Category: QUOTES on MARTYRDOM

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 December – ‘… They could not yet speak but already, they are confessing Christ. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs – Apocalypse 14:1-5,– Matthew 2:13-18 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“When Herod realised that he had been deceived by the Magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity, two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the Magi.“” – Matthew 2:16

REFLECTION – “Why, Herod, do you fear when you hear a King is born? He has not come to dethrone you but to overthrow the devil. But you fail to understand, you take fright and fall into a fury. Because you lost the single child you were seeking, you become the cruel murderer of the many. Neither the weeping mothers’ love, nor the mourning of fathers weeping for their sons, nor the screams and howling of the children themselves, holds you back. You massacre these little ones in their bodies because fear is killing you, in your heart. And you think that, if you achieve your end, you will live on for a long time, whereas it is Life itself you are trying to kill! He Who is the source of grace, Who is both small and great, Who is lying in a manger, causes your throne to topple. He accomplishes His design through you, without your knowing it. He gathers together the children of your enemies and makes of them, children of adoption.

These little ones died for Christ without knowing it;  their parents weep for the death of Martyrs. Although they were unable to speak, Christ made them capable of being His Witnesses. See how this King reigns. Already He is setting free and bestowing salvation.  But as for you, Herod, you are oblivious of what is happening, you take fright and fall into a rage. And when you get annoyed with a little Child, you are already placing yourself at His service without realising it.

How great the gift of grace is! What are the merits by which these children won the victory? They could not yet speak but already, they are confessing Christ. Their little bodies are as yet unable to engage in combat but already, they are carrying off the Palm of Victory.” – St Quodvultdeus (Died c 453) Father, Bishop at Carthage from c437-c450 (Second sermon on the Creed).

PRAYER – O God, Whose praise the Innocents, Thy Martyrs, this day proclaimed, not by speaking but by dying, put to death in us all the wickedness of sin, so that the faith which our tongue professes, may be proclaimed also by our life.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).
We praise You, O God, we acclaim You as Lord, the white-robed army of Martyrs praise You. (From the Te Deum).

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St PAUL!

Thought for the Day – 26 December – St Stephen, the First Martyr

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

St Stephen, the First Martyr

“Among the original seven Deacons nominated by the Apostles, there was one name Stephen, who was outstanding for his sanctity and extraordinary spiritual gifts.
Being enlightened by God, this young man dared to rebuke the Jews in public for their hardness of heart and openly defended the doctrine of Christ, Whom he proclaimed to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world.
One day, when he was threatened by his foes, Stephen raised his eyes trustfully towards Heaven and said: “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
The Jews could no longer restrain their fury and proceeded to drag the young man outside the City.
There, they left their garments in the care of a youth named Saul, while they savagely stoned Stephen to death.
Stricken to his knees by the force of the missiles, the saintly young disciple continued to look towards Heaven.
“Lord Jesus,” he cried, “receive my spirit.”
Before he breathed his last, he forgave his enemies in the manner of his Divine Master.
“Lord,” he prayed, “do not lay this sin against them.”
And with these words he fell asleep (Cf Acts 7:51-60; 8:1-2).

Let us admire and imitate the courage of this Martyr.
We may never be called on, to endure a martyrdom of blood on behalf of our Faith but, we shall almost certainly be obliged to undergo the martyrdom of the assault of the passions on our purity of soul, or of severe physical or mental suffering…
If we accept these trials from God with perfect resignation and love, they will certainly prove as valuable to us, as real martyrdom.
If we endure them with the courage and fortitude of St Stephen, we shall be rewarded as he was, by seeing Jesus standing at the right hand of God and offering us the palm of victory!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CATHOLIC Quotes, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – “If God is for us, who is against us?”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – “The Month of The Most Holy Rosary and The Holy Angels” – The Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – Ephesians 4:7-13 – John 15:17-25 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“You are not of the world … I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hateth you.” – John 15:19

REFLECTION – “All good and faithful Christians but above all, the glorious Martyrs, can say: “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom 8:31) The world conspired, peoples plotted in vain, princes formed a league against them (Ps 2:1); people invented new torments and formulated incredible forms of torture. They were covered with disgrace and deceitful accusations, they were locked into unbearable dungeons, their flesh was wracked with nails of iron, they were massacred by the sword, they were thrown to wild beasts, given to the flames and these Martyrs of Christ, called out: “If God is for us, who is against us?”

The whole world is against you and you say: “Who is against us?” But the Martyrs answer: “What does this whole world matter to us, since we are dying for the One by Whom the world was made?” Thus, may the Martyrs say and say again and may we hear it and say it with them: “If God is for us, who is against us?” They may let their fury loose, they may revile us, accuse us unjustly, heap calumny upon us; they may not only kill us but torture us. What will the Martyrs do? They will repeat: “But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” (Ps 54:4). … But if the Lord is the upholder of my life, how can the world harm me? … It is He Who will also restore my body … “The hairs of our head are all numbered.” (Lk 12:7) … So let us say – let us say with faith, let us say with hope, with a heart on fire with love: “If God is for us, who is against us?!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 334 for the Holy Martyrs).

PRAYER – O God, Who has given us a way of coming to know Thy Name through Thy blessed Apostles Simon and Jude, grant us to honour their everlasting glory, by becoming more holy and to become more holy by honouring it. 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 MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 9 October – The Second Sorrowful Mystery, The Scourging

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 9 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The Second Sorrowful Mystery
The Scourging

“Tradition holds that Mary followed Jesus through the various stages of His Passion.
It is impossible to believe that she would have abandoned Him in these tragic hours.
She must, at least, have known of the cruel flogging which He endured and, while His body was being torn by lashes, she was most probably not far away, participating, by her maternal sorrow, in her Son’s torment.
Here, then, was a double Martyrdom – the Martyrdom of Blood and the Martyrdom of tears.

Life demands the shedding of blood and the shedding of tears!
What are the motives which cause you sorrow in life?
Are yours the tears of unsated ambition, of frustrated caprice, or of discouragement in times of trouble?
Such tears are not worthy of a Christian.
His, should be tears of repentance for his sins and tears of love for Jesus and Mary.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PRIDE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 October – “Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the Kingdom of Heaven.” – Matthew 18:4

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 3 October – “The Month of The Most Holy Rosary and The Holy Angels” – St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873–1897) – Isaias 66:12-14 – Matthew 18:1-4 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the Kingdom of Heaven.” – Matthew 18:4

REFLECTION – “Remember this saying : “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Jas 4:6). Keep before yourself the Lord’s words: “Those who humble themselves will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humbled” (Mt 23:12)… If it seems to you that you have some good quality, set it to your account but without forgetting your faults; do not boast about what you have done well today; do not set aside recent and past evil. If the present gives you reason to glory, remember the past! That is how you will pierce the abcess of pride! And if you see your neighbour sinning, beware you do not just consider him in the light of this lapse but, think too, about what he is doing, or has done which is good. Very often you will discover him to be better than yourself if you examine your life as a whole and do not add up the fragmentary bits. For God does not examine us in a fragmentary fashion … Let us often remember all this, so as to preserve ourselves from pride, humbling ourselves, so as to be raised up!

Let us imitate the Lord, Who came down from Heaven to the lowest depths … Yet, after such a humbling, He caused His glory to shine forth, glorifying with Himself, those who had been despised together with Him. These were indeed, in fact, His first blessed disciples who, poor and naked, went out through all the world, without words of wisdom, without sumptuous escort but alone and in anguish, vagabonds by land and by sea, beaten with rods, stoned, pursued and, in the end, put to death. Such as these are for us the divine teachings of our Father. Let us imitate them that we may also come to eternal glory, Christ’s perfect and authentic gift.” – St Basil the Great (329-379) Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon on Humility 5-6).

PRAYER – O Lord, Who said: Unless you become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to follow the footsteps of blessed Thérèse the Virgin, in humility and simplicity of heart that we may obtain everlasting rewards.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD ALONE!, Holy Name PRAYERS, JESUIT SJ, OUR Cross, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, Quotes Self-Oblation, REDEMPTIVE Suffering, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY NAME, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 26 September – Jesus, What Can I Give Thee in Return? The Prayer of St Jean de Brébeuf

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 26 September – St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646), St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646) Priest, Martyr, Missionary and Companions

Jesus, What Can I Give Thee in Return?
The Prayer of St Jean de Brébeuf SJ (1593-1649)

Jesus, my Lord and Saviour,
what can I give Thee in return
for all the favours Thou hast
first conferred upon me?
I will take from Thy Hand,
the Cup of Thine Sufferings
and call on Thy Name.
I vow before Thee, eternal Father and the Holy Ghost,
before Thy most holy Mother
and her most chaste Spouse,
before the Angels, Apostles and Martyrs,
before my blessed fathers,
Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier,
in truth, I vow to Thee, Jesus my Saviour,
that, as far as I have the strength,
I will never fail to accept the grace of Martyrdom,
if someday Thou, in Thine Infinite Mercy,
should offer it to me,
Thy most unworthy servant …
My beloved Jesus,
here and now, I offer
my body and blood and life.
May I die only for Thee,
if Thou will grant me this grace,
since Thou willingly died for me.
Let me so live that Thou may grant me
the gift of such a happy death.
In this way, my God and Saviour,
I will take from Thy Hand,
the Cup of Thine Sufferings
and call upon Thy Name,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 16 September – Our Martyrdom

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 16 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Our Martyrdom

“St Ambrose describes virtue, as a slow martyrdom.
In this sense, we must all be Martyrs.
There is only one difference.
The Martyrs of the Church shed their blood and gave up their lives for Jesus, within one hour or one day and gained their reward immediately.
Our Martyrdom, on the other hand, will be prolonged.
It will last all our lives and will end only when we accept death with resignation from the hands of God.
Ours is the Martyrdom of virtue.
Let us clearly understand, that solid Christian virtue is a slow and continual Martyrdom which will only end with death.
It is not a flower which springs up spontaneously in the garden of the soul.
It is like a seed which is thrown on the damp earth and must die there slowly, so that it can generate young shoots which will produce the ears of corn.
“Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But, if it dies, it brings forth much fruit” (Jn 12:24-25).
It is necessary, then, to descend into the mire of humility and to remain there until we die.
Only after we have died to ourselves, shall we rise again in God (Cf ibid).
After the death of our lower instincts and vices, we shall find a new life.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on WATCHING, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The HOLY NAME, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

Quote/s of the Day – 16 September – St Cyprian of Carthage

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 16 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of Saint Corneliu, Pope & Martyr and Saint Cyprian, Bishop & Martyr

May We Confess Thy Name to the End
By St Cyprian of Carthage (200-258)
Bishop and Martyr
Apostolic Father of the Church

Good God,
may we confess Thy Name to the end.
May we emerge unmarked
and glorious from the traps
and darkness of this world.
As Thou hast bound us together
by charity and peace
and, as together,
we have persevered under persecution,
so may we also rejoice together
in Thy Heavenly Kingdom.
Amen

“He not only receives and pardons ,
those adversaries,
those blasphemers,
those persistent enemies of His Name,
provided they do PENANCE
for their offences
and acknowledge the CRIIMES committed
BUT, He admits them to the reward
of the Kingdom of Heaven!”

“God’s Merciful Design has warned us
that the day of our own struggle,
our own contest, is at hand!
By that shared love
which binds us close together,
we are doing all we can,
to exhort our congregation,
to give ourselves unceasingly to fastings,
vigils and prayers in common.
These are the heavenly weapons
which give us the strength to stand firm and endure;
they are the spiritual defences,
the God-given armaments which protect us.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/09/16/quote-s-of-the-day-16-september-st-cyprian-of-carthage/

St Cyprian (c 200-258)
Martyr, Bishop of Carthage,
Father of the Church

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FREEDOM, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), The HOLY NAME of MARY, The INCARNATION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 16 September – ‘… Why did He then defer His gift for so long? …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 16 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of Saint Corneliu, Pope & Martyr and Saint Cyprian, Bishop & Martyr – Wisdom 3:1-8 – Luke 21:9-19 – Scripture search herehttps://www.drbo.org/

“And you shall be hated by all men for My Name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall perish.” – Luke 21:17-18

REFLECTION – “If God’s gift to the world in sending it His Son is so good, so worthy of God, why did He then defer His gift for so long? Why, when evil in the world was still in its early stages, did God not cut short its hidden development? I have time to respond briefly to this objection – that it is God’s foreknowledge and Wisdom, the One Who is good by nature, Who has impeded this gift. Just as with physical illnesses … doctors wait until the disease which is hidden within the body to begin with, manifests itself without, so that he can apply the remedy it requires once it has become visible, so once the disease of sin had attacked the human race, the world’s Physician waited until no kind of wickedness should remain concealed.

That is why God did not apply His remedy to the world immediately after Cain’s jealousy and murder of his brother Abel … It was when vice had reached its peak and there was no single act of evil which men had not attempted that God set about curing the wound, no longer in its beginnings but in its full development. In this way, the Divine remedy could extend to every human weakness…

But then, why was the grace of the Gospel not at once extended over all? True, the Divine call is addressed equally to all alike, without distinction of condition, age or race … But, He Who has the free arrangement of all things within His Hands, pushed to the extreme His respect for humankind. He has permitted each one of us to have our own domain over which we alone are masters – this is the will, the faculty which does not know bondage which remains free, founded on the autonomy of reason. Therefore, faith is at the free disposition of those who receive the message of the Gospel.” – St Gregory of Nyssa (335-395) Bishop, Father of the Church, [The brother of St Basil the Great] (Catechetical Instruction 29-30)

PRAYER – May the feast of the blessed Martyrs and Bishops, Cornelius and Cyprian, protect us, O Lord, we beseech Thee and may their holy prayer recommend us to Thee.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", BREVIARY Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST

Our Morning Offering – 16 September – Deus, Tuorum Militum – O God, of Those Who Fought Thy Fight

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 16 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of Saint Corneliu, Pope & Martyr and Saint Cyprian, Bishop & Martyr

Deus, Tuorum Militum
O God, of Those Who Fought Thy Fight
Unknown Author
(6th Century)

O God, of those who fought Thy fight,
Portion and prize and Crown of Light,
Break every bond of sin and shame
As now we praise Thy Martyr’s name.

He recked not of the world’s allure
But sin and pomp of sin forswore:
Knew all their gall and passed them by,
And reached the throne prepared on high.

Bravely the course of pain he ran,
And bore his torments as a man:
For love of Thee, his blood outpoured,
And thus obtained the great reward.

With humble voice and suppliant word
We pray Thee, therefore, Holy Lord,
While we Thy Martyr’s Feast Day keep,
Forgive Thy loved and erring sheep.

All honour, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee,
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen

An Ambrosian Hymn traditionally assigned for Matins and Vespers for the common feast of a Martyr in the Roman Breviary.
It dates probably from the sSxth Century and is attributed to the unknown author of Rex Gloriose Martyrum and jesu, Redemptor Omnium.
The Hymn exists in a longer versJon of eight strophes and a shorter one of four or five, which is probably earlier.
The Vatican Antiphonary provided two different melodies for use in the Paschal Season and during the Octave of the Nativity, during which the Feast of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr occurs.
The Hymn is a prayer asking God to forgive the sins of His servants on the day of the Martyr’s triumph over the pleasures of the world and the torture of persecution.

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on TRUTH, St JOHN the BAPTIST

One Minute Reflection – 29 August – ‘ … Indeed, never has the Christian religion been wiped out by the persecution of tyrants or, the indefensible murder of the innocent! ,,,’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 29 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist – Jeremias 1:17-19 – Mark 6:17-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Be not afraid at their presence; for I will make thee not to fear their countenance. ” – Jeremias 1:17

REFLECTION – “The Death of Christ stands at the head of an innumerable crowd of believers. Through this same Lord Jesus’ Power and, thanks to His Goodness, the precious deaths of His Martyrs and Saints have given birth to a great multitude of Christians. Indeed, never has the Christian religion been wiped out by the persecution of tyrants or the indefensible murder of the innocent! Rather, it has drawn greater increase from them each time.

We have an example of this in Saint John, who Baptised Christ and whose holy Martyrdom we celebrate today. That faithless King, Herod, true to his oath, wanted to completely exterminate the memory of John from the minds of men. Yet not only was John not destroyed but, men in their thousands, inflamed by his example, have welcomed death with joy for the sake of justice and truth … What Christian is there, worthy of the name, who does not venerate John today, he who Baptised the Lord? All over the world Christians honour his memory, all generations proclaim him blessed and his virtues suffuse the Church with their perfume. John did not live for himself alone and he has not died for himself alone either.” – Lanspergius (John Justus of Landsberg O,Cart,) the Carthusian (1489-1539) Monk, Theologian (Sermon for the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist).

PRAYER – May the great festival of St John the Baptist, Thy Precursor and Martyr, we beseech Thee, O Lord, assure for us the results of Thy saving help. Who lives and reign with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 August – “If it dies, it produces much fruit” – John 12:24

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 10 August – “The Month of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Lawrence (Died 258) Martyr, “Keeper of the Treasures of he Church” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 –John 12:24-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If it dies, it produces much fruit” – John 12:24

REFLECTION – “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet, when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” (Mt 13:31). This small seed is for us the symbol of Jesus Christ, Who, sowed into the garden where He was buried, rose from it shortly after, through His Resurrection, as a big tree.

One could say that when He died, He was like a small seed – a small seed because of the humiliation of His flesh but a big tree because of the glorification of His Majesty. He was like a small seed when he appeared completely disfigured before our eyes but like a large tree when He rose again like “the most handsome of men” (Ps 44:3).

The branches of this mysterious tree, are the holy preachers of the Gospel, of whom one of the Psalms indicates the reach: “Their report goes forth throughout all the earth, their message, to the ends of the world “ (Ps 19:5; cf Rom 10:18). The birds rest on these branches while the souls of the just, who have been raised up above earth’s attractions, on the wings of holiness, find in the words of these preachers of the Gospel, the consolation they need in the sorrows and difficulties of this life.” – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Matthew, Ch.13).

PRAYER – Grant us, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, to extinguish the flames of our sins, as Thou granted St Lawrence to overcome the fires of his tortures. 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 BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM

Our Morning Offering – 10 August – Holy Deacon Martyr, St Lawrence!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 10 August – St Lawrence (Died 258) “Keeper of the Treasures of he Church,” Martyr, Archdeacon.

Holy Deacon Martyr, St Lawrence!
Unknown Author

Holy Deacon! by thy yearning
For the Martyr’s glorious crown;
By thy tortures, by thy burning,
By thy death of bright renown;
When the world and flesh and devil
Tempt our souls to sin and evil,
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

By the love that thou didst ever
To thy Pontiff-Father bear,
Pray that no base act may sever
Us from Peter’s loving care!
But when men would once more lead us
Into bonds from which Christ freed us,
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

By the Pontiff’s words of warning,
Bidding all thy sorrows cease,
Words foretelling bitter mourning
Leading unto lasting peace!
That to Jesus in our sadness
We may look for help and gladness,
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

By thy love, which knew no measure,
For the needy and the old,
Giving them the Church’s treasure
Dearer they than gems and gold!
Teaching us that alms well given
Are but treasures stored in Heaven,
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

By thy fervent love for Jesus,
By thy strong and constant faith,
Of our sinful burdens ease us!
Help us at the hour of death!
When the fears of death confound us
When the cleansing fires surround us!
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, GOD ALONE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The HOLY NAME, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 July – ‘ … He will not refuse what He has promised. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Sts Nazarius and Celus, Martyrs and St Pope Victor I (Died c199 – Wisdom 10:17-20 – Luke 21:9-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And you shall be hated by all men for My Name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall perish.” – Luke 21:17-18

REFLECTION – “Such as breathe out violence, have risen up against me” (Ps 26:12) … The psalmist struggles in the hands of those who pursue and attack him; he is breathless, struggling but he holds firm; he is assured, since God upholds him, God helps him, God leads him, God guides him. Both transported with joy by what he has been able to admire and sing and struck with groanings by that which he has had to suffer, in the end, he breathes and cries out: “I believe I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living” (v.13). Oh, how sweet is the Lord’s bounty, immortal, incomparable, eternal, unchanging! And when shall I see you, O bounty of the Lord? “I believe I shall see,” but not in the land of mortals but “in the land of the living.” The Lord will bring me out of the land of mortals who deigned for my sake to accept this land of mortals and die at the hands of mortals…

May we listen too, to the Voice of the Lord which, from on high, exhorts and consoles us. Let us listen to the Voice of Him Whom we have for Father and Mother (cf. v.10). For He has heard our groaning, He has seen our sighs, He has sounded the desires of our hearts for “the one thing we ask” (v.4). Thanks to Christ’s intercession, He has favourably received our one prayer, our one request. And while we are completing our pilgrimage in this world, even as the road is a long one, He will not refuse what He has promised. He says to us: “Hope in the Lord.” He Who has promised is all powerful, He is trustworthy, He is faithful. “Hope in the Lord, be stouthearted” (v.14). Therefore, do not let yourself be troubled.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (2nd Discourse on Psalm 26).

PRAYER – May the Martyrdom of Thy Saints Nazarius, Celsus and Victor, give us courage, O Lord and may it give us a help to counter our weakness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on VIRTUE

Thought for the Day – 25 July – Our Martyrdom

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 25 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Our Martyrdom

“St Ambrose describes virtue, as a slow martyrdom.
In this sense, we must all be Martyrs.
There is only one difference.
The Martyrs of the Church shed their blood and gave up their lives for Jesus, within one hour or one day and gained their reward immediately.
Our Martyrdom, on the other hand, will be prolonged.
It will last all our lives and will end only when we accept death with resignation from the hands of God.
Ours is the Martyrdom of virtue.
Let us clearly understand, that solid Christian virtue is a slow and continual Martyrdom which will only end with death.
It is not a flower which springs up spontaneously in the garden of the soul.
It is like a seed which is thrown on the damp earth and must die there slowly, so that it can generate young shoots which will produce the ears of corn.
“Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But, if it dies, it brings forth much fruit” (Jn 12:24-25).
It is necessary, then, to descend into the mire of humility and to remain there until we die.
Only after we have died to ourselves, shall we rise again in God (Cf ibid).
After the death of our lower instincts and vices, we shall find a new life.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, St PETER!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 July – Can you drink the Chalice that I shall drink?” – Matthew 20:22

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 25 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St James the Greater, Apostle and Martyr – 1 Corinthians 4:9-15 – Matthew 20:20-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ You know not what you ask. Can you drink the Chalice that I shall drink?” – Matthew 20:22

REFLECTION – “With the powerful co-operation of Heaven, the whole world was suddenly lit by the sunshine of the saving Word. At once, in accordance with holy Scriptures, the voice of its inspired Evangelists and Apostles went forth into all the earth, and “their words to the ends of the world” (Ps 18:5). In every town and village, like a well-filled threshing floor, Churches sprang up, bursting with eager members…

At the time of Claudius, King Herod made a determined attack on certain members of the Church, killing James the brother of John with the headsman’s sword. Referring to this James, Clement [of Alexandria] tells an interesting tale on the strength of an authentic tradition. It appears that the man who brought him into Court was so moved when he saw him testify, he confessed that he, too, was a Christian. So they were both taken away together and on the way he asked James to forgive him. James thought for a moment, then he said: “I wish you peace” and kissed him. So both were beheaded at the same time.

Then, as we read in the sacred record, Herod, seeing how his action in putting James to death had given satisfaction to the Jews, laid hands on Peter as well, locked him in prison and was on the very point of perpetrating his murder too but, for Divine intervention. In the night an Angel stood before Peter and he was miraculously released from his fetters and set free for the ministry of preaching (Acts 12:4-17).” – St Eusebius of Caesarea (c265-339) Bishop, Father, Theologian, Historian (Ecclesiastical History, II, 3, 9 ).

PRAYER – Protect Thy people and make them holy, O Lord, so that, guarded by the help of Thy Apostle James, they may please Thee by their conduct and serve Thee with peace of mind. Through esus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, DYING / LAST WORDS, ON the SAINTS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SAINT of the DAY, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

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

“Death to the Saints is not a punishment but a reward.
“For so He giveth His beloved sleep.” (Ps cxxvii: 3).
The death of him, who loves God,
is not called death but sleep, so he can truly say:
“I will lay me down in peace
and take my rest.” (Ps iv: 9).

Cardinal St Fisher, as Saunders relates,
when about to die for the Faith,
put on the best clothes he had, saying, he was going to a wedding.
When he came in sight of the scaffold
he cast away his staff, saying:
“Make haste my feet, make haste, for we are not far from Paradise.”
And before dying he sang Te Deum,
in returning thanks to God, Who had allowed him
to die a Martyr’s death, for the holy Faith
and thus being filled with joy,
he placed his head under the axe.”

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

“Help me, Most Loving Father,
help me with Thy mighty grace.
Succour me with Thy most gracious favour.
Rescue me from these manifold perils in which I am,
for unless Thou wil relieve me, of thy Infinite Goodness,
I am but as a lost creature.”

(From the Prayer in the Tower)

“Penance is a needful thing to the sinner,
who desires to recover health of his soul.
And, in doing penance, there be three things
to be considered:
serious compunction of heart,
confession of mouth
and satisfaction by deed.”

penance is a needful thing to the sinner - st john fisher 22 june 2020

St Thomas More (1478-1535)
Martyr, Confessor

“For those whom He Loved,
He Loved unto the end and this He wished,
they too should do. He was not
an inconstant Lover Who does as many do,
Love for a while and then, upon some light occasion,
leave His Love and turn from being a friend to an enemy,
as the false traitor, Judas did.
But He, still so persevered in Love
unto the very end, so that, for very Love,
He came to that painful end and that,
not only for His friends who were already His
but too, for His enemies, to make them His friends
and not for His benefit but only for their own!”

“Those in the Catholic Church,
whom some rebuke for praying to Saints
and going on pilgrimages,
do not seek any Saint as their saviour.
Instead, they seek Saints,
as those whom their Saviour loves
and whose intercession and prayer,
for the seeker, He will be content to hear.
For His Own sake,
He would have those He loves, honoured.
And when they are thus honoured for His sake,
then, the honour that is given them, for His sake,
overflows especially to Himself.”

O Lord, Grant Us …
A Prayer of Petitio
By St Thomas More (1478-1535)

O Lord, grant us a mind
which is humble,
quiet, peaceaable,
patient and charitable
and a taste of Thy Holy Ghost,
in all our thoughts, words and deeds.

O Lord, grant us a lively faith,
a firm hope, a fervent charity,
a love of Thee.

Take from us all lukewarmness
in meditation
and all dullness in prayer.
Give us fervour and delight
in thinking of Thee,
Thy grace and Thy tender
compassion toward us.

Grant us, good Lord,
the grace to work
for the things we pray for.
Amen.

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION

One Minute Reflection – 28 June – And fear you not them who kill the body and are not able to kill the soul …”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – St Irenaeus (c130–c202) Bishop, Martyr, Father of the Church – 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 4:1-5; Matthew 10:28-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And fear you not them who kill the body and are not able to kill the soul …” – Matthew 10:28

REFLECTION – “They did not nail Polycarp but only tied him up. And so, he was bound, putting his arms behind his back, like a noble ram taken from a large flock for sacrifice, a burnt offering acceptable to and made ready for God. Then he gazed up to Heaven and said: “O Lord God Almighty, Father of Your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through Whom we have received knowledge of You, God of the angels and the powers and of all creation, God of the whole race of the righteous who live in Your sight: I bless You, for You have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to share the cup of Your Christ, as one of Your Martyrs, to rise again to eternal life in body and soul in the immortality of the Holy Ghost. May I be taken up today into Your Presence among Your Martyrs, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, in the manner You have prepared and have revealed and have now brought to fulfillment, for You are the God of truth… And so also I praise You for all things; I bless and glorify you through our Eternal High Priest in Heaven (Heb 4,14), in Your beloved Child, Jesus Christ, through Whom be glory to You and to Him and to the Holy Ghost, now and for the ages to come. Amen.” – Letter of the Church of Smyrna concerning the Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp (69-155) [Especially appropriate today, as St Irenaeus was a Student and Disciple of St Polycarp.]

PRAYER – O God, Who enabled blessed Irenaeus, Thy Martyr and Bishop, to overcome heresy with true doctrine and to establish peace happily in the Church, grant, we beseech Thee that Thy people may be steadfast in holy religion and give us Thy peace in our times. 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).

MAY the HEART of JESUS be loved everywhere. INDULGENCE – 100 Days, Once a day – Pope Pius IX 23 September 1860.

Posted in "Follow Me", 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 May – Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 6 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Tthe Feast of St John Before the Latin Gate – Wisdom 5:1-5 – Matthew 20:20-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?” – Matthew 20:22

REFLECTION – “Through their mother’s mediation, the sons of Zebedee press Christ as follows in the presence of their fellow Apostles:  “Command that we may sit, one at your right side and one at your left” (cf. Mk 10:35f.)… Christ hastens to free them from their illusions, telling them they must be prepared to suffer insults, persecutions, even death. “You do not know what you are asking.  Are you able to drink the chalice that I shall drink?” 

Let no-one be surprised to see the Apostles displaying such imperfect dispositions.   Wait until the Mystery of the Cross has been fulfilled and the strength of the Holy Spirit given to them.   If you want to see the strength of their souls, take a look at them later and you will see them to be above all human weakness.   Christ does not conceal their pettiness, so that you will be able to see what they become later by the power of the grace which will transform them! …”… St John Chrysostom (c 345-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – O God, Who sees that sins and sufferings do, on every side rise up to trouble us, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may find a shield in times of need, through the glorious intercession of Thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist beloved Saint John. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", CONFESSION/PENANCE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on TIME, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 1 February – St Ignatius of Antioch

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 1 February – – St Ignatius of Antioch (c35 – c107) Martyr, Bishop of Antioch, Apostolic Father of the Church

“It is impossible for a man to be freed
from the habit of sin,
before he hates it, just as it is impossible
to receive forgiveness,
before confessing his trespasses.”

“Take heed, often, to come together,
to give thanks to God
and show forth His praise.
For when you assemble frequently,
in the same place,
the powers of Satan are destroyed
and the destruction at which he aims,
is prevented, by the unity of your faith.”

“A Christian is not his own master,
since all his time belongs to God.”

“I would rather die and come to Jesus Christ
than be king over the entire earth.
Him I seek, Who Died for us;
Him I love, Who Rose again because of us.”

“Pray without ceasing
on behalf of other men…
For cannot he who falls
rise again?”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/01/quote-s-of-the-day-1-february-st-ignatius-of-antioch-2/

St Ignatius of Antioch (c35–c107)
Bishop, Martyr, Apostolic Father

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM

Our Morning Offering – 26 January – Deus, Tuorum Militum, O God of Those Who Fought Thy Fight

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 26 January – St Polycarp (69-155) Martyr, Bishop of Smyrna (Asia Minor), Apostolic Father

Deus, Tuorum Militum
O God of Those Who Fought Thy Fight
Unknown Author
(6th Century)

O God, of those who fought Thy fight,
Portion and Prize and Crown of Light,
Break every bond of sin and shame
As now we praise Thy Martyr’s name.

He recked not of the world’s allure
But sin and pomp of sin forswore:
Knew all their gall and passed them by
And reached the throne prepared on high.

Bravely the course of pain he ran
And bore his torments, as a man,
For love of Thee his blood outpoured
And thus obtained the great reward.

With humble voice and suppliant word
We pray Thee, therefore, Holy Lord,
While we Thy Martyr’s Feast-day keep,
Forgive Thy loved and erring sheep.

All honour, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee,
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen

An Ambrosian Hymn historically assigned for Matins and Vespers for the Common of a Martyr in the Roman Breviary. It dates probably from the s6th Century and is attributed to the unknown Author of Rex gGoriose Martyrum and Jesu, Redemptor Omnium.
The Hymn exists in a longer version of eight strophes and a shorter one, of four, which is probably earlier.

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ANGELS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – ‘ … Let us fight the good fight with brave hearts and solid faith!’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – Ephesians 4:7-13, John 15:17-25 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If you had been of the world, the world would love its own but because, you are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hateth you.” – John 15:19

REFLECTION – “Our Lord’s Will is that we should rejoice and leap for joy when we are persecuted (Mt 5:12) because, when persecutions come, it is the, crowns are given for faith (cf Jas 1:12), it is then, Christ’s soldiers prove themselves, then the heavens open to their witness. We are not employed in God’s force only to think of quiet, running away from service when the Teacher of humility, patience and suffering, has Himself provided the same service before us. What He taught, He first of all, carried out and if He exhorts us to stand firm, it is because He Himself suffered before us and on our behalf.

If we are to take part in competitions in the stadium we exercise and train ourselves and think ourselves highly honoured if, before the eyes of the crowd, we have the happiness of receiving the prize. But here is a trial which is both noble and outstanding in another way, in which God watches us – His children – take part in the combat and Himself gives us a heavenly crown ( 1 Cor 9:25). The Angels watch us too and Christ comes to our aid. So let us arm ourselves with all our might; let us fight the good fight with brave hearts and solid faith!” – St Cyprian (200-258) Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, Father of the Church (Letter 56).

PRAYER – O God, Who has given us a way of coming to know Thy Name through Thy blessed Apostles Simon and Jude, grant us to honour their everlasting glory, by becoming more holy and to become more holy by honouring it. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 October – “I will send to them prophets and apostles and some of them they will kill and persecute. ” – Luke 11:49

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 24 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Saints Chrysanthus and Daria (Died c 282) Martyrs, Married Couple – Wisdom 3:1-8: Luke 11:47-51 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“I will send to them prophets and apostles and some of them they will kill and persecute. ” – Luke 11:49

REFLECTION – “One of you will say: “I’m not able to love my enemies at all.” All through Holy Scripture God has said to you that you can and do you answer Him that, to the contrary, you cannot!? Now think about it – who are we to believe? God or you? Since He who is Truth itself cannot lie, let human weakness leave off its futile excuses forthwith! He who is just, cannot demand something impossible and He who is merciful, will not condemn someone for something that person could not avoid. So why these evasions then? There is no-one who knows better, what we are capable of, than He who has given us the ability. Such numbers of men, women, children, tender young girls, have borne flames, fire, sword and the wild beasts for Christ’s sake, without flinching and we, do we say that we cannot bear the insults of unintelligent persons?…

Indeed, if only the good are to be loved, what are we to say of the action of our God, of whom it is written: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son?” (Jn 3,16). For what good deeds are they, that the world had done, for God to love it so? Christ our Lord, found us all to be, not only evil but even dead, on account of original sin and yet… “he loved us and handed himself over for us” (Eph 5,2). In so acting, He loved even those who did not love Him, as the Apostle Paul also says: “Christ died for the guilty” (Rm 5,6). And in his inexpressible mercy, He gave this example to all humankind, saying: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (Mt 11,29).” – St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop and Monk (Sermons to the people, no 37).

PRAYER – May the prayer of Your blessed Martyrs, Chrysanthus and Daria, defend us, O Lord, that we may ever enjoy the loving help of those whom we honour by this celebration.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 JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM

Our Morning Offering – 26 September – Jesus, What Can I Give Thee in Return? The Prayer of St Jean de Brébeuf

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 26 September – St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646), St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646) Priest, Martyr, Missionary and Companions

Jesus, What Can I Give Thee in Return?
The Prayer of St Jean de Brébeuf SJ (1593-1649)

Jesus, my Lord and Saviour,
what can I give Thee in return
for all the favours Thou hast
first conferred upon me?
I will take from Thy Hand,
the Cup of Thine Sufferings
and call on Thy Name.
I vow before Thee, eternal Father and the Holy Ghost,
before Thy most holy Mother
and her most chaste Spouse,
before the Angels, Apostles and Martyrs,
before my blessed fathers,
Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier,
in truth, I vow to Thee, Jesus my Saviour,
that, as far as I have the strength,
I will never fail to accept the grace of Martyrdom,
if someday Thou, in Thine Infinite Mercy,
should offer it to me,
Thy most unworthy servant …
My beloved Jesus,
here and now, I offer
my body and blood and life.
May I die only for Thee,
if Thou will grant me this grace,
since Thou willingly died for me.
Let me so live that Thou may grant me
the gift of such a happy death.
In this way, my God and Saviour,
I will take from Thy Hand,
the Cup of Thine Sufferings
and call upon Thy Name,
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
Amen

Posted in DYING / LAST WORDS, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM

Thought for the Day – 22 September – CONSIDERATION IX, Second Point – The Peace Felt by a Just Man When Dying – ‘O beloved death! …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 22 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

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

CONSIDERATION IX

The Peace Felt by a Just Man When Dying
“The souls of the just are in the Hands of God
and the torment of death, shall not touch them.
In the sight of the unwise, they seemed to die,
…. but they are at peace.”
(Wisd iii: 1-3)

SECOND POINT:
“The souls of the just are in the Hands of God and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise, they seemed to die … but they are at peace.”
It seems, in the sight of the unwise that the servants of God die with sorrow and unwillingly, even as the worldly do but no, for God knows well how to comfort His children when they are dying and amidst the pains of their death, He makes them feel a certain incomparable sweetness, as a foretaste of Paradise which, within a short time, He will bestow upon them.
Like those who die in sin, who even upon their death-bed experience certain foretastes of hell, such as remorse, fear and
despair; so, on the contrary, do the Saints, by the acts of love
which, at that time they often make to God, by the desire
and by the hope which is within them, of very soon enjoying God, begin even before death, to feel that peace which they will afterwards fully enjoy in Heaven.

Death to the Saints is not a punishment but a reward. “For so He giveth His beloved sleep.” (Ps cxxvii: 3).
The death of him, who loves God, is not called death but sleep, so he can truly say: “I. will lay me down in peace and take my rest.” (Ps iv: 9).
Father Saurez died in such peace that whilst dying he was
able to say: “I did not think it was so sweet to die.”
Cardinal Baronius having been advised by his physician not to think so much about death, replied: “And why? Is it perchance that I fear it? I do not fear but I love it!”

Cardinal St Fisher, as Saunders relates, when about to die for the Faith, put on the best clothes he had, saying, he was going to a wedding.
When he came in sight of the scaffold he cast away his staff,
saying: “Make haste my feet, make haste, for we are not far from Paradise.” And before dying he sang Te Deum, in returning thanks to God, Who had allowed him to die a Martyr’s death, for the holy Faith and thus being filled with joy, he placed his head under the axe.

St Francis of Assisi sang while dying and invited the others to sing too. One, Brother Elias, made answer saying: “We ought to weep, Father and not to sing when we are dying.” But the Saint replied: “I cannot do less than sing, seeing that, within so short a time, I am going to enjoy God.”

A Teresian Nun dying when she was young and seeing the
other Nuns begin to weep, she said to them: “ O God, wherefore do you weep, I am going to find my Jesus; if you love me rejoice with me!”
Father Granada relates that a certain hunter found a solitary leper singing when dying: “Why is it,” said the hunter, “that thou canst sing when, in this condition?” The hermit answered, saying: “Brother, between me and God there is only the wall of this my body, now I can see falling into pieces that which was my prison and I am going to see God and, therefore, I comfort myself and sing.”

This longing to see God, made St Ignatius the Martyr say, that if the wild beasts did not come to take away his life, he would irritate them and thus, provoke them to devour him.

St Catherine of Genoa would not allow anyone to consider death a misfortune, for she said: “O beloved death! how ungraciously art thou welcomed! and why do thou not come to me, when I call upon thee day and night?”
St Teresa desired death so much that she considered it death, not to die and accordingly she composed the celebrated Hymn: “I die because 1 do not die”
Even such is death to the Saints!

Affections andPrayers

Ah my Sovereign Good, my God! if during the years that are
past, I have not loved Thee, now will I be converted to Thee. I
bid farewell to every creature and I choose to love Thee alone,
my sweetest Saviour.
Tell me what Thou wishest me to do that I may do it.
I have already committed offences enough against Thee. The life remaining to me, I would wish to spend it all in pleasing Thee.
Give me strength, in some way to atone, with my love, for the ingratitude which, until now, I have shown Thee.
I have deserved, all these years, to be cast into everlasting punishment. Thou hast sought me so many tunes, now at last, Thou hast drawn me to Thee; let me now burn with the fire of Thy holy love.

I love Thee, O Thou Infinite Good,
Thou wishest me to love Thee only and with reason, for Thou
hast loved me more than all and Thou alone art worthy to be
loved and I will love Thee only, for I would do all I can to
please Thee. Do with me as Thou wilt. It is enough that I
love Thee and that Thou lovest me.

In the Tower by TPS
Posted in "Follow Me", BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST

Our Morning Offering – 16 September – Deus, Tuorum Militum – O God, of Those Who Fought Thy Fight

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 16 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of Saint Corneliu, Pope & Martyr and Saint Cyprian, Bishop & Martyr

Deus, Tuorum Militum
O God, of Those Who Fought Thy Fight
Unknown Author
(6th Century)

O God, of those who fought Thy fight,
Portion and prize and Crown of Light,
Break every bond of sin and shame
As now we praise Thy Martyr’s name.

He recked not of the world’s allure
But sin and pomp of sin forswore:
Knew all their gall and passed them by,
And reached the throne prepared on high.

Bravely the course of pain he ran,
And bore his torments as a man:
For love of Thee, his blood outpoured,
And thus obtained the great reward.

With humble voice and suppliant word
We pray Thee, therefore, Holy Lord,
While we Thy Martyr’s Feast Day keep,
Forgive Thy loved and erring sheep.

All honour, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee,
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen

An Ambrosian Hymn traditionally assigned for Matins and Vespers for the common feast of a Martyr in the Roman Breviary.
It dates probably from the sSxth Century and is attributed to the unknown author of Rex Gloriose Martyrum and jesu, Redemptor Omnium.
The Hymn exists in a longer versJon of eight strophes and a shorter one of four or five, which is probably earlier.
The Vatican Antiphonary provided two different melodies for use in the Paschal Season and during the Octave of the Nativity, during which the Feast of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr occurs.
The Hymn is a prayer asking God to forgive the sins of His servants on the day of the Martyr’s triumph over the pleasures of the world and the torture of persecution.

Posted in "Follow Me", QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 25 August – St Louis IX King and Confessor

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 25 August – St Louis IX (1214-1270) King and Confessor

When the Tartars spread desolation and terror throughout Hungary, Poland and Bohemia, King Louis’ Mother, Queen Blanche expressed her fears but St Louis, calmly viewed the situation:

“Madame, what have we to fear?
If these barbarians come to us,
we shall either conquer or, shall die Martyrs.”

The instructions which St Louis gave to the heir of his crown and which, he had constantly observed himself, testify to his great devotion and holiness.
These were the last admonitions of the Holy King:

  1. Love God, the Almighty, above all else.
  2. Flee sin more quickly than you would a serpent.
  3. Become not fainthearted, in adversity.
  4. Become not elevated, in the days of prosperity.
  5. Show the wounds of your soul frequently, to your spiritual physician and refuse no remedies, however bitter, to heal them.
  6. Pray diligently.
  7. Be compassionate and generous to the poor.
  8. If your mind is harassed with doubt, consult a devout man.
  9. Keep faithful and pious counsellors around you and dismiss those who are wicked.
  10. All that is good hold fast: all that is bad discard.
  11. Lend a willing ear to those who speak of God.
  12. Listen not to calumniators and slanderers.
  13. So long as you reign, leave not unpunished those who blaspheme God and the Saints.
  14. First be grateful to God, then to men.
  15. Love and protect justice and neither neglect nor despise, the complaints of the needy.
  16. In your own affairs, when they are not perfectly clear, speak and act against yourself.
  17. Refund immediately the possessions of others.
  18. Protect the clergy.
  19. Love and honour your parents.
  20. If you are obliged to war against Christians, spare the Churches and the Convents.
  21. Endeavour to terminate all contentions with kindness.
  22. Guard all your officials with a watchful eye.
  23. Ever show due reverence to the Pope.
  24. Overstep not the bounds of moderation in your expenses.
  25. When I have departed, let prayers and Masses be said for the repose of my soul.

O God, We Love Thee
Prayer inspired by St Louis’ Last Instructions
to his Eldest Son, Philip
(Perhaps Philip prayed thus)

O God, we love Thee.
We wish to do nothing to displease Thee.
If we have troubles, let us thank Thee.
If we do not, we also humbly thank Thee.
Let us pray diligently
and be compassionate and generous to the poor.
May we hold fast all that is good
and all that is bad, discard.
We thank Thee for friends,
who help us bear our burdens
and help us grow in holiness.
Let us turn away from calumniators and slanderers
and lend a willing ear to those who speak of God.
Let us always do what is right and just for those we serve
and promote peace among our neighbours.
Let us be quick to defend our Faith.
O Holy Lord, all Thy holy Saints,
defend us from all evils.
Grant us Thy grace to fulfil always,
Thy Holy Will,
so that Thou may be glorified and honoured
and so we may be with Thee forever.
Amen

St Louis IX (1214-1270) Confessor

Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Thought for the Day – 16 August – The Resignation of Charity – “Charity endureth all things”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 16 August – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

The Resignation of Charity
“Charity endureth all things”

The test of our love for anyone, is what we are willing to endure for that person. If we love only a little, we are willing to endure only a little. If we love much, we are willing to endure much. If we love that person, better than we love ourselves, we are pleased to endure, for his sake, that which we would otherwise dread. If we love that person better than we love ourselves, we are pleased to endure, for his sake, that from which we would otherwise shrink.
Hence, the test of our supernatural charity, is what we are willing to endure for God and whether ,it is a pleasure for us to endure, positive suffering, for Him.

We would consider it a great privilege, if we were called upon to lay down our lives for the Faith.
However, this is a grace we poor ordinary mortals cannot expect and, we must be careful against deluding ourselves, by fancy pictures of the courage we should then display.
The real question before us, is whether we willingly suffer the little, disagreeable effects of life, bodily ailments, failures in our projects, neglect or unkindness from others, or undeserved reproaches.
It is no use thinking of Martyrdom until we have learnt to bear these!

If I have true charity, I shall take all with joy. Everything I have endured, I would willingly endure again for God’s sake. I would, with His grace, accept even more painful things, for charity endures all things, rather than offend God.
Fervent charity would endure all things rather than be unfaithful to one single inspiration which comes from Him, or neglect one single grace which He desires to give us.
Here is the test for me. How far can I stand it?

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, ROSARY QUOTES

Quote/s of the Day – 4 August – St Dominic

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 4 August – St Dominic (1170-1221) Confessor, Founder

“Speak only with God
or about God.”

“None who persevered in devotion
to the Holy Rosary, will be condemned.”

“I would tell them to kill me
slowly and painfully,
a little at a time, so that I might attain
a more glorious crown in Heaven.”

(After being asked what he would do
if captured by his enemies.)

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/04/quote-s-of-the-day-4-august-st-dominic-2/

St Dominic (1170-1221)

Posted in "Follow Me", PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PATIENCE

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of the Martyrs

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

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