Day: October 16, 2025

Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, ROSARY REFLECTIONS and QUOTES, The HOLY GHOST

Thought for the Day – 16 October – The Third Glorious Mystery, The Descent of the Holy Ghost

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 16 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The Third Glorious Mystery
The Descent of the Holy Ghost

“The Apostles were completely transformed after the feast of Pentecost.
They had ben ignorant rustics, timid and vacillating.
They had hardly understood at all, the lofty teachings of Christ, for they were hoping still for an earthly kingdom in which they would occupy the highest posts.

When they received the Holy Ghost, however, their minds were flooded with supernatural light and they became heroic in their resolution.
Ignorant, though they had been, they became masters of Truth, far superior to the sages of Athens or the philosophers of Rome.
They were no longer timid and hesitating but, fearlessly encountered the power of the Sanhedrin, the whips of the soldiery, the dangers of long voyages and, Martyrdom itself.

We too have received the illumination and favours of the Holy Spirit.
Many times, when we have invoked Him, He has inspired and consoled us.
But we may not have responded with the same fervour and self-denial as the Apostles.
Let us remember that, to neglect God’s gifts, is to risk our eternal salvation!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MARIAN QUOTES, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR

Quote/s of the Day – 16 October – St Gerard Majella

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 16 October – St Gerard Majella CSsR (1726-1755) Religious Lay Brother of the Redemptorists

“The chance to become a Saint
is offered me only once.
If I do not profit by it, it is gone forever.
Since I can have only once ,
the good fortune to become a Saint,
what shall hinder me
from laboring for that end?
I have every opportunity to sanctify myself.
Yes, I will be a Saint!”

“ In God, in God alone do I confide, do I hope!
I have placed my whole life in His Hands
that He may do with me as he pleases.
And although I live, yet I am without life,
since my life is God.
In Him alone I rest.
From Him alone I expect the aid necessary
to carry out my resolutions.”

“And thou, Immaculate Virgin Mary,
my only joy, be thou my protectress
and my consoler!
Be ever my advocate with God
that I may put into practice,
my good resolutions.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/10/16/quote-s-of-the-day-16-october-st-gerard-majella/

St Gerard Majella (1726-1755)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

One Minute Reflection – 16 October – “He sells all he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44

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One Minute Reflection – 16 October – “The Month of The Most Holy Rosary and The Holy Angels” – The Feast of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – St Hedwig (1174-1243) Widow – Proverbs 31:10-31 – Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“He sells all he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44

REFLECTION – “ Our Lord Jesus Christ frequently and insistently, repeated “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24) … and elsewhere – “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor,” after which he adds: “then come, follow me” (Mt 19:21).

For someone who understands it, the parable of the merchant is saying the same thing – “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure buried in a field which a person finds and hides again and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Undoubtedly, the precious pearls here refer to the Kingdom of Heaven and our Lord shows us that it is impossible to gain it unless we give up all we possess: wealth, esteem, high birth, and those things which others greedily seek after.

Our Lord has also declared that it is impossible to be properly busied about one’s tasks when the mind is distracted by all sorts of things – “No-one can serve two masters,” He said (Mt 6:24). That is why the “treasure in Heaven” is the only one we should choose to fix our heart on – for “where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt 6:21) … To summarise, it is a matter of our raising our hearts to the life of Heaven in such a way that we would be able to say – “Our citizenship is in Heaven” (Phil 3:20). Above all, it is to begin to be like Christ, Who “although He was rich, made Himself poor for our sake” (2 Cor 8:9).” – St Basil the Great (330-379) Bishop, Father & Doctor of the Church (Greater monastic Rules, 8).

PRAYER – O God, Who taught blessed Hedwig to forsake worldly vanities that she might, humbly follow Thy Cross, with her whole heart, grant through her merits and example, we may learn to renounce the perishable delights of the world and, by embracing Thy Cross, overcome all things opposed to our salvation. 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 DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, MARIAN HYMNS, QUOTES on CHASTITY

Our Morning Offering – 16 October – Praeclara Custos Virginum! Blest Guardian of All Virgin Souls!

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Our Morning Offering – 16 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Feast of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Praeclara Custos Virginum!
Blest Guardian of All Virgin Souls!
By Anonymous Latin, 18th Century
Trans. Fr Edward Caswall C.Orat. (1814–1878)

Blest Guardian of all virgin souls!
Portal of bliss to man forgiven!
Pure Mother of Almighty God!
Thou hope of earth and joy of Heaven!

Fair Lily, found amid the thorns!
Most beauteous Dove with wings of gold!
Rod from whose tender root there sprang
That healing Flow’r long since foretold!

Thou Tow’r, against the dragon proof!
Thou Star, to storm-toss’d voyagers dear!
Our course lies o’er a treacherous deep;
Thine be the light by which we steer.

Scatter the mists that round us hang;
Keep far the fatal shoals away
And while through darkling waves we sweep,
Open a path to life and day.

O Jesu, born of Virgin bright!
Immortal glory be to Thee!
Praise to the Father infinite
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Amen

This Hymn originated as the Hymn for Vespers in the Office of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is used for Matins on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Tune: “From High Heaven” Leipzig melody, 1539.

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 16 October – Saint Florentinus (Died 4th Century) Bishop

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Saint of the Day – 16 October – Saint Florentinus (Died 4th Century) Bishop of Trèves. Also known as – Florentinus of Trèves, Florentius of…

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Trèves, St Florentinus, Bishop,”

Upon being Consecrated as the Bishop of Cahors, in France, Florentins received a congratulatory letter from his friend, Saint Paulinus of Nola, who was later to become a Bishop himself.

Paulinus praises Florentinus as a man of great humility and meekness of heart, with the gentleness and the innocence of a lamb and imbued with “the sweetness of the Lord.”

In reference to Florentinus’ Episcopal vocation, Paulinus observes that God had chosen him for “the role of his apostles” to “become a fisher of men,” who would “with the net of the saving Word, draw from the bitter, deep waves of this world a haul which God can invest with life rather than destruction.”

Posted in MARIAN TITLES

The Feast of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dedication of the Church of Our Lady of Milan (1417), St Hedwig, St Gerard Majella and the Saints for 16 October

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Feast of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/10/16/feast-of-the-purity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-16-october/

Dedication of the Church of Our Lady of Milan (1417) by Pope Martin V – 16 October:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/10/16/dedication-of-the-church-of-our-lady-of-milan-1417-by-pope-martin-v-and-memorials-of-the-saints-16-october/

St Hedwig of Andechs (1174-1243) Mother, Widow, High Duchess of Poland, Apostles of orphans, the poor, the sick, founder with her husband of Monasteries, schools and Churches, Administrator, Peace-maker,
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/10/16/saint-of-the-day-16-october-st-hedwig-of-andechs-1174-1243/

St Gerard Majella CSsR (1726-1755) Religious Lay Brother of the Congregation of the Holy Redeemer, better known as the Redemptorists (of St Alphonsus de Liguori), Apostle of the Holy Eucharist, Apostle of Charity, known as a Miracle-worker.
St Gerard’s Story:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/10/16/saint-of-the-day-16-october-st-gerard-majella-c-ss-r-1726-1755/

St Amandus of Limoges
St Ambrose of Cahors

St Balderic

St Bertrand of Comminges (c1050-1123) Bishop of Comminges, in the Archdiocese of Toulouse, France, Reformer – both religious and civil, Peace-maker, Miracle-worker.
St Bertrand’s Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/10/16/saint-of-the-day-16-october-saint-bertrand-of-comminges-c1050-1123-bishop/

St Bolonia
St Conogon of Quimper
St Dulcidius of Agen

St Eliphius (Died 362) Martyr, Bishop (?) or Deacon (?) Irish Missionary.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Cologne, St Eliphiuis, Martyr, under Julian the Apostate.”
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/10/16/saint-of-the-day-16-october-st-eliphius-died-362-martyr/

St Eremberta of Wierre
St Florentinus (Died 4th Century) Bishop of Trèves

St Gall (c550–c646) “Apostle of Switzerland,” Monk, Missionary, Hermit – he was a disciple and one of the traditional twelve companions of Saint Columbanus on his mission from Ireland to the continent.
About St Gall:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/10/16/saint-of-the-day-16-october-saint-gall-c-550-c-646/

St Gerald of Clairvaux O.Cist (Died 1177) Abbot regarded as the first Cistercian Martyr
St Junian
St Lull
St Magnobodus of Angers
St Martinian of Mauretania
St Mummolinus
St Saturian of Mauretania
St Silvanus of Ahun
St Victor of Cologne
St Vitalis of Noirmoutier

Martyrs in Africa – 220 Saints: A group of 220 Christians Martyrs about whom we know nothing but that they died for their faith.

Martyrs of North Africa – 365 Saints: A group of 365 Christians who were Martyred together in the persecutions of the Vandal king Genseric. The only details that have survived are the names of two of the Martyrs – Nereus and Saturninus. 450 in North Africa.