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Learning how to write a winning love letter, whipping up a great dessert, and tips to building a stronger marital bond are just some of the suggestions made by the world's bishops for couples who are eager to celebrate their love this Valentine's Day.

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Modeling for Victoria's Secret was all Kylie Bisutti ever wanted, but by the time she achieved this life-long dream, she realized her faith was more important.

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“The closeness of all the saints to Jesus in His Passion has in all cases been directly related to their degree of sanctity, and to the degree in which they possessed this divine life. The more identified they were with Christ, the more Christ lived in them, the greater was the intensity with which they could feel and participate in His Passion.”

                                                                                    Federico Suarez

For Reflection:              In light of this quote, consider the fact that Mary was preserved from sin from the moment of her conception. What does this indicate about the intensity with which she could feel and participate in the Passion of her Son? With this in mind meditate again on Mary’s fourth dolor.  Journal your insights and reflections.

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Miss Minaj, who failed to win the Grammy she was after on Sunday night, showed up wearing a nun-inspired outfit on the arm of a date dressed like the Pope, then debuted a new song on stage which involved a mock exorcism.

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A woman who was two weeks from her delivery date whose husband was told he had only five days to live, had her labor induced so that the man could hold the child before he died.

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Even though two major Catholic groups, the Catholic Health Association and Catholic Charities USA have come out in support of President Obama's HHS mandate "accommodation," the U.S. Bishops and 38 of the nation's top Catholic scholars have denounced the compromise as "morally obtuse" and completely unacceptable.

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Welcome to the latest yoga inanity. A woman who has a passion for both skiing and yoga decided the two disciplines had a natural affinity and created a new form of yoga/skiing known as SNOWGA.

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The Fourth Dolor of Our Lady’s heart is tied to the Fourth Station of the Cross. Though not supported by Sacred Scripture, early legends of the Church tell us that Mary journeyed with Jesus on the Via Dolorosa, and “swooned away for anguish of heart” when she saw Him. What must it have been like to behold her Son in such a state of suffering?

Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman said this in his reflection on this dolor: Mary would rather have had all his sufferings herself, could that have been, than not to have known what they were by ceasing to be near him. ... He was now carrying the load of the world’s sins, and, all holy though he was, he carried the image of them on his very face. ... what a meeting of Mother and Son! Yet there was a mutual comfort,  for there was a mutual sympathy.

For Reflection:              Read St. Luke’s account of The Way of the Cross (23:26-31). Picture yourself in the scene as one of the women along the way. Imagine the encounter between Mary and Jesus. Journal your thoughts, inspirations, insights, and emotions.

 

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“God sends us joys before sorrows, to prepare our hearts; but the joys themselves contain prophesies of coming sorrows.”

                                                                        Father Frederick Faber

For Reflection:              Consider the main events of Mary’s life as recorded in Scripture up to this present dolor. They are the Annunciation, The Nativity, The Flight into Egypt, The Presentation, The Loss and Finding of Jesus in the Temple. What is the joy contained in each? What is the prophesy of the sorrow contained in each? For what was God preparing Mary’s heart? Do you think it could also be true that the sorrow also prepares our heart for greater joy? Why might this be the case?

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“Reclothe oneself, within and without, with the virtues of the Immaculata: the theological virtues and the cardinal virtues, the moral and the religious, so as to become as it were another Mary living, speaking, and working.”

                                                                       Father Stefano Manelli

For Reflection:              Reread Luke 2: 43-52. As you read, jot down the virtues you see in Mary or think would have been necessary for her in this suffering. In what ways do you think Mary lived these virtues prior to this dolor? Which of these virtues do you most need to emulate? How can practicing them now prepare you for potential trials the future may bring? Is there one you need to exhibit now? Ask Mary to procure the grace you need to do so.

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