We sing our song of love within the cosmic symphony.....

At a recent concert in his honor, Pope Benedict XI delivered an address called "The Masterpiece of the Human Being Is His Every Act of Genuine Love"

Our Holy Father said “......human genius competes in creativity with nature, gives life to varied and manifold harmonies, where the human voice also takes part in this language, which is as a reflection of the great cosmic symphony........”

Pope Benedict invites us to reflect upon music and silence by analyzing how this particular musical interpretation “seems to represent the place and task of faith in the universe: In the midst of the vital forces of nature, which are around man and also within him, faith is a different force, which responds to a profound word, ‘arising from the silence,’ as St. Ignatius of Antioch would say. The word of faith needs great interior silence, to hear and obey a voice that goes beyond the visible and tangible. This voice also speaks through the phenomena of nature, because it is the power that has created and governs the universe; but to recognize it, a humble and obedient heart is necessary -- as the saint teaches, whose memorial we celebrate today: Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Faith follows this profound voice where art on its own cannot reach: It follows it on the path of witness, of selfless giving of oneself out of love, as Cecilia did. Then the most beautiful work of art, the masterpiece of the human being is his every act of genuine love, from the smallest -- in the daily martyrdom -- to the extreme sacrifice. Here life itself becomes a song: an anticipation of this symphony that we will sing together in Paradise.” (read full article in Zenit here).

Let us beg God for this interior silence and for a humble and obedient heart so that we, like St. Therese of the Child Jesus, can confidently walk in selfless giving of oneself out of love. Let us prepare our souls to hear God’s voice and to shout our response of “Yes!” in joy, singing our new song to the Lord in all we think, say and do!

Praying together.....Pope Benedict's requests......

Each month, Our Holy Father asks that we join in praying for his intentions....let us raise our eyes and hearts to heaven as we pray together in the beautiful month of October.

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for October is:

"That Catholic universities may more and more be places where, in the light of the Gospel, it is possible to experience the harmonious unity existing between faith and reason".

His mission intention is:

"That World Mission Day may afford an occasion for understanding that the task of proclaiming Christ is an absolutely necessary service to which the Church is called for the benefit of humanity".

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful!

Kindness is the summit of fortitude.......an inspiring quote......

The quote below, found in ENDOW’s “Discover Your Dignity: Part II” study.....(more on ENDOW’s DYD II here) provides us with a rich invitation to ponder how a strong woman lives out her vocation of love.

“The Bible does not praise the weak woman, but the strong one, when it says in the Book of Proverbs ‘it is kindly instruction she gives’ (Prov 31:26), because kindness is the summit of fortitude. The motherly woman has the privilege of this direct and important function----to know how to wait; to know how to be silent; being able, when faced with injustice or weakness, to turn a blind eye, to excuse, to cover shaming things up---which is no less a work of mercy than that of covering the nakedness of the body.”

Gertrud von le Fort, The Eternal Woman

"For both we and our words are in his hand, as are all understanding and skill in crafts." Wisdom 7:16

COME HOLY SPIRIT!!! Please give us your gifts to do the will of God for His glory! Please intercede for us, our Blessed Mother Mary!

How a humble "Thank You" is a true gift of self.......

So, have you ever noticed just how difficult it is at times to receive a compliment? One perspective is put forth on this difficulty by Cheryl Dicklow in an article titled “Just Say Thanks” on CNA’s Catholic Womanhood site. Cheryl speaks about John Paul II’s teaching on feminine genius, the giving nature of women and how as natural givers it can be difficult to receive at times. Cheryl says “To take something, even in the form of a compliment, is almost foreign to many females. When Pope John Paul II spoke of the ‘feminine genius,’ he was speaking directly about a trait that is inherent in the nature of woman, what he called ‘the gift of self.’ Women are, by their very design, meant to give. They are wired to nurture and tend to others. Sure, some do a better job of this than others, but at her very core, a woman is created as a giver.....It doesn’t matter how often some radical feminists deny it: women are different from men. The truth our Faith teaches, though, is that this ‘different’ doesn’t have a value attached to it. The value exists in the full and complete phrase ‘different but equal’-- and complimentary......It is this very message that is at the core of who we are and how we can serve God.” (See full article here)

By developing the habit of graciously saying “Thank You” to a compliment, we are actually growing in becoming true gifts of self. Lets all put forth a special effort on cultivating the habit of thanksgiving by joining all of creation in this beautiful time of autumn in saying THANK YOU to God for creating each of us so uniquely...... and for surrounding us with the beauty of His creation. Let us pray to notice the goodness in all those we encounter...to graciously give and receive compliments as ALL good gifts are from Our loving Father.

To find out more about woman’s unique God-given nature and about the complimentarity of man and woman as God created us, please consider an ENDOW study......click here for more information.

Blessed John Henry Newman’s love of Our Mother Mary..........

Before praying Wednesday’s midday Angelus, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the deep and filial devotion held by the newly Blessed John Henry Newman for Our Blessed Mother Mary. Our Pope spoke about how Blessed Cardinal Newman named his fist home in Birmingham “Maryvale” and how he dedicated his Oratory to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. Let us join our Church’s new Blessed in meditating upon Mary’s holiness and perfection and her role in being chosen to be the Mother of God. Let us seek intimacy with Mary through the intercession of Blessed John Henry Newman as we join him reflection and prayer. He was moved to exclaim: “"Who can estimate the holiness and perfection of her, who was chosen to be the Mother of Christ? What must have been her gifts, who was chosen to be the only near earthly relative of the Son of God, the only one whom He was bound by nature to revere and look up to; the one appointed to train and educate Him, to instruct Him day by day, as He grew in wisdom and in stature?" (read full Zenit.org article here)

Blessed John Henry Newman, please pray that all the women of ENDOW, their families, friends and all souls may be drawn deep into the heart of Our Blessed Mother Mary, The Immaculate Conception. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

“The Whole Church Is Indebted to Courageous Women"...it is time to become the saint God intends you to be!

It is Saints who change the world! What an example of using God-given feminine genius! Our Holy Father spoke about one of our Church’s most beloved saints, St. Clare of Assisi, in his Wednesday audience. St. Clare was a courageous woman who was rich in faith and capable of giving decisive impetus to the renewal of the Church. St. Clare had in her relationship with St. Francis of Assisi not only a teacher but also a very beloved friend. The friendship between these two illustrate that when two souls are inflamed by the same love of God, they draw from their friendship the stimulus to undertake the way of perfection. These two saints, like many others, have experiences profound friendship on the same path toward Christian perfection. Read the Zenit news article translation of Pope Benedict XVI’s address here.

ENDOW studies offer women the opportunity to come together to learn, build friendships and to live the Catholic faith. Imagine growing in holiness and walking the path toward holiness with other like minded women! ENDOW studies are starting up all over the country! Please check for here for studies near you.

Yet another way to experience a great opportunity of making new friendships while increasing in knowledge and holiness it to attend the ENDOW Conference! This year the title is “Called to Be Saints. Living in the world but not of the world.” The Conference is on October 15 & 16 in Centennial, CO. Come and deepen your faith and rejuvenate your soul at the ENDOW Conference. Experience anew the JOY of living the fullness of God’s grace. Hurry to find out more and to register here.

Yes....we can all be the saints that God calls us to become! Come Holy Spirit! Renew the face of the earth.

What do women want....for real?

Check out this perspective found in an article from the National Review Online on “The new feminism of life as it is really lived.....” which looks at “the mythological mommy war which pits stay-at-home moms against so called working moms......” read full article here.