June 1
“Here is your mother.”
-John 19:27
Today's Reflection
In 2018, Pope Francis decreed the Monday after Pentecost to be celebrated as the memorial, "Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church." During these challenging times, what does it mean to you to know that Our Lord Jesus gave us his own mother, to intercede, guide and protect us, His Church?
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When they entered the city, they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 1:13 – 14).
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May 31
“Reconcile men with life and above all, we beseech you, watch carefully over the future of our race. Hold back the hand of man, who, in a moment of folly, might attempt to destroy human civilization…Women of the entire universe…you to whom life is entrusted at this grave moment in history, it is for you to save the peace of the world.”
-Documents of Vatican II Closing Speeches, “To Women”
Today's Reflection
This mandate from the Pope Paul VI, in conjunction with the Council Fathers, issues to women a magnanimous call and mission – to save the peace of the world. This is your call and your mission in union with Mary and her Son, Jesus Christ, by virtue of the fact that God has given you life at this moment in the history of man. What is your response? Do you trust that He is giving you every grace and spiritual blessing you need? How have you seen yourself, through the course of this month, already living out this call? Thank Our Lady for her maternal beatitude and the grace she has advocated for you through these last 30 days.
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May 30
“How are Catholic women to accomplish their providential role as spiritual mothers (with Mary) of the human race?
• They are to know Jesus from daily intimacy with Him in prayer
• They are to receive Jesus by often receiving Him into their hearts
• They are to love Jesus, by spending themselves in serving the needs of Christ’s children as they have never done before…
Love is proved by service. It is in spending ourselves for others that we mainly show our love for Our Lord…"
-Father John Hardon, S.J.
Today's Reflection
Reflect on the statement “Love is proved by service.” How is God asking you to show your love of Him through service (Consider the culture of the day as well as your personal circumstances.)? What one step of spiritual maternity can you take today? Perhaps right this very moment?
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May 29
“How are Catholic women to accomplish their providential role as spiritual mothers (with Mary) of the human race?
• They are to know Jesus from daily intimacy with Him in prayer…
• They are to receive Jesus by often receiving Him into their hearts...
God has made the hearts of women naturally self-giving. But their womanly nature must be fortified on the Sacrament of Love to give them the heroic strength needed to mother the Church today.”
-Father John Hardon, S.J.
Today's Reflection
In what ways are you, a woman, naturally self-giving? Read Paragraphs 1391-1401 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Why are these fruits of the Holy Eucharist fortification for the work entrusted to us as women today? Of these fruits, which do you most need to develop and make use of? Why? Why do you think the work entrusted to today’s spiritual mothers requires heroic strength?
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May 28
“How are Catholic women to accomplish their providential role as spiritual mothers (with Mary) of the human race?
They are to know Jesus from daily intimacy with Him in prayer,…Our Lady we may be sure always had Jesus on her mind.”
-Father John Hardon, S.J.
Today's Reflection
Look up the word “providential” in the dictionary. Consider this reality in light of your call to be a spiritual mother in our day and time? What about you would make it so? (Think of your gifts and talents, your background and experience, your hopes and dreams, your successes and failures.)
To what extent do you always have Jesus on your mind? Why do you think daily intimacy with Jesus through prayer is fundamental to live out your providential role as spiritual mother with Mary?
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May 27
“The apostolate of women in the modern world is not a moral option. It is a mandate… Today’s Church needs miracles of conversion, repentance, and the miracles will take place, provided women do their part, through Mary, and in Jesus and with a woman’s selfless love.”
-Father John A. Hardon, S.J.
Today's Reflection:
These are strong words. What response do they solicit in you? Name some of the ways in which you think the Church needs miracles of conversion? Note that Father Hardon says the miracles will take place, but it depends on women. Why do you think this is so? In the next three Grace Lines, Father Hardon will show how this can be accomplished.
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May 26
“Women must restore to political and professional life the emphasis on the spiritual, an emphasis so sadly lacking; we rely on them to help with the spiritual battle against the evils of secularism.”
-Richard Cardinal Cushing
Today's Reflection:
Note the use of the word “must.” To what extent does this motivate a deeper understanding of your personal mission in this our day and time. How can you begin to work to restore an emphasis on the things of God in your sphere of influence? What one step can you take today?
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May 25
“To bring about his salvation, all man has to contribute is his readiness to give himself up completely. The receptive, passive attitude of the feminine principle appears as the decisive, the positive element in the Christian order of grace. The Marian dogma, brought down to a simple formula, means the co-operation of the creature in the salvation of the world.”
-Gertrud von le Fort
Today's Reflection
Consider the first statement in this quote from Gertrud von le Fort. On a scale of 1 - 10, how do I rank my readiness with 1 being “Not Ready At All," and 10 being “Out-The-Door.” What holds me back; what causes me to press forward? What is defined here as the “feminine principle” and why do you think it is the “decisive, the positive element of the Christian order of grace”? Contemplate this in light of Our Lady. After reading the last statement, ask “To what extent am I molded in the Marian dogma?”
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May 24
“Amidst this pitched battle between darkness and light it is woman’s specific calling to restore the right balance which is a prerequisite of all stability.”
-Placid Jordon, O.S.B.
Look again at yesterday’s Grace Line. Why do you think it is woman’s “specific calling to restore the right balance which is the prerequisite of all stability”? Consider this in light of Mary. Since you are a woman, substitute your name for “woman.” How does this substitution make a difference in the way you receive this statement? How can you begin to “restore a right balance” today?
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