Franciscan Media

If we don’t take time to reflect on the ways we have been forgiven, it will be hard to be merciful to others. And yet we set this as our goal each time we pray the Our Father: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”

– from The Hope of Lent

You must compare your heart to a garden. If we cultivate it well, it will yield good fruit. If we don’t keep an eye on it and tend it a little every day, our garden will be overrun with weeds, true? Therefore, take courage.

– St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello

– from Sisterhood of Saints

In the face of so many wounds that hurt us and could harden our hearts, we are called to dive into the sea of prayer, which is the sea of God’s boundless love, to taste his tenderness.

– from The Hope of Lent

Humility is the guardian and ornament of all virtues. If the spiritual building does not rest on it, it will fall into ruin.
–Thomas of Celano

– from Peace and Good

Father, grant me the grace to take Jesus seriously and trust him to always be by my side and in my heart when I am beset by disturbing problems that threaten to destroy my peace of mind and spirit. I ask this grace in Jesus’s name, Amen.

– from Stories of Jesus: 40 Days of Prayer and Reflection

When love occurs, it appears to be something happening only between two people. But thinking of it in that way makes love very small and ordinary. When you truly love, it is the beautiful Being you are seeing and loving, even though your eyes may be looking at another person. If you let love lead you, it will carry you to the greater Love. And your eyes will be opened to many beautiful things.

– from The Divine Spark