Day: March 17, 2025

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

Thought for the Day – 17 March – St Joseph’s Fifth Joy.

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Thought for the Day – 17 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)

17th Day – St Joseph’s Fifth Joy.
Seeing the Idols of Egypt Fall to the Ground

+1. When the Holy Family had crossed the desert and arrived at the place of their abode in Egypt, tradition records a miracle. The idols in the temples are said to have fallen prostrate on the very night of their arrival.
The news filled Joseph’s heart with joy. The one thought of Joseph’s life was to further the influence of Jesus. His one joy was to see Jesus vanquish His enemies and gather to Himself men of goodwill.

+2. This joy in the power of the Son of God, was a recompense for the sorrow he felt, at His apparent helplessness when he was commanded to carry the God-Child to Egypt. Then it seemed as if He were utterly feeble against His enemies but now, the Omnipotence of His Divinity manifests itself by unmistakable signs.
So it is with those who trust in God under difficult circumstances. It seems as if He were unable or unwilling to save them but He will reward their patient confidence, by some glorious surprise they had not even ventured to hope for.

+3. Christ’s task is always to destroy idols.
In my heart there are many idols – sloth, sensuality, selfishness, impatience, anger, neglect of religious duties, unkindness to others, self-love, disobedience and worst of all, pride! If Jesus is to dwell within me, these idols must be overthrown and pride above all. It is a difficult task, as long as they hold sway within my heart.
O good St Joseph, bring Jesus and His love and cast these hateful itruders which Jesus hates, out of my heart.

Posted in FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The RESURRECTION

Quote/s of the Day – 17 March – St Patrick

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 March – St Patrick (c386-461) “The Apostle of Ireland,” Bishop, Confessor

“The man of God, Patrick, was
marvellously favoured with heavenly visions
and revelations in prayer.
‘When,’ says his biographer, ‘he everyday,
in the Mass, sacrificed the Son to the Father,
or devoutly recited the Apocalypse of St John,
it was granted to him to see the heavens opened
and Jesus standing there,
surrounded by a multitude of Angels
and whilst he meditated on these great visions,
his soul was altogether lost in God.’
Three times in the week the Angel Victor,
visited and conversed with him,
filling his soul with celestial consolations.
The labours of the day, amongst men,
seem to have been less arduous
than those of the night with God.”
(The Life of St Patrick, Apostle of Ireland)

Prayer of St Patrick

I bind unto myself today
the power in the love of the Seraphim,
in the obedience of the Angels,
in the ministration of the Archangels,
in the hope of Resurrection unto reward,
in the prayers of the Patriarchs,
in the predictions of the Prophets,
in the preaching of the Apostles,
in the faith of the Confessors,
in the purity of the holy Virgins,
in the deeds of Righteous men.
Amen

St Patrick (c386-461)
“The Apostle of Ireland”

Posted in LENT- 2025, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The SACRED PASSION - Meditations for LENT

Lenten Meditations – 17 March – The Consolations of the Sacred Agony

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Lenten Meditations – 17 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 after the Second Sunday in Lent
The Consolations of the Sacred Agony

Read St Luke xxii:40-46

[40] And when He was come to the place, He said to them: Pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
[41] And He was withdrawn away from them, a stone’s cast and kneeling down, He prayed, [42] Saying – Father, if Thou wilt, remove this chalice from Me but yet, not My Will but Thine be done. [43] And there appeared to Him an Angel from Heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. [44] And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. [45] And when He rose up from prayer and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow.
[46] And he said to them: Why sleep you? arise, pray, lest you enter into temptation. [Luke 22:40-46]

+I. No words can tell, no human heart can conceive, the intensity of the Sacred Agony of Jesus.
It would have crushed His very Life, had He not, by means of His Divinity, supported His Sacred Humanity and so enabled it, to suffer more. See Him pale, haggard, scarcely to be recognised in His abasement and His terror! See the sweat of Blood pouring from His Sacred Limbs!
Can this be the well-beloved Son of God?
My God, make me more contrite at the thought that I have taken part in bringing Thee to this great horror!

+2. But He was not without consolation in His Agony. An Angel was sent to comfort Him, to present before His vision, the innumerable company of the Saints won by His Precious Blood.
He saw their joy and happiness to be won by His Sacred Passion, by the labour of His Soul and seeing it, He was satisfied to bear it all.
O pure unselfish joy! O joy surpassing all other joys!
The joy of seeing others happy was the promised reward which supported Jesus in His Agony.

+3. But He had a still greater and stronger support than this.
He beheld the honour and glory which would accrue to His Eternal Father.
He saw that all the glory God would reap from His Works, would be as nothing in comparison to this greatest Work, to be wrought by His Eternal Son and seeing this, He was satisfied and more than satisfied.
In the beginning of the Book, it is written of Him:
“Behold, I come to do Thy Will, O my God. I am content to do it.“”
Have I the glory of God at heart as the first and foremost motive of my actions?

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The LAST THINGS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The REDEMPTION, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 March – “Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”- Matthew 25:21

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One Minute Reflection – 17 March – “The Month of Saint Joseph” – St Patrick (c386-461) “The Apostle of Ireland,” Bishop, Confessor – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 44:16-27 – 45:3-20, Matthew 25:14-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”- Matthew 25:21

REFLECTION – “The Word of the Father, Only-begotten Son of God, Sun of Justice (Mal 3:20), is the great Merchant Who has brought us the price of our redemption. It is a truly precious exchange which we can never value sufficiently, when a King, Son of the King Most High, has become the Coin, the Gold has paid our dues, the Just Man is given for the sinner. Truly unmerited mercy, perfectly disinterested love, astonishing goodness …, it is a completely disproportionate purchase, in which the Son of God is delivered up for the servant, the Creator is put to death for the one He has created, the Lord is condemned for His slave.

O Christ, these are Thine Works, Thou Who descended from Heaven’s brightness into our hellish darkness, to bring Light to our gloomy prison. Thou came down from the Right Hand of the Divine Majesty, into our human misery, to redeem the human race, Thou Who descended from the Father’s glory, to death on the Cross, to triumph over death and its author. Thou art the only One and there is no other but Thee Who could have been drawn to redeem us through Thine Own Goodness…

Let all the merchants of Teman (Bar 3:23) withdraw from this place … it is not they but Israel [Thy] beloved whom [Thou hast] chosen, Thou Who hide these mysteries from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to those babes and humble servants of Thine (Lk 10:21) … O Lord, I willingly embrace this purchase since it concerns me!… I remember all the things Thou hast done, Thou Who desire that I should keep them alive … Therefore, I shall profit by this talent which Thou hast lent to me until Thy return and will stand before Thee with great joy. O God, grant that I may then hear these sweet words: “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Mt 25:21).” – St Bernard O.Cist. (1091-1153) Cistercian Monk, known as the Last Father and the Mellifluous Doctor of the Church (Selected sermons, no 42: The Five Purchases).

PRAYER – O, God, Who graciously sent blessed Patrick, Thy Confessor and Bishop, to preach Thy glory to the nations, grant through his merits and intercession that by Thy mercy, we may be able to accomplish what Thou command. 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 Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 17 March – Excerpt from St Patrick’s Breastplate

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Our Morning Offering – 17 March – St Patrick (c386-461) “The Apostle of Ireland,” Bishop, Confessor

Excerpt from St Patrick’s Breastplate
(also known as “The Deer Cry”)

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
His Eye to watch, His Might to stay,
His Ear to hearken to my need;
the Wisdom of my God to teach,
His Hand to guide, His shield to ward;
the Word of God to give me speech,
His Heavenly Host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
the vice which gives temptation force,
the natural lusts which war within,
the hostile men who mar my course;
of few or many, far or nigh,
in every place and in all hours
against their fierce hostility, …….
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all who love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three,
of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation:
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 17 March – St Agricola (498-580) Bishop

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Saint of the Day – 17 March – St Agricola (498-580) Bishop of Châlon-sur-Saône, Defender of the true Faith against heretics, a zealous shepherd and teacher of his flock, Apostle of the poor and sick, building hospitals and leper colonies. He founded Churches and Monasteries. He was also a Diplomat and Peace-maker against invading barbarian forces and protector his people by his great courage. Agricola cared for his Diocese for 50 years with tireless dedication. He was born in 498 in the region and died there in 580 of natural causes. Patronage – of Châlon-sur-Saône. Also known as – Aregl, Agrele.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Châlon, in France, St Agricola, Bishop.”

Born in 498 to a noble senatorial family, Agricola of Châlon-sur-Saône distinguished himself from a young age for his pious nature and religious fervour. Having received a rigorous education, he developed a keen intelligence and a profound knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures which nourished his vocation to the Divine service.

In 532, he was Consecrated as the Bishop of Châlon-sur-Saône, assuming the leadership of the Diocese with tireless zeal and exemplary dedication.

His Episcopate, which lasted about 50 years, was marked by pastoral activity aimed at caring for the flock entrusted to him. Agricola did his utmost to strengthen the faith of Christians, promoting assiduous preaching, religious instruction and the celebration of the Sacraments. With wisdom and firmness, he fought the rampant heresies, especially Arianism, strenuously defending the orthodox doctrine.

Statue in the Church Saint-Marcel near Châlon-sur-Saône where St Agricola’s FRelics are enshrined

In 535, he participated in the Synod in Arvernis —present-day Clermont-Ferrand— and sent one of his Priests to the Synod in Orléans in 538.

His tenacity and courage were particularly evident in the context of the barbarian invasions which were devastating Europe at that time. Agricola stood as a bulwark of his community, protecting it from the violence and depredations of the barbarians. With skilled diplomacy and tireless commitment, he negotiated with the various invading leaders, obtaining their protection and ensuring the survival of the Diocese.

In addition to his pastoral and civil role, Agricola also distinguished himself for his generosity and charity towards the poor and needy. He promoted the construction of hospitals and leper colonies, offering relief and comfort to the outcasts and the suffering.

His fame for sanctity spread rapidly, attracting pilgrims from all over to Châlon-sur-Saône, who sought his blessing and advice. After a life spent in the service of God and his neighbour, Saint Agricola died peacefully in 580, leaving an indelible legacy of unshakeable faith, adamantine tenacity and loving compassion.

Agricola was buried in the Church of the then Monastery in Saint-Marcel near Châlon-sur-Saône, where his remains were found in 878.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

St Patrick, Our Lady, Queen of Ireland (1697), St Joseph of Arimathea, Day Eight of the St Joseph Novena and the Saints for 17 March

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St Patrick (c386-461) “The Apostle of Ireland,” Bishop, Confessor, Missionary.
About dearly loved St Patrick:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/03/17/saint-of-the-day-17-march-st-patrick/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/03/17/saint-of-the-day-17-march-st-patrick-c386-461-the-apostle-of-ireland/

Our Lady, Queen of Ireland, or the Madonna of Ireland (1697) – 17 March:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/17/our-lady-queen-of-ireland-or-the-madonna-of-ireland-1697-and-memorials-of-the-saints-17-march/

St Joseph of Arimathea (Died 1st Century) “The Secret Disciple of Jesus.” Patronages – of pallbearers, funeral directors, morticians, undertakers, tin miners, tin smiths, Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, Glastonbury Cathedral.
Feast day moved after Vatican II to 31 August
“The Secret Disciple of Jesus”
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/31/saint-of-the-day-31-august-saint-joseph-of-arimathea-died-1st-century/

NOVENA to ST JOSEPH
DAY EIGHT: Click Link HERE: DAY EIGHT

St Agricola (498-580) Bishop of Châlon-sur-Saône
St Alexander
St Ambrose of Alexandria

Blessed Conrad of Bavaria O. Cist (c1105-1126 or 1154) Monk, Hermit, Pilgrim, Miracle-worker, Canon and Civil Lawyer. Blessed Conrad was Beatified in 1832 by Pope Gregory XVI (cultus confirmation).
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/17/saint-of-the-day-17-march-blessed-conrad-of-bavaria-o-cist-c-1105-1126-or-1154/

St Diemut of Saint Gall

St Gabriel Lalemant SJ (1610-1649) Martyr, Priest of the Society of Jesus, Missionary in the Huron country, Canada. Gabriel was Canonised by Pope Pius XI on 29 June 1930.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/17/saint-of-the-day-17-march-st-gabriel-lalemant-sj-1610-1649-priest-martyr/

St Gertrude of Nivelles / the Great OSB (626-659) Benedictine Nun and Abbess, who, with her mother Itta, founded the Abbey of Nivelles located in present-day Belgium.
About St Gertrude:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/03/17/saint-of-the-day-17-march-st-gertrude-of-nivelles-o-s-b-626-659/

Bl Gertrude of Trzebnica

St Llinio of Llandinam
St Paul of Cyprus
St Stephen of Palestrina
St Theodore of Rome
St Thomasello
St Withburga (Died 743) Abbess, Princess

Martyrs of Alexandria – Also known as Martyrs of Serapis: An unknown number of Christians who were Martyred together by a mob of worshippers of the Graeco-Egyptian sun god Serapis. They were Martyred in c 392 in Alexandria, Egypt.