Magnificat gave me a divine nod-and-a-wink the ­other day (not an infrequent occurrence, to judge by your letters). I had carefully set aside a day for writing after being swamped in admin all week, but that morning my husband succumbed to the ’flu and was thus unexpectedly out of action. I found myself sitting at the dining table, nursing the baby and chugging a too-cold coffee while my daughters frolicked their way raucously through lunch, an explosion of shredded paper all around us. A familiar scene to any parent of young children, I’m sure.

Feeling defeated and devoid of inspiration, I opened that month’s issue placed optimistically next to me but as-yet untouched that day. The first words my eye alighted­ upon: “In the midst of life’s tribulations, strengthen our hope in your coming kingdom.” I hear you, but wait, wrong day, I said to myself. Here’s today’s Meditation: “Jesus needs nothing but your humility and your confidence to work marvels….”

May you also find hope and sustenance within these pages, and in spending time with the Lord this month as he offers us his Sacred Heart and his very Body in the Blessed Sacrament.

Yours in the friendship of Christ,