Day: January 6, 2021

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TRADITION, SAINT of the DAY, The DIVINE INFANT, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Thought for the Day – 6 January –

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Thought for the Day – 6 January – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971) The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

The Epiphany

It was love which inspired the Magi.
Love sustained them on their journey and made them fall prostrate in adoration before the Infant Jesus.
Even before they offered Him material gifts, they offered Him, their hearts!
As a reward for their faith and charity, God showered his graces upon them and an immense supernatural joy pervaded their souls.
In that moment of adoration, they received the highest possible reward for their hardships and perseverance.
With deep interior joy, they gave Jesus their hearts and never withdrew them.
A pious tradition maintains, that they apostles and Saints and, in fact, the Church venerates them as such, today.

We should follow the example of the Magi and promise, before the cradle of the Infant Saviour, that we shall face any sacrifices, even death, rather than offend Him and shall work, in every way possible, for His glory and our sanctification.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The DIVINE INFANT, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Quote/s of the Day – 6 January – Epiphany – In Your Light, we see light!

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

In Your Light, we see light!

“If the Magi had come in search of an earthly King,
they would have been disconcerted at finding
that they had taken the trouble to come
such a long way for nothing.
Consequently they would have
neither adored nor offered gifts.
But since they sought a heavenly King,
though they found in Him
no signs of royal pre-eminence,
yet, content with the testimony
of the star alone,
they adored – for they saw a man
and they acknowledged God.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder
at what they see – heaven on earth,
earth in heaven, man in God,
God in man,
One whom the whole universe cannot contain,
now enclosed in a tiny body.
As they look, they believe
and do not question,
as their symbolic gifts bear witness –
incense for God,
gold for a King,
myrrh for One who is to die.”

St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450)
Father and Doctor of Homilies

“What are you doing, O Magi?
Do you adore a little Babe,
in a wretched hovel,
wrapped in miserable rags?
Can this Child be truly God?
… Are you become foolish, O Wise Men
… Yes, these Wise Men have become fools
that they may be wise.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Doctor of Light

More Epiphany quotes:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/06/quote-s-of-the-day-6-january-the-solemnity-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord/

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 January – “… They offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” … Matthew 2:11

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One Minute Reflection – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8,10-11, 12-13, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6, Matthew 2:1-12

“… They fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” … Matthew 2:11

REFLECTION – “But if, with careful thought, we wish to see how their threefold kind of gift, is also offered by all who come to Christ, with the foot of faith — is not the same offering repeated in the hearts of true believers?
For he who acknowledges ,Christ the King of the universe brings Gold from the treasure of his heart, he who believes the Only-begotten of God to have united man’s true nature to Himself, offers Myrrh and he who confesses Him, in no wise, inferior to the Father’s Majesty, worships Him in a manner, with Incense.” … St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Father and Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – “Give me, therefore, I pray Thee, this gold, this incense and this myrrh. Give me the gold of Thy holy love, give me the spirit of holy prayer, give me the desire and strength to mortify myself in everything that displeases Thee. I am resolved to obey Thee and to love Thee but Thou knowest my weakness, oh, give me the grace to be faithful to Thee!” … St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Doctor of the Church

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, The DIVINE INFANT, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD

Our Morning Offering – 6 January – Songs of Thankfulness We Raise

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Our Morning Offering – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Songs of Thankfulness We Raise
By Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885) (1862)

Songs of thankfulness we raise,
Jesu, Lord, to Thee we raise
manifested by the star
to the sages from afar,
Branch of royal David’s stem
in Thy birth at Bethlehem.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

Manifest at Jordan’s stream,
Prophet, Priest and King supreme,
and at Cana wedding-guest
in Thy Godhead manifest,
manifest in power divine,
changing water into wine.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Mirrored in Thy holy Word.
May we imitate Thee now
And be pure, as pure art Thou,
That we like to Thee may be,
At Thy great Epiphany
And may praise Thee, ever blessed,
God in flesh made manifest.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

Sun and moon shall darkened be,
stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee.
Christ will then like lightning shine.
All will see His glorious sign.
All will see the Judge appear,
all will then the trumpet hear,
Thou by all wilt be confessed,
God in man made manifest.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest

Christopher Wordsworth (b. Lambeth, London, England, 1807; d. Harewood, Yorkshire, England, 1885), nephew of the great Romantic poet William Wordsworth, wrote this hymn in five stanzas.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 6 January – Saint Juan de Ribera (1532-1611)

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Saint of the Day – 6 January – Saint Juan de Ribera (1532-1611) Archbishop and Viceroy of Valencia, Latin Patriarchate of Antioch, Commander in Chief, President of the Audiencia and Chancellor of the University of Valencia.

Juan de Ribera’s father was Pedro Afán de Ribera, Viceroy of Naples and Duke of Alcala. His mother died when he was very young.

He studied at the University of Salamanca and was ordained as Priest in 1557, Pope Pius IV appointed him Bishop of Badajoz on 27 May 1562 at the age of 30. There he dedicated himself to teaching the Catechism to Roman Catholics and counteracting Protestantism.

He was appointed as the Archbishop of Valencia on 3 December 1568. In 1599 he consecrated Alfonso Coloma as Bishop of Barcelona. King Philip III of Spain later appointed him Viceroy of Valencia in 1602 and thus he became both the religious and the civil authority. In this role he founded the Museum of the Patriarch, known among Valencians as the College of Saint John, entrusted to the formation of Priests according to the spirit and the dispositions of the Council of Trent.

As Archbishop, Ribera dealt with the issue of Valencia’s large Morisco population, descendants of Muslims who converted to Christianity at threat of exile. The Moriscos had been kept separate from the main population by a variety of decrees that prohibited them from holding public office, entering the Priesthood, or taking certain other positions; as a result, the Moriscos had maintained their own culture rather than assimilated. Some of them did, in fact, still practice forms of crypto-Islam. He finally ordered the deportation of all Moors from his See in 1609.

Efforts to Canonise Ribera, who himself had been active in attempting the cause of St Ignatius of Loyola and his testimony was used in the cause of St Nicholas Factor, began shortly after his death. Various admiring biographies of Ribera were published. He was Beatified on 18 September in 1796 by Pope Pius VII and Canonised on 12 June 1960, by Pope John XXIII.

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, FRANCISCAN OFM, SAINT of the DAY, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD

The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord and Memorials of the Saints – 6 Epiphany

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The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord – Epiphany celebrates the visit of the three kings or wise men to the Christ Child, signifying the extension of salvation to the Gentiles. The date of Epiphany, one of the oldest Christian feasts, is 6 January the 12th day after Christmas. However, in most countries, the celebration of Epiphany is transferred to the Sunday that falls between 2 January and 8 January (inclusive). Greece, Ireland, Italy and Poland continue to observe Epiphany on 6 January as do some dioceses in Germany.
Because Epiphany is one of the most important Christian feasts, it is a Holy Day of Obligation in most countries.

Epiphany:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/07/the-solemnity-of-the-epiphany-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-7-january-god-reveals-himself-to-us/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/06/the-solemnity-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord-6-january/

St Andre Bessette CSC (1845-1937) (7 January in Canada)
About St Andre:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/06/saint-of-the-day-6-january-saint-andre-bessette-csc-1845-1937-gods-doorkeeper/

St Antoninus
St Basillisa of Antinoë
St Charles of Sezze OFM (1613-1670)
About St Charles:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/06/saint-of-the-day-6-january-st-charles-of-sezze-o-f-m-1613-1670/

St Demetrius of Philadelphia
St Diman Dubh of Connor
St Edeyrn
St Eigrad
St Erminold of Prüfening
St Felix of Nantes
Bl Frederick of Saint-Vanne
Bl Gertrud of Traunkirchen
Bl Gertrude van Oosten
St Guarinus of Sion
St Guy of Auxerre
St Honorius
St Hywyn of Aberdaron
St Juan de Ribera (1532-1611) Bishop
St Julian of Antinoë
St Julius
Bl Luc of Roucy
Bl Macarius the Scot
St Macra of Rheims
St Merinus
St Nilammon of Geris
St St Petran of Landévennec
St Peter of Canterbury
St Pia of Quedlinburg
St Pompejanus
St Rafaela Porras y Ayllón
Bl Raymond de Blanes
Bl Rita Amada de Jesus
St Schotin
St Wiltrudis of Bergen
—
Martyrs in Africa: Unknown number of Christian men and women who were martyred in the persecutions of Septimus Severus. They were burned to death c 210.

Martyrs of Sirmium – 8 saints: A group of Christians martyred together for their faith. The only surviving details are the names of eight of them – Anastasius VIII, Florianus, Florus, Jucundus, Peter, Ratites, Tatia and Tilis. They were martyred in the 4th century at Syrmium, Pannonia (modern Sremska Mitrovica, Vojvodina, Serbia).

Twelve Apostles – Saints of Ireland: Twelve 6th century Irish monks who studied under Saint Finian at Clonard Abbey and then spread the faith throughout Ireland. Each has his own commemoration but on this day they and their good work are considered and celebrated together. Though Saint Finian is sometimes included, most ancient writers list them as –
• Brendan of Birr
• Brendan the Navigator
• Columba of Iona
• Columba of Terryglass
• Keiran of Saighir
• Kieran of Clonmacnois
• Canice of Aghaboe
• Lasserian of Leighlin
• Mobhí of Glasnevin
• Ninnidh the Saintly of Loch Erne
• Ruadh´n of Lorrha
• Senan of Iniscathay