Woman of Grace: St. Josephine Bakhita (1869 – 1947)

It is natural to express thanksgiving for being released from difficult trials and circumstances. But who would be grateful for those who cause such difficult trials or circumstances? This is the stuff of saints — the very stuff of which Saint Josephine Bakhita was made.

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My prayer for you

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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The sweet and holy bond

February 7
Charity is the sweet and holy bond which links the soul with its Creator: it binds God with man and man with God.
-Saint Catherine of Siena
Today’s Reflection:
How beautiful! What a lovely reminder that we are linked with our Beloved. Knowing this, how can we show extra gratitude today to Him for His constant presence in our lives? How can we recognize Him wherever we go?
  

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Our Lord loves you and loves you tenderly

February 6
“Our Lord loves you and loves you tenderly; and if He does not let you feel the sweetness of His love, it is to make you more humble and abject in your own eyes.”
-St. Pio of Pietrelcino
Today’s Reflection:
What are your reactions to God’s love? Do you embrace it and accept it, regardless of whether you feel its sweetness? Or do you reject it when you do not feel its consolations? Spend some time letting God love you today, even if you do not feel it initially.
  

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Demands of the heart

February 5
“Jesus does not say ‘no’ to the authentic demands of the heart, but only a clear, loud ‘yes’ to life, to love, to freedom, to peace and to hope. With Him no goal is impossible and even a small act of generosity grows and can lead to change.”
-St. John Paul the Great
Today’s Reflection
What are the demands of my heart? Are they demands that desire God’s will alone, or are they demands that have grown from my own desires to serve myself?
  

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Is Guided Imagery and Visualization New Age?

JB asks: “I would like to know if relaxation exercises such as visualization and abdominal breathing who have proven to relieve anxiety are accepted by our Faith. I’m not talking about visualizations where one’s soul supposedly “leaves the body” or anything weird like that but those where one thinks about a scenery and after a while releases fears and stress somewhere (perhaps a cloud, a hole in the ground, etc.) or sees them fade or disintegrate.”

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Better and happier

February 4
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”
-St. Teresa of Calcutta
Today’s Reflection
In my daily encounter with others, do I keep in mind the impact I can have on them? Do I strive to be an instrument for Christ’s love? Do people leave after an encounter with me striving to be “better and happier”?
  

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True love begins

February 3
“True love begins when nothing is looked for in return.”
-St. Therese of Lisieux
Today’s Reflection
In prayer today, ask God to show you where He is calling you to love more selflessly. How can you be more like Mary in loving others?
  

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A light to reveal you to the nations

Most of us know that today, February 2nd, is the celebration of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. But did you know that today is also the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is known as Candlemas? Read the rest…