Hosea 6:1–6
REFLECT
The prophet Hosea declares, “Come, let us return to the Lord, / For it is he who has torn, but he will heal us; / he has struck down, but he will bind our wounds” (Hos 6:1). These words could quickly have fallen from the lips of St. Frances of Rome. Her life was marked by sorrow and loss. Two of her children died in a plague, and she spent seven years nursing her husband, who had been wounded in battle. But these events didn’t stifle either her devotion or her charity. Like Hosea, Frances saw God’s hand behind all the losses and trusted his goodness. When she died in 1440, she was widely mourned, so well-known was her generosity.
PRAY
Heavenly Father, I offer my sufferings and challenges as a means of uniting myself to your Son’s redemptive sacrifice. As I reflect on your love poured out on the cross, may I be inspired to love more deeply. Amen.
LIVE
Pray for those preparing to enter the Church at Easter. Perhaps volunteer at your parish to help with Easter liturgies and celebrations.