Posted in Hail MARY!, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The IMITATION of MARY, Thomas a Kempis

Thought for the Day – 6 May – SOLILOQUIES OF THE SOUL

Thought for the Day – 6 May – Extracts fromThe Imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

Extracts from The Imitation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)
Imprimatur 17 February 1947

SOLILOQUIES OF THE SOUL

Thomas à Kempis

Read, O my son, or rather, chant while reading,
These sweet versicles in honour of Mary.
Take them as a viaticum for the soul;
Take them as one does a staff for a journey.
Read often and re-read with devotion while praying.
May Jesus and Mary be for you, in life,
At all times, in every place, your sole company,
For fear that you may wander alone or unguided,
Shedding without, the perfumes from within.
You will find here a treatise on Mary, brief,
But a treatise full of sweetness for meditation.
And a treatise full of strength, to protect you well.
Meditate on it often and often, pray too,
Saying with a full heart:
Hail, Mary!

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, Quotes Self-Oblation, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 May – Can you drink the Chalice which I shall Drink?

Quote/s of the Day – 6 May – The Feast of St John Before the Latin Gate – Wisdom 5:1-5, Matthew 20:20-23

Can you Drink
the Chalice
which I Shall Drink
?”

Matthew 20:22

And you shall be hated by all men,
for My Name’s sake.
But, not a hair of your head shall perish.

Luke 21:17-18

Let us then, my brethren, endure in hope.
Let us devote ourselves, side-by-side with our hoping,
so that the God of all the universe,
as He beholds our intention,
may cleanse us from all sins,
fill us with high hopes from what we have in hand
and grant us the change of heart which saves.
God has called you and you have your calling
!”

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Father and Doctor of the Church

You do not, in your enemies,
love what they are
but what you would have them become,
by your prayers
!”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Be strengthened in Almighty God
and in the power of His might,
for with His help, nothing is difficult.
Throw off the heavy load of your own will,
cast aside the burden of sin
and gird yourselves as valiant warriors!
Forget what you are leaving behind;
strain forward to the great things before you.
I tell you that every place where you set foot,
shall be yours.
For the Spirit, Who goes before your face
is Christ the Lord.
He will carry you to the topmost peak
in the arms of His Love.

St Francis of Assisi (c1181–1226) 

Posted in "Follow Me", 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 May – The Feast of St John Before the Latin Gate

One Minute Reflection – 6 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Feast of St John Before the Latin Gate – Wisdom 5:1-5 – Matthew 20:20-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?” – Matthew 20:22

REFLECTION – “Through their mother’s mediation, the sons of Zebedee press Christ as follows in the presence of their fellow Apostles:  “Command that we may sit, one at your right side and one at your left” (cf. Mk 10:35f.)… Christ hastens to free them from their illusions, telling them they must be prepared to suffer insults, persecutions, even death. “You do not know what you are asking.  Are you able to drink the chalice that I shall drink?” 

Let no-one be surprised to see the Apostles displaying such imperfect dispositions.   Wait until the Mystery of the Cross has been fulfilled and the strength of the Holy Spirit given to them.   If you want to see the strength of their souls, take a look at them later and you will see them to be above all human weakness.   Christ does not conceal their pettiness, so that you will be able to see what they become later by the power of the grace which will transform them! …”… St John Chrysostom (c 345-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – O God, Who sees that sins and sufferings do, on every side rise up to trouble us, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may find a shield in times of need, through the glorious intercession of Thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist beloved Saint John. 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 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PURITY

Our Morning Offering – 6 May – Deign, O Immaculate Virgin

Our Morning Offering – 6 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Deign, O Immaculate Virgin
By St Paschasius Radbertus (785–865)

Deign, O Immaculate Virgin,
Mother most pure,
to accept the loving cry of praise
which we send up to you
from the depths of our hearts.
Though they can but add little to your glory,
O Queen of Angels,
you do not despise, in your love,
the praises of the humble
and the poor.
Cast down upon us a glance of mercy,
O most glorious Queen,
graciously receive our petitions.
Through your immaculate purity
of body and mind,
which rendered you so pleasing to God,
inspire us with a love of innocence and purity.
Teach us to guard carefully the gifts of Grace,
striving ever after sanctity, so that,
being made like the image of your beauty,
we may be worthy to become the sharers
of your eternal happiness.
Amen

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 6 May – Saint Benedicta (Died c550) Virgin of Rome.

Saint of the Day – 6 May – Saint Benedicta (Died c550) Virgin of Rome. Also known as Benedetta. St Benedicta was a disciple of St Galla, a wealthy widow of Rome who founded a Convent on Vatican Hill where our Saint spent her holy life of prayer, fasting and assisting the poor and ill. The image below is St Galla on St Peter’s Colonnade/

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome, St Benedicta, Virgin.

Information about St Benedicta is scant and comes primarily from the writings of Pope Gregory the Great, who describes her as a companion of Saint Galla in the Monastery St Gallo had founded in Rome, near St Peter’s.

Her life, although short, is rich in teachings and examples of faith and devotion.

We know that she was a young Roman virgin who, drawn to religious life, Consecrated herself to God as a virgin. She entered the Monastery founded by Saint Galla.

St Gregory the Great, in his Dialogues, describes her as a woman of great sanctity, devoted to prayer, fasting, and obedience. She was particularly dear to St Galla, who considered her a daughter. St Galla is one of the 140 saints whose images adorn St. Peter’s Square’s Colonnade.

According to tradition, Saint Benedicta died 30 days after the death of her mentor St Galla, as the Apostle Peter had foretold her in a vision. Her death was peaceful and holy, like her life.

St Benedicta is venerated by the Church and her name is inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on this day.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

The Feast of St John the Apostle and Evangelist before the Latin Gate, Santa Maria Della Pace / Our Lady of Peace, Rome (1483) and Memorials of the Saints – 6 May

The Feast of St John the Apostle and Evangelist before the Latin Gate:
The Roman Martyrology states of this Feast today: At Rome, the feast of St John before the Latin Gate. Being bound and brought to Rome from Ephesus by the order of Domitian, he was condemned by the Senate to be cast, near the said gate, into a vessel of boiling oil, from which he came out more healthy nd vigorous than before!
About this wondrous Miracle:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/06/saint-of-the-day-6-may-st-john-the-evangelist-before-the-latin-gate/

LeBrun, Martyrdom of St John Evangelist at Porta Latina 1641f.jpg

St John’s Feast Day here:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/12/27/saint-of-the-day-27-december-st-john-the-apostle-and-evangelist/

Santa Maria Della Pace / Our Lady of Peace in the Church of Our Lady of Peace, Rome (also called Our Lady of Miracles) (1483) – 6 May:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/06/santa-maria-della-pace-our-lady-of-peace-in-the-church-of-our-lady-of-peace-rome-1483-and-memorials-of-the-saints-6-may/

St Acuta

Bl Anthony Middleton

Blessed Bartolomeo Pucci-Franceschi OFM (Died 1330) Priest of the Friars Minor after having been a husband and father of 4. Confessor, Mystic and Miracle-worker.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In Montepulciano in Tuscany, blessed Bartolomeo Pucci-Franceschi, Priest of the Order of Minors, who, having left his wife, children and all his possessions for the love of God, became Christ’s poor man.
His Life of Devotion to God:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/06/saint-of-the-day-6-may-blessed-bartolomeo-pucci-franceschi-ofm-died-1330/

St Benedicta (Died c550) Virgin of Rome
St Colman Mac Ui Cluasigh of Cork
St Colman of Loch Eichin
St Dominic Savio

St Edbert (Died 698) Bishop of Lindisfarne Island, Monk at the Monastery there, succeeding St Cuthbert in 688, a renowned Scriptural Scholar, he administered the See of Lindisfarne Island for 10 years and became too, a man remembered for his great virtue and especially for his wonderful charity to the poor, needy and ill.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In England, St Eadbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, eminent for doctrine and piety.”
His Zealous Service:

https://anastpaul.com/2025/05/06/saint-of-the-day-6-may-st-edbert-died-698-bishop-of-lindisfarne-island/

Bl Edward Jones
St Evodius of Antioch

St Heliodorus
Bl Henryk Kaczorowski
St James of Numidia
St Justus of Vienne
Bl Kazimierz Gostynski
St Lucius of Cyrene

St Marianus of Lambesa
Bl Peter de Tornamira
St Petronax of Monte Cassino
St Protogenes of Syria
Bl Prudence Castori
St Theodotus of Kyrenia
St Venerius of Milan
St Venustus of Africa
St Venustus of Milan
Bl William Tandi