Category: POETRY

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the LIGHT, EASTER, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS on FAITH, QUOTES for CHRIST, Quotes on SALVATION, The RESURRECTION

Our Morning Offering – 2 April – He is Risen, Tell the Story

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Our Morning Offering – 2 April – Easter Tuesday

He is Risen, Tell the Story
By Father Willard F Janusch (1930-2018)

He is risen, tell the story
to the nations of the night;
from their sin and from their blindness,
let them walk in Easter light.
Now begins a new creation,
now has come our true salvation.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Mary goes to tell the others
of the wonders she has seen;
John and Peter come a’running
what can all this truly mean?
O Rabboni, Master holy,
to appear to one so lowly!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

He has cut down death and evil,
He has conquered all despair;
He has lifted from our shoulders,
all the weight of anxious care.
Risen Brother, now before you,
we will worship and adore You.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Now get busy, bring the message,
so that all may come to know
there is hope for saint and sinner,
for our God has loved us so.
Ev’ry Church bell is a’ringing,
ev’ry Christian now is singing.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

A Parish Priest, Seminary Professor and prolific Musician and Hymnist, Fr Willard wa Ordained in 1956 and died at the age of 88 in 2018.

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, POETRY

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 29 March – Good Friday – Christ, What am I to Give Thee for my life?

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 29 March – Good Friday – The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John 18:1-40.19:1-42 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And bearing His own Cross,
He went forth to the place which is called Calvary
but in Hebrew Golgotha.”
John 19:17

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

GOOD FRIDAY
The Word of the Cross
(Christ,What am I to Give Thee for my life?)

St Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431)
Father of the Church

“Look on thy God, Christ hidden in our flesh.
A bitter word, the Cross and bitter sight –
Hard rind without, to hold the Heart of Heaven.
Yet, sweet it is, for God upon that tree
Did offer up His Life upon that rood –
My Life hung, that my Life might stand in God.
Christ, what am I to give Thee for my life?
Unless, take from Thy Hands, the cup they hold,
To cleanse me with the precious draught of death.
What shall I do? My body to be burned?
Make myself vile? The debt is not paid out yet.
Whate’er I do, it is but I and Thou,
And still do I come short, still must Thou pay
My debts, O Christ, for debts Thyself had’st none.
What love may balance Thine? My Lord was found
In fashion like a slave that so His slave
Might find himself in fashion like his Lord.
Think you the bargain’s hard, to have exchanged
The transient for the eternal, to have sold,
Earth to buy Heaven? More dearly God bought me!”

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DYING / LAST WORDS, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOOD FRIDAY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, POETRY, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION, The SECOND COMING, The SEVEN PASSION Feasts, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 March– There they crucified Him – John 19:18

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One Minute Reflection – 29 March – Good Friday – The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John 18:1-40.19,1-42. – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“There they crucified Him and with Him two others, one on either side and Jesus between them. ” – John 19:18

REFLECTION – “Truly, you are a hidden God!” (Is 45:15).   Why hidden?   Because He had neither form nor beauty, yet power was in His Hands.   It was there His fortitude was hidden.

Was He not hidden when He submitted His Hands to brutes and His Palms received the nails?   The print of the nails gleamed on His Hands and His innocent Side received the wound.   They shackled His Feet in fetters, the iron pierced His soles and His Feet were fastened to the tree.   These wounds did God suffer on our behalf, at the hands of His own people, in His own home.   O how marvellous are His Wounds by which the wounds of the world were healed!   How victorious His Wounds, by which He slew death and stung hell! … Therefore, O Church, O dove, You have coverts in the rock and a hollow in the wall in which to rest (cf. Sg 2:14). …

And what will you do … when He comes in the clouds with great power and majesty? (cf Mt 24:30)   He will come down with Heaven and earth ablaze and by the terror of His coming, He will dissolve the elements.   When He has come, the Sign of the Cross will be seen in the sky and the beloved One will show the scars of His Wounds and the prints of the nails, by which He was transfixed in His own home!” … St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) – Cistercian Monk, Bishop

PRAYER – Deliver us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all evils, past, present and to come and by the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul and of all the Saints, mercifully grant peace in our days, that through the assistance of Thy mercy we may be always free from sin and secure from all disturbance. 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.
Faithful Cross! above all other, One and only noble Tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom, None in fruit thy peer may be.
Sweetest wood and sweetest iron,
Sweetest weight is hung on thee. (Antiphons).

Posted in POETRY, SAINT of the DAY, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote of the Day – 8 February – The Mantle of St John de Matha – A Legend of “The Red, White and Blue”

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Quote of the Day – 8 February –St John of Matha O.SS.T (1160-1213) Confessor, Priest, Founder of The Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives

Excerpt from
The Mantle of St John de Matha
A Legend of “The Red, White and Blue”
(1154–1864)
By John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892).

A STRONG and mighty Angel,
Calm, terrible and bright,
The Cross in blended red and blue
Upon his mantle white!

Two captives by him kneeling,
Each on his broken chain,
Sang praise to God who raiseth
The dead to life again?

Dropping his Cross-wrought mantle,
“Wear this” the Angel said;
“Take thou, O Freedom’s Priest, its sign,—
The white, the blue and red.”

Then rose up John de Matha
In the strength the Lord Christ gave,
And begged through all the land of France
The ransom of the slave.

The gates of tower and castle
Before him open flew,
The drawbridge at his coming fell,
The door-bolt backward drew.

For all men owned his errand
And paid his righteous tax;
And the hearts of lord and peasant
Were in his hands as wax.

At last, outbound from Tunis,
His bark her anchor weighed,
Freighted with seven-score Christian souls
Whose ransom he had paid!

Posted in Holy Family PRAYERS, HYMNS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, POETRY, QUOTES on the FAMILY, The HOLY SPIRIT, The KINGDOM of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 7 January – O House of Nazareth The Blest By Pope Leo XIII

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Our Morning Offering – 7 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” and the Feast of the Holy Family

O Gente Felix
O House of Nazareth The Blest
By Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)

O house of Nazareth the blest,
Fair hostess of the Lord,
The Church was nurtured at thy breast
And shared thy scanty hoard.

In all the spreading lands of earth.
The wandering sun may see
No dearer spot, no ampler worth
Than erst was found in thee!

We know thy humble tenement
Was heaven’s hermitage:
Celestial heralds came and went
In endless embassage.

There, whatsoever Joseph asks
Christ hastens to fulfil;
While Mary loves the household tasks
That wait her joyous will.

There, Joseph toileth at her side
Her joys and griefs to share,
With thousand ties knit to his bride,
Of love and work and prayer.

Yet how their bosoms constant burn
And deeper ardours prove
In love of Christ, whose eyes return
Tokens of mutual love.

O then, in all the homes of earth,
Be Love the bond of life:
May it enthrone at every hearth
The peace that husheth strife.

All praise to thee, O Jesus,
Who parents dost obey;
Praise to the sovereign Father
And Paraclete for aye.
Amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, POETRY, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The EPIPHANY Prayers, THEOLOGICAL

Quote/s of the Day – 6 January – Its Epiphany! Remember to Chalk the Door!

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 January – The Epiphany of the Lord

Chalk the Door – Epiphany House Blessing
20 C+M+B 24

“Christus mansionem benedicat”
Peace be to this house
and to all who dwell herein.
From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem
to adore the Lord – “and opening their treasures
they offered precious gifts –
Gold for the Great King,
Incense for the True God
and Myrrh to symbolise His Burial.”

The equation is written to be the first two digits of the year,
followed by the initials C, M and B,
followed by the last two digits of the year.
Each portion is split by plus signs (being the Sign of the Cross).
For this year, the equation would be written as
“20 + C + M + B + 24”
The chalking holds two meanings.
The C, M and B, refer to the traditional names
of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
The letters also stand for the Latin phrase
“Christus Mansionem Benedicat” which means
“May Christ Bless this House”
The plus signs represents the Cross
and the 20 and 24 simply refer to the year.

“Three gifts they bring,
three gifts they bear away,
For Incense, Myrrh and Gold,
Faith, Hope and Love
And with their gifts,
the givers’ hearts do stay,
Their mind from Christ,
no parting can remove,
His humble state, His stall, His poor retinue
They fancy more than all their rich revenue.”

St Robert Southwell SJ (1561-1595)
Priest and Martyr

(Excerpt from the Poem “The Epiphany”)

Oh Jesus, My Love
By St Paul of the Cross (1604-1775)

Oh Jesus, my Love,
may my heart be consumed
in loving Thee.
Make me humble and holy,
giving me childlike simplicity,
transform me into Thy holy Love.
O Jesus, Life of my life,
Joy of my soul,
God of my heart,
accept my heart as an altar,
on which I will sacrifice to Thee,
the gold of ardent charity,
the incense of continual,
humble and fervent prayer
and the myrrh
of constant sacrifices!
Amen

Epiphany Prayer

“Give me, therefore, I pray Thee,
this gold, this incense and this myrrh.
Give me the gold of Thy holy love,
give me the spirit of holy prayer,
give me the desire and strength
to mortify myself in everything
that displeases Thee.
I am resolved to obey Thee and to love Thee
but Thou knowest my weakness,
oh, give me the grace to be faithful to Thee!”

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

Posted in CHRISTMAS Prayers & Hymns, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, The DIVINE INFANT

Our Morning Offering – 30 December – Afar from Where the Sun Doth Rise – A Solis Ortus Cardine

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Our Morning Offering – 30 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” –The Sixth Day Within the Christmas Octave

Afar from Where the Sun Doth Rise
A Solis Ortus Cardine
By Coelius Sedulius (Died c 450)
Trans Msgr Ronald A Knox (1888-1957)

Afar from where the sun doth rise
To lands beneath the western skies,
Homage to Christ our King we pay,
Born of a Virgin’s womb this day

Blessed Creator, Thou didst take__
A servant’s likeness for our sake,
And didst in flesh our flesh restore
To bid Thy creature live once more.

Chaste was the womb where Thou didst dwell,
Of heavenly grace the hidden cell;
Nor might the blessed Maid proclaim
Whence her dread Guest in secret came.

Down from on high God came to rest__
His glory in a sinless breast;
Obedience at His word believed,
And virgin innocence conceived.

Ere long, that holy child she bore
By Gabriel’s message named before,
Whom yet unborn, with eager pride,
The swift forerunner prophesied.

Fast doth He sleep, where straw doth spread,
A humble manger for His bed.
A Mother’s milk that strength renewed,
Which gives the birds of heaven their food.

Glory to God, the angels cry;
Earth hears the echo from on high;
Mankind’s true Shepherd and it’s Lord
By shepherd hearts is first adored.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, MARTYRS, POETRY, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 28 December – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

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Quote/s of the Day – 28 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs – Apocalypse 14:1-5, Matthew 2:13-18 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Then Herod …
killed all the male children
who were in Bethlehem
and in all the borders …”

Matthew 2:16

“Whoever says
he abides in Christ,
ought to walk,
even as Christ walked …”

1 John 2:6

The 15th Century English Carol commemorates the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. Known as the Coventry Carol:

Lully, Lullay, thou little tiny child.
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay thou little tiny child
Bye, bye, lully, lullay

O sisters, too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day,
This poor Youngling for whom we sing
Bye, bye lully, lullay

Herod the King, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day,
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.

Then woe is me, poor child, for thee
And ever mourn and say;
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye lully, lullay.

A Prayer to the Holy Martyrs
to Obtain Their Protection
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

O thou blessed Princes of the heavenly Kingdom!
Thou who sacrificed to the Almighty God,
the honours, the riches
received, in return, the unfading glory
and never-ending joys of Heaven!
Thou who art secure in the everlasting possession
of the brilliant Crown of glory
which thy sufferings have obtained!
Look with compassionate regard upon
our wretched state in this vale of tears,
where we groan in the uncertainty
of what maybe our eternal destiny.
And from that Divine Saviour,
for Whom, thou suffered so many torments
and Who now repays thee with such unspeakable glory,
obtain for us that we may love Him,
with all our heart and receive in return,
the grace of perfect resignation,
under the trials of this life,
fortitude, under the temptations of the enemy
and perseverance, to the end.
May thy powerful intercession
obtain for us that we may one day,
in thy blessed company,
sing the praises of the Eternal God
and even as thou now do,
face-to-face, enjoy the Beatitude of His Vision!
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/28/quote-s-of-the-day-28-december-the-holy-innocents-martyrs/

Posted in HYMNS, MARTYRS, POETRY, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 28 December – Salvete Flores Martyrum! – Hail, Ye Little Martyr Flowers!

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Our Morning Offering – 28 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Feast of Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Salvete Flores Martyrum!
Hail, Ye Little Martyr Flowers!
By Prudentius (c348 – c413)
(Aurelius Prudentius Clemens)
The Renowned Poet

All Hail! ye infant Martyr flowers,
Cut off in life’s first dawning hours.
As rosebuds snap’t in temptest strife,
When Herod sought Thy Saviours life.

Thou, tender flock of lambs, we sing,
First victims slain for Christ Thy King.
Beside the very altar, gay
With palms and crowns, ye seem to play.

All honour, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.

Salvete Flores Martyrum is the Office Hymn for Lauds on the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28 Dec). Its stanzas are drawn from Prudentius’ Epiphany Hymn, Cathemerinon and were

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, HYMNS, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN QUOTES, MOTHER of GOD, POETRY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The ANNUNCIATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY CROSS, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 14 December – St Venantius Fortunatus

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Quote/s of the Day – 14 December – Within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – The Feast of St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609) Bishop, Poet, Hymnist, Writer. Another “Golden Words.”

“O Mother blest!
And chosen Shrine
wherein the Architect Divine,
Whose Hand contains the earth and sky
vouchsafed in hidden guise to lie;
Blest in the message Gabriel brought;
blest in the work, the Spirit wrought;
Most blest, to bring to human birth,
the long desired of all the earth!”

“See the destined day arise!
See a willing Sacrifice!
Jesus, to redeem our loss,
hangs upon the shameful Cross;
Jesus, Who but Thee could bear
wrath so great and justice fair?
Every pang and bitter throe,
finishing Thine life of woe?”

“Hail, O Altar, Hail, O Victim,
For the glory of Thy Passion,
By which Life endured death
And by death, restored life!”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/14/quote-s-of-the-day-14-december-st-venantius-fortunatus/

St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609)

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, POETRY, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, ROSARY QUOTES, ROSARY QUOTES

Quote/s of the Day – 31 October – Goodbye October

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Quote/s of the Day – 31 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Goodbye October

“Be constant in secret prayers
which God, Who indeed sees in secret,
rewards in the open.
Hold fast to this exercise
of a most excellent way of life.
that you may find hidden treasure
in the day of need.”

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

“… [I] resolved to recite a Rosary
for anyone who caused me trouble.
Then I heard the Voice
from the Tabernacle say,
‘Your prayers for those
who mortify you,
are very pleasing to Me.
In exchange, I am ready
to grant you many graces.‘”

St Serafino of Montegranaro (1540-1604)

TOP 10 Practical Guide to Holiness

  1. Go to Mass with deepest devotion.
  2. Spend a half hour to reflect upon your main failing
    and make resolutions to avoid it.
  3. Do daily spiritual reading for at least 15 minutes,
    if a half hour is not possible.
  4. Say the Rosary everyday.
  5. Also daily, if at all possible, visit the Blessed Sacrament
    and toward evening, meditate on the Passion of Christ for a half hour.
  6. Conclude the day with evening prayer
    and an examination of conscience over all the faults & sins of the day.
  7. Every month make a review of the month in confession.
  8. Choose a special Patron every month
    and imitate that Patron in some special virtue.
  9. Precede every great feast with a novena, that is, nine days of devotion.
  10. Try to begin and end every activity with a “Hail Mary.”

Bl Francis Xavier Seelos (1819-1867)

My Oldest Friend
By John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

My oldest friend, mine from the hour
When first I drew my breath,
My faithful friend, that shall be mine,
Unfailing, till my death….

Mine when I stand before the Judge,
And mine, if spared to stay
Within the golden furnace, till
My sin is burn’d away.

And mine, O Brother of my soul,
When my release shall come,
Thy gentle arms shall lift me then,

Posted in GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY MASS, The PASSION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 25 September – Prayer Before The Crucifix

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Our Morning Offering – 25 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Vincent Strambi CP (1745-1824) Bishop, Priest of the Passionist Order of St Paul of the Cross

Prayer Before The Crucifix
(The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass)
By St Vincent Strambi (1745-1824)

Jesus, by this Saving Sign,
bless this listless soul of mine.
Jesus, by Thine feet nailed fast,
mend the missteps of my past.
Jesus, with Thine riven hands,
bend my will to love’s demands.
Jesus, in Thine Heart laid bare,
warm my inner coldness there.
Jesus, by Thine thorn-crowned head,
still my pride till it is dead.
Jesus, by Thine muted tongue,
stay my words that hurt someone.
Jesus, by Thine tired eyes,
open mine to faith’s surprise.
Jesus, by Thine fading breath,
keep me faithful until death.
Yes, Lord, by this Saving Sign,
save this wayward soul of mine.
Amen

Posted in CATHOLIC TIME, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 22 September – In Thine Hour of Holy Sadness

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Our Morning Offering – 22 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Friday, the Day of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

In Thine Hour of Holy Sadness
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father & Doctor of the Church

In Thine hour of holy sadness
could I share with Thee, what gladness
should Thine Cross to me be showing.
Gladness past all thought of knowing,
bowed beneath Thine Cross to die!
Blessed Jesus, thanks I render
that in bitter death, so tender,
Thou now hear Thy supplicant calling,
Save me Lord!
and keep from falling, from Thee,
when my hour is nigh.
Amen.

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Holy Family PRAYERS, HYMNS, POETRY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The DIVINE INFANT, The HOLY FAMILY, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE, The HOLY SPIRIT, The KINGDOM of GOD, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Quote/s of the Day – 6 September – Seek the Kingdom

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 September – Feria Day – Galatians 5:16-24, Matthew 6:24-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“But seek first the Kingdom of God
and His righteousness and all these things
shall be added to you.”

Matthew 6:33

“And the Lord God shall give unto Him
the throne of David, His father
and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever.
And of His Kingdom there shall be no end.”
Luke 1:32-33

“During this present life, Christ rules in the Church.
By faith and love, He dwells
in the hearts of His elect and guides them,
by His unceasing care, toward their heavenly reward.
In the life to come, when their period of exile on earth is ended,
He will exercise His Kingship,
by leading the faithful to their heavenly country.
There, forever inspired by the vision of His Presence,
their one delight will be to praise and glorify Him.”

The Venerable St Bede (673-735)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“The only true riches are those
that make us rich in virtue.
Therefore, if you want to be rich, beloved,
love true riches.
If you aspire to the heights of real honour,
strive to reach the Kingdom of Heaven.
If you value rank and renown,
hasten to be enrolled
in the heavenly court of the Angels.”

St Pope Gregory III (Died 741)

Adveniat Regnum Tuum!
Thy Kingdom Come!
By Katharine Tynan (1861-1931)

Thy Kingdom come ! Yea, bid it come!
But when Thy Kingdom first began
On earth, Thy Kingdom was a home,
A Child, a woman and a man.

The Child was in the midst thereof,
O, Blessed Jesus, holiest One!
The Centre and the Fount of Love
Mary and Joseph’s little Son.

Wherever on the earth shall be
A child, a woman and a man,
Imaging that sweet trinity
Wherewith Thy Kingdom first began,

Establish there Thy kingdom! Yea,
And o’er that trinity of love
Send down, as in Thy appointed day,
The brooding Spirit of Thy Dove!

Katharine Tynan (1861-1931) was an Irish born Poet and Writer and a friend of the Jesuit Poet, Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins. She contributed to many periodicals and magazines such as the Jesuit published Studies, the Dominican published Irish Rosary, Irish Monthly, Hibernia and Dublin University Review, besides her own private publications.
After her marriage, the addition of her husband’s name, “Hinkson” is often appended to her publications.

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, ST FRANCIS de SALES, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 4 June – Trinity Sunday

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Quote/s of the Day – 4 June – Trinity Sunday

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
By St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Father, keep us from vain strife of words.
Grant to us constant profession of the Truth!
Preserve us in a true and undefiled faith
so that we may hold fast to that
which we professed
when we were Baptised
in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
that we may have You for our Father,
that we may abide in Your Son
and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen

An Act of Oblation
to the Holy Trinity
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

I vow and consecrate to God
all that is in me,
my memory and my actions,
to God the Father;
my understanding and my words,
to God the Son;
my will and my thoughts,
to God the Holy Spirit.
I consecrate my heart, my body,
my tongue, my senses
and all my sorrows
to the Sacred Humanity of Jesus Christ,
who consented to be betrayed
into the hands of wicked men
and to suffer the torment
of the Cross for me.
Amen

The Sign of the Cross
In the Name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost.

(50 Days. 100 Days if made with Holy Water
Blessed Pope Pius IX, 1865.)

WHENE’ER across this sinful flesh of mine
I draw the Holy Sign,
All good thoughts stir within me and renew
Their slumbering strength divine,
Till there springs up a courage high and true
To suffer and to do.

And who shall say but hateful spirits around,
For their brief hour unbound,
Shudder to see and wail their overthrow?
While on far heathen ground
Some lonely Saint hails the fresh odour, though
Its source he cannot know.

John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
Oxford – 25 November 1832

Posted in POETRY

Long, Long Way

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Maybe she was an Angel. sent to bless you 😇🙌

DarylMadden

It was early morning
She sat by the roadside
I made a simple comment
Boy it’s cold outside

She said I’m just waiting
For my work to begin
I said our place is open
And welcomed her in

We shared a cup of coffee
And toasted butter bread
And she warmed heart
And kept her belly fed

When we weren’t looking
With an offer of grace
She picked up a broom
And cleaned up the place

So she warmed our heart
Our lesson learned this day
A simple act of kindness
Can go a long, long way

View original post

Posted in "Follow Me", APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, POETRY, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, QUOTES on WATCHING, The RESURRECTION, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 10 April – “I Am the Resurrection and the Life

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 April – “The Month of the Resurrection” – Easter Monday – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“I Am
the Resurrection
and the
Life”

John 11:25

“The Lord has turned all our sunsets into sunrises.”

St Clement of Alexandria (150-215)
Father of the Church

“The people who sat in darkness,
have seen a great light”

Matthew 4:16

Hymn I on the Resurrection

“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

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 7 April – A Prayer of the Passion

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Our Morning Offering – 7 April – Good Friday

A Prayer of the Passion
By St Melito of Sardis (Died 180)
Bishop of Sardis, Apologist, Father

Lord Jesus Christ,
You were bound as a ram,
You were shorn like a lamb,
You were led to the slaughter like a sheep,
You bore the wood of the Cross on Your shoulders,
You were led up the hill of Calvary,
You were displayed naked on the Cross,
You were nailed to the bitter Cross by three spikes,
You delivered Your last Seven Words from the Cross
You died on the Cross, with a shout of victory,
You were buried in noble Joseph’s rock-hewn tomb,
By Your boundless suffering on our behalf,
fix our eyes unceasingly on Your broken Body
and the Blood that poured from Your Hands, Feet and Side.
By the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
that renews each day Your Sacrifice
of the Cross on our Altars,
apply the merits of the Cross to all humanity
and, especially to those who worship it daily
and who offer themselves back to You,
our great High Priest
and perpetually Intercessor,
before the Eternal Throne of God.
You live and reign,
through all the ages of ages.
Amen.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 4 April – My God, I Love Thee By St Francis Xavier

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Our Morning Offering – 4 April – Tuesday in Holy Week

My God, I Love Thee
By St Francis Xavier (1506-1552) (Attri)
Transr: Fr Edward Caswall CO (1814-1878)

My God, I love Thee, not because
I hope for heav’n thereby,
nor yet for fear, that loving not,
I might forever die
but for that Thou didst all mankind
upon the Cross embrace;
for us didst bear the nails and spear
and manifold disgrace.

And griefs and torments numberless
and sweat of agony;
e’en death itself and all for man,
who was Thine enemy.
Then why, most loving Jesus Christ,
should I not love Thee well?
Not for the sake of winning heav’n,
nor any fear of hell.

Not with the hope of gaining aught,
nor seeking a reward
but as Thyself hast loved me,
O ever loving Lord!
E’en so I love Thee and will love
and in Thy praise will sing,
solely because Thou art my God
and my eternal King!
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY WEEK, POETRY, QUOTES on HUMILITY, The PASSION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day –2 April – Palm Sunday

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Quote/s of the Day –2 April – Palm Sunday – Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:36-75; 27:1-60 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Behold the hour is at hand
and the Son of man shall be betrayed
into the hands of sinners.”

Matthew 26:45

“Yesterday, Christ raised Lazarus from the dead;
today, He is going to His own death.
Yesterday, He tore off the strips of cloth which bound Lazarus;
today, He is stretching out His Hand,
to those who want to bind Him.
Yesterday, He tore that man away from darkness;
today, for humankind,
He is going down into darkness
and the shadow of death.
And the Church is celebrating.
She is beginning the feast of Feasts,
for she is receiving her King as a Spouse,
for her King is in her midst.”

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

“Hosanna!”—which means : “Save!”
“Hosanna to You Who are in the highest.
O Almighty, save those who are humbled.
Have mercy on us,
in consideration of our palms,
may the palms we wave move Your Heart,
You Who come to call Adam”…

St Romanus the Melodist (c 490-c 556)

“The Apostles led the ass and colt to Our Lord.
We must note, that He deliberately told them
to loose them and lead them to Him.
If we wish to go to our Saviour,
we too must allow ourselves
to be loosed from our passions,
our habits, affections and the bonds of sin,
which keep us from serving Him.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

Posted in GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, HYMNS, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The PASSION

Saint of the Day – 2 April – Blessed Arnulf of Leuven O.Cist. (c1200-1276) Abbot

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Saint of the Day – 2 April – Blessed Arnulf of Leuven O.Cist. (c1200-1276) Abbot of the Cistercian Abbey in Villers-la-Ville, Poet, Writer. After serving in this office for ten years, he abdicated, hoping to pursue a life devoted to study and asceticism but he died within a year thereafter. Born in c1200 in Leuven, Belgium and died in 1276 the Abbey at Villers-la-Ville, Brabant (Holland) of natural causes. Also known as – Arnulf, Arnulf of Louvain, Arnulf of Lovanium, Arnolf of Löwen, Arnulf of Villers, Arnulfus Lovaniensis, Arnolfo, Arnoul.

We have scant information on his life and his antecedents. All we have is the knowledge of his work as a Monk.

He compiled the first volume of the Annals of the Villers Abbey (1146–1240). However, his primary significance is as a poet. His “Excerptum Speculi Caritatis” (An excerpt from The Mirror of Charity) is a verse adaptation of the “Summa Causum” (The Sum of the Cause?) of St Raymond of Peñafort.

Arnulf is also the author of the “Membra Jesu Nostri,” a cycle of seven Poems, each a meditation on one of the Wounds of the Crucified Christ.

In the 17th Century, a German translation was written, which became “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” in English.

This Poem/Hymn was incorrectly ascribed to St Bernard of Clairvaux, for they are consistent with his style and his devotion. However, “the external proof for this ascription is so slight as to be negligible” (Hurlbut, VII, 18).

The “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” did appear in St Bernard’s collected works,but only two hundred years after his death. When the Monasteries were suppressed in the French Revolution, all of the relevant manuscripts disappeared. The only surviving manuscript, dated 1320, bears Arnulf’s name (Arnulfus de louan).

The words of the Hymn remind us, not only of the depth of Christ’s love but also how much He suffers because of our sins.

Membra Jesu Nostri
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
By Blessed Arnulf of Leuven O.Cist. (c1200-1276)

O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered,
was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine, was the transgression
but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Saviour!
’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favour,
vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee,
Thou noble Countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee
and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy Visage languish
that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished,
their colour once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished
the splendour that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigour,
hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigour,
Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion,
Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression
which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee,
wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee;
Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow
to thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never,
outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me;
my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me,
O Source of gifts Divine.
Thy Lips have often fed me
with words of Truth and Love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me
to Heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee,
from Thee I will not part;
O Saviour, do not chide me!
When breaks Thy loving Heart,
When soul and body languish
in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish,
Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken,
above all joys beside,
When in Thy Body broken
I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring
Thy Glory now to see,
Beside Thy Cross expiring,
I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Saviour, be Thou near me
when death is at my door;
Then let Thy Presence cheer me,
forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish,
oh, leave me not alone
But take away mine anguish
by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation,
my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy Passion
when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee,
upon Thy Cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee.
Who dieth thus dies well!

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, ASPIRATIONS and EJACULATIONS, GOOD FRIDAY, INDULGENCES, POETRY, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 24 March – St Gabriel the Archangel

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Quote/s of the Day – 24 March – Friday of the Fourth Week in Lent and the Feast of St Gabriel the Archangel

“O holy Angel who didst strengthen Jesus Christ our Lord,
come and strengthen us also, come and tarry not!”

An indulgence of 300 day

The Angel of the Agony
John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Jesu! by that shuddering dread which fell on Thee;
Jesu! by that cold dismay which sicken’d Thee;
Jesu! by that pang of heart which thrill’d in Thee;
Jesu! by that mount of sins which crippled Thee;
Jesu! by that sense of guilt which stifled Thee;
Jesu! by that innocence which girded Thee;
Jesu! by that sanctity which reign’d in Thee;
Jesu! by that Godhead which was one with Thee;
Jesu! spare those souls which are so dear to Thee;
Who in prison, calm and patient, wait for Thee;
Hasten, Lord, their hour and bid them come to Thee;
To that glorious Home, where they shall ever gaze on Thee.
Amen

Posted in POETRY, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 8 February – The Mantle of St John de Matha – A Legend of “The Red, White and Blue”

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Quote of the Day – 8 February –St John of Matha O.SS.T (1160-1213) Confessor, Priest, Founder of The Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives

Excerpt from
The Mantle of St John de Matha
A Legend of “The Red, White and Blue”
(1154–1864)
By John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892).

A STRONG and mighty Angel,
Calm, terrible and bright,
The Cross in blended red and blue
Upon his mantle white!

Two captives by him kneeling,
Each on his broken chain,
Sang praise to God who raiseth
The dead to life again?

Dropping his Cross-wrought mantle,
“Wear this” the Angel said;
“Take thou, O Freedom’s Priest, its sign,—
The white, the blue and red.”

Then rose up John de Matha
In the strength the Lord Christ gave,
And begged through all the land of France
The ransom of the slave.

The gates of tower and castle
Before him open flew,
The drawbridge at his coming fell,
The door-bolt backward drew.

For all men owned his errand
And paid his righteous tax;
And the hearts of lord and peasant
Were in his hands as wax.

At last, outbound from Tunis,
His bark her anchor weighed,
Freighted with seven-score Christian souls
Whose ransom he had paid!

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), POETRY, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS

Traditional February Devotion – The Most Holy and Blessed Trinity

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Traditional Catholic Devotions

February is traditionally the Month of the Blessed Trinity, with the Holy Family being celebrated together with the Holy Name of Jesus in January.

The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost.

(50 Days. 100 Days if made with Holy Water
Blessed Pope Pius IX, 1865.)

WHENE’ER across this sinful flesh of mine
I draw the Holy Sign,
All good thoughts stir within me and renew
Their slumbering strength divine,
Till there springs up a courage high and true
To suffer and to do.

And who shall say but hateful spirits around,
For their brief hour unbound,
Shudder to see and wail their overthrow?
While on far heathen ground
Some lonely Saint hails the fresh odour, though
Its source he cannot know.

John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
Oxford – 25 November 1832

Posted in Holy Family PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, THE HOLY FAMILY - FAMILIAE SANCTAE, The HOLY SPIRIT, The KINGDOM of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 9 January – Adveniat Regnum Tuum! Thy Kingdom Come!

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Our Morning Offering – 9 January – The Holy Family – Within the Octave of Epiphany

Adveniat Regnum Tuum!
Thy Kingdom Come!
By Katharine Tynan (1861-1931)

Thy Kingdom come ! Yea, bid it come!
But when Thy Kingdom first began
On earth, Thy Kingdom was a home,
A Child, a woman and a man.

The Child was in the midst thereof,
O, Blessed Jesus, holiest One!
The Centre and the Fount of Love
Mary and Joseph’s little Son.

Wherever on the earth shall be
A child, a woman and a man,
Imaging that sweet trinity
Wherewith Thy Kingdom first began,

Establish there Thy kingdom! Yea,
And o’er that trinity of love
Send down, as in Thy appointed day,
The brooding Spirit of Thy Dove!

Katharine Tynan (1861-1931) was an Irish born Poet and Writer and a friend of the Jesuit Poet, Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins. She contributed to many periodicals and magazines such as the Jesuit published Studies, the Dominican published Irish Rosary, Irish Monthly, Hibernia and Dublin University Review, besides her own private publications.
After her marriage, the addition of her husband’s name, “Hinkson” is often appended to her publications.

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, FATHERS of the Church, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), HYMNS, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The ANNUNCIATION, The INCARNATION, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Our Morning Offering – 8 January – Of the Father’s Love Begotten

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Our Morning Offering – 8 January – Within the Octave of Epiphany

Of the Father’s Love Begotten
(Excerpt)
By Prudentius, Aurelius Clemens (c 348-c 413)
Trans. J M Neale (1818-1866)

Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the world began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.

Blessed was the day forever,
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Saviour of our race
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His Sacred Face
Evermore and evermore.

Glory be to God the Father,
Glory be to God the Son
Glory be the Holy Ghost,
Persons Three, yet Godhead One,
Glory be from all creation
While eternal ages run,
Evermore and evermore.

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD

Our Morning Offering – 6 January – Crudelis Herodes, Deum Regem

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Our Morning Offering – 6 January – The Epiphany of the Lord

Crudelis Herodes, Deum Regem
Hymn for The Epiphany
By Coelius Sedulius (Died c 450)
Poet
Unknown translator

Why impious Herod, vainly fear
That Christ the Saviour cometh here?
He takes no earthly realms away
Who gives the crown that lasts for aye.

To greet His birth, the Wise Men went,
Led by the star before them sent;
Called on by light, towards Light they pressed,
And by their gifts their God confessed.

In holy Jordan’s purest wave
The heavenly Lamb vouchsafed to lave;
That He, to whom was sin unknown,
Might cleanse His people from their own.

New miracle of power divine!
The water reddens into wine:
He spake the word and poured the wave
In other streams than nature gave.

All glory, Lord, to Thee we pay
For Thine Epiphany today.
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.

Coelius Sedulius (Died c 450), recounting Christ’s life from His Birth to His Resurrection.
Its 23 stanzas each begin with a consecutive letter of the Latin alphabet, making the poem an abecedarius.
It is one of the oldest parts of the Roman Catholic liturgy, with two Hymns formed from the first seven and four later verses.
There have been monastic translations into English and later translations into many other languages.

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Our Morning Offering – 29 December – Afar from Where the Sun Doth Rise, A Solis Ortus Cardine

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Our Morning Offering – 29 December – The Fifth Day of the Octave of Christmas – “The Month of the Divine Infant and the Immaculate Conception”

Afar from Where the Sun Doth Rise
A Solis Ortus Cardine
By Coelius Sedulius (Died c 450)
Trans Fr Ronald A Knox (1888-1957)

Afar from where the sun doth rise
To lands beneath the western skies,
Homage to Christ our King we pay,
Born of a Virgin’s womb this day

Blessed Creator, Thou didst take__
A servant’s likeness for our sake,
And didst in flesh our flesh restore
To bid Thy creature live once more.

Chaste was the womb where Thou didst dwell,
Of heavenly grace the hidden cell;
Nor might the blessed Maid proclaim
Whence her dread Guest in secret came.

Down from on high God came to rest__
His glory in a sinless breast;
Obedience at His word believed,
And virgin innocence conceived.

Ere long, that holy child she bore
By Gabriel’s message named before,
Whom yet unborn, with eager pride,
The swift forerunner prophesied.

Fast doth He sleep, where straw doth spread,
A humble manger for His bed.
A Mother’s milk that strength renewed,
Which gives the birds of heaven their food.

Glory to God, the angels cry;
Earth hears the echo from on high;
Mankind’s true Shepherd and it’s Lord
By shepherd hearts is first adored.

“A Solis Ortus Cardine…” (Latin for “From the Pivot of the Sun’s Rising”) is a poem by Christian Poet, Coelius Sedulius (Died c 450), recounting Christ’s life from His Birth to His Resurrection.
Its 23 stanzas each begin with a consecutive letter of the Latin alphabet, making the poem an abecedarius.
It is one of the oldest parts of the Roman Catholic liturgy, with two Hymns formed from the first seven and four later verses.
There have been monastic translations into English and later translations into many other languages..

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FRANCISCAN OFM, Gerard MANLEY HOPKINS SJ, JESUIT SJ, POETRY, The DIVINE INFANT, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Quote/s of the Day – 25 December – LITTLE Jesus … A Child My Choice

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Quote/s of the Day – 25 December – The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day

“Open wide your door
to the One Who comes.
Open your soul,
throw open the depths of your heart
to see the riches of simplicity,
the treasures of peace,
the sweetness of grace.
Open your heart and run to meet
the Sun of Eternal light
that illuminates all men.”

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

“Christ is the Morning Star,
Who, when the night
of this world is past,
gives to His saints,
the promise of the light of life,
and opens everlasting day.”

St Bede the Venerable (673-735)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“Let all your desires then,
be directed toward Him,
the Infinite One,
the Giver of all Good.”

Bl Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306)

A Child My Choice
By St Robert Southwell (1561-1595)
Martyr

Let folly praise that fancy loves,
I praise and love that Child
Whose heart no thought,
Whose tongue no word,
Whose hand no deed defiled.

I praise Him most, I love Him best,
all praise and love is His;
While Him I love, in Him I live
and cannot live amiss.

Love’s sweetest mark,
laud’s highest theme,
man’s most desired light,
To love Him life,
to leave Him death,
to live in Him delight.

He mine by gift,
I His by debt, thus each to other due;
First friend He was,
best friend He is,
all times will try Him true.

Though young, yet wise;
though small, yet strong;
though man, yet God He is:
As wise, He knows;
as strong, He can;
as God, He loves to bless.

His knowledge rules,
His strength defends,
His love doth cherish all;
His birth our joy,
His life our light,
His death our end of thrall.

Alas! He weeps, He sighs, He pants,
yet do His angels sing;
Out of His tears,
His sighs and throbs,
doth bud a joyful spring.

Almighty Babe, Whose tender arms
can force all foes to fly,
Correct my faults,
protect my life,
direct me when I die!

Moonless Darkness
By Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ (1844-1889)

Moonless darkness stands between.
Past, the Past, no more be seen!
But the Bethlehem-Star may lead me
To the sight of Him, Who freed me
From the self that I have been.
Make me pure, Lord, Thou art holy;
Make me meek, Lord, Thou wert lowly.
Now beginning and alway,
Now begin, on Christmas Day.

‘Ex Ore Infantium’
(From the Mouth of Chrildren)
By Francis Thompson (1859–1907)

LITTLE Jesus, wast Thou shy
Once and just so small as I?
And what did it feel like to be
Out of Heaven and just like me?
Didst Thou sometimes think of there,
And ask where all the Angels were?
I should think that I would cry
For my house all made of sky;
I would look about the air,
And wonder where my Angels were;
And at waking ’twould distress me—
Not an Angel there to dress me!

Hadst Thou ever any toys,
Like us little girls and boys?
And didst Thou play in Heaven with all
The Angels that were not too tall,
With stars for marbles? Did the things
Play Can you see me? through their wings?
And did thy Mother let Thee spoil
Thy robes, with playing on our soil?
How nice to have them always new
In Heaven because ’twas quite clean blue!

Didst Thou kneel at night to pray
And didst Thou join thy hands, this way?
And did they tire sometimes, being young,
And make the prayer seem very long?
And dost Thou like it best, that we
Should join our hands to pray to Thee?
I used to think, before I knew,
The prayer not said unless we do.
And did thy Mother at the night
Kiss Thee and fold the clothes in right?
And didst Thou feel quite good in bed,
Kiss’d and sweet and Thy prayers said?

Thou canst not have forgotten all
That it feels like to be small
And Thou know’st I cannot pray
To Thee in my father’s way—
When Thou wast so little, say,
Couldst Thou talk thy Father’s way?—
So, a little Child, come down
And hear a child’s tongue like thy own;
Take me by the hand and walk
And listen to my baby-talk.
To Thy Father show my prayer
(He will look, Thou art so fair),
And say: ‘O Father, I, Thy Son,
Bring the prayer of a little one.’

And He will smile that children’s tongue,
Has not changed, since Thou wast young!

Francis Joseph Thompson (16 December 1859 – 13 November 1907) was an English Poet and Catholic Mystic. One of his most famous works is the rivetting “The Hound of Heaven.”
Among Thompson’s devotees was the young JR R Tolkien, who purchased a volume of Thompson’s works in 1913–1914 and later said that, it was an important influence on his own writing

Posted in CHRISTMASTIDE!, HYMNS, POETRY, The O ANTIPHONS

Quote/s of the Day – 24 December – Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 24 December – The Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord – “The Month of the Divine Infant and the Immaculate Conception”

“Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.”

Silent Night, Holy Night!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
By Father Joseph Mohr (1792-1818)

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child!
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, how the light
Radiates love from Thy heavenly face,
At the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Set to Music by Francis Xavier Gruber (1787-1863)

The story of Fr Mohr and his composition of this 204th Anniversary of the first sound of this favourite Catholic Christmas Carol, here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/12/24/thought-for-the-day-24-december-today-the-200th-anniversary-of-the-first-performance-of-the-beloved-carol-silent-night/

The Midnight Hour
(Fr or Br) Frederick M Lynk, SVD

The Virgin Mother kneels upon the floor
And holds her Baby in her arm,
Her heart is gladder than her lips can say,
To keep her newborn Baby snug and warm,
A Babe more sweet and fair and dear
Than any rosebud in the bright sunshine,
Whose little eyes look straight into her own,
O, blessed maid, God’s Son is also thine.

‘Twas holy midnight, when He came to earth:
As pours a sun ray through a limpid glass,
Not leaving any mark upon its face;
A drop of dew upon the fresh green grass,
A little star that fell upon her lap,
A cooing Babe, that seeks her virgin breast.
The hopes of all the sin-cursed world
Upon this Baby’s eyelids rest.

And ever since the midnight hour is holy,
And millions of human hearts are stirred,
To wonderment and love for Him, Who came,
To save the world, God’s Own Incarnate Word.
He came in darkness, He who was The Light,
His Godhead shone from clear blue Baby eyes,
The curse of earth’s first sin, was lifted then,
That midnight hour re-opened paradise!