February 17
The First Dolor: The Prophesy of Simeon
Faithful to the religious observances of their faith, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple forty days after his birth to dedicate Him to God. This was an important custom of the Jewish religion. It was also customary for a wealthy family to bring a lamb and a young pigeon or turtle dove to be sacrificed. Poorer families, however, were permitted to offer two pigeons or two turtle doves for the offering. When the Holy Family arrived at the Temple, they were greeted by a just and pious man named Simeon. His words brought with them the first of Our Lady’s sufferings.
For Reflection:
Read Luke 2: 22-35. What did Simeon prophesy about Jesus? How was it the occasion of great joy and great sorrow for Our Lady? In what way was she called to exemplify the three hallmarks of a handmaid of the Lord – receptivity, trust and surrender?
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February 16
“Let us love, since that is what our hearts were made for.”
-Saint Therese of Lisieux
Today's Reflection:
What is the greatest obstacle to love in you? Pray for the grace to overcome and for the Holy Spirit to fill your heart to overflowing with the love of God.
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February 15
“You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.”
-Saint Francis de Sales
Today's Reflection:
Wow! If this doesn't prick your conscience, nothing will. Whom do you need to "learn to love by loving" today?
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February 14
"When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more noble 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.”
-Venerable Fulton Sheen
Today's Reflection:
The truth and relevance of this quote is striking. What can we do to elevate the virtue of the women in our lives?
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February 13
"The good God does not need years to accomplish His work of love in a soul; one ray from His Heart can, in an instant, make His flower bloom for eternity."
-St. Therese of Lisieux
Today's Reflection:
When we trust in God and faithfully ask Him to change our hearts, He does so as swiftly as is necessary. Where can God heal and change my heart today? Do I trust Him to do so?
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February 12
"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread."
-St. Teresa of Calcutta
Today's Reflection:
What a beautiful reminder it is to know that we all ache for love. And how lucky are we to have a Father who loves us so much. Today, thank God for the love He continually pours out on you, and remember to share that love with every soul you encounter.
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February 11
"Today people are suffering from poverty, but also from lack of love."
-Pope Francis
Today's Reflection:
Where am I lacking in love in my life? When I say that I love something or someone, what do I really mean? Ask God to open your heart to scatter more love wherever you go, love that only He can provide.
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February 10
"Love is not a sentiment or feeling. Love is actively willing the good of the other."
-Bishop Robert Barron
Today's Reflection:
Often times, we think that love is simply a feeling towards another, an emotional response to a person. However, as Father Barron tells us, love is to actively will the good of the other. Wow! What a beautiful definition. Today, ask God to show you where you can turn your love for someone, especially Him, into action.
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February 9
"A word or a smile is often enough to put fresh life in a despondent soul."
-St. Therese of Lisieux
Today's Reflection:
What an impact I can have on another person! When I encounter others, how do I respond? Do I pretend to not see them? Or do I embrace them with the warmth of Christ's love? Ask God to help you truly see others today.
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February 8
"And so, my prayer for you is that truth will bring prayer in our homes, and from the foot of prayer will be that we believe that in the poor it is Christ. And we will really believe, we will begin to love. And we will love naturally, we will try to do something. First in our own home, next door neighbor in the country we live, in the whole world."
-St. Teresa of Calcutta
Today's Reflection:
How often we forget how important it is to love those closest to us; the ones that can frequently be the hardest to love. Ask the Lord today to shine light on the areas within your family where you need to grow in greater love. Then, go home and love them!
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