Our Morning Offering – 25 July – The Memorial of St Christopher (died c 251)
The Christopher Prayer
Father, grant that we may be,
bearers of Christ Jesus, Your Son.
Allow us to fill with Your light
the world around us.
Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit
to carry out our mission
of living and following
the path of Jesus, our Lord.
Help us to understand,
that by Your grace
our gifts are Your blessings,
to be shared with others.
Fill us with Your Spirit of love
to give glory to You
in loving all
and preaching by our love.
Nourish in us the desire
to go forth
as the bearers of Your Son
fearless and gentle,
loving and merciful.
Make us true Christ bearers,
that in seeing us
only He is visible.
Amen
Thought for the Day – 24 July – Wednesday of the Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time, Year C and the Memorial of Saint Christina ‘Mirabilis/the Astonishing’ (1150-1224)
Christina was very introverted and assiduously avoided being around others. She would take extreme measures to avoid contact with people, by doing such things as climbing high up in trees (to avoid the smell of SIN) or even hiding in ovens. Many people thought her to be insane but others who knew her, venerated her for her holiness. She lived her entire life in poverty and spent her last three years living in St. Catherine’s convent at Saint-Trond.
There have been other saints that some felt were more insane than they were saintly. In the eyes of the world, even now, those who follow Christ in piety and love, oftentimes are seen to be ‘odd’ and ‘weird.’ However, it is not for us to judge others, as our Lord Jesus said. St John the Baptiser lived in the wilderness and ate locusts but our Lord said, that among men born of women, John was the greatest. Jesus instructed us to love one another. On a human level, Christina may have seemed unusual but she lived to please God, not men. This is the calling of each of us – to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and love one another as we love ourselves.
Prayer
St Christina,
you lived a life of poverty
and loneliness in the eyes of others.
But you knew, that in the eyes of God,
you were wealthy and had His love
and the companionship of saints and angels.
Help us to see beyond the things of the world
and to realise, that, we are never alone with God
and that we are surrounded by
a “great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us.”
Pray that we remember to offer up our sufferings
for those who do not see beyond the material
and those who are seeking love and fulfilment,
that they may come to know God
and understand, that they are never alone.
Amen
It was in the peaceful little house of Anne and Joachim that Mary, the Mother of God, spent her girlhood. There Mary knew the example of a woman who lived the simple ways of wife and mother.
Unknown, save in the limited circle of Nazareth, Anne prepared the meals for her family, made and mended their plain garments and filled the house with the perfume of her devoted service. She was a model of a wife’s diligence and a mother’s solicitude.
The young Mary watched this model of the simple domestic virtues. This obedient daughter saw perfection in her mother, the perfection of small tasks done out of love for God and devotion to family.
Each day had a time for prayer.
Each day was filled with deeds of neighbourliness and acts of charity quietly and happily performed.
Mary saw in her mother how a woman can be simple yet great, how the deeds that God asks of us – however unnoticed or unimportant, these maybe – are, the deeds that win His gratitude and make us saints before Him and benefactors before the world.
To this model of the simple domestic virtues we pray:
Daily Prayer:
O glorious St Anne,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you
and with love for those who suffer!
Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles,
I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you
to take the present intention
which I recommend to you in your special care.
…………………(make your intention)
Please recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary
and place it before the throne of Jesus,
so that He may bring it to a happy issue.
Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted.
But, above all, obtain for me the grace, one day,
to see my God face to face
and with you and Mary and all the saints,
to praise and bless Him for all eternity.
Amen
Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .
O Jesus, Holy Mary, St Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.
Good St Anne, intercede for me.
SECOND DAY:
From the depths of my heart, good St Anne,
I offer you my homage this day
and ask you to shelter me under the mantle of your motherly care.
You know, good mother, how much I love you,
how gladly I serve you,
how happy I am to praise you,
how eager I am to call on you in time of distress.
Good St Anne,
be pleased to extend your helping hand in all my wants.
Listen to my prayers, for I place my trust in your gracious bounty.
Make all my thoughts and desires worthy and righteous.
Jesus my God, I thank You for all the graces
which in Your infinite goodness, You have lavished upon St Anne,
for having chosen her, among all women,
to be Your grandmother on earth
and exalted her in heaven with such great and miraculous powers.
In the name of her merits,
I humbly recommend myself to Your infinite mercy.
Amen
This was the cry of Solomon long before the time of the noble women who watched for Christ’s coming to earth. The valiant woman . . . strong in her stainless virtue.
The valiant woman. . . . keeping the laws and traditions of her people.
The valiant woman. . . . fighting the quiet. battle of purity and decency.
The valiant woman . . . protecting her home, the strength of her husband, the future of her children. The valiant woman. . . . whom God loves and whom the powers of evil dread as their relentless enemy. The valiant woman . . . like glorious Saint Anne, mother of Mary.
To Saint Anne the Catholic world has looked in admiration, has reached out in confidence – from her have come protection and generous love.
To the grandmother of Christ we pray:
Daily Prayer:
O glorious St Anne,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you
and with love for those who suffer!
Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles,
I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you
to take the present intention
which I recommend to you in your special care.
…………………(make your intention)
Please recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary
and place it before the throne of Jesus,
so that He may bring it to a happy issue.
Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted.
But, above all, obtain for me the grace, one day,
to see my God face to face
and with you and Mary and all the saints,
to praise and bless Him for all eternity.
Amen
Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .
O Jesus, Holy Mary, St Anne, help me now and at the hour of my death.
Good St Anne, intercede for me.
FIRST DAY
Dear St Anne,
though I am but a prodigal child,
I appeal to you
and place myself under your great motherly care.
Please listen to my prayers and grant my requests.
See my contrite heart
and show me your unfailing goodness.
Deign to be my advocate and recommend me to God’s infinite mercy.
Obtain for me forgiveness of my sins
and the strength to begin a new life that will last forever.
Blessed St Anne, I also beg of you the grace to love,
to serve and to honour your daughter,
the most holy Virgin Mary.
Please recommend me to her and pray to her for me.
She refuses none your requests
but welcomes with loving kindness all those for whom you intercede.
Good Jesus, be merciful to the faithful servants
of Your grandmother St Anne.
Amen
Thought for the Day – 16 July – The Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Carmelites were known from early on as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” The title suggests that they saw Mary, not only as “mother” but also as “sister.” The word sister, is a reminder, that Mary is very close to us. She is the daughter of God and, therefore, can help us be authentic daughters and sons of God. She also can help us grow in appreciation of being sisters and brothers to one another. She leads us to a new realisation, that all human beings, belong to the family of God. When such a conviction grows, there is hope, that the human race can find its way to peace.
Let us Pray:
Litany of Intercession to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Queen of heaven,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, vanquisher of Satan,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most dutiful Daughter,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most pure Virgin,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most devoted Spouse,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most tender Mother,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, perfect model of virtue,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sure anchor of hope,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, refuge in affliction,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, dispenser of God’s gifts,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, tower of strength against our foes,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our aid in danger,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, road leading to Jesus,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our light in darkness,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our consolation at the hour of death,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, advocate of the most abandoned sinners, pray for us sinners.
For those hardened in vice, with confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.
For those who grieve thy Son,
For those who neglect to pray,
For those who are in their agony,
For those who delay their conversion,
For those suffering in Purgatory,
For those who know thee not, with confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Hope of the Despairing, intercede for us with thy Divine Son. Let us pray.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, glorious Queen of Angels, channel of God’s tenderest mercy to man, refuge and advocate of sinners, with confidence I prostrate myself before thee, beseeching thee to obtain for me
…………………………………….[ insert your request here].
In return, I solemnly promise, to have recourse to thee in all my trials, sufferings and temptations and I shall do all in my power to induce others to love and reverence thee and to invoke thee in all their needs. I thank thee for the numberless blessings which I have received from thy mercy and powerful intercession. Continue to be my shield in danger, my guide in life and my consolation at the hour of death.
Amen
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary,
Pray for Us, O Holy Mother of God!
Announcing a Novena to St Anne – Begins Wednesday 17 July
We begin the Nine Day Novena to St Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ, on Wednesday this week.
The Feasts of St Anne and her husband St Joachim are celebrated on 26 July. St Anne is the patron of childless couples, homemakers, mothers and grandparents. She is invoked for safe and healthy childbirth and against sterility. But her patronages are manifold and include children, housewives, lost articles, moving house, poverty, child-care providers and more. I think most importantly, as the mother of our most beloved Mother Mary and the Grandmother of Jesus, her intercession and influence, on our behalf, extends to whatever needs we may bring to her.
Saint of the Day – 1 July – Blessed Antonio Rosmini (1797-1855) aged 58 – Priest, Founder of the Institute of Charity (also known as the Rosminians), Philosopher, Writer, pioneer of the concept of social justice and was a key figure in Italian Liberal Catholicism. Born on 24 March 1797 in Rovereto, Austrian Tyrol (modern Trent, Italy) and died on 1 July 1855 in Stresa, Viterbo, Italy of natural causes.
Antonio Rosmini was born on 24 March 1797 to Pier Modesto and Giovanna dei Conti Formenti di Riva at Rovereto, a very “Italian” town although part of the Austrian Empire since 1509. He was baptised the following day and received his early education locally.
In 1816 he enrolled at the University of Padua, Italy, where he received doctorates in theology and canon law. After his studies he returned to Rovereto to prepare for Holy Orders.
In February 1820 he accompanied his sister, Margherita, to Verona where the Marquess Maddalena of Canossa (now Blessed) had founded a religious institute. During the visit Maddalena invited him to found a male religious institute as a twin to her own institute. While the young man politely declined, her invitation in time proved prophetic.
Antonio was ordained a priest on 21 April 1821 at Chioggia, Italy. In 1823 he travelled to Rome with the Patriarch of Venice, who arranged an audience for him with Pope Pius VII. In that audience the Pontiff encouraged him to undertake the reform of philosophy.
In 1826 he went to Milan to continue his research and publish the results of his philosophical studies. He wrote on many subjects, including the origin of ideas and certitude, the nature of the human soul, ethics, the relationship between Church and State, the philosophy of law, metaphysics, grace, original sin, the sacraments and education.
On Ash Wednesday, 20 February 1828, Fr Rosmini withdrew to write the Constitutions of the budding Institute of Charity, in which he incorporated the principle of passivity (to be concerned with one’s personal sanctification until God’s will manifests itself to undertake some external work of charity) and the principle of impartiality (to free one of any personal preference in assuming a work of charity).
To assure himself of God’s will in his philosophical and foundational work, Rosmini went to Rome a second time, in November 1828 and there received Pope Leo XII’s support. On 15 May 1829 he met with the new Pope, Pius VIII, who confirmed his double mission as philosopher and founder. During this visit to Rome, Fr Rosmini published “Maxims of Christian Perfection” and “Origin of Ideas”, winning the admiration of many scholars.
By 1832 the Institute of Charity had spread to Northern Italy and by 1835 it reached England, where the community enjoyed substantial growth. In England the Rosminians are credited with introducing the use of the Roman collar and cassock and the practice of wearing the religious habit in public. They were known for preaching missions, the practice of the Forty Hours, May devotions, the use of the scapular, novena celebrations, public processions and the blessing of throats on the feast of St Blaise.
Pope Gregory XVI approved the Constitutions of the Institute of Charity on 20 December 1838. On 25 March 1839 vows were taken by 20 Italian and 6 British priests . On 20 September 1839 Fr Rosmini was appointed provost general for life.
This happy period of growth and apostolic success, however, was tempered by opposition to his intellectual and philosophical writings from 1826 until his death.
Primarily his “Treatise on Moral Conscience” (1839) led to a sharp, 15-year controversy which required more than one Papal injunction to silence the “Rosminian Question”. Another important, controversial work was “The Five Wounds of the Church” (1832).
Fr Rosmini found himself wedged between the obligation to renew Catholic philosophy and finding his works on the Index. But his obedience to the Church was admirable: ” In everything, I want to base myself on the authority of the Church and I want the whole world to know that I adhere to this authority alone” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Note on the Force of the Doctrinal Decrees”, L’Osservatore Romano English edition [ORE], 25 July 2001, p. 9).
To close the issue definitively, the Pontiff submitted all Rosmini’s works to examination by the Congregation of the Index. On 3 July 1854, it was decreed: “All the works of Antonio Rosmini-Serbati that have recently been examined are to be dismissed [from the Index or any error] and this examination in no way detracts from the good name of the author, nor of the religious Society founded by him, nor from his life and singular merits towards the Church” (R. Malone, “Historical Overview of the Rosmini Case”, ORE, 25 July 2001, p. 10).
Less than a year after this Decree Fr Antonio Rosmini died on 1 July 1855 at Stresa, Italy, at age 58…Vatican.va
He was Beatified on 18 November 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.
Monument to St Antonio Rosmini in Milan (1896).
His body is interred in the Church of the Santissimo Crocifisso built by him in Stresa.
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Today the Rosminians operate on 5 continents and continue to flourish.
O God, light of the faithful and shepherd of souls,
who set blessed Antonio in the Church
to feed your sheep by his words and form them by his example,
grant that through his intercession
we may keep the faith he taught by his words
and follow the way he showed by his example.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen
Thought for the Day – 18 May – St John Paul II’s Birthday!
Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) was born Karol Józef Wojtyla on 18 May 1920, in Wadowice, Poland. He was ordained in 1946, became the bishop of Ombi in 1958 and became the archbishop of Krakow in 1964. He was made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1967 and in 1978 became the first non-Italian pope in more than 400 years. His Patronages are: Archdiocese of Kraków, World Youth Day (co-Patron), World Meeting of Families 2015 (co-Patron), Young Catholics, Families, Świdnica, Trecastelli, Borgo Mantovano, Rivignano Teor.
On the Anniversary of his Birth, we ask for his intercession.
Vatican Official Prayer to St John Paul II
Oh, St John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing!
Bless the church that you loved and served and guided,
courageously leading it along the paths of the world,
in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus.
Bless the young, who were your great passion.
Help them dream again, help them look up high again,
to find the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth.
May you bless families, bless each family!
You warned of Satan’s assault against this precious
and indispensable divine spark that God lit on earth.
St John Paul, with your prayer, may you protect the family
and every life that blossoms from the family.
Pray for the whole world, which is still marked by tensions,
wars and injustice.
You tackled war by invoking dialogue and planting the seeds of love:
pray for us so that we may be tireless sowers of peace.
Oh St John Paul, from heaven’s window,
where we see you next to Mary,
send God’s blessing down upon us all.
Amen
Wishing all Mothers a Blessed and Happy Mothers’ Day
May Mary, the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our Mother, be a comfort to us all.
Mothers’ Day Prayer to Mary, our Mother Intercessions from 1727 the Liturgical Order of Blessing
Mary,
Mother of God
and our Mother,
pray for all mothers,
so that they will be able
to fulfill their maternal responsibilities.
Help them to be lovers and nurturers of
all human life from the moment of conception
until natural death,
all the while being examples
for their own children.
Pray for their children,
so that they, too,
will be faithful followers of your Son.
We pray for our mothers,
who have given us life and love,
that we may show them reverence and love.
We pray for mothers,
who have lost a child through death,
that their faith may give them hope
and their family and friend,
support and console them.
We pray for mothers who have died,
that God may bring them
into the joy of His kingdom
We offer these prayers
through Christ, our Lord
and your Son,
in union with the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 1 May – Wednesday of the Second week of Easter, the first day of Mary’s Month and the Memorial of St Joseph the Worker
Transforming our daily work into something beautiful for God.
On 1 May 1955, Venerable Servant of God Pope Pius XII (1876-1958) established a new Memorial in the Church’s calendar, dedicating 1 May to “St Joseph the Worker.” He sought to affirm the rights of workers and to put forth St Joseph as the supreme model.
“As the Vicar of Christ, we wish to reaffirm highly, on this day of 1 May… the dignity of work and [to] inspire social life and laws, based on a fair share of rights and duties … We have determined to establish the liturgical feast of St Joseph the Worker, assigning it precisely on the 1st of May … because the humble craftsman of Nazareth not only embodies the dignity of the arm of the worker … he is also always the guardian of you and your families.”
St Pope Pius X (1835-1914) had similar desires when he composed a prayer to “St Joseph the Worker.” It is a prayer that recognises the great dignity of work and how it can be offered to God as a sacrifice, pleasing in His sight. St Joseph has always been the supreme example of this type of holy work, teaching his son, Jesus, how to work with great care and precision, giving to God His best work possible.
O Glorious St Joseph,
model of all those who are devoted to labour,
obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously,
putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations,
to work with gratitude and joy,
in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins,
considering it an honour to employ
and develop by means of labour,
the gifts received from God,
to work with order, peace, moderation and patience,
without ever shrinking from weariness
and difficulties, to work above all,
with purity of intention
and detachment from self,
having always death before my eyes
and the account that I must render of time lost,
of talents wasted, of good omitted,
of vain complacency in success,
so fatal to the work of God.
All for Jesus,
all through Mary,
all after thine example,
O Patriarch, St Joseph.
Such shall be my motto in life and in death.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 25 April – Thursday of Easter week
Grant us Your Light, O Lord By St Bede (673-735) Father and Doctor of the Church (From ‘On the Apocalypse’)
Grant us Your light, O Lord,
so that the darkness of our hearts,
may wholly pass away
and we may come at last,
to the light of Christ.
For Christ is that morning star,
who, when the night of this world has passed,
brings to His saints,
the promised light of life
and opens to them,
everlasting day.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 10 April – Wednesday of the Fifth week of Lent, Year C
Jesus, the very thought of Thee! By St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Mellifluous Doctor
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!
0 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
Saint of the Day – 24 March – St Catherine of Sweden (1331-1381) – Widow, Religious of the Brigittine Order also called the Order of St Saviour, Abbess – born in 1331 in Sweden and died of natural causes on 24 March 1381 (aged 50). Her cultus was confirmed by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. Patronage – unborn children, mothers who suffer miscarriage, expectant mothers and those praying to conceive.
St Catherine was the fourth child of Saint Bridget of Sweden. At the time of her death St Catherine was head of the convent of Wadstena, founded by her mother hence the name, Catherine Vastanensis, by which she is occasionally called.
At the age of seven she was sent to the abbess of the convent of Riseberg to be educated and soon showed, like her mother, a desire for a life of self-mortification and devotion to spiritual things.
At the command of her father, when about thirteen or fourteen years old, she married a noble of German descent, Eggart von Kürnen. She at once persuaded her husband, who was a very religious man, to join her in a vow of chastity. Both lived in a state of virginity and devoted themselves to the exercise of Christian perfection and active charity. In spite of her deep love for her husband, Catherine accompanied her mother to Rome, where St Bridget went in 1349.
Soon after her arrival in that city Catherine received news of the death of her husband in Sweden. She now lived constantly with her mother, took an active part in St Bridget’s fruitful labours and zealously imitated her mother’s ascetic life.
Although the distinguished and beautiful young widow was surrounded by suitors, she steadily refused all offers of marriage.
In 1372 St Catherine and her brother, Birger, accompanied their mother on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. After their return to Rome St Catherine was with her mother in the latter’s last illness and death. In 1374, in obedience to St Bridget’s wish, Catherine brought back her mother’s body to Sweden for burial at Wadstena, of which foundation she now became the head. It was the motherhouse of the Brigittine Order, also called the Order of St Saviour. Catherine managed the convent with great skill and made the life there one in harmony with the principles laid down by its founder.
After some years, she returned to Rome to work for her mother’s canonisation. She stayed there five years and formed a close friendship with St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380).
Catherine died on 24 March 1381, mourned like her mother by the whole of Sweden. In 1484 Innocent VIII gave permission for her veneration as a saint.
Catherine wrote a devotional work entitled “Consolation of the Soul” (Sielinna Troest), largely composed of citations from the Scriptures and from early religious books but no copy is known to exist. Generally she is represented with a hind at her side, which is said to have come to her aid when unchaste youths sought to ensnare her.
Although she never experienced the pain of miscarriage herself, Catherine counselled women who had suffered a miscarriage or were experiencing complications in their pregnancy.
A traditional prayer to St Catherine reads:
Prayer to St Catherine for Consolation after a Miscarriage
Dear St Catherine,
patron of those who have suffered a miscarriage,
you know the dangers that await unborn infants.
Please intercede for me
that I may receive consolation from the loss I have suffered.
My soul has been deprived of peace
and I have forgotten what true happiness is.
As I mourn the loss of my child,
I place myself in the hands of God
and ask for strength to accept His will in all things,
for consolation in my grief
and for peace in my sorrow.
Glorious St Catherine,
hear my prayers and ask that God,
in good time,
grant me a healthy baby
who will become a true child of God.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 19 March – The Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Guardian of Jesus and Patron of the Universal Church, Patron of Fathers, Patron of the Dying, Patron of Workers. et al
St Joseph, be our Protector By St Pope John XXIII (1881-1963)
St Joseph,
be always our protector.
That your internal spirit of peace,
silence, honest work and prayer
in the service of the Church
give us life and happiness
in union with your blessed Spouse,
our Sweet and Immaculate Mother
in the strong and mild love to Jesus,
Glorious and Immortal King
of the centuries and the people.
Amen
Due to the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on 19 March, this month is devoted to this great saint, the foster father of Christ.
“Joseph shines among all mankind by the most august dignity, since by divine will, he was the guardian of the Son of God and reputed as His father among men. Hence it came about that the Word of God was humbly subject to Joseph, that He obeyed him and that He rendered to him all those offices that children are bound to render to their parents. From this two-fold dignity flowed the obligation which nature lays upon the head of families, so that Joseph became the guardian, the administrator and the legal defender of the divine house whose chief he was. And during the whole course of his life he fulfilled those charges and those duties. …It is, then, natural and worthy that as the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage and defend the Church of Jesus Christ.
“Quamquam Pluries” – On the Devotion to St Joseph –Pope Leo XIII
St Joseph is invoked as patron for many causes, amongst them he is the patron of the Universal Church. He is the patron of the dying because Jesus and Mary were at his death-bed. He is also the patron of fathers, of carpenters, of workers and those seeking work and of social justice.
As the foster father of Christ, St Joseph is, in a very real sense, the foster father of all Christians. The “Prayer for the Intercession of St Joseph” prayer is recited to ask St Joseph to pray on your behalf to the Son of God, whom he protected and reared.
O blessed Joseph, virgin-father of Jesus, most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray every day for us to the same Jesus, the Son of God, that we, being defended by the power of His grace and striving dutifully in life, may be crowned by Him at the hour of death. Amen
Our Morning Offering – 22 February – The Memorial of St Margaret of Cortona TOSF (1247–1297)
O St Margaret of Cortona By St John Paul (1920-2005)
O Saint Margaret of Cortona,
I too come today as a pilgrim and I pause to pray with you
at the feet of the image of Christ Crucified and Risen,
whom, as a penitent, you contemplated at length.
Lord Jesus, crucified for us,
in offering yourself on Calvary for all humanity,
You have revealed to us, the wellsprings of everlasting life.
May the mystery of Your Passion, enlighten our life,
making us ready to follow You on the way of holiness and love.
Rekindle our faith, teach us to recognise and welcome
in our everyday life, the plans of Your mysterious Providence.
Give us the courage to confess our sins
and open our hearts to sorrow,
in order to receive the gift of Your mercy.
Empower us to forgive our brethren
following the example of Your love that knows no bounds.
Help us to be humbly disposed to repair the harm we have done
by actively and generously serving the poor, the sick
and all who are marginalised and without hope.
Give everyone the joy of persevering faithfully,
in full harmony with the Church,
along the way of the particular calling.
Above all others, show the young,
the splendid plan of love that You intend to bring about for them
and with them, in the new millennium.
Enable us to be peacemakers,
tenacious weavers of daily relationships of fraternal solidarity,
artisans of reconciliation,
witnesses and apostles of the civilisation of love.
O glorious Saint Margaret of Cortona,
present this request to your Crucified Lord and ours.
Guide us with the strength of your example,
support us with your constant protection,
be our companion, we beg you,
till we reach our Father’s house.
Amen
Thought for the Day – 19 February – Tuesday of the Sixth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Mark 8:14–21 and the memorial of Bl John Sullivan SJ (1861-1933)
And He said to them “Do you not yet understand or comprehend?”...Mark 8:21
Faith, the theologians say, is a certain and obscure habit of soul. It is an obscure habit because it brings us to believe divinely revealed truths, that transcend every natural light and infinitely exceed, all human understanding. As a result, the excessive light of faith bestowed on a soul, is darkness for it – a brighter light will eclipse and suppress a dimmer one. The sun so obscures all other lights, that they do not seem to be lights at all when it is shining and instead of affording vision to the eyes, it overwhelms, blinds and deprives them of vision since its light is excessive and disproportioned to the visual faculty. Similarly, the light of faith in its abundance, suppresses and overwhelms that of the intellect…
Another clearer example… If those born blind were told about the nature of the colours white or yellow, they would understand absolutely nothing, no matter how much instruction they received, since they never saw these colours… Only the names of these colours would be grasped, since the names are perceptible through hearing… Such is faith to the soul – it informs us of matters we have never seen or known… The light of natural knowledge does not show them to us… Yet we come to know it through hearing, by believing, what faith teaches, in blinding our natural light and bringing it in to submission. St Paul states: “Faith comes through hearing” (Rm 10:17). This amounts, to saying, that faith is not a knowledge, derived from the senses but an assent of the soul, to what enters through hearing… Faith, manifestly, is a dark night for souls but in this way, it gives them light. The more darkness it brings on them, the more light it sheds. For by blinding, it illumines them, according to those words of Isaiah: “If you do not believe, you will not understand” (cf. Is 7:9).
Blessed John Sullivan was illuminated by the Light of faith, in his many hours of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, the place where our light is found.
God and Father,
You honour those who honour You.
Make sacred the memory
of Your servant John Sullivan,
by granting through his intercession,
the petition we now make
……………….(name the petition)
and hastening the day,
when his name will be venerated
by the title of Saint.
We make our prayer
through Christ our Lord,
in the Holy Spirit,
God forever.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 14 February – Thursday of the Fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year C and the Memorial of Sts Cyril and Methodius “Apostles to the Slavs”- Patrons of Europe
Prayer for Unbelievers By St Francis Xavier (1506-1552)
Eternal God,
Creator of all things
remember that the souls of unbelievers
have been created by You,
in Your own image and likeness
and formed to become Your own People..
Behold, O Lord,
how, to Your dishonour,
hell is being filled with these very souls.
Remember that Jesus Christ, Your Son,
for their salvation, suffered a most cruel death.
Do not permit, O Lord, I beseech You,
that Your divine Son be any longer
despised by unbelievers
but rather, being appeased by the prayers
of Your saints and the Church,
the most holy spouse of Your Son,
deign to be mindful of Your mercy
and forgetting their idolatry
and their unbelief,
bring them to know Him,
Whom You did send,
Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord,
Who is our health, life and resurrection,
through Whom,
we have been redeemed and saved,
and to Whom,
be all glory forever.
Amen
Prayer on the Memorial of Sts Cyril & Methodius “Patrons of Europe”
Almighty and everlasting God,
who by the power of the Holy Spirit
moved Your servant Cyril
and his brother Methodius,
to bring the light of the Gospel
to a hostile and divided people,
overcome all bitterness
and strife among us,
by the love of Christ.
May we take Your word
into our hearts
that we may share it with all
and be one in professing the true faith.
Make us one united family
under the banner of the Prince of Peace,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever,
amen.
The Holy Father’s Prayer Intention for February 2019
FEBRUARY 2019
Human Trafficking
For a generous welcome of the victims of human trafficking, of enforced prostitution and of violence.
Let us pray:
Prayer to St Josephine Bakhita for Intercession Against Human Trafficking By Pope Francis
Saint Josephine Bakhita, you were sold into slavery as a child and endured unspeakable hardship and suffering. Once liberated from your physical enslavement, you found true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church. O Saint Josephine Bakhita, assist all those who are entrapped in slavery. Intercede on their behalf with the God of Mercy, so that the chains of their captivity will be broken. May God Himself free all those who have been threatened, wounded or mistreated by the trade and trafficking of human beings. Bring comfort to survivors of this slavery and teach them to look to Jesus, as an example of hope and faith, so that they may find healing from their wounds. We ask you to pray for us and to intercede on behalf of us al, that we may not fall into indifference, that we may open our eyes and be able to see the misery and wounds of our many brothers and sisters deprived of their dignity and their freedom and may we hear their cry for help. Amen
PRAYER FROM THE ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER, REFLECTION AND ACTION AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Thought for the Day – 1 February – the Memorial of St Brigid of Ireland (c 453-523)
St Brigid directly influenced several other future saints of Ireland and her many religious communities helped to secure the country’s conversion from paganism to the Catholic faith.
The Irish call on her in every need, for, as the ancient legends run, “everything that Brigid asked of the Lord, was granted her at once. For this was her desire – to satisfy the poor, to expel every hardship, to spare every miserable man.” And, she still carries on this mission today.
St Brigid took the whole of humanity into her heart and 1500 years after her death, the power of goodness and holiness reaches down through the centuries. There was no limit to her charity and her love for all. God thus graced her with great power to do good for all. There should be no limit to ours – imagine a world such as this!
St Brigid’s Blessing
May Brigid bless the house wherein we dwell. Bless every fireside, every wall and door. Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof. Bless every hand that toils to bring its joy. Bless every foot that walks portals through. May Brigid bless the house that shelters us.
Thought for the Day – 15 January – The Memorial of Bl Nikolaus Gross (1898-1945) Martyr
Excerpt from “A Daughter Remembers”
by Marianne Gross Reichartz
“On 15 January 1945 Roland Freisler announced the death sentence. Quote from the process report. “Modest in nature, near the proclamation of judgement, weeping.” After the verdict my parents could see each other again and say goodbye for this life.
In a farewell letter to his family, my father writes:
“Especially you, dear mother, I still have to thank you. When we said goodbye a few days ago for this life, I returned to the cell, I thanked God from the bottom of my heart for your Christian strength and faith. Yes, mother, through your brave farewell You have poured a bright light on my last days of life, the conclusion of our heartfelt love could not be more beautiful and happy than it has become through your strong-minded behaviour. “
On 23 January 1945, my father was executed in Berlin Plötzensee.
After the end of the war, my mother’s great task was to continue on her own what she and her husband had dreamed up for their family. My brother Klaus returned from Russia three years after the end of the war. My mother now had to raise her seven children alone and we were not simple children. Since we had received no official death message, my mother did not receive any pension. We rented the parental bedroom to guests. All children wrote addresses for the newspaper advertisement of the first Cologne newspaper, for 2 Pfennig per letter. We girls sewed rubber panties on behalf of a small company created in the backyard. While the widow Freisler already put in their considerable pension every month, my mother had to fight for her pension for years under degrading circumstances.
But never has this strong and upright woman criticised her husband’s path, never felt betrayed or abandoned. All the good that happened to us, she attributed to my father. When friends and good people helped us with food and money during the hunger period after the war and when they helped us children with their schooling and job search, the mother called them “tools of the father.”“The father helps us again,” she always said then.
As young people we often and gladly discussed after the end of the war. For too long the mouth had been banned. A popular topic was: Can a father of seven children go so far? Her answer: “He would have died internally if he could not have lived his life and his faith and that would have been as much a death to him as bodily death.” The memorial days of her husband (the anniversary of the death on 23 January and 20 July), the many initiations and naming ceremony, she celebrated with strength and dignity.
When the name of my Father is proclaimed in St Peter’s Square on 7 October 2001, at the Beatification of Nikolaus Gross, I am not only proud of my father, then, I am proud of my parents!”
Living God,
You have given the Blessed Nikolaus Gross
the strength to be a Christian in family, work and society
and to give his life
in resistance to the evil forces of his time.
We ask you –
Strengthen us also in faith,
so that we may recognise
Your mission for our lives
and fill it with courage and perseverance,
through Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives in the unity of the Holy Spirit
with You and reigns for all eternity.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 8 January – 2nd Day after Epiphany
Jesus, accomplish Your Will in Me by St Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682)
Jesus,
I feel within me,
a great desire to please You
but, at the same time,
I feel totally incapable of doing this,
without Your special light and help,
which I can expect only from You.
Accomplish Your will in me –
even in spite of me.
Amen
Second Thoughts for the Day – 27 December – The Memorial of Blessed Sára Salkaházi S.S.S. (1899–1944) Martyr
From the Homily of Bishop László Biró Preached in Kosice, Slovakia, at the Mass of Thanksgiving for the beatification of Sr Sára, 24 November 2006.
“A saint, – according to a wisdom saying – is an ordinary person. But her ordinary life is formed by much harder reality than the ordinary. Thus became Sára Salkaházi , a native of Kosice, a saint; on such a path can we, ordinary persons, also become saints.
In conclusion I quote from the homily of Cardinal Erdő, preached at the beatification Mass. “We need the example of Sister Sára in a particular way during this year of jubilee. We are praying for the renewal of our nation with atonement and reconciliation. We pray for a renewal which is possible only in the light of truth, of justice and love. We pray for a spirituality which recognises in the weakest and in the poorest the human being, who, after all is the greatest treasure in all societies and at all times. There is a burning need for such renewal and reconciliation within our society; among the nations in the Carpathian basin and in the whole world.” Amen.
Prayer for the Intercession of Blessed Sára Salkaházi
All powerful God, my loving Father,
You created me out of Your everlasting love
and in Your mercy You adopted me as Your child;
Lord Jesus Christ,
You saved me by Your precious blood
and You called me to be Your disciple;
O Holy Spirit, You showered
an abundance of grace upon me.
Glory be to You forever!
O Most Holy Trinity,
You accepted
the life-offering of Blessed Sára Salkaházi ,
virgin and martyr, for her sisters;
through her intercession grant me
the grace of …………….,
and help me to join her in crying out
from the depth of my heart:
“O God of Love, enkindle love in me!
Come, my Christ and make my heart
Your own that You may love,
and love,
and love
within me!
Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 26 December – The Memorial of St Stephen the First Martyr and the Second Day in the Octave of Christmas
O Sweet Name of Jesus By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)
O sweet Name of Jesus,
holy above all names
in heaven and on earth
and to which every knee,
both of men
and of angels in heaven,
on earth and in hell bends.
You are the the Way of the just,
the Glory of the saints,
the Hope of those in need,
the Balm of the sick,
the Love of the devout
and the Consolation
of those that suffer.
O, Jesus be to me a help
and a protector
so that Your Name
may be blessed for all times.
Amen
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) CRSA …(Manualis Parvulorum XIII)
The Apostles chose Stephen the Deacon, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, who was stoned while he prayed, saying “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit and lay not this sin upon them.”
C. By the merits and prayers of blessed Stephen
R. Be merciful, O God, to Your people
Almighty and everlasting God,
who consecrated the first-fruits of Your martyrs
in the blood of blessed Stephen the deacon,
grant, we beg You,
that he may pray for us,
even as he prayed for his persecutors,
to our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,
who lives and reigns,
world without end.
Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 3 December – The Memorial of St Francis Xavier SJ (1506-1552)
I Love Thee, God, I love Thee By St Francis Xavier Translated by Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ (1844-1889)
I love Thee, God, I love Thee—
Not out of hope for heaven for me
Nor fearing not to love and be
In the everlasting burning.
Thou, my Jesus, after me
Didst reach Thine arms out dying,
For my sake suffered nails and lance,
Mocked and marred countenance,
Sorrows passing number,
Sweat and care and cumber,
Yea and death and this for me,
And Thou could see me sinning.
Then I, why should not I love Thee,
Jesu so much in love with me?
Not for heaven’s sake, not to be
Out of hell by loving Thee,
Not for any gains I see,
But just the way that Thou didst me
I do love and will love Thee.
What must I love Thee, Lord, for then?
For being my king and God.
Amen
Our Morning Offering – 1 November – The Solemnity of All the Saints
10th Century Catholic Prayer in Praise of the Saints
How shining and splendid are Your gifts, O Lord
which You give us for our eternal well-being
Your glory shines radiantly in Your saints, O God
In the honour and noble victory of the Martyrs.
The white-robed company follow You,
bright with their abundant faith;
They scorned the wicked words
of those with this world’s power.
For You they sustained
fierce beatings, chains and torments,
they were drained by cruel punishments.
They bore their holy witness to You
who were grounded deep within their hearts;
they were sustained by patience and constancy.
Endowed with Your everlasting grace,
may we rejoice forever
with the Martyrs in our bright fatherland.
O Christ, in Your goodness,
grant to us
the gracious heavenly realms of eternal life.
Amen
The Memorial of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)
“In the difficulties which are placed before me, why should I not act like a donkey? When one speaks ill of him – the donkey says nothing. When he is mistreated – he says nothing. When he is forgotten – he says nothing. When no food is given him – he says nothing. When he is made to advance – he says nothing. When he is despised – he says nothing. When he is overburdened – he says nothing. The true servant of God must do likewise and say with David: “Before Thee I have become like a beast of burden.”
St Alphonsus Rodriguez (1532-1617)
Honour is flashed off exploit, so we say; And those strokes once that gashed flesh or galled shield Should tongue that time now, trumpet now that field, And, on the fighter, forge his glorious day. On Christ they do and on the martyr may; But be the war within, the brand we wield Unseen, the heroic breast not outward-steeled, Earth hears no hurtle then from fiercest fray.
Yet God (that hews mountain and continent, Earth, all, out; who, with trickling increment, Veins violets and tall trees makes more and more) Could crowd career with conquest while there went Those years and years by of world without event That in Majorca, Alfonso watched the door.
Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ (1844-1889),
in honour of Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)
Thought for the Day – 16 October – The Memorial of St Gerard Majella C.Ss.R. (1726-1755)
St Gerard’s Family League
Although his life was short, he managed to achieve great holiness. So numerous were the miracles God worked through him, that even during his lifetime he was called the“ wonder-worker “.
Since his death in 1775, countless favours and miracles have been granted and worked through his intercession. (In this regard, I know personally of a miracle granted by St Gerard’s intercession.)
As well as the patron of a good confession, he has become well known as the patron of mothers and has been invoked as a constant source of help and inspiration to parents.
The League of St Gerard is an association of Christians united in prayer for family life and its Christian values.
The League Prayer is on the site but I copied it here too.
Membership is open to all.
All information here: http://www.redemptorists.co.uk/what-we-do/league-of-st-gerard/1697-st-gerard-family-league.html
Our Morning Offering – 16 October – The Memorial of St Gerard Majella C.Ss.R. (1726-1755)
Thanksgiving Prayer for St Gerard and Request for his Intercession
Almighty and loving Father,
We thank You for giving St Gerard to us
as a most appealing model and powerful friend.
By his example,
he showed us how to love and trust You.
You have showered many blessings
on those who call upon him.
For Your greater glory and my welfare,
please grant the favours
which I ask in his name.
………………………………..
(Mention your needs here…)
And you, my powerful patron,
intercede for me before the throne of God.
Draw near to that throne
and do not leave it until you have been heard.
O good saint,
to you I address my fervent prayers,
graciously accept them
and let me experience in some way
the effects of your powerful intercession.
Through Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
God forever,
Amen.
NOVENA to St John Paul the Great DAY ONE – 13 OCTOBER
Little Known Fact #1: During his Theological Studies in Seminary, Karol Wojtyla greatly desired to read the works of St John of the Cross in the original Spanish language. He mastered the language very quickly and was even asked by the Spanish instructor to assist him in translating a Spanish text that was to be read over the Polish new radio a few hours before it would be broadcast.
REFLECTION:“Follow me.” The Risen Lord says these words to Peter. They are His last words to this disciple, chosen to shepherd His flock. “Follow me” – this lapidary saying of Christ can be taken as the key to understanding the message which comes to us from the life of our late beloved Pope John Paul II. …” …Pope Benedict
Let us Pray:
O Holy Trinity, we thank You for having given to the Church Pope John Paul II and for having made him shine with Your fatherly tenderness, the glory of the Cross of Christ and the splendour of the Spirit of love.
He, trusting completely in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, has shown himself in the likeness of Jesus the Good Shepherd and has pointed out to us the way of holiness as the path to reach eternal communion with You Grant us, through his intercession, according to Your will, the grace that we implore,
………………….. [state your intention here].
Continue, beloved St John Paul, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God’s people. We praise and thank You Father that St John Paul has been numbered among Your saints and make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, one God forever.
Totus Tuus, Amen.
Quote Day One:“Only the chaste man and the chaste woman are capable of real love.”
In 1823 he travelled to Rome with the Patriarch of Venice, who arranged an audience for him with Pope Pius VII. In that audience the Pontiff encouraged him to undertake the reform of philosophy.
AnaStpaul 
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