Week TWO: March 1-7
Quick Bio: St. Josephine was branded by slave owners with 114 scars on her body. She forgave the slave traders who kidnapped her and those who tortured her saying: “I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and religious today. The Lord has loved me so much. We must love everyone.”
St. Josephine was able to see how her suffering led her to greater communion with Jesus.
Virtue of Gratitude: Having a thankful disposition of mind and heart.
Learning from St. Josephine: We are to seek forgiveness for our sins and be grateful for mercy, as we strive to love and serve one another and draw closer to Jesus. We can only be truly free if we extend forgiveness to others.
God can use all things for good, including sin, suffering and evil in the world. His Permissive Will allows evil to happen, because without free will, we would not be able to choose to love or to choose good. We can’t control the actions of others, but we can control our reactions to them.
We can find joy in others, but the root of our joy must be in God alone.
Our lives will be much happier when we recognize that all things and all circumstances can be opportunities to draw closer to God, to love God and to love others.
Our prayer should express our desire to be with God, as well as our gratitude for God, His Mercy and His Gifts and Blessings. The acts of faith, hope and charity and the primary commandment to love God are accomplished in prayer.
Consider:
- What am I most grateful for?
- Do I tell others how grateful I am for them?
- Am I grateful in prayer, thanking God for all the gifts and blessings I have received?
Prayer Prompt:
When I’m angry, anxious, discouraged or envious, I can choose to focus on what I am most grateful for in the present moment.
Inspired by the book Magnify
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