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"The soul about to receive Holy Communion should be pure, that it may be purified; alive, that it may be quickened; just, that it may be justified; ready, that it may be incorporated with God uncreated who was made Man, and that it may be one with Him unto all eternity." Blessed Angela of Foligno For Reflection: What is the state of my soul today? Am I "ready" to receive Holy Communion?

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"The isolation of my soul, the constant and painful injuries caused by those who are hostile or indifferent, especially when they are near and dear to me, the sadness of feeling unequal to the great task to be accomplished, the sufferings of my heart, the difficulties of my life, the misery of my physical weakness - this is the rugged soil, my God, in which Thou wilt cause joy to grow." Elisabeth Leseur For Reflection: What is the "soil" out of which God desires to grow joy in my life?

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"Never utter in your neighbor's absence what you would not say in their presence." St. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi For Reflection: How well do I heed this sage advice?

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During these first few weeks of Lent, Holy Mother Church directs us to ponder the reality of our mortality and to make a serious appraisal of how we are living our lives in light of it. Today’s reading from Divine Intimacy (#95) by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, OCD, brings spiritual perspective to this most important consideration. Following are a couple of nuggets that impacted me today in my time of prayer:

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  "Which stands up better in a crisis - man or woman? The best way to arrive at a conclusion is to go to the greatest crises the world ever faced, namely the CRUCIFIXON OF OUR DIVINE LORD. When we come to this great drama of Calvary there is one fact that stands out very clearly: Men failed. On the other hand, there is not a single instance of a woman's failing him." Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen For Reflection: Am I willing to stand at the foot of the cross with Mary and the other holy women? What cross is mine today?

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Yesterday on our radio program, Women of Grace® Live, I recommended two resources for Lent _-- In Conversation with God, Volume 2 by Francis Fernandez; and Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, OCD. Today, I followed my own advice and prayerfully read the selections for Ash Wednesday. Both were excellent. But it was one line in Section 2 of In Conversation with God that grabbed me.

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Feast of St. Frances of Rome (1384 - 1440) Merciful Father, in Frances of Rome You have given us a unique example of love in marriage as well as in religious life. Keep us faithful in Your service, and help us to see and follow You in all the aspects of life. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. +Amen. From the Collect of the Mass on the Feast of St. Frances of Rome For Reflection: St. Frances of Rome did not want to marry but desired instead to enter religious life. However, she recognized that marriage was God's will for her. She did marry and, following the death of her husband, she founded a religious order. How is God speaking to me through the witness of the life of St. Frances of Rome?

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“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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