Month: November 2024

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 11 November – Saint Bertuinus of Malonne (c634-698) Bishop

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 11 November – Saint Bertuinus of Malonne (c634-698) Bishop. Abbot, Missionary, Founder of Churches and Monasteries. Born in England and died at his Monastery dedicated to him since his death in Malonne, Belgium of natural causes.
Also known as – Bertuin, Bertwinus, Berthuin, Bertuino.

Statue of Bertuinus of Malonne in a niche of a Chapel in Malonne Abbey

Bertuinus was born in England and educated in the Monastery of Obtell (a place perhaps identified with Outwell, in the County of Norfolk) which was part of his family’s property and there, he became a Monk.

When the Bishop of the Diocese died, the people forced Bertuinus to accept the Episcopal dignity. In his high office he distinguished himself for his qualities as a skilled administrator, for the numerous conversions of pagans and for the foundation of several Monasteries.

Reliquary bust of St Bertuinus of Malonne

By Divine inspiration, however, he decided to go to the continent to preach the Gospel there and, faithful to Anglo-Saxon customs, he wanted to go first to Rome to visit the Tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul. From Rome, through Gaul, he went to Belgium, settling in Malonne (Namur), where he built a Church and founded a Monastery, in which he died and was buried.

Chalice of Saint Berthuinus part of the protected Art Treasures of the Cathedral of Namur

From the Vita Bertuinus of which there are four editions, the oldest of which could date to the 8th Century. It is not possible to deduce, with certainty, the precise period in which the holy Bishop lived. The most probable opinion attributes it to the 7th Century. His Feast is celebrated on 11 November but in some places, recently, it has been transferred to the 16th and then to the 27th of the same month.

St Bertuinus Abbey of Malonne

His cult which survived the French Revolution and the suppression of the St Bertuinus Abbey of Malonne, over the centuries has received a notable boost from the recognition and solemn translation of his Relics which took place in 1202 and from the celebrations of the Twelfth Centenary of his death, celebrated in 1898 on the basis of calculations made by hagiographers, who considered 698 to be the year of the Saint’s death. In 1601, the Relics of St Bertuinus were placed in an Urn at Malonne Abbey, which still contains them. The Sepulchre below MIGHT be this Urn mentioned here.

Arm Reliquary of St Bertuinus, in the Treasury of the Basilica of Saint Servatius in Maastricht
Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Nossa Senhora do Português / Our Lady of the Portuguese, Diu, India (1546),  St Martin of Tours, St Mennas, Martyr and all the Saints for 11 November

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Nossa Senhora do Português / Our Lady of the Portuguese, Diu, India (1546) – 11 November:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/11/nossa-senhora-do-portugues-our-lady-of-the-portuguese-diu-india-1546-and-memorials-of-the-saints-11-november/

St Martin of Tours (c316-397) “Martin the Merciful,” Bishop, Confessor, Miracle-Worker.
Beloved St Martin:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/11/saint-of-the-day-11-november-st-martin-of-tours-c-316-397/

St Mennas (Died c 300) Martyr, Layman, Miracle-worker, Soldier, he may have been a camel driver and merchant, Hermit. Born in Egypt and died by beheading in c 300 at Cotyaes, Phrygia, under Emperor Diocletian. He was one of the most popular Saints in the early Eastern Church. Patronages – falsely accused people, physical ailments, peddlers, pilgrims, travelling merchants.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/11/saint-of-the-day-11-november-saint-mennas-died-c-300-marty/

St Bartholomew of Rossano (c970-c 1065) Abbot Confessor, Spiritual disciple and friend of St Nilus (910-1005), Hymnist an highly skilled Calligrapher of sacred manuscripts – the art of calligraphy he had learned from his blessed guide and teacher, He is known as the “Second Founder,” of the Monastery of Grottaferrata founded by St Nilus. A copyist of many codices, Bartholomew is also considered the greatest hymnographer of the 11th century.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/11/saint-of-the-day-11-november-saint-bartholomew-of-rossano-c-970-c-1065/

St Bertuinus of Malonne (c634-698) Bishop
St Cynfran of Wales
St Isidre Costa Hons
Bl Josaphat Chichkov
St Marina of Omura
St Mennas of Santomenna
St Mercurius the Soldier
Bl Pavel Dzjidzjov
St Rhediw
St Turibius of Palencia
St Veranus of Lyon
St Veranus of Vence

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

Thought for the Day – 10 November – ON WHAT AND HOW, WE SHOULD CONVERSE WITH GOD

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 10 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)

ON WHAT AND HOW, WE SHOULD
CONVERSE WITH GOD.
Excerpt from Chapter Three:I

“Never, then, forget His sweet Presence, as do the greater part of men. Speak to Him as often as you can, for He does not grow weary of this, nor disdains it …
If you love Him, you will not be at a loss of what to say to Him. Tell Him all that occurs to you, about yourself and your affairs, as you would tell it to a dear friend.
Do not look upon Him as a haughty King Who will converse only with the superior and on great matters. He, your God, is pleased to lower Himself to you and to hear you communicate to Him, your smallest and most ordinary concerns.

… Say not: Why disclose all my wants to God, since He already sees and knows them better than I do?
Yes, He knows them but, He acts as if He did not know the needs about which you do not speak to Him and for which, you do not seek His aid.
Our Saviour knew that Lazarus was dead and yet, He acted as if He did not know until Martha told Him of it. It was only then, He comforted her by bringing her brother back to life.”

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION

Quote/s of the Day – 10 November – St Andrew Avellino

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 November – St Andrew Avellino CR (1521–1608) Confessor, Patron against sudden death/of a Holy Death, against Apoplexy or Strokes.

“If they, must regard themselves
as useless servants, who have done all their duty,
what must I do, who have done
so small a part of what I ought to have done?”

“Will that magnificent mansion
of the blessed spirits, allow the entrance
of one so miserable, despicable
and sinful as I am?”

[From this fear, however, he was afterwards freed
by a comforting vision. St Augustine
and St Thomas Aquinas, both of whom
he honoured as Patrons, appeared to him,
consoled him and promised him their aid,
especially in that hour on which eternity depends.]

“Although, at the age of 83 years,
I am excused from the law of fasting,
I find, when thinking of my sins
and my indolence in the service
of the Most High, that I am obliged to fast
and to observe other austerities,
in order to appease the wrath of God.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/10/quote-s-of-the-day-10-november-st-andrew-avellino-2/

St Andrew Avellino CR (1521–1608)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, QUOTES on WATCHING, SACRAMENTS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 November – “Suffer both to grow until the harvest” – Matthew 13:30

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One Minute Reflection – 10 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – St Andrew Avellino CR (1521–1608) Confessor – Col ossians 3:12-17: Matthew 13:24-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Suffer both to grow until the harvest” – Matthew 13:30

REFLECTION – “In today’s Gospel, my friends, we see that when the owner of the field had sowed his seed in good soil, the enemy came while he was sleeping and sowed weeds in it. What this means, is that God created man good and perfect but the enemy came and sowed sin. This was Adam’s downfall and a terrible fall which opened the door to sin in the human heart.

Are you saying that we must exterminate the weeds? “But no,” the Lord replies, “for fear that in pulling up the weeds ,you harm the good seed at the same time. Wait until the harvest.” This is how the human heart must remain until the end – a mixture of good and bad, vice and virtue, light and darkness, good seed and weeds. God did not wish to destroy this mix and refashion a nature in us where there would be nothing but good seed. He wants us to fight, to strive to prevent the weeds from overwhelming us. The devil comes to sow temptation across our path but we are able to overcome it by grace, we can smother the weeds.

Three things are absolutely necessary against temptation – prayer to enlighten us, the Sacraments to strengthen us and vigilance to preserve us. Happy are the souls who are tempted! It is when the devil judges a soul is tending towards union with God that he redoubles his rage.” – St Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859) Priest and the Patron of Priests, The Curé d’Ars (The Spirit of the Curé d’Ars, Sermons Conversations).

PRAYER – O God, by his difficult vow to make daily progress in holiness, Thou placed in the heart of blessed Andrew, Thy Confessor, a wondrous longing to ascend unto Thee, grant us, by his merits and intercession, so to become sharers of that same grace that, ever pursuing the more perfect things, we may be happily brought unto the height of Thy glory. 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 DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Holy Name PRAYERS, HYMNS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, QUOTES for CHRIST, The HOLY NAME, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR

Our Morning Offering – 10 November – Jesu Dulcis Memoria, Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee! By St Bernard

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 10 November – Pentecost XXV

Jesu Dulcis Memoria
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee!
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father and the Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far, Thy Face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ Name,
The Saviour of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find?
Ah! this nor tongue, nor pen, can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shall be;
In Thee be all our glory now
And through eternity.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 10 November – Saint Elaeth the King (6th Century) Monk

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 10 November – Saint Elaeth the King (6th Century) Monk, Poet, founder of a Church on Anglesea Island which is dedicated to him and a miraculous Holy Well. Born as a Prince in the North of England and died in Anglesea, Wales of natural causes. Patronage – of Llaneleth, Anglesea, Wales. Also known as – Eleth…. “Elaeth Frenhin.”

Saint Elaeth Church

Little is known for certain about Elaeth’s life; his date and place of birth and date of death are unknown but we do know that he lived in the 6th Century. He was the son of Meurig and his wife, Onen Greg, the daughter of Gwallog. Elaeth was a King in the North of England and is sometimes referred to as “Elaeth Frenhin” (the Welsh for Elaeth the King).

He was ousted from his land and, thereafter, travelled to Anglesey, an Island off the coast of North Wales and settled there in the Monastery run by St Seiriol at Penmon, at the South Eastern corner of the Island.

Some religious poetry the wrote has been preserved in medieval manuscripts. The Black Book of Carmarthen, from the 12th Century, attributes two poems of seven stanzas to his authorship, one of simple construction and the other more complex. Both “are written in a strain of deepest piety.”

He is the Founder of St Eleath’s Church, Amlwch, in the North of Anglesey. A Holy Well nearby, known as “Ffynnon Elaeth” is regarded as having miraculous qualities.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Muttergottes von der Augenwende / Our Lady of the Turning Eyes, Germany (1643), St Andrew Avellino and the Saints for 10 November

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Muttergottes von der Augenwende / Our Lady of the Turning Eyes, Rottweil, Germany (1643) – 10 November:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/10/89523/

St Andrew Avellino (1521 – 1608) Confessor, Theatine Priest, Canon and Civil Lawyer, Reformer, Founder of many new Theatine houses, Preacher, Spiritual Advisor. In 1624, only 16 years after his death, he was Beatified by Pope Urban VIII and in 1712 was Canonised by Pope Clement XI. His remains lie buried in the Church of St Paul at Naples. Patron against sudden death/of a Holy Death, against Apoplexy or Strokes.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/11/10/saint-of-the-day-10-november-st-andrew-avellino-cr-1521-1608/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/10/saint-of-the-day-10-november-st-andrew-avellino-cr-1521-1608-confessor/

St Aedh Mac Bricc
St Anianus the Deacon

St Baudolino (c700–c740) Hermit, Pilgrim. Mystic, Miracle-worker. Baudolino lived at the time of the Lombard King Liutprand (712-744) and the oldest testimony which speaks of him is given to us by the historian Paolo Diacono, a Lombard Benedictine Monk (c720-799) practically a contemporary of the Saint.
A “Man of Wonderful Sanctity”:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/10/saint-of-the-day-10-november-saint-baudolino-c700-c740-hermi/

St Demetrius of Antioch
St Elaeth the King (6th Century) Monk
St Eustosius of Antioch
St Grellen
St Guerembaldus
St Hadelin of Sees
St John of Ratzenburg
St Joseph the Martyr

St Justus of Canterbury (Died 627) the Fourth Archbishop of Canterbury, also Bishop of Rochester, Missionary sent by St Gregory the Great to join St Augustine of Canterbury in the conversion of England.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/10/saint-of-the-day-10-november-saint-justus-of-canterbury-died-627/

St Leo of Melun Venerated at Melun, France, but no details of their life have survived.
St Monitor of Orleans
St Narses of Subagord
St Nonnus of Heliopolis
St Orestes of Cappadocia
St Probus of Ravenna Bishop
St Theoctiste
St Tryphaena of Iconium
St Tryphosa of Iconium

Martyrs of Agde – 3 Saints: A group of Christians who were tortured and Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. The only about them to survive are the names – Florentia, Modestus and Tiberius. Martyred c 303 in Agde, France.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD

Thought for the Day – 9 November – IT IS EASY AND AGREEABLETO CONVERSE WITH GOD (2)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 89November – Meditations with Saint A lphonsus 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)

IT IS EASY AND AGREEABLE
TO CONVERSE WITH GOD
Excerpt (2) from Chapter Two

“You may sleep but God will place Himself at your side and watch over you continually: I will rest with Him and He will be a comfort in my cares and grief (Cf Wis 8:9,16). When you take your rest He does not leave your bedside. He remains there, always thinking of you, that if you awake in the night He may speak to you by His inspirations and, receive from you in return, some act of love, of oblation, of thanksgiving. Thus, He desires to continue, even in the hours of the night, His sweet and gracious converse with you.
Sometimes too, He will speak to you while you sleep and make you hear His Voice, so that, in waking, you may put into practice that which He has spoken: I will speak to Him in a dream (Num 12:6).

He is there also in the morning, to hear from you some word of affection, of confidence; to be the depository of your first thoughts and of all the actions which you promise to perform that day, to please Him; of all the griefs, too, which you offer to willingly endure for His glory and love.
But as He fails not to present Himself to you at the moment of your waking, do not fail, on your part, to immediately give Him a look of love and, to rejoice, when your God announces to you the glad tidings that He is not far from you (as once He may have been, by reason of your sins) but that, He loves you and would be beloved by you.”

Posted in CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on HUMAN DIGNITY, QUOTES on the ANTI-christ, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on TRUTH, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 9 November – Your House

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 9 November – Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour

“Zeal for Your House will consume me.”

John 2:17

“God is One and Christ is One,
His Church is One,
His See is One,
founded by the Voice of the Lord on Peter.
No other Altar can be set up,
no other Priesthood instituted
apart from that One Altar and that One Priesthood.
Who so gathers elsewhere, scatters!”

St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200-258)
Martyr, Bishop of Carthage,
Father of the Church

“…The great movement of apostasy
being organised in every country
for the establishment of a One-World Church
which shall have neither dogmas,
nor hierarchy, neither discipline for the mind,
nor curb for the passions
and which, under the pretext of freedom
and human dignity, would bring back to the world,
(if such a Church could overcome)
the reign of legalised cunning and force
and the oppression of the weak
and of all those who toil and suffer. […]
Indeed, the true friends of the people
are neither revolutionaries, nor innovators –
they are traditionalists.”

“The Church alone, being the Bride of Christ
and having all things in common
with her Divine Spouse,
is the depository of the Truth.”

St Pius X (1835-1914)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHARITY, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUTH, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 November – ‘ … We must do this too, when we are feeling low … ‘

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 9 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour – Apocalypse 21:2-5, Luke 19:1-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ … He climbed up into a sycamore tree that he might see Him …” – Luke 19:2

REFLECTION – “I’m writing with the desire to see you, a bold and good shepherd, pasturing and guiding the sheep entrusted to you with perfect zeal and thus, imitating the sweet Master of Truth, Who gave His life for us who are His sheep, who have strayed away from the path of grace. True…, we cannot do this without God and we cannot possess God while remaining on earth. But here is a sweet remedy – when our hearts are reduced to nothing and feeling small, we must do as Zacchaeus did. He was not tall and he climbed a tree to see God. This zeal of his, allowed him to hear these sweet words: “Zacchaeus, go home, for I must dine with you today.”

We must do this too, when we are feeling low, when our hearts are constricted and lacking in charity. We must climb the tree of the most holy Cross and there, we shall see, we shall touch God. There we shall find the fire of His inexpressible charity, the love that propelled Him, even to the humiliation of the Cross that raised Him up and made Him desire His Father’s honour and our salvation, with the craving of hunger and thirst… If this is what we want, if our carelessness does not get in the way, we can, in mounting the tree of the Cross, fulfill in ourselves, this word issuing from the mouth of Truth: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all things to Myself” (Jn 12,32 Vg). Indeed, when the soul is thus raised up, it sees the blessings of the Father’s goodness and power…, it sees the mercy and lavishness of the Holy Ghost, that is to say, the inexpressible love holding Jesus bound to the wood of the Cross. Nails and bonds cannot hold Him there, only charity… O climb this most holy tree where hang, the ripe fruits of all the virtues which the Body of the Son of God bears, ardently hasten. Dwell within the holy and sweet love of God. O sweet Jesus, Jesus love.” – St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)  (Letter 119, to the prior of the Olivetan Monks).

PRAYER – O God, Who for us bring each year the recurrence of the Consecration day of this Thy holy temple and always bring us back safely to the Sacred Rites, hear the prayers of Thy people and grant that, whoever enters this temple to pray for blessings., may rejoice in having obtained whatever he sought. 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 INDULGENCES, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PAPAL PRAYERS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering – 9 November – Indulgenced Prayer for the Holy Souls by Pope Leo XIII

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 9 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

O DIVINE Heart of JESUS
Pope Leo XIII
Indulgence 100 Days, Once a day
Raccolta 167
13 March 1901.

O DIVINE Heart of JESUS,
grant, we beseech Thee,
eternal rest to the Souls in Purgatory,
the final grace to those who shall die today,
true repentance to sinners,
the light of the faith to pagans
and Thy Blessing to me and mine.
To Thee, O most compassionate Heart of JESUS!
I commend all these souls
and I offer to Thee, on their behalf,
all Thy merits,
together with the merits
of Thy most Holy Mother
and of all the Saints, Angels
and all the Sacrifices of the Holy Mass,
Communions, prayers and good works,
which shall be accomplished today,
throughout the Christian world.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 9 November – St Agrippinus of Naples (3rd Century) Bishop

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 9 November – St Agrippinus of Naples (3rd Century) Bishop, Miracle-worker, a zealous shepherd and Defender of his faithful people. Patronage – Arzano, Italy. Also known as – Agrippino, Arpinus.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Naples in Campania, St Agri[[inus, the Bishop, renowned for miracles”

Saint Agrippino was almost as popular as Saint Januarius of the Liquifying blood.

According to tradition, Agrippino was the 6th Bishop of the Neapolitan Diocese. A 9th Century writer praised him thus: “In love with his country, defender of the City, he did not cease to pray everyday, for us, his fellow servants.” He greatly increases the army of those who believe in the Lord and gathers them in the bosom of the Holy Mother, the Church.

There is not much information about him. He lived and died at the end of the 3rd Century .There is, however, in the words of the unknown author, a particular warmth, an intent of praise which demonstrates how the memory of St Agrippinus, even in the absence of more precise details, had particular prominence among that of other Neapolitan Bishops. It is clear, in short, how the veneration of this Saint was, exceptionally fervent. There does seem to be a Biography too by L Caspar, I would be fascinated to read it.

The translation of his Relics took place in the so-called Stefania, that is, in the Church built in the 5th Century to make room for the new Cathedral. Previously, his Relics had rested in the Catacombs of St Januarius.

A thousand years later, in 1744, Cardinal Spinelli searched for the Relics of the ancient Bishop. He found a marble vase with the following inscription: “Uncertain Relics which are thought to be the body of Saint Agrippinus.” Uncertain Relics which only a more examination or new documents will be able to assign with certainty to our Saint Bishop Agrippinus, a shepherd venerated and loved almost on a par with San Januarius because he too was in love with his City and protected the Neapolitan faithful.

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES

Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour, Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena / Our Lady of Almudena, Spain (712) and Memorials of the Saints – 9 November

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/09/feast-of-the-dedication-of-the-archbasilica-of-the-most-holy-saviour-and-of-saints-john-the-baptist-and-john-the-evangelist-in-the-lateran-santa-maria-la-real-de-la-almudena-our-lady-of-almudena/
AND:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/09/feast-of-the-dedication-of-the-basilica-of-saint-john-lateran-9-november/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/11/09/feast-of-the-dedication-of-st-john-lateran-9-november/

Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena / Our Lady of Almudena, Madrid, Spain (712) – 9 November:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/09/feast-of-the-dedication-of-the-archbasilica-of-the-most-holy-saviour-and-of-saints-john-the-baptist-and-john-the-evangelist-in-the-lateran-santa-maria-la-real-de-la-almudena-our-lady-of-almudena/

St Agrippinus of Naples (3rd Century) Bishop
St Alexander of Salonica
St Aurelius of Riditio

St Benignus of Armagh (Died 467) Bishop, Disciple of and Successor to St Patrick.
Beloved St Benignus:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/09/saint-of-the-day-9-november-saint-benignus-of-armagh-died-467-bishop-patricks-psalm-singer/

St Eustolia

Blessed Gabriel Ferretti OFM (1385-1456) Priest, Friar of the Order of Friars Minor, Provincial Superior, Mystic. renowned missionary Preacher. He was zealous in the restoration and establishment of new Convents. He was an ancestor to both Cardinal Gabriele Ferretti and Blessed Pope Pius IX, having been descended from a long noble lineage. Patronage – Ancona. His body is incorrupt. He was Beatified on 19 September 1753 by Pope Benedict XIV.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/09/saint-of-the-day-9-november-blessed-gabriel-ferretti-ofm-1385-1456/

Blessed George Napper (1550-1610) Priest Martyr Beatified by Pope Pius XI on 15 December 1929

Blessed Gratia of Cattaro OSA (1438-1508) Lay Brother of the Hermits of St Augustine. Gratia was known for his humility, spirit of penance, love of the Eucharist and for his zealous hard labour. Gratia was Beatified in 6 June 1889 by Pope Leo XIII.
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/09/saint-of-the-day-9-november-blessed-gratia-of-cattaro-osa-1438-1508/

Bl Helen of Hungary
St Jane of Segna

Blessed Ludovico Morbioli (1433-1485) Penitent, Preacher, Ascetic. He was Beatified on 24 October 1843 by Pope Gregory XVI.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/11/09/saint-of-the-day-9-november-blessed-ludovico-morbioli-1433-1485/

St Pabo
St Sopatra
St Theodore Stratelates
St Ursinus of Bourges
St Vitonus of Verdun

Martyrs of Constantinople – 3 Saints: A group of ten Christians who tried to defend an image of Jesus over the Brazen Gate of Constantinople from an attack by Iconoclasts during the persecutions of Emperor Leo the Isaurian. The group of was seized by soldiers, condemned by judges for opposing the emperor, and Martyred. The only details that have survived are three of their names – Julian, Marcian and Maria. They were martyred in 730 at Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey).

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

Thought for the Day – 8 November – IT IS EASY AND AGREEABLETO CONVERSE WITH GOD

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Thought for the Day – 8 November – Meditations with Saint A lphonsus 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)

IT IS EASY AND AGREEABLE
TO CONVERSE WITH GOD
Excerpt from Chapter Two

“… It is a great mistake to speak to God with diffidence – to appear before Him as a timid slave, trembling with alarm before his prince – it would be a still greater mistake, to think that conversing with God is wearisome and unpleasant.

Now, you are not required to apply your mind so constantly to prayer as to forget your ordinary work and recreation. ‘Praying always’ means that, without neglecting your ordinary occupations, you treat God as you treat the friends who love you and whom you love.
God is ever near you, even within you – In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 18:28).
He who would speak to God has no door to open; God is pleased when you speak to Him without reserve.
Tell Him of your business, your plans, your griefs, your fears – of all which concerns you. Above all, do so (as I have already said) with confidence and entire freedom. For God is not wont to speak to the soul who does not speak to Him; in fact, being unaccustomed to speak to God, the soul would scarcely understand Him when He spoke.

It is the Will of God that we remember His surpassing Power and His rigorous Justice … but, on the contrary, He wishes that we should treat Him as a most affectionate friend, if we love Him and, that we should speak to Him confidingly and without restraint.”

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, ON the SAINTS, OUR Cross, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on STRENGTH, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 8 November – The Octave Day of All Saints

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 November – The Octave Day of All Saints

“Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.”

Matthew 5:8

“Remember, that you will derive strength
by reflecting, that the Saints yearn
for you to join their ranks;
desire to see you fight bravely
and, that you behave like true knights
in your encounters with the same adversities
which they had to conquer.
That breath-taking joy is theirs
and your eternal reward
for having endured a few years of temporal pain.
Every drop of earthly bitterness
will be changed into an ocean
of heavenly sweetness!”

Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366)

“Our greatest fault is, that
we wish to serve God in our way,
not in His way — according to our will,
not according to His will….
To be truly a Saint, it is necessary
to be one according to the will of God.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

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

“Perfection consists in one thing alone,
which is doing the will of God.
For, according to Our Lord’s words,
it suffices for perfection to deny self,
to take up the cross and to follow Him.
Now who denies himself
and takes up his cross
and follows Christ better,
than he who seeks not to do his own will
but always that of God?
Behold, now, how little is needed
to become as Saint!?
Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing,
on every occasion,
what God wills.”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

“Holiness consists in love –
not earthly love, of course
but supernatural love.
It consists in seeking God in all things,
in doing His will without reservation,
in aiming at His glory alone.
All else, is dust and ashes!
… Herein lies the explanation of the lives of the Saints,
lives of sacrifice dedicated to God
and to the salvation of souls.
“Everything for the greater glory of God,”
was the motto of St Ignatius Loyola.
“Everything in the Name of God,”
said St Vincent de Paul.
“My God is my All” said St Catherine of Genoa.
“Love God, serve God, everything is in that!”
exclaimed St Clare of Assisi.

How do my thoughts, desires and ambitions
compare with these?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, The BEATITUDES, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 November – “Happy are the poor in spirit.”

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One Minute Reflection – 8 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – The Octave Day of All Saints – Apocalypse 7:2-12; Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain… And opening His mouth, He taught them …” – Matthew 5:1-2

REFLECTION – “May it be granted me to sit with Jesus, to sit at His feet on the mountain side and partake of His instruction! When He is in the crowd, He is standing and walking, occupied and wearied and so hard pressed, that neither He, nor His disciples are, as it were, allowed to eat bread, “the bread of life and understanding”,(Mk 6:31) and to drink “the water of wisdom” (Jn 6:35). For this water can only be drunk in a time of leisure and, it is drawn by those who have little to do. For “the well is deep”(Sir 15:3; 38:24) …

Opening His mouth, Jesus speaks to the heart of Jerusalem, talking to her in solitude, or on the mountain and this is what He says: “Happy are the poor in spirit.” He, Who is Happiness speaks of happiness, He Who became poor, of poverty, speaks of repletion, Mercy of mercifulness, He Who is the Purity of hearts speaks of purification of heart, the truly Peaceful of peace-making, the Son by nature speaks of sonship …

“Happy are the poor in spirit.” Wisely indeed, He puts first … that which every man seeks … For who does not wish to be happy? Why do men universally quarrel and fight, bargain, resort to flattery and inflict injuries, on one another? Is it not simply in order to obtain, by fair means or foul… something which promises to make them happy? … So the Teacher of all men … begins by redirecting those who have lost the way… He Who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14:16; 6:32; 14:6)… begins with the words: “Happy are the poor in spirit.” – Blessed Isaac of Stella O.Cist. (c1100 – c1170) Cistercian Abbot, Theologian, Philosopher (Sermon 1, for the Feast of All Saints).

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 Thymercy 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-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, ON the SAINTS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The COMMUNION of SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 8 November – The Octave Day of All Saints – Salutis Aeternae Dator, Giver of Life, Eternal Lord

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Our Morning Offering – 8 November – The Octave Day of All Saints

Salutis Aeternae Dator
Giver of Life, Eternal Lord
By St Rabanus Maurus (776-856)
Lauds Hymn for All Saints

Giver of life, eternal Lord,
Thy own redeemed defend.
Mother of grace, thy children save
And help them to the end.

Ye thousand, thousand Angel hosts,
Assist us in our need.
Ye Patriarchs, with the Prophet choir,
For our forgiveness plead.

Forerunner blest and thou who still
Dost Heaven’s dread keys retain.
Ye glorious Apostles all,
Unloose our guilty chain.

Army of Martyrs, holy Priests,
In beautiful array;
Ye happy troops of Virgins chaste,
Wash all our stains away.

All ye who high above the stars
In Heavenly glory reign,
May we through your prevailing prayers
Unto your joys attain.

Praise, honour, to the Father be,
Praise to His only Son;
Praise, Holy Paraclete, to Thee,
While endless ages run.
Amen

St Rabanus Maurus (776-856) Benedictine Abbot and Bishop, Theologian, Poet, Writer – 4 February – author of Veni Creator Spiritus (The Golden Sequence) – https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/04/saint-of-the-day-4-february-saint-rabanus-maurus-osb-776-856/

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 8 November – St Clarus of Tours (Died c397) Priest

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Saint of the Day – 8 November – St Clarus of Tours (Died c397) Priest, Disciple of St Martin of Tours (c316-397), Hermit. Also known as – Clair, Chiaro.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Tours, St Clarus, Priest, whose Epitaph was written by St Paulinus.”

Monastery in Marmoutier

Clarus was born in Auvergne to an illustrious family. He became a disciple of St Martin at the Monastery in Marmoutier. After being Ordained a Priest, Clarus performed various functions in the education of the Monks, which make him resemble a modern Master of Novices. In this role, Clarus thus gave proof of his prudence and judgement, he wisely selected candidates for the Religious life.

Clarus lived his last years as a Hermit near the Monastery. After his death, St Sulpicius Severus (c363–c425) had him buried in the Church of Primuliacum, south-western France and asked St Paulinus of Nola for an suitable Epitaph for the Tomb. St Paulinus sent him three, to choose from, in which, playing on the name, he praised the merits of Clarus and asked for his intercession. The cult seems to have spread in a very late period: the Roman Martyrology, in which it was introduced, names it on 8 November, a few days before Saint Martin, whom he would have preceded in death by a short period which occurred around 396 or 397.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Octave Day of All Saints, Notre-Dame de Bellefontaine / Our Lady of the Blessed Fountain, (12th Century), Four Crowned Martyrs and all the Saints for 8 November

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Octave Day of All Saints

Notre-Dame de Bellefontaine / Our Lady of the Blessed Fountain, Bellefontaine, France (12th Century) – 8 November:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/08/octave-day-of-all-saints-notre-dame-de-bellefontaine-our-lady-of-the-blessed-fountain-bellefontaine-france-12th-century-and-memorials-of-the-saints-8-november/

Four Crowned Martyrs: Saint Castorus, Saint Claudius, Saint Nicostratus and Saint Simpronian. Skilled stone carvers in the 3rd century quarries. Martyred when they refused to carve an idol of Aesculapius for Diocletian. They were drowned in the River Sava in 305. Patronages – against fever, cattle, sculptors, stone masons, stonecutters.

St Adeodatus I, Pope (Died 618) Bishop of Rome from 19 October 615 to 8 November 618.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Rome, St Deusdedit, Pope, whose merit was so great that he cured a leper by kissing him.”
The Miraculous Pope Adeodatus I:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/08/saint-of-the-day-8-november-saint-adeodatus-i-pope-died-618/

St Clarus of Tours (Died c397) Priest
St Cybi of Caenarvon
St Drouet

Blessed John Duns Scotus OFM (c1265-1308) Doctor Subtilis (Subtle Doctor) Franciscan Priest and Friar, Theologian, Philosopher, Lecturer – known as “The minstrel of the Word Incarnate” and “Defender of Mary’s Immaculate Conception”.
Blessed John Duns Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/11/08/saint-of-the-day-8-november-blessed-john-duns-scotus-ofm-c-1265-1308/

St Gervadius

St Godfrey of Amiens OSB (1066–1115) Bishop of Amiens, Reformer, Apostle of Prayer and Charity, Penitent.
About St Godfrey:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/11/08/saint-of-the-day-8-november-saint-godfrey-of-amiens-osb-1066-1115/

St Gregory of Einsiedeln
St Maurus of Verdun
St Moroc of Scotland
St Tysilio of Wales

St Willehad of Bremen (Died 789) First Bishop of Bremen, Germany, Confessor, Benedictine Monk and Priest, a friend of Blessed Alcuin of York, disciple of St Boniface, English Missionary.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/08/saint-of-the-day-8-november-saint-willehad-of-bremen-died-789/

St Wiomad of Trèves

All Deceased Dominicans
All Saints of Bologna, Italy
All Saints of Wales
Augustinian Martyrs of Spain

All Saints of the Diocese of Evry: A regional memorial of all the Saints and Beati of the calendar who have a connection to the Diocese of Evry-Corbeil-Essonnes, France:

  • Blessed Isabella of France, founded the Longchamp monastery
  • Blessed Nicolas Gaudreau, pastor of Vert-le-Petit
  • Blessed Pierre Bonse, pastor of Massy
  • Our Lady of Good Guard, patron saint of the diocese, venerated in Longpont-sur-Orge, France
  • Saint Corbinian, born in Saint-Germain-lès-Arpajon
  • Saint Denis of Paris, evangelizer of part of Essonne and revered ni Longpont-sur-Orge
  • Saint Eloi, who lived in Chilly-Mazarin
  • Saint Germain of Paris
  • Saint William of Bourges, son of Count Baldwin IV of Corbeil
  • Saint William of Aebelholt, pastor of Brunoy
  • Saint Wulfran of Sens, born in Milly-la-Forêt
  • Blessed Nativelle, vicar of Longjumeau
  • Blessed René Le Bris, pastor of Bris-sous-Forges
  • Saint Spire of Bayeux, whose relics are in Corbeil in the cathedral that bears his name
Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Thought for the Day – 7 November – GOD WISHES US TO SPEAK TO HIM WITH CONFIDENCE AND FAMILIARITY

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Thought for the Day – 7 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)

GOD WISHES US TO SPEAK TO HIM
WITH CONFIDENCE AND FAMILIARITY
Excerpt from Chapter One

“Bear well in mind, you have neither friend, nor brother, nor father, nor mother, nor spouse, nor lover, who loves you more than God.
Divine grace is that great treasure whereby we, vile creatures and poor servants, become the dear friends of our Creator Himself : For it is an Infinite Treasure to men, for they who use it, become the friends of God (Wis 7:14).
In order to fill our hearts with confidence, He emptied Himself, as St Paul says (Phil 2:7), abasing Himself to our level and conversing familiarly with us. … He went as far as to become an Infant, to become poor, to die publicly on a cross; He went as far as to hide Himself under the appearance of bread, in order to become our constant Companion and to unite Himself intimately to us: He who eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood, abideth in Me and I in him (John 6:57).

In a word, He loves you as though He had no-one else to love but you alone.
You, too, should love Him alone and all others for His Sake.
Of Him you may say and, indeed, you should say: My Beloved to me and I to Him (Cant, 2:16). My God has given Himself all to me and I give myself all to Him; He has chosen me for His beloved and I choose Him, above all others, for my only Love.

Say, then, to Him, often:

O my Lord! wherefore dost Thou love me thus? What good thing dost Thou see in me? Hast Thou forgotten the injuries I have done Thee? But since Thou hast treated me so lovingly and, instead of casting me into hell, hast granted me so many favours, Whom can I desire to love from this day forward but Thee, my God, my all? … Thou art the God of my heart and the God Who is my portion forever (Ps. 72:25). Thou alone art and shalt be forever, the only Lord of my heart, of my will; Thou my only good, my heaven, my hope, my love, my all: ‘The God of my heart and the God Who is my portion forever.’”

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DEVOTIO, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, GOD ALONE!, HOLY COMMUNION, Holy Name PRAYERS, INDULGENCES, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, ROSARY QUOTES, ROSARY REFLECTIONS and QUOTES, The HOLY NAME, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 7 November – The Feast of All Saints of the Order of Preacher

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Quote/s of the Day – 7 November – The Feast of All Saints of the Order of Preacher

“Speak only with God
or about God.”

“None who persevered in devotion
to the Holy Rosary, will be condemned.”

St Dominic (1170-1221)

“Your purity of life, your devotion,
deserve and call for a reward
because you are acceptable
and pleasing to God.
Your purity of life must be made purer still,
by frequent buffetings,
until you attain perfect sincerity of heart.
If, from time to time, you feel the sword
falling upon you with double or treble force,
this also should be seen as sheer joy
and the mark of love!”

St Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275)

“Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name
is the greatest spiritual force in the world today.
It is a source of joy and inspiration in our youth;
of strength in our manhood,
when only His Holy Name and His grace,
can enable us to overcome temptation;
of hope, consolation
and confidence at the hour of our death,
when more than ever before,
we realise, that the meaning of Jesus is
‘Lord, the Saviour.’
We should bow in reverence to His Name
and submission to His Holy Will.”

Bl Henry Suso OP (1290-1365)

“Love takes up,
where knowledge leaves off.”

“If then, you are looking for the way
by which you should go,
take Christ, for He, Himself, is the Way.”

St Thomas Aquinas OP (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus / Doctor Communis

“When troubled by temptations,
raise up your heart and soul to God,
humbly beseeching Him
to turn them to His greater glory
and to your salvation,
supporting the temptations
as long as it shall please Him
and imploring Him, to grant you grace,
never to offend Him.”

St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419)

O Divine Jesus!
Lonely in So Many Tabernacles
By St Pope Pius X (1835-1914)
“Pope of the Blessed Sacrament”
(St Pius X was elected to the Chair of St Peter
on the Feast of St Dominic
and became a ‘Protector’ of the Order).

O Divine Jesus!
Lonely today in so many Tabernacles,
without visitor or worshipper,
I offer Thee my lonely heart.
May it’s every beat be a prayer of love to Thee.
Thou are ever watching under the Sacramental Veils,
in Thou love, Thou never sleeps
and Thou are never weary of Thy vigils for sinners.
O Loving Jesus!
O Lonely Jesus!
may my heart be a lamp,
the light of which shall burn and beam
for Thee alone.
Watch, Sacramental Sentinel!
Watch for the weary world,
for the erring soul
and for Thy poor lonely child.

O Jesus, my God, I adore Thee,
here present in the Sacrament of Thy love.
Amen

Indulgences:
100 days each time before the Tabernacle
300 days each time before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed
(St Pope Pius X – 3 July 1908)
Prayers to the Sacred Heart
15th Ed 1936

MORE DOMINICAN QUOTES:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/07/quote-s-of-the-day-7-november-st-dominic-and-his-ops/

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 7 November – ‘ … Rejoice, ardent travellers …’

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One Minute Reflection – 7 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Within the All Saints Octave and the Feast of all the Dominican Saints – 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

REFLECTION – “Rejoice in the Lord without ceasing (cf Phil 4:4), my dear children. I beg you rejoice, citizens of Heaven but exiles on earth, inhabitants of the Jerusalem on high (cf Gal 4:26) but banished from affairs here below, inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven but disinherited from taking any part at all, in earthly pleasures! Rejoice, ardent travellers, at undergoing exile and maltreatment in a foreign land in the name of the commandment of God! Rejoice, you who are last in this world but lords of blessings which exceed our understanding (cf Phil 4:7).

Rejoice, noble company, brought together by God, assembly united in heart and soul, who give life to filial and fraternal love, a replica on earth of the Host of Angels! … Rejoice, God’s workers, apostolic men. … Rejoice, you who set your joy in each other, each making his own the reputation of his brother, you in whom is found neither jealousy, rivalry nor envy but, in their place, peace and charity and life in common. In truth, I do not say that we are not attacked – indeed, who is crowned if not the one who struggles and fights, who exchanges thrusts and wounds with his assailants? – but, I say, we should not let ourselves be brought down by the machinations of Satan.

Yes, my children, assembly of God, nourish yourselves with the food of the Spirit and drink the water given by the Lord; whoever comes to possess this water will never thirst again but it will become, in Him, a spring of living water welling up to eternal life (cf Jn 4:14). … Yet a little while and we shall have vanquished. And blessed shall we be; blessed also, it shall be said, are the places, family and countries which have borne you (cf Lk 11:27-28).” – St Theodore the Studite (759-826) – (Catechesis 47 – The Great Catecheses)

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 BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC TIME, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, EUCHARISTIC, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, EUCHARISTIC ADORATION and Nocturnal, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 7 November – Lauda Sion Salvatorem, (Excerpt) By St Thomas Aquinas OP

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Our Morning Offering – 7 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – On Thursday we devote our hearts and souls to the most holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is the greatest Gift of God to mankind, as it is nothing less than Jesus Himself. Therefore today too, we pray for our Priests AND as today is the Feast Day of All the Saints of the Order of Preachers or the Dominicans, we pray a prayer by one of their greatest sons.

Lauda Sion Salvatorem
Sion, Lift Up thy Voice and Sing
(Excerpt)
By St Thomas Aquinas OP (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus / Doctor Communis

Sion, lift thy voice and sing,
Praise thy Saviour and thy King,
Praise with hymns thy Shepherd true,
Dare thy most to praise Him well,
For He doth all praise excel,
None can ever reach His due.

Special theme of praise is Thine,
That true living Bread divine,
That life-giving flesh adored,
Which the brethren twelve received,
As most faithfully believed,
At the Supper of the Lord.

Let the chant be loud and high,
Sweet and tranquil be the joy
Felt to-day in every breast;
On this festival divine
Which recounts the origin
Of the glorious Eucharist.

St Thomas Aquinas wrote the Liturgy for Corpus Christi when Pope Urban IV added the Solemnity to the universal Church’s Liturgical calendar in 1264. He provided a great sequence, one of the great poems chanted or recited before the proclamation of the Gospel.
Lauda Sion is one of only four medieval sequences which were preserved in the Roman Missal published in 1570 following the Council of Trent (1545–1563)—the others being Victimae Paschali Laudes (Easter), Veni Sancte Spiritus (Pentecost) and Dies irae (requiem masses).
(A fifth, Stabat Mater, would later be added in 1727.)
Before Trent, many feasts had their own sequences. The existing versions were unified in the Roman Missal promulgated in 1570.
The Lauda Sion is still sung today as solemn Eucharistic hymn, though its use is optional in the post-Vatican II Ordinary form.
As with St Thomas’s other three Eucharistic Hymns, the last few stanzas of the Lauda Sion are often used alone, in this case, to form the “Ecce Panis Angelorum”.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 7 November – Blessed Lucia of Settefonti (Died 12th Century) Virgin

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 7 November – Blessed Lucia of Settefonti (Died 12th Century) Consecrated Virgin, Nun, Abbess. Born as Lucia Chiari, near Bologna, Italy and died at Settefonti in the same vicinity of natural causes.

The legendary tale of the beautiful Lucia takes place in the 12th Century in Bologna. A little girl is born into the noble Chiari family. Her mother, who is very religious, teaches her to love Jesus. Lucia grows into a beautiful girl with blond hair. Everyone admires her and the boys dream of marrying her but Lucia decides to Consecrate herself to Jesus and wear the habit of a cloistered Nun forever.

Lucia entered the Monastery in Settefonti, near Bologna. These are years in which the City is tormented by the struggles between the Guelphs (loyal to the Pope) and the Ghibellines (loyal to the Emperor). A Knight from Bologna, Count Diotagora Fava, called Rolando, sees Lucia in Church before she has taken her vows and falls in love with her.

In order to meet her, he asks to be lodged in the Castle of Ozzano (Bologna). Every morning he travels an arduous path to go to the Church where Lucia, who has by now, become the Abbess, goes to Mass with the other Nuns. Every morning, Rolando, waits for Lucia to see her. Never a word between the two, nothing but loving looks ensue. But Abbess Lucia is troubled by the handsome Knight who for months, even in winter, in the cold, snow and rain, appears every day at Mass.

Lucia becomes ill because she suffers: she wants to stay true to her vocation but she also feels she loves the Knight. Lucia no longer goes to Mass but the young man goes anyway. Lucia then decides to speak to Rolando and begs him to respect her desire to belong only to Jesus.

Rolando, in sadness and desperation, decides to fight for Christ and leaves on the Crusade to free the Holy Land from the Saracens. He is taken prisoner, chained and thrown into a cell. The Crusader has a fever and always thinks of Lucia who has so much faith in the Lord. He calls out to her, asks for help. One night he dreams of her and hears her sweet voice saying to him: “Dear Rolando, I am dead but God grants me the grace that you may be freed.”

Legend has it that when Rolando awoke, he found his chains broken. Amazed by the miracle, the Saracens let him return to Italy. Rolando went to Lucia’s Tomb in Settefonti. Here the Knight wept bitterly and left his broken chains, in memory of the miracle.

Today, Lucia’s Relics are buried in the Basilica of Sant’Andrea di Ozzano, where Rolando’s broken chains are also found. For those who wish, there is a path through the woods and hill, which takes the visitor to the places where the two young lovers of Jesus lived.

Lucia’s cult was confirmed and she was Beatified in 1779 by Pope Pius VI.

The Basilica of Sant’Andrea di Ozzano
Posted in DOMINICAN OP, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Within the All Saints Octave, Onze Liewe Vrou van Scherpenheuvel / Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel Belgium (17th Century) and Memorials of the Saints – 7 November

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Within the All Saints Octave

Onze Liewe Vrou van Scherpenheuvel / Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel
Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, Belgium (17th Century) – Commemorated on the First Sunday after the Feast of All Saints
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/07/twenty-fourth-sunday-after-pentecost-the-feast-of-all-saints-of-the-order-of-preachers-onze-liewe-vrou-van-scherpenheuvel-our-lady-of-scherpenheuvel-scherpenheuvel-zichem-belgium-17th-century/

The Feast of All Saints of the Order of Preachers:
“Fountain of all holiness, You stirred up in our holy brothers and sisters an extraordinary love of truth, conformity to Christ Crucified and a thirst for the salvation of souls: may we imitate them in offering You thanksgiving on account of the way of life they gave us.” — From the Intercessions at Lauds for the Feast of All Saints of the Order of Preachers.
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/11/07/thought-for-the-day-7-november-feast-of-all-dominican-saints/

St Achillas (Died 313) Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, Confessor, Scholar particularly in Philosophy and Theology. Bishop St Theonas had Ordained him to the Priesthood and appointed Achillas as the Head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria upon the departure of St Pierius, for Rome, who we celebrated on 4 November. Born in Alexandria, Egypt and died there in 313 of natural causes.
The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “At Alexandria, blessed Achillas, a Bishop renowned for erudition, faith and purity of life.”
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/07/saint-of-the-day-7-november-saint-achillas-died-313-bishop-confessor/

St Amarand
St Amaranthus

Blessed Anthony Baldinucci SJ (1665-1717) Priest of the Society of Jesus, Preacher, Writer and Missionary. Fr Baldinucci was Beatified by Pope Leo XIII on 25 March 1893.
Biography here:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/07/saint-of-the-day-blessed-anthony-baldinucci-s-j-1665-1717/

St Athenodorus of Neo-Caesarea
St Auctus of Amphipolis
St Baud of Tours
St Blinlivet
St Congar

St Engelbert of Cologne (c1185-1225) Archbishop Martyr, Count, Guardian and Chancellor of the Empire on behalf of the young King, protector of the Monasteries and religious Orders, Apostle of the poor.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/07/saint-of-the-day-7-november-saint-engelbert-of-cologne-c-1185-1225/

St Ernest of Mecca

St Florentius of Strasburg (Died 693) ) the 13th Bishop of Strasburg from 618–624, Missionary, Miracle-worker, founder of Monasteries and Churches, Hermit. Born in Ireland and died in 693 in Strasburg, Germany.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/07/saint-of-the-day-7-november-st-florentius-of-strasburg-died-693-t/

St Fufus Bishop and Confessor

St Gebetrude of Remiremont
St Herculanus of Perugia
St Hesychius of Mytilene
St Hieron of Mytilene
Bl Hyacinth Castañeda Puchasons
St Lazarus the Stylite
Blessed Lucia of Settefonti (Died 12th Century) Virgin
St Nicander of Mytilene
Bl Peter Ou
St Prosdocimus of Padua
St Prosdocimus of Rieti
St Raverranus of Séez
St Rufus of Metz
St Taurion of Amphipolis
St Thessalonica of Amphipolis
St Tremorus of Brittany

St Willibrord (c658 – 739) “Apostle to the Frisians,” Bishop, Missionary.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/11/07/saint-of-the-day-7-november-st-willibrord-c-658-739-apostle-to-the-frisians/

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.”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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.