Our Morning Offering – 13 March – Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Lent – “The Month of the St Joseph” and his special day of the week in Catholic time
Glorious St Joseph! Prayer for the Intercession of St Joseph in All Our Needs By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritatis
Glorious St Joseph, Spouse of Mary, grant us thy paternal protection, we beseech thee, by the Heart of Jesus Christ. O thou, whose power extends to all our necessities and can render possible for us, the most impossible things. Open thy fatherly eyes to the needs of thy children. In the trouble and distress which afflicts us, we confidently have recourse to thee. Deign to take under thy charitable charge this important and difficult matter, cause of our worries. Make its happy outcome be for God’s glory and for the good of His devoted servants. Amen
Our Morning Offering – 6 March – “The Month of St Joseph” and Wednesday, the Day of Saint Joseph – Saint Joseph is known as the Prince and Chief Patron of the Church. As the earthly Foster-Father of Jesus, he had a special role in protecting, providing for and instructing Jesus during His earthly life. Now that Christ is ascended into Heaven, St Joseph continues his fatherly Guardianship of Christ’s Body, the Church. He is a very powerful assistant to all of us.
Ad Te, Beate Joseph To Thee, O Blessed Joseph By Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)
O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ. O most loving father, ward off from us, every contagion of error and corrupting influence. O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness and, as once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy and to obtain eternal happiness in Heaven. Amen
The beloved Foster-Father and Guardian of Jesus and Protector of the Holy Family, is celebrated for this whole month and his Feast Day falls on 19 March .
“Quamquam Pluries” On the Devotion to St Joseph Pope Leo XIII
“On 10 March, [11 MARCH THIS YEAR], we begin the Novena to St Joseph, entrusting so many of our woes and cares to his holy and fatherly care and intercession. His Patronages are numerous, as we know, one of them will fit our needs perfectly and if not, then we should all ask him to intercede on our behalf for our families and for a Happy and Holy Death. On the 19thFEAST we pray the Consecration to St Joseph.”
Indulgenced Prayer to St Joseph O St Joseph! Pray for Us Daily O Joseph! virgin father of Jesus, pure Spouse of the Virgin Mother, pray for us daily to the Son of God, that, armed with the weapons of His grace, we may fight as we ought in life and be crowned by Him in death. Amen (Indulgence of 100 days, twice a day St Pius X 26 November 1906)
Patronages in Alphabetical Order:
of Accountants • Bursars • Cabinetmakers • Carpenters • Catholic Church • Cemetery Workers • Children • Civil Engineers • against Communism • Confectioners • Craftsmen • against Doubt and Hesitation • the Dying • Emigrants • Exiles • Expectant Mothers • Families • Fathers • Furniture Makers • Grave diggers • Happy Death • Holy Death • House Hunters • House Sellers • Immigrants • Joiners • Labourers • all the Legal Profession • Married Couples • Oblates of Saint Joseph • Orphans • Pioneers • Social Justice • Teachers • Travellers • the Unborn • Wheelwrights • Workers • Americas • Austria • Belgium • Bohemia • Canada • China • Croatian people • Korea • Mexico • New France • New World • Peru • Philippines • Vatican City • VietNam • Canadian Armed Forces • Papal States • 46 Diocese • 26 Cities,States and Regions.
Our Morning Offering – 28 February – St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862) Confessor
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 did 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 your 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
One Minute Reflection – 14 February – Ash Wednesday – St Valentine (176-273) Bishop and Martyr – Joel 2:12-19; Matthew 6:16-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not be seen fasting by men but by your Father, Who is in secret and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:17-18
REFLECTION – “What else do you search for outside, O soul!, when within yourself, you possess your riches, delights, satisfactions, fullness and Kingdom – your Beloved, Whom you desire and seek?… There is but one difficulty, even though He does abide within you, He is hidden …
Yet you inquire – since He, Whom my soul loves is within me, why do I not find Him or experience Him? The reason is that He remains concealed and you do not also conceal yourself, in order to find and experience Him. If you wish to find a hidden treasure, you must enter the hiding place secretly and once you have discovered it, you will also be hidden, just as the treasure is hidden. Since then, your beloved Bridegroom is the treasure, hidden in a field, for which the wise merchant sold all his possessions [Mt. 13:44] and that field is your soul, in order to find Him, you should forget all your possessions and all creatures and hide in the secret inner room of your spirit.
There, closing the door behind you (your will to all things), you should “pray to your Father in secret.” Remaining hidden with Him, you will experience Him in hiding, that is, in a way transcending all language and feeling!” – St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Carmelite, Doctor of the Church (Spiritual Canticle B1, 8-9).
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who celebrate the anniversary of the death of Thy holy Martyr, Valentine, may, by his intercession, be delivered from all evils which threaten us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thine Son who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, One God forever, amen (Collect). O glorious advocate and protector, St Valentine, look with pity upon our wants, hear our requests, attend to our prayers, relieve by your intercession, the miseries under which we labour and obtain for us the divine blessing, that we may be found worthy to join you in praising the Almighty for all eternity: through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Saints of the Day – 6 January – Saint Caspar, Saint Melchior and Saint Balthasar, (1st Century) otherwise known as the Three Wise Men/Kings or the Magi – they were all Martyrs. Patronages – against epilepsy/of epileptics, against thunder, furriers, motorists, pilgrims, playing card manufacturers, sawmill workers, travellers, travelling merchants, Cologne, Germany, Saxony. Additional Memorials – 23 July (translation of Relics); 24 July (Cologne, Germany where their Relics lie).
“And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary His Mother and falling down they adored Him and opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:11
The Three Kings brought Jesus Gold — to show that He was a King; Frankincense to honour Him as God and Myrrh to greet Him as man. These Kings first saw the Star which led them to Bethlehem, on the previous 25 March — the day and at the moment, on which Jesus was conceived in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Ghost.
It took the Magi nine months and twelve days to reach Bethlehem, guided by the Star. The Star left them when they were in Jerusalem. But it shone again after the Kings left Jerusalem and led them to the cave of Bethlehem.
Our Lady let each of the Kings hold Jesus in his arms. They were given some of His baby clothes to bring back to the East by way of Relics. The Kings returned to the East, to Persia and later were Baptised there by Saint Thomas the Apostle, in the year 40.
All three of the Kings were Martyred for the Catholic Faith. Their names are now and should always be called, Saint Caspar, Saint Melchior and Saint Balthasar. The bodies of Saint Gaspar, Saint Melchior and Saint Balthasar were first brought to Constantinople and then to Milan and in the 12th Century they were placed in the Cathedral of Cologne, in Germany, where they are venerated with much love by the Catholics of all the world.
Around the year 1200, the Cologne Cathedral Chapter commissioned the creation of this Golden Shrine to house the bones of the Magi.
These Relics which were brought from Milan to Cologne in 1164 by ArchbishopRainald of Dassel, remain there to this day.
The precious Reliquary is decorated with gems, intaglios and cameos. The sides of the Shrine feature images of the Prophets and the Apostles, seated beneath rows of arches while the front-facing end, depicts three manifestations of Christ; the adoration of the Magi on the left, the Baptism in the Jordan on the right and the Last Judgement – above.
For centuries, pilgrims have come from all over Europe and the world, to venerate the Relics in the Shrine.
Prayer for the Intercession of the Three Kings, Saint Caspar, Saint Melchior and Saint Balthasar (By 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!
(An Imprimatur has been granted for this publication – Cologne Cathedral)
Quote/s of the Day – 27 December – St John the Apostle and Evangelist, the Beloved
The disciple who “entered into the Mystery of God, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge …” Col 2:2-3
“The Lord Jesus loved this disciple more than all the others … and opened the secrets of Heaven to him … to make of him the author of that profound Mystery which man can say nothing about, of himself: the Mystery of the Word, God’s Utterance, the Word made flesh. … While He loved all His disciples and especially Peter, with a love in mind and soul, our Lord loved John with the love of His Heart …. ”
Rupert of Deutz (c1075- c1130) Benedictine Monk, Theologian and Writer
Indulgenced Prayer to St John (Indulgence 200 days, once a day, Pope Leo XIII, 1897)
O Glorious Apostle, who, on account of thy virginal purity, wast so beloved by Jesus as to deserve to lay thy head upon His Divine breast and to be left, in His place, as son to His most holy Mother; I beg thee to inflame me with a most ardent love for Jesus and Mary. Obtain for me from Our Lord that I, too, with a heart purified from earthly affections, may be made worthy, to be ever united to Jesus. as a faithful disciple and to Mary, as a devoted child,, both here on earth and eternally in Heaven. Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 27 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Oh Teach Me then, Dear Saint! An Invocation of St John, the Apostle and Evangelist “Saint of the Sacred Heart”, Unknown Author
Saint of the Sacred Heart, Sweet teacher of the Word, Partner of Mary’s woes And favourite of thy Lord! Refrain: Oh teach me then, dear Saint! The Secrets Christ taught thee; The Beatings of His Heart And how it beat for me!
We know not all thy gifts But this, Christ bids us see, That He Who so loved all, Found more to love in thee. Refrain
When the last evening came, Thy head was on His Breast, Pillowed on earth, where now In Heaven the Saints find rest. Refrain
Dear Saint! I stand far off, With vilest sins opprest, Oh may I dare, like thee, To lean upon His Breast? Refrain
His Touch could heal the sick, His Voice could raise the dead, Oh that my soul might be Where He allows thy head. Refrain
The gifts He gave to thee He gave thee to impart And I, too, claim with thee His Mother and His Heart! Refrain
St Lucy (of Syracuse) – St Lucy/Lucia of Syracuse (c283-304) Virgin and Martyr Patron of the blind, eye disorders, martyrs, Perugia, Italy, Malta; epidemics; salesmen, Syracuse, Italy, throat infections, writers, against fire, against poverty, against spiritual blindness, peasants, penitent prostitutes, poor people, sick children, authors, cutlers, farmers, glass blowers, glass makers, glaziers, labourers, lawyer, maid servants, notaries, ophthalmologists, opticians, porters, printers, saddler, sailors, salesmen, seamstresses, stained glass workers, tailors, upholsterers, weavers and 10 further towns and cities. St Lucy’s Life and Death: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/12/13/saint-of-the-day-13-december-st-lucy-c-283-304/
Prayer to St Lucy
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!
Blessed Antonio Grassi Cong. Orat. (1592 – 1671) Priest of the Oratorians of St Philip Neri, Confessor, Tertiary of the Order of St Francis, Spiritual advisor, Counsellor, Mediator, Miracle Worker, Apostle of the poor and the sick. He was Beatified on 30 September 1900 by Pope Leo XIII. Blessed Antonio’s biography: https://anastpaul.com/2018/12/13/saint-of-the-day-13-december-blessed-antonio-grassi-cong-orat-1592-1671/
St Aristone St Arsenius of Latro St Aubert of Arras Bl Bartholomew of Tuscany St Edburgh of Lyminge St Einhildis of Hohenburg Bl Elizabeth Rose St Jodocus
Blessed Giovanni Marinoni CR (1490-1562) Priest of the Theatines of St Cajetan (1480-1547) (The Congregation of the Clerics Regular of the Divine Providence), renowned Preacher and spiritual director. Patron of Preachers. He was Beatified on 5 December 1764, by a Bull of Pope Clement XIII, who also granted an Office in his honour, to his Order, to be celebrated on 13 December. Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/13/saint-of-the-day-blessed-giovanni-marinoni-cr-1490-1562/
St Martino de Pomar St Roswinda St Tassio of Bavaria St Ursicinus of Cahors (Died c595) Bishop St Wifred
Blessed Mercedarian Knights – 7 Beati: A group of Mercedarian Knights who fought the enemies of the Catholic faith in the first Century of the Order. Blessed Bernardo de Podio Blessed Giacomo de Copons Blessed Giovanni de Bruquera Blessed Guglielmo de Sa Blessed Pietro Boguer Blessed Pietro Ricart Blessed Raimondo de Frexa
Martyrs of Sebaste – 5 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know little more than their names – Auxentius, Eustratius, Eugene, Mardarius and Orestes. They were martyred in c 302 at Sebaste, Armenia (in modern Turkey) and their relics are enshrined at the church of Saint Apollinaris in Rome, Italy.
Our Morning Offering – 12 December – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe By St Pius X (1835-1914)
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, make intercession for the holy Church, protect the Sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke thee in their necessities, and since thou art the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from thy most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, burning charity and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen
This prayer was approved and enriched with an Indulgence of Five Hundred Days by St Pius X at an Audience held on 15 August, 1908 and was included in the official edition of Approved Indulgenced prayers (1950). Raccolta number 389, 500 days Indulgence, St Pope Pius X Audience, 15 August 1908.
Quote/s of the Day – 2 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – All Souls Day
“Then, let us run with Him as He presses on to His Passion. Let us imitate those who have gone out to meet Him, not scattering olive branches or garments or palms in His path but spreading ourselves before Him as best we can, with humility of soul and upright purpose. So may we welcome the Word as He comes (Jn 1:9); so may God, Who cannot be contained within any bounds, be contained within us. For He is pleased to have shown us this gentleness, He, Who is gentle and who “rides upon the setting sun” (Ps 56:12) which refers to our extreme lowliness. He is pleased to come and live with us and to raise us up or bring us back to Himself.”
St Andrew of Crete (660-740) Bishop, Father of the Church
“We must live a dying life and we must die a living death in the life of our Lord.”
(The Spirit of St. François de Sales, XV 6 )
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
A Prayer to the Holy Martyrs to Obtain Their Protection in Life and at Death By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
O thou blessed Princes of the heavenly Kingdom! Thou who sacrificed to the Almighty God, the honours, the riches received, in return, the unfading glory and never-ending joys of Heaven! Thou who art secure in the everlasting possession of the brilliant Crown of glory which thy sufferings have obtained! Look with compassionate regard upon our wretched state in this vale of tears, where we groan in the uncertainty of what maybe our eternal destiny. And from that Divine Saviour, for Whom, thou suffered so many torments and Who now repays thee with such unspeakable glory, obtain for us that we may love Him, with all our heart and receive in return, the grace of perfect resignation, under the trials of this life, fortitude, under the temptations of the enemy and perseverance, to the end. May thy powerful intercession obtain for us that we may one day, in thy blessed company, sing the praises of the Eternal God and even as thou now do, face-to-face, enjoy the Beatitude of His Vision! Amen
“How pleasing to Him it will be, if you sometimes forget yourself and speak to Him of His own glory; of the miseries of others, especially those who mourn in sorrow; of the souls in purgatory, His spouses, who long to behold Him in Heaven and, of poor sinners, who live deprived of His grace.”
St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
“… Let us pray that before we have lost consciousness, Extreme Unction may heal our spiritual scars, make us worthy to see God and assist us, to pass peacefully, from this vale of tears into everlasting happiness.”
Quote/s of the Day – 28 October – The Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
“… It was their vocation to call sinners to repentance, to heal those who were sick, whether in body or spirit, to seek in all their dealing, never to do their own will but the will of Him who sent them and, as far as possible, to save the world by their teaching.”
St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Bishop, Father & Doctor of the Church
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
Quote/s of the Day – 29 September – The Feast of the Dedication of St Michael the Archangel – Apocalypse 1:1-5, Matthew 18:1-10 – Scripture Search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“In every lodging, at every corner, have reverence for thy Angel. Do not dare to do in his presence what you would not dare to do, if I were there. Or do you doubt that he is present whom you do not behold? What if you should hear him? What if you should touch him? What if you should scent him? Remember, that the presence of something is not proved only by the sight of things.”
St Bernard (1090-1153) Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
“The good Angels are around you, like a company of Sentinels on guard!”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritatis
O Victorious Prince, Guardian of the Church of God By St Aloysius de Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591) Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
O Victorious Prince, most humble guardian of the Church of God and of faithful souls, who, with such charity and zeal, took part in so many conflicts and gained such great victories over the enemy, for the conservation and protection of the honour and glory, we all owe to God, as well as for the promotion of our salvation. Come, we pray Thee, to our assistance, for we are continually besieged with such great perils by our enemies, the flesh, the world and the devil and as Thou wast a leader for the people of God, through the desert, so also be our faithful leader and companion through the desert of this world, until Thou conduct us safely, into the happy land of the living, in that blessed fatherland from which we are all exiles. Amen.
Quote/s of the Day – 21 September – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Martyr
“For, as Scripture says, “The first living creature was like a lion,” (Rev 4:7) symbolising His effectual working, His leadership and Royal Power; “the second was like a calf,” signifying His Sacrificial and Priestly order but, “the third had, as it were, the face as of a man,” – an evident description of His coming as a human being; “the fourth was like a flying eagle,” pointing out the gift of the Spirit hovering with its wings over the Church. And, therefore, the Gospels of Mark, Luke, Matthew and John are in accord with these living things, among which Christ Jesus is seated. …”
St Irenaeus (c130-c202) Bishop, Martyr, Father
“Why did Jesus not call Matthew, at the same time, as He called Peter and John and the rest? He came to each one, at a particular time, when He knew that they would respond to Him. He came at a different time to call Matthew, when He was assured that Matthew would surrender to His call. For He, Who is acquainted with our inmost hearts and knows the secrets of our minds, knows when each one of us is ready to respond fully.”
St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church
Prayer to St Matthew as your Patron Saint
Saint Matthew, whom I have chosen as my Special Patron, pray for me, that I, too, may one day glorify the Blessed Trinity in Heaven. Obtain for me your lively faith, that I may consider all persons, things and events, in the light of Almighty God. Pray, that I may be generous in making sacrifices of temporal things, to promote my eternal interests, as you, so wisely did. Set me on fire with a love for Jesus, that I may thirst for His sacraments and burn with zeal, for the spread of His kingdom. By your powerful intercession, help me in the performance of my duties to God, to myself and to all the world. Win for me the virtue of purity and a great confidence in the Blessed Virgin. Protect me this day and everyday of my life. Keep me from mortal sin. Obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 31 August – St Raymond Nonnatus (1204-1240) Priest, Confessor
Prayer for the Intercession of St Raymond Nonnatus (Can also be used as a Novena Prayer).
Glorious St Raymond, filled with compassion for those who invoke thee and with love, for those who suffer, heavily leaden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at thy feet and humbly beg of thee to take the present affair which I recommend to thee, under thy special protection. ……………………. (Your request here) Vouchsafe to recommend it to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lay it before the Throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God, face-to-Face and with thee and Our Lady and the Saints, praising and blessing for to all eternity. Amen.
Good St Raymond, pray for me and obtain my request – 3 Times
Quote/s of the Day – 8 August – The Fourteen Holy Helpers – 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16, Mark 16:15-18 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15
“Let us trust in Him. Who has placed this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear, let us bear, with the help of Christ. For He is All-powerful and He tells us: ‘My yoke is easy and my burden light,’”
St Boniface (c672-754) Martyr, Confessor, Bishop “The Apostle of Germany”
“We will never do anything great for God if we do not realise the great gifts which God has given us. The very fact that you have the Catholic Faith at this time of apostasy, shows that you are especially blessed by God. Count yourselves extremely blessed. Hold onto your Catholic Faith, despite all the things going on around you ,- not only in your own life but in the world in general AND in the Church!”
St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church
“Know that the greatest service that man can offer to God, is to help convert souls.”
St Rose of Lima (1586-1617)
Prayer to the Fourteen Holy Helpers By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
Great Princes of Heaven, Holy Helpers, who sacrificed to God all your earthly possessions, wealth, preferment and even life and who now are crowned in Heaven in the secure enjoyment of eternal bliss and glory. Have compassion on me, a poor sinner in this vale of tears and obtain for me, from God, for Whom you gave up all things and Who loves you as His servants, the strength to bear patiently all the trials of this life, to overcome all temptations and to persevere in God’s service to the end that one day, I too may be received into your company, to praise and glorify Him, the Supreme Lord, Whose beatific vision you enjoy and Whom you praise and glorify forever. Amen.
Quote/s of the Day – 13 June – The Feast of St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Cpmfessor, Evangelical Doctor of the Church
Prayer to St Anthony of Padua for the Restoration of Things Lost or Stolen
O Blessed St Anthony! the grace of God has made thee a powerful advocate in all necessities and the Patron for the restoration of things lost or stolen. To thee I turn today, with childlike love and heartfelt confidence. Oh, how many thousands hast thou miraculously aided in the recovery of lost goods! Thou wast the counsellor of the erring, the comforter of the afflicted, the healer of the sick, the raiser of the dead, the deliverer of the captive, the refuge of the afflicted. To thee do I hasten, O Blessed St Anthony. Help me in my present affliction. I recommend that which I have lost to thy care, in the secure hope that thou wilt restore it to me, if it be to the greater glory of God and to the spiritual benefit of my soul. I pray too that I may praise and thank thee, in time and eternity, for thy glorious intercession on my behalf. Amen
The Praises of Mary “Assumption” Poem by Saint Anthony
O how wondrous is the dignity of the glorious Virgin! She merited to become the mother of Him who is the strength and beauty of the Angels and the grandeur of all the Saints.
Mary was the seat of our sanctification, that is to say, the dwelling place of the Son Who sacrificed Himself for us.
“And I shall glorify the place where my feet have stood.” The feet of the Saviour signify His human nature. The place where the feet of the Saviour stood was the Blessed Mary, who gave Him His human nature.
Today the Lord glorifies that place, since He has exalted Mary above the choirs of the Angels. That is to say, the Blessed Virgin, who was the dwelling of the Saviour, has been assumed bodily into Heaven.
Mary, our Queen and Mother of Mercy By St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Evangelical Doctor of the Church
Mary, our Queen! Holy Mother of God, we beg you to hear our prayer. Make our hearts overflow with Divine grace and resplendent with heavenly wisdom. Render them strong with your might and rich in virtue. Pour down upon us the gift of mercy so that we may obtain the pardon of our sins. Help us to live in such a way as to merit the glory and bliss of Heaven. May this be granted us, by your Son Jesus Who has exalted you above the Angels, has crowned you as Queen and has seated you with Himself forever, on his refulgent throne. Amen.
O God, Send Forth Your Holy Spirit By St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
O God, send forth Your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind, that I may remember, and into my soul, that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses, from beginning to end. May Your grace, ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of Your infinite mercy. Amen
Our Morning Offering – 10 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Saturday Within the Octave of Corpus Christi and Mary’s Saturday
Prayer to the Two Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary
O Heart of Jesus, pierced for our sins and giving us Your Mother on Calvary! O Heart of Mary, pierced by sorrow and sharing in the sufferings of your Divine Son for our redemption! O Sacred union of these Two Hearts! Praised be the God of Love who united them together! May we unite our hearts and every heart, so that all hearts may live in unity and in imitation of that Sacred unity which exists in these Two Hearts. Triumph, O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary! Reign, O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! – in our hearts, in our homes and families, in the hearts of those who as yet do not know You and in all nations of the world. Establish in the hearts of all mankind the sovereign triumph and reign of Your Two Hearts so that the earth may resound from pole to pole with one cry: Blessed forever be the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary! Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and a fervent love of the spiritual life. May all my actions be done for the greater glory of God in unions with the divine heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Hear and answer our prayers and intentions according to Your most merciful will. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 22 May – St Rita of Cascia (1386-1457) Mother, Widow, Stigmatist, Consecrated Religious, Mystic
Saint Rita (1381-1457) was born at Cascia in Umbria, Italy. At the age of twelve she was forced to marry an ill-tempered nobleman, who was a heavy cross to her for many years. After his death she joined the Augustinian nuns. Our Lord sealed His love for her by piercing her brow with a thorn from His sacred Crown. Saint Rita is almost without equal as the shining model of the unmarried, of wives and mothers and of religious. Her Patronage extends to Impossible Causes and Wives in Abusive Marriages.
Indulgenced Prayer to St Rita
O God, who didst deign to communicate so great grace to Saint Rita that she imitated Thine example, in the love of enemies and bore in her heart and on her countenance, the Sacred marks of Thy love and Passion; grant, we beseech Thee, by her merits and intercession, that we may love our enemies and ever contemplate, with deep contrition, the sorrows of Thy Passion, Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Indulgence of 300 days, once a day. Plenary Indulgence on the usual conditions, if the daily recitation of this prayer is continued for a month.
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.
Our dear Martyr and protector, Saint Expeditus, You who know what is necessary and what is urgently needed. I beg you to intercede before the Blessed Trinity that by your intercession, my request will be granted. …………………… (Clearly express your needs and ask him to find a way to help you.) May I receive your blessings and favours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, One God with the Almighty Father. Amen.
If Saint Expeditus grants your request, place an advertisement in the local Catholic newspaper and/or your Parish Bulletin or Notice Board, thanking Saint Expeditus, so that his name and fame will grow.
St Gaius of Melitene St Galata of Melitene St George of Antioch St Gerold of Saxony
St Pope Leo IX (1002-1054) known as “Apostolic Pilgrim” When the German Pope Damasus II died in 1048, Bishop Bruno was selected by the Emperor, Henry III, to succeed him. Bruno agreed to go to Rome and to accept the Papacy if freely elected thereto by the Roman people. He wished, at least, to rescue the See of Peter from its servitude to the German Emperors. When, in company with Hildebrand he reached Rome and presented himself to its people clad in pilgrim’s guise and barefooted but still tall and fair to look upon, they cried out with one voice that him and no other would they have as Pope. Assuming the name of Leo, he was solemnly enthronedon 12 February, 1049. Biography: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/saint-of-the-day-19-april-st-pope-leo-ix-1002-1954/
St Martha of Persia St Rufus of Melitene St Vincent of Collioure
Martyrs of Carthage – 17 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred in the persecutions of Decius. We know little more than the names – Aristo, Basso, Credula, Donato, Ereda, Eremio, Fermo, Fortunata, Fortunio, Frutto, Julia, Mappalicus, Martial, Paul, Venusto, Victorinus and Victor. Died in the year 250 in prison in Carthage, North Africa (modern Tunis, Tunisia).
Our Morning Offering – 30 March –“The Month of the St Joseph”- As tomorrow is the Lenten Friday of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin, let us bid St Joseph’s month goodbye today.
Ad Te, Beate Joseph To Thee, O Blessed Joseph By Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)
O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ. O most loving father, ward off from us, every contagion of error and corrupting influence. O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness and, as once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy and to obtain eternal happiness in Heaven. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 7 March – The Memorial of St Thomas Aquinas OP (1225-1274) Confessor, Doctor
“The Cross is my sure salvation. The Cross it is, which I worship evermore. The Cross of our Lord is with me. The Cross is my refuge.”
“O precious and wonderful banquet which brings us salvation and contains all sweetness! Could anything be of more intrinsic value? Under the old law, it was the flesh of calves and goats which was offered but here, Christ Himself, the True God, is set before us as our food! What could be more wonderful than this? No other Sacrament has greater healing power; through it, sins are purged away, virtues are increased and the soul is enriched with an abundance of every spiritual gift.”
“Seek praises from God alone.”
Prayer for Chastity and Purity By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Dear Jesus, I know that every perfect gift and especially that of chastity, depends on the power of Thy Providence. Without Thee, a mere creature can do nothing. Therefore, I beg Thee, to defend, by Thy grace the chastity and purity of my body and soul. And if I have ever sensed or imagined anything that could stain my chastity and purity, blot it out, Supreme Lord of my powers that I may advance with a pure heart in Thy love and service, offering myself on the most pure altar of Thy Divinity, all the days of my life. Amen
Prayer to St Thomas Aquinas for the Gifts of Chastity and Purity
Chosen lily of innocence, pure St Thomas, who kept chaste the Robe of Baptism and became an angel in the flesh after being girded by two Angels, I implore thee to commend me to Jesus, the Spotless Lamb and to Mary, the Queen of Virgins. Gentle protector of my chastity, ask them that I, who wear the holy sign of thy victory over the flesh, may also share thy purity and after imitating thee on earth, may, at last, come to be crowned with thee among the Angels. Amen
Lenten Preparation Novena to the Holy Face To end on Shrove Tuesday, The Feast of the Holy Face
“All those who, attracted by My Love and venerating My Countenance, shall receive, by virtue of My Humanity, a brilliant and vivid impression of My Divinity. This splendour shall enlighten the depths of their souls, so that in eternal glory the celestial court shall marvel at the marked likeness of their features, with My Divine Countenance.” … Our Lord Jesus Christ to St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)
(Console the Holy Face
and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer) below.
Psalm50:12-13 A pure heart create in me O God, put a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Thy presence nor deprive me of Thy Holy Spirit.
DAILY PREPARATORY PRAYER
O Most Holy and Blessed Trinity, through the intercession of Holy Mary, whose soul was pierced through by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the Passion of her Divine Son, we ask Thy help, in making a perfect Novena of Reparation with Jesus, united with all His sorrows, love and total abandonment. We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen
THE SIXTH DAY:
Most Holy Face of Jesus, we are truly sorrowful, for we have hurt Thee so much. By our sins, we have disobeyed Thee, turned away from Thee and omitted to please Thee, by our lives. But now, we wish to do penance and amend our lives. Immaculate Heart of Mary, intercede for us, help us to console the Most Holy Face of Jesus. Pray for us, that we may share in the tremendous love thou hast for the most Holy and Blessed Trinity. Through the merits of Thy Most Precious Blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition……………… Pardon and mercy. Amen
O Victorious Prince, Guardian of the Church of God By St Aloysius de Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591) Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
O Victorious Prince, most humble guardian of the Church of God and of faithful souls, who, with such charity and zeal, took part in so many conflicts and gained such great victories over the enemy, for the conservation and protection of the honour and glory, we all owe to God, as well as for the promotion of our salvation. Come, we pray Thee, to our assistance, for we are continually besieged with such great perils by our enemies, the flesh, the world and the devil and as Thou wast a leader for the people of God, through the desert, so also be our faithful leader and companion through the desert of this world, until Thou conduct us safely, into the happy land of the living, in that blessed fatherland from which we are all exiles. Amen.
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every Adoration Thine (Three times)
Saint of the Day – 4 February – Saint Aventinus of Troyes (Died c538) Priest, Almoner and Administrator of the funds for the See of Troyes, Hermit, Miracle-worker, gifted with a great affinity with animals, who came to him for help when ill or hurt. Born in Bourges, France and died in c538 of natural causes. Patronages – headaches, nervous disorders, of ill animals, of Saint Aventin sous Verrières and the Town of Creney, France. Also known as – Aventin, Aventine.
In the heart of ancient Gaul (today’s France), in the second half of the fifth century, Saint Aventinus was born, probably in Bourges. From the few documents which have come down to us, we know that his parents belonged to the middle class and were very religious. According to tradition, Christianity in those lands already spread in the third century. The sound moral and Christian principles of the parents would form the basis of his holiness – from an early age, Aventinus was held up as a model.
As a teenager, he began to wonder about the purpose of his life. He wanted to visit the most famous holy manof that region, the Bishop St Lupus of Troyes who, in the year 451 had saved the city from the invasion of Attila the Hun, by offering himself as a hostage. The elderly prelate was not slow to see sincere Christian virtues in the young man and desiring to see them brought to fruition for the glory of the Lord and the Church and so, St Lupo kept him with him as a disciple and assistant. It was the happy meeting of two true men of God.
Aventinus distinguished himself by the humility and zeal with which he carried out the work; constant in the practices of piety, he was growing internally. He had as an example a Saint who continually turned his attentions to him. The virtue that shone most in him was charity towards others. Slavery of foreign prisoners of war was widespread in those days – St Lupus and Aventinus did not remain indifferent to the children of God who were treated like beasts. They ransomed as many as they could, collecting alms for this purpose. Given their freedom, they worried about their spiritual health, often helping them to approach the Sacraments. St Luuso died in 479 and was succeeded by St Camelianus, who, knowing well the virtues of Aventinus, made him Steward, with ample power to manage alms.
God only knows how widespread poverty was and Aventinus’ attention to the poor was never limited to material aid. He aroused amazement at the miraculous way the Bishop’s finances could cope with so many expenses, there was something supernatural at work. Aventinus fame went on spreading but he, keeping faith with his humility and with the deep regret of the Bishop, decided to retire.
He was welcomed into a hermitage with the will to sanctify himself by living in solitude. Although he was not inclined to lead, he was soon elected Superior of the community. Precious was his example and the retreat became a school of perfection. That place was later named after him.
While living withdrawn from the world, he could not help but think about the redemption of slaves. Among others, news reached him of a certain Fidolus, of rare virtues, perhaps already a cleric, originally from Auvergne, who had lost his freedom at the hands of Theodoric I, King of Austrasia. It was about the year 530. Aventinus ransomed him for twelve gold pieces. Fidolus’ happiness and gratitude was immense and he decided to join the holy community, which seemed a most natural development.
Meanwhile, Aventinus’ fame was spreading again among the people who often visited him. The tranquility of the brothers was compromised and Aventinus decided to leave. It was Fidolus himself who took over the position of Superior (he died with fame as a Saint on 16 May 540).
Aventinus withdrew to a solitary place along the Seine, about seven miles distant from Troyes. He had only brought with him some bread, legumes, a hoe and some seeds. He did not want to be a burden to anyone. Finally he had achieved the desired tranquility, dividing his time between prayer, work and penance. He slept little, wore a poor and rough dress, ate only three days a week.
A few years passed but even here he could not escape the admiration of the people, while not even the Bishop St Camelianus had forgotten about him. The latter, who also knew well of his knowledge of the Psalms and Sacred Scripture, conferred upon him Sacred Orders. The maturity of the years was crowned by the Priesthood. He lived peacefully the last period of his life celebrating Mass near his hut, for the benefit of the locals. Demanding with himself, he looked to the needs of his neighbour with his big heart, also curing those who were sick. His charity became legendary and it is said that even a bear knocked on his door one night. He lay down on the ground and held out a paw in which a thorn was stuck. The hermit assisted him by releasing the thorn and bandaging his wound.
He fell asleep in the peace of the Lord on 4 February of the year 538. Acclaimed Saint and Patron of those places he had lived, a few years later Bishop Vincent had a Church built in his honour, where he placed his precious Relics and in which he then wanted to be buried. Chapels and Churches were erected in his honour, even outside France. From time immemorial he has been particularly invoked against headaches and nervous diseases. Today, near Troyes, a Town has his name (Saint Aventin sous Verrières) and Creney venerates him as Patron.
St Aventinus, Hermit and Priest, is not to be confused with the Aventinus, the Saint Bishop of Chartres, who died in 520, also venerated on today, 4 February.
PRAYER
Among the many graces which the Lord grants through your intercession, glorious Saint Aventinus, frequent are the cures from headaches and other nervous diseases, of which you have been a singular protector since time immemorial. With all humility and trust I resort to your patronage and I ask you to obtain from the Supreme Giver of all good, health of mind and body so that I may serve God with greater fervour and attend to the duties of my state. I ask you, not only for freedom from headaches but also for the grace to live as a studious emulator of your examples, that I may one day attain eternal happiness, where faith guides me and hope invites me. Amen
Our Prayers to the Saints – 29 January – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop, Confessor – Doctor of the Church: Doctor Caritatis (Doctor of Charity) “The Gentle Christ of Geneva” and the “Gentleman Saint.”
O Glorious St Francis Prayer to St Francis de Sales
O Glorious St Francis, model of the interior life and full of zeal for the salvation of souls! Obtain for me the grace to employ all my faculties, not for my own sanctification alone but for that of my neighbour too that continually spreading abroad, the sweet odour of Jesus Christ, by my words and works, I may attain, with thee, the blessedness promised to the merciful: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” and that I may one day have a share in the glory which thou dost enjoy in Paradise with the Angels and Saints, where those who edify and instruct to justice, shall shine as stars for all eternity (Dan 12:3). Amen
Our Prayers to the Saints – 25 January – Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, Apostle
Dear Saint Paul, My Patron
Dear Saint Paul, whom I have chosen as my special Patron, pray for me that I, too, may one day glorify the Blessed Trinity in Heaven. Obtain for me your lively faith that I may consider all persons, things and events, in the light of Almighty God. Pray that I may be generous in making sacrifices of temporal things to promote my eternal interests, as you so wisely did. Set me on fire with a love for Jesus that I may thirst for His Sacraments and burn with zeal for the spread of His Kingdom. By your powerful intercession, help me in the performance of my duties to God, myself and all the world. Win for me the virtue of purity and a great confidence in the Blessed Virgin. Protect me this day and everyday of my life. Keep me from mortal sin. Obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Amen
Transport yourself “in spirit” to the Church in Prague where the original Statue of the Infant still stands and let Jesus help you with your intentions!
This wonderful prayer to the Infant Jesus of Prague is known as the Prayer of Father Cyrillus, (c 1637) truly one of the first champions of the loving little Infant!
Prayer of Fr Cyrillus, to the Beloved and Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague
Jesus, unto Thee I flee, Through Thy Mother praying Thee In my need to succour me. Truly, I believe of Thee God Thou art with strength to shield me; Full of trust, I hope of Thee Thou, Thy grace wilt give to me. All my heart I give to Thee, Therefore, do my sins repent me; From them breaking, I beseech Thee, Jesus, from their bonds to free me. Firm my purpose, is to mend me; Never more will I offend Thee. Wholly unto Thee I give me, Patiently to suffer for Thee, Thee to serve eternally. And my neighbour like to me I will love, for love of Thee. Little Jesus, I beseech Thee, In my need, to succour me, That with Joseph and Mary And the Angels, I may Thee Once enjoy eternally. Amen.
Our Prayers to the Saints – 27 December – St John the Apostle and Evangelist, the Beloved
Indulgenced Prayer to St John (Indulgence 200 days, once a day, Pope Leo XIII, 1897)
O Glorious Apostle, who, on account of thy virginal purity, wast so beloved by Jesus as to deserve to lay thy head upon His Divine breast and to be left, in His place, as son to His most holy Mother; I beg thee to inflame me with a most ardent love for Jesus and Mary. Obtain for me from Our Lord that I, too, with a heart purified from earthly affections, may be made worthy, to be ever united to Jesus. as a faithful disciple and to Mary, as a devoted child,, both here on earth and eternally in Heaven. Amen.
Our Prayers to the Saints – 27 November – Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal – Patronages – Special graces, miracles of healing, for conversions, for believers.
Our Blessed Lady and her Miraculous Medal are the solution to the difficulties we are facing. Now, more than ever, we need our Blessed Mother’s comfort and protection. Now, more than ever, we need to discover her peace. Now, more than ever, we need to know that our Mother is with us.
Prayer to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we unite ourselves to thee under thy title of Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this medal be, for each one of us, a sure sign of thy motherly affection for us and a constant reminder of our filial duties towards thee. While wearing it, may we be blessed by thy loving protection and preserved in the grace of thy Son. Most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Saviour, keep us close to thee, every moment of our lives so that like thee, we may live and act according to the teaching and example of thy Son. Obtain for us, thy children, the grace of a happy death, so that in union with thee we may enjoy the happiness of heaven forever. Amen O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Saint of the Day – 21 September – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Martyr. Patronages – accountant, bookkeepers, bankers, customs officers, financial officers, money managers, guards, security forces, security guards, stock brokers, tax collectors, Diocese of Trier, Germany, Archdiocese of Washington, 5 cities.
St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist By Fr Leonard Goffiné O.Praem (1648-1719) (Excerpt from The Church’s Year)
Matthew, before his conversion called Levi, was a Galilean, a son of Alpheus (Mark 2:14) consequently a brother of St James the Less, another of the Apostles. (Mark 3:18). Matthew was a collector of the toll which the Jews were obliged to pay to the Roman Emperors and was called from his custom-house by our Lord to be an Apostle.
In his Gospel, which he wrote later, he calls himself from humility always by his early designation, Matthew the Publican. He followed Jesus faithfully and after the descent of the Holy Ghost remained, as the historical writers Eusebius and Epiphanus inform us, in Judea and its neighbourhood, until just before the destruction of Jerusalem, when the Apostles dispersed and went into foreign lands to preach the doctrine of Christ. When obliged to separate from the recent converts in Jerusalem, Matthew wrote his Gospel to leave with them in place of his presence among them and was the first to write concerning our Lord’s life upon earth.
The Calling of Matthew – van Hemessen
He led a rigorous life, prayed much, never touched meat and lived on herbs, roots and wild fruits. He was at last stabbed by the Ethiopian King Hirtakus, as the generality of writers inform us, while standing at the Altar and offering the Sacrifice of Mass because the Saint had refused consent to the King’s marriage with the virgin Eugenia, who was dedicated to God. His sacred remains were, in the tenth Century, brought to Salerno, Naples, where they are still highly venerated.
Matthew was the first to write a Gospel. How proper it is, that he, who after many sins, becomes converted, should be the first to announce the Infinite Mercy of the Redeemer, Who came into this world, not to call the just but sinners.
“Christ, the Saviour, looked with His mild eyes at St Matthew in his custom-house and called him. Matthew obeyed, instantly arose and followed Christ, becoming thus, from a publican, an Apostle of the Lord, a great Saint. How comforting an example of Divine Mercy, even towards the greatest sinner! How wholesome a lesson! The same kind, merciful Saviour, Who gazed so mildly upon Matthew and called him, turns His loving eyes on you also, even if you live in mortal sin. He calls you to repentance – He calls you to follow Him. Obey Him as St. Matthew did, without putting it off. Let neither the greatness, nor the number of your sins detain you. Your Saviour is ready to forgive them, to receive you into His favour and to make you a Saint. “If you are a publican or a sinner,” says St Chrysostom, “you may still become an Evangelist. If you are a blasphemer, you may still become an Apostle.” This means that you may obtain pardon and gain salvation, as St Matthew and St Paul did, the former of whom was a publican, a sinner;and the other, according to his own testimony, a blasphemer. St Augustine says the same in the following words: “Perhaps some may think that the sin they have committed, is so great that it cannot obtain pardon from God. Oh! may such thoughts be far from us. Why, O man, regard only the number of thy sins and not the Omnipotence of the Heavenly Physician? As God is merciful because He is gracious and, as He can be merciful because He is Omnipotent, he who believes that God will not or cannot forforgive him, closes the door of the Divine Mercy on himself, by denying that God is gracious or Omnipotent. Hence, let no-one doubt the Mercy of God, even if he has committed a hundred, nay a thousand crimes. But this belief should incite him, to reconcile himself immediately with the Almighty.” – Fr Francis Xavier Weninger SJ (1805-1888)
Prayer to St Matthew as your Patron Saint
Saint Matthew, whom I have chosen as my Special Patron, pray for me, that I, too, may one day glorify the Blessed Trinity in Heaven. Obtain for me your lively faith, that I may consider all persons, things and events, in the light of Almighty God. Pray, that I may be generous in making sacrifices of temporal things, to promote my eternal interests, as you, so wisely did. Set me on fire with a love for Jesus, that I may thirst for His sacraments and burn with zeal, for the spread of His kingdom. By your powerful intercession, help me in the performance of my duties to God, to myself and to all the world. Win for me the virtue of purity and a great confidence in the Blessed Virgin. Protect me this day and everyday of my life. Keep me from mortal sin. Obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Amen
AnaStpaul 
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