Day: November 6, 2024

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 6 November – “How to Pray at All Times”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 6 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

In order to see us to the beginning of Advent, I will be posting short excerpts from this Treatise on Prayer.

This beautiful little work was first published in 1753. It is, therefore, one of the earliest works of St Alphonsus. The Saint entitled it: ‘A method of Conversing Continually and Lovingly with God and, to the title, he added a note to say that it had been translated from the French but that he had ‘ augmented it with holy thoughts, affections and practices. It was surely the Saint’s humility whichmade him thus minimise his part in the composition of the book, for, as a matter of fact, he entirely recast the little French Treatise and made it all his own. His biographer, Father Berthe, could write of it: ‘In this golden little book are to be found the most familiar thoughts of the holy author. (Life Vol I P 575).

It will be easily seen that the Treatise has a twofold message. St Alphonsus, like the Divine Redeemer before him, always puts the thought of God’s justice andthe fear of punishment, before those who are obstinate in sin. But, following again the Redeemer’s example, the saintly Doctor preaches, in burning words the truth that every soul wishing to serve God may go to Him with perfect, unwavering confidence. To such souls God shows, Infinite tenderness and love. This message of confidence to men of goodwill, is the first lesson which the Saint teaches, with convincing force, in the following pages.
The second lesson is deduced from the first – those who wish to serve God should speak to Him frequently, confidingly, lovingly.

Be it remembered, this Treatise is from the pen of a Doctor of the Church every sentence of it bears the impress of his authority. A new translation of it is now given to the faithful in the hope that it will continue its mission of mercy and lead men, in ever increasing numbers, to speak to God, frequently and lovingly.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL

Quote/s of the Day – 6 November – “Rejoice and be glad,for your rewardwill be great in Heaven.”

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Within the All Saints Octave – Apocalypse 7:2-12; Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward
will be great in Heaven.”

Matthew 5:12

“He seems to demand of us
the most entire renunciation …
So, if we keep back for ourselves,
any earthly goods or any perishable supplies,
our minds will remain sunk in them,
as though in mud.
Then, inevitably, our souls will become unable
to contemplate God and will be unmoved
by desire for the splendours of Heaven
and for the good things promised us.
We shall only be able to acquire those good things,
if we ask for them unceasingly,
with a burning desire that will, besides,
make easy the effort needed to gain them.”

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“We should honour God in His Saints
and beseech Him to make us partakers
of the graces He poured,
so abundantly, upon them.”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

“The patience of the Saints
was more severely tried than is ours.
Not only were they stoned, racked, torn asunder,
not only did they suffer want, distress, afflictions
(Hebrews 11 : 37) but, they had to endure
what was still more difficult –
ingratitude, failure, unkindness, false accusations, desolation, darkness.
Yet they willingly endured all for Jesus’ sake,
never ceasing to love Him through it all.
I have my trials, yet none so dreadful as theirs,
yet I complain even under my lighter cross!”

Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Posted in GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on PURITY, SACRAMENTS, The BEATITUDES, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 November – ‘There is nothing as beautiful as a soul which is pure. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 6 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Within the All Saints Octave – Apocalypse 7:2-12; Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” … Matthew 5:8

REFLECTION – “There is nothing as beautiful as a soul which is pure. If we understood this, we would be incapable of losing our purity. A pure soul is like a beautiful pearl. As long as it is concealed in a shell, at the bottom of the sea, no-one thinks of admiring it. But if you display it in the sun, then this pearl shines and draws people’s eyes.

Purity comes from Heaven, we have to ask God for it. If we ask for it, we shall receive it. We must take great care not to lose it. It closes our hearts to pride, sensuality and every other passion.

Children, we cannot understand the power which a pure soul has over the Good God – it receives all it wishes for. … Before God, a pure soul is like a child before its mother, it caresses her and hugs her and its mother returns its caresses and embraces.

To preserve our purity, there are three things – the Presence of God, prayer and the Sacraments.” … St John-Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859) Curé d’Ars (Selected Thoughts of the Curé d’Ars).

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 CATHOLIC TIME, DYING / LAST WORDS, MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS TO St Joseph, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, St JOSEPH

Our Morning Offering – 6 November – A Parent’s Prayer to St Joseph

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Our Morning Offering – 6 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – On Wedmesdays many Catholics make a special devotion to St Joseph by going to Mass on the 1st Wednesdays of 9 consecutive months and offering their Communions in his honour and for the salvation of the dying.

A Parent’s Prayer to St Joseph

O holy Joseph,
thou faithful Spouse
of the Blessed Mother,
thou who didst protect her
and her Divine Child with such care
and didst devote thy whole life to them;
I beseech thee to be also my
and my children’s protector
and advocate, with Jesus,
thy adopted Son.
Obtain for me the grace
to fulfil my duties to my children,
as thou and Mary have done to Jesus.

St Joseph Pray for all our Fathers
and for our spiritual Fathers
of Holy Mother Church
Amen.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 6 November – St Israel du Dorat (c950-1014), Priest

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Saint of the Day – 6 November – St Israel du Dorat (c950-1014), Priest, Vicar General of the Diocese of Limoges, Poet, Professor of Theology at the Episcopal school. Born in c950 in Dorat, France and died there on 22 December 1014 of natural causes. Also known as Leonard, Israel of Limousin, Israel of Limoges. Additional Memorials – 13 September in Limousi, 22 December (the day of his death) and 27 January (translation of Relics) in Dorat.

Israel du Dorat was born around 950 in a noble family of Dorat, at the gate of Dinsac, between Limoges and Poitiers. A stone cross marks the location of the house of his birth.

His parents dedicated him to divine service. After his studies he beccame the Master in the Regular Chapter of Dorat , where after his training, he was received as a Canon. Israel was Ordained to the Priesthood and was appointed as the Vicar General of Bi, Aldouin, of Limoges. He then taught theology at the Episcopal school,and wrote a versified life of Christ in the Limousin language, a century before the lyrical poetry of the troubadours.

This Statue resides in the Church of Dorat

In 994 , during a plague epidemic, he treated the sick and buried the dead himself.

He accompanied Bishop Aldouin on his journey to see Robert II the Pious , King of France.

When the Monks and their Prior, Itier of the Abbey of Saint-Junien had been violently attacked and massacred in the Parish of Étagnac , while they were collecting tithes, Pope Sylvester II charged Israel with the re-establishment of this community as the Provost. He had the Church rebuilt.

In 1006 , he returned to Dorat, where he was a great choirmaster and trained many disciples, including Saint Theobald of Dorat (c990-1070).. He died there on 22 December 1014. A year earlier, Israel had seen the foundations of the current collegiate Church of Saint-Pierre du Dorat emerge from the ground to replace the old Church destroyed by fire.

After his death, our sweet St Israel, he continued to heal and comfort the many pilgrims who thronged to his tomb. Because of the many miracles attributed to him, he became the object of an important cult throughout the region.

On 27 January 1130, his Relics were transferred to the Crypt of the new Collegiate Church of Dorat dedicated to St Peter, see below, with those of Saint Théobald (Feast: 20 December).

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Within the All Saints Octave, Notre-Dame de Valfleury / Our Lady of Valfleury, France (800), Nostra Signora del Suffragio / Our Lady of Suffrage (For the Souls in Purgatory) and Memorials of the Saints for 6 November

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Within the All Saints Octave

Notre-Dame de Valfleury / Our Lady of Valfleury, France (800) – 6 November:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/06/notre-dame-de-valfleury-our-lady-of-valfleury-france-800-and-memorial-of-the-saints-6-november/

Nostra Signora del Suffragio / Our Lady of Suffrage (For the Souls in Purgatory)
The Archconfraternity of Death and Prayer (mortis et orationis), founded in Rome, 1538, to provide for the burial of the poor and abandoned, still exists.
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/06/nostra-signora-del-suffragio-our-lady-of-suffrage-for-the-souls-in-purgatory-6-november/

St Atticus
St Barlaam of Novgorod
Bl Beatrice of Olive

Blessed Christina of Stommeln (1242-1312) Virgin, Mystic, Stigmatist, Beguine Nun.
https://anastpaul.com/2019/11/06/saint-of-the-day-blessed-christina-of-stommeln-1242-1312/

St Demetrian of Cyprus
St Edwen of Northumbria
St Efflam of Brittany
St Emilian of Faenza
St Erlafrid of Hirschau
St Felix of Fondi
St Felix of Genoa
St Felix of Thynissa
St Illtyd
St Israel du Dorat (c950-1014) Priest

St Leonard of Noblac (c496-559) Monk, Hermit, Abbot, Miracle-worker.
About St Leonard:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/06/saint-of-the-day-st-leonard-of-noblac-c496-559/

St Leonard of Reresby
Bl Leonianus of Autun

St Melaine of Rennes (Died c535) Bishop of Rennes in Brittany, France, Confessor, previously a Monk and Abbot, Royal Advisor, Miracle-worker.
The Roman Martyrology reds: “At Rennes, in France, St Melanius, Bishop and Confessor, who displayed innumerable virtues and with his thoughts ever fixed on Heaven, passed from the world in glory.”
His Life of Holiness:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/06/saint-of-the-day-6-november-saint-melaine-of-rennes-died-c535-bishop-confessor/

St Paul of Constantinople
St Pinnock
St Protasius of Lausanne
St Severus of Barcelona
Bl Simon of Aulne
St Stephen of Apt
St Theobald of Dorat
St Valentine of Genoa

St Winnoc of Wormhoult (Died 716/717) Abbot, Miracle-worker
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/06/saint-of-the-day-6-november-saint-winnoc-of-wormhoult-died-716-717/

Martyrs of Antioch – 10 Saints: Ten Christians murdered together by Arabs after their seizure of Antioch, Syria. No names or other details about them have come down to us. 637 in Antioch, Syria.

Martyrs of Gaza – 9 Saints: A group of Christian soldiers who were captured by Saracens invading the area of Gaza in Palestine. When the men continued to profess their Christianity, they were executed. We know the names of some of the Martyrs – Himerius, John (2 of them), Kallinikos (Callinoco), Paul, Peter, Stephen and Theodore (2 of them). They were beheaded in Gaza, Palestine.