Category: “Follow Me”

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 24 January – My disciples?

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Quote/s of the Day – 24 January – St Timothy (1st Century) Disciple of St Paul, Bishop and Martyr – 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Luke 14:26-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“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

“So likewise, everyone of you,
who does not renounce all
that he possesses,
cannot be My disciple.”

Luke 14:33

“Pursue justice, godliness,
faith, charity, patience, mildness.
Fight the good fight of the faith,
lay hold on the life eternal,
to which you have been called …”

1 Timothy 6:11-12

“… Anyone of you
who does not renounce
all his possessions,
cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:33

“The tradition and the authority
of Holy Scripture, show us three renunciations …
The first is that, by which,
as far as the body is concerned,
we make light of all the wealth
and goods of this world.
By the second,
we reject the fashions and vices
and former affections of soul and flesh.
By the third,
we detach our soul from all present
and visible things and contemplate only
things to come and set our heart
on what is invisible.
We have to do all these three at once,
as the Lord charged Abraham to do,
when he said to him
“Go out from your country
and your kinsfolk
and your father’s house.”(Gn 12:1).”

St John Cassian (c360-435)
Monk, Founder of Monasteries,
Father of the Church

(Conference 3, 6-7)

“Let us trust in Him. Who has
placed this burden upon us.
What we ourselves cannot bear,
let us bear, with the help of Christ.
For He is All-powerful
and He tells us:
‘My yoke is easy and my burden light.’”

St Boniface (c672-754)
Martyr, Confessor, Bishop

“I will go anywhere and do anything,
in order to communicate the love of Jesus
to those who do not know Him,
or have forgotten Him.”

St Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917)

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One Minute Reflection – 24 January – ‘ … In the Kingdom these relationships are transcended …’

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One Minute Reflection – 24 January – St Timothy (1st Century) Disciple of St Paul, Bishop and Martyr – 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Luke 14:26-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“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

REFLECTION – “On another occasion, the Lord says, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife and children and brothers and sisters and even his own soul, cannot be my disciple.” As a rule, this is more upsetting to the mind of new Christians, who are eager to begin at once, to live in accordance with the precepts of Christ. To those who do not fully grasp its meaning, it would seem contradictory…. He has condescended to call His disciples to the eternal Kingdom. He also called them brothers. In the Kingdom these relationships are transcended because, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither male nor female, neither slave nor freeman but Christ, is all things and in all.” The Lord says, “For in the resurrection, they will neither be married nor marry but will be as the Angels of God in Heaven.”

Whoever wishes to prepare himself now, for the life of that Kingdom, must not hate people but those earthly relationships, through which the present life is sustained, the temporary life that begins at birth and ends with death. Whoever does not hate this necessity, does not yet love that other life, in which there will be no condition of birth and death, the condition which makes marriages natural on earth.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Father, Doctor of Grace (Sermon on the Mount,15).

PRAYER – Be mindful of our weakness, Almighty God and because the burden of our sins weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of blessed Timothy, Your Martyr and Bishop, sustain us. 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", GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES on CREATION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), The REDEMPTION, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 22 January – Of Inclining the Will to Please God in All Things

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Thought for the Day – 22 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

The Third Weapon
of the Spiritual Combat

XI: … Of some Considerations which May Incline
the Will to Seek to Please God in All Things

“Furthermore, to incline the Will more readily to seek God’s honour
and glory in all things, always remember that, in many and various ways, He has first loved and honoured you!

In creation: — by creating you out of nothing after His Own Likeness and all other creatures for your service.
In Redemption: — by sending, not an Angel but, His Only-begotten Son, to redeem you, not with the corruptible price of silver and gold but with His Precious Blood and, by His most painful and ignominious death.
Remember, that every hour, nay, every moment, He protects you from your enemies, fights for you by His grace, offers you continually, in the Sacrament of the Altar, His well-beloved Son, to be your food and your defence; are not all these tokens of the inestimable regard and love borne for you by the Infinite God?

It is not in man to conceive, on the one hand, how great is the value which so great a Lord sets upon us poor creatures, in our loneliness and misery and, on the other, how great the return we are bound to make to His Supreme Majesty, Who has done so many and such great things for us.

For if earthly lords, when honoured even by poor and lowly men, feel bound to honour them in return, how should our vile nature demean itself towards the Supreme King of Heaven and earth, by Whom we are so dearly loved and so highly prized?

And besides all this and before all things, keep ever vividly in mind that the Divine Majesty is infinitely worthy to be loved for Himself alone and to be served, purely for His own good pleasure.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WATCHING, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 January –  “Many will come … ” – Matthew 8:11

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One Minute Reflection – 21 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – St Agnes (c 291- c 304) Virgin and Martyr – Romans 12:16-21; Matthew 25:1-13 –Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Many will come from the east and the west and will recline… at the banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven” – Matthew 8:11

REFLECTION – “I have seen our Lord in the Gospel accomplish many miracles and, reassured by them, have strengthened my fearful words. I have seen the centurion throw himself at the Lord’s feet, nations send their firstfruits to Christ. The Cross has not yet been erected and already, pagans hasten towards their Master. The words “Go, teach all nations” have not yet been heard (Mt 28,19) but the nations are already hastening. Their race precedes their call, they are burning with desire for the Lord. The sound of preaching has not yet been heard but they are hurrying towards the One Who preaches. Peter… has now been instructed and they gather around the One Who is teaching him; the light of Paul has not yet blazed beneath Christ’s standard and nations are coming with incense to adore the King (Mt 2:1).

And now, see how a centurion begs Him and says to him: “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, suffering dreadfully.” Here is a new miracle indeed! The servant, whose limbs are paralysed leads his master to the Lord; the slaves’ sickness gives health to his owner. Seeking his servant’s healing, he finds our Lord and while he is seeking for his slave’s cure, he becomes Christ’s conquest!” – Basil of Seleucia (Died c 468) Archbishop (Homily 19 on the centurion, PG 85, 235f).

PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Thou Who choose the weak things of the world to confound the strong, mercifully grant that we, who are celebrating the feast of blessed Agnes, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may reap the benefit ofher patronal intercession with Thee. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

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Quote/s of the Day – 19 January – ‘In the hours of the night, think always on Christ …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 19 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – St Marius and Family of Persia, (Died c 270) Martyrs – Hebrews 10:32-38, Matthew 24:3-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“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

“Watch, therefore because you know not
the day, nor the hour.”
Matthew 25:13

“ In the hours of the night, think always on Christ
and hope for His coming at every moment. …
Christ enters at the open door.
He will not fail to do so, for He has promised to enter.
Embrace Him, Whom you have sought.
Approach Him and be illumined.
Hold Him and ask Him not to go away quickly.
Beg Him not to depart.
For “His Word runs swiftly” (Ps 147:15)
and will not be held by the slothful
or negligent soul.
Let your soul run to His call and follow closely,
the sound of His heavenly Voice,
for His passing is swift. …”

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“… In fact, according to the merit
and fervour of each one,
there is a frequent and familiar advent of the Lord
that, in this intermediary period,
between His First and Last Coming,
models us on one and prepares us to the other.
The Lord comes to us now,
so that His First Coming to us, may not be in vain
and that the Last One, may not be that of wrath.
Through His Present Coming, in fact,
He works at reforming our pride,
in the image of the humility of His first advent,
to then remodel our humble body,
in the image of the glorified body He will show us,
when He will return. This is why we should desire
and fervently ask this personal coming –
which gives us the grace of this first advent
and promises us the glory of the last. …”

Bl Guerric of Igny (c1080-1157)
Cistercian Abbot

(2nd sermon for Advent, 2-4)

Grant Me, My God
By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Angelic Doctor, Common Doctor

Make my heart watchful, O God,
so that no vain thoughts may distract it from Thee.
Make it noble,
so that it may never be seduced by any base affection.
Make it steadfast,
so that troubles may not dismay it.
Make it free,
so that it may not yield to the onslaughts of passion.
Grant me, my God,
the intelligence, to understand Thee,
the love, to seek Thee,
the wisdom, to find Thee,
words, to please Thee,
the perseverance, to wait faithfully for Thee
and, the hope of embracing Thee, at last.
Grant that I, a repentant sinner,
may bear Thy chastisements with resignation.
Poor pilgrim which I am,
may I draw on the treasury of Thine grace
and may I one day,
be eternally happy with Thee in Heavnely glory!
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CHURCH, St PETER!, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 18 January – ‘Peter alone was chosen to stand at the head …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 18 January – Feast of the Chair of the Apostle, St Peter at Rome – 1 Peter 1:1-7, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:16

“Upon this rock
I will build My Church”

Matthew 16:18

“I decided to consult the Chair of Peter,
where that faith is found
exalted by the lips of an Apostle;
I now come to ask for nourishment
for my soul there,
where once I received the garment of Christ.
I follow no leader save Christ,
so I enter into communion with Your beatitude,
that is, with the Chair of Peter,
for this, I know, is the rock
upon which the Church is built.”
(cf Le lettere I, 15, 1-2)

St Jerome (343-420)
Father & Doctor od rhw Church

“He gave way to sin so that,
remembering his own failure
and the kindness of the Lord,
he might testify to others,
a grace of philanthropy in accord
with the divine design conceived by God.
The fall had been permitted to the one
who was going to see himself
entrusted with the Church,
the Pillar of the Church,
the Harbour of the Faith;
the fall had been permitted to Peter,
the Doctor of the Universe,
in order that, the forgiveness received,
might remain the foundation of love for others.”

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

“Nothing escaped the Wisdom and Power of Christ,
the elements of nature lay at His service,
spirits obeyed Him, Angels served Him. …
And yet, out of all the world,
Peter alone was chosen to stand at the head,
for the calling of all the peoples
and the oversight of all the Apostles
and Fathers of the Church.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church

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One Minute Reflection – 17 January –  ‘ … So keep watch with vigilant soul and you will see the pure Truth with open eyes! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 17 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – St Anthony Abbot (251-356) – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6; Luke 12:35-40 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

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

REFLECTION – “These words mean – you are to be awake and vigilant because you do not know the hour when the Lord will come from the wedding … Because, as soon as some feeling of pride, self-satisfaction or self-will enters a man, the Enemy is there, cutting the precious bag, of all his good works from him. Oh, children! How many people like these, will you see, who have done great works … and thus gained great renown … but, presumption has stripped them of all … They will be placed after the poor and simple fellows, whom no-one values because of their outward appearance and work. Because they humbly take a lowly place, these latter, will be set above the others … So keep watch with vigilant soul and you will see the pure Truth with open eyes …

“Let your loins be girt about and your lamps alight.” Here there are three points to notice. First – the loins are to be girded like someone firmly bound with a rope, so as to be led, against his will … Second – you are to carry lighted lamps in your hands which is to say, works of love. Your hands should never stop doing the true, ardent work of charity … Third – you should wait for the Lord when He returns from the wedding … “The Lord will set them over all His goods; He will gird Himself and will serve them.” This wedding from which the Lord comes, takes place in the most interior part of the soul, in its depths, where the noble image is found. O what intimate contact the soul has with God and God with it, in this depth and what a marvellous work God does there! What rejoicing and joy He finds there! It surpasses all feeling and thought and yet, man knows nothing and feels nothing of it.” – Fr Johannes Tauler OP (c1300-1361) Dominican Priest and Friar, renowned Preacher and Theologian (Sermon 77 for the Feast of a Confessor).

PRAYER – May the intercession of the Blessed Abbot Anthony, commend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, so that what we do not deserve by any merits of our own, we may obtain by his patronage. Through tJesus 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, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on REASON/INTELLECT, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, QUOTES on VANITY, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 15 January – Of Spiritual Exercises, the Third Weapon

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Thought for the Day – 15 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

The Third Weapon
of the Spiritual Combat

VII: … Of Spiritual Exercises
(and the first of the Exercise of the Understanding (Reason) — which must be kept guarded
against ignorance and curiosity).

“If in this warfare, we are provided with no weapons except self-distrust and trust in God, needful as both these are, we shall not only fail to gain the victory over ourselves but, shall fall into many evils.
To these, therefore, we must add the use of Spiritual Exercises, the Third Weapon named above.
And these relate chiefly to the Understanding (Reason) and the Will.

As regards the Understanding, we must guard against two things which are apt to obscure it.
One is ignorance which darkens it and impedes it in acquiring the knowledge of truth, the proper object of the understanding.
Therefore, it must be made clear and bright, by exercise that so it may be able to see and discern plainly, all that is needful to purify the soul from disorderly passions and to adorn it with saintly virtues.

This light may be obtained in two ways:
The first and most important is prayer, imploring the Holy Ghost to pour it into our hearts.
This He will not fail to do, if we, in truth seek God alone and the fullment of His holy will and, if in all things, we submit our judgement to that of our spiritual father.
The other is, to exercise ourselves continually in a true and deep consideration of all things, to discover whether they be good or evil, according to the teaching of the Holy Ghost and not, according to their outward appearance, as they impress the senses or are judged of by the world.

This consideration, if rightly exercised, will teach us to regard, as falsehood and vanity, all which the blind and corrupt world, in so many various ways, loves, desires and seeks after.
It will show us plainly that the honours and pleasures of earth are but vanity and vexation of spirit; that injury and infamy inflicted on us by the world, bring true glory and tribulations, contentment; that to pardon our enemies and to do them good, is true magnanimity and an act, which likens us most nearly to God; that to despise the world is better than to rule it; that voluntary obedience, for the love of God to the meanest of His creatures, is greater and nobler, than to command mighty princes and, that the mortication and subjugation of our most trying appetite, is more glorious than the reduction of strong cities, the defeat of mighty armies, the working of miracles, or the raising of the dead!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, OUR Cross, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, St Francis de Sales, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD

Quote/s of the Day – 12 January – We have come to adore Him

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Quote/s of the Day – 12 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – Seventh Day Within the Octave of The Epiphany – Isaias 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12

“We have seen His Star in the east
and are come to adore Him.”

Matthew 2:2

“Thus we offer the Lord,
Gold, when we shine in His Sight
with the Light of heavenly wisdom ….
We offer Him Frankincense,
when we send up pure prayer before Him
and Myrrh, when, “mortifying our flesh
with its vices and passions” (Gal 5:24)
by self-control, we carry the cross behind Jesus.”

St Bruno of Segni O.Cart. (c 1030 -1101)

Bishop (1st Sermon on the Epiphany PL 165, 863).

Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419)

Good Jesus,
let me be penetrated with love
to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward Thee.
Let me burn with zeal for Thy honour,
so that I may deeply resent,
all the outrages committed against Thee,
especially those of which,
I myself have been guilty.
Grant further, O my God,
that I may humbly adore
and acknowledge Thee,
as my Creator and penetrated with gratitude
for all Thy benefits,
I may never cease to render Thee thanksgiving.
Grant that I may bless Thee in all things,
praise and glorify Thee,
with a heart full of joy and gladness
and obeying Thee with docility
in every respect, I may one day,
despite my ingratitude and unworthiness,
be seated at Thine table
together with Thine Holy Angels and Apostles,
to enjoy ineffable delights for all eternity!
Amen

“He who most loves
will be most loved.”

(Letters to Persons in Religion III, 43)

“Do much for God
and do nothing without love:
refer everything to this love;
eat and drink with it in mind!”

(Letter to Madame de Chantal)

“The love of God,
is the end, the perfection
and the excellence of the universe.”

(Treatise on the Love of God
Book 10, Chapter 1)​

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

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One Minute Reflection – 12 January – ‘Shine like a Star! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 12 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family”– Seventh Day Within the Octave of The Epiphany – Isaias 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Where is He Who is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His Star in the east and are come to adore Him.” – Matthew 2:2

REFLECTION – “All these things we know to have taken place ever since the Three Wise Men, aroused in their far-off land, were led by a Star to recognise and worship the King of Heaven and earth.
The responsiveness of that Star exhorts us to imitate it’s obedience and, as much as we can, to make ourselves servants of that grace which invites us all to Christ.
For, whoever lives religiously and chastely in the Church and “sets his mind on the things which are above, not on the things that are upon the earth” (Col 3:2) resembles that heavenly light in a certain sense.
So long as he maintains in himself the brightness of a holy life, he points out to many, like a Star, the way that leads to God.
All having this concern, dearly-beloved… you will shine in the Kingdom like children of Light.”… St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Father & Doctor of the Church.

PRAYER – O God, Thou Who by the guidance of a star this day revealed Thy Only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, who know Thee now by faith, may come to behold Thee in glory. 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 WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PRESUMPTION, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The GOOD SHEPHERD, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 11 January – Of Trust in God – The FOUR WAYS

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Thought for the Day – 11 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

The First Two Weapons
of the Spiritual Combat

II: Of Trust in God (Confidence) The FOUR WAYS

“And this also may be accomplished in four ways:

  • FIRSTLY, by asking it of God.
  • SECONDLY, by gazing, with the eye of faith, at the Infinite Wisdom and Omnipotence of God, to which nothing is impossible or difficult and confiding in His unbounded goodness and unspeakable willingness, to give, hour-by-hour and moment-by-moment, all things needful for the spiritual life and perfect victory over ourselves, if we will but throw ourselves, with confidence into His Arms.
    For how shall our Divine Shepherd, Who followed after His lost sheep for three-and-thirty years, with loud and bitter cries, through that painful and thorny way wherein He spilled His Heart’s Blood and laid down His life — how shall He refuse to turn His quickening glance upon the poor sheep, which now follow Him in obedience to His commands, or with a desire (though sometimes faint and feeble) to obey Him!
    When it cries to Him piteously for help, will He not hear and laying it upon His Divine Shoulders, call upon His friends and all the Angels of Heaven to rejoice with Him?
    For if our Lord ceased not to search most diligently for the blind and deaf sinner, the lost drachma of the Gospel, till He found them — can He abandon him, who, like a lost sheep, cries and calls piteously upon his Shepherd?
    And, if God knocks continually at the heart of man, desiring to enter in and sup there and to communicate to it, His gifts, who can believe that when that heart opens and invites Him to enter, He will turn a deaf ear to the invitation, and refuse to come in?
  • THIRDLY, the third way to acquire this holy confidence is, to call to mind that truth so plainly taught in Holy Scripture — that no-one, who trusted in God has ever been confounded.
  • The FOURTH which will serve, at once, towards the attainment of self-distrust and of trust in God, is this — when any duty presents itself to be done, any struggle with self to be made, any victory over self to be attempted, before proposing or resolving upon it, think firstly upon your own weakness; next turn, full of self-distrust, to the Wisdom, the Power and the Goodness of God and in reliance upon these, resolve to labour and to fight generously.

Then, with these weapons in your hands and with the help of prayer (of which we shall speak in its proper place), set yourself to labour and to strive.
Unless you observe this order, though you may seem to yourself to be doing all things in reliance upon God, you will too often find yourself mistaken; for so common, is a presumptuous self-confidence and so subtle, are the forms it assumes that it lurks almost always, even under an imagined self-distrust and fancied confidence in God.

To avoid presumption, as much as possible and in order that all your works maybe wrought in distrust of self and trust in God, the consideration of your own weakness must precede the consideration of God’s Omnipotence and both, together, must precede all your actions!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/01/10/thought-for-the-day-10-january-ii-of-trust-in-god-confidence/

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 January – Following His Star

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 January – Within the Octave of The Epiphany – Isaias 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“We have seen His Star in the East
and have come, with gifts,
to worship the Lord.
Alleluia!”

Matthew 2:2

“Behold, the star
which they had seen in the east,
went before them
until it came and stood
over where the Child was…”

Matthew 2:9

“I implore you to live with me and,
by believing, to run with me;
let us long for our Heavenly Country,
let us sigh for our Heavenly Home,
let us truly feel that here, we are strangers.
What shall we then see?
Let the gospel tell us:
In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
You will come to the fountain,
with whose dew you have already been sprinkled.
Instead of the ray of Light
which was sent through slanting
and winding ways, into the heart of your darkness,
you will see the Light Itself,
in all its purity and brightness.
It is to see and experience this Light
that you are now being cleansed. …
It has been good for us to share
the common Light,
good to have enjoyed ourselves,
good to have been glad together.
When we part from one another,
let us not depart from Him!”

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

“The obedience of the Star
calls us to imitate its humble service:
to be servants, as best we can,
of the grace which invites all men
to find Christ.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“… For this day, I must abide in thy house.”
Luke 19:5

“But He says to all:
“Come down quickly, for the exalted
freedom of the spirit cannot be maintained,
except through lowly obedience of mind.
You must know and love Me,
as both God and a human being,
higher than all and lower than all!
You will savour Me when I raise you up
above all things and above yourself to Myself
and, when you lower yourself beneath all things
and beneath yourself, to Me and for My sake.
Then, I will have to come to your house
and remain living with you and in you
and you with Me and in Me!”

Bl Jan van Ruysbroeck (1293-1381)

(A Mirror of Eternal Blessedness)

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Thought for the Day – 6 January – Of the Struggle Requisite for the Attainment of Christian Perfection

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Thought for the Day – 6 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

Introduction
I: Of the Essence of Christian Perfection –
Of the Struggle Requisite for its Attainment –
And of the Four Things Needful in this Conflict

Of the Struggle Requisite for its Attainment

“You see, then, very clearly that, as I have said, the spiritual life consists not in these things.
It consists in nothing else but:
the knowledge of the goodness and the greatness of God and of our nothingness and inclination to all evil;
in the love of Him and the hatred of ourselves;
in subjection, not to Him alone but for love of Him, to all His creatures; in entire renunciation of all will of our own and absolute resignation to all His divine pleasure;
and furthermore, willing and doing all this purely for the glory of God and solely to please Him and because He so wills and merits thus to be loved and served.

This is the law of love, impressed by the Hand of the Lord Himself upon the hearts of His faithful servants;
this is the abnegation of self which He requires of us;
this is His sweet yoke and light burden;
this is the obedience to which, by His Voice and His Example, our Master and Redeemer calls us.

In aspiring to such sublime perfection, you will have to do continual violence to yourself by a generous conflict with your own will in all things, great or small, until it be wholly annihilated;
you must prepare yourself, therefore, for the battle with all readiness of mind, for none but brave warriors shall receive the crown!

This is indeed the most difficult of all struggles — for while we strive
against self, self is striving against us and, therefore, is the victory here most glorious and precious in the sight of God!
For if you will set yourself to trample down and exterminate all your
unruly appetites, desires and wishes, even in the smallest and most inconsiderable matters, you will render a greater and more acceptable service to God, than if you should discipline yourself to blood, fast more rigorously than hermits or anchorites of old, or convert millions of souls and yet, voluntarily leave even one of these evils alive within you.
For although the conversion of souls is no doubt more precious to the Lord than the mortification of a fancy, nevertheless, nothing should, in your sight, be of greater account than to will and to do that very thing which the Lord specially demands and requires of you.
And He will infallibly be better pleased that you should watch and labour to mortify your passions, than if, consciously and willfully, leaving but one alive within you, you should serve Him in some other matter of greater importance in itself.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

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Quote/s of the Day – 3 January – Help for those New Year Resolutions

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Quote/s of the Day – 3 January – Help for those New Year Resolutions

“A tree is known by its fruit,
a man by his deeds.
A good deed is never lost,
he who sows courtesy,
reaps friendship
and he who plants kindness,
gathers love.”

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Remember God
more often
than you breathe!”

“Grace is given,
not to those who speak [their faith]
but to those, who live their faith!”

St Gregory of Nazianzen (330-390)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Be strengthened in Almighty God
and in the power of His might,
for with His help, nothing is difficult.
Throw off the heavy load of your own will,
cast aside the burden of sin
and gird yourselves as valiant warriors!
Forget what you are leaving behind;
strain forward to the great things before you.
I tell you that every place where you set foot,
shall be yours.
For the Spirit, Who goes before your face
is Christ the Lord.
He will carry you to the topmost peak
in the arms of His Love.”

St Francis of Assisi (c1181-1226)

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One Minute Reflection – 3 January – ‘ … Peter, therefore, was exposed to action, John was reserved for love … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 3 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family”– Octave Day of St John, Apostle – Ecclesiasticus 15:1-6; John 21:19-24 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Peter saw following them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who, at the supper, had leaned back upon His breast … Peter, therefore, seeing him, said to Jesus, Lord and what of this man?” – John 21:20-21

REFLECTION – “There are some persons who think they are not loved because they cannot be promoted and who allege that they are despised, if they are not entrusted with responsibilities and offices. We know that as a result of this type of thinking, no small discord has sprung up, among those who were considered friends, so that estrangement followed upon indignation and railings upon estrangement …

Let no-one say that he is held in contempt, for the reason that he is not promoted, since the Lord Jesus pre­ferred Peter to John in this respect; nor did He, on that account, lessen His affection for John because He had given Peter the leadership.  To Peter He commended His Church; to John, His most beloved Mother (Jn 19:27). To Peter He gave the keys of His Kingdom (Mt 16:19); to John He revealed the secrets of His Heart (Jn 13:25). Peter, therefore, was the more exalted; John, the more secure. Although Peter was established in power, nevertheless, when Jesus said, “One of you will betray Me,” (Jn 13:21) he was afraid and trembled along with the rest but John, leaning on the bosom of his Master, was made the bolder and, at a nod from Peter, asked who the traitor was. Peter, therefore, was exposed to action, John was reserved for love, according to the words of Christ: “So will I have him remain until I come.” Thus Christ gave us the example that we might do in like manner.” – St Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167) Cistercian Monk (Spiritual Friendship, III, 115, 117).

PRAYER – O Lord, graciously shed light upon Thy Church, so that, enlightened by the teachings of blessed John, Thy Apostle and Evangelist, she may gain YThy everlasting rewards.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 December – Night and Day

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Quote/s of the Day – 31 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Sunday Within the Octave of Christmas – Galatians 4:1-7, Luke 2:33-40 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“She did not leave the temple,
serving with fastings and prayers,
night and day.”

Luke 2:37

“If, in holy Scripture, Christ is the true Sun and the true Day,
there is no hour when Christians
should not adore God frequently and constantly,
so that we, who are in Christ, that is,
in the true Sun and true Day,
should be persevering, throughout the whole day,
in our petitions and prayer.
And when, in the course of time,
the revolving night returns,
there can be no harm from the nocturnal shades,
for those who pray because, to the sons of Light (1 Thes 5:5),
even in the night there is day!
For when is he without light who has Light in his heart?
Or when does he not have sun and day
to whom Christ is Sun and Day?”

St Cyprian (200-258)
Martyr, Father of the Church

“Arm yourself with prayer
instead of a sword;
be clothed with humility
instead of fine raiment.”

St Dominic (1170-1221)

“If you want God to hear your prayers,
hear the voice of the poor.
If you wish God to anticipate your wants,
provide for those of the need,
without waiting for them to ask you.
Especially, anticipate the needs
of those, who are ashamed to beg.
To make them ask for alms,
is to make them buy it!”

St Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555)

“It is best to learn
to silence the faculties
and to cause them to be still,
so that God may speak!”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Doctor of the Church

“The chief exercise of prayer,
is to speak to God
and to hear God speak
in the bottom of our heart.”

(Treatise on the Love of God
Book 6 Chapter 1)

“The sacred gift of prayer
is already in the Right Hand of the Saviour;
as soon as ever you shall have emptied yourself of self,
He will pour it into your heart!”

(Letters to Persons in Religion III 19)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

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Quote/s of the Day – 29 December – St Thomas à Becket

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Quote/s of the Day – 29 December – St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170) Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury

“Who shall resist Anti-Christ when he comes,
if we show such patience towards
the vices and crimes of his precursors?
By such leniency, we encourage
kings to become tyrants and tempt them
to withdraw every privilege
and all jurisdiction from the Churches!”

“My hopes are laid up within my own bosom,
for he is not alone, with whom the Lord is;
when he falls, he shall not be dashed to pieces,
for the Lord sustains him in His Hand!”

“The more I loved the King,
he more I opposed his injustice
until his brow fell lowering upon me.
He heaped calumny after calumny on my head
and I chose to be driven out,
rather than to subscribe.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/29/quote-s-of-the-day-29-december-st-thomas-a-becket/

St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170)
Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury

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One Minute Reflection – 29 December – ‘ … Do you listen attentively to the Voice of the Good Shepherd and obey His Word?’

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One Minute Reflection – 29 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170) Martyr – Hebrews 5:1-6, John 10:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“I am the Good Shepherd, I know My Own and My Own know Me.”- John 10:14

REFLECTION – “He shows in what manner a shepherd may be proved good and, He teaches that, he must be prepared to give up his life, fighting in defence of his sheep which was fulfilled in Christ. For man has departed from the love of God and fallen into sin and, because of this was, I say, excluded from the divine abode of paradise. And when he was weakened by that disaster, he yielded to the devil tempting him to sin and death, following that sin, he became the prey of fierce and ravenous wolves.  But after Christ was announced as the True Shepherd of all men, He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16), fighting for us against that pack of inhuman beasts.  He bore the Cross for us that by His own death, He might destroy death. He was condemned for us that He might deliver all of us, from the sentence of punishment – the tyranny of sin being overthrown by our faith -fastening to the Cross, the decree that stood against us, as it is written (Colossians 2:14).

Therefore, as the father of sin had, as it were, shut up the sheep in hell, giving them to death to feed on, as it is written in the Psalms (Ps. 48:16), He died for us, as truly Good and truly our Shepherd, so that the dark shadow of death is driven away, He might join us to the company of the blessed in Heaven and, in exchange for abodes which lie far in the depths of the pit … grants us mansions in His Father’s House above. Because of this, He says to us in another place: Fear not, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you a Kingdom (Luke 12:32). Do you listen attentively to the Voice of the Good Shepherd and obey His Word? – ” – St Cyril of Alexander (376-444) Known as “The Pillar of Faith” Archbishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor of the Church. (Commentary on the Good Shepherd).

PRAYER – O God, for Whose Church Bishop Thomas, now in glory, fell by the swords of wicked men, grant, we beseech Thee, that the prayers of all who implore his assistanc, may be effective and may lead to salvation. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 December – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs – Apocalypse 14:1-5, Matthew 2:13-18 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Then Herod …
killed all the male children
who were in Bethlehem
and in all the borders …”

Matthew 2:16

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

1 John 2:6

The 15th Century English Carol commemorates the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. Known as the Coventry Carol:

Lully, Lullay, thou little tiny child.
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay thou little tiny child
Bye, bye, lully, lullay

O sisters, too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day,
This poor Youngling for whom we sing
Bye, bye lully, lullay

Herod the King, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day,
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.

Then woe is me, poor child, for thee
And ever mourn and say;
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye lully, lullay.

A Prayer to the Holy Martyrs
to Obtain Their Protection
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

O thou blessed Princes of the heavenly Kingdom!
Thou who sacrificed to the Almighty God,
the honours, the riches
received, in return, the unfading glory
and never-ending joys of Heaven!
Thou who art secure in the everlasting possession
of the brilliant Crown of glory
which thy sufferings have obtained!
Look with compassionate regard upon
our wretched state in this vale of tears,
where we groan in the uncertainty
of what maybe our eternal destiny.
And from that Divine Saviour,
for Whom, thou suffered so many torments
and Who now repays thee with such unspeakable glory,
obtain for us that we may love Him,
with all our heart and receive in return,
the grace of perfect resignation,
under the trials of this life,
fortitude, under the temptations of the enemy
and perseverance, to the end.
May thy powerful intercession
obtain for us that we may one day,
in thy blessed company,
sing the praises of the Eternal God
and even as thou now do,
face-to-face, enjoy the Beatitude of His Vision!
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/28/quote-s-of-the-day-28-december-the-holy-innocents-martyrs/

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One Minute Reflection – 28 December –They could not yet speak but already, they are confessing Christ.

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One Minute Reflection – 28 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs – Apocalypse 14:1-5, Matthew 2:13-18 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“When Herod realised that he had been deceived by the Magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity, two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the Magi.“” – Matthew 2:16

REFLECTION – “Why, Herod, do you fear when you hear a King is born? He has not come to dethrone you but to overthrow the devil. But you fail to understand, you take fright and fall into a fury. Because you lost the single child you were seeking, you become the cruel murderer of the many. Neither the weeping mothers’ love, nor the mourning of fathers weeping for their sons, nor the screams and howling of the children themselves, holds you back. You massacre these little ones in their bodies because fear is killing you, in your heart. And you think that, if you achieve your end, you will live on for a long time, whereas it is Life itself you are trying to kill! He Who is the source of grace, Who is both small and great, Who is lying in a manger, causes your throne to topple. He accomplishes His design through you, without your knowing it. He gathers together the children of your enemies and makes of them, children of adoption.

These little ones died for Christ without knowing it;  their parents weep for the death of Martyrs. Although they were unable to speak, Christ made them capable of being His Witnesses. See how this King reigns. Already He is setting free and bestowing salvation.  But as for you, Herod, you are oblivious of what is happening, you take fright and fall into a rage. And when you get annoyed with a little Child, you are already placing yourself at His service without realising it.

How great the gift of grace is! What are the merits by which these children won the victory? They could not yet speak but already, they are confessing Christ. Their little bodies are as yet unable to engage in combat but already, they are carrying off the Palm of Victory.” – St Quodvultdeus (Died c 453) Father, Bishop at Carthage from c437-c450 (Second sermon on the Creed).

PRAYER – O God, Whose praise the Innocents, Thy Martyrs, this day proclaimed, not by speaking but by dying, put to death in us all the wickedness of sin, so that the faith which our tongue professes, may be proclaimed also by our life.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).
We praise You, O God, we acclaim You as Lord, the white-robed army of Martyrs praise You. (From the Te Deum).

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 December – St Stephen – Forgive …

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 December – St Stephen the ProtoMartyr (c05-c34) The Second Day in the Christmas Octave – 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

“If your brother sins, rebuke him
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times
in one day and returns to you
seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’
you should forgive him.”

Luke 17:3-4

“No-one heals himself
by wounding another.”

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“I will send to them prophets and apostles
and some of them they will kill
and persecute. ”
Luke 11:49

“You hate your brother and will you utter the words:
“Forgive us, as we forgive?”
Are you going to say that you avoid these words?
But in that case, are you praying?
Pay close attention, my brethren.
In a moment you are going to pray –
forgive from the heart!
… We turn aside, we look for excuses,
when we claim to be impossible
that which we do not want to do …
My brethren, do not blame Christ
for having given us commandments which are too difficult,
impossible to fulfil. Rather, let us say to Him humbly,
together with the psalmist
“ Thou art just, O Lord and Thy judgement is right”
(Ps 118:137).”

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

“If a man finds it very difficult to forgive injuries,
let him look at a Crucifix
and think that Christ shed all His Blood for him
and not only forgave His enemies
but, even prayed His Heavenly Father,
to forgive them too.
Let him remember,
that when he says the Pater Noster, everyday,
instead of asking pardon for his sins,
he is calling down VENGEANCE UPON HIMSELF!”

St Philip Neri (1515-1595)

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One Minute Reflection – 25 December – And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us …

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One Minute Reflection – 25 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day! – Titus 2:11-15; Luke 2:1-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we saw His glory, the glory, as it were, of the Only-Begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.”- Luke 2:14

REFLECTION – “This is the day our Saviour was born – what a joy for us, my beloved! This is no season for sadness, this, the birthday of Life – the Life which annihilates the fear of death and engenders joy, promising, as it does, immortality! Nobody is an outsider to this happiness. The same cause for joy is common to all, for our Lord . . . came with redemption for all. Let the saint rejoice, for he hastens to his crown; let the sinner be filled with joy, for pardon is offered him; let the Gentile be emboldened, for he is called to life. When the designated time had come, which God, in His deep and impenetrable plan, had fixed upon, God’s Son took the nature of man upon Himself, in order to reconcile man to his Creator . . .

The Word, Who is God, the Son of God “Who was in the beginning with God; through Whom all things came to be and without Whom, nothing came to be” has become Man to deliver man from eternal death. He humbled Himself to assume our mortal condition, yet without diminishing His greatness. Remaining what He was and assuming what He was not, He united our condition of a slave, to His condition of equality with God the Father . . . Greatness was clothed with humility, strength with weakness, eternity with mortality – True God and True Man, in the unity of a single Lord, “the One Mediator between God and the human race” (1Tim 2,5). . .

My beloved, let us offer thanksgiving to God the Father, through His Son, in the Holy Ghost. In the great mercy with which He loved us, He had pity on us and “in giving life to Christ, gave life to us too, when we were dead through sin,” so that, in Him, we might be a new creation, a new work of His Hands (Eph 2:4-5; 2 Cor 5:17) . . . O Christian, be aware of your nobility!” – St Leo the Great (400-461) Pope , Father and Doctor of the Church (1st sermon for the Nativity of the Lord)

PRAYER – O God, Who have brightened this most holy night with the splendour of the true Light, grant, we beseech Thee that we may know in Heaven the joy of that light which we have known mystically on earth. 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", ADVENT REFLECTIONS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 December – “Now I begin”

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One Minute Reflection – 23 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Ember Saturday of Advent – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Luke 3:1-6 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The voice of one crying in the desert, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.‘” – Luke 3:4

REFLECTION – “Brethren, we prepare the way of the Lord, as we are bidden to do, by walking along it and, we can walk along it only, by preparing it. However far you journey along it, the way is always waiting to be prepared, so that you must start afresh, from the place you have reached and advance along what lies ahead. You are led to do so because, at every stage, you meet the Lord for Whose Coming you are preparing the way and, each time you see Him in a completely new manner and as a much greater figure than you have met before. The just man has the right prayer when he says: “Set your way which justifies as a law for me, Lord and I will always seek after it.” (Ps 118:33). It is, therefore, eternal life which is probably meant because, although a man can study his route, with foresight and determine just how far he can go, from the very nature of goodness, there is no limit to the way along which you travel. And so, when the wise and indefatigable traveller has reached his goal, he will begin again, forgetting, that is, what lies behind him, so that each day he can say to himself: “Now I begin!” (Phil 3:13; Ps 76:11) …

But, if only we, who speak of the course of this way, could understand, even the beginning of it. As far as I can see, a man who has begun, has already gone far, provided he begins properly and “finds the way to the inhabitable city” (Ps 106:4). “How few there are,” Truth says, “who find it” (Mt 7:14). And how many “go astray in the wilderness!” …

O Lord, Thou have laid down guide-lines for us, if only we would walk properly according to them. Thou have laid down a law for us, the way of Thy statutes, through Him Whom Thou have given as the Legislator of this holy way of life. “This is the way,” Thou says, “walk along it, swerving neither to the right, nor to the left” (Is 30:21). Clearly this is the way the Prophet had promised: “A straight way for us, so that no fool can wander from it” (Is 35:8). I was young once, I am now old (Ps 36:25) and if I remember rightly, I have not seen a foolish man go astray because of it, though I have hardly seen any wise man, able to keep straight along it.” – Blessed Guerric of Igny (c1080-1157) Cistercian Abbot (5th sermon for Advent).

PRAYER – O God, Who, by the message of an Angel, willed to take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant that we, Thy suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with Thee. Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, The DIVINE INFANT, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 22 December – Prayer and Dedication

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Thought for the Day – 22 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

A Christmas Novena VII
Prayer and Dedication

“As we kneel before the Infant Jesus, let us beseech Him to enable us to grasp the truth of these reflections.
Let us take more care of our soul than we do, as of our external talents and possessions.
May God occupy the foremost place in our minds and may He be the principal object of our thoughts, desires and affections.

Let us imitate the humble recollection and ardent love for God, of the Holy Infant.
Like Him, let us offer ourselves entirely to God.
Let us ask Him to make us like Himself, in complete acceptance of the Divine Will, especially when we are in trouble or in pain, for in this way, we shall be able to show God how sincerely we love Him.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/22/thought-for-the-day-22-december-a-christmas-novena-vii-prayer-and-dedication/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/22/thought-for-the-day-22-december-prayer-and-dedication/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 December – This is My commandment that you love one another …

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One Minute Reflection – 20 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Vigil of St Thomas, Apostle – Ember Wednesday, Third Week of Advent – Sirach 44:25-27, 45:2-4, 45:6-9; John 15:12-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“This is My commandment that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:12-13

REFLECTION – “We cannot truly love God without loving our neighbour, nor can we truly love our neighbour without loving God. This is why … the Holy Ghost was given a second time to the disciples. First He was given by the Lord while He was still dwelling on earth and later, while He was watching over us in Heaven (Jn 20:22; Acts 2). He was given to us on earth, that we may love our neighbours; from Heaven, that we may love God. Why first on earth and later from Heaven – except for the reason given us openly by John: “How can anyone, who does not love his brother, whom he sees love God Whom he does not see?”

So let us love our neighbours, my friends, let us love the one who is near us, so that we may be able to attain the love of the One, Who is above us! Let our hearts reflect on what our neighbours hold up to God, so that we may be found completely worthy, to rejoice in God with them. Then shall we reach the happiness of the heavenly multitude, the happiness of which, we have received an assurance from the Holy Spirit. Let us move forward toward that goal, where we shall be happy without end, with all our love. There is the holy community of heavenly citizens, there is the sure and solemn observance, there untroubled rest, there the true peace which is no longer dependent on us but given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 14:27).” – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Excerpt Sermons on the Gospel No 30).

PRAYER – Put forth Thy power, O Lord, we beseech Thee and delay not and with Thy great might, come to our aid, so that what is hindered by our sins, maybe hastened by Thy merciful goodness. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect)

Posted in "Follow Me", DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The DIVINE INFANT

Thought for the Day –19 December – The First Hours of the Childhood of Jesus Christ

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Thought for the Day –19 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

A Christmas Novena IV
The First Hours of the
Childhood of Jesus Christ

“When we contemplate the Mystery of Love which caused God-made-man, to weep for our sins, we may not be moved to shed actual tears.
But, we should at least, shed spiritual tears of repentance and of love and of longing for holiness and for complete dedication to Jesus Christ.
We should love Jesus for the countless numbers who do not love Him, or who blaspheme and ignore Him.
We should yearn to make reparation for so much ingratitude and neglect, by our prayers and penances.
The Infinite Love of the God Child, demands all our love in return!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/19/thought-for-the-day-19-december-2/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/19/thought-for-the-day-19-december-3/

Posted in "Follow Me", GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Thought for the Day – 18 December – The Cradle of the Divine Infant Jesus

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Thought for the Day – 18 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

A Christmas Novena III
The Cradle of the Divine Infant Jesus

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” said Jesus Christ, “for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 5:3),
Before He spoke these words, however, He had taught us the same thing in deed.

In the utter poverty of the stable in Bethlehem, He tells us that riches, honours and human grandeur cannot make us happy.
We are entitled to accept these things, if Providence bestows them upon us but, we should not become attached to them.
The human heart longs for God.
It was not made for the transient pleasures and goods of this life but only for God.
In the presence of the Crib, therefore, let us learn to surrender ourselves, heart and soul, to Jesus Christ.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/18/thought-for-the-day-18-december-a-christmas-novena-the-cradle-of-the-divine-infant-jesus/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/18/thought-for-the-day-18-december-the-cradle-of-the-divine-infant-jesus/

Posted in "Follow Me", ADVENT QUOTES, ADVENT REFLECTIONS, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on WATCHING, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The DIVINE INFANT, The HEART, The NATIVITY of JESUS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 18 December – Ready to welcome Him …

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Quote/s of the Day – 18 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conceptio of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Monday of the Third Week of Advent – Ferial Day – Philippians 4:4-7; John 1:19-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety …”

Philippians 4:5-6

“Let your door stand open
to receive Him,
unlock your soul to Him,
offer Him a welcome in your mind
and then you will see
the riches of simplicity,
the treasures of peace,
the joy of grace.
Throw wide the gate of your heart,
stand before the Sun of the Everlasting Light!”

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“He became small because you were small –
understand how great He is
and you will become great along with Him.
This is how houses are built,
how the solid walls of a building are raised.
The stones brought to construct the building increase,
you, too, increase, understanding how great Christ is
and how He, Who appeared to be small, is great,
very great indeed…”

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

“In adoring our Saviour’s birth,
it is our origin we celebrate.
Christ’s temporal generation
is the source of the Christian people,
the birth of His Mystical Body.
All of us encounter in this Mystery,
a new birth in Christ.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“If we would please this Divine Infant,
we too must become children,
simple and humble.
We must carry to Him, flowers of virtue,
of meekness, of mortification, of charity.
We must clasp Him in the arms of our love.”

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Posted in "Follow Me", ADVENT REFLECTIONS, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The DIVINE INFANT, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Thought for the Day – 17 December – Preparation for the Nativity

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Thought for the Day – 17 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

A Christmas Novena II
Preparation for the Nativity

“Our preparation, finally, should also embrace the will.
In other words, we should make good resolutions during our Christmas Novena.
We should resolve to be more fervent in prayer, to be more mortified and, to make greater efforts to practise virtue.

Everyday and, if possible, every hour, let us think of and invoke the Divine Child.
Let us ask Him to help us to model our lives on His, so that they may be full of humility, of love for God and for our fellowmen, of perfect resignation to suffering and of voluntary mortification and penance, designed to prove our love for Jesus and to expiate our sins.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/17/thought-for-the-day-17-december-a-christmas-novena-ii-preparation-for-the-nativity/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/17/thought-for-the-day-17-december-preparation-for-the-nativity/

Posted in "Follow Me", CARMELITES, CHRIST the LIGHT, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, OUR Cross, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 December – Seeking St John of the Cross

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 December – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; Matthew 16:24-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Seeking St John of the Cross

“For he who will save his life, will lose it
and he who will lose his life
for My sake, will find it. ”

Matthew 16:25

“The one who walks in the love of God
seeks neither gain nor reward
but seeks only, with the will,
to lose self and all things, for God
and this loss, the lover judges to be a gain! ”

“O you souls who wish to go on
with so much safety and consolation,
if you knew how pleasing to God, is suffering
and how much it helps,
in acquiring other good things,
you would never seek consolation in anything;
but. you would rather look upon it,
as a great happiness, to bear the Cross of the Lord.”

“The endurance of darkness
is the preparation for great light!”

“Strive to preserve your heart in peace;
let no event of this world, disturb it.”

“Happiness is not a destination,
it is a method of travel.”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Doctor of the Church