Posted in QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The GREAT TRUTHS, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 13 February – The Temporal Consequences of Adam’s Sin

Thought for the Day – 13 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)

13th Day – The Temporal Consequences of Adam’s Sin

In Adam, all die.
(1 Cor xv:22)

No sooner had this first sin been consummated, than a blight fell upon the world. It had become the devil’s empire, for he had made Adam. its king, his slave!
What are the consequences to the inhabitants of the world?

+1. Adam and Eve were cast out of Paradise, never again to enter. Their peace was gone, there was confusion within them, concupiscence fought against reason. Pain and sorrow came upon them and disease and death. For nine hundred years, they toiled painfully in weariness upon the earth and after their death, had to wait three thousand years more, before they were admitted to the heavenly Paradise.
And all for one sin!

+2. The effects of their sin were not limited to themselves alone.
All their descendants inherited from them, an inheritance of woe. All the wars, famines, pestilences, all the broken hearts, all the wretched lives of millions, had their source in this one sin.
How almost infinite are the consequences of sin!
Yet, I think so little of my sins and of the punishment I shall have to pay for them!

+3. If we would behold the full malice of Adam’s sin, we must stand beneath the Cross and watch our God dying in unutterable anguish.
It was sin which nailed Him to the Cross.
It was sin which forced from Him, His agonising cry – “My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
Pray for a horror of sin, corresponding to its intensity of evil.

Posted in CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), franciscan OFM, GOD the FATHER, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on Love of Self, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PURITY, The HOLY GHOST, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Quote/s of the Day – 13 February – The Most Holy and Blessed Trinity

Quote/s of the Day – 13 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity”

I shall reflect the image of God
in that I feed on love;
grow certain on faith and hope;
strengthen myself, on the virtue of patience;
grow tranquil by humility;
grow beautiful by chastity;
am sober by abstention;
am made happy by tranquillity
and am ready for death,
by practising hospitality.

ACW – Ancient Christian Writer
Incomplete Work on Matthew

(Homily 40)

This is the order of our faith,
the foundation of the edifice
and the support of our conduct –
God, the Father, uncreated, uncontainable, invisible,
One God, the Creator of all –
this is the first article of our faith.
And the second article – the Word of God,
the Son of God, Christ Jesus our Lord,
Who was revealed by the Prophets
according to the character of their prophecy
and according to the nature
of the economies of the Father,
by Whom all things were made
and Who, in the last times, to recapitulate all things,
became a Man amongst men,
visible and palpable, in order to abolish death,
to demonstrate life and to effect communion
between God and man.
And the third article – the Holy Ghost,
through Whom the Prophets prophesied
and the Patriarchs learnt the things of God
and the righteous, were led in the path
of righteousness and Who, in the last times,
was poured out in a new fashion
upon the human race, renewing man,
throughout the world, to God
.”

St Irenaeus (130-202)
Martyr, Father of the Church

“The likeness of Wisdom has been stamped
upon creatures, in order that the world
may recognise the Word, Who was its Maker
and, through the Word, come to know the Father. 

St Athanasius (297-373)
Father and Doctor of the Church

The whole Trinity
has marked mankind
with Its likeness.
With the memory, it resembles the Father;
with the understanding, it resembles the Son;
by love, it resembles the Holy Ghost 
… ”

St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Evangelical Doctor of the Church

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 February – ‘ … Is there not anything in you which another has to bear?’

One Minute Reflection – 13 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity” – Ferial Day – Colossians 3:12-17 – Matthew 13:24-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Suffer both to grow until the harvest” – Matthew 13:30– Matthew 13:30

REFLECTION – “When that which is corruptible in us, clothes itself with incorruptibility and that which is mortal, clothes itself in immortality” (1 Cor 15:54), then there will be perfect sweetness, perfect rejoicing, endless praise and love without fear. … And here below? Do we not enjoy any kind of joy? … Certainly we find joy here below; here we taste in hope, of the life to come, a joy which will satisfy us completely in Heaven.

However, the wheat has much to bear in the midst of the darnel. The seed is mixed up with the straw and the lily grows among the thorns. … And indeed, what is it that was spoken to the Church? “As a lily among thorns, so is my beloved among my maidens” (Sg 2:2). It said, “Among my maidens” and not among foreigners. O Lord, what are the consolations Thou gives us? What the comfort? Or rather, what the alarm? Art Thou calling Thy own maidens “thorns”? By their behaviour, they are thorns, He answers but maidens through My Sacraments. …

But where is the Christian to take refuge then, if he is not to groan in the midst of false brethren? Where is he to go? What is he to do? Is he to fly away to the desert? Occasions for falling will follow him. Will he, who is doing so well, separate himself, to the extent, of not putting up with a single one of his confreres? What about him, then? Supposing nobody was able to put up with him, before his conversion? … So if, under the pretext of making progress, he cannot bear with anyone else, by this very fact, it is clear, he has not progressed as yet. Pay careful attention to these words – “Bear with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph 4:2-3). Is there not anything in you which another has to bear?” – St Augustine (354=430) Father & Doctor of Grace (Discourses on the Psalm Ps 99:8-9).

PRAYER – King of Heaven and earth, Lord God, rule over our hearts and bodies this day. Sanctify us and guide our every thought, word and deed according to the commandments of Thy law, so that now and forever, Thy grace may free and save us. Teach us Lord to walk in the ways of the Cross of Thy Son, our Saviour, longing for and rejoicing always in our heavenly home. Through the same Christ our Lord, with the Holy Ghost, God, forever, amen. (Collect)

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 13 February – O Lord, Our God, We Believe in Thee, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Our Morning Offering – 13 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity”

O Lord, Our God, We Believe in Thee,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
By St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of the Church

O Lord, our God, we believe in Thee,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
As far as I have been able,
as much as Thou hast given me the power to do so,
I have sought for Thee.
I have desired to see that in which I believe;
much have I striven and laboured.

Lord, my God, my only hope,
let me never tire of seeking Thee
but make me seek Thy Face with constant ardour.
Give me the strength to seek after Thee –
Thou Who hast made me,
Who hast given me, more and more,
the hope of finding Thee.
Thou seest my strength and my weakness;
do Thou sustain the one and heal the other;
Thou seest my strength and my ignorance.
Where Thou hast opened to me,
come make me welcome;
where Thou hast closed to me, open to my plea.
Give me to remember, understand and love Thee.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 13 February – Saint Castor (Died c400) Priest, Hermit

Saint of the Day – 13 February – Saint Castor (Died c400) Priest, Hermit, evangeliser. Born in Aquitaine in France and died in around 400 in Karden , today part of Treis-Karden on the Moselle in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Patronage – of the City of Koblenz, in Germany. Also known as – Castore, Kastor, … of Karden. The name Castor is derived from Greek and means “the excellent one.”

This painting at the Basilica of St Castor in Koblenz

According to the legendary life story from the 10th/12th Century, Castor was a student of the Saint Bishop Maximinus of Trier and was Ordained a Priest by him.

St Castor is presented to Bishop Maximin by his parents. Designed by Joseph Anton Nikolaus Settegast for Frescoes in the Koblenz Cathedral.

He lived as a Hermit in Karden and there, united disciple companions to lead an exemplary pious life. Castor’s companions included the Aquitanian pilgrim Saint Potentinus and Potentinus’ two sons Felicius and Simplicius.

Statue in front of the Church of St Castor in Karden

A tale tells how Castor asked Moselle boatmen for salt. But they only mocked him and wanted to continue sailing. Suddenly a violent wind arose and whipped the waves so high that the boat threatened to capsize. In their distress, the boatmen begged the man of God for help. Castor knelt down and prayed – as suddenly as it had come, the storm subsided. The pagan boatmen were converted by this miracle and thanked Castor with plenty of salt.

Relic Shrine, 1906, in the Kastorkirche in Koblenz

Castor died at Karden at an advanced age.

Reliquary made of gilded fir-tree wood, 15th Century, in the Church of St Castor in Karden

Castor’s cult maintained in Trier was – like that of Potentinus of Steinfeld – evidently intended to strengthen influence in the Lower Moselle region, since the area actually belonged to the Diocese of Mainz. Bishop Wiomad of Trier found – again possibly to document a claim to this area – bones in Karden around 782 which were identified as Castor’s Relics and transferred them to the Church then dedicated to St Paulinus of Trier which then received the Patronage of Castor. In 836, most of these Relics were then brought by Archbishop Hetti of Trier to Koblenz, to the later Collegiate Church built by him, of which Castor became the Patron; this Church was rebuilt in the 11th/12th Century as a Basilica dedicated to St Castor.

St Castor’s Basilica in Koblenz
The Statue of St Castor at Koblenz Basilica
Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CARMELITES, DOMINICAN OP, franciscan OFM, INCORRUPTIBLES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Mother of Mercy, Notre-Dame de Pellevoisin / Our Lady of Pellevoisin, France (1876) and the Saints for 13 February

Mother of Mercy, Notre-Dame de Pellevoisin / Our Lady of Pellevoisin, France (1876) – 13 February:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/13/mother-of-mercy-our-lady-of-pellevoisin-france-1876-and-memorials-of-the-saints-13-february/

St Adolphus of Osnabruk
St Aimo of Meda

Blessed Archangela Girlani O Carm (1460-1494) Virgin, Carmelite Nun, Mystic with the gift of levitation.
Her Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/13/saint-of-the-day-13-february-blessed-archangela-girlani-o-carm-1460-1494/

St Benignus of Todi
Bl Berengar of Assisi
St Castor (Died c400) Priest, Hermit

Blessed Jordan of Saxony OP (1190-1237) Religious Priest, Preacher, the Second Master-General of the Order of Preachers, after St Dominic.
Biography:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/saint-of-the-day-13-february-blessed-jordan-of-saxony-o-p-1190-1237/

St Catherine de Ricci OP (1522-1590) Virgin, Tertiary of the Order of Preachers, Mystic, Stigmatist, Ecstatic, Counsellor to many in both secular and spiritual matters, a highly admired Administrator and Advisor,blessed with many mystical charism including visions of Christ, both as a Baby and Adult, bilocation and miracles. Her body is Incorrupt.
A Mighty Handmaid:

https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/13/saint-of-the-day-13-february-saint-catherine-de-ricci-op-1522-1590/

Blessed Christine of Spoleto OSA (1435-1458) Widow, mother, Nun of the Order of Saint Augustine.
About Blessed Christine:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/13/saint-of-the-day-13-february-blessed-christine-of-spoleto-osa-1435-1458/

St Dyfnog
St Ermenilda of Ely
Bl Eustochium of Padua OSB (1444-1469) Virgin

St Fulcran of Lodève (Died 1006) Bishop of Lodève, Reformer, especially within the Clergy and Religious Orders, builder of many Churches, Convents and Hospitals, Apostle of the poor and needy, Miracle-worker.
St Futeran’s Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/13/saint-of-the-day-13-february-saint-fulcran-of-lodeve-died-1006-bishop/

St Fusca of Ravenna
St Gilbert of Meaux
St Gosbert of Osnabruck
St Guimérra of Carcassone
St Huno

St Julian of Lyon
St Lucinus of Angers
St Marice
St Martinian the Hermit
St Maura of Ravenna
St Modomnoc
St Peter I of Vercelli
St Stephen of Lyons

St Stephen of Rieti (Died c590) Abbot.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Rieti, the Abbot, St Stephen, a man of wonderful patience, at whose death, as is related by the blessed Pope, St Gregory, the holy Angels were present and visible to all.”
St Stephen Pray for Us!:

https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/13/saint-of-the-day-13-february-saint-stephen-of-rieti-died-c590-abbot/