Thought for the Day – 23 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
“Month of the Holy Rosary” “Forgive Us Our Debts”
“Finally, we owe God a great deal on account of our sins. Unfortunately, our only return for God’s continual favours, has been negligence, ingratitude and sin! How many failings we have been guilty of throughout our lives? Since it is an offence against God, Who is infinitely good and amiable, even venial sin cannot properly be atoned for by the merits of all the Angels and of all the Saints of Heaven. Therefore, it was necessary for the Son of God, made Man, to offer Himself as a Victim of Expiation, on our behalf.
Remembering His infinite merits, we should humbly ask God – ‘forgive us our debts.‘ that is, our many sins and failings and, whatever punishment is owing to us, for every sin demands some expiation, either in this life or in the next!
Meanwhile, we should accept, with resignation, all the sufferings which God sends us in reparation for our sins and, we should promise never to offend Him again.”
Quote/s of the Day – 23 October – St Anthony Mary Claret CMF (1807-1870) Archbishop and Founder of the Claretians
“Christian perfection consists in three things: praying heroically, working heroically and suffering heroically.”
“I shall be kind to everyone, particularly to those whom I find troublesome.”
“Although the sinner does not believe in Hell, he will, nevertheless, go there, if he has the misfortune to die in mortal sin.”
I Wish to Love Thee, My God By St Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870)
I wish to love Thee, my God, with all my heart, with all my being, with all my strength. I consecrate to Thee, my thoughts, desires, words and actions, whatever I have and whatever I can be. Let me use what I have for Thy greater honour and glory, according to Thy will. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 23 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Ferial Day – Ephesians 6:10-17, Matthew 18:21-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Should you not have had compassion on your fellow servant, as I had compassion on you?” …Matthew 18:33
REFLECTION – “What is human mercy like? It makes you concerned for the hardship of the poor. What is divine mercy like? It forgives sinners… In this world God is cold and hungry in all the poor, as He Himself said (Mt 25:40)… What sort of people are we? When God gives, we want to receive, when He asks, we refuse to give? When a poor man is hungry, Christ is in need, as He said Himself: “I was hungry and you gave me no food” (v. 42). Take care not to despise the hardship of the poor, if you would hope, without fear, to have your sins forgiven… What He receives on earth He returns in heaven.
I put you this question, dearly beloved – what is it you want, what is it you are looking for, when you come to Church? What indeed if not mercy? Show mercy on earth and you will receive mercy in Heaven. A poor man is begging from you and you are begging from God, he asks for a scrap, you ask for eternal life! … And so, when you come to Church, give whatever alms you can to the poor, in accordance with your means.” – St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) (Sermon 25).
PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, graciously grant Thou faithful, forgiveness and peace that they may be cleansed of all sin and serve Thee with minds free from care. 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 – 23 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Monday: a day of veneration of the Holy Angels
Angel of God, My Guardian Dear
Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
O Angel of God!
O Angel of God, whom God hath appointed to be my Guardian, enlighten and protect, direct and govern me. Amen.
(Indulgence of one hundred days each time. Plenary once a month if said daily)
Saint of the Day – 23 October – Saint Severinus of Cologne (c330-c400) the third Bishop of Cologne, Confessor, Defender of the Faith against heretics, Miracle-worker. He heard about the death of St Martin of Tours by the message of Angels’ voices. He founded a Monastery in honour of the Martyrs, Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, which is nowadays the Basilica of St. Severinus. Born in Bordeaux, France and died in c400 of natural causes. Patronages – of Cologne, of weavers, for rain, against natural misfortunes and drought.Also known as – Severin, Severino.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Bordeaux, St Severinus, Bishop of Cologne and Confessor.”
Severinus was taking a walk in a field while still a Priest when he heard a voice tell him he would one day be appointed as the Bishop of Cologne. When he asked when that would happen, he was told when his staff produced buds and flowers. Immediately, he ‘planted’ his staff into the ground, it budded and he was called to Cologne.
The arrival of St Severinus
There are only two written sources which provide clues about Severinus’ life and tenure – ‘The Cologne Bishops’ Lists,‘ which have been created in the early Middle Ages, list him as the third incumbent after St Maternus and St Euphrates.
Furthermore, Saint Severinus is remembered as a great opponent of the spread of the heretical Christological doctrine developed by the Monk and theologian, Arius, commonly called Arianism and condemned in 325 by the Council of Nicaea.
Around 580, Bishop St Gregory of Tours (Episcopate 573-594). also describes the life of his predecessor, St Martin, who died in 396 or 397. It mentions Martin’s death and his soul’s ascension into Heaven, which the Cologne Bishop Severinus experienced in a vision, when he visited the holy sites of his Episcopal City of Cologne with Clerics. From this miraculous record, it can be concluded that Severinus was the Bishop in Cologne at the time of St Martin of Tours’ death. The image below shows one of the many miracles of St Severinus – raising a man from the dead, although we have no account of this great prodigy.
A miracle of St Severinus – the resurrection of a man from the dead
From his death, St Severinus was highly venerated in Cologne. The shrine of St Severinus, built in 1819, is raised in the rear area of the High Choir. In it are the bones of the Saint. Furthermore, a Crucifixsbelonging to our Saint, is preserved in the Church..
In 1999, a reconnaissance of his remains was carried out, during which a document was confirmed which asserts the transfer of the bones of Saint Severino by Bishop Wigfried of Cologne (924-953).
Cologne Cathedral Image by Matt Stenvert August 2023
Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer – The Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Catholic Liturgical Feast. It is celebrated in Venice as the Festa del Redentore. It is also celebrated by the Redemptorists and was celebrated in the City of Rome. The Feast is found only in the special calendar of some Diocese and religious Orders and is celebrated with proper Mass and Office either on the third Sunday of July or on 23 October. https://anastpaul.com/2019/10/23/the-feast-of-the-most-holy-redeemer-23-october/
St Anthony Mary Claret CMF (1807-1870) Known as “The Spiritual Father of Cuba.” In the first years, records show, that he Confirmed 100,000 people and performed 9,000 Sacramental Marriages.Archbishop of Cuba, one of the Fathers of the First Vatican Council,Confessor to the Queen of Spain, Missionary, Founder of the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commonly called the Claretians, Confessor, Mystic, Social Reformer, Spiritual Director, Writer, Publisher, Preacher, Apostle of Charity. He was declared venerable by Pope Leo XIII in 1899. He was Beatified in 1934 and in 1950, Canonised by Pope Pius XII. His heart is incorrupt. The 1969 revision of the calendar moved St Anthony Feast to the day of his death, 24 October (from the 23rd) but the 24th is and had been the Feast of Saint Raphael the Archangel since 1921. About St Anthony Mary here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/saint-of-the-day-24-october-st-anthony-mary-claret-1807-1870-cmf/
St Amo of Toul St Arethas of Negran St Benedict of Sebaste St Clether St Domitius St Elfleda St Ethelfleda Sts Germanus and Servandus of Cadiz St Gratien of Amiens Bl Henry of Cologne OP (Died 1225) Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, one of the first Disciples of St Dominic St Ignatius of Constantinople
St Severinus of Cologne (c330-c400)Bishop Confessor
St Syra of Faremoutiers St Theodoret of Antioch Blessed Thomas Thwing Priest Martyr Beatified on 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI St Verus of Salerno
Martyrs of Nicaea – 3 Saints Euerotas Socrates Theodota
Martyrs of Valenciennes – 6 Beati: A group of Urusuline and Briggittine nuns murdered together in the anti-Christian excesses of the French Revolution. They were guillotined on 23 October 1794 in Valenciennes, Nord, France and Beatified on 13 June 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. Anne-Joseph Leroux Clotilde-Joseph Paillot •Jeanne-Louise Barré Marie-Augustine Erraux Marie-Liévine Lacroix Marie-Marguerite-Joseph Leroux
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