Most Chaste Spouse the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
Saint Joseph, Foster Father and Guardian of Jesus and Protector of the Blessed Virgin, to whose faithful keeping , Christ Jesus, Purity and Innocence itself and Mary, the Virgin of virgins, were entrusted, we pray and beseech you by that twofold and most precious charge, by Jesus and Mary, to save us from all uncleanness, to keep our minds untainted, our hearts pure and our bodies chaste. Help us always, to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. And for this special grace we now implore you, ……………. (Mention your request) We humbly beg you to look graciously upon the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His Blood and to aid us in our necessities with your power and strength. May the wholesome fear of God, strengthen us, that virtue may adorn our lives and lead us to Heaven. St Joseph, Most Chaste, Pray for us! Amen.
Thought for the Day – 14 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
How We Should Pray
“Finally, our prayer should be persevering. Perseverance in prayer is always rewarded by God, especially during times of temptation. The Gospel is full of examples of the way in which perseverance is rewarded. Remember the blind man of Jericho, who was rebuked for his persistent entreaties. Nevertheless, he went on shouting: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Cf Lk 18:34-43). His prayer was eventually answered. Remember the Centurion. Although he was a pagan, he requested the cure of his paralysed servant with such outstanding faith and perseverance that Jesus granted what he asked. “Not even in Israel,” said Jesus, “have I found such great faith” (Lk 7:9). Remember the parable of the three loaves, which were so persistently demanded in the middle of the night until they were at last obtained (Cf Lk 11:5). Remember Mary, the sister of Lazarus and the Samaritan woman. Remember Jairus and the man suffering from dropsy. Above all, remember the Canaanite woman who almost snatched a miracles from the Hands of Jesus by her humility and perseverance.
A confident spirit of perseverance always wins the Heart of God, Who sometimes waits before answering our prayers, in order to enkindle our desire, to make us pray more and, to reward our perseverance by a liberal bestowal of His favours. Let us persevere in total trust, with intense love and in the deepest humility, knowing, without any doubt, that our prayers will be answered.”
Quote/s of the Day – 14 March – Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent – 4 Kings 4:1-7, Mattew 18:15-22 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/ – – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” “Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times but seventy times seven.”
Matthew 18:21-22
“Judge not and you will not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give, will be the measure you get back.”
Luke 6:37-38
“If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.”
Luke 17:3-4
“To the extent that you pray, with all your soul, for the person who slanders you, God will make the truth known to those who have been scandalised by the slander.”
St Maximus the Confessor (c 580–662)
“See to it that you refrain from harsh words. But if you do speak them, do not be ashamed to apply the remedy from the same lips, that inflicted the wounds.”
“The recollection of an injury, is . . . a rusty arrow and poison for the soul.”
St Francis of Paola OM (1416-1507)
“If a man finds it very difficult to forgive injuries, let him look at a Crucifix and think that Christ shed all His Blood for him and not only forgave His enemies but, even prayed His Heavenly Father, to forgive them too. Let him remember, that when he says the Pater Noster, everyday, instead of asking pardon for his sins, he is calling down VENGEANCE UPON HIMSELF!”
St Philip Neri (1515-1595)
The Lord’s Prayer Jesus Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 14 March – Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent – 4 Kings 4:1-7, Mattew 18:15-22 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” Luke 11:4
“Then Peter came up to him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22
CHARITY in INJURY St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD LOVE husband or wife with a calm, tranquil, firm and constant love, chiefly because God desires and enjoins us to do so. The same reason holds good as to children and other relatives and friends, each one according to his rank.
But as a general thing, what is the state of your heart with regard to your neighbour? Do you love him from your heart and for the love of God? In order to prove this, you must call to mind certain disagreeable, troublesome individuals, for with such, it is that we practice the love of God towards our neighbour and still more, towards those who do us any injury, either in word or deed. Consider whether your heart is clear with regard to such and whether you have to force it to love them? Are you slow to speak evil of your neighbour, especially of those whom you do not like? Do you never injure him, either directly or indirectly? A very little reflection will easily satisfy you on these points.” – (Introduction to the Devout Life).
One Minute Reflection – 14 March – “The Month of the St Joseph” – Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent – 4 Kings 4:1-7, Matthew 18:15-22 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Then Peter came up to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times but seventy times seven.” – Matthew 18:21-22
REFLECTION – “Christ is asking two thing of us – to condemn our sins, to forgive those of the others; to do the first because of the second, which then will be easier, for the person who thinks of his sins will be less severe towards his companion in destitution. And to forgive not only with our mouth but “from the bottom of our heart,” so as not to turn against ourselves, the blade, with which we believe we can pierce the others. What evil can your enemy do to you which would be comparable to that, which you do to yourself? … If you let yourself go, in indignation and anger, you will be wounded, not because of the injury your enemy inflicted upon you but, from the resentment you feel because of it.
So do not say: “He insulted me, he slandered me, he did a great number of wretched things to me.” The more you say he did evil things to you, the more you show that he did you good, since he gave you an opportunity to purify yourself of your sins. Thus, the more he offends you, the more he places you in a state of obtaining the forgiveness of your faults from God. For if we want, no-one can damage us; even our enemies are thus doing us a great service… So consider how many advantages you draw from an injury that is suffered humbly and gently!” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Fasther and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Saint Matthew no 61).
This image is called CALUMNY by Botticelli
PRAYER – Almighty and eternal God, Who has dominion over both the living and the dead and has mercy upon all whom Thou foreknow will be Thine by faith and good works; we humbly beseech Thee that all for whom we have resolved to make supplication, whether the present world still holds them in the flesh, or the world to come holds them out of the body, may, through the intercession of the blessed Virgin and all Thy Saints, obtain of Thy goodness and clemency, pardon for all their sins.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 – 14 March – Tuesday in the Third Week of Lent
My Lord and My God By St Nicholas of Flue (1417-1487)
My Lord and my God, take from me everything which distances me from Thee. My Lord and my God, give me everything which brings me closer to Thee. My Lord and my God, detach me from myself, to give my all to Thee. Amen
Saint of the Day – 14 March – Blessed Eva of Liège (c 1205-1265) Virgin, Recluse, “Apostle of the Blessed Sacrament” and assistant to St Juliana of Cornillon in the establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Born in c1305 in Liège, Belgium and died on 26 May 1265 in her home City of natural causes. Also known as – Eve of Saint-Martin, Eve of Mount Cornelius, Eva, Evelyne, Heva. Additional Memorial – 5 April with St Juliana 26 May, the date of her death, a date in June (On the Feast of Corpus Christi – which is celebrated 60 days after Easter). Also known as – Heva, Eve of Saint-Martin, Eve of Mount Cornelius, Evelyne, Bleassed Eva was Beatified on 1 May 1902 by Pope Leo XIII.
Eva was born into a wealthy family in Liège, but seeking a life of holiness and communion with God, relinquished any claim on the wealth of her birth and became a Recluse at the Church of St Martin in Liège. When St Juliana of Cornillon (c 1192-1258) was Prioress of Mount Cornillon, one of her closest friends was the holy Recluse, Eva, of Liege, whom she inspired with her own enthusiastic purpose to obtain the institution of a Feast in honor of the Blessed Sacrament.
It was in Eva’s cell near the Church of St Martin that Juliana found refuge when she was driven for the first time from Cornillon and it was Eva, who took up her mission after St Juliana died.
The accession of Pope Urban IV raised her hopes, for he had formerly shown himself sympathetic when, as Archdeacon James Pantaleon, he had been approached on the subject by St Juliana. Eva’s hopes were fulfilled. Not only did he institute the festival of Corpus Christi but, he sent to her, the Bull of Authorisation, as well as, a special Office for the day by St Thomas Aquinas had compiled at his desire.
Eva died in 1265 and was buried in the Church of Saint Martin in Liège. In 1542, her Relics were enshrined. Her Relics are currently enshrined in the Belgian Cities of Ghent, Antwerp and Liège.
In the Bull of its institution, entitled Transiturus de hoc mundo, (11 Aug. 1264), Pope Urban even referred discreetly to Juliana’s mystical experiences, corroborating their authenticity. He wrote: “Although the Eucharist is celebrated solemnly everyday, we deem it fitting, that at least once a year. it be celebrated with greater honour and a solemn commemoration.
Indeed we grasp the other things we commemorate with our spirit and our mind but this does not mean, that we obtain their real presence. On the contrary, in this sacramental commemoration of Christ, even though in a different form, Jesus Christ is present with us in His own substance. While He was about to ascend into Heaven, He said ‘And lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age’ (Matthew 28:20).”
St Agno of Zaragoza St Alexander of Pydna St Aphrodisius of Africa Bl Arnold of Padua St Boniface Curitan St Diaconus St Eutychius of Mesopotamia Blessed Eva of Liège (c 1205-1265) Recluse St Lazarus of Milan St Leo of the Agro Verano
St Maximilian Bl Pauline of Thuringia St Peter of Africa St Philip of Turin St Talmach Bl Thomas Vives
47 Martyrs of Rome – Forty-seven people who were Baptised into the Faith in Rome, Italy by Saint Peter the Apostle and were later Martyred together during the persecutions of Nero. Martyred c67 in Rome, Italy
Martyrs of Valeria – Two Monks Martyred by Lombards in Valeria, Italy who were never identified. After the monks were dead, their killers could still hear them singing Psalms. They were hanged on a tree in Valeria, Italy.
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