Day: December 6, 2022

Posted in ART DEI, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Novena, MARIAN NOVENAS, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Novena in Honour of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY EIGHT – 6 December

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena in Honour of the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary

THE EIGHTH DAY – 6 December
The Image of the Immaculate Conception

A simple short Novena DAY EIGHT here (which also attracts Indulgences):
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/06/immaculate-conception-novena-day-eight-6-december/
NOTE on Indulgences HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/29/novena-in-honour-of-the-immaculate-conception-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-day-one-29-november/

PREPARATORY PRAYER:
In thy conception, O Virgin Mary,
thou wast immaculate;
pray for us to the Father, Whose Son Jesus,
conceived in thy womb by the Holy Ghost,
thou didst bring forth.

Indulgence. 200 days, every time. (Pius VI, 21 November

MEDITATION:
Christian art often represents the Immaculate Conception as follows:
The Blessed Virgin appears standing on a globe, about which is coiled a serpent holding an apple in its mouth. One of Mary’s feet rests upon the serpent, the other is placed on the moon. Her eyes are raised toward heaven; her hands are either joined in prayer, or she holds a lily in her right and places the left on her breast. Her dress is white; her ample mantle is of blue colour. A crown of twelve stars encircles her head. These emblems typify, in a most striking manner, Mary’s power and glory. “And a great sign appeared in heaven. A woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Apoc. xii. 1).

PRACTICEL
The representation of the Immaculate Conception is very instructive.
(1) Mary appears standing on the globe. This signifies that being human, she belongs to the earth and yet, is exalted above the world and sin; also, that she trampled under foot earthly possessions, vanities and joys.
(2) A serpent is coiled about the globe, bearing an apple in its mouth. This reminds us of the fall of our first parents and of the consequences of their sin.
(3) Mary’s foot rests on the serpent, indicating that she never was under Satan’s dominion but was preserved from sin in the first moment of her existence.
(4) Mary stands on the moon. The moon, on account of its changes, is an emblem of inconstancy. We see it at Mary’s feet, to be reminded that we ought to be constant in faith and virtue.
(5) Mary wears a crown, to indicate that she is a Queen. The crown is composed of twelve stars – she is the Queen of Heaven.
(6) Mary’s dress is white, to denote her spotless purity and innocence.
(7) She folds her hands in prayer, reminding us to imitate her example.
(8) Or she holds a lily in her right hand, to indicate her virginity and chastity and the sweet odour of her virtues.
(9) Mary’s mantle is blue, which colour is emblematic of royalty. Its folds are ample, to remind us that all who have recourse to her find a secure refuge in all dangers and necessities.

Therefore let us invoke her intercession in the words of Holy Church:
“We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God.
Despise not our petitions but in thy mercy,
deliver us from all danger,
O glorious and Ever Virgin Mary!”

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH:
O God, Who through the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for Thy Divine Son,
grant that, as in view of Thy Son,
Thou didst preserve her from all taint,
so Thou wouldst vouchsafe unto us
that cleansed from all sin by her intercession,
we too may arrive at Thine eternal glory.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER:
O Spotless sun! O Virgin Mary!
I congratulate thee.
I rejoice with thee because,
in thy conception,
God gave thee grace,
greater and more boundless,
than He ever shed on all His Angels
and all the Saints, together with all their merits.
I am thankful and I marvel
at the surpassing beneficence
of the Ever-Blessed Trinity,
Who conferred on thee this privilege.
O make me correspond with the grace of God
and never abuse it.
Change this heart of mine –
make me now begin to amend my life.

Hail Mary, Glory be … etc.

LITANY of LORETO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/29/novena-in-honour-of-the-immaculate-conception-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-day-one-29-november/

Aspiration: O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Indulgence. 100 days, once a day. (Pope Leo XIII, 25 March 1884).

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Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 6 December – The Word of God

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Thought for the Day – 6 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Word of God

“We should hold the word of God in reverence and listen attentively to it.
“He who hears you, hears Me” Jesus told His Apostles, “and he who rejects you, rejects Me” (Lk 10:16).
The man who preaches the word of God, maybe imperfect and ill-trained but, we should not judge his message by his personal qualities, abilities and oratorical skills.
We should focus our attention on the word of God and treasure that.
God often employs weak and imperfect instruments and even unworthy ones, in order to accomplish His work, so that we may hear His word with humility and seek Him, rather than men.
If we seek men, we shall find men but, if we seek God, we shall find God and His eternal Truth and Goodness.

We should listen humbly to God’s word and should remember that we have great need of it.
Even if we are well instructed and feel that we are more learned than the preacher, it is still necessary for us to be attentive to the living word of God, so that it may transform us and make us holy.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/13/thought-for-the-day-12-december-the-word-of-god/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 December – ‘“… Are you debating what you will do? …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 December – St Nicholas (270-343) Confessor, Bishop – Hebrews 13:7-17, Matthew 25:14-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And he who had received the five talents
went and traded with them,
and gained five more.”

Matthew 25:16

“I have chosen you
and have appointed you,
that you should go
and should bring forth fruit
and your fruit should remain,
says the Lord.”

John 15:16

“… Are you debating what you will do?
Worship Him as God.
Worship the Wonder-worker.
Worship One who worked good things
on behalf of another!”

St Athansius (297-373)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“In those days he departed
to the mountain to pray
and he spent the night
in prayer to God.”

Luke 6:12

“It says,
“He passed the whole night in prayer.”
A model is given to you.
A form is prescribed
which you must imitate.”

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Whatever He receives on earth,
He returns in Heaven.”

St Caesarius of Arles (470-543)

“O God, grant that whatever good things I have,
I may share generously with those who have not
and whatever good things, I do not have,
I may request humbly, from those who do.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus

“Rejoice and be happy!
Persevere to the end
and prefer to die
rather than abandon the post,
to which God has called you!”

St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Doctor of the Church

“The meaning of this parable is clear.
We are all servants, to whom our heavenly Father
has entrusted various talents.
Some have been given more than others.
By our own labour and industry,
we must all make profitable use of the talents
which we have received.
The ungrateful and slothful servant,
who does not make good use of his talents,
will be severely punished.
But a happy reward awaits the good
and faithful servant,
who has worked zealously all his life,
for his Master’s interests until the talents
which he has received, have produced
an increase of sanctity in himself and in others.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRIESTS, the PRIESTHOOD and CONSECRATED LIFE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 December – To one He gave five talents … Matthew 25:15

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One Minute Reflection – 6 December – St Nicholas (270-343) Confessor, Bishop – Hebrews 13:7-17, Matthew 25:14-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“To one He gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately …” – Matthew 25:15

REFLECTION – “The man who is the landowner is actually the Creator and Lord of all. The Word compares the time the landowner spends away from home, in the parable, to either the Ascension of Christ into Heaven, or, at any rate, to the unseen and invisible character of the Divine Nature. Now, one must conceive of the property of God, as those in each Country and City, who believe in Him. He calls His servants, those who, according to the times, Christ crowns with the glory of the Priesthood. For the holy Paul writes, “No-one takes this honour upon himself; he must be called by God.”

He hands over [His property] to those who are under Him, to each giving a spiritual gift, so that he might have character and aptitude. We think that this distribution of the talents, is not supplied to the household servants in equal measure because, each is quite different from the other, in their understanding. Immediately they head out for their labours, He says, directly, indicating to us here, that apart from the procrastination of one, they are fit to carry out the work of God.

Surely those who are bound by fear and laziness will evolve into the worst evils. For he buried, Jesus says, the talent given to him in the earth. He kept the gift hidden, making it unprofitable for others and useless for himself. For that very reason, the talent is taken away from him and will be given to the one who is already rich. The Spirit has departed from such as these and the gift of the divine gifts. But to those who are industrious, an even more lavish gift will be presented.” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Archbishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor of the Church (Fragment 283)

PRAYER – O God, Thou Who made the holy Bishop Nicholas renowned for countless miracles, grant, we beseech Thee that by his merits and prayers, we may be saved from the fires of hell. 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 GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS

Our Morning Offering – 6 December – Jesu, be You my Life!

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Our Morning Offering – 6 December – “The Month of the Divine Infant and the Immaculate Conception”

Jesu, be You my Life!
Msgr Robert Hugh Benson (1871-1914)
Chamberlain to Pope St Pius X

I cannot live alone another hour,
Jesu, be You my Life!
I have not power to strive,
be You my Power
In every strife!
I can do nothing
– hope, nor love, nor fear.
But only fail and fall.
Be You my soul and self,
O Jesu dear.
My God and all!
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 6 December – Saint Gerard of La Charité OSB (Died c 1109)

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Saint of the Day – 6 December – Saint Gerard of La Charité OSB (Died c 1109) Abbot, Founder of Monasteries, Reformer. Born towards the end of the 9th Century in the County of Namur in Belgium and died in 1109 of natural causes. Also known as – Gerhard of La-Charité-sur-Loire.

Gerard was born of a noble family towards the end of the ninth Century, in the County of Namur in Belgium. An engaging sweetness of temper, added to a strong inclination to piety and devotion, gained for him, from the cradle, the affection and esteem of all.

He at first followed the career of arms but never lost his piety amid the distractions and temptations of camp life. When sent on an important mission to the Court of France, by the Count of Namur, he was greatly edified by the fervour of the Benedictine Monks of Saint Denys in Paris and earnestly desired to join them and to consecrate himself to God. Returning home he settled his temporal affairs and returned to Monastery of St Denis, with great joy. He lived for eleven years with devout fervour in this Monastery, and then was Ordained a Priest.

So great was his reputation for holiness that in 931 he was sent by his Abbot to found an Abbey upon his own estate at Brogne, three leagues from Namur. He established this new Abbey, then built himself a little cell near the Church, where he lived as a recluse. But not for long, for he was then called to establish new Monasteries, which he did at Auxerre, Nevers, Bourges, Meaux, Paris, etc… Over the years, the foundations extended to England, Portugal, Venice and other Italian Cities.

The Abbey at La-Charité-sur-Loire.

A new mission was his next role – that of introducing strict monastic discipline in eighteen Abbeys. Gerard applied himself to this immense undertaking with energy and zeal and completed it successfully, assuming the duties of a Benedictine Abbot General over these and all the new foundations.

When he had spent almost twenty years in these zealous labours, feeling his end approaching, he requested permission to become a simple Monk and he again retired to his cell at the Abbey of Brogne, which is now named for him, to prepare his soul for the final journey. To this he was called on 3 October c 1109.

Posted in Uncategorized

Notre-Dame de Séez/ Our Lady of Séez, Normandy, France (5th Century) and Memorials of the Saints – 6 December

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Notre-Dame de Séez/ Our Lady of Séez, Normandy, France (5th Century) – 6 December:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/06/notre-dame-de-seez-our-lady-of-seez-normandy-france-5th-century-and-memorials-of-the-saints-6-december/

St Nicholas (270-343) Confessor, Bishop, Confessor, Abbot, Apostle of Charity, Miracle-worker.
Full Biography here:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/12/06/saint-of-the-day-6-december-st-nicholas-270-343/
More:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/12/06/saint-of-the-day-st-nicholas-270-343-bishop/

St Abraham of Kratia ( c 474–c 558) Bishop, Monk, Hermit.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/06/saint-of-the-day-6-december-saint-abraham-of-kratia-c-474-c-558/

St Aemilianus the Martyr
Bl Angelica of Milazzo

St Asella of Rome (Died c 406) Virgin Hermit Friend of St Jerome
A Flower of the Lord:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/06/saint-of-the-day-6-december-saint-asella-of-rome-a-flower-of-the-lord-died-c-406/

St Boniface the Martyr
St Dativa the Martyr
St Dionysia the Martyr
St Gerard of La Charité (Died c 1109) Abbot, Founder of Monasteries
St Gertrude the Elder
St Isserninus of Ireland
St Leontia the Martyr
St Majoricus the Martyr

St Peter Pascual (Died 1299) Bishop and Martyr, Theologian.
His Feast Day should be 23 October – changed in 1969.
His life and death:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/06/saint-of-the-day-6-december-saint-peter-pascual-died-1299-bishop-and-martyr/

St Polychronius
St Tertus