Category: CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 4 May – Mary, the Mother of God

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Thought for the Day – 4 May – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Mary, the Mother of God

“St Matthew (Cf Mt 12:46-50) and St Mark (Cf Mk 3:31-35), relate how Jesus was preaching one day in Galilee, surrounded by His Apostles and by a large crowd, when a man approached and said: “Behold, thy mother and thy brethren are standing outside, seeking thee.”
“Who is my mother,” He answered, “and who are my brethren?”
Then He extended His hand towards His disciples and said: “Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

These words were directed at us, not at Our Lady.
Not only was she the Immaculate Mother of Jesus Christ but, she performed lovingly, on all occasions, the Will of the heavenly Father.
She did His Will, in poverty and obedience, in exile and on Mount Calvary.
Therefore, she was God’s Mother in the spiritual, as well as, in the physical sense of the word, insofar, as she was constantly united to Him by a bond of love and of conformity with His desires.

Christ’s words indicate, that Mary’s perfect and continuous acceptance of God’s Will, was even more pleasing to God, than the dignity of the divine Motherhood.

We cannot equal her in dignity but, we can imitate her in this other respect.
Jesus will look on us as His brothers and as worthy sons of Mary, if we carry out His Will in all things.
It is not always easy to do this.
It is not easy, when we are strongly tempted to commit sins of pride, anger or impurity.
It is not easy, when we are overcome by sorrow or by sickness, when we are let down or misunderstood by others, when we are in want and, when we feel that we are collapsing beneath the weght of our cross.
At times like these, we should pray for Mary’s spirit of complete acceptance of the Will of God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/04/thought-for-the-day-4-may-mary-the-mother-of-god/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 4 May – Hail, O Mother! By St John Chrysostom

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Our Morning Offering – 4 May – “Mary’s Month” – Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Hail, O Mother!
By St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Hail, O Mother!
Virgin, heaven, throne, glory of our Church,
it’s foundation and ornament.
Earnestly pray for us to Jesus,
your Son and Our Lord,
that through your intercession,
we may have mercy on the day of judgement.
Pray that we may receive, all those good things
which are reserved for those who love God.
Through the grace and favour of Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
be power, honour and glory,
now and forever.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 3 May – The Imitation of Mary

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Thought for the Day – 3 May – “Mary’s Month – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Imitation of Mary

“At first sight, it seems a very difficult matter, to imitate Mary.
More than any other creature, she reached the highest peak of perfection.
But, if we examine the nature of her outstanding sanctity, it will seem easier to imitate her.

According to the masters of spiritual life, there are three kinds of holiness.
First, there is extraordinary sanctity, which abounds in miracles and ecstasies. such as that of St Francis, St Aloysius Gonzaga, St Mary Magdalen dei Pazzi, St Catherine of Siena and many others.
Secondly, there is ordinary holiness, where perfection is achieved without being manifested in miracles or in ecstasies.
Thirdly, there is hidden sanctity, a relationship entirely between the soul and God, which consists in the faithful and loving fulfilment of Hs holy Will.
It is unnoticed by men but one day, it will shine forth in the sight of God and the human race.

The holiness of Mary, falls into the latter two categories, for hers was a hidden sanctity, to outward appearances, quite ordinary.
We read nothing of her having been in ecstasy or having performed miracles.
We do read, however, that she did God’s Will on all occasions; that she lived an obscure life of humility and love; that she followed Jesus, as far as Calvary, along the sorrowful road of the Cross; that she loved Him above everything else and, that she lived for Him alone.

It is not too difficult to imitate Mary.
With her protection and with the grace of God, it can become almost easy.
All we need, is a firm resolution to accomplish the Will of God in all things, a great love for Jesus, which will make Him the object of all our actions and, a spirit of prayer, which will keep us close to God, in every kind of circumstance.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/03/thought-for-the-day-3-may-the-imitation-of-mary/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 3 May – Mary, Mother of Grace

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Our Morning Offering – 3 May – “Mary’s Month” – Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Mary, Mother of Grace
St Athanasius (297-373)
Father & Doctor
(whose Feast we celebrated yesterday, 2 May)

It becomes you to be mindful of us,
as you stand near Him who granted you all graces,
for you are the Mother of God and our Queen.
Help us for the sake of the King,
the Lord God and Master, Who was born of you.
For this reason,
you are called full of grace.
Remember us, most holy Virgin,
and bestow on us gifts
from the riches of your graces,
Virgin full of graces.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the KING, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, QUOTES for CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 2 May – St Athanasius

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 May – “Mary’s Month” – and the Memorial of St Athanasius (297-373) Father & Doctor of the Church

“If we follow Christ closely we shall be allowed,
even on this earth,
to stand, as it were,
on the threshold of the heavenly Jerusalem
and enjoy the contemplation,
pf that everlasting feast,
like the blessed Apostles,
who, in following the Saviour as their leader,
showed and still show,
the way to obtain the same gift from God.
They said – See, we have left all things and followed You.
We too follow the Lord
and we keep His feast
by deeds rather than by words.”

“He cries out, saying:
See, I am with you all the days of this age.
He is Himself the shepherd,
the high priest,
the way and the door,
and has become all things at once for us.”

“Mary, Mother of Grace,
it becomes you to be mindful of us,
as you stand near Him who granted you
all graces, for you are the Mother of God
and our Queen.
Help us for the sake of the King,
the Lord God and Master,
Who was born of you.”

More Here:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/02/quote-s-of-the-day-2-may/

St Athanasius (297-373)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Posted in MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on VIRTUE, ROSARY REFLECTIONS and QUOTES, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Thought for the Day – 1 May – The Month of Mary

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Thought for the Day – 1 May – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Month of Mary

“This work of eradicating of our faults and replacing them by their opposite virtues, is a difficult task which we cannot carry out on our own.
Prayer is necessary if we are to obtan the grace which we need.
During Mary’s month, we should beseech our heavenly Mother, with greater earnestness, to obtain for us, from her divine Son, the grace which we need to correct the evil in our nature and to perfect it in goodness.

Mary wants us to pray to her because she wishes to obtain for us, the graces which we require.
She loves us very much and is ready to help us to become, like her, living imitations of Jesus, insofar as the weakness of our nature will permit.

Among our other prayers, let us remember to give pride of place to the Holy Rosary, whether we recite it in Church or with the family.
Let us include, at least a quarter of an hour meditation; a daily visit, however short, to the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady’s Altar; an examination of conscience in the evening and many ejaculatory prayers during the day, which will express our love for Mary and for her divine Son.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/01/thought-for-the-day-1-may-the-month-of-mary/

Posted in Gerard MANLEY HOPKINS SJ, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, POETRY

Rejoice!It’s 1 MayThe Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Rejoice!
It’s 1 May
The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The May Magnificat
By Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ (1844-1889)

May is Mary’s month, and I
Muse at that and wonder why:
Her feasts follow reason,
Dated due to season-

Candlemas, Lady Day:
But the Lady Month, May,
Why fasten that upon her,
With a feasting in her honour?
Ask of her, the mighty Mother:
Her reply puts this other
Question: What is Spring?
Growth in everything-
All things rising, all things sizing
Mary sees, sympathising
With that world of good,
Nature’s motherhood.

Well but there was more than this:
Spring’s universal bliss
Much, had much to say
To offering Mary May.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 1 May – Hail, O Mary, Mother of God

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Our Morning Offering – 1 May – “Mary’s Month” and Friday of the Third Week of Easter

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God
By St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Virgin and Mother!
Morning Star, perfect vessel.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Holy Temple in which god Himself was conceived.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Chaste and pure dove.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Who enclosed the One who cannot be encompassed
in your sacred womb.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
From you flowed the true light, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you the Conqueror
and triumphant Vanquisher of hell came to us.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you, the glory of the Resurrection blossoms.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
You have saved every faithful Christian.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Posted in Hail MARY!, MARIAN QUOTES, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, QUOTES on SUFFERING, ROSARY REFLECTIONS and QUOTES, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, The ANNUNCIATION, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Quote/s of the Day – 28 April – St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 April – The Memorial of Quote/s of the Day – 28 April – The Memorial of St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)

“Take advantage of little sufferings
even more than of great ones.
God considers not so much what we suffer,
as how we suffer. . .
Turn everything to profit
as the grocer does in his shop.”

“The salvation of the whole world
began with the “Hail Mary.”
Hence, the salvation of each person
is also attached to this prayer.”

“Mary is the great mould of God …
He who is cast in this divine mould
is soon formed and moulded in Jesus Christ
and Jesus Christ in him.
With little effort and in a short time,
he will become divine,
since he is cast in the same mould
which formed a God.”

“The Rosary is the most powerful weapon
to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer,
who loves His Mother.”

St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)

MORE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/28/quote-s-of-the-day-28-may-god-alone

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, EUCHARISTIC, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, HOLY COMMUNION, HYMNS, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Quote/s of the Day – 20 April – ‘What does Jesus Christ do in the Eucharist?’

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Quote/s of the Day – 20 April – Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 7:51–8:1, Psalm 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, 21, John 6:30-35

“My dear souls, let us recognise, I pray you,
Christ’s infinite charity towards us
in the institution of this Sacrament of the Eucharist.
In order that our love be a spiritual love,
He wills a new heart, a new love, a new spirit for us.
It is not with a carnal heart but with a spiritual one,
that Christ has loved us with a gratuitous love,
a supreme and most ardent love,
by way of pure grace and charity.
Ah! One needs to love Him back
with one’s whole, whole, whole,
living, living, living and true, true, true heart!!”

St Lawrence of Brindisi(1559-1619)
Apostolic Doctor of the Church

“What does Jesus Christ do in the Eucharist?

It is God, who, as our Saviour, offers Himself each day for us to His Father’s justice.

If you are in difficulties and sorrows, He will comfort and relieve you.
If you are sick, He will either cure you or give you strength to suffer, so as to merit Heaven.
If the devil, the world and the flesh are making war upon you, He will give you the weapons with which to fight, to resist and to win the victory.
If you are poor, he will enrich you with all sorts of riches for time and for eternity.
Let us open the door of His Sacred and Adorable Heart and be wrapped about for an instant, by the flames of His love and we shall see, what a God who loves us, can do.
O my God, who shall be able to comprehend?”

St Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859)

Sweet Sacrament, We Thee Adore

I see upon the Altar placed
The Victim of the greatest love.
Let all the earth below adore
and join the heavenly choirs above:
Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore,
Oh! make us love Thee more and more.

Jesus! dear Shepherd of the flock,
that crowds in love, about Thy feet,
Our voices yearn to praise Thee, Lord
and joyfully Thy presence greet:
Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore,
Oh! make us love Thee more and more.

O Precious Blood of Jesus,
cleanse my soul from every stain!
Most pure Heart of Jesus, purify me!
Most humble Heart of Jesus,
teach me Thy humility!
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
communicate to me Thy gentleness and patience!
Most merciful Heart of Jesus,
have mercy on me!
Most loving Heart of Jesus,
inflame my heart with love of Thee!
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, HYMNS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 20 April – Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee! By St Bernard

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Our Morning Offering – 20 April – Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee!
By St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ name,
The Saviour of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find?
Ah! this nor tongue, nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shall be;
In Thee be all our glory now
And through eternity.
Amen

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, EASTER, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The UNFORGIVEABLE SIN

Thought for the Day – 11 April – The Mercy of God

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Thought for the Day – 11 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Mercy of God

“God is the Being, Who is infinitely true, beautiful and good.
His goodness is manifested in His infinite love for all the creatures which He has made but, it is in His relations with sinners, in particular, that we call Him merciful.
He loves all things which He has created and directs them towards Himself, their beginning and their end.
When He is dealing, however, with beings endowed with free will, who can separate themselves from Him and even offend Him, He tries, while respecting the liberty which He has given them, to recall them to Himself, by the influence of His love and of His grace.
It is this supernatural outpouring of love towards sinners, which we call mercy.

The mercy of God shines forth in all the pages of Sacred Scripture.
In the Old Testament, there is promised and foreshadowed, in many ways, the coming of the Saviour of the sinful human race.
In the New Testament, Jesus appears, made man for our salvation, meek and humble of heart and merciful towards the unfortunate, especially towards sinners.
For them, He offers His life and His Precious Blood, dying on the Cross with His arms outstretched, as if in an embrace of forgiveness.
He tells us that He has not come to call the just but sinners, (Lk 5:32) and, that He has not come to those who are in health but to those who are sick (Mk 2:17);  He assures us that, if we ask the Father for anything in His name, it will be given to us (Jn 16:23).
So much goodness should move and soften our hearts.
Even if we are unfaithful servants and are covered with the leprosy of sin, let us go to Him and He will heal us.
Even if we have deserved Hell a thousand times, let us shed tears of repentance at His feet as Magdalen did and, He will give us His forgiveness and His peace.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EASTER, HYMNS, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SACRED HEART PRAYERS

Our Morning Offering – 9 April – Easter Friday – To Christ the Prince of Peace

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Our Morning Offering – 9 April – Easter Friday

To Christ the Prince of Peace
Fr Edward Caswell CO (1814-1878)

To Christ the Prince of Peace,
And Son of God most high,
The Father of the world to come,
Sing we with holy joy.

Deep in His heart, for us,
The wound of love He bore;
That love wherewith He still inflames
The hearts that Him adore.

O Jesu, victim blest,
What else but love divine
Could Thee constrain to open thus
That Sacred Heart of thine?

O fount of endless life,
O spring of water clear,
O flame celestial, cleansing all
Who unto Thee draw near!

Hide us in Thy dear heart,
For thither do we fly;
There seek Thy grace through life, in death
Thine immortality.
Amen

Posted in EASTER, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 8 April – Easter: The Herald of Peace

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Thought for the Day – 8 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Easter: The Herald of Peace

“For this interior peace to be complete, it is necessary that it should exist in our relations with God, with ourselves and with our neighbour.
Peace with God, is especially necessary.
This involves the subjection of the intellect and will, to Him, perfect obedience to His law, the avoidance of sin and the entire surrender of ourselves to Him.
When we have prepared ourselves in this way, God will visit us with His grace and we shall experience the joy of inward peace.

Jesus came into the world to bring us this peace, which He provides for us with His Precious Blood, thereby, erasing sin and opening the gates of Heaven.
So much the worse for us, if we destroy the work of God by turning back to sin.
We shall no longer be at peace with God, Who hates sin so much, that in order to redeem us from it, He gave us His only-begotten Son, nor with ourselves because “there is not peace to the wicked” (Is 48:22).
Remorse and disgust are the necessary results of sin.

Let us remember, that those who are really content, even in this world, are those who lead good lives.
Whoever extinguishes divine grace in himself, destroys the harmony and order which reigned in his soul as a result of the subjection of his reason to his Creator and Redeemer.
Then, because we are not at peace with God, nor with ourselves, we cannot really be at peace with men.
It is our faith which teaches us, that they are our brothers, redeemed, as we have been, by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and that, therefore, we should always love and assist them.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/13/thought-for-the-day-13-april-easter-the-herald-of-peace/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Good Friday Refletion – 2 April – CONTEMPLATING THE LORD’S PASSION

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Good Friday Refletion – 2 April

CONTEMPLATING THE LORD’S PASSION

From a Sermon by St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor unitatis Ecclesiae

True reverence for the Lord’s passion means, fixing the eyes of our heart on Jesus crucified and recognising in Him our own humanity.

The earth – our earthly nature – should tremble at the suffering of its Redeemer. The rocks – the hearts of unbelievers – should come forth, the massive stones now ripped apart. Foreshadowings of the future Resurrection, should appear in the holy city, the Church of God, what is happening to our bodies, should now take place in our hearts.

No-one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the Cross. No-one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against Him. How much more, does it bring, to those who turn to Him in repentance.

Ignorance has been destroyed, obstinacy has been overcome. The Sacred Blood of Christ, has quenched the flaming sword that barred access to the tree of life. The age-old night of sin has given place, to the true light.

The Christian people are invited to share the riches of paradise. All who have been reborn have the way open before them, to return to their native land, from which they had been exiled. Unless, indeed ,they close off for themselves, the path that could be opened before the faith of a thief.

The business of this life should not preoccupy us with its anxiety and pride, so that we no longer strive, with all the love of our heart, to be like our Redeemer and to follow His example. Everything that He did, or suffered, was for our salvation – He wanted His Body to share the goodness of its Head.

First of all, in taking our human nature, while remaining God, so that the Word became man, He left no member of the human race, the unbeliever excepted, without a share in His mercy. Who does not share a common nature with Christ, if he has welcomed Christ, who took our nature and is reborn in the Spirit, through whom Christ was conceived?

Again, who cannot recognise in Christ, his own infirmities? Who would not recognise that Christ’s eating and sleeping, His sadness and His shedding tears of love, are marks of the nature of a slave?

It was this nature of a slave, that had to be healed of its ancient wounds and cleansed of the defilement of sin. For that reason, the only-begotten Son of God, became also the Son of Man. He was to have both the reality of human nature and the fullness of the Godhead.

The Body, that lay lifeless in the tomb, is ours. The Body that rose again on the third day, is ours. The Body, that ascended above all the heights of heaven, to the right hand of the Father’s glory, is ours. If then we walk in the way of His commandments and are not ashamed to acknowledge, the price He paid for our salvation in a lowly Body, we too are to rise to share His glory. The promise He made will be fulfilled, in the sight of all: –“whoever acknowledges Me before men, I too will acknowledge him before My Father who is in heaven.”

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, HOLY COMMUNION, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Devotion for the Month of April – The Blessed Sacrament

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Devotion for the Month of April

The Blessed Sacrament

“The masterpiece of Jesus Christ’s love for humanity is the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is within our reach.
We can all get close to Christ the guest and talk with Him
and perceive the warmth of His word.
The word! How it inflames the spirits!
How will the word of Christ inflame them!
We can all get to the altar when He immolates Himself and shouts at us:
Look how much I have loved and loved you!
And we can all sit at His table
and eat the bread
and drink the intoxicating wine of charity. “

Blessed Marcelo Spínola y Maestre (1835-1906)
Cardinal-Priest

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, MAUNDY THURSDAY, QUOTES on The SOUL, The LAMB of GOD, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 1 April – Maundy Thursday – ‘ … Place all your trust in the Blood of Christ Crucified …’

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One Minute Reflection – 1 April – Maundy Thursday, Evening Vigil Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, Psalms 116:12-13, 15-18, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15

“Jesus, knowing that his hour was come, … he loved them unto the end.” – John 13:1

REFLECTION – “Be obedient to the death, following the example of the spotless Lamb who obeyed His Father even to a shameful death on the Cross. Reflect that He is the way and the rule you are to follow. Always hold Him present before the eyes of your spirit. See how obedient He is, this Word, this Utterance of God! He does not refuse to take up the burden of suffering laid on Him by His Father; to the contrary, He throws Himself into it, spurred on by His great desire. Isn’t this what He reveals during the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, when He says: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Lk 22:15)? By “eat this Passover” He means, the accomplishment of the Father’s will and His desire. Seeing that scarcely any time lies before Him (He was already looking ahead to the end, when He would sacrifice His body for our sake), He rejoices, He is glad and joyfully says: “I have greatly desired.” Here is the Passover He is speaking about – that which consists in giving His own self as food, in laying down His own body in obedience to the Father.

Jesus had celebrated many another Passover with His disciples but never this one, O unspeakable, sweet and burning charity! You think neither of Your suffering nor of Your humiliating death – if You had thought of them, You would not have been so joyful, You would not have called it a Passover. The Word sees ,that it is He Himself Who has been chosen, He Himself Who has received all our humanity as His spouse. He has been asked to give us His own Blood so that God’s will might be accomplished in us, so that it might be His Blood that sanctifies us. This is, indeed, the sweet Passover, this Lamb without blemish accepts (cf. Ex 12:5) and it is with great love and great desire that He fulfils the Father’s will and wholly carries out His design. What unspeakably sweet love! …

That is why, my beloved, I beg you never to entertain the least dread and to place all your trust in the Blood of Christ Crucified … May all servile fear be banished from your spirits. You will say with Saint Paul …: “I can do all things through Christ crucified, since he is within me by desire and love and he strengthens me” (cf. Phil 4:13; Gal 2:20). Love, love, love! By His Blood, the gentle Lamb has made an unassailable rock of your soul.” – St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Dominican tertiary, Doctor of the Church, Co-patron of Europe – Letter 129

PRAYER – Love of You, with our whole heart, Lord God, is holiness. Increase then Your gifts of divine grace in us, so that, as in Your Son’s Death, You made us hope for what we believe, You may likewise, in His Resurrection, make us come to You, our final end. Listen we beg, to the prayers of Your holy ones and may the Blessed Mother walk along with us and keep our hand, ever in hers. Through Jesus Himself, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God with You, forever and ever, amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, QUOTES for CHRIST, The HOLY NAME, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 29 March – “Your name is oil poured out”

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Quote/s of the Day – 29 March – Monday of Holy Week, Readings: First: Isaiah 42: 1-7, Psalm: Psalms 27: 1, 2, 3, 13-14, Gospel: John 12: 1-11

“The house was filled
with the odour of the ointment.”

John 12:3

“People who associate the name of Christian
with a dishonest life, injure Christ…
If God’s Name, is blasphemed by bad Christians,
it is praised and honoured, on the other hand,
by the good:
“For in every place, we are the aroma of Christ”
(2 Cor,14-15).
And it is said in the Song of Songs:
“Your name is oil poured out” (1,3).”

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

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HOLY NAME, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 March – “The house was filled with the odour of the ointment.” – John 12:3

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One Minute Reflection – 29 March – Monday of Holy Week, Readings: First: Isaiah 42: 1-7, Psalm: Psalms 27: 1, 2, 3, 13-14, Gospel: John 12: 1-11

“The house was filled with the odour of the ointment.” – John 12:3

REFLECTION – “When she had anointed the Lord’s feet this woman did not wipe them with a cloth but with her own hair, to show Him greater honour … Like a thirsty person drinking from a fresh waterfall, this holy woman drank in grace full of delights, from the Springs of Holiness, to quench the thirst of her faith.

However, in the allegorical or mystical sense, this woman prefigured the Church, which offered the full and entire devotion of it’s faith to Christ …There are twelve ounces to a pound and this is the amount of perfume the Church possesses, having received the teaching of the twelve Apostles, as if it were a precious perfume. Indeed, what more precious is there than the Apostles’ teaching, which contains both faith in Christ and the glory of the Kingdom of heaven? Furthermore, it is related that the whole house was filled with the scent of that perfume because, the whole world has been filled with the Apostles’ teaching. As it is written: “Through all the earth their voice resounds and to the ends of the world, their message” (Ps 19[18]:5).

In the Song of Songs we read the following words addressed through Solomon, to the Church: “Your name spoken is a spreading perfume” (1,2). Not without cause, is the Lord’s name called a “spreading perfume.” As you know, so long as perfume is preserved inside it’s flask, it keeps it’s fragrance but, as soon as is poured out or emptied, it spreads out its fragrant scent. Even so, so long as our Lord and Saviour reigned with His Father in heaven, the world was unaware of Him, He was unknown here below. But when, for our salvation, He deigned to humble Himself, by descending from heaven, to take on a human body, then He spread abroad in the world, the sweetness and perfume of His Name.“ – St Chromatius of Aquilaea (c 407) – Bishop of Aquileia, Italy, Theologian, Exegete – Sermon 11

PRAYER – Lord our God, Your Son so loved the world that He gave Himself up to death for our sake. Strengthen us by Your grace and give us a heart willing to live by that same love. With Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mother of Jesus and our Mother, may we stand at His Cross. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever, amen.

Saint of the Day – 2 December – Saint Chromatius of Aquileia (Died c 407) Bishop of Aquileia, Theologian, Exegete, Writer and friend of St Ambrose and Jerome, defender of St John Chrysostom. Chromatius opposed Arianism with much zeal and rooted it out in his Diocese.
His life here – https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/02/saint-of-the-day-2-december-saint-chromatius-of-aquileia-died-c-407/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The LAMB of GOD, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 27 March – ‘The Source of all Blessings …

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Quote/s of the Day – 27 March – Saturday of Passion Week or the Fifth Week of Lent, Readings: First Reading: Ezekiel 37: 21-28, Responsorial Psalm: Jeremiah 31: 10, 11-12abcd, 13, Verse Before the Gospel: Ezekiel 18: 31, Gospel: John 11: 45-56

“It was to gather into one the dispersed children of God”

John 11:52

“For Your Cross is the Source of all Blessings,
the Origin of all Grace.
From the weakness of the Cross believers gain strength,
glory for shame,
life for death.
Now, too, the proliferation of sacrifices has ceased –
the one Offering of Your Body and Blood fulfills
all those different sacrifices offered throughout the world.
For You are the true Lamb of God
Who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29).
In Yourself You bring to completion
all religions of all peoples,
so that all these peoples,
might make up but one Kingdom.”

St Pope Leo the Great (c 400-461)
Father and Doctor Unitatis Ecclesiae

8th Homily on the Passion

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN Saturdays, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 20 March – My Most Sorrowful Lady

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Our Morning Offering – 20 March – Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent, Mary’s Saturday

My Most Sorrowful Lady
By St Anselm (1033-1109)
Marian Doctor
Magnificent Doctor

My most sorrowful Lady,
what can I say about the fountains,
that flowed from your most pure eyes,
when you saw your only Son before you,
bound, beaten and suffering?
What do I know of the flood,
that drenched your matchless face,
when you beheld your Son,
your Lord and your God,
stretched on the cross without guilt,
when the flesh of your flesh,
was cruelly butchered by wicked me?
How can I judge
what sobs troubled your most pure breast
when you heard,
“Woman, behold your son,”
and the disciple,
“Behold, your Mother,”
when you received, as a son,
the disciple, in place of the Master,
the servant, for the Lord?
Amen

Posted in MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, St JOSEPH

Thought for the Day – 19 March – St Joseph

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Thought for the Day – 19 March – The Solemnity of the Feast of St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

St Joseph

“Joseph is described in the Gospel as “a just man” (Mt 1:19).
Perfect justice, such as St Joseph possessed, is directed towards God, ourselves and our neighbours and embraces, in itself, all the other virtues.
A pious tradition claims, that he was born wealthy, as well as being from a royal stock but,he distributed his goods amog the poor and for the greater part of his life, worked as a humble carpenter.

He loved silence and obscurity.
His only aim in life was to please Jesus and His Blessed Mother.

It is believed, that he was confirmed in grace from the moment of his birth and that when he reached the use of reason, he consecrated himself to God by a vow of perpetual virginity.

He was always peaceful and hardworking and never complained about his position in life.
Even when grave misfortunes overtook him, he endeavoured to do God’s will from the simple motive, that ths was what God wanted.

We have a great deal to learn from this temendous Saint.
Let us love him, pray to him and imitate him.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/19/thought-for-the-day-19-march-st-joseph/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, St JOSEPH, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 19 March – ‘How faithful in humility was the great Saint…’

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One Minute Reflection – 19 March – The Solemnity of St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Readings: 2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14, 16, Psalms 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 , 29, Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22, Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 

“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him” – Matthew 1:24

REFLECTION – “How faithful in humility was the great Saint we are celebrating! That can’t be said in all its perfection for, in spite of what he was, in what poverty and lowliness he lived all the days of his life, a poverty and lowliness beneath which he kept hidden and concealed his great virtues and dignity!… Truly, I have no doubt at all, that the angels came, beside themselves with admiration, rank upon rank, to behold and wonder at his humility, while he sheltered that dearest Child, in the poor workshop where he worked at his employment, so as to feed the little Boy and the mother entrusted to him.

There is no doubt at all, that Saint Joseph was braver than David and wiser that Solomon, [who were his ancestors]. Nevertheless, seeing him reduced to the exercise of carpentry, who could have discerned this, unless they were enlightened by a heavenly light, so hidden did he keep the remarkable gifts, with which God had favoured him?

And what wisdom did he not have? For God gave him, His most glorious Son to care for… the universal Prince of heaven and earth… Nevertheless, you can see how low and humbled he was brought, more than can be said or imagined… he went to his own country and town of Bethlehem and none but he, was turned away from all those inns…

Notice how the angel turns him about with both hands. He tells him he has to go to Egypt and he goes, he orders him to return and he returns. God wants him to be always poor… and he submits to it with love and not only for a while, for he was poor his whole life long.”- St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church – Conferences, no. 19

PRAYER – Almighty God, at the beginnings of our salvation, when Mary conceived your Son and brought Him forth into the world, you placed them under Joseph’s watchful care. May his prayer still help Your Church to be an equally faithful guardian of Your mysteriest and a sign of Christ to mankind. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, God, forever, amen.

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, St JOSEPH

Our Morning Offering – 19 March – Blessed Joseph, Remember Us

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Our Morning Offering – 19 March – The Solemnity of St Joseph

Blessed Joseph, Remember Us
By St Bernadine of Siena (1380-1444)

Blessed Joseph,
remember us,
intercede with the help of your prayers
to your adopted Son
and may you likewise,
make the blessed Virgin,
your Spouse,
to be favourable towards us,
for she is the Mother of Him,
who, with the Father
and the Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns
world without end.
Amen

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, SAINT of the DAY, St JOSEPH, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Memorials of the Saints -1 9 March

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Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary – 19 March:

“All the unmarried men gathered in the temple and prayed to the Lord conjointly with the Priests, in order to be governed by the Holy Spirit in what they were about to do. The Most High spoke to the heart of the High Priest, inspiring him to place into the hands of each one of the young men, a dry stick, with the command that each ask his Majesty with a lively faith, to single out the one, whom He had chosen as the spouse of Mary.
And as the sweet odour of her virtue and nobility, the fame of her beauty, her possessions and her modesty and her position as being the firstborn in her family, was known to all of them, each one coveted the happiness of meriting her as a spouse. Among them all, only the humble and most upright Joseph, thought himself unworthy of such a great blessing and remembering the vow of chastity, which he had made and resolving anew its perpetual observance, he resigned himself to God’s will, leaving it all to His disposal and being filled at the same time, with a veneration and esteem greater than that of any of the others, for the most noble maiden Mary.
While they were thus engaged in prayer, the staff which Joseph held was seen to blossom and at the same time, a dove of purest white and resplendent with admirable light, was seen to descend and rest upon the head of the saint, while, in the interior of his heart, God spoke:

“Joseph, my servant, Mary shall be thy Spouse; accept Her with attentive reverence, for She is acceptable in my eyes, just and most pure in soul and body and thou, shalt do all that She shall say to Thee.”

At this manifestation and token from heaven, the Priests declared Saint Joseph as the Spouse selected by God Himself for the maiden Mary. Calling Her forth for her espousal, the chosen one issued forth like the sun, more resplendent than the moon, and She entered into the presence of all, with a countenance more beautiful than that of an angel, incomparable in the charm of her beauty, nobility and grace and the Priests espoused Her to the most chaste and holy of man, Saint Joseph.”

*From The City of God by Ven. Mary of Jesus of Agreda OIC (1602-1665)
(a Franciscan abbess and spiritual writer, known especially for her extensive correspondence with King Philip IV of Spain and reports of her bilocation between Spain and its colonies in New Spain. She was a noted mystic of her era.
A member of the Order of the Immaculate Conception, also known as Conceptionists, Mary of Jesus wrote 14 books, including a series of revelations about the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ven Mary of Jesus’ body is incorrupt.
Less than ten years after her death, Mary of Jesus was declared Venerable by Pope Clement X, in honour of her “heroic life of virtue.” Although the process of beatification was opened in 1673, it has not as yet been completed.)

St Joseph (Solemnity)
St Joseph!
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/03/19/saint-of-the-day-19-march-the-solemnity-of-st-joseph-spouse-of-the-most-blessed-virgin-mary-mother-of-god-and-patron-of-the-universal-church/

Go to Joseph:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/03/19/thought-for-the-day-19-march-the-solemnity-of-the-feast-of-st-joseph-spouse-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-and-patron-of-the-universal-church-go-to-joseph/

St Adrian of Maastricht
St Alkmund of Northumbria
St Amantius of Wintershoven
Bl Andrea Gallerani
St Apollonius of Braga
St Auxilius of Ireland
Bl Clement of Dunblane
St Colocer of Saint-Brieuc
St Corbasius of Quimperlé
St Cuthbert of Brittany
St Gemus
Blessed Isnard de Chiampo OP (Died 1244) Priest, known as the “Apostle of Pavia”
Bl Jan Turchan
St John the Syrian of Pinna
St Lactali of Freshford
St Landoald of Maastricht
St Leontinus of Braga
St Leontinus of Saintes
Blessed Marcel Callo (1921-1945) Martyr
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/03/19/saint-of-the-day-19-march-blessed-marcel-callo-1921-1945-aged-23-martyr/

Bl Mark of Montegallo
St Pancharius of Nicomedia
Blessed Sibyllina Biscossi OP (1287-1367)
Her Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/19/saint-of-the-day-19-march-blessed-sibyllina-biscossi-op-1287-1367/
—
Martyrs of Sorrento: A group of three sisters and a brother who were martyred together. We have little more than their names – Mark, Quartilla, Quintilla and Quintius. They were martyred in Sorrento, Italy, date unknown.
Mark
Quartilla
Quintilla
Quintius

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War
• Blessed Alberto Linares de La Pinta
• Blessed Jaume Trilla Lastra

Posted in NOVENAS, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, St JOSEPH

NOVENA FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH – Day Nine, 18 March

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NOVENA FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH

DAY NINE

Terror of Demons

Look down on us, Saint Joseph,
Protector of Our Lord,
Who followed you through deserts
And gave you blessed reward;
Our foes are yet about us,
Be our strength now at our side,
Be light against the darkness.
Saint Joseph, be our guide and protector!
We venerate your justice,
The gospels praise your name,
You are the Saint all humble,
Who gained eternal fame.
In your devoted family
Our souls in trust confide,
Direct our way to heaven.
Saint Joseph, be our guide.
We implore your powerful intercession,
to obtain from the gentle heart of Jesus
all the help and graces necessary
for our spiritual and temporal welfare,
particularly protection from the powers of evil
and the special grace I now implore:
…………….. (Mention your request)
O guardian of the Word Incarnate
we feel animated with confidence,
that your prayers on our behalf,
will be graciously heard,
before the throne of God.
St Joseph, Terror of Demons, Pray for us!
Amen

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen

Posted in MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, NOVENAS, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, St JOSEPH

NOVENA FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH – Day Eight – 17 March

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NOVENA FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH

DAY EIGHT

Patron of a Holy Death

O glorious Saint Joseph,
faithful follower of Jesus Christ,
to you we raise our hearts and hands,
to implore your powerful intercession,
to obtain from the gentle heart of Jesus
all the help and graces necessary
for our spiritual and temporal welfare,
particularly the grace of a holy death
and the special grace I now implore:
…………….. (Mention your request)
O guardian of the Word Incarnate
we feel animated with confidence,
that your prayers on our behalf,
will be graciously heard,
before the throne of God.
St Joseph, Patron of the Dying, Pray for us!
Amen

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen

Posted in NOVENAS, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, St JOSEPH

NOVENA FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH – Day Seven – 16 March

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NOVENA FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH

DAY SEVEN

Patron of Workers

Dear Saint Joseph,
you were yourself once faced
with the responsibility
of providing the necessities of life,
for Jesus and Mary.
Look down with fatherly compassion upon us
in my anxiety over my present inability
to support my family.
Please help us to find gainful employment very soon,
so that this heavy burden of concern,
will be lifted from my heart
and that I am soon able to provide for those
whom God has entrusted to my care.
Help us to guard against bitterness and discouragement,
so that we may emerge from this trial,
spiritually enriched with virtue
and with even greater blessings from God.
We raise our hearts to you
to implore your powerful intercession
in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus
all the graces necessary
for our spiritual and temporal welfare,
particularly the grace of a happy death,
and the special grace I now implore:
…………….. (Mention your request)
Guardian of the Word Incarnate,
We feel confident, that your prayers on our behalf,
will be graciously heard before the throne of God
St Joseph Most Holy Patron of Workers,
Pray for us!
Amen

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen

Posted in CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, INDULGENCES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 16 March – Purification

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

Purification

“God has given us two supernatural means of purifying ourselves after we have sinned – the Sacrament of Penance and Indulgences.
The Sacrament of Penance is the plank of salvation to which we can cling when we have been shipwrecked by sin and, by means of Indulgences, we can draw on the infinite treasury of the merits of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints, in order to make partial or total satisfaction for the temporal punishment due to our sins.
In this way, we can shorten our purgatory in this life and escape it in the next!

We should make good use of the Sacrament of Penance.
If we fall into mortal sin, let us have recourse at once to this fount of grace.
Even when we are not in mortal sin, let us be faithful to the practice of weekly or at least, fortnightly, confession.

We should not abuse this great gift simply because it seems such a simple method of obtaining pardon.
God is infinitely just, we must remember and, He expects us to co-operate with His graces.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Part One Here:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/25/thought-for-the-day-25-july-purification/Adv

Posted in BAPTISM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, QUOTES on SIN, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 March – Water and Blood

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 March – Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent, Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12, Psalms 46:2-3, 5-6,8-9, John 5:1-16

“ … Sin is washed away by the waters of the font,
the Holy Spirit is poured forth in the chrism
and we obtain both of these gifts,
through the hands and the mouth of the Priest.
Thus the whole man is reborn
and renewed in Christ.”

St Pacian (c 310–391)
Bishop of Barcelona

“Pour your dew on my weakness, Lord.
By your blood, forgive my sins.”

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“By Baptism we are made flesh of the Crucified.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church’s Unity