Category: MEDITATIONS – ANTONIO CARD BACCI

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, JESUIT SJ, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 21 June – St Aloysius Gonzaga

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

St Aloysius Gonzaga

“St Aloysius Gonzaga is one of the outstanding models of holy purity, for young and old alike.
We are told, that when he was nine years of age and went to the City of Florence, he went to the Church of the Annunziata, to pray before the picture of our Blessed Lady.
It was then, that he experienced the ardent desire to consecrate himself to God.
He was the eldest son of Prince Ferdinand de Gonzaga and, therefore, heir to his father’s title.
But, from this moment, he was determined to spend his life in the service of God.
He made a vow of perpetual chastity and placed himself under the protection of the Blessed Virgin.

Now, his life became a continual ascent towards perfection.
Hs chastity, which he had offered to Our Lady, remained spotless until his death.
The spirit of evil could make no headway against his angelic virtue.
This was a grace which he merited as a result of his prayers and penances.
He often spent three or four hours, kneeling in prayer and contemplation.
Even at night, he rose from his bed, in order to pray.
His mind and heart where in Heaven, rather than upon earth.
His prayer was an intimate conversation with Jesus, Mary and the Saints.
Innocent though he was, he practised servere mortifications.
Believing himself to be a great sinner, he scourged his body until his blood flowed freely and deprived himself of food and sleep.

Do we wish to preserve our purity and to become saints?
If so, let us remember that without prayer and mortification, this is impossible.
Jesus said to His disciples “that they must always pray and not lose heart” (Lk 18:1) “Pray” He said again, “that you may not enter into temptation” (Lk 22:40) and further, “Unless you repent, you will all perish” (Lk 13:5).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Thought for the Day – 20 June– The Storms of Life

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

The Storms of Life

“At other times however, the tempest will come from outside ourselves and will have a shattering effect on our spiritual life.
It may be some insult which has seriously wounded us.
There may be somebody near to us who has grown quite insufferable.
Or perhaps suffering will come to us in the guise of illness, disgrace or loss of our dear ones.
We shall feel lonely and abandoned in the midst of the storm.
To whom shall we have recourse in our hour of need?
Shall we turn to our fellow-men?
Perhaps there will be nobody able to understand us perfectly, or, if there is somebody who sympathises with us,he may be able to do nothing for us, save to utter a few kind words.

Let us turn, therefore, to Jesus on the Cross and to Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist.
The Crucifix will teach us how to suffer with resignation and with love.
Before this mystery of infinite love, all our anguish and unrest, will give way to a Christian acceptance of suffering.

If this is not enough, let us turn to Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist.
Let us invite Him into our hearts to calm the tempest and to give us His divine grace, which will conquer every temptation and heal every wound.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/17/thought-for-the-day-17-april-the-storms-of-life/

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY

Thought for the Day – 19 June– Confidence in the Providence of God

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

Confidence in the
Providence of God

“An excessive pre-occupation with worldly affairs may often be responsible for our lack of perfect confidence in God.
We worry about tomorrow and about our many material need.
But Jesus has warned us about this.
“Do not be anxious for your life,” He said, “what you shall eat, nor yet for your body, what you shall wear … Look at the birds of the air – they do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much more value than they? …
Consider how the lilies of the field grow, they neither toil nor spon, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory, was arrayed like one of these.
But, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which flourishes today but tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more you, O you of little faith!
Therefore, do not be anxious …
But seek first the kingdom of God and his justice and all these things shall be given ou besides.
Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow will have anxieties of its own.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Cf Mt 6:25-34).

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?
And yet, not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s leave.
But, as for you, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Therefore, do not be afraid!” (Cf Mt 10:29-31).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/20/thought-for-the-day-20-august-confidence-in-the-providence-of-god/

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 18 June – Belonging Entirely to God

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

Belonging Entirely to God

“Let us reflect on the extent to which God is deserving of all our love.
He is our Creator, our final end and our Redeemer.
Jesus was not satisfied with giving us part of Himself but He gave us Himself completely.
Although, as God He was infinite, He could not have given us more.

One drop of Hs Precious Blood or a solitary tear, would have sufficed to redeem us from our sins.
But He shed His Blood to the last drop and gave His life for us.
Better still, He willed to remain amongst us in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as our constant spiritual nourishment.
What more could He have done in order to merit our love?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/18/thought-for-the-day-18-june-belonging-entirely-to-god/

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on PRAYER, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The LORD'S PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 17 June – The “Our Father”

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

The “Our Father”

“Our Lord exhorted His disciples on many occasions to pray often and with confidence, if they wished to be heard.
Everything which they asked His heavenly Father, in His name, He said, they would obtain.
Ask, He said and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.
Finally, He insisted that we ought to pray and never to give up.
In other words, life can be a continuous prayer if we offer to God all our thoughts, words and actions.

The ideal Christian prayer is to do the will of God at all times from the motive of pure love.
The Apostles, however, who had not made that much progress in the spiritual life, asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Lk 11:1).
It was then that Our Lord composed the most beautiful of prayer, the “Our Father” (Mt 6:9-13).
When we recite it, we speak to God, in the words of Jesus Christ Himself and unite our weak voices, with the powerful voice of the Son of God!
We address the Eternal God, moreover, by the name of Father.
Even in the Old Testament, God is often referred to in this way.
Then, however, He figured as the Father of the chosen people, whereas now, He is the Father of all.
He is our Father, the Father of all mankind and of all races, whom He has willed to redeem from the slavery of sin.
The term “Our Father” has taken on a new and fuller meaning.
Our weak prayer becomes united to that of Jesus, our first-born Brother and to the prayers of the Apostles, Martyrs, Virgins and Confessors, who form and have formed, throughout the centuries, the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church.
We need no longer feel that we are on our own, for through the Communion of Saints, our entreaties are joined to those of the entire Church, militant, suffering and triumphant.
We can be confident, therefore, that our prayer will be heard!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS

Thought for the Day – 16 June – “Unless You Turn and Become Like Little Children, You Will Not Enter into the Kingdom of Heaven”

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Thought for the Day – 16 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Unless You Turn and Become
Like Little Children,
You Will Not Enter into the Kingdom of Heaven”

“At the beginning of their ministry, before they had been strengthened and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, the Apostles were as ambitious as most other men.
One day, the mother of John and James, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and asked Him, if her two sons could have precedence over the other Apostles and sit on the highest thrones in His kingdom, one at His right hand and the other at His left.
Jesus disapproved of this desire to predominate. “Whoever wishes to become great among you,” He said, “shall be your servant and, whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; even as the Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:26-28).

On another occasion, the Apostles came to Jesus and asked Him, which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus’ only answer was to call a little child and to place him in the centre of the group.
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.   Whoever, therefore, humbles himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3-4).

This is the lofty teaching of the Gospel.
If we wish to be great and pleasing in the eyes of God, we must be unimportant in our own regard and in our relations with men.
The Gospel involves an overthrow of human values.
Anyone who makes himself insignificant, will become great.
Anyone who tries to make himself out to be a great man, becomes of little account in the eyes of God.
“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Cf Js 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).
If we wish to please the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the first thing we must do, is become as little children.
In other words, we shall have to suppress our ambition and vanity and destroy our self-love, so that, the Sacred Heart may fill our hearts with the love of God alone!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 15 June – Steadfastness in Suffering

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

Steadfastness in Suffering

“We are all obliged to suffer in soul and body.
Suffering begins at birth and ends at death.
“The whole life of a Christian is a cross,” (Sermon 31) says St Augustine.
For this reason, we have to develop the virtue of patience.
“Let patience have it’s perfect work,” says St James, “that you may be perfect and entire” (Js 1:4).
If we are to be perfect, we must accept suffering and trials from the hands of God and offer them to Him in a spirit of harmony with His holy will.
In this way, all our actions become valuable, for they are acts of reparation and of love, which will be rewarded in Heaven.
Both our joys and our sorrows are sanctified, if we offer them to God, Who arranges everything for our own good.
The Saints longed to suffer because, they loved God and knew that suffering is the only true way in which we can prove our love.
Suffering is the best medicine for the soul, for when it is endured with patience, it purifies us and prepares us for Heaven.
“If God does not punish you for our sins,” says St Augustine, “it is a sign that you are no longer counted among His sons” (De Pastoribus liber unus, c 5).
“Whom the Lord loves, he chastises,” St Paul writes “and, he scourges every son whom he receives” (Heb 12:6).

Suffering is, in fact, a gift from God.
It reminds us that we have not been created for this world but for Heaven, in preparation for which, we must carry our cross with patience in the footsteps of Jesus.
No matter what we do, we must suffer.
Either we bear trials patiently and gain an increase of merit, or we rebel against them and gain no merit at all.
When we suffer, let us think of the two thieves, both of whom were tortured in the same way.
But the good thief accepted his torments with patience in reparation for his sins and was saved, while the bad thief, rebelled against his sufferings and was most probably damned forever!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 13 June – St Anthony

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

St Anthony

“On the 13th of June in the year 1231, a crowd of children set out from the nearby Convent of Arcella and entered Padua crying out: “The Saint is dead!”
The entire City was -plunged into mourning because it’s Saint was dead.

Anthony had traversed Italy, converting heretics, recalling innumerous sinners to repentance, working miracles and giving peace to souls and to strife-torn cities.
Soon he had felt that his young life was already running out as the result of these labours and austerities and he had determined to hide himself in a little Franciscan Monastery at Camposampiero near Padua.
In order to shelter himself from the world ,as far as possible, he built a little cell in the bifurcation of the branches of a giant walnut tree.
Here he spent his last days in prayer and contemplation, joining with the birds in their songs of praise to God.
He was no longer a man but an angel in human form.
Crowds of the faithful flocked around the tree to hear, once again, the voice of the Saint calling on them to practise virtue and to follow the road to Heaven.

It was in this little nest, at only thirty six years of age, that his life slowly flickered out, consumed, not so much by disease as by a burning love for God and for his fellowman.

Let us pray that we may obtain a spark of this love, which will detach us from the world, cause us to belong entirely to God and make us generous apostles in our work for the salvation of souls.
Jesus, my God, I love You above all things. Amen.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/13/thought-for-the-day-13-june-st-anthony/

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Thought for the Day – 12 June – “All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed”

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Thought for the Day – 12 June – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971) “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

“All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed”

‘A Jewish girl, poor in this world’s goods but rich in virtue, arrived after a long and difficult journey at a village in the hills of Judea, called Hebron.
There, she paid a visit to her cousin, Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth saw the girl, she was immediately enlightened by the Holy Spirit with the knowledge, that her visitor, was the Mother of God.
“How have I deserved,” she cried out, “that the mother of my Lord, should come to me?” (Lk 1:43).
At these words, Mary looked up towards Heaven and gave spontaneous expression to a hymn of humble acknowledgement to God, Who had “regarded the lowliness of His Handmaid” (Lk 1:48).
Then she made a solemn prophecy, which would surely have assured the cynical intellectuals and nobles of the land but, which history has wonderfully fulfilled.
“Behold” she said, “all generations shall call me blessed” (ibid).  We can testify today, that this miracle came to pass.
All the nations have paid reverence to the Jewish girl, who became the Mother of God and our Mother, the Queen of Heaven and earth, the comforter of the afflicted, the conqueror of Satan and the invincible Guardian of the Church.
From the engravings in the Catacombs, to the celestial Madonnas of the Angelico, from the rudimentary sculpture of Roman art, to the prayerful statues on the pinnacles of more modern Cathedrals, the image of Mary has shone as a beacon of hope for all generations.
Men bow before her and ask for light, for comfort and for pardon.
“If anyone follows Mary,” says St Bernard, “he will not lose his way; if anyone pray to her, he will not despair; if anyone thinks of her, he will not sin; if anyone reaches out to her, he will not fall; if anyone places himself under her protection, he need have no fear; if anyone places himself under her leadership, he will never give up; if anyone pays homage to her, he is certain to reach his destination safely” (Homil Missus est 2:17).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS

Thought for the Day – 11 June – “Learn From Me, For I Am Meek and Humble of Heart”

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Thought for the Day – 11 June – Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Learn From Me, For I Am Meek and Humble of Heart”

“It is very easy to be gentle and humble when everything is going well for us.
It is difficult, however, when we meet humiliation, misunderstanding or opposition.
We need to be well advanced in perfection, if we are to have mildness and humility of heart, like that of Jesus.

We can only reach this state of perfection by prayer, sacrifice and character formation.
Pride, self-love and the desire to excel, are the evil effects of our corrupted nature.
St Francis de Sales jestingly remarked that self-love dies three days after us.
It is difficult to remove it completely from our character and to put, in it’s place, the love of God and of our neighbour but, this operation is necessary, if we are to obtain Christ-like humility and gentleness of heart.
God, not our own ego, should be the centre of our lives, He should be the focal point of all our thinking.
Let us beseech God for this grace and try and behave in this fashion on all occasions.

When we encounter lack of sympathy, coldness or injustice on the part of our fellowmen, we should try and avoid becoming annoyed or discourage.
The testimony of a sound conscience before God, is all that should concern us.
We should offer everything else to God, whether it is joy or sorrow, praise or criticism.
We shall be rewarded with peace of soul.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/11/thought-for-the-day-11-june-learn-from-me-for-i-am-meek-and-humble-of-heart/

Posted in "Follow Me", GOD is LOVE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 10 June – The Sacred Heart of Jesus Surmounted by a Flaming Cross

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Thought for the Day – 10 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Surmounted by a Flaming Cross

“This flaming Heart surmounted by a Cross represents, not only the infinite love of Jesus, the obedient victim of love but indicates also, that if we wish to follow our divine Redeemer as far as Heaven, our true country, we must follow Him along the path of love and of the Cross.
There is only one way of perfection and that is, the way of the Cross.

Jesus has told us this and has set us an example.
“If anyone wishes to come after me,” He said, “let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23).
He gave us an example by allowing Himself, innocent as He was, to be burdened with our sin.
He staggered as far as Calvary beneath the weight of the Cross and there, He shed His Precious Blood to the last drop.

We must take the road of the Cross also.
If we do not love our own cross, we do not love the Cross of Jesus.
The Saints looked for humiliation and suffering in order to prove their love for Jesus.
We must, at least, accept with resignation, those sufferings and humiliations which Providence has allowed to us.

We must embrace our cross daily and carry it with faith and love in the footsteps of Jesus.
The Cross is the standard of Christ – it is the ladder which leads us to Heaven.
If anyone does not want to have anything to do with it, he does not want to have anything to do with Jesus!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/10/thought-for-the-day-10-june-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-surmounted-by-a-flaming-cross/

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on SIN, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS

Thought for the Day – 9 June – The Sacred Heart of Jesus Pierced by a Crown of Thorns

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Thought for the Day – 9 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Crown of Thorns Which Surrounds the Sacred Heart

“There are many ways of showing our love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of making reparation for our sins and for the sins of mankind.
We can console ourselves with the reflection, that by these acts of love and reparation, we are removing the thorns which encircle and pierce the Heart of Jesus.
The simplest ways of doing this, are by prayers, aspirations and expressions of love, directed towards the adorable Heart of our Redeemer and, by visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
In silence and recollection, before the Tabernacle, we shall feel the Heart of Jesus, beating with love and, shall offer in return, for His infinite love, the affection of our poor hearts.

We can also receive Holy Communion in reparation.
When Jesus is in us and we are in Jesus, it will be easier and more pleasant, to offer Him our love and expiation.
We can make reparation also, by practising the devotion of the First Fridays of the month.
This pious practice, so pleasing to the Heart of Jesus, aims at being a mass offering of love and reparation, for the sins of the entire human race.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/09/thought-for-the-day-9-june-the-crown-of-thorns-which-surrounds-the-sacred-heart/

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on SIN, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS

Thought for the Day – 8 June – Our Response to the Love of the Sacred Heart

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Thought for the Day – 8 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Our Response to the Love

of the Sacred Heart

“We owe an immense debt of satisfaction and expiation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the many sins with which we have repaid Hs graces.
Let us picture the divine Redeemer, kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane, while His divine vision pierces the centuries and sees the sins and atrocities of men.
He sees the offences of each one of us!
He groans and perspires blood, then he offers Himself as an innocent victim for us all.
This was an act of infinite love, which cost the life of the God-Man in the most atrocious way.

What must our reaction be?
Shall we continue to sin and remain cold?
The Passion of Jesus demands our participation in His sufferings, not only in reparation for our own sins but also, in expiation of the sins of others.
Let us look around us and see how many men are so indifferent and wicked, as if Jesus had never come to save us, had never shed His Precious Blood for us and, had never loved us with an infinite love.
At this spectacle, the Saints inflicted penances on themselves, in order to offer to Jesus, a return of love and reparation for sin.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/08/thought-for-the-day-8-june-our-response-to-the-love-of-the-sacred-heart/

Posted in JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART QUOTES, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS

Thought for the Day – 7 June – The Promises Made to Those Who Practise Devotion to the Sacred Heart

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Thought for the Day – 7 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Promises Made to Those Who Practise
Devotion to the Sacred Heart

“When Jesus appeared to St Margaret Mary Alacoque and commanded her to propagate the worship of His Sacred Heart, He promised very special blessings to those who would be truly devoted to His Sacrd Heart and spread this devotion among others.
“I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life…consolation in all their trouble…peace in their families…blessings on all their undertakings.”

These promises are an inducement to us, to love Jesus and to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart.

Our Divine Saviour, is not content with having loved us so much during His mortal life and given us His Precious Blood, the Blessed Eucharist and His most Holy Mother, for our salvation.
He sees that His infinite love is not returned as it ought to be and seems to exercise a gentle pressure, in order to compel us to love Him.
“Behold this Heart which has so loved men that It spare nothing…to prove to them It’s love.   And, in return, I receive from the greater part of men, nothing but ingratitude, by the contempt, irreverence, sacrileges and coldness with which they treat Me in this Sacrament of Love.”

“I thirst, I burn with a consuming desire for men’s love and I find none to quench this thirst, according to My wish, by making any return of love.”

Who could fail to feel the force of this appeal?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 6 June – The Feast of Corpus Christi

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

The Feast of Corpus Christi

“Human words cannot express the beauty ad depth of the passage from the Gospel which the liturgy of the Holy Mass offers for our meditation.
It is the passage in which Jesus promises the institution of the Blessed Eucharist.

“ For my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, abideth in me and I in him.
As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread, shall live forever.” (Jn 6:56-59)

No human being could have visualised or uttered such words.
Only the God-Man could have spoken them.

Even outside the Eucharist, God communicates with us, descending with His grace into our souls.
We feel that He is present, we experience His supernatural influence and inspiration, His appeals to us to do good.
But in the Eucharist, we have far more than this.
We have the God-Man as the food of our souls, through which we live His own life, so that, like St Paul, it is no longer we who live but Christ Who lives in us.

This intimate and mysterious union has been compared with the unfathomable union in which the Son of God, lives the life of His heavenly Father because. by means of the Eucharist, we should live the supernatural life of Jesus.
A a result of this transformation, there can be no further place in us for sin, nor for disordered affectations and desires but only for virtue and for God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/14/thought-for-the-day-14-june-the-feast-of-corpus-christi/

Posted in JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on MERIT, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on VIRTUE, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The HOLY VIATICUM

Thought for the Day – 5 June – The Sacred Heart and the Holy Viaticum

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Thought for the Day – 5 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Sacred Heart and the Holy Viaticum

“We should particularly ask the Sacred Heart for the grace to die a good death, strengthened by the Holy Viaticum.
Let us picture ourselves in this final hour.
The world is fading away and nothing remains of the honours, successes and pleasures of our passing life.
There will remain only two things – on one side, the merits which we have obtained by our prayers, penances and good works; on the other side, the sum total of our sins and ingratitude to God.
May Jesus come, at this moment, into our poor hearts, which is trembling for our sins and lacking in virtue.
May the Holy Viaticum come to strengthen us.
May the white Host bear with it, forgiveness, hope and the purifying flame of love.

Then, the infinite love of the Heart of Jesus will be mingled with th weak limited love of our hearts.
It will waft us into a state of everlasting happiness, where, to love, is to possess, the boundless joy of God.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/05/thought-for-the-day-5-june-the-sacred-heart-and-the-holy-viaticum/

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, HOLY COMMUNION, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Thought for the Day – 4 June – The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Eucharist

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 4 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Blessed Eucharist

“By means of this wonderful gift, we can live the life of Jesus Himself.

It is Our Lord Himself, Who says to us: “As the living Father has sent me and as I live because of the Father, so he who eats me, he also shall live because of me” (Jn 6:58).
In other words, as He draws His divine and human life from the Father and lives by means of Him, to Whom as God, He is substantially united and equal, so anyone who partakes of the Eucharist, is united closely to Jesus, lives His life and is transformed by His supernatural grace.
When Holy Communion is received, therefore, as it ought to be and as the Saints received it, it leads to the mysterious union of which St Paul speaks: “To me to live is Christ” (Phil 1:21).
“It is now no longer I that live but Christ, lives in me” (Gal 2:20).

The effect of Holy Communion on us, should be similar to that of a graft upon a tree, whose life is thereby transformed and which begins to produce the fruit of the new shoot instead of the old trunk.
We should no longer live the life of the old man but, that of the new, which is Jesus.
We ought, therefore, to produce His divine fruits.
Our actions will have a supernatural value because they are performed in Jesus and through Jesus.
We should be very grateful to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for this gift of His infinite love and goodness.
We should approach Holy Communion with humility, love and complete self-surrender.
Our hearts should be fused in the Heart of Jesus and our love should be fused in His infinite love.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/04/thought-for-the-day-4-june-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-and-the-blessed-eucharist/

Posted in GOD is LOVE, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS

Thought for the Day – 3 June – The Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Revealed in the Gospel

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Thought for the Day – 3 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Revealed in the Gospel

“The whole life of our Saviour was motivated by love for us, from the moment of birth to the moment of death.
Let us recall to mind, an incident of particular significance; Jesus was at the gate of Nain when a funeral procession came out from the City.
The only son of a poor widow had died.
He was all that she had in life.
The Heart of Jesus was moved with compassion.
He stopped the procession, recalled the young man to life and restored him to his mother.

Once, when Jesus was preaching in the desert, He was surrounded by a multitude who had followed Him there, without giving thought to material necessities.
His Heart was touched by th sight of this hungry crowd.
“I have compassion on the crowd,” (Mk 8:2) He said and performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves.

One day, Jesus saw a poor woman in tears who was surrounded by a group of men who were planning to stone her.
She was an adulteress and this was the penalty commanded by the law of Moses.
But Jesus looked into the soul of the unfortunate woman and saw, that she was repentant.
He looked into the hearts of the men who had condemned her and saw, that they were full of evil.
“Let him who is without sin among you,” He said, “be the first to cast a stone at her.”
At this, her accusers went away.
Jesus turned to the woman, “has no-one condemned thee,” He asked her.
“Neither will I condemn thee. Go thy way and from now on, sin no more” ((Jn 8:1-2).

Let us recall the touching parables of the prodigal son and the lost sheep.
Let us recall all these pages in which the human-divine love of Jesus is forcefully shown and we shall feel eager to return such great love, to weep for our sins and to live entirely for Jesus, as He lived entirely for us.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/03/thought-for-the-day-3-june-the-love-of-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-revealed-in-the-gospel/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD is LOVE, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS

Thought for the Day – 2 June – The Necessity of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Thought for the Day – 2 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Necessity of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

“It is necessary to develop and meditate on these words of Pius XI, (see Part One) from which, it is clear, that the cult of the Sacred Heart, not only contains the synthesis of Christianity, the religion of love but, contains the most effective guide to the knowledge, love and imitation of Jesus Christ.
From the first moment of His life, when He was an infant in the cold, damp cave of Bethlehem, to the final moment, when He breathed His last upon the Cross, the Heart of Jesus was overflowing with love for us.
We can learn from this, to know our Divine Saviour better, so that appreciating more fully His infinite love for us, we shall feel an upsurge of gratitude and, of love.
We shall feel determined to live entirely for Him, as He lived entirely for us, to obey His commandments with generosity and, to imitate His example with the assistance of His grace.
This should be the result of our devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, especially during this month, which is consecrated to Him.

O my Jesus, You Who are Love itself, enkindle in my heart the divine fire which consumed and transformed the Saints!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/02/thought-for-the-day-1-june-the-necessity-of-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/

Posted in GOD is LOVE, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Thought for the Day – 1 June – Devotion to the Sacred Heart

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Thought for the Day – 1 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Devotion to the Sacred Heart

“When we consider it under it’s fundamental aspect as the cult of the love of God, rather than of the Incarnate Word, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is as old as Christianity, even though it is only in recent centuries, that it has assumed it’s present symbolism.
“He who does not love, does not know God,” says St John, “for God is love” (1 Jn 4:8).
“And we have come to know,” he continues “and have believed, the love that God has in our behalf.   God is love and he who abides in love, abides in God and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16).
This cult of the love of God, particularly of the love of God made man, vibrates throughout the pages of the Gospel and of the writings of the Apostles, especially of St John and of St Paul.

In the works of the Fathers, there are references to the Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, from which flowed all the infinite graces of the Church for our redemption.
We are reminded of this in the Encylical, Haurietis Aquas, published by Pope Pius XII in the year 1956.
But the specific cult of the love of God, as symbolised by the Heart of Jesus, was explicitly approved by the Church after Jesus Himself appeared in the year 1674 to St Margaret Mary Alacoque and showed her His Heart on fire with love for men.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/01/thought-for-the-day-1-june-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUEENSHIP of MARY

Thought for the Day – 22 May – Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth

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Thought for the Day – 22 May – “Mary’s Month” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth

“Towards the close of his life, St Paul wrote to his well-beloved disciple, St Timothy:  “As for me, I am already being poured out in sacrifice and the time of my deliverance is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.   For the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just judge, will give to me in that day;  yet, not to me only but, also to those who love his coming” (2 Tim 4:6-8).

After all his apostolic labours and difficulties and, after a lifetime of boundless love, St Paul could confidently say, that he would receive the crown which he had earned.
When the Blessed Virgin came to the end of her earthly pilgrimage, during which she had lovingly worked and suffered so much for Jesus, she could have expected, with even greater certainty, to receive the crown of glory, which she had merited.
She was the noblest and holiest of creatures, because, she was the Mother of the eternal Word of God made man.
Therefore, her reward had to be greater than that of any other creature.
She was the Mother of the King of Angels and of Saints, of Heaven and earth.
As such, it was her place to rule over them all.
Seated at the right hand of her divine Son, she has glory and power, which none other could possess.
The Church, therefore, invokes her under the title of Queen of Angels and of Saints, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Virgins, of Confessors and of Martyrs, Queen of Heaven and of earth.
When our Holy Father, Pius XII, solemnly proclaimed her Queenship, in the year 1954, he was only giving voice to the general consensus of tradition, of the Liturgy and of the belief of all the faithful (Cf Encyclical, Ad Coeli Reginum, 11 Oct 1954).

It should be very encouraging to all of us to know that we have so powerful a Queen in Heaven, whose privilege it is, to dispense God’s graces.
She has crushed the poisonous head of Satan.
Now, she is able and eager to help us, her loyal sons and servants, to resist temptation, to frustrate the schemes of our deadly enemy and to perfect ourselves in virtue. Amen.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Thought for the Day – 21 May – Holy Purity

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 21 May – “Mary’s Month” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Holy Purity

“Have you ever experienced the sheer delight of climbing the mountains on a summer’s day and coming across one of those little alpine lakes, a tiny mirror, reflecting the still blueness of the sky?
Or have you ever watched an infant smiling in it’s angelic slumber and been held spellbound by this vision of innocence?
Finally, on some calm, clear night, surely you have studied the star-spangled sky and have been so overwhelmed by the beauty of the scene, that you could have cried out with the Psalmist:  “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork” (Ps 18:1).
These, are only faint images of the beauty and virginal purity of Mary.
Her soul was the purest and most beautiful of the entire human and angelic creation, because, nobody else was ever raised to the dignity of the Motherhood of God.
She was conceived free from all taint of original sin and enriched with every grace.
In her chaste womb, she conceived the Infant Jesus.
Later, she held Him close to her heart;  she lived for Him and eventually died for love of Him.

Purity is a virtue which is attractive to everybody, even to those who are evil themselves, or to those, who have lost their own chastity.
We love and desire this virtue but, are we prepared to make any sacrifice in order to preserve it, in the manner demanded by our particular state in life?
“The kingdom of heaven has been enduring violent assault,” Jesus said “and the violent have been seizing it by force” (Mt 11:12).
This is especially true in regard to the acquisition of the virtue of purity.
It is not enough to desire it, we must be willing to make sacrifices in order to acquire it.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY

Thought for the Day – 20 May – Mary, the Source of Holiness

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

Mary, the Source of Holiness

“God is the primary origin of all holiness.
But, the Blessed Virgin gave us Jesus, Who is our Redeemer and the author of grace.
For this reason, she may be called the source of grace, the divine aqueduct, as St Bernard puts it, through which, the supernatural life of grace is brought to us (In adv Domini, Serm 2, no 5).
She was, moreover, full of grace and outstanding in holiness – as the Mother of God, she can obtain anything for us from her divine Son, because “it is the will of God that we receive everything through the hands of Mary” (St Bernard, In Nativ BMV, Serm, no 7).
Thirdly, even by her example, she can be the source of sanctity for us.
If we study her amazing humility, we shall learn to be humble, for our sinfulness gives us such good reason to humble ourselves.
If we meditate on her spotless purity, we shall experience a great desire and love for this beautiful virtue and shall have recourse to her in every danger to save us from impurity.
Then, let us reflect on her ardent love for God and for men.
Her charity prompted her maternal heart to offer up, as a divine Victim, her Son nailed to the Cross.
If we reflect on the nature of her charity, we also shall feel urged to love God above all things and to pray, work and make sacrifices for the salvation of our fellowmen.
Let us have, always before our minds, the image of our heavenly Mother and we shall be inspired to seek perfection in all our actions.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 19 May – Mary, a Light in the Darkness

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

Mary, a Light in the Darkness

“Let us imagine for a moment, that we have grown blind and are forever plunged in darkness.
It is an unhappy thought.
Never again to see those who are dear to us, never to see the light of the sun nor any of the splendour of the universe.
We should feel as if were alone, for we should have to depend only on sounds and on the voices of others for communication with the external world.
As St Augustine points out, however, in his commentary on the miracle of the man who had been blind from birth, we are all more or less blind in the supernatural order.
The world is the image of God but, do we see His Presence in everything which surrounds us?
Is it not more often the case that created things distract us and lead us to forget their Creator, because, we regard them as a means of satisfying our own comfort and our own ego?
We should look on creatures as go-betweens which help us to ascend to God, the beginning and end of all creation.

Unfortunately, instead of climbing this mystical ladder which leads us to God, we often descend it.
We forget God and become excessively wrapped up in worldly affairs.
Sometimes matters may be even worse, not only do we forget God through our love of creatures but, we use them, to offend Him.
God has given us eyes to admire His works and, as a result, to lead us to praise, thank and love Him.
Instead, we often use this wonderful gift in order to commit sin.
He has given us the gift of speech, the gift of hearing and other senses.
But how do we employ them?
The tongue is a marvellous invention but, as St James writes, “if anyone does not offend in the word, he is a perfect man, able also to lead round by the bridle, the whole body … With it we bless God the Father and, with it, we curse men, who have been made after the likeness of God.   Out of the same mouth, proceed blessing and cursing.   These things, my brethren ought not to be so” (Js 3:2-10).
What can be said of vision and of speech can be said of all the senses and faculties of body and soul.
They are all God’s gifts and should, therefore, be used as means of bringing ourselves closer to Him.
If creatures lead us away from God and cause us to forget Him, or if, worse still, they cause us to offend Him, then we are spiritually blind and far more unfortunate than those who have lost their natural vision.

Most Holy Mary, during your earthly pilgrimage, you never once lost sight of God.
Grant that I may not be lost in the darkness of this world.
Grant that I may not be ensnared by the passing charm and false beauty of these created things which surround me.
Grant that I may see, in all things, the Presence and Beauty of God, so that I may always continue to advance, nearer and nearer to Him.   Amen.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in ADVENT REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PEACE

Thought for the Day – 18 May – Mary, the Source of Peace

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

Mary, the Source of Peace

“If we wish to possess this true peace, which only God can give, we must control and regulate the movements of our passions when they rebel against the soul.
In other words, as St Augustine says, our lower appetites must obey our reason and this, in its turn, must be subject to its author, God! (De Serm. Domini, 1,2).
Real peace can only come to us as the result of the hard and constant labour of subordinating our passions to right reason and our reason to God.
“And this is the peace,” Augustine writes, “which God gives on earth, to men of goodwill; this is the most perfect wisdom ” (Ibid).

We have found, from sad experience, that sin and the free play of the passions, cannot give us real peace because “there is no peace for the wicked” (Is 48:22).
When, by the grace of God and the assistance of Our Lady, we have subdued our rebellious inclinations, it is necessary for us to go further and abandon ourselves completely into the hands of God, asking Him for a spirit of absolute conformity to Hs Will on all occasions.
This is the price which we must pay to enjoy the peace which the world cannot give and which God gives only to those who do His Holy Will in all things (Cf Jn 14:27).

It may seem that the way to acquire this peace is very difficult but, there is no other way.
Let us pray to Our Lady.
She has won peace and victory for the Church on many occasions; for example, against the Turks at Lepanto in 1571 and at Vienna in 1683.
In the same way, she will obtain for us, her children, interior peace of soul, the greatest treasure which we can possss on earth!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/18/thought-for-the-day-18-may-mary-the-source-of-peace/

Posted in CONTEMPLATIVE Prayer, GOD ALONE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ZEAL, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

Thought for the Day – 17 May – Contemplation and Our Lady

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

Contemplation and Our Lady

“We must try and unite the active, with the contemplative life, as far as circumstances will allow.
St Thomas Aquinas says, that the perfection of the spiritual life consists precisely in this union of activity and contemplation.
One, with the other, falls short of perfection.
“It is greater to enlighten than simply to shine,” writes St Thomas Aquinas “and greater to pass on the fruits of contemplation to others, than merely to contemplate.” (Summa Theologiae, II-II, q 6, a 3).

Contemplation on its own, can degenerate into useless day dreaming.
It is necessary that it should produce a genuine interior transformation, as a result of which, the subject, under the guidance of the Holy Sprit, becomes, in his speech and his conduct, a man of God.
Now, the man of God is not satisfied with enjoying spiritual consolations but, is moved by his zeal for the glory of God, to try and extend His Kingdom, by every possible means.
It is in this way, that contemplation becomes apostolic action.

We must remember, on the other hand, that neither is action on its own, sufficient.
It can become barren when it is not nourished by the interior life of grace, which is the source of prayer and contemplation.
It cannot be held, that this last, is the exclusive gift of a few privilege souls.
Anyone can have it, as long as he allows himself to be penetrated by the love of God and as long as he succeeds, in securing moments of recollection and silence, at intervals during life.
In these moments, he will grow closer to God and will enjoy a foretaste of the happiness of heaven.
We must strive, like the Blessed Virgin Mary, for complete union with God, each day of our lives!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/17/thought-for-the-day-17-may-contemplation-and-our-lady/

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 16 May – Prayer and Our Lady

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

Prayer and Our Lady

“Mary’s was a life of constant prayer.
It is a thousand tmes more necessary, that ours, should be the same.
We are so weak and so prone to temptation, that we are always in danger of falling into sin.
“Without me, you can do nothing,” (Jn 15:5) Jesus tells us.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. If anyone does not abide in me, he shall be cast outside as the branch and wither.” (Ibid).
“Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you ” (Mt 7:7).
In short, Jesus asks us to pray.
He wants us to pray because He wants to give us His graces.

We cannot object that it is impossible for us to pray all the time because we have to work and fulfil other obligations.
The work, which has first claim on us, is the service of God, which is prayer.
Secondly, we can pray in tbe course of our daily work and of our different occupations, by offering to God, everything which we do.
No matter what we are doing, we can raise our minds to God in an act of love and so remain always, close to Him.

It is not our work which prevents us from praying constantly but our attachment to worldly things, our excessive love for ourselves and of other creatures.
We must avoid these distractions, if we wish to live like Mary in a continual state of prayer. ”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/16/thought-for-the-day-16-may-prayer-and-our-lady/

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on TEMPTATION

Thought for the Day – 15 May – The Power of Mary

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

The Power of Mary

“We should turn confidently to Mary, especially when we are tempted.
She cannot allow us to offend her Jesus and to fall into the foils of the devil, as long as we pray to her with faith in her intercession.
“The devil, as a roaring lion,” says St Peter, “goes about seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
But, our Mother Mary is always by our side seeking to protect us.
Let us entrust ourselves to her maternal care.
Not only does Mary wish to help us, declares St Bonaventure but, those who do not pray to her, commit almost as great an offence, as those who openly insult her (In Spec Virg)!

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE: https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/15/thought-for-the-day-15-may-the-power-of-mary/

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION

Thought for the Day – 14 May – The Refuge of Sinners

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

The Refuge of Sinners

“Mary is called, the Star of Sea because, as St Thomas Aquinas says, “even as sailors are guided into port, by means of a star, so Christians are guided towards Heaven, by means of Mary, .” (Opuse, 7).
This absolute guarantee of the protection of our heavenly Mother, should increase our trust in her and lead us to turn towards her in every difficulty and temptation.
It should not, however, result in an unhealthy attitude of spiritual inactivity, a passive dependence on Mary’s favours, without any co-operation on our part.
Such behaviour would be the height of filial ingratitude.
Mary will certainly save repentant sinners who have recourse to her but she cannot pay any attention to hardened sinners, who pray to her with their lips, while their hearts remain steeped in sin.
We must have complete confidence in her but, we must also have a sincere intention of raising ourselves under her protection, from the slavery of sin, to the friendship of God.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/14/thought-for-the-day-14-may-the-refuge-of-sinners/

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, The ASCENSION of the LORD

Thought for the Day – 13 May – The Ascension of Jesus

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Thought for the Day – 13 May – “Mary’s Month” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Ascension of Jesus

“When we meditate on the Ascension, we should humbly ask God, to give us the grace, to strip ourselves of our sins and defects.
Then we shall be able to fly towards Him with love and hope in this life and, when our soul has been set free from the body which imprisons it on earth, we shall be able to set out on our last joyful flight into His presence.
These are the reflections which should be in our minds around the feast of the Ascension.
These are the desires which we should foster and the resolutions which we should form.
Let us ask Our Lord, to bless them.

O Mary, my most holy Mother, implore your divine Son Jesus, now ascended into Heaven, that I may be more detached from the useless and passing goods of this earth.
Ask Him to purify my soul from every stain of sin and to strengthen my will, in it’s good resolutions.
Ask Him that my heart may rise nearer to God and to you, through it’s desire for perfection.
Amen.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci