Category: CATHOLIC Quotes

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, franciscan OFM, HOLY COMMUNION, MAUNDY THURSDAY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 March– Maundy Thursday – ‘ … He Whom the Angels adore in Heaven, is at these fishermen’s feet! …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 March – Maundy Thursday – 1 Corinthians 11:20-32, John 13:1-15 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“You call Me Master and Lord. And you say well, for so I Am. If then I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that as I have done to you, so you do also.” – John 13:14-15

REFLECTION – “Jesus rose from supper and took off His outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet. We read a story of the same kind in Genesis. Abraham says to the messengers – the three Angels who visit him: “Let some water be brought that you may bathe your feet and then rest yourselves under the tree; let me bring you a little food that you may refresh yourselves” (Gen 18:4-5). What Abraham did for the three Angels, Christ did for His Apostles, those messengers of the Truth, who were to preach faith in the Blessed Trinity, to all the world.

He stoops down to them, like a child – He stoops down and washes their feet. What an incomprehensible humility! what inexpressible goodness! He Whom the Angels adore in Heaven, is at these fishermen’s feet! The Face that causes Angels to tremble bends over the feet of these poor men! Therefore, Peter is seized with fear… When He has washed their feet He makes them “lie down under the tree” as it says in the Song of Songs: “I delight to rest in His shadow and His fruit is sweet to my mouth” (Song 2:3). This fruit is His Body and Blood, given them today by Him. It is the “morsel of bread” He set before them and that gave them strength for the work they must undertake…

Behold, “on this mountain the Lord of Hosts will prepare for all peoples a feast of rich meat with the marrow” (Is 25:6)… In the Upper Room where the Apostles are to receive the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the Lord of all the world, throws a feast today for all the peoples who believe in Him… This is what the Church does today throughout the world. It was for her sake that Christ prepared this feast on Mount Zion, this food that restores us, His True Body, rich in every spiritual virtue and charity. This He has given to His Apostles and has commanded them to give to those who believe in Him.” – St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Franciscan, Doctor of the Church (Sermons for Sundays and Feasts, Maundy Thursday).

PRAYER – O God, from Whom Judas received the punishment of his guilt and the thief the reward of his confession: grant unto us the full fruit of Thy clemency, that even as in His Passion, our Lord Jesus Christ gave to each a retribution according to his merits, so having taken away our old sins, He may bestow upon us the grace of His Resurrection. Who with Thee lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in HOLY WEEK, HYMNS, LENT 2024, MAUNDY THURSDAY, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES on PATIENCE, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 28 March – Man of Sorrows—Wrapt in Grief

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Our Morning Offering – 6 April – Maundy Thursday in Holy Week

Man of Sorrows—Wrapt in Grief
From an old French Hymn
Author Unknown

Man of Sorrows—wrapt in grief,
Bow Thine ear to our relief;
Thou for us the path hast trod
Of the dreadful wrath of God.
Thou the cup of fire hast drain’d
Till its light alone remain’d:
Lamb of Love!—we look to Thee,
Hear our mournful litany!

By the garden—fraught with woe,
Whither Thou full oft wouldst go:
By Thine Agony of prayer
In the desolation there!
By the chains of sleep, which bound
Watchers in their trance profound;
Lord!—behold our bended knee,—
Listen to our litany!

By the conflict foul and fell
With the loosen’d fiends of hell,
By the darkness of the hour
Shadow’d with the tempter’s power,
By the dire and deep distress
Of that mystery fathomless;—
Lord! our tears in mercy see
Mingling with our litany!

By the vision then, which stole
Looming o’er Thy spotless soul,
Of the pride and guilt of man,
Since his fall from grace began,—
Seas of sin, with billowy waves,
Yawning into countless graves;—
Lord! ourselves from shipwreck free,
Hear our solemn litany!

By the Chalice, when it came
Pregnant with a hell of flame:
By those Lips—which fain would pray
That it might but pass away:
By the Heart, which drank it dry,
Lest a rebel race should die;—
Let Thy Pity be our plea,
Hear our solemn litany!

Man of Sorrows! —let Thy grief
Purchase for us our relief—
Lord of Mercy—bow Thine ear,
Slow to anger—swift to hear:
Let the garden Thou hast trod
Draw us to the throne of God;
So Gethsemane shall be
Sweet in every litany!

This translation by Matthew Bridges (1800-1894)
(The Passion of Jesus 1852) Hymnist, Poet, Writer
Converted to Catholicism in 1848, by the influence of
John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
Tune: “Anima Christi (English)” traditional English melody.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, GOOD RESOLUTIONS, HOLY WEEK, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 27 March –The Agony of Jesus

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Thought for the Day – 27 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Agony of Jesus

“While Jesus was praying and suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Apostles were unconcernedly sleeping, a group of hired ruffians approached, led by the traitor, Judas.
Jesus went to meet them and quietly allowed Himself to be fettered by these rascals.
He could have struck them to the ground in an instant or, as He said Himself, called more than twelve legions of Angels to His defence (Cf Mt 16:33).
But this was the hour of the power of darkness.
“This is your hour and the power of darkness” (Lk 22:53).
When the Apostles saw Him being bound and led away, like an evil-doer, they deserted Him and ran away.
“Then, all the disciples left him and fled” (Mt 26:56).

We also, may have been guilty of such shameful conduct on many occasions!
Whenever God granted us the experience of His consoling presence by means of His grace or favours, we formed the most generous resolutions.
But, in the presence of difficulties or of bad example from others, we may have shamefully deserted Jesus!
Let us reflect whether this is so and reinforce our good resolutions.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/22/thought-for-the-day-22-april-the-agony-of-jesus/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/12/thought-for-the-day-12-april-the-agony-of-jesus/

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, EVENING and NIGHT Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, The HOLY NAME

Quote/s of the Day – 27 March – St John Damascene

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Quote/s of the Day – 27 March – St John Damascene (675-749) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

Before retiring, The Examination of Conscience:
(or if one prefers, before beginning prayers)
go through all the points
suggested below in your mind and memory.

  1. Give thanks to Almighty God for granting you during the past day, by His grace, His gifts of life and health.
  2. Examine your conscience by going through each hour of the day, beginning from the time you rose from your bed and recall to memory – where you went, how you acted and reacted towards all persons and other creatures and what you talked about. Recall and consider with all care, your thoughts, words and deeds from morning until the evening.
  3. If you have done any good, do not ascribe it to yourself but to God Who gives us all the good things and thank Him.
    Pray that He may confirm you in this good and enable you to do other good works.
  4. But if you have done anything evil, admit that this comes from yourself and your own weakness, from bad habits or weak will. Repent and pray to the Lover of men that He may forgive you and promise Him firmly, never to do this evil again.
  5. Implore your Creator with tears, to grant you a quiet, undisturbed, pure and sinless night and to enable you, in the coming day, to devote yourself wholly to the glory of His holy Name.
  6. If you find a soft pillow, leave it and put a stone in its place, for Christ’s sake. If you sleep in winter, bear it, saying – Some did not sleep at all!”

From The Night Prayers before Retiring but the above image has just been made:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/27/quote-of-the-day-27-march-the-night-prayers-before-retiring-st-john-damascene/

St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 27 March – Let Us Too Glory in the Cross of Our Lord

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 27 March – Wednesday in Holy Week – Isaias 53:1-12, Luke 22:1-71 and 23:1-53 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“When Christ has already given us
the gift of His Death,
who is to doubt that He will give the Saints,
the gift of His own Life?”
St Augustine

“And he released unto them,
him who for murder and sedition
had been cast into prison,
whom they had desired.
But Jesus he delivered up to their will.”
Luke 23:25

Let Us, Too, Glory
in the Cross of the Lord

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

“The Passion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the hope of glory and a lesson in patience. What may not the hearts of believers promise themselves as the gift of God’s grace, when for their sake, God’s only Son, co-eternal with the Father, was not content only to be born as man from human stock but even, died at the hands of the men He had created?

It is a great thing that we are promised by the Lord but far greater, is what has already been done for us and which we now commemorate. Where were the sinners, what were they doing when Christ died for them? When Christ has already given us the gift of His Death, who is to doubt that He will give the Saints the gift of His own Life? Why does our human frailty hesitate to believe that mankind will one day, live with God?

Who is Christ if not the Word of God – in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God?
This power of Himself to die for us – He had to take from us, our mortal flesh. This was the way in which, although immortal, He was able to die; the way in which He chose to give Life to mortal men – He would first share with us and then enable us to share with Him. Of ourselves, we had no power to live, nor did He of Himself have the power to die.

Accordingly, He effected a wonderful exchange with us, through mutual sharing – we gave Him the power to die, He will give us the power to Live!

The death of the Lord our God, should not be a cause of shame for us; rather, it should be our greatest hope, our greatest glory. In taking upon Himself the death which He found in us, He has most faithfully promised, to give us Life in Himself, such as we cannot have of ourselves.

He loved us so much that, sinless Himself, He suffered for us sinners the punishment we deserved for our sins. How then can He fail to give us the reward we deserve for our righteousness, for He is the Source of righteousness? How can He, Whose promises are true, fail to reward the Saints, when He bore the punishment of sinners, although without sin Himself?

Brethren, let us then fearlessly acknowledge and even openly proclaim that Christ was Crucified for us; let us confess it, not in fear but in joy, not in shame but in glory.

The Apostle Paul saw Christ and extolled His claim to glory. He had many great and inspired things to say about Christ but he did not say that he boasted in Christ’s wonderful works: in creating the world, since He was God with the Father, or in ruling the world, although He was also a man like us. Rather, he said: Let me not boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!” – (Reflections on the Cross from the Early Church Fathers).

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 March – ‘Come, come, let us go up together to the Mount of Olives.’

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One Minute Reflection – 27 March – St John Damascene (675-749) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church – Wednesday in Holy Week – Isaias 53:1-12, Luke 22:1-71 and 23:1-53 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“But Jesus he delivered up to their will.” – Luke 23:25

REFLECTION – “Come, come, let us go up together to the Mount of Olives. Together let us meet Christ, Who is returning today from Bethany and going of His own accord to that Holy and Blessed Passion, to complete the Mystery of our Salvation. And so He comes, willingly taking the road to Jerusalem, He Who came down from the heights for us, to raise us who lie in the depths, to exaltation with Him, as the revealing Word says: “above all authority and rule and power and above every Name that is named” (Eph 1:21). He comes without display, without boast. For, as the Prophet says, “He will not contend or shout out and no-one will hear His Voice” (Is 42:2). He is gentle and lowly and His entrance is humble…

Then, let us run with Him as He presses on, to His Passion. Let us imitate those who have gone out to meet Him, not scattering olive branches or garments or palms in His path but spreading ourselves before Him as best we can, with humility of soul and upright purpose. So may we welcome the Word as He comes (Jn 1:9); so may God, Who cannot be contained within any bounds, be contained within us.

For He is pleased to have shown us this gentleness, He Who is gentle and who “rides upon the setting sun” (Ps 56:12) which refers to our extreme lowliness. He is pleased to come and live with us and to raise us up, or bring us back to Himself through the Word which unites to God.” – St Andrew of Crete (660-740) Bishop and Father (Homily for Palm Sunday).

RAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who to defend the honour paid to sacred images, filled blessed John with heavenly learning and wondrous strength of soul, grant that, by his intercession and example, we may imitate the virtues of those whose images we honour and may enjoy the help of their patronage. 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, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, LENT 2024, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 27 March – In Thine Hour of Holy Sadness

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Our Morning Offering – 27 March – “Spy” Wednesday in Holy Week

In Thine Hour of Holy Sadness
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father & Doctor of the Church

In Thine hour of holy sadness
could I share with Thee, what gladness
should Thine Cross to me be showing.
Gladness past all thought of knowing,
bowed beneath Thine Cross to die!
Blessed Jesus, thanks I render
that in bitter death, so tender,
Thou now hear Thy supplicant calling,
Save me Lord!
and keep from falling, from Thee,
when my hour is nigh.
Amen.

Posted in HOLY WEEK, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 26 March – Jesus in Gethsemane

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Thought for the Day – 26 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Jesus in Gethsemane

“In His sadness and loneliness, Jesus is comforted by an Angel.
It is true that, being God, He was in no need of being consoled by Angels.
Moreover, He had willingly allowed Himself to be offered as a Victim of Expiation for our sins.
“He was offered because it was His own will” (Is 53:7).
But, He wished to be an example to us in this matter too.

If we trustingly abandon ourselves to God’s will in moments of temptation and of sorrow, we shall receive comfort from our Angel too.
How many times have we experienced this mysterious consolation in our souls?
When we have bowed our heads in suffering and have offered ourselves as pure victims to God, we have felt an inner light and peace which only Divine grace can give.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/10/thought-for-the-day-10-april-jesus-in-gethsemane/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/11/thought-for-the-day-11-april-jesus-in-gethsemane/

Posted in "Follow Me", FATHERS of the Church, HOLY WEEK, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, MARIAN POETRY, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The LAMB of GOD, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The PASSION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 26 March – ‘Fix your minds on the Passion …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 March – Tuesday of Holy Week – Tuesday of Holy Week – Jeremias 11:18-20, Mark 14:32-72; 15, 1-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And some began to spit on Him
and to cover His face and to buffet Him
and to say unto Him: Prophesy;
and the servants struck Him
with the palms of their hands.”

Mark 14:65

“See the destined day arise!
See a willing Sacrifice!
Jesus, to redeem our loss,
hangs upon the shameful Cross;
Jesus, Who but Thee could bear
wrath so great and justice fair?
Every pang and bitter throe,
finishing Thine life of woe?”

“Hail, O Altar, Hail, O Victim,
For the glory of Thy Passion,
By which Life endured death
And by death, restored life!”

St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609)

“Fix your minds on the Passion
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Inflamed with love for us,
He came down from Heaven
to redeem us.
For our sake, He endured
every torment of body and soul
and shrank from no bodily pain.
He, Himself, gave us an example
of perfect patience and love.
We, then, are to be patient, in adversity!”

St Francis of Paola (1416-1507)

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, HOLY WEEK, LENT 2024, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, St Francis de Sales, St PETER!

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 26 March – Never Stop Weeping!

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 26 March – Tuesday in Holy Week – Jeremias 11:18-20, Mark 14:32-72; 15, 1-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“What a fall was this which pierced
the Heart of Our Lord! ”
St Francis de Sales

“Before the cock crows twice,
thou shalt thrice deny Me.
And he began to weep …”
Mark 14:72

Never Stop Weeping!

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

“One of the Apostles, Saint Peter, greatly wronged his Master, for he denied and swore he never knew Him and, not content with that, cursed and blasphemed against Him, protesting that he did not know who he was (Mt 26:69). What a fall was this which pierced the Heart of Our Lord! Alas, poor Saint Peter, what are you doing? What are you saying? You do noy know Who He is, you do noy know Him? You, who were called to be an Apostle by His own mouth, who confessed Him to be the Son of the living God? (Mt 16:16). Oh, wretched man that you are, how could you dare to say you do not know Him? Was it not He Who,, only recently, was at your feet washing them (Jn 13:6), who fed you with His own Body and Blood?…

So let no-one rely on their good works and think they have nothing more to fear, since St Peter, who had received so many graces and had vowed to accompany our Lord to prison and even to death itself, nevertheless, denied Him at the mere whisper of a chambermaid!

Hearing the cock crow, St Peter recollected what he had done and what his good Master had said to him and then, realising his fault, he went out and wept so bitterly that, on this account, he received a full, Plenary Indulgence and remission for all his sins. O blessed St Peter who, through such contrition for your faults, have received a general forgiveness for such great disloyalty… I am very certain, it was our Lord’s Holy Look which pierced his heart and opened his eyes, to make him recognise his sin (Lk 22:61)… From that time on, he never stopped weeping, above all when he heard the cock crow at night and in the morning… In this way, from being a great sinner, he became a great Saint!” (From ‘Le Livre des quatre amours’ Bk 10).

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, LENT 2024, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SIN, St PETER!, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 March – Tuesday of Holy Week – Jesus looked at him

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One Minute Reflection – 26 March– Tuesday of Holy Week – Jeremias 11:18-20, Mark 14:32-72; 15, 1-46

“ I know not this man of whom you speak. And immediately the cock crew again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said unto him: Before the cock crows twice, thou shalt thrice deny me. And he began to weep.” – Mark 14:71-72

REFLECTION – “The first time Peter denied, he did not weep because the Lord had not looked at him. He denied a second time and did not weep because the Lord still did not look at him. He denied a third time; Jesus looked at him and he wept very bitterly (Lk 22:62). Look at us, Lord Jesus, so that we might know how to weep for our sins. This shows us that even the fall of the Saints may be useful to us. Peter’s denial has done me no wrong, on the contrary, I have gained from his repentance – I have learned to be beware of faithless companions. …

So Peter wept and wept bitterly; he wept so fiercely he washed away his offence with his tears. And you, too, if you would win pardon, wipe out your guilt with tears. At that very moment, in that same hour, Christ will look at you. If some kind of fall happens to you, then He, the ever-present Witness of your intimate life, looks at you to call you back and cause you to confess your lapse. Then do as Peter did, who thrice said: “Lord, Thou knowest I love Thee” (Jn 21:15). He denied three times and three times he also confessed. But he denied by night; he confessed in broad daylight!

All this has been written, to make us understand, that no-one should be puffed up. If Peter fell for having said: “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be” (Mt 26:33), who is there to count on himself? … From whence then, Peter, shall I call you to mind, to teach me your thoughts as you wept? From heaven where you have already taken your place among the choirs of angels, or from the grave? For that death, from which the Lord was raised, did not reject you in your turn. Teach us what use your tears were to you. But you taught it without delay for having fallen before you wept, your tears caused you to be chosen to guide others, you who, to begin with, did not know how to guide yourself.” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church – Commentary on St Luke’s Gospel, 10,89f.

PRAYER – Almighty and eternal God, grant us so to celebrate thy mysteries of our Lord’s Passion, that we may deserve to obtain forgiveness. 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", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, JESUIT SJ, OUR Cross, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, REDEMPTIVE Suffering, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The REDEMPTION, The STATIONS of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 26 March – This is My Joy, To Follow My Saviour

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Our Morning Offering – 26 March – Tuesday in Passion Week

This is My Joy, To Follow My Saviour
A Prayer to Seek the Consolation of the Cross
By St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

Jesus, love of my soul,
centre of my heart!
Why am I not more eager to endure pains
and tribulations for love of Thee,
when Thou, my God,
have suffered so many for me?
Come, then, every sort of trial in the world,
for this is my delight,
to suffer for Jesus.
This is my joy,
to follow my Saviour
and to find my consolation
with my Consoler on the Cross.
This is my happiness,
this my pleasure –
to live with Jesus,
to walk with Jesus,
to converse with Jesus,
to suffer with and for Him,
this is my treasure!
Amen

Posted in HOLY WEEK, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 25 March – The Betrayal of Judas

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Thought for the Day – 25 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971) (Taking a break from The Spiritual Combat during Holy Week).

The Betrayal of Judas

“Failure to comply with the extraordinary graces which Jesus had granted him was responsible for the fall of Judas.
Whoever receives a great deal must give as much!
Judas had been called to the dignity of the Apostolate.
At the Last Supper, he received the fullness of the Priesthood along with the other Apostles and received Jesus Himself into his soul, under the species of the Consecrated bread.
In spite of all this, he deserted and betrayed his Master.

What about us?
Let us consider how many spiritual and temporal graces God has bestowed on us, throughout our lives.
Have we been thankful for them?
If we have not corresponded generously with all these favours, or if we have done worse and have rejected them by sin, let us repent and resolve to do better.
The example of Judas should, at the least, teach us this lesson!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/09/thought-for-the-day-9-april-the-betrayal-of-judas/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/08/thought-for-the-day-8-april-the-betrayal-of-judas/

Posted in franciscan OFM, MARIAN QUOTES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, OUR Cross, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 25 March – ‘… For love of Thy love …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 25 March – Monday in Holy Week

I Beg Thee, Lord
By St Francis of Assisi (c1181–1226)

I beg Thee, Lord,
let the fiery, gentle power
of Thy love
take possession of my soul
and snatch it away,
from everything under Heaven,
that I may die,
for love of Thy love,
as Thou saw fit, to die
for love of mine!
Amen

“Now it is that we are to show
an invincible courage towards our Saviour,
serving Him purely for the love of His will,
not only without pleasure
but amid this deluge of sorrows,
horrors, distresses and assaults,
as did his glorious Mother and St John,
upon the day of His Passion.
Amongst so many blasphemies,
sorrows and deadly distresses,
they remained constant in love …”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY WEEK, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on the POOR, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 25 March – Pour Precious Perfume On the Lord’s Feet and Wipe Them With Your Hair!

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 25 March – Monday in Holy Week – Isaias 50:5-10, John 12:1-9 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Whatever you did for one of these
least brothers of Mine,
you did for Me.”
Matthew 25:40

“For the poor you have always with you
but Me, you have not always.”
John 12:8

Pour Precious Perfume
On the Lord’s Feet and
Wipe Them With Your Hair!

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

“Whoever you are, if you wish to be faithful, pour precious perfume on the Lord’s Feet, along with Mary. This perfume is uprightness…
Pour perfume on the Feet of Jesus – follow in the Lord’s Footsteps by a holy way of life.
Wipe His Feet with your hair – if you have more than enough, give to the poor and in this way you will have wiped the Lord’s Feet…
Perhaps the Lord’s Feet on earth, are in need.
Indeed, is it not about His Members, He will say at the end of the world: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine, you did for Me” (Mt 25:40)?” – (Sermons on Saint John’s Gospel No 50: 6-7).

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY WEEK, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HOLY NAME, The INCARNATION, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The PASSION, The SEVEN LAST WORDS of CHRIST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 March– ‘ … The sweetness and perfume of His Name.’

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One Minute Reflection – 25 March – – Monday in Holy Week – Isaias 50:5-10, John 12:1-9 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The house was filled with the odour of the ointment.” – John 12:3

REFLECTION – “When she had anointed the Lord’s feet this woman did not wipe them with a cloth but with her own hair, to show Him greater honour … Like a thirsty person drinking from a fresh waterfall, this holy woman drank in grace full of delights, from the Springs of Holiness, to quench the thirst of her faith.

However, in the allegorical or mystical sense, this woman prefigured the Church, which offered the full and entire devotion of its faith to Christ …There are twelve ounces to a pound and this is the amount of perfume the Church possesses, having received the teaching of the twelve Apostles, as if it were a precious perfume. Indeed, what more precious is there than the Apostles’ teaching, which contains both faith in Christ and the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven? Furthermore, it is related that the whole house was filled with the scent of that perfume because, the whole world has been filled with the Apostles’ teaching. As it is written: “Through all the earth their voice resounds and to the ends of the world, their message” (Ps 19[18]:5).

In the Song of Songs we read the following words addressed through Solomon, to the Church: “Your name spoken is a spreading perfume” (1,2). Not without cause, is the Lord’s Name called a “spreading perfume.” As you know, as long as perfume is preserved inside its flask, it keeps its fragrance but, as soon as is poured out or emptied, it spreads out its fragrant scent. Even so, as long as our Lord and Saviour reigned with His Father in Heaven, the world was unaware of Him, He was unknown here below. But when, for our salvation, He deigned to humble Himself, by descending from Heaven, to take on a human body, then He spread abroad in the world, the sweetness and perfume of His Name.“ – St Chromatius of Aquilaea (Died c 407) – Bishop of Aquileia, Italy, Theologian, Exegete (Sermon 11).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who fail through our weakness in so many difficulties, may be relieved through the pleading of the Passion of Thy Only-begotten Son. 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 CHRIST the HIGH PRIEST, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 25 March – A Prayer of the Passion

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Our Morning Offering – 25 March – Monday in Holy Week

A Prayer of the Passion
By St Melito of Sardis (Died 180)
Bishop of Sardis, Apologist, Father

Lord Jesus Christ,
You were bound as a ram,
You were shorn like a lamb,
You were led to the slaughter like a sheep,
You bore the wood of the Cross on Your shoulders,
You were led up the hill of Calvary,
You were displayed naked on the Cross,
You were nailed to the bitter Cross by three spikes,
You delivered Your last Seven Words from the Cross
You died on the Cross, with a shout of victory,
You were buried in noble Joseph’s rock-hewn tomb,
By Your boundless suffering on our behalf,
fix our eyes unceasingly on Your broken Body
and the Blood that poured from Your Hands, Feet and Side.
By the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
that renews each day Your Sacrifice
of the Cross on our Altars,
apply the merits of the Cross to all humanity
and, especially to those who worship it daily
and who offer themselves back to You,
our great High Priest
and perpetually Intercessor,
before the Eternal Throne of God.
You live and reign,
through all the ages of ages.
Amen.

Posted in QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on VIRTUE, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 24 March – Do Not Shun Any Opportunity which Offers the Attainment of Virtue

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Thought for the Day – 24 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XXXVII: … Do Not Shun Any Opportunity
which Offers the Attainment of Virtue

“We have seen very clearly that we must go forward without ever stopping in the way of perfection.
To this end, we ought to be very careful and vigilant, not to let slip any opportunity which may present itself for the attainment of any virtue.
For they have very little knowledge of this way, who avoid, as much as they can, all such adverse things as might greatly assist their progress.

For, not to forget my accustomed advice, if you would acquire the habit of patience, it is not expedient to avoid those persons, actions, or thoughts which move you to impatience.
Withdraw not, therefore, from the society of anyone because it is disagreeable but, whilst conversing and holding intercourse with those who most annoy you, keep your will always ready and disposed, to endure whatever may befall you, however wearisome and annoying; for otherwise, you will never learn to be patient.

In like manner, if you find any occupation irksome, either in itself, or because of the person who imposed it upon you, or because it hinders you from doing something else more pleasing, do not, therefore, shrink from undertaking and persevering in it, although it disquiets you and although you think to find peace by neglecting it; for this would be no true peace, as proceeding, not from a soul
purified from passion and adorned with virtues, neither could you ever, in this way, learn to suffer.

I would say the same of harassing thoughts — which, at times, will annoy and disturb your mind.
There is no need to drive them entirely from you, for besides the pain they occasion, they accustom you too, to bear contradiction.
And to give you contrary advice, would be to teach you rather to shun labour, than to attain to that virtue which you have in view.

It is very true that it becomes every man and especially the tried soldier, to defend himself on these occasions with vigilance and dexterity – now confronting his enemies, now evading them, according to the measure of spiritual strength and virtue which he has attained.

But, for all this, he must never actually turn back and retreat, so as to leave behind all opposition, for, even if we thereby save ourselves for the time, from the peril of falling, we shall risk exposing ourselves, more to future attacks of temptation, not being armed and fortified beforehand, by the exercise of the contrary virtue.
This counsel, however, applies not to the sins of the flesh, of which we have already spoken more particularly.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, LENT 2024, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, St Francis de Sales, The PASSION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 24 March – Palm Sunday –

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Quote/s of the Day – 24 March – Palm Sunday – Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:36-75; 27:1-60 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Behold the hour is at hand
and the Son of man shall be betrayed
into the hands of sinners.”

Matthew 26:45

“Yesterday, Christ raised Lazarus from the dead;
today, He is going to His own death.
Yesterday, He tore off the strips of cloth which bound Lazarus;
today, He is stretching out His Hand,
to those who want to bind Him.
Yesterday, He tore that man away from darkness;
today, for humankind,
He is going down into darkness
and the shadow of death.
And the Church is celebrating.
She is beginning the feast of Feasts,
for she is receiving her King as a Spouse,
for her King is in her midst.”

St Ephrem (306-373) (Attri)
Father ad Doctor of the Church

“Oh! how blessed are they
whom our Divine Master chooses to carry Him,
who are covered with the Apostles’ cloaks,
that is, clothed with apostolic virtues,
which render them worthy of bearing our dear Saviour
and of being led by Him.
Blessed are they who conduct themselves
here in lowliness and humility.
They will be exalted in Heaven
[Matt. 18:4; 23:12; Lk. 14:11; 18:14].
Their patience will win for them perpetual peace and tranquility;
for their obedience they shall receive a crown of glory
[Tab. 3:21; James 1:12];
finally, they shall be covered with the hundredfold of blessings
in this life and shall bless the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
eternally in the next.
May God give us this grace. Amen.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

(Spiritual Conferences, XVII)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY WEEK, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The LAMB of GOD, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 24 March – Palm Sunday – Behold the Lamb of God

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 24 March – Palm Sunday – Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:36-75; 2 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Behold the Lamb of God
Who takes away the sin of the world ”
John 1:29

“Behold the hour is at hand
and the Son of man shall be betrayed
into the hands of sinners.”
Matthew 26:45

PALM SUNDAY – Behold the Lamb

St Bede the Venerable (673-735)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Towards the Lamb of God arise ,the Hosannas of the people, all those pressing round Him in the crowd, praise Him with one and the same confession of faith: “Hosanna to the son of David!” (Mt 21:9). This praise already echoes the choir of Saints, singing: “Salvation comes from our God, Who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb!” (Apoc 7:10). He goes up to where, day-by-day, He will give His last teaching (Lk 20:47). It is there He will accomplish the sacrament of the Jewish Passover, faithfully observed hitherto. He Himself, will bestow a new Pasch on His own, when, having left for the Mount of Olives, He will be put to the test by His enemies and, the following day, set on the Cross. Of such is the Paschal Lamb, see Him draw near today to the place of His Passion and fulfil the prophecy of Isaias: “Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers” (53:7).

He desires to enter His City five days before His Passion; by this He proves that He is indeed the Lamb without blemish Who comes to take away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29). He is indeed the Paschal Lamb, Who, when sacrificed, will set the new Israel free from its slavery in Egypt (Ex 12). It is truly five days before His Passion when His enemies irrevocably agree on His death. Today He shows us by this that He is going to redeem us all by His Blood (Apoc 5:9). As from today, He enters God’s Temple amongst the joyful jubilation of those who surround him (Mt 21:12). The “Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1Tm 2:5) will suffer for humankind’s salvation – that indeed is why He came down to earth from Heaven – and today, He wills to draw near to the place of His Passion. Thus it will be clear to all that He bears His Passion of His own free will and by no means by force.” (Sermon No 23).

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSOLATION

Our Morning Offering – 24 March – To Thee, O Jesus, Hosanna!

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Our Morning Offering – 24 March – Palm Sunday

To Thee, O Jesus, Hosanna!
By St Bonaventure (1217-1274)
Seraphic Doctor of the Church

To Thee, O Jesus,
do I turn, as my true and last end.
Thou art the River of Life
which alone can satisfy my thirst.
Without Thee, all else is barren and void.
Without all else, Thou alone art enough for me.
Thou art the Redeemer of those that are lost,
the sweet Consoler of the sorrowful,
the Crown of Glory of the victors,
the recompense of the Blessed.
One day I hope to receive of Thy Fullness
and to sing the song of praise, in my true home.
Give me only on earth, some few drops of consolation
and I will patiently await Thy Coming,
when I hope to enter into the joy of my Lord.
Hosanna!

Posted in QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on WATCHING, QUOTES on Will (Sensual or Inferior), THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 23 March – Proceed with Unceasing Watchfulness in the Exercise of Virtue

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Thought for the Day – 23 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XXXVI: … Proceed with Unceasing Watchfulness
in the Exercise of Virtue

“One of the most important and necessary means for the attainment of virtue, besides what has been already taught, is to press forward continually to the end we have proposed to ourselves, lest by standing still, we fall back.

For, when we cease to produce acts of virtue, many unruly passions are generated within us by the violent inclination of the sensitive appetite and, by other exterior influences, whereby virtue is destroyed, or at least diminished and moreover, we thus lose many gifts and graces with which our Lord might have rewarded our further progress.

Therefore, the spiritual journey is different from the course of the earthly traveller; for he, by standing still, loses nothing of the ground already gained as is the case with him, who travels heavenward.
And moreover, the weariness of the earthly pilgrim increases with the continuance of his bodily motion, while, in the spiritual journey, the farther a man advances, the more does his vigour and strength increase!

For, by the exercise of virtue, the resistance of the inferior part of the soul which made the way difficult and wearisome, grows daily weaker while the superior part, wherein the virtue resides, is estalished, in the same proportion and strengthened.

Hence, as we advance in holiness, the pain which accompanied the progress, gradually diminishes and, a certain secret joy which, by the Divine operation, is mingled with that pain, increases hourly more and more.
And thus, proceeding with increasing ease and delight, from virtue to virtue, we at last reach the mountaintop, where the perfected spirit henceforth labours
without weariness but, rather with joy and ecstasy because, having now tamed and conquered its unruly passions and overcome itself and all created things, it dwells forever blessed in the bosom of the Most High and there, while sweetly labouring, takes its rest. Amen.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, I BELIEVE!, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, OUR Cross, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The DIVINE INFANT, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – ‘The Sign of the Cross of our Lord…’

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Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – Saturday in Passion Week

“The illusions of this world soon vanish,
especially if a man arms himself
with the Sign of the Cross.
The devils tremble
at the Sign of the Cross of our Lord,
by which He triumphed over and disarmed them.”

St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

“The day will come when this Child
will no longer be offered in the Temple,
nor in Simeon’s arms
but outside the City
in the arms of the Cross.
The day will come when He
will not be redeemed
by the blood of a sacrifice
but redeem others ,
with His own Blood. …”
That will be the evening sacrifice;
this is the morning sacrifice;
this one is the happiest
but that one is the most complete;
for this one was offered
at the time of birth
and that one will be offered
in the fullness of time,..”

St Bernard (1091-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

“Look then on Jesus,
the Author and Preserver of faith —
in complete sinlessness, He suffered
and, at the hands of those who were His own
and was numbered among the wicked.
As you drink the cup of the Lord Jesus
(how glorious it is!), give thanks to the Lord,
the Giver of all blessings.
May the God of love and peace
set your hearts at rest
and speed you on your journey;
may He meanwhile, shelter you
from disturbance by others
in the hidden recesses of His Love,
until He brings you, at last,
into that place of complete plenitude,
where you will repose forever in the vision of peace,
in the security of trust
and in the restful enjoyment of His riches. ”

St Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275)

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2024, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The REDEMPTION, The RESURRECTION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 23 March – What Happened on the Cross?

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 23 March – Saturday in Passion Week – Jeremias18:18-23, John 12:10-36 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Shall evil be rendered for good
because they have dug a pit for my soul?”
Jeremias 18:20

“The hour is come
when the Son of man
should be glorified.”
John 12:23

What Happened on the Cross?

St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“By nothing else except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
has death been brought low:

The sin of our first parent destroyed,
hell plundered,
resurrection bestowed,
the power given us to despise the things of this world,
even death itself,
the road back to the former blessedness made smooth,
the gates of paradise opened,
our nature seated at the right hand of God
and we made children and heirs of God.

By the Cross all these things have been set aright…

It is a seal that the destroyer may not strike us,
a raising up of those who lie fallen,
a support for those who stand,
a staff for the infirm,
a crook for the shepherded,
a guide for the wandering,
a perfecting of the advanced,
salvation for soul and body,
a deflector of all evils,
a cause of all goods,
a destruction of sin,
a plant of resurrection
and a tree of eternal life.”

(Reflections on the Cross of Christ
from the Early Church Fathers –
Orthodox Faith 4).

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 March – “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” – John 12:21

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One Minute Reflection – 23 March – Saturday in Passion Week – Jeremias18:18-23, John 12:10-36 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” – John 12:21

REFLECTION – “At Jerusalem the crowd cried out: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel” (cf Mk 11:10). The phrase “He Who comes.” is well said because He is always coming, He never fails us – “The Lord is close to those who call upon Him in truth. Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord” (Ps 144:18; 117:26). The gentle King of peace stands at our door… Soldiers here below, Angels in Heaven, mortals and immortals… cry aloud: “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel.” The Pharisees, however, stand aloof (Jn 12:19) and the priests are incensed by it. But the voices which sing God’s praises ring out without ceasing – creation is full of joy…

That is why, on this very day, some Greeks, prompted by this tremendous acclamation to worship God with devotion, approached one of the Apostles, named Philip and said to him: “We would like to see Jesus.” Note well, it is the whole crowd who carries out the task of herald and prompts these Greeks to be converted. Straightaway, these latter address Christ’s disciples – “We would like to see Jesus.” Those gentiles are imitating Zachaeus, not that they climb a sycamore tree [to see Jesus] but, they make haste to rise up in their knowledge of God (Lk 19:3). “We should like to see Jesus” not so much to behold His Face but, to bear His Cross. For Jesus, Who could see their desire, had unambiguously declared to those who were standing by: “Now the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” calling “glory” the conversion of the gentiles.

And He gave the name “glory” to the Cross. For, from that day to this, the Cross is glorified. Indeed, it is the Cross which still today, Consecrates Kings, adorns Priests, protects Virgins, gives constancy to Hermits, reinforces the Marriage bond and strengthens Widows. It is the Cross which makes the Church fruitful, brings light to the peoples, guards the desert, opens paradise.” – St Proclus of Constantinople (Died c446) Archbishop of Constantinople, Confessor, Defender of the Church and of the Blessed Virgin, Writer, renowned Preacher, Father of the C hurch (Sermon for Palm Sunday).

PRAYER – O Lord, may the people dedicated to Thee desire to serve Thee more and more that, taught by these sacred rites, they may be enriched by more precious gift,s as they grow in favour with Thy majesty. 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 ASPIRATIONS and EJACULATIONS, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 22 March – Of the Means Whereby Virtues are Acquired (Part Two)

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Thought for the Day – 22 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XXXV: … Of the Means Whereby Virtues
are Acquired (Part Two)

“The Sacred Words of Holy Scripture, either uttered with the lips or pondered in the heart, as may best suit our case, have a marvellous power to aid us in this exercise.
We should, therefore, have many such in readiness to bear upon the virtue we wish to practice and these, we should repeat continually throughout the day and especially, at each rising of the rebellious passion.
For instance, if we are striving to attain the virtue of patience, we may repeat the following words, or others like them:

“My children, suffer patiently the wrath which is come upon you.” Baruch 4:25.
“The patience of the poor, shall not perish for ever.” Psalm 9:18.
“The patient man is better than the valiant and he who ruleth his spirit, than he who taketh cities.” Proverbs 16:32.
“In your patience you shall possess your souls.” Luke 21:19.
“Let us run with patience to the fight proposed to us.” Hebrews 12:1.

To the same end, we may, in like manner, use such prayers as the following:

“When, O my God, shall this heart of mine be armed with the buckler of patience?”
“When shall I learn to bear every trouble with a quiet mind, so I may please my Lord?”
“O most dear sufferings which liken me unto my Lord Jesus, crucified for me!”
“Only Life of my soul, I shall ever, for Thy glory, live contented amid a thousand torments!”
“How blessed shall I be, if, in the midst of the fire of tribulation, I burn with the desire of even greater sufferings!”

Let us use these short prayers and others suitable to our advancement in holiness so that we may acquire the spirit of devotion.
These short prayers are called Ejaculations because they are darted like javelins towards Heaven.
They have great power to speed us towards virtue and will penetrate even to the heart of God, if only they have these two accompaniments for their wings:

+++ The one – a full certainty that our exercise of virtue is greatly pleasing to our God.
+++ The other – a true and fervent desire for the attainment of virtue, for the sole end of pleasing His Divine Majesty.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/03/21/thought-for-the-day-21-march-of-the-means-whereby-virtues-are-acquired-part-one/

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY WEEK, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The SEVEN LAST WORDS of CHRIST, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 22 March – At the Lord’s Cross with His Mother and Ours

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 22 March – Friday in Passion Week, the Fifth Friday in Lent, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows – Judith 13:22, 25; John 19:25-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Virgin of all virgins best,
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share thy grief divine.
Let me to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of thine.”
Stabat Mater

“And from that hour,
the disciple took her to his own.”
John 19:27

At the Lord’s Cross
with His Mother and Ours

Blessed Guerric of Igny O. Cist. (c1080-1157)
Cistercian Abbot

“When Jesus was going round towns and villages preaching the Gospel, Mary was His inseparable companion, clinging to His footsteps and hanging upon His words, as He taught, so much so, that neither the storm of persecution, nor dread of punishment, could deter her from following her Son and Master.

“By the Lord’s Cross there stood Mary, His Mother.” Truly a Mother, who did not abandon her Son, even in the face of death! How could she be frightened of death, when “her love was as strong as death,” (Sg 8:6) or rather, stronger than death? Truly she stood by Jesus’ Cross, when, at the same time, the pain of the Cross crucified her mind and, as manifold a sword, pierced her own soul, (Lk 2:35) as she beheld the body of her Son, pierced with wounds. Rightly, therefore, was she recognised as His Mother there and by His care, entrusted to a suitable protector, in which both the mother’s unalloyed love for her Son and the Son’s kindness toward His Mother, were proved to the utmost …

Loving her as He did, Jesus “Loved her to the end” (Jn 13:1), so as not only to bring His life to an end, for her but also, to speak almost His last words for her benefit. As His last will and testament, He committed, to His beloved heir, the care of His Mother… The Church fell to Peter, Mary to John. This bequest belonged to John, not only by right of kinship but too, because of the privilege, love had bestowed and the witness, his chastity bore… It was fitting that none other than the beloved of her Son, should minister to the Mother of the Lord… Providence too arranged, very conveniently that he who was to write a Gospel, should have intimate conferences with her, who knew about them all, for she had taken note from the beginning, of everything that happened to her Son and “treasured all the words concerning Him, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19).” – (4th Sermon for the Assumption).

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, DYING / LAST WORDS, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, LENT 2024, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The SEVEN LAST WORDS of CHRIST, The SEVEN PASSION Feasts

One Minute Reflection – 22 March – “Woman, behold thy son. … Behold thy mother” – John 19:26

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One Minute Reflection – 22 March – Friday in Passion Week, the Fifth Friday in Lent, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows – Judith 13:22, 25, John 19:25-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Woman, behold thy son. … Behold thy mother” – John 19:26

REFLECTION – “Mary, the Mother of the Lord, stood by her Son’s Cross. No-one has taught me this but the holy Evangelist John. Others have related how the earth was shaken at the Lord’s Passion, the sky was covered with darkness, the sun withdrew itself and how, the thief was, after a faithful confession, received into paradise. John tells us what the others have not told, how the Lord, while fixed on the Cross called to His Mother. He thought it was more important that, victorious over His sufferings, Jesus gave her the offices of piety, than that He gave her a Heavenly Kingdom. For if it is the mark of religion to grant pardon to the thief, it is a mark of much greater piety, that a mother is honoured with such affection, by her Son. “Behold,” He says, “thy son.” “Behold thy mother.” Christ testified from the Cross and divided the offices of piety, between the mother and the disciple.

Nor was Mary below what was becoming the Mother of Christ. When the Apostles fled, she stood at the Cross and with pious eyes beheld her Son’s wounds. For she did not look to the death of her offspring but to the salvation of the world. Or perhaps, because that “royal hall” knew, that the redemption of the world would be through the death of her Son, she thought that by her death, she also might add something to that universal gift. But Jesus did not need a helper, for the redemption of all, Who saved all without a helper. This is why He says, “I am counted among those who go down to the pit. I am like those who have no help.” He received indeed, the affection of His Mother but sought not another’s help. Imitate her, holy mothers, who in her only dearly beloved Son, set forth so great an example of maternal virtue. For neither have you sweeter children, nor did the Virgin seek the consolation of being able to bear another son.” – St Ambrose (340-397) Archbishop of Milan, Great Western Father and Doctor (Letter 63)

PRAYER – O God, in Whose Passion the sword, according to the prophecy of blessed Simeon, pierced through the soul of Mary, the glorious Virgin and Mother, mercifully grant that we, who reverently commemorate her piercing through and her suffering, may, by the interceding glorious merits of all the saints faithfully standing by the Cross, obtain the abundant fruit of Thy Passion. 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 DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, OUR Cross, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SIN, The PASSION, The SEVEN PASSION Feasts

Our Morning Offering – 22 March – My Sorrowful Mother, Help Me to Bear My Crosses

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Our Morning Offering – 22 March – Friday in Passion Week, the Fifth Friday in Lent, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows

My Sorrowful Mother,
Help Me to Bear My Crosses
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
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 GOOD RESOLUTIONS, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES: JUSTICE, PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE, The HEART, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 21 March – Of the Means Whereby Virtues are Acquired (Part One)

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Thought for the Day – 21 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XXXV: … Of the Means Whereby Virtues
are Acquired (Part One)

“For the attainment of holiness, we need, besides all that has been already described, a great and generous heart, a will which is neither slack nor remiss but firm and resolute and withal, a certain expectation of having to pass through many bitter and adverse trials.

And furthermore, there are particular inclinations and affections which we may acquire by frequently considering how pleasing they are to God, how excellent and noble in themselves and, how useful and necessary to us, inasmuch as from them and in them, all perfection has its origin and end.

Let us, then, make a steadfast resolution every morning to exercise ourselves therein, according to the occasions which may arise in the course of the day; during which, we should often examine ourselves, to see, whether or not, we have fulfilled them, renewing them afterwards more earnestly.
And all this with especial reference to that virtue which we have in hand.

So also, let the examples of the Saints and our prayers and meditations on the life and passion of Christ, which are so needful in every spiritual exercise, be applied principally to the particular virtue in which we are, for the time exercising ourselves.

Let us do the same on all occasions which may arise, however variant in kind, as we shall presently explain more particularly.

Let us so inure ourselves to acts of virtue, both interior and exterior,that we may come at last to perform them with the same promptness and facility, with which, in times past, we performed others agreeable to our natural will.
And, as we said before, the more opposed such acts are to these natural wishes, the more speedily will the good habit be introduced into our soul.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli