Category: QUOTES on THE WORLD

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on MERIT, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The BEATITUDES, The HEART, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

One Minute Reflection – 23 August – “Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased thy Father to give thee a Kingdom. ” – Luke 12:32

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One Minute Reflection – 23 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Philip Benizi OSM (1233-1285) Confessor – 1 Corinthians. 4:9-14, Luke 12:32-34 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased thy Father to give thee a Kingdom. ” – Luke 12:32

REFLECTION – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”. The beginning of the New Testament is altogether joyful and full of fresh grace. It even nudges the unbeliever and sluggish to pay heed and, more to the point, to act, by promising happiness to the unfortunate and the Kingdom of Heaven to those in exile, those in any kind of distress. The beginning of the new Law is pleasant to hear and starts off under happy auspices, since the Legislator follows on from this beginning ,by giving so many assurances of beatitude. In this way those who have been attracted by them will go from one virtue to the next, climbing the eight steps that this Gospel has set up and placed within our hearts… For, it is clear that what it is all about, is the ascent of the heart and of the progress of merit, through eight steps of virtue, leading men gradually from the lowest to the highest levels of evangelical perfection. In this way they will at last enter and see the God of gods in Zion (Ps 83: 8), in His Temple, of which the Prophet has said: “It had a stairway of eight steps,” (Ez 40:37).

The first virtue for the beginner, is to renounce the world, through which we become poor in spirit; the second is gentleness, by which we submit ourselves and become accustomed to obedience; then, the grief with which we lament our sins or with weeping beg for the virtues. These we certainly enjoy, wherever we have the greatest hunger and thirst for justice, as much for ourselves as for others and begin to be stirred by zeal against sinners. Yet, lest immoderate fervour turn into fault, the mercy by which it is tempered follows after. Through putting this into practice and training ourselves, when we have learnt how to be just and how to be merciful, then we may, perhaps, be capable of entering into contemplation and giving oursees to the purification of our hearts, so as to see God!” – Blessed Guerric of Igny (c1080-1157) Cistercian Abbot (Sermon for All Saints).

PRAYER – O God, Who through St. Philip, Thy Confessor, gave us an outstanding example of humility, grant that Thy household may follow his example by scorning worldly prosperity and, ever seek the things of Heaven. 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 LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ANGELS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WATCHING, The FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES: JUSTICE, PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 19 August – ‘ … Stand ready to obey, when He comes and knocks …’

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One Minute Reflection – 19August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St John Eudes (1601-1680) Confessor, “The Apostle of Two Hearts”– Sirach 31:8-11, Luke 12:35-40 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Let your loins be girt about and your lamps burning …” – Luke 12:35

REFLECTION – “It is so that our spirit may be detached from its fantasies that the Word invites us, to shake off this heavy sleep, from the eyes of our souls, so that we may not slide away from the true reality, by clinging to what lacks substance. That is why He sets before us an image of vigilance when He says: “Let your loins be girt about and your lamps burning”… The meaning of these symbols is clear enough. Someone who is girded with temperance, lives in the light of a pure conscience because, filial trust enlightens his life, like a lamp. Lit up by the truth that person’s soul is detached from the sleep of illusion because, no empty dreams are leading it astray. As the Word says – if we do this, we shall enter into a life like that of the Angels…

Indeed, these are they who wait for the Lord at His return from the wedding and who are seated by the heavenly gates, with watchful eyes, so that the King of Glory (Ps 23:7) might once more pass through, when he returns from the marriage feast and enters again into the beatitude above the heavens. “Coming forth like the groom from his bridal chamber” (Ps 18:6)…, He united to Himself like a virgin, the nature we had prostituted to idols, once He had restored its virginal integrity, through sacramental regeneration. The nuptials, having now been accomplished, since the Church has been espoused by the Word… and brought into the chamber of His Mysteries, the Angels awaited the return of the King of Glory to the blessedness which matches His nature.

Hence, the text says that our lives ought to be like those of the Angels. Just as they live far from vice and self-deception, ready to welcome the second coming of the Lord, so we too ought to remain awake at the doors of our dwellings and stand ready to obey, when He comes and knocks at the door.” – St Gregory of Nyssa (335-395) Bishop, Father of the Church, Brother of St Basil the Great (Sermons on the Song of Songs No 11).

PRAYER – O God, Who wondrously enkindled St John, Thy Confessor, to promote the religious veneration of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and through him, willed to found new religious families in the Church, grant, we beseech Thee that we may honour his holy merits and may learn from the example of his virtues. 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 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", CHRIST the KING, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on INDIFFERENCE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VANITY

Thought for the Day – 12 August – Renouncing All Things

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

Renouncing All Things

“Self-renunciation involves too, the surrender of other attachments, such as the love of worldly honours, ambitions, the desire for success and many other affections which would binder us from living the life of Gof.

When we have arrived at a state of indifference to illness or health, wealth ot powers, life or death, we shall be able to say that we have completely renounced self because God alone will reign within us.

When we have stripped ourselves of all alien affections, God will be our absolute Sovereign and we shall be really immensely rich!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/16/thought-for-the-day-16-august-renouncing-all-things/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/12/thought-for-the-day-12-august-renouncing-all-things/

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HEART, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 August – “Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.” – Matthew 25:7

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One Minute Reflection – 12 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) Virgin – 2 Cor inthians 10:17-18; 11:1-2 , Matthew 25:1-13

“Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.” – Matthew 25:7

REFLECTION – “There has come a shout at midnight. What can this shout be, if not what the Apostle speaks of – ‘in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.’ For the trumpet will sound and the dead will rise up, imperishable and as for us, we shall be changed (1 Cor 15:52). Once the shout has been raised at midnight, what happens next? They all arose. What is the meaning of “They all arose?” The hour is coming, says the Lord Himself, when all who are in the tombs will hear His Voice and come forth (Jn 5:28-29).

… What is the meaning of “They did not take oil in their flasks?” In their hearts … I mean, look at these foolish virgins who did not carry oil with them; by their self-denial which earns them the name of virgins and by their good works, represented by the lamps they bring, they are intent on pleasing other people. And, if they are intent on pleasing others and that is why they do these admirable things, they are not carrying oil with them. So you, then, mind you carry it with you, carry it inside, where God can see; carry the testimony of your conscience there. … So if you refrain from unlawful things and perform good works, in order to be admired by other people, there is no oil inside you! …

Before those virgins went to sleep, it does not say that their lamps were going out. The wise ones’ lamps were burning, from the oil inside them, from the assurance of their consciences, from their inner boast, from their deepest charity. But those of the foolish ones, were also burning. Why were they burning then? Because there was no dearth of admiration from other people. But after they had risen, that is to say, in the resurrection from the dead, they began to trim their lamps that is, to prepare to give God an account of their works. And because there is no-one then expressing admiration … they were asking for what they had always been used to, that is to say, to shine with someone else’s oil, to live in dependence on others’ admiration. Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 93).

PRAYER – Hear us, O God, our Saviour that as we are gladdened by the festival of blessed Clare Thy virgin, so we may learn from it piety and devotion. 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 "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

Posted in GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MARIAN PRAYERS, OUR Cross, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Quote/s of the Day – 9 August – St John Vianney

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859) Confessor

“You either
belong wholly
to the world
or wholly to God.”

“You must accept your cross.
If you bear it courageously,
it will carry you to Heaven.”

“All our religion is but a false religion
and all our virtues are mere illusions
and we ourselves, are only hypocrites
in the sight of God,
if we have not that universal charity for everyone –
for the good and for the bad,
for the poor and for the rich
and for all those who do us harm,
as much as those, who do us good.”

O Thou, Most Holy Virgin Mary
(Pray for Me in All My Necessities)
By St John Vianney (1786-1859)

O thou, Most Holy Virgin Mary,
who dost evermore stand
before the Most Holy Trinity
and to whom it is granted, at all times
to pray for us to thy Most Beloved Son;
pray for me in all my necessities;
help me, combat for me
and obtain for me,
the pardon of all my sins.
Help me especially at my last hour
and when I can no longer give
any sign of the use of reason,
then do thou encourage me,
make the Sign of the Cross for me
and fight for me against the enemy.
Make in my name, a profession of faith;
favour me with a testimony of my salvation
and never let me despair of the mercy of God.
Help me to overthrow the wicked enemy.
When I can no longer say:
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
I place my soul in your hands,”
do thou say it for me;
when I can no longer hear
human words of consolation,
do thou comfort me.
Leave me not before I have been judged
and if I have to expiate my sins in Purgatory,
Oh! pray for me earnestly
and admonish my friends,
to procure for me a speedy enjoyment
of the Blessed Sight of God.
Lessen my sufferings,
deliver me speedily and lead my soul
into Heaven with thee
that, united with all the elect,
I may there bless and praise my God
and thee, for all eternity.
Amen.

MORE and MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/09/quote-s-of-the-day-9-august-st-john-vianney-2/

St Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, franciscan OFM, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 7 August – No man can serve two masters … – Matthew 6:24

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One Minute Reflection – 7 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Cajetan (1480-1547) Confessor – Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“No man can serve two masters …” – Matthew 6:24

REFLECTION – “I firmly believe that you know the Kingdom of Heaven is promised and given, by the Lord, only to the poor (cf Mt 5:3) because, she who loves what is temporal, loses the fruit of love.

It is not possible to serve God and mammon, for either the one is loved and the other hated, or the one is served and the other despised; one clothed cannot fight another naked because she who has something to be caught hold of, is more quickly thrown to the ground: someone who lives in the glory of earth, cannot rule with Christ; it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (cf Mt 6:24).

Therefore, you have cast aside your garments, that is, earthly riches, so that instead of being overcome, by the one fighting against you, you will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven through the straight path and the narrow gate (cf Mt 7:13-14).” – St Clare OSC (1193-1252) Foundress of the Poor Clares (1st Letter to Saint Agnes of Prague 25-29).

PRAYER – O God, Who bestowed upon St Cajetan, Thy Confessor, the grace to follow the apostolic way of life; grant us we beseech Thee, by his intercession and example, ever to trust in Thee and to long only for the things of Heaven.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The LAST THINGS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 August – ‘ … Only if Christ is already living in me and I in Him …’

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One Minute Reflection – 4 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Dominic de Guzman OP (1170-1221) – 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Luke 12:35-40 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“You also must be ready because at an hour which you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” – Luke 12:40

REFLECTION – “We must always be on the lookout for Christ’s twofold coming, the one, when we shall have to give an account of everything we have done and the other, when He comes day after day to stir our consciences. He comes to us now, in order that His future coming may find us prepared. If my conscience is burdened with sin, what good will it do me to know when the Day of Judgement will be? Unless the Lord comes to my soul beforehand and makes His home with me, unless Christ lives in me and speaks His word in my heart, it is useless for me to know if and when His coming will take place. Only if Christ is already living in me and I in Him will it go well with me when He comes in judgement. If I have already died to the world and am able to say, “The world is crucified to me and I to the world,” (Gal 6:14) then, in a sense, His final coming is already present to me.

Consider also our Lord’s warning: “Many will come in My Name” (Mt 24:5). It is only the Antichrist and his members who, albeit falsely, claim the Name of Christ. .. You will never find the Lord in Scripture, actually declaring, “I am the Christ.” His teaching and miracles revealed it clearly enough, for the Father was at work in Him. Louder than a thousand acclamations His teaching and mighty works proclaimed: “I am the Christ.” And so, whether or not you find Him describing Himself in so many words, the “works of the Father” (Jn 5:6) and His own message of love, declared what He was, whereas the false Christs, who possessed neither godly deeds nor holy doctrine, loudly claimed to be what they were not.” – St Paschasius Radbertus OSB (785–865) Abbot, Theologian (Commentary on St Matthew’s Gospel 11, 24).

PRAYER – O God, Who graciously enlightened Thy Church by the good works and teaching of St Dominic, Thy Confessor, grant by his intercession, that she may never be deprived of temporal helps and may ever advance in spiritual growth. 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 CONFESSION/PENANCE, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 18 July – St Camillus de Lellis

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Quote/s of the Day – 18 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – St Camillus de Lellis MI (1550-1614) “The Giant of Charity,” Confessor, Priest and Founder the Order of the Ministers of the Sick, or simply as the “Camillians”

“Why are you afraid?
Do you not realise
that this is not your work
but mine?”

Christ on the Cross speaking to Saint Camillus

“Lord, forgive this great sinner.
Give me time to do penance.
No more world, no more sins!”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/18/quote-s-of-the-day-18-july-st-camillus/

St Camillus de Lellis MI (1550-1614

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JEALOUSY, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 17 July – The Humility of Mary

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Thought for the Day – 17 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971) on the Feast of the Humility of Mary

The Humility of Mary

“Unfortunately, we often look for our share of glory on earth.
We wish to appear to others, not only at our true value but much more than we are really worth.
We imagine that the gifts and qualities which God has given us, belong to ourselves, whereas they are entirely His.

We like to put on a good appearance to win praise and renown – in other words, we want to have our reward upon this earth.
We should remember, however, that if we look for our reward now, we shall not have it in Heaven.

God sees when our motives in doing good are distorted and, when we appear before His judgement throne, He will say to us: “You have received your reward” (Cf Mt 6:2).

Let us be humble like Mary.
Let us make God’s glory, rather than our own satisfaction, the object of our actions.
It will sometimes happen that men will misunderstand us, perhaps even insult us.
We are not forbidden to defend ourselves and explain our position.
We may not have the heroic virtue of St Francis de Sales, who remained silent when he was caluminated.
But we should not be too disturbed by lack of understanding or slander, nor should we be too elated by flattery.
Only one thing should count with us and that is, the testimony of a good conscience before God.
Everything else is passing and futile.

Our humility will be tested by the inevitable opposition, sometimes jealous and malicious, which we shall experience on the part of other men.
On these occasions, we shall see if we are really meek and humble of heart, like Jesus and our Blessed Mother.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/07/thought-for-the-day-7-may-the-humility-of-mary/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 11 July – The Enemies of the Soul

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Thought for the Day – 11 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Enemies of the Soul

“The second enemy is the world.
There are so many beautiful things around us reflecting the power and the goodness of God.
These should be an invitation to us to love their Creator and a spiritual ladder which leads us towards Him.
Unfortunately, we often go astray in the midst of the passing beauty of this world.
Often we set our hearts upon this beauty, our hearts which should belong wholly to God and which can find peace and happiness in Him alone.
Sometimes worldly objects deceive the senses and ensnare the will.
Riches, pleasures and honours attract us and we fail to remember that everything on earth passes like a shadow and that when we shall stand before the Judgement Seat of God, only our good works will accompany us!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/14/thought-for-the-day-14-july-the-enemies-of-the-soul/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on the FAMILY, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 10 July – The Good Odour of Christ

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

The Good Odour of Christ

“I ought to examine the way in which I behave in the Church, in my family and in society.
When I am in the Church, my whole being should be absorbed in prayer.
My mind should be occupied with God, my heart should love Him and my lips should praise and thank Him.
Anyone who sees me praying, should wish to do the same.

When I am in my own home, I should promote peace and harmony by my good example.
The family is like a miniature Church, in which everyone should exercise some priestly function in keeping with his position.

Finally, I should carry about, in society, ‘the good odour of Christ‘ – the fragrance of my interior holiness.
I can do this if I am not ashamed of my Christian Faith and if I act constantly in perfect accordance with the evangelical precepts.

When I have examined myself on these points, I should form resolutions whicb will help me to improve my behaviour.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/11/thought-for-the-day-11-july-the-good-odour-of-christ/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/12/thought-for-the-day-12-july-the-good-odour-of-christ/

Posted in CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, OUR Cross, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher and St Thomas More

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher (1469-1535) Martyr, Bishop and St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr, Confessor

“I reckon in this realm,
no one man,
in wisdom, learning
and long approved virtue together,
meet to be matched
and compared with him.”

St Thomas More speaking of St John Fisher

“Penance is a needful thing to the sinner,
who desires to recover health of his soul.
And, in doing penance, there be three things
to be considered:
serious compunction of heart,
confession of mouth
and satisfaction by deed.”

“Beware of those prophets who speak unto you
and deceive you!
They prophecy nothing
but the imaginations and forgings
of their own minds
and not the truth of Holy Scripture!”

St John Fisher (1469-1535)

Give Me Thy Grace, Good Lord!
A Prayer of Hope
By St Thomas More (1478-1535)

Give me Thy grace, good Lord.
To set the world at naught.
To set the mind firmly on Thee
and not to hang upon the words of men’s mouths.
To be content to be solitary.
Not to long for worldly pleasures.
Little by little, utterly to cast off the world
and rid my mind of all its business.
Not to long to hear of earthly things
but that the hearing of worldly fancies,
may be displeasing to me.
Gladly to be thinking of God,
piteously to call for His help.
To lean into the comfort of God.
Busily to labour to love Him.
To know mine own vileness and wretchedness.
To humble myself under the mighty Hand of God.
To bewail my sins past,
for the purging of them,
patiently to suffer adversity.
Gladly to bear my purgatory here.
To be joyful in tribulations.
To walk the narrow way that leads to life.
To bear the Cross with Christ.
To have the last thing in remembrance.
To have ever before mine eyes,
my death that is ever at hand.
To make death no stranger to me.
To foresee and consider,
the everlasting fire of Hell.
To pray for pardon before the Judge come.
To have continually in mind,
the Passion that Christ suffered for me.
For His benefits, unceasingly to give Him thanks.
To buy the time again, that I before have lost.
To abstain from vain conversations.
To shun foolish mirth and gladness.
To cut off unnecessary recreations.
Of worldly substance,
friends, liberty, life and all,
to set the loss at naught,
for the winning of Christ.
To think my worst enemies, my best friends,
for the brethren of Joseph
could never have done him
so much good with their love and favour,
as they did him, with their malice and hatred.
These minds are more to be desired of every man,
than all the treasures of all the princes and kings,
Christian and heathen,
were it gathered and laid together,
all in one heap.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The HOLY GHOST

Quote/s of the Day – 7 July – St Lawrence of Brindisi

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 7 July – St Lawrence of Brindisi OFM Cap (1559-1619) Confessor, Priest, The “Franciscan Renaissance Man.”

“The Holy Spirit sweetens
the yoke of the divine law
and lightens its weight,
so that we may observe God’s commandments
with the greatest of ease
and even with pleasure.”

“The Word of the Lord
is a Light for the mind
and a Fire for the will,
so that man may know and love God.
For the inner man,
who lives through the living grace of God’s Spirit,
it is bread and water
but bread sweeter than honey
and water better than wine or milk….
It is a weapon against a heart
stubbornly entrenched in vice.
It is a sword against the flesh,
the world and the devil,
to destroy every sin.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/07/quote-s-of-the-day-7-july-st-lawrence-of-brindisi/

St Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619)

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CREATION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 5 July – A Ladder Ascending to God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

A Ladder Ascending to God

“How often, nevertheless, is our mind led astray by the passing beauty of this world.
How often is our heart engrossed in a search for a happiness, which is purely illusory.
God has given us created things so that we may see in them, a reflection of His goodness and beauty and may use them as a ladder, which will lead us to Him.
We shall be lost if we look back and fall beneath the false spell of this earthly fairyland.
Our minds and hearts should look upwards towards Heaven.

God alone can satisfy the infinite desires of the soul.
Let us never lose sight of Him.
Everything else passes but God does not change.
He will be our sure guide in this life and our everlasting happiness in the next.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/06/thought-for-the-day-6-july-a-ladder-ascending-to-god/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/06/thought-for-the-day-6-july-a-ladder-ascending-to-god-2/

Posted in QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Quote/s of the Day – 5 July – St Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 5 July – St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539) Confessor, Priest, Founder

“If you wish to acquire the habit
of praying mentally,
read pious subjects,
think of them
and find delight in meditating
continuously over holy matters.”

(Constitutions X)

“Worldly love aims at pleasing everyone
and saddening no-one.
Many call this politeness!
but, it is simply
self-praise and flattery!”

“If you wish to rid yourself of self-love,
purify your intentions
and, in every action,
seek what is pure
and what alone, will give honour to God.”

MORE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/05/quote-s-of-the-day-5-july-st-anthony-mary-zaccaria-2/

St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY SPIRIT, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 3 July – Live to Christ … Grow onto Him

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 3 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – St Leo II (611–683) Pope, Confessor – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:16

“Then go and learn,
neither to be moved with injuries nor flatteries.
If you die to the world and to yourself,
you will begin to live to Christ.”

St Macarius of Egypt (c300-390)

“He who abides in Me and I in Him,
the same bears much fruit”

John 5:5

“We are preserved in being, if we grow onto Him
and cling fast to the holy commandment,
which has been handed down to us
and, if we are eager to keep the blessing of nobility,
that is to say, if we never consent, in any way,
to “grieve the Holy Spirit” (Eph 4:30),
Who has come to dwell in us and, through Whom,
we believe, God has made His home in us. …
For just as the vine-stock supplies and distributes,
the virtue of its own inherent natural quality to the shoots,
so, too, the Only-Begotten Word of God,
implants, in His people, a sort of affinity
with His own nature and that of the Father.
By the gift of the Spirit, they are united with Him
by every kind of holiness.
He nourishes them, so that they become devout
and He moves them to knowledge of all virtue
and good works.”

St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“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 (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus
Doctor Communis

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

St Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419)

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TIME

Thought for the Day – 2 July – Moments of Silence

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

Moments of Silence

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

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

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

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, GOD ALONE!, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOTES to Followers, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY NAME

Update: Storms, Floods and Black-outs continue across the Cape

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Bless you all my dear Friends for your kind prayers and thoughts. After nearly 70 hours of darkness the power was restored overnight on Friday 16 June but sadly, as the storms continued, fallen tree branches, amongst other natural havoc, damaged many power lines and after about 10 hours of LIGHT, we were once again plunged into darkness. Another +-20 hours of darkness followed but is now once again restored. I pray that I will be back online tomorrow morning.

May God bless you all and shine his Face upon Cape Town! 🙏🙌💖🤗 Ana

“Most Holy Mary, may I follow your example here on earth.
Please lead us, together with your Divine Son, Jesus,
here in our earthly pilgrimage,
for you never once lost sight of God.
May the darkness of this world not encompass me,
for with you beside me and Christ around me,
I will be safe.
For the beauty of the created things
can be a snare of immense power.
May the Light of your Son,
be my beacon and Light my path
and intercede for me,
that I may ever radiate His Light.
Grant that I may see, in all things,
the Presence and Beauty of God alone,
so that I may always continue to advance,
nearer and nearer to Him.
Amen.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Daily Prayer to the Most Holy Name
By St Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)
Apostle of the Most Holy Name

Jesus,
Name full of glory, grace, love and strength!
Thou art the Refuge of those who repent,
our Banner of warfare in this life,
the Medicine of souls,
the Comfort of those who mourn,
the Delight of those who believe,
the Light of those who preach the true faith,
the Wages of those who toil,
the Cure of the sick.
To Thou, our devotion aspires;
by Thee, our prayers are received;
we delight in contemplating Thee.
O Name of Jesus,
Thou art the glory
of all the Saints for eternity.
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY SPIRIT, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PARTIAL Indulgence, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, SACRED HEART ASPIRATIONS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The HOLY GHOST, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 June –  ‘ … They clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 10 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Within the Octave of Corpus Christi and The Memorial of St Margaret Queen of Scotland (1045-1093) Widow – 1 Corinthians 23-29, John 6:56-59 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“For as often as you shall eat this Bread and drink the Cup, you proclaim the Death of the Lord, until He comes.” – 1 Corinthians 11:26

REFLECTION – “In our offering of the Holy Sacrifice we fulfil the Command of our Saviour, as recorded by the Apostle Paul: The Lord Jesus, on the night in which He was betrayed, took bread and after He had given thanks, broke it and said: This is My Body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me. The same way, after the supper, He took the Cup saying: This Cup is the New Covenant in My Blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you shall proclaim the Death of the Lord until He comes.

This Sacrifice is offered, then, to proclaim the Lord’s Death; it is offered in remembrance of Him, Who laid down His Life for our sake. As He says: Greater love than this no man has, that he lay down his life for his friends. Because Christ died for us out of love, we ask, when we make remembrance of His Death, at the time of Sacrifice, that we too may be granted love through the coming of the Holy Spirit. We pray, that by the Love which Christ had for us, when He braved the Cross, we may receive the grace of the Spirit and be crucified to the world and the world to us. The Death Christ died, He died to sin, once for all but the Life He lives, He lives to God. Let us imitate our Lord’s Death and also live a new life. Strengthened with the gift of His Love, let us die to sin and live for God.

For God’s Love has been poured out in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us. Indeed our sharing in the Lord’s Body and Blood, when we eat His Bread and drink His Cup, teaches us, that we should die to the world and that we should keep our life hidden with Christ in God, crucifying our flesh with its vices and evil desires.

That is why all the faithful who love God and their neighbour, truly drink the Cup of the Lord’s Love even though, they may not drink the cup of His Bodily Suffering. And becoming inebriated from it, they put to death, whatever in their nature is rooted in earth. They clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not indulge fleshly desires. They do not fix their gaze on visible things but contemplate things, which the eye cannot see. Thus they drink the Lord’s Cup by preserving the holy bond of love – without it, even if a man should deliver his body to be burned, he gains nothing. But the gift of love enables us to become, in reality, what we celebrate as Mystery in the Sacrifice.” – St Fulgentius of Ruspe (c 462 – 533) Bishop, Father (An excerpt from Against Fabianus).

PRAYER – O God, Who made blessed Queen Margaret glorious by her remarkable charity toward the poor; grant, by her intercession and example that Thy charity may continually increase in our hearts. 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).

MAY the Heart of JESUS in the most Blessed Sacrament be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the Tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. – Indulgence 100 Days, Once a Day. Raccolta 161 Pius IX, 29 February 1868.

Posted in PATRONAGE-INFERTILITY & SAFE CHILDBIRTH, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 June – St Norbert

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 6 June – St Norbert (c 1080-1134) Bishop, Confessor, Patron for peace, invoked during childbirth for safe delivery, of infertile married couples.

“A talkative, over-curious and restless person
is like an oven which is open
and exposed on all sides
and which keeps no heat;
you will never enjoy the sweetness
of a quiet prayer unless you shut your mind
to all worldly desires and temporal affairs.”

MORE and
A Prayer to St Norbert
for a Safe Childbirth:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/06/06/quote-s-of-the-day-6-june-st-norbert-and-a-prayer-for-his-intercession-for-a-safe-childbirth/

St Norbert (c1080-1134)

Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HOLY FACE, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 June –

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 3 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Ember Saturday of Pentecost – Joel 2:28-32, Luke 4:38-44 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And when it was day, going out, He went into a desert place … ” – Luke 4:42

REFLECTION – “Lead me away, meanwhile, my Refuge and my Strength, into the heart of the desert as once Thou led Thy servant Moses; lead me where the bush burns, yet is not burnt away, where the holy soul which… is all aflame with the fullness of the fire of Thy Holy Spirit and, burning like the Seraphim, is not consumed but cleansed…

The soul attains to the holy place where none may stand or take another step, except he be bare-footed—having loosed the shoe-strings of all fleshly hindrances… This is the place where He, Who Is, Who cannot be seen as He Is, Is notwithstanding, heard to say, “I Am Who Am,” the place where, for the time, the soul must cover her face so that she does not see the Face of God and yet, in humble obedience must use her ears to hear what the Lord God will say concerning her.

Hide me then in the day of evil, O Lord, in the secret place of Thy tabernacle, in the hidden recesses of Thy Face, “far from the strife of tongues” (Ps 26:5; 30:21), for Thy yoke is easy and the burden Thou hast laid on me is light (Mt 11:30). And when Thou show me the difference between Thy service and the service of the world, gently and tenderly Thou asks me if it is not better to serve Thee, the living God, than to serve strange gods (Cf 2 Chron 12:8). And I, for my part, adore the hand that lays the load, I kiss the yoke and I embrace the burden and it is very sweet to me to sweat beneath its weight. For masters other than Thee, have long possessed me… I acknowledge Thy yoke and Thy light burden which lifts me up and does not crush me down. …” – William of St Thierry O.Cist (c1075 – c1148) Cistercian Monk, Mystic, Theologian, Writer (Meditations IV, 10-11).

PRAYER – Graciously pour into our minds, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, Whose wisdom created us and Whose providence governs us. 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).
All praise, honour and glory to the Divine Heart of JESUS. 50 Days Indulgence, Once a day, Raccolta, 168 Pope Leo XIII, 13 June 1901.

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on ENVY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, QUOTES on VANITY, QUOTES on WISDOM, The HOLY FACE

Quote/s of the Day – 27 May – St Bede the Venerable

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 27 May – The Feast of St Bede the Venerable (673-735) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

“Christ is the Morning Star,
Who, when the night of this world is past,
gives to His saints, the promise of the Light of Life
and opens everlasting day.”

“We abide in God
insofar as we do not sin.”

“All the ways of this world
are as fickle and unstable
as a sudden storm at sea.”

“If one of us has a conscience
polluted by the stain of avarice,
conceit, vain-glory, indignation,
irascibility, or envy and the other vices,
he has “a daughter badly troubled by a demon”
like the Canaanite woman.”

“Those who refuse to be humble cannot be saved.
They cannot say with the prophet:
See, God comes to my aid;
the Lord is the helper of my soul.
But anyone who makes himself humble,
like a little child,
is greater in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

“And I pray Thee, loving Jesus
that as Thou hast graciously given me
to drink in with delight,
the words of Thy knowledge,
so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me
to attain one day to Thee,
the Fountain of all Wisdom
and to appear forever before Thy Face.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/27/quote-s-of-the-day-27-may-st-bede-the-venerable/

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

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The ASCENSION of the LORD

Thought for the Day – 18 May – The Ascension of Jesus

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Thought for the Day – 18 May – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Ascension of Jesus

“After His glorious Resurrection from the dead, Jesus appeared to His Apostles.
For forty days He instructed them concerning the Kingdom of God.
When He had announced to His followers, that He would send the Holy Spirit to give them the enlightenment and courage to preach the Gospel, they gathered together on the Mount of Olives and saw Him rise upwards until a bright cloud hid Him from their view.
The Mystery of the Ascension contains a lesson for us.
We must be detached from the world and brought closer to Heaven, which is our true home.
We are so attached to earthly things because money, reputation and pleasure are closer to our hearts than the thought of God or of eternity.
We shall have to leave all these things behind soon enough, however.
When death comes, the world will slip away from us and the soul will stand alone before God.

Let us begin to detach ourselves from worldly affairs and to make Heaven the object of our desires.
Why should we be sorry or afraid, or both, to leave this earth?
Remember the teaching of St Paul “Here we no permanent city but we seek for the city that is to come” (Heb 13:14).
“For me to live is Christ,” he said, “and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). “desiring to depart and to be with Christ, a lot by far the better” (Phil 1:23).

Let us pray in the beautiful words of the Church: “Lord, grant that while we are living in this changing world, we may aspire to the true happiness of Heaven, so that in the midst of earthly vicissitudes, our hearts maybe content in this ambition.” (Roman Breviary).

Let us not be afraid of death, for it is only the Gate of Heaven!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

ANOTHER REFLECTION ON THE ASCENSION:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/13/thought-for-the-day-13-may-the-ascension-of-jesus/

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on REASON/INTELLECT, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on VANITY, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), QUOTES on WISDOM, The HEART, The HOLY GHOST

Thought for the Day – 30 April – TRUE WISDOM

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 30 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

TRUE WISDOM

“According to Christian teaching, both knowledge and wisdom, properly understood, are gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Only the Light and Grace of the Holy Spirit, can enable us to comprehend the Truth which, in its plenitude, is God Himself and to appreciate the vanity of human things, as long as they are not ordained to their final end which is God and the everlasting life of happiness.

St Thomas Aquinas holds that human and earthly things are the proper object of science, insofar however, as they ought to be directed towards God.
“The man who has a correct approach to science, regards creatures as ordained to God, does not value them for more than they are worth and does not permit them to constitute the purpose of his life” (Summa Theologiae II-II q9 a4).
“All creatures are ordained to God and to His glory,” he writes elsewhere, “in that they manifest the Divine Goodness in themselves; they are, moreover, the means to everlasting happiness” (Quaestiones disputate, De Caritate q1 a7).

Nature maybe said to be a sacrament which enables us to gain experience of God (Summa Theologiae III q60 a2 ad1).
This is how knowledge becomes wisdom which is not content merely to have a proper estimation of human objects but, proceeds to penetrate, with the assistance of Revelation and of Grace, into the transcendent Mysteries of the Divinity.
Wisdom, moreover, guides the will and the heart, as well as the intellect.
It is practical, as well as speculative, for it directs our actions, as well as our thoughts towards God.
Like the Saints, we should be guided entirely by this true intellectual and practical wisdom.
“Grant me, O Lord, celestial wisdom,” we should pray with the Author of The Imitation of Christ, “that I may learn, above all things, to seek Tbee and to find Thee; above all things, to relish Thee and to love Thee and to understand, all other things, as they are, according to the order of Thy Wisdom!” (Bk III c27).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on STRENGTH, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Quote/s of the Day – 26 April – Our Lady of Good Counsel

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 26 April – Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel

This prayer to our Lady of Good Counsel, like many other Marian prayers, asks for Our Blessed Mother’s help in obtaining our salvation.
Note the reference to our earthly existence as being a “vale of tears,”
an expression we find too in the Salve Regina, the Hail Holy Queen.

Prayer to Our Mother of Good Counsel

Most Glorious Virgin
chosen by the Eternal Counsel
to be the Mother
of the Eternal Word made flesh,
thou, who art the Treasurer of Divine Graces
and the Advocate of Sinners,
I, thy most unworthy servant,
have recourse to thee;
be thou pleased to be my Guide
and Counsellor in this vale of tears.
Obtain for me,
through the Most Precious Blood
of thy Divine Son,
the forgiveness of my sins,
the salvation of my soul
and the means necessary to obtain it.
In like manner,
obtain for Holy Mother the Church,
victory over her enemies
and the spread of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ
upon the whole earth.
Amen

Pope Paul II sent two Bishops to investigate the image of Our Lady of Good Counsel and the numerous miracles that took place, following its appearance at this Church (by one account 171 alone in the period from 27 April to 14 August 1467)!

The fresco is still there to this day, having survived earthquakes over the Centuries and even aerial bombardment during World War II which destroyed much of the Church.

Many Popes have been great champions of Our Lady of Good Counsel
and her image. Pope Paul II first approved devotion to her. Popes Urban VIII and Pius IX made visits to the Church in Genazzano to honour her.
In 1753 Pope Benedict XIV established the Pious Union of Our Lady of Good Counsel which has included, among its members, the Popes Pius VIII, Pius IX, Leo XIII and Pius XII,the last, who placed his Papacy under her maternal care. He later composed this prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel which can be used as a novena:

O Mother of Good Counsel
By Pope Pius XII (1876-1958)

O Holy Virgin, to whose feet we are led
by our anxious uncertainty in our search for
and attainment of, what is true and good,
invoking thee by the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel,
we beseech thee to come to our assistance,
when, along the road of this life,
the darkness of error and of evil
conspire towards our ruin,
by leading our minds and our hearts astray.
O Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea,
enlighten the doubtful and the erring
that they, be not seduced,
by the false appearances of good;
render them steadfast in the face of the hostile
and corrupting influences, of passion and of sin.
O Mother of Good Counsel,
obtain for us from thy Divine Son,
a great love of virtue and,
in the hour of uncertainty and trial,
the strength to embrace the way
which leads to our salvation.
If thy hand sustains us,
we shall walk unmolested,
along the path indicated to us,
by the Life and Words of Jesus, our Redeemer
and, having followed freely and securely,
even in the midst of this world’s strife,
the Sun of Truth and Justice,
under thy maternal Star,
we shall come to the enjoyment of full
and eternal peace, with thee,
in the Haven of Salvation.
Amen

It is also worth noting, especially in these uncertain times for the Church as for the world (and in many ways, the two may be said to be linked together!) that Our Blessed Mother is ready, willing and more than able,
to help us i“in the midst of this world’s strife.”
We need only to approach her for assistance, in drawing closer to Jesus with fervent, humble prayer and devotion.

Keep in mind too, regarding the line in the first of our prayers above about our Church’s “victory over her enemies” that, in 1571, St Pius V credited Our Lady of Good Counsel with having assisted the Holy League of forces from Catholic maritime states, to defeat the Muslim Ottoman Empire in the famous Battle of Lepanto. This was a decisive victory which kept Italy from being overrun by the Muslims. Let us also pray to Mary for help, as Pope Pius V did, in the midst of our own battles! Amen.

Our Lady of Genazzano (1467) / Our Lady of Good Counsel (Memorial) – 26 April:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/26/our-lady-of-genazzano-1467-our-lady-of-good-counsel-and-memorials-of-the-saints-26-april/

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, Holy Name PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HOLY NAME, The SECOND COMING

Our Morning Offering – 26 April – May We Confess Your Name to the End

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 26 April – “The Month of the Resurrection”

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 CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY GHOST

Quote/s of the Day – 22 April – Live to Christ … Grow onto Him …

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 22 April – St Pope Soter (Died c174) Martyr and St Pope Caius I (Died 296) Martyr – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Simon Peter answered and said:
Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:16

“Then go and learn,
neither to be moved with injuries nor flatteries.
If you die to the world and to yourself,
you will begin to live to Christ.”

St Macarius of Egypt (c 300-390)

“He who abides in Me and I in Him,
the same bears much fruit”

John 5:5

“We are preserved in being, if we grow onto Him
and cling fast to the holy commandment,
which has been handed down to us
and, if we are eager to keep the blessing of nobility,
that is to say, if we never consent, in any way,
to “grieve the Holy Spirit” (Eph 4:30),
Who has come to dwell in us and, through Whom,
we believe, God has made His home in us. …
For just as the vine-stock supplies and distributes,
the virtue of its own inherent natural quality to the shoots,
so, too, the Only-Begotten Word of God,
implants, in His people, a sort of affinity
with His own nature and that of the Father.
By the gift of the Spirit, they are united with Him
by every kind of holiness.
He nourishes them, so that they become devout
and He moves them to knowledge of all virtue
and good works.”

St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“Let us detach ourselves in spirit
from all that we see
and cling to that which we believe.
This is the Cross
which we must imprint
on all our daily actions and behaviour.”

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

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUTH, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The SECOND COMING

Quote/s of the Day –16 April – Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day –16 April – “The Month of the Resurrection” – Low Sunday, The Octave Day of Easter – 1 John 5:4-10, John 20. 19-31 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ Blessed are they who have not seen
and have believed.”

John 20:29

“Your faith has saved you.”

Luke 18:42

“The blind man does not ask the Lord for gold
but for Light. He sets little store
by asking anything but Light …
Let us imitate him, dearly beloved …
Let us not ask the Lord for deceitful riches,
or earthly gifts, or passing honours
but for Light. And let us not ask for light
shut up in one place, or limited by time,
or ending with the coming of night.
The beasts behold such light just as we do.
Let us ask for the Light which we can see
with Angels alone, Light without beginning
or end. The way to this Light is faith.
Hence Jesus immediately says to the blind man,
who is to be enlightened:
“Raise your eyes, your faith has saved you!”

“Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.”

Luke 21:28

“Truth is exhorting His elect by saying:
“When the disasters of the world
become more frequent… let your hearts exult!
While the world, which is not your friend,
is coming to an end,
the redemption you have sought ,is coming near.!”
Those who love God are ordered to rejoice
and be merry at the world’s end.
They will soon find Him Whom they love,
while what they have not loved is passing away.
It should be far from the hearts of all the faithful
who long to see God, to grieve over the disasters
of a world, for they know, these very disasters,
are soon to end. It is written that:
“Whoever wishes to be a friend of this world,
makes himself an enemy of God” (Jas 4,4).”

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