Thought for the Day – 6 May – Extracts fromThe Imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
Extracts from The Imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) Imprimatur 17 February 1947
SOLILOQUIES OF THE SOUL
—Thomas à Kempis
Read, O my son, or rather, chant while reading, These sweet versicles in honour of Mary. Take them as a viaticum for the soul; Take them as one does a staff for a journey. Read often and re-read with devotion while praying. May Jesus and Mary be for you, in life, At all times, in every place, your sole company, For fear that you may wander alone or unguided, Shedding without, the perfumes from within. You will find here a treatise on Mary, brief, But a treatise full of sweetness for meditation. And a treatise full of strength, to protect you well. Meditate on it often and often, pray too, Saying with a full heart: Hail, Mary!
Quote/s of the Day – 6 May – The Feast of St John Before the Latin Gate – Wisdom 5:1-5, Matthew 20:20-23
“Can you Drink the Chalice which I Shall Drink?”
Matthew 20:22
“And you shall be hated by all men, for My Name’s sake. But, not a hair of your head shall perish.”
Luke 21:17-18
“That is why all the faithful who love God and their neighbour, truly drink the Cup of the Lord’s Love, even though, they may not drink the cup of His Bodily Suffering. And becoming inebriated from it, they put to death, whatever in their nature is rooted in earth. They clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not indulge fleshly desires. They do not fix their gaze on visible things but contemplate things, which the eye cannot see. Thus they drink the Lord’s Cup by preserving the holy bond of love – without it, even if a man should deliver his body to be burned, he gains nothing. But the gift of love enables us to become, in reality, what we celebrate as Mystery in the Sacrifice.”
St Fulgentius of Ruspe (c462–533) Bishop, Father
“What is not pleasing to God, is anxiety and disquiet of mind. The Lord wants our limitations and weaknesses, to find their support in His Strength; He wants us to hope that His Goodness will complete and perfect the imperfectness of our means.”
St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Priest, Founder of the Society of Jesus
One Minute Reflection – 6 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Tthe Feast of St John Before the Latin Gate – Wisdom 5:1-5 – Matthew 20:20-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?” – Matthew 20:22
REFLECTION – “Through their mother’s mediation, the sons of Zebedee press Christ as follows in the presence of their fellow Apostles: “Command that we may sit, one at your right side and one at your left” (cf. Mk 10:35f.)… Christ hastens to free them from their illusions, telling them they must be prepared to suffer insults, persecutions, even death. “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I shall drink?”
Let no-one be surprised to see the Apostles displaying such imperfect dispositions. Wait until the Mystery of the Cross has been fulfilled and the strength of the Holy Spirit given to them. If you want to see the strength of their souls, take a look at them later and you will see them to be above all human weakness. Christ does not conceal their pettiness, so that you will be able to see what they become later by the power of the grace which will transform them! …”… St John Chrysostom (c 345-407) Father & Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – O God, Who sees that sins and sufferings do, on every side rise up to trouble us, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may find a shield in times of need, through the glorious intercession of Thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist beloved Saint John. 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).
Our Morning Offering – 6 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
The Memorare By St Bernard (1090-1153) Father and Mellifluous Doctor
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen
Saint of the Day – 6 May – St Edbert (Died 698) Bishop of Lindisfarne Island, Monk at the Monastery there, succeeding St Cuthbert in 688, a renowned Scriptural Scholar, he administered the See of Lindisfarne Island for 10 years and became too, a man remembered for his great virtue and especially for his wonderful charity to the poor, needy and ill. Born in the 7th Century in England and died on 6 May 698 of natural causes at Lindisfarne which is situate along the northeast coast of England, close to the border with Scotland. Also known as – … of Lindisfarne, Eadbert, Eadbeorht, Eadberht, Edberto.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In England, St Eadbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, eminent for doctrine and piety.”
After having been a Monk at Lindisfarne, Edbert succeeded Bishop St Cuthbert. The Venerable St Bede calls him “magnarum virtutum vir et in Scripturis notabilità eruditus – A man of great virtues and remarkably learned in the Scriptures.”
He also distinguished himself for the generous alms he gave to the poor, to whom, every year, he distributed a part of the tithe of everything, money and produce.
On 20 March 698, after having asked his consent and approval, some Monks lifted the body of St Cuthbert from the ground which, being found intact, was placed in an urn and exposed to the veneration of the faithful. He is, therefore, as having founded the Holy Shrine of his predecessor, Saint Cuthbert on the Island of Lindisfarne, a place which was to become a centre of great pilgrimage in later years.
Edbert used to spend Lent and an Advent of forty days away from his See and the Monastery, in a solitary place surrounded on all sides by water “ and in great devotion of fasting, prayer and tears.”
The Church of Lindisfarne had been built by St Finau with oak wood and reeds; Edbert replaced the pipes with lead sheets, making the building more durable, solid and beautiful.
He died on 6 May 698, exhausted by a long illness, as he had asked the Lord and his body was placed in an coffin above the Tomb of Saint Cuthbert.
Egbert was graced by the granting of many miracles to those who prayed at his tomb after his death
Feast of St John the Apostle and Evangelist before the Latin Gate: The Roman Martyrology states of this Feast today: At Rome, the feast of St John before the Latin Gate. Being bound and brought to Rome from Ephesus by the order of Domitian, he was condemned by the Senate to be cast, near the said gate, into a vessel of boiling oil, from which he came out more healthy nd vigorous than before! About this wondrous Miracle: https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/06/saint-of-the-day-6-may-st-john-the-evangelist-before-the-latin-gate/
LeBrun, Martyrdom of St John Evangelist at Porta Latina 1641f.jpg
Blessed Bartolomeo Pucci-Franceschi OFM (Died 1330) Priest of the Friars Minor after having been a husband and father of 4. Confessor, Mystic and Miracle-worker. The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In Montepulciano in Tuscany, blessed Bartolomeo Pucci-Franceschi, Priest of the Order of Minors, who, having left his wife, children and all his possessions for the love of God, became Christ’s poor man.” His Life of Devotion to God: https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/06/saint-of-the-day-6-may-blessed-bartolomeo-pucci-franceschi-ofm-died-1330/
St Benedicta of Rome St Colman Mac Ui Cluasigh of Cork St Colman of Loch Eichin St Dominic Savio St Edbert (Died 698) Bishop of Lindisfarne Bl Edward Jones St Evodius of Antioch
St Heliodorus Bl Henryk Kaczorowski St James of Numidia St Justus of Vienne Bl Kazimierz Gostynski St Lucius of Cyrene
St Marianus of Lambesa Bl Peter de Tornamira St Petronax of Monte Cassino St Protogenes of Syria Bl Prudence Castori St Theodotus of Kyrenia St Venerius of Milan St Venustus of Africa St Venustus of Milan Bl William Tandi
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