Quote/s of the Day – 30 March – Thursday in Passion Week – Daniel 3:25, 34-45, Luke 7:36-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“She began to bathe His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet and anointed them with ointment.”
Luke 7:38
“Do not content yourself with confessing your venial sins merely as to the fact but accuse yourself too, of the motive which induced you to commit them.” (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part II, Chapter 19).
“We must be very sorry for faults with a repentance which is strong, constant, tranquil but not troubled, unquiet or fainthearted.” (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 9, Chapter 7).
“Christ was more concerned with St. Peter’s repentance and remorse, than with his sin.” (The Spirit of St. François de Sales, VII, 8)
Thought for the Day – 24 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Jesus Lost in the Temple
“Now, let us reflect on the anguish of Mary and Joseph over the loss of Jesus. They had no peace as long as they could not find Him. They set out immediately on the difficult return journey to Jerusalem and searched anxiously for three days. They did not rest until they had found Him at last.
Unfortunately, we too lose Jesus whenever we commit sin. Our Lord dwells in our souls by His grace but, if we sin seriously, the devil takes possession. We know well that the devil is a cunning tyrant. He entices us by every means in his power, to give free play to our passions and then leaves us in a state of bitterness and remorse. Sometimes he oppresses us to the point of desperation.
If ever we should fall and lose the grace of God, let us repent immediately with the words of the prodigal son “I will get up and go to my Father and will say to Him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee” (Lk 15:18). Like the Blessed Virgin and St Joseph, let us go immediately in search of Jesus, Whom we have lost. We shall have no peace until we have found Him. We too shall find Him in the Temple, for we shall find Him in prayer, in the tribunal of Penance and in Holy Communion.”
Our Lenten Journey with St Francis de Sales – 22 March – Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Lent – Isaias 1:16-19, John 9:1-38 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“If sin abounds in malice to destroy, grace superabounds to repair.” Romans 5:20
“One thing I know that whereas I was blind. now I see.” John 9:25
THE MERCY OF GOD ON THE RETURN OF A SINNER St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas
“THE ENTRANCE OF SIN, takes away life from the heart and from all its good works; the entrance of grace, restores life to the heart and to all its good works. A severe winter kills the plants of the field, so that, were it to continue always, they should remain forever dead.
Sin, the sad and fearful winter of the soul, kills the holy works which it finds there and, were it to continue always, never should life or vigour return. But as, on the approach of lovely spring, not only the new seeds which we cast into the earth, shoot up and bud, under the influence of this mild season of fecundity, every one according to its kind but also the old plants, which the bitterness of the preceding winter had wasted and withered, grow green again and take back their former life.
So sin being destroyed,and the grace of Divine Love coming back to the soul, not only the new affections, which the return of the sacred springtime brings, germinate and produce many merits and benedictions but also, the works faded away under the harshness of the winter of past sin, being delivered from their mortal enemy and reinvigorated and, as it were, resuscitated, flourish anew and fructify in merits for eternal life. …
God has promised an eternal recompense to the works of the just man but, if the just man turn away from His Justice by sin, God will no longer remember his justices, or the good works which he has done. But if, nevertheless, this poor man, after falling into sin, rises again and returns to Divine Love by penance, God will no longer remember his sin and, if He will no longer remember his sin, He will then remember his preceding good works and the recompense they had deserved, since sin, which alone can take them away from the Divine Memory, is effaced, abolished and annihilated.” – (Consoling Thoughts on God and Providence).
Thought for the Day – 17 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Privation
“Suffering and want can raise us to great moral heights. A man who knows how to do without worldly things, shows his superiority over them. A man who knows how to deny himself for the love of God and offers his suffering to Him, is raised to a higher plane of unity and friendship with God. A man who strips himself of vanity, becomes humble. A man who denies himself sleep and food, becomes temperate. A man who refuses to give leeway to pride and anger, becomes patient and gentle. A man who restrains his bodily appetites when they threaten to dominate him, purifies his soul and grows nearer to God.
When we cheerfully accept the sufferings and privations of this life from supernatural motives, we are preparing ourselves for the everlasting happiness of Heaven.”
Thought for the Day – 5 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Mortification and Penance
“In Christian teaching, death is the beginning of life. “Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies,” Jesus said, “it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. He who loves his life, loses it and he, who hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life everlasting” (Jn 12:24-25). This paradox of dying to this life in order to live in Heaven, was enacted in a wonderful way in the lives of Jesus and of the Saints. It must be put into effect in our lives also, if we are to be genuine Christians. Jesus shed His precious blood for us and His death was the beginning of His triumph. The Apostles, Martyrs and Saints, gave their lives for Christ and received, as their reward, the happy and eternal life of Heaven. By dying to our own ego and to our passions, we shall find the true life of Christ. We must die to ourselves, so that Christ may live in us, as He lived in St Paul. We must die to pride, so that Christian humility may live in us; we must die to anger, so that patience may live in us; we must die to lust, so that purity and innocence may live in us and, we must die to selfishness, so that charity may live in us.”
Quote/s of the Day – 1 March – Ember Wednesday – 3 Kings. 19:3-8, Matthew 12:38-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for they repented …”
Matthew 12:41
“The sign of Jonah”
Matthew 12:39
“It was, too, to lead the Ninevites to firm repentance and to convert them to Him, Who would deliver them from death, amazed as they were by the sign accomplished in Jonah … In the same way, God permitted man to be swallowed by that great monster, the author of disobedience, not so that he should altogether vanish away and die but because God, had prepared beforehand, the salvation fulfilled by His Word by means of the “sign of Jonah.”
St Irenaeus (130-208) Bishop of Lyons, Martyr and Father
“… In the conceitedness of our souls, without taking the least trouble to obey the Lord’s Commandments, we think ourselves worthy to receive the same reward as those who have resisted sin to the death!”
St Basil the Great (329-379) Father and Doctor of the Church
“To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done and to do no evil to bewail.”
“But He still follows behind us and counsels us, that we have despised Him but He still does not cease to call us. We turn our backs on His face, so to speak, when we reject His Words, when we trample His Commandments underfoot but He, Who sees that we reject Him, still calls out to us by His Commandments and waits for us by His patience, stands behind us and calls us back when we have turned away.”
St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) Father & Doctor of the Church
“What are we doing? If we really love the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we should offer penance and sacrifices in order to make reparation for our sins and the sins of others and, to propitiate this adorable Heart, Which ardently desires to bestow new favours upon us.”
Quote/s of the Day – 23 February – The Memorial of St Peter Damian (1007-1072) 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.”
“I scourge both flesh and spirit because I know that I have offended in both flesh and spirit.”
“May Christ be heard in our language, may Christ be seen in our life, may He be perceived in our hearts”
“Let us faithfully transmit to posterity, the example of virtue, which we have received, from our forefathers.”
Our Morning Offering – 23 FebruaryAsh Thursday and The Memorial of St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Doctor of the Church
Have Mercy, Lord By St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Doctor of the Church
Have mercy, Lord, on all my friends and relatives, on all my benefactors, on all who pray to Thee for me and on all who have asked me to pray to Thee, for them. Give them the spirit of fruitful penance, mortify them in all vices and make them flower in all Thy virtues. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 5 February – Septuagesima Sunday – Preparing to Prepare
“Prepare the way of the Lord make His paths straight” …
Luke 3:4
“There is still time for endurance, time for patience, time for healing, time for change. Have you slipped? Rise up! Have you sinned? Cease! Do not stand among sinners but leap aside!”
St Basil the Great (329-379) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Then the righteous shall shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.”
Matthew 13:43
“So from now on, run well (cf. Gal 5:7) and may the devil not bewitch you (cf. Gal 3:1) nor hinder you! … May mercy, peace, charity, freedom from envy, from jealousy and ostentation come upon you, docility, friendly speech, solidarity, compassion towards each other, humility.”
St Theodore the Studite (759-826)
My Lord Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me, with love unutterable and I have so many times unworthily abandoned You but now I love You with my whole heart and because I love You, I repent sincerely for having ever offended You. Pardon me, my God and permit me to accompany You on this journey. You go to die for love of me, I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You.” Amen
By St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
“Each and everyone of us, at the end of the journey of life, will come, face to face with either one, or the other of two faces… And one of them, either, the merciful face of Christ or the miserable face of Satan, will say, “Mine, mine.”
One Minute Reflection – 16 January – Saint Pope Marcellus I (Died 309) – 1 Peter 5:1-4, 10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven.” – Matthew 16:19
REFLECTION – “Bridegroom and Bride, that is Christ and the Church, are as one, be it in receiving confession or in bestowing absolution. All this makes clear why Christ had to tell each of us: “Go, show yourself to the priest” (Mt 8,4)… It follows that apart from Christ, the Church cannot grant forgiveness and that Christ has no will to forgive, apart from the Church. The Church’s authority to forgive extends only to the repentant, to those, that is, whom Christ has already touched; Christ, on His part, has no intention of regarding as forgiven, one who despises the Church.
Doubtless, Christ need accept no restraints to His power of Baptising, Consecrating the Eucharist, Ordaining Priests, forgiving sins and the like but, the humble and faithful Bridegroom, prefers to confer such blessings, with the co-operation of His Bride. “What God,” then, “has joined, let no man put asunder” (Mt 19,6). “I say this is a great mystery and refers to Christ and the Church” (Eph 5,32)… To remove the Head from the Body (Col 1,18) were to ruin the whole Christ, irreparably. Christ, apart from the Church, is no more the whole Christ, than the Church is complete, if separated from Christ. Head and Body go to make the whole and entire Christ.” – Bl Isaac of Stella (c 1100 – c 1170) Cistercian Monk, Abbot, Theologian, Philosopher (Sermon 11, §11-814).
PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, graciously hear the prayers of Thy people, that we may be helped by the merits of blessed Marcellus, Thy Pope and Martyr, whose sufferings we celebrate. 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).
Thought for the Day – 7 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Fasting and Abstinence
“Nowadays, fast and abstinence, takes the form of precepts of the Church which binds us under pain of mortal sin. Before, they were commanded by the Church, however, they had been commanded by God. God made the first law of this kind when He ordered Adam to obstain from the forbidden fruit. Moses made particular laws of fast and abstinence for the Jewish people. He also fasted himself, as did the Prophet Elias. “My knees totter from my fasting, writes King David, “and my flesh is wasted of its substance.” (Ps 108:24). “Prayer is good with fasting and alms,” (Tob 12:8) says Tobias. Jesus fasted for forty days as an example to us and He waqrned us that the devil can be conquered only by prayer and fasting (Mt 17:20). In a more general way, He warned us that: “Unless you repent, you will all perish” (Lk 13:5). One of the means of doing penance most often recommended in Sacred Scripture, is fasting and abstinence.
Why, you may ask, should Our Lord and the Church, command us to mortify ourselves in regard to food? There are powerful reasons. It is an act of obedience to God, our absolute Master, Who does not demand anything of us, save for our own welfare. Secondly, it is an act of reparation for our sins. In the third place, it enables us to subdue our carnal impulses and in this way, makes us more obedient to the law of God.
A man who cannot mortify his appetite for food, will certainly not be able to resist the temptations of the flesh. There is a connection between all these things. If we cannot subordinate our bodily appetites to our spiritual faculties and to the Divine law, we shall not be able to raise ourselves from the level of an animal existence, to contact with God, through prayer and the practice of virtue.”
Thought for the Day – 23 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Blessedness of Those Who Mourn
“As well as regretting the evils which beset humanity, the Christian should also shed tears of repentance for his sins. Our sins are so many that they demand penance and reparation. St Aloysius Gonzaga wept whenever he recalled the peccadilloes of his childhood, which were hardly serious enough to be real sins. We have sinned and maybe sinners still but do we weep for our transgressions?
A sincere Christian is not content merely to regret his sins and to pray for forgiveness but he imposes, on himself, voluntary penances in expiation of his own offences and of the offences of others. Tears of repentance are blessed by God, Who forgives and pardons those who mourn for their transgressions.”
Thought for the Day – 12 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Daily Progress
“There are two ways in which we should make constant daily progress. The first is in the removal of our defects and imperfections. As TheImitation of Christ insists, we should soon become holy, if we were to conquer, at least, one sin every year.
It is opportune, at this stage, to ask ourselves, how many years we have already spent on earth? During these years, how many personal defects can we claim to have remedied? Perhaps there was a time when we were better than we are now? If we have wasted time and have abused our Creator’s gifts and favours, we should humble ourselves and do penance before God.
Finally, we should resolve and do our best, to remedy at least one defect everyday. We should select, first of all, whatever imperfection we know to be the most dangerous. This will be difficult and even heroic work but, it is very necessary. We must work on our own character as a sculptor works on a block of marble, hammering, cutting and chiselling patiently and perseveringly. With the help of God, we shall be successful. Even as the Saints succeeded, so we shall succeed, if we depend on God’s grace and make the necessary sacrifices.”
Thought for the Day – 7 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
How We Can Help the Faithful Departed
“There are many ways in which we can come to the assistance of the faithful departed.
(a) We can help them by prayer. This is the simplest way and one which is possible for everyone. When we pray for our dead, we feel that we are close to them and are consoled in our sorrow. Moreover, we can be sure of gaining a great deal in return, for the prayers which they offer on our behalf, are very pleasing to God.
(b) We can offer Holy Mass for them. When we do this, it is not only we who pray but Jesus joins with us and offers Himself as a victim of reparation on behalf of the suffering souls. The Mass has an infinite value and one Mass alone would be enough to empty Purgatory. But the application of its infinite merits are always limited, in accordance with the hidden designs of God. Ir is certain, however, that there is no more effective means of helping the faithful departed.
(c) We can offer our good works on their behalf. Every good action has power to satisfy God for some of the debts which we or others have contracted in His regard. Among the good works which we can offer for the souls in Purgatory, are Holy Communion, voluntary mortifications, meek acceptance of the unavoidable sorrows of life, acts of patience and of compassion, spiritual and corporal works of mercy, Indulgences and almsgivine.”
Quote/s of the Day – 4 November – St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)
“We have only one life and we should spend it for Jesus Christ and souls, not as we wish but, at the time and in the way, God wishes. It would show presumption and neglect of our duty and God’s service, to fail to do this.”
“If a tiny spark of God’s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out… Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter… Do not give yourself to others, so completely, that you have nothing left for yourself.”
“Behold Jesus Christ Crucified, Who is the only foundation of our hope; He is our Mediator and Advocate; the Victim and Sacrifice for our sins. He is goodness and patience itself; His mercy is moved by the tears of sinners and He never refuses pardon and grace, to those who ask it, with a truly contrite and humbled heart.”
“The best way not to find the bed too cold, is to go to bed colder, than the bed already is.”
Our Morning Offering – 14 October – Catholic Time, Friday: The Passion
Have Mercy, Lord By St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Father & Doctor of the Church
Have mercy, Lord, on all my friends and relatives, on all my benefactors, on all who pray to Thee for me and on all who have asked me to pray to Thee, for them. Give them the spirit of fruitful penance, mortify them in all vices and make them flower in all Thy virtues. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 13 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” and the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima: The Sixth & Final Apparition
Our Lady’s Words
“Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego 9 December 1531
“Penance, penance, penance. Pray for sinners.”
Our Lady to St Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, 1858
“I have come, to warn the faithful, to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not continue to offend Our Lord, Who is already too much offended.”
“Look, my Daughter,” Our Lady said to Lúcia on 10 December 1925, “at my heart, surrounded with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce me.”
“My child, behold my Heart all pierced with thorns, which the blasphemies and ingratitude of men drive deeper at every moment . . . make known to men that:
I promise to assist. at the hour of death. with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months, go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say the Rosary and spend a quarter of an hour with me, in meditation on te fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary, with the object of making reparation to me.”
“Say the Rosary everyday to obtain peace for the world. And after each decade, say the following prayer: ‘O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.’”
Quote/s of the Day – 10 October – St Francis Borgia SJ (1510-1572) Confessor
“He who desires to consecrate himself to God must, in the first place, trample under his feet, all regard for what others will say of him. O my God, why do we not ask what Jesus Christ or His holy Mother, will think of our conduct?”
“Wherever our brethren may be, let their first care be, for those already converted. Their first aim must be, to strengthen these in the faith and to help them save their souls. After this, they may convert others not yet Baptised.”
(Excerpt from his correspondence, as Master General of the Order, to the Jesuit Missionaries he had sent to the Spanish colonies in Florida, Mexico and Peru.)
“This beast, (so he often called his body) “must suffer ,to expiate the delight it formerly took, in immoderately flattering its palate and can I forget, that Christ drank gall for me on His Cross!”
Thought for the Day – 27 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Sacrifices of Life
“The Saints looked for mortifications, humiliations, sacreifices; they desired to suffer to show their love for Jesus and to conquer the disordered inclinations of their bodies.
By setting out on the way of penance of the Cross, they purified themselves and reached the summit of sanctity, step-by-step.
What sacrifices and mortifications are we prepared to undertake? Remember that there are two things which we are obliged to do: (1) We must accept patiently, from the hands of God, all the sorrows, troubles and crosses which He sends us. (2) We must be prepared to take up our cross voluntarily and generously, at least ,when we realise, that it is necessary or profitable for our salvation and sanctification.”
Thought for the Day – 19 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Two Paths to Heaven
“The second path to Heaven, however, demands sacrifice on our part. Our repentance must be practical and supernatural. It should lead us to confess our sins in the Sacrament of Penance and to regain God’s friendship in Holy Communion. After that, our way must be one of self-mortification: “Unless you repent,” Jesus warns us, “you will all perish” (Lk 13:51).
The first penance which we must perform, is to offer to God, all the physical and moral sufferings which are in store for us during life and at the hour of death. Then, we must add our own voluntary acts of self-denial. The generosity of the Saints, in this regard, was rewarded by the lasting friendship of God. As for ourselves, we should remember that Jesus, Himself, has warned us that we shall be lost if we neglect to do penance (Ibid).”
Thought for the Day – 25 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Purification
“We should also value Indulgences as a means of spiritual purification. They ought not to be treated lightly. Jesus gave His Church, the power of loosing and binding every bond of sin. As long as we have the necessary dispositions, therefore, it can draw on the merits of Christ and of the Saints, to release us from the temporal punishment due to the sins which have already been forgiven us. It achieves this by the concession of Indulgences. These require, on our part, the fulfilment of certain conditions, a sincere sorrow for sin and, a strong resolution never to offend God again.”
Thought for the Day – 22 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Nature and Grace
“Two extremes must be avoided in the relationship between nature and grace. The first is that of the regorists, who see, in human nature, nothing but confusion and the propensity towards evil and, therefore, advocate an iron domination completely lacking in any understanding of human frailty. They believe that perfection must be achieved swiftly, by means of the most ferocious privations and penance. This excessively severe approach to the spiritual life, can lead to discouragement and eventual collapse.
The way of perfection is an ascending ladder, which must be climbed, step-by-step. Falls must be expected but it is necessary to rise again at once, with renewed courage, knowing that when we reach the top, we shall find rest and peace.
The other extreme is an attitude of superficial ease. There is no emphasis on the necessity of grace, nor on the need for prayer and faithful co-operatin with God’s grace, in order to perform good works. Instead, there is a kid of natural decency and lukewarm virtue, which, ignores the necessity for mortification and the spirit of sacrifice. Anyone who sets out on this path, can never be a fervent and active Catholic.”
Thought for the Day – 18 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Everlasting Salvation
“More than anything else, it is necessary to look after our eternal salvation. In comparison with this, all other business is unimportant. Our personal salvation is the only thing which is absolutely essential in our lives. Let us meditate on this momentous fact which has converted so many sinners and filled Heaven with Saints.
If I lose my soul, what use will ,money or success be to me? What good will be human learning or worldly pleasure? All this will pass away, whereas only my good actions will weigh the balance of Divine Justice in my favour.
Let us think of our sins, which are unfortunately so numerous and of our good actions, which are probably far fewer in number. It will be tragic for us if the weight of our sins should carry us towards damnation. It is still in our power, to guard against this by leading lives of penance and sanctity. “Strive … by good works, to make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet 1:10).”
Quote/s of the Day – 24 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – James 1:22-27, John 16:23-30
“Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:24
“So also, you now indeed have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice. And your joy, no man shall take from you.”
John 16:22
“This is the time for Confession. Confess the sins you have committed in word or deed, by day or by night. Confess during this “favourable time” and on “the day of salvation,” receive Heaven’s treasure… ”
St Cyril of Jerusalem (313-350), Father & Doctor of the Church
“Have faith and the One you cannot see, is with you.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Whoever has become a servant of the Lord, fears only his Master. But whoever is without the fear of God, is often afraid of his own shadow. Fearfulness is the daughter of unbelief. A proud soul is the slave of fear, hoping in itself, it comes to such a state, that it is startled by a small noise and is afraid of the dark.”
St John Climacus (579-649) Father of the Church
O Merciful God By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis
O merciful God, grant that I may ever perfectly do Your Will in all things. Let it be my ambition to work only for Your honour and glory. Let me rejoice in nothing but that leads to You, nor grieve for anything, that leads away from You. May all passing things be as nothing in my eyes and may all that is Yours, be dear to me and You, my God, dear above them all. May all joy be meaningless without You and may I desire nothing, apart from You. May all labour and toil delight me when it is for You. Make me, O Lord, obedient without complaint, poor without regret, patient without murmur, humble without pretence, joyous without frivolity, and truthful without disguise. Amen
Saint of the Day – 16 May – St John Nepomucene (c 1345–1393) Priest, Martyr, Confessor and almoner.to the Queen of Bohemia – “The First Martyr of the Seal of Confession.” Born in c1345 in Nepomuk, Bohemia and died on 20 March 1393 (aged 47–48) at Prague . St John’s tongue is incorrupt and is kept in the Cathedral of St Vitus in Prague, Czech Republic. Patronages – Bohemia. – which includes the greater Czechoslovakia, Moravia and parts of Austria before various divisions; protection against slander, restoration of the good name of those slandered, help in confessing sins, for the protection of Priests and the Seal of Confession, San Juan, Batangas, Malibay, Pasay; Alfonso, Cavite; Moalboal, Cebu; San Remigio, Cebu; Cabiao; Spanish Navy. Also known as – John of Nepomuk, Nepomuc, Ioannes Nepomucenus, Johannes Nepomuk.
The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “At Prague in Bohemia, St John Nepomucene, a Canon of the Metropolitan Church, who, being tempted in vain to betray the secret of Confession, was cast into the river Moldaw and thus won the Palm of Martyrdom.”
Saint John Nepomucene, Priest and Martyr By Fr Francis Xavier Weninger SJ (1805-1888) (Excerpt)
John, whom, in our time, God has honoured with many miracles, received his surname from Nepomuc, a small town two miles from Prague, where he was born. His parents were plain people and had lived many years without issue. After having made a vow, however, in honour of the Blessed Virgin, whose miraculous picture is kept in a Cistercian Convent not far from Nepomuc, John was born to them. At the time of his birth, several stars were seen which floated down from heaven and rested upon the house of his parents. This event was interpreted and admired, as a prophecy of his future holiness. In his infancy, he fell dangerously ill but recovered after his parents had consecrated him to God, in the above-named place of pilgrimage.
As he grew, his greatest delight was to assist the Priests at Mass and he passed the whole forenoon in that sacred occupation, in the Cistercian Church. In his studies he made such rapid progress that he became Doctor of Divinity and Canon Law. After being Ordained Priest, he retired, for one month from all intercourse with men and prepared himself, by prayers, penances and purifying his soul, for his first Holy Mass. Soon after, he was commissioned to preach at Prague in the Church of our Lady, in the suburb and he did this with such eminent success, that the Archbishop raised him to the dignity of Canon and Preacher of the Cathedral, which functions he discharged until his death.
Wencelaus, at that period King of Bohemia, attended his sermons frequently, with his whole Court and esteemed the Saint highly. He offered him the See of Leimeritz and afterwards, the rich provostship of Wissherad but John refused both, hoping to do more good by preaching. Queen Jane, the wife of Wencelaus chose him for her Confessor and Almoner. The king, neglecting the affairs of the land, became, meanwhile, more and more, a slave to debauchery and drunkenness and added to the scandal which this gave to his people, by acts of the most unheard of cruelty. Not able to alter his conduct, either by exhortations or entreaties, the pious Queen, at last became silent, and endeavoured by prayer and other virtuous exercises, to inspire her husband with better thoughts and the fear of God. She frequently received the Holy Sacraments in order to give more power to her prayers and to be strengthened in patience. The wicked King regarded her frequent Confessions with mistrusting eyes, even suspecting that the Queen might have been as faithless to him, as he had been to her.
Hence, the desire to know what the Queen confessed was awakened in him and calling John into his presence, he, after long circumlocution and giving some feigned reasons, informed him of his wish, promising him all possible favours and honours. The Saint was at first stunned at so sacrilegious a demand and then explained to the King, the greatness of the crime, which a Priest would commit, if he revealed the least thing which had been told him, under the Seal of Confession, adding, that he would much rather die than become guilty of so terrible a crime.
The King dissimulated his anger at this reply, resolving to wait for another opportunity. He had not to wait long, for when, with unprecedented cruelty he had commanded that a cook, who had sent to the Royal table, a capon badly roasted, should be himself roasted alive on a spit and no-one dared to disobey the tyrant. Sohn, however, went to him and endeavoured to dissuade him from such barbarity. But instead of listening to the Saint, he gave orders to cast him into a dark, horrible dungeon and left him there a day without any food. After this, he sent the jailer to him with a message that he could save his life only by fulfilling the king’s desire. The Saint well understood the message and replied that he remained firm in what he had already said to the King. Wencelaus then determined to have recourse to kindness. He had the Saint liberated and informed, that he repented of his harshness and begged his pardon, at the same time requesting him to appear the following day at the Royal table, as a token of complete reconciliation. The Saint complied with the behest and appeared but no sooner had the King arisen from the table, than he repeated his godless desire, pressing the holy man, at first with great promises and then with cruel menaces. Seeing that neither the one nor the other were respected by John, he commanded that he should be again dragged to the dungeon and stretched upon the rack. To add to his suffering, he was, at the same time, burned with torches. The brave Martyr raised his eyes to Heaven and only repeated frequently the sacred names of Jesus and Mary. When he had been long tortured, the King, who was present, left and John was once more set at liberty.
He informed nobody of what had happened to him but as soon as his wounds were healed, he discharged his functions as he had hitherto done. As it was, however, revealed to him in a vision, that his silence would cost him his life, he bade farewell to his hearers on the Sunday before Ascension. His text was, “A little while and you shall not see me.” In this sermon he predicted the evils which would soon fall upon Bohemia, in consequence of new heresies and exhorted all to repentance and to constancy in the Catholic faith.
On the day before the festival of the Ascension, he made a pilgrimage to Bunzel where the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin was honoured. Arriving there, he fervently recommended his approaching death-agony to the divine Mother. At evening, he returned to Prague. The King, leaning out of the window of his palace, saw him. Having given orders to bring the Saint before him, he addressed him with these shameless words: “Listen, parson! Thou wilt have to die, if thou dost not immediately tell me what the Queen confessed to thee. I vow to God, that thou shalt drink water!” The Saint repeated fearlessly his former words: “I will rather die a thousand times.” Hardly had this passed his lips, when the King commanded the holy man to be dragged into the adjoining apartment and kept there. As soon as night had come, he was led to the bridge that unites the old and new portions of Prague, and from thence cast into the Moldaw, in the year 1383.
Heaven did not allow this crime to be concealed for one single hour. An uncommonly bright light in the form of many stars was seen, which seemed to float upon the water and accompanying the holy body, remaining with it. All the people came running towards the river but could not explain the prodigy. The King himself was called by the Queen to witness the scene and looked at it in fear and trembling. When the next day dawned, the waters of the river were divided into two parts and in the midst was seen, lying on the sand, with a sweet smile upon his face, the body of the Saint. The Canons brought it, at first into the nearest Church but soon after, transferred it with imposing solemnities to the Cathedral.
From that day, date the honours which were paid to the Saint and which God approved by numberless miracles which were wrought at his tomb.
After the expiration of more than 300 years, the holy body was exhumed and the tongue of the Saint was found fresh without a sign of corruption. When, six years later, this tongue was shown to a deputation, sent by the Pope to verify the report, it suddenly swelled up before the eyes of all present and changed from dark red to purple, as though it were still, imbued with life.
The tomb and reliquary of St John, containing the incorrupt tongue
St Vitus Cathedral
Remarkable is the fact, that everyone who approached the tomb of the Saint, irreverently was sure to be punished with some public derision. Many examples of recent date have verified this.
In conclusion, it is to be remarked, that the intercession of Saint John Nepomuceno, may be requested with great benefit by those whose good name has been tarnished, or who are in danger of a public disgrace, as also by those who feel difficulties in confessing their sins. In our times this glorious Saint has become particularly renowned, not only on account of the incorruption of his tongue and the many miracles which have taken place at his shrine but also, on account of the many graces and benefits which the Almighty has bestowed upon those, throughout the whole Christian world, who with confidence ask his intercession. Many books are filled with the relation of these facts.
Quote/s of the Day – 9 April – Our Lenten Journey with the Great Fathers – Jeremias 18:18-23, John 12:10-36
“He who loves his life, loses it and he who hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life everlasting. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me and where I am, there also shall My servant be.”
John 12:25-26
“This is the time for Confession. Confess the sins you have committed in word or deed, by day or by night. Confess during this “favourable time” and on “the day of salvation,” receive Heaven’s treasure… ”
St Cyril of Jerusalem (313-350), Father & Doctor of the Church
“To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done and to do no evil to bewail.”
St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Confessor, Father and Doctor
“Rejoice and be happy! Persevere to the end and prefer to die rather than abandon the post, to which God has called you!”
St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church
Quote/s of the Day – 13 March – The Second Sunday of Lent – Let us be Transfigured!
“And when I hear it said, that God is good and He will pardon us and then see, that men cease not from evil-doing, oh, how it grieves me! The infinite goodness with which God communicates with us, sinners as we are, should constantly make us love and serve Him better but we, on the contrary, instead of seeing in His goodness an obligation to please Him, convert it into an excuse for sin, which will, of a certainty, lead in the end, to our deeper condemnation.”
St Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)
“Aspire to God with short but frequent outpourings of the heart, admire His bounty, invoke His aid, cast yourself in spirit at the foot of His Cross, adore His goodness, treat with Him of your salvation, give Him your whole soul – a thousand times in the day.”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of Charity
“Mortification and suffering are necessary for two reasons. They are particularly necessary because, we are all sinners and must expiate our sins. Secondly, they are necessary because, without penance and suffering, we become attached to the world and forget all about Heaven, which is our real home. In His love for us, therefore, God commands us to do penance. What are we doing in the way of penance? Let us remember the command of Jesus and His precursor, St John the Baptist: “Unless you repent, you will all perish!”
Quote/s of the Day – 12 March – Ember Saturday in Lent – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) – Confessor, Father & Doctor
“To do penance is to bewail the evil we have done and to do no evil to bewail.”
“All elements in nature testified that their Creator had come. Let me indicate them in our everyday fashion. The heavens knew that He was God, for they sent a star to herald Him. The sea knew Him, for it bore up His feet upon it. The earth knew Him and trembled when He died. The sun knew Him and hid its light. The stones and walls knew Him and were rent at His death. Hell knew Him and gave up its dead. All the insensible elements of nature knew Him but even up to this minute, the hearts of the unbelieving Jews will not recognise Him as God and–more hard than rock– will not be rent in penitence.”
“… We must all rejoice exceedingly, to be even the last, in the Kingdom of God!”
St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Confessor, Father and Doctor “Father of the Fathers”
Our Morning Offering – 9 March – Wednesdayof the First Week of Lent, Ember Wednesday – FAST & PARTIAL ABSTINENCE
Act of Contrition By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
My Lord Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me, with love unutterable and I have so many times unworthily abandoned You but now I love You with my whole heart and because I love You, I repent sincerely for having ever offended You. Pardon me, my God and permit me to accompany You on this journey. You go to die for love of me, I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You.” Amen
Thought for the Day – 5 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Mortification and Penance
“There are many simple acts of mortification which we can all do for our spiritual welfare. For example, we can remain silent when there is no need to speak; we can deprive ourselves of dainties at table and we can act humbly, when oyer pride is hurt or patiently when we think we have been offended. These are easy ways in which men of goodwill can practise mortification.
But, there are times when we must be ready, like the Martyrs and the Saints, to make heroic sacrifices, rather than offend God. When we are tempted, for example, we must be determined, even to die, rather than fall into sin. Let us think about this, strengthen our resolutions and praying for the grace of total commitment to our Crucified Saviour.”
AnaStpaul 
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