Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING

Our Morning Offering – 5 April – St Vincent Ferrer’s Prayer of Petition, Grant Me, O My God

Our Morning Offering – 5 April – St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419) Confessor, called the “Angel of the Apocalypse/The Last Judgement” and the “Mouthpiece of God”

Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419)

Good Jesus,
let me be penetrated with love
to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward Thee.
Let me burn with zeal for Thy honour,
so that I may deeply resent,
all the outrages committed against Thee,
especially those of which,
I myself have been guilty.
Grant further, O my God,
that I may humbly adore
and acknowledge Thee,
as my Creator and penetrated with gratitude
for all Thy benefits,
I may never cease to render Thee thanksgiving.
Grant that I may bless Thee in all things,
praise and glorify Thee,
with a heart full of joy and gladness
and obeying Thee with docility
in every respect, I may one day,
despite my ingratitude and unworthiness,
be seated at Thine table
together with Thine Holy Angels and Apostles,
to enjoy ineffable delights for all eternity!
Amen

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 23 March – God of Mercy and Compassion

Our Morning Offering – 23 March – The Third Sunday in Lent

God of Mercy and Compassion
By Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736)
Composer

God of mercy and compassion,
Look with pity upon me,
Father, let me call Thee Father,
‘Tis Thy child returns to Thee.

Refrain:
Jesus, Lord, I ask for mercy.
Let me not implore in vain,
All my sins, I now detest them,
Never will I sin again.

By my sins I have deserved
Death and endless misery,
Hell with all its pains and torments,
And for all eternity.
(Refrain)

By my sins I have abandoned
Right and claim to heav’n above.
Where the Saints rejoice forever
In a boundless sea of love.
(Refrain)

See our Saviour, bleeding, dying,
On the cross of Calvary;
To that Cross my sins have nail’d Him,
Yet He bleeds and dies for me.
(Refrain)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 18 March – In Thy Name By St John Chrysostom

Our Morning Offering – 18 March – Tuesday after the Second Sunday in Lent

In Thy Name
By St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Oh Almighty God,
Who hast given us grace
at this time, with one accord,
to make our common
supplications unto Thee
and hast promised that,
when two or three are gathered together
in Thy Name,
Thou wilt grant their requests,
fulfil now, O Lord,
the desires and petitions of Thy servants,
as may be most expedient for them;
granting us, in this world,
knowledge of Thy Truth
and in the world to come,
life everlasting.
Amen

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Our Morning Offering – 13 March – Lord Jesus, Think on Me

Our Morning Offering – 13 March – Thursday of the 1st Week in Lent

Lord Jesus, Think on Me
By St Synesius of Cyrene (375-430)
Bishop of Ptolemais, Father

Lord Jesus, think on me
and purge away my sin,
from earth-born passions set me free,
and make me pure within.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
With care and woe oppressed,
let me Thy loving servant be
and taste Thy promised rest.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
nor let me go astray,
through darkness and perplexity
point Thou the heav’nly way.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
that, when the flood is past,
I may eternal brightness see
and share Thy joy at last.
Amen

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on TRUTH, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 10 March – O Merciful God By St Thomas Aquinas

Our Morning Offering – 10 March – Monday of the First Week in Lent

O Merciful God
By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus
Doctor Communis

O merciful God,
grant that I may ever perfectly
do Thy Will in all things.
Let it be my ambition to work
only for Thy honour and glory.
Let me rejoice in nothing
but that which leads to Thee,
nor grieve for anything,
which leads away from Thee.
May all passing things be as nothing in my eyes
and may all which is Thine be dear to me
and Thou, my God, dear above them all.
May all joy be meaningless without Thee
and may I desire nothing apart from Thee.
May all labour and toil delight me, when it is for Thee.
Make me, O Lord, obedient without complaint,
poor without regret,
patient without murmur,
humble without pretence,
joyous without frivolity,
and truthful without disguise.
Amen

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 8 March – Lord be Blessed! By St John of God

Our Morning Offering – 8 March – The Feastday of St John of God OH (1495-1550) Confessor

Lord be Blessed!
(A Prayer of Thanksgiving and Self-oblation)
By St John of God (1495-1550)

Lord be blessed!
for in Thy great kindness to me,
who art such a great sinner,
having performed so many wicked things,
yet Thou seest fit to set me free,
from such a tremendous temptation
and deception into which I fell,
through my own sinfulness.
Thou hast brought me into a safe harbour,
where I shall endeavour to serve Thee
with all my strength.
My Lord, I beg Thee, with all my might,
give me the strength of Thine grace
and always let me see Thine clemency.
I wish to be Thy slave,
so kindly show me what I should do.
Give peace and quiet to my soul
which greatly desires this.
O most worthy Lord,
may this creature of Thine,
serve and praise Thee.
May I give my whole heart
and mind, to Thee.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on WATCHING, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HEART

Our Morning Offering – 7 March– Grant Me, My God By St Thomas Aquinas

Our Morning Offering – 7 March – St Thomas Aquinas OP (1225-1274) Confessor, Doctor

Grant Me, My God
By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Angelic Doctor, Common Doctor

Make my heart watchful, O God,
so that no vain thoughts may distract it from Thee.
Make it noble,
so that it may never be seduced by any base affection.
Make it steadfast,
so that troubles may not dismay it.
Make it free,
so that it may not yield to the onslaughts of passion.
Grant me, my God,
the intelligence, to understand Thee,
the love, to seek Thee,
the wisdom, to find Thee,
words, to please Thee,
the perseverance, to wait faithfully for Thee
and, the hope of embracing Thee, at last.
Grant that I, a repentant sinner,
may bear Thy chastisements with resignation.
Poor pilgrim which I am,
may I draw on the treasury of Thine grace
and may I one day,
be eternally happy with Thee in Heavenly glory!
Amen

Posted in CARMELITES, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on SIN, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 3 March – Lord God, Lift Me Up!

Our Morning Offering – 3 March – Quinquagesima Week

Lord God, Lift Me Up!
By St John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Doctor of the Church

Lord God, my Beloved,
if Thou art still mindful of my sins
and wilt not grant my petitions,
let Thy Will be done,
for this is my main desire.
Show Thy goodness and mercy
and Thou shalt be known for them.
If Thou art waiting for me
to do good works
and upon their performance,
Thou wilt grant my petitions,
cause them to be accomplished in me, O Lord!
Send also, the punishment for my sins,
which is acceptable to Thee.
For how will I raise myself up to Thee,
born and bred as I am, in misery,
unless Thou, O Lord,
wilt lift me up
with the Hand which made me?!
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Holy Name PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The HOLY NAME, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR

Our Morning Offering – 2 March – Merciful Jesus! Stretch Forth Thy Hand of Mercy

Our Morning Offering – 2 March – Quinquagesima Sunday

Merciful Jesus!
Stretch Forth Thy Hand of Mercy
(Excerpt – Prayer in a Time of Anguish)
By St Jerome (347-419)

Father and Doctor of the Church

Merciful Jesus!
Thou art my strength, my refuge and my deliverer;
in Thee I have believed and hoped;
in Thee have I loved.
Call me now, I beseech Thee and I will answer.
Stretch forth Thy Hand of mercy, to the work of Thy Hands
and let me not perish, whom Thou hast redeemed
with Thy Precious Blood.
It is now time for dust to return to dust
and my spirit to Thee Who gavest it.
Open then, Lord, the Gate of Life and receive me.
Receive me most merciful Lord,
according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies,
Who receivedst the thief on the cross
and now prepare my soul for hearing
the same promise of mercy which he did.
I am ill, O Lord and Thee my Physician.
Heal me then, my God and I shall be healed,
let me not be confounded, for I put my trust in Thee.
In Thee have I hoped – let me not be cast off forever!
… Deal not with me, according to what I deserve,
nor chastise me, according to my iniquities
but help me, O God, my Saviour
and for the glory of Thy Name deliver me.
Now, at this hour, show mercy to me
and whenever I depart, receive me
into the number of Thy family that I, may be one of those,
who are to praise Thee forever.
Amen

Posted in MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Our Morning Offering – 27 February – O Mother of Sorrows, Stand by Me in My Last Agony By St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Morning Offering – 27 February – Saturday of the First week of Lent, the Memorial of St Gabriel Francis Possenti of Our Lady of Sorrows (1838-1862) and a Marian Saturday

O Mother of Sorrows,
Stand by Me in My Last Agony
By St Gabriel Francis Possenti
of Our Lady of Sorrows (1838-1862)

O Mother of Sorrows,
by the anguish and love
with which thou didst stand
at the Cross of Jesus,
stand by me in my last agony.
To thy maternal heart
I commend the last three hours of my life.
Offer these hours to the Eternal Father
in union with the agony of our dearest Lord,
in atonement for my sins.
Offer to the Eternal Father
the Most Precious Blood of Jesus,
mingled with thine tears on Calvary,
that I may obtain the grace
of receiving Holy Communion
with the most perfect love and contrition,
before my death
and that I may breathe forth my soul
in the adorable Presence of Jesus.
Dearest Mother, when the moment
of my death has at last come,
present me as your child to Jesus.
Ask Him to forgive me for having offended Him,
for I knew not what I did!
Beg Him to receive me into His Kingdom of Glory
to be united with Him forever.
Amen

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Our Morning Offering – 25 February – Lord Jesus, Think on Me By St Synesius

Our Morning Offering – 25 February – Sexagesima Week

Lord Jesus, Think on Me
By St Synesius of Cyrene (375-430)
Bishop of Ptolemais
, Father

Lord Jesus, think on me
and purge away my sin,
from earth-born passions set me free,
and make me pure within.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
With care and woe oppressed,
let me Thy loving servant be
and taste Thy promised rest.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
nor let me go astray,
through darkness and perplexity
point Thou the heav’nly way.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
that, when the flood is past,
I may eternal brightness see
and share Thy joy at last.
Amen

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 23 February – Sexagesima Sunday, Have Mercy, Lord By St Peter Damian

Our Morning Offering – 23 February – Sexagesima Sunday and the Feast of St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Cardinal Bishop, Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

Have Mercy, Lord
By St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Have mercy, Lord,
on all my friends and relatives,
on all my benefactors,
on all who pray to Thee for me
and on all who have asked me
to pray to Thee, for them.
Give them the spirit of fruitful penance,
mortify them in all vices
and make them flower
in all Thy virtues.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The DIVINE INFANT

Our Morning Offering – 17 February – My Beloved Redeemer, Prayer for the Flight into Egypt By St Alphonsus

Our Morning Offering – 17 February – Feast of the Flight into Egypt

My Beloved Redeemer
Prayer for the Flight into Egypt (Excerpt)
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Doctor of the Church

My beloved Redeemer,
I have many times driven Thee out of my soul
but now I hope, that Thou
have again taken possession of it.
I beseech Thee,
do Thou bind it to Thyself
with the sweet chains of Thy love.
Oh, do Thou make Thyself loved,
make Thyself loved by all the sinners
who persecute Thee,
give them light,
make them know the love
Thou hast borne them
and the love Thou deserves,
since Thou goes wandering over the earth
as a poor Infant,
weeping and trembling with cold
and seeking souls to love Thee!
O Mary, most holy Virgin,
O dearest Mother
and companion of the sufferings of Jesus,
do thou help me always
to carry and preserve thy Son
in my heart,
in life and in death!
Amen.

Posted in CARMELITES, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, In the PRESENCE of GOD, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, OUR Cross, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on Love of Self, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, REDEMPTIVE Suffering, SAINT of the DAY, St PAUL!

Quote of the Day – 14 February – True Love

Quote of the Day – 14 February – St Valentine (176-273) Bishop and Martyr

Love one another
as I have loved you.

John 15:12

But I say to you,
Love your enemies
…”

Matthew 5:44

He gives according to the love He bears us …,
according to the courage He sees in each
and the love each has for His Majesty.
He will see, that whoever loves Him much,
will be able to suffer much for Him;
whoever loves Him little,
will be capable of little.
I myself hold,
that the measure for being able to bear,
a large or small cross, is love 
…”

St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)

Take God for your Spouse and Friend
and walk with Him continually
and you will not sin and will learn to love
and the things you must do
will work out prosperously for you.

The one who walks in the love of God
seeks neither gain nor reward
but seeks only, with the will,
to lose self and all things, for God
and this loss, the lover judges to be a gain!
Thus it is, as St Paul asserts:
“For me death is gain” [Phil 1:21],
that is, my death to all things and to myself,
for Christ, is my spiritual gain.
Consequently, the soul declares:
“I was found.”
The soul who does not know how to lose himself,
does not find himself but rather, loses himself,
as Our Lord teaches in the Gospel:
“For he who will save his life, shall lose it
and he who will lose his life for My Sake, will find it.

(Mt 16:25).

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

LOVE
is the only way
to HEAVEN.

St Joseph Calasanz (1557-1648)

The measure of love,
is to love without measure
.”

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

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HOPE, The HOLY GHOST, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 12 February – Patris et Filii Concordia By St Bede

Our Morning Offering – 12 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity”

Patris et Filii Concordia
Come Holy Ghost,
Love of Father and Son.

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

O COME to me, my only Hope,
O Lord my God.
Come to me, true Light,
Father, Almighty God.
Come, Light from Light,
both Word and Son of God,
God Almighty.
Come Holy Ghost, Love of Father and Son,
One God Almighty.
Come One Almighty God,
Father and Son and Holy Ghost.

Teach faith, stir up hope, pour out love.
Thy will is present with me
(yet not from me but from Thee)
to leave the world and the earth
and to seek the Heavens.
But this will is a feeble feather, without Thy help.
Give wings of faith
that I might fly on high to Thee.
Amen

Posted in Holy Family PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, MARIAN PRAYERS, Of FATHERS, GRANDfathers, GRANDparents, Of PARENTS & FAMILIES of LARGE Families, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES on CHILDREN, QUOTES on the FAMILY, QUOTES/PRAYERS on THE FAMILY, The HOLY FAMILY

Our Morning Offering – 5 February – A Parent’s Prayer to St Joseph

Our Morning Offering – 5 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity” – On Wedmesdays, Catholics make a special devotion to St Joseph by going to Mass on the 1st Wednesdays of 9 consecutive months and offering their Communions in his honour and for the salvation of the dying.

A Parent’s Prayer to St Joseph

O holy Joseph,
thou faithful Spouse
of the Blessed Mother,
thou who didst protect her
and her Divine Child with such care
and didst devote thy whole life to them;
I beseech thee to be also my
and my children’s protector
and advocate, with Jesus,
thy adopted Son.
Obtain for me the grace
to fulfil my duties to my children,
as thou and Mary have done to Jesus.

St Joseph Pray for all our Fathers
and for our spiritual Fathers
of Holy Mother Church
Amen.

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 4 February –Morning Prayer To Be Conformed to the Divine Will

Our Morning Offering – 4 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity”

Morning Prayer
To Be Conformed to the Divine Will
Unknown Author
Breviary Prayer

Most Holy Trinity, Godhead IndIvisible,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
our first beginning and our last end,
Thou hast made us in accord
with Thine Own Image and likeness.

Grant that all the thoughts of our minds,
all the words of our tongues,
all the affections of our hearts
and all the actions of our being
may always be conformed to Thine Holy Will.

So may we, having seen Thee veiled
in appearance here below,
by means of faith,
come at last to contemplate
Thee face-to-face,
in the perfect possession of Thee,
forever in Heaven.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on TRUTH, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 27 January – In Thy Name By St John Chrysostom

Our Morning Offering – 27 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop, Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church “Golden Mouthed.”

In Thy Name
By St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Oh Almighty God,
Who hast given us grace
at this time, with one accord,
to make our common
supplications unto Thee
and hast promised that,
when two or three are gathered together
in Thy Name,
Thou wilt grant their requests,
fulfil now, O Lord,
the desires and petitions of Thy servants,
as may be most expedient for them;
granting us, in this world,
knowledge of Thy Truth
and in the world to come,
life everlasting.
Amen

Posted in Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, PRAYERS of PETITION, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HOLY NAME, Thomas a Kempis

Our Morning Offering – 21 January – The Love of Thy Name

Our Morning Offering – 21 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family”

The Love of Thy Name
By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471)
The Imitation of Christ

(Book 3 Ch 26:1-4)

My God, Sweetness beyond words,
make bitter all the carnal comfort
which draws me from love of the eternal
and lures me to its evil self,
by the sight of some delightful good
in the present.
Let it not overcome me, my God.
Let not flesh and blood conquer me.
Let not the world and its brief glory
deceive me, nor the devil trip me by his craftiness.
Give me courage to resist,
patience to endure
and constancy to persevere.
Give me the soothing unction of Thy spirit,
rather than all the consolations of the world
and in place of carnal love,
infuse into me,
the love of Thy Name.
Amen

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on STRENGTH, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Our Morning Offering – 6 January – Prayer for the Intercession of the Three Kings, Saint Caspar, Saint Melchior and Saint Balthasar

Our Morning Offering – 6 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – The Feast of The Epiphany of the Lord

Prayer for the Intercession of the Three Kings,
Saint Caspar, Saint Melchior and Saint Balthasar
By Cologne Cathedral

(An Imprimatur has been granted for this
publication – Cologne Cathedral)

Lord and God
Thou created us
for a lifelong journey to Thee.
Each one of us takes a different path,
over mountains and through valleys,
through joy and sorrow and need.
May the Three Holy Kings guide us in our wanderings,
as their faith, knowledge and determination guided them
through many perils on their journey to Thee.
They saw Thee, knelt before Thee,
offered up their gifts and paid homage to Thee,
They were filled with the joy of finding Thee!

Lord and God,
We thank Thee for granting us the freedom
to seek and find Thee, our life’s goal!
Grant us the faith, strength and trust we need,
to follow in the path of the Three Kings.
Give us courage when we are at risk
of taking easier but false paths,
Let us experience the joy of being with Thee
at the end of our journey,
so that we may be eternally surrounded by Thy Love.
We ask this, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
the destination of every pilgrimage.
Amen!

Posted in ADVENT REFLECTIONS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, GOD ALONE!, Meditations for ADVENT, PRAYERS of PETITION, QUOTES on WISDOM, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The O ANTIPHONS

Thought for the Day – 21 December – “O Sapientia”

Thought for the Day – 21 December – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Meditations for Advent
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

“O Sapientia”

Before the Feast of Christmas, the Coming Saviour is welcomed in seven Antiphons which greet Him under various titles and entreat Him to Come quickly to enlighten and deliver His people.
O Wisdom, Who camest forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching in Thy strength from end to end and sweetly disposing all things, Come and teach us the way of prudence.

  1. The first Title given to Jesus is that of Wisdom. He is the Eternal Wisdom of God and the Source of all wisdom to men from one end of time to the other. With Him, is all wisdom; without Him, is no wisdom.
    Yet I have sometimes fancied myself wise when I was acting quite apart from Him and perhaps, His wishes or commands. What utter folly!

+2. It is the Eternal Word Who disposes all things sweetly.
Everything which happens in Heaven or earth, is arranged by Him and is arranged not unkindly, or harshly, or bitterly but sweetly. Why then do I regret what I ought to know He has arranged sweetly, i.e. with designs of love for me, if I take it in the correct spirit?

+3. Come and teach us the way of prudence.
This is our first petition to Him, Who is to Come.
If only He imparts prudence, all must be well.
Prudence chooses the correct end, that is, the glory of God and the means to that end, – that which we know God asks of us now in our present circumstances. Teach me, O Jesus the lesson of prudence which will guide me safely to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Posted in EYES - Diseases, of the BLIND, INDULGENCES, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

Quote/s of the Day – 13 December – Prayers to St Lucy (Indulgenced) and to St Odilia

Quote/s of the Day – 13 December – St Lucy (of Syracuse) – St Lucy/Lucia of Syracuse (c283-304) Virgin and Martyr
Patron of the blind, eye disorders, martyrs – The Feast Day of St Lucy AND St Odilia of Alsace (c660-720) Virgin Abbess, born blind, but was miraculously granted her sight, miracle-worker.
The Life of St Odilia, another Patron against eye diseases and partial sightedness, also ear ailments.
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/13/saint-of-the-day-13-december-saint-odilia-of-alsace-c-660-720/

Prayer for the Intercession of St Odilia

Merciful God,
I come to Thee to ask Thy aid
that my life may always give Thee praise.
I ask through the intercession
of St Odilia and all Thy holy Saints
to be a beacon of Thine Light to all I meet.
Give me holiness of soul and body
and bring me into Thine Divine Light.
May I obtain these favours,
as well as my special prayer,
St Odilia, pray for my eyes
and the eyes of my faith.
Through the merits
of Our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, our Lord,
Who lives and regins with Thee
and the Holy Ghost,
One God forever and ever.
Amen

And another prayer to St Lucy

Indulgenced Prayer to St Lucy
(Indulgence of 300 Days, Once a Day)

Dear Saint Lucy,
whose name doth signify the light,
we come to thee filled with confidence,
do thou obtain for us a holy light
which shall make us careful
not to walk in the ways of sin,
nor to remain enshrouded in the darkness of error.
We ask also, through thy intercession,
for the preservation of the light of our bodily eyes
and for abundant grace,
to use the same according to the good pleasure of God,
without any hurt to our souls.
Grant, O Lucy that, after venerating thee
and giving thee thanks for thy powerful
protection here on earth,
we may come at length to share thy joy
in Paradise in the everlasting Light of the Lamb of God,
thy beloved Bridegroom, Jesus.
Amen

Posted in EYES - Diseases, of the BLIND, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS on FAITH, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Our Morning Offering – 13 December – Prayer to St Lucy for the Protection of our Eyes and the Eyes of our Faith

Our Morning Offering – 13 December – The Feast of St Lucy, Virgin Martyr, Patron Against Eye Diseases and Blindness

Prayer to St Lucy
[Prayer to St Lucy
for the Protection of our Eys
and the Eys of our Faith
]

O St Lucy, you preferred
to let your eyes be torn out
instead of denying the faith
and defiling your soul
and God, through an extraordinary miracle,
replaced them with another pair
of sound and perfect eyes
to reward your virtue and faith,
appointing you as the protector
against eye diseases.
I come to you for you to protect my eyesight
and to heal the illness in my eyes.

O St Lucy, preserve the light of my eyes
so that I may see the beauties of creation,
the glow of the sun,
the colour of the flowers
and the smile of children.

Preserve also the eyes of my soul,
the faith, through which,
I can know my God,
understand His teachings,
recognise His love for me
and never miss the road that leads me
to where you, St Lucy,
can be found in the company
of the angels and saints.
St Lucy, protect my eyes
and preserve my faith.

St Lucy, “Bringer of Light”
Pray for those with eye ailments,
Pray for us all!

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

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

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

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

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

II. THE BODY OF THE PRAYER.

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

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

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

The great benefit of Mental Prayer consists. less in meditation or thinking, than in acts, prayers and resolutions – the fruits of Meditation. The thinking is the needle which draws after it the golden thread of the fruits (the acts, prayers and resolutions)..
The thread is more important than the needle.

The chief part of the time of Meditation should, then, be spent in making:

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

Our Morning Offering – 6 November – A Parent’s Prayer to St Joseph

Our Morning Offering – 6 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – On Wedmesdays many Catholics make a special devotion to St Joseph by going to Mass on the 1st Wednesdays of 9 consecutive months and offering their Communions in his honour and for the salvation of the dying.

A Parent’s Prayer to St Joseph

O holy Joseph,
thou faithful Spouse
of the Blessed Mother,
thou who didst protect her
and her Divine Child with such care
and didst devote thy whole life to them;
I beseech thee to be also my
and my children’s protector
and advocate, with Jesus,
thy adopted Son.
Obtain for me the grace
to fulfil my duties to my children,
as thou and Mary have done to Jesus.

St Joseph Pray for all our Fathers
and for our spiritual Fathers
of Holy Mother Church
Amen.

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 5 November – St Vincent Ferrer’s Prayer of Petition, Grant Me, O My God

Our Morning Offering – 5 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419)

Good Jesus,
let me be penetrated with love
to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward Thee.
Let me burn with zeal for Thy honour,
so that I may deeply resent,
all the outrages committed against Thee,
especially those of which,
I myself have been guilty.
Grant further, O my God,
that I may humbly adore
and acknowledge Thee,
as my Creator and penetrated with gratitude
for all Thy benefits,
I may never cease to render Thee thanksgiving.
Grant that I may bless Thee in all things,
praise and glorify Thee,
with a heart full of joy and gladness
and obeying Thee with docility
in every respect, I may one day,
despite my ingratitude and unworthiness,
be seated at Thine table
together with Thine Holy Angels and Apostles,
to enjoy ineffable delights for all eternity!
Amen

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, GUARDIAN ANGELS - Prayers etc, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH

Quote/s of the Day – 4 November – Saint Charles Borromeo

Quote/s of the Day – 4 November – Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

Thy Instrument
By St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

Almighty God,
Thou hast generously made known
to human beings,
the Mysteries of Thine Life
through Jesus Christ
Thy Son in the Holy Ghost.
Enlighten my mind
to know these Mysteries
which Thy Church
treasures and teaches.
Move my heart to love them
and my will, to live in accord with them.
Give me the ability
to teach this Faith to others,
without pride,
without ostentation
and without personal gain.
Let me realise tha,
I am simply Thy instrument,
for bringing others to the knowledge
of the wonders Thou hast done
for all Thy creatures.
Help me to be faithful to this task
Thou hast entrusted to me.
Amen

O My Good Angel
Prayer to One’s Guardian Angel
Appointing him Intercessory at the hour of Death
By St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

My good Angel –
I know not when or how I shall die.
It is possible I may be carried off suddenly
and before my last sigh,
I may be deprived of all intelligence.
Yet, how many things I would wish to say to God,
on the threshold of eternity.
In the full freedom of my will today,
I come to charge thee to speak for me
at that fearful moment.
Thou will say to Him, then, O my good Angel –
That I wish to die
in the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church,
in which all the Saints, since Jesus Christ, have died
and, out of which, there is no salvation.
That I ask the grace, of sharing
in the Infinite Merits of my Redeemer
and that I desire to die, in pressing to my lips,
the Cross which was bathed in His Blood!
That I detest my sins because they displease Him
and that I pardon, through love of Him,
all my enemies, as I wish myself to be pardoned.
That I die willingly because He orders it
and, I throw myself, with confidence,
into His adorable Heart, awaiting all His Mercy.
That, in my inexpressible desire to go to Heaven,
I am disposed to suffer everything,
it may please His Sovereign Justice, to inflict upon me.
I love Him before all things,
above all things and for His own sake;
I wish and hope, to love Him with the elect,
His Angels and the Blessed Mother,
during all eternity.
Do not refuse, O my Angel,
to be my interpreter with God
and to protest to Him, these,
my sentiments and my will.
Amen.

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/04/quote-s-of-the-day-4-november-st-charles-borromeo-3/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the KING Prayers, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD

Our Morning Offering – 3 November – Alone With None but Thee, My God

Our Morning Offering – 3 November – Pentecost XXIV

Alone With None but Thee, My God
Attri. St Columban (543-615)

Alone with none but Thee, my God
I journey on my way,
what need I fear when Thou art near,
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within Thy hand
than if a host should round me stand.

My destined time is known to Thee,
and death will keep his hour;
did warriors strong around me throng,
they could not stay his power.
No walls of stone can man defend
when Thou Thy messenger dost send.

My life I yield to Thy decree
and bow to Thy control
in peaceful calm, for from Thine arm
no power can wrest my soul,
could earthly omens e’er appal
a man that heeds the heavenly call?

The child of God can fear no ill,
His chosen, dread no foe;
we leave our fate with Thee and wait
Thy bidding when to go,
’tis not from chance our comfort springs,
Thou art our Trust, O King of kings.

Posted in PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Quote/s of the Day – 28 October – Prayers to Sts Simon and Jude

Quote/s of the Day – 28 October – The Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Prayer to Sts Simon and Jude
From the Liturgical Year, 1903

Great evils surround us!
is there any hope left to the world?
The confidence of thy devout clients
proclaims thee, O Jude,
the Patron of desperate cases
and for thee, O Simon,
this is surely the time
to prove thyself Zelotes, full of zeal.
Deign, thou both,
to hear the Church’s prayers
and aid her, with all thy Apostolic might,
to re-animate faith,
to rekindle charity
and to save the world!
Amen

Prayer to St Jude
Patron of Impossible Causes

It is a beautiful tradition,
associated with prayer to St Jude,
to leave a copy of the prayer in a Church
or before his Statue, Image or Shrine,
for someone else, who is in great need, to find.

Most holy Apostle, St Jude,
faithful servant and friend of Jesus,
the Church honours and invokes you universally,
as the patron of hopeless causes,
of things almost despaired of.
Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.
Help me, I implore you,
by that particular privilege given to you,
to bring visible and speedy help
where help is almost despaired of.
Come to my assistance in this great need,
that I may receive the consolation
and help of Heaven in all my necessities,
tribulation and sufferings,
particularly ………………… (state request)
and that I may praise God with you
and all the elect forever.
I promise, O blessed St Jude,
to be ever mindful of this great favour,
to always honour you as my special and powerful patron
and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen

Posted in CARMELITES, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, OUR Cross, PRAYERS of PETITION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MERIT, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TIME, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 15 October – St Teresa of Jesus

Quote/s of the Day – 15 October – St Teresa of Jesus of Avila OCD (1515-1582) Virgin and Doctor of the Church

We need no wings to go in search of Him
but have only to look upon Him present within us.

Thy will be done
on earth as it is
in Heaven.

Matthew 6:10

“I want to advise you and remind you, what His will is.
Do not fear that it means He will give you riches,
or delights, or honours, or all these earthly things.
His love for you is not that small!
and He esteems highly what you give Him.
He wants to repay you well,
for He gives you His Kingdom
while you are still on earth …
See … what He gave to the One He loved most.
By that we understand what His will is.
For these are His gifts in this world.

Dream … that the more you struggle,
the more you prove the love which you bear your God
and the more you will rejoice one day,
with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture
which can never end.”

He gives according to the love He bears us …,
according to the courage He sees in each
and the love each has for His Majesty.
He will see, that whoever loves Him much,
will be able to suffer much for Him;
whoever loves Him little,
will be capable of little.
I myself hold,
that the measure for being able to bear,
a large or small cross, is love
…”

“This noble woman suffered every kind of persecution.
At one period, her very friends avoided her as one possessed by the devil! Others went as far as to call her a devil! But when assailed with the most outrageous slander, she would say, with a smile:
No music us as agreeable to my ears.

Do you think,” said Christ to her in a vision,
that merit consists in enjoyment?
No. It is in working and suffering and loving.
He is most beloved, on whom My Father
lays the heaviest crosses ––
if these are borne and accepted with love.
By what can I better show My Love for you,
than by choosing for you
that which I chose for Myself
?”

(From her Autobiography)

O My God, Source of All Mercy!
Prayer To Redeem Lost Time
By St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)
Doctor of the Church

O My God,
Source of all mercy!
I acknowledge Thine sovereign power.
While recalling the wasted years which are past,
I believe, that Thou, Lord,
in an instant, canst turn this loss into gain.
Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe
that Thou canst do all things.
Please restore to me the time lost,
giving me Thine grace,
both now and in the future
that I may appear before Thee,
in the “wedding garment!”
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/10/15/quote-s-of-the-day-15-october-st-teresa-of-jesus-of-avila/

St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)
Doctor of the Church