Preparatory Prayer by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
O Mary, Virgin most Blessed and Mother of Our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ, through thy mercy I beseech thee, to come to my aid and to inspire me with such confidence in thy power that I may have recourse to thee, pray to thee and implore thy aid, in all needs of soul and body. Amen
Meditation:
Ancient legend relates that, led by Heaven, all the Apostles, except St Thomas, Wwho joined them a little later, assembled at the Blessed Virgin’s deathbed. After she had breathed forth her pure spirit, her sacred remains were prepared for the grave by wrapping the body in new white linen and decking it with flowers . Meanwhile ,the Apostles, assembled in another room, sang Psalms and Hymns, in praise of their departed Mother. The Apostles, all the disciples and the faithful dwelling in Jerusalem, followed the blessed remains to the grave chanting Psalms and Hymns. Arriving in the valley of Josaphat, the body was gently placed in a sepulcher of stone, not far from the Garden of Olives. After the entombment ,the Apostles and crowds of the faithful, lingered near the sacred spot in prayer, meditation and chanting of Psalms in which Angels’ voices were heard to mingle.
Practice: Join in spirit with the Apostles and faithful in their prayer and meditation at the grave of our Blessed Mother. Contemplate and review her whole life. Could a course like hers have terminated more appropriately than with so beautiful, painless and tranquil a passing away? Prepare yourself, even now, for your departure from this life. Do not postpone the settlement of your affairs, spiritual and temporal, until the last uncertain hours. Above all, remove now, or as soon as possible, all doubts, anxieties and irregularities of conscience because, delay is dangerous and leads to impenitence and because, in the last hours, the powers of hell usually assail the departing soul with all their might.
Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants that we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Novena Prayer: Day Two
Glorious Virgin, who for thy consolation didst deserve to die comforted by the sight of thy dear Son Jesus and in the company of the Apostles and Angels, pray for us, that at that awful moment we, too, may be comforted by receiving Jesus in the most holy Sacrament and may feel see nigh, when we breathe forth our soul. Obtain for me too, I beseech thee, this my special petition ……………….. Amen
Hail Mary …….
Ejaculation: Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation!
Indulgence . (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A Plenary Indulgence, once a month, on any day, to all who shall have said it everyday for a month, under the usual conditions.
Thought for the Day – 6 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Riches and Poverty
“In this matter, as in all others, we have a great deal to learn from the Saints. Not only did they give to the poor, whatever was superfluous to themselves but, they deprived themselves even of the necessities of life because they saw in their destitute fellowmen, the person of Jesus Christ.
They really loved their neighbour as themselves and, more than themselves, in fact, for the sake of the love og God. For this reason, they enjoyed clothing the naked and feeding the hungry whenever it was in their power to do so.
We may not be capable of doing exactly the same because we have not reached the same height of perfection, or have ourselves not the material means. But, we must remember that the precept to “give that which remains, as alms” applies also to us. If there is someone in grave need whom we have the means of helping, we are obliged to do so by the command of the Gospel. It is the same Gospel which warns us that if we fail to do so, the Divine Judge will, one day, condemn us!”
Quote/s of the Day – 7 August – St Cajetan (1480-1547) Confessor – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” –
“There is no road to Heaven but that of innocence or penance.”
Prayer for Peace to the Immaculate Virgin By Pope Paul IV CR (1476-1559)
Look down with maternal clemency, most Blessed Virgin, upon all your children. Consider the anxiety of Bishops who fear that their flocks will be tormented by a terrible storm of evils. Heed the anguish of so many people, fathers and mothers of families who are uncertain about their future and beset by hardships and cares. Soothe the minds of those at war and inspire them with ‘thoughts of peace.’ Through your intercession, may God, the avenger of injuries, turn to mercy. May He give back to nations the tranquility they seek and bring them to a lasting age of genuine prosperity. Amen
(Pope Paul IV was a friend of St Cajetan and also a member of his Order, the Theatines, named after Paul IV’s See as Bishop) .
One Minute Reflection – 7 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Cajetan (1480-1547) Confessor – Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“No man can serve two masters …” – Matthew 6:24
REFLECTION – “I firmly believe that you know the Kingdom of Heaven is promised and given, by the Lord, only to the poor (cf Mt 5:3) because, she who loves what is temporal, loses the fruit of love.
It is not possible to serve God and mammon, for either the one is loved and the other hated, or the one is served and the other despised; one clothed cannot fight another naked because she who has something to be caught hold of, is more quickly thrown to the ground: someone who lives in the glory of earth, cannot rule with Christ; it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (cf Mt 6:24).
Therefore, you have cast aside your garments, that is, earthly riches, so that instead of being overcome, by the one fighting against you, you will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven through the straight path and the narrow gate (cf Mt 7:13-14).” – St Clare OSC (1193-1252) Foundress of the Poor Clares (1st Letter to Saint Agnes of Prague 25-29).
PRAYER – O God, Who bestowed upon St Cajetan, Thy Confessor, the grace to follow the apostolic way of life; grant us we beseech Thee, by his intercession and example, ever to trust in Thee and to long only for the things of Heaven.Through the same 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 – 7 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”
Mary, Mother of Grace By St Athanasius (297-373) Father & Doctor of the Church
It becomes you to be mindful of us, as you stand near Him who granted you all graces, for you are the Mother of God and our Queen. Help us for the sake of the King, the Lord God and Master, Who was born of you. For this reason, you are called full of grace. Remember us, most holy Virgin, and bestow on us gifts from the riches of your graces, Virgin full of graces. Amen
Saint of the Day – 7 August – Saint Victricius (c339-407) Confessor, Bishop of Rouen from 393 until his death in 407, of natural causes by the will of God, Victricius narrowly escaped Martyrdom, Miracle-worker, friend of St Martin of Tours, St Ambrose and other great Father Saints. Also known as – Victricius of Rouen, Victrice, Vittricio. Patronage – against blindness, of the blind, of eye disorders.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Rouen, the holy Bishop St Victricius. Whilst he was yet a soldier under Julian the Apostate, he threw away his military belt for Christ and after being subjected, by the Tribunal to many torments, was condemned to capital punishment. But, the executioner who had been sent to put him to death, being struck blind and, the Confessor’s chains being loosened, he made his escape. Afterwards, being made Bishop, by preaching the word of God, he brought the barbarous people of Belgic Gaul, to the Faith of Christ and finally, died a Confessor in peace.”
Victricius was born in the first half of the 4th Century on the borders of the Roman Empire. His family was illustrious and Victricius studied humanities before enlisting in the army, like Saint Martin (of Tours), his future friend. He served there for several years, the Christian religion was then honoured in the Roman army. The old soldiers of the first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, told of the marvellous appearance of the Cross ofd Christ which had announced victory to them on the banks of the Tiber, when they were marching against the pagan army of Maxentius. From then on, the Cross had always been part of the Banners, ceremonial dress, stationery etc.
But, in 360, the son of Constantine, Constance, was succeeded, byJulian the Apostate. Julian, after having renounced the Christian Faith to return to the worship of idols, put great energy into fighting Christianity. We know that he wanted several times to force the soldiers of his army to offer sacrifices to idols. Because of this and also because his military time was coming to an end, Victricius wanted to leave the army and, henceforth, dedicate himself to the service of God.
One day during the military review, when the Colonel passed in front of him, Victricius came forward and said, throwing down his arms: “I am a Christian and I ask for my release because I now wish to dedicate myself to peace and Christian justice.” .
The Colonel was a pagan and took this action as a protest against the Emperor’s edicts. Immediately he had the soldier Victricius, our Saint, flogged and when he was nothing more than a wound, he was thrown into a dungeon where he remained lying on the floor for a long time. This did not reduce his faith, his courage and his trust in God and by his contual refusal to deny his Faith in Christ, he was condemned to death.
On the way to the place of execution, the executioner mocked his victim while tightly restraining Victricius by his neck. He said to Victricius: “We are going to cut off this head. What madness to allow oneself to be killed in this way, for a God Whom the Jews Crucified!” The poor man had not finished his blasheming when he was struck blind!
Another miracle followed closely on this one . The jailer had so tightened the chains that they entered the flesh of the condemned man. Victricius begged the soldiers, who accompanied him, to loosen them a little but they refused. Then he began to invoke aloud the help of Jesus Christ and immediately the chains fell off by themselves. Seized with amazement, the soldiers dared not kill a man whom the heavens was so visibly protecting. They re-traced their steps to tell this to the Colonel who, having observed the facts for himself, became Victricius’ friend and had him released.
Victricius, his freedom regained, left to train in a Monastery, it is believed in Ligugé, near Poitiers, under the direction of Saint Hilairy and Saint Martin. He became a great evangeliser in modern day Belgium. Many were converted and baptised by his preaching.
A few years later, he was appointed as the Archbishop of Rouen. There he established a deep affection with his co-Bishops – Saint Martin, Saint Ambrose, Saint Paulinus of Nola. There is still extant correspondence which testifies to this fraternal friendship.
One day, in Chartres, while Saint Martin was there accompanied by Victricius, an inhabitant brought his daughter, who was blind from birth, to the holy Bishop, begging him to heal her. “Speak to the Bishop of Rouen,” replied Saint Martin, “he is more capable than us of obtaining these marvels for you.” Making the Sign of the Cross on the eyes of the child, the Bishop of Tours yielded and the child was immediately healed
Victricius had just returned to his Diocese when Saint Ambrose announced to him that he was sending him various Relics. Victriciud hastened to seek out this great treasure. So hehad a new Church built in Rouen to honourably place these precious Relics. When this was done, he made a great speech in which he exhorted the people to consider the Martyrs as their protectors:
“We must,” he said, “devoutly embrace these precious remains of the tortures and seek there, like the woman at the fringe of the mantle of the Saviour, the healing of our wounds…. for me, a soldier tested by years, aged in battles, fatigue and vigils, I only value present life in its relationship with eternity and, I never think myself richer, than when my hands are laden with the Relics of Saints. … The dwelling place of these blessed ones is in Heaven but, they are here as guests, to whom we can take our prayers.”
And he declared again that the small fragments of their remains. as well as larger parts. can be the instrument of many miracles… In 404, Pope Innocent I addressed an important Decree to Victricius on various points of discipline, about which the Bishop of Rouen had consulted him. At the same time, he instructed him to communicate this letter to his colleague Bishops in the surrounding Diocese.
Saint Victricius died in 407, his tomb was a source of miracles and remains in great veneration in Rouen.
In the middle of the 9th Century, to save his Relics from the devastation of Norman pirates, they were transported to the fortified castle of Braine, four leagues from Soissons. They were kept there until the revolution, that is to say, in 1793 when, fortunately, they were able to escape destruction. But it was not until 1865 – on 16 and 17 October that Cardinal de Bonnechose, Archbishop of Rouen, transferred the Relics of Saint Victricicious into a beautiful gilded copper casing, decorated with enamels and fine stones.
St Albert of Trapani O.Carm. (c 1240-1307) Carmelite Priest, Confessor, Preacher, Evangeliser, apostle of prayer and a devout servant of the Blessed Virgin and the Passion of Christ. St Teresa of Jesus (1515-1582) and St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (1566-1607) were especially devoted to him, the Bl Baptist Spagnoli (1447–1516) composed a sapphic ode in his honour. His Life: https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/07/saint-of-the-day-7-august-saint-albert-of-trapani-o-carm-c-1240-1307/
Bl Cassian Vaz Lopez-Neto St Claudia of Rome St Donat St Donatian of Chalons-sur-Marne St Donatus of Besancon St Faustus of Milan St Hilarinus of Ostia St Hyperechios Bl Jordan Forzatei St Julian of Rome St Peter of Rome
Martyred Deacons of Rome – 6 Saints: A group of Deacons who were Martyred with Pope Saint Sixtus II. We know nothing about them but their names and their deaths – Agapitus, Felicissimus, Januarius, Magnus, Stephen and Vincent. They were beheaded on 6 August 258 in a cemetery on the Appian Way, Rome, Italy.
Martyrs of Como – 6 Saints: A group of Christian soldiers in the imperial Roman army. Martyred in the persecutions of Maximian. We know little else but the names – Carpophorus, Cassius, Exanthus, Licinius, Secundus and Severinus. c.295 on the north side of Lake Como, near Samolaco, Italy. Their relics in the church of San Carpoforo, Como, Italy.
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