I had the privilege of spending the weekend of February 11 in Appleton, Wisconsin at the The Dignity and Vocation of Women conference held at St. Pius X Church. It was an awesome event! Organized by Jody Lueck, over 100 women gathered together for this inaugural event. The Feminine Genius Women’s Conference is sure to have a long and lasting history if this first gathering is the standard of things to come.
For me personally it was yet another reminder of the great work God is about in the hearts and minds of His daughters. He is indeed pouring out graces for restoration, renewal, and revitalization. This was not lost on the women who attended. An attitude of receptivity marked their demeanor as well as that of the women who presented and the special guests who were invited.
I was delighted to see Mercedes Wilson (Families of the Americas) whose work I so greatly admire and whom I hadn’t seen in several years. And I was so pleased to meet Jeannie Hanneman (Elizabeth Ministry International), Judith Leonard (Diocese of Wichita), Vicki Thorn (Project Rachel), Margaret Hartshorn (Hearbeat, International), and Rosemary Sullivan (Exec. Dir. National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors). What powerful women in the Lord!
Following is an article written in
The Compass News, the diocesan newspaper of Green Bay:
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"Silence is not a privation of stillness, nor a muteness, nor an emptiness; it is a communion by which one attains truth above creation and action."
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
For Reflection:
What does it mean to attain "truth above creation and action?" In what practical ways can I begin to lead a more silent life - exteriorly and interiorly? I will make up a practical plan to implement this during Lent.
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"Speak little to creatures but speak much to God. He will make you truly wise."
Mary Mazarello
For Reflection:
Of the words I speak each day, what percentage do I speak to God and what percentage do I speak to creatures? Am I happy with these totals especially in light of the gift of wisdom?
(See tomorrow's Grace Line to discover why much chatter is counterproductive to the spiritual life.)
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"The love of talk distracts all the powers of our soul from God, and fills them with earthly objects and impressions like a vessel of water which cannot be clear and settled while you are continually stirring the earthly particles from the bottom."
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
For Reflection:
The powers of the soul are will, reason, and emotion. How can the "love of talk" draw these away from God? To what extent have I seen this to be true in myself? What practical strategies can I use to mortify myself of this tendency?
(See tomorrow's Grace Line to see how silence leads to wisdom.)
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"It is good when a soul loves solitude; it's a sign that it takes delight in God and enjoys speaking with Him."
St. Jane Frances de Chantal
For Reflection:
On a scale of one to ten - one being complete unrest and ten being utter solitude, where does my soul rank? What does this tell me about the level of my "delight in God?"
(See tomorrow's Grace Line to see the gift that comes with quiet.)
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"Very well, I will be saint. I will provide a patron for those who bear my name."
Blessed Dina Belanger
For Reflection:
At age eight, Dina Belanger stated the quote above in response to a teacher who told her the Church had no St. Dina. Am I willing to "provide a patron" for those who bear my name? What positive step can I take today to make that happen?
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Typically, we are very careful about sending out requests like this one unless they come from reliable sources. This one has been confirmed by a friend of Women of Grace® and she writes the following:
"Hi Johnnette, Please unite in prayer for Stephen Maszczak who is a 7 year old boy that has been diagnosed a High Grade Diffuse Pontine Glioma which is a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer and is in much need of prayers for a miracle. If you could please share with your global prayer community it would be greatly appreciated.
I do know the family and they are also very good friends of Fr. Bill Halbing, who visited Stephen in the hospital last week and can verify it all.
Pete Maszczak, who is Stephen's grandfather, is the leader of the Refuge Music Ministry that I am a member of; and we play at the Charismatic Conferences and Tent Revivals in NJ. I am sure you have met him over the years and remember us. We are all devastated about this and are praying for a miracle. On top of everything else, we also lost one of our members Tricia DiMeglio, who was Stephen's aunt and is shown in this picture, back in November. She died suddenly of a seizure.
Please keep everyone in prayer. This little boy is just so precious, and it's hard to believe that he could be "taken" from us at so young an age. 
This website provides all the details but basically what the doctors are saying is that this beautiful little boy only has two months to live. We believe in the miracle healing power of Our Lord Jesus Christ and are asking for everyone to storm Heaven in prayer for a miracle. Thanks so very much and blessings for your ministry.
Blessings always,
Mary Anne"
Friends, my heart aches for this family. I ask that you do pray for this precious little boy, Stephen, that if it is God's will, he may be healed. If they should be asked to continue to bear this cross, I ask that the Lord would provide them with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavens that it might be embraced with the peace and joy that is beyond our understanding.
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Feast of St. Polycarp,
Bishop and Martyr
(D. 155)
"Leave me as I am. The one who gives me strength to endure the fire will also give me strength to stay quite still on the pyre, even without the precaution of your nails."
St. Polycarp at his Martyrdom
For Reflection:
How is God giving me strength today?
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Chair of St. Peter
"And upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 16:18
For Reflection:
How have I seen the truth of this statement in light of the history of the Church? How does this speak to the fact that the Catholic Church is the Church Jesus founded?
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Feast of St. Peter Damien,
Bishop and Doctor
(1007 - 1072)
"In serenity, look forward to the joy that follows sadness. Hope leads you to that joy and love enkindles your zeal."
St. Peter Damien
For Reflection:
"Faith is confident assurance of what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). How does this help me live out the advice of St. Peter Damien?
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