Category: CATHOLIC Quotes

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, CONFESSION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher and St Thomas More – Martyrs

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher (1469-1535) Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal and St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr, Confessor.

“Contrition is to have sorrow at heart
and great repentance of all sins
and to have steadfast purpose to keep
and abstain himself from all deadly sins.
For he who has intention, to return to deadly sin,
his confession avails him nothing!”

“Whether we eat or drink,
wake or sleep,
laugh or weep,
our life here is always
drawing to an end.”

“Is it not a wonderful thing
that He, that is, the Lord
and Author of all liberty,
would thus be bound with ropes
and nailed hand and foot unto the Cross?
Thus, whoever, with a meek heart
and a true faith,
muses and marvels over this
most wonderful book (I speak of the Crucifix),
he shall come to more fruitful knowledge
than many others who, each day,
study their common books.”

St John Fisher (1469-1535)
Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal

“The soul cannot thrive
in the absence of a garden.
If you do not want Paradise,
you are not human
and if you are not human,
you do not have a soul!”

“We cannot go to Heaven in featherbeds.”

“[How can anyone] be silly enough
to think himself better than others
because his clothes are made
of finer woolen thread than theirs.?
After all, those fine clothes
were once worn by a sheep
and they never turned it into
anything better than a sheep!”

“Pride thinks it’s own happiness
shines the brighter, by comparing it
with the misfortunes of others.”

St Thomas More (1478-1535)
Martyr, Confessor

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Posted in "Follow Me", ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 July – Do men gather grapes from thorns? Matthew 7:16

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One Minute Reflection – 9 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Romans 6:19-23; Matthew 7:15-21– Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? ” – Matthew 7:16

REFLECTION – “Let us love God, my brothers, let us love God but let it be at the expense of our arms and the sweat of our brow. For only too often, so many of our acts of love for God, kindness, favour and other similar feelings and interior practices of the gentle heart, however good and desirable they are, are nevertheless, to be held in suspicion, when they do not at all bring us to practice actual love. Our Lord said: “My Father is glorified by this – that you bear much fruit” (Jn 15:8).

Now this is something about which we need to be very careful because, there are many who, so as to be exteriorly well-ordered and interiorly full of great feelings for God, stop at that. And when it comes to the point and they find themselves in a situation for action, they stop short. They pride themselves on their inflated imaginations; they are satisfied with the sweet exchanges they have with God in prayer; they even talk about it like Angels. But when they come away, is there any question of working for God, of suffering, practicing mortification, teaching the poor, searching for the lost sheep (Lk 15:4), being pleased when they lack something, accepting sickness or some other misfortune? Alas, then, there is no-one to be seen, courage fails them! No, let us not deceive ourselves – our whole task consists in progressing towards acts!” – St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) Priest, Founder (Spiritual conferences to the Missionaries, Fragment 171).

PRAYER – From all perils of soul and body defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee,and by the intercession of blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and of blessed Martyrs St John Fisher, St Thomas More, St Maria Goretti and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace that all adversities and errors being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom.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 "Follow Me", PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PATIENCE

Thought for the Day – 8 July – The Patience of the Martyrs

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Thought for the Day – 8 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of the Martyrs

  1. To lay down one’s life for Christ is one of the greatest honours which can be bestowed upon us. it ensures an immediate entrance into Heaven.it gives us a part, such as nothing else can give, of the sufferings of Him, Who laid down His life for us.
    It is a crowning mark of God’s mercy to those who are His especial friends. It is not in the power of all who desire it; it is given to those for whom God has destined it and to none other. It has to be purchased by a long course of faithful service of God.
    If only God would give me such a privilege how happy I should be. If only I could live, so to deserve it!
  2. Even the weak, the timid, the sensitive, can, if God gives them the special grace of Martyrdom, face undismayed, the most cruel tortures. Sometimes they did not feel the pain, even when it was most agonising. The secret joy of their hearts, the thought that they were suffering for Christ – made it seem light to them and gave them fortitude to endure to the end.
    If God should, at a time, give me the happiness of dying for Him, He will take away all the fear and will give me a light, joyous heart even in the midst of the greatest physical sufferings!

3 If there is little or no prospect of my laying down my life for Christ, yet I can, at least, make the offering to Him – I can present myself to suffer anything which He has in store for me.
It may be that I am destined for suffering, worse than death, the prolonged Martyrdom of physical or mental anguish. But one thing I know, that He will never lay upon me suffering beyond that which I am able to bear, and will, with the suffering, give the grace necessary, to endure it with resignation and perhaps even with joy!

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, The HEART, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 8 July– the Kingdom of Heaven

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 July– Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 13:44-52

“Jesus said in parables:
The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure,
hidden in a field.”

Matthew 13:44

“What is a man’s treasure
but the heaping up of profits
and the fruit of his toil?
For, whatever a man sows,
this too will he reap and each man’s gain,
matches his toil and where delight
and enjoyment are found,
there the heart’s desire is attached.
Now, there are many kinds of wealth
and a variety of grounds for rejoicing –
every man’s treasure is that, which he desires.
If it is based on earthly ambitions,
its acquisition makes men not blessed but wretched.
… By distributing what might be superfluous
to support the poor, they are amassing
imperishable riches, so that what they have
discreetly given, cannot be subject to loss.
They have properly placed those riches,
where their heart is – it is a most blessed thing,
to work to increase such riches,
rather than to fear that they may pass away.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Look at the fig tree and all the trees,
when they produce their fruit you know that summer is near.
So too, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.”
Luke 21:29-31

“He means that just as the coming of summer
is recognised by the fruit on the trees,
so is the nearness of the Kingdom of God recognised
by the destruction of the world.
These words show that the fruit of the world is destruction –
it increases only to fall, it produces, only to destroy
by its disasters whatever it produces.
The Kingdom of God is aptly compared to summer,
because it is then that the clouds of our sorrow pass away
and the days of life shine
with the brightness of the Eternal Sun. …
Therefore, my friends, do not love
what you see cannot long exist.
Keep in mind the Apostle John’s precept,
in which he counsels us not “to love the world
or the things in the world because,
if anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn 2:15).”

St Gregory the Great (540-604)
Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church

“But seek first the Kingdom of God
and His righteousness
and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33

“But, [you will tell me],
there is so much to do, so many household jobs,
so much business in town, in the fields –
work everywhere! Do we have to abandon it all, then,
so as to think of nothing but God?”
No – but these occupations have to be sanctified
by seeking God in them and doing them
to find Him in them, rather than, to see them done.
What our Lord wants, is for us to seek His glory,
His Kingdom, His righteousness, before all else
and, for this, to make our foundation the interior life,
faith, trust, love, religious exercises …, labours and sufferings,
with God our Sovereign Lord in view…
Once we are firmly set in the search for God’s glory,
we can be assured that the rest will follow.”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 July– ‘ … For everything lies in the soul’s inner sanctuary. …’

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One Minute Reflection – 8 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Elizabeth of Portugal TOSF (1271-1336) Widow, Queen – Proverbs 31:10-31; Matthew 13:44-52 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure  hidden in a field;
he who finds it, hides it and in his joy, goes and sells all that he has
and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44

REFLECTION – “In my opinion, it would be unworthy of us to withdraw, even for a moment, from the contemplation of Christ. When we have lost sight of Him, even briefly, let us turn our mind’s regard back to Him, directing the eyes of our heart, as by a very straight line. For everything lies in the soul’s inner sanctuary. There, after the devil has been expelled and the vices no longer reign at all, the Kingdom of God can be established in us, as the Evangelist says: “For amen I say to you that the Kingdom of God is within you.”

But within us there can be nothing else than knowledge or ignorance of the truth and the love, of either the vices, or the virtues, by which we make ready a Kingdom in our hearts, either for the devil or for Christ.

The Apostle Paul also describes the characteristics of this Kingdom when he says: “For the Kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Thus, if the Kingdom of God is within us and the Kingdom of God is itself, righteousness and peace and joy, then, whoever abides in these things, is undoubtedly in the Kingdom of God … Let us lift up the eyes of our soul to that Kingdom which is endless joy!” – St John Cassian (c360-435) Monk, Theologian, Founder of Monasteries, Father of the Church, Disciple of St John Chrysostom (Conferences No 1).

PRAYER – Most merciful God, Who among other admirable gifts, endowed blessed Queen Elizabeth with the special grace of calming the tumult of war; grant by her intercession that, after the peace for which we humbly pray, we may attain everlasting happiness. Through 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 ON the SAINTS, OUR Cross, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Thought for the Day –7 July – The Patience of the Saints

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Thought for the Day –7 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of the Saints

  1. To the grace of patience, all the Saints, in great measure, owe their eternal reward. Their crown in Heaven will not be due, so much to what they have done for God, as to what they have suffered for Him. In them, ‘patience has its perfect work’ (St James 1 : 4) and that work has been to prepare them for the eternal joys of Heaven. Oh, how grateful they will be to God for the patience which He has given them to suffer willingly for Him! How grateful they will be for the sufferings which have procured for them, such happiness inexpressible and peace, which knows no end!
  2. The Saints, while still on earth, have a truer view of all the events of life than we have. They value, above all things, even while they are still suffering them, the crosses and afflictions which God sends them. The Apostles counted it joy to suffer shame for Christ’s sake. ‘We glory in tribulation,’ says St Paul.
    St Francis Xavier prayed for more suffering; St Teresa that she might go on suffering until her death. This was no mere sentiment, it was common sense and ordinary prudence. They found a real joy, even here in suffering.
    Have I any such joy? or do I dislike and try to avoid suffering? Here is a test of whether I am like the Saints?
  3. The patience of the Saints was more severely tried than is ours. Not only were they stoned, racked, torn asunder, not only did they suffer want, distress, afflictions (Hebrews 11 : 37) but, they had to endure what was still more difficult – ingratitude, failure, unkindness, false accusations, desolation, darkness. Yet they willingly endured all for Jesus’ sake, never ceasing to love Him through it all. I have my trials, yet none so dreadful as theirs, yet I complain even under my lighter cross!
Posted in franciscan OFM, I BELIEVE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER

Quote/s of the Day – 7 July – St Lawrence of Brindisi

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Quote/s of the Day – 7 July – St Lawrence of Brindisi OFM Cap (1559-1619) Confessor, The “Franciscan Renaissance Man,” Priest

“All things are possible for him who believes,
more for him who hopes,
even more for him who loves.”

“Oh, if we were to consider this reality!
In other words that God is truly present to us,
when we speak to Him in prayer
that He truly listens to our prayers,
even if we pray only with our hearts and minds.
And that ,not only is He present
and hears us, indeed, He willingly
and with the greatest of pleasure,
wishes to grant our requests.”

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St Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 7 July – ‘ … If you say you abide in Christ, you ought to walk as He walked. … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 7 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Saint Cyril (827-869) and Saint Methodius (826-885) “Apostles to the Slavs,” Sibling Brother Bishops, Confessors – Romans 6:19-23; Matthew 7:15-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“By their fruits you shall know them.”- Matthew 7:16

REFLECTION – “Do you believe in Christ? Do the works of Christ, so that your faith may live; love will animate your faith, deed will reveal it … If you say you abide in Christ, you ought to walk as He walked. But if you seek your own glory, envy the successful, slander the absent, take revenge on those who injure you, this Christ did not do. You profess to know God, yet reject Him by your deeds! … “Such a one honours Me with his lips but his heart is far from Me” (Is 29:13; Mt 15:8)…

You see then that right faith, will not make a man righteous, unless it is enlivened by love. Someone, who has no love, has no means of loving the Bride, Christ’s Church. But, on the other hand, deeds, however righteous, cannot make the heart righteous, without faith. Who would call a person righteous, who does not please God? But “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb 11:6). And God, cannot please the one, who is not pleasing to Him; for if God is pleasing to someone that person cannot displease God. Furthermore, if God is not pleasing to that person, neither is His Bride, the Church. How then can he be righteous, who loves neither God nor God’s Church, to whom is said: “The righteous love you”? (Sg 1,3 Vg.).

If, therefore, neither faith without good works, nor good works without faith, suffice for a man’s righteousness, we, my brothers, who believe in Christ, should strive to ensure that our behaviour and desires are righteous. Let us raise up both our hearts and hands, to God that our whole being maybe righteous, our righteous faith being revealed in our righteous actions. So, we shall be lovers of the Bride, the Church and loved by the Bridegroom Jesus Christ our Lord, who is God, blessed forever!” – St Bernard (1091-1153) Cistercian, Father and Ddoctor of the Church (24th sermon on the Song of Songs).

PRAYER – Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercession of the blessed brothers, Cyril and Methodius, who, by the power of the Holy Ghost were moved to bring the light of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EUCHARISTIC, GOD ALONE!, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 7 July – Soul of My Saviour, Sanctify My Breast

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Our Morning Offering – 7 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Pentecost VII

Soul of My Saviour,
Sanctify My Breast
Trans. Attri. to Fr John Hegarty (1752-1834)

Soul of my Saviour,
sanctify my breast;
Body of Christ,
be Thou my saving Guest;
Blood of my Saviour,
bathe me in Thy tide;
Wash me with water
flowing from Thy side.

Strength and protection,
may Thy Passion be;
O Blessed Jesus, hear
and answer me;
Deep in Thy Wounds, Lord,
hide and shelter me;
So shall I never, never,
part from Thee.

Hear me, Lord Jesus,
listen as I pray;
“Lead me from night,
to never-ending day.
Fill all the world,
with love and grace Divine,
And glory, laud and praise,
be ever Thine.”

This Hymn is based on the original Latin text of the Anima Christi. Fr Hegarty is attributed with its translation and/or arrangement.
He was born in County Derry, Ireland, educated at Dublin University and was Ordained in June 1890 and spent most of active apostolic years in Brisbane, Australia. He died aged 82 years.

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The PASSION, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 6 July – The Patience of Jesus Christ

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Thought for the Day – 6 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of Jesus Christ

As in all other virtues, so in patience, Jesus Chris is our Teacher and Example. None ever sufferer as He did and, therefore, none had to exercise such patience as He exercised.

  1. How patient He was with those who reviled and abused Him! Never one indignant word, never one angry look, nothing but sweetness and kindness. ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.‘ Oh, when shall I be able to imitate the patience of Jesus! when shall I approach, even at a distance, the Divine Model, Whom I profess to imitate!
  2. How patient He was with His Apostles! How their roughness, selfishness, stupidity, must have jarred upon Him! They misunderstood His word they quarrelled among themselves, His predictions respecting the Passion fell upon deaf ears, they all forsook Him in time of danger yet, He never was ruffled by the faintest breath of anger or impatience. He Who was the Infinite God put up with their inconstancy, selfishness, ambition.
    Once more, how far am I from the gentleness and patience of the Son of God!
  3. In the midst of physical agony such as none other ever tasted, how patient He was! Nothing save a gentle moaning expressive of the agony He was enduring, escaped His lips when the scourges lacerated His Sacred Body and when the nails were driven through His hands and feet. He endured that which even He could not have borne had He not been God and used His Divinity to enable Him to suffer more. Yet, He was always submissive to the Will of God, always taking a sort of strange joy in His acutest agony because, He knew, the rich reward at hand, the long-lived seed, who through Him, would be redeemed from the wrath of God and endless misery.
Posted in FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, St PAUL!, St PETER!

Quote of the Day – 6 July – ‘The Gates of our true country …’

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Quote of the Day – 6 July – The Octave Day of Sts Peter and Paul

“There are the Gates of our true country,
the two lights of the immense world.
There Paul’s voice is heard like thunder;
there Peter withholds or hurls the bolt .
The former opens the hearts of men,
the latter opens Heaven.
Peter is the Foundation-stone,
Paul the Architect of the temple
where stands the Altar
by which God is propitiated.
Both together form a single Fountain,
which pours out its healing
and refreshing waters.”

St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)
“The Troubadour of Christ”

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on DOUBT, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FEAR, St PAUL!, St PETER!, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 July – “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

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One Minute Reflection – 6 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – The Octave Day of Sts Peter and Paul – Sirach 44:10-15, Matthew 14:22-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” … Matthew 14:31

REFLECTION – “Once again the disciples are a plaything of the waves and a storm, similar to the first one (Mt 8:4), hurls itself against them. The first time, however, they had Jesus with them, whereas this time, they are alone and left to themselves. …  I think this was because our Saviour wanted to stir their sleeping hearts and, by throwing them into a panic, He inspired in them, a strong desire for His presence and kept the remembrance of Him constantly in their minds.   Hence, He did not come to their help at once but “during the fourth watch of the night He came towards them, walking on the sea”. …

Peter, ever volatile, always getting in before the other disciples, said: “Lord, if it is Thee, command me to come to Thee on the water” …   He did not say, “Command me to walk on the water” but “come to Thee”  for there was none who loved Jesus as much as he.   He did the same thing after the Resurrection – unable to bear moving as slowly as the others in the boat, he jumped into the water to get there before them and satisfy his love for Christ. …  Getting out of the boat, then, Peter went towards Jesus, more delighted to be going towards Him than to be walking on the water.   But after confronting the greatest danger, that of the sea, he was to give in to a lesser, that of the wind.   Such is human nature!   Often, having overcome serious dangers we are conquered by lesser ones …  Peter had not yet been set free from all his fear … in spite of Christ’s presence beside him.   For it is of no use to be beside Christ if one is not close to Him by faith.   This is what emphasises the distance separating Master from the disciple …

“O man of little faith, why did you doubt?”   So, if Peter’s faith had not faltered, he would have resisted the wind without difficulty.   And the proof of this, is that Jesus grasped Peter while leaving the wind to continue blowing …   Just as the mother bird supports with her wings, as it is about to fall, the fledgling that has prematurely left the nest and draws it back into the nest, so does Christ with regard to Peter.” … St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Saint Matthew’s Gospel, 50, 1-2).

PRAYER – O God, Who made this day holy by the Martyrdom of Your Apostles Peter and Paul, grant Thy Church to follow in all things, the teaching of those, from whom she first received the faith. 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 HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VANITY, SELF-DISTRUST

Thought for the Day – 5 July – Certain Temptations Against Humility

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Thought for the Day – 5 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Certain Temptations Against Humility

It is not easy to be humble when we are praised and flattered. Our self-love swallows, with eagerness, the words of compliment. We think they must be partly true, or at least, we are tempted to exult in the high opinion which others profess of us. Such occasions are very perilous to humility.
We should do well to think of Herod when the people listened to his oration and shouted out, “It is the voice of a god and not of a man.” We read that, because he took the glory to himself instead of giving it to God, he was smitten down by the Angel of the Lord and died miserably (Acts 12).

Yet we cannot help being pleased when others speak kindly of us and we ought to be pleased when our superiors commend us but, we must observe certain precautions.

  • We must take care to rejoice rather in the kindness of others than in their praise.
  • We must strive to forget ourselves, raise our hearts to God and offer Him our success.
  • We must make an act of humility at the thought that, if those who praise us saw us as God sees us, they would despise, not honour us.

If we find we are puffed up by praise, this is fresh proof of our imperfection. The Saints disliked and dreaded praise and, when they were blamed unjustly, thanked God and took it as a mark of His love and favour. Father Lancicius used to consider unjust reproaches as pure gains because they had no drawback of self-reproach or regret.
Which do I accept most gladly, undue praise or undeserved blame?

Posted in GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SANCTITY

Quote/s of the Day – 5 July–St Anthony Mary Zaccaria

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 July–St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539) Confessor, Priest, Founder of the Barnabits – The First Religious Order Named after St Paul The Apostle

“Man, my friends, was created
and placed upon this earth,
chiefly and exclusively,
in order to reach God;
the rest of creation helps him
reach that goal.”

“God has made your neighbour
the road to reach His Majesty.”

“Climb up as high as you can,
for you owe Him much, much more!”

“Strive continuously to increase,
that which you have begun in yourself
and in others because,
the heights of perfection are limitless.”

(From Sermon VI – The Way of God)

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/07/05/quote-s-of-the-day-5-july-st-anthony-mary-zaccaria-4/

St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, SELF-DISTRUST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 July– “Good Master, what shall I do that I may receive life everlasting?” – Mark 10:17

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One Minute Reflection – 5 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539) Confessor, Priest, Founder – 1 Timothy 4:8-16, Mark 10:15-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Good Master, what shall I do that I may receive life everlasting?” – Mark 10:17

REFLECTION – “It was no small forwardness which the young man had shown; he was a man with great desires. While others were coming to Jesus to put Him to trial or to ask Him to cure their diseases, or those of other people, this young man comes to Him to talk about eternal life. He was like fertile, rich land but there were thorns there too, ready to choke the seeds (Mt 13:7). Look how he is ready to obey the commandments: “What must I do,” he says, “to inherit eternal life?”… This was not the feeling of any of the Pharisees, they grew furious when their mouths were stopped. But not so this man, he goes away downcast which is no little sign that he had come, not with an evil will but, with one too feeble. He did indeed desire life but was held in subjection by another, most grievous desire …

“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in Heaven; then come, follow Me … At this statement, he went away sorrowful.” After this, the evangelist shows why he felt this way, by saying, “He had many possessions.” For those who have little, are not equally held in subjection by their possessions, as those who overflow with affluence, for then the love of it becomes more tyrannical. The increase of acquisitions kindles the flame more and renders those, who possess them, poorer, it puts them in greater desire and makes them feel more their “want”. See what strength this passion exhibited here … “How difficulkt it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” Not that Christ blames wealth but those who are held in subjection by it.” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homily 63 on Matthew).

PRAYER – Grant, O Lord God that in the spirit of Paul the Apostle,
we may learn the knowledge of Jesus Christ which surpasses all understanding, wherein the blessed Anthony Mary was marvelously learned, who gathered together in Thy Church new households of Clerics and of Virgins. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR

Our Morning Offering – 5 July– A Morning Offering Of St Alphonsus

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Our Morning Offering – 5 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” –

My Most Sweet Lord
A Morning Offering
Of St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

My most sweet Lord,
I offer and consecrate to Thee.
this morning
all that I am and have –
my senses,
my thoughts,
my affections,
my desires,
my pleasures,
my inclinations,
my liberty.
In a word,
I place my whole body and soul
in Thy Hands.
Amen.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on VANITY, SELF-DISTRUST

Thought for the Day – 4 July – The Presentation of Humility

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Thought for the Day – 4 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

The Presentation of Humility

When God gives us consolation and peace of soul, we are in danger of losing our sense of dependence and our humility, unless, we bear in mind that:
+ All this happiness is a gift of God which, at any moment, He might take from us and, if He does but turn His Face from us, our joy will be turned to sorrow and heaviness.
+ We live continually on the edge of a precipice and, without a humble reliance upon God, we shall be sure to plunge over it!
+ Prayer to God is necessary to keep us humble and to keep us from attributing to ourselves, His good gifts.

However great may be the graces given us and, however, high the degree of virtue we may attain, we are never safe, unless we remember that we have, in ourselves, an inextinguishable fount of sin and weakness, of concupiscence and rebellion against God, otherwise, our very graces, may prove our ruin. We must cry out to God each morning as Saint Philip did,
“Watch me, O Lord, this day –
for, abandoned to myself,
I shall surely betray Thee!”
‘Guard me against myself and the traitor within my heart which makes me so often unfaithful to Thee. Heal my soul, which abounds with that, which is displeasing to Thee.‘

Those who have great natural talents are in especial danger unless they cultivate constant dependence upon God. Their very ability, is a danger to them and makes them plume themselves, upon what they are able to effect. Nabuchodonosor did this and for a time God took from him his reason until he recognised his own nothingness. Beware of priding yourself on anything you do, lest God take away that talent which has been the cause of so great an evil!

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One Minute Reflection – 4 July – ‘ … When we do abandon all, Our Lord takes care of all …’

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One Minute Reflection – 4 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Within the Octave of Sts Peter and Paul – Acts 5:12-16, Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And everyone who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands,
for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.” – Matthew 19:29

REFLECTION – “WE MUST POSSESS a continual and imperturbable equanimity, amid the great variety of human occurrences and although, all things change around us, remain immovable, with our eyes fixed on God alone.
And, although, all things, I will not merely say around us but even within us, should turn topsy-turvy; whether our souls be joyful or sorrowful, in peace or in trouble, in light or in darkness, in temptation or in repose, in happiness or in disgust, although the sun scorch, or the dew refresh – we should always keep our will fixed on the good pleasure of God, as its sole and supreme object.

It is true that we require great confidence to abandon ourselves, without any reserve, to Divine Providence but, when we do abandon all, Our Lord takes care of all and disposes of all.
But, if we reserve anything which we are unwilling to confide to Him, He leaves us, as if He would say: “You think yourselves sufficiently wise to manage that affair without Me – you can do so and see what will come of it!” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritatis( Consoling Thoughts on God and Providence).

PRAYER – God, Who hast consecrated this day to the Martyrdom of Thy Apostles Peter and Paul, give Thy Church a precept to follow them in all things. 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 HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 3 July –Humiliation!

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Thought for the Day – 3 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humiliation!

Humiliation is a very painful thing and our pride shrinks from it. Yet, it is a necessary step to humility. We must be humbled in order that we may be humble. We must learn, not to shun dishonour, if we are to learn not to crave honour from men.
When some slight is shown us, when we are ignored or distrusted, or judged unfairly, we have an excellent opportunity of advancing in humility, by accepting, with patience and resignation, the contempt and dishonour and, not attempting to defend ourselves or assert our rights and our claim to be treated with consideration and respect.

When we commit some fault which causes others to think less of us, we should be full of sorrow at the thought of having offended God and given bad example to our neighbour but we must not seek to shun the just contempt we have deserved, or allow ourselves to be miserable at the thought of being despised. On the contrary, we must be content to be esteemed according to our merits and must thank God for teaching us this lesson and giving us a greater insight into ourselves.

It is a sure sign of pride, if we seek to shirk the consequences of our fault, as Saul did when he begged Samuel still to honour him before the ancients of Israel (1 Kings 15:30). Such conduct only brings fresh humiliations.
God, who resists the proud, always brings down those who refuse to humble themselves. The devils, who would not willingly bow the knee before Christ made Man, were forced to do so. God, sooner or later, will force all the proud, willingly or unwillingly, to bow before Him.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 3 July– My Lord and my God

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Quote/s of the Day – 3 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Leo II (611–683) Pope, Confessor – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:16

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

Matthew 16:17

“Thomas answered and said to Him:
My Lord and my God.”

John 20:28

“Blessed are they who have not seen
and have believed.”

John 20:29

“Our hearts were made for Thee, O God
And restless must they be
Until, O God, this grace accord,
Until they rest in Thee!”

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

“Each one of us has a thirst
for all that is infinite, eternal and perfect.
God alone can satisfy this thirst.
Just as we are created by God,
so we are created for Him.
Just as we came from God,
so we are gradually travelling back towards Him,
for He is the final goal of our earthly journey.
We should meditate on this great truth
which we were first taught in the Catechism,
namely, that we were created
to know, love and serve God
on this earth and to be happy with Him
forever in Heaven.
God alone is the eternal beauty
which will satisfy our hearts.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DEATH, St PETER!, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 July– “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” – Matthew 16:16

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One Minute Reflection – 3 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Leo II (611–683) Pope, Confessor – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” – Matthew 16:16

REFLECTION – “Peter did not say “Thou are a Christ” or “a son of God” but “the Christ, the Son of God.” For there are many christs by grace, who have attained the rank of adoption [as sons] but [there is] only One Who is by nature the Son of God. Thus, using the definite article, he said, THE Christ, THE Son of God. And in calling Him, Son of the LIVING God, Peter indicates that Christ Himself is Life and that death has no authority over Him. And even if the flesh, for a short while, was weak and died, nevertheless, it rose again, since the Word, Who dwelled in it, could not be held under the bonds of death.” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Known as “The Pillar of Faith” Archbishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor Incarnationis (Doctor of the Incarnation) (Fragment 190).

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

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, PURGATORY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 2 July – Humility under Trials

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Thought for the Day – 2 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humility under Trials

When God lays His heavy Hand upon us, we have an excellent opportunity of exercising the virtue of humility and of making great progress in it. There is nothing like a good knockdown blow, for teaching us our own nothingness and for schooling us in submission to God.
If we take the chastisement well and do not allow ourselves to rebel against the Will of God but rather make it an occasion for humbling ourselves the more in His sight, we shall acquire more grace from God and advance more in perfection in a day, than in months of prosperity and spiritual consolation.
How do I bear the trials God sends — well, or ill?

When the time of darkness is upon us and the gloom seems almost intolerable, there is no harm in praying for release from our misery or that God may avert some threatened blow but, the petition must always be accompanied by an act of humility,
“Not my will, but Thine be done!”
If we are patient, God will certainly send us speedy relief; just when we least expect it, peace will be restored to our souls.

Those trials are intended by God to cleanse our souls and to root out the pride which still lurks there, unnoticed by us.
The best prayer for us to offer under them and indeed, at all times and at all seasons, is to cry out to God,
“Humble me, O God and I shall be humbled. Burn out of me now, in this life, all that displeases Thee that I may not have to endure the burning of the life to come!”
Happy are those who in all trouble can offer this prayer!

Posted in CATECHESIS, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE

Our Morning Offering – 2 July– The Magnificat

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Our Morning Offering – 2 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood”

The Magnificat
The Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Luke 1:46-55
Indulgence 100 days

My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced
in God my Saviour.
For He hath regarded the humility
of His handmaid,
for behold, from henceforth,
all generations shall call me blessed.
For He Who is mighty hath done
great things unto me: and holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from
generation to generation
unto thos who fear Him.
He hath shown strength with His Arm,
He hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat
and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things
and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath upheld His servant Israel,
being mindful of His Mercy.
As He spoke unto our fathers,
to Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end!
Amen

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

July – The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

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July
“The Month of the Most Precious Blood
of Our Lord Jesus Christ”

On this day, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
This Feast which had been celebrated in some Diocese since the 15th Century, on the Monday after Trinity Sunday, was extended by Pope Pius IX. over the whole Christian world and its celebration prescribed for the 1st Sunday of July. On the tenth day of August 1849, he instituted the Feast of the Precious Blood.

That most Sacred blood is the price of our Redemption and is poured out daily in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, whence it flows into the channels of the seven Sacraments, as an atonement for our sins and for our sanctification.
For, as in Egypt, God was propitiated by the blood of the paschal lamb, the Type and Figure of the true Lamb of God, so He is propitiated by the Blood of His Son, the true Paschal Lamb which speaketh better than Abel’s.
Herein is the strongest evidence of the Infinite Love of Jesus Christ, Who not only once but seven times, shed His Precious Blood amidst the most cruel sufferings, for our salvation.
Let this seven-fold shedding of the Precious Blood be the subject of our present meditation. Amen – Cardinal Johann Evalgelist Zollner (1825-1900) Archbishop of Salzburg from 1890 until his death on 5 May 1900

Posted in CATECHESIS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 1 July– No other way …

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Quote/s of the Day – 1 July– “The Feast and Month of the Most Precious Blood”

“Carry me, O Christ,
on Thy Cross
which is salvation to the wanderer,
rest for the wearied
and, in which alone,
is Life for those who die.”

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

Excerpt from the Prayer
to the Five Wounds of Jesus
By St Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)

I pray Thee, O most gentle Jesus,
that having redeemed me
by Baptism from original sin,
so now, by Thy Precious Blood,
which is offered and received,
throughout the world,
deliver me from all evils,
past, present and to come.
And by Thy most bitter Death,
give me a lively faith,
a firm hope
and perfect charity,
so that I may love Thee
with all my heart and all my soul
and all my strength.
Make me firm and steadfast in good works
and grant me perseverance in Thy service,
so that I may be able to please Thee always.
Amen.

“Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Judeaorum –
Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.”
John 19:19

“HE DIED, THEN
But although He died for us and was lifted up on the Cross,
those who refuse to look upon Him, will surely die,
for there is no other redemption but in this Cross.

O God, how spiritually beneficial and profitable
is a consideration of Thy Cross and Passion!
Can we contemplate our Saviour’s humility on the Cross,
without becoming humble and,
having some affection for humiliations?
Can we see His obedience, without being obedient?
Certainly not!
No-one has ever looked upon Our Lord Crucified
and remained dead or sick.
On the other hand, all who have died,
have done so because.
they were unwilling to gaze upon Him,
just as the Israelites died.
who were unwilling to gaze upon the serpent
which Moses had raised upon the pole.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

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One Minute Reflection – 1 July – ‘ … While He is judged, Wisdom remains silent and the Word says nothing. …’

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One Minute Reflection – 1 July – “The Feast and Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Hebrews 9:11-15,; John 19:30-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“But one of the soldiers opened His side with a lance and immediately there came forth, Blood and water.” – John 19:34

REFLECTION – “Today the Cross is advancing, creation exults. The Cross, path for those who have gone astray, hope of Christians, the Apostles’ preaching, security of the universe, foundation of the Church, fountain for those who are thirsty… In great gentleness, Jesus is led to the Passion – He is brought to Pilate’s judgement seat; at the sixth hour, people mock Him; until the ninth hour, He bears the pain of the nails, then His Death ends His Passion. At the twelfth hour, He is taken down from the Cross. You could say, He is a sleeping lion …

While He is judged, Wisdom remains silent and the Word says nothing. His enemies despise and Crucify Him … Those, to whom yesterday, He gave His Body as food, watch from a distance as He dies. Peter, the first of the Apostles, is the first to flee. Andrew also took flight and John, who rested at His side, did not prevent the soldier from piercing that side with a lance. The Twelve fled – they did not say one word in His favour, they, for whom He is giving His Life. Lazarus is not there, he, whom He called back to life. The blind man did not weep for Him Who opened his eyes to the light and the crippled man, who could walk thanks to Him, did not run to Him.

Only a bandit who was crucified next to Him confessed Him and called Him his King! O thief, precocious blossom from the tree of the Cross, first fruit of the wood from Golgotha! … The Lord reigns, creation rejoices. The Cross triumphs and all nations, tribes, languages and peoples (Apoc 7:9) come to adore Him … The Cross gives Light to the whole universe, it chases away the darkness and gathers the nations … into one single Church, one single Faith, one single Baptism in charity. It stands at the centre of the world and is made firm on Calvary.” – St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church (Homily attributed to St Ephrem from the Lectionary).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who made Thine Only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and, willed to be reconciled by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to worship in this Sacred rite the price of our salvation and to be so protected, by its power against the evils of the present life on earth, that we may enjoy its everlasting fruit in Heaven. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Aspiration:  Precious Blood, ocean of Divine Mercy, Flow upon us.

Posted in ACT of ADORATION, ACT of CONTRITION, ACT of REPARATION, GOOD RESOLUTIONS, HOLY COMMUNION, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The ADORABLE HEART of JESUS

Thought for the Day – 30 June – Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Thought for the Day – 30 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

The Adorable Heart of Jesus
Meditations for a Month

EXERCISES OF DEVOTION.

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
to make amends for the outrages He suffers
in the Blessed Sacrament

O Heart of Jesus, ever on fire with love for men and ever outraged by their ingratitude!
Thou hast done everything on earth, during Thy mortal life, to show Thy Love to men, even so far, as to wear Thyself out and to consume Thyself for them.
Thy Love was repaid then, by nothing but contempt and the most disgraceful insult.
And now that Thou burnest with the self-same love in the Holy Eucharist, where Thou art still dwelling in Thy Sacrament of Love in the midst of us, Thou dost suffer at the hands of ungrateful men the most cruel outrages, although they have no longer the excuse of ignorance and know now, what Thou art.

I see Thee on our Altars expose, during the lapse of so many hundred years, to numberless irreverences, sacrileges and insults, the memory of which fills me with horror and which, are going on now, even amongst those who believe in the True Faith!

Moved by these outrages, I prostrate myself before Thee, O Adorable Heart and weep for Thine outraged Love.
I beg Thy pardon for the ingratitude of which I myself am guilty. I detest the sins which I have committed in Thy Presence by irreverence, coldness, and negligence.
I would make reparation for them, as also, for the abominations committed against Thee by so many heretics and bad Catholics.

Would that by my homage and my grief, I could make amends to Thy injured honour.
Would that by my tears and my blood, I could wash out the insults I deplore.
Would that by some new kind of homage, I could atone for so many irreverences, insults and sacrileges. My life would not be too much to sacrifice for so worthy an object.
Grant me, O Sacred Heart,
by Thine own sweetness
and boundless mercy,
the pardon which I ask for,
and give me grace to keep
the resolution, which I now make,
to do all I can in the future ,
to pay Thee, in the Sacrament of Thy Love,
the profound adoration which I owe Thee
and to show Thee that gratitude
and love which are justly due to Thee.
I resolve to repair my past faults
by the modesty of my deportment
in Thy churches,
by my constancy in visiting Thee,
my devotion and fervo.r in receiving Thee
and, in fulfilment of Thy desire,
I impose upon myself the duty of often
repeating Acts of Reparation
in Thy Presence, as Thou hast deigned to direct,
in order, as far as I can, to atone
for the injuries done Thee by others
and of which Thy very love
makes Thee the Victim in this Divine Sacrament.

Bless, I beseech Thee, this resolve
and give me grace to keep it faithfully.
Amen.

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS

Our Morning Offering – 30 June – A Magnificat By St John Eudes

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Our Morning Offering – 30 June – “The Last Day of the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Pentecost VI

A Magnificat
By St John Eudes (1601-1680)
A Hymn of Praise and Thanksgiving
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and to the Holy Heart of Mary

My soul doth magnify the admirable
Heart of Jesus and Mary
And my spirit rejoices in Thou great Heart.
Jesus and Mary have given me their Heart,
This immense Heart,
in order that all in me
May be performed in its love.

Infinite praise to them, for their ineffable gift.
This Heart infinitely merciful,
has done great things for me.
It has possessed me from the womb of my mother.
Infinite thanksgiving for Thou ineffable gifts.

The abyss of my misery has called
on the abyss of His Mercy.
Infinite thanksgiving for His ineffable gifts.
This Heart infinitely meek has presented me
With blessings of its sweetness.
Infinite thanksgiving for His ineffable gifts.
Amen

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Thought for the Day – 29 June – The Patience of Mary

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Thought for the Day – 29 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of Mary

  1. As Jesus came to suffer, it was necessary that Mary should suffer with Him. This was her greatest privilege and she knew it to be such. She knew it even when her human love broke forth, in the words of expostulation: ‘Son, why hast Thou so dealt with us?‘
    She knew it when she stood broken-hearted beneath the Cross. She knew it when she received, in her arms, the Body of he Son, after He had been taken down from the Cross.
    She knew from first to last that the best proof of our Lord’s Love is to give us a share in His sufferings!
    This was Mary’s consolation; is it mine when I have to suffer?

+++ 2. We do not read much in Sacred Scripture respecting the patience of Mary,but enough to know that Jesus purposely tried her patience.
Why did He prompt holy Simeon to pierce her heart with the prediction of her coming sufferings? Why did He compel her to start in the dark night on the journey to Egypt, when He could, so easily, have defeated Herod’s projects? Why did He not let her know where He was, when He remained behind in Jerusalem? Why did He apparently rebuke her at the marriage of Cana? Why did He allow her heart to be torn by the sight of His Crucifixion?
It was all that she might have a more glorious reward and share His triumph, in a greater degree!

+++ 3 If we could have seen Mary upon earth, we would have been especially struck by her undisturbed peace. This was owing to her perfect patience and readiness to accept everything at God’s Hand.
‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to thy word.’
If I desire peace, this must be the motto of my life.

Posted in ASPIRATIONS and EJACULATIONS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, St Francis de Sales, St PAUL!, St PETER!, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 29 June – Confessing Christ

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 29 June – Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles – Acts 12:1-11; Matthew 16:13-19 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:16

“… Now you must be, for a little time,
made sorrowful in divers temptations.
That the trial of your faith,
(much more precious than gold
which is tried by the fire)
may be found unto praise and glory
and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 1:6-7

“And all who wish to live
piously in Christ Jesus,
will suffer persecution.”

2 Timothy 3:12

“What is the surest kind of witness?
“Anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ
came among us in the flesh” (cf 1 Jn 4:2)
and who keeps the commands of the Gospel…
How many there are, each day,
of these hidden martyrs of Christ
who confess the Lord Jesus!
… So be faithful and courageous
in interior persecutions,
so that you may also win
the victory in exterior persecutions.”

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

“It is an old custom
with the servants of God,
always to have some little prayers ready
and to be darting them up to Heaven
frequently during the day,
lifting their minds to God
out of the filth of this world.
He who adopts this plan,
will get great fruit, with little pains.”

St Philip Neri (1515-1595)

“He who most loves,
will be most loved.”

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