Category: MEDITATIONS – ANTONIO CARD BACCI

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

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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, …’

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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

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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/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, St JOSEPH, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 31 July – Entrusting Ourselves to God

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

Entrusting Ourselves to God

“St Joseph is only one example.
He had the joy of seeing the Son of God born of his Immaculate spouse but he also saw Him being born on a cold dark night in the most squalid conditions.
He heard the choirs of Angels praising God above the lowly manger and saw the shepherd and the Magi adoring the Divine Child.
But soon afterwards, he heard from a heavenly messenger that Herod was seeking to put Jesus to death and that, it would be necessary, to flee into exiles in Egypt.

This holy Patriarch was as resigned to the poverty of the manger and the discomforts of exile, as he was grateful to God for the wonderful gifts and joys which he had been granted.
He knew that God could have solved, by a single act of His Divine Will, all the problems which he encountered throughout life.
But he never asked for such a favour.
His only desire was to do God’s Will perfectly.

Let this be our desire too and let us never cease to ask God for this grace.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/16/thought-for-the-day-16-july-entrusting-ourselves-to-god/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/17/thought-for-the-day-17-july-entrusting-ourselves-to-god/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on EDUCATION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The SIN of PRESUMPTION

Thought for the Day – 30 July – Knowledge and Sanctity

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

Knowledge and Sanctity

“We have no right to speak evil of human learning and industry, which are a gift from God.
But we must recognise that goodness is more important than knowledge.
The devil’s intellect is superior to ours but, he has lost God and in losing God, has lost everything which is good.

“Knowledge puffs up” writes St Paul (1 Cor 8:1).
Pride and presumption can easily spring from a little learning, whereas the fruits of holiness are always beneficial to ourselves and to others.

Let us be humble in our scientific studies and use the results which we obtain, for our own progress in sanctity.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/23/thought-for-the-day-23-july-knowledge-and-sanctity/

Posted in "Follow Me", LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on KINDNESS, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on VIRTUE

Thought for the Day – 29 July – Little Things

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

Little Things

“Our eternal salvation will probably be determined by these ordinary acts of virtue and these ordinary sins.
Jesus compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed which grows into a tree.
Similarly, many Saints began their spiritual ascent, by following one simple inspiration and many souls, perhaps, have found themselves condemned as a result of having neglected the commonplace virtues and inspirations.

Ordinary virtue may develop into heroic virtue but, if a man has neglected to train himself to act well in small matters, how will he behave in a time of great spiritual trial?
Experience also teaches us that smaller vices can develop into great vices.
“He who wastes the little he has, will be stripped bare” (Ecclus 19:11).
A man who is not faithful to God in little things, will not be faithful in greater things.

We are either going up, or down, in the way of perfection – it is almost impossible to stand still!
If we sincerely wish to make progress, let us resolve to avoid the least suggestion of sin and to enrich ourselves daily, by tiny acts of virtue.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/14/thought-for-the-day-14-august-little-things/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/31/thought-for-the-day-31-july-little-things/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, The SIN of PRESUMPTION

Thought for the Day – 28 July – Other Ways of Resisting Temptation

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

Other Ways of Resisting Temptation

“The third method, is to avoid the occasions of sin.
Anyone who places himself without grave reasons, in the proximate occasions of sin is certain to fall.
“He who loves danger,” the Holy Spirit warns us, “will perish in it” (Ecclus 3:27).
It is useless for a man to pray, when he is exposing himself needlessly and voluntarily to the danger of sinning.
He cannot expect God to hear his prayers, for this is presumption!, not confidence in God.

On the other hand, a man may be obliged to expose himself to the risk of temptation, in the course of his work, or for some other strong reason.
In this case, he can be sure of God’s assistance but, he should fortify himself by fervent prayer and by taking all the precautions necessary to minimise the danger.

Where temptations against holy purity are involved, it is especially necessary to avoid, even the slightest occasion of sin, when that is possible.
As St Francis de Sales was accustomed to say, there are certain battles which can only be won by soldiers, who are prepared to retreat!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/02/thought-for-the-day-2-april-other-ways-of-resisting-temptation/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on WATCHING

Thought for the Day – 26 July – TEMPTATION

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

TEMPTATION

“Still we must watch,” The Imitation of Christ continues, “especially in the beginning of temptation, for then the enemy is more easily overcome, if he be not suffered to enter the door of the mind but, is withstood upon the threshold, the very moment that he knocks. Whence a certain one has said: ‘Resist beginning; all too late the cure, when ills have gathered strength, by long delay’ (Ovid. Remedia Amoris 5:91). For first there comes into the mind a simple thought, then a strong imagination afterward delights and the evil notion [gains power] and [then come] consent” (Bk 1 c 13).

It is worth meditating on this vivid description of the psychology of temptation and of the simplest remedy, by which it can be combated.
Every temptation is first presented to the mind as a simple thought.
If a man is determined enough, it is quite easy to reject it immediately.
If there is any delay, however, the concept is clothed by the imagination and projected in vivid colours until it arouses the evil inclinations of the senses.
In this way, the idea takes possession of the mind, so that it is almost impossible to set it free.

We must be ready to face up to such an idea before it takes possession of us.
We should treat it as we would a serpent, not pausing to examine it but, taking to flight at once!
If we are resolute, the grace of God will ensure our safety!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/03/31/thought-for-the-day-31-march-temptation/

Posted in CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, INDULGENCES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 25 July – Purification

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

Purification

“We should also value Indulgences as a means of spiritual purification.
They ought not to be treated lightly.
Jesus gave His Church, the power of loosing and binding every bond of sin.
As long as we have the necessary dispositions, therefore, it can draw on the merits of Christ and of the Saints, to release us from the temporal punishment due to the sins which have already been forgiven us.
It achieves this by the concession of Indulgences.
These require, on our part, the fulfilment of certain conditions, a sincere sorrow for sin and, a strong resolution never to offend God again.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/25/thought-for-the-day-25-july-purification/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/19/thought-for-the-day-25-july-purification-2/

Posted in JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HEART

Thought for the Day – 24 July – Progress in the Love of God

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

Progress in the Love of God

“They are in the first grade of perfection in the love of God, who desire to love Him but still feel an attachment to sin.
How is it possible to love God and, at the same time, to offend Him by yielding to unlawful desires and to the attraction of the world?
This is a mystery of the human heart which can experience, simultaneously, the desire to love God and the disturbance of the flesh.

People like this, must humbly persevere in praying for the grace which they need.
They must eradicate their major vices, one by one, so that they may be free to love God.
Since their course will be difficult and full of obstacles, they will need the courage of mountaineers but, far above the white and sun-kissed summit, God awaits them.
Only toil and sacrifice can bring them there but when they arrive, they will know real happiness, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:81).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/24/thought-for-the-day-24-july-progress-in-the-love-of-god/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST

Thought for the Day – 23 July – The Royal Road of the Cross

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

The Royal Road of the Cross

“We all have our own cross.
When we reject it, we fashion one for ourselves by our defects and sins, which leave us discontented and restless and draws God’s punishment upon us.

It is useless to flee from the Cross, for it follows us everywhere.
If we refuse to accept the cross which God has given us, we take upon ourselves, one which is heavier than the first.
Worldlingscan bask for a moment in their pleasures but, it soon passes and is replaced by bitterness and sorrow.
Their suffering is deeper than that of a good Christian, who places his trust in God.
There is only one way of making our cross easier to bear and that is to embrace it as Jesus did.
We should love the Cross because it is suffering which shows us how to become like Jesus, to make reparation for our sins and to co-operate by our own passion with the Passion of Christ (Cf Col 1:24).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/22/thought-for-the-day-21-july-the-royal-road-of-the-cross/

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION

Thought for the Day – 22 July – Nature and Grace

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

Nature and Grace

“Two extremes must be avoided in the relationship between nature and grace.
The first is that of the regorists, who see, in human nature, nothing but confusion and the propensity towards evil and, therefore, advocate an iron domination completely lacking in any understanding of human frailty.
They believe that perfection must be achieved swiftly, by means of the most ferocious privations and penance.
This excessively severe approach to the spiritual life, can lead to discouragement and eventual collapse.

The way of perfection is an ascending ladder, which must be climbed, step-by-step.
Falls must be expected but it is necessary to rise again at once, with renewed courage, knowing that when we reach the top, we shall find rest and peace.

The other extreme is an attitude of superficial ease.
There is no emphasis on the necessity of grace, nor on the need for prayer and faithful co-operatin with God’s grace, in order to perform good works.
Instead, there is a kid of natural decency and lukewarm virtue, which, ignores the necessity for mortification and the spirit of sacrifice.
Anyone who sets out on this path, can never be a fervent and active Catholic.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/21/thought-for-the-day-21-july-nature-and-grace/

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – Love Him

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Quote/s of the Day – 22 July – St Mary Magdalen (1st Century) Penitent – Song 3:2-5; 8:6-7, Luke 7:36-50.

“Wherefore I say to you,
her sins, many as they are,
shall be forgiven her
because she has loved much.
But he, to whom little is forgiven,
loves little.”

Luke 7:47

“A servant of the Lord
stands bodily before men
but mentally,
he is knocking at the gates of Heaven.
with prayer.”

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

“Place all your trust in God,
let Him be your fear and your love.
He will answer for you,
He will do what is best for you.
You have here no lasting home.
You are a stranger and a pilgrim
wherever you may be
and you shall have no rest,
until you are wholly united with Christ.
Why do you look about here
when this is not the place of your repose?”

Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)

“To magnify her Royal Lover still further,
the soul must have eyes only for Him,
in other words,
with an ever-growing, anxiously eager attentiveness.
the soul must study all the details of His beauty,
His perfections,
must keep on discovering motives
for finding ever-increasing gratification
in the ineffable Beauty with which it is in love.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

“Love tends towards an intimate union
with the person loved
and does not rest,
until this union is achieved.
This is the unity of love.
“It is now, no longer I that live,”
exclaimed St Paul,
“but Christ lives in me”
(Gal 2:20).
If only we could succeed
in achieving such a complete
and lasting union with God,
any sacrifice would seem easy
and we should certainly grow in sanctity.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST

Thought for the Day – 21 July – Our Dominant Passion

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

Our Dominant Passion

“Holy and God-fearing people know their own particular weakness.
They accept it as a cross and will not rest until they have conquered it with God’s help,
The battle cannot be won in a day but, in most cases, takes a great many years.
Often the ultimate victory is not gained until the hour of death.

It has been said that self-love dies three days after ourselves!
We are enormously attached to our own ego and humility is a very difficult virtue to acquire.
Sometimes, we have struggled for years to gain it and quite suddenly, we meet with another disastrous fall.
It would be easy to be overcome by discouragement at this stage but, this should not be allowed to happen.
When we fall, we should say to God in our repentance: “It is good for me to be humbled.”
To ourselves, we should say immediately: “Let us begin all over again.”

St Francis de Sales was endowed by nature with a sharp and hasty temperament, against which he fought for many years with great determination and reliance on God’s help.
Finally, he conquered and came to regarded as an angel of peace.
Nevertheless, even in the late years of his life, he still experienced inward tendencies towards anger, so that his exterior gentleness, was really a supreme act of victory!

He as known as the “Gentle Christ of Geneva.””

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/20/thought-for-the-day-20-july-our-dominant-passion/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MEDIOCRITY, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE

Thought for the Day – 20 July – Our Passions

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

Our Passions

“It is a difficult thing to control and to direct our natural inclinations.
It requires perseverance, sacrifice and the grace of God, for which we should always pray.

Often, this struggle will last a lifetime and we can still fall, even after many years of combat.
It is important, however, never to give up.
If we accept defeat and quietly submit to the tyranny of sinful passions, we are lost forever.
It is a poor outlook too, for a Catholic who ends up by being satisfied with a life of worthless mediocrity.
We must fight hard, pray fervently and value nothing higher than the love of Christ.
When we are finally victorious, our joy will be greater than any happiness which the world can give.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/18/thought-for-the-day-18-july-our-passions/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES: JUSTICE, PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 19 July – The Voice of God – The Saints

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

The Voice of God – The Saints

“God speaks to us through His Saints.

The Saints are those in whom God dwells in such a special way that their entire personalities reflect Him.
They live the Gospel perfectly.
They have renounced themselves in order to belong completely to God.
Not only have they overcome their evil inclinations but, they have conquered themselves in the process of that Christian annihilation which, sublimates human nature, rather than destroys it.
They have enthroned God in the place of their own will and of their own ego, so that, like St Paul, they can claims:
“It is no longer I that live but Christ lives in me.”

God still speaks to us through His Saints, for even in this troubled and [digital] age, there are pure and humble souls declared to God and the service of their fellowmen.
Whenever we encounter one of these privileged beings, whether in the pages of a book [or online] or in our actual surrounding world, let us pay attention to them and do our best to imitate their virtues.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/10/thought-for-the-day-17-july-the-voice-of-god-2/

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, Quotes on SALVATION

Thought for the Day – 18 July – Everlasting Salvation

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Everlasting Salvation

“More than anything else, it is necessary to look after our eternal salvation.
In comparison with this, all other business is unimportant.
Our personal salvation is the only thing which is absolutely essential in our lives.
Let us meditate on this momentous fact which has converted so many sinners and filled Heaven with Saints.

If I lose my soul, what use will ,money or success be to me?
What good will be human learning or worldly pleasure?
All this will pass away, whereas only my good actions will weigh the balance of Divine Justice in my favour.

Let us think of our sins, which are unfortunately so numerous and of our good actions, which are probably far fewer in number.
It will be tragic for us if the weight of our sins should carry us towards damnation.
It is still in our power, to guard against this by leading lives of penance and sanctity.
“Strive … by good works, to make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet 1:10).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/14/thought-for-the-day-14-july-everlasting-salvation/

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on HUMILITY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thought for the Day – 17 July – The Humility of Mary

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

The Humility of Mary

“O Holy Mary, you were humble in life, even though you were the Mother of God.
Obtain for me too, the difficult virtue of humility.
I know that it is the basis of all the virtues and draws the grace of God.
You see how much I need to be humble.
Grant that God may be the centre of my mind and of my heart.
Grant that His glory may be, the object of all my actions and desires and the chief purpose of my life.
Amen.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/07/thought-for-the-day-7-may-the-humility-of-mary/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/07/thought-for-the-day-7-may-the-humility-of-mary-2/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 16 July – Accepting the Will of God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 16 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Accepting the Will of God

“Let us pray fervently to God for spiritual peace.
Let us surrender ourselves to His Will and accept everything from His Hands, remembering that everything, joy and sorrow, sickness and health, temptation and spiritual consolation, should form a mystical ladder which will gradually bring us nearer to Heaven and finally unite us to God for evermore.
Everything passes but God is unchangeable.

Sufferings have to end but the merits we gain remain, if we have offered our afflictions to God.
Let us surrender ourselves completely into the hands of God, Who in His goodness, gives us some happiness on earth for our consolation and causes us to suffer, so that we may be purified and made holy.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/13/thought-for-the-day-13-july-accepting-the-will-of-god/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/04/thought-for-the-day-4-january-accepting-the-will-of-god/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD

Thought for the Day – 15 July – The Voice of God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

The Voice of God

“Be not silent Lord, be not far from me” (Ps 34:22).

It is never really God Who is silent.
He is forever appealing to us to lead good lives.
He is never really far from us but is always ready to bestow His gifts on us.
Even when we have sinned, we hear His Voice prompting us to thoughts of remorse.
Even when we stray away from Him, He follows and asks us to return to Him.
It is we, who must ensure that the noise of the world, will not prevent us from hearing His Fatherly appeal and that sinful temptations will not destroy His influence over us.

Let us continually implore His graces because we are always in need of them.
Let us use them well, so that they will enable us to gain everlasting life.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on The SOUL

Thought for the Day – 14 July – The Enemies of the Soul

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

The Enemies of the Soul

“It is Christian teaching that we have three enemies which are a constant threat to our salvation.
The first, is the devil, an invisible but very powerful foe.

The devil was once an Angel of beauty.
He had gifts superior to those of men and was in a state of happiness.
But God required from him, a proof of his fidelity before he could merit the everlasting reward for which he had been destined.

Lucifer was proud of his beauty and power.
Believing that he was equal to the Most High God, he rebelled against his Creator and drew with him, into eternal ruin, innumerable bands of disloyal Angels.
Their sin was greater than ours because they had been endowed with a superior intellect and their will was not subject to the pull of the sensitive appetites of a material body.
This is why God did not give them time to repent but condemned them immediately to the everlasting torments of Hell.
It is false to imagine, however, that they are confined, as it were, in one place.
Being pure spirit, they can, with God’s permission, wander throughout the world, carrying their hell within themselves.
Moreover, they can endanger, in a thousand ways, our eternal salvation.
The Gospel often speaks of diabolical temptations and obsessions and, St Peter warns us to be continually on our guard against the onslaughts of the enemy.
“Be sober,” he says, “be watchful. For your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same suffering befalls your brethren all over the world” (1 Peter 5:8).

It is the same now as it was in the time of Jesus and His Apostles.

We do not see this infernal spirit but, we feel his presence.
Let us remember what St Augustine wrote about him.
“The devil,” he said, “is a mastiff in chains. He can bark but, he cannot bite, unless we yield to his evil suggestions and approach him. Watch and pray!””

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, St PAUL!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Thought for the Day – 13 July – The Grace of God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

The Grace of God

“It is astonishing to consider how much St Paul accomplished when he had been transformed by the grace of God.
Formerly, a persecutor of Christians, he became the Apostle of the Gentiles.
Enlightened by faith and inspired by charity, he travelled the globe, spreading everywhere, the religion of Jesus Christ.

He feared neither the anger of the hostile Jews, nor the tribunals of the Roman judges, neither long and difficult journeys, nor scourging, shipwreck and imprisonment.
“The love of Christ impels us,” (2 Cor 5:14) he said.
It was the love of God which drove him on and on, until he met his martyrdom.
But what about ourselves?
We also have received grace from God.
Often we hear His voice appealing to us to abandon our sinful ways, to practise virtue, to love Him more ardently and to prove our love, by deeds.
If we co-operate, we shall be able to say with St Paul: “by the grace of God, I am what I am and his grace in me has not been fruitless,” (1 Cor 15:10) and “I have laboured … yet, not I but the grace of God with me” (ibid).

It is wise to recall, however, that Judas also received special graces from God.
He did not correspond with them and was probably damned for eternity.
If we fail to correspond with God’s graces, the result will be tragic for ourselves.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE::
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/12/thought-for-the-day-12-july-the-grace-of-god/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 12 July – The Good Odour of Christ

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

The Good Odour of Christ

“What quality of attraction do I possess?
My behaviour is the mirror of my spiritual life.
If I love God and am detached from the world, especially from sin and, if I practise mortification and strive to advance in the way of Christian perfection, my personality, will influence others to do good.
My good example, rather than my words, will have a spiritual appeal for others, so that I shall be a living sermon.

Words are heard but example attracts.
It is a great misfortune for me, if my sins tepidity, or vices, are the true reflection of my spiritual state and lead others into evil ways too!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/11/thought-for-the-day-11-july-the-good-odour-of-christ/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on MERIT, QUOTES on VANITY, The LAST THINGS

Thought for the Day – 11 July – VANITY

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

VANITY

“Vanity destroys whatever is good in our actions and makes them useless in the sight of God.
It robs our good actions of all merit because they should be done only for the glory of God, whereas we are performing them for our own glory.
We want them to be seen by others so that we shall be honoured by men as noble and holy.

If our actions have been motivated by self-interest, rather than by the desire for the glory of God, we shall hear, at the judgement seat of God the terrible condemnation:
“You have received your reward” (Cf Mt 6:2).

If we have sought our own satisfaction instead of God’s glory during our lifetime, we shall not receive an everlasting reward!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/10/thought-for-the-day-10-july-vanity/

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CREATION, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 10 July – A Ladder Ascending to God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

A Ladder Ascending to God

“How often, nevertheless, is our mind led astray by the passing beauty of this world.
How often is our heart engrossed in a search for a happiness, which is purely illusory.
God has given us created things so that we may see in them, a reflection of His goodness and beauty and may use them as a ladder, which will lead us to Him.
We shall be lost if we look back and fall beneath the false spell of this earthly fairyland.
Our minds and hearts should look upwards towards Heaven.

God alone can satisfy the infinite desires of the soul.
Let us never lose sight of Him.
Everything else passes but God does not change.
He will be our sure guide in this life and our everlasting happiness in the next.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/06/thought-for-the-day-6-july-a-ladder-ascending-to-god/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/06/thought-for-the-day-6-july-a-ladder-ascending-to-god-2/