Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY SPIRIT, ACT of CONTRITION, BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, GOD ALONE!, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Quote/s of the Day –19 May – St Alcuin of York

Quote/s of the Day –19 May – The Memorial of St Alcuin of York (c735-804) “The Schoolmaster of Europe.” Deacon, Confessor

You should not agree to have anything to do
with weapons of war.
Throw yourself upon Christ’s mercy, crying:
‘My Love and my Stronghold,
my Protector and Liberator,
in Whom my heart has put its hope.

(St Alcuin, writing to the Monks in Mayo, Ireland).

In the morning, at the height of my powers,
I sowed the seed in Britain,
now in the evening, when my blood is growing cold,
I am still sowing in France,
hoping both will grow, by the grace of God,
giving some the honey of the Holy Scriptures,
making others drunk, on the old wine,
of ancient learning.

Be prudent in thought
and cautious in speech.
Always set your hope on God,
for He never fails them
whose hope is set on Him.

(From a letter to King Charlemagne’s son).

Act of Contrition and Repentance

Almighty and merciful God,
Fountain of all Goodness,
Thou knows the thoughts of our hearts.
We confess that we have sinned against Thee
and done evil in Thy Sight.
Wash us from the stains of our past sins
and give us grace and power
to put away all hurtful things.
Deliver us from the bondage of sin
that we may bring forth
worthy fruits of repentance.

St Alcuin of York (c735-804)

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Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The ASCENSION of the LORD, The LAST THINGS

Quote/s of the Day –18 May – The Ascension of the Lord

Quote/s of the Day –18 May – The Ascension of the Lord

From that time onward,
He was to remain at the Father’s Right Hand,
until the completion of the period, ordained by God,
for the Church’s children to increase and multiply,
after which, in the same Body with which He ascended,
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
And so, our Redeemer’s Visible Presence
has passed into the Sacraments.
Our faith is nobler and stronger because,
empirical sight has been replaced
by a reliable teaching, whose authority
is accepted by believing
hearts, enlightened from on high.

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

“… The just ascend into Heaven
but not in the manner that Christ ascended,
namely by His own power,
for they are taken up by Christ –
“Draw me, we will run after thee.” (Sg 1:3)
Or indeed, we can say,
that no-one but Christ has ascended into Heaven
because the just do not ascend,
except, insofar as they are members of Christ,
Who is the Head of the Church. …

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus/Doctor Communis

Perhaps, the Blessed Mother,
was the last to take her eyes off the disappearing cloud
which had removed Jesus from view.
Her human eyes never saw again,
the beloved figure of her Divine Son
but, in her soul, she saw Him entering triumphantly
into Heaven among choirs of Angels
and sitting at the right hand of the Eternal Father.
She saw and thought with infinite yearning,
of the not too distant day,
when she would have passed from mortal exile,
into the everlasting happiness of Heaven,
where she would embrace her Divine Son again,
in an ecstasy of love.

We have all been called to ascend to Heaven
with Jesus and Mary.
Let us remember, however, that only the innocent
and the repentant can be admitted into Paradise!

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/26/quote-s-of-the-day-26-may-the-ascension-of-our-lord/

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, DIVINE MERCY, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on DESPAIR, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD, The UNFORGIVEABLE SIN

Thought for the Day – 15 April – The Mercy of God

Thought for the Day – 15 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Mercy of God

Remember, that if God’s mercy is infinite, so also is His justice.

When we realise that we have fallen into serious sin, we should not give way to despair as Judas did but, should turn to Jesus trustingly and contritely, saying with the Psalmist, “My refuge and my fortess, my stonghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust” (Ps 143:2).
We shall certainly be forgiven.

It would be the highest form of ingratitude and even blasphemous, to abuse God;s goodness and mercy.
Let our repentance be sincere and effective.
In return for the infinite goodness of God, let us give Him our love, limited indeed but willing and constant.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/11/thought-for-the-day-19-april-the-mercy-of-god-2/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/28/thought-for-the-day-28-april-the-mercy-of-god/

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 April – ‘ …How odd, my brethren! …’

One Minute Reflection – 12 April – “The Month of the Resurrection” – Easter Wednesday – Acts 3:13-15; 3:17-19, John 21:1-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea.. …” – John 21:7

REFLECTION“The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter: ‘It is the Lord!’” The one who loved was the first to see! love casts a keener sight over everything; whosoever loves, always feels with greater vivacity. … What difficulty made Peter’s spirit so slow and prevented him from recognising Jesus first, as he had already done? Where is that unique witness which caused him to exclaim: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God?” (Mt 16:16) Where is it? Peter had entered the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where he had heard the whispering of a servant without difficulty, yet, he delayed to acknowledge his Lord!?

When he heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic, for he had nothing on. How odd, my brethren! … Peter gets into the boat without anything on and jumps into the sea fully clothed!? … Those who are guilty always cover themselves, so as to disguise themselves. Like Adam, then, Peter wants to hide his nakedness after his sin; the two of them, before fishing, were only clothed with a holy nakedness. “He put on his tunic and jumped into the sea.” He was hoping that the sea would wash the dirty garment that was his betrayal. He jumped into the sea because he, who had been entrusted with the greatest responsibilities (Mt 16:18) wanted to be the first to return. He girded himself with his tunic because he was to be girded for the combat of martyrdom, according to the Lord’s words: “Another will gird you and take you where you do not want to go” (Jn 21:18). …

The others came with the boat, dragging their net full of fish. With a great deal of difficulty, they brought the Church back with them, tossed about in the winds of the world. This is what those men bore in the net of the Gospel to the Light of Heaven and which they pulled out of the deep, so as to lead it to the Lord.” – St Peter Chrysologus (c400-450) Bishop of Ravenna, Father and “Doctor of Homilies” (Sermon 78).

PRAYER – O God, Who dost every year fill us with holy gladness through the rising of the Lord, mercifully grant that these Feast-days which we are now keeping here in time, may be to us, a means whereby, in the end, we may worthily attain unto those pleasures which are at Thy Right Hand, for evermore.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE MERCY, EASTER, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Thought for the Day – 9 April – The Meaning of Easter

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

The Meaning of Easter

“How many Easters have we spent?
Have they represented a constant improvement in our lives, or have we been static or even worse, become lukewarm, tepid and uncaring of our good Lord’s love of us and our own salvation?
In the Hebrew tongue, Pasch means a passing or transit, specifically, it refers to the passing of the Lord.
It will be a tragedy if Jesus passes us by without stopping! to rest with us in order to claim us as His own and to make us holy!

This Easter could be our last.
The thought should be a warning for us.
God’s goodness is infinite but, there is a limit to His grace and favours.

We often impose this limit ourselves by the degree of our co-operation.
Our eternal salvation depends largely upon ourselves!
God does not grant His Mercy to unrepentant souls – think of that second thief on the cross next to Our Lord!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/06/thought-for-the-day-6-april-the-meaning-of-easter/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/07/thought-for-the-day-7-april-the-meaning-of-easter-part-two/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, St PETER!

Thought for the Day – 8 April – The Repentance of St Peter

Thought for the Day – 8 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Repentance of St Peter

“When Peter realised how wretchedly he had fallen, the first thing which he did, was to escape from the occasion of sin.
Peter went out” (Lk 22:62),
He grieved for his three sins, not only on that sad night but throughout his life.
St Clement (c35-c101 the third succeeding Pope after St Peter) writes that he wept so often that his tears wore two deep furrows in his cheeks and that, whenever he heard the cock crowing, the cry pierced his heart.
He loved Jesus sincerely and passionately.

When he was asked three times if he loved Him, he replied humbly, “Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee” (Cf Jn 21:16).

Can we say these same words to Jesus, with equal sincerity and humility?
If we really love Jesus as Peter did and are prepared to face death for His sake, as Peter was, then we may be sure that we shall never offend God again.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/09/thought-for-the-day-9-april-the-repentance-of-st-peter/

Posted in HOLY WEEK, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 6 April –The Night of the Passion

Thought for the Day – 6 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Night of the Passion

“Picture Jesus during this long and sorrowful night.
Abandoned by everyone, betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, unjustly judged worthy of death by the Hight Priest, buffered and mocked by the soldiers, He suffers and prays and offers Himself as a victim of reparation, especially for all those sins which are being committed and will be committed by night! – throughout the ages and all over the world.

Let us bow low before Him in spirit.
Let us tell Him with penitent hearts that we shall never offend Him again and that we love and adore Him.
Let us promise to offer the prayers and sufferings of this day in reparation for the sins which men commit under cover of darkness.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/13/thought-for-the-day-13-april-the-night-of-the-passion/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/14/thought-for-the-day-14-april-the-night-of-the-passion/

Posted in DIVINE MERCY, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, LENT 2023, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD, The HEART, The PASSION

Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 5 April – “Spy” Wednesday in Holy Week – O miserable Judas!

Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 5 April – “Spy” Wednesday in Holy Week – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“O miserable Judas!
He saw the gravity of his crime and despaired.

St Francis de Sales

“SPY” WEDNESDAY
Judas
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

O MISERABLE JUDAS!
He saw the gravity of his crime and despaired.
Truly, he confessed his sin, for in returning to the chief priests the thirty pieces of silver ,for which he had sold his good Master, he acknowledged aloud that he had sold innocent blood. [Matt. 27:3-5.]
But these priests would give him no absolution.
Alas, did not this unhappy man know that Our Lord alone could give it to him, that He was the Saviour and held Redemption in His hands?
Had he not seen this Truth clearly in those whose sins Jesus had remitted? Certainly, he knew it but he did not wish, nor
dare, to ask pardon.

To make him despair, the devil showed him the enormity and hideousness of his crime and, perhaps, made him fear that if he asked his Master’s pardon, He might impose too great a penance. Perhaps for fear of such penance, he was unwilling to ask for forgiveness.
Thus, despairing, he hanged himself and his body burst wide
open, all his entrails spilling out [Acts 1:18] and he was buried in the deepest of Hells.
” – (Sermons of St Francis de Sales for Lent).

O God, fullness of goodness,
You do not forsake any,
except those who forsake You.
You never take away Your gifts,
except when we take away our hearts.
We rob the goodness of God,
if we claim the glory of our salvation for ourselves.
We dishonour His mercy,
if we say He has failed us.
… We blaspheme His goodness,
if we deny that He has helped and assisted us.
In short, O God, cry loud and clear into our ears:
“your destruction comes from you, O Israel.
In me alone is found your help” (Hos 13:9).

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis
Treatise on the Love of God, Ch 9

Posted in HOLY WEEK, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 3 April – The Betrayal of Judas

Thought for the Day – 3 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Betrayal of Judas

Failure to comply with the extraordinary graces which Jesus had granted him was responsible for the fall of Judas.
Whoever receives a great deal must give as much!

Judas had been called to the dignity of the Apostolate.
At the Last Supper, he received the fullness of the Priesthood along with the other Apostles and received Jesus Himself into his soul, under the species of the Consecrated bread.
In spite of all this, he deserted and betrayed his Master.

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

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Thought for the Day – 31 March – The Redemption

Thought for the Day – 31 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Redemption

Do I ever think of all that I have cost Jesus?
Do I ever meditate on His Infinite Love for me?
If I could constantly bear in mind the work of Redemption and the Passion of Jesus Christ, I should certainly never offend God and I should be on fire with love for Him.

Moreover, if in time of temptation, I were to pray earnestly before the image of Christ Crucified, I should certainly succeed in my resistance, by asking the suffering Lord for His Divine assistance.

If by some misfortune, however, I should fall into sin, it should suffice to kiss the Crucifix in order to revive my confidence in Christ, to rouse myself to sorrow, to obtain pardon and to begin a new life.
That should be the fruit of the Redemption for me.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/13/thought-for-the-day-13-september-the-redemption/

Posted in CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WORD, VENIAL SIN

Quote/s of the Day – 30 March – ‘“She began to bathe His feet with her tears …’

Quote/s of the Day – 30 March – Thursday in Passion Week – Daniel 3:25, 34-45, Luke 7:36-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

She began to bathe His feet with her tears
and wiped them with the hair of her head
and kissed His feet
and anointed them with ointmen
t.”

Luke 7:38

Do not content yourself
with confessing your venial sins
merely as to the fact
but accuse yourself too,
of the motive which induced you
to commit them.

(Introduction to the Devout Life,
Part II, Chapter 19
).

We must be very sorry for faults
with a repentance which is strong,
constant, tranquil
but not troubled, unquiet or fainthearted.

(Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, Chapter 7).

Christ was more concerned
with St. Peter’s repentance and remorse,
than with his sin
.”
(The Spirit of St. François de Sales, VII, 8)

​St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

Posted in DIVINE MERCY, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on REPARATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 29 March – ALMSGIVING

Thought for the Day – 29 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

ALMSGIVING

“We must be detached from the goods of this world because they are corruptible and cause us to forget God.
Even if we have been placed in easy circumstances, let us be poor in spirit.
We can be poor in spirit by giving alms from motives of Christian charity.
We need the mercy of God and Our Lord has told us that He will be merciful only to those who show mercy to others.

We need God’s forgiveness for all our sins and the Holy Spirit assures us that our iniquities are redeemed by almsgiving.
Redeem thou thy sins with alms and thy iniquities, with works of mercy to the poor” )Dan 4:24).
Almsgiving is a means of our personal sanctification!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/13/thought-for-the-day-13-august-almsgiving/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/06/thought-for-the-day-6-august-almsgiving/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Quote of the Day – 27 March – The Night Prayers before Retiring, St John Damascene

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

The Night Prayers before Retiring
The Examination of Conscience,
Act of Contrition and Resolutions
By St John Damascene (675-749)
Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

“ (To be said pointing at the bed:)
O Lord, Lover of men, is this bed to be my coffin,
or wilt Thou enlighten my wretched soul with another day? Here the coffin lies before me
and here death confronts me.
I fear, O Lord, Thy Judgement and the endless torments,
yet I cease not to do evil.
My Lord God, I continually anger Thee
and Thy immaculate Mother,
and all the Heavenly Powers
and my holy Guardian Angel.
I know, O Lord, that I am unworthy of Thy love
but deserve condemnation and every torment.
But, whether I want it or not, save me, O Lord.
For to save a good man is no great thing
and to have mercy on the pure is nothing wonderful,
for they are worthy of Thy mercy.
But show the wonder of Thy mercy to me, a sinner.
In this, reveal Thy love for men,
lest my wickedness prevail over
Thy unutterable goodness and mercy.
And order my life as Thou wilt.
(As sleep is the image of death,
at night we pray for the departed)
With the Saints give rest, O Christ,
to the souls of Thy servants where there is no pain,
no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting.

Kiss your Crucifix
and make the Sign of the Cross
from the head to the foot of the bed
and from two sides
and then say the Prayer
:

Hail, Most Precious
and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord!

Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered
and let those, who hate Him,
flee from His Presence.
As smoke vanishes, let them vanish
and as wax melts by the presence of fire,
so let the demons perish by the presence
of those who love God
and who sign themselves
with the Sign of the Cross
and say in gladness:
Hail, Most Precious
and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord,
for Thou drives away the demons
by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ
Crucified on thee, Who went down to hell
and trampled on the power of the devil
and gave us thee, His venerable Cross,
for driving away all enemies.
O Most Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord,
help me with our holy Lady,
the Virgin Mother of God
and with all the Saints throughout the ages.
Amen.

(When about to lie down in bed, say:)
Lighten my eyes, O Christ God, lest I sleep in death
and lest my enemy says: I have prevailed over him.

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost.
Be my soul’s Defender, O God,
for I step over many snares.
Deliver me from them
and save me, O Good One,
in Thy love for men.
Now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Amen.
Let us not silently hymn
the most glorious Mother of God,
holiest of holy Angels
but confess her with heart and mouth
to be the Mother of God, for she truly bore
God Incarnate for us
and prays without ceasing for our souls.
Amen.

(Just before closing your eyes, say:)
Into Thy hands, O Lord Jesus Christ, my God,
I surrender my spirit and body;
bless me, save me and grant me eternal life.
Amen.

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

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

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

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 March – ‘… You heard the words of the Lord, saying, “Stretch forth your hand.” …’

One Minute Reflection – 27 March – Monday of Passion Week and the Feast of St John Damascene (675-749) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church, Confessor, Priest, Monk, Theologian, Writer, Defender of Iconography, Polymath. – Wisdom 10:10-17, Luke 6:6-11 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

On another sabbath, he went into the synagogue and taught and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.” … Luke 6:6

REFLECTION – “Are you angry at me because I have healed the whole man on the Sabbath day?”   In this place He revivified,, with the salutary strength of good works, the hand which Adam stretched out to pluck the fruit of the forbidden tree.   The hand which had withered through a crime, was healed by good deeds.   Christ thereby rebuked the Jews who violated the precepts of the law with evil interpretations.   They thought that they should rest even from good works on the Sabbath, since the law prefigured in the present, the form of the future, in which indeed, the days of rest from evils, not from blessings, would come.

Then you heard the words of the Lord, saying, “Stretch forth your hand.”   That is the common and universal remedy.   You, who think that you have a healthy hand, beware lest it is withered by greed or by sacrilege.   Hold it out often.   Hold it out to the poor person who begs you.   Hold it out to help your neighbour, to give protection to a widow, to snatch from harm one whom you see subjected to unjust insult.   Hold it out to God for your sins.   The hand is stretched forth, then it is healed.   Jeroboam’s hand withered when he sacrificed to idols, then it stretched out when he entreated God.” …  St Ambrose (340-397)-  One of the 4 original Doctors of the Latin Church – Exposition on the Gospel of Luke, 5

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who to defend the honour paid to sacred images, filled blessed John with heavenly learning and wondrous strength of soul, grant that, by his intercession and example, we may imitate the virtues of those whose images we honour and may enjoy the help of their patronage. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL

Thought for the Day – 24 March – Jesus Lost in the Temple

Thought for the Day – 24 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Jesus Lost in the Temple

“Now, let us reflect on the anguish of Mary and Joseph over the loss of Jesus.
They had no peace as long as they could not find Him.
They set out immediately on the difficult return journey to Jerusalem and searched anxiously for three days.
They did not rest until they had found Him at last.

Unfortunately, we too lose Jesus whenever we commit sin.
Our Lord dwells in our souls by His grace but, if we sin seriously, the devil takes possession.
We know well that the devil is a cunning tyrant.
He entices us by every means in his power, to give free play to our passions and then leaves us in a state of bitterness and remorse.
Sometimes he oppresses us to the point of desperation.

If ever we should fall and lose the grace of God, let us repent immediately with the words of the prodigal son “I will get up and go to my Father and will say to Him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee” (Lk 15:18).
Like the Blessed Virgin and St Joseph, let us go immediately in search of Jesus, Whom we have lost.
We shall have no peace until we have found Him.
We too shall find Him in the Temple, for we shall find Him in prayer, in the tribunal of Penance and in Holy Communion.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/29/thought-for-the-day-29-march-jesus-lost-in-the-temple/

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE MERCY, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The HOLY NAME, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – Jesus, Our Physician

Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – Thursday of the Fourth Week in Lent – 4 Kings 4:25-38, Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.or

Young man, I say to thee, arise!”

Luke 7:14

Thy sins are forgiven thee …
Arise and walk.

Luke 5:23

My grace is sufficient for thee,
for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:7

O my brethren, if only we wanted to,
if only we all wanted to perceive
our soul’s paralysis in all its depth!
Then we would see
that it is lying on a stretcher of sins,
deprived of strength.
Christ’s action within us,
would be a source of light
and we would understand
that each day He sees our lack of faith,
harmful as it is, that He draws us
towards healing remedies
and sharply presses our rebellious wills.
“My son” He says, “your sins are forgiven you.

St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450)
“Golden Words”
Father & Doctor of the Church

If thou art bound down by sickness,
if sorrows weary thee,
if thou art trembling with fear,
invoke the name of Jesus
!”

St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1456)

The medicine of God,
is Jesus Christ,
Crucified and Risen,
the measure of all things.

St John Leonardi (1541-1609)
Confessor, Priest, Founder

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DIVINE MERCY, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, LENT 2023, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD

Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 23 March – THE DIVINE PHYSICIAN

Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 23 March – Thursday of the Fourth Week in Lent – 4 Kings 4:25-38, Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Come to Me, all ye who are weary …”
Matthew 11:28

Young man, I say to thee, arise!
Luke 7:14

THE DIVINE PHYSICIAN
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

“Our Lord, the great and excellent Physician of our infirmities, announced everywhere, before coming into this world, both His arrival and the maladies He would cure; sometimes by His prophets. …”

What wonder then if, in the Gospel, we find Him surrounded by the sick, by sinners and by publicans! O vain and foolish murmuring of the Hebrews, when they said: “This man receiveth sinners.” Whom would you wish Him to receive? Is it not the honour of a Physician to be sought for by the sick and so much the more, as their maladies are considered incurable? …

Thus, how were the poor Prodigal and the unfortunate Absalom received by their fathers? And, otherwise, what would become of us, for all have sinned? Every man is a liar, that is to say, a sinner. If we say that we are without sin, we deceived ourselves.
Return to the Lord, and forsake your injustice, for His Mercy is great towards those who are converted to Him. Why is He called Saviour, unless in order to save? …

But, oh, miserable that we are! We are often called and we only turn a deaf ear. “I have called and you have not heard,” says God. We are drawn and we obstinately resist Him. He complains, saying: “All the day long have I stretched out My hands to this incredulous and rebellious people! ”…

Let us then depart, let us depart from Egypt, let us approach Our Lord, let us make provision of good works; let the feet of our affections be bare, let us clothe ourselves with innocence, let us not be satisfied with crying for mercy, let us go forth from Egypt, let us delay no longer.
The hour is come to arise from sleep, since we know that He receives sinners; the Angels await our repentance, the Saints pray for it!
” – (Consoling Thoughts on God and Providence).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE LIGHT of CHRIST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 March – “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead and Christ will give you Light.” Ephesians 5:14

One Minute Reflection – 23 March – “The Month of the St Joseph” – Thursday of the Fourth Week in Lent – 4 Kings 4:25-38, Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Young man, I say to thee, arise!” – Luke 7:14

REFLECTION – “Let no-one who is Christian doubt that even now, dead people rise. Certainly, every human being has eyes, by which he can see dead people rising, in the way this widow’s son, whom we just heard about in the Gospel, arose. But not everyone can see people who are spiritually dead rise. For that, it is necessary to have already risen interiorly. It is greater to raise someone, who is to live forever than to raise someone, who will have to die again.

The young man’s mother, this widow, was transported with joy at seeing her son rise. Our Mother, the Church, also rejoices when she sees her children’s spiritual resurrection everyday. The widow’s son was dead with the death of the body but these latter, are dead with the death of the soul. People wept tears over the visible death of the former but people were not concerned by the invisible death of the latter – they did not even see it. The only One Who did not remain indifferent, is the One Who knew these deaths – only the One, Who could give life back to them, knew these deaths. For if the Lord had not come to raise the dead, the Apostle Paul would not have said: “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead and Christ will give you Light.” (Eph 5:14).” – St Augstine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 98).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who are chastising the flesh by fasting, may rejoice in this holy practice and thus, with earthly passions subdued, we may the more readily direct our thoughts to Heavenly things. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 22 March – St Catherine of Genoa

Quote/s of the Day – 22 March – Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Lent and the Memorial of St Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

We must not wish anything other
than what happens from moment to moment,
all the while, however, exercising ourselves in goodness.

And when I hear it said,
that God is good and He will pardon us
and then see, that men cease not from evil-doing,
oh, how it grieves me!
The Infinite Goodness
with which God communicates with us,
sinners as we are,
should constantly make us love and serve Him better
but we, on the contrary,
instead of seeing in His Goodness
an obligation to please Him,
convert it into an excuse for sin,
which will, of a certainty,
lead in the end,
to our deeper condemnation.

I see clearly with the interior eye,
that the sweet God loves, with a pure love,
the creature that He has created
and has a HATRED for nothing but SIN,
which is more opposed to Him,
than can be thought or imagined.

St Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

Posted in CONFESSION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PARTIAL Indulgence, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 16 March – Purification

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

Purification

We should also value Indulgences as a means of spiritual purification.
They ought not to be treated lightly.

Jesus gave His Church, the power of loosing and binding every bond of sin.
As long as we have the necessary dispositions, therefore, it can draw on the merits of Christ and of the Saints, to release us from the temporal punishment due to the sins which have already been forgiven us.
It achieves this by the concession of Indulgences.
These require, on our part, the fulfilment of certain conditions, a sincere sorrow for sin and, a strong resolution never to offend God again.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/25/thought-for-the-day-25-july-purification/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/19/thought-for-the-day-25-july-purification-2/

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, DIVINE MERCY, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on TIME

Thought for the Day – 3 March – The Shortness of Time

Thought for the Day – 3 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Shortness of Time

“Another vision will confront us also in that final hour.
Our frightened minds will see again all those hours which we have misused in sin.
The devil will try by every means in his power, to repaint them in our troubled imagination.
He will do his best to lead us into despair, even as he tempted Judas and many other sinners before us.

We know well that the mercy of God is infinite and that it remains infinite at the hour of death.
But, we know too that His justice, is no less infinite.
Since God has granted us so much time in which He called us to repentance and to a life of virtue, it could happen that at the point of death, He will put an end to the mercy and to the favours which He has shown us and which we have disregarded.
What will become of us then?
Remember that only one of the two thieves was converted.
The other died unrepentant on his cross, even though he was hanging by the side of Jesus!

Reflect and make provision while there is still time.
While we have time.,let us do good (Gal 6:10).
We shall be unable to do anything about it afterwards
.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/05/thought-for-the-day-5-january-the-shortness-of-time/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/20/thought-for-the-day-20-march-the-shortness-of-time/

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE MERCY, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, The WORD, THOMAS a KEMPIS

Quote/s of the Day – 3 March – Do you wish to be made whole? John 5:6

Quote/s of the Day – 3 March – Ember Friday, First Week of Lent – Ezekiel 18:20-28, John 5:1-15 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Do you wish to be made whole?

John 5:6

“”

O Heavenly Father, have compassion for my cry
as Thou did for the prodigal son,
for I, too, am throwing myself at Thy feet
and crying aloud as he cried:
“Father, I have sinned!”
Do not reject me,
Thy unworthy child, O my Saviour
but cause Thy Angels
to rejoice too, on my behalf,
O God of goodness Thou,
Who desires that all should be saved
.”

St Romanos Melodios (c 490-c 556)
Monk, Composer of hymns, Poet

Each day then,
we ought to renew our resolutions
and arouse ourselves to fervour,
as though it were the first day
of our turning back to God.
We ought to say:
“Help me, O Lord God,
in my good resolution
and in Your holy service.
Grant me now, this very day,
to begin perfectly,
for thus far I have done nothing.”
… Just men depend on the grace of God
rather than on their own wisdom
in keeping their resolutions.
In Him they confide every undertaking …

Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 1 March – Repentance, Penance, Sacrifice

Quote/s of the Day – 1 March – Ember Wednesday – 3 Kings. 19:3-8, Matthew 12:38-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement
with this generation and condemn it, for they repented …”

Matthew 12:41

The sign of Jonah

Matthew 12:39

It was, too, to lead the Ninevites
to firm repentance and to convert them
to Him, Who would deliver them from death,
amazed as they were by the sign accomplished in Jonah …
In the same way, God permitted man
to be swallowed by that great monster,
the author of disobedience,
not so that he should altogether vanish away
and die but because God, had prepared beforehand,
the salvation fulfilled by His Word
by means of the “sign of Jonah.

St Irenaeus (130-208)
Bishop of Lyons, Martyr and Father

“… In the conceitedness of our souls,
without taking the least trouble
to obey the Lord’s Commandments,
we think ourselves worthy
to receive the same reward
as those who have resisted sin to the death!

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

To do penance is to bewail
the evil we have done
and to do no evil to bewail.

But He still follows behind us and counsels us,
that we have despised Him
but He still does not cease to call us.
We turn our backs on His face, so to speak,
when we reject His Words,
when we trample His Commandments underfoot
but He, Who sees that we reject Him,
still calls out to us by His Commandments
and waits for us by His patience,
stands behind us and calls us back
when we have turned away
.”

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

What are we doing?
If we really love the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
we should offer penance and sacrifices
in order to make reparation for our sins
and the sins of others
and, to propitiate this adorable Heart,
Which ardently desires to bestow
new favours upon us.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, HOLY WEEK, LENT 2023, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DESPAIR, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, St PETER!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – REPENTANCE

Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 1 March – Ember Wednesday

The troubles of my heart are multiplied,
deliver me from my necessities.
See my abjection and my labour
and forgive me all my sins.

Psalm 24:17-18

The men of Nineveh will rise up
in the judgement with this generation
and will condemn it;
for they repented
at the preaching of Jonah
and behold, One greater than Jonah is here.

Matthew 12:41

REPENTANCE
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

LET ANYONE WHO IS STANDING BE FEARFUL lest he fall, says the Apostle [1 Cor 10:12]; let no-one glory in finding himself expressly called by God, to a place where there seems nothing to fear.
Let no-one presume on his good works and think he has nothing more to fear.
St Peter, who had received so many graces, who had promised to accompany Our Lord to prison and even to death itself [Lk 22:33], denied Him, nevertheless, at the whimpering taunt of a chambermaid!
Judas sold Him for such a small sum of money!

These falls were both very great but there was this differ­ence. One acknowledged his guilt; the other despaired.
Yet, our Saviour had inspired in the heart of both, the same Peccavi [admission of guilt] (“I have sinned”) that same Peccavi that God inspired in David’s heart. [2 Kgs (2 Sm.) 12:13].
Yes, He inspired it in both Apostles but one rejected it and the other accepted it. Hearing the cock crow, St Peter remembered what he had done and the word his good Master had spoken to him. Then, acknowledging his sin, he went out and wept so bitterly [Matt 26:74-75; Lk 22:61-62] that he received what we today call a Plenary Indulgence and full remission of all his sins. O happy S. Peter! By such contrition for your sins you received a full pardon for such great disloyalty!

From this time on, St Peter never ceased weeping, principally when he heard the cock crow at night and morning, for he remembered this crowing as the signal for his conversion.
It is also reported that he shed so many tears that they hollowed his cheeks into two furrows. With these tears he, who had been a great sinner became a great saint.
O glorious St Peter, how happy you are to have done such great penance for such great disloyalty. By it you were reinstated in grace. You, who deserved eternal death became worthy of eternal life.
Not only that but St Peter received here below, special favours and privileges and was lavished with blessings on earth and in Heaven.

On the other hand, although Judas received the same inspi­ration for the same Peccavi, he rejected it and despaired. I know that efficacious and sufficient grace differ, as theologians say but I am not here to prove and dispute, whether Judas’ inspiration … was as efficacious as David’s, or only sufficient.
It was certainly sufficient.
This Peccavi, sent to the heart of Judas, was truly like that formerly sent to David. Why then was Judas not converted?

O miserable man!
He saw the gravity of his crime and despaired.
Truly, he confessed his sin, for in returning to the chief priests the thirty pieces of silver for which he had sold his good Master, he acknowledged aloud that he had sold innocent blood. [Matt. 27:3-5]. But these priests would give him no absolution.
Alas, did not this unhappy man know that Our Lord alone could give it to him, that He was the Saviour and held Redemption in His hands?
Had he not seen this truth clearly in those whose sins Jesus had remitted?
Certainly, he knew it but he did not wish, nor dare to ask pardon. To make him despair, the devil showed him the enormity and hideousness of his crime and, perhaps, made him fear that if he asked his Master’s pardon, He might impose too great a penance.
Perhaps, for fear of such penance, he was unwilling to ask for forgiveness.
Thus, despairing, he hanged himself and his body burst wide open, all his entrails spilling out [Acts 1:18] and he was buried in the deepest of Hells.” – Sermon for Good Friday 25 March 1622.

Posted in DIVINE MERCY, LENT, LENT 2023, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the POOR

Quote of the Day – 28 February – ‘… If we share with the poor …’

Quote of the Day – 28 February – Tuesday of the First Week in Lent

If we look forward to receiving God’s mercy,
we can never fail to do good,
as long as we have the strength.
For if we share with the poor,
out of love for God,
whatever He has given to us,
we shall receive according to His promise,
a hundredfold in eternal happiness.
What a fine profit, what a blessed reward!
With outstretched arms He begs us
to turn toward Him, to weep for our sins
and to become the servants of love,
first for ourselves, then for our neighbours.
Just as water extinguishes a fire,
so love wipes away sin.

St John of God (1495-1550)

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT, LENT 2023, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 February – He heals without charge, with one word, He restores to health. 

One Minute Reflection – 25 February – The First Saturday of Lent – Isaias 58:9-14, Mark 6:47-56 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

And wherever He went, into village or hamlet or town, they laid the sick in the market places, and entreated Him to let them touch but the tassel of His cloak and as many as touched. Him were saved. ” – Mark 6:56

REFLECTION – “Let us set before our interior consideration, someone gravely wounded who is about to breathe his last. … Now, the soul’s wound is sin, of which Scripture speaks in these terms: “Wound and welt and gaping gash, not drained or bandaged or eased with salve” (Is 1:6). Oh you who are wounded, recognise your Physician within you and show Him the wounds of your sins. May He understand your heart’s groaning, Who already knows its secret thoughts. May your tears move Him. Go as far as a little shamelessness in your beseeching (cf. Lk 11:8). Bring forth deep sighs to Him, without ceasing, from the depth of your heart.
May your grief reach Him so that He may say to you also : “The Lord has pardoned your sin” (2 Sam 12:13). Cry out with David, who said: “Have mercy on me, O God, in … the greatness of your compassion” (Ps 50[51]:3). It is as though one were to say: “I am in great danger because of an enormous wound, that no doctor can cure, unless the all-powerful Physician comes to help me.” For this all-powerful Physician, nothing is incurable. He heals without charge, with one word, He restores to health.  I would have despaired of my wound, were it not that I placed my trust in the Almighty.” – St Pope Gregory the Great (c 540-604) Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on Psalm 50[51])

PRAYER – Hear, O Lord, our humble prayers and grant that we may devoutly keep this fast which has been established, to cure our souls and bodies. 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 CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE MERCY, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Our Morning Offering – 23 February – Have Mercy, Lord By St Peter Damian

Our Morning Offering – 23 FebruaryAsh Thursday and The Memorial of St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Doctor of the Church

Have Mercy, Lord
By St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
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

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on ENVY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JEALOUSY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The LAST THINGS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 5 February – Septuagesima Sunday – Preparing to Prepare

Quote/s of the Day – 5 February – Septuagesima Sunday – Preparing to Prepare

“Prepare the way of the Lord
make His paths straight
” …

Luke 3:4

There is still time for endurance,
time for patience,
time for healing,
time for change.
Have you slipped?
Rise up!
Have you sinned?
Cease!
Do not stand among sinners
but leap aside!

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Then the righteous shall shine like the sun
in the Kingdom of their Father.

Matthew 13:43

So from now on, run well (cf. Gal 5:7)
and may the devil not bewitch you (cf. Gal 3:1)
nor hinder you! …
May mercy, peace, charity,
freedom from envy,
from jealousy and ostentation
come upon you, docility, friendly speech,
solidarity, compassion
towards each other, humility.

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)

My Lord Jesus Christ,
You have made this journey
to die for me, with love unutterable
and I have so many times unworthily abandoned You
but now I love You with my whole heart
and because I love You,
I repent sincerely for having ever offended You.
Pardon me, my God
and permit me to accompany You on this journey.
You go to die for love of me,
I wish also, my beloved Redeemer,
to die for love of Thee.
My Jesus, I will live
and die always united to You.”
Amen

By St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Each and everyone of us,
at the end of the journey of life,
will come, face to face
with either one,
or the other
of two faces…
And one of them,
either, the
merciful face of Christ
or the
miserable face of Satan,
will say,
“Mine, mine.

May we be Christ’s!”

Ven Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, JESUIT SJ, OUR Cross, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 22 January – “Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief,”

Quote/s of the Day – 22 January – The Third Sunday after the Epiphany – Romans 12:16-21, Matthew 8:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Amen I say to you,
I have not found
such great faith in Israel
.”

Matthew 8:10

And Jesus, seeing their faith,
said to the paralytic,
Take courage, son,
your sins are forgiven you.

Matthew 9:2

Perhaps, your own faith is feeble.
Nevertheless, the Lord, who is love
will stoop down to you,
provided only that you are penitent
and can say sincerely,
from the depths of your soul:
“Lord, I believe.
Help Thou mine unbelief,”
(Mark 9:23)……

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Father and Doctor of the Church

If I only touch his garment,
I will be made well.”
Jesus turned and seeing her he said,
“Take heart, daughter,
your faith has made you well.”
And instantly the woman was made well.

Matthew 9:21-22

What determines that the gifts of God
dwells in us,
is the measure of each one’s faith.
Because it is to the extent that we believe,
that the enthusiasm to act is given us.
And so those who act,
reveal the measure of their faith
proportionate to their action,
they receive their measure of grace
according to what they have believed. …

St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662)
Monk and Theologian

But whom do you say that I Am?”

Luke 9:20

… How can anyone put on Jesus Christ
and imitate His example,
if he does not study this Jesus,
who must inspire and perfect our faith?
He must run the race to which he is challenged,
the glorious race in which,
he overcomes the enemy of the human family
and follows the Way of the Cross.
Under the lordly banner of that Cross,
he will attain eternal life.

St Vincent Strambi CP (1745-1824)

Prayer for Unbelievers
By St Francis Xavier (1506-1552)

O God, the Everlasting Creator of all things,
remember that the souls of unbelievers
were made by Thee
and formed in Thine own image and likeness.
Remember that Jesus, Thy Son,
endured a most bitter Death for their salvation.
Permit not, I beseech Thee, O Lord
that Thy Son should be any longer despised by unbelievers
but do Thou graciously accept the prayers
of holy men and of the Church,
the Spouse of Thy Most Holy Son
and be mindful of Thy mercy.
Forget their idolatry and unbelief
and grant that they too,
may someday know Him,
Whom Thou hast sent…the Lord Jesus Christ,
Who is our Salvation, our Life and Resurrection,
by Whom we have been [redeemed] and delivered,
to Whom be glory for endless ages.
Amen.

St Francis Xavier (1506-1552)

Posted in "Follow Me", ACT of CONTRITION, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, DIVINE MERCY, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 21 January – Our Lamps are going out – Matthew 25:8

Quote/s of the Day – 21 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus” – St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr – Ecclesiasticus 51:1-8, 12, Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Our lamps are going out.

Matthew 25:8

I have not become as wise
as those five wise Virgins.
… But I have become the most wretched of the foolish ones
by failing to keep some oil for my lamp,
namely, mercy together with virginity
or, still more, the anointing from Baptism’s Sacred fount

Therefore, the doors of the wedding hall
are closed to me too, in my negligence.
But, O my Bridegroom,
while I am still in my body here below,
listen to my soul, Your Bride…
From now on, I will cry aloud piteously,
“Oh, open to me Your Heavenly Door,
bring me into Your Wedding Chamber on high,
make me worthy of Your Holy Kiss,
Your pure and spotless Embrace.
Oh let me not hear the Voice saying
it does not know me!
I am blind; set alight with Your own Light
my spirit’s extinguished flame!

St Nerses Chnorhali (1102-1173)
Armenian Bishop

Remove from your lives
the filth and uncleanness of vice.
Your upright lives must make you
the salt of the earth for yourselves
and for the rest of humankind…

St John of Capistrano OFM (1386-1456)

O Infinite Goodness – Act of Contrition
By St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) – Doctor of the Church

O my God,
I am exceedingly grieved,
for having offended Thee
and with my whole heart,
I repent of the sins I have committed.
I hate and abhor them above every other evil,
not only because, by so sinning,
I have lost heaven and deserved hell
but still more because I have offended Thee,
O infinite Goodness,
who art worthy to be loved above all things.
I most firmly resolve,
by the assistance of Thy grace,
never more to offend Thee for the time to come
and to avoid those occasions
which might lead me into sin.
Amen