Our Morning Offering – 18 January – Friday of the First week in Ordinary Time
Go on, O Lord and Act
By St Augustine
Go on, O Lord and act,
stir us up and call us back,
inflame us and draw us to Thee,
stir us up and grow sweet to us,
let us now love Thee,
let us run to Thee.
Are there not many men …
who, out of a deeper pit of darkness..
return to Thee–who draw near to Thee
and are illuminated by that light
which gives those
who receive it power from Thee
to become Thy sons?
One Minute Reflection – 17 January – Thursday of the First week in Ordinary Time – Gospel Mark 1:40–45 and the Memorial of St Anthony Abbot (251-356)
And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”…Mark 1:40
REFLECTION – “It is possible to see leprosy as a symbol of sin, which is the true impurity of heart that can distance us from God. It is not in fact the physical disease of leprosy that separates us from God, as the ancient norms supposed but sin, spiritual and moral evil. The sins that we commit distance us from God and, if we do not humbly confess them, trusting in divine mercy, they will finally bring about the death of the soul. This miracle thus has a strong symbolic value. Jesus, as Isaiah had prophesied, is the Servant of the Lord who “has borne our griefs / and carried our sorrows” (Is 53: 4). In His Passion He will become as a leper, made impure by our sins, separated from God, He will do all this out of love, to obtain for us reconciliation, forgiveness and salvation. In the Sacrament of Penance, the Crucified and Risen Christ purifies us through His ministers with His infinite mercy, restores us to communion with the heavenly Father and with our brothers and makes us a gift of His love, His joy and His peace.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us invoke the Virgin Mary whom God preserved from every stain of sin so that she may help us to avoid sin and to have frequent recourse to the Sacrament of Confession, the sacrament of forgiveness, whose value and importance for our Christian life must be rediscovered today.”…Pope Benedict XVI – Angelus 15 February 2009 
PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, we make our prayer to You at morning, noon and evening. Dispel from our hearts, the darkness of sin and bring us to the true light, Christ Your Son. Grant that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Anthony Abbot, we may deny ourselves and love You above all things. Through Jesus, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 17 January – Thursday of the First week in Ordinary Time – Gospel Mark 1:40–45
And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”...Mark 1:40
I Return to You
(Act of Supplication and Contrition to the Holy Trinity)
Father of mercy,
like the prodigal son,
I return to You and say:
“I have sinned against You
and am no longer worthy
to be called Your Son.”
Christ Jesus,
Saviour of the World,
I pray with the repentant thief
to whom You promised paradise –
“Lord, remember me in Your Kingdom.”
Holy Spirit, fountain of love,
I call on You with trust,
“Purify my heart
and help me to walk
as a child of light.”
Amen
One Minute Reflection – 16 January – Wednesday of the First week in Ordinary Time – Gospel: Mark 1:29–39
And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up and the fever left her and she served them...Mark 1:31
REFLECTION – ““And he helped her up.” As she couldn’t stand up by herself, it was the Lord who helped her. “He grasped her hand and helped her up.” When Peter was in danger on the sea, just as he was going to drown, he too was grasped by the hand and raised up… What a beautiful sign of friendship and love towards this sick woman! He helped her up by taking her hand, His hand healed the sick woman’s hand. He grasped that hand as a doctor would have done, He who was both doctor and remedy took her pulse and assessed the gravity of the fever. Jesus touched it and the fever vanished.
Let us want Him to touch our hand so that in this way what we do may be made pure. Should He enter our house, let us get off our bed at last and not remain lying down. Jesus stands at our bedside and will we remain lying down? Come on! To your feet!… “There is one among you whom you do not recognise” (Jn 1:26); “the kingdom of God is among you” (Lk 17:21). Let us have faith and we shall see Jesus among us.”...St Jerome (347-420) Father & Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – God our Saviour, through the grace of Baptism, You made us children of light. You lead us by the hand and guide and protect us by Your commandments. Fill us with joy at Your nearness and the light of Your Son, by whose beam we see You and follow. Blessed Giuseppe Tovini and St Joseph Vaz, were shining examples to us all, grant, we pray, that their prayers may aid us. Through Jesus our Lord and Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 16 January – Wednesday of the First week in Ordinary Time
Make Us Worthy Lord
By St Pope Paul VI (1897-1978)
Make us worthy Lord,
to serve our brothers
and sisters throughout the world
who live
and die
in poverty and hunger.
Give them,
by our hands this day
their daily bread,
and by our understanding love,
peace and joy.
Amen
One Minute Reflection – 15 January – Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time – Today’s Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 and The Feast of Our Lady of Banneux & Memorial of Bl Nikolaus Gross (1898-1945) Martyr
And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” …Mark 1:27
REFLECTION – “The power of Jesus confirms the authority of His teaching. He does not just speak with words but He takes action. In this way, He manifests God’s plan with words and with the power of His deeds. A teacher and a friend, who shows us the path and takes care of us, especially when we are in need.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 28 January 2018
PRAYER – King of heaven and earth, Lord God, rule over our hearts and bodies this day. Sanctify us and guide our every thought, word and deed, according to the commandments of Your law, so that now and forever, Your grace may free and save us. Sanctify our hearts, minds and actions with Your power, that all we are may speak of Your Light. May the prayers of our Mother of Banneux and Blessed Nikolaus Gross, who so diligently followed You in the darkness around him, bring us to peace and confidence. We make our prayer through Your Son, our Lord Jesus, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 15 January – Tuesday of the First week in Ordinary Time
Virgin Full of Goodness
Mother of Mercy
By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Virgin full of goodness,
Mother of mercy,
I entrust to you my body and my soul,
my thoughts and my actions,
my life and my death.
My Queen,
come to my aid
and deliver me from the snares of the devil.
Obtain for me the grace of loving
my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
with a true and perfect love,
and after him,
O Mary,
of loving you with all my heart
and above all things.
Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 14 January – Monday of the First week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Mark 1:14–20
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me
and I will make you become fishers of men.”
And immediately they left their nets
and followed him…Mark 1:17-18
“Do not follow any road
but that which Christ trod.
This road seems hard
but it is safe.”
“The Christian should be
an alleluia from head to foot.”
“If, then, you seek to know what path to follow,
take Christ because He is the way.”
“Go forth and set the world on fire.”
“Many, many people hereabouts
are not becoming Christians,
for one reason only,
there is nobody to make them Christians.”
“Hear Him. Hear your own name.”
Make both my joy
and your own joy
complete (1Jn 1:4)
“If you follow Jesus,
you’re going to get into some trouble.”
“If not you, then who?
If not now, then when?
“Thy Kingdom come”
means
“My Kingdom go.”
(Lifeteen Int)
One Minute Reflection – 14 January – Monday of the First week in Ordinary Time, Year C – Gospel: Mark 1:14–20 and the Memorial of St Felix of Nola (Died c 253) & Blessed Petrus Donders C.Ss.R. (1807-1887)
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him…Mark 1:17-18
REFLECTION – “We, today’s Christians, have the joy of proclaiming and witnessing to our faith because there was that first announcement, because there were those humble and courageous men who responded generously to Jesus’ call. On the shores of the lake, in an inconceivable land, the first community of disciples of Christ was born. May the knowledge of these beginnings give rise in us to the desire to bear Jesus’ word, love and tenderness in every context, even the most difficult and resistant. To carry the Word to all the peripheries! All the spaces of human living, are soil on which to cast the seeds of the Gospel, so they may bear the fruit of salvation.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 22 January 2017
PRAYER – Holy Lord God, grant that we may live constantly in Your presence. Grant that we may possess a spirit of joy and gladness because of the firm knowledge that You are always with us and in You and through You and with You, the extraordinary is commonplace! And turn around Lord and call us, for we are behind You. Be with us Lord, always, we pray! Hear the prayers on our behalf, of St Felix of Nola and Blessed Petrus Donders, whom we ask for intercession. Through the Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, God forever for all eternity, amen
Our Morning Offering – 14 January – Month of the Holy Name of Jesus
The Golden Arrow
May the most holy,
most sacred,
most adorable,
most mysterious
and unutterable Name of God
be always praised,
blessed,
loved,
adored
and glorified in heaven.
on earth and under the earth,
by all the creatures of God
and by the Sacred Heart
of our Lord Jesus Christ
in the most Holy Sacrament
of the altar.
Amen
This prayer was revealed by Jesus Himself to Sr Marie of St Peter, a Carmelite Nun of Tours in 1843 as a reparation for blasphemy. “This Golden Arrow will wound My Heart delightfully,” He said “and heal the wounds inflicted by blasphemy.”
When it comes to our salvation. the Golden Arrow is no magic bullet. Still it can bring us closer to Christ by helping to make amends for the many insults He suffers on a daily basis. Today, as in Sister Mary’s time, we often read and hear harsh, offensive language about our Lord.
Have you ever noticed how many such abusive comments come especially from those considered most sophisticated in our society? We’ve also seen television shows and movies that attempt to strip away Christ’s Divinity and His Dignity, much as those who jeered at Him during His Passion.
There are also more than a few “smart” people these days who would rather think of our Lord just as some philosopher and leave it at that. This prayer can help us all, provide our Lord with comfort, for these various slings and arrows, He suffers each day!
One minute Reflection – 13 January – The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Gospel: Luke 3:15-22 and Memorial of St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368) Father & Doctor of the Church
“…when Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, the heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son with thee I am well pleased.”…Luke 3:21-22
REFLECTION – “Jesus rises from the waters; the world rises with Him. The heavens like Paradise with its flaming sword, closed by Adam for himself and his descendants, are rent open. The Spirit comes to Him as to an equal, bearing witness to His Godhead. A voice bears witness to Him from heaven, His place of origin. The Spirit descends in bodily form like the dove that so long ago announced the ending of the flood and so gives honour to the body that is one with God.
Today, let us do honour to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom His every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of Him who is the light of heaven. You are to enjoy, more and more, the pure and dazzling light of the Trinity, as now you have received—though not in its fullness—a ray of its splendour, proceeding from the one God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. “…St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390 – Father & Doctor of the Church (An excerpt from Oration 39: On Holy Light)
PRAYER – 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…St Hilary of Poitiers
Sunday Reflection – 13 January – Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Above all, let us pray Him to draw us to Him and to give us faith.
Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
(Parochial & Plain Sermons, Vol. VI, no. 11)
“Above all, let us pray Him to draw us to Him and to give us faith. When we feel that His mysteries are too severe for us and occasion us to doubt, let us earnestly wait on Him for the gift of humility and love. Those who love and who are humble will apprehend them, carnal minds do not seek the and proud minds are offended at them but while love desires them, humility sustains them.
Let us pray Him to give us an earnest longing after Him – a thirst for His presence – an anxiety to find Him – a joy on hearing that He is to be found, even now, under the veil of sensible things – and a good hope that we shall find Him there.
Blessed indeed are they who have not seen and yet have believed. They have their reward in believing, they enjoy the contemplation of a mysterious blessing, which does not even enter into the thoughts of other men and while they are more blessed than others, in the gift vouchsafed to them, they have the additional privilege of knowing that they are vouchsafed it.”
Our Morning Offering – 13 January – Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
O Most Sacred, Most Loving Heart of Jesus
By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
O Most Sacred, most loving Heart of Jesus,
You are concealed in the Holy Eucharist
and You beat for us still.
Now, as then You say,
“With desire I have desired.”
I worship You the,
with all my best love and awe,
with my fervent affection,
with my most subdued, most resolved will.
You, for a while, take up Your abode within me!
O make my heart beat with Your Heart.
Purify it of all that is earthly,
all that is proud and sensual,
all that is hard and cruel,
of all perversity,
of all disorder,
of all deadness.
So fill it with Thee,
that neither the events of the day
nor the circumstances of the time,
may have power to ruffle it
but that, in Your love
and Your fear,
it may have peace.
Amen.
Quote of the Day – 12 January – 6th day after Epiphany – Today’s Gospel: John 3:22–30
“He must increase
but I must decrease.”
One Minute Reflection – 12 January – 6th day after Epiphany – Today’s Gospel: John 3:22–30
“This joy of mine has been made complete.
He must increase, but I must decrease.”…John 3:29-30
REFLECTION – “Listen, children of light: you who have been adopted for the Kingdom of God; listen, my dearest brethren; listen and exult for joy in the Lord, you just, for “praise from the upright is fitting” (Ps 33:1). Listen to what you already know; reflect on what you have heard ; love what you believe; proclaim what you love!…
Christ is born, God from His Father, man through His mother. He was born from His Father’s immortality and His mother’s virginity. From the Father without the aid of a mother; from the mother without that of a father. From His Father without time; from His mother without seed. According to His Father he is the principle of life; according to His mother, the ending of death. According to His Father, He was born to determine the order of days; according to His mother, to consecrate the day that is here.
He sent John the Baptist before Him, causing him to be born when the days were beginning to decrease, while He Himself was born when the days began to grow in length, thus prefiguring John’s own words: “He must increase, I must decrease”. For indeed, human life must grow weaker in itself but stronger in Jesus Christ “so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2Cor 5:15) and so that each one of us might repeat those words of the apostle Paul: “Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20).”…St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor
PRAYER – Almighty ever-living God, through Christ Your Son, You made of us a new creation. Shape us then, in His likeness, since in Him, our human nature now lives with You. Grant that by the prayers of our blessed Virgin Mary and of Your holy men and women, we may be granted assistance in our struggle here below. Through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for all eternity, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 12 January – 6th day after Epiphany and The Memorial of St Aelred of Rievaulx OCSO (1110-1167)
Behold me, O Sweet Lord, Behold me!
By St Aelred of Rievaulx
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
Quote/s of the Day – 11 January – 5th day after Epiphany
“Let us strive to make
the present moment beautiful!”
“Let us especially regret,
the smallest amount of time,
that we waste, or fail to use,
in loving God.”
One Minute Reflection – 11 January – 5th day after Epiphany – Today’s Gospel: Luke 5:12–16
But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed…Luke 5:16
REFLECTION – “Not by words alone but also by deeds, has God taught us to pray. He Himself prayed frequently and demonstrated what we ought to do, by the testimony of His own example. As it is written: “But he himself was in retirement in the desert and in prayer,” and again, “He went out into the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God.” But if He who was without sin prayed, how much more ought sinners to pray and if He prayed continually, watching through the whole night with uninterrupted petitions, how much more ought we to lie awake at night in continuing prayer!”…St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258) Bishop and Martyr, Father of the Church (The Lord’s Prayer #29)
PRAYER – Almighty God and Father, by the guidance of a star, You revealed the birth of the Saviour of the world and by His teachings, the way of our path to You is shown to us. Open our minds and our hearts to these revelations and let them bear fruit in our lives. Listen we pray, to the prayers of St Tommaso da Cori on our behalf, who so diligently followed Your revelationS. Through Jesus, our Lord and Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 11 January – 5th day after Epiphany
Grant Me Rest in You, above All
By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
Grant me, O most sweet and loving Jesus,
to rest in You, above every creature,
above all health and beauty,
above all glory and honour,
above all power and dignity,
above all joy and exultation,
above all fame and praise,
above all sweetness and consolation,
above all hope and promise,
above all desert and desire,
above all gifts and presents,
which You are able to bestow or infuse,
above all joy and gladness,
which the mind is capable of receiving and feeling;
finally, above angels and archangels,
and above all the host of heaven,
above all things, visible and invisible,
and above all,
that falls short of Yourself,
O You my God.
Amen
One Minute Reflection – 10 January – 4th day after Epiphany: Gospel Luke 4:14–22 and The Memorial of St Léonie Françoise De Sales Aviat (1844-1914)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed...” Luke 4:18
REFLECTION – “Evangelising the poor – this is Jesus’ mission. According to what He says, this is also the mission of the Church and of every person baptised in the Church. Being a Christian is the same thing as being a missionary. Proclaiming the Gospel with one’s word and even before, with one’s life, is the primary aim of the Christian community and of each of its members. It is noted here that Jesus addresses the Good News to all, excluding no one, indeed favouring those who are distant, suffering sick, cast out by society.”...Pope Francis – Angelus, 24 January 2016
PRAYER – Through Your Son, Lord God, You shed Your eternal light on all mankind. You gave us our mission, You taught us our way. Grant us the grace to acknowledge the full splendour of our Redeemer, so that, in His steps, we may grow from strength to strength in evangelising all. Fill us with Your Spirit to enlighten and guide us. May the intercession of St Léonie Françoise De Sales Aviat, who followed our Saviour and imitated Him, help us in our mission. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 10 January – 4th day after Epiphany and The Memorial of St Léonie Françoise De Sales Aviat (1844-1914) the co-founder of the Oblate Sisters of St Francis de Sales
You will not Refuse me Alms (The Little Beggar of Jesus’ Heart)
By St Léonie Françoise De Sales Aviat (1844-1914)
O my God,
alms are given to the poor,
see my misery and have pity on me.
I cannot be the most innocent,
the most faithful,
the most loving soul of Your divine Heart, O Jesus.
Well, then,
I will be the little beggar of Jesus’ Heart.
You will not refuse me alms.
Amen
Lord I am Yours
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
Lord, I am Yours,
and I must belong to no one but You.
My soul is Yours,
and must live only by You.
My will is Yours,
and must love only for You.
I must love You as my first cause,
since I am from You.
I must love You as my end and rest,
since I am for You.
I must love You more than my own being,
since my being subsists by You.
I must love You more than myself,
since I am all Yours and all in You.
Amen
Thought for the Day – 9 January – 3rd Day after Epiphany
“In order to find Jesus, we also need to take a different route, to follow a different path, His path, the path of humble love. And we have to persevere. Today’s Gospel ends by saying that the Magi, after encountering Jesus, “left for their own country by another road” (Mt 2:12). Another road, different from that of Herod. An alternative route than that of the world, like the road taken by those who surround Jesus at Christmas – Mary and Joseph, the shepherds. Like the Magi, they left home and became pilgrims on the paths of God. For only those, who leave behind their worldly attachments and undertake a journey, find the mystery of God.
This holds true for us too. It is not enough to know where Jesus was born, as the scribes did if we do not go there. It is not enough to know that Jesus was born, like Herod, if we do not encounter Him. When His place becomes our place, when His time becomes our time, when His person becomes our life, then the prophecies come to fulfilment in us. Then Jesus is born within us. He becomes the living God for me. Today we are asked to imitate the Magi. They do not debate – they set out. They do not stop to look but enter the house of Jesus. They do not put themselves at the centre but bow down before the One who is the centre. They do not remain glued to their plans but are prepared to take other routes. Their actions reveal a close contact with the Lord, a radical openness to Him, a total engagement with Him. With Him, they use the language of love, the same language that Jesus, though an infant, already speaks. Indeed, the Magi go to the Lord not to receive but to give. Let us ask ourselves this question – at Christmas did we bring gifts to Jesus for His party, or did we only exchange gifts among ourselves?
If we went to the Lord empty-handed, today we can remedy that. The Gospel, in some sense, gives us a little “gift list”: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold, the most precious of metals, reminds us God has to be granted first place – He has to be worshipped. But to do that, we need to remove ourselves from the first place and to recognise our neediness, the fact that we are not self-sufficient. Then there is frankincense, which symbolises a relationship with the Lord, prayer, which like incense rises up to God (cf. Ps 141:2). Just as incense must burn in order to yield its fragrance, so too, in prayer, we need to “burn” a little of our time, to spend it with the Lord. Not just in words but also by our actions. We see this in the myrrh, the ointment that would be lovingly used to wrap the body of Jesus taken down from the cross (cf. Jn 19:39). The Lord is pleased when we care for bodies racked by suffering, the flesh of the vulnerable, of those left behind, of those who can only receive without being able to give anything material in return. Precious in the eyes of God is mercy shown to those who have nothing to give back. Gratuitousness!
In this Christmas season now drawing to its close, let us not miss the opportunity to offer a precious gift to our King, who came to us not in worldly pomp but in the luminous poverty of Bethlehem. If we can do this, His light will shine upon us.”
One Minute Reflection – 9 January – 3rd Day after Epiphany – Gospel: Mark 6:45-52
But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. ...Mark 6:50-51
REFLECTION – “This is an effective image of the Church – a boat which must brave the storms and sometimes seems on the point of capsizing. What saves her is not the skill and courage of her crew members but faith which allows her to walk, even in the dark, amid hardships. Faith gives us the certainty of Jesus’ presence always beside us, of His hand which grasps us to pull us back from danger. We are all on this boat and we feel secure here despite our limitations and our weaknesses. We are safe especially when we are ready to kneel and worship Jesus, the only Lord of our life.”...Pope Francis – Angelus, 10 August 2014
PRAYER – O Lord, You who came to save us, teach us all to live and breathe our love for You and Your teachings. Help us all to realise and give thanks for Your love for us and always to feel and grasp Your presence. Your life of pain and sorrow, lived to save us, is our only guide. Through Mary, Your holy and loving Mother and our Mother, grant us courage and gratitude, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 9 January – 3rd day after Epiphany
I Wish to Clasp Your Hand – Do Not Refuse Me!
Prayer of Eugene de Ferronays (1827 – 1894)
Dear Lord! It is just when I am in the world
that I have most need of You
because You know it is full of snares
that the devil has set for me.
You must hold my hand, dear Lord,
if You will not abandon me.
A little of the world is not bad for me;
it is even good, for it teaches me how small it is
and I feel the greater happiness
when I come back to You.
But, that I may surely do so,
You must only loose Your hold a little,
that it may not try me too far,
You must not entirely leave hold.
Do You see dear Lord?
I wish to clasp Your hand – do not refuse me!
Quote/s of the Day – 8 January – 2nd Day after Epiphany
7 Beloved, let us love one another;
for love is of God and he who loves.
is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love,
does not know God,
for God is love.
9 In this, the love of God
was made manifest among us,
that God sent his only Son
into the world, so that we
might live through him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God
but that he loved us and sent his Son
to be the expiation for our sins.
By his divine power, he has lavished on us,
all the things we need for life
and for true devotion,
through the knowledge of him,
who has called us,
by his own glory and goodness.
Through these, the greatest and priceless promises
have been lavished on us, that through them,
you should share the divine nature
and escape the corruption in a world
that is sunk in vice.
One Minute Reflection – 8 January – 2nd Day after Epiphany – Gospel: Mark 6:34-44
And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.…Mark 6:42-44
REFLECTION – “The narrative of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, ends with the verification, that everyone is satisfied and with the collection of the leftover pieces. When Jesus, with His compassion and His love, gives us a grace, forgives us our sins, embraces us, loves us – He does nothing halfway but completely. As it happens here, all are satisfied. Jesus fills our heart and our life with His love, with His forgiveness, with His compassion.”…Pope Francis – General Audience, 17 August 2016
PRAYER – God our father, when Your only-begotten Son, revealed Himself in flesh and blood, we came to know Him as our fellow-man. As He transformed 5 loaves and 2 fish, may He transform us inwardly, until we bear His likeness. Blessed Eurosia, you were filled with the love of God and your neighbour and by His grace, transformed all those who came within your care, please intercede on our behalf. We ask this through Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 8 January – 2nd Day after Epiphany
Jesus, accomplish Your Will in Me
by St Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682)
Jesus,
I feel within me,
a great desire to please You
but, at the same time,
I feel totally incapable of doing this,
without Your special light and help,
which I can expect only from You.
Accomplish Your will in me –
even in spite of me.
Amen
One Minute Reflection – 7 January – Monday after Epiphany – Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 and the Memorial of St Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275) “Father of Canon Law”
“…the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light and for those, who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.”…Matthew 4:16
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 – Lord, may the radiance of Your glory, light up our hearts and bring us through the shadows of this world, until we reach our homeland of everlasting light. Grant we pray, that by the intercession of St Raymond of Peñafort , our way may be smoothed and our troubles eased. We ask this through Jesus, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 7 January – Christmas Weekday Monday after Epiphany
O my God, all is Good if it comes from You
By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
O my God,
I will put myself without reserve,
into Your hands.
Wealth or woe, joy or sorrow,
friends or bereavement,
honour or humiliation,
good report or ill report,
comfort or discomfort,
Your presence
or the hiding of Your countenance,
all is good if it comes from You,
You are wisdom and You are love –
what can I desire more?
You have led me in Your counsel
and with glory You have received me
What have I in heaven
and apart from You,
what want I upon earth?
My flesh and my heart fail
but God is the God of my heart
and my portion forever.
Amen
“Chalk the Door” – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Each year around the feast of the Epiphany many parishes throughout the world participate in an annual blessing of chalk. It is an ancient tradition that not only places God at the entrance of your home, it places your entire family under his protection.
The Epiphany blessing of chalk and homes is a centuries old tradition where priests would visit each home in their parish after the Feast of the Epiphany. Over time it became more difficult to accomplish such a feat, as parishes became larger and larger and priests were stretched thin. For this reason it became an accepted tradition that a member of the household is able to lead this blessing in place of the priest.
The blessing has biblical roots, deeply tied to the Passover in the book of Exodus.
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt … “take some of the blood [of the lamb], and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it … The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” (cf. Exodus 12:1-13)
It is no coincidence that the Epiphany blessing is traditionally written on the lintel of the main doorway and even some of the prayers echo God’s words of protection that He gave to Moses. While the Epiphany blessing was not given in the same manner as it was to Moses, the Church provides it for our own spiritual benefit. The Church desires our salvation and so gives us beautiful sacramentals to assist us along the path to Eternal Life.
Traditionally a priest blesses chalk on the Feast of the Epiphany by saying the following prayer (from the Roman Ritual):
Bless, + O Lord God, this creature, chalk and let it be a help to mankind. Grant that those who will use it with faith in your most holy name and with it inscribe on the doors of their homes the names of your saints, Casper, Melchior, and Baltassar, may through their merits and intercession enjoy health in body and protection of soul, through Christ our Lord.
The chalk is then distributed after Mass. If your local parish does not administer such a blessing, inquire around and see if any neighbouring parishes do. Parishioners then take the chalk home and use it while invoking God’s blessing upon their home.
It is a beautiful blessing, one that brings many graces upon those who practice it in faith and is an added protection against any spiritual enemies that may be lurking around.
The Blessing:
Once you acquire the blessed chalk, either a priest or another member of the household can bless the home in the following manner (adapted from the Roman Ritual):
Upon entering the house [or at the front door]:
Priest/Head of Household: Peace be to this house.
All: And to all who dwell herein.
Priest: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord and opening their treasures, they offered precious gifts – gold for the great King, incense for the true God and myrrh in symbol of His burial.
During the Magnificat, the room is sprinkled with holy water and incensed.
The Magnificat
The Canticle of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour
He looks on His servant in her lowliness
Henceforth all ages will call me blessed:
The Almighty works marvels for me,
holy is his Name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear Him.
He puts forth His arm in strength
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things,
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, His servant,
remembering His mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons forever. 
After this is completed: All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord and opening their treasures, they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God and myrrh in symbol of His burial.
Priest: Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead and lead us not into temptation,
All: But deliver us from evil.
Priest: All they from Saba shall come
All: Bringing gold and frankincense.
Priest: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto Thee.
Priest:
Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith may also attain the vision of Thy glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Priest: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee– Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.
All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendour of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.
Priest: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfilment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen
After the prayers of the blessing are recited, walk through the house and bless each room by sprinkling with Epiphany/holy water and incensing it.
Take the blessed chalk and first write the initials of the three Wise Men, connected with Crosses, over the inside of your front door (on the lintel, if possible). Then write the year, breaking up the numbers and the year so that they fall on both sides of the initials. It should look like this, for example
The equation is written to be the first two digits of the year, followed by the initials C, M, and B, followed by the last two digits of the year. Each portion is split by plus signs. For this year, the equation would be written as “20 + C + M + B + 19.”
The chalking holds two meanings. The C, M and B, refer to the traditional names of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The letters also stand for the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat” which means “May Christ bless the house.” The plus signs represent the cross and the 20 and 19 simply refer to the year.
AnaStpaul 
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