Blog

Blog Posts

Feminine principle

Posted on Monday, December 07, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

December 7
“Within the sphere of humanity and in the natural world, there had to be a pure and spotless being capable of receiving the divine element, a feminine principle enlightened by grace.”
-Nicholas Berdyaev
For Reflection
Meditate on this quote in light of the Blessed Mother. Think about it with regard to God’s initiative in her life and her capacity to surrender to His Holy Will. Consider the words “pure” and “spotless.” Why do you think these qualities would be essential to receive the “divine element?” Read paragraphs 490-493 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. How does this increase your understanding of Mary as woman, as disciple,
as who she is in the plan of God?
  

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

Fruitfulness

Posted on Sunday, December 06, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

December 6
“God the Father communicated to Mary His fruitfulness, inasmuch as a mere creature was capable of it, in order that He might give her the power to produce His Son and all the members of His Mystical Body.”
-St. Louis Grignion de Montfort
For Reflection
How does this quote illustrate the efficacy of Mary’s surrender? What aspect of His own power has God entrusted to her? What does this say to me about the potential efficacy of my surrender to God and my call to spiritual maternity?
  

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

Surrender to God

Posted on Saturday, December 05, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

December 5
“Surrender to God is the only absolute power with which creature is endowed.”
-Gertrud von le Fort
For Reflection
Why do you think surrender to God is “the only absolute power” we have? In another place, Gertrud von le Fort says that when we surrender to God, we share in His own power. In my own life, how have I experienced the power that comes through surrender to God?
  

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

Advent Week One: A Time of Preparation, A Time of Prayer, Part IV

Posted on Friday, December 04, 2020 by Johnnette Benkovic Williams

I have often been amazed at how God answers a particular question, responds to a petition, or gives me guidance on a specific issue through Sacred Scripture. The reality of this points to a great truth -- God is always seeking to reveal Himself and His will to us. In fact, one spiritual writer tells us that God already had us in mind when He inspired the evangelists in their writings. Consider this as you pray the Scriptures using Lectio-Divina.

Read the rest

Attentiveness

Posted on Friday, December 04, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

December 4
“Mary is the attentive Virgin, who receives the word of God with faith, that faith which in her case was the gateway and path to divine motherhood, for, as St. Augustine realized, “Blessed Mary by believing conceived Him [Jesus] whom believing she brought forth.”
-Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus
For Reflection
Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation. How do you see both of these attitudes of heart implicit in the statement, “Mary is the attentive Virgin?" What virtue underscores Mary’s reception of the word of God – from the moment of the angelic message to her impregnation? What do you make of St. Augustine’s words as given in the quote? Journal your insights and reflections, and consider your receptivity in light of Mary’s attentiveness, her faith,
and her trust.
  

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

Scripture and Advent

Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2020 by Isabelle Liberatore

The season of Advent is upon us. It is the time of year when we prepare for the coming of the Lord, both as the infant Son of God born in a lowly manger, and also as our Triumphant King in His second coming when he will reign for all eternity.

Read the rest

A field for the word

Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

December 3
“To be a field for the word means to be earth which allows itself to be absorbed by the seed, which assimilates itself to the seed, renouncing itself so as to make the seed germinate. With her motherhood Mary transfused into it her very substance, body and soul, so that a new life might come forth…Mary makes herself completely available as the soil, she allows herself to be used and consumed so as to be transformed into him.
-Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)
on Mary’s motherhood
For Reflection
Underline the words in Cardinal Ratzinger’s quote which characterize Mary’s evangelical surrender. Are these action words or passive words? What does this indicate about surrender and the spiritual life? To what extent am I seeking, or even willing, to be such “earth?” What presses me on? What holds me back? Mary, help of all Christians, pray for me. (See tomorrow’s GraceLine for a key to Mary’s success).
  

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

Evangelical surrender

Posted on Wednesday, December 02, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

December 2
“Evangelical surrender is directed towards receiving God’s word. It is like the ploughing which enables the soil to be ‘good soil’ capable of receiving the divine seed, the seed of life.”
-Father Marie-Dominque Philippe, O.P.
For Reflection
According to Father Philippe, what is the relationship between surrender and reception of the “divine seed, the seed of life?” How does Mary demonstrate evangelical surrender to God after Angel Gabriel’s announcement? On a scale of 1-10, how do I rank my evangelical surrender with 1 being “unyielding” and 10 being “Marian?” How can I work to move myself forward this Advent season? (Tomorrow’s GraceLine may give you “Mary-like” insights).
  

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

Fullness of glory and grace

Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

December 1
“… [Mary] was predestined first of all to be Mother of God. And the precise reason why the fullness of glory and grace was given her was to make her of it to be the mother of Christ, as St. Thomas expresses it.”
-Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.
For Reflection
When in Sacred Scripture do we first learn of Mary’s predestination to be the Mother of God? (Hint: It is in the Old Testament in the first book.) What does this suggest about God’s own preparation for the coming of Jesus? What aspect of this preparation does the quote detail? Consider this in light of Angel Gabriel’s salutation to Mary, “Hail, full of grace… (Lk. 1:28). What sacrament was both my preparation for Christ as well as my initial reception of Him? As a chosen daughter of the Most High God, I, too, have been called to be a Christ-bearer. How can I cooperate with grace to prepare for Jesus and to receive Him anew this Christmas?
  

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

The souls of the just

Posted on Monday, November 30, 2020 by Women of Grace Staff

November 30
"God formed man to be imperishable;
the image of his own nature he made them.
But by the envy of the Devil, death entered the world,
and they who are in his possession experience it.
But the souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
They shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect."
-1 Wisdom 2:23–3:9
For Reflection:
One of the most hopeful passages in scripture: "But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them."
No matter the trials and reversals you may be currently experiencing or that may lie ahead, know that you are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch you.
  

If you enjoy Daily Gracelines, please prayerfully consider making a donation to support and sustain our apostolate so that we may continue to provide this and all of our resources designed to nourish and grow your Catholic faith. DONATE

Read the rest

Categories

Archives

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
203

203 Archives