Category: CHRIST the JUDGE

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 December – ‘The Talents – good works and the final resurrection …’

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One Minute Reflection – 6 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – St Nicholas (270-343) Confessor, Bishop – Hebrews 13:7-17; Matthew 25:14-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ Well done, good and faithful servant because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” – Matthew 25:23

REFLECTION – “The parable of the talents is about all those who, instead of providing assistance to their brethren with their goods, their advice or, in some other way, live only for themselves … Jesus wants to show us, our Lord’s long patience in this parable but, He also alludes, it seems to me, to the final resurrection … In the first place, the servants who give an account of their dealings unequivocally acknowledge that which comes from their Master’s gift and, that which is the fruit of their stewardship. The first says: “Lord, Thou entrusted me with five talents” and the second: “Lord, Thou entrusted me with two talents.” Thus they acknowledge it is from their Master’s bounty that they hold the capital they put to their profit.

This acknowledgement goes so far, that they ascribe all the merit and glory of their success, to their Master’s trust. What does the Master reply, then? “Well done, good and faithful servant.” This is real goodness, is it not, when someone strives to do good towards their brethren?… “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” this refers to the blessedness of Eternal Life.

But, it is by no means the same case for the wicked servant … What is then the Master’s reply? “Thou wicked and lazy servant, why didst thou not place my money in the bank?” which means, speaking to, encouraging, counselling one’s brothers and sisters. “But people would not listen to me,” the other might have replied. To which the Lord answers: “What is that to thee? … Thou shouldst, at least, have deposited this money in the bank and left Me to collect it with interest on My return.” The interest refers to the good works which go before the Hearing of the Word, when we are to speak. “Thou only had to do the easier part of the work and leave the more difficult to Me” … What is there to say? Someone who, for the sake of the other, has received the grace of word and teaching but does not put it to use, will have this grace taken away. But someone, who uses wisely and zealously, the grace received, will receive an even more abundant grace!” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father & Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Saint Matthew’s gospel 78:2-3).

PRAYER – O God, Thou Who made the holy Bishop Nicholas renowned for countless miracles, grant, we beseech Thee that by his merits and prayers, we may be saved from the fires of hell. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in ADVENT QUOTES, APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on CREATION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMAN DIGNITY, QUOTES on The SOUL, The DIVINE INFANT, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The INCARNATION, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 4 December – Saint “Golden Words”

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Quote/s of the Day – 4 December – St Peter Chrysologus (c400-450) “Golden Words” Confessor, Father & Doctor of the Church

“Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
Matthew 22:20

“The Creator seeks out what else
He can add to your dignity –
He sets His image within you (Gen 1:27)
so that your visible image, might make present,
upon earth, the invisible Creator and, to you,
He entrusts the care of earthly goods, so that,
as vast a domain as this, should not be lacking
a representative from the Lord. …
And what God accomplished in you by His power,
He graciously assumed into Himself –
He wanted to be truly manifested in the man
in whom, hitherto, He had only appeared in image.
He enabled us to become, in reality,
what had only been a mere likeness before. …
And so, Christ is born, to restore
all its integrity, to fallen nature! ”

“Why does your Master
eat with publicans and sinners? ”
Matthew 9:11

“But Christ, my brethren, came to this meal –
Life came amongst these guests that those
who were going to die, might live with Him,
the same Life as He.
The Resurrection reclined at this table
that those who lay in death, might rise from their tombs;
Grace stooped down to raise sinners up, to forgiveness;
God came to man that man might attain to God;
the Judge came to the meal of the guilty,
to release humankind from the sentence of condemnation;
the Doctor came to the sick, to restore their depleted strength
by eating with them; the Good Shepherd bent down
to carry the lost sheep back to salvation’s fold (Lk 15:l3).”

“O my brethren, if only we wanted to,
if only we all wanted to perceive our soul’s paralysis
in all its depth! Then we would see
that it is lying on a stretcher of sins, deprived of strength. Christ’s action within us, would be a source of light
and we would understand that each day
He sees our lack of faith, harmful as it is,
that He draws us towards healing remedies
and sharply presses our rebellious wills.
“My son” He says, “your sins are forgiven you.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/12/04/quote-s-of-the-day-4-december-st-peter-chrysologus/

St Peter Chrysologus (c400-450)
“Golden Words”
Father & Doctor of the Church

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on the POOR, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 19 November – ‘ … Thinking only of the life to come …’

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One Minute Reflection – 19 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – St Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231) Widow – 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 merciful God, enlighten the hearts of Thy faithful people and through the glorious prayers of blessed Elizabeth, make us look upon worldly prosperity as nought and ever rejoice in heavenly consolation. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 November – “I will utter things hidden, from the foundation of the world.” – Matthew 13:35

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One Minute Reflection – 17 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – St Gregory Thaumaturgus (c 213-c 270) “the Wonder-Worker,” Bishop, Confessor – 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 – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God that the venerable feast of Thy blessed Gregory Confessor and Bishop may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on SIN, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 13 November – St Stanislaus Kostka

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Quote/s of the Day – 13 November – St Stanislaus Kostka SJ (1550-1568) Jesuit Novice

“Think of the joy the soul will feel
in its escape from the prison of this body.
So long has it lived in perpetual exile,
expelled from its own heavenly home.
How much greater its uncontainable joy
and complete satisfaction,
when it arrives in its own Country
to enjoy the Vision of God,
with the Angels and the blessed.”

“I am so ashamed and confused
because I see how many have been lost
on account of a single mortal sin
and, how many times,
I have deserved eternal damnation.”

MORE:
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St Stanislaus Kostka SJ (1550-1568)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MARIAN QUOTES, OUR Cross, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on WATCHING, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES: JUSTICE, PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 12 November – St Theodore the Studite

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Quote/s of the Day – 12 November – St Theodore the Studite (759-826) Abbot, Confessor, Father of the Church

“Day by day follow God’s path,
keeping Him closely attached to you by His promise.
In fact, He Himself said, through the mediation of His Apostles,
to all those who seek His will and His testimonies
that He would be with them
until the end of the world (Mt 28:20)
where paths and footsteps
will be unknown (cf Ps 76:20),
as the divine David said in his songs.
Yet, in an invisible way,
He is present to the eyes of the mind,
making Himself seen by those
who have a pure heart
and conversing with them.
So pursue your path …. ”

“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.”

“Who will gather the fruits of life
without having planted virtues in his soul?
Cultivate them, prepare the earth
with the greatest care,
take trouble over it, sweat over it, children,
God’s workers, imitators of the Angels,
competitors with incorporeal beings,
lights for those who are in the world!”

“Let us hike up our tunics, be on the alert,
have eagle eyes – this is the speediest flight
for the trip which leads us from earth to Heaven!
It is true, travellers can have something to endure.
And this happens to you too –
indeed, as you see, you struggle under hard labours …
Briefly, each is at their post.
All go forward on the highway to God,
they approach the great City and, in death,
they will have entry to the unutterable joy
of the good things God reserves,
for all those who have loved Him! ”

“Rejoice, O Mary, House of the Lord,
earth trodden by the Footsteps of God…
Rejoice, O Paradise
more happy than the Garden of Eden,
where every virtue has been seeded
and where the Tree of Life has grown.”

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)
Abbot, Confessor, Father of the Church

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

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

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

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

CONSIDERATION XXV

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

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

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

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

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

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

Affections andPrayers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONSIDERATION XXIV

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Affections andPrayers

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

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

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRACE, Quotes on SALVATION, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The INCARNATION, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 September – ‘ …The Resurrection reclined at this table …’

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One Minute Reflection – 21 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Martyr – Ezekiel 1:10-14; Matthew 9:9-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners? ” – Matthew 9:11

REFLECTION – “Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners?” God is accused of bending down to man, of sitting next to the sinner, of being hungry for his conversion and thirsty for his return; of consenting to eat the food of compassion and drink from the cup of goodness. But Christ, my brethren, came to this meal – Life came amongst these guests that those who were going to die, might live with Him, the same Life as He. The Resurrection reclined at this table that those who lay in death, might rise from their tombs; Grace stooped down to raise sinners up, to forgiveness; God came to man that man might attain to God; the Judge came to the meal of the guilty, to release humankind from the sentence of condemnation; the Doctor came to the sick, to restore their depleted strength by eating with them; the Good Shepherd bent down to carry the lost sheep back to salvation’s fold (Lk 15:l3) …

“Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners?” But who is the sinner, if not the one who refuses to see himself as sinful? Is it not, to sink in one’s sins and, if the truth be told, identify oneself with sin by not recognising oneself to be a sinner? And who is unrighteous if not the one who thinks himself righteous? … Come along, you Pharisee, confess your sin and you will be able to come to Christ’s Table! Christ will become Bread for your sake, the Bread to be broken for the forgiveness of your sins! Christ will become Drink for your sake, the Drink which will be shed for the remission of your offences!Come along, you Pharisee, share the meal of sinners that you may eat your meal with Christ. Acknowledge yourself a sinner and Christ will eat with you. Go in to the Lord’s Feast along with sinners and you will be able to be a sinner no more. With the forgiveness of Christ, enter into the House of Mercy.” – St Peter Chrysologus (400-450) Bishop of Ravenna, Father & “Doctor of Sermons”of the Church (Sermon 30).

PRAYER – May we be helped, O Lord, by the prayers of the blessed Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew that what we ourselves cannot obtain, maybe granted by his intercession. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH

Thought for the Day – 18 September –CONSIDERATION VIII, The Death of the Just

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Thought for the Day – 18 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION VIII

The Death of the Just
“Precious in the Sight of the Lord
is the death of His Saints.”
(Ps cxv: 15)

FIRST POINT:
WHEN we view death according to the senses, it terrifies and affrights us but, when we view it with the eye of faith, it consoles us and makes us desire it.
It appears terrible to sinners but lovely and very precious to Saints.

St Bernard tells us, .“death is precious as the end of labours, the consummation of victory, the gate of Life!” “The end of labour,” yes, truly, does death put an end to our labours and toil.
“Man, born of a woman, is of few days and full of trouble.” (Job xiv: i).
Behold what our life is; it is short, it is full of misery, infirmities, fears and passions. The worldly, who desire a long life, what do they seek, observes Seneca but a longer time of suffering? If we continue to live, do we not continue to suffer? as St Augustine himself remarks.
Yes, indeed, because, according to St Ambrose, our present life was not given to us for repose but for work and by that work, to make ourselves worthy of eternal life. When God, as Tertullian justly observes, shortens the life of anyone, He shortens his suffering. Hence, it is, although death was given to man as a punishment for sin, yet, notwithstanding this, the miseries of this life are such, as St Ambrose remarks, death would appear to be given to us rather as a relief, than a punishment.

God calls those who die in His grace blessed because their labours are finished and they go to their rest.
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. … Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours.” (Rev xiv: 13).

The. torments which afflict the sinners, when dying, do not trouble the Saints.
“The souls of the just are in the hand of God and the torment of death shall not touch them.” (Wisd iii: I).
The Saints do not grieve when they hear the “Prqficiscere” (“Go forth Christian soul”) which terrifies the worldly so much. The Saints are not troubled when they have to leave their worldly goods, for they have kept their hearts severed from them. They go about ever repeating to themselves,
“God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Ps Ixxiii: 25).

Blessed are you, writes the Apostle to his disciples, who have been stripped of all your earthly possessions, for the sake of Jesus Christ.
“You …. took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance.” (Heb x: 34).
They do not grieve at leaving the honours because they always detested them and reckoned them, as they indeed are, nothing but smoke and vanity; they esteemed loving God and being loved by God, their only honour.
They do not grieve at leaving their relations because they have only loved them in God; when dying, they commend them to that Heavenly Father, Who loves them more than theyselves and trusting to be saved, they hope to be able to help them more, when they are in Paradise, than while on this earth.
Finally, what they have ever said in life: “My God and my all,” they repeat, with greater consolation and tenderness when dying.

He, therefore, who dies loving God, is not tormented by the fears which death brings with it but, on the contrary, he is pleased with them, thinking that his life is now ended and that there is no more time to suffer for God and to offer Him anymore proofs of his love.
Then, lovingly and peacefully, he gives Him these last moments of his life and consoles himself in uniting the sacrifice of his death with the sacrifice which Jesus Christ once offered for him, on the Cross to His eternal Father.
And thus, he joyfully expires, saying: “I will lay me down in peace and take my rest.” (Ps iv: 9).
Oh, what peace to die thus, given up to and reposing in the arms of Jesus Christ, Who has loved us even unto death and was willing to endure a cruel death, to obtain a sweet and peaceful death for us.

Affections and Prayers

O my beloved Jesus, Who, to obtain a happy death for me, wast willing to die a death so bitter upon Calvary, when shall I behold Thee?
The first time that I shall see Thee, it will be as my Judge, in that same place in which I shall breathe forth my soul.
And then, what shall I say to Thee? What wilt Thou say to me? I will not wait until that time to think what I shall say. I will think now. I will say to Thee:
“My dear Redeemer, Thou art the same Who hast died for me. At one time I did offend Thee, I was ungrateful to Thee and I did not deserve Thy pardon but now, being assisted by Thy Grace, I repented and during the remainder of my life, I have mourned because of my sins and Thou hast pardoned me.
Pardon me once more, now that I am at Thy feet and do Thou Thyself give me a general absolution for my sins.
I did not deserve to love Thee any more, for having despised Thy Love but Thou, in Thy Mercy, hast drawn my heart to Thee and if, it has not loved Thee as Thou ought to be loved, at least, it has loved Thee above all other things, giving up everything in order to please Thee.
Now what wilt Thou say to me ?
I can see, that Paradise and possessing Thee in Thy Kingdom, is a blessing too great for me but I cannot trust myself to live far from Thee, especially now that Thou hast once let me see Thy beautiful and lovely Face.
Therefore, I seek to live in Paradise, not that I may be happy there but that I may love Thee more.
And now, my beloved Judge, raise Thy Hand and bless me and tell me I am Thine and Thou wilt be mine, forever.
I would ever love Thee, do Thou ever love me.
Have Mercy upon a soul who loves Thee with all its strength and longs to see Thee, so as to love Thee more.”

Even thus do I hope, O my Jesus, do I hope then to speak to
Thee. In the meantime, I pray Thee, to grant me grace, so
to live that when dying, I may say to Thee that which I have
of just thought.
Give me holy perseverance and give me Thine Love.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on SIN, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 12 September – CONSIDERATION VI, The Death of the Sinner

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Thought for the Day – 12 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION VI

The Death of the Sinner
“Destruction cometh and they shall seek peace and there shall be none. Mischief shall come upon mischief.”
(Ezek vii: 25, 26)

FIRST POINT.
IT is now that sinners try, as far as they can, to drive away the memory and the thought of death and thus, to find peace, although they never will do so, by leading a life of sin but when, in the agonies of death, they must enter into eternity when “destruction cometh, I and they shall seek peace and there shall be none” then they will try to fly from the stings of their troubled consciences, they will seek peace but what peace can a soul find which is laden with sin which bites it, like so many vipers?
What peace, knowing that in so short a time it will have to appear before Jesus Christ the Judge, whose law and friendship, until that moment, it has esteemed of so little worth?

“Mischief shall come upon mischief. ”
The intelligence which the sinner has just received – that he is dying, the thought that he must bid farewell to everything in this world, the stings of a troubled conscience, the time which is forever lost, the time which he is now in want of, the severity of the Divine Judge, the miserable eternity which awaits all sinners – the thought of all these
things will come upon him in terrible confusion which will greatly trouble his mind and increase his apprehensions, and, thus confused and being filled with fear, the soul of the dying man will pass into the other life.

Abraham, to whom great praise is due, hoped in God against all human hope, believing in the Divine Promise, “who against hope believed in hope.”
But shiners, with great de-merit and who are the cause of their own ruin, falsely hope, not only against hope but even against faith, whilst they pay no attention whatever, to the warning which God gives to those who are obstinate.
They dread an unhappy death but they have no fear in leading a wicked life. But who is able to assure them, that their death will not suddenly be caused by a thunderbolt, by an apoplectic fit, or by the bursting of a bloodvessel? And even should they have time, when they are dying, to be converted, who can assure them, their conversion will
then be a true one?
St Augustine had to strive against his evil habits for twelve years, in order to overcome them. How then will one, who is dying, who has ever had a conscience stained with sin, who will be tormented with pain, with dreadful feelings in the head and, who will be in the confusion of death, how will he, then, I repeat, be possibly able to be truly converted!?
I say truly because, at that time, the saying and promising will be of no use, it will be necessary to say and to promise from the depth of the heart.
O God, into what terror will not the miserable sufferer be thrown, whose conscience, when remorseful, has been blighted, when he finds himself oppressed by his sins and by the fears of the coming judgement, by the thought of hell and of eternity? Into what dreadful confusion will not these thoughts throw him, when he finds that his memory is failing him, his mind becoming darkened and his body overcome with the pains of death which is already fast approaching?
He will confess, he will promise, he will weep, he will cry to God for mercy but, without knowing what he is doing and in that tempest of agitation, of remorse, of anguish and of fear, his soul will pass into the other world.
“The people shall be troubled at midnight and pass away.” (Job xxxiv: 20).
It is well said by an author that the prayers, the tears and the promises, of a dying sinner, are like the tears and promises of a man who finds himself assailed by his enemy, who puts a dagger to his throat to take away his life.
He who lies down on his bed and whose soul passes from it to eternity, is indeed a wretched man.

Affections and Prayers

The Wounds of Jesus are my only hope.
I should despair of pardon for my sins, did I not look upon Thee, the fountains of pity and of mercy, through which my God has shed all His Blood to wash my soul from the many sins which it has committed.
I adore Thee, O ye holy Wounds and in Thee confide.
I detest and abhor those unworthy pleasures through which I have displeased my dear Redeemer and through which. I have lost His holy friendship.

Looking then upon Thee, my hopes are raised and, therefore, I turn my affections towards Thee.
My beloved Jesus, it is only right that all men should love Thee and they should love Thee with their whole heart.
But I have so often offended Thee and counted Thy holy Love of no moment and yet. notwithstanding all my shortcomings, Thou hast borne with me so long and hast so often offered me pardon.

Ah, my Saviour, never more let me offend Thee and by so doing lose my soul forever. O God ! what dreadful pain it would give me to see Thy dear Blood and to remember Thy many mercies which Thou hast shown to me, if I should ever be cast into everlasting punishment.

I love Thee now and I would love Thee forever.
Give me holy perseverance. Take away from my heart every love which is not Thine and establish in me, a real desire and resolution to love Thee alone. Thou Who art my Sovereign Good, may I do this from henceforth and forever.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Of the Holy Souls in PURGATORY, QUOTES on PURITY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 10 September – Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 September – Saint Nicholas of Tolentino OSA (1245-1305) Confessor, “The Patron of Holy Souls” Priest, Augustinian Friar Monk, Mystic, Preacher, Miralce-worker and Apostle of the poor, the sick, the needy.

“How can I be said to fast,
while every morning, at the Altar,
I receive my God?”

(Often after his Mass, it was revealed to him
that the souls for whom he had offered
the Holy Sacrifice, had been admitted
to the Presence of God.)

“The heavens are not pure
in the sight of Him Whom I serve;
how then shall I, a sinful man,
stand before Him? ”

St Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 August – ‘ … What is it He has to do for you when, for your sake, Christ spends the night in prayer? …’

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One Minute Reflection – 24 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Bartholomew the Apostle and Martyr – 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Luke 6:12-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“At that time, Jesus departed to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God.” – Luke 6:12

REFLECTION – “Our Lord prays, not to plead on His Own account but to gain something for me. Even though the Father has placed all things at the disposal of the Son, nevertheless, the Son, in order to fulfil His condition as man completely, has thought it fitting to plead with the Father on our account, since He is our Advocate. Do not insidiously prick up your ears, imagining that Christ asks out of weakness, for that which He is unable to carry out Himself, He Who is the Author of all might! Master in obedience, Christ fashions us according to the precepts of virtue, by His Own example. It is said: “We have an Advocate with the Father” – if He is Advocate then, He must intervene for my sins. So it is not through weakness but from goodness that He pleads. Do you want to know to what extent He can do all He wills? He is simultaneously, Advocate and Judge; in the One dwells an obligation of compassion, in the other, the honour of might. “And He spent all the night in prayer to God” – He sets you an example, He outlines a model for you to imitate.

What is it He has to do for you when, for your sake, Christ spends the night in prayer? What is it which it is fitting to do, when you wish to undertake some work of devotion, when Christ, on the point of sending out His Apostles, prayed alone? Besides, at no point, if I am not mistaken, do we find that He prayed with the Apostles. Everywhere He prayed alone. This was because God’s intentions cannot be grasped by human desires and no-one can share in the intimate thoughts of Christ. Do you wish to know, too, how it is indeed on my account and not for Himself that He prayed? “He called His disciples and chose twelve of them” in order to send them out as sowers of the faith, to make known man’s help and salvation throughout the world.” – St Ambrose (340-397) One of the original four Doctors of the Latin Church (Commentary on St Luke’s Gospel 5, 42).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who bestowed on us the devout and holy joy of this day to celebrate the Feast of Thy blessed Apostle Bartholomew, grant unto Thy Church, we beseech Thee, both to love what he believed and to preach what he taught. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, CHRIST the JUDGE, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE

Thought for the Day – 19 August –Charity, Our Protection – “Charity shall Cover a multitude of Sins”

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Thought for the Day – 19 August – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

Charity, Our Protection
“Charity shall Cover a multitude of Sins”

One of the characteristics of charity is that it always looks to the bright side of things. It seeks to bring out all that is good in others while concealing their sins. It does not notice their sins. It does not allude to their sins unnecessarily, whether they are committed directly against man or against God. It has a happy knack of forgetting their sins or seeming to forget them. It covers their sins from the eyes of men and even seeks to obliterate them before God by the prayers it offers for the offender.
Is this my spirit? Do I not rather cover the virtues of others and disclose their faults?!

In this respect, it is especially true that we shall be treated as we treat others.
“With what judgement you judge, you shall be judged,” says our Lord.
If we pass the severe sentence of harsh criticism onto others, our sentence will be severe. If we make little of their faults and much of their virtues, God will do the same to us. What utter folly to prepare for ourselves a harsh verdict at the tribunal of Christ, by our condemnation of others here below!

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?

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN Aspirations and Ejaculations, MARIAN TITLES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, St JOHN the BAPTIST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 June – What will He be Who comes as the Way (Jn 14:6), if such is the one, who prepares the way?

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One Minute Reflection –27 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Mother of Perpetual Succour – Within the Octave of St John the Baptist – Isaias 49:1-3, 5-7, Luke 1:57-68 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“What then will this child be?” – Luke 1:66

REFLECTION – “What will the glory of the Judge be, if the glory of the hero is so great? What will He be Who comes as the Way (Jn 14:6), if such is the one, who prepares the way? . . . We are celebrating John’s birthday, we also celebrate the birthday of Christ . . . John was born of a woman who was too old for childbearing; Christ was born of a young virgin. John’s birth occurred in spite of the age of his parents; Christ’s birth occurred without the union of sexes. One was predicted by an Angel, the other was conceived by the voice of the Angel…The news of John’s birth was met with incredulity and his father was struck dumb; Mary believes in Christ’s birth and conceives Him through faith…

John, then, appears as the boundary between two covenants, the old and the new. That he is a sort of boundary the Lord Himself bears witness, when He speaks of the law and prophets lasting until John the Baptist: “The law and the prophets lasted until John” (Lk 16:16). Thus John represents the time that is past and, at the same time, he is the herald of the new era to come. Because he represents the past, he is born of aged parents; as herald of the new era, he is declared to be the prophet while still in his mother’s womb (Lk 1:41) . . . It was revealed that he was to be Christ’s precursor even before they had ever seen one another. These are Divine happenings surpassing the limits of our human frailty.

In due course he is born, he receives his name, his father’s tongue is loosened. One must read these events in the light of their deeper symbolic meaning.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (6th Sermon for the Nativity of John the Baptist, No 293:1)

PRAYER – God our Father, Thou opens the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven to those who are born again of water and the Holy Ghost. Increase the grace Thou hast given, so that the people who have been purified from all sin, may not forfeit the promised blessing of Thy love. Grant that we may ever keep Thy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, before our eyes and do all in Him and through Him and for Him and may the prayers of our Mother of Perpetual Succour ever guide and bear us in her care! We make our pray through Christ, our Lord,who livest and reignest with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God forever, amen. (Collect).

Ejaculation: My Lady and my Mother, remember, I am thine;
protect and defend me as thy property and possession.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY COMMUNION, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 14 June – St Basil the Great

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Quote/s of the Day – 14 June – St Basil the Great (329-379) Bishop of Caesarea, Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church.

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

“He seems to demand of us
the most entire renunciation …
So, if we keep back for ourselves,
any earthly goods or any perishable supplies,
our minds will remain sunk in them,
as though in mud.
Then, inevitably, our souls will become unable
to contemplate God and will be unmoved
by desire for the splendours of Heaven
and for the good things promised us.
We shall only be able to acquire those good things,
if we ask for them unceasingly,
with a burning desire that will, besides,
make easy the effort needed to gain them.”

“A tree is known by its fruit,
a man by his deeds.
A good deed is never lost,
he who sows courtesy,
reaps friendship
and he who plants kindness,
gathers love.”

“Be constant in secret prayers
which God, Who indeed sees in secret,
rewards in the open.
Hold fast to this exercise
of a most excellent way of life.
that you may find hidden treasure
in the day of need.”

Lord, I Know that I Am Not Worthy
Prayer before Holy Communion
By St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Lord, I know that I am not worthy
to receive Thy Holy Body and Precious Blood;
I know that I am guilty
and that I eat and drink
condemnation to myself,
not discerning the Body and Blood
of Christ, my God.
But trusting in Thy loving kindness,
I come to Thee, Who hast said –
‘Whoever eats My Body and drinks My Blood,
will dwell in Me and I in him’;
Therefore, Lord, have compassion on me
and do not put to shame Thy sinful servant
But deal with me according to Thy great mercy
And grant that these Holy Gifts,
may be for me,
healing, cleansing, enlightenment,
protection, salvation and sanctification
of soul and body.
May they cast out from me
every dark delusion,
sinful deed or work of the evil one.
May they move me to trust
and love Thee always,
to amendment of life,
increase of virtue,
obedience to Thy commandments,
communion of the Holy Spirit,
provision for my final journey
and a good defence before the dreadful
seat of judgement.
Amen.

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/06/14/quote-s-of-the-day-14-june-st-basil-the-great-2/

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

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The LAST THINGS

Thought for the Day – 8 June – Aids to Humility

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Thought for the Day – 8 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Aids to Humility

To foster in ourselves a spirit of humility, we must not only look back but also look forward.
When we appear before our Lord to be judged, what reason we shall have for shame and for dismay! How can I, who am so full of sin, venture to face Him, Who sees through every disguise and recognises the true nature of every action?
How can I meet Him who has witnessed deeds of evil hidden from the eyes of men and wicked and uncharitable thoughts, indulged in secret!?
When I think of that day, I must be humble.

Nothing will then be such a cause of shame to me as my pride.
Nothing will so turn away the Face of my Judge from me in anger.
If God abhors the proud, how can I look forward to that day without trembling? St Teresa said that when she had the privilege of seeing our Blessed Lord in a vision, the prevailing thought in her mind was, what a terrible thing it would be, if He were to be angry with her.
He will be angry with me, then, unless I learn more humility!
O my God, make me humble at any cost!

What will be the punishment of pride? Will it be the fire of Hell that was prepared for the devil and his angels, simply and solely because of their pride?
None will endure such misery as the proud; not the gluttonous, or the impure, or the covetous, except, so far as their other vices fostered pride in them.
O my God, if nothing else will make me humble, grant that the thought of the lowest Hell, reserved for the proud, may conquer in me that hateful vice of pride!

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HOLY COMMUNION, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on JUSTICE, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The HOLY NAME, The LAST THINGS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 31 May – Christ has hidden enemies.

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One Minute Reflection – 31 May – Within the Octave of Corpus Christi – Mamorial of St Petronilla of Rome (1st Century) Virgin Martyr – 1 Corinthians 23-29; John 6:56-59 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ … For he who eats and drinks unworthily, … eats and drinks judgement upon himself.”- 1 Corinthians 29

REFLECTION – “Christ has hidden enemies. All those who live unjust and irreligious lives are Christ’s enemies, even if they are signed with His Name and are called ‘Christians’ – I mean the ones to whom he is going to say, “I do not know you” and they say to Him, “Lord, in Thy Name we ate and drank. In Thy Name, we performed many deeds of power. What did we eat and drink in Thy Name?”

You see that they did not value their food very highly and yet, it was with reference to It that they said they belonged to Christ. Christ is the Food that is eaten and drunk. Even Christ’s enemies eat and drink Him! The faithful know the Lamb without spot on which they feed, if only they fed on It in such a way that they are not liable to punishment! The Apostle says, “Whoever eats and drinks unworthily, is eating and drinking judgement upon himself.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 308).

PRAYER – Graciously hear us, O God our Saviour, that as we rejoice in the festival of blessed Petronilla, Thy Virgin, so may we be nourished by the food of her heavenly teaching that we may 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).

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, DOCTORS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The GOOD SHEPherd Prayers

Our Morning Offering – 16 April – Guide Me Lord By St Albert the Great

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Our Morning Offering – 16 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament”

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

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on TRUTH, The SECOND COMING

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 19 February – If You Wish to Receive Mercy, Be Merciful Before He Comes

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 19 February – Monday of the First Week in Lent – Ferial Day –Ezechiel 34:11-16; Matthew 25:31-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“As the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters,
so are our eyes on the Lord, our God,
until He have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O Lord,
have mercy on us. ”

Psalm 122:2

“For I was hungry
and you gave me to eat”

Matthew 25:35

If You Wish to Receive Mercy,
Be Merciful Before He Comes

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

“He will judge the world with equity and the peoples in His truth. What are equity and truth? He will gather together with Himself, for the Judgement, His chosen ones but the others, He will set apart – for He will place some on His right, others on His left. What is more equitable, what more true, than that they should not, themselves expect mercy, from the Judge, who themselves were unwilling to show mercy before the Judge’s Coming. Those, however, who were willing to show mercy, will be judged with mercy. For it will be said to those placed on His right – Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the Kingdom which has been prepared for you from the beginning of the world. And hH reckons to their account, their works of mercy – For I was hungry and you gave Me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me to drink.

What is imputed to those places on His left side? That they refused to show mercy. And where will they go? Depart into the everlasting fire. The hearing of this condemnation will cause much wailing. But what has another Psalm said? The just man will be held in everlasting remembrance; he will not fear the evil report. What is the evil report? Depart into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. Whoever rejoices to hear the good report will not fear the bad. This is equity, this is truth.

Or do you, because you are unjust, expect the Judge not to be just? Or because you are a liar, will the Truthful One not be true? Rather, if you wish to receive mercy, be merciful before He comes – forgive whatever has been done against you; give of your abundance. Of whose possessions do you give, if not from His? If you were to give of your own, it would be largess but since you give of His, it is restitution. For what have you that you have not received? These are the sacrifices most pleasing to God – mercy, humility, praise, peace, charity. Such as these, then, let us bring and, free from fear, we shall await the Coming of the Judge, Who will judge the world in equity and the peoples in His Truth.” – (An excerpt from A Discourse on Psalm 95).

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 19 February – “For I was hungry and you gave me to eat …”

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Quote/s of the Day – 19 February – Monday of the First Week in Lent – Ferial Day –Ezechiel 34:11-16; Matthew 25:31-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“For I was hungry
and you gave me to eat”

Matthew 25:35

“If there are people who refuse to work
that is for the governor and the police to deal with.
My duty is to assist
and relieve those
who come to my door.”

St Thomas of Villanova OSA (1488-1555)
Archbishop, Confessor.

“… We must remember that the precept
to “give that which remains, as alms” applies also to us.
If there is someone in grave need
whom we have the means of helping,
we are obliged to do so by the command of the Gospel.
It is the same Gospel which warns us
that if we fail to do so,
the Divine Judge will, one day, condemn us!”

“For judgement is without mercy
to him who has not shown mercy …
And if a brother or a sister be naked
and in want of daily food
and one of you says to them,
‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’
yet you do not give them
what is necessary for the body,
what does it profit? ”
So faith too, unless it has works
is dead in itself” (Js 2:13-17).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN Saturdays, MOTHER of GOD, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quotes on SALVATION, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 3 February –The ‘… Mother of God is our Mother! …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 3 February – Saturday of the Blessed Virgin (Salve Sancta Parens) – Sirach 24:14-16; Luke 11:27-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Blessed is the womb
which bore Thee ”

Luke 11:27

“Mary, having merited to give flesh
to the Divine Word
and thus, supply the price
of our redemption
that we might be delivered
from eternal death, therefore,
she is more powerful
than all others,
to help us gain eternal life.”

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

“The very fact
that God has elected her,
proves, that none was ever
holier than Mary;
if any stain had disfigured her soul,
if any other virgin
had been purer and holier,
God would have selected her
and rejected Mary.”

St Jacob of Sarug (c 451-521)

“This woman will be the Mother of God,
the door to light, source of life.
She will reduce to oblivion the judgement
that weighed on Eve.
Daughter of David the king and Mother of God,
King of the universe, masterpiece
in whom the Creator rejoices…
thou art to be nature’s full achievement.
For thou life is not thine,
thou were not born for thyself alone
but thou life is to be God’s.
thou came into the world for Him,
thou will serve for the salvation of all people,
fulfilling God’s design, established from the beginning …”

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

“For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven,
he is my brother and sister and mother.”
“These words were directed at us, not at Our Lady.
Not only was she the Immaculate Mother of Jesus Christ
but, she performed lovingly, on all occasions,
the Will of the heavenly Father.
She did His Will, in poverty and obedience,
in exile and on Mount Calvary.
Therefore, she was God’s Mother in the spiritual,
as well as, in the physical sense of the word,
insofar, as she was constantly united to Him
by a bond of love and of conformity with His desires.
Christ’s words indicate, that Mary’s perfect
and continuous acceptance of God’s Will,
was even more pleasing to God,
than the dignity of the divine Motherhood.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Mother of Salvation,
Blessed Lady
By St Anselm (1033-1109)
Magnificent Doctor
Marian Doctor

Mother of Salvation,
Blessed Lady,
you are the Mother of Justification
and those who are justified;
the Mother of Reconciliation
and those who are reconciled;
the Mother of Salvation
and those who are saved.
What a blessed trust
and what a secure refuge!
The Mother of God is our Mother.
The Mother of the One
in Whom alone, we hope
and Whom alone, we fear,
is our Mother! …
The One Who partook of our nature
and by restoring us to life,
made us children of His Mother,
invites us by this grace, to proclaim
that we are His brothers and sisters.
Therefore, our Judge, is also our Brother.
The Saviour of the world, is our Brother.
Our God has become –
through Mary – our Brother!
Anen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WATCHING, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 January –  “Many will come … ” – Matthew 8:11

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One Minute Reflection – 21 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr – Romans 12:16-21; 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, eternal God, Thou Who choose the weak things of the world to confound the strong, mercifully grant that we, who are celebrating the feast of blessed Agnes, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may reap the benefit ofher patronal intercession 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).

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, St Francis de Sales, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 1 December – Heaven and Eternal Life

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Quote/s of the Day – 1 December – Ferial Day – 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
Heaven, with much power and najesty”

Matthew 24:30

“Earth is no further from Heaven
than the supernatural ways of God
from our earthly ways.”

(The Spirit of St François de Sales XXI, 9)

“We should really live in this world
as though our spirit were
already in Heaven.”

(The Spirit of St François de Sales IV, 6)

“This life is short
and it is only given us
to gain the other. ”

(Letters to Persons in the World I. 1)

“The day which is past,
must not judge the day present,
nor the present day,
judge that which is past;
it is only the Last Day which judges all!”

(Introduction to the Devout Life Part III Chapter 29)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, The ASCENSION of the LORD, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 27 November – He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

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Quote/s of the Day – 27 November – 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

“From that time onward,
He was to remain at the Father’s Right Hand,
until the completion of the period,
ordained by God, for the Church’s children
to increase and multiply, after which,
in the same Body with which He ascended,
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
And so, our Redeemer’s Visible Presence
has passed into the Sacraments.
Our faith is nobler and stronger because,
empirical sight has been replaced by a reliable teaching,
whose authority is accepted by believing hearts,
enlightened from on high.”

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

“Fool that I am to offend God
for the sake of such trifling vanities.
I have forsaken God and for what – for nothing!
On the other hand, devotion and good deeds
will be seen as desirable and delightful
and you will ask yourself –
why did I not take this beautiful
and pleasant path of everlasting joy?
At that hour, your sins –
which at the time seemed so small –
will appear as vast as mountains
and your devotions truly small. …

Pray to God and cast yourself into His arms.
O my God, take me into Thy care on that terrible day;
may all other days be sad, if only that single day
will be a happy one!”

“Let the world turn upside down,
let everything be in darkness,
in smoke, in uproar – God is with us!”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SPIRITUAL WORKS of MERCY, The BEATITUDES, The LAST THINGS

Thought for the Day – 26 November – The Blessedness of the Merciful

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Thought for the Day – 26 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Blessedness of the Merciful

“Let us remember that we have often made ourselves God’s enemies, by our sins.
We were often in need, when we were deprived of Divine grace.
On these occasions, God was merciful to us, for He granted us His forgiveness and His friendship.
These gifts of God, place an obligation on us, to behave in the same way to those who are in need, by assisting them willingly and generously and, to those who are unhappy, by consoling them as far as possible.

Let us remember, the great principle which Jesus Christ has given us.
“Even as you wish men to do to you, so also, do you unto them … Do good to those who hate you … Do not judge and you shall not be judged; do not condemn and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you shall be forgiven, give and it shall be given to you …” (Cf Lk 6:30-38).
“With what judgement you judge, you shall be judged and with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you” (Mt 7:1).
So it shall be on the day of death, when we shall appear before the Supreme Judge!

Let us be generous throughout life in giving help and consolation to others.
It is more blessed to give, than to receive, as the Gospel says.
By giving, we shall find a little happiness, even in this world and shall be certain that one day, the most merciful Judge will pardon and embrace us!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/03/thought-for-the-day-2-december-the-blessedness-of-the-merciful/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/26/thought-for-the-day-26-november-the-blessedness-of-the-merciful/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE

Thought for the Day – 24 November – The Blessedness of Those who Hunger and Thirst for Justice

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Thought for the Day – 24 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Blessedness of Those
who Hunger and Thirst for Justice

“We must be just, finally, in our dealings with others.
This rules out theft, detraction, calumny, murder and hatred of our neighbour.
We can be unjust to our neighbour, not only in material things but also, in the moral order.

Christian justice, moreover, makes many demands on us which we do not sufficiently consider.
If our neighbour is hungry, we are obliged to assuage his hunger.
If he is ill-clad, homeless or out of work, the Gospel tells us that we are obliged to help him and to console him, by every means in our power, even if this necessitates sacrifice on our part.
This, is the Christian justice, without which neither faith, nor charity can survive.

The man who lacks this virtue, will one day be condem;ned by the Supreme Judge, with the terrifying words: “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/01/thought-for-the-day-1-december-2/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/24/thought-for-the-day-24-november-the-blessedness-of-those-who-hunger-and-thirst-for-justice/

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRIESTS, the PRIESTHOOD and CONSECRATED LIFE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 21 November – St Pope Gelasius I

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Quote/s of the Day – 21 November – The Memorial of St Pope Gelasius I (Died 496) Bishop of Rome from 1 March 492 until his death on 19 November 496.

“There are two powers, by which chiefly,
this world is ruled – the Sacred authority
of the Priesthood and the authority of Kings.
And of these, the authority of the Priests is,
so much the weightier, as they must render,
before the tribunal of God, an account,
even for the Kings of men.”

“Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord
that we do not trouble ourselves
regarding the contradiction of spurious minds
but once that very wickedness has been spurned,
let us pray that Thou suffer us,
neither to be frightened by the unjust criticisms,
nor to be attracted to the insidious flatteries
but rather, to love that which Thou dost command …”

(In 1751, Pope Benedict XIV published this Prayer
within his Apostolic Constitution “Providas”
which exposed the evils of freemasonry.)

St Pope Gelasius I (Died 496)

Quotes on the Presentation of Our Lady
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/21/quote-s-of-the-day-21-november-the-presentation-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the KING Prayers, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The HOLY SOULS, The RESURRECTION, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 2 November – The hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs shall hear the Voice of the Son of God. John 5:28-29

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

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

REFLECTION – “Devout, wise and good people are not afraid of death, in view of the great hope they have in what lies before them. Everyday they think of death as of a departure and of the last day, as when the offspring of Adam will be born! The Apostle Paul says: “Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin, as has happened with all the children of Adam” (Rm 5:14.12) … It has happened, too, in all Moses’ descendants, to the end of the world. However, Moses declared that its rule would be destroyed; death thought to hold everyone captive and rule over them forever. .., but when the Holy One called to Moses, from the heart of the bush, he said to him: “I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob” (Ex 3:6). When it heard these words, death was terrified, it trembled with fear, understanding that … God is Lord over the dead and the living and would come one day when men would escape from its darkness. Now Jesus our Saviour has repeated these words to the Sadducees and said: “He is not God of the dead, for all are alive for Him” (Lk 20:38) …

For Jesus has come, the One Who has put death to death!
He put on a body of Adam’s race, has been nailed to the Cross and tasted death. It has understood that He would be descending to its abode. Anxiously, death fastened its gates but He has broken down its gates, entered in and started to seize those it was holding there. The dead, seeing Light in the darkness, raised their heads from their prisonhouse and saw the glory of the Messiah King! … And death, seeing how the darkness began to disperse and the righteous to rise, knew that at the end of time, He would release every prisoner from its power!” – St Aphrahat (c280-c345) Bishop near Mosul, Father (Expositions No 22).

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

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on MERCY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 22 October – Beggars of God

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Quote/s of the Day – 22 October – The 21st Sunday after Pentecost – Ephesians 6:10-17, Matthew 18:23-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“‘Thou wicked servant!
I forgave thee all thy debt
because thou entreated Me.
Should not thou then
have had compassion also
on thy fellow-servant,
even as I had compassion on thee?’ ”

Matthew 18:32-33

“… Every man is both debtor and creditor…
A beggar asks you for alms but you, too,
are God’s beggar, for when we pray
we are all beggars of God.
We stand – or rather, prostrate ourselves –
at our Father’s door (cf Lk 11:5);
we beseech Him with groans,
anxious to receive a grace from Him
and this grace is God Himself!
What does the beggar ask of you?
Bread. And what is it that you are asking of God
but Christ, Who said:
“I am the Living Bread come down from Heaven”
(Jn 6:51).”

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

“If you wish God to know that you are hungry,
know that another is hungry.
If you hope for mercy, show mercy.
If you look for kindness, show kindness.
If you wish to receive, … give.
If you ask for yourself,
that which you deny to others,
your asking is a mockery!”

St Peter Chrysologus (400-450)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“You must be reconciled to your enemies,
speak to them, as if they had never done you
anything but good, all your life,
keeping nothing in your heart but the charity,
which the good Christian should have, for everyone,
so that we may all appear with confidence,
before the tribunal of God.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)