Day: April 23, 2026

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, QUOTES on HEAVEN, THE 4 LAST THINGS : HEAVEN By Fr Martin von Cochem, The LAST THINGS

Thought for the Day – 23 April – On the Number of the Saved 3

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 23 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

IV:3 On the Number of the Saved

… What object in life have the great majority of mankind?
What is it they strive after and crave for?

They desire to be rich, to be prosperous, to live in luxury and to be praised by their fellowmen. Nobody considers this to be a sin.
And yet Our Lord declares that everlasting death will be the doom of such persons and He denounces them in forcible language.

From these and similar passages which abound in Holy Scripture, thou seest that God is more strict than thou dost imagine and, it is a more easy matter to lose thy soul than thou perhaps thinkest. Wherefore do not any longer live so heedlessly but work out thy salvation with fear and trembling, as the Apostle exhorts thee.
The Saints did so at all times, having the fear of God’s judgements ever be fore their eyes.
The Godless, on the contrary, are ever wont to say, as many do at the present day: God is merciful, He will not condemn us so lightly to eternal damnation.
But remember what is said in Holy Scripture: “Be not without fear about sin forgiven and add not sin to sin. And say not, The Mercy of the Lord is great, He will have mercy upon the multitude of my sins. For mercy and wrath come quickly from Him and His wrath looketh upon sinners” (Ecclus v. 5-7).

We also find St Catharine of Siena saying: “O unhappy sinners, do not rely upon the greatness of God’s Mercy; believe me, the more you provoke the anger of this merciful God by willful sin, the deeper you will be cast into the abyss of perdition.”

It is undoubtedly true that we ought to place our trust in God’s Mercy but what the nature of our confidence should be, we are taught by St Gregory.
He says: “Let him who does all that he can, rely firmly upon the Mercy of God. But for him who does not do all that lies within his power to rely upon the Mercy of God would be simple presumption.”
To each and all of us the Apostle Peter says: “Labour the more, that by good works you may make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet.i. 10).

Several of the Fathers of the Church consider that from the fact that at the time of the deluge only eight persons were saved, at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah,
only four namely, Lot, his wife and his two daughters escaped with their lives and of the six hundred thousand able men who departed out of Egypt, not more than two reached the Promised Land, the others all dying in the desert, it may be concluded that the number of the Elect amongst Christians will be proportionately small.
This agrees with what St John Chrysostom said on one occasion when he was preaching in the City of Antioch: “What think you, my hearers, how many of the inhabitants of this City may perhaps be saved? What I am about to say is very terrible, yet I will not conceal it from you. Out of this thickly populated City with its thousands of inhabitants, not a hundred will be saved; I even doubt whether there will be as many as that. For what indifference we see amongst the aged, what wickedness amongst the young, what impiety amongst all classes of people.”

Such words as these may well make us tremble.
We should hesitate to believe them, did they not come from the lips of so great a Saint and Father of the Church.
And if it is true that in the first five centuries, when the zeal and devotion of Christians was much more fervent than it is now, so small a number attained everlasting salvation, what will it be in our own day, when crime and vice prevail to so fearful an extent?

Since it is impossible for anyone to deny, or even to doubt that the number of the Elect is small in proportion to that of the reprobate, I beseech thee, O Christian reader, exert thyself to the utmost to accomplish the work of thy salvation.
Thou knowest what an awful thing it is to be damned eternally!

Posted in franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY

Quote/s of the Day – 23 April – The Wisdom of Blessed Giles of Assisi

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 23 April – On the Feast Day of Blessed Giles of Assisi OFM (c1190-1262) Friar and Missionary of the Order of Friars Minor, Friend and the 3rd follower of St Francis.

A Brother said to Brother Giles:
“ Father, I have seen other men who received from God
the grace of devotion and of tears in their prayers
and I cannot feel in myself any such grace,
when I go to worship God.”
To whom Brother Giles answered:
“My Brother, I counsel thee to persevere humbly
and faithfully in thy prayers;
for the fruits of the earth cannot be had without toil
and labour applied beforehand
and even after we have laboured,
the desired fruit does not follow immediately
but only in its season, when the fullness of time has come.”

“Happiness is to do bodily labour
for the love of the Most High
and not to take any lesser wages than Paradise,
for the good work one does.”

“If thou wouldst see well, pluck out thine eyes and be blind;
if thou wouldst hear well, be deaf
and if thou wouldst speak well, become dumb;
if thou wouldst advance, stand still
and advance with thy mind;
if thou wouldst work well, cut off thy hands
and work with thy heart;
if thou wouldst love much, hate thyself;
if thou wouldst live well, mortify thyself;
if thou wouldst gain much and be rich,
first lose all and become poor
and if thou wouldst enjoy peace, afflict thyself
and be ever in fear and suspect thine own self;
if thou wouldst be exalted and have great honour,
humble and abase thyself;
if thou wouldst be held in great reverence, despise thyself
and do reverence to him who reviles thee;
if thou wouldst that it should be well with thee,
suffer all evil things and if thou wouldst be blessed,
desire that all should speak ill of thee
and if thou wouldst have true and eternal rest,
then toil and suffer and desire to have every temporal affliction.
O what great wisdom it is to know how to do
and to work out these things.”

Blessed Giles of Assisi (c1190-1262)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 April – “Abide in Me and I in you.” – John 15:4

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 23 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – St George (Died c 303) Martyr – 2 Timothy 2:8-10; 3:10-12; John 15:1-7 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Abide in Me and I in you.” – John 15:4

REFLECTION – “ [Jesus] is our only Master, Who must teach us; our only Lord, on Whom we must depend; our only Head, to Whom alone we should belong; our only Model, Whom we should imitate; our only Physician, Who must heal us; our only Shepherd, Who must feed us; our only Way, Who must lead us; our only Truth, Whom we must believe; our only Life, Who must be our life and our sole sufficiency in all things that in Him, we may have all in All. Except the Name of Jesus, there is no other name given under Heaven, whereby we must be saved and apart from Jesus Christ,

God has given us no other foundation of our salvation, our perfection and our glory: “for other foundation no man can lay but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 3:11). Every house which is not built upon this firm Rock, is founded on the shifting sands and will inevitably fall, sooner or later. Every soul who is not united with Christ, as a branch to the stem of the vine, will fall off, wither and become fit only for the fire. If we are in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ in us, we need not fear damnation; neither Angels in Heaven, nor men on earth, neither demons in hell, nor any other creature, can harm us because they cannot separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus (cf. Rm 8:38-39).” – St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716) Priest, Renowned Preacher, Founder of Religious Communities [Treatise on the true devotion to the Blessed Virgin (Article one; First Truth)]

PRAYER – O God, Who dost gladden us through the worthy deeds and prayers of thy blessed Martyr George, mercifully grant that all they, who seek Thy mercy through him, may effectually obtain the gift of Thy grace. 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 HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS TO St Joseph, St JOSEPH

Our Morning Offering – 23 April –Caelitum, Ioseph, decus, Joseph, the Praise and Glory of the Heavens

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 23 May – Dau 2 Within the Octave of the Patronage of St Joseph

Caelitum, Ioseph, decus
Joseph, the Praise and Glory of the Heavens
By Fr Juan Escollar (Died 1700)

Joseph, the praise and glory of the heavens,
Sure pledge of life and safety of the wide world,
as in our joy we sing to thee, in kindness
listen to our praises.

Thou by the world’s Creator wert appointed
Spouse of the Virgin, thee He willed to honour.
Naming thee father of the Word and guardian
of our salvation.

Thou, thy Redeemer, lying in a stable,
whom long ago foretold the choir of Prophets,
sawest rejoicing and thy God adorest
Humble in childhood.

God, King of Kings and Governor of the ages,
He at Whose word the powers of hell do tremble,
He Whom the adoring heavens ever worship,
called thee protector.

Praise to the Triune Godhead everlasting,
Who with such honour mightily hath blest thee.
O may He grant us at thy blest petition
Joys everlasting.
Amen

Translation by Alan G McDougall (1895-1964).

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 23 April – Saint Marolus (Died 423) Bishop and Confessor of Milan.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 23 April – Saint Marolus (Died 423) Bishop and Confessor of Milan. A learned and erudite man of deep charity and ascetric and penential devotions. His fasting and penances he presented as a means of assisting his flock. He zealously taught and guided them and ensured he assisted by all means possible, those in need, thus earninmg the title of ‘Apostle of Charity’ Born and raised in Mesopotanua and died in Milan, Italy. Also known as – Marole, Marolo.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Milan, St Marolus, Bishop and Confessor.”

Today, in Milan especially, the Ambrosian Church celebrates the memory of Saint Marolus, the 14th Bishop of Milan, who distinguished the 5th Century by his example of erudition and sanctity.

His Eastern origins are shrouded in mystery, as his name itself suggests which refers to a marine etymology (“one who comes from the sea” or “dweller on the coast”).

St Ennodius (c473-521), a Milanese Deacon and later Bishop of Pavia, in his “Life of Saint Marolus” describes him as a native of the region of Babylon, a land “kissed by the Tigris” and among the first “illuminated” by the Gospel and the blood of Martyrs.

Perhaps to escape the persecutions of Shapur II, St Marolus took refuge in Antioch in Syria and, later, in Rome, where he befriended Pope Innocent I.

His reputation as a cultured and zealous man preceded him to Milan, where in 408, he was Consecrated as the Bishop of that great City.

St Ennodius paints a vivid portrait of his Episcopate, emphasising Marolus’ attention to his pastoral mission, his tireless commitment and his dedication to fasting and penance as instruments of intercession for his flock. His apostolic zeal was combined with a profound charity for the poor, so much so that, Ennodius states: “He was ardent in his provision for the poor.”

His charitable works proved providential in a period marked by barbarian invasions, particularly of the Visigoths. As a testament to his concern for the vulnerable, Marolus promoted the construction of a a place of welcome for the needy.

After his death in 423, Saint Marolus’ body was buried in the Basilica of San Nazaro in Milan, where it remains to this day. His memory is highly preserved by the Ambrosian Church, which venerates him as a model of a learned and saintly Bishop, capable of combining doctrine with charity, a love of culture with dedication to his beloved sheep.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

St George and all the Saints for 23 April

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Day 2 Within the Octave of the Patronage of St Joseph

St George (died c 303) Martyr Soldier. St George is commemorated and remembered as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and one of the most prominent military Saints, he is immortalised in the myth of Saint George and the Dragon.
St George!
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/04/23/saint-of-the-day-23-april-st-george-died-c-303-martyr/

St Adalbert of Prague (c 957-997) Bishop and Martyr, Missionary, Apostle of Bohemia, Apostle of the Prussians, Apostle of the Slavs. Patronages – of Poland, Hungary, Bohemia, Czech Republic, Archdiocese of Prague, Prussia.
About St Adalbert:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/saint-of-the-day-23-april-st-adalbert-of-prague/

St Achilleus of Vienne
Bl Adalbert III of Salzburg
St Felix of Vienne
St Fortunatus of Vienna
St George of San Giorio
St Gerard of Orchimont

St Gerard (c 935–994) Bishop of Toul, France, from 963 until his death in 994. St George is commemorated and remembered as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
About St Gerard:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/23/saint-of-the-day-23-april-saint-gerard-of-toul-c-935-994/

Blessed Giles of Assisi OFM (c1190-1262) Friar and Missionary of the Order of Friars Minor, Friend and the 3rd follower of St Francis. Giles held a leading place among the original Franciscans and St Francis called him “The Knight of our Round Table.” Giles was unlearned but a man of great wisdom, so much so, that all social classes came to learn aat his feet., he was a Mystic and man of deep contemplation and prayer.
Wonderful Giles “The Knight of our Round Table:”
https://anastpaul.com/2024/04/23/saint-of-the-day-23-april-blessed-giles-of-assisi-ofm-c1190-1262-the-third-follower-of-st-francis/

Bl Giles of Saumur

St Giorgio di Suelli (Died 1117) Italian Bishop of Suelli, Apostle of the poor, Miracle-worker. For the Diocese he was a true shepherd, a lover of the poor whom he helped and of whom he had a list. He was devoted to prayer and fasting and lived a life of penitence and poverty.
A Shepherd’s Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/23/saint-of-the-day-23-april-saint-giorgio-di-suelli-died-1117/

Blessed Helen del Cavalanti (Died 1458) Widow, Mother, Third Order Augustinian. Mystic, Miracle-worker. Helen was known for her spirit of penance, obedience, humility, devotion to the Passion of Christ and to the Eucharist and for her love of neighbour.
Holy Helen:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/04/23/saint-of-the-day-23-april-blessed-helen-del-cavalanti-osa-1396-1458-widow/

St Ibar of Meath
St Marolus (Died 423) Bishop and Confessor of Milan
St Pusinna of Champagne

Martyrs of Africa: A group of Christians murdered for their faith in northern Africa. Little information has survived but their names. The ones we know are – Catulinus, Chorus, Faustinus, Felicis, Felix, Nabors, Plenus, Salunus, Saturninus, Silvius, Solutus, Theodora, Theodorus, Theon, Ursus, Valerius, Venustus, Victorinus, Victurus, Vitalis.