“Whether you are single, consecrated, religious, or married; whether a physical mother or not, the feminine gift of maternity allows a woman to mother another. Through her body, in her thoughts, her words, and actions, women engender life in others.” – Rebecca Sande
“Why have I have been praying before the Virgin of the Ukraine for years?” – Monsignor Stephen Rossetti
“Mary’s presence is always a comfort and a consolation, even to God.” – Fr. Jeremiah Shryock
“The sacred has a certain structure – it is structured out of and into silence in a manner that evokes awe and reverence.” – Dr. Anthony Lilles
“In prayer, I began to feel convicted that He was asking more of me than simply offering my works and merits to Him. I felt a gentle stirring in my soul that He wanted more than the tasks I could give Him.” – Sarah Yurgelaitis
“Mary’s openness to the blessings of God chart a way forward for humanity toward an eternal sacred order before which the exigencies of each historical moment must yield.” – Dr. Anthony Lilles
“Christian prayer is not a self-help exercise, a stress reduction program, or a therapeutic tool to help us cope with our problems.” – Fr. Jeremiah Shryock
So often we are our own worst enemy when it comes to prayer. Claire Dwyer points out the ways we sabotage ourselves.
Small steps in the three areas of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving can make the Lenten season a special one for you and your family.
The second in a series of meditations, both ever ancient and ever new, by Fr. Matthew MacDonald.
