Category: CATHOLIC Quotes

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the KING Prayers, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD

Our Morning Offering – 3 November – Alone With None but Thee, My God

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Our Morning Offering – 3 November – Pentecost XXIV

Alone With None but Thee, My God
Attri. St Columban (543-615)

Alone with none but Thee, my God
I journey on my way,
what need I fear when Thou art near,
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within Thy hand
than if a host should round me stand.

My destined time is known to Thee,
and death will keep his hour;
did warriors strong around me throng,
they could not stay his power.
No walls of stone can man defend
when Thou Thy messenger dost send.

My life I yield to Thy decree
and bow to Thy control
in peaceful calm, for from Thine arm
no power can wrest my soul,
could earthly omens e’er appal
a man that heeds the heavenly call?

The child of God can fear no ill,
His chosen, dread no foe;
we leave our fate with Thee and wait
Thy bidding when to go,
’tis not from chance our comfort springs,
Thou art our Trust, O King of kings.

Posted in PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on WATCHING, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST

Thought for the Day – 2 November – CONSIDERATION XXXI, Of Perseverance

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Thought for the Day – 2 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXXI

Of Perseverance
“He who shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved.”
(Matt xxiv: 13)

FIRST POINT:
“IT is of the many to begin, of the few to persevere,” writes S.
St Jerome.
Saul, Judas, Tertullian, began well but they ended badly, since they did not persevere in good.
“In Christians, the beginnings are not sought for but the end,” continues the aint and St Bonaventure confirms this by saying: “Perseverance alone is crowned.”
Hence, St Laurence Justinian calls perseverance “the door of Heaven.”

So that he cannot enter into Heaven who cannot find the gate of entrance. My brother, you have at this present time abandoned sin and may justly hope that you have been pardoned, in this case, you are the friend of God but know that you are still, not saved. And when will you be saved? When you have persevered even to the end!
“He who shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Have you begun the good life? thank the Lord but St Bernard warns you: “The reward is promised to those beginning, it is given to those who persevere.” It is not enough to run for the prize but we must run until we obtain it, or, as the Apostle says: “So run that ye may obtain.” (i Cor ix: 24).
Now, truly, you have. put.your hand to the plough, you have
begun to live well but now, ever very much, fear and tremble: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil ii: 12). Wherefore? Since, if you turn and look back which God forbid and go back to your evil life, God will declare you to be excluded from Heaven: “No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke ix: 62.

Pray for the grace of the Lord, frequent Holy Communion, make a daily meditation. Blessed are you if you have progressed to do thus and if, so doing, Jesus Christ shall find you, when He comes to judge you.
“Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when He cometh, shall find so doing.” (Matt xxiv:46).

But do not believe, now you have set yourselves to serve God, temptations are either wanting or are, at an end. “My son, if thou come to serve the Lord …. prepare thy soul for temptation.” (Ecclus ii: I) Know that now, more than ever, you ought to prepare yourself for the battle, since your enemies, the devil, the world, the flesh, more than ever will arm themselves to fight against you, to make you lose that which you have already gained!
Denis the Carthusian says: “By how much, anyone the more
bravely endeavours to serve God, by so much, does the adversary rage against him.” This is stated in the Gospel according to St Luke, where it is said: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out ,Then goeth he and taketh seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they enter in and dwell there and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” (Luke xi: 24, 26)
… Consider, therefore, what arms you have which will avail to defend you from these enemies and to preserve you in the grace of God. Against being overcome by the devil, there is no defence save prayer, for St Paul says: “We wrestle, not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers.” (Eph vi: 12).
He wishes by this statement to warn us, we have not strength to resist one so powerful, whence we need assistance from God, by which aid, we can do all things! “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.” (Phi. iv: 12). But this aid is not given unless it be sought for by prayer. “Ask and ye shall receive.” Let us not trust ourselves, then, or our resolutions; for if we put confidence in these, we shall be lost but when we are tempted by the devil, let us place it in the Hand of God, commending ourselves to Jesus Christ. This is especially needful when our chastity is tempted, since this temptation is the most terrible of all and it is that, by which the devil gams the most victories. We have not strength in this respect, save from God. We must, therefore, in such temptations, quickly fly to Jesus Christ and frequently invoke His holy Name. He who so acts, shall conquer and he who acts not thus, shall be overcome.

Affections andPrayers

“Cast me not away from Thy presence.” (Ps li: 11).
Ah, my God, do not cast me away from Thy Presence. 1 know
well that Thou wilt never abandon me if I do not first abandon Thee.
… But, Lord, do Thou give me the strength which I must have to resist hell which seeks to find me again its slave.
I ask it of Thee, for the love of Jesus Christ. Establish, O my Saviour, between Thee and me, a perpetual peace which will never be broken and, therefore, give me Thy holy love.
“He who loveth not, …. abideth in death.” (i John iii: 14).
But he who loves Thee, is not dead; Thou, O God of my soul,
must save me from this unhappy death. I was lost, truly Thou
knowest it. It was Thy goodness alone which led me back to
my present condition where I hope to continue in Thy Grace.

Ah! do not suffer me, my Jesus, … to turn away and lose myself.
I love Thee above all things and I trust ever to be bound by this holy love and so being bound, to die and so being bound, to live forever!

Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, ON the SAINTS, PRAYERS for the SOULS, Quotes on SALVATION, The HOLY SOULS

Quote/s of the Day – 2 November – The Holy Souls

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 November – “The Month and the Feast of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

“The Holy Souls must sometimes think, reproachfully,
how little their friends on earth do
to aid them in their present sufferings.
Among many other methods of aiding them,
I can offer up for them
all the pains of mind and body
which God sends me, asking God
to accept them in alleviation
of the sufferings of the holy souls.
This will help me to be patient
and to suffer willingly and,
when my time comes, I shall find
that patient suffering for others,
will shorten my time of banishment from God,
in the fires of Purgatory.”

Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Prayer for the Dead
From My Prayer Book, 1927
By Fr Francis Xavier Lasance (1860-1946)

O God, whose property it is,
ever to have mercy and to spare,
we beseech Thee,
on behalf of the soul of Thy servant,
whom Thou hast called out of this world,
look upon her with pity
and let her be conducted
by the holy Angels to Paradise,
her true country.
Grant that she, who believed in Thee
and hoped in Thee, may not be left
to suffer the pains of the Purgatorial fires
but may be admitted to eternal joy.
Through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord,
Who with the Holy Ghost-
liveth and reigneth,
world without end.
Amen

“The example of the Saints should inspire us
to practise great devotion to the Souls in Purgatory.
We should ask them to obtain for us
everything which we need but especially,
the graces necessary for our eternal salvation!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/02/quote-s-of-the-day-2-november-we-must-live-a-dying-life/

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, GOD ALONE!, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The HOLY SOULS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 2 November – ‘ … Why do we not hasten and run …’

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One Minute Reflection – 2 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – All Souls Day – 1 Corinthian 15:51-57; John 5:25-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Do not wonder at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs shall hear the Voice of the Son of God. And they who have done good, shall come forth unto the resurrection of Life but they who have done evil, until the resurrection of judgement.” – John 5:28-29

REFLECTION – “We should consider, beloved brethren and we should reflect constantly that we have renounced the world and as strangers and foreigners, we sojourn here for a time (Heb 11:13). Let us embrace the day which assigns each of us to his dwelling which, on our being rescued from here and released from the snares of the world, restores us to Paradise and the Kingdom. What man, after having been abroad, would not hasten to return to his native land? Who, when hurrying to sail to his family, would not more eagerly long for a favourable wind that he might more quickly embrace his dear ones? We account Paradise our country, we have already begun to look upon the patriarchs as our parents.

Why do we not hasten and run, so that we may see our country, so that we may greet our parents? A great number of our dear ones there, await us, parents, brothers, children; a dense and copious throng longs for us, already secure in their safety but still anxious for our salvation! … There, are to be found, the glorious choir of Apostles, there, the throng of exultant Prophets, there, the innumerable multitude of Martyrs wearing crowns on account of the glory and victory of their struggle and passion, there, the triumphant Virgins … the merciful enjoying their reward, who have performed works of justice by giving food and alms to the poor, who, in observing the precepts of the Lord, have transferred their earthlyinheritance to the treasuries of Heaven!

To these, beloved brethren, let us hasten with eager longing! let us pray that it may befall us speedily to be with them, speedily to come to Christ. May God see this our purpose … Who will give, more ample rewards of His charity, to those whose longings for Him have been greater.” – St Cyprian (200-258) Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, Father (On Mortality 26).

PRAYER – O God, Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Thy servants and handmaids, the remission of all their sins, that they may obtain, by our loving prayer,s the forgiveness which they have always desired. Who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on PRAYER, The HOLY NAME

Thought for the Day – 1 November – CONSIDERATION XXX, Of Prayer

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Thought for the Day – 1 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXX

Of Prayer
“Ask and it shall be given you; …
for everyone who asketh, receivath.”
(Luke xi: 9, 10)

FIRST POINT “”
NOT only in this but in many other places in the Old and New Testaments, God promises to hear those who pray to Him. “Then call thou and I shall answer.” (Job xiii: 22).
“He willll call upon Me and I shall answer him.” (Ps xci.:15).
Call upon Me and I shall deliver thee from danger.
“If ye will ask anything in My Name, I shall do it.” (John xiv: 14). Whatsoever shall be asked through My merits I shall grant. “Ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” (John xv: 7) Seek what you will, it is enough that you seek and it shall be granted to you. And so in many other passages.

Therefore, Theodoret says, that “Prayer, although it is one thing, can obtain all things.” St Bernard says, when we pray, He “will give us either what we desire, or what He knows to be more profitable for us.”
The Prophet encourages us to pray, assuring us that God is all compassion towards those who call upon Him for aid. “For Thou, Lord, art good and gracious and of great mercy unto all those who call upon Thee.” (Ps Ixxxvi: 5). And still more does St James encourage us, by saying, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, Who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.” (James i: 5) Neither does He reprove us for the displeasure we have caused Him; for when we pray to Him, He seems to forget all the offences we have committed against Him.

St John Climacus says, prayer, in a certain way, forces God to grant us what we seek. “Prayer is a holy violence done to God.” But it is a violence which is dear to Him and desired by Him. “This violence is pleasing to God,” as Tertullian wrote.
Yes because, as St Augustine adds, God “desires more to bestow His benefits than we desire to receive them!” And the reason for this is that, God, of His own nature, is Infinite Goodness, as writes St Leo and, therefore, He desires most ardently to impart His blessings to us. Thence it is that St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi says, God is almost under an obligation to that soul which prays to Him, since, in this manner, the way is open to Him to gratify the desire which He has of bestowing His favours upon us.
And David says, this kindness of the Lord, in listening directly to those who pray to Him, proved to him that He was his true God. “Whensoever I call upon Thee, then shall my enemies be put to flight, this I know; for God is on my side.” (Ps Ivi: 9).

Some unjustly complain, observes St Bernard that, the Lord is failing them; much more justly might the Lord complain that, many are failing Him, ceasing to come and seek His grace!
And it seems to have been exactly of this that the Redeemer one day complained to His disciples: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name; ask and ye shall receive.” (John xvi: 24).
Do not complain of Me. He seems to have said, if you have not been fully happy, complain of yourselves for not having asked Me for My favours; from henceforth ask Me for them and you shall be satisfied.
From this the Monks of old concluded, in their conferences that there was no exercise more profitable to the salvation of their souls than ever to be praying and saying: “Lord, help me!”

The venerable Father Paul Segneri said of himself that, in his meditations he at first cultivated emotion but afterwards,
knowing the great efficacy of prayer, he tried as much as he
could, to occupy himself in prayer.
May we ever do the same.
We have a God Who loves us so much and Who is so anxious
for our salvation and Who is, for this reason, ever ready to hear those who pray to Him.
The princes of the world, says St Chrysostom, give audience to few but God is pleased to grant audience to everyone who desires it!

Affections and Prayers

Eternal God, I adore Thee and thank Thee for the many
benefits which Thou has granted to me; for having created and redeemed me through Jesus Christ; for having made me a Christian; for having waited for me when I remained in sin and, for having so often forgiven me.

Ah, my God, I should never have offended Thee, if, in the time of temptation, I had prayed to Thee for Thy assistance and rescue.
I thank Thee for the Light by which Thou makest me now to understand, my salvation depends entirely upon my praying to Thee and, upon my asking for Thy aid. Behold, I now ask of Thee, in the Name of Jesus Christ, to make me very sorry for my sins; to give me strength to persevere in Thy grace; to give me a peaceful death and to make me a partaker of Paradise but, above all, I entreat Thee for the highest gift of Thine Love and for a most complete submission to Thy most holy Will.

I know, indeed, that I am unworthy of these Thy Mercies but Thou hast promised them to those who seek them through the merits of Jesus Christ and through the merits of Jesus Christ I entreat and I hope for these, Thy Mercies.

Posted in CARMELITES, CATECHESIS, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY COMMUNION, QUOTES on PURITY, St Francis de Sales, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 1 November – All Saints Day

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Quote/s of the Day – 1 November – All Saints Day

“Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.”

Matthew 5:8

“Let listening to worldly news
be BITTER FOOD for you
and let the words of
Saintly men
be as combs
filled with honey.”

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“To Saints,
their very slumber,
is a prayer!”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Doctor of the Church

“Our greatest fault is, that
we wish to serve God in our way,
not in His way — according to our will,
not according to His will….
To be truly a Saint, it is necessary
to be one according to the will of God.”

“The Holy Eucharist
is the perfect Communion of Saints,
for it is the food common to Angels
and sainted souls in Paradise
and ourselves – it is the true Bread
of which all Christians participate.
The forgiveness of sins,
the Author of forgiveness being there, is confirmed;
the seed of our resurrection sown,
life everlasting bestowed. …
This very belief in the Most Holy Sacrament,
which, in truth, reality and substance,
contains the true and natural
Body of Our Lord,
is actually the abridgment of our Faith,
according to that of the Psalmist:
“He had made a memory of His wonderful works.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ON the SAINTS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on MERIT, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 1 November – ‘ … The Communion of Saints will make up for my insufficiency and imperfection. … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 1 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – All Saints Day – Apocalypse 7:2-12; Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in Heaven.” – Matthew 5:12

REFLECTION – “Dearly beloved, let us anxiously attend to all that concerns the profession of our common life, “keeping the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace,” by “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the imparting of the Holy Ghost ”(Eph 4:3; 2 Cor 13:13). From the love of God comes the unity of the spirit; from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ comes the bond of peace; from the imparting of the Holy Ghost, comes that communion which is necessary to those who live in common. …

“I believe, 0 Lord, in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints” (Credo). This is my hope, this is my trust, this is my confidence, this is the whole of my security in the professing of my faith. … If I am allowed, O Lord, to “love Thee and love my neighbour,” (Mt 22:37-39) although my merits are small and few, yet will my hopes reach beyond them. I am confident that the merits of the Saints will help me by the communion of charity, so that the Communion of Saints will make up for my insufficiency and imperfection. … Let charity expand our hope, as far as the Communion of Saints, in the sharing of merits and rewards but the sharing of the latter belongs to the future, for it is the sharing in the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Since, then, there are three communions – the first of nature, which includes the sharing of guilt … the second of grace and the third, of glory. By the communion of grace, that of nature begins to be remade and the sharing of guilt to be excluded but by the communion of glory, that of nature will be perfectly restored and the communion of anger, will be entirely excluded, when “God will wipe away every tear from the eyes” of the Saints (Is 25:8; Rv 21:4). Then, among all the Saints, there will be “one heart and one soul” and “all things will be in common”when God will be “All in all” (Acts 4:2; 1 Cor 15:28). That we may all arrive at this communion and that we all may be one, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God,and the imparting of the Holy Ghost be with us all forever. Amen.” – Baldwin of Forde O.Cist ( c 1125–1190) Cistercian Abbot, Bishop, then Archbishop of Canterbury (Treatise on the common life).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who granted us to honour the merits of all Thy Saints in a single solemn festival, bestow on us, we beseech Thee, through their manifold intercession, that abundance of Thymercy for which we yearn. 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, ON the SAINTS, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PURITY

Our Morning Offering – 1 November – O Paradise! O Paradise!

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Our Morning Offering – 1 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – All Saints Day

O Paradise! O Paradise!
By Fr Frederick William Faber CO (1814-1863)
Written in 1854

O Paradise! O Paradise!
Who doth not crave for rest?
Who would not seek the happy land,
Where they that loved are blest.

Where loyal hearts and true,
Stand ever in the Light,
All rapture through and through,
In God’s most holy sight?

O Paradise! O Paradise!
The world is growing old;
Who would not be at rest and free
Where love is never cold?
Where loyal hearts, &c.

O Paradise! O Paradise!
Wherefore doth death delay;
Bright death which is the welcome dawn
Of our eternal day;
Where loyal hearts, &c

O Paradise! O Paradise;
‘Tis weary waiting here;
I long to be, where Jesus is,
To feel, to see Him near.
Where loyal hearts, &c.

O Paradise! O Paradise!
I want to sin no more!
I want to be as pure on earth
As on thy spotless shore.
Where loyal hearts, &c.

O Paradise! O Paradise!
I greatly long to see
The special place my dearest Lord
Is furnishing for me.
Where loyal hearts, &c.

O Paradise! O Paradise!
I feel ’twill not be long;
Patience! I almost think I hear
Faint fragments of thy song.
Where loyal hearts, &c.

Tune: “Paradise” Joseph Barnby, 1856.

Posted in PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN

Thought for the Day – 31 October – CONSIDERATION XXIX, On Heaven

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Thought for the Day – 31 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXIX

On Heaven
“But your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”
(John xvi: 20)

FIRST POINT:
LET us now endeavour to endure patiently the afflictions of this life, offering them to God in union with the pains which Jesus Christ endured for our sakes and. let us encourage ourselves with the hope of Paradise.
All these afflictions, sorrows, persecutions and fears, will one day come to an end and when we are saved, they will become joys and pleasures for us in the Kingdom of the blessed.
Even thus does the Lord encourage us: “Your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”

Let us, therefore, reflect today somewhat upon Paradise. But what can we say of this Paradise, if the Saints who had more knowledge than we, were unable to make us understand the joys which God has in store for His faithful servants and David could only express his praise of it by saying, that Paradise is a rest which is very desirable: “Oh, how amiable are Thy dwellings, Thou Lord of Hosts.” (Ps Ixxxiv: I)
But thou, at least, our holy Paul, thou who hadst the happy chance of being ravished at the sight of heaven, “caught up into Paradise, tell us something of what thou hast seen. No, says the Apostle, it is not possible to explain that which I have seen. The delights of Paradise are “unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Cor xii: 4).
They are so great that they cannot be described unless they are enjoyed. I can tell you nothing more, says the Apostle, than “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for those who love Him.” (i Cor ii: 9).

We are unable to understand the joys of Paradise because we have no conception except of the joys of this earth. … Even thus do we form notions of the joys of Paradise. It is beautiful to see, on a summer’s night, the sky all glittering with stars and how delightful, in the time of spring, to stand on the sea-coast when the sea is calm, so that the rocks within can be seen all covered with seaweed, and the fishes which glide nimbly by and, it is very delightful to be in a garden full of fruit trees and flowers, surrounded by running fountains and with birds which fly about and sing as they fly. Some might say: “Oh, what a paradise!”
What a paradise? Do you say, What a paradise?
Very different are the joys of Paradise.

In order to understand something, although obscurely, of Paradise, let us remember that the Omnipotent God is there, Who is ever engaged in delighting the souls who love Hun.
St Bernard says: “Dost thou wish to know what there is in Paradise? There is nothing which thou wouldst not have but everything that thou wouldst have, there.”

O God, what will the soul say upon entering into that blessed Kingdom?
Let us imagine that some young girl and youth, who, having consecrated themselves to the love of Jesus Christ, are dying; the hour of death having arrived, the spirit quits this earth. The soul is presented before the Judgment Seat, the Judge embraces her and makes known to her that she is saved. Her Guardian Angel comes to meet her and rejoices with her; she thanks the Angel for the assistance given to her and the Angel then says: “Take courage, beautiful soul, rejoice, for thou art now saved. Come and see the Face of thy Lord.”
Behold, the soul now passes through the clouds, the heavens
and the stars. She enters Heaven. O God, what will she say when she enters for the first time that blessed country and when she looks for the first time upon that City of delights?
The Angels and the Saints will come to meet her and they will welcome her with shouts of joy. What consolation she will have in meeting again those relations or friends, who entered Paradise before her. The soul will then wish to kneel before them and to worship them but they will say to her: “See thou do it not, for I am thy fellow-servant.” (Apoc xxii: 9). Then the soul will be led to Jesus, Who will receive her as His spouse and will say to her: “Come with Me from Lebanon, My spouse.” (Cant iv: 8). Rejoice greatly, My spouse, all thy tears, griefs and fears are now forever ended, receive the everlasting crown which I have obtained for thee by My Blood. Jesus Himself will then lead her to receive the
blessing of His Divine Father, Who, embracing her, will bless her, saying: “Enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord.” (Matt xxv: 21) and He will bless her with the same beatitude which He Himself enjoys.

Affections andPrayers

Behold, my God, at Thy Feet one ungrateful, who was created by Thee for Heaven but who, often for miserable pleasures, has renounced it to Thy Face and has chosen to be condemned to hell!
But I hope even now, Thou hast forgiven all the injuries I have committed, of which I repent endlessly and will continue to repent until death. I desire that Thou ever wouldst renew my pardon.

But, O my God, although Thou hast already pardoned me, it will yet be ever true that I had no disposition to embitter Thee, my Redeemer, Who, to bring me to Thy Kingdom, hadst given Thine Life. But may Thy compassion, O my Jesus, be ever praised and blessed, for with so great patience Thou hast borne with me and in place of chastisements, Thou
hast increased graces, lights and calls.
I see, my dear Saviour, that Thou didst will my special salvation and in Thy country to love Thee eternally but Thou desirest firsly that I should love Thee on earth. Yes, I will love Thee, and this, even were there no Heaven, while I live, with all my soul and with all my might.
It is enough for me to know that Thou, my God, desirest to be loved by me! My Jesus, assist me with Thy grace and do not abandon me.

… My Jesus, Thy merits are my hope. I place all my trust in Thy intercession. Thou didst deliver me from hell when I was in sin; now that I desire Thee, do Thou save me and make me
holy.

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GUARDIAN ANGELS - Prayers etc, Hail MARY!, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, ROSARY QUOTES, ROSARY REFLECTIONS and QUOTES, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Quote/s of the Day – 31 October – Goodbye October

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Quote/s of the Day – 31 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Goodbye October

“You should be aware, the word
“Angel” denotes a function,
rather than a nature.
Those holy Spirits of Heaven have,
indeed, always been spirits.
They can only be called Angels
when they deliver some message.
Moreover, those who deliver messages
of lesser importance are called Angels
and those. who proclaim messages
of supreme importance are called Archangels.”

St Gregory the Great (540-604)
Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church

“ They are there at your side, then,
not just with you but for you.
They stand beside you to protect and help you.
What return will you make to the Lord
for all the good He has done for you? (Ps 115:31).
It is to Him, alone, we should give thanks
and honour for their aid; it is He,
Who has commanded them.
“Every perfect gift,” (Jas 1:17)
comes from Him alone.
But we are, on no account,
to fail in thanksgiving regarding the Angels,
in view of the great charity, with which they obey Him and the great need we have of their assistance!”

St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father & Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

“You must know that when you
‘hail’ Mary, she immediately greets you!
Do not think that she is one of those rude women
of whom there are so many, on the contrary,
she is utterly courteous and pleasant.
If you greet her, she will answer you right away
and converse with you!”

St Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)

The Fifteen Promises is a tradition held by the Order of Preachers that the Blessed Virgin Mary made Fifteen specific Promises through Saint Dominic (1170-1221) and Blessed Alain de la Roche (1428-1475), to those who faithfully pray the Rosary.

The 15 Promises of The Most Holy Rosary
Given by The Blessed Virgin Mary

  1. Those who faithfully serve me, by the recitation
    of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.
  2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces,
    to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
  3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell.
  4. It will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.
    It will cause virtue and good works to flourish.
    It will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God.
    It will withdraw the hearts of men
    from the love of the world and its vanities
    and will lift them to the desire of eternal things.
    Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
  5. The soul which recommends itself to me
    by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
  6. Whoever shall recite my Rosary devoutly,
    applying himself to the consideration
    of its Sacred Mysteries, shall never
    be conquered and never overwhelmed by misfortune.
    God shall not chastise him in His justice,
    he shall not perish by an unprovided death
    Sinners shall convert.
    The just shall grow in grace
    and become worthy of eternal life.
  7. Whoever shall have a true devotion
    to the Holy Rosary,
    shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
  8. Those who are faithful, in reciting the Rosary,
    shall have, during their life and at their death,
    the Light of God and the plenitude of His graces.
    At the moment of death,
    they shall participate in the merits
    of the Saints in paradise.
  9. I shall deliver from Purgatory,
    those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
  10. The faithful children of the Rosary,
    shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
  11. You shall obtain all you ask of me,
    by the recitation of the Rosary.
  12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary,
    shall be aided by me, in their necessities.
  13. I have obtained from my Divine Son,
    that all the advocates of the Rosary,
    shall have for intercessors,
    the entire Celestial Court during their life
    and at the hour of death.
  14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons
    and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
  15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

THE SEVEN BLESSINGS OF THE HOLY ROSARY
“The Rosary, recited with meditation on the mysteries, brings about the following marvellous results:

It gradually gives us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ;
It purifies our souls, washing away sin;
It gives us victory over all our enemies;
It makes it easy for us to practice virtue;
It sets us on fire with love of Our Blessed Lord;
It enriches us with graces and merits;
It supplies us with what is needed to pay,
all our debts to God and to our fellow men
and finally, it obtains all kinds of graces for us from Almighty God.”

St Louis Marie Grignion De Montfort (1673-1716)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the POOR, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 31 October – “We possess nothing and yet, we have everything!”

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One Minute Reflection – 31 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – The Vigil of All Saints – Apocalypse 5:6-12; Luke 6:17-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Be glad in that day and rejoice, for behold, your reward is great in Heaven,” – Luke 6:23

REFLECTION – “Only Christians have a true sense of values; their joys and sorrows are not the same as other people’s. The sight of a wounded combatant wearing a victory crown would make someone, ignorant of the games, think only of the fighter’s wounds and how painful they must be. Such a person would know nothing of the happiness the crown gives. And, it is the same when people see the things we suffer, without knowing why we do so. It naturally seems to them to be suffering pure and simple. They see us struggling and facing danger but, beyond their vision, are the rewards, the crowns of victory — all we hope to gain, through the contest! As Paul said: “We possess nothing and yet, we have everything!” (2 Cor 6:10)…

We too, then, when we suffer anything for Christ’s sake, should do so not simply with courage but even with joy. If we have to go hungry, let us be glad, as if we were at a banquet. If we are insulted, let us be elated, as though we had been showered with praises. If we lose all we possess, let us consider ourselves the gainers of all. If we provide for the poor, let us regard ourselves as the recipients! … Above all, remember, that your struggles, are for the sake of the Lord Jesus. Then, you will easily rise above them and live out your lifetime in happiness; for nothing brings more happiness than a good conscience.” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father & Doctor of the Church (Sermon on Second Corinthians, 12: 4).

PRAYER – Multiply Thy grace upon us, O Lord our God and grant that by following in holiness of life, those whose glorious festival we anticipate, we may attain to their bliss. 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 AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CONSECRATION Prayers, Hail MARY!, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, ROSARY REFLECTIONS and QUOTES, THE FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTION, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Our Morning Offering – 31 October – The Holy Rosary

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Our Morning Offering – 31 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Goodbye October

The Holy Rosary
By Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)

Accept, mighty Maid, we beseech thee,
This prayer with its fragrance of flowers;
With one soul we seek thus to reach thee
And hail thee, God’s Mother and ours.

Thy heart is made glad by our praying;
Thy bounty is generous and wise;
Thy hands are enriched for conveying
What God’s tender Mercy supplies.

We kneel at thy Shrines in the Churches;
Oh, gently look down from above,
And welcome the heart that then searches
For worthy expressions of love.

Let others present precious caskets
Of gems, or heap Altars with gold;
Slight prayer-beads shall serve us for baskets
To bring thee the garland they hold.

With violets lowly we fashion
This wreath and with these combined
Red roses–our faith in the Passion
With Chastity’s lilies entwined.

Our minds, as the Mysteries vary,
Are active, our hands play their part
And always thy name, Holy Mary!
Oft-uttered, rejoices the heart.

Be with us, we trust thee to guide us
Through life and when labouring breath
At the last, seeks thine aid, be beside us
To help at the hour of our death.
Amen

Posted in PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Thought for the Day – 30 October – CONSIDERATION XXVIII, The Remorse of the Lost

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Thought for the Day – 30 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXVIII

The Remorse of the Lost
“Where their worm dieth not
and the fire is not extinguished.”
(Mark ix: 46-47)

FIRST POINT:
BY the worm that does not die, St Thomas Aquinas thinks, is signified, that remorse of conscience, by which the lost will be eternally tormented in hell.
The remorse will be manifold, with which conscience will gnaw the heart of the reprobate but, three forms of it will be the most afflicting – firstly, the thought of the little for which they are lost, then, the little which was required for their salvation and lastly, the great good which they have lost!

The first wound, then, which the lost will experience, will be the thought of, for how little he is lost. After Esau had eaten of that pottage of lentils, for which he had sold his birthright, Holy Scripture says, that, through grief and remorse, “He cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry.” (Gen xxvii: 34) Oh, how the lost will howl and roar, when he thinks that for a few momentary and hurtful gratifications he has lost an eternal Kingdom of joy and has to see himself, eternally condemned to a perpetual death. Whence, he will weep much more bitterly than Jonathan did, when he found himself condemned to death by Saul, his own father, for having eaten a little honey, “I did but taste a little honey … and lo, I must die. (i Sam xiv: 43).

… And does the sinner by chance, who lives without God, ever delight in his sins? How long do the pleasures of sin last? They endure but moments and all the rest of the time in which the sinner lives, devoid of the Grace of God, is a time of pains and torments. Now, what indeed will these moments of pleasure appear to the poor condemned one, and what, in particular the last moment and last sin, through which he was lost? Then he will say, for a wretched animal pleasure which endured but for a moment and which, as soon as possessed, disappeared as the wind: “I shall have to continue to burn in this flame despised and abandoned by all, whilst God shall be God for all eternity.”

Affections and Prayers

Lord, enlighten me that I may know the wrong which I have committed in offending Thee and the eternal punishment which I have deserved on this account.
My God, I feel great sorrow for having offended Thee but this sorrow consoles me, for, if Thou hadst sent me to hell as I deserved, this remorsewould have been the hell
of my hell!
But now, this remorse consoles me, since it gives me the courage to hope for pardon from Thee, Thou Who hast promised, to pardon those who repent.
Yes, my Lord, I repent of having outraged Thee. I embrace this sweet grief, I even pray Thee to increase it and to preserve it within me, until death that so, I may ever weep
bitterly over the displeasure I have caused Thee.

My Jesus, pardon me. O my Redeemer, Who, although having pity upon me, hadst no pity for Thyself, condemning Thyself to die of grief to liberate me from hell, have pity upon me.
Grant, then, the remorse of having offended Thee may keep me ever sorrowful and, at the same time, may inflame me wholly with love of Thee, Who has so greatly loved me, and Who hast, with so much patience, borne with me.
… I thank Thee for these Graces, O my Jesus. I love Thee : I love Thee more than myself, I love Thee with my whole heart.
… “Cast me not away from Thy Presence.”

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, OUR Cross, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 30 October – St Alphonsus Rodriquez

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Quote/s of the Day – 30 Octoberber – St Alphonsus Rodriquez SJ (1532-1617)

“You must strive, with all possible care,
to please God, in such a manner,
as neither to do, nor behold anything,
without first consulting Him
and in everything,
to seek Him alone and His glory.”

“I put myself in spirit before our Crucified Lord,
looking at Him full of sorrow,
shedding His Blood
and bearing great bodily hardships for me.

As love is paid for in love,
I must imitate Him,
sharing in spirit all His sufferings.
I must consider how much I owe Him
and what He has done for me.

Putting these sufferings between God
and my soul, I must say,
‘What does it matter, my God,
that I should endure for Thy love,
these small hardships?
For Thou, Lord, endured so many
great hardships for me.’

Amid the hardship and trial itself,
I stimulate my heart with this exercise.
Thus, I encourage myself,
to endure for love of the Lord, Who is before me,
until I make what is bitter, sweet.
In this way, learning from Christ our Lord,
I take and convert the sweet into bitter,
renouncing myself and all earthly
and carnal pleasures, delights
and honours of this life,
so that my whole heart
is focused solely on God.”

“I’m Coming, Lord”

This is My Joy, To Follow My Saviour
A Prayer to Seek the Consolation of the Cross
By St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

Jesus, love of my soul,
centre of my heart!
Why am I not more eager to endure pains
and tribulations for love of Thee,
when Thou, my God,
have suffered so many for me?
Come, then, every sort of trial in the world,
for this is my delight,
to suffer for Jesus.
This is my joy,
to follow my Saviour
and to find my consolation
with my Consoler on the Cross.
This is my happiness,
this my pleasure –
to live with Jesus,
to walk with Jesus,
to converse with Jesus,
to suffer with and for Him,
this is my treasure!
Amen

St Alphonsus Rodriguez (1532-1617)

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, Quotes on SALVATION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 30 October – ‘ … Nothing but a dream. …’ St Hilary

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One Minute Reflection – 30 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Ferial Day –Philippians 3:17-21, 4:1-3; Matthew 9:18-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“… The girl is not dead but sleepeth.” – Matthew 9:24

REFLECTION – “This synagogue Official can be understood as representing the Law of Moses who, when interceding on behalf of the crowd he had nurtured for Christ, by preaching the expectation of His coming, asks the Lord to restore a dead girl to life … The Lord promised to help him and, to assure him of it, he followed him.

First of all, however, the mass of pagan sinners was saved, together with the Apostles. The gift of life reverted, in the first place, to the elect predestined by the Law and yet, before that, salvation was bestowed on publicans and sinners, in the image of the woman. That was why, this woman was confident that, coming upon the Lord as He passed by, she would be healed of her haemorrhage at the touch of the Lord’s garment … In her faith, she was in haste to touch the fringe of His garment, that is to say, to attain, together with the Apostles, the gift of the Holy Ghost emanating from Christ’s Body after the manner of a fringe. She was swiftly healed. Thus, the cure intended for the one, was also granted to the other, whose faith and perseverance the Lord praised, since what had been prepared for Israel had been received by the Gentiles … The healing power of the Lord contained, in His Body spread even to the fringes of His garments. For indeed, God is neither divisible nor graspable, in such a way, as to be enclosed within a Body. He Himself shares out His gifts in the Spirit but is not divided among His gifts. In every place His power is touched by faith because, it exists everywhere and, is never absent anywhere. The Body He took did not restrict His power but His power took on the weakness of a body to redeem it …

Then, the Lord entered the Official’s house, otherwise called the synagogue … and many people mocked Him. Effectively, they did not believe in the God-Man and laughed to hear Him preach the resurrection from the dead. Taking the young girl’s hand, the Lord restored her to life, whose death, where he was concerned, was nothing but a dream.” – St Hilary (315-368) Bishop of Poitiers, Father and Doctor of the Divinity of Christ (Commentary on Saint Matthew’s Gospel 9: 5-8 )

PRAYER – O God, our refuge and our strength, the very source of holiness, heed the devout prayers of Thy Church and grant that what we seek in faith, we may obtain in fact. 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 PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HELL

Thought for the Day – 29 October – CONSIDERATION XXVII, The Eternity of Hell

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Thought for the Day – 29 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXVII

The Eternity of Hell
“And these shall go into everlasting punishment.”
(Matt xxv: 46)

FIRST POINT:
IF hell were not eternal it would not be hell ,for that pain which does not last long, is not very great. … When a pain lasts for a long time, even should it be a very light one, … it becomes unbearable. But why do I speak of pain? For a comedy or a concert which lasted very long, even for a day, would not be borne for weariness; how would it be if it lasted for a month or for a year?

What then will hell be? in which it is not the hearing of the same comedy or music, or the suffering the toothache, or the swelling; nor is it suffering the torture of … red-hot irons but there will be all torments, all pains and for how long? Through all eternity, “Shall be tormented day and night, forever and ever.” (Apoc xx: 10).

The belief in this eternity, is an Article of Faith it is not only a certain opinion but is a Truth witnessed to us by God in many places of Holy Scripture: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.” (Matt xxv: 41) “And these shall go into everlasting punishment.” (Matt xxv: 45) “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction.” (2 Thess i: 9) “Everyone shall be salted with fire.” (Mark ix: 48) As salt preserves, so the fire of hell, in the very time in which it torments the lost, performs the office of salt, preserving life to them. St Bernard says: “There, the fire consumes, that it may always, preserve.”

Now, what madness would it be of anyone, who, to obtain one day of pleasure, should condemn himself to be shut up in a pit some twenty or thirty years. If hell were to last a hundred years .. if it should not last more than two or three years, still it would be great madness for a moment of vile pleasure, to condemn oneself to two or three years of burning. But it does not treat of thirty, of a hundred, of a thousand, or of a million years but of eternity; it is a question of suffering fo ever, the same torments which will never end, never be lightened even for a moment!

The Saints, therefore, had reason, whilst they were in this life and even in danger of being condemned, to weep and to tremble. The blessed Isaiah, although living in the desert in fasting and penitence, wept, saying, “Alas, unhappy me, for I am not yet delivered from the fire of hell.”

Affections andPrayers

O my God, hadst Thou sent me to hell, as truly many times I have deserved to be sent and Thou, through Thy pity, hadst afterwards delivered me from it, how greatly would I have remained indebted to Thee? and from thenceforth, what a holy life I should have begun to live?

Now, with still greater mercy. Thou hast preserved me from falling into it, what shall I do Shall I turn again and offend and provoke Thee to scorn, in order that Thou mayest properly send me to burn in that prison of Thy rebels, where so many indeed truly burn for lesser sins than mine?
Oh, my Redeemer, so have I acted in time past; instead of serving Thee in the time which Thou hast given me to weep over my sins, I have spent it in still further provoking Thee to anger.
I thank Thy Infinite Goodness which has borne with me so long; if it had not been Infinite, how could it ever have so borne with me? I thank Thee for having ,with so great patience, waited for me until now and I thank Thee especially for the light which Thou now givest me, by which Thou teachest me to know my madness and the wrong I have done … My Jesus, I detest them and I repent with my whole heart.

Pardon me by Thy Passion and so assist me by Thy Grace that I may never offend Thee more.
… Oh, my Lord, I pray Thee, place before my eyes this just fear of being abandoned by Thee, whenever the devil may tempt me to offend Thee gain.
My God, I love Thee, never will I lose Thee again. Assist mw by Thy Grace that I may never more sin against Thee.

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, IMMACULATE HEART Quotes, QUOTES on CHILDREN, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on the FAMILY, QUOTES/PRAYERS on THE FAMILY, ROSARY QUOTES, ROSARY REFLECTIONS and QUOTES, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Quote/s of the Day – 29 October – Let not even one day pass …

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Quote/s of the Day – 29 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels”

“The Rosary is the scourge of the devil.”

Pope Adrian VI (1459-1523)

“Commend your children
to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
When parents pray the Rosary,
at the end of each Decade,
they should hold the Rosary aloft
and say to her:
‘with these beads, bind our children
to thy Immaculate Heart’ –
our Holy Mother will attend to their souls!”

St Louise de Marillac DC (1591-1660)

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

St Pope Pius X (1835-1914)

“The Rosary is a powerful weapon
to put the demons to flight
and to keep oneself from sin…
If you desire peace in your hearts,
in your homes
and in your country,
assemble each evening to recite the Rosary.
Let not even one day pass without saying it,
no matter how burdened you may be
with many cares and labours.”

Pope Pius XI (1857-1939)

“There is no surer means
of calling down God’s blessing
upon the family,
than the daily recitation
of the Rosary.”

Pope Pius XII (1876-1958)

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on The SOUL, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 October – ‘ … But every man is afraid of the death of the flesh; few, of the death of the soul! …

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One Minute Reflection – 29 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Pentecost XXIII– Resumed Mass of Sunday – Philippians 3:17-21, 4:1-3; Matthew 9:18-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Behold, a certain ruler came up and adored Him, saying: Lord, my daughter is even now dead but come, lay Thy Hand upon her and she shall live. ” – Matthew 9:18

REFLECTION – “The hour is coming, in which all who are in their graves ,shall hear His Voice and shall come forth” (Jn 5:28)… We have read in the Gospel, of three dead persons who were raised to life by the Lord and, let us hope, to some good purpose. For surely ,the Lord’s deeds are not merely deeds but signs … We were listening with wonder… in the reading of the Gospel, how Lazarus was restored to life (Jn 11). If we turn our thoughts to the still more wonderful works of Christ, everyone who believes, rises again – if we all consider and understand that more horrifying kind of death which everyone who sins dies.

But every man is afraid of the death of the flesh; few, of the death of the soul! … Man, destined to die, labours to avert his dying and yet, man, destined to live forever, labours not, to cease from sinning! … Oh that we could arouse men and be ourselves aroused along with them, to be, as great lovers of the life that abides, as men are of that, which passes away.! … Who has had it said to him: “Be off to sea, if you would escape with your life” and has delayed to do so? Who has had it said to him: “Set to work if you would preserve your life” and has continued a sluggard? It is but little that God requires of us that we may live forever and we neglect to obey Him?! …

If, then, the Lord in the greatness of His Grace and Mercy, raises our souls to life that we may not die forever, we may well understand, that those three dead persons whom He raised in the body, have some figurative significance of that resurrection of the soul, which is effected by faith.” – St Augustine (354-430), Father and Doctor of Grace of the Church (Sermons on Saint John’s Gospel, no.49, 1-3).

PRAYER – Forgive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy faithful people, so that by Thine Goodness we may be released from the net of sin in which we have been caught by our weakness. 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 CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the KING Prayers, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, GOD ALONE!, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The HEART

Our Morning Offering – 29 October – Be Thou My Vision

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Our Morning Offering – 29 October

Be Thou My Vision
By St Dallan Forgaill (c530- 598)
Martyr

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy Presence my Light.

Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my Battle-shield, Sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and Thou only, First in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Son,
Heart of my heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

St Dallan here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-st-dallan-forgaill-c-530-598/

Posted in DOCTRINE, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 28 October – CONSIDERATION XXVI, Of the Pain of Hell

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Thought for the Day – 28 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXVI

Of the Pain of Hell
“And these shall go into everlasting punishment.”
(Matt xxv: 46)

FIRST POINT:
THE sinner, when he sins, commits two evils – he leaves God, the highest Good and, he turns to the creature. “For My people have committed two evils – they have forsaken Me. the Fountain of Living Waters and hewed cisterns, broken cisterns which can hold no water.” (Jer ii: 13). Since then, the sinner turns to the creature, with a loathing of God – by those very creatures –he shall be justly tormented in hell, by the fire and by demons, this forms the pain of the senses. But since his greatest guilt,in which the sin consists, lies in his turning away from God, so the chief punishment … will be the pain of loss, that is, the pain of having lost God.

Let us consider, in the first place, the pain of the senses.
It is an Article of Faith that there is a hell.
This prison is reserved in the middle of the earth, for the punishment of the rebels against God.
What is this hell? It is a place of torments.
“This place of torment,” (Luke xvi: 28), as the condemned glutton called hell. A place of torments, where all the senses and the powers of the condemned, will each have their especial torment and, in proportion, as one sense has especially offended God, so also will be its peculiar punishment.
“That wherewithal a man sinneth, by the same also,shall he be punished.” (Wisd xi: 16).
“As much as she hath glorified herself and lived in delicacies, so much torment and sorrow give ye to her because, she saith in her heart, I sit a queen and am no widow and sorrow I shall not see.” (Apoc xviii: 7)

The sight will be tormented with darkness.
“The land of darkness and the shadow of death.” (Job x: 21). What compassion should we feel for a poor man who remained shut up in a dark pit for the remainder of his life, for forty or fifty years! Hell is a pit, shut in on every side, in which no ray of the sun or any other light will ever enter. “Man …. shall never see light.” (Ps xlix: 20).
The fire which enlightens on earth, in hell, will be altogether dark.
“The Voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.” (Ps xxix: 7) Which expression St Basil explains, of the Lord dividing the fire from the light, so that it will suffice to burn only and not to illuminate; or as Albert the Great expresses it: “He will divide the glowing from the heat.” The very smoke which leaves this fire, will form that “ blackness of darkness,” which St Jude says is reserved forever for the wicked. ( Jude 13).
St Thomas Aquinas says, there will be reserved for the wicked, light, “as much as suffices for men to see those things which torment them.” They will see in that glimmer of light, the ugliness of the other reprobates and of the demons, who, to frighten them the more, will assume horrible forms.

The sense of smell too, will be tormented.
What torment would it be, to be shut up in a room with a putrid corpse!?
“Their stench shall come out of their carcases.” (Isa xxxiv: 3).
The lost will have to remain in the midst of so many millions of lost nes, alive as to pain but corpses by the odour which they emit.

But some foolish one may say: “If I go to hell, I shall not be alone.” Wretched one! By how many more there are in hell, by so much more will they suffer!
As St Thomas Aquinas says: “There the society of the wretched, will not lessen but increase, the misery” they will suffer all the more, I say, from the smell, the cries, the confinement since in hell, they will be upon each other like sheep are penned together in the winter. “They live in hell like sheep.” (Ps xlix: 14).
Nay more, they will be as grapes, pressed under the press of the wrath of God. “He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath ofAlmighty God.” (Apoc xix: 5). They shall have from this also, the pain of permanence. “They shall be as still as a stone.” (Exod xv: 1 6). Thus the lost, as they fall into hell at the last day, so will they remain without ever changing their place and be unable to move, either foot or hand, whilst God shall be God.

The sense of hearing will be tormented with the ceaseless howling and wailing of those poor desperate ones. The demons will make continual dins. “A dreadful sound is in his ears.” (Job xv: 21). What pain this, when one wishes to sleep, to hear the continual moaning of the sick, the barking of a dog, or the crying of an infant? Unhappy lost ones! who are condemned to ever hear, for all eternity, the groans and cries of those who are tortured.

The appetite too, will be tormented by hunger; the lost ones will experience a rabid hunger, “grin like a dog …. and grudge if they be not satisfied.” (Ps lix: 14, 15).
But they shall not have a crumb of bread.
The thirst will be so great that all the water of the sea would not suffice for it, nevertheless, they shall not have one drop!
The rich man asked for one drop but this he has not yet had it and. will never have it never ever!

Affections andPrayers

Ah, my Lord, behold at Thy Feet one who has made small account, both of Thy grace and of Thy chastisements. Poor me, if Thou, my Jesus, hadst not had pity upon me, for how many years should I have been in that fearful furnace, where truly are now burning so many like myself.
Oh, my Redeemer, how is it, that whilst thinking upon this I do not burn with Thy love?
How shall I ever be able to think of offending Thee anew. Oh, may it never be, my Jesus Christ; grant me rather to die a thousand deaths. … Thou hast delivered me from the ruin of my many sins and with so great love, Thou hast called me to love Thee. Ah, grant now. that this time which Thou hast given me, I may spend wholly for Thee.

How would the lost desire one day, nay, one hour of the time which Thou hast granted to me and I, what shall I do? Shall I continue to spend it on things which displease Thee? No, my Jesus! do not allow this by the merits of that Blood which hitherto has delivered me from hell.
I love Thee, O Highest Good and because I love Thee, I repent of having offended Thee.
I desire to offend Thee no more but ever to love Thee. Grant that I may obtain the gift of perseverance and of Thy holy love.

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ANGELS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – ‘ … Let us fight the good fight with brave hearts and solid faith!’

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One Minute Reflection – 28 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – Ephesians 4:7-13, John 15:17-25 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If you had been of the world, the world would love its own but because, you are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hateth you.” – John 15:19

REFLECTION – “Our Lord’s Will is that we should rejoice and leap for joy when we are persecuted (Mt 5:12) because, when persecutions come, it is the, crowns are given for faith (cf Jas 1:12), it is then, Christ’s soldiers prove themselves, then the heavens open to their witness. We are not employed in God’s force only to think of quiet, running away from service when the Teacher of humility, patience and suffering, has Himself provided the same service before us. What He taught, He first of all, carried out and if He exhorts us to stand firm, it is because He Himself suffered before us and on our behalf.

If we are to take part in competitions in the stadium we exercise and train ourselves and think ourselves highly honoured if, before the eyes of the crowd, we have the happiness of receiving the prize. But here is a trial which is both noble and outstanding in another way, in which God watches us – His children – take part in the combat and Himself gives us a heavenly crown ( 1 Cor 9:25). The Angels watch us too and Christ comes to our aid. So let us arm ourselves with all our might; let us fight the good fight with brave hearts and solid faith!” – St Cyprian (200-258) Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, Father of the Church (Letter 56).

PRAYER – O God, Who has given us a way of coming to know Thy Name through Thy blessed Apostles Simon and Jude, grant us to honour their everlasting glory, by becoming more holy and to become more holy by honouring it. 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 CHRIST the JUDGE, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING

Thought for the Day – 27 October – CONSIDERATION XXV, The General Judgement

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Thought for the Day – 27 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXV

The General Judgement
“The Lord is known to execute judgement.”
(Ps ix: 16)

FIRST POINT:
IF now we consider well, there is no person in the world more despised than Jesus Christ. We take more account of a peasant than we do of God because, we fear, if we have offended others, lest he being filled with wrath, should avenge himself but we commit offences against God over and over again as if God were not able to avenge Himself whenever it pleases Him!

… But, therefore, it is that the Redeemer has appointed a day which will be the day of General Judgement, called, even in Holy Scripture, “The day of the Lord,” in which Jesus Christ will be known to be that Sovereign Lord, Who indeed He is. “The Lord is known to execute judgement.” (Ps ix: 16). Hence, such a day is no longer called a day of mercy and pardon but “a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of waste and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess.” (Zeph i: 15). Yes, for then will the Lord, very justly, redeem to Himself the honour which sinners, during this life, have sought to deprive Him of.

Let us try to imagine, in what way, the judgement of that great day will come to pass.
Before the Judge shall come, “there shall go a fire before
Him.” (Ps xcvii: 3). Fire shall come from Heaven which will burn the earth and all the things of the earth, “The earth also and the works which are therein, shall be burned.” (2 Pet iii: 10). So that palaces, Churches, Towns, Cities, Kingdoms, all, will become a pile of ashes. This house, all polluted as it is with sin, will be purged with fire. Behold the end which all the riches, the pomps and the pleasures of this world, will have.
For those who are dead, the trumpet will sound and they will all arise. “For the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised.” (i Cor xv: 52).

St Jerome observes: “As often as I reflect upon the Day of Judgement, I tremble – that trumpet seems ever to resound in my ears, Arise, ye dead and come to judgement.”
At the sound of that trumpet the beautiful souls of the Blessed, will descend, to be united to their bodies, with which they have served God in this life but the miserable souls of the lost,“ will ascend from hell, to be united to those accursed bodies with which they have offended God.
Oh, what a difference will there be, then, between the bodies of those who are Blessed and the bodies of those who are lost.
The Blessed will appear beautiful, lovely and more resplendent than the sun. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun.” (Matt xiii: 43). O happy he, who in this life knows how to mortify his flesh by refusing pleasures which are forbidden and who, in order to keep it more under control, refuses it even the lawful pleasures of the senses and ill-treats it as the Saints have done! Oh, what happiness will he derive from it on that day!

On the other hand, the bodies of the lost, will appear deformed, black and offensive. Oh, what anguish will the lost soul feel upon being united to its body! The soul will exclaim: “Accursed body, in order to please thee I am lost!” And the body will reply: “Accursed soul, when thou hadst reason in thy power, wherefore didst thou grant me those pleasures which have caused both thee and I to be lost for all eternity!?”

Affections andPrayers

Ah, my Jesus and my Redeemer, Thou Who one day will be my Judge, do Thou pardon me before that day shall arrive.
“Cast me not away from Thy presence.” (Ps li: 11) .
Now Thou art a Father to me and as that Father do Thou receive into Thy favour, a son, who returns repentant to Thy feet.
My Father, I ask pardon from Thee. I have offended Thee unjustly, I have left Thee wrongfully. Thou didst not deserve to be treated as I have treated Thee. I repent and I grieve with all my heart. Pardon me. Do not turn away Thy face from me, do not drive me from Thee as I deserve …
Remember the Blood which Thou hast shed for me and have mercy upon me. My Jesus, I desire no other Judge than Thee.

St Thomas of Villanova said: “I willingly submit to the Judgement of Him Who died for me and, that I might not be condemned, suffered Himself to be condemned to the Cross!”
And before him, St Paul said: “Who is he Who condemneth? It is Christ Who died …. for us.” (Rom viii: 34) .

My Father, I love Thee and for the time to come, I wish never more to leave Thy feet.
Do Thou forget the wrongs I have committed against Thee and give me a great love towards Thy goodness. …
Jesus, make me live a life ever grateful to Thy Love, so that in that day, I may be found “in the valley, amongst the number of Thy lovers.”

Posted in "Follow Me", APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the KING Prayers, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, Quotes on SALVATION, The HOLY NAME, The RESURRECTION, The SECOND COMING

Quote/s of the Day – 27 October – The Feast of Christ the King

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Quote/s of the Day – 27 October – The Feast of Christ the King

“Wake up then, believer
and note what is stated here:
“In My Name.”
That [Name] is Christ Jesus.
Christ signifies King, Jesus signifies Saviour.
Therefore, whatever we ask for
that would hinder our salvation,
we do not ask in our Saviour’s Name
and yet, He is our Saviour,
not only when He does what we ask
but also, when He does not.
When He sees us ask anything
to the disadvantage of our salvation,
He shows Himself our Saviour by not doing it.
The physician knows
whether what the sick person asks for,
is to the advantage or disadvantage of his health.
And [the physician] does not allow
what would be harmful to him,
although the sick person himself, desires it.
But the physician looks to his final cure.”

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

“Our Lord Jesus Christ
Has appeared to us from the bosom of the Father.
He has come and drawn us out of the shadows
And enlightened us with His joyful Light.

Day has dawned for humankind,
Cast out the power of darkness.
For us, a Light from His Light has arisen
That has enlightened our darkened eyes.

Over the world He has made His glory arise
And has lit up the deepest depths.
Death is no more, darkness has ended,
The gates of hell are shattered.

He has illumined every creature,
All the shades from times long past.
He has brought about salvation and given us Life;
Next He will come in glory.

Our King is coming in His great glory:
Let us light our lamps
and go out to meet Him (Mt 25,6);
Let us be glad in Him, as He has been glad in us
And gives us gladness, with His glorious Light.

My friends, arise! make yourselves ready
To give thanks to our Saviour King,
Who will come in His glory and make us joyful
With His joyous Light in the Kingdom.”

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father of the Church
(Hymn I on the Resurrection)

“Let us not strive for the rewards of Heaven,
valuable though they may be
but live, so as to please the God of Heaven.
If God were not in Heaven,
all its beauty, riches and sweetness,
would be dull rather than delightful.
By faith, we know, God already dwells within us.
But in Heaven, we will see God face-to-face.
May we so live that one day,
we will be in Heaven praising
and praying eternally,
before our Lord and Saviour!”

St Jane Frances de Chantal VHM (1572-1641)

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One Minute Reflection – 27 October – “My Kingdom is not of this world.”

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One Minute Reflection – 27 Octoberber – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” –The Feast of Christ the King – Pentecost XXIII – Colossians 1:12-20; John 18:33-37– Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Pilate, therefore, said to Him, Thou are then a King?” – John 18:37

REFLECTION – “What a stupendous thing it was for the King of the ages to become King of men! For Christ did not become King of Israel to exact tribute, to equip armies with swords, to subdue visible foes. He became King of Israel that He might rule over men’s souls, counsel them about eternity that, He might lead to the Kingdom of Heaven, those, who would believe in Him, hope in Him and love Him. Accordingly, it was not to increase His power–it was condescension on His part which made Him,, the Son of God, co-equal with the Father, the Word by Whom all things were made–wish to become King of Israel. It was an indication of His mercy; it did not augment His power. He, Who on earth was called King of the Jews, in Heaven is called, Lord of the Angels. But is Christ King of the Jews only and not King of the Gentiles, too? When, in prophecy He said, “But I have established My Kingdom upon Sion, My holy mountain. I will make known the decree of the Lord,” He added immediately, so that the mention of Mount Sion, might not lead men to believe He had been anointed King of the Jews, solely: “The Lord has said to Me – Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me and I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thy inheritance and the ends of the earth, for Thy possessions.”

Jesus answered – “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My followers would have fought, that I might not be delivered to the Jews. But as it is, My Kingdom is not from here.” This is what the good Master wished us to know. First, we had to learn, how vain was the notion of His Kingdom that it should be hostile, either to the Romans or to the Jews. When the Roman governor asked Jesus “Art thou King of the Jews?” the Lord could have answered: “My Kingdom is not of this world.” But Christ asked in His turn, ”Dost thou say this of thyself, or have others told thee of Me?” because, He wished to show, from Pilate’s answer, that He, Jesus, had been charged with this, as a crime by the Jews, before Pilate. Thus He laid bare to us the thoughts of men which He knew and which were vain. After the reply of Pilate, Jesus replied to them, to both Jews and Gentiles, more fittingly and more opportunely, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon on Christ the King) Roman Breviary

PRAYER – Almighty and eternal God, Who willed to restore all things in Thy beloved Son, the King of the Universe, graciously grant that the peoples of the earth torn asunder by the wound of sin, may submit to His most gentle rule.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, The LAST THINGS

Thought for the Day – 26 October –CONSIDERATION XXIV, The Particular Judgement

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Thought for the Day – 26 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXIV

The Particular Judgement
“For we must all appear
before the judgement-seat of Christ”
(2 Cor v: 10)

FIRST POINT:
LET us now consider the soul’s appearance before God – the accusation, the examination and, the sentence.

And, in the first place, speaking of the appearance of the soul before the Judge, it is the general opinion of theologians that, the Particular Judgment takes place at the very moment when man expires and, at the same place in which the soul is separated from the body, it is judged by Jesus Christ, Who will not send but, will come Himself to judge its cause, “for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke xii: 40).)
St Augustine observes, “He will come with love for us, with terror for the ungodly!”

Oh, what fear will that one feel, when he beholds the Redeemer for the first time and beholds Him in wrath!
“Who can stand before His indignation?” (Nah i: 6). To see the wrath of the Judge will be the forerunner of condemnation.
“The wrath of a king is as messengers of death.” (Prov xvi: 14).
St Bernard remarks, the soul will suffer more in seeing Jesus wrathful, than in being even in hell itself.

… What grief is it to a son to see his father really offended ; or, to a subject, to see his prince deeply annoyed! But what greater punishment can a soul experience to see Jesus Christ, Whom all his life long has been despised? “they shall look upon Me, Whom they ha e pierced.” (Zech xii: 10).
That Lamb, Who during life has shown so much patience, the souls will behold very wrathful, without the hope of ever again being able to appease Him.
… St Luke, speaking of the judgement, says: “And then shall they see the Son of Man.” (Luke xxi: 27).
Oh, what anguish will it bring to the sinner, when he beholds the Judge in the form of a man! Because the sight of Him, Who as Man once died for his salvation, will reproach him very deeply for his ingratitude.

When the Saviour ascended into Heaven, the Angels said to His disciples, “This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall come, in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.” (Acts i: 11).

Therefore, the Judge will come to judge, with those same wounds with which He departed …. Those wounds will console the just but they will affright the sinners. When Joseph said unto his brethren: “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold,” (Gen xlv: 4), Holy Scripture tells us that they “could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.” (Gen xlv: 3).
But what will the sinner answer Jesus Christ? Perhaps he will take courage to entreat His mercy, when he will first of all have to render to Him, an account of the contempt which he has shown for the mercies granted to him? St Augustine inquires, What will the sinner do, whither will he fly, when he beholds the Judge, Who will be very wrathful, sitting above him – underneath him, hell already open on the one side, the sins which will accuse him; oh the other, the devils ready to execute the sentence and within, the conscience which will attack him

Affections andPrayers

O my Jesus, I wish ever to call Thee my Jesus.
Thy Name consoles me and gives me courage, reminding me that Thou art My my Saviour, Who didst die to save me. Behold me at Thy feet; I confess that I have been guilty of hell each time I have offended Thee by committing deadly sin. I do not deserve pardon but Thou hast died to pardon me. Therefore, my Jesus, do Thou quickly pardon me before Thou dost come to judge me. For then I could no longer beg for mercy but now, I can beg for i, and hope to receive it. Then will Thy wounds affright me but now, they give me confidence.

My dear Redeemer, I repent more than for any other evil, that of having offended Thy Infinite Goodness. I would wish to accept every chastisement, every loss, rather than lose Thy grace. I love Thee with all my heart. Have mercy upon me.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness.”

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES for CHRIST, 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 HOLY NAME

Quote/s of the Day – 26 October – Abide in Me

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 October – Vigil of Saints Simon and Jude (Anticipation) – 1 Corinthians 4:9-14, John 15:1-7 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Abide in Me and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abide in the vine,
so neither can you,
unless you abide in Me.”

John 15:4

“If, because of your preaching,
men lay aside enmities,
forgive injuries,
avoid occasions of sin
and scandals
and reform their conduct,
you may say that the seed
has fallen on good ground.
But to God alone, give all the glory
and acknowledge yourselves,
ever unprofitable servants.”

St Louis Bertrand (1526-1581)

“[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! ”

St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)

“For the branch,” says St Augustine,
“there can be no half-measures.
Either it remains united with the vine,
or it is thrown into the fire.”
The same holds true for each one of us.
We must choose, either close union with Jesus,
or separation and spiritual death.
We must decide between a life of fervour in Christ,
or a life of tepidity and sin.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

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One Minute Reflection – 26 October – “I am the vine, you the branches.” – John 15:5

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One Minute Reflection – 26 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – St Evaristus – (c44–c107) Martyr, Pope Evaristus is the fifth Bishop of Rome, holding office from c99 until his death in c108 – 1 Corinthians 4:9-14; John 15:1-7 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“I Am the vine, you the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, the same bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

REFLECTION – “The Lord calls Himself the Vine and those united to Him, branches, in order to teach us how much we shall benefit from our union with Him and, how important it is for us, to remain in His Love. By receiving the Holy Spirit, Who is the bond of union between us and Christ our Saviour, those who are joined to Him, as branches are to a vine, share in His own nature.

On the part of those who come to the Vine, their union with Him depends upon a deliberate act of the will, on his part, the union is effected by grace. Because we had goodwill, we made the act of faith that brought us to Christ and received from Him, the dignity of adoptive sonship which made us His own kinsmen, according to the words of Saint Paul: He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

The Prophet Isaiah calls Christ the Foundation because it is upon Him that we, as living and spiritual stones, are built into a holy priesthood to be a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. Upon no other Foundation than Christ can this temple be built. Here Christ is teaching the same Truth, by calling Himself the Vine, since the Vine is the parent of its branches and provides their nourishment.

From Christ and in Christ, we have been reborn through the Spirit, in order to bear the fruit of life; not the fruit of our old, sinful life but, the fruit of a new life, founded upon our faith in Him and our love for Him. Like branches growing from a vine, we now draw our life from Christ and we cling to His holy commandment, in order to preserve this life. Eager to safeguard the blessing of our noble birth, we are careful not to grieve the Holy Ghost Who dwells in us and Who makes us aware of God’s Presence in us.

Let the wisdom of John teach us how we live in Christ and Christ lives in us: The proof that we are living in Him and He is living in us, is that He has given us a share in His Spirit. Just as the trunk of the vine gives its own natural properties to each of its branches, so, by bestowing on them the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the only-begotten Son of the Father, gives Christians a certain kinship with Himself and with God the Father because they have been united to Him by faith and determination to do His will in all things. He helps them to grow in love and reverence for God and teaches them, to discern right from wrong and to act with integrity.” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Known as “The Pillar of Faith” Archbishop of Alexandria, Father & Doctor of the Church, Doctor Incarnationis (Doctor of the Incarnation) [Commentary on the Gospel of John].

PRAYER – Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercession of blessed Evaristus Thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, whom Thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church. 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 PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL

Thought for the Day – 25 October – CONSIDERATION XXIII, The Delusions infused by the Devil into the Mind of the Sinner

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Thought for the Day – 25 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XXIII

The Delusions infused by the Devil
in the Mind of the Sinner
“That they mav recover themselves
out of the snare of the devil.”
(2 Tim ii: 26)

FIRST POINT:
LET us picture to ourselves some young person once fallen into grievous sin but who now, has confessed it and has regained the Divine grace. The devil again tempts such a one to fall, he resists but already he wavers because of the delusions which the enemy puts into his mind. I say to such: “Young man, tell me what thou dost wish to do?
Art thou willing to lose the grace of God which thou hast
regained and which is worth more than all the world, in order to obtain that miserable satisfaction? Dost thou wish to write the sentence of thy eternal death to condemn thyself to burn forever in hell?” Thou sayest, No, I do not wish to condemn myself, I wish to be saved; if I commit this sin I will confess it afterwards.

This is the first delusion which the devil presents to you. Thou sayest that afterwards thou wilt confess it? But, in the meanwhile, thou art losing thy soul. Tell me, whether, if thou hadst a jewel in thy hand which was worth a very large sum of money, wouldst thou throw it into the river saying: “Presently I will search carefully,and then I shall hope to find it again?” but thou hast in thy hand that most beautiful jewel – thy soul which Jesus Christ has bought with His Blood and thou art willingly throwing it into hell! for by sinning thou art already condemned according to the present justice and thus casting it away, thou art saying, I hope to regain it by confessing.

But if thou shouldst not regain it? For in order to regain it,
a true repentance is necessary which is the gift of God. And if God should not grant this repentance? And if death should come and deprive thee of the time for confession?
Thou sayest that thou wilt not allow a week to pass without
confession. But who promises thee this week? Thou sayest
that thou wilt confess to-morrow. But who promises thee tomorrow?

St Augustine writes thus – God has not promised to give thee to-morrow, perhaps He will give it to thee and perhaps He will refuse to give it to thee; even as He has denied it to so many, who at night have gone to bed alive and in the morning have been found dead. How many, indeed, in the act itself of sin, has the Lord struck dead and sent to everlasting punishment? And if He should do the same with thee, how couldst thou amend thy eternal ruin? Know, that because of this mistake, in saying: “Afterwards I will confess,” the devil has borne many thousands of Christian souls to hell. … All, when they sin, sin in the hope of confessing their sin and thus, have so many miserable ones been condemned and now they can no longer remedy their condemnation.

But thou sayest: “I am not strong enough to resist that temptation” this is the second delusion of the devil who tries to make thee feel that thou hast not strength to resist the present passion.
Firstly, we must understand that God, as the Apostle tells us, is faithful and will not suffer us to be tempted beyond that which we are able. (l Cor x: 13).
Moreover, I ask thee, if now thou art not strong enough to resist, how canst thou gain strength afterwards? Afterwards, the enemy will not cease to tempt thee to commit other sins and then, he will be much stronger against thee and thou wilt be much weaker. If, therefore, now thou art not strong enough to extinguish that flame, how wilt thou be able to do so, when the flame is much greater Thou sayest that God will give thee His help. But God already gives His assistance to thee; why, therefore, with His Grace canst thou not resist? Perhaps thou art hoping that God will increase His aid and His graces, after thou hast increased thy sins!? But if now thou requirest greater assistance and strength, why not ask God to grant them to thee? Perhaps thou art doubting God’s faithfulness, when He promised to give thee all that thou need: “Ask, and it shall be given thee.” (Matt vii: 7).
God cannot fail; fly to Him; He will give thee that strength which is necessary for thee to resist.

Ancient Fathers have declared that “God does not command things impossible to be performed but, by commanding, bids thee both do what thou can and to pray for what thou cannot do and He helps you to do it.”

Affections andPrayers

Therefore, my God, is it because Thou hast been so good to me that I have been so ungrateful to Thee?
We have, as it were, been battling each other – I, in flying from Thee and Thou, in seeking me; Thou in doing me good and I, in doing evil against Thee.
Ah, my Lord, if there were no other reason, the goodness alone which Thou hast shown me, ought to have inspired me with love for Thee; for after I have increased my sins, Thou hast increased Thy Graces. And, whenever have I deserved the Light which Thou art giving to me?
My Lord, I thank Thee with all my heart and I hope
to come to Heaven, there to thank Thee for that Light through all eternity. I hope, through Thy Blood, to be saved and I hope it with certainty because Thou hast shown so many mercies to me.

In the meantime I hope Thou wilt grant me strength. never more to betray Thee. … I have offended Thee often enough.
In the life that remains to me I wish to love Thee. And how can I help loving a God, Who, after having died for me, has borne with me with so much patience, notwithstanding the many insults I have offered to Him?
O God of my soul, I repent with all my heart; would that I could die of grief. But if during the past, I have turned from Thee, now do I love Thee beyond every thing, much more than I love myself.

Eternal Father, through the merits of Jesus Christ, succour a miserable sinner who wishes to love Thee.

Posted in QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PRAYER, ROSARY QUOTES, ROSARY REFLECTIONS and QUOTES, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT

Quote/s of the Day – 25 October – That Daily Rosary …

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Quote/s of the Day – 25 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels”

“… [I] resolved to recite a Rosary
for anyone who caused me trouble.
Then I heard the Voice
from the Tabernacle say,
‘Your prayers for those
who mortify you,
are very pleasing to Me.
In exchange, I am ready
to grant you many graces.‘”

St Serafino of Montegranarno of mono (1540-1604)

“Never will anyone
who says his Rosary everyday,
be led astray.
This is a statement
that I would gladly sign
with my blood.”

St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)

“The Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer
and the most efficacious means
of attaining eternal life.
It is the remedy for all our evils,
the root of all our blessings.
There is no more excellent way of praying.”

Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 October – “I will send to them prophets and apostles and some of them they will kill and persecute. ” – Luke 11:49

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One Minute Reflection – 24 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Saints Chrysanthus and Daria (Died c 282) Martyrs, Married Couple – Wisdom 3:1-8: Luke 11:47-51 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“I will send to them prophets and apostles and some of them they will kill and persecute. ” – Luke 11:49

REFLECTION – “One of you will say: “I’m not able to love my enemies at all.” All through Holy Scripture God has said to you that you can and do you answer Him that, to the contrary, you cannot!? Now think about it – who are we to believe? God or you? Since He who is Truth itself cannot lie, let human weakness leave off its futile excuses forthwith! He who is just, cannot demand something impossible and He who is merciful, will not condemn someone for something that person could not avoid. So why these evasions then? There is no-one who knows better, what we are capable of, than He who has given us the ability. Such numbers of men, women, children, tender young girls, have borne flames, fire, sword and the wild beasts for Christ’s sake, without flinching and we, do we say that we cannot bear the insults of unintelligent persons?…

Indeed, if only the good are to be loved, what are we to say of the action of our God, of whom it is written: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son?” (Jn 3,16). For what good deeds are they, that the world had done, for God to love it so? Christ our Lord, found us all to be, not only evil but even dead, on account of original sin and yet… “he loved us and handed himself over for us” (Eph 5,2). In so acting, He loved even those who did not love Him, as the Apostle Paul also says: “Christ died for the guilty” (Rm 5,6). And in his inexpressible mercy, He gave this example to all humankind, saying: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (Mt 11,29).” – St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop and Monk (Sermons to the people, no 37).

PRAYER – May the prayer of Your blessed Martyrs, Chrysanthus and Daria, defend us, O Lord, that we may ever enjoy the loving help of those whom we honour by this celebration.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).