Category: MORNING Prayers

Posted in BAPTISM, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 October – ‘O foolish Pharisee … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 12 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Romans 1: 16-25; Psalm 19: 2-5; Luke 11: 37-41 and the Memorial of St Serafino of Montegranaro OFM Cap (1540-1604)

And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness.”…Luke 11:39

REFLECTION – “The Pharisee invites Him to an entertainment for his own purpose. The Saviour of all, submits to this for providence’s sake. He made the matter an opportunity of giving instruction, not consuming the time of their meeting in the enjoyment of food and delicacies but, in the task of making those ,who were assembled there, more virtuous. The dull Pharisee himself, supplied an occasion for His speech, “because he wondered,” it says, “that he did not wash before dinner.” Did he wonder at Him, as having done something of which he approved, as being especially worthy of the saints? This was not his view. How could it be? On the contrary, he was offended because, although He had the reputation of a righteous man and a prophet, He did not conform Himself to their unreasonable customs.

Our argument is this. “O foolish Pharisee, you boast much of your knowledge of the sacred Scriptures. You are always quoting the law of Moses. Tell us where Moses gave you this commandment? What commandment ordained by God requires people to wash before eating? The waters of sprinkling were indeed given by the command of Moses for the cleansing of bodily uncleanness, as being a type of the Baptism which really is holy and cleansing, even that in Christ. Those who were called to the priesthood were also bathed in water. The divine Moses bathed Aaron and the Levites. The law thereby declared by means of the baptism enacted in type and shadow that even its priesthood did not have what is sufficient for sanctification. On the contrary, it needs divine and holy Baptism for the true cleansing.” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Father and Doctor of the the Incarnation of the Church (Commentary on Luke, “Homily 83”).

PRAYER – Lord God, open our hearts to Your Grace, that we may be filled with Your light and overflow with gratitude for Your merciful love. May we love and adore and worship You in return. Although we are sinners, our hearts long to thank You in total trust and humble thankfulness. Grant that by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of our Hearts and of the humble St Serafino, we may grow in holiness. Through Your only Son, our Saviour and Redeemer, with the Holy Spirit, God, forever, amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS

Our Morning Offering -12 October – May Your Heart Dwell Always in our Hearts!

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Our Morning Offering -12 October

May Your Heart Dwell
Always in our Hearts!
by Saint Francis De Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

May Your Heart
dwell always in our hearts!
May Your Blood
ever flow in the veins of our souls!
O Sun of our hearts,
You give life to all things
by the rays of Your goodness!
I will not go,
until Your Heart has strengthened me,
O Lord Jesus!
May the Heart of Jesus
be the King of my heart!
Blessed be God.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 11 October – Mother of my God, Lady Mary, Queen of Mercy

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Our Morning Offering – 11 October – Feast of the Divine Maternity

Mother of my God,
Lady Mary, Queen of Mercy
By St Alphonsus Ligouri (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Mother of my God and my Lady Mary,
as a beggar, all wounded and sore,
presents himself before a great Queen,
so do I present myself before you,
who are Queen of heaven and earth.
From the lofty throne on which you sit,
disdain not, I implore you,
to cast your eyes on me,
a poor sinner.
God has made you so rich
that you might assist the poor
and has made you Queen of Mercy,
that you might relieve the miserable.
Behold me then and pity me.
Behold me and abandon me not,
until you see me changed
from a sinner into a saint.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the HIGH PRIEST, CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 10 October – You lack one thing – the road that leads to life

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One Minute Reflection – 10 October – “Month of the Most Holy Rosary” – Readings: Wisdom 7:7-11, Psalms 90:12-13,14-15, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-13, Mark 10:17-30

“You lack one thing – go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come, follow me.”…Mark 10:21

REFLECTION – “This, beloved, is the way in which we found our salvation, Jesus Christ, the High Priest who offers our gifts, the patron and helper in our weakness (Heb 10:20; 7:27; 4:15). It is through Him, that we look straight at the heavens above. Through Him, we see mirrored, God’s faultless and transcendent countenance. Through Him, the eyes of our heart were opened. Through Him, our unintelligent and darkened mind shoots up into the light. Through Him, the Master was pleased to let us taste the knowledge that never fades, He who is “the radiance of His splendour, who towers as much above the angels, as the title He has inherited, is superior to theirs” (He 1:3-4) (…)

Let us take our body. The head is nothing without the feet and the feet are nothing without the head. The smallest organs of our body are necessary and valuable to the whole body, in fact, all parts conspire and yield the same obedience, toward maintaining the whole of the body (cf.1 Co 12:12f.).
Therefore, let the whole of our body be maintained in Christ Jesus and let each submit to their neighbour’s rights in the measure determined by the special gift bestowed on them. Let the strong care for the weak and the weak respect the strong; let the rich support the poor and the poor render thanks to God for giving them the means of supplying their needs; let the wise show their wisdom, not in words but in active help; the humble must not testify to themselves but leave it to another to testify in their behalf. Those who are continent must not boast, knowing that it is another who confers on them the ability to remain continent.

Let us, therefore, reflect brethren, of what clay we were made, what and who we were when we entered the world, out of what grave and darkness, our Maker and Creator has brought us into the world, where He has prepared His benefits before our birth. Since, then, we owe all these blessings to Him, we are obliged to thank Him in every way.” … St Pope Clement I (c 35 – c 99) – Pope from c 90 to c 99 – Letter to the Corinthians, § 36-38

PRAYER – Almighty God and Father, you sent St Francis Borgia to be Your witnesses and to bring Your Church to all for the salvation of souls. Sustain us by their prayers that by our lives we may lead all to You through Holy Mother Church. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on FAITH, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 10 October – Father, Son and Holy Spirit

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Our Morning Offering – 10 October – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Father, Son and Holy Spirit
By St Gregory of Nazianzen (330-390)
Father and Doctor

O God,
You alone are unutterable,
from the time You created all things
that can be spoken of.

You alone are unknowable,
from the time You created all things
that can be known.

All things cry out about You,
those which speak
and those which cannot speak.

All things honour You,
those which think
and those which cannot think.

For there is one longing, one groaning,
that all things have for You.

All things pray to You
that perceive Your plan
and offer You a silent hymn.

In you, the One,
all things abide
and all things endlessly run to You
who are the end of all.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC TIME, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, Our MORNING Offering, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT

Our Morning Offering – 9 October – Make Me Like Yourself, Mary My Mother

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Our Morning Offering – 9 October – Mary’s Saturday

Make Me Like Yourself, Mary My Mother
By St Louis-Marie de Montfort (1673-1716)

My powerful Queen,
you are all mine, through your mercy
and I am all yours.
Take away from me, all that may displease God
and cultivate in me, all that is pleasing to Him.
May the light of your faith,
dispel the darkness of my mind,
your deep humility,
take the place of my pride,
your continual sight of God,
fill my memory, with His presence.
May the love of your heart
inflame the lukewarmness, of mine.
May your virtues, take the place of my sins.
May your merits, be my enrichment
and make up for allthat is wanting in me, before God.
My beloved Mother,
grant that I may have, no other spirit but your spirit,
to know Jesus Christ and His Divine will
and to praise and glorify the Lord,
that I may love God, with burning love like yours.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 October – Bearing Christ in our hearts

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One Minute Reflection – 9 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: : Joel 4: 12-21; Psalm 97: 1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Luke 11: 27-28

“He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” – Luke 11:28

REFLECTION – “Mary was more blessed in accepting the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. To someone who said, “Blessed is the womb that bore you,” He replied, “Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” Finally, for His brothers, His relatives according to the flesh, who did not believe in Him, of what advantage was that relationship? Even her maternal relationship would have done Mary no good unless she had borne Christ, more happily in her heart, than in her flesh.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of Grace (Holy Virginity, 3).

PRAYER – “O my God, whatever is nearer to me than You, things of this earth and things more naturally pleasing to me, will be sure to interrupt the sight of You, unless Your grace interfere. Keep You my eyes, my ears, my heart, from any such miserable tyranny. Keep my whole being fixed on You. Let me never lose sight of You and while I gaze on You, let my love of You grow more and more every day.” … St John Henry Newman (1801-1890) May we run the race in obedience and love of the Will of our God, always seeking Your Face in those who are the leastg. Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – – 8 October – ‘If it neglects the grace …’

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One Minute Reflection – – 8 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Joel 1: 13-15; 2: 1-2; Psalm 9: 2-3, 6 & 8-9; Luke 11: 15-26

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came…” – Luke 11:24

REFLECTION – “The unclean spirit dwelt in us before we believed, before we came to Christ when our soul was still committing fornication against God and was with its lovers, the demons. Afterward it said, “I will return to my first husband,” and came to Christ, who “created” it from the beginning “in his image.” Necessarily the adulterous spirit gave up his place when it saw the legitimate husband.

Christ received us and our house has been “cleansed” from its former sins. It has been “furnished” with the furnishing of the Sacraments of the faithful, that they who have been initiated know. This house does not deserve to have Christ as its resident immediately, unless its life and conduct are so holy, pure and incapable of being defiled, that it deserves to be the “temple of God.” It should not still be a house but a temple in which God dwells. If it neglects the grace that was received and entangles itself in secular affairs, immediately, that unclean spirit returns and claims the vacant house for itself. “It brings with it seven other spirits more wicked,” so that it may not be able again to be expelled “and the last state of that kind of person is worse than the first.” It would be more tolerable that the soul would not have returned to its first husband once it became a prostitute, than having gone back after confession to her husband, to have become an adulteress again. There is no “fellowship,” as the Apostle says, “between the temple of God and idols,” no “agreement between Christ and Belial.” – Origen of Alexandria (c 185-253) Priest, Theologian, Exegist, Writer, Apologist, Father (Homilies on Exodus, 8)

PRAYER – Lord God and Father, who entrusted the earth to men and each to the other, grant us the grace this day, to see Your Face. Grant us the grace to work faithfully for Your glory, for the salvation of our souls through the light of faith and by the grace which You have given us. We beg the grace of Your love and mercy and the light of love You send with Your Holy Spirit. May the prayers of Mary our Holy Mother, keep us ever in her guiding care. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS

Our Morning Offering – 8 October – Cast Upon Us a Look of Mercy

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Our Morning Offering – 8 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary”

Cast Upon Us a Look of Mercy
By Blessed Pope Pius IX (1792-1878)

O Jesus!
Cast upon us a look of mercy,
turn Your Face towards each of us
as You did to Veronica,
not that we may see it,
with our bodily eyes,
for this we do not deserve
but turn Your Face towards our hearts,
so that, remembering You,
we may ever draw
from this Fountain of Strength,
the vigour necessary to sustain us,
in the combats of life.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, Our MORNING Offering, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Our Morning Offering – 7 October – Through Thee, to Us, our Saviour Came

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Our Morning Offering – 7 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and of Victory

Through Thee, to Us, our Saviour Came
To Our Lady of the Rosary
By St Amadeus of Lausanne O.Cist (1108-1159)

Through thee, to us, our Saviour came,
Through thee, to Him, we fain would go.
Our lives are marred by wrong and shame,
Yet, confidence in thee we know.
The friendship thou dost give to all
Who love thy name, shall ever be
Assurance thou wilt hear our call,
Sweet Lady of the Rosary!

Thou art our Strength upon the way,
Our Morning Star, to cheer and guide;
Our Beacon Light to show the day,
And lead us to the Saviour’s Side;
A Comforter in ev’ry pain
We find, O Mother blest, in thee,
And seek we, never, thee in vain,
Fair Lady of the Rosary!

Thy praises, Mary, we would sing,
And all our faculties employ,
That unto thee our hearts might bring
A glory-crown of love and joy.
Bless thou each humble effort made
In thy regard and grant that we,
May by thy influence be swayed,
Our Lady of the Rosary!

Posted in MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, St JOSEPH, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Our Morning Offering – 6 October – Ad Te Beate Joseph

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Our Morning Offering – 6 October – Ad Te, Beate Joseph

In Catholic Time, Wednesdays are traditionally St Joseph’s day. Saint Joseph is known as the Prince and chief Patron of the Church. As the earthly Father of Jesus, he had a special role in protecting, providing for and instructing Jesus during His earthly life. Now that Christ is ascended into Heaven, St Joseph continues his fatherly guardianship of Christ’s body, the Church. He is a very powerful help to all of us.

Ad Te, Beate Joseph
To Thee, O Blessed Joseph
By Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)

O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family,
defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ.
O most loving father,
ward off from us,
every contagion of error
and corrupting influence.
O our most mighty protector,
be propitious to us
and from heaven assist us
in our struggle with the power of darkness
and, as once you rescued the Child Jesus
from deadly peril,
so now protect God’s Holy Church
from the snares of the enemy
and from all adversity.
Shield, too, each one of us
by your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example
and your aid, we may be able
to live piously,
to die holy
and to obtain eternal happiness in Heaven.
Amen

Pope Leo asked that this prayer be added to the end of the Holy Rosary during the Month of October.

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, HYMNS, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES on PEACE, SACRED HEART PRAYERS

Our Morning Offering – 5 October – To Christ, the Prince of Peace

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Our Morning Offering – 5 October

To Christ, the Prince of Peace
Trans Fr Edward Caswell CO (1814-1878)

To Christ, the Prince of Peace,
And Son of God most high,
The Father of the world to come,
Sing we with holy joy.

Deep in His Heart, for us,
The wound of love He bore;
That love wherewith He still inflames
The hearts that Him adore.

O Jesu, victim blest,
What else but love divine
Could Thee constrain to open thus
That Sacred Heart of thine?

O fount of endless life,
O spring of water clear,
O flame celestial, cleansing all
Who unto Thee draw near!

Hide us in Thy dear heart,
For thither do we fly;
There seek Thy grace through life; in death
Thine immortality.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, franciscan OFM, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on JUSTICE, SAINT of the DAY, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 October – ‘ … The weight by which Your Goodness, overcomes Your Justice. …’

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One Minute Reflection – 4 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Jonah 1: 1 – 2: 1-2, 11; Psalm Jonah 2: 3, 4, 5, 8; Luke 10: 25-37 The Memorial of St Francis of Assisi (c 1181–1226)

“But a certain Samaritan being on his journey, came near him and seeing him, was moved with compassion. And going up to him, bound up his wounds …” – Luke 10:33-34

REFLECTION – “ How good You are, O Divine Samaritan, to gather up this wounded world so sadly fallen along the way, trapped in such mire and so unworthy of Your Goodness!

The more wicked the world, the more Your Mercy shines forth: to be infinitely good to the good, is a thousand times less admirable, than to be infinitely good to souls, who, even though lavished with graces, are simply ungrateful, unfaithful, perverse. The more wicked we are, the more the marvel of Your infinite Mercy gleams and shines. This in itself, suffices to explain, the great good that sin produces on the earth and explains, why You permit it. It makes way for an incomparable greater good – the exercise and manifestation of Your divine Mercy. This divine attribute could not be put into practice without it; goodness could be exercised and shown without sin but failure is needed, if mercy is to be manifested. Ah! My Lord and God, how Good you are! How Merciful! Mercy is, so to speak, the overflow of Your Goodness and what is most passionate in Your Goodness, the weight by which Your Goodness overcomes Your Justice. How divinely good You are! (…)

Be kind to sinners, since God is so kind to us – pray for them, love them. … “Be merciful as our Father is merciful” (cf. Lk 6:36). God “prefers mercy to sacrifice” (cf. Mt 12:7).” – Bl Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916) Hermit and Missionary in the Sahara – (Meditations on the psalms 103, psalm 52)

PRAYER – All highest, glorious God,
cast Your light into the darkness of our hearts,
give us true faith, firm hope,
perfect charity and profound humility,
so that with wisdom,
courage and perception, O Lord,
we may do what is truly Your holy will.
Amen. – St Francis of Assisi

Posted in franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 4 October – Prayer to do the Will of God

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Our Morning Offering – 4 October – The Memorial of St Francis of Assisi OFM (c 1181–1226)

Prayer to do the Will of God
By St Francis of Assisi (c 1181-1226)

Almighty, eternal, just and merciful God,
grant us in our misery,
the grace to do for You alone
what we know You want us to do
and always to desire, what pleases You.
Thus, inwardly cleansed,
interiorly enlightened
and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit,
may we be able to follow in the footprints of
Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
And, by Your grace alone,
may we make our way to You,
Most High, Who live and rule in perfect Trinity
and simple Unity
and are glorified God
all-powerful, forever and ever.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 3 October – O Jesus, Sweetest Love, Come Thou to Me

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Our Morning Offering – 3 October – The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

O Jesus, Sweetest Love,
Come Thou to Me
1940 Fr Francis Xavier Lasance (1860–1946)

O JESUS, sweetest Love, come Thou to me.
Come down in all Thy beauty unto me.
Thou Who didst die for longing of me
And never, never more depart from me.
Free me, O beauteous God, from all but Thee;
Sever the chain that holds me back from Thee;
Call me, O tender Love, I cry to Thee;
Thou art my all! O bind me close to Thee.
O suffering Love, Who hast so loved me;
O patient Love, Who wearies not of me.
Thou alone O Love! Thou weary not of me!
Ah! Weary not till I am lost in Thee,
Nay, weary not, till I am found in Thee.
Amen

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HEAVEN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 2 October – ‘ … They help each of us … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 2 October – The Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, Readings: Baruch 4: 5-12, 27-29; Psalm 69: 33-37; Matthew 18: 1-5, 10

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” – Matthew 18:10

REFLECTION – “For just as the Lord commands that unbelieving and treacherous persons who are a stumbling block to the body of the church should be cut off or plucked out, so He also warns us, not to despise any of the little children, that is, humble people in the faithful who simply and faithfully believe in the Son of God. For it is not right to despise anyone who believes in Christ. A believer is called, not only a servant of God but also a son, though the grace of adoption, to whom the Kingdom of Heaven and the company of the Angels is promised. And rightly the Lord adds, “For I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.”

How much grace the Lord has toward each one believing in Him, He Himself declares when He shows their Angels always beholding the face of the Father who is in Heaven. Great is the grace of the Angels toward all who believe in Christ. Finally, the Angels carry their prayers to heaven. Hence the word of Raphael to Tobias: “When you prayed along with your daughter-in-law Sara, I offered the memory of your prayer in the sight of God.” Around them there is also the strong guard of the Angels; they help each of us to be free from the traps of the enemy. For a human in his weakness could not be safe amid so many forceful attacks of that enemy, if he were not strengthened by the help of the Angels.” – St Chromatius of Aquileia (Died 407) Bishop of Aquileia, Contemporary of St Jerome, St John Chrysostom (Tractate on Matthew, 57)

PRAYER – Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits thee here.
Ever this day, be at my side,
to light, to guard, to rule, to guide.
Amen.

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 2 October – My Oldest Friend

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Our Morning Offering – 2 October – The Memorial of the Guardian Angels

My Oldest Friend
By St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

My oldest friend, mine from the hour
When first I drew my breath,
My faithful friend, that shall be mine,
Unfailing, till my death….

Mine when I stand before the Judge,
And mine, if spared to stay
Within the golden furnace, till
My sin is burn’d away.

And mine, O Brother of my soul,
When my release shall come,
Thy gentle arms shall lift me then,
Thy wings shall waft me home.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ON the SAINTS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 1 October – ‘ … O what great honour! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 1 October – “Month of the Most Holy Rosary” – Readings: Baruch 1: 15-22; Psalms79: 1b-5, 8-9; Luke 10: 13-16 and the Memorial of St Bavo of Ghent (c 589–654

“He who hears you, hears me and he who rejects you, rejects me and he who rejects me, rejects him who sent me” – Luke 10:16

REFLECTION – “Consider the great authority He gave the holy Apostles, how He declared them praiseworthy,and how He decorated them with the highest honours. “He who hears you,” He says, “hears me and he that rejects you, rejects me and he who rejects me, rejects him who sent me.”
O what great honour!
What incomparable dignities!
O what a gift worthy of God!
Although men, the children of earth, He clothes them with a godlike glory.
He entrusts His Words to them, that they, who resist anything, or venture to reject them, may be condemned.
When they are rejected, He assures them that He Himself suffers this.
Then again, He shows that the guilt of this wickedness, as being committed against Himself, rises up to God the Father.
See with the eyes of the mind, how vast a height He raises the sin committed by men in rejecting the saints! What a wall He builds around them! How great security he contrives for them! He makes them such as must be feared and in every way plainly provides for their being uninjured!” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Known as ‘The Pillar o Faith,” Archbishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor of the Incarnation)(Commentary on Luke, Homily 63)

PRAYER – God, our Father, Your promised Your Kingdom to the little ones and the humble of heart. Give us grace to walk confidently in the way of St Bavo of Ghent, so that helped by their prayers, we may see Your eternal glory. Through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 1 October – Rescue Our Life, Lord

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Our Morning Offering – 1 October – The Memorial of St Romanos the Melodist (c 490-c 556) Deacon, Hymnographer, Poet, Writer.

Rescue Our Life, Lord
By St Romanos the Melodist (c 490-c 556)

We implore You,
O All-Holy, Long-Suffering,
Life and Restoration,
Source of goodness,
look down from Heaven
and visit all those
who ever trust in You;
rescue our life, Lord,
from all constraint and affliction
and, in the faith of Truth,
guide us all,
at the prayers of Your
Immaculate Mother of God and Virgin,
Save Your world
and those in the world
and spare us all,
You Who, for us,
became Man without change,
only Lover of mankind.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRIDE, SAINT of the DAY, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The LAMB of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 30 September – ‘Be imitators of Me …’

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One Minute Reflection – 30 September – Readings: Nehemiah 8: 1-12; Psalm 19: 8-11; Luke 10: 1-12 – The Memorial of St Jerome (347-419) Father and Doctor

“Like lambs among wolves”– Luke 10:3

REFLECTION – “As He sent out disciples into His harvest – which had, in truth, been sown by the Father’s Word but, which required to be worked over, cultivated and carefully tended, if the birds were not to ravage the seed – Jesus said to them: “Behold, I send you out like lambs among wolves”. … The Good Shepherd could not but fear wolves in His flock – these disciples were sent to spread grace abroad, not to become a prey.
But the Good Shepherd’s care prevented the wolves from doing anything against the lambs He sends out. He sends them that Isaiah’s prophecy might be fulfilled: “The wolf and the lamb shall graze alike” (Is 65:25) … And besides, were not the disciples who were sent out ordered not even to carry a staff? …

What our humble Lord laid down, His disciples also accomplished by practising humility.
For He sends them out to broadcast the faith, not by force but by their teaching; not by exerting force of will but by exalting the doctrine of humility.
And He thought it good to link patience to humility since, according to Peter’s testimony: “When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten” (1 Pt 2:23).

This amounts to saying: “Be imitators of Me – let go of your thirst for revenge; respond to the blows of pride, not by returning evil for evil but, with the patience that forgives. No-one should perform on their own account, what they reprehend in others, gentleness confronts the arrogant with far greater strength.” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on St Luke’s Gospel, 7, 45.59).

PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, You endowed Saint Jerome with a deep reverence and understanding of Holy Scripture, which he loved with all his heart. Sustain us evermore with Your word and teach us by their precepts. Help us to follow each word which Jesus, Your Son, our Redeemer, uttered that we may find therein the source of life. May the prayers of St Jerome assist us in our love and faithfulness. We ask this through Jesus our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, Amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 30 September – My Sorrowful Mother,Help Me to Bear My Crosses

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Our Morning Offering – 30 September – The last day of the Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Mother Mary

My Sorrowful Mother,
Help Me to Bear My Crosses
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Doctor of the Church

My sorrowful Mother,
by the merit of that grief
which you felt
at seeing your beloved Jesus
led to death,
obtain for me the grace
to bear with patience,
those crosses which God sends me.
I will be fortunate
if I also shall know how
to accompany you
with my cross until death.
You and Jesus,
both innocent,
have borne a heavy cross
and shall I,
a sinner who has merited hell,
refuse mine?
Immaculate Virgin,
I hope you will help me
to bear my crosses with patience.
Amen

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 September – Angels and Archangels

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One Minute Reflection – 29 September – Feast of the Dedication of St Michael the Archangel, Readings: Daniel 7: 9-10, 13-14 or Apocalpyse 12: 7-12a; Psalm 138: 1-5; John 1: 47-51

“Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and it’s angels fought back …” … Apocalypse 12:7

REFLECTION – “That angels exist is attested by many pages of Holy Scripture … You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message. Moreover, those who deliver messages
of lesser importance, are called angels and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance, are called Archangels. Hence it is, that not just any angel was sent to the Virgin Mary but that Gabriel the Archangel was sent – it was right that the proper one for this role should be of the highest rank of angels, since he was to announce the greatest news of all. …

Whenever a mighty deed is in question, Michael is assigned, so that by his actions and name, which means “Who is like God?”, it may be made known that no-one can do what God can do. So, in the case of our ancient enemy, who, in his pride wanted to be like God when he said: ‘I will ascend to heaven;,above the stars of God, I will set my throne on high; I will make myself like the Most High’ (Is 14:13): when he is shown to be condemned to eternal punishment at the end of the world, he is described, as about to do battle with Michael, as Saint John says : ‘War broke out with Michael the Archangel. The Dragon and its angels fought back but they did not prevail and it was thrown down to earth’ (cf. Rv 12:7-9).

Gabriel was sent to Mary, for Gabriel means ‘Strength of God‘. He came to announce Him who deigned to be lowly so as to wage war on the spiritual powers of the air. He who came as God of power and, as One strong in battle (Ps 24[23]:8) was to be announced by Gabriel, the strength of God. Finally, Raphael is interpreted as ‘Healing of God‘, since he wiped away the shadows of blindness from Tobias when he touched his eyes to cure him. The one who is sent to cure, was indeed worthy of the name .’Healing of God .”- St Gregory the Great (540-604) – Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on the Gospel, 34, 8-9).

PRAYER – Dear and Holy God, let us offer You all our daily struggles against sin and evil. Grant us the strength to resist all forms of idolatry, to seek only You and never to allow the material goods of this world to seduce us. Sustain us ever more with Your word and help us to find in it, the source of life. Grant that the angels who always minister to You in heaven may defend us during our life on earth and protect us from evil. Grant this, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 29 September – The St Michael Prayer

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Our Morning Offering – 29 September – Feast of the Dedication of St Michael

The St Michael Prayer

St Michael, the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
Be our safeguard against the wickedness
and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him,
we humbly pray,
And do thou,
O prince of the heavenly hosts,
By the power of God,
Cast into hell, Satan and all evil spirits
Who prowl throughout the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

You will know or even recall ,that when the Mass was only in Latin (1570-1969) after the High Mass, known in those days as the Summa (Latin for: The Greatest) the St Michael prayer was recited. This St Michael prayer was placed at the end of the Mass by Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) in the 1890’s as a result of a vision he saw concerning the dire state of the world in the 20th century!
The Church has always prayed to St Michael for protection against the evils of the devil.
Michael’s name means “Who is like God.” In Latin: “Quis ut Deus.” He can be found in the Book of The Prophet Daniel (Old Testament) Dn. 10:13; Dn. 10:21; Dn 12:1. In the New Testament he can be found in the Book of Revelation 12:7-9; Epistle of St Jude 1:9 and the Letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians (4:16).
St Thomas Aquinas (1214-1274) writes of him: “Michael is the Breath of the Redeemer’s Spirit, Who at the end of the World will combat and destroy the antichrist, as he did Lucifer in the beginning.”
St Michael is invoked in sickness and most especially at the hour of our death, when
Satan makes his last and fiercest attack on our soul, seeking with cunning, craft, fears and despair to drag us into Hell with him.
Please, let us all restore St Michael to our hearts and pray to him for protection each day, after Holy Mass and after the Holy Rosary.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 September – ‘… A preparatory exercise in the matter. ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 28 September – “Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary” Readings: Zechariah 8: 20-23; Psalm 87: 1b-7; Luke 9: 51-56

“… On the way they entered a Samaritan village … but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey, was Jerusalem.” . – Luke 9:53

REFLECTION – “It says, “When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” This means, that after He would endure His saving Passion for us, the time would come when He should ascend to heaven and dwell with God the Father, so He determined to go to Jerusalem. This is, I think, the meaning of his “set his face.”

It would be false to affirm, that our Saviour did not know what was about to happen because He knows all things. He knew, of course, that the Samaritans would not receive His messengers. There can be no doubt of this. Why then did He command them to go before Him? It was His custom to benefit diligently, the holy Apostles in every possible way and because of this, it was His practice, sometimes to test them…. On this occasion, He also tested them. He knew that the Samaritans would not receive those who went forward to announce that He would stay with them. He still permitted them to go, that this again might be a way of benefiting the holy Apostles.

What was the purpose of this occurrence? He was going up to Jerusalem, as the time of His passion was already drawing near. He was about to endure the scorn of the Jews. He was about to be destroyed by the scribes and Pharisees and to suffer those things that they inflicted upon Him when they went to accomplish all of violence and wicked boldness. He did not want them to be offended when they saw Him suffering. He also wanted them to be patient and not to complain greatly, although people would treat them rudely. He, so to speak, made the Samaritans’ hatred a preparatory exercise in the matter. They had not received the messengers.

For their benefit, He rebuked the disciples and gently restrained the sharpness of their wrath, not permitting them to grumble violently against those who sinned. He rather persuaded them to be patient and to cherish a mind that is unmovable by anything like this.” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Known as ‘THE PILLAR OF FAITH”
Archbishop of Alexandria, Father and Doctor Incarnationis (Doctor of the Incarnation) (Commentary on Luke, Homily 56)

PRAYER – O God of love, You sent Your beloved Son to the world to proclaim the Good News of Salvation, to heal every illness and to cure all infirmity of body and soul. Help us to continue the mission of the merciful Christ in the service towards our neighbour, preaching the Gospel and offering our help in whatever way we can. May the example of Your saints, teach us how to love and serve You. Through their intercession, grant us the grace to go forth in love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 28 September – Steer the Ship of My Life, Lord

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Our Morning Offering – 28 September – – “Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary”

Steer the Ship of My Life, Lord
By St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Steer the ship of my life, Lord,
to Your quiet harbour,
where I can be safe from
the storms of sin and conflict.
Show me the course I should take.
Renew in me the gift of discernment,
so that I can see the right direction
in which I should go.
And give me the strength
and the courage
to choose the right course,
even when the sea is rough
and the waves are high,
knowing that, through enduring hardship
and danger, in Your Name
we shall find comfort and peace.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, GOD the FATHER, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The CHRIST CHILD, The DIVINE INFANT, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 September – Oh great God! Oh perfect Child!

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One Minute Reflection – 27 September – “Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary” – Readings: Zechariah 8: 1-8; Psalm 102: 16-21, 29 and 22-23; Luke 9: 46-50

“Whoever receives this little child in my name, receives me” – Luke 9:48

REFLECTION – “As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms and fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you,” (Is 66:12-13). The mother embraces her children and we seek out our own mother, the Church. Anything weak and helpless, whose weakness needs supporting, is sweet and vulnerable and endearing: -God does not refuse His help to anything so young. Parents devote particular gentleness to their little ones; … in the same way, the Father of all creation gathers to Himself all who take refuge in Him, regenerates them by His Spirit and adopts them as His sons. He knows how gentle they are and they are the ones He loves, helps and protects;,that is why He calls them His little children, (cf. Jn 13:33).

The Holy Spirit, speaking through the mouth of Isaiah, applies the expression “child” to the Lord Himself: “For a child is born to us, a son is given us (…)” (Is. 9,5). Who is this Child, then? This newborn Infant in whose image we, too, are children? Through the same prophet, the Spirit describes His greatness: “Wonder-CounselLor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace,” (v. 6).

Oh great God! Oh perfect Child! The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son. How could the teaching this Child gives, not be irreproachable? It includes us all to guide us all, His children. He has stretched out His hands to us and we have placed in them all our faith. To this little Child, John the Baptist himself also gave testimony – “Behold,” he said, “the Lamb of God,” (Jn 1:29). Since Scripture has called children ‘lambs’, it has called “Lamb of God” the Word of God Who became man for us and Who wanted to become like us in all things, the Son of God Himself, the child of the Father. – St Clement of Alexandria (150-215) Theologian, Father – (Paedagogus I, 21-24)

PRAYER – God our Father, Your rule is a rule of love, Your providence is full of mercy for Your people. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of the Word made flesh and His sorrowful Mother, grant the spirit of wisdom and understanding in Your Word, Your Son Jesus Christ. Grant that by the healing Word our repentant hearts may know our way to our eternal home and strive to attain eternal joy there with You. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 27 September – Lord, Teach me How to Pray

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Our Morning Offering – 27 September – the Memorial of St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Lord, Teach me How to Pray
By St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Oh Lord,
You selected the poor
and simple people to be Your Apostles.
Look upon Your poor servant
kneeling before You now.
I recognise that I am simple and poor too.
Dear Lord, please teach me how to pray
as You taught Your disciples
upon their humble request.
If it pleases You in Your goodness
to grant me that grace,
I shall be able to pray well
and much better
than I could ever hope for
if left to my own efforts.
Lord, I trust that You will bless me
with the fulfilment of this request.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 September – “Give with assurance; I stand surety. … ”

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One Minute Reflection – 26 September – “Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary” – Readings: Numbers 11: 25-29; Psalm 19: 8, 10- 14; James 5: 1-6; Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48

“Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ … will surely not lose his reward” – Mark 9:41

REFLECTION – “Give of your earthly goods and receive eternal ones; give earth and receive heaven. But give to whom? … Hear Scripture telling you how you are to lend to the Lord Himself: “He who has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord” (Prv 19:17). God most certainly is in no need of you but another is in need; what you give to the one is received by another. For the poor has nothing with which to pay you back; he would like to but cannot find anything. The only thing he has is a kindly wish to pray for you. But when a poor man prays for you, it is as though he were to say to God: “Lord, I’ve received a loan; be my security.” From then on, if the poor man you do business with is insolvent, he has a sound guarantee, for God says to you: “Give with assurance; I stand surety. … It is I who will pay back, I who receive, I to whom you give.”

Do you really believe that God would say to you: “It is I who receive and to me that you give?” Yes, indeed, if Christ is God – and of that there is no question. For He said: “I was hungry and you gave me food.” And when asked: “When did we see you hungry?” wanting to prove that He is indeed surety for the poor, He answers on behalf of all His members, … declaring, “Whatever you did for the least of my disciples, you have done to me” (Mt 25:34 f.). – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Theologian, Father, Doctor of Grace. Sermon on Psalm 36

PRAYER – Lord God, You hold out the Light of Your Word to those who do not know You. Strengthen in our hearts, the faith You have given us and the Credo we profess, so that no trials may quench the fire Your Spirit has kindled in us. May the intercession of the Mother of the Word made flesh and our Mother, grant us the grace of following the way of the Cross, to stand beneath it with our her, Ave Maria! We make our prayer through Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.

Posted in CONSECRATION Prayers, DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 26 September – An Act of Consecration to the Holy Trinity

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Our Morning Offering – 26 September – Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Trinity.   This is entirely fitting as Sunday is the first day of the week and the day when we offer God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit our praise, adoration and thanksgiving.

An Act of Consecration to the Holy Trinity
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

I vow and consecrate to God
all that is in me:
my memory and my actions
to God the Father;
my understanding
and my words
to God the Son;
my will and my thoughts
to God the Holy Ghost;
my heart, my body,
my tongue, my senses
and all my sorrows
to the sacred Humanity of Jesus Christ,
“who was content to be betrayed
into the hands of wicked men
and to suffer the torment of the Cross..”
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 September – ‘… that we might be ‘sent away’ …’

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One Minute Reflection – 25 September – Readings: Zechariah 2: 5-9, 14-15a; Jeremiah 31: 10-12ab, 13; Luke 9: 43b-45

“Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” – Luke 9:44

REFLECTION – “The mystery of the Passion may be seen also in another instance. According to the Mosaic law, two goats were offered. They were not different in any way from one another but they were alike in size and appearance. Of these, one was called “the lord,” and the other was called “sent-away.” When the lot was cast for the one called “lord,” it was sacrificed. The other one, was sent away from the sacrifice, and, therefore, had the name of “sent-away.” Who was signified by this? The Word, though He was God, was in our likeness and took the form of us sinners, as far as the nature of the flesh was concerned. The male or female goat was sacrificed for sins. Death was our desert, for we had fallen under the divine curse because of sin. When the Saviour of all undertook the responsibility, He transferred to Himself what was due to us and laid down His life, that we might be ‘sent away‘ from death and destruction.” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Known as The Pillar of Faith – Father and Doctor of the Church (Commentary on Luke, Homily 53)

PRAYER – Holy God, help me to amend my life constantly and be sincerely converted to You. Let me seek Your interests rather than my own and be ever more closely united with You. Send Your Spirit of understanding to enkindle our minds but most of all, fill us with Your grace of faith, that whether we understand or not, our love and obedience, is our only guide. Blessed Virgin Mother teach us to carry our crosses as you did in love and patience. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for all eternity, amen.