Thought for the Day – 8 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Knowledge and Goodness
“St Paul wrote: “Let no-one rate himself more than he ought but, let him rate himself according to moderation and according as God has apportioned to each one, the measure of faith” (Rom 12:31). “Knowledge puffs up,” he said “but charity edifies” (1 Cor 8:11).
“The humble knowledge of oneself,” The Imitation of Christ tells us, “is a surer way to God, than deep researches after science. Knowledge is not to be blamed… but a good conscience and a virtuous life, are always to be preferred. But because many take more pains to be learned than to lead good lives, therefore, they often go astray” (Bk 2 ch 3).
So let us learn everything which our position in life requires of us and, as much besides as we are able. But above all, let us learn to be good and holy. If we fail in this, the rest is useless and dangerous!”
Quote/s of the Day – 8 March – The Memorial of St John of God OH (1495-1550) Confessor, Founder of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God
“Lord, Thy Thorns are my Roses and Thy Suffering, my Paradise.”
After receiving the Last Rites St John said:
“There are three things which make me uneasy: The first is that I have received so many graces from God and have not recognised them and have repaid them with so little of my own. The second is that after I am dead, I fear lest the poor women I have rescued and the poor sinners I have reclaimed, may be illtreated. The third is that those who have trusted me with money and whom I have not fully repaid, may suffer loss on my account.”
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 8 March – Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 31:8-11, Matthew 22:34-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments. …” Psalm 111:3
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ ” Matthew 22:37-39
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“CHARITY, while it is alive in the soul, reigns supreme and holds sway over all the emotions, leading the will to put God before everything else without delay, without exception, without reserve. … But why does charity include love of ourselves? Why, because we are wearing God’s Image and Likeness and, since all men enjoy the same noble dignity, we love them too as we love ourselves – in other words, as devoted living likenesses of the Godhead. … So it is, then, that the same charity which gives rise to acts of love of God, also breeds love of our neighbour.
When we see our neighbour, created to the Image and Likeness of God, should we not say to one another, ‘Stop, do you see this created being, do you see how he resembles the Creator? should we not cast ourselves upon him and weep over him with love? Should we not give him a thousand, thousand blessings?
It is for love of God Who made him in His Own Image and Likeness and, therefore, capable of sharing in His goodness in grace and glory. I say it is for love of God, from Whom he is, Whose he is, by Whom he is, in Whom he is, for Whom he is, Whom he resembles in a most particular manner.” – (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 10).
One Minute Reflection – 8 March – Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent – The Memorial of St John of God OH (1495-1550) Confessor, Founder of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 31:8-11, Matthew 22:34-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul, and your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ ” – Matthew 22:37-39
REFLECTION – “The Lord asks of us only two things – love of His Majesty and love of our neighbour. These are what we must work for. By observing them with perfection, we do His will and so will be united with Him.
But how far, … we are from doing these two things, for so great a God, as we ought! May it please His Majesty to give us His grace so that we might merit, if we wish, to reach this state that lies within our power. The most certain sign, in my opinion, as to whether or not we are observing these two laws, is whether we observe well the love of neighbour.
We cannot know whether or not we love God, although there are strong indications for recognising that we do love Him but, we can know whether we love our neighbour. And be certain that the more advanced you see you are, in love for your neighbour, the more advanced you will be in the love of God, for the love His Majesty has for us, is so great that to repay us for our love of neighbour, He will,, in a thousand ways, increase the love we have for Him. I cannot doubt this. That is why it is important for us to walk, with careful attention to how we are proceeding in this matter, for if we practice love of neighbour with great perfection, we will have done everything. I believe that, since our nature is weak, we will not reach perfection in the love of neighbour, if that love does not rise from love of God as its root.” – St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church (Interior Castle, Fifth Dwelling Places Ch 3).
PRAYER – O God, Who caused blessed John, when burning with love for Thee, to walk unharmed through the midst of flames and through him, enriched Thy Church with a new religious family; grant by the help of his merits, our sins may be burned away by the fire of Thy love and eternal remedies may come to us. 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 – 8 March – Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent
Hear Me, O Lord By St Peter of Alcantara (1499-1562)
Hear me, O Lord, my soul’s delight, joy of my heart, not because of my merits but because of Thy boundless goodness. Teach me, enlighten me, direct me, help me in all things that I may never say or do anything but that which I know to be pleasing in Thou sight. Guide me, O God, my Love, my Light and my Life! Amen
Saint of the Day – 8 March – St Felix of Burgundy (Died 647) “The Apostle of East Anglia,” the First Bishop of Dunwich, Missionary in East Anglia and particularly in the Port Town now known as Felixstowe, in Suffolk, England. Amongst being the Founder of Norwich Cathedral and countless Churches.the famous Monastery of Bury Saint Edmunds, he is also the Founder of what is now the University of Cambridge. Born in the late 6th Century in Burgundy, France and died on 8 March 647 of natural causes. Patronage – of the Diocese of East Anglia, Also known as – “The Apostle of East Anglia,” Felix of Dunwich, Felix of East Anglia.
The Roman Martyrology states: “In England, St Felix, Bishop, who converted the East Anglians to the Faith.”
A statue of St Felix, part of a reredos by J P Seddon (1885) at St Peter Mancroft, Norwich
Felix is widely credited as the man who introduced Christianity to the Kingdom of East Anglia. Almost all that is known about him comes from St Bede’s The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, St Bede wrote that Felix freed “the whole of this Kingdom from long-standing evil and unhappiness.”
St Bede continues: “Bishop Felix… came to Archbishop Honorius from the Burgundian region, where he had been raised and Ordained and, by his own desire, was sent by him, to preach the Word of Life to the nation of the Angles. Nor did he fail in his purpose; for, like a good farmer, he reaped a rich harvest of believers. In accord with the meaning of his own name, he freed the whole province from its ancient iniquity and infelicity rought it to the Faith and works of righteousness and guided it to eternal felicity.”
St Bede also records the great zeal of St Sigebert, the King of East Anglia (whom some say was converted by Felix which the King was in exile in France. St Bede says: “As soon as he began to reign, he made it his business to see that the whole Kingdom shared his Faith. Bishop Felix most nobly supported his efforts. This Bishop, who had been born and Consecrated in Burgundy, came to Archbishop Honorius, to whom he expressed his longings, so the Archbishop sent him to preach the Word of Life to this nation of the Angles.”
St Felix stained glass at Norwich Cathedral
Upon his arrival in East Anglia, Sigeberht gave him a See at near Felixstowe, or Dunwich in Suffolk. According to St Bede, Felix helped Sigebert to establish a school in his Kingdom “where boys could be taught letters.”
St Felix and St Sigebert also at Norwich Cathedral
Felix evangelised throughout East Anglia, building a Cathedral at Norwich and school at Dunwich, stone Churches throughout the region and the College that would become the University of Cambridge. In c637, with the aid of St Sigebert, he founded the Bury Saint Edmunds Monastery. Finally, he worked with St Fursey, an Irish Missionary who had arrived in the area. Spiritual teacher of Saint Ethelreda (Died 679) the East Anglian Princess, Queen and later Abbess.
Felix died on 8 March 647, having been the Bishop for 17 years. His Relics were translated from Dunwich to Soham Abbey and then to the Abbey at Ramsey. After his death, he was immediately venerated as a Saint. Several English Churches are dedicated to him.
St Apollonius of Antinoë St Arianus of Alexandria St Beoadh of Ardcarne St Duthus of Ross St Felix of Burgundy (Died 647) Bishop, Missionary in East Anglia and particularly in the Port Town now known as Felixstowe, in Suffolk, England. Amongst being the Founder of countless Churches. a famouse Monastery of Bury Saint Edmunds, he is also the Founder of what is now the University of Cambridge. St Humphrey of Prüm St Jon Helgi Ogmundarson St Litifredus of Pavia St Philemon of Antinoë St Pontius of Carthage St Provinus of Como St Quintilis of Nicomedia St Rhian
Martyrs of North Africa – 9 Saints: A Bishop and some of his flock who were Martyred together in North Africa. The only details that have survived are nine of the names – Beata, Cyril, Felicitas, Felix, Herenia, Mamillus, Rogatus, Silvanus, Urban.
AnaStpaul 
You must be logged in to post a comment.