St. Margaret, Widow, Queen of Scotland

Today's Epistle is taken from Prov. 31: 10-31, from the proper of the Mass, Cognovi of a Holy Woman not a Martyr.

It tells us the description of all the necessary duties and virtues of the valiant woman.

What is valiant? A simple boolean term - "define: valiant" in a google search engine came up with these:

having or showing valor; "a valiant attempt to prevent the hijack"; "a valiant soldier" 
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Showing courage or determination; heroic
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/valiant

etc..

But herewith tells us what makes up the valiant woman. 

Taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible online (www.drbo.org), 

Book Of Proverbs

10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.

11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. 12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. 14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.

16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. 17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. 18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night. 19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. 20She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.

21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments. 22 She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering. 23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.24 She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. 25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.

24 "The Chanaanite"... The merchant, for Chanaanite, in Hebrew, signifies a merchant.

26 She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. 27 She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle. 28 Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her. 29 Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.

Click here to find out more on the Book of Proverbs.

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori

Jesus, Mary, I love You; Save Souls!

Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum.

(Start of novena to the Sacred Heart, Feast: 19th June 2009)