March 9
"I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbors' defects--not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues."
-Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Today's Reflection
Are you tempted to judge the defects of your neighbor? Let us examine today how much we "bear all our neighbors' defects. How charity are our thoughts and action toward them? Resolve today to grow in love by reaching beyond your limits of giving.
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March 8
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like,
it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”
-St. Augustine: Sermons (5th Century)
Today's Reflection
Make this the day you pray, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” and bring to His healing heart all of those truths of the Gospel that you doubt or that seem too hard for you to follow.
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March 7
“You must remember to love people and use things,
rather than to love things and use people.”
- Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Today's Reflection
Lent is a good time to examine the heart and determine what – or who - is occupying the most place. Is it ourselves, our loved ones, our things? How much space does God occupy in your heart?
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March 6
“Fasting is a medicine.”
-St. John Chrysostom: Homilies (4th century)
Today's Reflection
Sin injures us in many ways, especially in our ability to love like Jesus. When we deny ourselves a pleasure out of repentance for sin, this action becomes like a healing balm upon our wounded heart and enables us to become a more loving person.
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March 5
“We do not become perfect by the multiplication of exercises, penances,
and austerities, but rather by the purity of love with which we do them.”
-St. Francis de Sales: Spiritual Conferences 13 (17th Century)
Today's Reflection
When you give up something for Lent, why are you doing it? Out of habit, because it’s what is expected of you, or out of love for the God?
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March 4
“The power of choosing good and evil is within the reach of all.”
-Origen: De Principiis, 2. (3rd century)
Today's Reflection
“Choice” is a buzzword that is often used to mask sin and make evil appear to be anything but what it is – evil. Lent is the time to tear away the masks, examine the choices we made in life, and repent of those that were wrong.
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March 3
“One cannot desire freedom from the cross when one is especially
chosen for the cross.”
-St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Today's Reflection
If we are Christians, then we are chosen for the cross. What crosses are you running away from? Why? Bring this to prayer and ask Jesus to give you the courage to take up your cross and follow Him.
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March 2
“Nothing ever happens in the world that does not happen first inside human hearts.”
-Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Today's Reflection
All of the ills of our time – from wars and terrorism to abortion and immoral lifestyles – begin in the same way – by allowing evil into the heart. Pray for the conversion of hearts today!
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March 1
"Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring."
-St. Catherine of Siena
Today's Reflection
Life is like a long-distance race. It takes stamina and endurance to weather the many ups and downs that will come our way. Lent is the perfect time to assess how well we’re weathering the storms in our life. Are we trying to do too much on our own? Might we humble ourselves to ask for God’s help more often?
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February 29
“To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done, and to do no evil to bewail.”
-Pope St. Gregory I: Homilies on the Gospels (6th century)
Today's Reflection
It’s tough to admit that we’ve sinned, but admission and confession is the only path to healing and new hope. Take time to ponder the areas of your life in which you have sinned, or fallen short. Make the sacrament of reconciliation a priority during the Lenten season.
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