Thought for the Day – 29 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Blessedness of Those Who Suffer Persecution
“Let us implore the Holy Ghost to enlighten us and to grant us this serene joy which is a reflection of the happiness of Heaven. Oh by Thy Name we shall live in peaceful and fearless anticipation!”
Our Morning Offering – 26 September – St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646), St Isaac Jogues SJ (1607-1646) Priest, Martyr, Missionary and Companions
Jesus, What Can I Give Thee in Return? The Prayer of St Jean de Brébeuf SJ (1593-1649)
Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, what can I give Thee in return for all the favours Thou hast first conferred upon me? I will take from Thy Hand, the Cup of Thine Sufferings and call on Thy Name. I vow before Thee, eternal Father and the Holy Ghost, before Thy most holy Mother and her most chaste Spouse, before the Angels, Apostles and Martyrs, before my blessed fathers, Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier, in truth, I vow to Thee, Jesus my Saviour, that, as far as I have the strength, I will never fail to accept the grace of Martyrdom, if someday Thou, in Thine Infinite Mercy, should offer it to me, Thy most unworthy servant … My beloved Jesus, here and now, I offer my body and blood and life. May I die only for Thee, if Thou will grant me this grace, since Thou willingly died for me. Let me so live that Thou may grant me the gift of such a happy death. In this way, my God and Saviour, I will take from Thy Hand, the Cup of Thine Sufferings and call upon Thy Name, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 16 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of Saint Corneliu, Pope & Martyr and Saint Cyprian, Bishop & Martyr
May We Confess Thy Name to the End By St Cyprian of Carthage (200-258) Bishop and Martyr Apostolic Father of the Church
Good God, may we confess Thy Name to the end. May we emerge unmarked and glorious from the traps and darkness of this world. As Thou hast bound us together by charity and peace and, as together, we have persevered under persecution, so may we also rejoice together in Thy Heavenly Kingdom. Amen
“He not only receives and pardons , those adversaries, those blasphemers, those persistent enemies of His Name, provided they do PENANCE for their offences and acknowledge the CRIIMES committed BUT, He admits them to the reward of the Kingdom of Heaven!”
“God’s Merciful Design has warned us that the day of our own struggle, our own contest, is at hand! By that shared love which binds us close together, we are doing all we can, to exhort our congregation, to give ourselves unceasingly to fastings, vigils and prayers in common. These are the heavenly weapons which give us the strength to stand firm and endure; they are the spiritual defences, the God-given armaments which protect us.”
Our Morning Offering – 13 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Sanctæ Mariæ Sabbato, Our Lady’s Saturday
Mother Mary, Queen Most Sweet! Attrib. to St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor Italian Hymn Trans. Fr Edmund Vaughan CSSR (1827-1908)
Mother Mary, Queen most sweet! Joy and love my heart inflame; Gladly shall my lips repeat Every moment thy dear name.
Ah! that name, to God so dear, Has my heart and soul enslaved; Like a seal it shall appear Deep on heart and soul engraved.
When the morning gilds the skies, I will call on Mary’s name; When at evening twilight dies, Mary, still will I exclaim.
Sweetest Mary, bend thine ear: Thou my own dear mother art; Therefore, shall thy name so dear Never from my lips depart.
If my soul is sore oppress’d By a load of anxious care, Peace once more will fill my breast When thy name re-echoes there.
Waves of doubt disturb my peace, And my heart is faint with fear; At thy name the billows cease, All my’terrors disappear.
When the demon hosts invade,— When temptation rages high, Crying, “Mary, Mother! aid!” I will make the tempter fly.
This shall be my comfort sweet, When the hand of death is nigh, Mary! Mary! to repeat Once again—and then, to die.
This Hymn is an Anonymous Hymn belonging to the Redemptorist tradition but Hymnary.org attributes it to St Alphonsus Liguori. “Hymns and Verses on Spiritual Subjects” (1863) notes that this is one of two Hymns, translated in that book, mentioned above, which come from a Neapolitan published collection of Mission Hymns which are attributed to St Alphonsus.
One Minute Reflection – 8 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Fourteen Holy Helpers – 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 – Mark 16:15-18 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And these signs shall follow them who believe: In My Name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents and, if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hand upon the sick and they shall recover.” – Mark 16:17-18
REFLECTION – “The Lord said to the Eleven: “And these signs shall follow them who believe: In My Name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents and, if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hand upon the sick and they shall recover.” In the primitive Church all the signs the Lord lists here, were fulfilled to the letter, not only by the Apostles but, many other of the Saints. The Gentiles would not have abandoned the worship of idols if the Gospel preaching had not been confirmed with so many signs and wonders. Indeed, did not the disciples preach “a Crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,” according to Saint Paul’s saying? (1 Cor 1:23) …
As for us, from now on, signs and wonders are no longer needed, it is enough for us to read or hear an account of those which have happened. For we believe in the Gospel, we believe in the Scriptures which relate them. And yet, signs still take place daily and, if we would mark them well, we would acknowledge that they have far more worth than the concrete miracles of former times.
Everyday Priests administer Baptism and call to conversion – is not this to cast out demons? Everyday they speak a new language when they explain holy Scripture by replacing the old letter with the newness of its spiritual sense. They put serpents to flight, when they free sinners’ hearts from their attachment to evil with gentle exhortation … They cure the sick, when they reconcile weak souls to God with their prayers. Such are the signs the Lord had promised his Saints – it is these they accomplish even today!” – St Bruno of Segni O.Cart. (c1030 -1101) Cistercian Bishop (Commentary on Saint Mark’s Gospel).
PRAYER – PRAYER – O God, Who gladden us with the annual festival of Thy 14 holy Saints, mercifully grant, that we, who celebrate the anniversary of their death, may also strive to equal the courage of their Martyrdom. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
One Minute Reflection – 28 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Sts Nazarius and Celus, Martyrs and St Pope Victor I (Died c199 – Wisdom 10:17-20 – Luke 21:9-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And you shall be hated by all men for My Name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall perish.” – Luke 21:17-18
REFLECTION – “Such as breathe out violence, have risen up against me” (Ps 26:12) … The psalmist struggles in the hands of those who pursue and attack him; he is breathless, struggling but he holds firm; he is assured, since God upholds him, God helps him, God leads him, God guides him. Both transported with joy by what he has been able to admire and sing and struck with groanings by that which he has had to suffer, in the end, he breathes and cries out: “I believe I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living” (v.13). Oh, how sweet is the Lord’s bounty, immortal, incomparable, eternal, unchanging! And when shall I see you, O bounty of the Lord? “I believe I shall see,” but not in the land of mortals but “in the land of the living.” The Lord will bring me out of the land of mortals who deigned for my sake to accept this land of mortals and die at the hands of mortals…
May we listen too, to the Voice of the Lord which, from on high, exhorts and consoles us. Let us listen to the Voice of Him Whom we have for Father and Mother (cf. v.10). For He has heard our groaning, He has seen our sighs, He has sounded the desires of our hearts for “the one thing we ask” (v.4). Thanks to Christ’s intercession, He has favourably received our one prayer, our one request. And while we are completing our pilgrimage in this world, even as the road is a long one, He will not refuse what He has promised. He says to us: “Hope in the Lord.” He Who has promised is all powerful, He is trustworthy, He is faithful. “Hope in the Lord, be stouthearted” (v.14). Therefore, do not let yourself be troubled.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (2nd Discourse on Psalm 26).
PRAYER – May the Martyrdom of Thy Saints Nazarius, Celsus and Victor, give us courage, O Lord and may it give us a help to counter our weakness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever, world without end. Amen (Collect).
One Minute Reflection – 17 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – The Feast of The Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary – St Alexius –1 Timothy 6:6-12 – Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And everyone who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.” – Matthew 19:29
REFLECTION – “There is a kind of wealth which is deadly to all – the loss of it, unwelcome. Which, when it makes the soul pure – that is, poor and bare – hears the Saviour speaking thus: “Come, follow Me.” For to the pure in heart, He now becomes the Way. But into the impure soul the grace of God finds no entrance because that soul is unclean which is rich in lusts and enthrall to many worldly posessions.
For whoever holds possessions, gold, silver and houses, as gifts of God, witnesses his thanksgiving to God by coming to the aid of the poor. He knows that he possesses them more for the sake of others than his own and is superior to the possession of them, not the slave of the things he possesses. He does not carry them about in his soul, nor bind and circumscribe his life within them but is ever labouring at some good and divine work. Even should he be necessarily, at some time or other, deprived of them, he is able, with cheerful mind, to bear their removal equally with their abundance. This is someone who is blessed by the Lord and called “poor in spirit”a fitting heir of the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 5:3)…
But someone who carries his riches around enclosed within his soul and, bears in his heart, instead of God’s Spirit, gold or land and is always acquiring possessions without end and is perpetually on the lookout for more, never looking up to Heaven, such a one is fettered in the toils of the world, being earth and destined to return to the earth (Gn 3:19). How can someone like that be able to desire the Kingdom of Heaven who, instead of a heart, carries land or metal and who is due to be surprised by death in the midst of his uncontrolled desires? For “where your heart is, there also will your treasure be” (Mt 6:21).” – St Clement of Alexandria (150-215) Father of the Church, Theologian (Sermon “What rich man can be saved?” )
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servants, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness both of mind and body and, by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, maybe delivered from present sadness and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness.ThroughJesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Our Morning Offering – 10 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood”
Grant Me Grace, O Merciful God The Daily Prayer of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) (Which he was accustomed to recite everyday before the image of Christ.) Doctor Angelicus & Doctor Communis
Grant me grace, O merciful God, to desire ardently all that is pleasing to Thee, to examine it prudently, to acknowledge it truthfully and to accomplish it perfectly, for the praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 25 June – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6 – Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And everyone who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.”
Matthew 19:29
“Let us then, my brethren, endure in hope. Let us devote ourselves, side-by-side with our hoping, so that the God of all the Universe, as He beholds our intention, may cleanse us from all sins, fill us with high hopes from what we have in hand and grant us the change of heart which saves. God has called you and you have your calling!”
St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387) Father and Doctor of the Church
“The one who walks in the love of God seeks neither gain nor reward but seeks only, with the will, to lose self and all things, for God and this loss, the lover judges to be a gain! ”
St John of the Cross (1542-1591) Doctor of the Church
One Minute Reflection – 25 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Within the Corpus Christi Octave – St William (1085-1142) Abbot – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6 – Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And everyone who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.” – Matthew 19:29
REFLECTION – “There is a kind of wealth which is deadly to all – the loss of it, unwelcome. Which, when it makes the soul pure – that is, poor and bare – hears the Saviour speaking thus: “Come, follow Me.” For to the pure in heart, He now becomes the Way. But into the impure soul the grace of God finds no entrance because that soul is unclean which is rich in lusts and enthrall to many worldly posessions.
For whoever holds possessions, gold, silver and houses, as gifts of God, witnesses his thanksgiving to God by coming to the aid of the poor. He knows that he possesses them more for the sake of others than his own and is superior to the possession of them, not the slave of the things he possesses. He does not carry them about in his soul, nor bind and circumscribe his life within them but is ever labouring at some good and divine work. Even should he be necessarily, at some time or other, deprived of them, he is able, with cheerful mind, to bear their removal equally with their abundance. This is someone who is blessed by the Lord and called “poor in spirit”a fitting heir of the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 5:3)…
But someone who carries his riches around enclosed within his soul and, bears in his heart, instead of God’s Spirit, gold or land and is always acquiring possessions without end and is perpetually on the lookout for more, never looking up to Heaven, such a one is fettered in the toils of the world, being earth and destined to return to the earth (Gn 3:19). How can someone like that be able to desire the Kingdom of Heaven who, instead of a heart, carries land or metal and who is due to be surprised by death in the midst of his uncontrolled desires? For “where your heart is, there also will your treasure be” (Mt 6:21).” – St Clement of Alexandria (150-215) Father of the Church, Theologian (Sermon “What rich man can be saved?” )
PRAYER – O God, Who made Thy Saints an example and a help for our weakness, grant us, as we walk the path of salvation, so to venerate the virtues of the blessed Abbot William that we may obtain his intercession and follow in his footsteps. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
“JESUS, meek and humble of HEART, make my heart like unto Thine.” – 300 Days, EVERYTIME. (Unless otherwise stated, e.g., “once a day,” a partial Indulgence may be gained any number of times in succession.) St Pope Pius X, 15 September 1905.
Our Morning Offering – 13 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – The Feast of St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Cpmfessor, Evangelical Doctor of the Church
Sweet Jesus, Thy Name is Joy By St Anthony of Padua OFM (1195-1231) Doctor of the Church
Sweet Jesus, is there anything sweeter than Thee? To remember Thee is more delightful than everything else. Thy Name is joy – it is the true Gate of our Salvation. What else are Thou, Jesus, if not our Saviour? Be our Redeemer. Give us the virtues of hope and love, just as Thou hast given us faith, our primary joy. Give us the words which we need to praise Thee always. With the help and through the prayers of Thy Mother. Thou Who art blessed throughout the ages. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 20 May – St Bernadine of Siena OFM (1380-1444) “Apostle of the Most Holy Name of Jesus,” Confessor
Daily Prayer to the Most Holy Name By St Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444) Apostle of the Most Holy Name
Jesus, Name full of glory, grace, love and strength! Thou art the Refuge of those who repent, our Banner of warfare in this life, the Medicine of souls, the Comfort of those who mourn, the Delight of those who believe, the Light of those who preach the True Faith, the Wages of those who toil, the Cure of the sick. To Thou, our devotion aspires; by Thee, our prayers are received; we delight in contemplating Thee. O Name of Jesus, Thou art the glory of all the Saints for eternity. Amen
“The Name of Jesus, is in fact, the great foundation of the Faith which turns people into children of God. The Catholic Faith indeed, consists in the news of Jesus Christ, as Light of the soul, Gate of Life and foundation of eternal salvation.”
“Was it not through the brilliance and sweet savour of this Name, that God called us into His marvelous light?”
“It is an axiom in Theology that when a person is chosen by God for any state, he receives, not only the dispositions necessary for it but, even the gifts which he needs to sustain that state with decorum.” (Speaking on the subject of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God).
One Minute Reflection – 7 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Solemnity of the Patronage of St Joseph – Genesis 49:22-26 – Wisdom 5:1-5 – John 15:1-7 – Luke 3:21-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Abide in Me and I in you.” – John 15:4
REFLECTION – “[Jesus] is our only Master, Who must teach us; our only Lord, on Whom we must depend; our only Head, to Whom alone we should belong; our only Model, Whom we should imitate; our only Physician, Who must heal us; our only Shepherd, Who must feed us; our only Way, Who must lead us; our only Truth, Whom we must believe; our only Life, Who must be our life and our sole sufficiency in all things that in Him, we may have all in All. Except the Name of Jesus, there is no other name given under Heaven, whereby we might be saved and apart from Jesus Christ, God has given us no other foundation of our salvation, our perfection and our glory: “for other foundation no man can lay but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 3:11). Every house which is not built upon this firm Rock, is founded on the shifting sands and will inevitably fall, sooner or later. Every soul who is not united with Christ, as a branch to the stem of the vine, will fall off, wither and become fit only for the fire. If we are in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ in us, we need not fear damnation; neither Angels in Heaven, nor men on earth, neither demons in hell, nor any other creature, can harm us because they cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (cf. Rm 8:38-39).” – St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716) Priest, Renowned Preacher, Founder of Religious Communities [Treatise on the true devotion to the Blessed Virgin (Article one; First Truth)]
PRAYER – God, Who in Thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy blessed servant Joseph, to be the husband of Thine Own most holy Mother; mercifully grant now that he is in Heaven with Thee, we who on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be aided by the succour of his prayers, to Thee on our behalf. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Quote/s of the Day – 16 April – Spy Wednesday in Holy Week – Isaias 53:1-12, Luke 22:39-71; 23:1-53
“Jesus remember me”
Luke 23:42
“Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” John 20:29
“Blessed, therefore, is everyone who believes the message of the holy Apostles who, as Saint Luke says, were eyewitnesses of Christ’s actions and “ministers of the word” (Lk 1,2).”
St Cyril of Alexandria (380-444) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Because it is not by raising a dead man, commanding the sea and wind, or casting out demons that He is able to change the thief’s sinful soul but, by being Crucified, pinned down by nails, covered with insults, spitting, mockery and torture, so that you might see the two sides of His Sovereign Power. He shook all creation, split the rocks (Mt 27:51) and drew to Himself the brigand’s soul, hard as stone, to cover it with honour…”
St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church
“… He effected a wonderful exchange with us, through mutual sharing – we gave Him the power to die, He will give us the power to Live!”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“Sacrilegious tongues blaspheme the God Who preserves their existence! … you should be damned forever and, instead of thanking Him for His goodness, you, at the very time that He bestows His favours upon you, YOU blaspheme His Holy Name!”
St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
Quote/s of the Day – 10 April – Thursday in Passion Week –Ferial Day – Daniel 3:25, 34-45 – Luke 7:36-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“She began to bathe His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet and anointed them with ointment.”
Luke 7:38
“Wherefore I say to you, her sins, many as they are, shall be forgiven her because she has loved much. But he, to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
Luke 7:47
“Remember not our former iniquities, let Thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor. Help us, O God, our Saviour and for the glory of Thy Name, O Lord, deliver us and forgive us our sins, for Thy Name’s Sake.”
Psalm 78:8-9
“A servant of the Lord stands bodily before men but mentally, he is knocking at the gates of Heaven. with prayer.”
St John Climacus (c 525-606) Father of the Church
“For, just as water extinguishes a fire, just so, does charity blot out our sins.”
St John of God (1495-1550)
“ I shall spend every moment loving. One who loves, does not notice her trials; or perhaps, more accurately, she is able to love them. I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There, I shall find my Mother, in all the splendour of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus Himself, in perfect safety.”
Our Morning Offering – 9 April – Wednesday in Passion Week
The Love of Thy Name By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) The Imitation of Christ (Book 3 Ch 26:1-4)
My God, Sweetness beyond words, make bitter all the carnal comfort which draws me from love of the eternal and lures me to its evil self, by the sight of some delightful good in the present. Let it not overcome me, my God. Let not flesh and blood conquer me. Let not the world and its brief glory deceive me, nor the devil trip me by his craftiness. Give me courage to resist, patience to endure and constancy to persevere. Give me the soothing unction of Thy spirit, rather than all the consolations of the world and in place of carnal love, infuse into me, the love of Thy Name. Amen
Our Morning Offering – 1 April – Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Lent
Complete Us, O Lord Jesus Christ, For the Glory of Thy Holy Name. By St Anselm (1033-1109) Magnificent and Marian Doctor of the Church
O Lord Jesus Christ, our Redemption and our Salvation, we praise Thee and give Thee thanks. Although we are unworthy of Thy benefits and cannot offer to Thee, the devotion Thou deserves, let Thy loving-kindness complete, whatever our weakness attempts. Before Thee, O Lord, we lay all our desires and whatever our heart rightly wishes, it is because of Thy gifts. Help us to love Thee as Thou commands. Do not let Thy gifts be unfruitful. Complete what Thou hast begun, give what Thou hast made us desire, convert our lukewarmness into fervent love of Thee, for the glory of Thy Holy Name. Amen
Our Morning Offering – 18 March – Tuesday after the Second Sunday in Lent
In Thy Name By St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor of the Church
Oh Almighty God, Who hast given us grace at this time, with one accord, to make our common supplications unto Thee and hast promised that, when two or three are gathered together in Thy Name, Thou wilt grant their requests, fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us, in this world, knowledge of Thy Truth and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen
Thought for the Day – 13 March – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
“Short Meditations for March, St Joseph” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
13th Day – St Joseph’s Third Joy Hearing the Name of Jesus
+1. Before Our Lord was born, an Angel had given St Joseph instructions to Name Him JESUS. It was St. Joseph not Our Lady, who was first to pronounce the Name of the Son of God. The jurisdiction he thus exercised was a declaration of his authority. When God brought the Animals to Adam to be named, He thus declared him their master. So too, when He gave to Joseph the office of naming the Infant in his arms, He declared him the constituted ruler of his God . O wondrous privilege! What must have been the sanctity of one, to whom such an office was assigned!
+2. The Name St Joseph gave to his Infant Son was Jesus , the Saviour – not Emmanuel, or Christ. Christ is the official Name of the Son of God, in virtue of His human nature; He was anointed as Man with the Holy Ghost. Emmanuel, or God with us, proclaims His Divinity but Jesus, or Saviour, declares His human nature and Divine personality, at the same time. As Our Saviour, He must be both God and Man – man to pay the price of our Redemption, God –,that the price maybe one that will satisfy the Eternal Father.
+3. What must have been the sweetness which filled St Joseph’s heart as he first breathed that Sacred Name! If to others it was as honey in their mouth, to St Joseph, it was as nectar and ambrosia, containing in itself, all possible sweetness. None save the holy Mother felt such joy as St Joseph did, in pronouncing the Holy Name. Yet how little I love it and relish it! How seldom I repeat it and with what coldness and indifference! My Jesus, mercy! May I love Thee ever more and more!
Our Morning Offering – 2 March – Quinquagesima Sunday
Merciful Jesus! Stretch Forth Thy Hand of Mercy (Excerpt – Prayer in a Time of Anguish) By St Jerome (347-419) Father and Doctor of the Church
Merciful Jesus! Thou art my strength, my refuge and my deliverer; in Thee I have believed and hoped; in Thee have I loved. Call me now, I beseech Thee and I will answer. Stretch forth Thy Hand of mercy, to the work of Thy Hands and let me not perish, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood. It is now time for dust to return to dust and my spirit to Thee Who gavest it. Open then, Lord, the Gate of Life and receive me. Receive me most merciful Lord, according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, Who receivedst the thief on the cross and now prepare my soul for hearing the same promise of mercy which he did. I am ill, O Lord and Thee my Physician. Heal me then, my God and I shall be healed, let me not be confounded, for I put my trust in Thee. In Thee have I hoped – let me not be cast off forever! … Deal not with me, according to what I deserve, nor chastise me, according to my iniquities but help me, O God, my Saviour and for the glory of Thy Name deliver me. Now, at this hour, show mercy to me and whenever I depart, receive me into the number of Thy family that I, may be one of those, who are to praise Thee forever. Amen
Our Morning Offering – 21 February – Passion Friday in Septuagesima Week
Glory, Honour and Praise, To Our Lord Jesus Christ! A devout Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ, to be said both Morning and Evening By St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) Doctor of the Church (From His “A Brief Christian Doctrine”)
GLory, Honour and Praise Be, May all the world adore Thee, blessed be Thy Holy Name, Who for us sinners, vouchsafest to be born of a humble Virgin and blessed be Thine Infinite Goodness, Who died upon the Cross for our Redemption. O Jesus, Son of God and Saviour of mankind, have mercy upon us and so dispose our lives here, by Thy Grace that we may, hereafter, rejoice with Thee forever in Thy Heavenly Kingdom, Amen
Our Morning Offering – 27 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop, Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church “Golden Mouthed.”
In Thy Name By St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor of the Church
Oh Almighty God, Who hast given us grace at this time, with one accord, to make our common supplications unto Thee and hast promised that, when two or three are gathered together in Thy Name, Thou wilt grant their requests, fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us, in this world, knowledge of Thy Truth and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 22 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – St Vincent of Saragossa (Died 304) Protomartyr of Spain and St Anastasius the Persian (Died 628) Martyr – Wisdom 3:1-8; Luke 21:9-19
“And you shall be hated by all men, for My Name’s sake. But, not a hair of your head shall perish.”
Luke 21:17-18
“Pray in the spirit and sentiment of love, in which the royal Prophet said to Him, ‘Thou, O Lord, art my portion.’ Let others choose to themselves, portions among creatures, for my part, Thou art my portion, Thou alone I have chosen for my whole inheritance.”
St Augustine of Canterbury (Died c605) “The Apostle to the English”
“O strong love of God! I really think, nothing seems impossible, to one who loves. O happy soul which has obtained this peace, from its God! ”
St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582) Carmelite Reformer
“You must choose – is it better that there should be thorns in your garden, in order to have roses, or that there should be no roses in your garden, in order to have no thorns?”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor Caritatis
“Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.”
Our Morning Offering – 21 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family”
The Love of Thy Name By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) The Imitation of Christ (Book 3 Ch 26:1-4)
My God, Sweetness beyond words, make bitter all the carnal comfort which draws me from love of the eternal and lures me to its evil self, by the sight of some delightful good in the present. Let it not overcome me, my God. Let not flesh and blood conquer me. Let not the world and its brief glory deceive me, nor the devil trip me by his craftiness. Give me courage to resist, patience to endure and constancy to persevere. Give me the soothing unction of Thy spirit, rather than all the consolations of the world and in place of carnal love, infuse into me, the love of Thy Name. Amen
Our Morning Offering – 17 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family”
Sweet Jesus, Thy Name is Joy By St Anthony of Padua OFM (1195-1231) Doctor of the Church
Sweet Jesus, is there anything sweeter than Thee? To remember Thee is more delightful than everything else. Thy Name is joy – it is the true Gate of our Salvation. What else are Thou, Jesus, if not our Saviour? Be our Redeemer. Give us the virtues of hope and love, just as Thou hast given us faith, our primary joy. Give us the words which we need to praise Thee always. With the help and through the prayers of Thy Mother. Thou who art blessed throughout the ages. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 9 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family”
“In the Name of the Lord Jesus and protected only by the Sign of the Cross, without shield or helmet, I shall penetrate the enemy’s ranks and not be afraid.”
St Martin of Tours (c 316-397)
“Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name is the greatest spiritual force in the world today. It is a source of joy and inspiration in our youth; of strength in our manhood, when only His Holy Name and His grace, can enable us to overcome temptation; of hope, consolation and confidence at the hour of our death, when more than ever before, we realise, that the meaning of Jesus is ‘Lord, the Saviour.’ We should bow in reverence to His Name and submission to His Holy Will.”
Bl Henry Suso OP (1290-1365)
“[Jesus] is our only Master, Who must teach us; our only Lord, on Whom we must depend; our only Head, to Whom alone we should belong; our only Model, Whom we should imitate; our only Physician, Who must heal us; our only Shepherd, Who must feed us; our only Way, Who must lead us; our only Truth, Whom we must believe; our only Life, Who must be our life and our sole sufficiency in all things that, in Him, we may have all in All. Except the Name of Jesus, there is no other name given under Heaven, whereby we must be saved and apart from Jesus Christ, God has given us no other foundation of our salvation, our perfection and our glory! ”
St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)
“The Holy Name of Jesus is, first of all, an all-powerful prayer. Our Lord, Himself, solemnly promises, that whatever we ask the Father in His Name, we shall receive. God never fails to keep His Word. Each time we say “Jesus,” it is an act of perfect love, for, we offer to God, the Infinite love of Jesus.”
St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Doctor of the Church
Our Morning Offering – 9 January – Within the Octave of Epiphany – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus”
The Love of Thy Name By Thomas à Kempis CRSA (1380-1471) The Imitation of Christ (Book 3 Ch 26:1-4)
My God, Sweetness beyond words, make bitter all the carnal comfort which draws me from love of the eternal and lures me to its evil self, by the sight of some delightful good in the present. Let it not overcome me, my God. Let not flesh and blood conquer me. Let not the world and its brief glory deceive me, nor the devil trip me by his craftiness. Give me courage to resist, patience to endure and constancy to persevere. Give me the soothing unction of Thy spirit, rather than all the consolations of the world and in place of carnal love, infuse into me, the love of Thy Name. Amen
Thought for the Day – 5 January – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations for Christmastide “The Holy Infancy” From “The Devout Year” By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
“The Name of Jesus”
+1. At the circumcision, Jewish children receive their name as Catholic children do at their Baptism. Mary’s little Son received the Name of Jesus or Saviour because He was to save men from the slavery to sin. This was His appointed office by the Divine Command – to put an end to the slavery in which men were held by the devil. He was sent to deliver me from the bondage under which I have long laboured, the bondage to the opinion of men, the bondage to ill-temper, the bondage to passion, the bondage to selfishness, the bondage to self-will, the bondage to riches or comforts. O Jesus, Saviour of those in bondage, by Thy Sacred Blood deliver me!
+2. Jesus is our Saviour from the terrible consequences of sin. Our sins were remitted by the shedding of His Precious Blood. Without the shedding of blood, says St Paul, there is no remission. What reason I have to dread the consequences due to my sins! Yet Jesus can and will save me from them, if I love Him as I ought.
+3. Jesus too, is the Saviour of all creation from the curse which came upon the whole earth at the Fall. He has sanctified it by the drops of His Precious Blood which fell upon it. Henceforward, it became a new earth and one day He will cleanse it from all its impurities and renew it to the heavenly beauty and make it worthy to be the home of His elect.
JANUARY – The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family
The Second Council of Lyons in 1274 decreed that “at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious Name is recalled, especially during the Sacred Mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head.”
It may very well be that the custom of bowing the head at the Name of Jesus has passed out of general use, as have other laudable customs, in recent times but, that does not prevent us personally, from continuing to live it and passing on to our children this ancient custom.
The Holy Family – The Hidden Life
The life of each member of the Holy Family was, from the first, a hidden life, for it was a life hidden with God and concealed from the busy world. The life of Jesus in Mary’s womb, was thus the model of the lives of all, who desire to give themselves entirely to God; a life completely withdrawn from all which could interfere with a continual thought of God and, a continual union with Him, by acts of adoration and of love. This should be my aim, at least during such portions of the day as I am able to give to prayer and to spiritual things.
But a life of complete removal from external things, is not possible on earth. It is reserved for the Blessed in Heaven. Even Joseph and Mary had sometimes to turn their thoughts to earthly things and to the cares of life. Yet, they never lost sight of God and, amid the most distracting occupations, the remembrance of Him, was ever in their hearts. This should be my constant endeavour; thus, to lead a hidden life, by having ever hidden in my heart, the precious treasure of the love of God.
But the hidden life of Mary and Joseph, was from the very beginning, much more than this; they, in the midst of the most distracting cares, had the gift of always having the thought of God, actually present to them. Their conscious intercourse with Him, never ceased. This is the nearest approach to the life of the Angels possible for mortal man on earth. What a contrast to my life, so often absorbed in worldly trifles!
Quote/s of the Day – 24 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
“… Let us keep the Feast, not after the manner of a heathen festival but after a Godly sort; not after the way of the world but in a fashion above the world; not as our own but as belonging to Him Who is ours, or rather as our Master’s; not as of weakness but as of healing; not as of creation but of re-creation.”
St Gregory of Nazianzen (330-390) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Taking up the newborn Emmanuel, Mary beheld a Light incomparably fairer than the sun and saw a Fire that water cannot quench. She received, in the covering of flesh Whom she had borne, the Light Who enlightens all things and she was worthy, to carry in her arms, the Word Who carries the universe!” ”
St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) Bishop, Cistercian Monk
(Homilies in praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary IV SC 72)
“She shall bring forth a Son and thou shall call His Name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
“This great Name is compared to oil by the Holy Spirit: “Thy Name is oil poured out” (Sg 1,3). Why? Because, as Saint Bernard explains, just as oil is both light, food and medicine, so the Name of Jesus, is light for our minds, food for our hearts, medicine for our souls. Light for our minds – it was the brilliance of this Name which enabled the world to pass from the shadows of idolatry, to the Light of Faith. … Food for our hearts … And medicine for our souls … No-one who is tempted, will fall, if he calls on Jesus and, for as long as he calls, he will persevere and be saved (cf Ps 17:4).”
St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Doctor of the Church
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