“Those who sow in sorrow, will reap with shouts of joy.” Psalm 126:5
1997, 1998, 1999—three years that broke my heart. The loss of my loved ones during that time devastated me. Looking for answers to the ultimate questions, I found my heart turning back to God in re-conversion. I sought Him through a women’s group at my church. My steps were tentative but see now that God was with me.
The women’s group reconnected me to Jesus yet there was a disturbance in my spirit. The group was gracious and spiritual but I longed for something more authentic and in alignment with the teaching of the Catholic Church.
The Holy Spirit prompted me—actually gently pushed me—into the way I should go. Through His inspiration and the words of a friend I began a group called FIAT which sought to be truly Catholic and Marian. I searched for resources that were in alignment with Catholic teaching—Bible studies, inspirational books, lives of the saints, encyclicals. These works were inspired and beautiful but our little group lacked direction and a consistent vision.
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"To a great extent the level of any civilization is the level of its womanhood. When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women."
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
For Reflection:
To what extent am I raising the level of our culture and civilization?
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This morning, my somewhat precocious six year old granddaughter and I had a conversation over breakfast:
“Grandma,” she said gazing out of the kitchen window in our Florida home.
“Yes, Julia?” said I.
“Pretty soon Easter will be here because it is Spring outside.”
“Yes, you are right. Ash Wednesday is this week and that begins the season of Lent.”
“Oh,” said Julia. “I began Lent already. Remember when you told me not to climb on the chair?
Well, I stopped and I haven’t done it again.”
“Julia, that is wonderful! I am proud of you!” I replied with enthusiasm (always ready to reinforce obedience!). “I have been thinking about how I will spend Lent this year, too.”
“Grandma, I know what you can do!”
“Really, Julia? What is that?” I said hesitantly not sure I wanted to hear the answer.
“You could donate things.”
“That’s true, Julia, I sure could,” I responded already ticking off the items in the garage that I’d just love to get rid of but realizing it would be a pleasure and not a sacrifice.
“You could give away some of my toys,” said Julia deep into the idea by now.
“They’re your toys, Honey. You should give them away.”
“Okay. I’m so good I’ll do that too!” and with that she finished her milk and bounded away.
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"To a great extent the level of any civilization is the level of its womanhood. When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women."
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
For Reflection:
To what extent am I raising the level of our culture and civilization?
Read the rest
"Fear not, I have called you by name: you are mine."
Isaiah 43: 1
For Reflection:
How are these words meant for me today?
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"Women are called to bring to the family, to society, and to the Church, characteristics which are their own and which they alone can give: their gentle warmth and untiring generosity, their love for detail, their quick- wittedness and intuition, their simple and deep piety, their constancy."
St. Josemaria Escriva
For Reflection:
In what specific ways have I/do I demonstrate the feminine qualities listed by St. Josemaria Escriva?
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Feast of St. Casimir (1461 - 1484)
Daily, Daily Sing to Mary -
Omni die dic Mariae
A copy of this hymn by Bernard of Cluny was found beneath the right temple of St. Casimir's incorrupt body when his grave was opened.
Daily, daily sing to Mary,
Sing, my soul, her praises due:
All her feasts, her actions honor
With the heart's devotion true.
Lost in wond'ring contemplation,
Be her majesty confessed:
Call her Mother, call her Virgin,
Happy Mother, Virgin blest.
She is mighty in her pleading,
Tender in her loving care;
Ever watchful, understanding,
All our sorrows she will share.
Advocate and loving mother,
Mediatrix of all grace:
Heaven's blessings she dispenses
On our sinful human race.
All our graces flow through Mary;
All then join her praise to sing:
Fairest work of all creation,
Mother of creation's King.
Sing in songs of peace unending,
Call upon her lovingly:
Seat of wisdom, Gate of heaven,
Morning star upon the sea.
For Reflection:
This song by St. Bernard of Cluny, treasured by St. Casimir, provides a catechesis on the Blessed Mother as well as listing some of her most well known titles. Make a list of what this song teaches us about Mary, and then list the various titles of Our Lady that are both stated and implicit in it.
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Feast of St. Katherine Drexel
(1858 - 1955)
"Justice ceases to be just when it ceases to be human."
St. Katherine Drexel
For Reflection:
In light of this quote from St. Katherine Drexel, name some specific ways our contemporary society misinterprets justice. What can we do about it?
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"In all talking and conversation let something always be said of spiritual things, and so shall all idle words and evil speaking be avoided."
St. Teresa of Avila
For Reflection:
According to this statement of St. Teresa of Avila, how do I evaluate my conversations with others? Uplifting or downgrading?
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"By being close to Christ in the sacraments and in prayer, we can fulfill our great feminine vocation: to live out our love for others day by day in faithfulness."
Ronda Chervin
For Reflection:
To what extent has a life of prayer and reception of the sacraments impacted on my feminine vocation? In what one way can I seek to improve my faithfulness?
Read the rest
“Those who sow in sorrow, will reap with shouts of joy.” Psalm 126:5
1997, 1998, 1999—three years that broke my heart. The loss of my loved ones during that time devastated me. Looking for answers to the ultimate questions, I found my heart turning back to God in re-conversion. I sought Him through a women’s group at my church. My steps were tentative but see now that God was with me.
The women’s group reconnected me to Jesus yet there was a disturbance in my spirit. The group was gracious and spiritual but I longed for something more authentic and in alignment with the teaching of the Catholic Church.
The Holy Spirit prompted me—actually gently pushed me—into the way I should go. Through His inspiration and the words of a friend I began a group called FIAT which sought to be truly Catholic and Marian. I searched for resources that were in alignment with Catholic teaching—Bible studies, inspirational books, lives of the saints, encyclicals. These works were inspired and beautiful but our little group lacked direction and a consistent vision.
