RISE Prayer Book
Readiness. Intellect. Spirituality. Empowerment.
Morning Offering
Dear God,
As the sun rises this morning, we raise our hearts to you, And we open ourselves to every joy and sadness, every opportunity and challenge You have showered us with all these gifts, And we thank you!
We ask you, Loving God, for the following gifts to help us grow and learn this day:
The gift of knowledge, that we might be ready to learn new things
The gift of courage, that we might be confident in our abilities
The gift of humility, that we might know that all that we are, all we know, and all we do comes from you and is meant to celebrate you
The gift of peace, that even as we face uncomfortable things, at the end of today, we can know that you are always with us.
We pray all of these things in your holy name. Amen.
Prayer for the End of the Day
Dear God,
As today comes to a close, fill our hearts with gratitude We are so thankful for every gift you give us: Our friends, Our families, Our abilities, Our opportunities, And so many more things
(Pause for a few moments to consider one specific thing you are grateful for today The prayer leader will tell you to share out loud if you like)
You have given us all of these wonderful things Help us to see them and to treasure them now
Thank you, God! Amen.
Each week will focus on growing in the spirituality connected to the inspiring, holy women from whom we take the names of our groups. We will learn from their virtues and reflect on them.
Week 1: Perseverance
Monday
Reflection:
What does perseverance mean? Sr. Thea Bowman knew the virtue of perseverance. When Thea was only 15 years old, she desired to give her life to God in a special way as a religious sister, but many of the white sisters didn’t think Thea belonged because she was Black. Some sisters laughed at the way she talked and others even said racist things to her and called her terrible names They tried to make her change her culture to fit in None of this could stop Thea from answering God’s call! She could have walked away sad and defeated, but she did not
Thea went on not only to become a good and holy sister, but she embraced her identity as a Black woman with great joy and confidence and spoke out against racism all over the United States to help others who were discriminated against Even as she battled cancer in her own body, which would eventually take her life, Sr Thea preached powerfully against racism and division until the very end. She even spoke boldly to a gathering of all the Catholic bishops in the U S !
Quote of the Day:
“Part of my approach to my illness has been to say I want to choose life, I want to keep going, I want to live fully until I die.”
-Servant of God Thea Bowman
Scripture Passage:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body
(2 Corinthians 4:8-10)
Tuesday Reflection:
St Josephine Bakhita gives us a wonderful example of someone who has perseverance She never gave up! When she was nine years old in Sudan, Bakhita was kidnapped and sold into slavery Over the years she was transferred to many different enslavers, and she experienced the horrors of being treated as another person’s property Eventually, she was sold to an Italian family who took her to their home in Venice. There Bakhita learned of the Gospel of Jesus from some Catholic sisters The Word of God inspired Bakhita with the firm belief that God wanted her to be free When her enslavers tried to take her away from Italy, Bakhita refused. When they took her to court to keep her as their “property,” she discovered that because slavery was illegal in Italy, she had been free all along! St Josephine Bakhita persevered and achieved God’s dream of freedom for her
Quote of the Day:
“I can truly say that it is a miracle I did not die [when being tortured by my enslavers] because the Lord has destined me for greater things.”
-St. Josephine Bakhita
Scripture Passage:
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.
(Isaiah 40:31)
Wednesday Reflection:
We are able to persevere through hard times because we know that God is with us Jesus has given us the gift of his mother Mary to care for us as our mother and to help us to persevere We don’t do it alone! In 1531, Mary appeared to a humble native man named Juan Diego at Tepeyac Hill, outside what is today Mexico City She told him that she wanted a church to be built there
Juan Diego then approached the bishop of Mexico, asking for a church to be built Without any proof, the bishop did not believe him. The Blessed Virgin asked Juan Diego to approach the bishop again. Juan persevered despite the bishop’s doubts, and this time, the bishop requested a miraculous sign as proof When Our Lady appeared a third time to Juan, she said that she would provide a miracle the next day
However, that next day Juan Diego’s uncle became seriously ill, and he stayed home to care for him instead of meeting the Blessed Virgin When his uncle neared death on December 12, Juan left to find a priest. Believing that he could avoid the Blessed Virgin, he took another route. However, she still appeared to him Juan explained to her that his uncle was ill In response, Our Lady asked him, “Am I not here, I who am your mother?" She then told him that his uncle had, in fact, recovered Then Our Lady asked Juan to collect some flowers from Tepeyac Hill, which is usually barren He found roses that should not grow in Mexico, much less bloom in December The Blessed Mother arranged the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma (a type of cloak that he wore) Upon opening his tilma before the bishop, the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was revealed as the roses fell to the ground Later, Juan returned to his uncle and found him completely healed by Our Lady.
St Juan Diego teaches us to keep going and remain faithful even when others doubt us Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, shows us that God will be with us to help us persevere, even in our moments of sickness, doubt, and other challenges We should not be afraid!
Quote of the Day:
“Do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness, vexation, anxiety, or pain Am I not here who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In my embrace?”
-Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Scripture Passage:
Jesus said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows ” (Luke 12:4, 6-7)
Thursday Reflection:
In her 36 years on earth, St. Alphonsa spent most of them in pain of some kind, yet she endured with perseverance When Alphonsa was born in India in 1910, her parents gave her the name Anna The pain of Anna’s life began before she was even old enough to sit up Anna’s mother died when the baby was just three months old, and she was sent to live with her grandparents When she was ten, Anna went to live with her aunt, a strict, demanding woman who expected perfect behavior from her niece Anna’s aunt’s main goal was to see her niece married; however, Anna felt a call to give herself to God as a religious sister.
More suffering came into Anna’s life as her feet were severely burned, leaving her in great pain and partially disabled for the rest of her life A few years later, despite her injuries, Anna became a Franciscan sister and took a new name: Alphonsa. Her wounds and illness could not stop her from living her vocation with great joy She continued to experience many medical issues, but she never complained. Eventually, the illnesses would take her from this life to a heavenly one Through it all, Alphonsa persevered in living out God’s call for her even when other people and suffering tried to stop her
Quote of the Day:
“I am prepared to suffer more. I know the Lord is with me. He has some plan for me. How can I forget His kindness?”
-St. Alphonsa Muttathupadathu
Scripture Passage:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Friday Reflection:
Let’s take a few moments to reflect back on our week:
● After hearing the stories of our holy sisters and others who teach us perseverance, how would you define perseverance? What have you learned from their stories?
● How have you seen someone else this week live out the virtue of perseverance?
● How have you persevered? How can you grow in perseverance?
Thank God for the gift of perseverance and for those who are examples of it to you Ask God to help you continue to grow in strength, endurance, and love so that you can become a holy young woman who lives out the virtue of perseverance with God’s help
Quote of the Day:
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”
-Helen Keller
Scripture Passage:
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope,and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us ” (Romans 5:1-5)
Week 2: Humility
Monday Reflection:
One way of understanding humility is recognizing the truth of who we are in God’s eyes We are all created with a purpose, a way of serving that will glorify and praise God. When St. Josephine Bakhita was canonized (or officially recognized as a saint), Pope John Paul II said this about her: “Abducted and sold into slavery at the tender age of seven, she suffered much at the hands of cruel masters. But she came to understand the profound truth that God, and not man, is the true Master of every human being, of every human life This experience became a source of great wisdom for this humble daughter of Africa.”
St Josephine knew that she was a beloved child of God and that she and all others who experience slavery were created to live in God’s freedom. She knew deep in her heart that God was the source of her freedom and every good gift, and these gifts allowed her to serve with great love (even in quiet and often unnoticed ways) She did simple tasks like cooking, sewing, answering the door, and setting up for Mass, all with immense love knowing that everything she did was important if it was done for God When she was elderly, in ill health, and no longer able to work, St. Josephine was asked by a bishop what she did all day in her wheelchair, to which she replied, “What do I do? Exactly what you are doing–the will of God.”
Quote of the Day:
“Seeing the sun, the moon, and the stars, I said to myself: Who could be the master of these beautiful things? And I felt a great desire to see him, to know him, and to pay him homage.”
-St Josephine Bakhita
Scripture Passage: You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know. (Psalm 139:13-14)
Tuesday Reflection:
St Alphonsa gives us an example of humility by her brief life that was lived mostly in the hidden world of a convent in India She gave no public speeches, published no books, and there are only a handful of photos of her. At the time of her death, very few people had ever heard of Alphonsa, yet today she is known all over the world for her example of holiness How can this be? Those who knew her well saw her holiness They witnessed the way that she humbly took on each obstacle in her life with love. Every illness and injury that she endured, allowed her to connect more deeply with the suffering of Jesus on the cross and with the suffering of others She never complained. She just kept dying to herself and living in Jesus.
Quote of the Day:
“No matter what my sufferings may be, I will never complain and if I have to undergo any humiliation, I will seek refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
-St Alphonsa Muttathupadathu
Scripture Passage:
Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (John 12:24)
Wednesday Reflection:
Today’s reflection comes from a local example of humility. Mev Puleo grew up in St. Louis with many privileges and wealth, but her family's travels to other countries, where she witnessed the lives of the poor, began to change all of that While visiting the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil when she was fourteen, Mev noticed the luxurious homes, posh hotels, and pristine beaches enjoyed by the rich on one side; however, on the other side, she saw “ramshackle homes, children in rags, young and old begging for our coins.” This bothered Mev deeply, and her humility allowed her to question her own way of living and opened her up to a life of friendship with the poor and marginalized Her life began to change
Mev used her ability to travel and her talents as a photographer to share the faces of the world’s poor with those who might otherwise ignore them She captured their joy, their faith, their courage, and so much more Mev always allowed the world around her to touch her, and she shared this beauty and wonder with everyone through her photos.
Not long after Mev got married, she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor In her last days she remained fully alive, publishing a book about social justice, completing a film, and giving many lectures. She humbly accepted her illness and continued ahead with faith, courage, and hope until the cancer took her life on January 12, 1996, at the age of thirty-two Mev teaches us to humble ourselves to enter lovingly into the lives of the poor and suffering and to take on our own suffering with humility
Quote of the Day:
“[Mev] had wanted to give the poor a face, a voice. She always wanted to be identified with them. And so it came to pass: by the time of her last days, you could see them all
in her face–the poor of Bosnia, the hungry of Haiti, the powerless of Brazil. She who gave them voice, lost hers. She who helped us see their faces, could finally see no more…She became the poor she loved.”
-Fr John Kavanaugh, at Mev Puleo’s funeral
Scripture Passage:
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven ”
(Matthew 18:3-4)
Thursday
Reflection:
Sometimes being humble means admitting that we feel broken and don’t have everything under control. Humility in these situations opens us to God and new life. Sr. Thea often passed through this very human experience as she faced painful discrimination in her own Church She had the humility to express the rejection that she felt as she sang out the words of a spiritual in front of the most powerful people in the Catholic Church: the bishops. She sang, “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child / a long way from home ” Sr Thea had the humility to admit that the Church, which should be a Mother and a home to her, had sometimes left her feeling like an orphan Expressing this with sincerity helped the truth to be revealed, a truth that could help many others who might have feared acknowledging the pain they felt Sr Thea knew that being herself, wounds and all, would help make the Church and the world better places and it did!
Quote of the Day:
“Maybe I’m not making big changes in the world, but if I have somehow helped or encouraged somebody along the journey then I’ve done what I’m called to do.”
-Servant of God Thea Bowman
Scripture Passage:
“Everyone who exalts oneself will be humbled, and the one who humbles oneself will be exalted ” (Luke 18:14)
Friday Reflection:
Let’s take a few moments to reflect back on our week:
● After hearing the stories of our holy sisters and others who teach us humility, how would you define humility? What have you learned from their stories?
● How have you seen someone else this week live out the virtue of humility?
● How have you been humble? How can you grow in humility?
Thank God for the gift of humility and for those who are examples of it to you. Ask God to help you continue to grow in knowing who you are as God’s beloved creation so that you can become a holy young woman who lives out the virtue of humility with God’s help
Quote of the Day:
“Humility, however deep it be, neither disquiets, nor troubles, nor disturbs the soul; it is accompanied by peace, joy, and tranquility.”
-St Teresa of Ávila
Scripture Passage:
“Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross ”
(Philippians 2:3-8)
Week 3: Joy
Monday Reflection:
Joy doesn’t always mean that everything in life is perfect; it’s about how we respond to life’s challenges and gifts Although St Alphonsa’s life was marked by much sickness and suffering, she always had a smile on her face. From a young age, Alphonsa’s grandmother who raised her, taught her to be joyful in her faith The little girl was known to lead her family in evening prayers with great enthusiasm and good cheer
When she entered her time of formation as a religious sister, Alphonsa felt that she was sharing in the cross of Jesus in order to grow in holiness She wrote, “There are abundant occasions of suffering I have a great desire to suffer with joy” Her troubles only seemed to increase, but Alphonsa’s joy never faded. Painful illnesses followed each other: typhoid fever, double pneumonia, and, the most serious of all, a dramatic nervous shock, the result of a fright after seeing a thief breaking into her room in the night. This caused her to enter a state of shock that lasted for about a year and affected her memory and her ability to read or write. Even in this state, Alphonsa continued to share her happiness with her sisters through her kindness and prayers. Finally, cancer spread throughout her body. Although her final days were filled with violent shaking and vomiting, Alphonsa passed quietly and joyfully to her God with a peaceful smile on her lips
Quote of the Day:
"Do you know why I am so particularly happy today? It is because I have Jesus in my heart!"
-St Alphonsa Muttathupadathu (on the day of her First Communion)
Scripture Passage:
"I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church." (Colossians 1:24)
Tuesday
Reflection:
Joy flowed from Sr Thea everywhere she went She was an extraordinary and captivating public speaker. Her preaching was full of stories and songs that energized her listeners with the joy of the Gospel of Jesus She knew that to be a witness of the Good News of God’s saving love in her life, she had to testify with gratitude and praise Her audiences, whether Black or white or brown, couldn’t help but sing along asThea raised her voice to God in the words of the traditional spirituals of her people Sr Thea also exchanged her black and white habit for vibrant, multi-colored African robes that flowed about her as she spoke and sang Even when cancer confined her to a wheelchair, she continued to let her light shine on everyone whom she encountered
Quote of the Day:
“Let your light shine! Walk your talk! God didn’t give you your light only to sit on it.”
-Servant of God Thea Bowman
Scripture Passage:
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise. Sing praise to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy to the King, the LORD (Psalm 98:-4-6)
Wednesday
Reflection:
Using our gifts to praise God will produce joy in ourselves and in others. Mary Lou Williams shows us this in the ways she answered God’s call as a jazz musician. Born in Georgia and raised in Pittsburgh, Mary Lou Williams taught herself to play piano at the age of three; by six, she was helping support her ten siblings by performing at parties. At fifteen, she began her professional career traveling the country with a jazz band She became one of the great jazz musicians and composers of her time, working with and mentoring musicians like Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker, while recording dozens of albums.
And yet, after growing in fame, Mary Lou walked away from music and embarked on a spiritual quest. She found the spiritual home she was looking for in the Catholic Church. Choosing to live a simple life in New York, she devoted herself primarily to helping fellow musicians suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. Mary Lou’s friends encouraged her return to music persuading her that this was her way to serve the world and glorify God That’s exactly what she did!
Mary Lou went on to compose numerous religious pieces that were performed in St Patrick’s Cathedral and brought joy to people around the world She also composed music that honored the African American freedom struggle. Her music was infused by her deep spirituality. “I am praying through my fingers when I play,” she said “I get that good ‘soul sound,’ and I try to touch people’s spirits ”
Quote of the Day:
“From suffering came the spirituals, songs of joy, and songs of sorrow. . . . Because of the deeply religious background of [African Americans], [they were] able to mix this strong influence with rhythms that reached deep enough into the inner self to give expression to outcries of sincere joy, which became known as Jazz.”
-Mary Lou Williams
Scripture Passage:
I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous deeds I will delight and rejoice in you; I will sing hymns to your name, Most High (Psalm 9:1-3)
Thursday
Reflection:
Being faithful to your true self, the beautiful person that God is calling you to be, will fill you with joy That’s what St Josephine Bakhita teaches us through her example of holiness For many years, Bakhita (which means “fortunate one”) carried a noticeable sadness on her face, a sadness that she carried in her heart after being taken from her home as a child and enduring torture and abuse at the hands of her enslavers She never talked about what happened back in Sudan and the wound in her spirit remained. Even when she was sold to an Italian family who treated her better than her previous enslavers, Bakhita knew that she was not totally free Her faith began to grow as the Canossian sisters taught her and treated her kindly, but even this could only heal her partially. Time, her own strength, and the kindness of others could only do so much St Josephine’s healing happened as a kind of miracle at the moment of her baptism, a miracle performed by Jesus himself In baptism Josephine finally knew exactly who she was: a beloved daughter of God! From that moment on everything changed: she radiated joy – a joy not of this world Joy filled every little task that St Josephine performed whether caring for children who were drawn to her warmth or cooking, cleaning, and sewing for her sisters in the convent We, like St Josephine, can be joyful knowing that we are God’s beloved children!
Quote of the Day:
“Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self. To depend on God sets us free from every form of enslavement and leads us to recognize our great dignity. We see this in Saint Josephine Bakhita.”
-Pope Francis
Scripture Passage:
We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak; be patient with all See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all. Rejoice always.
(1 Thessalonians 5:14-16)
Friday
Reflection:
Let’s take a few moments to reflect back on our week:
● After hearing the stories of our holy sisters and others who teach us rejoice, how would you define joy? What have you learned from their stories?
● How have you seen someone else this week live out the virtue of joy?
● How have you been joyful? How can you grow in joy?
Thank God for the gift of joy and for those who are examples of it to you. Ask God to help you continue to rejoice in God’s love and celebrate God’s good gifts with joy so that you can become a holy young woman who lives out the virtue of joy with God’s help
Quote of the Day:
“The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can be excluded.”
-Pope Francis
Scripture Passage:
Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you Remain in my love If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete ”
(John 15:9-11)
Week 4: Generosity
Monday Reflection:
Generosity means that we give to others from the gifts that God has given us. Sometimes our own suffering and challenges help us to give to others with an open heart This is what St Josephine Bakhita teaches us about generosity A victim of brutal violence as a child, Bakhita grew up to offer her life as a sister and defend and advocate for children living in poverty She became known for limitless compassion, especially for the vulnerable, powerless, and poor. St. Josephine became famous for doing the most ordinary tasks with extraordinary love and care Even when her lack of ability to read or write well prevented her from serving like some of the other sisters, Bakhita found ways to keep giving generously She told her sisters who were schoolteachers: “You teach catechism; I will stay in the chapel to pray for you that you might teach well ” She also never forgot those who continued to suffer in poor conditions in her homeland and traveled around Italy speaking up for the people of Africa and raising funds for
missions there St Josephine Bakhita teaches us to know our gifts (whatever they might be) and to use them generously for the sake of others
Quote of the Day:
“The Lord has loved me so much We, too, must love everyone We must be compassionate to everyone.”
-St Josephine Bakhita
Scripture Passage:
“Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
(2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Tuesday Reflection:
God has been so generous with us, so we can also be generous with God St Alphonsa teaches us to give everything over to God From a young age, St Alphonsa knew that she wanted to give her whole self to God, so she chose to live a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a religious sister She gave up a fairly comfortable life for the simple conditions of the convent There were many pressures for her to get married, but Alphonsa knew that God had called her to give herself in a different way. She handed over her ability to choose where she would live, how she would dress, and where she could travel; instead, she trusted that the Holy Spirit was working through her religious superiors. All of this giving came from St. Alphonsa’s generous heart and was always rooted in love We, like St Alphonsa, can listen to where God is calling us and respond with great generosity
Quote of the Day:
“Whatever you do, do it for the love of Jesus. Don’t only work to please your superiors.”
-St. Alphonsa Muttathupadathu
Scripture Passage:
Keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive ”
(Act of the Apostles 10:35)
Wednesday Reflection:
Today we reflect on Servant of God Julia Greeley who teaches us that we don’t have to be rich, powerful, or privileged to be generous Julia, who became known as Denver’s “angel of charity,” was none of these things, yet she gave so much Little is known of Julia’s early life; in fact, we don’t even know her birth year. She was born into slavery in Hannibal, Missouri, sometime between 1833–1848 Though she hardly spoke of those times, she bore the marks of slavery, having lost one of her eyes to an enslaver’s whip After receiving her freedom in 1865, she found work as a cook or housekeeper with a series of families, first in Missouri, and finally in Denver In 1880 she was baptized in the Catholic Church, and from then on her parish church, Sacred Heart, became her true home. When not working, Julia spent all her time ministering to
the poor Aside from her own meager income, she relied on begging and scavenging to deliver food, clothing, and coal to needy families, all of which she pulled along in a little red wagon Tireless and unstoppable in her generosity, she was described as a “one-person St. Vincent de Paul Society”
When she died on June 7, 1918, hundreds of people turned out for her funeral, and tributes appeared in many papers. A hundred years later, after she was declared a Servant of God, her remains were moved to a place of honor in Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
Quote of the Day:
“Here was the secret of her influence. She had taken Christ literally, as had [St. Francis] of Assisi. Like him, she had given away all to the poor and had gone about making melody in her heart unto the Lord.”
-Fr Eugene Murphy, SJ
Scripture Passage:
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?
(James 2:14-16)
Thursday Reflection:
Generosity can mean sharing the cultural gifts that God has given you. Sr. Thea Bowman is a great example of that! Sr Thea always had a servant’s heart She was trained as a teacher, and she passionately and lovingly educated students of every age – all the way up to the university level! Today, Sr Thea’s generosity continues in several schools named in her honor, including one in East St Louis
Even so, Sr. Thea was an educator in a broader sense as she evangelized the world with her speeches and songs As the United States confronted the need for racial justice for all in the turbulent 1960s, a transformation was underway throughout a nation torn by racial struggle and division. This period was a time of transformation for Sr. Thea too: both a spiritual and cultural awakening She became eager to learn from other cultures, but also wanted to share the abundance of her African-American culture and spirituality with the world. She proclaimed, “What does it mean to be Black and Catholic? It means that I come to my church
fully functioning I bring myself, my Black self, all that I am, all that I have, all that I hope to become I bring my whole history, my traditions, my experience, my culture, my African American song and dance and gesture and movement and teaching and preaching and healing and responsibility as gift to the Church ” Thea shared her gifts with a generous heart; what gifts has God given you to share boldly and generously like Sr Thea?
Quote of the Day:
“I want people to remember that I tried to love the Lord and that I tried to love them…” -Servant of God Thea Bowman
Scripture Passage:
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
(Matthew 5:14-16)
Friday
Reflection:
Let’s take a few moments to reflect back on our week:
● After hearing the stories of our holy sisters and others who teach us to give generously, how would you define generosity? What have you learned from their stories?
● How have you seen someone else this week live out the virtue of generosity?
● How have you been generous? How can you grow in generosity?
Thank God for the gift of generosity and for those who are examples of it to you Ask God to help you continue to give with an open heart so that you can become a holy young woman who lives out the virtue of generosity with God’s help.
Quote of the Day:
Lord, teach me to be generous,
To serve you as you deserve.
To give and not to count the cost.
To fight and not to heed the wounds.
To toil and not to seek for rest.
To labor and not to ask for any reward
Save that of knowing that I do you holy will.
Amen.
Scripture Passage:
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.
(Mark 12:41-44)
Week 5: Peace Monday Reflection:
Quote of the Day:
Scripture Passage:
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.
(James 3:17-18)
Tuesday Reflection:
Despite the wounds that she carried on her body, St Josephine Bakhita did not let the violence that others inflicted on her rob her of her peace; instead, she chose radical forgiveness to bring more peace into the world around her When St Josephine was kidnapped, her enslavers tattooed her entire body, except for her face, with a razor blade, and poured salt in her open wounds to ensure the scars would be permanent. Years later, with the love of God in her heart, St Josephine forgave her torturers It may seem like Bakhita was being a pushover by forgiving her kidnappers and enslavers; however, her ability to forgive took great boldness that can only come from firm peace within one’s own heart. This peace, which comes from God, opens us to healing and transformation With this courageous desire and trust in God’s will, Bakhita proclaimed, “If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian ” St Bakhita teaches us that we must let peace grow, and we cannot let even the most evil acts rob us of our dignity and peace.
Quote of the Day:
“In God’s will, there is great peace.”
-St. Josephine Bakhita
Scripture Passage: Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust ” (Matthew 5:43-45)
Wednesday Reflection:
Quote of the Day:
“Together we recognize that we have a responsibility We are a people of God, people driven by the presence of God in ourselves and in others. When we see human suffering, we cannot turn our backs, we must respond.”
-Sr Norma Pimentel, MJ
Scripture Passage:
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
(James 1:27)
Thursday Reflection:
Quote of the Day:
Scripture Passage:
Week 6: Hope
Here, after the terrifying “masters” who had owned her up to that point, Bakhita came to know a totally different kind of “master” in Venetian dialect, which she was now learning, she used the name “paron” for the living God, the God of Jesus Christ Up to that time she had known only masters who despised and maltreated her, or at best considered her a useful slave. Now, however, she heard that there is a “paron” above all masters, the Lord of all lords, and that this Lord is good, goodness in person She came to know that this Lord even knew her, that he had created her that he actually loved her. She too was loved, and by none other than the supreme “Paron”, before whom all other masters are themselves no more than lowly servants She was known and loved and she was awaited. What is more, this master had himself accepted the destiny of being flogged and now he was waiting for her “at the Father's right hand” Now she had “hope” no longer simply the modest hope of finding masters who would be less cruel, but the great hope: “I am definitively loved and whatever happens to me I am awaited by this Love And so my life is good ” Through the knowledge of this hope she was “redeemed”, no longer a slave, but a free child of God She understood what Paul meant when he reminded the Ephesians that previously they were without hope and without God in the world without hope because without God Hence, when she was about to be taken back to Sudan, Bakhita refused; she did not wish to be separated again from her “Paron”. On 9 January 1890, she was baptized and confirmed and received her first Holy Communion from the hands of the Patriarch of Venice On 8 December 1896, in Verona, she took her vows in the Congregation of the Canossian Sisters and from that time onwards, besides her work in the sacristy and in the porter's lodge at the convent, she made several journeys round Italy in order to promote the missions: the liberation that she had received through her encounter with the God of Jesus Christ, she felt she had to extend, it had to be handed on to others, to the greatest possible number of people The hope born in her which had “redeemed” her she could not keep to herself; this hope had to reach many, to reach everybody (Spe Salvi, 3)
“In today's world, countless women continue to be victimized, even in developed modern societies. In St Josephine Bakhita we find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation. The history of her life inspires not passive acceptance but the firm resolve to work effectively to free girls and women from oppression and violence, and to return them to their dignity in the full exercise of their rights.” -Pope Saint John Paul II
Quote of the Day: Scripture Passage:
Quote of the Day: Scripture Passage:
Basic Prayers
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil Amen
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death Amen
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be world without end Amen
Guardian Angel Prayer
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Traditional Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the salvation of souls, the reparation for sins, the reunion of all Christians, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month Amen
Reflections are sourced and adapted from:
Dear, John “You Will be my Witnesses”: Saints, Prophets, and Martyrs
Ellsberg, Robert “Blessed Among Us” reflections in Give Us This Day
Ellsberg, Robert Blessed Among All Women: Women Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for our Time
Rigney, Melanie Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century
https://www ctsbooks org/josephine-bakhita-survivor-human-trafficking/
https://www globalsistersreport org/news/sr-norma-pimentel-one-time-magazines-100-most-influential-people-2020
https://wwwsistertheabowman com/biography/
https://wwwfspa org/content/about/sister-thea-bowman