Category: MORNING Prayers

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, The WORD

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent – 21 December

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent – 21 December
“The Lord is at hand, come let us adore Him.”

Meditation:
My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my fair one,
and come away;
for lo, the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone…”...Song of Solomon 2:10-11

Our God loves us – with “enduring love.”
Our God is in a relationship with us that is faithful, forgiving, healing.
Let us accept it, surrender to its power, and feel the joy
and freedom growing in our hearts.

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me... Psalm. 30

Today’s Daily Reflection – Intercessions:
Christ is the wisdom and power of God and His delight is to
be with the children of men. With confidence, let us pray:
Draw near us, Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, You have called us to Your glorious kingdom,
– make us walk worthily, pleasing God in all we do.
You who stand unknown among us,
– reveal yourself to men and women.
You are nearer to us than we to ourselves,
– strengthen our faith and our hope of salvation.
You are the source of holiness,
– keep us holy and without sin now and until the day
of Your coming.

O Radiant Dawn,
splendour of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those
who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of deatho radiant dawn - 21 dec 2017

Closing Prayer:
God of salvation,
You promise us strength
and courage in our lives
if only I ask.
You forgive me
and touch me with Your enduring love.
My past life does not matter.
You have forgiven me
and You love me with such tenderness.
As I ponder the blessings of the days ahead,
and am so grateful for Your forgiveness,
I ask to feel the jubilation and song
break out in my life today.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.thursday of the third week of advent - 21 dec 2017

 

 

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Five – 20 December

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Five – 20 December

Day Five
The Life Of Sorrow Which Jesus Led From His Birth.

Reflection:
Jesus Christ could have saved mankind without suffering and dying.
Yet, in order to prove to us how much He loved us, He chose for Himself a life full of tribulations.
Therefore the prophet Isaias called Him “a man of sorrows,” His whole life was filled with suffering.
His Passion began, not merely a few hours before His death but from the the first moment of His birth.
He was born in a stable where everything served to torment Him.
His sense of sight was hurt by seeing nothing but the rough, black walls of the cave;
His sense of smell was hurt by the stench of the dung from the beasts in the stable;
His sense of touch was hurt by the prickling straw on which He lay.
Shortly after His birth He was forced to flee into Egypt, where He spent several years of His childhood in poverty and misery. His boyhood and early manhood in Nazareth were passed in hard work and obscurity.
And finally, in Jerusalem, He died on a cross, exhausted with pain and anguish.

Thus, then, was the life of Jesus but one unbroken series of sufferings, which were doubly painful because He had ever before His eyes all the sufferings He would have to endure till His death.
Yet, since our Lord had voluntarily chosen to bear these tribulations for our sake, they did not afflict Him as much as did the sight of our sins, by which we have so ungratefully repaid Him for His love towards us.
When the confessor of Saint Margaret of Cortona saw that she never seemed satisfied with all the tears she had already shed for her past sins, he said to her, “Margaret, stop crying and cease your lamenting, for God has surely forgiven you your offenses against Him.”
But she replied, “Father, how can I cease to weep, since I know that my sins kept my Lord Jesus in pain and suffering during all His life?”

Prayer:
O Jesus, my sweet Love!
I too have kept You suffering through all Your life.
Tell me, then, what I must do in order to win Your forgiveness.
I am ready to do all You ask of me.
I am sorry, O sovereign Good, for all the offenses I have committed against You.
I love You more than myself, or a least I feel a great desire to love You.
Since it is You who have given me this desire, grant me too the strength to love You exceedingly.
It is only right that I, who have offended You so much, should love You very much.
Always remind me of the love You have borne me, in order that my soul may ever burn with love of You
and long to please You alone.
O God of love, I, who was once a slave of hell, now give myself all to You.
Graciously accept me and bind me to Yourself with the bonds of Your love.
My Jesus, from this day and forever in loving You will I live and in loving You will I die.
O Mary, my Mother and my hope, help me to love your dear God and mine.
This is the only favour I ask of you and through you I hope to receive it. AmenDAY FIVE NOVENA TO THE CHRIST CHILD - 20 DEC 2017 - NO 2

Posted in ADVENT, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 20 December – The Memorial of St Dominic de Silos (1000-1073)

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Thought for the Day – 20 December – The Memorial of St Dominic de Silos (1000-1073)

St Dominic of Silos came to know God in the solitude of a shepherd boy.    It was this love of solitude that drew him into monastic life where he could be alone with his God.   Most of us are so busy we scarcely have time for Sunday Mass.   We should cultivate a little solitude, too.   It is easy to form habits – is it not?   Especially those that give us pleasure. Our greatest pleasure should be communing with God it too becomes a habit – this one is indispensable!

St Dominic de Silos Pray for us!st dominic de silos pray for us - 20 dec 2017- no 2

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The CHRIST CHILD

Quote of the Day – 20 December – Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 20 December – Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

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

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Doctor of the Churchif we would please this divine infant - st alphonsus - 20 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

One Minute Reflection – 20 December – The Memorial of St Dominic de Silos (1000-1073)

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One Minute Reflection – 20 December – The Memorial of St Dominic de Silos (1000-1073)

You, O God, are my stronghold, my gracious God!………..Psalm 59:18psalm-59-18

REFLECTION – “In tribulations, turn to God with confidence.   You will obtain strength, light and knowledge.
In joys and successes, turn to God with fear and sincerity.   You will escape all snares and be free of everything false.”..St John of the Crossin tribulations - st john of the cross - 20 dec 2017

PRAYER – Heavenly Father, let me turn to You in good times and in bad. Grant that I may always remain in loving union with You no matter what adversity or goodness should befall me. As St Dominic de Silos lived his life, when he was exiled, he found another way to give You honour and through this adversity You filled his work with miracles. So too may it be in my life. St Dominic de Silos Pray for us! Amenst dominic de silos pray for us - 20 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, BREVIARY Prayers, HYMNS, MORNING Prayers

Our Morning Offering – 20 December – Wednesday of the Third Week of Adve

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 20 December – Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

Blessed are the Pure in Heart
By John Keble (1792-1866)

Bless’d are the pure in heart,
For they shall see our God;
The secret of the Lord is theirs,
Their heart is Christ’s abode.

The Lord, who left the heavens,
Our life and peace to bring,
To dwell in lowliness with men,
Their pattern and their King.

He to the lowly soul
Doth still Himself impart,
And for His dwelling and His throne
Chooseth the pure in heart.

Lord, we Thy presence seek;
May ours this blessing be;
Give us a pure and lowly heart,
A temple meet for Thee.blessed are the pure in heart - 20 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The CHRIST CHILD, The WORD

Wednesday of Gaudete Week – 20 December 2017

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Wednesday of Gaudete Week – 20 December 2017

“The Lord is at hand, come let us adore Him.”

Daily Meditation:
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from the God of his salvation.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob….Psalm 24:5-6

We have heard the promises and we have begged for more hope.
Today we pray for His saving help and hear His personal invitation
to turn to Him, to find our safety in Him alone.

How might I yet place my trust in God’s love for me?
How might I yet surrender my independence?
How might my heart grow in anticipation and welcome
of the fullness of His coming to me this year?

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end…Luke 1:32-33

Today’s Daily Reflection – Intercessions:
The Word of God humbled himself to dwell with us so
that we might see his glory.
Rejoicing in hope, let us call upon him:
Emmanuel, be with us.
Ruler, just and righteous,
– bring justice to the poor and the oppressed.
King of peace, You beat swords into plowshares and spears
into pruning hooks,
– turn hatred into love and our grievances into forgiveness.
You do not judge by appearances,
– recognize those who are Your own.
When You come with power and might upon the clouds,
– grant that we may come before You without shame.

O KEY OF DAVID,
and Sceptre of the House of Israel,
who opens and no one shuts,
who shuts and no one opens:
Come and bring forth the captive from his prison,
he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.o key of david - 20 dec 2017

Closing Prayer:
Dearest Lord,
Your invitation settles in my soul:
“Turn to me and be safe.”
Something lets go inside when I take those words into my heart.
They are an invitation for me to rest.
So many moments of my life are filled with my own needs.
“Turn to me and be safe,” You say to me again.
Give me the great grace to let go from the depths of my soul.
Help me to be released
from the demons I cling to with so much fear.
I hear Your invitation to ask for help
and I begin to list all the places in my life that need healing.
“Turn to me and be safe.”
You promise Your saving help
and I know it is the only thing that can heal me.
I feel Your presence in my life
and am aware of the growing joy I feel
as I anticipate celebrating the birth of Your son.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.wednesday of the third week - 20 dec 2017

 

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The CHRIST CHILD

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Four – 19 December

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Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Four – 19 December

Day Four
The Life Of Humiliation Which Jesus Led From His Birth.

Reflection:
The Sign which the angel gave the shepherds to help them find the newborn Saviour, points to His lowliness:  “This shall be a sign to you:  you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”  No other newborn baby who was wrapped in poor swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, a feeding trough for animals, could be found anywhere else but in a stable.   Thus in lowliness the King of heaven, the Son of God, chose to be born, because He came to destroy the pride that had been the cause of man’s ruin.
The prophets had already foretold that our Redeemer was to be treated as the vilest of men on earth and that He was to be overwhelmed with insults.   How much contempt had not Jesus indeed to suffer from men!   He was called a drunkard, a trickster, a blasphemer and a heretic.   What ignominies He endured in His Passion!   His own disciples abandoned Him;  one of them sold Him for thirty pieces of silver and another denied having ever known Him.   He was led in bonds through the streets like a criminal; He was scourged like a slave, ridiculed as a fool, crowned with thorns as a mock king, buffeted and spit upon and finally left to die, hanging on a cross between two thieves, as the worst criminal in the world.   “The noblest of all,” says Saint Bernard, “is treated as the vilest of all.”   But the Saint adds, “The viler Thou are treated, the dearer Thou art to me.   The more I see Thee, my Jesus, despised and put to shame, the more dear and worthy of my love dost Thou become to me.”DAY FOUR NOVENA TO THE CHRIST CHILD - 19 DEC 2017 - NO 2

Prayer:
O Dearest Saviour,
You have embraced so many outrages
for love of me,
yet I have not been able to bear one word of insult
without at once being filled with resentful thought,
I who have so often deserved to be trodden
under foot by the demons in hell!
I am ashamed to appear before You,
sinful and proud as I am.
Yet do not drive me from Your presence, O Lord,
even though that is what I deserve.
You have said, that You will not spurn,
a contrite and humbled heart.
I am sorry for the offenses
I have committed against You.
Forgive me, O Jesus. I will not offend You again.
For love of me You have borne so many injuries;
for love of You, I will bear all the injuries that are done to me.
I love You, Jesus, who was despised for love of me.
I love You above every other good.
Give me the grace to love You always
and to bear every insult for love of You.
O Mary, recommend me to your Son;
pray to Jesus for me.
Amen.

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The CHRIST CHILD, The INCARNATION, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 19 December – Tuesday of Gaudete Week

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Thought for the Day – 19 December – Tuesday of Gaudete Week

St Irenaeus of Lyons (c 130-202) on the Incarnation, the Word of God born for us as Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, Son of Man, the sign of our salvation.   He comes to restore God’s likeness in us and lead us to glory.

God is man’s glory.   Man is the vessel which receives God’s action and all his wisdom and power.

Just as a doctor is judged in his care for the sick, so God is revealed in his conduct with men.   That is Paul’s reason for saying:   God has made the whole world prisoner of unbelief that he may have mercy on all.   He was speaking of man, who was disobedient to God and cast off from immortality and then found mercy, receiving through the Son of God the adoption he brings.

If man, without being puffed up or boastful, has a right belief regarding created things and their divine Creator, who, having given them being, holds them all in his power and if man perseveres in God’s love and in obedience and gratitude to him, he will receive greater glory from him.   It will be a glory which will grow ever brighter until he takes on the likeness of the one who died for him.

He it was who took on the likeness of sinful flesh, to condemn sin and rid the flesh of sin, as now condemned.   He wanted to invite man to take on his likeness, appointing man an imitator of God, establishing man in a way of life in obedience to the Father that would lead to the vision of God and endowing man with power to receive the Father.   He is the Word of God who dwelt with man and became the Son of Man to open the way for man to receive God, for God to dwell with man, according to the will of the Father.

For this reason the Lord himself gave as the sign of our salvation, the one who was born of the Virgin, Emmanuel.  It was the Lord himself who saved them, for of themselves they had no power to be saved.   For this reason Paul speaks of the weakness of man and says:  I know that no good dwells in my flesh, meaning that the blessing of our salvation comes not from us but from God.   Again, he says: I am a wretched man;  who will free me from this body doomed to die?   Then he speaks of a liberator, thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Isaiah says the same:  Hands that are feeble, grow strong!   Knees that are weak, take courage!   Hearts that are faint, grow strong!   Fear not; see, our God is judgement and he will repay.   He himself will come and save us.   He means that we could not be saved of ourselves but only with God’s help.

This excerpt from St Irenaeus’ monumental work, Against Heresies (Lib 3,20, 2-3; SC 34, 342-344) speaks of the incarnation, the birth of the Word of God as Son of Man, as the sign of our salvation.   It is used in the Roman Office of Readings for 19 December one of the last days of Advent.   It was originally written around 185 AD.

St Irenaeus of Lyons
Born about 130, St Irenaeus was one of the most important of the Early Church Fathers of the 2nd Century.   His life reveals the cosmopolitan nature of the Roman Empire at the height of its power.   Though Irenaeus ultimately became bishop of what is now Lyons, in Southern France, he grew up and was educated in Smyrna, located in modern-day Turkey.   There Irenaeus had personal contact with St Polycarp, one of the Apostolic Fathers who in turn knew the Apostle John, son of Zebedee.   Before becoming bishop, Saint Irenaeus apparently studied in Rome where he was influenced by St Justin Martyr. His major work, Against Heresies, which appeared around the year 185 exposed the absurdities of the Gnostic cults of the day and included a strong presentation and defense of Catholic Christianity.   It is the earliest compendium of Christian theology surviving from ancient times and is the first work that cites virtually every book of the Christian writings that we now call the New Testament.   Irenaeus is said to have won the crown of martyrdom around the year 200 AD.   He is honoured in the Roman liturgy on 28 June.he is the word of god - st irenaeus - 19 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES on HUMILITY, The CHRIST CHILD

Quote of the Day – 19 December – Tuesday of Gaudete Week

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 19 December – Tuesday of Gaudete Week

God’s Sign

“God’s sign is His humility.
God’s sign is that He makes himself small;
He becomes a child;
He lets us touch him and He asks for our love.
How we would prefer a different sign,
an imposing, irresistible sign of God’s power and greatness!
But His sign summons us to faith and love
and thus it gives us hope:  this is what God is like.
He has power, He is Goodness itself.
He invites us to become like Him.
Yes indeed, we become like God if we allow ourselves
to be shaped by this sign;
if we ourselves learn humility and hence true greatness;
if we renounce violence and use only the weapons of truth and love.”

Pope Benedict XVI (2009)god's sign - pope benedict - 19 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, BREVIARY Prayers, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The CHRIST CHILD, The INCARNATION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection- 19 December – Tuesday of Gaudete Week

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One Minute Reflection- 19 December – Tuesday of Gaudete Week

Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked…Psalm 71:3-4apsalm 71-3 - 19 dec 2017

REFLECTION – “‘The Lord is near!’   What can the whole year offer us more precious, lovely and joyful?   Christmas is the shining Feast of nature and of life, full of grace and charm.   Everything comes to us from that Child whom his Mother gives to every one of us and presents to the whole world!” …St Pope John XXIIIthe lord is near - st john XXIII - 19 dec 2017

PRAYER – Deepen our faith, Lord God, as we celebrate the great mystery of the Incarnation by which You revealed to the world, the splendour of Your glory, through the Virgin Mary, when she gave birth to Your Son.   As we meditate and pray about Your Son’s coming, help us to grasp its meaning in a way that is personal and profound. Through Him whom You sent to save us, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.   Come, Lord Jesus! Amenrejoice - 19 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MORNING Prayers, POETRY, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The CHRIST CHILD

Our Morning Offering – 19 December – Tuesday of Gaudete Week

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Our Morning Offering – 19 December – Tuesday of Gaudete Week

Hail, Heavenly Beam
9th Century Catholic Advent Prayer
By Cynewulf tr Israel Gollanz

Hail, heavenly beam,
brightest of angels Thou,
sent unto men upon this middle-earth.
Thou art the true refulgence of the sun,
radiant above the stars
and from Thyself illuminest
forever, all the tides of time.
And as Thou, God indeed,
begotten of God,
Thou Son of the true Father,
wast from aye,
without beginning, in the heaven’s glory,
so now Thy handiwork in its sore need
prayeth Thee boldy, that Thou send to us
the radiant sun
and that Thou come Thyself
to enlighten those who for so long a time
went wrapt around with darkness
and here in gloom
have sat the livelong night,
shrouded in sin.hail heavenly beam - cynewulf - 19 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, MORNING Prayers, The WORD

Tuesday of Gaudete Week – 19 December 2017

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Tuesday of Gaudete Week – 19 December 2017
“The Lord is at hand; come, let us adore Him!”

Daily Meditation:
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
for your prayer has been heard.“…Luke 1:13

The Lord’s coming promises us a time
when we need not fear. It will indeed be a time
of purifying, a time of humility and trust in God.
We ask for the grace to be like the child
whose mind is changed and says, “Yes”
to our Lord’s call.
Come, O Lord, do not delay;
forgive the sins of your people.

Today’s Daily Reflection – Intercessions:
God the almighty Father stretched forth his hand again to
take possession of the remnant of his people. Let us
make our prayer to Him:
Lord, may Your kingdom come.

Lord, grant that our works of penance may please You,
– and that we may be ready for Your kingdom which is so near.
Prepare a path in our hearts for the coming of Your Word,
– and let His glory be revealed among us.
Bring low the mountains of our pride,
– and fill up the valleys of our weakness.
Break down the wall of hatred that divides the nations,
-and make level for mankind the paths to peace.

O ROOT OF JESSE,
that stands for an ensign of the people,
before whom the kings keep silence
and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication:
Come, to deliver us, and tarry not.o root of jesse - 19 dec 2017.jpg

Closing Prayer:
Lord of such compassionate wisdom,
How often do I exalt myself and ignore You?
I look over the heads of my more humble brothers and sisters,
not seeing how they rely on You so much more than I do.
Help me to learn from them to make You
the centre of my life.
You invite me to not be ashamed
of what I have done in my life,
but instead offer me a refuge.
Let me call out to you; hear me:
Give me the grace to see those around me
who are brokenhearted.
Guide me in staying with them in their sorrows.
I ask for the courage to help them in all the ways they need it
and to be Your servant on this earth.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amentuesday of gaudete week - 19 dec 2017

 

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The CHRIST CHILD

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Three – 18 December

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Three – 18 December

Day Three
The Life Of Poverty Which Jesus Led From His Birth.

Reflection:
God so ordained that, at the time when His Son was to be born on this earth, the Roman emperor should issue a decree ordering everyone to go to the place of his origin and there be registered in the census.   Thus it came about that, in obedience to this decree, Joseph went to Bethlehem together with his virgin wife when she was soon to have her Child.
Finding no lodging either in the poor inn or in the other houses of the town, they were forced to spend the night in a cave that was used as a stable for animals and it was here that Mary gave birth to the King of heaven.   If Jesus had been born in Nazareth,   He would also, it is true, have been born in poverty but there He would at least have had a dry room, a little fire, warm clothes and a more comfortable cradle.   Yet He chose to be born in this cold, damp cave and to have a manger for a cradle, with prickly straw for a mattress, in order that He might suffer for us.

Let us enter in spirit into this cave of Bethlehem but let us enter in a spirit of lively faith.
If we go there without faith, we shall see nothing but a poor infant
and the sight of this lovely child shivering
and crying on his rough bed of straw may indeed move us to pity.
But if we enter with faith and consider that this Babe is the very Son, God,
who for love of us has come down on earth
and suffers so much to pay the penalty for our sins,
how can we help thanking and loving Him in return?DAY THREE NOVENA TO THE CHRIST CHILD - 18 DEC 2017

Prayer:
O Dear Infant Jesus,
how could I be so ungrateful and offend You so often,
if I realised how much You have suffered for me?
But these tears which You shed,
this poverty which you embraced for love of me,
make me hope for the pardon of all the offences
I have committed against You.
My Jesus,
I am sorry for having so often turned my back on You.
But now I love You above all else.
“My God and my all!”
From now on You, O my God,
shall be my only treasure and my only good.
With Saint Ignatius of Loyola I will say to You,
“Give me the grace to love You; that is enough for me.”
I long for nothing else;
I want nothing else.
You alone are enough for me,
my Jesus, my life, my love.
O Mary, my Mother,
obtain for me the grace
that I may always love Jesus
and always be loved by Him. Amen

Posted in ADVENT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 18 December – The Memorial of Bl Giulia Nemesia Valle (1847-1916) – Called “the Angel of Charity”

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Quote/s of the Day – 18 December – The Memorial of Bl Giulia Nemesia Valle (1847-1916) – Called “the Angel of Charity”

“It is better to err by excess of mercy
than by excess of severity. . .
Wilt thou become a Saint?
Be severe to thyself but kind to others.”

“Mercy imitates God and disappoints Satan.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Churchmercy-imitates-god-st-john-chrysostom-17-nov-2017

” Love is itself the fulfillment of all our works.
There is the goal;
that is why we run:
we run toward it and once we reach it,
in it we shall find rest.

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Churchlove-is-itself-st-augustine-17-nov-2017

“Lord, I am in this world to show Your mercy to others…
For my part I will glorify You by making known
how good You are to sinners, that Your mercy is boundless.”

St Claude de la Colombiere S.J. (1641-1682)lord-i-am-in-this-world-st-claude-de-la-colombiere-17-nov-2017

Posted in ADVENT, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 18 December – The Memorial of Bl Giulia Nemesia Valle (1847-1916)

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One Minute Reflection – 18 December – The Memorial of Bl Giulia Nemesia Valle (1847-1916)

Abide in me and I in you.   As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me…John 15:4

REFLECTION – “Keep a quick pace, without looking behind and concentrate on the one goal -God Alone!   To Him the glory, to the others joy, for me to pay the price and never make others suffer.   I shall be very strict with myself and full of charity towards the others – love gratuitously offered is the only thing that remains.” – Bl Giulia Nemesia Valle (1847-1916)keep a quick pace - bl giulia - 18 dec 2017

PRAYER – Heavenly Father, grant we pray, that we may always cling with all our strength to You. Teach us to see the face of Your Son in all, to be a vehicle of love to all.   Blessed Giulia, such was your life of charity and love, please pray for us, amenbl giulia valle - pray for us

Posted in ADVENT, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRISTMASTIDE!, HYMNS, MORNING Prayers, The CHRIST CHILD

Our Morning Offering – Monday of Gaudete Week – 18 December

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Our Morning Offering – Monday of Gaudete Week – 18 December

6th Century Catholic Advent Hymn
tr. E Caswall (1814-1878)

Hark! a Herald voice is calling;
‘Christ is nigh!’ it seems to say,
‘Cast away the dreams of darkness,
waken, children of the day!’

Startled at the solemn warning,
let the earth-bound soul arise.
Christ her Sun, all sloth dispelling,
shines upon the morning skies.

Lo!, the Lamb so long expected,
comes with pardon down from heaven.
Let us meet Him with repentance,
pray that we may be forgiven.

So when next He comes with glory,
wrapping all the earth in fear.
May He then as our Defender,
on the clouds of heav’n appear.

Honour, glory, praise and blessing,
to the Father and the Son,
with the everlasting Spirit,
while unending ages run.hark a herald voice is calling - 6th cent hymn - 18 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, MORNING Prayers

Gaudete Week – Monday 18 December

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Gaudete Week – Monday 18 December

“The Lord is at hand, come let us adore him.”

Daily Meditation:
Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David...Jeremia 23:5

The longing of God’s people lead to a hope
that God would save them.
God would replace their corrupt kings
and send them a saviour.
May our longing these days bring us closer
to our God’s desire to save us,
to shine the Light of Christ
on the darkness of our sin.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.…Psalm 72:12-13

Today’s Daily Reflection – Intercessions:
Christ the Lord, Son of the living God, light from light,
lead us into the light and reveal His holiness.
With confidence, let us make our prayer:
Come, Lord Jesus!
Light that never fades, dispel the mists about us,
– awaken our faith from sleep.
Guard us from all harm today,
– may Your glory fill us with joy.
Give us unfailing gentleness at all times,
– toward everyone we meet.
Come to create a new earth for us,
-where there will be justice and peace.

O LORD AND RULER
of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with outstretched arms.o lord and ruler - 18 december

Closing Prayer:
Is it that I haven’t seen You, God?
Have I been looking someplace else for You?
Or have my eyes been covered
by the distractions in my life?
And yet You are so faithful in Your love for me.
I see now with a new vision and great hope,
because my heart is enraptured by Your love.
I pray to You and feel the power of Your coming,
like a light on the path before me
guiding me to return Your love even more.
Let me raise my voice
with new courage and deep joy
to give You praise with my life.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.monday of gaudete week - 18 dec

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The CHRIST CHILD

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Two – 17 December

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Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Two – 17 December

Day Two
God’s Love Revealed In His Being Born An Infant.

Reflection:

When the Son of God became man for our sake, He could have come to earth as an adult man from the first moment of of His human existence, as Adam did when he was created.  But since the sight of little children draws us with a special attraction to love them, Jesus chose to make His first appearance on earth as a little infant and indeed as the poorest and most pitiful infant that was ever born.
“God wished to be born as a little babe,” wrote Saint Peter Chrysologus, “in order that He might teach us to love and not to fear Him.”
The prophet Isaiah had long before foretold that the Son of God was to be born as an infant and thus give Himself to us on account of the love He bore us:  “A child is born to us, a son is given to us.”

My Jesus, supreme and true God!
What has drawn You from heaven to be born in a cold stable, if not the love which You bear for us men?
What has allured You from the bosom of Your Father, to place You in a hard manger?
What has brought You from Your throne above the stars, to lay You down on a little straw?
What has led You from the midst of the nine choirs of angels, to set You between two animals?
You, who inflames the seraphim with holy fire, are now shivering with cold in this stable!
You, who sets the stars in the sky in motion, cannot now move unless others carry You in their arms!
You, who give men and beasts their food, has need now a little milk to sustain Your life!
You, who are the joy of heaven, do now whimper and cry in suffering!
Tell me, who has reduced You to such misery?
“Love has done it,” says Saint Bernard.
The love which You bear us men has brought all this on You!DAY TWO NOVENA TO THE CHRIST CHILD - 17 DEC 2017

Prayer:

O Dearest Infant!
Tell me, what have You come on earth to do?
Tell me, whom do You seek?
Yes, I already know.
You have come to die for me, in order to save me from hell.
You have come to seek me, the lost sheep, so that,
instead of fleeing from You, I may rest in Your loving arms.
Ah my Jesus, my treasure, my life, my love and my all!
Whom will I love, if not You?
Where can I find a brother, a friend,
a spouse more loving and lovable than You are?

I love You, my dear God; I love You, my only good.
I regret the many years when I have not loved You
but rather spurned and offended You.
Forgive me, O my beloved Redeemer;
for I am sorry that I have treated You thus and I regret it with all my heart.
Pardon me and give me the grace never more to withdraw from You
but constantly to love You in all the years that still lie before me in this life.
My love, I give myself entirely to You;
accept me and do not reject me as I deserve.
O Mary, you are my advocate.
By your prayers you obtain whatever you wish from your Son.
Pray to Him then to forgive me
and to grant me holy perseverance until death. Amen

Posted in ADVENT, BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Thought for the Day – 17 December – Gaudete Sunday and the “O Antiphons” (17-24 December)

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Thought for the Day – 17 December – Gaudete Sunday and the “O Antiphons” (17-24 December)

17 December marks the beginning of the “O” Antiphons an ancient part of our liturgy, dating back to the fourth century, one for each day until Christmas Eve.   These antiphons address Christ with seven magnificent Messianic titles, based on the Old Testament prophecies and types of Christ.   The Church recalls the variety of the ills of man before the coming of the Redeemer.   The antiphons beg God with mounting impatience to come and save His people.   The order of the antiphons climb climatically through our history of Redemption.

In the first, O Sapientia, O Wisdom, we take a backward flight into the recesses of eternity to address Wisdom, the Word of God.
In the second, O Adonai, O Lord of Israel, we have leaped from eternity to the time of Moses and the Law of Moses (about 1400 B.C.).
In the third, O Radix Jesse, O Root of Jesse, we have come to the time when God was preparing the line of David (about 1100 B.C.).
In the fourth, O Clavis David, O Key of David, we have come to the year 1000.
In the fifth, O Oriens, O Radiant Dawn, we see that the line of David is elevated so that the peoples may look on a rising star in the east and hence in the sixth, O Rex Gentium, O King of All Nations, we know that He is king of all the world of man.
This brings us to the evening before the vigil
and before coming to the town limits of Bethlehem,
we salute Him with the last Great O, O Emmanuel, God-with-us (from He Cometh by Fr McGarry).o antiphons

As Elsa Chaney in Twelve Days of Christmas states, “They seem to sum up all our Advent longing as they paint in vivid terms the wretched condition of mankind and his need of a Saviour.”

The “O” Antiphons are the verses for the ancient hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
The first letter of the Messianic titles:
Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia—spell out Latin words ERO CRAS, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.”

A small and simple way to celebrate the great tradition of the “O Antiphons” is to add them to the your Advent Wreath prayer with your family.

O Come, o Come Emmanuel! – “Tomorrow, I will come.”ero cras - tomororow i will come - 17 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The CHRIST CHILD, The INCARNATION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 17 December – Gaudete Sunday

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 December – Gaudete Sunday

“Gaudete in Domino semper”

“Rejoice in the Lord always”

Philippians 4:4-5philippians 4 4-5

“The very Son of God,
older than the ages,
the invisible,
the incomprehensible,
the incorporeal,
the beginning of beginning,
the light of light,
the fountain of life and immortality,
the image of the archetype,
the immovable seal,
the perfect likeness,
the definition and word of the Father:
He it is who comes to His own image
and takes our nature for the good of our nature
and unites Himself to an intelligent soul
for the good of my soul,
to purify like by like.”

St Gregory of Nazianzen (330-390) Father and Doctor of the Churchthe very son of god - st gregory of naziazen

Posted in ADVENT, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 December – The Memorial of St Josep Manyanet (1833-1901)

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One Minute Reflection – 17 December – The Memorial of St Josep Manyanet (1833-1901)

“The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”…John 14: 26

REFLECTION – “From the beginning, the Holy Spirit has brought forth men and women who have remembered and spread the truth revealed by Jesus.   One of these was St Josep Manyanet, a true apostle of the family.   Inspired by the school of Nazareth, he carried out his plan of personal sanctity and heroically devoted himself to the mission that the Spirit entrusted to him.   He founded two religious congregations.   A visible symbol of his apostolic zeal is also the temple of the Holy Family of Barcelona…St John Paul at the Canonisation Mass, 16 May 2004st john paul on st josep manyanet - 17 dec 2017

PRAYER – Holy God, we pray for all families, most especially our fellow Catholic families, that they may live as their model – the Holy Family of Nazareth.   May St Josep Manyanet bless all families and help them follow the example of the Holy Family in their homes! Grant this we pray, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.st josep manyanet pray for us

Posted in ADVENT, BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MARIAN PRAYERS, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 17 December – Gaudete Sunday

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Our Morning Offering – 17 December – Gaudete Sunday

Alma Redemptoris Mater
(Loving Mother of the Redeemer)

Loving mother of the Redeemer,
gate of heaven,
star of the sea,
assist your people
who have fallen
yet strive to rise again.
To the wonderment of nature
you bore your Creator,
Yet remained a virgin
after as before.
You who received
Gabriel’s joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.

Marian Antiphon Traditionally Said from Advent to CandlemasALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER - 17 DEC 2017

Posted in ADVENT, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The WORD

Gaudete Sunday – the Third Sunday of Advent – 17 December 2017

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Gaudete Sunday – the Third Sunday of Advent – 17 December 2017

“The Lord is at hand: come, let us adore him.”

Gaudete Week
Our week begins with “Gaudete Sunday.” Gaudete means “rejoice” in Latin.   It comes from the first word of the Entrance antiphon on Sunday.   The spirit of joy that begins this week comes from the words of Paul, “The Lord is near.”   This joyful spirit is marked by the third candle of our Advent wreath, which is rose coloured, and the rose coloured vestments often used at the Eucharist.
The second part of Advent begins on 17 December each year.   For the last eight days before Christmas, the plan of the readings changes.   The first readings are still from the prophesies but now the gospels are from the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke. We read the stories of faithful women and men who prepared the way for our salvation. We enter into the story of how Jesus’ life began.   These stories are filled with hints of what His life will mean for us.   Faith and generosity overcome impossibility.   Poverty and persecution reveal glory.gaudete sunday

Mary said:
“My being proclaims
the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit finds joy
in God my saviour,
For he has looked upon
his servant in her lowliness;
all ages to come shall
call me blessed.
God who is mighty
has done great things for me,
holy is his name;
His mercy is from age to age
on those who fear him.
He has shown
might with his arm;
he has confused the proud
in their inmost thoughts.
He has deposed the mighty
from their thrones
and raised the lowly
to high places.
The hungry he has given
every good thing,
while the rich
he has sent empty away.
He has upheld Israel his servant,
ever mindful of his mercy;
Even as he promised our fathers,
promised Abraham and
his descendants forever.”
Luke 1:46-50

Daily Meditation:

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks…1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We begin this third week of Advent asking to feel the joy
that comes from knowing our Lord’s coming to us is near.
In these precious days ahead, we are praying, longing, hoping
in the background of our everyday lives.
His mission is to the poor, the brokenhearted, prisoners and captives.
His mission is for us.
It is “good news,” full of healing, liberty and release.
We can smile today as we imagine the freedom He has won for us
and how liberating it will be to live it, with Him, for others.
It is right to give our God thanks and praise.

The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it… 1 Thessalonians 5:24

As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations. Isaiah 61:19-11

Today’s Daily Reflection – Intercessions:
To God our Father, who has given us the grace
to wait in graceful hope for the revelation of
our Lord Jesus Christ, let us make our prayer:
Show us your mercy, Lord.
Sanctify us in mind and body,
– keep us without sin until the coming of Your Son.
Make us walk this day in holiness,
– and live upright and devout lives in this world.
May we be clothed in our Lord Jesus Christ,
– and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Lord, help us to stand watchful and ready,
– until Your Son is revealed in all His glory.

O WISDOM
You came forth from the mouth of the Most High
and reaching from beginning to end,
You ordered all things mightily and sweetly.
Come and teach us the way of prudenceO WISDOM - 17 DEC 2017

Closing Prayer:
I lift my heart up to You, Lord,
to thank You for the blessings
You shower on me each day.
You are the ‘joy of my soul.’
I know that in Your great love,
I am held and protected by You.
I pray and listen to the good news You send;
I ask and feel the healing.
I am freed by You
from the things in this world
that let me hide from You.
I rejoice, I rejoice, down to my soul.
Help me to prepare my heart
to be open and able to receive Your immense love.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.gaudete sunday - 17 dec 2017

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Happy 81st Birthday Papa Francis! 17 December 2017

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Happy 81st Birthday Papa Francis! 17 December 2017

O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, look down, in Your mercy, upon Your servant, Pope Francis, whom You have appointed to preside over Your Church and grant, we beseech You, that today on his 81st Birthday, You will bless him and protect him.

May he, both by word and example, edify all those under his charge; so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may arrive at length unto life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Congratulations Pope Francis!81 today PAPA FRANCIS- 17 dec 2017

Before ending his visit to Myanmar on 30 November this year, Pope Francis turned to the nation’s young Catholics, urging them to pursue lives of faith, hope and love.

Celebrating Mass in Yangon’s St Mary’s Cathedral, the pope asked the youth to serve their tiny church and their struggling nation with prayer, solidarity and a defense of human rights.

The cathedral was packed full of teenagers and young adults, many of whom were wearing traditional outfits.   Despite their numbers, the atmosphere was hushed except for the chirping of birds in the trees outside the open windows.   Thousands of young people also filled the gardens surrounding the cathedral, hoping for a close-up encounter with the pope.

In his homily, Pope Francis, whose 81st birthday is less than three weeks away, said he wanted to speak to the young as a grandfather.   The Bible, he told them, “asks us to think about our place in God’s plan” and to proclaim God’s love and mercy.

“As messengers of this good news, you are ready to bring a word of hope to the church, to your own country and to the wider world.” he said. “You are ready to bring good news to your suffering brothers and sisters who need your prayers and your solidarity but also your enthusiasm for human rights, for justice and for the growth of that love and peace which Jesus brings.”

Pope Francis’ grandfatherly advice to them was to find a place away from the noise and distractions of modern life where they could learn to listen to God in prayer.   And he encouraged them to rely on the help of the saints, who were men and women who made mistakes but learned to trust in God’s mercy.

“You know that Jesus is full of mercy,” the pope told the young people. “So share with him all that you hold in your hearts: your fears and your worries, as well as your dreams and your hopes.

“Cultivate your interior life, as you would tend a garden or a field,” the pope continued. “This takes time;  it takes patience.    But like a farmer who waits for the crops to grow, if you wait the Lord will make you bear much fruit, a fruit you can then share with others.”

Finally, Pope Francis told them, be young and be bold.

“Do not be afraid to make a ruckus, to ask questions that make people think,” he said. “And don’t worry if sometimes you feel that you are few and far between.   The Gospel always grows from small beginnings.   So make yourselves heard.”

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The CHRIST CHILD

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day One – 16 December

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Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day One – 16 December

DAY ONE
God’s Love Revealed In His Becoming Man

Reflection:
Because our first parent Adam, had rebelled against God, he was driven out of paradise and brought on himself and all his descendants the punishment of eternal death. ,,But the son of God, seeing man thus lost and wishing to save him from death, offered to take upon Himself our human nature and to suffer death Himself, condemned as a criminal on a cross.

“But, My Son,” we may imagine the eternal Father saying to Him, “think of what a life of humiliations and sufferings You wilt have to lead on earth. You wilL have to be born in a cold stable and laid in a manger, the feeding trough of beasts.
While still an infant, You wilL have to flee into Egypt, to escape the hands of Herod.
After Your return from Egypt, You will have to live and work in a shop as a lowly servant, poor and despised.
And finally, worn out with sufferings, You will have to give up Your life on a cross, put to shame and abandoned by everyone.“
“Father,” replies the Son, “all this matters not. I will gladly bear it all, if only I can save man.“

What should we say if a prince, out of compassion for a dead worm, were to choose to become a worm himself and give his own life blood in order to restore the worm to life? But the eternal Word has done infinitely more than this for us. Although He is the Sovereign Lord of the world, He chose to become like us, who are immeasurably more beneath Him than a worm is beneath a prince and He was willing to die for us, in order to win back the life of divine grace that we had lost by sin.

When He saw, that all the other gifts which He had bestowed on us, were not sufficient, to induce us to repay His love with love, He became man Himself and gave all of Himself to us.

“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us;”
“He loved us and delivered Himself up for us.“

O Great Son of God,
You became man in order to make Yourself loved by men.
But where is the love that men give You in return?
You gave Your life blood to save our souls.
Why then are we so unappreciative that,
instead of repaying You with love,
we spurn You with ingratitude?
And I, Lord, I myself more than others have ill treated You.
But Your Passion is my hope.
For the sake of that love which led You to take upon Yourself
human nature and to die for me on the cross,
forgive me all the offenses I have committed against You.
I love You, O Word Incarnate;
I love You, O infinite goodness.
Out of love for You, that I could die of grief for these offenses.
Give me, O Jesus, Your love.
Let me no longer live in ungrateful
forgetfulness of the love You bear me.
I wish to love You always.
Grant that I may always preserve in this holy desire.
O Mary, Mother of God and my Mother,
pray for me that Your Son, may give me,
the grace to love Him always, unto death.
Amen.

Posted in ADVENT, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 16 December – Saturday of the Second Week of Advent – The Roots of Faith

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Thought for the Day – 16 December – Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

The Roots of Faith

Once again, O Lord of hosts;
look down from heaven and see;
Take care of this vine
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man, whom you yourself made strong.
Psalm 80:15-16

What does it mean to be a CATHOLIC?
Jesus gave the best definition of the term when He said:
“In my Father’s house there are many rooms.”
This is not a description of a certain geography of heaven
but a revelation of the breadth of God’s heart….

To belong to a Church is to be loyal to many things, not just one thing.
A healthy member of a church community does not pick, in an “either/or fashion”
between having boundaries or emphasising freedom,
between believing in defined doctrines or emphasising individual conscience,
between the gift of legitimate institutionalised authority or the importance of individual charisma,
between the role of ordained ministers and the priesthood of all people,
between the needs of the local community and the needs of the larger universal Church,
between what the gifted artist brings to the community and what the poorest of the poor brings,
between liberal and conservative,
between old and new,
or even between what is being said by those church members who are still alive
and those who have died but with whom we are still in communion.

To be a member of the Church, is not to choose among these.
It is to CHOOSE THEM ALL!
Like our God in heaven, we too need a heart with many rooms.

Lord Jesus, give Your people hearts to embrace one another,
to embrace Your Holy Church and all its teachings, its works and its words
and to invite everyone in. Amen.

(Excerpted from Fr Ronald Rolheiser’s “Light for the World”)the roots of faith - sat of second week advent - 16 dec 2017

 

 

Posted in ADVENT, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS

Quote/s of the Day – 16 December – Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 December – Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

“If we wish to make any progress in the service of God
we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness.
We must keep ourselves in the presence of God
as much as possible and have no other view
or end in all our actions but the divine honour.”if we wish to make - st charles borromeo - 16 dec 2017

“We must meditate before,
during and after everything we do.
The prophet says:
“I will pray, and then I will understand.”
This is the way we can easily overcome
the countless difficulties we have to face
day after day, which, after all, are part of our work.
In meditation, we find the strength,
to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in others.”

St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)we must meditate - st charles borromeo - 16 dec 2017

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, HYMNS, MORNING Prayers, POETRY, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 16 December – Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

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Our Morning Offering – 16 December – Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

A 10th Century Catholic Advent Prayer

Unknown Author

You are our eternal salvation,
The unfailing light of the world.
Light everlasting,
You are truly our redemption.
Grieving that the human race was perishing
through the tempter’s power,
without leaving the heights
You came to the depths
in Your loving kindness.
Readily taking our humanity
by Your gracious will,
You saved all earthly creatures,
long since lost,
Restoring joy to the world.
Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ,
and so possess us as Your shining dwellings.
By Your first coming, make us righteous;
At Your second coming, set us free:
So that, when the world is filled with light
and You judge all things,
We may be clad in spotless robes
and follow in Your steps, O King,
Into the heavenly hall.   Amen10th cent advent prayer - you are our eternal salvation - 16 dec 2017

 

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Saturday of the Second Week of Advent – 16 December

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Saturday of the Second Week of Advent – 16 December
“Let us adore the Lord, the King who is to come.”

Daily Meditation:
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

God seems to like to prepare the way for our salvation.
We can experience prophets, even Elijah’s on fire with God’s word.
What are the messages, the stirrings, the signs of fire
that are preparing the way for the Lord to enter my life these days?
Can we make friends with these preparations for the Lord?

Blessed is he who shall have seen you
and who falls asleep in your friendship...Sirach 48:11

Today’s Daily Reflection – Intercessions:
To Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who will come again in
glory with great power, let us make our humble prayer:
Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord Jesus, You will come with great power,
– look on our lowliness and make us worthy of Your gifts.

You came to be the good news for mankind,
– may we always proclaim Your saving work.

You are worthy of praises, for You have life and rule all
things,
– help us to wait in joyful hope for the coming of Your
glory.

We long for the grace of Your coming,
– console us with the gift of Your own divine life.

Closing Prayer:
Jesus,
in the darkness of these Advent nights
let me be guided by the light of Your word.
Give me the humility to be led by You
and the wisdom to learn from You.
I feel Your light in my life
and in the world.
I am grateful for the Saviour who awaits us,
and eagerly await the time of rejoicing.
Let me look forward in hope
and turn to You with great trust,
knowing You will guide my steps
along the unknown path of this day.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

“Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.”sat of the second week - 16 dec 2017