February 19
“Every grace that this world receives is ordinarily distributed in three steps: from God to Christ, from Christ to the Virgin, and from the Virgin to us.”
-St. Bernardine of Siena
For Reflection:
How are these three steps visible in both the moment of Mary’s Annunciation as well as in Simeon’s prophesy at Jesus’ Presentation? Journal any insights or blessings you receive as you ponder this reality.
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We recently had a caller on EWTN’s Wacky Wednesday radio show who said a local Catholic retreat center was offering biospiritual focusing. She wondered if this was a New Age practice and if it was something that belongs in a Catholic retreat facility.
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February 18
“God has willed to make use of Mary for the sanctification of souls, having already made use of her to bring about the Incarnation.”
-St. Louis de Montfort
For Reflection:
Consider this quote in light of the First Dolor. How does it apply to Simeon’s prophecy to Our Lady about the sword in her heart? In what way does this apply to her spiritual motherhood? Personally, how have you seen Mary both “birth” Jesus in your heart and work toward your own sanctification?
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February 17
The First Dolor: The Prophesy of Simeon
Faithful to the religious observances of their faith, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple forty days after his birth to dedicate Him to God. This was an important custom of the Jewish religion. It was also customary for a wealthy family to bring a lamb and a young pigeon or turtle dove to be sacrificed. Poorer families, however, were permitted to offer two pigeons or two turtle doves for the offering. When the Holy Family arrived at the Temple, they were greeted by a just and pious man named Simeon. His words brought with them the first of Our Lady’s sufferings.
For Reflection:
Read Luke 2: 22-35. What did Simeon prophesy about Jesus? How was it the occasion of great joy and great sorrow for Our Lady? In what way was she called to exemplify the three hallmarks of a handmaid of the Lord – receptivity, trust and surrender?
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Lent begins tomorrow. Have you considered what your Lent is going to look like? Will you give something up? Will you take something up?
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PC writes:
"Over the weekend I had a conversation with a few people (felt like a firing squad really) where they were saying it is perfectly fine for a Catholic to also be a Buddhist. Their argument was that Buddhism is not a religion but a philosophy for interior peace and nothing is contradictory to what Jesus said and did (to me Galatians 5:22-23 debunks this issue as God sends the Holy Spirit that gives us everything; therefore, Jesus is truly the "all in all"). The lengthy part of the argument was to say that Buddhism gives the peace that Christianity does not. Of course I argued the opposite to all of this but did not make a dent. Do you know of any good resources that I can look at?"
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February 16
“Let us love, since that is what our hearts were made for.”
-Saint Therese of Lisieux
Today's Reflection:
What is the greatest obstacle to love in you? Pray for the grace to overcome and for the Holy Spirit to fill your heart to overflowing with the love of God.
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February 15
“You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.”
-Saint Francis de Sales
Today's Reflection:
Wow! If this doesn't prick your conscience, nothing will. Whom do you need to "learn to love by loving" today?
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February 14
"When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more noble her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women.”
-Venerable Fulton Sheen
Today's Reflection:
The truth and relevance of this quote is striking. What can we do to elevate the virtue of the women in our lives?
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February 13
"The good God does not need years to accomplish His work of love in a soul; one ray from His Heart can, in an instant, make His flower bloom for eternity."
-St. Therese of Lisieux
Today's Reflection:
When we trust in God and faithfully ask Him to change our hearts, He does so as swiftly as is necessary. Where can God heal and change my heart today? Do I trust Him to do so?
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