LOOKING AT THE POSITIVE

One of the most powerful things we can do to enhance the seasons of our marriage is to choose a winning attitude. How do we do this?

First, we must admit our negative thinking. As long as you think negatively, you’ll never be able to choose a winning attitude. The second step is to identify your spouse’s positive characteristics, even if that’s difficult for you. You might even get help from your children by asking, “What are some of the good things about Daddy or Mommy?” Third, once you’ve identified those positive characteristics, thank God for them. Then, fourth, begin to express verbal appreciation to your spouse for the positive things you observe. Set a goal, such as giving one compliment a week for a month. Then move toward two per week, then three, and so on until you’re giving a compliment each day.

The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about the importance of words. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death” (niv). Proverbs 12:18 talks about words bringing healing. Proverbs 15:4 calls gentle words “a tree of life.” You can give your marriage new life when you replace condemnation and criticism with compliments and words of affirmation.

Lord God, thank you for all the wonderful things about my spouse. Please keep those fresh in my mind. Help me to use my words to acknowledge those things. May what I say heal and bring life.

He is faithful

TODAY'S PRAYER

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Saint John Bosco

Saint John Bosco

Also known as

• Don Bosco
• Giovanni Bosco
• Giovanni Melchior Bosco
• John Melchoir Bosco

Memorial

• 31 January

Profile

Son of Venerable Margaret Bosco. John’s father died when the boy was two years old; and as soon as he was old enough to do odd jobs, John did so to helps support his family. Bosco would go to circuses, fairs and carnivals, practice the tricks that he saw magicians perform, and then put on one-boy shows. After his performance, while he still had an audience of boys, he would repeat the homily he had heard earlier that day in church.

He worked as a tailor, baker, shoemaker, and carpenter while attending college and seminary. Ordained in 1841. A teacher, he worked constantly with young people, finding places where they could meet, play and pray, teaching catechism to orphans and apprentices. Chaplain in a hospice for girls. Wrote short treatises aimed at explaining the faith to children, and then taught children how to print them. Friend of Saint Joseph Cafasso, whose biography he wrote, and confessor to Blessed Joseph Allamano. Founded the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in 1859, priests who work with and educate boys, under the protection of Our Lady, Help of Chistians, and Saint Francis de Sales. Founded the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians in 1872, and Union of Cooperator Salesians in 1875.

Born

• 16 August 1815 at Becchi, Castelnuovo d’Asti, Piedmont, Italy as Giovanni Melchior Bosco

Died

• 31 January 1888 at Turin, Italy of natural causes

Venerated

• 24 July 1907 by Pope Pius X (decree of heroic virtues)

Beatified

• 2 June 1929 by Pope Pius XI

Canonized

• 1 April 1934 by Pope Pius XI

Patronage

• apprentices
• boys
• editors
• Mexican young people
• laborers
• magicians (performers, not black magic)
• schoolchildren
• students
• young people
• World Youth Day 2019

Readings

Fly from bad companions as from the bite of a poisonous snake. If you keep good companions, I can assure you that you will one day rejoice with the blessed in Heaven; whereas if you keep with those who are bad, you will become bad yourself, and you will be in danger of losing your soul. – Saint John Bosco

When tempted, invoke your Angel. he is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel. – Saint John Bosco

Enjoy yourself as much as you like – if only you keep from sin. – Saint John Bosco

Do you want our Lord to give you many graces? Visit him often. Do you want him to give you few graces? Visit him seldom. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament are powerful and indispensable means of overcoming the attacks of the devil. Make frequent visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and the devil will be powerless against you. – Saint John Bosco

My sons, in my long experience very often I had to be convinced of this great truth. It is easier to become angry than to restrain oneself, and to threaten a boy than to persuade him. Yes, indeed, it is more fitting to be persistent in punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys. We must be firm but kind, and be patient with them. See that no one finds you motivated by impetuosity or willfulness. It is difficult to keep calm when administering punishment, but this must be done if we are to keep ourselves from showing off our authority or spilling out our anger. Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own sons. Let us place ourselves in their service. Let us be ashamed to assume an attitude of superiority. Let us not rule over them except for the purpose of serving them better. This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized and still others to hope for God’s mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart. – from a letter by Saint John Bosco

All past persecutors of the Church are now no more, but the Church still lives on. The same fate awaits modern persecutors; they, too, will pass on, but the Church of Jesus Christ will always remain, for God has pledged His Word to protect Her and be with Her forever. – Saint John Bosco

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, how sweet it is to come to your feet imploring your perpetual help. If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children, how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me? Grant then to me, I implore you, your perpetual help in all my necessities, in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations. I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering. Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners. Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life. Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians, that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven. Amen. – Saint John Bosco

Blessed Columba Marmion

Blessed Columba Marmion

Also known as

• Joseph Marmion
• Joseph Aloysius Marmion

Memorial

• 30 January
• 3 October on some calendars

Profile

Son of an Irish father, William Marmion, and French mother, Herminie Cordier. He entered the seminary in Dublin, Ireland in 1874, and studied at the College for the Propagation of the Faith in Rome, Italy from 1876. Ordained in Rome on 16 June 1881.

He dreamed of becoming a missionary monk in Australia, but spent several years as a parish priest in Dublin. Curate in Dundrum, and professor at the seminary at Clonliffe from 1882 to 1886. Chaplain and spiritual director of a Redemptorist convent and a women‘s prison.

In 1886 he renounced his promising ecclesiastical career, and entered the Benedictine Abbey of Maredsous in Belgium, taking the name Columba. Nearly 30 at the time of his noviate, and forced to learn a new language at the same time, he persevered and made his solemn profession on 10 February 1891.

Helped found the abbey of Mont César at Leuven, Belgium; served as its prior, spiritual director, and professor of theology and philosophy to younger monks. Began preaching retreats in Belgium and Britain. Spiritual director to communities of Carmelite nuns. Researcher and editor of several publications, including Revue Bénédictine. Elected abbot of Maradsous on 28 September 1909, a position he held the rest of his life.

During his time as abbot, Maredsous, famous for its beer and cheese, became a focal point for spiritual thinking in Europe. Worked for the union of Anglican Benedictine houses with Rome, and helped a house of Anglican monks who converted to Catholicism. Counselor to Queen Elisabeth of Belgium.

While the walls stood, World War I effectively destroyed his abbey. German lay-brothers, who had been there for years, were expelled from Belgium. Columba sent young monks to study in Ireland; they would be safer there, but the remaining brothers, including Columba, had to shoulder more work. After the war, a group of the brothers were sent to the Monastery of the Dormitian in Jerusalem, which had been left nearly deserted when the British expelled German monks. Amidst it all, Columba continued to preach retreats, guide the lost, and write.

The investigation for his Cause began on 7 February 1957, and the healing of a Minnesota woman in 1966 was performed through his intercession.

Born

• 1 April (Holy Thursday) 1858 at 57 Queen Street, Dublin, Ireland as Joseph Aloysius Marmion

Died

• 30 January 1923 at Maredsous Abbey, Denée, Namur, Belgium of influenza

Venerated

• 28 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II

Beatified

• 3 September 2000 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter‘s Basilica, Rome, Italy

Prayers

O Lord, our God, You have given Your servant, Columba, to understand so well that by our Baptism we are Your adopted children and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ: as a good Father graciously hear the prayers which we address to You to obtain through his intercession this favor. Teach us by his example and doctrine how to live generously as true Christians with a childlike confidence and a simplicity abounding in love. Likewise, is such is Your pleasure, show clearly by miracles, how pleasing Your servant is to You, so that Holy Mother Church may be able to declare him a Saint. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. – prayer for the Canonization of Dom Columba Marmion

TODAY'S PRAYER

UNDER CONTRUCTION

Read Philippians 1:1-30

⁶I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. ⁷So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. ⁸God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. ⁹I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blame-less lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ.Philippians 1:6-11

It would be nice to renovate a room or an entire home with the click of a button or a wave of a magic wand. Imagine the time you would save, the hassle and mess you would avoid, and all the money you would have left over because it did not cost you a penny. Despite these great advantages, there is one downside to all this convenience. You would not enjoy the satisfaction that comes from achieving a difficult task through hard labour and perseverance.

The Christian life is like a home-renovation project. It is a long, tiring, and sometimes painful process. There are no buttons to push to become a mature and perfect Christian instantly. But Paul reminds the Philippians that God will see his children through this process to completion and perfection. As you read, be encouraged that God is working in you, conforming you to the likeness of his own Son (see Romans 8:29).

God begins a process of changing believers as soon as he saves them. Through the Holy Spirit, God works on each Christian’s character bit by bit. This process takes a lifetime. Signs of progress come and go, but the work is never finished. Only when Christ returns will all believers be made perfect. Meanwhile, God’s work in us continues (Philippians 1:6).

If you belong to Christ, do not let life’s setbacks and failures discourage you. God has promised to finish the good work he has begun in you, and in time, he will do just that. In the meantime, keep your relationship with him vital by studying his Word and spending time in prayer. Also, encourage other Christians who may be struggling with failure by reminding them of God’s promise

REDEEMING POWER

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Saint Dallan Forghaill

Saint Dallan Forghaill

Also known as

• Cluain Dallain
• Dallan Forchella
• Dallan Forgaill
• Dallan of Cluain Dallain
• Eochaidh

Memorial

• 29 January

Profile

Son of Colla Mac Erc and Forchella; related to Irish royalty, and to Saint Aidan of Ferns. Noted student who went blind as a young man; some said it was due to too much reading. Chief bard and poet of Ireland in 575; he reformed the Bardic Order, thus helping preserve the Gaelic language and literature. His most famous work is Ambra Choluim Kille (Eulogy of Saint Columba) after Columba had defended the institution of the bards; legend says that upon its recitation, his eyesight was restored. He is generally considered a martyr, having died in an attack on a monastery.

Born

• c.530 in Magh Slécht, County Cavan, Connaught, Ireland

Died

• beheaded by pirates in 598 at the monastery at Inis-coel (Inniskeel), Ireland
• legend says that his head was thrown into the sea, washed back up on shore, and re-attached to his body so he could continue to recite poetry during the attack

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Readings

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s son,
Heart of my heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.
– Saint Dallan

TODAY'S PRAYER

CELEBRATING DIFFERENCE

Differences can be delightful. An old adage says, “Some people read history; others make it.” Usually, these two types of people are married to each other. Now I ask you, isn’t that the way God designed it?

Our differences are meant to be complementary. How tragic it would be if your spouse were just like you. God tends to place an aggressive person with a more passive person, a neatnik with a slob, an organized person with a spontaneous person. Why? Because we need each other. It’s sad when we allow our differences to become divisive. Why do we do this? Because we are egocentric. Life revolves around me, we think. My way is the best way. Be like me, and we’ll be happy!

But is that really what we want? I don’t think so. In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul compares the church to a body. It has many parts, and every part is needed. Paul takes this illustration almost to absurdity, asking his readers to imagine how the body would function if it were just one great big ear. It wouldn’t! How limited life would be.

The same holds true in marriage. We are different, and we need each other. Your aggressiveness pushes me to attempt things I would never try on my own. My passiveness keeps you from jumping off the cliff. The Bible is right: Two are better than one.

Father, thank you for the differences between me and my spouse. Please show me how to look at them positively rather than negatively. Help us to work effectively together as a team.

ENTER HIS GATES

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Also known as

• Thomas Aquino
• Thomas of Aquino
• Angel of the Schools
• Angelic Doctor
• Doctor Angelicus
• Doctor Communis
• Great Synthesizer
• The Dumb Ox
• The Universal Teacher
• Universal Doctor

Memorial

• 28 January
• 7 March (Fossanuova monastery near Terracina, Italy)
• 13 November as patron of Catholic schools (on the Dominican calendar from 1924 to 1962)

Profile

Son of the Count of Aquino, born in the family castle in Lombardy near Naples, Italy. Educated by Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino, and at the University of Naples. He secretly joined the mendicant Dominican friars in 1244. His family kidnapped and imprisoned him for a year to keep him out of sight, and deprogram him, but they failed to sway him, and he rejoined his order in 1245.
He studied in Paris, France from 1245 to 1248 under Saint Albert the Great, then accompanied Albertus to Cologne, Germany. Ordained in 1250, then returned to Paris to teach. Taught theology at University of Paris. He wrote defenses of the mendicant orders, commentaries on Aristotle and Lombard’s Sentences, and some bible-related works, usually by dictating to secretaries. He won his doctorate, and taught in several Italian cities. Recalled by king and university to Paris in 1269, then recalled to Naples in 1272 where he was appointed regent of studies while working on the Summa Theologica.
On 6 December 1273 he experienced a divine revelation which so enraptured him that he abandoned the Summa, saying that it and his other writing were so much straw in the wind compared to the reality of the divine glory. He died four months later while en route to the Council of Lyons, overweight and with his health broken by overwork.
His works have been seminal to the thinking of the Church ever since. They systematized her great thoughts and teaching, and combined Greek wisdom and scholarship methods with the truth of Christianity. Pope Leo VIII commanded that his teachings be studied by all theology students. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1567.

Born

• c.1225 at Roccasecca, Aquino, Naples, Italy

Died

• 7 March 1274 at Fossanuova monastery near Terracina, Italy of apparent natural causes
• relics interred at Saint-Servin, Toulouse, France
• relics translated to the Church of the Jacobins, Toulouse on 22 October 1974

Canonized

• 18 July 1323 by Pope John XXII

Patronage

• academics
• against storms
• against lightning
• apologists
• booksellers
• Catholic academies
• Catholic schools (proclaimed on 4 August 1880 by Pope Leo XIII)
• Catholic universities
• chastity
• colleges
• learning
• pencil makers
• philosophers
• publishers
• scholars
• schools
• students
• theologians
• universities
• University of Vigo
• Aquino, Italy
• Aquino-Pontecorvo, Italy, diocese of
• Belcastro, Italy
• Falerna, Italy
• Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo, Italy, diocese of

Representation

• chalice
• dove, usually speaking into his ear, sometimes as he writes
• monstrance
• ox
• star
• sun
• teacher with pagan philosophers at his feet
• teaching
• person trampled under foot

Readings

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. – Saint Thomas Aquinas

Charity is the form, mover, mother and root of all the virtues. – Saint Thomas Aquinas

We are like children, who stand in need of masters to enlighten us and direct us; and God has provided for this, by appointing his angels to be our teachers and guides. – Saint Thomas Aquinas

If you seek the example of love: “Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends.” Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake. If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because “when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth.” If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. “For just as by the disobedience of one man,” namely, Adam, “many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.” If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is “the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink. Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because “they divided my garments among themselves.” Nor to honors, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for “weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head.” Nor to anything delightful, for “in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” – from the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas

The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods. – Saint Thomas Aquinas

Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace. – Saint Thomas Aquinas

Most loving Lord, grant me a steadfast heart which no unworthy desire may drag downards; an unconquered hear which no hardship may wear out; an upright heart which no worthless purpose may ensnare. Impart to me also, O God, the understanding to know you, the diligence to seek you, a way of life to please you, and a faithfulness that may embrace you, through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen. – Saint Thomas Aquinas, from Something Of A Saint

Hence we must say that for the knowledge of any truth whatsoever man needs divine help, that the intellect may be moved by God to its act. But he does not need a new light added to his natural light, in order to know the truth in all things, but only in some that surpasses his natural knowledge. – Saint Thomas Aquinas