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"Which stands up better in a crisis - man or woman? The best way to arrive at a conclusion is to go to the greatest crises the world ever faced, namely the CRUCIFIXON OF OUR DIVINE LORD. When we come to this great drama of Calvary there is one fact that stands out very clearly: Men failed. On the other hand, there is not a single instance of a woman's failing him."
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
For Reflection:
Am I willing to stand at the foot of the cross with Mary and the other holy women? What cross is mine today?
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Feast of St. Frances of Rome
(1384 - 1440)
Merciful Father,
in Frances of Rome
You have given us a unique example of love in marriage
as well as in religious life.
Keep us faithful in Your service,
and help us to see and follow You
in all the aspects of life.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns
with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
+Amen.
From the Collect of the Mass on the Feast of St. Frances of Rome
For Reflection:
St. Frances of Rome did not want to marry but desired instead to enter religious life. However, she recognized that marriage was God's will for her. She did marry and, following the death of her husband, she founded a religious order. How is God speaking to me through the witness of the life of St. Frances of Rome?
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"To a great extent the level of any civilization is the level of its womanhood. When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women."
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
For Reflection:
To what extent am I raising the level of our culture and civilization?
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"To a great extent the level of any civilization is the level of its womanhood. When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women."
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
For Reflection:
To what extent am I raising the level of our culture and civilization?
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"Fear not, I have called you by name: you are mine."
Isaiah 43: 1
For Reflection:
How are these words meant for me today?
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"Women are called to bring to the family, to society, and to the Church, characteristics which are their own and which they alone can give: their gentle warmth and untiring generosity, their love for detail, their quick- wittedness and intuition, their simple and deep piety, their constancy."
St. Josemaria Escriva
For Reflection:
In what specific ways have I/do I demonstrate the feminine qualities listed by St. Josemaria Escriva?
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Feast of St. Casimir (1461 - 1484)
Daily, Daily Sing to Mary -
Omni die dic Mariae
A copy of this hymn by Bernard of Cluny was found beneath the right temple of St. Casimir's incorrupt body when his grave was opened.
Daily, daily sing to Mary,
Sing, my soul, her praises due:
All her feasts, her actions honor
With the heart's devotion true.
Lost in wond'ring contemplation,
Be her majesty confessed:
Call her Mother, call her Virgin,
Happy Mother, Virgin blest.
She is mighty in her pleading,
Tender in her loving care;
Ever watchful, understanding,
All our sorrows she will share.
Advocate and loving mother,
Mediatrix of all grace:
Heaven's blessings she dispenses
On our sinful human race.
All our graces flow through Mary;
All then join her praise to sing:
Fairest work of all creation,
Mother of creation's King.
Sing in songs of peace unending,
Call upon her lovingly:
Seat of wisdom, Gate of heaven,
Morning star upon the sea.
For Reflection:
This song by St. Bernard of Cluny, treasured by St. Casimir, provides a catechesis on the Blessed Mother as well as listing some of her most well known titles. Make a list of what this song teaches us about Mary, and then list the various titles of Our Lady that are both stated and implicit in it.
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Feast of St. Katherine Drexel
(1858 - 1955)
"Justice ceases to be just when it ceases to be human."
St. Katherine Drexel
For Reflection:
In light of this quote from St. Katherine Drexel, name some specific ways our contemporary society misinterprets justice. What can we do about it?
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"In all talking and conversation let something always be said of spiritual things, and so shall all idle words and evil speaking be avoided."
St. Teresa of Avila
For Reflection:
According to this statement of St. Teresa of Avila, how do I evaluate my conversations with others? Uplifting or downgrading?
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"By being close to Christ in the sacraments and in prayer, we can fulfill our great feminine vocation: to live out our love for others day by day in faithfulness."
Ronda Chervin
For Reflection:
To what extent has a life of prayer and reception of the sacraments impacted on my feminine vocation? In what one way can I seek to improve my faithfulness?
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