Thought for the Day – 16 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
A Christmas Novena The Cave of Bethlehem
“The main resolution which we should make, at the foot of the manger, is one of humility. We should be humble in mind because we should remember that we are nothing without God and that, everything which we have, comes from Him. In fact, we are less than nothing, for our physical and spiritual gifts have been given to us by God, whereas our sins belong entirely to ourselves!
We should also be humble of heart. We should be innocent and simple, like children, as the Gospel commands, trusting and loving, so that we may be worthy of God’s favours and consolations.
Unless we acquire the innocence and humility of spiritual children, we cannot be pleasing to God!”
Quote/s of the Day – 16 December – St Eusebius of Vercelli (c283-371) Bishop, Confessor – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – Matthew 16:24-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.”
Matthew 16:24
“For he who will save his life, will lose it and he who will lose his life for My sake, will find it. ”
Matthew 16:25
“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also by Christ, doth our comfort abound.”
St Paul – 2 Corinthians 1:5
“The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great Light!”
St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church
“My soul, live henceforward amid the scourges and the thorns of thy Saviour and there, as a nightingale in its bush, sing sweetly: Live Jesus, Who didst die that my soul might live! Ah, Eternal Father! What can the world return Thee for the gift Thou hast made it of Thy only Son? Alas! to redeem a thing so vile as I, the Saviour delivered Himself to death and, unhappy me! I hesitate to surrender my nothingness to Him, Who has given me everything!”
One Minute Reflection – 16 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – St Eusebius of Vercelli (c283-371) Bishop, Confessor – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – Matthew 16:24-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” – Matthew 16:24
REFLECTION – “What does this mean, “take up a cross?” It means, he will bear with whatever is troublesome and in this very act, he will be following Me. When he has begun to follow me, according to My teaching and precepts, he will find many people contradicting him and standing in his way, many who not only deride but even persecute him. Moreover, this is true, not only of pagans who are outside the Church but also of those, who seem to be in it visibly but are outside of it because of the perversity of their deeds. Although these glory, in merely the title of Christian, they continually persecute faithful Christians. Such belong to the members of the Church in the same way, that bad blood is in the body. Therefore, if you wish to follow Christ, do not delay in carrying His Cross, tolerate sinners but do not yield to them. Do not let the false happiness of the wicked corrupt you. You do well to despise all things for the sake of Christ, in order that you may be fit for His companionship.”- St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop of Arles and Father of the Church – (Sermons, 159).
PRAYER – O God, Who gladden us with the annual festival of blessed Eusebius, Thy Martyr and Bishop, mercifully grant that, as we venerate the anniversary of his Martyrdom, we may also rejoice in his protection.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 – 16 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Resumed Mass of Sunday
Creator Alme Siderum Creator of the Starry Frame 7th Century Advent Hymn
Creator of the starry frame; Eternal Light of all who live; Jesu, Redeemer of mankind, An ear to Thy poor suppliants give.
When man was sunk in sin and death, Lost in the depth of Satan’s snare, Love brought Thee down to cure our ills, By taking of those ills a share.
Thou for the sake of guilty men, Causing Thine own pure blood to flow, Didst issue from Thy Virgin-shrine, And to the Cross a Victim go.
So great the glory of Thy might, If we but chance Thy Name to sound, At once all Heaven and Hell unite In bending low with awe profound.
Great Judge of all, in that last day, When friends shall fail and foes combine, Be present then with us, we pray, To guard us with Thy arm divine.
To God the Father and the Son, All praise and power and glory be, With Thee, O holy Comforter, Henceforth through all eternity.
Also known as Advent Hymn, this translation of the Latin Hymn Creator Alme Siderum (Pope Urban VIII’s 1632 revision of the 7th Century Hymn Conditor alme siderum) was first published in Fr Edward Caswall’s Lyra Catholica,
Saint of the Day – 16 December – St Macarius (Died 1005) Abbot of Collesano, Ascetic, spiritual guide, a man of great humility and charity, miracle-worker. Born of Italian and Greek heritage in the 9th Century.
Macarius’ life is linked to that of his father, Christopher and his brother, Saba. Christopher, having taken refuge in the Monastery of San Filippo d’Agira at the foot of Mount Etna, received the Habit from the Abbot Nicephorus, who authorised him to lead a Hermit’s life in the forest of San Michele di Crisma. There he was joined by his wife Cali and his sons Saba and Macario, who all took the monastic Habit.
A severe famine which struck Sicily in 940-941, forced them to take refuge in Calabria; disembarking at Cessaniti, near Nicotera, they wandered through the mountains and woods until they reached the famous Monastic of Mercurio, on the north-western border of Calabria with Lucania.
Here they founded the two Monasteries of San Michele Arcangelo and San Stefano Protomartyr. They then went on a pilgrimage to Rome to venerate the tombs of the Apostles and, on their return, stopped at the Monastery of San Lorenzo, near Latiniano, where Christopher died, followed shortly thereafter by Cali, who was head of a community of women.
The two brothers, Saba and Macarius, took charge of the various Monasteries of Mercurion, encouraging the Monks to persevere in their vocation and not to be discouraged by the constant Saracen raids.
Upon Saba’s death in 995, Macarius succeeded him in the direction of the Monasteries scattered throughout Mercurion and Latiniano.
The biographer testifies to the prudence with which he governed, his profound humility and, above all, his great purity. To these virtues he combined the exercise of that excessive corporal rigour which characterised the Italo-Greek Monks of the time.
He performed many miracles, causing his cell to become a destination for pilgrims of all kinds.
His life ended ten years after that of his brother, on 16 December 1005. St Macarius is remembered on this day by both the Roman and Greek Monks.
St Beoc St Dominic Dosso Bl Elizabeth of Saint Francis
St Everard of Friuli (c815-867) Duke, Count, Soldier, Founder of Churches and a Monastery. In contrast to his soldiering life, St Everard was a peacemaker, a humble and loving Master with a social conscience, striving always to free serfs, wherever possible or at least to free them from their burdens and assisting the poor and needy in all their deprivations. His Humble Life: https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/16/saint-of-the-day-16-december-saint-everard-of-friuli-c-815-867/
St Irenion (Died 389) Bishop No further information can be found Bl James of Tunis St Macarius (Died 1005) Abbot of Collesano
Martyred Women of North-West Africa: A large group of women Martyred in the persecutions of Hunneric, Arian King of the Vandals. 482 in North-West Africa.
Martyrs of Ravenna – 4 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together. Four names and no other information has survived – Agricola, Concordius, Navalis and Valentine. c 305 at Ravenna, Italy.
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