Category: MEDITATIONS – ANTONIO CARD BACCI

Posted in "Follow Me", MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 6 March – CONSCIENCE

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Thought for the Day – 6 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

CONSCIENCE

“There are some people who have a right conscience, a conscient, in other words, which is based on the principles of the Gospel, on the precepts of the Church and on the sound advice of a good confessor.

Nevertheless, these must remember St Paul’s warning: “Let him who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12).
They must not grow proud, like the Pharisee who prayed in front of the altar but, must be humble, like the poor publican, who knew that without God’s direction and grace, he would fall into serious sin.

They should remember too that it is not enough to have a right conscience but, its dictates must be put into practice with the help of fervent prayer and frequent reception of the Sacraments.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/28/thought-for-the-day-28-march-conscience/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/06/thought-for-the-day-6-march-conscience/

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL

Thought for the Day – 5 March – Mortification and Penance

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Thought for the Day – 5 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Mortification and Penance

“In Christian teaching, death is the beginning of life.
“Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies,” Jesus said, “it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. He who loves his life, loses it and he, who hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life everlasting” (Jn 12:24-25).
This paradox of dying to this life in order to live in Heaven, was enacted in a wonderful way in the lives of Jesus and of the Saints.
It must be put into effect in our lives also, if we are to be genuine Christians.
Jesus shed His precious blood for us and His death was the beginning of His triumph.
The Apostles, Martyrs and Saints, gave their lives for Christ and received, as their reward, the happy and eternal life of Heaven.
By dying to our own ego and to our passions, we shall find the true life of Christ.
We must die to ourselves, so that Christ may live in us, as He lived in St Paul.
We must die to pride, so that Christian humility may live in us;
we must die to anger, so that patience may live in us;
we must die to lust, so that purity and innocence may live in us
and, we must die to selfishness, so that charity may live in us.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 4 March – The Imitation of the Saints

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Thought for the Day – 4 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Imitation of the Saints

“Sacred Scripture says of Jesus, that He “did and taught” (Acts 1:11).
We should reflect on these words.
Very often we come across thinkers, who teach but do nothing.
Sometimes they even act contrary to their own precepts and then their work is futile and harmful!
Many unfortunate young people are the victims of the false ideas and bad example of their teachers.
It was not so with Jesus, nor was it so with the Saints, His faithful followers.

We can learn much from their writings and still more from their example.
For this reason we should read about their lives.
People read so many books and articles which teach them nothing and many others which arouse their lower instincts and smother their high ideals.
A good Christian should read the Lives of the Saints, as well as those books which it is his duty to know.
The highest and most useful school of learning for a sincere Christian, is the reading of the Gospel and The Lives of the Saints.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/02/thought-for-the-day-2-april-the-imitation-of-the-saints/

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on TIME

Thought for the Day – 3 March – The Shortness of Time

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Thought for the Day – 3 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Shortness of Time

“Another vision will confront us also in that final hour.
Our frightened minds will see again all those hours which we have misused in sin.
The devil will try by every means in his power, to repaint them in our troubled imagination.
He will do his best to lead us into despair, even as he tempted Judas and many other sinners before us.

We know well that the mercy of God is infinite and that it remains infinite at the hour of death.
But, we know too that His justice, is no less infinite.
Since God has granted us so much time in which He called us to repentance and to a life of virtue, it could happen that at the point of death, He will put an end to the mercy and to the favours which He has shown us and which we have disregarded.
What will become of us then?
Remember that only one of the two thieves was converted.
The other died unrepentant on his cross, even though he was hanging by the side of Jesus!

Reflect and make provision while there is still time.
While we have time.,let us do good (Gal 6:10).
We shall be unable to do anything about it afterwards.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/05/thought-for-the-day-5-january-the-shortness-of-time/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/20/thought-for-the-day-20-march-the-shortness-of-time/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TEMPTATION

Thought for the Day – 2 March – Prayer as a Necessary Means of Salvation

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Thought for the Day – 2 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Prayer as a Necessary Means of Salvation

“We should appreciate how necessary it is to pray with special fervour and perseverance, in times of great temptation and suffering.
If we neglect to do so when temptation assails us, we shall be on our own and shall certainly fall.
When we encounter suffering and everything seems to be crumbling around us, let us remember that God sees us and pities us.
Let us turn to Him. Who alone is able and eager to help us in our misfortunes.
When we pray, our tears are precious in His sight.
God’s love for us is infinite.
If we have recourse to Him, He will certainly answer us in the manner which He knows is best for us.
He has promised this, “If he cries out to me, I will hear him, for I am compassionate” (Ex 22:26).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/15/thought-for-the-day-15-march-prayer-as-a-necessary-means-of-salvation/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/02/thought-for-the-day-2-march-prayer-as-a-necessary-means-of-salvation/

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, The HOLY NAME

Thought for the Day – 1 March – The Five Tribunals of Justice

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Thought for the Day – 1 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Five Tribunals of Justice

“In regard to the civil authority, however, one thing should be made quite clear.
We are only obliged to obey it when it does not infringe on the rights of God or of the Church.
If it should run counter to these, we should answer in the words of St Peter and the other Apostles, when thy were called before the Sanhedrin.
“We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

If we had to suffer anything as a result, in the cause of God and of the Church, we should count that as our good fortune.
Like the Apostles, we should be able to rejoice that we have been found worthy to suffer indignity and ill-treatment for the sake of Jesus’ Name (Acts 5:41).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/20/thought-for-the-day-20-february-the-five-tribunals/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/20/thought-for-the-day-18-february-the-five-tribunals/

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 1 March – Repentance, Penance, Sacrifice

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Quote/s of the Day – 1 March – Ember Wednesday – 3 Kings. 19:3-8, Matthew 12:38-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement
with this generation and condemn it, for they repented …”

Matthew 12:41

“The sign of Jonah”

Matthew 12:39

“It was, too, to lead the Ninevites
to firm repentance and to convert them
to Him, Who would deliver them from death,
amazed as they were by the sign accomplished in Jonah …
In the same way, God permitted man
to be swallowed by that great monster,
the author of disobedience,
not so that he should altogether vanish away
and die but because God, had prepared beforehand,
the salvation fulfilled by His Word
by means of the “sign of Jonah.”

St Irenaeus (130-208)
Bishop of Lyons, Martyr and Father

“… In the conceitedness of our souls,
without taking the least trouble
to obey the Lord’s Commandments,
we think ourselves worthy
to receive the same reward
as those who have resisted sin to the death!”

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“To do penance is to bewail
the evil we have done
and to do no evil to bewail.”

“But He still follows behind us and counsels us,
that we have despised Him
but He still does not cease to call us.
We turn our backs on His face, so to speak,
when we reject His Words,
when we trample His Commandments underfoot
but He, Who sees that we reject Him,
still calls out to us by His Commandments
and waits for us by His patience,
stands behind us and calls us back
when we have turned away.”

St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“What are we doing?
If we really love the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
we should offer penance and sacrifices
in order to make reparation for our sins
and the sins of others
and, to propitiate this adorable Heart,
Which ardently desires to bestow
new favours upon us.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PAPAL Apostolic EXHORTATIONS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY

Thought for the Day – 28 February – The Examination of Conscience

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Thought for the Day – 28 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Examination of Conscience

“Pope St Pius X holds great authority for a Christian.
In his Exhortatio ad Clerum, he strongly recommends the Examination of Conscience, especially at the close of the day.
This Examination, he says, is necessary for Priests but it is no less necessary for the laity.
He recalls the apt words of St Augustine:
“Judge your own conscience.
Demand an account from it.
Dig deep and rend it apart.
Discover all the evil thoughts and intentions of the day … and punish yourself for them!” (Expos in Ps 4 n 8).
He also quotes the equally relevant works of St Bermard:
“Be a searching inquirer into your own integrity of life; examine your conduct everyday.
See how much you have advanced, or, how much you have fallen back …
Learn to know yourself. …
Place all your faults before your eyes.
Stand before yourself, as if it were before someone else and you will find reason to weep over yourself!” (Meditat Cap 5 de quotidiano sui ipsius examine).

The Saintly Pontiff concludes his inspiring address as follows: “Experience has proven that anyone who makes a strict examination of his thoughts, words and actions, is more firmly resolved to hate and avoid what is evil and wholeheartedly to love what is good” (Acta Pii X, IV p257).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/28/thought-for-the-day-28-february-the-examination-of-conscience/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on INDIFFERENCE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on ZEAL

Thought for the Day – 27 February – Fervour and Tepidity

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Thought for the Day – 27 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Fervour and Tepidity

“Our Lord does not command us to be merely virtuous.
He commands us to be perfect.
“You, therefore, are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48).
He tells us to love Him with our whole heart and our whole soul.
“Thou shalt love the Lord th God, with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul” (Mt 22:37).
He orders us to renounce everything rather than offend Him, (Lk 14:33) even to pluck out an eye or cut off a hand or foot, if it should present an obstacle to our eternal salvation (Mt 18:81).

How can we remain unmoved and inactive in the face of these exhortations?
The grace of perfection to which Our Lord calls us, cannot be reached without His grace which we can only obtain by fervent and unceasing prayer.
Fervour is the animating principle of the spiritual life.
It wins God’s gifts for us and makes us almost immune from sin.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/25/thought-for-the-day-25-february-fervour-and-tepidity/

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, HOLY COMMUNION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on SILENCE

Thought for the Day – 26 February – Interior Silence

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Thought for the Day – 26 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Interior Silence

“It is much easier to recollect ourselves in the Church in front of the Altar.
For this reason, one could not sufficiently recommend a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament every morning before going to work and every evening, before going to bed.

The ideal is always daily Mass and Holy Communion.
This will be tiring and maybe, inconvenient.
But God is infinitely good and will handsomely reward us for anything we do out of love for Him or, for our own spiritual welfare.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/18/thought-for-the-day-18-february-interior-silence/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/18/thought-for-the-day-18-february-interior-silence-2/

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ENVY, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, St PAUL!, The HEART, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 26 February – Begone, Satan!

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 February – The First Sunday of Lent – 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 4:1-11

“Begone, Satan!
for it is written:
The Lord thy God shalt thou adore
and Him only shalt thou serve.”

Matthew 4:10

“Do not, therefore, lose your confidence,
which has a great reward.
For you have need of patience that,
doing the will of God,
you may receive the promise.
For yet a very little while
and He Who is to come,
will come
and will not delay.”

Hebrews 10:35-37

“Expect temptation to your last breath.”

St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

“The demons that wage war on us,
through our shortcomings in virtue,
are those which teach —
impurity, drunkenness, avarice and envy.
Those that wage war on us,
through our excessive zeal for virtue,
teach — conceit, self-esteem and pride.
They [the demons] secretly pervert,
what is commendable,
into what is reprehensible!”

St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662)
Father of the Church

“It might even be said that we are fortunate
to have temptations, for these are the times
of spiritual harvest when we gather up for Heaven. …
If we were thoroughly saturated
with God’s Holy Presence,
it would be easy for us to resist the enemy.
With the thought ‘God sees you!’ we would never sin!

There was a saint who complained to our Lord
after being tempted and said to Him:
“Where were Thou, my most loveable Jesus,
during that awful storm?”
Our Lord answered:
“I was in the centre of thou heart…”

St John-Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859)
The Curé of Ars

“When tempted,
turn immediately to your
Guardian Angel and ask him,
with all your heart,
“My Guardian Angel help me now.
Do not let me offend my God!”

St John Bosco (1815-1888)

“Why, we may ask,
does God permit us to be tempted?
He wishes us to realise, that only with His help,
can we aspire to the supernatural life
and triumph over our enemies.
Apart from Him, we shall be lost
but close to Him, we shall be invincible!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CONFESSION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI

Thought for the Day – 25 February – The Sacrament of Penance

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Thought for the Day – 25 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Sacrament of Penance

“St Charles Borromeo had the habit of going to Confession everyday.
This was not the result of scruples on his p[art, it was simply that he was supernaturally enlightened so as to perceive, even his smallest faults and he was anxious to remove, from his soul, the slightest trace of sin.

We do not have to follow his example but, weekly or fortnightly Confession is strongly recommended by spiritual writers.
It is a great loss to neglect Confession for too long a period.
We are deprived of the graces of this Sacrament, our fervour grows cold and we slip easily from venial into mortal sin.

Let us decide to make a good Confession every week whenever we find it possilbe.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/23/thought-for-the-day-23-february-the-sacrament-of-penance/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/23/thought-for-the-day-22-february-the-sacrament-of-penance/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 24 February – The Duties of Our State

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Thought for the Day – 24 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Duties of Our State

“Let us be content, or at least, resigned in the position in which Providence has placed us.
Let us pay special attention to those things which we are obliged to do.
Anything which is not necessary should be left until later, even if it is more pleasant or seems more worthwhile in itself.
Let us never become involved in business which is incompatible with our state or dangerous to our eternal welfare.
Let us not make light of minor offences against the duties of our state.
Smaller transgressions gradually become greater.
Above all, let us try to sanctify our calling.
It is one thing to work conscientiously, another to work in a spirit of holiness.,
Even pagans can do their duty earnestly.
Doing our duty is only a help to our eternal salvation if it is done with God’s grace for the purpose of serving Him, for His love and glory.
This should be our manner of behaviour.
If it is, we can claim to have sanctified our state in life and to have made our work holy.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/16/thought-for-the-day-16-february-the-duties-of-our-state/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/16/thought-for-the-day-16-february-the-duties-of-our-state-2/

Posted in LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST

Thought for the Day – 23 February – The Order of the Day

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Thought for the Day – 23 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Order of the Day

“Once we have decided on our manner of behaviour towards God, it is necessary to determine how we shall act in regard to our neighbour.
We can have quite a number of unexpected matters to which we must attend during the day but normally, we have a good idea what kind of people we shall be dealing with.

There will be people who are an occasiuon of sin.
We must try to avoid these but, if that is not possible, we must be on our guard and rely on the weapons of divine grace to protect us.
There will be troublesome and annoying people with whom we must be patient and restrained.
There will be people who are in want, either materally or spiritually, whom we must enlighten and assist.
We shall meet difficulies and complicated problems to deal with which we must ask God for insight and prudence.

If we live in intimate union with Our Lord, we shall be competent to deal with all the business of the day, especially with the unexpected and even the shocking.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/15/thought-for-the-day-15-february-the-order-of-the-day/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/15/thought-for-the-day-15-february-the-order-of-the-day-2/

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, HOLY COMMUNION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Thought for the Day – 22 February – The Early Hours of the Day

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Thought for the Day – 22 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Early Hours of the Day

“If possible, it is desirable to begin the day by visiting Jesus.
He is always in the Tabernacle, waiting patiently and lovingly for us to visit Him.
Why could we not spend at least one half-hour with Him?
There are twenty four hours in the day.
Must we spend them in sleep, work, amusements and conversation without ever pausing to speak with Jesus?

What about Mass and Holy Communion?
It is true that we are not obliged to go to Mass on weekdays, nor have we a strict obligation to receive Holy Communion, except during the Paschal period.
But a genuine Catholic should not be satisfied with doing only what is commanded under pain of mortal sin.
He should love Jesus so much that he will experience an urgent need of communication with Him.
He should be ready to sacrifice a little of his early morning sleep, for the purpose of receiving Jesus in Holy Communion – if he is so blessed as to be near an early morning Mass.
Never forget (and pray for them) that there are thousands, perhaps millions who are deprived of this great grace of living near a Church!
There is no surer way of being able to resist the temptations of the day and of acquiring peace of spirit.
The practice of daily Communion can transform a man’s life.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/14/thought-for-the-day-14-february-the-early-hours-of-the-day/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/14/thought-for-the-day-13-february-the-early-hours-of-the-day/

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE

Thought for the Day – 21 February – Lord, That I May See!

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Thought for the Day – 21 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Lord, That I May See!

“The restlessness and intensity of living, make us see things as differently from what they really are.
But one day, the veil of the temple will be rent asunder before our frightened eyes and eternal Light will break upon us.
Then, we shall be blind no longer but, we shall see everything in the Light of eternity.

Let us place ourselves now, in the state in which we should like to find ourselves at that moment.
Let us consider ourselves and everything else, in the Light of eternity.
Then our blindness will disappear.
Since we shall see everything in God’s way, we shall direct all our thoughts and actions toward Him alone!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/21/thought-for-the-day-21-february-lord-that-i-may-see/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/21/thought-for-the-day-21-february-lord-that-i-may-see-2/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HEART

Thought for the Day – 12 February – The Causes of Discontent

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Thought for the Day – 12 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Causes of Discontent

“There is only one reason for our dissatisfaction.
It is given by St Augustine, profound observer that he was of the human heart: “You have made us for Yourself alone, O God and our hearts will always be restless, until they rest in You” (Confessions 1, 1:11).
If anyone rushes in all directions looking for happiness, he will never find it.
The created things of the world cannot satisfy our hearts which are on a far higher plane than these worldly things are.
Worse still, a man may look for happiness in pleasure or in sin but he will find only bitterness and disgust.

Let us look to God alone.
If we do everything for Him, a gleam of eternal happiness will brighten up our earthly pilgrimage!

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/13/thought-for-the-day-13-february-the-causes-of-discontent/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/13/thought-for-the-day-13-february-the-causes-of-discontent-2/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE

Thought for the Day – 10 February – SELF-LOVE

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Thought for the Day – 10 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

SELF-LOVE

“There are three tiny blossoms which can scarcely be seen – those of the corn, the olive and the vine.
Nevertheless, from these we receive grain, oil and wine – three very precious commodities.
These three little blossoms are almost invisible in comparision with other larger flowers, such as that of the magnolia which do not yield any useful fruit.
They should present us with a starting-point for meditation.
Would we like our actions to be valuable in the sight of God and bring forth good fruit?

Let us be humble and suppress love of self.
Then God will look on us with favour.
He will give us His grace and make fertile the work which we do purely for Him.
“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Is 4:6).

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/12/thought-for-the-day-12-february-self-love/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/12/thought-for-the-day-12-february-self-love-2/

Posted in LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on POVERTY

Thought for the Day – 9 February – The Love of Our Neighbour

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 9 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Love of Our Neighbour

“A few hundred yards from the centre of a big City, one often finds groups of hovels in which large numbers of families are living, herded together in poverty.
There, in the wintertime, these poor people suffer from the cold and damp and, in hot areas, from the burning heat in summer.
Often their hovels are badly roofed and protect from neither the cold nor the heat.
They are hungry and have not even a loaf of bread to kill the pangs of their deprived bodies.

Not very far away, there are luxurious mansions and expensive villas and up and down the streets, drift splendidly upholstered cars, carrying men and women for whom the only thing in life that matters, is pleasure and comfort.

“Love your neighbour as yourself” the Gospel says.
How far we still are from the realisation of this command!
Men would need to go to these poor hovels to do the Spiritual Exercises.
They would need to live in these places for at least a month.
Many ideas would be changed and many hearts transformed if this were done.
The slums, shacks, caves, shipping and even cardboard boxes and other hovels in which men have to live, bear sad testimony to the fact that the Gospel has not yet been understood by many and that Christian charity has still a long way to go.

Consider before God, if you are responsible, even in some small way, for this wretched state of affairs.
Form the resolution of contributing, as far as possible, to the relief of so much want and suffering.
Now is the time – Lent is nearly here!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/11/thought-for-the-day-11-february-the-love-of-our-neighbour/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/11/thought-for-the-day-11-february-the-love-of-our-neighbour-2/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FRIENDSHIP, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Thought for the Day – 8 February – The Use of Creatures

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Thought for the Day – 8 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Use of Creatures

“St Ignatius Loyola investigates this subject in his Spiritual Exercises.
He writes that we ought to use things, insofar as they bring us nearer to our final end.
We ought to avoid things completely, he continues, insofar as they separate or distract us from this end.

The function of creatures in our regard, is to lead us nearer to God, to remind us of God and to make us love God.
But if they are a source of scandal to us, we must avoid them.
The Gospel is very strict on this matter when it says, “If thy hand or foot is an occasion of sin to thee, cut it off and cast it from thee” (Mt 5:29-30; 18:8).

This means that we must be ready to give up anything or anyone, rather than endanger our souls and risk the loss of Divine grace and eternal life.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/09/thought-for-the-day-9-february-the-use-of-creatures/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/09/thought-for-the-day-9-february-the-use-of-creatures-2/

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL

Thought for the Day – 7 February – Religion and Action

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 7 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Religion and Action

“If we wish to be true and sincere Christians, it is not enough to believe, nor is it enough to attend the ceremonies of religion,
We must act like true Christians.
As St Gregory the Great writes, “We shall really be faithful Christians only when we practise, in our actions, what we promise in our words” (Sermon 29).
Since Christianity is above everything else, the religion of charity, it is essential that we should be on fire with the love of God and our our neighbour.
As St Augustine says, faith without charity is the faith which even the devil possesses (De Caritas 10).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/07/thought-for-the-day-7-february-religion-and-action/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/07/thought-for-the-day-7-february-religion-and-action-2/

Posted in DEVOTIO, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, The HEART

Thought for the Day – 6 February – Religion and Devotion

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 6 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Religion and Devotion

“We must not be satisfied simply to carry out the acts of religion, however exactly.
We must fulfil them with love.
It is the spontaneous homage of the mind and the heart that God wants most of all.
The body must also pay its tribute of subjection to its Creator but if the mind and heart are cold and distracted, this tribute is worthless.
There is no religion without devotion.
“This people honours me with their lips but their heart is far from me” (Mt 15:8; Mk 7:6).
Consider this complaint of Our Lord.
Let us earnestly examine our conduct.
Religion is useless if it is not fed by the active fire of charity.
Anyone who is content to go to Mass on Feast Days and stand in the Church silently and indifferently like a candlestick without a candle, is not a true and sincere Catholic.
Religion must be deeply felt.
It must be penetrated by devotion and charity.
Only then will it inspire real Christian activity.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/06/thought-for-the-day-6-february-religion-and-devotion/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/06/thought-for-the-day-6-february-religion-and-devotion-2/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on SLOTH, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 5 February – IDLENESS

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Thought for the Day – 5 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

IDLENESS

“There is another weighty reason which should prevent us from living in idleness.
The Holy Spirit warns us that: “Idleness is an apt teacher of mischief” (Ecclus 33:29) and “he who follows idle pursuits, is a fool” (Prov 12:11).
In other words, sloth is a great studity and is the father of the vices.
If anyone is inactive, he learns nothing.
Since our bodily and spiritual faculties were made for action, it necessarily follows that when they are not working for a good or useful purpose, they find an outlet in other directions, which lead to disorder and sin.
Without work and prayer, there is only inactivity which leads to sin.
It is fatal to remain idle.
God warns us that we must render an account of every idle work (Mt 12:36).

St Thomas Aquinas notes that an idle word is usually a venial sin but can also be a mortal sin (Summa Theologiae II-II, q 72, a 5).
What should be said then of those who live in idleness, while there is so much work to be done for the glory of God, for our own good and for the good of others?
Anyone who loves God is never idle, says St Jerome.
The love of God works wonderful things – if it does not, it cannot be called love!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/05/thought-for-the-day-5-february-idleness/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/05/thought-for-the-day-5-february-idleness-2/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 4 February – “Ora et labora” – Work and Sanctity

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Thought for the Day – 4 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Ora et labora” – Work and Sanctity

“Everyone imagines that there are innumerable problems in the world to be solved.
As a matter of fact, there are but they can all be reduced to one in the end – the problem of sanctity.
If we were all saints, or at any rate sincerely trying to put into practice the maxims of the Gospel – all the other questions would be answered.

For a Christian, work should mean the employment of his bodily and spiritual energies for the glory of God, for his own benefit and for the common good.
He can work to earn his daily bread, for personal satisfaction, for the advancement of science, art, or society.
These are all good motives.
But the Christian must also have a higher motive.
Even as he is living for eternity, so must he work for eternity.
He must realise that God will admit us to Heaven if we have worked for love of Him and in union with Him.
Like everything else in our lives, work must be raised to a supernatural level.
We must work patiently because it is our duty and the will of God.
In this way, we shall make use of the talents which God has given us, not only for our own benefit but also, as a means of helping so many of our fellowmen, who are dependent on us.

Then work will be something other besides an expenditure of energy and an atonement for our sins.
It will be a pleasure because we shall know that God is counting every moment of sacrifice which we are willingly enduring for His sake.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/04/thought-for-the-day-4-february-ora-et-labora-work-and-sanctity/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/04/thought-for-the-day-4-february-ora-et-labora-work-and-sanctity-2/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR

Thought for the Day – 3 February – WORK

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Thought for the Day – 3 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

WORK

“Since the fall of Adam. work is not only a pleasure but, a burden and an atonement too.
It is deceitful to hold forth the promise, of a paradise of workers, a possibility in which no intelligent person could be expected to believe.
The so-called social plan for workers, designed to create a paradise upon earth, produces only a system of regimentation, in which men cease to be free and become insignificant cogs of the all-powerful state mechanism.
We MUST oppose this degradingly materialistic conception of labour.
Work is a command of God, Who, after the sin of Adam, told him and his sons: “In the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread.” (Gen 3:19).

Let us accept from God this high responsibility of co-operation with Him, in His work of creation and redemption.
Let us accept it alike, when it is a pleasure and when it is a sacrifice.
Let us accept it with the cheerfulness of the Saints, or at least, with resignation.
Let us realise that by working, we purify our souls and atone for our sins.
We also make ourselves useful to our brothers on earth because, the work of our hands and of our minds, exercises a social function, especially on behalf of the abandoned classes.
It is an apostolate of expiation and redemption for large numbers of souls who are sunk in ignorance and sin.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/03/thought-for-the-day-3-february-work/

Posted in DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES for CHRIST, The DIVINE INFANT

Thought for the Day – 2 February – The Purification of Our Lady and the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple

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Thought for the Day – 2 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Purification of Our Lady and
The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple

“During the ceremony, a devout man, enlightened by God, entered the temple.
He asked and obtained, the privilege of holding the Divine Infant in his arms.
This was Simeon, a holy old man to whom the Holy Ghost had revealed that before he died, he would see the expected Messiah, the Redeemer of the sinful race.
Overjoyed as he held Jesus in his arms, he exclaimed: “Now Thou doet dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace” (Lk 2:29).

May God grant that when we come to the end of our mortal lives, we may too have the pleasure of clasping Jesus to our hearts.
Then we can say with confidence in God’s Mercy: Receive Thy servant in peace, O Lord. Forgive him and receive him into everlasting happiness.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SACRAMENTS

Thought for the Day – 1 February – Divine Worship, Charity and Justice

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Thought for the Day – 1 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Divine Worship, Charity and Justice

“Divine Worship:
We have a strict duty to honour and obey God.
“I, the Lord, Am your God,” He tells us in the first commandment of the Decalogue.
“You shall not have other gods besides me.”
We are obliged, therefore, to worship God both internally and externally, since both soul and body are created by God.
Internal worship is especially necessary, for without it, external worship would be an empty formality.
It is useless to kneel before the Altar, to assist at Sacred Rites and to recite vocal prayers if, all the time, our minds are elsewhere and we are lacking in the love of God.
Spiritual adoration and prayer, are more important than the bowed head and the bended knee.

It would be a grave error, however, to imagine that internal adoration is sufficient and there is not need to assemble in the Church, to observe Feast days or to participate in Sacred Rites and receive the Sacraments, as the Church commands.
Everything should be subject to God.
The Church was founded by Christ and endowed by Him with the authority to lay down the exact manner in which we should pay homage to Almighty God.
She has the right to dictate the feasts and ceremonies in which we are obliged to participate.
Anyone who refused to obey the Church, is guilty of disobedience to God.
“He who hears you hears me,” said Jesus Christ to His Apostles and through them to their successors “and he who rejeccts you, rejects me” (Lk 10:16).

How do we adore God?
Are we among those who pray with their lips and not from the heart?
Or do we believe that private devotion is quite sufficient and that there is no need to subject ourselves to all the laws of the Church?
Some laws we agree with, some we do not and choose to ignore.
In either case, we have gone astray and should be unable to gain God’s favour and cannot be regarded as members of His Church!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES

Thought for the Day – 31 January – Outward Appearances

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Thought for the Day – 31 January – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Outward Appearances

“Men of the world look at the outward appearance of things and are often satisfied with that.
Many of them desire and long for physical beauty, wealth, high social status and honours.
It does not matter to them if beneath this splendid facade, there are concealed, a mean and impoverish spirit, a corrupt and dishonest heart, an egotism indifferent to noble ideals and an astuteness intent on ousting potential rivals.
All this is unimportant, as long as they are successful and can keep up appearances,

We tend to live for what others think and say about us, in other words, for external appearances.
Is this you?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", GOD is LOVE, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING

Thought for the Day – 30 January – The Most Terrifying Passage in the Gospel

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Thought for the Day – 30 January – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Most Terrifying Passage
in the Gospel

“Why should the Eternal Judge punish or reward us in accordance with our own deeds of charity and of mercy towards our unfortunate fellowmen?
Simply because Christianity consists mainly of charity, since God Himself is charity.
“God is love and he who abides in love, abides in God and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16).
When charity is genuine, being the love of God above all things and of our neighbour as ourselves, it is “the bond of perfection” (Col 3:14) and “bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor 13:7).

True love, in the Christian sense, presupposes faith, hope and all other virtues, whereas faith without charity is, as St Paul says, as futile as “a tinkling cymbal” (1 Cor 13:1).
Even the devils have faith but their faith will not save them.
“He who does not love,” St John tells us, “abides in death” (1 Jn 3:14).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/24/thought-for-the-day-24-november/

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, GOD is LOVE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on VIRTUE, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 29 January – True Peace

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Thought for the Day – 29 January – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

True Peace

“This absolute and loving abandonment to the Will of God in all things, brings complete inner peace but, it does not exclude conflict.
Interior peace is the result of the practice of virtue and, therefore, of the struggle against evil.
When Our Lord had repeated several times that He had given us His peace, He said too: “Do not think that I have come to send upon upon the earth; I have come to bring a sword, not peace.” (Mt 10:34).

These apparent contradictory words of Our Lord, are explained by the fact that the peace of Jesus does not consist in inactivity but demands action and strife and the conquest of evil.
It is a militant peace which Our Lord desires us to possess.
Only when we have controlled our passions, when we have made our wills entirely subject to the Will of God and have renounced ourselves, so that the Justice and Charity of Jesus Christ can triumph in us, only then shall we reach those serene heights, where storms from below cannot come near us and the peace of God reigns supreme!

We find examples of this true and perfect peace among the Saints, Martyrs and Apostles.
We read of the Apostles that “they departed … rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name of Jesus” (Acts 5:41).
This is an example of that genuine peace which is the result of victory in the combat against evil and of complete and loving submission to the Will of God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/01/thought-for-the-day-1-february-true-peace/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/30/thought-for-the-day-30-january-true-peace/