Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, DOCTRINE, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, St PETER!

Our Morning Offering – 22 February – O Prince of the Apostolic Senate!

Our Morning Offering – 22 February – The Chair of St Peter at Antioch

O Prince of the Apostolic Senate!
Hymn to the Prince of the Apostles
By St Peter Damian (1007-1072)

Cardinal Bishop of Ostia
Doctor of the Church

O Prince of the Apostolic Senate!
Herald of our Lord!
First Shepherd of the Faithful!
watch over the Flock intrusted to thee.

Lead us through verdant pastures,
feeding us with the nourishment of the Word
and lead us, thus fed, into the heavenly fold,
whither thou hast already gone.

To thee, Peter, have been delivered
the Keys of heaven’s gate
and all things, both in Heaven and on earth,
acknowledge thy authority.

Tis thou that choosest the City
where is to be established the Rock of the True Faith,
the foundation of the building,
on which the Catholic Church stands immoveable.

Thy shadow, as thou passest by, heals the sick
and Tabitha, who made garments for the poor,
was raised to life
at thy bidding.

Bound with two chains,
thou wast set free by an Angel’s power;
he bids thee put on thy garments and thy sandals
and lo! the prison door is opened.

To the Father unbegotten
and to the Only-Begotten Son
and to the co-equal Spirit of them both,
be praise and kingly highest power.
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", ACT of CONTRITION, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SIN

Our Morning Offering – 21 February – Lord Jesus, Think on Me By St Synesius of Cyrene

Our Morning Offering – 21 February – Ember Wednesday

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 AUGUSTINIANS OSA, BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), GOD the FATHER, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, The HEART, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 20 February – Almighty Father, Come Into Our Hearts By St Augustine

Our Morning Offering – 20 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity”

Almighty Father, Come Into Our Hearts
By St Augustine (354-430)

Almighty Father, come into our hearts
and so fill us with Thy love
that forsaking all evil desires,
we may embrace Thee, our only good.
Show us, O Lord our God,
what Thou art to us.
Say to our souls, I Am your salvation,
speak so, that we may hear.
Our hearts are before Thee,
open our ears,
let us hasten after Thy Voice.
Hide not Thy Face from us,
we beseech Thee, O Lord.
Open our hearts, so that Thou may enter in.
Repair the ruined mansions,
that Thou may dwell therein.
Hear us, O Heavenly Father,
for the sake of Thy Only Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with Thee
and the Holy Ghost,
one God, now and forever.
Amen

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, LENT, LENT 2024, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST

Our Morning Offering – 18 February – Ex More Docti Mystico, The Fast, As Taught by Holy Lore

Our Morning Offering – 17 February – The First Sunday of Lent

Ex More Docti Mystico
The Fast, As Taught by Holy Lore
By St Gregory the Great (540-604)
Pope, Father, Doctor of the Church

Trans. John Mason Neale

The fast, as taught by holy lore,
We keep in solemn course once more.
The fast to all men known and bound
In forty days of yearly round.

The law and seers that were of old
In divers ways this Lent foretold,
Which Christ, all seasons’ King and Guide,
In after ages sanctified.

More sparing, therefore, let us make
The words we speak, the good we take,
Our sleep and mirth – and closer barred
Be every sense in holy guard.

Avoid the evil thoughts that roll
Like water o’er the heedless soul;
Nor let the foe occasion find
Our souls in slavery to bind.

In prayer together let us fall,
And cry for mercy, one and all,
And weep before the Judge’s Feet,
And His avenging wrath entreat.

The grace have we offended sore,
By sins, O God, which we deplore;
But pour upon us, from on high,
O pardoning One, Thy clemency.

Remember Thou, though frail we be,
That yet Thine handiwork are we;
Nor let the honour of Thy Name
Be by another put to shame.

Forgive the sin that we have wrought;
Increase the good that we have sought
That we at length, our wanderings o’er,
May please Thee here and evermore.

Grant, O Thou Blessed Trinity,
Grant, O Essential Unity,
That this our fast of forty days
May work our profit and Thy praise.

There are twelve translations of this lovely Lenten Hymn.
This one by L M Neale
Liturgical Use: Matins Hymn on Sundays
and week-days during Lent.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The FLIGHT into EQYPT, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR

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

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 DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FREEDOM, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on VANITY, QUOTES on WATCHING, QUOTES on Will (Sensual or Inferior), QUOTES on WISDOM, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Our Morning Offering – 15 February – Grant Me, My God By St Thomas Aquinas

Our Morning Offering – 15 February – Ash Thursday

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, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, LENT 2024, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, The HOLY FACE

Our Morning Offering – 13 February – Offering of the Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to God the Father, in Reparation

Our Morning Offering – 13 February – Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus and Shrove Tuesday

As part of the preparations for Lent, it is appropriate to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Face by spending some time before the Blessed Sacrament and reciting the prayers of reparation.
In addition, the repetition of this Devotion each Tuesday in Lent maybe a means of drawing closer to Our Lord during this time of more intense prayer and conversion.

TAKEN FROM THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF SR MARY OF ST PETER OCD (1816-1848).

Do you see how I suffer? Yet, very few understand Me. Those who say they love Me are very ungrateful! I have given My Heart as the sensible object of My great love to men and I give My Face as the sensible object of My sorrow for all the sins of men. I wish that it be venerated by a special Feast on Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. I wish that the Feast be preceded by a Novena in which the faithful make reparation with Me, joining together and sharing in My sorrow.

Offering of the Holy Face of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, to God the Father, in Reparation

Eternal Father,
turn away Thy angry gaze from Thou guilty people
whose face has become unsightly in Thy eyes.
Look instead upon the Face of Thy beloved Son,
in Whom Thou art well pleased.
We now offer Thee,
this Holy Face, covered with shame
and disfigured by bloody wounds,
in reparation for the crimes of our age,
in order to appease Thy anger,
justly provoked against us.
Because, Thy Divine Son, our Redeemer,
hast taken upon His Head
all the sins of His members
that they might be spared,
we now beg Thee, Eternal Father,
to grant us mercy.
Amen.

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), GOD ALONE!, Holy Name PRAYERS, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The HOLY NAME, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 12 February – Now that the Daylight Fills the Sky, We Lift our Hearts to God on High

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

Now that the Daylight Fills the Sky,
We Lift our Hearts to God on High
By St Ambrose (340-397)
Great Latin Father and Doctor of the Church

Trans J M Neale (1818-1866)

Now that the daylight fills the sky,
We lift our hearts to God on high
That He, in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm today,

Would guard our hearts and tongues from strife,
From angry words, would shield our life,
From evil sights, would turn our eyes
And close our ears to vanities.

So we, when this new day is gone
And night in turn is drawing on,
With conscience by the world unstained,
Shall praise His Name for vict’ry gained.

“All praise to You, Creator Lord!
All praise to You, eternal Word!
All praise to You, O Spirit wise!”
We sing as daylight fills the skies.
Amen

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, EVENING and NIGHT Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on WATCHING, The SECOND COMING

Quote/s of the Day – 10 February – Watch, O Lord!

Quote/s of the Day – 10 February – St Scholastica (c482-547) Virgin Nun, St Benedict’s twin – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18; 11:1-2, Matthew 25:1-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Watch, therefore because you know
not the day, nor the hour.

Matthew 25:13

Watch, O Lord!
With Those Who Wake,
or Watch, or Weep Tonight
By St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

Watch, O Lord,
with those who wake,
or watch,
or weep tonight
and give Thy Angels and Saints,
charge over those who sleep.
Tend Thy sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest Thy weary ones.
Bless Thy dying ones.
Soothe Thy suffering ones.
Pity Thy afflicted ones.
Shield Thy joyous ones.
And all, for Thine Love’s sake.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quotes on SALVATION, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The INCARNATION, The RESURRECTION

Our Morning Offering – 9 February – Hail, O Mary, Mother of God By St Cyril of Alexandria

Our Morning Offering – 9 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – Feast of St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) “The Pillar of Faith” “Doctor of the Incarnation”& “Seal of all the Fathers” Bishop,Confessor, Father and Doctor, of the Church.

Adapted from a sermon preached by St Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, presiding as representative of the Holy See at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, in 431. In refuting Nestorianism, he is called “Doctor of the Incarnation.”

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God
By St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Virgin and Mother!
Morning Star, perfect vessel.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Holy Temple in which God
Himself was conceived.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Chaste and pure dove.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
who enclosed the One
Who cannot be encompassed
in your sacred womb.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
From you flowed the true light,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you the Conqueror
and triumphant Vanquisher
of hell, came to us.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you, the glory
of the Resurrection blossoms.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
You have saved every faithful Christian.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, ADVENT PRAYERS, BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD the FATHER, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, The DIVINE INFANT, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 8 February – An Act of Thanksgiving By St Gertrude

Our Morning Offering – 8 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity”

An Act of Thanksgiving
By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

(Excerpt from her Revelations)

May my soul bless Thee,
O Lord God my Creator,
may my soul bless Thee!
From the very core of my being,
may all Thy merciful gifts sing Thy praise.
Thy generous care, for Thy daughter,
has been rich in mercy;
indeed, it has been immeasurable
and as far as I am able,
I give Thee thanks.
I praise and glorify,
Thy great patience which bore with me.
I offer Thee, most loving Father,
all the sufferings of Thine Beloved Son,
from that first Infant cry
as He lay on the hay in the manger,
until that final movement, when,
bowing His Head, with a mighty Voice,
Christ gave up His Spirit.
I think, as I make this offering,
of all that He underwent,
His needs as a Babe,
His dependence as a young Child,
the hardships of Youth
and the trials of early Manhood.
To atone for all my neglect,
I offer, most loving Father,
all that Thine Only-begotten Son did
during His Life,
whether in thought, word or deed.
And now, as an act of thanksgiving,
I praise and worship Thee Father,
in deepest humility,
for Thy most loving kindness and mercy.
Amen

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 5 February – Patris et Filii Concordia By St Bede

Our Morning Offering – 5 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 BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, CONSECRATION Prayers, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), LENT, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, St Francis de Sales, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 4 February – An Act of Consecration to the Holy Trinity

Our Morning Offering – 4 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – Sexagesima Sunday

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

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

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN Saturdays, MOTHER of GOD, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quotes on SALVATION, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 3 February –The ‘… Mother of God is our Mother! …’

Quote/s of the Day – 3 February – Saturday of the Blessed Virgin (Salve Sancta Parens) – Sirach 24:14-16; Luke 11:27-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Blessed is the womb
which bore Thee

Luke 11:27

Mary, having merited to give flesh
to the Divine Word
and thus, supply the price
of our redemption
that we might be delivered
from eternal death, therefore,
she is more powerful
than all others,
to help us gain eternal life.

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

The very fact
that God has elected her,
proves, that none was ever
holier than Mary;
if any stain had disfigured her soul,
if any other virgin
had been purer and holier,
God would have selected her
and rejected Mary.

St Jacob of Sarug (c 451-521)

This woman will be the Mother of God,
the door to light, source of life.
She will reduce to oblivion the judgement
that weighed on Eve.
Daughter of David the king and Mother of God,
King of the universe, masterpiece
in whom the Creator rejoices…
thou art to be nature’s full achievement.
For thou life is not thine,
thou were not born for thyself alone
but thou life is to be God’s.
thou came into the world for Him,
thou will serve for the salvation of all people,
fulfilling God’s design, established from the beginning …

St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven,
he is my brother and sister and mother.”
“These words were directed at us, not at Our Lady.
Not only was she the Immaculate Mother of Jesus Christ
but, she performed lovingly, on all occasions,
the Will of the heavenly Father.
She did His Will, in poverty and obedience,
in exile and on Mount Calvary.
Therefore, she was God’s Mother in the spiritual,
as well as, in the physical sense of the word,
insofar, as she was constantly united to Him
by a bond of love and of conformity with His desires.
Christ’s words indicate, that Mary’s perfect
and continuous acceptance of God’s Will,
was even more pleasing to God,
than the dignity of the divine Motherhood.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Mother of Salvation,
Blessed Lady
By St Anselm (1033-1109)
Magnificent Doctor
Marian Doctor

Mother of Salvation,
Blessed Lady,
you are the Mother of Justification
and those who are justified;
the Mother of Reconciliation
and those who are reconciled;
the Mother of Salvation
and those who are saved.
What a blessed trust
and what a secure refuge!
The Mother of God is our Mother.
The Mother of the One
in Whom alone, we hope
and Whom alone, we fear,
is our Mother! …
The One Who partook of our nature
and by restoring us to life,
made us children of His Mother,
invites us by this grace, to proclaim
that we are His brothers and sisters.
Therefore, our Judge, is also our Brother.
The Saviour of the world, is our Brother.
Our God has become –
through Mary – our Brother!
Anen

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), PRAYERS of the SAINTS, St Francis de Sales, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

February Devotion – The Most Holy and Blessed Trinity

Traditional Catholic Devotion for February

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

The Sign of the Cross

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

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

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

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

Posted in BAPTISM, CARMELITES, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The HOLY NAME, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The WILL of GOD, The WORD, THEOLOGICAL

Quote/s of the Day – 22 January – ‘… Always persevere …’

Quote/s of the Day – 22 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – St Vincent of Saragossa (Died 304) Protomartyr of Spain and St Anastasius the Persian (Died 628) Martyr – Wisdom 3:1-8; Luke 21:9-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

And you shall be hated by all men,
for My Name’s sake.

Luke 21:17

The fruits of the earth
are not brought to perfection immediately
but by time, rain and care.
Similarly, the fruits of men ripen
through ascetic practice,
study, time, perseverance,
self-control and patience.

St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

Rejoice and be happy!
Persevere to the end
and prefer to die
rather than abandon the post,
to which God has called you!

St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Doctor of the Church

Love consists,
not in feeling great things
but, in having great detachment
and in suffering for the Beloved.

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

Now, you must always persevere
in firmly placing all your trust in our Lord,
in the troublesome business you have in hand.
It will give you a fine opportunity
of laying a good foundation of submission
to God’s will and peace of soul.

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

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

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

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HOPE, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR

Our Morning Offering – 22 January – To Thee, O Master

Our Morning Offering – 22 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family”

To Thee, O Master
Morning Offering
By St Macarius the Wonder-Worker (Died 850)

To Thee, O Master,
who loves all mankind
I hasten on rising from sleep.
By Thy mercy,
I go out to do Thy work
and I make my prayer to Thee.
Help me at all times and in all things.
Deliver me from every evil thing of this world
and from pursuit by the devil.
Save me and bring me,
to Thy Eternal Kingdom,
For Thou art my Creator,
Thou inspire all good thoughts in me.
In Thee is all my hope
and to Thee I give glory,
now and forever.
Amen

Posted in Act of SPIRITUAL COMMUNION, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HOLY COMMUNION, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 21 January – Give me Thyself, O My God

Our Morning Offering – 21 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – The Third Sunday after Epiphany

Give me Thyself, O My God
By St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

Give me Thyself, O my God,
give Thyself to me.
Behold I love Thee
and if my love is too weak a thing,
grant me to love Thee more strongly.
I cannot measure my love, to know
how much it falls short of being sufficient
but let my soul hasten to Thine embrace
and never be turned away,
until it is hidden in the secret shelter
of Thine presence.
This only do I know,
that it is not good for me
when Thou art not with me,
when Thou art only outside me.
I want Thee in my very self.
All the plenty in the world
which is not my God,
is utter want!
Amen

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

Our Morning Offering – 20 January – Shelter Me Under Thy Mantle, Refuge of Sinners

Our Morning Offering – 20 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” and Our Lady’s Day (IHM, Refuge of Sinners)

Shelter Me Under Thy Mantle,
Refuge of Sinners
By St Alphonsus 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

Posted in "Follow Me", ADVENT QUOTES, ADVENT REFLECTIONS, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, EVENING and NIGHT Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MERIT, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on REASON/INTELLECT, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on VANITY, QUOTES on WATCHING, QUOTES on WISDOM, The BEATITUDES, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HEART, The SECOND COMING

Quote/s of the Day – 19 January – ‘In the hours of the night, think always on Christ …’

Quote/s of the Day – 19 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – St Marius and Family of Persia, (Died c 270) Martyrs – Hebrews 10:32-38, Matthew 24:3-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

Tell us when shall these things be?
and what shall be the sign of Thy Coming
and of the consummation of the world?

Matthew 24:3

Watch, therefore because you know not
the day, nor the hour.

Matthew 25:13

In the hours of the night, think always on Christ
and hope for His coming at every moment. …
Christ enters at the open door.
He will not fail to do so, for He has promised to enter.
Embrace Him, Whom you have sought.
Approach Him and be illumined.
Hold Him and ask Him not to go away quickly.
Beg Him not to depart.
For “His Word runs swiftly” (Ps 147:15)
and will not be held by the slothful
or negligent soul.
Let your soul run to His call and follow closely,
the sound of His heavenly Voice,
for His passing is swift. …

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

… In fact, according to the merit
and fervour of each one,
there is a frequent and familiar advent of the Lord
that, in this intermediary period,
between His First and Last Coming,
models us on one and prepares us to the other.
The Lord comes to us now,
so that His First Coming to us, may not be in vain
and that the Last One, may not be that of wrath.
Through His Present Coming, in fact,
He works at reforming our pride,
in the image of the humility of His first advent,
to then remodel our humble body,
in the image of the glorified body He will show us,
when He will return. This is why we should desire
and fervently ask this personal coming –
which gives us the grace of this first advent
and promises us the glory of the last. …

Bl Guerric of Igny (c1080-1157)
Cistercian Abbot

(2nd sermon for Advent, 2-4)

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 Heavnely glory!
Amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, INDULGENCES, Our MORNING Offering, PARTIAL Indulgence, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

Our Morning Offering – 19 January – Indulgenced Act of Reparation

Our Morning Offering – 19 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” –

Act of Reparation
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
Indulgence of 3 Years – Once a Day

O Jesus, my Saviour and Redeemer,
Son of the living God,
behold we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation;
we would make amends,
for all the blasphemies uttered against Thy Holy Name,
for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament,
for all the irreverence shown toward Thine Immaculate Virgin Mother,
for all the calumnies and slanders, spoken against Thy Spouse,
the Holy Catholic and Roman Church.
O Jesus, Who hast said:
“If you ask the Father anything in My Name, He will give it you,”
we pray and beseech Thee,
for all our brethren who are in danger of sin;
sheld them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith;
save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss;
to all of them, give light and knowledge of the truth,
courage and strength, for the conflict with evil,
perseverance in faith and active charity!
For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus,
in Thy Name, unto God the Father,
with Whom Thou livest and reignest
in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
world without end.
Amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, St PETER!

Our Morning Offering – 18 January – O Prince of the Apostolic Senate!

Our Morning Offering – 18 January – Feast of the Chair of St Peter at Rome

O Prince of the Apostolic Senate!
Hymn to the Prince of the Apostles
By St Peter Damian (1007-1072)

Cardinal Bishop of Ostia
Doctor of the Church

O Prince of the Apostolic Senate!
Herald of our Lord!
First Shepherd of the Faithful!
watch over the Flock intrusted to thee.

Lead us through verdant pastures,
feeding us with the nourishment of the Word
and lead us, thus fed, into the heavenly fold,
whither thou hast already gone.

To thee, Peter, have been delivered
the Keys of heaven’s gate
and all things, both in Heaven and on earth,
acknowledge thy authority.

Tis thou that choosest the City
where is to be established the Rock of the True Faith,
the foundation of the building,
on which the Catholic Church stands immoveable.

Thy shadow, as thou passest by, heals the sick
and Tabitha, who made garments for the poor,
was raised to life
at thy bidding.

Bound with two chains,
thou wast set free by an Angel’s power;
he bids thee put on thy garments and thy sandals
and lo! the prison door is opened.

To the Father unbegotten
and to the Only-Begotten Son
and to the co-equal Spirit of them both,
be praise and kingly highest power.
Amen.

Posted in OUR Cross, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, St Francis de Sales, The HEART, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 17 January – O My God, I Thank Thee

Our Morning Offering – 17 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family”

O My God, I Thank Thee
An Act of Abandonment
to the Divine Will
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

O my God, I thank Thee
and I praise Thee
for accomplishing Thy Holy and all-lovable Will
without any regard for mine.
With my whole heart,
in spite of my heart,
do I receive this cross I feared so much!
It is the cross of Thy choice,
the cross of Thy Love.
I venerate it;
nor for anything in the world
would I wish it had not come,
since Thou hast willed it.
I keep it with gratitude and with joy,
as I do everything which comes from Thy Hand
and I shall strive to carry it
without letting it drag,
with all the respect
and all the affection
which Thy works deserve.
Amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, St Alphonsus de Liguori,

Our Morning Offering – 16 January – My Most Sweet Lord

Our Morning Offering – 16 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family”

My Most Sweet Lord
Morning Offering
Of St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

My most sweet Lord,
I offer and consecrate to Thee.
this morning
all that I am and have –
my senses,
my thoughts,
my affections,
my desires,
my pleasures,
my inclinations,
my liberty.
In a word,
I place my whole body and soul
in Thy Hands.
Amen.

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Our Morning Offering – 15 January – Prayer for Mercy and Forgiveness

Our Morning Offering – 15 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – The Feast of St Macarius of Egypt (c300-390) Priest, Abbot, Hermit, Desert Father of the Church, Spiritual student of Saint Anthony Abbot, Ascetic, Miracle-worker , known as “The Glowing Lantern.

Prayer for Mercy and Forgiveness
By St Macarius of Egypt (c300-390)

Lord, be merciful now
that my life is approaching its end
and the evening awaits me.
There is not enough time
for me to cleanse myself of my sins,
for they are so many.
Heal me while I am still on earth
and I shall be truly healthy.
In Thy mercy,
move me to repent,
so that I shall not be ashamed,
when I meet Thee in Heaven.
Amen

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 14 January – In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost By St Hilary

Our Morning Offering – 14 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – Second Sunday after the Epiphany and the Feast day of St Hilary (315-368) Confessor, Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church

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

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

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD, The EPIPHANY Prayers

Our Morning Offering – 13 January – Jesus Refulsit Omnium – Jesus, Light of All the Nations By St Hilary

Our Morning Offering – 13 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – The Eighth Day, The Octave of the Epiphany

Jesus Refulsit Omnium
Jesus, Light of All the Nations

By St Hilary (315-368)
Father & Doctor of the Church
Doctor of the Divinity of Christ

Jesus, the merciful Redeemer of all nations,
shone forth on this day;
let the faithful of every race
celebrate Him in their songs of praise.

A Star, shining in the heavens,
announces His Birth;
it leads the way
and guides them to His Crib.

Prostrating, they adore the Infant
wrapped in swaddling clothes;
they confess Him to be the true God,
offering Him their mystic gifts.

Thirty years of His life had passed
and He, the infinitely pure God,
seeks the laver of baptism.

John, the favoured Baptist
trembles as he bends the head of Jesus
beneath the waters–that Jesus whose Blood
was to purify the whole earth from its sins.

The Divine Voice of the Father is heard from Heaven,
bearing testimony to His Son
and the Holy Ghost, too, is present,
the Giver of holy grace.

We beseech Thee in humble supplication,
O Jesus! protect Thy people;
we ask it of Thee by the power Thou didst show
when Thou didst command
the water to be changed into wine.

May praise, honour and all power
be to the Trinity forever and forever.
Amen

(Verses 4-6 omitted on the image).
I could not find the name of the Translator of this version of this Hymn, often referred to as “the oldest” Christmas Hymn.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, OUR Cross, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, St Francis de Sales, THE EPIPHANY of the LORD

Quote/s of the Day – 12 January – We have come to adore Him

Quote/s of the Day – 12 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – Seventh Day Within the Octave of The Epiphany – Isaias 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12

We have seen His Star in the east
and are come to adore Him.

Matthew 2:2

Thus we offer the Lord,
Gold, when we shine in His Sight
with the Light of heavenly wisdom ….
We offer Him Frankincense,
when we send up pure prayer before Him
and Myrrh, when, “mortifying our flesh
with its vices and passions” (Gal 5:24)
by self-control, we carry the cross behind Jesus.

St Bruno of Segni O.Cart. (c 1030 -1101)

Bishop (1st Sermon on the Epiphany PL 165, 863).

Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer OP (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

He who most loves
will be most loved.

(Letters to Persons in Religion III, 43)

Do much for God
and do nothing without love:
refer everything to this love;
eat and drink with it in mind!

(Letter to Madame de Chantal)

The love of God,
is the end, the perfection
and the excellence of the universe.

(Treatise on the Love of God
Book 10, Chapter 1)​

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, Holy Name PRAYERS, HYMNS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY FACE, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 12 January – Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee!

Our Morning Offering – 12 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – Seventh Day Within the Octave of The Epiphany

Jesu Dulcis Memoria
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee!

By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father and the Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy Face to see
And in Thy Presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ Name,
The Saviour of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find?
Ah! this nor tongue, nor pen, can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our Prize shall be;
In Thee be all our glory now
And through eternity.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on JOY, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 11 January – Sweet Jesus, Thy Name is Joy By St Anthony of Padua

Our Morning Offering – 11 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – Sixth Day within the Octave of Epiphany

Sweet Jesus, Thy Name is Joy
By St Anthony of Padua OFM (1195-1231)
Doctor of the Church

Sweet Jesus,
is there anything sweeter than Thee?
To remember Thee is more delightful
than everything else.
Thy Name is joy – it is the true
Gate of our Salvation.
What else are Thou, Jesus,
if not our Saviour?
Be our Redeemer.
Give us the virtues of hope and love,
just as Thou hast given us faith,
our primary joy.
Give us the words which we need
to praise Thee always.
With the help and through the prayers
of Thy Mother.
Thou who art blessed throughout the ages.
Amen