Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN TITLES, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 September – The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

One Minute Reflection – 15 September – The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Near the cross of Jesus, there stood his mother…..John 19:25john-19-25-near the cross stood his mother - 15 sept 2017 our lady of sorrows

REFLECTION – “Mary “stood by”;  she was simply there  . Here again the young woman of Nazareth, hair now grayed with the passage of time, still struggling with a God who must only be embraced and with a life that has come to the threshold of the darkest night.   Mary “stood by” in the thickest darkness but she “stood by”.   She did not go away. Mary is there, faithfully present, each time a candle must be held aflame in a place of fog and haze.   She does not even know the future resurrection her Son was opening at that instant for us, for all of mankind – she stands there out of faithfulness to the plan of God whose handmaid she proclaimed herself to be on the first day of her vocation but also due to her instinct as mother who simply suffers, each time there is a child who undergoes suffering.   The suffering of mothers – we have all known strong women who have faced their children’s suffering!”…Pope Francis – General audience, 10 May 2017mary stood by - pope francis - 15 sept 2018

PRAYER – Our Father, when Jesus Your Son, was raised up on the Cross, it was Your will that Mary, His Mother, should stand there and suffer with Him in her heart.   Grant that in union with her, the Church may share in the passion of Christ and so be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.   Be our intercessor and our consolation, Our Lady of Sorrows!  We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.our-lady-of-sorrows-pray-for-us.15 sept 2017

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 15 September – STABAT MATER

Our Morning Offering – 15 September – The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

STABAT MATER

At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blest,
Of the sole begotten One!
Christ above in torment hangs.
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
Whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?
Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother’s pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.
For the sins of His own nation,
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother: fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with thine accord.
Make me feel as thou hast felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through;
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.
Let me share with thee His pain,
Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torment died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
Mourning Him who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.
By the Cross with thee to stay;
There with thee to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins best,
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share thy grief divine.
Let me to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it hath swooned
In His very blood away.
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In His awful Judgment day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
Be Thy Mother my defense,
Be Thy Cross my victory.
While my body here decays,
May my soul Thy goodness praise,
Safe in Paradise with Thee.
Amen

Note:  This text of the Stabat Mater is one of over 60 translations of this famous Latin hymn that can also be recited in prayer. It is often used when praying the Stations of the Cross. The original Latin text of the Stabat Mater has also been set to music by such composers as Haydn, Rossini, and Poulenc.stabat-mater-as-a-prayer-15-sept-20181 (1).jpg

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS

NOVENA to St Padre Pio/St Pius of Pietrelcina – DAY ONE – 14 September

NOVENA to St Padre Pio/St Pius of Pietrelcina – DAY ONE – 14 September

St Padre Pio you have said:

“Jesus keeps nothing for Himself of what is done for love of Him and He will repay us very lavishly.
Don’t let us make our happiness depend on enjoying wonderful health, 
or else we should be just like those foolish worldly people to whom it is not given to know the secrets of heaven…. 
Continue to love Jesus and make an effort to love Him more and more, 
without wanting to know anything else, He alone will steer us to the haven of salvation.”

Let us Pray:

Gracious God,
You generously blessed Your servant, Padre Pio, with the gifts of the Spirit.
You marked his body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified,
as a powerful witness to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son
and as a stirring inspiration to many people of Your infinite mercy, forgiveness and love.
In the confessional, Padre Pio laboured endlessly for the salvation of souls.
Through his powerful intercession, many who suffered were healed of sickness and disease.
Endowed with the gift of discernment, he could read people’s hearts.
With dignity and intense devotion, he celebrated daily Mass,
inviting countless men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ,
in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Through the intercession of Saint Pio,
we confidently beseech You to to grant us the grace of
………………… (state your petition here).
Help us to imitate his example of prayerful holiness and compassion,
so that we, too, may faithfully follow the Risen Lord
and one day rejoice in the Kingdom,
where You live and reign forever and ever.

Amenday-one-novena-st-pio-14-sept

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Thought for the Day – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross14-sept-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross 2017

Excerpt – Pope Benedict XVI

 Angelus, 17 September 2006

“But what does exalting the Cross mean?   Is it not maybe scandalous to venerate a shameful form of execution?   The Apostle Paul says: “We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (I Cor 1: 23). Christians, however, do not exalt just any cross but the Cross which Jesus sanctified with His sacrifice, the fruit and testimony of immense love.   Christ on the Cross pours out His Blood to set humanity free from the slavery of sin and death.1-corinthians-1-23-24 - we proclaim christ crucified = 14 sept 2017

Therefore, from being a sign of malediction, the Cross was transformed into a sign of blessing, from a symbol of death into a symbol par excellence of the Love that overcomes hatred and violence and generates immortal life.   “O Crux, ave spes unica! O Cross, our only hope!”.   Thus sings the liturgy.

The Evangelist recounts – Mary was standing by the Cross (cf. Jn 19: 25-27).   Her sorrow is united with that of her So  n. It is a sorrow full of faith and love.   The Virgin on Calvary participates in the saving power of the suffering of Christ, joining her “fiat”, her “yes”, to that of her Son.

Dear brothers and sisters, spiritually united to Our Lady of Sorrows, let us also renew our “yes” to God who chose the Way of the Cross in order to save us.   This is a great mystery which continues and will continue to take place until the end of the world and which also asks for our collaboration.

May Mary help us to take up our cross every day and follow Jesus faithfully on the path of obedience, sacrifice and love.”mother of sorrows pray for us - may mary help us - pope benedict - 14 sept 2018

We adore You Christ and we bless You,

for by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

we adore you o christ - 14 sept 2018

 

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, Thomas a Kempis

Quote/s of the Day – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Quote/s of the Day – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

“In the Cross is salvation;
in the Cross is life;
in the Cross is protection against our enemies;
in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness;
in the Cross is strength of mind;
in the Cross is joy of spirit;
in the Cross is excellence of virtue;
in the Cross is perfection of holiness.
There is no salvation of soul,
nor hope of eternal life,
save in the Cross.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) The Inner Lifein-the-cross-is-salvation-thomas-a-kempis=14 sept 2017

“The road is narrow.
He who wishes to travel it more easily
must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane.
In other words, he must be truly resolved
to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Churcheven-though-i-should-die-matthew-26-35-and-the-road-is-narrow-st-john-of-the-cross-9-july-2018

The everlasting God has in His wisdom
foreseen from eternity the cross He now
presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart.
The cross He now sends you
He has considered
with His all-knowing eyes,
understood with His divine mind,
tested with His wise justice,
warmed with loving arms
and weighed with His own hands
to see that it is not one inch too large
nor one ounce too heavy for you.
He has blessed it with His holy name,
anointed it with His grace,
perfumed it with His consolation,
taken one last glance at you and your courage
and then sent it to you from heaven,
a special greeting from God to you,
an alms of the all-merciful love of God.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Churchthe everlasting god has in his wisdom - st francis de sales - 14 sept 2018

Camillus wanted to have on his habit the Sign of the Cross
in order ‘to demonstrate that this is a religion of the Cross…
so that those who want to follow our way of life will get ready…
to follow Jesus Christ unto death’.
He wanted it to be dark red
‘because more like the true wood of the most holy Cross
on which the Redeemer of the World died and was appended’.

St Camillus de Lellis (1550-1614)st-camillus-wanted-to-have-on-his-habit-14-july-2018

“Oh cherished cross!
Through thee my most bitter trials
are replete with graces!”

St Paul of the Cross (1694-1775)oh-cherished-cross-st-paul-of-the-cross-14 sept 2017

“Everything is a reminder of the Cross.
We ourselves are made in the shape of a cross.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)everything is a reminder of the cross - st john vianney - 14 sept 2018

“Let us not forget,
that Jesus not only suffered
but also rose in glory;
so, too, we go to the glory
of the Resurrection,
by way of suffering
and the Cross.”

St Maximillian Kolbe (1894 -1941)let-us-not-forget-st-max-kolbe-14-aug-2018

“There is line from the illuminator of the St John’s Bible that states:
“We have to love our way out of this.”
There is nothing wimpy or namby-pamby
or blind about this conviction.
When we love extravagantly,
we are not purposely blinding ourselves to moral realities—
just the contrary.

Love is not a sentiment, but “a harsh and dreadful thing,”
as Dostoevsky said.

This is just what Jesus shows on His terrible cross.
And this is just what we, His followers, must imitate.
Taking up the cross means, not just being willing to suffer
but being willing to suffer as He did,
absorbing violence and hatred through our forgiveness and nonviolence.”

Bishop Robert Barronlove-is-not-a-sentiment-robert-barron-3-aug-2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

One Minute Reflection – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

“…And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”...John 3:14-15and as moses lifted up - john 3 - 14-15 - 14 sept 2018

REFLECTION – “From now on, through the cross, all shadows have been dispelled and the truth arises, as the apostle John says:  “The old order has passed away; all things are new” (Rv 21:4-5).   Death has been stripped of prey, hell’s captives liberated;  man is set free;  the Lord reigns;  creation rejoices.   The cross is victorious and all nations, races, languages and peoples (Rv 7:9) come to adore him.   Together, in the cross we find our joy, exclaiming with blessed Paul:  “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal 6:14).   The cross gives light to the whole universe;  it casts out darkness and gathers nations together in charity into one Church, one faith, one baptism, from West and East, from the North and from the seas.   It stands at the very centre of the world, set up on Calvary.
Armed with the cross, the Apostles go out to preach and gather together in adoration of it the whole universe, treading under foot every hostile power.   Through it the martyrs have bravely confessed the faith, fearless of tyrants’ cunning.   Having taken it upon themselves, monks have joyfully made solitude their home.
When Christ returns, this cross will first appear in heaven, the Great King’s precious sceptre, living, true and holy.   “Then,” says the Lord, “the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven” (Mt 24:30).   We will see it escorted by angels, illuminating the earth from one end of the universe to the other, brighter than the sun, proclaiming the Day of the Lord.”…Homily attributed to Saint Ephrem (306-373) Father & Doctor of the Churchthe cross gives light - st ephrem - 14 sept 2018

PRAYER – O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth, may merit the grace of His redemption in heaven.
For you placed the salvation of the human race on the wood of the Cross, so that, where death arose, life might again spring forth and the evil one, who conquered on a tree, might likewise on a tree be conquered through Christ.   O cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.   Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus.
We adore You Christ and we praise You, for by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. Ameno-cross-you-are-the-glorious-sign-of-victory-feast-of-the-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Our Morning Offering – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Breviary Hymn
O Cross of Christ
By St Flavian Bishop (Died 449 – Memorial 18 February), from Day’s Psalter 1562

O Cross of Christ, immortal tree
On which our Saviour died,
The world is sheltered by your arms
That bore the Crucified.

From bitter death and barren wood
the tree of life is made;
Its branches bear unfailing fruit
And leaves that never fade.

O faithful Cross, you stand unmoved
While ages run their course;
Foundation of the universe,
Creation’s minding force.

Give glory to the risen Christ
And to His Cross give praise,
The sign of God’s unfailing love,
The hope of all our days.o cross of christ - 14 sept exaltation of the holy cross - 14 sept 2018 breviary hymn

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS

ANNOUNCING a NOVENA to ST PIUS of PIETRELCINA/St Padre Pio (1887-1968) – Beginning Friday 14 September

ANNOUNCING a NOVENA to ST PIUS of PIETRELCINA/St Padre Pio O.F.M. Cap (1887-1968)
Beginning Friday 14 September – Feast Day 26 September

“I want only to be a poor friar who prays… Pray, hope and don’t worry.   

Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer…

Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart…”

St Pius of Pietrelcina/St Padre Pio (1887-1968)announging-a-novena-to-st-padre-pio-beginning-thurs-14-sept-12 sept 2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY NINE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 13 September

DAY NINE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 13 September

Eternal Love

Lord Jesus, Your cross manifested Your decision
to always do the Father’s will.
That God you revealed shines so resplendently on the Holy Cross.
It is a God who loves because He is pure love.
On the Holy Cross, You gave everything – Your life.
By Your self-giving, we have been redeemed.
May our veneration of Your Holy Cross
enable us to live the challenge of love,
that we, too, may learn to trust, to understand
and to forgive.
That we may remove from our hearts,
hatred, mistrust and resentment
and be like You, a total gift of self.
May Your Holy Cross lead us to life
and communion with our brothers and sisters. Amen.

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)day-nine-novena-holy-cross-13-sept-eternal-love-13 sept 2017

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 13 September – 13 September – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Doctor – “John of the Golden Mouth”

Thought for the Day – 13 September – 13 September – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Doctor – “John of the Golden Mouth”

“The Second Paul”

“The Ladder to God”

“It is said of John Chrysostom that when he was seated upon the throne of the New Rome, that is, Constantinople, God caused him to be seen as a second Paul, a doctor of the Universe.

Indeed, there is in Chrysostom a substantial unity of thought and action, in Antioch as in Constantinople.   It is only the role and situations that change.

In his commentary on Genesis, in meditating on God’s eight acts in the sequence of six days, Chrysostom desired to restore the faithful from the creation to the Creator:  “It is a great good”, he said, “to know the creature from the Creator”, He shows us the beauty of the creation and God’s transparency in His creation, which thus becomes, as it were, a “ladder” to ascend to God in order to know Him.

To this first step, however, is added a second:  this God Creator is also the God of indulgence (synkatabasis).   We are weak in “climbing”, our eyes grow dim.   Thus, God becomes an indulgent God who sends to fallen man, foreign man, a letter, Sacred Scripture, so that the creation and Scripture may complete each another.   We can decipher creation in the light of Scripture, the letter that God has given to us.   God is called a “tender father” (philostorgios) (ibid.), a healer of souls (Homily on Genesis, 40, 3), a mother (ibid.) and an affectionate friend (On Providence 8, 11-12).

But in addition to this second step – first, the creation as a “ladder” to God and then, the indulgence of God through a letter which he has given to us, Sacred Scripture – there is a third step.   God does not only give us a letter – ultimately, He Himself comes down to us, He takes flesh, becomes truly “God-with-us”, our brother until His death on a Cross.

And to these three steps – God is visible in creation, God gives us a letter, God descends and becomes one of us – a fourth is added at the end.   In the Christian’s life and action, the vital and dynamic principle is the Holy Spirit (Pneuma) who transforms the realities of the world.   God enters our very existence through the Holy Spirit and transforms us from within our hearts.”

Pope Benedict XVI – General Audience 26 September 2007

St John Chrysostom, Pray for us!st-john-chrysostom-pray-for-us-13 sept 2017

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 13 September – the Memorial of St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

Quote/s of the Day – 13 September – the Memorial of St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

“Never separate yourself from the Church.
No institution has the power of the Church.
The Church is your hope.
The Church is your salvation.
The Church is your refuge.”

“When you are before the altar where Christ reposes,
you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men;
but believe that there are troops of Angels
and Archangels standing by you and trembling with respect
before the Sovereign Master of Heaven and earth.
Therefore, when you are in Church,
be there in silence,
fear and veneration.”

“If we approach with faith, we too will see Jesus… 
for the Eucharistic table takes the place of the crib.
Here, the Body of the Lord is present, 
wrapped, not in swaddling clothes 
but in the rays of the Holy Spirit.”

“It is simply impossible to lead,
without the aid of prayer,
a virtuous life.”it is simply impossible - st john chrysostom - 13 sept 2018

“Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speeches and railings.
For what does it profit if we abstain from fish and fowl
and yet bite and devour our brothers and sisters?
The evil speaker eats the flesh of his brother
and bites the body of his neighbour!”

St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor

“John of the Golden Mouth”let-the-mouth-also-fast-from-disgraceful-st-john-chrysostom 13 sept 2017

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on VIOLENCE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 September – Today’s Gospel – Luke 6:27–38

One Minute Reflection – 13 September – Today’s Gospel – Luke 6:27–38 – Thursday of the Twenty-third week in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Memorial of St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

“Judge not and you will not be judged;  condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;  give, and it will be given to you;  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.   For the measure you give, will be the measure you get back.”...Luke 6:37-38judge not and you will not be judged - luke 6 37-38 - 13 sept 2018

REFLECTION – “O envious one, you injure yourself more than he whom you would injure and the sword with which you wound will recoil and wound yourself.   What harm did Cain do to   Abel? Contrary to his intention he did him the greatest good, for he caused him to pass to a better and a blessed life and he himself was plunged into an abyss of woe.   In what did Esau injure Jacob?   Did not his envy prevent him from being enriched in the place in which he lived and, losing the inheritance and the blessing of his father, did he not die a miserable death?   What harm did the brothers of Joseph do to Joseph, whose envy went so far as to wish to shed his blood?   Were they not driven to the last extremity and well-nigh perishing with hunger, whilst their brother reigned all through Egypt?   It is ever thus;  the more you envy your brother, the greater good you confer upon him.   God, who sees all, takes the cause of the innocent in hand and, irritated by the injury you inflict, deigns to raise up him whom you wish to lower and will punish you to the full extent of your crime.   If God usually punishes those who rejoice at the misfortunes of their enemies, how much more will He punish those who, excited by envy, seek to do an injury to those who have never injured them?”…Saint John Chrysostomit is ever thus the more you envy your brother - st john chrysostom - 13 sept 2018

“It will do us good today to think of an enemy – I think we all have someone who has hurt us or who wants to hurt us or who tries to hurt us.   Ah, this!   The mafia prayer is:   “You will pay for it”, the Christian prayer is:   “Lord, bless him and teach me to love him”…Pope Francis – Santa Marta, 19 June 2018it will do us good today - pope francis 13 sept 2018

PRAYER – Lord God, strength of those who hope in You, by Your will, St John Chrysostom became renowned in the Church, for his astounding eloquence and his forbearance in persecution.   Grant that we may be enriched by his teaching and thus grow in sanctity, to follow the commandments You set forth in Your Word, Your Son who is our Saviour and Redeemer.   By the prayers of St John Chrysostom, may we attain the place You have prepared for us.   We make our prayer through Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever amen.st john chrysostom pray for us - 13 sept 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 13 September – The Memorial of St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

Our Morning Offering – 13 September – The Memorial of St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

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

Hail, O Mother!
Virgin, heaven, throne,
glory of our Church,
its 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 judgment.
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.
Amenhail o mother - by st john chrysostom - 13 sept 2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS

DAY EIGHT – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 12 September

DAY EIGHT – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 12 September

Death is Vanquished

Lord Jesus, you broke the power of death through the cross.
You are the first born from the dead.
Teach us then to accept our fears, pains and sufferings,
uniting them to your passion and death on the cross.
Give us the grace to believe that You always draw good from evil.
You are a powerful God because even in our most frightening times,
even in our gravest suffering, even death itself,
You have gone before to vanquish all!

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)day-eight-holy-cross-novena-death-is-vanquished-12-sept-no 2

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS

DAY SEVEN – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 11 September

DAY SEVEN – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 11 September

Total Offering

Jesus our Lord, You refused to drink the vinegar offered by the soldiers.
We know that this offering was to alleviate Your sufferings
because this drink lessens the pain, acting as anesthesia.
You refused as You wanted to feel the pain throughout the time
You hung on the cross.   You did not want to lessen Your sacrifice.
Help us, O Lord, to bear the pains of everyday life.
Let us savour our sufferings so that we may be able to live Your Holy Cross.
Inspire us not to run away but to accept and experience
all our sufferings and pain as proof of our love for You
and as reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
Help us live our pain, help us to live Your Holy Cross. Amen

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)day-seven-novena-holy-cross-total-offering-11-sept

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY SIX – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 10 September

DAY SIX – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 10 September

Redemptive Suffering

Jesus, Your mother and other women surrounded You
while you were dying on the cross.
Your mother nonetheless accepted this agony,
believing that this was part of the divine plan,
that God had the power to draw good
from this terrible experience of failure.
Your mother’s faith in You inspires us.
We pray for her intercession as we face
situations of failure and suffering.
We know that You are always with us
and so we pray for the grace to face
with courage, our trials and hardships,
and offer our sufferings
in union with Yours.
Please strengthen our faith as we live through
the difficulties and uncertainties of this life. Amen

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)day-six-novena-holy-cross-redemptive-suffering-10-sept

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY FIVE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 9 September

DAY FIVE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 9 September

Patience and Silence in Suffering

Jesus, You hung on the cross of three hours
and Your executioners insulted You,
saying that You cannot save Yourself and others.
You could have used Your powers
but preferred to keep silent
and bear the insults of Your enemies.

Teach us the virtue of patience as we bear the insults
and harsh words of people who don’t like us.
Inspire us to respond with silence
and give us the grace that we may be able to pray for them.
In this way, through our patience,
we help You redeem our troubled world. Amen

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)day-five-9-sept-patience-and-silence-in-suffering

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY FOUR – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 8 September

DAY FOUR – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 8 September

The compassion of the suffering Christ

Jesus our Christ, whilst You hung on the cross,
You forgave those who were laughing at You
and asked Your beloved disciple to take care of Your mother.
You welcomed the good thief into paradise.
You continued to be compassionate and serve others fully.
You did not allow the terrible pain to hinder Your love.
Give us the special grace not to be desperate in our moments of sufferings.
Enable us to bear pain with courage and dignity,
to, even in the midst of pain,
to be of help and service to others. Amen

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)day-four-8-september-holy-cross-novena-the-compassion-of-the-suffering-christ

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY THREE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 7 September

DAY THREE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 7 September

Jesus suffers humiliation

Jesus, you manifested Your power through Your miracles
but in carrying the Cross, You showed
that God preferred to be humility than to be conquest.
You were beaten and spat upon,
mocked and derided.
You suffered humiliation for love of all
as You struggled under the weight of the heavy Cross.
You did this to show Your oneness with the powerless of the earth.
You took the side of the helpless
and You shamed the arrogant and the powerful.
May we, Lord, in our relationship with our brothers and sisters,
avoid domineering attitudes and instead, be of service to them.
May the glory of your cross help us understand
that hearts can never be conquered through imposition or arrogance
but through disinterested service.
Make us servants to one another
and may self-giving characterize our relationships with all.
Amen.

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)day-three-7-sept-jesus-suffers-humiliation-the-holy-cross-novena

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY TWO – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 6 September

DAY TWO – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 6 September

Jesus Falls and Simon of Cyrene Assists Him in carrying the Cross

Jesus, you fell three times while carrying Your cross.
You were exhausted by the tortures and the lack of sleep
and Your executioners had to ask the help of Simon the Cyrene
to help You carry the cross.  You were nearly dead when you reached Calvary.
Simon of Cyrene was the most blessed person
because he was transformed by helping You carry Your cross.
Make us remember, dear Jesus, in our moments of suffering and trials,
that we, too, help carry Your cross and that it is an honour to suffer with You.
Give us hearts that easily respond to the sufferings around us,
believing that when we help the needy and the abandoned,
we are actually serving You. Amen

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)day-two-6-sept-jesus-falls-and-simon-of-cyrene-assists

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOTES to Followers

Sick in Bed

Dear all

Unknown ailment thus far.

I’ll be back as soon as I am able.

God bless you all!

With love

Ana

sick in bed - 6 sept 2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY ONE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS

DAY ONE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 5 September

‘Jesus Carries the Cross’

Jesus our Lord, You carried Your cross through the streets of Jerusalem,
with Your head bloodied by the crown of thorns.
Your enemies mocked You and your friends abandoned You.
You carried the cross, the sins of all humanity,
on Your shoulders and in the silence of Your sufferings, we are reborn.
Jesus our Lord, You taught us that we should also carry others’ sins.
to suffer in silence, yet our sufferings can make reparation for our sins
and the sins of all the word.
Teach us, O Lord, to accept situations that we cannot change
and carry them as you carried Your cross
through the streets of Jerusalem. Amen

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)day-one-5-sept-jesus-carries-the-cross

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, SAINT of the DAY, VATICAN Resources

Thought for the Day – 5 September – The Memorial of St Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Thought for the Day – 5 September – The Memorial of St Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defence of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded.   She was committed to defending life, ceaselessly proclaiming that “the unborn are the weakest, the smallest, the most vulnerable”.   She bowed down before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road, seeing in them their God-given dignity, she made her voice heard before the powers of this world, so that they might recognise their guilt for the crime – the crimes! – of poverty they created.   For Mother Teresa, mercy was the “salt” which gave flavour to her work, it was the “light” which shone in the darkness of the many who no longer had tears to shed for their poverty and suffering.

Her mission to the urban and existential peripheries remains for us today an eloquent witness to God’s closeness to the poorest of the poor.   Today, I pass on this emblematic figure of womanhood and of consecrated life to the whole world of volunteers, may she be your model of holiness!   I think, perhaps, we may have some difficult in calling her “Saint Teresa”, her holiness is so near to us, so tender and so fruitful that we continual to spontaneously call her “Mother Teresa”.

May this tireless worker of mercy help us increasingly to understand that our only criterion for action is gratuitous love, free from every ideology and all obligations, offered freely to everyone without distinction of language, culture, race or religion. Mother Teresa loved to say, “Perhaps I don’t speak their language, but I can smile”. Let us carry her smile in our hearts and give it to those whom we meet along our journey, especially those who suffer.   In this way, we will open up opportunities of joy and hope for our many brothers and sisters who are discouraged and who stand in need of understanding and tenderness…… Excerpt from the Homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis on the Canonisation of St Teresa of Calcutta, Sunday, 4 September 2016 (it was also the Jubilee of Workers of Mercy and Volunteers)

Virgin Mary, Queen of all the Saints, help us to be gentle and humble of heart like this fearless messenger of Love.   Help us to serve every person we meet with joy and a smile. Help us to be missionaries of Christ, our peace and our hope.   Amen!…mary regina angelorum - queen of the angels - pray for us - 11 may 2018

St Mother Teresa, Pray for Us!st mother teresa - pray for us.2

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 September – Today’s Gospel: Luke 4:38-44

One Minute Reflection – 5 September – Today’s Gospel: Luke 4:38-44 – Wednesday of the Twenty-second week in Ordinary Time and the Memorial of St Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to him and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them….Luke 4:40

REFLECTION – “Having come to earth to proclaim and to realise the salvation of the whole man and of all people, Jesus shows a particular predilection for those who are wounded in body and in spirit: the poor, the sinners, the possessed, the sick, the marginalised.   Thus, He reveals Himself as a doctor both of souls and of bodies, the Good Samaritan of man.   He is the true Saviour:  Jesus saves, Jesus cures, Jesus heals.   Each one of us is called to bear the light of the Word of God and the power of grace to those who suffer and to those who assist them — family, doctors, nurses — so that the service to the sick might always be better accomplished with more humanity, with generous dedication, with evangelical love, with tenderness.”… Pope Francis – Angelus, 8 February 2015and he laid his hands - he eveals himself as a doctor both of souls and bodies - pope francis 5 sept 2018

“Not all of us can do great things.   But we can do small things with great love…..God doesn’t require us to succeed, He only requires that we try…….I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” ….St Mother Teresa of Calcuttanot all of us can do great things - and immediately she got and served luke 4 39 - st mother teresa 2018

PRAYER – Heavenly Father, help us to be holy in the way that You have laid out for all of us.   Let us carry out the duties of our state in life to the full and so attain the holiness proper to each one. May the prayers of St Mother Teresa assist us in using the gifts You have been given us, for the Glory of God.   We make our prayer through our Lord, Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever, amen.st-mother-teresa-pray-for-us-5 sept 2017

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES/PRAYERS on THE FAMILY, SAINT of the DAY, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE

Our Morning Offering – 5 September – The Memorial of St Mother Teresa of Calcutta M.C. (1910-1997)

Our Morning Offering – 5 September – The Memorial of St Mother Teresa of Calcutta M.C. (1910-1997)   This is a very appropriate prayer as the Church focuses on Family Life.

Nazareth Prayer for the Family
By St Mother Teresa(1910-1997)

Heavenly Father,
You have given us the model of life
in the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Help us, O Loving Father,
to make our family another Nazareth
where love, peace and joy reign.
May it be deeply contemplative,
intensely eucharistic, received with joy.
Help us to stay together in joy
and sorrow in family prayer.
Teach us to see Jesus
in the members of our families,
especially in their distressing disguise.
May the Eucharistic heart of Jesus
make our hearts humble like His
and help us to carry out our family duties
in a holy way.
May we love one another
as God loves each one of us,
more and more each day,
and forgive each others faults
as You forgive our sins.
Help us, O Loving Father,
to take whatever You give
and give whatever You take with a big smile.

Immaculate Heart of Mary,
cause of our joy, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us.
Holy Guardian Angels,
be always with us,
guide and protect us.
Amen.nazareth prayer for the family - st mother teresa - 5 sept 2018

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, Re-BLOGS, The HOLY CROSS

Announcing a Novena for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on 14 September

Announcing a Novena for the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross on 14 Septemberannuncing a novena - exalatation of the cross

AnaStpaul's avatarAnaStpaul

This feast was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century.   It commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mount Calvary by St. Helena and preserved in Jerusalem but then had fallen into the hands of Chosroas, King of the Persians.   The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heralius in 629.

The lessons from the Breviary tell us that Emperor Heraclius carried the Cross back to Jerusalem on his shoulders.   He was clothed with costly garments and with ornaments of precious stones.   But at the entrance to Mount Calvary a strange incident occurred. Try as hard as he would, he could not go forward. Zacharias, the Bishop of Jerusalem, then said to the astonished monarch:  “Consider, O Emperor, that with these triumphal ornaments you are far from resembling Jesus carrying His Cross.”   The…

View original post 257 more words

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN TITLES, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thought for the Day – 4 September – The Feast of Our Lady of Consolation

Thought for the Day – 4 September – The Feast of Our Lady of Consolation

The tradition of praying to the Mother of God for the gift of consolation dates back to the early centuries.   The first written evidence of prayer to the Mother of God, Mary, the Theotokos, is written in Greek on a scrap of Egyptian papyrus dating from between 300-540.   In that prayer, she is invoked as the compassionate one:

“Beneath the shelter of your tender compassion we fly for refuge, Mother of God.
Do not overlook our supplications in adversity but deliver us out of danger”

This prayer makes clear, a vivid faith in Mary’s consoling role.

To our Lord and our God, Jesus Christ, we pray for a greater love of His Mother and to our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Consolation, we lift our prayers for patience, for support and for comfort in our times of confusion, fear and anxiety.   Pray for us, Our Lady of Consolation!

“The Church calls Mary the “Queen of Mercy”
because we believe she opens the abyss of God’s mercy
to whomever she wills, when she wills and as she wills.
No sinner — no matter how great —
who has Mary as protector, is ever lost.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) – Doctor of the Church

the church calls mary the queen of mercy - st bernard - 4 sept 2018

Prayer to Our Lady of Consolation

O Mary Immaculate, our Mother and Consolation,
I take refuge in your most loving heart
with all the confidence of which I am capable;
you shall be the dearest object
of my love and veneration.
To you, who are the dispenser
of the treasures of Heaven,
I shall always have recourse,
in my sorrows to have peace,
in my doubts to have light,
in my dangers to be defended,
in all my needs to obtain your assistance.
Be therefore my refuge,
my strength,
my consolation, O Mary the Consoler!
At the hour of my death,
graciously receive the last sighs of my heart
and obtain for me a place in your heavenly home,
where all hearts shall praise with one accord
the adorable Heart of Jesus forevermore,
and your most lovable heart, O Mary.
Our tender Mother, Comforter of the afflicted,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Grant also peace and holiness to the Church,
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amenprayer top our lady of consolation - 4 september 2018

Mary, our Consolation and our Comforter, Pray for us!

Pope Benedict on Our Lady of Consolation here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/09/04/thought-for-the-day-4-september-the-feast-of-our-lady-of-consolation/mary-our-consolation-pray-for-us- 4 sept 2017

 

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 4 September – The Memorial of St Rose of Viterbo T.O.S.F. (c 1233 – 1251)

Quote of the Day – 4 September

The Memorial of St Rose of Viterbo T.O.S.F. (c 1233 – 1251)

“Live so as not to fear death.
For those who live well in the world,
death is not frightening
but sweet and precious.”

St Rose of Viterbo (c 1233 – 1251)live so as not to fear death - st rose of viterbo - 4 sept 2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 September – Today’s Gospel: Luke 4:31–37 – Tuesday of the Twenty-second week in Ordinary Time

One Minute Reflection – 4 September – Today’s Gospel: Luke 4:31–37 – Tuesday of the Twenty-second week in Ordinary Time and the Memorial of Our Lady of Consolation

And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”…Luke 4:36and they were all amazed - luke 4 36 - 4 sept 2018

REFLECTION – “The power of Jesus confirms the authority of His teaching.   He does not just speak with words but He takes action.    In the Gospel in fact, we see that in His earthly mission, Jesus reveals the love of God both through preaching and through countless gestures of attention and aid to the sick, the needy, children and sinners.
Jesus is our Teacher, powerful in word and deed.   Jesus imparts to us all the light that illuminates the sometimes dark paths of our lives.   He also transmits to us the necessary strength to overcome difficulties, trials and temptations.   Let us consider what a great grace it is for us to have known this God who is so powerful and so good!   A teacher and a friend who shows us the path and takes care of us especially when we are in need.
May the Virgin Mary, the woman of listening, help us to create silence around us and within us, in order to hear, through the din of the messages of the world, the most authoritative word that there is:  that of her Son Jesus, who proclaims the meaning of our existence and delivers us from all slavery, even that of the Evil one.”...Pope Francis – Angelus, 28 January 2018Jesus is our teacher - pope francis - 4 sept 2018

PRAYER – True Light of the world, Lord Jesus Christ, as You enlighten all men for their salvation, give us grace, we pray, to live in Your Light and follow Your teachings.   May Your Mother and ours, help us to hear Your Voice and teach us to enclose our hearts in silence and thus hear Your Voice.   You, Who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever, amen.our lady of consolation pray for us.2

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Uncategorized

Our Morning Offering – 4 September

Our Morning Offering – 4 September

The prayer below, was written by Saint Thomas More while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, awaiting execution by King Henry VIII.

Give me the grace, good Lord!
By St Thomas More (1478-1535)

Give me the grace, good Lord.
To set the world at naught.
To set the mind firmly on You
and not to hang upon the words of men’s mouths.
To be content to be solitary.
Not to long for worldly pleasures.
Little by little utterly to cast off the world
and rid my mind of all its business.
Not to long to hear of earthly things
but that the hearing of worldly fancies
may be displeasing to me.
Gladly to be thinking of God,
piteously to call for His help.
To lean into the comfort of God.
Busily to labour to love Him.
To know my own vileness and wretchedness.
To humble myself under the mighty hand of God.
To bewail my sins and, for the purging of them,
patiently to suffer adversity.
Gladly to bear my purgatory here.
To be joyful in tribulations.
To walk the narrow way that leads to life.
To have the last thing in remembrance.
To have ever before my eyes,
my death that is ever at hand.
To make death no stranger to me.
To foresee and consider the everlasting fire of Hell.
To pray for pardon before the judge comes.
To have continually in mind,
the passion that Christ suffered for me.
For His benefits unceasingly to give Him thanks.
To buy the time again that I have lost.
To abstain from vain conversations.
To shun foolish mirth and gladness.
To cut off unnecessary recreations.
Of worldly substance, friends, liberty, life and all,
to set the loss at naught, for the winning of Christ.
To think my worst enemies my best friends,
for the brethren of Joseph could never have done him
so much good with their love and favour,
as they did him with their malice and hatred.
These minds are more to be desired of every man,
than all the treasures of all the princes and kings,
Christian and heathen,
were it gathered and laid together, all in one heap.
Amengive me the grace good lord - st thomas more - 4 sept 2018 - new version