Thought for the Day – 29 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Our Frequent Lapses
“There is a golden rule which we should always remember as it will be helpful to us in fighting temptation and in resisting discouragement. It is simply this: As long as we implore God’s grace and do all we can and ought, in order to withstand the onslaught of temptation, God will do the rest!
If God, nevertheless, allows us to fall, this will be in order to humble us and to make us understand, more clearly that we can do nothing without Him. When we fall, moreover, we may be certain that in His infinite goodness, He will accept our repentance and forgive us.”
Quote/s of the Day – 29 December – St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170) Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury
“Who shall resist Anti-Christ when he comes, if we show such patience towards the vices and crimes of his precursors? By such leniency, we encourage kings to become tyrants and tempt them to withdraw every privilege and all jurisdiction from the Churches!”
“My hopes are laid up within my own bosom, for he is not alone, with whom the Lord is; when he falls, he shall not be dashed to pieces, for the Lord sustains him in His Hand!”
“The more I loved the King, he more I opposed his injustice until his brow fell lowering upon me. He heaped calumny after calumny on my head and I chose to be driven out, rather than to subscribe.”
One Minute Reflection – 29 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170) Martyr – Hebrews 5:1-6, John 10:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“I am the Good Shepherd, I know My Own and My Own know Me.”- John 10:14
REFLECTION – “He shows in what manner a shepherd may be proved good and, He teaches that, he must be prepared to give up his life, fighting in defence of his sheep which was fulfilled in Christ. For man has departed from the love of God and fallen into sin and, because of this was, I say, excluded from the divine abode of paradise. And when he was weakened by that disaster, he yielded to the devil tempting him to sin and death, following that sin, he became the prey of fierce and ravenous wolves. But after Christ was announced as the True Shepherd of all men, He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16), fighting for us against that pack of inhuman beasts. He bore the Cross for us that by His own death, He might destroy death. He was condemned for us that He might deliver all of us, from the sentence of punishment – the tyranny of sin being overthrown by our faith -fastening to the Cross, the decree that stood against us, as it is written (Colossians 2:14).
Therefore, as the father of sin had, as it were, shut up the sheep in hell, giving them to death to feed on, as it is written in the Psalms (Ps. 48:16), He died for us, as truly Good and truly our Shepherd, so that the dark shadow of death is driven away, He might join us to the company of the blessed in Heaven and, in exchange for abodes which lie far in the depths of the pit …grants us mansions in His Father’s House above. Because of this, He says to us in another place: Fear not, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you a Kingdom (Luke 12:32). Do you listen attentively to the Voice of the Good Shepherd and obey His Word? – ” – St Cyril of Alexander (376-444) Known as “The Pillar of Faith” Archbishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor of the Church. (Commentary on the Good Shepherd).
PRAYER – O God, for Whose Church Bishop Thomas, now in glory, fell by the swords of wicked men, grant, we beseech Thee, that the prayers of all who implore his assistanc, may be effective and may lead to salvation. 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 – 29 December – St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170) Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury
Please Lord, Make me Worthy! Prayer of Supplication and Repentance By St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170) Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury
My Lord, I find it difficult to talk to Thee. What can I say? I, who have turned away from Thee so often with indifference. I have been a stranger to prayer, undeserving of Thy friendship and love. I have been without honour and feel unworthy. I am a weak and shallow creature, clever only in the second-rate and worldly arts, seeking my comfort and pleasure. I gave my love, such as it was, elsewhere, putting service to my earthly King, before my duty to Thee. Please Lord, teach me how to serve Thee with all my heart, to know at last, what it really is, to love, to adore. So that I may worthily minister to Thine Kingdom, here on earth and find my true honour, in observing Thine divine will. Please Lord, make me worthy! Amen
Saint of the Day – 29 December – Saint Trophimus of Arles (Died c280) the first Bishop of Arles, Gaul (modern France), Missionary Patronages – against drought, of Arles, France, of children. Additional Memorial – 30 September (translation of Relics).
Stained glass window in the Church of the Monastery in Eschau
There is great confusion regarding this Saint, according to some traditions, he was previously the companion of the Apostle St Paul named by him in his Epistle . He was Ordained Bishop in Rome , then worked in the mission in southern France and became the Bishop of Arles, where he achieved great things. Some traditions report his martyrdom by beheading.
Statue in the Church of the Monastery in Eschau
In 417 the Roman Bishop, Zosimus gave Bishop Patroclus of Arles, metropolitan power, as the major Bishop in Gaul, thereby strengthening him in the disputes with the Diocese of Vienne and justifying this, with the fact that a certain St Trophimus had been the first to be sent from Rome to Gaul, namely to Arles – this was the first recorded mention of Trophimus. A letter from 19 Bishops from Gaul to Pope Leo I names Trophimus as a messenger from Peter and the Apostles and thus argued that Arles and not Vienne, had priority in Gaul.
St Caesarius of Arles mentioned Trophimus, St Gregory of Tours described him as one of the seven men sent from Rome on a mission to Gaul around 250. St Florus of Lyon included him in his martyrology, Ado of Vienne equated him with Paul’s student Trophimus .
Statue of St Trophimus at the Chapelle de Saint-Trophime, Buis-les-Baronnies.
In 972, Trophimus’ bones were transferred to the Cathedral in Arles which has been dedicated to him since 1060. Since the journey to the Sanctuary of St James in Santiago de Compostela often led through Arles, Trophimus became widely known and revered from the 12th Century onwards. A Monastery in Arles also bears his name.
St Girald of Fontenelle St Libosus of Vaga St Marcellus the Righteous St Martinian of Milan Bl Paul Mary Bl Peter the Venerable St Quartillosa of Carthage St Thaddeus of Scythia St Trophimus of Arles (Died c280) Bishop St Trophimus of Ephesus
Blessed William Howard (1614–1680) Martyr, Married Laymam and Father, 1st Viscount Stafford. William was the grandson of the Venerable Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, fifth son of Earl Thomas (the first great art collector of England) and Uncle of Thomas Philip – Cardinal Howard. Beatified on 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI. His Life and Death: https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/29/saint-of-the-day-29-december-blessed-william-howard-1614-1680-martyr/
Martyrs of North Africa – 8 Saints: A group of Christians executed together for their faith. The only details to survive are eight names – Crescentius, Dominic, Honoratus, Lybosus, Primian, Saturninus, Secundus and Victor.
Martyrs of Rome – 3 Saints: A group of Christians executed together for their faith. The only details to survive are three names – Boniface, Callistus and Felix.
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