St. Teresa Benedicta, your hunger for truth and courageous example still inspires us. You spent your life humbly accomplishing great works, focusing your energy into the few minutes allowed for your intellectual work. Look upon your tired and needy sisters on this earth, and pray that we will receive the grace needed each day to make every minute of every day fruitful.

We ask your intercession for:_____________(mention your petition here).  We place all things upon the altar of God, not knowing how they will be used, and asking for the humility to receive God’s grace and to sacrifice willingly for the sake of the Kingdom where we yearn to join you in eternal peace. Amen.

 (click "Read more" to learn about this icon!)

John 19:28-35

28 After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), “I thirst.”
29 A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; 33 but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness -- his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth -- that you also may believe.

The July issue of Secretum Meum Mihi includes an interview with Mary Breda. She spent six years in the novitiate of the Missionaries of Charity. She married Massimo Breda in 1991.  In 1997, her daughter Monica died from an inoperable brain tumor at the age of three. The Bredas homeschool their children and live in San Diego.

You can read more of her amazing story next Tuesday. For now, here is her favorite quote:

When I told my graduate school advisor of my pregnancy 18 years ago, I expected her to share my joy. I was shocked when she did not. Studies reveal that  academics have vastly lower reproductive rates than the general population. Oh. Perhaps that explains it?