A thousand hells

November 9
“The torments of a thousand hells are nothing in comparison to the anguish of being banished from everlasting bliss and the vision of God.”
-St. John Chrysostom
For Reflection:
The chief misery of hell is being excluded from the beatific vision for all eternity. What a pity it would be for us if this were our end. Ask God for the grace today to be counted as one of the elect who will enjoy His presence for all eternity.

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Our days are numbered

November 8
“Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass,
and we fly away.”
-Psalm 90:10
For Reflection:
Many saints have promoted the practice of regularly reflecting upon one’s own mortality. How does the reality of the shortness of life encourage you to live each day with purpose?

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Enter the narrow gate

November 7
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
-Matthew 7:13-14
For Reflection:
How does this passage inspire you?

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Where, O death, is your sting?

November 5

“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed…
Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

-1 Corinthians 15: 51, 52, 55

 

For Reflection:

Death comes to us all, but we have the promise of the resurrection. As Christians, the overriding priority of our lives should be eternity with God, heaven, both for ourselves and as many souls as we can bring with us.
Is this the focus of your life and if not, what needs to change?

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Immensity of heaven

November 3

“If God were to make every grain of sand into a new world, all these innumerable spheres would not fill the immensity of heaven.”

 

For Reflection:

Though heaven is incomprehensible to us living in the world, take time this week to ask the Lord to enlighten you to the immensity of
our eternal inheritance.

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I go and prepare a place for you

November 2
 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.”
-John 14:3
For Reflection:
Does it console you to know that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you and that He desires for you to be with Him for all eternity?

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What no eye has seen, nor ear heard

November 1

“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him…'”

-1 Corinthians 2:9

 

For Reflection:

What strikes you most about this passage from sacred scripture? Take time to ponder this heavenly reality.

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Our Lady’s Rosary

October 31

Our Lady’s Rosary

Dear Mother, I bring Thee roses
Because they are so sweet,
But lilies, my favorite flowers
I am placing at Thy feet.
Accept with each Hail Mary
A rose for Thy crown so bright,
Please don’t forget the lilies,
The lilies so pure and white.
Let them be a bond of love
And understanding rare,
And send a blessing from above
In answer to my prayer.
Loneliness would be unknown
If more people came to Thee,
With their trials and sorrows
And said their Rosary.
With each Hail Mary, they would find
Their load much lighter grow,
And in humility, kiss the cross
In peace, would onward go.
-Alice W. Sparks

 

For Reflection:

How has my load been made lighter this past month as I have prayed the Rosary? Am I willing to make the Rosary a daily prayer? Why or why not?

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