Day: January 21, 2024

Posted in GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 21 January – Of the Exercise of the Will (Part Three)

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Thought for the Day – 21 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

The Third Weapon
of the Spiritual Combat

X: … Of the Exercise of the Will and the End to
which all our Actions, whether Interior
or Exterior, Should Tend (Part Three)

“… For he, who acts only as moved by God and with a view to please Him alone, desires not one thing above another.
He wishes only to have, what it pleases God he should have and, at the time and in the way which may be most agreeable to Him and, whether he have it or not, he is equally tranquil and content because, in either case, he obtains his wish and fulfils his intention which is, nothing else but simply, to please God.

Therefore, recollect yourself seriously and be careful always, to direct every action to this perfect end.

And although the bent of your natural disposition should move you to do good through fear of the pains of hell or hope of the joys of paradise, you may even here ,set before you, as your ultimate end, the will and pleasure of God, Who is pleased that you should enter into His Kingdom and not into hell.
It is not in man, fully to apprehend the force and virtue of this motive; — for the most insignificant action, done with a view to please God alone and for His sole glory, is (if we may so speak) of infinitely greater value than many others, of the greatest dignity and importance, done without this motive.
Hence a single penny given to a poor man, with the sole desire to please His Divine Majesty, is more acceptable to God, than the entire renunciation of all earthly goods — for any other end, even for the attainment of the bliss of Heaven; an end in itself, not only good but supremely to be desired.

This exercise of doing all things with the single aim to please God alone, seems difficult at first but, will become simple and effortless by practice, if, with the warmest affections of the heart, we desire God alone and long for Him as our only and most perfect good; Who deserves that all creatures should seek Him for Himself and serve Him and love Him above all things.

The deeper and more continual our meditations are upon His infinite excellence, the more fervent and the more frequent will be these exercises of the will and we shall thus, acquire more easily and more speedily, the habit of performing every action from pure love for that gracious Lord, Who alone is worthy of our reverence and love.

Lastly, in order to achieve the attainment of this divine motive, I advise you to seek it of God by importunate prayer and to meditate frequently upon the innumerable benefits which He, of His pure and disinterested love, has bestowed upon us.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/01/19/thought-for-the-day-19-january-of-the-exercise-of-the-will-part-one/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/01/20/thought-for-the-day-20-january-of-the-exercise-of-the-will-part-two/

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, St Francis de Sales, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 21 January – It is in the heart …

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Quote/s of the Day – 21 January – St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr – Romans 12:16-21; Matthew 8:1-13 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy
to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word
and my servant will be healed.”

Matthew 8:8

“By viewing himself as unworthy,
he showed himself worthy,
for Christ to come,
not merely into his house
but also into his heart.”

“For the Master of humility,
both by word and example,
sat down also, in the house
of a certain proud Pharisee, Simon
and although He sat down in his house,
there was no place in his heart.
For in his heart.
the Son of Man could not lay His head.”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

“The obedience of the Star
calls us to imitate its humble service:
to be servants, as best we can,
of the grace which invites all men
to find Christ.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“To receive the grace of God
into our hearts,
we ought to empty them
of our own glory.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

“Keep your heart in peace
and let nothing trouble you,
not even your faults.
You must humble yourself
and amend them peacefully,
without being discouraged or cast down,
for God’s dwelling, is in peace.”

St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WATCHING, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 January –  “Many will come … ” – Matthew 8:11

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One Minute Reflection – 21 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr – Romans 12:16-21; Matthew 25:1-13 –Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Many will come from the east and the west and will recline… at the banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven” – Matthew 8:11

REFLECTION – “I have seen our Lord in the Gospel accomplish many miracles and, reassured by them, have strengthened my fearful words. I have seen the centurion throw himself at the Lord’s feet, nations send their firstfruits to Christ. The Cross has not yet been erected and already, pagans hasten towards their Master. The words “Go, teach all nations” have not yet been heard (Mt 28,19) but the nations are already hastening. Their race precedes their call, they are burning with desire for the Lord. The sound of preaching has not yet been heard but they are hurrying towards the One Who preaches. Peter… has now been instructed and they gather around the One Who is teaching him; the light of Paul has not yet blazed beneath Christ’s standard and nations are coming with incense to adore the King (Mt 2:1).

And now, see how a centurion begs Him and says to him: “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, suffering dreadfully.” Here is a new miracle indeed! The servant, whose limbs are paralysed leads his master to the Lord; the slaves’ sickness gives health to his owner. Seeking his servant’s healing, he finds our Lord and while he is seeking for his slave’s cure, he becomes Christ’s conquest!” – Basil of Seleucia (Died c 468) Archbishop (Homily 19 on the centurion, PG 85, 235f).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Thou Who choose the weak things of the world to confound the strong, mercifully grant that we, who are celebrating the feast of blessed Agnes, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may reap the benefit ofher patronal intercession with Thee. 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 Act of SPIRITUAL COMMUNION, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY COMMUNION, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 21 January – Give me Thyself, O My God

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Our Morning Offering – 21 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – The Third Sunday after Epiphany

Give me Thyself, O My God
By St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

Give me Thyself, O my God,
give Thyself to me.
Behold I love Thee
and if my love is too weak a thing,
grant me to love Thee more strongly.
I cannot measure my love, to know
how much it falls short of being sufficient
but let my soul hasten to Thine embrace
and never be turned away,
until it is hidden in the secret shelter
of Thine presence.
This only do I know,
that it is not good for me
when Thou art not with me,
when Thou art only outside me.
I want Thee in my very self.
All the plenty in the world
which is not my God,
is utter want!
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 21 January – St Publius of Athens (2nd Century) Bishop and Martyr.

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Saint of the Day – 21 January – St Publius of Athens (2nd Century) Bishop of Athens and Martyr. Died around 112. (Not to be confused with St Publius of Malta who is remembered on 22 January).

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Athens, the birthday of St Publius, Bishop, who as successor of St Denis (Dionysius) the Areopagite, nobly governed the Church at Athens. No less celebrated for the lustre of his virtues than for the brilliance of his learning, he was gloriously crowned for having borne testimony to Christ.”

St Eusebius of Caesarea, speaking of Bishop Dionysius (Denis) of Corinth, recalls the letters he sent to various Christian communities. Regarding the one sent to the Christianity of Athens, he tells us that Dionysius blamed the Athenians for having become somewhat lukewarm in the profession of faith “after their leader, Publius had been Martyred during the persecutions of those times” and recalled that “after the Martyrdom of Publius, Quadratus had been elected their Bishop.”

Publius was, therefore, the Bishop of Athens during the 2nd Century and suffered Martyrdom in one of the persecutions of that time, probably at the beginning of the empire of Marus Aurelius, between 161 and 170.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CARMELITES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

The Third Sunday after Epiphany, Virgen de la Altagracia / Our Lady of Altagracia, Dominican Republic (c 1502), St Agnes Virgin Martyr and the Saints for 21 January

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The Third Sunday after Epiphany

Virgen de la Altagracia / Our Lady of Altagracia, Dominican Republic (c 1502) – 21 January:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/21/our-lady-of-altagracia-and-memorials-of-the-saints-21-january

St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Child Virgin and Martyr
https://anastpaul.com/2018/01/21/saint-of-the-day-21-january-st-agnes-c-291-c-304/
AND St Ambrose Reflection:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/21/saint-of-the-day-21-january-st-agnes-c-291-c-304-virgin-and-martyr/

St Agnes of Aislinger
St Anastasius of Constantinople
St Aquila of Trebizond
St Brigid of Kilbride
St Candidus of Trebizond
Bl Edward Stransham

St Epiphanius of Pavia (c 439–496) Bishop of Pavia, Italy from from 466 until his death. Papal and Secular Mediator and Peacemaker, Known as – “Epiphanius the Peacemaker,” “The Glory of Italy,” “The Light of Bishops.”
The Roman Martyrology for 21 January reads : “In Pavia, Saint Epifanio, Bishop , who, at the time of the barbarian invasions, worked zealously for the reconciliation of the peoples, for the liberation of prisoners and for the reconstruction of the destroyed City.”
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/21/saint-of-the-day-21-january-saint-epiphanius-of-pavia-439-496/

St Eugenius of Trebizond
St Gunthildis of Biblisheim

Blessed Josefa María Inés de Benigánim OAD (1625–1696) Nun of the Discalced Augustinian Nuns with the religious name of “Josefa María of Saint Agnes,” Virgin, Mystic, gifted with the charism of prophecy and counsel. She became known for her profound spiritual and theological insight as well as for her severe austerities she practised during her life. Her body is incorrupt. Blessed Josefa was Beatified on 26 February 1888, at Saint Peter’s Basilica by Pope Leo XIII.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/21/saint-of-the-day-21-january-blessed-josefa-maria-ines-de-beniganim-oad-1625-1696/

St Lawdog
St Maccallin of Waulsort

St Meinrad of Einsiedeln OSB (c 797–861) “Martyr of Hospitality,” Martyr, Priest, Monk, Hermit. In 1039, the year of Meinrad’s Canonisation as a Saint, his remains were brought back to Einsiedeln. During the French Revolution, Meinrad’s relics were hidden at Tyrol, Austria, by Abbot Conrad Tanner and his reliquary is now enshrined in the Grace Chapel of the Abbey Church at Einsiedeln.
St Meinrad’s Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/21/saint-of-the-day-21-january-saint-meinrad-of-einsiedeln-osb-c-797-861-martyr/

St Patroclus of Troyes
St Publius of Athens (2nd Century) Bishop

Blessed Thomas Reynolds (1562-1642) Priest Martyr. Thomas was Beatified on 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/21/saint-of-the-day-21-january-blessed-thomas-reynolds-1562-1642-priest-martyr/

St Valerian of Trebizond
St Vimin of Holywood
St Zacharias the Angelic

Blessed Martyrs of Laval – 19 Beati: Fifteen men and four women who were Martyred in Laval, France by anti-Catholic French Revolutionaries. The were born in France and they were Martyred on several dates in 1794 in Laval, Mayenne, France. They were Beatified on 19 June 1955 by Pope Pius XII at Rome, Italy. They are:
Blessed André Duliou
Blessed Augustin-Emmanuel Philippot
Blessed François Duchesne
Blessed François Migoret-Lamberdière
Blessed Françoise Mézière
Blessed Françoise Tréhet
Blessed Jacques André
Blessed Jacques Burin
Blessed Jean-Baptiste Triquerie
Blessed Jean-Marie Gallot
Blessed Jeanne Veron
Blessed John Baptist Turpin du Cormier
Blessed Joseph Pellé
Blessed Julien Moulé
Blessed Julien-François Morin
Blessed Louis Gastineau
Blessed Marie Lhuilier
Blessed Pierre Thomas
Blessed René-Louis Ambroise

Martyrs of Rome – 30 Saints: Thirty Christian soldiers executed together in the persecutions of Diocletian. They were Martyred in 304 in Rome, Italy.

Martyrs of Tarragona: Augurius, Eulogius, Fructuosus.