Day: January 30, 2025

Posted in Meditations on the HIDDEN LIFE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS

Thought for the Day – 30 January – Meditation 6: The Occupation of the Heart of Jesus in the Hidden Life

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Thought for the Day – 30 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 6:
The Occupation of the Heart of Jesus in the Hidden Life

We are not at present going to study. in detail. the holy occupations of the Heart of our Lord, reserving such study for future consideration in separate meditations.
We shall find that it affords much assistance, in familiarising us, with the character of the Sacred Heart, its love, its sufferings and its desires. It will enable us also to recognise how full of merit, how conducive to God’s glory and, how helpful to the world at large, is a hidden life, provided it be modelled on the Hidden Life of Jesus.

The exterior life of Nazareth was, as we know, made up of the most ordinary works, the most commonplace actions. During those long years, we find nothing apparently, in due proportion, to the sublime Mission which brought Him down from Heaven.
Yet, He was all the while negotiating the great affair of our Redemption, as truly as when we come to regard Him hanging on the Cross.
Let us penetrate into His Heart and we shall see that it was secretly consumed with Love in the Presence of the Majesty of God, His Father and, since true love is ever active, with what energy must not the Divine Flame have burnt, within that living Furnace of Charity?

It was from this inexhaustible source of Love that His every act emanated and, these have merited the redemption of ten thousand worlds and are pleading, our cause in Heaven. at this moment!

Behold ~ the first great Master of the Divine Apostleship. Behold ~ in Jesus of Nazareth, the first Apostle of Prayer! This was the occupation of His Sacred Heart.
He loved, He adored, He repaired, He prayed, He immolated Himself for the Father’s glory, for the salvation of the universe.
He traced out the Divine plan of His Church, according to the eternal design He had seen in the bosom of the Father and, as each stratagem of His enemy for the defeat of that plan and the overthrow of His Church passed before Him, He devised the infallible means by which the evil influence should be counteracted and, the cause of good, should triumph.

Of what importance was it that the Hands of Jesus did but plane wood in a carpenter’s shop whilst His Heart was thus incessantly and divinely occupied? Could there really be monotony in such a Life as this? Whatever may have been its exterior, the interior of that Life was the most sublime which can be imagined.

Sublime also is the hidden life of those who have learnt to imitate Him, whose hearts, like His, are wholly occupied, as far as they can be in this life, with the interests of God and of souls; a life indeed which the wise ones of this world despise – which materialists scorn as useless. But in the great day of revelation, they will be forced to exclaim: “We fools esteemed their life madness and their end without honour; behold how they are numbered among the children of God and their lot is among the Saints.”

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on WATCHING

Quote/s of the Day – 30 January – ‘We ought to be dressed for work …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 30 January – Feast of St Martina (Died c228) Virgin and Martyr, Patron of Rome – Sirach 51:1-8.12 – Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Then all those virgins arose
and trimmed their lamps.”

Matthew 25:7

“We ought to be dressed for work,
lest, when the day of setting forth comes,
it should find us burdened and entangled.
Let our light shine, in good works
and glow, in such a way,
as to lead us from the night of this world,
to the daylight of eternal brightness. ”

St Cyprian of Carthage (c200-258)
Bishop, Martyr, Father

“So that our minds might be free of these illusions,
the Word invites us to shake this deep sleep
from the eyes of our soul,
so that we might not slip away
from the true realities,
by becoming attached
to that which has no consistency.
That is why He suggests
that we be watchful when He says:
“Let your loins be girt about
and your lamps burning …” (Lk 12:35)
For when the light shines before our eyes,
it chases sleep away
and, when our loins are held tight by a belt,
they prevent the body from succumbing to it …
The person who has fastened on
the belt of temperance
lives in the light of a pure conscience;
the trust of a child illuminates his life like a lamp …
If we live in this way,
we will enter a life like that of the Angels!”

St Gregory of Nyssa (c335–c395)
Father of the Church

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on WATCHING, The HEART, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 30 January – ‘ … So you, then, mind you carry it with you, carry it inside, where God can see … ‘ St Augustine

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One Minute Reflection – 30 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – Feast of St Martina (Died c228) Virgin and Martyr, Patron of Rome – Sirach 51:1-8.12 – Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.” – Matthew 25:7

REFLECTION – “There has come a shout at midnight. What can this shout be, if not what the Apostle speaks of – ‘in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.’ For the trumpet will sound and the dead will rise up, imperishable and as for us, we shall be changed (1 Cor 15:52). Once the shout has been raised at midnight, what happens next? They all arose. What is the meaning of “They all arose?” The hour is coming, says the Lord Himself, when all who are in the tombs will hear His Voice and come forth (Jn 5:28-29).

… What is the meaning of “They did not take oil in their flasks?” In their hearts … I mean, look at these foolish virgins who did not carry oil with them; by their self-denial which earns them the name of virgins and by their good works, represented by the lamps they bring, they are intent on pleasing other people. And, if they are intent on pleasing others and that is why they do these admirable things, they are not carrying oil with them. So you, then, mind you carry it with you, carry it inside, where God can see; carry the testimony of your conscience there. … So if you refrain from unlawful things and perform good works, in order to be admired by other people, there is no oil inside you! …

Before those virgins went to sleep, it does not say that their lamps were going out. The wise ones’ lamps were burning, from the oil inside them, from the assurance of their consciences, from their inner boast, from their deepest charity. But those of the foolish ones, were also burning. Why were they burning then? Because there was no dearth of admiration from other people. But after they had risen, that is to say, in the resurrection from the dead, they began to trim their lamps that is, to prepare to give God an account of their works. And because there is no-one then expressing admiration … they were asking for what they had always been used to, that is to say, to shine with someone else’s oil, to live in dependence on others’ admiration. Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 93).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Thou Who choose the weak things of the world to confound the strong, mercifully grant that we, who are celebrating the feast of blessed Martina, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may reap the benefit ofher patronal intercession with Thee. 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-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 30 January – Hear Thou with Joy, O Rome, Martina’s Name

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Our Morning Offering – 30 January – Feast of St Martina (Died c228) Virgin and Martyr, Patron of Rome

Hear Thou with Joy, O Rome,
Martina’s Name
Breviary Hymn for Matins
By Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) (Attrib)
Papal Reign from 1623-1644

Hear thou with joy, O Rome, Martina’s name,
Her praises celebrate with glad accord Martina,
high in merit, virgin blest
and martyr of the Lord.

Beauty and youth, the joys of happy home,
Ancestral palaces and noble birth;
All these were hers, all these for Jesu’s sake,
She counted nothing worth.

Her wealth she shared among the poor of Christ,
Content with seeking better wealth above:
Herself she gave to her immortal King,
too happy in His love.

The agonising hooks, the rending scourge,
Shook not the dauntless spirit in her breast;
With torments rack’d, Angels her fainting flesh
Recruit with heavenly feast.

In vain they cast her to the ravening beasts;
Calm at her feet the lion crouches down,
Till smitten by the sword at length she goes
To her immortal crown.

Now with the Saints Martina reigns in bliss
And. where Idolatry sate throned of yore,
From her victorious altar, praise and prayer
With odorous incense soar.

Expel false worldly joys and fill us, Lord,
With Thine enlightening beam Divine;
Who with Thy suffering Martyrs present art,
The Godhead, One and Trine.
Amen

Images omits Stanzas 4 and 6

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 30 January – St Martina (Died c228) Virgin Martyr, Patron of Rome

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Saint of the Day – 30 January – St Martina (Died c228) Virgin Martyr. Patronages –of Rome, Italy, of nursing mothers.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In Rome, commemoration of Saint Martina, holy virgin and Martyr.”

Martina was a Deaconess and the daughter of a noble ex-consul and orphaned at an early age, she was described as a noble and beautiful virgin. She so openly testified to her Christian Faith that she could not escape the persecutions under Severus Alexander (222-235). .

Being arrested and commanded to worship the idols, she refused, whereupon she was subjected to various tortures and was finally beheaded.

These tortures according to her Vita include being scourged. She was condemned to be devoured by wild beasts in the amphitheater but was miraculously untouched by them. These beasts, instead, lay docilely at her feet like pet cats.

She was then thrown onto a burning pyre, from which she also escaped unhurt and was finally beheaded. Her hagiography records that some of her executioners, seeing the glorious miracles and the great joy and courage with which she was filled during the tortures, converted to Christianity and were themselves beheaded.

The Blessed Virgin Mary with St Agnes and St Martina, by El Greco.

Ostia, at the mouth of the Tiber, was the scene of her Martyrdom but her body was transported to Rome,where a Church near the Mamertine Prison, Santi Luca e Martina, was later dedicated in her honour. See the Church below and the beautiful Statue which is situate under the High Altar.

Pietro da Cortona The Martyrdom of St Martina

On 25 October 1634, during the restoration of the Crypt, buried remains were found by the painter Pietro da Cortona (see the first image above and the one showing her Martyrdom, above this paragraph, painted by da Cortona), president of the Accademia di San Luca and were attributed to the Martyred Saint Martina. Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), who occupied the Holy See at that time, had the Church repaired and, it is believed that he composed the Hymns which are sung at her Office.

St Martina’s Relics
Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Nostra Signora della Rosa / Our Lady of the Rose (Lucca, Italy), St Martina, Virgin Martyr, Day 7 of the Candlemas Novena and Memorials of the Saints – 30 January

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Nostra Signora della Rosa / Our Lady of the Rose (Lucca, Italy) – 30 January:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/30/our-lady-of-the-rose-lucca-italy-and-memorials-of-the-saints-30-january/

NOVENA In Preparation for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Candlemas Novena – LINK TO DAY SEVEN: 30 January: DAY SEVEN, 30 JANUARY:

St Martha (1st Century) Virgin Martyr – Sister of Saint Lazarus and Saint Mary of Bethany. Friend of Jesus and hostess to Him in her house. May have been part of an early mission to France. (Feast day moved after Vatican II).
St Martha:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/29/saint-of-the-day-29-july-st-martha-virgin-1st-century/
More on St Martha here:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/07/29/saint-of-the-day-29-july-st-martha/

St Martina Virgin Martyr

St Adelelmus (Died c 1100) Abbot, Soldier, Miracle-worker. Born in the 11th Century at Laudun, Poitou, France and died in c 1100 at Burgos, Castilla la Vieja, Spain of natural causes. Patronages – Burgos, Spain, butlers, domestic servant, housemaids, manservants, servants.
His Devoted Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/30/saint-of-the-day-30-january-saint-adelelmus-died-c-1100-abbot/

St Aldegundis
St Alexander of Edessa
St Amnichad of Fulda
St Armentarius of Antibes
St Armentarius of Pavia
St Barsen
St Barsimaeus of Edessa

St Bathilde (c 626–680) Queen, Religious, Widow, Mother, Social Reformer, pioneer in the abolition of Slavery, founder of Monasteries. St Bathilde was Canonised by by Pope Nicholas I.
Her Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/30/saint-of-the-day-30-january-saint-bathilde-c-626-680/

St Felix IV, Pope
Bl Haberilla

Saint Hyacintha of Mariscotti TOR (1585-1646) Virgin, Sister of the Tertiary or Third Order Regular of St Francis (also TOSF). Penitent, Apostle of the poor, the sick, the elderly. She established Apostolates to aid the latter as well as another devoted to the Adoration of the Holy Eucharist.
About St Hyacintha:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/30/saint-of-the-day-30-january-saint-hyacintha-of-mariscotti-tor-1585-1646/

St Hippolytus of Antioch
Blessed Margaret Ball

St Matthias of Jerusalem
St Philippian of Africa
St Savina of Milan

Blessed Sebastian Valfrè CO (1629-1710) known as the “Apostle of Turin” and “St Philip of Turin,” Oratorian Priest, Apostle of the poor, the ill, widows and orphans, prisoners, Confessor with deep insight, Writer. Beatified on 31 August 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/30/saint-of-the-day-30-january-blessed-sebastian-valfre-co-1629-1710-apostle-of-turin/

St Theophilus the Younger
St Tudclyd