Day: January 11, 2025

Posted in QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on VIRTUE, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The HOLY INFANCY

Thought for the Day – 11 January – “Their Gifts (1) Gold”

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Thought for the Day – 11 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)

“Their Gifts (1) Gold”

+1. Why did the Magi offer gold to the Babe in Mary’s arms? It was in recognition of Him as their King. It was the tribute by which they declared themselves His vassals professed their loyal submission to His sway. This is the very foundation of all supernatural virtue, not only to acknowledge Christ as our King but, to pay Him the homage which is His due as the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and earth.

+2. The Magi too, by their offering of gold, gave to Him, the most precious gift they had to give.
They were the first Christian almsgivers and their almsgiving was a pattern to all who should follow them. They gave liberally; they gave royally; they gave gifts which cost them something.
Is this the character of my almsgiving, or do I give sparingly and grudgingly?
I must not forget that Christ sees and remembers, not only the amount of the gifts I give to Him but too, the spirit in which they are given.

+3. The gold of the Magi also signifies the virtue of charity, without which we can do nothing to please God. Charity is the gold, fire tried, which He counsels the tepid to buy of Him. It is the virtue which is the standard, by which the value of all other virtues is tested. It is the virtue which caused Jesus Christ to Come and dwell upon earth. Oh, that I had more self-denying charity to others, more of the gold wherewith Heaven is bought!

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on STRENGTH, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, St PAUL!, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 11 January – Rejoice!

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Quote/s of the Day – 11 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – Within the Octave of Epiphany – Isaias 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

“And seeing the Star they rejoiced
with exceeding great joy.”

Matthew 2:10

“We too, then, when we suffer anything
for Christ’s sake,
should do so, not simply with courage
but even with joy.
If we have to go hungry, let us be glad,
as if we were at a banquet.
If we are insulted, let us be elated,
as though we had been showered with praises.
If we lose all we possess,
let us consider ourselves the gainers of all.
If we provide for the poor,
let us regard ourselves as the recipients! …
Above all, remember, that your struggles,
are for the sake of the Lord Jesus.
Then, you will easily rise above them
and live out your lifetime in happiness;
for nothing brings more happiness
than a good conscience.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father & Doctor of the Church ”

“What is not pleasing to God,
is anxiety and disquiet of mind.
The Lord wants our limitations
and weaknesses, to find their support
in His Strength; He wants us
to hope that His Goodness will complete
and perfect the imperfectness of our means.”

St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)
Priest, Founder of the Society of Jesus

(Letter of 17 November 1555)

“What does St Paul mean by rejoicing in the Lord?
He means the joy which is the result of such a love of God as makes us simply wish that His Will should be done
in all things and, which feels positive joy,
in seeing the accomplishment of the Divine Will,
quite apart from any personal advantage or disadvantage which may accrue to ourselves.
This is the secret of true joy, for then,
that which befalls ourselves, is a matter
of indifference to us.
Be it wealth or woe, success or failure,
we rejoice in it simply because it is
what God has ordained for us .
This is the meaning of Our Lord’s words –
“ Your joy, no man taketh from you.”

Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 11 January – ‘ … A Light has dawned … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 11 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – Within the Octave of Epiphany – Isaias 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12 – cripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy Light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” – Isaias 60:1

REFLECTION – “The loving Providence of God determined that, in the last days He would aid the world, set on its course to destruction. He decreed that all nations should be saved in Christ.

A promise had been made to the holy Patriarch Abraham, in regard to these nations. He was to have a countless progeny, born not from his body but from the seed of faith. His descendants are, therefore, compared with the array of the stars. The father of all nations, was to hope, not in an earthly progeny but, in a progeny from above.

Let the full number of the nations now take their place in the family of the Patriarchs. Let the children of the promise, now receive the blessing in the seed of Abraham, the blessing renounced by the children of his flesh. In the persons of the Magi, let all people adore the Creator of the universe – let God be known, not in Judea only but in the whole world, so that His Name may be great in all Israel.

Dear friends, now that we have received instruction in this revelation of God’s grace, let us celebrate, with spiritual joy, the day of our first harvesting, of the first calling of the Gentiles. Let us give thanks to the merciful God, Who has made us worthy, in the words of the Apostle, to share the position of the Saints in   Light, Who has rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of His beloved Son. As Isaias prophesied – the people of the Gentiles, who sat in darkness, have seen a great Light and for those who dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, a Light has dawned. He spoke of them to the Lord – The Gentiles, who do not know Thee, will invoke Thee and the peoples, who knew Thee not, will take refuge in Thee.” – St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Father and Doctor of the Church (An excerpt from his On the Lord’s Epiphany, Sermon 3)

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).

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CONSECRATION Prayers, Holy Family PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE

Our Morning Offering – 11 January – Consecration to the Holy Family

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Our Morning Offering – 11 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family”

Consecration to the Holy Family
Approved by Pope Leo XIII
20 June 1892

O Most Loving Jesus,
Who by Thy ineffable virtues
and by the example of Thy domestic life,
didst Consecrate the family
which Thou didst choose on earth.
In Thy clemency, look down upon this household,
humbly prostrate before Thee
and imploring Thy mercy.
Remember that this family belongs to Thee,
for to Thee we have, in a special way,
dedicated and devoted ourselves.
Look upon us in Thy loving kindness,
preserve us from every danger,
give us help in the time of need
and grant us the grace to persevere
to the end, in the imitation of Thy Holy Family
that having revered Thee
and loved Thee faithfully upon earth,
we may bless and praise Thee eternally in Heaven.

O Mary, most sweet Mother,
to thy intercession we have recourse,
knowing that thy Divine Son will hear thy prayers.

And do thee,
O glorious Patriarch, Saint Joseph,
assist us by thy powerful mediation
and offer, by the hands of Mary,
our prayers to Jesus.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 11 January – St Honorata (Died c500) Virgin

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Saint of the Day – 11 January – St Honorata (Died c500) Virgin Consecrated to God and sister of Saint Epiphanius, the Bishop, in the City of Pavia in Italy. Born in Pavia and died there in c500 of natural causes. Also known as – Onorata, Honorata of Pavia..

What we know of Honorata is extracted from the Vita of Saint Epiphanius, her brother and the Bishop of Pavia, written by Saint Ennodius, who was his successor in the Episcopal See.

She was born in Pavia. It is said that she was the sister of Saints Liberata, Especiosa, Luminosa and Epiphanius. She was a Nun at the Convent of San Vicente de Pavia, where she received a good education and training from her sister Saint Liberata or Saint Luminosa. She was Consecrated by her brother Saint Epiphanius of Pavia.

Honorata lived in the Convent until the invasion of the Barbarians who captured her and later freed her through the intercession of her brother Saint Epiphanius. The image below shows Honorata being rescued by her brother.

She was always highly esteemed for her gift of prayer and her dedication to the things of God and her neighbour. She died in her Convent in Pavia. Her remains are preserved in the Convent of Santa Maria in Pavia.

Some traditions believe that Honorata was buried together with the virgins Luminosa, Liberata and Especiosa in the Basilica of San Vicente, in the Church where the remains of Bishop Saint Epiphanius were transferred. 11 January is the anniversary of this translation. Of the group of virgins mentioned, all buried in the Church of San Vicente, only Saint Honorata has been inscribed in the Roman Martyrology which simply states: “In Pavia, Honorata, Virgin.”

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Within the Octave of Epiphany, St Pope Hyginus (Died 142) Martyr, Notre-Dame de Bessiere / Our Lady of Bessiere, France, Madonna della Vetrana / Our Lady of the Vetrana, Italy (1691) and all the Saints for 11 January

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Within the Octave of Epiphany

Notre-Dame de Bessiere / Our Lady of Bessiere, Limousin, France – 11 January:
Here
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/11/memorials-of-the-saints-11-january-4/

Madonna della Vetrana / Our Lady of the Vetrana (Castellana Grotte, Bari, Puglia, Italy (1691) – 11 January:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/11/notre-dame-de-bessiere-our-lady-of-bessiere-limousin-france-madonna-della-vetrana-our-lady-of-the-vetrana-castellana-grotte-bari-puglia-italy-1691-and-memorials-of-the-saints-11-january/

St Pope Hyginus (Died 142) Papal Ascension c 138. It is believed he was a Martyr for Christ and suffered during the persecution of Antoninus, although our ancient sources do not confirm this. Tradition holds that during his Papacy he determined the various prerogatives of the clergy and defined the grades of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Hyginus also instituted Godparents at Baptism to assist the baptised during their Christian life. In addition, he decreed, that all Churches be Consecrated.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/11/saint-of-the-day-11-january-saint-pope-hyginus-died-142/

St Alexander of Fermo

St Anastasius of Suppentonia (Died c570) Monk, Abbot of the Monastery at Suppendonia, Italy.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Suppentonia, near Mount Socrates, the holy Monk Anastasius and his companions, who were called by a voice from Heaven to enter the Kingdom of God.”
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/11/saint-of-the-day-11-january-saint-anastasius-of-suppentonia-died-c-570-abbot/

St Boadin of Ireland
St Breandan of Ireland (the name is not an error)
St Eithne
St Fedelemia
St Honorata (Died c500) Virgin
St Leucius of Alexandria (Died 5th Century) Bishop Martyr

St Leucius of Brindisi ) Died c180) Bishop, Confessor, Missionary. Born in Eastern Europe and died in c180 in Brindisi, Italy of natural causes. 
This Holy Shepherd:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/01/11/saint-of-the-day-11-january-st-leucius-of-brindisi-died-c180-bishop-confessor/

St Liberata of Pavia
St Lucius the Soldier
St Luminosa of Pavia
St Mark the Soldier
St Michael of Klopsk
St Palaemon
St Paldo
St Peter of Alexandria
St Peter of Anea
St Peter the Soldier

St Salvius of Amiens (Died c625) The 5th Bishop of Amiens, France, Monk, miracle-worker.
About St Salvius:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/11/saint-of-the-day-11-january-saint-salvius-of-amiens-died-c-625/

St Salvius of North Africa (Died 6th Century) Martyr

St Severus of Alexandria
St Speciosa of Pavia
St Taso
St Theodosius the Soldier
St Theodosius of Antioch

St Theodosius the Cenobiarch (423-529) Hermit/ AbboT/Founder of the Cenobitical Communities.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/01/11/saint-of-the-day-11-january-st-theodosius-the-cenobiarch/

St Tipasio of Tigava

St Vitalis of Gaza (Died c 625) Monk, Hermit. “At Gaza, Vitalis was a monk for many years and earned considerable controversy for his methods in reforming the local prostitutes and scandalous women.” (Roman Martyrology).
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/11/saint-of-the-day-11-january-st-vitalis-of-gaza-died-c-625/