"With Christians, a poetical view of things is a duty. We are bid to color all things with hues of faith, to see a divine meaning in every event."
-Cardinal John Henry Newman
Today's Reflection:
Do I "color all things with hues of faith?" Do I see "a divine meaning in every event?" If I were to do so, how would this encourage the virtue of humility in me? What one situation or circumstance am I presently facing that can give me this opportunity?
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"Fast from bitterness - feast on forgiveness. Fast from self-concern - feast on compassion for others. Fast from personal anxiety - feast on eternal truth. Fast from anger - feast on patience. Fast from words that destroy - feast on words that build up. Fast from discontent - feast on gratitude. Fast from discouragement - feast on hope."
-Susan Tassone
Today's Reflection:
What "fast" should I engage? What are three practical ways I can employ its antidote today?
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"Let all acknowledge St. Michael as their protector, and be devout to him, for he cannot despise those who pray to him.... But he guards them through life, directs them on their way, and conducts them to their eternal home."
-St. Lawrence Justinian
Today's Reflection:
It gives me comfort when I realize that the Archangel Michael not only defends and protects souls during this life but also is our special advocate and consoler at the hour of death. He will come to do battle with our enemies on our behalf. I will invoke St Michael daily to lend his assistance at the critical hour of death.
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“Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 one thing is needful.[a] Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:38-42
Are you a Martha, a Mary, or a Lazarus?
Today is the Memorial of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. In the scripture passage above, we see that Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.” While Martha, “was distracted with much serving.” She even complained that Mary wasn’t doing her part and the Lord, rebuked her saying that Mary had chosen the better part and He would not take it away from her.
"The soul sees what God intended it to be. And the soul sees what obstacles it erected - its selfishness, its cowardice, its shallow satisfactions, its perversions of God's graces and His gifts. All this came between God and the soul in life."
-Susan Tassone
Today's Reflection:
What will I see at the moment of my particular judgment? Will I see that I have created obstacles between my soul and God? What might they be? I pray for the grace to dismantle these obstacles in this life so I will not take them with me to eternal life.
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.
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May the peace and love of Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ be yours today and always!
Here we are closing in on the end of July and Fall is fast approaching! We are excited about what is on the horizon for these coming three months, and I am confident much will be attained for the glory of God with your continued partnership. In addition to a virtual online retreat we are planning for October, our first IN PERSON retreat since the Pandemic is happening in September, and I’m delighted to give you the inside scoop! This will be an event planned, sponsored, and executed by Women of Grace for YOU!
"For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you."
-Matthew 7:2- 3"
Today's Reflection:
In the particular judgment, I will be judged in the same way I pass judgment on others. What do I think is the difference between "judging" in the scriptural sense and making healthy conclusions based on the behavior and example of others?
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.
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It's time to meet the team that makes Women of Grace the impactful apostolate that it is!
Today we're featuring Susan Brinkmann, OCDS, who is our Director of New Age Research. We hope you enjoy learning more about Sue from her answers to the questions below. Stay tuned for regular "Meet the Team" features!
1 How long have you been on the Women of Grace team and how did you begin?"I began working here on January 2, 2008. Johnnette and I knew each other when I worked as a reporter for the Catholic Standard and Times of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. I used to interview her from time to time about New Age subjects. During one interview, I asked her if she knew anyone who was looking for a Catholic writer who does not compromise the faith. She said, 'I am!' The rest is history."
2 What do you love best about Women of Grace's apostolate?"My favorite thing about the Women of Grace apostolate is how it empowers women and cuts through all the confusion of our time. Our culture has a very disingenuous approach to women. It professes to be standing up for their rights, but at the same time, it promotes practices that are very destructive of women’s self-esteem such as promiscuity, abortion, birth control. These are presented as hip and liberating, even though women’s lived experience proves that the flip side of these practices – the broken relationships, the lifelong regret, sexual abuse (#MeToo) – is closer to reality. While pretending to stand up for women, our culture is actually doing the exact opposite, which is especially true for women on the ideological right who are treated like backward bimbos whose voices are deliberately stifled and/or misrepresented. All of these conflicting messages are a source of great confusion to women, which is why Women of Grace’s message - that our dignity comes from being a daughter of God, not from what this or that political group determines- is so encouraging for women. It lifts them above the politics and reminds them of who they really are, regardless of how the world wants to define them."
3 What is your favorite devotion?"My favorite devotion(s) is Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary and also Divine Mercy"
4 Who is your favorite saint?"My favorite saint is St. Therese of Lisieux."
5 If you could have lunch with Jesus today, what would you want to talk about?"If I could have lunch with Jesus, I would talk His ear off because He’s my BFF and I’d ask Him about all the things we’re working on together – my vocation as a Carmelite and a writer, my interior life, my prayer life. Everything!"
