Category: The HOLY SOULS

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, Holy Name PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY NAME, The HOLY SOULS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 10 March – Prayer to Christin His Passion and Death By St Francis de Sales

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Our Morning Offering – 10 March – Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Hail, Sweet Jesus!
Prayer to Christ
in His Passion and Death
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

Hail, sweet Jesus!
Praise, honour and glory be to Thee, O Christ,
Who, of Thou own accord, embraced death,
and recommending Thyself to Thy heavenly Father,
bowing down Thy venerable Head,
did yield up Thy Spirit.
Truly thus giving up Thy life for Thy sheep,
Thou hast shown Thyself, to be the Good Shepherd.
Thou died, O Only-begotten Son of God.
Thou died, O my beloved Saviour,
that I might live forever.
O how great hope,
how great confidence have
I reposed in Thy Death and Thy Blood!
I glorify and praise Thy Holy Name,
acknowledging my infinite obligations to Thee.
O good Jesus,
by Thy bitter Death and Passion,
give me grace and pardon.
Give unto the faithful departed,
rest and life everlasting.
Amen

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Posted in FATHERS of the Church, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PURGATORY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering –29 November – Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory By St Ignatius of Antioch

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Our Morning Offering –29 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
By St Ignatius of Antioch (c 35-c 108)
Apostolic Father of the Church

Receive in tranquility and peace,
O Lord, the souls of Thy servants,
who have departed this present life
to come to Thee.
Grant them rest and place them
in the habitations of Light,
the abodes of blessed spirits.
Give them the life that will not age,
good things that will not pass away,
delights that have no end,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Posted in INDULGENCES, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering – 25 November – O DIVINE Heart of JESUS

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Our Morning Offering – 25 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

O DIVINE Heart of JESUS
Pope Leo XIII
Indulgence 100 Days, Once a day
Raccolta 167
13 March 1901.

O DIVINE Heart of JESUS,
grant, we beseech Thee,
eternal rest to the souls in purgatory,
the final grace to those who shall die today,
true repentance to sinners,
the light of the faith to pagans
and Thy Blessing to me and mine.
To Thee, O most compassionate Heart of JESUS!
I commend all these souls
and I offer to Thee, on their behalf,
all Thy merits,
together with the merits
of Thy most Holy Mother
and of all the Saints, Angels
and all the Sacrifices of the Holy Mass,
Communions, prayers and good works,
which shall be accomplished today,
throughout the Christian world.
Amen

Posted in GOD the FATHER, INDULGENCES, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, PURGATORY, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering – 22 November – By the Merit of the Precious Blood of Jesus – Indulgenced prayer for the Holy Souls

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Our Morning Offering – 22 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

By the Merit of the
Precious Blood of Jesus
By Servant of God Pope Pius VII (1742-1823)
Papacy from 1800 to 1823
Indulgenced Act of Oblation to Our Father

Eternal Father!
I offer Thee the merit
of the Precious Blood of Jesus,
Thy well-beloved Son,
my Saviour and my God,
for all my wants,
spiritual and temporal,
in aid of the Holy Souls in Purgatory
and chiefly for those
who most loved this Precious Blood,
the price of our redemption
and who were most devout
to the sorrows and pains
of most Holy Mary,
our dear Mother.

Glory be to the Blood of Jesus,
now and forever
and throughout all ages.
Amen.

Indulgence of 300 days, each time this prayed is offered
22 September 1817 with a Plenary Indulgence, once a month,
under the usual conditions.

Note of Interest: On 15 August 1811 – the Feast of the Assumption – it is recorded that the Pope celebrated Mass and was said to have entered a trance and began to levitate in a manner that drew him to the Altar. This particular episode aroused great wonder and awe among attendants, which included the French soldiers guarding him, who were awestruck at what had occurred and left records of it.

Posted in ABOUT Me - Anastpaul, Hail MARY!, MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering – 12 November – O Gloriosa Virginum

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Our Morning Offering – 12 November – Mary’s Saturday – “The Month of the Holy ouls in Purgatory”

O Gloriosa Virginum
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)

O Glorious Virgin, ever blest,
Sublime above the starry sky,
Who nurture from thy spotless breast
To thy Creator didst supply.

What we had lost through hapless Eve,
The Blossom sprung from these restores,
And, granting bliss to souls that grieve,
Unbars the everlasting doors.

O Gate, through which hath passed the King.
O Hall, whence Light shone through the gloom;
The ransomed nations, praise and sing
Life given from the Virgin womb.

All honour, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen

O Gloriosa Domina is the second half of the hymn: Quem Terra, Pontus, Aethera. It was composed by St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609) the Bishop of Poitiers.
In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), it was altered and changed to O Gloriósa Vírginum.
It is sung in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Roman Breviary.
It is said that St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) was always singing this hymn. His mother sang it to him as a baby,and even on his death bed after receiving Extreme Unction, he intoned the hymn.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, INDULGENCES, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on THE LIGHT of CHRIST, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The HOLY SOULS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 11 November – ‘He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 11 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – St Martin of Tours (c 316-397) Bishop, Confessor – Sirach 44:16-27; 45:3-20, Luke 11:33-36 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“No man lights a candle
and puts it in a hidden place,
nor under a bushel but upon a candlestick,
that they who come in, may see the light.”

Luke 11:33

“Light came into the world”

John 3:19

“This is the meaning of the new creation
(Gal 6,15; Rv 21,1)
for the Sun of Righteousness (Mal 3,20),
pursuing His course through the universe,
visits all alike, in imitation of His Father,
“who makes his sun rise upon all” (Mt 5,45)
and bedews everyone with His truth…
He, it is, Who has changed sunset into dawn
and death into life by His Crucifixion,
He, it is, Who has snatched the human race
from perdition and exalted it to the skies.
Transplanting what was corruptible,
to make it incorruptible,
He has transformed earth into Heaven!…”

St Clement of Alexandria (150- 215)
Theologian, Father of the Church

“He wants you to become
a living force for all mankind,
lights shining in the world.
You are to be radiant lights
as you stand beside Christ,
the Great Light,
bathed in the glory of Him
who is the Light of Heaven.”

St Gregory Nazianzen (330-390)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“Start being brave about everything!
Drive out darkness and spread light.
Do not look at your weaknesses.
Realise instead, that in Christ Crucified,
you can do all things.”

St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Doctor of the Church

DIVINE Heart of JESUS, convert sinners,
save the dying, set free the holy souls in Purgatory.
Indulgence 300 Days Everytime –
St Pius X, 11 September, 1907

Posted in DEVOTIO, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 8 November – The Advantages of Devotion to the Souls in Purgatory

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Thought for the Day – 8 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Advantages of Devotion
to the Souls in Purgatory

“The story is told of St John of God who, on one occasion, when he was finding it difficult to provide for the crowds of sick people, whom he had in his hospital, he went about the streets of Granada, crying: “My dear brothers, give alms to yourselves!”
Many were astonished at these words but, the Saint explained that Jesus regards as done to Himself anything which we do for the poor and unfortunate and that, therefore, He repays the generous giver handsomely.
Since the Souls in Purgatory, are poor and needy, it is certain that whatever we do for them, will redound to our own advantage.

St Margaret of Cortona had a keen devotion to the Faithful Departed.
It is related of her that when she was dying, she saw a band of blessed spirits descending from above, in order to escort her into Heaven.
These were the countless souls whom her prayers had rescued from the pains of Purgatory.

“If only everyone realised,” the Cure d’Ars once said to a fellow Priest, “what great influence with God, the Holy Souls in Purgatory possess and, the vast number of favours which we obtain through their intercession, they certainly would not be forgotten. Let us pray earnestly for them and they will intercede strongly for us!”

“Whenever I wish to obtain some favour from our Heavenly Father,” said St Catherine of Bologna, “I have recourse to the Souls in Purgatory. I beseech them to present my petition to the Divine Majesty, in their name and through their inetercession, my request is granted.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/08/thought-for-the-day-7-november-they-advantages-of-devotion-to-the-souls-in-purgatory/

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, INDULGENCES, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL DECREE, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PURGATORY, The HOLY SCRIPTURES, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering – 2 November – The De Profundis

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Our Morning Offering – 2 November – All Souls Day – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

The De Profundis
Psalm 129

A prayer of a sinner, trusting in the mercies of God. The Sixth Penitential Psalm.

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord:
Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplication.
If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities:
Lord, who shall stand it.
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness
and because of Thy law,
I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath waited on His word:
my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch, even until night,
let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy
and with Him plenteous redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

(Eternal rest or “Requiem aeternam”)
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
And may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.

(Indulgence of 100 Days)

*Psalm 129 in Douay Rheims

Pope Clement XII. was the first who, in order to move the piety of Christians to pray for the souls in Purgatory, granted, by a Brief of 4 August 1736, Coelestes Ecclesiae thesauros –
i. The Indulgence of 100 days to all the faithful, everytime that, at the sound of the bell, at the first hour after the evening Ave Maria, they say devoutly, on their knees the psalm De profundis, with a Requiem aAternamat the end of, it.
(The evening Ave Maria in Rome varies with the season; it is commonly taken as 6 o’clock.)
ii. A Plenary Indulgence to those who perform this pious exercise, for a year, at the hour appointed, once in the year, on any one day, after Confession and Communion. Those who do not know by heart the De Profundis, may gain these Indulgences by saying, in the way already mentioned for the De profundis, one Pater Noster and one Ave Maria, with the Requiem Aeternam.
Observe also, that the aforesaid Clement XII. declared, on 12 December 1736, that these Indulgences might be gained by saying the De Profundis etc, as above, although, according to the custom of a particular Church or place, the “signal for the dead,” as it is called, be given by the sound of the bell either before, or after one hour after the evening Ave Maria.
Pope Pius VI., by a Rescript of 18 March 1781, granted the above-named Indulgences to all the faithful, who should chance to dwell in any place where no bell for the dead is sounded and who, shall say the De Profundis or Pater Noster, as aforesaid, about the time specified above.

Posted in NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, St JOHN HENRY Cardinal NEWMAN!, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering – 25 November – Prayer for the Faithful Departed, O Jesu, Lover of souls

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Our Morning Offering – 25 November – “Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory”

Prayer for the Faithful Departed
By St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

O God of the Spirits of all flesh,
O Jesu, Lover of souls,
we recommend unto Thee,
the souls of all those Thy servants,
who have departed with the sign of faith
and sleep the sleep of peace.
We beseech Thee, O Lord and Saviour,
that, as in Thy mercy to them,
Thou became man,
so now, Thou would hasten the time
and admit them to Thy Presence above…
May the heavens be opened to them
and the Angels rejoice with them …
May all the Saints and elect of God,
who in this world suffered torments
for Thy Name, befriend them,
that, being freed from the prison beneath,
they may be admitted into the glories of that Kingdom,
where, with the Father and the Holy Ghost,
Thou lives and reigns,
one God, world without end …
Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.
And may perpetual light shine upon them.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PURGATORY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on ZEAL, The HOLY SOULS, The LAST THINGS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 November – Our fields …

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One Minute Reflection – 12 November – “Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Readings: Wisdom 13: 1-9; Psalm 19: 2-5; Luke 17: 26-37

“On that day, … a person in the field, must not return to what was left behind.” – Luke 17:31

REFLECTION – “He that will be in the field, do not let him turn back.” How may I understand what is the field unless Jesus Himself teaches me? He says, “No-one putting his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” The lazy person sits in the farmhouse but the industrious person, plants in the field. The weak are at the fireplace but the strong are at the plough. The smell of a field is good because the smell of Jacob is the smell of a full field. A field is full of flowers. It is full of different fruits. Plough your field if you want to be sent to the Kingdom of God. Let your field flower, fruitful with good rewards. Let there be a fruitful vine on the sides of your house and young olive plants around your table. Already aware of its fertility, let your soul, sown with the Word of God and tilled by spiritual farming, say to Christ, “Come, my brother, let us go out into the field.” Let Him reply, “I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my vintage of myrrh.” What is better than the vintage of faith, by which the fruit of the resurrection is stored and the spring of eternal rejoicing is watered?” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan and one of the original four Fathers and Doctors of the Latin Church (Exposition on the Gospel of Luke, 8)

PRAYER – Lord God, grant to us that the power of Your protecting hand may keep us unshaken in the face of our ancient enemy and all his hidden snares. Lighten our way so that, through the prayers of intercession of the Angels and Saints, we may experience the joy of Your presence in our hearts, courage in times of suffering and the wisdom to obey Your instructions. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen.

Posted in ACT of PERFECT CONTRITION, DIVINE MERCY, I BELIEVE!, INDULGENCES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HERESY, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on REPARATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 9 November – INDULGENCES

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Thought for the Day – 9 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

INDULGENCES

“Indulgences are among the means by which we can help to satisfy the Divine Justice for our own offences and for those of the faithful depared.

Unfortunately, very few Christians understand the true nature of indulgences.
As a result, they neglect to fulfil the conditions necessary to gain them.

Canon Law defines an indulgence as “the remission in the sight of God of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven, which, the proper ecclesiastical authority concedes from the treasury of the Church, for the living, by way of absolution and for the dead, by way of suffrage” (Canon 911).
The main requirement is to be in the state of grace, which sinners can attain by means of the Sacrament of Penance, or by an Act of PERFECT CONTRITION.
If properly made, Confession takes away sin and eternal punishment but, not temporal punishment.
This may be cancelled by means of penance, prayer and good works.
In the early days of the Church, the penitential system was most severe (I wish it were so again!)
According to the degree of gravity, different sins drew penances of days, weeks or months of fasting on bread and water.
As times changed, the Church reduced these penalties and granted indulgences instead.

What we may ask, is the theological basis for these indulgences?
It is the spiritual treasury which is at the disposal of the Church, made up of the infinite merits of our Redeemer and added to, by the merits of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints.
These merits are communicated to us by the Church by reason of the consoling Dogma of the Communion of Saints, according to which, the Church Militant, Suffering and Triumphant, constitutes one Mystical Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head.

The Church has power to dispose of this immense treasure by reason of the injunction given to her by her Founder, when He said to St Peter: “Whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19).
There are no reservations – the injunction applies, not only to sin but, also to its punishment.
It is clear that indulgences are not merely a dispensation from the penitential discipline in the eyes of the Church, as certain heretics held and still hold but also, in the sight of God.
Indulgences reflect, both the mercy and the justice of God.
They reflect His justice because complete satisfaction is rendered by the merits of Jesus Christ.
They reflect His mercy because these merits are applied to us poor sinners and also, by way of suffrage, to the souls of our departed friends.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 8 November – They Advantages of Devotion to the Souls in Purgatory

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Thought for the Day – 8 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Advantages of Devotion
to the Souls in Purgatory

“As Sacred Scripture says, it is a holy and wholesome thought, to pray for the dead (2 Mac 12:46).
Besides being profitable to them, however, it is profitable to ourselves too.
There are two reasons for this:
(a) Devotion to the Faithful Departed reminds us, that even venial sin, carelessness and tepidity, will one day be punished with terrible severity.
As a result, we are encouraged in our efforts to lead better lives;
(b) In the second place, we all know, that the souls in Purgatory are holy and are already in the antechamber of Paradise, which they yearn to reach but from which they are kept far apart, by the imperfections which they have still to purify.
If we can help them by our prayers to enter Heaven, even a little earlier than they had expected, they will certainly intercede for us with God at all times and, especially at the moment of death.
In their gratitude, they will implore for us,. all the graces of which we stand in need.
“Whatever we do for the departd souls,” says St Ambrose, “redounds to our own benefit; after death it will be restored to us with interest!”

While we are assisting our dear ones to ascend ,as soon as possible, into the everlasting happiness of Heaven, it is comforting to know, that one day, their patronage will enable us to join them there.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DOCTRINE, DOGMA, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, ON the SAINTS, PURGATORY, The COMMUNION of SAINTS, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 6 November – The Communion of Saints and the Souls in Purgatory

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Thought for the Day – 6 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Communion of Saints
and the Souls in Purgatory

“The Communion of Saints is one of the most consoling Doctrines of our religion.
This Dogma assures us, that the Church Militant, Suffering and Triumphant, is one family, whose members are bound together by the bonds of divine charity.
As the Saints in Heaven love and pray for us and for the Souls in Purgatory, so the suffering souls love and intercede for us and so, we should love and pray for them too.
This is a triple harmony of love and prayer, a hymn which rises to the throne of God, from our place of pilgrimage, from the region of expiation, where the separated souls are aflame with the desire to be united with their Creator and from the joyful choirs of Heaven.
The result is the pouring of divine grace on ourselves and on the Souls in Purgatory.

The souls of the dead, therefore, whether they are among the blessed in Heaven, or are expiating their sins in Purgatory, are united to us in that they love us and pray for us.
Between them and us, there is a real but invisible link, an exchange of thought, of affections and of prayer.
There are all the elements of a true and lasting friendship.

This is a very consoling realisation.
We have not lost our dear ones, who have gone to God.
They are looking down on us, thinking of us and waiting for us.
We, in our turn, can think of them, love them still and pray for them, always.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in GOD is LOVE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on SIN, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 3 November – The Pain of Purgatory

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Thought for the Day – 3 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Pain of Purgatory

“The Tradition of the Fathers and the ordinary teaching of the Church, describe the pains of Purgatory in such a fashion, that they should prompt us to avoid even the smallest sin, not only because it is an offence against the most amiable God but also because, it will be severely punished by Him.
This teaching, moreover, should move us to pity for the poor suffering souls, who are enduring such torments.

St Cyril of Jerusalem states, that the sum total of the sufferings of this world, is nothing in comparison to the sufferings of Purgatory.
He adds, moreover, that the pain of Purgatory is equal to the severity of the torments of Hell; the only difference is that the latter are everlasting, whereas the former, will have an end.
St Athanasius assures us that the least pang of suffering in Purgatory, is sharper than all the torments which it is possible to undergo on earth.
Moreover he adds, in comparison with the fire which afflicts the suffering souls, earthly fire is hardly even real!
St Bede the Venerable tells us, that even if we could imagine all the tortures to which tyrants subjected the Martyrs, such as iron hooks, red-hot pincers, roasting gridirons and boiling pitch, we should still have failed to form any idea of the pains of Purgatory!

But what is the reason for such severe torments?
It is that God loves these souls and desires that they be purified of sins, as soon as possible and be made worthy of infinite happiness.

The fires of Purgatory are nourished by a twofold love – the love of God, Who desires the purification of souls and, the love of these souls, who desire to expiate their faults in order to become worthy of being united to Him forever.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE MERCY, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on REPARATION, QUOTES on SIN, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 2 November – “Purgatory”

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Thought for the Day – 2 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Purgatory”

“Purgatory is the masterpiece of God’s justice and mercy.
St John tells us in the Apocalypse, that nothing defiled can enter into the Heavenly Jerusalem (Apoc 21:27).

There are very few, however, who are privileged to arrive at the supreme moment of death, still wearing their Baptismal robe of innocence.
Even the just man falls very often as the Holy Spirit warns us (Prov 24:16).
We all possess many failings and have been guilty of many sins, either mortal or venial.
It is true, that we can obtain forgiveness by penance and by receiving the Sacraments but, there still remains the temporal punishment due to our sins.
Neither the small penances imposed by the confessor, nor our own tiny acts of voluntary mortification, are sufficient to satisfy our debt.
We cannot be certain, moreover, that we shall be able, at the hour of our death, to cleanse ourselves of all our sins, by means of one good Confession.
Even if we appear before the judgement seat of God without any grave faults, there will still, unfortunately, be many debts to be paid and many imperfections to be purified.

What then will happen to us?
The justice of God cannot admit us, imperfect and defiled as we are, into the everlasting happiness of the Beatific Vision.
Will He reject us, therefore, even as He rejects those who die in mortal sin and are condemned to eternal punishment?
This is unthinkable, for the mercy of God is as infinite as His justice.
And so, there is Purgatory, where the souls of those who have died in the state of grace but, still scarred with imperfections and burdened with debts to be paid, can find a way of purifying themselves and, of making themselves worthy of an everlasting reward.

Let us thank God for this gift, the last link in the chain of His mercies, which enables us to prepare ourselves for our entry into the Beatific Vision.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The HOLY SOULS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 2 November – ‘… What about us? …’

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One Minute Reflection – 2 November – Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed – All Souls Day – Readings: Wisdom 3: 1-9; Romans 5: 5-11 or Romans 6: 3-9; Gospel: John 6: 37-40

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him, may have eternal life and I shall raise him [on] the last day.” – John 6:40

REFLECTION – “He has said two things: “This is the work of God that you should believe in the One whom He has sent,” while here He added, “whoever sees and believes.”
The Jews saw but did not believe; they had the one condition, lacked the other.
How could they attain to eternal life without the other?
The reason those who saw did not attain eternal life was because they did not also believe.
If so, what about us, who have believed but have not seen?
If it is those two things that earn eternal life, seeing and believing—and whoever is lacking one of them cannot attain to the reward of eternal life — what are we to do?
The Jews [who saw Him] lacked the one; we ,the other.
They had seeing but lacked believing.
We have believing but lack seeing.
Well, as regards our having believing and lacking seeing, we have prophetically been declared blessed by the Lord Himself just as Thomas, one of the Twelve, was blessed when he felt his scars by touching them.” – St Augustine (354-430) Great Western Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 14)

PRAYER – Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, Whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His Resurrection, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen.

Posted in LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Our MORNING Offering, The HOLY SOULS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 2 November – My Jesus, by the Sorrows You Suffered

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Our Morning Offering – 2 November – Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

My Jesus, by the Sorrows You Suffered
Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered
in Your Agony in the Garden,
in Your Scourging
and Crowning with Thorns,
on the Way to Calvary,
in Your Crucifixion and Death,
have mercy on the souls in Purgatory
and especially on those,
who are most forsaken.
Deliver them from the dire torments they endure.
Call them and admit them
to Your most sweet embrace
in Paradise.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, MARTYRS, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS, YouTube VIDEOS

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed – All Souls Day, Notre-Dame D’Emminont / Our Lady of Emminont. Abbeville, France (12th Century) and Memorials of the Saints – 2 November

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The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed – All Souls Day (Commemoration): Commemoration of the faithful departed in Purgatory. Abbot Odilo of Cluny instituted it in the Monasteries of his congregation in 998, other religious orders took up the observance and it was adopted by various Diocese and gradually by the whole Church. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy on this day and Pope Benedict XV granted to all Priests, the privilege of saying three Masses of requiem –
• one for the souls in Purgatory
• one for the intention of the Holy Father
• one for the Priest’s intentions
If the feast should fall on Sunday it is kept on 3 November.
Patronage: Monselice, Italy

Details here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/11/02/commemoration-of-all-souls-day-2-november/
AND:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/02/the-commemoration-of-all-the-holy-souls-in-purgatory-2-november/

Notre-Dame D’Emminont / Our Lady of Emminont. Abbeville, France (12th Century) – 2 November:

The Shrine to Our Lady of Emminont, or Notre-Dame D’Emminont, is near Abbeville in France. It is much visited by pilgrims devoted to the Mother of God who at their prayers and petitions, still performs many miracles and favours for her people.

The relics of Saint Wulfram (also spelled Wulfran or Vulfran) of Sens, who died in 656, were brought to the Shrine in the year 1058. Until that time, the Church had been known as the Collegiate Church of Our Lady in Abbeville but after the relics of Saint Wulfram were interred there, the Church was rededicated in Saint Wulfram’s honour. The Church retains that name to this day.

Franciscan Friars, well-versed in wood carving, cared for the Shrine. They were consulted in 1510 concerning work on the Cathedral of Amiens. In richness of detail, Abbeville surpasses many other Cathedrals. The nave was built between the years 1488 to 1539 and the small choir between 1661 and 1663. The construction was paid for by the King of France, and Count of Ponthieu and the faithful of Abbeville. The Church is much smaller than it was originally intended to be, as the initial blueprint for the Church was never completed. The nave is quite short, has only two bays and the choir is extremely small. Still, the façade is a superb masterpiece of the flamboyant Gothic style.
During the French Revolution the Church of Saint Wulfram was profaned and given the name of a “Temple of Reason” by the unreasoning revolutionaries who sought to destroy the immutable God by demolishing priceless monuments and artifacts and even, the glory of their own history.
The Town of Abbeville was heavily bombed by the German’s during World War II, so that much of what is seen there today is of fairly modern origin. The Church was also damaged, but efforts were made to restore it to its former grandeur.
The list of favours granted by Our Lady of Emminont, is indeed very long. It includes miraculous cures, astounding spiritual and temporal favours and streams of graces and blessings.

St Ambrose of Agaune
St Ambrose of Agaune
St Amicus of Fonte Avellana
St Amicus of Rambone
St Baya of Scotland
St Domninus of Grenoble
St Erc of Slane
St Eustochium of Tarsus
St George of Vienne
Bl John Bodey
St Jorandus of Kergrist
St Justus of Trieste

Blessed Pius of St Aloysius CP (1868-1889) Passionist Seminarian died aged 21.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/11/02/saint-of-the-day-2-november-blessed-pius-of-st-aloysius-cp-1868-1889/


St Marcian of Chalcis
Bl Margaret of Lorraine
St Mateo López y López
St Maura of Scotland
St Theodotus of Laodicea
St Victorinus of Pettau (Died c 304) Bishop Martyr

St Willebald of Bavaria
—
Martyrs of Isfahan – 5+ saints: Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus were Persian priests who were imprisoned, tortured, interrogated and martyred in the persecutions of king Sapor II of Persia; he considered any Christian to be a Roman spy and anti-Persian. The three were brought back to life, miraculously healed, freed from their chains and began preaching Christianity, miraculously healing Sapor II in the process. This defiance enraged Sapor so much that he ordered them executed again; they were thrown into a cauldron of molten lead but walked out unharmed. This miracle brought one of the torturers, Aphthonius, to convert; he was immediately martyred. Other attempts were made to kill them, and they emerged each time unharmed. Senator Elpidiphorus led a group speaking in favour of the Christians for their courage and faith; he was immediately executed. In the end the original three Christians were burned to death. Martyrs all – Acindynus, Anempodistus, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and Pegasius.
They were born in Persia and Died:
• c.350 in Isfahan, Persia
• relics transferred to Constantinople and enshrined in a church dedicated to them
• some relics taken to France in 1204 during the 4th Crusade
• relics in France were lost when hidden from anti-Christian forces in the French Revolution
• relics in France re-discovered in 1892 in Grozon.

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

Posted in ASPIRATIONS and EJACULATIONS, INDULGENCES, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, PURGATORY, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY SOULS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Our Morning Offering – 8 July – Indulgenced Act of Oblation to Our Father By Servant of God Pope Pius VII

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Our Morning Offering – 8 July – “Month of the Most Precious Blood”

By the Merit of the
Precious Blood of Jesus
By Servant of God Pope Pius VII (1742-1823)
Papacy from 1800 to 1823
Indulgenced Act of Oblation to Our Father

Eternal Father!
I offer Thee the merit
of the Precious Blood of Jesus,
Thy well-beloved Son,
my Saviour and my God,
for all my wants,
spiritual and temporal,
in aid of the Holy Souls in Purgatory
and chiefly for those
who most loved this Precious Blood,
the price of our redemption
and who were most devout
to the sorrows and pains
of most Holy Mary,
our dear Mother.

Glory be to the Blood of Jesus,
now and forever
and throughout all ages.
Amen.

Indulgence of 300 days, each time this prayed is offered
22 September 1817 with a Plenary Indulgence, once a month,
under the usual conditions.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI approved and granted it the Nihal Obstat – (nothing stands against), the process towards Canonising Pope Pius VII and he was granted the title Servant of God.
In late 2018, the Bishop of Savona announced that the cause for Pius VII would continue following the completion of initial preparation and investigation. The Bishop named a new Postulator and a Diocesan tribunal began work into the cause. The first Postulator for the cause, was Father Giovanni Farris (2007-18) and the current Postulator since 2018, is Father Giovanni Margara.

Note of Interest: On 15 August 1811 – the Feast of the Assumption – it is recorded that the Pope celebrated Mass and was said to have entered a trance and began to levitate in a manner that drew him to the Altar. This particular episode aroused great wonder and awe among attendants, which included the French soldiers guarding him, who were awestruck at what had occurred and left records of it.

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on The HUMAN SOUL, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 10 February – The Human Soul

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Thought for the Day – 10 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Human Soul

“Consider that you have only one soul, which belongs entirely to God and has Heaven for its true home.
God has given you two hands, two feet, two ears and two eyes but, He has given you only one soul.
What a disaster, if you should lose it, for you would then be damned forever!
When God made you to be free, He placed your fate in your own hands.
“When God, in the beginning, created man, He made him subject to his own free choice” (Ecclus 15:14).
Remember that the salvation of your soul is the most necessary work which you have to do!
It is more precious to you than gold or silver.
“More precious than gold is health and well-being, contentment of spirit, than coral” (Ecclus 30:15).
All our attention should be devoted to keeping our soul free from sin and endowing it with every virtue.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Part One Here:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/27/thought-for-the-day-27-march-the-human-soul/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS

Quote/s of the Day – 7 February – The Holy Souls in Purgatory

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Quote/s of the Day – 7 February – The Memorial of Blessed Mary of Providence HHS (1825-1871) and the Holy Souls in Purgatory

“Let us help and commemorate them.
If Job’s sons were purified
by their father’s sacrifice (Job 1:5),
why would we doubt that our offerings
for the dead bring them some consolation?
Let us not hesitate to help those
who have died and to offer our prayers for them.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“One of the holiest works,
one of the best exercises of piety,
which we can practice in this world,
is to offer sacrifices,
alms
and prayer
for the dead.”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

“If it were but known how great
is the power of the good Souls in Purgatory
with the Heart of God
and if we knew all the graces
we can obtain through their intercession,
they would not be so much forgotten.
We must, therefore, pray much for them,
that they may pray much for us.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

Blessed Mary of Providence HHS (1825-1871),
friend of St John Vianney,
was the Founder of Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls
their objective is assisting theHoly Ssouls in Purgatory
through their service to the needy of the world.
She said:

“If one of our friends was imprisoned
in a house on fire,
how we should rush to her help.
Then think how we should try
to deliver the Souls in Purgatory.”

Posted in NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYER WARRIORS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PURGATORY, The HOLY SOULS

Devotion for the Month of November – The Souls in Purgatory

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Devotion for the Month of November – The Holy Souls in Purgatory

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
The Church commemorates all her faithful children who have departed from this life but, have not yet attained the joys of heaven.
St Paul warns us, that we must not be ignorant concerning the dead, nor sorrowful, “even as others who have no hope … For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven … and the dead who are in Christ shall rise.

The Church has always taught us to pray for those who have gone into eternity.
Even in the Old Testament prayers and alms were offered for the souls of the dead by those who thought “well and religiously concerning the resurrection.” It was believed that “they who had fallen asleep with godliness had great grace laid up for them” and that “it is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.”
We know that a defiled soul cannot enter into heaven.

ETERNAL REST

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord
and may perpetual light shine upon them
and may the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen

Posted in ASPIRATIONS and EJACULATIONS, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, NOVENAS, The HOLY SOULS

Lenten Preparation Novena to the Holy Face – Fourth Day – 20 February

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Lenten Preparation Novena to the Holy Face
Fourth Day – 20 February

day four lenten novena to the holy face 20 feb 2020

DAILY PREPARATORY PRAYER

O Most Holy and Blessed Trinity,
through the intercession of Holy Mary,
whose soul was pierced through
by a sword of sorrow
at the sight of the passion of her Divine Son,
we ask Your help,
in making a perfect Novena of Reparation with Jesus,
united with all His sorrows, love and total abandonment.
We now implore all the Angels and Saints
to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena
to the Most Holy Face of Jesus
and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen

FOURTH DAY

(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)

Psalm 51,8-9
Indeed you love truth in the heart,
then in the secret of my heart, teach me Wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean,
O wash me. I shall be whiter than snow.

O Lord Jesus, who has said,
learn of Me for I am meek and gentle of heart
and who did manifest upon Thy Holy Face,
the sentiments of Thy divine heart,
grant that we may love
to come frequently
and meditate upon Thy divine features.
We may read there Thy gentleness
and Thy humility
and learn how to form our hearts
in the practice of these two virtues,
which Thou desires to see shine in Thy servants.
Mary our Mother and Saint Joseph help us.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face,
O Jesus, grant us our petition………………
Pardon and mercy.

Prayer in Honour of the Dolours of the Blessed Virgin

mary and st john at the cross crucifixion

O Most Holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs!
Who stood beneath the cross,
witnessing the agony of your dying Son,
look down with a mother’s tenderness and pity on us,
as we kneel before you
to venerate your Dolours
and place our requests,
with filial confidence,
in the sanctuary of your wounded heart.
Present them on our behalf to Jesus,
through the merits of His most sacred Passion and Death,
together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross
and through the united efficacy of both,
obtain the favour which we humbly ask.
To whom shall we go in our wants and miseries,
if not to you. O Mother of Mercy,
who having so deeply drunk of the chalice of your Son,
graciously alleviate the sufferings of those
who still sigh in this land of exile.
Amen

Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

prayer for the souls in purgatory by the passion of christ 20 feb 2020

My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered
in Your agony in the garden,
in your scourging and crowning with thorns,
on the way to Calvary,
in your crucifixion and death,
have mercy on the souls in Purgatory
and especially on those, that are most forsaken.
Deliver them from the dire torments they endure.
Call them and admit them
to your most sweet embrace in Paradise.
Amen

Pray one (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.

O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PURGATORY, St JOHN HENRY Cardinal NEWMAN!, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering for the Faithful Departed – 16 November

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Our Morning Offering for the Souls in Purgatory – 16 November – Saturday of the Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Prayer for the Faithful Departed
By St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Meditations and Devotions of the Late Cardinal Newman

O God of the Spirits of all flesh,
O Jesu, Lover of souls,
we recommend unto Thee,
the souls of all those Thy servants,
who have departed with the sign of faith
and sleep the sleep of peace.
We beseech Thee, O Lord and Saviour,
that, as in Thy mercy to them,
Thou became man,
so now, Thou would hasten the time
and admit them to Thy Presence above…
May the heavens be opened to them
and the Angels rejoice with them …
May all the Saints and elect of God,
who in this world suffered torments
for Thy Name, befriend them,
that, being freed from the prison beneath,
they may be admitted into the glories of that Kingdom,
where, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Thou lives and reigns,
one God, world without end …
Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.
And may perpetual light shine on them.
Amenprayer for the faithful departed no 2 st john henry newman 16 nov 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, JESUIT SJ, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PURGATORY, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 13 November – Reaching our own country …

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Thought for the Day – 13 November – St Stanislaus Kostka SJ (1550-1568) Jesuit Novice and the Month of the Holy Souls

Stanislaus kept a journal during his novitiate.   His notes, for one so young, reflect a great understanding of the need to constantly prepare for death. Here are a few excerpts:

“Consider how hard it is for a person to be separated from any place he has loved deeply.   How much harder the soul will find it when the time comes to leave the mortal body, its companion so dear.   And the great fear it will experience in that moment, because its salvation is at stake and it must stand in the presence of the one it has so offended.   If the just man will scarcely be saved, what about me a sinner?

But think of the great joy the good will feel, at the thought of the service they’ve paid to God.   They will be glad, because they’ve suffered something for love of Him back there and didn’t fix their hope and attention on the things of this world, that we leave so soon.   Think of the joy that the soul will feel, in its escape from the prison of this body. So long has it lived in perpetual exile, expelled from its own heavenly home.   How much greater it’s uncontainable joy and complete satisfaction when it arrives in its own country, to enjoy the vision of God, with the angels and the blessed.

I am so ashamed and confused, because I see how many have been lost, on account of a single mortal sin and how many times, I have deserved eternal damnation.

I shall reflect on myself and ask:   “What have I done for Christ?   What am I doing for Christ?   What ought I do for Christ?”

Nine months into his novitiate he became very sick.   Saint Stanislaus had drawn as his monthly patron for August the glorious martyr Saint Lawrence and in his honour he performed daily some penance or devotion.   On the eve of his feast, he obtained leave to take the discipline, in the morning he went to Communion and then laid before the image of the saint a letter addressed to Our Lady, in which he begged that he might die on her Feast of the Assumption and he prayed Saint Lawrence to present to her his petition.
That night he was seized with a slight fever, which, however, rapidly increased and on Assumption Eve, he received the last sacraments.   Then, as he lay dying, he had brought to him a little book containing a litany in his own writing of his monthly patron saints, whom he constantly invoked.   At 3 a.m. on the Feast of the Assumption, he face suddenly lit up with joy and he breathed forth his soul to the Mother of God, who had come to conduct him to heaven.   His confidence in the Blessed Virgin, which had already brought him many signal favours, was this time again rewarded.   And shortly afterward he died.   Stanislaus was only seventeen years old when he “arrived in his own country to enjoy the vision of God.”

The entire city proclaimed him a saint and people hastened from all parts to venerate his remains and to obtain, if possible, some relics.

Let us raise this prayer to God

God of infinite mercy,
we entrust to Your immense goodness all those
who have left this world for eternity,
where You wait for all humanity,
redeemed by the precious blood of Christ Your Son,
who died as a ransom for our sins.
Look not, O Lord, on our poverty, our suffering,
our human weakness, when we appear before You,
to be judged for joy or for condemnation.
Look upon us with mercy,
born of the tenderness of Your heart
and help us to walk in the ways
of complete purification.

Pope Francis – Angelus, 2 November 2014god-of-infinite-mercy-prayer-for-the-holy-souls-pope-francis-2-nov-2018 and 13 nov 2019.jpg

St Stanislaus Kostka, Pray for Us, still in exile and for all the souls in Purgatory, who long to arrive too, in their own country!st-stanislaus-pray-for-us-13-nov-2017-no-3.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PURGATORY, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering – 9 November – You are the Lord of Life and Death

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Our Morning Offering – 9 November – Month of the Holy Souls

You are the Lord of Life and Death
By Saint Gregory Nazianzen (330-390)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Lord and Creator of all
and especially of Your creature man,
You are the God and Father
and Ruler of Your children,
You are the Lord of life and death,
You are the guardian and benefactor of our souls.
You fashion and transform all things in their due season
through Your creative Word,
as You know to be best
in Your deep wisdom and providence.
Receive now those who have gone ahead of us
in our journey from this life.
And receive us too at the proper time,
when You have guided us in our bodily life
as long as may be for our profit.
Receive us prepared indeed
by fear of You but not troubled,
not shrinking back on that day of death or uprooted by force
like those who are lovers of the world and the flesh.
Instead, may we set out eagerly
for that everlasting and blessed life
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To Him be glory forever and ever.
Amenyou are the lord of life and death - prayer for the holy souls - st gregory of naziazen 9 nov 2019.jpg

Posted in ARMOUR of CHRIST, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS, The LAST THINGS

Quote/s of the Day – 5 November – St Guido Maria Conforti

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 November – The Memorial of St Guido Maria Conforti (1865-1931)

“Work always with the same spirit of Christ.
Keep Jesus before your eyes.
He is the model of all called to glory.”

The First Circular Letterwork always with the same spirit of christ - st guido maria conforti 5 nov 2019.jpg

“Don’t be discouraged,
the Lord measures,
not so much the results of your labour,
as the right intention
with which you work.”

don't be discouraged - st guido maria conforti 5 nov 2019.jpg

“Persevere always with a simple spirit,
humility, mortification, good intention,
cleanliness of heart, fraternal charity
and you will constitute a formidable army,
for the Lord will be by your side.”

The Second Circular Letterpersevere always - st guido maria conforti 5 nov 2019.jpg

“On the last day, we will not be asked
if we accomplished great deeds,
or been acclaimed by men,
rather we will be asked
if we followed His will,
in the state and condition,
to which we were called.”

The Eighth Circular Letter

St Guido Maria Conforti (1865-1931)on the last day - st guido maria conforti 5 nov 2019.jpg

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

Thought for the Day – 2 November – Let us Die with Christ, to Live with Christ

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

Let us Die with Christ, to Live with Christ

Saint Ambrose (340-397)
Bishop and Great Latin Father & Doctor of the Church

An excerpt from his work, On the death of Satyrus (Saint Ambrose’s brother)

We see that death is gain, life is loss.   Paul says – For me life is Christ and death a gain. What does “Christ” mean but to die in the body and receive the breath of life?   Let us then die with Christ, to live with Christ.   We should have a daily familiarity with death, a daily desire for death.   By this kind of detachment our soul must learn to free itself from the desires of the body.   It must soar above earthly lusts to a place where they cannot come near, to hold it fast.   It must take on the likeness of death, to avoid the punishment of death.   The law of our fallen nature is at war with the law of our reason and subjects the law of reason to the law of error.   What is the remedy?   Who will set me free from this body of death?   The grace of God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We have a doctor to heal us, let us use the remedy He prescribes.   The remedy is the grace of Christ, the dead body our   own. Let us then be exiles from our body, so as not to be exiles from Christ.   Though we are still in the body, let us not give ourselves to the things of the body.   We must not reject the natural rights of the body but we must desire before all else the gifts of grace.

What more need be said?   It was by the death of one man that the world was redeemed. Christ did not need to die if He did not want to but He did not look on death as something to be despised, something to be avoided and He could have found no better means to save us, than by dying.   Thus His death is life for all.   We are sealed with the sign of His death, when we pray we preach His death, when we offer sacrifice we proclaim His death.   His death is victory, His death is a sacred sign, each year His death is celebrated with solemnity by the whole world.

What more should we say about His death since we use this divine example, to prove, that it was death alone, that won freedom from death and death itsel,f was its own redeemer?   Death is then no cause for mourning, for it is the cause of mankind’s salvation.   Death is not something to be avoided, for the Son of God did not think it beneath His dignity, nor did He seek to escape it.

Death was not part of nature, it became part of nature.   God did not decree death from the beginning, He prescribed it as a remedy.   Human life was condemned because of sin to unremitting labour and unbearable sorrow and so began to experience the burden of wretchedness.   There had to be a limit to its evil,; death had to restore what life had forfeited.   Without the assistance of grace, immortality is more of a burden than a blessing.

The soul has to turn away from the aimless paths of this life, from the defilement of an earthly body, it must reach out to those assemblies in heaven, (though it is given only to the saints to be admitted to them), to sing the praises of God.   We learn from Scripture how God’s praise is sung to the music of the harp – Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, King of the nations.   Who will not revere and glorify your nature?   You alone are holy, all nations will come and worship before you.   The soul must also desire to witness Your nuptials, Jesus and to see yYur bride escorted from earthly to heavenly realities, as all rejoice and sing – All flesh will come before you.   No longer will the bride be held in subjection to this passing world but will be made one with the spirit.

Above all else, holy David prayed that he might see and gaze on this – One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I shall pray for, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life and to see how gracious is the Lord.

Pray for the Holy Souls, that they may gaze on His Face!pray-for-the-holy-souls-2 nov 2017.jpg

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PURGATORY, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, St JOHN HENRY Cardinal NEWMAN!, The HOLY FACE, The HOLY SOULS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 2 November – ‘O my Lord, what a day, a long day without ending …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 2 November – The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls), Gospel: John 6:37-40

‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ … John 6:34john 6 34 - come o blessed of my father 2 nov 2019.jpg

REFLECTION – “Thomas came and touched Thy sacred wounds.   O will the day ever come when I shall be allowed actually and visibly to kiss them?   What a day will that be when I am thoroughly cleansed from all impurity and sin and am fit to draw near to my Incarnate God in His palace of light above! what a morning, when having done with all penal suffering, I see Thee for the first time with these very eyes of mine, I see Thy countenance, gaze upon Thy eyes and gracious lips without quailing and then kneel down with joy to kiss Thy feet and am welcomed into Thy arms.
O my only true Lover, the only Lover of my soul, Thee will I love now, that I may love Thee then.   What a day, a long day without ending, the day of eternity, when I shall be so unlike what I am now, when I feel in myself a body of death and am perplexed and distracted with ten thousand thoughts, anyone of which, would keep me from heaven.
O my Lord, what a day when I shall have done once for all with all sins, venial as well as mortal and shall stand perfect and acceptable in Thy sight, able to bear Thy presence, nothing shrinking from Thy eye, not shrinking from the pure scrutiny of Angels and Archangels, when I stand in the midst and they around me!” … Saint John Henry Newman (1801-1890)thomas came and touched thy sacred wounds - st john henry newman 2 nov 2019 holy souls.jpg

PRAYER-   Breviary Hymn – Psalter Week 3 –  It were my Soul’s Desire

It were my soul’s desire
To see the face of God;
It were my soul’s desire
To rest in His abode.

Grant, Lord, my soul’s desire,
Deep waves of cleansing sighs;
Grant, Lord, my soul’s desire
From earthly cares to rise.

It were my soul’s desire
To imitate my King,
It were my soul’s desire
His ceaseless praise to sing.

It were my soul’s desire
When heaven’s gate is won
To find my soul’s desire
Clear shining like the sun.

This still my soul’s desire
Whatever life afford,
To gain my soul’s desire
And see Thy face, O Lord.it-were-my-souls-desire-breviary-hymn-sat-psalter-week-3-18-aug-2018 and 2 nov 2019.jpg

 

Posted in Blessed JOHN HENRY Cardinal NEWMAN, CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PURGATORY, The HOLY SOULS

Our Morning Offering – 2 November – O Most Gentle Heart of Jesus

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 2 November – Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

O Most Gentle Heart of Jesus
A Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

O most gentle Heart of Jesus,
ever present in the Blessed Sacrament,
ever consumed with burning love
for the poor captive souls in Purgatory,
have mercy on the souls
of Your departed servants.
Be not severe in Your judgements,
but let some drops of Your Precious Blood
fall upon the devouring flames.
And do You, O Merciful Saviour,
send Your holy angels to conduct them
to a place of refreshment, light and peace.
Amenprayer-for-the-holy-souls-o-most-gentle-heart-of-jesus-month-of-the-holy-souls-1-nov-2018 and 2019.jpg