Category: The SIGN of the CROSS

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK 2019, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The SIGN of the CROSS, The STATIONS of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 14 September – Faithful Cross Above All Others

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Our Morning Offering – 14 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Faithful Cross! Above All Other
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)

Faithful Cross! above all other,
one and only noble tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest iron,
sweetest weight is hung on thee.

Bend thy boughs, O tree of glory!
Thy relaxing sinews bend;
for awhile the ancient rigour
that thy birth bestowed, suspend
and the King of heavenly beauty
gently on thine arms extend.

Praise and honour to the Father,
praise and honour to the Son,
praise and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One:
One in might and One in glory
while eternal ages run.

Posted in DYING / LAST WORDS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, The LAST THINGS, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 9 August – O Thou, Most Holy Virgin Mary (Pray for Me in All My Necessities) By St John Vianney

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Our Morning Offering – 9 August – “The Month of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859) Confessor

O Thou, Most Holy Virgin Mary
(Pray for Me in All My Necessities)
By St John Vianney (1786-1859)

O thou, Most Holy Virgin Mary,
who dost evermore stand
before the Most Holy Trinity
and to whom it is granted, at all times
to pray for us to thy Most Beloved Son;
pray for me in all my necessities;
help me, combat for me
and obtain for me,
the pardon of all my sins.
Help me especially at my last hour
and when I can no longer give
any sign of the use of reason,
then do thou encourage me,
make the Sign of the Cross for me
and fight for me against the enemy.
Make in my name, a profession of faith;
favour me with a testimony of my salvation
and never let me despair of the mercy of God.
Help me to overthrow the wicked enemy.
When I can no longer say:
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
I place my soul in Thy hands,”
do thou say it for me;
when I can no longer hear
human words of consolation,
do thou comfort me.
Leave me not before I have been judged
and if I have to expiate my sins in Purgatory,
Oh! pray for me earnestly
and admonish my friends,
to procure for me a speedy enjoyment
of the Blessed Sight of God.
Lessen my sufferings,
deliver me speedily and lead my soul
into Heaven with thee
that, united with all the elect,
I may there bless and praise my God
and thee, for all eternity.
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", CARMELITES, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, The HOLY GHOST, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 16 June – But, if Each One is distinct, how can we say that the Three are One Essence? St Teresa

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One Minute Reflection – June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Resumed Mass of Sunday – Ferial Day – St John Francis Régis SJ (1597-1640) Priest, Confessor, Missionary – Rom 11:33-36 – Matthew 28:18-20 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, Baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” – Matthew 28:19-20

REFLECTION – “God gave me to see clearly the truth of the most Holy Trinity. It is just as learned theologians told me but I did not understand it as I do now… What I have seen is this – Three distinct Persons, Each One visible and Who speaks and to Whom we can speak. Afterwards, I thought how the Son alone took human flesh, which shows clearly that the Three Persons are distinct. The Persons love each other, communicate and know each other. But, if Each One is distinct, how can we say that the Three are One Essence? For this is what we believe. This is deepest truth and I would die for it a thousand times. In these Three Persons there is but One Will and One Power and One Might; neither can One be without the Others. There is One Sole Creator of all created things. Could the Son create an ant without the Father? No! because Their Power is One. The same is to be said of the Holy Ghost.

Thus, there is one God Almighty and the Three Persons are One Majesty. Is it possible to love the Father without loving the Son and the Holy Ghost? No, for those who please One of the Three Persons, please all Three Persons and those who offend One, offend all. Can the Father exist without the Son and without the Holy Ghost? No, for they are One in Being and where One is, there are the Three; they cannot be divided.

How is it, then, that we see that the Three Persons are distinct? And how is it that the Son, not the Father, nor the Holy Ghost, took human flesh? This is what I have never understood – theologians know it. What I know is that the Three were there when that marvellous work was done. I do not busy myself with much thinking about this, all my thinking comes down to this – God is Almighty, that He has done what He would do and can do what He wills. The less I understand it, the more I believe it and the greater the devotion it excites in me. May He be blessed for ever! Amen.” – St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Carmelite, Founder, Reformer, Doctor of the Church (Relations, 33).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto all Thy servant, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness, both of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, Thy Saints, remembering Thy Confessor John Francis Regis, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of thine eternal. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

MAY the Heart of JESUS in the most Blessed Sacrament be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the Tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. – Indulgence 100 Days, Once a Day. Raccolta 161 Blessed Pius IX, 29 February 1868.

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 June – “ … Baptising them, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” – Matthew 28:29

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One Minute Reflection – 15 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Pentecost I – Trinity Sunday – St Vitus (c290-c 303) – Martyr, One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Died aged 12-13 years of age – Rom 11:33-36 – Matthew 28:18-20.– Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ … Baptising them, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” – Matthew 28:19

REFLECTION – “This is the order of our faith, the foundation of the edifice and the support of our conduct – God, the Father, uncreated, uncontainable, invisible, One God, the Creator of all – this is the first article of our faith. And the second article – the Word of God, the Son of God, Christ Jesus our Lord, Who was revealed by the Prophets according to the character of their prophecy and according to the nature of the economies of the Father, by Whom all things were made and Who, in the last times, to recapitulate all things,’ became a Man amongst men, visible and palpable, in order to abolish death, to demonstrate life and to effect communion between God and man. And the third article – the Holy Ghost, through Whom the Prophets prophesied and the Patriarchs learnt the things of God and the righteous, were led in the path of righteousness and Who, in the last times, was poured out in a new fashion upon the human race, renewing man, throughout the world, to God.

For this reason the Baptism of our regeneration takes place through these three articles, granting us regeneration unto God the Father through His Son by the Holy Spirit – for those who bear the Spirit of God are led to the Word, that is to the Son, while the Son presents them to the Father and the Father furnishes incorruptibility. Thus, without the Spirit it is not possible to see the Word of God and without the Son, one is not able to approach the Father; for the knowledge of the Father is the Son and knowledge of the Son of God, is through the Holy Ghost, while the Spirit, according to the good-pleasure of the Father, the Son administers, to whom the Father wills and as He wills.” – St Irenaeus (130-202) Bishop of Lyons, Theologian and Martyr, Father of the Church (Demonstration of the apostolic preaching 6-7).

PRAYER – Almighty, Eternal God, Thou Who have given Thy servants, in the confession of the true Faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of that majesty, to adore its unity, grant, we beseech Thee, in the firmness of this Faith we may ever be protected from all harm. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD is LOVE, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The HOLY CROSS, The SIGN of the CROSS

Thought for the Day – 13 June – The Sacred Heart of Jesus Surmounted by a Flaming Cross

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Thought for the Day –13 June – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Surmounted by a Flaming Cross

“St Margaret Mary saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus, surmounted by flames in the midst of which, a Cross was raised on high.
These flames and this Cross, were the symbol of the Infinite Love of Jesus.
Let us reflect a little.
God, immeasurably happy in Himself, wished to communicate a share in His happiness to men, whom He created in a state of earthly happiness.
He was offended by men and, when He saw that they were heading for destruction, He sent His Eternal Word to them.
The Word took a human nature and became our Brother;  He preached the way to Heaven and gave us the means to achieve it.
More than this, He offered Himself as a Divine victim of expiation for our sins.
Having been condemned by those whom He had come to show the way, He died on the Cross and shed all His Blood, for our salvation.

Pagans of all times have called this “the folly of the Cross.”
In fact, it is the miracle of the Infinite Love of God for humanity.
Let us remember, however, that, although His Love and Goodness are Infinite, so also is His Justice!
It is an overwhelming miracle of love on the part of God, that He became man and died for us.
It will be our own downfall if we fail to co-operate with this miracle of love!

The same Jesus, Who died on the Cross for us and revealed His Heart, pierced and flaming with love, will one day appear with the same glorious Sign of the Cross, as our Supreme Judge.
Then, He will say to the wicked: “Depart from me, accursed ones, into everlasting fire!”

God’s Justice is, as Infinite as His charity!
We must choose either the way of the Cross, the way of love and goodness to which the Sacred Heart of Jesus invites us, or the way of sin, which leads to the gulf of ruin and the final condemnation of the Supreme Judge.
This is the tremendous choice we have to make!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, OUR Cross, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, STATIONS of the CROSS, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY CROSS, The SIGN of the CROSS, The STATIONS of the CROSS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 7 April – ‘ … By the Cross, we put on Christ …;

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Quote/s of the Day – 7 April – Monday in Passion Week

“By the Cross, death was slain
and Adam was restored to life.
The Cross is the glory of all the Apostles,
the Crown of the Martyrs,
the Sanctification of the Saints.
By the Cross, we put on Christ
and cast aside our former self.
By the Cross we, the sheep of Christ,
have been gathered into one flock,
destined for the Sheepfold of Heaven.”

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)
Abbot, Confessor, Father of the Church

“He who findeth his life, shall lose it
and he, who shall lose his life for Me,
shall find it. ”
Matthew 10:39

“My dear child, accept this cross from God and bear it –
it will turn into a truly lovable cross,
if you would hand these trials over to God,
accept them from Him with true abandonment
and thank God for them:
“My soul magnifies the Lord”
in everything (cf Lk 1:46).
Whether God takes or gives, the Son of Man
must be raised up on the Cross …
Dear child, leave all that behind;
rather, give your attention to true abandonment …
and think about accepting to bear
the cross of temptation, rather than going
in search of spiritual sweetness …
Our Lord has said: “If anyone wishes to come after Me,
let him take up his cross and follow Me” (Lk 9:23).”

Fr JohannesTauler OP (c1300-1361)
Dominican Priest and Friar,
renowned Preacher and Theologian

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 5 April –Three Names, One Essence

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One Minute Reflection – 5 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament” – St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419) Confessor – 1 Peter 3:18-22 – Matthew 28:16-20 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Go, therefore, teach all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” – Matthew 28:19

REFLECTION – “The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, are of One substance and inseparably equal. Their Unity is in their Essence, their plurality in the Persons. The Lord openly showed the Unity of the Divine Essence and the Trinity of Persons, when He said: “Baptise them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” He did not say “in the NAMES” but “in the Name” by which He showed the Unity of Essence. But, He then used Three Names in order to show that there are Three Persons.

In this Trinity can be found, the supreme origin of all things, perfect beauty, very blessed joy. As Saint Augustine said in his book on true religion, the supreme origin is God the Father, from Whom all things come, from Whom proceed the Son and the Holy Ghost. The very perfect Beauty is the Son, the Truth of the Father, Who is not dissimilar to Him in anything, Whom we venerate with the Father and in the Father, Who is the model for all things because, everything was made through Him and everything relates to Him. The very blessed Joy, the sovereign goodness is the Holy Ghost Who is the Gift of the Father and of the Son and we must believe and hold that this Gift is exactly like the Father and the Son.

When we look at creation, we finish with the Trinity which is of One single substance. We understand One single God – the Father from Whom we are, the Son by Whom we are, the Holy Ghost in Whom we are – the Origin to Whom we run; the Model Whom we follow; the Grace which reconciles us!” – St Anthony of Padua OFM (c1195-1231) Franciscan, Evangelical Doctor of the Church (Sermons for Sundays and the Feasts of the Saints).

PRAYER – O God, Who graciously enlightened Thy Church by the virtues and preaching of blessed Vincent, Thy Confessor, grant that we, Thy servants, may, be taught by his example and delivered from all harm by his intercession.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 27 March – Hail, Most Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord!

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Our Morning Offering – 27 March – The Feastday of St John Damascene (675-749) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

Hail, Most Precious
and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord!
By St John Damascene (675-749)
Confessor, Father
and Doctor of the Church

Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered
and let those, who hate Him,
flee from His Presence.
As smoke vanishes, let them vanish
and as wax melts by the presence of fire,
so let the demons perish by the presence
of those who love God
and who sign themselves
with the Sign of the Cross
and say in gladness:
Hail, Most Precious
and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord,
for Thou drives away the demons
by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ
Crucified on thee, Who went down to hell
and trampled on the power of the devil
and gave us thee, His venerable Cross,
for driving away all enemies.
O Most Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord,
help me, with our holy Lady,
the Virgin Mother of God
and with all the Saints, throughout the ages.
Amen.

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS

February Devotion – The Most Holy and Blessed Trinity – O SANCTISSIMA~O MOST HOLY!

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Traditional Catholic Devotion for February

February is traditionally the Month of the Blessed Trinity, with the Holy Family being celebrated together with the Holy Name of Jesus in January.

The Sign of the Cross

In the Name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost.

(50 Days. 100 Days if made with Holy Water
Pope Pius IX, 1865)

O SANCTISSIMA~
O MOST HOLY!
Indulgenced Prayer
to the Most Holy Trinity

O Most Holy Trinity,
I adore Thee,
Who art dwelling,
by Thy grace,
within my soul.

O Most Holy Trinity,
Who art dwelling,
by Thy grace,
within my soul,
make me love Thee,
more and more.

O Most Holy Trinity,
Who art dwelling,
by Thy grace,
within my soul,
sanctify me more and more.

Abide with me,
O Lord, be Thou my true joy.
Amen

An Indulgence of 300 days for each of the above prayers,
even when recited separately.
(SP Ap. 26 April 1921 and 23 October 1928).

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 14 January – In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost By St Hilary

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Our Morning Offering – 14 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – St Hilary (315-368) Confessor, Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
By St Hilary (315-368)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Father, keep us from vain strife of words.
Grant to us constant profession of the Truth!
Preserve us in a true and undefiled faith
so that we may hold fast to that
which we professed
when we were Baptised
in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
that we may have Thou for our Father,
that we may abide in Thy Son
and in the fellowship of the Holy Ghost.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 November – ‘…Consider how near He is and, that none of our thoughts, … escapes Him. …’

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One Minute Reflection – 28 November – St Catherine Labouré DC (1806-1876) Virgin, Religious Sister of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Marian Visionary of the Miraculous Meda – Feria Day of the Last Sunday after Pentecost – Colossians 1:9-14; Matthew 24:15-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And then shall appear the Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven. ” – Matthew 24:30

REFLECTION – “Let us fix our eyes on the Father and Creator of the world and cling to His splendid and surpassing gifts of peace and His benefits. Let us see Him with our mind and look with the eyes of the soul at His patient purpose. Let us consider how free from anger He is toward all His creation … For He ordered the universe to be in peace and harmony, in His kindness to all things but especially, to ourselves, who have taken refuge in His mercy …

Take care, dear friends that His many benefits do not bring condemnation upon us, if we do not live worthily of Him … Consider how near He is and, that none of our thoughts, nor the reflections in which we indulge, escapes Him. It is right, therefore, that we should not be deserters from that which He wills … . Far be it from us that Scripture, where it says: “How wretched are those who waver, who are of a doubting heart and say: “We heard those things even in our forefather’s time and here, we have grown old and none of them has happened to us.” You senseless people! Compare yourselves to a tree – take a vine. First it sheds its leaves, then a shoot appears, then a leaf, then a flower and afterward, a sour grape, then a ripe grape. You see in that, in a short time the fruit of the tree comes to maturity. In truth, His will, will be quickly and suddenly accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness: “He will come quickly and not delay” (Is 13:22) and “The Lord will come suddenly to His Temple and the Holy One for Whom you seek.” (Mal 3:1).” – St Pope Clement I (c35-c101) Apostolic Father of the Church (Letter to the Corinthians 19-23)

PRAYER – From all perils of soul and body, defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee and by the intercession of blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and of blessed Catherine Labouré and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace that all adversities and errors, being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The SECOND COMING, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 November – ‘… What we shall need to discover, is whether He comes with His Cross! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 24 November – The Last Sunday after Pentecost – St John of the Cross OCD (1542-1591) Confessor, Doctor of the Church – Colossians 1:9-14; Matthew 24:15-35 – Scripture search here:

“Then the Sign of the Son of Man will appear in Heaven” – Matthew 24:30

REFLECTION – “Would you like to learn that the Cross can be a Sign of the Kingdom? This is the Sign with which the Lord is to come at His Second, glorious Coming! That you might learn just how worthy of veneration the Cross is, He has made it His Title of Glory …

As we know, His First Coming was effected secretly and, that discretion was justified, for He came to seek out what was dead. But this Second Coming is not to happen like that … He will appear suddenly to all and no-one will need to ask if Christ is here or there (Mt 24:26) … we shall not need to investigate, whether Christ is indeed present. What we shall need to discover, is whether He comes with His Cross!

When the Son of Man comes “the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light” (Mt 24:29). The splendour of His Light will be so great that the most brilliant of the stars must dim before it. “Then the stars will fall from the sky … and the Sign of the Son of Man will appear in Heaven.” Do you see the power of this Sign of the Cross? “The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light” but the Cross will shine, clearly visible, so that you might know that its splendour is greater than that of the sun and the moon. Just as soldiers heave the royal standards to their shoulders at the king’s coming and bear them before him, to announce his arrival, so the cohort of Angels and Archangels, bearing this Sign on their shoulders, will warn us of the arrival of that King, Who is Christ at the Lord’s descent from Heaven! Alleluia!” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Great Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon on the Cross and the thief).

PRAYER – O God, Who made blessed John, Thy Confessor and Teacher, an extraordinary lover of perfect self-denial and the Cross, grant that, by continually striving to imitate him, we may reach everlasting glory. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in GOD ALONE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The HOLY NAME, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 11 November – St Martin of Tours

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Quote/s of the Day – 11 November – St Martin of Tours (c316-397) “Martin the Merciful,” Bishop, Confessor, Miracle-Worker.

“Hitherto I have served you as a soldier;
allow me now to become a soldier of God.
Let the man who is to serve you
receive your largesse.
I am a soldier of Christ;
combat is not permitted me.”

“In the Name of the Lord Jesus
and protected only
by the Sign of the Cross,
without shield or helmet,
I shall penetrate the enemy’s ranks
and not be afraid.”

I Will Fight Beneath Thy Banner, Lord
Prayer of St Martin of Tours (c316-397)

Lord, if Thy people still have need
of my services,
I will not avoid the toil.
Thy Will be done.
I have fought the good fight long enough.
Yet, if Thou bid me continue, to hold
the battle line in defence
of Thy camp,
I will never beg to be excused
from failing strength.
I will do the work Thou entrust to me.
While Thou command,,
I will fight beneath Thy banner.
Amen

St Martin of Tours (c 316-397)

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, BAPTISM, CHRIST the LIGHT, DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The SIGN of the CROSS, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Quote/s of the Day – 14 September – Exaltation of the Holy Cross – the “Book of Life”

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Quote/s of the Day – 14 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – Exaltation of the Holy Cross

“The Cross gives Light to the whole universe;
it casts out darkness
and gathers nations together in charity,
into One Church, One Faith, One Baptism…”

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

“As they were looking on, so we too gaze on His Wounds as He hangs.
We see His Blood as He dies.
We see the price offered by the Redeemer, touch the scars of His Resurrection.

He bows His Head, as if to kiss you.
His Heart is made bare, open, as it were, in love to you.
His arms are extended that He may embrace you.
His whole body is displayed for your redemption.

Ponder how great these things are.
Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind, as He was once fixed to the Cross in every part of His Body for you, so He may now be fixed in every part of your soul!”

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

“The Kingdom of Heaven, says the Gospel,
is like a mustard seed …
Christ is the Kingdom of Heaven!
Sown like a mustard seed
in the garden of the Virgin’s womb,
He grew up into the Tree of the Cross,
whose branches,
stretch across the world …
Christ is the Kingdom
because all the glory of His Kingdom,
is within Him.
Christ is a Man
because all humanity is restored in Him.
Christ is a Mustard Seed
because the infinitude of Divine greatness,
is accommodated to
the littleness of flesh and blood!”

St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450)
“Golden Words”
Father & Doctor of the Church

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

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

“The Cross is my sure salvation.
The Cross it is, I worship evermore.
The Cross of our Lord is with me.
The Cross is my refuge.”
[Indulgence of 300 days]

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus / Doctor Communis

“Consider Jesus on the Cross
as you would a devout book,
worthy of your unceasing study
and, by which you may learn the practice
of the most heroic virtues.
This is the book which may truly be called
the “Book of Life” [Apocalypse, III, 5],
which, at once enlightens the mind by its doctrines
and inflames the will by its examples.
The world is full of books but were it possible
for man to read them all, he would never
be so well instructed, to hate vice
and embrace virtue,
as by contemplating a Crucified God!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

(The Spiritual Combat
LII: … The Benefits derived from
Meditations on the Cross)
https://anastpaul.com/2024/04/23/thought-for-the-day-23-april-the-benefits-derived-from-meditations-on-the-crossand-the-imitation-of-the-virtues-of-christ-crucified/

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/09/14/quote-s-of-the-day-14-september-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross/

Posted in INDULGENCES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The SIGN of the CROSS

SEPTEMBER – Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross

Posted on by AnaStpaul

SEPTEMBER

Month of The Seven Sorrows
of the Blessed Virgin Mary and
The Holy Cross

The Seven Sorrows of
the Blessed Virgin Mary

1, The prophecy of Simeon
2. The Flight to Egypt
3. Loss of Child Jesus for 3 days
4. Meeting Jesus carrying His Cross
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus
6. The Pieta – receiving Jesus’ Body
The Burial of Jesus

Bid me bear, O Mother Blest,
On my heart, the wounds imprest,
Suffered by the Crucified!

An Indulgence of 50 days each time.
Plenary Indulgence once a month under the usual conditions.

“Yet, after all, it is reasonable that the charitable should suffer when we remember that the Lord and model of all charity, suffered all things simply because of His charity. What else caused His Agony in the Garden, His cruel Scourging at the Pillar, and His dereliction on the Cross? It was all the result of His Divine Charity.
We, therefore,, if we are to follow in His steps, must expect to encounter the same results as a reward for any charity if it resembles His, however remotely. If we are wise, we shall rejoice in any sign that we are to be honoured by sharing our Master’s lot!” Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Relic of the Holy Cross
Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, GOD ALONE!, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The SIGN of the CROSS

Thought for the Day – 2 August – Charity in Our Actions

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Thought for the Day – 2 August – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

Charity in Our Actions

We have seen that charity must influence all our actions if they are to be meritorious in the sight of God. However, this does not mean that the conscious motive of promoting God’s glory must be present in our every thought but, we should aim for this end. The Saints always had God before their eyes. Their every movement and every act, however trifling, was done with the intention to please Him. Ordinary Christians can attain this only after long years practicing a close union with God. They must begin by offering up their actions to Him from time to time and by renewing the offering as often as they can. Am I striving to do this? Am I advancing in this practice of charity?

One thing we must always remember. We must always offer our actions to God when we rise in the morning. We should make the Sign of the Cross, repeat some little ejaculation consecrating the day to God. Here is an example.
“O my God, I offer Thee all my actions, thoughts, words, deeds and sufferings of this day in union with those of Thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I say this little prayer intending that it will last throughout the day, even though I may forget it.
I will also pray that all I do may be influenced by it.

This single offering can scarcely continue to have any controlling power over our actions, unless it is renewed. Its influence fades away. We not only forget it but we also become so absorbed in our various occupations that we are in danger of ceasing to do them, in any sense, for God. It is necessary to renew the intention to do all for God and, to renew it frequently.
Do I renew my intentions at Holy Mass, when I say grace at meals, when the Angelus rings or the clock strikes, at mid-day and in the evening, and at other times?

Posted in CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, FEBRUARY - THE BLESSED TRINITY (Traditional), ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 May – “ … Baptising them, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” – Matthew 28:29

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One Minute Reflection – 26 May – Trinity Sunday – St Philip Neri (1515-1595) Confessor – Romans 11:33-36, Matthew 28:18-20 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ … Baptising them, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” – Matthew 28:19

REFLECTION – “This is the order of our faith, the foundation of the edifice and the support of our conduct – God, the Father, uncreated, uncontainable, invisible, One God, the Creator of all – this is the first article of our faith. And the second article – the Word of God, the Son of God, Christ Jesus our Lord, Who was revealed by the Prophets according to the character of their prophecy and according to the nature of the economies of the Father, by Whom all things were made and Who, in the last times, to recapitulate all things,’ became a Man amongst men, visible and palpable, in order to abolish death, to demonstrate life and to effect communion between God and man. And the third article – the Holy Ghost, through Whom the Prophets prophesied and the Patriarchs learnt the things of God and the righteous, were led in the path of righteousness and Who, in the last times, was poured out in a new fashion upon the human race, renewing man, throughout the world, to God.

For this reason the Baptism of our regeneration takes place through these three articles, granting us regeneration unto God the Father through His Son by the Holy Spirit – for those who bear the Spirit of God are led to the Word, that is to the Son, while the Son presents them to the Father and the Father furnishes incorruptibility. Thus, without the Spirit it is not possible to see the Word of God and without the Son, one is not able to approach the Father; for the knowledge of the Father is the Son and knowledge of the Son of God, is through the Holy Ghost, while the Spirit, according to the good-pleasure of the Father, the Son administers, to whom the Father wills and as He wills.” – St Irenaeus (130-202) Bishop of Lyons, Theologian and Martyr, Father of the Church (Demonstration of the apostolic preaching 6-7).

PRAYER – O God, Who raised blessed Philip, Thy Confessor, to the glory of Thy Saints, graciously grant that we, who rejoice in his Feast, may profit by the example of his virtues.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, OUR Cross, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The SEVEN PASSION Feasts, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 29 March – Good Friday, By the Cross, we put on Christ

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Quote/s of the Day – 29 March – Good Friday – The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John 18:1-40.19:1-42 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And bearing His own Cross,
He went forth to the place which is called Calvary
but in Hebrew Golgotha.”

John 19:17

“By the Cross, death was slain
and Adam was restored to life.
The Cross is the glory of all the Apostles,
the Crown of the Martyrs,
the Sanctification of the Saints.
By the Cross, we put on Christ
and cast aside our former self.
By the Cross we, the sheep of Christ,
have been gathered into one flock,
destined for the Sheepfold of Heaven.”

St Theodore the Studite (759-826)

“O souls!
Seek a refuge, like pure doves,
in the shadow of the Crucifix.
There, mourn the Passion
of your Divine Spouse
and drawing from your hearts,
flames of love and rivers of tears,
make of them a precious balm
with which to anoint
the Wounds of your Saviour.”

“When you are alone in your room,
take your Crucifix,
kiss Its Five Wounds reverently,
tell It to preach you a little sermon
and then listen to the Words of eternal life
that It speaks to your heart.
Listen to the pleading of the Thorns,
the Nails, the Precious Blood.
Oh, what an eloquent sermon!”

St Paul of the Cross CP (1694-1775)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DYING / LAST WORDS, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOOD FRIDAY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, POETRY, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION, The SECOND COMING, The SEVEN PASSION Feasts, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 29 March– There they crucified Him – John 19:18

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One Minute Reflection – 29 March – Good Friday – The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John 18:1-40.19,1-42. – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“There they crucified Him and with Him two others, one on either side and Jesus between them. ” – John 19:18

REFLECTION – “Truly, you are a hidden God!” (Is 45:15).   Why hidden?   Because He had neither form nor beauty, yet power was in His Hands.   It was there His fortitude was hidden.

Was He not hidden when He submitted His Hands to brutes and His Palms received the nails?   The print of the nails gleamed on His Hands and His innocent Side received the wound.   They shackled His Feet in fetters, the iron pierced His soles and His Feet were fastened to the tree.   These wounds did God suffer on our behalf, at the hands of His own people, in His own home.   O how marvellous are His Wounds by which the wounds of the world were healed!   How victorious His Wounds, by which He slew death and stung hell! … Therefore, O Church, O dove, You have coverts in the rock and a hollow in the wall in which to rest (cf. Sg 2:14). …

And what will you do … when He comes in the clouds with great power and majesty? (cf Mt 24:30)   He will come down with Heaven and earth ablaze and by the terror of His coming, He will dissolve the elements.   When He has come, the Sign of the Cross will be seen in the sky and the beloved One will show the scars of His Wounds and the prints of the nails, by which He was transfixed in His own home!” … St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) – Cistercian Monk, Bishop

PRAYER – Deliver us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all evils, past, present and to come and by the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul and of all the Saints, mercifully grant peace in our days, that through the assistance of Thy mercy we may be always free from sin and secure from all disturbance. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Faithful Cross! above all other, One and only noble Tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom, None in fruit thy peer may be.
Sweetest wood and sweetest iron,
Sweetest weight is hung on thee. (Antiphons).

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, I BELIEVE!, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, OUR Cross, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The DIVINE INFANT, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – ‘The Sign of the Cross of our Lord…’

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Quote/s of the Day – 23 March – Saturday in Passion Week

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

St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

“The day will come when this Child
will no longer be offered in the Temple,
nor in Simeon’s arms
but outside the City
in the arms of the Cross.
The day will come when He
will not be redeemed
by the blood of a sacrifice
but redeem others ,
with His own Blood. …”
That will be the evening sacrifice;
this is the morning sacrifice;
this one is the happiest
but that one is the most complete;
for this one was offered
at the time of birth
and that one will be offered
in the fullness of time,..”

St Bernard (1091-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

“Look then on Jesus,
the Author and Preserver of faith —
in complete sinlessness, He suffered
and, at the hands of those who were His own
and was numbered among the wicked.
As you drink the cup of the Lord Jesus
(how glorious it is!), give thanks to the Lord,
the Giver of all blessings.
May the God of love and peace
set your hearts at rest
and speed you on your journey;
may He meanwhile, shelter you
from disturbance by others
in the hidden recesses of His Love,
until He brings you, at last,
into that place of complete plenitude,
where you will repose forever in the vision of peace,
in the security of trust
and in the restful enjoyment of His riches. ”

St Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275)

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2024, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The REDEMPTION, The RESURRECTION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 23 March – What Happened on the Cross?

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Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 23 March – Saturday in Passion Week – Jeremias18:18-23, John 12:10-36 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Shall evil be rendered for good
because they have dug a pit for my soul?”
Jeremias 18:20

“The hour is come
when the Son of man
should be glorified.”
John 12:23

What Happened on the Cross?

St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“By nothing else except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
has death been brought low:

The sin of our first parent destroyed,
hell plundered,
resurrection bestowed,
the power given us to despise the things of this world,
even death itself,
the road back to the former blessedness made smooth,
the gates of paradise opened,
our nature seated at the right hand of God
and we made children and heirs of God.

By the Cross all these things have been set aright…

It is a seal that the destroyer may not strike us,
a raising up of those who lie fallen,
a support for those who stand,
a staff for the infirm,
a crook for the shepherded,
a guide for the wandering,
a perfecting of the advanced,
salvation for soul and body,
a deflector of all evils,
a cause of all goods,
a destruction of sin,
a plant of resurrection
and a tree of eternal life.”

(Reflections on the Cross of Christ
from the Early Church Fathers –
Orthodox Faith 4).

Posted in CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The HOLY CROSS, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 18 March – St Cyril of Jerusalem

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Quote/s of the Day – 18 March – St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387) Bishop of Jerusalem, Confessor Father & Doctor of the Church

Let us not then be ashamed
to confess the Crucified!

“BE THE CROSS OUR SEAL,
made with boldness by our fingers,
on our brow and in everything,
over the bread we eat and the cups we drink,
in our comings in and goings out,
before our sleep,
when we lie down
and when we awake,
when we are in the way
and when we are still.

Great is that preservative,
it is without price,
for the poor’s sake,
without toil,
for the sick,
since also its’ grace is from God.

It is the Sign of the faithful
and the dread of evils –
for He has triumphed over them in it,
having made a shew of them openly –
for when they see the Cross,
they are reminded of the Crucified;
they are afraid of Him,
Who hath bruised the head of the dragon.

Despise not the Seal
because of the freeness of the Gift
but for this,
rather honour thy Benefactor!”

“Now then, we do not just rest only on His first advent
but look forward to His second too,
when, meeting our Master with the Angels,
we may worship Him and say:
“Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord” (Mt 21:9).
The Saviour will come, not to be judged again
but to judge those who judged Him …
He came the first time because of a Divine dispensation,
teaching people with persuasion but on that day,
they will of necessity have Him for their King.”

“And Jesus, seeing their faith,
said to the paralytic,
Take courage, son,
your sins are forgiven you.”
Matthew 9:2

“Perhaps, your own faith is feeble.
Nevertheless, the Lord, who is love
will stoop down to you,
provided only that you are penitent
and can say sincerely,
from the depths of your soul:
“Lord, I believe.
Help thou mine unbelief,”
(Mark 9:23)……”

“Before all this happens, however,
they will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues
and to prisons and they will have you led,
before kings and governors because of my name …”
Luke 21:12

“Jesus gives them clear and evident signs
of the time when the consummation
of the world draws near.
He says that there will be wars, turmoil,
famines and epidemics everywhere.
There will be terrors from heaven and great signs.
… Christ promises, however,
that He will deliver them certainly and completely.
He says that a hair of your head will not perish!”

“Let us then, my brethren, endure in hope.
Let us devote ourselves, side-by-side with our hoping,
so that the God of all the universe,
as He beholds our intention,
may cleanse us from all sins,
fill us with high hopes from what we have in hand
and grant us the change of heart which saves.
God has called you and you have your calling!”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/18/quote-s-of-the-day-18-march-st-cyril-of-jerusalem-2/

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 18 March – Hail, Most Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord!

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Our Morning Offering – 18 March – Monday in Passion Week

This Prayer is part of a very long
and most beautiful Night Prayer
by St John which I will post shortly.

Hail, Most Precious
and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord!
By St John Damascene (675-749)
Confessor, Father
and Doctor of the Church

Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered
and let those, who hate Him,
flee from His Presence.
As smoke vanishes, let them vanish
and as wax melts by the presence of fire,
so let the demons perish by the presence
of those who love God
and who sign themselves
with the Sign of the Cross
and say in gladness:
Hail, Most Precious
and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord,
for Thou drives away the demons
by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ
Crucified on thee, Who went down to hell
and trampled on the power of the devil
and gave us thee, His venerable Cross,
for driving away all enemies.
O Most Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord,
help me with our holy Lady,
the Virgin Mother of God
and with all the Saints throughout the ages.
Amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC TIME, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 17 March – Faithful Cross Above All Others

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Our Morning Offering – 17 March – Passion Sunday

Faithful Cross! Above All Other
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)

Faithful Cross! above all other,
one and only noble tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest iron,
sweetest weight is hung on thee.

Bend thy boughs, O tree of glory!
Thy relaxing sinews bend;
for awhile the ancient rigour
that thy birth bestowed, suspend
and the King of heavenly beauty
gently on thine arms extend.

Praise and honour to the Father,
praise and honour to the Son,
praise and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One:
One in might and One in glory
while eternal ages run.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, St PAUL!, St PETER!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HOLY CROSS, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 March– ‘… [Thou] didst boldly set up the trophy of the Cross of Christ, upon those Roman walls …’

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One Minute Reflection – 12 March – “Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Lent – St Gregory the Great (540-604), Pope, Confessor, Father & Doctor of the Church, “Father of the Fathers” – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11; Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And I say to thee: That thou art Peter and upon this rock, I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18

REFLECTION – “When the twelve holy Apostles had received from the Holy Ghost the power to speak all languages, they divided the regions of the earth amongst themselves, as fields for their Gospel labours. Then was Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, sent to the Capital City of the Roman Empire that he might make the Light to shine, from the head, to the whole body of the civilised nations. At that time, what nation was there which had no representative in Rome? What nations would be ignorant of what Rome had learned?

Here were to be refuted the theories of philosophers, here dissolved the vanities of earthly wisdom, here overthrown the worship of devils, here destroyed the impiety of every sacrilege; here, where superstitious zeal had collected all the error and vanity of the world. Therefore, to this City, O most blessed Peter, thou dost not fear to come and, while thy companion in glory, the Apostle Paul, is still occupied with the government of other Churches, thou dost enter this forest of savage beasts, this deep and turbulent ocean, with more boldness than when thou didst walk upon the water!

Thou hadst already taught those, of the circumcision who had been converted, thou hadst founded the Church of Antioch, the first that bore the noble name of Christian; thou hadst published the law of the Gospel throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia and, thou didst not fear for the difficulty of thy work, nor turn back because of thine old age but didst boldly set up the trophy of the Cross of Christ, upon those Roman walls, where the Providence of God had appointed the throne of thine honour and the glorious scene of thy passion.” – St Leo the Great (400-461) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon on the Feast of St Peter’s Chair at Rome).

PRAYER – O God, Who granted the rewards of everlasting happiness to the soul of Thy servant Gregory, mercifully grant that we, who are weighed down with the burden of our sins, may be raised up by his prayers to Thee. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 3 March – Prayer Before The Crucifix

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Our Morning Offering – 3 March – The Third Sunday in Lent

Prayer Before The Crucifix
(The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass)
By St Vincent Strambi (1745-1824)

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

Posted in POETRY, SAINT of the DAY, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote of the Day – 8 February – The Mantle of St John de Matha – A Legend of “The Red, White and Blue”

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Quote of the Day – 8 February –St John of Matha O.SS.T (1160-1213) Confessor, Priest, Founder of The Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives

Excerpt from
The Mantle of St John de Matha
A Legend of “The Red, White and Blue”
(1154–1864)
By John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892).

A STRONG and mighty Angel,
Calm, terrible and bright,
The Cross in blended red and blue
Upon his mantle white!

Two captives by him kneeling,
Each on his broken chain,
Sang praise to God who raiseth
The dead to life again?

Dropping his Cross-wrought mantle,
“Wear this” the Angel said;
“Take thou, O Freedom’s Priest, its sign,—
The white, the blue and red.”

Then rose up John de Matha
In the strength the Lord Christ gave,
And begged through all the land of France
The ransom of the slave.

The gates of tower and castle
Before him open flew,
The drawbridge at his coming fell,
The door-bolt backward drew.

For all men owned his errand
And paid his righteous tax;
And the hearts of lord and peasant
Were in his hands as wax.

At last, outbound from Tunis,
His bark her anchor weighed,
Freighted with seven-score Christian souls
Whose ransom he had paid!

Posted in QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on PHYSICAL SICKNESS, ILLNESS, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on SLOTH, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 17 January – St Anthony Abbot

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

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

“If we make every effort to avoid
death of the body,
still more should it be our endeavour,
to avoid death of the soul!
There is no obstacle for a man
who wishes to be saved,
other than negligence and laziness of soul.”

“ What is slander?
It is every sort of wicked word
we would dare not speak
in front of the person whom
we are complaining about.”

MORE and MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/17/quote-s-of-the-day-17-january-st-anthony-abbot-2/

St Anthony Abbot (251-356)

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 14 January – In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost By St Hilary

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 14 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” – Second Sunday after the Epiphany and the Feast day of St Hilary (315-368) Confessor, Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
By St Hilary (315-368)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Father, keep us from vain strife of words.
Grant to us constant profession of the Truth!
Preserve us in a true and undefiled faith
so that we may hold fast to that
which we professed
when we were Baptised
in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
that we may have Thou for our Father,
that we may abide in Thy Son
and in the fellowship of the Holy Ghost.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING, The SIGN of the CROSS, The WILL of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 1 December – ‘…Consider how near He is and, that none of our thoughts, … escapes Him. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 1 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Ferial Day – Colossians 1:9-14; Matthew 24:15-35 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And then shall appear the Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven. ” – Matthew 24:30

REFLECTION – “Let us fix our eyes on the Father and Creator of the world and cling to His splendid and surpassing gifts of peace and His benefits. Let us see Him with our mind and look with the eyes of the soul at His patient purpose. Let us consider how free from anger He is toward all His creation … For He ordered the universe to be in peace and harmony, in His kindness to all things but especially, to ourselves, who have taken refuge in His mercy …

Take care, dear friends that His many benefits do not bring condemnation upon us, if we do not live worthily of Him … Consider how near He is and, that none of our thoughts, nor the reflections in which we indulge, escapes Him. It is right, therefore, that we should not be deserters from that which He wills … . Far be it from us that Scripture, where it says: “How wretched are those who waver, who are of a doubting heart and say: “We heard those things even in our forefather’s time and here, we have grown old and none of them has happened to us.” You senseless people! Compare yourselves to a tree – take a vine. First it sheds its leaves, then a shoot appears, then a leaf, then a flower and afterward, a sour grape, then a ripe grape. You see in that, in a short time the fruit of the tree comes to maturity. In truth, His will, will be quickly and suddenly accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness: “He will come quickly and not delay” (Is 13:22) and “The Lord will come suddenly to His Temple and the Holy One for Whom you seek.” (Mal 3:1).” – St Pope Clement I (c35-c101) Apostolic Father of the Church (Letter to the Corinthians 19-23)

PRAYER – From all perils of soul and body defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee and by the intercession of the Blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace that all adversities and errors being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).