Thought for the Day – 9 June – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Surmounted by a Flaming Cross
“Pagans of all times have [spoken of] “the folly of the cross.” In fact, it is the miracle of the infinite love of God for humanity. Let us remember, however, that, although His love and goodness are infinite, so also is His justice! It is an overwhelming miracle of love on the part of God, that He became man and died for us. It will be our own downfall if we fail to co-operate with this miracle of love!” (Cf {t 1)
Aspiration: Sweetest Jesus, be not my Judge but my Saviour!”
Quote/s of the Day – 9 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart” – Pentecost Thursday – Acts 8:5-8, Luke 9:1-6
“Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; neither have two tunics.”
Luke 9:3
“You are the salt of the earth.”
Matthew 5:13
“It is as a matter of absolute necessity that He commands all this. Why must you be salt? Jesus says in effect: “You are accountable, not only for your own life but also, for that of the entire world. I am sending you not to one or two cities, nor to ten or twenty, nor even to one nation, as I sent the Prophets. Rather, I am sending you to the entire earth, across the seas, to the whole world, to a world fallen into an evil state.”
St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor of the Church
“What is reprehensible, is that while leading good lives themselves and abhorring those of wicked men, some, fearing to offend, shut their eyes to evil deeds instead of condemning them and pointing out their malice.”
St Augustine (354-407) Father and Doctor of Grace
“The love of Jesus is noble and generous, it spurs us on to do great things and excites us to desire always, that which is most perfect. Love will tend upwards and is not to be detained by things beneath. Love will be at liberty and free from all worldly affections… for love proceeds from God and cannot rest but in God, above all things created. The lover flies, runs and rejoices, he is free and not held. He gives all for all and has all in all, because he rests in One Sovereign Good above all, from Whom all good flows and proceeds.”
Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)
(Book III, Chapter V, 3-4)
“Entrust yourself entirely to God. He is a Father and a most loving Father at that, Who would rather let Heaven and earth collapse, than abandon anyone who trusted in Him.”
St Paul of the Cross (1604-1775)
“God alone!”
“Chosen soul, how will you bring this about? What steps will you take to reach the high level to which God is calling you? The means of holiness and salvation, are known to everybody, since they are found in the Gospel, the masters of the spiritual life have explained them, the Saints have practised them… These means are – sincere Humility, unceasing Prayer, complete Self-denial, abandonment to Divine Providence and obedience to the Will of God.”
One Minute Reflection – 9 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart” – Pentecost Thursday – Acts 8:5-8, Luke 9:1-6
“Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor sack, nor bread, nor money; neither have two tunics.” – Luke 9:3
REFLECTION – “This is a great vision. But if you wish to see it, remove the sandals from your feet. Remove every chain of sin. Remove the chains of the world. Leave behind earthly sandals. Jesus sent the Apostles without sandals, without money, gold and silver, so that they would not carry earthly things with them. The one who seeks to do good is praised, not for his sandals but for the swiftness and grace of his feet. The Scripture says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Therefore, remove the sandals from your feet, that they may be beautiful for preaching the Gospel!” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church (Flight From the World 5).
PRAYER – O God, Thou Who on this day have taught the hearts of the faithful, by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by that Holy Spirit Himself, to know what is right and ever to rejoice in His help. 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). Sweet Heart of my JESUS, Make me love Thee ever more and more! – 300 Days Indulgence Once a day, Plenary Once a month – Blessed Pope Pius IX – 26 November 1876
Our Morning Offering – 9 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart”
Daily Offering to the Sacred Heart By St Therese of the Child Jesus of Lisieux (1873-1897) Doctor of the Church
O my God! I offer You all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to His infinite merits and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of His Merciful Love. O my God! I ask of You for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfil perfectly Your Holy Will, to accept for love of You the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity. Amen
Saint of the Day – 9 June – St Baithen of Iona (c 536-c 599) Abbot, the disciple and first successor of St Columba, an Irish Monk, especially selected by St Columba, as one of the band of Missionaries who set sail for Scotland in 563. St Baithen of Iona is generally known as Baithen Mor, to distinguish him from eight other Saints of the same name — the affix mor meaning “the Great.” This holy man was closely related to the great St Columba. They were the sons of two brothers and consequently, first cousins. Born in c 536 in Ireland and died in c 599 of natural causes . Patronage – of Tibohin, in Elphin, Ireland. Also known as – Baithéne mac Brénaind, Baithen Mor, Baithen the Great, Baithin, Boethen, Baoithin, Baithenus, Comin, Cominus.We have no images of our Saint, those below, in the main, are images of Monks of Iona.
Baithen was born in around 536, the son of Brenaron. He was an ardent disciple of St Columba and was appointed Abbot of Tiree Island, a Monastery founded by St Comgall of Bangor. St Adamnan, in recording the death of St Columba, tells us that the dying words of the Apostle of Iona, as he was transcribing the fifty-third Psalm, were: “I must stop here, let Baithen write what follows.”
Baithen had been looked on as the most likely successor of St Columba and so it happened, that on the death of that great Apostle, the Monks unanimously confirmed the choice of their Founder. St Baithen was in high esteem as a wise counsellor and his advice was sought by many Irish Saints.
According to his Acts, from the time he was a child, Baithen had been educated by St Columba. Under his holy discipline, he learned how to wage a perpetual war with idleness. As his years advanced, he grew stronger and more perfect, in the exercise of all good works. However, being a junior, by several years, he used to be always along with Columba because they were close in consanguinity and friendship, as they were thoroughly allied in the practice of holy works.
Baithen was always either reading, or praying, or serving his neighbour. Sometimes, for the latter purpose, his devotions were occasionally interrupted. When he used to eat, he was wont to say, “Deus in adjutorium meum intende,” “O God, come to my aid” between every two morsels. His devotions were so continually practised, that even when he was travelling, or working, or eating, or conversing with anyone, this holy man would still be communing with God and, under his tunic, his hands were often clasped in prayer, without anyone present knowing it. When he gathered corn along with the Monks, he held one hand up beseeching God, while the other hand was gathering the corn, as is contained in his Latin Acts, where we are informed, he would not brush away the troublesome midges from his face but rather suffer the bites and discomfort as a penance.
St Adamnan, the Biographer of St Columba, tells many interesting incidents in the life of Baithen but the mere fact of being the immediate successor of St Columba, by the express wish of that holy Apostle, is almost sufficient to attest to his great worth. The “Martyrology of Donegal” records the two following anecdotes.
Baithen also served as Prior over a Monastery connected to Iona on the Island of Tiree. The name of the place where his Monastery was located on Tiree, was Mag Luinge or Campus Luinge. The Monastery was a house for penitents from Iona. Some historians have thought that it may have supplied food to Iona.
St Adamnan also recorded a story about a voyage he took to the island, when Columba first told a Monk who was heading to Tiree, that he should not sail directly from Iona to Tiree because a great whale would frighten him but this monk did not listen to his advice and took the direct route. A huge whale came out of the water and almost destroyed the boat, which was, terrofying! When Baithen departed the following day to Tiree, Columba told him about the whale, and Baithen responded that both he and the whale were in God’s power, to which Columba responded “Go in peace, your faith in Christ will shield you from danger.” And so Baithen then took the direct route and the whale came out of the water which terrified all in the boat, except Baithen, who instead blessed the sea and the whale. The whale immediately departed, descending into the depths.
Iona todat
Baithen wrote a life of his master and some Irish poems, which are now lost but which were seen by St Adamnan. He only ruled Iona for three years, as his death took place in the year 600, though the “Annals of Ulster” give the date as 598. Perhaps the true year may be 599. Some writers assert that St. Baithen of Iona is the Patron of Ennisboyne, County Wicklow but this is owing to a confusion with St Baoithin, or Baithin mac Findech, whose feast is commemorated on 22 May. St Bathen is, however, the official Patron of Tibohin, in Elphin, Ireland.
Madonna, Madre delle Grazie / Our Lady, Mother of Grace (1610) (Also known as Our Lady of the Bowed Head) – 9 June:
Among the many miraculous images of the Mother of God through which she deigns to grant her favours, there is one in the Monastery church of the Carmelites in Vienna, entitled the Mother of Grace. In 1610 a Carmelite, Dominic of Jesus-Mary, found among the votaries of an old Altar in the Monastery Church of Maria della Scala in Rome and oil painting of the Mother of God, dust-covered and somewhat torn, which grieved him. Taking it into his hands, he shook the dust off it and kneeling down venerated it with great devotion. He had the picture renovated and placed it on the shelf in his cell, where he made it the object of his love and supplications, in favour of those who came to him in their necessities and afflictions. One night, while he was praying fervently before the picture, he noticed that some dust had settled on it. Having nothing but his course woolen handkerchief he dusted it with that and apologised:
“O pure and holiest Virgin, nothing in the whole world is worthy of touching your holy face but since I have nothing but this coarse handkerchief, deign to accept my good will.”
Fearing he was under an illusion, Dominic became troubled but Mary assured him that his requests would be heard, he could ask of her with full confidence, any favour he might desire. He fell upon his knees and offered himself entirely to the service of Jesus and Mary and asked for the deliverance of one of is benefactor’s souls in purgatory. Mary told him to offer several Masses and other good works. A short time later, when he was again praying before the image, Mary appeared to him bearing the soul of his benefactor to Heaven. Dominic begged that all who venerated Mary in this image of Our Lady of Grace might obtain all they requested. In reply the Virgin gave him this assurance:
“All those who devoutly venerate me in this picture and take refuge with me, will have their requests granted and I will obtain for them many graces but especially, will I hear their prayers for the relief and deliverance of the souls in Purgatory.”
Dominic soon after placed the image in the Church of Maria Della Scala, so that more devotees of Mary could venerate it. Many wonderful favours were obtained by those who honored and invoked Mary here. Reproductions were made of Our Lady of Grace and sent to different parts of the world. After the death of Dominic the original painting was given to Prince Maximilian of Bavaria. He gave it to the discalced Carmelites in Munich in 1631; they gave it to Emperor Ferdinand II of Austria and his wife Eleanore. After Ferdinand’s death, Eleanore entered the Carmelite Convent in Vienna and took the picture with her. During the succeeding years the image was transferred to various places. Today it is in the Monastery Church of Vienna in Doabling. On 27 September 1931, it was solemnly crowned by Pope Pius XI – its 300th anniversary of arrival in Vienna. To his great surprise, the face of the Mother of God appeared to take on life and smiling sweetly at him, she bowed her head, which thereafter remained inclined.
The Carmelite Monastery Church of Vienna in dsDoabling.
St Comus of Scotland St Cumian of Bobbio St Cyrus Bl Diana d’Andalo OP St Diomedes of Tarsus St Felicianus Bl Henry the Shoemaker St Julian of Mesopotamia St Luciano Verdejo Acuña St Maximian of Syracuse St Pelagia of Antioch St Primus St Richard of Andria Bl Robert Salt Bl Sylvester Ventura St Valerius of Milan St Vincent of Agen
Martyrs of Arbil – 5 Saints: Five nuns who were Martyred together in the persecutions of Tamsabur for refusing to renounce Christianity for sun-worship – Amai, Mariamne, Martha, Mary and Tecla. They were beheaded on 31 May 347 at Arbil, Assyria (in modern Kurdistan, Iraq).
AnaStpaul 
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