Our Morning Offering – 25 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – The Second Sunday in Lent
The Golden Arrow
This prayer was revealed by Jesus Himself to a Carmelite Nun of Tours in 1843 as a Reparation for Blasphemy. “This Golden Arrow will wound My Heart delightfully” He said “and heal the wounds, inflicted by blasphemy.”
May the Most Holy, Most Sacred, Most Adorable, Most Mysterious and Unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven. on earth and under the earth, by all the creatures of God and by the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 23 February – St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Cardinal Bishop, Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church
“He who does not attack a vice but rather, coddles it, is justly judged guilty of the death, together with those who die by that vice!”
“Receive the Body and Blood of Christ very frequently. The sight of a Christian’s lips red with the Blood of Christ terrifies the enemy. He immediately recognises the sign of his own ruin. He cannot stand the Instrument of Divine Victory, by which he was taken captive and cast down.”
“Truly, this vice is never to be compared with any other vice because it surpasses the enormity of all vices…. It defiles everything, stains everything, pollutes everything. And as for itself, it permits nothing pure, nothing clean, nothing other than filth!”
“No-one can fight properly and boldly for the faith, if he clings to a fear of being stripped of earthly possessions.”
Have Mercy, Lord By St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Doctor of the Church
Have mercy, Lord, on all my friends and relatives, on all my benefactors, on all who pray to Thee for me and on all who have asked me to pray to Thee, for them. Give them the spirit of fruitful penance, mortify them in all vices and make them flower in all Thy virtues. Amen
Paule Doctor Egregie Let Gentiles Raise the Thankful Lay By St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Father and Doctor of the Church Trans. John Mason Neale, 1854
Let Gentiles raise the thankful lay Upon their great Apostle’s Day, Whose doctrine, like the thunder, sounds To the wide world’s remotest bounds.
O bliss of Paul beyond all thought! To Paradise, yet living, caught, He hears the heav’nly myst’ries there, Which mortal tongue can not declare.
The Word’s blest seed around he flings And straight a mighty harvest springs And fruits of holy deeds supply, God’s everlasting granary.
The lamp his holy lore displays Hath fill’d the world with glorious rays And doubt and error are o’erthrown, That Truth may reign, and reign alone.
Long as unending ages run, To God the Father laud be done, To God the Son our equal praise And God the Holy Ghost, we raise. Amen.
One Minute Reflection – 21 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – Ember Wednesday – 3 Kings 19:3-8; Matthew 12:38-50 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The sign of Jonah” – Matthew 12:39
REFLECTION – “You were conducted by the hand to the holy pool of Sacred Baptism, just as Christ was conveyed from the Cross to the sepulchre close at hand [in this Church of the Holy Sepulchre]. Each person was asked if he believed in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. You made the confession that brings salvation and submerged yourselves three times in the water and emerged, by this symbolic gesture, you were secretly re-enacting the burial of Christ, three days in the tomb. For just as our Saviour spent three days and nights in the bosom of the earth, so you, upon first emerging, were representing Christ… You saw nothing when immersed – as if it were night but you emerged – as if to the light of day. In one and the same action, you died and were born, the water of salvation became both tomb and mother for you…
What a strange and astonishing situation! We did not really die, we were not really buried, we did not really hang from a cross and rise again. Our imitation was symbolic but our salvation a reality! Christ truly hung from a Cross, was truly buried and truly rose again. All this He did gratuitously for us, so that we might share His sufferings by imitating them and gain salvation in actuality. What transcendent kindness! Christ endured nails in His innocent Hands and Feet and suffered pain and by letting me participate in the pain, without anguish or sweat, He freely bestows salvation on me! …
We know well that not merely does Baptism cleanse sins and bestow on us the gift of the Holy Spirit – it is also the sign of Christ’s suffering. This is why, as we heard just now, Paul cried out: “Are you unaware that we, who were Baptised into Christ Jesus, were Baptised into His Death? We were indeed buried with Him through Baptism into death”… So, in order that we may realise that Christ endured all His sufferings for us and our salvation IN actuality and not in symbolism and that, we share in His pains, Paul cried out the literal truth: “If we have grown into union with Him through a death like His, we shall also be united with Him in the resurrection,” (Rom 6,3-5). – St Cyril of Jerusalem (313-350) Bishop of Jerusalem, Father and Doctor of the Church (Catechesis no.20/2nd Mystagogy)
PRAYER – We beseech Thee, O Lord, look graciously upon the fervour of Thy people, who mortify themselves in the flesh through fasting and abstinence that they may be refreshed in spirit, by the fruit of these good works.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Quote/s of the Day – 18 February – St Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879) Virgin, The Visionary of Lourdes,
“You must receive God well – give Him a loving welcome, for then, He has to pay us rent.”
“Nothing is anything anymore to me, everything is nothing to me, only Jesus! Neither things, nor persons, neither ideas, nor emotions, neither honour, nor sufferings. Jesus is for me honour, delight, heart and soul.”
Quote/s of the Day – 9 February – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) “The Pillar of Faith” “Doctor of the Incarnation,” Bishop,Confessor, Father and Doctor, of the Church
“He who receives Communion is made holy and Divinised in soul and body, in the same way, that water, set over a fire, becomes boiling… Communion works like yeast which has been mixed into dough, so that it leavens the whole mass. … Just as by melting two candles together you get one piece of wax, so, I think, one who receives the Flesh and Blood of Jesus, is fused together with Him, by this Communion and the soul finds that he is in Christ and Christ is in him.”
“Since the Holy Spirit when He is in us, effects our being conformed to God and, He actually proceeds from the Father and Son, it is abundantly clear that He is of the Divine Essence, in It in Essence and proceeding from It.”
“Therefore, as the father of sin had, as it were, shut up the sheep in hell, giving them to death to feed on, as it is written in the Psalms (Ps. 48:16), He died for us, as truly Good and truly our Shepherd, so that the dark shadow of death is driven away, He might join us ,to the company, of the blessed in Heaven and, in exchange for abodes which lie far in the depths of the pit … grants us mansions in His Father’s House above. Because of this, He says to us in another place: Fear not, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you a Kingdom (Luke 12:32). Do you listen attentively to the Voice of the Good Shepherd and obey His Word?”
Quote/s of the Day – 22 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – St Vincent of Saragossa (Died 304) Protomartyr of Spain and St Anastasius the Persian (Died 628) Martyr – Wisdom 3:1-8; Luke 21:9-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And you shall be hated by all men, for My Name’s sake.”
Luke 21:17
“The fruits of the earth are not brought to perfection immediately but by time, rain and care. Similarly, the fruits of men ripen through ascetic practice, study, time, perseverance, self-control and patience.”
St Anthony Abbot (251-356)
“Rejoice and be happy! Persevere to the end and prefer to die rather than abandon the post, to which God has called you!”
St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Doctor of the Church
“Love consists, not in feeling great things but, in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.”
St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor Mysticus
“Now, you must always persevere in firmly placing all your trust in our Lord, in the troublesome business you have in hand. It will give you a fine opportunity of laying a good foundation of submission to God’s will and peace of soul.”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritatis
Excerpt from the Prayer to the Five Wounds of Jesus By St Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)
I pray Thee, O most gentle Jesus, that having redeemed me by Baptism from original sin, so now, by Thy Precious Blood, which is offered and received, throughout the world, deliver me from all evils, past, present and to come. And by Thy most bitter Death, give me a lively faith, a firm hope and perfect charity, so that I may love Thee with all my heart and all my soul and all my strength. Make me firm and steadfast in good works and grant me perseverance in Thy service, so that I may be able to please Thee always. Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 21 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – The Third Sunday after Epiphany
Give me Thyself, O My God By St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
Give me Thyself, O my God, give Thyself to me. Behold I love Thee and if my love is too weak a thing, grant me to love Thee more strongly. I cannot measure my love, to know how much it falls short of being sufficient but let my soul hasten to Thine embrace and never be turned away, until it is hidden in the secret shelter of Thine presence. This only do I know, that it is not good for me when Thou art not with me, when Thou art only outside me. I want Thee in my very self. All the plenty in the world which is not my God, is utter want! Amen
One Minute Reflection – 13 January – Octave Day of Epiphany – Isaias 60:1-6, John 1:29-34 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And I knew Him not but He who sent me to Baptise with water said to me: He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, He it IS, Who Baptises with the Holy Spirit. And I saw and I gave testimony that this is the Son of God.” – John 1:33-34
REFLECTION – “Jesus Christ was the Son of God, yet He preached not the Gospel before His Baptism. If the Master Himself followed the right time in due order, ought we, His servants, to venture out of order? From that time Jesus began to preach (Matthew 4:17) , when the Holy Ghost had descended upon Him in a bodily shape, like a Dove, (Luke 3:22) not that Jesus might see Him first, for He knew Him even before He came in a bodily shape but, that John, who was Baptising Him, might behold Him. For I, says he, knew Him not but He that sent me to Baptise with water, He said to me, upon Whomsoever you shall see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, that is He (John 1:33).
If you too have unfeigned piety, the Holy Ghost comes down on you also and a Father’s Voice sounds over you from on high — not, ‘This is My Son’ alone because ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’ To Him belongs the ‘IS’ since He is always the Son of God – but to you, has now been made, since you have not the sonship by nature but receive it by adoption. He eternally ‘IS’ but you receive the grace progressively.
Make ready then the vessel of your soul that you may become a son of God and an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17); if, indeed, you are preparing yourself that you may receive; if you are drawing near in faith that you may be made faithful; if of set purpose, you are putting off the old man!” – St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387) Bishop of Jerusalem, Father and Doctor of the Church (Catechetical Lecture 3: 14-15).
PRAYER – O God, Whose Only-begotten Son appeared in the substance of our flesh, grant, we pray Thee that we, who acknowledge His outward likeness to us, may deserve to be inwardly refashioned in His Image. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
One Minute Reflection – 17 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Gaudete Sunday, The Third Sunday of Advent – Philippians 4:4-7; John 1:19-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“ I baptise with water but, in the midst of you, there has stood One Whom you do not know.” – John 1:26
REFLECTION – “I baptise with water but, in the midst of you, there has stood One Whom you do not know.” John did not baptise with the Spirit but, with water, since he was unable to take away the sins of those being baptised. He washed their bodies with water but not their hearts with pardon. Why did one whose baptism did not forgive sins baptise, except that he was observing his vocation as forerunner? He, whose birth foreshadowed a greater birth, by his baptising, foreshadowed the Lord, Who would truly baptise; he ,whose preaching made him the forerunner of Christ, by baptising, also became his forerunner, using a symbol of the future Sacrament.
With these other mysteries he makes known the Mystery of our Redeemer, declaring that He has stood among men and not been known. The Lord appeared in a human body – He came as God in flesh, visible in His Body, invisible in His Majesty. He goes onto say about Him: “He who comes after me, was made before me” (Jn 1:15) … he revealed the reason for this precedence when he said: “because He was before me. ”He means, “Even though He was born after me, He surpasses me, in that the time of His Birth does not limit Him. He, Who is born from His mother in time, was begotten of His Father before time!”
John reveals the great humility and reverence he owes Christ by saying: “I am not worthy to undo the strap of His sandal.” It was the custom among the ancients, that if someone was unwilling to take the wife, he should be taking, he, who should have come to her as bridegroom, by right of relationship, would undo his sandal. How did Christ appear among men, if not as the Bridegroom of holy Church?… But since people considered John the Christ, a fact which he denied, he was right to declare his unworthiness to undo the strap of Christ’s sandal. It is as if he was saying … “I am not unjustly usurping, for myself, the name of Bridegroom” (Cf Jn 3:29).” – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermons on the Gospels 4).
PRAYER – Lend Thy ear to our prayers, O Lord, we beseech Thee and brighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy coming. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Thought for the Day – 9 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Use and Abuse of the Sacraments
“The man who abuses God’s gifts, calls down a curse on his own head. “Cursed be he,” said the Prophet Jeremias, “who doth the work of the Lord deceitfully” (Jer 48:10).
Many people neglect to make proper use of Confession and Holy Communion. Let us examine ourselves with special care, in this regard. Do we go to Confession at least once a fortnight or, if possible, even weekly? How terrible for us if we are content to remain heedlessly in the state of sin, while we have at hand such an easy opportunity of obtaining pardon! Furthermore, do we endeavour to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament every day, or at least as often as possible? We have daily need of this Divine nourishment if we wish to preserve the life of the soul. Otherwise, we shall languish and grow faint and shall eventually fall into sin. Finally, let us consider whether we receive these Sacraments with the proper disposition, with recollection and with love!”
Our Morning Offering – 26 November – The Last Sunday after Pentecost
Consecration to Our Lady of the Eucharist After Holy Communion By the Claretian Fathers Teaching Ministr Order founded by St Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870)
Mary is called Our Lady of the Eucharist, because without her, there would be no physical Body of Jesus to be present in the Eucharist. (See John 6:51)
Most kind Mother, we consecrate to thee, our bodies, which have just been honoured and sanctified, by the presence of thy Divine Son, our souls which have conversed with Him and our hearts which have loved Him. O dearest Mother, may the words which we have spoken, be made acceptable to Him. through thy intercession. Tell Him the things which we should have said but were unable to express. Love Him and beseech Him for us, thy poor children. Receive and keep us in thine heart. Warn us, protect us and guide us during this day that we may faithfully serve thy Divine Son and please Him in all our thoughts, desires and actions. Amen
Novena in Honour of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple
Feast Day of the Presentation is 21 November
The Fourth Day
Extract 4 – On How to Prepare to Celebrate a Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary By St Alphonsus Liguori (1697-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
“Besides the Communion on the day of the Feast, it is well to ask it more frequently of the spiritual Father on the days of the Novena. Father Seoneri said that we cannot honour Mary better, than with Jesus. For she herself, as Father Crasset relates, ‘revealed to a holy soul that nothing dearer could be offered to her, than the Holy Communion, for there, Jesus Christ gathers in the soul, the fruit of His Passion. Hence, it appears that the Virgin desires nothing from her servants, more than the Holy Communion, saying: ‘Come, eat the bread and drink the wine which I have prepared for you.’”
The Novena Prayers
“Whoever is a little one, let him come to me” (Prov. 9:4).
Kindly and lovable art thou in thy splendour, O holy Mother of God! Show me thy face. Let thy words sound in my ears, for thy voice is sweet and thy face is beautiful. Turn to us in thy beauty and loveliness! Come forth in majesty and reign! Hail Mary…
O blessed Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, Temple of the Lord, Sanctuary of the Holy Ghost, thou alone, without an equal hast pleased Our Lord Jesus Christ! Hail Mary…
Happy indeed art thou, O holy Virgin Mary and most worthy of all praise, for from thee arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our Lord. Draw us, O Immaculate Virgin; we shall come after thee breathing the sweet fragrance of thy virtues. Hail Mary…
The Blessed Virgin speaks: I have asked the Lord for one thing and this shall I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life that I may enjoy the delights of the Lord and visit His temple (Ps. 26:4).
In the holy dwelling place I have ministered before Him (Ecclus. 24:14).
V. Grant that I may praise thee, O holy Virgin. R. Give me strength against thy enemies.
Let us pray. O God, Who has willed that the Blessed Virgin Mary, herself the dwelling place of the Holy Ghost, should this day be presented in the temple, grant, we pray Thee, that through her intercession, we may be found worthy to be presented in the temple of Thy glory and that our special petition may be heard and granted. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Quote/s of the Day – 9 November – Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour
“Like the deer yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for Tbee, my God; my soul is thirsting for God, the living God.”
Psalm 41:2-3
One of the most beautiful attributes of the Basilica is the octagonal (8-sided) Baptistery. There one reads:
“Here is born a people of noble race, destined for Heaven, whom the Spirit brings forth in the waters He has made fruitful. Mother Church conceives her offspring by the Breath of God and bears them virginally in this water. Hope for the Kingdom of Heaven, you who are reborn in this font. Eternal life does not await those who are only born once. This is the Spring of Life which waters the whole world, taking its origin from the Wounds of Christ. Sinner, to be purified, go down into the holy water. It receives the unregenerate and brings him forth a new man. If you wish to be made innocent, be cleansed in this pool, whether you are weighed down by Original Sin or your own. There is no barrier between those who are reborn and made one, by the one font, the one Spirit and the one Faith. Let neither the number nor the kind of their sins, terrify anyone – once reborn in this water, they will be holy.”
One Minute Reflection – 9 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour – Apocalypse 21:2-5, Luke 19:1-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“… For this day, I must abide in thy house.” – Luke 19:5
REFLECTION – “Some people are very like Zacchaeus. They desire to see Jesus as He is. All power of reason and all natural light, are too short and small for this, so they run ahead of all crowds and all the multiplicity of creatures. Through faith and love, they climb up to the highest part of their mind, where their spirit lives in its freedom, devoid of images and obstacles. It is there that Jesus is seen, known and loved in His Divinity, for there, He is always present, to the free and exalted spirit which has risen above itself in love of Him. Jesus there flows forth with a fullness of grace and favours.
But He says to all: “Come down quickly, for the exalted freedom of the spirit cannot be maintained, except through lowly obedience of mind. You must know and love Me, as both God and a human being, higher than all and lower than all! You will savour Me when I raise you up above all things and above yourself to Myself and, when you lower yourself beneath all things and beneath yourself, to Me and for My sake. Then, I will have to come to your house and remain living with you and in you and you with Me and in Me!”
When these persons know, taste and feel this, they come down quickly in great disdain of themselves and, with a humble heart and true displeasure, regarding their life and all their works, they say: “Lord, I am not worthy – but I am truly unworthy – that I should receive Thine glorious body in the blessed Sacrament, into the sinful house of my body and soul. But be gracious to me, Lord and have mercy on my poor life and all my transgressions.” – Blessed Jan van Ruysbroeck (1293-1381) Canon Regular (A Mirror of Eternal Blessedness).
PRAYER – O God, Who for us bring each year the recurrence of the Consecration day of this Thy holy temple and always bring us back safely to the Sacred Rites, hear the prayers of Thy people and grant that, whoever enters this temple to pray for blessings., may rejoice in having obtained whatever he sought. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Thought for the Day – 7 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
How We Can Help the Faithful Departed
“In short, there are innumerable means at our disposal, of helping to release the Holy Souls and, of establishing them, without delay, as our intercessors in Heaven. These good works are advantageous to ourselves and to them. In Holy Communion, we draw closer to God; by almsgiving, we grow more detached from worldly possessions and, by penance and mortification, we restrain our wayward appetites and passions. At the same time, we know that we are helping those for whom we offer the ,merits of our deeds, for we are enabling them to be purified, as soon as possible of their imperfections and so, to enter into the infinite joy of the Beatific Vision of Almighty God.”
One Minute Reflection – 7 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Within the All Saints Octave and the Feast of all the Dominican Saints – Apocalypse 7:2-12, Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” … Matthew 5:8
REFLECTION – “There is nothing as beautiful as a soul which is pure. If we understood this, we would be incapable of losing our purity. A pure soul is like a beautiful pearl. As long as it is concealed in a shell, at the bottom of the sea, no-one thinks of admiring it. But if you display it in the sun, then this pearl shines and draws people’s eyes.
Purity comes from Heaven, we have to ask God for it. If we ask for it, we shall receive it. We must take great care not to lose it. It closes our hearts to pride, sensuality and every other passion.
Children, we cannot understand the power which a pure soul has over the Good God – it receives all it wishes for. … Before God, a pure soul is like a child before its mother, it caresses her and hugs her and its mother returns its caresses and embraces.
To preserve our purity, there are three things – the Presence of God, prayer and the Sacraments.” … St John-Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859) Curé d’Ars (Selected Thoughts of the Curé d’Ars).
PRAYER – Almighty, eternal God, Who granted us to honour the merits of all Thy Saints in a single solemn festival, bestow on us, we beseech Thee, through their manifold intercession, that abundance of Thy mercy for which we yearn. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
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.”
Our Morning Offering – 26 October – Catholic Time : On Thursdays we particularly venerate the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Our Lord instituted the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on a Thursday, therefore, it is fitting that we remember this greatest of Sacraments on this day. The Eucharist is the greatest gift of God to mankind, as it is nothing less than Jesus Himself. What gift could be greater?
Act of Spiritual Communion By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
I desire, good Jesus, to receive Thee in Holy Communion and since I cannot now receive Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, I beseech Thee to come to me spiritually and to refresh my soul with Thy sweetness. Come, my Lord, my God and my All! Come to me and never let me ever again be separated from Thee by sin. Teach me Thy blessed ways, help me with Thy grace to imitate Thy example, to practise meekness, humility, charity and all the virtues of Thy Sacred Heart. My divine Master, my one desire is to do Thy will and to love Thee, more and more. Help me, that I may be faithful to the end, in Thy service. Bless me in life and in death, that I may praise Thee, forever in heaven, Amen
One Minute Reflection – 24 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Feast of St Raphael the Archangel – Tobias 12:7-15, John 5:1-4 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered, waiting for the moving of the water (by the Angel). ” – John 5:3
REFLECTION – “The cripple beside the pool of Bethsaida was waiting for someone (to help him into the pool). For whom was he waiting, if not for the Lord Jesus, born of a Virgin? When He came, it was no longer only a matter of some mere prefiguration which was healing people but Truth itself, was healing them all. And so it was, He, Whose descent was awaited, He of Whom God the Father spoke to John the Baptist: “On Whomever you see the Spirit descend and remain, He is the One Who will Baptise with the Holy Spirit” (Jn 1:33) … But why did the Spirit come down like a Dove, if not so that you might see and acknowledge that the Dove which righteous Noah sent out from the ark, was the image of that Dove and, might recognise in it, a prefiguring of the Sacrament of Baptism. ..?
Can you still waver, when the Father is unquestionably proclaiming to you in the Gospel: “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17); when the Son, over Whom the Holy Spirit was manifested, in the form of a Dove, is proclaiming it too; when the Holy Spirit, Who descended in the form of a Dove, is also proclaiming it; when David proclaims: “The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over vast waters” (Ps 28:3)? Scripture also affirms that Fire came down from Heaven at Gideon’s prayers and again, that Fire was sent to consecrate the sacrifice at the prayer of Elijah. (Jgs 6:21; 1Kgs 18:38).
Do not attend to a Priest’s personal worth but to his office … Believe that our Lord Jesus is present, when invoked at the prayer of the Priest, He Who said: “Where two or three are gathered together, there Am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:0). How much more, then, does He deign to grant us His presence where the Church is, where the Mysteries are celebrated. And so, you have gone down to the Baptistery. Remember what you have said – that you believe in the Father, you believe in the Son, you believe in the Holy Ghost … With similar words of commitment. you asserted your belief in the Son, as you believe in the Father, your belief in the Holy Spirit as you believe in the Son, with this sole difference – that you profess the need to believe in the Cross of our only Lord Jesus.” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church (On the Mysteries 24).
PRAYER – O God, Who gave blessed Raphael the Archangel as a traveling companion to Your servant Tobias, grant us, Your servants, ever to be protected by his guardianship and by his help.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Thought for the Day – 25 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Frequent Confession and Communion
“Frequent Confession keeps us prepared for a good and holy death. We do not know when our lives will end and, therefore, it is necessary to keep ourselves pure and free from sin in the sight of God. We know that death will come to us when we least expect it, as the Gospel assures us and it will come like a thief. It is necessary to be always ready for the great encounter with our Eternal Judge.
In this way, the natural fear of death will be diminished. Being free from sin through the infinite mercy of God, we shall face, with greater courage, the journey into eternity and we shall realise that the good sister, Death, has come to release us from bondage and save us from the danger of ever offending God again!”
One Minute Reflection – 18 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Joseph of Cupertino OFM Conv. (1603-1663) Confessor – 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, Matthew 22:1-14 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a King, who ordered a marriage feast for his son.” – Matthew 22:2
REFLECTION – “According to His mysterious design, the Father prepared a Bride for His Only Son and made her known under prophetic images … In his book, Moses wrote that: “a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife and the two of them become one body” (Gen 2:24). The Prophet Moses, spoke about the man and woman, in this way, to foreshadow Christ and His Church.
With the Prophet’s piercing eye, he beheld Christ becoming One with the Church, thanks to the Mystery of the water – he envisioned Christ drawing the Church to Himself, from the virginal womb and the Church drawing Christ to herself, in the waters of Baptism. Thus, were the Bridegroom and Bride wholly united, in a mystical way. That is why Moses, with veiled face, (Ex 34:33) beheld – Christ and the Church – one he called “man” and the other “woman” so as to avoid revealing the reality to the Hebrew people, in all its clarity …. For a time, the veil would conceal this Mystery – none would know the meaning of this great image and would be ignorant of what it represented.
But, when their espousals had been celebrated, Paul came. He saw the veil laid across their splendour and raised it to reveal Christ and His Bride to the world. He showed how they were indeed what Moses had described in his prophetic vision. Rejoicing with holy joy, the Apostle declared: “This is a great Mystery” (Eph 5:32). He made known what this veiled image that the Prophet referred to as man and woman really meant – “I know,” he said, “that it is Christ and His Church, Who are no longer two but one body” (cf Eph 5:31).” – St Jacob of Sarug (c451-521) Bishop, Father (Sermon on Moses’ veil).
PRAYER – O God, Who willed that all things be drawn unto Thy Son, when He was raised above the earth, mercifully grant, by the merits and example of Thy seraphic Confessor Joseph that, having been raised above all earthly desires, we may be found worthy to come unto Him. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 3 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The 14th Sunday after Pentecost
My Lord, I am Unworthy! Prayer before Holy Communion By St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church
My Lord, Who art Thou and who am I, that I should dare to take Thee into my body and soul? A thousand years of penance and tears, would not be sufficient to make me worthy to receive, so Royal a Sacrament even once! How much more am I unworthy of it, who fall into sin daily, I, the incorrigible, who approach Thee so often without due preparation! Nevertheless, Thy mercy infinitely surpasses my unworthiness. Therefore, I make bold to receive this Sacrament, trusting in Thy love. Amen
Thought for the Day – 25 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
EXTREME UNCTION
“The Sacrament of Extreme Unction is the final link in the chain of favours with which our lives are girdled. It heals the wounds which sin has left in us, comfers grace upon the soul and can even restore the health of the body if this coincides with our spiritual welfare. “Is anyone among you sick?” asks St James. “Let him bring in the presbyters of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (Js 5:14-15).
Extreme Unction is a Sacrament of the living and should, therefore, be received in the state of grace. If, for some grave reason, however, it is impossible for the sick man to make his confession, he can make, as far as is possible, an act of perfect contrition and receive this Sacrament, thereafter. In this case, Extreme Unction can remit even the mortal sins which he is unable to confess.
Of itself, however, this Sacrament increases Sanctifying grace in the soul, pardons venial sins, remits the temporal punishment due to sins which have already been forgiven and removes the evil inclinations and weakness of will, which are the result of sin. It enables the soul, moreover, to endure suffering and temptation and to await death with calmness and resignation. We should be deeply grateful to God for deigning to comfort and assist us in our final trial!”
Thought for the Day – 24 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Holy Viaticum
“Although the Holy Eucharist sustains us through life’s journey, we need it most of all, when we are nearing the end and are at last, in sight of our heavenly home.
Men can do no more for us in these final moments. Our friends, if we have any left, will have nothing to give us except their affection. The doctors will have abandoned us once we have passed the stage where medical aid is of any use to us. Life will have become an elusive memory, a sad memory if it recalls a long succession of sins but, a consoling one, if it reminds us of good deeds and acts of mortification.
As a general rule, a dying man experiences a longing for some kind of assistance. Our yearning will be satisfied if it is our privilege to receive, in our final moments, the Divine Healer, Who is also our Saviour and Redeemer. Since death can seize us unawares, however, we cannot depend too much on this last consolation. Whenever we receive Holy Communion, we should ask Jesus not to deprive us of Holy Viaticum at the hour of death.”
Thought for the Day – 18 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Two Paths to Heaven
“The second path to Heaven, however, demands sacrifice on our part. Our repentance must be practical and supernatural. It should lead us to confess our sins in the Sacrament of Penance and to regain God’s friendship in Holy Communion. After that, our way must be one of self-mortification: “Unless you repent,” Jesus warns us, “you will all perish” (Lk 13:51).
The first penance which we must perform, is to offer to God, all the physical and moral sufferings which are in store for us during life and at the hour of death. Then, we must add our own voluntary acts of self-denial. The generosity of the Saints, in this regard, was rewarded by the lasting friendship of God. As for ourselves, we should remember that Jesus, Himself, has warned us that we shall be lost if we neglect to do penance (Ibid).”
Thought for the Day – 3 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
A Holy Death
“During our meditation on death, we should seize the opportunity of asking God for the favour of dying with the consolation of the last Sacraments. Let us pray that in our final moments, we may be comforted and reassured by the Sacramental absolution and blessing of the Priest at our bedside and that Jesus may visit us once more in the Blessed Eucharist, to revive our faith, hope and love and to strengthen us for our journey into eternity.
Finally, 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.”
One Minute Reflection – 21 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – St Praxedes, Virgin (Died 164) – 1 Corinthians 7:25-34, Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“So shall it be at the end of the world. The Angels shall go out and shall separate the wicked from among the just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire – there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13:49-50
REFLECTION – “Our Lord was an example of incomparable patience. He bore with a “devil” among His disciples even to His Passion (Jn 6,70). He said: “Let them grow together until the harvest lest you uproot the wheat when you pull out the weeds” (cf. Mt 13,29f.). As a symbol of the Church, He preached that the net would bring back to shore, namely the end of the world, every kind of fish, both good and bad. And He made it known, in various other ways, whether openly or in parables, that there would always be a mixture of good and bad. But, nevertheless, He stresses, that we have to protect the Church’s discipline when He says: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother” (Mt 18,15)…
Yet today, we see people who think of nothing but stern commandments, who order that troublemakers be reproved, ‘not giving what is holy to the dogs,’ treating, like the publicans, ‘anyone who despises the Church, cutting off the scandalous member from the body‘ (Mt 7,6 ; 18,17 ; 5,30). Their stormy zeal so troubles the Church, that they pull out the weeds before their time and their blindness makes of them enemies, of the unity of Jesus Christ…
Take care not to let these presumptuous thoughts enter our hearts, trying to separate ourselves from sinners, so as not to be soiled by contact with them, wanting to form a band of pure and holy disciples. We will achieve nothing but breaking up our unity, under the pretext of not associating with the wicked. To the contrary, let us remember the parables of Scripture, their inspired words, their striking examples, where we are shown that, until the end of the world and the day of judgement, the bad will always be mingled amongst the good in the Church, without their participation in the Sacraments being harmful to the good, so long as these latter, have not played a part in their sins.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (On Faith and Works – Excerpt ch 3-5)
PRAYER – Graciously hear us, O God our Saviour, that, as we rejoice in the festival of blessed Praxedes, thy Virgin, so may we be nourished by the food of her heavenly teaching, as to be enlightened by the fervour of her dedicated holiness. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Thought for the Day – 18 July – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Our Dominant Passion
“We can conquer our predominant passion by the following means: (a) Fervent prayer. (b) A daily Examination of Conscience ,in the course of which we shall discover, whether we have made any progress, in the way of perfection and, shall renew our good resolutions. (c) Weekly, or at least, fortnightly Confession. (d) Daily, or at least, frequent Communion. (e) Avoidance of the occasions of sin and employment of the necessary means to overcome sin. (f) The performance of good actions which, are opposed to our predominant passion. (g) Determination to fight and to conquer because we are convinced that it is absolutely necessary to do so.
There can be no half measures, for the only alternative to victory is defeat! If we are conquered, we shall be slaves of passion in this life and shall be everlastingly unhappy in the next.”
Quote/s of the Day – 14 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – St Bonaventure OFM (1221-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church
“He is the origin of all wisdom. The Word of God in the heights, is the source of wisdom. Christ is the source of all true knowledge, for He is “the way, the truth and the life.” (Jn 14:6). … As way, Christ is the teacher and origin of knowledge … Without this Light, which is Christ, no-one can penetrate the secrets of faith.”
“… One of the soldiers opened His side with a lance and immediately there came forth blood and water. ” John 19:34
“Let us draw near to the Heart of our most sweet Lord Jesus and we shall be glad and rejoice in it. How good and how sweet it is to dwell in this Heart! This is the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price which we discover, O Jesus, when we dig in the field of Thy Body (cf Mt 13:44). Who, then, would cast aside this Pearl? Far from it! For It, I will give away all my goods and offer in exchange, all my concerns and affections. I will lay down all my cares in the Heart of Jesus, it is He Who will suffice for me and Who will, without fail, supply all I need to live on!”
O Holy Lord By St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church
O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, everlasting God, for the sake of Your bounty and that of Your Son, Who for me, endured suffering and death; for the sake of the most excellent holiness of His Mother and the merits of all His Saints, grant unto me, a sinner, unworthy of Your blessings, that I may love You only, may ever thirst for Your love, may have continually in my heart the benefits of Your Passion, may acknowledge my own wretchedness and, may desire to be trampled upon and to be despised by all men. Let nothing grieve me, save my guilt. Amen
Mother of Mercy By St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor
Virgin full of goodness, Mother of Mercy, I entrust to you my body and soul, my thoughts, my actions, my life and my death. O my Queen, help me, and deliver me from all the snares of the devil. Obtain for me the grace of loving my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, with a true and perfect love, and after him, O Mary, to love you with all my heart and above all things. Amen
Saint of the Day – 14 July – St Bonaventure (1221-1274) – Seraphic Doctor of the Church, Confessor, Friar of the Friars Minor Order of St Francis, Bishop, Cardinal, Theologian, Philosopher, Writer, Mystic, Preacher, Teacher. One of the eaqrly Biographers of St Francis.
St Bonaventure (1221-1274) Bishop and Cardinal, Doctor of the Church By Fr Francis Xavier Weninger SJ (1805-1888)
Practical Lessons on the life of this great Doctor
I. THE LOVE AND DEVOTION OF ST BONAVENTURE to the Passion and Death of our Lord, was great beyond description. He meditated upon them daily. The Crucifix was continually before his eyes and before it, he said his prayers, either prostrate on the ground or on bended knees.
I hope that you are not among those who are ashamed to keep an image of Christ in their room! – As in that case, I must remind you of the saying of our Lord, that, on the Judgement-day, He will be ashamed of those,, who on earth, are ashamed of Him. I will suppose, therefore, that you have a Crucifix in your room but why do you so seldom prostrate yourself before it? Why do you so seldom meditate on the Passion and Death of the Saviour? Is this a sign of love and gratitude towards Him? If any human being had suffered, for love of you, only half what Christ the Lord suffered, or, if he perhaps had died to save you from death, how would you feel towards him? And why have you not the same feelings towards your Redeemer?
Endeavour, at least, to show greater love for Him in future. Let no day pass without praying before the Crucifix, raise your eyes to it sometimes during the day and manifest, by short prayers and pious ejaculations, your love and devotion towards your suffering Saviour, for example: “With my whole heart I love Thee, O Jesus and, it is bitter grief to me that I have offended Thee, O merciful God!” Or “Cleanse my soul with Thy Precious Blood.” Or, “Jesus Christ, Who didst die for me upon the Cross, have mercy on me!”
II. ST BONAVENTURE VERY SELDOM received Holy Communion or said Mass, without shedding tears. Love to the Saviour in the most Holy Sacrament thus moved his heart.
How great is your devotion and love for the Blessed Sacrament, especially at the times when you receive it? How much time do you give to prayer before and after Holy Communion? Do you purify your soul from every stain by a sincere Confession? Do you adorn it with virtues that it may be a worthy dwelling for so great a Guest, as the only Son of the Almighty? Do you appear with due reverence at the table of the Lord? How much time do you give to thanksgiving after your dear Saviour has come to you and what is your devotion during the same? Examine yourself on these points and correct yourself where you have been negligent.
Before all things, however, take care that you never receive your Lord while in mortal sin, “For” says St James of Nisibis (Died 338) “this is a crime that cannot be excused,” a crime, the wickedness of which is so great, that it deserves no pardon, when committed voluntarily, as it offends Christ our Lord above all others. You know, you believe that He Whom you receive is not only your Saviour but also your Judge, Who has power to condemn you. Before Him you will soon appear to receive your sentence for all Eternity. How dare you, therefore, receive Him unworthily, when you know that you thus draw upon yourself, the wrath of your Judge and render yourself deserving of everlasting punishment?! Is there any crime, any blasphemy, which can be compared with this? And does there exist a punishment great enough to atone for so horrible an offence towards our dear Lord? “Woe to him, eternal woe, who dares to go unworthily to the table of the Lord,” says the Venerable Bede.
“Judas, the traitor, was the first to go to Holy Communion in mortal sin. What happened to him is known to you. At the moment he committed the Sacrilege, the devil took possession of him and incited him to betray his Lord. Guard yourself that you may not imitate his wickedness! otherwise, you will receive the same punishment. Let no one dare to approach the table of the Lord like Judas,” says St John. Chrysostom.
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