Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 11 November – Today’s Gospel: Mark 12:38–44

One Minute Reflection – 11 November – Today’s Gospel: Mark 12:38–44 – Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B and The Memorial of St Martin of Tours (c 316-397)

“For they all contributed out of their abundance but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living.”…Mark 12:44

REFLECTION – “Now if someone is wondering what the cost is, here is their answer – he who offers a Kingdom in heaven has no need of earthly coin.   No one can offer God anything except what already belongs to Him since all that exists is His.   And yet God does not give away so great a thing without a price being placed on it, He does not give it to someone who doesn’t value it.   For indeed, nobody gives away something they hold dear without placing some kind of value on it.   From now on, then, if God has no need of your goods neither does He have to give you this great thing if you refuse to love Him, all He requires is love, without which nothing constrains His giving.   Love, then, and you will receive the Kingdom, love and you will possess it… Love God more than yourself and already you begin to have what it is you desire to possess fully in heaven.”…St Anselm (1033-1109) Doctor of the Churchmark 12 44 - but she gave everything - from now on then - st anselm - 11 nov 2018

PRAYER – Lord God, Your Son has shown us the way. As we follow in His steps, may we never wander from the path that leads to life.   Renew the wonders of Your grace in our hearts so that neither death nor life may separate us from Your love.   Holy Father, as You were glorified by the life and death of St Martin, grant that by his prayers, we may receive strength to always give You our hearts, minds and selves.   Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, with You in union with the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen.st-martin-of-tours-pray-for-us-11-nov-2017-no-2

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMAN DIGNITY, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 10 November – Christian, Remember Your Dignity by St Pope Leo the Great

Thought for the Day – 10 November – Christian, Remember Your Dignity by St Pope Leo the Great

Today we celebrate the feast day of Pope Saint Leo the Great (c 400-461).   St Leo is referred to by many names, including “Doctor of Doctrine” and “Doctor of Unity of the Church.”   He is the first pope to be referred to by the title “Great” and the first pope made Doctor of the Church.   His writings, unifying doctrine and peacemaking, continue to inspire and instruct us today in the ways of the faith.   Below, an excerpt from a homily, encouraging Christians to take heed of the joy of Christ and exhorts them to live in freedom and dignity of the Incarnation!

Christian, Remember Your Dignity!

Dearly beloved, today our Saviour is born, let us rejoice.   Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life.   The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.
No one is shut out from this joy, all share the same reason for rejoicing.   Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all.   Let the saint rejoice as he sees the palm of victory at hand.   Let the sinner be glad as he receives the offer of forgiveness.   Let the pagan take courage as he is summoned to life.
In the fullness of time, chosen in the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom, the Son of God took for Himself our common humanity in order to reconcile it with its creator.   He came to overthrow the devil, the origin of death, in that very nature by which He had overthrown mankind.
And so at the birth of our Lord the angels sing in joy – Glory to God in the highest and they proclaim peace to men of good will as they see the heavenly Jerusalem being built from all the nations of the world.   When the angels on high are so exultant at this marvellous work of God’s goodness, what joy should it not bring to the lowly hearts of men?
Beloved, let us give thanks to God the Father, through His Son, in the Holy Spirit, because in His great love for us He took pity on us and when we were dead in our sins He brought us to life with Christ, so that in Him we might be a new creation.   Let us throw off our old nature and all its ways and, as we have come to birth in Christ, let us renounce the works of the flesh.
Christian, remember your dignity and now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition   Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member.   Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God’s kingdom.
Through the sacrament of baptism you have become a temple of the Holy Spirit.   Do not drive away so great a guest by evil conduct and become again a slave to the devil, for your liberty was bought by the blood of Christ.

St Pope Leo the Great, Pray for Us!st pope leo the great pray for us 10 nov 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The HOLY FACE, The HOLY NAME, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 10 November – The Memorial of St Pope Leo the Great (c 400-461) Doctor of the Church and St Andrew Avellino CR (1521 – 1608)

Quote/s of the Day – 10 November – The Memorial of St Pope Leo the Great (c 400-461) Doctor of the Church and St Andrew Avellino CR (1521 – 1608)

“By Baptism we are made flesh of the Crucified.”

“The cross of Christ is the true ground
and chief cause of Christian hope.”

“Let no one be ashamed of the cross
by which Christ has redeemed the world.
None of us must be afraid to suffer
for the sake of justice or doubt the
fulfilment of the promises,
for it is through toil that we come to rest
and through death that we pass to life.”by-baptism-st-leo-the-great-quotes-on-the-cross-10-nov-2018

“Our sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ
has no other purpose than to transform us
into that which we receive.”our sharing int he body and blood - st pope leo the great 10 nov 2018

“He that sees another in error
and endeavours not to correct it,
testifies himself to be in error.”he that sees another in error and endavours NOT - st pope leo the great - 10 nov 2018

“The birthday of the Lord
is the birthday of peace.”the birthday of the lord is the birthday of peace - st pope leo the great - 10 nov 2018

“Beyond our grasp,
He chose to come within our grasp.
Existing before time began,
He began to exist at a moment in time.”

St Pope Leo the Great (c 400-461) Doctor of the Churchbeyond our grasp - st pope leo the great - 10 nov 2018

“One cannot separate
the most Holy Eucharist
from the Passion of Jesus.”

St Andrew Avellino (1521 – 1608)one cannot separate - st andrew avellino - 10 nov 2018

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 16:9–15- Commentary by St Clement of Alexandria

One Minute Reflection – 10 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 16:9–15 – Saturday of the Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time, Year B and The Memorial of St Leo the Great (c 400-461) Doctor of the Church and St Andrew Avellino CR (1521 – 1608)

“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”...Luke 16:9

REFLECTION – “Consider, then, the splendid reward for your liberality – an everlasting habitation!   O excellent trade!   O divine commerce!   You purchase immortality for money and, by donating the empty things of the world, receive in exchange an eternal mansion in heaven!   So then, you rich who have wisdom, apply yourselves to this business… Why let yourselves be transfixed by diamonds and emeralds, by houses that fire devours, time destroys, or earthquakes throw down?   Aspire for nothing other than to dwell in the heavens and reign with God.   A mere man, a beggar will gain you this kingdom… The Lord did not say:  “Give, be generous and bountiful, help your brothers” but: “Make friends for yourselves”.   Friendship comes about not by one gift but by long intimacy.   For neither faith, nor charity nor patience are the work of one day but “he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Mt 10:22)...St Clement of Alexandria (150- 215)i tell you make friends for yourselves luke 16 9 - so then you rich who have wisdom st clement of alexandria 10 nov 2018

PRAYER – Lord God, You built Your Church on the firm foundation of the Apostle Peter and You promised that the gates of hell would never overcome it.   So too, may we trust in Your power, that by our faith we may receive the grace to withstand the enemy who will not prevail against us.   May we always serve You in our brother and may your Holy Spirit grant us the grace of fortitude to withstand our temptations and thus gain eternal life, supported by the prayers of St Pope Leo the Great and St Andrew Avellino, keep us ever faithful to Your love. Amenst pope leo the great pray for us - 10 nov 2018

 

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 9 November – The Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran

Quote/s of the Day – 9 November – The Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran

“What was done here, as these walls were rising,
is reproduced when we bring together those who believe in Christ.
For, by believing they are hewn out, as it were,
from mountains and forests, like stones and timber
but by catechising, baptism and instruction they are,
as it were, shaped, squared and planed
by the hands of the workers and artisans.
Nevertheless, they do not make a house for the Lord,
until they are fitted together through love”.

St Augustine (354-430) Doctor of the Church – Sermon 36what-was-done-here-st-augustine-9-nov-2017

“Today’s feast, brothers, ought to be all the more devout as it is more personal.
For other celebrations we have in common with other ecclesiastical communities
but this one is proper to us, so that if we do not celebrate it, nobody will.
It is ours because it concerns our church,
ours because we ourselves are its theme.
You are surprised and even embarrassed, perhaps,
at celebrating a feast for yourselves.
But do not be like horses and mules that have no understanding.
Your souls are holy because of the Spirit of God dwelling in you,
your bodies are holy because of your souls
and this building is holy because of your bodies.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Churchtoday's feast brothers - st bernard on the dedication of st john lateran 9 nov 2018

“Is not this an image of today’s event?
The ancient generations came up to this place,
generations of Romans, generations of bishops of Rome,
successors of St Peter
and they sang this hymn of joy, which I repeat today with you.
I join these generations, I, the new Bishop of Rome,
John Paul II, Polish by origin.
I stop on the threshold of this temple
and I ask you to welcome me in the Lord’s name.
I beg you to welcome me, as you welcomed my Predecessors
throughout the centuries, as you welcomed, only a few weeks ago,
John Paul I, so beloved by the whole world!
I beg you to welcome me too.
The Lord says:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you” (Jn 15:16).
This is the only appeal I can make –
I am not here by my own will.
The Lord has elected me.
In the Lord’s name I beg you therefore – welcome me!”

St Pope John Paul (1920-2005)
RITE OF POSSESSION OF THE CHAIR
OF THE BISHOP OF ROME
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
Basilica of St John Lateran
Sunday, 12 November 1978the ancient generations came up to this place - st john paul - 9 nov 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 November – The Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran – Today’s Gospel: John 2:13–22

One Minute Reflection – 9 November – The Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran – Today’s Gospel: John 2:13–22

But he spoke of the temple of his body...John 2:20

REFLECTION – “Because Solomon was a prophet he built a temple of stone and wood… for the living God, who made heaven and earth and whose dwelling is in the skies… Why did God ask that a temple be built?   Was he lacking somewhere to live?   Listen to Stephen’s speech at the time of his passion:  “Solomon,’ he said, “built a house but the most High does not live in man-made temples” (Acts 7:48).   Why, then, did he build, or cause to be built, a temple?   To prefigure Christ’s body.   The first temple was only a shadow (Col 2:17), when light comes, shadows flee away.   Are you now looking for the temple Solomon built?   You will find a ruin.   Why is this temple only a ruin?   Because the reality it announced has been fulfilled.   The true temple, the Lord’s body, also fell but has been raised up again and raised up in such a way it will fall no more…
What about our own bodies?   They are members of Christ  . Listen to Saint Paul:  “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” (1Cor 6:15).   When he says: “Your bodies are members of Christ”, what does this mean but that our bodies, joined to Christ our head (Col 1:18), together form a single temple, God’s temple.   Together with Christ’s body, our bodies are this temple… Let yourselves be built up in unity that you may not fall in ruins by remaining separate.”…St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Churchbut he spoke of the temple of his body luke 2 20 - together with christ's body - augustine - 9 nov 2018

PRAYER – Almighty God, as we recall with joy, the Dedication of this house of Yours on each recurring anniversary, listen to Your people’s prayer and grant that our worship here may be a sincere and holy service, honouring Your Name and bringing us the fullness of redemption.   Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen.feast of the dedication of st john lateran - 9 nov 2018

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Quote/s of the Day – 8 November – The Memorial of Blessed John Duns Scotus OFM (c 1265-1308)

Quote/s of the Day – 8 November – The Memorial of Blessed John Duns Scotus OFM

(c 1265-1308)

O Lord our God!
You are one in nature.
You are one in number.
Truly have You said
that besides You there is no God.
For though many may be called gods
or thought to be gods,
You alone are by nature God.
You are the true God from whom,
in whom
and through whom,
all things are,
You are blessed forever.
Amen!

Blessed John Duns Scotuso lord our god - bl john duns scotus - 8 nov 2018

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 15:1–10

One Minute Reflection – 8 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 15:1–10 – Thursday of the Thirty First week in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Memorial of Blessed John Duns Scotus OFM (c 1265-1308)

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”…Luke 15:4-5

REFLECTION – “The fact of re-finding something we had lost always fills us anew with joy.   And this joy is greater than that we felt before losing it, when the thing was safely kept.   But the parable of the lost sheep speaks more of God’s tenderness than of the way in which people usually behave.   It expresses a profound truth.   To leave behind something of importance for love of what is more humble, is characteristic of divine power, not of human possessiveness.   For God even brings into existence what is not, He sets out in search of what is lost while still keeping what He had left in place and He finds what had strayed without losing what He has under His protection.
That is why, this shepherd is not of earth but of heaven.   The parable is not in any respect, a representation of human achievements but it conceals divine mysteries, as the numbers it mentions immediately show: “What man among you,” says the Lord, “having a hundred sheep and losing one of them…”   As you see, the loss of a single sheep has sorely tried this shepherd, as though the whole flock, deprived of His protection, had set out along a treacherous path.   This is why, leaving the ninety-nine others there, He sets out in search of the one.   He attends to one alone so that, in that one, all may be found and saved.”…St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450) Doctor of the Churchand when he has found it - luke 15 5 - he attends to one alone so that in that one all may be found and saved st peter chrysologus - 8 nov 2018

PRAYER – Lord God, in Your wisdom, You created us, by Your providence You rule us, penetrate our inmost being with Your holy light, so that our way of life, may always be one of faithful service to You. With great love we thank You for the great gifts You shower upon us and for being our Father, who seeks and finds us when we are lost.   Grant that by the intercession of Blessed John Duns Scotus, we may ever seek to stay true to our baptism.   Through Jesus, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.bl john duns scotus pray for us - 8 nov 2018

Posted in QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HELL, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 7 November – The Memorial of St Willibrord (c 658 – 739) “Apostle to the Frisians”

Thought for the Day – 7 November – The Memorial of St Willibrord (c 658 – 739) “Apostle to the Frisians”

The king demanded to know why he had violated their sacred places and insulted their god.   The herald of truth answered him with steady courage:

“O king, you do not adore God but the devil.   He has foully deluded you so that he can thrust your soul into everlasting fire.   For there is no God but one.   He created sky, earth, sea and everything that is in them.   Whoever worships Him with true faith will have life forever.   I urge you finally to renounce that foolish delusion of your ancestors, and to believe in the one Almighty God and Our Lord Jesus Christ.   I call on you to be baptised in the font of life and wash away all your sins.   Then with all wickedness and wrongdoing cast away from you, you may live as a new man in all reasonableness, righteousness and holiness.   If you do this you will win an eternal life of glory with God and His saints.   But if instead you reject the path of salvation, then be most assured that you will suffer eternal tortures and hellish flames along with the devil to whom you pay court.”

St Willibrord, Pray for Us!st willibrord pray for us - no 2 - 7 nov 2018

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 7 November – The Memorial of St Willibrord (c 658 – 739) “Apostle to the Frisians”

Quote of the Day – 7 November – The Memorial of St Willibrord (c 658 – 739) “Apostle to the Frisians”

“… there is no God but one,
who created heaven and earth,
the seas and all that is in them
and those who worship Him,
in true faith, will possess eternal life.”

St Willibrord (c 658 – 739)there is no god but one - st willibrord - 7 nov 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, MORNING Prayers, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 7 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:25–33

One Minute Reflection – 7 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:25–33 – Wednesday of the Thirty First week in Ordinary Time, Year B and The Memorial of St Willibrord (c 658 – 739) “Apostle to the Frisians” and Bl Anthony Baldinucci SJ (1665-1717)

So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple...Luke 14:33

REFLECTION  – “Francis’ father led this child of his before the bishop.   He wanted to have Francis renounce into his hands his family possessions and return everything he   had. A true lover of poverty, Francis showed himself eager to comply;  he went before the bishop without delaying or hesitating.   He did not wait for any words nor did he speak any but immediately took his clothes and gave them back to his father… Drunk with remarkable fervour, he even took off his underwear, stripping himself completely naked before all.   He said to his father : “Until now I have called you father here on earth, but now I can say without reservation,  ‘Our Father who art in heaven’ (Matt. 6:9), since I have placed all my treasure and all my hope in him.”
When the bishop saw this, he was amazed at such intense fervour in the man of God.   He immediately stood up and in tears drew Francis into his arms, covering him with the mantle he was wearing, like the pious and good man that he was.   He bade servants give Francis something to cover his body.   They brought him a poor, cheap cloak of a farmer who worked for the bishop.   Francis accepted it gratefully and with his hand marked a cross on it with a piece of chalk, thus signifying it as the covering of a crucified man and a half-naked beggar.   Thus the servant of the Most High King was left naked so that he might follow his naked crucified Lord, whom he loved.”… St Bonaventure (1221-1274) Doctor of the Churchwith his hand, he marked a cross on it - st bonaventure - and luke 14 33 whoever does not renounce - 7 nov 2018

PRAYER – Holy God and Father, You sent your Son to show us the way to our eternal home.   Teach us always to understand that by relinquishing the things of this world and focusing our efforts only on following the Light He shines on our path, we may attain the eternal victory.   May the prayers of St Willibrord and St Anthony, assist us in carrying our cross after Him.   Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.st willibrord pray for us 7 nov 2018bl-anthony-baldinucci-pray-for-us-7-nov-2017-no2

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 6 November – The Memorial of St Théophane Vénard (1829-1861) Martyr – “The Original little Flower”

Thought for the Day – 6 November – The Memorial of St Théophane Vénard (1829-1861) Martyr – “The Original little Flower”

Today, 6 November, the Church celebrates the feast of St Jean Théophane Vénard, a French missionary to Vietnam who was martyred for the faith.

Famous for having inspired St Therese of Lisieux, who said of St Théophane that he was someone who had lived her own image of a martyr and missionary, St Théophane was born in France, became a priest in the Society of Foreign Missions and was sent to Vietnam.

It was during his incarceration that he wrote many letters, some to his family. His most famous line is from a letter to his father in which he said, “We are all flowers planted on this earth, which God plucks in His own good time – some a little sooner, some a little later . . . Father and son, may we meet in Paradise. I, poor little moth, go first. Adieu.”

In reading these letters, St Therese the Little Flower came to understand and use the image of being a little flower, whom God nevertheless cared for and cultivated, despite her minute size.

St Théophane Vénard was beheaded 2 February 1861.

His severed head was later recovered and is preserved as a relic in Vietnam. The rest of his body rests in the crypt of the Missions Etrangères in Paris.

St Théophane Vénard, Pray for Us!st-thc3a9ophane-vc3a9nard-pray-for-us-6-nov-2018

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 6 November – The Memorial of St Théophane Vénard (1829-1861) Martyr


Quote/s of the Day – 6 November – The Memorial of St Théophane Vénard (1829-1861) Martyr

“Try to fulfil each day’s task
steadily and cheerfully.
The life of a true Christian
should be a perpetual jubilee,
a prelude to the festivals of eternity.”try-to-fulful-each-days-st-theophane-venard-13-april-2018

“Be merry, really merry.
The life of a true Christian
should be a perpetual joy,
a prelude to the
festival of eternity.”be merry really merry - st thephane venard - 6 nov 2018

“Carry gently
the cross of this life,
like Jesus did,
until the day
of the peaceful passing.”carry gently the cross of this life - st theophane venard - 6 nov 2018

“Courage!
God asks of us
only our goodwill.
His grace does the rest.”

St Théophane Vénard (1829-1861) Martyrcourage god ask of us only our good will - st theophane venard - 6 nov 2018

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 5 November – Feast of All Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus

Quote/s of the Day – 5 November – Feast of All Saints and Blesseds of the Jesuits

“If our church is not marked by caring for the poor,
the oppressed, the hungry, we are guilty of heresy.”if-our-church-st-iggy-31-july-2018

“Be generous to the poor orphans and those in need.
The man to whom our Lord has been liberal
ought not to be stingy.
We shall one day find in Heaven as much rest and joy
as we ourselves have dispensed in this life.”

St Ignatius Loyola SJ (1491-1556)be-generous-to-the-poor-orphans-31-july-2018

“Take care, take care, never to close your heart to anyone!”

St Peter Faber (1506-1546)take-care-take-care-never-to-close-your-heart-to-anyone-st-peetr-faber - 2 aug 2018

“To do the will of God,
man must despise his own –
the more he dies to himself,
the more he will live to God.”

St Peter Claver SJ (1581-1654)to do the will of god - st peter claver - 5 nov 2018 all jesuit saints

“God gave Himself to you:
give yourself to God.”

St Robert Southwell SJ (1561-1595)god gave himself - st robert southwell - 21 feb 2018

“Any friend of the poor, is a friend of God.”any-friend-of-the-poor-is-a-friend-of-god-bl-john-sullivan-19-feb-2018

“Take life in instalments.
This one day now.
At least let this be a good day.
Be always beginning.”

Blessed John Sullivan SJ (1861-1933)take-life-in-instalments-bl-john-sullivan-19-feb-2018

“I hold that every poor man,
every vagrant, every beggar,
is Christ carrying His cross.
And as Christ, we must love and help him.”i hold that every poor man - st alberto hurtado - 5 nov 2018 - all jesuit saints and blesseds

“Christ roams through our streets
in the person of so many
of the suffering poor, sick and dispossessed
and people thrown out of their miserable slums.
Christ huddled under bridges,
in the person of so many children
who lack someone to call father,
who have been deprived for many years,
without a mother’s kiss on their foreheads…
Christ is without a home!
Shouldn’t we want to give Him one,
those of us who have the joy of a comfortable home,
plenty of good food,
the means to educate
and assure the future of our children?”

St Alberto Hurtado SJ (1901-1952)christ roams through our streets - st alberto hurtado - 5 nov 2018 all jesuit saints.jpg

” To serve Christ is to love this concrete Church
and to serve her with generosity
and with the spirit of obedience.”to-serve-christ-is-to-love-this-concrete-church-pope-francis-31-july-2018

“Ask for the grace of shame;
the shame that comes from the constant dialogue of mercy with Him;
the shame that makes us blush before Jesus Christ;
the shame that puts us in tune with the heart of Christ who is made sin for me;
the shame that harmonises our heart in tears and accompanies us in the daily following of “my Lord”.

Pope Francis SJ – 31 July 2013 on the Feast of St Ignatiusask-for-the-grace-of-shame-pope-francis-31-july-2018

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:12–14 – “Invite the poor…”

One Minute Reflection – 5 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:12–14 – Monday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Memorial of All Jesuit Saints and Blesseds

“invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind…..You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”…Luke 14:13-14b

REFLECTION – “This means choosing gratuitousness rather than self-seeking and calculating to obtain a reward, seeking interest and trying to increase your wealth. Indeed, the poor, the simple, those who ‘don’t count’, can never reciprocate an invitation to a meal.   In this way Jesus shows His preference for the poor and the excluded, who are the privileged in the Kingdom of God and He launches the fundamental message of the Gospel which is to serve others out of love for God.

Today, Jesus gives voice to those who are voiceless and to each one of us, He addresses an urgent appeal, to open our hearts and to make our own, the sufferings and anxieties of the poor, the hungry, the marginalised, the refugees, those who are defeated by life, those who are rejected by society and by the arrogance of the strong.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 28 August 2016lyke 14 13-14 - invite the poor - today jesus gives voice - pope francis - 5 nov 2018

“He himself had wanted to be born in poverty, to welcome the poor into His company, to serve the poor and put Himself in the place of the poor, to the point of saying that the good and evil we do to the poor, will be held by Him to have been done to His own divine person (Mt 25:40).   What more tender love could He have shown the poor!   And what sort of love could we be showing Him, I ask you, if we don’t love what He loved?   So much so, that loving the poor, is to love Him as He would wish and imitating Him, is to serve Him rightly and honour Him as we ought…”…St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) – Extract from a report concerning the state of the work, 11/07/1657loving the poor is to love him - st vincent de paul - 5 nov 2018

PRAYER – Lord God, teach us humility, to give and not to count ever the cost to ourselves, to take the lowest part and the back seat – teach us Lord, to strive and not to seek for glory, save for that of Your Kingdom.   Let us see Your Face, His Face, He our Teacher, our Saviour in the face of all those in most need.   May all those great Jesuit Saints standing before that Face, pray for us!   We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who we beg, have mercy on us all, who seek rewards for our own sakes, amen.all you jesuit saints and blesseds pray for us - 5 nov 2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SUNDAY REFLECTIONS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Sunday Reflection – 4 November – “I am made one with Him, as I am conformed to Him.” – St Bernard

Sunday Reflection – 4 November – Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

 “I am made one with Him, as I am conformed to Him.”  St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Church

Saint Bernard teaches, that it is not enough for us to take and eat the Bread from Heaven. We must also offer ourselves to be eaten.   Holy Communion is a wondrous exchange in which we become the bread of Christ.   Listen to Saint Bernard:

“My penitence, my salvation are His food.
I myself am His food.
I am chewed as I am reproved by Him;
I am swallowed by Him as I am taught;
I am digested by Him as I am changed;
I am assimilated as I am transformed;
I am made one with Him, as I am conformed to Him.
He feeds upon us and is fed by us
that we may be the more loosely bound to Him.”

Saint Bernard, ever the poet, uses images of eating and assimilation to describe how Christ unites us to Himself.   Our Lord becomes our food that we might become His.   We need the language of poets and preachers in our approach to the Eucharist.i am made one with him as i am conformed to him - st bernard - 4 nov 2018 sun reflection

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 4 November – The Memorial of St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

Quote/s of the Day – 4 November – The Memorial of St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

“Charity is that,
with which no man is lost
and without which,
no man is saved.”charity is that - st charles borromeo - 4 nov 2018

“We must meditate before, during and after everything we do.
The prophet says: “I will pray and then I will understand.”
This is the way we can easily overcome the countless difficulties
we have to face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work.
In meditation we find the strength,
to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in other men.”we-must-meditate-before-st-charles-borromeo-4-nov-2017

“If we wish to make any progress in the service of God,
we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness.
We must keep ourselves in the presence of God,
as much as possible and have no other view or end,
in all our actions but the divine honour.”

St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)if-we-wish-st-charles-borromeo-4-nov-2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 November – Today’s Gospel: Mark 12:28b-34

One Minute Reflection – 4 November – Today’s Gospel: Mark 12:28b-34 -Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Memorial of St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) and St Felix of Valois (1127-1212)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’   There is no other commandment greater than these.”...Mark 12:30-31

REFLECTION – “You cannot love God without loving your neighbour and you cannot love your neighbour without loving God.   In effect, the visible sign a Christian can show, in order to witness to his love for God to the world and to others, to his family, is the love he bears for his brothers, is the love of his people.   The Commandment to love God and neighbour is the first, not because it is at the top of the list of Commandments.   Jesus does not place it at the pinnacle but at the centre, because it is from the heart that everything must go out and to which everything must return and refer.
In the Old Testament, the requirement to be holy, in the image of God who is holy, included the duty to care for the most vulnerable people, such as the stranger, the orphan and the widow (cf. Ex 22:20-26).   Jesus brings this Covenant law to fulfilment, He who unites in Himself, in His flesh, divinity and humanity, a single mystery of love.
Now, in the light of this Word of Jesus, love is the measure of faith and faith is the soul of love.   We can no longer separate a religious life, a pious life, from service to brothers and sisters, to the real brothers and sisters that we encounter.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 26 October 2014)you shall love the lord your god - mark 12 30-31 - in the light of this word of jesus - pope francis - 4 nov 2018

PRAYER – God power and mercy, by whose grace, Your people give You praise and worthy service, help us to see Your face in our neighbour.   To love them all as we love You.   Save us from faltering on our way and grant us the joys You have promised  . St Felix of Valois and St Charles Borromeo kindly assist our journey by your prayers. Through Jesus our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.st felix of valois pray for us - 4 nov 2018

st-charles-pray-for-us-3-4 nov 2017

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PRAYER, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 3 November – The Memorial of St Martin de Porres (1579-1639)

Quote/s of the Day – 3 November – The Memorial of St Martin de Porres (1579-1639)

“Compassion, my dear Brother,
is preferable to cleanliness.
Reflect that with a little soap,
I can easily clean my bed covers
but even with a torrent of tears,
I would never wash from my soul,
the stain, that my harshness toward
the unfortunate would create.”compassion my dear brother - st martin de porres - 3 nov 2018

“Everything,
even sweeping,
scraping vegetables,
weeding a garden
and waiting on the sick,
could be a prayer,
if it were offered to God.”

St Martin de Porres (1579-1639)everything - st martin de porres - 3 nov 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-11

One Minute Reflection – 3 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-11 – Saturday of the Thirtieth week in Ordinary Time, Year B and The Memorial of St Martin de Porres (1579-1639)

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”…Luke 14:11

REFLECTION – “Humility is not just about self-mistrust but about the entrusting of ourselves to God.   Distrusting ourselves and our own strength produces trust in God and from that trust generosity of soul is born.

The most holy Virgin, Our Lady, gave us an outstanding example of this when she spoke these words:  “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).   When she said she was the handmaid of the Lord she was performing the greatest act of humility it is possible to do and all the more so in that she was contradicting the praise given her by the angel – that she would be mother of God, that the child to be born from her womb would be called Son of the Most High, a greater dignity than any we might imagine – I say, she opposed her lowliness and unworthiness to all these praises and greatness by saying that she was the handmaid of the Lord.   Yet note how, no sooner had she rendered her duty to humility than she practised outstanding generosity by saying:  “May it be to me according to your word”.
What she wanted to say was:  It is true I am in no way capable of this grace if one is to consider what I am of myself but insofar as what is good in me comes from God and what you say to me is His own most holy will, I believe it may happen and will happen. And so, without the least hesitation, she said:  “Let it be done to me according to your word”… St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Churchluke 14 11 for everyone who exalts himself - humility is not just about - st francis de sales - 3 nov 2018

PRAYER – Lord Jesus, help us to appreciate and live Your spiritual values and give them the first place in our hearts.   Grant that we may always seek them first and remain forever united with You.   Send Your Spirit with his gifts and blessings and may the Mother of all Virtue, assist us in our need.   Help us to follow the path of humility St Martin so splendidly showed us, that we may obtain from You, as he did, a place in Your Kingdom. St Martin de Porres, pray for us, amen.mater admirabilis - pray for us - 5 may 2018 - better edit.

st-martin-pray-for-us-3-nov-2017

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PAPAL PRAYERS, PAPAL SERMONS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PURGATORY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS

One Minute Reflection – 2 November – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 25:31–46- The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

One Minute Reflection – 2 November – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 25:31–46- The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’…Matthew 25:34matthew 25 34 come o blessed of my father - 2 nov all souls day

REFLECTION – “Yesterday and today, many have been visiting cemeteries, which, as the word itself implies, is the “place of rest”, as we wait for the final awakening.   It is lovely to think, that it will be Jesus Himself to awaken us.   Jesus Himself revealed, that the death of the body is like a sleep from which He awakens us.   But today we are called to remember everyone, even those who no one remembers.   We remember the victims of war and violence, the many “little ones” of the world, crushed by hunger and poverty, we remember the anonymous who rest in the communal ossuary.   We remember our brothers and sisters killed because they were Christian and those who sacrificed their lives to serve others.it is lovely to think that jesus himself - pope francis - 2 nov 2018

PRAYER – Let us raise this prayer to God:   “God of infinite mercy, we entrust to Your immense goodness all those who have left this world for eternity, where You wait for all humanity, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ Your Son, who died as a ransom for our sins.   Look not, O Lord, on our poverty, our suffering, our human weakness, when we appear before You to be judged for joy or for condemnation.   Look upon us with mercy, born of the tenderness of Your heart and help us to walk in the ways of complete purification.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 2 November 2014god of infinite mercy - prayer for the holy souls pope francis - 2 nov 2018

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 2 November – The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Thought for the Day – 2 November – The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

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

And Jesus wept.   So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”...John 11:35-36and jesus wept and the jews said see how he loved him - john 11 35-36 - 2 nov 2018

Why do I pray for you, O my brother, who loved me so much and have been carried off from me… ?   For I have not lost my relationship to you, rather it has been completely changed in my regard.   Up to now, it was inseparable from the body but now, it is indissoluble from feeling. ,,You remain with me and will remain so always… Paul the apostle calls me back and places a sort of brake on my sadness with these words:  “We do not want you to be unaware about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope” (1Thes 4:13)…

But not all weeping is a sign of lack of faith or of weakness.   Natural sorrow is one thing, the sadness of unbelief is another…   Sorrow is not alone in having its grief and prayer bathes our bed with tears according to the prophet (Ps 6:7).   When the patriarchs were enslaved, their people wept bitterly for themselves, as well.   Thus tears are signs of affection and not incitements to sorrow.   I confess that I have wept but the Lord also wept (Jn 11:35).   He wept for someone not of his own kin, I for a brother.   He wept for all men in one man – as for me, I will weep for you, my brother, in every man.

Christ wept with the feeling that is ours, not His own, for divinity has no tears…   He wept in that man who was “sorrowful even to death” (Mt 26:38);   He wept in him who was crucified, who died, who was buried;   He wept in that man… who was born of the Virgin.and jesus wept - john 11 35 - 2 nov 2018

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The HOLY SOULS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 2 November – The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Quote/s of the Day – 2 November

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

We believe that Jesus died and rose again,
so we believe, that God will bring with Jesus,
those who have died, believing in him.…

1 Thessalonians 4:141 thes 4 14 - we believe that jesus died and rose - 2 nov 2018

“He who saves a soul,
saves his own and satisfies
for a multitude of sins.”

James 1:20james-1-20-he-who-saves-a-soul-saves-his-own-2-nov-2017

“The whole Church observes this practice
which was handed down by the Fathers –
that it prays for those who have died
in the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ,
when they are commemorated
in their own place in the sacrifice itself
and the sacrifice is offered,
also in memory of them, on their behalf.”

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Churchthe whole church observes this practice - st augustine - 2 nov 2018

“What great power the holy souls in purgatory
have over the heart of God!
If we realised this fact
and averted to all the graces
that we can gain through their intercession,
these souls would not be so forgotten.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)what-great-power-st-john-vianney-2-nov-2017-21

“If today we are remembering
these brothers and sisters of
ours who lived before us and are
now in heaven, they are there
because they were washed in the
Blood of Christ, that is our hope
and this hope does not disappoint.
If we live our lives with the Lord,
He will never disappoint us.”

Pope Francisif-today-we-are-remembering-pope-francis-2 nov 2017

Posted in ON the SAINTS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS

Thought for the Day – 1 November – The Solemnity of All the Saints

Thought for the Day – 1 November – The Solemnity of All the Saints

By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

“Very various are the Saints, their very variety is a token of God’s workmanship but however various and whatever was their special line of duty, they have been heroes in it –
they have attained such noble self-command,
they have so crucified the flesh,
they have so renounced the world,
they are so meek, so gentle, so tender-hearted, so merciful, so sweet, so cheerful, so full of prayer, so diligent, so forgetful of injuries,
they have sustained such great and continued pains,
they have persevered in such vast labours,
they have made such valiant confessions,
they have wrought such abundant miracles,
they have been blessed with such strange successes,
that they have been the means of setting up a standard before us of
truth, of magnanimity, of holiness, of love.
They are not always our examples, we are not always bound to follow them – not more than we are bound to obey literally, some of our Lord’s precepts, such as turning the cheek or giving away the coat – not more than we can follow the course of the sun, moon or stars in the heavens;
but, though not always our examples,
they are always our standard of right and good;
they are raised up to be monuments and lessons,
they remind us of God,
they introduce us into the unseen world,
they teach us what Christ loves,
they track out for us the way which leads heavenwards.”

All you Holy Saints in Heaven, Pray for Us!

holy saints pray for us - 1 nov 2018

 

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 1 November – The Solemnity of All the Saints

Quote/s of the Day – 1 November – The Solemnity of All the Saints

“All saints give testimony to the truth,
that without real effort,
no one ever wins the crown.”

St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170)all saints give testimony to the truth - st thomas a becket - 1 nov 2018

“A ray of light enables us to see the dust that is in the air.
In the same way, the lives of the Saints show up our defects.
If we fail to see our faults,
it is because we have not looked at the lives of
holy men and women.”

St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Doctor of the Churcha ray of light - st anthony of padua - 1 nov 2018

“God creates out of nothing.
Wonderful you say.
Yes, to be sure but He does.
what is still more wonderful,
He makes saints out of sinners.”

Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)god-creates-out-of-nothing-soren-kierkegaard-1-nov-2017

“In heaven, we shall not meet with indifferent glances,
because all the elect will discover
that they owe to each other,
the graces that merited the crown for them.”

St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897) Doctor of the Churchin heave, we shall not meet - st therese of lisieux - child jesus - 1 nov 2018

“Life holds only one tragedy, ultimately,
not to have been a saint.”

Charles Péguy (1873-1914)life holds only one tragedy ultimately - charles peguy - 1nov 2018

“A saint takes his hands off
the steering wheel of his life
and lets God steer.”a saint steering wheel of life - peter kreeft 1 nov 2018

“A saint is one who sees who the tramp is: Jesus”

Peter Kreefta-saint-is-one-who-sees-who-the-tramp-is-jesus-1-nove-2017

Posted in JESUIT SJ, POETRY, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 31 October – The Memorial of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

Quote/s of the Day – 31 October –

The Memorial of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

“In the difficulties which are placed before me,
why should I not act like a donkey?
When one speaks ill of him – the donkey says nothing.
When he is mistreated – he says nothing.
When he is forgotten – he says nothing.
When no food is given him – he says nothing.
When he is made to advance – he says nothing.
When he is despised – he says nothing.
When he is overburdened – he says nothing.
The true servant of God must do likewise
and say with David:
“Before Thee I have become like a beast of burden.”

St Alphonsus Rodriguez (1532-1617)in-the-difficulties-which-are-placed-before-me-st-alphonsus-rodriguez-20-june-2018

Honour is flashed off exploit, so we say;
And those strokes once that gashed flesh or galled shield
Should tongue that time now, trumpet now that field,
And, on the fighter, forge his glorious day.
On Christ they do and on the martyr may;
But be the war within, the brand we wield
Unseen, the heroic breast not outward-steeled,
Earth hears no hurtle then from fiercest fray.

Yet God (that hews mountain and continent,
Earth, all, out; who, with trickling increment,
Veins violets and tall trees makes more and more)
Could crowd career with conquest while there went
Those years and years by of world without event
That in Majorca, Alfonso watched the door.

Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ (1844-1889),
in honour of Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)gerard manley hopkins in honour of st alphonsus rodriguez - 31 oct 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 31 October – Today’s Gospel: Luke 13:22–30

One Minute Reflection – 31 October – Today’s Gospel: Luke 13:22–30 – Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Memorial of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

“Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be able…”…Luke 13:24.

REFLECTION – “Strive to enter in by the narrow door.”   This reply may seem perhaps to wander from the scope of the question.   The man wanted to learn whether there would be few who are saved but He explained to him the way whereby he might be saved himself.   He said, “Strive to enter in by the narrow door.”   What do we answer to this objection? … It was a necessary and valuable thing to know how a man may obtain salvation.   He is purposely silent to the useless question.   He proceeds to speak of what was essential, namely, of the knowledge necessary for the performance of those duties by which people can enter the narrow door.
I now consider it my duty to mention why the door to life is narrow.   Whoever would enter must first, before everything else, possess an upright and uncorrupted faith and then a spotless morality, in which there is no possibility of blame, according to the measure of human righteousness.   One who has attained to this in mind and spiritual strength will enter easily by the narrow door and run along the narrow way.
“Wide is the door and broad the way that brings down many to destruction.”   What are we to understand by its broadness?   It means an unrestrained tendency toward carnal lust and a shameful and pleasure-loving life.   It is luxurious feasts, parties, banquets and unrestricted inclinations to everything that is condemned by the law and displeasing to God.   A stubborn mind will not bow to the yoke of the law.   This life is cursed and relaxed in all carelessness.   Thrusting from it the divine law and completely unmindful of the sacred commandments, wealth, vices, scorn, pride and the empty imagination of earthly pride spring from it.   Those who would enter in by the narrow door must withdraw from all these things, be with Christ and keep the festival with him.”…St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Father & Doctor (Commentary on Luke, Homily 9strive to enter - luke 13 24 - whoever would enter - st cyril of alex - 31 oct 2018

PRAYER – Shed Your clear light on our hearts, Lord, so that walking continually in the way of Your commandments, we may never be deceived or misled.   Grant that the prayers of our Blessed Mother and St Alphonsus Rodriguez, who always held Your Light up for others to see by, give us strength.   Through Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.sancta maria -mary most holy - pray for us - 10 may 2018

st alphonsus rodriguez pray for us no 2- 31 oct 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection = 30 October – Today’s Gospel: Luke 13:18-21

One Minute Reflection = 30 October – Today’s Gospel: Luke 13:18-21 – Tuesday of the Thirtieth week in Ordinary Time, Year B – The Memorial of St Angelo of Acri OFM Cap (1669-1739)

“What is the kingdom of God like?   And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden and it grew and became a tree and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”..Luke 13:18-19

REFLECTION – “In the language of the Gospel, the seed is the symbol of the Word of God, whose fruitfulness is recalled in this parable.   The Word of God makes things grow, it gives life. …Because this is the power that makes the life of the Kingdom of God sprout within us.   And thus is the Kingdom of God, a humanly small and seemingly irrelevant reality.   To become a part of it, one must be poor of heart, not trusting in their own abilities but in the power of the love of God;  not acting to be important in the eyes of the world but precious in the eyes of God, who prefers the simple and the humble.   When we live like this, the strength of Christ bursts through us and transforms what is small and modest into a reality, that leavens the entire mass of the world and of history.   This opens us up to trust and hope, despite the tragedies, the injustices, the sufferings that we encounter.   The seed of goodness and peace sprouts and develops, because the merciful love of God makes it ripen.”…Pope Francis = Angelus, 14 June 2015

“To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?   It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”...Luke 13:20-21

REFLECTION – “There are three measures:  of the flesh, of the soul and of the spirit.  This is truer of the spirit in which we all live.   The woman, who prefigures the church, mixes with them the virtue of spiritual doctrine, until the whole hidden inner person of the heart is leavened and the heavenly bread arises to grace.   The doctrine of Christ is fittingly called leaven, because the bread is Christ.   The apostle said, “For we, being many, are one bread, one body.”   Leavening happens when the flesh does not lust against the Spirit, nor the Spirit against the flesh.   We mortify the deeds of the flesh and the soul, aware that through the breath of God it has received the breath of life, shuns the earthly germs of worldly needs.”…St Ambrose (340-397) Father & Doctoer- Exposition of the Gospel of Luke, 7.the parable of the seed and the leaven luke 13 18-21 pope francis st ambrose - 30 oct 2018

PRAYER – True light of the world, Lord Jesus Christ, as You enlighten all men for their salvation, give us grace, we pray, to herald Your coming by preparing the ways of justice and of peace. Help us Lord, that we may sprout and bear fruit, fitting to grow and be a home of comfort to our neighbour.   By the prayers of St Angelo of Acri, who bore the seed of Your Word to many, may we too be heralds of Your Kingdom.   Through Jesus our Lord, Who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.st angelo of acri pray for us no 2 - 30 oct 2018

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MERCY, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 29 October – The Memorial of St Gaetano Errico (1791-1860)

Thought for the Day – 29 October – The Memorial of St Gaetano Errico (1791-1860), Founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Day by day, city to city, village to village, among both the poorest and those of high esteem, he saw the hunger each possessed to know that sin was forgiven, that God’s mercy was infinite and that they were loved.   Countless souls found a merciful listener, the embodiment of God’s promise of peace and renewal, in Fr Gaetano, in the Confessional.

“The priest, Gaetano Errico, dedicated himself to this sacrament with diligence, assiduity and patience, never refusing it nor counting the cost. He thus entered among the group of other extraordinary priests who tirelessly made the confessional a place to dispense God’s mercy, helping men to rediscover themselves, to fight against sin and make progress in the spiritual life.

The street and the confessional were the two particular places of Gaetano Errico’s pastoral work.   The street was the place that permitted him to offer his customary invitation:  “God loves you, when shall we meet?” and in the confession he made their encounter with the mercy of the heavenly Father possible.   How many wounded souls did he heal in this way! How many people did he help to be reconciled with God through the sacrament of forgiveness!

In this way St. Gaetano Errico became an expert in the “science” of forgiveness, and concerned himself with teaching it to his missionaries:   “God, who does not wish the death of the sinner, is always more merciful than his ministers;  so be as merciful as you can and you will find mercy with God!”

Pope Benedict XVI, Homily at Canonisation Mass, October 2008

He found his own encouragement on his knees in prayer . . . indeed it was prayer and the hours he spent in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that strengthened and renewed him and kept the fire of his love for God ever burning.

Let us rediscover the great grace of the Confessional and the immense joy of Eucharistic Adoration for ourselves!

St Gaetano Errico, Pray for Us!god who does not wish the death of a sinner - st gaetano errico pray for us no 2 - 29 oct 2018

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Quote of the Day – 29 October – The Memorial of St Gaetano Errico (1791-1860)

Quote of the Day – 29 October – The Memorial of St Gaetano Errico (1791-1860), Founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary

“Let us toil, to the loss of everything,
not excluding life, if necessary,
to make known to all people,
the most ardent love of the Sacred Hearts
and to kindle this holy
and divine love, in the hearts of humanity.”
(From the Rule)

St Gaetano Errico (1791-1860)let us toil to the loss of everything - st gaetano errico - 29 oct 2018