QUOTES on SILENCE – AnaStpaul

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Day Eleven of our Lenten Journey – 27 February – He knows when and how to deliver you, therefore, place yourself in His hands …

Posted on February 27, 2021February 27, 2021 by AnaStpaul

Day Eleven of our Lenten Journey – 27 February – Saturday of the First week of Lent, Readings: Deuteronomy 26:16-19, Psalms 119:1-2, 4-5,7-8, Matthew 5:43-48

Imitating Christ with Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

In You is the source of life
and in Your Light Lord, we see light
Psalm 35(36)

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

BE NOT troubled about those who are with you or against you but take care, that God be with you in everything you do. Keep your conscience clear and God will protect you, for the malice of man cannot harm one whom God wishes to help. If you know how to suffer in silence, you will undoubtedly experience God’s help. He knows when and how to deliver you, therefore, place yourself in His hands, for it is a divine prerogative to help men and free them from all distress.

It is often good for us to have others know our faults and rebuke them, for it gives us greater humility. When a man humbles himself because of his faults, he easily placates those about him and readily appeases those who are angry with him.

It is the humble man whom God protects and liberates; it is the humble whom He loves and consoles. To the humble, He turns and upon them bestows great grace, that after their humiliation, He may raise them up to glory. He reveals His secrets to the humble and with kind invitation, bids them come to Him. Thus, the humble man enjoys peace in the midst of many vexations because his trust is in God, not in the world. Hence, you must not think that you have made any progress until you look upon yourself as inferior to all others.
(Book 2 Ch 2)

CONTEMPLATIVE Prayer, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SOLITUDE, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 February – Solitude

Posted on February 6, 2021 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 6 February – Readings: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21, Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6, Mark 6:30-34

“Come away by yourselves
to a deserted place
and rest awhile”

Mark 6:31

“The supreme goal to which the monk tends,
the summit of the perfection of his heart,
is indeed the union of his heart with his Lord.”

St John Cassian (c 360-435)
Monk, Father of the Church

“O Hermitage, only those who know you,
who rest sweetly in your arms,
can tell of your grandeur
and chant your praises.
As for me, I only know this
and affirm it in all sincerity –
Whoever forces himself with perseverance
to enter more and more
into the desire to love You,
will finally enter Your mystery and,
at the same time,
the mystery of God.”

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Benedictine Monk
Doctor of the Church

“What benefits
What divine exultation
The solitude and silence of the desert
Hold in store for those who love it!”

St Bruno (c 1030-1101)

“Until I was alone I never really lived.
Until I was alone, I was not with myself.
Until I was alone, I never drew near to my creator.”

Bl Paolo Giustiniani (1476-1528)

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One Minute Reflection – 8 February – “Come away … ” Mark 6:31

Posted on February 6, 2021 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 8 February – Saturday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time Readings: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21, Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6, Mark 6:30-34 and the Memorial of Saint Amand of Maastricht (c 584-c 679) Bishop

“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile” … Mark 6:31

REFLECTION – “If you wish to come and find Me, seek me aside. As Mark says: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile. People were coming and going in great numbers and they had no opportunity even to eat.” (Mk 6:31).
Alas, such are the passions of the flesh and the turmoil of thoughts coming and going in our hearts that we have no time to eat the food of everlasting sweetness, nor perceive the taste of interior contemplation. That is why our Lord says: “Come away” from the noisy crowd “to a deserted place,” to solitude of mind and heart, “and rest awhile.” For truly, as the book of Revelation says: “There will be silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Rv 8:1); and in the Psalm: “Who will give me wings like a dove that I might fly away and find rest” (Ps 54[55]:7 LXX).
But let us listen to what the prophet Hosea says: “I will seduce her and lead her into the wilderness and I will speak to her heart” (cf. Hos 2:16 Vg). These three expressions: seduce, lead into the wilderness, speak to her heart, represent the three stages of the spiritual life – the beginning, development and perfection. The Lord seduces the beginner when He enlightens him with His grace so that he may grow and progress from virtue to virtue. Then he leads him aside from the din of the vices and disordered thoughts, into peace of spirit. Finally, once guided to perfection, God speaks to his heart. Then the soul experiences the sweetness of divine inspiration and can surrender totally to joy of spirit.
What depth of devotion, of wonderment and happiness in his heart! By devotion, he is raised above himself, through wonder, he is led above himself, through happiness, he is transported out of himself.” … St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Doctor of the Church – Sermon for the feast of Saint John the Evangelist

PRAYER – All-powerful, eternal God, splendour of true light and never-ending day, let our striving for Your kingdom not fall short through selfishness or fear, may the universe be alive with the Spirit and our homes be the pledge of the world redeemed. May our hearts be eternally longing for that time alone with You, our one true Love. May our worldly duties be such that they never impede our progress in devotion and may the intercession of our Holy Mother, St Amand and all the saints, be a strength and a comfort. Through Jesus, our compassionate and loving Redeemer, with the Holy Spirit, one God with You forever, amen.

MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD

Thought for the Day – 27 January – Interior Silence

Posted on January 27, 2021January 27, 2021 by AnaStpaul

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

Interior Silence

“God speaks readily when our souls are silent.
He cannot be heard in the noise of the world.
But we do not have to abandon our normal way of life in order to find a little interior recollection.
It is enough to pause for a moment and remember God’s presence.
Once we have formed the habit of doing this, it becomes quite easy, at anytime and in any place.
We may be walking along the street, or in the middle of our work.
We may be in a room full of people chatting together.
Wherever we are, we shall be able to pause and raise our minds to God.
If we acquire this habit, we can lead peaceful lives, on a completely supernatural level.“

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Part One here:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/18/thought-for-the-day-18-february-interior-silence/

CHRIST the WORD, CHRISTMASTIDE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on SILENCE, The CHRIST CHILD, The DIVINE INFANT, The INCARNATION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 January – ‘… The Word of God, silent in the midst of men.’ Mark 4:1-20

Posted on January 27, 2021January 27, 2021 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 27 January – Wednesday of the Third week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Hebrews 10:11-18, Psalms 110:1, 2, 3, 4, Mark 4:1-20

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” – Mark 4:9

REFLECTION – “Truly it is “a trustworthy word and deserving of every welcome” (1 Tm 1:15), Your almighty Word, Lord, which in such deep silence made its way down from the Father’s royal throne (Wis 18:14f.) into the mangers of animals and meanwhile, speaks to us better by it’s silence. “Let him who has ears to hear, hear” what this loving and mysterious silence of the eternal Word speaks to us…
For what recommends the discipline of silence with such weight and such authority, what checks the evil of restless tongues and the storms of words, as the Word of God, silent in the midst of men.
“There is no word on my tongue” (Ps 139[138]:4), the almighty Word seems to confess while he is subject to His mother. What madness then will prompt us to say: “With our tongues we can do great things, our lips are good friends to us, we own no master” (Ps 11:5).
If I were allowed, I would gladly be dumb and be brought low and be silent even from good things, that I might be able, the more attentively and diligently to apply my ear to the secret utterances and sacred meaning of this divine silence, learning in silence in the school of the Word, if only for as long as the Word Himself was silent under the instruction of His mother …
“The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us” (Jn 1:14). With complete devotion, then, let us think of Christ in the swaddling clothes with which His mother wrapped Him, so that with eternal happiness we may see the glory and beauty with which His Father has clothed Him.” – Blessed Guerric of Igny (c.1080-1157) Cistercian Abbot – 5th sermon for Christmas

PRAYER – Lord God, in Your wisdom You created us, by Your providence You rule us, You have planted us, penetrate our inmost being with Your holy Light, so that our way of life may always be one of faithful service to You. May we never hesitate to run to Your all-forgiving arms of mercy, when we allow the rocks and thorns of this life to prevent our growth and our steps as we return home to You. May the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, our Mother, all the angels and saints, be unfailing assistance to us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

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Quote/s of the Day – 23 January – Blessed Henry Suso

Posted on January 23, 2021 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 23 January – “Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus” and The Memorial of Blessed Henry Suso OP (1295-1366)

“Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name
is the greatest spiritual force in the world today.
It is a source of joy and inspiration in our youth;
of strength in our manhood,
when only His Holy Name and His grace,
can enable us to overcome temptation;
of hope, consolation
and confidence at the hour of our death,
when more than ever before,
we realise, that the meaning of Jesus is
‘Lord, the Saviour.’
We should bow in reverence to His Name
and submission to His Holy Will.”

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

“Remember, that you will derive strength
by reflecting, that the saints yearn
for you to join their ranks;
desire to see you fight bravely
and, that you behave like true knights
in your encounters with the same adversities
which they had to conquer.
That breath-taking joy is theirs
and your eternal reward
for having endured a few years of temporal pain.
Every drop of earthly bitterness
will be changed into an ocean
of heavenly sweetness!”

“I have often repented of having spoken.
I have never repented of silence.”

“Let each look to himself
and see what God wants of him
and attend to this,
leaving all else alone.”

Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366)

MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SILENCE

Thought for the Day – 2 January – The Necessity of Meditation in Silence

Posted on January 2, 2021January 2, 2021 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 2 January – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Necessity of Meditation in Silence

“With desolation all the land made desolate because, there is none that considereth in the heart” (Jer 12:11).

Very often the world is plunged in the desolation of evil because, there is nobody who will speak with God, in the silence of his heart and try to regulate his life according to His holy commandments.
It is in a particularly outstanding way today, that the heresies of actionism and externalism, dominate the great mass of mankind.
To act, to rush, to arrive … above all, to arrive!
But to arrive where?
In this frantic, frenzied and tumultuous race, which good people are often found competing, two very sure things are forgotten, namely, that we shall finally arrive at death and, that from death, we shall pass onto eternity.
The whole course of our lives, therefore, should be directed towards this end.
But, if we are to keep this end in view, prudent reflection is essential, especially meditation, made with the assistance of the Divine light, on the eternal truths.

Absorbed in the deafening din of the world around us, it is difficult to hear the voice of God.
At least, for a little while each day, we must create within ourselves, a zone of silence, in order to listen to His voice.
Since God speaks readily in the silence of the heart, let us recollect ourselves before Him, in this quiet oasis.
At least a quarter of an hour of daily meditation is essential for the life of a Christian.
This should be the jumping-off board for all the actions of day, if we wish these to be correct and productive of good.

It is very useful, moreover, to recall to mind frequently during the day, the resolutions which have been formed and to accompany these reflections, with short prayers, aspirations and acts of love for God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

ADVENT REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on GOSSIP, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SIN, The DIVINE INFANT, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Thought for the Day – 21 December – The Silence of the Divine Infant

Posted on December 21, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 21 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Silence of the Divine Infant

Jesus Christ is the Eternal Word of God, made man, the infinite and substantial image of the Divine Intellect.
Nevertheless, the Divine Infant, Whom we adore in the stable at Bethlehem, is mute and silent.
The voluntary humiliation of the Son of God is such, that He, the Word of God, cannot utter a single human syllable.
By this chosen silence, however, He teaches us many things.
In the first place, He teaches us humility and self-denial.
He teaches us, moreover, to recollect ourselves in the Presence of God, so that it may be easier for us to speak with Him and for Him, to make known what He requires of us.
The silence of prayer brings forth divine consolations and inspirations to holiness,

Do we love to be silent?
It is not necessary to become hermits but, it is essential, from time to time, to place ourselves quietyly in the Presence of God.
God cannot be heard through the noise and confusion of the world, whereas, He speaks clearly to the soul, which seeks the silence of prayer.
In any case, if we go about looking for the gossip and idle chatter of the world, it is almost impossible not to offend God.
“Avoid profane and empty babblings,” St Paul urges us, “for they contribute much to ungodliness” (2 Tim 2:16).
“If anyone does not offend in word,” adds St James, “he is a perfect man” (Js 3:2).
“The tongue is a little member,” he continues but, goes onto emphasis that it is capable of doing either a great deal of good or a great deal of harm.
“With it, we bless God the Father and, with it, we curse men, who have been made after the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren ought not to be so” (Js 3:5-10).

There are two main lessons which we should learn, therefore, from the silence of the Divine Infant.
We should learn to love recollection and, we should learn to make proper use of the gift of speech, which can be an equally powerful weapon, in the cause of good, or, in the cause of evil!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Thought for the Day – 20 December – The Swaddling Clothes of the Divine Infant

Posted on December 20, 2020December 20, 2020 by AnaStpaul

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

The Swaddling Clothes of the Divine Infant

“Mary, like other mothers in those days, wrapped the Infant Jesus in swaddling clothes.
The Divine Child quietly offered this new humiliation to His heavenly Father.
He saw prefigured in these bands, the ropes with which He would be bound in the garden of Gethsemane, even after He had given sinful humanity, His celestial teaching, example and miracles and finally, His own Body inthe Sacrament of the Eucharist.
He saw in them too, the chains with which He would be secured to the pillar, in order to be scourged in the Praetorium of Pilate among the jeers and insults of the onlookers.
He saw in them, finally, the cords with which, after having been condemned to the ignominious death of the Cross, He would be tied, while being led to the place of execution on Mount Calvary.
Filled with infinite love for stricken humanity, the Heart of the Divine Infant offered all this, in advance, to His Father in heaven.

Are we making any effort to return such great love?
Like Jesus, we are often obliged to endure, both physical and moral anguish.
Have we the resignation to offer it all to Jesus, or do we squander our opportunities in useless complaining or in acts of impatience and rebellion?
We shall have to go on suffering anyway but, in the latter case, we may have to suffer even more and shall lose all merit in the sight of God.

Let us kneel down before the Holy Infant wrapped in His swaddling clothes and, let us promise to endure everything for His sake and in reparation for our sins.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Quote of the Day – Saturday of Advent – 19 December – Prepare

Posted on December 19, 2020December 19, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – Saturday of Advent – 19 December

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

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

“Unreasoning and stupid
that you look for God where He is not!
Listen and be filled with awe –
God is in our hearts, I know it.
God lives in the human heart
when this heart lives withdrawn
from all that is not Him,
when this heart heeds God’s knock
at it’s door (Rv 3,20) and,
sweeping and cleaning all its rooms,
makes itself ready to welcome Him
who alone truly satisfies.”

Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938)

Spanish Trappist monk (Spiritual writings)

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Thought for the Day – 10 December – The Divine Counsellor

Posted on December 10, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 10 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Divine Counsellor

“It is often difficult and unpleasant to take advice from someone whom we dislike but, when we really like somebody, his advice is always acceptable and we are inclined to take it to heart.
Counsel is the light of the soul, which points out to us which path to follow.
Often we are surrounded by darkness, we do not know which way to turn, for uncertainty and discouragement have paralysed our will.
Now Jesus, as St John tells us, is the light which enlightens every man who comes into this world – He is full of grace and truth (Jn 1:9-14).
If we love Jesus, we shall always receive from Him the light and counsel which we need – His enlightenment is clear and His counsel satisfies fully the needs of our hearts.

How can we have this light and this counsel?
Jesus speaks to our souls in many ways.
He speaks to us when we read the pages of the Gospel; when we recollect ourselves in His presence during meditation; when we visit Him in the Tabernacle and speak to Him really and truly present under the Eucharistic species and, when we ask Him, in all our difficulties, for holy inspiration which will guide us and direct us towards what is good.
God will never deny His light and counsel to a humble supplicant.

Nobody can speak to our souls with greater efficacy than Jesus Christ.
“Listen to the interior Master,” wrote St Margaret Mary Alacoque.
“Never do anything without seeking His advice.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MEDIOCRITY, QUOTES on MORALS, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on TRUTH

Thought for the Day – 9 December – THE SALVATION OF SOULS

Posted on December 9, 2020 by AnaStpaul

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

THE SALVATION OF SOULS

“If you still belong to the category of those who desire to be good and virtuous, remember that your obligations do not stop at this.
You are obliged to work as hard as possible, for the return of sinners to the fold and for the reawakening of the faith of the indifferent.

A man who really loves God, cannot remain inactive when he witnesses the desertion of so many of his fellow-men, the corruption of public and private morals and the continuous insults offered to the Creator of the human race.
ANYONE WHO REMAINS INACTIVE BECOMES AN ACCOMPLISH!

Everyone is obliged to do his best to prevent the spread of such errors and evils.
Do NOT make the excuse that there is very little which you can do.
Although the resources of those who are still faithful, may be individually insignificant, they become, when combined, an irresistible force.

Remember that you have three invincible weapons – prayer, mortification and sacrifice.
These are the weapons which can and should be employed in order to convert the world and to establuish the Kingdom of God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Thought for the Day – 3 December – Recollection

Posted on December 3, 2020 by AnaStpaul

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

Recollection

“The Holy Spirit places the following words on the lips of the prophet Jeremias.
“With desolation is all the land made desolate, because, there is none that considereth in the heart” (Jer 12:11).
Dissipation is the mark of the worldly and of the mediocre.
The worldling is dissipated because, instead of seeking happiness in God, he looks for it in earthly pleasures and even in sin.
The mediocre Christian, on the other hand, oscillates between God and the world.
He fails to make a definite choice between virtue and sacrifice on one side and his own comfort and satisfaction on the other.

The dissipated soul is absorbed in many things and has no time to reflect on the eternal truths or to think of God and of spiritual progress.
As a result, it is incapable of solid virtue, or, if it achieves this for a while, it soon evaporates.
The man who is recollected retires silently into the presence of God whenever he can.
He derives consolation from conversation with God and responds generously to His inspirations.
The man who is dissipated, wastes the graces which God gives him, is deaf to His appeals and because he is too much in contact with material things, ends by forgetting Heaven and by being drawn by His passions towards spiritual destruction.
By depriving us of God’s grace, dissipation leads to sin and to the death of the soul.
Have we not had personal experience of this?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HYPROCRISY, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 14 October – Faith, Love, Justice – Luke 11:42

Posted on October 14, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 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

“But woe to you Pharisees!
For you tithe mint and rue and every herb
and neglect justice and the love of God.”

Luke 11:42

“Christianity is not a matter
of persuading people of particular ideas
but of inviting them to share
in the greatness of Christ.
So pray, that I may never fall into the trap,
of impressing people,
with clever speech but instead,
I may learn, to speak with humility,
desiring only to impress people,
with Christ Himself.”

St Ignatius of Antioch (c 35 – 107)
Father of the Church, Martyr

“Mint and dill and cumin are only spices for food
but are not themselves, substantial food.
What substantive food would mean in conversion,
would be that which is necessary
for the justification of our souls—faith and love—
unlike these legalisms,
which are more like condiments and flavourings.
It is as if, a meal might be thought to consist,
more of condiments and flavourings,
than the food itself.
The seriousness of judgement is neglected,
while great attention is given to minor matters.”

Origen (c 185-253)
Priest, Theologian, Father

“You hide your heart from man –
hide it from God if you can.
… Where will you go?
Where will you flee?
Do you want to hear some advice?
If you want to flee from Him – flee to Him.
Flee to Him by Confessing, not from Him, by hiding,
for you cannot hide but you can Confess.
Tell Him. “You are my refuge” (Ps 32[31]:7)
and let there be nursed in yo,
the love that alone leads to life.”

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

“It is clear, my brethren,
that we live outside ourselves,
we are forgetful of ourselves
whenever we fritter our lives away
in empty pursuits or distractions,
decked out with trifles.
That is why Wisdom
is more concerned to invite us
to the house of repentance
than the house of feasting,
that is to say to call back into himself,
the man outside himself …”

Blessed Isaac of Stella O.Cist (c 1100 – c 1170)
Sermon 2 for All Saints, 13-20

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 October – Shhhhh….St Bruno

Posted on October 6, 2020October 6, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 6 October – The Memorial of St Bruno O.Cart (c 1030-1101)

The Order founded by st Bruno — the Carthusians — is one of the strictest in the Church. Carthusians follow the Rule of St Benedict but accord it a most austere interpretation; there is perpetual silence and complete abstinence from flesh meat (only bread, legumes and water are taken for nourishment). Bruno sought to revive the ancient eremitical (hermit) way of life.
His Order enjoys the distinction of never becoming unfaithful to the spirit of it’s founder, never needing a reform.

Saint Bruno’s Profession of Faith,
which he pronounced in the presence
of all his assembled brothers,
when he felt the time was approaching for him
to go the way of all flesh,
because he had urgently requested us
to be witnesses of his faith before God:

I firmly believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Father unbegotten, the only begotten Son, the Holy Spirit proceeding from them both and I believe that these three Persons are but one God.
I believe that the same Son of God was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
I believe that the Virgin was chaste before she bore her child, that she remained a virgin while she bore her child and continued a virgin ever after.
I believe that the same Son of God was conceived among men, a true Man with no sin.
I believe the same Son of God was captured by the hatred of some of the Jews who did not believe, was bound unjustly, covered with spittle and scourged.
I believe that He died, was buried and descended into hell to free those of His who were held there.
He descended for our redemption, He rose again, He ascended into heaven and from there, He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe also in the Sacraments that the Church believes and holds in reverence and especially that, which has been consecrated on the altar, is the true Flesh and the true Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we receive for the forgiveness of our sins and in the hope of eternal salvation.

I believe in the resurrection of the flesh and everlasting life.

I acknowledge and believe the holy and ineffable Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to be but only one God, of only one substance, of only one nature, of only one majesty and power.

We profess that the Father was neither begotten nor created but that He has begotten.
The Father takes His origin from no-one; of Him the Son is born and the Holy Spirit proceeds.
He is the source and origin of all Divinity.
And the Father, ineffable by His very nature, from His own substance has begotten the Son ineffably but, He has begotten nothing, except what He is Himself: God has begotten God, light has begotten light and it is from Him that all Fatherhood in heaven and on earth proceeds.
Amen.

The Creed
Every late of the night, in a cell at the end of the Office of Lauds of Our Blessed Virgin Mary, about around 2:30 am, the Carthusians always recite a choice between three catholic creeds:
The Athanasian Creed [QUICUNQUE VULT] |
The Apostle’s Creed
The Nicene Creed.
This is a deep transforming contemplative prayer of our revealed Creed, like a constant heartbeat and is the defining of the heart of the Carthusian souls in Trinitarian life and of Saint Bruno’s followers’ vocation of devoted presence, like the Seraphim before the revealed God, in the Church for the world.

“Rejoice, my dearest brothers,
because you are blessed
and because of the bountiful hand of God’s grace upon you.
Rejoice, because you have escaped
the various dangers and shipwrecks of the stormy world.
Rejoice, because you have reached
the quiet and safe anchorage of a secret harbour.
Many wish to come into this port
and many make great efforts to do so,
yet do not achieve it.
Indeed many, after reaching it,
have been thrust out,
since it was not granted them from above.
By your work you show what you love and what you know.
When you observe true obedience
with prudence and enthusiasm,
it is clear that you wisely pick
the most delightful and nourishing fruit of divine Scripture.”

“What benefits
What divine exultation
The solitude and silence of the desert
Hold in store for those who love it!”

(Saint Bruno to Raoul)

More St Bruno Quotes:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/10/06/quote-s-of-the-day-6-october-the-memorial-of-st-bruno-c-1030-1101/

St Bruno (c 1030-1101)

MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPARATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST

Thought for the Day – 6 September – “To be Silent, to Adore and to be Happy” Part One

Posted on September 6, 2020 by AnaStpaul

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

“To be Silent, to Adore and to be Happy” Part One

“When Rosmini was seriously ill and in danger of death, he was visited by his admirer and friend, Manzoni, who found him in so serious a condition, that he could only breathe with difficulty.
In his shaking hands he clutched a Crucifix.
“Are you suffering much?” Manzoni asked, as he bent over him.
The sick man gazed at his friend and a wan smile passed over his face.
Then the great writer asked him to give him some advice by which he would remember him.
Rosmini looked at his Crucifix and whispered: “Be silent, adore and be happy.”

To be silent:
It is very difficult for a man to remain silent when he is suffering great physical pain or when he is slandered, envied or misunderstood.
On such occasions, one’s blood begins to boil and bitter remarks come easily to the tongue.
But what good does it do?
It may be some relief to our feelings but, usually, it will only make matters worse by aggravating our trouble.
Let us be silent and offer our sufferings to Jesus, Who suffered for us, more than we could ever suffer.
Let us atone for our sins by silently offering our sorrows and disappointments to God.
Any other gift which we give to God is nothing more than restitution for all He has given us; but, when we offer our sufferings, we give Him something which is truly our own because, it is we ourselves, who suffer.
Suffering endured without complain is a most acceptable gift to God, Who grants us, in return, peace and resignation.”

To be continued …

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 12 August – St Jane Frances de Chantal

Posted on August 12, 2020August 12, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 12 August – The Memorial of St Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

“Hold your eyes on God
and leave the doing to Him.
That is all the doing,
you have to worry about.”

“Follow your own way of speaking to our Lord,
sincerely, lovingly, confidently and simply,
as your heart dictates.”

“In prayer one must hold fast and never let go,
because the one who gives up, loses all.
If it seems that no-one is listening to you,
then cry out even louder.
If you are driven out of one door,
go back in by the other.”

“Suffering borne in the will, quietly and patiently,
is a continual, very powerful prayer before God.”

“The great method of prayer is to have none.
If, in going to prayer,
one can form in oneself,
a pure capacity for receiving the spirit of God,
that will suffice for all method.”

“In prayer,
more is accomplished
by listening
than by talking.”

“Must you continue to be your own cross?
No matter which way God leads you,
you change everything into bitterness
by constantly brooding over everything.
For the love of God,
replace all this self-scrutiny,
with a pure and simple glance at God’s goodness.”

“Hell is full of the talented
but Heaven, of the energetic.”

St Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

CARMELITES, GOD is LOVE, MARTYRS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on COWARDICE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SILENCE, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 9 August – Teresa Benedicta of the Cross/Edith Stein

Posted on August 9, 2020August 9, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 9 August – The Memorial of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross/Edith Stein (1891-1942) Martyr

“Let go of your plans.
The first hour of your morning belongs to God.
Tackle the day’s work that He charges you with
and He will give you the power to accomplish it.”

“You asked about my name-patron.
Of course, it is holy Father Benedict.
He adopted me and gave me the rights of home in his Order,
even though I was not even an Oblate,
since I always had Mount Carmel before my eyes.”

“The walls of our monasteries enclose a narrow space.
To erect the structure of holiness in it,
one must dig deep and build high,
must descend into the depths
of the dark night of one’s own nothingness,
in order to be raised up high
into the sunlight of divine love and compassion.”

“Those who remain silent
are responsible.”

“We cannot separate love for God from love for man.
We acknowledge God easily but our brother?
Those with whom we do not identify –
his background, education, race, complexion.
We could not have imagined that love for God could be so hard.”

“All that we do is a means to an end
but love is an end in itself
because God is love.”

“Love will be our eternal life.”

More here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/09/quote-s-of-the-day-9-august-the-memorial-of-st-teresa-benedicta-of-the-cross-1891-1942-martyr/

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on VIRTUE, SAINT of the DAY, SPEAKING of ....., The LAST THINGS, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb…” Perseverance

Posted on July 22, 2020July 22, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – Feast of St Mary of Magdala, Readings: Song of Solomon 3:1-4 or 2 Corinthians 5:14-17, Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9, John 20:1-2, 11-18

Speaking of: Perseverance

“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb…”

John 20:11

“And will not God vindicate his elect,
who cry to him day and night?”

Luke 18:7

Lord, if Your people still have need
of my services,
I will not avoid the toil.
Your will be done.
I have fought the good fight long enough.
Yet, if You bid me to continue to hold
the battle line, in defence of Your camp,
I will never beg to be excused
from failing strength.
I will do the work You entrust to me.
While You command,
I will fight beneath Your banner.
Amen

St Martin of Tours (c 316-397)

“Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial.
We progress by means of trial.
No-one knows himself except through trial,
or receives a crown,
except after victory,
or strives,
except against an enemy or temptations.”

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

“For now, let us persevere, children,
dear children, let us be patient for a little,
brothers, dear brothers.…
Who will be crowned without having fought?
Who will go to rest if he is not tired (cf. 2 Tim 2:5-6)?
Who will gather the fruits of life,
without having planted virtues in his soul?
Cultivate them, prepare the earth with the greatest care,
take trouble over it,
sweat over it, children, God’s workers,
imitators of the angels,
competitors with incorporeal beings,
lights for those who are in the world (cf. Phil 2:15)!”

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)
Monk

Catechesis 28

“Don’t sow your desires
in someone else’s garden,
just cultivate your own, as best you can;
don’t long to be other than what you are
but desire to be thoroughly what you are.
Direct your thoughts,
to being very good at that
and to bearing the crosses, little or great,
that you will find there.
Believe me, this is the most important
and least understood point to the spiritual life.
We all love according to what is our taste,
few people like what is according to their duty
or to God’s liking.
What is the use of building castles in Spain
when we have to live in France?”

It is not then a case for tears,
that we have so much work to do for our souls,
for we need great courage to go ever onwards
(since we must never stop)
and much resolution to restrain our desires.
Observe carefully this precept,
that all the Saints have given to those who would emulate them –
to speak little, or not at all,
of yourself and your own interests.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Doctor of the Church

“Love never says
‘I have done enough.’”

St Marie Eugénie de Jésus (1817-1898)

“On the last day, we will not be asked
if we accomplished great deeds,
or been acclaimed by men,
rather we will be asked
if we followed His will,
in the state and condition,
to which we were called.”

The Eighth Circular Letter

St Guido Maria Conforti (1865-1931)

MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD

Thought for the Day – 17 July – The Voice of God

Posted on July 17, 2020July 17, 2020 by AnaStpaul

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

The Voice of God

“God speaks to us in many ways by means of created things.
We see His glory in the stars of the firmament, (Cf Ps 13:2), in the seas, mountains and valleys and in the trees and flowers.
St Therese was once examining the petals of a flower, when she exclaimed: “How good thou art, O God!”

God also speaks within us.
Sometimes, He sees how absorbed we are in worldly affairs and He stirs up, in us, a restlessness and a longing for Heaven.
When we fall into sin, He pricks us with remorse and appeals to us to rise again, making us realise that everything else is empty and futile, if we have lost Him.
He speaks to us still more clearly by means of Revelation, which is contained in Sacred Scripture, as officially interpreted by the Church.

The revealed Word of God has always been with us to answer the searchings of the human heart and to allay it’s anxieties.
The Gospel is as new and as illuminating today, as yesterday.
It is a book which we should study reverently and diligently, in order to solve our personal problems and the problems of mankind.

Let us listen to God when He speaks to us in these diverse ways.
Let us respond to His appeals and carry out whatever He requires of us, in our daily lives.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD the FATHER, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on PRIESTS, the PRIESTHOOD and CONSECRATED LIFE, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 11 July – St Benedict

Posted on July 11, 2020July 11, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 11 July – The Memorial of St Benedict of Nursia OSB (c 480-547)

“It is time now for us to rise from sleep!”

“Listen and attend
with the ear of your heart.”

“He should know,
that whoever undertakes,
the government of souls,
must prepare himself
to account for them.”

“There exists an evil fervour, a bitter spirit,
which divides us from God and leads us to hell.
Similarly, there is a good fervour,
which sets us apart from evil inclinations
and leads us toward God and eternal life.”

“For at all times
we must so serve Him
with the good things He has given us,
that He may not, as an angry Father,
disinherit His children,
nor as a dread Lord, provoked by our evil deeds,
deliver us to everlasting punishment
as wicked servants who refuse
to follow Him to glory.”

“He, who labours as he prays,
lifts his heart to God,
with his hands.”

“Run, while you have the light of life!”

More here:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/07/11/quote-s-of-the-day-11-july-st-benedict/

St Benedict (c 480-547)

MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on FREEDOM, QUOTES on GOSSIP, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SILENCE

Thought for the Day – 8 July – The Gift of Speech

Posted on July 8, 2020July 8, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 8 July – “Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Gift of Speech

“One of God’s greatest gifts, the spoken word, is the reflection of our thought and the expression of our will.
In God, the Word is something infinitely greater, for it is the substantial image of God, the Eternal Word of the Father, through Whom He knows and, therefore, loves Himself.
It is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Because we have been created in the likeness of God, our Creator has endowed us also, with a limited power to express our thoughts and sentiments.

It is hard to imagine how unhappy we should be, if we could not express ourselves and were unable to communicate our ideas and feelings to others.
We should feel isolated, as rocks separated from one another by vast expanses of sea, for we could neither give anything of ourselves to other men, nor receive anything in return.
We could not even praise God and tell Him how we love Him.
God could have created us without the gift of speech.
Since He has given it to us, we should show our gratitude by using it for His glory, for our welfare and, for the salvation of our neighbour.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYER WARRIORS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, SPEAKING of ....., St JOHN HENRY Cardinal NEWMAN!

Quote/s of the Day – 7 July – “Pray, hope and don’t worry.”

Posted on July 7, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 7 July – “Month of the Precious Blood” – Tuesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time, Readings: Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13, Psalm 115:3-10, Matthew 9:32-38

“And will not God vindicate his elect,
who cry to him day and night?”

Luke 18:7

“Prayer is an act of love,
words are not needed.
Even if sickness distracts from thoughts,
all that is needed is the will to love.”

St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)

“Give yourself to prayer
and try by it, to procure,
first the amendment
of your fault,
then the practice of Christian virtues
and finally a great love of God.”

Bl Sebastian Valfre (1629-1710)

“Do not neglect prayer,
however busy you may be.”

Bl William Joseph Chaminade (1761-1850)

“O holiest Heart of Jesus most lovely,
I intend to renew and to offer to You,
these acts of adoration and these prayers,
for myself, a wretched sinner
and for all those,
who are associated with me in Your adoration,
through all moments which I breath,
even to the end of my life.”

St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

“There is One very near you
Who knocks at your door every hour of the day,
Who begs you to listen to Him
and to keep silence in order to hear Him.”

St Simon-Marie-Just Ranfer de Bretenières (1838-1866) Martyr

“Prayer is our strength,
our sword,
our consolation
and the key to paradise.”

St Joseph Freinademetz (1852-1908)

“To pray,
is to think about Jesus
and love Him.
The more we love,
the better we pray.”

Bl Charles of Jesus de Foucauld (1858-1916)

“Prayer is an aspiration of the heart.
It is a simple glance directed to Heaven.
It is a cry of gratitude and love
in the midst of trial as well as joy.”

St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (1873-1897)
Doctor of the Church

“The means to obtain
grace and glory,
is PRAYER.”

Bl Maria Esperanza de Jesus (1893-1983)

“Pray, hope and don’t worry.”

St Pius of Pietrelcina/Padre Pio (1887-1968)

MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE

Thought for the Day – 1 July – Moments of Silence

Posted on July 1, 2020July 1, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 1 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Moments of Silence

“Such is the speed of modern life that many people forget God and do not even pause to think about themselves.
Action is everything.
There is no time for reflection, no time for prayer.
Life has become mechanical and superficial, for nobody has the time, nor the inclination, to think about spiritual matters.

What is the result?
Since men are not machines but living beings, composed of soul and body and are capable of feeling and passion, their lower inclinations break loose and insist on being satisfied.
In the absence of prayer and of all effort to lead a good life, grace is lacking to inspire the mind, to strengthen the will and to keep the heart pure.
Rapid materialistic progress has accustomed men to accept, as inevitable, the most shameful falls.
The absence of any kind of contact with God, makes the soul the slave of sin.

Examine yourself.
Perhaps, you have not yet sunk to this low level of spirituality and are still capable of feeling remorse and the urge to do good.
But, you must listen for God’s voice and a certain amount of silence, is necessary, if His voice is not to be drowned in the tumult of the world.
We are in real need of solitude, recollection and prayer!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD the FATHER, I BELIEVE!, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on PRIESTS, the PRIESTHOOD and CONSECRATED LIFE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on SOLITUDE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST, The HOLY SPIRIT

Quote/s of the Day – 28 June – Holy Solitude and Blessed Paolo Giustiniani

Posted on June 28, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 28 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – The Memorial of Blessed Paolo Giustiniani ECMC (1476-1528) – Monk, Hermit and Founder of the Congregation of the Camaldolese Hermits of Monte Corona

“The supreme goal to which the monk tends,
the summit of the perfection of his heart,
is indeed the union of his heart with his Lord.”

St John Cassian (c 360-435)

Monk, Father of the Church
and Founder of Monasteries
Disciple of St John Chrysostom

“O Hermitage, only those who know you,
who rest sweetly in your arms,
can tell of your grandeur
and chant your praises.
As for me, I only know this
and affirm it in all sincerity –
Whoever forces himself with perseverance
to enter more and more
into the desire to love You,
will finally enter Your mystery and,
at the same time,
the mystery of God.”

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Benedictine Monk
Doctor of the Church

“Go to Church for the work of God,
not by habit or duty,
but rather driven,
by the interior desire
to praise our Creator.”

“Celebrate holy Mass in the joy of the Spirit.”

“I desire to serve my Lord Jesus Christ.
However, I blindly entrust the manner of service
to His decision – in action or in contemplation,
in peace and quiet
or in suffering and tribulation,
in the quiet of the cell
or else in wearisome wanderings.
So long as I am serving Him,
I have no preference or taste of my own.”

“To me it appears incontrovertible,
that, above the light and discourse of reason,
there is another light.
It is clearer and more evident,
given by God to those human minds
that do not refuse to receive it
and by means of it, God can be properly understood. ….
This is the light of faith.“

Prayer of Blessed Paolo Giustiniani
“Lord, I dare not say to You:
“Show me the light that I may believe in Your Light”
but it is enough for me,
that You make me see my darkness …
Bring me back to myself.
In my misery I have distanced myself
not only from You but from myself,
becoming a stranger to myself.
Make me know my darkness,
that then I may look at the light.
Yes, I tell You and repeat to You incessantly,
Show me to myself,
so that I may know my sins.”

“Until I was alone I never really lived.
Until I was alone, I was not with myself.
Until I was alone, I never drew near to my creator.”

Blessed Paolo Giustiniani (1476-1528)

EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SILENCE, SACRED HEART QUOTES, St JOHN HENRY Cardinal NEWMAN!, The HOLY EUCHARIST, The HOLY TRINITY, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 7 June – The Most Holy Trinity, Bl Ana of St Bartholomew, Ven Matthew Talbot

Posted on June 7, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 7 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and The Memorial of Blessed Ana of Saint Bartholomew OCD (1550-1626) and Venerable Matthew Talbot (1856 – 1925)

“In all our undertakings —
when we enter a place or leave it,
before we dress,
before we bathe,
when we take our meals,
when we light the lamps in the evening,
before we retire at night,
when we sit down to read,
before each new task —
we trace the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads.”

Tertullian (160-220)
Father of the Church

“O adorable mystery!
In the name of God,
the Omnipotent Father, who created me!
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Son of the living God, who bled for me!
In the name of the Holy Spirit,
who has been poured out on me!”

St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

“Silence is precious.
by keeping silence
and knowing how to listen to God,
the soul grows in wisdom
and God teaches it,
what it cannot learn from men.”

“Our Lord became a spring for us,
so that we should not die of thirst
among all the miseries that surround us.”

“How truly He said in the Gospel
that He came to serve and not to be served!
What tremendous goodness!
Can we fail to be shamed by Your words and deeds
and the patience You show for us everyday?”

Bl Ana of St Bartholomew (1550-1626)

“How can anyone be lonely,
with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament?”

“As to nobility of blood,
true nobility is to be derived
only, from the Blood of the Son of God.”

“Three things I cannot escape:
the eye of God,
the voice of conscience,
the stroke of death.
In company, guard your tongue.
In your family, guard your temper.
When alone guard your thoughts.”

“The Heart of Jesus is with me.”

Venerable Matthew Talbot (1856 – 1925)

MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SOLITUDE, The ANNUNCIATION

Thought for the Day – 26 May – Solitude

Posted on May 26, 2020May 26, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 26 May – “Mary’s Month” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Solitude

“A man who has no love for solitude, does not love God.
It can easily happen that worldly objects dazzle the mind and enchant the heart, so that anyone who is greatly occupied with them, does not see or experience God in any way.
A man who talks a lot with other men, rarely speaks with God.
God’s voice is heard in silence and in solitude and we must listen for it if we wish to have any ease of conversation with Him.
It is fatal to allow ourselves to be deafened by the noise of the world and never to listen for the voice of God, which speaks within us.

Only those who have been called to a higher vocation, can live in a cloister but a little solitude is necessary for everybody from time to time.
It maybe a course in the Spiritual Exercises, or a monthly day of recollection, or a quarter of an hour spent everyday in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
In those moments of detachment from the world and of intimacy with God, we can enjoy conditions far above any which can be found on earth.
Such moments can be the beginning of a new life.
The Holy Spirit incites us through the prophet Osee, to find these necessary intervals for silence and prayer: “I will allure her and will lead her into the wilderness and I will speak to her heart” (Osee 2:14).
Jesus set the standard for us, when He spent forty days alone in the desert, fasting and praying.
Even though the Apostles were engaged in public missionary activity, He was anxious that they should retire from it for a while, in order to refresh themselves spiritually. “Come apart into a desert place,” He said “and rest a while” (Mk 6:31).
St Bernard wrote that silence and peace far away from the noise of the world, helped the soul to meditate on God and on spiritual matters (Epist 73).
“Solitude is Heaven to me,” (Epist 4 ad Rust) said St Jerome.

The Blessed Virgin also took refuge from distraction and loved the solitude of her home in Nazareth, where the Angel first announced to her, that she was to be the Mother of God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

CONTEMPLATIVE Prayer, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, The ANNUNCIATION, THOMAS a KEMPIS

Thought for the Day – 24 May – The Recollection of Mary

Posted on May 24, 2020May 24, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 24 May – “Mary’s Month” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Recollection of Mary

“It is believed that when the Angel Gabriel visited the Blessed Virgin in order to tell her that she was to be the Mother of God, she was in a quiet corner of her home, absorbed in prayer.
She had no love for the noise and confusion of the world but preferred to be recollected in the company of God.
This was to be the pattern of her whole life.
In the midst of her domestic duties, on her journey to St Elizabeth and on her travels in Galilee and Judea, in the wake of her divine Son, her mind and heart were always concentrated on God.

Interior recollection is a wonderful thing.
It helps us to hear God’s voice more clearly.
It keeps us removed from the temptations of the world and assists us in sanctifying every moment of our lives.

“The cell continually dwelt in growth sweet,” (Bk 1, C 20:5) says The Imitation of Christ and goes onto ask: “What can thou see elsewhere that thou does not see here? Behold the heavens and the earth and all the elements, for out of these are all things made” (Ibid C 20:8).
“As often as I have been amongst men,” it exclaims, “I have returned less a man” (Ibid C 20:2).
When we move around chattering with different people, we have lost something of ourselves by the time we return home.
Perhaps we have wasted a good deal of time in useless conversation or, worse still, have seen or heard unpleasant or disturbing things.
When we go about in the world, we do not often see much that is edifying or instructive and rarely meet people whose conversation does us good.
For this reason, even when we cannot remain apart, we should carry in ourselves, as Mary did, a spirit of interior recollection and communication with God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FRANCISCAN OFM, MARTYRS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on TRUTH, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 21 May – Blessed Franz Jägerstätter (1907-1943) Layman Martyr “A Saint for our Times!”

Posted on May 21, 2020May 21, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 21 May – Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter and the Memorial of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter OFS (1907-1943) Layman Martyr “The Man Who Would Not Bow His Head to Hitler.”

“If the Church stays silent
in the face of what is happening,
what difference would it make,
if no church were ever opened again?”

His sacrifice was uniformly regarded as foolish by his neighbours and his story almost forgotten but for a book written by an American, Gordon Zahn, who heard of Jagerstatter when researching the subject of German Catholics’ response to Hitler.
This book, In Solitary Witness, influenced Daniel Ellsberg’s decision to stand against the Vietnam War by bringing the Pentagon Papers to public attention. The following quote, taken from one of Jagerstatter’s last letters while in prison.

“Just as the man who thinks only of this world, does everything possible to make life here easier and better, so must we, too, who believe in the eternal Kingdom, risk everything in order to receive a great reward there.
Just as those who believe in National Socialism tell themselves that their struggle is for survival, so must we, too, convince ourselves that our struggle is for the eternal Kingdom.
But with this difference – we need no rifles or pistols for our battle but instead, spiritual weapons – and the foremost among these is prayer…. Through prayer, we continually implore new grace from God, since without God’s help and grace it would be impossible for us to preserve the Faith and be true to His commandments….”

“Let us love our enemies,
bless those who curse us,
pray for Those who persecute us.
For love will conquer
and will endure for all eternity.
And happy are they who live
and die in God’s love.”

“I can say from my own experience
how painful life often is,
when one lives as a halfway Christian-
it is more like vegetating than living.”

“We are not dealing with a small matter
but the great (apocalyptic)
life and death struggle has already begun.
Yet in the midst of it, there are many,
who still go on living their lives
as though nothing had changed … “

“I am convinced that it is still best
that I speak the truth,
even though it costs me my life.
For you will not find it written
in any of the commandments of God
or of the Church,
that a man is obliged under pain of sin,
to take an oath committing him to obey
whatever might be commanded him by his secular ruler. “

“Since the death of Christ,
almost every century has seen the persecution of Christians,
there have always been heroes
and martyrs who gave their lives –
often in horrible ways –
for Christ and their faith.
If we hope to reach our goal some day,
then we, too, must become heroes of the faith.”

“I cannot believe that,
just because one has a wife and children,
a man is free to offend God.”

“I believe it is better to sacrifice one’s life right away,
than to place oneself in the grave danger
of committing sin and then dying.”

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter (1907-1943)

“Called-up to a Higher Order”
Martyr of Conscientious Objection

CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 29 April – St Catherine of Siena and Bl Maria Magdalene

Posted on April 29, 2020April 29, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 29 April – Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 8:1-8, Psalm 66:1-7, John 6:35-40 and the Memorial of St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church and Bl Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation FSPA (1770-1824)

“I am the bread of life; he who comes to me, shall not hunger
and he who believes in me, shall never thirst.”

John 6:35

“He will provide the way and the means,
such as you could never have imagined.
Leave it all to Him,
let go of yourself,
lose yourself on the Cross
and you will find yourself entirely.”

“Speak the truth in a million voices.
It is silence that kills!”

St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church

“May Jesus be known, loved and adored by all
and be, in every moment,
the receiver of thanksgiving,
in the most holy and most divine Sacrament.”

	One Minute Reflectio… on One Minute Reflection – 3 Marc…
	Thought for the Day… on Thought for the Day – 16…
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	Thought for the Day… on Thought for the Day – 23…

Imitating Christ with Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

In You is the source of lifeand in Your Light Lord, we see lightPsalm 35(36)

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

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Mark 6:31

St John Cassian (c 360-435)Monk, Father of the Church

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)Benedictine MonkDoctor of the Church

St Bruno (c 1030-1101)

Bl Paolo Giustiniani (1476-1528)

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Interior Silence

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366)

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The Necessity of Meditation in Silence

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St Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

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St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

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Speaking of: Perseverance

John 20:11

Luke 18:7

St Martin of Tours (c 316-397)

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

St Theodore the Studite (759-826) Monk

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Doctor of the Church

St Marie Eugénie de Jésus (1817-1898)

St Guido Maria Conforti (1865-1931)

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The Voice of God

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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More here: https://anastpaul.com/2019/07/11/quote-s-of-the-day-11-july-st-benedict/

St Benedict (c 480-547)

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The Gift of Speech

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

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Luke 18:7

St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)

Bl Sebastian Valfre (1629-1710)

Bl William Joseph Chaminade (1761-1850)

St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

St Simon-Marie-Just Ranfer de Bretenières (1838-1866) Martyr

In You is the source of life
and in Your Light Lord, we see light
Psalm 35(36)

St John Cassian (c 360-435)
Monk, Father of the Church

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Benedictine Monk
Doctor of the Church

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

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)
Monk

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https://anastpaul.com/2019/07/11/quote-s-of-the-day-11-july-st-benedict/

St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (1873-1897)
Doctor of the Church

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Benedictine Monk
Doctor of the Church