“You are so deeply engraved on my heart that the more I realize how truly you love me from the depths of your soul, the more incapable I am of forgetting you, and the more constantly you are in my … Continue reading
Author Archives: Sister Marie Gabrielle, M.I.C.M.
On Great Souls and Little Souls
Is there really a difference between “great souls” and “little souls” or “great” saints and “little” saints? St. Therese thought so. Actually, she did not just think so in an abstract, theoretical sort of way — she was walking, talking … Continue reading
When the Going Gets Tough — The Tough Get Mary: Five Secrets of Catholic Battle Joy
Three soldiers rose up from their tents And went to join their regiments. And one said: “Captain, I report Because I think that war is sport!” And one said: “Captain, I am here Because my duty makes it clear.” And … Continue reading
St. John Eudes’ Meditation on the Innocence of the Child Mary
Quotes Worth Contemplating for September 8 (Taken from page 267 of The Wondrous Childhood of the Most Holy Mother of God by St. John Eudes) Consider that an innocent person is one who knows not what it is to injure another, … Continue reading
Queen, General, and Mother: A Marian Approach to the Question of Authority
No army can function, no battle can succeed without authority. Every soldier reports to an officer, every officer reports to a higher officer, and so on, up an established hierarchical ladder. Clear commands are necessary from the ones on top, … Continue reading
Heavenly Intel: A Must-Have for Spiritual Combat
“What would happen,” asks St. Maximilian, “if a soldier — who did not always know the plan of the general — began to act on his own: open fire when he must remain silent, or march forward when he must … Continue reading
St. Alphonsus de Liguori and the Dispelling of Spiritual Vertigo
Quotes Worth Contemplating for the Feast of St. Alphonsus de Liguori St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696–1787) knew all about spiritual vertigo. He had lived with it. He had lived through it. For those of us who struggle with an ordered … Continue reading
The Rampart of Faith
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
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
