Day: January 26, 2025

Posted in GOD ALONE!, In the PRESENCE of GOD, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, Meditations on the HIDDEN LIFE, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, SACRED HEART QUOTES, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS

Thought for the Day – 26 January – Meditation 4, Part One – Of the Presence of God Considered in the Hidden Life

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 26 January – Meditations on the Hidden Life: From the 1906 Edition of The Heart of Jesus of Nazareth; it has the Imprimatur of Bishop John Baptist Butt, Diocese of Southwark, England, 5 February 1890. Author’s name known simply as Author of “The Voice of the Sacred Heart.” 
(We return to Fr Clarke for February with his Meditations on The Great Truths.)

Meditation 4, Part One – Of the Presence of God
Considered in the Hidden Life

If there is one exercise which conduces more efficaciously than another, to our sanctification, it is assuredly that of the Presence of God. If one means be more conducive than another, to attain that holy exercise, it would seem to be, a true and solid devotion, to the Heart of Jesus.
His most holy Soul, being united to the Word, never lost the view of the Beatific Vision, although, the beatitude and the joy of that Vision, were by a miracle, withheld from overflowing into the lower functions of His Soul, in order that He might be able to suffer, in His Humanity.

The nearest resemblance to our Lord which some of the Saints have attained, in this respect, may be found in such transient glimpses of the Divine Beauty, as we find revealed in their lives.
With those extraordinary ways, by which God sometimes vouchsafes to visit a few favoured souls, we have nothing to do at present. When we speak, therefore, in this meditation, of the habitual Presence of God, we refer but to that union of the soul, with Him, which was ordinary in the Saints and which may be attained – in more or less degree – by faithful correspondence with grace.

Our facility in maintaining the Divine Presence, will be measured, by the extent of our knowledge of God, since, in proportion to our knowledge of Him, will be our love and, it is love which keeps us in the recollection of His Presence and that impels us, to think of Him and of all which relates to Him.
This the Heart of Jesus teaches us. His Soul saw God. It knew Him with a knowledge which no other soul but His, could have supported. His love equalled His knowledge and it was in the mysterious light of such knowledge and such love, that He walked on earth – never alone, even in the midst of the most cruel abandonment on the part of creatures, (John 16:32) – and, He was never forsaken, even when given up to the pangs of supreme agony and dereliction.

That which proved, the consolation of the human Heart of Jesus and, after Him, of all His Saints, maybe the same in the case of each one of us!
Let us but apply ourselves to know God’s Beauty and to hear His Voice and our hearts will quickly learn to turn towards Him, to seek His Face and delight in His Presence. The consciousness of that Presence will then become an abiding source of tranquil devotion and of peace of heart, if not of sensible joy. It will greet us, at our first awakening, with encouragement to commence another day of trial; it will follow us amidst our occupations, console us in our sorrows, support us in our temptations, until we shall sink to rest, when the day is over, in the bosom of that Father Whom we have felt so near to us and Whose Presence will be our last thought, lulling us to sleep in the calm consciousness of His protection.

As the appreciation of the excellence of this holy exercise increases, the soul finds more facility and more charm in occupying itself with God and becomes, by degrees, more familiar with the thought of Him.
It will love to recall the Gospel narratives of the Life of our Blessed Lord. It will, in time, learn to feel at home, as it were, amongst them and thus ,it will be enabled, to make for itself a solitude, a hidden life apart from the material life which externally surrounds it. This habit the Sacred Scripture calls “walking with God” for by it we make Him our Companion here below.

It is of this habitual dwelling in the Divine Presence that Jesus affords us, so perfect a model in the Holy House of Nazareth.

Posted in QUOTES on CHARITY, St PAUL!

Quote/s of the Day – 26 January – St Polycarp

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 January – St Polycarp (69-155) Martyr, Bishop of Smyrna, Apostolic Father

The Epistle of St Polycarp

“St Paul, when absent from you,
wrote letters to you which,
if you study them closely,
will enable you to be built up in that faith
which has been given to you
‘which is the mother of us all’ (Gal. iv: 29),
in hope which follows and, in that love of God,
of Christ and of our neighbour
which leads the way.
If anyone is in these things, then,
he has fulfilled the law of justice;
for he who has charity
is far removed from all sin.”

St Polycarp (69-155)
Martyr, Bishop, Apostolic Father

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/26/quote-s-of-the-day-26-january-st-polycarp/

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, In the PRESENCE of GOD, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 January – ‘ … I am inviting you into My Life. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 26 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – St Polycarp (69-155) Martyr, Bishop of Smyrna (Asia Minor), Apostolic Father – Romans 12:16-21; Matthew 8:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Lord, I am not worthy … ”- Matthew 8:8

REFLECTION – “When He came here from another country, Christ found nothing here but what there is in abundance – afflictions, sorrows and death. This is what you have here – this is what there is here in abundance. He has eaten with you that which is to be found in abundance, in the poor house of your misfortune. He has drunk vinegar, He has tasted gall (Jn 19:29) – this is what He has found in your poor house.

Yet, He has invited you to His splendid table, His table in Heaven, to the table of Angels, where He Himself is the bread (Jn 6:35). Coming down to be with you and finding misfortune in your poor house, He was not too proud to be seated at your table, such as it was and promised you His own … He has taken away your misfortune; He will give you His own happiness. Yes indeed, He will give it you, He has promised us His Life!

And what He has accomplished is yet more unbelievable – He has given us His own Death in pledge. As if He were to say to us – “I am inviting you into My Life, to the place where none dies, where true happiness is to be found, where the food never stales, where it revives, where it never lacks but satisfies all. See, this is where I Am inviting you – to the Land of Angels, to friendship with the Father and Holy Ghost, to the meal of eternity, to My brotherly friendship. In sum, I invite you to Myself, to My Qwn Life. Are you unwilling to believe that I will give you My Life? Take My Death as your witness!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 231).

PRAYER – O God, Who gave us joy by the annual solemnity of blessed Polycarp, Thy Martyr and Bishop, mercifully grant that we may rejoice in his protection, whose birthday we celebrate. 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, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM

Our Morning Offering – 26 January – Deus, Tuorum Militum, O God of Those Who Fought Thy Fight

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Our Morning Offering – 26 January – St Polycarp (69-155) Martyr, Bishop of Smyrna (Asia Minor), Apostolic Father

Deus, Tuorum Militum
O God of Those Who Fought Thy Fight
Unknown Author
(6th Century)

O God, of those who fought Thy fight,
Portion and Prize and Crown of Light,
Break every bond of sin and shame
As now we praise Thy Martyr’s name.

He recked not of the world’s allure
But sin and pomp of sin forswore:
Knew all their gall and passed them by
And reached the throne prepared on high.

Bravely the course of pain he ran
And bore his torments, as a man,
For love of Thee his blood outpoured
And thus obtained the great reward.

With humble voice and suppliant word
We pray Thee, therefore, Holy Lord,
While we Thy Martyr’s Feast-day keep,
Forgive Thy loved and erring sheep.

All honour, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee,
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen

An Ambrosian Hymn historically assigned for Matins and Vespers for the Common of a Martyr in the Roman Breviary. It dates probably from the s6th Century and is attributed to the unknown Author of Rex gGoriose Martyrum and Jesu, Redemptor Omnium.
The Hymn exists in a longer version of eight strophes and a shorter one, of four, which is probably earlier.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 26 January – Saint Theogenes (Died c262) Martyr and the 1st Bishop of Hippo

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Saint of the Day – 26 January – Saint Theogenes (Died c262) Martyr and the 1st Bishop of Hippo in North Africa (present day Algeria) with 36 Companions. St Augustine wrote of him. Also known as – Theogenes of Hippo,… of Bona … of Ippona, Teógene…

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Hippo Regius, in Africa, the holy Bishop Theogenes and 36 others, who despising temporal death, obtained the crown of eternal life in the persecution of Valerian.”

Saint Augustine Basilica overlooking the ruins of Hippo Regius

Very little is known about St Theogenes, as the sources available to us are scarce and fragmentary.

According to the Roman Martyrology, Theogenes was Martyred in Hippo, Numidia, in present-day Algeria. He died during the persecution of Valerian, the Roman Emperor who, in 257, ordered the persecution of Christians.

The Basilica from the ruins of Hippo

Another source, St Augustine’s Sermon 301, provides a little more detail about the life of Theogenes. From this sermon we learn that Theogenes was the Bishop of Hippo, and that he was a man of great faith and devotion.
Augustine says that Theogenes was arrested by Roman soldiers and brought before the Prefect of the City. The Prefect tried to convince him to renounce the Christian Faith but Theogenes firmly refused.

Faced with his refusal, the Prefect ordered that Theogenes be tortured. Theogenes endured the torture with courage and patience and was eventually beheaded.

Theogenes’ death was a great sorrow for the Christians of Hippo. However, his testimony of faith and courage, inspired many others to follow in his footsteps. Although not confirmed by St Augustine, some say that 36 of his flock were also Martyred.

St Theogenes was succeeded by Saint Leontius (Died c303). Then came St Fidentius (Martyr c304), alerius who Ordained St Augustine (354– 8 August 430, co-adjutor in 395, Bishop in 396). After St Augustine came Heraclius (co-adjutor in 426, Bishop in 430).

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Nuestra Señora de Atocha / Our Lady of Long Fields, Madrid, Spain (1261), St Polycarp (69-155) Martyr, Bishop, Apostolic Father, Day 3 of the Candlemas Novena and Memorials of the Saints – 26 January

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Nuestra Señora de Atocha / Our Lady of Atocha/Our Lady of Long Fields, Madrid, Spain (1261) – 26 January:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/26/our-lady-of-atocha-our-lady-of-long-fields-madrid-spain-1261-and-memorials-of-the-saints-26-january/

NOVENA In Preparation for the
Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – LINK to DAY THREE, 26 January: DAY THREE, 26 January

St Polycarp (69-155) Martyr, Bishop of Smyrna (Asia Minor) Apostolic Church Father. Polycarp was a disciple of Saint John the Apostle Consecrated by St John, as the Bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp is regarded as one of three chief Apostolic Fathers, along with Saint Clement of Rome and Saint Ignatius of Antioch. Patron against dysentery and earache.
Dear St Polycarp:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/26/saint-of-the-day-26-january-saint-polycarp-69-155-martyr/
https://anastpaul.com/2018/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-st-polycarp-c-69-c-155-martyr-and-father-of-the-church/
AND (His Feast was moved in 1969 to 23 February):
https://anastpaul.com/2018/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-st-polycarp-c-69-c-155-martyr-and-father-of-the-church/

St Alberic of Citreaux O.Cist (Died 1109)
St Robert of Molesme O.Cist (1028-1111)
St Stephen Harding O.Cist (c 1060-1134)
The Story of the 3 Founders of the Cistercian Abbey:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/26/saints-of-the-day-26-january-the-3-founders-of-the-cistercian-order/

St Alphonsus of Astorga
St Athanasius of Sorrento

Blessed Eystein Erlandssön (Died 1188) Bishop. Born in the 12th century in Norway and died in 1188 in Nidaros, (modern Trondheim), Norway of natural causes.
Blessed Eystein’s Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/26/saint-of-the-day-26-january-blessed-eystein-erlandsson-died-1188-bishop/

St Paula of Rome (347-404) Widow, Foundress of the Order of St Jerome, life-long friend and associate of St Jerome. early Desert Mother.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/26/saint-of-the-day-26-january-saint-paula-of-rome-347-404/

St Theofrid of Corbie
St Theogenes (Died c262) and Companions Bishop and Martyr
St Tortgith of Barking

Martyred Family of Constantinople: Saint Mary and Saint Xenophon were married and the parents of Saint John and Saint Arcadius.  Theirs was a wealthy family of Senatorial rank in 5th century imperial Constantinople but were known as a Christians who lived simple lives. To give their sons a good education, Xenophon and Mary sent them to study in Beirut, Phoenicia. However, their ship wrecked, there was no communication from them, and the couple assumed, naturally, that the young men had died at sea. In reality, John and Arcadius had survived and decided that instead of continuing to Beirut, they were going to follow a calling to religious life and became Monks, eventually living in a Monastery in Jerusalem. Years later, Mary and Xenophon made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem – where they encountered their sons. Grateful to have their family re-united and taking it as a sign, Xenophon and Mary gave up their positions in society in Constantinople and lived the rest of their lives as a Monk and Anchoress in Jerusalem. A few years later, the entire family was Martyred together. They were Martyred in 5th Century Jerusalem.