The Gathering Place, a Podcast from Blessed is She

Before Lent officially begins, the Church gently invites us to slow down and prepare our hearts. In this Weekly Visit, Jenna and Steph will introduce the often-overlooked season of Septuagesima: a sacred threshold that helps us transition from Ordinary Time into deeper repentance and renewal.Together, we’ll talk about why preparation matters, how small interior shifts can make a big difference, and how God meets us before we ever “get it right.” If you’ve ever felt rushed into Lent or unsure how to begin well, this conversation is for you.Reflection Questions:Where do I sense the Lord inviting me to slow down and prepare - not strive - as Lent approaches?What habits, distractions, or expectations might God be gently asking me to loosen my grip on before the season begins?How can I make space this week to listen for God’s voice rather than rushing ahead to “do Lent well”?Join us LIVE every Tuesdays at 1pm ET for The Weekly Visit in the BIS Member Community!

Are we truly hungry for God?In Luke 6, Jesus tells us: “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.” But what kind of hunger is He talking about? In this episode of Catholicism for Catholics, Alison Oertle invites us to reflect on our deepest longings and the gift of the Eucharist, where God makes Himself bread to feed His people. Together, we explore what Scripture says about hunger and thirst for God, from the Psalms to the Prophets, and how those longings are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. This teaching walks through:- Biblical hunger and thirst as signs of desire for God- Jesus’ Bread of Life discourse in John 6- Why the Eucharist is not symbolic, but truly Jesus Himself- The vulnerability of admitting our need for God- How “false food” can dull our spiritual appetite- An invitation to be healed, renewed, and made hungry againIf you’ve ever felt spiritually numb, distracted, or unsure of your desire for God, this reflection offers hope, clarity, and a gentle call back to the Lord who alone satisfies.🙏🏽 “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10) We’re so grateful to be walking with you in faith! Want to learn more? Watch the Catholicism for Catholics series on our YouTube channel. 💜

We weren’t made to walk the Christian life by ourselves. Yet community can feel intimidating, messy, or out of reach. This week, we’ll talk honestly about the vulnerability it takes to be known, the courage it takes to try again after disappointment, and the practical steps that help us find people who share our faith, lift our hearts, and point us to Christ. Real community is possible, not because it’s perfect, but because Jesus is in it.Reflection Questions:Do I truly let others into my life, or do I carry everything quietly?What fears hold me back from deeper friendship and community?Who is one person I can reach out to this week to take a step toward connection?Join us LIVE on Tuesdays at 1pm ET in the Member Community for The Weekly Visit!

Join us for a special Author Live conversation with Debra Herbeck, author of our Lent 2026 devotional, Who Do You Say That I Am?Debra shares the heart behind the book, her own journey of faith, and the invitation Jesus extends to each of us this Lent: to encounter Him not as an idea, but as a living Person who desires to reveal Himself to us.We’ll talk about prayer, Scripture, and how walking intentionally through Lent can deepen our relationship with Christ, right where we are.This conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen, and prepare your heart to journey with Jesus toward Easter.🕯️Hosted by Blessed is She📖 Featuring Who Do You Say That I Am? by Debra Herbeck🙏 Perfect for personal prayer or group reflection this Lent

Life doesn’t stay the same… and thank God for that! The spiritual life isn’t about resisting change, but learning to abide in Christ through it. This week, we’ll talk about embracing the rhythms of life and faith as they unfold across the year. Whether it’s transitions we choose or ones we didn’t see coming, we’ll reflect on how to stay rooted in Jesus, adapt with peace, and recognize the fruit that each season is meant to grow in us. Change isn’t the enemy of holiness - often, it’s the invitation.Reflection Questions:Which season of life feels hardest for me to accept right now?What helps me stay anchored in Jesus when everything else shifts?What good might God be drawing out of a change I didn’t want?Join us live on Tuesdays at 1pm ET for The Weekly Visit!

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. 💛