Quote/s of the Day – 16 October – The Memorials of St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) and St Gerard Majella (1725-1755)
“All for the Eucharist nothing for me.”
“Announce it and let it be announced to the whole world, that I set neither limit nor measure to my gifts of grace, for those who seek them in my Heart.” Revelations of Our Lord to St Margaret Mary Alacoque
“The Sacred Heart is the symbol of that boundless love which moved the Word to take flesh, to institute the Holy Eucharist, to take our sins upon Himself and, dying on the Cross, to offer Himself as a victim and sacrifice to the eternal Father.”
“Let every knee bend before You, O greatness of my God, so supremely humbled in the Sacred Host. May every heart love You, every spirit adore You and every will be subject to You!
“The Most Blessed Sacrament is Christ made visible. The poor sick person is Christ again made visible.”
“Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?”
“Consider the shortness of time, the length of eternity and reflect how everything here below comes to an end and passes by. Of what use is it to lean upon that, which cannot give support? “
NOVENA to St John Paul the Great: DAY FOUR – 16 OCTOBER
Little Known Fact #4: In his second assignment as a newly ordained priest, Father Karol Wojtyla took a new approach to training altar boys. He would hold frequent evenings of instruction, whereby one priest would give catechesis to the boys while another priest taught the parents educational psychology as well as catechesis in the liturgy. In addition to these meetings, Father Wojtyla and the other parish priests would take the boys on outings. This model proved to be a great success as the number of altar boys went from 10 in 1946 to 100 in 1952.
REFLECTION: ” In the first years of his pontificate, still young and full of energy, the Holy Father went to the very ends of the earth, guided by Christ. But afterwards, he increasingly entered into the communion of Christ’s sufferings; increasingly he understood the truth of the words: “Someone else will fasten a belt around you.” And in this very communion with the suffering Lord, tirelessly and with renewed intensity, he proclaimed the Gospel, the mystery of that love which goes to the end (cf Jn 13:1).” – Pope Benedict
Let us Pray:
O Holy Trinity, we thank You for having given to the Church Pope John Paul II and for having made him shine with Your fatherly tenderness, the glory of the Cross of Christand the splendour of the Spirit of love.
He, trusting completely in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, has shown himself in the likeness of Jesus the Good Shepherd and has pointed out to us the way of holiness as the path to reach eternal communion with You Grant us, through his intercession, according to Your will, the grace that we implore,
………………….. [state your intention here].
Continue, beloved St John Paul, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God’s people. We praise and thank You Father that St John Paul has been numbered among Your saints and make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God forever.
Totus Tuus, Amen
Quote Day Four: “A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members; and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying.”
One Minute Reflection – 16 October – The Memorial of St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690)
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.….Philippians 2:12-13
REFLECTION – “Let us begin in earnest to work out our salvation, for no one will do it for us, since even He Himself, Who made us without ourselves, will not save us without ourselves!”…..St Margaret Mary Alacoque
PRAYER – Lord Jesus Christ, You wondrously revealed all of the deep treasures of Your Heart to St Margaret Mary. May her merits and example win us the grace to love You above all things and in all things so that we may make our abode in Your own Sacred Heart. St Margaret Mary, pray for us that we may live in the Sacred Heart of Christ our Lord. Through You, Lord Jesus, who live and reign forever, in union with God our Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, amen.
Our Morning Offering – 16 October – The Memorial of St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690)
A Salutation TO THE SACRED HEART By St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690)
Hail, Heart of Jesus, save me!
Hail, Heart of my Creator, perfect me!
Hail, Heart of my Saviour, deliver me!
Hail, Heart of my Judge, grant me pardon!
Hail, Heart of my Father, govern me!
Hail, Heart of my Spouse, grant me love!
Hail, Heart of my Master, teach me!
Hail, Heart of my King, be my crown!
Hail, Heart of my Benefactor, enrich me!
Hail, Heart of my Shepherd, guard me!
Hail, Heart of my Friend, comfort me!
Hail, Heart of my Brother, stay with me!
Hail, Heart of the Child Jesus, draw me to Yourself!
Hail, Heart of Jesus dying on the Cross, redeem me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus in all Your states, give Yourself to me!
Hail, Heart of incomparable goodness, have mercy on me!
Hail, Heart of splendour, shine within me!
Hail, most loving Heart, inflame me!
Hail, most merciful Heart, work within me!
Hail, most humble Heart, dwell within me!
Hail, most patient Heart, support me!
Hail, most faithful Heart, be my reward!
Hail, most admirable and most worthy Heart, bless me! Amen
NOVENA to St John Paul the Great: DAY THREE – 15 OCTOBER
Little Known Fact #3: During his fourth year of Theological studies, Karol Wojtyla felt an increasing call to enter a Carmelite monastery. In the same year, one of his good friends, Br Leonard Kowalowka, was appointed Novice Master at a Carmelite monastery. This appointment of his friend prompted Wojtyla to pursue his desire to be a Carmelite. Wojtyla applied to enter the monastery at Czerna but transferring from the Diocesesan seminary to a religious monastery needed the approval of the bishop. Cardinal Sapieha did not give his approval and instead told Wojtyla to “finish what he started.” Wojtyla did exactly that and stayed the path of a Diocesesan priest.
REFLECTION DAY THREE: “In October 1978 Cardinal Wojtyla once again heard the voice of the Lord. Once more there took place that dialogue with Peter reported in the Gospel of this Mass: “Simon, son of John, do you love me? Feed my sheep!” To the Lord’s question, “Karol, do you love me?,” the Archbishop of Krakow answered from the depths of his heart: “Lord you know everything; you know that I love you.” The love of Christ was the dominant force in the life of our beloved Holy Father. Anyone who ever saw him pray, who ever heard him preach, knows that. Thanks to his being profoundly rooted in Christ, he was able to bear a burden which transcends merely human abilities: that of being the shepherd of Christ’s flock, his universal Church.”……..Pope Benedict
Let us Pray:
O Holy Trinity, we thank You for having given to the Church Pope John Paul II and for having made him shine with Your fatherly tenderness, the glory of the Cross of Christand the splendour of the Spirit of love.
He, trusting completely in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, has shown himself in the likeness of Jesus the Good Shepherd and has pointed out to us the way of holiness as the path to reach eternal communion with You Grant us, through his intercession, according to Your will, the grace that we implore,
………………….. [state your intention here].
Continue, beloved St John Paul, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God’s people. We praise and thank You Father that St John Paul has been numbered among Your saints and make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Totus Tuus, Amen.
Quote Day Three: “A person’s rightful due is to be treated as an object of love, not as an object for use.”
Thought for the Day – – 15 October – The Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus/Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church
Since her encounter with Jesus, St Teresa lived “another life”; she become a tireless communicator of the Gospel (cf. Life, 23, 1). Eager to serve the Church and in the face of serious problems of her time, she did not limit herself to being a spectator of the reality around her. In her position as a woman and with her health difficulties, she decided, she said, “to do what little depended on me … that is to follow the evangelical counsels as perfectly as possible and to ensure that these few nuns who are here do the same” (The Way, 1, 2). Thus began the Teresian reform, in which she asked her sisters not to lose time negotiating with God “interests of little importance,” while “the world is in flames” (ibid., 1, 5). This missionary and ecclesial dimension has always marked the Carmelites and Discalced Carmelites.
As she did then, even today the saint opens new horizons for us, she calls us to a great undertaking, to see the world with the eyes of Christ, to seek what He seeks and to love what He loves. (Pope Francis in a letter to to Carmelite Father Xavier Cannistrà)
Ours is a time of turmoil, a time of reform, and a time of liberation. Modern women have in Teresa a challenging example. Promoters of renewal, promoters of prayer, all have in Teresa a woman to reckon with, one whom they can admire and imitate.
Quotes of the Day – 15 October – The Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus/Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church
“Oh my Lord! How true it is that, whoever works for You, is paid in troubles! And what a precious price to those who love You, if we understand its value.”
“There is no such thing as bad weather. All weather is good because it is God’s.”
“There is more value in a little study of humility and in a single act of it, than in all the knowledge in the world.”
“We need no wings to go in search of Him but have only to look upon Him, present within us.”
“Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful, what is certain and turns a very short time into a long one.”
Our Morning Offering – 15 October – The Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus (1515-1582)
To Redeem Lost Time By St Teresa of Jesus (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church
O my God! Source of all mercy!
I acknowledge Your sovereign power.
While recalling the wasted years that are past,
I believe that You, Lord,
can in an instant turn this loss to gain.
Miserable as I am,
yet I firmly believe that You can do all things.
Please restore to me the time lost,
giving me Your grace,
both now and in the future,
that I may appear before You in “wedding garments.”
Amen
One Minute Reflection – 15 October – The Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus/Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church
If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he is always faithful, for he cannot disown his own self..…2 Timothy 2:11-13
REFLECTION – “If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us. He is a true friend. And I clearly see that is we expect to please Him and receive an abundance of His graces, God desires that these graces must come to us from the hands of Christ, through His most sacred humanity, in which God takes delight. All blessings come to us through our Lord. He will teach us, for in beholding His life we find that He is the best example. What more do we desire from such a good friend at our side? Unlike our friends in the world, He will never abandon us when we are troubled or distressed. Blessed is the one who truly loves Him and always keeps Him near. Whenever we think of Christ we should recall the love that led Him to bestow on us so many graces and favours and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of His love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love Him. For if at some time the Lord should grant us the grace of impressing His love on our hearts, all will become easy for us and we shall accomplish great things quickly and without effort.” – Saint Teresa of Jesus
PRAYER – Almighty God, our Father, You sent St Teresa of Jesus to be a witness in the Church to the way of perfection. Sustain us by her spiritual doctrine and kindle in us, the longing for true holiness. Through Christ, our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit. St Teresa pray for us, amen
NOVENA to St John Paul the Great DAY TWO – 14 OCTOBER
Little Known Fact #2: While working in a factory during the Nazi Occupation of Poland, Karol Wojtyla heard that one of his co-workers was expecting a child. The man worked the night shift and found out that his wife gave birth to their child. After a full day of work during the day, Karol told his co-worker to go home to be with his family. Karol then worked the entire night shift in place of the new father. He continued to work the night shift after his own shift until his co-worker’s wife regained her strength and he could return to work.
REFLECTION: ”Follow me! In July 1958 the young priest Karol Wojtyla began a new stage in his journey with the Lord and in the footsteps of the Lord. Follow me – Karol Wojtyla accepted the appointment, for he heard in the Church’s call the voice of Christ. And then he realised how true are the Lord’s words: “Those who try to make their life secure will lose it but those who lose their life will keep it” (Lk 17:33). Our Pope – and we all know this – never wanted to make his own life secure, to keep it for himself; he wanted to give of himself unreservedly, to the very last moment, for Christ and thus also for us. And thus he came to experience how everything which he had given over into the Lord’s hands came back to him in a new way. His love of words, of poetry, of literature, became an essential part of his pastoral mission and gave new vitality, new urgency, new attractiveness to the preaching of the Gospel, even when it is a sign of contradiction.”…Pope Benedict
Let us Pray:
O Holy Trinity, we thank You for having given to the Church Pope John Paul II and for having made him shine with Your fatherly tenderness, the glory of the Cross of Christand the splendour of the Spirit of love.
He, trusting completely in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, has shown himself in the likeness of Jesus the Good Shepherd and has pointed out to us the way of holiness as the path to reach eternal communion with You Grant us, through his intercession, according to Your will, the grace that we implore,
………………….. [state your intention here].
Continue, beloved St John Paul, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God’s people. We praise and thank You Father that St John Paul has been numbered among Your saints and make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God forever.
Totus Tuus, Amen.
Quote Day Two: “Mary is ‘the Mother of the Son of God.
As a result she is also the favourite daughter of the Father
and the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Because of this gift of sublime grace,
she far surpasses all other creatures,
both in heaven and on earth.”
(REDEMPTORIS MATER – 1987)
“Mary’s grace has given: glory to heaven: a God to earth: and faith to the nations. She has conferred: death on vices; order to life; and a rule on morals.”
St Peter Chrysologus (406-450)
“Love for Christ pierced Mary’s heart in such a way that no part of it was left unkindled. Mary thus fulfilled the first commandment of love in all its fulness and without the slightest imperfection.”
St Bernard (1090-1153)
“She is flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley.”
Our Morning Offering – 14 October – Saturday Devotion to our Mother
Mary, let me love your Jesus By St Ildephonsus (607-667)
Virgin Mary, hear my prayer:
through the Holy Spirit
you became the Mother of Jesus;
from the Holy Spirit may I too have Jesus.
Through the Holy Spirit
your flesh conceived Jesus;
through the same Spirit
may my soul receive Jesus.
Through the Holy Spirit
you were able to know Jesus,
to possess Jesus,
and to bring Him into the world.
Through the Holy Spirit
may I too come to know your Jesus.
Imbued with the Spirit,
Mary, you could say:
“I am the handmaid of the Lord,
be it done unto me according to your word”;
in the Holy Spirit,
lowly as I am,
let me proclaim the great truths about Jesus.
In the Spirit you now adore Jesus as Lord
and look on Him as Son;
in the same spirit,
Mary, let me love your Jesus.
Amen
Little Known Fact #1: During his Theological Studies in Seminary, Karol Wojtyla greatly desired to read the works of St John of the Cross in the original Spanish language. He mastered the language very quickly and was even asked by the Spanish instructor to assist him in translating a Spanish text that was to be read over the Polish new radio a few hours before it would be broadcast.
REFLECTION: “Follow me.” The Risen Lord says these words to Peter. They are His last words to this disciple, chosen to shepherd His flock. “Follow me” – this lapidary saying of Christ can be taken as the key to understanding the message which comes to us from the life of our late beloved Pope John Paul II. …” Pope Benedict
Let us Pray:
O Holy Trinity, we thank You for having given to the Church Pope John Paul II and for having made him shine with Your fatherly tenderness, the glory of the Cross of Christand the splendour of the Spirit of love.
He, trusting completely in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, has shown himself in the likeness of Jesus the Good Shepherd and has pointed out to us the way of holiness as the path to reach eternal communion with You Grant us, through his intercession, according to Your will, the grace that we implore,
………………….. [state your intention here].
Continue, beloved St John Paul, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God’s people. We praise and thank You Father that St John Paul has been numbered among Your saints and make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God forever.
Totus Tuus, Amen.
Quote Day One:“Only the chaste man and the chaste woman are capable of real love.”
Thought for the Day – 13 October – “The Miracle of the Sun”
Those who are very familiar with the apparitions of Fatima and those whose only knowledge is a fleeting memory from a long ago viewing of the 1952 movie are both familiar with the “Miracle of the Sun.” This miracle took place on 13 October 1917, five months after Our Lady first appeared to the three young visionaries. Our Lady had promised the children that a miracle would occur and approximately 40,000 of the devout and/or curious stood in a field outside of Fatima to await it. The sun changed colours, whirled about and at times appeared to be zooming toward the earth. A few people in the crowd claimed to have seen nothing but most were awestruck by the supernatural event that took place.
Rather than dwell on the possibility of secrets not thoroughly revealed or consecrations not properly done and other hot items of Catholic ‘gossip’, this 13 October is a good day to dwell on the coincidences that lead us to repentance and conversion. The coincidences which point directly to that nucleus of the Gospel message. And do remember the words of Paul’s letter to the Romans: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
The message of Fatima is simple: Pray. Unfortunately, some people—not Sister Lucia—have distorted these revelations, making them into an apocalyptic event for which they are now the only reliable interpreters. They have, for example, claimed that Mary’s request that the world be consecrated to her has been ignored. Sister Lucia agreed that Pope John Paul II’s public consecration in St Peter’s Square on March 25, 1984, fulfilled Mary’s request. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prepared a 26 June 2000, document explaining the “third secret.”
Mary is perfectly honoured when people generously imitate her response “Let it be done to me as you say” (Luke 1:38). Mary can never be seen as a rival to Jesus or to the Church’s teaching authority, as exercised by the college of bishops united with the bishop of Rome.
One Minute Reflection – 13 October – The Memorial of St Gerald of Aurillac
I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong….2 Cor 12:9-10
REFLECTION – “Trials and tribulations offer us a chance to make reparation for our past faults and sins.
On such occasions the Lord comes to us like a physician to heal the wounds left by our sins. Tribulation is the divine medicine.”…St Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
PRAYER – Almighty Father, let Your light so penetrate our minds, that walking by Your commandments, we may always follow You, our leader and our Guide in the path of Him who suffered and died for our love. St Gerald of Aurillac, you consecrated yourself and gave up your riches to the poor to follow the way of the Lord, please pray for us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord in union with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen
“He belongs to you but more than that, He longs to be in you, living and ruling in you, as the head lives and rules in the body. He wants His breath to be in your breath, His heart in your heart and His soul in your soul.”
St John Eudes
“It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.”
One Minute Reflection – 12 October – The Memorial of St Edwin of Northumbria
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have and if I deliver my body to be burned but have not love, I gain nothing.….1 Cor 13:1-3
REFLECTION – ““What does love look like?
It has the hands to help others.
It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.
It has eyes to see the misery and want.
It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.
That is what love looks like.”
St Augustine (354-430)
PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, as You sent Your only Son to rescue us because Your love has no end, help to follow Your love and live in the way He showed us. St Edwin of Northumbria, once you learnt of the love of God, you brought it to your land and taught your people its true meaning, please pray for us, amen.
I am His; I am yours, my good Mother! By Blessed John Henry Newman
O Mother of Jesus
and my Mother, let me dwell with you,
cling to you and love you with ever-increasing love.
I promise the honour, love and trust of a child.
Give me a mother’s protection,
for I need your watchful care.
You know better than any other,
the thoughts and desires of the Sacred Heart.
Keep constantly before my mind,
the same thoughts, the same desires,
that my heart may be filled with zeal
for the interests of the
Sacred Heart of your Divine Son.
Instill in me a love of all that is noble,
that I may no longer be easily turned to selfishness.
Help me, dearest Mother,
to acquire the virtues that God wants of me:
to forget myself always, to work solely for Him,
without fear of sacrifice.
I shall always rely on your help to be,
what Jesus wants me to be.
I am His; I am yours, my good Mother!
Give me each day your holy and maternal blessing,
until my last evening on earth,
when your Immaculate Heart will present me,
to the heart of Jesus in heaven,
there to love and bless you
and your divine Son for all eternity. Amen
Thought for the Day – 11 October – The Memorial of St John XXIII (1881-1963) “The Daily Decalogue of St Pope John XXIII”
Pope John XXIII’s message is still extraordinarily timely today. His life, his Discourses and his actions bring us to the heart of the faith and the heart of Christian commitment.
As we know, one of Pope John’s most important decisions was to convoke the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, which was inaugurated on 11 October 1962 here in St Peter’s Basilica.
I was present (indeed, by a fortunate circumstance, it was I who organsed the distribution of the first Council Documents “sub peculiari secreto” to the Council Fathers!) and I remember how the day unfolded to its extraordinary conclusion in St Peter’s Square by moonlight.
We could recall a wealth of Pope John’s teachings and episodes concerning him but today I intend to focus on several thoughts which might be useful in our personal life and spiritual renewal.
The Church, in his view, has a motherly face: her task is to keep “her arms open to receive everyone”. She is a “home for one and all” that “desires to belong to everyone, and in particular she is the Church of the poor, like the village fountain”, with no distinctions of race or religion.
The Church’s holiness and human wisdom are expressed very clearly in what is called “The daily decalogue of Pope John XXIII”:
1) Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.
2) Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behaviour; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.
3) Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.
4) Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.
5) Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.
6) Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.
7) Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.
8) Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.
9) Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.
10) Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.
To conclude: here is an all-embracing resolution: “I want to be kind, today and always, to everyone”.In this way, we can put Pope John’s hope for every Christian into practice: “Every believer in this world must be a spark of light, a core of love, life-giving leaven in the mass: and the more he is so, the more he will live, in his innermost depths, in communion with God”. (EUCHARISTIC CONCELEBRATION COMMEMORATING POPE JOHN XXIII ON HIS MEMORIAL – HOMILY OF CARD. TARCISIO BERTONE at the Altar of St Jerome, Vatican Basilica – Wednesday, 11 October 2006)
Quote/s of the Day – 11 October – The Memorial of St John XXIII (1881-1963)
“It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.”
“Every time I hear anyone speak of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or of the Blessed Sacrament I feel an indescribable joy. It is as if a wave of precious memories, sweet affections and joyful hopes swept over my poor person, making me tremble with happiness and filling my soul with tenderness. These are loving appeals from Jesus who wants me wholeheartedly there, at the source of all goodness, His Sacred Heart, throbbing mysteriously behind the Eucharistic veils… I love to repeat today ‘Sweet Heart of my Jesus, make me love You more and more.'”
Holy Mother Church is a home for one and all. She desires to belong to everyone and in particular she is the Church of the poor, like the village fountain”.
One Minute Reflection – 11 October – The Memorial of St John XXIII (1881-1963)
I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘whom shall I send?…’ “Here I am, I said, send me!” … Isaiah 6:8
REFLECTION – “I have looked into your eyes with my eyes. I have put my heart near your heart.” …St Pope John XXIII “In the last moments of his earthly life, he entrusted his testament to the Church: “What counts the most in life is blessed Jesus Christ, His holy Church, His Gospel, truth and goodness”. – St Pope John Paul II
PRAYER – Help me my Lord, to discern through prayer and meditation, what You truly want of me. Then enable me to offer it to You and indeed to offer myself and all I have to You. St John XXIII, pray for Holy Mother Church, pray for all the members of the Mystical Body, pray for our sons and daughters and for us all, pray for me! Amen
Our Morning Offering – 11 October – The memorial of St John XXIII (1881-1963)
OPENING PRAYER AT THE 2ND VATICAN COUNCIL (1962) By St John XXIII
We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
conscious of our sinfulness,
but aware that we
gather in Your name.
Come to us, remain with us,
and enlighten our hearts.
Give us light and strength
to know Your will,
to make it our own and to
live it in our lives.
Guide us by Your wisdom,
support us by Your power,
for You are God, sharing the
glory of Father and Son.
You desire justice for all:
enable us to uphold the rights of others;
do not allow us to be misled by ignorance
or corrupted by fear or favour.
Unite us to Yourself in the bond of love
and keep us faithful to all that is true.
As we gather in Your name
may we temper justice with love,
so that all our decisions may be pleasing
to You and earn the reward promised to
good and faithful servants.
You live and reign with the Father
and the Son, One God, forever and ever.
Amen.
Thought for the Day – 10 October – The Memorial of St Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)
“Preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). With these words before the Ascension the Risen One entrusted the universal missionary mandate to the Apostles. Immediately afterwards, He assured them that in this demanding mission they would always be able to count on His help (cf. Mk 16: 20).
From the time of his priestly formation in the institute founded by the Servant of God Nicola Mazza, Daniel Comboni felt called to give his own life to proclaim the Gospel in the land of Africa. This awareness stayed with him throughout his life and supported him in his missionary labours and pastoral difficulties. He felt comforted in this dedication by the words he heard from Pope Pius IX: “Labora sicut bonus miles Christi pro African” (“Work like a good soldier of Christ for Africa” Scritti, n. 4085). The modernness and boldness of his work were expressed in the preparation and formation of future priests, in the tireless promotion of the missions by his writing and publishing, in the founding of two institutes one for men, the other for women exclusively dedicated to the mission “ad gentes”, by struggling for the abolition of the terrible slave-trade and by actively working “for the rebirth of Africa through itself”. These insights of the new blessed produced great fruit for the evangelisation of the African continent by paving the way to the consoling growth of the Church in Africa today (cf. Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa, nn. 3338).
“Leading humanity to the light of eternal life”: Daniel Comboni’s ideal continues today in the apostolate of his spiritual sons and daughters. They still maintain strong ties in Africa, particularly in Sudan, where their founder spent a great part of his energy as a tireless evangeliser and where he died at a young age, worn out by his labours and illness. The unconditional trust he had in the power of prayer (cf. Scritti n. 2324) is effectively expressed in the “Cenacles of missionary prayer” which are being set up in many parishes and represent a significant way to promote and renew missionary spirituality. – Pope John Paul II at the beatification ceremony for Blessed Daniel on 17 March 1996
Daniel Comboni: the son of poor gardeners who became the first Catholic Bishop of Central Africa and one of the great missionaries in the Church’s history.
It is a fact. When God decides to take a hand and select a generous and open-hearted individual, things happen: great, new things.
Quote/s of the Day – 10 October – The Memorial of St Francis Borgia SJ (1510-1572) and St Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)
“I am very sorry to lose the company of a man of your merit, a shining light of counsel, a model in the exercise of the highest offices of State and, because of your virtue and piety, a factor of edification for all my court. But I recognise that it would be unreasonable to dispute over you with the Master you have chosen to serve. It is, therefore, with sorrow that I grant you the permission you are requesting. I authorise you to renounce your fiefs and titles in favour of your firstborn son. The number of those who will envy you, will be greater than those who will imitate you, since it is easy to admire beautiful examples but difficult to follow them. I recommend myself to your prayers and I count upon you, to attract divine blessings over me, my States, and all Christendom.”
(King Charles V of Spain when he granted permission to St Francis to enter the novitiate of the Jesuits.)
“When you pray, hear Mass, sit at table, engage in business and when at bedtime you remove your clothes— at all times crave that by the pain which He felt when He was stripped just before His crucifixion, He may strip us of our evil habits of mind. Thus, naked of earthly things, we may also embrace the cross.”
“I have great doubts about the salvation of those who do not have special devotion to Mary.”
St Francis Borgia (1510-1572)
“The same terrible crosses that oppress me are also the greatest consolation because Jesus suffered, Jesus is a Victim Jesus chose the Cross…. (therefore) I am happy with the Cross, tbat borne willingly for the love of God, generates triumph and eternal life.”
One Minute Reflection – 10 October – The Memorial of St Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)
God would not be so unjust as to forget all you have done, the love that you have for his name or the services you have done and are still doing, for the holy people of God.…Hebrews 6:10
REFLECTION – “The missionaries will have to understand that they are stones hid under the earth, which will perhaps never come to light, but which will become part of the foundations of a vast, new building.”….St Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)
PRAYER – Lord God, by whose supassing mercy St Daniel Comboni made known the unfathomable riches of Christ, grant, at his intercession, that we may grow in knowledge of You, yield fruit in every good work and by the truth of the Gospel, live faithfully in Your presence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever amen.
Thought for the Day – 9 October – The Memorial of St John Leonardi (1541-1609)
Dear brothers and sisters, St John Leonardi’s existence was always enlightened by the splendour of the “Holy Face” of Jesus, kept and venerated in the Cathedral Church of Lucca, becoming the eloquent symbol and the indisputable synthesis of the faith that animated him. Conquered by Christ like the Apostle Paul, he pointed out to his disciples and continues to point out to all of us, the Christocentric ideal for which “it is necessary to divest oneself of every self interest and only look to the service of God,” having “before the mind’s eye only the honour, service and glory of Christ Jesus Crucified.”
Along with the face of Christ, he fixed his gaze on the maternal face of Mary. She whom he chose patroness of his order, was for him teacher, sister and mother and he felt her constant protection. May the example and intercession of this “fascinating man of God”be, particularly in this Year for Priests, a call and encouragement for priests and for all Christians to live their own vocations with passion and enthusiasm. (Pope Benedict XVI, October 7, 2009)
What can one person do? The answer is plenty! In the life of each saint, one thing stands clear: God and one person are a majority!
What one individual, following God’s will and plan for his or her life, can do is more than our mind could ever hope for or imagine.
Each of us, like John Leonardi, has a mission to fulfill in God’s plan for the world.
Each one of us is unique and has been given talent to use for the service of our brothers and sisters for the building up of God’s kingdom.
A Moment of Joy! – – 9 October – The Memorial of Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890) -Vatican investigates second ‘miracle’ attributed to Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
English bishops say the progress of his Cause is a source of ‘great joy’.
Beatification by Pope Benedict XVI
The Archbishop of Birmingham has welcomed reports that the Vatican is investigating a possible second “miracle” which may lead to the canonisation of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman. Archbishop Bernard Longley said it was a “great joy” to know that the Cause was making progress. He said the occasion should also spur on Catholics to renew their prayers for the canonisation of Blessed Dominic Barberi, who received Newman into the Catholic faith from the Church of England.
“Blessed Cardinal Newman has left an extraordinarily rich spiritual legacy – not least through the two Oratory communities in Birmingham and Oxford – as well as to the Church nationally and internationally,” Archbishop Longley said. “It would be a great joy to see him take a step closer to being named among the saints and would be an encouragement to all who have been inspired by him seek the truth by seeking Christ.
“At the same time, and especially during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, I am sure that Blessed John Henry Newman would want us to continue praying for the canonisation of Blessed Dominic Barberi, the Passionist priest who first enabled him to receive the Sacrament of mercy at his reception into full communion with the Catholic Church at Littlemore in 1845 and who gave him a new insight into the merciful love of God.”
The archbishop spoke after the Tablet, a Catholic weekly magazine, revealed that the Archdiocese of Chicago had investigated the inexplicable healing of a young American mother who prayed for the Victorian cardinal’s intercession when she became afflicted by a “life-threatening pregnancy”. Doctors who treated her have reported that they have no explanation for the sudden and complete recovery of the woman, a law graduate. The file on her case has now been passed to the Congregation for the Causes of Sainthood and if Vatican theologians and doctors conclude the healing is a divine sign of Newman’s sanctity the Pope will be invited to canonise him as the first English saint since 1970 and the first British saint since 1976.
Two healing miracles are normally required for a candidate to be declared a saint. Cardinal Newman was beatified in Cofton Park, Birmingham, by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 after the Vatican approved the first miracle, which involved the inexplicable healing of Jack Sullivan, an American who nine years earlier recovered from a crippling spinal condition which had left him “bent double”.
An earlier alleged healing of a baby in Mexico at Newman’s intercession was dismissed by the Congregation and the Vatican is refusing to disclose details about the latest case at the present time. But if the new case passes scrutiny, it will cement the international reputation of Cardinal Newman as one of the most distinguished Englishmen of his generation.
The London-born cardinal was an esteemed 19th-century Anglican theologian who founded the Oxford Movement to try to return the Church of England to its Catholic roots before he converted to the Catholic faith. In spite of a life marked by controversy, he was renowned for his exemplary virtue and also for his reputation as a brilliant thinker and Pope Leo XIII rewarded him with a cardinal’s red hat.
John Henry Newman’s coat of arms with the motto “heart speaks to heart”
He died in Birmingham in 1890, aged 89, and more than 15,000 people lined the streets for his funeral procession to pay tribute to him.
Scholars believe he was years ahead of his time in his views of the Church and her teachings. He was also a deeply original theologian who articulated a “theology of conscience” which historians have recently discovered influenced Sophie Scholl, the German woman beheaded in 1943 after she was caught flooding Munich University with leaflets urging students to rise up against “Nazi terror”.
Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth said he was convinced that Cardinal Newman would not only be canonised one day but would also be declared a Doctor of the Church because of the wealth and depth of teaching he left behind. “He was a man whose life and whose heart was absolutely docile to the truth of God and the truth of Christ,” the bishop said. “He was absolutely under the Word of God and I think that is important to us in an age of relativism and liberalism. Here is somebody led by the truth even if it cost him in his own personal life.” The teachings of Newman continue to be esteemed throughout the world, Bishop Egan said, adding: “I wonder if we undervalue him in England or don’t fully grasp just how significant he is in terms of the universal Church.”
The development was also welcomed by Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury. “John Henry Newman is already recognised by both Catholics and Anglicans for his personal holiness as well as his great learning,” he said. “We cannot anticipate the final judgment on a miracle now attributed to Cardinal Newman’s prayers,” he continued. “However, we pray that soon England will have a new saint recognised, a saint whose life and witness was closely connected with such familiar places as London, Oxford and Birmingham.”
Vatican officials are also studying the Causes of Passionist Fr Ignatius Spencer, a relative of Princes William and Harry through their mother, Lady Diana; Mother Elizabeth Prout, the founder of the Passionist sisters who worked with the poor in Manchester; Frances Taylor, “the saint of Soho” and a colleague of Florence Nightingale, and Mother Riccarda Beauchamp Hambrough, a Bridgettine nun who helped to rescue Jews from the Nazis in the Second World War.
Like Cardinal Newman, all of these post-Reformation candidates for sainthood were converts to the Catholic faith.
Blessed John Henry Newman, Pray for us, as we pray for your Canonisation!
PRAYER FOR CANONISATION of Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
God our Father,
You granted to Your servant,
Blessed John Henry Newman,
wonderful gifts of nature and of grace,
that he should be a spiritual light
in the darkness of this world,
an eloquent herald of the Gospel
and a devoted servant of the one Church of Christ.
With confidence in his heavenly intercession,
we make the petition for his Canonisation.
For his insight into the mysteries of the kingdom,
his zealous defence of the teachings of the Church
and his priestly love for each of your children,
we pray that he may soon be numbered among the Saints.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Nihil Obstat: Fr Pat McKinney S.T.L.
Imprimatur: + Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham
One Minute Reflection – 9 October – The Memorial of Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him....Hebrews 11:6
REFLECTION – “Oh that we could take that simple view of things, as to feel that the one thing which lies before us is to please God! What gain is it to please the world, to please the great, even to please those whom we love, compared with this? What gain is it to be applauded, admired, courted, followed, compared with this one aim, of not being disobedient to a heavenly vision? What can this world offer comparable with that insight into spiritual things, that keen faith, that heavenly peace, that high sanctity, that everlasting righteousness, that hope of glory, which they have who in sincerity love and follow our Lord Jesus Christ?”…Blessed John Henry Newman
PRAYER – “Dear Jesus, help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere I go.
Flood my soul with Your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly,
that my life may only be a radiance of Yours.
Shine through me and be so in me
that every soul I come in contact with
may feel Your presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus!”
Blessed John Henry Newman, pray for us!
AnaStpaul 
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