Category: “Follow Me”

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One Minute Reflection – 1 September – “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead and Christ will give you Light! ” (Eph 5:14)

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One Minute Reflection – 1 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Giles (c650 – c710) Abbot – Pentecost XV – Galatians 5:25-26; 6:1-10; Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Young man, I say to thee, arise!” – Luke 7:14

REFLECTION – “Let no-one who is Christian doubt that even now, dead people rise. Certainly, every human being has eyes, by which he can see dead people rising, in the way this widow’s son, whom we just heard about in the Gospel, arose. But not everyone can see people who are spiritually dead rise. For that, it is necessary to have already risen interiorly. It is greater to raise someone, who is to live forever than to raise someone, who will have to die again.

The young man’s mother, this widow, was transported with joy at seeing her son rise. Our Mother, the Church, also rejoices when she sees her children’s spiritual resurrection everyday. The widow’s son was dead with the death of the body but these latter, are dead with the death of the soul. People wept tears over the visible death of the former but people were not concerned by the invisible death of the latter – they did not even see it. The only One Who did not remain indifferent, is the One Who knew these deaths – only the One, Who could give life back to them, knew these deaths. For if the Lord had not come to raise the dead, the Apostle Paul would not have said: “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead and Christ will give you Light.” (Eph 5:14).” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 98).

PRAYER – May the pleading of blessed Giles Abbo,t make us acceptable unto Thee O Lord, we pray that what we may not have through any merits of our own, we may gain by means of his patronage. 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 "Follow Me", QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 25 August – St Louis IX King and Confessor

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Quote/s of the Day – 25 August – St Louis IX (1214-1270) King and Confessor

When the Tartars spread desolation and terror throughout Hungary, Poland and Bohemia, King Louis’ Mother, Queen Blanche expressed her fears but St Louis, calmly viewed the situation:

“Madame, what have we to fear?
If these barbarians come to us,
we shall either conquer or, shall die Martyrs.”

The instructions which St Louis gave to the heir of his crown and which, he had constantly observed himself, testify to his great devotion and holiness.
These were the last admonitions of the Holy King:

  1. Love God, the Almighty, above all else.
  2. Flee sin more quickly than you would a serpent.
  3. Become not fainthearted, in adversity.
  4. Become not elevated, in the days of prosperity.
  5. Show the wounds of your soul frequently, to your spiritual physician and refuse no remedies, however bitter, to heal them.
  6. Pray diligently.
  7. Be compassionate and generous to the poor.
  8. If your mind is harassed with doubt, consult a devout man.
  9. Keep faithful and pious counsellors around you and dismiss those who are wicked.
  10. All that is good hold fast: all that is bad discard.
  11. Lend a willing ear to those who speak of God.
  12. Listen not to calumniators and slanderers.
  13. So long as you reign, leave not unpunished those who blaspheme God and the Saints.
  14. First be grateful to God, then to men.
  15. Love and protect justice and neither neglect nor despise, the complaints of the needy.
  16. In your own affairs, when they are not perfectly clear, speak and act against yourself.
  17. Refund immediately the possessions of others.
  18. Protect the clergy.
  19. Love and honour your parents.
  20. If you are obliged to war against Christians, spare the Churches and the Convents.
  21. Endeavour to terminate all contentions with kindness.
  22. Guard all your officials with a watchful eye.
  23. Ever show due reverence to the Pope.
  24. Overstep not the bounds of moderation in your expenses.
  25. When I have departed, let prayers and Masses be said for the repose of my soul.

O God, We Love Thee
Prayer inspired by St Louis’ Last Instructions
to his Eldest Son, Philip
(Perhaps Philip prayed thus)

O God, we love Thee.
We wish to do nothing to displease Thee.
If we have troubles, let us thank Thee.
If we do not, we also humbly thank Thee.
Let us pray diligently
and be compassionate and generous to the poor.
May we hold fast all that is good
and all that is bad, discard.
We thank Thee for friends,
who help us bear our burdens
and help us grow in holiness.
Let us turn away from calumniators and slanderers
and lend a willing ear to those who speak of God.
Let us always do what is right and just for those we serve
and promote peace among our neighbours.
Let us be quick to defend our Faith.
O Holy Lord, all Thy holy Saints,
defend us from all evils.
Grant us Thy grace to fulfil always,
Thy Holy Will,
so that Thou may be glorified and honoured
and so we may be with Thee forever.
Amen

St Louis IX (1214-1270) Confessor

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 August – ‘ … What is it He has to do for you when, for your sake, Christ spends the night in prayer? …’

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One Minute Reflection – 24 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Bartholomew the Apostle and Martyr – 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Luke 6:12-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“At that time, Jesus departed to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God.” – Luke 6:12

REFLECTION – “Our Lord prays, not to plead on His Own account but to gain something for me. Even though the Father has placed all things at the disposal of the Son, nevertheless, the Son, in order to fulfil His condition as man completely, has thought it fitting to plead with the Father on our account, since He is our Advocate. Do not insidiously prick up your ears, imagining that Christ asks out of weakness, for that which He is unable to carry out Himself, He Who is the Author of all might! Master in obedience, Christ fashions us according to the precepts of virtue, by His Own example. It is said: “We have an Advocate with the Father” – if He is Advocate then, He must intervene for my sins. So it is not through weakness but from goodness that He pleads. Do you want to know to what extent He can do all He wills? He is simultaneously, Advocate and Judge; in the One dwells an obligation of compassion, in the other, the honour of might. “And He spent all the night in prayer to God” – He sets you an example, He outlines a model for you to imitate.

What is it He has to do for you when, for your sake, Christ spends the night in prayer? What is it which it is fitting to do, when you wish to undertake some work of devotion, when Christ, on the point of sending out His Apostles, prayed alone? Besides, at no point, if I am not mistaken, do we find that He prayed with the Apostles. Everywhere He prayed alone. This was because God’s intentions cannot be grasped by human desires and no-one can share in the intimate thoughts of Christ. Do you wish to know, too, how it is indeed on my account and not for Himself that He prayed? “He called His disciples and chose twelve of them” in order to send them out as sowers of the faith, to make known man’s help and salvation throughout the world.” – St Ambrose (340-397) One of the original four Doctors of the Latin Church (Commentary on St Luke’s Gospel 5, 42).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who bestowed on us the devout and holy joy of this day to celebrate the Feast of Thy blessed Apostle Bartholomew, grant unto Thy Church, we beseech Thee, both to love what he believed and to preach what he taught. 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).

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One Minute Reflection – 23 August – “The heart.”

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One Minute Reflection – 23 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Philip Benizi OSM (1233-1285) Confessor – 1 Corinthians. 4:9-14; Luke 12:32-34 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be too.” – Luke 12:34

REFLECTION – “…If, therefore, you wash, by a good life, the filth which has been glued on your heart like plaster, the Divine Beauty will again shine forth in you. It is the same as happens in the case of iron. If freed from rust by a whetstone that which but a moment ago, was black will shine and glisten brightly in the sun. So it is too with the inner man which the Lord calls “the heart.” When he has scraped off the rustlike dirt which dank decay has caused to appear on his form, he will once more recover the likeness of the Archetype (Gn 1:27) and, be good. For what is like to the Good is certainly itself good.

Hence, if a man who is pure of heart sees himself, he sees in himself what he desires and thus, he becomes blessed because, when he looks at his own purity, he sees the Archetype in the image. To give an example. Although men, who see the sun in a mirror, do not gaze at the sky itself, yet they see the sun in the reflection of the mirror, no less than those who look at its very orb. So, He says, it is also with you. Even though you are too weak to perceive the Light itself, yet if you but return to the grace of the image with which you were informed from the beginning, you will have all you seek in yourselves.

…For the Godhead is purity, freedom from passion and separation from all evil. If, therefore, these things be in you, God is indeed in you. Hence, if your thought is without any alloy of evil, free from passion, arid alien from all stain, you are blessed because you are clear of sight.” – St Gregory of Nyssa (c335-395) Bishop, Father of the Church (Brother of St Basil the Great) (Sermons 6 sur les Béatitudes – on the Beatitudes 6).

PRAYER – O God, Who through St. Philip, Thy Confessor, gave us an outstanding example of humility, grant that Thy household may follow his example by scorning worldly prosperity and, ever seek the things of Heaven. 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 "Follow Me", CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HUMILITY

Thought for the Day – 21 August – The Charity of Jesus Christ

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Thought for the Day – 21 August – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

The Charity of Jesus Christ
“The Charity of Christ surpasseth all knowledge”

(Ephesians 3:19)

In what did the Charity of Christ consist?
(1) In an Infinite self-abasement for our sakes. From the Throne of God, He humbled Himself to the form of sinful man.
(2) In a sacrifice of Himself which passes all comprehension. He gave up the Infinite joy of Heaven, for the sufferings of this vale of tears.
(3) In the endurance of mental and bodily agony, of desolation and dereliction.
One moment of these would have crushed the life out of the strongest of men.

Try to realise those familiar truths and see what a contrast your life is to His.
What are the chief points of contrast?
(1) Christ humbled Himself for the good of others. I seek to exalt myself at their cost.
(2) Christ gave up His life of perfect happiness that He might make others happy.
I am willing to sacrifice little or nothing, my aim is to make myself happy, not others.
(3) Christ endured unspeakable agony to save men from the agony they well deserved.
I complain of the least discomfort. As to giving up my joys and pleasures for others and enduring misery for their sakes, I would not even think of it.

Yet, I consider myself a good Christian and speak glibly of treading in the Footsteps of Christ.
I expect to be admitted to Heaven as one of His friends and followers. What will He say to me when I present myself? Will He recognise in me, any likeness to Himself or any vestige of His Divine Charity?
O my God, I must be very different from what I have been, if I am to present myself with confidence before Thee, as one whose charity is like to the Charity of Christ!

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One Minute Reflection – 20 August – “Children of the Light”

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One Minute Reflection – 20 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Feast of St Bernard (1090-1153) Confessor, Father and Doctor – Ecclesiasticus 39:6-14; Matthew 5:13-19 – Scripture

“You are the light of the world.” – Matthew 5:14

REFLECTION – “In his epistle, Saint John rightly states: ‘God is Light‘ and “whoever remains in God” is “in the Light, just as God Himself is in the Light” (1 Jn 1:5,7; 3:24). Because we have had the good fortune to be freed from the darkness of error, we should always “walk in the Light” like “children of the Light” (Eph 5:8)… And so the Apostle Paul says: “Among them you shine as Lights in the world, holding fast the Word of Life” (Phil 2:15-16). But if we do not do this, it will be clear that we are, so to speak, covering up and shading this essential Light by our lack of faith…

Therefore, that shining Light which has been lit, for our salvation must always shine in us. For we possess the lamp of the heavenly commandments and of the spirit of grace, of which David said: “Thy law is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 118:105)… We must not, then, hide this lamp of the law and of faith but should always set it up on the Church, as on a lampstand, for the salvation of many. In this way, we too may enjoy the Light of Truth itself and all who believe. may be enlightened.” – St Chromatius of Aquilaea (Died c407) Bishop, Father of the Church (Homilies on Saint Matthew’s Gospel No 5).

PRAYER – O God, Who gave to Thy people, blessed Bernard, as a minister of salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who cherished him on earth as a teacher of life, may be found worthy to have him as an intercessor in Heaven. 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).

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 August – Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength …

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Hyacinth OP (1185-1257) ) Confessor – Sirach 31:8-11, Luke 12:35-40 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man…”

Luke 21:36

“Tell us when shall these things be?
and what shall be the sign of Thy Coming
and of the consummation of the world? ”

Matthew 24:3

“So that our minds might be free of these illusions,
the Word invites us to shake this deep sleep
from the eyes of our soul, so that we might not slip away
from the true realities, by becoming attached
to that which has no consistency.
That is why He suggests that we be watchful when He says:
“Let your loins be girt about and your lamps burning …” (Lk 12:35)
For when the light shines before our eyes,
it chases sleep away and, when our loins are held tight by a belt,
they prevent the body from succumbing to it…
The person who has fastened on the belt of temperance
lives in the light of a pure conscience;
the trust of a child illuminates his life like a lamp…
If we live in this way, we will enter a life like that of the Angels!”

St Gregory of Nyssa (c335–c395)
Father of the Church
(Brother of St Basil the Great)

“You also must be ready
because at an hour which you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
Luke 12:40

“We must always be on the lookout for Christ’s
twofold coming, the one, when we shall
have to give an account of everything we have done
and the other, when
He comes, day after day, to stir our consciences.
He comes to us now, in order that His future coming
may find us prepared.
If my conscience is burdened with sin,
what good, will it do me, to know when the
Day of Judgement will be?
Unless the Lord comes to my soul beforehand
and makes His home with me, unless Christ
lives in me and speaks His word in my heart,
it is useless for me to know if and when His coming
will take place. Only if Christ is already living in me
and I in Him, will it go well with me
when He comes in judgement.
If I have already died to the world
and am able to say, “The world is crucified to me
and I to the world,” (Gal 6:14)
then, in a sense, His final coming
is already present to me.”

St Paschasius Radbertus (785–865)
Abbot, Theologian, Father of the Church

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Thought for the Day – 13 August – The Sufferings of Charity – “Charity beareth all things”

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Thought for the Day – 13 August – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

The Sufferings of Charity
“Charity beareth all things”

If anyone deserves to be exempt from suffering, it is someone who is full of the spirit of charity.
Suffering is indeed necessary to expiate sin, to humble our pride and to show us our own misery. Why should the charitable have to bear all kinds of trials simply because of their charity? Yet so it seems. Generally, the law seems to be – the more charity, the more suffering. Perhaps this is why I have comparatively little to suffer?

Yet, after all, it is reasonable that the charitable should suffer when we remember that the Lord and model of all charity, suffered all things simply because of His charity. What else caused His Agony in the Garden, His cruel Scourging at the Pillar, and His dereliction on the Cross? It was all the result of His Divine Charity.
We, therefore,, if we are to follow in His steps, must expect to encounter the same results as a reward for any charity if it resembles His, however remotely. If we are wise, we shall rejoice in any sign that we are to be honoured by sharing our Master’s lot!

These sufferings are a source of joy to all who suffer for Jesus’ sake.
He rejoiced to run the course of His Passion because of His longing to see those He loved delivered from bondage. For the joy which was set before Him, He endured the Cross. Thus, charity rejoices to suffer because charity knows those sufferings will obtain for it, in Heaven, the eternal joy of seeing others brought to God by its offering to Him, of all that it holds dear.
Even if I have heavy trials, can I flatter myself that my trials are a sign of a high degree of supernatural charity?

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 "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 10 August – ‘May He be perceived in our hearts.’

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 August – St Lawrence (Died 258) Martyr, “Keeper of the Treasures of he Church” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If anyone serves Me,
he must follow Me
and where I Am,
there will My servant be too.”

John 12:26

“Abide in Me and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abide in the vine,
so neither can you,
unless you abide in Me.”

John 15:4

“The present is nothing.
But eternity abides
for those on whom
all Truth, all Good, has shone,
in One Entire and Perfect Light. ”

St Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431)

“God, in His promises to hear our prayers,
is desirous to bestow Himself upon us;
if you find anything better than Him, ask it
but if you ask anything beneath Him,
you put an affront upon Him
and hurt yourself, by preferring to Him,
a creature which He created!”

St Augustine of Canterbury (Died c605)
“The Apostle to the English”

“May Christ be heard in our language,
may Christ be seen in our life,
may He be perceived in our hearts”

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in "Follow Me", CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on Love of Self, QUOTES on MEEKNESS, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, SELF-DISTRUST

Thought for the Day – 9 August – The Meekness of Charity“ – Charity is not provoked to anger”

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Thought for the Day – 9 August – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

The Meekness of Charity
“Charity is not provoked to anger”

One of the strongest instincts of human nature is the instinct of self-defence. In some, it is almost irresistible. The desire to return blow for blow, within due bounds, is a reasonable and lawful impulse and is prompted by the duty we owe to ourselves.
Yet, there is no tendency more likely to lead to sin if it is indulged! There is no tendency more prone to set aside prudence, justice and, above all, charity.
Am I one of those natures, ready to take up arms in my own defence, at the slightest provocation?

The instinct of self-defence is always prone to mislead us, due to our excessive self-love. We imagine we have been attacked, when in fact, nothing of the sort is the case. We see a slight or insult, when none was intended. We do not keep in mind how simple the true explanation may really be. We become angry, long for revenge and are carried beyond all bounds, by our wounded self-love. We say and do what we bitterly regret afterwards, alienating others from us and offending God by our angry words.
How often, alas, I have done this!

How is this evil to be remedied?
By charity and nothing else.
If God were more prominent in our hearts, if we loved God more and ourselves less, if our ambition were to promote His honour and not our own, we should not indulge in these outbursts of intemperate or bitter words. Instead, we should not be easily provoked or become angry. We should take a gentle view of what has been done or we should accept the injury or unkindness done to us and offer it up for our sins in union with the supreme charity of Christ our Lord!

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 August – Keep burning ….

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 August – The Fourteen Holy Helpers – 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16, Mark 16:15-18 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Go into the whole world
and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

Mark 16:15

“I have lit the light of your torch
but it is up to you to see it is kept burning,
not just to your personal advantage
but also, in the interest of all who will see it
and who, through it, will be led to the Truth.
The worst wickedness would not put
a shadow over your light,
if you live with the vigilance of those
who are called to bring the whole world to good.
So, let your life correspond
to the holiness of your mission,
so that God’s grace may be proclaimed everywhere.”

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

“What sort of candlestick is this
which bears such a light?
I will teach you.
Be lamps yourselves and you will have
a place on this lampstand.
Christ’s Cross is one great lampstand.
Whoever wants to shine out
should not be ashamed of this wooden candlestick.
Listen to me and you will get the point –
the candlestick is the Cross of Christ …
Listen to the Apostle Paul:
“May I never glory except in the Cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which
the world has been crucified to me
and I to the world” (Gal 6:14).”

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

“If you truly wish to help
the soul of your neighbour,
you should firstly approach God
with all your heart.
Ask Him simply,
to fill you with charity,
the greatest of all virtues.”

St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419)

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 August – Listen to Him!

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 August – The Transfiguration of the Lord – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“This is My beloved Son;
in Whom I Am well pleased,
listen to Him.”

Matthew 17:5

“I Am the Light of the world.
Whoever follows Me
will never walk in darkness
but will have the Light of Life.”

John 8:12

“Let us listen to the holy Voice of God
which summons us from on high,
from the holy mountain top.
There, we must hasten – I make bold to say –
like Jesus, Who is our leader
and has gone before us into Heaven.
There, with Him, may the eyes of our mind
shine with His light and the features of our soul
be made new; may we be transfigured with Him
and moulded to His image,
ever becoming divine,
being transformed in an ever greater degree of glory.”

St Anastasius Sinaita (Died 6th Century)
Priest and Abbot

“At His Transfiguration
Christ showed His disciples,
the splendour of His Beauty,
to which He will shape and colour,
those who are His :
‘He will reform our lowness
configured to the Body of His Glory.”

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

“ It is necessary, therefore, to obey
the Eternal Father by following Our Lord
in order to hear His Word.
And behold, how we are taught that all
persons, whatever their condition may be,
must pray and meditate,
for it is there, principally,
where this Divine Master speaks to us.
… But, it will not do us any good to listen,
if we do not DO what He says to us,
observing His commandments
and His wishes faithfully,”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 August – Obedience

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” –Dedication of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows – Dedication of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows – Sirach 24:14-16: Luke 11:27-28 – Scripture search here:

“Rather blessed are those
who hear the Word of God
and keep it.’”

Luke 11:28

“Little children follow and obey their father.
They love their mother.
They know nothing of covetousness,
ill-will, bad temper, arrogance and lying.
This state of mind opens the road to Heaven.
To imitate our Lord’s own humility,
we must return to the simplicity
of God’s little ones.”

St Hilary (315-368)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“If anyone comes to Me
without hating his father
and mother, wife and children,
brothers and sisters
and even his own life,
he cannot be My disciple.”

Luke 14:26

“ … For his brothers
His relatives according to the flesh
who did not
believe in Him,
of what advantage was that relationship?
… Even her maternal relationship
would have done Mary no good,
unless she had borne Christ
more happily in her heart,
than in her flesh.”

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

“Obedience is a short cut to perfection.”

St Philip Neri (1515-1595)

“Let us then depart, let us depart from Egypt,
let us approach Our Lord,
let us make provision of good works;
let the feet of our affections be bare,
let us clothe ourselves with innocence,
let us not be satisfied with crying for mercy,
let us go forth from Egypt, let us delay no longer.
The hour is come to arise from sleep,
since we know that He receives sinners;
the Angels await our repentance,
the Saints pray for it!”

St Francis de Sales 91567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

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Thought for the Day – 4 August – The Kindness of Charity, “Charity is kind”

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Thought for the Day – 4 August – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

The Kindness of Charity
“Charity is kind”

All appreciate kindness and are drawn towards those who are kind. Even natural kindness is very precious and beautiful. Kindness is one of the marks of a noble and generous character.
We feel the lack of kindness most keenly, when we believe others have not been kind to us. Yet, we overlook our own many acts of unkindness to others.
Should I not reproach myself for omitting many little acts of kindness which I might have done?
Should I not reproach myself for sometimes being positively unkind?

Natural kindness is a sort of foundation for supernatural kindness but the two are very distinct from each other.
Natural kindness has some natural motive – our own inclinations, love for the individual to whom we are kind, or a natural benevolence.
Supernatural kindness always has a supernatural motive and is directed to the glory of God. It is kindness to others for Christ’s sake and for the others’ sake, chiefly as they are His brethren and friends and, therefore, ours.
Do I seek to supernaturalise the kindnesses I do for others, to earn an eternal reward, by means of them?

If we are kind to others for God’s sake, He will be kind to us in our turn. Yet, our kindness must not have any advantage to ourselves, for, its chief motive, is to be the kindness of charity. We must not only have love of God in our hearts but, we also must have the thought of God present to us.
The kind action must be done because it is a happiness to please Him, Who is, in Himself, so kind and good. Does my kindness stand this test?

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One Minute Reflection – 4 August – St Augustine – ‘Your health is Christ!’

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One Minute Reflection – 4 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Pentecost XI – St Dominic de Guzman OP (1170-1221) Confessor, Founder –1 Corinthians 15:1-10; Mark 7:31-37 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears and, after spitting. touched his tongue.” – Mark 7:33

REFLECTION – “The Lord heals all your ills” (Ps 102:3). Never fear, all your ills will healed. You say they are big ones but the Doctor is even greater. For an all-powerful Doctor there is no such thing as an incurable sickness. Simply let yourself be cared for, do not push away His hand, He knows what to do. Do not be happy only when He acts with gentleness but bear with it, too, when He prunes. Accept the unpleasantness of the cure, by thinking of the healing it will bring you.
Notice all those things, brethren which people put up with in their physical ills, so as to prolong their lives a few days … You, at least, are not suffering for an uncertain result – He, Who has promised you your health,, cannot be mistaken. Why is it that doctors are sometimes mistaken? Because they have not created the body they are treating. But God has made your body, God has made your soul. He knows how to re-create that which He has created; He knows how to re-fashion that which He has formed. You have only to abandon yourself into His Doctor’s Hand! … Endure His Hands, then, O soul who “blesses Him and forgets not all His benefits – He heals all your ills” (P2 102:2-3).
He who had made you never to become sick, if you would keep His precepts, will He not heal you? He who made the Angels and, in re-creating you, will make you equal to the Angels – will He not heal you? He who made Heaven and earth, will He not heal you, after having made you, in His Image? (Gn 1:26) He will heal you but you must consent to be healed. He heals every sickness perfectly but He does not heal it, in spite of Himself … Your health is Christ!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of the Church – Sermon on the Psalms, Ps 102[103]: 5-6; PL 37, 1319

PRAYER – O God, Who graciously enlightened Thy Church by the good works and teaching of St Dominic, Thy Confessor, grant by his intercession, that she may never be deprived of temporal helps and may ever advance in spiritual growth. 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 WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 3 August – “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”

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Quote/s of the Day – 3August – The Finding of the Relics of St Stephen, Protomartyr: – Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Matthew 23:34-39 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them”

Acts 7:60

“Leave there thy offering before the Altar
and go first to be reconciled to thy brother
and then, coming, thou shalt offer thy gift.”

Matthew 5:24

“But I say to you,
love your enemies …”

Matthew 5:44

“Whoever says
he abides in Christ,
ought to walk,
even as Christ walked …”

1 John 2:6

“Behold I send you as sheep
in the midst of wolves.
Be, therefore, wise as serpents
and simple as doves. ”
Matthew – 10:16

“So that you might follow in His Footsteps,”
writes St Peter. The blessed Evangelist John
also says the same thing:
“Whoever claims to abide in Christ
ought to walk as He has walked,” (1 Jn 2:6).
And how has Christ walked?
He prayed for His enemies on the Cross, saying: “Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do,” (Lk 23:34).
They have actually lost their senses
and are possessed by an evil spirit
and while they are persecuting us,
they themselves are undergoing
a far greater persecution from the devil.
Hence, we should be praying more for their deliverance, than for their condemnation.”

St Caesarius of Arles (470-543)
Father of the Church, Bishop

“To the extent that you pray, with all your soul,
for the person who slanders you,
God will make the truth known
to those who have been scandalised
by the slander.”

St Maximus the Confessor (c580–662)

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One Minute Reflection – 3 August – ‘Let us imitate our Lord and pray for our enemies …’

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One Minute Reflection – 3 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Finding of the Relics of St Stephen, Protomartyr: – Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Matthew 23:34-39 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them” – Acts 7:60

REFLECTION – “Let us imitate our Lord and pray for our enemies … He was Crucified yet, at the same time, prayed to His Father for the sake of those who were crucifying Him. But how could I possibly imitate our Lord, one might ask? If you wish to, you will be able to. If you were not able to do it, how could He have said: “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart”? (Mt 11:29) …

If you have difficulty in imitating our Lord, at least imitate him who is also His servant, His Deacon – I would speak of Stephen. Just as Christ, in the midst of those crucifying Him, without considering the Cross, without considering His own predicament, pleaded with the Father on behalf of His tormentors (Lk 23:34), so His servant, surrounded by those who were stoning him, attacked by all, crushed beneath a hail of stones and, without taking any account of the suffering they were causing him, said: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). Do you see how the Son spoke and how His servant prayed? The former said: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” and the latter said: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Moreover, to make us better realise, the fervour with which he was praying, he did not just pray, as he stood beneath the blows of the stones but, he spoke on his knees with sincerity and compassion …

Christ said: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Stephen cried out: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Paul, in his turn, said: “I offer up this sacrifice for my brethren, my kin according to race” (cf.Rm 9:3). Moses said: “If you would only forgive their sin! And if you will not, then strike me out of the book that you have written!” (Ex 32:32). David said: “May your hand fall on me and my kindred,” (2 Sam 24:17). … What kind of forgiveness do we think we shall receive if we ourselves do the opposite of what is asked of us and pray against our enemies, when the Lord Himself and His servants of both Old and New Testaments, direct us to pray on their behalf?” – St John Chrysostom (345-407) Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon for Good Friday “The Cross and the bandit”).

PRAYER – Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to imitate what we celebrate, so that we may learn to love even our enemies because we keep the anniversary of the death of him, who knew how to plead, even for his persecutors with our Lord, Jesus Christ, Thy Son. 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).

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One Minute Reflection –2 August – Some knowledge of the seventy (two)

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One Minute Reflection –2 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Feast of St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church – – 2 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 10:1-9 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The Lord appointed seventy two others and sent them forth, two-by-two before Him, into every town and place, where He, Himself was about to come.” – Luke 10:1

REFLECTION – “The names of the Apostles of the Saviour, are clear to everyone from the Gospels but no list of the seventy [two] disciples is in circulation anywhere. Some have said, to be sure, that Barnabas was one of them and the Acts of the Apostles and Paul writing to the Galatians, have made special mention of him. They say Sosthenes was of these too. Together with Paul, he wrote to the Corinthians. Tradition also holds that Matthias, who was listed among the Apostles in place of Judas and Joseph Justus, who was honoured with him at the same casting of lots, were considered worthy of the same calling among the seventy [two]. They say that Thaddaeus was also one of them, about whom I shall presently relate a story which has come down to us. On observation, you would find that the disciples of the Saviour appear to have been more than the seventy (two). Paul says that after the Resurrection from the dead, Cephas saw Him first, then the Twelve. After these saw Him, He was seen by more than five hundred brothers all at once, some of whom he says, had fallen asleep, although the majority were still alive at the time that this account was being composed by him.” – St Eusebius of Caesarea (c 260-339) Bishop of Caesarea, Historian, Theologian, Father (Ecclesiastical History 1.)”

PRAYER – O God, Who through blessed Alphonsus Maria, Thy Confessor and Bishop, fired with love for souls, enriched Thy Church with a new family; we beseech Thee that, taught by his saving counsels and strengthened by his example, we may be enabled, happily to come to Thee. 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).

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One Minute Reflection – 1 August – Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” – Matthew 16:16

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One Minute Reflection – 1 August – St Peter’s Chains – Acts 12:1-11, Matthew16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” – Matthew 16:16

REFLECTION – “Peter did not say “Thou are a Christ” or “a son of God” but “the Christ, the Son of God.” For there are many christs by grace, who have attained the rank of adoption [as sons] but [there is] only One Who is by nature the Son of God. Thus, using the definite article, he said, THE Christ, THE Son of God. And in calling Him, Son of the LIVING God, Peter indicates that Christ Himself is Life and that death has no authority over Him. And even if the flesh, for a short while, was weak and died, nevertheless, it rose again, since the Word, Who dwelled in it, could not be held under the bonds of death.” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Known as “The Pillar of Faith” Archbishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor Incarnationis (Doctor of the Incarnation) (Fragment 190).

PRAYER – O God, Who didst loose the blessed Apostle, Peter, from his chains and didst make him go forth unharmed, loose, we pray, the chains of our sins and in Thy Merc, ward off from us every evil.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).

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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)

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One Minute Reflection – 30 July – ‘ … The vision of God is promised ONLY to people with a pure heart. …’

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One Minute Reflection – 30 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Abdon and St Senen (Died c250) Martyrs – 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“They shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8

REFLECTION – “We want to see God, we seek to see Him, we ardently desire to see Him. Who does not desire this? But note what the Gospel says: “Blest are the pure of heart, they shall see God.” Do what is necessary in order to see Him! To compare it with something from material reality, how can you want to contemplate the rising sun if your eyes are sick? If your eyes are healthy that light will be a pleasure for you; if they are sick, it will be torture for you. You will surely not be allowed to see, with an impure heart, that which one can only see with a pure heart. You will be moved away, put at a distance, you will not see!

How often did the Lord proclaim people to be ‘blest‘? What reasons for eternal happiness did He cite, what good works, what gifts, what merits and what rewards? No other! the beatitude says, “They shall see God.” This is what the others say: “How blest are the poor in spirit, the reign of God is theirs. Blest are the lowly; they shall inherit the land. Blest are the sorrowing; they shall be consoled. Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill. Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs.” So none other asserts, “They shall see God.”

The vision of God is promised ONLY to those with a pure heart. This is not without a reason, since the eyes which allow us to see God are in the heart. Those are the eyes the Apostle Paul was speaking of when he said: “May He enlighten your innermost vision” (Eph 1:18). So, at the present time because of their weakness, those eyes are enlightened by faith; later, because of their strength, they will be enlightened by vision… “Now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face.” (1 Cor 13:12).” (1 Cor 13:12).” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 53).

PRAYER – O God, Who bestowed upon Thy Saints, Abdon and Sennen, an abundance of grace to bring them to this glory, grant to Thy servants forgiveness of their sins, so they may be found worthy to be freed from all harm, through the interceding merits of Thy Saints. 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).

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Thought for the Day – 28 July – Models of Humility: The Blessed Virgin

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Thought for the Day – 28 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Models of Humility:
The Blessed Virgin

No-one of all the children of Adam ever approached the Blessed Virgin Mary in humility. What had she to make her humble? She had no sin or imperfection for which to humble herself before God. Yet the greatest of sinners never humbled himself as did Mary. How was this? It was because no-one, save she, ever recognised her own nothingness in God’s sight. This is the surest basis for humility.
We are so wanting in humility because we do not recognise our utter insignificance and the absence of any good in us, save that which, is the gift of God.

Thus, it was that, because Mary had a right to the highest place, she always sought the lowest.
This is the law, which everywhere prevails. Those who deserve the lowest place, seek the highest and those who deserve the highest, seek the lowest. The enemies of God do not like to lower themselves. But, His friends recognise the lowest place as the place most suitable for them
Am I, in this respect, one of God’s friends or one of His enemies?

Mary’s humility was also the result of her desire to be like to her Divine Son in all things.
When she saw Him stoop from the highest Heaven to earth, she longed to stoop to the very dust. She placed herself in spirit beneath the feet of all and, would have placed herself lower still, if it had been possible.
For what humiliation could even Mary endure which was in any way comparable to that of her Son?
If Mary, then, is my Queen and Mother, I will seek to imitate her in this. If the Immaculate Mother of God loved to humble herself, how much more should I, who am but a miserable worm of earth?

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 July – ‘… He who humbles himself,shall be exalted.’

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 July – 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

“The most perfect degree of humility
is to take pleasure in contempt and humiliations.
Contempt suffered patiently,
is worth more before God,
for love of Him, than
a thousand fastings and disciplines.”

“Let us not lower our eyes
without humiliating the heart , at the same time;
let others not think
we want the last place,
without truly desiring it!”

“Humility makes our lives,
acceptable to God,
meekness, makes us
acceptable to men.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

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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).

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Thought for the Day – 27 July – Models of Humility: Jesus Christ

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Thought for the Day – 27 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Models of Humility:
Jesus Christ

When we compare the humility of Jesus Christ with that which is possible to ourselves, it seems as though the virtue in us, does not deserve the same name, for He, Who was Omnipotent God lowered Himself to become the lowliest of men. Such an act of humility was an Infinite abasement of Himself and had an Infinite value in the sight of God.
The Divine Word submitted to the obliteration of all His Glory and Majesty when He became man. This was humility indeed!
But what is our humility? Simply placing ourselves in a position which more nearly approaches that which we deserve to occupy!
When I humble myself, I simply divest myself of the false position of seeming to have any virtue, or dignity, or claim to honour, of my own.

Even when He had lowered Himself to the nature of man, He was not satisfied but He needed to seek out every kind of contempt and insult.
He was regarded as a madman, as possessed with a devil, as a wine-bibber, as an impostor, as a leader of sedition, as a fool, as a criminal and as a blasphemer. All this He took upon Himself, of His own accord and deemed an honour!
Is it not strange that I should shrink from sharing that whicvh the Son of God chose as the fitting treatment of His Human Nature?

He did more than this.
He so identified Himself with human sin that He is said, by the Apostle, to have been made sin for our sakes and, by this means, He was able to find a fresh motive for humbling Himself, as being laden with sin in the sight of His Heavenly Father.
If He, the Spotless Lamb, thus sought out motives of humiliation, how is it that I,, on the contrary, seem to avoid all which humbles me?

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SILENCE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 July – “ … Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it.” – Luke 11:28

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One Minute Reflection – 27 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Saturday of the Blessed Virgin (Salve Sancta Parens) – St Pantaleon (Died c305) Martyr, Lay Physician, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers – Ecclesiasticus 24:14-16; Luke 11:27-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“… Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it.” – Luke 11:28

REFLECTION – “Truly it is “a trustworthy word and deserving of every welcome” (1 Tm 1:15) your Almighty Word, Lord, which, in such deep Silence, made His way down from the Father’s royal throne (Wis 18:14f) into the mangers of animals and meanwhile, speaks to us better by His Silence. “Let him who has ears to hear, hear” what this loving and mysterious Silence of the eternal Word speaks to us …

For what recommends the discipline of silence with such weight and such authority, what checks the evil of restless tongues and the storms of words, as the Word of God, silent in the midst of men. “There is no word on My tongue” (Ps 138:4), the Almighty Word seems to confess while He is subject to His Mother. What madness then will prompt us to say: “With our tongues we can do great things; our lips are good friends to us; we own no master” (Ps 11:5). If I were allowed, I would gladly be dumb and be brought low and be silent, even of good things that I might be able, the more attentively and diligently, to apply my ear to the secret utterances and sacred meaning of this Divine Silence, learning in silence, in the school of the Word, if only for as long as the Word Himself was Silent under the instruction of His Mother …

“The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us” (Jn 1:14). With complete devotion, then, let us think of Christ in the swaddling clothes with which His Mother wrapped Him, so that, with eternal happiness, we may see the glory and beauty with which His Father has clothed Him.” – Blessed Guerric of Igny O.Cist. (c1080-1157) Cistercian Abbot (The 5th sermon for Christmas).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that through the intercession of Thy blessed Martyr Pantaleon, we may be delivered from all afflictions of the body and cleansed from all evil thoughts of the mind. 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).

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One Minute Reflection – 26 July – The Treasure and The Pearl

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One Minute Reflection – 26 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Grandmother of Jesus.– Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Jesus said in parables: The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure, hidden in a field. … Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant seeking good pearls. ”- Matthew 13:44 and 45

REFLECTION – “The two parables of the treasure and the pearl, both teach us the same thing – we should prefer the Gospel before all earthly treasures. … However, there is something even more praiseworthy than this – we should delight to give it preference, joyfully, unhesitatingly. Let us never forget this, to abandon all else, so as to follow God, is to gain more, than one loses. The preaching of the Gospel is hidden in this world like a hidden treasure, a treasure without price.

To gain this treasure … two conditions are required – the forsaking of this world’s goods and a firm determination. For, it is a question “of a merchant searching for fine pearls, when he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” This one pearl is Truth and Truth is one, it is not divided. Do you possess a pearl? Then you know your wealth, it is clenched in the palm of your hand, no-one is aware of your fortune.

So it is with the Gospel, if you embrace it with faith, if it remains enclosed in your heart, what a treasure you have You alone know it is there. Unbelievers, who know neither what it is nor what value it has, have no idea of your incredible wealth!” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Saint Matthew’s Gospel No 47:2).

PRAYER – O God, Who in Thy kindness gave blessed Anne the grace to be the mother of her, who Mothered Thy Only-begotten Son, graciously grant that we who keep her feast, maybe helped by her intercession with Thee. 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 WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EVENING and NIGHT Prayers, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRACE, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Quote/s of the Day – 25 July – Santiago and St Christopher and the 14 Holy Helpers

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Quote/s of the Day – 25 July – The Feast of St James the Greater, Apostle and Martyr and of St Christopher (died c 251) One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

A Prayer to St James
“Santiago”

O brave Apostle, Santiago
the first to drink
the Chalice of suffering
after the example of Christ,
Who had shed His Blood for thee,
obtain from Him,
I beseech thee,
the grace that I may not fear,
to drink of the Chalice,
of pain and suffering
but may patiently bear,
all which the Hand of my God
offers me,
that I may, one day,
be worthy to enjoy,
in thy society,
the joy of Heaven.
Amen

The Christopher Prayer,
Make Us True Christ-Bearers
Anonymous

Father, grant that we may be,
bearers of Christ Jesus, Thy Son.
Allow us to fill, the world around us,
with Thy Light.
Strengthen us, by Thy Holy Ghost,
to carry out our mission
of living and following
the path of Jesus, our Lord.
Help us to understand,
that by Thy grace
our gifts are Thy blessings,
to be shared with others.
Fill us with Thy Spirit of love
to give glory to Thee
in loving all
and preaching by our love.
Nourish in us the desire
to go forth
as the bearers of Thy Son
fearless and gentle,
loving and merciful.
Make us true Christ-Bearers,
that in seeing us,
only He is visible.
Amen.

The “fourteen Angels” of the lost children’s prayer in the Composer, Engelbert Humperdinck’s (1854-1921) (not the popular Welsh singer) fairy opera, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, are the Fourteen Holy Helpers. The English words are familiar and very beautiful:

When at night, I go to sleep,
Fourteen angels, watch do keep,
Two my head are guarding,
Two my feet are guiding;
Two upon my right hand,
Two upon my left hand.
Two who warmly cover
Two who o’er me hover,
Two to whom ’tis given
To guide my steps to Heaven.

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TIME, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 July – ‘ … He has come to heal pride itself. …’

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One Minute Reflection – 25 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – The Feast of St James the Greater, Apostle and Martyr – 1 Corinthians 4:9-15; Matthew 20:20-23– Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ You know not what you ask. Can you drink the Chalice that I shall drink?” – Matthew 20:22

REFLECTION – “Christ laid down His life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 Jn 3:16) … Jesus said to Peter: “When you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted but when you grow old, … someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go …” (Jn 21:18). It was the Cross, the Passion, he promised him. “Go even so far as to pasture My sheep, suffer for My sheep.” This is what a good Bishop is to be. If he is not, he is no Bishop!

… Now listen to this other testimony. Two of His disciples, the brothers John and James, who were sons of Zebedee, were ambitious for the first place, without consideration for the others. … Our Lord answered them: “You do not know what you are asking” for He added: “Can you drink the Chalice that I shall drink?” What cup is this if not that … of the Passion?… And they, forgetting their weakness, immediately said: “We can.” Then He said to them: “My Chalice you will indeed drink. But to sit at My right or at My left,is not Mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”… In this way, He gave proof of His humility, for in fact, everything the Father prepares is prepared too, for the Son … He came in humility – He, the Creator, was created amongst us; He made us but He was made for us. God before time began, man in time, He delivered man from time. This great Physician has come to heal our cancer … by His example, He has come to heal pride itself.

This is what we must give our attention to in the Lord – let us consider His humility, drink the Cup of His humility, clasp Him, contemplate Him. How easy it is to have elevated thoughts, easy to take pleasure in honours, easy to give one’s ear to flatterers and people who praise us. But to bear with insult, patiently undergo humiliation, pray for those who persecute us (Mt 5:39.44) – that is the Lord’s Cup, that is the Lord’s Feast!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Extract from a Sermon for the Ordination of a Bishop).

PRAYER – Protect Thy people and make them holy, O Lord, so that, guarded by the help of Thy Apostle James, they may please Thee by their conduct and serve Thee with peace of mind. Through esus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).