Day: April 14, 2025

Posted in "Follow Me", CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on JOY, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, REDEMPTIVE Suffering, The REDEMPTION

Thought for the Day – 14 April – The Sufferings of Charity

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 14 April – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

The Sufferings of Charity
“Charity beareth all things”

If anyone deserves to be exempt from suffering, it is someone who is full of the spirit of charity.
Suffering is indeed necessary to expiate sin, to humble our pride and to show us our own misery. Why should the charitable have to bear all kinds of trials simply because of their charity? Yet so it seems. Generally, the law seems to be – the more charity, the more suffering. Perhaps this is why I have comparatively little to suffer?

Yet, after all, it is reasonable that the charitable should suffer when we remember that the Lord and model of all charity, suffered all things simply because of His charity. What else caused His Agony in the Garden, His cruel Scourging at the Pillar, and His dereliction on the Cross? It was all the result of His Divine Charity.
We, therefore, if we are to follow in His steps, must expect to encounter the same results as a reward for any charity if it resembles His, however remotely. If we are wise, we shall rejoice in any sign that we are to be honoured by sharing our Master’s lot!

These sufferings are a source of joy to all who suffer for Jesus’ Sake.
He rejoiced to run the course of His Passion because of His longing to see those He loved delivered from bondage. For the joy which was set before Him, He endured the Cross. Thus, charity rejoices to suffer because charity knows those sufferings will obtain for it, in Heaven, the eternal joy of seeing others brought to God by its offering to Him, of all that it holds dear.
Even if I have heavy trials, can I flatter myself that my trials are a sign of a high degree of supernatural charity?

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FREEDOM, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on Will (Sensual or Inferior), SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 14 April – St Justin Martyr

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 14 April – St Justin Martyr (c100-165) Martyr, Layman, Father of the Church, first Christian Philosopher, Apologist, Orator, Teacher, Writer, Missionary.

“To yield and give way,
to our passions,
is the lowest slavery, even as
to rule over them,
is the only liberty.”

“And hence, all men everywhere,
whether bond or free, who believe in Christ
and recognise the Truth in His Own Words
and those of His Prophets,
know they shall be with Him in that land
and inherit everlasting and incorruptible good.”

“The devil is the author of all war.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/04/14/quote-s-of-the-day-14-april-st-justin-martyr/

St Justin Martyr (c100-165)
Father of the Church

Posted in HOLY WEEK, LENT- 2025, OUR Cross, QUOTES on DESPAIR, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The SACRED PASSION - Meditations for LENT

Lenten Meditations – 14 April – The Dereliction of Jesus on the Cross

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Lenten Meditations – 14 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)

Monday in Holy Week
The Dereliction of Jesus on the Cross

Read St Mark xv:33-36

[33] And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour. [34] And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud Voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? [35] And some of the standers by hearing, said: Behold He calleth Elias. [36] And one running and filling a sponge with vinegar and putting it upon a reed, gave Him to drink, saying: Stay, let us see if Elias come to take Mim down. [Mark 15:33-36]

+1. Our Lord had for a long time been silent. A thick darkness had gathered; most of the spectators had departed in fear. The mocking Pharisees had been awed to silence. Few were left save the soldiers, St John and a faithful group of holy women.
All of a sudden. a piercing cry from the Divine Sufferer breaks the silence:
“My God , My God , why hast Thou forsaken Me ?”
These words were an expression of the thick darkness which Our Lord had permitted to gather around His human soul and to hide from Him, as it were, the face of His Eternal Father.
This desolation was, by far, the greatest of all the unspeakable sufferings of the Son of God.

+2. What was its cause?
Nothing else but sin.
He was made sin for us and having thus identified Himself with the sins of men, as far as was possible for the sinless Lamb of God, He allowed Himself to experience, to the utmost degree which He could, the awful misery which is the consequence of sin – the black, dark hopelessness (if the word is a lawful one) which results to the sinner whom God forsakes! This consequence of sin, Jesus took upon Himself to save men from the eternal remorse and despair which otherwise would have been their lot.

+3. This cry of Jesus is a model prayer for us in times of darkness and desolation.
We sometimes feel as if God has forsaken us and cry out in our misery and deep distress.
We are always safe in echoing Jesus’ words and He, Who hears us use them, will remember His own dereliction and help us in ours.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the POOR, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

One Minute Reflection – 14 April – ‘ … You do not look at Him even when He faints with hunger …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 14 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – St Justin Martyr (c100-165) – Monday in Holy Week – Isaias 50:5-10 – John 12:1-9 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“For the poor you have always with you but Me, you have not always.” – John 12:8

REFLECTION – “The Father did not spare Him for your sake and this, even though He was indeed His Son (Rom 8:32). And yet, you do not look at Him even when He faints with hunger and this too, when you have only to spend for your own food, which is His own! What could be worse than such a breach of law as this?! He was given up for you, slain for you; He lives in hunger for you. You have only to give that which belongs to Him and you, yourself, will get the gain and stil, you do not give! What sort of stone is there in place of your heart, besides which these people are not more senseless and who, in spite of such great inducements, continue in this devilish hard-heartedness?

For He was not even satisfied with death and the Cross alone but also, assumed poverty, becoming a stranger and a beggar, naked and cast into prison, undergoing sickness (Mt 25:36) that so, at least, He might call upon you. If you wilt not requite Me, He says, as one Who suffered for your sake, show mercy upon Me for My poverty. And if you are not minded to pity Me for My poverty, at least be moved by My diseases, be softened by My imprisonment . And if, even these do not make you charitable, then for the easiness of the request, comply with Me. For it is no costly gift I ask but bread and lodging and words of comfort … Then I was bound for you, indeed I am so still, so that whether moved on grounds of the former or stirred by the latter, you might be minded to show Me some pity. I fasted for your sake and now, hunger for you; I thirsted when hanging on the Cross and now thirst in the poor, that just as by the former, so also by the latter I may draw you to Myself and make you charitable for your own salvation!..

Indeed, He says: “Whoever welcomes a child such as this, for My Sake, welcomes Me” (Mk 9:37) … For I am able indeed, to crown you even without all these things and yet, I would prefer to be your debtor, so that the crown may make you feel secure. That is why, although I am able to support Myself, yet, I come begging and stand at your door and stretch out My Hand, since My wish is to be supported by you. For I love you exceedingly and desire to eat at your table!” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father & Doctor of the Church (Sermon 15 on the Letter to the Romans).

PRAYER – O God, Who through the preaching of the Cross,which is to them who perish, foolishness, didst wonderfully teach, unto thy blessed Martyr Justin, the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus Our Lord, grant unto us we beseech Thee, at his prayer,s the grace to cast off all false teaching and ever to hold fast to the Faith. 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 BREVIARY Prayers, GOOD FRIDAY, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 14 April – Sing, My Tongue, The Saviour’s Glory By St Venantius Fortunatus

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 14 April – Monday in Holy Week

Sing, My Tongue, The Saviour’s Glory
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609)
Bishop, Father o the Church
Trans. Fr Edward Caswell CO (1814-1878)

Sing, my tongue, the Saviour’s glory;
Tell His triumph far and wide;
Tell aloud the famous story
Of His Body Crucified;
How upon the Cross a Victim,
Vanquishing in death, He Died.

Thus did Christ to perfect manhood
In our mortal flesh attain:
Then of His free choice He goeth
To a death of bitter pain;
And as a Lamb, upon the altar
Of the Cross, for us is slain.

Lo, with gall His thirst He quenches!
See the thorns upon His Brow!
Nails His tender Flesh are rending!
See, His Side is open’d now!
Whence, to cleanse the whole creation,
Streams of Blood and Water flow.

Faithful Cross, O Tree all beauteous!
Tree all peerless and Divine!
Not a grove on earth can shew us
Such a flower and leaf as thine.
Sweet the nails and sweet the wood,
Laden with so sweet a load!

Lofty Tree, bend down thy branches,
To embrace thy Sacred load;
Oh, relax the native tension
Of that all too rigid wood;
Gently, gently bear the Members
Of thy dying King and God.

Tree, which solely wast found worthy
The world’s great Victim to sustain;
Harbour from the raging tempest!
Ark, which sav’d the world again!
Tree, with sacred Blood anointed
Of the Lamb for sinners slain.

Blessing, honour everlasting,
To the immortal Deity;
To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Equal praises ever be:
Glory through the earth and Heaven
To Trinity in Unity.

This Hymn is used for Passiontide and on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14 Sept) in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Breviary.
This is the original text of this hymn as it appears in the Lyra Catholica (1849).
Part I is used for Matins and Part II is used for Lauds.
Tune (Church Hymns): “St Lawrence”

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 14 April – St Frontone (2nd or 4th Century) Abbot

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 14 April – St Frontone (2nd or 4th Century) Abbot, Desert Hermit, Miracle-worker. Also known as – Fronto, Frontonio, Frontomi.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Alexandria, St Fronto(ne), an Abbot, whose life was adorned with sanctity and mirales.”

The life of this Saint, probably composed in Latin around the middle of the 7th Century, exists in two versions today, somewhat different in content but both are historically uncertain. However, some aspects are definitely worthy of note.

Frontone retired to a monastic and ascetic life near his hometown (the narrative does not name it but tradition believes it was Alexandria) then, eager to experience the life of a Hermit, he withdrew to a desert region, with some disciples.

Hunger soon became a problem, arousing lively murmurings among the Hermits. Providence, however, moved a rich gentleman to send food on seventy camels which miraculously found Frontone’s community. After finishing his prayer, he used only part of the food, the rest was reloaded onto the camels backs which miraculously returned safely home.

This is the most notable episode; for the rest, the biography is woven with pious exhortations and exaltations of the virtues of the holy Abbot. In the text however, there is a very precise chronological statement:
“These things were done under the Emperor Antoninus, in the thirteenth year of his reign.” (Antoninus died in 161)

Frontone would, therefore, have been a predecessor of the more famous St Anthony Abbot (251-356) in the institution of the eremeticl life.

The oldest text which recalls his name is Latin and he is recorded in the Martyrology of St Jerome on 14 April. How this Saint had a development of cult and legend in the West is not known but references to him were probably passed orally and were put into writing and expanded according to the traditional schemes of contemporary hagiography.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Monday in HOLY WEEK, Santa Maria de Cs,stomp / Our Lady of Guam (1825), St Justin Martyr, St Tiburtius and Companions and the Saints for 14 Apri

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Monday in HOLY WEEK

Santa Maria de Camarino / Our Lady of Guam, Mariana Islands (1825), Patron of Guam – 14 April:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/14/santa-maria-de-camarino-our-lady-of-guam-mariana-islands-1825-and-memorials-of-the-saints-14-april/

St Justin Martyr (c 100-165) Martyr, Layman, first Christian Philosopher, Apologist, Orator, Teacher, Writer, Missionary
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/01/saint-of-the-day-1-june-st-justin/

St Tiburtius of Rome (Died 3rd Century) Martyr, Layman
St Maximus of Rome (Died 3rd Century) Martyr, Layman
St Valerian of Trastevere (c177-c229) Martyr, Layman, brother of St Tiburtiusabove and husband of St Cecilia (Martyrs).
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Rome, on the Appian Way, the birthday of the Holy Martyrs, Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus, who suffered in the time of the Emperor, Alexander and the Prefect, Almachius. The first two being converted to Christ by the exhortations of the blessed Cecilia and Baptised by Pope St Urban, were beated with rods and decapitated for the True Faith. But Maximus, the Chamberlain of the Prefect, moved by their constancy and encouraged by the vision of an Angel, believed in Christ and was scourged with leaded whips until he expired.”
Their Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/04/14/saints-of-the-day-14-april-st-tiburtius-st-valerian-and-st-maximus-died-3rd-century-martyr-layman/

St Abundius the Sacristan (Died c564) Confessor, Layman, Sacristan of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Pope St Gregory I, the Great wrote of his life, which was filled with many graces.
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/04/14/saint-of-the-day-14-april-st-abundius-the-sacristan-died-c564-confessor-sacristan/

St Ardalion the Actor

St Benezet the Bridge Builder (c 1163-1184) Shepherd, Mystic, miracle-worker, Founder of the Fratres Pontifices – the Bridge-Building Brotherhood. His body is incorrupt.
Wonderful St Benezet:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/14/saint-of-the-day-14-april-st-benezet-the-bridge-builder-c-1163-1184/

St Bernard of Tiron (1046-1117) Monk, Abbot, Founder of the the Tiron Abbey and the Tironensian Order. St Bernard had a deep devotion to the Passion of Christ, teaching and instruction his disciples in the love of the Holy Cross.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “In the Monastery of Tiron near Chartres in France, Saint Bernard, Abbot, who on several occasions gave himself up to a hermit life in the woods and on the Island of Chausey but also dedicated himself to instructing and guiding the disciples, who in great numbers, flocked to him.”
St Bernard’s Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/14/saint-of-the-day-14-april-st-bernard-of-tiron-c-1046-1117/

St Domnina of Terni
St Frontone (2nd or 4th Century) Abbot
Bl Hadewych O.Praem. (c1150-c1200) Nun

St John of Montemarano OSB (Died 1095) the First Bishop of Montenarano, Italy in 1074, Benedictine Monk, Miracle-worker. He was Canonised in 1906 by Pope Pius X.
His Life of Love:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/14/saint-of-the-day-14-april-saint-john-of-montemarano-osb-died-1095/

St Lambert of Lyon Bishop and Confessor

St Lydwina of Schiedam (1380-1433) Virgin, Mystic, Ascetic, Apostle of the Holy Eucharist and of Penance and Prayer,
Lovely St Lydwina:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/04/14/saint-of-the-day-14

St Peter Gonzalez OP (1190 – 1246) Castilian Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, Confessor. He was Canonised on 13 December 1741 by Pope Benedict XIV.
About St Peter:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/saint-of-the-day-14-april-blessed-peter-gonzalez-o-p/

St Tassach of Raholp
St Thomaides of Alexandria