Day: February 28, 2024

Posted in QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 28 February – The Soldier of Christ Must Avoid All which May Disturb His Peace of Mind (Part One)

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Thought for the Day – 28 February – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

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

XXV: … The Soldier of Christ Must Avoid All
which May Disturb His Peace of Mind
(Part One)

Antonio de Pereda y Salgado – The Liberation of St Peter by an Angel

“When we have lost our peace of mind, we should do our utmost to recover it; neither, is there any accident of life which should reasonably have power to deprive us of that peace, or even to trouble it.
Over our own sins, we have indeed cause to mourn deeply but, our sorrow, as I have shown more than once, should be calm and in like manner, without any disquiet but with a holy feeling of charity, should we compassionate other sinners and weep, at least inwardly, over their offenses.

As to other sad and trying events, such as sickness, wounds, or loss of dearest friends, pestilence, fire, war, or suchlike evils – although these being painful to nature, are, for the most part, shunned by the men of this world, yet may we, by Divine grace, not only desire but, even love them, as just chastisements upon the wicked and occasions of virtue to the just.
For, therefore, does our Lord God take pleasure in sending them and thus borne forward by His will, we shall pass, with a calm and quiet spirit, through all the bitterness and contradictions of this life.
And be assured that all disquietude, on our part, is displeasing in His sight for, of whatever kind it be, it is never free from imperfection and always springs from some evil root of self-love.

Keep, therefore, a sentinel always on the watch, who, as soon as he shall discern the approach of anything likely to disquiet or disturb you, may give you a signal, to take up your weapons of defence!

And consider that, all these evils,and many others of a like kind, although outwardly they appear to be such, are not indeed real evils, nor can they rob us of any real good but are all ordered, or permitted by God, for the righteous ends of which we have spoken, or for others, most wise and holy, although beyond our power to discern and understand.

So, may the most untoward accident work for us much good, if we do but keep our souls in peace and tranquillity, otherwise, all our exercises will produce little, or no fruit!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in QUOTES on PRIESTS, the PRIESTHOOD and CONSECRATED LIFE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 28 February – St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862)

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 February – Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent – St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862)

His companion in the Novitiate, exckaimed:

“Tears come to my eyes and I am filled with shame
for having been so far from the virtues
which he attained, in such a short time.”

Blessed Bernard Mary of Jesus (1831-1911)
speaking on the great holiness
of St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother (1838-1862)

“Oh, be assured, he whom God
calls to the religious life
receives a very great favour,
a favour which is impossible to estimate
at its real value.”

“Everything must be examined,
in the sight of God,
with the greatest care …”

(From a letter to his Father, 21 September 1856)

“My sole merit lies in Thy Wounds”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/27/quote-s-of-the-day-27-february-st-gabriel-of-our-lady-of-sorrows/

St Gabriel Francis Possenti
of the Sorrowful Virgin (1838-1862)

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WATCHING, SELF-DISTRUST, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 28 February – ‘…Let Us Hate Our Sins and Love Him Who, Will Exact Punishment for Them …’

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 28 February – St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862) Confessor, – 1 John 2:14-17; Mark 10:13-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“He will not deprive, of good things,
those who walk in innocence.
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man
who trusts in Thee!”
Psalm 83:13

“One thing is lacking to thee;
go, sell whatever thou has
and give to the poor
and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven
and come, follow Me.”
Mark 10:21

Let Us Hate Our Sins and Love Him
Who Will Exact Punishment for Them.

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

“What then should the Christian do?
He ought to use the world, not become its slave.
And what does this mean?
It means having, as though not having.

So says the Apostle: “My brethren, the appointed time is short — from now on, let those who have wives, live as though they had none and those who mourn, as though they were not mourning and those who rejoice, as though they were not rejoicing and those who buy, as though they had no goods and those who deal with this world, as though they had no dealings with it.”

For the form of this world is passing away.
But I wish you to be without anxiety.
He who is without anxiety waits without fear until his Lord comes.
For what sort of love of Christ is it to fear His coming?
Brothers, do we not have to blush for shame?
We love Him, yet we fear His coming!
Are we really certain that we love Him?
Or do we love our sins more?
Therefore, let us hate our sins and love Him Who, will exact punishment for them.
He will come whether we wish it or not.
Do not think that because He is not coming just now, He will not come at all. He will come, you know not when and provided He finds you prepared, your ignorance of the time of His coming, will not be held against you.” (A Discourse on Psalm 95)

Posted in "Follow Me", CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The BEATITUDES, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 February – ‘One thing is lacking to thee … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 28 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity”– St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862) Confessor, – 1 John 2:14-17; Mark 10:13-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“One thing is lacking to thee; go, sell whatever thou has and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven and come, follow Me.” – Mark 10:21

REFLECTION – “Blessed is the poor man who cried and whom the Lord heard. Blessed is the man poor in offence. Blessed is the man poor in vices. Blessed is the poor man, in whom the prince of this world finds nothing. Blessed is the poor man who, is like that Poor Man Who, although He was rich, became poor for our sake. Matthew fully revealed this when he said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” One poor in spirit is not puffed up, is not exalted in the mind of his own flesh. This Beatitude is first, when I have laid aside every sin and I have taken off all malice and I am content with simplicity, destitute of evils. All that remains is that I regulate my conduct. For what good does it do me to lack worldly goods, unless I am meek and gentle?

Although there are many charms of delights in riches, yet there are more incentives to practice virtues. Although virtue does not require assistance and the contribution of the poor person, is more commended, than the generosity of the rich, yet with the authority of the heavenly saying, He condemns, not those who have riches but those who do not know how to use them. The pauper is more praiseworthy who gives with eager compassion and is not restrained, by the bolts of looming scarcity. He thinks that he who has enough for nature, does not lack. So the rich person is the more guilty, who does not give thanks to God, for what he has received but vainly hides wealth given for the common use and conceals it, in buried treasures. Then the offence consists, not in the wealth but in the attitude.

Purify yourself with your tears. Wash yourselves with mourning. If you weep for yourself, another will not weep for you…. One who is a sinner weeps for himself and rebukes himself, that he may become righteous, for just people accuse themselves of sin. Let us pursue order because, it is written, “Set in order love in me.” I have laid down sin. I have tempered my conduct. I have wept for my transgressions. I begin to hunger. I hunger for righteousness. The sick, when he is seriously ill, does not hunger because, the pain of the illness excludes hunger. What is the hunger for righteousness? What is the bread of which it is said, “I have been young and am old and I have not seen the righteous man forsaken, nor his seed begging bread?” Surely, one who is hungry, seeks increase of strength. What greater increase of virtue is there, than the rule of righteousness?” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church( Exposition on the Gospel of Luke, 5).

PRAYER – O God, Who taught blessed Gabriel to meditate continually on the sorrows of Thy most sweet Mother and Who, through her, exalted him by the glory of a holy life and miracles; grant us, we beseech Thee, through his intercession and example so to share in the sorrows of Thy Mother that her motherly protection may save us. 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 MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 28 February – O Mother of Sorrows, Stand by Me in My Last Agony

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Our Morning Offering – 28 February – St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862) Confessor

O Mother of Sorrows,
Stand by Me in My Last Agony
By St Gabriel Francis Possenti
of Our Lady of Sorrows (1838-1862)

O Mother of Sorrows,
by the anguish and love
with which thou did stand at the Cross of Jesus,
stand by me in my last agony.
To thy maternal heart
I commend the last three hours of my life.
Offer these hours to the Eternal Father
in union with the agony of our dearest Lord,
in atonement for my sins.
Offer to the Eternal Father
the most precious blood of Jesus,
mingled with your tears on Calvary,
that I may obtain the grace of receiving Holy Communion
with the most perfect love and contrition
before my death
and that I may breathe forth my soul
in the adorable presence of Jesus.
Dearest Mother,
when the moment of my death has at last come,
present me as your child to Jesus.
Ask Him to forgive me for having offended Him,
for I knew not what I did.
Beg Him to receive me into His kingdom of glory
to be united with Him forever.
Amen

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 28 February – Blessed Villana de’Botti OP (1332-1361) Widow

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Saint of the Day – 28 February – Blessed Villana de’Botti OP (1332-1361) Widow, Mother, Penitent, Mystic, Lay Religious of the Order of Preachers. She was gifted with visions of Our Lady and of the Saints and was granted the gift of prophecy. Born in 1332 in Florence, Italy and died on 29 January 1361 of natural causes. Patronage – of Florence.

Villana de’Botti was born in 1332 in Florence in the Tuscany region of central Italy. She was the daughter of the rich Florentine merchant Andrea di Lapo de’Botti. As a child she was exceptionally pious and, at the age of thirteen, she ran away from home to enter a Convent. But her father objected to this and had her brought back. Not long after, in July 1351 he had her married to Rosso di Piero Benintendi.

After she married, she seemed completely transformed. She indulged herself completely in worldliness and vanity and even debauchery. But it is said that one day she was going out dressed in a beautiful dress adorned with pearls and precious stones. She looked in the mirror, but instead of her own reflection, she saw a demon (another version says she saw her stained soul). The same image appeared in a second and a third mirror. Immediately Villana repented of her sins, her vices and evil habits. She tore off her dress and put on the simplest outfit she could find. She then went to the Dominican Church of Santa Maria Novella and made a general Confession. Not long after, she joined the Dominican Tertiaries.

Her conversion was complete but she remained faithful to her marital duties. However, she spent all her free time in prayer and reading spiritual literature, studying — especially the biographies of Saints and St Paul ‘s letters and, she made great progress in the spiritual life. She tried to beg for the poor in the streets but was prevented from doing so by her horrified family. She appears to have had visions and ecstasies, and despite opposition in certain camps, she was locally venerated as a saint even before she died. After she became a widow, she had to endure slander from some of her companions.

She died on 29 January 1361 in Florence while the words from the Passion of Christ: “He bowed his head and gave up His spirit” were read to her at her request. (The painting below depicts Bl Villana and companions mourning the Death of our Saviour). Her body was carried to the Church of Santa Maria Novella, where it was besieged for a month by large crowds who fought to get hold of pieces of her clothing and made it impossible for any burial to take place.

Mastro dell’Annunciazione di Fiesole, compianto della Beata Villana

She is buried there in a marble tomb made by Bernardo Rossellino. She was Beatified on 27 March 1824 when her cult was confirmed by Pope Leo XII (1823-1829). Her Feast Day is 28 February.

Bl Villana’s Tomb
Posted in DOMINICAN OP, franciscan OFM, MYSTICS, SAINT of the DAY

Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent, St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin and the Saints for 28 February

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Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent

St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862) Confessor, Passionist Religious and student preparing for the Priesthood. Gabriel was known for his great devotion to the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. St Gabriel was Canonised on 13 May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/27/saint-of-the-day-27-february-st-gabriel-of-our-lady-of-sorrows-cp-1838-1862/

St Abercius

Blessed Antonia of Florence OSC (1400-1472) Widow, Abbess (Feast Day 29 February in a Leap Year)

St Caerealis
St Caerealis of Alexandria
St Cyra of Beroea
St Ermine
St Gaius of Alexandria

St Pope Hilary/Hilarius (Died 468) Pope from 461-468, Papal aide to St Pope Leo the Great, Papal Legate, Reformer of Episcopal discipline, builder of Churches, libraries, Chapels and public works. (Feast Day 29 February in a Leap Year)
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/28/saint-of-the-day-28-february-saint-pope-hilary-died-468/

St Justus the Potter
St Llibio
St Macarius the Potter
St Maidoc
St Marana of Beroea

St Oswald of Worcester (Died 992) Monk, Archbishop of York from 972-992, as well as simultaneously being the Bishop of Worcester and a leading figure in the reform of the Anglo-Saxon Church which took place in the second half of the tenth Century. He died on 29 February in 992 of natural causes, a leap year, therefore, his Feast is celebrated on the 28th. (Feast Day 29 February in a Leap Year)
St Oswald’s Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/28/saint-of-the-day-28-february-saint-oswald-of-worcester-c912-992-bishop/

St Proterius of Alexandria
St Pupulus of Alexandria

St Romanus of Condat (c 390–c 463) Abbot, Hermit.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/28/saint-of-the-day-28-february-saint-romanus-of-condat-c-390-c-463/

St Ruellinus of Treguier
St Rufinus the Potter
St Serapion of Alexandria
St Sillan of Bangor
St Theophilus the Potter
Blessed Villana de’Botti OP (1332-1361) Widow, Mother, Penitent, Mystic.

Martyrs of Alexandria – A number of clerics and layman who died as Martyrs of charity for ministering to the sick during a plague that ravaged Alexandria, Egypt in 261.

Martyrs of Antwerp – 14 Christians who were Martyred together. We know nothing about them but the names Alexander, Anicetus, Cyriacus, Eulalia, Faustus, Genesius, Hirena, Macarius, Mauritius, Modestus, Placidus, Rochus, Symforian and Victorinus. Died in Rome, Italy, date unknown. Their Relics were transferred and enshrined in Antwerp, Belgium.

Martyrs of Corinth – A group of Christians Martyred together in Corinth, Greece. The only information we have about them are the names Basilia, Betha, Caius, Claudius, Diodorus, Donatus, Enuclus, Felix, Hermes, Januaria, Januarius, Maccaris, Maninlia, Mansuetus, Nicophorus, Papias, Quinquianus, Rufunia, Serapion, Servilia, Silvana, Stercola, Tella, Veneria, Victor and Victorinus.