CATHOLIC Quotes – Page 244

JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD, VATICAN Documents

One Minute Reflection – 4 February – Gospel: Mark 5:1–20

Posted on February 4, 2019February 4, 2019 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 4 February – Monday of the Fourth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Mark 5:1–20 and the Memorial of St John de Britto SJ (1647-1693) Martyr

“Go home to your friends and tell them, how much the Lord has done for you and how he has, had mercy on you.”…Mark 5:19

REFLECTION – “As the Son was sent by the Father, so He too sent the Apostles (Jn 20:21), saying: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world”.(Mt 28:19) The Church has received this solemn mandate of Christ to proclaim the saving truth from the apostles and must carry it out to the very ends of the earth.(Acts 1:8) Wherefore, she makes the words of the Apostle her own: “Woe to me, if I do not preach the Gospel” (1Cor 9:16) and continues unceasingly to send heralds of the Gospel until such time as the infant churches are fully established and can themselves continue the work of evangelising.
For the Church is compelled by the Holy Spirit to do her part, that God’s plan may be fully realised, whereby He has constituted Christ as the source of salvation for the whole world. By the proclamation of the Gospel she prepares her hearers to receive and profess the faith. She gives them the dispositions necessary for baptism, snatches them from the slavery of error and of idols and incorporates them in Christ, so that through charity, they may grow up into full maturity in Christ. Through her work, whatever good is in the minds and hearts of men, whatever good lies latent in the religious practices and cultures of diverse peoples, is not only saved from destruction but is also cleansed, raised up and perfected unto the glory of God, the confusion of the devil and the happiness of man.
The obligation of spreading the faith is imposed on every disciple of Christ, according to his state. However, although all the faithful can baptise, the priest alone can complete the building up of the Body in the eucharistic sacrifice. Thus are fulfilled the words of God, spoken through His prophet: “From the rising of the sun until the going down thereof my name is great among the gentiles and in every place a clean oblation is sacrificed and offered up in my name”.(Mal 1:11) In this way the Church both prays and labours in order that the entire world may become the People of God, the Body of the Lord and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.”… Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, “Lumen Gentium”, #17 – Vatican Council II

PRAYER – Lord God and Father, who entrusted the earth to men, to till and care for it and made the sun to serve their needs, give us grace this day, to work faithfully for Your Glord and for our neighbours’ good. As we follow the Way of Your Son, fill us with the Holy Spirit of faith, hope and love. Almighty God, You made Saint John of Britto, an illustrious preacher of the gospel. Through his prayers inflame us with love and with his zeal for souls that we may serve You alone. St John of Britto, pray for us! Through Jesus, our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen. st john de britto pray for us 4 feb 2019.jpg

GOD the FATHER, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on TRUTH

Second Thoughts for the Day – 3 February – Before you were born I consecrated you

Posted on February 3, 2019February 3, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Second Thoughts for the Day – 3 February – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you,
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”…Jeremiah 1:4–5

As linked with the Gospel episode of Jesus’ proclaiming the Word of God in Nazareth and the people’s response, it is fair to ponder, all gifts given by the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to build-up the Body of Christ, the Church. Through Baptism, Confirmation and the Most Holy Eucharist, all have been “set apart” and “appointed” for particular missions throughout our lives, beginning with the call ‘to be holy.’

This quote by Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890), is written and speaks of you and me:

God has created me to do Him some definite service;
He has committed some work to me
which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission—
I may never know it in this life but I shall be told it in the next.
…I am a link in a chain,
a bond of connection between persons.

He has not created me for naught.
I shall do good,
I shall do His work,
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it,
if I do but keep His Commandments.

…Therefore I will trust Him.
Whatever, wherever I am.
I can never be thrown away.

If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him;
in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him;
in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.

…He does nothing in vain.
…He knows what He is about.

god has created me - bl john henry newman 3 feb 2019.jpg

Blessed John Henry Newman, Pray for us!

CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SUNDAY REFLECTIONS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, Uncategorized

Sunday Reflection – 3 February – “May we be Worthy” – St Cyprian of Carthage

Posted on February 3, 2019February 2, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Sunday Reflection – 3 February – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

“May we be Worthy”

“He [Paul] threatens, moreover, the stubborn and forward and denounces them, saying, ‘Whosoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord’ [1 Cor. 11:27].

All these warnings being scorned and contemned—[lapsed Christians will often take Communion] before their sin is expiated, before confession has been made of their crime, before their conscience has been purged by sacrifice and by the hand of the priest, before the offence of an angry and threatening Lord has been appeased, [and so] violence is done to His body and blood and they sin now, against their Lord, more with their hand and mouth than when they denied their Lord”

St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258) Bishop and Martyr, Father of the Church
(The Lapsed 15–16 [written in 251])

DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRACE, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 3 February – St Ansgar (801-865)

Posted on February 3, 2019February 3, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 3 February – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C and The Memorial of St Ansgar (801-865)

“If I were worthy of such a favour from my God,
I would ask that He grant me this one miracle –
that by His grace, He would make of me a good man.”

Saint Ansgar to a parishioner who was praising him for being a miracle worker

FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS

Quote of the Day – 2 February – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Posted on February 2, 2019February 2, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 2 February – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Come then, my brethren, give an eye to that candle burning in Simeon’s hands. Light your candles too by borrowing from that Light, for these candles I speak of are the lamps which the Lord orders us to have in our hands (Mt 25:1; Lk 12:35). Come to Him and be enlightened (Ps 34[33], 6), so as to be not merely carrying lamps but to be very lamps yourselves, shining inside and out, for yourselves and for your neighbours.

Be a lamp then in heart, in hand, in lips. The lamp in your heart will shine for you, the lamp in your hand or on your lips will shine out for your neighbours. T he lamp in the heart is loving faith, the lamp in the hand is the example of good works, the lamp on the lips is edifying speech. But not just before men must we shine by works and word but before angels too by prayer and before God Himself, by pure intention. Our lamp before the angels is the purity of our devotion when in the sight of angels we chant the psalms with care or pray with burning ardour, our lamp before God is the honesty of our intention to please Him only, whose approval we have won… be a lamp then - bl guerric of igny 2 feb 2019.jpg

There are so many lamps then, my brethren, to lighten your way, if only you will come to the source of all light and be enlightened. there are many lamps to lighten - bl guerric of igny 2 feb 2019.jpg

Come, I say, to Jesus who shines out to us from Simeon’s arms. He will give light to your faith, lustre to your works, meaning to your words for men, ardour to your prayer, purity to your intentions… And when this life’s lamp is extinguished there will arise a life’s light which can never be extinguished, a shimmering noonday light, arising as it were at the evening of your life.

Blessed Guerric of Igny O.Cist. (c 1080-1157)
Cistercian abbot

CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, PAPAL MESSAGES, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on the FAMILY

Monthly Catholic Devotions: FEBRUARY is the Month of THE HOLY FAMILY

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019 by AnaStpaul

FEBRUARY – THE MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY

In January, the Catholic Church celebrated the Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and in February, we turn to the entire Holy Family—Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The special devotion which proposes the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the model of virtue of all Christian households began in the 17th century. It started almost in France – the Association of the Holy Family was founded by the Daughters of the Holy Family in Paris in 1674.

This devotion soon spread and in 1893 Pope Leo XIII expressed his approval of a feast under this title and himself composed part of the Office. On account of the flight into Egypt this feast has been observed by the Copts from early times.

The feast was welcomed by succeeding Pontiffs as an efficacious means for bringing home to the Christian people the example of the Holy Family at Nazareth and by the restoration of the true spirit of family life, stemming, in some measure, the evils of present-day society.

In the words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, “Nothing truly can be more salutary or efficacious for Christian families to meditate upon than the example of this Holy Family, which embraces the perfection and completeness of all domestic virtues.”

Prayer to the Holy Family
By Pope Francis
Angelus, 29 December 2013

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in You we contemplate
the splendour of true love,
to You we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again
experience violence, rejection and division:
may all who have been hurt or scandalised
find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may we be made
once more mindful
of the sacredness
and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer.
Amen

(This prayer was composed for the Synod of the Family in 2014, so it has been very slightly adapted to remove the reference to the said Synod).

QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 1 February – “I would like…” St Brigid

Posted on February 1, 2019February 1, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 1 February – the Memorial of St Brigid of Ireland (c 453-523)

I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven, to be gathered around us, from all parts.
I would like myself to be a rent-payer to the Lord,
that I should suffer distress, that He would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven’s family drinking it through all eternity.

Saint Brigid

QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 31 January – The 9 Resolutions of St John Bosco

Posted on January 31, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 31 January -The Memorial of St John Bosco (1815-1888)

On 19 September 1840, John Bosco was ordained sub-deacon at Turin, the diaconate followed on the Saturday of Passion week (27 March) 1841. On 26 May, he went into retreat at the Vincentian House in Turin, in preparation for his ordination to the priesthood. The notes of his retreat contain the nine resolutions which he made at this solemn moment of his life. They can be set down without commentary, for they speak for themselves and their punctual execution for the rest of his days, is added testimony to his determination in taking them.

1. I will take no unnecessary walks.

2. I will make exactingly careful use of my time.

3. When the salvation of souls is at stake, I will be always ready to suffer, to act and to humble myself.

4. May the charity and gentleness of St Francis de Sales, inform my every action.

5. I will always be content with the food set before me, unless it is really harmful to my health.

6. I will always add water to my wine and drink it only for reasons of health, that is, on such days ain such measure as health requires.

7. Since work is a powerful weapon against the enemies of my salvation, I will take only five hours sleep a night. During the day, especially after dinner, I will take no rest, except in case of illness.

8. Every day, I will devote some time to meditation and spiritual reading. During the day, I will make a short visit, or at any rate a prayer, to the Blessed Sacrament. My preparation for Mass, shall last at least a quarter of an hour and so shall my thanksgiving.

9. Outside the confessional and save in cases of strict necessity, I will never stop to talk with women. *
(the only commentary is in regard to this point * – just remember the times in which St John lived).

We would do well to adopt some of these resolutions for our own spiritual growth!

St John Bosco, Pray for Us!

ArchAngels and Angels, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ANGELS, QUOTES on FRIENDSHIP, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 31 January -The Memorial of St John Bosco (1815-1888)

Posted on January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 31 January -The Memorial of St John Bosco (1815-1888)

“Do not try to excuse your faults,
try to correct them.”

“Fly from bad companions
as from the bite
of a poisonous snake.”

“Act today in such a way,
that you need not blush
tomorrow.”

“We do not go
to Holy Communion
because we are good,
we go to become good.”

“Ask the Blessed Virgin for the grace
to receive Communion frequently and worthily…
Try to imagine that the Blessed Virgin, herself,
will give you the Sacred Host.
No-one would dare strike at the Heart of Jesus
while He is in Mary’s hands.”

“Be good. This will make your angel happy.
When sorrows and misfortunes, physical or spiritual,
afflict you, turn to your guardian angel
with strong trust and he will help you.”

“Ask your angel
to console and assist you,
in your last moments.”

“Be ever more convinced that,
your guardian angel is really present,
that he is ever at your side.
St Frances of Rome always saw him
standing before her,
his arms clasped at his breast,
his eyes uplifted to Heaven –
but at the slightest failing,
he would cover his face as if in shame
and at times,
turn his back to her!”

“Serve the Lord joyfully!”
“Servite Domino in laetitia!”

St John Bosco (1815-1888)

and more here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/31/quote-s-of-the-day-31-january-the-memorial-of-st-john-bosco-1815-1888/

CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 30 January – Where sin abounded grace has overflowed – St Bernard

Posted on January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 30 January – Wednesday of the Third week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Mark 4:1-20

Where sin abounded grace has overflowed

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Abbot and Doctor of the Church

An excerpt from his Sermon 61 On the Song of Songs

“Where can the weak find a place of firm security and peace, except in the wounds of the Saviour? Indeed, the more secure is my place there, the more He can do to help me. The world rages, the flesh is heavy and the devil lays his snares but I do not fall, for my feet are planted on firm rock. I may have sinned gravely. My conscience would be distressed but it would not be in turmoil, for I would recall the wounds of the Lord – He was wounded for our iniquities. What sin is there so deadly that it cannot be pardoned by the death of Christ? And so, if I bear in mind this strong, effective remedy, I can never again be terrified by the malignancy of sin.

Surely the man who said – my sin is too great to merit pardon, was wrong. He was speaking as though he were not a member of Christ and had no share in His merits, so that he could claim them as his own, as a member of the body can claim what belongs to the head. As for me, what can I appropriate that I lack from the heart of the Lord who abounds in mercy? They pierced His hands and feet and opened His side with a spear. Through the openings of these wounds I may drink honey from the rock and oil from the hardest stone: that is, I may taste and see that the Lord is sweet.

He was thinking thoughts of peace and I did not know it, for who knows the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counsellor? But the piercing nail has become a key to unlock the door, that I may see the good will of the Lord. And what can I see as I look through the hole? Both the nail and the wound cry out that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. The sword pierced His soul and came close to His heart, so that He might be able to feel compassion for me in my weaknesses.

Through these sacred wounds we can see the secret of His heart, the great mystery of love, the sincerity of His mercy with which He visited us from on high. Where have Your love, Your mercy, Your compassion shone out more luminously that in Your wounds, sweet, gentle Lord of mercy? More mercy than this no one has than that He lay down His life for those who are doomed to death. where have your love your mercy - st bernard 30 jan 2019.jpg

My merit comes from His mercy, for I do not lack merit so long as He does not lack pity. And if the Lord’s mercies are many, then I am rich in merits. For even if I am aware of many sins, what does it matter? Where sin abounded grace has overflowed. And if the Lord’s mercies are from all ages forever, I too will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever. Will I not sing of my own righteousness? No, Lord, I shall be mindful only of Your justice. Yet that too is my own; for God has made You my righteousness.”

Holy Mother, Pray for Us!

CONFESSION/PENANCE, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

Quote of the Day – 30 January – Gospel: Mark 4:1-20

Posted on January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 30 January – Wednesday of the Third week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Mark 4:1-20

“When we go to Confession,
we are not telling God something
He doesn’t already know
and we’re not showing Him something
He doesn’t already see.
We are giving Him something
He doesn’t already have –
Your broken heart.”

Father Mike Schmitz

CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on GRACE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 30 January – Gospel: Mark 4:1-20

Posted on January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 30 January – Wednesday of the Third week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Mark 4:1-20 and the Memorial of the Salesian Priest Blessed Bronislaw Markiewicz SDB (1842-1912)

“The sower sows the word. … And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word but the cares of the world and the delight in riches and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word and it proves unfruitful.”…Mark 4:14,18-19

REFLECTION – “Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus invites us today to look inside ourselves – to give thanks for our good soil and to tend the soil that is not yet good. Let us ask ourselves, if our heart is open to welcome the seed of the Word of God with faith. Let us ask ourselves, if our rocks of laziness are still numerous and large;, let us identify our thorns of vice and call them by name.,, Let us find the courage to reclaim the soil, to effect a new conversion of our heart, bringing to the Lord in Confession and in prayer our rocks and our thorns. In doing this, Jesus, the Good Sower will be glad to carry out an additional task – to purify our hearts, by removing the rocks and the thorns which choke His Word…Pope Francis – Angelus, 16 July 2017

PRAYER – Lord God, in Your wisdom You created us, by Your providence You rule us, You have planted us, penetrate our inmost being Your holy Light, so that our way of life may always be one of faithful service to You. May we never hesitate to run to Your all-forgiving arms of mercy, when we allow the rocks and thorns of this life to prevent our growth and our steps as we return home to You. May the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, our Mother, all the angels and saints and of Blessed Bronislaw Markiewicz be unfailing assistance to us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen. blessed virgin holy mother mary pray for us 14 oct 2018.jpg

bl bronislaw markiewicz pray for us - 30 jan 2019.jpg

DOCTORS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 29 January – Doing the Will of God

Posted on January 29, 2019January 29, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 29 January – Tuesday of the Third week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Mark 3:31–35

31 And his mother and his brethren came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting about him and they said to him, “Your mother and your brethren are outside, asking for you.” 33 And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brethren?” 34 And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brethren! 35 Whoever does the will of God, is my brother and sister and mother.”

Whoever does the will of God,

is my brother and sister and mother.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Our determination to follow God’s will in all things without exception is contained in the Lord’s prayer, in the words we say each day: “Your will be done on earth as in heaven.” In heaven there is no resistance to the divine will, everything is submitted to Him and obeys Him, we promise to do the same for Our Lord, never offering any resistance but always remaining very subject to this divine will in every circumstance. Now, the will of God can be understood in two ways: there is the will of God that is clearly stated and the will that is His good pleasure.

The will that is stated consists of four parts: His commandments, His counsels, the counsels of the Church and His inspirations. As regards the commandments of God and His Church, each of us must bow the neck and submit to obedience because in this, the will of God is absolute, willing that we should obey if we wish to be saved.

He wants us to observe the counsels by desire but not in an absolute manner, since some are so opposed to each other, that it would be altogether impossible to take on the practice of one of them, without taking away the means of practising the other. For example, it is a counsel to leave all one has in order to follow our Lord, stripped of everything and it is a counsel to lend and give alms. But how can someone lend who all at once has left all that he has, or how can he give alms, tell me, when he has nothing? So we have to follow the counsels God wants us to follow and not think He has given them all to us, so that we should embrace them all.

In addition there is the will of God’s good pleasure which we are to consider in every eventuality, I mean in all those things that happen to us – in sickness, death, affliction, consolation, in things that are adverse and things that are profitable, in brief in everything unforeseen. And to this will of God we should always be ready to submit in all that happens, in the agreeable as in the disagreeable, in affliction as in consolation, in death as in life and in all that is not clearly against the stated will of God, for that always comes first.

Blessed Virgin, Mary Most Devout Mother, Pray for Us!

DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SPEAKING of ....., The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 29 January – Speaking of: Doing God’s Will

Posted on January 29, 2019January 29, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 29 January – Tuesday of the Third week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Mark 3:31–35

Speaking of: Doing God’s Will

“God does not command impossibilities
but by commanding,
admonishes you to DO what you can
and to PRAY for what you cannot
and AIDS you that you may be able.”

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church

“I am the king’s good servant
but God’s first.”

St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr

“God is not a slot machine.
We don’t go to God,
to get something.
we go to give something.”

Mother Angelica of the Annunciation PCPA (1923-2016)

“If we wish to follow Christ closely,
we cannot choose an easy, quiet life.
It will be a demanding life
but full of joy.”

Pope Francis

“The will of God
will never take you,
to where the grace of God,
will not protect you.”

“A disciple of Jesus
is a decision maker.”

Father Mike Schmitz

“Jesus promises two things
for those who follow Him:
1. Trouble
2. Victory”

Father John Parks

Father John Parks is a priest for the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona. Before seminary, Father Parks received a degree in theatre from Arizona State University and was a youth speaker specialising in pro-life and chastity topics. Father Parks was ordained a priest in 2010, has taught theology and philosophy at a Catholic high school the last four years and is currently the vicar for Evangelisation for the Diocese of Phoenix. Father Parks has a great passion for the Gospel and loves being a priest.

DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 28 January – The cross exemplifies every virtue

Posted on January 28, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 28 January – The Memorial of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor of the Church

The Cross Exemplifies every Virtue

Saint Thomas Aquinas
Priest and Doctor of the Church

An excerpt from a Conference

Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need and it can be considered in a twofold way – in the first place, as a remedy for sin and secondly, as an example of how to act.

It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what He desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.

If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if He gave His life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for His sake.

If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways – either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross and did so patiently, because when He suffered He did not threaten;,He was led like a sheep to the slaughter and He did not open His mouth. Therefore, Christ’s patience on the cross, was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before Him, bore His cross and despised the shame.

If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.

If you seek an example of obedience, follow Him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.

If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow Him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross He was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns and given only vinegar and gall to drink.

Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches because they divided my garments among themselves. Nor to honours, for He experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for weaving a crown of thorns, they placed it on my head. Nor to anything delightful, for in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

St Thomas Aquinas, Pray for Us!

DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ANGELS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on WOMEN, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 28 January – St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor of the Church

Posted on January 28, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 28 January – The Memorial of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor of the Church

“Believing is an act of the intellect,
assenting to the divine truth,
by command of the will,
moved by God,
through grace.”

“The only-begotten Son of God,
wanting to make us
sharers in His divinity,
assumed our nature,
so that He, made man,
might make men gods.”

“Charity is the form,
mover, mother
and root
of all the virtues.”

“To convert somebody,
go and take them by the hand
and guide them.”

“We are like children,
who stand in need of masters
to enlighten us and direct us
and God has provided for this,
by appointing His angels,
to be our teachers and guides. “

“Just as a woman
had announced
the words of death
to the first man,
so also, a woman was the first
to announce to the Apostles
the words of life.”

And if He gave His life for us,
then it should not be difficult
to bear whatever hardships arise for His sake.
If you seek patience,
you will find no better example than the cross.
Christ endured much on the cross and did so patiently,
because “when he suffered he did not threaten,
he was led like a sheep to the slaughter
and he did not open his mouth.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor of the Church

DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on ENVY, QUOTES on SIN, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 January – Gospel: Mark 3:22-30

Posted on January 28, 2019 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 29 January – Monday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Mark 3:22-30 and The Memorial of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor of the Church

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”...Mark 3:22

REFLECTION – “It is characteristic of evildoers, stirred by envy, to shut their eyes as much as they can, to other people’s merits and when, overcome by the evidence, they cannot do so any longer, to depreciate or undervalue it. Thus, when the crowd rejoiced in devotion and marvelled at the sight of Christ’s works, the scribes and Pharisees either closed their eyes to what they knew to be true, or minimised what is great, or undervalued what is good. Once, for example, feigning ignorance, they said to Him who had worked so many wonderful signs: “What sign can you do that we may believe in you?” (Jn 6:30). In this case, unable to blatantly deny the facts, they wickedly depreciate them… and they devalue them by saying: “It is by Beelzebub, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.”
Now this, dear brethren, is the blasphemy against the Spirit that binds all those he has seized with the bonds of an eternal sin. This is not to say that it would be impossible for the repentant to gain forgiveness for it all if they “produce fruit as evidence of their repentance” (Lk 3:8). The only thing is that, crushed beneath such a weight of malice, they lack the strength to aspire to that praiseworthy repentance worthy of forgiveness… Those who, perceiving the proofs of grace and the Holy Spirit at work in a brother…, are not afraid to undermine and calumniate and brashly ascribe to the evil spirit what they clearly know to be of the Holy Spirit, such as these have been so forsaken by this Spirit of grace, that they no longer even desire the repentance that would obtain pardon. They are completely in the dark, blinded by their own malice. Indeed, what could be more serious than to dare, out of envy for a brother one had been commanded to love as oneself (Mt 19:19), to blaspheme God’s goodness… and insult his majesty by wanting to discredit another?”...Isaac of Stella (c 1100-c.1171) O.Cist. Cistercian monk

PRAYER – Lord, our God, keep us free from envy of others, for this is a poison that can destroy all community and love. Help us to know that to each You have given gifts and all are Your wonder and made to honour You alone. Help us to appreciate our neighbour’s talents and understand that we are all one in the Mystical Body of Your Son. And since it was by Your gift that St Thomas became so great a saint and theologian, give us grace to understand his teaching and follow his way of life. May his great love for Jesus Crucified and his pure adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, be our guide to follow in Your Son’s footsteps and take up our cross and follow Him. Grant that by the prayers of St Thomas, we may grow in love and sanctity. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen. st thomas aquinas pray for us no 2- corpus christi - 28 jan 2019..jpg

EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SUNDAY REFLECTIONS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Sunday Reflection – 27 January – Honour Jesus Truth, Way and Life at Mass

Posted on January 27, 2019January 27, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Sunday Reflection – 27 January – The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – First Reading: Nehemiah 8:8–10

“Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine…” Nehemiah 8:10

“For it is a holy day of the Lord for us when we take pains to hear and carry out His words. On this day it is proper that, however much outwardly we have endured the obstacles of tribulations, we should be “rejoicing in hope,” in keeping with the apostle’s saying: “As if sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” On this day we are also commanded to eat fat food and drink sweet drink, that is, to rejoice over the abundance of good action bestowed on us by God and over the very sweetness of hearing God’s Word” ., St Bede the Venerable (673-735) Father & Doctor (On Ezra and Nehemiah, 3.)

By Blessed James Alberione (1884-1971) (Founder of the Pauline Family)

Honour Jesus Truth, Way and Life at Mass

The Eucharistic Celebration is the centre and principal act of worship….
There are many methods for participating in the Mass.
A suggestion:
a) From the beginning to the Gospel,
honour Jesus Truth
by meditating and applying the sacred doctrine, especially the Epistle and the Gospel.
b) From the Gospel to the “Our Father,”
honour Jesus, Way to the Father, especially in the Passion and prayer.
c) From the “Our Father” to the end,
honour Jesus, Life of the soul,
by receiving Communion and its sanctifying and healing grace.

Then Live a Eucharistic Day

It is a good practice to make the Host the day’s foundation.
This means making the day Eucharistic.
Spend the morning [after Mass] in thanksgiving,
displaying the fruits of a holy joy,
working “through Him, with Him and in Him,”
to the glory of the most Blessed Trinity.
From midday to the following morning
start your preparation by offering, sanctifying and carrying out your various duties
with your heart in tune with the Dweller in the tabernacle. live a eucharistic day 27 jan 2019 - bl james alberione.jpg

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES/PRAYERS on THE FAMILY, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 27 January – The Memorial of St Angela Merici (1474-1540)

Posted on January 27, 2019June 1, 2023 by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 27 January – The Memorial of St Angela Merici (1474-1540)

“Pray and get others to pray,
that God not abandon His Church
but reform it, as He pleases
and as He sees best for us
and more to His honour and glory.”

St Angela Merici (1474-1540)

More here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/27/quote-s-of-the-day-27-january-the-memorial-of-st-angela-merici-1474-1540/

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, St PAUL!

Thought for the Day – 25 January – For love of Christ, Paul bore every burden

Posted on January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 25 January – For love of Christ, Paul bore every burden
Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, Apostle of Christ

Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

An excerpt from his Homily 2: In Praise of Saint Paul

Paul, more than anyone else, has shown us what man really is and in what our nobility consists and of what virtue this particular animal is capable. Each day he aimed ever higher, each day he rose up with greater ardour and faced with new eagerness the dangers that threatened him. He summed up his attitude in the words: I forget what is behind me and push on to what lies ahead. When he saw death imminent, he bade others share his joy: Rejoice and be glad with me! And when danger, injustice and abuse threatened, he said: I am content with weakness, mistreatment and persecution. These he called the weapons of righteousness, thus telling us that he derived immense profit from them. chrysostum-on-paul-oneminreflc-25 jan 2018

Thus, amid the traps set for him by his enemies, with exultant heart he turned their every attack into a victory for himself – constantly beaten, abused and cursed, he boasted of it as though he were celebrating a triumphal procession and taking trophies home, and offered thanks to God for it all: Thanks be to God who is always victorious in us! This is why he was far more eager for the shameful abuse that his zeal in preaching brought upon him than we are for the most pleasing honours, more eager for death than we are for life, for poverty than we are for wealth, he yearned for toil far more than others yearn for rest after toil. The one thing he feared, indeed dreaded, was to offend God, nothing else could sway him. Therefore, the only thing he really wanted was always to please God.

The most important thing of all to him, however, was that he knew himself to be loved by Christ. Enjoying this love, he considered himself happier than anyone else, were he without it, it would be no satisfaction to be the friend of principalities and powers. He preferred to be thus loved and be the least of all, or even to be among the damned, than to be without that love and be among the great and honoured.

To be separated from that love was, in his eyes, the greatest and most extraordinary of torments, the pain of that loss would alone, have been hell and endless, unbearable torture. the most important thing of all to him - st john chrysostom on st paul 25 jan 2019.jpg

So too, in being loved by Christ he thought of himself as possessing life, the world, the angels, present and future, the kingdom, the promise and countless blessings. Apart from that love nothing saddened or delighted him, for nothing earthly did he regard as bitter or sweet.

Paul set no store by the things that fill our visible world, any more than a man sets value on the withered grass of the field. As for tyrannical rulers or the people enraged against him, he paid them no more heed than gnats. Death itself and pain and whatever torments might come were but child’s play to him, provided that thereby he might bear some burden for the sake of Christ.

St Paul, Pray for Us!

that we might bear our tiny burdens courageously.

FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ON the SAINTS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on CONVERSION, St PAUL!, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 25 January – St Paul’s conversion is our conversion

Posted on January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 25 January – Feast of the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread,
or drinks the cup, of the Lord,
in an unworthy manner,
will be guilty of profaning
the body and blood of the Lord.
Let a man examine himself
and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
For any one who eats and drinks,
without discerning the body eats
and drinks judgement upon himself.”

1 Corinthians 11:27-29

“Let love be genuine,
hate what is evil,
hold fast to what is good,
love one another with brotherly affection,
outdo one another in showing honour.
Never flag in zeal,
be aglow with the Spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in your hope,
be patient in tribulation,
be constant in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints,
practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13

“….but we rejoice in our sufferings
because we know,
that suffering produces perseverance,
perseverance, character
and character, hope.”

Romans 5:4

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21

Pope Benedict XVI reflects on the significance of Paul’s conversion for the whole Christian people:

“Paul’s conversion matured in his encounter with the Risen Christ, it was this encounter that radically changed his life. What happened to him on the road to Damascus is what Jesus asks in today’s Gospel, Saul is converted because, thanks to the divine light, “he has believed in the Gospel.” In this consists his and our conversion – in believing in Jesus dead and risen and in opening to the illumination of His divine grace. In that moment Saul understood, that his salvation, did not depend on good works fulfilled according to the law but, on the fact, that Jesus died also for him the persecutor and has risen. This truth by which every Christian life is enlightened thanks to Baptism completely overturns our way of life.
To be converted means, also for each one of us, to believe that Jesus “has given himself for me”, dying on the Cross (cf. Galatians 2: 20) and, risen, lives with me and in me.
Entrusting myself to the power of His forgiveness, letting myself be taken by His hand, I can come out of the quicksands of pride and sin, of deceit and sadness, of selfishness and of every false security, to know and live the richness of His love.”

(25 January 25, 2009)

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, St PAUL!, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 January – Feast of the Conversion of St Paul – Acts 9:1-22

Posted on January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 25 January – Feast of the Conversion of St Paul – Acts 9:1-22

And all who heard him were amazed, and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on this name?”…Acts 9:21 acts-26-16 2019 - is not this the man - feast conv of st paul.jpg

REFLECTION – “We preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor 4:5). Who then is this? The former persecutor. O mighty wonder! The former persecutor himself preaches Christ. But why? Was he bribed? No, there was no one who could have persuaded him in that way. Was it the sight of Christ on earth that blinded him? But Jesus had already been taken up into heaven. Saul set out from Jerusalem to persecute Christ’s church and after three days the persecutor had become a preacher in Damascus. By what power? Other people call on friends as witnesses for their friends but I have presented to you as a witness the former enemy.

Do you still doubt? The testimony of Peter and John is weighty… but they were istcyrilofjerusalemndeed His friends. But of the testimony of one who was formerly His enemy and afterwards died for His sake, who can any longer doubt the truth? I am amazed at the wise dispensation of the Holy Spirit;… to Paul, the former persecutor, He gave the privilege of writing fourteen letters… In order that his teaching might be beyond question, He granted the former enemy and persecutor the privilege of writing more letters than Peter and John so that we might all be thus made believers. For “all were amazed at Paul and said: ‘Isn’t this the man who was formerly a persecutor? Didn’t he come here to take us away bound to Jerusalem?’” (Acts 9:21) “Do not be not amazed,” said Paul, I know how “it is hard for me to kick against the pricks” (Acts 26:14); I know that “I am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God” (1 Cor 15:9); yet “mercy was shown to me because I did it in ignorance”… “the grace of God was exceedingly abundant in me” (1 Tm 1:13-14).”…St Cyril of Jerusalem (313-350) Father & Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – Today Lord, we celebrate the conversion of St Paul, Your chosen vessel for carrying Your name to the whole world. Help us to make our way towards You by following in his footsteps and by being Your disciples before the men and women of our day. Grant that by the prayers of St Paul, we too may say, “Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. st-paul-pray-for-us-25-jan2018-catechesis-of-pope-benedict-no-1.jpg

DOCTORS of the Church, ON the SAINTS, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 24 January – “To Philotea – You and Me”

Posted on January 24, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 24 January – “To Philotea – You and Me”
The Memorial of St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church:
Doctor Caritatis (Doctor of Charity) ‘The Gentle Christ of Geneva’

Excerpt from Pope Benedict’s Catechesis on St Francis de Sales
Wednesday, 2 March 2011

To Philotea, the ideal person to whom he dedicated his Introduction to a Devout Life (1607), Francis de Sales addressed an invitation that might well have seemed revolutionary at the time. It is the invitation to belong completely to God, while living to the full, her presence in the world and the tasks proper to her state. “My intention is to teach those who are living in towns, in the conjugal state, at court” (Preface to The Introduction to a Devout Life).

The Document with which Pope Leo xiii, more than two centuries later, was to proclaim him a Doctor of the Church, would insist on this expansion of the call to perfection, to holiness.

It says: “[true piety] shone its light everywhere and gained entrance to the thrones of kings, the tents of generals, the courts of judges, custom houses, workshops and even the huts of herdsmen” (cf. Brief, Dives in Misericordia, 16 November 1877).

Thus came into being the appeal to lay people and the care for the consecration of temporal things and for the sanctification of daily life on which the Second Vatican Council and the spirituality of our time were to insist.

The ideal of a reconciled humanity was expressed in the harmony between prayer and action in the world, between the search for perfection and the secular condition, with the help of God’s grace that permeates the human being and, without destroying him, purifies him, raising him to divine heights.

St Francis de Sales, please Pray for Us!

DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 24 January – St Francis de Sales ‘The Gentle Christ of Geneva’

Posted on January 24, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 24 January – The Memorial of St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church: Doctor Caritatis (Doctor of Charity)

‘The Gentle Christ of Geneva’

“Man is the perfection of the Universe.
The spirit is the perfection of man.
Love is the perfection of the spirit and charity that of love.
Therefore, the love of God is the end, the perfection of the Universe.”

“We must fear God out of love,
not love Him out of fear.”

“In the royal galley of divine Love,
there is no galley slave –
all rowers are volunteers.”

“Nothing makes us
so prosperous
in this world,
as to give alms.”

“Perfection of life,
is the perfection of love.
For love, is the life of the soul.”

“Let us run to Mary
and, as her little children,
cast ourselves into her arms,
with a perfect confidence.”

“Consider all the past as nothing
and say, like David,
‘Now I begin to love my God.'”

More Quotes from this Master of Sanctity- https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/quote-s-of-the-day-24-january-the-memorial-of-st-francis-de-sales-1567-1622-doctor-of-the-church-doctor-caritatis-doctor-of-charity/

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

QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 23 January – – Making our Suffering an Offering and Praise

Posted on January 23, 2019January 23, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 23 January – The Memorial of Blessed Henry Suso OP (1295-1366)

“I desire from the boundless abyss of my heart that all the sufferings and grief that I have ever experienced and, in addition, the painful suffering of all hearts, the pains of all wounds, the groans of all the sick, the sighs of all sad people, the tears of all weeping eyes, the insults suffered by all those oppressed, the needs of all poor indigent widows and orphans, the dire wants of all the thirsty and hungry, the blood spilled by all martyrs, the breaking of their selfish wills by all the joyful and blossoming youth, the painful practices of all the friends of God and all the hidden and open suffering and sorrow that I or any other afflicted person ever experienced with regard to their bodies, possessions, reputation, friends and relatives, or depression, or whatever any man shall suffer up to the last day—I desire that all this may praise You eternally, heavenly Father and honour Your only-begotten suffering Son from eternity to eternity.

And I, Your poor servant, desire to be today, the devoted substitute for all suffering people, who do not know how to bear their suffering in patient and thankful praise of God, so that I might offer up to You in their place today, their sufferings, however they may have suffered. I offer it to You in their stead, just as if I myself alone had suffered it all, physically and in my heart as I desired. And I present it today in their place to Your only-begotten Son, that He may be praised by it forever and that those suffering, may be consoled, whether they are still in this vale of lamentation, or in the other world in your power.”

and I your servant desire to be today - bl henry suso 23 jan 2019.jpg

Bl. Henry Suso offers this prayer with “the arms of his soul somehow stretched forth to the far ends of the world in heaven and earth.” Our desires too can be extended in prayer to encompass all times and all peoples, especially all those people today who “do not know how to bear their suffering in patient and thankful praise of God,” that even these sufferings may both praise God and win grace and consolation for the afflicted.

Bl Henry Suso, pray for us,

that we may suffer well ourselves and bear in our hearts to God the sufferings of others!

DOMINICAN OP, franciscan OFM, MARIAN QUOTES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 23 January – The Memorial of St Ildephonsus (607-667), Blessed Henry Suso OP (1295-1366) and St Marianne Cope (1838-1918)

Posted on January 23, 2019January 23, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 23 January – The Memorial of St Ildephonsus (607-667), Blessed Henry Suso OP (1295-1366) and St Marianne Cope (1838-1918)

“Go to Mary and sing her praises
and you will be enlightened.
For it is through her,
that the true Light
shines on the sea of this life.”

St Ildephonsus (607-667)

“Suffering is the ancient law of love;
there is no quest without pain;
there is no lover,
who is not also a martyr.”

Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366)

“Try to accept what God
is pleased to give you
no matter how bitter –
‘God wills it’,
is the thought
that will strengthen you
and help you over
the hard places
if we wish to be
true children of God.”

“Our dear
heavenly Mother Mary…
how little do our trials
and sorrows appear
when compared
to her bitter sufferings.”

St Marianne Cope (1838-1918)

QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the PRIESTHOOD, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 22 January – The Memorial of St Vincent Pallotti SAC (1795-1850)

Posted on January 22, 2019January 22, 2021 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 22 January – The Memorial of St Vincent Pallotti SAC (1795-1850)

“How great is the dignity of the priesthood!
What a dignity, what a dignity!…
To be a priest!
What does that mean?
O God, my God, I do not understand it!
What does it mean to present
the holy, bloodless sacrifice
and to administer the sacraments!”
(Written to St Gaspar del Bufalo (1786-1837), just before being ordained, the founder of the Society for the Precious Blood, with whom Vincenzo contracted a deep spiritual friendship.) how great is the dignity of the priesthood - st vincent pallotti - 22 jan 2019.jpg

Before his First Holy Mass

“Not the intellect but God
Not the will but God
Not the heart but God
Not taste but God
Not touch but God
Not food and drink but God
Not clothing but God
Not tranquillity but God
Not the worldly goods but God.
Not riches but God.
Not honours but God.
Not distinction but God.
Not dignities but God.
Not advancement but God.
God in all
God always.”

“You must be holy in the way that God asks you to be holy.
God does not ask you to be a Trappist monk or a hermit.
He wills, that you sanctify the world
and your everyday life.”

St Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850)

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 January – Tuesday of the Second week in Ordinary Time, Gospel: Mark 2:23–28

Posted on January 22, 2019January 22, 2019 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 22 January – Tuesday of the Second week in Ordinary Time, Gospel: Mark 2:23–28 and the Memorial of St Vncent of Saragossa (Died 304) Martyr

“…so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.”...Mark 2:28

REFLECTION – “From the first, the law of the Sabbath conferred many and great benefits; for instance, it made the Jews gentle and humane towards those of their own household, it taught them God the Creator’s providence and wisdom… hen God gave the law for the Sabbath He said… that He would have them refrain from evil works only when he said: “You must do no work, except for what is necessary for life” (Ex 12:16 LXX). And in the temple, too, everything continued with more diligence than ever. Thus even by means of the very shadow, He was secretly opening the full light of truth (cf. Col 2:17).
Did Christ then do away with so highly profitable a thing? Far from it; He greatly enhanced it. For it was unnecessary… that we should learn from it, that God made all things or that we should be made kind by it, who are called to imitate God’s own love. For He says: “Be merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful”(Lk 6:36). It was no longer necessary to fix a day of festival for those who are commanded to keep a feast all their life long. For: “Let us keep the feast,” Saint Paul writes, “not with old leaven, neither with leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1Cor 5:8)… So now, why is any sabbath required for Christians who are always keeping the feast and whose conversation is in heaven? Yes, my brethren, let us celebrate that continual, heavenly sabbath.”…St John Chrysostom (c 345-407) Father & Doctor

PRAYER – True Light of the world, Lord Jesus Christ, as You enlighten all men for their salvation, give us the grace, we pray, to herald Your coming by preparing the ways of justice and of peace. We walk in faith and by Your Light as St Vincent, fearless of men to the end and trusting only in Your grace, inspires us to follow. Grant that his prayers may assist us on our path. Who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen. st vincent martyr pray for us 22 jan 2019.jpg

CHRISTMASTIDE!, JESUIT SJ, POETRY, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SAINT of the DAY, SPEAKING of ....., The CHRIST CHILD, The NATIVITY of JESUS, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 21 January – The Burning Babe

Posted on January 21, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 21 January – Monday of the Second week in Ordinary Time – and The Memorial of St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr

Seeing as it is the Memorial of St Agnes and we are thinking about martyrdom, I have included the post below, which is an excerpt from my post on St Robert Southwell’s Memorial – 21 February. It is talk by Servant of God, Fr John A Hardon SJ (1914-2000) (a hero!). If you wish to read the whole post, it is here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/02/21/saint-of-the-day-21-february-st-robert-southwell-s-j-1561-1595-martyr/

“There are two books, prose writings, that Robert Southwell wrote that are worth reading. They are of course written in 16th century English but, powerful, written to encourage his fellow Catholics to remain firm in their faith. The one is called ‘Mary Magdalene’s Funeral Tears’. And the other one is called ‘Epistle of Comfort‘. We would probably call it a letter of encouragement.

His poetry – we don’t know exactly when he began to write but it must have been very young because he wrote a great deal of which we have the record and by now the English speaking world knows Robert Southwell. His two outstanding poems are ‘The Burning Babe’ and ‘The Virgin Mary to Christ On The Cross.’”

The Burning Babe, by St Robert Southwell SJ (1561-1595) Martyr

As I in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear;
Who, scorchëd with excessive heat, such floods of tears did shed
As though his floods should quench his flames which with his tears were fed.
Alas, quoth he, but newly born in fiery heats I fry,
Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel my fire but I!
My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel wounding thorns,
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes shame and scorns;
The fuel justice layeth on, and mercy blows the coals,
The metal in this furnace wrought are men’s defiled souls,
For which, as now on fire I am to work them to their good,
So will I melt into a bath to wash them in my blood.
With this he vanished out of sight and swiftly shrunk away,
And straight I called unto mind that it was Christmas day.

It’s not surprising, it’s one of the great poems of the English language.

St Agnes, Pray for Us!

St Robert Southwell, Pray for Us!

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SAINT of the DAY, SPEAKING of ....., The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 21 January – The Memorial of St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr

Posted on January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 21 January – The Memorial of St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr

Speaking of: Martyrdom

“For me to live
is Christ
and to die,
is gain.”

St Paul – Philippians 1:21

“Christ made my soul beautiful
with the jewels of grace and virtue.
I belong to Him whom the angels serve.”

St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr

“She is too young to know of death,
yet is ready to face it.”

“One victim but a twin martyrdom,
to modesty and religion.
Agnes preserved her virginity
and gained a martyr’s crown. “

From an essay ‘On Virgins’ by

Saint Ambrose (340-397) Father & Doctor of the Church

“…As we are under great obligations to Jesus,
for His Passion endured for our love,
so also are we under great obligations to Mary,
for the martyrdom which she voluntarily suffered,
for our salvation, in the death of her Son”.

St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Doctor of the Church

“Nothing can happen to me
that God doesn’t want.
And all that He wants,
no matter how bad
it may appear to us,
is really for the best.”

St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr

“I do not much dread the tortures,
as I look forward to the crown.”

St Robert Southwell S.J. (1561-1595) Martyr

“The tyrant dies and his rule is over,
the martyr dies and his rule begins.”

	Saint of the Day – 2… on Saint of the Day – 26 October…
	Saint of the Day – 2… on Saint of the Day – 25 October…
	Saint of the Day – 2… on Saint of the Day – 24 October…
	Saint of the Day – 2… on Saint of the Day – 23 October…
	October 31 Blessings… on Quote/s of the Day– 31 October…

Share this:

Blessed John Henry Newman, Pray for us!

Share this:

“May we be Worthy”

Share this:

Share this:

Blessed Guerric of Igny O.Cist. (c 1080-1157) Cistercian abbot

Share this:

Share this:

Saint Brigid

Share this:

St John Bosco, Pray for Us!

Share this:

St John Bosco (1815-1888)

Share this:

Where sin abounded grace has overflowed

Holy Mother, Pray for Us!

Share this:

Father Mike Schmitz

Share this:

Share this:

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Blessed Virgin, Mary Most Devout Mother, Pray for Us!

Share this:

Speaking of: Doing God’s Will

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church

St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr

Mother Angelica of the Annunciation PCPA (1923-2016)

Pope Francis

Father Mike Schmitz

Father John Parks

Share this:

The Cross Exemplifies every Virtue

St Thomas Aquinas, Pray for Us!

Share this:

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor of the Church

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

St Angela Merici (1474-1540)

Share this:

Saint John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor of the Church

An excerpt from his Homily 2: In Praise of Saint Paul

St Paul, Pray for Us!

Share this:

1 Corinthians 11:27-29

Romans 12:9-13

Romans 5:4

Philippians 1:21

Share this:

Share this:

St Francis de Sales, please Pray for Us!

Share this:

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

Share this:

Bl Henry Suso, pray for us,

Share this:

St Ildephonsus (607-667)

Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366)

St Marianne Cope (1838-1918)

Share this:

St Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850)

Share this:

Share this:

The Burning Babe, by St Robert Southwell SJ (1561-1595) Martyr

St Agnes, Pray for Us!

St Robert Southwell, Pray for Us!

Share this:

Speaking of: Martyrdom

St Paul – Philippians 1:21

St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr

Saint Ambrose (340-397) Father & Doctor of the Church

St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Doctor of the Church

St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr

St Robert Southwell S.J. (1561-1595) Martyr

Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) The Journals of Kierkegaard

Share this:

Blessed Guerric of Igny O.Cist. (c 1080-1157)
Cistercian abbot

Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
The Journals of Kierkegaard