February 17
Feast of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites
“In the beginning our Lady was the chief architect of this new order which was founded on the humility of its members, built up by their mutual love, and preserved by their poverty.”
--Legenda de Origine of the Order of Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary
February 16
"One of the favorite images I like to use for describing the Christian life is of a person standing with arms outstretched. One hand, in faith and prayer, touches God; the other hand is extended in service to the neighbor. Thus a person is cruciform, touching God and touching neighbor."--Catherine de Hueck Doherty
February 14
“Love is the key to the mystery. Love by its very nature is not selfish, but generous. It seeks not its own, but the good of others. The measure of love is not the pleasure it gives – that is the way the world judges it – but the joy and peace it can purchase for others.”--Ven. Fulton J. Sheen
February 13
“What do you think His will is? The Lord asks of us only two things: love of His Majesty and love of our neighbor. These are what we must work for. By keeping them with perfection, we do His will and so will be united with Him.”--St. Teresa of Avila
February 12
“If you would attain the purity you ask of me, there are three principal things you must do. You must be united with me in loving affection, bearing in your memory the blessings you have received from me. With the eye of your understanding you must see my affectionate charity, how unspeakably much I love you. And when the human will is concerned you must consider my will rather than people’s evil intentions, for I am their judge – not you, but I.”
--Our Lord to St. Catherine of Siena
February 11 Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
"I am the Immaculate Conception" --The Blessed Virgin to St. Bernadetter Soubirous
For Reflection: Do I understand the meaning of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception -- that Mary was conceived without the blemish of original sin? I will ask the Blessed Mother today to enhance my appreciation of this great truth.
(Quote from Graceful Living)
February 10
"The way of faith gives us more than the way of philosophical thought: it gives us God, near to us as person, who loves us and deals with us mercifully, giving us that security which human knowledge cannot give. But the way of faith is dark."--St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
February 9
“The perfection of a Christian consists in knowing how to mortify himself for the love of Christ…. Where there is no great mortification there is no great sanctity.”--St. Philip Neri
February 8 Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, Virgin (1869 – 1947)
“If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and religious today.”--St. Josephine Bakhita
February 7
“Suffering borne in the will quietly and patiently is a continual, very powerful prayer before God.”--St. Jane Frances de Chantal
