Anglican Mainstream

LENT IV: Saint Louise De Marillac, 1660

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: Louise de Marillac born illegitimately in Ferrieres-en-Brie, France grew up devoted to the Lord and  wanted to pursue a religious vocation, she married  the Secretary to the Queen Mother, and had one  child, Michael, she was widowed on in 1625.. She came to know Vincent de Paul in his work with the poor of Paris and worked with him to work with the poor establishing the Daughters of Charity who became the first community of non- cloistered sisters working and living amongst those whom they ministered to.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY:  One of the most striking Psalms in the entire Psalter #89 which is the Psalm appointed for today. What strikes the reader very quickly is that the Psalmist is descriptive in his very clear contrasts of the eternity of God with the fleeting time of that we as humans experience. The instruction on our human limitation is very focused. Our existence has the frailty of the grass that springs up at dawn; suddenly it hears the whistle of the sickle that reduces it to a heap of hay. The freshness of life all too soon gives way to the aridity of death (cf. vv. 5-6). In our prayers today let us ask God that a reflection of eternity penetrate our brief lives and actions. With the presence of divine grace in us, a light will shine on the passing of our days; misery will be turned into glory, what seems not to make sense will acquire meaning.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: O Most gracious Father, who is my God and my all,
in your goodness and mercy, grant that before I die,  I may regain all the graces
which I have lost through my carelessness and folly. Permit me to attain the degree of merit and perfection which you desire to lead me, and which I failed by my unfaithfulness to reach.  Amen

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:  “I am now at the age of sixty-seven, lamenting how very little I have done for God and man compared with what I might have done, had I been active in doing good, as I ought.  -– Henry Venn

Lenten Discipline –   Look for opportunities to lend or give away things that could bless someone else or to go out of my way to help in random or not so random

ways. While giving something up reminds us to be thankful for all that we have,

taking a vow of generosity creates openness within us so that God can use us to bless others in diverse and incredible ways. Not unlike what Louise De Marillac found in the back alleys of France.

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