Day: March 26, 2025

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

Thought for the Day – 26 March – St Joseph’s Prudence

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 26 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)

26th Day – St Joseph’s Prudence

Prudence is a virtue we all value and desire. Let us look at this virtue in St Joseph.

+1. St Joseph never acted on impulse. He always prayed and reflected before acting. What husband would not have put away his wife without any delay, when he discovered that she was about to give birth to a child who was not his. Not so St Joseph! He prayed and pondered and waited and gradually formed the prudent resolve of sending her back to her friends in secret. Even after deciding on this plan, as the best course of action, he again waited and commended it to God, turned it over and over in his own mind, prayed still more before
proceeding to act.
It was this prudence, this charitable delay which earned him the solution of his dilemma and doubts, by an Angel’s voice.

+2. St Joseph had been entrusted with Jesus’ training. The formation of the character of the Divine Child was committed to him. What prudence, what perfect prudence must he have possessed whom God considered as the fit Guardian of the Eternal Word!
If I were more prudent, God would entrust me with greater works in His service.

+3. Our Lady must have had wonderful confidence in the prudence of her spouse when she arose, without hesitation at dead of night, to fly with him to Egypt, just because he told her he had had a dream warning him to do so. But she knew, not only how naturally careful and wise he was but too, that he had an infused and supernatural prudence which could not be deceived.
If I were more prudent, others would trust me more and listen, with greater confidence, to my advice or commands

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, St Francis de Sales, The BEATITUDES, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 26 March – From the heart

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 26 March – Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent – Exodus 20:12-24, Matthew 15:1-1-1

“But the things which proceed
out of the mouth,
come from the heart
and it is they which defile a man.”

Matthew 15:18

“Our hearts were made for Thee, O God
And restless must they be
Until, O God, this grace accord,
Until they rest in Thee!”

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

“Govern my heart O Lord,
lest it drift into useless and disordered thoughts.
Do not permit me to become excessively preoccupied
with anything at all, even matters and concerns
which are useful and good in themselves.
Temper the affections of my soul,
so that I may neither love, nor hate
anything, in a way which exceeds due proportions.
Let me neither rejoice, nor be saddened,
beyond the measure which is fitting and rational.”

St Albert the Great (1200-1280)
Universal Doctor of the Church

“Do not fix your longings on anything
which you do not possess;
do not let your heart rest in that which you have;
do not grieve overmuch,
at the losses which may happen to you –
and then, you may reasonably believe
that although rich in fact,
you are not so in affection
but that you are poor in spirit
and, therefore, blessed,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is yours.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

“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 LENT- 2025, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, St PETER!, The PASSION, The SACRED PASSION - Meditations for LENT

Lenten Meditations – 26 March – St Peter’s Repentance

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Lenten Meditations – 26 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)

Wednesday after the Third Sunday in Lent
St Peter’s Repentance

Read St Luke xxii:55–62

[55] And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and were sitting about it, Peter was in the midst of them. [56] Whom, when a certain servant maid had seen, sitting at the light and had earnestly beheld him, she said: This man too, was with Him. [57] But he denied Him, saying: Woman, I know Him not. [58] And after a little while, another seeing him, said: Thou also art one of them. But Peter said: O man, I am not. [59] And after the space, as it were of one hour, another certain man affirmed, saying: Of a truth, this man was also with Him; for he is also a Galilean. [60] And Peter said: Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, as he was yet speaking, the cock crew. [61] And the Lord turning, looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the Word of the Lord, as He had said: Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. [62] And Peter going out, wept bitterly. [Luke 22:55-62]

+1. St Peter had thrice denied his Master and the third time with oaths and curses! He was ashamed of Christ, afraid to own himself a servant of Christ and all because of a woman’s jeering tongue.
As I look over my life, how many times there have been when I have been faithless as Peter was! I have not boldly spoken out as I ought. I have perhaps, taken part in talk hateful to my Lord and Master. I have been ashamed to run counter to uncharitable or evil conversation, although I knew well enough that it was sinful.

+2. After the third denial, the cock crew and at the same time Our Lord turned and looked upon Peter. It was at the moment when He was being dragged from the tribunal to the servants’ room amid the jeers and mockery of the soldiers. All this time St Peter had been present to His thoughts, amid all the outrages and insults and not St Peter alone but all, who, although, not at heart disloyal, nevertheless, fall into sin through weakness.
Remember me, O Lord, when I am in danger of falling and when Satan desires to have me that he may iift me as wheat.

+3. That look pierced St Pete’s heart with a keen pang of shame, sorrow and repentance. How could he have been faithless to the Lord Whom he loved and for Whom he had joyfully given up all! At once, he made his way out of the hall and, with tears of anguish, begged
for pardon. Those tears were not unmixed with the sweet consolation of knowing he was forgiven and with a firm resolution, not to let this fall discourage him.
Here is a model for me when I have sinned!

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 March – – ‘But why did the first Law, written with the Finger of God (Ex 31:18), not give us the essential assistance of grace?’ – St Augustine

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 26 March – “The Month of Saint Joseph” – Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent – Ferial Day – Exodus 20:12-24 – Matthew 15:1-20 Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Hypocrites, well did Isaias prophesy of you, saying, ‘This people honours me with their lips but their heart is far from Me and in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrine, the precepts of men.’ ” – Matthew 15:7

REFLECTION – “The law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law of sin and death” (Rm 8:2) … Saint Paul says that the Law of Moses has been given to prove our weakness and not just to prove it but, to increase it and thus, force us to find the Doctor. … “Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more” (Rm 5:20; cf 3:20) … But why did the first Law, written with the Finger of God (Ex 31:18), not give us the essential assistance of grace?  Because it was written on tablets of stone, not the tablets of flesh, that are our hearts (2 Cor 3:3) ….

It is the Holy Spirit Who writes “the Law of the Spirit of life” not on stone but in the heart; this Law of the Spirit oL life that is in Jesus Christ in Whom the Passover has been celebrated in truth (1 Cor 5:7-8), has delivered you from the law of sin and death.  Do you want to have proof, of the manifest and certain difference separating the Old Testament from the New? … Hear what the Lord spoke by the mouth of one of the Prophets. … ”I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts” (Jr 31:33). So if God’s Law is written in your heart, it does not bring forth fear [as at Sinai] but pours a secret sweetness into your soul.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 155, 6 ).

PRAYER – From all perils of soul and body defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee and by the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and 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 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 HYMNS, POETRY, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS TO St Joseph, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, St JOSEPH

Our Morning Offering – 26 March – Hail, Holy Joseph, Hail!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 26 March – “The Month of Saint Joseph” and Wednesday being St Joseph’s day

Hail, Holy Joseph, Hail!
By Father Frederick W Faber CO (1814-1863)

Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Chaste spouse of Mary hail!
Pure as the lily flow’r
In Eden’s peaceful vale.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Prince of the house of God!
May His best graces be
By thy sweet hands bestowed.

Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Comrade of Angels, hail!
Cheer thou the hearts that faint,
And guide the steps that fail.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
God’s choice wert thou alone!
To thee the Word made flesh,
Was subject as a Son.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Teach us our flesh to tame
And, Mary, keep the hearts
That love thy husband’s name.
Mother of Jesus! bless,
And bless, ye Saints on high,
All meek and simple souls
That to Saint Joseph cry.
Amen’

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 26 March – St Felix (Died c400) Bishop of Trier, Germany

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 26 March – St Felix (Died c400) Bishop of Trier, Germany, Consecrated by St Martin of Tours. Died in c400. We know that St Felix brought the Relics of St Paulinus of Trier back from Phrygia, where he had died in exile and built a Church to house them.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Treves, the Bishop St Felix.”

In the list of Bishops of the Diocese of Trier, he appears in eleventh place after Saint Brittone or Britto and before Maurice II.

We know little about him. Tradition reports that he was Consecrated as the Bishop in 386, by Saint Martin of Tours, his friend. But since this Consecration was made with the agreement of the usurper Emperor, the Holy See did not recognise the legality of the appointment, even if it considered it valid.

The List of Bishops of Trier Diocese

His Episcopate was also marked by the trial of Priscillian and his followers and their subsequent execution for heresy and witchcraft which can be seen as the first inquisitorial action in the Church.

In 538, Felix, accused of not having campaigned vigorously enough against that verdict, for reasons of peace, after the Synod of Turin, renounced the appointment as Bishop by abdicating.

Some of his contemporaries, including Saint Sulplice Sévère, praised his virtues.

Saint Felix is ​​believed to have died around the year 400.
His Feastday was set for today, 26 March.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Notre-Dame de Soissons / Our Lady of Soissons, France (1128) One of Our Lady’s Slippers was kept in this Abbey, Wednesday of the Third Week – Ferial Day: FAST and the Saints for 26 March

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Wednesday of the Third Week – Ferial Day: FAST

Notre-Dame de Soissons / Our Lady of Soissons, France (1128) One of Our Lady’s Slippers was kept in this Abbey Church – 26 March:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/26/our-lady-of-soissons-france-1128-and-memorials-of-the-saints-26-march/

St Barontius (Died c725) Monk, Hermit, gifted with visions.
His Life of Grace:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/26/saint-of-the-day-26-march-st-barontius-of-pistoia-died-c725-monk-hermit/

St Basil the Younger (Died c952) Confessor, Hermit, Mystic, Miracle-worker.
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/26/saint-of-the-day-26-march-saint-basil-the-younger-died-c-952/

St Bathus
St Bercharius

St Braulio (590-651) Bishop of Saragossa, Spain, Monk, Confessor, Reformer, Scholar, Advisor, Writer, eloquent Preacher, Apostle of Charity. Saint Braulio was friend and disciple to Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) Doctor of the Church ) and a prolific writer of letters, hymns, martyrologies, hagiographies and history. He fought against heresy and provided both strength and encouragement in the faith to his congregation.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/03/26/saint-of-the-day-26-march-braulio-590-651/

St Castulus(Died c288) Martyr, Layman, married to Saint Irene of Rome (the woman who assisted St Sebastian after he had been wounded by the Imperial archers), Military Officer and he was the Chamberlain (or officer, valet) of Emperor Diocletian.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/26/saint-of-the-day-26-march-saint-castulus-of-rome-died-c-288-martyr/

St Desiderius of Pistoia

St Eutychius of Alexandria (Died 356) Sub-Deacon, Martyr of Alexandria. Died during Lent in 356, from his wounds and exhaustion, while on the road to the mines in Egypt.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Alexandria, the holy Martyrs, Eutychius and others, who died by the sword for the Catholic Faith, in the time of Constantius, uinder the Arian bishop, George.”
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/03/26/saint-of-the-day-26-march-st-eutychius-of-alexandria-died-356-sub-deacon-martyr/

St Felicitas of Padua
St Felix (Died c400) Bishop of Trier, Germany
St Garbhan
St Govan

St Ludger (c742-809) Bishop, Missionary, Founder, Abbot, Writer. Following in the footsteps of the English Missionary St Boniface, St Ludger, who was a native Netherlander, brought the faith to the people of Frisia in Holland and the Saxons of north-west Germany. He founded the Werden Abbey and was the first Bishop of Münster in Westphalia, Germany.
About St Ludger:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/03/26/saint-of-the-day-26-march-st-ludger-c-742-809/

St Maxima the Martyr
St Mochelloc of Kilmallock (Died c639) Abbot at Kilmallock, Ireland. No other information has survived. Also known as – Celloch, Cellog, Motalogus, Mottelog.
St Montanus the Martyr
St Sabino of Anatolia

St Sincheall the Elder (5th-6th Century) On 25 June is the commemoration of a County Offaly Saint, Sincheall of Killeigh. There is a Saint of this name associated with the household of Saint Patrick who is commemorated today. He is distinguished as Sincheall the Elder and may have been related to the St Sincheall of Killeigh. The Irish Calendars preserve this distinction and the two separate Feast Days. We have no further information of today’s St Sincheall the Elder.

St Wereka (Died c370) Martyr – Part of a Congregation burned to death in their Church, somewhere in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe. No other information has survived.

Martyrs of Rome – 5 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together. The only details to survive are the names – Cassian, Jovinus, Marcian, Peter and Thecla. Rome, Italy, date unknown.