Category: QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on WATCHING, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY CROSS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 November –“ … Keep going, persevere, bear and accept this delay and you have carried His Cross!”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 22 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – St Cecilia (Died 3rd Century) Virgin Martyr – Ecclesiasticus 51:13-17, Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ … The Bridegroom came and they, who were ready, went in with Him … ” – Matthew 25:10

REFLECTION – “In this world, which is to say, in the Church, wholly following Christ, He says to all of us: “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself.” This command is not being directed to virgins but not married women, to widows but not wives, to Monks but not husbands, to Priests but not laity. It is the whole Church, the whole Body of Christ with all its members, differentiated and divided according to their proper functions that is, to follow Christ. May she wholly follow Him, she who is one alone, the dove, the bride (Sg 6:9); may she follow Him, she who has been redeemed and endowed with the Blood of her Bridegroom. Virginal purity has its place here; the continence of widows has its place here; wedded chastity has its place here…

These members who have their place here should follow Christ, each according to their category, each according to their status, each after its fashion. Let them deny themselves, that is to say, let them not rely on themselves. Let them carry their cross that is to say, bear, for Christ’s sake in the world, all that the world inflicts on them. May they love Him, He, the Only One, Who never deceives or is deceived, the Only One ,Who is not mistaken. May they love Him because, what He promises is true. Yet because, He does not give it to us now, our faith falters. Keep going, persevere, bear and accept this delay and you have carried His Cross!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 96:9)

PRAYER – O God, Who gladden us by the annual feast of blessed Cecilia, Thy Virgin and Martyr, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may by virtuous conduct follow her, whom we venerate in this sacred rite. 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 CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, NOTES to Followers, OUR Cross, PRAYERS for the SOULS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS

Death in the Family – ‘Carry me, O Christ …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Dear Friends
On Thursday evening, 9 November, we lost a close family member, my elder sister, who left us on her final journey home. She had struggled against many odds, not just those related to health and finally gave up the fight and committed her spirit to our loving and merciful God. Our prayers for the dead this month are so appropriate for her soul now too and for these I thank you.
I shall be Absent (with your leave) for about 10 days.

St Ambrose: On the Death of His Brother

“To this must be added that, I cannot be ungrateful to God, for I must rather rejoice that I had such a brother, [sister for me] than grieve that I had lost a brother, for the former is a gift, the latter a debt to be paid.
And so, as long as I might, I enjoyed the loan entrusted to me – now, He Who deposited the pledge, has taken it back.
There is no difference between, denying that a pledge has been deposited and grieving at its being returned.
In each there is untrustworthiness and in each, [eternal] life is risked.
It is a fault, if you refuse repayment and impiety, if you refuse a sacrifice. Moreover, the lender of money can be made a fool of but the Author of nature, the Lender of all that we need, cannot be cheated.
And so, the larger the amount of the loan, so much the more gratitude is due for the use of the capital.” (From St Ambrose’ Sermon on the Death of his older brother, St Satyrus (c335-c378) Confessor). St Satyrus here: https://anastpaul.com/2023/09/17/saint-of-the-day-17-september-st-satyrus-of-milan-c335-c378-confessor/

“Carry me, O Christ,
on Thy Cross
which is salvation to the wanderer,
rest for the wearied
and, in which alone,
is Life for those who die.”

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

Prayer for the Dead
From My Prayer Book, 1927
By Fr Francis Xavier Lasance (1860-1946)

O God, whose property it is,
ever to have mercy and to spare,
we beseech Thee,
on behalf of the soul of Thy servant,
whom Thou hast called out of this world,
look upon her with pity
and let her be conducted
by the holy Angels to Paradise,
her true country.
Grant that she, who believed in Thee
and hoped in Thee, may not be left
to suffer the pains of the Purgatorial fires
but may be admitted to eternal joy.
Through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord,
Who with the Holy Ghost-
liveth and reigneth,
world without end.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on ZEAL, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Quote/s of the Day – 7 November – St Dominic and his OPs

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Quote/s of the Day – 7 November – The Feast of All Saints of the Order of Preacher

“A man who governs his passions
is master of his world.
We must either command them
or be enslaved by them.
It is better to be a hammer than an anvil!”

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

St Dominic OP (1170-1221) Confessor

Guide Me Lord
By St Albert the Great (1200-1280)
Doctor of the Church

O Lord Jesus Christ,
Who seeks those who stray
and receives them when returning,
make me approach Thee
through the frequent hearing of Thy Word,
lest I sin against my neighbour,
by the blindness of human judgement,
through the austerity of false justice,
through comparing his inferior status,
through too much trust in my merits
or through ignorance of the Divine Judgement.
Guide me to search diligently,
each corner of my conscience,
lest the flesh dominate the spirit!
Amen

“Christ said that the shepherd
enters through the gate
and that He is Himself the Gate,
as well as the Shepherd.
Then, it is necessary,
that He enter through Himself.
By so doing, He reveals Himself
and through Himself, He knows the Father.
But we enter through Him
because through Him. we find happiness.”

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

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

“You are rewarded,
not according to your work,
or your time
but according to the measure
of your love.”

“Embrace, then, Jesus Crucified,
raising to Him the eyes of your desire!
Consider His burning love for you
which made Jesus pour out His Blood
from every part of His body!
Embrace Jesus Crucified,
loving and beloved and in Him,
you will find true life because He is God made Man.
Let your heart and your soul burn
with the fire of love drawn from Jesus on the Cross!
… You will have no other desire than to follow Jesus!
Run, … do not stay asleep
because time flies and does not wait one moment!
Dwell in God’s sweet love!”

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

“Those with pride
are not Christ’s sheep
but the devil’s goats!”

St Vincent Ferrer OP 1350-1419)

“Apart from the cross
there is no other ‘ladder’
by which we might get to Heaven.”

St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617)

Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419)

Good Jesus,
let me be penetrated with love
to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward Thee.
Let me burn with zeal for Thy honour,
so that I may deeply resent,
all the outrages committed against Thee,
especially those of which,
I myself have been guilty.
Grant further, O my God,
that I may humbly adore
and acknowledge Thee,
as my Creator and penetrated with gratitude
for all Thy benefits,
I may never cease to render Thee thanksgiving.
Grant that I may bless Thee in all things,
praise and glorify Thee,
with a heart full of joy and gladness
and obeying Thee with docility
in every respect, I may one day,
despite my ingratitude and unworthiness,
be seated at Thine table
together with Thine Holy Angels and Apostles,
to enjoy ineffable delights for all eternity!
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/07/quote-s-of-the-day-7-november-st-dominic-and-friends-ops/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 October – ‘ … We turn aside, we look for excuses …’

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One Minute Reflection – 25 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Saints Chrysanthus and Daria (Died c 282) Martyrs, Married Couple – Wisdom 3:1-8, Luke 11:47-51 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“I will send to them prophets and apostles and some of them they will kill and persecute. ” – Luke 11:49

REFLECTION – “You know what we are going to say in prayer to God before coming to Communion: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Interiorly prepare yourself to forgive because you are about to meet with these words in prayer. How are you going to say them? Are you perhaps not going to say them? In the end that is very much the question – will you say these words, yes or no? You hate your brother and will you utter the words: “Forgive us, as we forgive?” Are you going to say that you avoid these words? But in that case, are you praying? Pay close attention, my brethren. In a moment you are going to pray – forgive from the heart!

Look at Christ suspended on the Cross, listen to Him praying: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). Doubtless, you will say: He was able to do it but I cannot. I am a man but He is God. You cannot imitate Christ? Why then did the Apostle Peter write: “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps” (1Pt 2:21)? Why does the Apostle Paul write: “Be imitators of God as beloved children” (Eph 5:1)? Why did the Lord Himself say: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29)? We turn aside, we look for excuses, when we claim to be impossible that which we do not want to do … My brethren, do not blame Christ for having given us commandments which are too difficult, impossible to fulfil. Rather, let us say to Him humbly, together with the psalmist: “ Thou art just, O Lord and Thy judgement is right” (Ps 118:137).” – St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop and Monk (Sermon 35).

PRAYER – May the prayer of Your blessed Martyrs, Chrysanthus and Daria, defend us, O Lord, that we may ever enjoy the loving help of those whom we honour by this celebration. ThroughJesus 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 "Follow Me", MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The ASCENSION of the LORD, The WILL of GOD, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 15 October – The Second Glorious Mystery – The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven

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

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The Second Glorious Mystery
The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven

“In the course of our ascent, we must never stop and decide that we have gone far enough!
To stop would inevitably mean going backward.
Jesus and Mary are inviting and encouraging us to go higher and higher.

Have we been purified of sin, the defiler of the soul and the destroyer of human dignity?
Have we an intense horror, even of venial sin, which separates us from God and kills the life of grace?
It is still not enough – we must go higher.

Are we generous and unselfish in the fight to achieve holiness, guarding ourselves against the evil suggestions of the world, the flesh and the devil?
It is still not enough – we must continue to advance.

Do we carry the daily cross which God has entrusted to us and accept the burden with perfect resignation to His Holy Will?
Very good but even this is not enough!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/10/14/thought-for-the-day-14-october-the-second-glorious-mystery-the-ascension-of-jesus-into-heaven/

Posted in "Follow Me", MARIAN QUOTES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, REDEMPTIVE Suffering, ROSARY QUOTES, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE, The RESURRECTION

Thought for the Day – 14 October – The First Glorious Mystery – The Resurrection of Our Lord

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Thought for the Day – 14 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The First Glorious Mystery
The Resurrection of Our Lord

“Do we wish to share also in the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Let us imitate Mary.
First of all, we must participate as she did in the sufferings of Christ.
By meditating frequently on the Passion and Death of Christ, we can nourish in our hearts, an intense love for Him Who suffered so much for our salvation.
Let us learn to carry our cross, as He carried His, with resignation and with conformity to God’s Will.
Spiritual joy is always the fruit of renunciation and love.

We cannot be happy with Jesus triumphant ,if we have not first imitated Jesus suffering.
We cannot rise gloriously into Heaven, if we have not first walked patiently with Mary along the Way of Calvary!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/10/13/thought-for-the-day-13-october-the-first-glorious-mystery-the-resurrection-of-our-lord/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, GOOD FRIDAY, INGRATITUDE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, REDEMPTIVE Suffering, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Thought for the Day – 13 October – The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery – The Crucifixion

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Thought for the Day – 13 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery
The Crucifixion

“At last, Jesus reaches Calvary, breathless and reduced to utter exhaustion.
The instrument of torture is taken from Him and laid upon the ground.
Our divine Redeemer suffers acute pain as Her is again stripped of His garments, which have stuck to His wounds.
Now, He is stretched, an innocent victim, on the altar of sacrifice, the Cross.
One of the executioners grasps His hand, pierces it with a large nail and attaches it to the wood.
Then, he does the same with the other hand and with the two feet.
His Mother is close at hand.
She feels in her heart the blows of the hammer which lacerate the living flesh of Jesus.
Jesus remains silent “as a meek lamb that is carried to be a victim” (Jer 11:19).

Now, the executioners raise up the Cross and fix it in the hold already prepared for it.
The shock of this impact sends a shudder of terrible pain through the Victim’s members and entire frame.
Behold Him now, suspended between Heaven and earth, the Mediator between God and humanity, the Victim of Expiation for the innumerable sins of men.

Come near to the Cross and kiss the bloodstained feet.
While the Jews are insulting Him and most of the Apostles have abandoned Him, let us tell Him how much we love Him.
Let us tell Him of our sorrow for our sins and of our determination to make amends for our faults and for our ingratitude, by living in accordance with His teachings and example.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, ROSARY QUOTES, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 12 October – The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery – The Road to Calvary

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Thought for the Day – 12 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery
The Road to Calvary

“Scourged, crowned with thorns and derided, Jesus is finally condemned to death.
Burdened with the Cross, He sets out for the place of execution in the midst of a crowd of enemies, blasphemers and idle speculators.
Among them , there is only a tiny group which sympathises with Jesus, namely, Mary His Mother, the devout women and the beloved Apostle, St John.

The divine Redeemer goes forward laboriously beneath the heavy weight of the Cross.
He has already lost a large quantity of blood in Gethsemane and during the scourging and crowning with thorns.
His strength seems to be failing but love sustains Him.
Looking feebly around Him, He sees the mocking Jews, the indifferent and disrespectful Roman soldiers and a throng of curious spectators looking for something to amuse them.
Is there nobody else?
Where are those whom He cured miraculously and those whom He comforted and forgave?
Has nobody any pity for Him?
Suddenly the crowd falls silent.
A woman, pale and tearful, is approaching Him, supported by her friends.
She defies the commands of soldiers and the scowls of the executions and comes close to Him.

Here and there, a murmur is heard – It must be His Mother, poor woman!
Jesus and Mary gaze at one another.
It would be impossible for us to guess at the immense depths of love contained in that loving exchange of glances.
Neither utters a word, for no words could express their anguish, nor manifest their love.
They look and understand one another, offering themselves as a holocaust for the redemption of wayward humanity.

Nevertheless, in this silent meeting, there was great consolation for the Heart of Jesus, for He had found someone who loved and understood Him, amongst those malicious throngs.
Why do we not sympathise with Him too and love Him with all our hearts?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD the FATHER, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on ZEAL, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 11 October – ‘ … We must do this too, when we are feeling low … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 11 October – Feast of the Divine Maternity – Apocalypse 21:2-5, Luke 19:1-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ … He climbed up into a sycamore tree that he might see Him …” – Luke 19:2

REFLECTION – “I’m writing with the desire to see you, a bold and good shepherd, pasturing and guiding the sheep entrusted to you with perfect zeal and thus, imitating the sweet Master of Truth, Who gave His life for us who are His sheep, who have strayed away from the path of grace. True…, we cannot do this without God and we cannot possess God while remaining on earth. But here is a sweet remedy – when our hearts are reduced to nothing and feeling small, we must do as Zacchaeus did. He was not tall and he climbed a tree to see God. This zeal of his, allowed him to hear these sweet words: “Zacchaeus, go home, for I must dine with you today.”

We must do this too, when we are feeling low, when our hearts are constricted and lacking in charity. We must climb the tree of the most holy Cross and there, we shall see, we shall touch God. There we shall find the fire of His inexpressible charity, the love that propelled Him, even to the humiliation of the Cross that raised Him up and made Him desire His Father’s honour and our salvation, with the craving of hunger and thirst… If this is what we want, if our carelessness does not get in the way, we can, in mounting the tree of the Cross, fulfill in ourselves, this word issuing from the mouth of Truth: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all things to Myself” (Jn 12,32 Vg). Indeed, when the soul is thus raised up, it sees the blessings of the Father’s goodness and power…, it sees the mercy and lavishness of the Holy Spirit, that is to say, the inexpressible love holding Jesus bound to the wood of the Cross. Nails and bonds cannot hold Him there, only charity… O climb this most holy tree where hang, the ripe fruits of all the virtues that the body of the Son of God bears, ardently hasten. Dwell within the holy and sweet love of God. O sweet Jesus, Jesus love.” – St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church (Letter 119, to the prior of the Olivetan Monks).

PRAYER – O God, Who, by the message of an Angel, willed to take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant that we, Thy suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, maybe assisted by her intercession with Thee.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in JESUIT SJ, OUR Cross, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 10 October – St Francis Borgia

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 October – St Francis Borgia SJ (1510-1572) Confessor

“When you pray,
hear Mass,
sit at table,
engage in business and,
when at bedtime you remove your clothes—
at all times, yearn that by the pain
which He felt when He was stripped
just before His Crucifixion,
He may strip us of our evil habits of mind.
Thus, naked, of earthly things,
we may also embrace the Cross!”

“What is it, my soul, that I seek in the world?
How long shall I pursue and grasp at shadows?
What is she already become,
who was lately so beautiful,
so great, so much revered?
This death which has thus treated the imperial diadem,
has already levelled his bow to strike me.
Is it not prudent, to prevent its stroke,
by dying now to the world that,
at my death. I may live to God?”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/10/10/quote-s-of-the-day-10-october-st-francis-borgia/

St Francis Borgia SJ (1510-1572)

Posted in QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR

Quote/s of the Day – 6 October – St Bruno

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 October – St Bruno O.Cart (c1030-1101) Priest, Confessor

“While the world changes,
the Cross stands firm.”

“By your work,
you show what you love
and what you know.”

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

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/10/06/quote-s-of-the-day-6-october-st-bruno/

St Bruno (c1030-1101)

Posted in GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The PASSION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 25 September – Prayer Before The Crucifix

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Our Morning Offering – 25 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Vincent Strambi CP (1745-1824) Bishop, Priest of the Passionist Order of St Paul of the Cross

Prayer Before The Crucifix
(The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass)
By St Vincent Strambi (1745-1824)

Jesus, by this Saving Sign,
bless this listless soul of mine.
Jesus, by Thine feet nailed fast,
mend the missteps of my past.
Jesus, with Thine riven hands,
bend my will to love’s demands.
Jesus, in Thine Heart laid bare,
warm my inner coldness there.
Jesus, by Thine thorn-crowned head,
still my pride till it is dead.
Jesus, by Thine muted tongue,
stay my words that hurt someone.
Jesus, by Thine tired eyes,
open mine to faith’s surprise.
Jesus, by Thine fading breath,
keep me faithful until death.
Yes, Lord, by this Saving Sign,
save this wayward soul of mine.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 September – “Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”- Matthew 25:21

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One Minute Reflection – 22 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Thomas of Villanova OSA (1488-1555) Archbishop, Confessor – Ecclesiasticus Sirach44:16-27; 45:3-20, Matthew 25:14-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”- Matthew 25:21

REFLECTION – “The Word of the Father, Only-begotten Son of God, Sun of Justice (Mal 3:20), is the great Merchant Who has brought us the price of our redemption. It is a truly precious exchange which we can never value sufficiently, when a King, Son of the King Most High, has become the Coin, the Gold has paid our dues, the Just Man is given for the sinner. Truly unmerited mercy, perfectly disinterested love, astonishing goodness…, it is a completely disproportionate purchase, in which the Son of God is delivered up for the servant, the Creator is put to death for the one He has created, the Lord is condemned for His slave.

O Christ, these are Thine Works, Thou Who descended from Heaven’s brightness into our hellish darkness, to bring light to our gloomy prison. Thou came down from the Right Hand of the Divine Majesty, into our human misery, to redeem the human race, Thou Who descended from the Father’s glory to death on the Cross, to triumph over death and its author. Thou art the only One and there is no other but Thee Who could have been drawn to redeem us through Thine Own Goodness…

Let all the merchants of Teman (Bar 3:23) withdraw from this place … it is not they but Israel [Thy] beloved whom [Thou hast] chosen, Thou Who hide these mysteries from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to those babes and humble servants of Thine (Lk 10:21) … O Lord, I willingly embrace this purchase since it concerns me!… I remember all the things Thou hast done, Thou Who desire that I should keep them alive … Therefore, I shall profit by this talent which Thou hast lent to me until Thy return and will stand before Thee with great joy. O God, grant that I may then hear these sweet words: “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Mt 25:21).” – St Bernard O.Cist. (1091-1153) Cistercian Monk, known as the Last Father and the Mellifluous Doctor of the Church (Selected sermons, no 42: The Five Purchases).

PRAYER – O God, Who endowed blessed Bishop Thomas with the virtue of special pity for the poor, we beseech Thee, through his intercession, generously to pour forth the riches of Thy mercy upon all those who pray to Thee.ThroughJesus 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 CATHOLIC TIME, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 22 September – In Thine Hour of Holy Sadness

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Our Morning Offering – 22 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Friday, the Day of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

In Thine Hour of Holy Sadness
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father & Doctor of the Church

In Thine hour of holy sadness
could I share with Thee, what gladness
should Thine Cross to me be showing.
Gladness past all thought of knowing,
bowed beneath Thine Cross to die!
Blessed Jesus, thanks I render
that in bitter death, so tender,
Thou now hear Thy supplicant calling,
Save me Lord!
and keep from falling, from Thee,
when my hour is nigh.
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, OUR Cross, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY NAME, The LORD'S PRAYER, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 September – Saint Cyprian of Carthage, Martyr

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 September – Saints Cornelius and Cyprian – Wisdom 3:1-8, Luke 21:9-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And you shall be hated by all men,
for My Name’s sake.
But, not a hair of your head shall perish.”

Luke 21:17-18

“So, my brothers, let us pray as God our master has taught us.
To ask the Father in words His Son has given us,
to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears,
is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer.
Let the Father recognise the words of His Son.
Let the Son who lives in our hearts, be also on our lips.
We have Him as an Advocate for sinners, before the Father,
when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins,
let us use the words given by our Advocate.
He tells us –
Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you.
What more effective prayer could we then make,
in the name of Christ, than in the words of His own prayer?”

An excerpt from St Cyprian’s
Treatise On the Lord’s Prayer
https://anastpaul.com/2019/06/20/thought-for-the-day-20-june-part-one-treatise-on-the-lords-prayer-st-cyprian-of-carthage-c-200-c-258/

“He [Christ], protects their faith
and gives strength to believers,
in proportion to the TRUST,
that each man,
who receives that strength,
is willing to place in Him.”

“ How grave is the case of a Christian,
if he, a servant, is unwilling to suffer
when his Master first suffered! …
The Son of God suffered that He
might make us sons of God
and the son of man will not suffer
that he may continue to be a son of God!? …
The Maker and Lord of the world
also warns us, saying: “If the world hates you,
remember that it hated Me before you.
If you were of the world, the world would love its own
but because you are not of the world
but I have chosen you out of the world ”
… remember the word that I said to you:
“The servant is not greater than his Lord”
(Jn 15:18-20).”

“I shall cultivate the ground around it
and fertilise it; it may bear fruit in the future.
If not, you may cut it down.”
Luke 13:8-9

“… This kind Master
closes His Church to no-one.
He not only receives
and pardons those adversaries,
those blasphemers,
those persistent enemies of His Name,
provided they do penance for their offence
and acknowledge the crime committed
but, He admits them to the reward
of the Kingdom of Heaven.
What can be called more patient,
what more kind?
Even he, who shed the Blood of Christ,
is given life,
by the Blood of Christ.”

May We Confess Your Name to the End
By St Cyprian of Carthage (200-258)

Good God,
may we confess Your Name to the end.
May we emerge unmarked
and glorious from the traps
and darkness of this world.
As You have bound us together
by charity and peace
and as together
we have persevered under persecution,
so may we also rejoice together
in Your heavenly kingdom.
Amen

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

Posted in GOOD FRIDAY, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, ROSARY QUOTES, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, STATIONS of the CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 15 September – A Holocaust for our Redemption

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

A Holocaust for our Redemption

“Scourged, crowned with thorns and derided, Jesus is finally condemned to death.
Burdened with the Cross, He sets out for the place of execution in the midst of a crowd of enemies, blasphemers and idle speculators.
Among them , there is only a tiny group which sympathises with Jesus, namely, Mary His Mother, the devout women and the beloved Apostle, St John.

The divine Redeemer goes forward labouriously beneath the heavy weight of the Cross.
He has already lost a large quantity of blood in Gethsemane and during the scourging and crowning with thorns.
His strength seems to be failing but love sustains Him.
Looking feebly around Him, He sees the mocking Jews, the indifferent and disrespectful Roman soldiers and a throng of curious spectators looking for something to amuse them.
Is there nobody else?
Where are those whom He cured miraculously and those whom He comforted and forgave?
Has nobody any pity for Him?
Suddenly the crowd falls silent.
A woman, pale and tearful, is approaching Him, supported by her friends.
She defies the commands of soldiers and the scowls of the executions and comes close to Him.

Here and there, a murmur is heard – It must be His Mother, poor woman!
Jesus and Mary gaze at one another.
It would be impossible for us to guess at the immense depths of love contained in that loving exchange of glances.
Neither utters a word, for no words could express their anguish, nor manifest their love.
They look and understand one another, offering themselves as a holocaust for the redemption of wayward humanity.

Nevertheless, in this silent meeting, there was great consolation for the Heart of Jesus, for He had found someone who loved and understood Him, amongst those malicious throngs.
Why do we not sympathise with Him too and love Him with all our hearts?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Thought for the Day – 14 September – The Redemption

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Thought for the Day – 14 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Redemption

“In conclusion, let us say this prayer of St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787):
“My soul, look at this Crucified Man …
see how the arms extend to embrace you,
how the head bows forward
to give you the kiss of peace.
See how His side is open to receive you.
What have you to say?
Such a good and loving God deserves to be loved.
O my Jesus!
Adorable Jesus!
O Love of my soul!
How can I ever forget Thee?
How can I ever love anything
apart from Thee!
O suffering Jesus,
may the memory of Thee ever remain
in my heart!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/13/thought-for-the-day-13-september-the-redemption/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/31/thought-for-the-day-31-march-the-redemption/

Posted in "Follow Me", CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, OUR Cross, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, St Francis de Sales, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

Quote/s of the Day – 14 September – Hail, Most Precious and Life-giving Cross of the Lord!

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Quote/s of the Day – 14 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – Exaltation of the Holy Cross –Philippians 2:5-11, John 12:31-36 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If anyone serves Me,
let him follow Me
and where I am,
there also shall My servant be.”

John 12:25-26

“The wood of the Cross bears Him
Who made the universe.
Undergoing death for my life,
He Who bears the universe
is fastened to the tree, as one dead.
He Who breathes Life into the dead,
gives up the spirit on the tree.
The Cross brings no shame to Him at all
but, like a trophy,
confirms His complete victory.
Like a just Judge,
He is seated on the Throne of the Cross.
The Crown of Thorns.
He wears on His brow, confirms His victory
“Take courage, I have conquered the world
and the prince of this world,
by taking away the sin of this world”
(Jn 16:33; 1:29).”

St Germanus of Constantinople (c640-733)
Bishop, Father of the Church

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

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

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

(Part of the Night Prayers
by St John Damascene)

“If you cannot soar up as high as Christ
sitting on His Throne,
behold Him hanging on His Cross.
Rest in Christ’s Passion
and live willingly in His Holy Wounds.
You will gain marvellous strength
and comfort in adversities.
You will not care that men despise you!”

Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)

“Ah ! what is all that I do and suffer,
compared with what my Jesus did
and suffered for my sake?
O, that I might, for His honour,
be torn with scourges and pierced with nails
and expire on the Cross for Him!”

St Andrew Avellino (1521–1608)

“He mounted the Cross through obedience
and died on it through obedience.
All those who are willing to be saved through the Cross,
will find salvation there.
But those, who desire to be saved without it,
will perish miserably.
There is no salvation, except in this Cross.”

“Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Judeaorum –
Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.”
John 19:19

“HE DIED, THEN
But although He died for us and was lifted up on the Cross,
those who refuse to look upon Him, will surely die,
for there is no other redemption but in this Cross.

O God, how spiritually beneficial and profitable
is a consideration of Thy Cross and Passion!
Can we contemplate our Saviour’s humility on the Cross,
without becoming humble and,
having some affection for humiliations?
Can we see His obedience, without being obedient?
Certainly not!
No-one has ever looked upon Our Lord Crucified
and remained dead or sick.
On the other hand, all who have died,
have done so because.
they were unwilling to gaze upon Him,
just as the Israelites died.
who were unwilling to gaze upon the serpent
which Moses had raised upon the pole.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

( Sermons of St Francis de Sales for Lent)

Posted in HOLY WEEK, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 14 September – This is My Joy, To Follow My Saviour

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Our Morning Offering – 14 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This is My Joy, To Follow My Saviour
A Prayer to Seek the Consolation of the Cross
By St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

Jesus, love of my soul,
centre of my heart!
Why am I not more eager to endure pains
and tribulations for love of Thee,
when Thou, my God,
have suffered so many for me?
Come, then, every sort of trial in the world,
for this is my delight,
to suffer for Jesus.
This is my joy,
to follow my Saviour
and to find my consolation
with my Consoler on the Cross.
This is my happiness,
this my pleasure –
to live with Jesus,
to walk with Jesus,
to converse with Jesus,
to suffer with and for Him,
this is my treasure!
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Holy Name PRAYERS, I BELIEVE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, ON the SAINTS, OUR Cross, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on ZEAL, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, St Francis de Sales, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY NAME, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 11 September – ‘ … Perseverance unto death … ‘

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Quote/s of the Day – 11 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Protus and St Hyacinth (Died c257) Brother Martyrs – Wisdom 3:1-8, Luke 21:9-19 – Scripture search here:

“And you shall be hated by all men,
for My Name’s sake.”

Luke 21:17

“The fruits of the earth
are not brought to perfection immediately
but by time, rain and care.
Similarly, the fruits of men ripen
through ascetic practice,
study, time, perseverance,
self-control and patience.”

St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

“The Saints must be honoured
as friends of Christ
and children and heirs of God.
Let us carefully observe
the manner of life of all the Apostles,
Martyrs, Ascetics and just men,
who announced the coming of the Lord.
And let us emulate their faith,
charity, hope, zeal, life,
patience under suffering
and perseverance unto death,
so that we may also
share their crowns of glory.”

St John Damascene (676-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Do you not know that the largest trees
which have required years to grow,
are cut down in one hour?
It is foolish to look for their fruits
and yet to be unprepared for their fall.
Let it be your consolation, then,
that God’s enemies, however honourable
and exalted they may have been,
shall, nevertheless, fade away like the smoke!”

St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170)
Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury

“Now, you must always persevere
in firmly placing all your trust in our Lord,
in the troublesome business you have in hand.
It will give you a fine opportunity
of laying a good foundation of submission
to God’s will and peace of soul.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

“Our Lord, Who saved the world,
through the Cross,
will only Work for the good of souls,
through the Cross.”

St Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779-1865)

May We Confess Your Name to the End
By St Cyprian of Carthage (200-258)
Bishop and Martyr
Apostolic Father of the Church

Good God,
may we confess Your Name to the end.
May we emerge unmarked
and glorious from the traps
and darkness of this world.
As You have bound us together,
by charity and peace
and as together,
we have persevered under persecution,
so may we also rejoice together
in Your Heavenly Kingdom.
Amen

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, REDEMPTIVE Suffering, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Our Morning Offering – 11 September – Mother of Love, of Sorrow and of Mercy

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Our Morning Offering – 11 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

Mother of Love, of Sorrow and of Mercy
By St Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373)

O Blessed Virgin Mary,
Immaculate Mother of God,
who endured a Martyrdom of love and grief,
beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus!
Thou didst co-operate in the benefit of my redemption
by thy innumerable afflictions
and by offering to the Eternal Father,
His only-begotten Son, as a holocaust
and victim of propitiation for my sins.
I thank thee for the unspeakable love
which led thee to deprive thyself
of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus,
true God and true Man, to save me, a sinner.
Oh! make use of the unfailing intercession
of thy sorrows with the Father and the Son,
that I may steadfastly amend my life
and never again crucify
my loving Redeemer by my sins
and that, persevering till death in His grace,
I may obtain eternal life
through the merits of His Cross and Passion.
Amen
Mother of love, of sorrow and of mercy, pray for us!

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, OUR Cross, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PATIENCE, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 9 September – My Sorrowful Mother, Help Me to Bear My Crosses

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Our Morning Offering – 9 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

My Sorrowful Mother,
Help Me to Bear My Crosses
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

My sorrowful Mother,
by the merit of that grief
which you felt
at seeing your beloved Jesus
led to death,
obtain for me the grace
to bear with patience,
those crosses which God sends me.
I will be fortunate
if I also shall know how
to accompany you
with my cross until death.
You and Jesus,
both innocent,
have borne a heavy cross
and shall I,
a sinner who has merited hell,
refuse mine?
Immaculate Virgin,
I hope you will help me
to bear my crosses with patience.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, MOTHER of GOD, OUR Cross, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 8 September – Mary, Mother of God

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

Mary, the Mother of God

“St Matthew (Cf Mt 12:46-50) and St Mark (Cf Mk 3:31-35), relate how Jesus was preaching one day in Galilee, surrounded by His Apostles and by a large crowd, when a man approached and said: “Behold, thy mother and thy brethren are standing outside, seeking thee.”
“Who is my mother,” He answered, “and who are my brethren?”
Then He extended His hand towards His disciples and said: “Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

These words were directed at us, not at Our Lady.
Not only was she the Immaculate Mother of Jesus Christ but, she performed lovingly, on all occasions, the Will of the heavenly Father.
She did His Will, in poverty and obedience, in exile and on Mount Calvary.
Therefore, she was God’s Mother in the spiritual, as well as, in the physical sense of the word, insofar, as she was constantly united to Him by a bond of love and of conformity with His desires.

Christ’s words indicate, that Mary’s perfect and continuous acceptance of God’s Will, was even more pleasing to God, than the dignity of the divine Motherhood.

We cannot equal her in dignity but, we can imitate her in this other respect.
Jesus will look on us as His brothers and as worthy sons of Mary, if we carry out His Will in all things.
It is not always easy to do this.
It is not easy, when we are strongly tempted to commit sins of pride, anger or impurity.
It is not easy, when we are overcome by sorrow or by sickness, when we are let down or misunderstood by others, when we are in want and, when we feel that we are collapsing beneath the weight of our cross.
At times like these, we should pray for Mary’s spirit of complete acceptance of the Will of God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/08/thought-for-the-day-8-september-mary-mother-of-god/

Posted in HOLY SATURDAY, HOLY WEEK, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The STATIONS of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 5 September – O Come and Mourn With Me Awhile

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Our Morning Offering – 5 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

O Come and Mourn With Me Awhile
By Fr F W Faber C.Orat (1814-1863)

O come and mourn with me awhile,
See Mary calls us to her side;
O come and let us mourn with her.
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.

Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride?
Ah, look how patiently He hangs.
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.

How fast His feet and hands are nailed,
His blessed tongue with thirst is tied,
His failing eyes are blind with blood.
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.

O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act Thy strength is tried
And victory remains with love,
For He, our Love, is Crucified
Amen

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, OUR Cross, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 30 August – St Rose of Lima

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Quote/s of the Day – 30 August – St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin

“Apart from the cross
there is no other ‘ladder’
by which we might get to Heaven.”

“Without the struggle of afflictions,
it is impossible to reach the height of grace.
The gift of grace increases
as the struggle increases.”

“If only we would learn how great it is
to possess divine grace
and how many riches it has within itself,
how many joys and delights.
We would devote all our concern,
to winning for ourselves
pains and afflictions,
in order to attain
the unfathomable treasure of grace.”

St Rose of Lima (1586-1617)

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on WATCHING, The HOLY CROSS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 30 August – “ … The Bridegroom came and they, who were ready, went in with Him … ” – Matthew 25:10

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One Minute Reflection – 30 August – St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin – 2 Cor inthians10:17-18; 11:1-2, Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ … The Bridegroom came and they, who were ready, went in with Him … ” – Matthew 25:10

REFLECTION – “In this world, which is to say, in the Church, wholly following Christ, He says to all of us: “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself.” This command is not being directed to virgins but not married women, to widows but not wives, to Monks but not husbands, to Priests but not laity. It is the whole Church, the whole Body of Christ with all its members, differentiated and divided according to their proper functions that is, to follow Christ. May she wholly follow Him, she who is one alone, the dove, the bride (Sg 6:9); may she follow Him, she who has been redeemed and endowed with the Blood of her Bridegroom. Virginal purity has its place here; the continence of widows has its place here; wedded chastity has its place here…

These members who have their place here should follow Christ, each according to their category, each according to their status, each after its fashion. Let them deny themselves, that is to say, let them not rely on themselves. Let them carry their cross that is to say, bear, for Christ’s sake in the world, all that the world inflicts on them. May they love Him, He, the Only One, Who never deceives or is deceived, the Only One ,Who is not mistaken. May they love Him because, what He promises is true. Yet because, He does not give it to us now, our faith falters. Keep going, persevere, bear and accept this delay and you have carried His Cross!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 96:9)

PRAYER – Almighty God, Giver of all good things, Who willed that blessed Rose, imbued in early life with the dew of heavenly grace, should bloom among the Indians with the beauty of virginity and patience, grant unto us, Thy servants that, following the fragrance of her sweetness, we may be found worthy to become a sweet savour of Christ. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, STATIONS of the CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 August – “Behold, thy mother” – John 19:27

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One Minute Reflection – 22 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Octave Day of the Assumption – Ecclesiasticus 24:23-31, John 19:25-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Behold, thy mother” – John 19:27

REFLECTION – “Woman, this is your son. This is your mother.” By what right is the disciple whom Jesus loved, the son of the Lord’s Mother? By what right is she his mother? By the fact that, without pain, she brought into the world the salvation of us all, when she gave birth, in the flesh, to the God-man. But now she is in labour with great pain as she stands at the foot of the Cross.

At the hour of His Passion, the Lord Himself rightly compared the Apostles to a woman in childbirth, when He said: “When a woman is in labour she is in anguish because a child is born into the world” (cf Jn 16:21). How much more, then, might such a Son compare such a Mother, the Mother standing at the foot of His Cross, to a woman in labour? What am I saying? “Compare?” She is indeed truly a woman and truly a mother and, at this hour, she is truly experiencing the pains of childbirth. When her Son was born, she did not experience the anguish of giving birth in pain as other women do; it is now that she is suffering, that she is crucified, that she experiences sorrow like a woman in labour because her hour has come ( Jn 16:21; cf 13:1; 17:1). …

When this hour has passed, when the sword of sorrow has completely pierced her soul in labour (Lk 2:35), then, no more shall she “remember the pain because a child has been born into the world” – the new Man who renews the entire human race and reigns forever over the whole world, truly born, beyond all suffering, immortal, the firstborn from the dead. If the Virgin has thus brought the salvation of us all into the world, in her Son’s Passion, then she is indeed the Mother of us all!” – Rupert of Deutz (c 1075-1130) Benedictine Monk, Theologian, Exegete and Writer – Commentary on Saint Johns Gospel, 13 ; PL 169, 789.

PRAYER – Almighty, everlasting God, Who in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, prepared a dwelling place worthy of the Holy Spirit, graciously grant, that we, who are devoutly keeping the Feast of her Immaculate Heart, may be able to live according to Thy Heart. 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 HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 17 August – Pride is Robbery!

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

Pride is Robbery!

“In order to combat human pride, God humbled Himself (Ps 18:15).
Not only did He assume a human nature like ours but, He was born poor and lowly and willed to die upon the Cross, as a condemned criminal!

What a tremendous lesson for human pride!
God gave us Himself as an example to be imitated: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29).

If we do not learn from this great lesson in humility, we shall never make any progress in the way of Christian perfection.
Nothing, says St Augustine, is a greater barrier to perfection than pride (In Ps 18:15).

We must take care to lay the foundation stone of humility, therefore, before we can begin to build the edifice of Christian perfection.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/25/thought-for-the-day-25-august-pride-is-robbery/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/18/thought-for-the-day-18-august-pride-is-robbery/

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 14 August – ‘ If you seek an example of humility,… If you seek an example of obedience …’,

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Quote/s of the Day – 14 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Vigil of the Assumption – Ecclesiasticus 24:23-31, Luke 11:27-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Rather, blessed are they
who hear the Word of God
and keep it.”

Luke 11:28

“A person who wishes
to become the Lord’s disciple
must repudiate a human obligation,
however honourable it may appear,
if it slows us, ever so slightly,
in giving the wholehearted obedience
we owe to God.”

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

“To arrive at the knowledge of the Truth,
there are many paths – the first is humility,
the second is humility
and the third is humility.”

“Humility is a very strange entity.
The moment we think we have it,
we have already lost it!”

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

“If you seek an example of humility,
look upon Him Who is Crucified,
although He was God, He chose to be judged
by Pontius Pilate and put to death. …
If you seek an example of obedience,
imitate Him Who was obedient to the Father
“even to death” (Phil 2:8).
“For just as through the disobedience
of one person, Adam,
the many were made sinners,
so through the obedience of One,
the many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19). .
If you seek an example of contempt
for earthly things,
imitate Him Who is “King of kings
and Lord of lords” (1 Tm 6:15),
“in whom are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge” (Col 2:3).
On the Cross He was stripped naked,
ridiculed, spat upon, bruised,
crowned with thorns,
given to drink of vinegar and gall.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Angelic Doctor of the Church

“To find the Saviour outside obedience,
is to lose Him altogether.”

“When God puts inspirations into a heart,
the first He gives is obedience.”

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

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, OUR Cross, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 10 August – If anyone serves Me, he must follow me

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 August – St Lawrence (Died 258) Martyr, “Keeper of the Treasures of he Church” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, John 12:24-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If anyone serves me,
he must follow me
and where I am,
there will my servant be also.”

John 12:26

“If it dies, it produces much fruit”
John 12:24

“Through the glorious achievements
of the holy Martyrs with which
the Church blossoms everywhere,
we are ourselves, proving to our own eyes,
how true are the words we have been singing that:
“Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of His saints” (Ps 116[115]:15).
For it is precious both in our sight
and in the sight of Him, in Whose Name.
the death took place.”

“Do not love your life in this world!
If you truly love yourselves,
do not thus love your life
and then, you will save your life!”…

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

“Day by day follow God’s path,
keeping Him closely attached to you by His promise.
In fact, He Himself said, through the mediation of His Apostles,
to all those who seek His will and His testimonies
that He would be with them
until the end of the world (Mt 28:20)
where paths and footsteps will be unknown (cf Ps 76:20),
as the divine David said in his songs.
Yet, in an invisible way,
He is present to the eyes of the mind,
making Himself seen by those who have a pure heart
and conversing with them.
So pursue your path …. “

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)
Monk and Theologian at Constantinople