Quote of the Day – 12 January – 6th day after Epiphany – Today’s Gospel: John 3:22–30
“He must increase
but I must decrease.”
Category: MORNING Prayers
One Minute Reflection – 12 January – 6th day after Epiphany – Today’s Gospel: John 3:22–30
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 – Behold me, O Sweet Lord – St Aelred
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 – “Carpe Diem”
Quote/s of the Day – 11 January – 5th day after Epiphany
“Let us strive to make
the present moment beautiful!”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
“Let us especially regret,
the smallest amount of time,
that we waste, or fail to use,
in loving God.”
St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 11 January – 5th day after Epiphany – Today’s Gospel: Luke 5:12–16
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 – Grant Me Rest in You, above All – By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
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
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 – The Memorial of St Léonie Françoise De Sales Aviat
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
Thought for the Day – 9 January – 3rd Day after Epiphany
Excerpt from Pope Francis’ Homily for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, celebrated 6 January 2019, in St Peter’s Basilica
“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
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
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
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.
Today’s First Reading : 1 John 4:7-10
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.
2 Peter 1:3-4
One Minute Reflection – 8 January – 2nd Day after Epiphany – Gospel: Mark 6:34-44
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
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
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
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 – Epiphany House Blessing
“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
20 C+M+B 19
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.
Sunday Reflection – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Sunday Reflection – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
“What other people are so fortunate as the Christian people? What creature under heaven is so beloved as a devout soul into whom God comes, in order to feed him with His own glorious Body and Blood? O grace unspeakable, O marvellous condescension, O love without measure, bestowed only on human beings!
There is nothing I can give to the Lord for this grace – this supreme love; nothing acceptable I can offer Him but my heart entirely given to God and closely united to Him. Then, all that is within me will be filled with joy, when my soul is perfectly one with God.
Then He will say to me: “If you will be with Me, I will be with you.” And I will answer Him and say: “Stay with me, Lord, I implore You, for my desire is to be with You.”
This is my whole desire – that my heart be united to You.”
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
Book 4-Chapter 13 #3
Blessed Sacrament
Thought for the Day – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Thought for the Day – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord – Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Doctor of the Church
“They saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage”...Matthew 2:11
The magi find a poor young woman with a poor child wrapped in poor linen bands… and yet, on entering this cave, they feel a joy never experienced before… The divine Infant’s expression lights up, sign of the loving delight with which He welcomes them as the first conquest of His redeeming work. Then the holy kings turn their eyes to Mary, who does not speak, remaining silent, yet her face, reflecting joy and shining with a heavenly sweetness, confirms that she welcomes them and is grateful to them for being the first to recognise her Son for who He is – their Sovereign Lord…
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 that I lack. Grant me the gold of Your holy love; grant me the incense that 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.
Quote/s of the Day – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Quote/s of the Day – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?
For we saw his star when it rose
and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:2
“For by gold, the power of a king is signified,
by frankincense the honour of God,
by myrrh the burial of the body
and accordingly they offer Him,
gold as King,
frankincense as God,
myrrh as Man.”
St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Though many kings of the Jews
had been born and died, none of them,
did the Magi seek to adore.
And so they, who came from a distant foreign land,
to a kingdom that was entirely strange to them…
But they had learnt, that such a King was born,
that by adoring Him, they might be sure of obtaining
from Him the salvation which is of God.”
“Truth,
by which the world is held together,
has sprung from the earth,
in order to be carried
in a woman’s arms.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder
at what they see:
heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God,
God in man, one whom the whole universe
cannot contain, now enclosed in a tiny body.
As they look, they believe and do not question,
as their symbolic gifts bear witness:
incense for God,
gold for a king,
myrrh for one who is to die.”
St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450) Father & Doctor of the Church
“What are you doing, O Magi?
Do you adore a little Babe, in a wretched hovel,
wrapped in miserable rags?
Can this Child be truly God? …
Are you become foolish, O Wise Men …
Yes, these Wise Men have become fools
that they may be wise!”
St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
One Minute Reflection – 6 January – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord – Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was...Matthew 2:9
REFLECTION – “The Gospel account of the Magi describes their journey from the East as a journey of the spirit, as a journey toward the encounter with Christ. They are attentive to signs that indicate His presence; they are tireless in facing the trials of the search; they are courageous in deducing the implications for life that derive from encounter with the Lord. This is life – Christian life, is a journey but being attentive, tireless and courageous. A Christian, journeys like this. Journey attentively, tirelessly, courageously.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 6 January 2015
PRAYER – On this day, Lord God, by a guiding star, You revealed Your Only-begotten Son to all the peoples of the world. Lead us from the faith by which we know You now, to the vision of Your glory, face to face. May the prayers of St Andre Bessette and all Your saints, who stand beside You, assist us on our journey. Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God, forever amen.
Our Morning Offering – 6 January – The Solemnity of Epiphany
Our Morning Offering – 6 January – The Solemnity of Epiphany
Traditional Andalusian Epiphany Prayer
The heavens are shining
with the clear beauty of the stars,
O Lord
and the very earth, is made beautiful,
by a shining light
because You did vouchsafe
to appear to the world
from out Your holy dwelling place.
Remove, therefore,
from our hearts all sadness,
for unto this end You are come,
that You may make all things new.
Grant also, that light unto our eyes
which may purify us
and fit us to behold You forever,
that thus we, who preach to the nations,
the glad joys of Your Apparition,
may be made glad with You
in infinite joy.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 5 January – St Charles of Mount Argus’s Prayer to Mary
Our Morning Offering – 5 January – Christmas Saturday and the Memorial of St Charles of Mount Argus C.P. (1821-1893)
Most Holy Virgin Mary Oh, my Mother!
By St Charles of Mount Argus
Most Holy Virgin Mary Oh, my Mother!
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.
As we are all thy children,
I ask for thy unceasing help for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners
and console all earthly mothers
who are now weeping over their children.
Open the gates of heaven to those we loved upon earth
and who are now suffering in purgatory.
Obtain for us, dear Mother,
that having earnestly invoked thee on earth,
we may see thee, love thee
and eternally thank thee, hereafter in heaven.
Amen
One Minute Reflection – 4 January – Christmas Weekday – Today’s Gospel: John 1:35–42
One Minute Reflection – 4 January – Christmas Weekday – Today’s Gospel: John 1:35–42
“….he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this and they followed Jesus.”...John 1: 36-37
REFLECTION – “He is the Way, because He leads us through Himself; Door, as letting us in; Shepherd, as making us dwell in green pastures and bringing us up to the waters of rest, leading us there and protecting us from wild beasts, restoring the erring and bringing back the lost sheep. He binds the wounded, guards the strong and thanks to His words of pastoral knowledge He gathers them together into the Fold on high.”…St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390) Father & Doctor
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, thank You for making me a child of eternity. Help me to live each day in such a way that I may deserve to be a child of Yours forever. Grant that by the prayers of St Elizabeth Ann Seton and St Manuel Gonzalez Garcia, we may strive always to keep our eyes fixed on Your Son, our entry to You, our Shepherd and our Saviour who will lead us to our eternal home. May we never waiver from Your commandments. Amen.
Our Morning Offering on the Memorial of St Manuel Gonzalez Garcia (1877–1940) the “Apostle of the Abandoned Tabernacles” – 4 January
Our Morning Offering on the Memorial of St Manuel Gonzalez Garcia (1877–1940) the “Apostle of the Abandoned Tabernacles” – 4 January
St Manuel has written much, 3 volumes full and many prayers and devotions related to Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Eucharist but thus far, only 1% of his works have been translated from the original Spanish. So today we pray via St John Paul, another great advocate of Eucharist Adoration and the Holy Eucharist.
Prayer for the Spread of Perpetual Adoration
By St Pope John Paul (1920-2005)
Heavenly Father,
increase our faith in the Real Presence of Your Son,
Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
We are obliged to adore Him,
to give Him thanks
and to make reparation for sins.
We need Your peace in our hearts
and among nations.
We need conversion from our sins
and the mercy of Your forgiveness.
May we obtain this through prayer
and our union with the Eucharistic Lord.
Please send down the Holy Spirit upon all peoples
to give them the love, courage, strength and willingness,
to respond to the invitation to Eucharistic Adoration.
We beseech You to spread Perpetual Adoration
of the Most Blessed Sacrament in parishes around the world.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen
Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Help us to spread the glory of Your Son
through Perpetual Adoration.
On 2 December 1981 St Pope John Paul II inaugurated Perpetual
Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of St Peter’s Basilica with a Mass.
At the end of the Mass following exposition of the Blessed Sacrament he prayed,
in part: (see above) (L’Osservatore Romano, Dec. 14, 1981))
Stay with Us
By St Pope John Paul (1920-2005)
Stay with us today
and stay from now on, everyday,
according to the desire of my heart,
which accepts the appeal of so many hearts
from various parts, sometimes far away…
Stay that we may meet You in
prayers of adoration and thanksgiving,
in prayers of expiation and petition
to which all those who visit this Basilica are invited…
May the unworthy successor of Peter
and all those who take part in the
adoration of Your Eucharistic Presence
attest with every visit and make
ring out again the truth contained in the Apostle’s words:
‘Lord, you know everything.
You know that I love you.’
Amen
Thought for the Day – 3 January – The Name, the Heart and the Blood
Thought for the Day – 3 January – The Name, the Heart and the Blood
A name represents that person, his or her identity. According to Matthew 1:21, Joseph was directed by an angel to call Mary’s son “Jesus,” a name that means “God saves.” This is Jesus’ identity. He is the Saviour of the world. As such His Name is “above every name” and is the name at which “every knee should bend” (Philippians 2:9-10). Moreover, according to a speech that St Peter gave in front of the Sanhedrin, “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved” (Acts: 4:12). The Name of Jesus says it all and is all-powerful. It’s a prayer in itself.
As Jesus can be represented by His Name, so He is also represented by His Heart. The heart is the centre of a person, that person’s deepest interior or identity. Thus devotion to the Name of Jesus goes with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the Name given to Him when He suffered and died on the cross, when His Heart was pierced so that Blood and Water, the sacramental life of the Church, would flow forth and save the world.
Devotion to Jesus’ Name and Heart includes devotion to His Precious Blood. These three go together: the Name, the Heart, and the Blood. In fact, Saint John XXIII wrote about this in a 30 June 1960 letter entitled “On Promoting Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He wrote:
“We judge it most timely to call our beloved children’s attention to the unbreakable bond which must exist between the devotions to the Most Holy Name and Most Sacred Heart of Jesus — already so widespread among Christians — and devotion to the incarnate Word’s Most Precious Blood, ‘shed for many, to the remission of sins.’
“Suffice it to recall the spiritual favours that our predecessors from the sixteenth century on have attached to practising devotion to the Most Holy Name of Jesus, which in the previous century St Bernardine of Siena untiringly spread throughout Italy. No less striking, are the benefits the popes have attached to practicing devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose rise and spread owe so much to the revelations of the Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary Alacoque. So highly have all the popes regarded this devotion that again and again in their official acts they have expounded its nature, defended its validity, promoted its practice.
“Likewise the devotion to the Most Precious Blood, which owes its marvelous diffusion to the 19th-century Roman priest, St Gaspar del Bufalo, has rightly merited the approval and backing of this Apostolic See.
“Amid today’s most serious and pressing spiritual needs, may this latest exercise of that ‘care for all the churches’ proper to our sovereign office awaken in Christian hearts a firm conviction about the supreme abiding effectiveness of these three devotions.”
Jesus—the Name, the Heart, and the Blood that flowed from it to save the world—all represent the Person. May the Name of Jesus be reverenced and honoured at all times and places world without end. Amen
Apostles of Prayer – Fr James Kubicki SJ
LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER
One Minute Reflection – 3 January – The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus & The celebration of the Titular Feast of the Society of Jesus
One Minute Reflection – 3 January – The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus & The celebration of the Titular Feast of the Society of Jesus
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus…Luke 2:21
REFLECTION – “In the autumn of 1537, on his way to Rome with a group of his first companions, Ignatius wondered, ‘if people ask who we are, how should we answer?’ The answer came spontaneously: ‘we shall say that we are the “Society of Jesus.” This demanding name intends to suggest a relationship of very close friendship and of total affection for Jesus, in whose footsteps they wanted to follow. Why have I told you about this event? Because St Ignatius and his companions had realised that Jesus was teaching them how to live well, how to live a life that had profound meaning, that imparted enthusiasm, joy and hope. They had understood that Jesus is a great teacher of life and model of life and that He was not only teaching them but also inviting them to follow Him on this path….like Jesus, we exist for the Father; that, like Jesus, we live to serve, not to be served. …For the life of a Jesuit, the Passover of the Lord is sufficient.”...Pope Francis
PRAYER – We pray, to the eternal Lord of the universe, through the help of Your glorious Mother, we may live to empty ourselves for the sake of the glory of Your Kingdom and our own eternal happiness with You. Mary, Mother of God, help us to be messengers of your Son. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, in union with God our Father, one God forever and ever. All you holy Jesuit Saints in heaven, pray for us! Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 3 January – Jesu, Dulcis Memoria
Our Morning Offering – 3 January – The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
Jesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn by St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluous. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn are used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.
Hymn or Prayer
Jesu, Dulcis Memoria
By St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing,
no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ Name,
The Saviour of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find?
Ah! this Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shall be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 2 January – Prayer of St Basil the Great
Our Morning Offering – 2 January – The Memorial of St Basil the Great and St Gregory of Nazianzen
O Christ, our Master and God
By St Basil the Great (329-379)
O Christ, our Master and God,
King of the ages and Creator of all,
I thank You for all the good things
that You have given to me
and for the reception
of your most pure and life-giving mysteries.
I pray You, therefore,
O good Lover of humankind,
keep me under Your protection
in the shadow of Your wings.
Grant that with a pure conscience,
until my last breath,
I may worthily partake of Your Holy Things,
for the forgiveness of sins
and for life everlasting.
For You are the Bread of Life,
the Fountain of Holiness
and the Bestower of Blessings
and to You we give glory together
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever and ever, amen.
Our Morning Offering 1 January – Prayer of St Ephrem to the Mother of God
Our Morning Offering 1 January – The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and the Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord
O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God
By St Ephrem (306-373) Father & Doctor of the Church
O Immaculate and wholly-pure Virgin Mary,
Mother of God,
Queen of the world,
hope of those who are in despair,
you are the joy of the saints,
you are the peacemaker
between sinners and God,
you are the advocate of the abandoned,
the secure haven
of those who are on the sea of the world,
you are the consolation of the world,
the ransom of slaves,
the comfortress of the afflicted….
O great Queen, we take refuge in your protection.
After God, you are all my hope.
We bear the name of your servants,
allow not the enemy to drag us to hell.
I salute you, O great mediatress of peace
between men and God,
Mother of Jesus our Lord,
who is the love of all men and of God,
to whom be honour and benediction
with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
AnaStpaul 
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