Thought for the Day – 9 January – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations for Christmastide “The Holy Infancy” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
“The Magi’s Stay in Jerusalem”
+I. When the Star disappeared, the Magi were not disconcerted. If God saw fit to withdraw His direct and extraordinary supernatural guidance, they must fall back on the ordinary means. So they sought for information from those on the spot, as to the birthplace of the King of the Jews. Sometimes God leads us by His holy inspirations, sometimes He leaves us to discover His Will by natural means. We cannot expect to live always in the blaze of supernatural Light, showing us the way
+2. When Herod heard of the arrival of these distinguished strangers and of their inquiries after a new- born King, he was troubled. The tyrant dreaded lest he should be superseded. It is one of the miseries of pride that it lives in continual dread of being set aside and humbled. Humility is never troubled because it always loves the lowest place and rejoices in its own discomfiture.
+3. The Priests, when consulted, declared with one voice that Bethlehem is to be the birthplace of the King of the Jews. Yet they manifested no desire to follow the Magi thither. Their knowledge of the truth created in them, no wish to carry it into practice. They could teach others but they did not themselves act on the lessons they taught. How often have I done the same! I preach so well: I practise so ill!
Quote/s of the Day – 9 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family”
“In the Name of the Lord Jesus and protected only by the Sign of the Cross, without shield or helmet, I shall penetrate the enemy’s ranks and not be afraid.”
St Martin of Tours (c 316-397)
“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)
“[Jesus] is our only Master, Who must teach us; our only Lord, on Whom we must depend; our only Head, to Whom alone we should belong; our only Model, Whom we should imitate; our only Physician, Who must heal us; our only Shepherd, Who must feed us; our only Way, Who must lead us; our only Truth, Whom we must believe; our only Life, Who must be our life and our sole sufficiency in all things that, in Him, we may have all in All. Except the Name of Jesus, there is no other name given under Heaven, whereby we must be saved and apart from Jesus Christ, God has given us no other foundation of our salvation, our perfection and our glory! ”
St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)
“The Holy Name of Jesus is, first of all, an all-powerful prayer. Our Lord, Himself, solemnly promises, that whatever we ask the Father in His Name, we shall receive. God never fails to keep His Word. Each time we say “Jesus,” it is an act of perfect love, for, we offer to God, the Infinite love of Jesus.”
St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 9 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family”– Within the Octave of The Epiphany –Isaias 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Falling down they adored Him” – Matthew 2:11
REFLECTION – “God’s intention was not only to come down to earth but to become known there; not only to be born but to be recognised. In fact, it is with this recognition in mind that we hold this celebration of the Epiphany, the great day of His manifestation. For it was today that the Magi came from the East in search of the Sun of Justice at its rising (Mal 3:20), He of Whom we read: “Behold a Man Whose Name is the Orient,” (Zec 6:12 ). Today they have adored the Virgin’s newborn Child, following the guidance of a New Star. What great cause for joy do we not find here, my brethren, as also in those words of the Apostle Paul: “The kindness and generous love of God our Saviour have appeared,” (Tit 3:4)…
What is this you are doing, you Magi? What is this you are doing? Are you adoring an Infant at the breast in a wretched hovel, wrapped in miserable rags? Can a Child such as this really be God? Yet, “The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in Heaven.” (Ps 11:4) while you are looking for Him in a common stable, held in His Mother’s arms! Whatever are you doing? Why are you offering Him gold? Could such a One as this be King? Where, then, is His Royal Court, His Throne, His crowd of courtiers? Can a stable be a palace, a crib a throne, Mary and Joseph members of His Court? How on earth could wise men be so foolish as to adore a Baby, as contemptible by reason of His age, as for the poverty of His Family?
Mad? Yes, they have become so in order to be wise. The Holy Spirit has taught them already what the Apostle Paul would later proclaim: “Whoever would be wise, let him become a fool. For since the world, in all its wisdom, did not come to know God in His Wisdom, it has pleased God to save those who believe, through the foolishness of the Gospel we proclaim, (Cf 1 Cor 1:21)… And so, they prostrate themselves before this poor Child; they do Him homage as to a King; they adore Him as a God. He Who outwardly guided them by a Star, has cast His Light into the interior of their hearts!” – St Bernard (1091-1153) Cistercian Monk, Father and Doctor of the Church (1st Sermon for the Epiphany).
PRAYER – O God, Thou Who by the guidance of a star this day revealed Thy Only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, who know Thee now by faith, may come to behold Thee in glory. Through the same 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 – 9 January – Within the Octave of Epiphany – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus”
The Love of Thy Name By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) The Imitation of Christ (Book 3 Ch 26:1-4)
My God, Sweetness beyond words, make bitter all the carnal comfort which draws me from love of the eternal and lures me to its evil self, by the sight of some delightful good in the present. Let it not overcome me, my God. Let not flesh and blood conquer me. Let not the world and its brief glory deceive me, nor the devil trip me by his craftiness. Give me courage to resist, patience to endure and constancy to persevere. Give me the soothing unction of Thy spirit, rather than all the consolations of the world and in place of carnal love, infuse into me, the love of Thy Name. Amen
Saint of the Day – 9 January – Blessed Antony Fatati (c1410-1484) Bishop, holding many illustrious Papal appointments for a few Popes in succession. Blessed Antony was austere to himself but generous towards the poor. As the long-serving Bishop of Teramo and then of Ancona, Antony displayed the perfect example of a zealous and loving shepherd. Born in c1410 in Ancona, in the Marches, Italy and died there on 9 January 1484 of natural causes, aged around 74 years. Additional Memorial – 2 September in Ancona. Blessed Antony was Beatified by Pope Pius VI on 9 May 1795. Also known as – Anthony of Teramo, Anthony of Ancona, Antoine… Antonio… His Body is Incorrupt.
Blessed Antony Fatati was born in Ancona to a noble family. He studied in Bologna, Italy and, after Ordination, was appointed a Canon and vicar of the Vatican Chapter of St Peter’s Basilica.
He was then appointed as a senior Chaplain and Cleric of the Apostolic Camera (Treasury) in the Roman Curia, the General Treasurer of the Marches and Vicar General of that Province.
In 1450 he was elected to the Episcopal See of Teramo and, in 1463, of Ancona. In between these elections, in 1456, the King of Naples Alfonso V of Aragon, became so impressed with Antony, the King asked him to be one of his Councilors.
In his long and fruitful pastoral activity, Blessed Antony distinguished himself for his prudence, equanimity, austerity and generosity. He was a shepherd attentive to the needs of his people, whom he guided with wisdom and firmness. He worked to promote charity and social justice and to defend the Catholic Faith.
He was also a man of great culture and profound devotion and piety, devoting himself to prayer and meditation and was an example of Christian life for all who knew him.
Blessed Antony died in his Diocese on 9 January 1484. He was interred in the Diocesan Cathedral. In 1529 his body were found incorrupt after their exhumation. In 1795 a new sarcophagus was commissioned in order to display Blessed Antony’s Incorrupt body for the veneration of the faithful.
St Peter of Sebaste (c340-c391) Bishop of Sebaste in Lesser Armenia. Member of the glorious family of Saints – He was the younger brother of Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, the famous Christian Hermit Naucratius and Macrina the Younger and a close friend of Gregory of Nazianzen, all Saints. Of course, Basil and Gregory of Nazianzen are both Doctors too. St Pete‘r’s Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/09/saint-of-the-day-9-january-st-peter-of-sebaste-c-340-c-391-bishop/
Blessed Antony Fatati (c1410-1484) Bishop. His Body is Incorrupt. St Brithwald of Canterbury St Eustratius of Olympus Bl Franciscus Yi Bo-Hyeon St Honorius of Buzancais
St Marcellinus of Ancona (Died c577) The 5th Bishop of Ancona, Italy. Patronages – against fire (a raging fire ceased by St Marcellinus waving his prayer book at it; the book survived the fire with only slight damage; afterwards, people who touched it, while praying, were cured of ailments), of Ancona, Italy. The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Ancona, St Marcellinus, Bishop, who, according to St Gregory the Great, miraculously delivered that City from destruction by fire.” Holy Marcellinus: https://anastpaul.com/2024/01/09/saint-of-the-day-9-january-saint-marcellinus-of-ancona-died-c577-bishop/
St Marciana Bl Martinus In Eon-min St Maurontius St Nearchus St Paschasia of Dijon St Philip Berruyer St Polyeucte
Martyrs of Africa – 21 Saints: A group of 21 Christians murdered together for their faith in the persecutions of Decius. The only details to survive are 14 of their names – Artaxes, Epictetus, Felicitas, Felix, Fortunatus, Jucundus, Pictus, Quietus, Quinctus, Rusticus, Secundus, Sillus, Vincent and Vitalis. They were Martyred in c 250.
Martyrs of Antioch – 6 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together during the persecutions of Diocletian – Anastasius, Anthony, Basilissa, Celsus, Julian and Marcionilla.
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