Memorial of St. Agnes, Virgin Martyr
Almighty, eternal God, you choose what the world considers a weak to put the worldly power to shame. May we who celebrate the birth of St. Agnes into everlasting joy the loyal to the faith she professed. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Daily Thought from the Saints
"The Cross is the way to Paradise, but only when it is borne willingly."
— St. Paul of the Cross
Daily Scripture Verse
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9
Daily Meditation
"There was much in the Magdalen that she had never used, perhaps never dreamed of, until she came to our Lord. He revealed to her the secret of true self-development, which is another word for sanctity. And she found under His guidance that everything in her had henceforth to be used, and used in a fuller and richer way than she had ever imagined possible. It was in no narrow school of self-limitation, in no morbid school of false asceticism, that this poor sinner was educated in the principles of sanctity, but in the large and merciful school of Him who has been ever since the hope of the hopeless, the friend of publicans and sinners; who knows full well that what men need is not to crush and kill their powers, but to find their true use and to use them; that holiness is not the emptying of life, but the filling; that despair has wrapped its dark cloud around many a soul because it found itself in possession of powers that it abused and could not destroy and did not know how to use. Christ taught them the great and inspiriting doctrine 'I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.'"
— Fr. Basil W. Maturin
Day by Day with Mary, the Mother of God
Do not get discouraged when you see yourself full of defects, but go to Jesus and Mary confidently and humble yourself without becoming discouraged; then go forward bravely.
St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello
A Prayer from Notre Dame University
Rev. Steve Newton, C.S.C.
Teach us your priorities, Lord Jesus, so that we might have the wisdom to discern what is essential in following you. May we always choose what is good for others, especially those on the margins of society. Let others’ needs come before our wants. When we hear your voice today, soften our hardened hearts. We ask this in your name, Christ the Lover. Amen.