Thought for the Day – 30 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Perseverance
“Perseverance may be a difficult virtue but nothing is really difficult to a person of strong resolution. When the sister of St Thomas Aquinas asked him how to become holy, he replied that it needed only one thing – a firm act of the will, for God will certainly supply the necessary grace.
Think of how much work and sacrifice is required to achieve worldly success. Cicero wrote that it required constant and tireless labour in order to become a great orator (Cf De Oratore, 1:39). St Paul cited the example of athletes who are prepared to make such great sacrifices, in order to train themselves to win. If they are prepared to do so much to gain a perishable crown, he comments, we should be prepared to do much more to gain an imperishable one (Cf 1 Cor 9:25).
The grace of God is the principal weapon upon which we must depend in order to gain our victory. We should pray for it humbly and perseveringly. There will be victors and losers in the battle for Heaven as well as in earthly contests. We must make sure that we are on the winning side! For this purpose, we should combine fervent and constant prayer with generous co-operation with the grace of God.”
Quote/s of the Day – 30 August – “Month of the Immaculate Heart” – Readings: Thessalonians 4: 13-18; Psalm 96: 1 and 3-5, 11-13; Luke 4: 16-30
“He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.”
Luke 4:19
“For what reason did God send Him to preach to the poor? “To preach release to captives.” We were the captives. For many years Satan had bound us and held us captive and subject to himself. Jesus has come “to proclaim release to captives and sight to the blind.” By His word and the proclamation of His teaching, the blind see.”
Origen (c 185-253)
“He did not treat us as our sins deserved. For we are now sons of God. How do we show this? The only Son of God died for us, so that He might not remain alone. He who died as the only Son, did not want to remain as the only Son. For the only Son of God made many sons of God. He bought brothers for Himself by His blood, He made them welcome by being rejected, He ransomed them by being sold, He honoured them by being dishonoured, He gave them life by being put to death.”
St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Great Western Father and Doctor of Grace
“… Veiled in a human body, He was able to communicate with humans. He who wanted to assist the guilty hides the fact that He is a Judge. He who did not deny dignity to faithful servants, conceals his Lordship. He who desired the weak to be embraced by a parent’s love, covers His Majesty.”
St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450) “Doctor of Homilies” Father and Doctor of the Church
“My beloved Redeemer, how much did it cost You to raise me from the ruin, which I brought on myself through my sins? What can I do without Your grace? I can do nothing but pray that You will help me but even this prayer comes from the merits of Your suffering and death! O my Jesus, help me!”
St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Most zealous Doctor
One Minute Reflection – 30 August – “Month of the Immaculate Heart” – Readings: Thessalonians 4: 13-18; Psalm 96: 1 and 3-5, 11-13; Luke 4: 16-30
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Wherefore he hath anointed me” – Luke 4:18
REFLECTION – “Our Saviour was truly made the Anointed One according to the flesh, becoming true King and true Priest. He was both, so that nothing might be lacking in the Saviour. Notice, therefore, that He became King, when He says: “I was set by the Lord as king on Zion, his holy mountain” (Ps 2,6 Vg). Learn that He is also Priest from the witness of the Father: “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps 110[109],4)… He is, therefore, our Saviour according to the flesh and both King and Priest but His anointing is spiritual and not bodily. The kings and priests of the Jews were given their position by bodily anointing with oil. One man was not both – each was either king or priest. To Christ alone belongs perfection and fulness in all things, for He came also to fulfill the law.
Although they could not, as individuals, be both at the same time, they were called “Messiahs” or “anointed ones because they had received bodily anointing as kings or priests (cf. Ps 89[88]). Our Saviour, on the other hand, Who is truly the Christ, the Anointed One, was anointed by the Holy Spirit, that He might fulfil what was written of Him: “Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows” (Ps 45[44],8). That He was anointed more than those who share the same name “Messiah” lies in the fact, that He was anointed with the oil of gladness, which properly means, the Holy Spirit.” – St Faustinus of Rome (Died c 303) Priest and Martyr – The Trinity, 39-40, CCL 69, 340-341
PRAYER – God our Saviour, through the grace of Baptism you made us children of light. Hear our prayer, that we may always walk in that light and work for truth, love and charity, as Your witnesses before men. Dispel from our hearts the darkness of sin and may the Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary, be our constant protector and intercessor keeping- us ever watchful for the true light, Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 30 August – “Month of the Immaculate Heart”
O God of Love Give me Your Love and Your Grace By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
O God of Love, You are and shall be forever, the only delight of my heart and the sole object of my affections. Sinee Jesus said, ‘Ask and you shall receive,’ I do not hesitate to say, ‘Give me Your Love and Your Grace.’ Grant that I may love You and be loved by You. I want nothing else. Amen
Saint of the Day – 30 August – Blessed John Roche (Died 1588) Lay Martyr Born in Ireland and died by being hanged on 30 August 1588 at Tyburn, London, England. Also known as – John Neele, John Neale. Patronages – boatmen, mariners, sailors, watermen. Additional feast days – He is counted among the English Martyrs on 22 November and is also venerated in Ireland where his feast is celebrated on 20 June.
John Roche was born in Ireland and, as a young man, he went to London where he found work as a servant and a waterman. As was common at that time, Catholics often worked under an alias and Roche sometimes used the name of John Neale. A devout Catholic, he became involved with Margaret Ward and others who were aiding persecuted Priests. One such Priest was Fr William/Richard Watson.
Fr Watson had been arrested and tortured and, upon learning of this, Margaret Ward began visiting the Priest in Bridewell Prison. Eventually she devised a plan to help him escape. She smuggled a length of rope into the prison and , at a prearranged time, he was to let himself down from his cell which was at the top of the prison building. She found two Catholic watermen who would be waiting nearby with a boat to spirit the Priest away. However, the two watermen lost their nerve and backed out. Margaret did not give up! She approached John Roche who readily agreed to assist the Priest. Disastrously, the rope was too short and the Priest had to jump the remaining distance. He crashed down onto a shed below, breaking his right arm and leg. Immediately, John Roche ran to his assistance and carried him to the boat.
Of course, the clatter had alerted the jailor and others and the rope, still dangling from the cornice, was discovered. Margaret Ward, being Fr Watson’s only visitor, was swiftly arrested.
John had managed to get the Priest to safety and he was recuperating in John’s house. When he had recovered, John swapped clothes with him and the Priest got safely away. Sadly, John, in the Priest’s clothes, was spotted by the jailor who arrested him. He was vigorously interrogated and eventually admitted his role in the escape of Fr Watson. He was charged with treason and condemned to death. Offered a full pardon if he would seek the Queen’s forgiveness and attend a Protestant service, John Roche refused both!
On 30 August 1588, John Roche and Margaret Ward were hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn. Four other Catholics, including Welshman Richard Flowers, were executed with them that day.
On 15 December 1929, Pope Pius XI Beatified John Roche.
Santa Maria del Pozzo, Mother and Queen of Mercy / Our Lady of the Well – Capurso, Bari, Italy (1705) – 30 August and 20 May:
The town of Capurso (Bari), on the east coast of southern Italy, claims Our Lady of the Well as its Patron under the title Madonna del Pozzo. Tradition says that it was on 30 August 1705, that the image of Our Lady sculpted in wood was found in a well. It is now preserved in the Basilica St Maria del Pozzo, construction on which began in 1770. On 20 May 1852, the image of the Blessed Mother was solemnly crowned. The Societá Maria del Pozzo, dedicated to Madonna del Pozzo and her traditions was established in 1922. The Society has its origins at Capursoand its Headquarteredare in Chicago, Illinois,
On 30 August 1705, the Priest, Don Domenico Tanzella , after recovering from a serious illness that forced him to bed drinking the water of the well of “Santa Maria”, descending into the hollow shaft of the Piscino found, on the wall, an icon of the Holy Virgin. Don Domenico Capurso exhibited the icon in the Tanzella Chapel dedicated to St Lawrence Martyr . Many miracles, were recorded, one, to a certain Caterina, crippled for many years, wife of Lorenzo Maffiola. Our Lady would appear in a dream and told her that she was to go to the Chapel of Tanzella and she would receive healing grace. The next day Catherine dragged herself there and with tears implored the Madonna for a cure. Suddenly she felt a sensation and tried to walk succeeded! At the news of this new miracle pilgrims began to flow in Capurso from countries near and far, on foot and by every means available at the time, singing hymns glorifying Mary. Today in celebration on 30 August or the last Sunday in August., 100s descend upon the Sanctuary to process the Statue through the streets. Everyone wants to touch and venerate the miraculous Madonna.
St Arsenius the Hermit St Boniface of Hadrumetum St Bononius of Lucedio Bl Bronislava of Poland Bl Edward Shelley Bl Ero di Armenteira Bl Euphrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1877-1952) Bl Eustáquio van Lieshout St Fantinus of San Mercurius St Felix of Rome
St Pelagius the Hermit St Peter of Trevi Bl Riccardo of Lotaringia Bl Richard Flower Bl Richard Leigh Bl Richard Martin St Rumon of Tavistock St Sylvanus the Hermit St Thecla of Hadrumetum St Theodosius of Oria Bl Yusuf Nehme — Martyrs of Colonia Suffetulana – 60 saints: A group of 60 Christians martyred for destroying a statue of Hermes. They were martyred in Colonia Suffetulana, Africa.
Martyred in the Spanish Civil War: • Blessed José Ferrer Adell • Blessed Manuel Medina Olmos • Blessed Vicente Cabanes Badenas Martyrs of Barranco del Chisme (Spanish Civil War) – 10 beati: • Blessed Alberto José Larrazábal Michelena • Blessed Antonio María Arriaga Anduiza • Carles Canyes Santacana • Blessed Caterina Margenat Roura • Diego Ventaja Milán • Blessed Eleuterio Angulo Ayala • Blessed Josefa Monrabal Montaner • Manuel Medina Olmos • Blessed Maria Dolores Oller Angelats • Blessed Nicasio Romo Rubio
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