Category: MORNING Prayers

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS

Novena to St Benedict – Day Five – 6 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Benedict – Day Five – 6 July

In the Holy Rule, St. Benedict you have said:

The second degree of humility is, when a man loves not his own will, nor is pleased to fulfill his own desires but by his deeds carries out that word of the Lord which says:  “I came not to do My own will but the will of Him that sent Me” (Jn 6:38).   It is likewise said:  “Self-will has its punishment but necessity wins the crown.”

The third degree of humility is, that for the love of God a man subject himself to a Superior in all obedience, imitating the Lord, of whom the Apostle says:  “He became obedient unto death” (Phil 2:8).

The fourth degree of humility is, that, if hard and distasteful things are commanded, even though injuries are inflicted, he accept them with patience and even temper and not grow weary or give up but hold out, as the Scripture says: “He that shall persevere to the end shall be saved” (Mt 10:22). (Holy Rule 7)

day five novena st benedict

LET US PRAY – DAY FIVE:

Glorious Saint Benedict,
sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God’s grace!
Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet.
I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God.

To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me.
Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference to God and to my neighbour.
Inspire me to imitate you in all things.
May your blessing be with me always, so that I may see and serve Christ in others and work for His kingdom.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favours and graces which I need so much in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life.
Your heart was always full of love, compassion and mercy toward those who were afflicted or troubled in any way.
You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you.
I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favour I earnestly implore.

{mention your petition}

Help me, great Saint Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to run in the sweetness of His loving will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.

Amen.

O Holy Father, St. Benedict, pray for us.

 

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 6 July

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Quote of the Day – 6 July

“The Holy Eucharist
is the perfect expression
of the love of Jesus Christ for man.”

St Maria Goretti

the holy eucharist-st maria goretti

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 6 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 6 July

PRAYER by ST BASIL THE GREAT  (329-379)  Doctor of the Church

O Christ, our Master and God,
King of the ages and Creator of all,
I thank You for all the good things that You have given to me
and for the reception of your most pure and life-giving mysteries.
I pray You, therefore, O good Lover of Humankind,
keep me under Your protection in the shadow of Your wings.
Grant that with a pure conscience, until my last breath,
I may worthily partake of Your Holy Things,
for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting.
For You are the Bread of Life,
the Fountain of Holiness
and the Bestower of Blessings
and to You we give glory together
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever and ever, amen.

O CHRIST OUR MASTER AND GOD BY ST BASIL

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS

Novena to St Benedict – Day Four – 5 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to St Benedict – Day Four – 5 July

In the Holy Rule, St. Benedict you have said:

The first degree of humility, then, is that a man always have the fear of God before his eyes (cf Ps 35[36]:2), shunning all forgetfulness and that he be ever mindful of all that God has commanded, that he always consider in his mind how those who despise God will burn in hell for their sins and that life everlasting is prepared for those who fear God.   And while he guards himself evermore against sin and vices of thought, word, deed and self-will, let him also hasten to cut off the desires of the flesh.

Let a man consider that God always sees him from Heaven, that the eye of God beholds his works everywhere and that the angels report them to Him every hour.   The Prophet tells us this when he shows God thus ever present in our thoughts, saying:  “The searcher of hearts and reins is God” (Ps 7:10)…Therefore, in order that he may always be on his guard against evil thoughts, let the humble brother always say in his heart:  “Then I shall be spotless before Him, if I shall keep myself from iniquity” (Ps 17[18]:24) . (Holy Rule 7)

day four novena st benedict

LET US PRAY – DAY FOUR:

Glorious Saint Benedict,
sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God’s grace!
Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet.
I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God.

To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me.
Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference to God and to my neighbour.
Inspire me to imitate you in all things.
May your blessing be with me always, so that I may see and serve Christ in others and work for His kingdom.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favours and graces which I need so much in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life.
Your heart was always full of love, compassion and mercy toward those who were afflicted or troubled in any way.
You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you.
I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favour I earnestly implore.

{mention your petition}

Help me, great Saint Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to run in the sweetness of His loving will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.

Amen.

O Holy Father, St. Benedict, pray for us.

 

 

Posted in MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 5 July

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Thought for the Day – 5 July

Compassion for the sick and the poor led Dr Anthony Mary Zaccaria to see beyond the sick bodies of his patients and recognise the need for a different kind of healing.   After becoming “Fr” Zaccaria, he tried to fill that need and dedicated the rest of his life to doing so. …….“the Pauline ardour of his preaching would probably “turn off” many people today. When even some psychiatrists complain at the lack of a sense of sin, it may be time to tell ourselves that not all evil is explained by emotional disorder, subconscious and unconscious drives, parental influence and so on.   The old-time “hell and damnation” mission sermons have given way to positive, encouraging, biblical homilies.   We do indeed need assurance of forgiveness, relief from existential anxiety and future shock.   But we still need prophets to stand up and tell us, “If we say ‘We are without sin,’ we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). (Fr Don Miller OFM).
St Anthony was such a prophet, he let God step in and lead him to a whole new set of plans.   May we too allow God room in our boat to navigate us to a new way of life!

St Anthony Mary Zaccaria, pray for us!

st anthony mary zaccaria pray for us.2

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

Quote/s of the Day – 5 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 5 July

“That which God commands
seems difficult and a burden.
The way is rough;
you draw back;
you have no desire to follow it.
Yet DO SO –  and you will attain glory.”

that which god commands st anthony mary zaccaria

“What good thing could God deny us
when He is the one who invites us to ask?”

what good thing-st am zaccaria

“If you want to obtain what you pray for,
adapt yourself to it, that is,
if you want humility,
do not avoid humiliations.”

if you want to obtain what you pray for - st am zaccaria

St Anthony Mary Zaccaria

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

One Minute Reflection – 5 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 5 July

But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances;  put up with hardship;  perform the work of an evangelist;  fulfill your ministry……2 Timothy 4:5

2 timothy 4-5

REFLECTION – “In His mercy God has chosen us, unworthy as we are, out of the world, to serve Him and thus to advance in goodness and to bear the greatest possible fruit of love in patience……We should keep running steadily in the race we have started, not losing sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection.”……….St Anthony Mary Zaccaria (An excerpt from a letter of Saint Anthony to his congregation).

in his mercy God has chosen us-st anthony mary zaccaria

PRAYER – Lord, enable us to grasp in the spirit of Saint Paul, the sublime wisdom of Jesus Christ, the wisdom which inspired Saint Anthony Zaccaria to preach the message of salvation in Your church.   Grant this, we pray, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. St Anthony Mary Zaccaria, pray for us amen.

st anthony mary zaccaria pray for us

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 5 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 5 July

Morning Prayer
of St Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

Lord, help me to live this day,
quietly, easily;
to lean on Your great strength,
trustfully, restfully;
to wait for the unfolding of Your will,
patiently, serenely;
to meet others,
peacefully, joyfully;
to face tomorrow,
confidently, courageously.
Amen

morning prayer of st francis

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

Thought for the Day – 4 July

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Thought for the Day – 4 July

The secret of Blessed Pier’s personality was his constant joy.   “My life is monotonous, he once said, but each day I understand a little better the incomparable grace of being a Catholic.   Down, then, with all melancholy.   That should never find a place except in the heart which has lost faith. I am joyful.   Sorrow is not gloom.   Gloom should be banished from the Christian soul.”

As a teenager the saint made friends of the poor in Turin’s filthy backstreets and gave them whatever he had—his money, his shoes, his overcoat. “Jesus comes to me every morning in Holy Communion,” he replied to a friend who asked why the hovels did not repulse him. “I repay Him in my very small way by visiting the poor.   The house may be sordid but I am going to Christ.”

At school Pier ­Giorgio became the leader of groups that organised outreach to the needy. He set a high standard, his investment of time and money far exceeding that of his friends.   On Sunday, galoshes for a barefoot child;   Monday, a room for a homeless woman;   Tuesday, boots for an unemployed labourer;   Wednesday, payment of a girl’s school bill;   Thursday, relocation for a blind veteran;   Friday, groceries for a hungry family;   Saturday, medicine for an old man with bronchitis.   The catalogue of his giving seems endless.   At the same time he was the organiser of student parties, games and fund raisers to finance ski trips to the Alps—Pier ­Giorgio was addicted to mountain climbing!

Once after visiting a badly disfigured leper he explained to a friend his rationale for his selfless giving:

“How rich we are to be in good health. The deformation of that young man will disappear in a few years when he enters Paradise.   But we have the duty of putting our health at the service of those who haven’t it.   To act otherwise would be to betray the gift of God.
No human being should ever be left abandoned.   But the best of all charities is that consecrated to the sick.   That is an exceptional work:  few have the courage to face its difficulties and dangers;  to take on themselves the sufferings of others, in addition to their own needs and their own precautions and cares.”

Pier ­Giorgio was famous in Turin but his family regarded him as a problem.   His father, Alfredo Frassati, editor of the daily La Stampa, seems to have resented his largesse.   And his mother was inconvenienced by his frequent absences and his lateness to meals.   Only after his death did they come to appreciate their son.

A virulent form of poliomyelitis attacked Pier ­Giorgio in July 1925, and he died within a week. He was twenty-­four years old.

Once a friend observed that when Pier Giorgio finished praying in church, he waved a little farewell towards the tabernacle.   I like to imagine the scene when this jovial saint said hello to Christ in heaven.

My thought is this, on the Memorial of his beautiful saint, Bl Pier Giorgio, that the greatest gift and the only glory of my life is being a Catholic and striving each day, to grow in those greatest of all commandments, to love God above all and to love my neighbour as myself.    St Edmund Campion, put it so well, “to be a Catholic is my greatest glory.”

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us!

jesus comes to me -bl pier pray for us

LET US PRAY:

PRAYER FOR THE CANONISATION
OF BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI

O merciful God,
Who through the perils of the world
deigned to preserve by Your grace
Your servant the blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
pure of heart and ardent of charity,
listen, we ask You, to our prayers, and
if it is in Your designs that he be glorified by the Church,
show us Your will,
granting us the graces we ask of You,
through his intercession,
by the merits of Jesus Christ, Our Lord,
in union with the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever. Amen

prayer for the canonisation of bl pier

 

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS

NOVENA to ST BENEDICT – DAY THREE – 4 JULY

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NOVENA to ST BENEDICT – DAY THREE – 4 JULY

In the Holy Rule, St. Benedict you have said:

Brothers, the Holy Scripture crys to us saying:  “Every one that exalts himself shall be humbled;  and he that humbles himself shall be exalted” (Lk 14:11; 18:14).   Since, therefore, it says this, it shows us that every exaltation is a kind of pride…

Hence, brethren, if we wish to reach the greatest height of humility and speedily to arrive at that heavenly exaltation to which ascent is made in the present life by humility, then, mounting by our actions, we must erect the ladder which appeared to Jacob in his dream, by means of which angels were shown to him ascending and descending (cf Gen 28:12). Without a doubt, we understand this ascending and descending to be nothing else but that we descend by pride and ascend by humility.   The erected ladder, however, is our life in the present world, which, if the heart is humble, is by the Lord lifted up to heaven.   For we say that our body and our soul are the two sides of this ladder;  and into these sides the divine calling has inserted various degrees of humility or discipline which we must mount.  (Holy Rule 7)

LET US PRAY – DAY THREE

day three - novena st benedict.jpg

Glorious Saint Benedict,
sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God’s grace!
Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet.
I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God.

To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me.
Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference to God and to my neighbour.
Inspire me to imitate you in all things.
May your blessing be with me always, so that I may see and serve Christ in others and work for His kingdom.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favours and graces which I need so much in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life.
Your heart was always full of love, compassion and mercy toward those who were afflicted or troubled in any way.
You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you.
I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favour I earnestly implore.

{mention your petition}

Help me, great Saint Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to run in the sweetness of His loving will and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.

Amen.

O Holy Father, St. Benedict, pray for us.

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of he Day – 4 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of he Day – 4 July

“I urge you with all the strength of my soul
to approach the Eucharistic Table as often as possible.
Feed on this Bread of the Angels, from which you will draw,
the strength to fight inner struggles.”

“Verso l’alto,”

“To the Heights”

Blessed Pier Giorgio’s famous motto, “Verso l’alto,” Italian for “To the heights,” meant reaching for God as well as the mountain peaks.  His regular habit was to attend Mass before heading to the mountains and of visiting the Blessed Sacrament upon his return. He loved the Eucharist.  He would often spend whole nights in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

to the heights - bl pier

“You ask me whether I am in good spirits.
How could I not be so?
As long as Faith gives me strength, I will always be joyful.
Sadness ought to be banished from Catholic souls…
the purpose for which we have been created shows us the path;
even if strewn with many thorns, it is not a sad path.
It is joyful even in the face of sorrow.”

you ask me whether - bl pier

Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati

Posted in MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 4 July

If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?   Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth…..1 jOHN 3:17-18

1 John 3-17 and 18

REFLECTION – “Every one of you knows, that the foundation of our religion is charity. Without it all our religion would crumble because we would not truly be Catholics, as long as we did not carry out, or rather shape our whole lives by the two commandments in which the essence of the Catholic Faith lies:  to love God with all our strength and to love our neighbour as ourselves.”…….Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati

every one of you knows-bl pier

PRAYER – Loving Father, teach me to see the face of Your Divine Son in all those I meet especially those in need.   Help me to realise that love is the most powerful force in the world.   Blessed Pier Georgio is an inspiration to us all, teaching us by his actions, that it is only in living love in charity that we can be true Catholics.  Blessed Pier Georgio pray for us, amen.

bl pier pray for us

Posted in MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 4 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 4 July

Heavenly Father,
Give me the courage
to strive for the highest goals,
to flee every temptation to be mediocre.
Enable me to aspire to greatness,
as Blessed Pier Giorgio did,
and to open my heart with joy
to Your call to holiness.
Free me from the fear of failure.
I want to be, Lord, firmly and forever,
united to You.
Grant me the graces I ask You
through Blessed Pier Giorgio’s intercession,
by the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in union with the Holy Spirit.
Amen

heavenly father - bl pier

Posted in MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS

NOVENA to ST BENEDICT DAY TWO – 3 JULY

Posted on by AnaStpaul

NOVENA to ST BENEDICT
DAY TWO – 3 JULY

In the Holy Rule, St. Benedict you have said:

What, dearest brothers, can be sweeter to us than this voice of the Lord inviting us?   See, in His loving kindness, the Lord shows us the way of life.   Therefore, having our loins girt with faith and the performance of good works, let us walk His ways under the guidance of the Gospel, that we may be found worthy of seeing Him who has called us to His kingdom (cf 1 Thes 2:12).

If we desire to dwell in the tabernacle of His kingdom, we cannot reach it in any way, unless we run to it by good works.   But let us ask the Lord with the Prophet, saying to Him:  “Lord, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle, or who shall rest in Your holy hill” (Ps 14[15]:1)? . (Holy Rule 1)

DAY TWO NOVENA ST BENEDICT

LET US PRAY:  DAY TWO

Glorious Saint Benedict,
sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God’s grace!
Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet.
I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God.

To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me.
Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference to God and to my neighbor.
Inspire me to imitate you in all things.
May your blessing be with me always, so that I may see and serve Christ in others and work for His kingdom.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces which I need so much in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life.
Your heart was always full of love, compassion and mercy toward those who were afflicted or troubled in any way.
You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you.
I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I earnestly implore.

{mention your petition}

Help me, great Saint Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to run in the sweetness of His loving will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.

Amen.

O Holy Father, St. Benedict, pray for us.

Posted in MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Thought for the Day – 3 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 3 July

“Poor Thomas! He made one remark and has been branded as “Doubting Thomas” ever since.   But if he doubted, he also believed.   He made what is certainly the most explicit statement of faith in the New Testament:  “My Lord and My God!” and, in so expressing his faith, gave Christians a prayer that will be said till the end of time.   He also occasioned a compliment from Jesus to all later Christians:  “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29).

Thomas should be equally well-known for his courage.   Perhaps what he said was impetuous—since he ran, like the rest, at the showdown—but he can scarcely have been insincere when he expressed his willingness to die with Jesus.   The occasion was when Jesus proposed to go to Bethany after Lazarus had died.   Since Bethany was near Jerusalem, this meant walking into the very midst of his enemies and to almost certain death.   Realising this, Thomas said to the other apostles,  “Let us also go to die with him” (John 11:16b).

Thomas shares the lot of Peter the impetuous, James and John, the “sons of thunder,” Philip and his foolish request to see the Father—indeed all the apostles in their weakness and lack of understanding.   We must not exaggerate these facts, however, for Christ did not pick worthless men.   But their human weakness again points up the fact that holiness is a gift of God, not a human creation – it is given to ordinary men and women with weaknesses, it is God who gradually transforms the weaknesses into the image of Christ, the courageous, trusting and loving one.” Fr. Don Miller, OFM

Saint John Chrysostom said about Thomas:  “Thomas, being once weaker in faith than the other apostles, toiled through the grace of God more bravely, more zealously and tirelessly than them all, so that he went preaching over nearly all the earth, not fearing to proclaim the Word of God to savage nations.”   If Thomas can be transformed, so, too, can we.  When our faith is shaken, we think of Thomas’ doubt… but we also must think of his courage.   What will we accomplish when our faith overflows within us, pouring forth in the courageous acclamation, “My Lord and My God!”?

St Thomas, Apostle of Christ, Pray for us!

st thomas pray for us 2

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

Quote of the Day – 3 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 3 July

“Faith is a beam, radiating from the face of God.”

~St John Eudes

faith is a beam-st john eudes

Posted in MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

One Minute Reflection – 3 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 3 July

“My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”…John 20:28-29

REFLECTION – “the Apostle Thomas’ case is important to us for at least three reasons: first, because it comforts us in our insecurity; second, because it shows us that every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty; and, lastly, because the words that Jesus addressed to him remind us of the true meaning of mature faith and encourage us to persevere, despite the difficulty, along our journey of adhesion to him”………….Pope Benedict XVI, 27 September 2006.

pope benedict - the apostle Thomas case

PRAYER – Father, let our celebration of the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle, be the source of his unfailing help and protection. Fill us with Your life-giving grace through faith in Your Son, whom St Thomas acknowledged to be his Lord and God. St Thomas continue to intercede for us that we may grow strong in faith and trust. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever Amen.

st thomas pray for us

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 3 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 3 July

The Twenty-Four Hour Prayer
By St John Chrysostum (347-407)
Doctor of the Church

[1]   O Lord, deprive me not of Your heavenly blessings.
[2]   O Lord, deliver me from eternal torment.
[3]   O Lord, if I have sinned in my mind or thought, in word or deed, forgive me.
[4]   O Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and heedlessness, from pettiness of the soul and stony hardness of heart.
[5]   O Lord, deliver me from every temptation.
[6]   O Lord, enlighten my heart darkened by evil desires.
[7]   O Lord, I, being a human being, have sinned;  You, being God, forgive me in Your loving kindness, for You know the weakness of my soul.
[8]   O Lord, send down Your grace to help me, that I may glorify Your holy Name.
[9]   O Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Your servant, in the Book of Life and grant me a blessed end.
[10]   O Lord my God, even if I have done nothing good in Your sight, yet grant me, according to Your grace, that I may make a start in doing good.
[11]   O Lord, sprinkle on my heart the dew of Your grace.
[12]   O Lord of heaven and earth remember me, Your sinful servant, cold of heart and impure, in Your kingdom.
[13]   O Lord, receive me in repentance.
[14]   O Lord, leave me not.
[15]   O Lord, save me from temptation.
[16]   O Lord, grant me pure thoughts.
[17]   O Lord, grant me tears of repentance, remembrance of death and the sense of peace.
[18]   O Lord, grant me mindfulness to confess my sins.
[19]   O Lord, grant me humility, charity and obedience.
[20]   O Lord, grant me magnanimity, and gentleness.
[21]   O Lord, implant in me the root of all blessings, the fear of You in my heart.
[22]   O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love You with all my heart and soul and that I may obey in all things Your will.
[23]   O Lord, shield me form evil persons and devils and passions, and all other lawless matters.
[24]   O Lord, who knows Your creation and that which You have willed for it, may Your will also be fulfilled in me, a sinner, for You are blessed forevermore. Amen.24 hour prayer ST JOHN CHRYSOSTUMou are blessed forevermore. Amen.

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 2 July

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Thought for the Day – 2 July

By the time of his death, Saint Bernardino Realino (saint of the day 2 July) was recognizsed as a man of great zeal and holiness.   Those who had known him at once hailed him as a saint.   Following his death, blood that had been collected from him while alive was observed to defy biological properties.   For over a century, the blood remained liquefied, foaming and frothing on the anniversary of his death.   Similarly, when his tomb was opened, the flesh of his body was found to be incorrupt, his blood frothing and emitting a sweet perfumed scent.

Reliquie_di_San_Bernardino_Realino_Lecce_1205

His life reminds us that it is never too late for a change in perspective!   As a young man, Bernardino achieved great worldly success but realised that worldly recognition and riches left him unfulfilled.   He turned to the Lord, listened for His Will and embraced a rich lifetime of service and obedience, providing necessary spiritual direction to others. On this, his feast day, we might pause to take stock of our own perspective and priorities. How do we judge success in our lives? How might that differ from the manner in which the Lord, Our God, judges success?   Are we able to live today’s Gospel – Matthew 10:37-42?

St Bernardino Realino, pray for us!

st bernardino realino - pray for us.2

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS

Quote of the Day – 2 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 2 July

“Whoever has become a servant of the Lord fears only his Master.
But whoever is without the fear of God, is often afraid of his own shadow.
Fearfulness is the daughter of unbelief.
A proud soul is the slave of fear; hoping in itself, in comes to such a state,
that it is startled by a small noise and is afraid of the dark.”

St John Climacus

whoever has become a servant of the lord - st john climacus

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

One Minute Reflection – 2 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 2 July

“No one who prefers father or mother to me is worthy of me….”……..Mathew 10:37

REFLECTION – “To believe in God – for Christians does not mean simply to believe that God exists, nor merely to believe that He is truth.   It means to believe by loving, to believe by abandoning oneself to God completely, uniting and conforming oneself to Him.”…………..St Anthony of Padua

to believe in God - st anthony of padua

PRAYER – Heavenly Father, grant me an operative faith – a faith that will move mountains and is strong enough to know that absolutely nothing and no-one here on earth can compare to You.   Let me show that faith by lively love and by loving deeds and by conforming myself to Your will in all things – teach me that only YOU are first in line. This is how you lived your life St Bernardino Realino – turning your back on success, money and power to put only the God who created us first and now you are a Saint. Please pray for us, amen.

st bernardino realino - pray for us

 

 

 

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MORNING Prayers

The HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTION for JULY 2017

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The HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTION for JULY 2017

LAPSED CHRISTIANS

That our brothers and sisters who have strayed
from the faith, through our prayer and witness
to the Gospel, may rediscover the merciful closeness
of the Lord and the beauty of the Christian life.

holy fathers prayer intention july 2017

Posted in MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 1 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 1 July

Junipero’s missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death from non-Christian native peoples. Through it all his unquenchable zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight till dawn. He baptised over 6,000 people and confirmed 5,000. His travels would have circled the globe. He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief at his death when the music was drowned out by the weeping!
The word that best describes Junipero is zeal. His motto “always forward, never back” is a great watchword for all of us. His life inspires us each to serve the Lord with the entirety of our hearts, souls and lives. What a difference we might make in the world if we were to embrace our apostolic calling with the same vigor and commitment that St Junipero did!

St Junipero Serra, pray for us!

stjuniperoserra pray for us

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS

Quote of the Day – 1 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 1 July

“Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.”

St John of the Cross – Doctor of the Church

 

 

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, Uncategorized

Our Morning Offering – 1 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 1 July

Constant Prayer of St. Catherine of Siena
to the Precious Blood of Jesus

Precious Blood,
ocean of divine mercy:
Flow upon us!

Precious Blood,
most pure offering:
Procure us every grace!

Precious Blood,
hope and refuge of sinners:
Atone for us!

Precious Blood,
delight of holy souls:
Draw us! Amen.

Constant prayer to the precious blood of jesus by st catherine of siena

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 30 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 30 June

Prayer before an Image of Jesus Crucified
by Blessed Titus Brandsma (Martyr)

Dear Lord, when looking up at Thee,
I see Thy loving eyes on me;
Love overflows my humble heart,
Knowing what a faithful friend Thou are.
A cup of sorrow I foresee,
Which I accept for love of Thee,
Thy painful way I wish to go;
The only way to God I know.
My soul is full of peace and light;
Although in pain, this light shines bright.
For here Thou keepest to Thy breast.
My longing heart to find there rest.
Leave me here freely all alone,
In cell where never sunlight shone.
Should no one ever speak to me,
This golden silence makes me free!
For though alone, I have no fear;
Never wert Thou, O Lord, so near.
Sweet Jesus, please, abide with me!
My deepest peace I find in Thee

PRAYER BEFORE JESUS CRUCIFIED BY BL TITUS BRANDSMA

Posted in MORNING Prayers, Uncategorized

Congratulations, Prayers and Love to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the occasion of the 66th Anniversary of his Priestly Ordination

Posted on by AnaStpaul

PRAYER FOR POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI

ON THE 66TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ORDINATION – 29 JUNE 2017

Most gracious Heavenly Father,
We thank You for our faithful Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI,
whose spiritual fatherhood and example of fidelity, self-sacrifice, humility and devotion
has been so vital to the faith of Your people
through 66 years of living his role as Your earthly shepherd.
May our spiritual father, who continues his mission for his flock
be always guided by the examples of Saints Peter and Paul,
all the Apostles and their saintly successors.
Give him valiant strength in his twilight years,
hope in times of trouble and sorrow and steadfast love for You,
and for all Your people throughout the world.
May the light of Your Truth continue to shine through him.
We thank You for blessing Pope Emeritus Benedict with his
continued generosity in imparting his knowledge to all Your children.
Bless him and keep him and protect him
and let him know that he is greatly loved and respected.
Our prayers arise to You, our Father for our beloved Pope Benedict
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

CONGRATS 66 YEARS 29 JUNE PAPA Bthank you papa b

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Thought for the Day – 29 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 29 June

By their lives and labours, Peter and Paul established the faith and by their deaths they bore witness to is power and truth.   They are part of the Church’s own confession of faith – they were the architects of that faith and they have left their mark indelibly upon Christian history and belief.   After Christ, these two are the cornerstones of the Church and as such they are enshrined in the Church’s memory.   They embody in themselves everything a Christian admires in being a follower of Christ, they are Apostles, Martyrs, Witnesses, Evangelists, Teachers, Prophets and Founders of Churches wherever they went in the footsteps of our Lord.   The two great basilicas in Rome are dedicated to them – St Peter’s is the largest Church in Christendom and St Paul’s Outside the Walls, carries the history of all our Popes and is the site of the Martyrdom of St Paul.
We owe our faith to these two great Fathers and hold them in hallowed love and memory.
Like Jesus Himself, their deaths are our lives!

Sts Peter and Paul, pray for us and for the entire universal Church, protect us by your prayers.

St. Peter’s Basilica

sts peter and paul - pray for us.2

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Quote/s of the Day – 29 June

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Quote/s of the Day – 29 June

“Where Peter is,
there is the Church.
Where the Church is,
there is Jesus Christ.
Where Jesus Christ is,
there is eternal salvation.”

St Ambrose (340-397)
One of the original four Doctors of the Church

where peter is 2

where peter is, there is the church - st ambrose

“There must be general rejoicing, dearly beloved,
over this holy company whom God has appointed
for our example in patience and for our confirmation in faith.
But we must glory even more in the excellence of their fathers,
Peter and Paul, whom the grace of God has raised
to such a height among all the members of the Church
that He has set them like twin lights
of eyes in that Body whose head is Christ.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Doctor of the Church’s Unity

he has set them like twinlight - st pope leo the great

 

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 29 June

“Their sound has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the world” ……….Psalm 19

psalm 19 - sts peter and paul

REFLECTION – “There is one day for the passion of two apostles. But these two also were as one; although they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, Paul followed. We are celebrating a feast day, consecrated for us by the blood of the apostles. Let us love their faith, their lives, their labours, their sufferings, their confession of faith, their preaching.”………St Augustine

these two also were as one-staugustine

PRAYER – Almighty God, whose blessed Apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord;  who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Sts Peter and Paul, pray for us and for the universal Church, amen.

sts peter and paul - pray for us