Posted in GOD is LOVE, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on SIN, The GREAT TRUTHS, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 10 February – The Cause of Our Failure

Thought for the Day – 10 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)

10th Day – The Cause of Our Failure

He who shall sin, shall hate his own soul.
(Prov viii:36)

Hitherto, we have been speaking of the means of reaching the End, for which we were created and, in which alone, we shall find true and lasting satisfaction. We now come to the cause of our failure and the obstacles in our way.

+I. There is only one obstacle in our way, only one real hindrance to our progress towards happiness and peace, only one barrier between ourselves and God.
This obstacle is sin.
As long as it remains, it is an insuperable obstacle.
A single mortal sin, unrepented of, will, forever shut me out from the Presence of God.
A single venial sin, unredeemed, will prevent me from attaining to happiness until the debt has been paid!

+2. What do we mean by sin?
We mean any conscious violation of the law of God. Whenever we do that which God has declared to be a serious offence against Him, we become the enemies of God, we forfeit all hope of Heaven, except as far as God, of His gratuitous compassion, may afterwards give us the grace to repent and be forgiven.
Have I ever thus lost sight of God and of Heaven?
And if so, am I sure that I have regained His Love?

+3. Why is sin so terrible
Because it is an outrage to a God of Infinite Holiness, of Infinite Majesty. Because it is an act of ingratitude, to One Who has laden us with benefits, Who Loves us with a Love which surpasses all bound or measure because, it is a deliberate rejection of the Divine Friendship and, as far as we are concerned, forever!
Pray for a hatred and detestation of all sin!.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on Love of Self, St Francis de Sales

Quote/s of the Day – 10 February – That Oil, that Wedding Garment …

Quote/s of the Day – 10 February –2 Corinthians 10:17-18; 11:1-2, Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

But the wise took oil
in their vessels

Matthew 25:4

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.

Love the Lord and so,
learn to love yourselves
that when, by loving the Lord,
you shall have loved yourselves,
you may securely love
your neighbour as yourselves. …
So then, have faith with love.
This is the “wedding garment
!”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father & Doctor of Grace

We should always love our neighbour,
as in the breast of Christ

(The Spirit of St François de Sales II, 1)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

“He loves you as though He had
no-one else to love but you alone.
You, too, should love Him alone
and all others for His Sake.
Of Him you may say and, indeed, you should say:
My Beloved to me and I to Him (Cant, 2:16).
My God has given Himself all to me
and I give myself all to Him;
He has chosen me for His beloved
and I choose Him, above all others,
for my only Love.

How to Pray at All Times
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, St PAUL!, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 February – ‘ … Do you think it might be charity? …’

One Minute Reflection – 10 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity” – St Scholastica (c482-547) Virgin Nun, St Benedict’s twin – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18, 11:1-2; Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

But the wise took oil in their vessels” – Matthew 25:4

REFLECTION – “It is some great thing, some exceedingly great thing, that this oil signifies. Do you think it might be charity? If we try out this hypothesis, we hazard no precipitate judgement. I will tell you why charity seems to be signified by the oil. The Apostle says, “I will show you a still more excellent way.” “If I speak with the tongue of mortals and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” This is charity. It is “that way above the rest,” which is, with good reason, signified by the oil. For oil swims above all liquids. Pour in water and pour in oil upon it, the oil will swim above. If you keep the usual order, it will be uppermost, if you change the order, it will be uppermost. “Charity never fails!” … St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor (Sermon 93).

PRAYER – O God, Who, to show us the way of innocence, caused the soul of Thy Virgin, blessed Scholastica, to fly up to heaven in the likeness of a dove, grant us, through her merits and prayers, to live innocently, so that we may be found worthy to reach everlasting joys. 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 BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, GOD the FATHER, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, The DIVINE INFANT, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 10 February – An Act of Thanksgiving By St Gertrude

Our Morning Offering – 10 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity”

An Act of Thanksgiving
By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

(Excerpt from her Revelations)

May my soul bless Thee,
O Lord God my Creator,
may my soul bless Thee!
From the very core of my being,
may all Thy merciful gifts sing Thy praise.
Thy generous care, for Thy daughter,
has been rich in mercy;
indeed, it has been immeasurable
and as far as I am able,
I give Thee thanks.
I praise and glorify,
Thy great patience which bore with me.
I offer Thee, most loving Father,
all the sufferings of Thine Beloved Son,
from that first Infant cry
as He lay on the hay in the manger,
until that final movement, when,
bowing His Head, with a mighty Voice,
Christ gave up His Spirit.
I think, as I make this offering,
of all that He underwent,
His needs as a Babe,
His dependence as a young Child,
the hardships of Youth
and the trials of early Manhood.
To atone for all my neglect,
I offer, most loving Father,
all that Thine Only-begotten Son did
during His Life,
whether in thought, word or deed.
And now, as an act of thanksgiving,
I praise and worship Thee Father,
in deepest humility,
for Thy most loving kindness and mercy.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 10 February – Saint Bruno von Waldeck (c1000-1055) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 10 February – Saint Bruno von Waldeck (c1000-1055) Bishop of Minden, Germany, renowned and fervent Preacher, evangeliser, Apostle of the needy and careful defender and promotor of the social needs of his flock, In the list of Bishops of the Diocese he is ranked 16th after Siegbert, who died in 1036 and before Egilbert. The Diocese of Minden was erected by Charlemagne in the year 803, whose first Bishop was Erkanbert, a Monk of the Abbey of Fulda, one of the first missionaries in that territory. Through the story of tradition, it is believed that Saint Bruno led his community from 5 May 1037 to 10 February 1055, the date of his death. Also known as – Bruno of Waldeck, Brun/o of Minden, run…

Unknown German Bishop who might be our St Bruno

Saint Bruno von Waldeck, the 16th Bishop of Minden, from 1037 to 10 February 1055, was a man of deep faith and devotion, who dedicated himself passionately to his pastoral work, promoting the spread of Christianity and the well-being of his flock.

Born around 1000 to a noble family, Bruno received a high-level education which prepared him to hold important positions in the Church. He became a Royal Chaplain and in 1036 a Canon at the then Cathedral in Magdeburg.

In 1037, at the direction of Emperor Henry III, he was appointed as the Bishop of Minden, a Diocese located in north-western Germany. Bruno proved to be an enlightened and wise Bishop, who dedicated himself passionately to his pastoral work. He was a fervent preacher, who worked to spread Christianity among the pagan populations who inhabitedthe region.

He was also a tireless builder of Churches and Monasteries which helped strengthen the presence of the Church. One of his major contributions was the foundation of the Monastery of St Maurice on the Werder in the Town of Minden. The Monastery was an important centre of culture, education and devotion and contributed to the growth of the Christian Faith in the region. In 1434, the Monastery was moved to its current location on the opposite side of the Weser, due to the risk of flooding. In 1810, due to the protestant upheavels, this wonderful Monastery was closed after many oppresions and restrictions. Its Church remains and thank goodness still belongs to the Catholic Church.

Bruno also took an interest in the well-being of his faithful, promoting social justice and charity towards the needy.

The Church of the Monastery of St Maurice
Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Nostra Signora delle Colombe / Our Lady of the Doves (Bologna, Italy), St Scholastica and the Saints for 10 February

Nostra Signora delle Colombe / Our Lady of the Doves (Bologna, Italy) – 10 February:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/10/our-lady-of-the-doves-bologna-italy-and-memorials-of-the-saints-10-february/

Bl Alexander of Lugo
St Andrew of Bethlehem
St Aponius of Bethlehem

St Austrebertha of Pavilly OSB (630–704) Abbess, Benedictine Nun and Abbess of Pavilly, France, miracle-worker.
Her Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/10/saint-of-the-day-10-february-saint-austrebertha-of-pavilly-osb-630-704/

St Baldegundis
St Baptus of Magnesia
St Bruno (c1000-1055) Bishop of Minden, Germany
St Charalampias

Blessed Clare Agolanti of Rimini OSC (1282-1346) Married, Widowed, Nun, Penitent, Mystic.
Blessed Clare’s Drvout Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/10/saint-of-the-day-10-february-blessed-clare-agolanti-of-rimini-osc-1282-1346/

St Erluph of Werden

Blessed Hugh of Fosse OPraem (c1093-1164) Priest of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and the White Canons. Hugh was one of St Norbert’s first disciples and later became the first Abbot of Prémontré. Blessed Hugh was Beatified on 13 July 1927 by Pope Pius XI.
Blessed Hugh’s Life of Grace:

https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/10/saint-of-the-day-10-february-blessed-hugh-of-fosse-opraem-c1093-1164-priest-abbot/

St Paganus
Bl Paul of Wallachia
Bl Pierre Frémond
St Porfirio
St Prothadius of Besançon
St Salvius of Albelda
St Silvanus of Terracina

St Troiano of Saintes
St Trumwin of Whitby

St William the Hermit (Died 1157) Hermit, Penitent, Spiritual Director, Miracle-worker, gifted with the charism of Prophecy.
A Model of Penitance:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/10/saint-of-the-day-10-february-saint-william-the-hermit-died-1157/

Martyred Soldiers in Rome: A group of ten Christian soldiers who were Martyred together for their faith. We know little more about them but four of their names – Amantius, Hyacinth, Irenaeus and Zoticus. • 120 at Rome, Italy. They were buried on the Via Lavicana outside RomeAmantius, Hyacinth, Irenaeus, Zoticus.