Love of Neighbor Petal Meeting 2/21/21

Some of our Little Flowers gathered after Mass for an outdoor petal meeting, or rather a mini meeting and presentation. Carmelite sisters from St Agnes Home, representatives of the Knights of Columbus on behalf of the food pantry, and our seminarians were present to receive our tithes from our Advent candle and candy sales.

Love of neighbor, or charity is our virtue for the month of February. What we do for others we do for God, and when we give God the little we have with the rightly ordered intentions, he multiplies the gift into much more than we can give by ourselves. The work we did provides for our troop but also allowed us to give money to our church, buy food for the hungry, and donate to the Carmelite sisters who care for the elderly. Don't forget, our patron, St. Thérèse was also a Carmelite who helped keep the sisters faithful to God's mission for their order. We also made cards of spiritual bouquets to show love for our neighbors, the residents of St. Agnes home. Thank you for using your virtues of Faith, Industry, Piety, and Love of God & Neighbor to make such beautiful cards!

We seem to be forever scheduling meetings on the birthdays of Little Flowers. It is good to celebrate together and the sisters even sang a birthday blessing. 

Practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy are excellent ways to show love of neighbor. Spiritual works are done for the souls of others and corporal is about providing for the needs of the body. We discussed ways that we as individuals, even children can do these works every day. Our little ways can be turned into big acts of love by inviting God to multiply our efforts. The girls were given cards listing the works. Be sure to look for ways to do these works of mercy. 

We worked to memorized the verse: You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27

We also practiced the Act of Charity prayer: O my God, I love you above all things with my whole heart and soul because you are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

We learned about St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641). She married and had six children in France. Her young husband was accidentally killed by a friend while hunting. Though it was very hard, she forgave the friend. St Francis de Sales became her spiritual advisor and together they founded the Visitation order to fulfill corporal and spiritual works of mercy. They welcomed women not usually allowed to become religious sisters. Their motto was, “Live Jesus” and they spread devotion to the Sacred Heart. St Jane was well known for her charity towards all. Her feast day is August 12. St. Jane is the patron saint of widows and forgotten people.

The flower for Love of Neighbor is the red rose. The rose is a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Rose plant bearing the flower, Christ. The thorns remind us of the crown of thorns Jesus bore for our sake. 

Everyone who participated in the spiritual bouquet cards earned the Love of Neighbor petal (some still to be delivered). May God help us to always show love for others and give charitably.   

Don't forget to be marking your calendar daily as a reminder to keep your Lenten promise. If you miss a day you can always begin again! Please say a little prayer our patches will arrive as we still haven't received our Jesse Tree patches. 

St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Pray for Us!