Day: March 21, 2026

Posted in LENT 2026, The PASSION, Thomas Aquinas

Saturday of the 4th Week of Lent – 21 March – Our Lenten Journey With St Thomas Aquinas – There was No More Fitting Way to Free the Human Race than Through the Passion of Christ

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saturday of the 4th Week of Lent – 21 March – Our Lenten Journey With St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor of the Church

Saturday of the Fourth Week
There was No More Fitting Way to Free the Human Race
than Through the Passion of Christ

“God commendeth His Charity towards us because, when as yet we were sinners, Christ died for us”
Rom v. 8

The suitability of any particular way, for the attainment of a given end, is reckoned according to the greater or lesser number of elements useful to that end which, the way in question brings about.
The more helpful to the end by the method chosen, the better and more suitable is that method or way.
Now owing to the fact that it was through the Passion of Christ that man was delivered, many other elements, helpful to man’s salvation, came about in addition to his being freed from sin.

(i) Thanks to the fact that it was through the Passion that man was delivered, man learns how much God Loves him and is, thereby stimulated to that love of God, in which is to be found the perfection of man’s salvation.
“God commendeth His Charity towards us because, when as yet we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom v. 8).
(ii) In the Passion He gave us an example of obedience, humility, constancy, justice and of other virtues also, all of which we must practise if we are to be saved.
“Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His Steps” (i Pet ii. 21).
(iii) Christ, by His Passion, not only delivered man from sinbut also, merited for man, the grace which makes him acceptable to God and the glory of life with God for eternity.
(iv) The fact that it is through the Passion that man has been saved, impresses upon man the need of keeping himself free from sin.
Man has only to realise, t it was at the price of the Blood of Christ that he was bought from sin.
“You are bought by a great Price.
Glorify God and bear Him in your body” (i Cor vi. 20).
(v) The fact that the Passion was the way chosen heightens the dignity of human nature.
As it was man who was deceived and conquered by the devil, so now, it is man by whom the devil in turn is conquered.
As it was man who once earned death, so it is Man, Who, by Dying, has overcome death.
“Thanks be to God Who hath given us the victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ” (i Cor xv. 57).

ST THOMAS AQUINAS (1225-1274)
Priest, Theologian, Dominican
Doctor Angelicus (Angelic Doctor)
Doctor Communis (Common Doctor)
Added by Pope Saint Pius V in 1568

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on the POOR

Quote/s of the Day – 21 March – St Benedict

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 21 March – St Benedict OSB (c 480-547) Abbot, Patron of Europe and Founder of Western Monasticism.

“The poor and pilgrims
are to be received with all care and hospitality,
for it is in them, Christ is received.”

“He should know that whoever undertakes
the government of souls must prepare himself
to account for them.”

Almighty God, Give Me …
A Prayer of Petition
By St Benedict (c 480-547)

Almighty God,
give me wisdom to perceive Thee,
intelligence to understand Thee,
diligence to seek Thee,
patience to wait for Thee,
eyes to behold Thee,
a heart to meditate upon Thee
and life to proclaim Thee
through the power of the Spirit
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2025/03/21/quote-s-of-the-day-21-march-st-benedict-4/

St Benedict (c 480-547)

Posted in CARMELITES, LENT, LENT 2026, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION

Our Morning Offering – 21 March – A Lenten Offering

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 21 March – Thursday in Passion Week

A Lenten Offering
By St Thérèse of the Child Jesus
and the Holy Face of Lisieux (1873-1897)

O my God!
I offer Thee all my actions of this Lent
for the intentions and for the glory
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart,
my every thought,
my simplest works,
by uniting them to Its Infinite Merits
and I wish to make reparation for my sins,
by casting them into the furnace
of Its Merciful Love.
O my God!
I ask of Thee for myself
and for those whom I hold dear,
the grace to fulfil perfectly Thy Holy Will,
to accept for love of Thee,
the joys and sorrows of this passing life,
so that we may one day
be united together in Heaven,
for all eternity.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 21 March – Saint Christian (Died 1002) Abbot

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 21 March – Saint Christian (Died 1002) the 1st Abbot of St Pantaleon Monastery in Cologne North Rhine-Westphalia, modern Germany. Also known as – Christianus. Christian was also an Author of renowned, publishing widely read Theological treatise. He was a zealous and hard-working Abbot, creating a flourishing community of holy Monks.

In around 975, Bishop Gero of Cologne brought the Relics of Saint Pantaleon to his Episcopal City and placed them in the Church traditionally dedicated to ‘The Three Holy Doctors’ (Saints Cosmas, Damian and Pantaleon).

This Church dated to the time of Saint Hildebold, perhaps even to the 7th Century. Between 950 and 964, Bishop Bruno had the Church extensively renovated and expanded with a n attached monastic community.

On the occasion of the dedication of the Monastery, he appointed Christianus as the 1st Abbot. This Christianus came from the Monastery of Fulda.

The extent to which he worked for the flourishing of his Monastery is evident from the Bishop’s placement of the Relics of Saint Pantaleon in the Monastery Church.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

SATURDAY of the 4th WEEK of LENT, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Bruges / Our Lady of Bruges, Flanders (1150), where a lock of Our Lady’s hair is preserved, St Benedict (c480-547) Abbot, Patron of Europe and Founder of Western Monasticism and the Saints for 21 March

Posted on by AnaStpaul

SATURDAY of the FOURTH WEEK of LENT

Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Bruges / Our Lady of Bruges, Flanders (1150), where a lock of Our Lady’s hair is preserved – 21 March:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/21/passion-sunday-or-the-fifth-suday-of-lent-2021-our-lady-of-bruges-flanders-1150-and-memorials-of-the-saints-21-march/

Michelangelo Buonarroti; Bruges

St Benedict OSB (c480-547) Abbot, Patron of Europe and Founder of Western Monasticism.
His Feast Day was moved in 1969.
The Twin Brother of St Scholastica:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/11/saint-of-the-day-11-july-st-benedict-of-nursia-osb-c-480-547-patron-of-europe-and-founder-of-western-monasticism/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/07/11/saint-of-the-day-11-july-st-benedict-of-nursia-o-s-b-abbot-patron-of-europe-patronus-europae/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/21/saint-of-the-day-21-march-st-benedict-dom-prosper-gueranger-on-the-medal/

Bl Alfonso de Rojas

St Birillus (Died c90) Bishop of Catania, Consecrated by St Peter, Missionary.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Catania, St Brillus, who was Consecrated Bishop by St Peter. After converting many Gentiles to the Faith, he rested in peace in extremely old age.”
Holy St Birillus:
https://anastpaul.com/2025/03/21/saint-of-the-day-21-march-saint-birillus-died-c90-bishop/

St Peter sends St Birillus to preach the Gospel

St Christian (Died 1002) Abbot of Cologne
St Domninus of Rome

St Enda (c450 – c530) Monk, Abbot of Aran “Father of Irish Monasticism” and Aran is known as “Aran of the Saints.”
“Father of Irish Monasticism” :
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/21/saint-of-the-day-21-march-st-enda-of-aran-c-450-c-530-patriarch-of-irish-monasticism/

St Isenger of Verdun
St James the Confessor

St John (Died 1146) Bishop of Valence , Founder of the Abbey of Bonnevaux, Monk, Abbot, Apostle of the poor, Social Reformer.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Valence in the territory of Vienne in France, St John, Bishop, who, at first Abbot of Bonnevaux, suffered many adversities for the defence of justice and with charity took care of the peasants, the poor and the merchants ruined by debts.”
Imitating the Lord:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/21/saint-of-the-day-21-march-saint-john-of-valence-died-1146/

Bl Lucia of Verona (1514-1574) Laywoman, Apostle of the Sick

St Lupicinus (Died c480) brother of St Romanus (Died c460) both Abbots at Condat Monastery. St Romanus is venerated on 28 February.
St Lupinus’ Body was certainly incorrupt until the 1700s. I am not sure whether it was protected from the evils destruction of the French Revolution.
His Life of Love:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/03/21/saint-of-the-day-21-march-saint-lupicinus-of-condat-died-c480-abbot/

St Nicholas of Flue (1417-1487) Swiss Hermit and Ascetic who is the Patron Saint of Switzerland. He is sometimes invoked as Brother Klaus. A husband and father, a Mystic, a Writer, farmer, military leader, Member of the assembly, Councillor, Judge, he was respected as a man of complete moral integrity. He was Canonised on 15 May 1947 by Pope Pius XII.
Holy St Nicholas:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/saint-of-the-day-21-march-st-nicholas-of-flue-1417-1487/St Nicholas of Flue (1417-1487)

St Serapion the Scolastic (Died c354-370) Bishop of Thmuis, near Diospolis in the Nile delta of Egypt, Monk and Hermit, Confessor, brilliant Scholar of great learning, Theologian, Writer, a companion to St Anthony, the Desert and a close friend of St Athanasius and gave support to him against the heretic Arians in Egypt, for which action he was exiled.
St Serapion’s Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/21/saint-of-the-day-21-march-saint-serapion-the-scolastic-died-c-354-370-bishop/

St Philemon of Rome
Bl Santuccia Terrebotti

Martyrs of Alexandria: A large but unknown number of Catholics massacred in several Churches during Good Friday services in Alexandria, Egypt by Arian heretics during the persecutions of Constantius and Philagrio. They were Martyred on Good Friday in 342 in Alexandria, Egypt.