"O tender Father,
You gave me more, much more,
than I ever thought to ask for.
Thank you, and again thank you,
O Father,
for having granted my requests,
and for having granted those things
that I never realized
I needed or sought."
St. Catherine of Sienna
For Reflection:
Make a list (mental or written) of the petitions God has answered for you. Now make a list (mental or written) of the many blessings God has bestowed upon you for which you did not make an appeal. Praise and thank Him.
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Feast of St. Joseph,
Husband of Mary
"Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt. Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt."
Matthew 2:13- 14
For Reflection:
St. Joseph responded to the word of God immediately. How quickly do I respond to God's word and the promptings of the Holy Spirit? St. Joseph's obedience to God saved his family from calamity. Can I remember a time when my obedience to God saved me from some disaster or unfortunate situation? To what extent will this help me to promptly obey God today and in the future?
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Feast of St. Cyril of Jerusalem
(315-386)
"Confess what you have done in word or deed, by night or day. Confess in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation receive the heavenly treasure.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
For Reflection:
How does this quote speak to me specifically today?
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Feast of St. Patrick
(385 - 461)
from "The Breastplate of St. Patrick"
"Christ shield me this day: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me."
St. Patrick
For Reflection:
Considering this prayer of St. Patrick and in light of Ephesians 6: 11-17, what "armor" do I wear daily? How convinced am I that I need to wear the armor of God?
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"You must pray the prayer of action, which is the fragrant flower of the soul. A good man is a prayer."
St. Catherine of Sienna
For Reflection:
Why is the prayer of action "the fragrant flower of the soul?" Am I a prayer?
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"It is human to fall, but angelic to rise again."
St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier
For Reflection:
Ah, where does this bring hope to me today?
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"The mission of the priest is to save souls. But he cannot do this effectively unless he has helpers. Now woman, by reason of her deeply religious nature and her power over man, is ideally suited for this task. She should, therefore, joyfully and methodically cooperate with the clergy in the noble task of extending Christ's Kingdom on earth.
Rev. James Alberione
For Reflection:
In what one way can I cooperate with the clergy "in the noble task of extending Christ's Kingdom on earth?"
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"The soul about to receive Holy Communion should be pure, that it may be purified; alive, that it may be quickened; just, that it may be justified; ready, that it may be incorporated with God uncreated who was made Man, and that it may be one with Him unto all eternity."
Blessed Angela of Foligno
For Reflection:
What is the state of my soul today? Am I "ready" to receive Holy Communion?
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"The isolation of my soul, the constant and painful injuries caused by those who are hostile or indifferent, especially when they are near and dear to me, the sadness of feeling unequal to the great task to be accomplished, the sufferings of my heart, the difficulties of my life, the misery of my physical weakness - this is the rugged soil, my God, in which Thou wilt cause joy to grow."
Elisabeth Leseur
For Reflection:
What is the "soil" out of which God desires to grow joy in my life?
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"Never utter in your neighbor's absence what you would not say in their presence."
St. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi
For Reflection:
How well do I heed this sage advice?
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