February 22
Chair of St. Peter
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it."
-Matthew 16:18
For Reflection:
How have I seen the truth of this statement in light of the history of the Church? How does this speak to the fact that the Catholic Church is the
Church Jesus founded?
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February 21
Feast of St. Peter Damien, Bishop and Doctor (1007 - 1072)
"In serenity, look forward to the joy that follows sadness. Hope leads you to that joy and love enkindles your zeal."
-St. Peter Damien
For Reflection:
The letter to the Hebrews tells us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (11:1). How does this help me live out the advice of St. Peter Damien?
(Quote from Graceful Living)
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February 20
"He did not say: You will not be troubled; you will not be tempted; you will not be distressed. But He said: You will not be overcome."
-St. Julian of Norwich
For Reflection:
Dear Lord, So often I feel all but swallowed up by the events of every day life--not to mention those difficult moments of struggle, confusion, and doubt. It is Your grace and Your grace alone that gets me through these moments. Help me to remember that in the midst of every circumstance, You are there. In the midst of every reversal, You are there. In my deepest pain, in my worst distress, in my greatest temptation, You are there. Help me to hold on to this truth, and in You I will overcome. Amen.
(Quote from Graceful Living)
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February 19
"For I will only your well-being, and whatever I give, I give it so that you may reach the goal for which I created you."
-Our Lord to St. Catherine of Siena
For Reflection:
It is easy to see God's hand in the good things of our lives, but it is often a struggle to see it in the difficult. How do these words of Our Lord to St. Catherine of Siena give me deeper insight? In what way does this help me to reexamine past events or a current situation?
(Quote from Graceful Living)
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February 18
"The love of talk distracts all the powers of our soul from God and fills them with earthly objects and impressions like a vessel of water which cannot be clear and settled while you are continually stirring the earthly particles
from the bottom."
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
For Reflection:
The powers of the soul are will, reason, and emotion. How can the "love of talk" draw these away from God? To what extent have I seen this to be true in myself? What practical strategies can I use to purge myself of this tendency?
(Quote from Graceful Living)
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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
For Reflection:
Is the Blessed Mother the "architect" of my hopes and dreams, my plans and my way of life? How can I entrust everything to her?
(Quote from Graceful Living)
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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
For Reflection:
How does this quotation speak of spiritual motherhood? How can I be cruciform today?
(Quote from Graceful Living)
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February 15
"It is amusing to see souls who, while they are at prayer, fancy they are willing to be despised and publicly insulted for the love of God, yet afterward do all they can to hide their small defects; if anyone unjustly accuses them of a fault, God deliver us from their outcries!"
-St. Teresa of Avila
For Reflection:
This is a hard truth from St. Teresa. If I'm being honest with myself, to what extent does this describe me?
(Quote from Graceful Living)
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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
For Reflection:
Love is not an emotion as much as it is a decision of the will. How can I show love today according to this quote?
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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."
-Saint 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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