Lent we will have spent time praying and reflecting with a variety of women from both the Old and New Testament. Every journal I have used has been a gift to me, some in huge ways and others in a more simple, quiet manner.
Along with the journal itself, we have additional options such as the Lent bundle, which includes a beautiful hand painted print and Marian prayer cards.
And of course we have the first ever Catholic Journaling Bible available! I have been loving mine even though I worry about making it look ugly from time to time ;-).
Ever since Blessed Is She began, we have always sold out of both the Advent and Lent journals. So please be sure to purchase your copy sooner rather than later.
Whether it is your first or fifth time doing a liturgical journal with us, I so look forward to spending the 40 days Lent with my sisters in Christ all over the globe.
To purchase your copies of She Who Believed or any other goodies, mosey on over here.
I feel like Christy in that I feel like I forgot how to blog. I don't think if I've ever been great at it but I have enjoyed it and most especially the friends I have made through blogging.
I have always loved writing but as blogging has changed over time, my commitment to it has had ups and downs.
It might not earth-shattering or well-polished but I want to make more time this year for putting words here and hopefully having more conversations with you here.
Last week I sat down to go through my PowerSheets from 2017 to reflect and look back on all the moments of the last year.
So many good things. Some hard things too.
A week into January and it feels like so.much. has already happened in 2018.
I have spent lots of time snuggling my sweet nephew and getting over a nasty cold.
Tomorrow I start my job as a Pastoral Associate at a new parish.
After Beth did one particular Teachable Tuesday video on a saint and a word for 2018. I have been asking God for a word each new year for several years right now but never done the same with choosing a saint.
The word I ended up with was PRESENT. When the saint name generator gave me St. Therese of Lisieux I inwardly groaned.
Before you throw rocks at me, I think part of the reason is Therese and I are definitely opposites of everything from personality, temperament, and Myers-Briggs. After I stopped my whining and gnashing of teeth for not getting someone else, I decided that there are probably some lessons St. Therese has to teach me in the coming year.
Who knows maybe she'll have even more to teach me about being present! :)
Whatever your word or goals for 2018 are, I am hoping the New Year is full of hope and promise.
