Thought for the Day – 29 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
“Month of the Holy Rosary” “Mary, Our Hope”
“These expressions of confidence in Mary’s powerful intercession, should not lead us astray, however. They hold good with absolute certainty, only for those who have true devotion to Mary. Even if they are sinners, such clients of Mary, must have at least the good intention of changing their lives and never offending God again. Sin and sincere devotion to Our Lady, cannot co-exist! “Relinquish every intention of sinning.” St Gregory VII wrote to the Princess Matilde, “and you will find Mary more eager to help you than any earthly mother” (Lib 1, Ep 47).
We should ask, furthermore, for spiritual favours first of all. Later we can ask for temporal favours, if they are to our spiritual advantage.
Finally, if we are to have a true devotion to Mary, we must love and imitate her. as well as pray to her. Anyone who sincerely tries to do all this, is certain of salvation!”
Quote/s of the Day – 29 October – Christ the King – Colossians 1:12-20. John 18:33-37
“Wake up then, believer and note what is stated here: “In my Name.” That [Name] is Christ Jesus. Christ signifies King, Jesus signifies Saviour. Therefore, whatever we ask for that would hinder our salvation, we do not ask in our Saviour’s Name and yet, He is our Saviour, not only when He does what we ask but also, when He does not. When He sees us ask anything to the disadvantage of our salvation, He shows Himself our Saviour by not doing it. The physician knows whether what the sick person asks for, is to the advantage or disadvantage of his health. And [the physician] does not allow what would be harmful to him, although the sick person himself, desires it. But the physician looks to his final cure.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace of the Church
“The Kingdom of Heaven, says the Gospel, is like a mustard seed … Christ is the Kingdom of Heaven! Sown like a mustard seed in the garden of the Virgin’s womb, He grew up into the Tree of the Cross, whose branches, stretch across the world … Christ is the Kingdom because all the glory of His Kingdom, is within Him. Christ is a Man because all humanity is restored in Him. Christ is a Mustard Seed because the infinitude of Divine greatness, is accommodated to the littleness of flesh and blood!”
St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450) “Golden Words” Father & Doctor of the Church
Jesus is Our King By Estelle White (1925-2011) Convert, Musician, Hymnist.
Crown Him, the Virgin’s Son, The God Incarnate born, Whose arm those crimson trophies won Which now His brow adorn. Awake, my soul, and sing Of Him Who died for thee; And hail Him as thy glorious King Through all Eternity.
Crown Him, the Lord of Love; Behold His bands and side,– Rich wounds, still visible above In beauty glorified: No Angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bends His burning eye At mysteries so bright.
Crown Him, the Lord of Peace, Whose power a sceptre sways From pole to pole, that wars may cease, Absorbed in prayer and praise: His reign shall know no end, And round His pierced feet Fair flowers of Paradise extend Their fragrance ever sweet.
One Minute Reflection – 29 October – Christ the King – Colossians 1:12-20. John 18:33-37 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews …” – John 18:36
REFLECTION – “ Listen everyone, Jews and Gentiles… Listen all the kingdoms of the earth! I am not preventing you from ruling over this world, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” (Jn 18:36) So do not be afraid with that senseless fear which seized Herod when My birth was announced to him… “No,” the Savior says, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” May you not be made cruel by fear. It is true that the Son of God, speaking of the Father, says in a prophecy: “Through Him, I was established as King on Zion, His holy mountain.” (Ps 2:6) But that Zion and that mountain, are not of this world.
And what is His Kingdom? It is they who believe in Him, those to whom He says: “You are not of the world, just as I Am not of the world.” But He, nevertheless, wants them to be in the world; He prays to His Father: “I am not asking Thee to take them out of the world but, to protect them from the evil one.” (Jn 17:15) For He did not say: “My Kingdom is not in this world,” but rather: “It is not OF this world.If My Kingdom were OF this world, My followers would be fighting to keep Me from being handed over.”
For His Kingdom really is here on earth until the end of the world, until the harvest of weeds mingled with the good seed (Mt 13:24.)… ButHis Kingdom is not from here, for He is like a traveller in this world. To those over whom He reigns, He says: “You do not belong to the world but I have chosen you out of the world.” (Jn 15:19) So they did belong to this world when they were not yet His Kingdom and they belonged to the prince of this world (Jn 12:3)… All who are born of Adam’s sinful race belong to this world; all who were reborn in Jesus Christ belong to His Kingdom and no longer belong to this world.For “God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Col 1:13).” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace(Tractate 115 on the Gospel of John ) [Translated from the French].
PRAYER – Almighty and eternal God, Who willed to restore all things in Thy beloved Son, the King of the Universe, graciously grant that the peoples of the earth torn asunder by the wound of sin, may submit to His most gentle rule. Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 29 October – Christ the King
Alone With None but Thee, My God Attri. St Columban (543-615)
Alone with none but Thee, my God I journey on my way, what need I fear when Thou art near, O King of night and day? More safe am I within Thy hand than if a host should round me stand.
My destined time is known to Thee, and death will keep his hour; did warriors strong around me throng, they could not stay his power. No walls of stone can man defend when Thou Thy messenger dost send.
My life I yield to Thy decree and bow to Thy control in peaceful calm, for from Thine arm no power can wrest my soul, could earthly omens e’er appal a man that heeds the heavenly call?
The child of God can fear no ill, His chosen, dread no foe; we leave our fate with Thee and wait Thy bidding when to go, ’tis not from chance our comfort springs, Thou art our Trust, O King of kings.
Saint of the Day – 29 October – Saint Theodore of Vienne (Died c575) Priest, Monk, Founder Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Laurence , Recluse, Miracle-worker. Spiritual student of Saint Caesarius of Arles (470-542). Born in Arcisse, near Saint-Chef, Dauphiné, France and died in c575 in the Church of Saint Lawrence, in Vienne, France of natural causes. Also known as – Chef, Theudère, Theudar, Teuderio, Teodario, Theuderius, Theodorius.
The Roman Martyrology states: “At Vienne, the departure from this world of blessed Theodore, Abbot.”
Theodore, a young man of one of the best families of the City of Vienne, by the interior call of the Holy Ghost, forsook the world and. having long exercised himself in the most perfect practices of a monastic life. under the direction of Saint Cæsarius at Arles, returned to his own country and, being joined by several disciples, built for them first cells and afterwards a Monastery near the City of Vienne in Dauphine.
It was a custom in the most regular Monasteries that the Hebdomadarian Priest who celebrated the community Mass, spent the week in which he discharged that function, in the closest retirement in his cell and in holy contemplation and austere penance, both that he might be better prepared to offer daily, the tremendous Sacrifice, and that he might more faithfully, acquit himself of his mediatorship, between God and his people.
It was also a peculiar custom in the sixth Century at Vienne that a Monk was chosen, of whose sanctity the people entertained a high opinion, who should voluntarily lead the life of a recluse, being walled up in a cell and spending his whole time in fasting, praying and weeping, to implore the Divine mercy in favour of himself and his country. This practice would have been an abuse and superstition, if any person, relying on the prayers of others, were themselves more remiss in prayer or penance. Saint Theodore was chosen for this penitential state, which obligation he willingly took upon himself and discharged with so much fervour as to seem desirous to set no bounds to his tears and mortifications. An extraordinary gift of miracles made his name famous in the whole country.
Theodore died about the year 575 and was buried in the Monastery of Saint Laurence which he had founded. His Relics were translated to a collegiate Church of which he is the Titular Patron and which gives the name of Saint Chef to the Village where it stands, eight leagues from Vienne. This Saint is named in the Roman Martyrology.
Entrance to the Church of St Theodore
Saint Theodore is celebrated in the Diocese of Grenoble-Vienne on 29 October. The Village of Sainte-Chef was originally called Sainte-Theudère but the Village may be called Sainte-Chef today because of a tradition that the head (The French word ‘chef’ comes from Latin ‘caput’ [head]) of the Saint was kept there.
Christ the King: “Therefore, by our Apostolic authority, we appoint the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, annually, on the last Lord’s day in the Month of October, that is to say, on the Sunday which immediately precedes the Feast of All Saints, to be observed everywhere in the world. Likewise we enjoin, that the dedication of the human race to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be annually renewed upon that selfsame day.”
St Abraham of Rostov St Anne of Mount Olympus St Colman of Kilmacduagh St Dodone of Wallers-en-Fagne St Donatus of Corfu St Ermelinda of Meldaert St Eusebia of Bergamo St Felician of Carthage St Honoratus of Vercelli St John of Autun St Kennera St Mary of Edessa St Narcissus of Gerona
St Sigolinus of Stavelot St Stephen of Cajazzo St Terence of Metz St Theodore of Vienne (Died c575) Abbot St Zenobius of Sidon
Martyrs of Douai – 160 Saints and Beati: 160 Priests, Laymen and Religious who studied at the English College in Douai, France, then returned to minister to covert Catholics in England during a period of government persecution of the Church and were murdered for their work.
Martyrs of Lucania – 4 Saints: A group of Christians executed together for their faith. Only their names have survived – Felician, Hyacinth, Lucius and Quintus. Their Martyrdom occurred in Lucania, southern Italy.
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