"You are not a saint because you keep the rules and are blameless; you are a saint if you live in the real world, going out and loving the real people God has put into your life."
Sister Wendy Beckett
For Reflection:
According to Sister Wendy, how might I be saint-like today?
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Feast of St. Vincent,
Deacon and Martyr
"Against Christ's army the world arrays a twofold battleline. It offers temptation to lead us astray; it strikes terror into us to break our spirit. At both of these approaches, Christ rushes to our aid, and the Christian is not conquered."
St. Augustine on St. Vincent
For Reflection:
What is the twofold battleline that I am currently engaging? What grace can I name that Christ is bringing me so that I am not conquered?
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These are certainly unprecedented times. One only need to watch the evening news to see that the world seems to be quickly spiraling out of control. That is why the
March for Life is an event of such great hope. It is the powerful witness of hundreds of thousands of pro-life individuals from varying faith backgrounds marching together to give a voice to the voiceless unborn children and their parents who have been wounded by abortion.
Those who March are the white (as opposed to red) martyrs of this generation. Though they may not be called to shed their blood, they are called to walk in a spirit of self-sacrifice and like the martyrs, draw upon the virtue of fortitude. It is fortitude which propels the soul to act in spite of fear or discomfort. It is fortitude that gives the soldier the strength to enter into the battle. It is fortitude which enables one to lay down their life for a friend. As St. Therese of Lisieux reminds us: it doesn’t’ matter if we
have courage – as long as we
act like we do.
So on this January 22nd, which marks the 38th anniversary of the
March for Life and the devastating Roe vs. Wade decision, we call upon God to bestow upon those who will march, a double portion of His strength and fortitude. We are in solidarity with you, our dear brothers and sisters in Christ and are grateful for the hope that you bring into this very fallen world.
"O Lord God of hosts, You said in your Gospel , 'I am not come to bring peace but the sword'; provide me with desire to fight for Your glory, but I beseech You, strengthen my courage. Then with holy King David I can exclaim: 'You alone are my shield, O God; it is You who prepare my hands for war.'
"O my Jesus, I will fight for You as long as I live, and love will be my sword. My weakness should never discourage me; when in the morning I feel no courage or strength for the practice of virtue, I must look upon this state as a grace, for You teach me that it is the very moment to put the axe to the root of the tree, counting only on Your help."
"What merit would there be in fighting only when I feel courage? What does it matter even if I have none, provide that I act as if I had? " (St. Therese of Lisieaux quote from Divine Intimacy, page 839)
Addition resources:
Preparing for the March for Life by CatholicVote.org.
March for Life official website and schedule of events
EWTN March for Life programming
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Feast of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
"I will be his who first chose me for himself."
St. Agnes at her martyrdom
For Reflection:
God has chosen me for Himself just as He chose St. Agnes. Am I willing to choose Him first in all things? What one choice is He asking me to make today? What is my response?
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Feast of St. Sebastian, Martyr
"If there are many persecutions, there are many testings; where there are many crowns of victory, there are many trials of strength. It is then to your advantage if there are many persecutors; among many persecutions you may more easily find a path to victory."
St. Ambrose on Martyrdom
For Reflection:
What "path to victory" have I found in past persecutions? How does this help me seek the path to victory in my current trial?
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"Let us not look too far or too high, but right in front of ourselves, right next to ourselves. The good to be done is perhaps there."
Elisabeth Leseur
For Reflection:
What "good to be done" today is right in front of me, right next to me? I commit to getting on with it.
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"Just as a woman's body is designed for mothering and nourishing, so a woman's soul and mind will be drawn to work demanding spiritual maternity, even if she never bears a child."
Anne Roche Muggeridge
For Reflection:
To what is my soul and mind drawn and how does it reflect my natural feminine instinct of spiritual maternity? To whom can I be spiritual mother today?
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Feast of St. Anthony, Abbot
(250 - 356)
"Indeed, he was so attentive when Scripture was read that nothing escaped him and because he retained all he heard, his memory served him in place of books."
St. Athanasius about St. Anthony
For Reflection:
How attentive am I when I hear Sacred Scripture being read? Could I pass a pop quiz on the passage as soon as it is read? How about 24 hours later? What one way can I seek to be more attentive?
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"Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander, and malice of every kind. In place of these, be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ."
Ephesians 4:31- 32
For Reflection:
The first sentence in this passage from Scripture lists many of the spiritual "vermin" that plague our souls. The second sentence provides the spiritual "pesticide" to eradicate them. What one vermin do I need to get rid of and which spiritual remedy listed can I use?
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"My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words. I know it by experience."
St. Therese of Lisieux
For Reflection:
What makes prayer and sacrifice "invincible arms?" Whose heart have I been praying for? Am I willing to trust St. Therese's experience and enter into spiritual battle through prayer and sacrifice for him/her?
(Hint: See tomorrow's Graceline for one way this can be done.)
Read the rest
These are certainly unprecedented times. One only need to watch the evening news to see that the world seems to be quickly spiraling out of control. That is why the March for Life is an event of such great hope. It is the powerful witness of hundreds of thousands of pro-life individuals from varying faith backgrounds marching together to give a voice to the voiceless unborn children and their parents who have been wounded by abortion.
Those who March are the white (as opposed to red) martyrs of this generation. Though they may not be called to shed their blood, they are called to walk in a spirit of self-sacrifice and like the martyrs, draw upon the virtue of fortitude. It is fortitude which propels the soul to act in spite of fear or discomfort. It is fortitude that gives the soldier the strength to enter into the battle. It is fortitude which enables one to lay down their life for a friend. As St. Therese of Lisieux reminds us: it doesn’t’ matter if we have courage – as long as we act like we do.
So on this January 22nd, which marks the 38th anniversary of the March for Life and the devastating Roe vs. Wade decision, we call upon God to bestow upon those who will march, a double portion of His strength and fortitude. We are in solidarity with you, our dear brothers and sisters in Christ and are grateful for the hope that you bring into this very fallen world.
