Thought for the Day – 30 August– Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Incarnation
“The Incarnation, which is the coming of God amongst men, in order that He might be loved more, requires that man, in return, love God and be obedient to His commandments.
Since the Infinite God could do no more for us than give us His entire Self, it is only right that we should be prepared to make any sacrifice, in order to prove our love for Him. The Mystery of the Incarnation not only demands our love, it also requires that this love should induce us to lead better lives. Jesus, God made Man, should be the model which will encourage us to obey His laws and to follow His example. There is no other way to eternal joy.”
One Minute Reflection – 30 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin – 2 Cor inthians10:17-18; 11:1-2 – Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Many will come from the east and the west and will recline… at the banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven” – Matthew 8:11
REFLECTION – “I have seen our Lord in the Gospel accomplish many miracles and, reassured by them, have strengthened my fearful words. I have seen the centurion throw himself at the Lord’s feet, nations send their firstfruits to Christ. The Cross has not yet been erected and already, pagans hasten towards their Master. The words “Go, teach all nations” have not yet been heard (Mt 28,19) but the nations are already hastening. Their race precedes their call, they are burning with desire for the Lord. The sound of preaching has not yet been heard but they are hurrying towards the One Who preaches. Peter… has now been instructed and they gather around the One Who is teaching him; the light of Paul has not yet blazed beneath Christ’s standard and nations are coming with incense to adore the King (Mt 2:1).
And now, see how a centurion begs Him and says to him: “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, suffering dreadfully.” Here is a new miracle indeed! The servant, whose limbs are paralysed leads his master to the Lord; the slaves’ sickness gives health to his owner. Seeking his servant’s healing, he finds our Lord and while he is seeking for his slave’s cure, he becomes Christ’s conquest!” – Basil of Seleucia (Died c 468) Archbishop (Homily 19 on the centurion, PG 85, 235f).
PRAYER – Almighty God, Giver of all good things, Who willed that blessed Rose, imbued in early life with the dew of heavenly grace, should bloom among the Indians with the beauty of virginity and patience, grant unto us, Thy servants that, following the fragrance of her sweetness, we may be found worthy to become a sweet savour of Christ. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 30 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin
Virginis Proles Anonymous Latin, 8th Century Trans. Fr Edward Caswall C.Orat. (1814-1878)
O Thou Thy Mother’s Maker, hail! Hail, Virgin-born! to Thee; Hear us, who on this day record Thy Virgin’s memory.
Oh, through her prayers our sins forgive, All good and gracious King ! So purified in heart may we Thy praise eternal sing.
All glory to the Father be; Praise to His only Son; With Thee, who dost from both proceed. While endless ages run.
This Hymn is used for Matins in the Common of Virgins in the Extraordinary form of the Roman Breviary. Verses 1, 4 and 5 above, are used for a Virgin who is not a Martyr.
Saint of the Day – 30 August – St Fantinus (c927-1000) Confessor, Abbot of San Mercurius, Ascetic, Hermit, Missionary, Preacher, Spiritual Adviser and Miracle-worker. Born in Calabria in Italy in c927and died in Greece at around year 1000, Also known as – Fantinus of Calabria, Fantinus the Younger, Fantino…
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Thessalonica, St Fantinus, Confessor, who suffered much from the Saracens, was driven from his monastery in which he had lived in great abstinence. After having brought many to the ways of salvation, he rested at last at an advanced age.”
Saint Fantinus (on the right). Sanctuary of San Nicodemo, Mammola.
Born in Calabria in a locality described as being the “closest to Sicily” in its customs and appearance. Fantinus’ parents were named Giorgio and Vriena.
Fantinus was introduced as a child, to Saint Elias, a renowned cave-dwelling Hermit. His religious education was entrusted to Elias, leading Fantinus to become a Monk at the age of thirteen and working as a cook and as the doorman in the Monastery
At the age of thirty three, he became a Hermit in the region of Mount Mercurion in the north of Calabria. There, many Monasteries and Hermitages had been established under the Basilian rule. Fantinus lived a life of extreme asceticism, eating only raw vegetables and occupying much of his time copying manuscripts. He also experienced a vision of Heaven and Hell.
Fantinus lived both as a Hermit and as an Abbot. He subsequently convinced his aged parents, as well as his two brothers, Luke and Cosmas, and sister, Caterina, to enter the monastic life.
When he became a Hermit, he left his brother Lucas in charge of the Monastery he had founded. Though a Hermit, he often returned from the wild in order to guide and teach the disciples, who desired his spiritual counsel.
The Monastery he founded named San Mercurius, was destroyed by Muslim raiders during Fantinus’ lifetime. But Fantinus was told by an Angel to preach in Greece. He left Calabria with two disciples, Vitalis and Nicephorus. During the voyage, the ship ran out of drinking water. Fantinus made the Sign of the Cross over a container filled with seawater and miraculously converted it into drinkable water.
Fantinus visited Corinth, Athens and Larissa, where he lived near the sepulcher of Saint Achillius of Larissa. He lived for four months in a Monastery dedicated to Saint Menas near Thessalonica and then lived outside of its walls. In Thessalonica itself, he cured the sick and caused a corrupt Judge to repent of his sins. Fantinus was also honoured for his intercession in preventing a violent invasion of the City. Fantinus died in Greece.
Saint Fantinus died around the year 1000, after embracing and blessing the Monks attending him and was buried with great solemnity in the place of his choosing. The Saint’s Vita concludes with a series of miracles he performed after his death.
St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin and Penitent, Mystic, Visionary, Stigmatist (invisible), Apostle of the Poor. Also known as “St Rose of Saint Mary” – her Religious name. (Her Feast was moved from today to 23 August after Vatican II). Devoted and Ascetic St Rose: https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/23/saint-of-the-day-23-august-st-rose-of-lima-1586-1617/
St Adauctus AND St Felix Martyrs of Rome (Died c303) – both dying in c303 by beheading in Rome. The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome on the Ostian Way the Martyrdom of the blessed Priest, Felix, under the Emperor Diocletian and Maximian. After being racked, he was sentenced to death and as they led him to execution, he met a man who spontaneously declared himself a Christian and was, forthwith, beheaded with the holy Felix. The Christians, not knowing his name, called him Adauctus – the Latin word meaning “added to” because he was added to St Felix and shared his Crown.” Their Lives and Deaths: https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/30/saint-s-of-the-day-30-august-saints-felix-priest-and-martyr-and-saint-adauctus-died-c303/
St Agilus St Arsenius the Hermit St Boniface of Hadrumetum St Bononius of Lucedio Bl Bronislava of Poland Bl Edward Shelley Bl Ero di Armenteira Bl Eustáquio van Lieshout St Fantinus (c927-1000) Abbot of San Mercurius
St Pelagius the Hermit St Peter of Trevi Bl Richard Flower Bl Richard Leigh Bl Richard Martin St Rumon of Tavistock St Sylvanus the Hermit St Thecla of Hadrumetum St Theodosius of Oria
Martyrs of Colonia Suffetulana – 60 Saints: A group of 60 Christians Martyred for destroying a statue of Hermes. They were Martyred in Colonia Suffetulana, Africa.
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