Thought for the Day – 19 April – During this Season of Alleluias and Joy, we will consider Fr von Cochem’s Reflections upon our Heavenly Homeland.
Excerpts from THE FOUR LAST THINGS —- DEATH, JUDGMENT, HELL and HEAVEN FR MARTIN VON COCHEM (1625-1712) OSFC
Nihil Obstat: Thomas L Kinkead, Censor Liborium Imprimatur: Michael Augustine — Archbishop of New York (New York 5 Oct 1899)
PART IV ON HEAVEN
III.3 On the Spiritual Joys of Heaven
Thirdly, the will of each one of the blessed will be crowned with felicity and kindled with the love of God and of the blessed, in whose company he is.
The noblest pleasures a man can enjoy come from his will. A man is happy when all succeeds with him according to his wishes; when he acquires and possesses all that which his heart can desire; when he is generally esteemed and praised by his fellow-men; when he loves and is loved, by the object of his affections. This and much more besides, is the portion of the blessed but in the highest degree and in the greatest possible perfection.
The Love of God for them and, their love of Him, is so profound, they are enflamed and consumed, with Divine Charity, their will resembles a live coal, glowing with light and heat, until it is absorbed by the fire of which it is a part. So it is with the Saints in Heaven; imbued with Divine Charity, they burn and shine in the Light of God and reflect His Image more and more. St John says: “We know that when He shall appear we shall be like to Him because we shall see Him as He is” (i John iii. 2).
In the Love of God and in union with Him, they find such ineffable delight that, inebriated by the sweetness of Divine Charity, they lose themselves in Him!
Quote/s of the Day – 19 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – Easter II – 1 Peter 2:21-25 – John 10:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“I am the Good Shepherd, I know Mine and Mine know Me.”
John 10:14
“Come, then and search out Thy sheep, not through Thy servants or hired men but do it Thineself. Lift me up bodily and in the flesh, which is fallen in Adam. Lift me up, not from Sarah but from Mary, a Virgin, not only undefiled but a Virgin, whom grace had made inviolate, free of every stain of sin.”
St Ambrose (340-397) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Christ acts like a loving mother. To induce us to follow Him, He gives us Himself as an example and promises us a reward in His Kingdom.”
St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Evangelical Doctor
“Christ said that the shepherd enters through the gate and that He is Himself the Gate, as well as the Shepherd. Then, it is necessary, that He enter through Himself. By so doing, He reveals Himself and through Himself, He knows the Father. But we enter through Him because through Him. we find happiness.”
St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor Angelicus / Doctor Communis
One Minute Reflection – 19 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – Easter II – 1 Peter 2:21-25 – John 10:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“I am the Good Shepherd and I know Mine and Mine know Me.”- John 10:14
REFLECTION – “I am the good shepherd. I know My Own—by which I mean, I love them—and My Own know Me. In plain words – those who love Me are willing to follow Me, for anyone who does not love the Truth, has not yet come to know it.
My dear brethren, you have heard the test we shepherds have to undergo. Turn now to consider, how these words of our Lord, imply a test for yourselves too. Ask yourselves whether you belong to His flock, whether you know Him, whether the Light of His Truth shines in your minds. I assure you that it is not by faith that you will come to know Him but, by love, not by mere conviction but, by action. John the Evangelist is my authority, for this statement. He tells us that anyone who claims to know God, without keeping His commandments, is a liar.
Consequently, the Lord immediately adds: ‘As the Father knows Me and I know the Father and I lay down My life for My sheep.‘ Clearly, He means that laying down His life for His sheep, gives evidence of His knowledge of the Father and the Father’s knowledge of Him. In other words, by the love with which He dies for His sheep, He shows, how greatly He loves His Father.
Again He says: ‘My sheep hear My voice and I know them; they follow Me,and I give them eternal life.’ Shortly before this He had declared – ‘If anyone enters the sheepfold through Me, he shall be saved, he shall go freely in and out and shall find good pasture.‘ He will enter into a life of faith; from faith, he will go out to vision, from belief to contemplation and will graze in the good pastures of everlasting life.
So our Lord’s sheep will finally reach their grazing ground, where all who follow Him in simplicity of heart, will feed on the green pastures of eternity. These pastures are the spiritual joys of Heaven. There, the elect look upon the Face of God with unclouded vision and feast at the banquet of life, forever more.
Beloved brothers, let us set out for these pastures ,where we shall keep joyful festival with so many of our fellow citizens. May the thought of their happiness urge us on! Let us stir up our hearts, rekindle our faith and long eagerly for what Heaven has in store for us. To love thus, is to be already on our way. No matter what obstacles we encounter, we must not allow them to turn us aside from the joy of that heavenly feast. Anyone who is determined to reach his destination, is not deterred by the roughness of the road which leads to it. Nor must we allow the charm of success to seduce us, or we shall be like a foolish traveller who is so distracted by the pleasant meadows through which he is passing that he forgets where he is going.” – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Bishop of Rome and Great Western Father and Doctor of the Church (An excerpt from his Sermon 14).
PRAYER – Grant us, Thy servants, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake of the fullness of eternal happiness. Through the same 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 – 19 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – Easter II
Prayer Before Holy Communion By St Anselm (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who according to the Will of the Father and with the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, has, by Thy Death. given Life to the world, I adore and revere this, Thy Holy Body and this, Thy Holy Blood which was given up and poured forth, for the many, unto remission of sins. O merciful Lord, I beg of Thee Mercy, that through the power of this Sacrament, Thou will make me one of that many. Through faith and love, make me feel the power of these Sacraments, so I may experience their saving power. Absolve and free from all sin and punishment of sin, Thy servants, Thy handmaidens, myself, all who confessed their sins to me, those whom I have promised, or am obliged, to pray for and so too, those who themselves hope or beg, to be helped, by my prayers to Thee. Make our Church rejoice in Thy constant protection and consolation. Amen
Saint of the Day –19 April – St Ursmar (644-713) Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes in Belgium, Ascetic and Penitent, renowned Preacher which led him to be appointed as an itinerant missionary Bishop In France, Belfgum and Germany. Born in 644 in Belgium and died there at his See on 18 April 713. Patronages – Binche, Lobbes and Luxembourg.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At the Monastery of Lobbes, St Ursmar, Bishop.”
St Ursmarwas born near Avesne, in Haynault (in the Fremch-speaking region of Belgium) and grew up from his cradle, a model of all virtues, in which he made continual progress by a life of humility, patience and penance and by an assiduous application to prayer, in which he usually shed abundance of tears.
What he most earnestly asked of God was the gift of an ardent charity, in order that all his thoughts and actions, and those of all men, might, with the most pure and fervent intention and in the most perfect manner, be directed in all things, to fulfil His Holy and adorable Will.
In his conversation it was his earnest desire to induce persons of a secular life to fix their thoughts, as much as the condition of their state would allow, on heavenly things. Also, to accompany even their worldly business with such aspirations and thoughts and to study to withdraw their hearts from all attachment to creatures.
St Landelin had then lately founded the Abbey of Lobes, on the Sambre, in a territory which is now subject to the Prince of Liege, although in the diocese of Cambray. Ursmar here put on the monastic habit. When, in 686, St Landelin retired into a closer solitude, where he soon after built the Monastery of Crespin, he left Ursmar as the Abbot of Lobes.
Our Saint redoubled his fervour in all the exercises of penance in this dignity. He never tasted any flesh-meat or fish and for 10 years never once touched bread, not even in a dangerous illness.
He finished the building of his Abbey and Church and founded several other Monasteries. He often left his dear cell to preach the Faith to idolaters and sinners. He became the apostle of several districts in Cambrai, Arras, Tournay, Noyon, Terouanne, Laon, Metz, Triers, Cologne and Maestricht.
By virtue of a commission from the Holy See, he exercised the functions of a Bisho,: his predecessor, St Landelin and his 2 successors, Sts Ermin and Theodulph, were invested with the same character.
St Ursmar receives holy orders as Abbot of Lobbes Abbey in 691, probably by Saint Lambertus, the Bishop of Maastricht (19th Century relief in the Church of Saint Ursmar in Lobbes)
In his old age he resigned his Abbacy to St Ermin and died in retirement in 713, being almost sixty-nine years old, on the 18th day of April, on which he is honoured as principal Patron at Binche, Lobbes and Luxembourg but is named today, on the 19th which was the day of his burial, in the Roman and several other Martyrologies.
His Relics are venerated at Binche, 4 leagues from Mons. See his original life by a disciple, with the notes of Henschenius, also in 981, Folcuin, Abbot of Lobbes, in his accurate history of The Gests of the Abbots of Lobbes.
St Apollonius the Priest St Aristonicus of Melitene
Blessed Bernard (Died 1182) Penitent, Pilgrim, Hermit. Patronages – of sinners, convicts, prisoners, penitents, pilgrims. The Roman Martyrology: “At the Monastery of Saint-Bertin in the territory of France in Thérouanne, lies the tomb of Blessed Bernard, penitent, who, eager to atone for the sins of his youth with an austere penitence, voluntarily chose exile and, barefooted, wearing rough garments, was a tireless pilgrim to the holy places.” Dear Blessed Bernard, pray for us!: https://anastpaul.com/2023/04/19/saint-of-the-day-19-april-blessed-bernard-of-sithiu-died-1182-layman-penitent/
St Crescentius (Died c396)Deacon and Confessor of Florence, Italy. The image below shows St Zenobius seated with his Deacons, St Crescentius and St Eugenius kneeling at either side. Painting on a pillar in the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence. The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Florence, Crescent, Confessor, disciple of the blessed Bishop St Zenobius.” His Holy Life: https://anastpaul.com/2025/04/19/saint-of-the-day-19-april-saint-crescentius-died-c396-deacon-and-confessor/
Our dear Martyr and protector, Saint Expeditus, You who know what is necessary and what is urgently needed. I beg you to intercede before the Blessed Trinity that by your intercession, my request will be granted. …………………… (Clearly express your needs and ask him to find a way to help you.) May I receive your blessings and favours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, One God with the Almighty Father. Amen.
If Saint Expeditus grants your request, place an advertisement in the local Catholic newspaper and/or your Parish Bulletin or Notice Board, thanking Saint Expeditus, so that his name and fame will grow
St Gaius of Melitene St Galata of Melitene St George of Antioch
St Pope Leo IX (1002-1054) known as “The Apostolic Pilgrim” When the German Pope Damasus II died in 1048, Bishop Bruno was selected by the Emperor, Henry III, to succeed him. Bruno agreed to go to Rome and to accept the Papacy if freely elected thereto by the Roman people. He wished, at least, to rescue the See of Peter from its servitude to the German Emperors. When, in company with Hildebrand, he reached Rome and presented himself to its people clad in pilgrim’s guise and barefooted but still tall and fair to look upon, they cried out with one voice that him and no other would they have as Pope. Assuming the name of Leo, he was solemnly enthroned on 12 February, 1049. The Apostolic Pilgrim: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/saint-of-the-day-19-april-st-pope-leo-ix-1002-1954/
St Martha of Persia St Rufus of Melitene St Timon Deacon Martyr St Ursmar (644-713) Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes in Belgium
St Vincent of Collioure
Martyrs of Carthage – 17 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred in the persecutions of Decius. We know little more than the names – Aristo, Basso, Credula, Donato, Ereda, Eremio, Fermo, Fortunata, Fortunio, Frutto, Julia, Mappalicus, Martial, Paul, Venusto, Victorinus and Victor. Died in the year 250 in prison in Carthage, North Africa (modern Tunis, Tunisia).
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