Posted in MARIAN TITLES

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed – All Souls Day, Notre-Dame D’Emminont / Our Lady of Emminont. Abbeville, France (12th Century) and Memorials of the Saints – 2 November

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed – All Souls Day (Commemoration): Commemoration of the faithful departed in Purgatory. Abbot Odilo of Cluny instituted it in the Monasteries of his congregation in 998, other religious orders took up the observance and it was adopted by various Diocese and gradually by the whole Church. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy on this day and Pope Benedict XV granted to all Priests, the privilege of saying three Masses of requiem –
• one for the souls in Purgatory
• one for the intention of the Holy Father
• one for the Priest’s intentions
If the feast should fall on Sunday it is kept on 3 November.
Patronage: Monselice, Italy

Notre-Dame D’Emminont / Our Lady of Emminont. Abbeville, France (12th Century) – 2 November:

The Shrine to Our Lady of Emminont, or Notre-Dame D’Emminont, is near Abbeville in France. It is much visited by pilgrims devoted to the Mother of God who at their prayers and petitions, still performs many miracles and favours for her people.

The relics of Saint Wulfram (also spelled Wulfran or Vulfran) of Sens, who died in 656, were brought to the Shrine in the year 1058. Until that time, the Church had been known as the Collegiate Church of Our Lady in Abbeville but after the relics of Saint Wulfram were interred there, the Church was rededicated in Saint Wulfram’s honour. The Church retains that name to this day.

Franciscan Friars, well-versed in wood carving, cared for the Shrine. They were consulted in 1510 concerning work on the Cathedral of Amiens. In richness of detail, Abbeville surpasses many other Cathedrals. The nave was built between the years 1488 to 1539 and the small choir between 1661 and 1663. The construction was paid for by the King of France, and Count of Ponthieu and the faithful of Abbeville. The Church is much smaller than it was originally intended to be, as the initial blueprint for the Church was never completed. The nave is quite short, has only two bays and the choir is extremely small. Still, the façade is a superb masterpiece of the flamboyant Gothic style.

During the French Revolution the Church of Saint Wulfram was profaned and given the name of a “Temple of Reason” by the unreasoning revolutionaries who sought to destroy the immutable God by demolishing priceless monuments and artifacts and even, the glory of their own history.
The Town of Abbeville was heavily bombed by the German’s during World War II, so that much of what is seen there today is of fairly modern origin. The Church was also damaged, but efforts were made to restore it to its former grandeur.

The list of favours granted by Our Lady of Emminont, is indeed very long. It includes miraculous cures, astounding spiritual and temporal favours and streams of graces and blessings.

St Ambrose of Agaune
St Ambrose of Agaune
St Amicus of Fonte Avellana
St Amicus of Rambone
St Baya of Scotland
St Domninus of Grenoble
St Erc of Slane
St Eustochium of Tarsus
St George of Vienne
Bl John Bodey
St Jorandus of Kergrist
St Justus of Trieste

St Marcian of Chalcis
Bl Margaret of Lorraine
St Mateo López y López
St Maura of Scotland
St Theodotus of Laodicea
St Victorinus of Pettau (Died c 304) Bishop Martyr

St Willebald of Bavaria
—
Martyrs of Isfahan – 5+ saints: Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus were Persian priests who were imprisoned, tortured, interrogated and martyred in the persecutions of king Sapor II of Persia; he considered any Christian to be a Roman spy and anti-Persian. The three were brought back to life, miraculously healed, freed from their chains and began preaching Christianity, miraculously healing Sapor II in the process. This defiance enraged Sapor so much that he ordered them executed again; they were thrown into a cauldron of molten lead but walked out unharmed. This miracle brought one of the torturers, Aphthonius, to convert; he was immediately martyred. Other attempts were made to kill them, and they emerged each time unharmed. Senator Elpidiphorus led a group speaking in favour of the Christians for their courage and faith; he was immediately executed. In the end the original three Christians were burned to death. Martyrs all – Acindynus, Anempodistus, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and Pegasius.
They were born in Persia and Died:
• c.350 in Isfahan, Persia
• relics transferred to Constantinople and enshrined in a church dedicated to them
• some relics taken to France in 1204 during the 4th Crusade
• relics in France were lost when hidden from anti-Christian forces in the French Revolution
• relics in France re-discovered in 1892 in Grozon.

Martyrs of Sebaste – 10 saints: A group of ten soldiers in the imperial Roman army of Emperor Licinius Licinianus who were executed together for refusing to burn incense as a sacrifice to the emperor. The only details that have survived are five of their names – Agapius, Cartherius, Eudoxius, Styriacus and Tobias. They were burned at the stake in 315 in Sebaste (in modern Turkey).

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 2 November – Saint Justus of Trieste

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Saint Justus of Trieste (also Justus the Martyr, Just of Trieste, Giusto, Just, Sergius) was a citizen of Trieste in Italy, known for his works and charities. When charges of being a Christian were brought against him by his fellow citizens, he was tried according to Roman law. Since he refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods, he was found guilty of sacrilegium and sentenced to death by drowning. In 293 he was thrown from a small boat into the Gulf of Trieste, off of the present-day promontory of Sant’Andrea.

On the night of Justus’ death the priest Sebastian was told in a dream that Justus’ body had been washed ashore in spite of the weights meant to hold it down. Sebastian gathered his fellow believers and they went searching for the body, which they found on what is today Riva Grumula. Justus was then buried not far from the shore where he had been found. In late antique times the area near Piazza Hortis in Trieste was a cemeterial one and there is a good possibility that the former basilica of the Holy Martyrs at the corner of Via Ciamician and Via Duca d’Aosta was built on Justus’ tomb.

In the Middle Ages, the body of Justus was translated to a chapel adjacent to the church of Mary Mother of God (the present-day Duomo), attested since the 6th century. When, in the 10th or 11th century, the chapel was joined to the church, the cathedral, though dedicated to Mary Mother of God, became known as the Cathedral of Saint Justus.

He is the patron saint of the city and diocese of Trieste. He is also patron saint of Albona, San Giusto Canavese and Misilmeri in Sicily.

Rusticus the prefect said to Liberianus, And what say you? Are you a Christian, and unwilling to worship [the gods]? Liberianus said, I too am a Christian, for I worship and reverence the only true God.

The Martyrdom of Justin

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 2 November – My Jesus, by the Sorrows You Suffered

Posted on by AnaStpaul

My Jesus, by the Sorrows You Suffered
Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered
in Your Agony in the Garden,
in Your Scourging
and Crowning with Thorns,
on the Way to Calvary,
in Your Crucifixion and Death,
have mercy on the souls in Purgatory
and especially on those,
who are most forsaken.
Deliver them from the dire torments they endure.
Call them and admit them
to Your most sweet embrace
in Paradise.
Amen

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 2 November – It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost

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One Minute Reflection – 2 November – Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed – All Souls Day – Readings: 4 Esd. 2:34-35, Ps 64:2-3, 1 Cor. 15:51-57), John 5:25-29

At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews, Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is here, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live.

John 5:25-29

REFLECTION – Come, Lord Jesus, seek your servant; seek your weary sheep; come, my shepherd. While you delay on the mountains, see!, your sheep is straying. So leave the ninety-nine that are safe in hand and come, look for the one that has strayed. Come, without seeking a helper, without making yourself known; it is you I am waiting for now. Take no whip; take up your love. Come with the gentleness of your Spirit. Don’t hesitate to leave the ninety-nine that belong to you on the mountains: wolves cannot reach the heights where you have set them… Come to me who have strayed far away from the flocks on high, for you had set me up there, too, but the night wolves made me leave your sheepfolds.

Seek me, Lord, since my prayer seeks you. Seek me, find me, take me up, carry me! He whom you seek, you can find; he whom you find, stoop to take up; and he whom you take up, set on your shoulders. This burden of your love is never a load for you and you unwearyingly make of yourself the toll-keeper of justice. So come, Lord, since, if it is true that I stray, yet “I do not forget your word” and still keep hoping for relief. Come, Lord, for you alone are still able to call your lost sheep and will cause no harm to those you will be leaving behind. They, too, will be happy to see the sinner return. Come! There will be redemption on earth and rejoicing in heaven.

Do not send your menservants, do not send hirelings: come and look for your sheep yourself. Take me up in that flesh that fell with Adam. By this act acknowledge in me, not the child of Eve but the son of Mary, pure virgin, virgin by grace, without stain of sin. Then carry me even to your cross, salvation of the straying, only rest for the weary, sole life of all who die.

St Ambrose

PRAYER – Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, Whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His Resurrection, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes

Quote/s of the Day – 2 November – All Souls

Posted on by AnaStpaul

To be saved, we must necessarily live according to the maxims of the Gospel, and the number of those who now-a-days, do so live, can the number be called great? To be saved, we must openly declare that we are disciples of our Saviour.

La Pere Croiset

Scripture knows nothing of two ways to God or two differing prayer paths, one for the many, the other for the few. This new school of thought claims that most people go to God sufficently in active, discursive prayer and that they don’t need and ought not to expect infused contemplation. This really implies a two-tired concept of sanctity. This idea is foreign to scripture and the whole of Catholic Tradition.

The Fire Within

We can never understand too clearly that every alms, small or great, which we give to the poor we give to God. He accepts it and rewards it as given to Himself. Therefore, all we do for the Holy Souls, God accepts as done to Himself. It is as if we had relieved or released Him from Purgatory. What a thought! How He will repay us!

Fr Paul O’Sullivan

Ah, my Lord, and wherefore did I leave Thee, and lose Thy grace? for pleasures that are brief and empoisoned, which vanished away ere I possessed them, and left my heart full of woe and bitterness. Ah my sins, I detest you, and curse you a thousand times ; but I bless Thy mercy, my God, which with so much patience has endured with me.

St Alphonsus Liguori

Ah, dear lord, how Christians are damned through lack of charity! No, no, my dear brethren, even if you could perform miracles, you will never be saved if you have not charity. Not to have charity is not to know your religion; it is to have a religion of whim, mood, and inclination. Carry on, carry on, you are only hypocrites and outcasts! Without charity you will never see God, you will never go to Heaven! Give away your wealth, give generous alms to those who love you or who please you, go to Mass every day, go to Holy Communion every day if you wish: you are only hypocrites and outcasts.

St John Vianney

The most terrifying, however, is Saint Jerome. At the end of his life, in the presence of his disciples, he spoke these dreadful words: “Out of one hundred thousand people whose lives have always been bad, you will find barely one who is worthy of indulgence.”

St Leonard of Port Maurice

Posted in NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY

Thought for the Day – 2 November – Treatise on Purgatory

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Treatise on Purgatory

CHAPTER I

St Catherine of Genoa

The souls in purgatory, as far as I can understand the matter, cannot but choose to be there ; and this by God’s ordinance, Who has justly decreed it so. They cannot reflect within themselves and say, ” I have done such and such sins, for which I deserve to be here; ” nor can they say, “Would that I had not done them, that now I might go to Paradise ;” nor yet say, “That soul is going out before me;” nor, “I shall go out before him.” They can remember nothing of themselves or others, whether good or evil, which might increase the pain they ordinarily endure ; they are so completely satisfied with what God has ordained for them, that He should be doing all that pleases Him, and in the way it pleases Him, that they are incapable of thinking of themselves even in the midst of their greatest sufferings.

They behold only the goodness of God, whose mercy is so great in bringing men to Himself, that they cannot see anything that may affect them, whether good or bad ; if they could, they would not be in pure charity. They do not know that their sufferings are for the sake of their sins, nor can they keep in view the sins themselves ; for in doing so there would be an act of imperfection, which could have no place where there can be no longer any possibility of actually sinning. Once, in passing out of this life, they perceive why they have their purgatory ; but never afterwards, otherwise self would come in.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES

Solemnity of All Saints, Virgen de la Palma / Our Lady of the Palm, Algeciras, Spain (1755) and Memorials of the Saints – 1 November

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All Saints Day (Solemnity) – (a Holy Day of Obligation) Instituted to honour all the saints, known and unknown. It owes its origin in the Western Church to the dedication of the Roman Pantheon in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs by Pope Saint Boniface IV in 609, the anniversary of which was celebrated at Rome on 13 May. Pope Saint Gregory III consecrated a Chapel in the Vatican Basilica in honour of All Saints, designating 1 November as their feast. Pope Gregory IV extended its observance to the whole Church. It has a Vigil and Octave and is a Holy Day of Obligation – the eve is popularly celebrated as Hallowe’en. Patronage – Arzignano, Italy.

Virgen de la Palma / Our Lady of the Palm, Algeciras, Spain (1755) – 1 November:

The Church of Our Lady of the Palm preceded by many years, the miracle which made it famous. The miracle for which it is best remembered, took place during an earthquake and a tidal wave on the 1November, 1755. There had been an extremely strong earthquake on that day that was reported to have been felt throughout all of Europe. Algeciras is a seaport of Spain exposed to the Atlantic Ocean in the Province of Cadiz and was directly in the path of the tidal wave, said to be more than 90 feet high. The recently reported tsunamis in Asia pales in comparison to that wave. Lisbon, with 275,000 inhabitants, lost 90,000 people and had 85% of its buildings destroyed by the wave. The water penetrated as much as 8 kilometers inland, mainly striking Portugal, Spain, and Africa.

The townspeople of Algeciras were in terror and were on the point of abandoning the Town when two unidentified men – thought later to be the Patron Saints of the City – closed the water gates and urged the people to go to the Capuchin Church of Our Lady of the Palm. Here a Mass was in progress. The Priest calmly finished the Mass, seized a banner with a picture of Our Lady on it and went out into the street where the wall of water was already advancing upon them. He planted the banner in the street almost in the shadow of the great wave and called out in a loud voice, “Thus far, my Mother.”

The water advanced as far as the banner and then miraculously stopped its forward progression, even though, up until that point, it had destroyed everything in its path. Then, as the Priest walked boldly forward toward the wall of water with the banner in his upraised hand, that gigantic wave receded from him and turned away from the face of Mary to return placidly to the ocean.

An anniversary procession was established, along with a confraternity of Our Lady of the Palm. With the exception of 1837, when there was a Civil War, the procession is held annually. The Rosary is recited along the route of the tidal wave and prayers of thanksgiving said.

Many years after the first miracle, another storm caused the people to remember Our Lady of the Palm. Ships were wrecked in the harbour and the ocean was violently disturbed. The people demanded a procession of Our Lady of the Palm and when the procession was finished, the storm abated. Hail Glorious and Blessed Mother, where is our faith today!

St Amabilis of Auvergne
St Austremonius
St Benignus of Dijon
St Cadfan
St Caesarius of Africa
St Caesarius of Damascus
St Ceitho
St Cledwyn of Wales
Bl Clemens Kyuemon
St Cyrenia of Tarsus
St Dacius of Damascus
St Deborah the Prophetess
St Dingad
Bl Dionysius Fugixima
St Floribert of Ghent
St Gal of Clermont
St Genesius of Lyon
St Germanus of Montfort
St Harold the King
St James of Persia
St Jerome Hermosilla
St John of Persia
St Julian of Africa
St Juliana of Tarsus
St Lluís Estruch Vives
St Marcel of Paris
St Mary the Slave
St Mathurin
St Meigan
St Nichole
St Pabiali of Wales
St Pere Josep Almató Ribera Auras
St Peter Absalon
Bl Peter Paul Navarra
Bl Petrus Onizuka Sadayu
St Rachel the Matriarch
Blessed Ranieri Rasini OFM (c 1250-1304 Lay Friar of the Order of Friars Minor
St Ruth the Matriarch
St Salaun of Leseven
St Severinus of Tivoli
St Valentin Faustino Berri Ochoa
St Vigor of Bayeux

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 1 November – Saint Deborah the Prophetess

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Saint Deborah the Prophetess, also known as Deborah the Judge, Deborah the Matriarch, Debbora, was a Old Testament prophetess and judge, the only female judge mentioned in sacred scripture. She was married to a man called Lappidoth (lightning/torch).

She rendered her judgments beneath a date palm tree between Ramah in Benjamin and Bethel in the land of Ephraim.

The people of Israel had been oppressed by Jabin, the king of Canaan, whose capital was Hazor, for twenty years. Stirred by the wretched condition of Israel she sends a message to Barak, the son of Abinoam, at Kedesh in Naphtali, and tells him that the Lord God had commanded him to muster ten thousand troops of Naphtali and Zebulun and concentrate them upon Mount Tabor, the mountain at the northern angle of the great plain of Esdraelon. At the same time she states that the Lord God of Israel will draw Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, to the Kishon River. Barak declines to go without the prophet. Deborah consents, but declares that the glory of the victory will therefore belong to a woman.

As Deborah prophesied, a battle is fought (led by Barak), and Sisera is completely defeated, thereafter there was peace for 40 years.

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 1 November – Grant us Your Light, O Lord

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Grant us Your Light, O Lord
By St Bede (673-735)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Grant us Your light, O Lord,
so that the darkness of our hearts,
may wholly pass away
and we may come at last,
to the Light of Christ.
For Christ is that morning star,
who, when the night of this world has passed,
brings to His saints,
the promised light of life
and opens to them,
everlasting day.
Amen

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 1 November – A pure soul possesses every power

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One Minute Reflection – 1 November – The Solemnity of All Saints, Readings: Ps 32:1, Apoc 7:2-12, Matt 5:1-12

Blessed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and, speaking falsely, say all manner of evil against you, for My sake. Rejoice and exult, because your reward is great in heaven.

Matt 5:1-12

REFLECTION – There is nothing so beautiful as a soul that is pure. If we understood this, we would be incapable of losing our purity. A pure soul is like a beautiful pearl. So long as it is concealed in a shell at the bottom of the sea no one thinks of admiring it. But if you display it in the sun then this pearl shines and draws people’s eyes. Purity comes from heaven: we have to ask God for it. If we ask for it we shall get it. We must take great care not to lose it. It closes our hearts to pride, sensuality and every other passion.

Children, we cannot understand the power that a pure soul has over the Good God: it gets all it wants. Before God a pure soul is like a child before its mother: it caresses her and hugs her and its mother returns its caresses and embraces.

To preserve our purity there are three things: the Presence of God, prayer and the sacraments.

St John Vianney

PRAYER – Father, All-Powerful and ever-living God, today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place. May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love. Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, our trusted guide and loving mother and all you holy Saints of the Church Triumphant, pray for us! We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes

Quote/s of the Day – 1 November – Saints

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In those days, behold, I John, saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, who had it in their power to harm the earth and the sea, saying, Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.

Apoc 7:2-12

All the rich among the people shall supplicate thy face from age to age, and particularly at the end of the world; that is to say, the greatest Saints, the souls richest in graces and virtues, shall be the most assiduous in praying to our Blessed Lady, and in having her always present as their perfect model to imitate, and their powerful aid to give them succour. They shall be little and poor in the world’s esteem, and abased before all, like the heel, trodden underfoot and persecuted as the heel is by the other members of the body.

St Louis de Montfort

God makes those who are open to Him exceedingly beautiful, famous among nations for their beauty, perfect and queenly. It is a beauty which He alone bestows, for it is His own beauty.

The Fire Within

The Heavenly Spouse grants the petitions of all chaste souls.

Fr Spirago

Dear daughter, you must know that it is necessary that at different times and different places you must be crowned with both these crowns. Choose then, which you prefer: to be crowned during your life on earth with the crown of thorns, and I will keep the other for you for the life without end, or to receive the precious one now and to have the crown of thorns reserved for you after your death.

Jesus Christ to St Catherine of Siena

The fear of God is a sign of predestination.

St Augustine

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY

Thought for the Day – 1 November – All Saints

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The happiness of the saints is something so great and so far above human thoughts that Saint Paul says, when he speaks of it, Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has the heart of man ever conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. It is, he says, the hidden wisdom of God, which he has prepared before all ages for our glory. We know, says Saint John, that when Jesus appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.

What a joy for the saints to be made like God through participation in his nature and in the divine perfections! There God is truly in the saints by a holy sharing in his greatness, and the saints are in God, because their entire being is penetrated by God so that they can think and love only God. Today, pay homage to the saints, but let it be in God, because it is in him that you find them all. Admire how great is the happiness they enjoy in heaven, how wonderful is this glory they recieve, and beg them to obtain from God for you the grace to share in their glory after death.

But no matter what hope you can have to share in the glory of the saints, it will have no effect unless you work to become a saint by using the same means they used to achieve this. They endured great combats, says Saint Paul, in the various kinds of afflictions they suffered. They served as a spectacle to the world because of insults and ill-treatment. With joy they saw themselves despoiled of all their goods, knowing that they had more excellent goods that would never perish. Elsewhere he says they endured mockeries, scourgings, chains, and prisons, some were stones, others sawed in two, some were put to death by the sword, others wandered about garbed in sheepskins and goatskins, being abandoned, tormented, and persecuted, others, finally, of whom the world was not worthy, passed their life wandering in deserts and on mountains, living in dens and caves of the earth.

All these saints, tormented in various ways, were unwilling to rescue their present life but chose to find a better one in the resurrection. For, adds the same Apostle, these are only the afflictions that produce the eternal weight of glory to which we are destined in the next life. Yearn then, for sufferings every day, as did many of the saints, in the desire and the hope of being clothed with them one day with the immortality of heaven.

St John Baptiste de La Salle

Posted in NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY

Devotion for the Month of November – The Holy Souls in Purgatory

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Requiescant in Pace

Fr Richard Clarke

On All Souls’ Day we offer this prayer for those who are not only saints, but saints on the very threshold of paradise, waiting to be admitted to the immediate presence of God. It is always a privilege to do a service to the friends of God, it is so above all when those who need our help will in a short time behold His face in heaven, and will gratefully remember to all eternity each little prayer offered on their behalf.

These saints waiting for heaven cry out to us to help them. They have a claim on us by reason of the intensity of their suffering. No words can tell what they suffer, and their very love for God increases their pain. Every compassionate heart will desire to do something to relieve them and to shorten the time of their banishment. Yet how little I do for them!

They are moreover, unable to help themselves. If we saw one whom we knew to be a saint enduring some affliction in which he could do nothing in his own behalf, we should be eager to assist him. The holy souls are utterly helpless, their own prayers avail them nothing. To us they look for aid, to us for an abridgement of their time of punishment. Do I respond to their appeal as I ought?

ETERNAL REST

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord
and may perpetual light shine upon them
and may the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN TITLES

Solemnity of Christ the King, Vigil of All Saints Day, Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Río Blanco, Argentina and Memorials of the Saints – 31 October

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Solemnity of Christ the King – Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost

Vigil of All Saints Day or All Hallow’s Eve: Eve of the Feast of All Hallows, that is, All Saints Day.

Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Río Blanco y Paypaya de Jujuy / Our Lady of the Rosary of Rio Blanco (of the White River) and Paypaya, Argentina , 17th Century – 31 October:

In the Province of Jujuy, Our Lady of the Rosary is the main Patron, who was added the title of “Paypaya and White River.” Local tradition tells that the Virgin defended the City from attacks by the Indians.

The most beautiful devotion is the procession which takes place on 31 October, the day on which the image is removed from its precious altar next to the nave of the Cathedral of Jujuy and is taken to the Sanctuary of the White River…The people displaying their deep religious faith, expressed in their great devotion to the Virgin “Our Lady of the Rosary of White River and Paypaya,” the history refers to the colonial era of the mid-seventeenth century.

Entering through the side entrance of the court, located next to the Cathedral of San Salvador de Jujuy, in the centre of the long nave, is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary of White River and Paypaya, a clothed image 60 cm. height. There is another Statue is in the Chapel of the City of Rio Blanco.

Commemoration of All Holy Relics (Dominicans)
—

St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617) Spanish Lay Brother of the Society of Jesus, Doorkeeper, Mystic, Visionary, Apostle of Charity and of Prayer, Spiritual Adviser.

St Ampliatus
St Antoninus of Milan
St Apelles of Eraclea Sintica
St Arnulf of Novalesa
St Begu of Hackness
Bl Christopher of Romagna
Bl Dominic Collins
St Epimachus of Melusio
St Erth of Cornwall
St Foillan of Fosses (Died 655) Bishop Martyr, Missionary, Abbot
Bl Irene Stefani
St Jesús Miquel Girbau
Bl Leon Nowakowski
St Lucilla of Rome
Bl Maria de Requesens
Bl Modesta Moro Briz
St Narcissus
St Notburga of Cologne
St Quentin
Bl Pilar Isabel Sánchez Suárez
St Stachys of Constantinople

Blessed Thomas Bellacci TOSF (1370-1447) Lay Friar and Third Order Franciscan, Penitent, Confessor, renowned Missionary Preacher, Papal Legate, Novice Master and Vicar General of the Order.

St Urban

St Wolfgang of Regensburg (c 934 –994) “The Great Almoner,” Bishop, Monk, Missionary, Ascetic, Apostle of Charity. He is regarded as one of the three great German saints of the 10th century, the other two being Saint Ulrich and Saint Conrad of Constance.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 31 October – Saint Quentin

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Saint Quentin, also known as Quintin, Quintinus, was a Roman martyr. The son of a Roman senator called Zeno, he was a convert to Christianity. Becoming a missionary to Gaul with Saint Lucian of Beauvais and others (the martyrs Victoricus and Fuscian are said to have been Quentin’s followers), his preaching, miracles, and example won many converts in Amiens.

He was arrested in 286 by Prefect Rictius Varus during the Maximian persecution. The saint was manacled, tortured repeatedly, but refused to abjure his faith. The prefect left Amiens to go to Reims, the capital of Gallia Belgica, where he wanted Quentin judged. But, on the way, in 287, in a town named Augusta Veromanduorum (now Saint-Quentin, Aisne), Rictiovarus interrupted his journey to pass sentence: Quentin was tortured again, then beheaded and thrown by the soldiers into the marshes around the Somme. His body was recovered and buried by people he had helped convert, his tomb becoming known as a site for miracles. A blind woman named Eusebia, born of a senatorial family, came from Rome (following a divine order) and miraculously discovered the body, and a certain blind woman recovered her sight by the sacred relics. A small chapel was built nearby.

His relics were later re-discovered by Saint Eligius. When the relics were discovered, together with the great nails with which the body had been pierced, Eligius distributed these nails, the teeth, and hair in other places, and enclosed the rest of the sacred treasure in a rich shrine of his own work, which he placed behind the high altar of the church he rebuilt.

Patronage: bombardiers, chaplains, locksmiths, porters, tailors, and surgeons. Invoked against coughs, sneezes, and dropsy.

Hierax said, I was a Christian, and will be a Christian. And Pæon stood up and said, I too am a Christian.

The Martyrdom of Justin

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 31 October – I am Thine and born for Thee

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I am Thine and born for Thee,
What wilt Thou do with me?
By St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Doctor of Prayer of the Church

Sovereign Lord, upon Thy Throne,
Endless Wisdom, One and Whole,
Goodness that dost feed my soul,
Good and great, One God alone,
As I sing my love for Thee.
What wilt Thou do with me?

Thine I am, for Thou didst make me;
Thine, for Thou alone didst save me;
Thine – Thou couldst endure to have me;
For Thine own, didst deign to take me.
Never once, didst Thou forsake me.
Ruined were I, if not for Thee:
What wilt Thou do with me?

What, O good and loving Lord,
What wilt Thou have this creature do?
This Thy slave, a sinner too,
Waiting till she hears Thy word?
With Thy will in close accord,
Sweetest Love, I come to Thee:
What wilt Thou do with me?

Take, O Lord, my loving heart:
See, I yield it to Thee whole,
With my body, life and soul
And my nature’s every part.
Sweetest Spouse, my life Thou art;
I have given myself to Thee:
What wilt Thou do with me?

Let me live or let me die;
Give me sickness, give me health;
Give me poverty or wealth;
Let me strive or peaceful lie.
Weakness give or strength supply –
I accept it all of Thee:
What wilt Thou do with me?…

I am Thine and born for Thee,
What wilt Thou do with me?

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 31 October – Mary traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah

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One Minute Reflection – 31 October – The last day of the “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Sedulius, Ps 44:2, Ecclus 24:14-16, Luke 11:27-28

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Lk 1:28; 1:42

REFLECTION – By his voice alone Christ, to begin with, is recognized by his Church. For he first sent her his voice ahead of him through the prophets, and so, although he was not seen, he was heard. And he was heard through the things they proclaimed about him while the Bride, that is the Church, which has been gathered together since the beginning of time, heard his voice only until the time when she saw him with her eyes and said: “Behold, here he comes, leaping upon the mountains!”

Now every soul — if any there be who is constrained by love for the Word of God— is made happy and consoled when it feels the presence of the Bridegroom whenever some riddle or obscure saying of the Law or the Prophets hem it in. When he has begun to draw closer and closer to her senses and to illuminate things that are obscure then she sees him “leaping upon the mountains and the hills” so that this soul can rightly say: “Behold, he comes!” Certainly, the Bridegroom promises and tells his Bride, that is, his chosen disciples: “Behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world”.

Nevertheless he tells her elsewhere that he is going away to seek a kingdom for himself; and yet again it is said with reference to the absent Bridegroom that at midnight there was a cry made: “Behold, the Bridegroom comes!”. Thus the Bridegroom is sometimes present and teaching, and sometimes He is said to be absent and then He is desired. So also is it with the soul. When she is trying to understand something and desiring to know some obscure and secret matters, so long as she cannot find what she is looking for the Word of God is surely absent from her. But when the thing she seeks comes to meet her, and appears to her, who doubts but that the Word of God is present, illuminating her mind and offering to her the light of knowledge? If, then, we too want to see the Word of God, the Bridegroom of the soul, “leaping upon the mountains and skipping over the hills,” we must first hear his voice and then we shall be able to see him.

Origen

PRAYER – Lord God, You gave the peoples of the world as the inheritance of Your only Son; You crowned Him as King of Zion, Your holy city and gave Him Your Church to be His Bride. As He proclaims the law of Your eternal kingdom, may we serve Him faithfully and so share His royal power forever. We make our prayer, through Him and with Him and in Him, our King and our Redeemer, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

Posted in OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Quote/s of the Day– 31 October – The Blessed Virgin

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Exult, exult! oh my soul ! said St. Bonaventure, who was so assiduous in proclaiming the praises of Mary, and rejoice in her, because many good things are prepared for those who praise her; and since all the Holy Scriptures, he added, speak in praise of Mary, let us endeavor always with heart and tongue to celebrate this our divine mother, that we may be conducted by her to the kingdom of the blessed.

St Alphonsus Liguori

The children of Belial, the slaves of Satan, the friends of the world (for it is the same thing), have always up to this time persecuted those who belong to our Blessed Lady, and will in future persecute them more than ever; just as of old Cain persecuted his brother Abel, and Esau his brother Jacob, who are the figures of the reprobate and the predestinate. But the humble Mary will always have the victory over that proud spirit, and so great a victory that she will go the length of crashing his head, where his pride dwells. She will always discover the malice of the serpent. She will always counterwork his infernal mines and dissipate his diabolical counsels, and will guarantee even to the end of time her faithful servants from his cruel claw.

St Louis de Montfort

We are told in the revelations of St. Bridget, that the blessed Emingo, Bishop, being accustomed to begin his sermons with the praises of Mary, the Virgin herself appeared one day to the saint, and said to her: “Tell that prelate who is accustomed to commence his discourses with my praises, that I will be his mother, and that I will present his soul to God, and that he shall die a good death;” and he indeed died like a saint, in prayer and in celestial peace.

St Alphonsus Liguori

If you follow Mary, you will not swerve from the right path, if you pray to her, you will not fall into despair, if she holds you, you will not fall, if she protects you, you need not fear, if she leads you, you will never weary, and if she befriends you, you will be safe.

St Bernard

As far as the advantage of the people is concerned, St. Anselm says, that the sacred womb of Mary having been made the way of salvation for sinners, sinners cannot but be converted and saved by discourses in praise of Mary.

St Alphonsus Liguori

All Christians have a great devotion to Mary except those old and hardened sinners who, for a very long time, having lost the faith, wallow in the slime of their brute passions. The Devil tries to keep them in this state of blindness until that moment when death opens their eyes. Ah! If they had but the happiness to have recourse to Mary they would not fall into Hell, as will happen to them! No, my dear children, let us not imitate such people! On the contrary, let us follow the footsteps of all those true servants of Mary.

St John Vianney

And if then you are greatly alarmed and lose courage in view of the sins you have committed, she will come to comfort you as she came to Adolphus, Count of Alsace, who, having quitted the world and become a Franciscan, as the chronicles relate, was very devoted to the mother of God. His last days arrived, and at the remembrance of the life he had led in the world, and the rigor of divine justice, he began to fear death and doubt of his salvation. Then Mary, who never sleeps when her faithful servants are in trouble, accompanied by many saints, appeared to him, and encouraged him with these tender words of consolation : “My dear Adolphus, thou art mine, thou hast given thyself to me, then why dost thou so greatly fear death?” The servant of Mary was consoled by these words, every fear disappeared, and he died in great peace and contentment.

St Alphonsus Liguori

There is no nation, no state or condition which has not called Mary ‘Blessed’. We may safely say that heaven resounds with her glory, and the universe re-echoes its praises. All nations who adore God, pay honours to the wonders done to her: Europe, Asia, Africa, America, have all been struck with astonishment at the ‘great things that He that is mighty hath done to her’.

Henri-Marie Boudon

They that explain me shall have life everlasting.

The Blessed Virgin

Posted in OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Thought for the Day – 31 October – The Glories of the Holy Angels

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The Glories of the Holy Angels

Venerable Henri Boudon, Archdeacon of Evreux

OCTOBER TWENTY-NINTH.
The Angels who favoured particular Saints.

Let us consecrate this day to ‘those blessed Spirits who specially favoured some of the Saints; as the Angels who released St. Peter from his prison, and revealed to St. John the secrets of futurity ; those who gave the monastic rule to St. Pachomius: who imprinted the holy stigmas in the body of St. Francis; wounded the heart of St. Teresa; and those who gave the holy communion to St. Stanislas Kotska; who conversed with St. Rose, and conferred on St. Thomas the gift of perfect chastity. Thus we will please those great servants of God, and obtain their intercession.

Practice—Three spiritual communions in honour of these Angels.

Asp.—O all ye holy Saints and Angels ! intercede for us.

OCTOBER THIRTIETH.
All the Angels because they assist us in Death

We are born but to live—we live but to die—and our lot for eternity depends on the manner in which we breathe our last. We ought, then, to “make for ourselves friends,” for that critical moment, of the holy Angels, by a true, sincere, persevering devotion to them. If we do, it is then indeed they will show how they loved us.

Practice—Prayer to the Blessed Virgin for a happy death.
Asp.—O holy Angels—-Spirits of God ! pray for us now and at the hour of our death—Amen.”

OCTOBER THIRTY-FIRST.
All the Angels because they will contribute to our happiness in eternity.

When the figure of this world shall have passed away—when the earth and all that is in it shall have been burnt up, and the elements melted with heat when, in fine, the Son of Man shall appear on a cloud to judge the living and the dead — the Angels, at his command, having separated the good from the bad, will encompass the former as a tower of defence against the evils which will cause the latter to exclaim— Mountains fall upon us ! hills cover us !” And when the final sentence seals man’s eternal doom, and that the Supreme Arbiter, having locked, on their respective inmates, the gates of heaven and of hell, has flung the keys into the ocean of eternity, these blessed Spirits will seat us down at the table of the Lamb, rejoicing that our sorrow is changed into joy, and that the days of our mourning are ended. Let us love these holy Angels, but let us love them perseveringly. Perseverance crowns the work. If they deserved our homage yesterday, they as well and better deserve it to day.

Practice—Excite others to be devout to the Angels.
Asp.—Alleluia! Salvation to our God, that sits upon the throne: and may all his Angels say, Amen.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES

Madonna della Mondovi / Our Lady of Mondovi, Piemonte, Italy – 16th Century and Memorials of the Saints – 30 October

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Madonna della Mondovi / Our Lady of Mondovi, Piemonte, Italy – 16th Century – 30 October:

Our Lady of Mondovi, also known as the Madonna della Mondovi, is located at Vicoforte, in Piedmont, Italy. There a picture was found upon which a tile-maker had painted and placed on a brick pillar which he had erected for that purpose. This pillar has since been enclosed in a Church which was built in the year 1645 at the behest of Maria Cristina of France. The request was made in memory of the miraculous rescue of a child from the river, which took place in 1644 through the invocation of the image of the Blessed Virgin. Since that time there have been many miracles which have been wrought and continue to attract a great concourse of people.

The peasant folk especially venerated Our Lady at this Shrine and obtained numerous favours in answer to their prayers.
The Church was enlarged in 1779 and equipped with a Baptistery in 1807. Inside, enriched with precious furnishings donated by the Savoy Princes and frescoes by Bartolomeo Guidobono and others. On the Altar, the miraculous image of the Blessed Mother is kept. The original image has been almost completely repainted in twentieth-century restorations.

St Angelo of Acri OFM Cap (1669-1739) Priest of the Franciscan Capuchins, Confessor, Preacher, Missionary, Evangeliser, Miracle-Worker, Apostle of Charity and Mercy to the sick, Mystic with the gifts of prophecy, bi-location, visions and the ability to see into men’s souls in Confession. His body is incorrupt and is enshrined in in the Basilica dedicated to him in Acri.

St Arilda
St Asterius of Amasea

Blessed Benvenuta Bojani OP (1254-1292) Member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, Mystic, Repentant. miracle-worker.

St Egelnoth the Good
St Eutropia of North Africa
St Gerard of Potenza

St Germanus of Capua (Died c 541) Bishop of Capua, Italy, Confessor, Papal Legate. St Germanus was a close friend of St Benedict of Nursia. The Roman Matyrology states: St Germanus, Bishop and Confessor, a man of great sanctity, whose soul, at the hour of death, was seen by St Benedict taken to heaven by angels.

St Herbert of Tours
Bl Jean-Michel Langevin
Bl John Slade
St Lucanus of Lagny
St Marcellus the Centurion
St Marcian of Syracuse
St Maximus of Cumae
St Nanterius of Saint-Mihiel
Bl Oleksa Zarytsky (1912-1963) Martyr
Bl Raymond of Cardona
St Saturninus of Cagliari
St Serapion of Antioch
St Talarica of Scotland
Bl Terrence Albert O’Brien
St Theonestus of Philippi (Died 425) Bishop, Martyr
St Zenobia of Aegea
St Zenobius of Aegea
—
Martyrs in Africa: A group of 100 to 200 Christians murdered in the early persecutions, and about whom we know nothing except that they died for their faith.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 30 October – Saint Marcellus the Centurion

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Saint Marcellus the Centurion, also known as Marcellus of Tangier, was a Roman centurion at Tangiers (in modern Morocco). During a celebration of the Emperor Maximian’s birthday, Marcellus refused to participate in the pagan offering ceremony. He threw away his arms and armour and symbol of his rank, openly declared himself a Christian, and was condemned to death.

Saint Cassian, the official shorthand writer, was so angry at the sentence that he refused to record the court proceedings and was martyred as well.

St. Marcellus’s relics were later brought to and enshrined at what now is León, Spain, and he became a patron saint of the city. The Plaza de San Marcelo in this city is named for him.

Then said the prefect Rusticus to Chariton, Tell me further, Chariton, are you also a Christian? Chariton said, I am a Christian by the command of God. Rusticus the prefect asked the woman Charito, What say you, Charito? Charito said, I am a Christian by the grace of God. Rusticus said to Euelpistus, And what are you? Euelpistus, a servant of Cæsar, answered, I too am a Christian, having been freed by Christ; and by the grace of Christ I partake of the same hope.

The Martyrdom of Justin

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 30 October – To Our Lady of the Rosary By St Amadeus of Lausanne

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Through Thee, to Us, our Saviour Came
To Our Lady of the Rosary
By St Amadeus of Lausanne O.Cist (1108-1159)

Through thee, to us, our Saviour came,
Through thee, to Him, we fain would go.
Our lives are marred by wrong and shame,
Yet, confidence in thee we know.
The friendship thou dost give to all
Who love thy name, shall ever be
Assurance thou wilt hear our call,
Sweet Lady of the Rosary!

Thou art our Strength upon the way,
Our Morning Star, to cheer and guide;
Our Beacon Light to show the day,
And lead us to the Saviour’s Side;
A Comforter in ev’ry pain
We find, O Mother blest, in thee,
And seek we, never, thee in vain,
Fair Lady of the Rosary!

Thy praises, Mary, we would sing,
And all our faculties employ,
That unto thee our hearts might bring
A glory-crown of love and joy.
Bless thou each humble effort made
In thy regard and grant that we,
May by thy influence be swayed,
Our Lady of the Rosary!

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 30 October – Becoming a true image of God

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One Minute Reflection – 30 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” and Mary’s Day – Readings: Ps 129:3-4, Ps 129:1-2, Phil 1:6-11, Matt 22:15-21

Then Jesus said to them, Whose are this image and the inscription?

Matt 22:15-21

REFLECTION – “Therefore give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” We are to give back to each their due. Now this is a saying that is truly full of wisdom and heavenly understanding because it teaches us that there are two sorts of power, one earthly and human, the other heavenly and divine. It teaches us that we are bound in this way to a twofold form of obedience, one to human laws and the other to divine. We are to pay Caesar with the coin bearing the image and inscription of Caesar and God with what has received the seal and image of the divine likeness: “The light of your countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us”.

We have been created in the image and likeness of God. You are a man, O Christian. So you are the money in the divine treasure-chest, a coin bearing the image and inscription of the divine emperor. From now on if I ask with Christ: “Whose image and inscription are these?”, you reply: “God's”. And I answer: “So why do you not give back to God what is his?”

If we truly want to be God's image then we must resemble Christ, since he is the image of God's goodness and “the very imprint of his being”. And God “predestined those he foreknew to be conformed to the image of his Son”. Christ truly gave back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. He observed in the most perfect way possible the precepts contained in the two tablets of the divine law “becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross”. Thus he was adorned in the highest degree with all virtues, both manifest and concealed.

St Lawrence of Brindisi

PRAYER – Lord Jesus, help us to appreciate and live Your spiritual virtues and give them the first place in our hearts. Grant that we may always seek them first and remain forever united with You. Send Your Spirit with His gifts and blessings and may the Mother of all Virtue, assist us in our need. Help us to follow the path of humility, the Blessed Virgin so splendidly taught us and may we always beseech Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, for her intercession, that we may obtain from You, a place in Your Kingdom. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, pray for us. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God now and for all times, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes

Quote/s of the Day – 30 October – For You do not regard the person of men

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S. Vincent Ferrer observes, that the riches of this world are external, they enter not into the heart. “They are waters which do not enter space, where there is thirst.” The sinner may wear a beautiful embroidered robe, he may have a costly diamond on his finger, he may feast according to his desire, but his poor heart will remain filled with bitterness ; and therefore he will be, notwithstanding all his riches, pleasures, and amusements, ever restless ; and when anything opposes his will, he will become furious and angry like a dog that is mad.

St Alphonsus Liguori

When things go wrong with him who loves God, he resigns himself to the will of God, and therefore there is no need for him to quiet himself. The unhappy sinner, serves the devil serves a tyrant who repays him with sorrow and bitterness. What does not that revengeful man suffer, after he is revenged? that dishonest one, after he has fulfilled his design ? that ambitious one ? that avaricious one? Oh how many there are, who, if they suffered for God that which they suffered to bring themselves to condemnation, would become great saints.

St Alphonsus Liguori

Scripture speaks of a converted man as a new man, because, in fact, it produces a wonderful renewal in a regenerated creature. He is no longer himself, he is another man, another being, everything is changed. He cannot recognise the past, on whatever side you look, you find a new man.

Pere Vincent Houdry

I called and you rejected Me, I also in My turn, will laugh you to scorn. This is, at the same time, a reproach and a threat, which God makes to sinners.

Massillon

Woe to me! if I am so badly advised as to use my soul thus, woe to me! if I delay to the last moment of my life, that which should have been the occupation of my life.

De la Colombiere, SJ

Do not, I implore you, delay your conversion to God, for you know not the day appointed to carry you off. You tell me that God has given His grace to be converted, to some when they have reached to extreme old age. Does it follow from this that He will grant you the same favour? Perhaps He will grant it to me. Why add, perhaps? Because it has sometimes happened. What! does the question of your salvation depend on a perhaps?

St John Chrysostom

Posted in OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Thought for the Day – 30 October – Day by day

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The Glories of the Holy Angels

Venerable Henri Boudon, Archdeacon of Evreux

OCTOBER TWENTY-FIFTH.
St. Gabriel

This blessed Spirit was the ambassador of the Most High when about to operate the greatest of all his mysteries, the Incarnation of his Son; and he it was that revealed it to Daniel many ages before. He is supposed to have been the tutelary of the holy family—the Angel who invited the shepherds to the manger—who warned St. Joseph to flee into Egypt—and, in fine, he who consoled Jesus in his agony. His name, Gabriel, signifies “ power of God.” His peculiar grace is to imprint in hearts the knowledge and love of Jesus and Mary. Let us be devout to him, and he will render us this service so desirable.

Practice—Say in honour of this blessed Angel seven times in his own words to the Blessed Virgin—Hail Mary ! &c.
Asp.—O Angel of the Lord!” extend in all hearts the empire of Jesus and Mary.

OCTOBER TWENTY-SIXTH.
St. Michael

“When Lucifer raised his rebellious head, and sought to be like to the Most High, Michael, the prince of the Seraphim, and the first of “ the Seven Spirits who stand before the Throne,” opposed his haughty pretensions and overthrew him in the contest. Saint Thomas supposes this blessed Spirit to be the breath of the Saviour, which will destroy Antichrist. He is the patron of the Church—the protector of the dying—he, in fine, who on the last day will seize the trumpet, and with a Surgite Mortui, “ Arise, ye dead !” will arraign all men before the Judge of the Living and the Dead. He is then entitled to singular love and veneration.

Practice—Nine Gloria Patria, in honour of St. Michael, as chief of the Nine
Choirs.
Asp.— O holy Michael the Archangel! defend us in the combat, lest we perish in the Day of Judgment.

OCTOBER TWENTY-SEVENTH.
The Angels of bad and ignorant Catholics.

That there are numbers who belong to the one fold of Jesus Christ, unmindful of their duty to those holy Angels, whom they know to be their guardians and protectors, and many more altogether ignorant of this consoling truth—is as undeniable as it is afflicting. Let us this day supply their deficiency by our homage and respect.

Practice.—Assist at Mass in honour of these Angels.
Asp.—For all who despise or forget you, I love and venerate you, holy Angels.

OCTOBER TWENTY-EIGHTH.
The Angels who visit and console the souls in Purgatory.

The charity of the Angels does not end with our existence here; if condemned after death to the purifying flames of Purgatory—they visit and console us in a manner which considerably diminishes the sense of suffering. They have often appeared to persons on earth, to incite them to relieve by prayers and good works, the souls detained in Purgatory.

Practice—Sacrifice something at meals in honour of these Angels.
Asp.—Holy Angels, I thank you.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES

Nostra Signora di Oropa / Our Lady of Oropa, Piedmont, Italy, (3rd Century) and Memorials of the Saints – 29 October

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Nostra Signora di Oropa / Our Lady of Oropa, Piedmont, Italy (3rd Century) – 29 October:

This image, of cedar wood, six feet high, is in a Chapel which Saint Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli (c 283-371), caused to be built. He often retired there during the troubles caused by the Arians.

The Sanctuary of the black Virgin of Oropa, high in the Alps north of Biella, is traditionally associated with Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, who died in 371 but the circumstances of the story are anachronistic. Yet the Shrine is certainly an old one, and throughout the Middle Ages was associated with a Community of Canon Regulars.

The vast range of buildings there today were begun by the Dukes of Savoy, early in the seventeenth century and form one of the most complete pilgrimage centres in the world (there is even a theatre). It is recorded that here in 1895, contemplating the space and beauty of the mountains, Marconi heard the first call to his life’s work.

The black cedar-wood Statue has been crowned four times, the last time in 1920 – the three superimposed diadems (the fourth is represented by a halo of twelve stars) can hardly be said to add to the beauty of the image.

Discovery of the Statue of Our Lady of Oropa at Jerusalem – Saint Eusebius who had been exiled to Syria because of his differences with the Arians, died in the year c 371. While in exile, the Emperor Constantine permitted him some freedom. Eusebius discovered among some ruins in Jerusalem three Statues of Our Lady. On his triumphant return after the Arians had been temporarily overthrown, he gave two of the Statues away . The third he kept for himself, placing it in a little hermitage at Oropa which he often visited.

In the 5th and 6th centuries when Arianism again reared its ugly head, the faithful Catholics took refuge at the Shrine of Our Lady of Oropa. At one time it was decided to transport the Statue to another place. As the procession marched along, the Statue became so heavy that the men who carried it could not move on. Only when they decided to take Our Lady back to her original Shrine at Oropa were they able to move.

The last addition to the sanctuary was the Upper Basilica, a monumental Church built between 1885 and 1960 due to the large number of pilgrims visiting Oropa. It can hold 3000 people and its dome is 80 metres high.

In 1617, the complex of the Sacro Monte di Oropa (literally Sacred Mount of Oropa) was built not far from the Sanctuary. It is a devotional path now composed of twelve Chapels (plus another seven nearby) containing groups of Statues representing scenes from the story of the Virgin Mary’s life.
The Chapel of Our Lady of Oropa is a beautiful one and thousands of pilgrims today make their way there as they have done over the centuries.
The Holy See asked the authorities in 1856 to make a list of the miracles recorded at the Shrine. It is long and impressive. Then, as now, Our Lady of Oropa has a way with her Divine Son.

St Abraham Kidunaia (c 296-c 366) Priest, Hermit. The Vita of St Abraham was written by his friend, St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church.
St Abraham of Rostov
St Achahildis of Wendelstein
St Anne of Mount Olympus

St Colman of Kilmacduagh
St Dodone of Wallers-en-Fagne
St Donatus of Corfu
St Ermelinda of Meldaert
St Eusebia of Bergamo
St Felician of Carthage

St Gaetano Errico (1791-1860) Priest, Founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1836, Teacher, Confessor, Apostle of Charity, Eucharistic Adorer.

St Honoratus of Vercelli
St John of Autun
St Kennera
St Mary of Edessa
St Narcissus of Gerona

St Narcissus of Jerusalem (c 99-c 215) Bishop of Jerusalem, miracle-worker.

St Sigolinus of Stavelot
St Stephen of Cajazzo
St Terence of Metz
St Theodore of Vienne
St Zenobius of Sidon
—
Martyrs of Douai – (160 saints and beati): 160 priests, laymen and religious who studied at the English College in Douai, France, then returned to minister to covert Catholics in England during a period of government persecution of the Church, and were murdered for their work.

Martyrs of Lucania – (4 saints): A group of Christians executed together for their faith. Only their names have survived – Felician, Hyacinth, Lucius and Quintus. Their martyrdom occurred in Lucania, southern Italy.

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War:
• Blessed Arsenio Merino Miguel
• Blessed Benito Paradela Novoa
• Blessed Joaquina Rey Aguirre
• Blessed José Ruiz Bruixola
• Blessed Maurilio Tobar González
• Blessed Ponciano Nieto Asensio
• Blessed Victoria Arregui Guinea

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 29 October – Saint Abraham of Rostov

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint Abraham of Rostov, also known as Averkii, Avraamii, was a Russian convert from paganism and a monk, taking the name Abraham. Born in the 10th century in Galich, Russia, as a young man Abraham was struck down by a nearly fatal illness, then cured by prayer.

Becoming a travelling evangelist and preacher in Rostov, Russia, he had a vision of Saint John the Divine, who gave him his own staff, which Abraham used to smash the pagan stone idol of Veles (god of the underworld in Slavic paganism) in Rostov; he then built the monastery of the Theophany on the site of the old pagan temple, and the staff was later carried into battle by Ivan the Terrible who hoped to benefit from its holy power. Upon the successful defeat of the Kazan khans he returned it and ordered the construction of the stone Cathedral of the Theophany in 1553- 1555.

The saint built two parish churches, one dedicated to Saint John, and started charitable organizations. Chosen abbot, he led by doing the most menial tasks, and serving all others. Convinced by his preaching, many pagans were baptized

He died at the monastery of Rostov, Russia of natural causes and was buried at the church of the Theophany monastery.

Posted in Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 29 October – O Lord, Have Mercy upon Me, a Sinner

Posted on by AnaStpaul

O Lord,
Have Mercy upon Me, a Sinner
By St Wulfstan (c 1008–1095)
Bishop of Worcester

O Lord,
have mercy upon me, a sinner.
Establish my heart in Your will.
Grant me true repentance for my sins,
give a right faith
and true charity,
patience in adversity
and moderation in prosperity.
Help me and all my friends and family,
all who ask for and trust in my prayers.
Show mercy to all who have done me good
and helped me to the knowledge of good
and grant everlasting forgiveness
to all who have spoken or thought
evil against me.
To You, my God and to all Your holy ones,
be praise and glory forever,
for all the benefits which You have granted me
and for all Your mercy,
shown to me, a sinner.
Amen

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION

One Minute Reflection – 29 October – Let the light of your countenance shine upon us

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 29 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Ps 129:3-4, Ps 129:1-2, Phil 1:6-11, Matt 22:15-21

If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with You is forgiveness, O God of Israel.

Ps 129:3-4

REFLECTION –Just as this coin bears the image of Caesar, so our soul is in the image of the Blessed Trinity, as one of the psalms says: “The light of thy countenance has been imprinted upon us”. Lord, the light of your countenance, that is to say the light of your grace that sets your image within us and makes us become like you, has been imprinted upon us, that is to say imprinted in our rational faculty, which is the highest power of our soul and receives this light as wax receives the mark of a seal. God’s countenance is our reason because, just as we recognize someone by his face, so we recognize God through the mirror of reason. However, this reason has been deformed by human sin since sin sets us against God. The grace of Christ has put our reason right. Hence, the apostle Paul says to the Ephesians: “Be renewed in your minds”. The light in question in this psalm is thus the grace that restores God’s image imprinted in our nature.

The whole Trinity has marked mankind with its likeness. With the memory it resembles the Father; with the understanding it resembles the Son; by love it resembles the Holy Spirit. From the beginning of creation man was made “in the image and likeness of God”. The image in his understanding of truth, the likeness in his love of virtue. The light on God's countenance is thus the grace that justifies us and brings to light once again our created image. This light constitutes man's whole good, his true good; it sets its mark on him just as the emperor's image marked the coin. That is why the Lord adds: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar”. It was as if he said: Just as you repay Caesar with his image so repay God with your soul, beautified and marked by the light of his countenance.

St Anthony of Padua

PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, shed the light of Your glory on the peoples who are living in the shadow of death, as You did long ago, when our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sun of Justice, came among us from on high. As He taught us the way to life may we keep the precepts and finally reach our everlasting home. May the Mother of Jesus, our Lord and our always loving and merciful Mother, keep us forever in her prayers. With Jesus our Lord and our God, with the Holy Spirit, one God with You now and for all eternity, amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC Quotes

Quote/s of the Day – 29 October – That you may approve the better things

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Twentieth Century Christians should soak themselves in the Church Fathers. There, already, they will find difficulties they are tempted to think insoluble overcome by utter fidelity to God’s Word. All Christians, even those personally called to different vocations, must think with the Church and find in the Church’s judgment a criterion for their own scales of value.

J.M Perrin OP

I ask, then, what is the meaning of men’s obstinate determination to shut their eyes and to refuse to look on what is as clear as day? I have said that there are diversities of gifts in the Church, and that virginity is one gift and wedlock another. And shortly after I have used the words: I allow marriage also to be a gift of God, but there is a great difference between gift and gift.

St Jerome

The one sufficient way of praising virginity will be to show that that virtue is above praise, and to evince our admiration of it by our lives rather than by our words. A man who takes this theme for ambitious praise has the appearance of supposing that one drop of his own perspiration will make an appreciable increase of the boundless ocean, if indeed he believes, as he does, that any human words can give more dignity to so rare a grace; he must be ignorant either of his own powers or of that which he attempts to praise.

St. Gregory of Nyssa

For whosoever is truly righteous, his works testify concerning his faith, that he is truly a believer, with a faith which is great, a faith which is perfect, a faith which is in God, a faith which shines in good works, that the Father of all may be glorified through Christ. Now, those who are truly virgins for the sake of God give heed to Him who has said, Let not righteousness and faith fail you; bind them on your neck, and you shall find favour for yourself, and devise good things before God and before men.

St Clement

Those who lead a life of chastity possess the sanctifying grace of the Holy Ghost in abundant measure, they will be happy here on earth, and will enjoy special distinction in heaven hereafter.

Fr Francis Spirago

It is not I, but the Son of God Himself, who assures us that the pure and chaste will be like unto the angels in heaven, and at this we need not be astonished if such souls are placed in the rank of angels, souls who have for their spouse, the King and Lord of angels.

St Ambrose

Virginity brings us nearer to God. It seeks for a model in God Himself, says St Ambrose, for the eternal Father is virgin and Father. God also has an extraordinary love and tenderness for pure souls, it is to these, in particular, that He confers or reveals His secrets, or on whom He deigns to bestow his favours.

St Astere

He that can take, let him take it.

Jesus Christ