"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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"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?
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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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