Category: St Alphonsus de Liguori,

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, MARIAN PRAYERS, ON the SAINTS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on SACRILEGE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, St JOSEPH

Quote/s of the Day – 2 August – St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 August – St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“He loves you as though He had
no-one else to love but you alone.
You, too, should love Him alone
and all others for His Sake.
Of Him you may say and, indeed, you should say:
My Beloved to me and I to Him (Cant, 2:16).
My God has given Himself all to me
and I give myself all to Him;
He has chosen me for His beloved
and I choose Him, above all others,
for my only Love.”

“Sacrilegious tongues blaspheme the God
Who preserves their existence!
… you should be damned forever
and, instead of thanking Him for His goodness,
you, at the very time
that He bestows His favours upon you,
YOU blaspheme His Holy Name!”

“Let us read the lives of the Saints;
let us consider the penances
which they performed
and blush to be so effeminate
and so fearful of mortifying our flesh.”

“Since we all must die,
we should cherish a special devotion to St Joseph
that he may obtain for us a happy death.”

Jesus, My Saviour, Help Me!
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

Jesus, my Saviour, help me!
I am resolved truly to love Thee
and to leave all, to please Thee.
Help me to free myself
from everything which hinders me
from belonging wholly to Thee,
Who has loved me so much.
By thy prayers, O Mother Mary,
which are so powerful with God,
obtain for me this grace,
to belong wholly to God.
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/08/02/quote-s-of-the-day-2-august-st-alphonsus-maria-de-liguori-2/

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN TITLES, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, SAINT of the DAY, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

First Saturday, Santa Maria degli Angelis / Our Lady of Angels, Assisi (13th Century), St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, St Stephen I (Died 257) Pope, Martyr and the Saints for 2 August

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FIRST SATURDAY of August

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church, Founder of the Redemptorists, Spiritual Writer, Composer, Musician, Artist, Poet, Lawyer, Scholastic Philosopher and Theologian. The Roman Martyrology states of St Alphonsus today: “At Nocera-de-Pagani, Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop of St Agatha of the Goths and Founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists), distinguished by his zeal for the salvation of souls, by his writings, his preaching and his example.
He was inscribed on the Calendar of the Saints by Pope Gregory XVI in the year 1839, the 52nd after his happy death and , in 1871, was declared Doctor of the Universal Church by Pius IX, according to a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites.“
St Alphonsus!:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/01/saint-of-the-day-1-august-st-alphonsus-maria-de-liguori-c-ss-r-1696-1787-doctor-of-the-church/
AND MORE:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/08/01/saint-of-the-day-1-august-st-alphonsus-maria-de-liguori-c-ss-r-doctor-of-the-church/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/02/saint-of-the-day-2-august-st-alphonsus-maria-de-liguori-1696-1787-plus/

Santa Maria degli Angelis / Our Lady of Angels, Assisi, Italy (13th Century) Feast Day and Portiuncula Indulgence: 2 August
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/02/santa-maria-degli-angelis-our-lady-of-angels-assisi-italy-13th-century-feast-day-and-portiuncula-indulgence-and-memorials-of-the-saints-2-august/

St Pope Stephen I (Died 257) Pope, Martyr, Bishop of Rome from 12 May 254 until his death. Born in Rome and died on 1 August 257 by being beheaded as he concluded Holy Mass in the Cemetery of Callistus.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/02/saint-of-the-day-2-august-saint-stephen-i-died-257-pope-martyr/

St Auspicius of Apt
St Betharius of Chartres (Died c623) Bishop
St Etheldritha of of Croyland

Blessed Frederic Campisani OFM (c1255-1335) Third Order Religious of the Friar s Minor, Hermit, Mystic, Miracle-worker, Exorcist.
His Devout Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/08/02/saint-of-the-day-2-august-blessed-frederic-campisani-ofm-c1255-1335-hermit/


Bl Gundekar of Eichstätt
Bl Joanna of Aza
Bl John of Rieti
St Maximus (3rd/4th Century) Bishop of Padua
St Pedro de Osma
St Plegmund
St Rutilius

St Serenus of Marseilles (Died c606) Bishop of Marseilles
His Saintly Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/02/saint-of-the-day-2-august-saint-serenus-of-marseilles-died-c-606/

St Sidwell

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on STRENGTH, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 22 July – Prayer of Contrition By St Alphonsus

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Our Morning Offering – 22 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Mary Magdalene (1st Century) Penitent –

O Jesus, My Sweet Love!
(I too have kept Thee suffering)

Prayer of Contrition
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Jesus, my sweet Love!
I too have kept Thee suffering
through all Thy life.
Tell me, then, what I must do
in order to win Thy forgiveness.
I am ready to do all Thou askest of me.
I am sorry, O sovereign Good,
for all the offences I have committed against Thee.
I love Thee more than myself,
or at least, I feel a great desire to love Thee.
Since it is Thou Who hast given me this desire,
do Thou also give me the strength to love Thee exceedingly.

It is only right that I,
who have offended Thee so much,
should love Thee very much.
Always remind me of the love
Thou hast borne me,
in order that my soul may ever burn
with love of Thee and long to please Thee alone.
O God of love,
I, who was once a slave of hell,
now give myself all to Thee.
Graciously accept me and bind me to Thee
with the bonds of Thy love.
My Jesus, from this day and forever,
in loving Thee will I live
and in loving Thee will I die.

O Mary, my Mother and my hope,
help me to love Thy dear God and mine.
This is the only favour I ask of thee
and through thee, I hope to receive it.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, OUR Cross, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 15 July – My Sorrowful Mother, Help Me to Bear My Crosses

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Our Morning Offering – 15 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” –

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 DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, DYING / LAST WORDS, ON the SAINTS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SAINT of the DAY, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher and St Thomas More – Martyrs

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher (1469-1535) Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal – St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr, Confessor

St John Fisher (1469-1535)
Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal

“Death to the Saints is not a punishment but a reward.
“For so He giveth His beloved sleep.” (Ps cxxvii: 3).
The death of him, who loves God,
is not called death but sleep, so he can truly say:
“I will lay me down in peace
and take my rest.” (Ps iv: 9).

Cardinal St Fisher, as Saunders relates,
when about to die for the Faith,
put on the best clothes he had, saying, he was going to a wedding.
When he came in sight of the scaffold
he cast away his staff, saying:
“Make haste my feet, make haste, for we are not far from Paradise.”
And before dying he sang Te Deum,
in returning thanks to God, Who had allowed him
to die a Martyr’s death, for the holy Faith
and thus being filled with joy,
he placed his head under the axe.”

St John Fisher (1469-1535)
Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal

“Help me, Most Loving Father,
help me with Thy mighty grace.
Succour me with Thy most gracious favour.
Rescue me from these manifold perils in which I am,
for unless Thou wil relieve me, of thy Infinite Goodness,
I am but as a lost creature.”

(From the Prayer in the Tower)

“Penance is a needful thing to the sinner,
who desires to recover health of his soul.
And, in doing penance, there be three things
to be considered:
serious compunction of heart,
confession of mouth
and satisfaction by deed.”

penance is a needful thing to the sinner - st john fisher 22 june 2020

St Thomas More (1478-1535)
Martyr, Confessor

“For those whom He Loved,
He Loved unto the end and this He wished,
they too should do. He was not
an inconstant Lover Who does as many do,
Love for a while and then, upon some light occasion,
leave His Love and turn from being a friend to an enemy,
as the false traitor, Judas did.
But He, still so persevered in Love
unto the very end, so that, for very Love,
He came to that painful end and that,
not only for His friends who were already His
but too, for His enemies, to make them His friends
and not for His benefit but only for their own!”

“Those in the Catholic Church,
whom some rebuke for praying to Saints
and going on pilgrimages,
do not seek any Saint as their saviour.
Instead, they seek Saints,
as those whom their Saviour loves
and whose intercession and prayer,
for the seeker, He will be content to hear.
For His Own sake,
He would have those He loves, honoured.
And when they are thus honoured for His sake,
then, the honour that is given them, for His sake,
overflows especially to Himself.”

O Lord, Grant Us …
A Prayer of Petitio
By St Thomas More (1478-1535)

O Lord, grant us a mind
which is humble,
quiet, peaceaable,
patient and charitable
and a taste of Thy Holy Ghost,
in all our thoughts, words and deeds.

O Lord, grant us a lively faith,
a firm hope, a fervent charity,
a love of Thee.

Take from us all lukewarmness
in meditation
and all dullness in prayer.
Give us fervour and delight
in thinking of Thee,
Thy grace and Thy tender
compassion toward us.

Grant us, good Lord,
the grace to work
for the things we pray for.
Amen.

Posted in HYMNS, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 6 July – Glory Be to Jesus

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Our Morning Offering – 6 July – “The Solemnity and Month of the Most Precious Blood”

Glory Be to Jesus,
Who in Bitter Pains
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor
Trans. Fr Eward Caswell C.Orat. (1814–1878)

Glory be to Jesus!
Who in bitter pains
Poured for me the Life-Blood,
From His Sacred veins.

Grace and life eternal
In that Blood I find,
Blessed be His compassion,
Infinitely kind!

Blessed through endless ages
Be the precious stream!
Which from endless torment
Doth the world redeem.

There the fainting spirit
Drinks of life her fill.
There, as in a fountain,
Bathes herself at will.

O the Blood of Christ!
It soothes the Father’s ire,
Opens the Gate of Heaven,
Quells eternal fire.

Abel’s blood for vengeance
Pleaded to the skies
But the Blood of Jesus,
For our pardon cries.

Oft as it is sprinkled
On our guilty hearts,
Satan in confusion,
Terror-struck, departs.

Oft as earth exulting
Wafts its praise on high,
Hell with terror trembles,
Heaven is filled with joy.

Lift ye, then, your voices,
Swell the mighty flood,
Louder still and louder,
Praise the Precious Blood!

Tune: “Bemerton (Caswall)” Friedrich Filitz 1847

Posted in Act of SPIRITUAL COMMUNION, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC, HOLY COMMUNION, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 4 July – Act of Spiritual Communion By St Alphonsus

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Our Morning Offering – 4 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Octave Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the First Friday of July

Act of Spiritual Communion
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

I desire, good Jesus,
to receive Thee in Holy Communion
and since I cannot now receive Thee
in the Blessed Sacrament,
I beseech Thee to come to me spiritually
and to refresh my soul with Thy sweetness.
Come, my Lord, my God and my All!
Come to me
and never let me ever again
be separated from Thee by sin.
Teach me Thy blessed ways,
help me with Thy grace to imitate Thy example,
to practise meekness, humility,
charity and all the virtues of Thy Sacred Heart.
My divine Master, my one desire is to do Thy will
and to love Thee, more and more.
Help me, that I may be faithful to the end, in Thy service.
Bless me in life and in death,
that I may praise Thee, forever in heaven,
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

Our Morning Offering – 30 June – O Adorable Heart of my Jesus! By St Alphonsus

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Our Morning Offering – 30 June – The Last Day of the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Adorable Heart of my Jesus!
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

O Adorable Heart of my Jesus,
Heart yearning expressly. for the love of men!
Until now, I have shown towards Thee
only ingratitude.
Pardon me, O my Jesus.
Heart of my Jesus,
Abyss of Love and of Mercy,
how is it possible,
hat I do not die of sorrow,
when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me
and my ingratitude to Thee?
Thou, my Creator, after having created me,
hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me
and, not content with this,
Thou hast invented a means of offering
Thyself everyday for me,
in the Holy Eucharist,
exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages!
Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart
with a great contrition for my sins
and a lively love for Thee.
Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood,
give me the grace of perseverance
in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh.
Amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 8 May – Shelter Me Under Thy Mantle

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Our Morning Offering – 8 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Shelter Me Under Thy Mantle,
Refuge of Sinners
By St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary,
to thee, who art the Mother of my Lord,
the Queen of the Universe, the Advocate,
the Hope, the Refuge of sinners,
I, who am the most miserable of all sinners,
have recourse this day.
I venerate thee, great Queen
and I thank thee for the many graces
thou hast bestowed upon me, even unto this day,
in particular, for having delivered me from the hell
which I have so often deserved by my sins.
I love thee, my dearest Lady
and because of that love,
I promise to serve thee willingly forever
and to do what I can to make thee loved by others.
I place in thee all my hopes for salvation,
accept me as thy servant
and shelter me under thy mantle,
thou, who art the Mother of Mercy.
And since thou are so powerful with God,
deliver me from all temptations,
or at least, obtain for me the strength
to overcome them until death.
From thee, I implore, a true love for Jesus Christ.
Through thee, I hope to die a holy death.
My dear Mother, by thy love for Almighty God,
I pray thee to assist me always
but most of all, at the last moment of my life.
Forsake me not then,
until thou shalt see me safely in Heaven,
there to bless thee and sing of thy mercies,
throughout all eternity.
Such is my hope.
Amen

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, MAUNDY THURSDAY, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on ENEMIES, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, St Francis de Sales, St PAUL!, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 17 April – Maundy Thursday

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 April – Maundy Thursday

“Be imitators of God, as very dear children
and walk in love, as Christ also loved us
and delivered Himself up for us …”

St Paul … Ephesians 5:1-2

“But I say to you,
Love your enemies …”

Matthew 5:44

“But the wise took oil
in their vessels”

Matthew 25:4

“The wise ones’ lamps were burning,
from the oil inside them,
from the assurance of their consciences,
from their inner boast,
from their deepest charity.”

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

“Father, forgive them.”
With this prayer, He wanted to make us understand
the love He bore us, undiminished
by any suffering and to teach us how
our heart should be toward our neighbour.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

“He loves you as though He had
no-one else to love but you alone.
You, too, should love Him alone
and all others for His Sake.
Of Him you may say and, indeed, you should say:
My Beloved to me and I to Him (Cant, 2:16).
My God has given Himself all to me
and I give myself all to Him;
He has chosen me for His beloved
and I choose Him, above all others,
for my only Love.”

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, MIRACLES, QUOTES on BLASPHEMY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on SACRILEGE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY NAME, The INCARNATION, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 16 April – “Jesus remember me” Luke 23:42

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 April – Spy Wednesday in Holy Week – Isaias 53:1-12, Luke 22:39-71; 23:1-53

“Jesus remember me”

Luke 23:42

“Blessed are those who have not seen
and have believed.”
John 20:29

“Blessed, therefore, is everyone
who believes the message
of the holy Apostles who, as Saint Luke says,
were eyewitnesses of Christ’s actions
and “ministers of the word” (Lk 1,2).”

St Cyril of Alexandria (380-444)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Because it is not by raising a dead man,
commanding the sea and wind,
or casting out demons that He is able
to change the thief’s sinful soul
but, by being Crucified,
pinned down by nails,
covered with insults, spitting, mockery and torture,
so that you might see the two sides
of His Sovereign Power.
He shook all creation,
split the rocks (Mt 27:51)
and drew to Himself the brigand’s soul,
hard as stone, to cover it with honour…”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“… He effected a wonderful exchange with us,
through mutual sharing –
we gave Him the power to die,
He will give us the power to Live!”

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

“Sacrilegious tongues blaspheme the God
Who preserves their existence!
… you should be damned forever
and, instead of thanking Him for His goodness,
you, at the very time
that He bestows His favours upon you,
YOU blaspheme His Holy Name!”

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on TRUTH, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY NAME

Quote/s of the Day – 9 January – In the Name of the Lord Jesus

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family”

“In the Name of the Lord Jesus
and protected only
by the Sign of the Cross,
without shield or helmet,
I shall penetrate the enemy’s ranks
and not be afraid.”

St Martin of Tours (c 316-397)

“Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name
is the greatest spiritual force in the world today.
It is a source of joy and inspiration in our youth;
of strength in our manhood,
when only His Holy Name and His grace,
can enable us to overcome temptation;
of hope, consolation
and confidence at the hour of our death,
when more than ever before,
we realise, that the meaning of Jesus is
‘Lord, the Saviour.’
We should bow in reverence to His Name
and submission to His Holy Will.”

Bl Henry Suso OP (1290-1365)

“[Jesus] is our only Master, Who must teach us;
our only Lord, on Whom we must depend;
our only Head, to Whom alone we should belong;
our only Model, Whom we should imitate;
our only Physician, Who must heal us;
our only Shepherd, Who must feed us;
our only Way, Who must lead us;
our only Truth, Whom we must believe;
our only Life, Who must be our life
and our sole sufficiency in all things
that, in Him, we may have all in All.
Except the Name of Jesus,
there is no other name given under Heaven,
whereby we must be saved
and apart from Jesus Christ,
God has given us no other foundation of our salvation,
our perfection and our glory! ”

St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)

“The Holy Name of Jesus is,
first of all,
an all-powerful prayer.
Our Lord, Himself, solemnly promises,
that whatever we ask the Father in His Name,
we shall receive.
God never fails to keep His Word.
Each time we say “Jesus,”
it is an act of perfect love,
for, we offer to God,
the Infinite love of Jesus.”

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on HEAVEN

Thought for the Day – 27 November – Au Revoir St Alphonsus!

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Thought for the Day – 27 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Au Revoir St Alphonsus!

“How good and kind God is to those who lovingly seek Him!
The Lord is good to the soul who seeks Him (Lam 3:25). He is found even by those who do not seek Him – I was found by those who did not seek Me (Rom 10:I2); with far greater willingness, He will anticipate those who seek Him, in order to serve and love Him.

I conclude with a thought from St Teresa.
It is this – The souls of the just should do on earth, through a spirit of love, that which the Blessed do in Heaven.
In Heaven the Saints occupy themselves only with God; all their thoughts are for His glory; all their pleasure is to love Him.
Do you act in the same way.
During your life on earth let God be your only happiness, the only object of your affections, the only end of all your actions and desires, until you arrive at that eternal Kingdom, where your love will be consummated and made perfect and your desires will be completely fulfilled and satisfied.”

Posted in GOOD RESOLUTIONS, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on MEDITATION

Thought for the Day – 26 November – A Method of MENTAL PRAYER, Part III Conclusion

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Thought for the Day – 26 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

A Method of MENTAL PRAYER
or Meditation According to St Alphonsus.
Excerpt – Part III Conclusion

III. CONCLUSION.

Three short fervent Acts:

(1) Thank God for the Light He has given you.

(2) Renew your resolution to abstain from some fault, or to do some good thing, during the day.

(3) Ask the Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus and Mary, to aid you to keep your resolutions.
At the end of meditation, always pray for poor sinners and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

NB: – The acts and prayers of petition should occupy the most of the time. Thus, in a half-hour’s prayer, give three minutes to the preparation; reflect for five minutes and then pray for the balance of the time left to you.

Posted in ACT of ADORATION, ACT of CONTRITION, ACT OF FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY, ACT of LOVE, GOOD RESOLUTIONS, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of PETITION, QUOTES on MEDITATION

Thought for the Day – 25 November – A Method of MENTAL PRAYER, II The Body of the Prayer

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Thought for the Day – 25 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

A Method of MENTAL PRAYER
or Meditation According to St Alphonsus.
Excerpt – Part II THE BODY OF THE PRAYER.

II. THE BODY OF THE PRAYER.

Use the mind in thinking on some subject as much as is necessary in order to pray fervently. But do not imagine that very much is necessary in order to pray. Do not wait for a great fire to burn up in your soul but cherish any little spark you may feel.

To help your mind, read a text of Scripture or a short Meditation in a book.
St Teresa used a book in her Meditations for seventeen years.

Meditate for a few minutes on any thought which has struck you, that is, think for a short time on the meaning, the lessons it teaches and ask yourself: What have I done about this hitherto? What shall I now do?
But remember, you think only in order that you may pray.

The great benefit of Mental Prayer consists. less in meditation or thinking, than in acts, prayers and resolutions – the fruits of Meditation. The thinking is the needle which draws after it the golden thread of the fruits (the acts, prayers and resolutions)..
The thread is more important than the needle.
The chief part of the time of Meditation should, then, be spent in making:

  1. Acts and Affections:
    Examples. –Acts of Humility: ‘My God, I am nothing in Thy sight.’ Act of Thanksgiving: ‘My God, I thank Thee for Thy goodness.’ Act of Love: ‘ My God, I love Thee with my whole heart. I wish to please Thee in all things. I will only what Thou wiliest. I love Thee because Thou art Infinitely Good. Do with me and mine all that pleases Thee because it is Thy Will.’
    Acts of Love and of contrition are golden chains binding us to God. St Thomas says: ‘ Every Act of Love merits eternal life. Make then many simple but fervent, Acts of Love and Sorrow.
  2. Prayers of Petition:
    In mental prayer, it is extremely useful and, perhaps better than all else, to make many earnest petitions for the graces you wish. Always ask, above all, for (a) the perfect forgiveness of all past sin; (b) the perfect love of God and (c) the Grace of a holy death. …
  3. Resolutions:
    ‘The progress of a soul,‘ says St Teresa, ‘ does not consist in thinking much of God but in loving Him and this love is gained by resolving to do much for Him.‘
    Make one practical resolution which you mean to keep during the day.
Posted in ACT of ADORATION, ACT of CONTRITION, ACT OF FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY, ACT of LOVE, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on MEDITATION, SACRED HEART PRAYERS

Thought for the Day – 24 November – A Method of MENTAL PRAYER

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Thought for the Day – 24 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)


A Method of MENTAL PRAYER
or Meditation According to St Alphonsus.
Excerpt – Part I Preparation

I. PREPARATION.

A recollected life and regular Spiritual Reading are the best remote preparation.
For the immediate preparation, make three short but fervent Acts of Devotion:

(I) An Act of Adoration of God, present to the soul:
Example: O my God, I believe Thou art really here present;
I bow down and adore Thee. Thou art so good, I am so
sinful; Thou art so great, I am only nothingness … etc.

(2) An Act of Sorrow for Sin:
Example: O my God, I am heartily sorry for all my sins of thought, word, deed and omission and by the help of Thy
holy Grace I will never sin again.

(3) A Petition for Light and Strength:
Example: O my God, give me light to see Thy holy Will, give me Grace to do Thy holy Will. O .Wisdom of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, direct me in all my ways. O Love of the Sacred Heart, consume me in Thy fire.

Add a Hail Mary to the Blessed Virgin, an Aspiration to St Joseph, your Patron Saints and Angel Guardian.

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, The HOLY NAME, The HOLY NAME of MARY

Thought for the Day – 23 November – ‘Ask and you shall receive’

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Thought for the Day – 23 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
‘Ask and you shall receive‘
Excerpt from Chapter Five:6

“When you need to arrive at some decision, or to give some important advice, ask God’s assistance before you do so. Repeat as often as you reasonably are able during the day: ‘Incline unto mine aid, O God,’ as St Rose of Lima was accustomed to do.

To obtain this assistance from God turn frequently to the Crucifix or to the image of our Blessed Lady (which, of course, you will have in your room) and do not fail to often invoke the Names of Jesus and Mary …
God, being infinitely kind, has the greatest desire to communicate His Graces to us.

The Venerable Father Alphonsus Alvarez saw our Lord, on one occasion, with His Hands filled with Graces, going about seeking souls to whom He might dispense them.
But He will have us ask Him for them: ‘Ask and you shall receive‘ otherwise He will withdraw His Hands.
He will, on the contrary, stretch them out to us and willingly open them, if we invoke Him.
… David declares, God shows, not only Mercy but Great Mercy, to those who beseech Him: For Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon Thee (Ps 85:5).”

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 22 November –Self-oblation and Love of God

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Thought for the Day – 22 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Self-oblation and Love of God
Excerpt from Chapter Five:5

“Following the example of St Teresa, often offer yourself to God during the day and say:
‘Behold me, O Lord, ready to do what Thou wilt.
Make known Thy holy Will to me; I am eager to do all which Thou askest of me.‘

As the hours go by, make repeated Acts of Divine Love, for, to quote St Teresa again, these Acts of Love are the fuel by which divine love is kept burning within the heart.

One day, when the Venerable Sister Seraphine of Capri happened to see the Convent mule, the thought occurred to her that the poor animal could not love God. She expressed her compassion in these words:
‘Poor brute you can neither know, nor love God.‘
Then a wonderful thing happened – tears welled into the animal’s eyes and forthwith began to flow abundantly.
Do you imitate the saintly sister’s example. When you see, creatures incapable of knowing or loving God, use the intelligence, He has given you, to repeat many Acts of Love.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD

Thought for the Day – 21 November – Recollection

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Thought for the Day – 21 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Recollection
Excerpt from Chapter Five:4

“In order to keep yourself recollected and united to God, as far as the imperfections of human nature permit. endeavour, by means of that which you see and hear, to raise your mind to God and to recall the things of eternity,

For instance, when you see running water, reflect that your life is rushing on in like manner and taking you nearer to death. … When you see graves or the bodies of the dead, think of what will happen to yourself one day. When you see worldly people rejoicing in their wealth or distinction, have pity on their folly and say to yourself – For me, God is sufficient. Some trust in chariots, some in horses but we in the Name of the Lord (Ps 19:8). Let them glory, if they wish, in vanity. Be it mine to glory only in the grace of God and in His holy Love.

… When you look out over the ocean and see it now calm and tranquil and now lashed to fury by the winds, consider the difference there is between a soul in sin and a soul in the state of grace. When you see a tree which is withered, reflect on the fact that a soul without God is fit for nothing but to be cast into the fire. If you ever happen to see one who has been guilty of some great crime, trembling with shame and fear in the presence of his judge, or his father, or of his Bishop, consider what the terror of the sinner will be in the presence of Jesus Christ, his Judge. When thunder crashes through the . heavens and you grow alarmed, reflect how those miserable souls who are damned, tremble as they hear continually in hell, the thunders of the Divine wrath.”

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PRAYERS for the SOULS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the POOR, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The HOLY SOULS

Quote/s of the Day – 20 November – The Holy Souls in Purgatory

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Quote/s of the Day – 20 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

“May the souls
of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace,
amen.”

Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
By St Ignatius of Antioch (c35-c108)
Apostolic Father of the Church

Receive in tranquility and peace,
O Lord, the souls of Thy servants,
who have departed this present life
to come to Thee.
Grant them rest and place them
in the habitations of Light,
the abodes of blessed spirits.
Give them the life that will not age,
good things that will not pass away,
delights that have no end,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

“ … Yet only grant me repentance here below
That I may make reparation for my sins, …
That these tears may extinguish the blazing furnace
With its burning flames. …

And, instead of acting like the merciless,
Set merciful compassion within me,
That, by showing mercy to the poor,
I may obtain Your mercy.”

St Nerses Chnorhali (1102-1173)
Armenian Bishop

“How pleasing to Him it will be,
if you sometimes forget yourself
and speak to Him of His own glory;
of the miseries of others,
especially those who mourn in sorrow;
of the souls in purgatory,
His spouses, who long to behold Him in Heaven
and, of poor sinners,
who live deprived of His grace.”

St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Posted in GOOD RESOLUTIONS, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, INDULGENCES

Thought for the Day – 20 November – Remembering Indulgences

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Thought for the Day – 20 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Remembering Indulgences
Excerpt from Chapter Five:3

“Here, in passing, I would remind the reader of Indulgences which are attached to various Acts of Devotion and also, I would remind him, of the desirability of renewing, each morning, the intention of gaining, during the day, all the Indulgences possible. …

In like manner, form the intention of gaining too, all the Indulgences granted for saying the Rosary on beads properly blessed, the Angelus three times a day, the Litany of our Blessed Lady, the Salve Regina, the Ave Maria and the Gloria Patri; … for reciting the prayer Anima Christi; for bowing the head at the Gloria Patri and at the Most Holy Names of Jesus and Mary; for hearing Mass; for making half an hour’s mental prayer – for this, there is a Partial Indulgence, and also, if the meditation is made daily, a Plenary on the usual conditions of confession, Communion and praying for the intentions of the Church; for genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament; for kissing the Crucifix …”

Posted in DEVOTIO, EVENING and NIGHT Prayers, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES

Thought for the Day – 19 November – The Practice of Praying Constantly 2

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Thought for the Day – 19 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Excerpt from Chapter Five:2

“Perform your more important Acts of Devotion with great care, such as going to Confession, receiving Holy Communion, reciting the Divine Office and other similar duties.

Whenever you are going to begin some external occupation, like study or work, or the duty of your state in life, do not forget to offer it to God, praying His assistance to enable you to perform it well.
Afterwards, follow the example of St Catharine of Siena and retire often to the cell of your heart, in order to unite yourself to God.
In a word, whatever you do, do it with God and for Him. When you leave your room, or go out of the house and when you return – say a Hail Mary and thus recommend yourself to the Blessed Virgin.

At your meals, whether you find them pleasant to your taste, or not to your liking, offer all to God. On rising from table, say, as grace, some little prayer like this: ‘Lord, how good Thou art to one who has offended Thee!’

During the day give some time to spiritual reading and make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady.
In the evening, say the Rosary, examine your conscience, make Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity and Contrition; promise to serve God more fervently and to receive the holy Sacraments during life and at death and form the intention of gaining all the Indulgences within your power.
When you go to bed, reflect that you have deserved to lie in the fire of hell – then, with a Crucifix in your arms, compose yourself to sleep, saying: ‘In peace, in the self-same I will sleep and I will rest‘ (Ps 4:9).”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 18 November – The Practice of Praying Constantly

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Thought for the Day – 18 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Excerpt from Chapter Five:1

“When you awake in the morning, let your first thought be to raise up your mind to God, to offer to His honour whatever you may have to do, or suffer, during the day and, to beseech Him, to assist you with His holy Grace. Then, perform your other morning devotions, making Acts of Love and of Gratitude and praying and resolving, to spend the day as if it were to be the last of your life.

Father Saint-Jure recommends you, every morning, to complete an agreement with God that, every time you make a certain sign, such as placing your hand upon your heart, or raising your eyes to Heaven or to the Crucifix, or the like, you intend thereby, to make an Act of love, of desire to see God loved by all, of oblation of yourself and other acts of the same kind. When you have made these Acts, place your soul in the Wound of the Side of Jesus and under the Mantle of Our Lady and beg of the Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus and Mary, to protect you during the day.

Then, before all things else, be sure to make your meditation, or mental prayer, at least for half an hour.
Meditate especially on the sufferings and contempt endured by Jesus in His Passion.
This is the subject dearest to fervent souls and the one best calculated to set hearts aflame with Divine love.”

Posted in ACT of LOVE, BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 18 November – The One Thing Necessary By St Alphonsus

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Our Morning Offering – 18 November

The One Thing Necessary
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

O my God,
help me to remember,
that time is short, eternity long.
What good is all the greatness of this world
at the hour of death?
To love Thee, my God
and save my soul is the one thing necessary.
Without Thee, there is no peace of mind or soul.
My God, I need fear only sin
and nothing else in this life,
for to lose Thee, my God, is to lose all.
O my God, help me to remember,
that I came into this world with nothing
and shall take nothing from it, when I die.
To gain Thee, I must leave all.
But in loving Thee,
I already have all good things –
the infinite riches of Christ and His Church in life,
Mary’s motherly protection and perpetual help
and the eternal dwelling place
Jesus has prepared for me.
Eternal Father, Jesus has promised
that whatever we ask
in His Name will be granted us.
In His Name, I pray,
give me a burning faith,
a joyful hope,
a holy love for Thee.
Grant me perseverance in doing Thine will
and never let me be separated from Thee.
My God and my All,
make me a Saint!
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The HEART

Thought for the Day – 17 November – How God Answers the Soul

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Thought for the Day – 17 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

How God Answers the Soul
Excerpt from Chapter Four

In a word, if you wish to please the loving Heart of God, endeavour to speak to Him as often as you can and, with the fullest confidence which He will answer and speak to you in return.
When you withdraw yourself from conversation with creatures to speak to God alone, He will not speak in a Voice which strikes the ear but, in a Voice which reaches the heart

… He will speak by inspiration, by interior light, by manifestations of His Goodness, by a tenderness which touches the heart, by assurance of pardon, by a feeling of peace, by the hope of Heaven, by intimate happiness, by the sweetness of His Grace, by loving and tender embraces of the soul – in a word, He will speak in a Voice easily understood by those whom He Loves and who have given their hearts to Him alone.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, PURGATORY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

Thought for the Day – 16 November – Speak to God of Heaven

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Thought for the Day – 16 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Speak to God of Heaven
Excerpt from Chapter Three:VII

“It is said that souls who, in this life, have but little longing for Heaven are punished in Purgatory with a peculiar pain, called the pain of languor.
This surely is only just because, to have but little longing for Heaven is to set little value on the happiness of that eternal Kingdom which our Lord opened to us, by His Death.

Remember then, frequently to think of, and long for Heaven. Say to God that your life seems an endless span, so great is your desire to go to Him, to see Him face-to-face and, to love Him.
Long to be set free from your exile, from this world of sin, from the danger of losing Divine Grace in order that you may arrive at that land of love where your heart will be given wholly to God.
Say to Him, over and over again, Lord, as long as I live on this earth, I am in danger of forsaking Thee and of losing Thy Love. When shall I leave this life, wherein I am forever offending Thee? When shall I come to Thee, to love Thee with all my soul and unite myself to Thee, without any danger of losing Thee again?

St Teresa was ever sighing for Heaven in this manner. She used to rejoice when she heard the clock strike because, another hour of life and of the danger of losing God, had passed. She so earnestly desired to die, in order that she might see God, she was dying with the desire to die. This was the subject of the loving poem which she composed: ‘I Die because I Do Not Die‘.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PRAYERS for the SOULS

Thought for the Day – 15 November – Pray For Your Neighbour

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Thought for the Day – 15 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Pray For Your Neighbour
Excerpt from Chapter Three:VI

“Recommend to God with confidence not only your own needs but also the needs of others.
How pleasing to Him it will be if you sometimes forget yourself and speak to Him of His own glory, of the miseries of others, especially those who mourn in sorrow; of the souls in purgatory, His spouses, who long to behold Him in Heaven and of poor sinners, who live deprived of His grace.

Pray to Him for sinners thus –
‘Lord, Thou art all goodness and worthy of an infinite love – how, then, canst Thou endure in the world, so many souls on whom Thou hast lavished Thy favours and who yet, have no desire to know Thee, who have no desire to love Thee, who even offend and despise Thee?’
Ah, my most amiable God, make Thyself known-make Thyself loved. Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come. May Thy Name be adored and loved by all men.
May Thy love reign in all hearts. Do not let me depart from Thee without granting me some grace for the unhappy souls for whom I pray.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on DOUBT

Thought for the Day – 14 November – Pray In Your Doubts

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Thought for the Day – 14 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Pray In Your Doubts
Excerpt from Chapter Three:V

“Whenever you are in doubt about anything -whether it regards yourself or others – act like good friends do who always consult one another in their difficulties. Show the same mark of confidence to God; consult Him; ask Him to enlighten you, that you may decide on that which is most pleasing to Him.

Put Thou words in my mouth and strengthen the resolution in my heart (Jud 9:18). Lord, make known to me that which Thou wouldst have me do and I will obey Thee: Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth (i Kings 3:10).”

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 13 Noivember – Pray After a Fault

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Thought for the Day – 13 Noivember – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Pray After a Fault
Excerpt from Chapter Three:IV

“Another mark of confidence, highly pleasing to our most loving God, is this – that when you have committed any fault, you are not ashamed to go at once to Him and seek His pardon. Consider that God is so willing to pardon sinners that He laments their perdition, when they depart far from Him and live lives dead to His grace.

… He promises to receive a soul who has forsaken Him, if only the soul returns to His arms … If you come to Me and repent, though your soul be dyed deep crimson with crime, by My grace it shall be made white as snow.

… Attend, especially, devout soul, to what is commonly taught by masters of the spiritual life, who recommend you to have recourse immediately to God after you have fallen, although you should repeat the fall a hundred times in the day.
Having done this, do not be disturbed.
If you remain discouraged and troubled because of the fault committed, you will scarcely speak to God; your confidence will grow less; your desire to love God will grow cold and you will make little or no advancement in the way of the Lord.
On the other hand, by having immediate recourse to God, asking His pardon and promising amendment for the future, your very faults will help you to advance in Divine love. Between friends, who sincerely love one another, it sometimes happens that when one offends the other and then. humbles himself and asks pardon, their friendship becomes stronger than ever.
Do you act in like manner with regard to God – let your faults and falls, only strengthen the bonds of love which unite you to Him.”

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on JOY

Thought for the Day – 12 November – Pray In Your Joys

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Thought for the Day – 12 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Pray In Your Joys
Excerpt from Chapter Three:III

“When you receive some pleasant news, do not act like those unfaithful and thankless souls, who have recourse to God in time of trouble but forget and forsake Him, when things go well. Show Him the fidelity you would show to a sincere friend, who rejoices in your happiness. Go at once and tell Him of your joy and praise Him and give Him thanks, acknowledging your good fortune as a gift from His Hands alone!
Rejoice in the fact that you owe your happiness to Him and place all your joy and comfort in Him – I will rejoice in the Lord (Hab 3:18) Say to Him: My Jesus, I bless and will ever bless Thee, for granting me so many favours, when I deserved at Thy hands not favours but chastisements for the affronts I have offered Thee.

… But, if you love your God, you ought to rejoice more in His blessedness than in your own. He, who has a dear friend, sometimes takes more delight in that friend’s good fortune than if it had been his own.
Comfort yourself, then, in the knowledge that God is infinitely happy. Often say to Him – My beloved Lord, I rejoice more in Thy blessedness than in any happiness of my own, for I love Thee more than I love myself.”