Category: CATHOLIC Quotes

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 20 November – The Holy Souls in Purgatory

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Quote/s of the Day – 20 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

“Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.
Rend your hearts, not your garments
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger,
rich in kindness
and relenting in punishment.”

Joel 2:12-13

“ … Yet only grant me repentance here below
That I may make reparation for my sins, …
That these tears may extinguish the blazing furnace
With its burning flames. …

And, instead of acting like the merciless,
Set merciful compassion within me,
That, by showing mercy to the poor,
I may obtain Your mercy.”

St Nerses Chnorhali (1102-1173)
Armenian Bishop

“The more one longs for a thing,
the more painful does deprivation of it become.
And because, after this life,
the desire for God, the Supreme Good,
is intense in the souls of the just –
(because this impetus toward Him,
is not hampered by the weight of the body
and that time of enjoyment,
of the Perfect Good, would have come)
had there been no obstacle.
The soul suffers enormously,
from the delay.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Angelic Doctor

“If, during life, we have been kind
to the suffering Souls in Purgatory,
God will ensure that help be not denied us,
after death.”

St Paul of the Cross (1694-1775)

Posted in QUOTES on WATCHING, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 November – “Watch” over your life.

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One Minute Reflection – 20 November – The Last Sunday after Pentecost – St Felix of Valois (1127-1212) Confessor – Colossians 1:9-14, Matthew 24:15-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Even so, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door. ” – Matthew 24:33

REFLECTION – “Watch” over your life. Do not let “your lamps” go out and do not keep “your loins ungirded,” but “be ready,” for “you do not know the hour when our Lord is coming.” Meet together frequently, in your search for what is good for your souls, since “a lifetime of faith will be of no advantage” to you, unless you prove perfect at the very end.

In the final days, multitudes of false prophets and seducers will appear. Sheep will turn into wolves and love into hatred. With the increase of iniquity, people will hate, persecute and betray each other. Then the world deceiver will appear in the disguise of God’s Son. He will work “signs and wonders,” and the earth will fall into his hands. He will commit outrages such as have never occurred before. Then humankind will come to the fiery trial, “and many will fall away” and perish. “Those who persevere in their faith will be saved” by the Curse himself. Then “there will appear the signs” of the Truth – first the sign of stretched-out hands in heaven, then the sign of “a trumpet’s blast” and third, the resurrection of the dead but not all the dead. As it has been said, “The Lord will come and all his saints with him. Then the world will see the Lord coming on the clouds of the sky.” The Unknown Author of the Didache (Didache, 16) .

PRAYER – OGod, Who by heavenly inspiration graciously called forth blessed Felix, Thy Confessor, from the desert to the work of ransoming captives; grant, we beseech Thee, that by his intercession and liberated by Thy grace from the captivity of our sins, we may be led into our heavenly fatherland. 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 BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), Holy Name PRAYERS, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The HOLY NAME, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 20 November – Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

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Our Morning Offering – 20 November – The Last Sunday after Pentecost

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
By Fr Ignaz Franz Poland (1719-1790) (Attri)
Archbishop of Schlawa, Germany

Holy God, we praise Thy Name.
Lord of all, we bow before Thee.
All on earth Thy sceptre claim;
all in heav’n above adore Thee.
Infinite Thy vast domain,
everlasting is Thy reign.

Hark, the loud celestial hymn,
angel choirs above are raising.
Cherubim and seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heav’ns with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy Lord.

Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Ghost, three we name Thee
While in essence only One,
Undivided God, we claim Thee
and adoring, bend the knee,
while we own the Mystery.

Spare Thy people Lord, we pray,
By a thousand snares surrounded.
Keep us without sin today,
Never let us be confounded.
Lo, I put my trust in Thee,
Never Lord, abandon me.

Fr Ignaz Franz Poland (1719-1790)
Archbishop of Schlawa, Germany, Hymnist, Musician
He also functioned as the Assessor for Theological Affairs at the Apostolic Vicariate. He wrote hymn lyrics and compiled religious music.
Trans. by Fr Clarence A Walworth (1820-1900)
Convert, writer. He was one of the Founders
of the Order of the Paulists in the U.S.A.

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, GOD is LOVE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL

Thought for the Day – 19 November – The Most Terrifying Passage in the Gospel

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Thought for the Day – 19 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Most Terrifying Passage
in the Gospel

“Why should the Eternal Judge punish or reward us, in accordance with our own deeds of charity and of mercy towards our unfortunate fellowmen?
Simply because Christianity consists mainly of charity, since God Himself is charity.
“God is love and he who abides in love, abides in God and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16).
When charity is genuine, being the love of God above all things and of our neighbour as ourselves, it is “the bond of perfection,” (Col 3:14) and, “bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things” (1 Cor 13:7).
True love, in the Christian sense, presupposes faith, hope and all the other virtues, whereas faith without charity, is as St Paul says, as futile as “a tinkling cymbal” (1 Cor 13:1).
Even the devils have faith but their faith will not save them.
“He who does not love,” St John tells us, “abides in death” (1 Jn 3:14).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/24/thought-for-the-day-24-november/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 19 November – ‘For Christ is the treasure …’

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One Minute Reflection – 19 November – 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 buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again and out of joy, goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44

REFLECTION – “It was Christ who was present to all those to whom, from the beginning, God communicated His Speech and Word. If anyone, therefore, reads the Scriptures with attention, he will find in them, an expression of Christ and a foreshadowing of this new calling. For Christ is the treasure which was hidden in the field, that is, in this world (Mt 13:38) – a treasure hidden in the Scriptures, since it was alluded to by means of symbols and parables which, humanly speaking, could not be understood prior to the fulfilment of prophecy, that is to say, before the coming of the Lord. That is why it was said to Daniel the prophet: ” Keep secret the message and seal the book until the end of time ” (12:4) … And Jeremiah also says, “In the last days they shall understand these things.” (23:20) …

When read by Christians, the Law is a treasure, hidden beforehand in a field, but brought to light and interpreted by the Cross of Christ. It shows forth the Wisdom of God and makes known His intentions with regard to our salvation; it prefigures the Kingdom of Christ and preaches, by anticipation, the Good News of our inheritance of the holy Jerusalem. It proclaims beforehand, that those who love God shall advance even to hearing and seeing His Word and, that they will be glorified by this Word …

Thus it was, that the Lord explained the Scriptures to His disciples, after His Resurrection from the dead, proving to them, by their means, that “it was necessary the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory” (Lk 24:26). So if anyone should likewise read the Scriptures, that person will become a perfect disciple, “like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom things both new and old.” (Mt 13:52). – St Irenaeus of Lyons ((130-202) Bishop, Martyr, Theologian – Against the Heresies, IV, 26 ; SC 100

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 MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SACRAMENTS

Thought for the Day – 18 November – Our Parish

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Thought for the Day – 18 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Our Parish

“Just as every Christian belongs to a family, so also, he belongs to a Parish.
The Parish should be the necessary complement of the family, in which everyone can receive the complete formation which he needs.
The family is the first cell in the organism of the Church.
The parents should regard their duties as Sacred and, in a way, Priestly.
They are joined together, not only for the purpose of procreating children but, also of educating them.
This is a lifty honour and responsibility.
They do not possess, however, the means of completing the education of their children.
They can do a great deal but they cannot do everything, for they are not, in fact, Priests possessing the necessary means of communicating the supernatural life through the Sacraments and through the authoritative Word of God.

Parents are the natural guardians of their children but, in the Church, there is a spiritual father to assist them, namely, the Parish Priest.
No good Catholic should ignore the existence of his Parish Priest and of his Parish.
In his Parish Church, he has received the priceless gift of supernatural life through the Sacrament of Baptism.
There too, he recited his childhood prayers, obtained forgiveness for his sins in the Confessional, received the Sacrament of Confirmation, made his First Holy Communion and received, perhaps, the Nuptial blessing at his marriage.
There will come a day when he will be borne to his Parish Church for the last time, to receive from the Priest, his final blessing and prayers for the repose of his soul.

We should love our Parish, therefore, in the same way as we love our family and, we should cherish our Parish Church.
It is not enough to visit any Church but, we should give pride of place to our own, which houses our spiritual family and our spiritual history and holds, for us, so many precious memories of the past.
We ought to make a special point of attending it, for our own benefit and that of our children and in order to give good example.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES on the CHURCH, St PAUL!, St PETER!, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Quote/s of the Day – 18 November – Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul – ‘… These are the gates of our true country, …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 18 November – Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul

“The present Feast, therefore, deserves to be more than a local solemnity, its extension to the Universal Church, is a subject for the world’s gratitude.
Thanks to this Feast, we can all make together in spirit today, the pilgrimage, which our ancestors performed with such fatigue and danger, yet never thought they purchased, at too high a price, its holy joys and blessings.
“Heavenly mountains, glittering heights of the new Sion!”
These are the gates of our true country, the two lights of the immense world.
There Paul’s voice is heard like thunder;
there Peter withholds or hurls the bolt .
The former opens the hearts of men, the latter opens Heaven. Peter is the foundation-stone, Paul the architect of the temple where stands the Altar, by which God is propitiated.
Both together, form a single fountain which, pours out its healing and refreshing waters”

St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)
Bishop, Father o the Church

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD the FATHER, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUTH, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 18 November – ‘ … We must do this too, when we are feeling low … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 18 November – Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul – Apocalypse 21:2-5. Luke 19:1-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ … He climbed up into a sycamore tree that he might see Him …” – Luke 19:2

REFLECTION – “I’m writing with the desire to see you, a bold and good shepherd, pasturing and guiding the sheep entrusted to you with perfect zeal and thus, imitating the sweet Master of Truth, Who gave His life for us who are His sheep, who have strayed away from the path of grace. True…, we cannot do this without God and we cannot possess God while remaining on earth. But here is a sweet remedy – when our hearts are reduced to nothing and feeling small, we must do as Zacchaeus did. He was not tall and he climbed a tree to see God. This zeal of his, allowed him to hear these sweet words: “Zacchaeus, go home, for I must dine with you today.”

We must do this too, when we are feeling low, when our hearts are constricted and lacking in charity. We must climb the tree of the most holy Cross and there we shall see, we shall touch God. There we shall find the fire of His inexpressible charity, the love that propelled Him, even to the humiliation of the Cross that raised Him up and made Him desire His Father’s honour and our salvation, with the craving of hunger and thirst… If this is what we want, if our carelessness does not get in the way, we can, in mounting the tree of the Cross, fulfill in ourselves, this word issuing from the mouth of Truth: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all things to Myself” (Jn 12,32 Vg). Indeed, when the soul is thus raised up, it sees the blessings of the Father’s goodness and power…, it sees the mercy and lavishness of the Holy Spirit, that is to say, the inexpressible love holding Jesus bound to the wood of the Cross. Nails and bonds cannot hold Him there, only charity… O climb this most holy tree where hang, the ripe fruits of all the virtues that the body of the Son of God bears, ardently hasten. Dwell within the holy and sweet love of God. O sweet Jesus, Jesus love.” – St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church (Letter 119, to the prior of the Olivetan Monks).

PRAYER – O God, Who for us brings each year, the recurrence of the Consecration day of this Thy holy temple and always brings us back safely to the sacred rites, hear the prayers of Thy people and grant that whoever enters this temple, to pray for blessings, may rejoice in having obtained whatever he sought. 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 "Follow Me", OUR Cross, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 17 November – Have We Ever Abandoned Jesus?

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Thought for the Day – 17 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Have We Ever Abandoned Jesus?

“The Apostles did not wish to abandon Jesus in theory but, in practice, they did so.
Remember the tragic scene in Gethsemane.
One Apostle had gone to betray Jesus as if He were a criminal and, to sell Him, as if He were a slave!
The others were asleep.
Jesus alone and deserted, was praying for ungrateful humanity.
He perspired blood and prepared to drink the bitter chalice of humiliation and of the most ignominious form of death.
The hired soldiers arrived and arrested Him, as a seducer of the people.

What was the reaction of the Apostles who had so often promised to be faithful to their Master until death?
The Evangelist tells us, “Then all the disciples left Him and fled.” (Mt 26:56).

Let us examine ourselves.
Are we faithful to Jesus only when everything is going well, when the cross is not too heavy and when we are not too strongly tempted to sin?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/23/thought-for-the-day-23-november-have-we-ever-abandoned-jesus/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 November – “Therefore, I say to you, all things whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that you shall receive and they shall come to you.” – Mark 11:24

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One Minute Reflection – 17 November – St Gregory Thaumaturgus (c 213-c 270) “the Wonder-Worker,” Bishop, Confessor – Sirach 44:16-27; 45:3-20, Mark 11:22-24 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Therefore, I say to you, all things whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that you shall receive and they shall come to you.” – Mark 11:24

REFLECTION – “The one word, faith, can have two meanings. One kind of faith concerns doctrines. It involves, the soul’s ascent to and acceptance of, some particular matter. It also concerns the soul’s good, according to the words of the Lord – Whoever hears My Voice and believes in Him, Who sent Me, has eternal life and will not come to be judged. And again: He who believes in the Son, is not condemned but has passed from death to life.

How great is God’s love for men! Some good men have been found pleasing to God because of years of work. What they achieved by working, for many hours at a task, pleasing to God, is freely given to you by Jesus, in one short hour. For if you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved and taken up to paradise by Him, just as He brought the thief there. Do not doubt that this is possible. After all, He saved the thief on the holy hill of Golgotha because of one hour’s faith; will He not save you too, since you have believed?

The other kind of faith is given by Christ, by means of a special grace. To one wise sayings are given through the Spirit, to another perceptive comments by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing. Now this kind of faith, given by the Spirit as a special favour, is not confined to doctrinal matters, for it produces effects beyond any human capability. If a man who has this faith says to this mountain move from here to there, it will move. For when anybody says this in faith, believing it will happen and having no doubt in his heart, he then receives that grace.

It is of this kind of faith, moreover, that it is said: If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed. The mustard seed is small in size but it holds an explosive force, although it is sown in a small hole, it produces great branches and when it is grown, birds can nest there. In the same way faith produces great effects in the soul instantaneously. Enlightened by faith, the soul pictures God and sees Him as clearly as any soul can. It circles the earth, even before the end of this world, it sees the judgement and the conferring of promised rewards. So may you have the faith which depends on you and is directed to God, that you may receive from Him, that faith too, which transcends man’s capacity.” – St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387) Archbishop of Jerusalem, Father and Doctor of the Church (An excerpt from the Catecheses, 5).

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 QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL

Thought for the Day – 16 November – Evil Literature

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

Evil Literature

“There can be adequate reasons for reading hostile literature, such as, for the purpose of study or if apostolic work.
In such cases, however, it is necessary to observe the following rules:
(1) If the books which we wish to read, are on the Index, we MUST ASK and OBTAIN the requisite permission.
(2) When a publication is openly pornographic and completely lacking in literary or scientific value, it must be avoided at all costs.
It is pointless to protest: “It has no effect on me.”
This is not true, for sooner or later obscenity poisons the soul.
(3) Even when we have obtained permission for reasons of position or of study, to read immoral literature, we must take care not to cause any scandal.
Scandal could be given by reading a book of this kind in public, by passing it onto others, or by leaving it, heedlessly, in places where it could be found and perused, by the ignorant or by the young.

It maybe that, on these three points, we have something to correct in our own conduct?!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/16/thought-for-the-day-16-november-evil-literature/

Posted in MYSTICS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PURGATORY, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, SACRED HEART PRAYERS

Quote/s of the Day – 16 November – St Gertrude the Great

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 November – St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302) Virgin – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

Daily Offering to the Father
By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302) (Attrib)

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the most precious blood
of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,
in union with the Masses said
throughout the world today,
for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the universal Church,
for those in my own home,
and in my family.
Amen

“I praise, adore, bless and thank Thee,
to the best of my ability,
for Thy wise mercy
and Thy merciful wisdom!
For Thou, my Creator and my Redeemer,
have sought to curb my stiff-necked obstinacy
under Thy sweet yoke
with the remedy
best suited to my infirmity.”

O Sacred Heart of Jesus
By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Fountain of eternal life,
Your Heart is a glowing Furnace of Love.
You are my Refuge and my Sanctuary.
O my adorable and loving Saviour,
consume my heart with the burning fire
with which Your Heart is enflamed.
Pour down on my soul those graces
which flow from Your love.
Let my heart be united with Your Heart.
Let my will be conformed to Your Will in all things.
May Your Will be the Rule of all my desires and actions.
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/16/quote-s-of-the-day-16-november-st-gertrude-the-great/

St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

Posted in CONSECRATION Prayers, GOD ALONE!, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PURITY, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, The HEART

Our Morning Offering – 16 November – O Heart of Jesus! By St Gertrude the Great

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Our Morning Offering – 16 November – St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302) Virgin, Benedictine Religious, Mystic, Theologian, Writer.

O Heart of Jesus!
By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

Sanctity of the Heart of Jesus,
consecrate my heart;
Providence of the Heart of Jesus,
watch over my heart;
Unchangeableness of the Heart of Jesus,
strengthen my heart;
Purity of the Heart of Jesus,
purify my heart;
Obedience of the Heart of Jesus,
subjugate my heart;
Amiability of the Heart of Jesus,
make Thyself known to my heart;
Divine attractions of the Heart of Jesus,
captivate my heart;
Riches of the Heart of Jesus,
do ye suffice for my heart;
Floods of grace and blessing
which flow from the Heart of Jesus,
inundate my heart.
O Heart of Jesus! be Thou my joy,
my peace, my repose in this world
and in the next.
O Heart of Jesus! adored in Heaven,
Invoked on earth, feared in hell,
Reign over all hearts,
Reign throughout all ages,
Reign forever in celestial glory.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HOLY NAME

Thought for the Day – 15 November – Conversation with God and with Men

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Thought for the Day – 15 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Conversation with God and with Men

“Do not speak too often with men but speak often with God.
We should always be in communication with God because, to converse with God, is to pray.
Jesus has told us that we ought always to pray (Lk 18:1).
We have a great need of intimacy with God, for if the life of grace does not flow within us, we become like arid branches and fall prey to temptations and to tepidity.
In order to remain close to God, we must pray constantly.
As St Paul says, “whatever you do, in word or in work, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through Him” (Col 3:17).
This is what the Saints did.
While their feet walked the earth, their minds were in Heaven.

We should imitate them by trying to cultivate the interior life which will keep us detached from the world and from sin and always close to God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/15/thought-for-the-day-15-november-conversation-with-god-and-with-men/

Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, CHRIST the LIGHT, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD is LOVE, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on STRENGTH, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VIRTUE, St JOSEPH, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 15 November – St Albert the Great

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Quote/s of the Day – 15 November – St Albert the Great OP (1200-1280) Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church

“It is by the path of love, which is charity,
that God draws near to man and man to God.
But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell.
If, then, we possess charity, we posses God,
for ‘God is Charity’ (1 John 4:8).”

“Banish, therefore, from thy heart,
the distractions of earth
and turn your eyes to spiritual joys
that you may learn at last,
to repose in the light
of the contemplation of God.”

“Saint Joseph was the just man:
by his constant fidelity -an effect of justice;
by his perfect discretion – a sister to prudence;
by his upright conduct – a mark of strength
and by his inviolable chastity – a flower of temperance.”

St Albert the Great (1200-1280)
Doctor of the Church

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/15/quote-s-of-the-day-15-november-st-albert-the-great/

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, JESUIT SJ, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DOUBT, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PRIESTS, the PRIESTHOOD and CONSECRATED LIFE, Quotes on SALVATION, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 November – St Albert the Great – ‘… Such should be the shepherd in the Church … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 15 November – St Albert the Great OP (1200-1280) Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church – 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Matthew 5:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“You are the light of the world.” – Matthew 5:14

REFLECTION – “I shall always love and reverence the Apostles sent by Christ and their successors, in sowing the seed of the Gospel, those zealous and tireless co-operators in propagating the Word, who may justly say of themselves: Let a man so account of us as the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. For Christ, like a most watchful and most faithful householder, wished that the Gospel lamp should be lighted by such ministers and delegates, with fire sent down from Heaven and once lighted, should not be put under a measure but set upon a candlestick, so that it may spread its brightness far and wide and put to flight, all darkness and error, rife among both Jews and Gentiles.

Now it is not enough for the Gospel teacher to be a brilliant speaker in the eyes of the people; he must also be as a voice crying in the desert and endeavour, by his eloquence, to help many to lead good lives, lest, if he omit his duty of speaking, he be called the dumb dog that is not able to bark, spoken of by the prophet. Yes, he should also burn, in such a way, that, equipped with good works and love, he may adorn his evangelical office and follow the leadership of Paul. He indeed was not satisfied with bidding the Bishop of the Ephesians: This command and teach: conduct thyself in work as a good soldier of Christ Jesus but he unflaggingly preached the Gospel to friend and foe alike and, said with a good conscience to the Bishops gathered at Ephesus: You know how I have kept back nothing that was for your good but have declared it to you and taught you in public and from house to house, urging Jews and Gentiles to turn to God in repentance and to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Such should be the shepherd in the Church who, like Paul, becomes all things to all men, so that the sick may find healing in him; the sad, joy; the desperate, hope; the ignorant, instruction; those in doubt, advice; the penitent, forgiveness and comfort and finally, everyone, whatever is necessary for salvation. And so Christ, when He wished to appoint the chief teachers of the world and of the Church, did not limit Himself to saying to His disciples: You are the light of the world but also added these words: A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a measure but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all who are in the house. Those churchmen err, who imagine that it is by brilliant preaching, rather than by holiness of and all-embracing love, they fulfil their office.” – St Peter Canisius SJ (1521-1597) Doctor of the Church (Sermon excerpt).

PRAYER – O God, Who made blessed Albert, ThyBishop and Doctor, eminent in the submission of human wisdom to divine faith, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to follow the path of his teaching that we may enjoy perfect light in Heaven.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, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, The GOOD SHEPHERD

Our Morning Offering – 15 November – Guide Me Lord by St Albert the Great

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Our Morning Offering – 15 November – St Albert the Great (1200-1280) Bishop, Confessor, 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

Posted in "Follow Me", LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MODESTY, QUOTES on MORALS, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Thought for the Day – 14 November – Good Example

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Thought for the Day – 14 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Good Example

“The Holy Spirit tells us that God entrusts to everyone, the care of his neighbour (Ecclus 17:12).
“Let your light shine before men,” says Jesus Christ, “in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven” (Mt 5:16).
St Paul echoes this counsel, when he warns us not to return evil for evil but to “provide good things, not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of all men” (Cf Rom 12:17).
In other words, we are obliged to edify our neighbour by our good example.

Good example is the most effective sermon and it is a sermon which all of us can and should deliver.
We ought to preach this sermon everywhere and at all times – in the Church and outside it, in our family circle and in society, with our superiors, equals and inferiors, when we are speaking and when we are silent, in our behaviour and in our appearance!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/14/thought-for-the-day-14-november-good-example/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 14 November – Our Beloved Good Shepherd

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Quote/s of the Day – 14 November – St Josaphat Kuncewicz OSBM (1584-1623) Confessor, Archbishop, Martyr – Hebrews
5:1-6, John 10:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“I Am the Good Shepherd
and I know mine
and mine know me.”

John 10:14

“Those who are my sheep
hear my voice
and follow me”

John 10:27

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

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

“The mark of Christ’s sheep
is their willingness to hear and obey,
just as disobedience
is the mark of those who are not His.
We take the word ‘hear’
to imply obedience
to what has been said.”

St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“With good reason Christ declares:
I am the Good Shepherd,
I seek out the lost sheep,
the strayed I will bring back,
the injured I will bind up,
the sick I will heal (Ez 34:16).
I have seen the flock of mankind
struck down by sickness;
I have witnessed my lambs
wander about where demons dwell;
I have seen my flock ravaged by wolves.
All this I have seen
and have not witnessed it from on high.
That is why I took hold of the withered hand,
gripped by pain, as if by a wolf;
I have unbound those whom fever had bound;
I taught him to see,
whose eyes had been shut from his mother’s womb;
I brought Lazarus out from the tomb
where he had lain for four days (Mk 3:5; 1:31; Jn 9; 11).
For I am the Good Shepherd
and the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.”

Basil of Seleucia (Died 448)
Bishop of Seleucia, Writer
Oratio 26

O Lord, Show Thy Mercy to Me
By St Jerome (347-419)
Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

O Lord, show Thy mercy to me
and gladden my heart.
I am like the man
on the way to Jericho,
who was overtaken by robbers,
wounded and left for dead.
O Good Samaritan,
come to my aid.
I am like the sheep which went astray.
O Good Shepherd,
seek me out and bring me home,
in accord with Thy will.
Let me dwell in Thy house
all the days of my life
and praise Thee,
forever and ever
with those who are there.
Amen.

“No matter how grave
and how numerous our sins may be,
let us remember that the Mercy of God is Infinite.
Let us remember that He is waiting for us,
as his father waited for the prodigal son and,
that He is following us like a shepherd
who is searching for his lost sheep.
He allowed us to fall,
in order to humble us
and help us to realise
that we are incapable
of doing anything good by ourselves.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, SAINT of the DAY, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 November – Do you listen attentively to the Voice of the Good Shepherd and obey His Word?

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One Minute Reflection – 14 November – St Josaphat Kuncewicz OSBM (1584-1623) Confessor, Archbishop, Martyr – Hebrews 5:1-6, John 10:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“I am the good shepherd and I know My Own and My Own know Me.”- John 10:14

REFLECTION – “He shows in what manner a shepherd may be proved good and, He teaches that, he must be prepared to give up his life, fighting in defence of his sheep, which was fulfilled in Christ. For man has departed from the love of God and fallen into sin and because of this was, I say, excluded from the divine abode of paradise. And when he was weakened by that disaster, he yielded to the devil tempting him to sin and death, following that sin, he became the prey of fierce and ravenous wolves. But after Christ was announced as the True Shepherd of all men, He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16), fighting for us against that pack of inhuman beasts. He bore the Cross for us that by His own death, He might destroy death. He was condemned for us that He might deliver all of us, from the sentence of punishment: the tyranny of sin being overthrown by our faith: fastening to the Cross, the decree that stood against us, as it is written (Colossians 2:14).

Therefore, as the father of sin had, as it were, shut up the sheep in hell, giving them to death to feed on, as it is written in the Psalms (Ps. Xlviii.16), He died for us, as truly Good and truly our Shepherd, so that the dark shadow of death is driven away, He might join us to the company of the blessed in Heaven and, in exchange for abodes, which lie far in the depths of the pit … grants us mansions in His Father’s House above. Because of this, He says to us in another place: Fear not, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you a Kingdom (Luke 12:32). Do you listen attentively to the Voice of the Good Shepherd and obey His Word? – ” – St Cyril of Alexander (376-444) Known as “The Pillar of Faith” Archbishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor of the Church. (Commentary on the Good Shepherd).

PRAYER – Arouse in Thy Church, O Lord, the spirit with which blessed Josaphat, Thy Martyr and Bishop, was filled, when he laid down his life for his flock; so that, by his intercession, we, also moved and strengthened by the same spirit, may not fear to lay down our lives for our brethren. 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 WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Holy Name PRAYERS, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 14 November – Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee!

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Our Morning Offering – 14 November

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

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ Name,
The Saviour of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find?
Ah! this nor tongue, nor pen, can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shall be;
In Thee be all our glory now
And through eternity.
Amen

Posted in QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION

Thought for the Day – 13 November – Almsgiving and Simplicity

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Thought for the Day – 13 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Almsgiving and Simplicity

“There are others who give generously but are anxious to make a good appearance before their fellowmen.
It is of these that it has been written “they have received their reward.” (Mt 6:2).

We should give with holy simplicity in the manner indicated in the Gospel.
“When thou givest alms, do not let thy left hand know what thy right hand is doing.” (Mt 6:3).
Such unostentation generosity, is more pleasing to the poor than the gift itself.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/13/thought-for-the-day-13-november-almsgiving-and-simplicity/

Posted in JESUIT SJ, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on The SOUL, SAINT of the DAY, The LAST THINGS

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

“Consider how difficult it is,
for a person to be separated from any place,
he has loved deeply.
How much more difficult,
the soul will find it
when the time comes to leave the mortal body,
its companion so dear.
And the great fear it will experience
in that moment because its salvation
is at stake and it must stand
in the presence of the One it has so offended.
If the just man will scarcely be saved,
what about me a sinner?”

“What have I done for Christ?
What am I doing for Christ?
What ought I do for Christ?”

St Stanislaus Kostka SJ (1550-1568)

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The LAST THINGS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 November – ‘ … But every man is afraid of the death of the flesh; few, of the death of the soul! …

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One Minute Reflection – 13 November – The Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost – St Didacus de Alcalá de Henares) OFM (c 1400-1463) Confessor and the Feast of All Saints of the Augustinian Order – Philippians 3:17-21; 4:1-3, Matthew 9:18-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

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

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

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

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

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who in Thy wondrous providence, choose the weak things of the world to overcome the strong, mercifully grant unto us Thy humble servants that, by the loving prayers of blessed Didacus, Thy Confessor, we may be found worthy to be raised unto the everlasting glory of Heaven. 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 "Follow Me", CONFESSION/PENANCE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY

Thought for the Day – 12 November – Daily Progress

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Thought for the Day – 12 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Daily Progress

“There are two ways in which we should make constant daily progress.
The first is in the removal of our defects and imperfections.
As The Imitation of Christ insists, we should soon become holy, if we were to conquer, at least, one sin every year.

It is opportune, at this stage, to ask ourselves, how many years we have already spent on earth?
During these years, how many personal defects can we claim to have remedied?
Perhaps there was a time when we were better than we are now?
If we have wasted time and have abused our Creator’s gifts and favours, we should humble ourselves and do penance before God.

Finally, we should resolve and do our best, to remedy at least one defect everyday.
We should select, first of all, whatever imperfection we know to be the most dangerous.
This will be difficult and even heroic work but, it is very necessary.
We must work on our own character as a sculptor works on a block of marble, hammering, cutting and chiselling patiently and perseveringly.
With the help of God, we shall be successful.
Even as the Saints succeeded, so we shall succeed, if we depend on God’s grace and make the necessary sacrifices.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/12/thought-for-the-day-12-november-daily-progress/\z

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CARMELITES, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Quote/s of the Day – 12 November – Faith

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Quote/s of the Day – 12 November – St Martin I, Pope (598-655) Martyr – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona
because flesh and blood
hath not revealed it to thee
but My Father Who is in Heaven.”

Matthew 16:17

“If I only touch his garment,
I will be made well.”
Jesus turned and seeing her he said,
“Take heart, daughter,
your faith has made you well.”
And instantly the woman was made well.”

Matthew 9:21-22

“But whom do you say that I Am?”

Luke 9:20

“Our pilgrimage on earth
cannot be exempt from trial.
We progress by means of trial.
No-one knows himself except through trial,
or receives a crown,
except after victory,
or strives,
except against an enemy or temptations.”

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

“What determines that the gifts of God
dwells in us,
is the measure of each one’s faith.
Because it is to the extent that we believe,
that the enthusiasm to act is given us.
And so those who act,
reveal the measure of their faith
proportionate to their action,
they receive their measure of grace
according to what they have believed. …”

St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662)
Monk and Theologian

“All our goodness is a loan;
God is the owner;
God works
and His work is God.”

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

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES on FAITH, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 November – Faith in Me … requires a noble sort of soul

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One Minute Reflection – 12 November – St Martin I, Pope (598-655) Martyr – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee but My Father Who is in Heaven.” – Matthew 16:17

REFLECTION – “Faith in Me, He intimates here, is no ordinary thing or one that comes from human reason but [it] needs a revelation from above. And this He establishes throughout His discourses, showing, that this faith requires a noble sort of soul and one drawn on by God. The expression “that the Father gives Me” shows, that it is no accident whether a person believes or not. It shows, that belief is not the work of human reasoning but requires a revelation from on high and a mind devout enough to receive the revelation. “Whoever then,” our Lord says, “comes to Me, shall be saved,” meaning, they shall be greatly cared for. For to save such as these, I took up flesh and the form of a servant.” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Archbishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on the Gospel of John 45)”

PRAYER – Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercession of blessed Martin Thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, whom thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ANGER

Thought for the Day – 11 November – Sensitiveness

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

Sensitiveness

“Our wounded feelings sometimes give rise to an external explosion in the form of bitter and offensive remarks.
These always create disharmony and have various unfortunate after-effects.

It is fatal to lose control over ourselves.
A man who has surrendered to anger and resentment, does not weigh his words and is not responsible for his actions.
When the fit has passed, he is left with a sense of humiliation because of his lack of moderation and must suffer the consequences, both before God and before his fellowmen in his domestic and social enviroment.
“When the angry man has calmed down,” Seneca truly observed, “he is angry with himself.”
“Let anger be foreign to us,” said Cicero, “for an angry man is incapable of acting correctly, or prudently. Anything which is done, in a state of agitation, cannot be done properly, nor can it meet with the approval of the bystanders” (De Officiis I, 38).

Let us meditate also on these apt quotations from Sacred Scripture.
“A mild answer calms wrath but a harsh word, stirs up anger” (Prov 15:1).
“An ill-tempered man, stirs up strife but a patient man allays discord” (Prov 15:18).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/11/thought-for-the-day-11-november-sensitiveness/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, INDULGENCES, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The HOLY SOULS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 11 November – ‘He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 11 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – St Martin of Tours (c 316-397) Bishop, Confessor – Sirach 44:16-27; 45:3-20, Luke 11:33-36 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“No man lights a candle
and puts it in a hidden place,
nor under a bushel but upon a candlestick,
that they who come in, may see the light.”

Luke 11:33

“Light came into the world”

John 3:19

“This is the meaning of the new creation
(Gal 6,15; Rv 21,1)
for the Sun of Righteousness (Mal 3,20),
pursuing His course through the universe,
visits all alike, in imitation of His Father,
“who makes his sun rise upon all” (Mt 5,45)
and bedews everyone with His truth…
He, it is, Who has changed sunset into dawn
and death into life by His Crucifixion,
He, it is, Who has snatched the human race
from perdition and exalted it to the skies.
Transplanting what was corruptible,
to make it incorruptible,
He has transformed earth into Heaven!…”

St Clement of Alexandria (150- 215)
Theologian, Father of the Church

“He wants you to become
a living force for all mankind,
lights shining in the world.
You are to be radiant lights
as you stand beside Christ,
the Great Light,
bathed in the glory of Him
who is the Light of Heaven.”

St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“Start being brave about everything!
Drive out darkness and spread light.
Do not look at your weaknesses.
Realise instead, that in Christ Crucified,
you can do all things.”

St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Doctor of the Church

DIVINE Heart of JESUS, convert sinners,
save the dying, set free the holy souls in Purgatory.
Indulgence 300 Days Everytime –
St Pius X, 11 September, 1907

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on TRUTH, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 11 November – No man lights a candle and puts it in a hidden place, nor under a bushel … Luke 11:33

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One Minute Reflection – 11 November – St Martin of Tours (c 316-397) “Martin the Merciful,” Bishop, Confessor, Miracle-Worker. – Sirach 44:16-27; 45:3-20, Luke 11:33-36 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: No man lights a candle and puts it in a hidden place, nor under a bushel but upon a candlestick, that they who come in, may see the light.” – Luke 11:33

REFLECTION – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp only to put it under a bushel basket; they put it on a stand where it gives light to all in the house. The Lord called His disciples, the salt of the earth because they seasoned ,with heavenly wisdom, the hearts of men, rendered insipid by the devil. Now he calls them, the light of the world as well because they have been enlightened by Him, the True and Everlasting Light and have themselves become a light in the darkness.

Since He is the Sun of Justice, he fittingly calls His disciples, the light of the world. The reason for this, is that through them, as through shining rays, He has poured out the light of the knowledge of Himself, upon the entire world. For by manifesting the Light of Truth, they have dispelled the darkness of error from the hearts of men.

Moreover, we too have been enlightened by them. We have been made light out of darkness, as the Apostle says: For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light. He says another time: For you are not sons of the night and of darkness but you are all sons of light and of the day.

Saint John also rightly asserts, in his letter: God is Light and whoever abides in God, is in the Light, just as God Himself is in the Light. Therefore, because we rejoice in having been freed from the darkness of error, we should always walk in the Light as children of Light. This is why the Apostle says: Among them you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the Word of Life.

If we fail to live in the Light, we shall, to our condemnation and that of others, be veiling over and obscuring, by our infidelity, the Light men so desperately need. As we know from Scripture, the man who received the talent should have made it produce a heavenly profit but instead, he preferred to hide it away rather than put it to work and was punished as he deserved.

Consequently, that brilliant Lamp which was lit for the sake of our salvation should always shine in us. For we have the lamp of the heavenly commandments and spiritual grace, to which David referred: Your law is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Solomon also says this about it: For the command of the law is a lamp.

Therefore, we must not hide this Lamp of law and faith. Rather, we must set it up in the Church, as on a lampstand, for the salvation of many, so that we may enjoy the Light of Truth itself and all believers, may be enlightened.” – St Chromatius of Aquileia (Died c 407) Bishop of Aquileia, Theologian, Exegete, Writer and friend of Saints Ambrose and Jerome, Father of the Church (Excerpt from A treatise on the Gospel of Saint Matthew).

PRAYER – O God, Who sees that we cannot survive by any power of our own, mercifully grant that, by the intercession of blessed Martin, Thy Confessor and Bishop, we may be made safe from all harm. 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).