Oct 16 – Memorial for St. Hedwig, Religious; Memorial for St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin
St. Hedwig (1174–1243) was the daughter of the Duke of Croatia, and aunt of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. She married Prince Henry I of Silesia and Poland in 1186 at the age of 12, and became the mother of seven. She cared for the sick both personally and by founding hospitals. Upon her husband’s death, she gave away her fortune and entered the monastery at Trebnitz.
- Patron Saint Index
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690) was healed from a crippling disorder by a vision of the Blessed Virgin, which prompted her to give her life to God. After receiving a vision of Christ fresh from the Scourging, she was moved to join the Order of the Visitation by Paray-le-Monial in 1671.
She received a revelation from our Lord in 1675, which included 12 promises to her and to those who practiced a true devotion to His Sacred Heart, whose crown of thorns represent his sacrifices. The devotion encountered violent opposition, especially in Jansenist areas, but has become widespread and popular.
The Twelve Promises of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary for those devoted to His Sacred Heart are:
- I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will establish peace in their families.
- I will console them in all their troubles.
- They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
- I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
- Tepid souls shall become fervent.
- Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
- I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honoured.
- I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
- Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
- The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under any displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.
- Patron Saint Index
Rom 1:1-7
Lk 11:29-32
…when Jonah preached they repented.
It seems natural, as people, to look out for signs at various points in our lives. They could help with one’s indecision, serve as motivators to proceed with a course of action, or could make one feel better or worse about things. When it comes to faith in God, the signs could be interpreted in a very black-and-white manner. If a greatly desired miracle happens against all odds, then God must exist. If a great loss occurs that brings about immense suffering and grief, then God must not exist. Even if He does, He does not care, or He is not listening.
In the gospel reading for today, Jesus had just performed a miracle of driving out a demon from a mute person. Even after witnessing the miracle, the crowd demanded a sign from Him, wanting to test Him and refusing to accept Jesus as the Messiah. In response to hostile first-century Jews who cannot recognise their salvation when He is standing right among them, Jesus says that the people of that generation will only receive the sign of Jonah. Jonah was a prophet who reluctantly accepted his mission of preaching a message of doom to the people of Nineveh, which was the capital city of the ancient Assyrian empire, an enemy of Israel. At Jonah’s words, the king of Nineveh proclaimed a city-wide fast and repentance, which led to the people being spared by God. Such is the sign of Jonah — the message of conversion and repentance as we die to sinful ways and embrace a new life in Christ.
In my youth, I spent several years struggling with my belief in the existence of God. I was being told about Him, but lacked tangible encounters with God, causing my faith to be superficial at best. As I went along in my journey with various faith communities, opening myself to experiencing the love of God and learning to rely on Him through times of struggle and suffering, I somehow went past the stage of doubting in His existence. A deep, inner conversion of heart had taken place. Although I obviously still experience weakness in my faith, I don’t question whether God is there or whether He loves me. I know the problem lies with me and my tendency to rely on myself, rather than on God, in times of difficulty and temptation.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
Prayer: We pray that as believers in Christ, we will not need to rely on signs to affirm our basic faith that Jesus is our light and our salvation.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the steadfast, gratuitous love of God.
OXYGEN 
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