Category: The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ , Dedication of the Church of Jumieges, Normandy, France (1067) and Memorials of the Saints – 1 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

July Devotion – The Most Precious Blood of Jesus

The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ – 1 July: The feast was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969, “because the Most Precious Blood of Christ the Redeemer is already venerated in the solemnities of the Passion, of Corpus Christi, of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and in the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.” However, as this is the Month of the Most Precious Blood, this day, is most worthy of celebrating this Feast Day everyday. There is a wonderful Sermon here: https://altcensored.com/watch?v=Lfju6KSKc5Q

Dedication of the Church of Jumieges, Normandy, France (1067) 1 July:

The Benedictine Abbey of Jumieges in Normandy has an ancient and remarkable history. Founded in the year 654 by Saint Philibert, it was once one of the magnificent Benedictine Monasteries in France and the home of some 700 Monks with over twice that number of lay brothers. Sadly, it is now nothing more than a tourist attraction and the vestiges of the surviving structures, though vacant, scarred and exposed to the elements, are celebrated as a magnificent example of Romanesque art.
All that remains standing today are the Church of Notre Dame with its impressive twin towers soaring to a height of 150 feet, the western façade, and sections of which, were once the cloisters and library. The rest is but a pile of rubble, though it is proudly proclaimed the largest medieval ruin in France. Victor Hugo notably Baptised there “the most beautiful ruin in France” but one is left to wonder how it once appeared when the Catholic Faith was still vibrant and alive in France.
Located a little west of Rouen along a bend in the Lower Seine, it was vulnerable to the attacks of the Vikings in the ninth and tenth centuries. During one invasion it was set on fire and pillaged of its wealth. It was soon lovingly rebuilt, however, by the Duke of Normandy. The Church of Jumieges was consecrated by Maurice, the Archbishop of Rouen, in the year 1067. William the Conqueror attended the dedication of the Church of Jumieges and the subsequent celebrations.
Larger and more beautiful than ever before, the Abbey once again became wealthy and influential. A centre of learning, it was famed for its Scriptorium where Monks worked diligently copying and illustrating manuscripts by hand.
The errors of Martin Luther came to France, as they did to all of Christendom, followed by the usual looting of Churches. The destruction was widespread and the Abbey of Jumieges was not spared. When the French Revolution came along, the Monastery was finished, and only the imposing ruins of what had once been a thriving community was left in its wake. In 1793 the whole was sold at auction and mined as a stone quarry. The Chancel, with its marble Altar and the lantern tower were intentionally imploded and the rest was subject to the deprivations of vandals.
What remained was rescued in the year 1852 by the Lepel-Cointet family. A lodge was built and the rest landscaped and made into a park before being sold to the State in the year 1946. The Church is not open but one can walk about the ruins and imagine the glory that once was.

St Junipero Serra (1713-1784) (Optional Memorial, USA) “Apostle of California,” Spanish Priest, Religious Friar, Missionary, Theologian, Philospher, Teacher, Evangelist.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/07/01/saint-of-the-day-st-junipero-serra-o-f-m-apostle-of-california-1-july/

St Aaron of Caerleon
St Aaron the Patriarch

Blessed Antonio Rosmini-Serbati (1797-1855) Priest, Founder of the Institute of Charity.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/07/01/saint-of-the-day-1-july-blessed-antonio-rosmini-1797-1855/

St Arnulf of Mainz
Bl Assunta Marchetti
St Atilano Cruz Alvarado
St Calais of Anisole
St Carilephus
St Castus of Sinuessa
St Cewydd
St Concordius of Toledo
St Cuimmein of Nendrum
St Domitian of Lerins
Bl Elisabeth de Vans
St Eparchius of Perigord
St Eutychius of Umbria
St Esther the Queen
St Gall of Clermont
Bl George Beesley
St Golvinus of Leon
St Gwenyth of Cornwall
St Huailu Zhang
Bl Jan Nepomucen Chrzan
Bl Jean-Baptiste Duverneuil
St Julius of Caerleon
St Justino Orona Madrigal
St Juthware
St Leonorious of Brittany
St Leontius of Autun
Bl Luis Obdulio Navarro
St Martin of Vienne
Bl Montford Scott

Blessed Ignatius “Nazju” Falzon OFS (1813-1865) Catechist, Confessor, Evangelist, Apostle of seamen, the poor and the marginalised, Apostle of the Passion of Our Lord and of the Blessed Virgi Mary, Doctor of Civil and Canon Law, Writer. He spread devotion to both the Stations of the Cross and the Holy Rosary in all his works
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/01/saint-of-the-day-1-july-blessed-ignatius-nazju-falzon-ofs-1813-1865/

St Nicasius of Jerusalem

St Oliver Plunkett (1629-1681) Martyr, Archbishop and Primate of All Ireland

Bl Pierre-Yrieix Labrouhe de Laborderie
St Secundinus of Sinuessa
St Servan of Culross
St Theobald of Vicenza
St Theodoric of Mont d’Or
Bl Thomas Maxfield
Bl Tullio Maruzzo
St Veep
—
Martyrs of Rome – 6 saints: Six Christians who were martyred together. No details have survived except their names – Esicius, Antonius, Processus, Marina, Serenus and Victor. They were martyred in Rome, Italy, date unknown.

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVENA, NOVENAS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

DAY EIGHT – 29 June – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Posted on by AnaStpaul

DAY EIGHT – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Opening Prayer for each Day:

Grant me the grace to know You, to love You
and to be truly sorry that I have offended You.
I ask this grace by Your Precious Blood –
By that Precious Blood, which bathed Your Sacred Body
and trickled down to the ground in the Garden of Olives.
By that Precious Blood, which poured forth
from Your Sacred Body during the scourging.
By that Precious Blood, which which covered
Your Sacred Face when You were crowned with thorns.
By that Precious Blood, which burst
from Your hands and feet on Calvary.
By that Precious Blood, which came forth from Your Sacred Heart
after Your death.
By that Precious Blood, which we drink
in Holy Communion and of which You said:
“He who feeds on My Flesh
and drinks My Blood has life eternal.”
Amen.

Day Eight : Jesus Sheds Blood in the Piercing of His Sacred Heart

Final prayer:

Eternal Father,
we offer You the Precious Blood of Jesus,
shed in the piercing of the Sacred Heart of Your Son.
Open our hearts to share His life
and continue to bless us with His love.
Help us renew and live our Baptismal promises.
Father of mercy, sanctify Your Church.
May the opening of the heart of Your Son
be an invitation to all the peoples of the world
to live in harmony, peace,and love
and to see the only way to eternal life
is through the Church,
given birth, by the Precious Blood of Christ.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Our Father …
Glory be …

V. Praise and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus.
R. Who with His Blood has saved us.
V. Glory to the Blood of Jesus!
R. Now and forever. Amen

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVENA, NOVENAS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

DAY SEVEN – 28 June – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Posted on by AnaStpaul

DAY SEVEN – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Opening Prayer for each Day:

Grant me the grace to know You, to love You
and to be truly sorry that I have offended You.
I ask this grace by Your Precious Blood –
By that Precious Blood, which bathed Your Sacred Body
and trickled down to the ground in the Garden of Olives.
By that Precious Blood, which poured forth
from Your Sacred Body during the scourging.
By that Precious Blood, which which covered
Your Sacred Face when You were crowned with thorns.
By that Precious Blood, which burst
from Your hands and feet on Calvary.
By that Precious Blood, which came forth from Your Sacred Heart
after Your death.
By that Precious Blood, which we drink
in Holy Communion and of which You said:
“He who feeds on My Flesh
and drinks My Blood has life eternal.”
Amen.

Day Seven : Jesus Sheds Blood in the Crucifixion

Final prayer:

Eternal Father,
we offer You the Precious Blood of Jesus
shed in the Crucifixion.
Permit that, in perfect union
with Your only begotten Son,
we offer You our lives as a gift of sacrifice.
As participants in the eternal redemption,
we celebrate the memory of our Redemption
at the foot of the Cross.
With Mary our Mother,
we glorify You in the abundance of Your grace
and enjoy the victory of salvation.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Our Father …
Glory to the Father …

V. Praise and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus.
R. Who with his blood has saved us.
V. Glory to the Blood of Jesus!
R. Now and forever. Amen

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVENA, NOVENAS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

DAY SIX – 27 June – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Posted on by AnaStpaul

DAY SIX – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Opening Prayer for each Day:

Grant me the grace to know You, to love You
and to be truly sorry that I have offended You.
I ask this grace by Your Precious Blood –
By that Precious Blood, which bathed Your Sacred Body
and trickled down to the ground in the Garden of Olives.
By that Precious Blood, which poured forth
from Your Sacred Body during the scourging.
By that Precious Blood, which which covered
Your Sacred Face when You were crowned with thorns.
By that Precious Blood, which burst
from Your hands and feet on Calvary.
By that Precious Blood, which came forth from Your Sacred Heart
after Your death.
By that Precious Blood, which we drink
in Holy Communion and of which You said:
“He who feeds on My Flesh
and drinks My Blood has life eternal.”
Amen.

Day Six : Jesus Sheds Blood Carrying the Cross

Final prayer:

Eternal Father,
we offer You the Precious Blood of Jesus
shed on the way to Calvary,
for all those in the world
who suffer the consequences of sin.
Grant them repentance and conversion,
health to the sick
and feed those who suffer from hunger,
free from injustice the persecuted
and ransom the imprisoned,
give salvation to the dying.
Do not forget the work
that You have begun in us,
so that our life is willingly given,
in obedience and sacrifice,
to Your Truth,
Your Service and Your Will.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Our Father …
Glory be …
V. Praise and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus.
R. Who with his blood has saved us.
V. Glory to the Blood of Jesus!
R. Now and forever. Amen

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVENA, NOVENAS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

DAY FIVE – 26 June – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD

Posted on by AnaStpaul

DAY FIVE – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Opening Prayer for each Day:

Grant me the grace to know You, to love You
and to be truly sorry that I have offended You.
I ask this grace by Your Precious Blood –
By that Precious Blood, which bathed Your Sacred Body
and trickled down to the ground in the Garden of Olives.
By that Precious Blood, which poured forth
from Your Sacred Body during the scourging.
By that Precious Blood, which which covered
Your Sacred Face when You were crowned with thorns.
By that Precious Blood, which burst
from Your hands and feet on Calvary.
By that Precious Blood, which came forth from Your Sacred Heart
after Your death.
By that Precious Blood, which we drink
in Holy Communion and of which You said:
“He who feeds on My Flesh
and drinks My Blood has life eternal.”
Amen.

Day Five : Jesus Sheds Blood in the Crowing of the Thorns

Final prayer:

Eternal Father,
we offer You the Precious Blood of Jesus
shed in the Crowning with Thorns.
Make all creation, liberated from
the slavery of sin,
serve Your majesty
and glorify You without end.
Grant to all peoples the gift of peace and unity.
Help us to recognise the Thorn-Crowned Jesus
in those who suffer
because of race, religion or the colour of their skin.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Our Father …
Glory be …
V. Praise and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus.
R. Who with his blood has saved us.
V. Glory to the Blood of Jesus!
R. Now and forever. Amen

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVENA, NOVENAS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

DAY FOUR – 25 June – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Posted on by AnaStpaul

DAY FOUR – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Opening Prayer for each Day:

Grant me the grace to know You, to love You
and to be truly sorry that I have offended You.
I ask this grace by Your Precious Blood –
By that Precious Blood, which bathed Your Sacred Body
and trickled down to the ground in the Garden of Olives.
By that Precious Blood, which poured forth
from Your Sacred Body during the scourging.
By that Precious Blood, which which covered
Your Sacred Face when You were crowned with thorns.
By that Precious Blood, which burst
from Your hands and feet on Calvary.
By that Precious Blood, which came forth from Your Sacred Heart
after Your death.
By that Precious Blood, which we drink
in Holy Communion and of which You said:
“He who feeds on My Flesh
and drinks My Blood has life eternal.”
Amen.

Day Four : Jesus Sheds Blood in the Scourging

Final prayer

Eternal Father,
we offer You the Nost Precious Blood of Jesus
shed in the violent and bloody Scourging.
Accept it in recompense, for the loss of so
much innocent blood in the world.
We ask for justice and peace.
We understand that Your loving Son’s
offered His life in total obedience
and that each stroke that He received from the whips
was an act of sacrifice and of love
for the redemption of the world.
Father of mercy,
may Your mercy never abandon us.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Our Father …
Glory be …
V. Praise and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus.
R. Who with his blood has saved us.
V. Glory to the Blood of Jesus!
R. Now and forever. Amen

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVENA, NOVENAS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

DAY THREE – 24 June – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Posted on by AnaStpaul

DAY THREE – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Opening Prayer for each Day:

Grant me the grace to know You, to love You
and to be truly sorry that I have offended You.
I ask this grace by Your Precious Blood –
By that Precious Blood, which bathed Your Sacred Body
and trickled down to the ground in the Garden of Olives.
By that Precious Blood, which poured forth
from Your Sacred Body during the scourging.
By that Precious Blood, which which covered
Your Sacred Face when You were crowned with thorns.
By that Precious Blood, which burst
from Your hands and feet on Calvary.
By that Precious Blood, which came forth from Your Sacred Heart
after Your death.
By that Precious Blood, which we drink
in Holy Communion and of which You said:
“He who feeds on My Flesh
and drinks My Blood has life eternal.”
Amen.

Day Three : Jesus Sheds Blood in the Agony in the Garden

Final prayer:

Eternal Father,
we offer You the Blood of Jesus
shed in the Garden of Olives.
Jesus Christ, Your Son,
during the days of His mortal life,
presented prayers and supplications
with great tears and sadness
and the shedding of His Precious Blood.
As Your suffering Son and Servant,
He humbly obeyed Your Will.
Give us, oh Father,
through the Precious Blood of Jesus,
shed in the Garden of Olives,
the strength and perseverance to fulfill Your Will.
Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Our Father …
Glory be …
V. Praise and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus.
R. Who by His Blood has saved us.
V. Glory to the Blood of Jesus!
R. Now and forever. Amen

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVENA, NOVENAS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

DAY TWO – 23 June – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Posted on by AnaStpaul

DAY TWO – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Opening Prayer for each Day:

Grant me the grace to know You, to love You
and to be truly sorry that I have offended You.
I ask this grace by Your Precious Blood –
By that Precious Blood, which bathed Your Sacred Body
and trickled down to the ground in the Garden of Olives.
By that Precious Blood, which poured forth
from Your Sacred Body during the scourging.
By that Precious Blood, which covered
Your Sacred Face when You were Crowned with Thorns.
By that Precious Blood, which burst
from Your hands and feet on Calvary.
By that Precious Blood, which came forth from Your Sacred Heart
after Your death.
By that Precious Blood, which we drink
in Holy Communion and of which You said:
“He who feeds on My Flesh
and drinks My Blood has life eternal.“
Amen.

Day Two: Jesus Sheds Blood in the Circumcision

Final prayer:

Eternal Father, we offer You the Precious Blood of Jesus
shed in the circumcision.
In the fullness of time,
You sent Your only Son,
born of a woman, born under the Law.
Help us to live in our lives
the true spirit of laws.
In Baptism we have become Your children,
the new people of God.
Preserve in us, Your strength,
to live with faith, hope and charity.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Our Father …
Glory be …
V. Praise and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus.
R. Who by His Blood has saved us.
V. Glory to the Blood of Jesus!
R. Now and forever. Amen

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVENA, NOVENAS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

DAY ONE – 22 June – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Posted on by AnaStpaul

DAY ONE – NOVENA of DEVOTION to the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS

Opening Prayer for each Day:

Grant me the grace to know You, to love You
and to be truly sorry that I have offended You.
I ask this grace by Your Precious Blood –
By that Precious Blood, which bathed Your Sacred Body
and trickled down to the ground in the Garden of Olives.
By that Precious Blood, which poured forth
from Your Sacred Body during the Scourging.
By that Precious Blood, which covered
Your Sacred Face when You were Crowned with Thorns.
By that Precious Blood, which burst
from Your Hands and Feet on Calvary.
By that Precious Blood, which came forth from Your Sacred Heart
after Your death.
By that Precious Blood, which we drink
in Holy Communion and of which You said:
“He who feeds on My Flesh
and drinks My Blood has life eternal.”
Amen.

Day One: Blood Is Life

Final prayer:

Eternal Father,
Creator of the universe, God of life,
You have created us in Your image and likeness.
We are living creatures through blood.
You listen to the cries of the Blood of Your Son Jesus
which calls to Heaven for reconciliation and pardon.
Help us to be attentive
to the cries of the blood of our brothers and sisters.
Preserve in us, the work of Your love,
so that, remembering always
the mystery of our salvation,
we are able to integrate,
in our daily lives,
this very mystery.
Through Jesus Christ,
Your Son, Our Lord.
Amen

Our Father …
Glory be …
V. Praise and thanksgiving be evermore to Jesus.
R. Who by His Blood has saved us.
V. Glory to the Blood of Jesus!
R. Now and forever. Amen

Posted in GOD is LOVE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 22 June – The Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Revealed in the Gospel

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 22 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Revealed in the Gospel

“If we meditate on the pages of the Gospel, we shall find that they are vibrant with the infinite love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Let us, in imagination, enter the cave of Bethlehem and kneel before the crib where the Divine Infant is lying.
Darkness is all around, darkness over the earth, darkness in the minds and hearts of the majority of men.
But, now, the heavens open and from the brightness the voices of angels ring out, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among men of goodwill.”
Who is this infant?
He is the Eternal Word, the substantial image of God, Who, for love of us, has been made man.
He is the Infinite One Who has willed to unite Himself with the finite, in order to lift us towards Himself.
This little heart is throbbing like that of any baby but, in this throb, is expressed the love of the God-Man.
It is a profound mystery, that God should have loved man so much, that He became a tiny infant.
Yet, He did this so that we might love Him more easily and in order to show us His own immeasurable love.
There is about this Infant, a fascination, at once human and divine, which compels us to love Him, even as Mary, Joseph and the simple shepherds loved Him.
He is asking us for love, adoration and complete surrender.
Can we refuse Him?

Now let us take ourselves in imagination to Calvary and kneel at the foot of the Cross.
The heart which began to beat with the sacred love in the manger at Bethlehem, has given everything for us, has poured forth it’s precious blood for our salvation and, has bestowed on us, as a final gift, the Blessed Mother of God.
Now, this heart is consumed with love for us and ceases to beat only when it has give us everything.
“It is consummated” (Jn 19:30).
At Bethlehem we have experienced a joyful ecstasy of love.
Here, at the foot of the Cross, we should experience a deep sorrow, which will cause us to weep for our sins and to transform our lives after the model of Jesus Christ.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, NOVENA, NOVENAS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, Ven Servant of God John A Hardon

NOVENA OF DEVOTION TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS – Reminder – begins tomorrow – 22 June!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

NOVENA OF DEVOTION TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS

Reminder – begins tomorrow – 22 June!

I nearly forgot to remind you – please pray with me.

Devotion to the Most Precious Blood is not a spiritual option, it is a spiritual obligation and that, not only for Priests but for every follower of Christ. I really believe that one of the symptoms of modern society (and I would even include, sadly, modern Catholic society) one of the symptoms of a growing, gnawing secularism is the lessening and the weakening of devotion to the Precious Blood. Devotion, as we know, is a composite of three elements: -It is first- veneration, it is secondly- invocation, and it is thirdly- imitation. In other words, devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ, the Lamb of God who was slain, is first of all to be veneration on our part, which is a composite of knowledge, love and adoration. We are to study to come to a deeper understanding of what those two casual words, Precious Blood, really mean.

I found this passage in the oldest document, outside of Sacred Scripture, from the first century of the Christian era – to be exact, from Pope St. Clement I, dated about 96. Says Pope Clement: “Let us fix our gaze on the Blood of Christ and realise how truly precious It is, seeing that it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of conversion to the whole world.“

To understand the meaning of the Precious Blood, we must get some comprehension of the gravity of sin, of the awfulness of offending God because, it required the Blood of the Son of God to forgive that sin. We are living in an age in which to sin has become fashionable.

This veneration of the Precious Blood, which is the first element in our devotion to the Precious Blood, means, that we have a deep sensitivity to the awfulness of sin. Sin must be terrible. It must be awful. It must be the most dreadful thing in the universe. Why? Because it cost the living God in human form, the shedding of His Blood.

Lord Jesus,
You became Man, in order, by Your Passion and Death
and the draining of Your Blood on the Cross,
might prove to us, how much You, our God, love us.
Protect us, dear Jesus,
from ever running away from the sight of blood.
Strengthen our weak human wills
so that we will not only, not run away from the Cross
but welcome every opportunity
to shed our blood in spirit,
in union with Your Precious Blood,
so that, dying to ourselves in time.
we might live with You in Eternity.
Amen

Excerpted from The Precious Blood of Christ, Servant of God Fr John A.Hardon, S.J.

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 18 June – Belonging Entirely to God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 18 June – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Belonging Entirely to God

“Let us reflect on the extent to which God is deserving of all our love.
He is our Creator, our final end and our Redeemer.
Jesus was not satisfied with giving us part of Himself but He gave us Himself completely.
Although, as God He was infinite, He could not have given us more.

One drop of Hs Precious Blood or a solitary tear, would have sufficed to redeem us from our sins.
But He shed His Blood to the last drop and gave His life for us.
Better still, He willed to remain amongst us in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as our constant spiritual nourishment.
What more could He have done in order to merit our love?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/18/thought-for-the-day-18-june-belonging-entirely-to-god/

Posted in JESUIT SJ, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on The SOUL, SAINT of the DAY, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 June – St John Francis Régis SJ (1597-1640)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 16 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” and The Memorial of St John Francis Régis SJ (1597-1640)

“The Catholic religion was the religion of your forefathers
and the only one Jesus Christ founded; –
the one which He promised would endure
till the end of time.
It is in the Catholic religion alone
that you can save your soul.”

“How long are you going to be deaf to His call?
Or are you going to lose your soul,
which Jesus Christ bought at the price
of His Precious Blood?”

“My child, it is indeed
the Voice of God you have heard.
He has given you a great grace
in thus calling you into His one true Church.
While you live,
never cease to thank Him
and bless Him for it.”

(All the above from – Rev Fr D. Chisholm,
The Catechism in Examples
(London: R & T Washbourne, Ltd

“Brother, I see our Lord and our Lady
opening the gates of Paradise for me.
Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”
St John Francis Regis on his deathbed

St John Francis Régis (1597-1640)

Posted in "Follow Me", GOD is LOVE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 10 June – The Sacred Heart of Jesus Surmounted by a Flaming Cross

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Thought for the Day – 10 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Surmounted by a Flaming Cross

“This flaming Heart surmounted by a Cross represents, not only the infinite love of Jesus, the obedient victim of love but indicates also, that if we wish to follow our divine Redeemer as far as Heaven, our true country, we must follow Him along the path of love and of the Cross.
There is only one way of perfection and that is, the way of the Cross.

Jesus has told us this and has set us an example.
“If anyone wishes to come after me,” He said, “let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23).
He gave us an example by allowing Himself, innocent as He was, to be burdened with our sin.
He staggered as far as Calvary beneath the weight of the Cross and there, He shed His Precious Blood to the last drop.

We must take the road of the Cross also.
If we do not love our own cross, we do not love the Cross of Jesus.
The Saints looked for humiliation and suffering in order to prove their love for Jesus.
We must, at least, accept with resignation, those sufferings and humiliations which Providence has allowed to us.

We must embrace our cross daily and carry it with faith and love in the footsteps of Jesus.
The Cross is the standard of Christ – it is the ladder which leads us to Heaven.
If anyone does not want to have anything to do with it, he does not want to have anything to do with Jesus!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/06/10/thought-for-the-day-10-june-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-surmounted-by-a-flaming-cross/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 6 June – “ This is my body … this is my blood ” – Mark 14: 22,24

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One Minute Reflection – 6 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – Corpus Christi, The Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Readings: First: Exodus 24: 3-8, Psalm: Psalms 116: 12-13, 15-16, 17-18 (13), Second: Hebrews 9: 11-15, Gospel: Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26

“ This is my body … this is my blood ” – Mark14: 22,24

REFLECTION – “The lovers of this world display their generosity by giving money, clothes and various gifts but not one of them gives his own blood. Christ gives His. In this way He demonstrates the tenderness He feels for us and His ardent love. Under the Old Law … God consented to receive the blood of sacrifices but this was just to prevent His people from offering it to false gods and, already, this was proof of a very great love. But Christ transformed this rite… there is no longer the same sacrificial victim – it is Himself He offers in sacrifice.

“The bread that we break, is it not a communion in the body of Christ?” (1 Cor 10:16) What is this bread? The Body of Christ. What becomes of those who communicate in it? The Body of Christ – not a large number of bodies but just one Body.
Just as this bread, made up of so many wheat grains, makes only one loaf into which the grains disappear – for even though the grains remain in it, yet it is impossible to distinguish them in such a closely compacted mass – so all of us, together with Christ, make up a single whole … Now, if we all share in the same bread and are united to the same Christ, why don’t we show the same love to each other? Why don’t we become one in this case too?

This is what was seen at the beginning: “The community of believers was of one heart and mind” (Acts 4:32) … Christ came in search of you who were far away from Him to unite Himself to you but you do not wish to become one with your brother? … You violently separate yourself from him, after winning from the Lord so great a proof of His love – and life! For He did not only give His Body but, just as our flesh, drawn from the earth, had lost its life and died through sin, so He has introduced, so to speak, another substance like a leaven, this is His Body, the Body sharing the same nature as ours but free from sin and abounding in life. And He has given it to all of us, so that, fed with the banquet of this new food … we might enter immortal life.” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Archbishop of Constantinople, Father ad Doctor of the Church – 24th homily on the 1st letter to the Corinthians 2

PRAYER – Lord Jesus Christ, You gave Your Church, an admirable Sacrament as the abiding memorial of Your Passion. Teach us to worship the sacred mystery of Your Body and Blood, that it’s redeeming power may sanctify us always. Who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, forever, amen.

Posted in JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Our Morning Offering – 4 June – O Most Compassionate Jesus!

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Our Morning Offering – 4 June – “Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus”

O Most Compassionate Jesus!
By Blessed Pope Pius IX (1792-1878)
Indulgence of 100 days, once a day
6 October 1870

O Most compassionate Jesus!
Thou alone art our salvation,
our life and our resurrection.
We implore Thee, therefore,
do not forsake us
in our needs and afflictions
but by the agony of
Thy Most Sacred Heart
and by the sorrows of
Thy Immaculate Mother,
succour Thy servants,
whom Thou hast redeemed
by Thy Most Precious Blood.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 May – ‘… Our competence is from God …’

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One Minute Reflection – 9 May – Sixth Sunday of Easter, Readings: First: Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48; Psalm: Psalms 98: 1, 2-3, 3-4 (2b); Second: First John 4: 7-10; Gospel: John 15: 9-17

“Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

REFLECTION – “Cloth of scarlet or purple is a very precious and royal fabric, not because of the wool but because of the colour. The actions of good Christians are of such great value, that heaven is given to us for them. However, … it is not because they come from us and are the wool of our hearts. Rather, it is because they are dyed with the blood of the Son of God. I mean, that the Saviour sanctifies our actions by the merits of His blood. A branch of the vine, united and joined to the stock, produces fruit, not by it’s own power but empowered by the stock. Now we are untied by charity to our Redeemer, as members to the head (Eph 4:15-16). That is why our fruits and good works, drawing their value from Him, merit life everlasting.

… We, ourselves, are branches that are dry, unprofitable and unfruitful. We are not competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers (2 Cor 3:5-6) and able to do His will. Therefore, as soon as sacred love engraves on our hearts the name of our Saviour, our great Shepherd (1 Pet 2:25), we begin to bear delicious fruits for life everlasting.” …. St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of Charity

PRAYER – Almighty, ever-living God, bring us to the joy of Your heavenly city, so that we, Your little flock, may follow where Christ, our Good Shepherd, has gone before us, by the power of His Resurrection. May our hearts overflow with the joy of His eternal presence, that in Him and through Him and with Him, we may attain the happiness of life eternal. May the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, guide us that we may always follow our Shepherd in faithful love. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God now and for all eternity, amen.

Posted in BAPTISM, CONFESSION, CONFIRMATION, EXTREME UNCTION, HOLY COMMUNION, HOLY ORDERS, HOLY SPIRIT, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMAN DIGNITY, QUOTES on MARRIAGE, MARRIED LOVE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on VOCATIONS, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 21 April – The Dignity and Responsibility of Being a Christian

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Thought for the Day – 21 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Dignity and Responsibility of Being a Christian

“It is a great dignity to be a Christian.
By Baptism, we become sons of God, heirs to Heaven, temples of the Holy Spirit and members of the Mystical Body of Jesus, which is the Church.
God’s grace raises us to the supernatural order and makes us, as St Paul expresses it, sharers in the divine nature.
By the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit fortifies our faith and gives us the strength to resist the temptations of the devil and to fight like loyal soldiers, for the triumph in ourselves and in others, of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
The Sacrament of Penance, is our plank of salvation in the shipwreck of sin.

Although, we are all wretched sinners, by this give of the divine mercy, we can recover our lost innocence and return to the grace and friendship of God.
Moreover, in order to prevent us from falling back into sin, Jesus give us Himself in the Blessed Eucharist, which is called, by St Thomas Aquinas, the greatest miracle of His infinite love (Opusculum 56, Officium de festo Corporis Christi, lectures 1-4).

But this is not all.
If it is our vocation for form a family, God consecrates our union at the altar and gives us the graces necessary, to sanctify it, so that it may produce a good Christian family.
If God has called us, on the other hand, to become spiritual fathers of the souls redeemed by His Precious Blood, He raises us to this high dignity, by the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Finally, when we shall have come to the end of our mortal lives, the Priest will be still by our side, to wash away, by the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, the last traces of sin and to comfort us in our passage to eternity.
The whole life of a Christian, is a chain of favours which accompany him, from the cradle to the grave.
We should be grateful to God for the goodness with which He has treated us and continues to treat us.
We should co-operate generously with His gifts by recognising the lofty honour it is, to be a Christian and by living in accordance with this dignity.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, EUCHARISTIC, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, HOLY COMMUNION, HYMNS, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Quote/s of the Day – 20 April – ‘What does Jesus Christ do in the Eucharist?’

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Quote/s of the Day – 20 April – Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter, Readings: Acts 7:51–8:1, Psalm 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, 21, John 6:30-35

“My dear souls, let us recognise, I pray you,
Christ’s infinite charity towards us
in the institution of this Sacrament of the Eucharist.
In order that our love be a spiritual love,
He wills a new heart, a new love, a new spirit for us.
It is not with a carnal heart but with a spiritual one,
that Christ has loved us with a gratuitous love,
a supreme and most ardent love,
by way of pure grace and charity.
Ah! One needs to love Him back
with one’s whole, whole, whole,
living, living, living and true, true, true heart!!”

St Lawrence of Brindisi(1559-1619)
Apostolic Doctor of the Church

“What does Jesus Christ do in the Eucharist?

It is God, who, as our Saviour, offers Himself each day for us to His Father’s justice.

If you are in difficulties and sorrows, He will comfort and relieve you.
If you are sick, He will either cure you or give you strength to suffer, so as to merit Heaven.
If the devil, the world and the flesh are making war upon you, He will give you the weapons with which to fight, to resist and to win the victory.
If you are poor, he will enrich you with all sorts of riches for time and for eternity.
Let us open the door of His Sacred and Adorable Heart and be wrapped about for an instant, by the flames of His love and we shall see, what a God who loves us, can do.
O my God, who shall be able to comprehend?”

St Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859)

Sweet Sacrament, We Thee Adore

I see upon the Altar placed
The Victim of the greatest love.
Let all the earth below adore
and join the heavenly choirs above:
Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore,
Oh! make us love Thee more and more.

Jesus! dear Shepherd of the flock,
that crowds in love, about Thy feet,
Our voices yearn to praise Thee, Lord
and joyfully Thy presence greet:
Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore,
Oh! make us love Thee more and more.

O Precious Blood of Jesus,
cleanse my soul from every stain!
Most pure Heart of Jesus, purify me!
Most humble Heart of Jesus,
teach me Thy humility!
Sweet Heart of Jesus,
communicate to me Thy gentleness and patience!
Most merciful Heart of Jesus,
have mercy on me!
Most loving Heart of Jesus,
inflame my heart with love of Thee!
Amen

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, EASTER, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The UNFORGIVEABLE SIN

Thought for the Day – 11 April – The Mercy of God

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Thought for the Day – 11 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Mercy of God

“God is the Being, Who is infinitely true, beautiful and good.
His goodness is manifested in His infinite love for all the creatures which He has made but, it is in His relations with sinners, in particular, that we call Him merciful.
He loves all things which He has created and directs them towards Himself, their beginning and their end.
When He is dealing, however, with beings endowed with free will, who can separate themselves from Him and even offend Him, He tries, while respecting the liberty which He has given them, to recall them to Himself, by the influence of His love and of His grace.
It is this supernatural outpouring of love towards sinners, which we call mercy.

The mercy of God shines forth in all the pages of Sacred Scripture.
In the Old Testament, there is promised and foreshadowed, in many ways, the coming of the Saviour of the sinful human race.
In the New Testament, Jesus appears, made man for our salvation, meek and humble of heart and merciful towards the unfortunate, especially towards sinners.
For them, He offers His life and His Precious Blood, dying on the Cross with His arms outstretched, as if in an embrace of forgiveness.
He tells us that He has not come to call the just but sinners, (Lk 5:32) and, that He has not come to those who are in health but to those who are sick (Mk 2:17);  He assures us that, if we ask the Father for anything in His name, it will be given to us (Jn 16:23).
So much goodness should move and soften our hearts.
Even if we are unfaithful servants and are covered with the leprosy of sin, let us go to Him and He will heal us.
Even if we have deserved Hell a thousand times, let us shed tears of repentance at His feet as Magdalen did and, He will give us His forgiveness and His peace.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in EASTER, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 8 April – Easter: The Herald of Peace

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

Easter: The Herald of Peace

“For this interior peace to be complete, it is necessary that it should exist in our relations with God, with ourselves and with our neighbour.
Peace with God, is especially necessary.
This involves the subjection of the intellect and will, to Him, perfect obedience to His law, the avoidance of sin and the entire surrender of ourselves to Him.
When we have prepared ourselves in this way, God will visit us with His grace and we shall experience the joy of inward peace.

Jesus came into the world to bring us this peace, which He provides for us with His Precious Blood, thereby, erasing sin and opening the gates of Heaven.
So much the worse for us, if we destroy the work of God by turning back to sin.
We shall no longer be at peace with God, Who hates sin so much, that in order to redeem us from it, He gave us His only-begotten Son, nor with ourselves because “there is not peace to the wicked” (Is 48:22).
Remorse and disgust are the necessary results of sin.

Let us remember, that those who are really content, even in this world, are those who lead good lives.
Whoever extinguishes divine grace in himself, destroys the harmony and order which reigned in his soul as a result of the subjection of his reason to his Creator and Redeemer.
Then, because we are not at peace with God, nor with ourselves, we cannot really be at peace with men.
It is our faith which teaches us, that they are our brothers, redeemed, as we have been, by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and that, therefore, we should always love and assist them.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/04/13/thought-for-the-day-13-april-easter-the-herald-of-peace/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Good Friday Refletion – 2 April – CONTEMPLATING THE LORD’S PASSION

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Good Friday Refletion – 2 April

CONTEMPLATING THE LORD’S PASSION

From a Sermon by St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor unitatis Ecclesiae

True reverence for the Lord’s passion means, fixing the eyes of our heart on Jesus crucified and recognising in Him our own humanity.

The earth – our earthly nature – should tremble at the suffering of its Redeemer. The rocks – the hearts of unbelievers – should come forth, the massive stones now ripped apart. Foreshadowings of the future Resurrection, should appear in the holy city, the Church of God, what is happening to our bodies, should now take place in our hearts.

No-one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the Cross. No-one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against Him. How much more, does it bring, to those who turn to Him in repentance.

Ignorance has been destroyed, obstinacy has been overcome. The Sacred Blood of Christ, has quenched the flaming sword that barred access to the tree of life. The age-old night of sin has given place, to the true light.

The Christian people are invited to share the riches of paradise. All who have been reborn have the way open before them, to return to their native land, from which they had been exiled. Unless, indeed ,they close off for themselves, the path that could be opened before the faith of a thief.

The business of this life should not preoccupy us with its anxiety and pride, so that we no longer strive, with all the love of our heart, to be like our Redeemer and to follow His example. Everything that He did, or suffered, was for our salvation – He wanted His Body to share the goodness of its Head.

First of all, in taking our human nature, while remaining God, so that the Word became man, He left no member of the human race, the unbeliever excepted, without a share in His mercy. Who does not share a common nature with Christ, if he has welcomed Christ, who took our nature and is reborn in the Spirit, through whom Christ was conceived?

Again, who cannot recognise in Christ, his own infirmities? Who would not recognise that Christ’s eating and sleeping, His sadness and His shedding tears of love, are marks of the nature of a slave?

It was this nature of a slave, that had to be healed of its ancient wounds and cleansed of the defilement of sin. For that reason, the only-begotten Son of God, became also the Son of Man. He was to have both the reality of human nature and the fullness of the Godhead.

The Body, that lay lifeless in the tomb, is ours. The Body that rose again on the third day, is ours. The Body, that ascended above all the heights of heaven, to the right hand of the Father’s glory, is ours. If then we walk in the way of His commandments and are not ashamed to acknowledge, the price He paid for our salvation in a lowly Body, we too are to rise to share His glory. The promise He made will be fulfilled, in the sight of all: –“whoever acknowledges Me before men, I too will acknowledge him before My Father who is in heaven.”

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, MAUNDY THURSDAY, QUOTES on The SOUL, The LAMB of GOD, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 1 April – Maundy Thursday – ‘ … Place all your trust in the Blood of Christ Crucified …’

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One Minute Reflection – 1 April – Maundy Thursday, Evening Vigil Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, Psalms 116:12-13, 15-18, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15

“Jesus, knowing that his hour was come, … he loved them unto the end.” – John 13:1

REFLECTION – “Be obedient to the death, following the example of the spotless Lamb who obeyed His Father even to a shameful death on the Cross. Reflect that He is the way and the rule you are to follow. Always hold Him present before the eyes of your spirit. See how obedient He is, this Word, this Utterance of God! He does not refuse to take up the burden of suffering laid on Him by His Father; to the contrary, He throws Himself into it, spurred on by His great desire. Isn’t this what He reveals during the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, when He says: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Lk 22:15)? By “eat this Passover” He means, the accomplishment of the Father’s will and His desire. Seeing that scarcely any time lies before Him (He was already looking ahead to the end, when He would sacrifice His body for our sake), He rejoices, He is glad and joyfully says: “I have greatly desired.” Here is the Passover He is speaking about – that which consists in giving His own self as food, in laying down His own body in obedience to the Father.

Jesus had celebrated many another Passover with His disciples but never this one, O unspeakable, sweet and burning charity! You think neither of Your suffering nor of Your humiliating death – if You had thought of them, You would not have been so joyful, You would not have called it a Passover. The Word sees ,that it is He Himself Who has been chosen, He Himself Who has received all our humanity as His spouse. He has been asked to give us His own Blood so that God’s will might be accomplished in us, so that it might be His Blood that sanctifies us. This is, indeed, the sweet Passover, this Lamb without blemish accepts (cf. Ex 12:5) and it is with great love and great desire that He fulfils the Father’s will and wholly carries out His design. What unspeakably sweet love! …

That is why, my beloved, I beg you never to entertain the least dread and to place all your trust in the Blood of Christ Crucified … May all servile fear be banished from your spirits. You will say with Saint Paul …: “I can do all things through Christ crucified, since he is within me by desire and love and he strengthens me” (cf. Phil 4:13; Gal 2:20). Love, love, love! By His Blood, the gentle Lamb has made an unassailable rock of your soul.” – St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Dominican tertiary, Doctor of the Church, Co-patron of Europe – Letter 129

PRAYER – Love of You, with our whole heart, Lord God, is holiness. Increase then Your gifts of divine grace in us, so that, as in Your Son’s Death, You made us hope for what we believe, You may likewise, in His Resurrection, make us come to You, our final end. Listen we beg, to the prayers of Your holy ones and may the Blessed Mother walk along with us and keep our hand, ever in hers. Through Jesus Himself, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God with You, forever and ever, amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The LAMB of GOD, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 27 March – ‘The Source of all Blessings …

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Quote/s of the Day – 27 March – Saturday of Passion Week or the Fifth Week of Lent, Readings: First Reading: Ezekiel 37: 21-28, Responsorial Psalm: Jeremiah 31: 10, 11-12abcd, 13, Verse Before the Gospel: Ezekiel 18: 31, Gospel: John 11: 45-56

“It was to gather into one the dispersed children of God”

John 11:52

“For Your Cross is the Source of all Blessings,
the Origin of all Grace.
From the weakness of the Cross believers gain strength,
glory for shame,
life for death.
Now, too, the proliferation of sacrifices has ceased –
the one Offering of Your Body and Blood fulfills
all those different sacrifices offered throughout the world.
For You are the true Lamb of God
Who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29).
In Yourself You bring to completion
all religions of all peoples,
so that all these peoples,
might make up but one Kingdom.”

St Pope Leo the Great (c 400-461)
Father and Doctor Unitatis Ecclesiae

8th Homily on the Passion

Posted in BAPTISM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, QUOTES on SIN, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Quote/s of the Day – 16 March – Water and Blood

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 March – Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent, Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12, Psalms 46:2-3, 5-6,8-9, John 5:1-16

“ … Sin is washed away by the waters of the font,
the Holy Spirit is poured forth in the chrism
and we obtain both of these gifts,
through the hands and the mouth of the Priest.
Thus the whole man is reborn
and renewed in Christ.”

St Pacian (c 310–391)
Bishop of Barcelona

“Pour your dew on my weakness, Lord.
By your blood, forgive my sins.”

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“By Baptism we are made flesh of the Crucified.”

St Pope Leo the Great (400-461)
Father and Doctor of the Church’s Unity

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, LENT 2021, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, The INCARNATION, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – – 14 March – For God so loved the world … John 3:14-21

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One Minute Reflection – – 14 March – Laetare Sunday, Readings: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23, Psalms 137:1-2, 3,4-5, 6, Ephesians 2:4-10, John 3:14-21

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life…” – John 3:14-15

REFLECTION – “Let us praise the Son first of all, venerating the blood that expiated our sins. He lost nothing of His divinity when He saved me, when like a good physician He stooped to my festering wounds.
He was a mortal man but He was also God. He was of the race of David but Adam’s creator.
He who has no body clothed Himself with flesh. He had a mother who, nonetheless, was a virgin.
He who is without bounds, bound Himself with the cords of our humanity. He was victim and high priest—yet He was God.
He offered up His blood and cleansed the whole world.
He was lifted up on the cross but it was sin, that was nailed to it.
He became as one, among the dead but He rose from the dead, raising to life also many who had died before Him.
On the one hand, there was the poverty of His humanity, on the other, the riches of His divinity.
Do not let what is human in the Son permit you, wrongfully, to detract from what is divine. For the sake of the divine, hold in the greatest honour, the humanity, which the immortal Son took on Himself, for love of you!” – St Gregory of Nazianzen (330-390) Archbishop of Constantinople, Father & Doctor – Poem 2

PRAYER – “All-powerful God, Benefactor and Creator of the universe,
hearken to my groaning in my peril.
Deliver me from fear and anguish,
free me, by the strength of Your might, You who can do all…
O Lord Christ, cut the threads of my net
with the sword of Your triumphant Cross, with the weapon of life.
This net encompasses me on every side,
holding me captive so as to bring me to my death.
Guide to their rest, my tottering and unsteady steps,
heal the stifling fever of my heart.” – St Gregory of Narek (c 951-c 1010)
Doctor of the Church – Book of prayers, no 40 (Excerpt)

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on DOUBT, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 6 March – Filial and Servile Fear

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

Filial and Servile Fear

“We should not be afraid of God because He is our greatest benefactor and loves us infinitely.
When we are lost, He searches for us as a loving father would search for a wandering son.
Because they think only of the majesty and justice of God, some people keep themselves at a distance from Him, as Adam did, after he had sinned.
They forget that the Lord told Adam, the sinner, of the coming of the pardoning Redeemer (Gen 3:9).
Bossuet truly observes, that “after the curse which came upon men through sin, there has always remained in their hearts, a certain dread of the supernatural, which prevents them from approaching God with confidence.”
Jansenism increased this fear, emphasising the justice and majesty of God, rather, than the infinite love of Jesus and the beauty of His teaching.

Some writers compare our souls with the divine majesty and justice, in order to stress our unworthiness but, they forget, that Jesus is “Meek and humble of heart,” that He forgave the penitent woman, the good thief and the adulteress and, had kind words for the lost sheep and the prodigal son.
They never think of the wonderful words of the beloved disciple: “God is love” (1 Jn 4:16).

This false fear of God, dries up our piety and lessens our trust in His mercy.
It can lead to moroseness, to scrupulosity and to discouragement.

We should avoid this excessive fear which separates us from God.
Even though we are sinful and unworthy, we should remember, that God is our loving Father, Who is always ready to help us and to grant us forgiveness.
We should recall, moreover, that out of love for us, He did not spare His own Son, (Cf Rom 8:32) but gave Him to us for our redemption.
If Jesus shed His blood and died for us, how can we doubt His love?”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Our Morning Offering – 2 March – Prayer for the Gift of Prayer By St Alphonsus Liguori

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Our Morning Offering – 2 March – Tuesday of the Second week of Lent

Prayer for the Gift of Prayer
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

O Incarnate Word,
You have given Your Blood and Your Life
to confer on our prayers that power by which,
according to Your promise,
they obtain for us all that we ask.
And we, O God,
are so careless of our salvation,
that we will not even ask You for the graces
that we must have, if we should be saved!
In prayer You have given us the key
of all Your Divine treasures;
and we, rather than pray,
choose to remain in our misery.
Alas! O Lord, enlighten us,
and make us know the value of prayers,
offered in Your name and by Your merits,
in the eyes of Your Eternal Father.
Amen

Posted in EUCHARISTIC, JESUIT SJ, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 21 February – Anima Christi

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Our Morning Offering – 21 February – First Sunday of Lent

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
Good Jesus, hear me
Within Your wounds, shelter me
from turning away, keep me
From the evil one, protect me
At the hour of my death, call me
Into Your presence lead me
to praise You with all Your saints
Forever and ever,
Amen

For many years the Anima Christi was popularly believed to have been composed by Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) , as he puts it at the beginning of his Spiritual Exercises and often refers to it. In the first edition of the Spiritual Exercises Ignatius merely mentions it, evidently supposing that the reader would know it. In later editions, it was printed in full. It was by assuming that everything in the book was written by Ignatius that it came to be looked upon as his composition. On this account the prayer is sometimes referred to as the Aspirations of St. Ignatius Loyola and so my image shows St Ignatius at prayer.

However, the prayer actually dates to the early fourteenth century and was possibly written by Pope John XXII but its authorship remains uncertain. It has been found in a number of prayer books printed during the youth of Ignatius and is in manuscripts which were written a hundred years before his birth. The English hymnologist James Mearns found it in a manuscript of the British Museum which dates back to about 1370. In the library of Avignon there is preserved a prayer book of Cardinal Pierre de Luxembourg (died 1387), which contains the prayer in practically the same form as we have it today. It has also been found inscribed on one of the gates of the Alcázar of Seville, which dates back to the time of Pedro the Cruel (1350–1369).

The invocations in the prayer have rich associations with Catholic concepts that relate to the Eucharist (Body and Blood of Christ), Baptism (water) and the Passion of Jesus (Holy Wounds).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DESPAIR, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The REDEMPTION

Thought for the Day – 8 February– Faith and Hope

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

Faith and Hope

“Christian hope derives from faith.
When we believe in the infinitely good and merciful God, Who was made man for us and Who shed His Precious Blood, for our salvation, we experience a great hope and a great confidence.
No matter how numerous our sins and our defects, as long as we are sincerely repentant, we should continue to hope for the forgiveness of God.
Despair, which led Judas to commit suicide, should never be allowed to enter our minds.
Like the penitent Magdalen, like the prodigal son, like the lost sheep and, like the good thief, let us trust in Jesus with faith, hope and sorrow for our sins.
Let us remember, that He is infinitely good and merciful and ardently desires to pardon us.
Together with this hope of God’s forgiveness, we should nurture the hope of gaining Heaven, which the Lord, in His infinite goodness, has promised, not only to innocent souls but, also to repentant sinners.
In order that this hope may not be in vain, however, we should include, in our repentance for our sins, a firm purpose of amendment.

Let us remember, that the more we hope for, the more we shall obtain!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Part One Here:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/25/thought-for-the-day-24-september-faith/