January Gracelines
"The only way to fail is to stop."
St. Teresa of Avila
For Reflection:
How does this quote speak to me today?
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January Gracelines
St. Thomas Aquinas,
Priest and Doctor
(1225 - 1274)
"Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue."
St. Thomas Aquinas
For Reflection:
Read Matthew 27:35-50. What virtues do I see exemplified by Jesus on the cross? What What did Jesus disdain on the cross? What did he desire? What virtues do I see exemplified by Jesus on the cross? In what ways can I do likewise?
January Gracelines
Feast of St. Angela Merici, Virgin
(1470 - 1540)
"Mothers and sisters most dear to me in Christ: in the first place strive with all your power and zeal to be open. With the help of God, try to receive such good counsel that, led solely by the love of God and an eagerness to save souls, you may fulfill your charge.Only if the responsibilities committed to you are rooted in this twofold charity will they bear beneficial and saving fruit."
St. Angela Merici
For Reflection:
To what extent are the responsibilities committed to me rooted in the twofold charity St. Angela Merici recommends? How can I help these roots to grow?
January Gracelines
Feast of Sts. Timothy and Titus
"As for you, be steady and self-possessed; put up with hardship, perform your work as an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
For Reflection:
How can I fulfill my ministry of evangelization today in at least one way?
January Gracelines
Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul
"I am content with weakness, with mistreatment, with distress, with persecutions, and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:10
Dear St. Paul,
I wish I could say that I am content with weakness, mistreatment, distress, persecution, and difficulties, but that is not the case. All too often I complain at the least struggle or trial. Pray for me that I obtain the grace I need to endure all things for the sake of Christ. Help me to see that when I am most powerless, Christ can be all in all of me if I surrender my suffering to Him. May the strength of Christ fill me and may I embrace the cross with valor and conviction. Amen
January Gracelines
 Feast of St. Francis de Sales,
Bishop and Doctor
(1567 - 1622)
"Our business is to love what God would have done. He wills our vocation as it is. Let us love that and not trifle away our time hankering after other people's vocations."
St. Francis de Sales
For Reflection:
How can "hankering after other people's vocations" lead me to be discontented with what God has chosen for me? How does it deprive me of grace? In what ways can it lead me into sin?
January Gracelines
"You are not a saint because you keep the rules and are blameless; you are a saint if you live in the real world, going out and loving the real people God has put into your life."
Sister Wendy Beckett
For Reflection:
According to Sister Wendy, how might I be saint-like today?
January Gracelines
Feast of St. Vincent,
Deacon and Martyr
"Against Christ's army the world arrays a twofold battleline. It offers temptation to lead us astray; it strikes terror into us to break our spirit. At both of these approaches, Christ rushes to our aid, and the Christian is not conquered."
St. Augustine on St. Vincent
For Reflection:
What is the twofold battleline that I am currently engaging? What grace can I name that Christ is bringing me so that I am not conquered?
January Gracelines
Feast of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
"I will be his who first chose me for himself."
St. Agnes at her martyrdom
For Reflection:
God has chosen me for Himself just as He chose St. Agnes. Am I willing to choose Him first in all things? What one choice is He asking me to make today? What is my response?
January Gracelines
Feast of St. Sebastian, Martyr
"If there are many persecutions, there are many testings; where there are many crowns of victory, there are many trials of strength. It is then to your advantage if there are many persecutors; among many persecutions you may more easily find a path to victory."
St. Ambrose on Martyrdom
For Reflection:
What "path to victory" have I found in past persecutions? How does this help me seek the path to victory in my current trial?
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