The HOLY CROSS – Page 19

LENT, MORNING Prayers, POETRY, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The HOLY CROSS, The TRANSFIGURATION, The WORD

25 February 2018 – Lenten Reflection – The Second Sunday in Lent, Year B THE GLORY OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIS

Posted on February 25, 2018February 25, 2018 by AnaStpaul

25 February 2018 – Lenten Reflection – The Second Sunday in Lent, Year B
THE GLORY OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST

Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18, Psalms 116:10, 15-19, Romans 8:31-34, Mark 9:2-10

Mark 9:2-3 – And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

On the second Sunday in Lent we always read the Gospel of the Transfiguration of our Lord. We do so in order that our focus may be directed towards the glory of Easter and our Lord’s victory over sin and death by His glorious Resurrection. Our Lenten penance is not an end in itself but a means to an end; that cleansed of our faults and sanctified in both body and mind we might more fully appreciate and participate in God’s own glory. The word that Sacred Scripture most commonly uses to describe the nature of God is glory. We associate glory with power, majesty, radiance, awe and wonder. Yet all the Gospels, especially the Gospel of John, speak of God’s humiliation as His exaltation, His glory. By faith, we are seized by the beauty and glory of the Crucified Christ. In this mystery of the Transfiguration a twofold glory is revealed: the glory which our Lord possesses as the eternal Son of the Father and the glory that is manifested in His sacred Passion; the glory that is manifested from the unsurpassable torture of Holy Week. God Himself is “whipped to blood, crowned with thorns, mocked, spat upon, ridiculed, nailed, pierced… In this consummate ugliness, this unspeakable outrage, shines a picture of divine beauty, of divine glory. The Gospel of the Transfiguration presents us with a vision of the glory of God on its way to the Passion”… (Cardinal Hans Urs Von Balthasar 1905-1988).

The glory revealed to Peter, James and John is a glimpse of the glory of the Resurrection, a glory that we too are destined to share; however, it is the Passion that “leads to the glory of the Resurrection” (Preface for the Second Sunday in Lent, The Roman Missal). Consequently, we are ever mindful that “we preach Christ crucified … Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:23-24). Our Lord Jesus Christ “is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of His nature” (Heb 1:3). Those who gaze on the Crucified Christ in faith are able to perceive that His hour of highest spiritual beauty—and glory—is a moment of utmost bodily degradation. In the humiliation of the Cross the Saviour brings near and makes visible the divine glory for we see in Him the ineffable love of God for sinners. This is a love, a beauty and a glory that can only be perceived by a prayerful, contemplative gaze . It is only by means of prayer and penance that we can come to some understanding of why our Lord brought about our salvation in such weakness, diminishment and pain.

No human life is exempt from diminishment and pain. If we are given the grace to grow older, the weight of years alone brings about diminishment. Why must it be so? Perhaps our own diminishment is meant to conform us to the self-emptying of the Son of God on the Cross. This may very well be the grace of old age. That our redemption has taken place through suffering of the flesh and spilling of blood may mean that it could take place in no other way. It is for this reason that above all things we must seek simply to be with Jesus and to learn from Him what He alone can teach us in the silence of prayer. On the Cross we have the ultimate and only adequate answer to the problem of evil, the only solution to the mystery of sin. The world’s redemption could only be brought about “in the mystery of a love that by suffering understands all the insults inflicted upon it” (Hans Urs Von Balthasar). Our profession of faith, if taken seriously, is journey into the depth of this Mystery.

What do we discover as we come to know more of this mystery? Quite simply, that the essence of Christian discipleship is to be with Jesus and to learn from Him who accompanies us on life’s journey and who is never distant from us by means of His grace. We must endeavour to abandon ourselves to the will of the Father as He did and in this is our peace: not only our peace but also our way to holiness, to glory. Christians are not immune from suffering. Indeed, our long history teaches us that often we suffer more precisely because of our Christian faith but as St Paul asks, “who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us” (Rom 8:35-37). These words are more than ever relevant as we witness the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere. Our faith enables us not only to overcome the trials we suffer but also to be sanctified by them and through them. We understand these as our means to holiness; a state to which we are called.

“The entire virtue of what we call holiness lies in faithfulness to what God ordains” (Jean Pierre de Caussade, The Joy of Full Surrender, [Paraclete Press], p.17). Surely, this is what we learn when we contemplate the life and Passion of our Lord. Fidelity to duty, discipline of life, moral rectitude; these are the ways in which we are faithful to what God ordains. They are no less the means by which our lives are so transformed and so transfigured that we come to “live for the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:12). Anything that contradicts these principles is a path to misery and destruction and a betrayal of the Cross of Christ.

After His glorious resurrection our Lord asked the disciples on the road to Emmaus, “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Lk 24:26). And so it is with us; we must be willing to recognise what is best for us in what God ordains for us. Like the disciples on the mountain, the revelation of God’s will for us, whether it be in the suffering that He asks of us or permits us to endure, or simply in the challenges that we face in living; these may confound us and might even cause us to be very much afraid. Like Peter, James and John, however, we too are privileged to perceive the glory of the Lord; a glory however that is veiled in the poverty, humility, and vulnerability of the Crucifix that hangs before us and in the Sacrament of the Cross, the Eucharist. These reveal a love so powerful that neither hate nor death could conquer it. Because we receive and worship this Sacrament, this same love is at work in the hearts of all who believe. By its power great deeds of love are done and great evils are faced and overcome. The Passion of our Lord gives a human face to the love of God for a fallen humanity. Our own sufferings, mysterious as they may be in both their origin and purpose, place us in the very heart of the Paschal Mystery. Suffering is not meaningless nor is it without purpose and neither is our life. “Nothing short of suffering, except in rare cases, makes us what we should be; gentle instead of harsh, meek instead of violent, conceding instead of arrogant, lowly instead of proud, pure-hearted instead of sensual” (Bl. John Henry Newman (1801-1890), “The Sweet Yoke of Christ,” 1839).

Transfiguration
By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

They were talking to Him about resurrection,
about law, about the suffering ahead.
They were talking as if to remind Him who He was and
who they were. He was not

Like his three friends watching a little way off,
not like the crowd At the foot of the hill.
A grey-green thunderhead massed
from the sea

And God spoke from it and said He was His.
They were talking about how the body, broken or
burned,
could live again, remade.

Only the fiery text of the thunderhead could explain it.
And they were talking
About pain and the need for judgement
and how He would make Himself

A law of pain, both its spirit and its letter in His own
flesh,
and then break it,
That is, transcend it.
His clothes flared like magnesium

My Lord, I Offer You Myself
Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

My Lord,
I offer You myself in turn,
as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
You have died for me,
And I in turn make myself over to You.
I am not my own.
You have bought me:
I will, by my own act and deed,
complete the purchase.
My wish is to be separated
from everything of this world;
To cleanse myself simply from sin;
To put away from me even what is innocent,
If used for its own sake
and not for Yours.
I put away reputation and honour
and influence and power,
For my praise and strength,
shall be in You.
Enable me to carry out what I profess
Amen

LENT, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, STATIONS of the CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY FACE, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 20 February 2018 – Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Posted on February 20, 2018February 20, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 20 February 2018 – Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Excerpt from “Behold the Man”, a Lenten Reflection

By Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890)

“I see the figure of a man, whether young or old I cannot tell. He may be fifty, or he may be thirty. Sometimes He looks one, sometimes the other. There is something inexpressible about His face that I cannot solve. Perhaps, as He bears all burdens, He bears that of old age too. But so it is; His face is at once most venerable, yet most childlike, most calm, most sweet, most modest, beaming with sanctity and with loving kindness. His eyes rivet me and move my heart. His breath is all fragrant and transports me out of myself. Oh, I will look upon that face forever and will not cease.

And I see suddenly someone come to Him and raise His hand and sharply strike Him on that heavenly face. It is a hard hand, the hand of a rude man and perhaps has iron upon it. It could not be so sudden as to take by surprise, Him who knows all things past and future and He shows no sign of resentment, remaining calm and grave as before; but the expression of His face is marred; a great welt arises and in a short time that all-gracious face is hidden from me by the effects of this indignity, as if a cloud came over it.

A hand was lifted up against the face of Christ.

Whose hand was that? My conscience tells me: ‘You are the man.’

I trust it is not so with me now. But, O my soul, contemplate the awful fact. Fancy Christ before you and fancy yourself lifting up your hand and striking Him! You will say, ‘It is impossible: I could not do so.’ Yes, you have done so. When you sinned wilfully, then you have done so. He is beyond pain now: still you have struck Him and had it been in the days of His flesh, He would have felt pain. Turn back in memory and recollect the time, the day, the hour, when by wilful mortal sin, by scoffing at sacred things, or by profaneness, or by hard hatred of your brother, or by acts of impurity, or by deliberate rejection of God’s voice, or in any other devilish way known to you, you have struck the All-Holy One.” (to be continued…………….)

NOTE of Interest: A second miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed John Henry (2016) is still in progress of investigation by the Congregation for the Causes of Sainthood and if Vatican theologians and doctors conclude the healing is a divine sign of Newman’s sanctity the Pope will be invited to canonise him as the first English saint since 1970 and the first British saint since 1976. a hand was lifted up against the face of christ - john henry newman - 20 feb 2018

Prayer for the Canonisation of Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

God our Father,
You granted to Your servant,
Blessed John Henry Newman,
wonderful gifts of nature and of grace,
that he should be a spiritual light
in the darkness of this world,
an eloquent herald of the Gospel
and a devoted servant
of the one Church of Christ.
With confidence in
his heavenly intercession,
we make the following petition:
………………………………………….
[here make your petition]
For his insight into
the mysteries of the kingdom,
his zealous defense
of the teachings of the Church
and his priestly love
for each of Your children,
we pray that he may soon
be numbered among the Saints.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God forever.
Amen

LENT, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN TITLES, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 February 2018 – Tuesday of the First Week of Lent and The First Memorial of Saints Francisco (1908-1919) and Jacinta (1910-1920)

Posted on February 20, 2018February 19, 2018 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 20 February 2018 – Tuesday of the First Week of Lent and The First Memorial of Saints Francisco (1908-1919) and Jacinta (1910-1920)

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit..” …John 12:24

REFLECTION – “In Lucia’s account, the three chosen children found themselves surrounded by God’s light as it radiated from Our Lady. She enveloped them in the mantle of Light that God had given her. According to the belief and experience of many pilgrims, if not of all, Fatima is more than anything this mantle of Light that protects us, here, as in almost no other place on earth. We need but take refuge under the protection of the Virgin Mary and to ask her, as the Salve Regina teaches: “show unto us… Jesus”. the three chosen children - pope francis canonisation homily - 20 feb 2018
“The Lord, who always goes before us, said this and did this (Jn 12:24). Whenever we experience the cross, He has already experienced it before us. We do not mount the cross to find Jesus. Instead it was He who, in His self-abasement, descended even to the cross, in order to find us, to dispel the darkness of evil within us and to bring us back to the light.”…Pope Francis at the Canonisation of Saints Francisco and Jacinta on 14 May 2017

the lord, who always goes before us - pope francis - 20 feb 2017 - sts francisco and jacinta

PRAYER – Heavenly Father, just as the little children, Francisco and Jacinta, were chosen to be bearers of Your message, grant we pray, that by their prayers on our behalf, we too may Your bearers of light. Be with us, holy Mother, during our Lenten journey to the Resurrection of your Son, help us to become like little children and in that new purity, shine with His Light. Through Jesus our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen. sts francisco & jacinta - 20 feb 2018

LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 20 February 2018 – Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Posted on February 20, 2018February 20, 2020 by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 20 February 2018 – Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Thy Grace – a Lenten Prayer
By Blessed John Henry Newman

O my God,
suffer me still,
bear with me in spite of my
waywardness,
perverseness
and ingratitude!
I improve very slowly
but really, I am moving onto heaven,
or at least I wish to move.
Only give me Thy grace
meet me with Thy grace,
I will, through Thy grace, do what I can
and Thou shall perfect it for me.
Then shall I have happy days, in Thy Presence
and in the sight and adoration of
Thy five Sacred Wounds.
Amen thy grace - a lenten prayer - bl john henry newman - 20 feb 2018

DOCTORS of the Church, LENT, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – – 16 February – The First Friday of Lent 2018

Posted on February 16, 2018February 16, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – – 16 February – The First Friday of Lent 2018

Alas, for our dearest Lord! up to this day what have we done for Him?
You see what He has done for us and the end of His doing it was to gain our love!

We look upon a crucifix and it hardly moves us.
We hear of His bittter passion but our eyes are dry and our hearts indifferent.
We kneel down to pray but we can hardly keep our thoughts fixed upon Him for a quarter of an hour together.
We go into His own most holy presence and we hardly bend the knee before the Tabernacle lest it should spoil our clothes.
We see others sin and what is it to us that Jesus is offended, so long as it is not we, who are risking our souls, by offending Him?
These are strange signs of love!
Surely Jesus cannot be much to us if this is the way we feel about Him.
Yet so it is.
We go our own way and do our own will.
The great thing is to please ourselves and to make things easy to ourselves.
Life must be taught to run smooth.

As to penance, it must be kept at arm’s length.
We must have our bodily comforts and worldly conveniences and our spiritual life must be nothing but a sufficiency of those inward consolations without which our souls give us pain, because they are not at rest.

If we worship God it is for self, if we do good to others, it is self we are seeking, even in our charity.

Poor Jesus Christ! as Saint Alphonsus used to say, “Poor Jesus Christ! Who thinks of Him? Who weds His interest?”

Father Faber – Remember Me: Daily Readings for Lent

MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN TITLES, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL MESSAGES, PAPAL SERMONS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

Message of the Holy Father for the 26th World Day of the Sick – 11 February 2018

Posted on February 11, 2018February 10, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Message of the Holy Father

Mater Ecclesiae: “Behold, your son… Behold, your mother.
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
(John 19:26-27)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Church’s service to the sick and those who care for them must continue with renewed vigour, in fidelity to the Lord’s command (cf. Lk 9:2-6; Mt 10:1-8; Mk 6:7-13) and following the eloquent example of her Founder and Master.

The theme for this year’s Day of the Sick is provided by the words that Jesus spoke from the Cross to Mary, His Mother, and to John: “Woman, behold your son … Behold your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (Jn 19:26-27).

1. The Lord’s words brilliantly illuminate the mystery of the Cross, which does not represent a hopeless tragedy, but rather the place where Jesus manifests his glory and shows his love to the end. That love in turn was to become the basis and rule for the Christian community and the life of each disciple.

Before all else, Jesus’ words are the source of Mary’s maternal vocation for all humanity. Mary was to be, in particular, the Mother of her Son’s disciples, caring for them and their journey through life. As we know, a mother’s care for her son or daughter includes both the material and spiritual dimensions of their upbringing.

The unspeakable pain of the Cross pierces Mary’s soul (cf. Lk 2:35) but does not paralyse her. Quite the opposite. As the Lord’s Mother, a new path of self-giving opens up before her. On the Cross, Jesus showed His concern for the Church and all humanity and Mary is called to share in that same concern. In describing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Acts of the Apostles show that Mary began to carry out this role in the earliest community of the Church. A role that never ceases.

2. John, the beloved disciple, is a figure of the Church, the messianic people. He must acknowledge Mary as his Mother. In doing so, he is called to take her into his home, to see in her the model of all discipleship and to contemplate the maternal vocation that Jesus entrusted to her, with all that it entails: a loving Mother who gives birth to children capable of loving as Jesus commands. That is why Mary’s maternal vocation to care for her children is entrusted to John and to the Church as a whole. The entire community of disciples is included in Mary’s maternal vocation.

3. John, as a disciple who shared everything with Jesus, knows that the Master wants to lead all people to an encounter with the Father. He can testify to the fact that Jesus met many people suffering from spiritual sickness due to pride (cf. Jn 8:31-39) and from physical ailments (cf. Jn 5:6). He bestowed mercy and forgiveness upon all, and healed the sick as a sign of the abundant life of the Kingdom, where every tear will be wiped away. Like Mary, the disciples are called to care for one another, but not only that. They know that Jesus’ heart is open to all and excludes no one. The Gospel of the Kingdom must be proclaimed to all, and the charity of Christians must be directed to all, simply because they are persons, children of God.

4. The Church’s maternal vocation to the needy and to the sick has found concrete expression throughout the two thousand years of her history in an impressive series of initiatives on behalf of the sick. This history of dedication must not be forgotten. It continues to the present day throughout the world. In countries where adequate public health care systems exist, the work of Catholic religious congregations and dioceses and their hospitals is aimed not only at providing quality medical care but also at putting the human person at the centre of the healing process, while carrying out scientific research with full respect for life and for Christian moral values. In countries where health care systems are inadequate or non-existent, the Church seeks to do what she can to improve health, eliminate infant mortality and combat widespread disease. Everywhere she tries to provide care, even when she is not in a position to offer a cure. The image of the Church as a “field hospital” that welcomes all those wounded by life is a very concrete reality, for in some parts of the world, missionary and diocesan hospitals are the only institutions providing necessary care to the population.

5. The memory of this long history of service to the sick is cause for rejoicing on the part of the Christian community and especially those presently engaged in this ministry. Yet we must look to the past above all to let it enrich us. We should learn the lesson it teaches us about the self-sacrificing generosity of many founders of institutes in the service of the infirm, the creativity, prompted by charity, of many initiatives undertaken over the centuries, and the commitment to scientific research as a means of offering innovative and reliable treatments to the sick. This legacy of the past helps us to build a better future, for example, by shielding Catholic hospitals from the business mentality that is seeking worldwide to turn health care into a profit-making enterprise, which ends up discarding the poor. Wise organisation and charity demand that the sick person be respected in his or her dignity and constantly kept at the centre of the therapeutic process. This should likewise be the approach of Christians who work in public structures; through their service, they too are called to bear convincing witness to the Gospel.

6. Jesus bestowed upon the Church his healing power: “These signs will accompany those who believe… they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mk 16:17-18). In the Acts of the Apostles, we read accounts of the healings worked by Peter (cf. Acts 3:4-8) and Paul (cf. Acts 14:8-11). The Church’s mission is a response to Jesus’ gift, for she knows that she must bring to the sick the Lord’s own gaze, full of tenderness and compassion. Health care ministry will always be a necessary and fundamental task, to be carried out with renewed enthusiasm by all, from parish communities to the most largest healthcare institutions. We cannot forget the tender love and perseverance of many families in caring for their chronically sick or severely disabled children, parents and relatives. The care given within families is an extraordinary witness of love for the human person, it needs to be fittingly acknowledged and supported by suitable policies. Doctors and nurses, priests, consecrated men and women, volunteers, families and all those who care for the sick, take part in this ecclesial mission. It is a shared responsibility that enriches the value of the daily service given by each.

7. To Mary, Mother of tender love, we wish to entrust all those who are ill in body and soul, that she may sustain them in hope. We ask her also to help us to be welcoming to our sick brothers and sisters. The Church knows that she requires a special grace to live up to her evangelical task of serving the sick. May our prayers to the Mother of God see us united in an incessant plea that every member of the Church may live with love the vocation to serve life and health. May the Virgin Mary intercede for this Twenty-sixth World Day of the Sick; may she help the sick to experience their suffering in communion with the Lord Jesus and may she support all those who care for them. To all, the sick, to healthcare workers and to volunteers, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing.

From the Vatican, 26 November 2017
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

FRANCIS 26th world day of the sick - 11 feb 2018 = pope francis message and theme

DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 January – The Memorial of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor angelicus (Angelic Doctor) and Doctor communis (Common Doctor)

Posted on January 28, 2018January 27, 2018 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 January – The Memorial of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor angelicus (Angelic Doctor) and Doctor communis (Common Doctor)

“This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.”…John 15:12-13 john 15 12-13

REFLECTION – “If you seek the example of love: “Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends.” Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if He gave His life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for His sake. If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Christ endured much on the cross and did so patiently, because “when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth.” If you seek an example of obedience, follow Him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. “For just as by the disobedience of one man,” namely, Adam, “many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.” If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow Him who is “the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Upon the cross He was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns and given only vinegar and gall to drink. Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because “they divided my garments among themselves.” Nor to honours, for He experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for “weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head.” Nor to anything delightful, for “in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” – from the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas and if he gave his life for us - st thomas aquinas - 28 jan 2018

PRAYER – Lord, our God, since it was by your gift that St Thomas became so great a saint and theologian, give us grace to understand his teaching and follow his way of life. May his great love for Jesus Crucified and His pure adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, be our guide to follow in Your Son’s footsteps and take up our cross and follow Him. Grant that by the prayers of St Thomas, we may grow in love and sanctity, amen. st-thomas-aquinas-pray-for-us-no2.2017

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 17 January – The Memorial of St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

Posted on January 17, 2018March 17, 2024 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 17 January – The Memorial of St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

In an age that smiles and jeers at the notion of devils and angels, a person known for having power over evil spirits must at least make us pause. And in a day when people speak of life as a “rat race,” one who devotes a whole life to solitude and prayer points to an essential of the Christian life in all ages. Anthony’s hermit life reminds us of the absoluteness of our break with sin and the totality of our commitment to Christ. Even in God’s good world, there is another world whose false values constantly tempt us.

Our most powerful protection IS
the Sign of the Cross:

“Let us not then be ashamed
to confess the Crucified.
BE THE CROSS OUR SEAL,
made with boldness by our fingers,
on our brow and in everything,
over the bread we eat and the cups we drink,
in our comings in and goings out,
before our sleep,
when we lie down
and when we awake,
when we are in the way
and when we are still.
Great is that preservative,
it is without price,
for the poor’s sake,
without toil,
for the sick,
since also its’ grace is from God.
It is the Sign of the faithful
and the dread of evils –
for He has triumphed over them in it,
having made a shew of them openly –
for when they see the Cross,
they are reminded of the Crucified;
they are afraid of Him,
Who hath bruised the head of the dragon.
Despise not the Seal
because of the freeness of the Gift
but for this,
rather honour thy Benefactor!”

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)

Father & Doctor of the Church

“The Sign of the Cross
is the most terrible weapon
against the devil.
Thus the Church wishes not only,
that we have it continually
in front of our minds,
to recall to us
just what our souls are worth
and what they cost Jesus Christ
but also that we should make it
at every juncture ourselves:
when we go to bed,
when we awaken during the night,
when we get up,
when we begin any action,
and, above all,
when we are tempted.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

St Anthony Abbot Pray for us!

DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 17 January – The Memorial of St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

Posted on January 17, 2018 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 17 January – The Memorial of St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

“The illusions of this world soon vanish,
especially if a man arms himself with
the Sign of the Cross.
The devils tremble
at the Sign of the Cross of our Lord,
by which He triumphed over
and disarmed them.”

“The days are coming when men will go mad;
and, when they meet a man who has kept his senses,
they will rise up against him, saying,
“You are mad, because you are not like us.”

“I saw the snares that the enemy
spreads out over the world
and I said groaning,
“What can get through from such snares?”
Then I heard a voice saying to me, “Humility.”

“Reject pride and consider everyone
more righteous than yourself.”

St Anthony Abbot

St Anthony told his monks:
For the presence, either of the good or evil,
by the help of God, can easily be distinguished.
The vision of the holy ones, is not fraught with distraction:
‘For they will not strive, nor cry,
nor shall anyone hear their voice’ (Matthew 12:19; Isaiah 42:2).
But it comes quietly and gently.
that an immediate joy, gladness and courage, arise in the soul.
For the Lord, who is our joy, is with them
and the power of God the Father.

St Ambrose: (340-397) Life of Saint Anthony

ADVENT, CARMELITES, DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 14 December – The Memorial of St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church

Posted on December 14, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 14 December – The Memorial of St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church

In his life and writings, John of the Cross has a crucial word for us today. We tend to be rich, soft, comfortable. We shrink even from words like self-denial, mortification, purification, asceticism, discipline. We run from the cross. John’s message—like the gospel—is loud and clear: Don’t—if you really want to live! (Fr Don Miller OFM)

St John of the Cross – pray for us! ST J OF THE CROSS - PRAY FOR US - 14 DEC 2017

ADVENT, CARMELITES, DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Quotes of the Day – 14 December – The Memorial of St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church

Posted on December 14, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Quotes of the Day – 14 December – The Memorial of St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church

“In giving us His Son, His only Word,
He spoke everything to us at once
in this sole Word – and He has no more to say…
because what He spoke before to the prophets in parts,
He has now spoken all at once by giving us
the ALL Who is His Son.”

“If a man wishes to be sure of the road
he treads on, he must close his eyes
and walk in the dark.”

“At the end of your life,
you will be judged by your love.”

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

ADVENT, ART DEI, CARMELITES, MORNING Prayers, ON the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Christ of Saint John of the Cross

Posted on December 14, 2017December 14, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Christ of Saint John of the Cross is a painting by Salvador Dalí made in 1951. maxresdefault

It depicts Jesus Christ on the cross in a darkened sky floating over a body of water complete with a boat and fishermen. Although it is a depiction of the Crucifixion, it is devoid of nails, blood and a crown of thorns, because, according to Dalí, he was convinced by a dream that these features would mar his depiction of Christ. Also in a dream, the importance of depicting Christ in the extreme angle evident in the painting was revealed to him.

70ddc4b4dc7e3d28326a32e29d6c4997--dali-paintings-cross-paintings

It is known by it’s Title because its design is based on a drawing by the 16th-century Spanish friar, today’s saint and a Doctor of the Church, St Jon of the Cross. The composition of Christ is also based on a triangle and circle (the triangle is formed by Christ’s arms; the circle is formed by Christ’s head). The triangle, since it has three sides, can be seen as a reference to the Trinity and the circle represents Unity. Below is the drawing by St John of the Cross. drawing-by-st-john-of-the-cross

On the bottom of his studies for the painting, Dalí explained its inspiration: “In the first place, in 1950, I had a ‘cosmic dream’ in which I saw this image in colour and which in my dream represented the ‘nucleus of the atom.’ This nucleus later took on a metaphysical sense; I considered it ‘the very unity of the universe,’ the Christ!”

In order to create the figure of Christ, Dalí had Hollywood stuntman Russell Saunders suspended from an overhead gantry, so he could see how the body would appear from the desired angle and also envisage the pull of gravity on the human body. The depicted body of water is the bay of Port Lligat, Dalí’s residence at the time of the painting. Salvador Dalí painting St. John of the Cross

CATECHESIS, CATHOLIC Quotes, DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 10 November – The Memorial of St Pope Leo the Great (c400-461) Doctor of the Church

Posted on November 10, 2017November 10, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 10 November – The Memorial of St Pope Leo the Great (c400-461) Doctor of the Church

“Peter has spoken by the mouth of Leo.”

“Those who are not good to others
are bad to themselves.”

“PEACE is the first thing the angels sang.
PEACE is the mark of the children of God.
PEACE is the nurse of love.
PEACE is the mother of unity.
PEACE is the rest of the blessed souls.
PEACE is the dwelling place of eternity.”

“The faith of those who LIVE
their faith is a serene faith.
What you long for will be given you;
what you love will be yours for ever.” quotes of st pope leo the great - peter has spoken - 10 nov 2017

“Our sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ
has no other purpose than to transform us
into that which we receive.” our sharing in the body - st leo - 10 nov 2017

“God decreed that all nations should be saved in Christ.
Dear friends, now that we have received instruction
in this revelation of God’s grace, let us celebrate
with spiritual joy the day of our first harvesting,
of the first calling of the Gentiles.
Let us give thanks to the merciful God,
“who has made us worthy,” in the words of the Apostle,
“to share the position of the saints in light;
who has rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of this beloved Son.”
This came to be fulfilled, as we know, from the time
when the star beckoned the three wise men
out of their distant country and led them to recognise
and adore the King of heaven and earth.
The obedience of the star calls us
to imitate its humble service:
to be servants, as best we can,
of the grace that invites all men to find Christ.” god decreed - st leo the great - 10 nov 2017

“The cross of Christ is the true ground
and chief cause of Christian hope.”

“Let no one be ashamed of the cross
by which Christ has redeemed the world.
None of us must be afraid to suffer
for the sake of justice or doubt the
fulfillment of the promises,
for it is through toil that we come to rest
and through death that we pass to life.”

“By Baptism we are made flesh of the Crucified.” by baptism - st leo the great - quotes on the cross - 10 nov 2017

“No-one, however weak, is denied
a share in the victory of the cross.
No-one is beyond the help
of the prayer of Christ.”

St Pope Leo the Great (c400-461) Doctor of the Church

MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 24 October – The Memorials of St Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870) and St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)

Posted on October 24, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 24 October – The Memorials of St Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870) and St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)

“Although the sinner does not believe in Hell,
he shall nevertheless go there,
if he has the misfortune to die in mortal sin.”

“Christian perfection
consists in three things:
praying heroically
working heroically
and suffering heroically.”

“The Christian who desires to follow Jesus
carrying His cross must bear in mind,
that the name “Christian” means
“learner or imitator of Christ”
and that if he wishes to bear that noble title worthily,
he must above all do as Christ charges us in the Gospel –
we must oppose or deny ourselves,
take up the cross
and follow Him.”

“When I am before the Blessed Sacrament.
I feel such a lively faith that I can’t describe it.
Christ in the Eucharist is almost tangible to me…
When it is time for me to leave,
I have to tear myself away
from His sacred presence.”

“Lord, by the words of consecration,
the substance of the bread and wine is converted
into the substance of your Body and Blood.
All powerful Lord, say over me the word
which will change me into You.”

St Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870)

“The sun of our lives is the Eucharist.
…Live each day with the Eucharistic Christ.”

“Plant your heart in Jesus Crucified
and all the thorns will seem like roses.”

“Whoever finds Mary,
finds the way to Salvation.”

…Run, run to Mary, our dearest Mother.
Cling to her all-powerful arm.
Take shelter beneath her mantle,
invoke her with all your heart
and she will come full of compassion,
to sustain your wavering strength.”

St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)

JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 10 October – The Memorial of St Francis Borgia SJ (1510-1572) and St Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)

Posted on October 10, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 10 October – The Memorial of St Francis Borgia SJ (1510-1572) and
St Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)

“I am very sorry to lose the company of a man of your merit,
a shining light of counsel, a model in the exercise of the highest offices of State and,
because of your virtue and piety, a factor of edification for all my court.
But I recognise that it would be unreasonable to dispute over you with the Master you have chosen to serve.
It is, therefore, with sorrow that I grant you the permission you are requesting.
I authorise you to renounce your fiefs and titles in favour of your firstborn son.
The number of those who will envy you, will be greater than those who will imitate you, since it is easy to admire beautiful examples but difficult to follow them.
I recommend myself to your prayers and I count upon you,
to attract divine blessings over me, my States, and all Christendom.”

(King Charles V of Spain when he granted permission to St Francis to enter the novitiate of the Jesuits.)

“When you pray, hear Mass, sit at table, engage in business
and when at bedtime you remove your clothes—
at all times crave that by the pain which He felt when He was stripped
just before His crucifixion, He may strip us of our evil habits of mind.
Thus, naked of earthly things, we may also embrace the cross.”

“I have great doubts about the salvation of those
who do not have special devotion to Mary.”

St Francis Borgia (1510-1572)

“The same terrible crosses that oppress me
are also the greatest consolation
because Jesus suffered,
Jesus is a Victim
Jesus chose the Cross….
(therefore) I am happy with the Cross,
tbat borne willingly for the love of God,
generates triumph and eternal life.”

St Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)

franciscan OFM, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 4 October – The Memorial of St Francis of Assisi (1181–1226)

Posted on October 4, 2017October 3, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 4 October – The Memorial of St Francis of Assisi (1181–1226)

The Prayer before the San Damiano Crucifix
St Francis of Assisi

Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart
and give me
true faith,
certain hope,
and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge,
Lord, that I may carry out,
Your holy and true command. Amen PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX SAN DAMIANO.2

DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 25 September

Posted on September 25, 2017September 25, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 25 September

As they were looking on,
so we too gaze on His wounds as He hangs.
We see His blood as he dies.
We see the price
offered by the Redeemer,
touch the scars of His Resurrection.
He bows His head,
as if to kiss you.
His heart is made bare open,
as it were, in love to you.
His arms are extended
that He may embrace you.
His whole body is displayed
for your redemption.
Ponder how great these things are.
Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind:
as He was once fixed to the Cross
in every part of His body for you,
so He may now be fixed
in every part of your soul.

St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor

as they were looking on - st augustine - 25 sept 2017

There is no evil to be faced,
that Christ does not face with us.
There is no enemy, that Christ
has not already conquered.
There is no cross to bear,
that Christ has not already borne for us
and does not now bear with us.
And on the far side of every cross we find
the newness of life in the Holy Spirit,
that new life, which will reach its fulfillment,
in the Resurrection.
This is our faith.
This is our witness before the world.

St John Paul (1920-2005)

MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 25 September – The Memorial of St Vincent Strambi C.P. (1745-1824)

Posted on September 25, 2017September 25, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 25 September – The Memorial of St Vincent Strambi C.P. (1745-1824)

Prayer Before The Crucifix

Jesus, by this saving sign,
bless this listless soul of mine.
Jesus, by Your feet nailed fast,
mend the missteps of my past.
Jesus, with Your riven hands,
bend my will to love’s demands.
Jesus, in Your Heart laid bare,
warm my inner coldness there.
Jesus, by Your thorn-crowned head,
still my pride till it is dead.
Jesus, by Your muted tongue,
stay my words that hurt someone.
Jesus, by Your tired eyes,
open mine to faith’s surprise.
Jesus, by Your fading breath,
keep me faithful until death.
Yes, Lord, by this saving sign,
save this wayward soul of mine.
Amen

prayer before the crucifix.3. - 25 sept 2017

FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross/Triumph of the Cross

Posted on September 14, 2017September 14, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Christians “exalt” (raise on high) the Cross of Christ as the instrument of our salvation. Adoration of the Cross is, thus, adoration of Jesus Christ, the God Man, who suffered and died on this Roman instrument of torture for our redemption from sin and death. The cross represents the One Sacrifice by which Jesus, obedient even unto death, accomplished our salvation. The cross is a symbolic summary of the Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ — all in one image.

The Cross — because of what it represents — is the most potent and universal symbol of the Christian faith. It has inspired both liturgical and private devotions: for example, the Sign of the Cross, which is an invocation of the Holy Trinity; the “little” Sign of the Cross on head, lips and heart at the reading of the Gospel; praying the Stations (or Way) of the Cross; and the Veneration of the Cross by the faithful on Good Friday by kissing the feet of the image of Our Saviour crucified.

Placing a crucifix (the cross with an image of Christ’s body upon it) in churches and homes, in classrooms of Catholic schools and in other Catholic institutions, or wearing this image on our persons, is a constant reminder — and witness — of Christ’s ultimate triumph, His victory over sin and death through His suffering and dying on the Cross. (Fr FRANCISCO NASCIMENTO)

We adore You Christ and we praise You, for by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. we adore you - holy cross.jpg

FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross/Triumph of the Cross

Posted on September 14, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

“Everything is a reminder of the Cross.
We ourselves are made in the shape of a cross.”

“You must accept your cross.
If you bear it courageously,
it will carry you to heaven.”

“The sign of the cross
is the most terrible weapon
against the devil.
Thus the Church wishes not only,
that we have it continually
in front of our minds,
to recall to us
just what our souls are worth
and what they cost Jesus Christ
but also that we should make it
at every juncture ourselves:
when we go to bed,
when we awaken during the night,
when we get up,
when we begin any action,
and, above all,
when we are tempted.”

St John Vianney

“Oh cherished cross!
Through thee my most bitter trials
are replete with graces!”

St Paul of the Cross

“In the Cross is salvation;
in the Cross is life;
in the Cross is protection against our enemies;
in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness;
in the Cross is strength of mind;
in the Cross is joy of spirit;
in the Cross is excellence of virtue;
in the Cross is perfection of holiness.
There is no salvation of soul,
nor hope of eternal life,
save in the Cross.”

Fr Thomas à Kempis, The Inner Life

“The everlasting God has in His wisdom
foreseen from eternity the cross He now
presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart.
The cross He now sends you He has considered
with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind,
tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms
and weighed with His own hands to see that it is not
one inch too large nor one ounce too heavy for you.
He has blessed it with His holy name,
anointed it with His grace,
perfumed it with His consolation,
taken one last glance at you and your courage
and then sent it to you from heaven,
a special greeting from God to you,
an alms of the all-merciful love of God.”

St Francis de Sales

FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross/Triumph of the Cross

Posted on September 14, 2017July 3, 2023 by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

We proclaim Christ – yes, Christ nailed to the cross; and though it is a stumbling-block to Jews and folly to Greeks, yet to those who have heard his call, Jews and Greeks alike, he is the power of God and the wisdom of God...1 Corinthians 1:23-24 1 corinthians 1-23 24

REFLECTION – “We are celebrating the Feast of the Cross which drove away darkness and brought in the light… Had there been no Cross, Christ could not have been Crucified. Had there been no Cross, Life Itself could not have been nailed to the tree. And if Life had not been nailed to it, there would be no streams of immortality pouring from Christ’s side, blood and water for the world’s cleansing. The legal bond of our sin would not be cancelled, we should not have obtained our freedom, we should not have enjoyed the fruit of the tree of life and the Gates of Paradise would not stand open. Had there been no Cross, death would not have been trodden underfoot, nor hell despoiled… The Cross is called Christ’s glory; it is saluted as His triumph!”….St Andrew of Crete (c660-740)

PRAYER – O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth, may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven.
For you placed the salvation of the human race on the wood of the Cross, so that, where death arose, life might again spring forth and the evil one, who conquered on a tree, might likewise on a tree be conquered through Christ. O cross, you are the glorious sign of victory. Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus.
We adore you Christ and we praise you, for by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Amen o cross - you are the glorious sign of victory - feast of the exaltation of the holy cross

CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross/Triumph of the Cross

Posted on September 14, 2017September 14, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Traditional Prayer to the Holy Cross

Hail, O Holy Cross!
my light and my strength!
Hail, standard of peace empurpled by the Blood of Jesus
and ornamented by His Sacred Members
as with precious stones!
O Venerable Cross, work of the love of God
and the cruelty of men!
O Cross, the terror of Hell and the object of the veneration
of Heaven and earth,
receive the homage of my faith,
my gratitude
and my love!
I consecrate myself entirely to You
and I attach myself to You forever,
as my Saviour was attached to You
for love of me.
I earnestly beseech You, in virtue of the Precious Blood
which empurpled You,
to take me under Your protection,
to be my support in suffering,
my strength in temptation,
my counsel in doubt,
my light in darkness,
my rule of conduct during life,
my confidence and pledge of salvation at the hour of death.
May Jesus, the Incarnate God, Our Saviour,
Who shed His Blood when nailed to You,
protect me through You
and conduct me to my Heavenly home! Amen hail o holy cross - traditional prayer

FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross/Triumph of the Holy Cross – 14 September

Posted on September 14, 2017September 14, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – 14 September, also called Feast of the Triumph of the Cross and Holy Cross Feast. we adore you o christ - 14 sept - exaltation of the holy cross

This feast was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mount Calvary by St Helena and preserved in Jerusalem but then had fallen into the hands of Chosroas, King of the Persians. The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heralius in 629.

The lessons from the Breviary tell us that Emperor Heraclius carried the Cross back to Jerusalem on his shoulders. He was clothed with costly garments and with ornaments of precious stones. But at the entrance to Mount Calvary a strange incident occurred. Try as hard as he would, he could not go forward. Zacharias, the Bishop of Jerusalem, then said to the astonished monarch: “Consider, O Emperor, that with these triumphal ornaments you are far from resembling Jesus carrying His Cross.” The Emperor then put on a penitential garb and continued the journey.

Discovery-of-the-True-Cross-1500-56a108a63df78cafdaa83de9 — The Discovery of the True Cross, by Italian painter Agnolo Gaddi c.1350-96. Fresco, c.1385. Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence, Italy.

In celebration of the discovery of the Holy Cross, Constantine ordered the construction of churches at the site of the Holy Sepulchre and on Mount Calvary. Those churches were dedicated on September 13 and 14, 335 and shortly thereafter the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross began to be celebrated on the latter date.

The feast slowly spread from Jerusalem to other churches, until, by the year 720, the celebration was universal.

0914-Discovery_of_the_True_Cross_tiepolo

The liturgy of the Cross is a triumphant liturgy. When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent over the people, it was a foreshadowing of the salvation through Jesus when He was lifted up on the Cross. Our Mother Church sings of the triumph of the Cross, the instrument of our redemption. To follow Christ we must take up His cross, follow Him and become obedient until death, even if it means death on the cross. We identify with Christ on the Cross and become co-redeemers, sharing in His suffering and Cross. THE HOLY CROSS the Holy Cross and the Holy Spirit

We make the Sign of the Cross before prayer which helps to fix our minds and hearts to God. After prayer we make the Sign of the Cross to keep close to God. During trials and temptations our strength and protection is the Sign of the Cross. At Baptism we are sealed with the Sign of the Cross, signifying the fullness of redemption and that we belong to Christ. Let us look to the cross frequently, and realize that when we make the Sign of the Cross we give our entire self to God — mind, soul, heart, body, will, thoughts. 28465fc62db10f92133e05f7ec6bbb01--shoulder-to-shoulder-sign-of-the-cross

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS?
It’s easy to understand that the Cross is special because Christ used it as the instrument of our salvation. But after His Resurrection, why would Christians continue to look to the Cross? Christ Himself offered us the answer: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The point of taking up our own cross is not simply self-sacrifice; in doing so, we unite ourselves to the sacrifice of Christ on His Cross.

When we participate in the Mass, the Cross is there, too. The “unbloody sacrifice” offered on the altar is the re-presentation of Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross. When we receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion, we do not simply unite ourselves to Christ; we nail ourselves to the Cross, dying with Christ so that we might rise with Him.

“For the Jews require signs, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumbling block and unto the Gentiles foolishness . . . ” (1 Corinthians 1:22-23). Today, more than ever, non-Christians see the Cross as foolishness. What kind of Saviour triumphs through death?

For Christians, however, the Cross is the crossroads of history and the Tree of Life. Christianity without the Cross is meaningless: only by uniting ourselves to Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross can we enter into eternal life.

O cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus.

feast of the exaltation of the holy cross.2

FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Memorials of the Saints – 14 September

Posted on September 14, 2017September 13, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsiOJkpPk7w
—
St Aelia Flaccilla
St Albert of Jerusalem
St Caerealis
Bl Claude Laplace
St Cormac of Cashel
St Crescentian of Carthage
St Crescentius of Rome
St Generalis of Carthage
St Giulia Crostarosa
St Jean Gabriel Taurin du Fresse
St Maternus of Cologne
Bl Notburga
Bl Pedro Bruch Cotacáns
St Rosula of Carthage
St Sallustia
St Victor of Carthage

MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY NINE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 13 September

Posted on September 13, 2017September 12, 2017 by AnaStpaul

DAY NINE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 13 September

Eternal Love

Lord Jesus, Your cross manifested Your decision
to always do the Father’s will.
That God you revealed shines so resplendently on the Holy Cross.
It is a God who loves because He is pure love.
On the Holy Cross, You gave everything – Your life.
By Your self-giving, we have been redeemed.
May our veneration of Your Holy Cross
enable us to live the challenge of love,
that we, too, may learn to trust, to understand
and to forgive.
That we may remove from our hearts,
hatred, mistrust and resentment
and be like You, a total gift of self.
May Your Holy Cross lead us to life
and communion with our brothers and sisters. Amen.

DAILY PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus
Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified
and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption
and salvation of our souls,
to bear the sins of all the history of humanity,
from Adam to the end of time.
look down upon us and grant the petition we ask
…………….( mention your intention)
We trust completely in Your Mercy.
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace,
sanctify our work,
give us and all those who are dear to us,
our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings,
bless our families,
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted,
Your Peace, which is the only true peace,
so that by obeying Your Commandments
we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x) day nine - novena holy cross - 13 sept - eternal love

MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY EIGHT – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 12 September

Posted on September 12, 2017September 11, 2017 by AnaStpaul

DAY EIGHT – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 12 September

Death is Vanquished

Lord Jesus, you broke the power of death through the cross.
You are the first born from the dead.
Teach us then to accept our fears, pains and sufferings,
uniting them to your passion and death on the cross.
Give us the grace to believe that You always draw good from evil.
You are a powerful God because even in our most frightening times,
even in our gravest suffering, even death itself,
You have gone before to vanquish all!

DAILY PRAYER:

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)

day eight - holy cross novena - death is vanquished - 12 sept

MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY FOUR – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 8 September

Posted on September 8, 2017September 7, 2017 by AnaStpaul

DAY FOUR – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 8 September

The compassion of the suffering Christ

Jesus our Christ, whilst You hung on the cross,
You forgave those who were laughing at You
and asked Your beloved disciple to take care of Your mother.
You welcomed the good thief into paradise.
You continued to be compassionate and serve others fully.
You did not allow the terrible pain to hinder Your love.
Give us the special grace not to be desperate in our moments of sufferings.
Enable us to bear pain with courage and dignity,
to, even in the midst of pain,
to be of help and service to others. Amen

DAILY PRAYER:

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x) day four - 8 september - holy cross novena - the compassion of the suffering christ

MORNING Prayers, NOVENAS, The HOLY CROSS

DAY THREE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 7 September

Posted on September 7, 2017September 6, 2017 by AnaStpaul

DAY THREE – NOVENA in honour of the EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS – 7 September

Jesus suffers humiliation

Jesus, you manifested Your power through Your miracles
but in carrying the Cross, You showed
that God preferred to be humility than to be conquest.
You were beaten and spat upon,
mocked and derided.
You suffered humiliation for love of all
as You struggled under the weight of the heavy Cross.
You did this to show Your oneness with the powerless of the earth.
You took the side of the helpless
and You shamed the arrogant and the powerful.
May we, Lord, in our relationship with our brothers and sisters,
avoid domineering attitudes and instead, be of service to them.
May the glory of your cross help us understand
that hearts can never be conquered through imposition or arrogance
but through disinterested service.
Make us servants to one another
and may self-giving characterize our relationships with all.
Amen.

DAILY PRAYER:

O Cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share
in the triumph of Christ Jesus. Amen
Glory Be. (3x)

day three - 7 sept - jesus suffers humiliation - the holy cross novena

MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 6 September

Posted on September 6, 2017September 6, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 6 September

In 1984, at the close of the 1983 Holy Year of the Redemption at the Vatican, St Pope John Paul II entrusted to the young people of the world a simple, 12-foot wooden Cross, asking them to carry it across the world. This is now the heart of every World Youth Day this very simple, powerful, ancient Christian symbol: two large planks of wood, known as the World Youth Day Cross, that many have called the “Olympic Torch” of the huge Catholic festival of young people.

The World Youth Day cross has many names: the Jubilee Cross, the Pilgrim Cross, the Youth Cross. In 1984, at the close of the 1983 Holy Year of the Redemption at the Vatican, St Pope John Paul II entrusted to the young people of the world a simple, twelve-foot wooden Cross, asking them to carry it across the world as a sign of the love which the Lord Jesus has for humankind and “to proclaim to everyone that only in Christ who died and is risen is there salvation and redemption.” Since that day, carried by generous hands and loving hearts, the Cross has made a long, uninterrupted pilgrimage across the continents, to demonstrate, as Pope John Paul II had said, “the Cross walks with young people and young people walk with the Cross.”

The cross does not journey alone. Since 2003 it has been accompanied by an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. a copy of the Icon of our Lady known as the ‘Salus Populi Romani’. The original from which this Icon has been copied is considered by some to be from the eighth century and is housed in a chapel in the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome. St Pope John Paul II entrusted to the youth an icon of the Blessed Mother that would accompany the cross. “It will be a sign of Mary’s motherly presence close to young people who are called, like the Apostle John, to welcome her into their lives.”

The World Youth Day Cross and Icon speak to us of the two focal points of the message of Christianity: of the Cradle and of the Cross; of Christ who was born of Mary and of Christ who was crucified for us; of Christmas and Good Friday; of the Incarnation and the Paschal Mystery. The Icon and Cross, therefore, are potent symbols of the joy and suffering that we experience in our Christian pilgrimage.

Because we follow a crucified Christ, we enter into solidarity with the world’s suffering masses. We experience the power and love of God through the vulnerable and suffering. The Cross teaches us that what could have remained hideous and beyond remembrance is transformed into beauty, hope and a continuous call to heroic goodness.

To celebrate the Triumph of the Cross is to acknowledge the full, cruciform achievement of Jesus’ career. Jesus asks us to courageously choose a life similar to his own. Suffering cannot be avoided nor ignored by those who follow Christ. Following Jesus implies suffering and a cross. The mark of the Messiah is to become the mark of his disciples. (Fr Rosica)

only in christ - st john paul wyd 1984

JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY CROSS

Quote of the Day – 6 September

Posted on September 6, 2017 by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 6 September

	Santo Damianus de Ve… on 10 May – The Memorial of…
	Santo Valerianus dan… on Saints of the Day – 14 April –…
	Santo Hermenegild… on Saint of the Day – 13 April –…
	Santas e Santos do d… on Nuestra Señora de la Palabra /…
	Beato Antonius Neyro… on Saint of the Day – 10 Ap…

Transfiguration By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

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Excerpt from “Behold the Man”, a Lenten Reflection

By Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890)

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Message of the Holy Father

Mater Ecclesiae: “Behold, your son… Behold, your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27)

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Our most powerful protection ISthe Sign of the Cross:

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)

Father & Doctor of the Church

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

St Anthony Abbot Pray for us!

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 January – The Memorial of St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

St Anthony Abbot

St Ambrose: (340-397) Life of Saint Anthony

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

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St Pope Leo the Great (c400-461) Doctor of the Church

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St Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870)

St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)

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(King Charles V of Spain when he granted permission to St Francis to enter the novitiate of the Jesuits.)

St Francis Borgia (1510-1572)

St Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)

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St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor

St John Paul (1920-2005)

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St John Vianney

St Paul of the Cross

Fr Thomas à Kempis, The Inner Life

St Francis de Sales

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O cross, you are the glorious sign of victory. Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus.

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“It is not the finest wood that feeds the fire of Divine love but the wood of the Cross.”

St Ignatius of Loyola

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Transfiguration
By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Mater Ecclesiae: “Behold, your son… Behold, your mother.
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
(John 19:26-27)

Our most powerful protection IS
the Sign of the Cross:

O cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus.

“It is not the finest wood
that feeds the fire of Divine love
but the wood of the Cross.”