Category: St Francis de Sales

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 January – Obedience

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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

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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

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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

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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 … ‘

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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”

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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 ?

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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

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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

“Watch” over 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

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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

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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 ..?

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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

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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 …’

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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!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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.’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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 … ‘

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

Posted in "Follow Me", CATHOLIC Quotes, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, St Francis de Sales, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 July – ‘ … When we do abandon all, Our Lord takes care of all …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 17 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Feast of The Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary – St Alexius –1 Timothy 6:6-12, 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 God, unto all Thy servants, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness both of mind and body and, by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, maybe delivered from present sadness and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness.ThroughJesus 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, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on the ANTI-christ, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, St Francis de Sales, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 13 July – My Church

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 13 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Anacletus (c25-c89) 3rd Bishop of Rome and Martyr – 1 Petet 5:1-4; 5:10-11: Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And I say to thee: That thou art Peter
and upon this rock, I will build My Church
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Matthew 16:18

“… About the fourth watch of the night,
He came towards them, walking upon the sea …”

Mark 6:48

“In the expression “fourth watch of the night”
we find the number corresponding
to the signs of His care.
Thus, the first watch was that of the Law;
the second, that of the Prophets;
the third, that of His coming in the flesh;
the fourth is situated in His return in glory.
But He will find the Church declining
and hemmed in by the spirit of the Antichrist
and all the distresses of this world.
He will come when anxieties and afflictions
are at their height …
The disciples will be terrified
even by the coming of the Lord,
fearing the images of a reality distorted by Antichrist and by the deceitful imaginations infiltrating their sight.
But our good Lord will speak to them directly,
casting out their fear and saying:
“It is I”, dispersing their fear of imminent shipwreck
by faith in His coming! ”

St Hilary (315-368)
Bishop of Poitiers,
Father & Doctor of the Church

“We, as Catholics,
are not permitted to believe
anything of our own will,
nor to choose, what someone has believed,
of his [own will].
We have God’s Apostles as authorities,
who did not themselves, of their own wills,
choose anything of what they wanted to believe
but faithfully transmitted,
to the nations,
the teachings of Christ.”

St Isidore of Seville (c560-636)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“Let us trust in Him. Who has
placed this burden upon us.
What we ourselves cannot bear,
let us bear, with the help of Christ.
For He is All-powerful
and He tells us:
‘My yoke is easy and my burden light.’”

St Boniface (c672-754) Martyr

“Thus we do not say that the Pope
cannot err in his private opinions,
as did John XXII;
or be altogether a heretic,
as perhaps Honorius was.
Now, when he, [the Pope],
is explicitly a heretic,
he falls ipso facto, from his dignity
and OUT of the Church! …

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

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, St Francis de Sales, St PAUL!, St PETER!, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 July – ‘ … When we do abandon all, Our Lord takes care of all …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 4 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Within the Octave of Sts Peter and Paul – Acts 5:12-16, 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 – God, Who hast consecrated this day to the Martyrdom of Thy Apostles Peter and Paul, give Thy Church a precept to follow them in all things. 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, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 1 July– No other way …

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 1 July– “The Feast and Month of the Most Precious Blood”

“Carry me, O Christ,
on Thy Cross
which is salvation to the wanderer,
rest for the wearied
and, in which alone,
is Life for those who die.”

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

Excerpt from the Prayer
to the Five Wounds of Jesus
By St Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)

I pray Thee, O most gentle Jesus,
that having redeemed me
by Baptism from original sin,
so now, by Thy Precious Blood,
which is offered and received,
throughout the world,
deliver me from all evils,
past, present and to come.
And by Thy most bitter Death,
give me a lively faith,
a firm hope
and perfect charity,
so that I may love Thee
with all my heart and all my soul
and all my strength.
Make me firm and steadfast in good works
and grant me perseverance in Thy service,
so that I may be able to please Thee always.
Amen.

“Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Judeaorum –
Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.”
John 19:19

“HE DIED, THEN
But although He died for us and was lifted up on the Cross,
those who refuse to look upon Him, will surely die,
for there is no other redemption but in this Cross.

O God, how spiritually beneficial and profitable
is a consideration of Thy Cross and Passion!
Can we contemplate our Saviour’s humility on the Cross,
without becoming humble and,
having some affection for humiliations?
Can we see His obedience, without being obedient?
Certainly not!
No-one has ever looked upon Our Lord Crucified
and remained dead or sick.
On the other hand, all who have died,
have done so because.
they were unwilling to gaze upon Him,
just as the Israelites died.
who were unwilling to gaze upon the serpent
which Moses had raised upon the pole.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in ASPIRATIONS and EJACULATIONS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, St Francis de Sales, St PAUL!, St PETER!, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 29 June – Confessing Christ

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 29 June – Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles – Acts 12:1-11; Matthew 16:13-19 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:16

“… Now you must be, for a little time,
made sorrowful in divers temptations.
That the trial of your faith,
(much more precious than gold
which is tried by the fire)
may be found unto praise and glory
and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 1:6-7

“And all who wish to live
piously in Christ Jesus,
will suffer persecution.”

2 Timothy 3:12

“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

“It is an old custom
with the servants of God,
always to have some little prayers ready
and to be darting them up to Heaven
frequently during the day,
lifting their minds to God
out of the filth of this world.
He who adopts this plan,
will get great fruit, with little pains.”

St Philip Neri (1515-1595)

“He who most loves,
will be most loved.”

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

Posted in CATECHESIS, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, Hail MARY!, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARY, MATER ECCLESIAE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, St Francis de Sales, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, To JESUS through MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 27 June – – Mother of Perpetual Succour

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 27 June – – Mother of Perpetual Succour

“Let not your heart be disturbed.
Do not fear that sickness,
nor any other sickness or anguish.
Am I not here, who is your Mother?
Are you not under my protection?
Am I not your health?
Are you not happily within my fold?
What else do you wish?
Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything!”

Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego
9 December 1531

“Gracious Lady,
you are a Mother and Virgin,
you are the Mother
of the body and soul
of our Head and Redeemer,
you are also truly Mother
of all the members of Christ’s Mystical Body.
For through your love,
you have co-operated
in the begetting of the faithful in the Church.
Unique among women,
you are Mother and Virgin,
Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ.
You are the beauty and charm of earth, O Virgin.
You are, forever, the image of the holy Church.
Through a woman came death,
through a woman came life!
yes, through you, O Mother of God.“

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

Whenever I Say Hail Mary
Blessed Alain de la Roche (1428-1475)

Whenever I say Hail Mary,
The Court of Heaven rejoices
And the earth is lost in wonderment
And I despise the world
And my heart is brim full
Of the love of God.

When I say Hail Mary,
All my fears wilt and die
And my passions are quelled.

If I say Hail Mary,
Devotion grows within me
And sorrow for sin awakens.

When I say Hail Mary,
Hope is made strong in my breast
And the dew of consolation
Falls on my soul
more and more,
Because I say Hail Mary.
And my spirit rejoices,
And sorrow fades away
When I say …
Hail Mary!

“Let me now say something of the devotion
which we ought to have toward this holy Virgin.
The worldly-minded imagine
that devotion to Our Lady
usually consists in carrying a Rosary in their cincture.
It seems to them that, it is enough,
to pray it a number of times without doing anything else.
In this, they are greatly mistaken!
For our dear Mistress wants us to do
what her Son commands us [Jn 2:5]
and, considers as done to herself,
the honour we give to her Son,
by keeping His commandments.”

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

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GUARDIAN ANGELS - Prayers etc, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, St Francis de Sales, The HEART, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 26 June – ‘Why do you put yourself in trouble? …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 26 June – Ecclesiasticus 44:10-15, Luke 12:1-8 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings?
And yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
Yes, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Therefore, do not be afraid, you are of more value t
han many sparrows.”

Luke 12:6-7

“[He] hath called you out of darkness
into His marvellous Light … ”

1 Peter 2:9

“In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart, I have conquered the world.”
John 16:33

“Who will be crowned without having fought?
Who will go to rest if he is not tired
(cf. 2 Tim 2:5-6)?
Who will gather the fruits of life
without having planted virtues in his soul?
Cultivate them, prepare the earth
with the greatest care,
take trouble over it, sweat over it,
children, God’s workers,
imitators of the Angels,
competitors with incorporeal beings,
lights for those who are in the world.
(cf. Phil 2:15)!”

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)

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

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

“Why do you put yourself in trouble?
God is good; He sees very well what you are.”

(Letters to Persons in Religion, III, 16)

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

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

“We think not enough of this Truth –
that God is present with us
that He sees our thoughts,
even long before we have them.
That He knows what we think
and shall think, better than we ourselves
that He sees the folds and recesses,
of our heart
and of this other Truth –
that NOTHING HAPPENS to us
but by the order of Providence.
We should all be Saints,
if we well apprehended these Truths.
And truly, it is a great consolation,
to know that God sees
the bottom of our heart.”

St Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
Disciple and Collaborator with
St Francis de Sales in Founding
the Sisters of the Visitation