Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD the FATHER, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 10 February – The One Thing Necessary By St Alphonsus

Our Morning Offering – 10 February

The One Thing Necessary
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

O my God,
help me to remember,
that time is short, eternity long.
What good is all the greatness of this world
at the hour of death?
To love You, my God
and save my soul is the one thing necessary.
Without You, there is no peace of mind or soul.
My God, I need fear only sin
and nothing else in this life,
for to lose You, my God, is to lose all.
O my God, help me to remember,
that I came into this world with nothing
and shall take nothing from it, when I die.
To gain You, I must leave all.
But in loving You,
I already have all good things,
the infinite riches of Christ and His Church in life,
Mary’s motherly protection and perpetual help
and the eternal dwelling place
Jesus has prepared for me.
Eternal Father, Jesus has promised
that whatever we ask
in His Name will be granted us.
In His Name, I pray,
give me a burning faith,
a joyful hope,
a holy love for You.
Grant me perseverance in doing Your will
and never let me be separated from You.
My God and my All,
make me a Saint!
Amen

Posted in HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS

Our Morning Offering – 9 February – Lord, for Tomorrow and its Needs

Our Morning Offering – 9 February

Lord, for Tomorrow and its Needs
By Sister Mary Xavier (1877)

Lord, for tomorrow and its needs
I do not pray;
keep me, my God, from stain of sin,
just for today.
Let me both diligently work
and duly pray;
let me be kind in word and deed,
just for today.
Let me no wrong or idle word
unthinking say;
set thou a seal upon my lips,
just for today.
And if today my tide of life
should ebb away,
give me Thy sacraments divine,
sweet Lord, today.
So, for tomorrow and its needs
I do not pray
but keep me, guide me, love me, Lord,
just for today.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE

Our Morning Offering – 8 February – Lord, Kindle our Lamps By St Columban

Our Morning Offering – 8 February

Lord, Kindle our Lamps
By St Columban (543-615)

Lord, kindle our lamps,
Saviour most dear to us,
that we may always shine
in Your presence
and always receive Light
from You,
the Light Perpetual,
so that our own
personal darkness,
may be overcome
and the world’s darkness
driven from us.
Amen

(This is an excerpt from a much longer prayer and is taken from the wonderful Sermon XII by St Columban/us)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL

Our Morning Offering – 7 February – Jesus, My Saviour, Help Me!

Our Morning Offering – 7 February

Jesus, My Saviour, Help Me!
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

Jesus, my Saviour, help me!
I am resolved truly to love Thee
and to leave all, to please Thee.
Help me to free myself
from everything which hinders me
from belonging wholly to Thee,
Who has loved me so much.
By thy prayers, O Mother Mary,
which are so powerful with God,
obtain for me this grace,
to belong wholly to God.
Amen

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 6 February – In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit By St Hilary

Our Morning Offering – 6 February – The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
By St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Father, keep us from vain strife of words.
Grant to us constant profession of the Truth!
Preserve us in a true and undefiled faith
so that we may hold fast to that
which we professed
when we were Baptised
in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
that we may have You for our Father,
that we may abide in Your Son
and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen

Posted in GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL

Our Morning Offering – 4 February – Suscipe

Our Morning Offering – 4 February

Suscipe
By St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Take, Lord
and receive all my liberty,
my memory,
my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To You, Lord, I return it.
Everything is Yours,
do with it what You will.
Give me only Your love
and Your grace,
that is enough for me.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on WISDOM, QUOTES on ZEAL, The HEART

Our Morning Offering – 3 Febuary – Grant Us This Day, O Lord By St Thomas Aquinas

Our Morning Offering – 3 Febuary

Grant Us This Day, O Lord
By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Doctor Angelicus
Doctor Communis

Grant us this day, O Lord
a vigilant heart,
that no alien thought
can lure away from Thee,
a pure heart.
that no unworthy love can soil,
an upright heart,
that no crooked intentions
can lead astray.
And give us Lord,
understanding to know Thee,
zeal to seek Thee,
wisdom to find Thee
and a hope,
that will one day
take hold of Thee.
Amen

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 2 February – O Gloriosa Virginum

Our Morning Offering – 2 February – The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. Candlemas

O Gloriosa Virginum
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)

O Glorious Virgin, ever blest,
Sublime above the starry sky,
Who nurture from thy spotless breast
To thy Creator didst supply.

What we had lost through hapless Eve,
The Blossom sprung from these restores,
And, granting bliss to souls that grieve,
Unbars the everlasting doors.

O Gate, through which hath passed the King.
O Hall, whence Light shone through the gloom;
The ransomed nations, praise and sing
Life given from the Virgin womb.

All honour, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen

O Gloriosa Domina is the second half of the hymn: Quem Terra, Pontus, Aethera. It was composed by St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609) the Bishop of Poitiers.
In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), it was altered and changed to O Gloriósa Vírginum.
It is sung in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Roman Breviary.
It is said that St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) was always singing this hymn. His mother sang it to him as a baby,and even on his death bed after receiving Extreme Unction, he intoned the hymn.

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 1 February – Omnipotentia Patris

Our Morning Offering – 1 February – “Month of the Blessed Trinity”

Omnipotentia Patris

O Omnipotence of the Father,
help my frailty
and save me from the depths of misery.

O Wisdom of the Son,
direct all my thoughts,
my words and my deeds.

O Love of the Holy Spirit,
be the source of all the actions of my mind,
that they may always be conformed
to God’s good pleasure.
Amen

Posted in Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 31 January – May We Confess Your Name to the End

Our Morning Offering – 31 January – “Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus”

May We Confess Your Name to the End
By St Cyprian of Carthage (200-258)
Bishop and Martyr
Father of the Church

Good God,
may we confess Your Name to the end.
May we emerge unmarked
and glorious from the traps
and darkness of this world.
As You have bound us together
by charity and peace
and as together
we have persevered under persecution,
so may we also rejoice together
in Your heavenly kingdom.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 29 January – Say Not, Merciful Virgin By St Francis de Sales

Our Morning Offering – 29 January – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop, Confessor and Doctor and Mary’s Day and Mary’s Day

Say Not, Merciful Virgin
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622
Doctor Caritatis

Say not, Merciful Virgin,
that you cannot help me,
for your Beloved Son
holds all power in Heaven
and on earth.
Say not, that you ought not
to assist me,
for you are the Mother
of all poor children of Adam
and my Mother in particular.
Since, then, Merciful Virgin,
you are my Mother
and you are all-powerful,
what excuse can you offer
if you do not lend your assistance?
See, my Mother, see,
you are obliged to grant me what I ask
and to yield to my entreaties.
Amen.

Posted in CARMELITES, CHRIST the LIGHT, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 28 January – Before Jesus Crucified (Sweet Jesus, Please Abide with Me!)

Our Morning Offering – 28 January – Memorial of St Peter Nolasco (c 1182–c 1256) Confessor

Before Jesus Crucified
(Sweet Jesus, Please Abide with Me!)
By Blessed Titus Brandsma (1881-1942)
Martyr

Dear Lord, when looking up at Thee,
I see Thy loving eyes on me,
Love overflows my humble heart,
Knowing what a faithful friend Thou are.
A cup of sorrow I foresee,
Which I accept for love of Thee,
Thy painful way I wish to go,
The only way to God I know.
My soul is full of peace and light,
Although in pain, this light shines bright.
For here, Thou keepest to Thy breast.
My longing heart to find there rest.
Leave me here freely all alone,
In cell where never sunlight shone.
Should no-one ever speak to me,
This golden silence makes me free!
For though alone, I have no fear,
Never were Thou, O Lord, so near.
Sweet Jesus, please, abide with me!
My deepest peace I find in Thee.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 27 January – Hail, O Mother!

Our Morning Offering – 27 January – The Memorial of St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor of the Church, Bishop, Confessor.

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

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

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, St PAUL!

Our Morning Offering – 25 January – Great Convert Teacher of the Faith

Our Morning Offering – 25 January – Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

Great Convert Teacher of the Faith
Doctor Egregie Paule
Attri. to Elpis (Died c 493)
Trans. The Benedictines
of Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, UK

Great Convert Teacher of the Faith
Who never ceased from preaching Christ,
Saint Paul impart to us your zeal,
That we may reach the joys unseen.

All glory to the Trinity,
For ever honour, sov’reignty;
To God Almighty be all praise,
Beginning and the End of all.
Amen.

Elpis, first wife of the celebrated Philosopher Boethius, was the daughter of Festus, Consul at Rome, 472 and aunt of St Placidus, a disciple of St.Benedict.
The above hymn, as well as, “Aurea luce et decore roseo” are attributed to her. Others also bear her name. She died at an early age, at Padua.

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Our Morning Offering – 24 January – O Fathers of Our Ancient Faith

Our Morning Offering – 24 January – Feast of Saint Timothy, Bishop and Martyr

O Fathers of Our Ancient Faith

O Fathers of our ancient faith,
With all the heav’n, we sing your fame
Whose sound went forth in all the earth
To tell of Christ and bless His Name.

You took the Gospel to the poor,
The Word of God alight in you,
Which in our day is told again,
That timeless Word, forever new.

You told of God, Who died for us
And out of death triumphant rose,
Who gave the Truth which made us free
and changeless through the ages goes.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Whose gift is faith that never dies,
A light in darkness now, until
The Day-Star in our hearts arise.

O Fathers of Our Ancient Faith is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. In the Divine Office it is sung at Morning Prayer in the Common of Apostles. It is set to the anonymous tune associated with the 7th century Latin hymn, Creator Alme Siderum.

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HEART, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The LAST THINGS, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 23 January – Stay With Me, O Lord

Our Morning Offering – 23 January – The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Stay With Me, O Lord
By Padre Pio (1887-1968)

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my Life
and without You, I am without fervour.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my Light
and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord,
so that I hear Your Voice and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord,
for I desire to love You very much
and always be in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord,
if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is,
I want it to be a place of consolation for You,
a nest of Love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late
and the day is coming to a close
and life passes, death, judgement
and eternity approach.
It is necessary to renew my strength,
so that I will not stop
along the way and for that, I need You.
It is getting late and death approaches,
I fear the darkness, the temptations,
the dryness, the cross, the sorrows.
O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus,
in life with all its dangers, I need You.
Let me recognise You as Your disciples did,
at the breaking of the bread,
so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light
which disperses the darkness,
the force which sustains me,
the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death,
I want to remain united to You,
if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for,
Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will,
Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You
and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.
With a firm love, I will love You
with all my heart while on earth
and continue to love You perfectly, during all eternity.
Amen.

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 22 January – Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christian By St John Bosco

Our Morning Offering – 22 January – Mary’s Saturday

Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Help of Christian
By St John Bosco (1815-1888)

Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Help of Christians,
how sweet it is to come to thy feet
imploring thy perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not
to remember their children,
how can thou,
the most loving of all mothers, forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore thee
thy perpetual help in all my necessities,
in every sorrow and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for thy unceasing help
for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak,
cure the sick,
convert sinners.
Grant through thy intercession,
many vocations to the religious life.
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked thee on earth
we may love and eternally thank thee in Heaven.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, Quotes on SALVATION, The HOLY NAME, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR

Our Morning Offering – 21 January – Complete Us, O Lord Jesus Christ

Our Morning Offering – 21 January – “Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus”

Complete Us, O Lord Jesus Christ
By St Anselm (1033-1109)
Magnificent and Marian
Doctor of the Church

O Lord Jesus Christ,
our Redemption and our Salvation,
we praise You and give You thanks.
Although we are unworthy of Your benefits
and cannot offer to You, the devotion You deserve,
let Your loving-kindness complete
whatever our weakness tries to do.
Before You, O Lord,
we lay all our desires
and whatever our heart rightly wishes,
it is because of Your gifts.
Help us to love You as You command.
Do not let Your gifts be unfruitful in us.
Complete what You have begun,
give what You have made us desire,
convert our lukewarmness
into fervent love of You,
for the glory of Your Holy Name.
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the LIGHT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, INDULGENCES, Our MORNING Offering, PARTIAL Indulgence, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL

Our Morning Offering – 20 January – Lord Jesus, May I ….Indulgenced Prayer of Petitions, By St Augustine

Our Morning Offering – 20 January

Lord Jesus, May I ….
Indulgenced Prayer of Petitions
By St Augustine (354-430)

Father and Doctor of Grace

LORD JESUS,
may I know myself
and know Thee
and desire nothing save only Thee.
May I hate myself and love Thee.
May I do everything for the sake of Thee.
May I humble myself and exalt Thee.
May I think of nothing except Thee.
May I die to myself and live in Thee.
May I receive whatever happens, as from Thee.
May I banish self and follow Thee
and ever desire to follow Thee.
May I fly from myself and fly to Thee.
That I may deserve to be defended by Thee.
May I fear for myself and fear Thee
and be among those who are chosen by Thee.
May i distrust myself and trust in Thee,
May I be willing to obey on account of Thee.
May I cling to nothing but to Thee.
May I be poor for the sake of Thee.
Look upon me, that I may love Thee.
Call me, that I may see Thee
and ever and ever, enjoy Thee.
Amen.

50 Days Indulgence once a day
Pope Leo XIII
25 September 1881

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, St PETER!

Our Morning Offering – 18 January – O Peter, Who was Named by Christ!

Our Morning Offering – 18 January – Feast of the Chair of the Apostle, St Peter at Rome

O Peter, Who was Named by Christ!
By Stanbrook Abbey
For the Feast of the Chair of St Peter

O Peter who was named by Christ!
The guardian-shepherd of His flock,
Protect the Church He built on thee
To stand unyielding, firm on rock.

Thy weakness, Christ exchanged for strength,
Thou faltered but He made thee true.
He knew the greatness of thy love
And gave the keys of heav’n to thee.

Unseen, eternal Trinity,
We give Thee glory, praise Thy Name,
Thy love keeps faith, with faithless men,
Through change and stress, Thou art the same.
Amen

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 17 January – St Patrick’s Breastplate

Our Morning Offering – 17 January –

Excerpt from St Patrick’s Breastplate
(also known as The Deer Cry)

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
the Word of God to give me speech,
His Heavenly Host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
the vice that gives temptation force,
the natural lusts that war within,
the hostile men that mar my course;
of few or many, far or nigh,
in every place and in all hours
against their fierce hostility, …….
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three,
of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation:
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 16 January – Give me Yourself, O My God By St Augustine

Our Morning Offering – 16 January– Second Sunday after Epiphany

Give me Thyself, O My God
By St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

Give me Thyself, O my God,
give Thyself to me.
Behold I love Thee
and if my love is too weak a thing,
grant me to love Thee more strongly.
I cannot measure my love, to know
how much it falls short of being sufficient
but let my soul hasten to Thine embrace
and never be turned away,
until it is hidden in the secret shelter
of Thine presence.
This only do I know,
that it is not good for me
when Thou art not with me,
when Thou art only outside me.
I want Thee in my very self.
All the plenty in the world
which is not my God,
is utter want!
Amen

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

Our Morning Offering – 15 January – Mary, Mother of Grace By St Athanasius

Our Morning Offering – 15 January – Mary’s Saturday

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

It becomes you to be mindful of us,
as you stand near Him
Who granted you all graces,
for you are the Mother of God
and our Queen.
Help us for the sake of the King,
the Lord God and Master
who was born of you.
For this reason,
you are called, full of grace.
Remember us, most Holy Virgin,
and bestow on us gifts
from the riches of your graces,
O Virgin full of graces.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION

Our Morning Offering – 14 January – I Owe You a Most Particular Duty By St Hilary

Our Morning Offering – 14 January – The Memorial of St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368) Father & Doctor of the Church

I Owe You a Most Particular Duty
By St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368)

I am well aware, Almighty God and Father,
that in my life, I owe You a most particular duty.
It is to make my every thought and word,
speak of You.
In fact, You have conferred on me,
this gift of speech
and it can yield no greater return
than to be at Your service.
It is for making You known as Father,
the Father of the only-begotten God
and preaching this, to the world,
that knows You not
and to the heretics,
who refuse to believe in You.
… Grant that I may express what I believe.
Amen

Excerpt from a Sermon On the Trinity (Lib 1, 37-38: PL 10, 48-49) by Saint Hilary of Poitiers. It is used in the Roman Office of Readings for the Feast of St Hilary, today.

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, INGRATITUDE, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 12 January – Behold Me, O Sweet Lord, Behold Me!

Our Morning Offering – 12 January – Seventh day in the Octave of Epiphany, “Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus” and the Memorial of St Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167) “St Bernard of the North”

Behold Me, O Sweet Lord, Behold Me!
By St Aelred of Rievaulx O.Cist. (1110-1167)

Behold me, O Sweet Lord, behold me!
For I hope. that in Your Loving Kindness,
O Most Merciful One,
You will behold me,
either as a loving Physician to heal,
a kind Teacher to correct,
or an indulgent Father to pardon…
confident in Your Sweet Powerful Mercy
and most Merciful Power,
I ask, in virtue of Your Sweet Name
and of the Mystery of Your Sacred Humanity
that, mindful of Your Kindness
and unmindful of my ingratitude,
You forgive me my sins
and heal the languors of my soul.
Amen

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The DIVINE INFANT

Our Morning Offering – 11 January – O Adorable Infant

Our Morning Offering – 11 January – Sixth Day within the Octave of Epiphany

O Adorable Infant
By St Alphonsus de Liguori

O Adorable Infant
I should not dare to present myself before Thee,
did I not know
that Thou, Thyself invitest me
to approach Thee.
It is I, by my sins,
who made Thee shed so many tears
in the stable of Bethlehem
but since Thou art come upon earth.
to pardon penitent sinners,
vouchsafe to pardon me.
I sincerely repent
of having despised Thee,
my Lord and my God,
Who art so good
and hast loved me so much.
Thy grace that I ask,
is that I may love Thee henceforth,
with all my heart.
Inflame my soul entirely
with Thy Holy Love.
I love Thee, O my God,
Who hast become an Infant for me.
Grant that I may never
cease to love Thee
O Mary, my Mother!
thou art all-powerful
by yhy prayers;
I ask but one favour of Thee,
namely, that Thou wilt pray to Jesus for me.
Amen.

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The DIVINE INFANT, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The EPIPHANY Prayers

Our Morning Offering – 10 January – O Child, So Worthy of Our Love, I Offer You My Heart

Our Morning Offering – 10 January – The Fifth Day within the Octave of Epiphany

O Child, So Worthy of Our Love,
I Offer Thee My Heart

(O Grant Me that Gold, Incense and Myrrh
Which I Lack
)
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

O Child so worthy of our love,
I see You lying on the straw in this cave,
so poor and despised.
Yet faith teaches me, that You are my God
come down from heaven for my salvation.
I acknowledge You as my Sovereign Lord and Saviour,
as such I proclaim You,
yet, I have nothing at all to offer You.
I am without Love’s Gold,
since I have given my love to the things of this world –
I have only loved my own whim, rather than loving You,
so infinitely worthy of love.
I am without Prayer’s Incense,
since I have lived wretchedly without thinking of You.
I have no Myrrh of Mortification since,
so as not to forsake some paltry pleasures,
I have so often saddened Your infinite goodness.
So what am I to offer You?
O my Jesus, I offer You my heart, soiled and naked as it is.
Take it and change it, for You have come down to us
to wash our guilty hearts with Your Blood
and so transform us from sinners into saints.
O grant me that Gold, Incense and Myrrh which I lack.
Grant me the Gold of Your Holy Love;
grant me the Incense which is the spirit of prayer;
grant me Myrrh,
the willingness and strength to deny myself
in all that displeases You…
O holy Virgin, you welcomed those devout Magi Kings
with keen affection and satisfied them.
Deign to welcome and comfort me also,
I, who come, following their example,
to visit and offer myself to your Son
Amen.

Posted in Holy Family PRAYERS, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, POETRY, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The HOLY FAMILY, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE

Our Morning Offering – 9 January – O House of Nazareth The Blest

Our Morning Offering – 9 January – Sunday within the Octave of Epiphany and the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

O Gente Felix
O House of Nazareth The Blest
By Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)

O house of Nazareth the blest,
Fair hostess of the Lord,
The Church was nurtured at thy breast
And shared thy scanty hoard.

In all the spreading lands of earth.
The wandering sun may see
No dearer spot, no ampler worth
Than erst was found in thee!

We know thy humble tenement
Was heaven’s hermitage:
Celestial heralds came and went
In endless embassage.

There, whatsoever Joseph asks
Christ hastens to fulfil;
While Mary loves the household tasks
That wait her joyous will.

There, Joseph toileth at her side
Her joys and griefs to share,
With thousand ties knit to his bride,
Of love and work and prayer.

Yet how their bosoms constant burn
And deeper ardours prove
In love of Christ, whose eyes return
Tokens of mutual love.

O then, in all the homes of earth,
Be Love the bond of life:
May it enthrone at every hearth
The peace that husheth strife.

All praise to thee, O Jesus,
Who parents dost obey;
Praise to the sovereign Father
And Paraclete for aye.
Amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quotes on SALVATION

Our Morning Offering – 8 January – Mother of Salvation,Blessed Lady

Our Morning Offering – 8 January – Octave of Epiphany and Mary’s Day

Mother of Salvation,
Blessed Lady
By Anselm (1033-1109)

Magnificent Doctor
Marian Doctor

Mother of Salvation,
Blessed Lady,
you are the Mother of Justification
and those who are justified;
the Mother of Reconciliation
and those who are reconciled;
the Mother of Salvation
and those who are saved.
What a blessed trust
and what a secure refuge!
The Mother of God is our Mother.
The Mother of the One
in Whom alone, we hope
and Whom alone, we fear,
is our Mother! …
The One Who partook of our nature
and by restoring us to life,
made us children of His Mother,
invites us by this grace, to proclaim
that we are His brothers and sisters.
Therefore, our Judge, is also our Brother.
The Saviour of the world, is our Brother.
Our God has become –
through Mary – our Brother!
Anen

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, The HEART

Our Morning Offering – 7 January – May the Lord Jesus Touch Our Eyes

Our Morning Offering – 7 January – The Second Day within the Octave of Epiphany

May the Lord Jesus Touch Our Eyes
By Origen (c 185-253)
Father of the Church

May the Lord Jesus touch our eyes,
as He did those of the blind.
Then we shall begin to see in visible things
those which are invisible.
May He open our eyes to gaze,
not on present realities
but on the blessings to come.
May He open the eyes of our heart,
to contemplate God in Spirit,
through Jesus Christ the Lord,
to whom belong,
power and glory,
through all eternity.
Amen.