Finding Joy in the day, Day 306 (Year 4)

Being in a safe place, having people love and support me via distance (praise God for technology!)

 Do not worry over things that generate preoccupation and anxiety.  One thing only is necessary: to lift up your spirit and love God.
St. Padre Pio

Finding Joy in the day, Day 305 (Year 4)

Priest vist and confession

'Now in the Catholic Church itself we take the greatest care to hold that which has been believed everywhere, always and by all.'

St. Vincent of Lerins

Finding Joy in the day, Day 304 (Year 4)

God bringing me this far, working things out where I didn't see possibility

'When we give ourselves up entirely to His guidance and allow Him to do as He pleases with us, He enables us to make great progress in a short time, almost without our knowing it, except for the struggles in which His grace continually engages our immortified nature.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 303 (Year 4)

Pretty sunset and rainbow clouds on my drive home

'I will make thee understand that I am a wise and learned director, Who will safely lead those souls who, forgetful of themselves, abandon themselves to Me.'

The Lord to, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 302 (Year 4)

My parents graciousness and love, Getting to spend over a week with my family

'We must have confidence in God, who is what He always has been, and we must not be disheartened because things turn out contrary to us.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 301 (Year 4) Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday Jesus 2017

Lucky me, Starbucks for a few super yummy treats coming soon- Thank you

'Hope is obligatory. I must, then, hope for my salvation.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 300 (Year 4) Merry Christmas Eve 2017

A fun Christmas Eve family night filled with LOVE

'The life of a true Christian should be such that he fears neither death nor any event of his life, but endures and submits to all things with a good heart.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

Finding Joy in the day, Day 299 (Year 4)

My little brother coming home tonight (thanks Charlie always love it when you are here)

'In prayer we should particularly combat our predominant passion or evil inclination. We should devote continual attention to it, because when it is once conquered we will easily obtain the victory over all our other faults.'

St. Vincent de Paul

Finding Joy in the day, Day 298 (Year 4)

Seeing lights with my dad and drinking iced teas together

'Jesus came on earth to be my model. I want to follow Him and walk generously in His footsteps.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Finding Joy in the day, Day 297 (Year 4)

A hot shower a relief

'If there are some present who do not understand what is being said or sung, they know at least that all is said and sung to the glory of God, and that is sufficient for them to join in it devoutly.'

St. Augustine

Finding Joy in the day, Day 296 (Year 4)

Getting a lot of errands done (my sister prayed I would have energy)

'The more we are afflicted in this world, the greater is our assurance in the next; the more sorrow in the present, the greater will be our joy in the future.'

St. Isidore of Seville

Finding Joy in the day, Day 295 (Year 4)

Happy Birthday to my youngest sister turning 17. 12/19/17 I love you and am SO grateful for your blessing in my life!

'Oh, what happiness we find in a community life! A precious treasure is enclosed in a community life.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 294 (Year 4)

Hearing my lil sisters Christmas Concert

'Already the walls of the prison are crumbling to dust, and the prisoner is about to enjoy the liberty of the children of God.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 293 (Year 4)

Working on a plan

'My divine Savior has given to understand that those who work for the salvation of souls will have a gift of touching the most hardened hearts, and will labor with marvelous success, if they themselves are penetrated with a tender devotion to His Divine Heart.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 292 (Year 4)

A good meeting with a priest

'He is truly humble of heart who knows 'himself thoroughly and who knows God. May the Lord grant this grace to all men!'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 291 (Year 4)

Two coffee dates in one day

'Reflect that Job lost his possessions and his sons and his health: his wife remained to him for a perpetual scourge; and then, when God had tested his patience, He restored everything to him double, and at the end eternal life.'

St. Catherine of Siena

'I have chosen thee as an abyss of unworthiness and ignorance for the accomplishment of this great design, so that everything may be done by Me.'

The Lord, to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 290 (Year 4)

My sister and nephew offering up there sickness and praying for me today

'Let every knee bend before Thee, O greatness of my God, so supremely humbled in the Sacred Host. May every heart love Thee, every spirit adore Thee and every will be subject to Thee.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 289 (Year 4) Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec 12, 2017

Finishing my 33 days to Morning Glory consecration, (Mary I give myself in entirety to you to use according to yours and Jesus' will and purpose)

'Very often over a period of several years I was more occupied in wishing my hour of prayer were over and in listening whenever the clock struck than in thinking of the things that were good. Again and again, I would rather have done any severe penance than anything that might have given me the practice of recollection.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

She was a real person too! Still persevering inspite of her humanity trying to drag her away she remanned faithful

“Have you strayed from the path leading to heaven? Then call on Mary, for her name means "Star of the Sea, the North Star which guides the ships of our souls during the voyage of this life," and she will guide you to the harbor of eternal salvation.” 

St. Louis de Montfort

Finding Joy in the day, Day 288 (Year 4)

Appreciating my pre-lit christmas tree in my room

A wisdom filled father God has blessed me with 

'By Christ's Passion our weakness was cured. By His Resurrection death was conquered. Still we have to be sorrowful for the world, as well as joyful in the Lord, sorrowful in penance, joyful in gratitude.'

St. Ambrose of Milan

'Be despoiled of everything and the Sacred Heart of Jesus will enrich you. Empty your heart of everything and He will compensate you. Forget and abandon yourself.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 287 (Year 4)

Seeing my friend and sharing together

'Even the holiest desires, whether they refer to the salvation of souls or the needs of the Church, which are very great, should be consumed in the fire of the love of God, whence they proceed, and await God's time for their fulfilment. Meanwhile cultivate one only desire, the most perfect of all; that is, to please God more and more, and to nourish yourself with His will.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 286 (Year 4)

Yummy watermelon

'My only desire is to unite myself to my God.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 285 (Year 4) 2nd Sunday of Advent 2017

My friend being my friend and loving me inspite of me.

'In all your afflictions and interior desolations make frequent acts of total abandonment to the will of God. Recite the chaplet which St. Gertrude composed of these words only: Fiat voluntas tua - "May Thy will be done." At other times say, with sentiments of perfect conformity to the divine will, "Thou art just, O Lord! and all Thy judgments are just, and all Thy ways are mercy, and truth, and judgment." (Tobias iii. 2.)'

St. Paul of the Cross

Lord make May they will be done and may thy grace be sufficient 

Finding Joy in the day, Day 284 (Year 4)

Getting a new duvet cover

'Pain and Love are almost synonymous words.'

St. Lydwine of Schiedam

Finding Joy in the day, Day 283 (Year 4) Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception 2017

Trying out my new comforter

“A Virgin, innocent, spotless, free of all defect, untouched, unsullied, holy in soul and body, like a lily sprouting among thorns.” – Theodotus of Ancrya (446) 

Finding Joy in the day, Day 281 (Year 4) Happy Feast of St. Nicholas 2017

A very sweet card with lots of loving words

'Sometimes God leaves us for a long time unable to effect any good, that we may learn to humble ourselves, and never to glory in our efforts.'

St. Vincent Ferrer

Finding Joy in the day, Day 282 (Year 4)

Getting my windows cleared from ice and my tire pressure adjusted

'When temptation comes, a man should remember the sweetnesses he has had in prayer at other times, and he will thus easily master the temptation.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 280 (Year 4)

Mom and dad getting off ok

'The proverb, "happiness leads to egoism," is only too true; you do not begin to experience compassion for others till you have been yourself in want; well-being and strength sterilize you, and you only perform acts which are vaguely correct, till you are lamed or reduced to poverty.'

St. Lydwine of Schiedam

Finding Joy in the day, Day 279 (Year 4) First Sunday of Advent Dec 3, 2017

Spending the day with mom and dad, going to Christmas market, and a full moon

'I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of God.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 278 (Year 4)

Meeting up with an out of town friend

'After fulfilling a commandment expect to be tempted: for love of Christ is tested by adversity.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 277 (Year 4)

Seeing great light display with great friends

'There is not a finer thing on earth, than to make a virtue of necessity.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 276 (Year 4)

A little get together with my sister and cousin and brother in law

'One of the most efficacious means of keeping ourselves chaste, is to have compassion for those who fall through their frailty, and never to boast in the least of being free, but with all humility to acknowledge that whatever we have is from the mercy of God.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 275 (Year 4)

Seeing the sun

'The Lord is hidden in His own commandments, and He is to be found there in the measure that He is sought.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 274 (Year 4)

A sweet little birthday party my nanny family threw me (so touched)

'Christ is the Savior of the whole world, and has conferred on men the gift of repentance so that they may be saved.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

Finding Joy in the day, Day 273 (Year 4)

Getting home without sighting any deer and a pretty sky in the dusk lights
and my Starbucks birthday drink on my drive- yum

'Angels are the light of monastics, while the monastic state is a light for all men.'

St. John Climacus

Finding Joy in the day, Day 272 (Year 4) Feast of Christ the King, Nov. 26, 2017

Having a nice birthday coffee outing with my mom and sisters!- Thank you

'The cross is good at all times and in all places. It matters little of what wood it is made, provided that it is offered to us by the Sacred Heart of our Lord.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 271 My 34th Birthday Nov 25, 2017- I am alive

The sweet treasure hunt my niece made me for my birthday and the poem and homemade flower

'If we are very determined to mortify ourselves and not to be too much occupied with our corporal health, we will soon, by the grace of God, become masters of our bodies.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

Finding Joy in the day, Day 270 (Year 4)

My whole entire family being together for Thanksgiving

'It is such a joy to think that for each little pain borne with joy, I shall love God more throughout eternity.'

St. Therese of Lisieux

Finding Joy in the day, Day 269 (Year 4) Happy Thanksgiving 2017

Seeing my all my sisters and baby L

'God makes all his own the soul that is wholly given to him.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 268 (Year 4)

Arriving to WI safe

'Make great account of your precious trials, both interior and exterior; it is thus that the garden of Jesus is adorned with flowers, that is, with acts of virtue.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 267 (Year 4) Feast of St. Cecilia

Getting to a lot of appointments and not frigid temperatures

'You cannot be half a saint; you must be a whole saint or no saint at all.'

St. Therese of Lisieux

Finding Joy in the day, Day 266 (Year 4)

Making it through a long day

'Let us abandon everything to the merciful providence of God.'

St. Albert the Great

Finding Joy in the day, Day 265 (Year 4)

Finding a new mass time

'By denying our self-love and our inclinations in little things, we gradually acquire mortification and victory over ourselves.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

Finding Joy in the day, Day 264 (Year 4)

Seeing family and my friend

'The fruit we ought to get from prayer, is to do what is pleasing to the Lord.'

'Let a man always think that he has God before his eyes.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 263 (Year 4)

Anticipating company tomorrow

'A man should force himself to be obedient, even in little things which appear of no moment; because he will thus render the practice of obedience in great matters easy to himself.'

St. Philip Neri

'Seek Him, and rest not until thou hast found Him, whom thy soul desires, hold Him and do not let Him go (Cant. 3, 4).'

The Blessed Virgin, to Ven. Mary of Agreda

Finding Joy in the day, Day 262 (Year 4)

Still nice that daddy called to help me think of alternative ideas, even though we came to dead ends, two heads have to be better than one

'Pay no attention to sensible consolations; make of them a sacrifice to God, and never set your heart on them.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 261 (Year 4)

Finding a steal at the thrift store

'While you, my teacher, are King, most sweet and kind, you speak to me, exhilarating me, and I speak, burning with desire through being loved by Christ. You teach me to speak and to know the truth. With me you are near and make me, your unworthy slave, speak and open my mouth with these words, which are not my own.'

St. Umilta of Faenza (I never heard of the saint before, I am blessed to find a new saint)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Humility

Finding Joy in the day, Day 260 (Year 4)

Starting 7 days of black and white, this is kind of fun ;)

'Prayer purifies us, reading instructs us. Both are good when both are possible. Otherwise, prayer is better than reading.'

St. Isidore of Seville

Finding Joy in the day, Day 259 (Year 4)

Finding stuff to do with my time

'Crosses, contempt, sorrows and afflictions are the real treasures of the lovers of Jesus Christ crucified.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 258 (Year 4)

Making plans to see lights this year

'A man of prayer is capable of everything. He can say with St. Paul, "I can do all things in Him who strengthened me."'

St. Vincent de Paul

Finding Joy in the day, Day 257 (Year 4)

A very loving text from my sister Love you, MB

'If you want to assist at Mass with devotion and with fruit, think of the sorrowful Mother at the feet of Calvary.'

St. Padre Pio

Finding Joy in the day, Day 256 (Year 4)

Spending some time venting with a friend and feeling a little more light hearted even if only momentarily 

"Believe that He loves you. He wants to help you Himself in the struggles which you must undergo. Believe in His Love, His exceeding Love.” St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

Finding Joy in the day, Day 255 (Year 4)

Good meeting with confession and prayer

'Stand patiently and pray steadfastly, brushing off the impacts of worldly cares and all thoughts; for they distract and worry you in order to disturb the impetus of your prayer.'

St, Nilus of Sinai

'The words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and life.' John 6:64

Finding Joy in the day, Day 254

Free tan week

'Prayer is an activity becoming to the dignity of the mind, or rather, is its real use.'

St. Nilus of Sinai

Finding Joy in the day, Day 253 (Year 4)

Cold days, Hot drinks

'We must never trust ourselves, for it is the devil's way first to get us to feel secure, and then to make us fall.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 252 (Year 4)

Getting home before the snow got too bad

'Lord, Thou fliest from me, but I will suffer this trial as long as it is Thy good pleasure. I will always be Thine; although Thou wilt fly from me, I will yet follow Thee.'

St. Paul of the Cross
(wow, powerful and difficult)

Finding Joy in the day, Day 251 (Year 4)

Power of prayer in healing, my nephew coming to

'Our Lord sometimes makes you feel the weight of the cross. This weight seems unbearable but you carry it because in His love and mercy, the Lord helps you and gives you strength.'

St. Padre Pio

(love this)

Finding Joy in the day, Day 250 (Year 4) All Souls Day 2017

Enjoying snow flakes falling, at least it is pretty (quintessential of my favorite Season-no not Winter, Christmas)

'When we go to confession, we ought to persuade ourselves to find Jesus Christ in the person of our confessor.'

St. Philip Neri 

'Do justice, God sees you'

St. Veronica Guiliani, at the age of one and a half years

Finding Joy in the day, Day 249 (Year 4) All Saints Day Nov. 1, 2017

Having a pleasant night that didn't drag on a lot

'Let us serve God; He will certainly take care of us and we shall want for nothing.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 248 (Year 4)

Day off

'It is better to do the Divine Will on earth than to enjoy heaven. To suffer and not to die was the motto of St. Therese.'

St. Padre Pio

Finding Joy in the day, Day 247 (Year 4)

Going out with my friend

'God does not forsake you. It is because he wishes to increase your glory that oftentimes he permits you to fall sick. Keep up your courage so that you may also hear him say: "Do you think I have dealt with you otherwise than that you may be shown to be just?"'

St. John Chrysostom

Finding Joy in the day, Day 246 (Year 4)

Free watermelon

'Keep your heart in peace and let nothing trouble you, not even your faults. You must humble yourself and amend them peacefully, without being discouraged or cast down, for God's dwelling is in peace.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 245 (Year 4) Feast of St. Jude 2017

Getting a longer massage and seeing super cute pictures of my Lbaby

'Why despair of your eternal salvation? Do you not know how good God is?'

St. Paul of the Cross

p.s. Happy Feast day Dad

Finding Joy in the day, Day 244 (Year 4)

Touched my sister called back since we didn't get much time the day before, I love you to the moon and beyond...

'Jesus Christ at His birth: I contemplate Him there with Mary and Joseph. What conditions, though! Lying in a manger where animals feed! Humiliation, privation, suffering.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Finding Joy in the day, Day 243 (Year 4)

Nice chatting with my sister

'Moreover it is all the more remarkable that the more we submit to God's will, the more He tries to meet our wishes. It would seem that as soon as we make it our sole aim to obey Him, He on His part does His best to try and please us. Not only does He answer our prayers but He even forestalls them by granting the very desires we have endeavored to stifle in our hearts in order to please Him, and granting them in a measure we had never imagined.'

St. Claude de la Colombiere 

Finding Joy in the day, Day 242 (Year 4)

Driving my car after a month

'Let us pray God, if He gives us any virtue or any gift, to keep it hidden even from ourselves, that we may preserve our humility, and not take occasion of pride because of it.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 241 (Year 4)

Waking up to a wonderful message from my friend

'Without prayer a man will not persevere long in spirituality; we must have recourse to this most powerful means of salvation every day.'

St. Philip Neri 

Finding Joy in the day, Day 240 (Year 4)

Staying warm today

'What toil we must endure, what fatigue, while we are attempting to climb hills and the summits of mountains! What, that we may ascend to heaven! If you consider the promised reward, what you endure is less. Immortality is given to the one who perseveres; everlasting life is offered; the Lord promises His Kingdom.'

St. Cyprian of Carthage

'Though I find myself in so wretched a condition that I feel as if I no longer possess faith, hope, or charity, nor even that natural light which other men enjoy, so that I seem to be like an animal, even then, were I asked of what I was thinking, I could truthfully say that in the depth of my soul I have God alone present with me.'

St Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 239 (Year 4)

A mostly lazy day with some beautiful Fall clips captured

'So greatly did the virtue of humility please Him in Mary that He was constrained to give her the Word His Only-Begotten Son and she was the sweet mother who gave Him to us.'

St. Catherine of Siena

Finding Joy in the day, Day 238 (Year 4)

Sleeping in ahhhh

'Begin in the morning, before leaving your room, by meditating, for a quarter of an hour, on the Passion of our Redeemer, and you will see that, all will go well with you, and that you will live far removed from sin.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 237 (Year 4)

Seeing red leaf trees lining the street

'If you would live entirely for Him, and reach the perfection which He desires of you, you must sacrifice yourself unreservedly with all that depends on you. You must no longer will anything but by the will of this loving Heart, and no longer love anything but by Its affections. You must act only by Its light; never undertake anything without first asking for Its counsel and help; give It all the glory thereof; return It thanks, both for failure and success in your undertakings, and without worrying be equally satisfied with all; for, provided that this divine Heart is pleased, loved and glorified, nothing else matters.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 236 (Year 4)

Decent temperatures and sun  

379 During one of the adorations, Jesus promised me that: With souls that have recourse to My mercy and with those that glorify and proclaim My great mercy to others, I will deal according to My infinite mercy at the hour of their death.

Divine Mercy Diary

Finding Joy in the day, Day 235 (Year 4)

A good laugh with my siblings
Driving into the sunset on the way home

'Jesus was obedient even to the death of the Cross, therefore I wish to obey even to my last sigh, so as to pay homage to the obedience of Jesus in the Sacred Host; and the whiteness of the Host teaches me that I must be a pure victim, in order to be sacrificed to Him.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 234 (Year 4)

A nice ride through the park

'He will have a special love and care for you, if you keep yourself interiorly humble, and strive to be gentle and steadfast in suffering abjection in humiliations, which are often the harder to bear the more trifling they are.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 233 (Year 4) Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Generous and caring friends and family

'If you wish to preserve or acquire the gift of prayer, keep yourself recollected by making, even in the midst of your occupations, frequent aspirations to God.'

St. Paul of the Cross

'Choose the divine Heart for your sacred oratory, wherein to offer to God your petitions and prayers that may be pleasing to Him.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 232 (Year 4) Susanna and Brad's Wedding Day

Seeing a beautiful Sacrament of Love- I love you Mr. and Mrs. Band SP

'There is faith "that comes by hearing" (Rom. 10:17) and there is faith that "is the substance of things hoped for" (Heb. 11:1).'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 231 (Year 4)

Seeing my wonderful family

'I exhort you to hide your treasure as well as you can. You understand of what treasure I speak; it is your precious sufferings.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 230 (Year 4)

A great visit with mani and pedi and coffee and the best company

'Endeavor to have always in your hand a pious book, that with this shield you may defend yourself against bad thoughts.'

St. Jerome

Finding Joy in the day, Day 229 (Year 4)

An email from my momma

'Union, intimate union with Jesus, heart to heart with Jesus like Saint John, in purity and in love.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Finding Joy in the day, Day 228 (Year 4)

Trying to get everything ready

'I must die to myself continually and accept trials without complaining. I work, I suffer and I love with no other witness than His Heart. Anyone who is not prepared to suffer all for the Beloved and to do His will in all things is not worthy of the sweet name of Friend, for here below, Love without suffering does not exist.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

'Be of good courage, for neither grace nor the help of the Sacred Heart will be wanting to you. Our Lord wishes to save you; He will not let you perish as long as you do not willfully do what you know displeases Him.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 227 (Year 4)

Having a little time to connect

'We must pray literally without ceasing -- without ceasing; in every occurrence and employment of our lives.'

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Finding Joy in the day, Day 226 (Year 4)

A rainbow on my drive home

'He who tries to conquer his own will by means of obedience and prayer is following a wise ascetic method. His renunciation of external things indicates his inward struggle.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 225 (Year 4)

Seeing my friend, coffee, walk, chat, coffee

'More determination is required to subdue the interior man than to mortify the body; and to break one's will than to break one's bones.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 224 (Year 4)

Sleeping in, hip hip hooray

'In order that a correction may be administered with fruit, authority must be in the one giving it, and love in the one receiving it.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 223 (Year 4)

4 months and finally reunited with HD, love that girl

'Why must we suffer? Because here below pure Love cannot exist without suffering. O Jesus, Jesus, I no longer feel my cross when I think of yours.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Finding Joy in the day, Day 222 (Year 4) Feast of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska Oct 5, '17

Getting through lots of appointments and bible study tonight

“Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul."
St. Faustina 

Finding Joy in the day, Day 221 (Year 4)

Still being able to babysit even though I was running late and getting understanding

'I shall conclude this subject with what St. Basil said to his monks: If, my children, we desire to raise the soul towards heaven, let us direct the eyes towards the earth. From the moment we awake in the morning, let us pray continually in the words of holy David: Turn away my eyes, that they may not behold vanity.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 220 (Year 4)

Seeing the sun today

'He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name. Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.'

John 1:10-13

We are born...by the will of GOD!-(love that part of the vs)

Finding Joy in the day, Day 219 (Year 4) Feast of the Guardian Angels Oct, 2 '17

Gratefully borrowing a car

'Christ is the Savior of the whole world, and has conferred on men the gift of repentance so that they may be saved.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

Finding Joy in the day, Day 218 (Year 4) Feast of St Therese of the Child Jesus Oct, 1 '17

Babysitting again

"The world is thy ship, not thy home" St. Therese of Lisieux

Finding Joy in the day, Day 217 (Year 4)

Getting to catch up a little with my dad

'Be attentive to your duties, and at the same time be attentive to God by frequently purifying your heart in the immense ocean of divine love.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 216 (Year 4) Feast of The Archangels Sept. 29 , '17

All unpacked and laundry done, ahh what a relief

'If you succeed in bringing a single soul to heaven, what charity! what a gain! what glory to God!'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 215 (Year 4)

Ahhh my bed and space heater running

'Jesus invited us to be like Him, humble of heart. But what is humility of the heart? It consists in receiving humiliations from God with a submissive love, in accepting one's state of life and one's duties whatever they are, and in not being ashamed of one's condition.'

St. Peter Julian Eymard

Finding Joy in the day, Day 214 (Year 4)

Getting up and to the airport early

'Just as a man is enlightened by the Holy Spirit when he is baptized by a priest, so he who confesses his sins with a repentant heart obtains their remission from the priest.'

St. Athanasius

Finding Joy in the day, Day 212 (Year 4)

Having a fun last day

'I thank God for having preserved me in the integrity of faith in the midst of an age that has brought forth so many heresies and scandalous opinions, and for the grace of never having held any opinion contrary to that of the Church. By a special protection of God, notwithstanding the many dangerous occasions wherein I might have been turned from the right path, I have always been on the side of truth.'

St. Vincent de Paul

Finding Joy in the day, Day 213 (Year 4)

Getting a Diet Mountain Dew after 4 1/2 days without one

'Try to make profit from and make good use of the holy affections that you receive from the Sovereign Goodness, endeavoring to benefit by them. Be ever attentive to good inspirations, for the Holy Spirit breathes where He wills. Grace is offered, but if refused, never returns. Therefore let us profit by it.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 211 (Year 4)

Spending a few days in LA and able to see if couple LA sights (Glimpse of Hollywood sign and Glimpse of Echo Park)

'You see plainly that I do not mean to advise you to perform great austerities, but rather generously to mortify your passions and inclinations, detaching your heart and emptying it of all that is earthly, and exercising charity towards your neighbor and liberality towards the poor.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 210 (Year 4)

Getting some reading in

'Every affliction tests our will, showing whether it is inclined to good or evil. This is why an unforeseen affliction is called a test, because it enables a man to test his hidden desires.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 209 (Year 4)

Greetings with so much love

'God has no need of your money, but the poor have. You give it to the poor, and God receives it.'

St. Augustine

Finding Joy in the day, Day 207 (Year 4)

Getting personal prayer

'Escape from temptation through patience and prayer. If you oppose temptation without these, it only attacks you more strongly.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 208 (Year 4)

Arriving safely to CA

'Below the first, there is a second kind of prayer, when words are uttered, while the heart is touched, and the mind follows them, and knows to Whom the supplication is addressed.'

St. Nilus of Sinai

Finding Joy in the day, Day 206 (Year 4) (Day 1, leaving for California Sept. 21, 2017)

Getting a cute new bag

'The love of creatures is as poison in your heart and destroys the love of Jesus Christ. If you seek the esteem of creatures and try to insinuate yourself into their good graces, you will lose those of the Sacred Heart. You will be deprived of Its treasures in proportion as you enrich yourself with created things.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

'Let your constant practice be to offer yourself to God, that He may do with you what He pleases.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 205 (Year 4)

Mostly packed

'In God's Name! The soldiers will fight, and God will give the victory.'

St. Joan of Arc

Finding Joy in the day, Day 204 (Year 4)

Making progress on audiobook hoping to finish before Thursday

'There is not a sacrifice sweeter or more agreeable to God than obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice, says the Scripture.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 203 (Year 4)

Celebrating my sister in law on her birthday

'There is no other way to God except through the burning love of the crucified.'

St. Bonaventure

Finding Joy in the day, Day 202 (Year 4)

Sleeping in really late

'Do not despise the work of God, which is always true and just, though it is hard. In heaven shall be raised what is always humble.'

St. Umilta of Faenza

Finding Joy in the day, Day 201 (Year 4)

Babysitting going well

'Remember that men change easily, and that you can not place your trust in them; therefore attach yourself to God alone.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

Finding Joy in the day, Day 200 (Year 4)

Sleeping in again

'Accept afflictions with patience. Silently endure cold and heat, wind and rain, fatigue and all the other discomforts that God may deign to send you.'

St. John Bosco

Finding Joy in the day, Day 199 (Year 4)

Having a great coffee visit

'A pure soul is one that loves God, and a pure intellect is one divorced from ignorance.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

Finding Joy in the day, Day 198 (Year 4)

Getting to see my friend tomorrow

'My children, St. Philomena has great power with God. Her virginity and generosity in embracing heroic martyrdom has rendered her so agreeable to God that He will never refuse anything that she asks for us.'

St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Finding Joy in the day, Day 197 (Year 4) Holy Name of Blessed Virgin Mary Feast day 2017

3/5 things done so far yet today over half way there

'The shortest, yea, the only way to reach sanctity, is to conceive a horror for all that the world loves and values.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 196 (Year 4)

Starting a new book

'Even the holiest desires, whether they refer to the salvation of souls or the needs of the Church, which are very great, should be consumed in the fire of the love of God, whence they proceed, and await God's time for their fulfilment. Meanwhile cultivate one only desire, the most perfect of all; that is, to please God more and more, and to nourish yourself with His will.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 195 (Year 4)

Selling some of my shoes

'Believe that others are better than you in the depths of their soul, although outwardly you may appear better than they.'

St. Augustine

Finding Joy in the day, Day 194 (Year 4) Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sept. 8, 2017

Cor Jesu

'Virtue does not consist in making good resolutions, nor in saying fine words, but in keeping ones resolutions and carrying out one's good intentions.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 193 (Year 4)

Straightening some stuff out

'How pure and stainless should be the heart on which is written the most holy name of Jesus!'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 192 (Year 4)

Getting my flight booked successfully

'Here is the difference between a pious and a frivolous man: the first abstains from pleasure, and is overwhelmed with spiritual consolations; the other gives himself up to the pleasures of the senses, and suffers in his innermost heart.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 191 (Year 4)

Starting a new babysitting job

'I do not love suffering itself; I ask it of God because I desire its fruits: it gives glory to God, saves my brothers in exile, and frees souls from the fires of Purgatory.'

Padre Pio

Finding Joy in the day, Day 190 (Year 4)

Getting home safe and seeing a rainbow on the way

'An act of perfect conformity to the will of God unites us more to Him than a hundred other acts of virtue.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori 

I pray you perfect me Lord and conform my will to yours!

Finding Joy in the day, Day 189 (Year 4) Labor Day 2017

Having a Stellar time with my awesome brother
Awesome new shampoo and conditioner

'Mary is the Queen of Angels and Saints; Joseph is the spouse of Mary, therefore he is also the King of Angels and Saints; and consequently it is allowable to invoke him by this title, notwithstanding that the Church has consecrated the custom of addressing this invocation principally to Jesus Christ.'

St. Leonard of Port Maurice

Finding Joy in the day, Day 188 (Year 4)

Spending the afternoon with my niece

'As for the ardent desire which urges you to become a saint, I hope this will be so, with the grace of the Sacred Heart of our Lord Who will make you a great saint, but I think He will sanctify you in His own way and not in yours. Therefore you must leave it to Him, and have no other end in view than to glorify Him by self-effacement; He in His turn will look upon you to purify and sanctify you.(To Rev. Father Croiset).'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 187 (Year 4)

Seeing my brother today and Opportunity to go to confession

'My Fiance says nothing to me, and I say nothing to Him either, except that I love Him more than myself. . .'

St. Therese of Lisieux

Finding Joy in the day, Day 186 (Year 4)

Seeing my parents and sisters and L and E, also CG

'Ignorance of words will do no harm to the truly devout, nor will wisdom in speaking harm the humble.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 185 (Year 4)

Getting a quick repair

'The divine Heart of Jesus must be so entirely substituted for our own, that He alone may live and act in us and for us; His Will must so annihilate ours that it may have absolute freedom to act without any resistance on our part; in fact, His affections, thoughts and desires must take the place of ours: thus He will love Himself with His own love in us and for us.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 184 (Year 4)

Getting up and ready on time

'By the test of suffering the chaff in the Church of God is distinguished from the wheat: he that humbles himself under tribulations, and is resigned to the will of God, is wheat for paradise; he that grows haughty and is enraged, and so forsakes God, is chaff for hell.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 183 (Year 4)

Getting to sleep in

'He has so fashioned and destined me for His all-lovable Heart, that He alone is all my joy, my consolation, my treasure and my happiness; and apart from Him all else is as nothing to me.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 182 (Year 4)

Having time to get an

'It is God's custom to interweave human life with a trouble and a consolation, at least, of an interior sort, alternately.'
St. Philip Neri estimate

Finding Joy in the day, Day 181 (Year 4)

Seeing two friends

'Let him who seeks true humility, employ two means: mental prayer, meditating on the greatness of God, and his own nothingness; vocal prayer, asking it of God, through the merits of Jesus and Mary.'

St. Benedict Joseph Labre

Finding Joy in the day, Day 180 (Year 4)

Taking a nice nap

'You ought to be like a person who lets go and like one who gathers. You should let go of riches and gather virtues, let go of what will pass and gather eternal things, let go of visible things and gather invisible. In return for the pleasure of the body, I will give you the exultation of your soul; in return for the merriment of the world, I will give you the merriment of Heaven; in return for worldly honor, the honor of the angels; in return for the presence of family, the presence of God; in return for the possession of goods, I will give you myself, the giver and Creator of all things.'

The Lord, to St. Bridget of Sweden

Finding Joy in the day, Day 179 (Year 4)

Talking to my sister

'Each small task of everyday life is part of the harmony of the universe.'

St. Therese of Lisieux

Finding Joy in the day, Day 178 (Year 4)

Getting a last minute babysitting job

'An irresistible incentive to obedience is the loving example of the Man-God, Jesus Christ, our Lord; who, whilst dwelling under the same roof with His parents, was subject to them; and in this Holy Family, the Virgin Mary, Queen of all, was obedient to Joseph.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 177 (Year 4)

Making a couple phone calls

'Blessed the one who stands in the assembly and prays like an Angel from heaven, keeping his thoughts pure day by day, and has given no entrance to the Evil One to make his soul a prisoner, far from God his Saviour.'

St. Ephrem of Syria

Finding Joy in the day, Day 176 (Year 4)

New water bottle

'Even among the present hardships of our exile, and the wearisomeness of our pilgrimage, obedience gives us a foretaste of our heavenly country.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 175 (Year 4)

Seeing the Eclipse- Aug 21, 2017 at 13:07

'I have chosen thee as an abyss of unworthiness and ignorance for the accomplishment of this great design, so that everything may be done by Me.'

The Lord, to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 174 (Year 4)

Spending the weekend with mom and dad

'Too late have I known Thee, too late have I loved Thee, O beauty so ancient and so new! Too late have I loved thee!'

St. Augustine

Finding Joy in the day, Day 173 (Year 4)

Celebrating the day with one of my dearest friends

'Our Lord and God is Jesus Christ, and the intellect that follows Him will not remain in darkness (cf. John 12:46).'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

'My divine Master has taught me to look upon myself only as the sport of the good pleasure of His adorable Heart, my sole treasure, and in this it is that I must glory.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 172 (Year 4)

Mom and Dad arriving safe

'God endures, to be bound in swaddling-clothes, because he had come to pay the debts of the whole world.'

St. Zeno

Finding Joy in the day, Day 171 (Year 4)

Getting excited to see mom and dad

'Outside of God nothing is durable. We exchange life for death, health for sickness, honor for shame, riches for poverty. All things change and pass away.'

St. Catherine of Siena

'The true peace of God, penetrating the depth of the soul, brings with it every help and grace necessary to secure its salvation and reach eternal life.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 170 (Year 4)

Talking to my sister and L again

'After fulfilling a commandment expect to be tempted: for love of Christ is tested by adversity.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 169 (Year 4)

Getting something off my chest

'Poverty is the glorious standard, the impregnable fortress of the religious life.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 168 (Year 4) Feast of the Assumption Aug 15, 2017

Talking to my sister to start my day 💕

"A single act of love makes the soul return to life."
- Maximilian Kolbe

Finding Joy in the day, Day 167 (Year 4)

Finally able to be back home

'Let your constant practice be to offer yourself to God, that He may do with you what He pleases.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 166 (Year 4)

Kombucha and snack date with my fellow friend

'Whenever we think of Christ we should recall the love that led him to bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of his love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love him. For is at some time the Lord should grant us the grace of impressing his love on our hearts, all will become easy for us and we shall accomplish great things quickly and without effort.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

Finding Joy in the day, Day 165 (Year 4)

A babysitting job

'The most important thing upon which to concentrate in order to mortify it and eradicate it entirely is our predominant passion, that is, that affection, desire, inclination, vice or bad habit which drags us down and most frequently causes us to fall into sin. Once this king of our faults has been conquered, the battle will be won.'

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

Finding Joy in the day, Day 164 (Year 4) August 11th Feast of St. Philomena

The girls excited to see me

'Open thine ears to the voices of nature, and thou shalt hear them in concert inviting thee to the love of God.'

Ven. Louis de Granada

St. Philomena, pray for us

Finding Joy in the day, Day 163 (Year 4)

Waking up and able to accomplish what was needed

'We can never arrive at the contemplative life, if we do not first exercise ourselves laboriously in the active life.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 162 (Year 4)

Caribou perk deal

'Take for your motto: Love has conquered me, it alone shall possess my heart.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 161 (Year 4)

Seeing my friends and having a lively chat

'We need no wings to go in search of Him, but have only to look upon Him present within us.'
St. Teresa of Jesus

Finding Joy in the day, Day 160 (Year 4)

Finally settling in for the night

'Oh Saviour, I am ready to accompany you to that mountain and to suffer and die there with you!'

St. Lydwine of Schiedam

(Lord make me willing to suffer with you and use that suffering for prayer, please, Jesus, Mercy)

Finding Joy in the day, Day 159 (Year 4)

Getting eyebrows waxed

'Let us trust in him who has placed this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of Christ. For he is all-powerful, and he tells us: "My yoke is easy, and my burden light."'

St. Boniface

Finding Joy in the day, Day 158 (Year 4) Feast of the Transfiguration

Going out with my fellow "co-worker"

'Blessed the one who keeps his body for holiness for the Saviour and has not shamed his soul by unnatural deeds, but remained well-pleasing to the Lord.'

St. Ephrem of Syria

Finding Joy in the day, Day 157 (Year 4)

Thrift browsing

'Do you know why God subjects you to so many miseries? That He may bestow on you the riches of heaven.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 156 (Year 4)

Purple toes

'The upright intention is the soul of our actions. It gives them life and makes them good.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 155 (Year 4)

Looking forward to an outing tomorrow

'O Jesus and Mary, let my entire consolation in this world be to love you and to suffer for sinners.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Finding Joy in the day, Day 154 (Year 4)

Relaxing in a hammock

'When, on the contrary, you do not feel this interior peace, or this recollection, the soul can no longer meditate. Make no effort to do so; you ought, however, always to keep up a loving attention to God in the superior part of the soul. In this case, remain before God, detached from all consolation, like a statue in its niche.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 153 (Year 4)

Having a little time to read

'Though Jesus [in His Sacred Humanity] is solitary in the Blessed Sacrament, He is always communing with God. Therefore, in order to be conformed to Him, I will make a solitude in my heart, so that everywhere I may converse alone with Jesus.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 152 (Year 4)

Trying a new tea and with a cool bottle to save

'I am come with all My divine power, to heal the wounds which cause you pain.'

The Lord, to St. Mechtilde

Finding Joy in the day, Day 151 (Year 4)

Catching up with some people

'Just as it is easier to sin in the mind than in action, so warfare through our impassioned conceptual images of things is harder than warfare through the things themselves.'

St. Maximos the Confessor

Finding Joy in the day, Day 150 (Year 4)

Finishing my long book

'To do well and to feel that we do nothing well is a sign of deep humility.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 149 (Year 4)

Getting some color

'Since we have abused the strength of body and soul to violate the law of God, we must use, after having recovered grace by repentance, this same strength to amend our lives.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

'To preserve our cheerfulness amid sicknesses and troubles, is a sign of a right and good spirit.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 148 (Year 4)

Feeling a little better

'Thank and sweetly kiss the hand of God that strikes you, because it is always the hand of a Father who strikes you because He loves you.'

Padre Pio

Finding Joy in the day, Day 147 (Year 4)

Affirmation

'Ask Jesus to make you a saint. After all, only He can do that. Go to confession regularly and to Communion as often as you can.'

St. Dominic Savio

'I seem not to have suffered anything as yet and, consequently, I feel I have done nothing for my God.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 146 (Year 4)

Getting through most of the day

'Too late have I known Thee, too late have I loved Thee, O beauty so ancient and so new! Too late have I loved thee!'

St. Augustine

Finding Joy in the day, Day 145 (Year 4)

Going to Mass and confession

'If God grants you the gift of prayer, be faithful to it; take care, however, that you do not become slothful in the practice of virtues and the imitation of Jesus.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 144 (Year 4)

Sitting in the sun

'If, hitherto, thou hast taken only the name of My slave, I now give thee that of the beloved disciple of My Sacred Heart.'

The Lord, to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 143 (Year 4)

A little more sun

'I will remember those who have confidence in thy prayers, so that thou mayest be entirely occupied and taken up with My love.'

The Lord, to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 142 (Year 4)

Painting my toes bright pink

'Let us proceed joyfully and let us be sure that all our crosses will bear Christ with them, and that His help, which will never be wanting to us, will be more powerful than the combined efforts of all our enemies.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 141 (Year 4)

A little time away

'When we go to confession, we ought to persuade ourselves to find Jesus Christ in the person of our confessor.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 140 (Year 4)

Talking through some stuff

'One thing the adorable Heart of Jesus asks of Its friends, viz: purity of intention, humility in action and singleness of purpose.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 139 (Year 4)

Having a couple visits
Getting some new shampoo the smell is reminiscent

'Plunge yourself often into the charity of that lovable Heart so that you may never act towards your neighbor in a manner which may, in the least, wound that virtue, never doing to others what you would not wish done to yourself.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

'It seems to me that the great desire that our Lord has that His Sacred Heart should be honored by some particular worship is to renew in souls the effects of His Redemption.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 138 (Year 4)

Getting to Mass

'He who submits himself to God in all things is certain that whatever men say or do against him will always turn to his advantage.'

St. Vincent de Paul

Finding Joy in the day, Day 137 (Year 4)

Confession and Holy Communion
Seeing Minnehaha Falls

'We ought to pray God importunately to increase in us every day the light and heat of his goodness.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 136 (Year 4)

Seeing a friend

'If all things are given as a consequence to those who seek first the kingdom of God and His justice; could He fail to give something to those who seek only the justice of His kingdom and the King of kings Himself?'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 135 (Year 4) Feast Day of St. Kateri, one of my patrons (July 14, '17)

Starting another book

'On the feasts of the saints consider their virtues, and beseech God to deign to adorn you with them.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

Finding Joy in the day, Day 134 (Year 4)

Getting validation and support

'If you wish to acquire the gift of prayer, you must humbly persevere in mortifying your senses. . . I especially advise you to be very faithful to holy recollection, mortifying your eyes, your tongue and your ears, but cutting off all vain curiosity, which is often the cause of the distractions which beset you in your [spiritual] exercises.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 133 (Year 4)

Getting a little break away from some stuff

'He has assured me that the pleasure He takes in being loved, known and honored by His creatures, is so great that, if I am not mistaken, He has promised me that all those who are devoted and consecrated to Him shall never perish.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 132 (Year 4)

Getting support from some of the people helping me
and love and prayers from friends

'The more a soul enjoys peace and solitude, the more apt it is to seek and find its Creator.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 131 (Year 4)

Crying a little release

'Your soul needs a brief winter. The winter purifies the air and the earth of foul vapors; it even invigorates the human body. If it strips the trees of their leaves, it is only to the end that they take deeper roots. The spring comes afterwards, and clothes them again with verdure and blossoms.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 130 (Year 4)

Having something to fill my time

'Enjoy yourself as much as you like - if only you keep from sin.'

St. John Bosco

Finding Joy in the day, Day 129 (Year 4)

Finishing another book

'An intellect that gives itself over to God in prayer frees the soul's passible aspect from the passions.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

Finding Joy in the day, Day 128 (Year 4)

A card from momma

'The devotion to His Sacred Heart contains ineffable treasures which He wishes to bestow upon all hearts of goodwill; it is the last effort of the love of our Lord towards sinners to draw them to repentance and give them in abundances His efficacious and sanctifying graces.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 127 (Year 4)

A fun new bracelet

'Cleanse your vessel, that you may receive grace more abundantly. For though remission of sins is given equally to all, the communion of the Holy Ghost is bestowed in proportion to each man's faith. If you have laboured little, you receive little; but if you have wrought much, the reward is great.'

St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Finding Joy in the day, Day 126 (Year 4)

Fun ideas with my sisters

'What I wish above all is, that you busy yourselves in the pure love of Jesus Christ, in the desire for His glory, and the salvation of souls which He has so dearly purchased.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 124 (Year 4)

Friends prayers

'Some say, "I do not make mental prayer, because I am subject to desolation, to distractions, and to temptations; I have a wandering mind that I cannot confine to the subject of meditation, and therefore I have given up mental prayer."

But to such persons St. Francis de Sales says, that if in their meditations they do nothing else than banish distractions and temptations, the meditation is well made, provided the distraction is not voluntary. The Lord is pleased with a good intention, with a patient endurance, during the whole time prescribed for meditation, and with the pain arising from distractions, and will bestow many graces in return. We ought to go to prayer, not to please ourselves, but to please God. Even holy souls generally suffer aridity in meditation, but because they persevere, God enriches them with his blessings.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 125 (Year 4)

Seeing a lovely picture of my sister and I

'In visiting the dying we should not say many words to them, but rather help them by praying for them.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 123 (Year 4)

Almost half way through another book

'The sign of patient endurance is delight in suffering; and the intellect, trusting in this patient endurance, hopes to attain what is promised and to escape what is threatened.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

Finding Joy in the day, Day 122 (Year 4)

Finishing my book

'God, heal your creature, that he not be ruled by the enemy.'

St. Poemen

Finding Joy in the day, Day 121 (Year 4)

Getting another hour of sleep

'I want to follow you and be like you, O my Jesus; I would rather be crucified with you than enjoy all the pleasures of this world without you.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

and a little comic relief 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3sO5REd6XQ

Finding Joy in the day, Day 120 (Year 4)

Getting a few things cleared up

'Every day make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and when the duties of your state of life prevent you, visit Him in spirit.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 119 (Year 4)

Making it through the first 24 hours

'Do not be so given to the activity of Martha as to forget the silence of Mary. May the Virgin who so reconciled the one with the other be your sweet model and inspiration.'

Padre Pio

Finding Joy in the day, Day 118 (Year 4)

Getting a little settled

'Each man's knowledge is genuine to the extent that it is confirmed by gentleness, humility and love.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 117 (Year 4)

Getting some time to read

'Prayer purifies us, reading instructs us. Both are good when both are possible. Otherwise, prayer is better than reading.'

St. Isidore of Seville

Finding Joy in the day, Day 116 (Year 4)

A decent day

'Do we not admire Joseph, a young man of seventeen, for enduring his temptation to the end? And God glorified him. Do we not also see Job, how he suffered to the end, and lived in endurance? Temptations cannot destroy hope in God.'

St. Poemen

Finding Joy in the day, Day 115 (Year 5)

Visit with Fr. Celestine

'Let all thy care be to possess thy soul in peace and tranquility. Let no accident be to thee a cause of ill-humor.'

St. Vincent Ferrer

Finding Joy in the day, Day 114 (Year 4)

Another babysitting job

'What the eye is in the body, knowledge is in the mind.'

St. Clement of Alexandria

Finding Joy in the day, Day 113 (Year 4)

Talking to my friend on the phone

'Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified.'

Psalm 131:8

Finding Joy in the day, Day 112 (Year 4)

Getting support from my mom

'Mary having co-operated in our redemption with so much glory to God and so much love for us, Our Lord ordained that no one shall obtain salvation except through her intercession.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 111 (Year 4)

Getting a short babysitting job

'Enter upon this holy retreat, therefore, holding in your hands the book of the Crucifix. Shield yourselves against the onslaughts of hell by fleeing to the protection of Mary. Finally, strike down the pride of Lucifer with the powerful weapon of prayer. Live for God, my beloved, live in His presence. Unite yourselves solely and most intimately with Him. Then you will be holy and blessed. Amen.'

St. Gaspar del Bufalo

Finding Joy in the day, Day 110 (Year 4)

Getting the morning out of the way

'To mortify one passion, no matter how small, is a greater help in the spiritual life than many abstinences, fasts, and disciplines.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 109 (Year 4) Father's Day 2017

For being blessed with the best dad God could have ever given me, who loves me unconditionally and is ALWAYS there for me!

'Ah! when shall we perfectly imitate our divine Redeemer, Who humbled Himself so much?'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 108 (Year 4)

Anticipating a sale

'Prayer comprises the complete fulfillment of the commandments; for there is nothing higher than love for God.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 107 (Year 4)

Seeing my friend after far too long

'Without a doubt, obedience is more meritorious than any other penance. And what greater penance can there be than keeping one's will continually submissive and obedient?'

St. Catherine of Bologna

Finding Joy in the day, Day 106 (Year 4)

Seeing mom and dad

'Devotion to the Blessed Virgin is actually necessary, because there is no better means of obtaining God's graces than through His most holy mother.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 105 (Year 4)

Hearing good news from Mom and Dad

'As long as you have bad habits do not reject hardship, so that through it you may be humbled and eject your pride.'

St. Maximos the Confessor

Finding Joy in the day, Day 104 (Year 4)

Quiet day

'Man by prayer merits to receive that which God had from all eternity determined to give him.'

St. Gregory

Finding Joy in the Day, Day 103 (Year 4)

Things going much better then anticipated this weekend (to everyone who prayed, THANK YOU)

'We ought to hate no one, for God never comes where there is no love of our neighbours.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 102 (Year 4)

Getting into the carwash without a line

'When our pious undertakings meet with little success, let us not be troubled; when God wills anything to be done for His glory He will not fail to urge on the work until it is accomplished.'

St. Paul of the Cross

(this is promising)

Finding Joy in the day, Day 101 (Year 4)

Finding a shirt I wanted to get last winter from target but was' quick enough at the thrift store
Reaching 100 days x4 years
All those who keep praying for and loving me

'Each man's knowledge is genuine to the extent that it is confirmed by gentleness, humility and love.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 100 (Year 4)

Seeing my friend before she leaves

'When the afflictions of this life overcome us, let us encourage ourselves to bear them patiently by the hope of heaven.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 99 (Year 4)

Seeing a movie

'O Divine Jesus, impress on my heart a disposition like that of a certain man who loved your cross so much that he used to say if after serving you for a hundred years his only recompense were the grace to suffer one hour for love of you, he would believe all his sacrifice too well rewarded.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Finding Joy in the day, Day 98 (Year 4)

Support from a friend

'I do not love suffering itself; I ask it of God because I desire its fruits: it gives glory to God, saves my brothers in exile, and frees souls from the fires of Purgatory.'

Padre Pio

Finding Joy in the day, Day 97 (Year 4)

Good conversation

'Behold how sinners treat Me. . . My daughter, wilt thou give Me thy heart and ease My suffering love which everyone despises?'

The Lord, to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 96 (Year 4) Happy Birthday to the Church

Seeming to have straightened things out

'Glory be to thee, Lord Jesus!'

St. Concordius, during his tortures on the rack

Finding Joy in the day, Day 95 (Year 4)

Art fair with my friend

'Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?'

St. Gerard Majella

Finding Joy in the day, Day 94 (Year 4)

Making granola again

'He, very God, whose dwelling is in heaven, whose throne among the angels, He to whom heaven and earth, with all that they contain, do bow down and obey, has offered Himself to thee as thine abode, and furnished and prepared His presence for thee; for, as the Apostle teaches, "in Him we live, and move, and be" (Acts xvii. 28).'

St. Anselm of Canterbury

Finding Joy in the day, Day 93 (Year 4)

Talking to mamma on the phone

'You don't need to wallow in guilt. Wallow in the mercy of God. When you are guilty, say so to God through a confessor. Acknowledge your problems and sins. The moment you have stated them, God puts His Hand over you and you are a newborn babe.'

St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Finding Joy in the day, Day 92 (Year 4)

Getting back to my book group

'If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but the divine honor.'

St. Charles Borromeo

Finding Joy in the day, Day 91 (Year 4)

Getting my dress ordered

'He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk, even as he walked.'

1 John 2:6

Finding Joy in the day, Day 90 (Year 4)

Spending the afternoon seeing two good friends

'Worldly virtues promote human glory, spiritual virtues the glory of God.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

Finding Joy in the day, Day 89 (Year 4)

Farmers market

'A man should not so attach himself to the means as to forget the end; neither must we give ourselves so much to mortify the flesh as to forget to mortify the brain, which is the chief thing after all.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 88 (Year 4)

Seeing my friends in MN

'Without sanctifying grace it is not possible to refrain long from mortal sin.'

St. Thomas Aquinas

Finding Joy in the day, Day 87 (Year 4)

Talking to mom

'It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.'

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

Finding Joy in the day, Day 86 (Year 4)

Getting some new jeans

'When harmed, insulted or persecuted by someone, do not think of the present but wait for the future, and you will find he has brought you much good, not only in this life but also in the life to come.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 85 (Year 4)

Hanging out at my old place

'It seems to me that the happiness of a soul consists entirely in conforming to the most adorable Will of God; for in so doing the heart finds peace and the spirit joy and repose, since he "who is joined to the Lord in one spirit" with Him. (1 Cor. 6:17).'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 84 (Year 4)

Sun and warmth

'It seems to me that the happiness of a soul consists entirely in conforming to the most adorable Will of God; for in so doing the heart finds peace and the spirit joy and repose, since he "who is joined to the Lord in one spirit" with Him. (1 Cor. 6:17).'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 83 (Year 4) Feast of St. Rita

Getting my mail

'One or two loving words may cause the soul to become enraptured, languishing, fainting of love and sorrow.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 82 (Year 4)

Safe drive

'I resolve to foster fraternal charity in myself and in others. Therefore I resolve to take care never to say an unkind word. I resolve to bear up patiently with the defects and weaknesses of others, and as far as possible to hide them with the mantle of charity unless I am in duty bound to manifest them to someone who is in a position to correct them.'

St. Conrad of Parzham, resolutions in the novitiate

Finding Joy in the day, Day 81 (Year 4)

Help from Dad

'The love of creatures is as poison in your heart and destroys the love of Jesus Christ. If you seek the esteem of creatures and try to insinuate yourself into their good graces, you will lose those of the Sacred Heart. You will be deprived of Its treasures in proportion as you enrich yourself with created things.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 80 (Year 4)

Getting some paperwork finished

'Firmly control anger and desire, and you will speedily rid yourself of evil thoughts.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

Finding Joy in the day, Day 79 (Year 4)

Not needing to get the part replaced on my car

'We should only make use of life to grow in the love of God.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 78 (Year 4)

Fitting my car into the shop

'My daily Mass and Communion is my only hope and resource.'

St. Claude de la Colombiere

Finding Joy in the day, Day 77 (Year 4)

My computer restarting

'Forget your own interests and leave the care of yourself to your heavenly Father. The further you withdraw from self, the closer you draw to God.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 76 (Year 4)

Seeing my friend at my favorite coffee joint

'I am attacked on all sides, yet I will not fear, for I keep myself strongly entrenched in my secure fortress -- the Sacred Heart of my divine Master. Like a wise leader He deals out to me just strength sufficient for each occasion.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 75 (Year 4)

Communion and confession

'In all annoying occurrences say, "May the holy and amiable will of God be done," or else, in the words of the Gospel, "I am come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me" (John vi. 38.) "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me." (John iv. 34.)'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 73 (Year 4) Mother's Day 2017

Seeing my mom on Mother's day

'Let us trust in him who has placed this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of Christ. For he is all-powerful, and he tells us: "My yoke is easy, and my burden light."'

St. Boniface

Finding Joy in the day, Day 71 (Year 4)

Messaging a friend again

'He who truly loves his neighbor and can not efficaciously assist him, should strive at least to relieve and help him by his prayers.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

Finding Joy in the day, Day 72 (Year 4)

A garage sale close by

'When we go into the garden, it is not to gather the leaves, but the fruits; so in the sacred garden of prayer we ought not to amuse ourselves with the leaves of sentiment and sensible consolation, but rather reap the fruits of the virtues of Jesus.'

St. Paul of the Cross

'Let every one stay at home, that is, within himself, and sit in judgment on his own actions, without going abroad to investigate and criticise those of others.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 70 (Year 4)

Seeing my niece and nephew!

'Put me as a seal upon thy heart.

Put upon thy heart the image of me crucified; which means to say, consider my example and the pains which I have suffered for thee, and so shalt thou bear all crosses in peace.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

'God is our light. The farther the soul strays away from God, the deeper it goes into darkness.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

'Be despoiled of everything and the Sacred Heart of Jesus will enrich you. Empty your heart of everything and He will compensate you. Forget and abandon yourself.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 69 (Year 4)

Picked up from a friend

'Strive ever to have a loving and filial fear, which will lead you to do good and avoid evil, rejecting all other fears, for they only come from the spirit of darkness.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 68 (Year 4)

Talking to my friend for a while

'Let him who finds himself desolate remember how strong he is by grace, which is sufficient to enable him to overcome all his enemies, and that he should take courage in his Lord and Creator.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 67 (Year 4)

Talking to my old therapist

'Bernard admonished Pope Eugene not to omit meditation on account of external affairs; and added, that he who gives up mental prayer may fall into hardness of heart, which will destroy all remorse for his faults, so that after having committed them he shall feel no hatred for them.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Finding Joy in the day, Day 66 (Year 4)

A new game

'What we do for ourselves during life is more certain than all the good we expect others to do for us after death.'

Pope St. Gregory the Great

'This divine Heart experienced all the interior sufferings of the cruel torment of the Cross, and for this reason God wishes It to be honored by a special worship, in order that mankind may thereby atone by their love and homage, for the bitterness and anguish caused by their offences.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 65 (Year 4)

Seeing my friend

'When you have not the means of helping your neighbor, recommend him fervently to God, Whose sovereign dominion holds all creatures in His hand. Counsels gently given heal every wound, but given with asperity only serve to aggravate it tenfold.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 64 (Year 4)

Priest visit

'I was greatly consoled by the pleasure you gave our Lord in embracing His cross with joy and submission. It is true that He covered it entirely with roses, lest it should frighten you. But it is not so much in this that you should rejoice, but rather that you feel the pricks of the thorns hidden beneath.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 63 (Year 4)

The smell of vanilla

'To him who truly loves God, nothing more displeasing can happen than the lack of occasion to suffer for Him.'

St. Philip Neri

'In my opinion, you ought not lay so much stress on your little trials, your spiritual darkness and dryness. When we truly and sincerely love God, we regard as little that which we suffer for our divine Lover.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 62 (Year 4)

Looking forward to a visit

'Union, intimate union with Jesus, heart to heart with Jesus like Saint John, in purity and in love.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Finding Joy in the day, Day 61 (Year 4)

Good talk with a friend

'When God bestows His favors on you, keep your secret to yourself, according to the advice of the prophet Isaias: "My secret to myself, my secret to myself" (Isaias xxiv. 16), and seize every occasion to humble yourself.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 60 (Year 4)

Seeing dad, sister, and friend

'O Immaculate Mary! O glorious Saint Joseph! And you, Saint John, beloved disciple of the Divine Heart, teach me the great science of love! May it draw me powerfully! May I soar at last, may I take flight and hasten to lose myself, unite myself and disappear with you in the adorable heart of Jesus, and Jesus Crucified, the divine heart of Charity, purity, self-denial and perfect submission.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Finding Joy in the day, Day 59 (Year 4)

Seeing visitors

'God has deigned to make me pass through many types of trials. I have suffered very much since I was on earth, but if in my childhood I suffered with sadness, it is no longer in this way that I suffer. It is with joy and peace.'

St. Therese of Lisieux

Finding Joy in the day, Day 58 (Year 4) Feast of St. Catherine of Siena

Visit from a friend and Divine Mercy Diary

“Be who God meant you to be and 

you will set the world on fire." ~ St Catherine of Siena

"Proclaim the truth and 

do not be silent through fear." ~ St Catherine of Siena

 "I treasure your knowing how to

give the world a kick." ~  St Catherine of Siena

'We should love the Lord as we do our friends. Many a time I have seen people bring grief to God, without being bothered about it, and I have seen these very same people resort to every device, plan, pressure, plea from themselves and their friends, and every gift, simply to restore an old relationship upset by some minor grievance.'

St. John Climacus

'Patience is necessary for the servant of God, and we must not be distressed at trouble, but wait for consolation.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 57 (Year 4)

Doing a little more devotional days

'My heart is not like that of others, for it only rejoices in its Lord; and therefore give Him to me.'

St. Catherine of Genoa

Finding Joy in the day, Day 55 (Year 4)

Seeing my sister and L again I am SO blessed

'. . . the heart of Mary became, as it were, a mirror of the Passion of the Son, in which might be seen, faithfully reflected, the spitting, the blows and wounds, and all that Jesus suffered.'

St. Lawrence Justinian

Finding Joy in the day, Day 56 (Year 4) Feast of St. Louis de Montfort

Soon able to go to bed

'Do not be double-tongued, saying one thing when your conscience says another. For Scripture places such people under a curse (cf. Ecclus. 28:13).'

St. Mark the Ascetic

'Jesus has for us a love so incomprehensible that He does not wish to do anything without making us His co-operators. He wills that we should have a part with Him in the salvation of souls.'

St. Therese of Lisieux

Finding Joy in the day, Day 54 (Year 4)

Getting to my destination with help from family

'The best preparation for death is a perfect resignation to the will of God, after the example of Jesus Christ, who, in His prayer in Gethsemane prepared Himself with these words, "Father, not as I will, but as Thou wilt."'

St. Vincent de Paul

Finding Joy in the day, Day 53 (Year 4)

Finding my vest

'Holy Communion is the most efficacious means of uniting the soul to God.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 52 (Year 4) Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus Mercy

Real coffee with good company!

“Oh, how great is the goodness of God, greater than we can understand. There are moments and there are mysteries of the divine mercy over which the heavens are astounded. Let our judgment of souls cease, for God’s mercy upon them is extraordinary.” (St. Faustina, Diary # 1684)

Finding Joy in the day, Day 51 (Year 4)

My dad and my best friends

'This is the Great Work of a man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God and to expect temptation to his last breath.'

St. Anthony of Egypt

Finding Joy in the day, Day 50 (Year 4)

Trying to get things taken care of

'He loves you and would not have you attach yourself to what is perishable, but to Himself Who alone can satisfy your heart, and He will do so and fill it in the measure in which you empty it of creatures.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 49 (Year 4)

Seeing sister and L

'I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There I shall find my Mother in all the splendor of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus himself in perfect safety.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

FInding Joy in the day, Day 48 (Year 4)

Safe roof over my head

There is nobility in the struggle, you don't have to win.
Sharon Pollock

'Rebukes may be given in malice and self-defense, or out of fear of God and respect for truth.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 47 (Year 4)

My bestie being the best!!!!!! Love you MK

'My trials are great! However, "although God should kill me, I will trust in Him." (Job xiii. 15.) What ought a poor shipwrecked person do when in the midst of furious billows and on the point of being engulfed? I have no other resource left but to turn my eyes to the Lord.'

St. Paul of the Cross

FInding Joy in the day, Day 46 (Year 4)

Seeing two friends on Easter and more flowers

'Truth always ends by victory; it is not unassailable, but invincible.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 45 (Year 4)

Seeing dad, good times always

'Now is the time to suffer and to fight with humble submission, in order to purify and perfect yourself according to His Will, so that you may be worthy to accomplish His designs regarding you. What have you to fear, since His power surrounds you on all sides like an impregnable wall against the attacks of your enemies. Remember that when God wishes to purify a soul by suffering, no one can console or relieve it.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 44 (Year 4)

Seeing a priest such a blessing Fr. Peter Patrick

'We should consider our departed brethren as living members of Jesus Christ, animated by His grace, and certain of participating one day of His glory. We should therefore love, serve, and assist them as far as is in our power.'

St. Vincent de Paul

Finding Joy in the day, Day 43 (Year 4)

A little outside time

'I give thanks to God that He deigned to provide such a master for me, for had he not been so severe with me I should never have been able to acquire the virtues of humility and patience.'

St. John of Capistrano

Those who have no other aim in their affairs but God's will enjoy the holy freedom of spirit proper to the children of God; and this lets them embrace everything that pleases Jesus Christ, however it may go against the grain of self-love or human respect.  Love for Jesus Christ makes his lovers totally indifferent to what is sweet or bitter; they want nothing for their own pleasure, but everything for the pleasure of God.  They have the same peace of mind whether they are busied with great things or little things, with things pleasant or unpleasant:  it is enough for them to please God.

St. Alphonsus Liguori 

Finding Joy in the day, Day 42 (Year 4)

Fun pictures of me and baby L

'I can say nothing more, except that the effacement of yourself will raise you to union with your Sovereign Good. By forgetting self, you will possess Him, and by yielding yourself up to Him, He will possess you.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 41 (Year 4)

Seeing my sister and L

'There can be no consolation for me but to see the reign of the Heart of my adorable Saviour. Whenever this devotion makes some progress, He always favors me with some unusual suffering.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day (40)

A really nice visit from a new friend

'When you hear the words of Scripture, "Thou shalt render to every man according to his work" (Ps. 62:12. LXX), do not think that God bestows blessings when something is done for the wrong purpose, even though it seems be good. Quite clearly He bestows blessings only when something is done for the right purpose. For God's judgment looks not at the actions but at the purpose behind them.'

St. Maximos the Confessor

'The glory of this Child was, that a virgin should bring Him forth into the world, and the glory of the Virgin Mother was, that she should have for a Son, a Man who was at the same time God.'

St. Augustine

Finding Joy in the day, Day 39 (Year 4)

A homemade card

'The Word begotten of the Father from on high, inexpressibly, inexplicably, incomprehensibly, and eternally, is He that is born in time here below of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.'

St. Athanasius

Finding Joy in the Day, Day 38 (Year 4)

Meeting a new friend

'There are men who tire themselves to death involving themselves in friendships of the world.'

St. Poemen

Finding Joy in the day, Day 37 (Year 4)

Seeing dad

'Keep your soul always in peace, with love and trust in our Lord, and -- I repeat -- remember what you have promised Him, that is to say, undivided love, persevering humility and generous mortification. This is what you owe to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 36 (Year 4)

Seeing my mom

'Ah! if we had the eyes of angels with which to see Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is here present on this altar, and who is looking at us, how we should love Him! We should never more wish to part from Him.'

St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars

Finding Joy in the day, Day 35 (Year 4)

Sun in the morning

'We cannot be saved without a struggle, for this life is a continual warfare. But be of good courage, do not be disheartened or troubled about your faults, but always try to draw from them a love of abjection, which must never for a moment be absent from your heart.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 34 (Year 4)

Seeing my sister

'It is a good thing, during the week that follows our communion-day, to do something more than usual; for example, to say five Our Fathers and Hail Maries with our arms extended, or an extra rosary.'

St. Philip Neri

Finding Joy in the day, Day 33 (Year 4)

Doing a little cleaning

'If any dust of imperfection cling to your heart, be not troubled, but consume it immediately in the fire of divine love, and, sorrowfully asking forgiveness, continue to live in peace.'

St. Paul of the Cross

Finding Joy in the day, Day 32 (Year 4)

Email from my friend

'God was pleased to ransom us, to suffer ignominy to glory us, to choose poverty to enrich us, to die in the disgrace and agony of one condemned to secure for us everlasting life in the happiness of Heaven.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Finding Joy in the day, Day 31 (Year 4)

Insight from others

'The religious state is like the Promised Land; it is Paradise on Earth; it is a great grace.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

'Our falls are the result of the continual revolt of our passions. But we need not be troubled, cast down or discouraged by them; we must do violence to ourselves and draw profit from them.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Finding Joy in the day, Day 30 (Year 4)

Talking to my friend and seeing another friend

'Humility consists, not in condemning our conscience, but in recognizing God's grace and compassion.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

Finding Joy in the day, Day 29 (Year 4)

Trying to do my devotional

'There is nothing more pleasing to God, than to see a soul who patiently and serenely bears whatever crosses it is sent; this is how love is made, by putting lover and loved one on the same level. . . A soul who loves Jesus Christ desires to be treated the way Christ was treated--desires to be poor, despised and humiliated.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori