Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The TEN COMMANDMENTS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 14 May – “Do what I command you” – John 15:14 and St Augustine

Quote/s of the Day – 14 May – Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26, Psalm 113:1-8, John 15:9-17

“You are my friends if you do what I command you. “

John 15:14

“It is not that we keep His commandments first
and that then He loves
but that He loves us
and then we keep His commandments.
This is that grace which is revealed to the humble
but hidden from the proud.”

john 15 14 you are my friends if you do what I command you - it is not that we keep - st augustine 14 may 2020

“God provides the wind
but man must raise the sails.”

god provides the wind but man must raise the sails - st augustine 14 may 2020

“A man may lose the good things of this life against his will
but, if he loses the eternal blessings,
he does so with his own consent.”

a man may lose the good things of this life - st augustine 14 may 2020

“Christ is not valued at all,
unless He is valued above all.”

christ is not valued at all unelss he is valued above all - st augustine 14 may 2020

“He who created you, without you,
will not justify you, without you.”

he who created you without you will not justify you without you st augustine 14 may 2020

“If we live good lives, the times are also good.
As we are, such are the times.”

St Augustine (354-430)
Doctor of Grace

if we live good lives the times are also good as we are, such are the times - st augustine 14 may 2020

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 May – “…All that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.” John 15:15

One Minute Reflection – 14 May – “Mary’s Month” Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26, Psalm 113:1-8, John 15:9-17 and the Feast of St Matthias, Apostle of Christ

“…All that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.” … John 15:15

REFLECTION – “Among His disciples Christ chose twelve chief ones whom He destined to be the teachers of the nations.   Accordingly, after one of these had been struck off, He commanded the eleven others, on His departure to the Father, to “go and teach all nations” who were to be “baptised into the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28,19).

So the Apostles – whom this designation indicates as ‘the sent’ – on the authority of a prophecy which occurs in a psalm of David, immediately chose Matthias by lot in place of Judas.   They obtained the promised power of the Holy Spirit for the gift of miracles and tongues and, after first bearing witness to faith in Jesus Christ, throughout Judaea and founding Churches there, they next went out into the world and preached the same teaching of faith to the nations. (…)

Now what it was they preached – in other words, what it was that Christ revealed to them – can properly be proved, in no other way, than by those very Churches that the Apostles founded in person, by directly declaring the Gospel to them, first by word of mouth and subsequently by their epistles.   If, then, these things are so, it is manifest that all doctrine that agrees with the Apostolic Churches, which are the matrix and source of the faith, must be reckoned as true and as undoubtedly containing that, which those Churches received, from the Apostles, the Apostles from Christ and Christ from God.” … Tertullian, full name Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (c 155- c 240) Father of the Church

john 15 15 - all that i have heard from my father-tertullian now what it was they preached - 14 may 2020

PRAYER – Lord God, You chose St Matthias to complete the number of the twelve.   By his prayer, include us among Your chosen ones, since we rejoice to see that the lot marked out for us, is in Your Love.   May the Mother of Jesus, the Apostles and our Mother, ever intercede for us all.   Through Jesus the Christ, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God now and forever, amen.BLESSED VIRGIN MARY QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES PRAY FOR US 14 MAY 2020

st-matthias-pray-for-us-14-may-2019

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, OPEN HOUSE...Conversations with..., QUOTES of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 13 May – Behold Your Mother

Thoughts of Mary – 13 May – “Mary’s Month”

Behold Your Mother
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

“Shortly before His death, Jesus, seeing His Mother with the beloved disciple by her side, said to Mary, indicating John:  “Behold your son.”
Then He said to His disciple:  “Behold our Mother.”

As if enraptured by the infinite generosity of God, St Robert Bellarmine asserts, that whoever draws near to the most high God with a frank and open heart may obtain grace and salvation.   In fact, Jesus, who wanted us to be co-heirs with Himself of His Father’s Kingdom, invites us too, to share in the kindness of His perfect Mother and, she herself loves to carry on her work of mercy and solicitude for all who are working their way to their home with her Son.

“Let us then,” says Bellarmine, “hasten with confidence to Christ’s throne of grace and with prayers and profound contrition, let us beg Him to repeat for everyone of us, the words He said His Mother:  “Behold your son.”
In the same way, as He looks at Mary, may He repeat to everyone of us, the wonderful invitation:  “Behold your Mother.”

In short, here we find our true relationship, already established on earth, with Jesus our Redeemer and our brother and our relationship with Mary, the Mother of Jesus and of all who belong to the to those He has wished to redeem.
It is, therefore, a glory of Catholic worship and of the Christian Doctrine, which always presents the Lord Jesus to us with His Mother by His side.

How eternally happy are those faithful, who invoke the heavenly Queen by the sweet name of Mother and faithfully follow her counsel, her inspiration and her example!”shortly before his death - st john XXIII 13 may 2020

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY COMMUNION, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MOTHER of GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, To JESUS through MARY

Thoughts of Mary – 12 May – To Jesus Through Mary

Thoughts of Mary – 12 May – “Mary’s Month”

To Jesus Through Mary
Moments with Saint Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)

The simple words of the first page of Matthew’s Gospel:  “Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ” (Mt 1:16) suffice for me, to establish the fundamental principle of all the great theological teaching which illustrates the connection between the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady.

Christian piety has rejoiced to learn from the Book of Acts, that Mary was present at the first gatherings of the faithful, when they broke read together as brothers and spent long hours in prayer.
And modern art has often portrayed the heavenly Mother in the act of receiving, from the hand of St John, the beloved apostle, the Communion of the Body and Blood of her Son.
But all this is superfluous and unnecessary for our convinced belief.

When we say, that in the Eucharist, we have the Son and in Mary, we have His Mother, have we not said all?
The great genius of Hippo, St Augustine, with his eagle-eyed power of vision, found the words which so brilliantly contain the Doctrine – Ave corpo vero, nato de Maria VirgineHail, true body, born of the Virgin Mary!

In this way – a delightful thing to say, a sublime thing to contemplate – the terms of this twofold mystery are merged into one, so that Mary appears to us radiant in the light of the Eucharistic mystery;  they are merged and yet they are the two extreme points, between which is evolved and developed, the whole Catholic Dogma of the Incarnation and of the continuing life of the Church.

when we say that inthe eucharist we have the son - to jesus through mary - st john XXIII 12 may 2020

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 12 May – “All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed”

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

“All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed”

she made a solemn prophecy behold all generations bacci 12 may 2020

‘A Jewish girl, poor in this world’s goods but rich in virtue, arrived after a long and difficult journey at a village in the hills of Judea, called Hebron.
There, she paid a visit to her cousin, Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth saw the girl, she was immediately enlightened by the Holy Spirit with the knowledge, that her visitor, was the Mother of God.
“How have I deserved,” she cried out, “that the mother of my Lord, should come to me?” (Lk 1:43).
At these words, Mary looked up towards Heaven and gave spontaneous expression to a hymn of humble acknowledgement to God, Who had “regarded the lowliness of His Handmaid” (Lk 1:48).
Then she made a solemn prophecy, which would surely have assured the cynical intellectuals and nobles of the land but, which history has wonderfully fulfilled.
“Behold” she said, “all generations shall call me blessed” (ibid).
We can testify today, that this miracle came to pass.
All the nations have paid reverence to the Jewish girl, who became the Mother of God and our Mother, the Queen of Heaven and earth, the comforter of the afflicted, the conqueror of Satan and the invincible Guardian of the Church.
From the engravings in the Catacombs, to the celestial Madonnas of the Angelico, from the rudimentary sculpture of Roman art, to the prayerful statues on the pinnacles of more modern Cathedrals, the image of Mary has shone as a beacon of hope for all generations.
Men bow before her and ask for light, for comfort and for pardon.
If anyone follows Mary,” says St Bernard, “he will not lose his way; if anyone pray to her, he will not despair;  if anyone thinks of her, he will not sin;  if anyone reaches out to her, he will not fall;  if anyone places himself under her protection, he need have no fear;  if anyone places himself under her leadership, he will never give up;  if anyone pays homage to her, he is certain reach his destination safely (Homil Missus est 2:17).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

if anyone follows mary - st bernard 12 may 2020

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 12 May – Gracious Lady, Mother and Virgin

Our Morning Offering – 12 May – “Mary’s Month” Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Gracious Lady, Mother and Virgin
By St Augustine (354-430)
Doctor of Grace

Gracious Lady,
you are a Mother and Virgin.
You are the Mother of the body and soul
of our Head and Redeemer.
You are also truly Mother
of all the members
of Christ’s Mystical Body.
For through your love,
you have co-operated
in the begetting of the faithful in the Church.
Unique among women,
you are Mother and Virgin,
Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ.
You are the beauty and charm of earth, O Virgin.
You are forever, the image of the holy Church.
Through a woman came death,
through a woman came life,
yes, through you, O Mother of God.
Be with us through this life.
Amen

gracious lady mother and virgin - st augustine 12 may 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD

Thought for the Day – 11 May – The Search for God

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

The Search for God

“There was a man who left home in order to travel.
For many months, he wandered on and on, sometimes along broad highways, sometimes on rocky by-roads.
Often he travelled in hail, rain and snow, often beneath a burning sun but no matter what the weather, he journeyed on and on.
He climbed the peaks of the highest mountains and came down again into the valleys.
It seemed as if his journey would never end.
One day, however, he grew very tired and sat down pensively by the side of the road.
A passer-by approached him in a friendly fashion, “You look very tired,” he said. “Have you been a long time travelling?”
“A very long time,” came the answer. “I don’t seem to have any energy left.”
“But where are you going?” his new friend enquired.
The traveller almost started.
After a moment’s consideration, he replied in a toe of wonder:  “Where am I going?   I’m afraid I don’t know!”

Many men, unfortunately, are like the traveller in this story.
They have been a long time on the road.
They can hardly remember when they first set out in search of a distant dream.
They are looking anxiously but often unconsciously, for happiness.
But they cannot find it, for happiness is a name for something greater, for God Himself.
It is God whom we must seek if we wish to find happiness.
Otherwise, our earthly journey will have no purpose and no goal.
Life is unintelligible without God.
“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord,” cried St Augustine “and our heart is restless until it rest in You” (Confessions I, 1:1).
Jesus understands the problem of our human nature.
“Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened,” He says “and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The TEN COMMANDMENTS, The WORD

Quote of the Day – 11 May – Obeying God

Quote of the Day – 11 May – “Mary’s Month” – Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 14:5-18, Psalm 115:1-2.3-4.15-16, John 14:21-26.

“Whoever does not love me, does not keep my words.”

John 14:24

john 14 24 whoever does not love me does not keep my words 11 may 2020

“If some rich and powerful friend were to enter your home,
you would quickly clean the entire house, 
for fear something there, might offend your friend’s eyes, when he entered.
Let anyone then who is preparing his inner house for God,
cleanse away the dirt of his evil deeds.
… The Lord comes into the heart
and makes His home in one,
who truly loves God
and observes His commandments…”

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

Homilies on the Gospels no 30

the lord comes into the heart and makes his home in one - st pope gregory the great 11 may 2020

“There is absolutely nothing
that gives us more peace,
or does more to make us holy,
than obeying the will of God.”

there is absolutely nothing - fr jean pierre de caussade - 30 april 2018

“We must offer ourselves to God
like a clean, smooth canvas
and not worry ourselves about
what God may choose to paint on it
but at each moment,
feel only, the stroke of His brush.”

Fr Jean Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751)

‘Abandonment to Divine Providence’

we must offer ourselves to god like a clean smooth canvas - st jean pierre de causade abandonment div prov-11may 2020

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 11 May – ‘…The keeping of the commandments is the fruit…’

One Minute Reflection – 11 May – “Mary’s Month” – Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 14:5-18, Psalm 115:1-2.3-4.15-16, John 14:21-26.

“Whoever has my commandments and observes them, is the one who loves me.   Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” … John 14:21-22

REFLECTION – “The reign of life has begun, the tyranny of death is ended.   A new birth has taken place, a new life has come, a new order of existence has appeared, our very nature has been transformed!   This birth is not brought about by human generation, by the will of man, or by the desire of the flesh but by God.

If you wonder how, I will explain in clear language.   Faith is the womb that conceives this new life, baptism the rebirth by which it is brought forth into the light of day.   The Church is its nurse, her teachings are its milk, the bread from heaven is its food.   It is brought to maturity by the practice of virtue, it is wedded to wisdom, it gives birth to hope.  Its home is the kingdom, its rich inheritance the joys of paradise, its end, not death but the blessed and everlasting life prepared for those who are worthy.

… In this new creation, purity of life is the sun, the virtues are the stars, transparent goodness is the air and the depths of the riches of wisdom and knowledge, the sea.  Sound doctrine, the divine teachings are the grass and plants that feed God’s flock, the people whom He shepherds, the keeping of the commandments is the fruit, borne by the trees.

On this day is created the true man, the man made in the image and likeness of God. … He who for our sake became like us in order to make us His brothers, now presents to His true Father His own humanity, in order to draw all His kindred up after Him.” … St Gregory of Nyssa (c 335–c 395) Father of the Church- An excerpt from On Christ’s Resurrection, Homily 1john 14-21-22 whoever has my commandments and keeps them - sound doctrine the divine teachings - st gregory of nyssa - 11 may 2020

PRAYER – Lord, by Your grace, we are made one in mind and heart.   Give us a love for what You command and a longing for what You promise, so that, amidst this world’s changes, we may cling to our Father, live by Your word and carry it out against all the foes around us.   May our hearts be set on the world of lasting joy, our true home with You.   May the angels and saints intercede for us and may our Mother, the Mother of God, be a constant assistant and guiding hand.   We make our prayer, through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God with You, forever and ever, amen.holy immm mothr of god pray for us 11 may 2020

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 11 May – Hail, O Mother!

Our Morning Offering – 11 May – “Mary’s Month” – Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Hail, O Mother!
By St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Hail, O Mother!
Virgin, heaven, throne, glory of our Church,
it’s foundation and ornament.
Earnestly pray for us to Jesus,
your Son and Our Lord,
that through your intercession
we may have mercy on the day of judgement.
Pray that we may receive all those good things
which are reserved for those who love God.
Through the grace and favour of Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
be power, honour and glory,
now and forever.
Amen

hail o mother st john chrysostom 11 may 2020

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote of the Day – 10 May 2020 – How to get to Christ through Christ?

Quote of the Day – 10 May 2020 – The Fifth Sunday of Easter

“Let us listen to the Lord:
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14:6).
If you are looking for the Truth,
follow the Way which is also the Truth.
This is where you are going and it is how you go.
It is not by another thing that you go to something;
it is not by anything else that you come to Christ;
it is through Christ that you come to Christ.
How to Christ through Christ?
To Christ God through Christ man;
through the Word made flesh,
to the Word who was with God, from the beginning;
through what we have eaten to what the angels eat daily.
In fact it is what is written:
“He gave them bread from heaven; man ate the bread of angels” (Ps 77[78]:24-25).
What is the bread of angels?
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was in God and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1-3). How has man eaten the bread of angels?
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

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

let us listen to the lord i am the way and the truth - st augustine 10 may 2020

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 May – “He who has seen me has seen the Father…”

One Minute Reflection – 9 May – Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 13:44-52, Psalm 98:1-4, John 14:7-14 and the Memorial of Bl Giovanni Benincasa of Montepulciano OSM (1375-1426)

“He who has seen me has seen the Father…”…John 14:9

REFLECTION – “Beloved, Jesus Christ is our salvation, He is the high priest through whom we present our offerings and the helper who supports us in our weakness. Through Him, our gaze penetrates the heights of heaven and we see, as in a mirror, the most holy face of God.   Through Christ, the eyes of our hearts are opened and our weak and clouded understanding, reaches up toward the light.   Through Him the Lord God willed that we should taste eternal knowledge, for Christ is the radiance of God’s glory and as much greater than the angels as the name God has given Him is superior to theirs.
… Think, my brothers, of how we first came into being, of what we were at the first moment of our existence.   Think of the dark tomb out of which our Creator brought us into His world, where He had His gifts prepared for us, even before we were born.   All this we owe to Him and for everything, we must give Him thanks.   To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” … St Pope Clement of Rome (c 35-99), Apostolic Father, Bishop of Rome and Martyr – An excerpt from his Letter to the Corinthiansjohn 14 9 he who has seen me has seen the father - through him our gaze - st pope clement of rome 9 may 2020

PRAYER – Since it is from You God, our Father, that redemption comes to us, Your adopted children, look with favour on the family You love, give us true freedom and to all who believe in Christ and bring us all alike to our eternal heritage.   Grant we pray, that by the prayers of Your holy angels and saints, Blessed Giovanni Benincasa and most especially our beloved Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ, we may run this race always in prayer, trusting in Your divine Son’s intercession, to attain the Glory of Your Kingdom and the Light of Your Face. Through Jesus Christ, in the union of the Holy Spirit, God with You, forever and ever, amen.

mary-mater-christi-pray-for-us-18-may-2019 and 9 may 2020

BL GIOVANNI BENINCASA PRAY FOR US 9 MAY 2020

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 7 May – “A servant is not greater than his master…”

Quote/s of the Day – 7 May – Thursday Fourth week of Easter, Readings: Acts 13:13-25, Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27, John 13:16-20

“A servant is not greater than his master…”

John 13:16

john 13 16 a servant is not greater than his master 7 may 2020

“It is not that I want merely,
to be called a Christian
but to actually be one.
Yes, if I prove to be one,
then I can have the name.”

St Ignatius of Antioch (c 35-c 108)
Martyr, Father of the Church

it is not that i want merely to be called a christian - st ignatius of antioch 7 may 2020

“Do not follow any road
but that which Christ trod.
This road seems hard but it is safe.”

St Augustine (354-430)
Great Western Father and Doctor of the Church

do not follow any road but that which christ trod - st augustine 7 may 2020

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

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

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

“‘… Choose the same things as Himself…”
That which is small and despised,
that is what He has chosen,
my Saviour and God,
who put on our flesh
to confound human fame and wealth.”

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)
Monk and Theologian at Constantinople

Catechesis 78

choose the same things as himself-st theodore the studite 7 may 2020

“When it comes to following Jesus,
it’s usually not more information that we need
but more guts.”

Father Mike Schmitz

when it comes to following jesus - fr mike schmitz 7 may 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for PRIESTS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The GOOD SHEPHERD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 May – ‘ … Be the shepherd of your sheep…’

Quote/s of the Day – 6 May – Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

May God bestow upon our Bishops.
all the graces needed to carry out their role in our Church!

“Give him a spirit of courage and right judgement, a spirit of knowledge and love.”

“O Christ, my God, You stooped down to me, poor straying sheep, to take me on Your shoulders (Lk 15:5) and have set me down in green pastures (Ps 23[22]:2).   You have quenched my thirst at the springs of true doctrine, through the mediation of Your pastors, whose shepherd You were, before entrusting to them Your flock…  And now, O Lord, You have called me… to serve Your disciples, by what design of Your Providence I know not, only You know.

But, Lord, lighten the heavy burden of those sins of mine that have so gravely offended You, purify my mind and heart.   Lead me by the right way (Ps 23[22]:3) as by a light enlightening me.   Enable me to proclaim Your word boldly, may Your Spirit’s tongue of flame (Acts 2:3) give perfect freedom to my tongue and make me constantly attentive to Your presence.

Be a shepherd to me, O Lord and together with me, be the shepherd of Your sheep, that my heart may not cause me to swerve either to right or to left.   Let Your good Spirit lead me in the right way, that my actions may be carried out, according to Your will – even to the end.   Amen

St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

a pastor's prayer to the good shepherd - st john damascene 13 may 2019

“We do not really want a religion
that is right where we are right.
We want a religion that is right where we are wrong.
We do not want, as the newspapers say,
a church that will move with the world.
We want a church that will move the world.”

G K Chesterton (1874-1936)

we do not really want a religion - gk chesterton 6 may 2020

A Prayer for our Bishops

Jesus, Good Shepherd,
You sent us the Holy Spirit to guide Your Church
and lead her faithful to You,
through the ministry of the successors of Your Apostles, the Bishops.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
grant to Your bishops
wisdom in leading,
faithfulness in teaching
and holiness in guarding Your sacred Mysteries.
As they cry out with all the faithful, “Our Father!”,
may Your Bishops be ever more closely identified with You in Your divine Sonship
and offer their own lives with You, the one saving Victim.
Renew in Your Bishops deeper faith,
greater trust in You,
childlike reliance on our Mother Mary
and unwavering fidelity to the Holy Father.
Holy Mary, intercede for Your bishops.

Sts Peter & Paul, pray for them.
St Andrew, pray for them.
St James, pray for them.
St John, pray for them.
St Thomas, pray for them.
St James, pray for them.
St Philip, pray for them.
St Bartholomew, pray for them.
St Matthew, pray for them.
Sts Simon & Jude, pray for them.
St Matthias, pray for them.
St Joseph, protect them.
St Michael, defend them.
St John Vianney, pray for them.
All you saints in heaven, pray for them.
Amena prayer for our bishops 6 may 2020

“The Church exists, for nothing else but to draw men into Christ,
to make them little Christs.
If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons,
even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time.
God became man for no other purpose.”

C S Lewis (1898-1963)

the church exists for nothing else = c s lewis - 16 may 2019

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), SAINT of the DAY, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 5 May – “I and the Father are one.”

Quote/s of the Day – 5 May – Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter, Readings: Acts11:19-26, Psalm 87:1-7, John 10:22-30

“I and the Father are one.”

John 10:30

john 10 30 - i and the father are one 5 may 2020

Christians are baptised “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:30). Before receiving the sacrament, they respond to a three-part question when asked to confess the Father, the Son and the Spirit: “I do.”   “The faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity”( St Caesarius of Arles).   Christians are baptised “in the name” of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – not “in their names,, for there is only one God, the almighty Father, His only Son and the Holy Spirit – the Most Holy Trinity.

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life.   It is the mystery of God in Himself.   It is, therefore, the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them.   It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the hierarchy of the truths of faith.   The whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the way and the means, by which the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, reveals Himself to men and reconciles and unites with Himself, those who turn away from sin. …

The Trinity is a mystery of faith in the strict sense, one of the mysteries that are hidden in God, which can never be known unless they are revealed by God.   To be sure, God has left traces of His Trinitarian Being in His work of creation and in His Revelation throughout the Old Testament.   But His inmost Being, as Holy Trinity, is a mystery that is inaccessible to reason alone, or even to Israel’s faith before the Incarnation of God’s Son and the sending of the Holy Spirit.

CCC – Catechism of the Catholic Church
# 232-234, 237

the mystery of the most holy trinity is the central mystery of christian faith and life ccc232-234 5 may 2020

“Paul says:   I appeal to you by the mercy of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice, living and holy.   The prophet said the same thing:  Sacrifice and offering you did not desire but you have prepared a body for me.
Each of us is called to be both a sacrifice to God and His priest.
Do not forfeit what divine authority confers on you.
Put on the garment of holiness, gird yourself with the belt of chastity.
Let Christ be your helmet, let the cross on your forehead be your unfailing protection.
Your breastplate, should be the knowledge of God, that He Himself has given you.
Keep burning continually, the sweet smelling incense of prayer.
Take up the sword of the Spirit.
Let your heart be an altar.
Then, with full confidence in God, present your body for sacrifice.
God desires, not death but faith;
God thirsts, not for blood but for self-surrender;
God is appeased, not by slaughter but by the offering, of your free will.”

St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450)
Bishop, Father & Doctor of the Church
“Doctor of Homilies”

each of us is called to beoth a sacrifice to god and his priest - st peter chrysologus 5 may 2020

“…Therefore, never allow yourself to start brooding again
but always be brave and trust.
Serve your good Master with an open heart full of joy.
The right way is to see all events and all obstacles
in the spirit of faith as being in the hands of Our Lord
and to hear Him say to you, on every occasion,
as He did to the disciples
‘It is I. Do not fear. Have faith.’”

St Michael Garicoïts (1797-1863)

therefore never allow yourself to start brooding - st michel garicoits 14 may 2019

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One Minute Reflection – 3 May – ‘Let us enkindle our hearts, my friends…’

One Minute Reflection – 3 May – The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd/Vocations Sunday, Readings: Acts 2:14, 36-41, Psalm 23:1-6, 1 Peter 2:20-25, John 10:1-10 and the Memorial of Blessed Edoardo Giuseppe Rosaz (1877-1903)

“I am the door.   If anyone enters by me, he will be saved
and will go in and out and find pasture.” … John 10:9

REFLECTION“Anyone who enters by me will be saved, he will go in out and will find pasture.”(Jn 10:9)   He will go into faith, he will go out from faith to vision, from belief to contemplation, will find pasture in eternal refreshment.

The Good Shepherd’s sheep will pasture, because whoever follows Him with a guileless heart, is nourished with a food of eternal freshness.   What are the pastures of these sheep but the eternal joys of an evergreen paradise?   The pasture of the elect, is the face of God always before us.   When we see Him perfectly, our hearts are endlessly satisfied with the food of life…

Let us seek these pastures, dearly beloved!   There we may enjoy the celebration of so many citizens.   Let the festival of those who rejoice attract us…   Let us enkindle our hearts, my friends, let our faith grow warm again for what it believes, let our desire for heavenly things take fire.   To love thus, is to be already on the way.  Anyone who is determined to reach his destination is not deterred by the roughness of the road that leads to it.   Nor must we allow the charm of success to seduce us, or we shall be like a foolish traveller who is so distracted by the pleasant meadows through which he is passing, that he forgets where he is going.”… St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) Father & Doctor of the Church – Homilies on the Gospel, no15John 10_9 I am the door - anyone who is determined to rech his destination - st pope gregory the great 3 may 2020 good shepsun 4 easter

PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, bring us to the joy of Your heavenly city, so that we, Your little flock, may follow where Christ, our Good Shepherd, has gone before us, by the power of His Resurrection.   May the prayers of Bl Edoardo Giuseppe Rosaz and the Blessed Virgin, guide us, that we may always follow our Shepherd and thus reach our heavenly home, to praise Him forever. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God now and for all eternity, amen.mary-mother-of-god-pray-for-us-27-july-2018 and 29 march 2020

BL EDOARDO GIUSEPPE ROSAZ PRAY FOR US 3 MARY 2020

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 May –

Quote/s of the Day – 2 May – Saturday of the Third Week of Easter and the Memorial of St Athanasius (c 295-373) Father and Doctor of the Church “The Father of Orthodoxy”

“In ancient times, before the divine sojourn of the Saviour took place,
even to the saints, death was terrible,
all wept for the dead as though they perished.
But now, that the Saviour has raised His body,
death is no longer terrible,
for all who believe in Christ, trample on it, as it were nothing
and choose rather to die, than deny their faith in Christ.
And that devil, that once maliciously exulted in death,
now that its pains were loosed,
remained the only one truly dead.”

but now that the saviour has raised his body - st athanasius 2 may 2020

“In death, the Word made a spotless sacrifice and oblation of the body He had taken.   By dying for others, He immediately banished death for all mankind.”

On the Incarnation

in death the word made a spotless - st athanasius - 2 may 2019

“But what is also to the point, let us note that the very tradition, teaching and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning was preached by the Apostles and preserved by the Fathers. On this the Church was founded – and if anyone departs from this, he neither is, nor any longer ought to be called, a Christian.”

but-what-is-also-to-the-point-let-us-note-st-athanasius-2-may-2019

“Christians, instead of arming themselves
with swords,
extend their hands in prayer.”

St Athanasius (c 295-373)

christians instaed of arming themselves - st athanasius 2 may 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 2 May – Mary, Mother of Grace by St Athanasius

Our Morning Offering – 2 May – “Mary’s Month” – Saturday of the Third Week of Easter, the Memorial of St Athanasius (c 295-373) – Father and Doctor of the Church, “The Father of Orthodoxy”

Mary, Mother of Grace
St Athanasius (297-373) Father & Doctor

It becomes you to be mindful of us,
as you stand near Him who granted you all graces,
for you are the Mother of God and our Queen.
Help us for the sake of the King,
the Lord God and Master, who was born of you.
For this reason,
you are called full of grace.
Remember us, most holy Virgin,
and bestow on us gifts
from the riches of your graces,
Virgin full of graces.
Amenmary mother of grace no 2 st athanasius 2 may 2020

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, SAINT of the DAY

Memorials of the Saints – 2 May

St Athanasius (c 295-373) – Father and Doctor of the Church (Memorial)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/02/saint-of-the-day-2-may-st-athanasius-c295-373-father-and-doctor-of-the-church-father-of-orthodoxy/

St Antoninus of Florence OP (1389-1459)
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/05/02/saint-of-the-day-2-may-saint-antoninus-of-florence-op-1389-1459-antoninus-the-counsellor/

Bl Bernard of Seville
St Bertinus the Younger
Bl Boleslas Strzelecki
Bl Conrad of Seldenbüren
St Cyriacus of Pamphylia
St Eugenius of Africa
St Exsuperius of Pamphylia
St Felix of Seville
St Fiorenzo of Algeria
St Gennys of Cornwall
St Germanus of Normandy
St Gluvias
St Guistano of Sardinia
St José María Rubio y Peralta SJ (1864-1929) “The Apostle of Madrid”
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/05/04/saint-of-the-day-4-may-saint-jose-maria-rubio-y-peralta-sj-1864-1929-the-apostle-of-madrid/

St Joseph Luu
Bl Juan de Verdegallo
St Longinus of Africa
St Neachtain of Cill-Uinche
St Theodulus of Pamphylia
St Ultan of Péronne
St Vindemialis of Africa
St Waldebert of Luxeuil
St Wiborada of Saint Gallen OSB (Died 926) Martyr
Bl William Tirry
St Zoe of Pamphylia

Martyrs of Alexandria – 4 saints: A group of Christians marytred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know little more than their names – Celestine, Germanus, Neopolus and Saturninus. 304 in Alexandria, Egypt

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 1 May – Hail, O Mary, Mother of God

Our Morning Offering – 1 May – “Mary’s Month” and Friday of the Third Week of Easter

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God
By St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Virgin and Mother!
Morning Star, perfect vessel.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Holy Temple in which god Himself was conceived.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Chaste and pure dove.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Who enclosed the One who cannot be encompassed
in your sacred womb.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
From you flowed the true light, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you the Conqueror
and triumphant Vanquisher of hell came to us.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you, the glory of the Resurrection blossoms.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
You have saved every faithful Christian.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amenhail-o-mary-mother-of-god-st-cyril-of-alex-10-may-2019 (1)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saint John Paul the Great (1920-2005)

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

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

we are like the penny - gk chesterton 30 april 2020

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

G K Chesterton (1874-1936)

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

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

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

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

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

John 6:27

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

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

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

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

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

in this daily life - bl nicolas roland 27 april 2020

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

take a higher flight - bl nicolas roland 27 april 2020

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

Bl Nicolas Roland (1642-1678)

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

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

St John Baptiste de La Salle (1651-1719)

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

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

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

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

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 April – ‘He, who is the Only God … ‘

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

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” … John 6:29

REFLECTION – “It is Yours to grant our prayer, Yours to bring our seeking to its term, Yours to open the door where we knock (Lk 11:9).   For You see us to be naturally dulled by some sort of spiritual laziness and our spirit’s feebleness … prevents us from understanding Your mysteries. …   Here, then, is our expectation – that You will strengthen the first beginnings of this daunting project, affirm the progress of our enterprise and call us to participate in the Spirit who guided Your prophets and apostles. In this way we won’t understand their words in a different sense to the one they intended.(…

Indeed, we will affirm what they declared in their sacred teaching, that You, eternal God, are the Father of the eternal God, Your only Son.   You alone are the only one not to have been born and our Lord Jesus Christ is the only one to have been born of You by an eternal birth, yet without differing from You to the extent of suggesting there to be really two gods.   Yes indeed, we must make it known that He, who is the Only God, was fathered by You.   We must firmly declare it – He is nothing other than true God born of You, our true God and Father.

Therefore, grant us to give these words their true meaning, pour light into our minds … and set our faith firmly in the truth.   Enable us to say what we believe… that You are one God and Father and that there is one Lord Jesus Christ.   May we acclaim You …, may we revere You, one God, who yet is not alone and may we declare Him to be, Himself, true God.” … St Hilary (315-368) Father & Doctor of the Divinity of ChristJohn 6 29 - this is the work of god that you believe in him whom he has sent - indeed - st hilary 27 april 2020

PRAYER – King of heaven and earth, Lord God, rule over our hearts and bodies this day. Sanctify us and guide our every thought, word and deed, according to the commandments of Your law, so that now and forever, Your grace may free and save us. Let us walk in Your ways and be Your lights and thus by our lives, help others to follow You.   Grant that the prayers of our blessed Mother, the Mother of Jesus Your Son and Bl Nicolas Roland, who always lived for You alone, may help us, as we work through each day to reach our heavenly home.   Through Jesus the Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God now and forever, amen.ora pro nobis pray for us madonna mary blessed virghin 26 april 2020

bl nicolas roland pray for us 27 april 2020

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

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

“Stay with us” … Luke 24:29

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

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

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

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

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 25 April – Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Mary! by St Augustine

Our Morning Offering – 25 April – Saturday of the Second Week of Easter

Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Mary!
By St Augustine (354-430)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Blessed Virgin Mary,
who can worthily repay you
with praise and thanks
for having rescued a fallen world
by your generous consent!
Receive our gratitude and by your prayers
obtain the pardon of our sins.
Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven
and enable them to make our peace with God.
Holy Mary,
help the miserable,
strengthen the discouraged,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for your people,
plead for the clergy,
intercede for all women consecrated to God.
May all who venerate you feel now, your help and protection.
Be ready to help us when we pray
and bring back to us, the answers to our prayers.
Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God,
for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear
the Redeemer of the world,
who lives and reigns forever.
Amenblessed-virgin-mary-holy-mary-by-st-augustine-4-may-2019 and 25 april 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, JESUIT SJ, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The HOLY GHOST

Quote/s of the Day – 23 April – ‘The wonders of the Holy Spirit’

Quote/s of the Day – 23 April – Thursday of the Second Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 5:27-33, Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20, John 3:31-36

Nunc, Sancte, nobis Spiritus
By St Ambrose (340-397)
Come, Holy Ghost, Who ever One
Trans St John Henry Newman (1801-1890) Trans 1836

Come, Holy Ghost, Who ever One
Art with the Father and the Son.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls possess
With Thy full flood of holiness.

In will and deed, by heart and tongue,
With all our powers, Thy praise be sung.
And love light up our mortal frame,
Till others catch the living flame.

Almighty Father, hear our cry
Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high,
Who with the Holy Ghost and Thee
Doth live and reign eternally

nunc-sancte-nobis-spirtus-come-holy-ghost-who-ever-one-st-ambrose-st-john-henry-newman-16-dec-2019 and 23 april 2020

“Your love is Your goodness –
the Holy Spirit proceeding
from the Father and the Son! “

William of Saint Thierry (c 1075-1148)

Abbot

your-love-is-your-goodness-the-holy-spirit-william-of-theirry-16-dec-2019 and 23 april 2020

“I do, therefore, pray and beseech you,
to cast away all confidence in your own powers,
in human wisdom and reputation
and keep all your hopes and thoughts continually,
fixed on God alone.
If you do this, then I shall consider
that you are sufficiently armed and prepared
against all the troubles which may beset you,
either in the mind or in the body.”

St Francis Xavier (1506-1552)

i do therefore pray and beseech you to cast away - st francis xavier 23 april 2020

“I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness.   Every day for five minutes control your imagination and close your eyes to the things of sense and your ears to all the noises of the world, in order to enter into yourself.   Then, in the sanctity of your baptised soul (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit), speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him:

O Holy Spirit, Soul of My Soul

O Holy Spirit,
Soul of my soul,
I adore You!
Enlighten me,
guide me,
strengthen me,
console me.
Tell me what I should do,
give me Your orders.
I promise to submit myself
to all that You desire of me
and to accept, all
that You permit to happen to me.
Just make me know Your Will.
Amen

o-holy-spirit-soul-of-my-soul-cardinal-desire-joseph-mercier-in-sinu-jesu-29-oct-2019 and 23 april 2020

If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials.   Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you strength to carry it and you will arrive at the Gate of Paradise, laden with merit. This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity.”

By Désiré Joseph Cardinal Mercier (1851-1926)

submission to the holy spirit is the secret of sanctity desire cardinal mercier 23 april 2020

“Life is a battle.
Therefore, we have to be armed and ready
and always on the alert (Job 7:1)
We must be armed with the weapons of the spirit,
which we can easily obtain,
if we live all the time, in the presence of God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

life is a battle - bacci - 23 april 2020

“I believe in the surprises of the Holy Spirit.
The story of the Church is a long story,
filled with the wonders of the Holy Spirit.
Why should we think that God’s imagination and love
might be exhausted?”

Leo Jozef Cardinal Suenens of Belgium (1904–1996)

i-believe-in-the-suprises-of-the-holy-spirit-leo-jozef-cardinal-suenens-9-feb-2020 and 23 april 2020

Posted in EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 April – ‘He does not ration his gift of the Spirit…’

One Minute Reflection – 23 April – Thursday of the Second Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 5:27-33, Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20, John 3:31-36

“For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.   He does not ration his gift of the Spirit…he who does not obey the Son shall not see life.” … John 3:34,36john 3 34 36 - for the one whom god sent 23 april 2020

REFLECTION – “How can someone with little or no faith be made to realise that an ant grows wings, a caterpillar turns into a butterfly and many other strange and unexpected things happen in nature, so that in this way he shakes off the sickness of unbelief and despair, himself acquires wings and buds in spiritual knowledge like a tree?  “I am He,” God says, “who makes the dry tree flourish;  I give life to dry bones” (cf. Ezek 17:24; 37:1-14). (…)
Sometimes our soul grows despondent at the huge swarm of its sins and temptations, and says:  “Our hope is gone and we are lost” (Ezek 37:11 LXX).   Yet God, who does not despair of our salvation, says to us:   “You shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezek 37:6).  To the soul that doubts how it can ever give birth to Christ through great acts of holiness, these words are said:  “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you” (Lk 1:35).   Where the Holy Spirit is present do not expect anymore the sequence and laws of nature and habit.   The Holy Spirit whom we worship is all-powerful and in an astonishing way He brings into existence what does not as yet exist within us.   The intellect that was previously defeated He now makes victorious.
For the Paraclete, who in compassion comes upon us from above, “is higher than all” (Jn 3:31) and He raises us above all natural impulses.” … St John of Karpathos (VII century) Bishop, Monkthe holy spirit whom we worship st john of karpathos 23 april 2020

PRAYER – Lord God, whose name is holy and whose mercy is proclaimed in every generation, send forth Your Spirit into our hearts and grant that, faithfully pondering on all that is holy, we may ever live in the splendour of Your presence.   Listen we beseech You, to the prayers we request from the Blessed Virgin Mary and all Your Angels and Saints, that we may ever entreat the Holy Spirit to grant us His light.   We make our prayer through Christ, Your Son our Lord and Saviour, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever amen.holy mary pray for us 23 april 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS

Quote of the Day – 19 April – Divine Mercy Sunday

Quote of the Day – 19 April – Low Sunday the Octave Day of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday

“We, Christians,
are the true Israel which springs from Christ,
for we are carved out of His Heart,
as from a Rock!”

St Justin Martyr (100-165)
Father of the Church and Martyr

we-christians-are-the-true-israel-st-justin-martyr-28-june-2019-sacrd-heart05 and divine mercy sunday 19 april 2020

“If the Jewish High priest carried the names
of the twelve tribes of Israel
written on his shoulders and on his breast,
how much more Christ, our High Priest,
carries our names
written on His Heart”

St John of Avila (1500-1569)
Doctor of the Church

if-the-jewish-high-priests-st-john-of-avila-28-june-2019-sacred-heart and 19 april 2020 divine mercy sunday

Divine Mercy 3 O’Clock Prayer
St Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938)

You expired, O Jesus,
but the source of life
gushed forth for souls
and an ocean of mercy
opened up for the whole world.
O Fount of Life,
unfathomable Divine Mercy,
envelop the whole world
and empty Yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water,
which gushed forth
from the Heart of Jesus
as a fount of mercy for us,
I trust in You.
Amen

divine-mercy-3-oclock-prayer-div-mercy-sunday-28-april-2019-and-5-oct-2019 and 19 april 2020 div mercy sunday

“Jesus, I trust in You”
these words summarise the faith of the Christian,
which is faith in the omnipotence of God’s merciful Love.”

Pope Benedict XVI

REGINA CÆLI
Second Sunday of Easter, 15 April 2007

jesus i trust in you these words summarise the faith of the christian pope benedict div mercy sunday 19 april 2020