"And now it is to you that we address ourselves, women of all states—girls, wives, mothers and widows, to you also, consecrated virgins and women living alone—you constitute half of the immense human family. As you know, the Church is proud to have glorified and liberated woman, and in the course of the centuries, in diversity of characters, to have brought into relief her basic equality with man. But the hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of woman is being achieved in its fullness, the hour in which woman acquires in the world an influence, an effect and a power never hitherto achieved. That is why, at this moment when the human race is under-going so deep a transformation, women impregnated with the spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid mankind in not falling."
-TO WOMEN, VATICAN COUNCIL II CLOSING SPEECHES AND MESSAGES, Pope Paul VI
Today’s Reflection:
What does this excerpt from the Vatican II letter "To Women" tell you about the Catholic Church's teaching on the equality of woman?
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
"In a wholly singular way she [Mary] cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the work of the Savior in restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is mother to us in the order of grace."
-Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium
Today’s Reflection:
Today we ponder and celebrate Mary's special role as mother of the Church. How does her example inspire you to God's invitation to carry Christ in the womb of your heart?
“When they entered the city, they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 1:13 – 14).
"Holy Spirit, come into my heart. Bring new life to the ancient prayers I learned as a child, and inspire me to voice my innermost thoughts to the God who knows them all. Amen."
-Johnnette Benkovic Williams
Today’s Reflection:
Ponder how God responds to your desire for deeper intimacy with Him. Receive every spiritual blessing in the heavens this day.
"Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to [n]God, even the Father..."
-Ephesians 5:18-20
Today’s Reflection:
How can we make each day of our lives a symphony of prayer, a melody of love which rises to the throne of the God the Father in praise and worship?
She, who at the start of the Redemption gave us her Son, now by her most powerful intercession obtained for the newborn Church the prodigious Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit of the Divine Redeemer who had already been given on the Cross. Pius XII, Mystici Corporis, 29 June 1943
"The hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of women is being acknowledged in its fullness, the hour in which women acquire in the world an influence, an effect, and a power never hitherto achieved. That is why, at this moment when the human race is undergoing so deep a transformation, women imbued with a spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid humanity in not falling."
-Closing Message, To Women,
Second Vatican Council
Today’s Reflection:
What characteristic will help woman aid humanity in not falling?
June 4"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God."
-Luke 1;35
Today’s Reflection:
God desires to fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit, just as He did Our Blessed Mother, Mary. He desires for us to bring Jesus Christ into the world, just as Mary did. What obstacles or fears are keeping you from giving your full "yes" to God?
