Posted in ACT of ADORATION, ACT OF FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY, ACT of LOVE, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, St Francis de Sales

Our Morning Offering – 29 January – O Love Eternal! An Act of Love By St Francis de Sales

Our Morning Offering – 29 January – St Francis Salesius, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

O Love Eternal!
An Act of Love
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

(From his “A Treatise on the Love of God”)

O Love Eternal,
my soul needs and chooses Thee eternally!
Ah, come Holy Ghost
and inflame our hearts with Thine Love!
To love — or to die!
To die — and to love!
To die to all other love
in order to live in Jesus’ Love,
so that we may not die eternally
but that we may live in Thine Eternal Love,
O Saviour of our souls,
we eternally sing,
Live, Jesus! Jesus, I love!
Live Jesus, Whom I love!
Jesus, I love, Jesus Who lives
and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, St Francis de Sales

Notre-Dame-de-Chatillion / Our Lady of Chatillion-sur- Seine, France (1130), St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop, Confessor & Doctor of the Church, Day Six of the Candlemas Novena and Memorials of the Saints – 29 January

Notre-Dame-de-Chatillion / Our Lady of Chatillion-sur- Seine, France (1130) – 29 January:
HERE:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/29/our-lady-of-chatillion-sur-seine-france-1130-and-memorials-of-the-saints-29-january/

St Francis de Sales CO, OM, OFM (Cap) (1567-1622) Bishop, Confessor – Doctor of the Church: Doctor caritatis (Doctor of Charity) “The Gentle Christ of Geneva” and the “Gentleman Saint” – Bishop of Geneva, Doctor of Law and Theology, Writer, Theologian, Mystic, Teacher, Preacher, Founder along with St Jane Frances de Chantal, founded the women’s Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary (Visitandines).
The Gentle Christ of Geneva:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/saint-of-the-day-24-january-st-francis-de-sales-1567-1622-doctor-of-the-church-doctor-caritatis-doctor-of-charity/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-st-francis-de-sales-1567-1622-bishop-confessor-doctor/

NOVENA In Preparation for the
Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary – LINK to DAY SIX, 29 January: DAY SIX 29 JANUARY:

St Abundantia the Martyr
St Aphraates
St Aquilinus of Milan
St Barbea of Edessa
St Blath of Kildare
Bl Boleslawa Maria Lament
St Caesarius of Angoulême
Bl Charles of Sayn

St Constantius of Perugia (Died c 170) Martyr Bishop
His Life and Death:

https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-saint-constantius-of-perugia-died-c-170-martyr/

St Dallan Forgaill (c 530- 598) Martyr, Monk, Reformer, Poet.
St Dallan’s Holy Life:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-st-dallan-forgaill-c-530-598/

St Pope Gelasius II (c 1060–1119) Bishop of Rome from 24 January 1118 to his death in 1119.
About Pope Gelasius II:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-st-pope-gelasius-ii-c-1060-1119/
St Gildas the Elder

St Gildas the Wise (c 500-c 570) Priest and Abbot.
Biography:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-st-gildas-the-wise/

Blessed Juniper OFM (Died 1258) Franciscan Friar. Brother Juniper is called “the renowned jester of the Lord” and was one of the original followers of St Francis of Assisi.
Blessed Juniper’s life:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-the-servant-of-god-brother-juniper-ofm-died-1258/

St Maurus of Rome
St Papias of Rome
St Sarbellius
St Serrano

St Sulpicius I (Died 591) Bishop of Bourges.
About St Sulpicius:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-saint-sulpicius-i-died-591/

St Valerius (Died 2nd Century) Bishop of Trier
St Voloc

Posted in QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, St Francis de Sales, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 28 January – We are fools for Christ’s sake

Quote/s of the Day – 28 January – St Peter Nolasco OdeM (c 1182–c 1256) Confessor, Founder – 1 Corinthians 4:9-14, Luke 12:32-34 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be too
.”

Luke 12:34

We are made a spectacle to the world
and to Angels and to men.
We are fools for Christ’s sake
but you are wise in Christ;
we are weak but you are strong;
you are honourable but we without honour.
Even unto this hour, we both hunger and thirst
and are naked and are buffeted
and have no fixed abode.
And we labour, working with our own hands.
We are reviled and we bless.
We are persecuted and we suffer it.
We are blasphemed and we entreat.
We are made as the refuse of this world,
the offscouring of all, even until now.

St Paul – 1 Corinthians 4:9-14

The great wealth of Christians
is found in the needs of the poor,
provided we grasp how to put our
possessions to good use.
The poor are always before us;
if we entrust our wealth to them,
we shall not lose it
.”

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

Great indeed is the confidence
which God requires us to have
in His paternal care and in His Divine Providence
but why should we not have it,
seeing that no-one has ever been deceived in it?
No-one ever trusts in God
without reaping the fruits of his confidence.

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

(Spiritual Conferences 6)

Posted in CATECHESIS, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on the POOR, St Francis de Sales, The HEART, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

Quote/s of the Day – 20 January – Riches and Poverty

Quote/s of the Day – 20 January – St Fabian, Pope and St Sebastian, Martyrs – Hebrews 11:33-39: Luke 6:17-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

And He, lifting up His eyes
on His disciples, said:
Blessed are you poor,
for yours is the Kingdom of God.

Luke 6:20

Whatever riches and all other transitory
things you may possess,
you must keep your heart free
from the slightest affection for them.
Your heart may be surrounded by riches;
however, riches must never master your heart!

Do not let that mind
which is the likeness of God,
cleave to mere earthly goods;
let it always be raised above them,
not sunk in them.

Do not fix your longings on anything
which you do not possess;
do not let your heart rest in that which you have;
do not grieve overmuch,
at the losses which may happen to you –
and then, you may reasonably believe
that although rich in fact,
you are not so in affection
but that you are poor in spirit
and, therefore, blessed,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is yours.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in ACT OF FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY, ACT of LOVE, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, OUR Cross, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, St Francis de Sales, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 20 January – O My God, I Thank Thee

Our Morning Offering – 20 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family”

O My God, I Thank Thee
An Act of Abandonment
to the Divine Will
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

O my God, I thank Thee
and I praise Thee
for accomplishing Thy Holy and all-lovable Will
without any regard for mine.
With my whole heart,
in spite of my heart,
do I receive this cross I feared so much!
It is the cross of Thy choice,
the cross of Thy Love.
I venerate it;
nor for anything in the world
would I wish it had not come,
since Thou hast willed it.
I keep it with gratitude and with joy,
as I do everything which comes from Thy Hand
and I shall strive to carry it
without letting it drag,
with all the respect
and all the affection
which Thy works deserve.
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, St Francis de Sales, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 19 January – ‘… Confess the Lord Jesus! …’

Quote/s of the Day – 19 January – Romans 12:6-16; John 2:1-11 -13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Do whatever He tells you.

John 2:5

Whosoever shall do the Will of My Father, …
he is My brother and sister and mother
.”

Matthew 12:50

What is the surest kind of witness?
“Anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ
came among us in the flesh” (cf 1 Jn 4:2)
and who keeps the commands of the Gospel…
How many there are, each day,
of these hidden martyrs of Christ
who confess the Lord Jesus!
… So be faithful and courageous
in interior persecutions,
so that you may also win
the victory in exterior persecutions.

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Obedience is a short cut to perfection.

St Philip Neri (1515-1595)

“ It is necessary, therefore, to obey
the Eternal Father by following Our Lord
in order to hear His Word.
And behold, how we are taught that all
persons, whatever their condition may be,
must pray and meditate,
for it is there, principally,
where this Divine Master speaks to us.
… But, it will not do us any good to listen,
if we do not DO what He says to us,
observing His commandments
and His wishes faithfully,

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

Posted in CATECHESIS, CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, St Francis de Sales, VENIAL SIN

Quote/s of the Day – 16 January – It shall be loosed also in Heaven …

Quote/s of the Day – 16 January – 1 Peter 5:1-4, 10-11; Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth,
it shall be bound also in Heaven
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth,
it shall be loosed also in Heaven.

Matthew 16:19

But He still follows behind us and counsels us,
although we have despised Him,
He still does not cease to call us.
We turn our backs on His face, so to speak,
when we reject His Words,
when we trample His Commandments underfoot
but He, Who sees that we reject Him,
still calls out to us by His Commandments
and waits for us by His patience,
stands behind us and calls us back
when we have turned away.

St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)
Father & Doctor of the Church

We fight the monsters of Africa
in imagination
but, from lack of attention,
we allow ourselves, in reality,
to be killed by the little serpents
which lie in our way
!”

(Intro to the Devout Life III:37)

Do not content yourself
with confessing your venial sins
merely as to the fact
but accuse yourself too,
of the motive which induced you
to commit them.

(Introduction to the Devout Life,
Part II, Chapter 19).

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Yet, after all it is the natural
and most suitable means of preparation.
It helps us to bring into subjection,
that lower nature which rebels against
the sovereignty of our King.
It detaches us from finding our satisfaction
in earthly things.
It is, in itself, an act of obedience to our King.
It renders us humble and teaches us
to put our necks under the yoke.
It saves us from being separated
from the Kingdom we are to share
by the long prison of Purgatory.
Learn from all this, to love penance
!”

Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CATECHESIS, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, MODESTY, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, St Francis de Sales, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 8 January – Obedience

Quote/s of the Day – 8 January – Within the Octave of the Epiphany

Rather blessed are those
who hear the Word of God
and keep it.’

Luke 11:28

I Am the Light of the world.
Whoever follows Me
will never walk in darkness
but will have the Light of Life.

John 8:12

Our hearts were made for Thee, O God
And restless must they be
Until, O God, this grace accord,
Until they rest in Thee!”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of the Church

The obedience of the Star
calls us to imitate its humble service:
to be servants, as best we can,
of the grace which invites all men
to find Christ.

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Humility is the mother of many virtues
because, from it are born:
obedience, fear, reverence, patience,
modesty, meekness and peace.
He who is humble easily obeys everyone,
fears to offend anyone,
is at peace with everyone,
is kind to all!

St Thomas of Villanova OSA (1488-1555)

When God puts inspirations into a heart,
the first He gives, is obedience.

To find the Saviour outside obedience,
is to lose Him altogether.

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

Posted in ASPIRATIONS and EJACULATIONS, CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, MARIAN QUOTES, Of a Holy DEATH & AGAINST A SUDDEN DEATH, of the DYING, FINAL PERSEVERANCE, DEATH of CHILDREN, DEATH of PARENTS, PARTIAL Indulgence, QUOTES on MARRIAGE, MARRIED LOVE, St Francis de Sales, St JOSEPH, The HOLY FAMILY, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE

Quote/s of the Day – 7 January – The Holy Family

Quote/s of the Day – 7 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family”and the Feast of the Holy Family

Indulgenced Holy Family Aspiration

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
I give Thee my heart and my soul;
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
assist me in my last agony;
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
may I breathe forth my soul in peace with Thee.

(Indulgence of 300 days, Each Time.
Pope Pius VII, 26 August 1814)

When husband and wife
are united in marriage
they no longer seem like something earthly
but rather, like the image of God Himself!

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

The One Who is the Wisdom of the Father,
put His arms around her neck,
the One Who is the strength,
that gives movement to everything,
sat in her arms. He Who is the rest of souls, (Mt 11:29)
rested on her motherly breast.
… Filled with the Holy Spirit,
she held Him close to her heart …
She never had enough of seeing Him
or of hearing Him,
,,, Thus Mary grew evermore in love and her mind
was unceasingly attached to Divine contemplation.

St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159)

Since God could choose for the Guardian of His Son,
the man in the world, the most accomplished
in all sorts of perfections,
according to the dignity
and excellence of his Charge,
Who was His most Glorious Son,
the universal Prince of Heaven and earth,
how could it be that being able,
He did not will it and did not do it?
There is, then, NO DOUBT that St Joseph
was endowed with all the graces
and all the gifts that were required
for the care which the Eternal Father
willed to give him,
of the temporal and domestic economy
of our Lord and of the guidance of his family …

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/01/07/quote-s-of-the-day-7-january-the-holy-family/

Posted in CATECHESIS, CATHOLIC Quotes, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CHILDREN, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MEEKNESS, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on SIMPLICITY, QUOTES on VIRTUE, St Francis de Sales, The DIVINE INFANT, The INCARNATION

Quote/s of the Day – 19 December – This Divine Infant

Quote/s of the Day – 19 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

If we would please this Divine Infant,
we too must become children,
simple and humble.
We must carry to Him, flowers of virtue,
of meekness, of mortification, of charity.
We must clasp Him in the arms of our love.

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Our Lord is begotten virginally, from all eternity,
in the bosom of His Heavenly Father.
He shares in the One Divinity of His Eternal Father,
without dividing it or fracturing the Divine Simplicity.
He remains One same God with Him.
The most holy Virgin produced her Son,
Our Lord on earth, as He is produced
by His Father eternally in Heaven that is, virginally.
There is one important difference, however,
she brought Him forth from her womb
and not in her womb,
for once He left it He will no more return there
but His Heavenly Father begets Him
from His bosom and in His bosom
and He will remain there eternally!

(The Coming of the Divine Infant
24 December 1613
Sermon for Christmas Eve)

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

Posted in CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, Quotes on SALVATION, St Francis de Sales, The ANNUNCIATION, The INCARNATION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 18 December – Chastity and Humility

Quote/s of the Day – 18 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Feast of Our Lady of Expectation

By a woman,
came the flood of our ills
and by a woman too,
our blessings,
have their spring.

St Gregory Thaumaturgus (c213-c270)
“the Wonder-Worker,” Bishop, Confessor

And Mary said,
‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be to me according to thy word.’

Luke 1:38

The price of our salvation
is offered to thee.
We shall be set free at once, if thou consent.
In the eternal Word of God, we all came to be
and behold, we die.
In thy brief response,
we are to be remade.
in order to be recalled to life.
Answer quickly, O Virgin.
Reply in haste to the Angel,
or rather, through the Angel to the Lord.
Answer with a word,
receive the Word of God.
Speak thine own word,
conceive the Divine Word.
Breathe a passing word,
embrace the Eternal Word
!”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
The Last Father and the Mellifluous Doctor

She saw herself raised to the highest dignity
that ever was or will be, for although
it should please God to create anew many worlds,
He could never make a pure creature be greater
than the Mother of God.
Our Lady humbled herself and acknowledged herself unworthy of being raised to the high dignity
of Mother of God, therefore, she was made to be His Mother, for she had no sooner uttered the protestation of her littleness, than, having abandoned herself to Him,
by an act of incomparable charity,
she became the Mother of the Most High,
Who is the Saviour of our souls!

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, OUR Cross, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 December – ‘ … Give your attention to true abandonment … ‘

Quote/s of the Day – 16 December – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; Matthew 16:24-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

For he who will save his life, will lose it
and he who will lose his life
for My sake, will find it.

Matthew 16:25

He who findeth his life, shall lose it
and he, who shall lose his life for Me,
shall find it
. ”
Matthew 10:39

My dear child, accept this cross from God and bear it –
it will turn into a truly lovable cross,
if you would hand these trials over to God,
accept them from Him with true abandonment
and thank God for them:
“My soul magnifies the Lord”
in everything (cf Lk 1:46).
Whether God takes or gives, the Son of Man
must be raised up on the Cross …
Dear child, leave all that behind;
rather, give your attention to true abandonment …
and think about accepting to bear
the cross of temptation, rather than going
in search of spiritual sweetness …
Our Lord has said: “If anyone wishes to come after Me,
let him take up his cross and follow Me”
(Lk 9:23).”

Fr JohannesTauler OP (c1300-1361)
Dominican Priest and Friar,
renowned Preacher and Theologian

Since happiness is nothing else
than the enjoyment of the Supreme Good
and the Supreme Good is above us,
no-one can enjoy happiness,
unless he rises above himself.

St Bonaventure (1221-1274)
Seraphic Doctor of the Church

My soul, live henceforward
amid the scourges and the thorns
of thy Saviour and there,
as a nightingale in its bush, sing sweetly:
Live Jesus, Who didst die
that my soul might live!
Ah, Eternal Father!
What can the world return Thee
for the gift Thou hast made it of Thy only Son?
Alas! to redeem a thing so vile as I,
the Saviour delivered Himself to death
and, unhappy me!
I hesitate to surrender my nothingness to Him,
Who has given me everything!

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

Posted in CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The HOLY GHOST

Quote/s of the Day – 9 December – Christ Who is “All in All”

Quote/s of the Day – 9 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Resumed Mass of Sunday – Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 11:2-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Now, the God of hope,
fill you with all joy and peace
in believing – that you may abound in hope
and in the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13

And as soon as He sees you seek Him fervently,
He will make Himself known to you.
He will appear to you, grant you His help,
bestow the victory on you
and save you from your enemies.
In fact, when He sees how you are looking for Him,
how you continually place all your hope in Him,
then He will instruct you,
teach you true prayer,
give you that authentic charity that is Himself.
Then, He will become everything to you:
your Paradise, Life-giving Tree,
Precious Pearl, Crown, Architect, Farmer,
One subject to suffering
but not afflicted with suffering,
Man, God, Wine, Living Water,
Lamb, Bridegroom, Soldier, Armour,
Christ Who is “All in All” (1Cor 1B,28).

St Macarius of Egypt (c300-390)

God accepts our desires as though
they were of great value.
He longs ardently for us
to desire to and love Him.
He accepts our petitions for benefits,
as though we were doing Him a favour.
His joy in giving,
is greater than ours in receiving.
So let us not be apathetic in our asking,
nor set too narrow bounds to our requests;
nor ask for frivolous things
unworthy of God’s greatness.

St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Great indeed is the confidence
which God requires us to have
in His paternal care and in His Divine Providence
but why should we not have it,
seeing that no-one has ever been deceived in it?
No-one ever trusts in God
without reaping the fruits of his confidence.

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

(Spiritual Conferences 6)

Posted in ADVENT REFLECTIONS, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, St Francis de Sales, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 December – Since our Divine Saviour is so near, what are we to do to prepare ourselves for His coming ?

One Minute Reflection – 9 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Resumed Mass of Sunday – Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 11:2-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Behold I send My Angel before My Face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee.” – Matthew 11:10

REFLECTION – “Since our Divine Saviour is so near, what are we to do to prepare ourselves for His coming ? Saint John the Baptist teaches us : “Repent!” he says, “bring low those mountains of pride, fill those valleys of laziness and pusillanimity, for salvation is near at hand.” The ‘valleys’ are nothing other than fear which, when it becomes too great, leads to discouragement. The sight of the great sins we have committed, brings with them, a shock and fear which strikes the heart. These are the valleys we have to fill, with trust and hope for the coming of our Lord.

Bring low mountains and hills:”what are these but presumption, pride and self-esteem, which is a very great hindrance to our Lord’s Coming, Who is accustomed to humble and bring low the proud, for He penetrates right to the bottom of our hearts to uncover the pride hidden within them. “Level the highways, the crooked ways make straight to make them a plain.” This is as though He were to say: “Put right all those doubtful intentions, so that you may have none but that of pleasing God, by doing penance, this being the goal to which we should all aim.

Make straight the path, smooth down your feelings by the mortification of your passions, inclinations and aversions. Oh, what a desirable thing it is, this equanimity of mind and feeling; how faithfully we ought to work to acquire it! For, we are more changing and inconstant, than can be told. People are to be found, who at one moment, being in a good temper, will be of a pleasant and joyful conversation; yet, look on the other side and you will find them sad and restless –in sum, the winding and uneven ways, are to be made straight for the Coming of our Lord!” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva, Doctor of the Church (Sermon for the 4th Sunday of Advent).

PRAYER – O God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, prepared a worthy dwelling for Thy Son,and Who, by Thy Son’s death, foreseen by Thee, preserved her from all taint, grant, we beseech Thee, through her intercession, that we too may come to Thee unstained by sin.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on WATCHING, St Francis de Sales, The SECOND COMING

Quote/s of the Day – 27 November – They will see the Son of Mancoming in the clouds of Heaven

Quote/s of the Day – 27 November – Feria of the Last Sunday after Pentecost – Colossians 1:9-14; Matthew 24:15-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

They will see the Son of Man
coming in the clouds of Heaven
with much power and majesty.

Matthew 24:30

Watchover your life. …
Sheep will turn into wolves
and love into hatred.
With the increase of iniquity,
people will hate, persecute
and betray each other.
Then the world deceiver
will appear in the disguise of God’s Son.
He will work “signs and wonders”
and the earth will fall into his hands.
He will commit outrages
such as have never occurred before.
Then humankind will come
to the “fiery trial“
and many will fall away” and perish.

Unknown 1st Century Author [ACW-
Ancient Christian Writer] (Didache 16)

Hope, O my soul, hope!
You know neither the day, nor the hour.
Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly,
even though your impatience, makes doubtful,
what is certain and turns
a very short time, into a long one.

St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)

Fool that I am to offend God
for the sake of such trifling vanities.
I have forsaken God and for what – for nothing!
On the other hand, devotion and good deeds
will be seen as desirable and delightful
and you will ask yourself –
why did I not take this beautiful
and pleasant path of everlasting joy?
At that hour, your sins –
which at the time seemed so small –
will appear as vast as mountains
and your devotions truly small.

Pray to God and cast yourself into His arms.
O my God, take me into Thy care on that terrible day;
may all other days be sad, if only that single day
will be a happy one!

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, ON the SAINTS, OUR Cross, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on STRENGTH, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 8 November – The Octave Day of All Saints

Quote/s of the Day – 8 November – The Octave Day of All Saints

Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.

Matthew 5:8

Remember, that you will derive strength
by reflecting, that the Saints yearn
for you to join their ranks;
desire to see you fight bravely
and, that you behave like true knights
in your encounters with the same adversities
which they had to conquer.
That breath-taking joy is theirs
and your eternal reward
for having endured a few years of temporal pain.
Every drop of earthly bitterness
will be changed into an ocean
of heavenly sweetness
!”

Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366)

Our greatest fault is, that
we wish to serve God in our way,
not in His way — according to our will,
not according to His will….
To be truly a Saint, it is necessary
to be one according to the will of God.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

We should honour God in His Saints
and beseech Him to make us partakers
of the graces He poured, so abundantly, upon them.

Perfection consists in one thing alone,
which is doing the will of God.
For, according to Our Lord’s words,
it suffices for perfection to deny self,
to take up the cross and to follow Him.
Now who denies himself
and takes up his cross
and follows Christ better,
than he who seeks not to do his own will
but always that of God?
Behold, now, how little is needed
to become as Saint!?
Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing,
on every occasion,
what God wills.

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Holiness consists in love –
not earthly love, of course
but supernatural love.
It consists in seeking God in all things,
in doing His will without reservation,
in aiming at His glory alone.
All else, is dust and ashes!
… Herein lies the explanation of the lives of the Saints,
lives of sacrifice dedicated to God
and to the salvation of souls.
“Everything for the greater glory of God,”
was the motto of St Ignatius Loyola.
“Everything in the Name of God,”
said St Vincent de Paul.
“My God is my All” said St Catherine of Genoa.
“Love God, serve God, everything is in that!”
exclaimed St Clare of Assisi
.

How do my thoughts, desires and ambitions
compare with these
?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CATECHESIS, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on THE WORLD, St Francis de Sales, The BEATITUDES, The HEART, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 5 November – The Blessedness of the Pure of Heart

Quote/s of the Day – 5 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Within the Octave of All Saints and the Feast of the Holy Relics – Apocalypse 7:2-12; 4:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

The Blessedness of the Pure of Heart

As mountain hares become white in winter
because they neither see. nor eat
anything but snow,
so, by adoring and feeding on
beauty, purity and goodness itself
in the Eucharist,
you will become altogether
beautiful, pure and good.

I often speak with my Teacher, Jesus,
in the Blessed Sacrament
because I learn from Him.
Jesus is the Teacher of the science of holiness.
I go to Him because I would like to learn,
from Him, how to become a Saint.
Of what use to me is all knowledge
and education, if I do not become holy?

Whatever riches and all other transitory things
you may possess, you must keep your heart
free from the slightest affection for them.
Your heart may be surrounded by riches;
however, riches must never master your heart!
… Do not let that mind which is the likeness of God,
cleave to mere earthly goods;
let it always be raised above them,
not sunk in them.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

The pure of heart will see God.
… All the wonders of creation
are rays of the Eternal Beauty of God.
Creatures, therefore, should form, for us,
a material ladder which leads us to God.
We should never become entangled
with transient worldly goods
but, should see and love God in them all.
The Saints were pure of heart
and could see God more clearly
than the most learned scholar.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, I BELIEVE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, St Francis de Sales, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 3 November – Why are you fearful ..?

Quote/s of the Day – 3 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Within the Octave of All Saints – Pentecost XXIV – Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 8:23-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Why are you fearful,
O you of little faith?
Then He arose
and rebuked the wind and the sea
and there came a great calm.

Matthew 8:26

Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

No-one should fear to suffer
for the sake of justice,
no-one should lose confidence
in the reward that has been promised.
The way to rest is through toil,
the way to life is through death.
Christ has taken on Himself
the whole weakness of our lowly human nature.
If then, we are steadfast in our faith in Him
and in our love for Him,
we win the victory that He has won,
we receive what He has promised.

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“If thou art bound down by sickness,
if sorrows weary thee,
if thou art trembling with fear,
invoke the Name of Jesus!

St Lawrence Justinian (1381-1456)

“ … Let the fine point of your spirit
always turn towards God, its north.
Your are about to take to the high seas
of the world, do not, on this account,
alter dial or mast, sail or anchor or wind.
Keep Jesus Christ
as your dial, at all times,
His Cross for mast,
on which to hoist
your resolutions, as a sail.
Let your anchor be,
profound trust in Him
and set out early!

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

Posted in CARMELITES, CATECHESIS, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY COMMUNION, QUOTES on PURITY, St Francis de Sales, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 1 November – All Saints Day

Quote/s of the Day – 1 November – All Saints Day

Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.

Matthew 5:8

Let listening to worldly news
be BITTER FOOD for you
and let the words of
Saintly men
be as combs
filled with honey.

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

To Saints,
their very slumber,
is a prayer!

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

Our greatest fault is, that
we wish to serve God in our way,
not in His way — according to our will,
not according to His will….
To be truly a Saint, it is necessary
to be one according to the will of God.

The Holy Eucharist
is the perfect Communion of Saints,
for it is the food common to Angels
and sainted souls in Paradise
and ourselves – it is the true Bread
of which all Christians participate.
The forgiveness of sins,
the Author of forgiveness being there, is confirmed;
the seed of our resurrection sown,
life everlasting bestowed. …
This very belief in the Most Holy Sacrament,
which, in truth, reality and substance,
contains the true and natural
Body of Our Lord,
is actually the abridgment of our Faith,
according to that of the Psalmist:
“He had made a memory of His wonderful works.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), St Francis de Sales, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 October – ‘ … When we do abandon all, Our Lord takes care of all …’

One Minute Reflection – 21 Octoberber – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” –Saint Ursula and Companions (Died c238) Virgin Martyrs –Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6; Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

And everyone who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.” – Matthew 19:29

REFLECTION – “WE MUST POSSESS a continual and imperturbable equanimity, amid the great variety of human occurrences and although, all things change around us, remain immovable, with our eyes fixed on God alone.
And, although, all things, I will not merely say around us but even within us, should turn topsy-turvy; whether our souls be joyful or sorrowful, in peace or in trouble, in light or in darkness, in temptation or in repose, in happiness or in disgust, although the sun scorch, or the dew refresh – we should always keep our will fixed on the good pleasure of God, as its sole and supreme object.

It is true that we require great confidence to abandon ourselves, without any reserve, to Divine Providence but, when we do abandon all, Our Lord takes care of all and disposes of all.
But, if we reserve anything which we are unwilling to confide to Him, He leaves us, as if He would say: “You think yourselves sufficiently wise to manage that affair without Me – you can do so and see what will come of it!
 – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritatis( Consoling Thoughts on God and Providence).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God that we may never cease devoutly, to venerate the triumphs of Thy holy Virgins and Martyrs, Ursula and her companions that, as we cannot worthily shew forth their praises, yet we may continually honour them, with lowly service. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, St Francis de Sales, St PETER!, The WORD, VENIAL SIN

Quote/s of the Day – 1 September – Arise!

Quote/s of the Day – 1 September – Pentecost XV – Galatians 5:25-26; 6:1-10; Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Young man,
I say to thee,
arise!

Luke 7:14

Rather blessed are those
who hear the Word of God
and keep it.’

Luke 11:28

She began to bathe His feet with her tears
and wiped them with the hair of her head
and kissed His feet
and anointed them with ointment.

Luke 7:38

Make ready then the vessel of your soul
that you may become a son of God
and an heir of God
and joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17);
if, indeed, you are preparing yourself
that you may receive;
if you are drawing near in faith
that you may be made faithful;
if of set purpose,
you are putting off the old man!

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Do not content yourself
with confessing your venial sins
merely as to the fact
but accuse yourself too,
of the motive which induced you
to commit them.

(Introduction to the Devout Life,
Part II, Chapter 19).

Christ was more concerned
with St. Peter’s repentance and remorse,
than with his sin.

(The Spirit of St. François de Sales, VII, 8)

​St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in "Follow Me", CATECHESIS, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, St Francis de Sales, The TRANSFIGURATION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 6 August – Listen to Him!

Quote/s of the Day – 6 August – The Transfiguration of the Lord – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

This is My beloved Son;
in Whom I Am well pleased,
listen to Him.

Matthew 17:5

I Am the Light of the world.
Whoever follows Me
will never walk in darkness
but will have the Light of Life.

John 8:12

Let us listen to the holy Voice of God
which summons us from on high,
from the holy mountain top.
There, we must hasten – I make bold to say –
like Jesus, Who is our leader
and has gone before us into Heaven.
There, with Him, may the eyes of our mind
shine with His light and the features of our soul
be made new; may we be transfigured with Him
and moulded to His image,
ever becoming divine,
being transformed in an ever greater degree of glory.

St Anastasius Sinaita (Died 6th Century)
Priest and Abbot

At His Transfiguration
Christ showed His disciples,
the splendour of His Beauty,
to which He will shape and colour,
those who are His :
‘He will reform our lowness
configured to the Body of His Glory.

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor of the Church

It is necessary, therefore, to obey
the Eternal Father by following Our Lord
in order to hear His Word.
And behold, how we are taught that all
persons, whatever their condition may be,
must pray and meditate,
for it is there, principally,
where this Divine Master speaks to us.
… But, it will not do us any good to listen,
if we do not DO what He says to us,
observing His commandments
and His wishes faithfully,

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

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, St Francis de Sales, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 5 August – Obedience

Quote/s of the Day – 5 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” –Dedication of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows – Dedication of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows – Sirach 24:14-16: Luke 11:27-28 – Scripture search here:

Rather blessed are those
who hear the Word of God
and keep it.
’”

Luke 11:28

Little children follow and obey their father.
They love their mother.
They know nothing of covetousness,
ill-will, bad temper, arrogance and lying.
This state of mind opens the road to Heaven.
To imitate our Lord’s own humility,
we must return to the simplicity
of God’s little ones.

St Hilary (315-368)
Father and Doctor of the Church

If anyone comes to Me
without hating his father
and mother, wife and children,
brothers and sisters
and even his own life,
he cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:26

“ … For his brothers
His relatives according to the flesh
who did not
believe in Him,
of what advantage was that relationship?
… Even her maternal relationship
would have done Mary no good,
unless she had borne Christ
more happily in her heart,
than in her flesh.”

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

Obedience is a short cut to perfection.

St Philip Neri (1515-1595)

Let us then depart, let us depart from Egypt,
let us approach Our Lord,
let us make provision of good works;
let the feet of our affections be bare,
let us clothe ourselves with innocence,
let us not be satisfied with crying for mercy,
let us go forth from Egypt, let us delay no longer.
The hour is come to arise from sleep,
since we know that He receives sinners;
the Angels await our repentance,
the Saints pray for it!

St Francis de Sales 91567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on Love of Self, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St Francis de Sales, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The RESURRECTION, The SECOND COMING, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 30 July – Heaven

Quote/s of the Day – 30 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Abdon and St Senen (Died c250) Martyrs – 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward
will be great in Heaven.

Matthew 5:12

I know a man in Christ—
whether he was in or outside the body,
I do not know, God knows—
who was snatched up to the third heaven. . .
and heard secret words,
words which it is not granted to man to utter.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4

“Our Lord Jesus Christ
Has appeared to us from the bosom of the Father.
He has come and drawn us out of the shadows
And enlightened us with His joyful Light.

Day has dawned for humankind,
Cast out the power of darkness.
For us, a Light from His Light has arisen
That has enlightened our darkened eyes.

Over the world He has made His glory arise
And has lit up the deepest depths.
Death is no more, darkness has ended,
The gates of hell are shattered.

He has illumined every creature,
All the shades from times long past.
He has brought about salvation and given us Life;
Next He will come in glory.

Our King is coming in His great glory:
Let us light our lamps
and go out to meet Him (Mt 25,6);
Let us be glad in Him, as He has been glad in us
And gives us gladness, with His glorious Light.

My friends, arise! make yourselves ready
To give thanks to our Saviour King,
Who will come in His glory and make us joyful
With His joyous Light in the Kingdom.”

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father of the Church
(Hymn I on the Resurrection)

You will begin to taste, even in this life,
a foretaste of eternal life,
for the principal beatitude of the soul in Heaven,
is to be confirmed forever in the Will of the Father.
Thus, it tastes the divine sweetness.
But it will never taste it in Heaven,
if it is not clothed with it on earth,
where we are pilgrims and travellers.
When it is clothed with it, it tastes God
by grace in its troubles; its memory will be full
of the Blood of the Lamb without blemish;
its mind will be opened and contemplate
the ineffable love that God has made known
in the Wisdom of His Son and the love it finds,
in the Holy Spirit’s goodness, casts out self-love
and love for created things, to love only God.
So do not be afraid … but suffer with joy,
so as to conform yourself to the Will of God.
””

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Let us not strive for the rewards of Heaven,
valuable though they may be
but live, so as to please the God of Heaven.
If God were not in Heaven,
all its beauty, riches and sweetness,
would be dull rather than delightful.
By faith, we know, God already dwells within us.
But in Heaven, we will see God face-to-face.
May we so live that one day,
we will be in Heaven praising
and praying eternally,
before our Lord and Saviour!

St Jane Frances de Chantal VHM (1572-1641)

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MEEKNESS, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St Francis de Sales

Quote/s of the Day – 28 July – ‘… He who humbles himself,shall be exalted.’

Quote/s of the Day – 28 July – Pentecost X – 1 Corinthians 12:2-11; Luke 18:9-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Everyone who exalts himself,
shall be humbled
and he who humbles himself,
shall be exalted.

Luke 18:14

The most perfect degree of humility
is to take pleasure in contempt and humiliations.
Contempt suffered patiently,
is worth more before God,
for love of Him, than
a thousand fastings and disciplines.

Let us not lower our eyes
without humiliating the heart , at the same time;
let others not think
we want the last place,
without truly desiring it!

Humility makes our lives,
acceptable to God,
meekness, makes us
acceptable to men.

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

Posted in ACT of LOVE, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, Our MORNING Offering, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR

Our Morning Offering – 28 July – O Love Eternal! An Act of Love

Our Morning Offering – 28 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Pentecost X

O Love Eternal!
An Act of Love
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

(From his “A Treatise on the Love of God”)

O Love Eternal,
my soul needs and chooses Thee eternally!
Ah, come Holy Ghost
and inflame our hearts with Thine Love!
To love — or to die!
To die — and to love!
To die to all other love
in order to live in Jesus’ Love,
so that we may not die eternally
but that we may live in Thine Eternal Love,
O Saviour of our souls,
we eternally sing,
Live, Jesus! Jesus, I love!
Live Jesus, Whom I love!
Jesus, I love, Jesus Who lives
and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, St Francis de Sales, St JOSEPH, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 23 July – Being servants

Quote/s of the Day – 23 July – The Memorial of St Apollinaris (1st Century) Bishop Martyr, Disciple of St Peter – 1 Peter 5:1-11, Luke 22:24-30

Let him who is greatest among you,
become as the youngest
and he who is the leader,
as the servant.

Luke 22:25

Abide in Me and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abide in the vine,
so neither can you,
unless you abide in Me.

John 15:4

O my Lord, what a price Thou paid
to ransom my useless service! …
What a way Thou has, full of love,
of gentleness and of kindness,
to win back and submit this rebellious servant,
by triumphing over evil through good,
by confounding my pride with Thy humility,
by filling this ungrateful person, with Thy kindness! This! This is howThy Wisdom triumphed
!”

Blessed Guerric of Igny (c1080-1157)
Cistercian Abbot

True humility consists in persuading
and convincing oneself
that without God, we are insignificant
and despicable
and, in accepting to be treated as such!

St Ignatius Loyola SJ (1491-1556)

If, when stung by slander
or ill-nature,
we wax proud
and swell with anger,
it is a proof that our gentleness
and humility
are unreal
and mere artificial show!

How faithful in humility was the great Saint
we are celebrating!
That cannot be said in all its perfection,
for, in spite of what he was,
in what poverty and lowliness he lived,
all the days of his life – a poverty and lowliness
beneath which. he kept hidden and concealed,
his great virtues and dignity! …
Truly, I am free of doubt that the Angels came,
beside themselves with admiration, rank upon rank,
to behold and wonder at his humility,
while he sheltered that dearest Child
in the poor workshop where he worked at his employment,
so as to feed the little Boy and the Mother entrusted to him.

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

Posted in CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, INDULGENCES, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, St Francis de Sales, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 21 July – ‘Scripture is perfect wisdom,starting point and point of arrival … ‘

Quote/s of the Day – 21 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood”

And He entered the temple
and began to cast out those
who were selling and buying in it,
saying to them, it is written,
‘My house is a house of prayer’
but you have made it a den of thieves.

Luke 19:45-46

Sacred Scripture is the Lord’s money!

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Ignorance of the Scriptures
is ignorance of Christ!

The faithful, who spend
at least a quarter of an hour,
in reading Sacred Scripture
with great reverence,
due to the Word of God,
after the manner of spiritual reading,
may gain, an Indulgence of 300 days.

St Jerome (347-419)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Scripture is perfect wisdom,
starting point and point of arrival,
to which our whole existence
should be adapted.”

St Hesychius of Jerusalem (Died c450)
Priest, Exegete, Father

Always (read and) listen to it (the Scriptures)
with attention and reverence;
make good use of it;
do not let it fall to earth
but take it into your heart
like a precious balm.
Do all this after the example
of the most holy Virgin,
for she carefully kept in her heart
all the words spoken in praise of her Child.
Remember that our Lord gathers up
the words we speak to Him in prayer,
in measure with the way
we gather up those He speaks to us
by His preaching.

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

(Introduction to the Devout Life
Part 2 Chapter 17)

Posted in GOD ALONE!, ON the SAINTS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on VOCATIONS, SAINT of the DAY, St Francis de Sales

Quote/s of the Day – 19 July – St Vincent de Paul

Quote/s of the Day – 19 July – St Vincent de Paul CM (1581-1660) Confessor, “Holy Hero of Divine Charity”

Prayer for Vocations
By St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

O Lord,
send good workers to Thy Church,
but may they be good!
Send good missionaries
to work in Thy vineyard,
labourers, O my God,
such as they ought to be –
utterly detached from themselves,
their own comfort
and worldly goods.
Let them even be few in number,
provided that they are good!
O Lord, grant this grace
to Thy Church.
Amen

If humble souls are contradicted,
they remain calm;
if they are calumniated,
they suffer with patience;
if they are little esteemed,
neglected, or forgotten,
they consider this their due;
if they are weighed down
with occupations,
they perform them cheerfully.

We should honour God in His Saints
and beseech Him to make us partakers
of the graces He poured,
so abundantly, upon them.

Humility is nothing but truth
and pride is nothing but lies.”

It is only for your love alone
that the poor will forgive you
the bread you give to them.

Go to the poor,
you will find God.

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/07/19/quote-s-of-the-day-19-july-st-vincent-de-paul/

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Posted in MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, St Francis de Sales, The ANNUNCIATION

Quote/s of the Day – 17 July – The Feast of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Quote/s of the Day – 17 July – The Feast of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The most holy Virgin, Our Lady,
gave us an outstanding example of this
when she spoke these words:
“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord,
let it be done to me according to your word”
(Lk 1:38). When she said she was
the handmaid of the Lord,
she was performing the greatest act of humility
it is possible to do and,
all the more so, in that she was contradicting
the praise given her by the Angel –
that she would be Mother of God,
that the child to be born from her womb
would be called Son of the Most High, a greater dignity than any we might imagine –
I say, she opposed her lowliness
and unworthiness to all these praises
and greatness, by saying
that she was the handmaid of the Lord.”

True humility scarecly ever
utters words of jumility.”

Humility, makes our lives acceptable to God,
meekness, makes us acceptable to men.”

Humility is not just about self-mistrust
but about the entrusting of ourselves to God.
Distrusting ourselves and our own strength
produces trust in God
and from that trust,
generosity of soul is born.

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