Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, GOD ALONE!, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 11 August –The Attitude of Charity to Sin“ – Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity”

Thought for the Day – 11 August – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

The Attitude of Charity to Sin
“Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity”

Anything which offends God, is necessarily a source of sorrow, to the charitable, for as charity consists in loving God above all things for His Own sake and, is accompanied by a yearning desire to see Him honoured, more and more, that, which detracts from His honour, cannot cause charity any satisfaction.
On the contrary, it pains charity which pain corresponds to the offence committed against God.
Do I share this personal sorrow and pain, when any wrong is done to His Divine Majesty, or is it a matter of comparative indifference to me?

The Saints would gladly have given their lives to prevent sin.
It was intensely painful to them to think how continually God is offended. Many Saints laid down their lives to prevent sin from being committed.
The Saints all devoted themselves, with generous self-sacrifice, to the furtherance of God’s glory and, the hindrance of sin against Him. By prayer, by active zeal, by word, by work and by personal penance, the Saints fought against iniquity.
What do I do to prevent all the sin and vice in this wicked world?

Above all, the Saints feared and dreaded any sin in themselves. They avoided with the utmost care anything which could lead to sin. No spectacle, however magnificent, no honour, however brilliant, no pleasure however intense, caused them anything but disgust and horror, if it was in any way mingled with iniquity.
Is this true in my case? Do I relish things questionable or dangerous, or perhaps not altogether unmixed with positive sin!

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, JESUIT SJ, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the POOR, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 11 August – The Good Samaritan

Quote/s of the Day – 11 August – Pentecost XII – – 2 Corinthians 3:4-9; Luke 10:23-37– Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

But a certain Samaritan, … seeing him,
was moved with compassion.

Luke 10:33

As long as anyone has the means
of doing good to his neighbour
and does not do so,
he shall be reckoned a stranger
to the Love of the Lord.

St Irenaeus (c130-202
Father of the Church

No-one has ever been accused,
for not providing ornaments
but, for those, who neglect their neighbour,
a hell awaits with an inextinguishable fire
and torment, in the company of the demons.
Do not, therefore, adorn the Church
and ignore your afflicted brother,
for he is the most precious temple of all.

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father & Doctor of the Church

We must speak to them with our hands
before we speak to them with our lips.

St Peter Claver (1580-1654)

We should strive to keep our hearts open
to the sufferings and wretchedness of others
and pray, continually, that God may grant us,
that spirit of compassion
which is truly the Spirit of God.

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

All our religion is but a false religion
and all our virtues are mere illusions
and we ourselves are only hypocrites
in the sight of God,
if we have not that universal charity for everyone –
for the good and for the bad,
for the poor and for the rich
and for all those who do us harm,
as much as those who do us good.

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on SIN, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 11 August – “Have mercy on me, God, according to Thine Merciful Love!” (Ps 50:3).

One Minute Reflection – 11 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Pentecost XII – St Tiburtius (Died c286) Martyr, Layman, St Susanna of Rome (Died c 295) Virgin Martyr, St Philomena (Died 304) Virgin Martyr – 2 Corinthians 3:4-9; Luke 10:23-37– Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

But a certain Samaritan, … seeing him, was moved with compassion.” – Luke 10:33

REFLECTION – “O Lord Jesus, stirred by pity may Thou have the goodness to draw near me. Going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, Thou fall from the heights to our own lowest depths, from a state where people are full of life, to a land of the sick. Look, I have fallen into the hands of the angels of darkness, who have not only stripped off my garment of grace but, having beaten me with their blows, have left me half dead. May Thou treat the wounds of my sins, when Thou hast given me hope of recovering my health, lest they should triumph if I ever lose hope of healing. May Thou anoint me with the oil of Thine forgiveness and pour the wine of contrition, over me. If Thou set me on Thy Own mount, it is then that Thou “raise up the needy of the earth” that Thou “lift the poor from the ash-heap” (Ps 112:7).

For Thou art the One Who bore our sins, the One Who paid a debt for us, which Thy Thyself, did not contract. If Thou hast led me into the Inn of Thy Church, it is there that Thou would feed me with the food of Thine Body and Blood. If Thou were taking care of me, then I should no longer disobey Thy commands, I should no longer draw down on myself, the fury of raging beasts. For I have great need of Thy care, as long as I bear this flesh, subject to sin. Hear me then, I, who am the Samaritan stripped and wounded, weeping and groaning, calling Thee and crying with David: “Have mercy on me, God, according to Thine Merciful Love!” (Ps 50:3).” – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Exposition on the Seven Penitential Psalms),

PRAYER – May the constant protection of Thy holy Martyrs, Tiburtius and Susanna and Philomena support us, O Lord, for Thou never fails to look mercifully upon those whom Thou, hast given the help, of such intercession. 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 CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 11 August– Lucis Creator Optime, O Blest Creator of the Light By St Gregory the Great

Our Morning Offering – 11 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Pentecost XII

Lucis Creator Optime
O Blest Creator of the Light
By St Gregory the Great (540-604)
Pope, Father & Doctor

“Father of the Fathers

O blest Creator of the light,
Who mak’st the day with radiance bright,
And o’er the forming world did’st call
The Light from Chaos First of all.

Whose wisdom join’d in meet array
The morn and eve and nam’d them day;
Night comes with all its darkling fears;
Regard Thy people’s pray’rs and tears.

Lest, sunk in sin and whelm’d with strife,
They lose the gift of endless life;
While thinking but the thoughts of time,
They weave new chains of woe and crime.

But grant them grace that they may strain
The heav’nly gate and prize to gain;
Each harmful lure, aside to cast,
And purge away each error past.

O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Shall live and reign eternally.
Amen

This hymn is used for Vespers (II) on Sundays throughout the year in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Breviary.
Trans John M Neale (1818-1866), 1851.
Tune: “Lucis Creator Optime” Gregorian Chant, Mode VIII, traditional.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 11 August – St Equitius (Died c570) Abbot

Saint of the Day – 11 August – St Equitius (Died c570) Abbot, Miracle-worker, a renowned Preacher and Evangeliser spreading the tenets and glory of monasticism, Founder of a Monastery. Equitius was born between 480 and 490 in the region of Valeria Suburbicaria (present-day L’Aquila-Rieti-Tivoli. Italy). He died at the Monastery of San Lorenzo di Pizzoli of natural causes. Also known as – Equizio.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In the Province of Valeria, St Equitius, Abbot, whose sanctity is attested to by the blessed Pope Gregory.

St Gregory the Great refers to Equitius in his Dialogues and states that Equitius was a follower of St Benedict of Nursia.

Equitius worked to spread monasticism in Italy and the West but remained a Friar and through humility was never Ordained as a Priest.

Pope Gregory writes that Equitius’ reputation for sanctity was such that the Saint by his own example drew many disciples to embrace the religious life as Monks. According to ancient testimonies, the Monks of Equitius gave two Pontiffs to the Church and numerous Bishops and Cardinals.

Extraordinary events are related regarding Equitius, such as the liberation from temptations by the work of an Angel and the prophetic unmasking of a certain ‘Basil the Magician.’

The Saint died in his Monastery of San Lorenzo di Pizzoli. After his death his unapproved order was absorbed by the Benedictines with which he had such affinity. His Feast is celebrated on 11 August and his remains rest in the Church of San Margherita all’Aquila, now of the Jesuits and known as San Margherita deL Gesu all’Aquila,

San Margherita deL Gesu all’Aquila,
Piazza San Margherita all’Aquila,
Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Pentecost XII, St Philomena (Died 304), St Susanna of Rome (Died c 295) Virgins Martyrs, St Tiburtius (Died c286) Martyr, Link to the Assumption Novena and more Saints for 11 August

Pentecost XII

St Cassian of Benevento
St Chromatius the Prefect Martyr, the Father of St Tiburtius also celebrated today and also a Martyr
St Digna of Todi
St Equitius (Died c570) Abbot

St Lelia
St Rusicola of Arles
St Rufinus of Marsi
Bl Theobald of England and Companion
St Taurinus of Evreux