Day: November 3, 2024

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on CREATION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD

Thought for the Day – 3 November – CONSIDERATION XXXII, The Love of God

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Thought for the Day – 3 November – 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 XXXII

The Love of God
“We love Him because He first loved us.”
(i John iv: 19)

FIRST POINT:
CONSIDER, in the first place, God deserves to be loved by you, since He loved you first, that you might love Him and He, has been the first of all to love you.
“I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” (Jer xxxi: 3).
The first to love you on earth, were your parents but they did not love you before they knew you but God, loved you before you had any being. When neither your father nor your mother were in the world, God loved you when the world was not even created, God loved you. And how long before the creation of the world did God love you? Perhaps a thousand years or ages. There is no need to reckon years and ages. Know, that God has loved you from eternity!
“ I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore, with loving kindness have I drawn Thee.” (Jer xxxi: 3)’

In short, God has loved you since He has been God; as long as He has loved Himself, He has loved you. Therefore, St Agnes had good reason to say: “I am prevented by another love.” When the world and the creature demanded her love, she answered: “No, O world, no, O creature, I cannot love you. My God has been the first to love me and it is, therefore, right that I should consecrate my love to God alone.”
Thus, my brother, from eternity has thy God loved you and from love alone, has selected you from the number of many men He could have created and has given you being and a position in the world. For your love even, He has made many other beautiful creatures to serve you and might remind you of the love which He has for you and which you owe to Him.
St Augustine writes: “Heaven, and earth and all things, tell me that I ought to love Thee.” Whence, the Saint observed, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the rivers, they seemed as if they would all speak and say to him: “Augustine, love God, since He has created us for you, in order that you might love Him!”

The Abbot de Ranee, when he admired the hills, fountains and flowers, said they recalled the love which God had towards him.
St Teresa said, creation reproached her own ingratitude towards God.
St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, whenever she held in her hand any beautiful flower or fruit, felt as if wounded with a certain arrow in her heart, with the love towards God, saying within herself, “Thou, my God, hast planned, from eternity, to create a certain flower or fruit, in order that I .might love Thee!”

Consider further the especial love God had towards you in causing you to be born in … the bosom of the true Church. How many are born amongst idolaters, infidels, or heretics and are lost! How few have it their lot to be born amongst men, where the true Faith reigns and of the number of those few, the Lord has elected you.
How many millions are deprived of the Sacraments, of sermons, of the example of good companions and of all the other aids to salvation which are in the true Church! And God has willed to grant you all these great benefits and graces, without any merit on your part, even seeing beforehand, your demerits … He already foreknew the injuries which you would do to Him.

Affections and Prayers

O Sovereign Lord of Heaven and earth, Infinite Good, Infinite Majesty, Who hast so loved men, how is it then that Thou art so disregarded of men?
But amongst these men, Thou, my God, hast so particularly loved me and bestowed upon me such special grace which Thou hast not granted to others and I seem to have despised Thee more than other!

But I throw myself at Thy feet, O Jesus, my Saviour. I should deserve to be cast away, for the ingratitude which I have committed but Thou hast said that Thou Icnowest not how to cast away a penitent heart which returns to Thee.
“Him who cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” (John vi: 37) .
My Jesus, I repent of having offended Thee.
In the time past I have been ungrateful to Thee, now I own
Thee for my Saviour and my Redeemer, Who died to save me,and to be loved by me. When shall I cease, my Jesus, to be ungrateful to Thee … This day I resolve to love Thee with all my heart and to love none other than Thee.
O Infinite Goodness, I adore Thee for all those, who adore Thee not and I love Thee, for all those, who love Thee not.
I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee, I offer Thee my all; aid me with Thy grace. …

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, St Francis de Sales, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 3 November – Why are you fearful ..?

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Quote/s of the Day – 3 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Within the Octave of All Saints – Pentecost XXIV – Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 8:23-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Why are you fearful,
O you of little faith?
Then He arose
and rebuked the wind and the sea
and there came a great calm.”

Matthew 8:26

“Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.”

John 14:27

“No-one should fear to suffer
for the sake of justice,
no-one should lose confidence
in the reward that has been promised.
The way to rest is through toil,
the way to life is through death.
Christ has taken on Himself
the whole weakness of our lowly human nature.
If then, we are steadfast in our faith in Him
and in our love for Him,
we win the victory that He has won,
we receive what He has promised.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“If thou art bound down by sickness,
if sorrows weary thee,
if thou art trembling with fear,
invoke the Name of Jesus!”

St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1456)

“ … Let the fine point of your spirit
always turn towards God, its north.
Your are about to take to the high seas
of the world, do not, on this account,
alter dial or mast, sail or anchor or wind.
Keep Jesus Christ
as your dial, at all times,
His Cross for mast,
on which to hoist
your resolutions, as a sail.
Let your anchor be,
profound trust in Him
and set out early!”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 November – ‘ …In this way, stand firm in peace, certain that “no-one has hoped in the Lord and been confounded ” …’

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One Minute Reflection – 3 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Within the Octave of All Saints – Pentecost XXIV – Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 8:23-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish.” – Matthew 8:25

REFLECTION – “God is not at all displeased when, on occasion, you quietly complain to Him. Do not be afraid to say to Him: “Lord, why dost Thou stand afar off?” (cf Ps 9:22 LXX) Thou knowest well I love Thee and only long for Thy Love. Graciously come to my aid and do not abandon me.”

If your desolation continues and your anguish is unbearable, unite your voice to that of Jesus, Jesus dying in affliction on the Cross; say, as you beg the Divine pity: “My God, my God, why hast Thou abandoned me?” (Mt 27:46) But profit from this trial, firstly so as to humble yourself even more, while reminding yourself that we are not worthy of any consolations when we have offended God and then, so as to revive your confidence even more by reminding yourself that, whatever He may do or permit, God only has your wellbeing in mind and that, in this way, “all things work together for the good” (cf Rm 8:28) of your soul. The more trouble and discouragement besiege you, the more you should arm yourself with courage and cry out: “The Lord is my Light and my help, who should I fear?” (Ps 26:1). Yes, Lord, it is Thou Who enlightens me, Thou Who will save me; in Thee I entrust myself, “in Thee I place my hope: I shall never be confounded” (Ps 30:2 LXX).

In this way, stand firm in peace, certain that “no-one has hoped in the Lord and been confounded ”(Sir 2:11 Vg.), none have been lost after having placed their trust in God.” – St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop and Most Zealous Doctor of the Church (What Should We Speak About With God? – from: ‘How to Converse Continually and Familiarly with God’).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who granted us to honour the merits of all Thy Saints in a single solemn festival, bestow on us, we beseech Thee, through their manifold intercession, that abundance of Thy mercy for which we yearn. 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 "Follow Me", CHRIST the KING Prayers, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD

Our Morning Offering – 3 November – Alone With None but Thee, My God

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Our Morning Offering – 3 November – Pentecost XXIV

Alone With None but Thee, My God
Attri. St Columban (543-615)

Alone with none but Thee, my God
I journey on my way,
what need I fear when Thou art near,
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within Thy hand
than if a host should round me stand.

My destined time is known to Thee,
and death will keep his hour;
did warriors strong around me throng,
they could not stay his power.
No walls of stone can man defend
when Thou Thy messenger dost send.

My life I yield to Thy decree
and bow to Thy control
in peaceful calm, for from Thine arm
no power can wrest my soul,
could earthly omens e’er appal
a man that heeds the heavenly call?

The child of God can fear no ill,
His chosen, dread no foe;
we leave our fate with Thee and wait
Thy bidding when to go,
’tis not from chance our comfort springs,
Thou art our Trust, O King of kings.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 3 November – Saint Winifred (Died 7th Century) Virgin Martyr.

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Saint of the Day – 3 November – Saint Winifred (Died 7th Century) Virgin Martyr. Born in Tegeingl (modern-day Flintshire) Wales and died in Gwytherin (in modern-day Conwy) also in Wales. Patronages – of Holywell in Flintshire, Wales; against unwanted advances, of the Diocese of Shrewsbury. Also known as – Winefride, Wenefreda, Winifreda, Gwenffrewi.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In England, St Winifred, Virgin and Martyr.”

St Winifred’s Statue in the Well Chapel

The story of St Winifred, the 7th Century Virgin and Martyr is told in two 12th Century ‘Lives’ one written by Robert Pennant, Prior of Shrewsbury Abbey in Shropshire in England and a shorter work of unknown authorship, known as the Vita Prima. Both works tell substantially the same story of the origin of theour Saint and of her famous Well.

Winifred was the daughter of Teuyth, a chieftain of Tegeingl, who had permitted St Beuno to establish a Church within his territory. Beuno became Winifred’s religious instructor and spiritual guide (later iterations of the story make him Winefride’s uncle) and, at an early age, she took a vow of chastity, intending to devote her life to God.

The Glass image of St Winifred resides in Cardiff

One Sunday morning, while her parents were at Mass, a Prince named Caradoc visited their home. Finding Winifred alone, he tried to coerce her to unchaste actions, threatening to force her if she refused. Winifred pretended to consent, only asking that she first be allowed to retire to her chamber to change her garments. By this ruse she managed to escape the house and fled down the valley towards St Beuno’s Church. As she reached it, Caradoc caught up with her and decapitated her with his sword. Her body fell to the ground, outside the Church door, but her head landed inside the threshold,and where it fekk, a spring burst forth from the earth.

The Martyrdom of St Winifred

St Beuno came forward and pronounced a curse upon Caradoc, who was instantly struck dead. Then St Beuno placed Winifred’s head back onto her body and prayed for her revival. The prayer was granted and Winifred returned to life, the only trace of her injury being a thin white line around her neck. The two 12th-century source give differing accounts of her later life but both agree that she took command of an Abbey in Gwytherin, where she eventually died and was buried.

St Winifred’s Well, a holy and miraculous Well and a Welsh National Shrine located in the Welsh Town of Holywell in Flintshire of which Town, St Winifred is the Patron. The Well is unique among Britain’s sacred sites in that it retained a continuous pilgrimage tradition throughout the English Reformation.
During the Middle Ages, the Well formed part of the Estate of nearby Basingwerk Abbey. It was visited by several English Monarchs, including Richard II and Henry IV.

St Winifred’s miraculous Well

Veneration of Winifred as a Virgin Martyr Saint is attested from the 12th Century. She is mostly venerated in England, not in Wales which led Caesar Baronius to list her as an “English Saint” in his Roman Martyrology of 1584.

In 1138, Relics of Winifred were carried to Shrewsbury to form the basis of an elaborate Shrine there, hence her Patronage of that Town. The Church of St. Winifred, Stainton is a 12th Century Church located in the Village of Stainton, South Yorkshire.

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Pentecost XXIV, Notre-Dame des Miracles / Our Lady of Miracles and Virtues, Rennes, France (14th Century) and the Saints for 3 November

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PENTECOST XXIV

Notre-Dame des Miracles et Vertus / Our Lady of Miracles and Virtues, Rennes, France (14th Century) – 3 November:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/03/notre-dame-des-miracles-et-vertus-our-lady-of-miracles-and-virtues-rennes-france-14th-century-and-memorials-of-the-saints/

Blessed Martin de Porres OP (1579-1639) “Saint of the Broom,” Dominican lay Brother, Miracle-worker, Apostle of Charity, Mystic.
Full biography here:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/saint-of-the-day-3-november-st-martin-de-porres-o-p-saint-of-the-broom/

St Acepsimas
St Acheric of Vosges
Bl Alphais of Cudot
Bl Berardo dei Marsi
Bl Berchtold of Engelberg
St Caesarius
St Cecilio Manrique Arnáiz
St Clydog
St Cristiolus
St Domnus of Vienne
St Elerius
St Englatius
St Florus of Lodeve
St Gaudiosus of Tarazona
St Germanus
St Guenhael
St Hermengaudius of Urgell
St Hilary of Viterbo

St Hubert of Liege (c656-727) Bishop, the “Apostle of the Ardennes”
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/03/saint-of-the-day-3-november-saint-hubert-of-liege-c-656-727-the-apostle-of-the-ardennes/

Bl Ida of Toggenburg
St Libertine of Agrigento

St Malachy O’More of Armagh (1094 – 1148) Bishop, Abbot, Confessor, Reformer, Miracle-Worker, Primate of Ireland, gifted with the charism of Propjecy.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/11/03/saint-of-the-day-3-november-st-malachy-of-armagh-1094-1148/

St Papulus
St Pirmin
St Quartus

St Rumwold of Buckingham (c650-650) Infant Saint born with miraculous adult abilities and mystical gifts. Born in c650 at King Sutton, Northants, England and died three days later in the same place.
Three Days of Miracles:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/03/saint-of-the-day-3-november-saint-rumwold-of-buckingham-c650-650-infant-saint/

Blessed Simon Ballachi OP (c1210-1319) Lay Brother of the Order of Preachers, Mystic. He was Beatified by Pope Pius VII on 14 March 1817.
His Life Story:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/03/saint-of-the-day-3-november-blessed-simon-ballachi-op-c-1210-1319/

St Sylvia Mother of St Gregory the Great, Pope
St Theophilus
St Valentine of Viterbo
St Valentinian
St Vitalis
St William of Vosges

St Winifred (Died 7th Century) Virgin Martyr

St Wulganus

Innumerable Martyrs of Saragossa: A large group of Christians martyred in Zaragoza, Spain by Dacian during the persecutions of Diocletian. Dacian ordered all Christians of the city into exile under pain of death; when they were assembled to leave, Dacian ordered imperial soldiers to massacre the lot of them. They were Martyred in 304.