I am not moved to love Thee, O my Lord,
By any longing for Thy Promised Land;
Nor by the fear of hell am I unmanned
To cease from my transgressing deed or word.
'Tis Thou Thyself dost move me, -- Thy blood poured
Upon the cross from nailed foot and hand;
And all the wounds that did Thy body brand;
And all Thy shame and bitter death's award.
Yea, to Thy heart am I so deeply stirre
That I would love Thee were no heaven on high, --
That I would fear, were hell a tale absurd!
Such my desire, all questioning grows vain;
Though hope deny me hope I still should sigh,
And as my love is now, it should remain.
Anonymous (16th or 17th C.) Translated from the Spanish by Thomas Walsh
For Reflection:
On this Holy Saturday I enter into the tomb with Jesus. What one area of my life is most in need of resurrection? How is Jesus showing me He wants to bring this part of me "back to life?"
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Jesus:
O Mother dear, didst thou but hear
My plaint of desolation,
Thy tender heart would burst apart
With grief of separation!
I am not stone, yet all alone
I hush My soul's outcrying, --
Alone to tread the wine-press red,
To bear the pain of dying.
My lips are dumb, the night has come;
Ah! Solace I might borrow
Had I but thee to bide with Me
In this wild waste of sorrow.
Mary:
"Gentle moon and start of midnight,
Day's fierce orb, and brooklets fair,
Golden apples born of sunshine,
Precious pearls and jewels rare, --
All things glorious, all things shining,"
Thus the sorrowing Mother spake;
"E'en ye bright, transfigured faces,
Mourn with me for Jesus' sake.
"Sparkle, gleam, and glow no longer:
Only moan and mourn for Him.
Shine not, shine not, weep forever,
Till your thousand eyes are dim;
For the mighty One has fallen,
And my Beautiful is slain;
In the dense wood pierced, my Shepherd, --
Weep ye, weep ye for my pain!
O most oppressed of all oppressed,
Heart of my heart, my all, my Son!
Grief's keenest sword doth pierce my breast:
I die with Thee, my only one!
Alas! The pain is all too great,
Since, living, still I share Thy fate.
"Yes, mine Thou wert to bear and rear
Through life and light, and pain and loss;
And now, ten thousand times more dear,
I yield Thee to the cruel cross!"
Frederick Spee, S. J. (1591-1635) Translated from the German by Mary E. Mannix
For Reflection:
Today I stand at the foot of the Cross with Mary my mother. What pain, sorrow, suffering, trial, contradiction do I yield to the "cruel cross?" How does Mary give me guidance in this surrender?
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"You must open the interior eyes of your soul on this light, on this heaven within you, a vast horizon stretching far beyond the realm of human activity."
St. Vincent Ferrer
For Reflection:
How "open" are my spiritual eyes? What one resolution can I make today to help be more so?
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Be sure to properly attribute the quote and give us your name! We may use YOUR favorite quote, prayer or poem for a future Grace Line!
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"None of us lives as his own master and none of us dies as his own master."
Romans 14:7
For Reflection:
How do the actions of our contemporary society show contempt for this verse from Sacred Scripture? To what extent do I personally do the same?
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"When we were baptized into Christ and clothed ourselves in him, we were transformed into the likeness of the Son of God."
Jerusalem Catecheses
For Reflection:
Of all the people I know, who most images the Son of God to me? How is the "likeness of the Son of God" seen in me?
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"Nothing is more pleasing to God than unshaken faith and confidence in the midst of darkness. Make a great practice of acts of confidence even when you feel nothing. It is just in these moments of dryness and darkness that these acts are most meritorious."
Blessed Columba Marmion
For Reflection:
Why do I think God is pleased with unshaken faith and confidence in the midst of darkness? What act of confidence can I make now?
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"Nothing is more pleasing to God than unshaken faith and confidence in the midst of darkness. Make a great practice of acts of confidence even when you feel nothing. It is just in these moments of dryness and darkness that these acts are most meritorious."
Blessed Columba Marmion
For Reflection:
Why do I think God is pleased with unshaken faith and confidence in the midst of darkness? What act of confidence can I make now?
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"The most pernicious evils masquerade as virtue."
Johnnette S. Benkovic
For Reflection:
What are some of the most pernicious evils in our day and time? How are they masquerading themselves as virtue? What gift of the Holy Spirit do women of grace need to see the truth?
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March 30, 2008Â
"In three different ways, woman can fulfill the mission of motherliness: in marriage, in the practice of a profession that values human development, and under the veil as the spouse of Christ."
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
For Reflection:
Which way has God selected for me to fulfill my mission of motherliness? How am I cooperating with His grace?Â
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"He did not say: You will not be troubled - you will not be tempted - you will not be distressed. But He said: You will not be overcome."
Julian of Norwich
For Reflection:
In what way am I "overcoming" today?
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