Virgo Potens

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 22nd Twenty-second Day He who is truly humble desires to be despised, turned into derision, persecuted and calumniated. If we would imitate Jesus Christ, it is in this we can most closely follow Him. Would it not be wise in us to rejoice in contempt, to desire that we be looked upon as the last of men, since He Who is Wisdom itself was so regarded?—St. Teresa (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 21st Twenty-first Day (continued from above) It is related of St. Amonius that he had arrived at so high a degree of perfection that he had become as insensible to contempt as though he were a stone. No matter what the insult, he never felt that he had received an injury. "To suffer injuries without complaining is the door by which our fathers have entered heaven,” said an abbot to his monks; this exercise makes easy, even agreeable, that which at first appeared so difficult. Prayer My God, I am well worthy to be despised, since I have despised Thy commandments, since I have outraged Thy perfections. I deserve to be under the feet of all, since I have consented to be the slave of the demon. Grant that this thought may render me eager for humiliations. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 21st Twenty-first Day To support in a Christian manner humiliations and opprobriums is the touchstone of humility and true virtue, because in so doing we are more like to Jesus Christ, the true Model of all solid virtue.—St. Francis of Sales (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 20th Twentieth Day (continued from above) This saint, who knew so well how useful are humilia­tions when endured with a spirit of religion, loved them in such a manner that it is related of him by a worthy priest, who knew him well, that he never saw an ambitious man have more affection for the honors of the world than this humble servant of God had for abjections and contempt. One might say that in this consisted his delight here below. Prayer Grant that I may regard humiliations as my treasure; that I may seek more and more each day to bless God in humiliations, and make acts and practices of this great virtue. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 20th Twentieth Day The missionaries should desire to appear of low extraction, to have little talent and virtue. When they are despised, or the congregation receive any humiliations, they should rejoice. Through these means they will learn what progress they have made in humility.­—St. Vincent de Paul (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 19th Ninteenth Day (continued from above) A gentleman on one occasion being very angry with St. Vincent de Paul, in his fury said something rude and insulting. The saint immediately threw himself at his feet, [and] begged his pardon for perhaps giving him occasion to speak in such a manner. A certain person, who was a leader in one of those errors which excited much discussion in the last century, proposed these false maxims to the same saint for adoption. Finding he could not succeed, he endeavored to injure him, called him ignorant, and said he was astonished the congregation had chosen him for superior-general. "I am still more astonished than you are,” replied the saint. “I am incomparably more ignorant than you can imagine.” Prayer Make me humble, Lord, that I may rejoice when I am insulted and despised. My Saviour would be covered with shame ; why should not His disciples love contempt ? ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 19th Nineteenth Day One who is humble, when he receives humiliations, humbles him­self still more ; when he is covered with contempt, rejoices that he is despised ; when he is given an occupation that is low and abject, acknowledges that it is better than he deserves, and performs it with pleasure; he flees only those places that are distinguished and honor­able.—St. Jane Frances (continued below)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 19th Nineteenth Day One who is humble, when he receives humiliations, humbles him­self still more; when he is covered with contempt, rejoices that he is despised; when he is given an occupation that is low and abject, acknowledges that it is better than he deserves, and performs it with pleasure; he flees only those places that are distinguished and honor­able.—St. Jane Frances (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 18th Eighteenth Day (continued from above) When St. Francis of Sales saw that some were afflicted be­cause he had been calumniated, he said: "Let them alone. It is a cross of words, a breath of air, the remembrance of which should perish with its sound. One must be very delicate to be unable to suffer the bite of a fly. What wrong can they do us by having an evil opinion of us, when we should have the same opinion of ourselves?” Prayer How can any one wrong me, O my God—I who have of­fended Thee, and who have so often deserved hell ? I am a monster of ingratitude against whom all creatures should arise to avenge the outrages I have committed against Thee. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 18th Eighteenth Day He who is truly humble can never persuade himself that any one can do him wrong. What a thought !—that He Who is our Creator bears with so many injuries from His creatures, and we are wounded by a word ! It matters little if we are esteemed or not, whether good or evil is said of us. Honors should be to us a greater affliction than injuries or insult.—St. Teresa (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 17th Seventeenth Day (continued from above) St. Dominic dwelt with much more pleasure in the dio­cese of Carcassonne than in that of Toulouse, where he had converted numbers of heretics. He was asked the reason. He replied: "In Toulouse they load me with honors; in Carcassonne I am abhorred, persecuted, in­sulted.” "It would be much more agreeable to me,” said St. Helix, a Capuchin, "to see myself insulted, despised, and covered with disgrace in the streets of Rome than to find myself honored and respected by the people.” Prayer My God, do not permit that the praise or esteem of men be for me a hindrance to my salvation. I desire to be hon­ored and loved but by Thee. I wish to please Thee alone. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 17th Seventeenth Day The most profound degree of humility is to receive humiliations and abjections with the same complacency that vain persons do the greatest honors.—St. Francis de Sales (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 16th Sixteenth Day (continued from above) This saint abhorred honors and praise. Clement IV offered him the Archbishopric of Naples. He not only refused, but obtained the favor from the same Pontiff that he would never offer him any other dignity. It was through pure obedience that he took the degree of Doctor. He rejoiced when in college that one, whose master he might have been, but who had been given to him as a teacher, called him the dumb ox, attributing his silence to ignorance and want of talent. One day, while reading publicly during dinner, he was ordered to pronounce a word in a different manner. He repeated the word immediately as he was told, though he was sure it was wrong. “It matters little,” said he afterwards to one of his companions, “to make a syllable long or short; but it is of extreme importance to be humble and obedient.” Prayer Lord, grant that I may be afflicted and that I may suffer when I receive marks of esteem and respect, when I am praised, or when I am preferred to others. I de­serve to be despised, to be hated by all creatures, because I am a great sinner. Alas! I have scarcely done anything but offend Thee all my life. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 16th Sixteenth Day (continued from above) This saint abhorred honors and praise. Clement IV offered him the Archbishopric of Naples. He not only refused, but obtained the favor from the same Pontiff that he would never offer him any other dignity. It was through pure obedience that he took the degree of Doctor. He rejoiced when in college that one, whose master he might have been, but who had been given to him as a teacher, called him the dumb ox, attributing his silence to ignorance and want of talent. One day, while reading publicly during dinner, he was ordered to pronounce a word in a different manner. He repeated the word immediately as he was told, though he was sure it was wrong. “It matters little,” said he afterwards to one of his companions, “to make a syllable long or short; but it is of extreme importance to be humble and obedient.” Prayer Lord, grant that I may be afflicted and that I may suffer when I receive marks of esteem and respect, when I am praised, or when I am preferred to others. I de­serve to be despised, to be hated by all creatures, because I am a great sinner. Alas! I have scarcely done anything but offend Thee all my life. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)  2/14/24 1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 17th Seventeenth Day The most profound degree of humility is to receive humiliations and abjections with the same complacency that vain persons do the greatest honors.—St. Francis de Sales (continued below) 2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 17th Seventeenth Day (continued from above) St. Dominic dwelt with much more pleasure in the dio­ cese of Carcassonne than in that of Toulouse, where he had converted numbers of heretics. He was asked the reason. He replied: "In Toulouse they load me with honors; in Carcassonne I am abhorred, persecuted, in­sulted.” "It would be much more agreeable to me,” said St. Helix, a Capuchin, "to see myself insulted, despised, and covered with disgrace in the streets of Rome than to find myself honored and respected by the people.” Prayer My God, do not permit that the praise or esteem of men be for me a hindrance to my salvation. I desire to be hon­ored and loved but by Thee. I wish to please Thee alone. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 16th Sixteenth Day When you see one who desires honors and flees abjection, and who when meeting persecution or contempt is troubled and com­plains, be assured that even should he work miracles, he is far from perfection, his virtue is without foundation.—St. Thomas Aquinas (continued below)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 16th Sixteenth Day When you see one who desires honors and flees abjection, and who when meeting persecution or contempt is troubled and com­plains, be assured that even should he work miracles, he is far from perfection, his virtue is without foundation.—St. Thomas Aquinas (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 15th Fifteenth Day (continued from above) Monseigneur Camus, bishop of Belley, complained to St. Francis of Sales of a great injury that had been done him. The Bishop of Geneva said to him: "I admit they have done wrong to treat you thus; they should respect your character. I find fault with you only in one point.” “In what?” asked the bishop of Belley. “It is that you are not as prudent as you ought to be; it would become you to be silent.” The friend of St. Francis of Sales acknowledged his fault. Prayer O my divine Saviour, I consent to be disapproved of, blamed, despised, for Thy love. It matters not whether I please or displease creatures, if I am agreeable in Thy eyes. I desire to live only in Thy heart. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 15th Fifteenth Day (continued from above) Monseigneur Camus, bishop of Belley, complained to St. Francis of Sales of a great injury that had been done him. The Bishop of Geneva said to him: "I admit they have done wrong to treat you thus; they should respect your character. I find fault with you only in one point.” “In what?” asked the bishop of Belley. “It is that you are not as prudent as you ought to be; it would become you to be silent.” The friend of St. Francis of Sales acknowledged his fault. Prayer O my divine Saviour, I consent to be disapproved of, blamed, despised, for Thy love. It matters not whether I please or displease creatures, if I am agreeable in Thy eyes. I desire to live only in Thy heart. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 15th Fifteenth Day What does it signify if we are calumniated, despised, outraged by men, if we are innocent before God and agreeable in His eyes? The saints made it their pleasure to be little and abject in the hearts of all.—St. Teresa (continued below)

Say this prayer often, to console Jesus, Our Lord and God. It is the central prayer in the Devotion to The Holy Face. THE GOLDEN ARROW May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified, in Heaven, on earth and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.