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"One of the most admirable effects of Holy Communion is to preserve souls from falling, and to help those who fall from weakness to rise again." St. Ignatius Loyola For Reflection: What sin, weakness, or frailty do I succumb to the most? Could it be that more frequent reception of Holy Communion could help me make progress in this area, and to have the courage to rise again when I fall?

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"Frequent and daily Communion is greatly desired by our Lord and the Church." St. Pius X For Reflection: How often do I receive Communion during the week? If it is less than seven, what can I do to adjust my schedule to receive at least one additional time? To what extent do I think this is really important? (See the next three Grace Lines for some very good reasons.)

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"This Sacrament infuses into the soul great interior peace, a strong inclination to virtue, and great willingness to practice it, thus rendering it easy to walk in the path of perfection." St. Alphonsus Liguori For Reflection: According to St. Alphonsus Liguori, what are the effects of Holy Communion? To what extent have I experienced these effects of the Sacrament? How does this aid me in my fervency of reception?

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"By Holy Communion, we are changed into the flesh of Him became our flesh." St. Leo the Great For Reflection: In what ways does my life evidence transformation in Christ Jesus? In what ways does it not? What am I willing to do today to become more in the image of the One whom I receive?

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Fr. Ed shared this beautiful quote by Ron Quinlan on the Catholic Exchange website during today's Women of Grace live radio program.  It beautifully illustrates God's deep and abiding love for us.  Happy St. Valentine's Day! 

My Beloved Child, Yes, you are my beloved child.  I know this is hard for you to believe.  You see all your mistakes and failures, all the times you lost your temper, all the times you’ve hurt people, all the times you stayed away from me.  You look at yourself and see your failures. I look at you and see your beauty.  I see the love you’ve given to those you encountered in your life.  I see the times you tried to love others, all the times you’ve given of yourself.  I see a beautiful person struggling to become the person you were created to be. There is a beauty and love deep inside of you.  Right now you may not see it but someday the whole world will look at you and see this rare beauty, someone very special and unique, a gift to the world — for you are my gift and my beloved child. So often you’ve been afraid of me.  You run and try to hide, hoping that I won’t notice your mistakes.  So many hours you spend, doing everything you can to stay busy, too busy to think, to busy talk to me.  You run away from me but I long for your company.  I long to shower you with my love, to pour my blessings upon you.  I yearn to comfort and console you, to be there for you in your pain.  My desire is to take care of you.  My passion is for you to come to me, seeking me, to know and love me — for that is why I made you. I want you to know that I know everything you ever done — and I love you with a passion so intense that human words can not describe it.  Your past is forgiven and forgotten.  I remember nothing you have confessed.  I passionately desire to forgive you everything.  All you have to do is repent and confess. So come to me; come so that I may pour my blessings upon you.  There is so much I want to give you.  I want to do so much for you.  I want you to know my peace.  I want to set you free from the guilt that robs you of your joy; from the fear that plagues you; from the worry and anxiety that is tearing you apart.  I want you to know my joy, to know my freedom, to be secure in my love. Come, now! There is nothing you have to change or do, no improvements you have to make before you come to me.  Come as you are.  I love you exactly as you are.  Just, come!

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"Love is the key to the mystery. Love by its very nature is not selfish, but generous. It seeks not its own, but the good of others. The measure of love is not the pleasure it gives - that is the way the world judges it - but the joy and peace it can purchase for others." Bishop Fulton J. Sheen For Reflection: Love is not emotion as much as it is a decision of the will. How can I show love today according to the prescriptive of this quote?

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"What do you think His will is? The Lord asks of us only two things: love of His Majesty and love of our neighbor. These are what we must work for. By keeping them with perfection, we do His will and so will be united with Him." St. Teresa of Avila For Reflection: In what way is this quote meant especially for me today?

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"The heart preparing for Communion should be as a crystal vial filled with clear water in which the least mote of uncleanness will be seen." St. Elizabeth Ann Seton For Reflection: To what extent do I actually "prepare" for Holy Communion? To what extent do I see myself clearly enough so that my sins and transgressions are plain to me? What do I think is the relationship between preparation, repentance, and a fervent reception of Holy Communion

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"You ought to make every effort to free yourselves even from venial sin, and to do what is most perfect." St. Teresa of Avila For Reflection: Do I work to free myself from my personal weaknesses and sins - even the smallest? "To do what is most perfect" may mean to practice the virtue that is opposite my sin and frailty. What are these and how can I begin to make progress today?

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"If you do not receive him who repents, because you are merciless, you sin against the Lord God for you do not obey Our Lord and God in acting as He acted." Anonymous (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) For Reflection: With regard to forgiving those who have offended me, how "God-like" am I? Today, I pray to receive the grace to forgive that one person against whom I have withheld mercy.

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