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Vessel & Altar

We hold this treasure in earthen vessels.

Daily liturgical formation for Catholic women who pour out — and who need to be poured into. The vessel holds the treasure and pours it out. But the vessel also needs to be filled.

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What’s ready for you every morning

Today's Readings

First Reading, Psalm, Gospel — referenced and linked

Reflection

A substantive daily meditation written for Catholic women

The Challenge

A concrete call to action — something to carry into your day

One Prayer

A single prayer to anchor the day

Five minutes. Every morning.

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This is what’s waiting for you every morning. Read the full reflection.

Yesterday's Reflection

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Today's Readings

Read today’s readings at USCCB

The Reading

I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. - Matthew 11:25-26

Reflection

You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little ones. The revealing is not a consolation prize for the uneducated. It is the Father's gracious will - the deliberate choice to give what cannot be achieved to those who are not trying to achieve it.

The little one is not the ignorant. The little one is the one who is not exalting herself above the giver. The axe that boasts against the hewer is the opposite of the little one. The little one knows whose hand she is in.

He who planted the ear, shall he not hear? The woman who has been dismissed - whose cause has been treated as invisible - is heard by the one who planted the ear. The Lord will not reject his people. The judgment returns to justice. All the upright of heart shall follow it.

The Challenge

Where have you been approaching the faith, the knowledge of God, or a specific gift as something to achieve rather than something to receive? Name it. Come to it today as a little one. Set down the achieving posture and receive what the Father's gracious will has been trying to give you.

One Prayer

Lord, I come as a little one. Hide nothing from me that the posture of the little one receives. Reveal to me the Father through the Son. And let the hand that holds me be named, not the axe that forgets who is hewing. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us. Amen.