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September 17

Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine (1542 – 1621)

“Is it not true that you promise those who keep your commandments a reward more desirable than great wealth and sweeter than honey? You promise a most abundant reward, for as your apostle James says: ‘The Lord has prepared a crown of life for those who love him.’ What is this crown of life? It is surely a greater good than we can conceive of or desire, as Saint Paul says, quoting Isaiah: ‘Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love him.’”

                                                                        -St. Robert Bellarmine

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September 16

Feast of St. Cornelius, Pope and Martyr (D. 253)

and St. Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr  (D. 258)

“By that shared love which binds us closely together, we are doing all we can to exhort our congregation, to give ourselves unceasingly to fastings, vigils and prayers in common. These are the heavenly weapons which give us the strength to stand firm and endure; they are the spiritual defenses, the God-given armaments that protect us.”

                                                -St. Cyprian in a letter to St. Cornelius

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September 15, Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Lord and Our Lady

They warned Our Lady for the Child

That was Our Blessed Lord,

And She took Him into the desert wild,

Over the camel’s ford.

And a long song She sang to Him

And a short story told:

And She wrapped Him in a woolen cloak

To keep Him from the cold.

But when Our Lord was grown a man

The Rich they dragged Him down,

And they crucified Him in Golgotha,

Out and beyond the Town.

They crucified Him on Calvary,

Upon an April day;

And because He had been her little Son

She followed Him all the way.

Our Lady stood beside the Cross,

A little space apart,

And when She heard Our Lord cry out

A sword went through Her Heart.

They laid Our Lord in a marble tomb,

Dead, in a winding sheet.

But Our Lady stands above the world

With the white Moon at Her feet.

                                                                                    -Hilaire Belloc

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September 14

Feast of the Triumph of the Cross

“Faithful Cross, above all other, one and only noble tree…Sweet the wood, and sweet the iron, and thy load, most sweet is He.”

                                                                        -Venantius Fortunatus

Today's Reflection:

In what one area of my life have I most recently seen the liberating power of Christ’s Cross? Today, I will offer a sacrifice of praise for His gracious mercy.

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September 13

Feast of St. John Chrysostom (D. 407)

“When we once begin to form good resolutions, God gives us every opportunity to carry them out.”

                                                                        -St. John Chrysostom

Today's Reflection:

How is God giving me every opportunity to carry out my good resolutions? Am I doing a good job?

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September 12

“Perilous times, difficult circumstances, tenuous situations, and heartrending trials form the crucible in which hope is tested, refined, purified, and proven. When everything natural tells us to give up and give in, hope springs from the eternal and tells us to hang in and hang on.”

                                                                        -Johnnette Benkovic

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September 10

“We Christians cannot resign ourselves to leading a double life – our life must be strong and simple unity into which all our actions converge.”

                                                                        -St. Josemaria Escriva

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September 9

Feast of St. Peter Claver  (1580 – 1896)

On evangelizing to the poor, needy, and sick:

 “This was how we spoke to them, not with words but with our hands and our actions. Then, we sat, or rather knelt, beside them and bathed their faces and bodies with wine. After this we began an elementary instruction about baptism, that is, the wonderful effects of this sacrament on the body and soul.”

                                                                                    -St. Peter Claver

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September 8

Feast of the Birth of Mary

“Let all creation sing and dance and unite to make worthy contribution to the celebration of this day. Let there be one common festival for saints in heaven and men on earth. Today this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for him who made all things. The creature is newly prepared to be a divine dwelling place for the Creator.”

                                                                        -St. Andrew of Crete

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September 7

 “Each Christian has to put aside any fears of ‘rocking the boat’ should his upright conduct provoke criticism or rejection.”

                                                                                    -Francis Fernandez

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