Day: March 20, 2025

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

Thought for the Day – 20 March – St Joseph’s Seventh_Sorrow

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Thought for the Day – 20 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)

20th Day – St Joseph’s Seventh_Sorrow
The Loss of Jesus for Three Days

+1. It was obligatory on all Jews who were within a moderate distance of Jerusalem, to pay a visit to the Temple once every year.
In accordance with this law, Joseph went each year from Nazareth and Mary accompanied him. As soon as He was old enough, Jesus too, travelled with His parents. When He was twelve years old, He journeyed thither but, on their return, they suddenly missed Him amongst their fellow pilgrims. Vainly they sought Him everywhere and, with heavy hearts, they asked each member of their company, if they had seen Him. No, He was not there. Oh, what a bitter grief for St Joseph! How terrible were those three days without Jesus!

+2. Could it be through any negligence on his part?
Joseph’s motive for separating himself from Jesus had been a most unselfish one – that Mary might have the joy of His company.
Men and women travelled in separate caravans and children would travel with either. But perhaps. he might have been more vigilant. Anyway, he had lost Jesus and what could be worse than that!?
How different from us, who too often remain content with earthly things, with scarce a thought of Jesus!

+3. Joseph’s grief was increased by witnessing Mary’s sorrow. Together, they returned to Jerusalem, asking, like the spouse in the Canticles:
“Have you seen Him Whom my soul loveth?”
All in vain – for three days and three nights, no trace of Jesus! Those days seemed like centuries.
Joseph then, can sympathise with my desolation. He knows the terrible void, the joyless days, the weary nights, when Jesus is absent from the soul.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, QUOTES on WISDOM, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, REDEMPTIVE Suffering, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day –20 March – ‘ … Give earth and receive Heaven! …’

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Quote/s of the Day –20 March – Ferial Day – Thursday in the Second Week in Lent – Jeremias 17:5-10 – Luke 16:19-31 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“There was a rich man,
who was clothed in purple
and fine linen
and who feasted sumptuously everyday.
And at his gate lay a poor man,
named Lazarus…”

Luke 16:19–20

“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

“Give of your earthly goods
and receive eternal ones;
give earth and receive Heaven!”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“What is a man’s treasure
but the heaping up of profits
and the fruit of his toil?
For, whatever a man sows,
this too will he reap and each man’s gain,
matches his toil and where delight
and enjoyment are found,
there the heart’s desire is attached.
Now, there are many kinds of wealth
and a variety of grounds for rejoicing –
every man’s treasure is that, which he desires.
If it is based on earthly ambitions,
its acquisition makes men not blessed but wretched.
… By distributing what might be superfluous
to support the poor, they are amassing
imperishable riches, so that what they have
discreetly given, cannot be subject to loss.
They have properly placed those riches,
where their heart is – it is a most blessed thing,
to work to increase such riches,
rather than to fear that they may pass away.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
ather and Doctor of the Church

“If thou wouldst see well, pluck out thine eyes and be blind;
if thou wouldst hear well, be deaf
and if thou wouldst speak well, become dumb;
if thou wouldst advance, stand still
and advance with thy mind;
if thou wouldst work well, cut off thy hands
and work with thy heart;
if thou wouldst love much, hate thyself;
if thou wouldst live well, mortify thyself;
if thou wouldst gain much and be rich,
first lose all and become poor
and if thou wouldst enjoy peace, afflict thyself
and be ever in fear and suspect thine own self;
if thou wouldst be exalted and have great honour,
humble and abase thyself;
if thou wouldst be held in great reverence, despise thyself
and do reverence to him who reviles thee;
if thou wouldst that it should be well with thee,
suffer all evil things and if thou wouldst be blessed,
desire that all should speak ill of thee
and if thou wouldst have true and eternal rest,
then toil and suffer and desire to have every temporal affliction.
O what great wisdom it is to know how to do
and to work out these things.”

Blessed Giles of Assisi (c1190-1262)

Posted in The PASSION, The SACRED PASSION - Meditations for LENT

Lenten Meditations – 20 March – The Apprehension of Jesus

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Lenten Meditations – 20 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)

Thursday after the Second Sunday in Lent
The Apprehension of Jesus

Read St John xviii:2-11
(Posted at the end)

+1. When Judas had given to his Master the traitor’s kiss, Our Lord, knowing that His hour was come, boldly advanced to meet His enemies and told them that He was Jesus of Nazareth. At this word, they recoiled backward and fell to the ground. If this was the result of Our Lord’s presenting Himself to them in His humiliation and abasement, what will be the terror and the dread of sinners, when He comes again in all His glory?
O my God, grant that I may have no sin upon my soul no debt still to pay when I appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ!

+2. The soldiers then advanced to seize Jesus. St Peter, with impetuous courage and loyalty, draws his sword and attackrf the servants of the high -priest and in the affray, cuts off the ear of one of them. But Our Lord rebukes him and bids him put his sword back into the scabbard. His loyalty was natural, not supernatural and it did not endure long in the face of danger.
Natural motives, however good, will not serve the cause of God.

+3. When Our Lord was in the hands of His enemies, all the Apostles forsook Him and fled. Not one was found to remain by His side in His abandonment. It was the Will of God that He should suffer alone.
“I looked about and there was none to help; I sought and there was none to give aid.”
Christ then suffered alone and He can sympathise with that loneliness in suffering which adds so much to its bitterness.

[2]There were together Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, nd the sons of Zebedee and two others disciples. [3] Simon Peter saith to them: I go fishing. They say to him: We also come with thee. And they went forth and entered into the ship and that night. they caught nothing. [4] But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore, yet, the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. [5] Jesus ,therefore, said to them: Children, have you any meat? They answered him: No.

[6] He saith to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship and you shall find. They cast, therefore and now, they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes. [7] That disciple, therefore, whom Jesus loved, said to Peter: It is the Lord. Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him, (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea. [8] But the other disciples came in the ship, (for they were not far from the land but, as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes. [9] As soon then, as they came to land, they saw hot coals lying and a fish laid thereon and bread. [10] Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught.
[11] Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. [John 21:2-11]

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Lady POVERTY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 March –True Wealth, True Poverty

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One Minute Reflection – 20 March – “The Month of Saint Joseph” – Ferial Day – Thursday in the Second Week in Lent – Jeremias 17:5-10 – Luke 16:19-31 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The poor man died and was carried by the Angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham, far off and Lazarus in his bosom. …” – Luke 16:22-23

REFLECTION – “When I say that God does not incline His ear to the rich man, do not go so far as to think, my friends that God fails to answer those who have gold and silver, servants and lands.
If they were born in that state and occupy that class of society, let them call to mind the saying of the Apostle Paul:
“Tell the rich in the present world, not to yield to pride” (1Tm 6:17).
People who do not yield to pride are poor before God, Who inclines His ear to the poor and needy (Ps 85:1).
Indeed, they know their hope does not lie in gold or silver, or in those things, of which they have an abundance, for a time.
It suffices that possessions are not causing their loss and that, if they do nothing for their salvation, at least they are not an obstacle to it … Therefore, when someone despises those things which feed one’s pride, he is one of God’s poor and God inclines His ear towards him, for He knows the troubles of his heart.

It is true, my brethren that the poor man Lazarus, covered with sores, who lay at the rich man’s door, was carried by Angels into the bosom of Abraham.
This is what we read and believe.
Whereas ,the rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and feasted splendidly everyday, was thrown down to the torments of hell.

But was it really the merit of his destitution which won for the poor man, his being carried away by Angels?
And was the rich man delivered up to torment because of his lavish lifestyle?
We need to acknowledge that it was humility which was honoured in that poor man and pride which was punished in the rich man!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church(Discourses on the Psalms 85,3).

PRAYER – In Thy mercy, O Lord, may this hallowing fast enlighten the hearts of Thy faithful people and since Thou have given them the desire to serve Thee, lend a gracious ear to their prayers.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, INDULGENCES, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, Our MORNING Offering, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Our Morning Offering – 20 March – Look Down, O Lord By St Cajetan (Indulgenced)

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Our Morning Offering – 20 March – Thursday after the Second Sunday in Lent

Look Down, O Lord
By St Cajetan (1480-1547)

Look down, O Lord, from Thy sanctuary
and from the high habitation of Heaven
and behold this Sacred Oblation
which our great High Priest,
Thy Holy Servant, the Lord Jesus,
immolates unto Thee, for the sins of His brethren
and be propitious to the multitude of our iniquities.
Behold, the Voice
of the Blood of Jesus, our Brother,
cries to Thee from the Cross.
Graciously hear, O Lord,
be appeased, O Lord, hearken and do.
Delay not for Thy own sake, my God
because Thy Name is invoked upon this city
and upon Thy people
and do with us,
according to Thy mercy.
Amen

Plenary Indulgence on the First Thursday of each month for Communicants visiting the Blessed Sacrament
and reciting this prayer.
Partial Indulgence of seven years and seven Quarantines,
on all other Thursdays. –Pope Pius VII.
“Quarantines” signifies a strict Ecclesiastical penance of forty days, performed according to the practice of the early Church. Hence an Indulgence of “Seven Quarantines,” for instance, implies. the remission of as much temporal punishment, as would be blotted out by the corresponding amount of Ecclesiastical Penance i.e. 7 x 40 = 280 days.

Posted in Against ICONOCLASM, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 20 March – Saint Nicetas (Died c733) Bishop of Apollonias

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Saint of the Day – 20 March – Saint Nicetas (Died c733) Bishop of Apollonias in Bithynia, a region of Asia Minor, Defender of the veneration of holy images. We have no history of his birthplace but he died in exile in c733, presumably of natural causes, although some refer to him as a Martyr. Also known as – Nicetas of Apollonias, … of Bithynia, Niceta.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Apollonia, the Bishop, St Nicetas, who breathed his last in exile, where he had been sent for upholding the veneration of holy images.”

Am unknown Saintly Bishop’s Benediction

The history of the Church preserves the memories of countless figures who, by their courage and dedication, have helped shape Christian doctrine and tradition. Among these, the figure of Saint Nicetas, Bishop of Apollonias, (in modern Turkey) is distinguished as a silent hero of the Faith whose tale, although fragmentary, offers us food for thought and admiration.

Unfortunately, information regarding St Nicetas is limited. The records of Constantinople describes him as a “Most Orthodox” Bishop of Apollonias, who lived during the era of denying the benefits of the veneration of holy images, a turbulent period in which sacred images were the subject of heated controversy and destruction.

Nicetas not only remained faithful to the cult of images but too, suffered harsh persecution for his unshakable faith. His resistance eventually led him to exile, where he died in circumstances which remain unknown.

The precise identification of Apollonias, the City of which Nicetas was the Bishop, presents several difficulties. In fact, there are several Cities with this name in the ancient Christian world. The most widespread tradition places him in Bithynia, a region of Asia Minor. However, some scholars hypothesise that Nicetas may have been the Bishop of another Apolloniad, located in Thrace or Illyria.

The date and circumstances of the death of Saint Nicetas is also uncertain. Some hypothese associate him with the persecution of Leo the Isaurian (717-741), while others place him at the time of Leo the Armenian (813-820), both anti-veneration of holy images.

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Our Lady of Calevourt, Belgium (1454), St Photina & Companions, St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne and the Saints for 20 March

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Ferial Day, Thursday after the Second Sunday in Lent

Our Lady of Calevourt, near Brussels, Belgium (1454) – 20 March:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/20/our-lady-of-calevourt-near-brussels-belgium-1454-and-memorials-of-the-saints-20-march/

St Photina & Companions / Martyrs of Rome – 9+ Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together in the persecutions of Nero. We know nothing else about them but the names Photina, Sebastian and Victor, Anatolius, Cyriaca, Joseph, Parasceve, Photis.

St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (c634-687) “The Wonder-Worker of England,” Bishop of Lindisfarne, Monk, Hermit, Miracle-worker.
St Cuthbert’s Zealous Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/20/saint-of-the-day-20-march-saint-cuthbert-of-lindisfarne-c-634-687-the-wonder-worker-of-england/

Blessed Ambrose Sansedoni OP (1220-1287) Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, Preachers, Confessor, Mystic, a powerful and convincing Preacher employed by various Popes as a Diplomatic Peacemaker and that which seems opposed, as a Preacher of the Crusades, Peacemaker. A fellow student with St Thomas Aquinas under St Albert Magnus.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/20/saint-of-the-day-19march-blessed-ambrose-sansedoni-of-siena-op-1220-1287-priest/

Anastasius XVI
Archippus of Colossi
St Benignus of Flay
St Cathcan of Rath-derthaighe
St Clement of Ireland

St Guillermo de Peñacorada (Died c1042) Abbot, Miracle-worker. Patronage – Cistierna, Spain and he is invoked for rain in times of drought and he regularly proves his worth, bringing rain whenever needed.
The Rain-Maker:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/03/20/saint-of-the-day-20-march-st-guillermo-de-penacorada-died-c1042-abbot/

St Herbert of Derwenwater
Bl Hippolytus Galantini
Bl Jeanne Veron
Bl John Baptist Spagnuolo
St John Nepomucene
St John Sergius

St Martin (c520–580) Archbishop of Braga, Monk, Missionary, Monastic Founder, prolific Ecclesiastical Writer.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/03/20/saint-of-the-day-20-march-st-martin-of-braga-c-520-580/

St Nicetas (Died c733) Bishop of Apollonias
St Remigius of Strasbourg
St Tertricus of Langres
St Urbitius of Metz

St Wulfram (c640-c 703) Archbishop of Sens, France and Confessor, Missionary, Miracle-worker.
Patronages – Abbeville, France, against the dangers of the sea/of sailors, childbirth and young children.
His Life of Love:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/20/saint-of-the-day-20-march-saint-wulfram-of-sens-c-640-c-703/

Martyrs of Amisus – 8 Saints: A group of Christian women Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. The only details we have are eight of their names – Alexandra, Caldia, Derphuta, Euphemia, Euphrasia, Juliana, Matrona and Theodosia. They were burned to death c 300 in Amisus, Paphlagonia (modern Samsun, Turkey).

Martyrs of San Saba – 20 Saints: Twenty monks who were Martyred together in their monastery by invading Saracens. They were Martyred in 797 when they were burned inside the San Sabas monastery in Palestine.

Martyrs of Syria – 3+ Saints: A group of Christians who were Martyred together in Syria. We know nothing else about them but the names Cyril, Eugene and Paul.