Category: OPEN HOUSE…Conversations with…

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The IMITATION of CHRIST, The LAST THINGS, Thomas a Kempis

Thought for the Day – 17 September – Carrying our Cross

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

Carrying our Cross

“There is only one way to become holy and to win Heaven.
This is the way of the Cross.
The Imitation of Christ contains some moving thoughts on the subject of the Royal Road of the Cross.
We shall summarise them here.

The words of Jesus seem difficult to many: “Renounce yourself, take up your cross and follow Me.”
But, it would be much more difficult to hear on the last day those terrible words: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire.”
Those who listen now and accept the message of the Cross, need not be afraid of hearing this irrevocable sentence on that day.
Why avoid the way of the Cross if it is the only road which leads to Heaven?
In the Cross there is salvation; in the Cross there is protection from our enemies.
If we carry our cross with submission and love, we shall find peace of soul.
If we intertwine our cross with the Cross of Jesus, we shall obtain energy of mind, joy of spirit and perfect holiness.
If we die on the Cross with Jesus, we shall live with Him in eternal happiness.
If we are His companions in suffering, we shall also be with Him one day in glory (Rom 6:8).

Everything depends on our dying on the Cross with Jesus.
There is no other way to life and to true interior peace but the way of the Holy Cross and of daily mortification (Imitation of Christ, Bk II ch 12).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 16 September – Our Martyrdom

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

Our Martyrdom

“St Ambrose describes virtue, as a slow martyrdom.
In this sense, we must all be Martyrs.
There is only one difference.
The Martyrs of the Church shed their blood and gave up their lives for Jesus, within one hour or one day and gained their reward immediately.
Our Martyrdom, on the other hand, will be prolonged.
It will last all our lives and will end only when we accept death with resignation from the hands of God.
Ours is the Martyrdom of virtue.
Let us clearly understand, that solid Christian virtue is a slow and continual Martyrdom which will only end with death.
It is not a flower which springs up spontaneously in the garden of the soul.
It is like a seed which is thrown on the damp earth and must die there slowly, so that it can generate young shoots which will produce the ears of corn.
“Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But, if it dies, it brings forth much fruit” (Jn 12:24-25).
It is necessary, then, to descend into the mire of humility and to remain there until we die.
Only after we have died to ourselves, shall we rise again in God (Cf ibid).
After the death of our lower instincts and vices, we shall find a new life.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CATECHESIS, DYING / LAST WORDS, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on COURAGE, St Francis de Sales, The PASSION, The SEVEN LAST WORDS of CHRIST

Thought for the Day – 15 September – ‘Her heart was crucified …’

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Thought for the Day – 15 September – The Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Our Lord’s Third Word … – By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritas

“Her heart was crucified
with the same nails
which Crucified Our Lord’s Body …”

“OUR LORD’S THIRD WORD was one of consolation.
He spoke it to His sacred Mother who was at the foot of the Cross, pierced by a sword of sorrow [Lk 2:35] but certainly not swooning, nor with faint heart, as artists have falsely and impertinently painted her.
The Evangelist clearly says the contrary, insisting that she remained standing with an incomparable firmness [Jn.19:25].
That courage did not keep her from the grieving which she endured with the generous and magnanimous heart belonging to her alone.
O God! what agonies were hers!
They are inexplicable and inconceivable.
Her heart was crucified with the same nails which Crucified Our Lord’s Body, for now she would be without both Child and husband.

Seeing her in this distress, our dear Saviour said a word of consolation to her. But this consoling and tender word was not given to lift her heart from such great desolation.
The heart of this perfectly submissive and resigned holy Virgin needed to be extremely strong and Our Lord, Who knew her so well, dealt with her accordingly.
Indicating St John, His Heart’s beloved disciple, He said: Woman, there is your son. [Jn 19:26.] He gave him to her to care for her, for this holy Virgin was not thinking of herself at all. Her every thought was centered around her Divine Son’s Sorrows, Sorrows which she herself pondered in her soul [cf Lk 2:35, 51] while at the Foot of His Cross.” – (Sermons of St Francis de Sales for or Lent).

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, REDEMPTIVE Suffering, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The REDEMPTION

Thought for the Day – 14 September – The Crucifix

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

The Crucifix

“The Crucifix is a simple meditation manual, open and intelligible to all, even to the most illiterate.
Anyone who turns to it, can study the sorrowful gaze of Jesus, His heart pierced with love for men.
His head crowned with thorns, His hands and feet transfixed with nails which support His divine body, streaming blood and writhing in anguish.
The Crucifix should be dear and sacred to every Catholic.
It should stand at the head of his bed, hang around his neck and hold a prominent position in his place of work or study.

Above all, however, the Crucifix should have its place in the heart of every fervent Catholic.
At every moment of his life, in time of sadness and of joy, he should remember, that God became man and suffered and died for him.
He should remember also, that this implies an obligation on his part, to work, suffer and die, for the love of God alone!

Many people meditate on the Crucifix.
They kiss it and claim to love it.
But while they love the Crucifix, they have no love for their particular cross, which they try, by every means in their power, to fling far away from them.
Now, it is very certain, that anyone who does not love his own cross, does not really love the Crucifix, for Jesus has told us that, “if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24).”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on DEATH

Thought for the Day – 13 September – “Holy Mary”

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

“Holy Mary”

“The Angel’s greeting was completed later by the salutation of St Elizabeth.
As soon as Elizabeth saw the Blessed Virgin coming to visit her, she cried out in humble veneratin:  “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!” (Lk 1:42).

In the first part of the Hail Mary, then, we pay her the words of the Gospel, the highest tributes ever accorded to any human creature, proclaiming her to be full of grace, blessed among women and Mother of the Redeemer.
The second part which was later added by the Church,  (composed and proposed by St Peter Canisius 1521-1597) Doctor of the Church), is a heartfelt supplication addressed to Mary as the Mother of God and our Mother.
“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen.”
It would be difficult to find a more touching plea.
We ask our heavenly Mother to intercede for us now – because we have such great need of her assistance in this vale of tears and temptations.
May she be always by our side, to shelter us beneath her mantle!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, Holy Name PRAYERS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The HOLY NAME, The HOLY NAME of MARY

Our Morning Offering – 13 September – Mother Mary, Queen Most Sweet!

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Our Morning Offering – 13 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Sanctæ Mariæ Sabbato, Our Lady’s Saturday

Mother Mary, Queen Most Sweet!
Attrib. to St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor
Italian Hymn
Trans. Fr Edmund Vaughan CSSR (1827-1908)

Mother Mary, Queen most sweet!
Joy and love my heart inflame;
Gladly shall my lips repeat
Every moment thy dear name.

Ah! that name, to God so dear,
Has my heart and soul enslaved;
Like a seal it shall appear
Deep on heart and soul engraved.

When the morning gilds the skies,
I will call on Mary’s name;
When at evening twilight dies,
Mary, still will I exclaim.

Sweetest Mary, bend thine ear:
Thou my own dear mother art;
Therefore, shall thy name so dear
Never from my lips depart.

If my soul is sore oppress’d
By a load of anxious care,
Peace once more will fill my breast
When thy name re-echoes there.

Waves of doubt disturb my peace,
And my heart is faint with fear;
At thy name the billows cease,
All my’terrors disappear.

When the demon hosts invade,—
When temptation rages high,
Crying, “Mary, Mother! aid!”
I will make the tempter fly.

This shall be my comfort sweet,
When the hand of death is nigh,
Mary! Mary! to repeat
Once again—and then, to die.

This Hymn is an Anonymous Hymn belonging to the Redemptorist tradition but Hymnary.org attributes it to St Alphonsus Liguori.
“Hymns and Verses on Spiritual Subjects” (1863) notes that this is one of two Hymns, translated in that book, mentioned above, which come from a Neapolitan published collection of Mission Hymns which are attributed to St Alphonsus.

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, I BELIEVE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, QUOTES on VIRTUE, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST

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

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

“All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed”

“It is related in the Gospel, that once a certain occasion, a woman in the crowd, was roused by the preaching and miracles of Jesus and cried out: “Blessed is the womb that bore thee and the breasts that nursed thee.” But Jesus replied: “Rather blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it” (Lk 11:27-28).
These words take nothing from the glory of the Mother of God.
They were not intended for her but, for us.
She was great and holy, not only because she was chosen to be the Mother of the Word Incarnate but also because she perfected herself in virtue by carrying out, in everything, the teaching of her Divine Son, Jesus.

We cannot follow her as far as her high dignity of Mother of God but we can follow her in her heroic practice of virtue.
Admittedly, we shall not be able to climb to an equal height but, with the help of God and under Mary’s own protection, we can and should, walk in her footsteps.

We can imitate her humility, her purity, her lively faith, her burning love for God and for her neighbour and her spirit of constant prayer and union with God.
If we do this, we shall always feel that she is by our side as our loving Mother, who is eager to help us to become holy.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD

Thought for the Day – 11 September – Following Jesus, the Divine Model

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

Following Jesus, the Divine Model

“Jesus is the Divine Model, Whom we ought to follow and imitate.
In Him, the virtues possess both the Infinite splendour of the Divinity and the gentle appeal of glorified Humanity.
Jesus does not dazzle us with His brightness but kindly invites us to love and follow Him.
“Learn from me” He says, “for I am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29).
After He has indicated humility, meekness and interior peace, as the foundations of the spiritual life, He invites us to take up the yoke of His law and assures us, that we shall find it light (Mt 11).

If we follow Jesus, even though we are bowed with Him, beneath the weight of the Cross, we shall experience, even in this life, a reflection of the peace and joy which will be our reward in Heaven.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, St Francis de Sales, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 11 September – Yes, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

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Quote/s of the Day – 11 September – St Protus and St Hyacinth (Died c257) Brother Martyrs – Hebrews 10:32-38 – Luke 12:1-8 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Yes, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Therefore, do not be afraid,
you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Luke 12:6-7”

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body
and after that have nothing more they can do. …
be afraid of him who, after he has killed,
has power to cast into hell. ”

Luke 12:4

“Take courage: It is I,
do not be afraid.
And He got into
the boat with them
and the wind fell”

Mark 6:50-51

“Fear is a greater evil
than the evil itself.”

(Letters to Persons in the World, VI, 12)

“The good Angels are around you,
like a company of Sentinels on guard!”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 10 September – Accepting the Will of God

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

Accepting the Will of God

“Why are we so often dissatisfied and so easily unsettled by ordinary events?
Why does a small measure of success, pleasure, or human praise go to our heads and disturb our peace of soul?
Why does suffering failure, or humiliation, makes us sad and dispirited?
It is because we forget that everything comes to us from God.

The inscrutable designs of Divine Providence have ordained that our mortal lives should be interwoven with joyful and sorrowful events.
There is joy, so that we may realise, that God is Infinitely Good and may experience on earth, the reflection of His beauty.
There is sorrow, so that we may remember, that “here we have no permanent city but we seek for the city that is to come” (Heb 13:14).
We should not be too elated by worldly pleasure and success but, should be grateful to God, for giving them to us.
On the other hand, we should not lose heart, nor rebel, when we experience suffering or humiliation.
These also come from God and He has a reason for sending them to us.
Even if we do not know the reason, we should retain our confidence, that the Providence of God, arranges everything for our true welfare.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci 

Posted in ABOUT Antonio Bacci, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Thought for the Day – 9 September –Carrying our Cross

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

Carrying our Cross

“We also read in the Imitation of Christ: “No man has so heartfelt a sense of the Passion of Christ, as he whose lot it has been, to suffer like things.” (Imitation of Christ, Bk II, Ch 12)
If you carry your cross willingly, it will lead you to your longed for destination, where suffering ends and everlasting joy begins.
If you carry it unwillingly, the weight will become unbearable and you will have to bear it in any case!
If you fling away the cross which you are carrying, immediately, an even heavier one will be laid upon you!
Look upon them as wonderful consolations because, the sufferings of this life cannot be regarded as the measure of that glory which will be ours in Heaven … (Rom 8:18).
We are fortunate and greatly blessed, if we deserve to suffer a little, for the Name of Jesus …
Only when we begin to die ourselves, can we begin to live in God.
Nothing is more acceptable to God and more helpful for us in this world, than to suffer willingly for love of Christ.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, MOTHER of GOD, OUR Cross, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 8 September – Mary, the Mother of God

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

Mary, the Mother of God

“St Matthew (Cf Mt 12:46-50) and St Mark (Cf Mk 3:31-35), relate how Jesus was preaching one day in Galilee, surrounded by His Apostles and by a large crowd, when a man approached and said: “Behold, thy mother and thy brethren are standing outside, seeking thee.”
“Who is my mother,” He answered, “and who are my brethren?”
Then He extended His hand towards His disciples and said: “Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

These words were directed at us, not at Our Lady.
Not only was she the Immaculate Mother of Jesus Christ but, she performed lovingly, on all occasions, the Will of the heavenly Father.
She did His Will, in poverty and obedience, in exile and on Mount Calvary.
Therefore, she was God’s Mother in the spiritual, as well as, in the physical sense of the word, insofar, as she was constantly united to Him by a bond of love and of conformity with His desires.

Christ’s words indicate, that Mary’s perfect and continuous acceptance of God’s Will, was even more pleasing to God, than the dignity of the Divine Motherhood.

We cannot equal her in dignity but, we can imitate her in this other respect.
Jesus will look on us as His brothers and as worthy sons of Mary, if we carry out His Will in all things.
It is not always easy to do this.
It is not easy, when we are strongly tempted to commit sins of pride, anger or impurity.
It is not easy, when we are overcome by sorrow or by sickness, when we are let down or misunderstood by others, when we are in want and, when we feel that we are collapsing beneath the weight of our cross.
At times like these, we should pray for Mary’s spirit of complete acceptance of the Will of God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The GOOD SHEPHERD

Thought for the Day – 7 September – The Mercy of God

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

The Mercy of God

“Let us meditate, in particular, on certain passages in the Gospel in which God’s Mercy stands out most vividly and appealingly.
There is the incident of the adulteress who is brought before Our Lord by the hypocritical Pharisees.
According to the law, she should have been stoned to death.
Jesus looks at her accusers, who harbour, in the secrecy of their own hearts, God knows how many abominations but strut about in public with the mien of stern and impeccable judges.
Then He rivets His gaze upon the shamefaced woman, who is looking like a soiled rag thrown away on a dust-heap.
When Jesus addresses her relentless judges, His voice is steady: “Let him who is without sin among you, be the first to cast a stone at her.”
When they all drift away with lowered heads, Jesus says pityingly to the woman: “Has no-one condemned thee? … Neither do I condemn thee. Go thy way and from now on, sin no more” (Cf Jn 8:3-11).

Elsewhere, Jesus is called “the Good Shepherd” Who knows His sheep and calls them to Himself one by one.
If a poor sheep is lost, He leaves the other ninety-nine of His flock and searches for it, nor does He rest until it has been found.
When He sees that it has been injured, He carries it back to the fold upon His shoulders.

Who could forget the touching parable of the prodigal son?
He had left the home of his aging father and had gone to a distant country where he had squandered his inheritance in the course of a low and worldly life of pleasure.
When all his money had been spent, he was very much alone and was reduced to such circumstances, that he took a job looking after unclean animals.
One day, when he was weeping over his fare, he made a sudden resolution, “I will get up and go to my father and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee. I am no longer worthy to be called thy son.”
His father had been waiting for him for many years.
He met and embraced him and gave him the kiss of pardon.
Then he held a great feast because his son had repented and come home.
He “was dead and has come to life, he was lost and is found” (Cf Lk 15:11-32).

No matter how great our faults may be, let us trust in the Infinite Mercy of God and when we go to Him repenting and sorrowful, He will grant us forgiveness and peace.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CARMELITES, CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, INGRATITUDE, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on the POOR, St Francis de Sales, The PASSION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 7 September – Just one returned to show his gratitude …

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Quote/s of the Day – 7 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – Pentecost XIII – Galatians 3:16-22; – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/– –

“Were not ten made clean?
And where are the other nine?”

Luke 17:17

“While He is judged, Wisdom remains silent
and the Word says nothing.
His enemies despise and Crucify Him …
Those, to whom yesterday,
He gave His Body as food, watch from a distance
as He dies. Peter, the first of the Apostles,
is the first to flee. Andrew also took flight
and John, who rested at His side,
did not prevent the soldier from piercing that side
with a lance. The Twelve fled –
they did not say one word in His favour, they,
for whom He is giving His Life.
Lazarus is not there, he, whom He called back to life.
The blind man did not weep for Him
Who opened his eyes to the light
and the crippled man, who could walk
thanks to Him, did not run to Him.
Only a bandit who was crucified next to Him
confessed Him and called Him his King!
O thief, precocious blossom from the tree of the Cross, first fruit of the wood from Golgotha!”

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“ For man’s lowliness,
is his gratitude
and, God’s greatness,
is His Mercy.”

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

“What we need most,
in order to make progress,
is to be silent before this great God
with our appetite and with our tongue,
for the language He best hears
is silent love.”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Mystical Doctor of the Church

“Do much for God
and do nothing without love:
refer everything to this love;
eat and drink with it in mind!”

(Letter to Madame de Chantal)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

Daily Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Prayers to the Sacred Heart
1936 – 15th Edition, Dublin

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
filled with infinite love,
broken by our ingratitude
and pierced by our sins,
yet loving us still,
accept the Consecration
we make to Thee,
of all that we are
and all that we have.
Take every faculty
of our souls and bodies,
only day by day
draw us, nearer and nearer
to Thy Sacred Heart,
and there, as we shall hear the lesson,
teach us Thy Holy Way.
Amen

Posted in GOD ALONE!, GOOD FRIDAY, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN Saturdays, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The FIVE FIRST Saturdays, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Thought for the Day – 6 September – A Holocaust for our Redemption

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

A Holocaust for our Redemption

“Scourged, crowned with thorns and derided, Jesus is finally condemned to death.
Burdened with the Cross, He sets out for the place of execution in the midst of a crowd of enemies, blasphemers and idle speculators.
Among them , there is only a tiny group which sympathises with Jesus, namely, Mary His Mother, the devout women and the beloved Apostle, St John.

The divine Redeemer goes forward labouriously beneath the heavy weight of the Cross.
He has already lost a large quantity of blood in Gethsemane and during the scourging and crowning with thorns.
His strength seems to be failing but love sustains Him.
Looking feebly around Him, He sees the mocking Jews, the indifferent and disrespectful Roman soldiers and a throng of curious spectators looking for something to amuse them.
Is there nobody else?
Where are those whom He cured miraculously and those whom He comforted and forgave?
Has nobody any pity for Him?
Suddenly the crowd falls silent.
A woman, pale and tearful, is approaching Him, supported by her friends.
She defies the commands of soldiers and the scowls of the executions and comes close to Him.

Here and there, a murmur is heard – It must be His Mother, poor woman!
Jesus and Mary gaze at one another.
It would be impossible for us to guess at the immense depths of love contained in that loving exchange of glances.
Neither utters a word, for no words could express their anguish, nor manifest their love.
They look and understand one another, offering themselves as a holocaust for the redemption of wayward humanity.

Nevertheless, in this silent meeting, there was great consolation for the Heart of Jesus, for He had found someone who loved and understood Him, amongst those malicious throngs.
Why do we not sympathise with Him too and love Him with all our hearts?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in GOOD FRIDAY, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN Saturdays, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, St Francis de Sales, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The PASSION, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 September – Mater Dolorosa and the Sacred Passion

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” –

“The heart of Mary became,
as it were, a mirror of the
Passion of the Son,
in which might be seen,
faithfully reflected,
the spitting, the blows and wounds
and all which Jesus suffered.”

St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1455)

“Now it is that we are to show
an invincible courage towards our Saviour,
serving Him purely for the love of His Will,
not only without pleasure
but amid this deluge of sorrows,
horrors, distresses and assaults,
as did his glorious Mother and St John,
upon the day of His Passion.
Amongst so many blasphemies,
sorrows and deadly distresses,
they remained constant in love …”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 6 September – O Afflicted Virgin! By St Alphonsus

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Our Morning Offering – 6 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Our Lady’s Saturday

O Afflicted Virgin!
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

O afflicted Virgin!
O soul, great in virtues
and great also in sorrows!
for both arise from that great fire of love
thou hast for God;
thou “whose heart can love nothing but God.”
O Mother, have pity on me,
for I have not loved God
and I have so much offended Him.
Thy sorrows give me great confidence
to hope for pardon.
But this is not enough;
I wish to love my Lord
and who can better obtain this for me
than thou,
thou who art the Mother of fair love?
O Mary, thou dost console all,
comfort me also.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, GOD is LOVE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on JUSTICE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART QUOTES, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The REDEMPTION, The SECOND COMING

Thought for the Day – 5 September – The Sacred Heart of Jesus Surmounted by a Flaming Cross

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

The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Surmounted by a Flaming Cross

“St Margaret Mary saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus, surmounted by flames in the midst of which, a Cross was raised on high.
These flames and this Cross, were the symbol of the Infinite Love of Jesus.
Let us reflect a little.
God, immeasurably happy in Himself, wished to communicate a share in His happiness to men, whom He created in a state of earthly happiness.
He was offended by men and, when He saw that they were heading for destruction, He sent His Eternal Word to them.
The Word took a human nature and became our Brother;  He preached the way to Heaven and gave us the means to achieve it.
More than this, He offered Himself as a Divine victim of expiation for our sins.
Having been condemned by those whom He had come to show the way, He died on the Cross and shed all His Blood, for our salvation.

Pagans of all times have called this “the folly of the Cross.”
In fact, it is the miracle of the Infinite Love of God for humanity.
Let us remember, however, that, although His Love and Goodness are Infinite, so also is His Justice!
It is an overwhelming miracle of love on the part of God, that He became man and died for us.
It will be our own downfall if we fail to co-operate with this miracle of love!

The same Jesus, Who died on the Cross for us and revealed His Heart, pierced and flaming with love, will one day appear with the same glorious Sign of the Cross, as our Supreme Judge.
Then, He will say to the wicked: “Depart from me, accursed ones, into everlasting fire!”

God’s Justice is, as Infinite as His charity!
We must choose either the way of the Cross, the way of love and goodness to which the Sacred Heart of Jesus invites us, or the way of sin which leads to the gulf of ruin and the final condemnation of the Supreme Judge.
This is the tremendous choice we have to make!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in ACT of ADORATION, EUCHARISTIC ADORATION and Nocturnal, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, The ADORABLE HEART of JESUS, The NINE FIRST FRIDAYS

Our Morning Offering – 5 September – Prayer in Adoration of the Sacred Heart for the First Friday today

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Our Morning Offering – 5 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – First Friday

Prayer in Adoration of the Sacred Heart
By St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690)
Visionary and Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God,
Whom I believe to be really present
in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar,
receive this most profound Act of Adoration
to supply for the desire I have,
to adore Thee unceasingly
and in thanksgiving,
for the sentiments of love
which Thy Sacred Heart
has for me in this Sacrament.
I cannot better acknowledge them,
than by offering Thee,
all the Acts of Adoration,
resignation, patience and love
which this same Heart has made
during its mortal life
and which it makes still
and which it shall make eternally in Heaven,
in order that through it,
I may love Thee, praise Thee
and adore Thee worthily,
as much as it is possible for me.
I unite myself to this Divine Offering
which Thou dost make to Thy Divine Father
and I consecrate to Thee,
my whole being,
praying Thee, to destroy in me,
all sin and not to permit
that I should be separated from Thee,
in time and eternally.
Amen.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, In the PRESENCE of GOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 4 September – Progress in the Love of God

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Thought for the Day – 4 September – 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

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OUR Cross, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Thought for the Day –3 Seotember – The Royal Road of the Cross

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Thought for the Day –3 Seotember – 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.
Worldlings can 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

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 2 September – CARELESSNESS

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

CARELESSNESS

“Reflect on the Infinite generosity of God, Who created us, redeemed us from sin by shedding the Blood of His Divine Son and enriched our souls with grace and supernatural gifts.
How can we remain indifferent and fail to correspond willingly with such goodness?
Virtue cannot be achieved without diligence and we cannot be true Christians, without virtue.
Let us consider the example given us by the Saints.
They lived in a continual and prayerful union with God; they never refused any task or any sacrifice, in order to show their love for Jesus and their total dedication to His will; they made every effort to attract others towards holiness and to bring about the triumph of the Kingdom of Christ in the world.

What are we doing?
What are we prepared to do in future?
Are we carelessly wiling away our days in indolence and pleasure?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in GOD ALONE!, In the PRESENCE of GOD, JESUIT SJ, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 1 September – Seeing God in All Things

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

Seeing God in All Things

“Are we in the habit of seeing all thing in God and God in all things?
Do we accept all things from His Holy Hands and do His Will cheerfully and lovingly?

Do we try to control ourselves when God sends us sorrows, in addition to joy?
If we find we are in need of reform in this matter, we should make good resolutions and fulfil them!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, OUR Cross, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

Our Morning Offering – 1 September – My Sorrowful Mother, Help Me to Bear My Crosses

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Our Morning Offering – 1 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” –

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

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

Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HOLY GHOST

Thought for the Day – 31 August – Bearer of the Treasures of Grace

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

Bearer of the Treasures of Grace

“The Apostles were completely transformed after the Feast of Pentecost.
They had been ignorant rustics, timid and vacillating.
They had hardly understood at all, the lofty teachings of Christ, for they were hoping still for an earthly kingdom in which they would occupy the highest posts.

When they received the Holy Spirit, however, their minds were flooded with supernatural light and they became heroic in their resolution.
Ignorant, though they had been, they became masters of Truth, far superior to the sages of Athens or the philosophers of Rome!
They were no longer timid and hesitating but, fearlessly encountered the power of the Sanhedrin, the whips of the soldiery, the dangers of long voyages and, Martyrdom itself.

We too have received the illumination and favours of the Holy Ghost
Many times, when we have invoked Him, He has inspired and consoled us.
But we may not have responded with the same fervour and self-denial as the Apostles.
Let us remember that, to neglect God’s gifts, is to risk our eternal salvation!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, The INCARNATION

Thought for the Day – 30 August– The Incarnation

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

The Incarnation

“The Incarnation, which is the coming of God amongst men, in order that He might be loved more, requires that man, in return, love God and be obedient to His commandments.

Since the Infinite God could do no more for us than give us His entire Self, it is only right that we should be prepared to make any sacrifice, in order to prove our love for Him.
The Mystery of the Incarnation not only demands our love, it also requires that this love should induce us to lead better lives.
Jesus, God made Man, should be the model which will encourage us to obey His laws and to follow His example.
There is no other way to eternal joy.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on PEACE, Quotes on SALVATION

Thought for the Day – 29 August – Avarice and Ambition

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

Avarice and Ambition

“What is our attitude in regard to these matters?
We are not forbidden, naturally, to look after our own affairs and our work.
In fact, it is our duty to do so, to whatever degree is demanded by the circumstances in which we live.
Similarly, it is not forbidden to try to better our social position.
But, all this must be done, however, with a due sense of proportion and by the proper means.

The first concern in our life should be the service of God.
This is what we were created for; this is what we must wholeheartedly aim at doing.
Only in this way can we secure peace of mind and attain eternal salvation.
Everything else must be secondary to our ultimate purpose in life.
Otherwise, God would be in a position inferior to ourselves and this would be equivalent to robbing, for ourselves, the honour and glory due to our Creator and Redeemer!
Think earnestly about this truth.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DANTE ALIGHIERI!, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CREATION, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HEART

Thought for the Day – 28 August – The Creation

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

The Creation

“Dante describes the Creation beautifully as “Eternal Love expanded into new loves.”
Heaven and earth, Angels and men and all created beings, are nothing more than an expansion of this Eternal Love, into new loves.
Love unites and fills everything.
Everywhere in Heaven and on earth, there is love, there is need of love.
But whom shall we love?
The creatures who surround us?
Yes.
We may and should love them.
They are rays of the Light and Beauty of God.
We should love them because they reflect the Power and Glory of God.
But, we must not become attached to them.
We must not try to find, happiness and peace of mind in them.
They cannot give us contentment, for our hearts are made for something greater.
God made creatures for Himself, as St Augustine says and, therefore, our hearts will not rest until they rest in Him.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, St Francis de Sales, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Thought for the Day – 27 August – Intimacy with Jesus

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

Intimacy with Jesus

“The union of love which should exist between Jesus and ourselves, is modelled on the mysterious union between Jesus and His Heavenly Father.

(1) This intimacy between ourselves and Jesus should be, first of all, in the mind.
Our thoughts will be good when we think like God and with the mind of Jesus, “Who is the true Light Who enlightens every man who comes into the world” (Jn 1:9).
If we stray away from that Light, darkness overwhelms us, even as it pervaded the earth during the Agony of Jesus Christ.
Our intelligence is a ray of light which comes from God, we should take care not to allow this ray to be separated from its Divine source.
This heavenly ray always shone on the faces of the Saints because they were clean of heart and close to God.
That is how we should all be.

(2) In the second place, we should be united intimately with Jesus in our sentiments.
“Have this mind in you which was also in Jesus Christ” (Phil 2:5) says St Paul.
Our love must not be abstract or partial but must be all-absorbing.
Jesus calls us friends and friendship unites two hearts as one.
We must give ourselves completely to Jesus without reserving anything for ourselves.
True holiness is found when God and man are united like two faithful constant friends.

(3) In the third place, there must be intimacy in action.
It is not possible for a man who truly loves God to do anything which would offend Him.
Jesus compares the love which we should have for Him with the love which He has for His Heavenly Father, so we should model our lives continuously on the life of Jesus.
Jesus must work in us, as He did in St Paul and all the Saints.

St Francis de Sales writes, that Jesus should always be in our minds, in our hearts, in our eyes and on our tongue.
We should be living images of Jesus and we must, therefore, live and act for Him, with Him and in Him.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in ADVENT QUOTES, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CHILDREN, The DIVINE INFANT, The HOLY INFANCY, The NATIVITY of JESUS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 August – “And whoever receives one such little child for My sake, receives Me.” – Matthew 18:5

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One Minute Reflection – 27 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Joseph Calasanz (1557-1648) Confessor, Priest –Wisdom 10:10-14; Matthew 18:1-5 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And whoever receives one such little child for My sake, receives Me.” – Matthew 18:5

REFLECTION – “Could God not have made the human person perfect right from the beginning? For God, Who has always been identical with Himself and Who is not created, everything is possible. But because the existence of the created beings began after God’s, they are necessarily inferior to God, Who made them … Thus, since they are created, they are not perfect. When they have just been born, they are small children and as small children, they are neither accustomed to, nor have they had practice in, perfect conduct … Thus, God could give perfection to the human person right from the beginning but, the human person was incapable of receiving this perfection, for he was only a small child.

And that is why, in the last times, when our Lord gathered up all things in Himself (Eph 1:10), He came to us, not in His power but, in such a way, we were able to see Him. For He could have come to us in His inexpressible glory but, we were not yet able to bear the greatness of His glory. … Although the Word of God was perfect, with humankind He became a small Child, not for Himself but because of the state of childhood, in which was humankind.” – St Irenaeus (c130-202) Bishop of Lyons, Martyr, Father of the Church (Against the Heresies IV 38, 1-2).

PRAYER – O God, Who through St Joseph, Thy Confessor, did graciously will to provide Thy Church with a new method for the training of youth, in the spirit of understanding and holiness grant, we beseech Thee, that, following his example and through his intercession, we may live and teach so as to acquire an everlasting reward. Through esus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).