"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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Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
(1774 - 1821)
"Live simply, so that all may simply live."
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
For Reflection:
Today, I will do an examination of conscience according to this quote and ask myself these questions: "What two virtues are implicit in this quote?" "To what extent has a consumerist mentality prevented me from living these virtues?" What positive steps can I take, beginning today, to remedy this situation?"
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"A person's prayer often keeps step with his moral life. The closer our behavior corresponds to the Divine Will, the easier it is to pray; the more our conduct is out of joint with Divinity, the harder it is to pray."
Fulton J. Sheen
For Reflection:
On a scale of one to ten, with one being "easy" and ten being "most difficult," how would I rate my experience of prayer? In light of Bishop Sheen's quote, is a serious examination of conscience in order?
(Please note the word "often" in Bishop Sheen's quote. Other reasons exist for difficulty in prayer such as distraction or aridity. However, it is always good to examine our conscience as a first prevention against difficulty in prayer time.)
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"When prayer is humble, trusting, and persevering, it obtains for us a more lively faith, a firmer hope, a more ardent charity. Thereby we see how fruitful mental prayer can be; how it draws God strongly toward us that He may give Himself intimately to us and that we may give ourselves to Him."
Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.
For Reflection:
Is my prayer "humble, trusting, and persevering?" In which of these three do I most need to grow? What benefits can I expect to receive if I do so? Can I recall a time when I experienced the profound presence of God in prayer? How does this help me to remain steadfast to the resolution I made yesterday regarding my time of prayer?
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"Everything starts from prayer."
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
For Reflection:
What is noticeably different about this statement is that Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta says that everything starts from prayer, not everything starts with prayer. What is the significance of this? What does it say to me? What resolution am I willing to make at the beginning of this new year regarding my prayer life?
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