Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 23 May – Prayer to Mary, Our Mother

Thought for the Day – 23 May – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Prayer to Mary, Our Mother

“Even if we fall often into sin, we should never be discouraged.
Although Mary is the Mother of all mankind, she, in a special fashion, is the merciful Mother of sinners.
No matter how sinful a man maybe, he will not be lost if he is sincerely devoted to Mary.
We must not be deluded into imagining, however, that it is enough to pray to Our Lady in order to be saved, even if we continue to commit sin.
St Brigid tells us in her revelations, that Mary is not the Motbher of hardened sinners but, only of those sinners who desire to amend their lives and pray to her with this intention (Rev Bk 4, C 138).

Jesus has told us, moreover, that “not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven but he who does the will of my Father in Heaven, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 7:21).
The same holds for those who are devoted to Our Lady.
It is not sufficient to pray to her but we must also imitate her and accompany our prayers with the resolution of improving.

Fervent prayer is certain to obtain Mary’s intercession on our behalf.
St Alphonsus recommends, in particular:
(a) the Hail Mary repeated three times every morning and every night, with the invocation “Mother most pure, pray for me;”

(b) an invocation to Our Lady everytime the clock strikes the hour;
(c) the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary;
(d) a visit to the Altar of Our Lady evertime we make our daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament;
(e) and some acts of mortification on the vigil of principal Feasts of Our Lady, followed by a fervent celebration of the Feasts themselves.
If we show our good dispositions in this manner, Mary will be our true Mother in life and in death.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/22/thought-for-the-day-22-may-prayer-to-mary-our-mother/

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Posted in GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 23 May – Ask, seek, knock

Quote/s of the Day – 23 May – James 5:16-20, Luke 11:5-13

Ask and it shall be given you: s
seek and you shall find:
knock and it shall be opened to you.

Luke 11:9

Ask with tears,
seek with obedience,
knock with patience.

A servant of the Lord
stands bodily before men
but mentally,
he is knocking at the gates of Heaven.
with prayer.

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

In prayer one must hold fast and never let go,
because the one who gives up, loses all.
If it seems that no-one is listening to you,
then cry out even louder.
If you are driven out of one door,
go back in by the other.

St Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

May We Love Only You
By St Columban (543-615)

Loving Saviour,
be pleased to show Yourself to us who knock,
so that in knowing You,
we may love only You,
love You alone,
desire You alone,
contemplate only You, day and night
and always think of You.
Inspire in us the depth of love
that is fitting for You to receive as God.
So may Your love pervade our whole being,
possess us completely
and fill all our senses,
that we may know no other love
but love for You,
Who are everlasting.
May our love be so great,
that the many waters of sky, land and sea
cannot extinguish it in us –
many waters could not extinguish love.
May this saying be fulfilled
in us also, at least in part,
by Your gift,
Jesus Christ, our Lord,
to Whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CATHOLIC Quotes, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, The HOLY NAME, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 May – ‘ … He is our Saviour, not only when He does what we ask but also, when He does not. …’

One Minute Reflection – 23 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – James 5:16-20, Luke 11:5-13

Ask and it shall be given you: seek and you shall find: knock and it shall be opened to you. ” – Luke 11:9

REFLECTION – “Whatever you shall ask.” Then why do we often see believers asking and not receiving? Perhaps it is that they do not ask correctly. When a person would make a bad use of what he asks for, God in His mercy, does not grant him it. It is even more the case, that if someone asks what would, if answered, only tend to his injury, there is surely greater cause to fear, in case what God could not withhold with kindness, He should give in His anger. Still, if God even in kindness, often refuses the requests of believers, how are we to understand “Whatever you shall ask in My Name, I will do?” Was this said to the Apostles only? No. He says …, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he shall do also.” And if we go to the lives of the Apostles themselves, we shall find that he who laboured more than them all, prayed that the messenger of Satan might depart from him but was not granted his request.

Wake up then, believer and note what is stated here: “In my Name.” That [Name] is Christ Jesus. Christ signifies King, Jesus signifies Saviour. Therefore, whatever we ask for that would hinder our salvation, we do not ask in our Saviour’s Name and yet, He is our Saviour, not only when He does what we ask but also, when He does not. When He sees us ask anything to the disadvantage of our salvation, He shows Himself our Saviour by not doing it. The physician knows whether what the sick person asks for, is to the advantage or disadvantage of his health. And [the physician] does not allow what would be harmful to him, although the sick person himself, desires it. But the physician looks to his final cure.

And some things we may even ask in His Name and He will not grant them to us, at the time, although He will some time. What we ask for is deferred, not denied. He adds, “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The Son does not do anything without the Father, inasmuch as He does it, in order that the Father may be glorified in the Son, for the Father and Son are One.” – St Augustine (354-430) Great Western Father and Doctor of Grace of the Church (Tractates on the Gospel of John, 73)

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we, who in our tribulation are yet of good cheer because of Thy loving-kindness, may find Thee mighty to save from all dangers. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARY'S MONTH, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on THE LIGHT of CHRIST

Our Morning Offering – 23 May – Hail, O Mary, Mother of God

Our Morning Offering – 23 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God
By St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Virgin and Mother!
Morning Star, perfect vessel.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Holy Temple in which God Himself was conceived.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Chaste and pure dove.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
who enclosed the One, Who cannot be encompassed
in your sacred womb.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
From you flowed the true Light, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you the Conqueror
and triumphant Vanquisher of hell, came to us.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you, the glory of the Resurrection blossoms.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
You have saved every faithful Christian.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Posted in MARTYRS, PATRONAGE - IMPOSSIBLE CAUSES, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 23 May – Saint Desiderius of Langres (c 307-c 356) Martyr

Saint of the Day – 23 May – Saint Desiderius of Langres (c 307-c 356) Martyr, the Third Bishop of Langres, France. St Desiderius is a Cephalophores (one who picks up his head, after being beheaded and walks). Born in c 307 in Genoa, Italy and died by being beheaded in c 356 near Langres, France. Patronages – of the City and Diocese of Langres, of difficult or impossible situations, he is invoked for assistance for those seeking the truth, of Assago and Castelnuovo Scrivia both towns in Italy. Also known as – Desiderius of Genoa, Desiderio of…, Dizier of…, Didier of…, Désiré of… Additional Memorial – 19 January (translation of his relics).

The Roman Martyrology reads: “Near Langres in Lugdunense Gaul, now in France, the passion of St Desiderius, offering himself serenely for the good of the flock entrusted to him.

Desiderius occupies the third place in the list of Bishops of Langres, it seems he was a native of the surroundings of Genoa and miraculously appointed to the Episcopal See of Langres.

A cleric from the aforementioned City named Varnacario, wrote an account of his Martyrdom at the beginning of the seventh century, based on local traditions. According to this account by Varnacario, the Bishop Desiderius was beheaded during an invasion of the Vandals in which he offered himself to save his flock.

A legend says that after his beheading, the holy Bishop, like so many other cephalophores, picked up his head and returned to the City, through a crack in the rock that had opened to let him pass, this opening is still shown today.

The City of Langres also remembers him on 19 January, the anniversary of the transfer of the relics of St Desiderius which occurred in 1315. His cult spread, not only in France but also in Italy, Switzerland, Germany. He is the Patron Saint of the City of Langres and many Churches in the Diocese are dedicated to him. His tomb was kept in a Benedictine Priory in the centre of the City.

In 1354, a famous brotherhood apostolate was founded in his honour to which Kings and Princes belonged. St Desiderius is invoked as a witness to the truth of the oaths and as a protector in difficult situations.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, MARTYRS, ROGATION DAYS, SAINT of the DAY

Virgen de Gracia / Virgin of Grace, Aés, Puente Viesgo, Pas-Miera, Cantabria, Spain (1575) and Memorials of the Saints – 23 May

Rogation Day:
Rogation Days are days of prayer and fasting in the Church. They are observed with processions and the praying of the Litany of the Saints. The major Rogation is held on 25 April, the minor Rogations are held on Monday to Wednesday, preceding Ascension Thursday. The word Rogation comes from the Latin verb rogare, meaning “to ask,” which reflects the beseeching of God, for the appeasement of His anger and for protection from calamities.
Rogation Days began in the Fifth Century in France by St Mamertus (Died c 477) Archbishop of Vienne.
His Life here:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/05/11/saint-of-the-day-11-may-st-mamertus-died-c-475/

Virgen de Gracia / Virgin of Grace, Aés, Puente Viesgo, Pas-Miera, Cantabria, Spain (1575) – 23 May:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/23/the-solemnity-of-pentecost-virgen-de-gracia-virgin-of-grace-aes-spain-1575-and-memorials-of-the-saints-23-may/

St John Baptist de Rossi (1698-1764) Priest, Confessor, Preacher and Teacher.
About St John:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/23/saint-of-the-day-23-may-st-john-baptist-de-rossi-1698-1764/

St Basileus of Braga
St Desiderius of Langres (c 307-c 356) Bishop Martyr
St Epitacius of Tuy
St Euphebius of Naples
St Eutychius of Valcastoria
St Florentius of Valcastoria
St Goban Gobhnena

St Guibertus of Gorze (892-962) Monk, Hemit, Founder of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre, of Gemblou at Namur , Belgium.
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/23/saint-of-the-day-23-may-st-guibertus-of-gorze-892-962/

Bl Ivo of Chartres
St Jane Antide Thouret

Bl Józef Kurzawa
Bl Leontius of Rostov

St Michael of Synnada (Died 826) Bishop, Confessor, Monk, Emmissary and Diplomat of Peace.
His Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/23/saint-of-the-day-23-may-saint-michael-of-synnada-died-826/

St Onorato of Subiaco
St Spes of Campi
St Syagrius of Nice

St William of Rochester (Died c 1201) Martyr, Layman – Patron of adopted children.
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/05/23/saint-of-the-day-23-may-st-william-of-rochester-died-c-1201-martyr/

Bl Wincenty Matuszewski

Martyrs of Béziers: 20 Mercedarian Friars murdered by Huguenots for being Catholic. Martyrs. 1562 at the Mercedarian convent at Béziers, France.

Martyrs of Cappadocia: A group of Christians tortured and Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian and Galerius. Their names and the details of their lives have not come down to us. They were crushed to death in c.303 in Cappadocia (in modern Turkey).

Martyrs of Carthage: When a civil revolt erupted in Carthage in 259 during a period of persecution by Valerian, the procurator Solon blamed it on the Christians, and began a persecution of them. We know the names and a few details about 8 of these martyrs – Donatian, Flavian, Julian, Lucius, Montanus, Primolus, Rhenus and Victorius. They were beheaded in 259 at Carthage (modern Tunis, Tunisia).

Martyrs of Mesopotamia: A group of Christians Martyred in Mesopotamia in persecutions by imperial Roman authorities. Their names and the details of their lives have not come down to us. They were suffocated over a slow fire in Mesopotamia.

Martyrs of North Africa: A group of 19 Christians Martyred together in the persecutions of the Arian Vandal King Hunneric for refusing to deny the Trinity. We know little more than a few of their names – Dionysius, Julian, Lucius, Paul and Quintian. c 430.