Just one more week of preparation! We finally move home and relocate to a new Town over the mountains on 22 June – this move was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances – sign 😬😥.
The unpacking and organising will have to happen slowly for I long to be back with you all and “Breathing Catholic.” By the Grace of God I will return on the most glorious Feast of Sts Peter and Paul, 29 June.
“Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles The joint commemoration of the Apostles, Sts Peter and Paul, is one of the most ancient customs of the Roman Church, attested already in the oldest surviving Roman Liturgical Calendar, the Depositio Martyrum, written in 336. A verse of the Hymn, Apostolorum Passio, an authentic work of St Ambrose († 397) and still used in the Ambrosian Liturgy, says that “the thick crowds make their way through the circuit of so great a City; the Feast of the Sacred Martyrs, is celebrated on 3 streets.” These “three streets” are the via Cornelia, the main Street running up to and over the Vatican Hill; the Via Ostiensis, where the burial and Church of St Paul are and the Via Appia, on which resides the Cemetery “in Catacumbas.”
A Novena In Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND ALitany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Apologies for the date confusion – today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Because of the most sinful and depraved state of the world around us and most especially to offer some tiny consolation to the Most Adorable and Loving Heart of our Most Merciful and Sweetest Lord Jesus, we should never forget the horrors of the perversions and blasphemies of the so-called ‘pride month’ so terribly adopting this Sacred Month of June and too, the evils perpetrated upon our children under this banner! When praying the Litany of Reparation may we make special remembrance of these evils.
Every day unite your prayers and adorations with those of the Most Holy Virgin and of one of the Nine Choirs of Angels and Saints, to honour one of the dispositions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to practise a particular virtue in Its honour.
THE NINTH DAY
With the Blessed Virgin, the Angels and the unknown Saints of all states
Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who complains of the coldness and indifference of the lukewarm,and Who promises so much to fervent souls, who have the generosity to relinquish all, in order to love Him without reserve.
Practice—Endeavour to discover the cause of your want of devotion and of your tepidity; adopt such measures as will enable you to arise from this state and embrace every means which may contribute to render you more agreeable in the Eyes of Jesus Christ.
Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
A Litany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart, hear us. Sacred Heart, graciously hear us. For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, We will console Thee, O Lord. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
Learn of Me: Because I am meek and humble of heart. O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who know Thee not, Have mercy on me as Thou seest best. **
O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who do not believe in Thee, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who are inconstant and ungrateful, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow during the whole course of Thy mortal life, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow in Thy agony and in Thy death, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who neglect their eternal salvation, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who offer the most Holy Sacrifice unworthily, ** Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for the scarcity of those who love Thee fervently, **
Sweet Heart of Jesus: Be not my Judge but my Saviour.
O Jesus, loveliest of all beauty, wash me more and more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, that, purified by Thee, I may approach to Thee, the pure One, and may be worthy to dwell in “Thy Heart all the days of my life, that I may both see and do Thy will. For this cause was Thy side pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not return love for love to Him that hath loved so well? Amen.
O adorable Heart of Jesus, if men did but know Thee: How they would love Thee!
A Novena In Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND ALitany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Because of the most sinful and depraved state of the world around us and most especially to offer some tiny consolation to the Most Adorable and Loving Heart of our Most Merciful and Sweetest Lord Jesus, we should never forget the horrors of the perversions and blasphemies of the so-called ‘pride month’ so terribly adopting this Sacred Month of June and too, the evils perpetrated upon our children under this banner! When praying the Litany of Reparation may we make special remembrance of these evils.
Every day unite your prayers and adorations with those of the Most Holy Virgin and of one of the Nine Choirs of Angels and Saints, to honour one of the dispositions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to practise a particular virtue in Its honour.
THE EIGHTH DAY
With the Blessed Virgin, the Archangels and the Holy Innocents.
Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is sensibly afflicted with the outrages and impieties of those who are rebels to the Church and good morals and, which desires to find faithful Christians, who will endeavour to repair these disorders.
Practice-–Perform some penance, some generous act of virtue, in reparation for the outrages which He receives.
Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
A Litany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart, hear us. Sacred Heart, graciously hear us. For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, We will console Thee, O Lord. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
Learn of Me: Because I am meek and humble of heart. O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who know Thee not, Have mercy on me as Thou seest best. **
O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who do not believe in Thee, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who are inconstant and ungrateful, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow during the whole course of Thy mortal life, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow in Thy agony and in Thy death, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who neglect their eternal salvation, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who offer the most Holy Sacrifice unworthily, ** Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for the scarcity of those who love Thee fervently, **
Sweet Heart of Jesus: Be not my Judge but my Saviour.
O Jesus, loveliest of all beauty, wash me more and more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, that, purified by Thee, I may approach to Thee, the pure One, and may be worthy to dwell in “Thy Heart all the days of my life, that I may both see and do Thy will. For this cause was Thy side pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not return love for love to Him that hath loved so well? Amen.
O adorable Heart of Jesus, if men did but know Thee: How they would love Thee!
A Novena In Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND ALitany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Because of the most sinful and depraved state of the world around us and most especially to offer some tiny consolation to the Most Adorable and Loving Heart of our Most Merciful and Sweetest Lord Jesus, we should never forget the horrors of the perversions and blasphemies of the so-called ‘pride month’ so terribly adopting this Sacred Month of June and too, the evils perpetrated upon our children under this banner! When praying the Litany of Reparation may we make special remembrance of these evils.
Every day unite your prayers and adorations with those of the Most Holy Virgin and of one of the Nine Choirs of Angels and Saints, to honour one of the dispositions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to practise a particular virtue in Its honour.
THE SEVENTH DAY
With the Blessed Virgin, the Principalities and the Holy Virgins and Widows.
Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which delights to be with the children of men and which, with tenderness, pities our miseries and our wants.
Practice-–Esteem the happiness you enjoy, in being able to converse with Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament and avail yourself of this advantage, as often as you can, without neglecting the duties of your state.
Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, hat I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
A Litany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart, hear us. Sacred Heart, graciously hear us. For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, We will console Thee, O Lord. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
Learn of Me: Because I am meek and humble of heart. O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who know Thee not, Have mercy on me as Thou seest best. **
O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who do not believe in Thee, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who are inconstant and ungrateful, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow during the whole course of Thy mortal life, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow in Thy agony and in Thy death, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who neglect their eternal salvation, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who offer the most Holy Sacrifice unworthily, ** Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for the scarcity of those who love Thee fervently, **
Sweet Heart of Jesus: Be not my Judge but my Saviour.
O Jesus, loveliest of all beauty, wash me more and more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, that, purified by Thee, I may approach to Thee, the pure One, and may be worthy to dwell in “Thy Heart all the days of my life, that I may both see and do Thy will. For this cause was Thy side pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not return love for love to Him that hath loved so well? Amen.
O adorable Heart of Jesus, if men did but know Thee: How they would love Thee!
Novena In Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND ALitany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Because of the most sinful and depraved state of the world around us and most especially to offer some tiny consolation to the Most Adorable and Loving Heart of our Most Merciful and Sweetest Lord Jesus, we should never forget the horrors of the perversions and blasphemies of the so-called ‘pride month’ so terribly adopting this Sacred Month of June and too, the evils perpetrated upon our children under this banner! When praying the Litany of Reparation may we make special remembrance of these evils.
Every day unite your prayers and adorations with those of the Most Holy Virgin and of one of the Nine Choirs of Angels and Saints, to honour one of the dispositions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to practise a particular virtue in Its honour.
THE SIXTH DAY
With the Blessed Virgin, the Powers and the Holy Confessors.
Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, containing within itself the plenitude of graces and opening to diffuse them abundantly on those who address themselves to it.
Practice—Humble yourself in the presence of your Saviour for having so often abused his mercies and with new ardour and perfect confidence, implore Him to grant you Grace.
Prayer of St Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, hat I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
A Litany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart, hear us. Sacred Heart, graciously hear us. For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, We will console Thee, O Lord. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
Learn of Me: Because I am meek and humble of heart. O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who know Thee not, Have mercy on me as Thou seest best. **
O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who do not believe in Thee, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who are inconstant and ungrateful, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow during the whole course of Thy mortal life, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow in Thy agony and in Thy death, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who neglect their eternal salvation, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who offer the most Holy Sacrifice unworthily, ** Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for the scarcity of those who love Thee fervently, **
Sweet Heart of Jesus: Be not my Judge but my Saviour.
O Jesus, loveliest of all beauty, wash me more and more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, that, purified by Thee, I may approach to Thee, the pure One, and may be worthy to dwell in “Thy Heart all the days of my life, that I may both see and do Thy will. For this cause was Thy side pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not return love for love to Him that hath loved so well? Amen.
O adorable Heart of Jesus, if men did but know Thee: How they would love Thee!
A Novena In Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND ALitany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Because of the most sinful and depraved state of the world around us and most especially to offer some tiny consolation to the Most Adorable and Loving Heart of our Most Merciful and Sweetest Lord Jesus, we should never forget the horrors of the perversions and blasphemies of the so-called ‘pride month’ so terribly adopting this Sacred Month of June and too, the evils perpetrated upon our children under this banner! When praying the Litany of Reparation may we make special remembrance of these evils.
Every day unite your prayers and adorations with those of the Most Holy Virgin and of one of the Nine Choirs of Angels and Saints, to honour one of the dispositions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to practise a particular virtue in Its honour.
THE FIFTH DAY
With the Blessed Virgin, the Virtues and the Holy Doctors.
Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, endowed with all the virtues and making their practice easy to you, by the efficacy of its merits and the force of its example.
Practice–Meditate on that virtue which you particularly require; apply yourself to practise it and let not the day pass without making some acts of this virtue.
Prayer of St Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, hat I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
A Litany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart, hear us. Sacred Heart, graciously hear us. For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, We will console Thee, O Lord. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
Learn of Me: Because I am meek and humble of heart. O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who know Thee not, Have mercy on me as Thou seest best. **
O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who do not believe in Thee, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who are inconstant and ungrateful, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow during the whole course of Thy mortal life, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow in Thy agony and in Thy death, **
Sweet Heart of Jesus: Be not my Judge but my Saviour.
O Jesus, loveliest of all beauty, wash me more and more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, that, purified by Thee, I may approach to Thee, the pure One, and may be worthy to dwell in “Thy Heart all the days of my life, that I may both see and do Thy will. For this cause was Thy side pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not return love for love to Him that hath loved so well? Amen.
O adorable Heart of Jesus, if men did but know Thee: How they would love Thee!
A Novena In Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND ALitany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Because of the most sinful and depraved state of the world around us and most especially to offer some tiny consolation to the Most Adorable and Loving Heart of our Most Merciful and Sweetest Lord Jesus, we should never forget the horrors of the perversions and blasphemies of the so-called ‘pride month’ so terribly adopting this Sacred Month of June and too, the evils perpetrated upon our children under this banner! When praying the Litany of Reparation may we make special remembrance of these evils.
Every day unite your prayers and adorations with those of the Most Holy Virgin and of one of the Nine Choirs of Angels and Saints, to honour one of the dispositions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to practise a particular virtue in Its honour.
THE FOURTH DAY
With the Blessed Virgin, the Dominations and the Holy Martyrs.
Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning with love for you and implore, as a favour, that your love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus may be increased.
Practice-–Visit the Sacred Heart, as often as possible, to render to It your thanksgiving, for the love It bears for you and to profess your love for It.
Prayer of St Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, hat I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
A Litany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart, hear us. Sacred Heart, graciously hear us. For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, We will console Thee, O Lord. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
Learn of Me: Because I am meek and humble of heart. O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who know Thee not, Have mercy on me as Thou seest best. **
O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who do not believe in Thee, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who are inconstant and ungrateful, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow during the whole course of Thy mortal life, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow in Thy agony and in Thy death, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who neglect their eternal salvation, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who offer the most Holy Sacrifice unworthily, ** Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for the scarcity of those who love Thee fervently, **
Sweet Heart of Jesus: Be not my Judge but my Saviour.
O Jesus, loveliest of all beauty, wash me more and more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, that, purified by Thee, I may approach to Thee, the pure One, and may be worthy to dwell in “Thy Heart all the days of my life, that I may both see and do Thy will. For this cause was Thy side pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not return love for love to Him that hath loved so well? Amen.
O adorable Heart of Jesus, if men did but know Thee: How they would love Thee!
A Novena In Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND ALitany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Because of the most sinful and depraved state of the world around us and most especially to offer some tiny consolation to the Most Adorable and Loving Heart of our Most Merciful and Sweetest Lord Jesus, we should never forget the horrors of the perversions and blasphemies of the so-called ‘pride month’ so terribly adopting this Sacred Month of June and too, the evils perpetrated upon our children under this banner! When praying the Litany of Reparation may we make special remembrance of these evils.
Every day unite your prayers and adorations with those of the Most Holy Virgin and of one of the Nine Choirs of Angels and Saints, to honour one of the dispositions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to practise a particular virtue in Its honour.
THE THIRD DAY
With the Blessed Virgin, the Thrones and the Holy Apostles.
Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, presenting to the Eternal Father our good works and our prayers and beseeching for our deficiencies, to the infinite Majesty of God.
Practice—Thank God for having given you so powerful a Mediator and endeavour to conform daily, more and more, to the sentiments of this Sacred Heart.
Prayer of St Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
A Litany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart, hear us. Sacred Heart, graciously hear us. For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, We will console Thee, O Lord. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
Learn of Me: Because I am meek and humble of heart. O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who know Thee not, Have mercy on me as Thou seest best. **
O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who do not believe in Thee, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who are inconstant and ungrateful, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow during the whole course of Thy mortal life, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow in Thy agony and in Thy death, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who neglect their eternal salvation, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who offer the most Holy Sacrifice unworthily, ** Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for the scarcity of those who love Thee fervently, **
Sweet Heart of Jesus: Be not my Judge but my Saviour.
O Jesus, loveliest of all beauty, wash me more and more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, that, purified by Thee, I may approach to Thee, the pure One, and may be worthy to dwell in “Thy Heart all the days of my life, that I may both see and do Thy will. For this cause was Thy side pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not return love for love to Him that hath loved so well? Amen.
O adorable Heart of Jesus, if men did but know Thee: How they would love Thee!
A Novena In Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND ALitany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Because of the most sinful and depraved state of the world around us and most especially to offer some tiny consolation to the Most Adorable and Loving Heart of our Most Merciful and Sweetest Lord Jesus, we should never forget the horrors of the perversions and blasphemies of the so-called ‘pride month’ so terribly adopting this Sacred Month of June and too, the evils perpetrated upon our children under this banner! When praying the Litany of Reparation may we make special remembrance of these evils.
Every day unite your prayers and adorations with those of the Most Holy Virgin and of one of the Nine Choirs of Angels and Saints, to honour one of the dispositions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to practise a particular virtue in Its honour.
THE SECOND DAY
With the Blessed Virgin, the Cherubim, and the Holy Prophets.
Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which solicits, night and day, the mercy of God in our favour and incessantly offers itself in sacrifice for the expiation of our sins.
Practice—Recall to your mind, in the bitterness of your soul, the enormity of your sins; implore this Sacred Heart to give you a true contrition for them and unite the sorrow which you endeavour to conceive, with that which our Lord experienced in His adorable Heart.
Prayer of St Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
A Litany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart, hear us. Sacred Heart, graciously hear us. For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, We will console Thee, O Lord. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
Learn of Me: Because I am meek and humble of heart. O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who know Thee not, Have mercy on me as Thou seest best. **
O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who do not believe in Thee, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who are inconstant and ungrateful, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow during the whole course of Thy mortal life, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow in Thy agony and in Thy death, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who neglect their eternal salvation, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who offer the most Holy Sacrifice unworthily, ** Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for the scarcity of those who love Thee fervently, **
Sweet Heart of Jesus: Be not my Judge but my Saviour.
O Jesus, loveliest of all beauty, wash me more and more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, that, purified by Thee, I may approach to Thee, the pure One, and may be worthy to dwell in “Thy Heart all the days of my life, that I may both see and do Thy will. For this cause was Thy side pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not return love for love to Him that hath loved so well? Amen.
O adorable Heart of Jesus, if men did but know Thee: How they would love Thee!
A Novena In Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus AND ALitany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Because of the most sinful and depraved state of the world around us and most especially to offer some tiny consolation to the Most Adorable and Loving Heart of our Most Merciful and Sweetest Lord Jesus, we should never forget the horrors of the perversions and blasphemies of the so-called ‘pride month’ so terribly adopting this Sacred Month of June and too, the evils perpetrated upon our children under this banner! When praying the Litany of Reparation may we make special remembrance of these evils.
Every day unite your prayers and adorations with those of the Most Holy Virgin and of one of the Nine Choirs of Angels and Saints, to honour one of the dispositions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to practise a particular virtue in Its honour.
THE FIRST DAY
With the Blessed Virgin, the Seraphim and the Holy Patriarchs.
Adore often the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament, humble yourself before the Infinite Majesty of God the Father and offer, continually to Him, the purest and most profound homages.
Practice—Renew in your soul, the most lively sentiments of respect and adoration for God and frequently make these acts.
Prayer of St Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart created expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
A Litany of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart, hear us. Sacred Heart, graciously hear us. For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, We will console Thee, O Lord. *
For the way Thou art deserted in Thy Tabernacle, * For the crimes of sinners, * For the blasphemies uttered against Thee, * For the sacrileges which profane Thy Sacrament of Love, * For the coldness of the greater part of Thy children, * For the abuse of Thy grace, * For our own unfaithfulness, * For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts, * For our long delay in loving Thee, * For Thy bitter sadness at the loss of souls, * For Thy long waiting at the door of our hearts, * For Thy loving sighs, * For Thy loving tears, * For Thy loving imprisonment, * For Thy loving death. *
Learn of Me: Because I am meek and humble of heart. O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who know Thee not, Have mercy on me as Thou seest best. **
O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who do not believe in Thee, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who are inconstant and ungrateful, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow during the whole course of Thy mortal life, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow in Thy agony and in Thy death, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who neglect their eternal salvation, ** O Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for those who offer the most Holy Sacrifice unworthily, ** Heart of Jesus, by Thy sorrow for the scarcity of those who love Thee fervently, **
Sweet Heart of Jesus: Be not my Judge but my Saviour.
O Jesus, loveliest of all beauty, wash me more and more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, that, purified by Thee, I may approach to Thee, the pure One, and may be worthy to dwell in “Thy Heart all the days of my life, that I may both see and do Thy will. For this cause was Thy side pierced, that an entrance might be opened for us. Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not return love for love to Him that hath loved so well? Amen.
O adorable Heart of Jesus, if men did but know Thee: How they would love Thee!
1 June – Devotion for June – THE MONTH OF THE MOST SACRED HEART of JESUS
In 1899, Pope Leo XIII Consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Since then, his successors have exhorted the faithful to turn to the Sacred Heart and make Acts of personal Consecration. They have also begged the faithful to offer prayers and penances to the Sacred Heart in reparation for the many sins of the world.
In his Encyclical on the Sacred Heart entitled Haurietis Aquas (“You Will Draw Waters”) Pope Pius XII notes that the genesis of the devotion to the Sacred Heart lies in the Covenant of Love from the Old Testament. He writes that “in the New Testament, the love which breathes from the Gospel, from the letters of the Apostles and the pages of the Apocalypse, all portray the Love of the Heart of Jesus.” He is linking this devotion to the Old Testament which was brought to life in Christ in the New Testament.
In the early 17th Century, Devotion to the Sacred Heart was given considerable attention in the preaching and writings of St John Eudes, known as “The Apostle of the Two Holy Hearts.”
St Francis (1567-1622) in his “Treatise on the Love of God,” lays out the foundation of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart. St Francis would greatly influence St Jane Frances de Chantal who was the Foundress of the Sisters of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the very Order which St Margaret Mary Alacoque VHM. (1647-1690), the Visionary of the Sacred Heart, would later join.
Our Lord appeared to St Margaret Mary, perhaps close to forty times. The first apparition occurred in the Visitation Chapel at Paray-le-Monial on 27 December 1673. The last apparition occurred less than two years later in June 1675. She saw His heart engulfed in flames and surrounded by thorns and heard His gentle voice:
“Behold this Heart which has so loved men that It spares nothing…to prove to them It’s love. And, in return, I receive from the greater part of men, nothing but ingratitude, by the contempt, irreverence, sacrileges and coldness with which they treat Me in this Sacrament of Love.
I thirst, I burn with a consuming desire for men’s love and I find none to quench this thirst, according to My wish, by making any return of love.”
From her cloister, St Margaret Mary promoted the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, First Friday Devotion, The Twelve Promises and the Holy Hour of Reparation.
The Sacred Heart Enthronement desires to follow in the footsteps of Saints who came before and hold true to the basic request of Jesus to St.Margaret Mary, “I will bless the home in which the Image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honoured.”
Sweet Heart of my JESUS, Make me love Thee ever more and more! –300 Days Indulgence Once a day, Plenary Once a month – Blessed Pope Pius IX – 26 November 1876
My most dear fellow Pilgrims and Friends, I send you most sincere Blessings and wishes for a Holy Ascension Thursday! 🙏
Gustave Dore
Secondly ,I do apologise for the sudden disappearance from Breathing Catholic this week. It was due to the Cape of Storms succombing to its annual bout of winter rain and wind. We were without electricity etc for 2 days on the Whale Coast of Cape Town but have heard of much greater devastation in other regions of the beautiful Cape Town. Let us pray for all, especially for those left homeless. 🙏
Finally, I beg your prayers as we begin the big move. Some might recall that I have experienced much illness this year and that my back is seriously damaged. I pray for the assistance of the Angels and Saints in all I attempt to do in this great task of packing as I am still unable to bend and more! I most sinceely beg your prayers 🙏 for the next 3+ weeks and I promise mine/ours in return.
Trusting in our Beloved and Kindest Lord, His Holy Sweetest Mother of Mercy, St Joseph, the Angels and Saints and ALL of YOU!
God LOVE you as I do too – Au Revoir, see you asap! Ana
Thought for the Day – 12 May – The Imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
Extracts from The Imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) Imprimatur 17 February 1947
SERMON The Virtues a Good Servant of Mary Ought to Practice and the Offices He Ought to Fulfil
I. The Latins have two words to designate the good actions to be accomplished in life. The word “virtus” in order to designate an action made with effort and goodwill and, the word “officium” in order to characterise an action accomplished as a duty but, without attachment of the heart. That which is required here of a good servant of Mary, are virtues, which is to say, meritorious acts, élan of the heart and not only works which, domestics themselves can fulfil. There are firstly, the interior virtues – humility, patience and purity.
II. Afterwards there are the exterior virtues or virtues of action – effort in work, elevation of the mind, union in mental prayer, zeal in vocal prayer.
III. These united virtues ought to animate all practices of devotion, if we wish these practices become spiritual acts of meritorious virtue and not only material offices of remunerated work. Thus Mary acted; thus we ourselves should act.
IV. The servant, therefore, asks of Mary, who is a mother and a model, to aid him in this work and to console him amid the difficulties of the work.
MEDITATION The Active Life
Life is like fire – it only preserves itself, while communicating itself. The ancients used to represent it by a flame and that is, indeed, the truth. To live it is necessary to act. The active life supposes –will and effort. Mary has known and practiced this life, as all the Saints have practiced it. Life which passes selfishly by, disillusions and engenders boredom; “taedium vitae.” Unfortunate is the soul who permits himself to live, without rising! He will have lived most, who will have acted most, through his heart, through his soul and through his body, through love, through the mind and through works. Is there a more beautiful model than Mary, in the Temple, at Nazareth, on Calvary, with St. John? Such a one has lived long, who has lived little, said a wise man. Let us live like Mary and with Mary.
Practice: Do not allow a single day to pass without having made an effort in at least one small thing.
Thought: A lukewarm life is a dull one; live as Mary did. “Look at Mary, contemplate and marvel! Aspice Mariam, contemplare et mirare!”
Fr and Dr Célestin Albin de Cigala (1865-1928) Faculty of Paris (1947) Doctor of Theology and Philosophy
Quote/s of the Day – 12 May – James 5:16-20 – Luke 11:5-13
“Ask and it shall be given you: seek and you shall find: knock and it shall be opened to you. ”
Luke 11:9
“With all my heart I pray, for the hope of Heaven because hope and faith, are of much more value, than all the riches of this world.”
St Paulinus of Nola (c354-431)
“Our part is to pray that we may be worthy of becoming His instruments.”
St Aloysius de Gonzaga (1568-1591)
“ It is necessary, therefore, to obey the Eternal Father by following Our Lord in order to hear His Word. And behold, how we are taught that all persons, whatever their condition may be, must pray and meditate, for it is there, principally, where this Divine Master speaks to us. … But, it will not do us any good to listen, if we do not DO what He says to us, observing His commandments and His wishes faithfully,”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of Charity
“ Sometimes God delays His answer in order to test our faith and perseverance. It is important that we should pray with a right intention, with faith and perseverance and, with resignation to God’s Will. We must realise clearly, God will grant us whatever is best for us, at the most suitable moment! Amen.
One Minute Reflection – 12 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Ferial Day – James 5:16-20 – Luke 11:5-13 – The Feast of Sts Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla (virgin) and Pancras, Martyrs – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. ” – Luke 11:9
REFLECTION – “Dear brothers, the commands of the Gospel are nothing else than God’s lessons, the foundations on which to build hope, the supports for strengthening faith, the food which nourishes the heart. They are the rudder for keeping us on the right course, the protection which keeps our salvation secure. As they instruct the receptive minds of believers on earth, they lead safely to the Kingdom of Heaven.
God Willed that many things should be said by the Prophets, His servants and listened to by His people. How much greater are the Words spoken by the Son. These are now witnessed to by the very Word of God Who spoke through the Prophets. The Word of God does not now command us to prepare the way for His Coming; He Comes in Person and opens the way for us and directs us toward it. Before, we wandered in the darkness of death, aimlessly and blindly. Now we are enlightened by the Light of Grace and are to keep to the highway of life, with the Lord to precede and direct us.
The Lord has given us many Counsels and Commandments to assist us toward salvation. He has even given us a pattern of prayer, instructing us on how we are to pray. He has given us Life and with His accustomed generosity, He has also taught us how to pray. He has made it easy for us to be heard as we pray to the Father in the Words taught us by the Son.
He has already foretold that the hour was coming when true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and in truth. He fulfilled what He had promised before, so that we who have received the Spirit and the Truth through the holiness He has given us, may worship in Truth and in the Spirit through the prayer He has taught.
What prayer could be more a prayer in the Spirit than the one given us by Christ, by Whom the Holy Ghost was sent upon us? What prayer could be more a prayer in the Truth than the one spoken by the Lips of the Son, Who is Truth Himself? It follows that to pray in any other way than the Son has taught us, is not only the result of ignorance but, of sin. He Himself has commanded it and has said: You reject the command of God, to set up your own tradition.
So, my brothers, let us pray as God our Master has taught us. To ask the Father in words His Son has given us, to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears, is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer. Let the Father recognise the Words of His Son. Let the Son Who lives in our hearts be also on our lips. We have Him as an Advocate for sinners before the Father; when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins, let us use the Words given by our Advocate. He tells us: Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He will give you. What more effective prayer could we then make in the Name of Christ than in the Words of His Own prayer?” – St Cyprian of Carthage (200-258) – Bisho, Father of the Church and Martyr (An excerpt from his On the Lord’s Prayer).
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we, who in our tribulation are yet of good cheer because of Thy loving-kindness, may find Thee mighty to save from all dangers. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 12 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
O Mary, Twice Mother of Mercy By St Jerome Emiliani (1486–1537)
O Mary, thou art twice Mother of Mercy because thou hast been made Mother of our most merciful Saviour, and, furthermore because, thou hast given to us so many signs of thy maternal care and love. Turn upon us, we beseech thee, thy glance of compassion and grant, that we may always live free from sin, which is the only impediment to receiving the fruits of the Divine Mercies. Amen
Saint of the Day – 12 May – Saint Cyril and 6 Companions (3rd Century) Martyrs of Rumania. Little is known of these Saints besides their staunch and holy sanctity never ceasing to declare Christ under immense torture and finally beheading. Grant us too the Grace we beseech Thee, Beloved Lord, never to cease defending Thee!
Information regarding Saint Cyril and his 6 companions, Martyred in Moesia (modern-day Rumania), is unfortunately fragmentary. Their liturgical feast is set today but the date of their Martyrdom remains uncertain, presumably in the 3rd Century.
The main sources mentioning these Saints are:
The Roman Martyrology: it places their commemoration on May 12th with the following entry: “At Galatz in Moesia, in modern Rumania, Saint Cyril, who was Martyred together with six companions.”
Apocryphal Acts
Ancient local traditions: passed down orally and then collected in manuscripts.
From the available sources, it is clear that Cyril was a fervent Christian who lived in Moesia. During a period of persecution, he and 6 companions were arrested and brought before the Roman Governor. They refused to renounce their faith and were subjected to various tortures. Finally, they were condemned to death and beheaded.
Blessed Joanna of Portugal OP (1452-1490) Religious of the Second Order of St Dominic, Virgin, Princess of Portugal of the House of Aviz, daughter of King Afonso V of Portugal and his first wife Isabella of Coimbra, Penitent. Blessed Joanna whom the Portuguese called “Saint Princess Joanna”: https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/12/saint-of-the-day-12-may-blessed-joanna-of-portugal-1452-1490/
Thought for the Day – 11 May – The Imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
Extracts from The Imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) Imprimatur 17 February 1947
Chapter III VIRTUES AND TASKS OF A GOOD SERVANT OF MARY
i. Do you always wish to do what is pleasing to Mary? Be humble, patient, chaste, reserved in everything, full of mildness, an interior man, filled with zeal, little versed in exterior matters, recollected. Read often, write often but most often, pray. The service of Mary should seem, neither long nor laborious but, on the contrary always delightful, always full of happiness, always eager. To serve with your heart and mind, such a mistress, is always a work pious and useful for salvation. The most lowly offerings are acceptable to her, as equivalent to the most solemn, when they are proffered with love, with spontaneity and with devotion. She knows how little we are able to give and she requires not the impossible from her children. A merciful sovereign and queen of mildness, she is, above all, a mother. As a mother, she knows only how to be compassionate to the little and the poor, she who has given to the world, Mercy in Jesus.
ii. Learn then to call upon Jesus in everything and you will be aided, both in perils of the soul and of the body. Have Jesus always in your heart, in happiness, and you will never be overcome by human distress. Say the Hail Mary often – you will find joy and peace in it – no prayer is more beautiful than the Our Father – none is sweeter and gentler, than the Hail Mary. Pray as the Angel prayed before Mary – work as a faithful servant works and you shall have, your crown and mansion in Heaven. He who knows how to nourish his soul with prayer, he who knows how to pray with the sacred texts, will never know aridity in devotion. Strive thus constantly, to honour the Names of Jesus and Mary in your heart and with your lips.
III. Wherever you may go, or wherever you may be, implore Jesus and call upon Mary. Have, as a rule of life and, as a help in time ot need, this pious invocation – “Guide, O my Lord, always guide my way in Thy presence.” He who bears Jesus and Mary in his heart, always works well, always conducts himself well. Sing these two Names, sing them in your heart, sing them with your lips, sing them with your hands. Let your looks seek them, let your eyes implore them, let your arms embrace them, let your knees adore them.
iv. Prayer: O Mary, O Mother Full of Mercy,
O Mary, O Mother full of mercy, receive close to thee, thy servant wandering without consolation, in the midst of his trials. Look, O my Queen, look at my affliction and open to me, thine heart full of consolation. Here I am, praying and saying in my distress that I shall not cease, nor leave thee, until thou hast had pity on me. I know, O Mother, thine incomparable sweetness, I know the maternal flame of thy noble heart, I know the fullness of love which fils it and that I may have full hope in thee. I take refuge with thee too, O my Mother, so that in joy as in sorrow, I may receive thy watchful succour and listen to thy maternal consolation.
(Thomas à Kempis, The Valley of Lilies,ChapterXIII)
Quote/s of the Day – 11 May – James 5:16-20, Luke 11:5-13
“Ask and it shall be given you: s seek and you shall find: knock and it shall be opened to you. ”
Luke 11:9
“The more I contemplate God, the more God looks upon me. The more I pray to Him, the more He thinks of me too.”
St Bernard (1090-1153) Father & Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
“By the practice of prayer, we can construct an impregnable citadel, in which we shall be securely protected against all the snares of the enemy.”
St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455)
“In prayer one must hold fast and never let go, because the one who gives up, loses all. If it seems that no-one is listening to you, then cry out even louder. If you are driven out of one door, go back in by the other.”
One Minute Reflection – 11 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” –Rogation Day – Ferial Day – Jasme 5:16-20 – Luke 11:5-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Ask and it shall be given you: seek and you shall find: knock and it shall be opened to you. ” – Luke 11:9
REFLECTION – “Whatever you shall ask.” Then why do we often see believers asking and not receiving? Perhaps it is that they do not ask correctly. When a person would make a bad use of what he asks for, God in His Mercy, does not grant him it. It is even more the case, that if someone asks what would, if answered, only tend to his injury, there is surely greater cause to fear, in case what God could not withhold with kindness, He should give in His anger. Still, if God even in kindness, often refuses the requests of believers, how are we to understand “Whatever you shall ask in My Name, I will do?” Was this said to the Apostles only? No. He says …, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he shall do also.” And if we go to the lives of the Apostles themselves, we shall find that he who laboured more than them all, prayed that the messenger of Satan might depart from him but was not granted his request.
Wake up then, believer and note what is stated here: “In My Name.” That [Name] is Christ Jesus. Christ signifies King, Jesus signifies Saviour. Therefore, whatever we ask for that would hinder our salvation, we do not ask in our Saviour’s Name and yet, He is our Saviour, not only when He does what we ask but also, when He does not. When He sees us ask anything to the disadvantage of our salvation, He shows Himself our Saviour by not doing it. The physician knows whether what the sick person asks for, is to the advantage or disadvantage of his health. And [the physician] does not allow what would be harmful to him, although the sick person himself, desires it. But the physician looks to his final cure.
And some things we may even ask in His Name and He will not grant them to us, at the time, although He will sometime. What we ask for is deferred, not denied. He adds, “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The Son does not do anything without the Father, inasmuch as He does it, in order that the Father may be glorified in the Son, for the Father and Son are One.” – St Augustine (354-430) Great Western Father and Doctor of Grace of the Church (Tractates on the Gospel of John, 73)
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we, who in our tribulation are yet of good cheer because of Thy loving-kindness, may find Thee mighty to save from all dangers. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 11 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Mary! By St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church
Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay thee with praise and thanksgiving for having rescued a fallen world by thy generous consent! Receive our gratitude and by thy prayers, obtain the pardon of our sins. Take our prayers into the sanctuary of Heaven and enable them to make our peace with God. Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for thy people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate thee, feel now, thy help and protection. Be ready to help us when we pray and bring back to us, the answers to our prayers. Make it thy continual concern, to pray for the people of God, for thou were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, Who lives and reigns forever. Amen
Saint of the Day – 11 May – St Francesco de Girolamo (1642-1716) SJ Priest, Apostolic Missionary of the Society of Jesus, who spent more than 40 years teaching, preaching Naples and its surrounds leading to his being titled “The Apostle of Naples.” His life was one of total service to all in humility and the most zealous care, espeically of the needy, of prisoners, sailors, the youth and women of ill-repute. He was an intellectual giant, scholar and a Miracle-worker. Born on 17 December 1642 at Grottaglie, Apulia, near Taranto, Italy and died on 11 May 1716 at Naples. Also known as – “The Apostle of Naples” Francis di Girolamo, Francis de Geronimo, Francesco de Hieronymo, Franciscus di Hieronymo, Francis Jerome.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Grottaglia, in the Diocese of Taranto, St Francesco de Giroliamo, Confessor, of the Society of Jesus, renowned for his zeal for the salvation of souls and for his patience. He was Canonised by Pope Gregory XVI. The day of his death is celebrated with great solemnity in the Church of the Professed House at Naples where his body rests.”
St Francesco was born in Grottaglie (Taranto) on 17 December 1642, the 1st of 11 children, 3 of whom became Priests, to a wealthy family of profound Christian faith.
He was fortunate to find in his native town, a school of letters and piety which benefited him greatly until the age of 17. In fact, at about the age of 10 years, he was entrusted to a Congregation of Priests dedicated to teaching and preaching missions to the faithful.
Young St Francesco, rather than being admitted merely to school, had the privilege of living with these pious Priests, who soon entrusted him with the care of the Church as the Sacristan and the teaching of Catechism to the children. He also sometimes accompanied the Priests on missions, helping them with the instruction of Catechism to the young.
At the age of 16 om 1658, St Francesco was given the first tonsure at the proposal of the same Congregation and at 17 he was received into the Diocesan Seminary in Taranto, to continue his studies, now definitively destined for the Priesthood. He attended courses in rhetoric, science and philosophy at the schools of the Jesuit College, being Ordained Sub-Deacon in 1664 and sometime later Deacon.
In 1665 St Francesco went to Naples, on the advice of his own teachers, to attend courses in civil and canon law, obtaining a Degree in these subjects, apparently in 1668 and in theology.
In order not to be a burden on the family budget, St Francesco requested and obtained, a position as Assistant to the young students at the highest College of the Neapolitan Jesuits. Meanwhile, in 1666, while studying theology, he was Ordained a Priest and in 1670 he became a Jesuit before completing his theological studies. He completed them a few years later in order to take the examination in universa philosophia et theologia, required by the Order’s Constitutions for the solemn Profession of the four vows.
From 1671 to 1674, he served in apostolic ministry in Puglia, particularly in the Diocese of Lecce. Just as his excellent intellectual gifts and virtues had already been demonstrated in his life as a student and Assistant to young people, to the point of being called the ‘holY’ Priest by the young, so too in his apostolic activity his qualities as a zealous apostle and effective preacher, were revealed.
Once he returned to Naples to complete his theological studies, he remained there for his entire life, Assigned to the popular missions which made him an Apostle of Naples and replaced the missions to India and the East which he had insistently requested. He made his solemn Religious Profession (8 December 1682) at the height of his Neapolitan apostolate, having been assigned since 1676 to the Casa Professa del Gesù Nuovo with all the duties inherent to the Office entrusted to him. It was essentially a threefold Office: the missions to the faithful which consisted of sermons held in the squares and along the streets, where large crowds gathered on Feast Days, which were quite numerous; general Communion every 3rd Sunday of the month, also prepared with open-air sermons and with his assistants, led the multitudes to the Church of the Gesù, where numerous Priests were already on standby to hear Confessions and the conversion of women from wicked lives.
This was one aspect of his public missions but what was special about it was that he entered the neighbourhoods where the homes which sheltered the unfortunate, were most numerous and began preaching under their windows.
His biographers recall many cases, sometimes miraculous, of conversions or repentance among these women.
But this threefold role did not exhaust the missionary’s activity, as he extended his apostolate to all those in need, such as ship workers, prisoners, the sick and the men of his congregation of artisans, a kind of Catholic circle or Confraternity which was of invaluable assistance to him in his missions and in organising, as mentioned, the general Communions on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
Although the City of Naples was his missionary field for about forty years, his apostolic zeal did not end there, as he is known to have taken part in missions many times in other regions of the Kingdom of Naples, such as Abruzzo, Puglia, and Sannio . Above all, however, Naples and its surroundings benefited from his work and were strongly influenced by his miracle-working holiness, as demonstrated by the events of 1707, when the Austrian Army occupied Naples, driving out the Spanish under Philip V. As was often the case in similar circumstances, the people gave way to revolts and looting. That time, however, St Francesco’s moral authority succeeded in averting the danger or significantly limiting it. Indeed, it seems that he helped prevent the Spanish barricaded in the fortresses from bombarding the City, acting as a mediator, as the Canonisation processes attests.
Another apostolic activity of St Francesco deserves mention i.e. his spiritual exercises for various classes of the people: Monasteries of nuns, Youth Centres, prisoners and ‘galley slaves.’ Everywhere he carried warm words of faith and love, inflamed as he was with a burning charity, especially toward Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and his most Holy Mother.
Among the devotions St Francesco favoured and spread ,a particular one was to St. Cyrus, Physician and Martyr, whose body rests in the Chapel of the same name in the Church of the Gesù Nuovo in Naples. He carried a Relic of the Saint with him on his missions and attributed to it all the miracles he performed during his sermons, although many contemporary witnesses believe that God worked miracles through our Saints own virtues and that he, in his humility, hid behind the healing power of St Cyrus. This testimony serves to demonstrate the esteem in which his virtues were held by his contemporaries, who, moreover, unanimously affirmed the sanctity of his life in all the Canonisation processes which began just a few years after his death, which occurred in Naples on 11 May 1716.
St Francesco was Beatified by Pope Pius VII on 2 May 1806, when the Jesuits, at the request of King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, were recognised for the Kingdom of Naples (the Order was restored in 1814).
He was then Canonised by Pope Gregory XVI on 26 May 1839, and his Feast Day was set on the day of his death. His body, transferred to the Chapel named after him in the Church of Gesù Nuovo in Naples which was enriched by the sculptor Jerace with an artistic Statue of the Saint preaching, remained there until after the Second World War, when it was moved to the Jesuit Church in Grottaglie, the Saint’s birthplace.
ROGATION DAY AND today is the Feast Day of the Founder of these Days when we pray the Litanies: St Mamertus (Died c477) Archbishop of Vienne, France, Theologian, Writer, Founder of the introduction of the praying of Litanies prior to Ascension Day, called “Rogation Days.” Rogation days are days of prayer and fasting in the Church. They are observed with processions and the praying of the Litany of the Saints. The major Rogation is held on 25 April, the minor Rogations are held on Monday to Wednesday, preceding Ascension Thursday. The word Rogation comes from the Latin verb rogare, meaning “to ask,” which reflects the beseeching of God, for the appeasement of His anger and for protection from calamities. Rogation St Mammertus: https://anastpaul.com/2019/05/11/saint-of-the-day-11-may-st-mamertus-died-c-475/
St Anastasius of Lérida St Anthimus of Rome St Bassus of Sabina St Bertilla St Criotan of MacReddin Bl Diego of Saldaña St Evellius of Pisa St Fabius of Sabina St Francesco de Girolamo (1642-1716) SJ Priest St Fremund of Dunstable St Gengulphus of Burgundy
St Mozio of Constantinople St Possessor of Verdun St Principia of Rome St Tudy St Vincent L’Hénoret Bl Vivaldus St Walbert of Hainault
Martyrs of Camerino: An imperial Roman official, his wife, their children and servants, all of whom were converts and martyrs: Anastasius, Aradius, Callisto, Eufemia, Evodius, Felice, Primitiva, Theopista.
Martyrs of Carcassona – 14 Beati:
Martyrs of Osimo: Diocletius Florentius Sisinius
DISCLAIMER: Please note: I cannot control the content of the Advertisements on this Site, or of pop-ups which may appear, The revenue from the Advertisements, however, does provide a little assistance in the support of the Site. I do apologise for any inappropriate content.
Thought for the Day – 10 May – “Mary’s Month” Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Mary’s Patience
“We also have our share of suffering and humiliation. It is useless to try and escape from it, useless to rebel against it. If we embrace the cross patiently and lovingly, a Jesus and Mary did, it will seem lighter, even welcome. If we attempt to cast it from us, it will weigh more heavily on our shoulders.
There are two kinds of men, those who bear their cross, patiently and embrace it because they wish to be like Jesus and, those who do not want to suffer and rebel. The former may stagger beneath their daily burden but, they have peace of soul because they are putting into practice, the great Gospel precept: “By your patience, you will win your souls” (Lk 21:19). They know that they are on the path to Heaven and this thought is consolation which cannot be taken from them. The second group of men, rebel against the cross and, therefore, suffer doubly, in body and in soul. “The senseless man,” the Holy Spirit says, “loves not to be reproved” (Prov 15:12).
To which of these two categories do we belong? Do we love our cross, or do we carry it patiently, at least? Anyone who does not want the cross, does not want Jesus. Let the example of Mary and of the Saints inspire us. They always bore their burden patiently, they even looked for suffering and humiliation. If we cannot reach such heroic heights, let us at last, accept, from the hands of Our Lord, the cross which He offers us. Let us accept the sufferings which we meet on the way of life. If we are not heroic enough to seek to be unknown and mortified, let us resolve to accept, patiently, the inevitable sorrows of life.”
Quote/s of the Day – 10 May – St Antoninus OP (1389-1459) Bishop of Florence, Confessor
“… Consider the beauty, holiness and dignity of blessed Mary and bless, with heart and mouth and deed, her Son, Who made her thus. ”
“She has encompassed the Heaven about, (that is, she has enclosed the Divinity) within the circle of her glory, her glorious humanity!”
“ The Lord breathes the Breath of Life – contrition of heart, into the face of the soul when He impresses upon it His Own Image and Likeness which has been soiled by sin and renews it.”
One Minute Reflection – 10 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Easter V – St Antoninus OP (1389-1459) – James 1:22-27 – John 16:23-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“That your joy may be full.” – John 16:24
REFLECTION – “The entire life of a good Christian is, in fact, an exercise of holy desire. You do not yet see what you long for but, the very act of desiring, prepares you, so that when He comes, you may see and be utterly satisfied.
Suppose you are going to fill some holder or container and you know you will be given a large amount. Then you set about stretching your sack or wineskin or whatever it is. Why? Because you know the quantity with which you will fill it and your eyes tell you, there is not enough room. By stretching it, therefore, you increase the capacity of the sack and this is how God deals with us. Simply by making us wait, He increases our desire, which in turn, enlarges the capacity of our soul, making it able to receive what is to be given to us.
So, my brethren, let us continue to desire, for we shall be filled. Take note of Saint Paul, stretching as it were, his ability to receive what is to come – ‘Not that I have already obtained this,’ he said, ‘or am made perfect.Brethren, I do not consider that I have already obtained it.’ We might ask him, ‘If you have not yet obtained it, what are you doing in this life?’ ‘This one thing I do,‘ answers Paul, ‘forgetting what lies behind, and stretching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the prize to which I am called in the life above.‘ Not only did Paul say he stretched forward but he also declared that he pressed on toward a chosen goal. He realised, in fact, that he was still short of receiving ‘what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived.‘
Such is our Christian life. By desiring Heaven, we exercise the powers of our soul. Now this exercise will be effective, only to the extent, that we free ourselves from desires leading to infatuation with this world. Let me return to the example I have already used, of filling an empty container. God means to fill each of you with what is good – so cast out what is bad! If he wishes to fill you with honey and you are full of sour wine, where is the honey to go? The vessel must be emptied of its contents and then be cleansed. Yes, it must be cleansed, even if you have to work hard and scour it. It must be made fit for the new thing, whatever it may be!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (An excerpt from his Tractates on «The First Letter of John»)
PRAYER – O Lord, may the merits of Antoninus, Your Confessor and Bishop, help us and just as we praise You for the wonders You have wrought in him, so may we glory in Your mercy toward us. T hrough Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 10 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – And Mothers’ Day
Most Holy Virgin, My Consolation By St Germanus of Paris (c490-576)
Most Holy Virgin! Who art the greatest consolation which I receive from God, thou, who art the heavenly dew which assuages all my pains, thou, who art the light of my soul when it is enveloped in darkness, thou, who art my guide in unknown paths, the support of my weakness, my treasure, in poverty, my remedy, in sickness, my consolation, in trouble, my refuge, in misery and the hope of my salvation, hear my supplications, have pity on me, as becomes the Mother of so good a God and obtain for me a favourable reception of all my petitions at the Throne of Mercy. Amen
Saint of the Day – 10 May – Saint Isidore the Labourer of Madrid (c1070-c1130) Confessor, renowned for his great piety and miracles. Born as Isidro and died near Madrid. Patronages – of Madrid, Leon, Zaragossa and Seville, of farmers, farm labourers, peasants Additional Feats on 15 May (believed possibly, to have been the date of birth into life). Also known as – Isidore the Farmer, Isidro,
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Madrid, St Isidore, a labourer. Being renowned for miracles, Pope Gregory XV, placed him in the number of the Saints, at the same time as St Ignatius, St Francis, St Teresa and St Philip Neri.”
St Isidore’s Life, was first written in 1265 by John, a Deacon of the Church of St Andrew, at Madrid and he edited and supplemented it in 1275,
St Isidore was born to devout, humble and poor parents in the Spanish countryside near Madrid. As a very young man he entered the service of a certain Juan de Vargas, on a farm in the vicinity of Madrid.
Every morning before begining his labours, he was accustomed to participate at Holy Mass at one of the Churches nearby. One day his fellow-labourers complained to their master that Isidore was always late for work due to his attendance at Mass. Upon investigation, the master found Isidore at prayer, while an Angel was doing the ploughing. On another occasion, his master saw an Angel ploughing on either side of him, so that Isidore’s work was equal to that of three of his fellow-labourers.
St Isidore holiness and prayers inspired great awe. By his intereceesion he resurrected his master’s lifeless daughter. He also caused a fountain of fresh water to burst from the dry earth in order to quench his master’s thirst.
He was married to Maria Torribia, also a Canonised Saint, who is venerated in Spain as Maria della Cabeza, from the fact that her head (Spanish, cabez) is often carried in procession especially in time of drought. The couple were blessed with one son, who sadly died in his youth. On one occasion this son fell into a deep well and at the prayers of his parents, the water of the well miraculously rose to the level of the ground, bringing the child with it aalive and well. Hereupon the parents made a vow of continence and lived in separate houses.
St Isidore and his Wife St Maria
Forty years after St Isidore’s death, his body was translated from the cemetery to the Church of St Andrew. In 1212, St Isidore appeared to Alfonso of Castile and to have shown him the hidden path by which he surprised the Moors and gained the victory of Las Nevas de Tolosa.
When King Philip III of Spain was cured of a deadly disease by touching St Isidore’s Relics, the King substitued the old Reliquary with a costly Splid Silver replacement.
St Isidore was Canonised by Gregory XV, along with Sts. Ignatius, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Jesus and Philip Neri, on 12 March, 1622.
St Isidore is widely venerated as the Patron of peasants and day-labourers. The Cities of Madrid, Leon, Zaragossa and Seville, also, honour him as their Patron. His feast is celebrated on 10 May.
St Alphius of Lentini Bl Amalarius of Metz Bl Antonio of Norcia St Aurelian of Limoges Bl Beatrix d’Este the Elder St Blanda of Rome St Calepodius of Rome
St Comgall of Bangor St Cyrinus of Lentini St Dioscorides of Smyrna St Felix of Rome Bl Giusto Santgelp
+St Gordianus (Died c392) Martyr and +St Epimachus (Died 250) Martyr The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome, on the Latin Way, the birthday of the holy Martyrs Gordianus and Epimachus. In the time of Julian the Apostate, the former was scourged for a long time and finally decapitated for confessing the Name of Christ. He was buried at night by the Christians, in a Crypt to which shortly before his burial, the remains of the blessed Martyr, Epimachus, had been translated from Alexandria, where he had been Martyred for the faith of Christ.” Their Holy Lives and Deaths: https://anastpaul.com/2025/05/10/saint-s-of-the-day-10-may-st-gordianus-died-c392-and-st-epimachus-died-250-martyrs/
Blessed Nicholas Albergati (1373-1443) Bishop, Cardinal Priest St Palmatius of Rome St Philadelphus of Lentini St Quartus of Capua St Quintus of Capua St Simplicius of Rome St Solange of Bourges St Thecla Bl William of Pontnoise
AnaStpaul 
You must be logged in to post a comment.