The Gathering Place, a Podcast from Blessed is She

Sometimes all it takes is a simple beginning again. We invite you, sister, to turn your gaze to Jesus and let Him light your path, one step at a time.Advent can feel like a long, slow reaching toward something we cannot yet name. Then Christmas arrives and the world turns the page. What if instead of rushing on, we learned to hold the graces Advent gave us a little longer? The quiet lessons of waiting, the small practices of prayer, and the gentle intimacy of Mary’s example can be carried forward into the new year in practical, accessible ways.Simple practices that sustain prayerPrayer does not have to be complicated. Some of the most fruitful habits are refreshingly small.Daily Mass — If you are able, attending daily Mass anchors the day in Scripture and sacrament. The lectionary gives you a steady sequence through the Gospels and readings.One minute to begin — A quick “Come Holy Spirit” or a simple sign of the cross with holy water centers the heart before longer prayer.Scripture as last thing — Read the Gospel or a short passage before bed so the Word of God is the last thing your mind rests on.Renounce and return — For moments when things feel stuck or you’ve wandered, a brief four-minute prayer of renunciation and reorientation can be transformative.Keep it repeatable — Choose a short routine you can do even on hard days. Consistency builds the muscle of presence.New here? We're SO glad you're here! Hit that *subscribe* button and the bell to be notified when we upload!SUBSCRIBE to our free daily devotions: https://blessedisshe.net/subscribe/Check our our FREE RESOURCES for you: https://blessedisshe.net/free-resources/Catholic Resources + How To Guides: https://blessedisshe.net/catholic-resources-how-to-guides/Download our FREE study guide: https://blessedisshe.net/study-guide/Find out more: https://blessedisshe.net/about/Check out our Shop: https://blessedisshe.net/shopBlessed is She exists for any woman who wants to radically follow Jesus through a vibrantly Catholic life every single day. We create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to foster community and deepen faith, both online and in person. We invite you into this community, no matter where you are on your walk with Christ.You belong here.

What are the seven sacraments… and why do they matter so much for our life with God?In this video, Steph Salinas walks us through the beauty, meaning, and lived reality of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and how they root us in God’s grace, strengthen us for the journey, and draw us into deeper union with Christ and His Church.Steph shares from her years as a Director of Religious Education, witnessing countless young people and families encounter Jesus through the sacraments. From Baptism to Matrimony, she reflects on what we see—water, oil, vows, laying on of hands—and the invisible grace that’s truly taking place beneath it all.Whether you’re preparing to receive a sacrament, guiding someone else, or rediscovering the beauty of your own, this teaching will help you see the sacraments not as rituals… but as God’s outpouring of love.Check out the rest of our Catholicism for Catholic series on YouTube!

Advent invites us into a simple but radical question: where is God, and where am I? In the rush of holiday prep, work, relationships, and the background noise of modern life, the practice of being present with God often feels impossible. Yet the present moment is exactly where healing, courage, and peace meet us.There is a kind of love that unsettles because it is so generous. When we truly begin to trust that God loves us — not occasionally, not conditionally, but scandalously — everything changes. That trust becomes an anchor: we begin to repeat, believe, and live the small truth, everything's going to be okay. That is not a platitude. It is a spiritual posture that reshapes how we meet loss, fear, and uncertainty.The scandalous love that says, "Everything's going to be okay"Practical takeaways to practice the sacred presentFind pockets of silence. The car, a short walk, or a few minutes before bed are opportunities to pause.Practice 20-second honesty. Start small. Repetition builds a habit of recollection.Use everyday tasks as holy ground. Washing dishes, folding clothes, or waiting in line can become moments of prayer.Be gentle with yourself. Integration is gradual. Grace meets the fractured yes.You are here with God. We are not alone.New here? We're SO glad you're here! Hit that *subscribe* button and the bell to be notified when we upload!SUBSCRIBE to our free daily devotions: https://blessedisshe.net/subscribe/Check our our FREE RESOURCES for you: https://blessedisshe.net/free-resources/Catholic Resources + How To Guides: https://blessedisshe.net/catholic-resources-how-to-guides/Download our FREE study guide: https://blessedisshe.net/study-guide/Find out more: https://blessedisshe.net/about/Check out our Shop: https://blessedisshe.net/shopShop our Amazon favs: https://www.amazon.com/shop/blessedissheBlessed is She exists for any woman who wants to radically follow Jesus through a vibrantly Catholic life every single day. We create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to foster community and deepen faith, both online and in person. We invite you into this community, no matter where you are on your walk with Christ.You belong here.

Discover what a relationship with Mary, the Mother of God can look like.In this episode, Jenna and Beth sit down for a deeply honest, tender conversation about prayer, healing, and the quiet work God is doing beneath the surface of our lives. They reflect on a powerful line from the Advent devotional—“Even if you’re safely in the sheepfold, there are little strongholds we’re still fiercely and foolishly protecting”—and unpack what it looks like to surrender the “small sins we secretly love,” the habits of vigilance, fear, gossip, and self-protection we don’t always realize we’re holding onto.Together, they explore:- How God heals us in ways we don’t expect—and often far more gently than we imagine- The difference between striving for holiness and simply receiving love- Mary’s role as a tender, present mother who teaches us divine simplicity, patience, and trust- Why healing often comes through “paper cuts,” not dramatic moments- How surrender, Eucharist, and prayer slowly rewire old blueprints in our heartsThis episode is full of laughter, vulnerability, rich imagery from prayer, and deep reassurance for anyone longing to grow, be purified, or simply rest in God’s care this Advent season. If you’ve ever wondered where to begin healing, felt frustrated by the waiting, or desired a deeper relationship with Jesus through Mary, this conversation is for you.✨ Take a deep breath. You don’t have to do anything. He’s already at work.Get your Advent devotional right here: https://blessedisshe.net/pages/advent

We’re all waiting for something: answers, breakthrough, clarity, or a change in our lives. But what if God is already at work in the waiting? In this episode of The Gathering Place, Jenna and Beth dive into the difficulty, beauty, and purpose of waiting, sharing how the Lord is moving even when it feels like nothing is happening.Tune in to be encouraged that every season of waiting has meaning, and in the end, it will all be worth it. 💛

If the weight of waiting has ever felt crushing…if your desires feel delayed…if your suffering feels like, “Lord, I can’t do this anymore”, this episode is for you.In this first week of Advent, we talk honestly about the ache of longing and the places in our lives that feel heavy. But we also talk about the God who meets us there, who gives us grace for the long haul, who replaces our faint, weary hearts with “long-lasting batteries,” and who teaches us to hope again.We explore:The weight of waiting and how the Lord strengthens us in seasons of sufferingWhat happens when God invites us to name our desires with hope, not resignationHow Advent calls us to slow down, unclench our calendars, and step into sacred timeThe difference between external “liturgical living” and the gentle interior rhythm of graceWhy even the smallest shifts in prayer can reorient our hearts in profound waysHow the Lord is doing deep work in our souls—often beyond what words can describeAdvent isn’t about striving. It’s about letting ourselves be carried, like a leaf on the river of God’s grace, toward the heart of the Father, toward the eternity we long for, and toward the desires He Himself placed within us.So if you’re longing… aching… hoping… or simply tired, come sit with us. There are graces available in this Advent, in this moment, that have never been available before.We’re so glad you’re here. 💛Come, Lord Jesus.

In this episode of Catholicism for Catholics, Father Matt Lowry joins Blessed is She to dive into what Scripture means in the life of a Catholic, how we’re invited to pray with the Word, and why the Bible is at the heart of the Church.Whether you’re new to reading Scripture or looking to deepen your prayer, this conversation will help you understand how the Bible is meant to shape, guide, and transform us.

Advent invites a strange and holy tension: we live in the now and the not yet. There is longing and preparation, waiting and hope. This year the invitation is simple and radical — make room for the One who wants to fill every space in our hearts.Here are practical, gentle ways to create margins for prayer this season:Read the introduction of In Time, the BIS Advent Devotional. Reading the introduction before the season helps shape your attention.Invite one friend. Personal invitations change everything. Ask someone to do the devotional with you. This makes them feel seen AND it anchors your own commitment.Protect a prayer space. Carve out a chair, a corner, or a bedside table where you consistently meet God. Small rituals — a candle, an image, holy water — help your body remember what your heart already knows.Try daily Mass. Even one extra day of Eucharistic presence can re-orient your life. The Eucharist is a meal; God sets a table daily for His children. If logistics feel impossible, start small and be resolutely determined.Use worshipful music to re-center. When you struggle to begin prayer, play contemplative worship or instrumental tracks that point your attention toward God rather than yourself.Set an alarm or rearrange your schedule. Small structural choices — an alarm, waking earlier, or shifting a routine — make space for consistent union with God.Making room is often hard. Family dynamics, work, and fatigue make silence feel impossible. Yet hardness is not the same as wrong. Resistance trains and strengthens us. The spiritual life includes real discipline — but the discipline is always ordered to intimacy.“Just because it's hard doesn't mean that it's wrong.”Check out the whole episode and share how you're going to dive into this upcoming Advent Season!Get your Advent books: Women | Men | Kids 💜

When life doesn’t go as planned, it’s easy to feel tired or discouraged. But God’s mercy always meets us with a new beginning. This week, Beth and Steph are talking about what it means to grow in holy resilience - to keep showing up, trusting, and trying again with the strength that comes from Him. Let’s talk about how to persevere with grace, hope, and faith when things get hard.✨ Join us Tuesdays at 1pm ET in the BIS Member Community for The Weekly Visit

How often do we say “I’ll pray for you” (and mean it), but don’t always follow through? This week, Beth and Steph are talking about the real power behind intercessory prayer and how offering up our joys, sufferings, and everyday moments can truly move hearts and change lives. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about loving others through prayer and trusting that God is working, even when we can’t see it.Questions to reflect on:Who is someone the Lord is inviting you to intentionally pray for this week?When was the last time you saw God move through your prayer (or someone else’s)?What small sacrifice or inconvenience could you offer up today as an act of love for another person?✨ Join us Tuesdays at 1pm EST in the ⁠BIS Member Community⁠ for The Weekly Visit