Day: July 22, 2024

Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD

Thought for the Day – 22 July – Charity, a Supreme Love

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Thought for the Day – 22 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

Charity, a Supreme Love

Charity does not exist within the soul of anyone who does not love God above all things. If some created being has the first place in our heart and God only the second, then, we are the enemies, not the friends of God. He must have all our heart or none!
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with thy whole heart and thy whole soul.”
If, any person or thing, hinders this supreme love for God, we must avoid it at any cost. If this is impossible, we must pray earnestly that we may never fall into the terrible misfortune of loving the creature more than the Creator, Who is God, blessed forever.

This, however, does not mean that we must have a stronger feeling of love for God than for some loved object upon earth. We cannot always control our feelings. We are creatures of sense and our senses and imagination have great power over us.
Nor does it mean that the love of God is to swallow up the love of created things. This is impossible.
Nor, again, does it mean, there must be no possible circumstances which we can imagine, wherein we could not promise to choose God, however violent the temptation might be.
It simply means that, as I am now and under the present circumstances, I would give up anything rather than mortally offend God.

This supreme love of God includes a conviction that God is our best friend and, therefore, He will never ask of us what is beyond our power. He will provide an escape from every temptation, however violent.
Hence, I will have no fear about the future. God will never ask of me what He does not give me strength to perform!

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – Penitance

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Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – St Mary Magdalen (1st Century) Penitent – Song 3:2-5; 8:6-7, Luke 7:36-50.

“She began to bathe His feet with her tears
and wiped them with the hair of her head
and kissed His feet
and anointed them with ointment.”

Luke 7:38

“Remember not our former iniquities,
let Thy mercies speedily prevent us,
for we are become exceeding poor.
Help us, O God, our Saviour
and for the glory of Thy Name, O Lord,
deliver us and forgive us our sins,
for Thy Name’s sake.”

Psalm 78:8-9

“Let us then, my brethren, endure in hope.
Let us devote ourselves, side-by-side with our hoping,
so that the God of all the universe,
as He beholds our intention,
may cleanse us from all sins,
fill us with high hopes from what we have in hand
and grant us the change of heart which saves.
God has called you and you have your calling!”

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Prayer, appeases the anger of God;
He pardons the sinner
when he prays with humility.”

St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455)

“We must be very sorry for faults
with a repentance which is strong,
constant, tranquil
but not troubled, unquiet or fainthearted.”

(Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, Chapter 7).

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

In conclusion, let us say this prayer of St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787):
“My soul, look at this Crucified Man …
see how the arms extend to embrace you,
how the head bows forward
to give you the kiss of peace.
See how His side is open to receive you.
What have you to say?
Such a good and loving God deserves to be loved.
O my Jesus!
Adorable Jesus!
O Love of my soul!
How can I ever forget Thee?
How can I ever love anything
apart from Thee!
O suffering Jesus,
may the memory of Thee ever remain
in my heart!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, The HEART, The REDEMPTION, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 July – ‘Let us welcome our God and Lord …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 22 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – – St Mary Magdalene (1st Century) Penitent – Song 3:2-5; 8:6-7; Luke 7:36-50 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And turning to the woman, He said unto Simon: Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet. But she, with tears, hath washed My Feet and with her hair, hath wiped them.” – Luke 7:43

REFLECTION – “Let us welcome our God and Lord, the true Doctor Who, by coming to us, is alone able to heal our souls, He Who strove so mightily on our behalf. He is constantly knocking on the door of our hearts for us to open to Him and let Him in, so that He may recline in our souls, making His home with us and we can wash His Feet and pour perfume over them. Indeed, Jesus rebukes the one who failed to wash His Feet and elsewhere, He says: “Behold I stand at the door … if anyone opens the door, I will enter his house” (Apoc 3:20). In fact, this is the reason why He bore such great suffering, delivering up His Body to death and redeeming us from slavery – it was so that He might enter our souls and make His home there.

This was why our Lord says to those who are to stand on His left side at the judgement and be cast into the eternal fire: “I was a stranger and you gave me no welcome; I was hungry and you gave me no food; thirsty and you gave me no drink” (Mt 25:42) – because, His food and drink, His clothing, shelter and rest are all within our heart. This is why He is always knocking, trying to come into our house. So let us welcome Him and bring Him inside, within us, since He is our food, drink and eternal life, too.

And those souls who do not now receive Him within, for Him to find His rest in them, or rather that they might find rest in Him, will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven with the Saints or be able to enter the heavenly City. But you, O Lord Jesus Christ, grant us to enter there, we who glorify Thy Name, with the Father and the Holy Ghost for ages unending. Amen.” – St Macarius of Egypt (c300-390) Monk, Father of the Church (Sermon attributed to St Macarius).

PRAYER – May the prayers of blessed Mary Magdalen help us, O Lord, Who was moved by her prayers, her love and peniteance, that we too may learn true repentance and sorrow for our sins..Through the same 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 CONTRITION, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 22 July – Act of Contrition and Repentance By St Alcuin

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Our Morning Offering – 22 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Mary Magdalen (1st Century) Penitent

Act of Contrition and Repentance
By St Alcuin of York (c735-804)
Father of the Church

Almighty and merciful God,
Fountain of all Goodness,
Thou knows the thoughts of our hearts.
We confess that we have sinned against Thee
and done evil in Thy Sight.
Wash us from the stains of our past sins
and give us grace and power
to put away all hurtful things.
Deliver us from the bondage of sin
that we may bring forth
worthy fruits of repentance.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 22 July – Saint Cyril of Antioch (Died c306) Bishop Martyr.

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Saint of the Day – 22 July – Saint Cyril of Antioch (Died c306) Bishop Martyr. Unknown birth date and location but we believe that he was a local of Antioch. He died most probably of ill-treatment and starvation, in the mines in Pannopia which is in tbe modern eastern European regions of Hungary, Sovalie etc. (He is not to be confused with St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) the Doctor of the Church).

The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Antioch, the holy Bishop Cyril. who was distinguished for learning and holiness.”

Ancient Greek Icon of Jesus

In the Episcopal lists of Antioch, our Saint appears after Timaeus, that is, he would have been elected around 279-80.

Nothing is known about Cyril’s Episcopate, except that he may have admitted to Ecclesiastical communion, the Priest Lucian, previously condemned for his relations with Paul of Samosata, who had been the Bishop of Antioch until 268 when he was deposted and excommunicated for the heresy of monarchianism (rejection of the Holy Trinity), of which he was the originator.

Lucian of Antioch – 985 in the Vatican Library, Rome

Most likely, upon the publication of the second edict of Diocletian in spring 303 which prescribed the arrest of all Church leaders, Cyril was arrested and sent to the minas in Pannonia. A passage from the Acts of the Four Crowned Saints can be interpreted in this sense.

His death occurred in exile around 306.
Together with Cyril, a Martyr named Andrew is commemorated in the Martyrology of Hieronymia. This is an authentic Martyr who is remembered, always together with Cyril, in the list of Martyrs of Antioch, found in the sermon attributed to St Eusebius of Caesarea.

Ancient Church of St Peter in Antioch
Posted in DOMINICAN OP, SAINT of the DAY

St Mary of Magdala and Memorials of the Saints – 22 July

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St Mary of Magdala “The Apostle of the Apostles” (St Thomas Aquinas), Penitent. During the Middle Ages, Mary Magdalene was regarded in Western Christianity as a repentant prostitute or promiscuous woman, claims not found in any of the four Canonical Gospels.
About St Mary:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-the-feast-of-st-mary-of-magdala-apostle-to-the-apostles/

St Anastasius of Schemarius
St Andrea of Antioch

Blessed Augustine Fangi O.P. (1430-1493) Dominican Priest and Friar, Confessor, Mystic, known as “The Miracle Worker.”
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-blessed-augustine-fangi-o-p-1430-1493/

St Baudry of Montfaucon
St Claudius Marius Victorinus of Saussaye
St Cyril of Antioch (Died c306) Bishop, Martyr
St Dabius
St John Lloyd

St Joseph of Palestine (Died c 356) Layman, Convert from Judaism, a contemporary of Emperor Constantine, a Rabbinical scholar, member of the Sanhedrin and a disciple of Hillel II. Following his conversion, Emperor Constantine gave him the rank of Count, appointed him as supervisor of the Churches in Palestine and gave him permission to build Churches in the Galilee. Patronages – converts, guardians.
A Very Interesting Saint:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-st-joseph-of-palestine-died-c-356/

St Lewine
St Maria Wang Lishi
St Meneleus of Ménat
St Movean of Inis-Coosery
St Pancharius of Besancon
Bl Paolo de Lara

St Philip Evans SJ (1645-1679) Confessor, Priest Martyr, Missionary of the Society of Jesus.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-saint-philip-evans-sj-1645-1679-priest-martyr/

St Plato of Ancyra
St Syntyche of Philippi
St Theophilus of Cyprus

St Wandrille of Fontenelle (c605–668) Priest, Monk, Abbot. Married out of obedience to his parents, Wandrille agreed with his wife to keep their virginity and both retired to a Monastery.
About St Wandrille:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-st-wandrille-of-fontenelle-c-605-668/

Martyrs of Marula/Massylis: – 3 Saints: Three Christians Martyred together. We know nothing else about them but the names – Ajabosus, Andrew and Elian. They were martyred in Massylis (Marula), Numidia (in modern Algeria).

Martyrs of Massilitani: A group of Christians Martyred together in northern Africa. Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote about them.