CATHOLIC Quotes – Page 189

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Quote/s of the Day – 23 August – “My grace is sufficient for thee …”

Posted on August 23, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 23 August – Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Memorial of St Rose of Lima (1586-1617)

“My grace is sufficient for thee,
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

“The thief on the cross certainly did not receive
the Kingdom of Heaven as a reward for his virtues
but as a grace and a mercy from God.
He can serve as an authentic witness
that our salvation is given to us
only by God’s mercy and grace.
All the holy masters knew this
and unanimously taught
that perfection in holiness
can be achieved only through humility.”

St John Cassian (c 360- c 435)

“Christ shall minister to us
and show us His radiant Face
and His glorious Body
with all the marks of faithfulness
and love therein impressed.
And we shall see all the glorious bodies
clothed with all the many tokens of love
won in the service of God
since the beginning of the world…
And our living hearts
shall flame with burning love for God
and all His saints…”

Bl Jan van Ruusbroec (1293-1381)
Canon Regular, “Doctor Divinus Ecstaticus,”
Mystic, Spiritual Writer –
The seven steps of the ladder of spiritual love

“There is no sinner in the world,
however much at enmity with God,
who cannot recover God’s grace,
by recourse to Mary
and by asking her assistance.”

St Bridget of Sweden (c 1303 – 1373)

Prayer of Blessed Paolo Giustiniani

“Lord, I dare not say to You:
“Show me the light that I may believe in Your Light”
but it is enough for me,
that You make me see my darkness …
Bring me back to myself.
In my misery I have distanced myself
not only from You but from myself,
becoming a stranger to myself.
Make me know my darkness,
that then I may look at the light.
Yes, I tell You and repeat to You incessantly,
Show me to myself,
so that I may know my sins.”

Blessed Paolo Giustiniani (1476-1528)

“Give me grace to amend my life
and to have an eye to mine end,
without grudge of death,
which to them that die in You,
good Lord,
is the gate of a wealthy life.”

St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr

“Our Lord and Saviour lifted up His voice
and said with incomparable majesty:
“Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation.
Let them know that without the burden of afflictions,
it is impossible to reach the height of grace.
Let them know,
that the gifts of grace increase,
as the struggles increase.
Let men take care not to stray and be deceived.
This is the only true stairway to paradise
and without the cross,
they can find no road to climb to heaven.”

St Rose of Lima (1586-1617)

St Rose of Lima Quotes here:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/23/quote-s-of-the-day-23-august-st-rose-of-lima/

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One Minute Reflection – 23 August – ‘… On the rock of Holy Church …’

Posted on August 23, 2020August 23, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 23 August – Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Readings: Isaiah 22: 19-23, Psalms 138: 1-2, 2-3,6, 8 (8bc), Romans 11:33-36, Matthew 16:13-20 and the Memorial of St Tydfil (Died c 480) Martyr of Wales

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ” … Matthew 16:17-18

REFLECTION – “We feel Ourself perfectly safe on the rock of Holy Church. … Supernatural force has never … been found wanting in the Church, nor have Christ’s promises failed; … nay, they are endowed with even greater force for Us after having stood the test of centuries and so many changes of circumstances and events.

Kingdoms and empires have passed away; peoples once renowned for their history and civilisation have disappeared; time and again the nations, as though overwhelmed by the weight of years, have fallen asunder; while the Church, indefectible in her essence, united by ties indissoluble with her heavenly Spouse, is here today radiant with eternal youth, strong with the same primitive vigour with which she came from the Heart of Christ dead upon the Cross.
Men powerful in the world have risen up against her. They have disappeared and she remains!
Philosophical systems without number, of every form and every kind, rose up against her, arrogantly vaunting themselves her masters, as though they had at last destroyed the doctrine of the Church, refuted the dogmas of her faith, proved the absurdity of her teachings.
But those systems, one after another, have passed into books of history, forgotten, bankrupt; while from the Rock of Peter the light of truth shines forth as brilliantly as on the day when Jesus first kindled it on His appearance in the world and fed it with His Divine words: “Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass” (Mt 24:35). (…)

Wherefore, … turn your steps towards this unshaken rock upon which Our Saviour founded the Universal Church, so that the path of him, who is sincere of heart, may not be lost in devious windings.” … St Pope Pius X (1835-1914) (Papal reign: 1903 to 1914 – Encyclical “Iuncunda sane”

PRAYER – God our Father, for love of You, St Tydfil the Martyr, left the world and gave herself to a life of penitence, austerity and charity, loving You and Your Church with the greatest of all loves. Help us by her prayers, so to follow the path of life on earth, in complete love of You and thus of Your children, that we may obtain the fullness of joy in Your presence in heaven and be clothed fit for the wedding feast. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

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One Minute Reflection – 22 August – “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” … Matthew 23:12

Posted on August 22, 2020August 21, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 22 August – Saturday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Ezekiel 43: 1-7ab, Psalms 85: 9ab,10, 11-12, 13-14, Matthew 23:1-12 and The Memorial of the Queenship of Mary

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” … Matthew 23:12

REFLECTION – “Humility is a secret power the saints receive when they bring all their life’s ascetical practices to a successful conclusion. For indeed, this power is only bestowed on those who attain to the perfection of virtue through the strength of grace … It is the same power the blessed Apostles received in the form of fire. Our Saviour commanded them, in fact, not to leave Jerusalem until they had received the power from on high (Acts 2:3; 1:4). Here Jerusalem stands for virtue; the power is humility and the power from on high, is the Paraclete, in other words the Consoler Spirit.

Now this is exactly what Sacred Scripture had said – these mysteries are revealed to the humble (Lk 10:21). To the humble it is given to receive within themselves that Spirit of revelation that uncovers mysteries. That is why certain saints have said that humility is what brings the soul to fulfilment in divine contemplation. So let no-one start thinking they have attained complete humility because at some moment a thought of compunction came to them or because they shed a few tears …. But if someone has overcome every contrary spirit …, if he has overturned and subjected all the strongholds of the enemy and if he then feels that he has received that grace in which “the Spirit bears witness to our spirit” (Rom 8:16), in the apostle Paul’s words, then there is the perfection of humility. Blessed are they who possess it. For they continually embrace the breast of Jesus (cf. Jn 13,25).” … St Isaac the Syrian of Nineveh (c 613-c 700) Bishop of Nineveh, Monk at Mosul – Ascetical discourses, 1st series, no 20

PRAYER – Almighty God, our Father, You have given us Mary, the Mother of Your Son, to be our Mother and our Queen. Grant that, supported by her example and her prayers, we may learn true humility and come to the kingdom of heaven and to the glory destined for Your children. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

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Thought for the Day – 21 August – Frequent Communion

Posted on August 21, 2020June 22, 2022 by AnaStpaul

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

Frequent Communion

“Even as our bodies need their daily sustenance of good to restore the energy which they have lost, so it is with out souls.
The nourishment of the soul, is the grace of God.
There is no better way of acquiring and increasing this grace, than by Holy Communion because, Communion gives us Jesus Himself, Who is the origin of grace.
Spiritual perfection consists in union with God.
We can achieve perfect union with God in Holy Communion, by means of which, we live the life of Jesus.
“He who eats me, he also shall live because of me.” (Jn 6:58)

Anyone who loves Jesus fervently, receives Holy Communion everyday.
If a man does not do this, it is a sign that he does not love Jesus perfectly.

The early Christians were “continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread in their houses;” (Cf Acts 2:46) in other words, they received Communion everyday.
It was Jesus, in the Blessed Eucharist Who nourished their faith and gave them the strength to endure Martyrdom.
This custom prevailed in many places up to the time of St Jerome and St Augustine, who wrote “This is your daily bread; receive it daily in order to benefit daily from it” (De Verbo Domini, Serm 28).
To those who believe that they were unworthy to receive everyday, St Ambrose said: “A man who is unworthy to receive everyday, will still be unworthy in a year’s time” (Bk 5, De Sacramentis, c 4).

We should not stay away from daily Communion because of our unworthiness, nor because of our lapses into sin.
“Because I am always sinning,” said St Ambrose, “I am always in need of medicine” (Ibid).
Humility is the basic virtue necessary in a Christian but it should not be a reason for abstaining from Holy Communion.
St Thomas Aquinas commented that, although it may be pleasing to God to stay away from Holy Communion out of humility, He is far better pleased with the love and confidence of a soul, which receives Him. (Cf Summa Theologiae, III, q 8, a 10 ad 3).

The Church, like Jesus, desires us to receive Communion daily, although it only binds us under pain of sin, to receive once a year during Paschaltide, in accordance with the decree of Innocent III, which was confirmed by the Council of Trent.
We are also required to receive the Blessed Eucharist, if we are in danger of death.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Quote/s of the Day – 21 August – St Pope Pius X

Posted on August 21, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 21 August – The Memorial of St Pope Pius X (1835-1914) (Pontiff 1903-1914)

“Is it permitted for Catholics
to be present at, or to take part in,
conventions, gatherings, meetings,
or societies of non-Catholics
which aim to associate together
under a single agreement everyone who,
in any way, lays claim to the name of Christian?
IN THE NEGATIVE! …
It is clear, therefore,
why this Apostolic See
has never allowed its subjects,
to take part in
the assemblies of non-Catholics.”

“The Church alone,
being the Bride of Christ
and having all things
in common with her Divine Spouse,
is the depository of the truth.”

“There is one way
in which the unity of Christians
may be fostered
and that is,
by furthering the return
to the one true Church of Christ
for those who are separated from Her.”

“The daily Adoration
or visit to the Blessed Sacrament,
is the practice
which is the fountainhead
of all devotional works.”

“The ROSARY is the most beautiful
and the most rich in graces of all prayer.
It is the prayer that touches most,
the Heart of the Mother of God…
and if you wish peace to reign in your homes,
recite the FAMILY ROSARY.”

“If there were one million families
praying the Rosary every day,
the entire world would be saved.”

“I was born poor,
I have lived poor,
I wish to die poor.”

More here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/21/quote-s-of-the-day-21-august-the-memorial-of-st-pope-pius-x-1835-1914/

St Pope Pius X (1835-1914)

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One Minute Reflection – 21 August – The two commandments

Posted on August 21, 2020August 20, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 21 August – “Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Friday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Ezekiel 37: 1-14, Psalms 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, Matthew 22:34-40 and the Memorial of St Pope Pius X (1835-1914) (Pontiff 1903-1914)

“On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” … Matthew 22:40

REFLECTION – “When our Master was asked which was the greatest of the commandments, He replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your strength. There is no other commandment greater than this” (Mk 12:30-31). I think so, too, since it concerns primary and essential Being, God our Father, through whom all things were made, all things remain in being and to whom all who are saved will return. He it is who loved us the first, who gave birth to us. It would be sacrilege to think there exists any being more ancient or more wise. Our thanksgiving may be insignificant compared to his great gifts, yet we cannot offer him any other recognition, he who is perfection itself and has no need of anything. Let us love our Father with all our strength and ardor of soul and we shall win immortality. The more we love God, the more is our nature incorporated and mingled with his own.

The second commandment, Jesus says, yields in nothing to the first: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (…) When the scholar of the Law asks Jesus: “And who is my neighbour?” (Lk 10:29), he does not reply by giving the Jewish definition of neighbour – family, fellow Jews, proselytes, those who live according to the same Law – but tells the story of a traveller who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Wounded by robbers (…), the man was cared for by a Samaritan who “showed himself a neighbour” (v. 36).

And who is even more of a neighbour to me than our Saviour? Who showed more compassion to us when the powers of darkness had left us battered by blows? (…) Jesus alone knew how to heal our wounds and root out the evils planted in our hearts (…). That is why we should love Him just as much as we love God our Father. And loving Christ Jesus, is to carry out His will and keep His commandments.” … St Clement of Alexandria (150-215) Theologian and Father of the Church – Homily “Can the rich be saved?”

PRAYER – Lord God, You filled the saints with strength and courage and gave them the knowledge of unity with You. Grant, we pray, that in imitation of St Pope Pius X, we may defend the Catholic faith and renew all things in Christ, Your Son. Help us Holy Father, to follow the example of St Pius and finally inherit eternal life, with You and all the saints. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

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Thought for the Day – 20 August – Confidence in the Providence of God

Posted on August 20, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 20 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Confidence in the Providence of God

“Sometimes we grow discouraged and lose confidence in God.
This may be the result of sickness, or of misfortune, or of misundstanding on the part of others.
At any rate, on such occasions, we may feel as if we have been forgotten by God.

Jesus Christ willed to endure a trial of this nature when He was hanging upon the Cross, derided and jeered at by those whom He had come to redeem.
“My God. my God,” He cried, “why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46).
In the Garden of Gethsemane, however, He had already seen, in a terrifying vision, the sins and acts of ingratitude of the human race.
He had begged His Father, to take away from Him, the chalice of suffering which had ben offered to Him but, He had added immediately: “Yet not my will but thine be done” (Lk 22:62).

We must behave in the same manner.
Whether it is a physical or moral anguish which torments us, we must gaze upon the Crucifix and remember that Jesus suffered much more in obedience to the will of His Heavenly Father.
We must never lack confidence in Divine Providence and resignation to the will of God.
In the mysterious designs of God for us, this evil which we experience, is intended for our own good.
It may have been sent to ennoble us or to purify us or to give us an opportunity of making reparation for our sins.

God has endowed suffering with a very purposeful mission n the world.
It should have the effect of making us detached from earthly things and more preoccupied with spiritual matters.
Let us trust in God, then and remember the words of the Holy Spirit: “Has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed?” (Ecclus 2:10).

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Quote/s of the Day – 20 August – St Bernard

Posted on August 20, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 20 August – The Memorial of St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Mellifluous Docotr, “Doctor of Light”

“In every lodging, at every corner,
have reverence for thy Angel.
Do not dare to do in his presence
what you would not dare to do, if I were there.
Or do you doubt that he is present
whom you do not behold?
What if you should hear him?
What if you should touch him?
What if you should scent him?
Remember, that the presence of something
is not proved only by the sight of things.”

” It is true that the creature loves less
because she is less.
But if she loves with her whole being,
nothing is lacking,
where everything is given.”

“There are those who seek knowledge
for the sake of knowledge;
that is Curiosity.
There are those who seek knowledge
to be known by others;
that is Vanity.
There are those who seek knowledge
in order to serve;
that is Love.”

“The road to hell
is paved
with good intentions.”

“A saint is not someone, who never sins,
but one who sins less and less frequently
and gets up more and more quickly.”

“Just as Mary surpassed in grace all others on earth,
so also in heaven is her glory unique.
If eye has not seen or ear heard or the human heart conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9),
who can express what He has prepared
for the woman who gave Him birth
and who loved Him,
as everyone knows, more than anyone else?”

“Rest is in Him alone.
Man knows no peace in the world
but he has no disturbance
when he is with God.”

Jesu Dulcis Memori

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
with sweetness fills my breast,
But sweeter far Thy face to see
and in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
a sweeter sound than Jesus’ name,
O Saviour of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek
to those who fall, how kind Thou art,
how good to those who seek!

But what to those who find?
Ah this nor tongue nor pen can show,
the love of Jesus, what it is none
but His loved ones know.

Jesus our only joy be Thou
as Thou our prize wilt be.
Jesus, be Thou our glory now
and through eternity.
Amen

More here:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/20/quote-s-of-the-day-21-august-st-bernard/

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor

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One Minute Reflection – 20 August – “Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb!”

Posted on August 20, 2020August 20, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 20 August – “Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Thursday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Ezekiel 36: 23-28, Psalms 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19, Matthew 22:1-14 and the Memorial of St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) “Doctor of Light”

“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.” – Matthew 22:2

REFLECTION – “There are three kinds of marriage – the one that concerns union, the one that is about justification and the one that is about glorification. The first kind were celebrated within the temple of the Virgin Mary; the second kind are celebrated daily within the temple of faithful souls and the third, will be celebrated in the temple of heavenly glory.
The purpose of a wedding is to unite two people, the bridegroom and the bride. If two families are against each other, marriage usually unites them, when a man from one side marries a woman from the other. Between ourselves and God, there used to be a great division – to wipe it out and establish peace, the Son of God had to take His bride from someone of our lineage. To realise this marriage, numerous intermediaries and peacemakers intervened who, through their insistent prayers, were able to win it, at great cost. Finally, the Father Himself gave His consent and sent His Son, who joined Himself to our nature in the marriage chamber of the Virgin Mary’s womb. Thus the Father “gave a marriage feast for his Son.”
In the same way, the second kind of marriage is celebrated when the grace of the Holy Spirit intervenes and the soul is converted (…) The grace of the Holy Spirit is the bridegroom of the soul. When He calls it to repentance with His interior inspiration, all appeal from the vices is without effect.
Finally, the third kind of marriage will be celebrated at the coming of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, on the Day of Judgement. Of Him it is written: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him” (Mt 25:6). He will take the Church itself as bride, as John says in the Book of Revelation: “Come here. I will show you the Bride, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, gleaming with the splendour of God” (cf. Rv 21:9-11). The Church of the Faithful comes down from heaven, from beside God, for it has obtained from God that it’s dwelling should be in the heavens.
And so, at present, it lives by faith and hope but very soon it will celebrate it’s espousals with it’s bridegroom: “Blessed,” says the Book of Revelation, “are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb!” (Rv 19:9).” … St Anthony of Padua OFM (1195-1231) Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – All-knowing God, let me be able to stand in Your presence with a good conscience. Send Your Holy Spirit to fill my soul with the enlightenment of repentance and then to guide my steps towards the wedding feast You have prepared for Your Son. You made St Bernard burn with zeal for Your house and gave him the grace to enkindle and enlighten others in Your Church. Grant that by his prayer, we may be filled with the same spirit and always live as children of the Light. Through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

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Thought for the Day – 19 August – Divine Providence

Posted on August 19, 2020August 10, 2022 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 19 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Divine Providence

“The Book of Wisdom, speaks to us of Divine Providence.
“Your providence, O Father, guides… (14:3). You love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned (11:24). God … is the guide of Wisdom and the director of the wise. For both we and our words, are in his hand …” (7:16).
Wisdom “reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well” (Wisd 8:1).
The Lord of all, shows not partiality … because he, himself, made the great, as well as the small and he provides for all alike (Wisd 6:8).
You have disposed of all things by measure and number and weight” (Wis 11:21).

We have only to look around us and to think about ourselves, in order to understand the truth of these words from Sacred Scripture.
We need only consider a few of the outstanding elements in the universe – the sun, which rises and sets with such perfect regularity and the myriads of the stars, clusters of planets and solar systems, ranging the vast spaces of the firmament.
Then there are the smaller objects of creation which nonetheless, proclaim the greatness of Divine Providence – from the invisibly tiny insects, each with it’s own independent existence, to the flowers which draw their nourishment from the earth and the birds, for whose sustenance, God provides all that is necessary.

Lastly, there is the human body, that masterpiece of harmony.
The eyes, ears and other organs, display, in a marvellous manner, the wisdom of the Creator.
The soul, too, is the living image of God.
It transcends the limits of space and time by the speed of it’s thought, continually discovers new secrets of the universe by means of it’s intellectual power and is capable of willing, commanding and loving.

When confronted with so much order and beauty and goodness, we can only bow down and adore, the Providence of God!“

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Quote/s of the Day – 19 August – St John Eudes

Posted on August 19, 2020August 18, 2023 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 19 August – The Memorial of St John Eudes Orat. (1601-1680) “Apostle of Two Hearts”

“I ask you to consider,
that our Lord Jesus Christ
is your true head
and that you are a member of His body.
He belongs to you
as the head belongs to the body.
All that is His is yours –
breath, heart, body, soul and all His faculties.
All of these you must use,
as if they belonged to you,
so that in serving Him,
you may give Him praise, love and glory.”

“A man is no true Christian
if he has no devotion
to the Mother of Jesus Christ.

“Every Saint
belongs to the Court
of the Queen of All Saints.”

St John Eudes (1601-1680)
“Apostle of Two Hearts”

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One Minute Reflection -19 August – ‘… Let none murmur against the Master of the House…’

Posted on August 19, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection -19 August – Wednesday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Ezekiel 34: 1-11, Psalms 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6, Matthew 20:1-16 and The Memorial of St John Eudes Orat. (1601-1680) “Apostle of Two Hearts” and St Louis of Toulouse OFM (1274-1297)

“Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?
Or do you begrudge my generosity?’
So the last will be first and the first last.” … Matthew 20:15-16

REFLECTION – “One of the robbers crucified with Jesus cried out: “Lord, remember me; it is to you I now turn (…). Remember not my works, for of these I am afraid. Every man has a feeling for his fellow-traveller; I am travelling with you towards death; remember me, your fellow-wayfarer. I do not say, Remember me now, but, “when you come in your kingdom” (Lk 23:42).

What power, O robber, led you to the Light? Who taught you to worship that despised Man, your companion on the cross? O Light Eternal, which gives light to them that are in darkness! (Lk 1:79) “Take courage! Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” because “today you have heard my voice, and have not hardened your heart” (Ps 95[94]:8). Very speedily I passed sentence upon Adam (…) but you, who today have obeyed the faith, today is your salvation. By the tree Adam fell away; by the tree you are brought into paradise (…)

O mighty and ineffable grace! The faithful Abraham had not yet entered but the robber enters! Paul also wondered at this before you, saying, “Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more” (Rom 5:20). They who had borne the heat of the day had not yet entered and he of the eleventh hour entered. Let none murmur against the Master of the House, for He says, “My friend, I am not cheating you. Am I not free to do as I wish with what is my own?” The robber has a will to work righteousness … I accept his faith … I, the Shepherd, have “found the sheep that was lost”; I lay it on my shoulders (Lk 15:5); since he himself has said, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingdom.” … St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387) Bishop of Jerusalem, Father, Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – Father of mercies and God of all consolation, You gave us the loving Heart of Your own beloved Son, because of the boundless love by which You have loved us, which no tongue can describe. May we render You a love that is perfect with hearts made one with His. Grant, we pray, that our hearts may be brought to perfect unity, each heart with the other and all hearts with the Heart of Jesus….and may the rightful yearnings of our hearts find fulfilment through Him, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. – Collect from Saint John Eudes’ Mass, Gaudeamus, 1668 St John Eudes and St Louis of Toulouse, Pray for us! amen.

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Thought for the Day – 18 August – Renouncing All Things

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 18 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Renouncing All Things

“If we want God to take possession of our souls, we must drive out every inordinate affection to earthly things.
It is not possible for God to dwell within us, if we are still attached to sin or preoccupied with worldly aims.

God should reign supreme in us and inspire all our desires and actions.
This can never happen if we retain an attachment to deliberate sin, even if it is not grave sin.
In the case of venial sin, it is not so much the sin which prevents God from ruling us absolutely, as the attachment to sin.

It is possible for anybody to fall through human weakness, “for the just man falls seven times and rises again” (Prov 24:16).
It is when we remain willingly in the state of sin, that we offend God and weaken our faith and charity.
At such times, it is as if Jesus were asleep within us, as He slept in the boat during the storm on the lake of Galilee, when the terrified Apostles cried out: “Lord save us! We are perishing!” (Mt 8:25).
We must keep ourselves free from all trace of sin, if we wish to remain intimately united with God and to be governed only by Him!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Quote/s of the Day – 18 August – “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” – John 14:6

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 18 August – Tuesday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Ezekiel 28: 1-10, Responsorial Psalm Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab, Matthew 19:23-30

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”

John 14:6

“Through Him, our gaze
penetrates the heights of heaven
and we see, as in a mirror,
the most holy face of God.
Through Christ, the eyes of our hearts are opened
and our weak and clouded understanding,
reaches up toward the light.”

Saint Pope Clement I (c 35-99)
Apostolic Father, Bishop of Rome and Martyr

“Let us listen to the Lord:
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14:6).
If you are looking for the Truth,
follow the Way which is also the Truth.
This is where you are going and it is how you go.
It is not by another thing that you go to something;
it is not by anything else that you come to Christ;
it is through Christ that you come to Christ.
How to Christ through Christ?
To Christ God through Christ man;
through the Word made flesh,
to the Word who was with God, from the beginning;
through what we have eaten to what the angels eat daily.
In fact it is what is written:
“He gave them bread from heaven; man ate the bread of angels” (Ps 77[78]:24-25).
What is the bread of angels?
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was in God and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1-3). How has man eaten the bread of angels?
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

Saint Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

“The love of Jesus is noble and generous,
it spurs us onto do great things
and excites us to desire always,
that which is most perfect.
Love will tend upwards
and is not to be detained by things beneath.
Love will be at liberty
and free from all worldly affections…
for love proceeds from God
and cannot rest but in God above all things created.
The lover flies, runs and rejoices,
he is free and not held.
He gives all for all and has all in all,
because he rests in one sovereign Good above all,
from Whom all good flows and proceeds”

Thomas à Kempis,
The Imitation of Christ,
Book III, Chapter V, 3-4

“Do everything
out of love for God,
for God,
with God,
to get to God.”

Blessed Maria Rosa Flesch (1826-1906)

“Life has only one face – LOVE.”

Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro (1936-1964)

“Catholics are part of the Church Militant.
They struggle and they suffer for the triumph of Christ.
They must never lose sight of their Divine Model,
so that their trials will be turned into joy.”

Saint Pius X (1835-1914)

“Love infinitely,
the most sweet Lord Jesus Christ,
do everything for Him alone
and spend your life,
in works of mercy and of love.”

Blessed Marija of Jesus Crucified Petković (1892-1966)

“Since the death of Christ,
almost every century
has seen the persecution of Christians,
there have always been heroes
and martyrs who gave their lives –
often in horrible ways –
for Christ and their faith.
If we hope to reach our goal some day,
then we, too, must become heroes of the faith.”

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter (1907-1943)
Martyr of Conscientious Objection

“If a boat is running with the stream,
it has little need of the pull of the oars,
nor of the guidance of the helm.
It’s passage is smooth and peaceful.
The same applies to those
who place absolute confidence in God
in their journey through life.
… Why should I worry,
when I know that whatever God
has in store for me, is for my own good?
… There is no need to be disturbed.
Everything must be accomplished for God,
with God and in God and,
with complete abandonment to His will.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

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One Minute Reflection – 18 August – “… You who have followed me…” Matthew 19:28

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 18 August – Tuesday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Ezekiel 28: 1-10, Responsorial Psalm Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab, Matthew 19:23-30

“… Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” … Matthew 19:28 matthew 19 28 amen i say to you that you who have followed me 18 aug 2020

REFLECTION – “In gift-giving it is not the gift itself, that God praises and approves but the will and sincerity of the giver. He excuses and holds more acceptable, the one who gave less but gave it with more perfect sincerity, than the one who gave more, from a fuller store but with less pure affection. Thus, from what is written about the gifts of the wealthy and from the two mites which the widow in the treasury sent for the poor, it is clear that the same also happens to those who leave everything that they possess, for the love of God, so as to follow undistractedly the Christ of God. They will do everything according to His word.

The one who leaves the greater wealth is not more acceptable than the one who leaves the lesser. This is especially so if he leaves the lesser with his whole heart. What Peter left, along with his brother Andrew, was small and of no value but when they both heard, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men, immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Yet they were not valued lightly by God, who knew that they had done this with great love. God knew that even if they had been endowed with much wealth they would still not have been distracted by it, nor would their desire to follow Jesus have been thwarted by it ….

Those who follow the Saviour, therefore, will sit on the twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel and will receive this power in the resurrection of the dead. For this is the regeneration, a new birth, when the new heaven and the new earth are established for those who renew themselves and a New Testament with it’s chalice is given.” … Origen (c 185-253) – Commentary on Matthew, 15

PRAYER – Father of might and power, every good and perfect gift comes to us from You. Implant in our hearts the love of Your name and Your creatures. Increase our zeal for Your service by following behind Your Son with determination and joy. Nourish in us what good and tend it with watchful care. Grant that the prayers and caring love of the Blessed Virgin, our Mother, may help us to follow Jesus our Saviour unreservedly and thus attain eternal life. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord in the union of the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen. mary-mother-of-god-pray-for-us-27-july-2018 and 29 march 2020

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Thought for the Day – 16 August – Work and Worry

Posted on August 16, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 16 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Work and Worry

“When we recite the Lord’s Prayer, we say with confidence “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
This does not mean, however, that we renounce, in a spirit of fatalism, all right to action and initiative on our part.

“Faith,” says St James, “unless it has works, is dead in itself” (Js 2:17-26).
The same applies to charity (Js 2:13-17).

Faith and charity, must be accompanied by action, which should always be inspired by the interior life.
But our external activity should never be allowed to quench the flame of the divine life within us.
If this should happen, our labour would grow sterile and would receive no blessing from God.

We should work hard but should always act as if death might come at any moment.
In other words, we should not become completely absorbed in our work but should keep before our minds, the ideals of the glory of God, our own sanctification and the salvation of our neighbour.
If our efforts seem to be successful, we should thank God.
But, if all our work appears to be in vain, we should thank Him just the same, for such things happen with God’s permission.
Providence often guides events in it’s own way for the promotion of God’s glory and for our greater good, which can be achieved through our humiliation, as well as through our success.

If our spiritual outlook is in conformity with these principles, we shall be able to preserve our peace of mind, no matter how busy we may be.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 August –

Posted on August 16, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 6 August – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Readings: Isaiah 56,1.6-7. Psalms 67(66),2-3.5.6.8, Romans 11,13-15.29-32, Matthew 15,21-28

“Great is your faith, be it done for you as you desire.”

Matthew 21:28

“See her humility as well as her faith! …
Behold the woman’s wisdom! …
Behold her constancy!”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“I will suggest a means
whereby you can praise God all day long…
Whatever you do,
do it well
and you have praised God.”

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

“Aspire to God with short
but frequent outpourings of the heart,
admire His bounty,
invoke His aid,
cast yourself in spirit at the foot of His Cross,
adore His goodness,
treat with Him of your salvation,
give Him your whole soul –
a thousand times in the day.”

“He who trusts in God
can do all things.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

“Turn to God.
Believe in God.
Trust Him for a miracle.”

“God will not allow you to be lost
if you persist in your determination
not to lose Him.”

St Pio of Pietrelcina/Padre Pio (1887-1968)

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One Minute Reflection – 16 August – ‘See her humility as well as her faith! …Behold the woman’s wisdom! …Behold her constancy. ‘

Posted on August 16, 2020August 15, 2021 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 16 August – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Readings: Isaiah 56,1.6-7. Psalms 67(66),2-3.5.6.8, Romans 11,13-15.29-32, Matthew 15,21-28 and Saint Armel of Brittany (Died c 570)

“She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” … Matthew 15:27.

REFLECTION – “See her humility as well as her faith! For He had called the Jews “children” but she was not satisfied with this. She even called them “masters,” so far was she from grieving at the praises of others. She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Behold the woman’s wisdom! She did not venture so much as to say a word against anyone else. She was not stung to see others praised, nor was she indignant to be reproached. Behold her constancy. When He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” she said, “Yes, Lord.” He called them “children” but she called them “masters.” He used the name of a dog but she described the action of the dog. Do you see this woman’s humility?

Then compare her humility with the proud language of the Jews: “We are Abraham’s seed and were never in bondage to any man.” “We are born of God.” But not so this woman. Rather, she calls herself a dog and them masters. So for this reason she became a child. For what does Christ then say? “O woman, great is your faith.”

So we might surmise that this is the reason He put her off, in order that He might proclaim aloud this saying and that He might crown the woman: “Be it done for you as you desire.” This means “Your faith, indeed, is able to effect even greater things than these. Nevertheless be it unto you even as you wish.” This voice was at one with the voice that said, “Let the heaven be” and it was.

“And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Do you see how this woman, too, contributed not a little to the healing of her daughter? For note, that Christ did not say, “Let your little daughter be made whole,” but “Great is your faith, be it done for you as you desire.” These words were not uttered at random, nor were they flattering words but great was the power of her faith and for our learning.

He left the certain test and demonstration, however, to the issue of events. Her daughter accordingly was immediately healed.” … St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor – The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 52. matthew 15 27 please lord for even the dogs eat the scraps - and her daughter was - st john chrysostom 16 aug 2020

PRAYER – Lord, by Your grace, we are made one in mind and heart. Give us a love for what You command and a longing for what You promise, so that, amid this world’s changes, our hearts may be set on the world of lasting joy. May the intercession of Your faithful servant, St Armel, bring us strength and courage. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, God now and for all eternity, amen. st armel of brittany pray for us 16 aug 2020

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Thought for the Day – 15 August – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Posted on August 15, 2020August 14, 2023 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 15 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary

“It is generally believed that Our Blessed Lady died, since she would not have wished to escape death anymore than her divine Son did.
Our Lord, however, had see her sharing in His agony and death upon Mount Calvary and He willed that her own death would be so peaceful as hardly to justify the name.

The just die, in the love of God and the Martyrs died, for the love of God.
But Mary died, consumed by the love of God.
It was not disease which brought an end to her life but love.
Her love for Jesus, was more ardent and more perfect, than that of any other creature.
She loved Him, when she held Him in her arms in the stable at Bethlehem, when she fled with Him into Egypt and, when she offered Him in the temple to His heavenly Father.
She loved Him, when she found Him after He had been lost and when she looked after Him in their home at Nazareth.
She loved Him, as she followed Him to His death on Calvary.
She loved Him, in the joy of His Resurrection and, subsequently, of His Ascension into Heaven.
Jesus desired her to remain on earth for a while, to comfort the infant Church and to initiate the loving patronage which she would exercise over it, in Heaven.
Her love grew, from day to day, until it entirely consumed her and her Immaculate Heart could no longer contain it.
Mary fulfilled, in a most perfect manner, the Creator’s command to His creatures, to love Him with all their hearts and with all their strength.
Consequently, her love reached such a peak, that her soul, in it’s final ecstasy, glided from her body.

Let us ask our Mother, Mary, to help us to die with the love and grace of God in our hearts and, with the names of Jesus and Mary on our lips.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, THE ASSUMPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 15 August – The Assumption

Posted on August 15, 2020August 14, 2022 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 15 August – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven

“It was fitting that she,
who had kept her virginity in childbirth,
should keep her own body
free from all corruption even after death.
It was fitting that she,
who had carried the Creator as a child at her breast,
should dwell in the divine tabernacles…
it was fitting that God’s Mother
should possess what belongs to her Son
and that she should be honoured by every creature
as the Mother and the Handmaid of God.”

St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“As the most glorious Mother of Christ,
our Saviour and our God
and the giver of life and immortality,
has been endowed with life by Him,
she has received an eternal incorruptibility of the body
together with Him who has raised her up from the tomb
and has taken her up to Himself
in a way known only to Him.”

St Modestus of Jerusalem (Died 630)

“And with regard to ourselves,
how deservedly do we keep
the Feast of the Assumption with all solemnity.
What reasons for rejoicing,
what motives for exultation
have we on this most beautiful day!
The presence of Mary illumines the entire world
so that even the holy city above
has now a more dazzling splendour
from the light of this virginal Lamp.
With good reason,
thanksgiving and the voice of praise,
resound today throughout the courts of Heaven…
let us not complain,
for here we do not have a lasting city
but we seek one that is to come,
the same which the blessed Mary entered today.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor

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One Minute Reflection – 15 August – ‘…For you are venerated in heaven, loved in the world, feared in hell.’

Posted on August 15, 2020August 15, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 15 August – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, Readings: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10, Psalms 45: 10, 11, 12, 16, 1 Corinthians 15:20-27, Luke 1:39-56

My soul glorifies the Lord … Luke 1:46 luke 1 46 my soul glorifies the lord - assumption 15 aug 2019

REFLECTION – “He himself is your son, O Mary, He Himself rose from the dead on the third day and with your flesh ascended above all the heavens that He might fill all things. Therefore, O blessed lady, you have your joy, the object of your desire and the crown of your head have been granted you. He has brought to you the sovereignty of heaven through His glory, the kingdom of the world though His mercy, the subjugation of hell through His power. All things with their diverse feelings respond to your great and unspeakable glory – angels by honour, mortals by love, demons by terror. For you are venerated in heaven, loved in the world, feared in hell.

Rejoice, therefore and be glad, for He who receives you has arisen, your glory, lifting up your head. You rejoiced at His conception, you were afflicted at His passion. Rejoice again in His resurrection and your joy no-one will take from you. Christ, rising from the dead, dies no more; death will have no more dominion over Him.

The Spirit calls you, God says to you: “Arise, hasten, my love, my dove, my fair one and come. For the winter is past, the rain has departed and gone, the flowers have appeared on our earth. The time for pruning has come” (Sg 2:10-12). … Then the censer, following the incense and lifted up by the hand of the Lord, mounts to the throne of God. It goes up attended by a train of angelic spirits calling out on high and saying: “Who is this who comes up through the desert like a column of smoke from the odour of myrrh and incense and all the powders of perfume?” (Sg 3:6). … St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) Cistercian Monk, then Bishop – Homilies in praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary VI, SC 72

PRAYER – My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!
For He has blessed me lavishly
and makes me ready to respond.
He shatters my little world
and lets me be poor before Him.
He takes from me all my plans
and gives me more than I can hope for or ask.
He gives me opportunities
and the ability to become free
and to burst through my boundaries.
He gives the strength to be doing,
to build on Him alone,
for He shows Himself
as the ever greater One in my life.
He has made known to me this!
It is in my being servant that it becomes possible.
For God’s kingdom to break through
here and now.
Amen

A Magnificat
Translated from the German by Olga Warnke of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Thought for the Day – 14 August – Little Things

Posted on August 14, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 14 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Little Things

“Very few people are destined to great things by Almighty God.
More of us must offer ourselves in the relatively unimportant walks of life in which we have been placed by Providence.
Only some of the Saints were endowed with exceptional virtues and miraculous powers which attracted the attention and the admiration of the world.
In the normal course of events, Christian perfection must be acquired little by little, through the practice of ordinary virtues and unspectacular good actions.
There is always scope for these.
An upsurge of anger can be suppressed from the motive of the love of God and of our neighbour.
We can behave courteously towards people who are unsympathetic towards us or who offend us by their unmannerly conduct.
We can combat pride by acts of humility and egoism by acts of charity.
We can mortify ourselves in speech, in behaviour and at table and, we can give alms to the poor, good advice to the ignorant and comfort to the afflicted.

All these virtuous actions are insignificant in the eyes of men but, they are great in the sight of God.
The blades of grass and the flowers in the meadow are tiny things but, joined together, they constitute the pasture which provides nourishment for the herds and the flocks.
Let us perform these small actions everyday and so cultivate the ordinary virtues.
We shall attract the attention and favour of God, Who, will help us to advance, step-by-step, towards the peak of Christian perfection.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Quote/s of the Day – 14 August – St Maximillian Kolbe

Posted on August 14, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 14 August – The Memorial of Blessed St Maximillian Kolbe OFM Conv (1894 -1941)

“If angels could be jealous of men,
they would be so, for one reason:
HOLY COMMUNION.”

“Let us remember,
that love lives through sacrifice
and is nourished by giving.
Without sacrifice, there is no love.”

“When we dedicate ourselves to Mary,
we become instruments in her hands,
just as she is an instrument in God’s hands.
Let us then be guided by her,
for she will provide for the needs
of body and soul and overcome
all difficulties and anxieties.”

“Jesus honoured her before all ages
and will honour her for all ages.
No-one comes to Him,
nor even near Him,
no-one is saved or sanctified,
if he too will not honour her.
This is the lot of Angels and of men.”

“Modern times are dominated by Satan
and will be more so in the future.
The conflict with hell cannot be engaged by men,
even the most clever.
The Immaculata alone, has from God,
the promise of victory over Satan.
However, assumed into Heaven,
the Mother of God now requires our co-operation.
She seeks souls, who will consecrate themselves entirely to her,
who will become in her hands effective instruments
for the defeat of Satan
and the spreading of God’s kingdom upon earth.”

More here:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/14/quote-s-of-the-day-14-august-st-maximillian-kolbe/

St Maximillian Kolbe (1894 -1941)

CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on MARRIAGE, MARRIED LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 August – And the two shall become one flesh’ … Matthew 19:5

Posted on August 14, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 14 August – Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63, Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6, Matthew 19:3-12 and the Memorial of Blessed St Maximillian Kolbe OFM Conv (1894 -1941)

‘And the two shall become one flesh’ … Matthew 19:5

REFLECTION – “Lord our God,
look with kindness on N. and N.,
whom You have united in marriage,
and pour out Your blessings upon them,
may they be united in one love
as they progress together
towards one holiness of life.
May they rejoice to share in Your creative love
and bring up their children together.
May they live in justice and charity,
showing Your light to all who seek You.
May their household be ever open to the service of their brothers and sisters and may they be always ready to answer to their needs.
May they be strengthened by the joys and sacrifices of their life together and bear witness to the Gospel.
May they have a long life together, without misfortune or sickness
and may the work of both be blessed.
May they see their children grow up in peace
and enjoy the support of a happy family.
May they come at last, with all those who have gone before them,
to the dwelling where their love will last eternally.

N. and N. and all you who are present here,
may God the all-powerful bless you,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” … The Roman Missal – Ritual of Marriage : Solemn blessing

PRAYER – Almighty Father, let Your light so penetrate our hearts and minds, that walking by Your commandments, we may always follow You, our teacher and our guide. Grant that the prayers of St Maximillian Kolbe may continue to strengthen us. Through Jesus our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen. st max pray for us 14 aug 2020

MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on LOVE

Thought for the Day – 13 August – Almsgiving

Posted on August 13, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 13 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Almsgiving

“The view has been expressed, that almsgiving is useless and degrading.
It is useless, it has been said because, the implementation of social justice should be sufficient to provide for the needs of everybody and, it is degrading, it has been held because, it places the poor man in a position of inferiority to the rich man and makes him beg for that which is really his right.

This is a false line of reasoning.
Social justice can and should, do a great deal to achieve a more equal distribution of wealth among men.
But social justice cannot do everything.

Until the end of the world, the weak will always succumb in the battle of life, before the energy and enterprise of the strong.
There will always be unfortunates who, by reason of some tragic accident, are unable to fend for themselves.
No matter what form it takes, the State will not be able to provide fully for the disabled and infirm.

There will always be plenty of scope for Christian charity, which does not proceed with the measured stride of justice but with the swift wings of the love of God.
It seeks out sorrows which need to be assuaged and wants, which need to be relieved.
There will always be suffering and want upon earth.
“The poor you have always with you,” (Mt 26:11) Jesus has told us.

It cannot be said that almsgiving is degrading because it makes the receiver inferior to the giver.
This may be so, if alms are given from motives of mere philanthropy.
But when almsgiving is accompanied by charity and understanding and the donor sees, in the poor man, the person of Jesus Christ, there is no difference of status between the two individuals.
They are brothers who wish to love and help one another …
In this case, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Christian almsgiving is the fulfilment of an obligation and is a source of merit for the giver.
As for the receiver, not only are his wants relieved but, he is the means by which his wealthier brother can acquire merit and fulfil his obligations.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on FAITH, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ENVY, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Quote/s of the Day – 13 August – St Maximus the Confessor

Posted on August 13, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 13 August – The Memorial of St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662) Father of the Church

“For indeed, what is more dire
than the evils
which today afflict the world? …
What is more terrible for the discerning
than the unfolding events?
What is more pitiable and frightening
for those who endure them?
To see a barbarous people of the desert
overrunning another’s lands
as though they were their own,
to see civilisation itself, being ravaged
by wild and untamed beasts
whose form alone is human.”

“All the ends of the inhabited world …
look directly to the most holy Church
of the Romans and her confession
and faith as to a sun of eternal light,
receiving from her,
the radiant beam of the patristic and holy doctrines.”

“Since He causes the darkness of ignorance
and the evil of men to vanish,
my Saviour and my God is called a lamp in Scripture.
And since He is the only one able to obliterate
the darkness of ignorance and disperse the shadows of sin,
He has become the way of salvation for all
… The lampstand is holy Church
because the Word of God shines out through her preaching.
This is how the beams of its truth
can enlighten the whole world…”

“To harbour no envy,
no anger,
no resentment
against an offender is still not to have charity for him.
It is possible, without any charity,
to avoid rendering evil for evil.
But to render, spontaneously, good for evil –
such belongs to a perfect spiritual love.”

“He who busies himself
with the sins of others,
or judges his brother on suspicion,
has not yet even begun to repent
or to examine himself
so as to discover his own sins…”

“We adore one Son,
together with the Father
and the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning
before all time,
is now and ever shall be,
for all time
and for the time after time.
Amen!”

Saint Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662)
Father of the Church

DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MERCY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 August – What He receives on earth He returns in heaven.

Posted on August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 13 August – “Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Thursday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Ezekiel 12:1-12, Psalms 78: 56-57, 58-59, 61-62, Matthew 18: 21 – 19:1 and the Memorial of St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662) Father of the Church

“Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?” …Matthew 18:33

REFLECTION – ““What is human mercy like? It makes you concerned for the hardship of the poor. What is divine mercy like? It forgives sinners…

In this world God is cold and hungry in all the poor, as He Himself said (Mt 25:40)… What sort of people are we? When God gives, we want to receive, when He asks, we refuse to give? When a poor man is hungry, Christ is in need, as He said Himself: “I was hungry and you gave me no food” (v. 42). Take care not to despise the hardship of the poor, if you would hope, without fear, to have your sins forgiven…

What He receives on earth He returns in heaven.

I put you this question, dearly beloved – what is it you want, what is it you are looking for, when you come to church? What indeed if not mercy? Show mercy on earth and you will receive mercy in heaven. A poor man is begging from you and you are begging from God, he asks for a scrap, you ask for eternal life… And so when you come to church give whatever alms you can to the poor in accordance with your means.” … St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) – Sermon 25 matthew-18-35-should-you-not-have-pitty-what-sort-of-people-are-we-st-caesarius-of-arles-26-march-2019-and-27-aug-2019-mem-of-st-caesarius and 13 aug 2020

PRAYER – Lord God, who bestowed Your spirit of truth and of love in full measure onthe blessed Saint Maximus, grant that we, who are celebrating his feast, may be supported by his prayer and grow in perfection, as we follow his example. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen. st maximus the confesor pray for us 13 aug 2020

MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on JUDGING, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 12 August – Rash Judgement

Posted on August 12, 2020August 12, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 12 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Rash Judgement

“Instead of examining their own consciences in the presence of God, there are many people who are always prepared to judge the thoughts and actions of others.
Do you belong to this category?
Reflect for a while on the words of the Gospel.

“Do not judge,” said Christ, “that you may not be judged. For with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged and with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you. But why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye and yet, do not consider the beam in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “let me cast out the speck from your eye” and behold, there is a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the beam from your own eye and then, you will see clearly to cast out the speck from your brother’s eye” (Mt 7:1-5).

These severe words condemn rash judgements; they also impose on us, the obligation of correcting our own faults, rather than censuring those of others.
We are warned, moreover, that if we judge others harshly, the Divine Judge will treat us with equal severity.

A judgement is rash when it is formed without any sure basis and without necessity.
It is a difficult thing to penetrate the secrets of the human heart and conscience.
Only God can do it with absolute certainty.
St Bernard remarked, that anyone who judges others rashly, is usurping a right which belongs to Almighty God.
How can we possibly guess at the motives and intentions of our fellow-men?

It is fairer and kinder to be ready to excuse our fellow-men and to appreciate their good qualities.
We should leave it to God to judge their deficiencies and occupy ourselves with making amendment for our own sins.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 12 August – St Jane Frances de Chantal

Posted on August 12, 2020August 21, 2022 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 12 August – The Memorial of St Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

“Hold your eyes on God
and leave the doing to Him.
That is all the doing,
you have to worry about.”

“Follow your own way of speaking to our Lord,
sincerely, lovingly, confidently and simply,
as your heart dictates.”

“In prayer one must hold fast and never let go,
because the one who gives up, loses all.
If it seems that no-one is listening to you,
then cry out even louder.
If you are driven out of one door,
go back in by the other.”

“The great method of prayer is to have none.
If, in going to prayer,
one can form in oneself,
a pure capacity for receiving the spirit of God,
that will suffice for all method.”

“In prayer,
more is accomplished
by listening
than by talking.”

“Must you continue to be your own cross?
No matter which way God leads you,
you change everything into bitterness
by constantly brooding over everything.
For the love of God,
replace all this self-scrutiny,
with a pure and simple glance at God’s goodness.”

“Hell is full of the talented
but Heaven, of the energetic.”

St Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 August – ‘… The medicine of confession’

Posted on August 12, 2020August 11, 2020 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 12 August – Wednesday of the Nineteenth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22, Psalms 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, Matthew 18:15-20 and the Memorial of St Jane Frances de Chantal VHM (1572-1641)

“Whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.” … Matthew 18:18

REFLECTION – “For our well-being and salvation, all the Holy Scriptures warn us constantly and humbly, to confess our sins, not only before God but also before a holy and godfearing man. This is what the Holy Spirit advises us to do through the mouth of James the apostle: “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed” (5:16) … and the psalmist says: “I confess my faults to the Lord and you took away the guilt of my sin” (Ps 32[31]:5).

We are always wounded by our sins and, in the same way, we should always have recourse to the medicine of confession. For indeed, if God wants us to confess our sins, it is not because He would be unable to know what they are but, because the devil wants to find something of which to accuse us before the judgement seat of the eternal Judge. That is why he would rather we thought more about excusing them than accusing ourselves of them. Our God, to the contrary, being good and merciful, wants us to confess them in this world, so that we may not be ashamed because of them in the next. So if we confess them then He, on His part, shows Himself to be merciful; if we acknowledge them then He forgives … As for ourselves, my brethren, we are really your spiritual physicians, seeking with all concern to heal your souls.” … St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop and Monk – Sermons to the laity, no. 59 matthew 18 18 whatever you bind on earth - our god being good and merciful- 12 aug 2020 st caesarius of arles

PRAYER – Lord, You chose St Jane Frances to serve You, both in marriage and in religious life. By her prayers help us to be faithful in our vocation and always to work against our perverse inclinations. Only in You and with You and through You may we attain perfection. Lead us Lord! We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. St Jane de Chantal, pray for us, amen. st jane fances de chantal pray for us 12 aug 2020

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