Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FRUITS of the SPIRIT, JESUIT SJ, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The HOLY GHOST

Quote/s of the Day – 15 February – St Claude & Blessed Michal

Quote/s of the Day – 15 February – the Memorial of St Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682) Apostle of the Sacred Heart and Blessed Michal Sopoćko (1888-1975) Apostle of Divine Mercy

“Lord, I am in this world to show Your mercy to others.
Other people will glorify You, by making visible the power of Your grace,
by their fidelity and constancy to You.
For my part I will glorify You,
by making known how good You are to sinners,
that Your mercy is boundless
and that no sinner, no matter how great his offences,
should have reason to despair of pardon.
If I have grievously offended You, My Redeemer,
let me not offend You even more,
by thinking that You are not kind enough to pardon me.”for-my-part-i-will-glorify-you-st-claude-de-la-colombiere-15-feb-2018.jpg

“God is more honoured by a single Mass
than He could be by all the actions of angels
and men together, however fervent and heroic they might be.
Yet, how FEW hear Mass with the intention of giving God
this sublime honour!
How FEW think with joy on the glory a Mass gives to God.
How FEW rejoice to possess the means of honouring Him
as He deserves! . . .
If we only knew the treasure we hold in our hands!”god-is-more-honoured-by-a-single-mass-st-claude-15-feb-2017

“When the Holy Spirit is in a soul,
He communicates Himself
in one way or another.
We can say,
that He makes virtue contagious
and turns a simple faithful
into an apostle!”

St Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682)when the holy spirit is in a soul - st claude de la colombiere - 15 feb 2019

“Prayer is necessary to receive the help of God,
as grain is needed to harvest … a humble and trustful prayer,
for what is necessary for salvation,
is never lost.
It is heard at least by the fact,
that it begs for the grace,
to abide in prayer.”prayer is necessary - bl michal sopocka 15 feb 2019

“The decisive factor in obtaining God’s Mercy is trust.
Trust is the expectation of someone’s help.
It does not constitute a separate virtue
but is an essential condition of the virtue of hope
and an integral part of the virtues of fortitude and generosity.
Because trust springs from faith,
it strengthens hope and love
and is, moreover, linked up, in one way or another,
with the moral virtues.
It may, therefore, be called the basis on which,
the theological virtues unite with the moral.
The moral virtues, originally natural,
become supernatural,
if we practice them with trust in God’s help.”

Blessed Michal Sopoćko (1888-1975)the moral virtues - bl michal sopocka 15 feb 2019.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 14 February – “Satisfying our Restless Hearts”

Thought for the Day – 14 February – The Memorial of St Valentine (176-273) Martyr

SATISFYING OUR RESTLESS HEARTS
by Fr Steve Grunow

“And what is this God?   I asked the earth and it answered: ‘I am not God and all the things in the earth made the same confession.’   I asked the sea and the deeps and creeping things and they answered:   ‘We are not your God, seek higher.’   I asked the winds that blow and the whole air with all that is in it and the wind answered: ‘  I am not God.’   I asked the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars and they answered:   ‘Neither are we God whom you seek.’   So I asked all those things that entice the senses:   ‘Tell me then of this Mysterious One that I search for.’   And all cried out to me in one great voice: ‘God made us and God made you…’”

“So I set about to find God and found that I could not find Him until I embraced the mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus, who is all over all these things, who was calling me and saying: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life…’”

These marvellous words belong to St Augustine….

St Augustine is one of the most renowned and influential saints of the Church, though his early life did not foreshadow such an identity and mission.   He lived much of his young life in resistance to God’s will and purposes.   Preoccupied with his body, he sought satisfaction in sex.   Preoccupied with power, he sought to ingratiate himself with the mighty.   Preoccupied with status, he sought self-promotion.   Preoccupied with wealth, he tried to sell himself to a career.

And none of these things, for all their allure and all their promises, brought him satisfaction.

As a result, Augustine embraced the prevailing esoteric and arcane “spiritualities” of his day.   He followed strange gods in an attempt to shake his alarming sense of dissatisfaction.   This left him emptier and even more diminished.

But a reckoning came that changed Augustine forever.

“I found myself weeping in the bitter sorrow of my heart.   And suddenly I heard a voice from a nearby house, a child’s voice, boy or girl I do not know – but it was sort of a sing song that repeated over and over again.   ‘Take and read, take and read.’   Wiping away my tears I took this as a divine command and opened the scriptures and in silence read the passage on which my eyes first fell – ‘Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in debauchery and impurity, not in contention and envy but put on the Lord Jesus…’”i found myself weeping in the bitter sorrow - sdt augustine - conversion - 14 feb 2019

So this is what Augustine did- he discarded the skin of his old self and put on the Lord Jesus.   And what God did with Augustine was remarkable.   He became a leader in the Faith, as a teacher, priest and bishop.   His writings have directed the mind and soul of the Church for centuries.   His influence is with us still- in how we pray, how we worship, and in what we believe.

At the heart of the Gospel is the call to conversion in Christ.   There is no moment in our life when this call does not beckon toward us.   There is no time in our life we are exempt from the summons.   Conversion is the substance of the work of the spiritual life. Conversion in Christ is our privileged spiritual way.

Like Augustine, so many of us fall into the illusion that something other than God can satisfy us or give our lives purpose and meaning.   Like the young Augustine, we are captivated by self-deception that directs us away from the one who is absolutely necessary – Christ.   In response to all the futility of our refusals, the wisdom of St Augustine rings true:

“You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

St Augustine, Pray for Us!st augustine pray for us 14 feb 2019.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 14 February – Falling in love

Quote/s of the Day – 14 February – The Memorial of St Valentine (176-273) Martyr

“You have made us
for Yourself, O Lord
and our heart is restless
until it rests in You.”you have made us for yourself - st augustine 14 feb 2019.jpg

“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctorgod loves each of us as if - st augustine - 9 jan 2018

“Nothing is more practical
than finding God,
that is, than falling in love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination
will affect everything.
It will decide what will
get you out of bed
in the mornings,
what you will do
with your evenings,
how you spend
your weekends,
what you read,
who you know,
what breaks your heart
and what amazes you
with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love
and it will decide everything.”

Servant of God Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ (1907-1991)

(the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus)nothing is more practical than falling in love - servant of god pedro arrupe sj no 2- 14 feb 2019.jpg

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on LOVE, SPEAKING of ....., Thomas a Kempis

Quote/s of the Day – 5 February – Speaking of “Conscience and Death”

Quote/s of the Day – 5 February

Speaking of “Conscience and Death”

Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)

“If you have a good conscience,
you would not greatly fear death.”

“The glory of the good,
is in their consciences
and not, in the tongues of men.”

“Happy is the man
who renounces everything,
which may bring a stain or burden,
upon his conscience”3 conscience quotes - thomas a kempis 5feb2019.jpg

“He has great tranquillity of heart,
who cares neither for the praises,
nor the fault-finding of men.
He will easily be content and pacified,
whose conscience is pure.
You are not holier if you are praised,
nor the more worthless,
if you are found fault with.
What you are, that you are;
neither by word can you be made greater,
than what you are in the sight of God.”he has great tranquility of heart - thomas a kempis 5 feb 2019.jpg

“Love alone makes heavy burdens light
and bears in equal balance,
things pleasing and displeasing.
Love bears a heavy burden
and does not feel it
and love, makes bitter things,
tasteful and sweet.”love alone makes heavy burdens lights - thomas a kempis 5feb2019.jpg

“Without labour there is no rest,
nor without fighting,
can the victory be won.”without labour there is no rest thomas a kempis 5feb2019.jpg

“You shall rest sweetly,
if your heart condemns you not.”you shall rest sweetly - thomas a kempis 5feb2019.jpg

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

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

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

The Cross Exemplifies every Virtue

Saint Thomas Aquinas
Priest and Doctor of the Church

An excerpt from a Conference

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

St Thomas Aquinas, Pray for Us!st thomas aquinas pray for us 28 jan 2019.jpg

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

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

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

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

St Angela Merici (1474-1540)pray and get others to pray - st angela merici 27 jan 2019.jpg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

St Francis de Sales, please Pray for Us!st-francis-de-sales-pray-for-us-no-1-24-jan-2018.jpg

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

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

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

‘The Gentle Christ of Geneva’

“Man is the perfection of the Universe.
The spirit is the perfection of man.
Love is the perfection of the spirit and charity that of love.
Therefore, the love of God is the end, the perfection of the Universe.”man-is-the-perfection-st-francis-de-sales-24-jan-2018.jpg

“We must fear God out of love,
not love Him out of fear.”we must fear god out of love not love him out of fear - st francis de sales - 24 jan2019

“In the royal galley of divine Love,
there is no galley slave –
all rowers are volunteers.”in the royal galley of divine love - st francis de sales 24 jan2019.jpg

“Nothing makes us
so prosperous
in this world,
as to give alms.”nothing makes us so prosperous - st francis de sales 24jan2019

“Perfection of life,
is the perfection of love.
For love, is the life of the soul.”perfection of life is perfection of love - st francis de sales 24 jan 2019

“Let us run to Mary
and, as her little children,
cast ourselves into her arms,
with a perfect confidence.”let us run to mary - st francis de sales 24 jan 2019.jpg

“Consider all the past as nothing
and say, like David,
‘Now I begin to love my God.'”consider all the past as nothing and say like david now i begin to love my god - 24 jan2019 st francis de sales

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

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

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

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

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

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

St Ildephonsus (607-667)go-to-mary-st-ildephonsus-23-jan-2018.jpg

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

Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366)suffering is the ancient law of love - bl henry suso 23 jan 2019.jpg

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

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

St Marianne Cope (1838-1918)try-to-accept-what-god-st-marianne-cope-23-jan-2018.jpg

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

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

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

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

REFLECTION – “From the first, the law of the Sabbath conferred many and great benefits; for instance, it made the Jews gentle and humane towards those of their own household, it taught them God the Creator’s providence and wisdom…  hen God gave the law for the Sabbath He said…  that He would have them refrain from evil works only when he said:   “You must do no work, except for what is necessary for life” (Ex 12:16 LXX). And in the temple, too, everything continued with more diligence than ever.   Thus even by means of the very shadow, He was secretly opening the full light of truth (cf. Col 2:17).
Did Christ then do away with so highly profitable a thing?   Far from it;  He greatly enhanced it.   For it was unnecessary… that we should learn from it, that God made all things or that we should be made kind by it, who are called to imitate God’s own love. For He says:  “Be merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful”(Lk 6:36).  It was no longer necessary to fix a day of festival for those who are commanded to keep a feast all their life long.   For: “Let us keep the feast,” Saint Paul writes, “not with old leaven, neither with leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1Cor 5:8)…   So now, why is any sabbath required for Christians who are always keeping the feast and whose conversation is in heaven?   Yes, my brethren, let us celebrate that continual, heavenly sabbath.”…St John Chrysostom (c 345-407) Father & Doctormark 2 28 so the sone of man is lord even of the sabbath - st john chrysostom it was not necessary - 22 jan 2019.jpg

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

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 18 January – The Memorial of Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce OSA (1881-1947)

Quote of the Day – 18 January – The Memorial of Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce OSA (1881-1947)i love him bl maria teresa fasce 18 jan 2019

I love Him, even if it costs much,
I love Him, because, it is worth much,
I love Him, at all cost.

Blessed Maria Teresa Fasce (1881-1947)i love him - bl maria teresa fasce 18 jan 2019

Posted in PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 12 January – St Aelred of Rievaulx OCSO (1110-1167)

Thought for the Day – 12 January – 6th day after Epiphany and The Memorial of St Aelred of Rievaulx OCSO (1110-1167)

“Charity may be
a very short word
but with its tremendous
meaning of pure love,
it sums up man’s
entire relation to God
and to his neighbour.”

St Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167)charity may be a very short word - st aelred - 12 jan 2019

Aelred of Rievaulx on Jesus Christ as the model of brotherly love and patience through His forgiveness of persecutors and enemies and His prayer from the cross
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

“The perfection of brotherly love lies in the love of one’s enemies.   We can find no greater inspiration for this, than grateful remembrance of the wonderful patience of Christ.   He who is more fair than all the sons of men, offered His fair face to be spat upon by sinful men;  He allowed those eyes that rule the universe to be blindfolded by wicked men;  He bared His back to the scourges;  He submitted that head which strikes terror in principalities and powers, to the sharpness of the thorns;  He gave Himself up to be mocked and reviled and, at the end, endured the cross, the nails, the lance, the gall, the vinegar, remaining always gentle, meek and full of peace.

In short, He was led like a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb before the shearers, He kept silent and did not open His mouth.

Who could listen to that wonderful prayer, so full of warmth, of love, of unshakeable serenity – Father, forgive them – and hesitate to embrace his enemies with overflowing love?   Father, He says, forgive them!   Is any gentleness, any love, lacking in this prayer?

Yet He put into it something more.   It was not enough to pray for them – He wanted also to make excuses for them.  Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.   They are great sinners, yes but they have little judgement;  therefore, Father, forgive them.   They are nailing me to the cross but they do not know who it is that they are nailing to the cross – if they had known, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory, therefore, Father, forgive them.   They think it is a lawbreaker, an impostor claiming to be God, a seducer of the people.   I have hidden my face from them and they do not recognise my glory, therefore, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

If someone wishes to love himself he must not allow himself to be corrupted by indulging his sinful nature.   If he wishes to resist the promptings of his sinful nature he must enlarge the whole horizon of his love to contemplate the loving gentleness of the humanity of the Lord.   Further, if he wishes to savour the joy of brotherly love, with greater perfection and delight, he must extend even to his enemies the embrace of true love.

But if he wishes to prevent this fire of divine love from growing cold because of injuries received, let him keep the eyes of his soul always fixed on the serene patience of his beloved Lord and Saviour.”

This excerpt from the Mirror of Love by Saint Aelred of Rievaulx, abbot (Lib 3, 5: PL 195, 382) focuses on Christ as the supreme model of brotherly love, shown primarily in His love of persecutors and enemies.   It is used in the Roman Catholic Office of Readings for Friday of the 1st week in Lent with the accompanying biblical reading taken from Exodus 12: 21-36.

St Aelred, Pray for Us!st-aelred-pray-for-us-12-jan-2019

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN TITLES, QUOTES for the NEW YEAR, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 1 January – New Year’s Day 2019

Quote/s of the Day – 1 January – New Year’s Day 2019

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
the new creation has come.
The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17therefore,is anyone is in christ - 2 corinthians 5 17

“Brothers, . . . I can only say,
that forgetting all that lies behind me
and straining forward to what lies in front of me
and I am racing towards the finishing-point,
to win the prize of God’s heavenly call
in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13brothers...i can only say phil 3 13 - blessed 2019 keep up the good fight 1 jan 2018

May he give you what you desire
and make all your plans succeed.
Then we will shout for joy over your victory
and celebrate your triumph by praising our God.
May the LORD answer all your requests.

Psalm 20:4-5may he give you what you desire - blessed 2019 1 jan 2019 no 3

“The bread you store up belongs to the hungry,
the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked,
the gold you have hidden in the ground,
belongs to the poor.”

St Basil the Great (329-379) Father & Doctor of the Churchthe bread you store up - st basil the great - 1 jan 2019

“Love God,
serve God;
everything is in that.”

St Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)love god serve god everything is in that - st clare - 1 jan 2019

“Teach us to give and not to count the cost.”teach us to give and not to count the cost - st ignatius 1 jan 2019.jpg

“All for the greater glory of God.”

St Ignatius de Loyola (1491-1556)all for the greater glory of god - 1 jan 2019 happy new year.jpg

“You must ask God to give you power
to fight against the sin of pride
which is your greatest enemy –
the root of all that is evil
and the failure of all that is good.
For God resists the proud.”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)you must ask god to give you power - st vincent de paul - new year's res 1 jan 2019

“Let us go forward in peace,
our eyes upon heaven,
the only one goal of our labours.”

St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897)- Doctor of the Churchlet us go forward in peace - st t of l - 1 jan 2018.jpg

“During this new year,
I resolve to begin a new life.
I do not know,
what will happen to me, during this year.
But I abandon myself entirely to You, my God.
And my aspirations and all my affections,
will be for You.
I feel so weak, dear Jesus
but with Your help,
I hope and resolve,
to live a different life,
that is, a life closer to You.”

“Father, do You know,
the latest idea that has come into my head?
It is to become a saint at all costs.
I made this resolution yesterday evening.
During my meditation I was thinking,
that one lives only once
and it is certain,
that one is going to die,
then one will have to answer to God.”

“Every time the clock strikes,
I will repeat three times –
‘My Jesus, mercy!”

St Gemma Galgani (1878-1903)new year quotes - st gemma galgani 1 jan 2019

AND here are Quotes for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/01/quote-s-of-the-day-1-january-2018-the-solemnity-of-mary-mother-of-god-and-the-octave-day-of-the-nativity-of-our-lord/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 27 December

Quote/s of the Day – 27 December – the Feast of St John the Apostle and Evangelist “The Disciple whom Jesus Loved” and the 3rd Octave Day and the Memorial of Blessed Sára Salkaházi (1899–1944) Martyr

Beloved: 

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life (for the life was made visible;  

we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us.…

1 John 1:1-2beloved what was from the beginning, what we have heard - 1-john-1-1-to-2-27dec2017

“Life itself was therefore revealed in the flesh.
In this way what was visible to the heart alone,
could become visible also to the eye
and so heal men’s hearts.
For the Word is visible to the heart alone,
while flesh is visible to bodily eyes as well.
We already possessed the means to see the flesh
but we had no means of seeing the Word.
The Word was made flesh so that we could see it,
to heal the part of us,
by which we could see the Word…”

St Augustine (354-430) – Father & Doctor of the Churchlife-itself-was-therefore-revealed-st-augustine-27-dec-2017

“It is right and just, that someone, who was loved by Christ
more than any other, should be the object
of a very special love, by Christ’s friends,
all the more so, since John has shown such love for us that…
he has shared with us, the riches of eternal life, that he himself received.
Indeed, God gave him, the keys to wisdom and knowledge (cf Lk 11:52)…it is right and just that someone who was loved - st peter damian on st john 27 dec 2018

John’s God-illumined mind, conceived the incomparable height of divine wisdom, 
when he reclined on the Redeemer’s breast, during the holy Last Supper meal (Jn 13:25).
And because “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3)
are within the heart of Jesus, it is from there, that he drew
and from there, that he greatly enriched our wretchedness, 
as people who are poor and generously distributed these goods,
taken from their source, for the salvation of the whole world.
And because this blessed John speaks about God
in a marvellous way, that cannot be compared to that of anyone else,
it is only right that the Greeks as well as the Latins
have given him the name of “Theologian”.
Mary is “Theotokos” because she has truly given birth to God;
John is “Theologos” because he saw in an indescribable way,
that the Word of God, was with the Father
before the beginning of time and was God (Jn 1:1)
and because, too, he spoke about this, with extraordinary depth.”

St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Doctor of the Churchjohn's god illumined mind - st peter damian 27 dec 2018

“To love, even when it is difficult,
even when my heart has complaints,
when, I feel rejected!
Yes, this is what God wants!
I will try;  I want to start – even if I would fail –
until I will be able to love.
The Lord God gives me grace
and I have to work with that grace!”to love even when - bl sara salkahazi 27dec2018

“I want to follow You wherever You take me,
freely, willingly, joyfully.
Break my will!
Let Your will reign in me!
I do not want to make my own plans.
Let Your will be done in me and through me.
No matter how hard it might be,
I want to love Your will!
I want to be one with You,
my Beloved, my Spouse.”

Blessed Sára Salkaházi (1899–1944) Martyr

Blessed Sára in her spiritual diaryi want to follow you wherever you take me - bl sara salkahazi 27dec2018

Posted in ADVENT, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, The CHRIST CHILD, The INCARNATION

Quote/s of the Day – 15 December – Saturday of the Second week of Advent

Quote/s of the Day – 15 December – Saturday of the Second week of Advent

“Into this world, this demented inn
in which there is absolutely no room for Him at all,
Christ comes uninvited.”

Thomas Merton OCSO (1915-1968)into this world this demented inn - thomas merton - 15 dec 2018

“At this Christmas, when Christ comes,
will He find a warm heart?
Mark the season of Advent,
by loving and serving the others,
with God’s own love and concern.”

St Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

(Love:  A Fruit Always in Season)at this christmas when christ comes - st mother teresa 15 dec 2018

Posted in "Follow Me", CARMELITES, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, OUR Cross, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HEART, The LAST THINGS

Quotes of the Day – 14 December – St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church

Quotes of the Day – 14 December – The Memorial of St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church

“If a man wishes to be sure of the road
he treads on, he must close his eyes
and walk in the dark.”

“The road is narrow. 
He who wishes to travel it more easily 
must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. 
In other words, he must be truly resolved 
to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.”

“Live in the world,
as if only God and your soul were in it,
then your heart will never be made captive,
by any earthly thing.” live in the world - st john of the cross 14dec2018

“We must dig deeply in Christ.
He is like a rich mine
with many pockets containing treasures –
however deep we dig,
we will never find their end or their limit.
Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches
are discovered on all sides.”we must dig deeply in christ - st john of the cross 14 dec 2018

“At the end of your life,
you will be judged by your love.”

“Now that I no longer desire all,
I have it all, without desire.”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 7 December – The Memorial of St Ambrose (c 340-397)- Father and Doctor of the Church

Thought for the Day – 7 December – The Memorial of St Ambrose (c 340-397)- Father and Doctor of the Church

“Holy Bishop Ambrose – about whom I shall speak to you today – died in Milan in the night between 3 and 4 April 397.   It was dawn on Holy Saturday.   The day before, at about five o’clock in the afternoon, he had settled down to pray, lying on his bed with his arms wide open in the form of a cross.   Thus, he took part in the solemn Easter Triduum, in the death and Resurrection of the Lord.   “We saw his lips moving”, said Paulinus, the faithful deacon who wrote his Life at St Augustine’s suggestion, “but we could not hear his voice”.   The situation suddenly became dramatic.   Honoratus, Bishop of Vercelli, who was assisting Ambrose and was sleeping on the upper floor, was awoken by a voice saying again and again, “Get up quickly! Ambrose is dying…”.   “Honoratus hurried downstairs”, Paulinus continues, “and offered the Saint the Body of the Lord.   As soon as he had received and swallowed it, Ambrose gave up his spirit, taking the good Viaticum with him.   His soul, thus refreshed by the virtue of that food, now enjoys the company of Angels” (Life, 47).

On that Holy Friday 397, the wide open arms of the dying Ambrose expressed his mystical participation in the death and Resurrection of the Lord.   This was his last catechesis – in the silence of the words, he continued to speak with the witness of his life.

Like the Apostle John, Bishop Ambrose – who never tired of saying: “Omnia Christus est nobis! To us Christ is all!” – continues to be a genuine witness of the Lord.   Let us thus conclude our Catechesis with his same words, full of love for Jesus:  “Omnia Christus est nobis!   If you have a wound to heal, He is the doctor;  if you are parched by fever, He is the spring;  if you are oppressed by injustice, He is justice;  if you are in need of help, He is strength;  if you fear death, He is life;  if you desire Heaven, He is the way;  if you are in the darkness, He is light….   Taste and see how good is the Lord, blessed is the man who hopes in Him!” (De Virginitate, 16, 99).   Let us also hope in Christ.   We shall thus be blessed and shall live in peace.”

Pope Benedict – Excerpt, General Audience, Catechesis on St Ambrose, 24 October 2007

St Ambrose, Pray for us!st-ambrose-pray-for-us-2- 7dec2017

Posted in MARIAN QUOTES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 3 December – The Memorial of St Francis Xavier SJ (1506-1552)

Quote/s of the Day – 3 December – The Memorial of St Francis Xavier SJ (1506-1552)

“It is impossible
to find a saint
who did not take
the “two P’s” seriously –
Prayer and Penance.”it is impossible - st francis xavier - 3 dec 2018

“I am in a country
where all the niceties of life are lacking.
But I am filled with many inner consolations.
Indeed, I run the risk of crying my eyes out
because of my tears of joy!”i am in a country - saint-francis-xavier-3 dec 2017

“It is not the actual physical exertion
that counts towards a one’s progress,
nor the nature of the task but by the
spirit of faith with which it is undertaken.”it is not the actual physical - st francis xavier - 3 dec 2018

“When trying to evangelise,
no tool is more effective,
than that of personal witness.
…People can argue with points of doctrine
but no-one can argue,
with a personal testimony!”when trying to evangelise - st francis xavier 3 dec 2018

“Prayer is powerful!
It fills the earth with mercy,
it makes the Divine clemency
pass from generation to generation,
right along the course of the centuries.
wonderful works have been achieved.
through prayer.”prayer is powerful - st francis xavier - 3 dec 2018

“If you are in danger,
if your hearts are confused,
turn to Mary!”

St Francis Xavier SJ (1506-1552)if you are in danger, if your hearts are confused, turn to mary - st francis xavier 3 dec2018

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 23 November – The memorial of St Columban (543-615)

Quote/s of the Day – 23 November – The memorial of St Columban (543-615)

“We, indeed, are,
as I have said,
chained to the
Chair of Saint Peter.”we indeed are chained to the chair of st peter - 23 nov 2018 - SNIP SNIP use snip ONLY

“Be gentle to the weak,
firm to the stubborn,
steadfast to the proud,
humble to the lowly.”be gentle to the weak - st columban 23 nov 2018

“Be helpful,
when you are,
at the bottom of the ladder
and be the lowest,
when you are in authority.”be helpful when you are - st columban 23 nov 2018

“Be slow to anger,
swift to learn,
slow also to speak,
as St James says,
equally swift to hear.”

“Be respectful to the worthy,
merciful to the poor.”

“Be mindful of favours,
unmindful of wrongs.”

Excerpts from a “Letter to a Young Disciple”
by St Columban (543-615)be slow to anger - be respectful of the worthy - be mindful of favours - st columban 23 nov 2018

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Quote of the Day – 13 November – The Memorial of St Agostina Livia Pietrantoni S.D.C. (1864-1894)

Quote of the Day – 13 November – The Memorial of St Agostina Livia Pietrantoni S.D.C. (1864-1894)

“All, is too little for the Lord.”

St Agostina Pietrantoni (1864-1894)all, is too little for the lord - st agostina pietrantoni - 13 nov 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MARIAN QUOTES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 24 October – The Memorial of St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)

Quote/s of the Day – 24 October – The Memorial of St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)

“The sun of our lives is the Eucharist.”the sun of our lives - st luigi guanella - 24 oct 2018

“The fountain of holy love
is in Jesus Christ
and we have Jesus with us,
in the Most Holy
Sacrament of the Altar.
From that throne of love,
how often He enlightens the minds of His children
and how many again find their peace of heart.”the fountain of holy love - st luigi guanella - 24 oct 2018

“The earth is filled with tabernacles – Praise Him!”the earth is filled with tabernacles - st luigi guanella 24 oct 2018

“Our union in heaven
will depend upon
our communion
with God on earth.”our union in heaven - st luigi guanella - 24 oct 2018

“Plant your heart
in Jesus Crucified
and all the thorns
will seem like roses.”plant your heart in jesus crucified - st luigi guanella - 24 oct 2018

“Whoever finds Mary,
finds the way to Salvation.”whoever finds mary - st luigi guanella - 24 oct 2018

“Charity lights the path to divine love.”charity lights the path - st luigi guanella - 24 oct 2018

“Imitate the Heart of Christ in love for the poor.”imitate the heart of christ no 2 - st luigi guanella - 24 oct 2018

“Refuse God nothing!”

St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)reguse god nothing - st luigi guanella - 24 oct 2018

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ABORTION, QUOTES on FREEDOM, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PEACE, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 22 October – The Memorial of St Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)

Quote/s of the Day – 22 October – The Memorial of St Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)

“Freedom consists not in doing what we like
but in having the right to do what we ought.”freedom consists - st john paul - 22 oct 2018

“Darkness can only be scattered by light,
hatred can only be conquered by love.”darkness can only be - st john paul - 22 oct 2018

“The cemetery of the victims of human cruelty
in our century is extended to include
yet another vast cemetery,
that of the unborn.”the cemetary - st john paul - 22 oct 2018

“The best, the surest
and the most effective way
of establishing PEACE on the face of the earth,
is through the great power
of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.”

St Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)the best, the surest way - st john paul - 22 oct 2018

Posted in franciscan OFM, JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 19 October

Quote of the Day – 19 October – The Memorial of St Peter of Alcantara OFM (1499-1562), St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646) The North American Martyrs) & Bl Jerzy Popiełuszko (1947-1984)

“He does much
in the sight of God
who does his best,
be it ever so little.”he does much in the sight of god - st peter of alcantara - 19 oct 2018

“No tongue can express
the greatness of the love
which Jesus Christ
bears to our souls.
He did not wish,
that between Him
and His servants,
there should be any other pledge
than Himself…

St Peter of Alcantara (1499-1562)no tongue can express - st peter of alcantara - 19 oct 2018

“My confidence is placed in God,
who does not need our help
for accomplishing His designs.
Our single endeavour,
should be to give ourselves to the work
and to be faithful to Him.”

St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646) Martyrmy confidence is placed in god - st isaac jogues - 19 oct 2018

”To live in Truth is the basic minimum of human dignity,
even if the price to defend the Truth could be costly.
You need to always remain faithful to the Truth.
Truth can never be betrayed.”to live in truth - bl jerzy popieluszko - 19 oct 2018

“Truth, like Justice,
is connected to Love
and Love has a Price.”

Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko (1947-1984) Martyrtruth like justice - bl jerzy popieluszko - 19 oct 2018

Posted in GOD the FATHER, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMAN DIGNITY, QUOTES on LOVE

NOVENA to St John Paul the Great:  DAY THREE – 15 OCTOBER

NOVENA to St John Paul the Great:  DAY THREE – 15 OCTOBER

Little Known Fact #3:  During his fourth year of Theological studies, Karol Wojtyla felt an increasing call to enter a Carmelite monastery.   In the same year, one of his good friends, Br Leonard Kowalowka, was appointed Novice Master at a Carmelite monastery.  This appointment of his friend prompted Wojtyla to pursue his desire to be a Carmelite. Wojtyla applied to enter the monastery at Czerna but transferring from the Diocesesan seminary to a religious monastery needed the approval of the bishop.   Cardinal Sapieha did not give his approval and instead told Wojtyla to “finish what he started.”   Wojtyla did exactly that and stayed the path of a Diocesesan priest.

REFLECTION DAY THREE:  “In October 1978 Cardinal Wojtyla once again heard the voice of the Lord.   Once more there took place that dialogue with Peter reported in the Gospel of this Mass: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?   Feed my sheep!”  To the Lord’s question, “Karol, do you love me?,” the Archbishop of Krakow answered from the depths of his heart:  “Lord you know everything; you know that I love you.”   The love of Christ was the dominant force in the life of our beloved Holy Father.   Anyone who ever saw him pray, who ever heard him preach, knows that.   Thanks to his being profoundly rooted in Christ, he was able to bear a burden which transcends merely human abilities: that of being the shepherd of Christ’s flock, his universal Church.”……..Pope Benedictday-three-novena-st-john-paul-15-oct-2017

Let us Pray:

O Holy Trinity, we thank You for having given to the Church Pope John Paul II and for having made him shine with Your fatherly tenderness, the glory of the Cross of Christand the splendour of the Spirit of love.

He, trusting completely in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, has shown himself in the likeness of Jesus the Good Shepherd and has pointed out to us the way of holiness as the path to reach eternal communion with You Grant us, through his intercession, according to Your will, the grace that we implore,

………………….. [state your intention here].

Continue, beloved St John Paul, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God’s people. We praise and thank You Father that St John Paul has been numbered among Your saints and make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God forever.   Totus Tuus, Amen.

Quote Day Three:   “A person’s rightful due is to be treated as an object of love, not as an object for use.”a-persons-rightful-due-st-john-paul-14-oct-2017

Posted in CARMELITES, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, MORNING Prayers, MYSTICS, ON the SAINTS, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 15 October – The Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus/Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church

Thought for the Day – 15 October – The Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus/Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church “Doctor of Prayer”

Excerpt of Pope Benedict’s Catechesis
on the Doctors of the Church
Wednesday, 2 February 2011

“It is far from easy to sum up in a few words Teresa’s profound and articulate spirituality.   I would like to mention a few essential points.   In the first place St Teresa proposes the evangelical virtues as the basis of all Christian and human life and in particular, detachment from possessions, that is, evangelical poverty and this concerns all of us;  love for one another as an essential element of community and social life; humility as love for the truth;  determination as a fruit of Christian daring;  theological hope, which she describes as the thirst for living water.   Then we should not forget the human virtues: affability, truthfulness, modesty, courtesy, cheerfulness, culture.

Secondly, St Teresa proposes a profound harmony with the great biblical figures and eager listening to the word of God.   She feels above all closely in tune with the Bride in the Song of Songs and with the Apostle Paul, as well as with Christ in the Passion and with Jesus in the Eucharist.   The Saint then stresses how essential prayer is.   Praying, she says, “means being on terms of friendship with God frequently conversing in secret with Him who, we know, loves us” (Vida 8, 5).  St Teresa’s idea coincides with Thomas Aquinas’ definition of theological charity as “amicitia quaedam hominis ad Deum”, a type of human friendship with God, who offered humanity His friendship first – it is from God that the initiative comes (cf. Summa Theologiae II-II, 23, 1).

Prayer is life and develops gradually, in pace with the growth of Christian life – it begins with vocal prayer, passes through interiorisation by means of meditation and recollection, until it attains the union of love with Christ and with the Holy Trinity. Obviously, in the development of prayer climbing to the highest steps does not mean abandoning the previous type of prayer.  Rather, it is a gradual deepening of the relationship with God that envelops the whole of life.

Dear brothers and sisters, St Teresa of Jesus is a true teacher of Christian life for the faithful of every time.   In our society, which all too often lacks spiritual values, St Teresa teaches us to be unflagging witnesses of God, of His presence and of His action.   She teaches us truly to feel this thirst for God that exists in the depths of our hearts, this desire to see God, to seek God, to be in conversation with Him and to be His friends.

This is the friendship we all need that we must seek anew, day after day.   May the example of this Saint, profoundly contemplative and effectively active, spur us too every day to dedicate the right time to prayer, to this openness to God, to this journey, in order to seek God, to see Him, to discover His friendship and so to find true life – indeed, many of us should truly say:  “I am not alive, I am not truly alive because I do not live the essence of my life”.

Therefore time devoted to prayer is not time wasted, it is time in which the path of life unfolds, the path unfolds to learning from God an ardent love for Him, for His Church and practical charity for our brothers and sisters.    Many thanks.”

St Teresa, Pray for Us!st-teresa-of-jesus-pray-for-us-215 oct 2017

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, MYSTICS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SAINT of the DAY

Quotes of the Day – 15 October – The Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus/Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church

Quotes of the Day – 15 October – The Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus/Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church

“Oh my Lord!
How true it is that,
whoever works for You,
is paid in troubles!
And what a precious price
to those who love You,
if we understand its value.”oh-my-lord-st-teresa-of-jesus-15-oct-2017

“We need no wings
to go in search of Him
but have only to look upon Him,
present within us.”we need no wings - st teresa of jesus - avila - 15 oct 2018

“Always think of yourself
as everyone’s servant;
look for Christ Our Lord
in everyone
and you will then have
respect and reverence
for them all.”always think of yourself as everyone's servant - st teresa of avila - 15 oct 2018

St Teresa of Jesus/Avila (1515-1582)