Quote/s of the Day – 9 May – St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390) Bishop, Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church
“Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. He assumed the worse that He might give us the better; He became poor that we, through His poverty, might be rich.”
“The very Son of God, Older than the ages, the Invisible, the Incomprehensible, the Incorporeal, the Beginning of beginning, the Light of light, the Fountain of Life and Immortality, the Image of the Archetype, the Immovable Seal, the Perfect Likeness, the Definition and Word of the Father: He it is, Who comes to His Own Image and takes our nature, for the Good of our nature and unites Himself to an intelligent soul for the good of the soul, to purify like by Like.”
“Grace is given, not to those who speak [their faith] but to those, who live their faith!”
“Remember God more often than you breathe.”
“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one, who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.”
Quote/s of the Day – 7 May – The Solemnity of the Patronage of St Joseph
“The Almighty has concentrated in St Joseph, as in a sun of unrivalled lustre, the combined light and splendour of all the other Saints.”
St Gregory Nanzianzen (330-390) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St Joseph that he may obtain for us a happy death.”
St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
“ St Joseph is also the protector of all his clients. In their temporal affairs how trusty a friend, saving them in circumstances apparently hopeless! In spiritual necessities how prompt to aid, how unfailing in resource! Oh, trust in St Joseph, wait patiently for him and he will obtain for thee the desires of thy heart.”
One Minute Reflection – 7 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Solemnity of the Patronage of St Joseph – Genesis 49:22-26 – Wisdom 5:1-5 – John 15:1-7 – Luke 3:21-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Abide in Me and I in you.” – John 15:4
REFLECTION – “[Jesus] is our only Master, Who must teach us; our only Lord, on Whom we must depend; our only Head, to Whom alone we should belong; our only Model, Whom we should imitate; our only Physician, Who must heal us; our only Shepherd, Who must feed us; our only Way, Who must lead us; our only Truth, Whom we must believe; our only Life, Who must be our life and our sole sufficiency in all things that in Him, we may have all in All. Except the Name of Jesus, there is no other name given under Heaven, whereby we might be saved and apart from Jesus Christ, God has given us no other foundation of our salvation, our perfection and our glory: “for other foundation no man can lay but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 3:11). Every house which is not built upon this firm Rock, is founded on the shifting sands and will inevitably fall, sooner or later. Every soul who is not united with Christ, as a branch to the stem of the vine, will fall off, wither and become fit only for the fire. If we are in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ in us, we need not fear damnation; neither Angels in Heaven, nor men on earth, neither demons in hell, nor any other creature, can harm us because they cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (cf. Rm 8:38-39).” – St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716) Priest, Renowned Preacher, Founder of Religious Communities [Treatise on the true devotion to the Blessed Virgin (Article one; First Truth)]
PRAYER – God, Who in Thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy blessed servant Joseph, to be the husband of Thine Own most holy Mother; mercifully grant now that he is in Heaven with Thee, we who on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be aided by the succour of his prayers, to Thee on our behalf. 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).
Our Morning Offering – 7 May – The Solemnity of the Patronage of St Joseph, Wednesday preceding the Third Sunday after Easter
Hail, Holy Joseph, Hail! By Father Frederick W Faber CO (1814-1863)
Hail, holy Joseph, hail! Chaste spouse of Mary hail! Pure as the lily flow’r In Eden’s peaceful vale. Hail, holy Joseph, hail! Prince of the house of God! May His best graces be By thy sweet hands bestowed.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail! Comrade of Angels, hail! Cheer thou the hearts that faint, And guide the steps that fail. Hail, holy Joseph, hail! God’s choice wert thou alone! To thee the Word made flesh, Was subject as a Son. Hail, holy Joseph, hail! Teach us our flesh to tame And, Mary, keep the hearts That love thy husband’s name. Mother of Jesus! bless, And bless, ye Saints on high, All meek and simple souls That to Saint Joseph cry. Amen’
Our Morning Offering – 6 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
The Memorare By St Bernard (1090-1153) Father and Mellifluous Doctor
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen
It’s 1 May Let us Rejoice in our Mother Mary! The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“Bright Mother of our Maker, Hail! Thou Virgin ever blest, the Ocean’s Star by which we sail and gain the port of rest!” (Anonymous 8th Century Latin Hymn)
Visits to the Altar of Our Lady On the Love of Mary for Her Children (Imprimatur, 1867)
Mary loves us because we are her children. A loving and tender Mother is never wearied by the importunities of her little ones and Mary, who is the most loving and tender of all mothers, will never weary of hearing and answering our petitions. The one great thing which she desires, for all her children is that they should become like her Son Jesus. He is the only Child Who never disobeyed her or grieved her. It is for His love that she loves us. How great must be His love for us, when He inspires Mary with such a love! The best return we can make Him is to have a perfect trust and confidence in His Blessed Mother. Those who are not devout to Mary cannot really understand the great Mystery of the Incarnation and do not love Jesus as they should – for, if they loved Him, they would love His Mother too, even a tiny bit as much as He loves her.
Let us try, then, during this Month of May, to become more like Jesus. Let us consider what spiritual grace we need most, in order to attain this great end and let us ask it with confidence everyday. Let us also try to induce others, to honour Mary, by special devotion to her during this most beautiful month.
Tis the Month of Our Mother, the Sweet Month of May! Unknown Author An Old French Hymn
The blessed and beautiful days, When our lips and our spirits, are glowing with love and with praise.
Refrain: All Hail! to thee, dear Mary, the guardian of our way; To the fairest of Queens, Be the fairest of seasons, sweet May.
Oh! what peace to her children, mid sorrows and trials to know, that the love of their Mother, Hath ever a solace for woe.
And, what joy to the erring, The sinful and sorrowful soul; That a trust in her guidance, will lead to a glorious goal.
Let us sing then, rejoicing that God hath so honoured our race, as to clothe with our nature, Sweet Mary, the Mother of Grace.
Quote/s of the Day – 19 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament – Holy Saturday – The Lord’s Vigil Mass of Easter – Matthew 28:1-7 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Today a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great stillness. A great stillness because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and has raised up all who have slept, since the world began…
I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the Life of the dead.”
Ancient Christian Writer (ACW)
“He is not here. For He is Risen, as He said.” Matthew 28:6
“It was very necessary that Christ should rise during the night because , His Resurrection has enlightened our darkness! … Just as our faith, strengthened by Christ’s Resurrection, dispels all sleep, so this night, lightened by our vigils, is filled with brightness. He, Who has given us the glory of His Name (Ps 28:2) has also illumined this night. He to Whom we say “Thou lighten my darkness” (Ps 18:28) sheds His brightness in our hearts. Just as our dazzled eyes behold these shining torches, so our enlightened spirits enable us to see how luminous is this night, this holy night in which our Lord initiated, in His own flesh, the Life which knows neither sleep nor death!”
“…He Slept, so that We might be Awakened, He Died, so that We might Live.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“He enlightened our faith with proofs and lifted up our hope with promises, so as finally, to enkindle our love with gifts from Heaven!”
St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 19 April – Holy Saturday – The Lord’s Vigil Mass of Easter, Blessing of the Fire, Prophecies, Blessing of the Font, First Mass of Easter – Matthew 28,1-7 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And the Angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you, for I know that you seek Jesus Who was Crucified, He is not here, for He is risen, as He said.” – Matthew 28:5-6
REFLECTION – “Every vigil, celebrated in the Lord’s honour, is pleasing to God and acceptable to Him but this particular Vigil more than all the rest. That is why this night, in particular, holds the title “The Lord’s Vigil.” Indeed, what we read is: “All the Israelites must keep a vigil for the Lord” (Ex 12:42). And this night, well merits the title, since the Lord awoke in life that we might not remain asleep in death. For He suffered death’s sleep for our sakes, in the Mystery of His Passion, yet this sleep of the Lord, has become the Vigil of the whole world because, the Death of Christ, has removed from us, the sleep of eternal death. He Himself says it through the Prophet: “I lie down in sleep, I wake again and My sleep was sweet to me” (Ps 3:6; Jer 31:26). This sleep of Christ which we have called to mind, from the bitterness of Death to the sweetness of Life, cannot be anything but sweet.
Solomon wrote: “I sleep but my heart is awake” (Sg 5:2). These words seemingly show the Mystery of the Divinity and Flesh of the Lord. He slept according to the flesh but His Divinity kept watch, since the Divinity cannot sleep… “He neither slumbers nor sleeps, the Guardian of Israel” (Ps 120:4)… He slept according to the flesh but His Divinity visited hell in order to draw out the man whom it had held captive. Our Lord and Saviour desired to enter into every place to have mercy on everyone. He came down from Heaven to the earth to visit the world and again, He descended from earth to hell, to carry light to those held captive there, as spoken by the Prophet: “Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shone” (Is 9:1).
Hence Angels in Heaven, men on earth and the souls of the faithful in the dwelling place of the dead, celebrate this Vigil of the Lord… If one sinner’s repentance, as the Gospel says, gives joy to the Angels in Heaven, (Lk 15:7.10) how much more, the Redemption of the whole world?… And so, this Vigil is not just a feast for men and Angels but also for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit because the world’s Salvation is the Trinity’s happiness!” – St Chromatius of Aquilaea (Died c407) Bishop and Father of the Church (1st Sermon for the Paschal Vigil).
PRAYER – O God, Who dost illuminate this most holy night by the glory of the Lord’s Resurrection, preserve in the new children of Thy family, the spirit of adoption which Thou hast given, that renewed in body and mind, they may render to Thee a pure service. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
GOOD FRIDAY A Day of Deep Mourning, Fasting and Abstinence!
“Look on thy God, Christ hidden in our flesh. A bitter word, the Cross and bitter sight – Hard rind without, to hold the Heart of Heaven. Yet, sweet it is, for God upon that tree Did offer His Life upon that rood – My Life hung, that my Life might stand in God. Christ, what am I to give Thee for my life? Unless, take from Thy Hands, the cup they hold, To cleanse me with the precious draught of death. What shall I do? My body to be burned? Make myself vile? The debt is not paid out yet. Whate’er I do, it is but I and Thee And still do I come short, still must Thou pay My debts, O Christ, for debts Thyself had’st none! What love may balance Thine? My Lord was found In fashion like a slave that so His slave Might find himself in fashion like his Lord. Think you the bargain’s hard, to have exchanged The transient for the eternal, to have sold Earth to buy Heaven? More dearly God bought me!”
St Paulinus of Nola (c354-431) Father of the Church
“O souls! Seek a refuge, like pure doves, in the shadow of the Crucifix. There, mourn the Passion of your Divine Spouse and drawing from your hearts, flames of love and rivers of tears, make of them a precious balm with which to anoint the Wounds of your Saviour.”
Lenten Meditations – 18 April – With Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900) Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ” “Short Meditations for Lent” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Good Friday The Descent from the Cross
Read St Mark xv:38-46 (See below)
+I. No sooner is the sacrifice consummated and the last drop of the Precious Blood shed from Our Lord’s Sacred Heart, than all is changed. That lifeless Body is now treated with the utmost respect and veneration. See how gently and carefully Joseph and Nicodemus wind linen bands around the Limbs and lower it to the ground reverently, adoring that Body which only a few hours before had been a laughing-stock and object of contempt. Henceforth, no more ignominy, no more contempt, no more ill-usage but the love and adoration of Saints and Angels for all eternity.
+2. Our Lady receives the Body of her Son. What were her thoughts as she gazes into the Five Wounds and sees how, from Head to Foot, it is covered with gaping wounds, sores and bruises, battered out of all recognition by the cruelty of man!? O Mother of Sorrows, great as an ocean, is thy sorrow! What must thy hatred of sin be, when thou seest what it has wrought in the Divine Beauty of thy spotless Son! What a mixture of agonised compassion and mournful sorrow and hope and consolation and gratitude and triumph ant joy, fills thy sacred soul while thou lookest upon the Dead Body of thy Divine Son!
+3. The day on which Jesus died, is indeed well named, Good Friday. It is the day when Jesus consummated His victory over sin and death. While we mourn over His sufferings and our sins which caused them, we must also rejoice exceedingly, at the thought of Satan conquered and Heaven opened and millions of sinners cleansed from sin, in His Most Precious Blood!
St Mark 15:38-46 [38] And the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom. [39] And the centurion who stood near Him, seeing that crying out in this manner, He had given up the ghost, said: Indeed this man was the Son of God. [40] And there were also women looking on afar off, among whom was Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joseph and Salome, [41] who also, when He was in Galilee followed Him and ministered to Him and many other women who came up to Jerusalem, with Him. [42] And when evening was now come (because it was the Pasch-eve, that is, the day before the sabbath).[43] Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the Kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate and begged the Body of Jesus. [44] But Pilate wondered that he should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if he were already dead. [45] And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the Body to Joseph. [46] And Joseph buying fine linen and taking Him down, wrapped Him in the fine linen and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre. [Mark 15:38-46]
One Minute Reflection – 18 April – Good Friday – The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John 18:1-40.19:1-42 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“There they crucified Him and with Him two others, one on either side and Jesus between them. ” – John 19:18
REFLECTION – “Truly, you are a hidden God!” (Is 45:15). Why hidden? Because He had neither form nor beauty, yet power was in His Hands. It was there His fortitude was hidden.
Was He not hidden when He submitted His Hands to brutes and His Palms received the nails? The print of the nails gleamed on His Hands and His innocent Side received the wound. They shackled His Feet in fetters, the iron pierced His soles and His Feet were fastened to the tree. These wounds did God suffer on our behalf, at the hands of His own people, in His own home. O how marvellous are His Wounds by which the wounds of the world were healed! How victorious His Wounds, by which He slew death and stung hell! … Therefore, O Church, O dove, You have coverts in the rock and a hollow in the wall in which to rest (cf. Sg 2:14). …
And what will you do … when He comes in the clouds with great power and majesty? (cf Mt 24:30) He will come down with Heaven and earth ablaze and by the terror of His coming, He will dissolve the elements. When He has come, the Sign of the Cross will be seen in the sky and the beloved One will show the scars of His Wounds and the prints of the nails, by which He was transfixed in His own home!” … St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) – Cistercian Monk, Bishop
PRAYER – Deliver us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all evils, past, present and to come and by the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul and of all the Saints, mercifully grant peace in our days, that through the assistance of Thy mercy we may be always free from sin and secure from all disturbance. 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. Faithful Cross! above all other, One and only noble Tree! None in foliage, none in blossom, None in fruit thy peer may be. Sweetest wood and sweetest iron, Sweetest weight is hung on thee. (Antiphons).
Quote/s of the Day – 16 April – Spy Wednesday in Holy Week – Isaias 53:1-12, Luke 22:39-71; 23:1-53
“Jesus remember me”
Luke 23:42
“Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” John 20:29
“Blessed, therefore, is everyone who believes the message of the holy Apostles who, as Saint Luke says, were eyewitnesses of Christ’s actions and “ministers of the word” (Lk 1,2).”
St Cyril of Alexandria (380-444) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Because it is not by raising a dead man, commanding the sea and wind, or casting out demons that He is able to change the thief’s sinful soul but, by being Crucified, pinned down by nails, covered with insults, spitting, mockery and torture, so that you might see the two sides of His Sovereign Power. He shook all creation, split the rocks (Mt 27:51) and drew to Himself the brigand’s soul, hard as stone, to cover it with honour…”
St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church
“… He effected a wonderful exchange with us, through mutual sharing – we gave Him the power to die, He will give us the power to Live!”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“Sacrilegious tongues blaspheme the God Who preserves their existence! … you should be damned forever and, instead of thanking Him for His goodness, you, at the very time that He bestows His favours upon you, YOU blaspheme His Holy Name!”
St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
Our Morning Offering – 16 April – “Spy” Wednesday in Holy Week
In Thine Hour of Holy Sadness By St Bernard (1090-1153) Father & Doctor of the Church
In Thine hour of holy sadness could I share with Thee, what gladness should Thine Cross to me be showing. Gladness past all thought of knowing, bowed beneath Thine Cross to die! Blessed Jesus, thanks I render that in bitter death, so tender, Thou now hear Thy supplicant calling, Save me Lord! and keep from falling, from Thee, when my hour is nigh. Amen.
Lenten Meditations – 15 April – With Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900) Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ” “Short Meditations for Lent” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Tuesday in Holy Week The Thirst upon the Cross
Read St John xix:28, 29
[28] Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. [29] Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge soaked in vinegar upon a stalk of hyssop, put it to His Mouth. [John 19:28-29]
+1. There is nothing which causes such agonising thirst as loss of blood. The prayer of the wounded soldier upon the battle-field is always for a drink of water; he forgets all other pain in his burning thirst. What must have been the intolerable suffering of Our Lord, Whose Sacred Body had been gradually drained of every droop of Blood! All day long the Blood had been flowing – at the scourging, on the way to Calvary, as He was dragged hither and thither, with the sharp cords cutting His wrists. And now upon the Cross ,as from Hands and Feet a stream bedewed the ground, fiercer and fiercer grew the burning, parching Thirst which consumed Him. O my Jesus, was there no-one to quench that Thirst endured for us?
+2. Our Lord’s Thirst was to atone especially for the sins of intemperance and self-indulgence in drink. Every sin of drunkenness and excess or self-indulgence in our food and drink, added to that Thirst and made it still more intolerable. My God, forgive me any such offences and help me to deny myself some lawful indulgence that by self-denial, I may atone for my sins and assuage, in some degree that Sacred Thirst Thou didst endure for me.
+3. There was, however, a deeper meaning in Our Lord’s cry: “I Thirst!” He was Thirsting for the souls of sinners, Thirsting for the love of ungrateful men, Thirsting for my love! He Thirsts for it still that I may be more faithful to His grace. O my Jesus, help me to love Thee more and more!
Our Morning Offering – 14 April – Monday in Holy Week
Sing, My Tongue, The Saviour’s Glory By St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609) Bishop, Father o the Church Trans. Fr Edward Caswell CO (1814-1878)
Sing, my tongue, the Saviour’s glory; Tell His triumph far and wide; Tell aloud the famous story Of His Body Crucified; How upon the Cross a Victim, Vanquishing in death, He Died.
Thus did Christ to perfect manhood In our mortal flesh attain: Then of His free choice He goeth To a death of bitter pain; And as a Lamb, upon the altar Of the Cross, for us is slain.
Lo, with gall His thirst He quenches! See the thorns upon His Brow! Nails His tender Flesh are rending! See, His Side is open’d now! Whence, to cleanse the whole creation, Streams of Blood and Water flow.
Faithful Cross, O Tree all beauteous! Tree all peerless and Divine! Not a grove on earth can shew us Such a flower and leaf as thine. Sweet the nails and sweet the wood, Laden with so sweet a load!
Lofty Tree, bend down thy branches, To embrace thy Sacred load; Oh, relax the native tension Of that all too rigid wood; Gently, gently bear the Members Of thy dying King and God.
Tree, which solely wast found worthy The world’s great Victim to sustain; Harbour from the raging tempest! Ark, which sav’d the world again! Tree, with sacred Blood anointed Of the Lamb for sinners slain.
Blessing, honour everlasting, To the immortal Deity; To the Father, Son, and Spirit, Equal praises ever be: Glory through the earth and Heaven To Trinity in Unity.
This Hymn is used for Passiontide and on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14 Sept) in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Breviary. This is the original text of this hymn as it appears in the Lyra Catholica (1849). Part I is used for Matins and Part II is used for Lauds. Tune (Church Hymns): “St Lawrence”
Quote/s of the Day – 13 April – Palm Sunday – Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:36-75; 27:1-60 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Behold the hour is at hand and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Matthew 26:45
“Because of sin, O innocent One, You were set before the criminal’s judgement seat; When Thou return in the Father’s glory Do not judge me together with him. Thou have put on crimson, Set the scarlet cloak over Thee As a dishonour and an affront, As Pontius Pilate’s soldiers thought it to be.”
St Nerses Chnorhali (1102-1173) Armenian Bishop
(Jesus, Only Son of the Father 708-724)
“Lord Jesus, whether Thy Face be glorious or humiliated, we always see wisdom shining in It. On Thy Face shines the refulgence of Eternal Light (Wis 7:26). O Lord, may Thy Light, the Light of Thy Face (Ps 4:7), always shine upon us, in sorrow as in happiness… Thou art joy and salvation for all, both when Thou ride on a donkey and when Thou hang from a Cross!”
Blessed Guerric of Igny (c1080-1157) Cistercian Abbot
One Minute Reflection – 11 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – Friday of Passion Week – St Leo I, the Great (c400-461) Pope, Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church – Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows – Judith 13:22, 25 – John 19:25-27–Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Behold, thy mother” – John 19:27
REFLECTION – “Woman, this is thy son. This is thy mother.” By what right is the disciple. whom Jesus loved, the son of the Lord’s mother? By what right is she his mother? By the fact that, without pain, she brought into the world the salvation of us all, when she gave birth in the flesh to the God-Man. But now, she is in labour, with great pain as she stands at the foot of the Cross!
At the hour of His Passion, the Lord Himself rightly compared the Apostles to a woman in childbirth, when He said: “When a woman is in labour she is in anguish because a child is born into the world” (cf Jn 16:21). How much more, then, might such a Son compare such a Mother, the Mother standing at the foot of His Cross, to a woman in labour? What am I saying? “Compare?” She is indeed truly a woman and truly a mother and, at this hour, she is truly experiencing the pains of childbirth. When her Son was born she did not experience the anguish of giving birth in pain as other women do; it is now that she is suffering, that she is crucified, that she experiences sorrow; like a woman in labour because her hour has come ( Jn 16:21; cf 13:1; 17:1). …
When this hour has passed, when the sword of sorrow has completely pierced her soul in labour (Lk 2:35), then, no more will she “remember the pain because a child has been born into the world” – the new Man Who renews the entire human race and reigns forever over the whole world, truly born, beyond all suffering, immortal, the Firstborn from the Dead. If the Virgin has thus brought the salvation of us all into the world, in her Son’s Passion, then she is, indeed, the Mother of us all!” – Rupert of Deutz (c1075-1130) Benedictine Monk, Theologian, Exegete and Writer – (Commentary on Saint Johns Gospel, 13).
PRAYER – O God, in Whose Passion the sword, according to the prophecy of blessed Simeon, pierced through the soul of Mary, the glorious Virgin and Mother, mercifully grant that we, who reverently commemorate her piercing through and her suffering, may, by the interceding glorious merits of all the Saints faithfully standing by the Cross, obtain the abundant fruit of Thine Passion. Who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Quote/s of the Day – 10 April – Thursday in Passion Week –Ferial Day – Daniel 3:25, 34-45 – Luke 7:36-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“She began to bathe His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet and anointed them with ointment.”
Luke 7:38
“Wherefore I say to you, her sins, many as they are, shall be forgiven her because she has loved much. But he, to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
Luke 7:47
“Remember not our former iniquities, let Thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor. Help us, O God, our Saviour and for the glory of Thy Name, O Lord, deliver us and forgive us our sins, for Thy Name’s Sake.”
Psalm 78:8-9
“A servant of the Lord stands bodily before men but mentally, he is knocking at the gates of Heaven. with prayer.”
St John Climacus (c 525-606) Father of the Church
“For, just as water extinguishes a fire, just so, does charity blot out our sins.”
St John of God (1495-1550)
“ I shall spend every moment loving. One who loves, does not notice her trials; or perhaps, more accurately, she is able to love them. I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There, I shall find my Mother, in all the splendour of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus Himself, in perfect safety.”
Lenten Meditations – 9 April – With Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900) Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ” “Short Meditations for Lent” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent Simon of Cyrene
Read St Mark xv:21
[21] And they forced one Simon a Cyrenian coming out of the country, who passed by, the father of Alexander and of Rufus, to take up His Cross. [Mark 15:21]
+1. Our Blessed Lord falls again and again, beneath the weight of the Cross until it becomes evident to the soldiers that He will never be able to drag it to the place of execution. They accordingly lay hold of a heathen passing by, Simon the Cyrenian and him they compel to carry the Cross. How little Simon knew the happiness in store for him when those rough soldiers seized him and force him, to the ignominious task, of carrying the instrument of His punishment. for a public criminal! How often we too fail to recognise God’s wonderful designs of mercy, in the sudden disagreeable and contradictory events and circumstances we encounter!
+2. Simon at first, bore the Cross angrily and reluctantly, chafing under the hardship inflicted upon him. But, as he carries it, somehow an unaccountable change embraced him. It has the power to change his heart and, to make of him, a devoted follower of the Crucified, one of the pillars of the Apostolic Church. Thus, many a cross which we reluctantly carry, proves to be really the means of our sanctification and salvation!
+3. Before Simon arrives at the summit of Calvary, the Cross had endeared itself to him. He has recognised that, to carry it for Jesus, was no hardship but a privilege and a joy. In fact the greatest of his life! So too, the Saints learn to love their cross, to embrace it, to seek it, to carry it with all joy, to be almost discontented if they are without it. This is the very height of peace and felicity; for those who find their joy in the cross, find cause for rejoicing and happiness, everywhere around them.
One Minute Reflection –9 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – Wednesday in Passion Week – Ferial Day – Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-19, 25 – John 10:22-38 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Jews then took up stones to stone Him. Jesus answered them: Many good works I have shown you from my Father. For which of those works, do you stone Me?” – John 10:31-32
REFLECTION – “You owe your whole life to Christ Jesus, for He gave His Life for your life and endured bitter torments that you might not have to endure eternal torment … Is there anything which will not seem sweet to you, after you have gathered into your heart, all the bitter sufferings of your Lord? … As the heavens are higher than the earth (Is 55:9) so is His Life higher than our life and yet, it has been given for our life. As mere nothingness cannot be compared to any other thing, so our life cannot be measured against His…
When I have dedicated to Him, all that I am, all of which I am capable, it will still be like a star compared to the sun, a drop of water to a river, a single stone to a tower, a grain of sand to a mountain. I have nothing but two small things, very small indeed – my body and my soul or, rather, only one, small thing – my will. And am I not going to give it to Him, Who has gone before; so small a being as I, with such blessings, to Him Who, in giving Himself wholly, has wholly redeemed me? Otherwise, were I to keep my will for myself, with what face, what eyes, what spirit or conscience, would I take my refuge in the merciful heart of our God? How could I dare to pierce that strong rampart guarding Israel and cause, not just a few drops but torrents of the Blood to flow which flows from the five parts of His Body, as the price of my Redemption?” – St Bernard (1091-1153) Cistercian Abbot, Father & Doctor of the Church (Selected Sermons).
PRAYER – In Thy mercy, O Lord, may this hallowing fast enlighten the hearts of Thy faithful people and since Thou have given them the desire to serve Thee, lend a gracious ear to their prayers.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).
Our Morning Offering – 9 April – Wednesday in Passion Week
The Love of Thy Name By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) The Imitation of Christ (Book 3 Ch 26:1-4)
My God, Sweetness beyond words, make bitter all the carnal comfort which draws me from love of the eternal and lures me to its evil self, by the sight of some delightful good in the present. Let it not overcome me, my God. Let not flesh and blood conquer me. Let not the world and its brief glory deceive me, nor the devil trip me by his craftiness. Give me courage to resist, patience to endure and constancy to persevere. Give me the soothing unction of Thy spirit, rather than all the consolations of the world and in place of carnal love, infuse into me, the love of Thy Name. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 7 April – Monday in Passion Week
“By the Cross, death was slain and Adam was restored to life. The Cross is the glory of all the Apostles, the Crown of the Martyrs, the Sanctification of the Saints. By the Cross, we put on Christ and cast aside our former self. By the Cross we, the sheep of Christ, have been gathered into one flock, destined for the Sheepfold of Heaven.”
St Theodore the Studite (759-826) Abbot, Confessor, Father of the Church
“He who findeth his life, shall lose it and he, who shall lose his life for Me, shall find it. ” Matthew 10:39
“My dear child, accept this cross from God and bear it – it will turn into a truly lovable cross, if you would hand these trials over to God, accept them from Him with true abandonment and thank God for them: “My soul magnifies the Lord” in everything (cf Lk 1:46). Whether God takes or gives, the Son of Man must be raised up on the Cross … Dear child, leave all that behind; rather, give your attention to true abandonment … and think about accepting to bear the cross of temptation, rather than going in search of spiritual sweetness … Our Lord has said: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me” (Lk 9:23).”
Fr JohannesTauler OP (c1300-1361) Dominican Priest and Friar, renowned Preacher and Theologian
Our Morning Offering – 7 April – Monday in Passion Week
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
Lenten Meditations – 2 April – With Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900) Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ” “Short Meditations for Lent” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Wednesday after the Fourth Sunday in Lent- The Scourging
Read St Matthew xxvii:27-30
[27] Then the governor’s soldiers taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto Him the whole band; [28] and stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him. [29] And plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His Hea, and a reed in His right Hand. And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews. [30] And spitting upon Him, they took the reed and struck His Head. [Matthew 27:27-30]
+1. When the Jews had shouted for Barabbas and threatened Pilate to denounce him as disloyal to Rome, if he released Jesus, the governor made one more attempt to save the life of Christ. He ordered Him to be severely scourged, hoping thereby, to move the Jews to pity. Vain attempt at a fresh compromise with his conscience! Pilate only involved himself in deeper guilt and Christ, in a greater agony of suffering. Nothing ever succeeds, except a bold, fearless obedience to God’s holy inspirations.
+2. Our Lord is handed to the scourgers, who strip Him naked and then begin their impious barbarity. The Pharisees are said to have plied them with drink to make them more reckless in their cruelty. Blow succeeds blow, from those many-lashed , iron-pointed scourgers. First His Sacred Flesh becomes red and swollen under the stripe, then the Blood begins to flow, then the iron points lacerate and tear His delicate Body until it is one great wound! Listen as He piteously moans under the anguish! See Him covered in Blood ! O my Jesus, what must be Thy love to endure this for me!
+3. At length, the executioners cut the cords and Christ falls heavily in a pool of His own Blood. What has brought the King of Heaven to this condition of abject misery? It is the sins of men, especially the sinful indulgence of the body. It was to atone for sins of luxury and impurity and drunkenness that the spotless Lamb of God was thus tortured. Alas! how often have I been indulgent to my body! How have I yielded to the cravings of sense!
Our Morning Offering – 2 April – On the First Wednesday of the Month, Wednesday being St Joseph’s day, we especially invoke his aid in all our needs
An Indulgenced Prayer to St Joseph for Holy Purity (Indulgence of 100 days, Once a Day – Pope Pius IX,4 February 1877)
Guardian of virgins holy virgin and father, Joseph, to whose faithful custody Christ Jesus, Innocence itself and Mary, virgin of virgins, were committed; I pray and beseech thee, by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary that, being preserved from all uncleanness, I may, with spotless mind, a pure heart and chaste body, ever serve Jesus and Mary, most chastely all the days of my life. Amen
The Month of April is dedicated both to devotion to the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Holy Eucharist – the proof of the promise of the Love of God and of ETERNAL LIFE.
“My brethren, when was it that the Lord made Himself recognised? — When He broke the bread. — So, we ourselves are convinced too, that when we break the bread, we recognise the Lord. — If He had not wanted to be recognised until that moment, it was for our sakes, we, who were not to see Him in the flesh but who were yet to eat Him in the flesh. ” – St Augustine (354-430) Father, Doctor of Grace
“I am the Resurrection and the Life, he who believes in Me, although he be dead, shall live.”
John 11:25
“I am the Living Bread Who came down from Heaven. If any man eat of this Bread, he shall live forever and the Bread that I will give, is My Flesh, for the Life of the world.”
John 6:51-52
“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, of 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 Thee. We too follow the Lord and we keep His Feast by deeds rather than by words.”
St Athanasius (297-373) Father & Doctor of the Church
Our Morning Offering – 1 April – Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Lent
Complete Us, O Lord Jesus Christ, For the Glory of Thy Holy Name. By St Anselm (1033-1109) Magnificent and Marian Doctor of the Church
O Lord Jesus Christ, our Redemption and our Salvation, we praise Thee and give Thee thanks. Although we are unworthy of Thy benefits and cannot offer to Thee, the devotion Thou deserves, let Thy loving-kindness complete, whatever our weakness attempts. Before Thee, O Lord, we lay all our desires and whatever our heart rightly wishes, it is because of Thy gifts. Help us to love Thee as Thou commands. Do not let Thy gifts be unfruitful. Complete what Thou hast begun, give what Thou hast made us desire, convert our lukewarmness into fervent love of Thee, for the glory of Thy Holy Name. Amen
Thought for the Day – 31 March – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
“Short Meditations for March, St Joseph” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
31st Day — St Joseph, Protector of the Faithful
+I. When God bade St Joseph arise and take the Child and His Mother and fly into Egypt, He was committing unto him, under the guise of Jesus and Mary, the care of the Universal Church. As to Mary were entrusted all Christians in the words, “Woman, behold thy son” so to St Joseph, in the Angel’s message. He was to be our guardian and protector. He was to keep us safe on the dangerous journey of life! he was to console us and care for us in darkness and sorrow, while we wait in this land of exile for the summons to our true home. Joseph, too, is to bring us safely into the promised land at last. O holy St Joseph, be my friend and my protector and my keeper, amid all difficulties and dangers and temptations.
+2. St Joseph has care of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, as he had care of the Mortal Body of Jesus. He has to watch over it and guard its temporal interests. He has to defend it against the bitter enemies who seek its destruction. How often he has driven them back! How often, when all seemed lost, he has restored peace and prosperity, to the Church of God! No weapon aimed against it can harm it, for God has given to St Joseph, the privilege of keeping it ever safe.
+3. St Joseph is also the protector of all his clients. In their temporal affairs how trusty a friend, saving them in circumstances apparently hopeless! In spiritual necessities how prompt to aid, how unfailing in resource! Oh, trust in St Joseph, wait patiently for him and he will obtain for thee the desires of thy heart
Our Morning Offering – 31 March – Goodbye to “The Month of Saint Joseph”
Caelitum, Ioseph, decus Joseph, the Praise and Glory of the Heavens By Fr Juan Escollar (Died 1700)
Joseph, the praise and glory of the heavens, Sure pledge of life and safety of the wide world, as in our joy we sing to thee, in kindness listen to our praises.
Thou by the world’s Creator wert appointed Spouse of the Virgin, thee He willed to honour. Naming thee father of the Word and guardian of our salvation.
Thou, thy Redeemer, lying in a stable, whom long ago foretold the choir of Prophets, sawest rejoicing and thy God adorest Humble in childhood.
God, King of Kings and Governor of the ages, He at Whose word the powers of hell do tremble, He Whom the adoring heavens ever worship, called thee protector.
Praise to the Triune Godhead everlasting, Who with such honour mightily hath blest thee. O may He grant us at thy blest petition Joys everlasting. Amen
This Hymn is used at Matins for the Feast of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (19 March). It is also the Hymn for Lauds for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker on 1 May. Translation by Alan G McDougall (1895-1964).
Thought for the Day – 29 March – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
“Short Meditations for March, St Joseph” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
29th Day – St Joseph’s Happy Death
+1. Never, to any of the children of men, did death come so bereft of its terrors, as to St Joseph. One who had lived so continually in the Presence of his God, had no cause to fear it. One whose thoughts, aspirations, hopes affections, had always been in Heaven, regarded death as a stepping-stone to his true home and to the presence of his God. One on whose breast Jesus had nestled lovingly, had already had a foretaste of Paradise and was absorbed by the longing desire to be there. Have I the same reasons to welcome death?
+2. Yet, if anyone ever had reason to dread the separation from earth, it was St Joseph. None ever left behind, wife or child, who were a thousandth part as dear as Mary and Jesus were to Joseph. Did it cost him nothing to say farewell? No , for from Jesus he could never be separated and, if the veil of flesh prevented him for a short time, from unity with his virgin spouse, yet they would soon meet in endless union before the throne of God. The pain of separation disappeared at the thought of eternal bliss. If the company of Jesus and Mary was so sweet on earth, what would it be in Heaven where all is perfect!?
+3. What a beautiful death was St Joseph’s! Nursed in the arms of Jesus and Mary, his last hours were one long ecstasy. No anxious, no distressing thought, was possible in that sweet company . For St Joseph death was only falling asleep to wake in Paradise. He is, therefore, the Patron of a good death . Pray earnestly to Jesus, Mary and Joseph that you may die in peace in their blessed company.
Indulgenced Holy Family Aspiration
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give Thee my heart and my soul; Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony; Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with Thee.”
(Indulgence of 300 days, Each Time. Pope Pius VII, 26 August 1814)
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