Category: CATHOLIC Quotes

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Thought for the Day – 10 September – CONSIDERATION V, Second Point – “Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. ”

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Thought for the Day – 10 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION V

The Uncertainty of the Hour of Death
“Be ye, therefore, ready also, for the Son of Man
cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
(St Luke xii: 40)

SECOND POINT
The Lord does not wish us to be lost, therefore, He never ceases to warn us to change our habit of life, bv threatening to punish us.
“If a man will not turn, He will whet His sword,”
(Ps vii: 13)’
“Behold, ” He says in another place, “how many because, they would not leave sinning, when they were least expecting it and were living in peace, thinking to live for many long years, have been surprised by death which has suddenly come upon them.”
“For when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them. ” (i Thess v: 3).
Likewise He says:
“Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. ” (St Luke xiii: 3).
Why, therefore, does He give us so many warnings before He sends the punishment, if He does not wish that we should amend our lives and so avoid dying an unhappy death?
St Augustine well observes that he who says to thee:
“Take care,” wishes thee no ill.

It is, therefore, necessary to prepare our account before the day of reckoning may arrive. My Christian brother, if before this night arrives you should die and your eternal welfare should be decided, what do you think? Would your reckoning be in order, or would you not, indeed be rather willing to give anything to obtain from God, one year, one month, or at least one day more?!
And, wherefore, now that God does give you this time, do you not seek to make your conscience free from everything? Is it because you cannot think this day can be the last for you?
“Delay not to be converted to the Lord and defer it not, from day to day. For His wrath shall come on a sudden and in the time of vengeance, He will destroy thee.” (Ecclus v: 8, 9) .

If you wish to be saved, my brother, sin must be left behind, therefore, as a day will come when you must leave it, why do you not leave it now? inquires St Augustine. Perhaps you are expecting death but for those who are obstinate, death is not the time for pardon but for vengeance.
“In the time of vengeance He will destroy thee.”

When someone owes you a large sum of money, you immediately take the precaution to provide yourself with a written security, saying to yourself:
“Who knows what may happen?”
And why do you not use the same precaution concerning your immortal soul which is of much more importance than the large sum? Why do you not say of your soul:
“ Who knows what may happen?”
If you were to lose that money, you would not lose everything and even if in losing it, you should lose all your inheritance, still you would have the hope of regaining it.
But if in death, you should lose your soul, then indeed would you lose all and there would be no hope of ever again rescuing it.
You are so diligent in keeping an account of your money, lest by chance any should be lost. if a sudden death were to befall you and if death should come upon you unawares, while you are at enmity with God, what would become of your soul for all eternity?

Affections and Prayers

All, my Redeemer, Thou hast shed all Thy Blood. Thou hast given Thy Life to save my soul and I have so often lost it, hoping in Thy Mercy and, in this way, have I so often made use of Thy great Goodness, for what? to offend Thee more! For this, I deserved that Thou shouldst suddenly deprive me of life and then send me to everlasting punishment.
I have, as it were, been fighting with Thee but Thou hast fought, by showing Mercy towards me and I, by offending Thee; Thou by seeking me and I by flying from Thee; Thou by giving me time to implore pardon for all the offences committed against Thee and I, by using that time to add offence to offence. Gracious Lord, make me feel the great wrong I have done against Thee and make me feel it is my greatest duty to love Thee.

Ah, my Jesus, how couldst Thou love me so much, Thou who didst seek me so many times when I fought to drive Thee from myself? How couldst Thou show so many favours to one who has so often given Thee offence?
From all this I understand, how desirous Thou art that I should not be lost.
I repent with all my heart for having offended Thee,
O God of Infinite Goodness. Ah, receive this ungrateful sheep who returns repentant to Thy Feet, receive it and bind it to Thy shoulders, so that it may nevermore stray from Thee.
No, I will nevermore fly from Thee. I would love Thee, I would be Thine Own and if only I am Thine, I am content with every pain, for what greater pain can I feel, than to live without Thy grace, separated from Thee,Who art my God, Who hast created me and my God, Who has died for me?
Ah, hateful sins, what have you done? You have made me displease my dear Saviour, Who hast loved me so much.
Ah, my Jesus, as Thou hast died for me, even so, ought I to die for Thee. Thou didst die for love of me and I ought to die of grief for having so much displeased Thee.

I accept death when and in what manner it may please Thee to send it to me but until now I have not loved Thee, or I have not loved Thee enough; it is not thus that I would die. Oh grant me a little more time, so that I may indeed love Thee before I die. Therefore, change my heart, wound it, inflame it with Thy holy Love. Grant this, through that exceeding Love which made Thee die for me.
I love Thee with all my soul and l am indeed desirous to love Thee. Never let me lose Thee again. Give me holy perseverance and give me Thy most holy Love.

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

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

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

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

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

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

St Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305)

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 September – ‘ … Repay God, with the image of God …’

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One Minute Reflection – 10 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Nicholas of Tolentino OSA (1245-1305) Confessor – 1 Corinthians 4:9-14; Luke 12:32-34 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be too.” – Luke 12:34

REFLECTION – “God accepts our offerings of money and is pleased with the gifts we make to the poor but, on one condition – that every sinner, when offering God his money, should offer Him his soul at the same time … When our Lord says: “Repay to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar and to God that which belongs to God” (Mk 12:17), what does He seem to say but – “Just as you repay Caesar with his own image on a coin, so repay God, with the image of God within ourselves” (cf Gn 1:26) …

This is why, as we have already said on numerous occasions, when we hand out money to the poor, let us offer our souls to God, so that, where our treasure is, there our heart may also be. Indeed, why does God ask us to give money? Unquestionably because, He knows the special love we have for it, we are always thinking about it and, where our money is, there too is our heart. This is why God urges us to make up our treasure in Heaven by making gifts of it to the poor; it is so that our hearts may follow where we have already sent our treasure and, when the Priest says: “Lift up your hearts” we may answer with peaceful conscience: “We lift them up to the Lord.” – St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop, Father (Sermon 32, 1-3).

PRAYER – Be mindful, O Lord, of our humble prayers in this commemoration of Thy Saint Nicholas, so that we, who have no confidence in our own righteousness, may be assisted by the merits of those, who have been pleasing to Thee. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, OUR Cross, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, QUOTES on PATIENCE, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 10 September – My Sorrowful Mother, Help Me to Bear My Crosses

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Our Morning Offering – 10 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

My Sorrowful Mother,
Help Me to Bear My Crosses
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

My sorrowful Mother,
by the merit of that grief
which you felt
at seeing your beloved Jesus
led to death,
obtain for me the grace
to bear with patience,
those crosses which God sends me.
I will be fortunate
if I also shall know how
to accompany you
with my cross until death.
You and Jesus,
both innocent,
have borne a heavy cross
and shall I,
a sinner who has merited hell,
refuse mine?
Immaculate Virgin,
I hope you will help me
to bear my crosses with patience.
Amen

Posted in PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on WATCHING

Thought for the Day – 9 September – CONSIDERATION V, First Point – The Uncertainty of the Hour of Death

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Thought for the Day – 9 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION V

The Uncertainty of the Hour of Death
“Be ye, therefore, ready also, for the Son of Man
cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
(St Luke xii: 40)

FIRST POINT.
IT is certain that we must all die but, it is uncertain when.
The author, who styles himself Idiota, observes:
“Nothing is more certain than death but nothing is more uncertain than the hour of death.”

My brother, already is the year, the month, the day, the hour and even, the moment fixed, in which both you and I will have to leave this earth and, to enter upon eternity but this time is not known by us. Therefore, that we may ever be prepared, the Apostle tells us, death will come “as a thief in the night.” (i Thess v: 2).
Our Blessed Lord tells us to be watchful, for when least we “ expect it, He will come to judge us.” (St Luke xii: 40).
St Gregory observes, that God, for our good, keeps the hour of our death hidden from us, so that we may ever be found preparing for death.
Since, therefore, at any time and in any place, death may deprive us of life, St Bernard remarks, at every time and in every place, we must stand awaiting it, if we would die a happy death and be saved!

Everyone knows that he or she must die but the mistake
so many make, is to imagine that death is so far off, they, as it were, lose sight of it. Even old men, who are most infirm and people who are very sickly, flatter themselves that they have at least three or four years more to live.
But, on the contrary, I say, how many have we not known during our lifetime, who have died suddenly, some sitting, some walking and some lying upon their beds? And certainly, none of those who have died thus suddenly, ever thought to die in. that way, or upon that day. … And, moreover, I say, how many who have this year passed on to another life and who have died from some slight illness, never, imagined their days were to come to an end this year. Few indeed are the deaths which do not happen uxpectedly.
Therefore, dear Christian brother, when the devil tempts you to sin, saying, that to-morrow, after the sin has been committed, you will go to confession – answer him in this manner: – “”
“And how do I not know that to-day may not be the last of my days upon earth? If that hour, or that moment, in which I sinned against God, were to be the last for me, so that there would be no time to implore forgiveness, what would become of me in eternity?”
To how many poor sinners has it not happened, in the same
moment in which they have been yielding to some wicked passion, death has overtaken them suddenly and they have been cast into hell?!
“As the fishes are taken in an evil net, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time.” (Eccles ix: 12).
The “evil time” is precisely that, in which the sinner actually offends God. The devil tells you that it will not happen in this way with you but you ought to say, if it should happen, thus what will become of me for all eternity?

Affections and Prayers

Dear Lord, the place where I ought now to be, is not here where I now am but, in hell, where I have deserved to be so many times because of my many transgressions.
“Hell is my house.”

But St Peter tells us, “the Lord … is long-suffering
to us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (i St Pet iii: 9).
Therefore, Thou hast had so much patience with me and hast waited so long for.me because Thou didst not wish me to be lost but Thou didst wish me to come to repentance.
Yes, my God, I come to Thee, I cast myself at Thy feet, I crave for mercy.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness.” O Lord, great and extraordinary mercy is needed for me because I have offended Thee, although Thou hast blessed me with Thy Light.
Many are the sinners who have offended Thee but they have not had the Light which Thou hast graciously given to me. And yet for all that, still Thou dost command me to repent of my sins and I hope for pardon from Thee.

Yes, my dear Redeemer, I repent with all my heart for having offended Thee and I look for pardon through the merits of Thy Passion.
Thou, my Jesus,being innocent, was willing to die like a guilty one upon the Cross and to shed all Thy Blood to wash awav my sins.
“O Blood of the Innocent, wash away the sins of the penitent.”

O Eternal Father, pardon me, for the love of Jesus Christ, listen to the prayers tHe makes for me, now that He is interceding for me and making Himself my Advocate.
But it is not sufficient for me to be pardoned O God, Thou Who art worthy of infinite love, I wish the grace to love Thee. I do love Thee, O my Sovereign Good and I offer Thee, from henceforth, my soul, my body, my will,and my liberty. From this time I will avoid, not only grave offences but also slight ones. I will fly from all dangerous occasions.

“ Lead us not into temptation.” Deliver me, for the love of Jesus Christ, from these occasions in which I might chance to offend Thee.
“But deliver us from evil.”
Deliver me from sin and then punish me as Thou wilt. I accept all the infirmities, griefs and losses which it may please Thee to send me, there is nothing I mind, if I do not lose Thy Grace and Thy Love.
Thou dost promise to give me whatsoever I ask:
“Ask and it shall be given you.”
I ask Thee for these two graces, holy perseverance and the grace to love Thee.

Posted in JESUIT SJ, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on Love of Self, QUOTES on MISSION

Quote/s of the Day – 9 September – St Peter Claver SJ (1581-1654)

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 September – St Peter Claver SJ (1581-1654) Confessor, “Slave of the slaves”

“This was how we spoke to them,
not with words but, with our hands
and our actions.
And in fact, convinced as they were
that they had been brought here to be eaten,
any other language would have
proved utterly useless.
Then, we sat, or rather knelt,
beside them and bathed their
faces and bodies.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/09/09/quote-s-of-the-day-9-september-st-peter-claver/

St Peter Claver (1581-1654)

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY NAME

One Minute Reflection – 9 September – Losing and finding our lives – Matthew 10:34-42

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One Minute Reflection – 9 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Peter Claver SJ (1581-1654) Confessor, Priest of the Society of Jesus, Missionary –Wisdom 10:10-14; Matthew 10:34-42 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“He who findeth his life, shall lose it and he, who shall lose his life for Me, shall find it. ” – Matthew 10:39

REFLECTION – “Let us consider these words of our Lord: that, He wishes “to draw all things to Himself” (Jn 12:32). Someone who wishes to draw all things, first of all, gathers them together and afterward, draws them. This is what our Lord does – first of all, He calls us back from straying and wandering outside, making us collect our senses, faculties, words, deeds and, within, our thoughts, intentions, imagination, desires, inclinations, mind, will and love. Then, when everything is rightfully returned to good order, God draws us to Himself. For we must first of all be separated from every exterior or interior possession, to which we are attached, putting all our satisfaction in them. This kind of detachment is a painful cross and, all the more painful as the attachment becomes firmer and stronger …

Why does God rarely allow one day and night, to resemble the previous day and night? Why is it that what assisted your devotion today, is of no help at all tomorrow? Why do you have a host of images and thoughts which come to nothing? My dear child, accept this cross from God and bear it – it will turn into a truly lovable cross, if you would hand these trials over to God, accept them from Him with true abandonment and thank God for them: “My soul magnifies the Lord” in everything (cf Lk 1:46). Whether God takes or gives, the Son of Man must be raised up on the Cross … Dear child, leave all that behind; rather, give your attention to true abandonment … and think about accepting to bear the cross of temptation, rather than going in search of spiritual sweetness … Our Lord has said: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me” (Lk 9:23).” – Fr JohannesTauler OP (c1300-1361) Dominican Priest and Friar, renowned Preacher and Theologian , leaving us more than 80 sermons.(Sermon 59, 4th for the Exaltation of the Cross).

PRAYER – God of mercy and love, Thou offer all peoples the dignity of sharing in Thy Light and Life. By the example and prayers of St Peter Claver, strengthen us to love each other as brothers. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MERIT

Our Morning Offering – 9 September – O Blessed Lady, Mediatrix and Advocate

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Our Morning Offering – 9 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

O Blessed Lady,
Mediatrix and Advocate
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father and Doctor of Light

Our Mediatrix and Advocate
O blessed Lady,
you found grace, brought forth the Life,
and became the Mother of Salvation.
May you obtain the grace for us to go to the Son.
By your mediation, may we be received by the One
who through you, gave Himself to us.
May your integrity compensate with Him
for the fault of our corruption
and may your humility,
which is pleasing to God,
implore pardon for our vanity.
May your great charity
cover the multitude of our sins
and may your glorious fecundity
confer on us, a fecundity of merits.
Dear Lady, our Mediatrix and Advocate,
reconcile us to your Son,
recommend us to Him
and present us to your Son.
By the grace you found,
by the privilege you merited,
by the Mercy you brought forth,
obtain for us the favour we ask of you,
O blessed Lady.
Amen

Posted in PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH

Thought for the Day – 8 September – CONSIDERATION IV, Third Point – The Certainty of Death: “Remember Death!”

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Thought for the Day – 8 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION IV

The Certainty of Death
“It is appointed unto men, once to die.”
(Heb ix: 27)

THIRD POINT:
Death is certain. But, God, many Christians already know
this; they believe it, they see it; how then can they live so
forgetful of death, as if they would never. have to die? If after this life, there were neither a Heaven nor a. hell, could they think less of it than they do now? And, it is on this account, they lead such wicked lives.

My brother, if you wish to lead a proper life, endeavour to live during the days which may remain to thee, keeping death ever in view.
“O death, thy judgement is good.” (Ecclus xli: 3).
Oh how well does he, who judges of things and regulates his actions, act; who judges and regulates them, with death ever in view.

The memory of death makes us lose all the affection which we feel for earthly things.
“Let the end of this life be thought upon and there will be nothing in this world, to be loved,” observes St Lawrence Justinian.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. (St John ii: 16).
All the pleasures of the world may be reduced to the pleasures of sense, the pleasures of riches and honours but he who thinks that, within a short time he will be reduced to ashes and that, he will be food for worms under the earth, despises all the pleasures the world can give him.
And the Saints, indeed, who have kept death ever in view, have despised all the goods of this world.
To keep death ever in view, St Charles Borromeo kept a skull upon a little table, so that he might continually contemplate it.
Cardinal Baronius had these words inscribed upon his ring:
“Remember death !”
The Venerable Father Juvenal Ancina, Bishop of Saluzzo, had this motto written on a skull:
“What thou art I was once; what I am thou wilt be.” Another Saint, a Hermit, being asked when dying why he was so rejoiced, answered,
“I have kept death ever before my eyes and, therefore, now that it is come, I see nothing new in it.”

What folly would it not be for a traveller, if when travelling, he were only to think of making himself great in that country through which he only has to pass, without minding the being reduced to live miserably in that country where he will have to spend his whole life? And is he not foolish, who seeks his happiness in this world, where he has to remain but a few days,and who, by so doing, runs the risk of being unhappy in the world to come, where he will have to remain forever?

He who possesses anything which is borrowed, does not place his affections on it, knowing, as he does, within a short time, he will have to restore it. All the goods of this world are but given to us as a loan, it is indeed foolish to place our affections upon them, being obliged, within so short a time, to leave them. Death will come and deprive us of all. All the gains and the riches of this world will end in a dying gasp, a funeral and a descent into the grave. The house which you have built, within a short time you will have to give up to someone else. The tomb will be the place where your body will have to dwell until the day of judgement and, from the tomb, your body will have to pass either to Heaven or to hell, whither your soul will have gone before.

Affections andPrayers

Therefore, will all be finished for me in death?
I shall find nothing else, O my God, than that little which I have done through my love for Thee.
And what am I waiting for? Am I waiting until death shall come and find me miserable and defiled with sin, as I am now? If I were now to die, I should die restlessly and should be very dissatisfied with my past life. No, my Jesus, I do not wish to die so dissatisfied. I thank Thee that Thou hast given me time to mourn over my sins and to love Thee. I will begin from this moment. But, above all things, I grieve for having offended Thee, O my Sovereign Good but I love Thee more than anything, more than my life itself. I yield myself entirely to Thee my Jesus, from this hour I attach myself wholly to Thee. I would press Thee to my heart and from this moment, I deliver my soul into Thy keeping.

“Into Thy Hands I commend my spirit.”
I will not wait to give my soul into Thy keeping until the time shall come when it shall be commanded to leave this world with that summons:
“Go forth, Christian soul.”
I will not wait until that moment arrives to beg Thee to save me.
“O Jesus, be a Jesus to me.”
Save me now, O my Saviour, by giving me Thy pardon and by giving me the grace of Thy holy love. If this consideration which I have this day read, should be the last warning which Thou shouldst give me and the last mercy, Thou shouldst show me, then stretch forth Thy Hand and take from me all my indifference; give me fervour; grant that I may obey Thee with great love in all Thou mayst require of me.
Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus Christ, give me holy perseverance and the grace to love Thee and to love Thee and Thee alone during the life that may yet remain to me.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on JOY, Quotes on SALVATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 September – ‘ … Eve mourned – Mary rejoiced! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 8 September – The Feast of theNativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God –Pentecost XVI – Proverbs 8:22-35; Matthew 1:1-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary and of her was born Jesus , Who is called Christ.” – Matthew 1:16

REFLECTION – “Dearly beloved, the day of the blessed and ever venerable Virgin Mary so long desired, is here. Let our land rejoice in the greatest exultation. Let it shine in the light of the birth of such a virgin. For she is the flower of the field, from her bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed. their sin is blotted out. That unhappy curse of Eve in which it was said – ‘In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children,‘ is, in the case of Mary, ended, for she bore the Lord in joy.

Eve mourned – Mary rejoiced! Eve carried tears in her womb, Mary joy. Eve gave birth to the sinner, Mary to Innocence. The mother of the human race brought punishment into the world; the mother of the Lord salvation. Eve was the source of sin, Mary of grace. Eve harmed, by bringing death, Mary aided, by giving life. The former wounded, the latter healed. Obedience replaced disobedience; fidelity atones for infidelity.

Now Mary may play melodies upon the organ. Now may the active fingers of the young mother strike the timbrels. Now may choirs sing out with joy. Now let the sweetest Songs mingle with the varying harmonies. Hear how she, our timbrel-player, sings – ‘My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid, for, behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He Who is mighty has done great things for me. The miraculous new birth conquered the prevalent error. The canticle of Mary silenced the wailing of Eve.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon on the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary).

PRAYER – Bestow upon Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that, as the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin stood for the beginning of our salvation, so may the solemn Feast of her Nativity, bring about an increase of peace. Through Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD is LOVE, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 7 September – CONSIDERATION IV, Second Point – The Certainty of Death: “It is appointed”

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Thought for the Day – 7 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION IV

The Certainty of Death
“It is appointed unto men, once to die.”
(Heb ix: 27).

SECOND POINT:
“It is appointed”
It is, therefore, quite certain – we are all condemned to die. St Cyprian says that we are all born with the halter round our neck and, we approach nearer to death at every step we take. My brother, as your name has one day been entered into the Register of Baptism, so too, it will one day be entered into the Register of Deaths. … As you have often heard the death-bell toll for others, even so will others hear it toll for you.

But what would you say, if you were to see a condemned man going to the scaffold jesting, laughing, looking about him, thinking only of plays, festivities and amusements? And are not you advancing on the road to death?
And of what are you thinking?
Look into that grave and see your friends and your relations upon whom, justice has already been executed.
What fear do those feel, who are condemned to die, when they behold their companions suspended on the gallows and dead!
Behold, then, those corpses, each one of which repeats to you:
“Yesterday for me and to-day for thee.” (Ecclus xxxviii: 23).
The portraits of those of your friends even, say the same to you, as do their memoranda-books, their houses, their beds, and even the clothes they have left behind them.

What greater folly, therefore, can there be than to know we must die and, after death, an eternity of joy or an eternity of pain awaits us; to know upon that moment, our eternal happiness or our eternal unhappiness depends and yet, not to care to make our reckoning sure and to use all the means we can, to make our death a happy one.
We pity all these who die suddenly and who are not prepared for death and why, therefore, do we not strive to be ever prepared to die because, the same sudden death, may happen to us?
But sooner or later, either with warning or without it, whether we think it or whether we do not think it, we shall have to die and, at every hour, at every moment, we approach nearer to our gallows, even to that last illness which will be the cause of our death.

At every age, the houses, the streets and the cities, are again
inhabited by fresh people and, the old inhabitants are borne to the grave, their last resting-place.
As the days of life are for ever finished for these, so will the time come ,in which, neither I nor you, nor any of those who are now living, will be any more living upon this earth.
Our “memorial is perished with us.” (Ps ix: 6) .
We shall all then be living in eternity which will be for us ,either an eternity of endless joy, or an eternity of endless woe. There is no middle way; this is certain and is an Article of Faith that either one lot or the other, will be ours.

Affections and Prayers

My beloved Redeemer, I should not have the courage thus to appear before Thee, did I not behold Thee hanging upon that Cross, wounded, derided and dead, for me.
My ingratitude has been great but Thy Mercy has been still greater.
Thy wounds, Thy Blood, Thy Death, are my hope.
I deserved hell from the moment I committed my first sin; how many times afterwards have I not again offended Thee and not only hast

Thou preserved my life but with so much pity and so much love, Thou hast offered me pardon and peace; how, therefore, can I fear being driven from Thee, now that I love Thee and now I have no other desire, than Thy blessed favour.
Yes, I love Thee with all my heart, my dearest Lord and I desire nothing else than to love Thee. I love Thee, and am very sorry for having scorned Thee, not so much because I have rendered myself worthy of hell, as for having offended Thee, my God.
Who hast loved me so much. Take me to Thy bosom, O my Jesus and add Mercy to Mercy. Let me never more be ungrateful to Thee and change my heart entirely. Grant that my heart which at one time esteemed Thy Love of no account and which has so often exchanged it for the miserable gratifications of this world, may. be wholly Thine and grant that it may burn in continual flames of love for Thee.

I hope to come to Paradise, there to love Thee forever, I cannot hope for a place there, among the innocent; my place will be amongst the penitent but, amidst those, I will love Thee more than the innocent.
For the glory of Thy Name, let a sinner be seen by Heaven to burn with a great love for Thee, a sinner who has so often offended Thee. I resolve, from this day fonward, to be Thine only and to think of nothing but of loving Thee. Assist me with Thy Light and with Thy Grace that strength maybe given to me to fulfil this, my desire which Thou Thyself hast given me through Thine Love.

Posted in MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES for CHRIST, The HEART, The INCARNATION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 7 September – We too are blessed …

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Quote/s of the Day – 7 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Our Lady’s Saturday – Ecclesiasticus
24:14-16; Luke 11:27-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Behold, I stand at the gate and knock.
If any man shall hear My Voice
and open the door to Me, I shall come into him
and shall sup with him and he with Me.”

Apocalypse 3:20

“… Rather blessed are those, who hear the Word of God
and keep it.”

Luke 11:28

“We too are blessed when we are mindful
of carrying Him constantly in our heart.
Certainly, Christ’s Conception in Mary’s womb
was a great marvel but it is no less of a marvel
to see Him become the guest of our heart.”

“May Christ be heard in our language,
may Christ be seen in our life,
may He be perceived in our hearts”

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, QUOTES on HUMAN DIGNITY, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 7 September – ‘ … We too are blessed, when we are mindful of carrying Him constantly in our heart. …’

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One Minute Reflection – 7 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Our Lady’s Saturday – Ecclesiasticus
24:14-16; Luke 11:27-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Blessed is the womb which bore Thee
… blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” – Luke 11:27,28

REFLECTION – “It is true of the Virgin Mary that she conceived Christ in her womb but all, who are chosen, share in carrying Him in their heart with love. Blessed, yes, blessed indeed, is the woman who carried Jesus in her womb for nine months (Lk 11:27). We too are blessed, when we are mindful of carrying Him constantly in our heart. Certainly, Christ’s conception in Mary’s womb was a great marvel but it is no less of a marvel to see Him become the guest of our heart. That is the meaning of John’s testimony: “Behold, I stand at the gate and knock. If any man shall hear My Voice and open the door to Me, I shall come into him
and shall sup with him and he with Me ” (Apoc 3:20).

… Here again, my brothers, let us consider our dignity and ,our resemblance to Mary. The Virgin conceived Christ in her womb of flesh and we, carry Him in the womb of our heart. Mary nourished Christ by giving His lips milk from her breast and we, can offer Him a varied meal with the good works which delight Him!” – St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, Doctor of the Church (Sermon 45).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness and enter into the joy of thine eternal gladness.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, MARIAN HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 7 September – Fr Faber’s O Come and Mourn With Me Awhile

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Our Morning Offering – 7 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Our Lady’s Saturday

O Come and Mourn With Me Awhile
By Fr F W Faber C.Orat (1814-1863)

O come and mourn with me awhile,
See Mary calls us to her side;
O come and let us mourn with her.
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.

Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride?
Ah, look how patiently He hangs.
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.

How fast His feet and hands are nailed,
His blessed tongue with thirst is tied,
His failing eyes are blind with blood.
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.

O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act Thy strength is tried
And victory remains with love,
For He, our Love, is Crucified
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY COMMUNION, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 September – His Life-Giving Eucharist

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 September – Ferial Day – Galatians 5:16-24, 6:1-10; Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Young man, I say to thee, arise!”
Luke 7:14

“Even for restoring the dead to life,
the Saviour did not stop at acting by Word alone,
although it was the bearer of Divine Commands.
For such a surpassing work,
He took His own Flesh as His assistant –
if one might put it that way –
that He might show, that it has the power
to give life and, that He might cause it
to be seen that it is entirely One with Him.
… Thus, He not only conferred to His Word
the power to raise the dead
but He even touched the dead,
to show that His Body is Life-giving and,
through His Flesh, He caused life
to pass into their corpses.
If the touch alone of His Sacred Flesh
restores life to a corrupting body,
what profit shall we not discover
in His Life-giving Eucharist
when we make of it our food?
It will wholly transform into its own property
which is immortality, those who participate in it.”

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

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 September – ‘ … Symbols of three kinds of sinner … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 6 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – Ferial Day – Galatians 5:16-24, 6:1-10; Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Young man, I say to thee, arise!” – Luke 7:14

REFLECTION – “In the Gospels, we find three dead people who are visibly restored to life but, thousands who are invisibly so … The Synagogue Official’s daughter (Mk 5:22f.), the widow of Naim’s son and Lazarus (Jn 11) … are symbols of three kinds of sinner whom Christ still raises today. The young girl was still in her father’s house … the widow of Naim’s son was no longer in his mother’s house but not, as yet, in the tomb … Lazarus had already been buried …

And so, there are some people whose sins remain in their hearts but who have not put them into practice … They have consented to sin and death is within their souls but, it has not yet been carried outside. Now, it often happens … that people experience this in themselves – after hearing the Word of God, our Lord seems to say to them: “Arise!” They accuse themselves of the consent they gave to evil and draw breath, to live in salvation and uprightness … Others, having given their consent, go as far as the deed. They carry out the dead thing, hidden in the concealment of their dwelling and expose it before everyone. Are we to despair of them? Did not our Saviour say to that young man: “I tell you, arise!?” Did not He give him back to his mother? This is how it is with someone who has behaved like that – if he is touched and moved by the Word of Truth, he rises again at Christ’s Word, he comes back to life. He was able to go a step further along the way of sin but he could not die forever.

As for those who are so bound fast in evil habits as to their removing even the sight of the evil things they do, they undertake to defend their evil deeds, they are angered if one rebukes them … Such as these, crushed under the weight of a habit of sinning, are, as though buried in the tomb … That stone placed over the sepulcher is the tyrannical force of the habit which crushes the soul and does not allow it, either to arise or to breathe…

Listen, then, dearest brethren and behave in such a way that those who live, live and those who are dead revive … Let all those dead people repent … Let those who live, preserve that life of theirs and let those who are dead, be quick to come back to life again!” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 98).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness and enter into the joy of thine eternal gladness.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 6 September – Faithful Cross Above All Others

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Our Morning Offering – 6 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Friday devoted to the Passion

Faithful Cross! Above All Other
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)

Faithful Cross! above all other,
one and only noble tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest iron,
sweetest weight is hung on thee.

Bend thy boughs, O tree of glory!
Thy relaxing sinews bend;
for awhile the ancient rigour
that thy birth bestowed, suspend
and the King of heavenly beauty
gently on thine arms extend.

Praise and honour to the Father,
praise and honour to the Son,
praise and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One:
One in might and One in glory
while eternal ages run.

Posted in PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH

Thought for the Day – 5 September – CONSIDERATION III: Third Point “Who knows whether thou wilt be lost?”

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Thought for the Day – 5 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION III

“For what is your life?
It is even a vapour which appeareth for a little time.”
(St James iv: 14)

THIRD POINT:
Therefore, is it not folly for the short and paltry pleasures of this brief life to incur the risk of dying a miserable death? and, with that death, to begin a wretched eternity? Oh, of how much importance is that last moment, that last gasp, that last closing of the view!
It is an eternity, either of every joy, or of every pain which is at stake, a life forever happy, or forever miserable!
Let us think – Jesus Christ was willing to die a bitter and cruel death, in order to obtain for us a peaceful and happy
death. For this end, He calls us so many times; He gives us so many lights; He admonishes us with so many threats, in order that we may be induced to spend that last moment in the grace of God.
Even the Pagan Antisthenes, when he was asked what was
the greatest blessing in this world, answered:
“A happy death!”
And what ought a Christian to say, who knows by faith that, from the moment of death, eternity begins; so that in that moment, he lays hold of one of the two wheels which draws with it, either eternal happiness or eternal suffering?
If there were two tickets in a lottery, upon which Hell might
be written on one and Heaven on the other, with what care
would you not try to draw out that one, upon which Paradise was written?
O God, how must those unhappy wretches tremble who are condemned to throw the die upon which their life or death depends! What fear will be yours when you will find yourself near to that last moment; when you will say:
“Upon this moment, which is drawing so near, depends my eternal life or death!
Now, it is to be decided whether I shall be forever blessed, or forever miserable.”

Sr Bernardine of Sienna tells of a certain Prince who, when dying, in great terror, exclaimed:
“I have many lands and palaces in this world but if I should die during this night, I know not what lodging will be mine!”
My brother, if thou believest that thou hast to die and there is an eternity and, once only thou canst die, so if thou once makest a mistake, the mistake will be forever without any hope of remedy, why is it, thou dost not begin, from this moment, in which thou readest these words, to do all which liest in thy power, to secure for thyself, a happy death?

S Andrew Avellino said tremblingly:
“Who knows what will be my lot in the life to come?
Whether I shall be saved or condemned to eternal death?” St Louis Bertrand also trembled so much, he was unable to take rest because of this thought which would suggest itself to him:
“Who knows whether thou wilt be lost?”
And thou, who has committed so many sins, dost thou not tremble? Be quick and make amends in time; resolve to give thyself indeed to God and begin, at least from this time forward, a life, the remembrance of which, may not grieve but may fill thee with joy at the hour of death. Give thyself to prayer, frequent the Sacraments, quit dangerous occasions, and, if necessary, leave even the world, so that thou mayest secure to thyself an eternal salvation and understand, to secure this eternal life, no precaution can be too great!

Affections andPrayers

O my dear Saviour, how much am I not indebted to Thee!
How couldst Thou bestow so many favours upon one so ungrateful; upon such a traitor as I have been to Thee?
Thou hast created me and in creating me Thou didst foresee all the offences I should commit against Thee.
Thou didst redeem me by dying for me and even then, Thou didst know of all the ingratitude I should show towards Thee.
When I was placed in this world, I turned away from Thee and thus, was I dead indeed in sin, until Thou, with Thy grace didst restore me to life.
I was blind and Thou didst enlighten me.
I had lost Thee and Thou didst enable me to find Thee.
I was Thy enemy and Thou didst make me Thy friend.
O God of mercy, grant me to feel how deeply I am indebted to Thee and make me mourn over my offences against Thee. Avenge Thyself upon me by making me very sorry for my sins but do not punish me by depriving me of Thy grace and of Thy love.
O Eternal Father, I detest and abhor more than any other evil, the offences I have committed against Thee. Have mercy upon me, for the love of Jesus Christ. Behold Thy Son upon the Cross. “His Blood be upon me.”
May that Divine Blood flow down and wash my soul.
O King of my heart, “Thy Kingdom come!”

I am resolved to drive away every affection that is not
felt for Thee. I love Thee more than anything; come and
reign alone in my soul. Let me love Thee and let me love
Thee only! I would please Thee as much as it is possible and I would give Thee entire satisfaction during the life which remains to me. Bless, O my Father, this my desire and give me grace ever to be one with Thee.
I consecrate all my affections to Thee and, from this day forward, I would be Thine alone, Who art my Treasure, my Peace, my Hope, my Love, my All and, all this I hope for through the merits of Thy Dearly Beloved Son.

Posted in DYING / LAST WORDS, IMMACULATE HEART Quotes, MARIAN QUOTES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The HOLY GHOST, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 5 September – St Lawrence Justinian

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 September – St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455) Bishop and Patriarch of Venice, Confessor

“The Holy Ghost descends on those
who are of one mind
because He loves unity, peace and concord.”

“The heart of Mary became,
as it were, a mirror of the
Passion of the Son,
in which might be seen,
faithfully reflected,
the spitting, the blows and wounds
and all which Jesus suffered.”

“I am coming, O my Jesus!”

St Lawrence Justinian’s Last Words.

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/09/05/quote-s-of-the-day-5-september-st-lawrence-justinian-2/

St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455)

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 September – “Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”- Matthew 25:21

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One Minute Reflection – 5 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – t Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455) Bishop of Venice, Confessor – Ecclesiasticus 44:16-27; 45:3-20, Matthew 25:14-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”- Matthew 25:21

REFLECTION – “The Word of the Father, Only-begotten Son of God, Sun of Justice (Mal 3:20), is the great Merchant Who has brought us the price of our redemption. It is a truly precious exchange which we can never value sufficiently, when a King, Son of the King Most High, has become the Coin, the Gold has paid our dues, the Just Man is given for the sinner. Truly unmerited mercy, perfectly disinterested love, astonishing goodness…, it is a completely disproportionate purchase, in which the Son of God is delivered up for the servant, the Creator is put to death for the one He has created, the Lord is condemned for His slave.

O Christ, these are Thine Works, Thou Who descended from Heaven’s brightness into our hellish darkness, to bring light to our gloomy prison. Thou came down from the Right Hand of the Divine Majesty, into our human misery, to redeem the human race, Thou Who descended from the Father’s glory to death on the Cross, to triumph over death and its author. Thou art the only One and there is no other but Thee Who could have been drawn to redeem us through Thine Own Goodness…

Let all the merchants of Teman (Bar 3:23) withdraw from this place … it is not they but Israel [Thy] beloved whom [Thou hast] chosen, Thou Who hide these mysteries from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to those babes and humble servants of Thine (Lk 10:21) … O Lord, I willingly embrace this purchase since it concerns me!… I remember all the things Thou hast done, Thou Who desire that I should keep them alive … Therefore, I shall profit by this talent which Thou hast lent to me until Thy return and will stand before Thee with great joy. O God, grant that I may then hear these sweet words: “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Mt 25:21).” – St Bernard O.Cist. (1091-1153) Cistercian Monk, known as the Last Father and the Mellifluous Doctor of the Church (Selected sermons, no 42: The Five Purchases).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God that the venerable feast of Thy blessed Confessor and Bishop, may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DYING / LAST WORDS, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 5 September – Saint Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455) Bishop, Confessor, Patriarch of Venice

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Saint of the Day – 5 September – Saint Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455) Bishop of Venice, Confessor, Patriarch of Venice, Reformer, Spiritual writer. Born on 1 September 1381 at Venice, Italy and died there on 8 January 1455 of natural causes. Also known as – Lorenzo Giustiniani, Laurence…Laurentius…Patriarch of Venice. Patronage – Venice, Italy.

St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455)
Patriarch of Venice
By Father Francis Xavier Weninger SJ (1805-1888)

St Lawrence was a descendant of the noble house of Giustiniani, greatly famed in Genoa, Venice and Naples. He was born in 1381, of very pious parents but early lost his father, Bernard. His mother, on whom now devolved the education of her children, redoubled her care but Lawrence gave her very little trouble, as he was naturally inclined to virtue. One day, she made him understand that she feared he harboured ambition or pride secretly in his heart but, he answered:
“fear not, mother, I have only one ambition and that is to become a great servant of the Lord and to be more pious than my brothers.”
His conduct in youth bore witness to his words, for although he lived at a period when the morals of the whole City were very corrupt, his edifying life was regarded by everyone, with surprise and admiration.

St Lawrence Justinian as a young man by Bellini

To escape the danger which threatened him, he prayed most fervently to God to give him the grace to know the vocation to which he was called. While, one day, kneeling before a Crucifix and an image of the Blessed Virgin, he said his prayers for this intention he experienced a heavenly vision of the Divine Majesty and felt, deep within him, an intense desire to leave the world and to serve God in the Religious state. He obeyed the heavenly Voice, renounced the world and all its allurements, went to the Regular Canons of St George, in Alga, an Island near Venice and requested to be received among their number. His request was granted and he began his Novitiate cheerfully but he soon manifested in his conduct indications that he was no beginner in the science of holiness but a proficient. His Superiors had much more difficulty in moderating his zeal than in animating it.

St Lawrence Justinian Statue at the Church of St John the Evangelist, Evora, Portugal.

Amongst other austerities which he practiced to mortify himself, it was specially noticed that, even on the coldest days, he never warmed himself by the fire and that, in summer, he took nothing to allay his thirst, except with his meals at noon and evening. He was never seen taking the air in the Convent garden, or enjoying the beauty and fragrance of the flowers. The only time when he visited his home, was when he was called to see his dying mother. Still more to be admired, is the fortitude with which he bore a very painful and dangerous operation on his throat for the removal of a great tumour. He, himself encouraged the Surgeon to begin fearlessly:
“Cannot Christ,” said he, “give me as much fortitude as He gave to the three youths in the furnace?”
Not even a sigh escaped him during the operation he repeated only the names of Jesus and Mary. When those present uttered their profound astonishment at his self-control, he said:
“How little is my suffering compared with that of the holy Martyrs, who were tortured with burning torches and red hot irons, or roasted over a slow fire!”

After Lawrence had been Ordained Priest, he daily said Mass with great devotion and seldom without tears. During the Mass on Christmas-night, Heaven bestowed upon him the grace to behold his Saviour in the form of a lovely Child, to the inexpressible comfort of his heart.

St Lawrence Justinian Adoration of the Infant

Although he desired to remain free from all Offices of honour, he was chosen general of his Order and sometime later was nominated as the Bishop of Venice, by Pope Eugenius IV. The humble servant of the Almighty endeavoured, in every possible manner, to escape this dignity but, at last, obliged by obedience, he accepted it.

As the Bishop, he altered nothing of the austerities he had practiced in the Monastery; he visited his whole Diocese and, with Apostolic zeal, animated his flock to observe the Commandments of God and the Church. His income he used for the benefit of the Church and the relief of the poor.

St Lawrence, St John the Baptist, St Franics and ??

Besides several collegiate Churches, he founded fifteen Religious houses and daily fed a great number of poor. The answer he gave to one of his relatives, who requested a contribution out of the Episcopal revenues as a marriage-portion for his daughter, must not be omitted:
“It will not satisfy you if I give you but little,” said he “and, if I give you much, you alone will receive it and many others will have nothing. No, the Episcopal revenues must not be used for worldly luxuries but to comfort the needy. Be not offended, therefore, that I cannot fulfil your desire.”
Thus spoke the holy Bishop, whom Pope Nicholas V. soon after raised to a still higher dignity.

The Patriarch of Grado died and, as the Pope desired to nominate Lawrence as his own successor but being convinced, at the same time that the Venetians would not consent to part with their Bishop, he transferred the Patriarchal Chair to Venice and declared St Lawrence as the first Patriarch of Venice. This City had indeed great reason to use all possible means not to lose the Saint, as only on his account, God averted a terrible and well-deserved punishment from its walls!

St Lawrence Justinian the First Patriarch of Venice

There lived, at that time, in the Island of Corfu, a Hermit, famous for his holiness, who, one day, said to a Venetian noble, who visited him:
“The inhabitants of Venice have provoked God’s wrath, by despising His Words and had not the tears of your Patriarch cried to Him, you would all have long since gone to destruction, like the inhabitants of Sodom!”

While the holy Patriarch was assiduously occupied with the functions of his high station, his strength gradually gave way and he felt his end approaching. On the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, he felt, during Holy Mass, an intense desire to be admitted into the Presence of his God. A fever, which seized him soon after Mass, ended with his death in a very few days.

St Lawrence in Glory

He lay on the bare floor and not even in his last day, could he be persuaded to make use of a softer bed:

“Jesus Christ,” said he, “died upon the hard wood of the Cross and you desire that a sinner, like me, should lie, soft and comfortable!”
After receiving the holy Sacraments, he gave his last instructions to those around him:
“Keep the Commandments of the Lord,” said he, “nothing is more noble or excellent than to serve God.”
After having finished his discourse, he raised his eyes to Heaven and said:
“I am coming, O my Jesus!” and his soul went to God.
Thus ended, in the seventy-third year of his age, the earthly career of this great and holy Patriarch. That his life in Heaven had begun, was known by the manner in which the Lord honoured his holy body, from which emanated a heavenly fragrance; as also, by the miracles which, at the intercession of the Saint, took place at his Tomb, in favour of the infirm and the possessed.

Previous post about this great Saint: https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/05/saint-of-the-day-5-september-saint-lawrence-justinian-1381-1455/

Posted in PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 4 September – CONSIDERATION III: Second Point “For what is your life?”

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Thought for the Day – 4 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION III

“For what is your life?
It is even a vapour which appeareth for a little time.”
(St James iv: 14)

SECOND POINT.
King Hezekiah wept and said:
“I have cut my life off like a weaver;
. . . from day even to night,
wilt Thou make an end of me.” (Isa xxxviii: 12)

Oh! how many who are busy weaving, that is, planning and executing their worldly designs, which they have undertaken with such care, are overtaken by death which cuts off all. At the hour of death, all the glory of everything which is worldly, vanishes away, applause, amusements, pomps and grandeur.

Great secret of death! which makes us see that which the lovers of the world do not see. Fortunes which have been envied, the grandest dignities, the proudest triumphs, lose all their splendour, when they are reviewed from the bed of death!

The notions of certain false happiness which we have formed in our own minds, these are changed into exceeding great indignation against our own folly. The black and gloomy shadow of death covers and obscures all dignities even though they be Royal.
Our passions now, make the things of this earth appear different from what they really are – death unveils them and makes us see, what in truth they are, nothing but smoke, dust, vanity and misery. O my God! of what avail are riches, possessions and kingdoms, in death, when nothing is needed but a coffin and a simple robe to cover the body?
Of what avail are honours, when nothing remains of them but a funeral train and a pompous burial which will assist the soul in no way if it be lost?
Of what avail is beauty, if nothing remains of it but worms, corruption and horror, even before death and afterwards, nothing but a little foul dust?
“He hath made me also a byword of the people.” (Job xvii: 6).
That rich man dies, that minister, that captain and then, he will be spoken of everywhere ; if he has led a wicked life, he will
become a byword of the people and he will serve as a warning to others, being an example of the vanity of the world and also, an example of Divine justice. In the grave, his ashes will be mingled with the ashes of the poor.
“The small and great are there.” (Job iii: 19).
Of what use has the beautiful form of his body been to him, if now he is only a mass of corruption? What has the authority he possessed availed him, if his body is now thrown into a grave to corrupt and his soul has been cast into hell to burn? Oli ! what misery to be the object of these sad reflections to others, instead of making them for his own profit.

Let us, therefore, be persuaded that the proper time for satisfying the stings of a remorseful conscience, is during the time of life and not at the hour of death.
Let us hasten now to do that which, at that time we shall not be able to do.
“The time is short.”
All things quickly pass away and end, therefore, let us so act, that all we do, may serve towards obtaining our eternal salvation.

Affections andPrayers:

O God of my soul, O Infinite Goodness, have mercy upon me, who have so often offended Thee. I did indeed know that by sinning I should lose Thy grace and, I did not mind losing it but teach me what I can do to regain it.
If Thou desirest that I should repent of my sins, I do repent with my whole heart; I would even like to die of grief at having once sinned.
If it is Thy wish that I should hope for pardon from Thee, I do truly hope for it, through the merits of Thy Blood.
If Thou desirest that I should love Thee above all things, I will leave all; I will renounce all the joys and the riches which the world can give me and I will love Thee above all other things, O my most adorable Saviour.
If Thou wiliest that I should demand graces of Thee, I ask for these too that Thou wilt never let me offend Thee anymore and that, Thou wilt make me to love Thee and then do with me whatsoever Thou wilt!

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CONFESSION, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 4 September – Awake and arise!

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Quote/s of the Day – 4 September – Ferial Day – Galatians 5:16-24, Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Young man,
I say to thee,
arise!”

Luke 7:14

“I shall arise and shall go to my Father”

Luke 15:18

“Awake, O Sleeper and Rise from the Dead”

Ephesians 5:14

“Listen to the Lord’s appeal:
‘Come, then, return to Me
and learn to know Me as your Father,
Who repays good for evil,
love for injury
and boundless charity
for piercing wounds!”

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

“As the prodigal son,
I will return to my Father’s house
and I will be welcomed back home.
I shall do the same, as he did –
will the Father not grant my prayer too?
O forgiving Father, here I am at Thy door
and I knock, open to me, let me enter,
so that I may not ruin myself, go away and die!
Thou made me Thy heir
and I neglected my inheritance
and squandered my goods –
from now on, may I be as a mercenary
and as a servant to Thee.”

St Jacob of Sarug (c451-521)
Bishop, Theologian, Poet, Writer, Father

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 September – ‘ … What is this tomb? …’

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One Minute Reflection – 4 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”– St Rose of Viterbo (c1233 – 1251) Virgin – Ferial Day – Galatians 5:16-24, Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“… When the Lord … being moved with mercy towards her, He said to her: Weep not.” – Luke 7:13

REFLECTION – “God’s mercy quickly allows itself to be moved by this mother’s tears. She is a widow; the suffering or death of her only son have crushed her… It seems to me that this widow, surrounded by a crowd of people, is more than just a simple woman, deserving of her young and only son’s resurrection through her tears. She is the image itself of Holy Church, who, by her tears, in the midst of the funeral procession and on the brink of the grave, gains a restoration to life of the youthful people of the world … For, at God’s Word, the dead are raised (Jn 5:28), they regain their speech and the mother recovers her son. He is called back from the tomb, snatched from the sepulchre.

What is this tomb of yours, if not your evil behaviour? Your tomb is your lack of faith … Christ sets you free from this sepulchre. If you listen to God’s Word, you will come out of the tomb. And if your sin is too serious for the tears of your repentance to cleanse it, may the tears of your mother, the Church, intercede on your behalf. She is, indeed, full of compassion and feels a wholly maternal, spiritual sorrow when she sees her children dragged off to death by sin!” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on Saint Luke’s Gospel V, 89).

PRAYER – Protect Thy Church by Thine abiding mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord and since all mortals fall without Thee, may Thy help keep them from danger and guide them to salvation. May the prayers of Thy virgin the blessed Rose, assist us on our journey to Thee. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 4 September – I Will Love Thee, Lord By St Thomas of Villanova

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Our Morning Offering – 4 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

I Will Love Thee, Lord
By St Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555)

I will love Thee, Lord,
in every way
and without setting limits
to my love.
Thou set no limits to what Thou
hast done for me;
Thou hast not measured Thy gifts.
I will not measure my love.
I will love Thee, Lord,
with all my strength,
with all my powers,
as much as I am able.
Amen

Posted in QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on THE WORLD, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

Thought for the Day – 3 September – CONSIDERATION III: First Point “For what is your life?”

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Thought for the Day – 3 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION III

“For what is your life?
It is even a vapour which appeareth for a little time.”
(St James iv: 14)

FIRST POINT:
WHAT is your life?
It is like unto a vapour which is dispersed by a breath of wind and is no more.
All know they must die but, the mistake so many make, is, they imagine that death is so far off, it will never overtake them.
But no! for Job warns us that the life of man is short:
“ Man is of few days. …. He cometh forth like a flower and is cut down.” (Job xiv: i, 2.)
The Lord commanded Isaiah to preach this same truth:
“Cry,” He said to him,
“All flesh is grass. ….
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth.” (Isa xl: 6, 7)
The life of man is like the life of a blade of grass; death comes, the blade is dried up and behold, life is finished and the flower of all grandeur and of all earthly possessions, is cut down.
“My days are swifter than a post.” (Job ix: 25).
Death comes to meet us more quickly than a messenger and we, at every moment, run towards death. At every step we take, at every breath we draw, we approach death.

“During the time I write,” observes St Jerome, “I am approaching death.”
“For we must needs die and are as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again.” (2 Sam xiv: 14).
Thou’seest how that stream flows to the sea and these running waters, they will never return again, thus, my brother, do thy days pass and thou drawest near to death, so do thy pleasures pass thy amusements, pomps, praises, acclamations and what remains?
“The graves are ready for me.” (Job xvii: I).
We shall be cast into a grave and there we shall have to lie deprived of everything. At the moment of death the remembrance of all the delights enjoyed in life, of all the honours we have acquired, will only serve to increase the grief and the mistrust which we shall feel as to obtaining eternal salvation. The miserable wordly one will then exclaim, ‘Alas! my house, my gardens, that furniture, those paintings, those garments, within a short time will no longer be mine!’
“The graves are ready for me.”

Alas! for at that time no earthly possession will be regarded, except with sorrow, by him who has loved it with such devotedness.
And this grief will only serve to place the salvation of the soul in greater danger; for we know that those who are so fond of the world, at the time of death, will only permit their infirmities, the physicians who are to be called in and the remedies which may relieve them, to be discussed and when the condition of their souls is spoken of, they immediately grow weary and desire that they maybe left to repose because they have a headache and they cannot bear the noise of conversation and when, sometimes they answer, they become confused, neither do they know what to say. Even so, do those die who think but little upon death.

Affections andPrayers

Ah, my God and Lord of Infinite greatness, I blush to appear before Thee. How often have I esteemed Thy friendship of less moment than a base pleasure, a passion of anger, a vain whim, a vapour?

I adore and kiss Thy holy Wounds which I, nevertheless, have inflicted on Thee by my sins but, through which, however, I hope for pardon and salvation.
Make me to feel, O my Jesus, the grievous wrong I have done Thee in leaving Thee, Thou Who art the Fountain of all good, to drink of waters which are putrid and poisonous. What do I now feel because of all my many offences against Thee, except remorse of conscience and fruits for hell?

“Father, …. lam unworthy to be called Thy son.” (St Luke xv: 21).
My Father, do not cast me from Thee. It is true I do not
deserve Thy Love, that I may become Thy son but Thou hast died to give me pardon. Thou hast said, “Turn ye unto Me, . . . and I will turn unto you.” (Zach i: 3) .
I leave every gratification, I renounce all the pleasures the world can give me and I turn to Thee.
Pardon me through that Blood which Thou hast shed for me, for I repent with all my heart, for all the offences which I have committed against Thee. I repent, for I love Thee beyond all other things. I am not worthy to love Thee but Thou art indeed worthy to be loved, let me love Thee, do
not turn from me, let this heart which once neglected Thee, now love Thee.
Thou didst not leave me to die, when I was living in sin, in order that I might come to love Thee yes, I do indeed desire to love Thee during the remainder of my life and, I would love none but Thee. Help me, give me holy perseverance and Thy most holy Love.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 September – ‘ … Love is not a miracle but a work! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 3 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Pius X (1835-1914) Pope, Confessor – Thessalonians 2:2-8; John 21:15-17 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“… Thou knowest that I love Thee.
He said to him: Feed My sheep.” – John 21:17

REFLECTION – “Let us follow the manner of life of the Apostles and we will be their inferiors in nothing. For it was not their miracles which made them Apostles, it was the holiness of their lives. It is by this means, a disciple of Christ is recognised. The Lord Himself clearly gave us this sign. When He wanted to draw a portrait of His disciples and make known the sign that marked out His Apostles, He said: “This is how all will know thou art My disciples,” How? By working miracles? Raising the dead? Not at all! How, then? “This is how all will know thou art My disciples, if thou hast love for one another” (Jn 13:35).

Love is not a miracle but a work! “Love is the fulfillment of the Law” (Rm 13:10) … Therefore, have love among thyselves and thou wilt be counted among the Apostles, even amongst the first of them. Do thou want another proof of this teaching? See how Christ addressed Peter: “Peter, dost thou love me more than these?” There is nothing which enables us to win the Kingdom of Heaven more, than loving Christ as He deserves … What are we to do to love more than the Apostles did? … Listen to Christ, the very One we are to love: “If thou loves Me more than these, be the shepherd of My sheep”… Zeal, compassion, attentiveness are deeds, not miracles!” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (2nd Sermon on the inscription to the Book of the Acts of the Apostles).

PRAYER – O God Who, for the defence of the Catholic faith and the restoration of all things in Christ, filled St Pius, the Supreme Pontiff, with heavenly wisdom and apostolic fearlessness, mercifully grant that, by following his teachings and examples, we may receive Thy eternal rewards. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CARPENTERS, WOODWORKERS, JOINERS, CABINETMMAKERS, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, SAINT of the DAY, WORKERS

Our Morning Offering – 3 September – O Glorious St Joseph, Model of Labour By St Pius X

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Our Morning Offering – 3 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Pius X (1835-1914) Pope, Confessor and today, Wednesday, being St Joseph’s day. St Joseph continues his fatherly guardianship of Christ’s Body, the Holy Catholic Church. He is a very powerful intercessor for all of us. [Sorry friends, I got the days confused, thinking today was Wednesday – but no time to change this prayer and anyway we should pray it every day 😬😉]

O Glorious St Joseph,
Model of Labour
A Prayer to St Joseph, Daily Before Work
By St Pius X (1835-1914) Pope, Confessor

O glorious St. Joseph,
model of all those who are devoted to labour,
obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously,
putting the call of duty above
my natural inclinations;
to work with gratitude and joy,
in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins, considering it an honour to employ
and develop, by means of labour,
the gifts received from God,
to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking
from weariness and difficulties,
to work above all, with purity of intention
and detachment from self,
having always, death before my eyes
and the account which I must render of time lost,
of talents wasted, of good omitted,
of vain complacency in success,
so fatal to the work of God.
All for Jesus, all through Mary,
all after thine example, O Patriarch, St Joseph.
Such shall be my watchword in life and in death.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 2 September –CONSIDERATION II, Third Point: “An end, the end is come.”

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Thought for the Day – 2 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION II

“An end, the end is come.”
(Ezek vii: 2)

THIRD POINT:
David likened the happiness of this present life to a dream,
-when one awakens: “Yea, even like as a dream, when one
awaketh.” (Ps Ixxiii: 19) .
A certain author observes:
“In a dream, the senses being at rest, great things appear and are not and quickly vanish away. ”
The goods of this world appear great but in truth, they are nothing, like sleep, they last but a short time and then they all vanish away.

This thought, namely, that all things end with death, made St Francis Borgia give himself up entirely to God. This Saint was obliged to accompany the body of the Empress Isabella to Granada. When the coffin was opened, all those present fled because of the dreadful sight and smell but St Francis, led by Divine Light, remained to contemplate, in that body, the vanity of the world and looking upon it, he said:
“Art thou then my empress?
Art thou that great one to whom so many great ones bowed the knee?
O my mistress, Isabella, where is now thy majesty and
thy beauty?
Even thus,” he concluded within himself,
“do the grandeurs and the crowns of this world end.
From this day forward, I will, therefore, serve a Master Who can never die!”
Therefore, from that time, he gave himself entirely to the love of Jesus Crucified and then, he formed this resolution, that if his wife should die, he would become a religious which resolution he afterwards fulfilled by entering the Society of Jesus.
Truly, then, did one disabused of the world write these words on a skull:
“It is impossible for him who thinks upon death, to love the world and. therefore. are there so many unhappy lovers of this world because they do not think upon death.”

“O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour and have such pleasure in vanity and seek after pleasing?” (Ps iv: 2) O miserable children of Adam, the Holy Ghost warns us. why, therefore, do you not drive away from your hearts, that affection for the world which causes you to love vanity and deceit? That which happened to your forefathers will one day happen to you, they, at one time were living in the same houses and many slept upon the same beds which you do now but now they are no more – the same will happen to you.

Therefore, my brother, give thyself now to God, before death shall come to Thee.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might”(Eccles ix: 10) .
Whatsoever thou canst do to-day, do it and wait not until to-morrow because this day will pass away and will never return and to-morrow death might overtake you, so that you would then be able to do nothing at all.
Quickly remove yourself from all that separates, or that may separate you from God.
Let us now give up all our love for this world’s goods, before death takes them away from us by force!
“Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord.” (Rev xiv:13). Blessed are those, who, when dying, are found dead to the affection o fthis world.
By such as these, death is not feared, it is desired, it is joyfully embraced, for instead of separating them from all that they love, it then unites them to their Sovereign
Good, Who is alone loved by them and Who, will make them blessed for evermore.

Affections andPrayers

My dear Redeemer, I indeed thank Thee for having waited
for me. What would have become of me if I had died when I
was far from Thee? Forever blessed be Thy mercy and Thy
patience which Thou hast exercised towards me, during the
many years past.
I thank Thee for the light and grace with which Thou dost now assist me. At one time I did not love Thee and then, I cared little for being loved by Thee.

Now, I love Thee, with all my heart and now, I have no greater grief, than what I feel, for having once displeased a God so gracious. This grief torments me but the torment is sweet because, this grief gives me confidence that Thou hast indeed pardoned me.
My sweet Saviour, would that I had died over and over again, rather than once even, to have given Thee offence.
I tremble and fear, lest at any time, I should ever again displease Thee.
Ah, rather let me die a most painful death, than that I
should ever again lose Thy grace.
Once I was the slave of hell but now, I am Thy servant, O God of my soul.

Thou hast said that Thou wilt love those who love Thee.
I love them who love me.
I do love Thee, therefore, Thou art mine and I am Thine.
I might lose Thee at some time but this is the grace which I seek, namely, it would be better for me to die, than to lose Thee again. Thou hast given me so many graces that I have not asked Thee. for, therefore, I cannot fear that Thou wilt fail to grant me this grace, for which I am now asking Thee.

Never again let me lose Thee; give me Thy holy Love and nothing more can I desire!

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 2 September – St Stephen, King of Hungary

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 September – St Stephen, King of Hungary (c975- 1038) Confessor

“Do not look forward in fear
to the changes of life,
rather, look to them
with full hope that, as they arise,
God, Whose very Own you are,
will lead you safely through all things
and, when you cannot stand it,
God will carry you in His Arms.”

“Be merciful to all
who are suffering violence,
keeping always in your heart
the example of the Lord
who said:
‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/09/02/quote-s-of-the-day-2-september-st-stephen-king-of-hungary/

St Stephen of Hungary (c975- 1038)