Posted in PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on PEACE

Thought for the Day – 23 October –CONSIDERATION XXI, The Unhappy Life of the Sinner and the Happy Life of the Saint

Thought for the Day – 23 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXI

FIRST POINT:
ALL men in this life weary themselves to find peace – the
merchant, the soldier and he who has a lawsuit –;they all
try to find peace, thinking, by winning that gain, obtaining
that post, gaining that lawsuit, to make a fortune and thus, to find peace.

Poor worldly ones, who seek peace in this world which cannot give it to them! God alone can give us peace, as the Church prays, “Give unto Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give.”
No! the world with all its riches cannot satisfy the heart of man because man was not created for these riches but for God alone, therefore, it is God alone Who can satisfy him.

Animals are created for the delights of sense only; these find their happiness in earthly things. Give a horse a bundle of grass; give a dog a bone; they are both content and desire nothing more. But the soul which is created to love and to be united to God alone, will never be able to find peace in all the pleasures which sense can give. God alone can render it truly happy.
That rich man whom St Luke records, whose ground brought forth plentifully, said within himself: “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry.” (Luke xii: 19). But this unhappy one was called a fool and with reason, as St Bernard observes. “Hast thou the soul of a hog? Ah, wretched one,” exclaims the Saint, “perhaps thou art like a beast, so that thou canst be satisfied with eating, with drinking, with sensual pleasures?”
He observes, that a man may be filled with the good things of this world but not satisfied. “Ye eat but ye have not enough.” (Hag i: 6). And for this reason, the more the avaricious man acquires, the more does he seek to acquire. St Augustine observes, increased riches do not close but rather extend, the jaws of avarice!

When Alexander the Great had acquired many kingdoms, he wept because he could conquer no more.
If the riches of this world could satisfy a man, the rich and
those who govern, would be fully happy but experience teaches us the contrary. Solomon observes the same thing, even he asserts that he never denied his senses one thing.
And whatsoever mine eyes desired, I kept not from them.” (Eccles ii: 10). But notwithstanding, what does he say? Vanity of vanities; …. all is vanity.” (Eccles i: 2).
As if he had said, all which is in the world is mere vanity, deceit and folly!

Affections and Prayers

Ah, my God! what is there remaining to me of all the offences I have committed against Thee but trouble, bitterness and the horror that I deserve hell!? The bitterness which I feel does not displease me; nay, it rather consoles me, for it is the gift of Thy grace and causes me to hope, since Thou dost give it to me that Thou art willing to pardon me.

That which does displease me, is the bitterness I have caused Thee, my Redeemer, Thou Who hast loved me so much. My Lord, I deserved to be abandoned by Thee then but, instead of leaving me, Thou dost offer me pardon; nay, Thou art the first to ask for peace.

Yes, my Jesus, I would be at peace with Thee and I desire Thy grace more than any other good. I repent, O Thou Infinite Goodness, for having offended Thee. I would die of grief.
Ah, through that love which Thou didst bear for me when dying on the Cross, pardon me and take me to Thinr Heart and change my heart in such a way that I may please Thee in the time to come, as much as I have displeased Thee in the time that is past. …
Grant me Lord, Thine grace and help and then do with me what Thy wilt.

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, For FAITH in the BLESSED SACRAMENT, IMMACULATE HEART Quotes, MARIAN QUOTES, OUR Cross, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 23 October – St Anthony Mary Claret

Quote/s of the Day – 23 October – St Anthony Mary Claret CMF (1807-1870) Archbishop and Founder of the Claretians

The faith I have, when I am in the
Presence of the Blessed Sacrament,
is so strong, I find it impossible
to express what I feel…
When the time comes to leave,
I must force myself to overcome, the inclination
to prolong my stay with Jesus.”

A son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary …
is a man who unceasingly expends himself
to light the fire of divine love in the world.
Nothing stops him!

The Christian, who desires to follow Jesus,
carrying His Cross, must bear in mind
that the name “Christian” means,
“learner or imitator of Christ”
and that, if he wishes to bear
that noble title worthily,
he must, above all, do as Christ
charges us in the Gospel:
We must oppose or deny ourselves,
take up the cross and follow Him.

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/10/23/quote-s-of-the-day-23-october-st-anthony-mary-claret/

St Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 October – “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” Matthew 22:20

One Minute Reflection – 23 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” –Feria –Philippians 1:6-11; Matthew22:15-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, the things that are God’s.” – Matthew 22:20-21

REFLECTION – “An impress of Wisdom has been created in us and in all His Works. Therefore, the true Wisdom which shaped the world, claims for Himself, all which bears His Image and rightly says: The Lord created me in His Works. These words are really spoken by the wisdom in us but the Lord Himself here adopts them as His own. Wisdom, Himself is not created because He is the Creator but, by reason of the created image of Himself, found in His Works, He speaks thus, as though He were speaking of Himself. Our Lord said: He who receives you receives Me and He could say this because the impress of Himself is in us. In the same way, although Wisdom is not to be numbered among created things, yet because His form and likeness is in His Works, He speaks as if He were a creature and says: The Lord created me in His Works, when His purpose first unfolded. …

The likeness of Wisdom has been stamped upon creatures in order that the world may recognise in it, the Word Who was its Maker and, through the Word, come to know the Father. This is Paul’s teaching: What can be known about God is clear to them, for God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world, His invisible nature has been there, for the mind to perceive, in things which have been made. Accordingly, the Word is not a creature, for the passage which begins: The Lord created me . . . is to be understood as referring to that Wisdom which is truly in us and is said to be so.” – St Athanasius (297-373) Bishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, graciously grant Thou faithful, forgiveness and peace that they may be cleansed of all sin and serve Thee with minds free from care. 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 Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 23 October – I Wish to Love Thee, My God

Our Morning Offering – 23 October – St Anthony Mary Claret CMF (1807-1870) Archbishop and Founder of the Claretians

I Wish to Love Thee, My God
By St Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870)

I wish to love Thee, my God,
with all my heart,
with all my being,
with all my strength.
I consecrate to Thee,
my thoughts,
desires, words
and actions,
whatever I have
and whatever I can be.
Let me use what I have
for Thy greater honour
and glory,
according to Thy will.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 23 October – Saint Amon of Toul (4th Century) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 23 October – Saint Amon of Toul (4th Century) Amon was the 2nd Bishop of Toul, previously having lived as a Hermit. He was born in France and died there of natural causes. Also known as – Amonis, Ammon, Aimon, Amo.

St Amon’s Portrait in the Apse of Toul Cathedral

Amon was one of the most distinguished disciples of Bishop St Mansuetus of Toul (fr: Mansuy), the City’s first Bishop (c338-375). When Mansuetus died in 375, Amon was elected as the new Bishop, the 2nd known Bishop of Toul. See the two Bishops below, in a stained glass window at Toul Cathedral.

Devoted to a life of penance, Amon often retired to a cave (in the village of Favières ) with cell-shaped cavities about 25 meters deep and 3 or 4 meters high.

Amon was forced to flee the Toul Diocese during the devastating retreat of the Huns and Attila, following their defeat at the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields. Tradition has it that a rock, which was blocking the prelate’s path, split open and then closed obrt him to hide him from his barbarian pursuers. Today, this place is called the “Bois d’Amon” which is a small hill overlooking the village of Goviller. His successor was St Alchas.

Amon is celebrated on 23 October in the Diocese of Toul. His portraits can be seen in the apse of Toul Cathedral .

According to the records of the Diocese of Toul, a hermitage bore his name in the village of Saulxerotte. Tradition reports that he himself Consecrated this Chapel-hermitage (now disappeared) and wished to be buried there. At the time, Saint-Amon was considered a hamlet , in the surroundings of Saulxerotte.

For its part, the Collegiate Church of Saint-Gengoult in Toul possesses several parts of the garment and hair shirt of Saint Amon; these Relics are enclosed with numerous bones in an old wooden Shrine preserved in under the High Altar’

St Amon also in the Cathedral of Toul
Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer, Notre-Dame-de-Grace / Our Lady of Grace in Equemauville, France (1524), and the Saints for 23 October

Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer – The Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Liturgical Feast. It is celebrated in Venice as the Festa del Redentore. It is also celebrated by the Redemptorists and was celebrated in the City of Rome. The Feast is found only in the special calendar of some Diocese and religious Orders and is celebrated with proper Mass and Office either on the third Sunday of July or on 23 October.
https://anastpaul.com/2019/10/23/the-feast-of-the-most-holy-redeemer-23-october/

Notre-Dame-de-Grace / Our Lady of Grace in Equemauville, Honfleur, France – also known as Our Lady of Consolation (1524) 20 June (The Crowning) and 23 October:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/06/20/notre-dame-de-grace-our-lady-of-grace-our-lady-of-consolation-honfleur-france-1524-and-memorials-of-the-saints-20-june/

St Anthony Mary Claret CMF (1807-1870) Known as “The Spiritual Father of Cuba.” In the first years, records show, that he Confirmed 100,000 people and performed 9,000 Sacramental Marriages.Archbishop of Cuba, one of the Fathers of the First Vatican Council,Confessor to the Queen of Spain, Missionary, Founder of the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commonly called the Claretians, Confessor, Mystic, Social Reformer, Spiritual Director, Writer, Publisher, Preacher, Apostle of Charity. He was declared venerable by Pope Leo XIII in 1899. He was Beatified in 1934 and in 1950, Canonised by Pope Pius XII. His heart is incorrupt.
The 1969 revision of the calendar moved St Anthony Feast to the day of his death, 24 October (from the 23rd) but the 24th is and had been the Feast of Saint Raphael the Archangel since 1921.
About St Anthony Mary here:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/saint-of-the-day-24-october-st-anthony-mary-claret-1807-1870-cmf/

St Allucio of Campugliano (c 1070–1134) Layman. Apostle of the poor and of pilgrims, Penitent, Peace-maker, Miracle-worker.
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/10/23/saint-of-the-day-23-october-saint-allucio-of-campugliano-c-1070-1134/

St Amon of Toul (4th Century) Bishop
St Arethas of Negran
St Benedict of Sebaste
St Clether
St Domitius
St Elfleda
St Ethelfleda
Sts Germanus and Servandus of Cadiz
St Gratien of Amiens
Bl Henry of Cologne OP (Died 1225) Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, one of the first Disciples of St Dominic
St Ignatius of Constantinople

Bl John Buoni OSA (1168-1249) Hermit Friar
St John of Syracuse
St Oda of Aquitaine

St Romanus of Rouen

St Severinus of Cologne (c330-c400) the 3rd Bishop of Cologne, Confessor, Defender of the Faith against heretics, Miracle-worker. He heard about the death of St Martin of Tours by the message of Angels’ voices. He founded a Monastery in honour of the Martyrs, Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, which is nowadays the Basilica of St. Severinus.
This Zealous Patron of Cologne:

https://anastpaul.com/2023/10/23/saint-of-the-day-23-october-saint-severinus-of-cologne-c330-c400-bishop-confessor/

St Syra of Faremoutiers
St Theodoret of Antioch
Blessed Thomas Thwing Priest Martyr Beatified on 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
St Verus of Salerno

Martyrs of Nicaea – 3 Saints
Euerotas
Socrates
Theodota

Martyrs of Valenciennes – 6 Beati: A group of Urusuline and Briggittine nuns murdered together in the anti-Christian excesses of the French Revolution. They were guillotined on 23 October 1794 in Valenciennes, Nord, France and Beatified on 13 June 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
Anne-Joseph Leroux
Clotilde-Joseph Paillot
•Jeanne-Louise Barré
Marie-Augustine Erraux
Marie-Liévine Lacroix
Marie-Marguerite-Joseph Leroux