Posted in MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, The IMITATION of CHRIST, Thomas a Kempis

Thought for the Day – 22 May – The Splendour of the Race, in Mary

Thought for the Day – 22 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 (VIII)
The Splendour of the Race, in Mary

I. Perfect beauty bears a new name; it is “splendour.” Splendour is itself a virtue.
All virtue has, in effect, an active side and a passive side.
It produces works which we sec and, it is produced by causes which we do not see.
In Mary, the splendour and the illustriousness of her race ,operate these marvels which cause love and admiration to be born which, entice hearts and elevate souls.
Let us be drawn to Mary;
Trahimur ad te, we are drawn to thee – chants the Liturgy.

II. This splendour in Mary arises from her race and her descent. She is the heir of a royal line which reaches back to Joachim, to Solomon, to David, to Jesse, to Abraham, to Adam.
Flowered stem, blessed branch which was to bear the Divine Fruit of the Eucharist – Caro Christi, caro Mariae, said St Augustine.

III. Also, let us ask Mary, with the pious Author of the Imitation, for the hope which is a source of consolation, awaiting the realisation of Love in Heaven, where we shall see our Mother and our Queen in all her splendour.

MEDITATION
Feminine Beauty

Beauty is not only a brilliance, it is also a harmony of the proportions which constitutes perfection.
The man who would possess this harmony, would be the perfect man.
But there is in the beauty of a woman, a more luminous and a more delicate grace which constitutes charm.
Let her be queen or shepherdess, a great lady or a simple worker, a woman can always refine herself more than a man and arrive, at this harmonious beauty of gestures, if not of forms which will make her particular charm.
Do not doubt that this be a virtue instead of coquetry, if it is used in the service of the good and in the perfection of the soul.
All which requires effort and an effort is always an act of virtue.
Be careful then, as St Francis de Sales said, of your appearance and cultivate your heart, so that the fire which leaps forth from this heart, illumines your face with heavenly splendour equal to that of our Divine Mother Mary, the most beautiful of all women.

Practice:
To make an effort everyday, to be gracious to everyone.

Thought:
You are all beautiful, O Mary:
Tota pulchra es Maria!

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

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, PATRONAGE - IMPOSSIBLE CAUSES, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

Prayers to the Patrons Of Difficult and Impossible Causes.

Quote/s of the Day – 22 May – St Rita of Cascia (1386-1457) Widow, Stigmatist – Patron of Impossible Causes

A Prayer to St Rita
When in Special Need

O powerful St Rita,
rightly called Saint of the Impossible,
I come to you with confidence in my great need.
You know well my trials,
for you yourself were many times burdened in this life.
Come to my aid, speak for me,
pray with me, intercede on my behalf
before the Father.
I know that God has a most generous heart
and that He is a most loving Father.
Join your prayers to mine
and obtain for me the grace I desire
……………… (here mention your request).
You who were so very pleasing to God on earth
and are so much now in Heaven,
I promise to use this favour, when granted,
to better my life, to proclaim God’s Mercy
and to make you more widely known and loved.
Amen

Memorare to Our Lady
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

By the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC)
Patronag: Of Difficult and Impossible Causes.

Remember, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
what ineffable power thy Divine Son
hath given thee over His own adorable Heart.
Full of trust in thy merits,
we come before thee and beg thy protection.
O heavenly Treasurer of the Heart of Jesus
that Heart which is the inexhaustible source of all graces
which thou mayest open to us at thy good pleasure,
in order that, from it may flow forth upon mankind
the riches of love and mercy, light and salvation
which are contained therein;
grant unto us, we beseech thee, the favours which we seek.
We can never, never be refused by thee
and since thou art our Mother,
O our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
graciously hear our prayers and grant our request.
Amen

Prayer to Sts Simon and Jude
From the Liturgical Year, 1903

Great evils surround us!
is there any hope left to the world?
The confidence of thy devout clients
proclaims thee, O Jude,
the Patron of desperate cases
and for thee, O Simon,
this is surely the time
to prove thyself Zelotes, full of zeal.
Deign, thou both,
to hear the Church’s prayers
and aid her, with all thy Apostolic might,
to re-animate faith,
to rekindle charity
and to save the world!
Amen

Prayer to St Jude
Patron of Impossible Causes

It is a beautiful tradition,
associated with prayer to St Jude,
to leave a copy of the prayer in a Church
or before his Statue, Image or Shrine,
for someone else, who is in great need, to find.

Most holy Apostle, St Jude,
faithful servant and friend of Jesus,
the Church honours and invokes you universally,
as the patron of hopeless causes,
of things almost despaired of.
Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.
Help me, I implore you,
by that particular privilege given to you,
to bring visible and speedy help
where help is almost despaired of.
Come to my assistance in this great need,
that I may receive the consolation
and help of Heaven in all my necessities,
tribulation and sufferings,
particularly ………………… (state request)
and that I may praise God with you
and all the elect forever.
I promise, O blessed St Jude,
to be ever mindful of this great favour,
to always honour you as my special and powerful patron
and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PENTECOST, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 May – ‘ … Consider the analogy of the sunbeam … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 22 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Ferial Day – St Rita of Cascia (1386-1457) Widow, Stigmatist – Patron of Impossible Causes – James 1:17-21 – John 16:5-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

If I go, I will send Him to you.” – John 16:7

REFLECTION – “The Holy Ghost is simple in being. His powers are many. They are entirely present everywhere and in everything. He is distributed but does not change. He is shared yet remains whole.

Consider the analogy of the sunbeam – each person on whom its kindly light falls, rejoices! as if the sun existed for him alone, yet it illumines land and sea and is master of the atmosphere.
In the same way, the Spirit is given to each one who receives Him as if he were the possession of that person alone, yet He sends forth sufficient grace to fill the entire universe.

Everything which partakes of His grace is filled with joy according to its capacity—the capacity of its nature, not of His power.” – St Basil the Great (329-379) Father and Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – Grant us, Thy servants, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body; and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness. 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).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 22 May – St Augustine’s Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Mary!

Our Morning Offering – 22 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Mary!
By St Augustine (354-430)

Father & Doctor of the Church

Blessed Virgin Mary,
who can worthily repay thee
with praise and thanksgiving
for having rescued a fallen world
by thy generous consent!
Receive our gratitude and by thy prayers,
obtain the pardon of our sins.
Take our prayers into the sanctuary of Heaven
and enable them to make our peace with God.
Holy Mary, help the miserable,
strengthen the discouraged,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for thy people,
plead for the clergy,
intercede for all women consecrated to God.
May all who venerate thee,
feel now, thy help and protection.
Be ready to help us when we pray
and bring back to us, the answers to our prayers.
Make it thy continual concern,
to pray for the people of God,
for thou were blessed by God
and were made worthy to bear
the Redeemer of the world,
Who lives and reigns forever.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 22 May – St Quiteria (5th Century) Virgin Martyr

Saint of the Day – 22 May – St Quiteria (5th Century) Virgin Martyr., Princess. Born in the 5th Century in Braga, Lusitania (now Portugal) and died in Aire-sur-l’Adouron the borders between France and Spain by beheading. Patronages against rabies and rabid dogs, against anger, of the City of Higueruela in Spain. Also known as – Kitheriammal, Quiteira, Quitterie.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In Spain, St Quiteria, Virgin Martyr.”

18th Century Portuguese painting of Quiteria

One will discover several Churches dedicated to Saint Quiteria while wandering between the south-west of France and the north of Spain, areas which, in the first centuries of Christianity, formed a single cultural entity. Several apostles of the area, such as Saint Saturnin of Toulouse, in fact worked on both sides of the Pyrenees. Furthermore, it should not be forgotten that a few centuries later ,a good part of southern Spain fell into the hands of the Arabs and this constituted a powerful stimulus to strengthen the Christian ties across the Pyrenees.

The centre of the cult paid to Quiteria is constituted by her ancient and valuable sarcophagus, kept since time immemorial, in the French City of Aire-Sur-Adour, in Gascony, on the banks of the Adour River, on the route which crosses the Pyrenees from north to south.

Ancient references help to strengthen the evidence of her cult which St Gregory of Tours also mentions. She is usually considered a virgin and marty, but her life is almost totally unknown.

Believed to have been a Princess, originally from Spanish Galicia, she ran away from home because her father wanted to marry her and make her renounce her personal vows within the Christian Faith.

Quiteria firmly refused and sought refuge in the Aire region but her father’s emissaries reached her and ruthlessly beheaded her. Legend tells that a dog then grabbed the Saint’s head by the hair, now detached and the depiction of this curious episode has spread the belief among the people that the Saint is a powerful defence against rabid dogs.

Quiteria is also venerated in Portugal, where, however, a different legend is attributed to her. The Martyrologium Romanum places the Feastday on the traditional date of 22 May.

Posted in ART DEI, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Beata Vergine di San Luca/ The Blessed Virgin of Saint Luke, Bologn, Italy, St Rita of Cascia, Widow and the Saints for 22 May

Beata Vergine di San Luca, Bologna, Italy / The Blessed Virgin of Saint Luke, Bologna – 22 May, Saturday before the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord:. The Blessed Virgin of St Luke is the Patron Saint of Bologna.
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/22/beata-vergine-di-san-luca-bologna-italy-the-blessed-virgin-of-saint-luke-bologna-and-memorials-of-the-saints/

St Rita of Cascia (1386-1457) Mother, Widow, Stigmatist, Consecrated Religious, Mystic, – Patron of Impossible Causes, Abused Wives and Widows et al
About St Rita:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/05/22/saint-of-the-day-22-may-st-rita-of-cascia-patron-of-impossible-causes-abused-wives-and-widows/

St Aigulf of Bourges
St Atto of Pistoia
St Aureliano of Pavia
St Ausonius of Angoulême
St Baoithin of Ennisboyne

St Basiliscus of Pontus (Died c 310) Martyr, Bishop of Comana in Pontus, Asia Minor (in modern Turkey).
His Life and Death:

https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/22/saint-of-the-day-22-may-st-basiliscus-of-comana-died-c-310-martyr-bishop/

St Beuvon (Died 986) Pilgrim, Apostle of the poor, Hermit, Knight
About St Beuvon:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/22/saint-of-the-day-22-may-st-beuvon-died-986/

St Boethian of Pierrepont
St Castus the Martyr
St Conall of Inniscoel
Bl Diego de Baja
Bl Dionisio Senmartin
St Emilius the Martyr
St Faustinus the Martyr

St Fulgentius (Mid 6th Century) Bishop of Otricoli , Miracle-worker, remembered by St Gregory the Great in his Dialogues.
His Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2023/05/22/saint-of-the-day-22-may-saint-fulgentius-of-otricoli-mid-6th-century-bishop/

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Bl Fulk of Castrofurli
Bl Giacomo Soler
Bl Giusto Samper
St Helen of Auxerre

St Humility (c1226–1310) Wife, Mother, Nun – a founder of Vallumbrosan Convents in the region of Faenza in Italy and is considered the Founder of the Vallumbrosan Nuns.
Her Story:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/22/saint-of-the-day-22-may-saint-humility-of-faenza-c-1226-1310/

Blessed John Forest OFM (1471-1538) Martyr of Oxford University, Priest of the Order of Friars Minor. Beatified by Pope Leo XIII on 29 December 1886.
His Life and Death:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/22/saint-of-the-day-22-may-bl-john-forest-o-f-m-1471-1538-martyr/

St Lupo of Limoges
St Marcian of Ravenna Bishop and Confessor
St Margaret of Hulme
Bl Pedro of the Assumption
St Quiteria (5th Century) Virgin Martyr

St Romanus (Died c560) Abbot, Protector and benefactor of St Benedict during the latter’s early years as a Hermit.
Holy St Romanus:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/05/22/saint-of-the-day-22-may-saint-romanus-of-subiaco-died-c560-abbot/

St Timothy the Martyr
St Venustus the Martyr