Blog Archives - Women of Grace

The grace of yes

Posted on Monday, August 31, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

August 31

PRAYER FOR GOD'S WILL

Lord Jesus, may I know myself and know Thee.

And desire nothing save only Thee.

May I hate myself and love Thee.

May I do everything for the sake of Thee.

May I humble myself and exalt Thee.

May I think of nothing except Thee.

May I die to myself and live in Thee.

May I receive whatever happens as from Thee.

May I banish self and follow Thee.

And ever desire to follow Thee.

May I fly from myself and fly to Thee,

That I may deserve to be defended by Thee.

May I fear for myself and fear Thee.

And be among those who are chosen by Thee.

May I distrust myself and trust in Thee.

May I be willing to obey on account of Thee.

May I cling to nothing but to Thee.

May I be poor for the sake of Thee.

Look upon me that I may love Thee.

Call me that I may see Thee.

And ever and ever enjoy Thee.

Amen.

~St. Augustine

For Reflection:

I seek the grace to say "Yes" to all that is in this prayer.

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

The good God

Posted on Sunday, August 30, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

August 30

"Whatever the good God has given me has

always pleased me, even the gifts which have appeared to me less good and less beautiful than those received by others."

~St. Thérèse of Lisieux

For Reflection:

How often I am discouraged, jealous, envious, and lacking peace because I see what others have that I do not! Today, I will ask St. Thérèse

to intercede for me that I may not lust for that which I do not have, but be filled with gratitude for that which has been given to me.

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

Once our resolution has been made

Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

August 29

"Although the difficulties, temptations, and different events that occur in

the course of carrying out our plan may cause us some uncertainly as to whether we have chosen well, once our resolution has been made, we must never doubt the holiness of its execution."

~St. Francis de Sales

For Reflection:

Another tactic the evil one uses to render us ineffective is to create trials and difficulties for us as we seek to conform to God's will. His hope is that we will give up, convinced we have made a mistake. Am I willing to

persevere and not fall victim to this ploy of the evil one - no matter the cost?

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

The light of the Holy Spirit

Posted on Friday, August 28, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

August 28

"After we have implored the light of the Holy Spirit, applied our thought to search for His good pleasure, taken counsel with our director and perhaps two or three other spiritual persons, we must come to a resolution and decision

in the name of God."

~ St. Francis de Sales

For Reflection:

This quote reveals another tactic of the evil one. He will incite doubt, confusion, and uncertainty into our heart so as to hold up our consent to God. What about my own personality or temperament could cause me to fall victim to this strategy? Beg God for the grace to overcome this temptation.

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

Is the Catholic Version of Alpha Really Catholic?

Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2020 by Susan Brinkmann

We recently received an email from a PREP catechist who expressed concern about her parish introducing the Alpha program for their eighth grade class. Is this program appropriate for Catholics?

Read the rest

St. Monica: Carrying the Family Cross

Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2020 by Guest Blogger

The canonized women who are mothers add to our altars a special kind of incense – a two-fold fragrance of motherhood, both natural and spiritual. The very definition of their sainthood reveals that the life of the soul was sacrosanct to them and that while they nurtured the physical life of their children, it was eternal life which they desired to impart above all.

Read the rest

The "Monica" Method: How to Evangelize Your Loved One

Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2020 by Johnnette Benkovic Williams

The next two days mark the feasts of two great saints of the Church, a mother and a son, whose lives give testimony to a sure-fire method of evangelizing those we love.

St. Monica (August 27) is the mother of St. Augustine (August 28), though Augustine was no saint when Monica began her earnest intercession. At that time he was a pagan and a member of the heretical Manichean sect. He was known to be a carouser who lived with a woman to whom he had fathered a child. A brilliant mind, he was "devoted" to his views and his lifestyle, and had no intention of converting to the Catholic faith.

St. Monica was distraught about her son's dissolute ways and decided to do something about it. She prayed. And in the end, her prayers won the soul of her son.

What was it that made St. Monica's prayers so effective? I think five strategies are primarily responsible. Perhaps you can implement them as you seek to evangelize those you love.

Read the rest

A future good

Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

August 27

"An inspiration urging us to give up some true good we

already possess in order to pursue a future good is suspect."

~St. Francis de Sales

For Reflection:

Sometimes the evil one keeps us in the pursuit of what seems to be a better or a greater good. This is only to keep us from completing that which God has intended for us. Have I fallen victim to this ploy of Satan in the past? Am I being tempted to fall ploy to it now? (See tomorrow's Grace Line for another tactic the evil one uses to keep us from fulfilling God's will for us.)

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

The voice of the Spouse

Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

August 26

"The voice of the Spouse, that is, His inspiration, in

no way disturbs or troubles her, but draws her so gently that He causes her soul to melt with delight and, as it were, to flow into Him."

~St. Francis de Sales

For Reflection:

This quote encourages me to follow only those inspirations that are holy and bring my soul peace. To what extent is this helpful in my current deliberation regarding God's will for me?

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest