Day: February 3, 2025

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, The GREAT TRUTHS

Thought for the Day – 3 February – God our Preserver

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Thought for the Day – 3 February – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Meditations on “The Great Truths”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

3rd Day – God our Preserver

In Him we live and move and are.
(Acts xvii:28)

+1. If God had merely created us and then left us to ourselves, there would have been some excuse for our forgetting how completely we belong to Him.
But, we are not like a picture which the artist finishes and then leaves to itself. God continues throughout our whole life the act of creation, in the shape of preservation. Without this, we should, at once, lapse into our previous nothingness. We depend upon Him for our being, as the rivulet depends on the spring, or the smoke on the fire.

+2. But, we not only live in Him but, we also move in Him. He co-operates with our every action. We cannot lift a hand or move a finger, unless He not only sanctions the act but actually helps us to perform it. Every breath we breathe, every pulsation of our heart, depends on God’s co-operation.
How completely dependent we are on Him! How careful should we be, that our every action is one suitable to the Divine co-operation!

+3. God does more than this.
He not only preserves us but tends us, with watchful care, delivers us from dangers warns us when we are going awry, shows a never-failing interest in us and an unceasing desire for our happiness.
For all this, we are dependent on Him!
What folly then, to neglect One to Whom we owe everything!
Pray for a sense of continual dependenc and trust of God.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 3 February – St Blaise

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Quote of the Day – 3 February – St Blaise (Died c316) Martyr Bishop, Physician, Miracle-worker

The Blessing of the Throats is a Sacramental of the Church, ordinarily celebrated today, the Feast day of Saint Blaise.

THE BLESSING of ST BLAISE
Through the intercession
of Saint Blaise,
Bishop and Martyr,
may God deliver you
from ailments of the throat
and from every other evil.
In the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 February – ‘ … Today a new Sun is shining …’

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One Minute Reflection – 3 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity” – Resumed Mass of Sunday – Malachias 3:1-4; – Luke 2:22-32 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“My eyes have seen Thy salvation …” – Luke 2:30

REFLECTION – “The “Father of lights” (Jam 1:17) is inviting the children of Light (Lk 16:18) to celebrate the Feast of Light: “Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy” says the Psalm (33:6). In fact, He Who “dwells in unapproachable light” (1Tm 6:16) has condescended to become approachable. He has come down in the cloud of His Flesh that the weak and small might mount up to Him. What a descent of mercy! “He inclined the heavens,” that is to say, the heights of His Divinity, “and came down” by becoming present in the flesh, “with dark clouds under His Feet” (Ps 17:10) …

A necessary darkness to turn us to Light! The true Light was hidden beneath the cloud of His Flesh (cf. Ex 13:21) – a dark cloud by reason of its “likeness to sinful flesh” (Rm 8:3) … Since the true Light has made flesh His hiding place, let us, who are beings of flesh, draw near to the Word made Flesh … that we may learn to pass, by degrees to the spiritual flesh. Let us now draw near, for today a new Sun is shining even more than is its wont. Up until now, he was enclosed in the narrowness of a crib in Bethlehem and was known by hardly anyone but today, at Jerusalem, he is presented in front of a great number of people in the Temple of the Lord … Today, the Sun breaks out to shine over the whole world …

If only my soul could burn with the desire which inflamed Simeon’s heart that I, too, might be worthy of becoming the bearer of so great a Light! But, unless the soul has first of all been purified from its sins, it cannot go “to meet Christ on the clouds” of true freedom (1 Thes 4:17) … Only then, will it be able to rejoice in the true Light with Simeon and, like him, to depart in peace.” – Adam of Perseigne (c1145-1221) Cistercian Abbot (Sermon 4 for the Purification).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, we humbly beseech Thy Majesty that, as Thy Only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the nature of our flesh, so may Thou grant us to be presented to Thee with purified minds. 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, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 3 February – O Gloriosa Virginum

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Our Morning Offering – 3 February – Resumed Mass of Sunday

O Gloriosa Virginum
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609)

O Glorious Virgin, ever blest,
Sublime above the starry sky,
Who nurture from thy spotless breast
To thy Creator didst supply.

What we had lost through hapless Eve,
The Blossom sprung from these restores,
And, granting bliss to souls that grieve,
Unbars the everlasting doors.

O Gate, through which hath passed the King.
O Hall, whence Light shone through the gloom;
The ransomed nations, praise and sing
Life given from the Virgin womb.

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

O Gloriosa Domina is the second half of the Hymn: Quem Terra, Pontus, Aethera. It was composed by St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609) the Bishop of Poitiers.
In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), it was altered and changed to O Gloriósa Vírginum.
It is sung in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Roman Breviary.
It is said that St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) was always singing this Hymn. His mother sang it to him as a baby and even on his death bed, after receiving Extreme Unction, he intoned the Hymn.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 3 February – St Leonius (4th Century) Priest in Poitiers and a disciple of St Hilary.

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Saint of the Day – 3 February – St Leonius (4th Century) Priest in Poitiers and a disciple of St Hilary. We believe Leonius was born in Poitiers in the 4th Century. He died in the latter part of this Century
late 4th century in Poitiers, Aquitaine, France of natural causes. Also known as – Leonius of Luçon, Leonio… Léone… Lienne… Additional Memorial – 14 February (in the Archdiocese of Poitiers).

Poitiers Cathedral of St Peter

Leonius was born in Poitiers into a Christian family. He studied Scripture and theology and was Ordained a Priest by St Hilary. His teacher, St Hilary, was a prominent Theologian and the Bishop of Poitiers who supported the Doctrine of the Trinity against Arianism which held that Jesus Christ was not God.

He was a faithful disciple of St Hilary and followed him into exile when the Emperor Constantius II began persecuting Christians who held the Doctrine of the True Faith and did not subscribed to the heresy of the Arians.

Leonius and St Hilary spent several years in exile, during which they preached the Gospel and fought against Arianism.

Leonius assisted St Hilary on his deathbed and died himself at an advanced age towards the end of the 4th Century. His Relics were transferred to La-Roche-sur-Yon in 994 but were lost during the Hundred Years’ War. The Diocese of Lucon celebrates St Leonius today, on 3 February and that of Poitiers, on the 14th of this month.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Our Lady of Saideneida, Damascus, Nuestra Señora / The Virgin of Suyapa, Honduras (c1747) St Blaise and the Saints for 3 February

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St Blaise (Died c316) Martyr Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia, Physician, Miracle-worker.
St Blaise is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers – https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/25/thought-for-the-day-25-july-the-memorial-of-st-christopher-died-c-251-one-of-the-fourteen-holy-helpers/
All about St Blaise:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/02/03/saint-of-the-day-st-blaise-died-c-316-martyr/

Our Lady of Saideneida, Damascus – 3 February:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/03/feast-of-our-lady-of-saideneida-damascus-and-memorials-of-the-saints-3-february/

Nuestra Señora de Suyapa / Our Lady of Suyapa OR Virgen de Suyapa / The Virgin of Suyapa, Honduras (c1747) Patron of Honduras, Central America and The Orden de los Caballeros de Suyapa – 3 February:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/03/our-lady-of-saideneida-damascus-nuestra-senora-de-suyapa-our-lady-of-suyapa-honduras-c1747-st-blaise-died-c316-martyr-bishop-and-memorials-of-the-saints-3-february/

St Anatolius of Salins

St Ansgar OSB (801-865) “Apostle of the North”, Bishop
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/03/saint-of-the-day-3-february-saint-ansgar-osb-801-865-apostle-of-the-north/

St Anna the Prophetess
St Berlinda of Meerbeke
St Blasius of Armentarius
St Blasius of Oreto
St Caellainn
St Celerinus of Carthage
St Clerina of Carthage
St Deodatus of Lagny
St Eutichio
St Evantius of Vienne
St Felix of Africa
St Felix of Lyons Bishop of Lyons, France. No other information has survived.

St Hadelin of Chelle (Died c690) Priest, Monk, Hermit, Founder of Monasteries, Miracle-worker.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/03/saint-of-the-day-3-february-saint-hadelin-of-chelles-c617-c690/

Bl Helinand of Pronleroy
St Hippolytus of Africa
St Ia of Cornwall
St Ignatius of Africa

Blessed John Nelson SJ (1535-1578) Martyr, Priest of the Society of Jesus. Martyred during the reign of Elizabeth I. He was Beatified on 29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/03/saint-of-the-day-3-february-blessed-john-nelson-sj-1535-1578-priest-martyr/

St Laurentius of Carthage

St Lawrence the Illuminator ) Died 576) Bishop, Peacemaker – graced with the charism of granting clarity of understanding to both sides of disagreeing parties, Founded the Farfa Monastery where he died. Born in Syria and died in 576 at the Monastery at Farfa, Italy, of natural causes. Patronages – against eye diseases and blindness, of the blind – both bodily and spiritual cases.
His Life of Grace:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/03/saint-of-the-day-3-february-saint-lawrence-the-illuminator-died-576-bishop/

St Leonius (4th Century) Priest
St Liafdag
St Lupicinus of Lyon
St Margaret of England
St Oliver of Ancona
St Philip of Vienne
St Remedius of Gap
St Sempronius of Africa
St Tigrides
St Werburga of Bardney
St Werburga of Chester

Benedictine Martyrs: A collective memorial of all members of the Benedictine Order who have died as Martyrs for the Faith.