Thought for the Day – 23 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
“Month of the Holy Rosary” “Forgive Us Our Debts”
“Finally, we owe God a great deal on account of our sins. Unfortunately, our only return for God’s continual favours, has been negligence, ingratitude and sin! How many failings we have been guilty of throughout our lives? Since it is an offence against God, Who is infinitely good and amiable, even venial sin cannot properly be atoned for by the merits of all the Angels and of all the Saints of Heaven. Therefore, it was necessary for the Son of God, made Man, to offer Himself as a Victim of Expiation, on our behalf.
Remembering His infinite merits, we should humbly ask God – ‘forgive us our debts.‘ that is, our many sins and failings and, whatever punishment is owing to us, for every sin demands some expiation, either in this life or in the next!
Meanwhile, we should accept, with resignation, all the sufferings which God sends us in reparation for our sins and, we should promise never to offend Him again.”
Quote/s of the Day – 23 October – Blessed Severinus Boethius (c 475-524) Martyr, Layman, Theologian, Philosopher.
Prayer of Bl Severinus Boethius (c 475-524) Martyr
“O Father, enable our minds, to rise to Thy ineffable dwelling place. Let us find the light and direct the eyes of our soul to Thee. Dispel the mists and the opaqueness of the earthly mass and shine out with Thy splendour. Thou art the serene and tranquil abode of those who persevere in their goal of seeing Thee. Thou art, at the same time, the Beginning, the Vehicle, the Guide, the Way and the Goal. Amen.”
“Love binds people too, in Matrimony’s Sacred Bonds where chaste lovers are met and friends cement their trust and friendship. How happy is mankind, if the Love that orders the stars above, rules, too, in their hearts.”
“One’s virtue is all that one truly has because it is not imperiled, by the vicissitudes of fortune.”
“Contemplate the extent and stability of the heavens and then, at last, cease to admire worthless things.”
“A man content to go to Heaven, alone … will never go to heaven!”
One Minute Reflection – 23 October – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer – Ephesians 5:15-21, John 4:46-53 Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Unless you see signs and wonders, you believe not.” – John 4:48
REFLECTION – “Whoever examines the majesty of God will be crushed by His glory” (Prv 25,27 Vg). God can do works that surpass man’s understanding… Faith is required of you and sincerity of life – not high intelligence, nor penetrating knowledge of the mysteries of God. If you do not understand, nor grasp what is below you, how will you comprehend what is above you? Be subject to God, submit yourself to the faith and the light of knowledge will be given to you, as much as you need and can use.
Some have grave temptations concerning faith and sacraments, which are not to be imputed to them but rather, to the enemy. Take no notice, do not argue with your thoughts, nor answer the doubts with which the devil attacks you; believe God’s word, believe His saints and prophets and the wicked enemy will be routed. It is often most profitable to God’s servant, to endure such things. For the devil does not tempt the infidel or sinner, of whom he has already secure possession but he uses various means, to tempt and harass the devout faithful.
Go on then with simple unquestioning faith and approach the Sacrament with reverent beseeching. Anything you cannot understand, commit it surely to God, Who is omnipotent. God does not deceive you – the over-confident person deceives himself. God walks in step with the simple ones, He shows Himself to the humble ones, He grants understanding to the little ones; “He reveals hidden meanings to little ones” and hides away His grace from the inquisitive and the proud. Human reason is feeble and fallible but true faith cannot be deceived. All use of reason, all human inquiry should walk in the footsteps of faith; it should not go on in front of it, nor call it in question.” – Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) (The Imitation of Christ IV, 18).
PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, graciously grant Thou faithful, forgiveness and peace that they may be cleansed of all sin and serve Thee with minds free from care. 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).
Our Morning Offering – 23 October –Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer
Be Thou My Vision By St Dallan Forgaill (c 530- 598)
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my Light.
Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord. Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight, Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight. Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower. Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always. Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Son, Heart of my heart, whatever befall Still be my vision, O ruler of all.
Saint of the Day – 23 October – Blessed Severinus Boethius (c 475-524) Martyr, Layman, Roman Statesman and Philosopher, Theologian, Writer, Rhetorician, often styled “The Last of the Romans”, regarded by tradition as a Christian Martyr, Born in c 475-480 at Rome, Italy as Anicius Manlius Torquatus Severinus Boethius and died in 524-525 at Pavia, Italy. Also known as – Anicius Manlius Torquatus Severinus Boethius, The Last of the Romans, Severino Boezio.
Blessed Severinus Boethius was one of those rare minds that can assimilate knowledge and pass it on in an understandable form. He planned to translate the whole of Plato and Aristotle into Latin, to share the Greek wisdom with his contemporaries. He also wrote a treatise on the Trinity which , is considered a major work of Western Theology. He wrote extensively on matters concerning music, mathematics,and Theology. Although his translations were unfinished following an untimely death, it is largely due to them that the works of Aristotle survived.
He was born when Odoacer, the Ostrogoth, had become Ruler of Italy and when Boethius was thirteen, Odoacer was overthrown by Theodoric. He was left an orphan at an early age and was educated by the pious and noble-minded Symmachus, whose daughter, Rusticana, he married. Severinus entered public life in the footsteps of his father and in 510 was made Consul by Theodoric.
Theodoric began to suspect that certain of his nobles were plotting with the Emperor in Constantinople, to overthrow his government and Albinus, an Ex-consul and friend of Boethius,, was charged with treason. Boethius, defended Albinus in Court but was himself accused, of being part of the plot and imprisoned. It was in prison that he wrote his best known work. He found no defenders, even among his friends and not even his father-in-law, Symmachus, stood up for his innocence.
Boethius was cruelly tortured and died a violent death. He was buried in the Cathedral at Ticinium and his relics are now in the Church of St Peter at Pavia.
Tradition began very early to represent Boethius as a Martyr for the Christian Faith. It was believed that among the accusations brought against him, was devotion to the Catholic Church, which at that time, was championed by the Emperor Justin against the Arian Theodoric. In the eighth century this tradition had assumed definite shape and in many place,s Boethius was honoured as a Martyr and his feast observed on the twenty-third of October.
The reflective manner in which he faced death was an inspiration to others and his works were one of the important sources of writings throughout the Middle Ages. He died in the year 524 and was Beatified in 1883 by Pope Leo XIII .
Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer – The Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Catholic liturgical feast. It is celebrated in Venice as the Festa del Redentore. It is also celebrated by the Redemptorists and was celebrated in the City of Rome. The feast is found only in the special calendar of some Diocese and religious Orders and is celebrated with proper Mass and Office either on the third Sunday of July or on 23 October. https://anastpaul.com/2019/10/23/the-feast-of-the-most-holy-redeemer-23-october/
St Anthony Mary Claret CMF (1807-1870) Known as “The Spiritual Father of Cuba.” In the first years, records show, that he Confirmed 100,000 people and performed 9,000 Sacramental Marriages.Archbishop of Cuba, one of the Fathers of the First Vatican Council,Confessor to the Queen of Spain, Missionary, Founder of the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commonly called the Claretians, Confessor, Mystic, Social Reformer, Spiritual Director, Writer, Publisher, Preacher, Apostle of Charity. He was declared venerable by Pope Leo XIII in 1899. He was Beatified in 1934 and in 1950, Canonised by Pope Pius XII. His heart is incorrupt. The 1969 revision of the calendar moved St Anthony Feast to the day of his death, 24 October (from the 23rd) which had been the Feast of Saint Raphael the Archangel since 1921. About St Anthony Mary here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/saint-of-the-day-24-october-st-anthony-mary-claret-1807-1870-cmf/
Bl Anne-Joseph Leroux St Amo of Toul St Arethas of Negran St Benedict of Sebaste St Clether St Domitius St Elfleda St Ethelfleda Saints Germanus and Servandus of Cadiz St Gratien of Amiens St Henry of Cologne St Ignatius of Constantinople
Bl John Buoni St John of Syracuse St Oda of Aquitaine St Romanus of Rouen Blessed Severinus Boethius (c 475-524) Martyr St Severinus of Cologne St Syra of Faremoutiers St Theodoret of Antioch Bl Thomas Thwing St Verus of Salerno
Martyrs of Nicaea – 3 Saints Euerotas Socrates Theodota
Martyrs of Valenciennes – 6 Beati: A group of Urusuline and Briggittine nuns murdered together in the anti-Christian excesses of the French Revolution. They were guillotined on 23 October 1794 in Valenciennes, Nord, France and Beatified on 13 June 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. • Anne-Joseph Leroux • Clotilde-Joseph Paillot • Jeanne-Louise Barré • Marie-Augustine Erraux • Marie-Liévine Lacroix • Marie-Marguerite-Joseph Leroux
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