Day: April 5, 2025

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on WATCHING, The IMITATION of CHRIST, Thomas a Kempis

Thought for the Day – 5 April – TEMPTATION

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 5 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

TEMPTATION

“Still we must watch,” The Imitation of Christ continues, “especially in the beginning of temptation, for then the enemy is more easily overcome, if he be not suffered to enter the door of the mind but, is withstood upon the threshold, the very moment that he knocks. Whence a certain one has said: ‘Resist beginning; all too late the cure, when ills have gathered strength, by long delay’ (Ovid. Remedia Amoris 5:91). For first there comes into the mind a simple thought, then a strong imagination afterward delights and the evil notion [gains power] and [then come] consent” (Bk 1 c 13).

It is worth meditating on this vivid description of the psychology of temptation and of the simplest remedy, by which it can be combated.
Every temptation is first presented to the mind as a simple thought.
If a man is determined enough, it is quite easy to reject it immediately.
If there is any delay, however, the concept is clothed by the imagination and projected in vivid colours until it arouses the evil inclinations of the senses.
In this way, the idea takes possession of the mind, so that it is almost impossible to set it free.

We must be ready to face such an idea before it takes possession of us.
We should treat it as we would a serpent, not pausing to examine it but, taking to flight at once!
If we are resolute, the grace of God will ensure our safety!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/31/thought-for-the-day-31-march-temptation/

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on VANITY, QUOTES on VICE

Quote/s of the Day – 5 April – St Vincent Ferrer

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 April – St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419) Confessor, called “The Angel of the Apocalypse” and of “The Last Judgement” and the “Mouthpiece of God.”

“Christ, the Master of humility,
manifests His Truth only to the humble
and hides Himself from the proud.”

“Charity is certainly greater than any Rule.
Moreover, all Rules, must lead to charity.”

“Once humility is acquired,
charity will come to life;
a burning flame devouring
the corruption of vice
and filling the heart so full,
there is no place for vanity.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/04/05/quote-s-of-the-day-5-april-st-vincent-ferrer-3/

St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419)

Posted in QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on COWARDICE, The PASSION, The SACRED PASSION - Meditations for LENT

Lenten Meditations – 5 April – The Final Condemnation to Death

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Lenten Meditations – 5 April – 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)

Saturday after the Fourth Sunday in Lent
The Final Condemnation to Death

Read St Matthew xxvii: 24-26

[24] And Pilate, seeing that he prevailed nothing but rather, a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the Blood of this just Man; look you to it. [25] And the whole people answering, said: His Blood be upon us and our children.
[26] Then, he released to them Barabbas and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him unto them to be crucified. [Matthew 27:24-26]

+1. Pilate tries first one plan, then another, to avoid passing a sentence which he knew to be unjust. One plan after another fails and now, he is brought face-to-face with a choice on which the salvation of his soul may well depend. It was the turning-point in his life: the grace of God urging him on one side and, on the other, fear of man. .
So, in the life of each, there is some turning-point, some occasion, when the choice made, will decide his future, both in life and in eternity.
Unhappy those who, in such a moment, choose as Pilate chose!

+2. The motive which led Pilate to condemn Jesus, was the fear of man. He did not dare to face the consequences of doing his duty. He trembled before the opinion of others and the dread of losing his worldly position and honour
To how many has the same motive been a cause of eternal loss! Is it not one before which I have sometimes quailed, loving honour from men and failing in what I knew was the Will of God, from a desire to please others?

+3. Pilate ordered the sentence to be written, condemning Jesus to death and then, deliberately signed it. But first, he washed his hands before the people, declaring himself guiltless of the Blood of the just Man whom he condemned to a horrific death!
O fruitless ceremony! He could not wash from his soul the black stain of cowardice and of treachery to his conscience. It is no use doing ill and saying we did not mean it!
Such an evasion like Pilate’s protest, rather increases, than diminishes, the sin!

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 April –Three Names, One Essence

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One Minute Reflection – 5 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419) Confessor – 1 Peter 3:18-22 – Matthew 28:16-20 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Go, therefore, teach all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” – Matthew 28:19

REFLECTION – “The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, are of One substance and inseparably equal. Their Unity is in their Essence, their plurality in the Persons. The Lord openly showed the Unity of the Divine Essence and the Trinity of Persons, when He said: “Baptise them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” He did not say “in the NAMES” but “in the Name” by which He showed the Unity of Essence. But, He then used Three Names in order to show that there are Three Persons.

In this Trinity can be found, the supreme origin of all things, perfect beauty, very blessed joy. As Saint Augustine said in his book on true religion, the supreme origin is God the Father, from Whom all things come, from Whom proceed the Son and the Holy Ghost. The very perfect Beauty is the Son, the Truth of the Father, Who is not dissimilar to Him in anything, Whom we venerate with the Father and in the Father, Who is the model for all things because, everything was made through Him and everything relates to Him. The very blessed Joy, the sovereign goodness is the Holy Ghost Who is the Gift of the Father and of the Son and we must believe and hold that this Gift is exactly like the Father and the Son.

When we look at creation, we finish with the Trinity which is of One single substance. We understand One single God – the Father from Whom we are, the Son by Whom we are, the Holy Ghost in Whom we are – the Origin to Whom we run; the Model Whom we follow; the Grace which reconciles us!” – St Anthony of Padua OFM (c1195-1231) Franciscan, Evangelical Doctor of the Church (Sermons for Sundays and the Feasts of the Saints).

PRAYER – O God, Who graciously enlightened Thy Church by the virtues and preaching of blessed Vincent, Thy Confessor, grant that we, Thy servants, may, be taught by his example and delivered from all harm by his intercession.Through the same 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 ACT of CONTRITION, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING

Our Morning Offering – 5 April – St Vincent Ferrer’s Prayer of Petition, Grant Me, O My God

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Our Morning Offering – 5 April – St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419) Confessor, called the “Angel of the Apocalypse/The Last Judgement” and the “Mouthpiece of God”

Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419)

Good Jesus,
let me be penetrated with love
to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward Thee.
Let me burn with zeal for Thy honour,
so that I may deeply resent,
all the outrages committed against Thee,
especially those of which,
I myself have been guilty.
Grant further, O my God,
that I may humbly adore
and acknowledge Thee,
as my Creator and penetrated with gratitude
for all Thy benefits,
I may never cease to render Thee thanksgiving.
Grant that I may bless Thee in all things,
praise and glorify Thee,
with a heart full of joy and gladness
and obeying Thee with docility
in every respect, I may one day,
despite my ingratitude and unworthiness,
be seated at Thine table
together with Thine Holy Angels and Apostles,
to enjoy ineffable delights for all eternity!
Amen

Posted in franciscan OFM, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 5 April – Blessed Conrad of Saxony OFM (Died c1288) Franciscan Friar, Missionary Preacher Martyr

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Saint of the Day – 5 April – Blessed Conrad of Saxony OFM (Died c1288) Friar, Missionary Preacher Martyr of the Order of Friars Minor. Born in Saxony (in modern Germany) and died by being strangled to death c1288 in the regions of modern Kurdistan.

A Franciscan Missionary

The life and death of Conrad takes us to the time of the Crusades and the missionary ardour which animated the Franciscan Order. Conrad, driven by a deep desire to spread the Gospel, ventured into a distant and dangerous land, Hyrcania, located in modern Kurdistan.

The region of Hyrcania, although it had received th preaching of the Gospel since the first centuries of Christianity (4th-6th Century) had been partly influenced by the Eastern Schism and Muslim sympathies.

Conrad and his co-Franciscan Missiomary, Stephen, animated by a strong apostolic zeal, courageously dedicated themselves to preaching the Faith, facing the challenges of a complex religious and cultural atmosphere.

While they were going to the place where they usually held their sermons, the two Friars were attacked by a crowd of fanatics, who accused them of apostasy and condemned them to death. Their Martyrdom, by strangulation, occurred around 1288.

The Church has recognised these two Franciscans, Conrad and Stephen, as Blessed. Their liturgical memory is celebrated today, 5 April.

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, INCORRUPTIBLES, SAINT of the DAY

Saturday in the Fourth Week in Lent – FAST, First Saturday, Santuario Madonna della Divina Provvidenza / Our Lady of Divine Providence, Italy (1521), St Vincent Ferrer and the Saints for 5 April

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Saturday in the Fourth Week in Lent – FAST

First Saturday

Santuario Madonna della Divina Provvidenza / Our Lady of Divine Providence, Cussanio, Italy (1521) – 5 April:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/05/easter-monday-our-lady-of-divine-providence-cussanio-italy-1521-and-memorials-of-the-saints-5-april/

St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419) Confessor, called the “Angel of the Apocalypse/The Last Judgement” and the “Mouthpiece of God.”- Dominican Priest, Missionary, Master of Sacred Theology, Philosopher, Teacher, Preacher, Logician, Apostle of Charity.
Wonderful St Vincent!:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/saint-of-the-day-5-april-st-vincent-ferrer-o-p-1350-1419/

St Albert of Pietramontecorvino (c1031-1127) Bishop, a visionary and Miracle-worker.
Beloved St Albert:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/04/05/saint-of-the-day-5-april-st-albert-of-pietramontecorvino-c1031-1127-bishop/

Bl Antonius Fuster
St Becan
Bl Blasius of Auvergne

St Catherine of Palma OSA (1533–1574) Nun of the Order of the Canonesses of St Augustine, Mystic, gifted with the charism of prophecy, visions and ecstasy. She was Canonised on 22 June 1930 by Pope Pius XI. Her body is incorrupt.
Miraculous St Catherine:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/05/saint-of-the-day-5-april-saint-catherine-of-palma-osa-1533-1574/

St Claudius of Mesopotamia

Blessed Conrad of Saxony OFM (Died c1288) Missionary Preacher, Martyr

St Derferl Gadarn (c566-660) Welsh Prince, Solodier, Monk, Abbot, Missionary, Local legend holds, that he was a warrior of King Arthur.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/05/saint-of-the-day-5-april-saint-derferl-gadarn-c-566-660/

St Gerald of Sauve-Majeure (c1025-1095) Priest, Abbot, , Reformer, Founder of the great Monastery of Sauve-Majeure, also known as Grande-Sauve.
Holy St Gerald:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/04/05/saint-of-the-day-5-april-saint-gerald-of-sauve-majeure-osb-c1025-1095-priest-abbot/

St Irene of Thessalonica
St Maria Crescentia Hoss
St Pausilippus
Bl Peter Cerdan
St Theodore the Martyr

Martyrs of Lesbos: 5 Saints: Five young Christian women Martyred together for their faith. We don’t even know their names. island of Lesbos, Greece.

Martyrs of North-West Africa: Large group of Christians murdered while celebrating Easter Mass during the persecutions of Genseric, the Arian king of the Vandals. They were Martyred in 459 at Arbal (in modern Algeria).

Martyrs of Seleucia: 120 Saints :One-hundred and eleven (111) men and nine (9) women who, because they were Christians, were dragged to Seleucia and Martyred for refusing to worship the sun or fire or other pagan idols during the persecutions of King Shapur II. They were burned alive in 344 in Seleucia, Persia.