Hello everyone! Heyo! Welcome back to Scattering Flowers with Elise and Miles, a podcast where you read the daily Gospels and the Saint of the Day.
Let’s get started!Today is Monday, December 22nd, and the Gospel reading is Luke 1, 46 through 56, and the scripture to reflect on is Luke 1, 49.
The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.It’s almost time to celebrate Christmas.
Are you excited?
How do you show when you’re feeling joyful or excited about something?
What would you do?
I might giggle or squeal or even jump up and down.
Maybe you do a happy dance or sing a song and make happy noise.
All of these things are also ways that we can use to pray and glorify God.
In today’s reading, we see John the Baptist praise God in the womb, and we see Mary praise him through song, all good things that we have come from him.
When we praise him, we show that we rejoice and are happy for his blessings.Today’s Saint of the Day is Saint Marguerite Duval.
She was born 1701 and died 1771.
She’s a patron saint of widows and difficult marriages.
Marguerite was born in Quebec, the eldest of six children.
Seven years later, her father died, leaving the family very poor.
She married Francis Duval when she was 21 years old.
Her mother-in-law made life miserable for Marguerite.
Even worse, Francis was emotionally distant and was often away from home because he was violated in the illegal liquor trade.
The couple had six children, four of whom died in infancy.
When Marguerite was pregnant with her sixth child, she cared for her ill husband until his death in 1730, leaving her with a huge debt.
While she cared for her children, Marguerite also ran a shop to pay off her husband’s debts, but she still found time to visit the poor in the hospital and to beg for money to bury hanged criminals.
In 1737, three young women joined Marguerite in her work of the poor and began the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, or the Grey Nuns.
Marguerite was asked to take over Montreal’s run-down Charon Brothers Hospital.
She and the other sisters cared for everyone who needed help, including the poor, lepers, and orphans.
The sisters living cared for their parents and in high-standard hospital care in North America.There is always something to be thankful for.
If you can’t think of something that you’re thankful for, look around at your surroundings.
Take a look at your friends and your family.
Think of your favorite activities and hobbies.
If you look closely, you will find that there are things to celebrate everywhere.
When you recognize these great things in your life, remember to thank God for them.
He has blessed us in countless ways.When St.
John XXIII beautified Marguerite in 1959, he called her Mother of Universal Charity.
After enduring so much suffering in her own life, Marguerite was still able to receive and share God’s love with others without counting the cost.
Even in our suffering, God’s grace can make it possible for us to reach out to others who are suffering.Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear Jesus, help me to be grateful for all the gifts that you give me.
And help us that no matter what I may encounter in life, deepen my relationship with you.
St.
Marguerite, do you feel pray for us?
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Thank you so much for listening.
We’ll be back tomorrow scattering more flowers.
See ya!