Our Morning Offering – 12 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” –
I Beg Thee, Lord
By St Francis of Assisi (c1181–1226)
I beg Thee, Lord,
let the fiery, gentle power
of Thy Love
take possession of my soul
and snatch it away,
from everything under Heaven,
that I may die,
for love of Thy Love,
as Thou saw fit, to die
for love of mine!
Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 11 July – St Pius I, Pope (Died c 154) Martyr – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11, Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”
“It is He Who is our peace.”
“And hence, all men everywhere,
whether bond or free, who believe in Christ
and recognise the Truth in His Own Words
and those of His Prophets,
know they shall be with Him in that land
and inherit everlasting and incorruptible good.”
“What is that joy which no-one
can take from you, other than
your Lord Himself,
Whom no man can take from you?
… So examine your conscience, brethren –
if righteousness reigns there,
if you want, desire and wish the same thing
for everyone as for yourself,
if there is peace in you, not only with your friends
but equally with your enemies,
then know that the Kingdom of Heaven,
which is to say Christ the Lord,
abides in you.”
O Lord, our God!
By St Alcuin (c735-804)
O Lord, our God,
Who has called us to serve Thee,
in the midst of the world’s affairs,
when we stumble, catch and hold us;
when we fall, lift us up;
when we are hard pressed with evil, deliver us;
when we turn from what is good, turn us back!;
and bring us at last to Thy glory.
Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 9 July – St John Fisher (1469-1535) Bishop, Martyr, Cardinal – St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr, Confessor
“Death to the Saints is not a punishment but a reward.
“For so He giveth His beloved sleep.” (Ps cxxvii: 3).
The death of him, who loves God,
is not called death but sleep, so he can truly say:
“I will lay me down in peace
and take my rest.” (Ps iv: 9).
Cardinal St Fisher, as Saunders relates,
when about to die for the Faith,
put on the best clothes he had, saying, he was going to a wedding.
When he came in sight of the scaffold
he cast away his staff, saying:
“Make haste my feet, make haste, for we are not far from Paradise.”
And before dying he sang Te Deum,
in returning thanks to God, Who had allowed him
to die a Martyr’s death, for the holy Faith
and thus being filled with joy,
he placed his head under the axe.”
“Help me, Most Loving Father,
help me with Thy mighty grace.
Succour me with Thy most gracious favour.
Rescue me from these manifold perils in which I am,
for unless Thou wil relieve me, of thy Infinite Goodness,
I am but as a lost creature.”
(From the Prayer in the Tower)
“Penance is a needful thing to the sinner,
who desires to recover health of his soul.
And, in doing penance, there be three things
to be considered:
serious compunction of heart,
confession of mouth
and satisfaction by deed.”
“For those whom He Loved,
He Loved unto the end and this He wished,
they too should do. He was not
an inconstant Lover Who does as many do,
Love for a while and then, upon some light occasion,
leave His Love and turn from being a friend to an enemy,
as the false traitor, Judas did.
But He, still so persevered in Love
unto the very end, so that, for very Love,
He came to that painful end and that,
not only for His friends who were already His
but too, for His enemies, to make them His friends
and not for His benefit but only for their own!”
“Those in the Catholic Church,
whom some rebuke for praying to Saints
and going on pilgrimages,
do not seek any Saint as their saviour.
Instead, they seek Saints,
as those whom their Saviour loves
and whose intercession and prayer,
for the seeker, He will be content to hear.
For His Own sake,
He would have those He loves, honoured.
And when they are thus honoured for His sake,
then, the honour that is given them, for His sake,
overflows especially to Himself.”
O Lord, Grant Us …
A Prayer of Petitio
By St Thomas More (1478-1535)
O Lord, grant us a mind
which is humble,
quiet, peaceaable,
patient and charitable
and a taste of Thy Holy Ghost,
in all our thoughts, words and deeds.
O Lord, grant us a lively faith,
a firm hope, a fervent charity,
a love of Thee.
Take from us all lukewarmness
in meditation
and all dullness in prayer.
Give us fervour and delight
in thinking of Thee,
Thy grace and Thy tender
compassion toward us.
Grant us, good Lord,
the grace to work
for the things we pray for.
Amen.
Beata Vergine Addolorata / The Blessed Virgin of Sorrows, Campocavallo, Osimo, Ancona, Marche, Italy (1892) – 16 June, The first Sunday of August, 15 September (Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows), The last Sunday of September AND special Devotions throughout May: 16 June
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/06/16/beata-vergine-addolorata-the-bleassed-virgin-of-sorrows-campocavallo-osimo-italy-and-memorials-of-the-saints-16-june/
St John Francis Régis SJ (1597-1640) Priest of the Society of Jesus, Confessor, renowned Preacher, Missionary., Miracle-worker
John Francis Régis was Beatified om 18 May 1716 by Pope Clement XI and Canonised on 5 April 1737 by Pope Clement XII.
His Zealous Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/06/16/saint-of-the-day-16-june-st-john-francis-regis-sj-1597-1640/
St Actinea of Volterra
St Aitheachan of Colpe
St Amandus of Beaumont
Bl Antoine Auriel
St Aurelian(c523-c551) Bishop of Ar;es.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Lyons, the blessed Aurelian, Bishop of Arles.”
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/06/16/saint-of-the-day-16-june-saint-aurelian-of-arles-c523-c551-bishop/
St Aureus of Mainz
St Benno (1010-1106) Bishop of Meissen, Germany, Confessor. Canonised by Pope Adrian VI in 1523.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/06/16/saint-of-the-day-st-benno-1010-1106/
St Berthaldus
St Ceccardus of Luni
St Cettin of Oran
St Colman McRhoi
St Crescentius of Antioch
St Cunigunde of Rapperswil
St Curig of Wales
St Cyriacus of Iconium (c 301-c 304) Child MartyrSt Elidan
St Felix of San Felice
St Ferreolus of Besançon
St Ferrutio of Besançon
Bl Gaspare Burgherre
St Graecina of Volterra
St Ismael of Wales
St Julitta of Iconium
St Justina of Mainz
St Lutgarde of Aywières (1182-1246) The first documented woman stigmatist of the Church and one of the first promoters of devotion to the Sacred Heart
Her Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/16/saint-of-the-day-16-june-st-lutgarde-of-aywieres-the-first-known-woman-stigmatic-of-the-church-and-one-of-the-first-promoters-of-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart/
St Maurus of San Felice
St Palerio of Telese
St Similian of Nantes Bishop and Confessor
Blessed Thomas Redyng (1537) O.Cart. Monk Martyr
St Tycho of Amathus
Martyrs of Africa: A group of 5 Christians Martyred together. We know nothing else but the names – Cyriacus, Diogenes, Marcia, Mica, Valeria. They were martyred in an unknown location in Africa, date unknown.
Quote/s of the Day – 22 May – St Rita of Cascia (1386-1457) Widow, Stigmatist – Patron of Impossible Causes
A Prayer to St Rita
When in Special Need
O powerful St Rita,
rightly called Saint of the Impossible,
I come to you with confidence in my great need.
You know well my trials,
for you yourself were many times burdened in this life.
Come to my aid, speak for me,
pray with me, intercede on my behalf
before the Father.
I know that God has a most generous heart
and that He is a most loving Father.
Join your prayers to mine
and obtain for me the grace I desire
……………… (here mention your request).
You who were so very pleasing to God on earth
and are so much now in Heaven,
I promise to use this favour, when granted,
to better my life, to proclaim God’s Mercy
and to make you more widely known and loved.
Amen
Memorare to Our Lady
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
By the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC)
Patronag: Of Difficult and Impossible Causes.
Remember, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
what ineffable power thy Divine Son
hath given thee over His own adorable Heart.
Full of trust in thy merits,
we come before thee and beg thy protection.
O heavenly Treasurer of the Heart of Jesus
that Heart which is the inexhaustible source of all graces
which thou mayest open to us at thy good pleasure,
in order that, from it may flow forth upon mankind
the riches of love and mercy, light and salvation
which are contained therein;
grant unto us, we beseech thee, the favours which we seek.
We can never, never be refused by thee
and since thou art our Mother,
O our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
graciously hear our prayers and grant our request.
Amen
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
Quote/s of the Day – 19 May – St Alcuin (c735-804) “The Schoolmaster of Europe” Deacon, Confessor
O Lord, our God!
By St Alcuin (c735-804)
O Lord, our God,
Who has called us to serve Thee,
in the midst of the world’s affairs,
when we stumble, catch and hold us;
when we fall, lift us up;
when we are hard pressed with evil, deliver us;
when we turn from what is good, turn us back!;
and bring us at last to Thy glory.
Amen
“… Through all the pages of Holy Scripture
we are urged to learn wisdom.
In toiling toward the happy life,
nothing is more lofty,
nothing more pleasant,
nothing bolder against vices,
nothing more praiseworthy
in every place of dignity
and moreover, according to the words
of philosophers, nothing is more
essential to government,
nothing more helpful in leading a moral life,
than the beauty of wisdom,
the praise of learning
and the advantages of scholarship. ”
“I am made all things to all men
that I may instruct many
to the profit of God’s Holy Church … ”
MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/05/19/quote-s-of-the-day-19-may-st-alcuin-of-york/
Quote/s of the Day – 13 May – St Robert Bellarmine SJ (1542-1621) Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church
“It is granted to few,
to recognise the true Church,
amidst the darkness,
of so many schisms and heresies
and, to fewer still,
so to love the Truth
which they have seen,
as to fly to it’s embrace!”
“A Pope who is a manifest heretic
automatically (per se),
ceases to be Pope and Head,
just as he ceases, automatically,
to be a Catholic and a Member of the Church.
Wherefore, he can be judged
and punished by the Church.
This is too, the teaching of all the ancient Fathers.”
“Charity is that, with which no man is lost
and without which, no man is saved.”
“Freedom of belief is pernicious,
it is nothing but the freedom
to be mistaken.”
“It seems unbelievable
that a man should perish
in whose favour Christ said to His Mother:
‘Behold thy son’,
provided that he has not turned a deaf ear
to the words, which Christ addressed to him:
‘Behold thy Mother!’”
“When we appeal to the throne of grace,
we do so through Mary,
honouring God by honouring His Mother,
imitating Him, by exalting her,
touching the most responsive chord
in the Sacred Heart of Christ,
with the sweet name of Mary!”
Custodes Hominum Psallimus Angelos
Praise We the Guardian Angels of Men
By St Robert Bellarmine SJ (1542-1621)
Archbishop of Capua, Theologian
Doctor of the Church
Angel-guardians of men,
spirits and powers we sing,
Whom our Father hath sent,
aids to our weakly frame,
Heavenly friends and guides,
help from on high to bring,
Lest we fail through the foeman’s wile.
He, the spoiler of souls,
Angel-traitor of old,
Cast in merited wrath
out of his honoured place,
Burns with envy and hate,
seeking their souls to gain
Whom God’s mercy invites to Heaven.
Therefore, come to our help,
watchful ward of our lives:
Turn aside from the land,
God to thy care confides
Sickness and woe of soul,
yea and what else of ill
Peace of heart to its folk denies.
Now to the Holy Three
praise evermore resound:
Under Whose Hand Divine
resteth the triple world
Governed in wondrous wise,
glory be Theirs and Might
While the ages unending run.
Amen
This Hymn by St Robert Bellarmine,was added to the Roman Breviary in 1608, by command of Pope Paul V. It is for Vespers in the Office for “the Holy Guardian Angels. Double of the second class,” 2 October..
Our Morning Offering – 10 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
O Mother Blest
By St Alphonsus Maira Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
Trans. Fr Edmund Vaughn C.SS.R. (1827 – 1908 )
O Mother blest, whom God bestows
On sinners and on just,
What joy, what hope thou givest those
Who in thy mercy trust.
Thou are clement, thou are chaste,
Mary thou art fair,
Of all mothers, sweetest best,
none with thee compare.
O heavenly Mother, mistress sweet!
it never yet was told
that suppliant sinner left thy feet,
unpitied, unconsoloed.
Thou are clement, thou are chaste, …
O Mother, pitiful and mild,
Cease not to pray for me;
For I do love thee as a child,
And sigh for love of thee.
Thou art clement, thou art chaste, …
Most powerful Mother, all men know
Thy Son denies thee nought;
Thou askest, wishest it, and lo!
His power thy will hath wrought.
Thou art clement, thou art chaste, …
O Mother blest, for me obtain,
Ungrateful though I be,
To love that God who first could deign
To show such love for me.
Thou art clement, thou art chaste,
Mary, thou art fair.
Of all mothers, sweetest, best,
None with thee compare.
Our Morning Offering – 8 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Shelter Me Under Thy Mantle,
Refuge of Sinners
By St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor
Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary,
to thee, who art the Mother of my Lord,
the Queen of the Universe, the Advocate,
the Hope, the Refuge of sinners,
I, who am the most miserable of all sinners,
have recourse this day.
I venerate thee, great Queen
and I thank thee for the many graces
thou hast bestowed upon me, even unto this day,
in particular, for having delivered me from the hell
which I have so often deserved by my sins.
I love thee, my dearest Lady
and because of that love,
I promise to serve thee willingly forever
and to do what I can to make thee loved by others.
I place in thee all my hopes for salvation,
accept me as thy servant
and shelter me under thy mantle,
thou, who art the Mother of Mercy.
And since thou are so powerful with God,
deliver me from all temptations,
or at least, obtain for me the strength
to overcome them until death.
From thee, I implore, a true love for Jesus Christ.
Through thee, I hope to die a holy death.
My dear Mother, by thy love for Almighty God,
I pray thee to assist me always
but most of all, at the last moment of my life.
Forsake me not then,
until thou shalt see me safely in Heaven,
there to bless thee and sing of thy mercies,
throughout all eternity.
Such is my hope.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 6 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
The Memorare
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father and Mellifluous Doctor
REMEMBER,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known,
that anyone who fled
to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins,
my Mother,
to thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions
but in thy mercy
hear and answer me.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 10 April – Thursday in Passion Week
O Holy Lord!
By St Bonaventure (1217-1274)
Seraphic Doctor of the Church
O Holy Lord,
Father Almighty, Everlasting God,
for the sake of Thy bounty
and that of Thy Son,
Who for me,
endured suffering and death;
for the sake of the most excellent
holiness of His Mother
and the merits of all His Saints,
grant unto me, a sinner,
unworthy of Thy blessings,
that I may love Thee only,
may ever thirst for Thy love,
may have continually, in my heart,
the benefits of the Passion of Thy Beloved Son,
may acknowledge my own wretchedness
and, may desire to be trampled upon
and to be despised by all men.
Let nothing grieve me,
save my guilt!
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 8 April – Tuesday in Passion Week
O Most Merciful Lord,
Engrave Thy Wounds Upon My Heart
By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
grant that I may aspire to Thee
with my whole heart, with yearning desire
and with a thirsting soul,
seeking only Thy sweetness and Thy delights,
so that my whole mind
and all that is within me,
may ardently sigh for Thee,
Who art our true Beatitude.
O most merciful Lord,
engrave Thy Wounds upon my heart
with Thy most Precious Blood
that I may read in them,
both Thy Grief and Thy Love.
May the memory of Thy Wounds
ever remain in my inmost heart,
to excite my compassion for Thy sufferings
and to increase my love for Thee.
Grant too that I may despise all creatures
so that my heart may delight in Thee alone.
Amen.
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Quote of the Day – 14 February – St Valentine (176-273) Bishop and Martyr
“Love one another
as I have loved you.”
“But I say to you,
Love your enemies …”
“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 …”
“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).”
“LOVE
is the only way
to HEAVEN.”
“The measure of love,
is to love without measure.”
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
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.
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
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
AnaStpaul 
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