Thought for the Day – 26 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
HEAVEN
“God desires our salvation. “God wishes all men to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4). We are all aspiring to Heaven. We shall not be denied the grace of God, as long as we ask for it with confidence and perseverance. St Augustine tells us that Paradise is ours, if we wish: “You are not called to embrace the earth but, to prepare yourselves for Heaven; not to the successes of this world, nor to a short-lived and transient prosperity but, to eternal life, together with the Angels” (Serm 296 6:7).
Contemplate that true and everlasting happiness. Let us direct towards it, our intentions and desires and all our work! Then the day will come when we shall be really happy for all eternity.”
Quote/s of the Day – 26 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Jean de Brébeuf (1593-1649) Priest, Martyr, and St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646) Priest, Martyr, Missionary and Companions – Hebrews 10:32-38 – Luke 12:1-8 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more they can do. … be afraid of him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell. ”
Luke 12:4-5
“It is He Who is our peace.”
St Paul Ephesians 2:14
“The world … hates Me because I bear witness concerning it, that its works are evil.”
John 7:7
“… THE WORLD HATES Christians, so why give your love to it, instead of following Christ, Who loves you and has redeemed you? A man cannot love the Father and love the world at the same time. All that the world offers is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and earthly ambition. The world and its allurements will pass away but the man who has done the Will of God shall live forever. Our part, my dear brothers, is to be single-minded, firm in faith and steadfast in courage, ready for God’s will, whatever it may be. Banish the fear of death and think of the eternal life which follows it. That will show people that we really live our Faith.”
St Cyprian of Carthage (200-258) Bishop of Carthage, Martyr Father of the Church
(An excerpt from On Man’s Mortality).
“You do not, in your enemies, love what they are but what you would have them become, by your prayers!”
St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Father, forgive them.” With this prayer, He wanted to make us understand the love He bore us, undiminished by any suffering and to teach us how our heart should be toward our neighbour.”
One Minute Reflection – 26 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646) Priest, Martyr, Missionary and Companions – Hebrews 10:32-38 – Luke 12:1-8 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Yes, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore, do not be afraid, you are of more value than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:6-7
REFLECTION – “I appeal to you by the Mercy of God. This appeal is made by Paul, or rather, it is made by God through Paul because of God’s desire to be loved, rather than feared, to be a Father, rather than a Lord. God appeals to us in His Mercy to avoid having to punish us in His severity.
Listen to the Lord’s appeal: In Me, I want you to see your own body, your members, your heart, your bones, your blood. You may fear what is Divine but why not love what is human? You may run away from Me as the Lord but why not run to Me as your Father? Perhaps you are filled with shame for causing My bitter Passion. Do not be afraid. This Cross inflicts a mortal injury, not on Me but on death! These nails no longer pain Me but only deepen your love for Me. I do not cry out because of these Wounds but through them, I draw you into My Heart. My Body was stretched on the Cross as a symbol, not of how much I suffered but of My all-embracing Love. I count it no less, to shed My Blood, it is the price I have paid for your ransom. Come then, return to Me and learn to know Me as your Father, Who repays good for evil, love for injury and boundless charity for piercing wounds!” – St Peter Chrysologus (c400-450) Bishop of Ravenna, Father and Doctor of the Church (An Excerpt from Sermon 108).
PRAYER – May the continual protection of the blessed Martyrs comfort us, O Lord, for Thou do not cease to behold with favour those whom You have granted the grace of such assistance. 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 – 26 September – St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646), St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646) Priest, Martyr, Missionary and Companions
Jesus, What Can I Give Thee in Return? The Prayer of St Jean de Brébeuf SJ (1593-1649)
Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, what can I give Thee in return for all the favours Thou hast first conferred upon me? I will take from Thy Hand, the Cup of Thine Sufferings and call on Thy Name. I vow before Thee, eternal Father and the Holy Ghost, before Thy most holy Mother and her most chaste Spouse, before the Angels, Apostles and Martyrs, before my blessed fathers, Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier, in truth, I vow to Thee, Jesus my Saviour, that, as far as I have the strength, I will never fail to accept the grace of Martyrdom, if someday Thou, in Thine Infinite Mercy, should offer it to me, Thy most unworthy servant … My beloved Jesus, here and now, I offer my body and blood and life. May I die only for Thee, if Thou will grant me this grace, since Thou willingly died for me. Let me so live that Thou may grant me the gift of such a happy death. In this way, my God and Saviour, I will take from Thy Hand, the Cup of Thine Sufferings and call upon Thy Name, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Amen
Saint of the Day – 26 September – Saint Eusebius (Died c390) Bishop and Confessor of Bologna, a Defender of the True Faith against heresies, in particular, Arianism. A close friend and disciple of St Ambrose, the Doctor of the Church, influence and instrument of God in converting St Augustine.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Bologna, St Eusebius, Bishop and Confessor.”
In the Episcopal records of the Bolognese Church, known as the Renano List (a document of undoubted historical value), Eusebius is listed 5th in line.
The few details of his life are gleaned from Saint Ambrose (340-397), with whom he had a close friendship. He participated, together with the Bishop of Milan, in the Council of Aquileia in 381, where he played a significant role in opposing Arianism and condemning the heretics Palladius and Secundinus.
St Ambrose by Claude Vignon c1623-25
The Acta of the this Council reveal that, after Saint Ambrose, Eusebius was the Bishop who spoke most frequently in the discussion and signed the Decree of condemnation after the local Bishop and the Prelate of Milan.
Eusebius’ Episcopate in Bologna is believed to have lasted between 370 and 390. Saint Ambrose also informs us that in Bologna, there existed a a substantial nucleus of virgins who, under the impetus and promotion of Bishop Eusebius, distinguished themselves by their zeal and piety.
Some authors maintain that Letters 54 and 55 of Saint Ambrose were addressed to the Bishop of Bologna, like his ‘De Institutione Virginis’ these opinions are difficult now to verify.
Regarding his cult, no ancient document from the Bolognese Church mentions him being venerated as a Saint. The first texts which mention St Eusebius date to the late 16th Century when he was entered in the Roman Martyrology on 26 September.
St Cyprian (Died 2nd Century) Bishop Martyr of Antioch AND St Justina of Antioch (Died 2nd Century) Virgin Martyr The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Nicomedia, the birthday of the holy Martyrs Cyprian and Justina, Virgin. Under the Emperor Diocletian and the Governor Eutholmius, Justina suffered much for the Faith of Christ and coverted Cyprian, who while a magician, endeavoured to bring her under the influence of his magical practices. She afterwards suffered Martyrdom with him. Their bodies being exposed to the beasts, were taken away in the night by some Christian sailors and carried to Rome. They were subsequently taken into the Constantian Basilica and deposited near the Baptistry.” Their Martyrdom: https://anastpaul.com/2024/09/26/saints-of-the-day-26-september-st-cyprian-of-antioch-bishop-martyr-and-st-justina-virgin-martyr-died-2nd-century/
St Amantius of Tiphernum St Callistratus of Constantinople St Colman of Elo St Pope Eusebius St Eusebius (Died c390) Bishop and Confessor of Bologna
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