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Virtues vs Vices

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Isabelle Liberatore

“The way to destroy bad habits is by watchfulness and by doing often those things that are opposites to one’s besetting sins.”
-St. John Vianney

How do we grow in virtue?

St. John Vianney, whose feast we celebrate today, offers us the sage advice of “doing often those things that are opposites to one’s besetting sins.”

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Easter Sunday

Posted on April 4, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

April 4

Easter Sunday

Easter Hymn

Let us rise in early morning,

And instead of ointments bring

Hymns of praises to our Master,

And His Resurrection sing;

We shall see the Sun of Justice

Risen with healing in His wing.

Go ye forth, His Saints, to meet Him!

Go with lamps in every hand!

From the sepulcher He riseth;

Ready for the Bridegroom stand;

And the Pascha of salvation

Hail, with His triumphant band.

– St. John Damascene

For Reflection:

What hymns of praise am I bringing to the Risen Christ today? For what am I abundantly grateful?

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Holy Saturday

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

April 3

Holy Saturday

To Christ Crucified

I am not moved to love Thee, O my Lord,

By any longing for Thy Promised Land;

Nor by the fear of hell am I unmanned

To cease from my transgressing deed or word.

‘Tis Thou Thyself dost move me, — Thy blood poured

Upon the cross from nailed foot and hand;

And all the wounds that did Thy body brand;

And all Thy shame and bitter death’s award.

Yea, to Thy heart am I so deeply stirred

That I would love Thee were no heaven on high, —

That I would fear, were hell a tale absurd!

Such my desire, all questioning grows vain;

Though hope deny me hope I still should sigh,

And as my love is now, it should remain.

-Anonymous (16th or 17th C.)

Translated from the Spanish by Thomas Walsh

For Reflection:

On this Holy Saturday, I enter into the tomb with Jesus. What one area of my life is most in need of resurrection? How is Jesus showing me He wants to bring this part of me “back to life?”

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Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

April 2

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

“Who can measure the extent of My goodness? For you I descended from heaven to earth; for you I allowed Myself to be nailed to the Cross; for you I let My Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you. Come, then, with trust to draw graces from this fountain.”

-Jesus to St. Faustina Kowalska

For Reflection:

What is Jesus say directly to you through these words? What do you say back to Him? For the next nine days, pray the Divine Mercy Novena with receptivity and trust that you will draw from the fountain of the Sacred Heart the very grace you most need.

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Lenten Journey Through the Sorrows of Mary: Holy Thursday

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

April 1

Holy Thursday

While my body here decays

May my soul your goodness praise,

Safe in heaven eternally. Amen Alleluia.

For Reflection:

This final stanza of the Stabat Mater encourages us to consider the Divine Mercy that floods the heart of Our Savior, who gave Himself for us. In what one way do you most need to experience this Ocean of Mercy? Journal your response. As you read tomorrow’s GraceLine, hear the voice of Jesus talking to you.

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Lenten Journey Through the Sorrows of Mary: When my life shall leave me

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

March 31

Savior, when my life shall leave me,

Through your mother’s prayers receive me

With the fruits of victory.

For Reflection:

Mary has assured us of her maternal intercession and God assures us forgiveness of our sins when we truly repent. However, the evil one seeks to steal all assurance from us. He does this in three ways: discouragement, distrust, doubt. Discouragement because we are afraid we now can never acquire a deep union with God; distrust that God will treat us less favorably now and that He will be niggardly in the grace He gives us; doubt that God has forgiven us at all because our sin is so great.

To what extent is any one of these true of you? Read Rev. 21:5-6. Journal your insights, inspirations, and consolations.

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Lenten Journey Through the Sorrows of Mary: O Virgin Nigh

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

March 30

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,

Lest in flames I burn and die,

In His awe-full judgment day.

For Reflection:

How are you assured that Our Lady will be “nigh” to you on your judgment day? Journal your interior response.

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Lenten Journey Through the Sorrows of Mary: Wounded with His every wound

Posted on March 29, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

March 29

Wounded with His every wound,

Steep my soul till it has swooned

In His very Blood away.

For Reflection:

Read Mark’s account of the Passion. Underline or circle all of the wounds of Christ – physical, emotional, psychological. Which of these wounds have you experienced? How? Unite each of these sufferings to the wounds of Jesus and ask that the Precious Blood shed for you on Calvary’s hill will fill you with the healing balm of the Holy Spirit.

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Lenten Journey Through the Sorrows of Mary: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

March 28

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Let me, to my latest breath,

In my body bear the death

Of your dying Son divine.

For Reflection:

To die with Christ and be risen in Him is the quest of every holy soul. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the greatest aids in making this holy desire our final reality. It helps us advance in virtue, grow in self-knowledge, attain true humility, uproot bad habits, prevent spiritual negligence, combat apathy, purify our conscience, strengthen our will, receive spiritual direction, and acquire the grace of the Sacrament itself (Mystici Corporis).

Of the benefits of the Sacrament listed above, which do I most need? Which would others tell me I most need? Journal your insights.

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Lenten Journey Through the Sorrows of Mary: Let me share your grief divine

Posted on March 27, 2021 by Women of Grace Staff

March 27

Virgin of all virgins blest!

Listen to my fond request:

Let me share your grief divine.

For Reflection:

To enter more deeply into the hearts of Jesus and Mary and to experience the treasury of grace that is found there we must stay united to Christ. Father Faber outlines three ways we can fall away from Jesus and put ourselves in spiritual peril: 1) by breaking away from Him through sin; 2) by letting the attractions of the world become greater than attraction to Him; 3) by slowly distancing ourselves from Him by imperceptible degrees.

Make a serious examination of conscience according to these three perils. Make a good Act of Contrition and then avail yourself of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as soon as you can.

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