Thought for the Day – 10 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Blessedness of the Poor
“We have established the principle that wealth is, in itself, good and is a gift from God but that, “it is good, insofar, as it leads us towards virtue and evil, insofar, as it leads us towards vice” (Summa Contra Gentiles III 134). We must now insist, once more, on the necessity of remaining detached from worldly goods and of concentrating our attention primarily on God. It is an unfortunate fact that only too often, wealth is a spiritual obstacle, for it diverts our attention away from Heaven and towards worldly objects. If this happens, some of its worse results can be the worship of money, the destruction of high ideals, indifference to the poverty of others, the vain and selfish search for happiness on this earth and complete spiritual blindness. This is why it is more difficult for the rich man than for the poor man, to save his soul.
“If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast and give to the poor” (Mt 19:21). This is an evangelical counsel which we may have neither the courage, nor the vocation to pursue. At least, however, let us seek to purify ourselves of all attachments to wealth. If we have riches, moreover, let us do our best to use them as instruments of virtue.”
Quote/s of the Day – 10 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Lawrence (Died 258) Martyr, “Keeper of the Treasures of he Church” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“If it dies, it produces much fruit.”
John 12:24
“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me and where I Am, there will My servant be too.”
John 12:26
“The present is nothing. But eternity abides for those on whom all Truth, all Good, has shone, in One Entire and Perfect Light. ”
St Paulinus of Nola (c354-431)
“Destroy yourself completely and sit, like a chick, content with the grace of God, for unless its mother gives it something, it tastes nothing and has nothing to eat.”
St Romuald (c951-1027)
“Our greatest fault is, that we wish to serve God in our way, not in His way — according to our will, not according to His Will…. To be truly a Saint, it is necessary to be one according to the Will of God.”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 10 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Lawrence (Died 258) Martyr, “Keeper of the Treasures of he Church” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 –John 12:24-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“If it dies, it produces much fruit” – John 12:24
REFLECTION – “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet, when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” (Mt 13:31). This small seed is for us the symbol of Jesus Christ, Who, sowed into the garden where He was buried, rose from it shortly after, through His Resurrection, as a big tree.
One could say that when He died, He was like a small seed – a small seed because of the humiliation of His flesh but a big tree because of the glorification of His Majesty. He was like a small seed when he appeared completely disfigured before our eyes but like a large tree when He rose again like “the most handsome of men” (Ps 44:3).
The branches of this mysterious tree, are the holy preachers of the Gospel, of whom one of the Psalms indicates the reach: “Their report goes forth throughout all the earth, their message, to the ends of the world “ (Ps 19:5; cf Rom 10:18). The birds rest on these branches while the souls of the just, who have been raised up above earth’s attractions, on the wings of holiness, find in the words of these preachers of the Gospel, the consolation they need in the sorrows and difficulties of this life.”– St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Matthew, Ch.13).
PRAYER – Grant us, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, to extinguish the flames of our sins, as Thou granted St Lawrence to overcome the fires of his tortures. 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).
Our Morning Offering – 10 August – St Lawrence (Died 258) “Keeper of the Treasures of he Church,” Martyr, Archdeacon.
Holy Deacon Martyr, St Lawrence! Unknown Author
Holy Deacon! by thy yearning For the Martyr’s glorious crown; By thy tortures, by thy burning, By thy death of bright renown; When the world and flesh and devil Tempt our souls to sin and evil, Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!
By the love that thou didst ever To thy Pontiff-Father bear, Pray that no base act may sever Us from Peter’s loving care! But when men would once more lead us Into bonds from which Christ freed us, Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!
By the Pontiff’s words of warning, Bidding all thy sorrows cease, Words foretelling bitter mourning Leading unto lasting peace! That to Jesus in our sadness We may look for help and gladness, Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!
By thy love, which knew no measure, For the needy and the old, Giving them the Church’s treasure Dearer they than gems and gold! Teaching us that alms well given Are but treasures stored in Heaven, Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!
By thy fervent love for Jesus, By thy strong and constant faith, Of our sinful burdens ease us! Help us at the hour of death! When the fears of death confound us When the cleansing fires surround us! Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!
Saint of the Day – 10 August – Friar of the Order of Friars Minor in Grosseto, Italy, Mystic who had received the gift of Levitation whilst in prayer. He was greatly dedicated to the Rule of St Francis.
Unknown Franciscan Friar
Andrea da Grosseto was a Franciscan Friar who lived in the 15th Century. We do not know as a matter of certainty, whether he was a layman or a Priest, although the Seraphic Biographies of Illustrious Authors list him as a layman.
He entered the Order at a very young age and was placed under the protection of Blessed Tommaso da Scarlino. He was “a very spiritual man, fervent in both mental and vocal prayer, where he always remained motionless and with his eyes raised to Heaven. He was rising from the earth seen several times in prayer. He yearned only for heavenly things.”
He became a man who embodied religious observance and an example of perfect obedience.
He died, between 1497 and 1512, in the Convent of San Benedetto della Nave, located on the slopes of Mont Leoni and located in the Diocese of Grosseto.
In the Franciscan Martyrology, his Feastday is celebrated today.
St Deusdedit the Cobbler (6th Century)Confessor – Deusdedit was a poor layman shoemaker in 6th Century Rome, Italy. Patronages – shoemakers, of the poor. His name meaning, “dedicated to God.” The Roman Martyrology reads of him today: “At Rome, the holy Confessor Deusdedit, a working man, who gave to the poor, every Saturday, whatever he had earned during the week.” His Dedicated Life: https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/10/saint-of-the-day-10-august-st-deusdedit-the-cobbler-6th-century-confessor-layman/
St Gerontius St Paula of Carthage
Martyrs of Alexandria – 260+ Saints: A large number of Christians who were Martyred in Alexandria, Egypt between 260 and 267 in the persecutions of Decius and Valerian, whose names have not come down to us and who are commemorated together.
Martyrs of Rome – 165 Saints: Group of 165 Christians Martyred in the persecutions of Aurelian. 274 in Rome, Italy.
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