Day: August 6, 2025

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, The FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES: JUSTICE, PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE

Thought for the Day – 6 August – The Cardinal Virtues of Mary

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Thought for the Day – 6 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Cardinal Virtues of Mary

“Let us compare ourselves with Mary and consider how far we have succeeded in acquiring these virtues.
If we are to possess fully, the Cardinal virtue of JUSTICE, we must direct all our thoughts, desires and actions, towards God.
Since everything comes from God, we should offer everything back to Him.
If we fail to do this, we are guilty of injustice towards God.
We take something which belongs to Him, for ourselves,
We must also be just to our neighbour.
It is not enough to be charitable only because there can be no charity, unless, it is founded on justice.
This justice should characterise our thoughts and judgements, as well as our words and actions.

Have we the Virtue of PRUDENCE?
Prudence demands constant self-control.
How often do we lose control over ourselves and say things which we ought not to say, or do things, which we ought not to do?
Prudence is a splendid virtue, which can be obtained by the grace of God, by living a life of union with Him.
It necessitates constant vigilance over our faculties and passions, in order to ensure, that nothing will interfere with our rational conduct and with our observance of the commandments of God.

Interior TEMPERANCE, is simply the result of prudence, insofar, as it obliges us to master ourselves and to abstain from everything which could upset the proper order of our faculties, in relation to one another and to God.
If we are inwardly temperate, we shall show external temperance in our words and deeds.
We shall abstain, in other words, from everything suggested by our lower nature, which is contrary to the commandments of God and the precepts of the Church.
This means, we shall observe among other things, the Church’s laws of fasting and abstinence.
We shall keep away from dangerous amusements and from anything else which could be harmful to ourselves or to our neighbour.

Finally, we must imitate the FORTITUDE of Mary.
We must be brave in the face of temptation to sin, in suffering and in all the diffculties of life.
Looking always towards Heaven, our true home, we shall find at last, the peace and happiness, which have no end.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, The TRANSFIGURATION

Quote/s of the Day – 6 August – The Transfiguration of the Lord

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 August – The Transfiguration of the Lord

“Lord, it is good for us to be here …”

Matthew 17:4

“And lo a Voice out of the cloud, saying:
This is My Beloved Son, in Whom
I Am well pleased, hear ye Him.”

Matthew 17:5

“He leads them up a high mountain
and shows them His royalty before suffering,
His power before dying,
His glory before being insulted
and His honour before undergoing ignominy.
In this way, when He will be captured and Crucified,
His Apostles will understand
that He did not undergo this because of weakness
but, to consent and willingly so,
for the salvation of the world.”

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father & Doctor of the Church
“The Harp of the Holy Ghost!

“By His loving foresight,
He allowed them to taste for a short time,
the contemplation of eternal joy,
so that they might bear persecution bravely.”

The Venerable St Bede (673-735)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, St PETER!, The HOLY CROSS, The TRANSFIGURATION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 August – ‘… We will share in this honour … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 6 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Transfiguration of Our Lord – 2 Peter 1:16-19 – Matthew 17:1-9 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“His Face shone like the sun and His garments became white as snow.” – Matthew 17:2

REFLECTION – “The Lord displays His glory before chosen witnesses and makes illustrious that bodily shape which He shared with others, with such splendour that His Countenance shone like the sun and His garments became as white as snow. In this Transfiguration, the chief object was to remove the scandal of the Cross from the hearts of the disciples and, to prevent their faith being disturbed, at the humiliation of His voluntary Passion, by revealing the excellence of His hidden dignity. But, with no less foresight, the foundation was laid, of the hope of holy Church, that the whole Body of Christ, might realise, with what a change it was to be endowed and that the members, might promise themselves, a share in that honour which had shone forth in their Head.

But to confirm the Apostles and to lead them onto all knowledge, still further, instruction was conveyed by this miracle. For Moses and Elias, that is, the law and the prophets, appeared talking with the Lord, so that, in the presence of these five men, might most truly be fulfilled, what was said – In two or three witnesses every word stands. What more stable, what more steadfast, than the Word, in the proclamation of which, the trumpet of the Old and of the New Testaments, sounds forth and the records of ancient witnesses, agree with the teaching of the Gospel? For the pages of both Covenants corroborate each other and He, Whom, under the veil of Mysteries, the types that went before, had promised, is displayed clearly and manifestly by the splendour of His present glory.

The Apostle Peter, therefore, being stirred by the revelation of these Mysteries, despising things worldly and scorning things earthly, was carried away by a certain excess of mind, to the desire of things eternal and, being filled with rapture at the whole vision, longed to make his abode with Jesus, in the place where he was gladdened by the sight of His glory. And so also he says: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us set up here, three tents, one for Thee and one for Moses and one for Elias. But to this proposal the Lord made no reply, signifying that what he asked was not indeed wicked, but irregular, since the world could not be saved, except by Christ’s Death and by the Lord’s example in this, the faithful were called upon to believe that, although there ought not to be any doubt about the promises of happiness, yet, we should understand that, amid the trials of this life, we must ask for power to endure, rather than for glory.” – St Leo the Great (400-461) Pope, Father and Doctor (Sermon on the Transfiguration – excerpt).

PRAYER – O God, Who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thy Only-begotten Son strengthened the Mysteries of faith, by the testimony of the fathers and, by the Voice coming down in a shining cloud, miraculously betokened the complete adoption of Thy children, mercifully grant that we, be made co-heirs with that King of glory and sharers in that same glory. 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 CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRIST the LIGHT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The TRANSFIGURATION

Our Morning Offering – 6 August – Lux Alma, Jesu – Light of the Anxious Heart by St Bernard

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Our Morning Offering – 6 August – The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Lux Alma, Jesu
Light of the Anxious Heart
By St Bernard (1091-1153).
Father & Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

Light of the anxious heart,
Jesus, Thou dost appear,
To bid the gloom of guilt depart,
And shed Thy sweetness here.

Joyous is he, with whom,
God’s Word, Thou dost abide;
Sweet Light of our eternal home,
To fleshly sense denied.

Brightness of God above!
Unfathomable grace!
Thy presence be a fount of love
Within Thy chosen place.

To Thee, Whom children see,
The Father ever blest,
The Holy Spirit, One and Three,
Be endless praise addrest.

Translation by Cardinal Newman (1800-1890).
There are eight translations.
Liturgical Use: Hymn for Lauds on the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord.
This Hymn is a cento from St Bernard’s Jesu Dulcis Memoria.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 6 August – St Hardulph 7th Century Hermit

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Saint of the Day – 6 August – St Hardulph 7th Century Hermit in Breedon-On-The-Hill, Leicestershire, England.

The ruins of Breedon Monastery

St Hardulph is a mysterious figure within Anglo-Saxon texts. It seems certain that his history is somehow intertwined with that of Eardwulf or Eaduulf of Northumbria and perhaps, they are one and the same man. Hardulph’s name chiefly appears immortalised in the joint dedication of the Priory Church at Breedon-On-The-Hill, Leicestershire, to St Mary and St Hardulph.
The incomplete tale of Eardwulf agrees extremely well, with that of Hardulph, From that which we know, Eardwulf was
recalled from exile in 796, to replace the deposed King Osbert of Northumbria. Eardwulf’s lineage is not known, other than that his father was also called Eardwulf.

The Angel of Breedom

A certain Eardwulf is also recorded as having succeeded a King Aldfrith of Northumbria in, 705 (according to the Venerable St Bede) — a full 91 years earlier, thus who perhaps maybe the same or a different King.

Eardwulf was inaugurated at York Cathedral on 26 May 796. In the year 790, it is reported that the Northumbrian King Aethelred I put Eardwulf to death in Ripon, Yorkshire. Eadwald was found alive the next day and so was venerated by some, as a Saint. Eardwulf was reinstated as King sometime between 808–830
(dependent on sources). Little is known about the end of his reign, although it is assumed that he died in or near Breedon-on-the-Hill and is buried there which could be why the Church is dedicated to him. This information comes from a list of saints’ final resting places written by Hugh Candidus in the 12th Century, which lists an ‘Ardulphus Rex’ as buried at Breedon. This is also where the link between Hardulph and Eardwulf is made.

The connection between Hardulph and Anchor Church becomes even more obscure. The main evidence linking the two is a fragment written in a 1541 book on the life of St Modwenna which lists a ‘St Hardulche’ as living in a ‘cell in a cliff a little from the Trent.’

Whilst Anchor Church is very likely the ‘cell’ referred to here, there is no explicit mention of it. Similarly, it has been pointed out that Modwenna died in the late 6th Century and so, unless this is a different Modwenna, this cannot be Eardwulf. The dating is closer to that of the ‘Eadwulf’ mentioned earlier, although not close enough.

The link then, is tentative — however, with the gaps in history and a great lack of written documents from the time-period, it is by no means impossible that all of which has previously been stated, is very close to the truth.

Hardulph, then, is an endlessly mysterious character. Perhaps we shall never know whether he truly ever inhabited Anchor Church and indeed, whether he was a King a long way from
home, whisked away from a tumultuous home in Northumbria. Either way, the mystery of the cave and the mystery of the man seem a perfect fit for one another, a story perhaps never to be fully told but never ceasing to intrigue.

St Hardulph’s Cell known as the ‘Anchor Church’
Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The TRANSFIGURATION

The Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nossa Senhora das Graças / Our Lady of Graces, Brazil (1936),Day One of the Assumption Novena, St Xystus II & Companions, Pope and Martyr and Memorials of the Saints – 6 August

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The Transfiguration of Our Lord
https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/06/feast-of-the-transfiguration-of-the-lord-6-august-todays-gospel-mark-92-10/
AND:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/08/06/august-6-the-feast-of-the-transfiguration-of-the-lord/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/06/the-transfiguration-of-our-lord-6-august/

St Pope Sixtus II/ Xystus (Died 258) Pope and Martyr, Philosopher. 25th Pope from St Peter. Papal Ascension 30 August 257. He was Martyred along with seven deacons, (St Lawrence of Rome a few days later) during the persecutions of Christianity by Emperor Valerian. This is the St Sixtus who is commemorated in the Roman Canon Eucharistic Prayer.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/06/saint-of-the-day-6-august-saint-sixtus-ii-died-258-pope-and-martyr/

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption – DAY ONE

Nossa Senhora das Graças / Our Lady of Graces, Pesqueira, Pernambuco, Northeast, Brazil (1936) – 6 August :
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/06/feast-of-the-transfiguration-of-our-lord-nossa-senhora-das-gracas-our-lady-of-graces-pesqueira-pernambuco-northeast-brazil-1936-and-memorials-of-the-saints-6-august/

St Gezelin O.Cist. (Died 1149) known as “The Apostle of Hainaut” – Lay Brother of the Cistercian Order, Hermit of Schlebusch
A Miraculous Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/06/saint-of-the-day-6-august-saint-gezelin-of-schlebusch-o-cist-died-1149/


St Gislain of Luxemburg

St Glisente (Died 796) Hermit, Soldier known in the region as “The Warrior on the Mountain.”
Hermit Warrior St Glisente:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/08/06/saint-of-the-day-6-august-saint-glisente-died-796-hermit-the-warrior-on-the-mountain/

Bl Goderanno
Bl Guillermo Sanz
St Hardulph 7th Century Hermit in Breedon, Leicestershire, England.

St Pope Hormisdas (c450-523) Bishop of Rome from 514 until his death in 523. A talented diplomat, arbitrator and negotiator.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/06/saint-of-the-day-6-august-saint-pope-hormisdas-c-450-523/

St James the Syrian

St Justus and St Pastor – Holy Martyred Children (Died 304) Saints Justus and Pastor of Alcala were two brothers, who in their tender age overcame, with an heroic courage, the rage and power of Dacian, armed with all the instruments of cruelty.
The Martyred Children:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/06/saints-of-the-day-6-august-saints-justus-and-pastor-the-holy-martyred-children-of-alcala-de-henares-in-spain-died-304/

Bl Octavian of Savona
St Stephen (Died 872) Abbot and Martyr of Cardeña

Martyrs of Cardeña: Two hundred Benedictine Monks at the Saint Peter of Cardegna monastery, Burgos, Spain who were Martyred in the 8th century by invading Saracens. They were buried by local Christians in a nearby churchyard in Burgos, Spain and Beatified in 1603 by Pope Clement VIII (cultus confirmed).