Category: QUOTES on SCANDAL

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SCANDAL, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 13 July – Forgiveness

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Quote/s of the Day – 13 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – –

“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

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them”

Acts 7:60

“No-one heals himself
by wounding another.”

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father and 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

“To the extent that you pray, with all your soul,
for the person who slanders you,
God will make the truth known
to those who have been scandalised
by the slander.”

St Maximus the Confessor (c580–662)

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 3 July –Humiliation!

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Thought for the Day – 3 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humiliation!

Humiliation is a very painful thing and our pride shrinks from it. Yet, it is a necessary step to humility. We must be humbled in order that we may be humble. We must learn, not to shun dishonour, if we are to learn not to crave honour from men.
When some slight is shown us, when we are ignored or distrusted, or judged unfairly, we have an excellent opportunity of advancing in humility, by accepting, with patience and resignation, the contempt and dishonour and, not attempting to defend ourselves or assert our rights and our claim to be treated with consideration and respect.

When we commit some fault which causes others to think less of us, we should be full of sorrow at the thought of having offended God and given bad example to our neighbour but we must not seek to shun the just contempt we have deserved, or allow ourselves to be miserable at the thought of being despised. On the contrary, we must be content to be esteemed according to our merits and must thank God for teaching us this lesson and giving us a greater insight into ourselves.

It is a sure sign of pride, if we seek to shirk the consequences of our fault, as Saul did when he begged Samuel still to honour him before the ancients of Israel (1 Kings 15:30). Such conduct only brings fresh humiliations.
God, who resists the proud, always brings down those who refuse to humble themselves. The devils, who would not willingly bow the knee before Christ made Man, were forced to do so. God, sooner or later, will force all the proud, willingly or unwillingly, to bow before Him.

Posted in QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on PHYSICAL SICKNESS, ILLNESS, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SLOTH, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 17 January – St Anthony Abbot

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 January – St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

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

“If we make every effort to avoid
death of the body,
still more should it be our endeavour,
to avoid death of the soul!
There is no obstacle for a man
who wishes to be saved,
other than negligence and laziness of soul.”

“ What is slander?
It is every sort of wicked word
we would dare not speak
in front of the person whom
we are complaining about.”

MORE and MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/17/quote-s-of-the-day-17-january-st-anthony-abbot-2/

St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

Posted in "Follow Me", LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on GOSSIP, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on SCANDAL

Thought for the Day – 8 July – Uncharitableness

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

Uncharitableness

“It is no excuse to claim that we only speak of matters which are true and known to all.
They maybe true but God alone can judge the human conscience.
They maybe known to all but, by our maliciousness, we are spreading evil about our neighbour, whereas we ought to try and spread only what is good.

Besides being opposed to Christian charity, unkind conversation ruins whatever opportunities we may have of practising the apostolate in which everyone is obliged to play his part.
If we are apostolic, we promote our neighbour’s spiritual welfare, whereas uncharitable criticism, spreads evil about him and gives bad example to others.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/07/thought-for-the-day-7-july-uncharitableness/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/08/thought-for-the-day-8-july-uncharitableness/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 17 April – SCANDAL!

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Thought for the Day – 17 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

SCANDAL!

“Some people are careful to avoid giving grave scandal but do not give it a thought in matters which they regard as trivial.
They have no scruples about imprudent gestures, malicious innuendoes, double-meaning conversations, acts of impatience, lack of understanding or constant grumbling.
Such things may seem trivial in themselves but can cause a great deal of harm in certain circumstances and in certain types of company.

We should keep control over ourselves and examine our behaviour in these matters every evening.
If we examine ourselves properly, we shall realise that we have failed to a greater or lesser degree.
Consequently, we shall recognise our obligation to make reparation, as far as possible, for any scandal which we have given.
This can be done especially by giving good example.
We have a strict obligation in conscience, to make reparation for all sin – never forgetting or disregarding any occasions when we were the instruments of the devil and have caused (sometimes GRAVE) scandal [these days maybe to 1000s on social media!].”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/28/thought-for-the-day-28-december-scandal/

Posted in QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL

Thought for the Day – 16 November – Evil Literature

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

Evil Literature

“There can be adequate reasons for reading hostile literature, such as, for the purpose of study or if apostolic work.
In such cases, however, it is necessary to observe the following rules:
(1) If the books which we wish to read, are on the Index, we MUST ASK and OBTAIN the requisite permission.
(2) When a publication is openly pornographic and completely lacking in literary or scientific value, it must be avoided at all costs.
It is pointless to protest: “It has no effect on me.”
This is not true, for sooner or later obscenity poisons the soul.
(3) Even when we have obtained permission for reasons of position or of study, to read immoral literature, we must take care not to cause any scandal.
Scandal could be given by reading a book of this kind in public, by passing it onto others, or by leaving it, heedlessly, in places where it could be found and perused, by the ignorant or by the young.

It maybe that, on these three points, we have something to correct in our own conduct?!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/16/thought-for-the-day-16-november-evil-literature/

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on GOSSIP, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on ZEAL

Quote/s of the Day – 13 August – St Maximus the Confessor and Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners

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Quote/s of the Day – 13 August – Feast of Our Lady, Refuge of Sinner and the Memorial of St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662) Father of the Church

“To the extent that you pray
with all your soul
for the person who slanders you,
God will make the truth known, to those,
who have been scandalised
by the slander.”

“Theology without practice,
is the theology of demons!”

“The demons that wage war on us,
through our shortcomings in virtue,
are those which teach —
impurity, drunkenness, avarice and envy.
Those that wage war on us,
through our excessive zeal for virtue,
teach — conceit, self-esteem and pride.
They [the demons] secretly pervert,
what is commendable,
into what is reprehensible!”

St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662)
Father of the Church

MORE ST MAXIMUS QUOTES:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/13/quote-s-of-the-day-13-august-st-maximus/

Shelter Me Under Your Mantle,
O Refuge of Sinners
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary,
to you who are the Mother of my Lord,
the Queen of the Universe, the Advocate,
the hope, the refuge of sinners,
I, who am the most miserable of all sinners,
have recourse this day.
I venerate you, great Queen
and I thank you for the many graces
you have bestowed upon me even unto this day,
in particular for having delivered me from the hell
which I have so often served by my sins.
I love you, my dearest Lady
and because of that love,
I promise to serve you willingly forever
and to do what I can,
to make you loved by others also.
I place in you all my hopes for salvation,
accept me as your servant
and shelter me under your mantle,
you who are the Mother of Mercy.
And since you are so powerful with God,
deliver me from all temptations,
or at least obtain for me the strength
to overcome them until death.
From you I implore a true love for Jesus Christ.
Through you I hope to die a holy death.
My dear Mother, by your love for Almighty God,
I pray you to assist me always
but most of all, at the last moment of my life.
Forsake me not then,
until you shall see me safe in heaven,
there to bless you
and sing of your mercies through all eternity.
Such is my hope.
Amen

Posted in LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ENVY, QUOTES on JEALOUSY, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 7 August – Rash Judgement

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Thought for the Day – 7 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Rash Judgement

“Rash judgements are sometimes formed quite thoughtlessly.
At other times they are produce of malice, envy, pride or hatred.
Even when they are lightly arrived at, they are sinful because they are opposed to the law of charity.
When they are the result of one of the passions mentioned, they are far more gravely sinful because, they presuppose the intention of injuring our neighbour.
Rash judgements like this, rarely remain enclosed in the mind but are expressed openly, with consequent damage to the character of the victim!

It is easy to progress from lighter faults to grave sin in this matter.
A rash judgement soon becomes slander and, a sin against charity, soon becomes a sin against justice involving an obligation to make reparation.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/12/thought-for-the-day-12-august-rash-judgement/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FRUITS of the SPIRIT, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, The HEART, The WORD, VENIAL SIN

Quote/s of the Day – 24 July – Lord, Lord Matthew 7:21

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Quote/s of the Day – 24 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” – St Christina of Bolsena (3rd Century) Virgin Martyr – Romans 6:19-23, Matthew 7:15-21

“Not everyone who says to me,
‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of Heaven
but only the one who does
the will of my Father in Heaven.”

Matthew 7:21

“We recognise a tree by its fruit
and we ought to be able to recognise
a Christian by his action.
The fruit of faith
should be evident in our lives,
for being a Christian is more than making
sound professions of faith.
It should reveal itself in practical
and visible ways.
Indeed, it is better to keep quiet
about our beliefs
and live them out,
than to talk eloquently about what we believe
but fail to live by it!”

St Ignatius of Antioch (c 35-c 108)
Martyr
Apostolic Father of the Church

“God is Good but He is also Just…
So do not underestimate God –
His love for men
should not become a pretext,
for negligence on our part.”

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

“If anyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord,
resists the Lord’s Commands
by living perversely,
it is evident, that the good,
which the tongue has spoken,
has NOT emanated from the good treasure in his heart.
It was not the root of a fig tree
but that of a thorn bush,
which produced the fruit of such a confession —
a conscience, which is, bristling with vices
and not one filled,
with the sweetness
of the love of the Lord!”

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

Posted in LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on SCANDAL

Thought for the Day – 8 July – Uncharitableness

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

Uncharitableness

“The tendency to complain about others, is a most insidious cancer which can corrode all that is good in our conversation, making it harmful and even gravely sinful.
Grumbling is always, more or less sinful, according to the circumstances.
It may be a sin against charity, which demands that we love our neighbour as ourselves and help him as much as possible, by word and by deed.
It may be a sin of scandal because the person to whom we are complaining maybe provoked to throw stones in his turn at the subject of our detraction.
It maybe a sin of theft because it takes away the reputation of the person whom we are criticising.
This could carry with it, the obligation to make restitution by withdrawing what we have said, if it is false or doubtful or by speaking charitably of the person whom we have wronged in order to restore his good name.
Uncharitableness in speech, is also a sin of injustice, when it involves calumny, in which case, there is an obligation to repair the damage done in the best way possible.

Since criticism of others can be such an evil thing, we should take care not to form the habit of employing it as a means of making our conversation more lively and acceptable.
The life of a Catholic, should be governed by charity and grumbling about others, is always an offence against charity!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/07/thought-for-the-day-7-july-uncharitableness/

Posted in CARMELITES, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 29 May – St Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi

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Quote/s of the Day – 29 May – Sunday within the Octave of Ascension – The Memorial of St Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi O.Carm (1566-1607)

“You will be consoled
according to the greatness
of your sorrow and affliction;
the greater the suffering,
the greater will be the reward.”

“By opening the door of our heart
to love for God,
this love dissolves all self-love in us.
But we must open the door!”

“Prayer ought to be humble,
fervent, resigned, persevering
and accompanied by great reverence.
One should consider,
that he stands in the presence of God
and speaks with a Lord
before whom the Angels tremble,
from awe and fear.”

“Never utter,
in your neighbour’s absence,
what you would not say,
in their presence.”

St Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi (1566-1607)

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/25/quote-s-of-the-day-25-may-st-maria-magdalena-de-pazzi/

Posted in ACT of PERFECT CONTRITION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, The LAST THINGS

Thought for the Day – 20 February – The Five Tribunals

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Thought for the Day – 20 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Five Tribunals

“The tribunal of God is the one for which we must be specially prepared because our eternal happiness or unhappiness depends on it.
Nevertheless, we should not ignore the existence of the others.
We have to consider public opinion.
It is not that we should be anxious to put up a good appearance before it but, we should try and give good example to our neighbours, rather than become the cause of scandal.
“Let your light shine before men, in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven” (Mt 4:16).

Conscience is a Court of Justice to which we must pay more attention.
This is the medium God often uses when He exhorts us to change our lives or to strive towards perfection.

The tribunal of Penance is the only sure way for the sinner to return to the friendship of God, although in case of necessity, he could obtain pardon by an act of Perfect Contrition.

Finally, we must respect civil authority.
All authority comes from God and for this reason, we must obey the civil law in the manner of good citizens.
In regard to civil authority, however, one thing should be made quite clear.
We are only obliged to obey it when it does not infringe on the rights of God or of the Church!
It it should run counter to these, we should answer in the words of St Peter and the other Apostles when they were called before the Sanhedrin, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/20/thought-for-the-day-20-february-the-five-tribunals/

Posted in QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SCANDAL, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 9 March – Forgive

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 March – Tuesday of the Third week of Lent, Readings: Daniel 3:25, 34-43, Psalms 25:4-5, 6 and 7, 8 and 9, Matthew 18:21-35

“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

“Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

Luke 6:37

“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.”

St Peter Chrysologus (400-450)
Bishop of Ravenna, Father & Doctor of the Church

“To the extent that you pray, with all your soul,
for the person who slanders you,
God will make the truth known
to those who have been scandalised
by the slander.”

St Maximus the Confessor (c 580–662)

“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 also.
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 MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GOSSIP, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on SCANDAL

Thought for the Day – 28 December – Scandal!

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Thought for the Day – 28 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

SCANDAL!

The Gospel contains a frightening condemnation of those who give scandal.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it were better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of scandal! … If thy hand or thy foot is an occasion of sin to thee, cut it off and cast it from thee! It is better for thee to enter life, mained or lame, than, having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire …” (Cf Mt 18:6-9).
Why was Christ so strict on scandal-givers?
He condemned them because they are the accomplices of the devil.
Not satisfied with doing evil themselves, they seek by means of bad example, to draw others towards ruin as well.
They try to destroy Christ’s work of Redemption and the fruits of the shedding of His Precious Blood.
Let us examine our own conduct.
If we discover anything which could provide an occasion of sin for others, let us remedy it immediately.
Thoughtlessness in such matters can be very dangerous.
Something which seems perfectly innocent to us, could be a source of scandal to others.
Prudence and delicacy are necessary in our relations with our fellow-men.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on the FAMILY, QUOTES/PRAYERS on THE FAMILY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 28 December – The Feast of the Holy Innocents

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 December – The Feast of the Holy Innocents – The Fourth Day of the Christmas Octave, Readings: 1 John 1:5-2:2, Psalm 124:2-5, 7-8, Matthew 2:13-18

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.”

Matthew 2:18

“Thus, parents, I say, are more vicious,
more cruel than child-murderers;
for, a murderer of children, as Herod was,
separates only the body from the soul;
while the others, give the souls and bodies of their children
to eternal flames!
Further, those who are killed
would have died in the course of time,
though they had not been murdered;
while children, neglected by their parents,
might have avoided eternal death,
had not the wickedness of their parents
prepared it for them.
Besides this, the general resurrection
would have compensated for the bodily death,
while the death and destruction of the soul,
nothing can restore.
A child, condemned by the parent’s fault,
has no hope of salvation
but has to suffer eternal pains.
Hence I am right in saying,
that such parents are worse than child-murderers.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father & Doctor

More here:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/28/quote-s-of-the-day-28-december-the-feast-of-the-holy-innocents/

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HYPOCRISY, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on VANITY, QUOTES on ZEAL, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection- 14 October – The bitter zeal of hypocrisy and pride

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One Minute Reflection- 14 October – Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Galatians 5:18-25, Psalms 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6, Luke 11:42-46 and the Memorial of St Fortunatus of Todi (Died 537) Bishop

“Woe to you Pharisees! for you love the best seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market places.”…Luke 11:43

REFLECTION – “Forms of zeal, taking the appearance of good, are to be met with. There is, for example, the zeal of the Pharisee, strict observers of the outward law. This bitter zeal (…) has its source, not in the love of God and of our neighbour but in pride. Those who are tainted with it are filled with inordinate esteem for their own perfections; they do not conceive of any other ideal than their own; they want to bend everyone to their own way of seeing and doing; hence arise dissensions. This zeal tends to hatred.

See with what acrimony the Pharisees, moved by this zeal, pursue the Lord Jesus, putting insidious questions to Him, setting snares to entrap Him, seeking not to know the truth but to find Christ in fault. See how they press Him, how they try to induce Him to condemn the woman taken in adultery: “Now Moses in the Law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest Thou?” (Jn 8:5). (…) See, too, how they reproach Him for healing on the Sabbath day (Lk 6:7); how they complain of the disciples for rubbing the ears of corn in their hands on the day of rest (Mt 12:2); how they are scandalized at seeing the Divine Master sit down at dinner with the sinners and publicans (Mt 9:2). These are so many manifestation of this bitter zeal into which hypocrisy so often enters.” – Blessed Columba Marmion OSB (1858-1923) Abbot – Good Zeal (Christ the Ideal of the Monk

PRAYER – Heavenly Father, grant that I may believe what I have learned, never presuming to know better than the teachings of Holy Mother Church and that I may put into practice what I believe. Let my commitment be like unto the Bishop, St Fortunatus of Todi, who lived Your Word with joy and great zeal for faith in Christ, Your Son, God with You and the Holy Spirit, amen.

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, ORIGINAL SIN, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SIN, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 October – ‘Neglecting grace’ – Luke 11:15-26

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One Minute Reflection – 9 October – Friday of the Twenty Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Galatians 3:7-14, Psalms 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, Luke 11: 15-26 and the Memorial of Saint Denis of Paris (Died c 258) and Companions, the First Bishop of Paris, Martyr

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came…” – Luke 11:24

REFLECTION – “The unclean spirit dwelt in us before we believed, before we came to Christ when our soul was still committing fornication against God and was with it’s lovers, the demons.
Afterward it said, “I will return to my first husband” and came to Christ, who “created” it from the beginning “in his image.”
Necessarily, the adulterous spirit gave up his place when it saw the legitimate husband.
Christ received us and our house has been “cleansed” from it’s former sins. It has been “furnished” with the furnishing of the sacraments of the faithful that they who have been initiated know.
This house does not deserve to have Christ as it’s resident immediately, unless it’s life and conduct are so holy, pure and incapable of being defiled, that it deserves to be the “temple of God.”
It should not still be a house but a temple in which God dwells.
If it neglects the grace that was received and entangles itself in secular affairs, immediately, that unclean spirit returns and claims the vacant house for itself.
“It brings with it seven other spirits more wicked,” so that it may not be able again to be expelled “and the last state of that kind of person is worse than the first.”
It would be more tolerable, that the soul would not have returned to it’s first husband once it became a prostitute, than having gone back after confession, to her husband, to have become an adulteress again.
There is no “fellowship,” as the apostle says, “between the temple of God and idols,” no “agreement between Christ and Belial.” – Origen of Alexandria (c 185-253) (Homilies on Exodus, 8)

PRAYER – Lord God, You sent St Denis and his companions to proclaim Your glory to the nations and gave them the fortitude to die for Your sake. Help us, by their exmple, to meet with a like indifference, the triumphs and afflictions this world has to offer. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, one God with You and the Holy Spirit, now and for all eternity, amen.

Posted in PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GOSSIP, QUOTES on HYPOCRISY, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 September – “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them..” … Luke 6:31

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One Minute Reflection – 10 September – “Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary ” – Thursday of the Twenty Third week in Ordinary Time, Readings: 1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13, Psalms 139:1-3, 13-14, 23-24, Luke 6:27-38

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them..” … Luke 6:31

REFLECTION – “Whoever loves me, says the Lord, will keep my commandments” and, “this is my commandment: that you love one another” (cf. Jn 14:15.23; 15:12). Thus whoever does not love their neighbour fails to keep the commandment and so cannot love the Lord. (…)

If “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rm 13:10), anyone who is full of rancour towards a neighbour, laying traps for the neighbour, cursing and exults in their fall, must surely be a transgressor deserving eternal punishment. If “he who speaks evil of his brother and judges him, speaks evil of the law and judges the law” (Jas 4:11) and the law of Christ is love, surely someone who speaks evil of Christ’s love, falls away from it and is the cause of his own perdition.

Do not listen gleefully to gossip at your neighbour’s expense, nor chatter to a person who likes finding fault. Otherwise you will fall away from divine love and find yourself cut off from eternal life. (…) Silence the person who utters slander in your hearing. Otherwise you sin twice over: – first you accustom yourself to a deadly passion and, second, you fail to prevent this gossip against your neighbour. (…)

St Paul says that if we have all the gifts of the Spirit but do not have love, we are no further forward (cf. 1 Cor 13:2). How assiduous, then, we ought to be in our efforts to acquire this love!” … St Maximus the Confessor (c 580–662) Abbot Theologian – First Century on Love, nos. 16, 56-58, 60, 54

PRAYER – Almighty Lord and God, protect us by Your power and love throughout this day, even as You have enabled us, in Your love to begin it. Do not let us turn aside to any sin but let our every thought, word and deed be done in love for You and Your creatures, our neighbour. Teach us to love as You have loved us and may our Sorrowful and Holy Mother, show us the way. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who loved us to the end, with the Holy Spiriti, God now and for all eternity, amen.

Posted in CARMELITES, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on HYPOCRISY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 26 August – St Elisabeth Bichier and St Mary of Jesus Crucified

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 August – The Memorial of Saint Jeanne Elisabeth des Bichier des Anges FC (1773-1838) and St Mary of Jesus Crucified OCD (1846-1878)

“Virginity,
is nothing in the eyes of God,
without the humility of spirit,
which is virginity, itself.”

“What! She would say, as if exasperated, can we offer in the Holy Sacrifice the death and humiliations of God-made-Man and be unwilling to be humble!
To want to be esteemed while He is being humiliated!
To want to be something in the eyes of the world,
where as He remains hidden under the Eucharistic veils!
To love one’s independence,
whereas His love for us
keeps Him a Prisoner in the Tabernacle!
Oh! How such differences should cover us with shame,
fill us with self-loathing,
with a hatred of our pride and our folly!”

St Elisabeth Bichier (1773-1838)

“Where there is charity, there is God.
If you are attentive about doing good to your brother,
God will be attentive about you.
If you dig a hole for your brother,
you will be digging it for yourself;
it is you, yourself who will fall into it.
But if you make heaven for your brother,
you will be making it for yourself.
Remember it …”

“It is pleasant to hear about Jesus;
more pleasant to listen to Jesus Himself speaking …
It is pleasant to think about Jesus;
more pleasant to possess Him …
It is pleasant to hear Jesus’ words;
more pleasant to do His will …”

St Mary of Jesus Crucified (1846-1878)

More from her here:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/26/quote-s-of-the-day-26-august-st-mary-of-jesus-crucified/

Posted in CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION

Thought for the Day – 20 July – Our Dominant Passion

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Thought for the Day – 20 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Our Dominant Passion

our dominant passion bacci 20 july 2020

“Among the passions which disturb us, there is one predominant tendency, which is our particular weakness.
Perhaps we are not aware what it is but, those who have to live with us, know it well!
It is essential for us to know it also, in order to make it a special objective in our spiritual combat.

This information may be obtained by praying earnestly to the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to know ourselves, by making a daily examination of conscience and, by seeking the advice of our confessor, of our spiritual director and of any sincere friend.

It is our predominant passion which most often leads us into sin.
It recurs in all our confessions and we have great difficulty in overcoming it.
The predominant passion of Cain was envy, which he failed to combat in time, so that eventually, it caused him to commit fratricide.
Lust was the predominant passion of Mary of Magdala and of St Augustine and until they managed to control it, it led them into many grave errors.
It was because the Apostle Judas, neglected to struggle against his own avarice, that he became a traitor.
There are others who are inordinately proud and ambitious and, still others, who are governed by a craving for pleasure.

What is your predominant passion?
You must know what it is, in order to combat it determinedly, for otherwise, it will lead you into one sin after another, until you are eternally ruined!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GOSSIP, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 27 April – Scandal

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

Scandal

“The Gospel contains a frightening condemnation of those who give scandal.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it were better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of scandal! … If thy hand or thy foot is an occasion of sin to thee, cut it off and cast it from thee! It is better for thee to enter life, maimed or lame, than, having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire …” (Cf Mt 18:6-9).
Why was Christ so strict on scandal-givers?
He condemned them because they are the accomplices of the devil.
Not satisfied with doing evil themselves, they seek by means of bad example, to draw others towards ruin as well.
They try to destroy Christ’s work of Redemption and the fruits of the shedding of His Precious Blood.
Let us examine our own conduct.
If we discover anything which could provide an occasion of sin for others, let us remedy it immediately.
Thoughtlessness in such matters can be very dangerous.
Something which seems perfectly innocent to us, could be a source of scandal to others.
Prudence and delicacy are necessary in our relations with our fellow-men.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

scandal - bacci - 27 april 2020