Thought for the Day – 6 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
THE CRUCIFIX
“Let us weep for our sins and increase in love for our Divine Redeemer. When we are oppressed by the weight of our own cross, we shall look at the Crucifix and find comfort. When we are tempted, we shall grasp the Crucifix and turn away with horror from thoughts of sin and ingratitude.
The Crucifix will teach us, as it taught the Saints, the lesson of charity towards God and towards our neighbour. It will teach us to hate sin and to love virtue. If we cherish it during life, it will be our consolation to kiss the Crucifix at the moment of death.”
Quote/s of the Day – 6 April – Passion Sunday – Hebrews 9:11-15, John 8:46-59 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Amen, amen, I say to you, if anyone keep My word, he will never see death.”
John 8:51
“Your purity of life, your devotion, deserve and call for a reward because you are acceptable and pleasing to God. Your purity of life must be made purer still, by frequent buffetings, until you attain perfect sincerity of heart. If, from time to time, you feel the sword falling upon you with double or treble force, this also should be seen as sheer joy and the mark of love!”
St Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275)
“We must live a dying life and we must die a living death in the life of our Lord.” (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, XV, 6 )
“Unhappy is death, without the love of Christ; unhappy is love, without the Death of Christ!”
(Treatise on the Love of God, Book 12, Chapter 13)
“We are dying, little by little; so, we are to make our imperfections die with us, day by day. ”
(Letters to Persons in the World I:5)
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“Consider the shortness of time, the length of eternity and reflect, how everything here below comes to an end and passes by. Of what use is it then, to lean upon that which cannot give support?”
Lenten Meditations – 6 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)
Passion Sunday – The Fifth Sunday in Lent Jesus on the Way to Calvary
Read St Matthew xxvii:31
[31] And after they had mocked Him, they took the cloak off Him and gave His own garments and led Him away to crucify Him. [Matthew 27:31]
+1. It was not really Pilate who condemned Jesus to death, says St Bernard, it was His love for us. He had been longing all His life through for that moment when He was to carry out His Father’s Will and redeem the world by dying for us. He knew that the divine mandate meant that without the shedding of blood, there would be no remission of sin. Pilate’s voice, sentencing Him to death, was but the expression of His own love for sinners and of His joyful acceptance of the Cross for their sake. O Jesus, may I love Thee in return, for such love for me!
+2. The Cross has been prepared beforehand and, as soon as the sentence has been passed, they bring it forward to be laid upon the shoulders of their Victim. Jesus takes the Cross and kisses the instrument of His Agony, as a welcome friend. He did this, not merely because He loved us and, therefore, loved the Cross but, to teach us to love our crosses, to accept them as gifts from God to be welcomed, not to be feared and rejected, or regarded with aversior and dislike. How can we dislike them when they make us like unto Jesus and must be borne after Him, if we are ever to share His joy in Heaven?
+3. On Jesus’ Shoulder, there was already, a large, open wound, scarcely covered by the garments thrown upon Him. The weight of the Cross rested on this wound, causing Him the most excruciating agony. It was by this agony, He was earning patience for us, under our bodily sufferings. However severe, they are nothing compared, to that which, the Son of God endured on His Road to Calvary. Jesus, I implore, grant me patience in my sufferings!
One Minute Reflection – 6 April – Passion Sunday – Hebrews 9:11-15 – John 8:46-59 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, he saw it and was glad.” – John 8:56
REFLECTION – “Since Abraham was a Prophet he saw the day of the Lord’s coming in the Spirit, as also the designs of His Passion, through which, both he and all those like him, who believed in God, would be saved. And he was seized with great joy. Thus, the Lord was not unknown to Abraham, since he longed to see His day… He longed to see His day, so that he, too, might clasp Christ to himself and having seen Him, prophetically in the Spirit, he rejoiced.
That is why Simeon, who was of his descendants, fulfilled the Patriarch’s joy and said: “Now, Master, Thou may let Thy servant go in peace, according to Thy Word, for my eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou prepared in sight of all peoples”… And Elizabeth said : “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” Abraham’s rejoicing descended, as it were, on those who were watching and who saw Christ and believed in Him. And this rejoicing returned to Abraham through his children.
So it was altogether fitting that our Lord bore witness to him when He said: “Your father, Abraham rejoiced to see My day,. he saw it and was glad.” Nor was it only with regard to Abraham that He said this but of all those who, from the beginning, had come to know God and prophesied of Christ’s coming. For they had received this revelation from the Son Himself that Son, Who, in these, the last days, became visible and palpable and talked with men, so that He might raise up sons from Abraham out of stones and make his posterity to be like the stars of the heaven.” – St Irenaeus (c130-c202) Martyr, Father of the Church, Bishop of Lyons, Theologian (Against the heresies IV, 5-7).
PRAYER – Look graciously upon Thy household, Almighty God, we beseech Thee that by Thy grace, we may be governed in body and by Thy protection, safeguarded in mind. 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).
Hail, Sweet Jesus! Prayer to Christ in His Passion and Death By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
Hail, sweet Jesus! Praise, honour and glory be to Thee, O Christ, Who, of Thou own accord, embraced death, and recommending Thyself to Thy heavenly Father, bowing down Thy venerable Head, did yield up Thy Spirit. Truly thus giving up Thy life for Thy sheep, Thou hast shown Thyself, to be the Good Shepherd. Thou died, O Only-begotten Son of God. Thou died, O my beloved Saviour, that I might live forever. O how great hope, how great confidence have I reposed in Thy Death and Thy Blood! I glorify and praise Thy Holy Name, acknowledging my infinite obligations to Thee. O good Jesus, by Thy bitter Death and Passion, give me grace and pardon. Give unto the faithful departed, rest and life everlasting. Amen.
Saint of the Day – 6 April – Saint Vinebaud (Died c623) Priest, Abbot, Confessor, Hermit, Miracle-worker. Born in Nogent-sur-Seine, towards the middle of the 6th Century and died in c623 at his Monastery of Saint-Loup in Troyes. Also known as Vinebaudo, Winebaud.
Unknown Abbot
Born into a noble family, after his studies, Vinebaud decided to become a Priest to Consecrate himself to the Lord.
Having become a Hermit, very austere with himself, he spent the night in prayer as the reliable life that has come down to us states: “in prayer and fasting and singing of psalms and watchings.” It is thought that the place of his hermitage was near the oratory of Saint-Pierre de Bossenay, near Nogent-sur-Seine.
Gifted with the ability to perform miracles, his fame reached the Bishop of Troyes, who asked him to cure one of his Lectors. Once the miracle was performed, the miracle recipient remained with Saint Vinebald and together, they entered the Monastery of Saint-Loup in Troyes.
Upon the death of Abbot Auderic, Vinebaud was elected to succeed him. Even in the position of Abbot, he continued his austere and ascetic life.
Vinebald went to the Court of Kind Clotaire II to plead the cause of St Lupus, the Bishop of Sens, who had been exiled because of some slanders. Vinebaud pleaded that he might be returned to his Diocese. The King granted his plea, allowing St Lupus, the Bishop return to his post. All the prisoners were also released, and Vinebaud, himself took care of them.
It is said that he died on 6 April which occurred in the years 620-623. He was buried in the Abbey of Saint Lupus. In 891, for fear of the Normans, his body and that of Saint Lupus were hidden and transported to a safe place.
In the mid-13th Century, those Relics were able to return to their original location in Saint Lupus. Subsequently, in 1443, in 1609 and in 1718, several translations of his Relics were made.
Saint Vinebaud is the Patron Saint of the parishes of Bernon, Magnicourt and Maison-les-Soulaines in the Diocese of Troyes and of many Churches in the Diocese of Langres. In the Saint-Vinebaud Church in Avrecourt (Val-de-Meuse) there are murals depicting the life of Saint-Vinebaud, presented as the illuminations of a manuscript.
St Agrarius the Martyr St Amand of Grisalba St Berthanc of Kirkwall St Brychan of Brycheiniog
Blessed Catharine of Pallanza (c1437-1478) Virgin, Hermit, Ascetic, Mystic, Prioress, Spiritual Advisor graced with the charism of prophecy. Born in c1437 in Pallanza, Italy as Catarina Morigi and died on 6 April 1478 at Sacra Monte sopra Varese Monastery, Varese, Italy of natural causes aged 51 years. Her Holy Life: https://anastpaul.com/2024/04/06/saint-of-the-day-6-april-blessed-catherine-of-pallanza-c1437-1478-virgin/
St Celsus (1080-1129) Bisho, Reformer. He was responsible for the change from lay control of the Church in Ireland, to a Clerical-Episcopal model. Himself a hereditary lay administrator, he decided to seek Priestly Ordination and be embraced celibacy in order that the reform introduced by Pope St Gregory VIII on the Continent, could take effect also in Ireland. The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In Irelandy, the holy Bishop, Celsus, who preceded blessed Malachy in the Episcopate.” His Feastday is 6 April but it was moved in 1969 to 1 April: Holy St Celsus: https://anastpaul.com/2023/04/01/saint-of-the-day-1-april-saint-celsus-of-armagh-c1080-1129-archbishop/
St Diogenes of Philippi St Elstan of Abingdon St Galla of Rome St Gennard St Irenaeus of Sirmium St Marcellinus the Martyr
Martyrs of Sirmium : 7 Saints: A group of fourth century Martyrs at Sirmium, Pannonia (modern Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). We know little more than seven of their names – Florentius, Geminianus, Moderata, Romana, Rufina, Saturus and Secundus.
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