Thought for the Day – 19 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Faith and Charity
“Faith is a wonderful thing. As has been said, it is a supernatural gift from God, which we should keep alive by prayer. Faith alone is not enough, however. It is the foundation, on which we must build the structure of our Christian life. It is especially necessary for it to be united to the flame of charity. “Without love,” says St Augustine, “there is only the faith, which the devil has” (De Caritate 10) because, as St James explains, “the devil also believes and trembles” (Js 2:19). We, however, should believe and love. We must combine faith with charity towards God and towards our neighbour. Our faith should be active. As St Paul says, it should work under the influence of charity (Gal 5:6). Without charity and good works, faith is a lifeless thing.
If we really believe, we should love God above all things, even more than we love ourselves and, we should be ready to make any sacrifice for Him, even the sacrifice of our lives.
Faith should induce us to think constantly of God and charity should urge us to do everytig for His sake, rather than for any lesser purpose. If we lack this kind of charity, we cannot claim to be sincere Christians.”
Quote/s of the Day – 19 April – Feria Day, Wednesday in the Second Week of Easter – 1 John 5:4-10, John 20:19-31 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed.”
St Ignatius of Antioch (c35–c107) Bishop, Martyr, Apostolic Father
“What determines that the gifts of God dwells in us, is the measure of each one’s faith. Because it is to the extent that we believe that the enthusiasm to act is given us. And so those who act, reveal the measure of their faith proportionate to their action, they receive their measure of grace according to what they have believed. …”
St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662) Monk and Theologian
“If we wish to make any progress in the service of God, we must begin everyday of our life, with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves, in the presence of God, as much as possible and have no other view or end, in all our actions but the Divine honour.”
St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)
“Keep, O Lord, my heart at peace, always close to Thee. Thou Who calms the wild waves of the sea.”
One Minute Reflection – 19 April – “The Month of the Resurrection” – Feria Day, Wednesday in the Second Week of Easter – 1 John 5:4-10, John 20:19-31 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed.” – John 20:29
REFLECTION – “The disciples’ weakness was so unsteady that, not content with seeing the Risen Lord, they still wanted to touch Him if they were to believe in Him. It was not enough for them to see Him with their eyes, they wanted to put out their hands to His limbs and touch the marks of His recent Wounds. It was after he had touched and acknowledged his scars that the unbelieving disciple cried out: “My Lord and my God!” Those scars revealed the One Who, where other people were concerned, healed every wound. Could the Lord not have Risen without scars? Yet He saw, within His disciples’ hearts, wounds which those scars He had preserved in His Body ,would heal.
And what does the Lord answer that confession of faith of His disciple, who says: “My Lord and my God”? “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Who is He talking about, my friends, if not of us? And not just of us but of those, too, who will follow us. For shortly afterwards, when He had disappeared from mortal sight, so as to strengthen faith in the heart, all those who became believers, believed without seeing and their faith had great merit. To acquire it they reached out to Him, not a hand with which to touch Him but only a loving heart.” – St Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo, Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 88).
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both of mind and body and, by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. 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 – 19 April – Feria Day, Wednesday in the Second Week of Easter
How Great is Your Goodness, Lord! By Archbishop Baldwin of Canterbury (c 1125-1190)
How great is Your goodness, Lord, Who does not shrink from letting Your servant, place You upon his heart! How great my own worth, since You have chosen me to have part in Yours, to have You abiding in me, to love You as You deserve, above myself. Lord, take from me this hard heart and give me a new, clean heart of flesh and blood. You Who make my heart pure, take possession of mine and make it Your home. Hold it and fill it, You, Who are higher than my topmost height, more inward than my inward being. You, the Seal of Holiness, Beauty of beauties, engrave on my heart, Your Image and the imprint of Your mercy. Be, O God, my eternal love and my inheritance. Amen
Saint of the Day – 19 April – Blessed Bernard of Sithiu (Died 1182) Layman Penitent, Pilgrim, Hermit Died on 19 April 1182 in the Monastery of Saint-Bertin, Thérouanne region, France of natural causes. Patronages – of sinners, convicts, prisoners, penitents, pilgrims. Also known as – Bernard of Maguellone, Bernard the Penitent, Bernard the Pilgrim.
The Roman Martyrology: “At the Monastery of Saint-Bertin in the territory of France in Thérouanne, lies the tomb of Blessed Bernard, penitent, who, eager to atone for the sins of his youth with an austere penitence, voluntarily chose exile and, barefooted, wearing rough garments, was a tireless pilgrim to the holy places.”
Like St Nicholas of Trani, St Benedict Joseph Labre, St Rocco and several others this Saint lived as an itinerant pilgrim to the Shrines of Europe.
The few reports received about the life of Blessed Bernard of Sithiu are those handed down in the writings of John of Sithiu, Abbot in 1187, a source of extraordinary interest. There is also the Office composed in his honour and in 1465, an inventory of his remains are cited, “relics of St Bernard, Penitent. “
From such documents and testimonies, we discover that Bernard, following a murder, was ordered to make a pilgrimage of atonement.
After wandering far and wide for a long time, he finally settled near the former town of Sithiu, where, for four years he lived in poverty and deprivation. He prayed and fasted incessantly and endured the elements, as well as many other trials and sufferings. He became a very saintly man in love with God and self-renunciation. Finally dying on 19 April 1182.
The fame for holiness which was gained in life, was later confirmed after death, by many miracles occurring at his tomb.
Our dear Martyr and protector, Saint Expeditus, You who know what is necessary and what is urgently needed. I beg you to intercede before the Blessed Trinity that by your intercession, my request will be granted. …………………… (Clearly express your needs and ask him to find a way to help you.) May I receive your blessings and favours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, One God with the Almighty Father. Amen.
If Saint Expeditus grants your request, place an advertisement in the local Catholic newspaper and/or your Parish Bulletin or Notice Board, thanking Saint Expeditus, so that his name and fame will grow.
St Gaius of Melitene St Galata of Melitene St George of Antioch St Gerold of Saxony
St Pope Leo IX (1002-1054) known as “Apostolic Pilgrim” When the German Pope Damasus II died in 1048, Bishop Bruno was selected by the Emperor, Henry III, to succeed him. Bruno agreed to go to Rome and to accept the Papacy if freely elected thereto by the Roman people. He wished, at least, to rescue the See of Peter from its servitude to the German Emperors. When, in company with Hildebrand he reached Rome and presented himself to its people clad in pilgrim’s guise and barefooted but still tall and fair to look upon, they cried out with one voice that him and no other would they have as Pope. Assuming the name of Leo, he was solemnly enthronedon 12 February, 1049. Biography: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/saint-of-the-day-19-april-st-pope-leo-ix-1002-1954/
St Martha of Persia St Rufus of Melitene St Vincent of Collioure
Martyrs of Carthage – 17 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred in the persecutions of Decius. We know little more than the names – Aristo, Basso, Credula, Donato, Ereda, Eremio, Fermo, Fortunata, Fortunio, Frutto, Julia, Mappalicus, Martial, Paul, Venusto, Victorinus and Victor. Died in the year 250 in prison in Carthage, North Africa (modern Tunis, Tunisia).
AnaStpaul 
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