Day: March 10, 2025

Posted in MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, Meditations on ST JOSEPH, MOTHER of GOD, St JOSEPH

Thought for the Day – 10 March – St Joseph’s Second Sorrow

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Thought for the Day – 10 March – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

“Short Meditations for March, St Joseph”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

10th Day – St Joseph’s Second Sorrow

+1. When St Joseph started from his home at Nazareth to repair to Bethlehem, according to the Emperor’s command, he had every reason to expect he would be well received. His early youth had been spent there and he must have been known to many of the inhabitants. But, when he arrived there, a sad shock awaited him. No room in the caravansary or guesthouse. No room in any of the houses where he applied for admission. Everywhere, a refusal. No room for him; no room for his spotless spouse.
It is always painful to meet with a cold reception among those, who we expect will welcome us.

+2. It was not for his own sake, Joseph grieved.
He was accustomed to being ill-treated. He had learned to welcome it for God’s Sake. But to witness the distress caused to his holy spouse, ah, this was difficult!
It is far more painful to witness suffering in those we love than to feel it ourselves. Could Joseph do nothing to find shelter for Mary in her delicate and critical condition? Every resource had failed him; he could only pray and wait.

+3. At last, a thought occurred to him. He remembered a cave where some animals were kept; small, low, dirty, unfit. for human habitation but here, at least, she would be safe from the perishing cold, here they could remain in peace.
How could he propose it to her?
Was this the sort of treatment to be accorded to the Mother of God?
Yes, it must be so and Joseph submitted to the holy Will of God.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, GOD ALONE!, HOLY COMMUNION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on HOSPITALITY, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 10 March – ‘ … You did NOT do it for Me.’

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 March – Monday of the First Week in Lent – Ezechiel 34:11-16 – Matthew 25:31-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Amen I say to you,
as long as you did NOT do it
for one of these least ones,
you did NOT do it for Me.”

Matthew 25:45

“If you are willing to listen to me,
then, O servants of Christ,
His brothers and co-heirs,
I say, we should visit Christ
while there is an opportunity,
take care of Him and feed Him.
We should clothe Christ and welcome Him.
We should honour Him,
not only at our table, like some;
not only with ointments, like Mary Magdalene;
not only with a sepulchre,
like Joseph of Arimathea;
nor with things which have to do with His burial,
like Nicodemus… nor finally,
with gold, incense and myrrh, like the Magi.”

St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“The great wealth of Christians
is found in the needs of the poor,
provided we grasp how to put our
possessions to good use.
The poor are always before us;
if we entrust our wealth to them,
we shall not lose it.”

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

“The Most Blessed Sacrament
is Christ made visible.
The poor sick person
is Christ again made visible.”

St Gerard Majella (1726-1755)

Posted in QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MEEKNESS, The PASSION, The SACRED PASSION - Meditations for LENT

Lenten Meditations – 10 March – The Washing of the Feet

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Lenten Meditations – 10 March – With Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900) Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The Sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ”
“Short Meditations for Lent”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Monday of the First Week in Lent
The Washing of the Feet

Read St John xiii:2-20
[Posting at the end]

+1. When the paschal supper was finished, Our Lord rose from table, laid aside His upper garment and girding Himself with a towel, He filled a basin with water and went from one to another of the Apostles, washing with His Ssacred Hands the feet of each.
This act was intended to teach us the happiness of performing menial services for those around us. To wait upon others, especially on our inferiors, for Christ’s Sake, is far more honourable, than to be waited upon by them; to make ourselves the servants of others, is far more noble than to be served by them.
Is this the principle on which I act?

+2. In this act were combined, the two virtues which are most prominent in Our Lord’s Life on earth – charity and humility.
Charity takes a pleasure in everything which promotes the happiness or the comfort of our fellowmen because they are the brethren of Christ.
Humility takes a pleasure in whatever puts us in an inferior
position, in one to which no worldly honour or dignity attaches but rather, contempt and humiliation.
How sadly wanting I am in these virtues! I dislike charity if it costs me anything and I positively hate to be humbled, to be
despised by men.

+3. Yet Christ’s words are true the disciple is not greater than His Master.
If our Divine Master was glorious in the sight of the Angels
as He stooped to wash the Apostles ‘ feet, our road to glory must be, by stooping, by ministering in all humility, to others. We never can be as great as our Master. We must take care lest our selfishness and pride, place us in direct contrast with the Son of God.

John 13:2-20

[2] And when supper was ended, (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,) [3] Knowing that the Father had given Him all things into His Hands and that, He came from God and goeth to God; [4] He riseth from supper and layeth aside His garments and having taken a towel, girded Himself. [5] After that, He putteth water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.

[6] He cometh, therefore, to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to Him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? [7] Jesus answered and said to him: What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter. [8] Peter saith to Him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with Me. [9] Simon Peter saith to hHm: Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head. [10] Jesus saith to him: He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet but is clean wholly. And you are clean but not all.

[11] For he knew. who he was that would betray him, therefore. he said: You are not all clean. [12] Then, after He had washed their feet and taken His garments, being sat down again, He said to them: Know you what I have done to you? [13] You call Me Master,and Lord and you say well, for so I Am. [14] If then I, betoo, ought to wash one another’s feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.

[16] Amen, amen I say to you: The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither is the Apostle greater than He Who sent him. [17] If you know these things, you shall be blessed if you do them. [18] I speak not of you all, I know whom I have chosen. But that the scripture may be fulfilled – He who eateth bread with Me, shall lift up his heel against Me. [19] At present I tell you, before it come to pass that, when it shall come to pass, you may believe that I Am He. [20] Amen, amen I say to you, he who receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth Me and he who receiveth Me, receiveth Him Whp sent Me. [John 13:2-20]

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on the POOR, The LAST THINGS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 March – ‘Do you suppose that charity is not an obligation but voluntary?’

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One Minute Reflection – 10 March – “The Month of Saint Joseph” –Monday of the First Week in Lent – The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, Armenia (Died 320) – Ezechiel 34:11-16 – Matthew 25:31-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Amen I say to you, as long as you did not do it for one of these least ones, you did not do it for Me.” – Matthew 25:45

REFLECTION – “Do you suppose that charity is not an obligation but voluntary? That it is not a law but merely a counsel? I should like it to be so too and would gladly think so. But God’s left hand gives me cause for alarm, the place where He has set the goats to whom He addresses His reproaches, not because they stole, plundered, committed adultery or perpetrated other such faults but because, they did not honour Christ in the person of His poor!

If you are willing to listen to me, then, O servants of Christ, His brothers and co-heirs, I say, we should visit Christ while there is an opportunity, take care of Him and feed Him. We should clothe Christ and welcome Him. We should honour Him, not only at our table, like some; not only with ointments, like Mary Magdalene; not only with a sepulchre, like Joseph of Arimathea; nor with things which have to do with His burial, like Nicodemus … nor finally, with gold, incense and myrrh, like the Magi.

But, as the Lord of all “desires mercy and not sacrifice” (Mt 9:13) and as compassion is better than tens of thousands of fat rams, let us offer Him this mercy through the needy and those who are at present cast down to the ground. Let us do this, so that, when we depart hence, they may “welcome us into the eternal habitations” (Lk 16:9), in the same Christ our Lord, to whom be glory forever.” – St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390) Archbishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 14, on Love for the Poor, 27, 28, 39-40).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who know how courageously Thy holy Martyrs have confessed the faith, may experience their goodness as they intercede for us with Thee. 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 DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on TRUTH, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 10 March – O Merciful God By St Thomas Aquinas

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Our Morning Offering – 10 March – Monday of the First Week in Lent

O Merciful God
By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus
Doctor Communis

O merciful God,
grant that I may ever perfectly
do Thy Will in all things.
Let it be my ambition to work
only for Thy honour and glory.
Let me rejoice in nothing
but that which leads to Thee,
nor grieve for anything,
which leads away from Thee.
May all passing things be as nothing in my eyes
and may all which is Thine be dear to me
and Thou, my God, dear above them all.
May all joy be meaningless without Thee
and may I desire nothing apart from Thee.
May all labour and toil delight me, when it is for Thee.
Make me, O Lord, obedient without complaint,
poor without regret,
patient without murmur,
humble without pretence,
joyous without frivolity,
and truthful without disguise.
Amen

Posted in Uncategorized

Saint of the Day – 10 March – Saint Andrew OSB Vall (Died 1097) Abbot

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Saint of the Day – 10 March – Saint Andrew OSB Vall (Died 1097) Abbot of the Vallombrosian Monastery in Strumi in Florence, writer, peacemaker. Born in Parma, Italy and died in 1097 of natural causes in his Monastery in Florence. Also known as – Andrew the Ligurian (or Genoese).

In the mid-11th Century, the Italian City of Milan, was ruled by a corrupt Archbishop named Guido, who took a permissive attitude toward the Ecclesiastical abuses of simony (the buying or selling of Ecclesiastical Offices) and clerical immorality (Priests living with concubines).

Those working to stop these abuses, were led by the Martyred Deacon Saint Arialdo (C1010-1066), supported by his close friend, Andrew, from Parma. The Holy See naturally supported Arialdo and excommunicated the Archbishop himself, charging him with the crime of simony. Guido retaliated by having Arialdo tortured and murdered.
Arialdo’s friend Andrew, attended to his honourable burial, and afterward entered the Vallombrosan Order. He subsequently became the Abbot of the Vallombrosan Monastery of Strumi, where he took up his pen to write a biography of his Martyred friend Arialdo and another of the Vallombrosans’Founder, Saint John Gualbert.

St Arialdo Deacon and Martyr – on the right might just be our Saint Andrew prior to becoming a Monk

Sadly, most of Andrew’s writings were later lost in a 16th Century fire at the Vallombrosans’ Monastery in Florence. Andrew was a peacemaker, credited with reconciling, in his lifetime, the opposing cities of Florence and Arezzo.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Monday of the 1st Week in Lent, St Joseph Novena, Santa Maria della Querce / Our Lady of the Oak, Tuscany, Italy (1467), Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and the Saints for 10 March

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The FIRST SUNDAY in LENT OR LENT I

Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, Armenia (Died 320) – Forty Christian soldiers of the Thunderstruck Legion of the Imperial Roman army who were tortured and murdered for their faith during the persecutions of Emperor Licinius. They were exposed naked on a frozen pond to freeze to death at Sebaste, Armenia in 320 and their bodies afterward were burned.
THE FULL STORY HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/10/saints-of-the-day-10-march-the-forty-martyrs-of-sebaste-armenia-died-320/

Santa Maria della Querce / Our Lady of the Oak, Tuscany, Italy (1467) – 10 March:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/10/our-lady-of-the-oak-tuscany-italy-1467-and-memorials-of-the-saints-10-march/

NOVENA FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH
DAY ONE – Link: NOVENA FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH
(Remember last year St Joseph’s Feast was moved to 20 March due to Laetare Sunday falling on his Feast Day, 19 March. Hence the Novena began a day later than usual.)

St Alexander of Apema
St Anastasia the Patrician
St Andrew (Died 1097) Abbot of Strumi

St Attalas (Died c627) Abbot Abbot of Bobbio, Disciple of, Assistant and Successor to St Columban (543-615). A legendary leader of great wisdom and scholarly abilities, a loving father to his Monks and a generous and kindly Apostle to the poor and the ill, Miracle-worker. His Monks included Saint Valery, Saint Blitmund and St Bertulf, all Abbots at various times. Born in Burgundy, France and died in c627 of natural causes in Bobbio, Italy. Patronages – of Bobbio and of Luxeuil-les-Bains, France.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In the Monastery of Bobbio, the Abbot, St Attalas, renowned for miracles.”
Blessed by Miracles, St Attalas:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/03/10/saint-of-the-day-10-march-st-attalas-of-bobbio-died-c627-abbot/

St Blanchard of Nesle-la-Réposte
St Caius of Apema
St Cordratus of Nicomedië

St Droctoveus (c530-c580) Abbot, disciple of St Germanus. He was the first Abbot of the Benedictine Monastery which became the Church of Saint Germain-des-Pres in Paris.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/10/saint-of-the-day-10-march-st-droctoveus-c530-c580-abbot/

St Emilian of Lagny
St Failbhe the Little
St Gustav the Hermit
St Himelin
Bl John of Vallombrosa
St Kessog

St Macarius of Jerusalem (Died c335) Bishop of Jerusalem for over twenty years. Defender of the Faith against Arianism, founder of the True Cross with St Helena, organiser and manager of the building of the Sacred Basilicas, including the Church of the Holy Sepuchre in Jerusalem, paid for by St Constantine the Great, St Helena’s son. Also of great import is the fact that Bishop Macarius was one of the two main authors of the Nicene Creed, that is, of the Creed that we still pronounce in Mass today
The Life os St Macarius:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/10/saint-of-the-day-10-march-saint-macarius-died-c-335/

St Peter of Veroli
St Rufinus of Nicomedië
St Sannudius of Bagensena
St Saturninus of Nicomedië
St Sedna of Ossory
St Silvester of Ireland

St Pope Simplicius (Died 483) Papal Ascension 25 February 468 – 10 March 483.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/10/saint-of-the-day-10-march-saint-pope-simplicius-483/

St Victor of North Africa
Bl Wirnto of Formbach

Anonymous Martyrs of Persia – A group of 42 Christians Martyred in Persia in the 4th century.