Posted in I BELIEVE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 27 July – How We Should Pray

Thought for the Day – 27 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

How We Should Pray

“When Jesus asked us to pray, He promised to answer our prayers.
Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you” (Mt 7:7).
If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you,” (Jn 16:23).
God cannot break His promises.
Why, then, do our prayers often seem to remain unanswered?
There are several reasons but the main one is that which is pointed out by St James.
You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss” (Js 4:3).
Some people say a few prayers with their lips only but without any real faith or confidence that they will be answered.
Jesus told the heartbroken father who begged Him to free his son from an evil spirit: “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk 9:22).
Then He healed the unfortunate boy.
It is necessary to have complete confidence if we wish our prayers to be answered.

Other people ask for worldly favours without ever giving a thought to their spiritual welfare.
But Jesus taught us to act otherwise.
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His justice and all these things shall be given unto you besides” (Mt 6:33).
There are those who look for favours, such as bodily health or riches which, if they obtained them, could lead to their spiritual destruction.

Sometimes God delays His answer in order to test our faith and perseverance.
It is important that we should pray with a right intention, with faith and perseverance and, with resignation to God’s Will.
We must realise clearly, God will grant us whatever is best for us, at the most suitable moment! Amen.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FRUITS of the SPIRIT, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 27 July – By their fruits you will know them.

Quote/s of the Day – 27 July – St Pantaleon (Died c305) Martyr, Lay Physician, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers –Pentecost VII – Romans 6,19-23 – Matthew 7:15-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

By their fruits you will know them.
Do men gather grapes from thorns,
or figs from thistles?

Matthew 7:16

And he who had received the five talents
went and traded with them,
and gained five more.

Matthew 25:16

Just as it is impossible for the grass
to grow on the sand,
so it is impossible for one who seeks pleasure
and superficial conversation,
to produce the heavenly fruit.
For the Lord says:
No-one can serve two masters (Mt 6:24)
.”

St Syncletica (c320-c400)

He who abides in Me and I in Him,
the same bears much fruit”
John 5:5

We are preserved in being, if we grow onto Him
and cling fast to the holy commandment,
which has been handed down to us
and, if we are eager to keep the blessing of nobility,
that is to say, if we never consent, in any way,
to “grieve the Holy Spirit” (Eph 4:30),
Who has come to dwell in us and, through Whom,
we believe, God has made His home in us. …
For just as the vine-stock supplies and distributes,
the virtue of its own inherent natural, quality to the shoots,
so, too, the Only-Begotten Word of God,
implants, in His people, a sort of affinity
with His own nature and that of the Father.
By the gift of the Spirit, they are united with Him
by every kind of holiness.
He nourishes them, so that they become devout
and He moves them to knowledge of all virtue
and good works.”

St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

As our Saviour says:
“A good tree is not able to produce bad fruit.”
He says: A good tree, that is, a good heart
and a soul on fire with charity,
can do nothing but good and holy works.
For this reason Saint Augustine said:
“Love and do what you will,” namely,
possess love and charity and then do what you will.
It is as if he had said: Charity is not able to sin.”

St Angelica de Merici (1474-1540)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FRUITS of the SPIRIT, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 July – ‘ … If you say you abide in Christ, you ought to walk as He walked. … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 27 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Pantaleon (Died c305) Martyr, Lay Physician, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers –Pentecost VII – Romans 6:19-23 – Matthew 7:15-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

By their fruits you shall know them.”- Matthew 7:16

REFLECTION – “Do you believe in Christ? Do the works of Christ, so that your faith may live; love will animate your faith, deed will reveal it … If you say you abide in Christ, you ought to walk as He walked. But if you seek your own glory, envy the successful, slander the absent, take revenge on those who injure you, this Christ did not do. You profess to know God, yet reject Him by your deeds! … “Such a one honours Me with his lips but his heart is far from Me” (Is 29:13; Mt 15:8)…

You see then that right faith, will not make a man righteous, unless it is enlivened by love. Someone, who has no love, has no means of loving the Bride, Christ’s Church. But, on the other hand, deeds, however righteous, cannot make the heart righteous, without faith. Who would call a person righteous, who does not please God? But “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb 11:6). And God, cannot please the one, who is not pleasing to Him; for if God is pleasing to someone that person cannot displease God . Furthermore, if God is not pleasing to that person, neither is His Bride, the Church. How then can he be righteous, who loves neither God nor God’s Church, to whom is said: “The righteous love you”? (Sg 1,3 Vg.).

If, therefore, neither faith without good works, nor good works without faith, suffice for a man’s righteousness, we, my brothers, who believe in Christ, should strive to ensure that our behaviour and desires are righteous. Let us raise up both our hearts and hands, to God that our whole being maybe righteous, our righteous faith being revealed in our righteous actions. So, we shall be lovers of the Bride, the Church and loved by the Bridegroom Jesus Christ our Lord, who is God, blessed forever!” – St Bernard (1091-1153) Cistercian, Father and Ddoctor of the Church (24th sermon on the Song of Songs).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that through the intercession of Thy blessed Martyr Pantaleon, we may be delivered from all afflictions of the body and cleansed from all evil thoughts of the mind. 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 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on WATCHING, QUOTES on WISDOM, The HEART, The HOLY GHOST

Our Morning Offering – 27 July – Grant Me, My God By St Thomas Aquinas

Our Morning Offering – 27 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Pentecost VII

Grant Me, My God
By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Angelic Doctor, Common Doctor

Make my heart watchful, O God,
so that no vain thoughts may distract it from Thee.
Make it noble,
so that it may never be seduced by any base affection.
Make it steadfast,
so that troubles may not dismay it.
Make it free,
so that it may not yield to the onslaughts of passion.
Grant me, my God,
the intelligence, to understand Thee,
the love, to seek Thee,
the wisdom, to find Thee,
words, to please Thee,
the perseverance, to wait faithfully for Thee
and, the hope of embracing Thee, at last.
Grant that I, a repentant sinner,
may bear Thy chastisements with resignation.
Poor pilgrim which I am,
may I draw on the treasury of Thine grace
and may I one day,
be eternally happy with Thee in Heavenly glory!
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 27 July – St Aetherius (Died c573) Bishop and Confessor

Saint of the Day – 27 July – St Aetherius (Died c573) Bishop and Confessor of Auxerre, in modern Burgundy, France. Also known as – Ether, Ethère, Etherius.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Auxerre, the demise of the blessed St Aetherius, Bishop and Confessor.”

Unknown Ancient French Bishop

Aetherius succeeded St Romanus as the 15th Bishop of Auxerre from 564 until his death in c573.

He was a great promoter of monastic life and defended the Church against interference from the secular state, naturally undergoing persecution on account of his fervent protection of the Church. After around 10 years in Office, Aetherius died and was buried in the Abbey of St Germanus in Auxerre, see below.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Pentecost VII, St Pantaleon (Died c 305) Martyr, Notre-Dame-de-Foy / Our Lady of Faith, Gravelines, Liege, France (1616) and Memorials of the Saints – 27 july

Pentecost VII

Notre-Dame-de-Foy / Our Lady of Faith, Gravelines, Liege, France (1616) – 27 July:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/27/notre-dame-de-foy-our-lady-of-faith-gravelines-liege-france-1616-and-memorials-of-the-saints-27-july/

St Pantaleon (Died c 305) Martyr, Lay Physician, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
His Life and Death:

https://anastpaul.com/2017/07/27/saint-of-the-day-27-july-st-panteleon/

St Aetherius (Died c573) Bishop and Confessor of Auxerre
St Anthusa of Constantinople
St Arethas
St Aurelius of Cordoba
St Benno of Osnabruck (c 1020-1088) Bishop
Bl Berthold of Garsten

St Pope Celestine I (Died 432) called “the Heresy Fighter.” Much is unknown about Celestine, including his birthday. But his reign as Pope – from 422 until his death in 432 – is credited with many achievements.
The Papacy of St Celestine I:

https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/27/saint-of-the-day-st-pope-celestine-i-died-432/

St Ecclesius of Ravenna
St Felix of Cordoba
St Galactorio of Lescar
St George of Cordoba
St Hermippus
St Hermocrates
St Hermolaus
St Juliana of Mataró
St Lillian of Cordoba

Blessed Lucia Bufalari OSA (Died 1350) Virgin, Augustinian Oblate, Prioress of Amelia.  Her body is incorrupt. incorrupt.
Her Life of Grace:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/07/27/saint-of-the-day-27-july-blessed-lucy-bufalari-of-amelia-osa-died-1350-virgin/

St Luican

Blessed Maria Magdalena Martinengo OSC Cap (1687-1737) Nun of the Order of the Capuchin Poor Clares, Mystic with a great devotion to the Passion of Christ. She had a great horror of sin and devoted much time to contemplating death, and the Divine Judgement. The recognition of two miracles attributed to her direct intercession allowed for Pope Leo XIII to preside over her Beatification on 3 June 1900.
Her Holy Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/27/saint-of-the-day-27-july-blessed-maria-magdalena-martinengo-osc-cap-1687-1737/

St Maurus of Bisceglia
St Natalia of Cordoba

Blessed Nevolone of Faenza OFM (Died 1280) Penitent, Widower, Lay brother of the Order of Friars Minor, then a Camaldolese HermitApostle of the poor and sick. Patronage – Faenza, cobblers, shoemakers, shoe repairers (chosen by the cobblers of Rimini, Italy in 1331).
His Holy Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/27/saint-of-the-day-27-july-blessed-nevolone-of-faenza-ofm-died-1280-penitent/

St Semproniana of Mataró
St Sergius of Bisceglia

Martyrs of Nicomedia – 3 Saints: Three Christians Martyred together. The only other information to survive are their names – Felix, Jucunda and Julia. Nicomedia, Asia Minor.

Seven Sleepers of Ephesus: A group of seven young Christian men who hid in a cave in hopes of avoiding the persecution of Decius in the year 250. Found and arrested, they were ordered by the pro-consul in Ephesus to renounce their faith; they refused and were sentenced to die. Legend says that they were walled up in their hiding cave, guarded by the dog Al Rakim; when the cave wall was breached in 479 – they all woke up!
It is likely that the youths were tortured to death in various ways and buried in the cave. The resurrection story confusion came from the phrase “went to sleep in the Lord” which was used to describe the death of Christians and 479 is when their relics were discovered. Their names were Constantinus, Dionysius, Joannes, Malchus, Martinianus, Maximianus and Serapion. They were martyred in 250 in Ephesus (in modern Turkey); tradition says that they were walled up in a cave to suffocate but other records indicate that they were tortured to death in various ways. Their relics discovered in 479 and translated to Marseilles, France and enshrined in a large stone coffin.