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
Eph 1:11-14
Lk 12:1-7
Not one sparrow is forgotten in God’s sight.
Something quietly profound happened to me recently. After three years of living in the Netherlands, I suddenly found myself seeing things with a newfound clarity, which led me to realise that I had been in a strange sort of survival mode all this while. Having moved to a foreign country to complete my PhD and start a new job at the same time, it has been a struggle navigating unfamiliar surroundings, learning new things, and trying to keep up with the demands of work and life. Only recently, as certain things began to fall into place and I found my footing, did I realise how much the prolonged stress and anxiety had clouded my mind and affected my ability to find peace, especially in my relationship with God. It was difficult to feel His presence, much less trust that the situation would improve.
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus reassures His followers that God does not forget even the sparrows, and we are of greater worth than them. His love for His creation is active and enduring, and by emphasizing that even all the hairs on our head are numbered, we can be assured that God’s love for us is intimate and personal — He knows us better than we know ourselves. It may be interesting to note that while Jesus says that “there is no need to be afraid…” (Luke 12:7), the paragraph begins with an exhortation to fear the Lord above all else (Luke 12:5). Trials and difficulties tend to evoke fear in us — fear of the unknown, of uncertainty, of more suffering; but Jesus redirects our fear towards what truly matters — our relationship with God, rather than the uncertainties and threats of this world. Ultimately, nothing can be worse than separation from God.
My recent experience has been a stark reminder to me that faith is not simply about asking God to help us through our difficulties; it is also about allowing these experiences to deepen our trust in Him and make a conscious effort to change our attitudes and the way we live. Looking back on the past few years of my life from my current standpoint, I must say that it has taught me that God will come through for me, no matter how deep and dark the abyss looks. It is also up to me to learn to manage my fears and anxieties so that they do not consume me and take my attention away from God. It has been an uphill task so far, and I truly hope that at some point along this journey, I can say with my whole heart and soul — “Jesus, I trust in you.”
(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
Prayer: We pray with the words of St. Teresa of Avila: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing; God never changes.” May we learn to trust in the Lord and anchor our hearts in Him.
Thanksgiving: We thank our heavenly Father for His unfailing love and for remaining with us, even in moments when we struggle to feel His presence. We thank Him for carrying us through our trials, and for the hope that sustains us when the way forward seems uncertain.
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