Posted in Of the Holy Souls in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, QUOTES on PATIENCE, The GREAT TRUTHS, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 19 February – The Punishment of Venial Sin

Thought for the Day – 19 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)

19th Day – The Punishment of Venial Sin

Thou shalt not go out from thence
until thou repay the last farthing.

(St Matthew v:26)

Venial Sin is the great evil in the world next to mortal sin and, therefore, it deserves a punishment greater than all the miseries of earth.
God has taught us what sort of an evil it is, by one or two instances of the way in which He visits it in this life.

+1. Moses, the friend of God, the Chosen Ruler of His People, the meekest of men, to whom God conversed as friend with friend, once committed a Venial Sin. He gave way to momentary impatience and lost his temper under provocation. For this, God denied him admission into the Promised Land! After his long and faithful service, God sent him to die on Mount Nebo before the Jordan was crossed. All the forty years of weary travel did not avail him; the Venial Sin cut him off before the goal was reached!

+2. David , the man after God’s Own Heart, in a moment of vanity, determined to number the people, boastfully priding himself on the strength of his fighting men.
In punishment of this, God sent a pestilence which, in less than three days, destroyed seventy thousand Israelites.
Jerusalem itself, would have been decimated, had not David entreated God to avert His destroying Hand.
How God must hate Venial Sin!

+3. After death, there will remain for most, a debt still to be paid for Venial Sin.
It is in Purgatory where we shall see its true character.
No earthly agony even approaches the agony of the Purgatorial Fire. The souls God loves, must be tormented there until they have paid the last farthing.
Alas! what do I still owe?
Am I doing my best to pay the debt and avoid adding to it?
Beg for an intense dread of Venial Sin .

Posted in CATECHESIS, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on THE WORLD, St PAUL!, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 19 February – Running the Race

Quote/s of the Day – 19 February – – Ferial Day – Septuagesima – 1 Corinthians 9,24-27.10; 1-5 – Matthew 20,1-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Know you not that they,
who run in the race,
all run indeed but one receiveth the prize?
So run that you may obtain.”

St Paul – 1 Corinthians 9:24

What determines that the gifts of God dwells in us,
is the measure of each one’s faith.
Because, it is to the extent that we believe
that the enthusiasm to act is given us.
And so, those who act,
reveal the measure of their faith
proportionate to their action,
they receive their measure of grace
according to what they have believed
. …”

St Maximus the Confessor (c580-662)
Father of the Church

Since happiness is nothing else
than the enjoyment of the Supreme Good
and the Supreme Good is above us,
no-one can enjoy happiness,
unless he rises above himself.

St Bonaventure (1221-1274)
Franciscan Seraphic Doctor of the Church

Be brave and try to detach your heart
from worldly things.
Do your utmost to banish darkness
from your mind and come to understand
what true, selfless piety is.
Through confession, endeavour
to purify your heart of anything
which may still taint it.
Enliven your faith which is essential
to understand and achieve piety.

St John Bosco (1815-1888)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 19 February – “Or, is it not lawful for Me to do what I will?” – Matthew 20:15

One Minute Reflection – 19 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity” – Ferial Day – Septuagesima – 1 Corinthians 9,24-27.10; 1-5 – Matthew 20,1-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Or, is it not lawful for Me to do what I will?” – Matthew 20:15

REFLECTION – “These men were all ready to work but “no-one had hired them” they were hard workers yet, were made lazy, through lack of both ,work and an employer. Then, a Voice hired them, a Word set them going and, in their zeal, they did not fix on a wage for their work beforehand, as the first comers had done. The Master calculated their labours wisely and paid them as much as the others. Our Lord spoke this parable, so that no-one might say: “Since I was not called in my youth, therefore, I cannot be accepted.” He has shown that, no matter when they are converted, each one is welcomed … “He went out in the morning, at the third, the sixth, the ninth and the eleventh hour” – this can be understood of the beginning of His preaching and then of the course of His Life, up to the Cross, since, it was at the “eleventh hour” when the thief entered into Paradise (Lk 23:43). Lest we call the thief to account for it, Our Lord emphasises his goodwill; if someone had hired him, he would have worked: “No-one has hired us.”

Whatever we give to God, is far from worthy of Him and what He gives to us, is a great deal more than we are worth. We are hired for a task which matches our strength but offered a wage far greater than our work demands … He acts in the same way, to both the first and the last comers: “each one received one gold coin” bearing the King’s image. This signifies. the Bread of Life (Jn 6:35) which, is the same for all; there is a single medicine of Life for those who take it.

In the labour in the vineyard, the Master’s goodness is beyond reproach and nothing can be said against His uprightness. In His uprightness, He gave as He had agreed and in His goodness, He proved Himself merciful, as He desired to do. It was to teach us this that, our Lord spoke this parable and He summed it all up in the words: “Or, is it not lawful for Me to do what I will? (Mt 20:15).” – St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church (Diatessaron 15: 15-17).

PRAYER – From all perils of soul and body defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee and by the intercession of blessed and gloriosus ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul and of all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace, that all adversities and errors being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom.Through the same 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, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER

Our Morning Offering – 19 February –Prayer of Blessed Severinus Boethius

Our Morning Offering – 19 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity”

Prayer of Blessed Severinus Boethius
(c 475-524) Martyr

O Father, enable our minds,
to rise to Thy ineffable dwelling place.
Let us find the light
and direct the eyes of our soul to Thee.
Dispel the mists and the opaqueness
of the earthly mass
and shine out with Thy splendour.
Thou art the serene and tranquil abode
of those who persevere
in their goal of seeing Thee.
Thou art, at the same time,
the Beginning, the Vehicle,
the Guide, the Way and the Goal.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 19 February – Saint Auxibius (Died c102) the 1st Bishop of Soloi on the Island of Cyprus.

Saint of the Day – 19 February – Saint Auxibius (Died c102) the 1st Bishop of Soloi on the Island of Cyprus. He was born in Rome and died in Soloi around the year 102. Also known as – Auxibius of Cyprus, … of Soloi, Ausibio…

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Soloi, St Auxibius, Bishop

Auxibius was born into a wealthy family in Rome and grew up there with his brother, Tempstagoras. He was taught secular sciences.

To avoid his parents’ wish that he should marry, he secretly left Rome and came first to the Island of Rhodes and then, to the Island of Cyprus.

Auxibius lived in the area around Limnitis, near the then important City of Soloi. There he met the Apostle and Evangelist St Mark, who converted him through his preaching and Baptised him.

Auxibius was appointed as the Bishop of the City of Soli by Archbishop St Herakleidius, as a document from the 7th Century reports, although some give this honour to St Paul himself. This St Herakleidius (1st Century), showed the Apostles Paul and Barnabas, the way from Salamis to Paphos on their first missionary journey (45 – 53) in Cyprus and also led them to Tamassos, a City-Kingdom which was then important due to its copper mining. Paul and Barnabas BaptiSed Herakleidos and later Ordained him as Bishop of Tamassos, one of the first in Cyprus.

Auxibius held the Episcopal Seat for about 50 years before he died around the year 102.

The 4th Century Basilica, now in ruins, in Soli is named after St Auxibius.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Notre Dame-de-Bonne Nouvelle / Our Lady of Good Tidings, Lempdes, France (1500’s) and the Saints for 19 February

Notre Dame-de-Bonne Nouvelle / Our Lady of Good Tidings, Lempdes, France (1500’s) – 18 February:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/19/saint-of-the-day-19-february-blessed-alvarez-of-cordova-op-c-1350-c-1430-priest/

Blessed Alvarez of Cordova OP (c 1350–c 1430) Priest of the Order of Preachers, Confessor, Ascetic, Royal Advisor and Tutor, founder of many Churches and Convents, miracle-worker.
A Zealous and Fruitfil Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/19/saint-of-the-day-19-february-blessed-alvarez-of-cordova-op-c-1350-c-1430-priest/

St Auxibius (Died c102) Bishop
St Baoithin

St Barbatus of Benevento (c610-682) “Apostle of the South” Bishop of Benevento, Preacher, Reformer, Confessor.
About St Barbatus:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/19/saint-of-the-day-19-february-st-barbatus-of-benevento-c-610-682-apostle-of-the-south/

St Beatus
St Belina
St Boniface of Lausanne
St Conon of Alexandria

St Conrad of Piacenza TOSF (c 1290-1351) Hermit, Pilgrim and Penitent, Member of the Third Order of St Francis.
The Life of St Conrad
:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/19/saint-of-the-day-19-february-st-con

St Mansuetus of Milan (Died c685) Archbishop of Milan, Confessor, an active Defender of the Faith against heresy. Born in Rome and died in Milan in c685 of natural causes.
Holy Shepherd Manseuetus:

https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/19/saint-of-the-day-19-february-saint-mansuetus-of-milan-died-c685-archbishop-of-milan-and-confessor/

St Odran
St Proclus of Bisignano

St Quodvultdeus (Died c450) Bishop, Confessor, Father of the Church, Writer and Theologian, spiritual student, friend and correspondent of St Augustine, who dedicated some of his works to St Quodvultdeus. Name Meaning – “What God wants.”
The Roman Martyrology reads: In Naples, deposition of St Quodvultdeus, Bishop of Carthage, who was sent into exile together with his clergy by the Arian king Genseric and placed on disused ships without sails or oars. Against all hope he landed in Naples, where he died. Confessor of the faith.
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/19/saint-of-the-day-19-february-saint-quodvultdeus-died-c-450-f/

St Valerius of Antibes
St Zambdas of Jerusalem