Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MISSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 2 May – “You have the words of eternal life”

One Minute Reflection – 2 May – “Mary’s Month” – Saturday of the Third Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 9:31-42, Psalm 116:12-17, John 6:60-69

“You have the words of eternal life” …. John 6:68

REFLECTION: “To whom shall we go?” Peter asks.   In other words:  “Who else will instruct us in the divine mysteries the way you do?” or, “To whom shall we go to find anything better? You have the words of eternal life.”   They are not hard words, as those other disciples say but words, that will bring us to the loftiest goal unceasing, endless life removed from all corruption.   These words surely make quite obvious to us the necessity for sitting at the feet of Christ, taking Him as our one and only teacher and giving Him our constant and undivided attention. …

That the desire to follow Christ alone and to be with Him always, is a good thing leading to our salvation, is entirely self-evident, yet we may learn this from the Old Testament as well.   When the Israelites had shaken off Egyptian tyranny and were hastening toward the promised land, God did not allow them to make disorderly marches, nor did the Lawgiver let each one go where he would, for without a guide they should undoubtedly have lost the way completely. … Keeping with their guide was the Israelites’ salvation then, just as not leaving Christ is ours now.   For He was with those people of old under the form of the tabernacle, the cloud and the fire (Ex 13:21; 26:1f) …

“Whoever serves me must follow me, so as to be with me wherever I am” (Jn 12:26) …  But accompanying the Saviour Christ and following Him is by no means to be thought of as something done by the body.   It is accomplished rather by deeds springing from virtue. Upon such virtue the wisest disciples firmly fixed their minds….  With good reason they cried out, “Where can we go?”   It was as though they said:  We will stay with You always and hold fast to Your commandments.   We will receive Your words without finding fault, or thinking Your teaching hard, as the ignorant do but thinking rather:   “How sweet are Your words to my throat!   Sweeter to the mouth are they, than honey or the honeycomb!”   (Ps 118[119]:103).” … St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) – Father and Doctor of the Church – Commentary on Saint John’s Gospel, 4, 4John 6 68 - these words sure make quite obvious to us - sy cyril of alex 2 may 2020

PRAYER – Mould our minds and our hearts, we pray You Lord, by the union of Your Son and His Church.   As we belong to You, You joined us to Your Son to become one with Him.   May we always strive to live up to this union and may we make our lives, a constant sharing, in Christ’s death and Resurrection.   May His Mother give us her heart, to love Him as she does.   We make our prayer through Him and in Him and with Him, in the union of the Holy Spirit, God for always and forever, amen.mary-mother-of-god-pray-for-us-11-may-2019 and 2 may 2020

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on PEACE, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the day – 30 April – He IS in control

Quote/s of the day – 30 April – Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

“The Lord has turned all our sunsets into sunrises.”

Saint Clement of Alexandria (150-215)
Father of the Church

the lord has turned all our sunsets into sunrises - st clement of alex 30 april 2020

“Lord, take me from myself
and give me to Yourself.”

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

lord take me from myself and give me to your yourself - st catherine of siena - 30 april 2020

“In the designs of Providence,
there are no mere coincidences.”

Saint John Paul the Great (1920-2005)

in the designs of providence there are no mere conincidences - st john paul 30 april 2020

“We are like the penny,
because we have the image
of the king stamped on us,
the Divine King.”

we are like the penny - gk chesterton 30 april 2020

“If God had a wallet,
your picture would be in it.”

G K Chesterton (1874-1936)

if god had a wallet your picture would be in it - gk chesterton 30 april 2020

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

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

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

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

John 6:35

i am the bread of life - john 6 35 - 5 aug 2018

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

he will provide the way and the means - st catherine of siena - 7 nov 2019 all dom saints

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

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

speak the truth in a million voices - st catherine of siena - 29 april 2019

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

Bl Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation (1770-1824)

may jesus be known loved and adored by all - bl maria mad_gdalene of the incarn 29 april 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, HOLY COMMUNION, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 May – “I am the bread of life”

One Minute Reflection – 28 May – Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 7:51–8:1, Psalm 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, 21, John 6:30-35 and the Memorial of Blessed María Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament OCD (1925-1959)

“I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” … John 6:35john 6 35 i am the bread of life 28 april 2020 - no 2

REFLECTIONSt Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) – Sequence for the feast of Corpus Christi “ Lauda Sion ”
Laud, O Sion, thy salvation
Laud with hymns of exultation
Christ, thy King and Shepherd true,
Spend thyself, his honour raising,
Who surpasseth all thy praising,
Never canst thou reach His due.

Sing today, the mystery showing
Of the living, life-bestowing
Bread from heaven before thee set,
E’en the same of old provideth,
Where the Twelve, divinely guided,
At the holy table met.

Full and clear ring out thy chanting,
Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting
To thy heart and soul today …

Lo, the new King’s table gracing,
This new Passover of blessing
Hath fulfilled the elder rite,
Now the new the old effaceth,
Truth revealed, the shadow chaseth,
Day is breaking on the night.

What He did, at Supper seated,
Christ ordained to be repeated,
His memorial ne’er to cease
And His word for guidance taking,
Bread and wine we hallow, making
Thus our sacrifice of peace.

This the truth to Christians given,
Bread becomes His flesh from heaven,
Wine becomes His holy Blood (Jn 6:55). …

Whoso of this food partaketh,
Christ divideth not nor breaketh,
He is whole to all that taste.
Whether one this bread receiveth
Or a thousand, still He giveth
One same Food that cannot waste. …

Lo! the Angel’s Food is given (Ps 78[77]:25)
To the pilgrim who hath striven,
See the children’s Bread from heaven
Which to dogs may not be cast (Mt 15:26).

Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing (Gn 22),
Paschal lamb, its life-blood spilling,
Manna sent in ages past.

O true Bread, good Shepherd, tend us,
Jesu, of Thy love befriend us,
Thou refresh us, Thou defend us,
Thine eternal goodness send us
In the land of life to see (Ps 27[26]:13)

Thou who all things canst and knowest,
Who on earth such Food bestowest,
Grant us with the saints, though lowest,
Where the heavenly Feast Thou showest,
Fellow-heirs and guests to be.lauda sion st thomas aquinas 28 april 2020

PRAYER – Almighty Father, to whom this world, with all it’s goodness and beauty belongs, give us grace joyfully to begin this day in Your name and to fill it with the active love for You and our neighbour. By the food You give us, to sustain us on this journey, we are brought to holiness in Your Son, our Lord Jesus the Christ, whom You gave to us as our food.   May the Mother of Your Son and our mother, lead us to You and may the prayers of Bl Maria Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, be a succour on our way. Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God now and forever, amen.holy mother mary pray for us 16 jan 2019

BL MARIA FELICIA PRAY FOR US NO 2 28 APRIL 2020

 

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 27 April – ‘ …Discover a Presence …’

Quote/s of the Day – 27 April – Monday of the Third Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 6:8-15, Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30, John 6:22-29 and the Memorial of Bl Nicolas Roland (1642-1678)

“Do not labour for the food which perishes
but for the food which endures to eternal life,
which the Son of man will give to you…”

John 6:27

do not labour for the food which perishes - john 6 27 - 6 may 2019

“This very moment,
I may,
if I desire,
become the friend
of God.”

Saint Augustine (354-430)
Father & Doctor of the Church

this very moment - st augustine - friend of god - 6 may 2019

“In this daily life which is doubtlessly your own,
Listen to your heart… ..
Discover a Presence which is more real than
this visible presence,
which dazzles you
and attracts your whole being…”

in this daily life - bl nicolas roland 27 april 2020

“Take a higher flight,
giving yourself completely
to the unique Goodness and Beauty.
Be content with God,
He will be your light,
your strength, your shelter at all times.”

take a higher flight - bl nicolas roland 27 april 2020

“Ask God to lead you by Faith,
Only God, seek only Him.”

Bl Nicolas Roland (1642-1678)

ask god to lead you by faith only god, seek only him - bl nicolas roland 27 april 2020

“Jesus Christ came to this earth to reign here
but not, says Saint Augustine, as other kings do,
to raise tribute, enrol armies and visibly do battle
against His enemies, for Jesus Christ assures us
that His kingdom is not of this world
but to establish His reign within our souls,
according to what He Himself says,
in the holy Gospel, that His kingdom is within us.”

St John Baptiste de La Salle (1651-1719)

jesus christ came to this earth to reign here - st john baptiste de la salle 27 april 2020 on the mem of bl nicolas roland

“You leave the land
just as it is when you depart,
you do not carry anything away.
Our first aim is to go to God,
we are not on earth for anything but this!”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

you leave the land just as it is-stjohn vianney 6 may 2019

Posted in Act of SPIRITUAL COMMUNION, CHRIST the KING, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 26 April – ‘…No wall can shut us out from the good God.’

Quote/s of the Day – 26 April – Third Sunday of Easter

“…He certainly meets us
where we are in life – and –
He will never leave us
where He found us!”

Fr Mark J Hunt STDhe certainly meets us where he found us - 5 may 2019

“Spiritual Communion is
an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament
and a loving embrace, as though we had already received Him.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Doctor of the Church

spiritual communion is an ardent desire to receive jesus - st thomas aquinas 26 april 2020

“In the morning let your first act be
to greet My Heart and to offer Me your own.
Whoever, breathes a sigh toward Me,
draws Me to himself.”

Jesus to St Matilda/Mechtilde of Hackeborn

(c 1241-1298)

in-the-morning-let-your-first-act-be-jesus-to-st-matilda-of-hackeborn-19-nov-2019 and 26 april 2020

“O blessed Jesus, give me stillness of soul in You.
Let Your mighty calmness reign in me.
Rule me, O King of Gentleness,
King of Peace.”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591)

Doctor of the Church

o-king-of-gentleness-st-john-of-the-cross-14dec2018-and-14dec2019-and 26 april 2020

“There are some who make a spiritual communion everyday …
If we are deprived of Sacramental Communion,
let us replace it, as far as we can, by spiritual communion,
which we can make every moment;
for we ought to have always, a burning desire to receive the good God.
Communion is to the soul, like blowing a fire that is beginning to go out
but that has still plenty of hot embers;
we blow and the fire burns again.
After the reception of the Sacraments,
when we feel ourselves slacken in the love of God,
let us have recourse at once, to spiritual communion.
When we cannot go to the church, let us turn towards the tabernacle;
no wall can shut us out from the good God.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

when we cannot go to the church let us turn -no wall - st john vianney 26 april 2020 3 easter

“Do not neglect to say, ‘Jesus, I love You’
and make one Spiritual Communion,
at least, each day,
in atonement for all the profanations and sacrileges
He suffers because He wants to be with us.”

St Josemaria Escrivá (1902-1975)

do not neglect to say jesus i love you and make one spiritual comm - st josemaria - 26 april 2020 3rd easter

“…Let us continue
Immaculate Mary’s mission.
All is included in it.
May [we].. follow her example
and be the handmaid of the Lord
in everything,
everywhere
and always.”

Bl Mary of the Passion (1839-1904)

let-us-continue-imm-marys-mission-bl-mary-of-the-passion-15-nov-2019 and 26 april 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN TITLES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 April – ‘ Trust, be faithful and He is with you…’

One Minute Reflection – 26 April – Third Sunday of Easter, Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33, Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Luke 24:13-35 and the Memorial of St Rafael Arnáiz Barón (1911-1938)

“Stay with us” … Luke 24:29

REFLECTION – “My brethren, when was it that the Lord made Himself recognised? When He broke the bread.   So we ourselves are convinced, too, that when we break the bread we recognise the Lord.   If He hadn’t wanted to be recognised until that moment, it was for our sakes, we, who were not to see Him in the flesh but who were yet to eat Him in the flesh.   So you who believe in Him, whoever you are, you who do not bear the name of Christian in vain, who do not come casually into church, who hear the word of God in fear and hope – for you the broken bread will be a consolation.   Our Lord’s absence is not a real absence.   Trust, be faithful and He is with you even if you do not see Him.

When the Lord hailed them, the disciples had no faith.   They did not believe in His Resurrection, they did not even hope that He might be raised.   They had lost faith, they had lost hope.   They were dead men walking alongside a living one, they were walking, dead, with life.   Life was walking with them but, in their hearts, life was not as yet renewed.

And do you long for life?   Imitate the disciples and you will recognise the Lord.   They offered hospitality, our Lord seemed determined to proceed on His way but they held Him back …   You too, then, keep hold of the stranger if you wish to recognise your Saviour …  Learn where to look for the Lord, where to possess Him, where to recognise Him – in breaking bread with Him!” … St Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo, Father and Doctor of the Church

PRAYER – Lord God, grant Your people constant joy in the renewed vigour of their souls. They rejoice because You have restored them to the glory of Your adopted children, let them look forward gladly to the certain hope of the resurrection.   May the prayers of our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Good Counsel, be of assistance to us amidst the storms of this mortal life.   We make our prayer through our Resurrected Christ, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen, alleluia!

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, CONFESSION/PENANCE, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 24 April – Faith and love …

Quote/s of the Day – 24 April – Friday of the Second week of Easter and the Memorial of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen OFM.Cap (1577-1622) and St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier (1796-1868)

“O Catholic faith, how solid, how strong you are!
How deeply rooted, how firmly founded on a solid rock!
Heaven and earth will pass away but you can never pass away.
From the beginning the world opposed you
but you mightily triumphed over everything.
This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.
It has subjected powerful kings to the rule of Christ,
it has bound nations to His service.
What made the holy apostles and martyrs endure fierce agony
and bitter torments, except faith and especially faith in the Resurrection?
What is it that today makes true followers of Christ cast luxuries aside,
leave pleasures behind and endure difficulties and pain?
It is living faith that expresses itself through love.
It is this, that makes us put aside the goods of the present in the hope of future goods.
It is because of faith, that we exchange the present for the future.”

o-catholic-faith-st-fidelis - 24 april 2017 and 24 april 2020

“Woe to me if I should prove myself
but a half-hearted soldier
in the service of my thorn-crowned Captain.”

St Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577-1622)

woe to me if i should prove myself - st fidelis of sigmaringen 24 april 2020

“Draw near to our Lord, thoroughly aware
of you own nothingness and you may hope
all things from His Goodness and Mercy.
Never forget that Jesus Christ is no less generous
in the Blessed Sacrament than He was
during His mortal life on earth.”

draw-near-to-our-lord-st-mary-euphrasia-24-april-2018 and 24 april 2020

“May your heart be an altar,
from which the bright flame,
of unending thanksgiving
ascends to heaven.”

may-your-heart-be-an-altar-st-mary-euphrasia-24-april-2018 and 24 april 2020

“It is human to fall
but angelic to rise again.”

St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier (1796-1868)

it is human to fall but angelic to rise again - st mary euphrasia pelletier 24 april 2020

“To the end of the longest life,
you are still a beginner.
What Christ asks of you
is not sinlessness
but diligence ….
You cannot be profitable to Him,
even with the longest life;
you can show faith
and love
in an hour!”

St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Parochial and Plain Sermons, v.4

to the end of the longest life you are still a beginner - st john henry newman 24 april 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 24 April – I Will Put Myself In Your Hands

Our Morning Offering – 24 April – Friday of the Second week of Easter

I Will Put Myself In Your Hands
By St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

O my God, I will put myself
without reserve into Your hands.
Wealth or woe,
joy or sorrow,
friends or bereavement,
honour or humiliation,
good report or ill report,
comfort or discomfort.
Your presence or the
hiding of Your countenance,
all is good
if it comes from You.
You are Wisdom
and You are love –
what can I desire more.
Ameni will put myself in your hands - st john henry newman 24 april 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 April – ‘…The light that never dims.’

One Minute Reflection – 22 April – Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 5:17-26, Psalm 34:2-9, John 3:16-21

“But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.”…John 3:21

REFLECTION – “In the evening, when the Bishop is present, the deacon carries in the lamp.   And standing in the midst of all the faithful who are there, he will offer thanksgiving.   First of all he says the greeting:  “The Lord be with you” and the people respond:  “And with your spirit.” –   Then he says  “Let us give thanks to the Lord” and they reply:  “It is right and just.   To Him be the greatness and supremacy together with the glory”…   Then he will pray thus, saying:
“We give you thanks, Lord, through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom You enlighten us by revealing the light that never dims.   Since day is spent and we have now reached evening, filled with the light of the day You created for our joy and since, through Your grace, we do not now lack the light of evening, we praise and glorify You through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, through Whom, to You, be glory and power and honour, with the Holy Spirit, now and forever and through all ages.   Amen.”   And everyone will say: “Amen.”
In this way, after the meal, all will stand in prayer.   The children say psalms as also the virgins.”…  St Hippolytus of Rome (c 170– c 235) Priest and Martyr – Apostolic Tradition, 25john-3-21-but-he-who-does-what-is-true-we-give-you-thanks-lord-st-hippolytus-1-may-2019 and 22 april 2020

PRAYER – Shed your clear light on our hearts, Lord, so that walking continually in the way of Your commandments, we may never be deceived or misled.   Your ways are not our ways, teach us to willingly agree to them, for You know which way we should go. Help us to say “yes” always to Your plan and to render ourselves as a sacrament of Your divine love to all we meet.   Fill us with the grace to be your tools to bring glory to Your kingdom.   May the prayers of your Angels and Saints and Your Blessed Mother and ours, bring us strength.   Through Our Lord Jesus Christ with You, in the union of the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

mary madonna holy mother of god pray for us 22 april 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 22 April – To Jesus, Master, the Truth

Our Morning Offering – 22 April – Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

To Jesus, the Truth
By Blessed James Alberione (1884-1971)

O Jesus,
our One, our only Light,
when You illumine the anxious minds,
evil error takes flight
and eternal Truth serenely shines.
The world, when deprived of Your Light,
remains enwrapped in densest darkness.
May faith and charity benign,
unite their flames in every heart.
May every tongue sing praise to You,
may schools and arts in every age,
sing Your praises,
may books and journals bear Your Truth,
resplendent on each printed page.
May nations sing Your glorious paise
and around the globe,
Your Truth resound,
transmitted by new means and ways,
which modern man has discovered.
Jesus, our everlasting Truth, Way and Life,
by You we are led,.
by You we live,
to Father, You and the Spirit,
may all peoples praise and glory give.
Amen.

Blessed Fr James Alberione (1884-1971)
the Founder of the Pauline Family,
composed various Prayers to Jesus Master,
The Way, the Truth and the Life,
specifically directed to honour Jesus, the Master –
to sanctify the whole person, mind, will and heart.
These prayers are prayed by his Orders every day.

To Jesus, the Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/09/our-morning-offering-9-april-to-jesus-master-the-life/

To Jesus, the Way:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/17/our-morning-offering-17-april-bl-james-alberione-to-jesus-the-way/

to jesus the truth bl james alberione 22 april 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on HUMAN DIGNITY, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on TRUTH

Thought for the Day – 18 April – Putting Christianity into Practice

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

Putting Christianity into Practice

imagine what the world - jesus did not preach the impossible - bacci - 18 april 2020

“Imagine what the world would be like, if the Gospel of Christ, were practised in it’s entirety, everywhere and by everybody.
It would not, of course, become another earthly Paradise, because suffering and death are the legacy of sin and Our Lord, did not remove these when He redeemed us but made them a necessary element, in our purification and spiritual elevation.
Nevertheless, the full practice of Christianity would transform the world.
A little reflection will convince us of this.
Men would love God above all things and their neighbours as themselves.
The sincere and ardent love of God, would cause wickedness, brutality and every kind of immorality to disappear.
Love of their neighbour, would make men brothers in reality, so that there would be no more wars nor threats of conflict.
The enormous wealth which is squandered on weapons of destruction, could then be diverted to good works.
There would be no more poverty, because, if men loved one another, those who had more than enough, would give to those in want.
There would be no more prisons, because, there would be no more criminals.
There would be no need for a police force, because, everyone would do his duty of his own accord.
The reign of love, which is the reign of Jesus Christ, would triumph upon earth.
Excessive wealth and the selfish love of ease and pleasure, would disappear on one hand, while, on the other, the extreme need of those who can never be sure of a meal, nor of a roof over their heads, would be palliated, until they had been raised to a standard of living, consistent with the laws of God and with the dignity of men.
The love of our neighbour as ourselves, would solve every individual and social problem in this life.
Men would grow into a vast community of brothers devoid of all barriers of hate, selfishness and greed.
This is not a Utopian dream, because it is the clear teaching of the Gospel.
Jesus did not preach the impossible.
He taught us the standards of the perfect life, which we are all obliged to try and lead.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, SPEAKING of .....

Quote/s of the Day – 18 April – Speaking of:   The Great Commission

Quote/s of the Day – 18 April – Easter Saturday

Speaking of:   The Great Commission

“I preached myself,
the scholars came and praised me.
I preached Christ,
the sinners came and thanked me.”

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

i preached myself the scholars came ...i preached Christ - 18 april 2020

“There is a difference between
renouncing all things
and leaving all things.
For it is the way of few perfect men,
to leave all things, that is,
to cast behind them the cares of the world
but, it is the part of all the faithful,
to renounce all things,
that is, so to hold the things of the world,
instead of by them,
being held in the world.”

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

there is a difference between renouncing all things and leaving all things st bede 18 april 2020

“Sanctify yourself
and you will sanctify society.”

St Francis of Assisi (c 1181-1226)

sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society st francis 18 april 2020

“Here lies the test of truth,
the touchstone of evangelisation –
it is unthinkable, that a person,
should accept the Word
and give himself to the kingdom,
without becoming a person
who bears witness to it
and proclaims it in his turn.”

St Pope Paul VI (1897-1978)

here lies the test of truth the touchstone of evanelisation - st pope paul VI 18 april 2020

“Tell others about the truth that sets you free.”

Pope Benedict XVI

telll others about the truth that sets you free pope benedict XVI 18 april 2020

“Our solid conviction, is that Jesus is, who He said He is
and He can do, what He says He can do.
Not only that but if Jesus is, who He says He is,
then you are, who He says you are.
And if He is who He says He is,
then you can do, what He says you can do.”

our solid conviction - fr mike schmitz 18 april 2020

“You are a billboard for Christ!”

Father Mike Schmitz

you are a billboard for christ - 25 oct 2019

“God will put someone in your path today
who doesn’t necessarily need you…
but who desperately needs Christ in you.”

god will put someone in your path today-mark hart 18 april 2020

“Oh, how thunderous the applause must be in Heaven,
all those times we are mocked on earth for the sake of His name.”

Mark Hart

Mark Hart serves as Executive Vice President for Life Teen International. A graduate from the University of Notre Dame, Mark is a best-selling and award-winning author (or co-author) of over a dozen books. His wildly popular DVD Bible Study Series,”T3″ is revolutionizing Catholic youth/young adult Scripture Study. He is the “Bible Geek.”

oh how thunderous the applause must be in heaven - mark hart 18 april 2020

“Withholding the truth of Christianity
would be even more uncharitable,
than withholding a cure for cancer.”

Unknown

withholding the truth of christianity - unknown 18 april 2020

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 April – ‘Jesus is with me’

Quote/s of the Day – 17 April – Easter Friday, Readings: Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27, John 21:1-14

Just as day was breaking,
Jesus stood on the shore ..

John 21:4

john 21 4 jesus stood on the shore - 17 april 2020

“In her voyage across the ocean of this world,
the Church is like a great ship
being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses.
Our duty is not to abandon ship
but to keep her on her course.”

St Boniface (672-754)

in her voyage across the ocean of this world - st boniface 16 may 2019

“Jesus is with me.
I have nothing to fear.”

Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925)

jesus is with me i have nothing to fear bl pier giorgio frassati 4 july 2019

“Enemy-occupied territory – that is what this world is.
Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed,
you might say landed in disguise
and is calling us all,
to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.”

C S Lewis (1898-1963)

enemy-occupied-territory-c-s-lewis-19-april-speaking-of-becoming-a-saint

Never forget that only dead fish swim with the stream.

Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990)

Thomas Malcolm Muggeridge (24 March 1903 – 14 November 1990)
was an English journalist and satirist.
His father was a prominent socialist politician
and one of the early Labour Party Members of Parliament.
In his twenties, Muggeridge was attracted to communism
but after living in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, he became a forceful anti-communist.
In 1982, aged 79, Muggeridge was received into the Catholic Church along with his wife, Kitty.    This was largely under the influence of Mother Teresa,
about whom he had written a book, ‘Something Beautiful for God,’
setting out and interpreting her life.

never forget that only dead fish swim with the stream 17 april 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EASTER, I BELIEVE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 April – “It is the Lord!”

One Minute Reflection – 17 April – Easter Friday, Readings: Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27, John 21:1-14

“It is the Lord!” … John 21:7

REFLECTION – “The Lord says to those tired and disappointed fishermen:  “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some” (v. 6).   The disciples trust in Jesus and the result is an incredibly abundant catch.   In that exclamation: “It is the Lord!” there is all the enthusiasm of the Paschal faith, full of joy and wonder, which sharply contrasts with the disappearance, the dejection, the sense of powerlessness that had accumulated in the disciples’ hearts.

The presence of the Risen Jesus transforms everything – darkness has become light, futile work has again become fruitful and promising, the sense of weariness and abandonment, give way to a new impetus and to the certainty that He is with us.   From that time, these same sentiments enliven the Church, the Community of the Risen One.  All of us are the community of the Risen One!” … Pope Francis – Regina Coeli, 10 April 2016john 21 7 it is the lord - the presence of the Risen Jesus transforms everything - pope francis - 17 april 2020 easter friday

PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, You offer the covenant of reconciliation to mankind in the mystery of Easter.   Cleanse our hearts by Your truth and guide our lives by Your holiness, may we do what is right and pleasing to You.   Open our eyes to see You and our ears to Hear You, that we may follow your commandments and Your Way.   Grant that what we celebrate in worship, we may carry out in our lives.   May our Holy Mother, ever keep us in her prayers and care.   Through Christ, our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour to You, forever, amenblessed virgin mother pray for us 17 april 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 17 April – Bl James Alberione -To Jesus, Master, the Way

Our Morning Offering – 17 April – Easter Friday

To Jesus, the Way
By Bl James Alberione (1884-1971)

O Jesus,
You are the Way secure,
You guide us on life’s troubled ways,
amid the errors of each age,
while we gaze toward our fatherland.
taking to Yourself our nature,
You came to us in flesh and blood
and as our model and our mould,
You call us to tread the way You trod.
A stable You chose at birth,
long years You laboured tirelessly,
the bitter Cross You did embrace
and so You tell us,
“Learn of me.”
Jesus, our everlasting Way, Truth and Life,
by You we are led,
by You we live,
to Father, You and the Spirit,
may all peoples praise and glory give.
Amen.

Blessed Fr James Alberione (1884-1971)
the Founder of the Pauline Family,
composed various Prayers to Jesus Master,
The Way, the Truth and the Life,
specifically directed to honour Jesus, the Master –
to sanctify the whole person, mind, will and heart.
These prayers are prayed by his Orders everyday.

See Jesus, the Life
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/09/our-morning-offering-9-april-to-jesus-master-the-life/

to jesus the way by bl james alberione 17 april 2020 easter friday

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The RESURRECTION

Our Morning Offering – 15 April – St Bede’s Grant us Your Light, O Lord

Our Morning Offering – 15 April – Thursday of Easter week

Grant us Your Light, O Lord
By St Bede (673-735)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Grant us Your light, O Lord,
so that the darkness of our hearts,
may wholly pass away
and we may come at last,
to the light of Christ.
For Christ is that morning star,
who, when the night of this world has passed,
brings to His saints,
the promised light of life
and opens to them,
everlasting day.
Amen

(From ‘On the Apocalypse’)grant us your light o lord - st bede - easter thursday 16 april 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

Quote/s of the Day – 3 April – Love calls your name

Quote/s of the Day – 3 April – Tuesday in the Easter Octave

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you,
I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1

isaiah 43 1 fear not for i have redeemed you i have called you by name you are mine 14 april 2020 easter tuesday

“Since love grows within you,
so beauty grows.
For love is the beauty of the soul.”

since love grows within you - st augustine - 3 april 2018

“A Christian is:
a mind through which Christ thinks,
a heart through which Christ loves,
a voice through which Christ speaks
and a hand through which Christ helps.”

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

a chrisitan is a mind through which christ thinks - st augustine 14 april 2020 easter tuesday

“He will be with you also,
all the way, that faithful God.
Every morning when you awaken
to the old and tolerable pain,
at every mile of the hot uphill dusty road of tiring duty,
on, to the judgement seat,
the same Christ there as ever,
still loving you,
still sufficient for you, even then.
And then, on through all eternity.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

he will be with you also all the way - thomas a kempis 14 april 2020

“Think of the Cross when you rise and when you lie down,
when you go out and when you come in,
when you eat and when you walk and when you converse,
when you buy and when you sell,
when you labour and when you rest,
consecrating and sealing all your doings with this one mental action –
the thought of the Crucified.
Do not talk of it to others – be silent, like the penitent woman,
who showed her love in deep subdued acts.
She “stood at His feet behind Him weeping
and began to wash His feet with tears
and did wipe them with the hairs of her head
and kissed His feet and anointed them with the Ointment.”
And Christ said of her,
“Her sins, which are many, are forgiven her, for she loved much
but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” [Luke vii. 38, 47.]”

St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Parochial Sermons V 23

think of the cross - st john henry newman 14 april 2020 easter tuesday

“Mary –
the revolution of her life,
the revolution destined
to transform the existence
of every man and woman,
begins with a name
that echoes in the garden
of the empty tomb…”

Pope Francis

Feast of St Mary of Magdalamary the revolution of her life - pope francis - 14 april 2020 easter tuesday

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One Minute Reflection – 12 April – Easter Sunday – The first day of the new life

One Minute Reflection – 12 April – Easter Sunday – The Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord, Readings: Acts 10:34, 37-43, Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23, Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, John 20:1-9 or Matthew 28:1-10

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. … John 20:1mary magdalene came to the tomb - john 20 1 -12 april 2020

REFLECTION – “Here is a wise saying: “The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity” (Sir 11:25).   Today the first sentence passed against us has been forgotten – more! not just forgotten but cancelled!   This day has wiped away completely all remembrance of our condemnation.   In former times childbearing took place in pain, now we are born without suffering.   Formerly we were no more than flesh, born of the flesh, today, what is born is spirit, born of the Spirit.   Yesterday we were born mere children of men, today we are born children of God.   Yesterday we were cast out of heaven to the earth, today, He who reigns in the heavens makes us citizens of heaven.   Yesterday, death reigned because of sin, today, thanks to Him who is the Life, righteousness regains its might.

In former times one man opened for us the gates of death, today, the one Man brings us back to life.   Yesterday, life was lost to us because of death but today, Life has destroyed death.   Yesterday, shame caused us to hide ourselves beneath the fig tree, today, glory draws us towards the tree of life.   Yesterday, disobedience expelled us from Paradise, today, our faith causes us to enter it.   Once again the fruit of life is held out to us to be enjoyed as much as we wish.   Once again the stream of Paradise, whose water irrigates us through the four rivers of the gospels (cf. Gn 2:10), comes to refresh the whole face of the Church. (…)

From now on what are we to do but imitate the mountains and hills of the prophecies in their leaping for joy:  “Mountains, skip like rams; hills, like lambs of the flock!” (Ps 114[113]:4). “Come, then, let us sing joyfully to the Lord!” (Ps 95[94]:1).   He has broken the power of the enemy and raised up the great trophy of the cross…   So let us say: “The Lord is a great God and a great king above all gods!” (Ps 95[94],3).   He blesses the year by crowning it with His bounty (cf. Ps 65[64]:12) and He gathers us together in spiritual chorus in Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory for endless ages. Amen.” … St Gregory of Nyssa (c 335-395) – Father of the Church – Homily for the holy and life-giving Paschjesus christ is risen - in former times - st gregory of nyssa easter sun 12 april 2020

PRAYER – Breviary Hymn
Jesus Christ is ris’n today, Alleluia
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ our heav’nly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now He rules eternal King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!

Praise to God the Father sing, Alleluia!
Praise to God the Son, our King, Alleluia!
Praise to God the Spirit be, Alleluia!
Now and through eternity, Alleluia!jesus christ is risen today alleluia 12 april 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EASTER, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The RESURRECTION

Solemnity of Solemnities – Easter Sunday – 12 April

Solemnity of Solemnities
Easter Sunday – 12 April – The Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord

A Blessed and Holy Easter to you all!
Alleluia!

Christós anésti.
Jesus Christ is risen!  He is truly risen!
Alleluia!
Amen

a-blessed-and-holy-easter-to-you-all-1-april-2018 and 2019 and 12 april 2020

Today we forget the troubles of the world, for we have reached our goal, today is Easter, the day we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection.   This is the single most important feast day of the Church.   With Christ’s Death and Resurrection, Christ has conquered sin and death, the gates of heaven are now open to man.

Yes, Lord, make us Easter people,
men and women of light,
filled with the fire of Your love.
Amen

Pope Francis

Fr Francis Fernandez from his ‘In Conversation with God:  Daily Meditations, Volume Two.’ explains why this feast is so pivotal:

“The glorious Resurrection of the Lord is the key to interpreting His whole life and the ground of our faith.   Without this victory over death, says St Paul, all our preaching would be useless and our faith in vain.
Furthermore, the guarantee of our future resurrection is secured upon the Resurrection of Christ, because although we were dead through sin, God, full of mercy, moved by the infinite compassion with which He loved, gave us Christ…and He raised us with Him. Easter is the celebration of our Redemption and, therefore, the celebration of thanksgiving and joy.
The Resurrection of the Lord is a central reality of the Catholic faith and has been preached as such since the beginning of Christianity.   The importance of this miracle is so great that the Apostles are, above all else, witnesses of Jesus’ Resurrection (cf. Acts 1:22; 2:43; 3:15; etc.).   They announce that Christ is alive and this becomes the nucleus of all their preaching.   After twenty centuries this is what we announce to the world – Christ lives!   The fact of the resurrection is the supreme argument for the divinity of Our Lord….”

“And Jesus Christ lives.
And this crowns us with happiness.
This is the great truth which fills our faith with meaning.
Jesus, who died on the cross, has risen.
He has triumphed over death,
He has overcome sorrow, anguish and the power of darkness…
In Him we find everything.
Outside of Him our life is empty “

St Josemaria Escrivá (1902-1975)

and jesus christ lives - st josemaria escriva -12 april 2020 easter sunday

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY SATURDAY, HOLY WEEK, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The PASSION, The RESURRECTION

Quote/s of the Day – 11 April – Sabbatum Sanctum – I am the Christ.

Quote/s of the Day – 11 April – Sabbatum Sanctum – Holy Saturday –

Easter Vigil in the Holy Night

“Darkness is not dark for you and night shines as the day” (Ps 138:12)

“…He slept so that we might be awakened,
He died so that we might live.”

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

psalm 138 12 darkness is not dark - he slept so that we might be awakend - st augustine holy sat 20 april 2019

In Praise of Christ

Born as a son,
led forth as a lamb,
sacrificed as a sheep,
buried as a man,
He rose from the dead as a God,
for He was by nature God and man.

He is all things:
He judges and so He is Law,
He teaches and so He is Wisdom,
He saves and so He is Grace,
He begets and so He is Father,
He is begotten and so He is Son,
He suffers and so He is Sacrifice,
He is buried and so He is man,
He rises again and so He is God.
This is Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs glory for all ages.

in praise of christ born as a son led forth as a lamb st melito of sardis 11 april 2020

“The Lord, though He was God, became man.
He suffered for the sake of whose who suffer,
He was bound for those in bonds,
condemned for the guilty,
buried for those who lie in the grave
but He rose from the dead and cried aloud:
“Who will contend with me? Let him confront me.”
I have freed the condemned, brought the dead back to life,
raised men from their graves.
Who has anything to say against me?
I, He said, am the Christ, I have destroyed death,
triumphed over the enemy, trampled hell underfoot,
bound the strong one and taken men up to the heights of heaven.
I am the Christ.
Come, then, all you nations of men, receive forgiveness for the sins that defile you.
I am your forgiveness.
I am the Passover that brings salvation.
I am the lamb who was immolated for you.
I am your Ransom, your Life, your Resurrection, your Light, I am your Salvation and your King.
I will bring you to the heights of heaven.
With my own right hand I will raise you up
and I will show you the eternal Father.”

– from a letter by Saint Melito of Sardis

Saint Melito, Bishop of Sardis (Died c 180)
Early Church Father

 

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HYMNS, I BELIEVE!, POETRY, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 10 April – The Sign of the Cross

Quote/s of the Day – 10 April – Friday of the Passion of the Lord

“Great thing is the knowledge of the crucified Christ.
How many things are enclosed inside this treasure!
Christ crucified!
Such is the hidden treasure of wisdom and science.
Do not be deceived, then, under the pretext of wisdom.
Gather before the covering and pray, that it may be uncovered.
Foolish philosopher of this world, what you are looking for is worthless…
What is the advantage of being thirsty, if you despise the source? …
And what is His precept but that we believe in Him and love each other?
In whom? In Christ crucified.
This is His commandment – that we believe in Christ crucified …
But where humility is, there is also majesty,
where weakness is, there shall one find power,
where death is, there shall be life as well.
If you wish to arrive at the second part, do not despise the first!“

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

Sermon 160, 3-4

this is his commandment that we believe - st augustine good friday 10 april 2020

“Come, kneel before the Lord:
He shed for us His Blood.
He died the victim of pure love,
To make us one with God.”

Edward Caswall (1814-1878)

(15 July 1814 – 2 January 1878) was an Anglican clergyman and hymn writer
who converted to Roman Catholicism and became a Oratorian under St John Henry Newman.

come kneel before the lord - edward caswall - orat st john henry - good friday 10 april 2020

The Sign of the Cross

WHENE’ER across this sinful flesh of mine
I draw the Holy Sign,
All good thoughts stir within me and renew
Their slumbering strength divine,
Till there springs up a courage high and true
To suffer and to do.

And who shall say but hateful spirits around,
For their brief hour unbound,
Shudder to see and wail their overthrow?
While on far heathen ground
Some lonely Saint hails the fresh odour, though
Its source he cannot know.

St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Oxford – 25 November 1832

the sign of the cross st john henry newman poem 10 april 2020 good friday

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, MAUNDY THURSDAY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 April – ‘… Walk in Him …’

One Minute Reflection – 9 April – Maundy Thursday, Evening Vigil Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, Psalms 116:12-13, 15-18, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15

Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not know now but afterward, you will understand.”   Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.”   Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” … John 12:7-8

john 13 8 if i do not wash you you have no part in me - maundy thursday holy 9 april 2020

REFLECTION – “Jesus, fully aware that the Father had put everything into His power and that He had come from God and was returning to God, rose from supper.”   That which had not been in Jesus’s hands before is put into His hands by the Father – not just some things and not others but everything.

David had said:  “The Lord says to my lord:  Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies your footstool” (Ps 109[110]:1).   The enemies of Jesus shared out, as it were, that ‘all’ which He knew His Father was giving Him. (…)   On account of those who were far away from God, He was separated from God who, by nature, did not wish to leave the Father.   He left God, so that all who have been separated from God, should return to God with Him, in His hands, according to His eternal design. (…)

So what was Jesus doing in washing the feet of His disciples?   By washing them and wiping them with the towel around His waist wasn’t Jesus making their feet beautiful at the moment when they were going to have to proclaim the good news?   It was then, in my opinion, that the prophetic word was fulfilled:  “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news!” (Is 52:7; Rm 10:15).   But if, by washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus makes them beautiful, how can we express the genuine beauty in those whom He immerses fully “in the Holy Spirit and in fire” (Mt 3:11)?   The feet of the apostles were made beautiful so that (…) they might set out along the holy road and walk in Him who said:  “I am the Way” (Jn 14:6).   For whoever has had his feet washed by Jesus and he alone, follows that living way that leads to the Father.   That way has no room for dirty feet! (…)   In order to follow this living, spiritual way (Heb 10:20) (…) they had to have their feet washed by Jesus who set aside His garments (…) so as to take upon His own body, the dirtiness of their feet with the towel which was His only garment, for “he bears our infirmities” (Is 53:4). … Origen (c 185-253) Father of Church, Priest, Theologian – Commentary on St John’s Gospel

the feet of the apostles were made beautiful -origen 9 april 2020

PRAYER – Love of You, with our whole heart, Lord God, is holiness. Increase then Your gifts of divine grace in us, so that, as in Your Son’s Death, You made us hope for what we believe, You may likewise, in His Resurrection, make us come to You, our final end. Listen we beg, to the prayers of Your holy ones and may the Blessed Mother walk along with us and keep our hand, ever in hers.   Through Jesus Himself, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God with You, forever and ever, amen.

mother of sorrows pray for us 16 nov 2019

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 9 April – To Jesus Master, the Life

Our Morning Offering – 9 April – Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

To Jesus, the Life
By Blessed James Alberione (1884-1971)

O Wellspring of eternal life,
all life is grafted in You, Lord,
You break the bonds of death
and give life to us anew.
Descending from Your splendid throne,
You have brought this gift to us below,
profusely from Your open side,
You bestow divine riches.
We have joined Your Mystical Body,
engrafted by baptismal grace,
life flowing from Your seven springs,
lifts up anew our fallen race.
Though wounded by our parents’ fault,
our nature is restored by grace,
virtue is practised for Your love
and reaps the heavenly reward.
Only You can give true peace,
lead nations to live in harmony,
cause innocence to bloom in homes,
grant prosperity to our works.
Jesus, our everlasting Life, Truth and Way,
by You, we are led,
by You we live,
to Father, You and the Spirit,
may all peoples praise and glory give.
Amen

Blessed Fr James Alberione (1884-1971)
the Founder of the Pauline Family,
composed various Prayers to Jesus Master,
The Way, the Truth and the Life,
specifically directed to honour Jesus, the Master –
to sanctify the whole person, mind, will and heart.
These prayers are prayed by his Orders everyday.

to jesus the life by bl james alberione 9 april 2020 maundy thursday holy thursday

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, LENT 2020, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

Lenten Reflection – 3 April – ‘He alone is Priest, Sacrifice and Temple…’

Lenten Reflection – 3 April – Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13, Psalm 18:2-7, John 10:31-42

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

“If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me
but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works,
that you may know and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” … John 10:37-38

Daily Meditation:
Set us free.

“The Apostle teaches that Christ offered Himself for us to God as a fragrant offering and sacrifice.   He is the true God and the true high priest who for our sake entered once for all into the holy of holies, taking with Him not the blood of bulls and goats but His own blood.   This was foreshadowed by the high priest of old when each year he took blood and entered the holy of holies.

Christ is, therefore, the one who in Himself alone, embodied all that He knew to be necessary to achieve our redemption.   He is at once Priest and Sacrifice, God and Temple. He is the Priest through whom we have been reconciled, the Sacrifice by which we have been reconciled, the Temple in which we have been reconciled, the God with whom we have been reconciled.   He alone is Priest, Sacrifice and Temple because He is all these things as God, in the form of a Servant but He is not alone as God, for He is this with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the form of God.

Hold fast to this and never doubt it – the only-begotten Son, God the Word, becoming man offered Himself for us, to God, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice.   In the time of the Old Testament, patriarchs, prophets and priests sacrificed animals in His honour and in honour of the Father and the Holy Spirit, as well.   Now in the time of the New Testament the Holy Catholic Church, throughout the world, never ceases to offer the Sacrifice of bread and wine, in faith and love, to Him and to the Father and the Holy Spirit, with whom He shares one Godhead.” … St Fulgentius of Ruspe (c 462 – 533) – An excerpt from his Treatise on Faith addressed to PeterFRIDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK 3 APRIL 2020

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:2-3

Intercessions:
Thanks be to Christ the Lord,
who brought us life by is death on the cross.
With our whole heart let us askHhim:
By Your death raise us to life.

Teacher and Saviour,
You have shown us Your fidelity and made us a new creation by Your passion,
– keep us from falling again into sin.
Help us to deny ourselves today,
– and not deny those in need.
May we receive this day of penance as Your gift,
– and give it back to You through works of mercy.
Master our rebellious hearts,
– and teach us generosity.
Closing Prayer:
Most forgiving Lord,
again and again You welcome me back into Your loving arms.
Grant me freedom from the heavy burdens of sin
that weigh me down
and keep me so far from You.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

“O Fountain of everlasting love,
what shall I say of You?
How can I forget You,
Who have vouchsafed to remember me
even after I was corrupted and lost?”

Thomas á Kempis (1380-1471)

Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 10

o-fountain-of-everlasting-love-thomas-a-kempis-3-april-2019 AND 2 APRIL 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2020, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 April – “Then they tried to seize him.”

One Minute Reflection – 3 April – Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13, Psalm 18:2-7, John 10:31-42

“Then they tried to seize him.” … John 10:39

REFLECTION “If the Law calls them gods to whom the word of God came and scripture cannot be set aside,how can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”   Yes indeed, if God has spoken to us so that we might be called ‘gods,’ how could the Word of God, the Word that is in God, not be God?   If we have been made sharers in His nature and have become gods because God speaks to us, how could this Word, through which this gift comes to us, not be God? …   As for you, you approach the Light and receive it and are counted among the children of God but if you draw back, you become dark and are counted among the children of darkness (cf. 1 Thes 5:5). …

“Believe the works, so that you may realise and understand, that the Father is in me and I in the Father.”   The Son of God does not say “the Father is in me and I in the Father” in the same sense as we are able to do.   In effect, if our thoughts are good, we are in God;  if our lives are holy, God is in us.   When we are sharers in His grace and enlightened by His light then we are in Him and He in us.   But … recognise what is proper to the Lord and what is a gift made to His servant.   What is proper to the Lord is His equality with the Father but the gift granted to His servant, is to participate in the Saviour.

“Then they tried to seize him.”   If only they had seized Him!   But by faith and intellect, not so as to mock and put him to death!   At this very moment, as I speak to you …, all of us, both you and I, are wanting to seize Christ.   To ‘seize’, what does that mean?   You have ‘seized’ when you have understood.   But Christ’s enemies were looking for something different.   You have seized in order to possess but they wanted to seize Him in order to get rid of Him.   And because this was how they wanted to seize Him, what does Jesus do?   “He escaped from their power.”   They were unable to seize Him because they did not have the hands of faith. …   We truly seize Christ if our minds grasp the Word.” … St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church – Sermons on the Gospel of John, no 48, 9-11john 10 39 then they tried to seize him - to seize what does that mean st augustine 3 april 2020

PRAYER – Holy Father, our Father, help us to lay down the stones of hate and embrace Your Son who stands before us in need.   Give us the hands of faith and minds to grasp the Word, teach us to see His Face in those who cry out to us.   Teach us compassion and love.   Mary, your Immaculate Heart is our school.   We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen.immaculate heart pray for us 3 april 2020

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Lenten Reflection – 1 April – Let us then recognise both our voice in His and His voice in ours. 

Lenten Reflection – 1 April – Wednesday of the Fifth week of Lent, Readings: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95, Responsorial psalm Daniel 3:52-56, John 8:31-42

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples
and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”…John 8:31-32

john-8-39-40-if-you-were-abrahams-children-wedfifthweeklent-10-april-2019 and 1 april 2020

Daily Meditation:
Enlighten our minds and sanctify our hearts.

“God could give no greater gift to men than to make His Word, through whom He created all things, their head and to join them to Him as His members, so that the Word might be both Son of God and son of man, one God with the Father and one man with all men.   The result is that when we speak with God in prayer, we do not separate the Son from Him and when the body of the Son prays, it does not separate its head from itself, it is the one Saviour of His body, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who prays for us and in us and is Himself the object of our prayers.
He prays for us, as our priest, He prays in us, as our head, He is the object of our prayers, as our God.
Let us then recognise both our voice in His and His voice in ours.   When something is said, especially in prophecy, about the Lord Jesus Chris,t that seems to belong to a condition of lowliness, unworthy of God, we must not hesitate to ascribe this condition to one who did not hesitate to unite Himself with us.   Every creature is His servant, for it was through Him that every creature came to be.” … Saint Augustine (354-430) Bishop and Great Western Father of the Church

he prays for us - st augustine - 1 april 2020

Intercessions:
Blessed be God, the giver of salvation,
who decreed that mankind should become a new creation in Himself,
when all would be made new.
With great confidence let us ask Him:
Lord, renew us in Your Spirit.

Lord, You promised a new heaven and a new earth,
renew us daily through Your Spirit,
– that we may enjoy Your presence forever in the heavenly Jerusalem.
Help us to work with You to make this world alive with Your Spirit,
– and to build on earth a city of justice, love and peace.
Free us from all negligence and sloth,
– and give us joy in Your gifts of grace.
Deliver us from evil,
– and from slavery to the senses,
which blinds us to Your love, freedom and truth.

Closing Prayer:

Grant that I may love You
and be loved by You
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)

O God of love,
You are
and shall be forever,
the only delight of my heart
and the sole object of my affections.
Since Jesus said,
‘Ask and you shall receive,’
I do not hesitate to say,
‘Give me Your love
and Your grace.’
Grant that I may love You
and be loved by You.
I want nothing else.
Amen

grant-that-i-may-love-you-and-beloved-by-you-st-alphonsus-liguori-1-april-2019 and 1 april 2020

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One Minute Reflection – 1 April – ‘By faith we adhere to Christ …’

One Minute Reflection – 1 April – Wednesday of the Fifth week of Lent, Readings:  Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95, Responsorial psalm Daniel 3:52-56, John 8:31-42 and the Memorial of St Lodovico Pavoni FMI (1784-1849)

“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”...John 8:31-32

REFLECTION – “By faith we adhere to Christ and the edifice of our spiritual life becomes thereby firm and stable.   Christ makes us share in the stability of the divine rock against which even hell’s fury cannot prevail (Mt 16:18).

Thus divinely sustained, we are conquerors over the assaults and temptations of the world and of the devil, the prince of this world (1 Jn 5:4).   The devil and the world, which the devil uses as an accomplice, offer violence to us or solicit us;  by faith in the word of Jesus we come out victorious from these attacks.   …Now, the devil is “the father of lies and the prince of darkness” (cf. Eph 6:12) while God is ” the Truth” and “in Him is no darkness” (cf. Jn 14:6; 1 Jn 1:5).   If we always listen to God, we shall always be victorious. When our Lord, who is our model in all things, was tempted, He repulsed temptation by placing the authority of God’s Word in opposition to each solicitation of the Evil One.   We ought to do the same and repulse hell’s attacks by faith in Jesus’ word. (…)

What is true of the devil is true of the world – it is by faith that we overcome it.   When people have a living faith in Christ, they fear neither difficulties nor opposition, nor the world’s judgement,s because they know that Christ abides in us, by faith and because they rely on Him.” … Blessed Columba Marmion (1858-1923) Abbot – Our faith, the victory over the world (Christ, the Ideal of the Monk, rev.)

john 8 31-32 if you continue in my word - if we always listen to god - bl columba marmion 1 april 2020

PRAYER – God of mercy, shed Your light on our hearts that are being purified by penance and in Your goodness, give us a favourable hearing. Teach us to work with You and for You and thus fill the world with Your Spirit.   In Christ our Saviour, we become a new creation and Your adopted children, therefore, all things are renewed.   May the prayers of St Lodovico Pavoni, who gave himself completely to You and Your little ones, assist us to do the same.   Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

st lodovico pavoni pray for us 1 april 2020

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Lenten Reflection – 31 March – The Word of the Cross

Lenten Reflection – 31 March – Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Readings: Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21, John 8:21-30

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

“When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I Am He…”…John 8:28

john-8-28-when-yu-have-lifted-up-the-son-of-man-tuesdayfifthweeklent-9-april-2019 and 31 March 2020

Daily Meditation:
May we be lifted up with you.

“Jesus lifted up draws all to Himself.
Jesus lifted up on the Cross, reveals fully Whoe He really is.
Jesus is most Jesus, when He is on the Cross.
Even though at Calvary, Jesus was taunted and mocked
by the rabid rabble, to come down from the Cross,
He remained transfixed on it, till the very end.
We need to mount the Cross with Jesus!
We need to see the world from that vantage viewpoint.
Then, everything falls into proper perspective,
then we begin to see the world, as it is.
It is only when we are with Jesus on the Cross,
that we are stretched to our fullest dimensions!” … Msgr Alex Rebello

For my days pass away like smoke
and my bones burn like a furnace.
Psalm 102:3

Intercessions:
Praise to Christ, who has given us Himself as the bread from heaven.
Let us pray to Him, saying:
Jesus, You feed and heal our souls, come to strengthen us.

Lord, feed us at the banquet of the Eucharist,
– with all the gifts of Your Paschal Sacrifice.
Give us a perfect heart to receive Your word,
– that we may bring forth fruit in patience.
Make us eager to work with You in building a better world,
– so that it may listen to Your Church and its gospel of peace.
We confess, Lord, that we have sinned,
– wash us clean by Your gift of salvation.

Closing Prayer:

The Word of the Cross
by Saint Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431) 

Look on thy God, Christ hidden in our flesh.
A bitter word, the cross and bitter sight:
Hard rind without, to hold the heart of heaven.
Yet sweet it is, for God upon that tree
Did offer up His life upon that rood
My Life hung, that my life might stand in God.
Christ, what am I to give Thee for my life?
Unless take from Thy hands the cup they hold,
To cleanse me with the precious draught of death.
What shall I do? My body to be burned?
Make myself vile? The debt’s not paid out yet.
Whate’er I do, it is but I and Thou,
And still do I come short, still must Thou pay
My debts, O Christ, for debts Thyself hadst none.
What love may balance Thine? My Lord was found
In fashion like a slave, that so His slave
Might find himself in fashion like his Lord.
Think you the bargain’s hard, to have exchanged
The transient for the eternal, to have sold
Earth to buy Heaven? More dearly God bought me.

the word of the cross by st paulinus of nola - 31 march 2020

“Christ’s shoulders are the arms of the cross,
there it is, that I have laid down my sins,
on that gallows I have found my rest. “

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

christs-shoulders-are-the-arms-of-the-cross-st-ambrose-good-shepherd-luke-15-1-32-15-sept-2019 and 31 march 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 30 March – Lord, Kindle our Lamps

Our Morning Offering – 30 March – Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Lord, Kindle our Lamps
By St Columban (543-615)

Lord, kindle our lamps,
Saviour most dear to us,
that we may always shine
in Your presence
and always receive light
from You, the Light Perpetual,
so that our own personal darkness
may be overcome
and the world’s darkness
driven from us.
Amen

(This is an excerpt from a much longer prayer and is taken from the wonderful Sermon XII by St Columban)

lord kindle our lamps by st columban short version 30 march 2020