Category: QUOTES on SIN

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, franciscan OFM, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Quote/s of the Day – 28 March – St John of Capistrano

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 March – The Memorial of St John of Capistrano OFM (1386-1456)

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

“Those who are called
to the table of the Lord
must glow with the brightness
that comes from the good example
of a praiseworthy and blameless life.
They must learn
from the eminent Teacher, Jesus Christ. .
“You are the light of the world”
(see Matthew 5:14).
Now a light does not illumine itself
but instead, it diffuses its rays
and shines all around upon everything
that comes
into its view..“

St John of Capistrano OFM (1386-1456)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2022, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent – 26 March – Our Lenten Journey with the Great Fathers – ‘… He reformed the criminal, He did not absolve the sin. …’ St Ambrose

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Saturday of the Third Week of Lent – 26 March – Our Lenten Journey with the Great Fathers –Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62, John 8:1-11

“Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil; for You are at my side, O Lord. With Your rod and Your staff that give me courage.” – Psalm 22:4

“Woman, where are they?
Has no man condemned you?
She said, No man Lord.
Then Jesus said,
Neither shall I condemn you.
Go and from now on, sin no more.”

John 8:9-11

SEE, O READER, these Divine Mysteries and the mercy of Christ. When the woman is accused, Christ stoops His head but when the accusers retire, He lifts it up again, thus we see, that He would have no man condemned but all absolved.

BY THE WORDS, ‘Has no man condemned you?‘ He quickly overthrows all the quibbles of heretics, who say that Christ knows not the day of judgment.
He Who says, ‘But to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give.’ says also in this place, ‘Has no man condemned you?‘
How is it that He asks concerning that, which He indeed saw? It is for our sakes that He asks, that we might know the woman was not condemned. And such is the way of the human mind, often to enquire, concerning that which we know.

THE WOMAN TOO answered, ‘No man, Lord‘, which is to say, ‘Who can condemn when Thou dost not condemn?‘ Who can punish another under such a condition as Thou hast attached to his sentence?
The Lord answered her, ‘Neither do I judge thee!‘ Observe how He has modified His own sentence; that the Jews might have no ground of allegation against Him for the absolution of the woman but by complaining only, draw down a charge upon themselves – for the woman is dismissed not absolved and this because there was no accuser, not because her innocence was established. How then could they complain, who were the first to abandon the prosecution of the crime and the execution of the punishment?

THEN HE SAID TO HER who had gone astray, ‘Go, and sin no more’ He reformed the criminal, He did not absolve the sin. Faults are condemned by a severer sentence, whenever a man hates his own sin and begins the condemnation of it in himself.
When the criminal is put to death, it is the person, rather than the transgression, which is punished but when the transgression is forsaken, the absolution of the person becomes the punishment of the sin.

WHAT IS THE MEANING then of, ‘Go and sin no more?’ It is this; Since Christ has redeemed you, suffer yourself to be corrected by Grace; punishment would not reform but only afflict you!” St Ambrose (340-397) One of the original four Fathers and Doctors of the Latin Church (Excerpt from Epistle 26 on the Woman taken in adultery).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 26 March – Repent!

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 March – Saturday of the Third Week of Lent – Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62, John 8:1-11

“Go and from now on, sin no more”

John 8:11

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

Luke 3:4

“You do not know
when your last day may come.
You are an ingrate!
Why not use the day, today,
that God has given you
to repent?”

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

“What are you afraid of, you men of little faith?
That He will not pardon your sins?
But with His own hands He has nailed them to the cross.
That you are used to soft living
and your tastes are fastidious?
But He knows the clay of which we are made (Gn 2:7).
That a prolonged habit of sinning binds you like a chain?
But the Lord loosens the shackles of prisoners.
Or perhaps that angered by the enormity
and frequency of your sins,
He is slow to extend a helping hand?
But where sin abounded,
grace became superabundant (Rom 5,20).
Are you worried about clothing
and food and other bodily necessities
so that you hesitate to give up your possessions?
But He knows that you need all these things (Mt 6,32).
What more can you wish?
What else is there to hold you back
from the way of salvation? ”

St Bernard (1091-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TRUTH, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 March – “Go and from now on, sin no more” – John 8:11

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One Minute Reflection – 26 March – Saturday of the Third Week of Lent – Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62, John 8:1-11

“Go and from now on, sin no more” – John 8:11

REFLECTION – “One after another all withdrew.”
The two were left alone, the woman in need of mercy and Mercy.
But the Lord, having struck them through with that dart of justice, deigned not to heed their fall but, turning His eyes away from them, “again he wrote with his finger on the ground.”

But when that woman remained alone and all had gone, He raised His eyes to her. We have heard the voice of justice; let us listen too to the voice of clemency…
This woman expected to be punished by Him, in whom sin could not be found.
But He, who had driven back her adversaries with the voice of justice, lifting the eyes of mercy to her, asked her: “Has no-one condemned you?” She answered, “No-one, Lord.”
And He said: “Neither do I condemn you. I by Whom, perhaps, you were afraid of being condemned because you have found no sin in Me; neither do I condemn you.”

What is this, O Lord?
Do you favour sins, then?
Certainly not!
But take note of what follows: “Go, henceforth sin no more.”
The Lord did condemn, therefore but He condemned the sin, not the sinner… Let them be careful, then, those who love the goodness in the Lord but who fear His truthfulness…
The Lord is gracious, the Lord is slow to anger, the Lord is merciful BUT the Lord is also just and the Lord is abounding in truth (Ps 85[86],15).
He gives you time for amendment but you prefer to take advantage of the delay, rather than to reform your ways.
Did you act wickedly yesterday? Be good today. Have you spent today in evil? At any rate change your behaviour tomorrow.

This, then, is the meaning of the words He addresses to this woman, “Neither do I condemn you but, having been made secure concerning the past, be on your guard in the future. I, for My part, will not condemn you, I have blotted out what you have done; keep what I have commanded, that you may gain what I have promised.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Father, Doctor of Grace –Tractate 33 on the Gospel of John, 5-8

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

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

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HOPE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The ANNUNCIATION

Our Morning Offering – 25 March – O Mary, My Hope!

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Our Morning Offering – 25 March – The Annunciation

O Mary, My Hope!
By St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

I salute you, O Mary!
you are the hope of Christians.
Receive the prayer of a sinner,
who loves you tenderly,
honours you in a special manner
and places in you the whole hope
of his salvation.
From you I have my life.
You reinstate me in the grace of your Son:
you are the sure pledge of my salvation.
I beseech of you, therefore, to deliver me
from the burden of my sins,
dispel the darkness of my mind,
banish from my heart the love of the world,
repress the temptations of my enemies
and so rule my whole life, that by your means
and under your guidance,
I may obtain everlasting happiness in heaven.
Amen

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on SIN, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 March – ‘The Chief Physician’

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One Minute Reflection – 24 Marcr – Thursday of the Third Week of Lent – Jeremias 7:1-7, Luke 4:38-44 and the Feast Dy of St Gabriel the Archangel

“At that time, Jesus rose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a great fever and they besought Him for her.” – Luke 4:38

REFLECTION – “Now Simon’s mother-in-law was kept in her bed sick with a fever.” May Christ come to our house and enter in and by His command, cure the fever of our sins. Each one of us is sick with a fever. Whenever I give way to anger, I have a fever. There are as many fevers as there are faults and vices. Let us beg the Apostles to intercede for us with Jesus, that He may come to us and touch our hand. If He does so, at once our fever is gone. He is an excellent Physician and truly the Chief Physician. Moses is a physician. Isaias is a physician. All the Saints are physicians but He is the Chief Physician.” – St Jerome (343-420) Father & Doctor of the Church (Homilies on the Gospel of Mark 75).

PRAYER – O God, Who, out of all the Angels, chose the Archangel Gabriel to announce the mystery of Your Incarnation, mercifully grant that we, who keep his feast on earth, may have him as our patron in Heaven. Who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on COWARDICE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – But the things that proceedout of the mouth …

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Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – Wednesday day of the Third Week of Lent – Exodus 20:12-24, Matthew 15:1-20

“But the things that proceed
out of the mouth,
come from the heart
and it is they that defile a man.”

Matthew 15:18

“The sky and the earth and the waters
and the things that are in them, the fishes
and the birds and the trees are not evil.
All these are good;
it is evil men who make this evil world.”

“What is reprehensible,
is that while leading good lives themselves
and abhorring those of wicked men,
some, fearing to offend,
shut their eyes to evil deeds
instead of condemning them
and pointing out their malice.”

St Augustine (354-407)
Father and Doctor of Grace

Posted in ASPIRATIONS and EJACULATIONS, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, OUR Cross, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 13 March – The Second Sunday of Lent – Let us be Transfigured!

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Quote/s of the Day – 13 March – The Second Sunday of Lent – Let us be Transfigured!

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

St Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

“Aspire to God with short
but frequent outpourings of the heart,
admire His bounty,
invoke His aid,
cast yourself in spirit at the foot of His Cross,
adore His goodness,
treat with Him of your salvation,
give Him your whole soul –
a thousand times in the day.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

“Mortification and suffering
are necessary for two reasons.
They are particularly necessary
because, we are all sinners
and must expiate our sins.
Secondly, they are necessary
because, without penance
and suffering, we become attached
to the world and forget all about Heaven,
which is our real home.
In His love for us, therefore,
God commands us to do penance.
What are we doing in the way of penance?
Let us remember the command of Jesus
and His precursor, St John the Baptist:
“Unless you repent, you will all perish!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CREATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Quote/s of the Day – 12 March – St Gregory the Great

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Quote/s of the Day – 12 March – Ember Saturday in Lent – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Confessor, Father & Doctor

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

“All elements in nature testified
that their Creator had come.
Let me indicate them in our everyday fashion.
The heavens knew that He was God,
for they sent a star to herald Him.
The sea knew Him,
for it bore up His feet upon it.
The earth knew Him
and trembled when He died.
The sun knew Him
and hid its light.
The stones and walls knew Him
and were rent at His death.
Hell knew Him
and gave up its dead.
All the insensible elements of nature knew Him
but even up to this minute,
the hearts of the unbelieving Jews
will not recognise Him as God
and–more hard than rock–
will not be rent in penitence.”

“… We must all rejoice exceedingly,
to be even the last,
in the Kingdom of God!”

St Gregory the Great (540-604)
Pope, Confessor, Father and Doctor
“Father of the Fathers”

MORE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/03/quote-s-of-the-day-3-september-st-pope-gregory-the-great/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on SLOTH, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR

Thought for the Day – 10 March – The Hidden Life of Jesus

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

The Hidden Life of Jesus

“Jesus chose to be an ordinary workman.
He had power over the Angels of Heaven, over the sun and stars of the firmament, over the waves of the ocean and over all the elements,
By a single act of His Divine Will , He could multiply loaves and change water into wine.
Yet, He elected to earn His living by the sweat of His brow.
In His times, the artisan was held in low esteem and was very often a slave.
Manual labour was regarded as sordid and undignified.
Christ wished to sanctify manual work by His own toil.
He wished to teach men that, in the eyes of God, the hoe is as valuable as the pen.
There is no difference between driving a plough and wielding a sceptre, as long as a man is fulfilling his duty for the love of God.
The only thing in this regard which is displeasing to God, is laziness and inactivity.
Anyone who leads an idle life at the expense of others, is breaking God’s law, which commands everyone to work.

Let us follow the example of Jesus the Worker.
Let us avoid idleness, which is the father of vices and is opposed to the command of God (Cf Gen 3:19; 2 Thess 3:10).
Let no-one claim that there is no need for him to work because he has enough money to last him all his life.
There was far less need for Jesus to work in order to live, yet He chose to work as an ordinary labourer.
If we do not have to work for our own sakes, let us reflect on how much need there is to work for others and for the glory of God.
If justice does not compel us, charity does.
It makes very little difference whether a man goes to hell for lack of justice or for lack of charity!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/10/thought-for-the-day-10-march-the-hidden-life-of-jesus/

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SIN, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 8 March – St John of God (1495-1550)

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 March – Tuesday of the First Week of Lent and the Memeorial of St John of God (1495-1550)

“Labour without stopping,
do all the good works you can,
while you still have the time!”

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

St John of God (1495-1550)

MORE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/08/quote-s-of-the-day-8-march-st-john-of-god-2/

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 March – He heals without charge, with one word, He restores to health. 

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One Minute Reflection – 5 March – The First Saturday of Lent – Isaiah 58:9-14, Mark 6:47-56

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

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

PRAYER – Hear, O Lord, our humble prayers and grant that we may devoutly keep this fast that has been established to cure our souls and bodies. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 2 March – Prayer as a Necessary Means of Salvation

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

Prayer as a Necessary Means of Salvation

“The man who prays, will be saved, the man who does not pray, will be damned!”
This reflection occurs in much the same words in the writings St Teresa, of St Alphonsus and of other masters of the spiritual life.
There is no suggestion that prayer ALONE, without sincerity of purpose, the Sacraments and good works, is sufficient for salvation.
What is meant, is that anyone, who does not pray, cannot possibly be saved, except by a miracle because, God, does not normally give His grace to anyone, who does ot ask for it!
Even though the soul has grown indifferent and submerged in sin, if it does not abandon the habit of praying, it will sooner or later, be overcome by remorse and will turn again to God.
St John Chrysostom teaches us, that it is impossible for anyone, who prays fervently and consta\ntly, to fall and remain in serious sin.

Let us pray, therefore.
Let prayer be our constant support in every situation and in every action.
If we remain close to God, we are assured of salvation.
As long as we remain united to Our Lord, His grace will pervade our souls.
But, if we sever this bond of prayer with God, we shall be alone and helpless and shall fall into sin.
This has been the sad experience of many before us.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/15/thought-for-the-day-15-march-prayer-as-a-necessary-means-of-salvation/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2022, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on WATCHING, The HEART

Ash Wednesday – 2 March – Our Lenten Journey with the Great Fathers Begins

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Ash Wednesday – 2 March – Our Lenten Journey with the Great Fathers Begins

“In the face of my darkness,
You are Light.
In the face of my mortality,
You are Life.”

St Gregory of Narek (950-1003)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“O Lord, deal with us,
not according to our sins,
nor requite us according to our crimes.”

Psalm 102:10

BEHOLD, DEARLY BELOVED, the Sacred days are drawing near, the acceptable time, of which it is written – Behold, now is the acceptable time. behold, now is the day of salvation (II Cor vi)
And so you must be more earnest in prayer and in alms-giving, in fasting and in watching. He that until now has given alms, in these days let him give more – for as water quencheth a flaming fire, so does almsgiving wipe out sin (Eccles. iii. 33).
He that until now fasted and prayed, let him fast and pray still more – for there are certain sins which are not cast out, except by prayer and fasting (Mc. xvii. 20).

SHOULD ANYONE CHERISH ANGER towards another, let him forgive from his heart. Should anyone take, unjustly what belongs to another, let him restore it and if not fourfold, at least that which he has taken, if he desires God to be merciful to himself (Lk. xix. 8).

AND although a Christian should abstain at all times from cursings and revilings, from oaths, from excessive laughter and from idle words, he must do this especially in these holy days, which are set apart, so that during these forty days, he may, by Penance, wipe out the sins of the whole year!

MAY YOU BELIEVE and believe firmly, that if, in these days, you have made a thorough Confession of your sins and done Penance as we have told you, you shall receive from Our Most Merciful Lord, the pardon of all your offences, as did the Ninivites, who earned deliverance from their afflictions by doing penance in sackcloth and ashes (Jn. iii).

So you also, following their example, if you cry out with all your heart to the Lord, you will invoke His Mercy on you, so that, serene and joyful, you will celebrate the day of the Lord’s Resurrection and, thus blessed, you will, after this life, cross over to your heavenly home, by the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, world without end. Amen. – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan. Father and One of the Four Original Doctors of the Latin Church

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2021, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Our Morning Offering – 2 March – Pardon Lord, I Ask By St Ambrose

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Our Morning Offering – 2 March – Ash Wednesday

Pardon Lord, I Ask
By St Ambrose (340-397)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Lord Jesus Christ,
Who stretched out Your Hands on the Cross
and redeemed us by Your Blood,
forgive me, a sinner ,
for none of my thoughts
are hidden from You.
Pardon I ask,
Pardon I hope for,
Pardon I trust to have.
You, Who are full of pity and mercy,
spare me and forgive.
Amen.

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, OUR Cross, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, Thomas a Kempis

Quote/s of the Day – 27 February – Let us begin anew

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Quote/s of the Day – 27 February – Quinquagesima Sunday – 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 18:31-43

“Open wide your door
to the One who comes.
Open your soul,
throw open the depths of your heart
to see the riches of simplicity,
the treasures of peace,
the sweetness of grace.
Open your heart and run to meet
the Sun of eternal Light
that illuminates all men.”

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

“He who calls us, came here below,
to give us the means of getting there.
He chose the wood
that would enable us to cross the sea –
indeed, no-one can cross the ocean of this world,
who is not borne by the Cross of Christ.
Even the blind can cling to this Cross.
If you can’t see where you are going very well,
don’t let go of it, it will guide you by itself. ”

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

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

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

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

Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, QUOTES on DOUBT, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 26 February – Have recourse to Mary

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 February – Mary’s Saturday

“Pray, pray a great deal
and make sacrifices for sinners,
for many souls go to Hell
because they have no-one
to make sacrifices
and pray for them.”

Our Lady of Fatima 1917
13 May to 13 October 1917

“O sinner, be not discouraged
but have recourse to Mary,
in all your necessities.
Call her to your assistance,
for such is the divine Will
that she should help
in every kind of necessity.”

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

“O Mary, I have not doubt
that whenever we run to you,
we shall obtain all that we desire.
Let those then who have no hope,
hope in you!”

“In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties,
think of Mary, call upon Mary.
Let not her name depart from your lips,
never suffer it to leave your heart.
And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer,
neglect not to walk in her footsteps.
With her for guide, you shall never go astray;
while invoking her, you shall never lose heart;
so long as she is in your mind,
you are safe from deception;
while she holds your hand, you cannot fall;
under her protection you have nothing to fear;
if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary;
if she shows you favour, you shall reach the goal.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

“It seems unbelievable
that a man should perish
in whose favour Christ said to His Mother:
‘Behold thy son’,
provided that he has not turned a deaf ear
to the words, which Christ addressed to him:
‘Behold thy Mother.’”

St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621)
Doctor of the Church

“Never do anything
that your heart tells you,
is displeasing to Mary
and, in addition,
never deny her anything
that you know she would welcome
and desire from you.”

St Joseph Cafasso (1811-1860)

“It would be hard to find
a more touching plea.
We ask our heavenly Mother
to intercede for us
now because we have such great need
of her assistance
in this vale of tears and temptations.
May she be always by our side,
to shelter us beneath her mantle”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 February – ‘Show me then whether the eyes of your mind, can see and the ears of your heart, hear.’

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One Minute Reflection – 26 February – Hail Holy Mother! – Sirach 24:14-16, Luke 11:27-28

“Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” – Luke 11:28

REFLECTION – “If you say, “Show me your God,” I will say to you, “Show me what kind of person you are and I will show you my God.” Show me then whether the eyes of your mind, can see and the ears of your heart, hear.

It is like this. Those who can see with the eyes of their bodies, are aware of what is happening in this life on earth. They get to know things that are different from each other. They distinguish light and darkness, black and white, ugliness and beauty, elegance and inelegance, proportion and lack of proportion, excess and defect. The same is true of the sounds we hear: high or low or pleasant. So it is with the ears of our heart and the eyes of our mind, in their capacity to hear or see God.

God is seen by those who have the capacity to see Him, provided that they keep the eyes of their mind open. All have eyes, but some have eyes that are shrouded in darkness, unable to see the Light of the Sun. Because the blind cannot see it, it does not follow that the sun does not shine. The blind must trace the cause back to themselves and their eyes . In the same way, you have eyes in your mind that are shrouded in darkness because of your sins and evil deeds. …

But if you will, you can be healed. Hand yourself over to the Doctor, and He will open the eyes and ears of your mind and heart. Who is to be the Doctor? It is God, Who heals and gives life through His Word and Wisdom. … ” – St Theophilus of Antioch (Died c 185) Bishop of Antioch, Confessor, Apologist, Father (An excerpt from: A Book addressed to Autolycus).

PRAYER – Grant us, Your servants, O Lord God, we beseech You, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body; and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Thought for the Day – 25 February – Fervour and Tepidity

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

Fervour and Tepidity

“The ONLY choice in the life of a Catholic is between fervour and sin!
The tepid or negligent soul cannot remain long in the grace of God and, when God’s grace is removed, it means the death of the soul.

The spiritual life resembles a steep hill.
A man cannot stay still.
He must keep going upwards or begin to slip downwards.
Whoever struggles on, up the hill is approaching perfection and Heaven; whoever slips backwards, is approaching sin, a dead soul and Hell.

There us NO MIDDLE WAY!
Those who are lukewarm are an object of DISGUST to their Creator, Who casts them away from Himself – “Because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot,” the Holy Spirit says, “I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth” (Apoc 3:16).

So, it is not enough to be mediocre Catholic.
The half-hearted and indifferent are already travelling along the slippery path of sin and are on the waiting list for hell!
It is dangerous for anyone to remain thoughtlessly in this state of spiritude ineptitude.
A man who never thinks of his own salvation, is suffering from a serious illness.
He is running a very great risk of eternal damnation.
He has one foot in Hell here on this earth!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in ACT of PERFECT CONTRITION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 23 February – The Sacrament of Penance

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Thought for the Day – 23 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Sacrament of Penance

“We should confess our sins humbly and sincerely.
We are obliged to confess at least all the mortal sins which we have committed after Baptism and have never included in a previous good confession.
We should prepare for the Sacrament by making a careful examination of conscience in the presence of God.
When we kneel before our Confessor, we should remember that, even though he is only a man like ourselves, he is the representative of God.
We should confess at least our mortal sins in a clear and exact manner.
Whenever possible, we should confess deliberate venial sins in order to be sure of obtaining forgiveness for them.

It is very necessary to be sincerely sorry for our sins and to be firmly resolved never to commit them again, with the help of divine grace.

Perfect contrition, which stems from a pure and disinterested act of love for God, is not necessary.
Attrition is sufficient, that is, imperfect sorrow which springs from a lower supernatural motive, such as the fear of hell, the hideousness of sin, insofar, as it is an offence against God, or the loss of eternal happiness.

Let us examine ourselves to ensure that we fulfil all the ncessary conditions in our Convession.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/23/thought-for-the-day-23-february-the-sacrament-of-penance/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MODESTY, ON the SAINTS, POETRY, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES: JUSTICE, PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE

Quote/s of the Day – 21 February – St Robert Southwell

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Quote/s of the Day – 21 February – St Robert Southwell SJ (1561-1595)

“We … are under an obligation
to be the light of the world
by the modesty of our behaviour,
the fervour of our charity,
the innocence of our lives
and the example of our virtues.
Thus shall we be able
to raise the lowered prestige
of the Catholic Church
and, to build up again,
the ruins that others by their vices have caused.
Others, by their wickedness,
have branded the Catholic Faith
with a mark of shame,
we must strive,
with all our strength, to cleanse it
from its ignominy
and to restore it
to its pristine glory!”

“Christianity is warfare
and Christians are spiritual soldiers.”

“Not where I breathe
but where I love,
I live.”

“When Fortune smiles,
I smile to think,
how quickly she will frown.”

“Where sin was hatched,
let tears now wash the nest.”

“The path to Heaven is narrow,
rough and full of wearisome
and trying ascents,
nor can it be trodden without great toil
and, therefore, wrong is their way,
gross their error
nd assured their ruin,
who, after the testimony
of so many thousands of Saints,
will not learn where to settle their footing!”

“The Epiphany”
By St Robert Southwell SJ (1561-1595)
Martyr

To blaze the rising of this glorious sun
A glittering star appeareth in the east
Whose sight to pilgrim toil three sages won
To seek the light they long had in request,
And by this star to nobler star they pace
Whose arms did their desired sun embrace.

Still was the sky wherein these planets shined
And want the cloud that did eclipse their rays,
Yet through this cloud their passage they did find,
And pierced these sages’ hearts by secret ways,
Which made them know, the Ruler of the skies
By Infant tongue and looks of babish eyes.

Heaven at her light, earth blusheth at her pride
And of their pomp these peers ashamed be,
Their crowns, their robes, their train they set aside
When God’s poor cottage, clouts and crew they see,
All glorious things their glory now despise
Since God contempt doth more than glory prize.

Three gifts they bring, three gifts they bear away,
For Incense, Myrrh and Gold, Faith, Hope and Love
And with their gifts the givers’ hearts do stay,
Their mind from Christ, no parting can remove,
His humble state, His stall, His poor retinue
They fancy more than all their rich revenue.

St Robert Southwell SJ (1561-1595)
Priest and Martyr

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, St PAUL!, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 February – ‘And other seed fell upon the rock’ – Luke 8:6

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One Minute Reflection – 21 February – Sexagesima Weekday, Readings 2 Cor. 11:19-33; 12:1-9, Luke 8:4-15

“And other seed fell upon the rock and as soon as it had sprung up, it withered away because it had no moisture.” – Luke 8:6

REFLECTION – “The seeds of the Word that are lying on rocky ground, are snatched away by fleeting devils. Tell me, whose fault is it? That of the devils who snatch away the seeds, or that of the careless souls who do not bury them in the furrows of their hearts? I believe, the fault is not that of the snatching devils. The thief who breaks through the wall, enters the secret part of the house. But since he is stationed in a position outside, how can the thief be blameworthy, so to speak? Thus also, the devil, were he able to enter the innermost recesses of your heart, to snatch the word away from you against your will, would indeed be blameworthy. But now, what has been neglected and held in contempt by you, he snatches away.

… A rock has two properties of nature: strength and hardness. Therefore, a man is said to be a rock either because of the constancy of his faith, or because of the hardness of his heart. The prophet says in this regard, “I will take out of them the heart of stone.” What then is the ground? It is the sinful nature that remains in the soul of the faithful who are still drawn toward the flesh. For many have a good mind according to nature but some do not have a faithful mind. Their mind is from God but their soul is from the divided will. There are people who, if you speak to them about the glory of the Saints or the blessedness of the Heavenly Kingdom, immediately become joyful and take delight in listening. Being wise according to nature, they readily accept the Word. But you who are not content to give alms from your possessions, how will you be able to sustain the loss of your material things when hard times or persecutions strike, in the light of God’s Word? You will become unsettled.” – Anonymous Ancient Christian Writer [ACW] (Incomplete Work on Matthew, Homily 31).

PRAYER – O God, You Who see that we put no trust in anything we do, mercifully grant that by the protection of the Doctor of the Gentiles we may be defended against all adversity. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Our Morning Offering -18 February – Lord Jesus, Think on Me By St Synesius of Cyrene

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Our Morning Offering -18 February – Septuagesima Weekday

Lord Jesus, Think on Me
By St Synesius of Cyrene (375-430)
Bishop of Ptolemais, Father

Lord Jesus, think on me
and purge away my sin,
from earth-born passions set me free,
and make me pure within.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
With care and woe oppressed,
let me Thy loving servant be
and taste Thy promised rest.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
nor let me go astray,
through darkness and perplexity
point Thou the heav’nly way.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
that, when the flood is past,
I may eternal brightness see
and share Thy joy at last.
Amen

St Synesius, a native of Cyrene, born circa 375. His descent was illustrious. His pedigree extended through seventeen centuries and in the words of Gibbon, “could not be equaled in the history of mankind.”
He became distinguished for his eloquence and philosophy and as a statesman and patriot he took a noble stand. When the Goths were threatening his Country he went to the court of Arcadius and for three years, tried to rouse it to the dangers that were coming on the empire. But Gibbon says, ”The court of Arcadius indulged the zeal, applauded the eloquence and neglected the advice of Synesius.”
In 410 he was made Bishop of Ptolemaïs (modern Libya) but much against his will. He died in 430. We have extant one hundred and fifty-five epistles and ten hymns written at different periods of his life.

Posted in "Follow Me", CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 February – ‘Persevere to the end’

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 February – Septuagessima Weekday – 1 Cor. 9:24-27; 10:1-5, Matthew 20:1-6

“Even so, the last shall be first
and the first last;
for many are called
but few are chosen.”

Matthew 20:16

“This is the time for Confession.
Confess the sins you have committed
in word or deed,
by day or by night.
Confess during this “favourable time”
and on “the day of salvation,”
receive Heaven’s treasure… ”

St Cyril of Jerusalem (313-350),
Father & Doctor of the Church

“… We must all rejoice exceedingly,
to be even the last,
in the Kingdom of God!”

St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)
Father and Doctor

“From now on, then,
if God has no need of your goods,
neither does He have to give you this great thing,
if you refuse to love Him,
all He requires is love,
without which nothing constrains His giving.
Love, then and you will receive
the Kingdom, love and you will possess it…
Love God more than yourself
and already, you begin to have
what it is your desire to possess fully, in heaven.”

St Anselm (1033-1109)
Doctor magnificus
Doctor Marianus

“Rejoice and be happy!
Persevere to the end
and prefer to die
rather than abandon the post,
to which God has called you!”

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

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, GOD is LOVE, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SIN, The HEART, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

Quote/s of the Day – 14 February – LOVE!

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Quote/s of the Day – 14 February – The Memorial of St Valentine (176-273) Bishop and Martyr

LOVE!

“Many sins are forgiven her
because she has loved much.”

Luke 7:42

“Whatever you do, do from the heart,
as for the Lord and not for others,
knowing that you will receive
from the Lord
the due payment of the inheritance;
be slaves of the Lord Christ.”

Colossians 3:23-24

“Without love,
there is only faith,
which the devil has.”

“Once for all, then,
a short precept is given you –
Love and do what you will,
whether you hold your peace,
through love, hold your peace;
whether you cry out,
through love cry out;
whether you correct,
through love correct;
whether you spare,
through love do you spare.
Let the root of love be within,
of this root, can nothing spring
but what is good.”

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

“Love[ing] one another
with the charity of Christ,
let the love you have in your hearts,
be shown outwardly in your deeds …”

St Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)

“Nothing is sweeter than love,
nothing stronger or higher or wider;
nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller
and nothing better in heaven or on earth,
for love is born of God
and cannot rest except in God,
Who is above all created things.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

“… It is Him you should love and no other.
Of Him you could and should say
“My Beloved is mine and I am his” (Sg 2:16);
my God has given Himself without reserve
and, without reserve, I give myself to Him;
He has chosen me as the object of His tenderness
and He, among thousands,
He, the radiant and ruddy one (Sg 5:10),
so loveable and so loving,
He is the chosen of my heart,
the only one I wish to love.”

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

I Love You, O My God
By St Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859)

I love You,
O my God
and my only desire is to love You
until the last breath of my life.
I love You,
O my infinitely lovable God
and I would rather die loving You,
than live without loving You.
I love You, Lord
and the only grace I ask,
is to love You eternally
My God,
if my tongue cannot say
in every moment that I love You,
I want my heart to repeat it to You
as often as I draw breath.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 February – ‘The souls’ husband is the Holy Spirit, by His grace. …’

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One Minute Reflection – 10 February – The Memorial of St Scholastica (c482-547) Virgin – 2 Cor 10:17-18; 11:1-2,
Matthew 25:1-13

“But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” – Matthew 25:6

REFLECTION – “The souls’ husband is the Holy Spirit, by His grace. When His interior inspiration calls the soul to repentance, then every enticement of vice is in vain. The pride that wants command, the greed and lust that consumes everything: this was the master that used to control and ravage the soul. Their very names have been removed from the repentant sinner’s mouth… When grace is poured into the soul and gives it light, God makes a covenant with sinners. He is reconciled with them… Then is celebrated the wedding of the Bridegroom with His bride, in the peace of a pure conscience.” – St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – O God, Who, to show us the way of innocence, caused the soul of Your Virgin, blessed Scholastica, to fly up to Heaven in the likeness of a dove, grant us, through her merits and prayers, to live innocently, so that we may be found worthy to reach everlasting joys. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CONFESSION, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PAPAL ENCYLICALS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 February – “Until the harvest” – – Matthew 13:30

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One Minute Reflection – 6 February – The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany – Readings: Colossians 3:12-17, Matthew 13:24-30

“Suffer both to grow until the harvest” – Matthew 13:30

REFLECTION – “Nor must one imagine that the Body of the Church, just because it bears the name of Christ, is made up during the days of its earthly pilgrimage, only of members conspicuous for their holiness, or, that it consists only of those whom God has predestined to eternal happiness. It is owing to the Saviour’s infinite mercy, that place is allowed in His Mystical Body here below, for those whom, of old, He did not exclude from the banquet (cf. Mt 9:11). For not every sin, however grave it may be, is such as of its own nature to sever a man from the Body of the Church, as does schism or heresy or apostasy. Men may lose charity and divine grace through sin, thus becoming incapable of supernatural merit and yet, not be deprived of all life, if they hold fast to faith and Christian hope and if, illumined from above, they are spurred on, by the interior promptings of the Holy Spirit to salutary fear and are moved to prayer and penance for their sins.

Let everyone then abhor sin, which defiles the mystical members of our Redeemer but,, if anyone unhappily falls and his obstinacy has not made him unworthy of communion with the faithful, let him be received with great love and let eager charity see in him a weak member of Jesus Christ. For, as the Bishop of Hippo remarks –
“it is better to be cured within the Church’s community than to be cut off from its Body as incurable members. As long as a member still forms part of the Body, there is no reason to despair of its cure; once it has been cut off, it can be neither cured nor healed.’”- Venerable Pius XII (1876-1958) – Pope from 1939 to 1958 – Encyclical – Mystici Corporis Christi, 1943.

PRAYER – All-powerful and ever-living God, splendour of true light and never-ending day, chase away the night of sin and fill our minds with the glory of Your coming. Take away our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh, help us in our battle with sin and the devil. By our prayers, Your holy sacraments and the strength of the Holy Spirit, may we be ever vigilant of the evil one. Hear the prayers of our Queen and Mother, the Blessed Virgin of Mercy on our behalf dear Lord. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 5 February – IDLENESS

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Thought for the Day – 5 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

IDLENESS

“Idleness is forbidden by God because work is His commandment.
He had already told Adam and his successors: “In the sweat of your brow, you shall eat bread” (Gen 3:19).

St Paul warns us: “If any man will not work, neither let him eat” (2 Thess 3L10).
This is a universal law which embraces people of all classes and circumstances.
God commands everyone to work.
Therefore, anybody who disobeys this law without reason, sins against God.
Those who lead leisurely inactive lives should meditate seriously on this law of God.
The fact that they possess large fortunes does not excuse them from this divine law.
They must engage in some work, either menial or manual.
It may be for themselves or it may be for their needy brothers who live in want or in illness and cannot fend for themselves.
We are all brothers in Jesus.
It is not right that one brother should live in poverty and wretchedness, while another idly enjoys a life of plenty and of pleasure.

Anyone who loves God is never idle, says St Jerome.
The love of God works wonderful things, if it does not, it cannot be called love.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/05/thought-for-the-day-5-february-idleness/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TRUTH

Thought for the Day – 31 January – Humility

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

Humility

“Humility is, in fact, truth.
Many think that it is a menial fiction, or a pious congregation and that only a few can really achieve it.

In other words, we must disregard ourselves.
We must be content to be unknown and unesteemed.
This might seem to be contrary to, or at least, superior to human nature but it is based on the simple naked truth.
What have we that is not a gift of God?
All that we have in the natural and supernatural order, we have received from God: “What hast thou that thou hast not received? And if thou hast receive it, why dost thou boast as if thou hast not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7).

Our defects and sins are the only things which are really our own!
So we have a double motive for humility.
Everything good about us is a gift from God.
Only our sins belong to us!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/21/thought-for-the-day-21-january-humility/

Posted in "Follow Me", DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 January – ‘Why must you be salt?’

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One Minute Reflection – 29 January – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop, Confessor and Doctor – 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Matt hew 5:13-19

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” – Matthew 5:13

REFLECTION – “It is as a matter of absolute necessity that He commands all this. Why must you be salt? Jesus says in effect: “You are accountable, not only for your own life but also, for that of the entire world. I am sending you not to one or two cities, nor to ten or twenty, nor even to one nation, as I sent the Prophets. Rather, I am sending you to the entire earth, across the seas, to the whole world, to a world fallen into an evil state.” For by saying, “You are the salt of the earth,” Jesus signifies, that all human nature itself has “lost its taste,” having become rotten through sin. For this reason, you see, He requires from His disciples, those character traits that are most necessary and useful for the benefit of all.” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Archbishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor  (The Gospel of Matthew: Homily,15).

PRAYER – O God, Who for the salvation of souls willed that blessed Francis, Your Confessor and Bishop, should become all things to all men, mercifully grant that we, inspired by the sweetness of Your love, guided by his teachings and aided by his merits, may attain the joys of everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).