Posted in MARIAN TITLES

Notre-Dame de Nanteuil / Our Lady of Nanteuil, (Montrichard, Nanteuil-en-Vallee , France) 1st Century and Memorials of the Saints – 13 November

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Notre-Dame de Nanteuil / Our Lady of Nanteuil, (Montrichard, Nanteuil-en-Vallee , France) 1st Century – 13 November :

This shrine dates from late in the 1st Century, making it one of the oldest shrines in France. According to tradition, some of the first Christians in the area discovered the Statue residing on the branch of an oak tree. They happily took it and placed it on a nearby wall near a fountain and went to summon the neighbours to show them what they had found.

On returning, they found that the statue was not where they had left it. Since this was an isolated spot, they wondered who might have taken it. Later, the statue was found once again where they had first seen it, on the branch of the oak tree. Since Our Lady did not seem to want to be moved, the first chapel was, accordingly, built around the tree, with the branches containing the statue, being on the upper floor.

A parish church, later built next door, shows late 12th century architecture but the Shrine was already very old at this time. The church and the priory of Nanteuil belonged to the abbey from the first years of the twelfth century.

Construction took place, attributed to Philippe-Auguste, who wanted to show his gratitude to the Blessed Virgin for a double benefit – the first was for when his prayer had been answered and his thirsting army had been drenched by rain to quench that thirst; the second was for their victory over the King of England and their taking of Montrichard. In fact, the second column that supports the arch on the right side, depicts the face of the monarch, along with the faces of other leaders of his army.

The devotion of Kings and Lords for the Virgin of Nanteuil was shared by the people, and from everywhere they came on pilgrimage, especially the Monday of Pentecost, which gave birth to a famous fair which was established before the fourteenth century and continues to this day.
The religious upheavals of the 16th century left Our Lady of Nanteuil undisturbed but before the French Revolution, a change came over the statue. The smiling face became sad and many pilgrims testified to seeing tears on the cheeks. The Revolution indeed brought sorrow to the shrine. One of the pilgrims threw a rope around the neck of the statue and pulled it to the ground, breaking all but the head. A woman who carelessly tossed the head aside and looked for better loot was punished by almost instant death. Another woman took up the mutilated head and hid it until the destruction was over and a new body could be made to go with it.

One of the many miracles recorded of Our Lady of Nanteuil, is the cure of a little boy who was completely crippled. His mother carried him on her back for three pilgrimages and the third time, to the Shrine of Our Lady of Nanteuil, he returned home entirely cured. The Shrine was especially famous for the cures of sick children, and was a favourite of King Louis XI.

This shrine had a privileged Altar that was highly indulgenced. It was a favourite of the Venerable Olier and of that saintly pilgrim, Saint Benedict Joseph Labre. Unfortunately, we have no clear images of the restored Statue.

St Frances Xavier Cabrini (Optional Memorial, United States only ) – her Universal Feast Day is 22 December:

All Saints of the Augustinian Order:
On 13 November – St Augustine’s Birthday, we celebrate the Feast of All Saints of the Augustinian Order. On this day we call to mind the many unsung brothers and sisters of the Augustinian family who have “fought the good fight” and celebrate now, in Heaven. Let us pray for one another that we too may one day join in the “unceasing chorus of praise” with all our Augustinian brethren in Heaven.

All Saints of the Benedictine & Cistercian Orders:
Those interested in the Benedictine family may be interested to know that today, within the Benedictine liturgical tradition, is traditionally celebrated the Feast of All Saints of the Benedictine Order – In Festo Omnium Sanctorum Ordinis S.P.N. Benedicti. The Cistercians — who also follow the Rule of St Benedict — likewise observe this day for All Saints of their Order. (On a related note, the Benedictines also traditionally observe 14 November as All Souls of their Order.

Saint Benedict and Saint Bernard (1542), by Diogo de Contreiras. Saint Bernard is depicted in the white cowl of the Cistercians.

All Saints of the Premonstratensian Order or the “Norbertines.”
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in Britain and Ireland, as the White Canons , are a Roman Catholic religious order of canons regular founded in Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg. Premonstratensians are designated by O.Praem. following their name. St Norbert was a friend of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and so was largely influenced by the Cistercian ideals as to both the manner of life and the government of his order.

Aside from St Norbert there are at present fifteen saints of the Order who have been Canonised or have had their immemorial cults confirmed by the Holy See.

St Norbert (c 1080-1134) “Defender of the Eucharist” and “Apostle of the Eucharist” – Bishop, Confessor, Founder.

All Deceased Dominican Brothers and Sisters

St Abbo of Fleury

St Amandus of Rennes
St Amanzio
St Beatrix of Bohemia
St Brice of Tours
St Caillin
St Chillien of Aubigny
Bl Christopher Eustace
St Columba of Cornwall
St Dalmatius of Rodez
Bl David Sutton
St Devinicus
St Didacus de Alcalá de Henares) OFM (c 1400-1463) Lay Brother of the Order of Friars Minor, Confessor.

St Eugenius of Toledo
St Florido of Città di Castello
St Gredifael
St Himerius
St Homobonus of Cremona
Bl John Sutton
Bl Juan Gonga Martínez
St Juan Ortega Uribe

St Leoniano of Vienne
Bl María Cinta Asunción Giner Gomis
Bl Maurice Eustace
St Maxellendis
St Mitrius
St Pope Nicholas I
St Paterniano
St Quintian of Rodez
Bl Robert Fitzgerald
Bl Robert Montserrat Beliart
Bl Robert Scurlock

St Stanislaus Kostka SJ (1550-1568) Jesuit Novice

Bl Thomas Eustace
Bl Warmondus of Ivrea
Bl William Wogan

Martyrs of Caesarea – 5 saints: A group of Christians murdered for their faith in the persecutions of Diocletian, Galerius Maximian and Firmilian. – Antoninus, Ennatha, Germanus, Nicephorus and Zebinas. 297 at Caesarea, Palestine.

Martyrs of Ravenna – 3 saints: A group of Christians murdered together in the persecutions of Diocletian. The only information about them that has survived are three names – Solutor, Valentine and Victor. c 305 in Ravenna, Italy.

Martyrs of Salamanca – 5 saints: The first group of Christians exiled, tortured and executed for their adherence to the Nicene Creed during the persecutions of the Arian heretic Genseric. – Arcadius, Eutychianus, Paschasius, Paulillus and Probus. Born in Spain and Martyred in 437. Their relics are at Medina del Campo, Spain.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 13 November – Saint Abbo of Fleury

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Saint Abbo of Fleury, also known as Abbon, was a martyr and Benedictine monk born in 945 near Orleans, France. He studied at Paris, Rheims and Orleans and was one of the great scholars of his age; we still have writings by him on astronomy, grammar, philosophy, mathematics, canon law, theology, biography, and other matters.

He administered the abbey school and taught at Ramsey, Huntingdonshire, England from 985 to 987 at the request of Saint Oswald of Worcester, archbishop of York. Abbot at Fleury-sur-Loire, France in 988 where he instituted Cluniac observance; his election came into dispute, which was settled by the bishop who would later be Pope Sylvester II. Abbo brought the abbey school great renown and fought for the rights of monks at the Synod of Saint Denis in 995.

He was ambassador to the Vatican where he became a close friend of Pope Gregory V, and was a peacemaker and negotiator between Pope Gregory V and King Robert the Pious of France. Between the Pontiff and the Abbot the greatest esteem and affection existed.

The saint worked to calm fears and reassure people who feared the end of the world or other problems with the millennial change to the year 1000. He was murdered during a riot by monks whose discipline he was trying to reform. In this he was stabbed in the side with a lance on 13 November 1004 while trying to quell a monastic riot at Le Réole, Gascony, France. Miracles were reported at his tomb.

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 13 November – Blessed Virgin Mary, Receive Our Gratitude By St Augustine

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Blessed Virgin Mary,
Receive Our Gratitude
By St Augustine (354-430)
Father & Doctor of Grace

Blessed Virgin Mary,
who can worthily repay you
with praise and thanks
for having rescued a fallen world
by your generous consent!
Receive our gratitude
and by your 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 your people,
plead for the clergy,
intercede for all women consecrated to God.
May all who venerate you
feel now your help and protection.
Be ready to help us when we pray
and bring back to us,
the answers to our prayers.
Make it your continual concern
to pray for the people of God,
for you were blessed by God
and were made worthy
to bear the Redeemer of the world,
Who lives and reigns forever.
Amen

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 13 November – Store up treasures in heaven

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One Minute Reflection – 13 November – Readings: Ps 91:13-14, Ps 91:2, 1 Cor. 4:9-14, Luke 12:32-34

Make for yourselves purses that do not grow old, a treasure unfailing in heaven, where neither thief draws near nor moth destroys.

Luke 12:32-34

REFLECTION – What are you, then ? Rich or poor ? Many people tell me: “I’m poor” – and they are speaking the truth. I see some poor people who possess a little and I see some who are completely destitute. But here now is someone who is weighed down with gold and silver – oh! if only that person knew how poor he is! He’ll find it out if he looks at the poor person standing beside him. In any case, whatever opulence you may boast, you who are rich, you’re only a beggar at God’s door.

Here, then, is the hour of prayer? You make your requests and isn’t your request a proof of your poverty ? Indeed, you say: “Give us this day our daily bread”! Well then, you who are asking for your daily bread, are you rich or poor? And nevertheless Christ is not afraid to say to you: “Give to me what I have given to you. In fact, what have you brought with you in coming into this world? Everything you’ve found in creation was created by me. You have brought nothing with you and you will carry nothing away. Why are you not giving me what is my own? You are in plenty and the poor man is in need, yet go back to the beginning of your existence: both of you were completely naked! Yes, even you yourself were born naked. Afterwards you found great wealth here below but could you by any chance have brought something along with you? Therefore I am asking for what I have given; give and I will repay.

You had me as your benefactor; make me your debtor at a higher tariff. You give a little to me; I will repay you richly. You give to me the good things of this world, I will repay you with the treasures of heaven. You give me temporal wealth, I will set you over eternal possessions. I will repay you when I have taken possession of you.”

St Augustine

PRAYER – Holy Father, grant us a strong Faith! Poor Your graces into our hearts that we may believe with all our hearts, minds and souls and that in believing, we may constantly raise our entire being to You in prayer and supplication, in prayer and adoration, in prayer and love. May the intercession of St Didacus, a man of deep prayer from his youth, strengthen our perseverance. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes

Quote/s of the Day – 13 November – For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be

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Voltaire

For in the midst of the triumphs of Christianity there have continually risen rebellious children against it, children whom the Almighty has given over to the pride of their self-conceit, to the misguidance of their reason, to the corruptions of their mind, who blaspheme what they ignore, who deny what they do not understand, of wicked men who pervert the grace of God, convert light to darkness, of disobedient men who despise every rule, who reject all authority not their own, who defile all their ways like unto animals without reason, and who are waiting to be summoned to suffer the punishment for their blasphemy at the judgement seat of God.

Massillion

If the Apostles publish the Gospel throughout the universe, if they cast abroad the flames of divine love, if they win victories over the world and over hell, it is because Mary is the word which renders them eloquent, the light which illuminates them, the love which consumes them, the power which makes them terrible to tyrants and devils.

Olier

It makes me laugh, and yet it makes me sad, when I hear of the things which people come here to beg us to pray to God for: we are to ask His Majesty to give them money and to provide them with incomes – I wish that some of these people would entreat God to enable them to trample all such things beneath their feet.

St Teresa of Avila

There are some miserable men, let us rather say fools, who in the delirium of their iniquity make bold to declare that they laugh at Hell. They say so, but only with their lips, their consciences protest and give them the lie.

Fr Schouppe SJ

Virginity is the flower from the Church’s seed, the beauty and ornament of spiritual grace, a joyous inborn character, the perfect and entire masterpiece of praise and honour, the image of God, responding to the Lord’s holiness, the most illustrious part of Christ’s flock.

St Cyprian

He who follows Me, walks not in darkness,” says the Lord. By these words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort; therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.

The Imitation of Christ

Posted in NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Uncategorized

Thought for the Day – 13 November – The union of suffering and joy

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Treatise on Purgatory

St Catherine of Genoa

CHAPTER XII

Know that what man deems perfection is in the sight of God a defect. All the things which have the appearance of perfection, so far as they come before the sight, the feeling, the understanding, the memory, or the will, are tainted and spoilt if not recognised as from God. For a work to be perfect, it must be wrought in us, without our co-operation as principal agents ; it must be God’s work, done in God, and man must not in any way take the lead. Such precisely is that operation of His pure and simple love which God finally works in us, without any merit of our own ; wherein he so penetrates and burns the soul, that the surrounding body is consumed away, and can no more hold up, than one could remain alive and rest patiently amid the flames of a burning fiery furnace.

It is true that the overflowing love of God bestows upon the souls in purgatory a happiness beyond expression great : but then this happiness does not in the least diminish the pain rather the pain is constituted by this love finding itself impeded ; the more perfect the love of which God makes the soul capable, the greater the pain.

In this manner the souls in purgatory at the same time experience the greatest happiness and the most excessive pain ; and one does not prevent the other.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES

Maria Ausiliatrice a Valdocco / Our Lady of the Tower Secret, Turin, Italy (1863) and Memorials of the Saints – 12 November

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Maria Ausiliatrice a Valdocco / Our Lady of the Tower Secret, Turin, Italy (1863) – 12 November:

Our Lady of the Tower, at Fribourg, built on the lands of the heretics, on the very spot where an image of Our Lady had been found.

Don John Bosco, the amiable saint of the nineteenth century built a major Shrine to Our Lady Help of Christians, tying it in with the past and with the future.

The Church was begun in 1863 with the sum of 8 cents. Don Bosco never revealed all that Our Lady had told him, in the several visions that preceded this but he did reveal that she asked him to build a great Shrine and that it would be a source of grace to all who came there to pray. He simply got permission, hunted up an architect who was willing, in the coldly realistic nineteenth century, to begin a Church on 8 cents and said, when the work was finished, that he had been paid every cent owing to him but, that he had been confronted in the beginning, by a man who many people said was completely mad. The architect must have had real faith, even to listen to Don Bosco.

Like everything else accomplished by the great Saint of Turin, the building was beset with difficulties. No-one could understand why he insisted on naming it for Our Lady; even his own fellow priests. The money to pay for the project did not come in by the thousands, or even by the hundreds but by the penny. Every stone in the building, every bit of decorations, was a gift of love, and sacrifice from some grateful person who had benefitted from Our Lady’s help. The completed building is a testimonial of miracles and a Shrine of beauty, fit to stand with the world’s finest.

The curious thing about Don Bosco’s Shrine to Our Lady, and the one that should cause us thought, is the story of the right-hand tower. There is a large central dome, and on each side of it, a smaller one. On top of left-hand one is an angel holding a banner. The right-hand dome is built in the same way but its decoration is an angel offering a crown to Our Lady. One who saw the original sketches of the Church, drawn out in Don Bosco’s own hand, saw on the right-hand tower, a date 19, indicating that at some time, in this warring century, there would be a victory over evil to correspond with Lepanto. Our Lady often tells her secrets to the saints and apparently Don Bosco knew the name and the place and thought it better not to reveal what he knew. Our Lady of the Tower Secret would take care of it in time and the left-hand angel bearing a banner labelled LEPANTO would have a counterpart, if mankind proves worthy.

Don Bosco’s Church with Our Lady of the Tower was raised to the rank of a Basilica by Pope Pius X, Saint Pope Pius X.

St Josaphat Kuncewicz OSBM (1584-1623) Archbishop Martyr (Memorial)

St Arsatius
St Astricus of Esztergom (Died c 1035) Bishop
St Aurelius
St Cadwallader
St Cummian Fada
St Cunibert of Cologne
St Emilian Cucullatus
St Evodius of Le Puy
St Hesychius of Vienne
Bl John Cini della Pace
Bl José Medes Ferrís

St Lebuinus of Deventer (Died 775) “Apostle of the Friesens,” Priest, Monk, Confessor, Missionary.

St Livinus of Alost
St Machar of Aberdeen
St Margarito Flores-García

St Martin I, Pope (598-655) Martyr

St Namphasius
St Nilus the Elder
St Paternus of Sens
St Publius
St Renatus of Angers
St Rufus of Avignon
Bl Ursula Medes Ferris
St Ymar of Reculver
—
Five Polish Brothers – martyrs: They weren’t Polish and they weren’t related but were instead five Italian Benedictine monks who worked with Saint Adalbert of Prague as missionaries to the Slavs and were martyred together. They were – Benedict, Christinus, Isaac, John and Matthew. Born in Italy. They were martyred in 1005 at the Benedictine monastery near Gnesen, Poland and Canonised by Pope Julius II.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 12 November – Saint Nilus the Elder

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Saint Nilus the Elder, also known as Nilus of Sinai, Nilus of Ancyra, Neilos, Nil Postnik (“the Faster”), was a hermit and a great friend, disciple, and supporter of St John Chrysostom. Born in 4th century Constantinople, he was a Byzantine imperial official and may even have been a Praetorian Prefect. Due to the influence of St John Chrysostom, when his children were grown, Nilus and his wife agreed to lead separate lives devoted to God. He became a monk on Mount Sinai with his son Theodulus. His wife and daughter went to a women’s monastery in Egypt.

After a few years on the Mount, Arab raiders abducted Theodulus. Nilus went in search of him and found him in Eleusa in Palestine where the bishop had ransomed him out of slavery and made him the door-keeper of his church. The bishop ordained them both, and the returned to Sinai. For forty years a cave served as their home.

He was a noted author on theological matters. He was known as a theologian, Biblical scholar and ascetic writer, and people of all kinds, from the emperor down, sought his counsel. He warned and threatened people in high places, abbots and bishops, governors and princes, even the emperor himself, without fear.

Nilus died at Ancyra, Galatia in the year 430. His remains were brought to Constantinople in the reign of Justin the Younger, and deposited in the church of the apostles there.

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 12 November – To Christ Crucified

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To Christ Crucified
Traditional Irish Prayer
Trans. Brendan Devlin

May the sweet Name of Jesus
Be written deeply
on my heart and mind.
Through the power of His Passion,
Through the force of His Prayer,
Through the shedding of His Blood,
Through the sweetness of His Sweetness,
Through His cruel Death on the Cross,
for the sake of us all.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
be the Saviour of our souls.
O Mary, Mother of Jesus
and Jesus, be with me,
the bond of love,
binding us together
and never be loosed.
Amen

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 12 November – I have become all things to all… not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved

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One Minute Reflection – 12 November – “Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Readings: John 21:15-17, Ps 29:2, 1 Pet 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matt 16:13-19

And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 16:13-19

REFLECTION – What then says Christ? You are Simon, the son of Jonas; you shall be called Cephas. Thus since you have proclaimed my Father, I too name him that begot you; all but saying, As you are son of Jonas, even so am I of my Father. Else it were superfluous to say, You are Son of Jonas; but since he had said, Son of God, to point out that He is so Son of God, as the other son of Jonas, of the same substance with Him that begot Him, therefore He added this, And I say unto you, You are Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church; that is, on the faith of his confession. Hereby He signifies that many were now on the point of believing, and raises his spirit, and makes him a shepherd. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And if not against it, much more not against me. So be not troubled because you are shortly to hear that I shall be betrayed and crucified.

Then He mentions also another honour. And I also will give you the keys of the heavens. But what is this, And I also will give you? As the Father has given you to know me, so will I also give you.

And He said not, I will entreat the Father (although the manifestation of His authority was great, and the largeness of the gift unspeakable), but, I will give you. What dost Thou give? Tell me. The keys of the heavens, that whatsoever you shall bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven. How then is it not His to give to sit on His right hand, and on His left, when He says, I will give you?

Do you see how He, His own self, leads Peter on to high thoughts of Him, and reveals Himself, and implies that He is Son of God by these two promises? For those things which are peculiar to God alone, (both to absolve sins, and to make the church incapable of overthrow in such assailing waves, and to exhibit a man that is a fisher more solid than any rock, while all the world is at war with him), these He promises Himself to give; as the Father, speaking to Jeremiah, said, He would make him as a brazen pillar, and as a wall; but him to one nation only, this man in every part of the world.

St John Chrysostom

PRAYER – Lord God, grant to us that the power of Your protecting hand may keep us unshaken in the face of our ancient enemy and all his hidden snares. Lighten our way so that, through the prayers of intercession of the Angels and Saints, we may experience the joy of Your presence in our hearts, courage in times of suffering and the wisdom to obey Your instructions. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes

Quote/s of the Day – 12 November – Thou art Christ

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They joyfully announced His ressurection to His disciples, they accompanied Him everywhere whilst He dwelt visibly on earth, they formed the procession and joined in the triumph on His entry into heaven, they will be His escort on the day of the last judgement, they will gather around Him in heaven for ever and ever, the noblest, the highest in the choir will esteem themeselves happy to be beneath His feet, and, angels as they are, they will gladly acknowledge a man as their King on the throne of God itself.

La Pere Dozennes

We need not fear our past sins if we have by heartfelt contrition washed them away in Jesus’ Blood. Even here we may rest in peace.

Fr Richard Clarke

In order that nothing should be wanting to heighten the glory of this great mystery, before Jesus was born, or rather from the beginning of the world and from alll ages, He has been promised to the patriarchs, He has been announced by the prophets, foretold by the sibyls, represented throughout by the ancient ceremonies, sacrifices, and every sacrament of the old law.

Louis de Grenada

Here is a wonder which in itself is out of the ordinary course of nature, of which experience has not taught us, a marvel which reason ignores, of which the human intellect cannot conceive, which astonishes heaven and earth, which creates admiration even among the celestial choir, and this mystery is, that Gabriel the archangel announces to Mary that ‘the Lord is with thee’, and the accomplishment thereof is the work of the Holy Ghost.

St Jerome

Jesus is equally great in His humiliations, because He is always God. Admiration is almost our sole portion.

Cardinal de Berulle

This faith, however, and this religion, preached by twelve poor sinners without science, without talent, without support, without favour, has overcome the world, and has made it acknowledge the truths of these inscrutable mysteries, and the folly of the cross has proved to be wiser than all the wisdom of ages.

Massillon

Posted in Uncategorized

Thought for the Day – 12 November – The desire of the souls in Purgatory

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Treatise on Purgatory

St Catherine of Genoa

CHAPTER XI

The soul in its creation was invested with all the conditions of which it was capable for reaching perfection, supposing it to live according to the appointment of God, and keep altogether from the defilements of sin. But, marred by original sin, it loses all its gifts and graces, becomes dead ; and God alone can raise it to life again. And when He has done so by baptism, still the propensity to evil remains, which, if unresisted, inclines and leads to actual sin, whereby the soul again dies. Again God restores it to life ; but after this it is so tainted, so turned to self, that to recall it to its first state needs all that Divine agency that I have been speaking about, without which it never could be recalled.

And when the soul finds itself on its way back to that first state, it is so enkindled with the desire of becoming one with God, that this desire becomes its purgatory ; not that the soul can look at purgatory as such, but the instinct by which it is kindled, and the impediment by which it is hindered, constitute its purgatory. God performs this last act of love without the co-operation of man ; for there are so many secret imperfections within the soul, that the sight of them would drive it to despair. These are, however, all destroyed during the process I have described ; and when they are consumed, God shows them to the soul, that it may understand that it was He who kindled that fire of love which consumes every imperfection there is to be consumed.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES

Nossa Senhora do Português / Our Lady of the Portuguese, Diu, India (1546) and Memorials of the Saints – 11 November

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Nossa Senhora do Português / Our Lady of the Portuguese, Diu, India (1546) – 11 November:

The Abbot Orsini wrote: “On this day, about the year 1546, the Portuguese gained a great victory over the infidels, who had been before the castle of Die, in the East Indies, for the space of seven months and who would have carried it by storm, if Our Lady had not appeared upon the walls – which caused so great terror in the enemy’s camp, that the siege was at once raised.”

The Portuguese began building the stronghold of Diu, their symbol of Portuguese influence and authority in the region, protecting their lucrative trade with India, on 20 November 1535 and finished the work a short time later, on 29 February of the following year. The fort was circular in shape, having walls 6 metres high and 3.50 metres thick, made of solid stone and lime. There was a deep ditch immediately before these stout walls and the fort had three triangular shaped bastions. Manned with a garrison of three hundred and fifty men, it was further supported by a fleet of eleven ships. Manuel De Souza was named the fort’s first Captain.

It was not long before the Portuguese came under siege, as a powerful Ottoman fleet made up of 72 ships laid siege to the stronghold in September of 1538. The Turks arrived with an army of at least 20,000 men, far more than the 400 or so Portuguese who made up the entire garrison.

There were many pitched battles after an intense bombardment and as time wore on the Portuguese suffered from an acute shortage of men and ammunition and a lack of adequate nutrition, bringing scurvy and great suffering to the remaining defenders.

The defenders were at their last extreme and the fort had less than 40 men left alive when the siege suddenly ended. Modern history records that, “for unknown reasons” the savage Turks gave up the siege and sailed away for no reason. It was obvious to the battle hardened Turkish troops, that the defence was about to collapse and that victory was at hand, so there must have been a reason that they fled. The Portuguese defenders could have said that the victory was the result of their gallantry defending the fort and to the grim determination with which they held the bastions against every manner of assault. Instead, however, the Portuguese recalled that Our Lady appeared on the battlements herself, as had recently happened at the Siege of Rhodes and that it was their fear of her ,that the Turks ran for their lives.

In 1546 there was a second assault on Diu that began on the eve of Easter and this time the Portuguese thwarted the efforts of the Turks to capture the fort in a pitched battle recorded as one of the greatest ever fought by the Portuguese troops in India. The siege had continued uninterrupted from 20 April 1546 until 7 November, when a Portuguese fleet finally arrived on the scene under Viceroy Juan de Castro.

The Portuguese success in Diu confirmed Portuguese dominion and their hold over the region. Contemporary accounts, of course, do not mention the miraculous intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the siege, even though it was recorded that she appeared on the ramparts holding a lance in her hand to defend the fort from the enemy, for the ‘City of Men’ cannot accept the glories of God!

St Martin of Tours (c 316-397) (Memorial) “Martin the Merciful,” Bishop, Confessor, Miracle-Worker.

Bl Alicia Maria jadwiga Kotowska
St Bartholomew of Rossano (c 970-c 1065) Abbot Confessor
St Bertuin of Malonne
St Cynfran of Wales
St Isidre Costa Hons
Bl Josaphat Chichkov
Bl Kamen Vitchev

St Marina of Omura
St Menas Kallikelados
St Mennas of Santomenna
St Mercurius the Soldier
Bl Pavel Dzjidzjov
St Rhediw
St Theodore the Studite
St Turibius of Palencia
St Veranus of Lyon
St Veranus of Vence
Blessed Vincent Eugene Bossilkoff
—
Martyrs of Torredembarra: Members of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Discalced Carmelites, and Carmelite Tertiaries of Education who were martyred together in the Spanish Civil War.
• Blessed Bonaventura Toldrà Rodon
• Blessed Damián Rodríguez Pablo
• Blessed Felipe Arce Fernández
• Blessed Frederíc Vila Bartolì
• Blessed Isidre Tarsá Giribets
• Blessed Joan Roca Vilardell
• Blessed José Alberich Lluch
• Blessed Josep Boschdemont Mitjavila
• Blessed Josep Maria Bru Ralduá
• Blessed Julio Alameda Camarero
• Blessed Lluís Domingo Oliva
• Blessed Mariano Navarro Blasco
• Blessed Miquel Saludes Ciuret
• Blessed Pedro de Eriz Eguiluz
They were martured on 11 November 1936 in Torredembarra, Tarragona, Spain, Beatification celebrated in Tarragona, Spain.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 11 November – Saint Mercurius the Soldier

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint Mercurius the Soldier, also known as Abu-Sayfain, Abu-Sifin or Abu-Sefein, was a martyr and the one who slew Julian the Apostate. Born in 224 in Cappadocia, he was of Scythian (Indo-Persian) descent and the son of an officer in the imperial Roman army. Abu-Sefein means “wielder of two swords”, referring to the second sword given to him by the Archangel Michael.

His parents were converts to Christianity and they called him “Philopateer” or “Philopatyr” (‘Lover of the Father’). They raised him in a Christian manner. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Decius. He gained a great reputation among his superiors as a swordsman and a tactician.

After the death of Mercurius’ father, Decius chose him to replace his father. When barbarians attacked Rome, Decius went out to fight them but became afraid when he saw how many there were. Mercurius then came to him and said, “Do not be afraid, because God will kill our enemies and will bring us victory.”

After several days of fighting, the Archangel Michael appeared to Mercurius holding a shining sword. With this he conquered the barbarians. When Decius heard news of the triumphant victory, he named Mercurius a prince.

In 249 AD, Decius began his persecution of Christians, compelling everyone to offer sacrifices to his pagan gods. The Archangel Michael appeared to Mercurius and told him to remember God and not be fearful of persecution. Mercurius was encouraged and spent the whole night praying fervently, confessing his weakness to God. The emperor sent messengers to summon him to the palace, saying: “Dear Mercurius, let us go offer incense to the gods who helped us attain victory in the war.” As they were leaving, Mercurius slipped through the crowd and went away. However, one of the guards reported his absence, and the emperor called Mercurius and asked him: “Is it true that you refused to worship the idols who helped us during the war?” Mercurius declared himself a Christian, saying, “I do not worship anyone except my Lord and my God, Jesus Christ.”

The emperor tried to persuade him to give up his faith but failed. He then ordered Mercurius to be stripped of his rank and tortured. Fearing a revolt because the people loved Mercurius, the emperor had him bound in iron fetters and sent him to Caesarea. Mercurius was beheaded on 4 December 250 AD. He was 25 years old.

After the end of the first persecution, the place of Mercurius’s burial was revealed. Mercurius appeared to a poor man in the city and told him that he was “Mercurius, the Martyr of the Lord” and that “my body is buried in Cappadocia Gardens, under the old house on the way to the royal palace. My body looks as white as snow, because Jesus was present at the time of my martyrdom.”

The next morning, the man went to dig under the old house. He began to smell the scent of perfume, seeing the body of Mercurius. The news spread quickly and many people came to take a look at the blessed body. They moved it temporarily to the local church until they built a new church bearing his name where Mercurius’ body was buried with respect and devotion.

Christ appearing to Saints Mercurius and Catherine of Alexandria in the act of tyrannicide

Saint Basil once prayed before an icon on which Mercurius was portrayed as a soldier carrying a spear. He asked God not to permit the emperor Julian the Apostate to return from his war against the Persians and resume his oppression of Christians. The image of the holy Mercurius depicted on the icon became invisible, only to reappear later with a bloodied spear. Julian the Apostate, on his Persian campaign, was mortally wounded by the spear of an unknown Persian soldier. He also appeared and fought with the Christian forces in the First Crusade.

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 11 November – Indulgenced prayers

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Indulgenced Prayers to the Holy Ghost

O Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of Thy light on all peoples, that in the unity of faith they may be pleasing to Thee.

(300 days every time said)

O Holy Spirit, sweet Guest of my soul, remain with me and see that I ever remain with Thee.

(300 days every time said)

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created;

R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let Us Pray

O God, Who by the light of the Holy Ghost didst instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us by the same Spirit to relish what is right and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

(5 years every time said)

O Holy Spirit, Creator, be propitious to the Catholic Church; and by Thy heavenly power make it strong and secure against the attacks of its enemies; and renew in Thy charity and grace the spirit of Thy servants, whom Thou hast anointed, that in Thee they may glorify the Father and His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

(500 days every time said)

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 11 November – Discernment is the lantern of the soul

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One Minute Reflection – 11 November – Readings: Sir 45:30, Ps. 131:1, Sir 44:16-27; 45:3-20, Luke 11:33-36

The lamp of your body is your eye. If your eye be sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if it be evil, your body also will be full of darkness.

Luke 11:33-36

REFLECTION – Discernment is a kind of eye and lantern of the soul, as is said in the gospel passage: “The light of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is pure, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. And this is just what we find; for the power of discernment, scrutinizing all the thoughts and actions, distinguishes and sets aside everything that is base and not pleasing to God and keeps us free from delusion.

The Apostle calls this virtue the sun, as we can see from his saying: "Do not let the sun go down on your anger. It is also called the guidance of our lives, as when it is written: "Those who have no guidance fall like leaves". Wisdom, intellect and perceptiveness are united in discernment, and without these our inner house cannot be built nor can we gather spiritual wealth, for it is written: "Through wisdom a house is built, through understanding it is established, and through good judgment its storehouses will be filled with wealth". Discernment is also called the solid food that is "suitable for those who have their organs of perception trained by practice to discriminate between good and evil". These passages show very clearly that without the gift of discernment no virtue can stand or remain firm to the end, for it is the mother of all the virtues and their guardian.

We should therefore make every effort to acquire for ourselves this gift of discernment which is able to keep us from excess in either direction. For, as the Fathers have said, all extremes are equally harmful. Abba Moses so cheered us with teaching of this kind that we could not help glorifying the Lord who grants such great wisdom to those who fear him. To him belong honor and power through all the ages. Amen.

St John Cassian

PRAYER – Our Father, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done! Grant us Lord, a true knowledge of our salvation, so that freed from fear and from the power of our foes, we may serve You faithfully, all the days of our lives and thus attain eternal joy with You. May the prayers of St Martin of Tours and St Bartholomew of Rossano, on our behalf, be a succour to us all. Through our Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes

Quote/s of the Day – 15 November – The Priesthood

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For they certainly would be deserving of the greatest punishment who, after obtaining this dignity through their own ambition, should then either on account of sloth, or wickedness, or even inexperience, abuse the office. Not that we are to gather from this that there is pardon in store for those who have not been thus ambitious. Yea, even they too are deprived of all excuse.

St John Chrysostom

There is nothing more important, nothing better, than to enter into a state of life to which God has called us, and to make choice of a vocation which His providence has destined for us. This is not what the majority do, it is mere chance, caprice, a spirit of interested ambition, or a blind love which leads them onwards, it is through such irregular motives which lead them to adopt a particular state of life.

Le Pere Nepvue

He who does not follow the will of God in his choice of a state of life, is always in danger, and on the other hand, he who follows the path which our Lord has marked out for him, is always safe.

Massillion

When seculars have once chosen their secular state, let them persevere in it, and in the devout exercises which they have begun, and in their works of charity, and they shall have contentment at their death.

St Philip Neri

Learn then, Priest and Levite, what it means to wash your clothes. You must have a pure body wherewith to offer up the sacraments. If the people were forbidden to approach their victim unless they washed their clothes, do you, while foul in heart and body, dare to make supplication for others? Do you dare to make an offering for them?

St Ambrose

A clergyman who engages in business, and who rises from poverty to wealth, and from obscurity to a high position, avoid as you would the plague.

St Jerome

Posted in NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY

Thought for the Day – 11 November – How God makes use of Purgatory to render souls perfectly pure

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Treatise on Purgatory

St Catherine of Genoa

CHAPTER X

Again, I see that the love of God directs towards the soul certain burning rays and shafts of light, which seem penetrating and powerful enough to annihilate not merely the body, but, were it possible, the very soul itself. These work in two ways ; they purify, and they annihilate. Look at gold : the more it is melted, the better it becomes ; and it could be melted so as to destroy every single defect. Such is the action of fire on material things.

Now the soul cannot be annihilated so far as it is in God, but only in itself ; and the more it is purified, so much the more it annihilates self, till at last it becomes quite pure and rests in God. Gold which has been purified to a certain point ceases to suffer any diminution from the action of fire, however great it be ; for the fire does not destroy gold, but only the dross that it may chance to have. In like manner the Divine fire acts on souls: God holds them in the furnace until every defect has been burnt away, and He has brought them, each in his own degree, to a certain standard of perfection. Thus purified, they rest in God without any alloy of self: their very being is God ; they become impassible because there is nothing left to be consumed. And if in this state of purity they were kept in the fire, they would feel no pain ; rather it would be to them a fire of Divine Love, burning on without opposition, like the fire of life eternal.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES

Our Lady of the Turning Eyes, Rottweil, Germany (1643) and Memorials of the Saints – 10 November

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Muttergottes von der Augenwende / Our Lady of the Turning Eyes, Rottweil, Germany (1643) – 10 November:

In 1643 the City of Rottweil was under siege by French troops during the Thirty Years’ War. As cited in the original Dominican document, 300 citizens of the Town ceaselessly prayed the Rosary at a Statue of the Madonna and Child at the Dominican church. On 10 November 1643 witnesses saw the Statue turn pale and raise its eyes toward heaven then back to the City. Some claimed to have heard it speak. Both Catholics and non-Catholics witnessed the event. Fifteen days later, the Statue’s face turned reddish and the eyes moved again while shedding tears. At the same time, the French and Saxe-Weimar troops were defeated by Bavarian troops in the Battle of Tuttlingen. The victory was attributed to the intercession of Mary.

The Statue remained in the Church until 1802 following the secularisation of Germany, when the Monastery was dissolved and the Church was seized by the Kingdom of Württemberg. At this time the Statue was transferred to the City’s main Church, the Holy Cross Münster. A solemn procession was held to relocate the Statue on 29 December of that year. The Dominican Church later became the Town’s Protestant church, the Predigerkirche.

St Pope Leo the Great (c 400 – 461) Father & Doctor of the Church (Memorial) – Benedict XVI said that Leo’s papacy “…was undoubtedly one of the most important in the Church’s history.”

St Aedh Mac Bricc

St Andrew Avellino (1521 – 1608) Theatine Priest, Confessor, Canon and Civil Lawyer, Reformer, Founder of many new Theatine houses, Preacher, Spiritual Advisor.

St Anianus the Deacon
St Baudolino
St Demetrius of Antioch
St Elaeth the King
St Eustosius of Antioch
St Grellen
St Guerembaldus
St Hadelin of Sees
Bl Joaquín Piña Piazuelo
St John of Ratzenburg
St Joseph the Martyr
St Justus of Canterbury (Died 627) Archbishop

St Leo of Melun
St Monitor of Orleans
St Narses of Subagord
St Nonnus of Heliopolis
St Orestes of Cappadocia
St Probus of Ravenna
St Theoctiste of Lesbos
St Tryphaena of Iconium
St Tryphosa of Iconium
—
Martyred Sisters Adorers – 23 beati: 23 nuns, all members of the Sisters Adorers, Handmaids of Charity and of the Blessed Sacrament who were martyred together in the Spanish Civil War.
• Blessed Aurea González
• Blessed Belarmina Pérez Martínez
• Blessed Cecilia Iglesias del Campo
• Blessed Concepción Vázquez Areas
• Blessed Dionisia Rodríguez De Anta
• Blessed Emilia Echevarría Fernández
• Blessed Felipa Gutierrez Garay
• Blessed Francisca Pérez de Labeaga García
• Blessed Josepa Boix Rieras
• Blessed Lucía González García
• Blessed Luisa Pérez Adriá
• Blessed Magdalena Pérez
• Blessed Manuela Arriola Uranda
• Blessed María Dolores Hernández San Torcuato
• Blessed María Dolores Monzón Rosales
• Blessed María García Ferreiro
• Blessed Maria Mercè Tuñi Ustech
• Blessed María Zenona Aranzábal de Barrutia
• Blessed Prima de Ipiña Malzárraga
• Blessed Purificación Martínez Vera
• Blessed Rosa López Brochier
• Blessed Sinforosa Díaz Fernández
• Blessed Teresa Vives Missé
They were martyred on 10 November 1936 in Madrid, Spain.

Martyrs of Agde – 3 saints: A group of Christians who were tortured and martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. The only about them to survive are the names – Florentia, Modestus and Tiberius. Martyred c 303 in Agde, France.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 10 November – Saint Theoctiste of Lesbos

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Saint Theoctiste of Lesbos, also known as Theoctiste of Paros, was a hermitess born on Lesbos in the tenth century. Orphaned as a child, she was raised in a convent, and then abducted by Arab raiders who forced her into slavery on Paros. She escaped and lived for for over 30 years as a hermitess in an old church. She was discovered there one day by a hunter named Simon; whom she begged to bring her the Eucharist. He returned a year later, she made her first Communion in decades, and died soon after.

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 10 November – May I Love You More Dearly

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May I Love You More Dearly
St Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)

Thanks be to You,
my Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits
You have given me,
For all the pains and insults
You have borne for me.
O most merciful Redeemer,
Friend and Brother,
May I know You more clearly,
Love You more dearly,
Follow You more nearly.
Amen

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 10 November – “You also must be prepared for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come”

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One Minute Reflection – 10 November – Readings: Ps 36:30-31, Ps 36:1, Sir 31:8-11, Luke 12:35-40

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, Let your loins be girt about and your lamps burning, and you yourselves like men waiting for their master’s return from the wedding; so that when he comes and knocks, they may straight-way open to him.

Luke 12:35-40

REFLECTION – These words mean : you are to be awake and vigilant because you do not know the hour when the Lord will come from the wedding. Because as soon as some feeling of pride, self-satisfaction or self-will enters a man, the Enemy is there cutting the precious bag of all his good works from him. Oh, children! How many of people like these will you see who have done great works and thus gained great renown, but presumption has stripped them of all. They will be placed after the poor and simple fellows whom no one values because of their outward appearance and work. Because they humbly take a lowly place these latter will be set above the others. So keep watch with vigilant soul and you will see the pure truth with open eyes.

Let your loins be girded and your lamps alight. Here there are three points to notice. First: the loins are to be girded like someone firmly bound with a rope so as to be led against his will. Second: you are to carry lighted lamps in your hands, which is to say, works of love. Your hands should never stop doing the true, ardent work of charity. Third: you should wait for the Lord when he returns from the wedding. “The Lord will set them over all his goods; he will gird himself and will serve them.” This wedding from which the Lord comes takes place in the most interior part of the soul, in its depths where the noble image is found. O what intimate contact the soul has with God and God with it in this depth, and what a marvellous work God does there! What rejoicing and joy he finds there! It surpasses all feeling and thought and yet man knows nothing and feels nothing of it.

John Tauler (c.1300-1361)

PRAYER – You Lord, Holy Father, never forget Your solemn covenant and grant us new life each day. We though in our hearts of stone do forget and cease to thank and bless You. Make our hearts turn in gratitude, for all we are and have is by Your grace and we are as nothing without You. May our minds, hearts and souls sing with love and thanks to You, Lord our God. Grant us new hearts by the prayers of Your Saint Leo the Great and all the saints in heaven, who always lived with grateful hearts, praising You always. We ask this this through Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes

Quote/s of the Day – 10 November – Let your loins be girt

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Vain is the man who puts his trust in men, in created things.

The Imitation of Christ

A man full of confidence in God becomes, in a certain manner, strong with the strength of God Himself. Can he, who is powerful with the power of God, be discouraged by obstacles? Can he, who is rich with the riches of God, lack anything in his necessities? Thus the prophet declares that they who hope in the Lord, “they will soar on eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” If, then, you are wanting in strength, it is because you are wanting in confidence.

Fr François Nepveu

Before this happens, there will be a sort of false peace in the world; people will think only of amusing themselves; the wicked will indulge in all kinds of sin; but the children of Holy Church, children of the true faith, my true imitators, will grow in the love of God and in the virtues dearest to me. Happy the humble souls lead by the Holy Ghost! I shall battle along with them until they reach the fullness of maturity.

Our Lady of La Salette

If the enemies of the truth never have enough of blaspheming our Benefactor, we must be all the more tireless in praising the God of all. Another very serious illness calls for any cure my words can bring, an illness which has become implanted in the body of the Church. We must first root this ailment out and then take thought for matters outside; we must first cure our own and then be concerned for others who are strangers. What is this disease? The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Tabernacles, the fasts. There are many in our ranks who say they think as we do. Yet some of these are going to watch the festivals and others will join the Jews in keeping their feasts and observing their fasts. I wish to drive this perverse custom from the Church right now.

St John Chrysostom

Consider what thrones and mansions will not God prepare for those who, by the practice of heroic virtues, sustain and even increase their merit in the midst of a corrupt court!

La Pere e la Colombiere SJ

Alas, my dear brethren, the person who has no charity goes far afield for evil! If someone does him some harm, you see him examining all his actions then. He judges them. He condemns them. He turns them all to evil and is always quite certain that he is right. But, you will tell me, there are plenty of times when you see people doing wrong and you cannot think otherwise. My good friend, because you have no charity, you think that they are doing wrong. If you had charity, you would think quite otherwise because you would always think that you could have been mistaken, as so often happens.

St John Vianney

Posted in NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY

Thought for the Day – 10 November – The way in which God and the souls in Purgatory regard each other

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Treatise on Purgatory

St Catherine of Genoa

CHAPTER IX

All the things of which I have spoken, when compared with that of which I am assured in my intelligence, so far as I am able to comprehend it in this life, are of such intensity, that, by the side of them, all things seen, all things felt, all things imagined, all things just and true, seem to me lies and things of naught. I am confounded at inability to find stronger words. I see that God is in such perfect conformity with the soul, that when He beholds it in the purity wherein it was created by His Divine Majesty, He imparts a certain attractive impulse of His burning love, enough to annihilate it, though it be im mortal ; and in this way so transforms the soul into Himself, its God, that it sees in itself nothing but God, who goes on thus attracting and in flaming it, until He has brought it to that state of existence whence it came forth that is, the spotless purity wherein it was created.

And when the soul, by interior illumination, perceives that God is drawing it with such loving ardour to Him self, straightway there springs up within it a corresponding fire of love for its most sweet Lord and God, which causes it wholly to melt away: it sees in the Divine light how considerately, and with what unfailing providence, God is ever leading it to its full perfection, and that He does it all through pure love ; it finds itself stopped by sin, and unable to follow the heavenly attraction, I mean that look which God casts on it to bring it into union with Himself : and this sense of the grievousness of being kept from beholding the Divine light, coupled with that instinctive longing which would fain be without hindrance to follow the enticing look, these two things, I say, make up the pains of the souls in purgatory.

Not that they think anything of their pains, however great they be ; they think far more of the opposition they are making to the will of God, which they see clearly is burning intensely with pure love to them. God meanwhile goes on drawing the soul to Himself by His looks of love mightily, and, as it were, with undivided energy : this the soul knows well ; and could it find another purgatory greater than this by which it could sooner remove so great an obstacle, it would immediately plunge therein, impelled by that conforming love which is between God and the soul.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 9 November – St Theodore Stratelates

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St Theodore Stratelates, also known as Theodore the General, Theodore Tyro, Theodore the Recruit, Theodorus of Heraclea, was a martyr, Roman general (stratelates) of Greek extraction, and covert Christian during a time of persecution.

Small cut-stone depicting images of Saint Theodore were encased in precious metal frames and worn around the neck by both clerics and laymen

Theodore was born in 281 in the city of Euchaita in Asia Minor. Whilst there he killed a giant serpent living on a precipice in the outskirts of Euchaita. The serpent had been terrorising the countryside so Theodore armed himself with a sword and vanquished it. Because of his bravery, Theodore was appointed military-commander in the city of Heraclea Pontica, during the time the Emperor Licinius (307–324) began a fierce persecution of Christians.

He requested that all the gold and silver statues of the gods which they had in Heraclea be gathered up at his house. Theodore then smashed them into pieces which he then distributed to the poor. Exposed as a Christian, a military tribunal decided he was a good soldier who had made a mistake, told him to reconsider, and set him free.

He promptly burned down a pagan temple.

Arrested again, he was ordered to apostatize, then tortured by having his flesh torn off.

He responded by reciting the Psalms.

Theodore was then crucified. His servant Varos (also venerated as a saint), witnessed this and recorded it.

In the morning the imperial soldiers found him alive and unharmed.

Instead of fleeing, Theodore voluntarily surrendered to Licinius, and was beheaded by the sword. This occurred on 8 February 319, on a Saturday, at the third hour of the day.

Patronage: Brindisi, Italy. Recovery of lost articles, soldiers

Henceforth who is sufficient to relate the manner in which he bore himself?— what pity was his? What vigour? How great his mercy? How great his strictness? So much sanctity and grace beamed from his face that it confounded the minds of the beholders. His countenance was grave and joyous. Neither was his severity gloomy, nor his affability excessive, but a mingled tempering of both; so that it might be doubted whether he most deserved to be revered or to be loved, except that he deserved both to be revered and to be loved.

Life and Passion of St Cyprian

Posted in MARIAN TITLES

Feast of the Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran, Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena / Our Lady of Almudena, Madrid, Spain (712) and Memorials of the Saints – 9 November

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Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran (Feast):

The oldest and first in rank of the four Basilicas of Rome. The name is derived from the Laterani family, on the site of whose Palace the Basilica stands. King Constantine presented this Palace to the Church. Its annual celebration throughout the Latin Church is a sign of love and unity with the Papacy and Pope.

The original Church building, probably adapted from the hall of the palace, was dedicated to the Saviour and from its splendour was known as the Basilica Aurea. Though several times destroyed and rebuilt, the Basilica retained its ancient form, being divided by rows of columns into aisles and having an atrium with colonnades. The restoration of the 17th century changed its appearance.

A monastery was formerly between the Basilica and the City wall of which the cloister still remains. The original apse survived until 1878, when it was destroyed and a deeper apse built. The ancient mosaics have been preserved The high Altar, which is of wood and is believed to have been used by Saint Peter, is now encased in marble. In the upper part of the baldachinum are the heads of the Apostles, Peter and Paul. The Baptistery is an octagonal edifice with porphyry columns. The font is of green basalt. This Basilica has been the Cathedral of Rome since the 4th century.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena / Our Lady of Almudena, Madrid, Spain (712) – 9 Novemnber:

The Virgin of Almudena is a medieval icon of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. The image is the advocation of the Virgin that serves as a Patroness of Madrid, Spain.

Intriguingly, however, its name derives from the Arabic term of Al Mudayna, or the citadel. There are various legends regarding the Statue. One of the historical legends is that in 712, prior to the capture of the Town by the advancing Muslim forces, the inhabitants of the Town secreted the image of the Virgin, for its own protection, inside the walls surrounding the town. In the 11th century, when Madrid was reconquered by the King Alfonso VI of Castile, the Christian soldiers endeavoured to find the Statue. After days of prayer, the spot on the wall hiding the icon crumbled, revealing the Statue. Another legend is that as Christian soldiers approached the Town, they had a vision of Mary imploring them to allow her to lead them into the City. Again the miraculous crumbling of the wall occurred, with the Statue showing an entry route through the walls.

The Cathedral of Madrid is dedicated to this advocation of the Virgin and her feast day, 9 November, is a major holiday in Madrid.

St Agrippinus of Naples
St Alexander of Salonica
St Aurelius of Riditio
St Benignus of Armagh
St Eustolia
St Francisco José Marín López de Arroyave
Blessed Gabriel Ferretti OFM (1385-1456) Priest
Bl George Napper
Bl Gratia of Cattaro
Bl Helen of Hungary
Bl Henryk Hlebowicz
St Jane of Segna

Blessed Ludovico Morbioli (1433-1485) Penitent, Preacher, Ascetic.

St Justo Juanes Santos
St Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi
St Luis Morbioli
St María de la Salud Baldoví Trull
Bl María del Carmen of the Child Jesus
St Pabo
St Sopatra
St Theodore Stratelates
St Ursinus of Bourges
St Valentín Gil Arribas
St Vitonus of Verdun
—
Martyrs of Constantinople – 3 saints: A group of ten Christians who tried to defend an image of Jesus over the Brazen Gate of Constantinople from an attack by Iconoclasts during the persecutions of emperor Leo the Isaurian. The group of was seized by soldiers, condemned by judges for opposing the emperor, and martyred. The only details that have survived are three of their names – Julian, Marcian and Maria. They were martyred in 730 at Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey).

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War:
• Blessed Anastasio Garzón González
• Blessed Francisco José Marín López de Arroyave
• Blessed Justo Juanes Santos
• Blessed María de la Salud Baldoví Trull
• Blessed Valentín Gil Arribas

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 9 November – Grant me, O my God – By St Vincent Ferrer

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419)

Good Jesus,
let me be penetrated with love
to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward You.
Let me burn with zeal for Your honour,
so that I may resent terribly,
all the outrages
committed against You,
especially those of which
I myself have been guilty.
Grant further, O my God,
that I may adore and acknowledge You humbly,
as my Creator and that,
penetrated with gratitude
for all Your benefits,
I may never cease to render You thanks.
Grant that I may bless You in all things,
praise and glorify You
with a heart full of joy and gladness
and that, obeying You with docility
in every respect, I may one day,
despite my ingratitude and unworthiness,
be seated at Your table
together with Your Holy Angels and Apostles
to enjoy ineffable delights.
Amen

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 9 November –Today salvation has come to this house

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 9 November – “Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” –Feast Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour in the Lateran and the Memorial of Blessed Gabriel Ferretti OFM (1385-1456) – Readings: Gen. 28:17, Ps 83:2-3, Rev 21:2-5, Luke 19:1-10

Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Luke 19:1-10

REFLECTION – As the Paschal season draws near we say without a thought: “Tomorrow is the Lord’s Passion” and yet many years have passed since the Lord underwent his Passion, which took place once for all. This Sunday, too, we can rightly say: “The Lord is risen today” although many years have passed since Christ was raised. So why is it that no one comes to blame us for this “today” as though it were a lie?

Is it not because we say “today” because this day stands for the return, in the course of time, of the day on which the event we are commemorating took place? We are right to say “today”: today, indeed, the event that took place so long ago is fulfilled by our celebration of the mystery. In himself Christ was sacrificed once for all; nevertheless, he is sacrificed today in the mystery we celebrate, not only at every paschal feast but every day, for all people. This is not to lie, then, but to affirm: “Christ is sacrificed today.” For if the sacraments we are fulfilling did not have a genuine likeness to the reality of which they are the sign, they would not be sacraments. But it is precisely this likeness that allows us to call them by the same name as the reality of which they are the sign. And so the sacrament of the body of Christ we celebrate is, in some way, the body of Christ; the mystery of the blood of Christ that we fulfil is the blood of Christ. The sacramental mystery of faith is the reality in which we believe.

St Augustine

PRAYER – Almighty God, as we recall with joy, the Dedication of this house of Yours on each recurring anniversary, listen to Your people’s prayer and grant that our worship here may be a sincere and holy service, honouring Your Name and bringing us the fullness of redemption. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes

Quote/s of the Day – 9 November – Mother and Head of All Churches in Rome and in the World

Posted on by AnaStpaul

A vast number of heresies have attacked the Church, a thousand storms have raged over it, but in the midst of tempests this ship, though battered by many rolling billows, has not been shattered or engulfed. Truth remains, errors pass away.

Fr Texier

Heretics have understood this anomaly, for after having refused to obey the legitimate successor of St Peter (for whom Jesus Christ has prayed that his faith might not fail) they have been compelled to establish heads of their sects, so that they may see in their congresses and synods (which, by the by, they hold without any right or without any old established form) the same power they cannot endure to see in the Catholic Church.

Flechier

For I say to you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.

Luke 10:24

You are the body of Christ, and members of member.” Our union with Jesus Christ is true, since it is an article of faith; it is an intimate union, since it animates us with the spirit of Christ; it is a most sublime union since the Saviour Himself likens it to His union with the Father. “That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us.” (John 17:21)

Fr François Nepveu, S.J

Civil governments will all have the same objective, which will be to abolish and make every religious principle disappear, to make way for materialism, atheism, spiritism and vices of all kinds.

Our Lady of La Salette

Then Jesus Christ, by an act of His justice and His great mercy toward the righteous, will command His angels to put all His enemies to death. At one blow the persecutors of the Church of Jesus Christ and all men given to sin will perish, and the earth will become like a desert.

Our Lady of La Salette

Posted in NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY

Thought for the Day – 9 November – the necessity of Purgatory, and how terrible it is

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Treatise on Purgatory

St Catherine of Genoa

CHAPTER VIII

Again I say that, on God’s part, I see paradise has no gate, but that whosoever will may enter therein ; for God is all mercy, and stands with open arms to admit us to His glory. But still I see that the Being of God is so pure (far more than one can imagine), that should a soul see in itself even the least mote of imperfection, it would rather cast itself into a thousand hells than go with that spot into the presence of the Divine Majesty. Therefore, seeing purgatory ordained to take away such blemishes, it plunges therein, and deems it a great mercy that it can thus remove them.

No tongue can express, no mind can understand, how dreadful is purgatory. Its pain is like that of hell ; and yet (as I have said) I see any soul with the least stain of imperfection accept it as a mercy, not thinking it of any moment when compared with being kept from its Love. It appears to me that the greatest pain the souls in purgatory endure proceeds from their being sensible of something in themselves displeasing to God, and that it has been done voluntarily against so much goodness ; for, being in a state of grace, they know the truth, and how grievous is any obstacle which does not let them approach God.