Our Morning Offering – 16 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Resumed Mass of Sunday
Creator Alme Siderum Creator of the Starry Frame 7th Century Advent Hymn
Creator of the starry frame; Eternal Light of all who live; Jesu, Redeemer of mankind, An ear to Thy poor suppliants give.
When man was sunk in sin and death, Lost in the depth of Satan’s snare, Love brought Thee down to cure our ills, By taking of those ills a share.
Thou for the sake of guilty men, Causing Thine own pure blood to flow, Didst issue from Thy Virgin-shrine, And to the Cross a Victim go.
So great the glory of Thy might, If we but chance Thy Name to sound, At once all Heaven and Hell unite In bending low with awe profound.
Great Judge of all, in that last day, When friends shall fail and foes combine, Be present then with us, we pray, To guard us with Thy arm divine.
To God the Father and the Son, All praise and power and glory be, With Thee, O holy Comforter, Henceforth through all eternity.
Also known as Advent Hymn, this translation of the Latin Hymn Creator Alme Siderum (Pope Urban VIII’s 1632 revision of the 7th Century Hymn Conditor alme siderum) was first published in Fr Edward Caswall’s Lyra Catholica,
One Minute Reflection – 7 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Advent II – St Ambrose (340-397) – Confessor, Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church – Romans15:4-13 – Matthew 11:2-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Brethren, what things soever were written, were written for our learning: that, through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures, we might have hope. ” – Roman 15:4
REFLECTION – “My brethren, do not let us remain in carelessness and ease, or lightly put off for tomorrow, or even later, a start to our work. “Now is the favourable time,” the Apostle Paul says, “this is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). The present moment is the time for repentance, later on will be that of reward; now is the time of perseverance, our day of comforting is yet to come. Now God is helping those who turn away from evil, later He will judge our deeds and words and thoughts. Today we are profiting from his patience; at the resurrection, when each of us receives according to our deeds, we shall know the justice of His Judgments.
Oh, how much longer will we delay from obeying Christ, Who calls us into His heavenly Kingdom? Are we not going to purify ourselves? Will we not firmly decide to forsake our customary way of life, so as to follow the Gospel to the end?” – St Basil the Great (330-379) Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Father and Doctor of the Church (Prologue to the Great Rules)
PRAYER – O God, Thou Who have given blessed Ambrose to Thy people as a help for eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee that we may be worthy to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, whom we have had as a teacher of life, on earth. ThroughJesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Quote/s of the Day – 6 December – Hebrews 13:7-17; Matthew 25:14-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“To one He gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one— to each according to his ability. …”
Matthew 25:15
“And he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more.
Matthew 25:16
“God is Good but He is also Just… So do not underestimate God – His love for men should not become a pretext, for negligence on our part.”
St Basil the Great (329-379) Father and Doctor of the Church
“For the man who is kindly, modest, merciful and just, will not keep his good works to himself but will see to it that these admirable fountains, send out their streams, for the good of others. Again, the man who is clean of heart, a peacemaker and ardent for truth, will order his life, so as to contribute to the common good.”
St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Whatever He receives on earth, He returns in Heaven.”
St Caesarius of Arles (470-543)
“O God, grant that whatever good things I have, I may share generously with those who have not and whatever good things, I do not have, I may request humbly, from those who do.”
Our Morning Offering – 4 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Daily Prayers to the Infant Jesus
O Almighty God, in the form of a little Child! Make me worthy to meditate upon Thy Greatness and Power, Thy Goodness and Mercy and Thy Majesty as God and Man.
O Divine Infant! With the most profound reverence, I contemplate Thy Divine Countenance, shedding its gentle and forgiving Light like the sun, on good and bad. Deign, O friendly Eyes of my Jesus, to cast one look of grace upon me and to give to my eyes, sincere tears of repentance that on my judgement day, they need not fear Thy look of righteous anger.
O Sweetest Jesus! Fervent with admiration, I praise Thy Holy Lips, filled with heavenly wisdom and uttering words of grace for the remission of sin. Lest, however, Thy Divine Lips might one day be forced to pronounce the sentence of condemnation upon me on account of my own words, I beseech Thee, O Lord, place a seal upon my lips, so that they may never be opened to utter an uncharitable opinion or a sinful word; may I ever preserve Thy Truth and Thy Love in my heart and upon my tongue. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 28 November – “The Month of The Holy Souls in Purgatory” – St Catherine Labouré DC (1806-1876) Virgin, Religious Sister of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Marian Visionary of the Miraculous Medal – Ferial Day – Colossians 1:9-14 – Matthew 24:15-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“So you also, when you shall see all these things, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.” – Matthew 24:33
REFLECTION – “Then, all the trees of the forest shall leap for joy before the Lord, for He Comes, He Comes to rule the earth” (Ps 95:12-13). Our Lord came the first time and will come again anew. He came into His Church to begin with “on the clouds” (Mt 26:64). What are those clouds which bore Him? Apostles, preachers… He came, borne by His preachers to begin with and He filled the whole earth. Let us not resist His First Coming if we would not fear the Second…
What, then, should Christians do? Take advantage of this world but do not serve this world. What does that mean? “Possess as if one did not possess.” This is what Saint Paul said … “Brothers, the time is growing short. From now on… let those who weep act like those who do not weep, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully, For the world in its present form is passing away. I should like you to be free of anxieties” (1 Cor 7:29-32). Someone who is free of anxiety awaits the Lord’s Coming with assurance, for can we be said to love our Lord if we dread His Coming?! My brethren, are we not ashamed? Do we love Him and yet dread His Coming? Is it He we truly love or do we not rather prefer our sins? Therefore, let us hate our sins and love Him Who is to Come …
“All the trees of the forest shall leap for joy before the Lord, for He has Come” for the first time… “All the trees of the forest shall leap for joy” when He Comes again to judge the earth. Then, “because He has Come” He will find rejoicing, all those who believed in His Coming on the first occasion.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church (Discourses on the Psalms Ps 95).
PRAYER – From all perils of soul and body, defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee and by the intercession of blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and of blessed Catherine Labouré and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace that all adversities and errors, being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom. 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).
One Minute Reflection – 27 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal – Feria of the Last Sunday after Pentecost – Colossians 1:9-14; Matthew 24:15-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“They will see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with much power and majesty.” – Matthew 24:30
REFLECTION – “We do not preach only one advent of Christ but a second also, far more glorious than the first. For the first gave us a glimpse of His patience but the second brings with it, the Crown of a Divine Kingdom… In His former advent, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger; in His second, “He covers Himself with Light as with a garment” (Ps 103:2). In His first coming, He endured the Cross, despising shame (Heb 12:2); in His second, He comes attended by a host of Angels, receiving glory.
Now then, we do not just rest only on His first advent but look forward to His second too, when, meeting our Master with the Angels, we may worship Him and say: “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord” (Mt 21:9). The Saviour will come, not to be judged again but to judge those who judged Him … He came the first time because of a Divine dispensation, teaching people with persuasion but on that day, they will of necessity have Him for their King.” – St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387) Bishop of Jerusalem, Father and Doctor of the Church (Catechetical lectures 15, 1).
PRAYER – O God, Who, by the message of an Angel, willed to take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant that we, Thy suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with You. 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).
Quote/s of the Day – 15 October – St Teresa of Jesus of Avila OCD (1515-1582) Virgin
“Why should I fear the Judgement when my Judge will be my Best Friend?”
“He gives according to the love He bears us …, according to the courage He sees in each and the love each has for His Majesty. He will see, that whoever loves Him much, will be able to suffer much for Him; whoever loves Him little, will be capable of little. I myself hold, that the measure for being able to bear, a large or small cross, is love …”
“Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, Baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
“But, if Each One is distinct, how can we say that the Three are One Essence? For this is what we believe. This is deepest truth and I would die for it a thousand times. In these Three Persons there is but One Will and One Power and One Might; neither can One be without the Others. There is One Sole Creator of all created things. Could the Son create an ant without the Father? No! because Their Power is One. The same is to be said of the Holy Ghost. Thus, there is one God Almighty and the Three Persons are One Majesty. Is it possible to love the Father without loving the Son and the Holy Ghost? No, for those who please One of the Three Persons, please all Three Persons and those who offend One, offend all. Can the Father exist without the Son and without the Holy Ghost? No, for they are One in Being and where One is, there are the Three; they cannot be divided.”
AND by St Teresa’s Confessor, St Peter of Alcantara OFM (1499-1562) Confessor:
“Strain not after tears, strive not for sentiments of devotion, do not force your heart. Rest rather in interior solitude. Dwell therein quietly, waiting until God’s will be accomplished in you. When it shall please Him to send you tears, oh, how sweet will those tears be, for is not your impatience which has secured them – they are the fruits of humility and of peace. On your part, then, you must receive them with the deepest self-effacement, allowing God to work in you.”
St Teresa, who has written much in his praise, says among other things:
“He died as he had lived, a Saint and I have, after his death, received many graces from God, through his intercession. I have often seen him in great glory and when I saw him the first time, he said to me: ‘O happy penance, which has obtained so great a glory for me!‘”
One Minute Reflection – 12 October – “The Month of The Most Holy Rosary and The Holy Angels” – Pentecost XVIII – Nuestra Señora del Pilar / Our Lady of the Pillar – 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 – Matthew 9:1-8 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, Take courage, son, thy sins are forgiven thee.” – Matthew 9:2
REFLECTION – “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic: ‘Thy sins are forgiven thee,‘” The Lord is great! for the sake of the former he forgives the latter! He answers the prayer of the first and pardons the sins of the second. O men, why is it that today your fellow traveller is unable to do anything for you, when, with the Lord, His servant has the right to intervene and to receive?
You who judge, learn to pardon and you who are ill, learn to beseech. If you have no hope of immediate pardon for grave sins, turn to intercessors, turn to the Church who will pray for you. Then, for her sake, the Lord will grant you the pardon He might have denied you. We do not ignore the historical truth of the paralytic’s cure but, above all, we acknowledge the healing of his interior self, whose sins are forgiven. …
The Lord wants to save sinners; He demonstrates His Divinity by His knowledge of what is secret and, by the wonders of His deeds. “Which is easier to say,” he asks: “’Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Rise and walk’?” Here He gives us a complete image of the Resurrection since, in curing the wounds of soul and body … the whole man is healed!” – St Ambrose (340-397) ArchBishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on Saint Luke’s Gospel V, 11-13).
PRAYER – Grant us, Thy servants, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, to enjoy lasting health of mind and bod y and by the intercession of the glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full, of eternal happiness.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Thought for the Day – 29 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Particular and General Judgements
“It is appointed unto men to die once and after this comes the judgement” (Heb 9:27).
To have to appear before the Face of the Living God is terrifying for everybody. How much more terrifying will it be, for the sinner? Weighed down by numberless sins, he will stand before the scrutinising gaze of God. He will be able to hide nothing. Everything will be evident and clear. The Countenance of our Divine Redeemer which was mild and merciful during life, will at that moment, be that of a severe and just Judge. After having scorned so many graces, after having spurned so many calls to conversion and so many secret inspirations to change his life, after dying unrepentant …behold the sinner in the presence of his Eternal Judge. At that moment, he will hear the irrevocable sentence resounding in his ears “Depart from me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt 25:41). This terrible condemnation will be publicly repeated, moreover, at the general judgement. Memento mori!”
Thought for the Day – 5 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Surmounted by a Flaming Cross
“St Margaret Mary saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus, surmounted by flames in the midst of which, a Cross was raised on high. These flames and this Cross, were the symbol of the Infinite Love of Jesus. Let us reflect a little. God, immeasurably happy in Himself, wished to communicate a share in His happiness to men, whom He created in a state of earthly happiness. He was offended by men and, when He saw that they were heading for destruction, He sent His Eternal Word to them. The Word took a human nature and became our Brother; He preached the way to Heaven and gave us the means to achieve it. More than this, He offered Himself as a Divine victim of expiation for our sins. Having been condemned by those whom He had come to show the way, He died on the Cross and shed all His Blood, for our salvation.
Pagans of all times have called this “the folly of the Cross.” In fact, it is the miracle of the Infinite Love of God for humanity. Let us remember, however, that, although His Love and Goodness are Infinite, so also is His Justice! It is an overwhelming miracle of love on the part of God, that He became man and died for us. It will be our own downfall if we fail to co-operate with this miracle of love!
The same Jesus, Who died on the Cross for us and revealed His Heart, pierced and flaming with love, will one day appear with the same glorious Sign of the Cross, as our Supreme Judge. Then, He will say to the wicked: “Depart from me, accursed ones, into everlasting fire!”
God’s Justice is, as Infinite as His charity! We must choose either the way of the Cross, the way of love and goodness to which the Sacred Heart of Jesus invites us, or the way of sin which leads to the gulf of ruin and the final condemnation of the Supreme Judge. This is the tremendous choice we have to make!”
One Minute Reflection – 30 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin – 2 Cor inthians10:17-18; 11:1-2 – Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Many will come from the east and the west and will recline… at the banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven” – Matthew 8:11
REFLECTION – “I have seen our Lord in the Gospel accomplish many miracles and, reassured by them, have strengthened my fearful words. I have seen the centurion throw himself at the Lord’s feet, nations send their firstfruits to Christ. The Cross has not yet been erected and already, pagans hasten towards their Master. The words “Go, teach all nations” have not yet been heard (Mt 28,19) but the nations are already hastening. Their race precedes their call, they are burning with desire for the Lord. The sound of preaching has not yet been heard but they are hurrying towards the One Who preaches. Peter… has now been instructed and they gather around the One Who is teaching him; the light of Paul has not yet blazed beneath Christ’s standard and nations are coming with incense to adore the King (Mt 2:1).
And now, see how a centurion begs Him and says to him: “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, suffering dreadfully.” Here is a new miracle indeed! The servant, whose limbs are paralysed leads his master to the Lord; the slaves’ sickness gives health to his owner. Seeking his servant’s healing, he finds our Lord and while he is seeking for his slave’s cure, he becomes Christ’s conquest!” – Basil of Seleucia (Died c 468) Archbishop (Homily 19 on the centurion, PG 85, 235f).
PRAYER – Almighty God, Giver of all good things, Who willed that blessed Rose, imbued in early life with the dew of heavenly grace, should bloom among the Indians with the beauty of virginity and patience, grant unto us, Thy servants that, following the fragrance of her sweetness, we may be found worthy to become a sweet savour of Christ. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
One Minute Reflection – 26 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Grandmother of Jesus.– Proverbs 31:10-31 – Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; he who finds it, hides it and in his joy, goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44
REFLECTION – “Let us call to mind that widow who, in her care for the poor, forgot herself, to the point of giving away everything she had to live on, thinking only of the life to come, as our Lord Himself attests. The others gave of their abundance but she – even poorer, perhaps, than many of the poor, for her whole fortune resided in two small coins – she it was, who carried in her heart more wealth than many of the wealthy.
She looked only at the riches of the eternal reward. In her desire for heavenly treasure, she gave up all she possessed, as being goods which come from the earth and return to the earth (Gn 3:19). She gave all she had, in order to possess that which she did not as yet see. She gave away perishable goods, so that she might gain immortal ones. This poor little lady had not forgotten the means foreseen and arranged by our Lord, for acquiring the future reward. Neither, therefore, did the Lord forget her on His part and even now, the Judge of the world has pronounced His sentence – He praises her whom He will Crown on the Day of Judgement.” – St Paulinus of Nola (355-431) Bishop, Father of the Church (Letter 34 2-4).
PRAYER – O God, Who in Thy kindness gave blessed Anne the grace to be the mother of her, who Mothered Thy Only-begotten Son, graciously grant that we who keep her feast, maybe helped by her intercession with Thee. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Quote/s of the Day – 21 July – St Praxedes, Virgin (Died 164) – 1 Corinthians 7:25-34 – Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“So it will be at the end of the world. The Angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the just …
Matthew 13:49
“Judge your own conscience. Demand an account from it. Dig deep and rend it apart. Discover all the evil thoughts and intentions of the day … and punish yourself for them!”
(Expos in Ps 4 n 8).
St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of Grace
“Be a searching inquirer into your own integrity of life; examine your conduct everyday. See how much you have advanced, or, how much you have fallen back … Learn to know yourself. … Place all your faults before your eyes. Stand before yourself, as if it were before someone else and you will find reason to weep over yourself!”
(Meditat Cap 5 de quotidiano sui ipsius examine).
St Bernard (1090-1153) Father & Mellifluous Doctor
“Experience has proven that anyone who makes a strict examination of his thoughts, words and actions, is more firmly resolved to hate and avoid that which is evil and wholeheartedly to love that which is good.”
One Minute Reflection – 21 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Praxedes, Virgin (Died 164) – 1 Corinthians 7:25-34 – Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“So shall it be at the end of the world. The Angels shall go out and shall separate the wicked from among the just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13:49-50
REFLECTION – “Our Lord was an example of incomparable patience. He bore with a “devil” among His disciples even to His Passion (Jn 6,70). He said: “Let them grow together until the harvest lest you uproot the wheat when you pull out the weeds” (cf. Mt 13,29f.). As a symbol of the Church, He preached that the net would bring back to shore, namely the end of the world, every kind of fish, both good and bad. And He made it known, in various other ways, whether openly or in parables, that there would always be a mixture of good and bad. But, nevertheless, He stresses, that we have to protect the Church’s discipline when He says: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother” (Mt 18,15)…
Yet today, we see people who think of nothing but stern commandments, who order that troublemakers be reproved, ‘not giving what is holy to the dogs,’ treating, like the publicans, ‘anyone who despises the Church, cutting off the scandalous member from the body‘ (Mt 7:6 ; 18:17 ; 5:30). Their stormy zeal so troubles the Church, that they pull out the weeds before their time and their blindness makes of them enemies, of the unity of Jesus Christ…
Take care not to let these presumptuous thoughts enter our hearts, trying to separate ourselves from sinners, so as not to be soiled by contact with them, wanting to form a band of pure and holy disciples. We will achieve nothing but break our unity, under the pretext of not associating with the wicked. On the contrary, let us remember the parables of Scripture, their inspired words, their striking examples, where we are shown that, until the end of the world and the Day of Judgement, the bad will always be mingled, in the Church, amongst the good, without their participation in the Sacraments being harmful to the good, as long as these latter, have not played a part in their sins.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (On Faith and Works – Excerpt ch 3-5)
PRAYER – Graciously hear us, O God our Saviour, that, as we rejoice in the festival of blessed Praxedes, thy Virgin, so may we be nourished by the food of her heavenly teaching, as to be enlightened by the fervour of her dedicated holiness. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Quote/s of the Day – 17 June – 1 John 4:8-21 – Luke 6:36-42 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The disciple is not above his Master …”
Luke 6:40
“Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?”
Matthew 13:27
“While the Householder slept, the enemy sowed tares; when the servants hastened to root them up, the Master prevented them, reserving for Himself the separation of wheat and chaff. … No-one, before the Day of Judgement, can take Christ’s winnowing fan in hand, no-one can pass judgement on another, whoever they might be.”
St Jerome (343-420) Father & Doctor of the Church
Guide Me Lord By St Albert the Great (1200-1280) Doctor of the Church
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who seeks those who stray and receives them when returning, make me approach Thee through the frequent hearing of Thy Word, lest I sin against my neighbour, by the blindness of human judgement, through the austerity of false justice, through comparing his inferior status, through too much trust in my merits or through ignorance of the Divine Judgement. Guide me to search diligently, each corner of my conscience, lest the flesh dominate the spirit! Amen
“On the other hand, Charity shall cover a multitude of sins. If we have been always men of charity, it is wonderful how God will seem to have forgotten our many sins. The poor whom we have helped will pray for us, those whom we have comforted in sorrow, will say kind things on our behalf and our charitable judgeement of others, will find its counterpart in God’s judgement of us. Our sins will be concealed and disappear under the mantle of our charity. Is my charity such as this to cover my sins?”
Thought for the Day – 9 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Presence of God
“A man who lives always in the Presence of God. cannot sin. When we find ourselves in the presence of a high-ranking worldly personality, do we dare to behave any other way but correctly and respectfuly? How should we dare then to behave in any other fashion, in the Presence of the Infinite Majesty of God, our Creator and Redeemer, Who will one day also be our Judge?! Could He not, in a single instant, snap the thread of our mortal life and call us before His judgement-seat, even while we are in the act of offending Him?!
Let us remember St Paul’s stern warning: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10-:31). Let us remain always in the Presence of God and we shall be at peace and strong in His grace.”
Quote/s of the Day – 12 March – St Gregory the Great (540-604), Pope, Confessor, Father & Doctor of the Church, “Father of the Fathers”
“To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done and to do no evil to bewail.”
“Learn of the Heart of God in the Words of God, so that you may ardently long for eternal things.”
“The love of God ensures, the love of our neighbour and the love of our neighbour, serves to keep alive, the love of God.”
“Look at the fig tree and all the trees, when they produce their fruit you know that summer is near. So too, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.” Luke 21:29-31
“He means that just as the coming of summer is recognised by the fruit on the trees, so is the nearness of the Kingdom of God recognised by the destruction of the world. These words show that the fruit of the world is destruction – it increases only to fall, it produces, only to destroy by its disasters whatever it produces. The Kingdom of God is aptly compared to summer, because it is then that the clouds of our sorrow pass away and the days of life shine with the brightness of the Eternal Sun. … Therefore, my friends, do not love what you see cannot long exist. Keep in mind the Apostle John’s precept, in which he counsels us not “to love the world or the things in the world because, if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him!” (1 Jn 2:15).”
“The more numerous, the gifts we have received from God, the greater the account, we must render to Him.”
“But He still follows behind us and counsels us, although we have despised Him, He still does not cease to call us. We turn our backs on His Face, so to speak, when we reject His Words, when we trample His Commandments underfoot but He, Who sees that we reject Him, still calls out to us by His Commandments and waits for us by His patience, stands behind us and calls us back when we have turned away.”
One Minute Reflection – 10 March – “The Month of Saint Joseph” –Monday of the First Week in Lent – The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, Armenia (Died 320) – Ezechiel 34:11-16 – Matthew 25:31-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Amen I say to you, as long as you did not do it for one of these least ones, you did not do it for Me.” – Matthew 25:45
REFLECTION – “Do you suppose that charity is not an obligation but voluntary? That it is not a law but merely a counsel? I should like it to be so too and would gladly think so. But God’s left hand gives me cause for alarm, the place where He has set the goats to whom He addresses His reproaches, not because they stole, plundered, committed adultery or perpetrated other such faults but because, they did not honour Christ in the person of His poor!
If you are willing to listen to me, then, O servants of Christ, His brothers and co-heirs, I say, we should visit Christ while there is an opportunity, take care of Him and feed Him. We should clothe Christ and welcome Him. We should honour Him, not only at our table, like some; not only with ointments, like Mary Magdalene; not only with a sepulchre, like Joseph of Arimathea; nor with things which have to do with His burial, like Nicodemus … nor finally, with gold, incense and myrrh, like the Magi.
But, as the Lord of all “desires mercy and not sacrifice” (Mt 9:13) and as compassion is better than tens of thousands of fat rams, let us offer Him this mercy through the needy and those who are at present cast down to the ground. Let us do this, so that, when we depart hence, they may “welcome us into the eternal habitations” (Lk 16:9), in the same Christ our Lord, to whom be glory forever.” – St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390) Archbishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 14, on Love for the Poor, 27, 28, 39-40).
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who know how courageously Thy holy Martyrs have confessed the faith, may experience their goodness as they intercede for us with Thee. 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).
Thought for the Day – 24 February – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations on “The Great Truths” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
24th Day – The End Attained!
Then shall the King say to those who shall be on His Right Hand, Come you blessed of My Father, possess you the Kingdom, prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (St Matt xxv:34)
+1. What will be the sentiments of those who, at the General Judgement will find themselves on the Right Hand of the Judge and listen to His Words of Love? First of all, they will overflow with a delicious sense of happiness and peace; they will scarcely be able to contain themselves with delight; unmixed and unsullied, will be their cup of joy, unlike any of the joys of earth, intoxicating them with its ineffable sweetness!
+2. They will also be amazed and astonished at the reward given to them. What have I done, O Lord, to deserve all this? When did I minister to Thee as Thou sayest? When did I do anything to earn Thy Words of Gratitude? Who am I that, Thou shouldst thus exalt me? All the little which I did, came from Thee and now, Thou rewardest me, as if it was my own doing. We bless Thee, we praise Thee, for Thy great goodness, Thine unspeakable generosity!
+3. They will also look back with wonder on their earthly life. While it lasted it seemed so long, so tedious, perhaps so miserable and now, it is like a moment in the past, like a shadow which flitted by. How infinitesimal all its sorrows and pains will then seem, all compensated by that first moment of ineffable delight! Seek to bear that day in heart and mind, when earthly sorrows press heavily.
One Minute Reflection – 24 February – Feast of St Matthias, Apostle of Christ – Acts 1:15-26; – Matthew 11:25-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I Am meek and humble of heart … For My yoke is easy and My burden light.” – Matthew 11:29-30
REFLECTION – “The Third Coming of Christ our Bridegroom which is still in the future, is that which will occur at the Judgement or, at the hour of death …
The justice of the Judge lies, in the fact that, it is Christ to Whom the Judgement and the Verdict belong, for He is the Son of Man and the Wisdom of the Father, a Wisdom to Whom all Judgement belongs. To this Wisdom, all hearts are open and manifest, whether they are in Heaven, on earth or in hell … The means with which Christ, our Bridegroom and Judge, makes use, at this Judgement, consist in rewarding and punishing with justice, for He gives to all, according to their merits. On the good and for each good deed carried out in God, He bestows the measureless reward of Himself, unmerited by any creature. For indeed, since it is He Who collaborates in each of the creature’s works, it is all thanks to His Power that the creature merits Christ Himself as reward in all justice! …
The First Coming, namely, when God became a human being, lived humbly and died out of love for us, is one which we should imitate exteriorly through the perfect practice of the virtues and, interiorly, through, charity and genuine humility. The Second Coming which is in the present and which takes place when Christ comes, with His graces into every loving heart, is one which we should desire and pray for everyday, so that we might persevere and progress in new virtues. The Third Coming, at the Judgement or at the hour of our death, is one which we should await with longing, confidence and awe, so that we might be released from this present misery and enter the Palace of Glory!” – Blessed Jan van Ruysbroeck (1293-1381) Canon Regular (The Spiritual Espousals 1).
PRAYER – O God, Who added blessed Matthias to the company of Thy Apostles, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his intercession we may ever be aware of the depth of Thy love for us. 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).
Thought for the Day – 23 February – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations on “The Great Truths” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
23d Day – The Final Sentence
The wicked shall go into everlasting punishment but the just into life everlasting, (St Matt xxv:46)
+1. The sentence pronounced at the Last Judgement, will be one of perfect justice. Every little circumstance will be taken into account – inherited character, natural disposition, fierce passions, favourable or unfavourable circumstances, early training, opportunities of grace sacraments, temptations, everything! All who are lost will confess that they have been treated with perfect justice that, it was their own fault that, it was they, who condemned themselves to eternal separation from God.
+2. The sentence will be, not only just but, merciful. All the lost will acknowledge that, their punishment is less than they deserved. They will recognise an element of mercy and will be forced amid their despair and hatred of God, amid their curses and blasphemies , to confess that they have been leniently dealt with in comparison with their sins!
+3. The sentence will be irrevocable. Even at the Particular Judgement, the soul will know its final destiny. But, at the General Judgement, the sentence will be confirmed and ratified in the presence of the holy Angels and the assembled crowd. How strange it is then that, in view of this, we take so little trouble to secure a favourable sentence! Pray that to you, may be addressed, the gracious words – “Well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
Thought for the Day – 22 February – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations on “The Great Truths” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
22nd Day – The General Judgement .
Behold He cometh with the clouds and every eye shall see Him and they also who pierced Him . (Apoc i:7)
+1. At the General Judgement, Christ as Man, will be the Judge of men because He is at once God and Man. He will, therefore, have not only the most intimate knowledge of all our lives but a sympathy with us, an understanding of our nature from experience which will give Him, in the natural order, the highest qualifications for being our Judge.
+2. On that day, what a complete reverse there will be of all the world’s unjust verdicts! How many, now ridiculed, despised, condemned, will then be glorious and honoured before men and Angels! What will my sentiments be on that day, when the thoughts of all hearts will be revealed?
+3. On the Right of the Judge will be the sheep, on the Left, the goats – the one overflowing with celestial delights, the other already filled with the despair of hell. What will distinguish between them? Simply this – whether they have shown charity to others for Christ’s sake. This and nothing else, will be the test – “Inasmuch as you have done it to one of My least brethren, you have done it to Me.” How shall I stand this test? Ask God to teach you how to secure a place on the Right Hand of the Judge.
Thought for the Day – 21 February – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations on “The Great Truths” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
21st Day – The Particular Judgement .
We must all be manifested before the Judgement-seat of Christ. (2 Cor v:10)
+1. At the Particular Judgement, we shall see our lives as they never appeared to us before. In an instant, we shall live them over again. Each thought word, act, will be clear and distinct, with its true character no longer hidden by our own wilful blindness but, in all its foulness, baseness, ingratitude, revealed to us in the bright Light of God.
+2. We shall then stand face-to-face with Jesus Christ, no longer as our Advocate but, as our Judge; no longer pleading for us but dealing out strict justice, according to our deserts. He will be clothed with a Divine glory which will attract us and, at the same time, fill us with dismay, at the thought of having offended Him. St Teresa said that what struck her most forcibly in the vision she had of Him, was how awful would be the anger of One so full of Divine sweetness!
+3. Yet, we need not fear the Judgement if we make Christ our friend now. If we earn His gratitude by doing all we can to please Him, He will not remember our former sins. He will look to what we are, not to what we have been. He will not remember the sins of those who love Him with all their hearts. The same St Teresa said – “Why should I fear the Judgement when my Judge will be my Best Friend.” Pray that you may forestall the Judgement by a careful examination of your conscience.
One Minute Reflection – 15 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity” – Epiphany VI (Anticipated) – Feast of The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of Sinners – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10; – Matthew 13:31-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“I will utter things hidden, from the foundation of the world.” – Matthew 13:35
REFLECTION – “In one of the Psalms the Prophet says: “My soul pines for Thy salvation; I hope in Thy Word” (118:1) … Who is expressing this ardent desire if not “the chosen race, the royal priesthood, the people set apart for God” (1 Pt 2:9) each in their own day, in each one of those, who have lived, are living or will live, from humanity’s first beginning until the end of the world? … This is why our Lord Himself, says to His disciples: “Many Prophets and righteous men have wished to see that which you see.” It is their voice, then, we must recognise in this Psalm … Their longing has never come to an end in the Saints, nor does it end even now in “the Body of Christ, the Church” (Col 1:18) until “the Desired of all nations” comes (Hag 2:8) …
So, the beginning of the Church’s era, before the Virgin had given birth, comprised Saints who longed to see Christ’s coming in the flesh and, the period where we are now, following the Ascension, comprises other Saints who long to see the revealing of Christ to judge the living and the dead. From the beginning to the end of time, the Church’s longing has never lost its intensity, excepting only, when our Lord was alive on earth in the company of His disciples.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo, Father and Doctor of Grace (Discourses on the Psalms Ps 118 No 20).
PRAYER – O God most kind, Who as a salvation for sinners and a refuge for the miserable, didst will the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the Ever Virgin Mother of Thine only Son and the distributor of His graces; grant, we pray, that while celebrating the memory of this most loving Mother’s Heart, we may obtain for sinners, the grace of conversion and an abundance of heavenly gifts, for all the faithful. Through the same Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever amen. (Collect).
Quote/s of the Day – 12 February – The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order (1233) – Ecclesiasticus 44:1-15; Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And everyone who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.”
Matthew 19:29
“He Who is immortal, voluntarily shed His Blood. He Who created the Host of Angels, was bound at the hands of soldiers and He Who is to judge the living and the dead, was dragged to justice (cf. Acts 10:42; 2 Tm 4:1). Truth was exposed to false witnesses, was slandered, struck, covered with spittle, hung on the Wood of the Cross – the Lord of Glory (cf. 1 Cor 2:8) endured every outrage and suffering without Himself needing these trials. …
So, there is nothing surprising about it, if we submit to even one of these trials, since such is our condition … Therefore, we too have to be offended and tempted, afflicted by the cutting off of our wills!” (Catecheses 1)
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
“It is only right, my brothers, to celebrate our Lord’s Coming with all possible devotion, so greatly does His comfort gladden us… and His love burn within us. But do not just think about His First Coming, when He Came “to seek and save the lost” (Lk 19:10); think, too, of that other Coming, when He will come to take us with Him. I should like to see you constantly occupied in meditating on these two Comings… for they are the two arms of the Bridegroom …”
St Bernard (1091-1153) Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 9 February – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) “The Pillar of Faith” “Doctor of the Incarnation,” Bishop,Confessor, Father and Doctor, of the Church – Colossians 3:12-17 – Matthew 13,24-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?” – Matthew 13:27
REFLECTION – “It is not only sheep who abide in the Church, nor do only clean birds fly there to and fro. But amongst the grain other seed is sown, for “amidst the neat grain-fields, burrs and weeds and barren oats, lord it in the land” (Virgil’s Georgics). What is the farmhand to do? Root up the darnel? In that case the whole harvest is destroyed, along with it!
Everyday the farmer diligently drives away the birds, by making a noise or by frightening them with scarecrows … Nevertheless, he suffers from the raids of nimble roes or the wantonness of wild asses; on the one hand, rodents convey the grain to their underground barns, on the other, ants, in a moving column, ravage the crop. This is how things are! No-one who has land is free from care.
While the Householder slept, the enemy sowed tares; when the servants hastened to root them up, the Master prevented them, reserving for Himself the separation of wheat and chaff. … No-one, before the Day of Judgement, can take Christ’s winnowing fan in hand, no-one can pass judgement on another, whoever they might be.” – St Jerome (343-420) Priest, Translator of Sacred Scripture, Father & Doctor of the Church (The Dialogue against the Luciferians).
PRAYER – King of heaven and earth, Lord God, rule over our hearts and bodies this day. Sanctify us and guide our every thought, word and deed according to the commandments of Your law, so that now and forever, Your grace may free and save us. Teach us Lord to walk in the ways of the Cross of Your Son, our Saviour, longing for and rejoicing always in our heavenly home as St Cyril of Alexandria so lovingly and willingly inspires us to do. Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God, forever, amen. (Collect)
One Minute Reflection – 1 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinitys” – St Ignatius of Antioch (c35–107) Martyr, Bishop of Antioch, Apostolic Father of the Church. – Romans 8:35-39; John 12:24-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“He who loves his life, loses it and he who hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life everlasting. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me and where I Am ,there also shall My servant be.” – John 12:25-26
REFLECTION – “… We are being towed along by a world which passes away, forgetting the world to come. We are greedy for present things but do not take into account the coming judgement. We will not run to meet the Lord as He Comes …
Let us turn back, brethren, let us turn back… By the very fact of His delay, of His still waiting, our Lord proves His desire to see us come back to Him, His desire that we should not perish. In His great goodness, He continues addressing these words to us: “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked but would rather he would change his ways and live ”(Ez 33,11). So let us turn back to Him, brethren, not fearing that time is running short. The time that belongs to time’s Author cannot be shortened. The proof of it lies in the criminal in the Gospel, who, at the moment of dying on the cross, got away with his pardon, grabbed hold of life and, breaking into paradise like a burglar, managed to make his way into the Kingdom (cf. Lk 23,43)!” – St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450) Bishop of Ravenna, Father and “Doctor of Sermons” of the Church (Excerpt from Sermon 167).
PRAYER – Be mindful of our weakness, O aAmighty God and since the burden of our deeds is grievous to us, grant that the glorious intercession of blessed Ignatius Thy Martyr and Bishop, may protect us. 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).
One Minute Reflection – 20 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – St Fabian, Pope and St Sebastian, Martyrs – Hebrews 11:33-39: Luke 6:17-23 – – – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 6:20
REFLECTION – “As almost all men have a natural tendency to pride, the Lord begins the Beatitudes by casting aside the original sin of self-sufficiency and by counseling our imitation of Him, Who is truly blessed, the genuinely voluntary Poor Man … so, we might become like Him in a voluntary poverty which is according to our means, so as to share His blessedness, His happiness. “Have among you the same attitude which is also yours in Christ Jesus. Who, although He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave,” (Phil 2:5-7).
What could be more wretched for God, than to take the form of a slave? What lowlier for the King of the Universe, than to share our human nature? The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Judge of the world, pays taxes to Caesar (1 Tim 6:17; Heb 12:23; Mk 12:17)! Creation’s Lord embraces this world, enters a cave, finds no place in an inn and takes refuge in a stable, in the company of irrational beasts. He, Who is pure and spotless, takes upon Himself, the stains of human nature and, after sharing all our poverty, goes as far as to experience our death. Consider the excessiveness of His voluntary poverty! Life tastes death; the Judge is dragged before the court; the Master of the lives of us all submits to a magistrate; the King of the Heavenly Powers does not escape the hands of torturers! This is the pattern, says the Apostle Paul, against which His humility is measured.” – St Gregory of Nyssa (c335-395) Bishop, Father of the Church, Brother of St Basil the Great (The Beatitudes 1).
PRAYER – Be mindful of our weakness, Almighty God and since the burden of our sins weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of Thy holy Martyrs, Fabian and Sebastian sustain us. 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).
Thought for the Day – 16 December – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations for Advent From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
The Second Coming of Christ
+1. When the Apostles on Mount Olivet were gazing after their Master Who had just ascended into Heaven, two Angels stood by them and announced to them that He, Who had just vanished from their sight would return in like manner Our Lord Himself had already declared – He would Come Again with power and great glory and would sit upon the throne of His glory. At the sound of His approach, the dead will rise from their graves to meet Him and, the nations of the world, who have not accepted His sway, will be filled with unspeakable terror and dismay. What will be the dispositions with which I shall rise again to meet Christ? What would they be now, if He were to Come today?
+2. The object of His Coming will be to judge the living and the dead. All which is now hidden, will be made manifest before the world. All the secret thoughts and whispered words and actions, concealed from the eyes of men, will then be made manifest. How should I like to have all my base and low motives dragged to light, all my unkind words revealed to those against whom they were spoken, all those actions of which I cannot myself think,. without shame, proclaimed so all may behold them?
+3. Our Lord will Come, radiant in majesty and glory, to crush His enemies under His feet and reward His faithful soldiers and servants. How great then will be the ignominy and shame of the mighty men of earth if they have not bowed their neck to the King of kings! How full of joy will be the hearts of all who have humbled themselves before Him! How will they be beautiful beyond compare and honoured before His holy Angels! Learn now to humble yourself under the yoke of Christ!
One Minute Reflection – 13 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Within the Octave – Feast of St Lucy, Virgin Martyr – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18, 11:1-2; Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; he who finds it, hides it and in his joy, goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44
REFLECTION – “Let us call to mind that widow who, in her care for the poor, forgot herself, to the point of giving away everything she had to live on, thinking only of the life to come, as our Lord Himself attests. The others gave of their abundance but she – even poorer, perhaps, than many of the poor, for her whole fortune resided in two small coins – she it was, who carried in her heart more wealth than many of the wealthy.
She looked only at the riches of the eternal reward. In her desire for heavenly treasure, she gave up all she possessed, as being goods which come from the earth and return to the earth (Gn 3:19). She gave all she had, in order to possess that which she did not as yet see. She gave away perishable goods, so that she might gain immortal ones. This poor little lady had not forgotten the means foreseen and arranged by our Lord, for acquiring the future reward. Neither, therefore, did the Lord forget her on His part and even now, the Judge of the world has pronounced His sentence – He praises her whom He will Crown on the Day of Judgement.” – St Paulinus of Nola (355-431) Bishop, Father of the Church (Letter 34 2-4).
PRAYER – Hear us, O God our Saviour, that, as we rejoice on the feast of blessed Lucy, YThy Virgin and Martyr, so we may grow in love and devotion. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
AnaStpaul 
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