God prepared Our Lady from all eternity to be the Mother of Jesus.
No one was ever as close to Him as Mary. He received His human life from her and lived beneath her heart.
Mary was not chosen by accident. She belonged to God’s plan of Redemption.
The prophets spoke of her, and the holy women of the Old Testament pointed toward her.
God honored Mary more than any other creature.
So we should honor her too, and ask her to help us belong faithfully to Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Amen.
This morning at Mass, Father LeRoy talked about making the Sign of the Cross.
I have made the Sign of the Cross ever since I was little, so I guess I never thought much about it. But Father reminded us that it is actually something very important.
When we make the Sign of the Cross, we are telling the world that we belong to Jesus Christ. We are not trying to show off. We are simply not hiding our faith.
Later on, I was reading about the Mystery of the Cross, and it fit right in with Father's homily.
The chapter said that when Jesus died on the Cross, many people thought He had been defeated. To them, it looked like everything was over. But God turned the Cross into a sign of victory.
Today the Cross is known all over the world. Saints loved it. Martyrs held onto it, even when it cost them their lives. And regular people, like us, still find comfort and hope in it every day.
Father LeRoy said it is important for people to know that we are believers. That does not mean we have to make a big show of it. Sometimes it can be something as simple as making the Sign of the Cross before lunch at a restaurant. Or wearing a crucifix around our neck. Or speaking kindly when everyone else is grumbling and complaining.
Little things can tell people a lot about what is in our hearts.
I think that is what Father was trying to teach us. The Cross should not just hang on a wall. It should be part of the way we live.
Sometimes it is easy to be a Catholic when you are sitting in church with everyone else. But it can be a little harder when you are out in public.
Still, Jesus was not ashamed to carry His Cross for me. So I do not want to be ashamed to show that I belong to Him.
Mini is never embarrassed to stay close to the people she loves. Maybe I should be more like that too.
So today I want to remember this:
Make the Sign of the Cross slowly.
Mean it.
Jesus carried the Cross for me.
So I will make the Sign of the Cross for Him.
Everyone makes mistakes.
Everyone has faults.
Everyone has weak places.
God already knows this, and He does not stop loving us because of it.
When you do something wrong, do not sit there feeling sad and hopeless. Tell God you are sorry. Ask Him to help you. Then begin again.
A little tree does not become strong in one day. It needs sunshine, rain, and time. Our souls are like that too. We grow little by little.
Sometimes we want to become good all at once. Then, when we fail, we get upset with ourselves. But God is more patient than we are.
So be gentle with your own heart.
If you fall, get up quietly. If you are weak, ask Jesus for strength. If you are sorry, trust that He hears you.
Do not spend all your time looking back at yesterday’s mistakes. Look toward God instead, and take the next right step.
The saints were not saints because they never fell. They became saints because they kept loving God and kept trying again.
God is patient with you.
Try to be patient with yourself too.
And remember—
every day is a new chance to begin again with Jesus.
Note: This is a modern adaptation inspired by the writings and spirit of Saint Francis de Sales rather than a direct translation of a specific text. It has been prepared by Kathy for the Reading Club at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Littlemore, Iowa.
