"A living love hurts. Jesus, to prove His love for us, died on the Cross. The mother, to give to her child, has to suffer. If you really love one another properly, there must be sacrifice."
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
For Reflection:
Where is God asking me to sacrifice in love right now?
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Feast of St.Hilary,
Bishop and Doctor
(D. 367)
"I am well aware, almighty God and Father, that in my life I owe you a most particular duty. It is to make my every thought and word speak of you."
St. Hilary
For Reflection:
Do I, like St. Hilary, consider it a duty to make my every thought and word speak of God? Why or why not? How can practicing the virtues accomplish this in a practical way?
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"The Church of God needs saints today. This imposes a great responsibility on us. We must become holy, not because we want to feel holy, but because Christ must be able to live His life fully in us."
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
For Reflection:
How fully is Christ able to live His life in me?
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"Believe that He loves you, that He wants to help you in the struggles you have to undergo. Believe in His love, His exceeding love, as St. Paul says.
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
For Reflection:
We often fail to recognize God's love because we don't look for it in the midst of our struggles or in the everyday circumstances we encounter. Thus, our belief that God loves us often turns to doubt. How did God manifest His love for me in at least one way yesterday? With this thought in mind, I will seek to recognize His love for me in at least three ways today. In my evening prayer, I will thank Him and I will close my eyes snuggled in His warm embrace.
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"Like Saint Teresa, with five pennies and God, I can accomplish many great things."
St. Frances Cabrini
For Reflection:
Sometimes I feel like I can accomplish nothing. Yet, St. Frances Cabrini says with God and five pennies much can be accomplished. What "five pennies" do I have that can accomplish much when given to God? (Hint: Consider your natural gifts and talents, pernsonality characteristics and attributes, virtues and strengths.) How can I implement at least one of them today?
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"What are our real trials? By what name shall we call them? One cuts herself out a cross of pride; another, on of causeless discontent; another, one of restless impatience or peevish fretfulness. Yet we know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life, that he gives us every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every obstacle and difficulty."
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
For Reflection:
Have I cut out a cross for myself - one that I have fashioned rather than the Lord? Could this be why this cross is so heavy? Today, I will lay down before our Lord this cross of my own fashioning, knowing and trusting that He is giving me the grace to carry the cross He has placed upon my shoulder.
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"The sweet fragrance of Christ noticed among men [is] not in a sudden burst of flame, but in the constant red- hot embers of virtues such as justice, loyalty, faithfulness, understanding, and cheerfulness."
St. Josemaria Escriva
For Reflection:
What is St. Josemaria communicating about an authentic witness to Christ in this quotation? Of the virtues listed above, which are "red-hot" in me? Which are growing cold and in what specific way today can I heat them up?
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January 7, 2008Â
"With the help and blessing of God, we shall do all in our power that our new family may be a little cenacle where Jesus may reign over all affections, desires and actions."
St. Gianna Beretta Molla
For Reflection:
To what extent would my home be described as a "little cenacle?" What one practical step can I take today to make it more so?
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"I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection, O Lord. May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy, pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor."
St. Faustina Kowalska
For Reflection:
In whose life would the Lord ask me today to be a conduit of His love and mercy? (Hint: From whom would I most like to withhold love and mercy?) In what practical way can I respond?
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Feast of St. John Neumann, Bishop
(1811 - 1860)
A man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it.
St. John Neumann
For Reflection:
If today should be the day the Lord would call me home, would I be ready?
(Consider: What are my outstanding sins? Whose forgiveness do I need to ask? Who do I need to forgive? What would be the last words my loved ones would remember me saying to them?)
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