Day: July 9, 2025

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, GOD is LOVE, INGRATITUDE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 9 July – The Role of the Eucharist in Increasing Our Love of God

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Thought for the Day – 9 July – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

LV: … The Role of the Eucharist in
Increasing Our Love of God (Part Three)

“When the time itself draws near, we must consider, attentively, Who it is we are about to receive – for our Guest is to be the Son of the living God, the august Majesty before Whom the heavens and the powers of Heaven tremble in awesome fear!

Our Guest is to be the Saint of Saints, Mirror without blemish, Purity
itself, before Whom all is unclean in comparison.
This is Divinity become Man – One looked upon as the very outcast of men, Who was pleased to be spat upon, struck, reviled and Crucified out of love for us.

You are indeed about to receive God Himself, in Whose Hand is the destiny of the universe.
On the other hand, think of your own utter insignificance and your vile sinfulness which has reduced you below the level of the brute and made you worthy of being the sport and slave of devils!
Consider your acknowledgment of the Infinite favours you have received from your Saviour – you have insulted the Redeemer and trampled upon His Precious Blood, displaying a most absolute ingratitude.

But even human ingratitude cannot overcome Divine charity – capricious fickleness is no match for unchanging Love.
Still the gracious Lord summons you to the Divine banquet and rather
than rebuffing you for your obvious inadequacies, bids you come
under pain of death.
The arms of the merciful Father are always open to receive you, be you leprous, lame, blind, squandering, or possessed by devils.

He demands of you these few requisites alone:

To be sincerely sorry for having so grievously offended Him.
To hate sin of all kinds with an unquenchable vigour.
To consecrate yourself to cheerful acceptance of His Divine Will, whatever it may be.
To have a firm confidence that He will forgive your sins, cleanse your soul of all taint and defend you against all your enemies.

Encouraged by this ineffable Love of the Lord for you and all penitent sinners, approach the holy table with a prudent fear, tempered by hope and love, saying:

“After so many grievous offences, I am not worthy to receive Thee, not having fully satisfied Thy justice.
No, my God, I am unworthy of Thee, sullied as I am by an inordinate attachment to creatures and a reluctance to serve Thee completely, with my whole heart and my whole strength.
O my omnipotent Lord, be mindful of Thy goodness and Thy promise; through the Divine alchemy of Love and Faith, make my heart a worthy dwellingplace for Thy Divine Son.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, DYING / LAST WORDS, ON the SAINTS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SAINT of the DAY, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher and St Thomas More – Martyrs

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher (1469-1535) Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal – St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr, Confessor

St John Fisher (1469-1535)
Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal

“Death to the Saints is not a punishment but a reward.
“For so He giveth His beloved sleep.” (Ps cxxvii: 3).
The death of him, who loves God,
is not called death but sleep, so he can truly say:
“I will lay me down in peace
and take my rest.” (Ps iv: 9).

Cardinal St Fisher, as Saunders relates,
when about to die for the Faith,
put on the best clothes he had, saying, he was going to a wedding.
When he came in sight of the scaffold
he cast away his staff, saying:
“Make haste my feet, make haste, for we are not far from Paradise.”
And before dying he sang Te Deum,
in returning thanks to God, Who had allowed him
to die a Martyr’s death, for the holy Faith
and thus being filled with joy,
he placed his head under the axe.”

St John Fisher (1469-1535)
Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal

“Help me, Most Loving Father,
help me with Thy mighty grace.
Succour me with Thy most gracious favour.
Rescue me from these manifold perils in which I am,
for unless Thou wil relieve me, of thy Infinite Goodness,
I am but as a lost creature.”

(From the Prayer in the Tower)

“Penance is a needful thing to the sinner,
who desires to recover health of his soul.
And, in doing penance, there be three things
to be considered:
serious compunction of heart,
confession of mouth
and satisfaction by deed.”

penance is a needful thing to the sinner - st john fisher 22 june 2020

St Thomas More (1478-1535)
Martyr, Confessor

“For those whom He Loved,
He Loved unto the end and this He wished,
they too should do. He was not
an inconstant Lover Who does as many do,
Love for a while and then, upon some light occasion,
leave His Love and turn from being a friend to an enemy,
as the false traitor, Judas did.
But He, still so persevered in Love
unto the very end, so that, for very Love,
He came to that painful end and that,
not only for His friends who were already His
but too, for His enemies, to make them His friends
and not for His benefit but only for their own!”

“Those in the Catholic Church,
whom some rebuke for praying to Saints
and going on pilgrimages,
do not seek any Saint as their saviour.
Instead, they seek Saints,
as those whom their Saviour loves
and whose intercession and prayer,
for the seeker, He will be content to hear.
For His Own sake,
He would have those He loves, honoured.
And when they are thus honoured for His sake,
then, the honour that is given them, for His sake,
overflows especially to Himself.”

O Lord, Grant Us …
A Prayer of Petitio
By St Thomas More (1478-1535)

O Lord, grant us a mind
which is humble,
quiet, peaceaable,
patient and charitable
and a taste of Thy Holy Ghost,
in all our thoughts, words and deeds.

O Lord, grant us a lively faith,
a firm hope, a fervent charity,
a love of Thee.

Take from us all lukewarmness
in meditation
and all dullness in prayer.
Give us fervour and delight
in thinking of Thee,
Thy grace and Thy tender
compassion toward us.

Grant us, good Lord,
the grace to work
for the things we pray for.
Amen.

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 July – ‘ … At the Lord’s Voice …’

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One Minute Reflection – 9 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Ferial Day – Our Lady Queen of Peace –St John Fisher (1469-1535) Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal – St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr, Confessor – Romans 8:18-23 – Luke 5:1-11 A – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Now when He had ceased to speak, He said to Simon: Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught. …” … Luke 5:4

REFLECTION – “Launch out into deep” that is to say, into the high seas of debate. Is there any depth which is comparable to the abyss of “the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge” of the Son of God, (Rom 11:33), to the proclamation of His Divine Sonship? … The Church is led by Peter to the high seas of the testimony, so as to contemplate the risen Son of God and the Holy Ghost Who is poured forth.

What are those nets of the Apostles which Christ orders them to lower? Are they not the linking of words, the twists in discourse, the depth of arguments which do not allow those whom they have caught to escape? This fishing tackle of the Apostles does not render the fish they have caught to perish – rather, it preserves them, drawing them out of the abyss towards the light, leading them from the lowest depths to the heights …

“Master, Peter said, “we have laboured all the night and have taken nothing:but at Thy Word, I will let down the net.” I too, Lord, know it is night for me, when Thou do not command me. I have not yet converted anyone through my words; it is still night. I spoke on the day of Epiphany – I lowered the net but I have not caught anything yet. I lowered the net during the day. I am waiting for Thee to give me the order. Upon Thy Word, I will lower it again. Self-confidence is empty but humility is fertile. Those who had not caught anything until then, have now, at the Lord’s Voice, caught an enormous catch of fish.” – St Ambrose (340-397)
Father & Doctor of the Church (Treatise on the Gospel of Luke IV, 71-76).

PRAYER – From all perils of soul and body defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee,and by the intercession of blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and of blessed Martyrs St John Fisher, St Thomas More, St Maria Goretti and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace that all adversities and errors being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom.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 DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 9 July – Good Lord, Exercise Thy Mercy By St John Fisher

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Our Morning Offering – 9 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Feast of St John Fisher (1469-1535)
Bishop, Martyr, Confessor, Cardinal

Good Lord,
Exercise Thy Mercy
By St John Fisher (1469-1535)
Bishop, Martyr

Good Lord,
set in Thy Church
strong and mighty pillars
who may suffer
and endure great labours,
who too shall not fear persecution,
nor death but always suffer
slander, shame and all kinds of torments,
with goodwill,
for the glory and praise
of Thine Holy Name.
By this manner, Good Lord,
the truth of Thy Gospel
shall be preached throughout the world.
Therefore, Merciful Lord,
exercise Thy Mercy,
show It indeed upon Thy Church!
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 9 July – St Everilda (7th Century) Abbess

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Saint of the Day – 9 July – St Everilda (7th Century) Abbess in Everingham, England. Everilda was the Founder of a Convent at Everingham, in the English County of Yorkshire in the East Riding All we know of her comes from the York Breviary. She died in c700. Also known as – Averil, Everildis.

Everilda was converted to Christianity by Saint Birinus, along with King Cynegils of Wessex, in 635. Her legend in the York Breviary states that she was of the Wessex nobility.

She fled from home to avoid arranged marriage and to dedicate herself to God. She consecrated herself to God and became a Nun, joined by Saints Bega and St Wuldreda.

Saint Wilfrid of York officiated at their Consecration at a place called the Bishop’s Farm, later known as Everildisham. This place has been identified with present-day Everingham. The Monastery quickly became a very important centre of spirituality, around the Abbess, our Saint Everilda a large community of about 80 Nuns formed.

Tradition has it that the Abbess “formed many virgins to the perfection of divine love, the pinnacle of Christian virtue, animating them with the true spirit and continually encouraging them in the most fervent and faithful fulfillment of all the duties, and application to all the exercises of their holy profession.”

Everilda died peacefully when her mission was accomplished.

Her name appears in the Martyrology of Usuard, as well as in the Church calendars of York and Northumbria.

There are two Churches dedicated to St Everilda – St Everilda’s Church, Nether Poppleton and Sts Mary & Everilda, Everingham.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Our Lady, Queen of Peace / Notre Dame de Paix (1500s), Our Lady of Itati (17th Century), Our Lady of the Rosary, Colombia, (1586), St John Fisher, St Thomas More, St Maria Goretti, The Martyrs of Gorkum, St Veronica/Ursula Giuliani OSC Virgin and Memorials of the Saints – 9 July

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FERIAL DAY

Our Lady, Queen of Peace / Notre Dame de Paix (1500s) – 9 July:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/09/saint-of-the-day-9-july-our-lady-queen-of-peace-notre-dame-de-paix-1500s/

Virgen de Itatí / Our Lady of Itati (17th Century) – 9 July:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/09/virgen-de-itati-our-lady-of-itati-17th-century-argentina-virgen-del-rosario-our-lady-of-the-rosary-colombia-and-memorials-of-the-saints-9-july/

Virgen del Rosario / Our Lady of the Rosary (Chiquinquirá, Boyacá, Colombia) (1586) – 9 July, 26 December:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/09/feast-of-our-lady-of-the-rosary-of-chiquinquira-and-memorials-of-the-saints-9-july/

St John Fisher (1469-1535) Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal, Theologian, Academic, Writer.
Feast moved in 1969 to 22 June.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/22/saint-of-the-day-22-june-saint-john-fisher-1469-1535-bishop-martyr/

St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr, Confessor an English Lawyer, Social Philosopher, Author, Statesman.
Feast moved in 1969 to 22 June.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/06/22/saint-of-the-day-22-june-st-thomas-more-1478-1535-martyr/

English lawyer, writer and statesman Sir Thomas More (1478 – 1535). Engraving by W. Wellstood & Co. (Photo by Kean Collection/Getty Images)

St Maria Goretti (1890-1902) Virgin and Martyr, known as “Saint Agnes of the 20th Century.” She was Canonised on 24 June 1950 by Pope Pius XII The ceremony was attended by 250,000 including her mother, the only time a parent has witnessed her child’s Canonisation.
Her Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/07/06/saint-of-the-day-6-july-st-maria-goretti/

St Veronica/Ursula Giuliani OSC Cap. (1660-1727) Italian Capuchin Poor Clares nun, Abbotess, Mystic, Stigmatist.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/07/09/saint-of-the-day-9-july-st-veronica-giuliani/

Blessed Adrian Fortescue TOSD (1476-1539) Martyr,. A husband and father, a Justice of the Peace, a Knight of the Realm, a Knight of Malta and a Dominican Tertiary (Lay Dominican), he was at once a loyal servant of the Crown so far as he could be but still more, he was a man of unshakeable faith and love of the One True Faith. He was Beatified on 13 May 1895 by Pope Leo XIII.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/09/saint-of-the-day-blessed-adrian-fortescue-1476-1539-martyr/

St Agrippinus of Autun
St Alexander of Egypt
St Audax of Thora

St Brictius (Died c312) Bishop and Confessor of Martola.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Martola, St Brixius, Bishop. Under the Judge Marcian, after having suffered much for the confession of Our Lord and converted a great multitude to Christ. he rested in peace.”
His Devoted Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/07/09/saint-of-the-day-9-july-saint-brictius-of-martola-died-c312-bishop-and-confessor/

St Copra of Egypt
St Cyril of Gortyna
St Everilda (7th Century) Abbess in Everingham, England
St Faustina of Rome
St Felician of Sicily

Blessed Giovanna Scopelli O.Carm (1428 – 1491) Virgin, Mystic, Italian Religious of the Carmelites and established her own Convent as its first Prioress. She was known, during her lifetime as a Miracle-worker with many coming to her to ask for her assistance and prayers. Her body is incorrupt.
About Blessed Giovanna:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/09/saint-of-the-day-9-july-blessed-giovanna-scopelli-o-carm-1428-1491/

St Floriana of Rome
St Hérombert of Minden
Bl Joachim HoBl Luigi Caburlotto
St Patermutius of Egypt
St Paulina do Coração Agonizante de Jesus

Four Holy Polish Brothers – 4 Saints: Four brothers who became Hermits, Benedictine Monks and Saints – Andrew, Barnabas, Benedict and Justus. They were born in Poland and died in 1008 of natural causes.

Martyrs of the Baths – 10,204 Saints: A group of Christians enslaved by Diocletian to build the gigantic Baths in Imperial Rome, Italy. The end of their labours coincided with the beginning of the great persecutions of Diocletian and they were all executed. Ancient records indicated there were 10,204 of them; Zeno of Rome is the only one whose name has come down to us and we know nothing else about any of their individual lives.