Our Morning Offering – 17 July – The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost – The Humility of Mary
Make Me Like Yourself, Mary My Mother By St Louis-Marie de Montfort (1673-1716)
My powerful Queen, you are all mine, through your mercy and I am all yours. Take away from me, all that may displease God and cultivate in me, all that is pleasing to Him. May the light of your faith, dispel the darkness of my mind, your deep humility, take the place of my pride, your continual sight of God, fill my memory, with His Presence. May the love of your heart inflame the lukewarmness, of mine. May your virtues, take the place of my sins. May your merits, be my enrichment and make up for all which is wanting in me, before God. My beloved Mother, grant that I may have, no other spirit but your spirit, to know Jesus Christ and His Divine Will and to praise and glorify the Lord, that I may love God, with burning love like yours. Amen
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor of the Church The Humility of Mary Excerpt from: “The Glories of Mary”
“Humility” says St. Bernard, “is the foundation and guardian of virtues” and with reason, for without it, no other virtue can exist in a soul. Should she possess all virtues, all will depart when humility is gone. But, on the other hand, as St Francis de Sales wrote to St Jane Frances de Chantal, “God so loves humility, that whenever He sees it, He is immediately drawn there.” This beautiful and so necessary virtue, was unknown in the world but the Son of God Himself came upon the earth, to teach it by His Own example and willed that in that virtue, in particular, we should endeavour to imitate Him – “Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”
Mary, being the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus Christ, in the practice of all virtues, was the first also in that of humility and by it, merited to be exalted above all creatures. It was revealed to St. Matilda that the first virtue in which the Blessed Mother particularly exercised herself, from her very childhood, was that of humility.
The first effect of humility of heart is a lowly opinion of ourselves: – “Mary had always so humble an opinion of herself, that,” as it was revealed to the same St Matilda, “although she saw herself enriched with greater graces, than all other creatures, she never preferred herself to anyone.” The Abbot Rupert, explaining the passage of the Sacred Canticles, Thou hast wounded my heart, my sister, my spouse, …with one hair of thy neck, [Cant. 4:9] says, that the humble opinion, which Mary had of herself, was precisely that hair of the Spouse’s neck, with which she wounded the heart of God.” Not indeed that Mary considered herself a sinner: for humility is truth, as St Teresa remarks and Mary knew that she had never offended God: nor was it that she did not acknowledge that she had received greater graces from God, than all other creatures; for a humble heart always acknowledges the special favours of the Lord, to humble herself the more but the Divine Mother, by the greater light wherewith she knew the infinite greatness and goodness of God, also knew, her own nothingness and, therefore, more than all others, humbled herself, saying with the Sacred Spouse – Do not consider that I am brown, because the sun hath altered my colour. [Cant. 1:5] That is, as St Bernard explains it, “When I approach Him, I find myself black.” “
Yes,” says St Bernardine, for “the Blessed Virgin had always the majesty of God and her own nothingness, present to her mind.” As a beggar, when clothed with a rich garment, which has been bestowed upon her, does not pride herself on it, in the presence of the giver but is rather humbled, being reminded thereby, of her own poverty, so also, the more Mary saw herself enriched, the more did she humble herself, remembering that all was God’s gift; whence she herself told St Elizabeth of Hungary, that “she might rest assured that she looked upon herself, as most vile and unworthy of God’s grace.” Therefore, St Bernardine says, that “after the Son of God, no creature in the world was so exalted as Mary because, no creature in the world ever humbled itself, as much as she did.”
Moreover, it is an act of humility to conceal heavenly gifts. Mary wished to conceal from St Joseph, the great favour whereby she had become the Mother of God, although it seemed necessary to make it known to him, if only to remove from the mind of her poor spouse, any suspicions as to her virtue, which he might have entertained on seeing her pregnant: or, at least the perplexity, in which it indeed threw him: for St. Joseph,, on the one hand, unwilling to doubt Mary’s chastity and on the other, ignorant of the Mystery, was minded to put her away privately. [Matt. 1:19] This he would have done, had not the Angel revealed to him that his Spouse was pregnant by the operation of the Holy Ghost.
Again, a soul that is truly humble refuses her own praise and should praises be bestowed on her, she refers them all to God. Behold, Mary is disturbed at hearing herself praised by St Gabriel and when St Elizabeth said, Blessed art thou among women … and whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? … blessed art thou that hast believed, [ Luke 1:42] Mary referred all to God, and answered in that humble Canticle, My soul doth magnify the Lord, [Ibid., 46-47] as if she had said: “Thou dost praise me, Elizabeth but I praise the Lord, to Whom alone honour is due, thou wonders that I should come to thee and I wonder at the Divine Goodness in which alone my spirit exults” and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.Thou praisest me because I have believed; I praise my God because He hath been pleased to exalt my nothingness: because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid. Hence Mary said to St Bridget: “I humbled myself so much and thereby, merited so great a grace because I though, and knew, that of myself I possessed nothing. For this same reason I did not desire to be praised, I only desired that praises should be given to the Creator and Giver of all.” Wherefore, an ancient author, speaking of the humility of Mary, says: “O truly blessed humility, which hath given God to men, opened Heaven and delivered souls from Hell.“
It is also a part of humility to serve others. Mary did not refuse to go and serve Elizabeth for three months. Hence St Bernard says, “Elizabeth wondered that Mary should have come to visit her but that which is still more admirable, is that she came, not to be ministered to but to minister.”
Those who are humble are retiring and choose the last places and, therefore, Mary, remarks St Bernard, when her Son was preaching in a house, as it is related by St Matthew, [12:46], wishing to speak to Him, would not, of her own accord, enter but “remained outside and did not avail herself of her maternal authority to interrupt Him.” For the same reason, when she was with the Apostles awaiting the coming of the Holy Ghost, she took the lowest place, as St Luke relates, All these were persevering with one mind in prayer, with the women, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus. [Acts 1:14] Not that St Luke was ignorant of the Divine Mother’s merits, on account of which, he should have named her in the first place but because she had taken the last place amongst the Apostles and women and, therefore, he described them all, as an author remarks, in the order in which they were. Hence St. Bernard says, “Justly has the last become the first, who being the first of all became the last.”
In fine, those who are humble, love to be contemned, therefore, we do not read that Mary showed herself in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, when her Son was received by the people with so much honour but, on the other hand, at the Death of her Son, she did not shrink from appearing on Calvary, through fear of the dishonour which would accrue to her, when it was known that she was the Mother of Him Who was condemned to die an infamous death, as a criminal. Therefore, she said to St Bridget, “What is more humbling than to be called a fool, to be in want of all things and to believe one’s self, the most unworthy of all? Such, O daughter, was my humility, this was my joy, this was all my desire, with which I thought how to please my Son alone.”
The Venerable Sister Paula of Foligno was given to understand, in an ecstasy, how great was the humility of our Blessed Lady and giving an account of it to her Confessor, she was so filled with astonishment at its greatness that she could only exclaim, “O, the humility of the Blessed Virgin! O, Father, the humility of the Blessed Virgin, how great was the humility of the Blessed Virgin! In the world there is no such thing as humility, not even in its lowest degree, when you see the humility of Mary.” On another occasion our Lord showed St Bridget two ladies. The one was all pomp and vanity. “She,” He said, “is Pride but the other one, whom you see with her head bent down, courteous towards all, having God alone in her mind and considering herself as no -ne, is Humility: her name is Mary.” Hereby God was pleased to make known to us that the humility of His Blessed Mother, was such that she was humility itself.
Then, O my Queen, I can never be really thy child, unless I am humble but dost thou not see that my sins, after having rendered me ungrateful to my Lord, have also made me proud? O my Mother, do thou supply a remedy. By the merit of thy humilit, obtain that I may be truly humble and thus become thy child, Amen.
Thought for the Day – 16 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Accepting the Will of God
“Let us pray fervently to God for spiritual peace. Let us surrender ourselves to His Will and accept everything from His Hands, remembering that everything, joy and sorrow, sickness and health, temptation and spiritual consolation, should form a mystical ladder which will gradually bring us nearer to Heaven and finally unite us to God for evermore. Everything passes but God is unchangeable.
Sufferings have to end but the merits we gain remain, if we have offered our afflictions to God. Let us surrender ourselves completely into the hands of God, Who in His goodness, gives us some happiness on earth for our consolation and causes us to suffer, so that we may be purified and made holy.”
Quote/s of the Day – 16 July – Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Ecclesiasticu, Sirach 24:23-31, Luke 11:27-28
“Blessed is the womb that bore You …”
Luke 11:27
“That anyone could doubt the right of the holy Virgin to be called the Mother of God, fills me with astonishment. Surely she must be the Mother of God, if our Lord Jesus Christ is God and she gave birth to Him!?”
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God By St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Father & Doctor of the Church
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, Virgin and Mother! Morning Star, perfect vessel. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, Holy Temple in which God Himself was conceived. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, Chaste and pure dove. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, who enclosed the One Who cannot be encompassed in your sacred womb. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, From you flowed the true light, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, Through you the Conqueror and triumphant Vanquisher of hell, came to us. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, Through you, the glory of the Resurrection blossoms. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, You have saved every faithful Christian. Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen
St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
“Wherefore, in the same holy bosom of His most chaste Mother, Christ took to Himself flesh and united to Himself, the spiritual Body formed by those who were to believe in Him. Hence Mary, carrying the Saviour within her, may be said, to have also carried, all those. whose life was contained in the life of the Saviour. Therefore, all we who are united to Christ and, as the Apostle says, are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones (Eph 5:30), have issued from the womb of Mary, like a body united to it’s head.”
One Minute Reflection – 16 July – Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Ecclesiasticu, Sirach 24:23-31, Luke 11:27-28
“Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” – Luke 11:28
REFLECTION – “If you say, “Show me your God,” I will say to you, “Show me what kind of person you are and I will show you my God.” Show me then whether the eyes of your mind, can see and the ears of your heart, hear.
It is like this. Those who can see with the eyes of their bodies, are aware of what is happening in this life on earth. They get to know things that are different from each other. They distinguish light and darkness, black and white, ugliness and beauty, elegance and inelegance, proportion and lack of proportion, excess and defect. The same is true of the sounds we hear: high or low or pleasant. So it is with the ears of our heart and the eyes of our mind, in their capacity to hear or see God.
God is seen by those who have the capacity to see Him, provided that they keep the eyes of their mind open. All have eyes but some have eyes that are shrouded in darkness, unable to see the Light of the Sun. Because the blind cannot see it, it does not follow that the sun does not shine. The blind must trace the cause back to themselves and their eyes . In the same way, you have eyes in your mind that are shrouded in darkness because of your sins and evil deeds. …
But if you will, you can be healed. Hand yourself over to the Doctor, and He will open the eyes and ears of your mind and heart. Who is to be the Doctor? It is God, Who heals and gives life through His Word and Wisdom. … ” – St Theophilus of Antioch (Died c 185) Bishop of Antioch, Confessor, Apologist, Father (An excerpt from: A Book addressed to Autolycus).
PRAYER – O God, Who honoured the Order of Carmel with the special title of the most blessed Mary, ever Virgin, Thy Mother, graciously grant, that we, who this day honour her commemoration with solemn rites, defended by her care, may be found worthy to attain everlasting happiness.Through the same Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 16 July – Our Lady of Mount Carmel “Mary’s Day”
“The Flos Carmeli The Flower of Carmel” By St Simon Stock (1165-1265)
O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein that thou art my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart, to succour me in this my necessity. There are none that can withstand thy power. O show me herein, that thou art my Mother. Amen.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for those who have recourse to thee. (Repeat three times)
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in thy hands. (Repeat three times)
This prayer, the “Flos Carmeli” (“The Flower of Carmel”), was composed by St Simon Stock (1165-1265), a Carmelite, so-called because he and other members of his order lived atop Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. St Simon Stock was visited by the Blessed Virgin Mary on 16 July 1251, at which time, she bestowed upon him a scapular, or habit, (commonly called “the Brown Scapular”), which became part of the liturgical clothing of the Carmelite order Oral tradition tells of St Simon Stock praying, with a passionate intensity to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, during a time of great distress and hardship for the Order. With fervour and faith, he prayed his prayer, the Flos Carmeli for the first time. And Our Lady answered his prayer. Thus, for seven centuries the Flos Carmeli continues to be prayed to the Blessed Mother with the firm faith that she she will answer its request with her powerful help.
Thought for the Day – 15 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Voice of God
“Be not silent Lord, be not far from me” (Ps 34:22).
It is never really God Who is silent. He is forever appealing to us to lead good lives. He is never really far from us but is always ready to bestow His gifts on us. Even when we have sinned, we hear His Voice prompting us to thoughts of remorse. Even when we stray away from Him, He follows and asks us to return to Him. It is we, who must ensure that the noise of the world, will not prevent us from hearing His Fatherly appeal and that sinful temptations will not destroy His influence over us.
Let us continually implore His graces because we are always in need of them. Let us use them well, so that they will enable us to gain everlasting life.”
Quote/s of the Day– 15 July – The Memorial of Saint Henry II (972-1024) Confessor, Holy Roman Emperor and Emperor of Germany – Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11, Luke 12:35-40
“Blessed are those servants whom the Master, on His return, shall find watching.”
Luke 12:37
“Be vigilant at all times and pray, that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man…”
Luke 21:36
“Watch” over your life. … 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.”
Unknown 1st Century Author of this early Treatise (Didache, 16)
“Give me grace, to amend my life and to have an eye to mine end, without grudge of death, which, to them, who die in You, good Lord, is the gate of a wealthy life.”
One Minute Reflection –15 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” and the Memorial of Saint Henry II (972-1024) Confessor, Holy Roman Emperor and Emperor of Germany – Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11, Luke 12:35-40
“Blessed are those servants whom the Master, on His return, shall find watching.” – Luke 12:37
REFLECTION – “Wishing to emphasize the special office of the servants, whom He has placed in charge of His people, the Lord says, ‘Who, do you think, is the faithful and wise steward, whom the Lord sets over His household, to give to them their measure of wheat at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his Master will find so doing when he comes.” Who is that Master, brethren? Without a doubt, it is Christ, Who says to His disciples: “You call me Teacher and Lord and you are right, for so I am” (Jn 13,13). What, too, is the Master’s Household? Doubtless it is the one which the Lord Himself ransomed… This Sacred Household is the Holy, Catholic Church, which is spread through the whole earth with abundant fertility and glories in the fact, that she has been redeemed by the Precious Blood of her Master. As He Himself says: “The Son of Man came, not to be served but to serve and to give His Life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10,45).
He is, too, the Good Shepherd ”Who laid down His Life for His sheep” (Jn 10,11)…As to who the steward is, who ought to be faithful as well as wise, the Apostle Paul shows us, when, speaking of himself and his companions, he says: “This is how one should regard us, as the servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they should be found trustworthy” (1Cor 4,1-2).
Now, lest anyone of us should think that it is only the Apostles who have been made stewards…, the blessed Apostle Paul shows us that the Bishops also are stewards, when he says: “For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless” (Tt 1,7)…We, therefore, who are the servants of the Master of the Household, we are the stewards of the Lord, we have received the measure of wheat to disburse to you.” – St Fulgentius of Ruspe (467-532) Bishop in North Africa (Homily 1, on the Lord’s servants) (trans. Breviary Common of Pastors)
PRAYER – O God, Who on this day took Henry, Your Confessor, to the everlasting Kingdom from the throne of an earthly empire; we humbly beseech Thee, that as Thou enabled him, protected by the abundance of Thy grace, to overcome the temptations of the world, so grant that we, in emulation of him, may shun the allurements of this world and come to Thee with pure hearts.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Thought for the Day – 14 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Enemies of the Soul
“It is Christian teaching that we have three enemies which are a constant threat to our salvation. The first, is the devil, an invisible but very powerful foe.
The devil was once an Angel of beauty. He had gifts superior to those of men and was in a state of happiness. But God required from him, a proof of his fidelity before he could merit the everlasting reward for which he had been destined.
Lucifer was proud of his beauty and power. Believing that he was equal to the Most High God, he rebelled against his Creator and drew with him, into eternal ruin, innumerable bands of disloyal Angels. Their sin was greater than ours because they had been endowed with a superior intellect and their will was not subject to the pull of the sensitive appetites of a material body. This is why God did not give them time to repent but condemned them immediately to the everlasting torments of Hell. It is false to imagine, however, that they are confined, as it were, in one place. Being pure spirit, they can, with God’s permission, wander throughout the world, carrying their hell within themselves. Moreover, they can endanger, in a thousand ways, our eternal salvation. The Gospel often speaks of diabolical temptations and obsessions and, St Peter warns us to be continually on our guard against the onslaughts of the enemy. “Be sober,” he says, “be watchful. For your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same suffering befalls your brethren all over the world” (1 Peter 5:8).
It is the same now as it was in the time of Jesus and His Apostles.
We do not see this infernal spirit but, we feel his presence. Let us remember what St Augustine wrote about him. “The devil,” he said, “is a mastiff in chains. He can bark but, he cannot bite, unless we yield to his evil suggestions and approach him. Watch and pray!””
Quote/s of the Day – 14 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” – The Memorial of St Bonaventure OFM (1221-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church (No images until later. We are being subjected to constant Power Cuts again – they can be up to 8 hours per day.)
“Since happiness is nothing else than the enjoyment of the Supreme Good and the Supreme Good is above us, no-one can enjoy happiness, unless he rises above himself.”
“As “pride, is the beginning of all sin,” (Eccl. 10:15) so humility, is the foundation of all virtue. Learn to be really humble and not, as the hypocrite, humble merely in appearance.”
One Minute Reflection – 14 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” – The Memorial of St Bonaventure OFM (1221-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church – 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Matthew 5:13-19
“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: Thus 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 gave to Thy people, blessed Bonaventure, as a minister of salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who cherished him on earth as a teacher of life, may be found worthy to have him as an intercessor in heaven. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Thought for the Day – 13 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Grace of God
“It is astonishing to consider how much St Paul accomplished when he had been transformed by the grace of God. Formerly, a persecutor of Christians, he became the Apostle of the Gentiles. Enlightened by faith and inspired by charity, he travelled the globe, spreading everywhere, the religion of Jesus Christ.
He feared neither the anger of the hostile Jews, nor the tribunals of the Roman judges, neither long and difficult journeys, nor scourging, shipwreck and imprisonment. “The love of Christ impels us,” (2 Cor 5:14) he said. It was the love of God which drove him on and on, until he met his martyrdom. But what about ourselves? We also have received grace from God. Often we hear His voice appealing to us to abandon our sinful ways, to practise virtue, to love Him more ardently and to prove our love, by deeds. If we co-operate, we shall be able to say with St Paul: “by the grace of God, I am what I am and his grace in me has not been fruitless,” (1 Cor 15:10) and “I have laboured … yet, not I but the grace of God with me” (ibid).
It is wise to recall, however, that Judas also received special graces from God. He did not correspond with them and was probably damned for eternity. If we fail to correspond with God’s graces, the result will be tragic for ourselves.”
Quote/s of the Day – 13 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” – The Memorial of St Anacletus (c25-c89) 3rd Bishop of Rome and Martyr
“There are also some among the heretics who … flatter themselves with claims of martyrdom … But not all ,who submit their bodies to suffering, even to flames, are to be considered as having as having shed their blood for their sheep; rather, they may have shed it against the salvation of their sheep, for the Apostle says: “If I should deliver my body to be burned and have not charity, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). And how can he have the faintest charity in him who, although shown to be at fault, yet has no love for that unity which the Lord chose to recommend? Indeed, so long as you remain outside the Church and severed from the fabric of unity and bond of charity, you will be punished with everlasting chastisement, even if you were burned alive for the sake of Christ
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Without the Cup of the Lord preserving the holy bond of love, even if a man should deliver his body to be burned, he gains nothing!”
St Fulgentus of Ruspe (c 462 – 533)
The prayer below, was written by Saint Thomas More while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, awaiting execution by King Henry VIII.
Give Me Thy Grace, Good Lord! A Prayer of Hope By St Thomas More (1478-1535)
Give me Thy grace, good Lord. To set the world at naught. To set the mind firmly on Thee and not to hang upon the words of men’s mouths. To be content to be solitary. Not to long for worldly pleasures. Little by little, utterly to cast off the world and rid my mind of all its business. Not to long to hear of earthly things but that the hearing of worldly fancies, may be displeasing to me. Gladly to be thinking of God, piteously to call for His help. To lean into the comfort of God. Busily to labour to love Him. To know mine own vileness and wretchedness. To humble myself under the mighty Hand of God. To bewail my sins past, for the purging of them, patiently to suffer adversity. Gladly to bear my purgatory here. To be joyful in tribulations. To walk the narrow way that leads to life. To bear the Cross with Christ. To have the last thing in remembrance. To have ever before mine eyes, my death that is ever at hand. To make death no stranger to me. To foresee and consider, the everlasting fire of Hell. To pray for pardon before the Judge come. To have continually in mind, the Passion that Christ suffered for me. For His benefits, unceasingly to give Him thanks. To buy the time again, that I before have lost. To abstain from vain conversations. To shun foolish mirth and gladness. To cut off unnecessary recreations. Of worldly substance, friends, liberty, life and all, to set the loss at naught, for the winning of Christ. To think my worst enemies, my best friends, for the brethren of Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favour, as they did him, with their malice and hatred. These minds are more to be desired of every man, than all the treasures of all the princes and kings, Christian and heathen, were it gathered and laid together, all in one heap. Amen
Our Morning Offering – 13 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” 1 Petet 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19
Prayer for the Gift of Prayer By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
O Incarnate Word, You have given Your Blood and Your Life to confer on our prayers that power by which, according to Your promise, they obtain for us, all that we ask. And we, O God, are so careless of our salvation, that we will not even ask You for the graces that we must have, if we should be saved! In prayer You have given us the key of all Your Divine treasures and we, rather than pray, choose to remain in our misery. Alas! O Lord, enlighten us, and make us know the value of prayers, offered in Your Name and by Your merits, in the eyes of Your Eternal Father. Amen
Thought for the Day – 12 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Good Odour of Christ
“What quality of attraction do I possess? My behaviour is the mirror of my spiritual life. If I love God and am detached from the world, especially from sin and, if I practise mortification and strive to advance in the way of Christian perfection, my personality, will influence others to do good. My good example, rather than my words, will have a spiritual appeal for others, so that I shall be a living sermon.
Words are heard but example attracts. It is a great misfortune for me, if my sins tepidity, or vices, are the true reflection of my spiritual state and lead others into evil ways too!”
Quote/s of the Day – 11 July – The Memorial of St John Gualbert (c 985-1073) Abbot – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6, Matthew 5:43-48
“But I say to you, love your enemies …”
Matthew 5:44
St John Gualbert said to his enemy, “I cannot refuse what you ask in Christ’s Name. I grant you your life and I give you my friendship. Pray that God may forgive me my sin.”
St John Gualbert (c 985-1073) “The Merciful Knight.”
“BE NOT troubled about those who are with you or against you but take care that God be with you in everything you do. Keep your conscience clear and God will protect you, for the malice of man cannot harm one whom God wishes to help. If you know how to suffer in silence, you will undoubtedly experience God’s help. He knows when and how to deliver you, therefore, place yourself in His hands, for it is a divine prerogative to help men and free them from all distress. … It is the humble man, whom God protects and liberates; it is the humble, whom He loves and consoles. To the humble, He turns and upon them bestows great grace, that after their humiliation, He may raise them up to glory.”
One Minute Reflection – 11 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” – The Memorial of St John Gualbert (c 985-1073) Abbot – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6, Matthew 5:43-48
“But I say to you, love your enemies” – Matthew 5:44
REFLECTION – “One of you will say: “I’m not able to love my enemies at all.” All through Holy Scripture God has said to you that you can and do you answer Him that, to the contrary, you cannot!? Now think about it – who are we to believe? God or you? Since He who is Truth itself cannot lie, let human weakness leave off its futile excuses forthwith! He who is just, cannot demand something impossible and He who is merciful, will not condemn someone for something that person could not avoid. So why these evasions then? There is no-one who knows better, what we are capable of, than He who has given us the ability. Such numbers of men, women, children, tender young girls, have borne flames, fire, sword and the wild beasts for Christ’s sake, without flinching and we, do we say that we cannot bear the insults of unintelligent persons?…
Indeed, if only the good are to be loved, what are we to say of the action of our God, of Whom it is written: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son?” (Jn 3,16). For what good deeds are they, that the world had done, for God to love it so? Christ our Lord, found us all to be, not only evil but even dead, on account of original sin and yet… “he loved us and handed himself over for us” (Eph 5,2). In so acting, He loved even those who did not love Him, as the Apostle Paul also says: “Christ died for the guilty” (Rm 5,6). And in His inexpressible mercy, He gave this example to all humankind, saying: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (Mt 11,29).” – St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop and Monk – Sermons to the people, no 37
PRAYER – May the intercession of the blessed Abbot John commend us to Thee, O Lord, so that through his merits we may obtain that which we cannot accomplish by our own. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Thought for the Day – 11 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
VANITY
“Vanity destroys whatever is good in our actions and makes them useless in the sight of God. It robs our good actions of all merit because they should be done only for the glory of God, whereas we are performing them for our own glory. We want them to be seen by others so that we shall be honoured by men as noble and holy.
If our actions have been motivated by self-interest, rather than by the desire for the glory of God, we shall hear, at the judgement seat of God the terrible condemnation: “You have received your reward” (Cf Mt 6:2).
If we have sought our own satisfaction instead of God’s glory during our lifetime, we shall not receive an everlasting reward!”
Quote/s of the Day – 11 July – The Memorial of St Pius I, Pope (Died c 154) Martyr – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19
“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
“Faith gives rise to prayer and this prayer obtains an increase of faith.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“My sheep follow me,” says Christ. By a certain God-given grace, believers follow in the footsteps of Christ. No longer subject to the shadows of the Law , they obey the commands of Christ, and guided by His words, rise through grace, to His own dignity, for they are called children of God. When Christ ascends into heaven, they also follow Him.”
St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Father & Doctor of the Church
“And like the little grain of mustard seed … we should set it in the garden of our soul, all weeds being pulled out for the better feeding of our faith. Then shall it grow and … through the true belief of God’s word … we shall be well able to command a great mountain of tribulation to void from the place where it stood in our hearts, whereas with a very feeble faith and faint, we shall scarcely be able to remove a little hillock.”
St Thomas More (1478-1535)
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 Ghost, 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 Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 11 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” – The Memorial of St Pius I, Pope (Died c 154) Martyr – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19
“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 Pius thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, whom Thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church.. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Thought for the Day – 10 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
A Ladder Ascending to God
“How often, nevertheless, is our mind led astray by the passing beauty of this world. How often is our heart engrossed in a search for a happiness, which is purely illusory. God has given us created things so that we may see in them, a reflection of His goodness and beauty and may use them as a ladder, which will lead us to Him. We shall be lost if we look back and fall beneath the false spell of this earthly fairyland. Our minds and hearts should look upwards towards Heaven.
God alone can satisfy the infinite desires of the soul. Let us never lose sight of Him. Everything else passes but God does not change. He will be our sure guide in this life and our everlasting happiness in the next.”
Quote/s of the Day – 10 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and the Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood
“Many indeed are the wondrous happenings of that time: God hanging from a Cross, the sun made dark and again flaming out; for it was fitting, that creation should mourn with its Creator. The temple veil rent, Blood and Water flowing from His side – the one as from a Man, the other as from what was above man; the earth shaken, the rocks shattered because of the Rock; the dead risen to bear witness to the final and universal resurrection of the dead. The happenings at the sepulchre and after the sepulchre, who can fittingly recount them? Yet not one of them, can be compared, to the Miracle of my Salvation. A few drops of Blood renews the whole world and do, for all men, what the rennet does for the milk – joining us and binding us together!”
St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390) Father & Doctor of the Church
“The Word of the Cross Look on thy God, Christ hidden in our flesh. A bitter word, the Cross and bitter sight: Hard rind without, to hold the heart of Heaven. Yet sweet it is, for God upon that tree Did offer up His Life upon that rood My Life hung, that my Life might stand in God. Christ, what am I to give Thee for my life? Unless take from Thy Hands the cup they hold, To cleanse me with the precious draught of death. What shall I do? My body to be burned? Make myself vile? The debt’s not paid out yet. Whate’er I do, it is but I and Thou, And still do I come short, still must Thou pay My debts, O Christ, for debts Thyself hadst none. What love may balance Thine? My Lord was found In fashion like a slave, that so His slave Might find himself in fashion like his Lord. Think you the bargain’s hard, to have exchanged The transient for the eternal, to have sold Earth to buy Heaven? More dearly God bought me!
St Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431) Father of the Church
“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.”
St Theodore the Studite (759- 826) Monk at Constantinople, Father (Catecheses 1)
One Minute Reflection – 10 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and the Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood – Hebrews 9:11-15, John 19:30-35
“But one of the soldiers opened His side with a lance and immediately there came forth, Blood and water.” – John 19:34
REFLECTION – “Take thought now, redeemed man and consider how great and worthy is He, Who hangs on the Cross for you… Arise, then, beloved of Christ! Imitate the dove ‘that nests in a hole in the cliff’ (Jr 48:28), keeping watch at the entrance ‘like the sparrow that finds a home’(Ps 84:4). There, like the turtledove, hide your little ones, the fruit of your chaste love. Press your lips to the Fountain, draw water from the wells of your Saviour; for this is the spring flowing out of the middle of paradise, dividing into four rivers, inundating devout hearts, watering the whole earth and making it fertile.
Run with eager desire to this Source of Life and Light, all you who are vowed to God’s service. Come, whoever you maybe and cry out to Him, with all the strength of your heart. O indescribable Beauty of the most high God and purest Radiance of Eternal Light! Life that gives all life, Light that is the Source of every other light, preserving, in everlasting splendour, the myriad flames that have shone before the throne of Your Divinity from the dawn of time!
Eternal and inaccessible Fountain, clear and sweet stream, flowing from a hidden spring, unseen by mortal eye! None can fathom Your depths nor survey Your boundaries, none can measure Your breadth, nothing can sully Your purity. From You flows ‘the river which gladdens the city of God’ (Ps 46:5) and makes us cry out with joy and thanksgiving, in hymns of praise to You, for we know, by our own experience, that ‘with You is the Source of Life and in Your Light we see light’ (Ps 36:10).” – St Bonaventure (1221-1274) Doctor of the Church (The Tree of Life, 29-30, 47, – Breviary)
PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who made Thy Only Begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be reconciled by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to worship in this Sacred rite the price of our salvation and to be so protected by its power against the evils of the present life on earth, that we may enjoy its everlasting fruit in Heaven. 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). Aspiration:Precious Blood, ocean of Divine Mercy, Flow upon us.
Thought for the Day – 9 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Falling into Sin
“The second extreme to be avoided is discouragement, which can lead us to despair, as Judas did. We know that God is entirely good and merciful. We know that Jesus died on the Cross for our salvation. How can we doubt that He will welcome us if we repent and return to Him?
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.
Let us go to Him humbly and penitently, trusting He will give us the kiss of peace and forgiveness.”
One Minute Reflection – 9 July – Our Holy Mother’s Saturday and the Feast of Our Lady Queen of Peace – Ecclesiasticus 24:14-16, Luke 11:27-28
“While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.’” – Luke 11:27
REFLECTION – “Mary was more blessed in accepting the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. To someone who said, “Blessed is the womb that bore you,” he replied, “Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.”
Finally, for his brothers, his relatives according to the flesh who did not believe in Him, of what advantage was that relationship? Even her maternal relationship would have done Mary no good, unless she had borne Christ more happily in her heart, than in her flesh.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of Grace (Holy Virginity 3).
PRAYER – Grant us, Thy servants, O Lord God, we beseech Thee to enjoy lasting health of mind and body and, by the intercession of glorious and Blessed Mary, ever virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 9 July – Feast of Our Lady Queen of Peace
Most Gracious Mary, Queen of Peace Unknown Author
Most gracious Mary, Queen of Peace Embrace us with your love. May our desire sincerely be, To praise our God above.
Implore for us the Spirit’s gifts To follow in your way; Let wisdom and humility, Guide all we do and say.
In confidence we witness Christ, Whose Truth has set us free. May we pursue what leads to peace, For all humanity. Amen
The Author of this Marian Hymn is unknown. With common meter (ie 8.6.8.6) it is sung to the tune New Britain ie the same tune that is widely used for Amazing Grace.
Thought for the Day – 8 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Uncharitableness
“The tendency to complain about others, is a most insidious cancer which can corrode all that is good in our conversation, making it harmful and even gravely sinful. Grumbling is always, more or less sinful, according to the circumstances. It may be a sin against charity, which demands that we love our neighbour as ourselves and help him as much as possible, by word and by deed. It may be a sin of scandal because the person to whom we are complaining maybe provoked to throw stones in his turn at the subject of our detraction. It maybe a sin of theft because it takes away the reputation of the person whom we are criticising. This could carry with it, the obligation to make restitution by withdrawing what we have said, if it is false or doubtful or by speaking charitably of the person whom we have wronged in order to restore his good name. Uncharitableness in speech, is also a sin of injustice, when it involves calumny, in which case, there is an obligation to repair the damage done in the best way possible.
Since criticism of others can be such an evil thing, we should take care not to form the habit of employing it as a means of making our conversation more lively and acceptable. The life of a Catholic, should be governed by charity and grumbling about others, is always an offence against charity!”
Quote/s of the Day – 8 July – The Memorial of St Elizabeth Queen of Portugal TOSF (1271-1336) – Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 13:44-52.
“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
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
Luke 12:34
“We have had Your treasure hidden within us, ever since we received baptismal grace, it grows ever richer at Your sacramental table.”
St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Let your door stand open to receive Him, unlock your soul to Him, offer Him a welcome in your mind and then you will see the riches of simplicity, the treasures of peace, the joy of grace. Throw wide the gate of your heart, stand before the Sun of the everlasting Light.”
St Ambrose (c 340-397) Father and Doctor of the Church
“ He who finds Jesus, finds a rare treasure, indeed, a good above every good, whereas he who loses Him, loses more than the whole world. The man who lives without Jesus, is the poorest of the poor, whereas no-one is so rich, as the man who lives in His grace. … Let all things be loved, for the sake of Jesus but Jesus, for His own sake.”
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.”
St John Leonardi (1541-1609)
“You leave the land just as it is when you depart, you do not carry anything away. Our first aim is to go to God, we are not on earth for anything but this!”
One Minute Reflection – 8 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood”– The Memorial of St Elizabeth Queen of Portugal TOSF (1271-1336) – Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 13:44-52.
“So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out and shall separate the wicked from among the just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13:49-50
REFLECTION – “Our Lord was an example of incomparable patience. He bore with a “devil” among His disciples even to His Passion (Jn 6,70). He said: “Let them grow together until the harvest lest you uproot the wheat when you pull out the weeds” (cf. Mt 13,29f.). As a symbol of the Church, He preached that the net would bring back to shore, namely the end of the world, every kind of fish, both good and bad. And He made it known, in various other ways, whether openly or in parables, that there would always be a mixture of good and bad. But, nevertheless, He stresses, that we have to protect the Church’s discipline when He says: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother” (Mt 18,15)…
Yet today, we see people who think of nothing but stern commandments, who order that troublemakers be reproved, ‘not giving what is holy to the dogs,’ treating, like the publicans, ‘anyone who despises the Church, cutting off the scandalous member from the body‘ (Mt 7,6 ; 18,17 ; 5,30). Their stormy zeal so troubles the Church, that they pull out the weeds before their time and their blindness makes of them enemies, of the unity of Jesus Christ…
Take care not to let these presumptuous thoughts enter our hearts, trying to separate ourselves from sinners, so as not to be soiled by contact with them, wanting to form a band of pure and holy disciples. We will achieve nothing but breaking up our unity, under the pretext of not associating with the wicked. To the contrary, let us remember the parables of Scripture, their inspired words, their striking examples, where we are shown that, until the end of the world and the day of judgement, the bad will always be mingled amongst the good in the Church, without their participation in the Sacraments being harmful to the good, so long as these latter, have not played a part in their sins.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (On Faith and Works – Excerpt ch 3-5)
PRAYER – Most merciful God, Who among other admirable gifts, endowed blessed Queen Elizabeth with the special grace of calming the tumult of war; grant by her intercession that, after the peace for which we humbly pray, we may attain everlasting happiness. 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).
AnaStpaul 
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