Day: November 9, 2018

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, TOTAL Consecration to JESUS through MARY

Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary – Second Week – Day Twenty Four – 9 November

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary – Second Week – Day Twenty Four – 9 November

Second Week

Day 24 of 33

From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin Mary, No. 152-164

This devotion is a smooth, short, perfect and sure way of attaining union with our Lord, in which Christian perfection consists.
(a) This devotion is a smooth way:   It is the path which Jesus Christ opened up in coming to us and in which there is no obstruction to prevent us reaching Him.   It is quite true that we can attain to divine union by other roads but these involve many more crosses and exceptional setbacks and many difficulties that we cannot easily overcome.
(b) This devotion is a short way to discover Jesus:   either because it is a road we do not wander from, or because, as we have just said, we walk along this road with greater ease and joy and consequently with greater speed.   We advance more in a brief period of submission to Mary and dependence on her, than in whole years of self-will and self-reliance.
(c) This devotion is a perfect way to reach our Lord and be united to Him:   for Mary is the most perfect and the most holy of all creatures and Jesus, who came to us in a perfect manner, chose no other road for His great and wonderful journey.   The Most High, the Incomprehensible One, the Inaccessible One, He who is, deigned to come down to us poor earthly creatures who are nothing at all.   How was this done?   The Most High God came down to us in a perfect way through the humble Virgin Mary, without losing anything of His divinity or holiness.   It is likewise through Mary that we poor creatures must ascend to almighty God in a perfect manner without having anything to fear.
(d) This devotion to our Lady is a sure way to go to Jesus:  and to acquire holiness through union with Him.   The devotion which I teach is not new.   Indeed it could not be condemned without overthrowing the foundations of Christianity.   It is obvious then that this devotion is not new.   If it is not commonly practised, the reason is that it is too sublime to be appreciated and undertaken by everyone.   This devotion is a safe means of going to Jesus Christ, because it is Mary’s role to lead us safely to her Son.

Recite: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ave Maris Stella: 
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/saint-louis-marie-de-montforts-total-consecration-to-jesus-through-mary-first-week-day-thirteen-29-october/

St Louis de Montfort’s Prayer to Mary:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/11/05/saint-louis-marie-de-montforts-total-consecration-to-jesus-through-mary-second-week-day-twenty-5-november/ and the RosaryDAY TWENTY-FOUR SECOND WEEK- TOTAL CONSECRATION - ST LOUIS DE MONTFORT 9 NOV 2018

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, PAPAL SERMONS, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thought for the Day – 9 November – Pope Benedict on the Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 9 November – Pope Benedict on the Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran

In a sense, St John Lateran is the parish church of all Catholics, because it is the pope’s cathedral.   This church, is the spiritual home, of the people who are the Church.

Excerpt of Pope Benedict’s

Angelus Address 9 November 2008

“The Word of God during this Solemnity recalls an essential truth – the stone temple is the symbol of the living Church, the Christian community, that the Apostles Peter and Paul had, in their Letters, already understood as a “spiritual building”, constructed by God with the “living stones” that are the Christians, upon the one foundation that is Jesus Christ, who is in turn compared to the “cornerstone” cf. 1 Cor 3: 9-11, 16-17; 1 Pt 2: 4-8; Eph 2: 20-22).   “Brethren,… you are God’s building”, St Paul writes and he adds, “God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Cor 3: 9c, 17).

The beauty and the harmony of churches, destined to render praise to God, invites us human beings too, though limited and sinful, to convert ourselves to form a “cosmos”, a well-ordered construction, in close communion with Jesus, who is the true Holy of Holies.   This reaches its culmination in the Eucharistic liturgy, in which the “ecclesia” that is, the community of baptised finds itself again united to listen to the Word of God and nourish itself on the Body and Blood of Christ.   Gathered around this twofold table, the Church of living stones builds herself up in truth and in love and is moulded interiorly by the Holy Spirit, transforming herself into what she receives, conforming herself ever more to her Lord Jesus Christ.   She herself, if she lives in sincere and fraternal unity, thus becomes a spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God.

Dear friends, today’s feast celebrates an ever current mystery – that God desires to build himself a spiritual temple in the world, a community that adores Him in spirit and truth (cf. Jn 4: 23-24).

But this occasion reminds us also of the importance of the concrete buildings in which the community gathers together to celebrate God’s praises.   Every communit,y therefore, has the duty to carefully guard their holy structures, which constitute a precious religious and historical patrimony.   For this we invoke the intercession of Mary Most Holy, so that she might help us to become, like her, a “house of God”, living temple of his love.”

gods-desire-to-build-pope-benedict-9-nov-2017

mary most holy pray for us - 9 nov 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 9 November – The Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 9 November – The Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran

“What was done here, as these walls were rising,
is reproduced when we bring together those who believe in Christ.
For, by believing they are hewn out, as it were,
from mountains and forests, like stones and timber
but by catechising, baptism and instruction they are,
as it were, shaped, squared and planed
by the hands of the workers and artisans.
Nevertheless, they do not make a house for the Lord,
until they are fitted together through love”.

St Augustine (354-430) Doctor of the Church – Sermon 36what-was-done-here-st-augustine-9-nov-2017

“Today’s feast, brothers, ought to be all the more devout as it is more personal.
For other celebrations we have in common with other ecclesiastical communities
but this one is proper to us, so that if we do not celebrate it, nobody will.
It is ours because it concerns our church,
ours because we ourselves are its theme.
You are surprised and even embarrassed, perhaps,
at celebrating a feast for yourselves.
But do not be like horses and mules that have no understanding.
Your souls are holy because of the Spirit of God dwelling in you,
your bodies are holy because of your souls
and this building is holy because of your bodies.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Churchtoday's feast brothers - st bernard on the dedication of st john lateran 9 nov 2018

“Is not this an image of today’s event?
The ancient generations came up to this place,
generations of Romans, generations of bishops of Rome,
successors of St Peter
and they sang this hymn of joy, which I repeat today with you.
I join these generations, I, the new Bishop of Rome,
John Paul II, Polish by origin.
I stop on the threshold of this temple
and I ask you to welcome me in the Lord’s name.
I beg you to welcome me, as you welcomed my Predecessors
throughout the centuries, as you welcomed, only a few weeks ago,
John Paul I, so beloved by the whole world!
I beg you to welcome me too.
The Lord says:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you” (Jn 15:16).
This is the only appeal I can make –
I am not here by my own will.
The Lord has elected me.
In the Lord’s name I beg you therefore – welcome me!”

St Pope John Paul (1920-2005)
RITE OF POSSESSION OF THE CHAIR
OF THE BISHOP OF ROME
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
Basilica of St John Lateran
Sunday, 12 November 1978the ancient generations came up to this place - st john paul - 9 nov 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 November – The Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran – Today’s Gospel: John 2:13–22

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One Minute Reflection – 9 November – The Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran – Today’s Gospel: John 2:13–22

But he spoke of the temple of his body...John 2:20

REFLECTION – “Because Solomon was a prophet he built a temple of stone and wood… for the living God, who made heaven and earth and whose dwelling is in the skies… Why did God ask that a temple be built?   Was he lacking somewhere to live?   Listen to Stephen’s speech at the time of his passion:  “Solomon,’ he said, “built a house but the most High does not live in man-made temples” (Acts 7:48).   Why, then, did he build, or cause to be built, a temple?   To prefigure Christ’s body.   The first temple was only a shadow (Col 2:17), when light comes, shadows flee away.   Are you now looking for the temple Solomon built?   You will find a ruin.   Why is this temple only a ruin?   Because the reality it announced has been fulfilled.   The true temple, the Lord’s body, also fell but has been raised up again and raised up in such a way it will fall no more…
What about our own bodies?   They are members of Christ  . Listen to Saint Paul:  “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” (1Cor 6:15).   When he says: “Your bodies are members of Christ”, what does this mean but that our bodies, joined to Christ our head (Col 1:18), together form a single temple, God’s temple.   Together with Christ’s body, our bodies are this temple… Let yourselves be built up in unity that you may not fall in ruins by remaining separate.”…St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Churchbut he spoke of the temple of his body luke 2 20 - together with christ's body - augustine - 9 nov 2018

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.feast of the dedication of st john lateran - 9 nov 2018

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 9 November – Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 9 November – Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran

Eternal Light, Shine into our Hearts
By St Alcuin of York (735-804)

Eternal Light, shine into our hearts,
Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil,
Eternal Power, be our support,
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the
darkness of our ignorance,
Eternal Pity, have mercy on us
that with all our heart
and mind
and soul
and strength,
we may seek Thy Face
and be brought,
by Thine Infinite Mercy
to Thy Holy Presence;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord
Amen

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, SAINT of the DAY

Feast of the Dedication of The Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran  – 9 November

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Feast of the Dedication of  The Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran – 9 November

The residence of the Popes which was named the Lateran Palace was built by Lateranus Palutius, whom Nero put to death to seize his goods.   It was given in the year 313 by Constantine the Great to Saint Miltiades, Pope and was inhabited by his successors until 1308, when they moved to Avignon.   The Lateran Basilica built by Constantine near the palace of the same name, is the first Basilica of the West.   Twelve councils, four of which were ecumenical, have assembled there, the first in 649, the last in 1512.

If for several centuries the Popes have no longer dwelt in the Palace, the primacy of the Basilica is not thereby altered, it remains the head of all churches.   Saint Peter Damian  (1007-1072) Doctor of the Church, wrote that just as the Saviour is the Head of the elect, the church which bears His name is the head of all the churches.   Those of Saints Peter and Paul, to its left and its right, are the two arms by which this sovereign and universal Church embraces the entire earth, saving all who desire salvation, warming them, protecting them in its maternal womb.feast of the ded john lateran 9 nov 2018

The Divine Office narrates the dedication of the Church by the Pope of Peace, Saint Sylvester:

“It was the Blessed Pope Sylvester who established the rites observed by the Roman Church for the consecration of churches and altars.   From the time of the Apostles there had been certain places dedicated to God, which some called oratories and others, churches.   There, on the first day of the week, the assembly was held and there the Christian people were accustomed to pray, to hear the Word of God and to receive the Eucharist.   But never had these places been consecrated so solemnly, nor had a fixed altar been placed there which, anointed with sacred chrism, was the symbol of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who for us is altar, victim and Pontiff.

But when the Emperor Constantine through the sacrament of Baptism had obtained health of body and salvation of soul, a law was issued by him which for the first time permitted that everywhere in the world Christians might build churches.   Not satisfied to establish this edict, the prince wanted to give an example and inaugurate the holy labours.   Thus in his own Lateran palace, he dedicated a church to the Saviour,and founded the attached baptistry under the name of Saint John the Baptist, in the place where he himself, baptised by Saint Sylvester, had been cured of leprosy.   It is this church which the Pontiff consecrated in the fifth of the ides of November and we celebrate the commemoration on that day, when for the first time in Rome a church was thus publicly consecrated and where a painting of the Saviour was visible on the wall before the eyes of the Roman people.”christo salvatori - lateran

When the Lateran Church was partially ruined by fires, enemy invasions and earthquakes, it was always rebuilt with great zeal by the Sovereign Pontiffs.   In 1726, after one such restoration, Pope Benedict XIII consecrated it anew and assigned the commemoration of that event to the present day.   The church was afterwards enlarged and beautified by Popes Pius IX and Leo XIII.st john lateran - 9 nov 2018

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran, Our Lady of Almudena (Madrid) and Memorials of the Saints – 9 November

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Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran (Feast):   The oldest and first in rank of the four basilicas of Rome, Italy.   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 tasteless 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.

More here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/09/feast-of-the-dedication-of-the-basilica-of-saint-john-lateran-9-november/

Our Lady of Almudena:   The Virgin of Almudena (Virgen de la Almudena) is a medieval icon of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ.   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 ico.   One story 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 icon 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.502px-Virgin_de_la_Almudena_-_Catedral_de_la_Almudena

—
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
St Gabriel Ferretti
Bl George Napper
Bl Gratia of Cattaro
Bl Helen of Hungary
Bl Henryk Hlebowicz
St Jane of Segna
Bl Ludovico Morbioli (1433-1485)
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 Catholic 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