Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS

Novena in Honour of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – DAY FIVE – 3 December

Novena in Honour of the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary

THE FIFTH DAY – 3 December
Hail Mary! Full of Grace

A simple short Novena DAY FIVE here (which also attracts Indulgences):
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/03/immaculate-conception-novena-day-five-3-december/
NOTE on Indulgences HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/29/novena-in-honour-of-the-immaculate-conception-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-day-one-29-november/

PREPARATORY PRAYER:
In thy conception, O Virgin Mary,
thou wast immaculate;
pray for us to the Father, Whose Son Jesus,
conceived in thy womb by the Holy Ghost,
thou didst bring forth.

Indulgence. 200 days, every time. (Pius VI, 21 November

MEDITATION:
Man’s relationship to God, as His child, was severed by sin. The beautiful image of God imprinted on man’s soul, was disfigured by it. But with the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a being full of grace, an object of God’s supreme complacency, entered this world.
After the lapse of four thousand years God, in His wisdom, power, and love, for the first time again created a human being, in that state, in which He had originally created our first parents. Mary, from the first moment of her existence was, in virtue of the sanctifying grace, infused into her soul, most intimately united with God and endowed with the most precious gifts of Heaven.
Because she was predestined to become the Mother of the Redeemer of mankind, it was fitting that she should unite in herself all the gifts becoming to such an ineffable dignity. Hence, she surpassed in grace and holiness, all other created beings and was Consecrated a worthy temple of the Incarnate Word. Therefore, she was saluted by the Angel as “full of grace” and the Church, in our behalf, addresses the Almighty: “O God, Who through the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for Thy Divine Son; grant that, as in view of the death of that Son ,Thou didst preserve her from all taint, so Thou wouldst vouchsafe unto us that, cleansed from all sin by her intercession, we too may arrive at Thine eternal glory.”

PRACTICE:
The world considers men according to their rank and station, their wealth and knowledge.
God recognises in them but one difference, that caused by the presence or absence of sanctifying grace in their soul. A soul in the state of sanctifying grace is God’s friend; without it, His enemy. A man dying in the state of sanctifying grace is sure of eternal bliss.
Therefore, we ought to prize this grace, above all else and do everything in our power, to preserve it.
St Leo exhorts us, “Recognise, O man, thy dignity! As thou hast received Divine grace, beware of returning to your former sinful condition by a wicked life!”

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH:
O God, Who through the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place
for Thy Divine Son; grant that, as in view of Thy Son,
Thou didst preserve her from all taint,
so Thou wouldst vouchsafe unto us
that cleansed from all sin by her intercession,
we too may arrive at Thine eternal glory.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER:
Mary, bright moon of purity,
I rejoice with thee
because, the mystery of thy Immaculate Conception
was the beginning of salvation for the race of man
and the joy of the whole world.
I thank and bless the ever-blessed Trinity,
Who thus did magnify and glorify thee
and I beg of thee,
to obtain for me the grace,
so to profit by thy dear Son’s Passion and Death,
that His Most Precious Blood
may not have been shed upon the Cross in vain
but that, after a holy life,
I may reach Heaven in safety.

Hail Mary, Glory be … etc.

Posted in LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on HERESY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SACRIFICE

Thought for the Day – 3 December – The Salvation of Souls

Thought for the Day – 3 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Salvation of Souls

“Remember the countless conversions effected by the Saints as a result of their prayers, mortifications and heroic sacrifices.
No-one can call himself a Christian who does not love, in a practical manner, his fellowmen, especially unfortunate heretics and sinners.

Make up your mind, to offer your prayers and sacrifices for their conversion.
Include them in your daily offering, daily Mass and daily Rosary too.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/07/thought-for-the-day-7-july-the-salvation-of-souls/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/07/thought-for-the-day-7-july-the-salvation-of-souls-2/

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on FRIENDSHIP, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Quote/s of the Day – 3 December – St Francis Xavier

Quote/s of the Day – 3 December – St Francis Xavier SJ (1506-1552) Confessor

Following the Baptisms,
the new Christians return to their homes
and come back with their wives and families,
to be, in their turn, prepared for Baptism.
After all had been Baptised,
I order that the temples of the false Gods
be demolished and idols
destroyed.
I know not how to describe, in words,
the joy I feel before the spectacle
of demolishing and destruction of the idols
by the very people, who formerly worshipped them
!”

(Letter dated 8 February 1545)

The better friends you are,
the straighter you may speak
but while you are only on nodding terms,
be slow to scold.

Speak to them of the great mercy of God.
… Sometimes people are assisted
by you speaking of your own
lamentable past.

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/03/quote-s-of-the-day-3-december-st-francis-xavier-4/

St Francis Xavier (1506-1552)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD, SAINT of the DAY, The KINGDOM of GOD, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 December – … Know that the Kingdom of God is near. – Luke 21:29-31

One Minute Reflection – 3 December –The First Sunday of Advent – St Francis Xavier SJ (1506-1552) Confessor – Romans 13:11-14; Luke 21:25-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Look at the fig tree and all the trees, when they produce their fruit you know that summer is near. So too, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.” – Luke 21:29-31

REFLECTION – “Look at the fig tree and all the trees, when they produce their fruit you know that summer is near. So too, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.He means that just as the coming of summer is recognised by the fruit on the trees, so is the nearness of the Kingdom of God recognised by the destruction of the world. These words show that the fruit of the world is destruction – it increases only to fall, it produces, only to destroy by its disasters whatever it produces. The Kingdom of God is aptly compared to summer, because it is then that the clouds of our sorrow pass away and the days of life shine with the brightness of the Eternal Sun. …

Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will not pass away.” Nothing among material realities is more lasting than the heavens and the earth and nothing among realities, passes away, as quickly as an utterance. … Therefore, the Lord declares: “Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will not pass away.” He means: “Nothing that is lasting in your world lasts for eternity without change and everything that in Me, is perceived as passing away, is kept firm, without passing away. My utterance, which passes away, expresses thoughts that endure without change.” …

Therefore, my friends, do not love what you see cannot long exist. Keep in mind the Apostle John’s precept, in which he counsels us not “to love the world or the things in the world because, if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn 2:15). – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermons on the Gospels No 1 )

PRAYER – O God, Thou Who were pleased to gather into Thy Church the peoples of the Indies by the preaching and miracles of blessed Francis, mercifully grant that we, who honour his glorious merits, may also imitate the example of his virtues. 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 CHRIST the KING, Gerard MANLEY HOPKINS SJ, GOD ALONE!, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 3 December – I Love Thee, God, I Love Thee By St Francis Xavier

Our Morning Offering – 3 December – The Memorial of St Francis Xavier SJ (1506-1552) Confessor

I Love Thee, God, I Love Thee
By St Francis Xavier (1506-1552)

Translated by Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ (1844-1889)

I love Thee, God, I love Thee—
Not out of hope for Heaven for me
Nor fearing not to love and be
in the everlasting burning.
Thou, my Jesus, after me
Didst reach Thine arms out dying,
For my sake suffered nails and lance,
Mocked and marred countenance,
Sorrows passing number,
Sweat and care and cumber,
Yea and death and this for me,
And Thou could see me sinning.
Then I, why should not I love Thee,
Jesu so much in love with me?
Not for Heaven’s sake, not to be
Out of hell by loving Thee,
Not for any gains I see,
But just the way that Thou didst me
I do love and will love Thee.
What must I love Thee, Lord, for then?
For being my King and God.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 3 December – Saint Mirocles (Died c316) Confessor, Bishop

Saint of the Day – 3 December – Saint Mirocles (Died c316) Confessor, the 6th Bishop of Milan from before 313 to c316.. Mirocles was one of the originators of the Ambrosian Liturgy and Chant. His life and works were praised by Saint Ambrose. Unknown birth date butit is thought he was born in Pavia, Italy – he died in Milan on 30 November c316 of natural causes. Also known as – Merocles, Mirocle, Mirocleto.

The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Milan, St Mirocles, Confessor and Bishop, sometimes mentioned by St Ambrose.

Almost nothing is known about the life of Mirocles. He was elected as the Bishop of Milan before 313 and he reigned until his death in c316. He perhaps was born to a family of Pavia, of which family St Epiphanius would be born over 100 years later as his relative on his mother’s side.

Mirocles was the Bishop of Milan when, in 313, the Emperors Constantine I and Licinius, issued the Edict of Milan which proclaimed the religious toleration in the Roman Empire. After the Edict of Milan, Mirocles started the erection of the Basilica, which was the first Cathedral of the City and, was built on the same site as that occupied today, by the present Cathedral of Milan.

Sources record, the presence of Mirocles at the Lateran Council held in October 313 in Rome, under Pope Miltiades, which took a stand in the Donatism heresy, condemning Donatus Magnus charged to re-baptising those who had lapsed and which sided with Caecilianus, the Bishop of Carthage. Mirocles participated also in the following Council of all the Western Bishops held in Arles on 1 August 314, which confirmed the condemnation of Donatus and ruled in matters regarding Canon Law.

Mirocles possibly also founded the Church of San Vittore al Corpo in Milan (rebuilt many times during the next Centuries) in honour of Saint Victor Maurus, who was Martyred during the terrors of the reign of Emperor Diocletian in c303.

Mirocles died on the 30 November of about 316 but his Feast day was set on 3 December. His body was buried in Milan in the Church of San Vittore al Corpo.

Altar and Sepulchre of St Mirocles
Posted in JESUIT SJ, MARIAN TITLES, MARTYRS, SAINT of the DAY

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, Vergine di Montesanto / Our Lady of the Holy Mountain, Rome (1659)

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

St Abbo of Auxerre
St Abran
St Agapius
St Agricola of Pannonia
St Anthemius of Poitiers
St Attalia of Strasbourg
Bl Bernard of Toulouse OP Martyr

St Cassian of Tangiers
St Claudius of Africa
St Claudius the Martyr
St Crispin of Africa
St Edward Coleman
St Eloque of Lagny

St Ethernan
St Hilaria the Martyr
St Jason the Martyr
St John of Africa
St Lucius, King
St Lucy the Chaste
St Magina of Africa
St Mamas
St Marcos García Rodríguez
St Maurus the Martyr
St Mirocles (Died c316) Confessor, Bishop of Milan from before 313 to c316.
St Seleucus
St Stephen of Africa
St Theodore of Alexandria
St Theodulus of Edessa
St Veranus
Zephaniah the Prophet