Katie Weiss

I’II remember the fire that stirred in my heart in fifth grade as I saw a video of Mother Teresa. From then on, I wanted to give everything to God just like her – to be a religious sister.

Over 10 years later, I entered the religious community of my dreams. I thought I would be there forever, only to find a few months in that I saw the beauty of the life, but had deep unrest in my heart. I tried to ignore this feeling, until I came across an image of the Annunciation by Fra Angelico.

While I was raised Catholic, this was the first time I felt I could be real with Jesus in prayer. Until then, I would withhold my fears and struggles from the Lord, for fear of being “not good enough” for Him. Praying with this image gave me the freedom to let myself be loved by Jesus, as I was. It gave me the courage to discern out of religious life to fulfill the vocation He had planned for me.

Years later, I felt drawn to share what I received. I began a five week program on praying with Mary through the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. A few weeks in, I was in awe of the healing women were experiencing by praying with art. From there, God began to open things step by step for me to start a ministry to share the power of praying with art.

Through Behold, I have found so much joy in encountering Jesus more deeply both in creating books and through the women I meet. And now, my husband of three years helps me format our books. We love doing this ministry together.

I never thought this would be my life, but I am so grateful God has led me to the path that He has. Through this work, I have experienced the immense power of God’s love – through the joys, sorrows, and struggles. It has made it so real to me that God’s love is more powerful than anything, and that He longs to be with us and love us in our weaknesses and trials. I feel immensely humbled to walk with the women that God puts before us in our ministry, and love my vocation to be a wife and mother. This whole journey has taught me that God’s plan is even greater than our own.