Day: December 31, 2023

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES for the NEW YEAR, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on TIME, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD

Thought for the Day – 31 December – The Last Day of the Year

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 31 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Last Day of the Year

“After he had spent a night fishing in the lake of Galilee without having caught anything, St Peter was ordered by Jesus, to cast his nets back into the sea.
“Master” the future Apostle replied, “the whole night through, we have toiled and have taken nothing but at Thy word, I will lower the nets.”
This act of perfect confidence in Our Lord, was soon rewarded, for when the fishermen lowered the nets, “they enclosed a great number of fishes” (Lk 5:5-6).

Perhaps we have toiled hard and made many sacrifices during the past year.
But have we worked with and for Jesus Christ?
We may have thought more of ourselves than of Jesus and, as a result, achieved little or nothing in the spiritual life.

The remedy is clear.
We must remain close to Jesus, working with Him, in Him and for Him.
Then, He will bless and strengthen the good resolutions which we are about to make.
The secret of perfection is to live in constant union with Jesus Christ.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/31/thought-for-the-day-31-december-the-last-day-of-the-year/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/31/thought-for-the-day-30-december-the-last-day-of-the-year/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on TIME, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 31 December – Night and Day

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 31 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Sunday Within the Octave of Christmas – Galatians 4:1-7, Luke 2:33-40 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“She did not leave the temple,
serving with fastings and prayers,
night and day.”

Luke 2:37

“If, in holy Scripture, Christ is the true Sun and the true Day,
there is no hour when Christians
should not adore God frequently and constantly,
so that we, who are in Christ, that is,
in the true Sun and true Day,
should be persevering, throughout the whole day,
in our petitions and prayer.
And when, in the course of time,
the revolving night returns,
there can be no harm from the nocturnal shades,
for those who pray because, to the sons of Light (1 Thes 5:5),
even in the night there is day!
For when is he without light who has Light in his heart?
Or when does he not have sun and day
to whom Christ is Sun and Day?”

St Cyprian (200-258)
Martyr, Father of the Church

“Arm yourself with prayer
instead of a sword;
be clothed with humility
instead of fine raiment.”

St Dominic (1170-1221)

“If you want God to hear your prayers,
hear the voice of the poor.
If you wish God to anticipate your wants,
provide for those of the need,
without waiting for them to ask you.
Especially, anticipate the needs
of those, who are ashamed to beg.
To make them ask for alms,
is to make them buy it!”

St Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555)

“It is best to learn
to silence the faculties
and to cause them to be still,
so that God may speak!”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Doctor of the Church

“The chief exercise of prayer,
is to speak to God
and to hear God speak
in the bottom of our heart.”

(Treatise on the Love of God
Book 6 Chapter 1)

“The sacred gift of prayer
is already in the Right Hand of the Saviour;
as soon as ever you shall have emptied yourself of self,
He will pour it into your heart!”

(Letters to Persons in Religion III 19)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on WATCHING, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 31 December – ‘ … For when is he without light, who has Light in his heart? …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 31 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas and the Memorial of St Pope Sylvester I (Died 335) – Galatians 4:1-7, Luke 2:33-40 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“She did not leave the temple, serving with fastings and prayers, night and day.”- Luke 2:37

REFLECTION – “If in holy Scripture Christ is the true Sun and the true Day, there is no hour when Christians should not adore God frequently and constantly, so that we, who are in Christ, that is, in the true Sun and true Day, should be persevering, throughout the whole day, in our petitions and prayer. And when, in the course of time, the revolving night returns, there can be no harm from the nocturnal shades, for those who pray because, to the sons of Light (1 Thes 5:5), even in the night there is day! For when is he without light, who has Light in his heart? Or when does he not have sun and day, to whom Christ is Sun and Day?

Let us, therefore, who are always in Christ, Who is in the Light, not cease praying even in the night. In this way, the widow Anna, always petitioning and watching, without a break, persevered in prayer, as it is written in the Gospel: “She did not leave the temple, serving with fastings and prayers night and day.”… Let no sloth or carelessness prevent us from praying. Let us, who, by God’s mercy, have been recreated spiritually and reborn in the Spirit, imitate what we are destined to be. We are to inhabit a Kingdom … where the Day will shine without setting, therefore, let us be just as alert at night as in the day. Destined to pray and give thanks to God in Heaven, let us not cease here also, to pray and to give thanks always.” – St Cyprian (200-258) Bishop of Carthage and Martyr, Father of the Church (On the Our Father).

PRAYER – Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercession of blessed Sylvester thy Confessor and Sovereign Pontiff, whom thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church. 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 CARMELITES, CHRISTMAS Prayers & Hymns, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The DIVINE INFANT

Our Morning Offering – 31 December – O Jesus, Dear Holy Child By St Thérèse of the Child Jesus

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 31 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” –Sunday Within the Octave of Christmas

O Jesus, Dear Holy Child
By St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873 – 1897)

O Jesus,
dear Holy Child,
my only treasure,
I abandon myself to Thy every whim.
I seek no other joy
than that of calling forth Thy sweet Smile.
Vouchsafe to me, the graces and the virtues
of Thy Holy Childhood,
so that, on the day of my birth into Heaven,
the Angels and Saints
may recognise in Thy Spouse,
Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
Amen

Posted in Of BEGGARS, the POOR, against POVERTY, PATRONAGE - ORPHANS,ABANDONED CHILDREN, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 31 December – Saint Zoticus of Constantinople (Died c350) Priest

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Saint of the Day – 31 December – Saint Zoticus of Constantinople (Died c350) Priest, known as “The Feeder of Orphans,” possibly a Martyr. Patronages – of the poor and of orphans. Nickname: “Orphanotrophos” the one who feeds orphans. Name means: Z: the man full of life (Greek) and O: the orphan carer (Greek).

Originally from Rome, he journeyed to Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey) when it became the capital city of the Empire under Constantine the Great (r. 324-337). There he founded a hospital for the poor and defended orthodox Christianity before the pro-Arian Emperor Constantius II (r. 641-668).

Some traditions declare him a Martyr due to the above defiance of the Arian Enmperor but the Roman Martyrology does not define him as a Martyr. It says: “The same day, St Zoticus, Roman Priest, who went to Constantinople and took upon himself the care of orphans.”

Zoticus is revered as the founder of Byzantium ‘s first Orphanage

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Sunday Within the Octave of Christmas, Santa María la Real de Uxue / Our Lady of Uxue, Spain (8th Century), St Pope Sylvester I (Died 335) and the Saints for 31 December

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Sunday Within the Octave of Christmas

New Year’s Eve

Santa María la Real de Uxue / Our Lady of Uxue, Spain (8th Century) – 31 December:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/31/the-seventh-day-of-the-octave-of-christmas-santa-maria-la-real-de-uxue-our-lady-of-uxue-uxue-spain-8th-century-and-memorials-of-the-saints-31-december/

St Pope Sylvester I (Died 335) Papal Ascension 314. Bishop of Rome, Confessor.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/12/31/saint-of-the-day-st-pope-sylvester-i-died-335/

St Columba of Sens (c 256-273) Virgin Martyr.
The Roman Martyrology states: “At Sens in Lugdunense Gaul, now in France, Saint Colomba, Virgin and Martyr.”
Her Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/31/saint-of-the-day-31-december-saint-columba-of-sens-c-256-273-virgin-martyr/

Bl Dominic de Cubells
St Donatus of Rome
St Eustadius of Bourges
St Festus of Valencia
St Gelasius of Palestine
Bl Giuseppina Nicoli
St Hermes the Exorcist

Saint Marius Aventicus (c 530-594) Bishop of Avenches in Switzerland, a Chronicler (or Historian), Scholar and a skilled Goldsmith, in fact he crafted all the Sacred Vessels for his See.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/31/saint-of-the-day-31-december-saint-marius-aventicus-c-530-594-bishop/

St Melania the Younger (c 383-439) Foundress, Desert Hermit, Wife, Mother, Widow.
Her Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/31/saint-of-the-day-31-december-saint-melania-the-younger-c-383-439/

St Offa of Benevento
St Peter of Subiaco
St Pinian
St Potentian of Sens
St Sabinian of Sens
St Theophylact of Ohrid
St Walembert of Cambrai
St Wisinto of Kremsmünster
St Zeno of Rome
St Zoticus of Constantinople (Died c350) Priest

Martyrs of Catania – 10 Saints: A group of early Christians Martyred together, date unknown. The only other information to survive are ten of their names – Attalus, Cornelius, Fabian, Flos, Minervinus, Pontian, Quintian, Sextus, Simplician and Stephen. They were martyred in Catania, Sicily, Italy.

Martyrs of Rome – 10 Saints: A group of Roman women Martyred in an early persecution, date unknown. We known the names of ten of them – Dominanda, Donata, Hilaria, Nominanda, Paolina, Paulina, Rogata, Rustica, Saturnina and Serotina.  Their relics were enshrined in the catacombs of Via Salaria, Rome, Italy.