Today on our radio program, Women of Grace Live, I shared a reading from a very old prayer book called Hail Holy Queen in a section called Counsels and Maxims. The prayer book was published in New York by P.J. Kenedy & Sons in 1928 with an Imprimatur by Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop of New York, on August 21 of that same year. The subtitle tells us it is A Book Of Prayer and Counsel For Catholic Girls And Women.

Though the writing hearkens back to an earlier day and time, the wisdom is everlasting. I am offering it to you for your consideration and prayerful meditation. To hear my comments about it as well as another reading from this gem of a book, go to www.womenofgrace.com and click on Podcasts. It is number WGL 1269.

Zeal, Industry

A Girl’s character can be pretty well judged by knowing what she does with her spare time.

The piety of a good girl will manifest itself not only in attending devotions, but, when necessary, in being willing to do her share in parish activities.

The Blessed Virgin was not afraid of spoiling her hands by doing household work, although she belonged to the royal family of David and was God’s most favored creature.

You may think you are able to take care of a husband’s home; but you are not, unless you are able to take your mother’s place in the work of your own home.

Those who dislike work in all its forms and phases, and who yield to their indolent disposition are like barren fig-trees, useless to themselves, to God and to man, fit only for the ax and the fire.

If the time that is wasted in useless or dangerous talking and reading, or in unnecessary rest and recreation, were devoted to the service of God and the salvation of souls, the whole world would be converted.

For the encouragement of those whose life is a daily grind of routine work, it should be remembered, first, that the world depends on patient faithfulness to such tasks; next, that the expert performance of simpler duties always fits one for higher and more responsible posts; and finally, that in the sight of God, and as far as our eternal reward is concerned, it is not what we do, so much as the intention with which we work that counts.

The obligations of justice should be discharged before generosity is indulged in. Therefore the satisfaction of debts and the performance of duties to those dependent upon us take precedence over the giving of alms to optional charities.

It is said that you can catch a thief, but that you cannot catch a liar; but for liars is reserved hell fire, as St. John warns in Rev. 21:8.

It is most useful to cultivate the friendship and companionship of other good girls, whose virtuous example and conversation will be an inspiration to higher and nobler life. “He that walketh with the wise shall be wise; a friend of fools shall become like to them.” — Prov. 13:20.