Category: QUOTES on MERCY

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY

Our Morning Offering – 27 July – Mary, our Queen and Mother of Mercy By St Anthony of Padua

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 27 July – Our Lady Mother of Mercy and Mary’s Saturday

Mary, our Queen and Mother of Mercy
By St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Evangelical Doctor of the Church

Mary, our Queen!
Holy Mother of God,
we beg you to hear our prayer.
Make our hearts overflow with Divine grace
and resplendent with heavenly wisdom.
Render them strong with your might
and rich in virtue.
Pour down upon us the gift of mercy
so that we may obtain the pardon of our sins.
Help us to live in such a way
as to merit the glory and bliss of Heaven.
May this be granted us, by your Son Jesus
Who has exalted you above the Angels,
has crowned you as Queen
and has seated you with Himself
forever, on his refulgent throne.
Amen

Our Lady Mother of Mercy celebrated today due to the Vigil of St James the Greatwe.
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/24/saint-of-the-day-24-july-our-lady-mother-of-mercy/

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MERCY

Our Morning Offering – 20 July – O Mary, Twice Mother of Mercy

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 20 July – St Jerome Emiliani (1486–1537) Confessor and Our Lady’s Day

O Mary, Twice Mother of Mercy
By St Jerome Emiliani (1486–1537)

O Mary,
thou art twice Mother of Mercy
because thou hast been made
Mother of our most merciful Saviour,
and, furthermore because,
thou hast given to us
so many signs
of thy maternal care and love.
Turn upon us, we beseech thee,
thy glance of compassion
and grant, that we may always
live free from sin,
which is the only impediment
to receiving the fruits
of the Divine Mercies.
Amen.

Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SACRILEGE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 16 July – Charity, a Love of Benevolence

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

Charity, a Love of Benevolence

By love of complacency, we take personal pleasure in the good of our friend, by love of benevolence, we desire to see that good increased.
The benevolence of charity consists in an ever-present desire that the glory of God, may be promoted by all men who live upon the earth, that His Kingdom may spread, that the number of the Saints may receive continual additions and that sinners may be converted to Him.
This is the chief wish of our hearts and it is ever-present in our minds – that the interests of God will be advanced everywhere.

This love of benevolence includes too, a feeling of grief and sorrow, whenever we hear of anything which is an insult to God’s honour or which diminishes His eternal glory. All the sins of men cause pain, to those in whose hearts supernatural charity is present. All sacrileges, impieties, or forgetfulness of God which they witness, hurts them and causes them to suffer. Above all, they are compassionate to the Sacred Sufferings of Jesus and the Agony, of Body and Mind which our sins caused Him.

Charity, moreover, requires that we shall not be satisfied with a mere feeling of goodwill. Our benevolence must be a practical one. We must do our part to add to God’s glory. In proportion to our charity, will be our devotion of every act and word and thought, to the glory of God. When Saint Paul said, ‘Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,’ he was but inculcating a precept of charity.
What do I do to promote God’s glory?
Alas, how much less than I ought!

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 12 July – ‘ … Every man is both debtor and creditor… ‘

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 12 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St John Gualbert (c985-1073) Abbot, “The Merciful Knight”– Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6, Matthew 5:43-48 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“But I say to you,
love your enemies …”
Matthew 5:44

St John Gualbert said to his enemy,
“I cannot refuse what you ask
in Christ’s Name.
I grant you your life
and I give you my friendship.
Pray that God may forgive me my sin.”

St John Gualbert (c985-1073)
“The Merciful Knight”

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

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

“… Every man is both debtor and creditor…
A beggar asks you for alms but you, too,
are God’s beggar, for when we pray
we are all beggars of God.
We stand – or rather, prostrate ourselves –
at our Father’s door (cf Lk 11:5);
we beseech Him with groans,
anxious to receive a grace from Him
and this grace is God Himself!
What does the beggar ask of you?
Bread. And what is it that you are asking of God
but Christ, Who said:
“I am the Living Bread come down from Heaven”
(Jn 6:51).”

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

“You must be reconciled to your enemies,
speak to them, as if they had never done you
anything but good, all your life,
keeping nothing in your heart but the charity,
which the good Christian should have, for everyone,
so that we may all appear with confidence,
before the tribunal of God.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, The LORD'S PRAYER

Quote/s of the Day – 23 June – Forgive!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 23 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” –The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – 1 Peter 3:8-15; Matthew 5:20-24. – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Leave there thy offering before the Altar
and go first to be reconciled to thy brother
and then, coming, thou shalt offer thy gift.”

Matthew 5:24

“Remember not our former iniquities,
let Thy mercies speedily prevent us,
for we are become exceeding poor.
Help us, O God, our Saviour
and for the glory of Thy Name, O Lord,
deliver us and forgive us our sins,
for Thy Name’s sake.”

Psalm 78:8-9

“Then Peter came up and said to Him,
“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me
and I forgive him?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him,
“I do not say to you seven times
but seventy times seven.”

Matthew 18:21-22

“If your brother sins, rebuke him
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times
in one day and returns to you
seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’
you should forgive him.”

Luke 17:3-4

“No-one heals himself
by wounding another.”

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

“If a man finds it very difficult to forgive injuries,
let him look at a Crucifix
and think that Christ shed all His Blood for him
and not only forgave His enemies
but, even prayed His Heavenly Father,
to forgive them too.
Let him remember,
that when he says the Pater Noster, everyday,
instead of asking pardon for his sins,
he is calling down VENGEANCE UPON HIMSELF!”

St Philip Neri (1515-1595)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 June – Leave there thy offering before the Altar and go first to be reconciled to thy brother

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 23 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” –The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – 1 Peter 3:8-15; Matthew 5:20-24. – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Leave there thy offering before the Altar and go first to be reconciled to thy brother and then, coming, thou shalt offer thy gift.” – Matthew 5:24

REFLECTION – “The measure with which you measure shall be measured out to you” (Mt 7:2). And the servant who, after having had all his debt forgiven him by his master, would not forgive his fellow-servant, is confined to prison. Because he was unwilling to forgive his fellow-servant, he lost the forgiveness which had been granted him by the Lord (Mt 18:23f). And these things Christ sets forth still more strongly in his precepts by the greater force of his censure. He says: “When you stand praying, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your transgressions” (Mk 11:25) …

For God commands us to be peacemakers and of one heart and of one mind, in His House. And such as He has made us by a second birth, so by a second birth He wishes to preserve us that we, who are the children of God, may abide in the peace of God and that we ,who have one spirit, may have one heart and mind. Thus God does not receive the sacrifice of a person who is in disagreement but commands him to go back from the Altar and first be reconciled to his brother that so God also, may be appeased by the prayers of the peacemaker. The greater sacrifice to God is our peace and fraternal concord and a people united in the unity of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” – St Cyprian of Carthage (200-258) Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, Father of the Church (The Lord’s Prayer, 23).

PRAYER – O God, Thou Who hast prepared good things as yet unseen for those who love Thee, pour a burning love into our hearts, so that we, loving Thee, in and above all things, may obtain Thy promises which surpass all desire. 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).

EUCHARISTIC Heart of JESUS, have mercy on us.
INDULGENCE: 300 Days. TQ Toties Quoties = any number of times.
St Pius X, 26 July 1907; 26 December 1907 – Raccolta 176.

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on MERIT, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The BEATITUDES, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 June – “Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased thy Father to give thee a Kingdom. ” – Luke 12:32

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 22 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – St Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431) Bishop, Confessor, Father of the Church –2 Corinthians 8:9-15; Luke 12:32-34 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased thy Father to give thee a Kingdom. ” – Luke 12:32

REFLECTION – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”. The beginning of the New Testament is altogether joyful and full of fresh grace. It even nudges the unbeliever and sluggish to pay heed and, more to the point, to act, by promising happiness to the unfortunate and the Kingdom of Heaven to those in exile, those in any kind of distress. The beginning of the new Law is pleasant to hear and starts off under happy auspices, since the Legislator follows on from this beginning ,by giving so many assurances of beatitude. In this way those who have been attracted by them will go from one virtue to the next, climbing the eight steps that this Gospel has set up and placed within our hearts… For, it is clear that what it is all about, is the ascent of the heart and of the progress of merit, through eight steps of virtue, leading men gradually from the lowest to the highest levels of evangelical perfection. In this way they will at last enter and see the God of gods in Zion (Ps 83: 8), in His Temple, of which the Prophet has said: “It had a stairway of eight steps,” (Ez 40:37).

The first virtue for the beginner, is to renounce the world, through which we become poor in spirit; the second is gentleness, by which we submit ourselves and become accustomed to obedience; then, the grief with which we lament our sins or with weeping beg for the virtues. These we certainly enjoy, wherever we have the greatest hunger and thirst for justice, as much for ourselves as for others and begin to be stirred by zeal against sinners. Yet, lest immoderate fervour turn into fault, the mercy by which it is tempered follows after. Through putting this into practice and training ourselves, when we have learnt how to be just and how to be merciful, then we may, perhaps, be capable of entering into contemplation and giving oursees to the purification of our hearts, so as to see God!” – Blessed Guerric of Igny (c1080-1157) Cistercian Abbot (Sermon for All Saints).

PRAYER – O God, Who promised to those who forsake all things in this world for Thee, a hundred-fold reward in the world to come and life everlasting, mercifully grant that, following closely in the footsteps of the holy Bishop, Paulinus, we may look upon earthly things as nought and long only for those of Heaven. Who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

OUR Lady of the Sacred Heart, pray for us.
100 Days. St Pius X, 9 July 1904. Raccolta 174

Posted in CARMELITES, DOCTORS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on SPIRITUAL WORKS of MERCY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 16 June – Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men. – Luke 5:10

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 16 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – St John Francis Régis SJ (1597-1640) Priest, Confessor, Missionary –The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
– Romans 8:18-23; Luke 5:1-11 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ And Jesus saith to Simon: Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men. – Luke 5:10

REFLECTION – “On that night of light [ Christmas, at fourteen years of age] began the third period of my life, the most beautiful and the most filled with graces from Heaven … I could say to Him like His Apostles: “Master, I fished all night and caught nothing.” More merciful to me than He was to His disciples, Jesus took the net Himself, cast it, and drew it in filled with fish. He made me a fisher of souls. I experienced a great desire to work for the conversion of sinners. The cry of Jesus on the Cross sounded continually in my heart: “I thirst!” These words ignited within me an unknown and very living fire. I wanted to give my Beloved to drink and I felt myself consumed with a thirst for souls …

To awaken my zeal, God showed me my desires were pleasing to Him. I heard talk of a great criminal just condemned to death for some horrible crimes; everything pointed to the fact that he would die impenitent. I wanted, at all cost,s to prevent him from falling into hell… I felt, in the depths of my heart, certain that our desires would be granted but to obtain courage to pray for sinners I told God I was sure He would pardon the poor, unfortunate Pranzini; that I’d believe this, even if he went to his death without any signs of repentance or without having gone to Confession. I was absolutely confident in the mercy of Jesus. But, I was begging Him for a “sign” of repentance, only for my own simple consolation. My prayer was answered to the letter! …

After this unique grace, my desire to save souls grows each day and I seemed to hear Jesus say that which He said to the Samaritan woman: “Give me to drink!” It was a true interchange of love – to souls, I was giving the Blood of Jesus – to Jesus, I was giving these same souls, refreshed by the Divine Dew. I slaked His Thirst and the more I gave Him to drink, the more the thirst of my poor, little soul increased and it was this ardent thirst, He was giving me as the most delightful drink of His Love.” – St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897) Carmelite (Autobiographical Manuscript).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servant, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, Thy Saints, remembering Thy Confessor John Francis Regis, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of thine eternal. 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).

MAY the Heart of JESUS in the most Blessed Sacrament be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the Tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. – Indulgence 100 Days, Once a Day. Raccolta 161 Blessed Pius IX, 29 February 1868.

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, QUOTES on SPIRITUAL WORKS of MERCY, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 1 May – Concerning Spiritual Communion

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 1 May – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

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

LVI: … Concerning Spiritual Communion

“Although actual reception of the Sacrament of the Eucharist is limited to once a day, you are, nevertheless, at liberty to communicate in spirit every hour.
And nothing except your own negligence can prevent you from receiving the inestimable benefits to be derived from such a union with Him.
It is worth noting that, Spiritual Communion is sometimes of greater benefit to the soul and more acceptable to God, than many Sacramental Communions received with little preparation and less affection.

When, therefore, you are properly disposed to receive the Son of God spiritually, be assured that He is ready thus to come to you as food and nourishment.
By way of preparation, think of Jesus and after contemplating the multitude of your offences, declare to Him your sincere sorrow for them.
Then, with profound respect and unshaking faith, beg Him to graciously condescend to enter your heart; entreat Him to replenish it with grace as a remedy against its inherent weaknesses and, as a shield against the violence of its enemies.
Everytime you succeed in mortifying your passions, or in performing an act of virtue, take that opportunity of preparing your heart for the Son of God, as He has commanded.
Then, addressing yourself to Him, fervently beg the blessings of His
Presence, both as the Physician of your soul and as its Protector.
Ask Him ever to dwell within your soul and so to take possession
of it as to repel its would-be destroyers.

Recall too, your last Sacramental Communion and inflamed with love for your Saviour, say to Him:
“When, O God, shall I receive Thee again?
When will that happy day return, when once again Thou wilt dwell within my heart?”
If, however, you desire to communicate spiritually with an increase of devotion, begin to prepare for it overnight.
Let every mortification and every act of virtue, tend to make your soul a more fitting abode for His spiritual Presence.
In the morning, as you awake, meditate upon the innumerable advantages to be derived from Holy Communion.
Recall that the soul regains her lost virtues, recovers her pristine purity and is rendered worthy to partake of the merits of the Cross.
The very reception of the Sacrament is highly pleasing to the Eternal
Father, Who desires everyone to enjoy this Divine Gift.
Later endeavour, to excite within your soul, an ardent desire of receiving Him in compliance with His holy will.
Let your words match the sentiment as follows:
“O Lord, since I am not permitted the joy of Thy Sacramental
Presence this day, let Thy goodness and omnipotence decree the cleansing of my soul from the stain of sin that healed of my wounds, I may deserve to receive Thee in spirit.
Everyday and every hour, fortified anew by Thy grace, may I courageously resist my enemies, particularly that failing against which, for the love of Thee, I wage unceasing war.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

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

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VIRTUE, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 17 March –Instructions for Mortifying Passions,to Attain the Necessary Virtues (Part One)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 17 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

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

XXXIII: … Instructions for Mortifying Passions,
to Attain the Necessary Virtues (Part One)

“Although I have said so much on the course to be pursued in order to conquer self and adorn it with all virtues, there still remain, some other points concerning which, I would give you some advice.

+++ 1. In your endeavours after holiness, never, be persuaded to use such spiritual exercises as select formally, different virtues, for different days of the week, setting apart one for the attainment of each.
But, let the order of your warfare and your exercise, be to combat those passions which have always injured and still continue to assault and injure you and, to adorn yourself and that, with all possible perfection, with their contrary virtues.
For having once acquired these virtues, all others will be readily attained, as occasion offers, with little comparative exertion.
And occasions will never be wanting, for all the virtues are linked together in one chain and he who possesses one in perfection, has all the others ready on the threshold of his heart.

+++ 2. Never set a fixed time, such as days, or weeks, or years, for the attainment of any virtue but, as an infant newly born, a soldier just enlisted, fight your way continually towards the summit of perfection.
Never stand still, even for a moment – for to stand still in the way of virtue and perfection, is not to regain breath or courage but, to fall back, or to grow feebler
than before.
By standing still, I mean flattering ourselves that we have perfectly acquired the virtue in question and so, taking less heed of the occasions which call us to fresh acts of it, or of little failures therein.
Therefore, be careful, be fervent, be watchful – that you neglect not the slightest opportunity of exercising any virtue.
Love all such occasions and especially those which are attended with the greatest difficulty because, habits are quickest formed and deepest rooted, when the difficulties to be overcome, are greatest!
Love those occasions, therefore which present such difficulties.
Fly from those only and, with rapid step, with all diligence and speed which might lead to the temptation of the flesh.

+++ 3. Be prudent and discreet in those exercises which may prove injurious to bodily health, such as – self-chastisement by means of disciplines, hair-cloths, fasts, vigils, meditations and the like – for these virtues must be acquired slowly and by degrees, as will be hereafter explained.
As to other virtues which are wholly internal, such as – the love of God, contempt of the world, self-abasement, hatred of vicious passions and of sin, meekness and patience, love towards all men, towards those who injure us and the like, – it is not necessary to acquire these gradually, nor to mount by degrees to perfection therein but, you should strive, at once, with all your might, to practice each without delay and with all possible perfection!

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CARMELITES, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on MERCY

Quote/s of the Day – 10 March – Both debtor and creditor…

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 10 March – Laetare Sunday / The Fourth Sunday in Lent

“… Every man is both debtor and creditor…
A beggar asks you for alms but you, too,
are God’s beggar, for when we pray
we are all beggars of God.
We stand – or rather, prostrate ourselves –
at our Father’s door (cf Lk 11:5);
we beseech Him with groans,
anxious to receive a grace from Him
and this grace is God Himself!
What does the beggar ask of you?
Bread. And what is it that you are asking of God
but Christ, Who said:
“I am the Living Bread come down from Heaven”
(Jn 6:51).”

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

Lord God, Lift Me Up
By St John of the Cross (1542-1591)

Lord God, my Beloved,
if Thou art still mindful of my sins
and wilt not grant my petitions,
let Thy will be done,
for this is my main desire.
Show Thy goodness and mercy
and Thou shalt be known for them.
If Thou art waiting for me
to do good works
and upon their performance,
Thou wilt grant my petitions,
cause them to be accomplished in me, O Lord!
Send also, the punishment for my sins,
which is acceptable to Thee.
For how will I raise myself up to Thee,
born and bred as I am, in misery,
unless Thou, O Lord,
wilt lift me up
with the Hand which made me?!
Amen

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

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, GOD ALONE!, GUARDIAN ANGELS - Prayers etc, HYMNS, LENT 2024, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SIN, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The LAST THINGS, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 6 March – Sweet Angel of Mercy!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 6 March – Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent – Ecclesiasticus Sirach 51:13-17; Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Nor then do thou leave me,
Angelical friend!
But at the tribunal
Of Judgement attend
And cease not to plead
For my soul, till, forgiven,
Thou bear it aloft
To the Palace of Heaven!”

“The Kingdom of Heaven
is like a treasure hidden in a field.”
Matthew 13:44

Sweet Angel of Mercy!
By Fr Edward Caswell C.Orat. (1814-1878)

Sweet Angel of mercy!
By Heaven’s decree
Benignly appointed
To watch over me!
Without thy protection,
So constant and nigh,
I could not well live;
I should tremble to die.

All thanks for thy love,
Dear companion and friend!
Oh may it continue
With me to the end!
Oh cease not to keep me,
Blest guide of my youth,
In the ways of religion
And virtue and truth.

Support me in weakness,
My spirit inflame;
Defend me in danger,
Secure me from shame,
That safe from temptation,
Or sudden surprise,
I may mount the straight path
That ascends to the skies.

When Satan his snares
For my ruin shall lay,
Be thou, gentle comrade,
My comfort and stay
And in every event
Which may happen to me,
Make all my desires
With thine to agree.

When I wander in error,
My footsteps recall,
Remove from my path
What might cause me to fall.
Preserve me from sin
And in all that I do,
May God and His glory
Be ever in view.

O thou who didst witness
My earliest breath,
Be with me, I pray,
In the hour of death.
Console me in sadness,
Refresh me in pain
And teach me how best
I may mercy obtain.

That, cleansed by confession
Complete and sincere,
From every defilement
Afflicting me here,
All glowing with love,
I may gladly depart.
With faith on my lips
And with hope in my heart.

Nor then do thou leave me,
Angelical friend!
But at the tribunal
Of Judgement attend
And cease not to plead
For my soul, till, forgiven,
Thou bear it aloft
To the Palace of Heaven!

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SPIRITUAL WORKS of MERCY

Our Morning Offering – 5 March – Hear Me, O Lord By St Peter of Alcantara

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 5 March – Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent

Hear Me, O Lord
By St Peter of Alcantara (1499-1562)

Hear me, O Lord,
my soul’s delight,
joy of my heart,
not because of my merits
but because of Thy boundless goodness.
Teach me, enlighten me, direct me,
help me in all things
that I may never say
or do anything
but that which I know
to be pleasing in Thou sight.
Guide me, O God,
my Love, my Light and my Life!
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HYPOCRISY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 29 February – ‘ …We ourselves are only hypocrites , if we …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 29 February – Thursday in the Second Week of Lent – Jeremias 17:5-10, Luke 16:19-31 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The poor man died and was carried
by the Angels to Abraham’s bosom.
The rich man also died and was buried
and in Hades, being in torment,
he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham, far off
and Lazarus in his bosom. …”

Luke 16:22-23

“… So then, you rich who have wisdom,
apply yourselves to this business…
Why let yourselves be transfixed
by diamonds and emeralds,
by houses that fire devours,
time destroys,
or earthquakes throw down?
Aspire for nothing other
than to dwell in the heavens
and reign with God.
A mere man,
a beggar will gain you this Kingdom!”

St Clement of Alexandria (150- 215)
Father of the Church

“All of our religion is but a false religion
and all our virtues are mere illusions
and we ourselves are only hypocrites
in the sight of God,
if we have not that universal charity for everyone,
for the good and for the bad,
for the poor people, as well as for the rich,
for all those who do us harm,
as much as for those, who do us good.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CATECHESIS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, St Francis de Sales, The HEART, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

Quote/s of the Day – 26 February – Two Wings …

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 26 February – Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The Kingdom of Heaven
is like a treasure
hidden in a field.”

Matthew 13:44

“Do you wish your prayer
to fly toward God?
Make for it two wings –
fasting and almsgiving!”

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

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

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

“Let your tongue be poor
with them in converse
but let your hands be rich
to distribute out of your abundance!”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PENTECOST, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on TRUTH, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 February – “Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to the little ones.” – Matthew 11:25

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 24 February – Feast of St Matthias – Acts 1:15-26, Matthew 11:25-30 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to the little ones.” – Matthew 11:25

REFLECTION – “When more obscure Mysteries are presented to your timid nature by your faith, Christian soul, take courage and say [like Mary], “ How shall this be done …?” (Lk 1:34), not in a controversial spirit but with the love of a disciple. Let your questioning be your prayer, your love, your piety, your humble desire – not seeking to plumb the depths of God’s majesty but looking for salvation, in the healing acts of the God, Who saves us. …

No-one “knows a man’s thoughts, except the spirit of the man which is in him; so also, no-one comprehends the thoughts of God, except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:11). Hasten then to be a sharer in the Holy Spirit. He is present when He is called upon; nor could He be called upon, if He were not present. When, on being called upon, He comes, it is with the abundance of the blessings of God. He is the flowing of “the river which gives joy to God’s city” (Ps 45:5). And if, when He comes, He finds you humble and still and respecting the Words of God, He will rest upon you (Lk 1:35) and He will reveal to you, what God the Father withdraws from the wise and prudent of this world and those things, will begin to dawn upon you which Wisdom (1 Cor 1:24) could say to the disciples when on this earth but which they were unable to bear, until the Spirit of Truth came, Who was to teach them all Truth (Jn 16:12-13).” – William of Saint-Thierry O.Cist.

PRAYER – O God, Who added blessed Matthias to the company of Thy Apostles, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his intercession we may ever be aware of the depth of Thy love for us. 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 AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on TRUTH, The SECOND COMING

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 19 February – If You Wish to Receive Mercy, Be Merciful Before He Comes

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 19 February – Monday of the First Week in Lent – Ferial Day –Ezechiel 34:11-16; Matthew 25:31-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“As the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters,
so are our eyes on the Lord, our God,
until He have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O Lord,
have mercy on us. ”

Psalm 122:2

“For I was hungry
and you gave me to eat”

Matthew 25:35

If You Wish to Receive Mercy,
Be Merciful Before He Comes

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

“He will judge the world with equity and the peoples in His truth. What are equity and truth? He will gather together with Himself, for the Judgement, His chosen ones but the others, He will set apart – for He will place some on His right, others on His left. What is more equitable, what more true, than that they should not, themselves expect mercy, from the Judge, who themselves were unwilling to show mercy before the Judge’s Coming. Those, however, who were willing to show mercy, will be judged with mercy. For it will be said to those placed on His right – Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the Kingdom which has been prepared for you from the beginning of the world. And hH reckons to their account, their works of mercy – For I was hungry and you gave Me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me to drink.

What is imputed to those places on His left side? That they refused to show mercy. And where will they go? Depart into the everlasting fire. The hearing of this condemnation will cause much wailing. But what has another Psalm said? The just man will be held in everlasting remembrance; he will not fear the evil report. What is the evil report? Depart into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. Whoever rejoices to hear the good report will not fear the bad. This is equity, this is truth.

Or do you, because you are unjust, expect the Judge not to be just? Or because you are a liar, will the Truthful One not be true? Rather, if you wish to receive mercy, be merciful before He comes – forgive whatever has been done against you; give of your abundance. Of whose possessions do you give, if not from His? If you were to give of your own, it would be largess but since you give of His, it is restitution. For what have you that you have not received? These are the sacrifices most pleasing to God – mercy, humility, praise, peace, charity. Such as these, then, let us bring and, free from fear, we shall await the Coming of the Judge, Who will judge the world in equity and the peoples in His Truth.” – (An excerpt from A Discourse on Psalm 95).

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 19 February – “For I was hungry and you gave me to eat …”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 19 February – Monday of the First Week in Lent – Ferial Day –Ezechiel 34:11-16; Matthew 25:31-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“For I was hungry
and you gave me to eat”

Matthew 25:35

“If there are people who refuse to work
that is for the governor and the police to deal with.
My duty is to assist
and relieve those
who come to my door.”

St Thomas of Villanova OSA (1488-1555)
Archbishop, Confessor.

“… We must remember that the precept
to “give that which remains, as alms” applies also to us.
If there is someone in grave need
whom we have the means of helping,
we are obliged to do so by the command of the Gospel.
It is the same Gospel which warns us
that if we fail to do so,
the Divine Judge will, one day, condemn us!”

“For judgement is without mercy
to him who has not shown mercy …
And if a brother or a sister be naked
and in want of daily food
and one of you says to them,
‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’
yet you do not give them
what is necessary for the body,
what does it profit? ”
So faith too, unless it has works
is dead in itself” (Js 2:13-17).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on the POOR, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 19 February – ‘Do you suppose that charity is not an obligation but voluntary?’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 19 February – Monday of the First Week in Lent – Ferial Day –Ezechiel 34:11-16; Matthew 25:31-46 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Amen I say to you, as long as you did not do it for one of these least ones, you did not do it for Me.” – Matthew 25:45

REFLECTION – “Do you suppose that charity is not an obligation but voluntary? That it is not a law but merely a counsel? I should like it to be so, too and would gladly think so. But God’s left hand gives me cause for alarm, the place where He has set the goats to whom He addresses His reproaches, not because they stole, plundered, committed adultery or perpetrated other such faults but because, they did not honour Christ in the person of His poor!

If you are willing to listen to me, then, O servants of Christ, His brothers and co-heirs, I say ,that we should visit Christ while there is an opportunity, take care of Him and feed Him. We should clothe Christ and welcome Him. We should honour Him, not only at our table, like some; not only with ointments, like Mary Magdalene; not only with a sepulchre, like Joseph of Arimathea; nor with things which have to do with His burial, like Nicodemus… nor finally, with gold, incense and myrrh, like the Magi.

But, as the Lord of all “desires mercy and not sacrifice” (Mt 9,13) and as compassion is better than tens of thousands of fat rams, let us offer Him this mercy through the needy and those who are at present cast down to the ground. Let us do this, so that, when we depart hence, they may “welcome us into the eternal habitations” (Lk 16:9), in the same Christ our Lord, to whom be glory forever.” – St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390) Archbishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 14, on Love for the Poor, 27, 28, 39-40).

PRAYER – O God, our Saviour, direct our minds by Thy heavenly teaching, so that the Lenten fast may profit us. 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 CARMELITES, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on the POOR, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and Saints –16 February – Love for One’s Enemy – St Thérèse of the Child Jesus

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and Saints – 16 February – Friday after Ash Wednesday – The Feast of the Sacred Crown of Thorns of Our Lord Jesus Christ – Isa 58:1-9; Matthew 5:43-48; 6:1-4 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“This, rather, is the fasting I wish:
releasing those unjustly bound,
untying the thongs of the yoke,
setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke,
sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
clothing the naked when you see them
and not turning your back on your own. …
Then you will call and the Lord will answer,
you will cry for help and He will say:
‘Here I am!’ For I, the Lord your God, am merciful.”
Isaias 58:6-7 and 9

“But I say to you, Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you
and pray for those who persecute
and calumniate you …”
Matthew 5:44

Love for One’s Enemy

St Thérèse of the Child Jesus
and the Holy Face (1873-1897)
Carmelite

“There is a Sister in the Community, who has the faculty of displeasing me in everything – in her ways, her words, her character, everything seems very disagreeable to me.
And still, she is a holy religious who must be very pleasing to God.
Not wishing to give into the natural antipathy I was experiencing, I told myself that charity must not consist in feelings but in works – then, I set myself to doing, for this Sister, that which I would do for the person I loved the most.
Each time I met her, I prayed to God for her, offering Him all her virtues and merits.
I felt this was pleasing to Jesus, for there is no artist who does not love to receive praise for his works and Jesus, the Artist of souls, is happy when we do not stop at the exterior but, penetrating into the inner sanctuary where He chooses to dwell, we admire its beauty.

I was not content simply, with praying very much for this Sister who gave me so many struggles but, I took care to render her all the services possible and, when I was tempted to answer her in a disagreeable manner, I was content with giving her my most friendly smile and with changing the subject of the conversation.
… Frequently, when … I had occasion to work with this Sister, I used to run away like a deserter, whenever my struggles became too violent.
As she was absolutely unaware of my feelings for her, never did she suspect the motives for my conduct and she remained convinced that her character was very pleasing to me.
One day at recreation, she asked in almost these words: “Would you tell me, Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus, what attracts you so much toward me; for everytime you look at me, I see you smile?”
Ah! what attracted me was Jesus hidden in the depths of her soul; Jesus Who makes sweet what is most bitter!” (Autobiographical Manuscript C 13).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOMINICAN OP, LENT 2024, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LUST, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PRAYER, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

Quote/s of the Day – 15 February – Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 15 February – Ash Thursday

“… Now is the time in this life of suffering,
when we journey apart from Him.
… So let us fast and pray now
because, we are in the days of childbirth!”

“Fasting cleanses the soul,
raises the mind,
subjects one’s flesh to the spirit,
renders the heart contrite and humble,
scatters the clouds of concupiscence,
quenches the fire of lust
and kindles the true light of chastity.
Enter again into yourself!”

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

“Arm yourself with prayer
instead of a sword;
be clothed with humility
instead of fine raiment.”

St Dominic OP (1170-1221)

“What great profit you gain from God
when you are generous!
You give a coin
and receive a Kingdom;
you give bread from wheat
and receive the Bread of Life;
you give a transitory good
and receive an everlasting one.
You will receive it back,
a hundred times more
than you offered.”

St Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555)

“The soul which is quick to turn
to speaking and conversing,
is slow to turn to God.”

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

“All evangelical perfection is attained,
by the continual exercise of prayer.”

St Aloysius Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591)

“As well as the corporal works,
there are the spiritual works of mercy.
Everyone is not obliged to undertake the former,
that would be impossible, for instance,
for the desitute, the sick, the aged.
But, everyone is OBLIGED to undertake the latter.
Sometimes a kind word
is more valuable than money!”
… Remember, however, that the practice
of the spiritual works of mercy,
does not excuse us from the exercise
of material works of charity,
wherever that is possible for us (Cf Js 2:16).

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CONFESSION/PENANCE, CONTEMPLATIVE Prayer, DOCTORS of the Church, EVENING and NIGHT Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2024, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PRAYER, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on WATCHING, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 14 February – Ash Wednesday – ‘… And so, you must be more earnest in prayer and in alms-giving, in fasting and in watching. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 14 February – Ash Wednesday

“What dost thou have that thou hast not received?”

1 Corinthians 4:7

“She did not leave the temple,
serving with fastings and prayers,
night and day.”

Luke 2:37

“If, in holy Scripture, Christ is the true Sun and the true Day,
there is no hour when Christians
should not adore God frequently and constantly,
so that we, who are in Christ, that is,
in the true Sun and true Day,
should be persevering, throughout the whole day,
in our petitions and prayer.
And when, in the course of time,
the revolving night returns,
there can be no harm from the nocturnal shades,
for those who pray because, to the sons of Light (1 Thes 5:5),
even in the night there is day!
For when is he without light who has Light in his heart?
Or when does he not have sun and day
to whom Christ is Sun and Day?”

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

“… Behold, now is the acceptable time.
behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6).
And so, you must be more earnest
in prayer and in alms-giving,
in fasting and in watching.
He that until now has given alms,
in these days, let him give more –
for as water quencheth a flaming fire,
so does almsgiving wipe out sin (Eccles 3:3).
He that, until now, fasted and prayed,
let him fast and pray still more –
for there are certain sins which are not cast out,
except by prayer and fasting (Mc 27:20).”

“Fasting is the death of sin,
the destruction of our crimes
and the remedy of our salvation.”

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

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

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

“Are we going to neglect our own salvation?
Let us show great compassion
towards the poor
so as to be made worthy of possessing
good things to come for all eternity!”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“For the devil may tempt the good
but he cannot find rest in them;
for he is shaken violently
and upset and driven out –
now by their prayers,
now by their tears of repentance
and now. by their almsgiving
and similar good works.”

St Bruno (c1030-1101)

“If you want God to hear your prayers,
hear the voice of the poor.
If you wish God to anticipate your wants,
provide for those of the need,
without waiting for them to ask you.
Especially, anticipate the needs
of those, who are ashamed to beg.
To make them ask for alms,
is to make them buy it!”

St Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555)

“The sacred gift of prayer
is already in the Right Hand of the Saviour;
as soon as ever you shall have emptied yourself of self,
He will pour it into your heart!”

(Letters to Persons in Religion III 19)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PRAYER

Ash Wednesday – 14 February – Our Lenten Journey With The Angels and the Saints

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Ash Wednesday – 14 February – Our Lenten Journey With The Angels and the Saints Begins – Joel 2:12-19, Matthew 6:16-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Return to Me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning;
rend your hearts, not your garments
and return to the Lord, your God.”
Joel 2:12-13

“Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth,
where rust and moth consume
and where thieves break in and steal
but lay up for yourselves,
treasures in Heaven …”

Matthew 6:19-20

Prayer, Fasting and Mercy

St Peter Chrysologus (c400-450)
Bishop of Ravenna
“Doctor of Homilies”
Father and Doctor of the Church

“There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one and they give life to each other.

Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no-one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them, or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others you open God’s ear to yourself.

When you fast, see the fasting of others. If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself, that which you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.

Let this be the pattern for all men when they practice mercy – show mercy to others in the same way, with the same generosity, with the same promptness, as you wish others to show mercy to you.

Therefore, let prayer, mercy and fasting be one single plea to God on our behalf, one speech in our defence, a threefold united prayer in our favour.” – (An excerpt from his Sermon 43)

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, LENT, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Francis de Sales, The PASSION, To JESUS through MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 5 February – In Sexagesima Week, Preparing for Lent

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 5 February – In Sexagesima Week, Preparing for Lent

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

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

Have Mercy, Lord
By St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Have mercy, Lord,
on all my friends and relatives,
on all my benefactors,
on all who pray to Thee for me
and on all who have asked me
to pray to Thee, for them.
Give them the spirit of fruitful penance,
mortify them in all vices
and make them flower
in all Thy virtues.
Amen

“What better penance
can a heart do
which commits faults,
than to submit
to a continual abnegation
of self-will?”

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

O Jesus, My Sweet Love!
(I too have kept Thee suffering)
Prayer of Contrition
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Jesus, my sweet Love!
I too have kept Thee suffering
through all Thy life.
Tell me, then, what I must do
in order to win Thy forgiveness.
I am ready to do all Thou askest of me.
I am sorry, O sovereign Good,
for all the offences I have committed against Thee.
I love Thee more than myself,
or at least, I feel a great desire to love Thee.
Since it is Thou Who hast given me this desire,
do Thou also give me the strength to love Thee exceedingly.

It is only right that I,
who have offended Thee so much,
should love Thee very much.
Always remind me of the love
Thou hast borne me,
in order that my soul may ever burn
with love of Thee and long to please Thee alone.
O God of love,
I, who was once a slave of hell,
now give myself all to Thee.
Graciously accept me and bind me to Thee
with the bonds of Thy love.
My Jesus, from this day and forever,
in loving Thee will I live
and in loving Thee will I die.

O Mary, my Mother and my hope,
help me to love Thy dear God and mine.
This is the only favour I ask of thee
and through thee, I hope to receive it.
Amen

Posted in ADVENT QUOTES, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CATECHESIS, CATHOLIC Quotes, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, JESUIT SJ, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SPIRITUAL WORKS of MERCY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HEART, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Quote/s of the Day – 23 December – Prepare the way of the Lord

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 23 December – Ember Saturday of Advent – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Luke 3:1-6 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Prepare the way of the Lord”
Luke 3:4

“I speak out in order to lead Him
into your hearts but He does not choose to come
where I lead Him, unless you prepare the way for Him.”

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

“He came from Him,
from Whom He did not depart,
going forth from Him,
with Whom He stayed,
so that without intermission,
He was wholly in eternity,
wholly in time,
wholly was He found in the Father
when wholly in the Virgin,
wholly in His own Majesty
and in His Father’s,
at the time
when He was wholly in our humanity. ”

St Amadeus of Lausanne (1110-1159)

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, King of France

“For the sake of obtaining that eternal life,
no works of piety,
ought to seem too difficult to a true believer,
no toil too heavy,
no pain too bitter,
no time spent in labour and suffering,
too long or too wearisome.
For, if nothing is sweeter, or more desirable,
than this present life which is so full of calamities,
how much more desirable,
must that other life be deemed
which is so far removed from all sense of evil,
or fear of it, which will, in every conceivable way,
always abound in the unspeakable
and unending joys, delight and happiness of Heaven.”

St Peter Canisius SJ (1521-1597)
Confessor, Doctor of the Church

Posted in "Follow Me", MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on MERCY, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SPIRITUAL WORKS of MERCY, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the POOR, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 December – What dost thou have that thou hast not received? – 1 Corinthians 4:7

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 6 December – Hebrews 13:7-17; Matthew 25:14-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“To one He gave five talents;
to another, two; to a third, one—
to each according to his ability. …”

Matthew 25:15

“What dost thou have that thou hast not received?”

1 Corinthians 4:7

“Are we going to neglect our own salvation?
Let us show great compassion
towards the poor
so as to be made worthy of possessing
good things to come for all eternity!”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“For the devil may tempt the good
but he cannot find rest in them;
for he is shaken violently
and upset and driven out –
now by their prayers,
now by their tears of repentance
and now. by their almsgiving
and similar good works.”

St Bruno (c1030-1101)

“What great profit you gain from God
when you are generous!
You give a coin
and receive a Kingdom;
you give bread from wheat
and receive the Bread of Life;
you give a transitory good
and receive an everlasting one.
You will receive it back,
a hundred times more
than you offered.”

St Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555)

“As well as the corporal works,
there are the spiritual works of mercy.
Everyone is not obliged to undertake the former,
that would be impossible, for instance,
for the desitute, the sick, the aged.
But, everyone is OBLIGED to undertake the latter.
Sometimes a kind word
is more valuable than money!”
… Remember, however, that the practice
of the spiritual works of mercy,
does not excuse us from the exercise
of material works of charity,
wherever that is possible for us (Cf Js 2:16).

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SPIRITUAL WORKS of MERCY, The BEATITUDES, The LAST THINGS

Thought for the Day – 26 November – The Blessedness of the Merciful

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

The Blessedness of the Merciful

“Let us remember that we have often made ourselves God’s enemies, by our sins.
We were often in need, when we were deprived of Divine grace.
On these occasions, God was merciful to us, for He granted us His forgiveness and His friendship.
These gifts of God, place an obligation on us, to behave in the same way to those who are in need, by assisting them willingly and generously and, to those who are unhappy, by consoling them as far as possible.

Let us remember, the great principle which Jesus Christ has given us.
“Even as you wish men to do to you, so also, do you unto them … Do good to those who hate you … Do not judge and you shall not be judged; do not condemn and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you shall be forgiven, give and it shall be given to you …” (Cf Lk 6:30-38).
“With what judgement you judge, you shall be judged and with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you” (Mt 7:1).
So it shall be on the day of death, when we shall appear before the Supreme Judge!

Let us be generous throughout life in giving help and consolation to others.
It is more blessed to give, than to receive, as the Gospel says.
By giving, we shall find a little happiness, even in this world and shall be certain that one day, the most merciful Judge will pardon and embrace us!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/03/thought-for-the-day-2-december-the-blessedness-of-the-merciful/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/26/thought-for-the-day-26-november-the-blessedness-of-the-merciful/

Posted in INDULGENCES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH

Thought for the Day – 9 November – INDULGENCES

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

INDULGENCES

“Indulgences, therefore, are an aid to repentance for sin, not a substitute for it.
In granting them, the Church is only imitating the merciful spirit of Jesus Christ, Who was always compassionate towards sinners.

Let us do our best to make profitable use of the Church’s generosity on our own behalf and, on behalf of the Faithful Departed.
Let us observe the necessary conditions in order to gain as many Indulgences as possible.

Every morning, we should make the intention of gaining all the indulgences which we can, during the day.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/09/thought-for-the-day-9-november-indulgences/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/09/thought-for-the-day-9-november-indulgences-2/

St Alphonsus’ little Morning Prayer:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/02/__trashed-24/

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on MERCY, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 4 November – More About the Sufferings of Purgatory

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 4 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

More About the Sufferings of Purgatory

“If I were to die now, in which region of Purgatory should I be likely to be confined?
I have no way of knowing this but, there is something which I do know with certainty.
I know that I should avoid the slightest offence against God that I should expiate my past sins by prayer and penance and, that I should pray for the suffering souls in Purgatory, for this is a Work of Mercy which is most pleasing to God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/04/thought-for-the-day-4-november-more-about-the-sufferings-of-purgatory/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/04/thought-for-the-day-4-november-more-about-the-sufferings-of-purgatory-2/