Category: DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on The SOUL, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 October – ‘ … But every man is afraid of the death of the flesh; few, of the death of the soul! …

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One Minute Reflection – 29 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Pentecost XXIII– Resumed Mass of Sunday – Philippians 3:17-21, 4:1-3; Matthew 9:18-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Behold, a certain ruler came up and adored Him, saying: Lord, my daughter is even now dead but come, lay Thy Hand upon her and she shall live. ” – Matthew 9:18

REFLECTION – “The hour is coming, in which all who are in their graves ,shall hear His Voice and shall come forth” (Jn 5:28)… We have read in the Gospel, of three dead persons who were raised to life by the Lord and, let us hope, to some good purpose. For surely ,the Lord’s deeds are not merely deeds but signs … We were listening with wonder… in the reading of the Gospel, how Lazarus was restored to life (Jn 11). If we turn our thoughts to the still more wonderful works of Christ, everyone who believes, rises again – if we all consider and understand that more horrifying kind of death which everyone who sins dies.

But every man is afraid of the death of the flesh; few, of the death of the soul! … Man, destined to die, labours to avert his dying and yet, man, destined to live forever, labours not, to cease from sinning! … Oh that we could arouse men and be ourselves aroused along with them, to be, as great lovers of the life that abides, as men are of that, which passes away.! … Who has had it said to him: “Be off to sea, if you would escape with your life” and has delayed to do so? Who has had it said to him: “Set to work if you would preserve your life” and has continued a sluggard? It is but little that God requires of us that we may live forever and we neglect to obey Him?! …

If, then, the Lord in the greatness of His Grace and Mercy, raises our souls to life that we may not die forever, we may well understand, that those three dead persons whom He raised in the body, have some figurative significance of that resurrection of the soul, which is effected by faith.” – St Augustine (354-430), Father and Doctor of Grace of the Church (Sermons on Saint John’s Gospel, no.49, 1-3).

PRAYER – Forgive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy faithful people, so that by Thine Goodness we may be released from the net of sin in which we have been caught by our weakness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, BAPTISM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, LENT, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ANGELS, QUOTES on SIN, St PAUL!, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 October – ‘ … Once washed in the saving waters … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 24 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Feast of St Raphael the Archangel – Tobias 12:7-15; John 5:1-4 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered, waiting for the moving of the water (by the Angel). ” – John 5:3

REFLECTION – “We read in the Old Testament that in the times of Noah, since all humankind had been won by sin, Heaven’s floodgates opened and rain poured down for forty days … This was a symbol – it was less about a flood than about a Baptism. For it was indeed a Baptism which bore away the misdeeds of the sinners and spared the uprightness of Noah. And so today, just as it was then, our Lord has given Lent to us, so that the skies may open for the same number of days, to inundate us with the floods of Divine Mercy. Once washed in the saving waters of Baptism, this Sacrament enlightens us and, just as formerly, its waters bear away the evil of our sins and confirm the uprightness of our virtues.

Today’s situation is just the same as in Noah’s time. Baptism is flood to sinners and Consecration for the faithful. In Baptism, the Lord rescues justice and destroys injustice. We can see this in the example of one and the same man – before he was cleansed by the spiritual commands, the Apostle Paul was a persecutor and blasphemer (1 Tm 1:13). But once he had been bathed with the Heavenly rain of Baptism, the blasphemer died, the persecutor died, Saul died. Then the Apostle, the just man, Paul came to life… Anyone who lives Lent in a religious manner and observes the Lord’s decrees, will see sin die in himself and grace come to life… such as these die as sinners and live as righteous persons.” – St Maximus of Turin (Died c420) Bishop of Turin, Father of the Church (Sermon for Lent).

PRAYER – O God, Who gave blessed Raphael the Archangel as a traveling companion to Your servant Tobias, grant us, Your servants, ever to be protected by his guardianship and by his help.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 19 October – CONSIDERATION XVII, Of the House of Divine Mercy

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Thought for the Day – 19 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XVII

Of the House of Divine Mercy
“Not knowing that the goodness of God
leadeth thee to repentance?”
(Rom ii: 4)

FIRST POINT:
WE read in the parable in St Matthew xiii that the tares, having grown in a field together with the corn, the servants wished to pluck them up.
“Wilt Thou then that we go and gather them up ?”
But the Master answered: “Nay; …. Let them both grow together until the harvest and at the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them.”
From this parable we learn the patience which the Lord shows to sinners and also, the severity which He shows to those who are obstinate.

St Augustine observes, the devil deceives men in two ways,
“By despair and by hope!”
After the sinner has committed the sin, he tempts him to despair, through fear of the Divine Justice but before the sin is committed, he tempts the sinner to commit it, by telling him of the Divine Mercy.
Therefore, the Saint warns everyone, by saying: “After sin, hope for mercy; before sin, fear justice.”
Yes, because he who makes use of mercy to offend God, does not deserve mercy.
Mercy is shown to him who fears God, not to him who makes use of it so as not to fear God. He who offends justice, observes Abulensis, can fly to mercy but he who offends the same mercy, to whom can he fly?

It is but seldom a sinner is found so hopeless, as to wish to be condemned. Sinners are willing to sin but they are not willing
to give up the hope of being saved. They commit sin and
say to themselves, God is merciful; I will commit this sin and
afterwards confess it. Behold, says St Augustine, this is how
sinnersspeak: “God is good, I will do what pleaseth me” but
O God, how many, who are now in hell, have said the same!

… The mercy of God is Infinite but the acts of this mercy are finite. God is merciful but He is also just. … As St Augustine observes, God never fails in His promises, neither does He fail in His threats!
Take care, says St Chrysostom, when the devil but not God, promises thee Divine Mercy, that thou mayest commit sin.
Woe, add St Augustine, to him who hopes, so that he may sin: “ Woe to that perverse hope.” Oh ! exclaims the Saint, how many there are, whom this vain hope has deceived and caused to be lost!

… In short, although God endures, for some time, yet He will not endure forever. If God were to suffer sin forever, no-one would be lost but it is the general opinion, that the greater part, even of Christians are lost.
“For wide is the gate and broad is the way, which leadeth to destructio, and many there be, who go in thereat.” (Matt vii:13). …

Affections and Prayers

Ah, my God, I have been one of those who offended The,
notwithstanding Thou wast good to me. Lord, wait for me,
do not abandon me because I hope, Thy grace helping me,
never more to provoke Thee to abandon me.
I repent, O Thou
Infinite Goodness, for having offended Thee and for, having
thus abused Thy patience. I thank Thee that Thou hast
waited for me until now. From this day forward, I will never
more abuse Thee as I have done, in the time that .is past. Thou hast borne with me so long that Thou mightest one day see me made a lover of Thy Goodness.
That that day be already come, is my hope.

I love Thee more than anything and I prize Thy grace
more than all the kingdoms of the world; rather than lose it, I would lose my life, if it were possible to do so, many times over,
My God, for the love of Jesus Christ, give me holy perseverance until death, with Thy most holy love. Never allow me to betray Thee any more, neither to cease to love Thee.

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, PREPARATION for DEATH

Thought for the Day – 18 October – CONSIDERATION XVI, Of the Mercy of God

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Thought for the Day – 18 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XVI

Of the Mercy of God
“Mercy rejoiceth against judgement.”
( James ii: 13).

FIRST POINT:
GOODNESS is diffusive in its nature, that is to say, it inclines ever to communicate its goodness to others.
Now, God, Who by nature is Infinite Goodness, has a sovereign desire to communicate His happiness to us and, therefore, it is not His nature to punish but to show mercy to all. As Isaiah says, punishment is opposite to the inclination of Almighty God. “ He shall be wroth …. that He may do His work, His strange work.” (Isa xxviii: 21). And when the Lord
chastises in this life, He chastises so that He may show mercy in the next. “Thou hast also been displeased; O turn Thee unto us again.” (Ps Ix: I). He appears to be angry, so that we may repent and detest our sins.
“Thou hast shown Thy people heavy things; Thou hast given us a drink of deadly wine.” (Ps lx: 3).
And if He sends us any punishment, He sends it because He loves us and that we may be delivered from eternal punishment.
“Thou hast given a token for such as fear Thee that they may triumph because of the truth. Therefore, were Thy beloved delivered.” (Ps Ix: 4, 5).

And how can the mercy be ever admired and praised enough which God shows towards sinners in waiting for them, in calling them and in receiving them when they return?
And, in the first place, oh, how great is the patience which God exercises owards us in waiting for our repentance!
My brother, when thou wast offending God, He could have caused thee to die but He waited for thee and, instead of chastising thee, He conferred His benefits upon thee. He preserved thy life and provided for thee. He feigned not to see thy sins, so that thou might repent. “Thou overlookest the sins of men, for the sake of repentance.” (Wisd xi: 24).

But how is it, Lord, that Thou Who canst not endure the sight of a single sin, yet remainest quiet when Thou beholdest so many?
“Thou beholdest that dishonest one that revengeful one that blasphemer, whose offences increase daily but yet ,Thou punish them not and why so much patience?”
Therefore, will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you.” (Isa xxx: 18).
God waits for the sinner, so that he may amend his ways and thus, He may pardon and save him.

St Thomas observes, all creation – fire, earth, air, water – would punish the sinner by instinct, to avenge the wrongs done to the Creator, for “all creation, in its service to Thee, the Creator, turns against the impious.”

Yet God, in His mercy withholds them. But, Lord, Thou dost wait for these wicked ones that they may repent, yet dost Thou not see they are making use of Thy mercy to offend Thee more?
… And wherefore then so much patience?
Because God willeth not the death of the sinner but that he should be converted and live.
“As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” (Ezek xxxii: 11).
St Augustine goes so far as to say, that if God were not God, “He would be unjust on account of the long-suffering which He shows towards shiners.” To wait for that one who makes use of God’s patience only to become more sinful, would appear unjust to the Divine honour. “We sin,” the Saint goes onto say, “We sin and are attached to it, and some make their peace with sin ; they sleep in sin for months and for years . We rejoice in sin, some even boast of their wickedness and art Thou appeased ?”

It would seem as if we were fighting with God, we were provoking Him to punish us but He inviting us to pardon!

Affections,and Prayers

Ah, my Lord, full well do I know, at this very hour, my place ought to be in hell.
But because of Thy mercy, I am not there but in this place, even at Thy feet and I can hear Thee telling me, that Thou dost wish to be loved by me.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.”

And Thou dost assure me of Thy pardon if only I repent of the offences which I have committed against Thee. Yes, my God, since Thou desirest to be loved even by me, who am a miserable rebel against Thy Majesty, I will love Thee with all my heart and I will repent for having offended Thee, more than any other sin into which I may have fallen.

Ah, enlighten me, O Infinite Goodness and make me to know the wrong I have done Thee.
No, I will no longer resist Thy calls. I will no more displease
the God Who has loved me so much and Who has pardoned
me so many times and with so much love.
Ah, would that I had never offended Thee, O my Jesus ! Pardon me and grant that from this day forward, I may love none other than Thee that I may live for Thee alone, Thou who didst die for me.

Grant that I may suffer for Thy love, since Thou hast suffered so much for mine. Thou hast loved me from eternity; grant that I may burn with Thy love in eternity. I hope for all things because of Thy merits.

Posted in CARMELITES, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, OUR Cross, PRAYERS of PETITION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MERIT, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TIME, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 15 October – St Teresa of Jesus

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Quote/s of the Day – 15 October – St Teresa of Jesus of Avila OCD (1515-1582) Virgin and Doctor of the Church

“We need no wings to go in search of Him
but have only to look upon Him present within us.”

“Thy will be done
on earth as it is
in Heaven.”
Matthew 6:10

“I want to advise you and remind you, what His will is.
Do not fear that it means He will give you riches,
or delights, or honours, or all these earthly things.
His love for you is not that small!
and He esteems highly what you give Him.
He wants to repay you well,
for He gives you His Kingdom
while you are still on earth …
See … what He gave to the One He loved most.
By that we understand what His will is.
For these are His gifts in this world.”

“Dream … that the more you struggle,
the more you prove the love which you bear your God
and the more you will rejoice one day,
with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture
which can never end.”

“He gives according to the love He bears us …,
according to the courage He sees in each
and the love each has for His Majesty.
He will see, that whoever loves Him much,
will be able to suffer much for Him;
whoever loves Him little,
will be capable of little.
I myself hold,
that the measure for being able to bear,
a large or small cross, is love …”

“This noble woman suffered every kind of persecution.
At one period, her very friends avoided her as one possessed by the devil! Others went as far as to call her a devil! But when assailed with the most outrageous slander, she would say, with a smile:
“No music us as agreeable to my ears.”

“Do you think,” said Christ to her in a vision,
“that merit consists in enjoyment?
No. It is in working and suffering and loving.
He is most beloved, on whom My Father
lays the heaviest crosses ––
if these are borne and accepted with love.
By what can I better show My Love for you,
than by choosing for you
that which I chose for Myself?”

(From her Autobiography)

O My God, Source of All Mercy!
Prayer To Redeem Lost Time
By St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)
Doctor of the Church

O My God,
Source of all mercy!
I acknowledge Thine sovereign power.
While recalling the wasted years which are past,
I believe, that Thou, Lord,
in an instant, canst turn this loss into gain.
Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe
that Thou canst do all things.
Please restore to me the time lost,
giving me Thine grace,
both now and in the future
that I may appear before Thee,
in the “wedding garment!”
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/10/15/quote-s-of-the-day-15-october-st-teresa-of-jesus-of-avila/

St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on FRIENDSHIP, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the POOR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Quote/s of the Day – 30 September – St Jerome

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Quote/s of the Day – 30 September – St Jerome (347-419) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church, Priest, Monk, Translator of the Scriptures into Latin (the Vulgate), Theologian, Historian, Hermit, Mystic.

“The Scriptures are shallow enough,
for a babe to come and drink,
without fear of drowning
and deep enough,
for theologians to swim in,
without ever reaching the bottom.”

“A friend is long sought,
hardly found,
and with difficulty
kept.”

“Sweet it is to lay aside the weight of the body
and to soar into the pure bright ether.
Do you dread poverty?
Christ calls the poor blessed. (Luke 6:20)
Does toil frighten you?
No athlete is crowned but in the sweat of his brow.
Are you anxious as regards food?
Faith fears no famine.
Do you dread the bare ground
for limbs wasted with fasting?
The Lord lies there beside you.
Do you recoil from an unwashed head
and uncombed hair?
Christ is your true head.
Does the boundless solitude of the desert terrify you?
In the spirit, you may walk always, in paradise.
Do but turn your thoughts there
and you will be no more in the desert.”

“Everyday we are changing,
everyday we are dying,
and yet, we fancy ourselves eternal!”

Merciful Jesus!
Stretch Forth Thy Hand of Mercy
(Excerpt – Prayer in a Time of Anguish)
By St Jerome (347-419)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Merciful Jesus!
Thou art my strength, my refuge and my deliverer;
in Thee I have believed and hoped;
in Thee have I loved.
Call me now, I beseech Thee and I will answer.
Stretch forth Thy Hand of mercy, to the work of Thy Hands
and let me not perish, whom Thou hast redeemed
with Thy Precious Blood.
It is now time for dust to return to dust
and my spirit to Thee Who gavest it.
Open then, Lord, the Gate of Life and receive me.
Receive me most merciful Lord,
according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies,
Who receivedst the thief on the cross
and now prepare my soul for hearing
the same promise of mercy which he did.
I am ill, O Lord and Thee my Physician.
Heal me then, my God and I shall be healed,
let me not be confounded, for I put my trust in Thee.
In Thee have I hoped – let me not be cast off forever!
… Deal not with me, according to what I deserve,
nor chastise me, according to my iniquities
but help me, O God, my Saviour
and for the glory of Thy Name deliver me.
Now, at this hour, show mercy to me
and whenever I depart, receive me
into the number of Thy family that I, may be one of those,
who are to praise Thee forever.
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/09/30/quote-s-of-the-day-30-september-st-jerome-4/

St Jerome (347-419)
Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church
AKA – “The Sun Who Illuminated the Scriptures”
“A Lion in Defence of the Faith”

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 30 September – O Lord, Show Thy Mercy to Me

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Our Morning Offering – 30 September – Memorial of St Jerome (347-419) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

O Lord, Show Thy Mercy to Me
By St Jerome (347-419)
Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

O Lord, show Thy mercy to me
and gladden my heart.
I am like the man
on the way to Jericho,
who was overtaken by robbers,
wounded and left for dead.
O Good Samaritan,
come to my aid.
I am like the sheep which went astray.
O Good Shepherd,
seek me out and bring me home,
in accord with Thy will.
Let me dwell in Thy house
all the days of my life
and praise Thee,
forever and ever
with those who are there.
Amen

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 21 September – CONSIDERATION IX, The Peace Felt by a Just Man When Dying

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Thought for the Day – 21 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION IX

The Peace Felt by a Just Man When Dying
“The souls of the just are in the Hands of God
and the torment of death, shall not touch them.
In the sight of the unwise, they seemed to die,
…. but they are at peace.”
(Wisd iii: 1-3)

FIRST POINT:
“The souls of the just are in the Hand of God.”
If God holds the souls of the just in His Hand, who is it that can pluck them out of it? It is true that hell never ceases to tempt and to insult the Saints, even when they are dying but God never ceases to assist them and, when, as St Ambrose observes, His faithful servants are placed in more danger, then. does He give them more assistance.

When the servant of Elisha saw the City surrounded by enemies, he was affrighted but the Saint encouraged him, saying: “Fear not, for they who be with us, are more than they who be with them.” (2 Kings vi: 16). And Elisha then prayed and the young man’s eyes were opened and he saw an army of Angels sent by God to defend them!
The devil will indeed come to tempt the dying man but his Guardian Angel will also come to comfort him. St Michael, who is appointed by God to defend His faithful servants in this their last combat with hell but, above all, Jesus Christ will come to keep this His penitent and innocent sheep, for whose salvation He once gave up His life. He will give thy soul that confidence and strength which, in such a combat, it will stand in need of, so that He will exclaim with all courage: “Lord, be Thou my helper.” (Ps xxx: 10).

“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom then shall I fear?” (Ps xxvii: I) God, as Origen observes, cares much more about our eternal salvation than the devil does about our eternal ruin because, God Loves us much more than the devil hates us.
God is faithful, observes the Apostle and will not suffer us to be tempted above that which we are able (i Cor x: 13).
But you will say: “Many Saints have died in great fear concerning their eternal salvation.” I answer, few are the examples of those who, having led a holy life, have afterwards died in great fear.

Belluacensis observes, the Lord permits this in some Saints, in order to purge them when dying from some defect. Besides, do we not read that almost all God’s servants have died with a smile upon their lips?
To all, the Divine Judgment gives fear of death but where sinners pass from fear to desperation, the Saints pass to assurance.
St Antoninus narrates that St Bernard, being ill, was tempted to fear but, thinking upon the merits of Jesus Christ, he dismissed every fear, saying: “My merits are Thy Wounds.”
St Hilarion at first was afraid but later he said, rejoicing: “Go forth, my soul, of what art thou afraid? For well nigh seventy years thou hast served Christ and dost thou now fear death?” As if he wished to say, my soul, what dost thou fear after having served a God Who is faithful and
Who will never abandon him, who has been faithful to Him in life?

Father Joseph Scamacca being asked if he felt he was dying with confidence, answered: “What! have I been serving Mahomet all my life that I should now doubt the goodness of my God as to whether He may wish me to be saved?”
If the thought of having once offended God at any time should torment us in death, we know the Lord has promised to remember no more, the sins of the penitent.
“If the wicked will turn from all his sins which he hath committed, … they shall not be mentioned unto Him.” (Ezelc xviii: 21, 22).
But some will say, how can we be sure that God has pardoned us? St Basil even, asks this question and replies: “If we can say, I hate and abominate my sin because he who hates sin, may rest secure that God has pardoned him already.”

The heart of man cannot exist without love; it either loves the creature, or it loves God; if it does not love the creature, then it loves God. And who is it that loves God? Even he who keeps His commandments.
“He who hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is who loveth Me.” (St John xiv: 21).
He, therefore, who dies, observing God’s commands, dies loving God and he who loves God shall not fear for “perfect love casteth out fear.” (i St John iv: 18).

Affections andPrayers.

Ah, my Jesus, when will that day come when I shall be able
to say, “My God, never more shall I be able to lose Thee?”
When will that day come when I shall see Thee face-to-face,
and shall rest secure of loving Thee, with all my strength for all eternity?

Ah my Sovereign Good, my only love, as long as I live I shall stand in danger of offending Thee and of losing Thy blessed grace!
There was once an unhappy time when I loved Thee not and when I despised Thy Love but now, I repent with all my heart and hope Thou hast already pardoned me; for now I love Thee with all my heart and I desire to do all I can, to love Thee and to please Thee but I am still in danger of not loving Thee, and of again turning away from Thee.
Ah, my Jesus, my Life, my Treasure, do not permit me to do this. Rather than allow this dreadful misfortune to befall
me, let me now die the most painful death it may please Thee to send me. I am content with it and I pray for it.

Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus Christ, give me not over to this
great ruin. Punish me as Thou wilt, I deserve it and I accept
it but deliver me from the punishment of ever beholding myself deprived of Thy grace and of Thy Love.
My Jesus, for Thine own sake have mercy upon me!

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRACE, Quotes on SALVATION, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The INCARNATION, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 September – ‘ …The Resurrection reclined at this table …’

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One Minute Reflection – 21 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Martyr – Ezekiel 1:10-14; Matthew 9:9-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners? ” – Matthew 9:11

REFLECTION – “Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners?” God is accused of bending down to man, of sitting next to the sinner, of being hungry for his conversion and thirsty for his return; of consenting to eat the food of compassion and drink from the cup of goodness. But Christ, my brethren, came to this meal – Life came amongst these guests that those who were going to die, might live with Him, the same Life as He. The Resurrection reclined at this table that those who lay in death, might rise from their tombs; Grace stooped down to raise sinners up, to forgiveness; God came to man that man might attain to God; the Judge came to the meal of the guilty, to release humankind from the sentence of condemnation; the Doctor came to the sick, to restore their depleted strength by eating with them; the Good Shepherd bent down to carry the lost sheep back to salvation’s fold (Lk 15:l3) …

“Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners?” But who is the sinner, if not the one who refuses to see himself as sinful? Is it not, to sink in one’s sins and, if the truth be told, identify oneself with sin by not recognising oneself to be a sinner? And who is unrighteous if not the one who thinks himself righteous? … Come along, you Pharisee, confess your sin and you will be able to come to Christ’s Table! Christ will become Bread for your sake, the Bread to be broken for the forgiveness of your sins! Christ will become Drink for your sake, the Drink which will be shed for the remission of your offences!Come along, you Pharisee, share the meal of sinners that you may eat your meal with Christ. Acknowledge yourself a sinner and Christ will eat with you. Go in to the Lord’s Feast along with sinners and you will be able to be a sinner no more. With the forgiveness of Christ, enter into the House of Mercy.” – St Peter Chrysologus (400-450) Bishop of Ravenna, Father & “Doctor of Sermons”of the Church (Sermon 30).

PRAYER – May we be helped, O Lord, by the prayers of the blessed Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew that what we ourselves cannot obtain, maybe granted by his intercession. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on SIN, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 12 September – CONSIDERATION VI, The Death of the Sinner

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Thought for the Day – 12 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION VI

The Death of the Sinner
“Destruction cometh and they shall seek peace and there shall be none. Mischief shall come upon mischief.”
(Ezek vii: 25, 26)

FIRST POINT.
IT is now that sinners try, as far as they can, to drive away the memory and the thought of death and thus, to find peace, although they never will do so, by leading a life of sin but when, in the agonies of death, they must enter into eternity when “destruction cometh, I and they shall seek peace and there shall be none” then they will try to fly from the stings of their troubled consciences, they will seek peace but what peace can a soul find which is laden with sin which bites it, like so many vipers?
What peace, knowing that in so short a time it will have to appear before Jesus Christ the Judge, whose law and friendship, until that moment, it has esteemed of so little worth?

“Mischief shall come upon mischief. ”
The intelligence which the sinner has just received – that he is dying, the thought that he must bid farewell to everything in this world, the stings of a troubled conscience, the time which is forever lost, the time which he is now in want of, the severity of the Divine Judge, the miserable eternity which awaits all sinners – the thought of all these
things will come upon him in terrible confusion which will greatly trouble his mind and increase his apprehensions, and, thus confused and being filled with fear, the soul of the dying man will pass into the other life.

Abraham, to whom great praise is due, hoped in God against all human hope, believing in the Divine Promise, “who against hope believed in hope.”
But shiners, with great de-merit and who are the cause of their own ruin, falsely hope, not only against hope but even against faith, whilst they pay no attention whatever, to the warning which God gives to those who are obstinate.
They dread an unhappy death but they have no fear in leading a wicked life. But who is able to assure them, that their death will not suddenly be caused by a thunderbolt, by an apoplectic fit, or by the bursting of a bloodvessel? And even should they have time, when they are dying, to be converted, who can assure them, their conversion will
then be a true one?
St Augustine had to strive against his evil habits for twelve years, in order to overcome them. How then will one, who is dying, who has ever had a conscience stained with sin, who will be tormented with pain, with dreadful feelings in the head and, who will be in the confusion of death, how will he, then, I repeat, be possibly able to be truly converted!?
I say truly because, at that time, the saying and promising will be of no use, it will be necessary to say and to promise from the depth of the heart.
O God, into what terror will not the miserable sufferer be thrown, whose conscience, when remorseful, has been blighted, when he finds himself oppressed by his sins and by the fears of the coming judgement, by the thought of hell and of eternity? Into what dreadful confusion will not these thoughts throw him, when he finds that his memory is failing him, his mind becoming darkened and his body overcome with the pains of death which is already fast approaching?
He will confess, he will promise, he will weep, he will cry to God for mercy but, without knowing what he is doing and in that tempest of agitation, of remorse, of anguish and of fear, his soul will pass into the other world.
“The people shall be troubled at midnight and pass away.” (Job xxxiv: 20).
It is well said by an author that the prayers, the tears and the promises, of a dying sinner, are like the tears and promises of a man who finds himself assailed by his enemy, who puts a dagger to his throat to take away his life.
He who lies down on his bed and whose soul passes from it to eternity, is indeed a wretched man.

Affections and Prayers

The Wounds of Jesus are my only hope.
I should despair of pardon for my sins, did I not look upon Thee, the fountains of pity and of mercy, through which my God has shed all His Blood to wash my soul from the many sins which it has committed.
I adore Thee, O ye holy Wounds and in Thee confide.
I detest and abhor those unworthy pleasures through which I have displeased my dear Redeemer and through which. I have lost His holy friendship.

Looking then upon Thee, my hopes are raised and, therefore, I turn my affections towards Thee.
My beloved Jesus, it is only right that all men should love Thee and they should love Thee with their whole heart.
But I have so often offended Thee and counted Thy holy Love of no moment and yet. notwithstanding all my shortcomings, Thou hast borne with me so long and hast so often offered me pardon.

Ah, my Saviour, never more let me offend Thee and by so doing lose my soul forever. O God ! what dreadful pain it would give me to see Thy dear Blood and to remember Thy many mercies which Thou hast shown to me, if I should ever be cast into everlasting punishment.

I love Thee now and I would love Thee forever.
Give me holy perseverance. Take away from my heart every love which is not Thine and establish in me, a real desire and resolution to love Thee alone. Thou Who art my Sovereign Good, may I do this from henceforth and forever.

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD is LOVE, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 7 September – CONSIDERATION IV, Second Point – The Certainty of Death: “It is appointed”

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Thought for the Day – 7 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION IV

The Certainty of Death
“It is appointed unto men, once to die.”
(Heb ix: 27).

SECOND POINT:
“It is appointed”
It is, therefore, quite certain – we are all condemned to die. St Cyprian says that we are all born with the halter round our neck and, we approach nearer to death at every step we take. My brother, as your name has one day been entered into the Register of Baptism, so too, it will one day be entered into the Register of Deaths. … As you have often heard the death-bell toll for others, even so will others hear it toll for you.

But what would you say, if you were to see a condemned man going to the scaffold jesting, laughing, looking about him, thinking only of plays, festivities and amusements? And are not you advancing on the road to death?
And of what are you thinking?
Look into that grave and see your friends and your relations upon whom, justice has already been executed.
What fear do those feel, who are condemned to die, when they behold their companions suspended on the gallows and dead!
Behold, then, those corpses, each one of which repeats to you:
“Yesterday for me and to-day for thee.” (Ecclus xxxviii: 23).
The portraits of those of your friends even, say the same to you, as do their memoranda-books, their houses, their beds, and even the clothes they have left behind them.

What greater folly, therefore, can there be than to know we must die and, after death, an eternity of joy or an eternity of pain awaits us; to know upon that moment, our eternal happiness or our eternal unhappiness depends and yet, not to care to make our reckoning sure and to use all the means we can, to make our death a happy one.
We pity all these who die suddenly and who are not prepared for death and why, therefore, do we not strive to be ever prepared to die because, the same sudden death, may happen to us?
But sooner or later, either with warning or without it, whether we think it or whether we do not think it, we shall have to die and, at every hour, at every moment, we approach nearer to our gallows, even to that last illness which will be the cause of our death.

At every age, the houses, the streets and the cities, are again
inhabited by fresh people and, the old inhabitants are borne to the grave, their last resting-place.
As the days of life are for ever finished for these, so will the time come ,in which, neither I nor you, nor any of those who are now living, will be any more living upon this earth.
Our “memorial is perished with us.” (Ps ix: 6) .
We shall all then be living in eternity which will be for us ,either an eternity of endless joy, or an eternity of endless woe. There is no middle way; this is certain and is an Article of Faith that either one lot or the other, will be ours.

Affections and Prayers

My beloved Redeemer, I should not have the courage thus to appear before Thee, did I not behold Thee hanging upon that Cross, wounded, derided and dead, for me.
My ingratitude has been great but Thy Mercy has been still greater.
Thy wounds, Thy Blood, Thy Death, are my hope.
I deserved hell from the moment I committed my first sin; how many times afterwards have I not again offended Thee and not only hast

Thou preserved my life but with so much pity and so much love, Thou hast offered me pardon and peace; how, therefore, can I fear being driven from Thee, now that I love Thee and now I have no other desire, than Thy blessed favour.
Yes, I love Thee with all my heart, my dearest Lord and I desire nothing else than to love Thee. I love Thee, and am very sorry for having scorned Thee, not so much because I have rendered myself worthy of hell, as for having offended Thee, my God.
Who hast loved me so much. Take me to Thy bosom, O my Jesus and add Mercy to Mercy. Let me never more be ungrateful to Thee and change my heart entirely. Grant that my heart which at one time esteemed Thy Love of no account and which has so often exchanged it for the miserable gratifications of this world, may. be wholly Thine and grant that it may burn in continual flames of love for Thee.

I hope to come to Paradise, there to love Thee forever, I cannot hope for a place there, among the innocent; my place will be amongst the penitent but, amidst those, I will love Thee more than the innocent.
For the glory of Thy Name, let a sinner be seen by Heaven to burn with a great love for Thee, a sinner who has so often offended Thee. I resolve, from this day fonward, to be Thine only and to think of nothing but of loving Thee. Assist me with Thy Light and with Thy Grace that strength maybe given to me to fulfil this, my desire which Thou Thyself hast given me through Thine Love.

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 September – “Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”- Matthew 25:21

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One Minute Reflection – 5 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – t Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455) Bishop of Venice, Confessor – Ecclesiasticus 44:16-27; 45:3-20, Matthew 25:14-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

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

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

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

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

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God that the venerable feast of Thy blessed Confessor and Bishop, may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 September – ‘ … What is this tomb? …’

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One Minute Reflection – 4 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”– St Rose of Viterbo (c1233 – 1251) Virgin – Ferial Day – Galatians 5:16-24, Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“… When the Lord … being moved with mercy towards her, He said to her: Weep not.” – Luke 7:13

REFLECTION – “God’s mercy quickly allows itself to be moved by this mother’s tears. She is a widow; the suffering or death of her only son have crushed her… It seems to me that this widow, surrounded by a crowd of people, is more than just a simple woman, deserving of her young and only son’s resurrection through her tears. She is the image itself of Holy Church, who, by her tears, in the midst of the funeral procession and on the brink of the grave, gains a restoration to life of the youthful people of the world … For, at God’s Word, the dead are raised (Jn 5:28), they regain their speech and the mother recovers her son. He is called back from the tomb, snatched from the sepulchre.

What is this tomb of yours, if not your evil behaviour? Your tomb is your lack of faith … Christ sets you free from this sepulchre. If you listen to God’s Word, you will come out of the tomb. And if your sin is too serious for the tears of your repentance to cleanse it, may the tears of your mother, the Church, intercede on your behalf. She is, indeed, full of compassion and feels a wholly maternal, spiritual sorrow when she sees her children dragged off to death by sin!” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on Saint Luke’s Gospel V, 89).

PRAYER – Protect Thy Church by Thine abiding mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord and since all mortals fall without Thee, may Thy help keep them from danger and guide them to salvation. May the prayers of Thy virgin the blessed Rose, assist us on our journey to Thee. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD

Thought for the Day – 27 August –CONSIDERATION I, Second Point: “Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.”

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Thought for the Day – 27 August – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION I

“Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.”
(Gen iii:19)

SECOND POINT:
In order more clearly to see what indeed thou art, my Christian soul, St John Chrysostom observes:
“Go to a sepulchre, contemplate
dust, ashes, worms and sigh.”
See how that corpse becomes, at first yellow and then black. Afterwards, there is seen upon the body, a white and unpleasant mould. Then there issues forth a foul and corrupt matter which sinks into the ground.
In that corruption many worms are generated which
feed upon the flesh. The rats then come to feast upon the body, some on the outside, others entering into the mouth and bowels.

The cheeks, the lips and the hair fall in pieces; the ribs are
the first to become bare of flesh, then the arms and the legs.
The worms after, having consumed the flesh eat each other, and, in the end, nothing remains of that body but a fetid skeleton which, in course of time, is divided, the bones being separated and the head falling from the body, they
“become like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors and the wind carried them away“ ” (Dan ii:35.)

Behold, then, what man is – a little dust upon a threshing-floor which is carried away by the wind!
Behold that nobleman, who was considered to be the life
and soul of society, where is he? Go into his room, he is not
there; if you look into his bed, it belongs to another; his clothes, his arms, others have already taken and divided them. If you wish to see him, you must seek for him in that grave where he is changed into all that is unpleasant and into fleshless bones.

O my God, that that body fed with so many delicacies, clothed with so much pomp, attended by so many servants, should be reduced to this !
O ye Saints, ye, who for the love of that God, Whom ye loved alone, upon this earth, knew how to mortify your
bodies and now, your bones are kept and prized as sacred relics in golden shrines and your souls which are beatified, rejoice in the presence of God, waiting for the final Day, when your bodies even, will again become the companions of your souls in glory, as they were once the companions of your souls, in bearing the cross of this world.
This is the true love of the body, so to burden it with mortifications here, that it may be happy in eternity and to deny it those pleasures here which would render it unhappy in eternity.

Affections andPrayers

Behold, therefore, O my God, to what my body will become reduced, through which I have so often offended Thee, it will be reduced even to worms and corruption.
But this does not grieve me, O my God, nay, it rather cheers me, for this my flesh to become putrid and consumed which made me lose Thee, O my Sovereign Good.
But it does grieve me very much, to think that I should have taken so much delight in those wretched pleasures which have so often displeased Thee.
But I will not distrust Thy Mercy.
Thou hast waited for me to give me pardon.
“Therefore will the Lord wait that He may be gracious unto thee.” (Isa xxx: 18)
And Thou wilt pardon me if I repent.
Yes, Thou wilt, for I do repent with all my heart for having despised Thee, O God of Infinite Goodness.
I will repeat to Thee as did St Catherine of Genoa,
“No more sins, my Jesus, no more sins.”
No, I will no longer abuse Thy patience, neither will I wait to embrace Thee until the hour of death.
O my Crucified Love, now will I embrace Thee, now will I commend my soul into Thy keeping.
“Into Thy Hands, I commend my spirit.”

My soul has been many years in this world without loving Thee, give me light and strength to love Thee during the life which remains to me.
I will not wait until the hour of death to love Thee, from this moment, 1 will love Thee and embrace Thee and unite myself to Thee and, I promise, never more to leave Thee.

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on PRIESTS, the PRIESTHOOD and CONSECRATED LIFE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 August –Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth … Matthew 16:19

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One Minute Reflection – 26 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Pope Zephyrinus (Died 217) Martyr and Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11; 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 – Grant us, Thy servants, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body and, by the intercession of the glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness.ThroughJesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSOLATION

Our Morning Offering – 26 August – Most Holy Virgin, My Consolation

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Our Morning Offering – 26 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland

Most Holy Virgin, My Consolation
By St Germanus of Paris (c490-576)

Most Holy Virgin!
Who art the greatest consolation
which I receive from God,
thou, who art the heavenly dew
which assuages all my pains,
thou, who art the light of my soul
when it is enveloped in darkness,
thou, who art my guide
in unknown paths,
the support of my weakness,
my treasure, in poverty,
my remedy, in sickness,
my consolation, in trouble,
my refuge, in misery,
and the hope of my salvation,
hear my supplications,
have pity on me,
as becomes the Mother
of so good a God
and obtain for me
a favourable reception
of all my petitions
at the throne of mercy.
Amen

St Germanus of Paris (c490-576) “Father of the Poor” 
HIS LIFE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/05/28/saint-of-the-day-28-may-st-germanus-of-paris-c-496-576-father-of-the-poor/

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CONSECRATION Prayers, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, INGRATITUDE, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 18 August – Gratitude … Ingratitude

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Quote/s of the Day – 18 August – Pentecost XIII – Galatians 3:16-22; Luke 17:11-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Were not ten made clean?
And where are the other nine?”

Luke 17:17

“While He is judged, Wisdom remains silent
and the Word says nothing.
His enemies despise and Crucify Him …
Those, to whom yesterday,
He gave His Body as food, watch from a distance
as He dies. Peter, the first of the Apostles,
is the first to flee. Andrew also took flight
and John, who rested at His side,
did not prevent the soldier from piercing that side
with a lance. The Twelve fled –
they did not say one word in His favour, they,
for whom He is giving His Life.
Lazarus is not there, he, whom He called back to life.
The blind man did not weep for Him
Who opened his eyes to the light
and the crippled man, who could walk
thanks to Him, did not run to Him.
Only a bandit who was crucified next to Him
confessed Him and called Him his King!
O thief, precocious blossom from the tree of the Cross, first fruit of the wood from Golgotha!””

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“ For man’s lowliness,
is his gratitude
and, God’s greatness,
is His Mercy.”

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

Daily Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Prayers to the Sacred Heart
1936 – 15th Edition, Dublin

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
filled with infinite love,
broken by our ingratitude
and pierced by our sins,
yet loving us still,
accept the Consecration
we make to Thee,
of all that we are
and all that we have.
Take every faculty
of our souls and bodies,
only day by day
draw us, nearer and nearer
to Thy Sacred Heart,
and there, as we shall hear the lesson,
teach us Thy Holy Way.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 18 August – “Where are the other nine?” – Luke 17:17

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One Minute Reflection – 18 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Pentecost XIII –Within the Octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin – Galatians 3:16-22; Luke 17:11-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Where are the other nine?” – Luke 17:17

REFLECTION – “In our own day we see many people at prayer but, unfortunately, we see none of them turning back to give thanks to God … “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?” As I think you will remember, it was in these words that our Saviour complained about the lack of gratitude of the other nine lepers. We read that they knew well how to make “supplications, prayers, petitions” since they lifted up their voices, crying out: “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” But they lacked the fourth thing required by the Apostle Paul: “thanksgiving” (1Tm 2:1) for they did not turn back nor give thanks to God.

We see still more in our own day ,people who implore God for what they lack but a mere handful who seem to be grateful for the blessings they have received. There is no harm in imploring Him but what causes God not to grant our prayers, is His finding us lacking in gratitude. After all, perhaps it is even an act of mercy on His part, to hold back from the ungrateful, what they are asking for, so that they may not be judged all the more rigorously, on account of their ingratitude! … For, it is sometimes out of mercy that God holds back His mercy! …

So you see, not all those who are healed of the leprosy of this world, I mean their manifest complaints, profit by their cures. Indeed, many are secretly afflicted with an ulcer worse than leprosy, all the more dangerous, in that it is more interior. That is why it was correct that the Saviour of the world should ask, where the other nine lepers were, since sinners avoid cures. So, too, after his sin, God questioned the first man: “Where are you?” (Gn 3:9).” – St Bernard (1090-1153) Cistercian Abbot, Father and Doctor of the Church (Various sermons No 27).

PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, forgive the transgressions of Thy servants and, forasmuch as by our own deeds, we cannot please Thee, may we find safety through the prayers of the Mother of Thy Son and our Lord. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR

Our Morning Offering – 17 August – Mother of my God

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Our Morning Offering – 17 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and Mary’s day

Mother of my God,
Lady Mary, Queen of Mercy
By St Alphonsus Ligouri (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Mother of my God and my Lady Mary,
as a beggar, all wounded and sore,
presents himself before a great Queen,
so do I present myself before you,
who are Queen of heaven and earth.
From the lofty throne on which you sit,
disdain not, I implore you,
to cast your eyes on me,
a poor sinner.
God has made you so rich
that you might assist the poor
and has made you Queen of Mercy,
that you might relieve the miserable.
Behold me then and pity me.
Behold me and abandon me not,
until you see me changed
from a sinner into a saint.
Amen

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, QUEENSHIP of MARY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JOY, Quotes on SALVATION, THE ASSUMPTION, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 August – ‘ … Let us not weep, since we have no lasting city here below …’

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One Minute Reflection – 15 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven – Judith 13:22-25; 15:10, Luke 1:41-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“For behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. ” – Luke 1:44

REFLECTION – “Today the Virgin Mary rises gloriously to Heaven. She completes the happiness of Angels and Saints. For it was she whose simple word of greeting made the child in his mother’s womb leap for joy (Lk 1:44). What, then, must have been the rejoicing of the Angels and Saints, when they found themselves able to hear her voice, see her face and rejoice in her blessed presence!

And what a great Feast her glorious Assumption is for us, beloved brethren, what reason for happiness and cause for joy today! Mary’s presence brightens the whole world, so greatly do the heavens shine, lightened by the brilliance of the most holy Virgin. Therefore, it is altogether fitting that the heavens resound with thanksgiving and praise.

Yet, is it not also right that, just as Heaven rejoices in Mary’s presence, we of this world, should mourn her absence? Not at all. Let us not weep, since we have no lasting city here below (Heb 13:14) but seek that to which the Virgin Mary has come today. If even now we are registered among that City’s inhabitants, then, it is fitting that we should call it to mind today … share its joy, participate in the rejoicing which gladdens God’s City today; for today it falls like dew upon our earth. Yes, she, our Queen, has gone before us and has been received with so great a glory that we, her humble servants, may trustfully follow our Sovereign, crying [with the Bride of the Song of Songs]: “Draw us! We will run to the sweet scent of your perfumes!” (cf. Sg 1:3-4). Pilgrims on earth, we have sent our Advocate before us … the Mother of Mercy, who will successfully plead our salvation!” – St Bernard (1091-1153) Cistercian Abbot, Father and Doctor of the Church (1st Sermon for the Assumption).

PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, forgive the transgressions of Thy servants and, forasmuch as by our own deeds, we cannot please Thee, may we find safety through the prayers of the Mother of Thy Son and our Lord. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, SELF-DISTRUST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 August – ‘ … Do not worry … but entrust to Divine Providence … 

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One Minute Reflection – 13 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Saints Hippolytus and Cassian (Died c235) Martyrs – Our Lady Refuge of Sinners – Hebrews 10:32-38; Luke 12:1-8 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Yes, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore, do not be afraid, you are of more value than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:6-7

REFLECTION – “It seems to me you ought to resolve to carry out peacefully what you can. Do not worry about all the rest but entrust to Divine Providence that which you are unable to accomplish on your own. What is pleasing to God, is the reasonable care and attention we give, to accomplishing well, whatever business we must undertake through duty. What is not pleasing to God, is anxiety and disquiet of mind. The Lord wants our limitations and weaknesses, to find their support in His Strength; He wants us to hope that His Goodness will complete and perfect the imperfectness of our means.

Those who take on numerous responsibilities, even with an upright and pure intention, must resolve to do simply what lies within their power … If it is necessary to set certain things aside, arm yourselves with patience and do not think that God expects of us what we are unable to do. He does not want a man to distress himself on account of his limitations … there is no need to tire ourselves out excessively. More, if we have laboured to do our best, we can abandon all the rest to Him ,Who has the power to accomplish whatever He will.

May the Divine Goodness always be pleased to communicate His Light of Wisdom to us, so that we may clearly see and firmly accomplish, His good pleasure, for ourselves and for others … so that we may accept from His Hand, whatever He sends us, taking due note of what is the most important – patience, humility, obedience and charity!” – St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Priest, Founder of the Society of Jesus (Letter of 17 November 1555)

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both of mind and body and, by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on SIN, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 11 August – “Have mercy on me, God, according to Thine Merciful Love!” (Ps 50:3).

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One Minute Reflection – 11 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Pentecost XII – St Tiburtius (Died c286) Martyr, Layman, St Susanna of Rome (Died c 295) Virgin Martyr, St Philomena (Died 304) Virgin Martyr – 2 Corinthians 3:4-9; Luke 10:23-37– Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“But a certain Samaritan, … seeing him, was moved with compassion.” – Luke 10:33

REFLECTION – “O Lord Jesus, stirred by pity may Thou have the goodness to draw near me. Going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, Thou fall from the heights to our own lowest depths, from a state where people are full of life, to a land of the sick. Look, I have fallen into the hands of the angels of darkness, who have not only stripped off my garment of grace but, having beaten me with their blows, have left me half dead. May Thou treat the wounds of my sins, when Thou hast given me hope of recovering my health, lest they should triumph if I ever lose hope of healing. May Thou anoint me with the oil of Thine forgiveness and pour the wine of contrition, over me. If Thou set me on Thy Own mount, it is then that Thou “raise up the needy of the earth” that Thou “lift the poor from the ash-heap” (Ps 112:7).

For Thou art the One Who bore our sins, the One Who paid a debt for us, which Thy Thyself, did not contract. If Thou hast led me into the Inn of Thy Church, it is there that Thou would feed me with the food of Thine Body and Blood. If Thou were taking care of me, then I should no longer disobey Thy commands, I should no longer draw down on myself, the fury of raging beasts. For I have great need of Thy care, as long as I bear this flesh, subject to sin. Hear me then, I, who am the Samaritan stripped and wounded, weeping and groaning, calling Thee and crying with David: “Have mercy on me, God, according to Thine Merciful Love!” (Ps 50:3).” – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Exposition on the Seven Penitential Psalms),

PRAYER – May the constant protection of Thy holy Martyrs, Tiburtius and Susanna and Philomena support us, O Lord, for Thou never fails to look mercifully upon those whom Thou, hast given the help, of such intercession. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on ENVY, QUOTES on VICE, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 5 August – The Contentedness of Charity“ – Charity envieth not”

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Thought for the Day – 5 August – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

The Contentedness of Charity
“Charity envieth not”

Envy is the vice which begrudges happiness, liberty, riches, success, or some other good. to another. Envy is pained at seeing another in possession of that which the envious man desires himself to have but cannot obtain. Envy is a mean and contemptible vice. What difference can it make to us that others should succeed and be happy? If they shared our misfortunes, we would be no better off.
Examine whether envy lurks in your heart?

Envy is a vice which utterly destroys the peace of he who harbours it. He is always uneasy and unites the longing for that which he cannot have, with a hatred of those who are enjoying it. This double worm gnaws unceasingly at his heart.
In our own interest, there is scarcely any vice which is such folly to harbour. Envy is also especially displeasing to God and hateful in His sight because, it challenges His goodness and rebels against, a state of things, which He has ordained or permitted.

How different is the spirit of charity!
It takes pleasure in the pleasure of others, it rejoices in their success and is happy in seeing them happy. It wishes for nothing which others have and which is out of its own reach, for it recognises the wise Providence of God in all happenings and, therefore, is perfectly satisfied with everything and has no wish to see itself exalted and others depressed, as envy does.
In view of the greater successes of others, is my spirit one of envy or one of charity?
Do I rejoice in them or do I feel vexed and annoyed?

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, GOOD RESOLUTIONS, JESUIT SJ, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on HERESY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the POOR, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 31 July – St Ignatius Loyola

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Quote/s of the Day – 31 July – St Ignatius Loyola SJ (1491-1556) Priest, Confessor, Founder, Theologian, Spiritual Writer, Mystic.

“Be generous to the poor orphans
and those in need.
The man to whom our Lord
has been liberal
ought not to be stingy.
We shall one day find in Heaven,
as much rest and joy
as we ourselves have dispensed in this life.”

“If our Church is not marked
by caring for the poor,
the oppressed, the hungry,
we are guilty of heresy!”

“After we experience the great peace
of knowing God’s Love for us
which quiets our anxieties and insecurities,
we find another deep desire stirring within us.
We desire greatness
because we are made for greatness!”

Teach Us Good Lord
By St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve Thee as Thou deserves
to give and not
to count the cost,
to fight and not
to heed the wounds,
to toil and not
to seek for rest,
to labour and not
to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing
that we do Thy Will.
Amen

Eternal Lord of All
By St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Eternal Lord of all things,
I come before Thine Infinite Goodness
and before Thy glorious Mother
and all the Saints of the heavenly court,
to make my offering, with Thy grace and favour,
it is my wish, desire and determination,
provided that it would be
for Thy greater service and praise,
to imitate Thee in suffering injury,
insults and poverty,
actual, as well as spiritual,
should Thine most Holy Majesty
choose to receive me,
in such a way of life.
Amen

St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY NAME, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The REDEMPTION

Our Morning Offering – 30 July – A devout Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Our Morning Offering – 30 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood”

Glory, Honour and Praise,
To Our Lord Jesus Christ!
A devout Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ,
to be said both Morning and Evening
By St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621)
Doctor of the Church
(From His “A Brief Christian Doctrine”)

GLory, Honour and Praise Be,
May all the world adore Thee,
blessed be Thy Holy Name,
Who for us sinners,
vouchsafest to be born of a humble Virgin
and blessed be Thine infinite goodness,
Who died upon the Cross for our Redemption.
O Jesu, Son of God
and Saviour of mankind,
have mercy upon us
and so dispose our lives here,
by Thy Grace
that we may, hereafter,
rejoice with Thee forever
in Thy Heavenly Kingdom,
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, The INCARNATION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 July – ‘ … For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy.

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One Minute Reflection – 28 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Sts Nazarius and Celus, Martyrs and St Pope Innocent I (Died 417) Confessor – Pentecost X – 1 Corinthians 12:2-11; Luke 18:9-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.” – Luke 18:14

REFLECTION – “Before the Lord Jesus’ coming, people drew all their glory from themselves. But He came as man that the glory of man might grow less and the glory of God grow greater. For He came without sin and found us all to be sinners. If He came to loose our sins it is because God is merciful, so let man take note of it. For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy.

If He came to forgive us our sins, then let man take thought of his lowliness and God exercise His Mercy. “He must increase but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). That is to say, He it is Who must give and it is for me to receive. He must have the glory and I must acknowledge it. Man should understand his place, let him acknowledge God and hear what the Apostle Paul says to the high-minded and proud man, who claims to be exalted: “What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting as though you have not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7). So, let the man who would call his own that which is not his own, understand that he has received it and make himself small, for it is good for him that God should be glorified in him. Therefore, let him grow less in himself that, in him, God may grow greater.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermons on Saint John’s Gospel 14:5)

PRAYER – May the Martyrdom of Thy Saints Nazarius, Celsus and Victor, give us courage, O Lord and may it give us a help to counter our weakness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY

Our Morning Offering – 27 July – Mary, our Queen and Mother of Mercy By St Anthony of Padua

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Our Morning Offering – 27 July – Our Lady Mother of Mercy and Mary’s Saturday

Mary, our Queen and Mother of Mercy
By St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Evangelical Doctor of the Church

Mary, our Queen!
Holy Mother of God,
we beg you to hear our prayer.
Make our hearts overflow with Divine grace
and resplendent with heavenly wisdom.
Render them strong with your might
and rich in virtue.
Pour down upon us the gift of mercy
so that we may obtain the pardon of our sins.
Help us to live in such a way
as to merit the glory and bliss of Heaven.
May this be granted us, by your Son Jesus
Who has exalted you above the Angels,
has crowned you as Queen
and has seated you with Himself
forever, on his refulgent throne.
Amen

Our Lady Mother of Mercy celebrated today due to the Vigil of St James the Greatwe.
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/24/saint-of-the-day-24-july-our-lady-mother-of-mercy/

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MERCY

Our Morning Offering – 20 July – O Mary, Twice Mother of Mercy

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Our Morning Offering – 20 July – St Jerome Emiliani (1486–1537) Confessor and Our Lady’s Day

O Mary, Twice Mother of Mercy
By St Jerome Emiliani (1486–1537)

O Mary,
thou art twice Mother of Mercy
because thou hast been made
Mother of our most merciful Saviour,
and, furthermore because,
thou hast given to us
so many signs
of thy maternal care and love.
Turn upon us, we beseech thee,
thy glance of compassion
and grant, that we may always
live free from sin,
which is the only impediment
to receiving the fruits
of the Divine Mercies.
Amen.

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PEACE, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR

Our Morning Offering – 18 July – Prayer in Praise of God By St Francis of Assisi

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Our Morning Offering – 18 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood”

Prayer in Praise of God
By St Francis of Assisi (c1181-1226)

Thou art Holy, Lord, the only God
and Thine Deeds art wonderful.
Thou art Strong.
Thou art Great.
Thou art the Most High.
Thou art Almighty.
Thou, Holy Father art King of Heaven and earth.
Thou art Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
Thou art Good, all Good, Supreme Good,
Lord God, Living and True.
Thou art Love. Thou art Wisdom.
Thou art Humility. Thou art Endurance.
Thou art Rest. Thou art Peace.
Thou art Joy and Gladness.
Thou art Justice and Moderation.
Thou art all our Riches and Thou art Suffice for us.
Thou art Beauty. Thou art Gentleness.
Thou art our Protector.
Thou art our Guardian and Defender.
Thou art our Courage.
Thou art our Haven and our Hope.
Thou art our Faith, our great Consolation.
Thou art our Eternal Life,
Great and Wonderful Lord, God Almighty,
Merciful Saviour.
Amen

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, franciscan OFM, HOLY COMMUNION, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 14 July – My Lord, I am Unworthy! Prayer before Holy Communion By St Bonaventure

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Our Morning Offering – 14 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Pentecost VIII – St Bonaventure OFM (1221-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church

My Lord, I am Unworthy!
Prayer before Holy Communion
By St Bonaventure (1217-1274)
Seraphic Doctor of the Church

My Lord,
Who art Thou
and who am I,
that I should dare to take Thee
into my body and soul?
A thousand years
of penance and tears,
would not be sufficient
to make me worthy to receive,
so Royal a Sacrament even once!
How much more am I unworthy of it,
who fall into sin daily,
I, the incorrigible,
who approach Thee so often
without due preparation!
Nevertheless, Thy mercy
infinitely surpasses my unworthiness.
Therefore, I make bold
to receive this Sacrament,
trusting in Thy love.
Amen