Day: February 9, 2024

Posted in "Follow Me", ArchAngels and Angels, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 9 February – The Soldier of Christ Must Prepare for Battle, Early in the Morning (Part Two)

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Thought for the Day – 9 February – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

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

XVI: … The Soldier of Christ Must Prepare
for Battle, Early in the Morning (Part Two)

‘Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.’ – Zechariah 4:6,

“Begin the combat in the Name of the Lord, with the weapons of Self-distrust and Trust in God, of prayer and spiritual exercises and challenge your foe to the battle, that is, that inclination, whatever it be, which, according to the order above laid down, you have resolved to conquer.
Do this, now by open resistance, now by deep abhorrence, or again, by acts of the contrary virtue, wounding him again and again, even unto death, to give pleasure to your Lord, Who is looking on, with the whole Church Triumphant, to behold your conflict!

I tell you again, you must not weary of the struggle but, remember the obligation which lies on us all, to serve and please God and the absolute necessity of fighting in this battle, from which none can escape, without wounds or death.

I tell you, moreover, that if, as a rebel you would fly from God,and give
yourself over to the world and the delights of the flesh, you will still be forced, in spite of yourself, to labour by the sweat of your brow, against many and many an adversary, who will pierce your heart with deadly anguish.

Consider, then, what folly it would be to incur all this toil and trouble, which does but lead to greater toil and endless trouble and spiritual death, in order to avoid that which will soon be over and which will lead us to eternal and infinite blessedness in the everlasting enjoyment of our God.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/08/thought-for-the-day-8-february-the-soldier-of-christ-must-prepare-for-battle-early-in-the-morning-part-one/

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), HOLY COMMUNION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The HOLY GHOST, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 9 February – St Cyril of Alexandria

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 February – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) “The Pillar of Faith” “Doctor of the Incarnation,” Bishop,Confessor, Father and Doctor, of the Church

“He who receives Communion is made holy
and Divinised in soul and body,
in the same way, that water, set over a fire,
becomes boiling…
Communion works like yeast
which has been mixed into dough,
so that it leavens the whole mass. …
Just as by melting two candles together
you get one piece of wax, so, I think,
one who receives the Flesh and Blood of Jesus,
is fused together with Him, by this Communion
and the soul finds that he is in Christ
and Christ is in him.”

“Since the Holy Spirit when He is in us,
effects our being conformed to God
and, He actually proceeds from the Father and Son,
it is abundantly clear that He is of the Divine Essence,
in It in Essence and proceeding from It.”

“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?”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/09/quote-s-of-the-day-9-february-st-cyril-of-alexandria-2/

St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on WATCHING, The BEATITUDES, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 February – Salt and Light – Matthew 5:13, 14

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One Minute Reflection – 9 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) “The Pillar of Faith” “Doctor of the Incarnation,” Bishop,Confessor, Father and Doctor, of the Church – Matthew 5:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Jesus said to His disciples: “You are the salt of the earth.
… You are the light of the world.” – Matthew 5:13, 14

REFLECTION – “You are the salt of the earth. It is not for your own sake, He says but for the world’s sake that the word is entrusted to you. I am not sending you into two cities only or ten or twenty, not to a single nation, as I sent the prophets of old but across land and sea, to the whole world. And that world is in a miserable state. For when He says: You are the salt of the earth, He is indicating, that all mankind had lost its savour and had been corrupted by sin. Therefore, He requires of these men, those virtues which are especially useful and even necessary, if they are to bear the burdens of many. For the man who is kindly, modest, merciful and just will not keep his good works to himself but will see to it, that these admirable fountains send out their streams, for the good of others. Again, the man who is clean of heart, a peacemaker and ardent for truth, will order his life so as to contribute to the common good. …

Then He passes onto a more exalted comparison – You are the light of the world. Once again, “of the world,” not of one nation or twenty cities but of the whole world. The light He means, is an intelligible light, far superior to the rays of the sun we see, just as the salt is a spiritual salt. First salt, then light, so that you may learn how profitable sharp words may be and how useful, serious doctrine. Such teaching holds in check and prevents, dissipation, it leads to virtue and sharpens the mind’s eye. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do men light a lamp and put it under a basket. Here again, He is urging them to a careful manner of life and teaching them, to be watchful, for they live under the eyes of all and have the whole world for the arena of their struggles.” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Archbishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (An excerpt from his Homily on Matthew).

PRAYER – King of heaven and earth, Lord God, rule over our hearts and bodies this day. Sanctify us and guide our every thought, word and deed according to the commandments of Your law, so that now and forever, Your grace may free and save us. Teach us Lord to walk in the ways of the Cross of Your Son, our Saviour, longing for and rejoicing always in our heavenly home as St Cyril of Alexandria so lovingly and willingly inspires us to do. Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God, forever, amen. (Collect)

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quotes on SALVATION, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The INCARNATION, The RESURRECTION

Our Morning Offering – 9 February – Hail, O Mary, Mother of God By St Cyril of Alexandria

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Our Morning Offering – 9 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – Feast of St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) “The Pillar of Faith” “Doctor of the Incarnation”& “Seal of all the Fathers” Bishop,Confessor, Father and Doctor, of the Church.

Adapted from a sermon preached by St Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, presiding as representative of the Holy See at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, in 431. In refuting Nestorianism, he is called “Doctor of the Incarnation.”

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God
By St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Virgin and Mother!
Morning Star, perfect vessel.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Holy Temple in which God
Himself was conceived.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Chaste and pure dove.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
who enclosed the One
Who cannot be encompassed
in your sacred womb.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
From you flowed the true light,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you the Conqueror
and triumphant Vanquisher
of hell, came to us.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you, the glory
of the Resurrection blossoms.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
You have saved every faithful Christian.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 9 February – Saint Ansbert of Rouen (Died c695) Bishop

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Saint of the Day – 9 February – Saint Ansbert of Rouen (Died c695) Bishop of Rouen, Abbot of Fontenelle Abbey, Scholar of renown, Defender and Protector of the poor. Born at Chaussy-sur-Epte, France and died in 695 at Hainaut then in France, now part of modern Belgium, of natural causes,. The Name Amsbert Name means: “the one who shines through God” (Old High German). Also known as – Ansbert of Fontenelle, Ansberto… Aubert… Additional Memorial – 1 March – a collective Feast Day for all the Saints of Fontanelle Abbey.

Window of St Ansbert in Rouen Cathedral

Ansbert, a member of an important Neustrian family close to the King and was highly educated. He had a significant professional career in the King’s Court and is said to have served as a senior member of the Court of the Merovingian King, Clotaire III. As such, he was both Chancellor and referendary.

In 673, the same year Clotaire died, Ansbert renounced his secular pursuits and became a Monk of the Benedictine order. Six years later, he was elevated to Abbot of his Monastery, the illustrious Fontenelle Abbey. He followed two other Saints in that Office – Wandrigisil, the Abbey’s Founder and first Abbot and Lambert, the second Abbot, who vacated the office when he was named the Bishop of Lyons.

He was Ordained a Priest in Rouen and appointed the third Abbot of his Monastery after Lambert around 677. He held the office until 679. Under his leadership, Fontenelle prospered. His enterprises included a great expansion and refinement of the Abbey’s library and the establishment of local hospitals for the poor.

During his time as Abbot, Ansbert served as the Confessor to King Theodoric III. After several years, in either 683 or 684, Ansbert was appointed as the Archbishop of Rouen following the death Bishop, Saint Ouen. His former mentor, Saint Lambert, performed his Consecration and Ansbert was succeeded as Abbot at Fontenelle by Hildebert (Died 701), who is also venerated as a Saint.

Despite his high office and eminent reputation, Ansbert was removed from the Bishopric around the year 690. By “a false accusation or slanderous lie,” the powerful Chancellor of the Frankish Court, Pepin of Heristal, arranged his dismissal, either because of some kind of political opposition or because Ansbert’s “holy zeal was not well-received” and “his austere life caused offence.” He was sent into exile at the Monastery of Hautmont, where he stayed until his death, sometime between 692 and 695. At some time during that period, Pepin reconsidered his actions and agreed renege and to allow Ansbert to return but sadly Ansbert died before he was able to return to his See.

Window of St Ansbert at the Church of St Quen in Rouen

Ansbert’s body was returned to Fontenelle and buried there . At the beginning of the 8th Century, Abbot Bainus of Fontenelle transferred his Relics to St-Pierre. While fleeing from the Normans, the Relics were moved several times. In 944 they were in Boulogne-sur-Mer , then they were transferred with those fof St Wandregisil to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre-au-Mont-Blandin in Ghent , where they remained up to their destruction by the Protestants in 1578.

St Ansbert’s first Vita or life story was written around 800. A collective day of remembrance for all the many Saints associated with Fontenelle Abbey is celebrated on 1 March. Saint Ansbert’s own annual Feast Day is 9 February on which date he is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology.

The Cloister and courtyard of Fontanelle Abbey
Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Notre-Dame-des-Cloches / Our Lady of the Bells, Cathedral of Saintes, France, St Cyril of Alexandria and the Saints for 9 February

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Notre-Dame-des-Cloches / Our Lady of the Bells, Cathedral of Saintes, France – 9 February:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/09/our-lady-of-the-bells-cathedral-of-saintes-france-and-memorials-of-the-saints-9-february/

St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) “The Pillar of Faith” & “Seal of all the Fathers,”, Bishop, Confessor, Father and Doctor, Doctor Incarnationis (Doctor of the Incarnation) Added by Pope Leo XIII in 1883.
St Cyril’s Feast Day is today 9 February (1882–1969 – moved after Vatican II to 27 June).
https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/27/saint-of-the-day-27-june-st-cyril-of-alexandria-doctor-father-of-the-church-the-pillar-of-faith-seal-of-all-the-fathers-doctor-incarnationis-doctor-of-the-incarnation/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/09/saint-of-the-day-9-february-st-cyril-of-alexandria-376-444-bshop-confessor-father-and-doctor-of-the-church/

St Apollonia of Alexandria (Died c249) Virgin Martyr, Deaconess.
St Apollonia’s Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/09/saint-of-the-day-9-february-st-apollonia-of-alexandria-died-c-249/

St Scholastica Novena – The LAST DAY:
CLICK on the LINK BELOW:
St Scholastica Novena

St Alexander of Rome
St Alexander of Soli
St Alto of Altomünster
St Ammon of Membressa
St Ammonius of Soli
St Ansbert of Rouen (Died c695) Bishop
St Attracta of Killaraght
St Brachio of Auvergne
St Cuaran the Wise
St Didymus of Membressa
St Donatus the Deacon
St Eingan of Llanengan
St Emilian of Membressa
Bl Erizzo
Bl Francisco Sanchez Marquez
Bl Godeschalk of Želiv
St Lassa of Membressa
Bl Marianus Scotus
St Maro
St Nebridius of Egara
St Nicephorus of Antioch
St Poëmus of Membressa
St Primus the Deacon

St Raynald of Nocera (c1150-1217) Bishop of Nocera, Umbria, Italy, Hermit, Monk, Abbot. His body is incorrupt.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Nocera Umbra, St. Rainaldo, Bishop, formerly a Camaldolese Monk of Fonte Avellana, who, while carrying out the Episcopal office, firmly preserved the habits of monastic life.”
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/09/saint-of-the-day-9-february-saint-raynald-of-nocera-c-1150-1217/

St Romanus the Wonder Worker
St Ronan of Lismore
St Sabino of Abellinum

St Sabinus of Canosa (c461–566) Bishop, Confessor, Benedictine Monk, Papal Legate, miracle-worker, graced with the charism of prophecy, Defender of the Faith against heretics, friend of Saint Benedict of Nursia, builder of Churches and Monasteries, following the Benedictine discipline of Ora et labora.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/09/saint-of-the-day-9-february-saint-sabinus-of-canosa-c-461-566-bishop/

St Teilo of Llandaff

Martyrs of Alexandria: An unknown number of Christians who were massacred inthe 4th Century Alexandria, Egypt by Arian heretics for adhering to the true Faith.

Martyrs of Membressa: A group of 44 Christians Martyred together. We know little else about them some names – Ammon, Didymus, Emilian, Lassa, Poemus
They were Martyred in Membressa in Africa.