Category: PRACTISING CATHOLIC

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 11 July – St Benedict

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 11 July – The Memorial of St Benedict of Nursia OSB (c 480-547)

“Ora et labora.”ora et labora st benedict pray and work - 11 july 2019.jpg

“Before all
and above all,
attention shall be paid
to the care of the sick,
so that they shall be served,
as if they were Christ Himself.”before-all-and-above-all-st-benedict-11-july-2018.jpg

“Be careful to be gentle,
lest in removing the rust,
you break the whole instrument.”becareful-to-be-gentle-st-benedict-11-july-2019.jpg

“He should first
show them,
in deeds,
rather than words,
all that is good and holy.”show them in deeds - st benedict - 11 july 2019.jpg

“Let them put
Christ
before all else
and may He lead us all,
to everlasting life.”

St Benedict (c 480-547)put christ before all else - st benedict 11 july 2019.jpg

Posted in CARMELITES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYER WARRIORS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on VOCATIONS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 10 July – Our Vocation

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 July – Wednesday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 10:1–7

“And preach as you go, saying,
‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

Matthew 10:7matthew 10 7 and preach as you go - 10 july 2019

“It is our
vocation
to stand
before God
for all.”

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)it is our vocation to stand before god for all st teresa benedicta 10 july 2019

Posted in PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MISSION, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 7 July – “Give to whoever asks you…”

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Quote/s of the Day – 7 July – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 and the Memorial of Blessed Maria Romero Meneses F.M.A. (1902-1977)

‘…he sent them on ahead of him, two by two…’

Luke 10:1he sent them on two by two - luke 10 1 7 july 2019 14C ord time.jpg

“Give to whoever asks you.
And what can I give?
I must give myself,
I must give my intelligence
to teach those who do not know
and to correct those in error.
I must give my life.
I must give my time
so that all the thirsty can drink…”

Blessed Maria Romero Meneses (1902-1977)give-to-whoever-asks-you-bl-maria-meneses-7-july-2019.jpg

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 7 July – Our Missionary Strategy

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One Minute Reflection – 7 July – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

After this the Lord appointed seventy* others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come...Luke 10:1

REFLECTION – “Jesus gives His disciples a missionary strategy.
Pray for more labourers to carry out God’s work.
Blend with people in their food habits and lifestyle without imposing your standards upon them.
No purse, could mean don’t make them feel you are self-sufficient to manage on rainy days and could buy comforts unaffordable to them on other days;
no haversack, meaning don’t load yourself with unnecessary baggage, or even give the impression that you are going to rob them of what they have;
no sandals, meaning, let your feet kiss the soil you tread so as to allow it to stick to you, telling them that you have come to belong.
Give them the gift of Peace. If not accepted, don’t force yourself on them but leave even the soil behind.
And, finally, let not your joy revolve around your success of working miracles but let it stem from the fact, that you have eternity with God as your inheritance, since your names are written in heaven.
Are you ready to be a labourer for God?”…Fr Isaac Arackaparambil SDPluke 10 1 - he sent them on two by two - 14 sun in ord time year c - from gods word.jpg

PRAYER – Be gracious Lord, to us who serve You and in Your kindness increase Your gifts of grace within us, so that fervent in faith, hope and love, we may go forth to share our gifts.   Grant, we pray, that with the motherly hand of Mary ever in ours, we may fulfil our mission and arrive safely home with You.   We make our prayer through Jesus our Christ and Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.sancta mater maria ora pro nobis pray for us 10 may 2019.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 July – “Rise and walk”

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One Minute Reflection – 4 July – Thursday of the Thirteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 9:1–8

“Rise and walk”…Matthew 9:5

REFLECTION – “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies to life also.” (Rom 8:11) Now it is a natural human body, then it will be a spiritual body. “Adam the first man, became a living soul, the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit.” (1 Cor 15:45) That is why He “will bring your mortal bodies to life… through His Spirit dwelling in you.”

Oh, what a happy Hallelujah we will sing then!   What security!   No more adversary, no more enemy, we won’t lose a single friend.   Here below, we sing God’s praises in the midst of our worries, in heaven, we will sing them in perfect tranquillity.   Here below, we sing them as people who have to die, in heaven, it will be in a life that never ends. Here below, in hope, in heaven, in the reality.   Here below, we are travellers, then we shall be in our homeland.   So let us begin singing already now, brothers, not in order to savour the rest but in order to alleviate our work.   Let us sing like travellers.   Sing but without ceasing to walk, sing to console yourself in the midst of fatigue… Sing and walk!

What does that mean, walk?   Go forward, make progress in doing good… Go forward by walking towards the good, advance in faith and in the purity of your habits.   Sing and walk!   Don’t lose your way; don’t turn back, don’t stand still.   Let us turn towards the Lord.”... St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor – Sermon 256rise and walk matthew 9 5 - what does that mean walk - st augustine - 4 july 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Loving God and Father, we turn to You in praise and thanksgiving in good times, in trials and moments of sadness and happiness.   May the prayers of Your angels and saints support our weak efforts, today especially we ask St Elizabeth of Portugal and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, to hear our pleas.   By the great gift of Your love and mercy You dispel the darkness of sin and bring us to the true Light, Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 2 July – The Anguish of an Absence

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Thought for the Day – 2 July – Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week, Year C – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 8:23-37

The Anguish of an Absence

by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)

And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord, we are perishing.”
Matthew 8:25

There is a Gospel scene which in an extraordinary way anticipates the silence of Holy Saturday and which again, therefore, seems to be a profile of the moment in history we are living now.   Christ is asleep on a boat which, buffeted by a storm, is about to sink.
The prophet Elijah had once made fun of the priests of Baal who were futilely invoking their god to send down fire on their sacrifice.   He urged them to cry out louder in case their god was asleep.
But is it true that God does not sleep?   Does not the prophet’s scorn also fall upon the heads of the faithful of the God of Israel who are sailing with Him in a boat about to sink?   God sleeps while His very own are about to drown – is not this the experience of our lives?   Don’t the Church, the faith, resemble a small boat about to sink, struggling futilely against the waves and the wind and all the time God is absent?   The disciples cry out in dire desperation and they shake the Lord to wake Him but He is surprised at this and rebukes them, for their small faith.   But are things any different for us?   When the storm passes we will realise just how much this small faith of ours was charged with stupidity.
And yet, O Lord, we cannot help shaking You, God,   You who persist in keeping Your silence, in sleeping and we cannot help crying to You – Wake up, can’t You see we are sinking?   Stir Yourself, don’t let the darkness of Holy Saturday last forever, let a ray of Easter fall, even on these times of ours, accompany us when we set out in our desperation towards Emmaus so that our hearts may be enflamed by the warmth of Your nearness.
You who, hidden, charted the paths of Israel only to become a man in the end with men – don’t leave us in the dark, don’t let Your word be lost in these days of great squandering of words.

Lord, grant us Your help, because without You we will sink. Amen

matthew 8 25 save us lord we are perishing - joseph ratzinger - the anguish of absence - wake up lord 2 july 2019.jpg

Posted in PRACTISING CATHOLIC, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 1 July – Charity … the Mirror of the Church

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Thought for the Day – 1 July – The Memorial of Bl Antonio Rosmini (1797-1855) and the first day of the Month of the Most Precious Blood

The Pope’s invitation to write books to present, in a modern language, the doctrine of the Church was accomplished by publishing works that were destined to produce fruits well into the future. His prodigious act  ivity in many fields was supported by a mystical life of prayer, which included the daily offering of his blood in union with the precious Blood of JESUS.   On 18 November 2007, he was proclaimed a Blessed and was presented as a luminous model of intellectual charity.

In his exhortation, Veritatis Gaudium of 29 January 2018, Pope Francis, quoting words from the book The Five Wounds of Holy Church, published by Rosmini in 1848, issued an invitation to follow Rosmini’s recommendations for the formation of clergy and of the faithful.

The fundamental dimensions of the charism
The Institute, as a religious family born of Charity, offers God’s help for sanctification in the perfection of charity.   It is a gift for all categories of people, because God does not exclude anyone from His love.   In practice, the following groups belong to the Institute: brothers and priests with vows (Rosminians), the Sisters of Providence (Rosminian Sisters), Adopted Sons and Ascribed members.   These latter do not live in communities but participate in the charism while following their chosen way of life.   They can be men and women, married couples, diocesan priests, even bishops!

Rosmini did not receive from God a call to any specific work of charity, like many other founders and thus the Institute is meant to mirror the Church in its identity and in its mission of universal charity.   The development of our charism has been conditioned and slowed down by historical and ecclesial events but in recent years it has begun to increase.

The fundamental dimensions of the spirituality of our charism
Union with God begins with justice, that is, with the commitment to personal purification and detachment from sin.  It grows into adherence to grace in such a way that we desire only and in an orderly fashion, to do the will of God, manifested through the duties of our state of life, the voice of the Church, the indications of superiors and the demands of our neighbours.   All this is masterly expressed in the pages of Maxims of Christian Perfection.   Since Rosmini affirms the supreme value of the person, the Rosminian way enhances and directs a conscious and mature Christian witness.

The fundamental dimensions of our specific charismatic mission
Indifference to one’s own choices becomes total openness to calls from God and from the Church.   Both Rosminian brethren and Sisters put their total being at the disposal of charity.   Thanks to the marvellous conjunction of consecrated and lay life, the Rosminian charismatic Family is the mirror of the Church.   It tends to promote and develop works of charity that reach the most important places of the Church and society.

Blessed Antonio Rosmini, Pray for us!bl antonio rosmini pray for us no 2 - 1 july 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 June – Prayer is a petition for what God gives

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One Minute Reflection – 20 June – Thursday Eleventh Week of Ord Time Year C – Today’s Gospel Matthew 6:7-15

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”…Matthew 6:7

REFLECTION – Prayer is a petition for what God gives – “The Lord’s prayer, as I have said, contains a petition for each of these things.   First, it speaks of the Father, His name and His kingdom.   Second, it shows us that the person who prays, is by grace the Son of this Father.   It asks that those in heaven and those on earth may be united in one will.   It tells us to ask for our daily bread.   It lays down that people should be reconciled with one another and it unites our nature with itself when we forgive and are forgiven, for then it is not split asunder by differences of will and purpose.   It teaches us to pray against entering into temptation, since this is the law of sin.   And it exhorts us to ask for deliverance from the evil one.

For the author and giver of divine blessings could not but be our teacher as well, providing the words of this prayer, as precepts of life, for those disciples who believe in Him and follow the way He taught in the flesh.   Through these words, He has revealed the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3) that exist in Him as pure form. And in all who offer this prayer, He kindles the desire to enjoy such treasures.

It is for this reason, I think, that Scripture calls this teaching “prayer”, since it contains petitions for the gifts that God gives to us by grace.   Our divinely inspired Fathers have explained prayer in a similar way, saying that prayer is petition for that which God naturally gives us, in the manner that is appropriate.”…St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662) Monk and Theologian – Interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer (Philokalia, Volume Two)matthew 6 7 your father knows before you ask - for the author and giver of - st maximus the confessor on the lord's prayer 20 june 2019

PRAYER – Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amenthe Lord's Prayer - matthew 6 9-13 - 20 june 2019

Posted in CARMELITES, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SILENCE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 19 June – “When you pray, go to your inner room”

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Thought for the Day – 19 June – Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 6:1–6 and the Memorial of St Romuald (c 951-1027)

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”...Matthew 6:6

“When you pray, go to your inner room”

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein OCD (1891-1942)
Martyr, co-patron of Europe

The Prayer of the Church (trans. Darlington Carmel)

In those who have entered into the unity of the divine inner life, everything is one – rest and activity, contemplation and action, silence and speech, listening and communicating, loving receptiveness, and loving gift of self in thanksgiving and praise… We need hours of silent listening, when we allow the divine Word to work in us, until it craves to become fruitful in the sacrifice of praise and of action.

We need the traditional forms and participation in the set forms of acts of regular worship, so that the inner life can be awakened and guided and find a suitable expression.   The solemn divine praise must have its homes on earth, where it is developed, to the greatest perfection possible, to human beings.   From these, it ascends to heaven, for the whole Church and becomes effective in the members of the Church, quickening their interior life, inviting their participation.   But, it must itself be quickened from within, even in these places, by leaving space for silence and depth. Otherwise it would degenerate into mere lip-service.   Contemplative houses where souls stand in solitude and silence before the face of God, are a protection against this danger. They wish to be, in the heart of the Church, the love that vivifies all.we need hours of silent listening - st teresa benedicta edith stein 19 june 2019.jpg

St Romuald, Pray for Us!st-romuald-pray-for-us-no-2-19-june-2018.jpg

St Teresa Benedicta, Pray for Us!st-teresa-benedicta-pray-for-us-2-9 aug 2017.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, NOVENAS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, Ven Servant of God John A Hardon

Announcing the NOVENA to the SACRED HEART BEGINS Wednesday, 19 June

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Announcing the NOVENA to the SACRED HEART
BEGINS Wednesday, 19 Juneannouncing-the-novena-to-the-sacred-heart-19-june-to-begin.jpg

Devotion to the Sacred Heart
By Ven Servant of God John A Hardon SJ (1914-2000)

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is as old as Christianity.   When the side of Christ was pierced on Calvary, there immediately flowed out blood and water.   The Church has interpreted this to mean, the outpouring of grace through the Church, which began the moment that Christ expired on the Cross.
Over the centuries, the gratitude of the faithful for this manifestation of divine love has centred on the physical Heart of Jesus as the symbol of God’s love for man.   We may, therefore, say, that devotion to the Sacred Heart is really devotion to the love of God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
When God became man, it was God – who is love – who became man. In the languages of all nations, the heart is identified with love.   Consequently, our devotion to the Heart of Jesus is directed to the love of Jesus in different ways.
We love Him as our God, who has loved us from all eternity and out of selfless love brought us into existence and destined us to possess Him for all eternity.
We love Him as our God Incarnate, who loved us so much that He assumed our human nature and by His bodily death redeemed us from the eternal death we deserved for our sins.
We love Him as our Redeemer who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He is preparing a place for us.   Where He is, our God united with His human body and soul, we hope to be in His blessed company.
We love Him as our Eucharistic Lord who is on earth in His humanity, in the Blessed Sacrament.   He offers Himself in the Mass through which He now communicates the graces He won for us on the Cross.   By His Real Presence, He invites us to offer Him our adoring love and ask Him to work the miracles He performed during His visible stay in Palestine.
To be emphasised is the unique character of devotion to the Sacred Heart.   It is nothing less than a synthesis of Catholic Christianity in its loving response to the unspeakable love of God for the sons and daughters of the human family.

For the sake of convenience, we may divide the terms “Sacred Heart” and “Devotion” into two parts:
Sacred Heart stands for the love of God, which means the love that is God, the love that God has shown for us from the dawn of creation until now and the love that God will continue to pour out on us into the endless reaches of eternity.
Devotion stands for our grateful return of love for love, which is shown in loving sacrifice by the total surrender of our wills to the mysterious and demanding will of God, in loving imitation of Jesus Christ, whose virtues as man, are so many manifestations of His divine attributes as God, in loving worship of Mary’s Son, who is present with His living, pulsating human Heart in the Blessed Sacrament, in loving petition for the graces that we and others, need to serve Him faithfully, here on earth and enjoy Him in the life that will never end.
A simple but very effective way of growing in devotion to the Sacred Heart, is to recite daily the very old morning offering, used for centuries within the Catholic heart:

O Jesus,
through the Most Pure Heart of Mary
and in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
throughout the world today,
I offer You all my prayers,
works, joys and sufferings of this day,
for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,
I offer them for
the salvation of souls,
the reparation of sins,
the intentions of all our bishops, priests,
apostles of prayer
and our Holy Father, the Pope.
Amenmorning offering - 1 june 2019.jpg

Among the promises made by our Lord to St Margaret Mary, was the assurance that, “Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart, never to be blotted out.”

Posted in NOTES to Followers, NOVENAS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, The HOLY GHOST

I’ll be back……and Announcing the Pentecost Novena

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Apologies for my hasty exodus.

I think I am superwoman but have now realised I am not!   I am so sorry but I have an imminent deadline for original work I am doing for my Diocese.   It needs to be ready by Pentecost and I have done absolutely nothing as yet!

So no posts for a few weeks.   I will be back as soon as I have made some progress and prepared at least 3 months of the 12 month-long programme.

I will be praying for you all!   Please pray for me and keep on keeping on.

For those who would like to read about today’s Saints:

St Bede the Venerable:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/saint-of-the-day-25-may-st-bede-the-venerable-o-s-b/

St Pope Gregory VII:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/25/saint-of-the-day-25-may-st-pope-gregory-vii-c-1015-1085/

I will also be posting the Pentecost Novena,

which begins on Friday 31 May.

announcing-the-pentecost-novena-begins-friday-31-may-posted-25-may-2019.jpg

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MARIAN QUOTES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 21 May – St Eugene de Mazenod

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Quote/s of the Day – 21 May – Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter, C and The Memorial of St Eugene de Mazenod OMI (1782-1861)

“I wish I could pass my life
at the foot of the Holy Tabernacles
in which our adorable Saviour dwells.”i wish I couldpass my life at the foot of the holy tabernacles - st eugene de mazenod 21 may 2019.jpg

“To love the Church
is to love Jesus Christ
and vice versa.”to-love-the-church-is-to-love-jesus-christ-st-eugene-de-mazenod-21-may-2018

“What more glorious occupation than to act
in everything and for everything only for God,
to love Him above all else,
to love Him all the more,
as one who has loved Him too late.”what-more-glorious-occupation-st-eugene-de-mazenod-21 may 2017

“Practice well among yourselves:
charity, charity, charity
and outside,
zeal for the salvation of souls”practice-well-among-yourselves-charity-st-eugene-de-mazenod-21-may-2018

“We glorify God in the masterpiece
of His power and love…
it is the Son whom we honour
in the person of His Mother.”

St Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861)we-glorify-god-in-the-masterpiece-st-eugene-de-mazenod-21-may-2018

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Marian Thoughts – 18 May – Pope Francis – The Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

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Marian Thoughts – 18 May – ‘Mary’s Month’ – Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter, C

Mini Series – Pope Francis and the Holy Rosary

“Praying the rosary does not remove us from the problems of life. On the contrary, it demands that we immerse ourselves in the history of each day, so as to grasp the signs of Christ’s presence in our midst. Whenever we contemplate an event, a mystery of the life of Christ, we are asked to reflect on how God comes into our own lives, so as to be able to welcome Him and follow Him.”
Pope Francis

The Fifth Joyful Mystery:

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The Holy Family had gone to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover but on the return voyage, Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus, who was only twelve years old, was not in the caravan.
They searched for Jesus for three days, finally finding Him in the Temple amid the doctors of the law.
When they found Jesus, the Gospel says, “they were astonished” and Mary expressed her concern to Jesus, saying, “Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
In the Holy Family, astonishment never failed!
To feel astonishment is the opposite of taking everything for granted… It means opening ourselves to others.
This attitude is important for mending compromised relationships and curing the open wounds within the family.
The anxiety felt by Mary and Joseph, shows the centrality of Jesus in the Holy Family. And so we see, why the family of Nazareth is holy – because it was centred on Jesus, all the attention and care of Joseph revolved around Him.
The anxiety felt by Mary and Joseph, when Jesus was lost for three days, should also be our anxiety, when we are far from Jesus, when we forget Jesus, going without prayer, without reading the Gospel for several days.
Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the Temple and we too, should seek Jesus in the house of God – and especially, in the Liturgy, where we have the living experience of Jesus, in His Word and in the Eucharist, from which we receive the strength to face the difficulties of each day….
Pope Francis 2018

pope francis rosary meditations the 5th joyful finding of jesus in the temple 18 may 2019.jpg

Posted in CATECHESIS, CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The ANNUNCIATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE, The INCARNATION

Marian Thoughts – 14 May – Pope Francis – The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Marian Thoughts – 14 May – ‘Mary’s Month’ – Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter, C

Mini Series – Pope Francis and the Holy Rosary

“I want to recommend some medicine for all of you.   It’s a spiritual medicine.   Don’t forget to take it.   “It’s good for your heart, for your soul, for your whole life.” (17 November 2013)pope francis' reflections on the joyful mysteries 1st mystery 14 may 2019.jpg

The First Joyful Mystery:   The Annunciation

“The annunciation to Mary can be read alongside the announcement to Zechariah of John the Baptist’s birth.   One annunciation happens to a priest in the Temple of God, during a liturgy, where everyone is waiting outside, while the other, happens to a young woman named Mary, in a small town that did not necessarily have a good reputation.   This contrast is not insignificant.   It serves as a sign that the new Temple of God, the new encounter of God with His people, will happen in places which we normally do not expect, on the margins, on the peripheries.   By now, it will no longer be in a place reserved for the few, while the majority wait outside. Nothing and no-one, will be indifferent, no situation will be deprived of His presence, the joy of salvation began in the daily life of the home of a youth in Nazareth.
Even today, God is still searching for hearts like Mary’s that are open to welcoming His invitation and providing hope, even when it’s hard.
God continues to walk our neighbourhoods and our streets, He pushes in each place in search of hearts capable of listening to His invitation and making it become flesh here and now.
In the end, the Lord continues to seek hearts like that of Mary, disposed to believe even in very extraordinary conditions.
Just like He did with Mary, God also takes the initiative in our lives, inserting Himself into our daily struggles, anxieties and desires.
It is precisely in the daily routine of our lives, that we receive the most beautiful announcement we can hear – “Rejoice, the Lord is with you!”
(Pope Francis, 2017)

Holy Mary of the Annunciation of Emmanuel,

God with us,

Pray for us!mary's fiat - holy mary pray for us 14 may 2019 pope francis and the rosary from Fr Enrico no 1.jpg

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Thought for the Day – 12 May – The Celebration of the Eucharist

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 12 May – The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C

The Celebration of the Eucharist

Saint Justin Martyr (100-165)
Father of the Church, Apologist and Martyr

An excerpt from his First Apology in the Defence of Christians

No one may share the Eucharist with us, unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins, and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by Christ.

We do not consume the Eucharistic bread and wine as if it were ordinary food and drink, for we have been taught, that as Jesus Christ our Saviour became a man of flesh and blood by the power of the Word of God, so also the food, that our flesh and blood assimilates for its nourishment, becomes the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus, by the power of His own words, contained in the prayer of thanksgiving.

The apostles, in their recollections, which are called gospels, handed down to us what Jesus commanded them to do.   They tell us that He took bread, gave thanks and said – Do this in memory of me.   This is my body.   In the same way He took the cup, He gave thanks and said – This is my blood.   The Lord gave this command to them alone.   Ever since then, we have constantly reminded one another of these things.   The rich among us help the poor and we are always united.   For all that we receive, we praise the Creator of the universe through His Son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

On Sunday, we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city or the outlying districts.   The recollections of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time.   When the reader has finished, the president of the assembly speaks to us, he urges everyone to imitate the examples of virtue we have heard in the readings.   Then we all stand up together and pray.

On the conclusion of our prayer, bread and wine and water are brought forward.   The president offers prayers and gives thanks to the best of his ability and the people give assent by saying, “Amen.”   The Eucharist is distributed, everyone present communicates and the deacons take it to those who are absent.

The wealthy, if they wish, may make a contribution and they themselves decide the amount.   The collection is placed in the custody of the president, who uses it to help the orphans and widows and all who for any reason are in distress, whether because they are sick, in prison, or away from home.    In a word, he takes care of all who are in need.

We hold our common assembly on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the day on which God put darkness and chaos to flight and created the world and because on that same day, our savioUr Jesus Christ rose from the dead.   For He was crucified on Friday and on Sunday He appeared to His apostles and disciples and taught them the things, that we have passed on for your consideration.no one may share in the eucharist - st justin martyr 12 may 2019.jpg

Posted in CARMELITES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, SUNDAY REFLECTIONS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Sunday Reflection – 12 May – ‘Why doubt?’

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Sunday Reflection – 12 May – The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C

Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Doctor of the Church

The Way of Perfection §34

As for ourselves, let us ask the Eternal Father, that we might merit to receive our heavenly bread in such a way, that the Lord may reveal Himself to the eyes of our soul and make Himself thereby known, since our bodily eyes cannot delight in beholding Him, because He is so hidden.   Such a knowledge is another kind of satisfying and delightful sustenance that maintains life…

I know a person, to whom the Lord had given such living faith, that when she heard some persons saying, they would have liked to have lived at the time Christ our Good walked in the world, she used to laugh to herself.   She wondered what more they wanted, since in the Blessed Sacrament, they had Him just as truly present as He was then… She considered she was at His feet and wept with the Magdalene, no more, nor less, than if she were seeing Him with her bodily eyes in the house of the Pharisee.   And even though she didn’t feel devotion, faith told her that He was indeed there.

If we don’t want to be fools and blind the intellect, there’s no reason for doubt.  Receiving communion is not like picturing with the imagination, as when we reflect upon the cross or in other episodes of the Passion, when we picture within ourselves how things happened to Him in the past.   In communion, the event is happening now and it is entirely true.   There’s no reason to go looking for Him in some other place farther away.   Since we know that Jesus is with us, as long as the natural heat doesn’t consume the accidents of bread, we should approach Him.   Now, then, if, when He went about in the world, the mere touch of His robes cured the sick, why doubt, if we have faith, that miracles will be worked while He is within us and that He will give what we ask of Him, since He is in our house?now then if when he went about in the world - st teresa of avila - 12 may 2019.jpg

“Consequently, every time we approach
the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharistic liturgy,
we also turn to her who, by her complete fidelity,
received Christ’s sacrifice for the whole Church.
The Synod Fathers rightly declared that
“Mary inaugurates the Church’s participation
in the sacrifice of the Redeemer.”
She is the Immaculata, who receives God’s gift
unconditionally and is thus associated with His work of salvation.
Mary of Nazareth, icon of the nascent Church,
is the model for each of us, called to receive the gift
that Jesus makes of Himself in the Eucharist.”

Sacramentum Caritatis 33
Pope Benedict XVIevery-time-we-approach-the-body-and-blood-of-christ-pope-benedict-11-may-2018.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 12 May – Mary, Mother of the Church and Mother of our Faith

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Our Morning Offering – 12 May – ‘Mary’s Month” – The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C

Prayer to Mary,
Mother of the Church
and Mother of our Faith
By Pope Francis

Mother, help our faith!
Open our ears to hear God’s word
and to recognise His voice and call.
Awaken in us a desire to follow in His footsteps,
to go forth from our own land
and to receive His promise.
Help us to be touched by His love,
that we may touch Him in faith.
Help us to entrust ourselves fully to Him
and to believe in His love,
especially at times of trial,
beneath the shadow of the cross,
when our faith is called to mature.
Sow in our faith, the joy of the Risen One.
Remind us, that those who believe are never alone.
Teach us to see all things
with the eyes of Jesus,
that He may be light for our path.
And may this light of faith
always increase in us,
until the dawn of that undying day
which is Christ Himself, your Son, our Lord!
Amen

*Prayer to Mary at the conclusion of the Encyclical Lumen Fidei (29 June 2013)prayer to mary mother of the chuch and of our faith - pope francis - 12 may 2019

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 9 May – The Word!

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Quote/s of the Day – 9 May – Thursday Third Week of Easter, C

“Catholicism is a matter
of the body and the senses,
as much as it is,
a matter of the mind,
precisely because,
the Word became flesh.”

Bishop Robert Barroncatholicism is a matter of - bishop robert barron 9 may 2019.jpg

“The Word is NOT a bible verse
BUT living, flesh and blood,
Jesus Christ!”

Fr Enrico V Parrythe word is not a bible verse - fr enrico 9 may 2019.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 May – “..Reading the Scriptures”

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One Minute Reflection – 9 May – Thursday Third Week of Easter, C, First Reading: Acts 8:26–40

“… and was returning home.   Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.”…Acts 8:28

REFLECTION – “Consider, I ask you, what a great effort it was not to neglect reading even while on a journey and, especially, while seated in a chariot.   Let this be heeded by those people who do not even deign to do it at home but rather think reading the Scriptures is a waste of time, claiming as an excuse their living with a wife, conscription in military service, caring for children, attending to domestics and looking after other concerns, they do not think it necessary for them to show any interest in reading the holy Scriptures.” … St John Chrysostom (347-407)  Father & Doctor (Homilies on Genesis, 35.)acts 8 28 seated in the chariot - considr what great effort - st john chrysostom 9 may 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, in Your Word, You shed the light of Your glory on the peoples who are living in the shadow of death.   By Your Word, You teach us all things and lead us in the way of hope and love.   For Your Word is Truth and Your Word became flesh and filled our world with the Sun of Justice, Your Son, He who is the Sun and the Truth.   May our steps be guided by His Mother, as we follow in the footsteps of Your Word and may the prayers of Blessed Maria Carmen Rendiles, be a help in our trials.   Through Christ, our Lord Jesus, with You in union with the Holy Spirit, now and forever, amen.mary refuge of sinners pray for us 28 march 2019 ora pro nobis.jpg

bl maria carmen rendiles pray for us 9 may 2019.jpg

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 8 May – “I am the bread of life”

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 May – Wednesday 3rd Week of Easter, C, Gospel: John 6:35–40

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life, he who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst.”…John 6:35john 6 35 - 11 april 2018.jpg

“A celebration may be flawless on the exterior, very beautiful —
but if it does not lead us to encounter Jesus Christ,
it is unlikely to bear any kind of nourishment
to our heart and our life.
Through the Eucharist, however,
Christ wishes to enter into our life
and permeate it with His grace,
so that in every Christian community
there may be coherence
between liturgy and life.”

Pope Benedict

General Audience, 12 February 2014a celebration may be flawless - pope benedict 8 may 2019.jpg

“Through the Eucharist
we enter Christ’s paschal mystery,
allowing us to pass
from death to life with Him.”

Pope Francisthrough the eucharist - pope francis - 8 may 2019.jpg

“The Eucharist is Jesus Himself
who gives Himself entirely to us.
Nourishing ourselves of that “Bread of Life”
means entering into harmony with the heart of Christ,
assimilating His choices,
His thoughts,
His behaviour.
It means entering into a dynamism of love
and becoming people of peace,
people of forgiveness, of reconciliation,
of sharing in solidarity.
Heaven begins precisely in this communion with Jesus”

Pope Francis

Angelus, 16 August 2015the eucharist is jesus himself - pope francis - 8 may 2019.jpg

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, SAINT of the DAY, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST

Thought for the Day – 6 May – The Contest of Faith

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Thought for the Day – 6 May – Monday of the Third week of Easter, Gospel: John 6:22–29 and the Memorial of St Francois Laval (1623-1708)

The Contest of Faith

Saint Cyprian of Carthage (200-258)
Bishop, Martyr, Father of the Church and Martyr

An excerpt from his Letter 58

Dear brothers, the commands of the Gospel are nothing else than God’s lessons, the foundations on which to build up hope, the supports for strengthening faith, the food that nourishes the heart.   They are the rudder for keeping us on the right course, the protection that keeps our salvation secure.   As they instruct the receptive minds of believers on earth, they lead safely to the kingdom of heaven.

As we do battle and fight, in the contest of faith, God, His angels and Christ Himself, watch us.   How exalted is the glory, how great the joy of engaging in a contest with God presiding, of receiving a crown, with Christ as judge.as we do battle and fight - st cyoprian of carthage - 6 may 2019 the contest of faith

Dear brethren, let us arm ourselves with all our might, let us prepare ourselves for the struggle with uncorrupted minds, with a whole faith and with devoted courage.

The blessed Apostle teaches us how to arm and prepare ourselves – Put round you the belt of truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, for shoes wear zeal for the Gospel of peace, take up the shield of faith to extinguish all the burning arrows of the evil one, take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

Let us take this armour and defend ourselves with these spiritual defences from heaven, so that when the evil day comes we may be able to resist the threats of the devil and fight back against him.

Let us put on the breastplate of righteousness so that our breasts may be protected and kept safe from the arrows of the enemy.   Let our feet be shod in the teaching of the Gospel and armoured so that when we begin to trample on the serpent and crush it, it will not be able to bite us or trip us up.

Let us with fortitude bear the shield of faith to protect us by extinguishing all the burning arrows that the enemy may launch against us.

Let us wear on our head the helmet of the Spirit, to defend our ears against the proclamations of death, to defend our eyes against the sight of accursed idols, to defend our foreheads so that God’s sign may be kept intact and to defend our mouths, so that our tongues may proclaim victoriously the name of Christ their Lord.

Let us arm our right hand with the sword of the Spirit so that it may courageously refuse the daily sacrifices and let the hand—mindful of the Eucharist—that took hold of the body of the Lord, embrace the Lord Himself and so gain from the Lord the future prize of a heavenly crown.

Dear brethren, have all this firmly fixed in your hearts.   If the day of persecution finds us thinking on these things and meditating upon them, the soldier of Christ, trained by Christ’s commands and instructions, will not tremble at the thought of battle but will be ready to receive the crown of victory.   Amen!

St Francois Laval, who have received the Crown, please pray for us!st francois laval pray for us no 2 6 may 2019.jpg

Posted in PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SUNDAY REFLECTIONS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Sunday Reflection – 5 May – ” the privileged place”

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Sunday Reflection – 5 May – Third Sunday of Easter, Year C

Pope Benedict XVI

” The Eucharist, the privileged place in which the Church recognises “the Author of life” (Acts 3: 15) is “the breaking of the bread”, as it is called in the Acts of the Apostles.   In it, through faith, we enter into communion with Christ, who is “the priest, the altar and the lamb of sacrifice” (see Preface for Easter, 5) and is among us.

Let us gather round Him to cherish the memory of His words and of the events contained in Scripture, let us relive His Passion, death and Resurrection.   In celebrating the Eucharist, we communicate with Christ, the victim of expiation and from Him we draw forgiveness and life.

What would our lives as Christians be without the Eucharist?   The Eucharist is the perpetual, living inheritance which the Lord has bequeathed to us in the Sacrament of His Body and His Blood and which we must constantly rethink and deepen so that, as venerable Pope Paul VI said, it may “impress its inexhaustible effectiveness on all the days of our earthly life.” – (Insegnamenti, V [1967], p. 779)

in-it-through-faith-pope-benedict-15-april-2018 and 5 may 2019

Many Christians take their time 
and have leisure enough in their social life 
(no hurry here). 
They are leisurely, too, in their professional activities, 
at table and recreation (no hurry here either). 
But isn’t it strange, how those same Christians.
find themselves in such a rush 
and want to hurry the priest, 
in their anxiety to shorten the time devoted 
to the most holy sacrifice of the altar?“

St Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975)

many-christians-take-their-time-st-josemaria-15-april-2018.jpg

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ON the SAINTS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Thought for the Day – 3 May – The Preaching of the Apostles

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Thought for the Day – 3 May – The Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

The Preaching of the Apostles

Tertullian (c 155- c 240)
Priest, Father and Ancient Christian Writer

An excerpt from his On the Prescription of Heretics

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself declared what He was, what He had been, how He was carrying out His Father’s will, what obligations He demanded of men.    This He did during His earthly life, either publicly to the crowds, or privately to His disciples.  Twelve of these He picked out, to be His special companions, appointed to teach the nations.

One of them fell from His place.   The remaining eleven were commanded by Christ, as He was leaving the earth to return to the Father after His resurrection, to go and teach the nations and to baptise them into the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The apostles cast lots and added Matthias to their number, in place of Judas, as the twelfth apostle.   The authority for this action is to be found in a prophetic psalm of David.   After receiving the power of the Holy Spirit which had been promised to them, so that they could work miracles and proclaim the truth, they first bore witness to their faith in Jesus Christ and established churches throughout Judea.   They then went out into the whole world and proclaimed to the nations the same doctrinal faith.

They set up churches in every city.   Other churches received from them a living transplant of faith and the seed of doctrine and through this daily process of transplanting they became churches.   They therefore qualify as apostolic churches by being the offspring of churches that are apostolic.

Every family has to be traced back to its origins.   That is why we can say that all these great churches constitute that one original Church of the apostles, for it is from them that they all come.   They are all primitive, all apostolic, because they are all one.   They bear witness to this unity by the peace in which they all live, the brotherhood which is their name, the fellowship to which they are pledged.   The principle on which these associations are based is common tradition by which they share the same sacramental bond.

The only way in which we can prove what the apostles taught—that is to say, what Christ revealed to them — is through those same churches.   They were founded by the apostles themselves, who first preached to them by what is called the living voice and later by means of letters.

The Lord had said clearly in former times – I have many more things to tell you but you cannot endure them now.   But He went on to say – When the Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you into the whole truth.   Thus Christ shows us that the apostles had full knowledge of the truth, for He had promised that they would receive the whole truth through the Spirit of truth.   His promise was certainly fulfilled, since the Acts of the Apostles prove, that the Holy Spirit came down on them.

Saints James and Philip, Pray for us!sts-philip-and-james-pray-for-us-3-may-2017.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, PRACTISING CATHOLIC

The Holy Father’s Prayer Intention for MAY 2019

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Holy Father’s
Prayer Intention for MAY 2019

Evangelisation

That the Church in Africa,
through the commitment of its members,
may be the seed of unity among her peoples
and a sign of hope for this continent.

 

holy father's prayer inetnion may 2019 1 may 2019 no 2.jpg

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EASTER, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, The RESURRECTION, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 27 April – By following Him, we can see Him!

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Thought for the Day – 27 April – Saturday of Easter week

“He is not here, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him” (Mk 16:6)

“There is another important aspect (in the Resurrection), Jesus show Himself in the act of departure.
This is clearest in the event of Emmaus and in His meeting with Mary Magdalen.   He summons us to go with Him.
Resurrection is not an indulgence of curiosity – it is MISSION.   It’s intention is to transform the world!   It calls for an active joy, the joy of those who are themselves going along the path of the Risen One.
That is true today too – He only shows Himself to those who walk with Him.   The angel’s first word to the women was “He is not here, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him” (Mk 16:6).   So once and for all, we are told where the Risen One is to be found and how we are to meet Him – HE GOES BEFORE YOU.   He is present in preceding us.
By following Him, we can see Him!”

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)

The Word of the Witnesses – Seek that Which is Abovehe-only-shows-himself-pope-benedict-joseph-ratzinger-easter-sat-4-april-2019-no-2-with-octave-note.jpg

Posted in EASTER, PAPAL Apostolic EXHORTATIONS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 27 April – Go Forth

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One Minute Reflection – 27 April – Saturday of Easter week, Gospel: Mark 16:9–15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation...Mark 16:15

REFLECTION – “Evangelisation takes place in obedience to the missionary mandate of Jesus: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20)…  The risen Christ sent His followers to preach the Gospel in every time and place, so that faith in Him might spread to every corner of the earth.

The word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in Him “to go forth”.   Abraham received the call to set out for a new land (Gen 12:1-3).   Moses heard God’s call:  “Go, I send you” (Ex 3:10) and led the people towards the promised land.   To Jeremiah God says:  “To all whom I send you, you shall go” (Jer 1:7)…   All of us are called to take part in this new missionary “going forth”.   Each Christian and every community must discern the path that the Lord points out but all of us are asked to obey His call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the “peripheries” in need of the light of the Gospel.

The Gospel joy which enlivens the community of disciples is a missionary joy.   The seventy-two disciples felt it as they returned from their mission (Lk 10:17).   Jesus felt it when He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit…   This joy is a sign that the Gospel has been proclaimed and is bearing fruit.   Yet the drive to go forth and give, to go out from ourselves, to keep pressing forward in our sowing of the good seed, remains ever present.   The Lord says:  “Let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out” (Mk 1:38)…   In fidelity to the example of the Master, it is vitally important, for the Church today to go forth and preach the Gospel to all – to all places, on all occasions, without hesitation, reluctance or fear.”…Pope Francis – Apostolic Exhortation « The Joy of the Gospel / Evangelii Gaudium » §19-23mark 16 15 go into all the world - in fidelity to the master - pope francis evangeli gaudium 27 april 2019 ester sat.jpg

PRAYER – Lord our God, You increase and multiply Your faithful by Your abundant gift of grace.   Look now on Your chosen people and clothe forever in the garment of eternal life, all those who have been reborn in baptism.   Grant that the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, the saints and angels, may accompany us on our journey.   Through our Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.BLESSED VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD PRAY FOR US.jpg

Posted in BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, EXTREME UNCTION, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY ORDERS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SACRAMENTS, The HOLY GHOST

Thought for the Day – 26 April – The Anointing with the Holy Spirit

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Thought for the Day – 26 April – Friday in the Octave of Easter

The Anointing with the Holy Spirit

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Bishop, Father & Doctor of the Church

An excerpt from his Mystagogical Catechesis 3

When we were baptised into Christ and clothed ourselves in Him, we were transformed into the likeness of the Son of God.   Having destined us to be His adopted sons, God gave us a likeness to Christ in His glory and living as we do, in communion with Christ, God’s anointed, we ourselves are rightly called “the anointed ones.”   When He said: Do not touch my anointed ones, God was speaking of us.

We became “the anointed ones” when we received the sign of the Holy Spirit.   Indeed, everything took place in us by means of images, because we ourselves are images of Christ.   Christ bathed in the river Jordan, imparting to its waters the fragrance of His divinity and, when He came up from them, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, like resting upon like.   So we also, after coming up from the sacred waters of baptism, were anointed with chrism, which signifies the Holy Spirit, by whom Christ was anointed and of whom blessed Isaiah prophesied in the name of the Lord – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor.

Christ’s anointing was not by human hands, nor was it with ordinary oil.   On the contrary, having destined Him to be the Saviour of the whole world, the Father Himself anointed Him with the Holy Spirit.   The words of Peter bear witness to this – Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit.   And David the prophet proclaimed: Your throne, O God, shall endure for ever; your royal sceptre is a sceptre of justice.   You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above all your fellows.

The oil of gladness with which Christ was anointed was a spiritual oil, it was in fact the Holy Spirit Himself, who is called the oil of gladness, because He is the source of spiritual joy.   But we too have been anointed with oil and by this anointing, we have entered into fellowship with Christ and have received a share in His life.   Beware of thinking that this holy oil is simply ordinary oil and nothing else.   After the invocation of the Spirit it is no longer ordinary oil but the gift of Christ and by the presence of His divinity, it becomes the instrument, through which we receive the Holy Spirit.   While symbolically, on our foreheads and senses, our bodies are anointed with this oil that we see, our souls are sanctified by the holy and life-giving Spirit.beware of thinking that this holy oil - st cyril of jerusalem 26 april 2019 easter friday - anointingwiththeholyspirit.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CONFESSION/PENANCE, HOLY WEEK, HOLY WEEK 2019, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, STATIONS of the CROSS, The STATIONS of the CROSS

The Stations of the Cross – 20 April – Thirteenth & Fourteenth Stations

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The Stations of the Cross – 20 April – Holy Saturday, – Easter Vigil in the Holy Night

Meditations on the Stations of the Cross
By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Begin with an Act of Contrition

Pardon us, O Lord, pardon us
By William of Saint-Thierry OSB, O.Cist. (c 1075-1148)
Abbot, Monk, Theologian, Mystic, Writer
Friend of St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Pardon us, O Lord, pardon us.
We beg to shift the blame for our sins,
we make excuses.
But no-one can hide
from the Light of Your Truth,
which both enlightens those,
who turn to it
and exposes those,
who turn away.
Even our blood and our bones
are visible to You,
who created us out of dust.
How foolish we are,
to think that we can rule our own lives,
satisfying our own desires,
without thought of You.
How stupid we are,
to imagine that we can keep our sins hidden.
But although we may deceive other people,
we cannot deceive You.
And since You see into our hearts,
we cannot deceive ourselves,
for Your Light reveals to us,
our own spiritual corruption.
Let us, therefore, fall down before You,
weeping with tears of shame.
May Your judgement,
give new shape to our souls.
May Your power,
mould our hearts
to reflect Your love.
May Your grace,
infuse our minds,
so that our thoughts
reflect Your Will.
Amenpardon us o lord pardon us by william saint thierry - 20 april 2019 holy sat.jpg

The Thirteenth Station
Jesus is taken from the Cross, and laid in Mary’s Bosom

V. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
V. We adore You, O Christ and we bless You.
R. Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

THE multitude have gone home.   Calvary is left solitary and still, except that St John and the holy women are there.   Then come Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus and take down from the Cross the body of Jesus and place it in the arms of Mary.

O Mary, at last you have possession of your Son.   Now, when His enemies can do no more, they leave Him in contempt to you.   As His unexpected friends perform their difficult work, you look on with unspeakable thoughts.   Your heart is pierced with the sword of which Simeon spoke.   O Mother most sorrowful, yet in your sorrow there is a still greater joy.   The joy in prospect nerved you to stand by Him as He hung upon the Cross, much more now, without swooning, without trembling, you receive Him to your arms and on your lap.   Now you are supremely happy as having Him, though He comes to you not as He went from you.   He went from your home, O Mother of God, in the strength and beauty of His manhood and He comes back to you dislocated, torn to pieces, mangled, dead.   Yet, O Blessed Mary, you are happier in this hour of woe than on the day of the marriage feast, for then He was leaving you and now in the future, as a Risen Saviour, He will be separated from you no more.

Pater, Ave. &c. thirteenth station jesus is taken from the cross bl john henry newman 20 april 2019 holy sat

The Fourteenth Station
Jesus is laid in the Tomb

V. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
V. We adore You, O Christ and we bless You.
R. Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

BUT for a short three days, for a day and a half—Mary then must give Him up.   He is not yet risen.   His friends and servants take Him from you and place Him in an honourable tomb.   They close it safely, till the hour comes for His resurrection.

Lie down and sleep in peace in the calm grave for a little while, dear Lord and then wake up for an everlasting reign.   We, like the faithful women, will watch around You, for all our treasure, all our life, is lodged with You.   And, when our turn comes to die, grant, sweet Lord, that we may sleep calmly too, the sleep of the just.   Let us sleep peacefully for the brief interval between death and the general resurrection.   Guard us from the enemy, save us from the pit.   Let our friends remember us and pray for us, O dear Lord. Let Masses be said for us, so that the pains of Purgatory, so much deserved by us and, therefore, so truly welcomed by us, may be over with little delay.   Give us seasons of refreshment there, wrap us round with holy dreams and soothing contemplations, while we gather strength to ascend the heavens.   And then let our faithful guardian Angels help us up the glorious ladder, reaching from earth to heaven, which Jacob saw in vision. And when we reach the everlasting gates, let them open upon us with the music of Angels and let St Peter receive us and our Lady, the glorious Queen of Saints, embrace us, and bring us to You, and to Your Eternal Father and to Your Co-equal Spirit, Three Persons, One God, to reign with Them forever and ever.

V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.fourteenth station - tomb - bl john henry newman - 20 april 2019 holy sat

I love You, Lord Jesus,
my love above all things,
I repent with my
whole heart for having
offended You.
Never permit me
to separate myself from You again
grant that I may love always
and then do with me
what You will.
(St Alphonsus Liguori)

LET US PRAY

God, Who by the Precious Blood of Your only-begotten Son did sanctify the Standard of the Cross, grant, we beseech You, that we, who rejoice in the glory of the same Holy Cross, may at all times and places, rejoice in Your protection, Through the same Christ, our Lord.   Amen.

Lord Jesus, I am too tired to go on but in You I find rest.
Lord Jesus, I feel so alone but You promised that You would never leave me.
Lord Jesus, I am so afraid but Your arms constantly protect me.
Lord Jesus, I cannot make it but You promise that You will carry me.
Lord Jesus, I am lost but through You and You alone I am found.

End with one Pater, Ave and Gloria, for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, HOLY WEEK, HOLY WEEK 2019, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, STATIONS of the CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The STATIONS of the CROSS

Friday of the Passion of the Lord, 3 p.m.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Stations of the Cross – 19 April – Friday of the Passion of the Lord, 3 p.m.

Meditations on the Stations of the Cross
By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Begin with an Act of Contrition

V. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
V. We adore You, O Christ and we bless You.
R. Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

The Twelfth Station
Lord Jesus, You die on the cross

You hang on a cross like a criminal, a few faithful gather at Your feet.   Your mother is there as her Son drips to death for His human creatures.
Yet, even nailed to a cross and dying from the torture, there is no mercy for You.
You ask for a small compassion and are given gall to drink.
There is no mercy for You, yet You constantly plead for mercy for me.
You even give me the Mother that You chose for Yourself.
And in Your passion, without solace, alone in the midst of the crowd, cut off from everyone, You are utterly alone.
Defiled even as You die, cursed and ignored with no possibility of human comfort, You cry out Your agony from the cross and at that moment tear, any barrier, between Your Father and me.
I should be the one hanging on that cross, guilty with all my sin but out of love, You have taken my place.
You give your last drop of precious blood and then looking at me, You breathe Your last, bow Your head, and die…for me.

V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.twelfth station jesus dies on the cross - bl john henry newman 19 april good friday 2019.jpg

I love You, Lord Jesus,
my love above all things,
I repent with my
whole heart for having
offended You.
Never permit me
to separate myself
from You again
grant that I may love always
and then do with me
what You will.
(St Alphonsus Liguori)

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Bei love you lord jesus - st alphonsus - 19 april 2019 - good friday.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HOLY WEEK, HOLY WEEK 2019, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, STATIONS of the CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The STATIONS of the CROSS

The Stations of the Cross – 19 April – Stations Ten and Eleven

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Stations of the Cross – 19 April – Friday of the Passion of the Lord

Meditations on the Stations of the Cross
By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Begin with an Act of Contrition

V. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
V. We adore You, O Christ and we bless You.
R. Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

The Tenth Station
Lord Jesus, You are stripped of Your garments

They strip your garments off You and as they do, Your blood encrusted wounds are ripped open again and start to bleed once again and in Your pain, they mock You in Your nakedness, thinking that they are revealing how pitiful You are.
What they don’t see is how God exalted man by becoming man.
Taking Your clothes, the soldiers want to leave You nothing but You are God and cannot be made nothing.
They want You to be shamed in your nakedness, as Adam and Eve were shamed but You are God and cannot be shamed.
They want to reveal Your guilt but instead only reveal Your innocence.
They try to take away your dignity and every last bit of You but You are God, You alone are everything.tenth station jesus is tripped - bl john henry newman - 19 april 2019

The Eleventh Station
Lord Jesus, You are nailed to the cross

Wounded, mangled, bleeding, dying, You consent to the violent attack of the hammer. Patient in Your agony, You allow the cruel tearing of Your body to make me one with You.
Pilate writes “Jesus Christ, King of the Jews” to mock You.   If only He knew how right He was!   Onto that wood is nailed the Messiah, the Christ, the King.
You give me Bread of life to fill me, even as You receive the nails caused by my sin.
You are constantly bombarded by sin, all the rage, all the hatred lust and greed and incessant lies of all mankind through all the ages bearing on You.   You are bombarded with poison and still You love.
Because of Your love, You have holes ripped into Your hands and Your feet and You continue to bleed for me.the eleventh station jesus is nailed to the cross bl john henry newman 19 april 2019

V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.

I love You, Lord Jesus,
my love above all things,
I repent with my
whole heart for having
offended You.
Never permit me
to separate myself
from You again
grant that I may love always
and then do with me
what You will.
(St Alphonsus Liguori)

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a Sinner.

the jesus prayer - good friday 19 april 2019.jpg