Thought for the Day – 23 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)
The Practice of Praying Constantly ‘Ask and you shall receive‘ Excerpt from Chapter Five:6
“When you need to arrive at some decision, or to give some important advice, ask God’s assistance before you do so. Repeat as often as you reasonably are able during the day: ‘Incline unto mine aid, O God,’ as St Rose of Lima was accustomed to do.
To obtain this assistance from God turn frequently to the Crucifix or to the image of our Blessed Lady (which, of course, you will have in your room) and do not fail to often invoke the Names of Jesus and Mary … God, being infinitely kind, has the greatest desire to communicate His Graces to us.
The Venerable Father Alphonsus Alvarez saw our Lord, on one occasion, with His Hands filled with Graces, going about seeking souls to whom He might dispense them. But He will have us ask Him for them: ‘Ask and you shall receive‘ otherwise He will withdraw His Hands. He will, on the contrary, stretch them out to us and willingly open them, if we invoke Him. … David declares, God shows, not only Mercy but Great Mercy, to those who beseech Him: For Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon Thee (Ps 85:5).”
Quote/s of the Day – 23 November – St Clement I – Papacy (c88–c101) Pope Martyr, Apostolic Father.
“Who can describe the bond of God’s Love? Who is able to explain the majesty of its beauty? The height to which love leads is indescribable. … In Love the Master received us, Jesus Christ our Lord, in accordance with God’s Will, gave His Blood for us and His Flesh for our flesh and His Life for our lives.”
“How blessed and amazing are God’s Gifts, dear friends! Life with immortality, splendour with righteousness, truth with confidence, faith with assurance, self-control with holiness! And all these things are within our comprehension.”
“God hates those who praise themselves.”
In The Name Of The Whole Christian People The Universal Prayer of St Clement I (c88–c101) Pope and Martyr, Apostolic Father of the Church
We beg Thee, Master, be our help and strength. Save those among us who are oppressed, have pity on the lowly and lift up the fallen. Heal the sick, bring back the straying and feed the hungry. Release those in prison, steady those who falter and strengthen the fainthearted. Let all nations come to know Thee, the One God, with Thy Son Jesus Christ and ourselves, Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture. Do not keep count of the sins of Thy servants but purify them, through the bath of Thine Truth and direct our steps. Help us to walk in holiness of heart and to do what is good and pleasing in Thine eyes and in the eyes of our rulers. Master, let Thine face shine on us to grant us every good in peace, protect us by Thine powerful Hand, deliver us from every evil, by the might of Thine Arm. Grant us and all who dwell on this earth, peace and harmony, O Lord. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 23 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – St Clement I – Papacy (c88–c101) Pope Martyr, Apostolic Father. – Philippians 3:17-21; 4:1-3; Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Upon this rock I will build My Church” – Matthew 16:18
REFLECTION – “Brothers, when it comes to fulfilling my duties as Bishop, I discover that I am weak and slack, weighed down by the weakness of my own condition, while at the same time, I want to act generously and courageously. However, I draw my strength from the untiring intercession of the almighty and eternal Priest, Who, like us but equal to the Father, lowered His Divinity to the level of man and raised humankind to the level of God. The decisions He made, give me a just and holy joy. For, when He delegated many shepherds to care for His flock, He did not abandon watching over His beloved sheep. Thanks to that fundamental and eternal assistance, I in turn, have received the protection and support of the Apostle Peter, who also does not abandon his function. This solid foundation, on which the whole of the Church is built, never grows tired of carrying the whole weight, of the building which rests on it.
The firmness of faith, for which the first of the Apostles was praised, never fails. Just as everything which Peter professed in Christ remains, so that which Christ established in Peter, remains … The order willed by God’s Truth remains. Saint Peter perseveres in the solidity which he received; he has not abandoned the governance of the Church which was placed in his hands. That, my brothers, is what that profession of faith, inspired by God the Father, obtained in the heart of the Apostle. He received the solidity of a rock which no assault can shake. In the entire Church, Peter says everyday: “Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” – St Leo the Great (400-461) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon on the anniversary of his Consecration as Bishop).
PRAYER – Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercession of blessed Clement Thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, whom Thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church. 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).
Our Morning Offering – 23 November – St Columban (543-615) Abbot, Confessor,
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.
Saint of the Day – 23 November – St Clement of Metz (3rd-4th Centuries) The 1st Bishop of Metz, now in France, Miracle-worker. Also known as Clemens and The Dragon Slayer.
Stained glass at Metz Cathedral
Born around the 3rd or 4th Century, Clement of Metz was the 1st Bishop of Metz, now in France. Medieval accounts tell the fascinating tale of Titus Flavius Clemens, a Roman Senator initially tasked with persecuting Christians under the orders of Emperor Nero. However, he converted to the Christian Faith and was Baptised.
At that time, the Apostle Peter, already established as the Bishop of Rome, encouraged his disciples to spread the Gospel in Gaul. Clement, having been Consecrated Bishop, received the mission of evangelising the City of Metz. owever,, his journey was marked by a tragic event – the death of St Materne of Cologne, his companion, in Alsace.
Returning to Rome, Clement received from the St Peter, a staff with miraculous powers. With this object, he managed to resurrect St Materne, a prodigious act which greatly contributed to the conversion of the local inhabitants.
Clement arrived in Metz accompanied by Celeste, a Priest and Felix, a Deacon, who would later become his successors. During the reign of Orius, the King of Metz, Clement took up residence on the hill of Sainte-Croix, where he preached to the population.
The culmination of his apostolate came, when he resurrected the recently deceased daughter of King Orius. This spectacular miracle led to the Royal couple being Baptised, followed by a mass conversion of the local population.
Graoully is a legendary animal which was born in the middle of the Metz amphitheatre. According to legend, this giant dragon spat flames with the smell of sulfur and devastated everything in its path. The residents consequently never dared to venture into the neighbourhood and some even considered leaving the City.
Faced with the distress of the City, Clement prayed for the aid of God in assisting the frightened people. If the people of Metz agreed to be Baptised, the Christian Bishop would find a way to get rid of this hideous animal.
Clement then went to the Graoully habitat (at the amphitheater) passing by the hill of Sainte-Croix and continuing his route in the middle of a crowd whom he silenced with a firm ‘keep quiet’ in a street, named since that day, ‘the Quiet Street’
When he arrived, the brave man put his shawl around the beast’s neck to drag it to the Seille (the river which crosses the City) into which he threw himself with seven little Graoullys. From that day on, the people of Metz never heard of the Graoully again. On the other hand, the Graoully has become a strong symbol of the City and has been found in several events in the City since the 10th Century. To celebrate its disappearance, a monument was built on the site where the monstrous creature once stood – this is a Monument to the Christian Faith, Metz Cathedral, dedicated to our Saint, (listed as a historic monument). and to its courageous Bishop Clement whoc vanquished the enemy of them all.
St Clement Cathedral
This dragon is mainly represented in the crypt of the Cathedral. A semi-permanent sculpture of Graoully is also suspended in the air of the Rue Taison.
Today, a Statue of Saint Clement holding a chained dragon is also visible on the portal of the Virgin of the Saint-Etienne Cathedral of Metz. Finally, this mythical animal also appears on the coat of arms of Metz City.
St Amphilochius of Iconium (c339-400) Bishop, Lawyer and Rhetorician, Poet, Writer and Theologian, Defender of Orthodoxy against heretics, Miracle-worker. , First Cousin of St Gregory of Nazianzen and his great friend and so too, a close friend and confidante of St Basil the Great. The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Iconium, in Lycaonia, the holy Bishop, Amphilochius, who was the companion of St Basil the Great and of St Gregory Nazianzen in the desert and their colleague in the Episcopate. After many combats for the Catholic Faith, he rested in peace, with the reputation of a holy and learned Prelate.” The Holy and Learned Amphilovhiud: https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/23/saint-of-the-day-23-november-saint-amphilochius-of-iconium-c339-400-bishop/
St Augusta of Alexandria St Clement of Metz (3rd-4th Centuries) Bishop Bl Detlev of Ratzeburg St Falitrus of Chabris St Faustina of Alexandria St Gregory of Girgenti Bl Guy of Casauria St Loëvan of Brittany St Lucretia of Mérida Bl Margaret of Savoy St Mustiola of Chiusi St Paternian of Fano St Paulinus of Whitland St Rachildis of Saint-Gall St Severin of Paris St Sisinius of Cyzicus St Trudo of Hesbaye St Wilfetrudis of Nivelless
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