Day: August 17, 2025

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The IMITATION of MARY

Thought for the Day – 17 August – Mary, the Source of Holiness

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 17 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Mary, the Source of Holiness

“Since we are Mary’s children, we should try and reproduce her holiness in ourselves.
Although, it is higher than that of the Angels, her sanctity is easy to imitate.
There is no record that she ever had ecstasies or worked miracles.
Her’s was a perfect internal sanctity, consisting of total conformity with the Will of God and an intense love for Him.
We must aspire to this kind of holiness and model our lives upon it.
There is no point in arguing that it is sufficient to be good Catholics and, that it is not necessary to be holy.
A Catholic, to be truly such, MUST be holy!

St Paul referred to the early faithful as saints (Eph 1:1).
“You are a chosen race,” said St Peter, “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people,” (1 Peter 1:16, Lev 11:44)
“You are to be perfect,” Jesus Himself had commanded, “even as your heavenly Father is perfect,” (Mt 5:48),
This was the reason, He indicated why He had come into the world – “that they may have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10).
This is the purpose of the Gospel and this must be the purpose of our lives.
Some day, we shall either be holy in Heaven, or we shall be damned.
We shall either be Saints in Heaven or condemned forever in Hell.
This truth merits careful though – everything else is passing but this is something which will never pass away.
This command to sanctify ourselves is a reality which is present at every moment of our lives.
Let us do our best to obey it, at any cost!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MEEKNESS, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St Francis de Sales, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 17 August – Wisdom on Humility

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 17 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Hyacinth OP (1185-1257) ) Confessor – 1 Corinthians 12:2-11 – Luke 18:9-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled
and he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.”

Luke 18:14

“The one who requests less than he deserves from God
will surely obtain more than he deserves.   
This is clearly shown by the tax-collector
who requested forgiveness but obtained justification.   
And the thief merely requested
to be remembered in His Kingdom
but he inherited Paradise!”

St John Climacus (c525-606)

te-one-who-requests-less-st-john-climacus-30march-2019 and 21 march 2020

“The most perfect degree of humility
is to take pleasure in contempt and humiliations.
Contempt suffered patiently,
is worth more before God,
for love of Him, than
a thousand fastings and disciplines.”

“Humility is a Descending Charity
and Charity is an Ascending Humility.”

“Humility helps us to serenely receive afflictions,
knowing that we deserve them
and to receive blessings with reverence,
knowing that they are undeserved.”

“Let us not lower our eyes
without humiliating the heart , at the same time;
let others not think
we want the last place,
without truly desiring it!”

“Humility makes our lives,
acceptable to God,
meekness, makes us
acceptable to men.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 August – ‘ … For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 17 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Hyacinth OP (1185-1257) ) Confessor – 1 Corinthians 12:2-11 – Luke 18:9-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.” – Luke 18:14

REFLECTION – “Before the Lord Jesus’ coming, people drew all their glory from themselves. But He came as Man that the glory of man might grow less and the glory of God grow greater. For He came without sin and found us all to be sinners. If He came to lose our sins, it is because God is merciful, so let man take note of it. For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy.

If He came to forgive us our sins, then let man take thought of his lowliness and God exercise His Mercy. “He must increase but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). That is to say, He it is Who must give and it is for me to receive. He must have the glory and I must acknowledge it. Man should understand his place, let him acknowledge God and hear what the Apostle Paul says to the high-minded and proud man, who claims to be exalted: “What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting as though you have not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7). So, let the man who would call his own that which is not his own, understand that he has received it and make himself small, for it is good for him that God should be glorified in him. Therefore, let him grow less in himself that, in him, God may grow greater.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermons on Saint John’s Gospel 14:5)

PRAYER – God, Who gladden us with the annual feast of blessed Hyacinth, Thy Confessor, mercifully grant that, while honouring the anniversary of his death, we may also imitate his deeds. 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 BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 17 August – Now that the Daylight Fills the Sky, We Lift our Hearts to God on High

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 17 August – “The Month of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Pentecost X

Now that the Daylight Fills the Sky,
We Lift our Hearts to God on High
By St Ambrose (340-397)
Great Latin Father and Doctor of the Church
Trans J M Neale (1818-1866)

Now that the daylight fills the sky,
We lift our hearts to God on high
That He, in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm today,

Would guard our hearts and tongues from strife,
From angry words, would shield our life,
From evil sights, would turn our eyes
And close our ears to vanities.

So we, when this new day is gone
And night in turn is drawing on,
With conscience by the world unstained,
Shall praise His Name for vict’ry gained.

“All praise to You, Creator Lord!
All praise to You, eternal Word!
All praise to You, O Spirit wise!”
We sing as daylight fills the skies.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 17 August – St James the Deacon (7th Century)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 17 August – St James the Deacon (7th Century). James was a Roman Deacon particularly proficient in Church music and Gregorian Chant, who accompanied St Paulinus of York (c584-644) the 1st Bishop of York, on his mission to Northumbria. He was a member of the second Gregorian mission in around 604. After Paulinus left Northumbria due to pagan violence, James stayed near Lincoln and continued his missionary efforts, dying sometime after 671, according to the Venerable St Bede.

James was presumably an Italian, like the other members of the Gregorian mission. His birth date is unknown but it is believed that he arrived in England in the 2nd mission in around 604. He accompanied St Paulinua to Northumbria together with the sister of King Eadbald of Kent, who went to Northumbria to marry King Edwin.

When King Edwin died in battle in 633, having been the principal supporter of St Paulinus’ mission, the pagans responded in aggression to the Christian missionaries. St Paulinus was forced to flee to Kent. James, however, remained in Northumbria and continued missionary evangelisation. James’ efforts were centred in Lincoln, at a Church which St Paulinus had built, the remains of which may lie under the Church of St Paul-in-the-Bail.

St Bede (673-735) writes that James lived in a village near Catterick which “bears his name to this day.” He reports that James, undertook missionary work in the area and lived to a great age. During the reign of King Oswiu of Northumbria, James attended the Royal Court, for he celebrated Easter with Oswiu’s Queen, Eanflæd, Edwin’s daughter. James and Eanflæd celebrated Easter on the date used by the Roman Church which led to conflicts with Oswiu, who celebrated Easter on the date calculated by the Irish Church. These dates did not always coincide and were one of the reasons that Oswiu called the Council of Whitby in 664 to decide which system of Easter calculation his Kingdom would use. We know, in our favoured position that the Council of Whitby settled the issue agreeing to following Rome.

According to St Bede’s account, James was present at the Council of Whitby. St Bede states that after the Council and the return of Roman customs, James, as a trained singing master in the Roman style, taught many Gregorian Chant.

James’ date of death is unknown but St Bede implies that he was still alive during St Bede’s lifetime, meaning he died after the latter’s birth, between 672. This would mean he was at least 70 years old at his death. It has been suggested that St James was St Bede’s informant for the life of St Edwin, the works of St Paulinus and perhaps, the Council of Whitby.

After his death, James was venerated as a Saint throughout the country.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

OCTAVE of St Lawrence, Victory of the King of France (Philip the Fair), imploring the help of Our Lady of Chartres (1304), St Hyacinth OP (1185-1257) ) “Apostle of Poland” and the Saints for 17 August

Posted on by AnaStpaul

PENTECOST X

OCTAVE of St Lawrence

Victory of the King of France (Philip the Fair), imploring the help of Our Lady of Chartres (1304) – 17 August:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/17/victory-of-the-king-of-france-philip-the-fair-imploring-the-help-of-our-lady-of-chartres-1304-and-memorials-of-the-saints-17-august/

St Hyacinth OP (1185-1257) ) “Apostle of Poland” and “Apostle of the North” also known as “the Polish St Dominic”– Confessor, Priest of the Order of Preachers, Doctor of Law and Divinity, Missionary, Preacher, Miracle Worker, Mystic.
Wonderful Hyacinth!:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/08/17/saint-of-the-day-17-august-st-hyacinth-o-p-apostle-of-poland-and-apostle-of-the-north/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/17/saint-of-the-day-17-august-st-hyacinth-op-1185-1257-confessor/

St Amor of Amorbach
St Anastasius of Terni
St Benedicta of Lorraine
St Carloman
St Cecilia of Lorraine

St Clare of the Cross (c1269-1308) Augustinian Nun and Abbess of Montefalco ; before becoming a Nun, St Clare was a member of the Third Order of St Francis (Secular), Mystic, Penitent, Spiritual adviser. Beatified by Pope Clement XII. On 8 December 1881, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Leo XIII Canonised Clare.
Her Sanctified Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/17/saint-of-the-day-17-august-saint-clare-of-the-cross-of-montefalco-c-1269-1308/

St Donatus of Ripacandida OSB (1179-1198) Monk. Born in 1179 at Ripacandida, Diocese of Rapallo, Italy and died on 17 August 1198 at the Onuphrios Monastery, near Petinand Salerno in Italy, of natural causes, aged just 19 years.
The name of Donatus means “the gifted one” (Latin).
Young and Gifted and Holy:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/17/saint-of-the-day-17-august-st-donatus-of-ripacandida-osb-1179-1198-monk/

St Drithelm
St Elias the Younger
St Eusebius of Sicily
St James the Deacon (7th Century)

St Jeroen of Noordwijk (c800-856) Priest Martyr, Missionary. Patronage – the finding of lost articles, of Noordwijk. Also known as – Gerone, Hiero, Hieron, Iero, Ieron, Jeroen van Noordwijk, Jéron Noordwijk. Additional Memorial – 3rd Sunday in August in Noordwijk a St Jeroen celebration known as the ‘St Jeroen Sleep Walk’ and on the 1st Sunday in September, his Patronage of Noordwijk (and of lost articles) is celebrated there.
Holy Jeropen’s Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/08/17/saint-of-the-day-17-august-st-jeroen-of-noordwijk-c800-856-priest-martyr/

St Juliana of Ptolemais
St Mamas
St Myron of Cyzicus

St Nicolò Politi (1117-1167) Basilian Monk and Hermit. He was known for his miracles even during his childhood and was Venerated as a saint even before his death. St Nicolò was Canonised on 7SJune 1507, at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome, by Pope Julius II.
Miraculous St Nicolò:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/17/saint-of-the-day-17-august-st-nicolo-politi-1117-1167/

St Paul of Ptolemais