CONFESSION/PENANCE – Page 8

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Thought for the Day – 13 March – Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent – “Speaking of Confession”

Posted on March 13, 2018March 13, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 13 March – Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent – “Speaking of Confession”

ANNUAL EASTER DUTY CONFESSIONS – St John Vianney (1786-1859)

If Easter were prolonged to Pentecost, you would not go to Confession until Pentecost, or if the latter did not come around for ten years, you would go to Confession only every ten years. Indeed, if the Church did not give you a commandment about it, you would not go to Confession until death. What do you think of that, my dear brethren? Does it not mean that you have neither regret for having offended God, Who requires you to go to Confession, nor love for God, Who requires you to make your Easter Communion?

Ah you will say to me, that’s all very well. We do not make our Easter duty without knowing why.

Ah! You know nothing at all about it! You do it from habit, to be able to say you have made your Easter duty, or, if you would prefer to speak the truth, you would say that you have added a new sin to your old ones. It is not, therefore, either love of God or regret for having offended Him which makes you go to Confession or make your Easter duty, or even the desire to lead a more Christian life. And here is the proof of it: if you loved God, would you consent to commit sin with such ease and even with so much enjoyment? If you had a horror of sin, as you should have, would you be able to keep it,for a whole year, on your conscience? If you had a real desire to live a more Christian life, would we not see at least some little change in your way of living?

No, my dear brethren, I do not wish to talk to you today about those unfortunate people who tell only half their sins through fear of not making their Easter duty or of being refused Absolution — perhaps even for the sake of covering up their shameful lives with the veil of virtue and who, in this state, approach the altar and are going to complete their dreadful work by handing over their God to the Devil and precipitating their sacrilegious souls into Hell.

No, I dare to hope that this does not concern you but I will continue, nevertheless, to tell you that going to Confession only once a year is not something about which you should feel any peace or satisfaction.

“You cannot have two heavens – it is impossible to enjoy yourself here and afterward to reign with Christ.”…Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) – Book I The Imitation of Christ you cannot have two heavens - thomas a kempis - 13 march 2018

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Quote/s of the Day – 13 March “Speaking of Confession”

Posted on March 13, 2018March 12, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 13 March – “Speaking of Confession”

“In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself, not myself from You.”

St Augustine (354-430) Doctor of the Church

“Confession is like a bridle that keeps the soul which reflects on it from committing sin but anything left unconfessed we continue to do without fear as if in the dark.”

St John Climacus (579-649)

“Confession is an act of honesty and courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.”

St Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)

“Each one must confess his sin so that God’s forgiveness, already granted on the Cross, may have an effect in his heart and in his life.

St Augustine writes further: “God accuses your sins and if you also accuse them, you are united to God…. When your own deeds will begin to displease you, from that time your good works begin, as you find fault with your evil works. The confession of evil works is the beginning of good works” (ibid., 13: PL 35, 1191).

Sometimes men and women prefer the darkness to the light because they are attached to their sins. Nevertheless it is only by opening oneself to the light and only by sincerely confessing one’s sins to God that one finds true peace and true joy. It is therefore important to receive the Sacrament of Penance regularly, especially during Lent, in order to receive the Lord’s forgiveness and to intensify our process of conversion.”

Pope Benedict – Angelus Address, 18 March 2012

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Thought for the Day – 25 February 2018 – Second Sunday of Lent, Year B

Posted on February 25, 2018February 25, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 25 February 2018 – Second Sunday of Lent, Year B

“Now is the accepted time, now the day of salvation.”

Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

“These are thoughts, I need hardly say, especially suited to this season.
From the earliest times down to this day, these weeks before Easter have been set apart every year, for the particular remembrance and confession of our sins. From the first age downward, not a year has passed but Christians have been exhorted to reflect how far they have let go their birthright, as a preparation for their claiming the blessing. At Christmas we are born again with Christ; at Easter we keep the Eucharistic Feast.

In Lent, by penance, we join the two great sacraments together. Are you, my brethren, prepared to say—is there any single Christian alive who will dare to profess—that he has not in greater or less degree sinned against God’s free mercies as bestowed on him in Baptism without, or rather against his deserts? Who will say that he has so improved his birthright that the blessing is his fit reward, without either sin to confess, or wrath to deprecate?

See, then, the Church offers you this season for the purpose. “Now is the accepted time, now the day of salvation.”

Now it is that, God being your helper, you are to attempt to throw off from you the heavy burden of past transgression, to reconcile yourselves to Him who has once already imparted to you His atoning merits and you have profaned them.”

are-you-my-brethren-bl-j-h-newman.- lenten reflection - 2017 - 25 feb 2017 (in the novena for lent) jpg

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Our Morning Offering – 19 February – The Memorial of Bl John Sullivan SJ (1861-1933)

Posted on February 19, 2018February 19, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 19 February – The Memorial of Bl John Sullivan SJ (1861-1933) and Monday of the First Week of Lent – a Penitential Prayer from St Ignatius

Pardon Me, O my God
St Ignatius Loyola S.J.
(1491-1556)

Pardon me,
O perfections of my God,
for having preferred imperfect
and evil inclinations to Thee!
Pardon me,
O justice of my God,
for having outraged Thee by my sins.
Pardon me,
O holiness of my God,
for having so long stained
Thy sight’s purity, by my sins.
Pardon me,
O mercy of my God,
for having despised so long
Thy mercy’s voice.
In deep sorrow and contrition,
I cast myself at Thy feet.
Have mercy on me.
Amen pardon me o my god - st iggy - 19 feb 2018

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Ash Wednesday – 14 February 2018

Posted on February 14, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Ash Wednesday – 14 February 2018

Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20 — 6:2, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

At the beginning of Lent, on Ash Wednesday, ashes are blessed during Mass, after the homily. The blessed ashes are then “imposed” on the faithful as a sign of conversion, penance, fasting and human mortality. The ashes are blessed at least during the first Mass of the day but they may also be imposed during all the Masses of the day, after the homily and even outside the time of Mass to meet the needs of the faithful. Priests or deacons normally impart this sacramental but instituted acolytes, other extraordinary ministers or designated lay people may be delegated to impart ashes, if the bishop judges that this is necessary. The ashes are made from the palms used at the previous Passion Sunday ceremonies. …— Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year, Msgr. Peter J Elliott

The act of putting on ashes symbolises fragility and mortality and the need to be redeemed by the mercy of God. Far from being a merely external act, the Church has retained the use of ashes to symbolise that attitude of internal penance to which all the baptised are called during Lent. — Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy

From the very early times the commemoration of the approach of Christ’s passion and death was observed by a period of self-denial. St Athanasius in the year 339 enjoined upon the people of Alexandria the 40 days’ fast he saw practised in Rome and elsewhere, “to the end that while all the world is fasting, we who are in Egypt should not become a laughing stock as the only people who do not fast but take our pleasure in those days.” On Ash Wednesday in the early days, the Pope went barefoot to St Sabina’s in Rome “to begin with holy fasts the exercises of Christian warfare, that as we do battle with the spirits of evil, we may be protected by the help of self-denial.

“In the course of this trial of forty days, which our weakness only finds long, we shall not be deprived of our Saviour’s presence. He has preceded and outpaced us on the royal road. He has tried it and accomplished its course before us, in order to answer, by His example, the excuses and arguments our self-indulgence or pride may urge. Let us accept the lesson fully and so arrive at an understanding of the law of expiation. “Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is drawing near.” Let us open our heart to this appeal, that the Saviour may not be compelled to awake us from our lethargy by the terrible threat He employed on another occasion: “If you do not repent you shall all perish.”...Abbot Dom Prosper Gueranger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3kxcrjT7V4

“The enormity of the fact that Christ has, on our behalf, already taken the most extreme punishment upon Himself, should move us, not to leave Him isolated. It should also inspire us to rejoice that another has taken our place in representing sin before God – for not to rejoice at that, would be a further enormity. Instead of leaving Him alone, we should be moved to enter into His suffering for us, doing together with Him, what little we can do, to atone for the world’s sin!”…Hans Urs von Balthasar “Light of the World”

ACT OF CONTRITION

Forgive my sins, O my God, forgive my sins:
the sins of youth,
the sins of age;
the sins of my soul
and the sins of my body;
the sins which, through frailty, I have committed;
my deliberate and grievous sins,
the sins I know and the sins I do not know,
the sins I have laboured so long to hide from others,
that now they are hidden from my own memory;
let me be absolved from all these iniquities
and delivered from the bond of all these evils,
by the Life, Passion, and Death
of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen

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The meaning of Shrove Tuesday – 13 February 2018

Posted on February 13, 2018March 2, 2019 by AnaStpaul

The meaning of Shrove Tuesday – 13 February 2018

Shrove is the past tense of the word shrive, which means to hear a confession, assign penance and absolve from sin. In the Middle Ages, especially in Northern Europe and England, it became the custom to confess one’s sins on the day before Lent began in order to enter the penitential season in the right spirit. How I wish the Church would bring this practice back NOW and not concentrate on flipping pancakes – entendre intended! Though we, as the “Church” can re-institute this practice ourselves.

From the earliest days of Christianity, Lent, the penitential period before Easter, has always been a time of fasting and abstinence.

While the Lenten fast today is confined to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstinence from meat is required only on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and the other Fridays of Lent, in previous times (and not so long away either, ask anyone over 60) the fast was quite severe. Christians abstained from all meat and items that came from animals, including butter, eggs, cheese and fat.

That is why Shrove Tuesday became known as Mardi Gras, the French term for Fat Tuesday. Over time, Mardi Gras extended from a single day to the entire period of Shrovetide, the days from the last Sunday before Lent through Shrove Tuesday.

In the countries that speak Romance language (languages derived primarily from Latin), Shrovetide is also known as Carnivale—literally, “farewell to meat.” In the English-speaking countries, Shrove Tuesday became known as Pancake Day, because Christians used up their eggs, butter and milk to make pancakes and other pastries.

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Thought for the Day – – 29 January – “Speaking of Repentance”

Posted on January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 29 January – “Speaking of Repentance”

Catholics have largely deserted the confessional. Our Communion lines are full and our confessionals are empty. Unless there has been some radical change in human nature over the past half century, something I see no evidence for, there is something very, very wrong in all this.
Saint Augustine, who once prayed before his conversion, Lord make me chaste but not now, knew the temptation to put off until some theoretical tomorrow repentance. We know that God will accept our repentance but true repentance means putting away sins we are deeply attached to, or ones we in despair think we cannot summon up the willpower to avoid in future. Saint Augustine, in Sermon 32 responds to this manana mentality by reminding us that while God has promised us forgiveness He has not promised us endless tomorrows to seek His forgiveness. As we enter Lent, let us recall these words of the Bishop of Hippo:

I know and as I do every one knows, who has used a little more than ordinary consideration, that no man who has any fear of God omits to reform himself in obedience to His words but he who thinks that he has longer time to live. This it is which kills so many, while they are saying, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and suddenly the door is shut. He remains outside with the raven’s croak, because he had not the moaning of the dove. Tomorrow, Tomorrow- is the raven’s croak. Moan plaintively as the dove and beat your breast but while you are inflicting blows on your breast, be the better for the beating lest you seem not to beat your conscience but rather with blows to harden it and make an evil conscience more unyielding instead of better.

Moan with no fruitless moaning. For it may be you are saying to yourself, God has promised me forgiveness, whenever I reform myself I am secure – I read the divine Scripture, In the day that the wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does that which is lawful and right, I will forget all his iniquities. I am secure then, whenever I reform myself, God will give me pardon for my evil deeds.

What can I say to this? Shall I lift up my voice against God? Shall I say to God, Do not give him pardon? Shall I say, this is not written, God has not promised this? If I should say ought of this, I should say falsely. You speak well and truly; God has promised pardon on your amendment, I cannot deny it but tell me, I pray you, see, I consent, I grant, I acknowledge that God has promised you pardon but who has promised you a tomorrow?

Where you read to me that you shall receive pardon, if you reform yourself, there read to me how long you have to live. Thou dost confess, I cannot read it there.

You know not then how long you have to live.

Reform yourself and so be always ready. Be not afraid of the last day, as a thief, who will break up your house as you sleep but awake and reform yourself today.

Why do you put it off till tomorrow? If your life is to be a long one, let it be both long and good. No one puts off a good dinner because it is to be a long one and do you wish to have a long evil life? Surely if it is to be long, it will be all the better if it be good; if it is to be short, it is well that its good be as long as possible.

But men neglect their life to such a degree, as that they are unwilling to have anything bad, except it. You buy a farm and you look out for a good one; you wish to marry a wife, you choose a good one; you wish for the birth of children and you long for good ones; you bargain for shoes and you do not wish for bad ones; and yet a bad life you do love. How has your life offended you, that you are willing to have it only bad, that amid all your good things, you should yourself alone be evil?

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church, pray for us and thank you!

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Quotes of the Day – 29 January – “Speaking of Repentance”

Posted on January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Quotes of the Day – 29 January

“Speaking of Repentance”

To speak of repentance is not fashionable today in a world that prefers to ignore sin, yet we who belong to Christ can testify that repentance is the way to forgiveness and freedom. It is the key that unlocks the mercy of God! The call to repentance is always addressed to ourselves first, since all of us are continually in need of deeper conversion.

“Be ashamed when you sin,
don’t be ashamed when you repent –
Sin is the wound, repentance is the medicine.
Sin is followed by shame;
repentance is followed by boldness
Satan has overturned this order
and given boldness to sin and shame to repentance.”

“Do you fast?
Then feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty,
visit the sick, do not forget the imprisoned,
have pity on the tortured,
comfort those who grieve and who weep,
be merciful, humble, kind, calm, patient,
sympathetic, forgiving, reverent, truthful and pious,
so that God might accept your fasting
and might plentifully grant you the fruits of repentance.”

“Since it is likely that, being men,
they would sin every day,
St Paul consoles his hearers by saying
‘renew yourselves’ from day to day.
This is what we do with houses:
we keep constantly repairing them as they wear old.
You should do the same thing to yourself.
Have you sinned today?
Have you made your soul old?
Do not despair, do not despond
but renew your soul by repentance and tears
and Confession and by doing good things.
And never cease doing this.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

“Repentance is the renewal of baptism.
Repentance is a contract with God for a second life.
A penitent is a buyer of humility.
Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort.
Repentance is self-condemning reflection of carefree self-care.
Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair.
A penitent is an undisgraced convict.
Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord
by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins.
Repentance is purification of conscience.
Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions.
A penitent is the inflicter of his own punishments.
Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach
and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness.”

St John Climacus (579-649) Father of the Church – The Ladder of Divine Ascent

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

St Gregory the Great (540-604) Father & Doctor of the Church

“Satisfaction consists in the cutting off
of the causes of the sin.
Thus, fasting is the proper antidote to lust;
prayer to pride, to envy, anger and sloth;
alms to covetousness.”

St Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)

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

St Robert Southwell (1561-1595)

“We come to confession quite preoccupied
with the shame that we shall feel.
We accuse ourselves with hot air.
It is said that many confess and few are converted.
I believe it is so, my children,
because few confess with tears of repentance.”

“The saints understood how great
an outrage sin is against God.
Some of them passed their lives
in weeping for their sins.
St Peter wept all his life;
he was still weeping at his death.
St Bernard used to say,
‘Lord! Lord! it is I who fastened You to the Cross!'”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

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One Minute Reflection – 29 January – Speaking of Repentance

Posted on January 29, 2018January 28, 2018 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 29 January – Speaking of Repentance

Repent, therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...Acts 3:19 acts 3 19 - 29 jan 2018

REFLECTION – “I know and as I do every one knows, who has used a little more than ordinary consideration, that no man who has any fear of God omits to reform himself in obedience to His words but he who thinks that he has longer time to live. This it is which kills so many, while they are saying, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and suddenly the door is shut. He remains outside…You speak well and truly; God has promised pardon on your amendment, I cannot deny it but tell me, I pray you, see, I consent, I grant, I acknowledge that God has promised you pardon but who has promised you a tomorrow?”…St Augustine (354-430) Doctor of the Church, Sermon 32 god has promised pardon - st augustine - 29 jan 2018

PRAYER – Lord, my holy God, grant that I may always seek Your forgiveness and strive each moment to live Your will. I am weak and a sinful creature but long to see Your face and reach my heavenly home. Fill me with Your grace that I may live in the Light and footsteps of Your divine Son. Lord, Jesus Christ, son of God, my father, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen the jesus prayer - 29 jan 2018

CONFESSION/PENANCE, MORNING Prayers

Thought for the Day – 25 October – St John Vianney on Confession

Posted on October 25, 2017October 25, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 25 October – St John Vianney on Confession

We come to confession quite preoccupied with the shame that we shall feel. We accuse ourselves with hot air. It is said that many confess and few are converted. I believe it is so, my childrenbecause few confess with tears of repentance.

See, the misfortune is, that people do not reflect. If one said to those who work on Sundays, to a young person who had been dancing for two or three hours, to a man coming out of an alehouse drunk, “What have you been doing? You have been crucifying Our Lord!” they would be quite astonished, because they do not think of it. My children, if we thought of it, we should be seized with horror; it would be impossible for us to do evil. For what has the good God done to us that we should grieve Him thus, and put Him to death again — Him, who has redeemed us from Hell?

It would be well if all sinners, when they are going to their guilty pleasures, could, like St Peter, meet Our Lord on the way, who would say to them, “I am going to that place where you are going yourself, to be there crucified again.” Perhaps that might make them reflect. – St Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars (1786-1859)

St John Vianney, Pray for us! what have you been doing - st john vianney - 25 oct 2017

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Quote/s of the Day on Confession – 25 October

Posted on October 25, 2017October 25, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day on Confession – 25 October

“The confession of evil works,
is the first beginning of good works.
You do the truth
and come to the light.”

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

“A man is repaired in an instant by Divine grace.”

“One who has confessed and received absolution,
will be less punished in Purgatory than one
who has gone no further than contrition.”

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

“Are you scorched, are you burnt to the very core,
by the heat of concupiscence? Even so, poor sufferers!
You must not lose courage; there is a cool fountain
ready to refresh you and heal all your wounds;
not indeed the first font, which gave you the life you have lost;
but the second Baptism, the divine Sacrament of Penance,
which can restore you to grace and purity!”

Prosper Louis Pascal Guéranger O.S.B. (1805-1875)

“Confession is stronger than an exorcism!”

Fr Gabriele Amorth, SSP (1925-2016) – Chief Exorcist/Rome

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One Minute Reflection – 25 October

Posted on October 25, 2017October 25, 2017 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 25 October

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and whose sins you retain are retained.”…John 20:22-23

REFLECTION – “After confession a crown is given to penitents.”… St John Chrysostom (347-407) Doctor of the Church after confession - st john chrysostom - 25 oct 2017

PRAYER – Lord God, hear my prayer, forgive my sins, teach me true repentance, help me to renew my life and live only in Your love.
I wish now and every day, sorrow for my sins and the willingness to make reparation for them. Show me how, dear Lord, teach me Your ways. For my sins crucified my Lord, on my God, forgive me! Lord Jesus, I love You, grant that I may never separate myself from You again! Amen I LOVE YOU LORD JESUS

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One Minute Reflection – 15 August

Posted on August 15, 2017 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 15 August

The Confessions – Book VIII – St Augustine’s Conversion to Christ. Augustine is deeply impressed by Simplicianus’ story of the conversion to Christ of the famous orator and philosopher, Marius Victorinus. He is stirred to emulate him but finds himself still enchained by his incontinence and preoccupation with worldly affairs. He is then visited by a court official, Ponticianus, who tells him and Alypius the stories of the conversion of Anthony and also of two imperial “secret service agents.” These stories throw him into a violent turmoil, in which his divided will struggles against himself. He almost succeeds in making the decision for continence but is still held back. Finally, a child’s song, overheard by chance, sends him to the Bible; a text from Paul resolves the crisis; the conversion is a fact. Alypius also makes his decision and the two inform the rejoicing Monica.

“For I am the LORD, your God,
who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, Do not fear,
I will help you.”….Isaiah 41:13

Isaiah 41 13

REFLECTION – “And Thou didst put it into my mind and it seemed good in my own sight, to go to Simplicianus, who appeared to me a faithful servant of Thine and Thy grace shone forth in him. I had also been told that from his youth up he had lived in entire devotion to Thee. He was already an old man and because of his great age, which he had passed in such a zealous discipleship in Thy way, he appeared to me likely to have gained much wisdom–and, indeed, he had. From all his experience, I desired him to tell me–setting before him all my agitations–which would be the most fitting way for one who felt as I did to walk in thy way.”…St Augustine (From the Confessions – Book VIII – Chapter 1)

st simplician - pray for us

PRAYER – “Go on, O Lord and act: stir us up and call us back; inflame us and draw us to Thee; stir us up and grow sweet to us; let us now love Thee, let us run to Thee. Are there not many men … who, out of a deeper pit of darkess,.. return to Thee–who draw near to Thee and are illuminated by that light which gives those who receive it power from Thee to become Thy sons? “… (St Augustine – From the Confessions Book VIII – Chapter IV) St Simplician, pray for us, Amen.

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Thought for the Day – 14 August – The Memorial of St Maximillian Kolbe

Posted on August 14, 2017August 14, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 14 August – The Memorial of St Maximillian Kolbe

St Maximilian’s “Secret” to Holiness and Happiness

smiling kolbe

St. Maximilian says: “It is a false and widely diffused idea that the saints were not like us. They were also subject to temptation, they fell and got up, they also felt overwhelmed with sadness, weakened and paralyzed by discouragement. But remember the words of the Saviour: ‘Without me, you can do nothing’ (Jn 15:51) and those of St. Paul: ‘I can do all things in him who strengthens me’ (Phil 4:13). Not confiding in themselves, but, putting all their confidence in God after every humiliating fall, they repented sincerely, they purified their soul in the Sacrament of Penance and then they went back to work with still greater fervour.”
We are very much deceived if we think we cannot become a saint, or that we will be “lucky” if we even make it to Purgatory. The great men of the world overcome all kinds of obstacles in order to become rich or famous. Why do we not try harder to persevere, when that is precisely what Our Blessed Lord deserves? After all, He poured Himself out for us so that we might be holy. The saints were not supermen; they were sinners who persevered through hardship and adversity because they were humble and repentant and confident in God’s grace.”…(Fr Angelo M. Geiger F.I.)
In the end, holiness is not merely a warm feeling of God’s presence or even the ecstatic experiences of the saints. St Maximilian tells us that true holiness is found in obedience and obedience is acquired through prayer, penance and perseverance.
And this obedience consists in living – truly living the life of a Catholic, St Maximillian said his own words):

“Go to confession with sincerity, diligence, a deep sorrow for his sins and a firm resolve to amend his life. He will suddenly feel a peace and happiness compared with which all the fleeting, unworthy pleasures of this world are really an odious torment.

Let everyone seek to come and receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist with proper preparation.

Go to Eucharistic Adoration – for this is the the most important activity.

Let him never permit his soul to remain in sin but let him purify it immediately.

Let him do his duty manfully.

Let him address humble and frequent prayers to God’s throne, especially through the hands of the Immaculate Virgin.

Let him welcome his brethren with a charitable heart, bearing for God’s sake the sufferings and difficulties of life.

Let him do good to all, even his enemies, solely for the love of God and not in order to be praised or even thanked by men.”

Then we will come to understand what it means to have a foretaste of paradise; and perhaps more than once we will find peace and joy even in poverty, suffering, disgrace, or illness.

St Maximillian, pray for us!

st max pray for us

CONFESSION/PENANCE, LENT, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, Uncategorized

Lenten Preparation Novena

Posted on February 24, 2017February 25, 2018 by AnaStpaul

REFLECTION – “The one came for a son’s privileges, the other for a servant’s drudgery. “

“Would you see how a penitent should come to God? turn to the parable of the Prodigal Son. He, too, had squandered away his birthright, as Esau did. He, too, came for the blessing, like Esau. Yes; but how differently he came! he came with deep confession and self-abasement. He said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants:” but Esau said, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.” The one came for a son’s privileges, the other for a servant’s drudgery. The one killed and dressed his venison with his own hand and enjoyed it not; for the other the fatted calf was prepared and the ring for his hand and shoes for his feet and the best robe and there was music and dancing.” (Blessed John Henry Newman)

would-you-see-how-a-penitent-should-come-to-god-bl-j-h-newman

Lenten Preparation Novena

DAY FIVE

Dear Lord,
we are fast approaching the holy season of Lent.
We begin to realise anew that these are the days of salvation,
these are the acceptable days.
We know that we are all sinners.
We know that in many things we have all offended Your infinite majesty.
We know that sin destroys Your life in us
as a drought withers the leaves and chokes the life from the land,
leaving an arid, dusty desert.
Help us now, Lord,
in our feeble attempts to make up for past sin.
Bless our efforts with the rich blessing of Your grace.
Make us realize ever more our need of penance and of mortification.
Help us to see,
in our ordinary difficulties and duties,
in the trials and temptations of every day,
the best opportunity of making up for past infidelities.
Every day we are so often reminded in field and wood,
in sky and stream,
of Your own boundless generosity to us.
Help us to realize that You are never outdone in generosity,
and that the least thing we do for You will be rewarded,
full measure, pressed down, shaken together and flowing over.
Then we shall see, in our own souls,
how the desert can blossom,
and the dry and wasted land can bring forth the rich,
useful fruit that was expected of it from the beginning.

United with Your Son, who makes His way to Calvary, I offer You my intention

(Mention your intention)
Amen.

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ANNUAL EASTER DUTY CONFESSIONS – St John Vianney (1786-1859)

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St Augustine (354-430) Doctor of the Church

St John Climacus (579-649)

St Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)

Pope Benedict – Angelus Address, 18 March 2012

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“Now is the accepted time, now the day of salvation.”

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Where you read to me that you shall receive pardon, if you reform yourself, there read to me how long you have to live. Thou dost confess, I cannot read it there.

You know not then how long you have to live.

Reform yourself and so be always ready. Be not afraid of the last day, as a thief, who will break up your house as you sleep but awake and reform yourself today.

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church, pray for us and thank you!

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“Speaking of Repentance”

St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

St John Climacus (579-649) Father of the Church – The Ladder of Divine Ascent

St Gregory the Great (540-604) Father & Doctor of the Church

St Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)

St Robert Southwell (1561-1595)

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

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

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

Prosper Louis Pascal Guéranger O.S.B. (1805-1875)

Fr Gabriele Amorth, SSP (1925-2016) – Chief Exorcist/Rome

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REFLECTION – “The one came for a son’s privileges, the other for a servant’s drudgery. “

Lenten Preparation Novena

DAY FIVE

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