Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PURGATORY, QUOTES on FREE WILL, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The WILL of GOD, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 5 January – Venial Sin

Thought for the Day – 5 January – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Venial Sin

Next to mortal sin, the greatest of all evils is venial sin.
Sin is always an offence against the God of goodness,
When we sin, we place our own will above His and put Him in a position secondary to ourselves.
If mortal sin is spiritual suicide because it extinguishes, in us, the divine life of grace, venial sin is an injury, more or less grave, to the soul.
The former completely separates us from God; the latter moves us further away from Him.
Mortal sin means the death of the soul.
Venial sin is a disease of the soul which reduces its supernatural powers and leaves it more open to the ever–increasing attraction of evil.

We cannot speak of small sins, as if sin could be a triviality.
Sin is always something great and terrible because, it is an offence against our Creator and Redeemer, Whom we should love, honour and serve with every impulse of our heart and with the whole strength of our will.
It is the height of ingratitude because, in order to offend God, we make use of the gifts He has given us – our eyes, ears, speech and all our powers of soul and body.

Let us think seriously about this.
We must firmly resolve to be more vigilant so that, with the grace of God, we may avoid ever committing a deliberate venial sin.

The Gospel tells us that we must render an account of every idle word and that nothing tarnished can be admitted into the splendour of Paradise.
In the terrible torments of Purgatory, we must pay the full price for all our faults, even the slightest!

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Advertisement
Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD is LOVE, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HEART, The LAST THINGS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 5 January – Love one another. – 1 John 4:11

Quote/s of the Day – 5 January – “Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus” – Christmas Weekday, Readings: 1 John 4:7-10, Psalms 72:1-2, 3-4,7-8, Mark 6:34-44

Beloved, since God loved us so much,
we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11

“So if I, your Lord and Teacher,
have washed your feet,
you also ought to wash
one another’s feet.

John 13:14

“It is by the path of love,
which is charity,
that God draws near to man
and man to God.
But where charity is not found,
God cannot dwell.
If, then, we possess charity,
we posses God,
for ‘God is Charity

(1 John 4:8).”

St Albert the Great OP (1200-1280)
Doctor of the Church

At the end of your life,
you will be judged by your love
.”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Doctor of the Church

The Gospel showed me
that the first commandment is to love God
with all one’s heart
and that, we should enfold everything in love;
everyone knows,
that the first effect of love is imitation
.”

Bl Charles of Jesus de Foucauld (1858-1916)

Before the cave at Bethelehm then,
we should learn two great lessons.
We should learn to love Jesus intensely,
as our highest and only good
and we should learn to love,
in an effective and practical way,
those who are poverty-stricken
or suffering, in whom we should be able
to see Jesus Christ Himself.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in "Follow Me", DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 January – “You give them something to eat ”- Mark 6:37

One Minute Reflection – 5 January – “Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus” – Christmas Weekday, Readings: 1 John 4:7-10, Psalms 72:1-2, 3-4,7-8, Mark 6:34-44

But he answered them, “You give them something to eat .. ” – Mark 6:37

REFLECTION – “Let us take note of the disciples’ trusting abandonment to God’s providence in life’s greatest necessities and their disdain for a life of luxury – there were twelve of them and they only had five loaves and two fish. They were not bothered by bodily things but dedicated all their zeal to the things of the soul. Moreover, they did not keep these provisions for themselves, they handed them over to the Saviour at once, when He asked them for them. Let us learn from this example, to share what we have, with those in need, even if we only have a little. When Jesus asks them to bring the five loaves, they don’t say: “What will there be for us later on? Where will we find what is necessary for our own needs?” They obey promptly …
Taking the loaves, then, the Lord broke them and entrusted the honour of distributing them to the disciples. He did not just want to honour them by this holy service but desired them to take part in the miracle, so as to be wholly convinced witnesses to it and, not forget what had taken place under their own eyes …. It is through them, that He made the people sit down and, that He distributed the bread, so that each one of them, might bear witness to the miracle accomplished at their hands …
Everything in this event – the desert place, the bare ground, the small supply of bread and fish, the distribution of these same things to everyone without distinction, each one of them having the same as their neighbour – all this teaches us humility, frugality and fraternal charity. To love one another equally, to place everything in common amongst those who are serving the same God – this is what our Saviour is teaching us here.” – St John Chrysostom (345-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – All-powerful, eternal God, splendour of true light and never-ending day, let our striving for Your kingdom not fall short through selfishness or fear, may the universe be alive with the Spirit and our homes be the pledge of the world redeemed. May our eyes see and our hearts have compassion, to all those who need us. May the intercession of our Holy Mother and all the saints, be a strength and a comfort. Through Jesus, our compassionate and loving Redeemer, with the Holy Spirit, one God with You forever, amen.

Posted in Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 5 January – Daily Prayer to the Most Holy Name

Our Morning Offering – 5 January – Christmas Weekday “Month of the Most Holy Name”

Daily Prayer to the Most Holy Name
by St Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)
Apostle of the Most Holy Name

Jesus,
Name full of glory, grace, love and strength!
You are the refuge of those who repent,
our banner of warfare in this life,
the medicine of souls,
the comfort of those who mourn,
the delight of those who believe,
the light of those who preach the true faith,
the wages of those who toil,
the healing of the sick.
To You, our devotion aspires;
by You, our prayers are received;
we delight in contemplating You.
O Name of Jesus,
You are the glory
of all the saints for eternity.
Amen.

Posted in PATRONAGE - SINGLE LAYWOMEN, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 5 January – Saint Emiliana of Rome (6th Century)

Saint of the Day – 5 January – Saint Emiliana of Rome (6th Century) Virgin, Recluse, Mystic. Patronage – single laywomen. Also known as – Aemiliana, Emilian, Emilienne.

The Roman Martyrology states: “In Rome, commemoration of Saint Emiliana, Virgin, Aunt of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, who, shortly after her sister Tarsilla, also returned to the Lord.”

Emiliana is remembered by her nephew, St Gregory the Great (540-604), for having been able to assist him in his discernment of his vocation. . We have the only biographical information about Emiliana thanks to the Pope who mentions his paternal aunt in a homily.

Emiliana, together with her sisters Tarsilla and Gordiana, retired to a consecrated and ascetic life, probably in the family home. But at a certain point Gordiana chose marriage. Tradition states that St Pope Felix III, their ancestor, appeared to Trasilla and bade her to enter Heaven and on the eve of Christmas Trasilla died, seeing Jesus Christ calling her. The legend also states that Trasilla, a few days later appeared to Emiliana, inviting her to celebrate Epiphany in Heaven.

Emiliana was the Daughter of the noble and wealthy Senator Gordian and Saint Silvia of Rome and the sister of Saint Trasilla and Gordiana.

She was the paternal aunt of Pope Saint Gregory the Great and the niece of Pope Saint Felix III who died in 365.

Emiliana spent so much time kneeling in prayer that her knees and elbows were locked arthritically in the position. She and her sister lived as Recluses in their father‘s house until Thrasilla‘s death.

Emiliana who received a visit from her recently deceased sister inviting her to depart this vale of tears and true to her desire to be with the Lord, Emiliana died a few days later.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, SAINT of the DAY, YouTube VIDEOS

Madonna dell’Abbondanza / Our Lady of Abundance, Cursi, Italy (1641) and Memorials of the Saints – 5 January

The Vigil of the Epiphany of Our Lord

Madonna dell’Abbondanza / Our Lady of Abundance, Cursi, Italy (1641) – 5 January:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/05/our-lady-of-abundance-cursi-italy-and-memorials-of-the-saints-5-january/

St John Nepomucene Neumann CSsR (1811-1860) Bishop, Religious, Founder, Preacher, Writer, Founder of Schools and builder of Churches. Neumann founded the first Catholic Diocesan school system in the United States as well as building 50 Churches and starting on a Cathedral, before his death. His body is incorrupt. (Memorial)
St John:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/05/saint-of-the-day-5-january-st-john-nepomucene-neumann-cssr-1811-1860/

Bl Alacrinus of Casamari
St Apollinaris Syncletica
St Cera of Kilkeary

St Charles of Mount Argus CP (1821-1893) Religious Passionist Priest, Apostle of Charity, Spiritual guide, Miracle-worker.
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/05/saint-of-the-day-5-january-st-charles-of-mount-argus-c-p-1821-1893/

Bl Bl Convoyon of Redon
St Deogratias of Carthage (Died 457) Bishop
St Dorotheus the Younger
St Emiliana of Rome (6th Century) Virgin
Bl François Peltier
St Gaudentius of Gnesen

St Genoveva Torres Morales (1870-1956) known as the “Angel of Solitude,” Nun and Foundress of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Angels (The Angélicas).
Her Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/05/saint-of-the-day-5-january-saint-genoveva-torres-morales-1870-1956/

St Gerlach (c 1100-c 1170) Hermit
His Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/05/saint-of-the-day-5-january-saint-gerlach-c-1100-c-1170/

Bl Jacques Ledoyen
Bl Joan Grau Bullich
St Kiara
St Lomer of Corbion
Bl Marcelina Darowska
Bl Maria Repetto
Bl Paula of Tuscany
Nl Pierre Tessier
Bl Pietro Bonilli
St Simeon Stylites
St Syncletica
St Talida of Antinoë

Martyrs of Africa – 14 saints: A group of Christians martyred together in Africa, date unknown, exact location unknown. We know nothing more than their names – Acutus, Anastasia, Candidus, Coelifloria, Felix, Honorius, Januaria, Jucundus, Lucianus, Marcus, Petrus, Secundus, Severus and Telesphorus.

Martyrs of Sais: A group of Christians martyred for their faith, but about whom no details have survived. They were martyred by drowning near Sais, Egypt.

Martyrs of Upper Egypt: There were many martyrs who suffered in the persecutions of Diocletian in the Thebaid region. Though we know these atrocities occurred, to the point that witnesses claim the torturers and executioners were exhausted by the work, we do not know the names of the saints and we honour them as a group. Many were beheaded and or burned alive in 303 in Upper Egypt.