Day: December 21, 2025

Posted in DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The DIVINE INFANT

Thought for the Day – 21 December – The Silence of the Divine Infant

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 21 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

A Christmas Novena VI
The Silence of the Divine Infant

“Evil always attracts a great deal of attention, whereas goodness operates in silence.
The reason why evil creates such a stir, is that it is the work of pride and of ambition.
It wants to be seen and to be applauded.
Goodness, good works, is done for God.
It does not seek the world’s applause but, only the approval of God.
When an enterprise sets out to look for publicity, there is reason to fear that it does not come from God but is prompted by human motives.
As a result, it will prove sterile!

If we sincerely desire to please God, we shall work in silence.

We shall not aim at our own worldly interests but, shall seek our own spiritual good and that of our fellowmen.
If it is God’s will. our good work may shine also before men but let us remember that this is for the glory of God and in order to give good example to our neighbour.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", ADVENT QUOTES, ADVENT REFLECTIONS, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 21 December – Prepare the way of the Lord …

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 21 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Advent IV – 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 – Luke 3:1-6 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight His paths.”

Luke 3:4

“As the prodigal son,
I will return to my Father’s house
and I will be welcomed back home.
I shall do the same, as he did –
will the Father not grant my prayer too?
O forgiving Father, here I am at Thy door
and I knock, open to me, let me enter,
so that I may not ruin myself, go away and die!
Thou made me Thy heir
and I neglected my inheritance
and squandered my goods –
from now on, may I be as a mercenary
and as a servant to Thee.”

St Jacob of Sarug (c451-521)
Bishop, Theologian, Poet, Writer, Father

“ … Yet only grant me repentance here below
That I may make reparation for my sins, …
That these tears may extinguish the blazing furnace
With its burning flames. …

And, instead of acting like the merciless,
Set merciful compassion within me,
That, by showing mercy to the poor,
I may obtain Your mercy.”

St Nerses Chnorhali (1102-1173)
Armenian Bishop

“By the practice of prayer,
we can construct an impregnable citadel,
in which we shall be securely protected
against all the snares of the enemy.”

St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455)

“For the sake of obtaining that eternal life,
no works of piety,
ought to seem too difficult to a true believer,
no toil too heavy,
no pain too bitter,
no time spent in labour and suffering,
too long or too wearisome.
For, if nothing is sweeter, or more desirable,
than this present life which is so full of calamities,
how much more desirable,
must that other life be deemed
which is so far removed from all sense of evil,
or fear of it, which will, in every conceivable way,
always abound in the unspeakable
and unending joys, delight and happiness of Heaven.”

St Peter Canisius SJ (1521-1597)
Confessor, Doctor of the Church

Posted in ADVENT REFLECTIONS, CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St Francis de Sales, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 December – Why does God say that He will forgive the people of Israel their iniquity because they have reached the peak of their sinfulness?!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 21 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Advent IV – 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 – Luke 3:1-6 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.” – Luke 3:4

REFLECTION – “When the pagans led the people of Israel into slavery and sent them as captives among the Persians and the Medes, after a long period of captivity, the good King Cyrus resolved to take them out of their enslavement and to bring them back to the Promised Land. With divine poetry, the Prophet Isaias broke into song with these beautiful words: “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says the Lord your God. Your consolation will neither be in vain nor useless. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem … for her sinfulness is complete. And because her iniquity has reached its peak, she will be forgiven.” And that is why that great Prophet told the people of Israel: “Prepare the way of the Lord… Make straight … a highway for our God!” (cf Isa 40:1).

Why does God say He will forgive the people of Israel their iniquity because they have reached the peak of their sinfulness?! The ancient Fathers … teach that these words can be understood … as if God were saying: “When they have reached their greatest affliction and when they intensely feel the burden of their iniquity in enslavement and servitude, after punishing them for their evil ways … I looked at them and I felt compassion for them. When they had reached the worst of their days, I was satisfied with what they had suffered. And that is why now, their iniquity will be forgiven … When they had reached the height of their … ingratitude, when they seemed no longer to remember anything at all of God and His Kindness, then their iniquity will be forgiven.”…

When God in His Providence desired to show humankind His Goodness, it was admirable, for in doing so, He did not want to be motivated by anything. Without being prompted by anything other than His Goodness, He communicated Himself to them in a truly marvelous way.

When He came into this world, it was the time when humankind had reached the peak of its sinfulness; when the laws were in the hands of Annas and Caiaphas … when Herod ruled and Pontius Pilate presided over Judea that was when God came to the world to redeem us and to deliver us from the tyranny of sin and the servitude of our enemy.” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church (Sermon for the 4th Sunday of Advent).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we, who are heavy-laden under the yoke of sin, maybe delivered from the bondage of old, by the long-awaited new birth of Thy Only-begotten Son. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Rejoice! ejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel. Amen (Collect)

Posted in ADVENT PRAYERS, BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 21 December – Hark, a Herald Voice Is Sounding

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Our Morning Offering – 21 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Advent IV

Hark, a Herald Voice Is Sounding
Vox Clare
Unknown Author – 5th or 6th Century
Trans: Fr Edward Caswall C.Orat. (1814-1878)

Hark! A herald voice is sounding!
“Christ is near,” we hear it say.
Cast away the works of darkness,
all you children of the day!”

2 See, the Lamb, so long expected,
comes with pardon down from Heav’n.
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
one and all, to be forgiv’n.

3 So, when next He comes in glory
and the world is wrapped in fear,
He will shield us with His mercy
and with words of love draw near.

4 Honour, glory, might, dominion
to the Father and the Son
with the everlasting Spirit
while eternal ages run!
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 21 December – St Baudacarius (Died 650) Monk

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Saint of the Day – 21 December – St Baudacarius (Died 650) Monk at the Monastery of St Columban in Bobbio, Provincia di Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Miracle-worker. Also known as – Baudachariu.

Bobbio Monastery

Baudacarius lived during the time of Abbot St Bertulf (Died 640) and was one of the 25 Monks whose Relics are venerated in the Crypt of the Basilica of St Columban.

Jonah, his cotemporary, recounts that, as he was the guardian of the Monastery’s vineyards and was unable to keep away the birds and other animals which were damaging the vines, 30 of his fellow Monks were sent to help him. One day, to feed them all, he multiplied the only loaf of bread he had.

Baudacarius died around 650; his Relics were transferred on 16 March 1482. He is remembered on 21 December and 31 October in Bobbio.

St Columban’s Tomb at Bobbio Cathedral
Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

ADVENT IV, Novenas, Notre-Dame de Saint-Acheul / Our Lady of Saint Acheul, Amiens, France (4th Century) and Memorials of the Saints – 21 December

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ADVENT IV (St Thomas will be celebrated tomorrow)

Christmas Novena to the Divine Infant Jesus
By St Alphonsus – THE SIXTH DAY

The Monthly Novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague
The Sixth Day

Notre-Dame de Saint-Acheul / Our Lady of Saint Acheul, Amiens, France, founded by Saint Firmin, Bishop (4th Century) – 21 December:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/21/feast-of-st-thomas-apostle-of-christ-christmas-novena-to-the-christ-child-day-six-notre-dame-de-saint-acheul-our-lady-of-saint-acheul-amiens-france-4th-century-and-memorials-of-the-saints/

Bl Adrian of Dalmatia

St Anastasius II (Died 609) Bishop of Antioch and Martyr, Confessor, Defender of the Faith.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/21/saint-of-the-day-21-december-saint-anastasius-ii-of-antioch/

St Baudacarius (Died 650) Monk in Bobbio, Italy
St Beornwald (8th Century) Priest of Bampton, England. No further information has survived.
Bl Bezela of Göda

Blessed Daniel of the Annunciation OdeM Mercedarian Friar. Daniel was a Mercedarian Friar at the Monastery of Santa Maria della Pace in Naples, Italy. He was a staunch defender of the freedom of the Church from state control and of his Order.(13th Century?)
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/21/saint-of-the-day-21-december-blessed-daniel-of-the-annunciation-odem/

St Dioscorus

Blessed Dominic Spadafora OP (1450-1521) Dominican Priest, renowned Preacher and Evangelist. His body is incorrupt.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/21/saint-of-the-day-21-december-blessed-dominic-spadafora-op-1450-1521/

St Festus of Tuscany
St Glycerius of Nicomedia
St James of Valencia O.deM. (Died 1362) Martyr
St John of Tuscany
St John Vincent

St Severin (Died c300) Bishop of Trèves, Confessor, Defender of the Faith, Missionary and Apostle to the Germans in the lower Moselle region.
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/10/15/saint-of-the-day-15-october-saint-severus-of-trier-died-c455-bishop-and-confessor/

Bl Sibrand of Marigård
St Themistocles of Lycia

Blessed Tommaso Vitali OSM (1425-1490) Priest and Friar of the Order of the Servants of Mary (the Servites), a renowned and highly effective Preacher and patient spiritual guide.
The Life of a True Shepherd:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/12/21/saint-of-the-day-21-december-blessed-tommaso-vitali-osm-1425-1490-priest/