Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, GUARDIAN ANGELS - Prayers etc, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, The GREAT TRUTHS

Thought for the Day – 27 February – The Companions of Heaven

Thought for the Day – 27 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)

27th Day – The Companions of Heaven

Their lot is among the Saints.
(Wisdom v: 5)

+1. How much of our happiness depends upon those among whom we dwell! There are some whose very presence is enough and more than enough, to satisfy us; the mere fact of being in their company, is a source of continual pleasure; this is the case with those who are still full of imperfections and fault, how much more, in Heaven, where everyone will be purged of all which offends us in them on earth Everyone of the Saints and Angels, will be, not only a congenial but, a most delightful companion.

+2. But, there will be some, who will feast our souls with their company and conversation beyond the rest – our friends on earth will be our friends in Heaven; we shall recognise each and all. All to whom we have done any kindness for Christ’s Sake, will come to thank us then; above all, any whom we have had the happiness of saving from sin, by precept or example, will never tire of pouring out upon us, the abundance of their gratitude.
What more delicious pleasure than this!?

+3. Yet, there will be dearer companions still!
The Saints of God, our Patron Saints, our Guardian Angel, how shall we linger in their sweet society!
The Saints to whom we have had a special devotion, above all – Our Lady and St Joseph, how surpassingly sweet to be with them!
Yet, all this is only a reflection of the joy we shall derive from
beholding the Lamb Who had been slain, our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Pray to dwell now, in heart, in the company of the Saints and the Angels. 🛐

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, HOLY COMMUNION, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VOCATIONS, The DIVINE INFANT, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 27 February – St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin

Quote/s of the Day – 27 February – St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862) Confessor

The Infinite Mercy of God
has been able to arrange all things sweetly
and today, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows,
our Protectress and our Mother,
I have put on, with unutterable joy,
this holy religious Habit and taken the name
of Confrater Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.”

(Letter to his Father,
From Morrovalle on
21 September 1856)

What caution, in fact, does it not require,
to live as a good Christian in the world!

(Letter to his Father,
From Morrovalle on
21 September 1856)

May the Holy Infant Jesus
and Mary, His Immaculate Mother,
grant you all every happiness
and crown you with blessings.
Let us pray often to Him, Who came
from the Right Hand of His Father,
… to be born between two beasts
in a poor stable. Let us beg Our Saviour
Who so willingly exposed Himself to the insults
and outrages of His creatures,
in order to snatch us from everlasting hell
to which we were hopelessly condemned;
let us beg of Him, to purify our hearts
by a holy Communion and to inflame us
with His Divine Love.

(Letter to his Father,
From Morrovalle on
2 December 1856)

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/28/quote-s-of-the-day-28-february-st-gabriel-of-the-sorrowful-virgin-gabriel-possenti-cp-1838-1862/

St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin
/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, QUOTES on SIMPLICITY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The BEATITUDES, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 February – ‘One thing is lacking to thee … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 27 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity” – St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862) Confessor – 1 John 2:14-17. – Mark 10:13-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

One thing is lacking to thee; go, sell whatever thou has and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven and come, follow Me.” – Mark 10:21

REFLECTION – “Blessed is the poor man who cried and whom the Lord heard. Blessed is the man poor in offence. Blessed is the man poor in vices. Blessed is the poor man, in whom the prince of this world finds nothing. Blessed is the poor man who, is like that Poor Man Who, although He was rich, became poor for our sake. Matthew fully revealed this when he said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” One poor in spirit is not puffed up, is not exalted in the mind of his own flesh. This Beatitude is first, when I have laid aside every sin and I have taken off all malice and I am content with simplicity, destitute of evils. All that remains is that I regulate my conduct. For what good does it do me to lack worldly goods, unless I am meek and gentle?

Although there are many charms of delights in riches, yet there are more incentives to practice virtues. Although virtue does not require assistance and the contribution of the poor person, is more commended, than the generosity of the rich, yet with the authority of the heavenly saying, He condemns, not those who have riches but those who do not know how to use them. The pauper is more praiseworthy who gives with eager compassion and is not restrained, by the bolts of looming scarcity. He thinks that he who has enough for nature, does not lack. So the rich person is the more guilty, who does not give thanks to God, for what he has received but vainly hides wealth given for the common use and conceals it, in buried treasures. Then the offence consists, not in the wealth but in the attitude.

Purify yourself with your tears. Wash yourselves with mourning. If you weep for yourself, another will not weep for you . One who is a sinner weeps for himself and rebukes himself, that he may become righteous, for just people accuse themselves of sin. Let us pursue order because, it is written, “Set in order love in me.” I have laid down sin. I have tempered my conduct. I have wept for my transgressions. I begin to hunger. I hunger for righteousness. The sick, when he is seriously ill, does not hunger because, the pain of the illness excludes hunger. What is the hunger for righteousness? What is the bread of which it is said, “I have been young and am old and I have not seen the righteous man forsaken, nor his seed begging bread?” Surely, one who is hungry, seeks increase of strength. What greater increase of virtue is there, than the rule of righteousness?” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church( Exposition on the Gospel of Luke, 5).

PRAYER – O God, Who taught blessed Gabriel to meditate continually on the sorrows of Thy most sweet Mother and Who, through her, exalted him by the glory of a holy life and miracles; grant us, we beseech Thee, through his intercession and example so to share in the sorrows of Thy Mother that her motherly protection may save us. 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 MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Our Morning Offering – 27 February – O Mother of Sorrows, Stand by Me in My Last Agony By St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Morning Offering – 27 February – Saturday of the First week of Lent, the Memorial of St Gabriel Francis Possenti of Our Lady of Sorrows (1838-1862) and a Marian Saturday

O Mother of Sorrows,
Stand by Me in My Last Agony
By St Gabriel Francis Possenti
of Our Lady of Sorrows (1838-1862)

O Mother of Sorrows,
by the anguish and love
with which thou didst stand
at the Cross of Jesus,
stand by me in my last agony.
To thy maternal heart
I commend the last three hours of my life.
Offer these hours to the Eternal Father
in union with the agony of our dearest Lord,
in atonement for my sins.
Offer to the Eternal Father
the Most Precious Blood of Jesus,
mingled with thine tears on Calvary,
that I may obtain the grace
of receiving Holy Communion
with the most perfect love and contrition,
before my death
and that I may breathe forth my soul
in the adorable Presence of Jesus.
Dearest Mother, when the moment
of my death has at last come,
present me as your child to Jesus.
Ask Him to forgive me for having offended Him,
for I knew not what I did!
Beg Him to receive me into His Kingdom of Glory
to be united with Him forever.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 27 February – Saint John (c900-976) Abbot of Gorze

Saint of the Day – 27 February – Saint John (c900-976) Abbot of Gorze Monastery, Penitent, Reformer, Diplomat, Apostle of the needy and sick. Born in c900 at Vandières, Meurthe-et-Moselle, near Metz, France and died on 7 March 976 of natural causes at his Monastery in Gorse. John possessed the gift of a a photographic memory and also developed a bookkeeping system and capital investment policies. The murmur of his lips, while reading the Psalms, resembled the buzzing of a bee.Also known as – Jean de Gorze, John of Lorraine. Additional Memorial – 23 May in the Diocese if Metz together with all the Saints of that See.

St John with the White hair and beard before the Caliph

John of Gorze, born in Lorraine to wealthy farmers completed his early studies in Metz and Saint-Mihiel. Upon the death of his father, he was forced to take charge of the administration of the family property. When his brothers were able to take on this task, he was appointed Curate of a Church by a neighbouring lord.

In this Office, John came into contact with the female Monastery of Saint Peter of Metz, where he was struck by the devotion of a young Nun wearing a garm;ent made of animal skin. From that moment, he decided to devote himself to penance and study and, with some companions he founded a group of regular Monks.

In 933, John received, from the Bishop of Metz, the Abbey of Gorze which had been abandoned. The Archdeacon of Toul, Einold, became Abbot of the restored Monastery, while John served as Cellarer. John managed to restore the material prosperity of the Abbey, dedicating himself to a severe life, while treating the weak and the sick with gentleness.

In 953, Emperor Otto I sent John on a mission to the Caliph of Cordoba, Abderrahman III. The mission lasted three years and was a diplomatic success.

St John and other Frankish diplomats before Caliph Abd-ar-Rahman III, by Dionisio Baixeras Verdaguer (1885)

Upon the death of Abbot Einold in 967, John became the Abbot of Gorze. He continued his life of austerity and died on 7 March 976, at the beginning of Lent (more precisely on Quinquagesima Sunday). John’s death occurred in 976 and not in 974, as was believed, because he is still mentioned on 2 June and 22 June in 975 (his successor, Odelbert, is mentioned only in 977).

John received the title of Blessed and then of Saint. He is registered in the Benedictine Martyrologies on 27 February. The Life of our St John was written by his friend John of St Arnulf of Metz and, is a work which, even if unfinished, has a certain historical value. St John’s death is described in the prologue.

Posted in Uncategorized

Nostra Signora della Luce / Our Lady of Light, Palermo, Italy, (18th Century), St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows and the Saints for 27 February

Nostra Signora della Luce / Our Lady of Light, Palermo, Italy, (18th Century) – 27 February:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/27/our-lady-of-light-palermo-italy-18th-century-and-memorials-of-the-saints-27-february/

St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862) Confessor, Passionist Religious and student preparing for the Priesthood. Gabriel was known for his great devotion to the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. St Gabriel was Canonised on 13 May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
Loving St Gabriel:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/27/saint-of-the-day-27-february-st-gabriel-of-our-lady-of-sorrows-cp-1838-1862/

St Abundius of Rome
St Alexander of Rome
St Alnoth
St Antigonus of Rome

St Baldomerus of Saint Just (Died c650) SubDeacon, Lay Brother, Blacksmith.
His Devoted Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/27/saint-of-the-day-27-february-saint-baldomerus-of-saint-just-died-c650-subdeacon/

St Basilios of Constantinople
St Comgan
Bl Emmanuel of Cremona Bishop
St Fortunatus of Rome
St Herefrith of Lindsey
St Honorina
St John (c900-976) Abbot of Gorze Monastery
St Luke of Messina

Blessed Mark Barkworth OSB (c 1572–1601) Priest Martyr – one of the English Martyrs. Mark was Beatified by Pope Pius XI on 15 December 1929.
His Life and Death:

https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/27/saint-of-the-day-27-february-blessed-mark-barkworth-osb-c-1572-1601-priest-martyr/

St Procopius of Decapolis
St Thalilaeus

Blessed William Richardson (1572–1603) English Priest, Martyr. He was Beatified on 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI. Born in Yorkshire and died by being hanged, drawn and quartered on 27 February 1603 at Tyburn, London, aged just 31. William owns the dubious honour of being the last Martyr under Elizabeth I’s barbaric policy of murdering Catholics and especially Priests, in this manner.
His Life and Death:

https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/27/saint-of-the-day-27-february-blessed-william-richardson-1572-1603-english-priest-martyr/