Thought for the Day – 10 June – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Necessity of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
“It is necessary to develop and meditate on these words of Pius XI, (see Part One) from which, it is clear, that the cult of the Sacred Heart, not only contains the synthesis of Christianity, the religion of love but, contains the most effective guide to the knowledge, love and imitation of Jesus Christ. From the first moment of His life, when He was an infant in the cold, damp cave of Bethlehem, to the final moment, when He breathed His last upon the Cross, the Heart of Jesus was overflowing with love for us. We can learn from this, to know our Divine Saviour better, so that appreciating more fully His infinite love for us, we shall feel an upsurge of gratitude and, of love. We shall feel determined to live entirely for Him, as He lived entirely for us, to obey His commandments with generosity and, to imitate His example with the assistance of His grace. This should be the result of our devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, especially during this month, which is consecrated to Him.
O my Jesus, Thou Who art Love itself, enkindle in my heart the divine fire which consumed and transformed the Saints!”
Quote/s of the Day – 10 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Pentecost Tuesday
Nunc, Sancte, nobis Spiritus Come, Holy Ghost, Who ever One By St Ambrose (340-397) Trans John Henry Newman (1801-1890) Trans 1836
Come, Holy Ghost, Who ever One Art with the Father and the Son. Come, Holy Ghost, our souls possess With Thy full flood of holiness.
In will and deed, by heart and tongue, With all our powers, Thy praise be sung. And love, light up our mortal frame, Till others catch the living flame.
Almighty Father, hear our cry Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high, Who with the Holy Ghost and Thee Doth live and reign eternally.
One Minute Reflection – 10 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Pentecost Tuesday – Acts 8:14 -17 – John 10:1-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10
REFLECTION – “Thus says the Lord: “I Myself will come’”… This is what He has undoubtedly done and what He will yet do: “I Myself am coming: I will seek out My sheep, I will tend them as a shepherd tends His flock.” The wicked shepherds took no care of them because they did not redeem their sheep, with their blood… “My sheep hear My Voice. I will seek out My sheep from the midst of the scattered sheep and will bring them out from all the places they were scattered, on the day of clouds and darkness. No matter how difficult it is to find them, I will find them… I will rescue My sheep from foreign lands, I will gather them and lead them back to their own homes; I will lead them to pasture on the mountains of Israel.”
These “mountains of Israel” are the writers of Sacred Scripture. They are the pastures where you are to feed, if you wish to do so safely. Savour everything you learn from them and reject everything outside. Do not go astray in the mists, listen to the Shepherd’s Voice. Gather on the mountains of Sacred Scripture. There, you will find true delight for your heart. There, is nothing poisonous there, nothing dangerous; they are rich pastures… “I will lead them beside rivers, in the best places.” From those mountains we were just talking about, rivers of Gospel preaching pour down since “the voice [of the Apostles] resounds to the ends of the earth” and all the ends of the earth provide pleasant and fertile pastures for the sheep.
“I will cause them to feed in good pasture… and their sheepfold will be there,” that is to say, there, they will rest, there, they will be able to say: “It is good to be here; true enough, it is perfectly clear, we have found the truth.” They will take their rest in the glory of God as in a sheepfold.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 46, On the shepherds; CCL 41, 529).
PRAYER – Let the power of the Holy Spirit be present within us, O Lord, graciously to cleanse our hearts, as well as to guard us from all harm. 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).
SACRED Heart of JESUS, Thy Kingdom come! – Indulgence 300 Days – Every time – Raccolta 179 St Pius X, 6 November 1906.
Our Morning Offering – 10 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Penticost Tuesday
Act of Love to the Sacred Heart of Jesus By Servant of God Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865-1930)
Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It forever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease, not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee, of my love for Thee and may it say to Thee – “Yes, Lord, I am all Thine” the pledge of my allegiance to Thee, rests forever in my heart and will never cease to be there. May Thou accept, the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased, to repair all my wrong-doing – so that I may be able, to bless Thee, in time and in eternity. Amen
Servant of God Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865-1930) – In his first Consistory, on 9 November 1903, when St Pius X announced the elevation of Abbot Merry del Val to the dignity of Cardinal to the Sacred College, the Pope did not fear to affirm that he had personally observed his “noble gifts of soul and of character, as well as his outstanding prudence in dealing with the affairs of the Church.” The Holy Father made the following reply to the comments made by one of the Cardinals: “I chose him because he is a polyglot – born in England, educated in Belgium, of Spanish nationality and living in Ital; the son of a diplomat and himself a diplomat, he is acquainted with the problems of all countries. He is very modest, he is a saint. He comes here every morning and informs me of all the questions concerning the world. I need never make an observation to him and he knows no compromise.”
Saint of the Day – 10 June – St Asterius (Died c364) Bishop of Petra, in Arabia and Confessor, Defender of the true Faith against the heresy of the Arians, surviving banishment and persecution to protect St Athanasius and the holy Church.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Petra, in Arabia, St Asterius, a Bishop, who suffered much from the Arians for the Catholic Faith. He was banished, by the Emperor Constantius, to Africa where he died a glorious Confessor.”
In 343, Emperor Constantius II an Arian sympathiser, convened the Council of Sardica to resolve the theological controversies which were desiccating the Church. Among the participants was Asterius, sent by the Arians to accuse Saint Athanasius, a staunch defender of orthodox doctrine.
However, during the work of the Council, Asterius had the opportunity to witness, first-hand, the machinations and falsehoods of the heretics. In an act of extraordinary moral and spiritual integrity, he decided to abandon the Arian and instead, he supported and agreed with Saint Athanasius, publicly denouncing the Arians’ perfidy.
Asterius’ choice did not fail to provoke harsh reactions from the Arians, who threatened and persecuted him. But his faith was unshakable. Despite intimidation and obstacles, he remained faithful to his principles, demonstrating extraordinary courage. His testimony became a symbol of resistance against doctrinal oppression and a shining example for all those who were called to defend the truth of the Faith.
The date of Saint Asterius’ death is uncertain,but it is assumed to have occurred around the middle of the 4th Century.
St Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) Queen consort of Scotland, Wife and Mother, Apostle of the poor, Reformer. Saint Margaret’s name signifies “pearl” “a fitting name,” says Bishop Turgot, her Confessor and her first Biographer, “for one such as she.” Her soul was like a precious pearl. A life spent amidst the luxury of a Royal Court never dimmed its lustre, or stole it away from Him who had bought it with His Blood. Pope Innocent IV Canonised St Margaret in 1250 in recognition of her personal holiness, fidelity to the Roman Catholic Church, work for Ecclesiastical reform and charity. In 1693 Pope Innocent XII moved her feast day to 10 June but it was changed after Vatican II to 16 November. Illustrious St Margaret: https://anastpaul.com/2018/11/16/saint-of-the-day-16-november-st-margaret-of-scotland-1045-1093-queen/ AND: https://anastpaul.com/2022/06/10/saint-of-the-day-10-june-st-margaret-of-scotland-1045-1093/
Bl Amata of San Sisto St Amantius of Tivoli St Asterius (Died c364) Bishop of Petraand Confessor St Bardo of Mainz
St Caerealis of Tivoli St Censurius of Auxerre (Died 486) Bishop St Crispulus of Rome
Blessed Diana d’Andalo OP (1201-1236) Virgin, Nun of the Order of Preachers Beatified on 8 August 1888 by Pope Leo XII. The Roman Martyrology states: “In Bologna, blessed Diana d’Andalò, Virgin, who, having overcome all the impediments posed by her family, took a vow of cloistered life in the hands of Saint Dominic himself, entering the Monastery of Saint Agnes, which she founded.” Her Holy Life: https://anastpaul.com/2023/06/10/saint-of-the-day-10june-blessed-diana-dandalo-op-1201-1236-virgin/
Bl Elisabeth Hernden Bl Elizabeth Guillen St Evermund of Fontenay St Faustina of Cyzicus Bl Gerlac of Obermarchtal St Getulius of Tivoli
St Maurinus of Cologne (9th Century) Abbot, Martyr. St Maurinus . His Relics are kept in a Romanesque casket, a true masterpiece of goldsmith’s craft, dated around 1180. In 1922, it was brought back to the Church of St Pantaleone, from the Chapel of St Maria alla Schnurgasse. Since the 12th Century the Feast of St Maurinud is celebrated throughout the Diocese of Cologne on 10 June and in the Universal Church. His Life and Death: https://anastpaul.com/2024/06/10/saint-of-the-day-10-june-saint-maurinus-of-cologne-9th-century-abbot-martyr/
St Primitivus of Tivoli St Restitutus of Rome Bl Thomas Green St Timothy of Prusa Bl Walter Pierson St Zachary of Nicomedia
Martyrs of North Africa – 17 Saints: A group of seventeen Christians Martyred together in North Africa; the only surviving details are two of their names – Aresius and Rogatius. Both the precise location in North Africa and the date are unknown.
Martyrs of the Aurelian Way – 23 Saints: A group of 23 Martyrs who died together in the persecutions of Aurelian. The only details that survive are three of their names – Basilides, Mandal and Tripos. c.270-275 on the Aurelian Way, Rome, Italy.
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