Saint Cyprian, martyr and bishop of North Africa during the fifth century. In 484, Cyprian, Saint Felix, and 4,964 assorted unnamed parishioners were driven into the Libyan desert by the Arian Vandal King Huneric. There they were tortured and martyred for their faith. Their story was recorded by Victor of Utica.
Banishment followed these actions, so good and so benevolent. For impiety always makes this return, that it repays the better with the worse.
Life and Passion of St Cyprian of Carthage (Pontius)
The death of Huneric
Like many of the most obnoxious kings, Huneric died by putrefaction, being eaten alive by worms.
Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady Aparecida, Aparecida, Sao Paulo, Brazil (1717) – 12 October: Also known as – Our Lady Who Appeared: Nuestra Señora del Pilar / Our Lady of the Pillar – 12 October:
Virgen de Zapopan / Our Lady of Zapopan, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, (1541) – 18 January, 12 October:
Today the village of Zapopan is a quiet little place not many miles from Guadalajara, reached by an excellent highway. Its tranquility and religious atmosphere must be a far cry from pre-Conquest times, when it was a feudal district and tributary of the powerful King of Tonala. In those days the Indians of the district worshiped an idol called Teopintzintl, “The Child God,” to which they offered gifts of hare and partridge. When the kingdom of Tonala bowed to Nuno de Guzman in 1530, Zapopan came under Spanish dominion. The Indian Queen, Chihuapili Tzapotzinco, ordered all the chieftains under her rule, to render their obedience to the Spanish Crown and in March of 1530 the Governor of Atemajac, under whose jurisdiction lay Zapopan, complied with this order. The Mixton War of 1541, however, depopulated the district and the Commander of Tlaltenango, Francisco de Bobadilla, obtained the Viceroy’s permission to repopulate Zapopan with Indians from Tlaltenango, thus lessening the chance of another uprising.
On the eighth of December, 1541, the people of Zapopan was resettled in accordance with the agreement, and on that day, the Franciscan Fray Antonio de Segovia, gave to the newly settled colony, a small image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. For ten years it had accompanied him on his apostolic journeys. In fact, only a short while before, while the Mixton War was still in progress, Fray Antonio, with his missionary companion Fray Miguel de Bolonia, had gone among the warring Indians, the image about his neck, exhorting them to make peace with the Spaniards. It is related that while Fray Antonio was preaching, the Indians saw luminous rays issuing from the image of Our Lady, and that this fact, as much as his preaching, caused them to stop fighting. In thirty-six hours Fray Antonio de Segovia brought to the Viceroy for pardon, more than six thousand Indians, who had laid down their arms. From that time Fray Antonio called the image La Pacificadora, “She Who Makes Peace.”
The image is made of paste – pieces of cornstalk, smoothed and cemented together with glue. It is little more than 30 centimetres in height and represents the Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception. The hands, joined before the breast, are of wood. The original sculpture donated by Fray Antonio de Segovia consisted only of the upper half, it is believed, the lower section having been added at a later date. As the lower half is not in proportion to the upper, the reconstruction gives a stunted effect to the image. However, nowadays the Statue is always covered with rich vestments of fabric, the disproportion is not apparent.
In its sculptured form, the Statue represents Our Lady standing with her feet upon a rudely formed crescent moon. She wears a red tunic and a dark blue mantle outlined in gold. One may find much to be desired in the image, considered as a work of art. Yet we must remember that it has the honour of being the first image of the Virgin Mary venerated in the State of Jalisco and that it has seen the Church, in that part of Mexico, grow from the tiniest seed to the great, many-branched tree of the present-day Catholic Faith. Furthermore, for over four centuries, Our Lady of Zapopan has been a constant channel of heavenly favours to the people of Jalisco. A beautiful Church has bee built to house and enshrine her and it remains a vital source of devotion and pilgrimage. Our Lady under this title is celebrated on 18 January and 12 October.
St Amelius of Mortara St Amicus of Mortara
St Cyprian St Domnina of Anazarbus St Edisto St Edistius of Ravenna
St Pantalus of Basle St Priscian the Martyr St Relindis
St Rodobaldo II Cipolla of Pavia (Died 1254) Bishop of Pavia. St Roboaldo II is remembered as a zealous shepherd and for his intense charitable activity.
St Wilfrid (c 633-709) Bishop, Abbot, Founder of Monasteries and Churches.
Martyred in the Spanish Civil War: • Blessed Bartolomé Caparrós García • Blessed Eufrasio of the Child Jesus • Blessed José González Huguet • Blessed Pedro Salcedo Puchades • Blessed Rafael Lluch Garín
May Your Heart Dwell Always in our Hearts! by Saint Francis De Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of Charity
May Your Heart dwell always in our hearts! May Your Blood ever flow in the veins of our souls! O Sun of our hearts, You give life to all things by the rays of Your goodness! I will not go, until Your Heart has strengthened me, O Lord Jesus! May the Heart of Jesus be the King of my heart! Blessed be God. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 12 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Dan 3:31; 3:29; 3:35, Ps 118:1, Eph 5:15-21, John 4:46-53
By the streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered you, O Sion.
Ps 136:1
REFLECTION – “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”. But I, I do not just call on him: above all else I believe in his greatness.
Not for his gifts do I persevere in my pleading, but because he is true Life and in him I breathe. Without him there is neither movement nor advance.
Not so much by the bonds of hope but by the bonds of love am I drawn. Not for the gifts but for the Giver do I long. It is not glory that I am reaching out for but the glorified Lord whom I desire to embrace. The thirst for life is not what is consuming me but the remembrance of him who gives life.
The desire for happiness is not why I am sighing, why I break into sobs from the depths of my heart, but from the desire for him who prepares it. It is not for rest I am seeking but for the face of him who will pacify my suppliant heart. I am pining, not for the wedding feast, but because of my desire for the Bridegroom.
In sure expectation of his power in spite of the burden of my sins, I believe with unquenchable hope, while entrusting myself into the hands of the Almighty, that I shall not simply gain forgiveness but will see him face to face thanks to his mercy and pity, and though I fully deserve to be banished, I shall come into possession of heaven.
St Gregory of Narek
PRAYER – Lord God, open our hearts to Your Grace, that we may be filled with Your light and overflow with gratitude for Your merciful love. May we love and adore and worship You in return. Although we are sinners, our hearts long to thank You in total trust and humble thankfulness. Grant that by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of our Hearts and of the humble St Serafino, we may grow in holiness. Through Your only Son, our Saviour and Redeemer, with the Holy Spirit, God, forever, amen.
See to it that you walk with care: not as unwise but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:15-21
The Extreme Liberal is easily recognized; he does not attempt to deny or conceal his perversity. He is the declared enemy of the Pope, of priests, of everything ecclesiastical; a thing has only to be sacred to rouse his implacable wrath; “priestcraft” is his favorite shibboleth. The moderate Liberal is just as bad as his extreme confrere, but he takes good care not to appear so. The Catholic simply tainted with Liberalism is generally a good man and sincerely pious; he exhales nevertheless an odor of Liberalism in everything he says, writes, or takes up.
Liberalism is a Sin
Justice therefore forbids, and reason itself forbids, the State to be godless, or to adopt a line of action which would end in godlessness-namely, to treat the various religions (as they call them) alike, and to bestow on upon them promiscuously equal right and privileges.
Pope Leo XIII
Secular education: To gain the child is to secure the man. To educate a generation apart from God and the Church is to feed the fires of Liberalism to repletion. HERE IS THE REAL BATTLEGROUND BETWEEN FAITH AND INFIDELITY. HE WHO IS VICTOR HERE IS VICTOR EVERYWHERE.
Liberalism is a Sin
Not only private individuals but also rulers and princes are bound to give public honour and obedience to Christ.
Pope Pius XI
Freemasonry in Europe and South America are constantly seeking to bind the Church hand and foot, that she may be put at its satanic mercy. By open and secret means, this organization has sought to undermine her discipline in every country where it has obtained a footing. Between her and the people, it seeks to dig a deeper and deeper abyss of hate, prejudice and calumny. NATURALISM, THE DENIAL OF THE SUPERNATURAL, IT INCULCATES EVERYWHERE.
The Blessed Virgin is glorified by our Devotion to the Angels.
The increase of the glory of the admirable Mother of God is a motive not a little powerful with those who love her. We read that many persons, vicious in other respects, have been so touched with the honour of this blessed Mother, as to protest that they would willingly sacrifice their lives for it. Now, if rebellious souls were so zealous for the honour of this august Queen of the sweets of Paradise, with much more reason should pious souls be induced to labour in so holy a cause. We can never sufficiently honour her. According to the testimony of the great Saint Bridget of Hungary, the Angels, from the commencement of the world, conceived so warm a love and so pure a zeal for the interests of Mary, that they were more pleased that she should receive existence than that they themselves had been created.
How many persons, in imitation of these blessed Spirits, and by their powerful succour, have since preferred the interest of this blessed Virgin to their own interest—her honour to their own honour! I have known several who were willing to sacrifice their life a thousand times for her honour, and who would remain amid the fire and flames of Purgatory till the day of judgment, to preserve her the least degree of glory. There is nothing which a good heart would not be willing to do and suffer for this Holy Virgin; all would appear little to it when done for her who deserved to be the Mother of God. This it is which persuades me that the motive of her glory will induce men to be devout to the Angels.
Being mistress general of the celestial host, the Angels are the soldiers of her who alone “is terrible as an enemy set in battle array.” They have vigorously combatted for her glory from the beginning, opposing themselves against Lucifer and his adherents, who refused to submit to her dominion, when God had revealed to them that she would one day become their Queen. Being the august Empress of Paradise, the Angels are her subjects, and consider it a great honour to be obedient to her laws. As lady or mistress of the Angels, these pure spirits are her servants, and so faithful that they fly at the least intimation of her will. According to the opinion of Theologians, Mary is mother of the Angels, and the friend of these holy Spirits—for the Spouse in the Canticles says to her, “speak, my beloved, for the friends hear” and these friends are the Angels.
Now, do not all these titles, which connect Mary with the Angels, show that her glory is concerned in their veneration? The servants, subjects, and soldiers of so great a Queen, have all manner of claims on our homage and devotion. Let us then praise and bless the holy Angels, because this most pure Virgin, our amiable Mother, is praised and blessed in them and by them) but let us, above all, praise that Lord, who has operated all that is good or great in our Lady of the Angels and the Angels themselves—God alone! God alone! God alone!
Saint Philip the Deacon, also known as Philip of Hierapolis and Philip the Evangelist. Born at Caesarea, Palestine, he was one of the seven Jerusalem deacons mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. He preached and performed miracles in Samaria, converting many, including the magician Simon Magus. Upon being commanded by an angel, he travelled from Jerusalem to Gaza, converting and baptizing the eunuch of Queen Candace of Ethiopia on the way.
Transported to Azotus by angels, he preached throughout the region, finally returning to Caesarea where he lived with his four daughters, virgins with the gift of prophecy. Philip met with Saint Paul the Apostle on his last journey to Jerusalem. Some traditions say be became bishop of Tralles (modern Aydin, Turkey).
Feast of the Divine Maternity – Second Sunday in October or 11 October:
The object of this feast is to commemorate the dignity of the Mary as Mother of God. Mary is truly the Mother of Christ, who in One Person unites the Human and Divine Nature. This title was solemnly ratified by the Council of Ephesus on 22 June, 431. It was long celebrated in Portugal, where the Maternity of Our Lady was declared a feast on 22 January in 1751, at the request of King Joseph Manuel. The feast, granted to the Dioceses of Portugal, Brazil, and Algeria, was assigned to the first Sunday in May.
In the following year it was extended to the Province of Venice; in 1778, to the Kingdom of Naples; in 1807, to Tuscany. It was finally instituted in 1931 by Pope Pius XI in view of the fifteenth century of the Council of Ephesus. At the same time the Pope ordered, at his own cost, the restoration of the Marian mosaics in Saint Mary Major, much decayed through age.
St Agilbert of Paris
St Alexander Sauli CRSP (1534-1592) Bishop “The Apostle of Corsica,” Clerk Regular of the Congregation of Saint Paul (The Barnabites) – St Alexander is referred to as “The Second Founder,” Missionary, Writer, Teacher of philosophy and theology at the University of Pavia, Reformer, Evangeliser, Confessor, Superior-General of the Barnabites in 1565. In addition, St Alexander Sauli was both friend, advisor and spiritual comfort to St Charles Borromeo, who held him in very high esteem.
St Anastasius V St Anastasius the Apocrisarius St Andronicus of Ephesus St Andronicus the Soldier St Ansilio St Bruno the Great St Canice St Digna of Sicily St Dionisio de Santarem St Emilian of Rennes St Ethelburgh of Barking St Eufridus St Firminus of Uzes St Germanus of Besancon St Gratus of Oloron St Guiadenzio of Gniezno St Gummarus (717-774) Lay Hermit Bl James Grissinger St Juliana of Pavilly
St Nectarius of Constantinople St Phêrô Lê Tùy St Philip the Deacon St Philonilla St Placid St Placidia St Probus of Side St Santino of Verdun St Sarmata St Taracus of Cladiopolis St Zenaides — Martyrs of Vilcassin – 4 saints: Four Christians who were martyred together. We know little more than the names – Nicasius, Pienza, Quirinus and Scubicolus. Their martyrdom occurred in Vexin Lugdunense territory of Gaul (modern Vilcassin, France), date unknown.
Mother of my God, Lady Mary, Queen of Mercy By St Alphonsus Ligouri (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
Mother of my God and my Lady Mary, as a beggar, all wounded and sore, presents himself before a great Queen, so do I present myself before you, who are Queen of heaven and earth. From the lofty throne on which you sit, disdain not, I implore you, to cast your eyes on me, a poor sinner. God has made you so rich that you might assist the poor and has made you Queen of Mercy, that you might relieve the miserable. Behold me then and pity me. Behold me and abandon me not, until you see me changed from a sinner into a saint. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 11 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Feast of the Divine Maternity – Readings: Dan 3:31; 3:29; 3:35, Ps 118:1, Eph 5:15-21, John 4:46-53
And they told him, Yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him. The father knew then that it was at that very hour in which Jesus had said to him, Your son lives. And he himself believed, and his whole household.
John 4:46-53
REFLECTION – “To this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living”. But “God is not God of the dead, but of the living”. Consequently, the dead over whom he who lives has power are no longer dead but alive. Life has power over them so that they may live without any further fear of death just as “Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again”. Raised up and freed from corruption they shall see death no more. They will share in the resurrection of Christ just as he shared in their death. For no other reason did he descend to earth, whose bars are barriers to eternity, except to “shatter the doors of bronze, and cut in two the bars of iron”. He came to lead our lives away from corruption to himself and gave us freedom in place of slavery.
If the work of this arrangement of providence does not seem to be finished yet, for men still die and their bodies rot in the grave, this should in no way undermine our faith. In advance of all the good things already mentioned we have even now received a pledge through Christ our firstfruits. Through him we attain the highest heaven and take our places with him who carried us up to the heights with himself. That is what Saint Paul says somewhere: “he raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
St Anastasius of Antioch
PRAYER – Lord open our hearts to Your grace. As You brought joy to the world through the incarnation of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, grant that through the prayer of His Immaculate Ever-Virgin Mother, our hearts too may grow in virtue and love by learning to reflect constantly on His commandments and counsels. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
If Mary is for us, who is against us? Father Manuel Padial, of the Society of Jesus, being at the point of death, Mary appeared to him, and said, to comfort him: “The hour has at length come when the angels, rejoicing, say to thee, Oh happy labors! oh mortifications well recompensed!” At which words an army of devils was seen taking flight in despair, crying: “Alas! we have no power, for she who is without stain defends him.”
St Alphonsus Liguori
Then I, their most loving Lady and mother, hasten to them in death, that they may have consolation and comfort.
The blessed Virgin to St. Bridget
The demons, when that soul is defended by Mary, will not even dare to accuse it; knowing that a soul protected by this great mother is never, and will never, be condemned.
St Alphonsus Liguori
Father Suarez, because he was all his life very devoted to Mary, used to say, that he would willingly exchange all his knowledge for the merit of one Hail Mary, and died with so much joy, that he exclaimed at his last moment, “I never imagined it would be so sweet to die.”
St Alphonsus Liguori
Blessed art thou, oh brother, if in death thou shalt find thyself bound by the sweet chains of love for the mother of God! These chains are chains of salvation, which will secure to thee eternal salvation, and give thee in death that blessed peace which will be the commencement of thy eternal peace and rest.
St Alphonsus Liguori
You too, devout reader, will doubtless feel the same peace and joy, if at death you can remember having loved this good mother, who cannot but be faithful to her children, when they are faithful to her service, paying her their offerings of visits, rosaries, and fastings, and especially thanking her, praising her, and often commending themselves to her powerful protection.
The great helps the Holy Angels afford us at the Hour of Death & Devotion to the Holy Angels is a sign of predestination to singular glory in Heaven
If to a pagan philosopher death appeared of all terrible things the most terrible, in what light should it be viewed by a Christian, to whom God has revealed its consequences ? When a person thinks seriously, that on the moment of death depends a happy or miserable eternity, his heart must be obdurate indeed, if he be not struck with fear; for “if the just be scarcely saved, where will the sinner appear?” O Lord ! “ enter not into judgment with thy servant, for no one living can be justified in thy sight!” The holy abbot Agatho, being seized with trembling at his last hour, and his religious having asked him the cause—he replied, that though by the great mercy of God, his conscience did not reproach him with anything, yet that the divine judgments being very different from those of men, he was in great alarm. No wonder he should have felt so—all our good works being imperfect in the sight of the Divine Majesty. If the Angels succour us in this dread moment, do they not prove themselves our true friends? It is in the time of affliction a person knows a sincere friend; and behold in the hour of death, when all abandon us to our fate, when our body is consigned to the solitary tomb, and our soul goes to the house of its eternity, the Angels, faithful to their charge, never depart from us.
—Our Lord once revealed, that souls devoted to the Angels during life shall receive extraordinary helps from them at the hour of death. And it is most just that the King of kings should thus evince his sense of the honours paid to his courtiers. Oh! blessed are those who by their love for and devotion to the Angels, and submission to the holy lessons which they have inspired, find themselves encompassed with their protection at the last hour, as with “a tower of defence.”
Woe to those, who have seldom thought Heaven ! How many say, that they care not, provided they may be in Heaven at all, what place they hold there. No doubt, the last place there is too high for persons who once deserved an everlasting hell; but since our merciful God calls us to aspire after the highest, it would betray great baseness of soul to be indifferent about it.
Be ambitious of the better gifts says the Holy Ghost. St. Teresa and St. Francis Borgia declared, that for one sole degree of increased glory in heaven, they would consent to burn in the flames of Purgatory till the day of judgment. These enlightened souls well knew its excellence—whereas we are incapable of discerning it, our sight being obscured by the vapours of flesh and blood. If it be asked, are not all the blessed perfectly content?—we reply, they are—but their joy is not equal. As one star differs from another in brightness, so the resurrection of the dead. The great spiritualist, Thaulerus, says, that there is more difference between one of the blessed who holds the first rank in the celestial empire, and another in an inferior degree, than between a mighty sovereign and an abject peasant. This should excite us to great and noble exertions, although there were no other motive than that by our greater glory and happiness God will be more glorified eternally. One sole degree of the glory of God would cause a soul who truly loves him to endure ten thousand deaths; and here it is not only one degree there is question of, but as many as there are moments in that eternity which is to be the term of our happiness.
Devotion to the Angels contributes wonderfully to the perfection of divine love, and consequently to the increase of glory in Heaven. These holy Spirits are all fire, and it is impossible to approach them often, without catching fire and participating in their ardours. If, with the Saints, we become sanctified— with the Angels, we are rendered celestial.
When St. Teresa was about to enter a more perfect life, a celestial voice said to her, that she should no longer hold converse with men, but with Angels. If intercourse with men be an obstacle to sanctity, familiarity with the Angels helps to our progress in it. Thus the greatest Saints have been the most devoted to the Angels. Let us endeavour to become so too, and we shall speedily advance in the ways of true sanctity, and enjoy in Heaven an eminent degree of glory.
Saints Eulampius and Eulampia, brother and sister martyrs from Nicomedia, Asia Minor (in modern Turkey) were children executed in 310, during the reign of Emperor Maximinus.
Eulampius was arrested by the Roman authorities during an attempt to buy supplies for Christians who were hiding in caves on the outskirts of Nicomedia. After he was whipped, his sister Eulampia was arrested after she emerged from a crowd to embrace and comfort him.
The siblings were executed the next day. First they were thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil, but since they miraculously stepped out unhurt, they were beheaded.
Two hundred soldiers, moved by the courage and faith of the two siblings, converted to Christianity on the spot and were themselves martyred.
And in the midst of that place we saw as it were an old man sitting, having snow-white hair, and with a youthful countenance; and his feet we saw not. And on his right hand and on his left were four-and-twenty elders, and behind them a great many others were standing. We entered with great wonder, and stood before the throne; and the four angels raised us up, and we kissed Him, and He passed His hand over our face.
La Naval de Manila / Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary , Quezon City, Philippines (1593) – Second Sunday of October: Also known as Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario / The Grand Lady of the Philippines.
In 1593, the Governor General of the Philippines commissioned a Statue of Our Lady of the Rosary for the Dominican Church in Manila. A un-named Chinese sculptor carved the hardwood body and ivory hands and face, which has Asian features. About 4’8″ tall, the image is dressed in cloth of gold, with a crown and a halo of 24 stars and adorned with precious donated jewels. Our Lady holds the Child Jesus with her left hand and a Rosary with her right. The title “La Naval” refers to Our Lady’s help in the naval battles of Lepanto in 1571 and Manila in 1646, when a small Catholic fleet repeatedly repelled Dutch invaders. The Catholic Church in Manila first celebrated the feast of “La Naval” on 8 October 1646. Pope Pius X’s Apostolic Delegate crowned the Statue on 5 October 1907.
Pope Pius XII also sent an Apostolic Letter on the occasion of the tricentenary of the Battle of La Naval de Manila on 31 July 1946. The Japanese bombing of 27 December 1941 destroyed the Church of Santo Domingo in Manila’s old walled city. Hidden for safekeeping, the holy Statue moved in 1954 to its present location in the Santo Domingo Shrine in Quezon City.
In 1646, naval forces of the Dutch Republic made several repeated attempts to conquer the Philippines in a bid to control trade in Asia. The combined Spanish and Filipino forces who fought, requested the intercession of the Virgin through the Statue prior to battle. They were urged to place themselves under the protection of Our Lady of the Rosary and to pray the Rosary repeatedly. They went on to rebuff the continued attacks by the superior Dutch fleet, engaging in five major battles at sea and losing only fifteen members of the Spanish Navy. After the Dutch retreat, in fulfillment of their vow, the survivors walked barefoot to the Shrine in gratitude to the Virgin.
Later, on 9 April 1662, the Cathedral chapter of the Archdiocese of Manila declared the naval victory a miraculous event owed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, declaring:
“Granted by the Sovereign Lord through the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin and devotion to her Rosary, that the miracles be celebrated, preached and held in festivities and to be recounted amongst the miracles wrought by the Lady of the Rosary, for the greater devotion of the faithful to Our Most Blessed Virgin Mary and Her Holy Rosary.“
St Francis Borgia SJ (1510-1572) Priest of the Society of Jesus, Advisor, Missionary, Evangelist, Administrator par excelleance. Francisco de Borja y Aragon was the 4th Duke of Gandía, was a Grandee of Spain, a Spanish Jesuit and third Superior General of the Society of Jesus
St Aldericus
St Cassius St Cerbonius of Populonia St Cerbonius of Verona St Clarus of Nantes Bl Demestrius of Albania Bl Edward Detkens St Eulampia St Eulampius St Florentius the Martyr St Fulk of Fontenelle St Gereon St Gundisalvus Bl Hugh of Macon St John of Bridlington OSA (1319-1379) Priest, Prior of the Monastery of the Canons Regular of St Augustine. Bl Leon Wetmanski St Maharsapor the Persian St Malo the Martyr St Patrician St Paulinus of Capua
St Paulinus of York (c 584-644) First Bishop of York, Missionary – Paulinus was a member of the Gregorian mission sent in 601 by Pope Gregory I.
Bl Pedro de Alcantara de Forton de Cascajares St Pinytus of Crete Bl Pontius de Barellis St Tanca St Teodechilde St Victor of Xanten
Martyrs of Ceuta – 7 beati: A group of seven Franciscan Friars Minor missionaries to Muslims in the Ceuta area of modern Morocco. Initially treated as madmen, within three weeks they were ordered to convert to Islam and when they would not they were first abused in the streets, then arrested, tortured and executed. • Angelo • Daniele di Calabria • Donnolo • Hugolinus • Leone • Nicola • Samuele They were beheaded in 1227 in Mauritania Tingitana (Ceuta, Morocco). Local Christians secreted the bodies away and gave them proper burial in Ceuta. They were Beatified in 1516 by Pope Leo X.
One Minute Reflection – 10 October – “Month of the Most Holy Rosary” – Readings: Ps 36:30-31, Ps 36:1, Ecclus 45:1-6, Matt 19:27-29
And everyone who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.
Matt 19:27-29
REFLECTION – These [social] teachings [of the Church] could diminish the distance that pride is pleased to maintain between the rich and the poor, but simple friendship is still too little. If we obey Christianity’s precepts, union will be brought about through fraternal love. On both sides, people will know and understand that absolutely all human beings have come forth from God, their common father; that God is their common and only goal, and that God alone is able to communicate perfect and absolute happiness to angels and to human beings. In addition, all have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and restored by him to their dignity as children of God, and thus a true bond of fraternity unites them, whether this be among themselves or to Christ their Lord, who is “the first-born of many brothers.”
Finally, they will know that all the goods of nature, all the treasures of grace belong in common and indiscriminately to the whole human race, and that only those who are unworthy will be disinherited of the heavenly goods. “If you are children, you are heirs as well: heirs of God, heirs with Christ.”
Leo XIII
PRAYER – Almighty God and Father, you sent St Francis Borgia to be Your witnesses and to bring Your Church to all for the salvation of souls. Sustain us by their prayers that by our lives we may lead all to You through Holy Mother Church. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen
Thus, when the thought of doing a good action presents itself to our mind, if reason approves and the will agrees -because this action is conformable to the rules of Holy Scripture, and may contribute to the glory of God and the salvation of our neighbour-we should be extremely diligent in executing it, because it is certain that a man loses much when he neglects to perform the good which he can do, and that it would have been incomparably better not to have had the thought, than to have failed in accomplishing it, after having had it. It is for this reason that hell is said to be full of good intentions.
No more efficacious means exists of obtaining eternal salvation, than the performance of good works, in whatever state a man may be. If he is in sin, these aid him to repent; and if he is in grace, they help him to obtain from God the gift of perseverance.
While dressing in the morning.
Enter into a profound sentiment of confusion, in considering that you are well clothed, and that Jesus Christ was fastened naked to a cross for love of you.
Thank Him for having assumed our nature, although He knew at the time how ungrateful we should be for this favour; and also for having given us clothes to cover us, although we have so often despised the nuptial robe of grace, with which He clothed us. While dressing yourself, yon are performing one of the works of mercy, which is to clothe the naked: implore Him to accept this action, in consideration of the garment of ignominy with which He was covered in the palace of Herod.
On assisting at Mass.
Reflect humbly with how little devotion you come to see and adore your God. Reproach yourself that the continuation of so great a benefit is the cause of the light esteem in which you hold it, instead of the cause, as it ought to be, of an increase in your respect and love; since God renders His favours so common only to make better known the great charity which He has for you.
Thank Him for making you resemble the Angels each time you adore Him with true faith: for these blessed spirits are always employed in His presence, praising and glorifying Him unceasingly.
Since this sacrifice is offered to God in memory of the sacrifice of Calvary, ask of Him, through the merits of His precious blood, the grace to cleanse yourself in it from all your sins, and to efface them by the abundance of your tears, that the old man may die within you and the new man live therein.
Alas! alas! the sinner who considers the enormity of his crimes, who knows how easy it is to fall at any moment into sin, and who sees how many less weak than himself have been damned for ever for having fallen but once, should indeed tremble for himself!
If each one of us will reflect what obligation he would owe to any one who had delivered him from hell after he had fallen into it, he will understand that he owes no less to God who has kept him from it by the preserving power of His grace. If we would often occupy ourselves with these thoughts, and with the thanksgiving which we owe to God for so inestimable a favour, we would feel, without doubt, our hearts penetrated with a saving confusion, and this confusion would be followed by an interior peace and consolation which the world cannot give.
The Protection afforded to us by the Angels against the enemies of our Salvation.
The life of man is a warfare; he has to fight against temptations within and temptations without—temptations from the world, and temptations from himself. It is a strange thing, that we ourselves are our most dangerous enemies, and that it would give us quite enough to do to wage war against ourselves. Yet this is not all; we have other combats to sustain. We must combat against the devils, powerful in might, cruel in rage, countless in number, indefatigable in pursuit.—Being spiritual beings, they strike invisibl —enter all places—see all things—leave no art, no wile, untried, to effect our ruin, and triumph in our defeat. O ! you who read these lines ! do you not tremble at the idea of such combats? On your victory depends your eternal fate. Consider what it is to be damned for ever, and the danger in which you are of being so, by the malice of the devils—and then you will be convinced of the necessity of being devout to their powerful adversaries, the holy Angels.
The devils are cruel in their rage; the destruction of our corporeal existence would not suffice to glut their malice: they unceasingly seek to take away the life of our souls, and “ go about” continually “ seeking whom they may devour.” This infuriate malice is accompanied by such power, that, as we learn from the Book of Job, no force on earth can be compared to it: millions of armed men could do nothing against the efforts of a single evil spirit. The Scripture calls them the powers and princes of this world and of darkness the greater part of mankind being subject to their detestable tyranny.
These wicked spirits study the designs of God on a soul, in order to hinder it from corresponding with them. They often divert persons from following their vocation—induce others to embrace states to which they are not called—they tempt parents to oppose the vocation of their children—in line, through the artifices of these subtle enemies, the greater number of persons do anything but what they should do.
If they cannot turn us from the ways of grace, they try to mingle in them ; prompting us to pray, when God will have us labour for him; to be angry and impatient when hindered from a good work; to be disquieted at our faults; to confess and communicate through imperfect motives; to irritate ourselves with an unquiet zeal at the faults of others, and to forget our own. As they are without peace or order among themselves, they labour all they can to render us so too—often exciting scruples, doubts, anxieties—inspiring us with fears as to the validity of our past confessions—prompting us to make them all anew, and still to be dissatisfied. They give false ideas of piety—and if they see true devotion gain ground in any place, by means of prayer and frequent communion, they will cause some of those who use these means to fall into great faults, to furnish others with a pretext for declaiming against them.
These wicked spirits, as we have already said, often represent things to us quite differently from what they are. They persuade persons in the world, that devotion is only for those who live in monasteries, and quite incompatible with their state. They not only persecute those who are employed actively in gaining souls to God, but those also who live in solitude, when possessed of extraordinary virtue, knowing that, by their prayers, and constant union with God, they will help to save and sanctify many other persons.
Are you not now convinced of your want of superior force against such enemies, in order to be victorious ? Having seen so many wiles laid for your destruction, are you not resolved to make use of that succour which our good God has provided for you in his holy Angels? Every time that you feel pressed by temptation, go to your Angel and say to him, as St. Bernard exhorts you, “Lord! save me, or I perish! God has given my soul in charge to you— bear it up in your hands—make it trample on the lion and the dragon,” and, as kings put thieves and outlaws to death, in order to preserve the lives and properties of their subjects—the blessed spirits will destroy the schemes of their apostate brethren for our eternal ruin; and with them we shall sing a canticle of joy and a psalm of jubilation, because we shall have obtained the victory.
Saint Abraham the Patriarch, originally Abram, was the founder of the Hebrew nation and father of all believers in the true God. He was born at Ur, Chaldea, 1948 years after the creation of the world.
Thare had three sons, Abram, Nachor, and Aran. Abram married Sarai. Thare took Abram and his wife, Sarai, and Lot, the son of Aran, who was dead, and leaving Ur of the Chaldees, came to Haran and dwelt there till he died. Then, at the call of God, Abram, with his wife, Sarai, and Lot, and the rest of his belongings, went into the Land of Chanaan.
During his travels and adventures, which took him to Egypt as well as had him battle kings, he met Melchisedech, king of Salem,who brought forth bread and wine, and blessed him. Abram gave him tithes of all he had; but for himself he reserved nothing. God promised Abram that his seed should be as the stars of heaven, and he would possess the land of Chanaan.
Abraham was told of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah but obtained from God the promise that He would not destroy them if He found ten just men therein. The next morning Abraham, looking from his tent towards Sodom, saw the smoke of destruction ascending to heaven.
Abraham had a dispute with Abimelech over a well at Bersabee, which ended in a covenant being made between them. It was after this that the great trial of the faith of Abraham took place. God commanded him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. When Abraham had his arm raised and was in the very act of striking, an angel stayed his hand and made the most wonderful promises to him of the greatness of his posterity because of his complete trust in God.
Sarah died at the age of 127, and Abraham, having purchased from Ephron the Hethite the cave in Machpelah near Mambre, buried her there. He married Cetura, and had by her six children. Finally, leaving all his possessions to Isaac, he died at age 170, and was buried by Isaac and Ismael in the cave of Machpelah.
St Denis of Paris (Died c 258) and Companions – the First Bishop of Paris, Martyr, Confessor (Optional Memorial) One of the 14 Holy Helpers
St John Leonardi (1541-1609) (Optional Memorial) Priest, Founder of the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of Lucca, wherein he assumed the name of “Giovanni of the Mother of God”, Confessor, Reformer, Apostle of the Holy Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration, Marian devotee.
Bl Aaron of Cracow St Abraham the Patriarch St Alfanus of Salerno St Andronicus of Antioch St Athanasia of Antioch Bl Bernard of Rodez St Demetrius of Alexandria St Deusdedit of Montecassino St Domninus St Dorotheus of Alexandria St Donnino of Città di Castello (Died 610) Lay Hermit St Eleutherius St Geminus St Gislenus St Goswin Bl Gunther
St Lambert
St Louis Bertrand OP (1526-1581) “Apostle of South America” – Dominican Priest, Missionary, Preacher, Confessor, Teacher, Spiritual Director, Miracle-Worker.
St Publia St Rusticus St Sabinus of the Lavedan St Valerius — Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War – Martyrs of Astoria – (9 saints): Also known as Martyrs of Turon: A group of Brothers of the Christian Schools and a Passionist priest martyred in the persecutions during the Spanish Civil War. They are – • Aniceto Adolfo • Augusto Andrés • Benito de Jesús • Benjamín Julián • Cirilo Bertrán • Inocencio de la Immaculada • Julián Alfredo • Marciano José • Victoriano Pío They were martyred on 9 October 1934 in Turón, Spain and Canonised on 21 November 1999 by St Pope John Paul II. — Martyrs of Laodicea – (3 saints): Three Christians martyred together in Laodicea, but no other information about them has survived but their names – Didymus, Diodorus and Diomedes. They were martyred in Laodicea, Syria.
One Minute Reflection – 9 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Ecclus 42:15-16, Ps 95:1, 2 Cor 4:1-6; 4:15-18, Luke 10:1-9
And whatever town you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you, and cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
Luke 10:1-9
REFLECTION – One day I was pondering over what I could do to save souls; a phrase from the Gospel showed me a clear light: Jesus said to his disciples, pointing to the fields of ripe corn, “Look up and see the fields ripe for harvest” and a little later, “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers”. How mysterious it is! Is not Jesus all-powerful? Do not creatures belong to Him who made them? Why then does Jesus say: “Pray the master of the harvest to send out laborers”? Why?
Ah! Jesus has so incomprehensible a love for us, that He wants us to have a share with Him in the salvation of souls. He wants to do nothing without us. The creator of the universe waits for the prayer of a poor little soul to save other souls redeemed like itself at the price of all His blood.
Our vocation, yours and mine, is not to go harvesting in the fields of ripe corn; Jesus does not say to us; "Lower your eyes, look at the fields, and go and reap them"; our mission is still loftier. Here are Jesus' words: "Lift up your eyes and see." See how in my Heaven there are places empty; it is for you to fill them. Each one of you is my Moses praying on the mountain; ask Me for laborers and I shall send them, I await only a prayer, a sigh from your heart!
St Thérèse of the Child Jesus
PRAYER – “O my God, whatever is nearer to me than You, things of this earth and things more naturally pleasing to me, will be sure to interrupt the sight of You, unless Your grace interfere. Keep You my eyes, my ears, my heart, from any such miserable tyranny. Keep my whole being fixed on You. Let me never lose sight of You and while I gaze on You, let my love of You grow more and more every day.” St John Leonardi, may we run the race in obedience and love of the Will of our God, always seeking His Face in those who are the least. Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Make Me Like Yourself, Mary My Mother By St Louis-Marie de Montfort (1673-1716)
My powerful Queen, you are all mine, through your mercy and I am all yours. Take away from me, all that may displease God and cultivate in me, all that is pleasing to Him. May the light of your faith, dispel the darkness of my mind, your deep humility, take the place of my pride, your continual sight of God, fill my memory, with His presence. May the love of your heart inflame the lukewarmness, of mine. May your virtues, take the place of my sins. May your merits, be my enrichment and make up for allthat is wanting in me, before God. My beloved Mother, grant that I may have, no other spirit but your spirit, to know Jesus Christ and His Divine will and to praise and glorify the Lord, that I may love God, with burning love like yours. Amen
Even though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our present light affliction, which is for the moment, prepares for us an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all measure; while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen.
2 Cor 4:15-18
St. Peter of Alcantara once visited a sick person who for a long time had endured a most painful illness with admirable patience. The saint, while sitting at the sufferer’s bedside, was rapt in ecstasy. Upon regaining consciousness, he turned to the sick man and exclaimed, ‘Oh, happy patient, God has shown and revealed to me how great a glory you have merited by your illness. You have merited more than others can gain by prayer, fasting, vigils, scourging, and other penitential exercises.
Words of Consolation for the Sick and Afflicted
When one loves the Cross, one is fearless to kiss it and even enjoys death.
Fr. Demaris (18th century)
St Bonaventure says, that those who make a point of announcing to others the glories of Mary are certain of heaven, and this opinion is confirmed by Richard of St Lawrence, who declares ‘that to honour this Queen of Angels is to gain eternal life’ and he adds, ‘that this most gracious Lady will honour in the next world those who honour her in this.’
St Alphonsus Liguori
Bona bonis mala malis (Good things to the good, bad things to the bad) Liber scriptvs proferetvr (A written book will be brought forth) Tempvs breve est (Time is short)
Undoubtedly the way of penance required by my commandments seems harsh and difficult to begin with, but the more it goes on the easier and sweeter it becomes, whereas the way of vice is pleasurable enough to begin with, but it becomes more and more bitter and painful as time goes on.
The Dialogue of St Catherine of Siena
A single one who is perfect will do more than many who are not.
MOTIVE SEVENTH The Angels assist us in spiritual things.
Properly speaking, man has but one affair—that of eternity. All that tends not to this great end is not worth a single thought. O ! how wretched and contemptible are all things which the world calls great! how unworthy the occupation of a Christian soul are its honours and pleasures ! It were well that this truth, “the world and its concupiscence passes away,” never departed from our minds: eternity would then occupy us, and the means of acquiring a happy one, among which the patronage of the Angels is not the least, would be more fully appreciated.
It is indeed true, that these blessed Angels do all that they can to procure for us a glorious immortality. They have been known to press apostolic men, as St. Paul and St. Francis Xavier, to announce the Gospel to those who sat in the shades of death.” They have often assisted evangelical labourers. How many children receive baptism by their means, who would otherwise perish in original sin ! Behold a wonderful example : In January, 1634, in the city of Vienna, three souls, freed from Purgatory, appeared, says Father Loret, of the Society of Jesus, to one of our religious, to thank him, for having by his prayers and mortifications, procured their release. On the day of your birth, said they, our good angels revealed to us, that you would one day be our liberator; and know that you are greatly indebted to your Angel Guardian, for without his care you would have been suffocated, through the carelessness of the attendant, before you received baptism.
After procuring for us the life of grace, the Angels endeavour to conserve us therein; and hence they prompt us to receive often the adorable Eucharist, which is the life of lives. They have often carried this vivifying sacrament to solitaries and recluses—St. Stanislas Kotska, S. J., received this favour. Nor do they forget the other means of our salvation. Prayer is one of the most powerful ; and it is by the Angels our petitions are carried before the throne of God : there is no exercise in which they are more present with us than this. Mortification is the sister of prayer—and what have not the Angels done to engage us to practise it? They have often visibly given their clients instructions thereon, suitable to their great lights, and convinced them of the absolute necessity of this virtue in all true Christians.
They are most anxious to inspire us with a love for that virtue which assimilates us to them, virginal purity.—What have they not done in its defence ? They have sometimes combated and destroyed those who attacked it—they have rendered invisible those who possessed it, to preserve them from danger—they, in fine, have sometimes procured from their Creator a temporary suspension of nature’s laws, to preserve a virtue, which, raising man above himself, causes him to live in a mortal body a life wholly divine.
But their great object is to inspire us with love for Jesus and his amiable Mother, knowing that the love of these sacred persons is the source of all good to our souls. St. Dominic, being one of the most fervent lovers of Jesus and Mary that ever existed, was in consequence the great favourite of the Angels. He received from them all sorts of assistance, during the long nights that love chained him to the altar steps, whilst pouring out his soul in the presence of his good Master, and invoking the patronage of his glorious Mistress. They were once seen, when the Saint happened to lodge in the house of the Bishop, lighting him with flambeaux from his chamber to and from the church, the doors of which they opened for him.
But this is not all. As for the practice of virtue, it is necessary that the will should be moved and the understanding enlightened, they often effect both. Thus they reveal the sublimest mysteries. It was an Angel who gave the law to Moses—an Angel who announced to the glorious Virgin the incarnation of the Word—to the Marys his resurrection, and to the apostles his last coming. They endeavour to preserve us from sin, or to free us from it, after having fallen into it.—Those lights which sometimes beam suddenly on the soul a clear knowledge of holy truths— those unforeseen movements which surprise us when we least expect them, and which move us so efficaciously to good, come to us by the agency of these blessed spirits.
In those happy moments, wherein we find ourselves strangely pressed to give ourselves to God, without knowing why, let us recognise the exertions of the Angels. They obtain for us a victory over our passions, the conquest of our bad inclinations, a knowledge of our faults and imperfections, and of our most hidden oppositions to grace—they invite us to penance, solicit us to make a good confession, and fully satisfy the divine justice. In fine, they support us in the way of virtue, console us in sufferings, quiet our fears, remove our scruples, and impart to us that holy joy and “divine peace, which surpasses all understanding.” When Raphael met Tobias, he wished him continual joy, and in leaving him, everlasting peace – Let us disengage ourselves from all created things, and the wishes of these holy Spirits for our happiness will be accomplished. To enjoy true and continual peace, it is necessary to live to God alone.
Our Morning Offering – 8 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary”
Cast Upon Us a Look of Mercy By Pope Pius IX (1792-1878)
O Jesus! Cast upon us a look of mercy, turn Your Face towards each of us as You did to Veronica, not that we may see it, with our bodily eyes, for this we do not deserve but turn Your Face towards our hearts, so that, remembering You, we may ever draw from this Fountain of Strength, the vigour necessary to sustain us, in the combats of life. Amen
Saint Nestor of Thessalonica, martyr, was a wrestler known for having been the student of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica, who instructed Nestor in the Faith. The emperor was visiting Thessaloniki, and he built a high platform in the midst of the city so that a gigantic barbarian named Lyaios could wrestle there, seen by all. Beneath the platform many spears and other sharp weapons were placed pointing upward. When Lyaios defeated his opponents, he threw them down onto the spears. As a method of execution, Christians were killed in this way. When Nestor saw how Emperor Maximian rejoiced over the victories of his champion, he despised his pride. Seeing the miracles of Saint Demetrios, however, he was inspired and went to the prison where the holy martyr was confined, and fell at his feet.
“Pray for me, O Servant of God Demetrios,” he said, “that by your prayers, God may help me to beat Lyaios, and put an end to him who brings reproach upon the Christians.”
The saint, after making the Sign of the Cross over Nestor, told him that he would prevail over Lyaios, and then suffer for Christ. Nestor mounted the platform without fear and exclaimed: “Help me, O God of Demetrios.” After he defeated Lyaios, he hurled him down onto the spears, where he died.
Maximian (co-ruler with Diocletian) became enraged and ordered that both Nestor and Demetrios should be put to death. Saint Demetrios was stabbed with spears, and Saint Nestor was beheaded.
Notre-Dame du Bon Remède / Our Lady of Good Remedy, France (1197) – 8 October:
In 1197, a Sorbonne Doctor of Theology and newly Ordained Priest, Jean de Matha, while saying his first Holy Mass, saw a vision of an Angel with a red and blue cross on his chest and his hands resting on the heads of two captives. The following year, St Jean founded a religious order dedicated to the redemption of Christians held as slaves by Moslems — the Hospitaler Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of Captives, commonly called the Trinitarians. On their habit, Jean placed the Cross he had seen on the Angel,and, as their Patron, he gave them Notre-Dame du Bon Remède, a popular devotion in his Provençal homeland. Now devoted largely to education and evangelisation, for three centuries they raised funds and travelled from Europe into Africa to buy thousands of captives’ freedom with Our Lady’s help. A painting (right) in the Trinitarian Motherhouse of Cerfroid in northern France, shows Our Lady of Good Remedy giving a bag of money to St Jean/John of Matha, while a grateful freedman and St Felix of Valois, look on. The Order celebrates her feast day 8 October.
800 years ago Christians were being captured and sold into slavery by the thousands, and nobody knew what to do about it. Then, in the year 1198, a man had an idea. St. John of Matha founded the Trinitarians to go to the slave markets, buy the Christian slaves and set them free. To carry out this plan, the Trinitarians needed large amounts of money. So, they placed their fund-raising efforts under the patronage of Mary. They were so successful that, over the centuries, the Trinitarians were able to free thousands and thousands of people and to return them safely home. In gratitude for her miraculous assistance, St. John of Matha honoured Mary with the title of “Our Lady of Good Remedy.” Devotion to Mary under this ancient title is widely known in Europe and Latin America and the Church celebrates her feast day on 8 October. Our Lady of Good Remedy is often depicted as the Virgin Mary handing a bag of money to St. John of Matha. When in need – for whatever reason but especially where you have had difficulty obtaining help – invoke the aid of Our Lady of Good Remedy and you will surely experience the power of her intercession.
St Bridget of Sweden (c 1303-1373) Widow, Religious, Mystic, Confessor, Founder of the Bridgettines Nuns and Monks, author of “The Pieta” book of devotions. Feast day pre-1969 is today 8 October
St Hugh Canefro (1148-1233) Religious of the Order of Malta, Apostle of Charity, Miracle-Worker.
Bl John Adams Bl John Lowe St Keyna St Laurentia St Nestor of Thessalonica St Palatias
St Pelagia the Penitent (Fourth or Fifth Century) Recluse. Like St Mary Magdalen and St Mary of Egypt, St Pelagia inspired Christians of the Middle Ages as an enchanting icon of repentance.
One Minute Reflection – – 8 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Ps 118:75; 118:120, Ps 118:1, 1 Tim. 5:3-10, Matt 13:44-52
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the just, and will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things?
Matt 13:44-52
REFLECTION – Know that on the final judgment day the Word my Son will come in my divine majesty to reprove the world with divine power. It will not be like when he was born in poverty, coming from the Virgin’s womb into the stable among the animals, and then dying between two thieves. At that time I had my power in him to allow him to suffer pains and tortures as a man – not that my divine nature was cut off from his human nature, but I let him suffer as a man to atone for your sins. Not so will he come in this end time. Then he will come in power to reprove these people in person.
For the just it will be a cause for reverent fear and great rejoicing. Not that his face will change - for he is one with my divine nature and therefore unchangeable, and even in his human nature his face is unchangeable since it has taken on the glory of his resurrection. But it will seem so to the eyes of the damned. For they will see him with their terribly darkened vision.
A sick eye sees nothing but darkness when it looks into such lightsomeness - and it is no fault of the light that it seems so different to the two; the fault is in the sick eye. So the damned see my Son in darkness, confusion, and hatred, not through any fault of my divine Majesty with which he comes to judge the world, but through their own fault.
The Dialogue of St Catherine of Siena
PRAYER – Lord God and Father, who entrusted the earth to men and each to the other, grant us the grace this day, to see Your Face. Grant us the grace to work faithfully for Your glory, for the salvation of our souls through the light of faith and by the grace which You have given us. We beg the grace of Your love and mercy and the light of love You send with Your Holy Spirit. May the prayers of Mary our Holy Mother, keep us ever in her guiding care. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.
A golden hour was my conception, for then began the principle of the salvation of all, and darkness hastened to light.
When I was born, it was not unknown to the demons, but speaking by a certain similitude, they thus thought: “So a certain virgin is born, what shall we do? For it is evident that something wonderful is to take place in her. If we throw around her all the nets of our malice, she will burst them like tow. If we examine all her heart, it is defended by a strong garrison. There is no spot in her for a spear to touch. Therefore, we may fear lest her purity be our torture. Her grace will crush all our strength; her constancy prostrate us beneath her feet.”
But the friends of God, who were in long expectation, said by divine inspiration: “Why grieve we more? We should rather rejoice, for the light is born that is to dispel our darkness, and our desire shall be accomplished.” And the angels of God rejoiced, although their joy was always in the vision of God, saying: “Something desirable is born on earth, and especially beloved by God, whereby true peace will be restored to heaven and earth, and our losses shall be made up.”
And when he beheld me spent with grief, he was so afflicted by my pain, that all the pain of his own wounds, was, as it were, dulled at the sight of the grief in which he beheld me. Hence, I say boldly, that his pains were mine, because his heart was mine. For as Adam and Eve sold the world for an apple, so my Son and I redeemed the world, as it were, with one heart. Think, then, how I was at the death of my Son, and you will not find it hard to leave the world.
Much doth the world resemble a desert, with wild beasts, fruitless trees, and unclean waters; because man, like a wild beast, was eager to pour out his neighbour’s blood, unfruitful in works of justice, and unclean by incontinence and cupidity. In this wilderness, then, men sought the turbid well, — that is, the love of the world and its honor, which is high in pride, turbid in the care and solicitude of the flesh, — and by the seven mortal sins, had, as it were, entrance by seven ways.
Before I began to walk and labour, a voice resounded before me, saying: “The axe is laid to the tree.” What was this voice but John the Baptist, who, sent before me, cried out in the desert: “The axe is laid to the tree as if to say: “Man is now ready, because the axe is ready.” And he came, preparing the way to the city, and extirpating all obstacles.
I am she, who from eternity have been in the love of God.
After having spoken in a general way of the benefits accruing to us from the Angels, let us descend to particulars, that the hearts of men may be inexcusable, and be obliged to love these amiable spirits. If favours be to love, what wood is to fire with what ardour should we not burn for the holy Angels, overwhelmed as we are with their kindnesses and benefactions, even in temporal things.
They provide for our education—They were these glorious spirits who trained up the little Baptist in the desert, after the death of his holy mother, which took place forty days after she had fled with him from the persecution of Herod. They provide for our bodily nourishment—as in the case of the holy martyrs Firminian and Busticus, and the prophets Elias and Daniel. They procure for us honours: a great number of Angels attended at the death of St. Agatha, and composed her epitaph. They recreate our senses :—for six months preceding the death of St. Nicholas of Tolentine, they played for him on musical instruments. And during the three days that intervened between the death of the Holy Virgin and her Assumption into Heaven, they made most melodious concerts near her sacred remains, for the consolation of those who approached them. They accompany us in our journeys—as is evident from the case of Tobias. They visit and console us—as the lives of the Fathers of the desert, and those of St. Lidwine and St. Francis testify, as well as the acts of the martyrs. And think not, says Abbe Kupert, that they never visited these servants of God, but when they visibly appeared; they have often been invisibly present, supporting them in their trials, consoling them in their sorrows, and assuaging their torments.
If they procure us benefits, they also deliver us from evils. They freed St. Peter from his chains, delivered Daniel from the lions, and Isaac from the sacrificing knife. In the Book of Machabees, we have prodigious examples of the zeal with which they espouse the cause of man, often openly combating for him against his enemies. In fine, there is no want, natural, moral, or physical, in which the holy Angels do assist us. Let us here consider and admire the protection afforded by the Angels to the Hebrew people. It was an Angel who conducted them in the wilderness for the space of forty years, by means of a cloud during the day, and a pillar of fire by night—and by the movement given to it by him, they were sheltered from the scorching rays of the sun, and preserved from the hands of Pharaoh and his Egyptians.
I leave it to the piety of those who read these truths, to reflect at leisure on this admirable conduct. However slightly they are considered, it is impossible not to be convinced that the services rendered to man by the Angels are incomparable—and that the name of the Lord should be magnified, who operates these wonders by the agency of the ministers of his celestial court.
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