Monthly Virtues

St. Alphonsus encouraged the practice of listing monthly virtues and patrons, matching the twelve apostles with the twelve months of the year accompanied by a scriptural text.  From the earliest days and throughout the history of the IHM Congregation, the sisters have continued this tradition of imitating a patron and of deepening their practice of a virtue each month.

​

January

Virtue: Faith
Patron: Saints Peter and Paul
Text: “I am the light of the world.” (Jn. 8:12)

​

February

Virtue: Hope
Patron: St. Andrew
Text:“Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name.” (Ps. 91:14)

​

March

Virtue: The Love of God
Patron: St. James the Great
Text: “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with your whole mind, and with your whole strength.” (Mk. 12:30)

​

April

Virtue: The Love of Our Neighbor
Patron: St. John
Text: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn. 15:12)

​

May

Virtue: Poverty
Patron: St. Thomas
Text: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:3)

​

June

Virtue: Purity of Heart
Patron: St. James the Less
Text: “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.” (Mt. 5:8)

​

July

Virtue: Obedience
Patron: St. Philip
Text: “You are My friends if you do the things that I command you.” (Jn. 15:14)

​

August

Virtue: Meekness and Humility of Heart
Patron: St. Bartholomew
Text: “Learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart.” (Mt. 11:29) 

​

September

Virtue: Mortification
Patron: St. Matthew
Text: “He who hates his life in this world preserves it for eternal life.” (Jn. 12:25)

​

October

Virtue: Recollection and Silence
Patron: St. Simon
Text: “Jesus, having dismissed the multitude, went to a mountain alone to pray.” (Mt. 14:23)

​

November

Virtue: Prayer
Patron: St. Thaddeus
Text: “We ought always to pray and not to faint.” (Lk. 18:1)

​

December

Virtue: Self-Abnegation and the Love of the Cross
Patron: St. Matthias
Text: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mt. 16:24)

​