Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on The SOUL

Thought for the Day – 22 July – Fervour and Tepidity – There is NO MIDDLE WAY!

Thought for the Day – 22 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)idity,

Fervour and Tepidity

The ONLY choice in the life of a Catholic is between fervour and sin!
The tepid or negligent soul cannot remain in the grace of God long and, when God’s grace is removed, it means the death of the soul.

The spiritual life resembles a steep hill.
A man cannot stay still.
He must keep going upwards or begin to slip downwards.

Whoever struggles on, up the hill is approaching perfection and Heaven; whoever slips backwards, is approaching sin, a dead soul and Hell.

There is NO MIDDLE WAY!
Those who are lukewarm are an object of DISGUST to their Creator, Who casts them away from Himself – “Because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot,” the Holy Ghost says, “I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth” (Apoc 3:16).

So, it is not enough to be mediocre Catholic.
The half-hearted and indifferent are already travelling along the slippery path of sin and are on the waiting list for hell!
It is dangerous for anyone to remain thoughtlessly in this state of spiritual ineptitude.
A man who never thinks of his own salvation, is suffering from a serious illness.
He is running a very great risk of eternal damnation.
He has one foot in Hell here on this earth!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – ‘ … And God saw, by their actions, how they turned from their evil ways … ‘

Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – St Mary Magdalen (1st Century) Penitent – Song 3:2-5; 8:6-7, Luke 7:36-50.

She began to bathe His feet with her tears
and wiped them with the hair of her head
and kissed His feet
and anointed them with ointment.

Luke 7:38

And God saw, by their actions,
how they turned from their evil ways
and the Lord, our God,
had mercy upon His people.

Jonas 3:10

To whom shall the Lord say,
“Yours is the Kingdom of Heaven”? (Mt 5:3)
It is yours if you want it,
if your choice is set upon God.
It is yours, if you will only believe
and follow the essence of the message,
just as the Ninevites obeyed the message of the Prophet
and obtained a gracious salvation
thanks to their sincere repentance,
instead of the destruction
which threatened them!

St Clement of Alexandria (c150-c215)

O Heavenly Father, have compassion for my cry
as Thou did for the prodigal son,
for I, too, am throwing myself at Thy feet
and crying aloud as he cried:
“Father, I have sinned!”
Do not reject me,
Thy unworthy child, O my Saviour
but cause Thy Angels
to rejoice too, on my behalf,
O God of goodness Thou,
Who desires that all should be saved.

St Romanos Melodios (c490-c 556)
Monk, Composer of hymns, Poet

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on DESPAIR, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 July – ‘ … He spoke to her alone but, He was drawing all creation to His grace. …’

One Minute Reflection – 22 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Mary Magdalene (1st Century) Penitent – Song 3:2-5; 8:6-7 – Luke 7:36-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:50

REFLECTION – “A sinful woman has proclaimed to us that God’s Love has gone forth in search of sinners. For when He called her, Christ was inviting our whole race to His Love and, in her person, He was drawing all sinners to His forgiveness. He spoke to her alone but, He was drawing all creation to His grace. …

Who would not be struck by the Mercy of Christ, Who accepted an invitation to a Pharisee’s house, in order to save a sinner! For the sake of the woman, who hungered for forgiveness, He, Himself felt hunger for the table of Simon the Pharisee and all the while, under the guise of a meal of bread, He had prepared for the sinner, a meal of repentance! …

In order that you may have the same experience, reflect within yourself that your sin is great but that it is blasphemy against God and an injury to yourself, to despair of His forgiveness because your sin seems to you to be too great. He has promised to forgive your sins, however many they are; will you tell Him you cannot believe this and dispute with Him, saying that your sin is too great and He cannot heal your sickness? Stop at that point and cry out with the prophet: “Lord, I have sinned against you” (Ps 50:6). At once He will reply, “As for Me, I have overlooked your fault, you shall not die.” Glory to Him from us all, through all ages! Amen, Amen.” ~ An Anonymous Christian Syrian Writer of the 6th Century [ ACW(From a collection of Sermons on the sinful woman, 1, 4.5.19.26.28).

PRAYER – May the prayers of blessed Mary Magdalen help us, O Lord, Who was moved by her prayers, her love and peniteance, that we too may learn true repentance and sorrow for our sins..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 ACT of CONTRITION, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on STRENGTH, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 22 July – Prayer of Contrition By St Alphonsus

Our Morning Offering – 22 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Mary Magdalene (1st Century) Penitent –

O Jesus, My Sweet Love!
(I too have kept Thee suffering
)

Prayer of Contrition
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Jesus, my sweet Love!
I too have kept Thee suffering
through all Thy life.
Tell me, then, what I must do
in order to win Thy forgiveness.
I am ready to do all Thou askest of me.
I am sorry, O sovereign Good,
for all the offences I have committed against Thee.
I love Thee more than myself,
or at least, I feel a great desire to love Thee.
Since it is Thou Who hast given me this desire,
do Thou also give me the strength to love Thee exceedingly.

It is only right that I,
who have offended Thee so much,
should love Thee very much.
Always remind me of the love
Thou hast borne me,
in order that my soul may ever burn
with love of Thee and long to please Thee alone.
O God of love,
I, who was once a slave of hell,
now give myself all to Thee.
Graciously accept me and bind me to Thee
with the bonds of Thy love.
My Jesus, from this day and forever,
in loving Thee will I live
and in loving Thee will I die.

O Mary, my Mother and my hope,
help me to love Thy dear God and mine.
This is the only favour I ask of thee
and through thee, I hope to receive it.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 22 July – St Meneleus (Died c700) Abbot o

Saint of the Day – 22 July – St Meneleus (Died c700) Abbot of Ménat Monastery near Clermont, France. Born in Précigné, France and died at his Ménat Monastery. Also known as – Mauvier, Menele, Men eve, Menevius.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In the territory of Auvergne, St Meneleus, Abbot.”

Statue of Saint Meneleus in the Menat Abbey Church

According to the Vita, Meneleus was born in Précigné (Sarthe, Anjou). To avoid marriage, he took refuge in Auvergne and there he met Theofredus, the Abbot of Saint-Chaffre. Meneleus entered this Monastery and was trained by the Abbot for several years.

With a companion, St Savinian, Meneleus then received permission to live the solitary silent life of Hermits in constant prayer and fasting. The two companions later plaed themselves under the guidance of Saints Eudo in the Abbey which later took the name of Le Monastier.

After seven years, Meneleus returned to Menat to assume the
direction of that Monastery which was destroyed by fire shortly thereafter. Meneleus oversaw its reconstruction and died in c700.

The memorial of St Meneleus today on 22 July is found in the Martyrology of Usuard, in the Benedictine Martyrologies and was revived by the Roman. Meneleus is commemorated in the Diocese of Clermont. The Saint’s Relics were once located, along with those of Saint Savinian, under the High Altar of Menat but were dispersed during the Revolution, with the exception of a few fragments which, in 1711, had been donated to Précigné, his bikrthplace.

St Meneleus Abbey Church at Ménat
Posted in SAINT of the DAY

St Mary of Magdala and Memorials of the Saints – 22 July

St Mary of Magdala “The Apostle of the Apostles” (St Thomas Aquinas), Penitent. During the Middle Ages, Mary Magdalene was regarded in Western Christianity as a repentant prostitute or promiscuous woman, claims not found in any of the four Canonical Gospels.
About St Mary:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-the-feast-of-st-mary-of-magdala-apostle-to-the-apostles/

St Anastasius of Schemarius
St Andrea of Antioch

Blessed Augustine Fangi O.P. (1430-1493) Dominican Priest and Friar, Confessor, Mystic, known as “The Miracle Worker.”
“The Miracle Worker”
:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-blessed-augustine-fangi-o-p-1430-1493/

St Baudry of Montfaucon
St Claudius Marius Victorinus of Saussaye

St Cyril of Antioch (Died c306) BishopMartyr.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Antioch, the holy Bishop Cyril. who was distinguished for learning and holiness.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-saint-cyril-of-antioch-died-c306-bishop-martyr/

St Dabius
St John Lloyd

St Joseph of Palestine (Died c356) Layman, Convert from Judaisma contemporary of Emperor Constantine, a Rabbinical scholar, member of the Sanhedrin and a disciple of Hillel II. Following his conversion, Emperor Constantine gave him the rank of Count, appointed him as supervisor of the Churches in Palestine and gave him permission to build Churches in the Galilee. Patronages – Jewish converts, guardians.
A Very Interesting Saint:

https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-st-joseph-of-palestine-died-c-356/

St Lewine
St Maria Wang Lishi
St Meneleus (Died c700) Abbot
St Movean of Inis-Coosery
St Pancharius of Besancon
Bl Paolo de Lara

Blessed Philip Evans SJ (1645-1679) Confessor, Priest Martyr, Missionary of the Society of Jesus.
His Life and Death:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-saint-philip-evans-sj-1645-1679-priest-martyr/

St Plato of Ancyra
St Syntyche of Philippi
St Theophilus of Cyprus

St Wandrille (c605–668) Priest, Monk, Abbot of Fontenelle. Married out of obedience to his parents, Wandrille agreed with his wife to keep their virginity and both retired to a Monastery.
About St Wandrille:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/22/saint-of-the-day-22-july-st-wandrille-of-fontenelle-c-605-668/

Martyrs of Marula/Massylis: – 3 Saints: Three Christians Martyred together. We know nothing else about them but the names – Ajabosus, Andrew and Elian. They were martyred in Massylis (Marula), Numidia (in modern Algeria).

Martyrs of Massilitani: A group of Christians Martyred together in northern Africa. Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote about them.