Category: MEDITATIONS – ANTONIO CARD BACCI

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, ACT of PERFECT CONTRITION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 27 August – Evening Prayer

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Evening Prayer

“A page in the story of our lives is closed.
For all we know, it may be our last.
Sleep is a symbol of death.
How can we be certain that this night will not be our last?

A large number of people die during their sleep.
For this reason, our night prayers should include an Act of sincere and perfect Contrition for our sins, an Act of Love for God, our supreme benefactor and an Act of complete resignation to His Will.

When we are in bed, we should repeat the words of Jesus on the Cross, “Father, into Thy Hands, I commit my spirit” (Lk 23:46).
If this prayer is on our lips and in our heart, we can sleep in peace.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/27/thought-for-the-day-27-february-evening-prayer/

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, INGRATITUDE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD

Thought for the Day – 26 August – Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

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

Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

“Let us consider the Infinite Goodness of Jesus.
He became man for us and spent thirty three years on earth, “doing good and healing all” (Acts 10:38).
More than this, He chose to remain with us until the end of time, hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, to be our Friend and Comforter and the Food of our souls.
In His Infinite Power and Goodness, is there anything more He could have done for us?
All day, He waits there, anxious to heal our ills, to console us in our troubles and, to give us the strength to persevere in our journey towards perfection and towards Heaven.

Let us listen to that loving Voice!
Do not be ungrateful for this miracle of Infinite Goodness.
Let us go to Jesus, as often as we can, especially in the evening, when our day is nearly over.
We shall find Him a True Friend, Who is always ready to listen – better still, He is a Friend Who is able and willing, to help us.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/26/thought-for-the-day-26-february-visits-to-the-blessed-sacrament/

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FRUITS of the SPIRIT, I BELIEVE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DOUBT, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on REASON/INTELLECT, QUOTES on TRUTH, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HEART, The HOLY NAME, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 26 August – Blessed art thou … Matthew 16:17

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 August – St Zephyrinus (Died 217) Martyr and Pope – 1 Pet 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19

“Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona
because flesh and blood
hath not revealed it to thee
but My Father Who is in Heaven.”

Matthew 16:17

“Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of Your eye;
hide me in the shadow of Your wings.”

Psalm 16:8,2

“… May grace and peace
be yours in abundance,
through knowledge of God
and of Jesus Our Lord…”

2 Peter 1:2

“We recognise a tree by its fruit
and we ought to be able to recognise
a Christian by his action.
The fruit of faith
should be evident in our lives,
for being a Christian,
is more than making
sound professions of faith.
It should reveal itself
in practical and visible ways.
Indeed, it is better to keep quiet
about our beliefs
and live them out,
than to talk eloquently
about what we believe
but fail, to live by it.”

St Ignatius of Antioch (c 35-c 108)
Father of the Church

“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!”

Luke 21:8

“[Christ speaks:]
I became useless to those who knew Me not,
because I shall hide Myself,
from those who possessed Me not.
And I will be with those who love Me. …
I arose and am with them
and will speak by their mouths.
For they have rejected those who persecute them
and I threw over them, the yoke of My love. …
Then I heard their voice
and placed their faith in My Heart.
And I placed My Name upon their forehead (Rv 14,1)
because they are free and they are Mine!”

Odes of Solomon
(Hebrew Christian text from the beginning
of the 2nd century) N° 42)

“Do you desire security?
Here you have it.
The Lord says to you,
“I will never abandon you,
I will always be with you.”
If a good man made you such a promise,
you would trust him.
God makes it and do you doubt?
Do you seek a support, more sure
than the Word of God, which is infallible?
Surely, He has made the promise,
He has written it,
He has pledged His Word for it,
it is most certain!”

St Augustine (354-430)
Bishop of Hippo
Father and Doctor of Grace

“Believing is:
an act of the intellect
assenting to the divine truth,
by command of the will,
moved by God through grace.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus. Doctor Communis

“Each one of us has a thirst
for all that is infinite, eternal and perfect.
God alone can satisfy this thirst.
Just as we are created by God,
so we are created for Him.
Just as we came from God,
so we are gradually travelling back towards Him,
for He is the final goal of our earthly journey.
We should meditate on this great truth
which we were first taught in the Catechism,
namely, that we were created
to know, love and serve God
on this earth and to be happy with Him
forever in Heaven.
God alone is the eternal beauty
which will satisfy our hearts.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

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

Thought for the Day – 25 August – Fervour and Tepidity

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Thought for the Day – 25 August – 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 MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The HOLY VIATICUM

Thought for the Day – 24 August – Holy Viaticum, Part One

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

Holy Viaticum

“When the Prophet Elias was afraid and discouraged because the chosen people had abandoned God and slain all the other Prophets, he fled into the desert.
One day he was tired and dejected and lay down to sleep in the shade of a Juniper tree.
He was awakened suddenly by an Angel of the Lord, who showed him, on two successive occasions, a hearth cake which he pressed him to eat.
The Prophet ate and drank “and walked in the strength of that food, forty days and forty nights, unto the mount of God” (Cf 3 Kings 19:4-8).

Some commentaters see, in this bread which Elias ate, an image of the Blessed Eucharist and, in his journey to the mount of God, our own voyage through life to eternity.

Sometimes, we too feel tired along the way and it seems to us that God has abandoned us.
Often we are troubled and sorrowful, humbled by our many lapses into sin, despairing of ever becoming holy.
On such occasions, like Elias, we need nourishment, the nourishment of the Blessed Sacrament.
This spiritual food which contains the Real Living Jesus, the Author of Grace, is all that can give us the courage and strength, to continue our journey and to overcome the obstacles which we encounter on the way.

Let us have frequent recourse to this wonderful means of sustenance, through which, Jesus supplies us with the supernatural strength which we need.
Then we shall be able to repeat the words of St Paul: “I can do all things in Him Who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, MIRACLES, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 24 August – ‘The most extraordinary Miracle of history?!

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Quote/s of the Day – 24 August – St Bartholomew the Apostle and Martyr

“Here is a true child
of Israel.
There is no guile
in him.”

John 1:47

Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are
the Son of God!
You are the
King of Israel!”

John 1:49

“You are the light of the world,
you are the salt of the earth.”

Matthew 5:14

“Like peaceful conquerors,
without any human weapons
but backed by by the power of God,
they divided the world amongst themselves,
so that they might win it for Christ!
The Roman Empire was small to them.
They travelled, moreover,
to the distant shores of Ethiopia and India,
where the Eagle of Rome had never found its way!
Surely, this is the most extraordinary Miracle of history?!

The Holy Spirit accomplished that,
which human armies had never been able to do,
save in part, or for a limited period of time.
In this achievement,
He used the weakest possible human means,
namely, twelve poor fishermen!
The earthly Empire of Rome, passed away
but the Spiritual domain of Christ still remains,
with its centre at Rome,
as the only true Light, the only unfailing hope and the only pledge of salvation for individuals and nations.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

O Fathers of Our Ancient Faith

O Fathers of our ancient faith,
With all the heav’n, we sing your fame
Whose sound went forth in all the earth
To tell of Christ and bless His Name.

You took the Gospel to the poor,
The Word of God alight in you,
Which in our day is told again,
That timeless Word, forever new.

You told of God, Who died for us
And out of death triumphant rose,
Who gave the Truth which made us free
and changeless through the ages goes.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Whose gift is faith that never dies,
A light in darkness now, until
The Day-Star in our hearts arise.

O Fathers of Our Ancient Faith is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. In the Divine Office it is sung at Morning Prayer in the Common of Apostles. It is set to the anonymous tune associated with the 7th century Latin hymn, Creator Alme Siderum.

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PATIENCE

Thought for the Day – 23 August – Patience

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

Patience

“An outward show of patience, will hardly avail us much in God’s eyes, unless it is accompanied by interior patience which, consists in the possession of complete mastery over all our faculties.
We should be able to control our feelings, as well as our actions.
This is a difficult virtue but, it is the duty of every sincere Catholic, to try and acquire it.
Only the grace of God and constant effort, will enable us to succeed but when we have, at last, mastered our unruly and selfish impulses, we shall have arrived at a state of peace and perfection.

“By your patience, you will win your souls” (Lk 21:19).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/31/thought-for-the-day-31-august-patience/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST

Thought for the Day – 22 August – The Interior Life

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

The Interior Life

“The daily struggle for existence, gradually wears down both the [physical and the intellectual life.
The same can happen to the supernatural life.
The long process of self-denial, acceptance of crosses and efforts to achieve perfection, can be very difficult and very tiring.
Often, we feel weary and discouraged but, on these occasions, we must recall the words of Jesus, “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/29/thought-for-the-day-29-august-the-interior-life/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE

Thought for the Day – 21 August – The Sons of God

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

The Sons of God

“We are, or ought to be, sons of God.
We are His adopted sons by means of the grace which gives us a share in His Divine Life.
This idea is contained, even in the Old Testament, “You are gods, all of you, sons of the Most High (Ps 81:6)”
“The Spirit Himself,” explains St Paul, “gives testimony to our spirit that we are sons of God. But if we are sons, we are heirs also, heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:16-17).

In other words, the grace of God transforms us and makes us His adopted sons.
The supernatural life is grafted onto the soul, bringing forth a new man who is capable of actions which will deserve an everlasting reward.
We must not allow the old tree, with its dead branches and barren fruit to spring up again within us, the old man with his defects and evil inclinations must remain dead.

If God’s life is extinguished in us,. we shall cease to be His heirs and co-heirs with Christ. We shall be incapable of doing anything good and shall be destined to eternal damnation.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/28/thought-for-the-day-27-august-the-sons-of-god/

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on HELL, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL

Thought for the Day – 20 August – Those Who Will to be Damned

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Thought for the Day – 20 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Those Who Will to be Damned

“We cannot claim that we are too weak to fight our temptations.
“God is faithful and will not permit you to be tempted beyond your strength” (1 Cor 10:13).
Neither can we complain that we have not enough time to think about such matters, for when God gave us time, He intended us to devote it principally to the solution of the most important problem in our lives, which is, our salvation!
It is futile to insist that the devil is too strong for us, for, to quote St Augustine, he is like a chained mastiff which can bark at us with all his might but, cannot bite us, unless we approach too close to him.

We have been given every weapon – there is no excuse!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/27/thought-for-the-day-27-august-those-who-will-to-be-damned/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/14/thought-for-the-day-14-january-those-who-will-to-be-damned/

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Thought for the Day – 19 August – Two Paths to Heaven

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Thought for the Day – 19 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Two Paths to Heaven

“The second path to Heaven, however, demands sacrifice on our part.
Our repentance must be practical and supernatural.
It should lead us to confess our sins in the Sacrament of Penance and to regain God’s friendship in Holy Communion.
After that, our way must be one of self-mortification: “Unless you repent,” Jesus warns us, “you will all perish” (Lk 13:51).

The first penance which we must perform, is to offer to God, all the physical and moral sufferings which are in store for us during life and at the hour of death.
Then, we must add our own voluntary acts of self-denial.
The generosity of the Saints, in this regard, was rewarded by the lasting friendship of God.
As for ourselves, we should remember that Jesus, Himself, has warned us that we shall be lost if we neglect to do penance (Ibid).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/26/thought-for-the-day-26-august-two-paths-to-heaven-part-one/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/17/thought-

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

Thought for the Day – 18 August – Pride is Robbery!

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Thought for the Day – 18 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Pride is Robbery!

“With the exception of our Blessed Lady and the Saints, all men are more or less proud.
Pride employs many subtle stratagems in order to insinuate itself into our hearts.
Very often it does not take the form of an open revolt against God, like tat of Lucifer but expresses itself in a sense of self-complacency which feeds on the praise and adulation of others.
We forget that it was God, Who gave us whatever talents we possess.
If we have achieved any kind of success or have accomplished anything good in the world, we forget that we have been dependent upon God for our very existence, as well as for our power to act.

We believe that we are important, whereas, we are as nothing before the infinite Majesty of God and before the immensity of His universe.

Let us be humble, therefore.
If we wish to be raised up by God, let us abase ourselves in the sight of Him, Who resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Only then shall we e able to perform actions worthy of everlasting life.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/25/thought-for-the-day-25-august-pride-is-robbery/

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

Thought for the Day – 17 August – The Surest Way to Avoid Sin

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Thought for the Day – 17 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Surest Way to Avoid Sin

“Another way of making sure that we shall never offend God is to love our neighbour.
“Love does no evil to a neighbour” (Rin 13:10) St Paul assures us.
We are told that when St John the Apostle was too old to be able to preach long sermons and had to be carried into speak to his flock, he was accustomed to repeat the same brief message: “Little children, love one another.”
One day, the faithful, who had grown tired of hearing the same phrase so often, asked him to say something else to them, “But this is God’s command,” St John replied “and if you obey it that will be sufficient,”

If we love our neighbour as ourselves, for the love of God, we could never sin.
We could never be guilty of injustice, calumny or indifference to the misfortunes of others.
Rather, should we be kind, compassionate and ready to help our fellowmen in their spiritual and temporal needs.

Let us examine ourselves on the extent of our brotherly charity and let us resolve to see the person of Jesus Christ in our neighbour.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/20/thought-for-the-day-20-july-the-surest-way-to-avoid-sin/

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 16 August – Lapsing into Sin

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

Lapsing into Sin

“When we have spent many years fighting our evil inclinations, praying and forming resolutions, it saddens us when we fall into grave sin once again.
A lapse like this can be very discouraging and can make us feel that it is impossible to resist temptation.
We may even feel that we are not destined by God to enjoy everlasting happiness!
This is a very dangerous temptation which could lead us into ruin.
It is part of the tactics of the devil, to tempt us to sin and, when we have fallen, to persuade us that our fall was unavoidable and, that we may as well resign ourselves to sinning because, we are predestined to hell!

Predestination is a gigantic theological problem which has tormented the minds and consciences of many.
It is a difficult question but, in practice, it can be answered in a few words.
It is certain that “God … wishes us all to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4).
It is certain that God became Man and shed His Precious Blood for our salvation.
How then could we be predestined to hell?
How could we be denied the graces necessary for salvation?
Our constant falls do not indicate that God has abandoned us but rather show that we have abandoned Him!
If we sincerely do everythingof which we are capable, God will not deny us His assistance.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVENAS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, THE ASSUMPTION

Thought for the Day – 15 August – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Thought for the Day – 15 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Even as Christ, by His Own Power, rose from the grave, so, by reason of His intervention, the soul of Mary was re-united, after a short separation, with her body and she was taken up, body and soul into everlasting glory.
It was fitting that this privilege should have been bestowed upon the Mother of God.
It would have been unbecoming for the Immaculate flesh , in which the Divine Body of Jesus was formed, to have been allowed to corrupt in the grave.
It was fitting too that she, who was to be proclaimed Queen of Angels and of men, should have come immediately to her throne of glory, with her humanity integral and unimpaired.
Her resurrection was, moreover, the reward of her virginal purity.
From the first moment of her conception, she was preserved free from Original Sin and from every evil inclination and, throughout her life, she advanced, further and further, in the way of perfection.

We shall rise one day too, O Blessed Mother.
Grant in your great love for us that we may so imitate your example. to deserve to rise in glory and to be associated with you, in everlasting happiness.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/15/thought-for-the-day-15-august-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St PAUL!, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 14 August – Christian Joy

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Thought for the Day – 14 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Christian Joy

“In his letters, St Paul frequently exhorts the early Christians to be joyful.
“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice” (Phil 4:4).
“The fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindliness” (Cf Gal 5:22).
But we are to remember that “The Kingdom of God does not consist in food and drink but, in justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).

St Paul emphasises that this joy need not be lost in times of tribulation.
“I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our troubles” (2 Cor 7:4).
In the life of a Christian, joy and sorrow are not mutually exclusive but, complement and perfect one another.

This does not mean that Christianity essentially transforms human nature and banishes the pangs of suffering.
It means simply that everything in human nature, is purified and elevated, so that, it may be deserving of Heaven, where true and lasting happiness is to be found.
“Be fervent in spirit,” says St Paul, “serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope,” (Rom 12:12)“and as sorrowful, always rejoicing” (2 Cor 6:10.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/24/thought-for-the-day-24-august-christian-joy/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 13 August – Work and Worry

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Thought for the Day – 13 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Work and Worry

“There are many people who claim that they are working for God and for souls.
In fact, they do work hard and make great sacrifices but, at the first sign of failyre, they are disappointed and discouraged.
Why is that?
It is because, they only believed that they were working for God and for His Church, whereas, in their heart and soul, they were more influenced by self-love and by a desire fore the praise and approval of others.
Their motives were not completely disinterested and their sacrifices were not made entirely for God.
Therefore, they were disturbed by visions of success in human terms and were agitated at the prospect of failure.

The Saints worked hard too but they never worried.
They were always calm because, their attention was focused on Heaven, rather than on themselves.

As long as we work entirely for God and accept, as His Will, the outcome of our efforts, everything will go well for us, even when it seems to be going badly!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/16/thought-for-the-day-16-august-work-and-worry/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL

Thought for the Day – 12 August – Renouncing All Things

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

Renouncing All Things

“Another necessary condition for Christ’s reign in our souls, is that we should destroy our love of self.
Our Lord charges us: “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up is cross and follow me” (Mt16:24).
It is easier to renounce the goods of this world than it is to deny ourselves.
It is so difficult to renounce one’s own ego that, at first sight, it seems impossible.
Nevertheless, God demands this of us, if we intend to be perfect Christians and to be completely free to dedicate ourselves to Him.

God wishes to be absolute master of our souls because, this is His right as our Creator and Redeemer.
If we succeed in conquering our self-love and in desiring only whatever is pleasing to God, we shall find liberty and peace.
We shall be able to claim with St Paul: “It is now, no longer I that live but Christ lives in me” (Gl 2:20).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/16/thought-for-the-day-16-august-renouncing-all-things/

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH

Thought for the Day – 11 August – Duvine Providence

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Thought for the Day – 11 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Divine Providence

“How can we reconcile with this concept of Divine Providence, the confusion and injustice which also exists in the world?
Why does God sometimes permit the evil to prosper and the good to be oppressed?
Why does He not crush iniquity, as soon as it raises its head, instead of allowing the wicked to enjoy the pleasures of this earth, while the good are suffering?

The designs of God are hidden and mysterious but, it is certain, that He arranges everything justly and for the best.
God never hurries, for He contemplates all creatures and events, in the light of eternity.
The devil may hurry, “knowing that he has but a short time” (Apoc 12:12) but God is the Master of time!

God waits for men at the last threshold of life, in order to do justice to them all.
His patience and mercy endure until the final moment of death because, He has said: “I desire not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Cf Ez 33:11).
This is the Mystery of God’s Mercy.

St Augustine offers another explanation as to why evil men often seem to be happy and victorious in this world.
His suggestion is quite frightening.
Even the worst of men, he says, do a certain amount of good during life.
Nevertheless, if they die unrepentant, they will be punished for all eternity.
Therefore, the justice of God concedes to them as a small reward in this life, for any good which they may have accomplished.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/19/thought-for-the-day-19-august-divine-providence/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, The DIVINE INFANT, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 10 August – Confidence in the Providence of God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Confidence in the
Providence of God

“God does not forbid us, naturally, to work and to provide for the future.
But, He condemns such immoderate anxiety as would tend to distract our attention from our spiritual obligations.
We should be occupied certainly but never preoccupied.
We should always have perfect confidence in God and resignation to His Will.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/20/thought-for-the-day-20-august-confidence-in-the-providence-of-god/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/06/19/thought-for-the-day-19-june-confidence-in-the-providence-of-god/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on MEDIOCRITY, QUOTES on MERIT, QUOTES on SLOTH, QUOTES on ZEAL

Thought for the Day – 9 August – The Parsble of the Talents

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

The Parable of the Talents

“Let us meditate on the parable concerning the talents.
A lord was preparing to go abroad and before he departed he called together his servants.
He distributed his assets among them in proportion to their abilities, giving five talents to the first, two to the second and one to the third.

After a long time, the master returned and asked his servants to render an account of the money entrusted to them
Those who had received respectively, the five and the two talents, returned the capital to their lord along with the profits which they had made, so that, in fact, each was able to hand back double the sum originally entrusted to him.
Their master praised their fidelity and zeal and rewarded them more handsomely than they could ever have expected.

Finally, the man who had received only one talent approached and said, “Master, I know that thou art a stern man; thou reapest where thou hast not sowed and gatherest where thou hast not winnowed and, as I was afraid, I went away and hid the talent in the earth. Behold thou hast what is thine. The master’s reply was stern. Wicked and slothful servant. Thou didst know that I reap where I do not sow and gather where I have not winnowed! Thou shouldst, therefore, have entrusted my money to the bankers and on my return, I should have received back my own with interest. Take away, therefore, the talent from him and …. cast him forth into the darkness outside, where there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth” (Cf Mt 25:14-30).

The meaning of this parable is clear.
We are all servants, to whom our heavenly Father has entrusted various talents.
Some have been given more than others.
By our own labour and industry, we must all make profitable use of the talents which we have received.
The ungrateful and slothful servant, who does not make good use of his talents, will be severely punished.
But a happy reward awaits the good and faithful servant, who has worked zealously all his life, for his Master’s interests until the talents which he has received, have produced an increase of sanctity in himself and in others.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 8 August – The Mystery of Life

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

The Mystery of Life

“We know that the past can never return and that the future is so uncertain that it may not even exist for us.
We realise that our life is nothing more than a passing moment.
If we meditate on these truths, how can we be attached to worldly objects?
Even if we could attain the objects of our desire, they would soon be snatched away from us!

Let us aim at those lasting values which are not passing, which can remain with us during life, comfort us at death and accompany us into eternity.
We know what these substantial values are – holiness, the grace of God, the conquest of our sensible appetites and the final enjoyment of God in Heaven.
These things do not pass away but will remain with us forever.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/09/thought-for-the-day-9-august-the-mystery-of-life/

Posted in LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ENVY, QUOTES on JEALOUSY, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 7 August – Rash Judgement

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

Rash Judgement

“Rash judgements are sometimes formed quite thoughtlessly.
At other times they are produce of malice, envy, pride or hatred.
Even when they are lightly arrived at, they are sinful because they are opposed to the law of charity.
When they are the result of one of the passions mentioned, they are far more gravely sinful because, they presuppose the intention of injuring our neighbour.
Rash judgements like this, rarely remain enclosed in the mind but are expressed openly, with consequent damage to the character of the victim!

It is easy to progress from lighter faults to grave sin in this matter.
A rash judgement soon becomes slander and, a sin against charity, soon becomes a sin against justice involving an obligation to make reparation.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/12/thought-for-the-day-12-august-rash-judgement/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES

Thought for the Day – 6 August – Almsgiving

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

Almsgiving

“Even if it is not very great, wealth is a dangerous thing.
It is a burden which hampers us spiritually, unless it is enriched by charity.
Of itself, wealth is opposed to the spirit of the Gospel.
In the Church of God, therefore, the only fitting role which rich men can assume, is to place their abundance at the service of charity and become the servants of the poor.

St Thomas Aquinas says that wealth can be an instrument of virtue and that, it is only in this sense that it can be called good.
If it impedes the practice of virtue, then it is evil (Summa Contra Gentiles, 111:134).
Let us make good use of our assets, therefore and give generously to those who are in need, without allowing our motives to become tainted with self-interest.

“Sell what you have and give alms,” said Christ, “Make for ourselves purses that do not grow old, a treasure unfailing in Heaven, where neither thief draws near nor moth destroys” (Lk 12:33).
It is the possession of this kind of treasure, which will comfort us at the hour of death.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/13/thought-for-the-day-13-august-almsgiving/

Posted in LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES

Thought for the Day – 5 August – Riches and Poverty

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

Riches and Poverty

“We must face this unfortunate fact.
One half of the world is living in luxury while the other half lives in squalor.
Worse still, both the inanity and arrogance of the wealthy and the degradation and abjection of the destitute, extinguish the light of the Gospel and drown the voice of conscience.

Who is at fault?
We must all share the blame, for nobody has ever fully implemented the Gospel teaching, which alone contains a complete solution for the problems of the human race.
A great deal of want and misery would disappear, if all those whose assets exceed what they need for themselves, remembered that they are obliged to love their neighbour as themselves.
They would then take heed of the precept: “Give that which remains as alms” (Lk 11:41),
We should all examine ourselves rigidly on this point because, we could all do far more to help the needy, whom we do not love, unfortunately, as much as we love ourselves!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/11/thought-for-the-day-11-august-riches-and-poverty/

Posted in Against ICONOCLASM, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI

Thought for the Day – 4 August – Sacred Images

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

Sacred Images

“The opposite extreme of over-superstitious veneration of images must also be avoided.
As St Gregory the Great observed, Sacred images should be regarded as a means of impressing, on simple minds, the virtues which they ought to emplant.
Sometimes, however, the ignorance or the faithful, in this regard, needs to be corrected.

It is not unusual to enter a Church and to see crowds of people around statues of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints., laying flowers at their feet and lighting innumerable candles.
Meanwhile, the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament is deserted!
Excessive homage can be paid to particular images, in such a manner, as to suggest that the piety of the worshippers is directed towards the material images themselves, rather than towards the Redeemer or our Divine Mother or the Saints.
We must be careful to ensure that our devotion does not become occupied by suspicion,”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/07/thought-for-the-day-7-august-sacred-images/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 3 August – A Holy Death

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

A Holy Death

“When we meditate on death, then we should resolve to remain always prepared.
Besides this, we should make an Act of Perfect Resignation to the Will of God, accepting from Him, whatever illnesses He may ask us to endure and, whatever kind of death He has destined for us.
We should promise to accept everything, as long as He will allow us to die in the state of grace.

We should frequently offer to God, as a guarantee of our love and, as satisfaction for our sins and negligences, the sufferings with which we shall be afflicted during our last illness.
We shall be comforted in our final hours by the remembrance of this total offering of ourselves, which we have so often repeated.
Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, we shall be able to pray: “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me, yet, not as I will but as Thou willest” (Mt 26:39).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/10/thought-for-the-day-10-august-a-holy-death/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, St PAUL!

Quote of the Day – 3 August – ‘Let us endeavour too, to suffer, pray and work for the conversion of our fellowmen, …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 3 August – The Finding of the Relics of St Stephen, Protomarty – Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-60. Matthew 23:34-39

“It is possible that, as he lay dying,
Stephen looked up at Saul
and uttered his last prayer for this sincere
and honest young Jew, who had been led astray
by the prejudice and passion of the mob.
… Let us endeavour too, to suffer, pray
and work for the conversion of our fellowmen,
so many of whom, are wandering
in the darkness of error
or struggling in the clutches of vice.
Let us try, by our sufferings,
prayers and good example,
to draw down God’s grace
on our unhappy brothers.
If we succeed, we shall share
in the merits of their good actions
and we shall have ensured
our own everlasting salvation.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on NATURE - GOD'S CREATION, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD

Thought for the Day – 2 August – How to Remain Aware of the Presence of God

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

How to Remain Aware of the Presence of God

“Another way of increasing our sense of the Presence of God, is to perceive Him in all His creatures.
St Therese of the Child Jesus loved to contemplate the image of her Creator in the flowers of the fields and in the stars of the firmament.

God has created all things for our benefit and He is Present in all things.
He sees what use we make of them and can judge whether we employ them to honour Him, Who is our beginning and our end.
The ray of Divine Beauty,which shines in every created thing, should attract us towards its Creator and cause us to adore and serve Him.
Whenever we meet a learned and holy person, moreover, the reflection of God’s Power and Goodness, is even more compelling.
“Learn to love the Creator in the creature,” says St Augustine, “lest the thing which He has made should grip you and you shuld lose Him by Whom you also were created” (In Ps 19),

In other words, let us learn to see the Creator in all His creatures so that these may not enslave us but cause us to love Him, Who is our highest Good.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/06/thought-for-the-day-6-august-how-to-remain-aware-of-the-presence-of-god/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD

Thought for the Day – 1 August – The Awareness of the Presence of God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

The Awareness of the Presence of God

“If we remind ourselves, constantly, of the Presence of God, we shall always be closely united to Him.
Union with God should be the result of our love for Him, for it is an unfailing rule of love that it increases with the nearness of the beloved.
If we live in the Presence of God and contemplate Him as the Perfection of Beauty, Truth and Goodness, we shall be moved to love Him more and more.
Our love, moreover, will generate, in us, the ardent desire of an even closer intimacy with Him.

This sacred union will bring us great peace and tranquility in all the vicissitudes of life, a serenity which will be reflected in our personality and in our conduct, for the edification of our fellowmen.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/08/thought-for-the-day-8-august-the-awareness-of-the-presence-of-god/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/02/thought-for-the-day-2-august-the-awareness-of-the-presence-of-god/