It is one thing to have the supernatural virtue of faith as it is instilled in us at baptism: the virtue by which we firmly believe all those truths God has revealed. It is another thing to have the personal … Continue reading
Author Archives: Sister Marie Gabrielle, M.I.C.M.
Wielding the Holy Saber of Love
We are all pretty familiar with the idea of sacramentals as weapons. We know St. Maximilian called Miraculous Medals his “bullets”; we have often heard the Rosary spoken of as a “sword.” We probably have at least a vague sense … Continue reading
How Not to Be Orcs
You may remember the scene in third Lord of the Rings movie where Frodo is unconscious up in the tower of Cirith Ungol, and orcs who captured him start fighting over his “shiny shirt.” One ugly orc fellow pushes the … Continue reading
Spes Nostra: Profound Words of Encouragement and Consolation
They that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Is. 40:31) Called to Fight There are many beautiful symbols by … Continue reading
A Little Passiontide Gem
A Plug for the Sisters’ New Book, The Crucifixion What was it like for Our Blessed Mother, standing at the foot of the Cross of Her Son, gazing up into His eyes, watching the Precious Blood trickle from His awful … Continue reading
The Fear of Abandonment
Adapted from Sr. Marie Gabrielle’s talk, “A Thousand Times Happy” The desire to know God’s will — to know what our Heavenly Father and Mother want of us so that we may fulfill it, no matter what it is, no matter … Continue reading
St. Benedict: Powerful Patron of a Peaceful Death
Quotes Worth Contemplating for the Feast of St. Benedict Most of us probably have some fuzzy notion that Saint Benedict and his medal are good for getting rid of demons in general. But how many of us associate the holy … Continue reading
The Fear of Failure
Adapted from Sr. Marie Gabrielle’s talk, “A Thousand Times Happy” St. Joan of Arc signed the paper. It is a scary thought. After bravely running away from home to follow God’s will, persuading the king by miraculous means to hand … Continue reading
‘They Must Know that They Are Loved’
Quotes Worth Contemplating for the Feast of St. John Bosco A Look at Saint John Bosco and the “Love Languages” “It is not enough to love the young,” St. John Bosco famously said; “they must know that they are loved.” … Continue reading
The Fear of the Future and the Wound of Anxiety
Adapted from Sr. Marie Gabrielle’s talk, “A Thousand Times Happy” Many people seem to think that the future itself is a monster worth fearing. I find this interesting because the future cannot hurt us, having no real existence outside our own … Continue reading
The Fear of Having to Change
Adapted from Sr. Marie Gabrielle’s talk, “A Thousand Times Happy” The most famous missionary of all time after St. Paul, St. Francis Xavier, arrived in Japan as you would expect him to: poor, humble, meek, unassuming. And they ignored him. … Continue reading
Self-Sufficiency as the Death of Love: A Meditation on Why God Allowed the Fall
Quotes Worth Contemplating for the Feast of Sts. Adam and Eve (Christmas Eve) According to Dom Mary Eugene Boylan, self-sufficiency is the death of love: [T]he waywardness of weakness and the faults of frailty can be forgiven by love precisely … Continue reading
The Fear of Difficulties
Adapted from Sr. Marie Gabrielle’s talk, “A Thousand Times Happy” Fear sabotages happiness as few other things can. Happiness is a contentment that we experience in the contemplation of the good, the true, the beautiful. That is Aristotle’s definition that … Continue reading
The Sweet Fruits of Failure
Quotes Worth Contemplating for the Feast of St. Rose Philippine Duschesne No one in his right mind sets out to grow mealy apples. If you plant an apple tree and take the time to fertilize it, prune it, keep the … Continue reading
By No Means Incompatible
Excerpted from Sr. Marie Gabrielle’s talk, “A Thousand Times Happy” The expression “a thousand times happy” might not be immediately familiar to you out of context, so allow me to put it in context: “Happy, a thousand times happy, is … Continue reading
