Month: April 2024

Posted in franciscan OFM, INCORRUPTIBLES, SAINT of the DAY

Easter Wednesday and the Saints for 3 April

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Easter Wednesday

St Attala of Taormina

St Benedict of Palermo OFM (1526-1589) Lay Friar of the Order of Friars Minor of the Observance, Confessor, spiritual counsellor, Apostle of the poor and needy, graced with the gift of healing the sick.
St Benedict’s gifts for prayer, his love for the Blessed Virgin and the Infant Jesus and the wisdom displayed in his guidance of souls, earned him, a reputation for holiness, throughout Sicily.   Following the example of St Francis, Benedict kept seven 40-day fasts throughout the year. He also slept only a few hours each night.
His body is incorrupt.
Kind and Holy Benedict:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/04/03/saint-of-the-day-3-april-st-benedict-of-palermo-ofm-1526-1589-lay-friar/

St Benatius of Kilcooley
St Benignus of Tomi

St Burgundofara / more commonly known as Fara (c595-c 643) Virgin, Nun, Abbess, Founder of the famous Evoriacum Monastery, near Paris in France, which after her death was renamed in her honour, Faremoutiers Abbey (Fara’s Monastery). She is celebrated on 7 December in France.
Her Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/07/saint-of-the-day-7-december-st-burgundofara-c-595-c-643-virgin/

St Chrestus
St Comman
St Evagrius of Tomi

Blessed Gandulphus of Binasco OFM (c1200-1260)Priest, Friar of the First Order of St Francis. He was a renowned Preacher mainly in Sicily, Hermit, Miracle-worker . He was one of those who entered the Order while the Seraphic Father was still alive and the life he led was one of great self-abnegation. He was Beatified on 10 March 1881 by Pope Leo XIII.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/03/saint-of-the-day-3-april-blessed-gandulphus-of-binasco-ofm-c-1200-1260/

St John I of Naples

Blessed John of Penna OFM (c 1193-1271) Priest, Friar of the First Order of St Francis and became a Franciscan during St Francis’ lifetime. Founder of the Order in France, Mystic and gifted with the charism of prophecy. He was Beatified on 20 December 1806 by Pope Pius VII.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/03/saint-of-the-day-3-april-blessed-john-of-penna-ofm-c-1193-1271/

St Nicetas of Medicion (c760-824) Abbot
St Papo

St Richard of Chichester (1197-1253) Bishop, Teacher, Reformer, Apostle of charity, Writer, Miracle Worker.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/04/03/saint-of-the-day-3-april-st-richard-of-chichester-1197-1253/`

St Urbicius of Clermont

Martyrs of Greece – 4 Saints: A group of young Christian men who protested to City authorities that gifts to temples of pagan gods should be used to feed the poor during a regional famine. When the officials refused, the group went to local temples, broke up the idols and fixtures and gave the gold and silver bits to the poor to use to buy food. The group was imprisoned and executed. The only other thing we know about these Martyrs are the names – Bythonius, Elpideforus, Dius and Galycus. They Died in the 3rd Century at an unknown location in Greece.

Martyrs of Tomi (Romania) – 9 Saints who were Martyred together. We know nothing else about them but the names – Arestus, Benignus, Chrestus, Evagrius, Papo, Patricius, Rufus, Sinnidia and Zosimus. They Died at Tomi, Scythia (modern Constanta, Romania).

Posted in QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on VIRTUE, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 2 April– Esteem All Opportunities of Fighting for the Acquisition of Virtue (Part Two)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 2 April– The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

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

XXXVIII: … Esteem All Opportunities of
Fighting for the Acquisition of Virtue (Part Two)

“The other consideration (of which we have already spoken) is, that all events which befall us come from God, for our good, in order that we may derive fruit therefrom.

And although, as we have said before, some of these occasions, such as our own defects, or those of others, cannot be said to be of God, Who wills not sin, yet they are from Him, inasmuch as He permits them and though able to hinder them, hinders them not.
But all the sorrows and afflictions which come upon us, either by our own fault or the malice of others, are both from God and of God because He concurs in them and that, which He would not have us do, as being full of a deformity beyond measure hateful to His most pure eyes, He would yet have us suffer, for our greater advancement in holiness, or for some other wise reason unknown to us.

Seeing, then, that it is most assuredly our Lord’s will that we should suffer willingly, any Cross which may come upon us, either from others or from our own evil deeds, to say, as many do in excuse for their impatience that God wills not evil but abhors it, is a vain pretext, whereby to cover our own faults and avoid the Cross which He wills us to bear.

Nay, I will say further, that supposing all other circumstances the same, our Lord is more pleased with our patient endurance of trials which come upon us from the wickedness of men, especially of those, whom we have served and benefited, than with our endurance of other grievous annoyances.
And this because, our proud nature is, for the most part, more humbled by the former than by the latter and also because, by willingly enduring them, we do above measure, please and magnify our God, co-operating with Him in that, wherein His ineffable goodness and omnipotence shine forth most brightly, namely, in extracting from the deadly poison of malice and wickedness, the sweet and precious fruit of holiness and virtue!

No sooner, therefore, does our Lord perceive in us an earnest desire to attempt and persevere in so glorious an undertaking, than He prepares a chalice of strongest temptation and strongest trial, for us, that we may drink it at the appointed hour and we, recognising therein His love and our own good, should receive it willingly and blindly, confidently and promptly drinking it to the very dregs, as a medicine compounded by a Hand which cannot err; of ingredients the more profitable to the soul, in proportion to their intrinsic bitterness!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/04/01/thought-for-the-day-1-april-esteem-all-opportunities-of-fighting-for-the-acquisition-of-virtue-part-one/

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the LIGHT, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HOPE, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 2 April – Our Life and Light

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – Easter Tuesday

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!!!
For with thee is the fountain of life
and in Thy Light, we shall see light.”

Psalm 36:9

“Do we, then, regard it as a great
and marvellous thing,
for the Creator of all things,
to bring about the resurrection of those,
who have served Him with holiness,
in the assurance of a good faith?…
With this hope, then, let our souls be bound to Him
Who is faithful, to His promises
and upright in His judgements.
He, Who has commanded us not to lie
will much more not lie Himself.
For nothing is impossible to God
except lying (Jn 32:17; Lk 1:37; 6:18).”
(Letter to the Corinthians, #24-28)

St Pope Clement I (c35-c99)
Pope from about 90 to 99
Apostolic Father

“Let us listen to the holy Voice of God
which summons us from on high,
from the holy mountain top.
There, we must hasten – I make bold to say –
like Jesus, Who is our leader
and has gone before us into Heaven.
There, with Him, may the eyes of our mind
shine with His light and the features of our soul
be made new; may we be transfigured with Him
and moulded to His image,
ever becoming divine,
being transformed in an ever greater degree of glory.”

St Anastasius Sinaita (Died 6th Century)
Priest and Abbot

“We must make our way towards eternity,
never regarding what men think of us,
or of our actions,
studying only to please God.”

St Francis Borgia (1510-1572)

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 2 April – ‘ …You too, then, have faith – it is He, the Bridegroom!’

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One Minute Reflection – 2 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – Easter Tuesday – Acts 13:16; 13:26-33; Luke 24:36-47 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And He said to them: Why are you troubled and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?” – Luke 24:38

REFLECTION – “This Gospel passage… shows us in truth, Who the Messiah is and who the Church … that we might understand well which Bride it is that this Divine Bridegroom has chosen and Who the Bridegroom of this holy Bride is … On this page we can read their deed of espousal …

You have learned that Christ is the Word, God’s Utterance, united to a human soul and human body … Here, the disciples thought they were seeing a ghost; they did not believe that the Lord had a real body. But since the Lord understood the danger of such thoughts, He made haste to snatch them out of their hearts … “Why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at My Hands and My Feet; touch Me and see because, a ghost does not have flesh and bone, as you can see I have.” Yet you, with these same questioning thoughts, strongly oppose the rule of faith you have received …

Christ is truly the Word, the Only-begotten Son equal to the Father, united to a truly human soul and a real body, clean of all sin. This is the Body which died, the Body which rose again, this Body was fastened to the Cross, this Body laid in the tomb, this Body is seated in the Heavens. Our Lord wished to persuade His disciples that what they were seeing was truly bone and flesh… Why did He want to convince me of this truth? Because He knew, just how much it was to my own good, to have faith in it and how much I had to lose, if I did not. You too, then, have faith – it is He, the Bridegroom!

Now listen to what was said about the Bride… “The Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, is to be preached in His Name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” This is the Bride… the Church is spread all over the earth and has taken all peoples to her heart … The Apostles saw Christ and believed in what they did not see, the Church. We, on our part, see the Church; so let us believe in Jesus Christ, Whom we do not see and so, by holding onto what we see, we shall come to Him Whom, as yet, we do not see.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 238).

PRAYER – O God, Who art ever multiplying the children of Thy Church, grant unto the same, Thy servants that they may lead the rest of their lives, according to this beginning, wherein Thou hast given them faith to receive the Sacrament of the New Birth. 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 APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the LIGHT, EASTER, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS on FAITH, QUOTES for CHRIST, Quotes on SALVATION, The RESURRECTION

Our Morning Offering – 2 April – He is Risen, Tell the Story

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Our Morning Offering – 2 April – Easter Tuesday

He is Risen, Tell the Story
By Father Willard F Janusch (1930-2018)

He is risen, tell the story
to the nations of the night;
from their sin and from their blindness,
let them walk in Easter light.
Now begins a new creation,
now has come our true salvation.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Mary goes to tell the others
of the wonders she has seen;
John and Peter come a’running
what can all this truly mean?
O Rabboni, Master holy,
to appear to one so lowly!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

He has cut down death and evil,
He has conquered all despair;
He has lifted from our shoulders,
all the weight of anxious care.
Risen Brother, now before you,
we will worship and adore You.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Now get busy, bring the message,
so that all may come to know
there is hope for saint and sinner,
for our God has loved us so.
Ev’ry Church bell is a’ringing,
ev’ry Christian now is singing.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

A Parish Priest, Seminary Professor and prolific Musician and Hymnist, Fr Willard wa Ordained in 1956 and died at the age of 88 in 2018.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 2 April – Saint Nizier of Lyon (c513-573) Archbishop of Lyon

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Saint of the Day – 2 April – Saint Nizier of Lyon (c513-573) Archbishop of Lyon, He served from 552 or 553 until his death. Nizier was a man of ascetic lifestyle, his care for the poor and his promotion of Church music have since been remembered and praised. Died in 573 of natural causes. Also known as – Nicet, Nicetus, Nicetius, Nicezio, Nikita.

The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Lyon, St Nizier, renowned for his saintly life and miracles.”

Nizier was born in Burgundy (or Geneva) in 513, into a noble Senatorial family. His father renounced the Bishopric of Geneva. He iwas the nephew of St Sacerdos, Bishop of Lyon and the great-uncle of St Gregory of Tours, who later wrote Nizier’s Vita.

Ordained as a Priest around 543 by St Agricola the Bishop of Chalon-sur-Saône, he was appointed as the Bishop of Lyon on 16 February 552 (or 19 January 553) and thus succeeded his uncle who had requested his appointment of the King.

He presided over a Council in Lyon in 566 of the Provinces of Lyons and Vienne. On this occasion he would have received the title of Archbishop from the Pope.

In his youth he had been healed of a facial tumour through the intercession of Saint Martin of Tours. Having become a Priest, he continued to work with his hands so as not to be dependent on anyone and to be able to support the poor. His nephew, St Gregory of Tours, wrote his biography describing how he served the Church of Lyon for twenty years, with supernatural charity, hastening to forgive everyone. He himself knew how to recognise and regret his sometimes annoying liveliness.

He fought to put Clerics under sole Ecclesiastical jurisdiction… He was a promoter of Church Music, the ‘friend of concord and peace‘ and revered for his generosity towards the poor of his time.

Nizier was buried in the Church of the Apostles (now St Nizier) at Lyon, where his Tomb is blessedly still preserved and the source of many miracles. Several localities iand Churches n the region have come under his patronage.

Basilica of St Nizier at Lyon
Posted in franciscan OFM, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Easter Tuesday Alleluia! Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia / Our Lady of the Highest Grace, (1506) and the Saints for 2 April

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Easter Tuesday Alleluia!
Resurrexit, sicut dixit! Alleluia!

Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia / Our Lady of the Highest Grace, Higuey, Dominican Republic (1506) Patron of Dominicans- 2 April:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/02/nuestra-senora-de-la-altagracia-our-lady-of-the-highest-grace-1506-and-memorials-of-the-saints-2-april/

St Francis of Paola O.M. (1416-1507) known as “Saint Francis the Fire Handler” – Confessor, Monk and Founder, inspired with the Gift of Prophecy and still called the “Miracle-Worker” Apostle of the poor, Peacemaker. He was an Italian mendicant Friar and the Founder of the Order of Minims. Unlike the majority of founders of men’s religious orders and like his Patron Saint, Francis was never ordained a priest. His Body was Incorrupt until destroyed in the French Revolution. He was Canonised in 1519 by Pope Leo X.
St Francis’s Life:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/saint-of-the-day-2-april-st-francis-of-paola-o-m-1416-1507/

St Abundius of Como Bishop and Confessor
St Agnofleda of Maine
St Appian of Caesarea (c287-306) Martyr, Layman

Blessed Arnulf of Leuven O.Cist. (c1200-1276) Abbot of the Cistercian Abbey in Villers-la-Ville, Poet, Writer. After serving in this office for ten years, he abdicated, hoping to pursue a life devoted to study and asceticism but he died within a year thereafter.
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/04/02/saint-of-the-day-2-april-blessed-arnulf-of-leuven-o-cist-c1200-1276-abbot/

St Bronach of Glen-Seichis
St Constantine of Scotland
St Ebbe the Younger
St Eustace of Luxeuil
St Gregory of Nicomedia
St John Payne

Blessed Leopold of Gaiche OFM Cap (1732-1815) Priest and Friar of the Order of Friars Minor of the Capuchin branch, Missionary Preacher in Italy, called “The Apostle of Umbria.” He became renowned for wearing a crown of thorns. He served in a position of power in the Franciscan Order in the Umbrian region in which he supported strong adherence to the Rule of Saint Francis.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/02/saint-of-the-day-2-april-blessed-leopold-of-gaiche-ofm-cap-1732-1815/

St Lonochilus of Maine
St Musa of Rome
St Nizier of Lyon (c513-573) Bishop
St Rufus of Glendalough
St Theodora of Tiria

St Urban of Langres (c 327-c 390) Bishop, the sixth Bishop of Autun and Langres, in Burgundy, France from 374 until his death, Confessor.
About St Urban:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/02/saint-of-the-day-2-april-saint-urban-of-langres-c-327-c-390/

Martyrs of Africa – 10 Saints: A group of ten Christians Martyred together in Africa, date unknown. We have six of their names – Marcellinus, Procula, Quiriacus, Regina, Satullus and Saturnin but no other information has survived.

Martyrs of Thessalonica – 16 Saints: Sixteen Christians who were Martyred together in Thessalonica in Greece, date unknown. We know nothing else about them but 13 of their names – Agapitus, Agatophus, Cyriacus, Dionysius, Gagus, Julianus, Mastisius, Proculus, Publius, Theodoulus, Urbanus, Valerius and Zonisus.

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY COMMUNION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

Devotions for the Month of April – The Resurrection and The Blessed Sacrament

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Devotions for the Month of April

The Resurrection and The Blessed Sacrament

The Month of April is dedicated both to devotion to the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Holy Eucharist – the proof of the promise of the love of God and of ETERNAL LIFE.

“My brethren, when was it that the Lord made Himself recognised? — When He broke the bread. — So, we ourselves are convinced, too, that when we break the bread, we recognise the Lord. — If He had not wanted to be recognised until that moment, it was for our sakes, we, who were not to see Him in the flesh but who were yet to eat Him in the flesh. ” – St Augustine (354-430) Father, Doctor of Grace

“I am the Resurrection and the Life,
he who believes in Me,
although he be dead, shall live.”

John 11:25

“I am the Living Bread
Who came down from Heaven.
If any man eat of this Bread,
he shall live forever
and the Bread that I will give,
is My Flesh, for the Life of the world.”

John 6:51-52

“For His Body, has been given to you
under the appearance of bread
and His Blood, under the appearance of wine,
so that, when you have partaken
of the Body and Blood of Christ,
you might be One Body and One Blood with Him.
So shall we become Christ-bearers [“Christophers”].
His Body and Blood are diffused through all our members – see, then,
how we become participants
in the Divine Nature!”

St Cyril of Jerusalem (c 313-386)
Father and Doctor of theChurch

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

Thought for the Day – 1 April– Esteem All Opportunities of Fighting for the Acquisition of Virtue (Part One)

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Thought for the Day – 1 April– The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

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

XXXVIII: … Esteem All Opportunities of
Fighting for the Acquisition of Virtue (Part One)

“I shall not be contented to have you simply NOT shun the opportunities which may present themselves of attaining the different virtues, – for, I would have you esteem them as goods of great price and value – seek and embrace them joyfully whenever they present themselves and, account those dearest and most precious which are most repugnant to nature!

To this end, by the Divine assistance, you will be enabled to attain, by impressing strongly upon your mind, the following considerations:
Firstly – that opportunities are means adapted, nay, necessary, for the attainment of virtue.
When, therefore, you pray to the Lord for any virtue, you at the same time ask for occasions to exercise it; or else would your prayer be vain and you would be contradicting yourself and tempting your God, Who does not usually give patience without tribulation, nor humility without humiliations!

The same may be said of all virtues which are most surely attained by means of Crosses.
And the more painful these are, the more effectually do they aid us and, therefore, the more acceptable and welcome should they be.
For acts of virtue performed in such circumstances, are more generous and energetic and open to us, an easier and more speedy way to virtue.

But, we ought also, to value and not to leave without its appropriate exercise, the most trifling occasion, though it be but a word or a look which crosses our will – because, the acts thus produced, are more frequent, though less intense, than those called forth by circumstances of great difficulty.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, Quotes on SALVATION, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 1 April –

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Quote/s of the Day – 1 April – Easter Monday

“This is the day which the Lord hath made,
let us be glad and rejoice therein.”

Psalm 117:24.

“If we follow Christ closely we shall be allowed,
even on this earth,
to stand, as it were,
on the threshold of the heavenly Jerusalem
and enjoy the contemplation,
of that everlasting Feast,
like the blessed Apostles,
who, in following the Saviour as their Leader,
showed and still show,
the way to obtain the same gift from God.
They said – See, we have left all things and followed Thee.
We too follow the Lord
and we keep His Feast
by deeds rather than by words.”

St Athanasius (297-373)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“For Christ is our Salvation.
For He is our Salvation,
Who was wounded for us
and fastened with nails to the Wood
and taken down from the Wood
and laid in the sepulchre.
But He rose from the sepulchre
and although His Wounds were healed,
the Scars remained.
For this He judged expedient for His Disciples
that He should keep His Scars,
to heal the wounds of their soul.”

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

“All I want to know is Christ
and the power flowing
from His Resurrection!”

St Francis of Assisi (c1181-1226)

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, HOLY COMMUNION, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 1 April – “Stay with us!” … Luke 24:29

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One Minute Reflection – 1 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – Easter Monday – Acts 10:37-43, Luke 24:13-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Stay with us!” … Luke 24:29

REFLECTION – “My brethren, when was it that the Lord made Himself recognised? When He broke the bread. So, we ourselves are convinced, too, that when we break the bread, we recognise the Lord. If He had not wanted to be recognised until that moment, it was for our sakes, we, who were not to see Him in the flesh but who were yet to eat Him in the flesh. So you, who believe in Him, whoever you are, you who do not bear the name of Christian in vain, who do not come casually into Church, who hear the Word of God in fear and hope – for you the broken bread will be a consolation. Our Lord’s absence is not a real absence. Trust, be faithful and He is with you, even if you do not see Him.

When the Lord hailed them, the disciples had no faith. They did not believe in His Resurrection, they did not even hope that He might be raised. They had lost faith, they had lost hope. They were dead men walking alongside a living one, they were walking, dead, with Life itself! Life was walking with them but, in their hearts, Life was not as yet renewed.

And do you long for Life? Imitate the disciples and you will recognise the Lord. They offered hospitality, our Lord seemed determined to proceed on His way but they held Him back … You too, then, keep hold of the stranger if you wish to recognise your Saviour! … Learn where to look for the Lord, where to possess Him, where to recognise Him – in breaking bread with Him!” … St Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo, Father and Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – O God, Who dost heal the sick world by the solemn gladness of the Passover, continue, we beseech Thee, to pour forth Thine heavenly gifts upon Thy people, until the same shall bring them into perfect liberty and finally, avail them unto life everlasting .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 BREVIARY Prayers, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRAYERS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 1 April – Easter Prayer of Praise

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Our Morning Offering – 1 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – Easter Monday

Easter Prayer of Praise
By St Gregory the Great (540-604)
Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church

It is only right, with all the powers
of our heart and mind,
to praise Thee Father
and Thine Only-Begotten Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, by Thy wondrous condescension
of Loving-Kindness toward us, Thy servants,
Thou gave us Thy Son.
Dear Jesus Thou paid the debt of Adam for us,
to the Eternal Father by Thy Blood
poured forth in Loving-Kindness.
Thou cleared away the darkness of sin
by Thy magnificent and radiant Resurrection.
Thou broke the bonds of death
and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.
Thou reconciled Heaven and earth.
Our life had no hope of Eternal Happiness
before Thou Redeemed us.
Thy Resurrection has washed away our sins,
restored our innocence
and brought us joy.
How inestimable is the tenderness of Thy Love!
Amen

Posted in Of FISHERMEN, FISHMONGERS, PATRONAGE - PRISONERS, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 1 April – Saint Valéry of Leucone (c565-c619) Priest, Abbot

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 1 April – Saint Valéry of Leucone (c565-c619) Priest, Abbot, Founder of the Abbey of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, a man of Miracles and Visions. Born around 565 in the Auvergne in France and died on 1 April c619 (?) in Leuconay, today St-Valéry-sur-Somme. Patronages – of horticulturists and gardeners, of Death Row Prisoners,fishermen and of of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme. Also known as – Valery of Leuconay, Valery of Amiens, Gualaric… Valarico… Valerico… Valerio… Walaric… Walarich… Walarico…Walaricus… Waleric… Walerico… Walericus… Walric… Additional Memorials – 2 April (enshrining of Relics) 21 May (translation of Relics at the Quintinus Basilica) 24 August (translation of Relics at the Bertinus Monastery) 12 December (translation of Relics in Amiens, France).

The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Amiens, the Abbot, St Valéry, whose Tomb is made illustrious by frequent miracles.”

Valéry was born in the Auvergne into a peasant family. Nearby was a school for the children of the wealthy citizens and Valéry begged a teacher to teach him the letters which the teacher gladly did. He could soon both read and write and his first project was to write the entire Book of Psalms and with this in his possession, he used the time tending the sheep to memorise all the Psalms

Leaving his family home, finally having convinced his father to allow him to go, he joined the Abbey of Autumo., where apparently an uncle was a Monk, He later moved to the Abbey of Saint-Germain d’Auxerre and finally, the Abbey of Luxeuil under the famous Abbot Columban. At Luxeui,l he exelled and was honoured too for his horticultural skills. His ability to protect his vegetables from insects was regarded as miraculous.

When Theuderic II, King of Burgundy expelled St Columban from his domains, Valéry and a fellow Monk named Waldolanus, left the kingdom to preach the Gospel. He eventually settled down as a Hermit at a place called Leuconay near the mouth of the Somme River. A community of disciples grew up around him.

In 613, Valéry founded a Monastery in Leuconay – today’s St-Valéry-sur-Somme – whose Monks lived according to Columban’s Rule. He converted the population to Christianity by – like St Boniface later in Hesse – having a tree felled which had been worshiped by the pagans. Tradition tells how he cured a lame man, St Blitmund, who became the Abbot of the Monastery after Valéry’s death.

The Monastery was built on the site of the former pagan tree. The village which developed around the Monastery bears our Saint’s name — Saint-Valery-sur-Somme.

Valéry died on 1 April around 619 in Leuconay. Valéry’s Relics were taken to Corbie by Huguenots but were amazingly recovered and returned to Leuconay on 12 December which is a day greatly celebrated.

The Luxeuil Monastery was abolished in 1790 during the French Revolution, the Abbey Church of St-Colomban is now a Parish Church and a school is housed in the Monastery buildings.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Easter Monday, Nostra Signora delle Lacrime / Our Lady of Tears, Sicily (1953) and the Saints for 1 April

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Easter Monday

1 April – The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament

Nostra Signora delle Lacrime / Our Lady of Tears, Sicily (1953) – 1 April:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/01/maundy-thursday-2021-our-lady-of-tears-sicily-1953-and-memorials-of-the-saints-1-april/

Blessed Abraham of Bulgaria
Blessed Alexander of Sicily
Saint Anastasio
Blessed Antonius of Noto
Saint Berhard of Amiens
Blessed Bernhardin of Noto

Saint Celsus of Armagh (c1080-1129) Archbishop of Armagh, Reformer. He was responsible for the change from lay control of the Church in Ireland, to a Clerical-Episcopal model. Himself a hereditary lay administrator, he decided to seek Priestly Ordination and be embraced celibacy in order that the reform introduced by Pope St Gregory VIII on the Continent, could take effect also in Ireland.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/04/01/saint-of-the-day-1-april-saint-celsus-of-armagh-c1080-1129-archbishop/

Saint Dodolinus of Vienne
Blessed Enrico Alfrieri OFM (1315-1405) Vicar General of the Friar’s Minor
Blessed Gerard of Sassoferrato
Saint Gilbert de Moray
Blessed Giuseppe Girott
Blessed Hugh of Bonnevaux

Saint Hugh of Grenoble (1053-1232) Bishop, Reformer, in the foundation of the Carthusian Order, founded a Monastery at Chalais.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Grenoble in Burgundia, in today’s France, St Hugh, Bishop, who worked for the reform of the customs of the clergy and the people and, during his Episcopate, ardently loving solitude, gave St Bruno at the time, his teacher and to his companions, the hermitage of Chartroux, of which he was also the first Abbot. He ruled his Church for about fifty years with the thoughtful example of his charity.”
The life of another St Hugh:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/01/saint-of-the-day-1-april-saint-hugh-of-grenoble-1053-1232/

Saint Jacoba of Rome
Blessed John Bretton
Saint Leucone of Troyes

Blessed Marcelle

Saint Mary of Egypt (c344-c 421) Desert Mother, Penitent, Recluse.
Her Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/01/saint-of-the-day-1-april-saint-mary-of-egypt-c-344-c-421/

Saint Melito Sardis (Died c 180) Early Church Father, Bishop of Sardis (Died c 180), ecclesiastical Writer, Confessor, Apologist, Defender of Christ’s dual nature. Saint Melito is believed to have been martyred around the time he wrote his apology to Marcus Aurelius circa 180.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/04/01/saint-of-the-day-1-april-st-melito-died-c-180/

Blessed Nicolò of Noto
Saint Prudentius of Atina
Saint Tewdrig ap Teithfallt
Saint Theodora of Rome
Saint Valéry of Leucone (c565-c619) Priest, Abbot
Saint Venantius of Spalato
Blessed Vinebault

Apostles of Picardy – Martyrs:
Saint Caidoc
Saint Fricor

Martyrs of Thessalonica – 6 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred. We know nothing about them but the names Alexander, Dionysius, Ingenianus, Panterus, Parthenius and Saturninus. Martyred in Thessalonica, Greece, date unknown.