Category: SAINT of the DAY

Posted in JESUIT SJ, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 5 November – A Jesuit Blessed of the two wars – Bl Rupert Mayer (1876-1945)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 5 November – Feast of All Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus

3 November is the feast of the Jesuit priest, Blessed Rupert Mayer.   He was born in Germany in 1876 and entered the Society of Jesus in 1900, one year after his ordination. Known as the ‘Apostle of Munich’, Blessed Rupert Mayer survived two world wars – the first as chaplain-in-service of those who fought and died and the second as prisoner.   He was imprisoned for his opposition to the Nazi regime which had taken power in his home country and because he refused to remain silent about the atrocities being committed around him.   He was the first chaplain to be awarded the Iron Cross for bravery.   His service in the military ended when his left leg was shattered in a grenade attack and had to be amputated.

After the war Fr Mayer went to Munich where he served the poor and started two Sunday Masses for travellers at the main railroad terminal.   When Hitler rose to power Fr Mayer spoke out against Nazism and in 1937 was ordered by the Gestapo to stop speaking in public.   He continued preaching in church and was arrested three times.   In 1939 he was sent to the Sachsenhausen concentation camp near Berlin.

As the health of the popular sixty-three year old Jesuit war hero began to deteriorate the camp officials, afraid that he would die and be declared a martyr, sent him to a Benedictine monastery.   When World War II ended he returned to Munich and his pastoral work.

On 1 November 1945, while celebrating Mass and in the middle of his homily about how Christians are called to imitate the saints, Fr Mayer collapsed and died.   St Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1983.

Fr Mayer was an extraordinarily generous priest who through his limitless work and love for people was able to find Christ in each person.   Rupert Mayer’s warmth, understanding and unconditional self-giving led each person he met to experience the love of Christ.   Fr Mayer received his strength from the Lord.   He is a perfect example of ‘taking up your cross’, never slowing down, never hesitating to do the will of God.

Blessed Rupert Mayer, Pray for Us!bl rupert mayer pray for us - 5 nove 2018 all jesuit saints his mem on 3 nov

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 5 November – Feast of All Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 5 November – Feast of All Saints and Blesseds of the Jesuits

“If our church is not marked by caring for the poor,
the oppressed, the hungry, we are guilty of heresy.”if-our-church-st-iggy-31-july-2018

“Be generous to the poor orphans and those in need.
The man to whom our Lord has been liberal
ought not to be stingy.
We shall one day find in Heaven as much rest and joy
as we ourselves have dispensed in this life.”

St Ignatius Loyola SJ (1491-1556)be-generous-to-the-poor-orphans-31-july-2018

“Take care, take care, never to close your heart to anyone!”

St Peter Faber (1506-1546)take-care-take-care-never-to-close-your-heart-to-anyone-st-peetr-faber - 2 aug 2018

“To do the will of God,
man must despise his own –
the more he dies to himself,
the more he will live to God.”

St Peter Claver SJ (1581-1654)to do the will of god - st peter claver - 5 nov 2018 all jesuit saints

“God gave Himself to you:
give yourself to God.”

St Robert Southwell SJ (1561-1595)god gave himself - st robert southwell - 21 feb 2018

“Any friend of the poor, is a friend of God.”any-friend-of-the-poor-is-a-friend-of-god-bl-john-sullivan-19-feb-2018

“Take life in instalments.
This one day now.
At least let this be a good day.
Be always beginning.”

Blessed John Sullivan SJ (1861-1933)take-life-in-instalments-bl-john-sullivan-19-feb-2018

“I hold that every poor man,
every vagrant, every beggar,
is Christ carrying His cross.
And as Christ, we must love and help him.”i hold that every poor man - st alberto hurtado - 5 nov 2018 - all jesuit saints and blesseds

“Christ roams through our streets
in the person of so many
of the suffering poor, sick and dispossessed
and people thrown out of their miserable slums.
Christ huddled under bridges,
in the person of so many children
who lack someone to call father,
who have been deprived for many years,
without a mother’s kiss on their foreheads…
Christ is without a home!
Shouldn’t we want to give Him one,
those of us who have the joy of a comfortable home,
plenty of good food,
the means to educate
and assure the future of our children?”

St Alberto Hurtado SJ (1901-1952)christ roams through our streets - st alberto hurtado - 5 nov 2018 all jesuit saints.jpg

” To serve Christ is to love this concrete Church
and to serve her with generosity
and with the spirit of obedience.”to-serve-christ-is-to-love-this-concrete-church-pope-francis-31-july-2018

“Ask for the grace of shame;
the shame that comes from the constant dialogue of mercy with Him;
the shame that makes us blush before Jesus Christ;
the shame that puts us in tune with the heart of Christ who is made sin for me;
the shame that harmonises our heart in tears and accompanies us in the daily following of “my Lord”.

Pope Francis SJ – 31 July 2013 on the Feast of St Ignatiusask-for-the-grace-of-shame-pope-francis-31-july-2018

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:12–14 – “Invite the poor…”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 5 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:12–14 – Monday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Memorial of All Jesuit Saints and Blesseds

“invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind…..You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”…Luke 14:13-14b

REFLECTION – “This means choosing gratuitousness rather than self-seeking and calculating to obtain a reward, seeking interest and trying to increase your wealth. Indeed, the poor, the simple, those who ‘don’t count’, can never reciprocate an invitation to a meal.   In this way Jesus shows His preference for the poor and the excluded, who are the privileged in the Kingdom of God and He launches the fundamental message of the Gospel which is to serve others out of love for God.

Today, Jesus gives voice to those who are voiceless and to each one of us, He addresses an urgent appeal, to open our hearts and to make our own, the sufferings and anxieties of the poor, the hungry, the marginalised, the refugees, those who are defeated by life, those who are rejected by society and by the arrogance of the strong.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 28 August 2016lyke 14 13-14 - invite the poor - today jesus gives voice - pope francis - 5 nov 2018

“He himself had wanted to be born in poverty, to welcome the poor into His company, to serve the poor and put Himself in the place of the poor, to the point of saying that the good and evil we do to the poor, will be held by Him to have been done to His own divine person (Mt 25:40).   What more tender love could He have shown the poor!   And what sort of love could we be showing Him, I ask you, if we don’t love what He loved?   So much so, that loving the poor, is to love Him as He would wish and imitating Him, is to serve Him rightly and honour Him as we ought…”…St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) – Extract from a report concerning the state of the work, 11/07/1657loving the poor is to love him - st vincent de paul - 5 nov 2018

PRAYER – Lord God, teach us humility, to give and not to count ever the cost to ourselves, to take the lowest part and the back seat – teach us Lord, to strive and not to seek for glory, save for that of Your Kingdom.   Let us see Your Face, His Face, He our Teacher, our Saviour in the face of all those in most need.   May all those great Jesuit Saints standing before that Face, pray for us!   We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who we beg, have mercy on us all, who seek rewards for our own sakes, amen.all you jesuit saints and blesseds pray for us - 5 nov 2018

Posted in JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Lord, Whatever You Will – By Blessed Rupert Mayer SJ (1876-1945) “The Apostle of Munich”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 5 November – Feast of All Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus

Lord, Whatever You Will
By Blessed Rupert Mayer SJ (1876-1945)
“The Apostle of Munich”

Lord, let happen whatever You will;
and as You will, so will I walk,
help me only to know Your will!
Lord, whenever You will,
then is the time,
today and always

Lord, whatever You will,
I wish to accept,
and whatever You will for me is gain,
enough that I belong to You.
Lord, because You will it, it is right,
and because You will it, I have courage.
My heart rests safely in Your hands!
Amenlord, whatever you will by bl rupert mayer sj- 5 nov 2018 his mem 3 nov

Blessed Rupert’s beautiful prayer has been made into a song by the Catholic Filipino group Bukas Palad.   The lyrics are:

Lord, what You will let it be so
Where You will, there we will go
What is Your will, help us to know

Lord, when You will the time is right
In You there’s joy in strife
For Your will, I’ll give my life

To ease Your burden brings no pain
To forego all for You, is gain
As long as I in You, remain
REFRAIN:
Because You will it, it is best
Because You will it, we are blest
Till in Your hands, our hearts find rest
Till in Your hands, our hearts find rest

Posted in JESUIT SJ, SAINT of the DAY

Feast of all the Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Today, 5 November, is the feast of all All Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus.
Together with the global Society of Jesus, let us remember the countless Jesuits who have given of themselves wholeheartedly, not for their own glory but for God’s.   Whether the names of the Saints and Blessed are known to many or only a few, whether official or not, today is a day when we give thanks to God for the lives of countless men who have humbly sought God in all things.   We all have our favourite Jesuit Saint, I have many and am constantly adding to them.FEAST OF ALL JESUIT SAINTS & BLESSEDS - 5 NOV NO 2

A Litany for the Feast of All Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus
In honour of the feast day, Jesuits.org is sharing this litany prayer invoking the intercession of the saints and blesseds of the Society of Jesus.

Litany of the Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus

(in an expanded form of that used first by Jesuits in the concentration camp at Dachau)
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us, Christ, graciously hear us.

God, our Father in heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother and Queen of our Society, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Montserrat, Pray for us.
Our Lady of the Way, Pray for us.

Holy Father Ignatius, Pray for us.
St Francis Xavier, first companion and missionary, Pray for us.
St Francis Borgia, model of renunciation, Pray for us.
St Stanislaus Kostka, model and patron of novices, Pray for us.
Sts Edmund Campion, Robert Southwell and companions, martyrs of Christ in England, Pray for us.
St Aloysius Gonzaga and St John Berchmans, models and patrons of our scholastics, Pray for us.
Sts Paul Miki, James Kisai and John Soan de Goto, martyrs of Christ in Japan, Pray for us.
St Peter Canisius and St Robert Bellarmine, doctors of the church, Pray for us.
St John Ogilvie, martyr of Christ in Scotland, Pray for us.
Sts Bernardine Realino, John Francis Regis and Francis Jerome, missioners to people in town and country, Pray for us.
St Alphonsus Rodriguez, model and patron of our brothers, Pray for us.
Sts Melchior Grodziecki and Stephen Pongrácz, martyrs of Christ in Košice, Pray for us.
Sts Roch Gonzalez, Alphonsus Rodriguez and John del Castillo, martyrs of Christ in Paraguay, Pray for us.
Sts John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and companions, martyrs of Christ in North America, Pray for us.
St Peter Claver, defender of the slaves in South America, Pray for us.
St Andrew Bobola, martyr of Christ in Poland, Pray for us.
St John de Brito, martyr of Christ in India, Pray for us.
St Claude La Columbière, faithful friend and apostle of the Sacred Heart, Pray for us.
St Joseph Pignatelli, hallowed link of the old and the restored Society, Pray for us.
Sts Leo Mangin and companions, martyrs of Christ in China, Pray for us.
St Joseph Rubio, apostle of Madrid, Pray for us.
St Peter Faber, first companion and apostle of the Spiritual Exercises, Pray for us.
St Joseph de Anchieta, apostle of Brazil, Pray for us.
St James Berthieu, martyr of Christ in Madagascar, Pray for us.
S. Alberto Hurtado, agent of social change in Chile, Pray for us.

All you Saints of the Society of Jesus, Pray for us.

Blessed Ignatius de Azevedo and companions, martyred while sailing for Brazil, Pray for us.
Bl Thomas Woodhouse, Ralph Ashley and companions, martyrs of Christ in England, Pray for us.
Bl Rudolph Acquaviva, Francis Aranha and companions, martyrs of Christ in India, Pray for us.
Bl James Salès and William Saultemouche, martyrs of the Eucharist in France, Pray for us.
Bl Charles Spinola, Sebastian Kimura and companions, martyrs of Christ in Japan, Pray for us.
Bl Dominic Collins, martyr of Christ in Ireland, Pray for us.
B. Diego Luis de San Vitores, martyr of Christ in Micronesia, Pray for us.
Bl Julian Maunoir and Anthony Baldinucci, zealous preachers of God’s Word, Pray for us.
Bl James Bonnaud and companions, martyrs of Christ in France, Pray for us.
Bl John Beyzym, servant of Lepers in Madagascar, Pray for us.
Bl Miguel Pro, martyr of Christ in Mexico, Pray for us.
Bl Francis Garate, humble doorkeeper who found God in all things, Pray for us.
Bl Rupert Mayer, apostle of Munich and fearless witness of truth, Pray for us.
Bl Tomás Sitjar Fortiá and companions, martyrs of Christ in Valencia, Pray for us.

All you Blessed of the Society of Jesus, Pray for us.

Fathers and Brothers, Scholastics and Novices of the Society who have preceded us in the service of the Lord, Pray for us.

Let us pray:

Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
though we are sinners,
You have called us to be His companions
and to engage in the crucial struggle of our time,
the struggle for faith, justice and love.
Bring to completion in us,
the work You began in Ignatius
and so many of his followers.
Place us with Your Son, as You placed them
and take us under the banner of the Cross,
to serve Him alone and His Church.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

List of Jesuit Saints and Blesseds:
• Blessed Aleixo Delgado • Blessed Alfredo Simón Colomina • Blessed Alonso de Baena • Blessed Alphonsus Pacheco • Blessed Álvaro Borralho Mendes • Blessed Amaro Vaz • Blessed Ambrose Fernandez • Blessed André Gonçalves • Blessed Anne-Alexandre-Charles-Marie Lanfant • Blessed Anthony Baldinucci • Blessed Anthony Turner • Blessed António Correia • Blessed Antônio Fernandes • Blessed António Soares • Blessed Antonius Kyuni • Blessed Antony Ixida • Blessed Augustine Ota • Blessed Baltasar de Torres Arias • Blessed Bartholomew Alvarez • Blessed Bento de Castro • Blessed Bernardo Francisco de Hoyos Seña • Blessed Brás Ribeiro • Blessed Camillus Costanzo • Blessed Carlo Spinola • Blessed Charles Spinola • Blessed Charles-François le Gué • Blessed Charles-Jéremie Bérauld du Pérou • Blessed Claude Cayx-Dumas • Blessed Claude-Antoine-Raoul Laporte • Blessed Claude-François Gagnières des Granges • Blessed Constantino Carbonell Sempere • Blessed Dario Hernández Morató • Blessed Didacus Yuki Ryosetsu • Blessed Diego Carvalho • Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores-Alonso • Blessed Diogo de Andrade • Blessed Diogo Pires Mimoso • Blessed Dionysius Fugixima • Blessed Domingos Fernandes • Blessed Dominic Collins • Blessed Edmund Daniel • Blessed Edward Oldcorne • Blessed Éloy Herque du Roule • Blessed Emmanuel d’Abreu • Blessed Esteban Zuraire • Blessed Fernando Sánchez • Blessed Francis Page • Blessed Francisco Alvares • Blessed Francisco de Magalhães • Blessed Francisco Pacheco • Blessed Francisco Pérez Godoy • Blessed François Balmain • Blessed François Varheilhe-Duteil • Blessed François-Hyacinthe lé Livec de Trésurin • Blessed Gaspar Alvares • Blessed Gaspar Sadamatsu • Blessed Giovanni Battista Zola • Blessed Giovanni Fausti • Blessed Gonçalo Henriques • Blessed Gregorio Escribano • Blessed Guillaume-Antoine Delfaut • Blessed Gundisalvus Fusai Chozo • Blessed Gundisalvus Fusai Chozo • Blessed Ignatius de Azevedo • Blessed Ioannes Chugoku • Blessed Ioannes Kisaku • Blessed Iõao • Blessed Iulianus Nakaura • Blessed Jacques Friteyre-Durvé • Blessed Jacques Salès • Blessed Jacques-Jules Bonnaud • Blessed Jan Beyzym • Blessed Jean Charton de Millou • Blessed Jean-Antoine Seconds • Blessed Jean-François-Marie Benoît-Vourlat • Blessed Jean-Nicolas Cordier • Blessed Jerome de Angelis • Blessed João Fernandes • Blessed João Fernandes • Blessed John Baptist Machado de Tavora • Blessed John Bathe • Blessed John Cornelius • Blessed John Fenwick • Blessed John Gaspard Cratz • Blessed John Gavan • Blessed John Nelson • Blessed John Sullivan • Blessed Josep Tarrats Comaposada • Blessed Joseph Imbert • Blessed Juan Bautista Ferreres Boluda • Blessed Juan de Mayorga • Blessed Juan de San Martín • Blessed Juan de Zafra • Blessed Julian Maunoir • Blessed Leonardus Kimura • Blessed Loup Thomas-Bonnotte • Blessed Ludovicus Kawara Rokuemon • Blessed Luís Correia • Blessed Luís Rodrigues • Blessed Manuel Alvares • Blessed Manuel Fernandes • Blessed Manuel Pacheco • Blessed Manuel Rodrigues • Blessed Marcos Caldeira • Blessed Mathurin-Nicolas de la VilleCrohain le Bous de Villeneuve • Blessed Michaël Nakashima Saburoemon • Blessed Michaël Sato Shunpo • Blessed Michaël Tozo • Blessed Michel-François de la Gardette • Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro • Blessed Miguel Carvalho • Blessed Narcis Basté y Basté • Blessed Nicolau Dinis • Blessed Pau Bori Puig • Blessed Paulus Shinsuke • Blessed Pedro de Fontoura • Blessed Pedro Nunes • Blessed Pere Gelabert Amer • Blessed Peter Paul Navarro • Blessed Peter Wright • Blessed Petrus Rinsei • Blessed Petrus Sanpo • Blessed Pierre-Michel Guérin du Rocher • Blessed Ralph Ashley • Blessed Ralph Corby • Blessed Ramón Grimaltos Monllor • Blessed René-Marie Andrieux • Blessed Robert Middleton • Blessed Robert-François Guérin du Rocher • Blessed Roger Filcock • Blessed Rudolph Aquaviva • Blessed Sebastianus Kimura • Blessed Simão da Costa • Blessed Simão Lopes • Blessed Simon Yempo • Blessed Thomas Akahoshi • Blessed Thomas Cottam • Blessed Thomas Holland • Blessed Thomas Tsuji • Blessed Thomas Whitbread • Blessed Tomàs Sitjar Fortiá • Blessed Vicente Sales Genovés • Blessed Vincent de Cunha • Blessed Vincent-Joseph le Rousseau de Rosencoat • Blessed Vincentius Kaun • Blessed William Boyton • Blessed William Harcourt • Blessed William Ireland • Blessed William Saultemouche • Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga • Saint Alexander Briant • Saint Alonso Rodriguez • Saint Alonso Rodriguez • Saint Aloysius Gonzaga • Saint Andrew Bobola • Saint Anthony Daniel • Saint Bernadine Realino • Saint Charles Garnier • Saint Claude de la Colombiere • Saint David Lewis • Saint Edmund Arrowsmith • Saint Edmund Campion • Saint Francis Borgia • Saint Francis of Girolamo • Saint Francis Xavier • Saint Gabriel Lalemant • Saint Henry Morse • Saint Henry Walpole • Saint Ignatius of Loyola • Saint Isaac Jogues • Saint István Pongrácz • Saint Jacques Berthieu • Saint Jacques Fermin • Saint James Kisai • Saint Jean-Pierre Néel • Saint John Berchmans • Saint John de Brébeuf • Saint John Francis Regis • Saint John Ogilvie • Saint John Soan de Goto • Saint José de Anchieta • Saint José María Rubio y Peralta • Saint Joseph Pignatelli • Saint Juan del Castillo Rodríguez • Saint Léon-Ignace Mangin • Saint Melichar Grodecký • Saint Modeste Andlauer • Saint Nicholas Owen • Saint Noel Chabanel • Saint Paul Denn • Saint Paul Miki • Saint Paul Suzuki • Saint Peter Canisius • Saint Peter Claver • Saint Peter Faber • Saint Philip Evans • Saint Rémi Isoré • Saint Robert Bellarmine • Saint Robert Southwell • Saint Rocco Gonzalez • Saint Stanislaus Kostka • Saint Thomas Garnet • Venerable Giacinto Alegre Pujals • Venerable Giuseppe Antonio Migliavacca • Venerable Jacques Sevin • Venerable Johann Philipp Jeningen • Venerable Leonard Lessius • Venerable Luis Lapuente • Venerable Petar Barbaric • Venerable Tiburcio Arnáiz Muñoz •

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, JESUIT SJ, SAINT of the DAY

5 November – Feast of the Holy Relics, All Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus and Memorials of the Saints

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Feast of the Holy Relics:
About: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/05/feast-of-the-holy-relics-5-november/

All Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus:   The Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, was Founded in 1534 by Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) at Montmartre, Paris, France.    A body of clerics regular organised for Apostolic work, following a religious rule and relying on alms for their support. It was the chief instrument of the Catholic Reformation.   Pope Paul III approved the new rule in 1540 and Ignatius was elected the first general of the order in 1541.   The constitutions, drafted by him and based on his Spiritual Exercises were adopted in 1558.   It was the first order which enjoined by its constitutions devotion to the cause of education.   The ministry of the Society consists chiefly in preaching. teaching catechism. administering the sacraments. conducting missions in parishes, taking care of parishes. organising pious confraternities, teaching in schools of every grade, writing books, pamphlets, periodical articles, going on foreign missions and special missions when ordered by the current Holy Father, to whom they take a vow of total obedience.   Our current Holy Father, Pope Francis is a Jesuit and has jokingly wondered aloud who is boss of whom in his Order. The general resides at Rome, Italy and has a council of assistants. The motto of the Society is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (For the greater glory of God).

St Augustine of Terracina
Bl Bernhard Lichtenberg
St Bertille
St Canonica
St Comasia
St Ðaminh Mau
St Dominator of Brescia
St Domninus the Physician
St Epistemis
St Eusebius of Terracina
St Felix of Terracina
St Fibitius
St Galation
St Gerald of Beziers
Bl Gomidas Keumurjian
Bl Gregory Lakota
St Guetnoco
St Guido Maria Conforti
St St Hermenegild
St Idda
St Juan Antoni Burró Mas
St Juan Duarte Martín
St Kanten
St Kea
St Laetus of Orleans
St Magnus of Milan
St Mamete
St Marco of Troia
Bl María del Carmen Viel Ferrando
Bl Simon Ballachi
St Spinulus of Moyen-Moûtier
St Sylvanus of Syria
—
Martyrs of Caesarea Maritima – 4 saints: Four young Christian men who were martyred together in the persecutions of Maximian – Aussenzius, Philotheus, Timothy and Theotimus. They were martyred in the arena at Caesarea Maritima, Palestine.

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War:
• Blessed Juan Antoni Burró Mas
• Blessed Juan Duarte Martín
• Blessed María del Carmen Viel Ferrando

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 4 November – The Memorial of St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

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Thought for the Day – 4 November – The Memorial of St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

Working behind the scenes, Saint Charles deserves the credit for keeping the Council of Trent in session when at several points it was on the verge of breaking up.   Borromeo encouraged the pope to renew the Council in 1562, after it had been suspended for 10 years.   He took upon himself the task of the entire correspondence during the final phase.   Because of his work at the Council, Borromeo was unable to take up residence in Milan until the Council concluded.

Eventually, Borromeo was allowed to devote his time to the Archdiocese of Milan, where the religious and moral picture was far from bright.   The reform needed in every phase of Catholic life among both clergy and laity was initiated at a provincial council of all the bishops under him.   Specific regulations were drawn up for bishops and other clergy.   If the people were to be converted to a better life, Borromeo had to be the first to give a good example and renew their apostolic spirit

Charles took the initiative in giving a good example.   He allotted most of his income to charity, forbade himself all luxury and imposed severe penances upon himself.   He sacrificed wealth, high honours, esteem and influence to become poor.   During the plague and famine of 1576, Borromeo tried to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily.   To do this he borrowed large sums of money that required years to repay.   Whereas the civil authorities fled at the height of the plague, he stayed in the city, where he ministered to the sick and the dying, helping those in want.

Saint Charles Borromeo made his own the words of Christ:  “…I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25:35-36).   Borromeo saw Christ in his neighbour, and knew that charity done for the least of his flock was charity done for Christ.

St Charles Borromeo, Pray for us!ST CHARLES BORROMEO PRAY FOR US 4 NOV 2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 4 November – The Memorial of St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 4 November – The Memorial of St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

“Charity is that,
with which no man is lost
and without which,
no man is saved.”charity is that - st charles borromeo - 4 nov 2018

“We must meditate before, during and after everything we do.
The prophet says: “I will pray and then I will understand.”
This is the way we can easily overcome the countless difficulties
we have to face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work.
In meditation we find the strength,
to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in other men.”we-must-meditate-before-st-charles-borromeo-4-nov-2017

“If we wish to make any progress in the service of God,
we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness.
We must keep ourselves in the presence of God,
as much as possible and have no other view or end,
in all our actions but the divine honour.”

St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)if-we-wish-st-charles-borromeo-4-nov-2018

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 4 November – Today’s Gospel: Mark 12:28b-34

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One Minute Reflection – 4 November – Today’s Gospel: Mark 12:28b-34 -Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Memorial of St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) and St Felix of Valois (1127-1212)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’   There is no other commandment greater than these.”...Mark 12:30-31

REFLECTION – “You cannot love God without loving your neighbour and you cannot love your neighbour without loving God.   In effect, the visible sign a Christian can show, in order to witness to his love for God to the world and to others, to his family, is the love he bears for his brothers, is the love of his people.   The Commandment to love God and neighbour is the first, not because it is at the top of the list of Commandments.   Jesus does not place it at the pinnacle but at the centre, because it is from the heart that everything must go out and to which everything must return and refer.
In the Old Testament, the requirement to be holy, in the image of God who is holy, included the duty to care for the most vulnerable people, such as the stranger, the orphan and the widow (cf. Ex 22:20-26).   Jesus brings this Covenant law to fulfilment, He who unites in Himself, in His flesh, divinity and humanity, a single mystery of love.
Now, in the light of this Word of Jesus, love is the measure of faith and faith is the soul of love.   We can no longer separate a religious life, a pious life, from service to brothers and sisters, to the real brothers and sisters that we encounter.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 26 October 2014)you shall love the lord your god - mark 12 30-31 - in the light of this word of jesus - pope francis - 4 nov 2018

PRAYER – God power and mercy, by whose grace, Your people give You praise and worthy service, help us to see Your face in our neighbour.   To love them all as we love You.   Save us from faltering on our way and grant us the joys You have promised  . St Felix of Valois and St Charles Borromeo kindly assist our journey by your prayers. Through Jesus our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.st felix of valois pray for us - 4 nov 2018

st-charles-pray-for-us-3-4 nov 2017

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 4 November – Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 4 November – Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – The Memorial of St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)

Prayer Before Holy Communion
Veni Domine Jesu!
By Fr Henry Augustus Rawes OSC (1826 – 1885) Oblate of St Charles
(1940 Prayer Book)

O Jesus, hidden God, I cry to You,
O Jesus, hidden Light, I turn to You,
O Jesus, hidden love, I run to You,
with all the strength I have, I worship You,
with all the love I have, I cling to You,
with all my soul, I long to be with You
and fear no more to fail, or fall from You.

O Jesus, never-ending love, Who seeks me,
You who die for longing love of me,
King, in all Your beauty, come to me,
white-robed, blood-sprinkled Jesus, come to me
and go no more, dear Lord, away from me.

O sweetest Jesus, bring me home to You,
free me, dearest God, from all but You.
From all the chains that keep me back from You,
call me, most powerful love, I’ll follow You,
You are my all and I love only You.

O hidden love, who now is loving me,
O wounded love, who once was dead to me,
O patient love, who wearies not of me,
O bear with me, till I am lost in You,
O bear with me, till I am found in You,
amen.

(Fr Henry Augustus Rawes (11 December 1826 – 24 April 1885) was a Catholic hymn writer and preacher.
Born at Easington, near Durham, England, he was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and entered the Anglican ministry in 1853.   Converted to Catholicism in 1856.   One of the original members of the Oblates of Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584), whose feast day it is today.   Ordained a priest in 1857.   He was Superior of the Oblate congregation from 1880 until his death.   Founded the Society of Servants of the Holy Ghost.  Translated the treatises of Saint Thomas Aquinas on the Blessed Sacrament and the Lord’s Prayer.   He wrote several books of devotion and sermons and many hymns, noted for poetic beauty. He died at Brighton.)veni domine Jesu - prayer before holy comm fr rawes - 4 nov 2018

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 4 November – St Felix of Valois (1127-1212)

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Saint of the Day – 4 November – St Felix of Valois (1127-1212) – Priest, Hermit and Co-Founder of the Trinitarians.   He was born in April 1127 in the province of Valois, France as Hugh and died on 4 November 1212 at the Cerfroi monastery, Picardy, France of natural causes.Felix_de_Valois

St Felix was son of the Count of Valois.   His mother throughout his youth, did all she could to cultivate in him, a spirit of charity.   The unjust divorce between his parents matured a long-formed resolution of leaving the world and, confiding his mother to her pious brother, Thibault, Count of Champagne, he took the Cistercian habit at Clairvaux.juan-del-castillo-saint-felix-of-valois

His rare virtues drew on him such admiration that, with St Bernard’s consent, he fled to Italy, where he led an austere life with an aged hermit.   At this time he was ordained priest and his old counsellor having died, he returned to France and for many years lived as a solitary at Cerfroid.   Here God inspired him with the desire of founding an Order for the redemption of Christian captives and moved St John of Matha (1160-1213), a young nobleman, a native of Provence and doctor of divinity, who was lately ordained priest, having heard of the holy hermit of Cerfroid, sought him out and put himself under his direction.   St John proposed to him the project of founding an order for the redemption of captives.   Felix, though seventy years of age, readily agreed as it conincided with his  similar wish.   Together they drew up the rules of the Order of the Holy Trinity.

meeting-of-saint-john-of-mata-and-saint-felix-de-valois-vincenzo-carducci
Meeting of St John and St Felix by Vincenzo Carducci

Many disciples gathered round them and, seeing that the time had come for further action, the two Saints made a pilgrimage to Rome to obtain the confirmation of the Order from Innocent III.   Their prayer was granted and the last fifteen years of Felix’s long life were spent in organising and developing his rapidly increasing foundations.   When Felix returned to France to establish the order, he was received with great enthusiasm and King Philip Augustus authorised the institute in France and fostered it by benefactions.felix with his orderSaint_Felix_of_Valois_2

Margaret of Blois granted the order 20 acres (81,000 m2) of the wood where Felix had built his first hermitage and on almost the same spot he erected the famous Monastery of Cerfroid, the mother-house of the institute.   Within forty years the order possessed six hundred monasteries in every part of Europe.   St John was obliged to go to Rome to found a house of the order, the church of which, Santa Maria in Navicella, still stands on the Caelian Hill.   St Felix remained in France to look after the interests of the congregation.   He founded a house in Paris attached to the church of St Maturinus, which afterwards became famous under Robert Guguin, master general of the order.

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Trinitarian Church in Bratislava

St Felix died amongst his fellow Trinitarians at their motherhouse in Cerfroid on 4 November 1212.San_felix_valois

Although no bull of his Canonisation is extant, it is the tradition of his institute that he was canonised by Pope Urban IV on 1 May 1262.   His feast was kept in the Diocese of Meaux as early as the year 1215. On 21 October 1666, Pope Alexander VII confirmed his status as a saint because of his immemorial cult.   In 1679 St Felix’s feast was transferred to 20 November by Pope Innocent XI, when it was placed in the General Roman Calendar because, since 1613, 4 November was the feast day of Saint Charles Borromeo.   In 1969, his feast was restored to 4 November, his dies natalis.

ST FELIX CHARLES BRIDGE PRAGUE

Statues of Felix of Valois and John of Matha. Charles Bridge, Prague.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Memorials of the Saints – 4 November

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Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

St Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) ArchBishop of Milan (Memorial)
About St Charles: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/04/saint-of-the-day-st-charles-borromeo-1538-1584/
And Pope Benedict on the 400th Anniversary of St Charles’s Canonisation: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/04/pope-benedict-xvi-on-the-commemoration-of-the-fourth-centenary-of-the-canonisation-of-st-charles-borromeo-1538-1584-4-november-2010/

St Agricola of Bologna
St Amandus of Avignon
St Amandus of Rodez
St Birstan
St Clarus the Hermit
St Clether
St Emeric of Hungary
St Felix of Valois (1127 – 1212) Trinitarian Founder

Bl Frances d’Amboise
St Gerard de Bazonches
St Gregory of Burtscheid
Bl Helen Enselmini
Bl Henry of Zweifalten
St Hermas of Myra
Bl Joan Antoni Burró Mas
St Joannicus of Mount Olympus
St John Zedazneli
St Modesta of Trier
St Nicander of Lycia
St Patrobas
St Perpète
St Philologus
St Pierius
St Proculus of Autun
Bl Teresa Manganiello
St Vitalis of Bologna

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 3 November – The Memorial of St Martin de Porres OP (1579-1639)

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Thought for the Day – 3 November – The Memorial of St Martin de Porres OP (1579-1639)

In normal times, Saint Martin succeeded with his alms to feed 160 poor persons every day and distributed a remarkable sum of money every week to the indigent — the latter phenomenon hard to explain by ordinary calculations.   To Saint Martin the city of Lima owed a famous residence founded for orphans and abandoned children, where they were formed in piety for a creative Christian life.   This lay Brother had always wanted to be a missionary but never left his native city;  yet even during his lifetime he was seen elsewhere, in regions as far distant as Africa, China, Algeria, Japan.   An African slave who had been in irons said he had known Martin when he came to relieve and console many like himself, telling them of heaven.   When later the same slave saw him in Peru, he was very happy to meet him again and asked him if he had had a good voyage, only later did he learn that Saint Martin had never left Lima.   A merchant from Lima was in Mexico and fell ill, he said aloud:  Oh, Brother Martin, if only you were here to care for me..! and immediately saw him enter his room.   And again, this man did not know until later that he had never been in Mexico.

When he died in 1639, Saint Martin was known to the entire city of Lima, word of his miracles had made him known as a Saint to every resident of the region.   After his death, the miracles and graces received when he was invoked multiplied in such profusion that his body was exhumed after 25 years and found intact and exhaling a fine fragrance.

Letters to Rome pleaded for his Beatification the decree affirming the heroism of his virtues was issued in 1763 by Clement XIII, Gregory XVI beatified him in 1836 and in 1962 St Pope John XXIII Canonised him.

The poor and the sick will never fail to find in him a friend having great power over the Heart of God.

St Martin de Porres, Pray for Us!st martin de porres pray for us - 3 nov 2018

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PRAYER, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 3 November – The Memorial of St Martin de Porres (1579-1639)

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Quote/s of the Day – 3 November – The Memorial of St Martin de Porres (1579-1639)

“Compassion, my dear Brother,
is preferable to cleanliness.
Reflect that with a little soap,
I can easily clean my bed covers
but even with a torrent of tears,
I would never wash from my soul,
the stain, that my harshness toward
the unfortunate would create.”compassion my dear brother - st martin de porres - 3 nov 2018

“Everything,
even sweeping,
scraping vegetables,
weeding a garden
and waiting on the sick,
could be a prayer,
if it were offered to God.”

St Martin de Porres (1579-1639)everything - st martin de porres - 3 nov 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-11

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One Minute Reflection – 3 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-11 – Saturday of the Thirtieth week in Ordinary Time, Year B and The Memorial of St Martin de Porres (1579-1639)

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”…Luke 14:11

REFLECTION – “Humility is not just about self-mistrust but about the entrusting of ourselves to God.   Distrusting ourselves and our own strength produces trust in God and from that trust generosity of soul is born.

The most holy Virgin, Our Lady, gave us an outstanding example of this when she spoke these words:  “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).   When she said she was the handmaid of the Lord she was performing the greatest act of humility it is possible to do and all the more so in that she was contradicting the praise given her by the angel – that she would be mother of God, that the child to be born from her womb would be called Son of the Most High, a greater dignity than any we might imagine – I say, she opposed her lowliness and unworthiness to all these praises and greatness by saying that she was the handmaid of the Lord.   Yet note how, no sooner had she rendered her duty to humility than she practised outstanding generosity by saying:  “May it be to me according to your word”.
What she wanted to say was:  It is true I am in no way capable of this grace if one is to consider what I am of myself but insofar as what is good in me comes from God and what you say to me is His own most holy will, I believe it may happen and will happen. And so, without the least hesitation, she said:  “Let it be done to me according to your word”… St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Churchluke 14 11 for everyone who exalts himself - humility is not just about - st francis de sales - 3 nov 2018

PRAYER – Lord Jesus, help us to appreciate and live Your spiritual values and give them the first place in our hearts.   Grant that we may always seek them first and remain forever united with You.   Send Your Spirit with his gifts and blessings and may the Mother of all Virtue, assist us in our need.   Help us to follow the path of humility St Martin so splendidly showed us, that we may obtain from You, as he did, a place in Your Kingdom. St Martin de Porres, pray for us, amen.mater admirabilis - pray for us - 5 may 2018 - better edit.

st-martin-pray-for-us-3-nov-2017

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 3 November – St Malachy of Armagh (1094 – 1148)

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Saint of the Day – 3 November – St Malachy O’More/ of Armagh (1094 – 1148) Bishop, Abbot, Confessor, Reformer, Miracle-Worker – Primate of Ireland – born in 1094 at Armagh, Ireland and died on 2 November 1148 at Clairvaux Abbey, France of natural causes.    Patronages – Armagh, Ireland, archdiocese of, Down and Connor, Ireland, diocese of and Ireland. St Malachy was an Irish saint and Archbishop of Armagh, to whom were attributed several miracles and an alleged vision of 112 Popes later attributed to the apocryphal (i.e. of doubtful authenticity) Prophecy of the Popes. It is now believed by scholars that this document was a forgery created by Cardinal Girolamo Simoncelli.   Saint Malachy was the first native born Irish saint to be Canonised. His brother was Gilla Críst Ua Morgair who later became Bishop Christian of Clogher from 1126 to 1138.Sligo_Cathedral_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_Ambulatory_Window_07_Malachy_2013_09_14

Born in the late eleventh century of a princely family, in the archiepiscopal city of Armagh, Saint Malachy was raised in the fear and love of God.   He seemed to have the virtues of maturity hidden under the appearances of childhood. Praises did not inflate him and reproaches did not sadden him.   He had a horror of idleness and a command from his preceptors was always like a law for him.   He would often separate from his companions to converse in prayer with God. When he was still a young man, he made himself the disciple of a holy hermit who had established a little cell near the cathedral church of Armagh.   The archbishop of Armagh made him a deacon of his church and when at the age of twenty-five he was ordained a priest, commanded him to preach the Gospel and catechise his people.   He uprooted vices and corrected abuses and the archdiocese derived great profit from his ministry.st malachy

An episode from the life of Saint Malachy teaches us several truths concerning purgatory. He had a sister who was very worldly and whom he found indifferent to his efforts to lead her to reflect on the reason for her existence and her last ends.   He learned one day that she had died after having manifested regret for her sins and he offered a Mass for her soul but he did not think of continuing this practice.   After thirty days he heard in a dream that she was standing outside the church and had not eaten for one month.   He began again to pray for her and then in a dream beheld her clothed in a black robe, near the door of the church but unable to enter.   He continued his suffrages and on a third occasion saw her in a robe which was more or less white, having entered the church but unable to approach the altar.   The last time he saw her she was within the church, clothed in white and near the altar, in the company of the just.   We learn from this how serious our indifference and lack of love for God are, that our prayers are efficacious in relieving our dear ones and that it is ordinarily a little at a time that souls are delivered from the bonds of their sins and negligence.

Saint Malachy brought about several miracles and manifested great devotion and zeal in the reconstruction and re-establishment of a monastery whose nine hundred religious had been massacred by pirates, these facts led to his being consecrated Bishop of Connor, a small see whose inhabitants were Christian in name but pagan in practice. The venerable pastor taught the people with patience and warned them with gentleness. He endured many insults and outrages but finally the hardened hearts were softened and began to listen to his voice and instructions.  He remained in this see until a hostile king and his army decimated the city of Connor.   At that time, the Archbishop of Armagh was nearing death and named him to succeed him in this metropolitan see, overriding his humility and protestations of insufficient virtue and competence.Saint_Malachy

Again he had a great deal to suffer in the exercise of his new charge.   The see of Armagh, by a longstanding abuse, had been held somewhat like a throne by one single family and it required on the part of the Saint no little tact and firmness to calm the dissensions caused by his election.   Ecclesiastical discipline had been forgotten and depraved morals everywhere had virtually annihilated faith and piety.   The good bishop who had named Saint Malachy had laboured to correct the abuses and hoped his virtuous successor might better succeed in the same post.   Nonetheless, two years passed before Malachy could even enter into the city as its archbishop – troops were levied against his entry by the pretender to the same title.   Saint Malachy had accepted the office on the condition that he assume the charge only after the death or flight of the false bishop, for he did not want to cause a war and the death of those whose salvation he desired to procure.   The pretender and his cousin, with several others of the same lineage, were struck down soon afterwards by the hand of God and their exemplary chastisements gave great credit to the Saint and enabled him to make ordinances to countermand the disorders.   He divided the diocese and left the larger portion, that of Connor, to a colleague, a very holy man worthy of the charge.   He retired to the other part, the new see of Down.   There he convoked synods, renewed ancient ordinances and made appropriate ones, everywhere he intimidated sinners and implanted religion and piety.

We must not neglect to mention the famous prophecy of Saint Malachy, in which he assigns to every Pope of the future a motto describing each pontificate, from his own day until the last Pope he mentions, whom he calls Petrus Romanus — Peter the Roman.   After the motto attributed to the present Vicar of Jesus Christ (in the year 2000), De Labore Solis, only one, De Gloria Olivae — From the glory of the Olive Tree — separates us from Peter II.   The prophecy, which begins with Celestine II (1143-1144), was discovered in 1590 and includes one hundred and eleven mottos.   Many a motto has been shown to have a striking exactitude in the description of its subject and his pontificate.   Many interpreters have laboured to prove the prophecy’s accuracy, however, as stated above, these ‘prophecies’ now appear to be total forgeries and fiction, though why they were written can only be left to the imagination.   Most scholars consider the document a 16th-century elaborate hoax.   James Weiss, a professor of church history at Boston College, has stated:  “It is widely thought … given who the author was and his relationship, [that the prophecies] were published to establish the case for election of one particular cardinal.”   Thomas Groome, chair of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College, has a similar notion:   “For myself – and even as a native Irishman – the ‘Prophecies of St Malachy’ are a grand old fun tale that have about as much reliability as the morning horoscope”.   Thomas J Reese, SJ, of Georgetown University, had only this to say:  “St Malachy’s prophecy is nonsense.”686px-St._Malachy

Saint Malachy twice made a pilgrimage to Rome to consult Christ’s Vicar, the first time returning as a Papal Legate for all of Ireland, amid the joy of his people.   The second time, however, he was bound for a happier home – he was taken ill in France at the monastery of Clairvaux, where his great friend and biographer, Saint Bernard, was Abbot.   He died there in the monastery where he would gladly have lived, at the age of fifty-four, on the 2nd of November, 1148.   Saint Bernard, in his Life of Saint Malachy, narrates many of his miracles, one of which he himself brought about, when he touched the paralysed arm of a young boy to that of the mortal remains of the bishop, while he was laid out in his coffin at Clairvaux.   It was instantly cured.

St Malachy was Canonised on 6 July 1190 by Pope Clement III.

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Bone Relics of St Malachy at Clairvaux Abbey
Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Memorials of the Saints – 3 November

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St Martin de Porres OP (1579-1639) (Optional Memorial)
Full biography here:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/saint-of-the-day-3-november-st-martin-de-porres-o-p-saint-of-the-broom/

St Acepsimas
St Acheric of Vosges
Bl Alphais of Cudot
Bl Berardo dei Marsi
Bl Berchtold of Engelberg
St Caesarius
St Cecilio Manrique Arnáiz
St Clydog
St Cristiolus
St Domnus of Vienne
St Elerius
St Englatius
St Florus of Lodeve
St Francisco Colom González
St Gaudiosus of Tarazona
St Germanus
St Guenhael
St Hermengaudius of Urgell
St Hilary of Viterbo
St Hubert of Liege
Bl Ida of Toggenburg
St José Llorach Bretó
St José Ruiz de la Torre
St Libertine of Agrigento
Bl Lorenzo Moreno Nicolás
St Malachy O’More (1094 – 1148)
St Papulus
St Pierre-François Néron
St Pirmin
St Quartus
St Rumwold of Buckingham
St Sylvia of Rome
St Theophilus
St Valentine of Viterbo
St Valentinian
St Vitalis
St William of Vosges
St Winifred of Wales
St Wulganus

Innumerable Martyrs of Saragossa: A large group of Christians martyred in Zaragoza, Spain by Dacian during the persecutions of Diocletian. Dacian ordered all Christians of the city into exile under pain of death; when they were assembled to leave, Dacian ordered imperial soldiers to massacre the lot of them. They were martyred in 304.

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War:
• Blessed Cecilio Manrique Arnáiz
• Blessed Francisco Colom González
• Blessed José Llorach Bretó
• Blessed José Ruiz de la Torre

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PAPAL PRAYERS, PAPAL SERMONS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PURGATORY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS

One Minute Reflection – 2 November – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 25:31–46- The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

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One Minute Reflection – 2 November – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 25:31–46- The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’…Matthew 25:34matthew 25 34 come o blessed of my father - 2 nov all souls day

REFLECTION – “Yesterday and today, many have been visiting cemeteries, which, as the word itself implies, is the “place of rest”, as we wait for the final awakening.   It is lovely to think, that it will be Jesus Himself to awaken us.   Jesus Himself revealed, that the death of the body is like a sleep from which He awakens us.   But today we are called to remember everyone, even those who no one remembers.   We remember the victims of war and violence, the many “little ones” of the world, crushed by hunger and poverty, we remember the anonymous who rest in the communal ossuary.   We remember our brothers and sisters killed because they were Christian and those who sacrificed their lives to serve others.it is lovely to think that jesus himself - pope francis - 2 nov 2018

PRAYER – Let us raise this prayer to God:   “God of infinite mercy, we entrust to Your immense goodness all those who have left this world for eternity, where You wait for all humanity, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ Your Son, who died as a ransom for our sins.   Look not, O Lord, on our poverty, our suffering, our human weakness, when we appear before You to be judged for joy or for condemnation.   Look upon us with mercy, born of the tenderness of Your heart and help us to walk in the ways of complete purification.”…Pope Francis – Angelus, 2 November 2014god of infinite mercy - prayer for the holy souls pope francis - 2 nov 2018

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 2 November – The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

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Thought for the Day – 2 November – The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

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

And Jesus wept.   So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”...John 11:35-36and jesus wept and the jews said see how he loved him - john 11 35-36 - 2 nov 2018

Why do I pray for you, O my brother, who loved me so much and have been carried off from me… ?   For I have not lost my relationship to you, rather it has been completely changed in my regard.   Up to now, it was inseparable from the body but now, it is indissoluble from feeling. ,,You remain with me and will remain so always… Paul the apostle calls me back and places a sort of brake on my sadness with these words:  “We do not want you to be unaware about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope” (1Thes 4:13)…

But not all weeping is a sign of lack of faith or of weakness.   Natural sorrow is one thing, the sadness of unbelief is another…   Sorrow is not alone in having its grief and prayer bathes our bed with tears according to the prophet (Ps 6:7).   When the patriarchs were enslaved, their people wept bitterly for themselves, as well.   Thus tears are signs of affection and not incitements to sorrow.   I confess that I have wept but the Lord also wept (Jn 11:35).   He wept for someone not of his own kin, I for a brother.   He wept for all men in one man – as for me, I will weep for you, my brother, in every man.

Christ wept with the feeling that is ours, not His own, for divinity has no tears…   He wept in that man who was “sorrowful even to death” (Mt 26:38);   He wept in him who was crucified, who died, who was buried;   He wept in that man… who was born of the Virgin.and jesus wept - john 11 35 - 2 nov 2018

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The HOLY SOULS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 2 November – The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 2 November

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

We believe that Jesus died and rose again,
so we believe, that God will bring with Jesus,
those who have died, believing in him.…

1 Thessalonians 4:141 thes 4 14 - we believe that jesus died and rose - 2 nov 2018

“He who saves a soul,
saves his own and satisfies
for a multitude of sins.”

James 1:20james-1-20-he-who-saves-a-soul-saves-his-own-2-nov-2017

“The whole Church observes this practice
which was handed down by the Fathers –
that it prays for those who have died
in the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ,
when they are commemorated
in their own place in the sacrifice itself
and the sacrifice is offered,
also in memory of them, on their behalf.”

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor of the Churchthe whole church observes this practice - st augustine - 2 nov 2018

“What great power the holy souls in purgatory
have over the heart of God!
If we realised this fact
and averted to all the graces
that we can gain through their intercession,
these souls would not be so forgotten.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)what-great-power-st-john-vianney-2-nov-2017-21

“If today we are remembering
these brothers and sisters of
ours who lived before us and are
now in heaven, they are there
because they were washed in the
Blood of Christ, that is our hope
and this hope does not disappoint.
If we live our lives with the Lord,
He will never disappoint us.”

Pope Francisif-today-we-are-remembering-pope-francis-2 nov 2017

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering – 2 November – The Commemoration of All the Holy Souls in Purgatory

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Our Morning Offering – 2 November – The Commemoration of All the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Daily Prayer for the Holy Souls

Immortal God, holy Lord,
Father and Protector of all You have created,
we raise our hearts to You today for those
who have passed out of this mortal life.
In Your loving mercy, Father of all,
be pleased to receive them
in Your heavenly company,
and forgive the failings and faults
they may have done from human frailty.
Your only Son, Christ, our Saviour,
suffered so cruelly that
He might deliver them from the second death.
By His merits may they share in the glory
of His victory over sin and death.
For all the faithful who have died we pray
but in particular for those dear to us,
parents, relatives and friends.
nor do we forget all who did good for us while on earth,
who helped us by their prayers, sacrifice and example.
We pray also for any who may have done us harm,
and stand in special need of Your forgiveness.
May the merits and prayers of our Virgin Mother, Mary
and those of all the Angels and Saints,
speak for us and assist them now.
This we ask in through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
with the Holy Spirit, God forever
amen.daily prayer for the holy souls - 2 nov 2018

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS, Uncategorized

The Commemoration of All the Holy Souls in Purgatory – 2 November

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The Commemoration of All the Holy Souls in Purgatory – 2 November

The Church teaches us that the souls of the just who have left this world with traces of venial sin remain for a time in a place of expiation, where they suffer whatever punishment may be due to their offenses.   Even if pardon has been obtained for our sins, satisfaction must be made to God, our Creator, in this world or in the next, for His sanctity has been, as it were, insulted by the self-will of one of His ignoble creatures.  The more noble the person offended, the more serious the offence, even according to human laws.holy souls 2

It is a dogma of our faith that the suffering souls are relieved by the intercession of the Saints in heaven and by the prayers of the faithful upon earth.   To pray for the dead is therefore an act of charity and of piety, certainly obligatory for a Christian who professes to have charity in his heart.   We read in Holy Scripture:  It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins. (II Maccabees 12:46)

When towards the close of the tenth century, Our Lord inspired Saint Odilo, (c 962-1049) Abbot of Cluny, to establish in his Benedictine Order a general commemoration of all the faithful departed, the practice was soon afterwards adopted by the entire Western Church and has been continued unceasingly to our day.holy souls

Let us always bear in mind the departed who have died in the love of God and offer up our prayers and sacrifices to help expiate for them.   By showing this mercy to the suffering souls in purgatory, we gain for ourselves very devoted friends, who will in their turn pray for us.   We shall then be entitled to be treated with mercy at our departure from this world and to share more abundantly in the suffrages of the Church, continually offered for all who have fallen asleep in Christ.

When we offer satisfaction to God in this life for our offences, there is merit attached to our penances.   There is no longer any merit in purgatory – others must provide  . Let us reflect well that if we do not ourselves repair our sins and faults, we place our burden on other, is that what we want?William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_(1825-1905)_-_The_Day_of_the_Dead_(1859)

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS, Uncategorized

The Commeration of All Souls Day and Memorials of the Saints – 2 November

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All Souls Day (Commemoration): Feast in commemoration of the faithful departed in Purgatory.   Abbot Odilo of Cluny instituted it in the monasteries of his congregation in 998, other religious orders took up the observance and it was adopted by various dioceses and gradually by the whole Church.   The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy on this day and Pope Benedict XV granted to all priests the privilege of saying three Masses of requiem –
• one for the souls in Purgatory
• one for the intention of the Holy Father
• one for the priest’s
If the feast should fall on Sunday it is kept on 3 November.
Patronage: Monselice, Italy
Details here:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/02/the-commemoration-of-all-the-holy-souls-in-purgatory-2-november/

St Ambrose of Agaune
St Ambrose of Agaune
St Amicus of Fonte Avellana
St Amicus of Rambone
St Baya of Scotland
St Domninus of Grenoble
St Erc of Slane
St Eustochium of Tarsus
St George of Vienne
Bl John Bodey
St Jorandus of Kergrist
St Justus of Trieste
Bl Luigi Campidello
St Marcian of Chalcis
Bl Margaret of Lorraine
St Mateo López y López
St Maura of Scotland
St Theodotus of Laodicea
St Victorinus of Pettau
St Willebald of Bavaria
—
Martyrs of Isfahan – 5+ saints: Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus were Persian priests who were imprisoned, tortured, interrogated and martyred in the persecutions of king Sapor II of Persia; he considered any Christian to be a Roman spy and anti-Persian. The three were brought back to life, miraculously healed, freed from their chains and began preaching Christianity, miraculously healing Sapor II in the process. This defiance enraged Sapor so much that he ordered them executed again; they were thrown into a cauldron of molten lead, but walked out unharmed. This miracle brought one of the torturers, Aphthonius, to convert; he was immediately martyred. Other attempts were made to kill them, and they emerged each time unharmed. Senator Elpidiphorus led a group speaking in favour of the Christians for their courage and faith; he was immediately executed. In the end the original three Christians were burned to death. Martyrs all – Acindynus, Anempodistus, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and Pegasius.
They were born in Persia and Died:
• c.350 in Isfahan, Persia
• relics transferred to Constantinople and enshrined in a church dedicated to them
• some relics taken to France in 1204 during the 4th Crusade
• relics in France were lost when hidden from anti-Christian forces in the French Revolution
• relics in France re-discovered in 1892 in Grozon.

Martyrs of Sebaste – 10 saints: A group of ten soldiers in the imperial Roman army of Emperor Licinius Licinianus who were executed together for refusing to burn incense as a sacrifice to the emperor. The only details that have survived are five of their names – Agapius, Cartherius, Eudoxius, Styriacus and Tobias. They were burned at the stake in 315 in Sebaste (in modern Turkey).

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 1 November – The Solemnity of All the Saints

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Quote/s of the Day – 1 November – The Solemnity of All the Saints

“All saints give testimony to the truth,
that without real effort,
no one ever wins the crown.”

St Thomas à Becket (1118-1170)all saints give testimony to the truth - st thomas a becket - 1 nov 2018

“A ray of light enables us to see the dust that is in the air.
In the same way, the lives of the Saints show up our defects.
If we fail to see our faults,
it is because we have not looked at the lives of
holy men and women.”

St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Doctor of the Churcha ray of light - st anthony of padua - 1 nov 2018

“God creates out of nothing.
Wonderful you say.
Yes, to be sure but He does.
what is still more wonderful,
He makes saints out of sinners.”

Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)god-creates-out-of-nothing-soren-kierkegaard-1-nov-2017

“In heaven, we shall not meet with indifferent glances,
because all the elect will discover
that they owe to each other,
the graces that merited the crown for them.”

St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897) Doctor of the Churchin heave, we shall not meet - st therese of lisieux - child jesus - 1 nov 2018

“Life holds only one tragedy, ultimately,
not to have been a saint.”

Charles Péguy (1873-1914)life holds only one tragedy ultimately - charles peguy - 1nov 2018

“A saint takes his hands off
the steering wheel of his life
and lets God steer.”a saint steering wheel of life - peter kreeft 1 nov 2018

“A saint is one who sees who the tramp is: Jesus”

Peter Kreefta-saint-is-one-who-sees-who-the-tramp-is-jesus-1-nove-2017

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ON the SAINTS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 1 November – The Solemnity of All the Saints

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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.
Amen10th century catholic prayer in praise of the saints - 1 november 2018 all saints day

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, SAINT of the DAY

1 November – Solemnity of All Saints!

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1 November – Solemnity of All Saints!

The Church day by day gives special veneration to the holy men and women who have helped to establish it by their blood, develop it by their labours, or edify it by their virtues.   But, in addition to those whom the Church honours by special designation or has inscribed in her calendar, how many martyrs are there whose names are not recorded!   How many humble virgins and holy penitents!   How many unknown anchorites and monks, Christian fathers and mothers, young children snatched away in their innocence!   How many courageous Christians, whose merits are known only to God and His heavenly court!all saints - maxresdefault

Should we forget those who remember us in their intercession?   Are not some among them our ancestors? members of our immediate family? our friends and fellow-Christians, with whom we have lived in daily companionship?

In fact, all of Heaven is but one family — Our Lord’s, as He Himself said:   Who is My mother and who are My brethren?   And stretching forth His hand towards His disciples, He said, Behold My mother and My brethren!   For whoever does the Will of My Father in heaven, is My brother and sister and mother.all saints 2

Today we have the opportunity to thank God, if at other times we forget, for their aid and their love.   And today we adore Him with them, for the grace which raised them to their present joy.   The Church requires this homage of us, by making this day a holy day of obligation for all.Saints_of_the_Catholic_Church COVERS

Our place, too, is awaiting us in this home of eternal light, peace and love, if we persevere to the end in the fulfilment of God’s holy Will.allsaints

More information here:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/01/1-november-the-feast-of-all-the-saints/

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, SAINT of the DAY

Solemnity of All Saints and Memorials of the Saints – 1 November

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All Saints Day (Solemnity):  (a Holy Day of Obligation)   Instituted to honour all the saints, known and unknown.   It owes its origin in the Western Church to the dedication of the Roman Pantheon in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the martyrs by Pope Saint Boniface IV in 609, the anniversary of which was celebrated at Rome on 13 May.   Pope Saint Gregory III consecrated a chapel in the Vatican basilica in honour of All Saints, designating 1 November as their feast.   Pope Gregory IV extended its observance to the whole Church.   It has a vigil and octave and is a holy day of obligation – the eve is popularly celebrated as Hallowe’en.   Patronage – Arzignano, Italy.

About: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/01/1-november-the-feast-of-all-the-saints/

St Amabilis of Auvergne
St Austremonius
St Benignus of Dijon
St Cadfan
St Caesarius of Africa
St Caesarius of Damascus
St Ceitho
St Cledwyn of Wales
Bl Clemens Kyuemon
St Cyrenia of Tarsus
St Dacius of Damascus
St Deborah the Prophetess
St Dingad
Bl Dionysius Fugixima
St Floribert of Ghent
St Gal of Clermont
St Genesius of Lyon
St Germanus of Montfort
St Harold the King
St James of Persia
St Jerome Hermosilla
St John of Persia
St Julian of Africa
St Juliana of Tarsus
St Lluís Estruch Vives
St Marcel of Paris
St Mary the Slave
St Mathurin
St Meigan
St Nichole
St Nuño de Santa Maria Alvares Pereira
St Pabiali of Wales
St Pere Josep Almató Ribera Auras
St Peter Absalon
Bl Peter Paul Navarra
Bl Petrus Onizuka Sadayu
St Rachel the Matriarch
St Ruth the Matriarch
St Salaun of Leseven
St Severinus of Tivoli
Bl Teodor Jurij Romza
St Valentin Faustino Berri Ochoa
St Vigor of Bayeux

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MYSTICS, SAINT of the DAY

Thought for the Day – 31 October – The Memorial of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

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Thought for the Day – 31 October – The Memorial of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

The story of this humble Jesuit brother illustrates that status and achievements count for nothing for those who accept the responsibility assigned them with the conviction that it is God’s will.   Rodriguez set himself free of ego, he found meaning and fulfilment in the lowliest tasks accorded him and was zealous enough to give more than was demanded, in the spirit of the Ignatian Magis.
Early biographies describe Rodriguez as a superhero who spiritually survived a rather humdrum, tedious job for 46 years.   They tended to overlook the tenacity and uncompromising dedication of the unassuming brother who would inspire generations of Jesuits in the art of religious hospitality.   He was a multi-tasker, blending ‘spiritual conversation’ with business while always attending courteously to visitors.   He quietly counselled students and reached out to the poor who hang around outside the door. Rodriguez made sure his job was never humdrum and tedious!

He displayed unconditional discipleship to Jesus Christ.   He was a brother and companion, serving all as he would Christ personified.   “I’m coming Lord,” he would cry when someone knocked.   He had personalised his spirituality and this is what gave depth, appeal and credibility to his convictions.   The rosary entwining his fingers may not always have been used to pray the mysteries but to murmur aspirations that connected him with the divinity present everywhere.   He was a contemplative in action and spent most of his spare-time in prayer.   He was a mystic, as his autobiography penned under obedience would reveal, favoured by God with remarkable mystical graces, ecstasies and visions of our Lord, our Lady and the saints.

At the age of 72, Rodriguez would counsel and motivate St Peter Claver (1580-1654), a young student of theology in Palma, to volunteer for “the missions” in the New World.   In true Ignatian spirit Rodriguez looked beyond the boundaries of his world with the universal good of the Society of Jesus at heart – a typical Jesuit charism.   Claver achieved sainthood through his indefatigable service to African slaves in Colombia.

Rodriguez is the patron of Jesuit brothers.   The lay-brother of the olden days, who performed routine duties such as cooking, construction and farming, has vanished. Today the Jesuit brother can hardly be distinguished from the priest, because of his professional competence in many fields.   In the spirit of Alphonsus Rodriguez, brothers sacramentalise their work and bear witness to God’s compassionate love.

(Excerpt on the 400th anniversary of St Alphonsus death, 2017 – Hedwig Lewis SJ is the author of “Profiles in Holiness, Brief Biographies of Jesuit Saints” and “Jesuit Saints without Paint”)

St Alphonsus Rodriguez, Pray for Us!st alphonsus rodriguez pray for us - 31 oct 2018

Posted in JESUIT SJ, POETRY, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 31 October – The Memorial of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

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Quote/s of the Day – 31 October –

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)in-the-difficulties-which-are-placed-before-me-st-alphonsus-rodriguez-20-june-2018

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)gerard manley hopkins in honour of st alphonsus rodriguez - 31 oct 2018

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 31 October – Today’s Gospel: Luke 13:22–30

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One Minute Reflection – 31 October – Today’s Gospel: Luke 13:22–30 – Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Memorial of St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

“Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be able…”…Luke 13:24.

REFLECTION – “Strive to enter in by the narrow door.”   This reply may seem perhaps to wander from the scope of the question.   The man wanted to learn whether there would be few who are saved but He explained to him the way whereby he might be saved himself.   He said, “Strive to enter in by the narrow door.”   What do we answer to this objection? … It was a necessary and valuable thing to know how a man may obtain salvation.   He is purposely silent to the useless question.   He proceeds to speak of what was essential, namely, of the knowledge necessary for the performance of those duties by which people can enter the narrow door.
I now consider it my duty to mention why the door to life is narrow.   Whoever would enter must first, before everything else, possess an upright and uncorrupted faith and then a spotless morality, in which there is no possibility of blame, according to the measure of human righteousness.   One who has attained to this in mind and spiritual strength will enter easily by the narrow door and run along the narrow way.
“Wide is the door and broad the way that brings down many to destruction.”   What are we to understand by its broadness?   It means an unrestrained tendency toward carnal lust and a shameful and pleasure-loving life.   It is luxurious feasts, parties, banquets and unrestricted inclinations to everything that is condemned by the law and displeasing to God.   A stubborn mind will not bow to the yoke of the law.   This life is cursed and relaxed in all carelessness.   Thrusting from it the divine law and completely unmindful of the sacred commandments, wealth, vices, scorn, pride and the empty imagination of earthly pride spring from it.   Those who would enter in by the narrow door must withdraw from all these things, be with Christ and keep the festival with him.”…St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Father & Doctor (Commentary on Luke, Homily 9strive to enter - luke 13 24 - whoever would enter - st cyril of alex - 31 oct 2018

PRAYER – Shed Your clear light on our hearts, Lord, so that walking continually in the way of Your commandments, we may never be deceived or misled.   Grant that the prayers of our Blessed Mother and St Alphonsus Rodriguez, who always held Your Light up for others to see by, give us strength.   Through Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.sancta maria -mary most holy - pray for us - 10 may 2018

st alphonsus rodriguez pray for us no 2- 31 oct 2018