Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD

Thought for the Day – 28 August – The Examination of Conscience

Thought for the Day – 28 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Examination of Conscience

It is necessary and profitable, therefore, to end the day with an Examination of Conscience, made in the presence of God.
Entering into ourselves, we examine our thoughts, words and actions.
Examine also the motives behind our actions and see whether they have been distorted or really directed towards God.
Examine the sins we have committed, so that we may beg for pardon and form resolutions to do better.
See whether we have prayed fervently, or distractedly and half-heartedly.
See if we have co-operated with the graces and good inspirations which we have been given.
See if we have improved, or grown worse, in our efforts to do good.
See if we have been dissipated or close to God.

From a close examination of this kind, we shall draw an incitement to humility and repentance, in addition, to greater determination in the future.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/28/thought-for-the-day-28-february-the-examination-of-conscience/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/28/thought-for-the-day-28-february-the-examination-of-conscience-2/

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MERCY, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The ASCENSION of the LORD, The REDEMPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 28 August – St Augustine

Quote/s of the Day – 28 August – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Confessor, Great Western Father and Doctor of the Church

And He departed from our sight
that we might return to our hearts
and find Him there.
For He left us
and behold,
He is here!

Do not love your life in this world!
If you truly love yourselves,
do not thus love your life
and then, you will save your life!
”…

He asks for our faith and offers us salvation.
What He offers us, is so precious
that what He asks of us, is as nothing!

When once I shall be united to You
with my whole being,
I shall at last be free of sorrow and toil.
Then my life will be alive,
filled entirely with You.
When You fill someone,
You relieve him of his burdens
but because, I am not yet filled with You,
I am a burden to myself.
Lord, have mercy! Woe is me!
I make no effort to conceal my wounds.
You are my Physician, I Your Patient.
You are merciful; I stand in need of mercy!

Mary, having merited to give flesh
to the Divine Word
and thus, supply the price
of our redemption
that we might be delivered
from eternal death, therefore,
she is more powerful
than all others,
to help us gain eternal life.

MORE and MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/28/quote-s-of-the-day-28-august-st-augustine/

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, Quotes on SALVATION, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 August – I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

One Minute Reflection – 28 August – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Confessor, Great Western Father and Doctor of the Church – 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Matthew 5:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

I am not come to destroy but to fulfil.” – Matthew 5:17

REFLECTION – “The sacrifice of the lamb, the Passover rite and the letter of the Law have reached their term in Jesus Christ, in view of Whom, everything in the ancient Law took place – and, even more so, in the new dispensation. For the Law became the Word; from being old it became new … the commandments have been transformed into grace and the foreshadowing into Truth; the lamb has become the Son, the sheep has become man and man has become God. …

God, although He was the Lord, put on our humanity; He suffered for him, who was suffering, was bound for him, who was captive, was judged for the guilty, was buried for him, who was buried. He was raised from the dead and cried out in a loud voice: “If anyone wishes to oppose Me, let us appear together” (Is 50:8). It is I Who delivered the condemned man; I Who restored life to the dead; I Who raised up those in the grave. “Who disputes My right?” It is I, He says, I Who am the Christ, I Who destroyed death, Who triumphed over the enemy, Who bound the mighty enemy and carried off man to the heights of heaven; it is I, He says, Who am the Christ.

Come along then, every human family, full of sin as you are and receive the forgiveness of your sins. For I Myself am your forgiveness, I am the Passover of salvation, the Lamb slain for your sakes, your Redemption, Life and Resurrection; I am your Light, your Salvation and your King. It is I Who lead you to the heights of Heaven, I Who will raise you up; it is I Who will bring you to see the Father Who is from all eternity; it is I Who will raise you up by My all-powerful Hand.” – St Melito of Sardis (Died c180) Bishop of Sardis in Smyrna and Father of the Church [Paschal Homily (Passim)]

PRAYER – Give heed to our humble prayers, Almighty God and through the intercession of blessed Augustine, Thy Confessor and Bishop, kindly grant Thy oft-given mercy to those upon whom Thou bestows great hope in Thy forgiveness. 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 AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HEART

Our Morning Offering – 28 August – St Augustine’s O God, the House of My Soul is Narrow

Our Morning Offering – 28 August – St Augustine (354-430) – Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of Grace and Father

O God, the House of My Soul is Narrow
By St Augustine (354-430)
Father & Doctor of Grace

O God,
the Light of the heart, which sees Thee,
The Life of the soul, which loves Thee,
The Strength of the mind, which seeks Thee,
May I ever continue to be steadfast in Thy love.
Be the Joy of my heart,
Take all of me to Thyself and abide therein.
The house of my soul is, I confess,
too narrow for Thee.
Enlarge it, that Thou may enter.
It is ruinous but do repair it.
It has within it what must offend Thine Eyes,
I confess and know it,
But whose help shall I seek in cleansing it
but Thine alone?
To Thee, O God, I cry urgently.
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep me from false pride and sensuality,
that they may not get dominion over me.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 28 August – St Hermes of Rome (Died c130) Martyr, Layman.

Saint of the Day – 28 August – St Hermes of Rome (Died c130) Martyr, Layman. Patronages – Acquapendente, Italy and Forte dei Marmi, Lucca, Italy. Also known as – Ermete.

Little information has descended to us and what we know, from various sources, is often in conflict with each other.

The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Rome, the birthday of St Hermes, an illustrious man who, as we read in the Acts of the blessed Pope Alexander, was first confined in prison and afterwards, ended his Martyrdom by the sword, under the Judge, Aurelian.

Saint Hermes is the figure in the back, in armour. Other Saints pictured include Saint James the Great, Saint Joseph, Saint Ghislain and Saint Eligius.

We believe that Hermes was a wealthy freed Roman slave. His brother, St Theodore was also a Martyr. A Catacomb in the Salesian Way bears his name.

Butler’s Lives of the Saints writes of him:
He suffered at Rome in the persecution of the Emperor Adrian about the year 132. His tomb on the Salarian Way was ornamented by Pope Pelagius II and his name is famous in the ancient western Martyrologies.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, SAINT of the DAY

St Augustine (354-430) and all the Saints for 28 August

StAdelindis of Buchau
St Agnes of Cologne
St Alexander of Constantinople
St Ambrose of Saintes

St Anthes of Salerno

St Facundinus of Taino
St Felix of Venosa
St Fortunatus of Salerno
St Gaius of Salerno
St Gorman of Schleswig
St Hermes of Rome (Died c132) Martyr
Bl Hugh More
Bl James Claxton
St Januarius of Venosa
St Julian of Auvergne

St Pelagius of Istria
St Restitutus of Carthage
St Rumwold the Prince
St Septiminus of Venosa

St Vivian of Saintes
Bl William Dean