Day: May 12, 2025

Posted in MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, The IMITATION of MARY, Thomas a Kempis

Thought for the Day – 12 May – The Active Life

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 12 May – The 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

SERMON
The Virtues a Good Servant of Mary
Ought to Practice
and the Offices He Ought to Fulfil

I. The Latins have two words to designate the good actions
to be accomplished in life. The word “virtus” in order to designate an action made with effort and goodwill and, the word “officium” in order to characterise an action accomplished as a duty but, without attachment of the heart.
That which is required here of a good servant of Mary, are virtues, which is to say, meritorious acts, élan of the heart and not only works which, domestics themselves can fulfil. There are firstly, the interior virtues – humility, patience and purity.

II. Afterwards there are the exterior virtues or virtues of action – effort in work, elevation of the mind, union in mental prayer, zeal in vocal prayer.

III. These united virtues ought to animate all practices of
devotion, if we wish these practices become spiritual acts of meritorious virtue and not only material offices of remunerated work.
Thus Mary acted; thus we ourselves should act.

IV. The servant, therefore, asks of Mary, who is a mother and a model, to aid him in this work and to console him amid the difficulties of the work.

MEDITATION
The Active Life

Life is like fire – it only preserves itself, while communicating itself.
The ancients used to represent it by a flame and that is, indeed, the truth.
To live it is necessary to act. The active life supposes –will and effort.
Mary has known and practiced this life, as all the Saints have practiced it.
Life which passes selfishly by, disillusions and engenders boredom; “taedium vitae.”
Unfortunate is the soul who permits himself to live, without rising! He will have lived most, who will have acted most, through his heart, through his soul and through his body, through love, through the mind and through works.
Is there a more beautiful model than Mary, in the Temple, at Nazareth, on Calvary, with St. John?
Such a one has lived long, who has lived little, said a wise man. Let us live like Mary and with Mary.

Practice: Do not allow a single day to pass without having
made an effort in at least one small thing.

Thought: A lukewarm life is a dull one; live as Mary did.
“Look at Mary, contemplate and marvel!
Aspice Mariam, contemplare et mirare!”

Fr and Dr Célestin Albin de Cigala (1865-1928)
Faculty of Paris (1947)
Doctor of Theology and Philosophy

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the LIGHT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WATCHING, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Quote/s of the Day – 12 May – Chosen to believe!

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Quote/s of the Day – 12 May – Wisdom 5:1-5; John 4:46-53.

“And himself believed
and his whole house.”

John 4:53

“You did not choose Me
but I chose you…”

John 15:16

“That is amazing grace!
For what were we before Christ had chosen us
besides being wicked and lost?
What then has He chosen in those who are not good?
You cannot say, I am chosen because I believed.
For if you believed in Him,
you had already chosen Him.
Nor can you say, before I believed I did good works
and, therefore, was chosen.
For what good work is there
before faith when the Apostle says,
“Whatever is not of faith is sin?”
What is there for us to say, then
but that we were wicked and were chosen,
that by the grace of having been chosen,
we might become good?”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

“So that our minds might be free of these illusions,
the Word invites us to shake this deep sleep
from the eyes of our soul, so that we might not slip away
from the true realities, by becoming attached
to that which has no consistency.
That is why He suggests that we
be watchful when He says:
“Let your loins be girt about
and your lamps burning …” (Lk 12:35)
For when the light shines before our eyes,
it chases sleep away and, when
our loins are held tight by a belt,
they prevent the body from succumbing to it…
The person who has fastened on
the belt of temperance
lives in the light of a pure conscience;
the trust of a child illuminates his life like a lamp…
If we live in this way, we will enter
a life like that of the Angels!”

St Gregory of Nyssa (c335–c395)
Father of the Church
(Brother of St Basil the Great)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DOUBT, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on SIMPLICITY, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, SACRAMENTS, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

One Minute Reflection – 12 May – Faith is required of you and sincerity of life – not high intelligence, nor penetrating knowledge of the Mysteries of God.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 12 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – St Nereus & Companions, Martyrs – Wisdom 5:1-5 – John 4:46-53 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Unless you see signs and wonders, you believe not.” – John 4:48

REFLECTION – “Whoever examines the majesty of God will be crushed by His glory” (Prv 25:27). God can do works which surpass man’s understanding… Faith is required of you and sincerity of life – not high intelligence, nor penetrating knowledge of the mysteries of God. If you do not understand, nor grasp what is below you, how will you comprehend what is above you? Be subject to God, submit yourself to the faith and the light of knowledge will be given to you, as much as you need and can use.

Some have grave temptations concerning faith and sacraments, which are not to be imputed to them but rather, to the enemy. Take no notice, do not argue with your thoughts, nor answer the doubts with which the devil attacks you; believe God’s word, believe His saints and prophets and the wicked enemy will be routed. It is often most profitable to God’s servant, to endure such things. For the devil does not tempt the infidel or sinner, of whom he has already secure possession but, he uses various means, to tempt and harass the devout faithful.

Go on then with simple unquestioning faith and approach the Sacrament with reverent beseeching. Anything you cannot understand, commit it surely to God, Who is omnipotent. God does not deceive you – the over-confident person deceives himself. God walks in step with the simple ones, He shows Himself to the humble ones, He grants understanding to the little ones; “He reveals hidden meanings to little ones” and hides away His grace from the inquisitive and the proud. Human reason is feeble and fallible but true faith cannot be deceived. All use of reason, all human inquiry should walk in the footsteps of faith; it should not go on in front of it, nor call it in question.” – Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) (The Imitation of Christ IV, 18).

PRAYER – May the holy feast of Your Martyrs, Nereus, Achilles, Domitilla and Pancras, ever comfort us, we beseech You, O Lord and make us worthy to serve You.
And grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. 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.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 12 May – Hail, O Mary, Mother of God By St Cyril of Alexandria

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 12 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God
By St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Virgin and Mother!
Morning Star, perfect vessel.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Holy Temple in which God
Himself was conceived.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Chaste and pure dove.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
who enclosed the One
Who cannot be encompassed
in your sacred womb.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
From you flowed the true light,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you the Conqueror
and triumphant Vanquisher
of hell, came to us.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you, the glory
of the Resurrection blossoms.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
You have saved every faithful Christian.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 12 May – St Modoaldus (Died c640) Bishop

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 12 May – St Modoaldus (Died c640) Bishop of Trier, Germany. Brother of Saint Severa of Saint Gemma. Uncle of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, Saint Begga of Ardenne and Saint Modesta of Trier. Counselor to King Dagobert I of the Franks. Born in Aquitaine, France and died in c640 in Trier, Germany of natural causes. Patronage – of the Village of Reichsabtei. Also known as – Modoald, Modoaldo, Modowald, Modowandus, Modwald, Romoald, Romoaldus.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Trier, St Modoaldus, Bishop.”

Modoaldus was born in Aquitaine to an aristocratic family and spent much of his life in close contact with the Merovingian Kings, whose shortcomings, according to Saint Gregory of Tours, influenced Modoald’s career.

King Dagobert I, at whose ourt he lived, assigned him to the Episcopal Aee of Trier while still very young, but this did not prevent the young Bishop from reproaching the Sovereign for the immorality which characterised his and his Court’s lifestyle.

Only towards the end of his life, however, did the Sovereign repent and try to amend his ways. He, therefore, wanted Modoaldus as his spiritual advisor and generously donated to him, land and money for the foundation of new Monasteries.

However, not many details of the life of Saint Modoaldus are known. He took part in the Council of Rheims in 625 and Ordained the future Martyr, Saint Germanus of Munster-Granfelden to the Priesthood. St Germanus had been Modoaldus’ disciple.

He was also a friend of Saint Desiderius of Cahors. Modoaldus’ Episcopate probably lasted about twenty years, until his death in c640.

In 1107 St Modoaldus’ Relics were translated to Paderborn in Germany.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Notre-Dame-des-Vertus / Our Lady of Power, France (1336), St Nereus & Companions, Martyrs and the Saints for 12 May

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Notre-Dame-des-Vertus / Our Lady of Power, Aubervilliers, France (1336) – 12 May:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/12/notre-dame-des-vertus-our-lady-of-power-aubervilliers-france-1336-and-memorials-of-the-saints-12-may/

Sts Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla (virgin) and Pancras, Martyrs
St Achilleus of Terracina Martyr
AND;
St Nereus of Terracina Martyr
About:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/12/saints-of-the-day-12-may-sts-nereus-and-achilleus/
Together with St Flavia Domitilla, their mistress and fellow hermit, were Martyred for Christ:
St Flavia here:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/07/saint-of-the-day-7-may-saint-flavia-domitilla-of-terracina-1st-century-virgin-and-martyr/
AND:
St Pancras of Rome (c 289 – c 303) Martyr Child of 14, Roman Convert
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/05/12/saint-of-the-day-st-pancras/

St Crispoldus
St Cyril of Galatz
St Dedë Malaj
St Diomma of Kildimo
St Dionysius of Asia

St Domingo de la Calzada / Dominic of the Causeway ((1019 – 1109) Priest, Hermit, Bridge Builder, a road, a Hospital/Hostel, a Church, in effect a town, Miracle-worker.
Another Patron against Eye Diseases:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/12/saint-of-the-day-12-may-st-domingo-de-la-calzada-dominic-of-the-causeway-1019-1109/

St Ejëll Deda
St Ephrem of Jerusalem

St Epiphanius (c315 – 403) Bishop of Salamis (Cyprus) known as the Oracle of Palestine, Church Father, Theologian, Confessor, Writer, Defender of the Faith, Monk and Ascetic.
His story:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/05/12/saint-of-the-day-saint-epiphanius-c-315-403-the-oracle-of-palestine/

St Erc Nasca of Tullylish
St Ethelhard of Canterbury
St Euphrosyna of Terracina
Bl Francis Patrizzi of Siena
Bl Gemma of Goriano

St Germanus of Constantinople (c640-733) Bishop of Constantinople from 715 to 730, Defender of the Doctrine of the Church both against Monothelitism and Iconoclasm, Poet, Hymnist, Spiritual writer, some of his works being used and quoted very often today. 
St Germanus’ Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/12/saint-of-the-day-12-may-saint-germanus-of-constantinople-c-640-733/

Blessed Joanna of Portugal OP (1452-1490) Religious of the Second Order of St Dominic, Virgin, Princess of Portugal of the House of Aviz, daughter of King Afonso V of Portugal and his first wife Isabella of Coimbra, Penitent.
About Blessed Joanna whom the Portuguese called “Saint Princess Joanna”:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/12/saint-of-the-day-12-may-blessed-joanna-of-portugal-1452-1490/

Bl Juan de Segalars
St Lucien Gala

St Modoaldus (Died c640) Bishop of Trier
St Palladius of Rome
St Philip of Agira
St Richrudis of Marchiennes
St Theodora of Terracina
St Thomas Khampheuane Inthirath

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