Category: The WORD

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart – Day Eight – 26 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Eight – 26 June

Eighth Day – Peace be with you!

Today’s Scripture
While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’   They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.   He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?   Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself.   Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’…Luke 24: 36-39

Reflection for the Eighth Day
Peace; Look; Listen;  Go!   Jesus greets the apostles with that soothing word, ‘Shalom’ (Peace) – it means I wish you the fullness of well-being of mind and body and soul.   He then invites them to look at His hands and side.   He encourages them to listen to what the scriptures say about Him and then to go and preach the Good News that He is Risen!

Today’s Prayer
Lord, You see my poverty
and still You love me better than
I can love myself.
Supply my wants with Yourself,
according to Your mercy.
Help me to accept Your will
without seeking
to understand disappointments.
Help me to resign myself entirely
and absolutely to You.
Amen

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us, when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY EIGHT- NOVENA SACRED HEART - 26 june 2019.jpg

Posted in PAPAL Apostolic EXHORTATIONS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 June – Are we bearing good fruit?

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 26 June – Wednesday of the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time, Gospel: Matthew 7:15–20

“Every good tree bears good fruit”...Matthew 7:17

REFLECTION – “In a culture paradoxically suffering from anonymity and at the same time obsessed with the details of other people’s lives, shamelessly given over to morbid curiosity, the Church must look more closely and sympathetically at others whenever necessary.   In our world, ordained ministers and other pastoral workers can make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and His personal gaze.   The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment” which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5).   The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life…

Today more than ever we need men and women who, on the basis of their experieevangeliigaudium169-171,nce of accompanying others, are familiar with processes which call for prudence, understanding, patience and docility to the Spirit, so that they can protect the sheep from wolves who would scatter the flock.   We need to practice the art of listening, which is more than simply hearing.   Listening, in communication, is an openness of heart which makes possible that closeness without which genuine spiritual encounter cannot occur. Listening helps us to find the right gesture and word which shows that we are more than simply bystanders.   Only through such respectful and compassionate listening, can we enter on the paths of true growth and awaken a yearning for the Christian ideal – the desire to respond fully to God’s love and to bring to fruition what He has sown in our lives.”…Pope Francis – Apostolic Exhortation « Evangelii Gaudium / The Joy of the gospel #169-171matthew 7 17 every good tree - only through listening - pope francis evanglii gaudium 69-71.jpg

PRAYER – Enable me loving Father, to live a life of purity that will make me live in You. Let me be so united with You that whatever I might ask will be in total accord with Your will for me.   Bl Jacques Ghazir Haddad, your tireless work and preaching for the glory of the Kingdom show us the way to sanctification, please intercede for us all.   May Mary our Mother of Compassion, be our constant companion.   We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God for all eternity, amen.mater misericordiae mother of merct pray for us 8 april 2019

bl jacques ghazir haddad pray for us 26 june 2919

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 25 June -Manifesting Christ by St Gregory of Nyssa

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Thought for the Day – 25 June – Tuesday of the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 7:6,12=14

Christ should be Manifest in our Whole Life

Saint Gregory of Nyssa (c 335–C 395)
Bishop and Father of the Church –
Brother of St Basil the Great (Father & Doctor)

An excerpt from his treatise On Christian Perfection

The life of the Christian has three distinguishing aspects –  deeds, words and thought. Thought comes first, then words, since our words express openly the interior conclusions of the mind.   Finally, after thoughts and words, comes action, for our deeds carry out what the mind has conceived.  So when one of these results in our acting or speaking or thinking, we must make sure that all our thoughts, words and deeds are controlled by the divine ideal, the revelation of Christ.   For then our thoughts, words and deeds will not fall short of the nobility of their implications.

What then must we do, we who have been found worthy of the name of Christ?   Each of us must examine his thoughts, words and deeds, to see whether they are directed toward Christ or are turned away from Him.   This examination is carried out in various ways. Our deeds or our thoughts or our words are not in harmony with Christ if they issue from passion.   They then bear the mark of the enemy who smears the pearl of the heart with the slime of passion, dimming and even destroying the lustre of the precious stone.

On the other hand, if they are free from and untainted by every passionate inclination, they are directed toward Christ, the author and source of peace.   He is like a pure, untainted stream.   If you draw from Him the thoughts in your mind and the inclinations of your heart, you will show a likeness to Christ, your source and origin, as the gleaming water in a jar resembles the flowing water from which it was obtained.if you draw from him - st gregory of nyssa - 25 jun 2019.jpg

For the purity of Christ and the purity that is manifest in our hearts are identical.  Christ’s purity, however, is the fountainhead, ours has its source in Him and flows out of Him.   Our life is stamped with the beauty of His thought.   The inner and the outer man are harmonised in a kind of music.   The mind of Christ is the controlling influence that inspires us to moderation and goodness in our behaviour.   As I see it, Christian perfection consists in thiS – sharing the titles which express the meaning of Christ’s name, we bring out this meaning in our minds, our prayers and our way of life.

I am the Way and the Truth and the Life…John 14:8

i am the way the truth and the life jon 14 8 31 march 2019 laetare sunday.jpg

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, MARIAN TITLES, MORNING Prayers, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 25 June – Christ, the narrow door

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 25 June – Tuesday of the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 7:6,12-14

“Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life and those who find it are few.”…Matthew 7:13-14enter through the narrow gate - matthew 7 - 13 - 14

REFLECTION – “Of course Jesus’ door is a narrow one but not because it is a torture chamber.   No, not for that reason!   Rather, because He asks us to open our hearts to Him, to recognise that we are sinners in need of His salvation, His forgiveness and His love in order to have the humility to accept His mercy and to let ourselves be renewed by Him.

Jesus tells us in the Gospel that being Christians does not mean having a “label!”    I ask you, are you Christians by label or by the truth?   And let each one answer within him- or herself!   Not Christians, never Christians by label!   Christians in truth, Christians in the heart.   The whole of our life must pass through the narrow door which is Christ.”…Pope Francis (Angelus, 25 August 2013)

PRAYER – Increase in us, Lord, Your gift of faith, so that the praise we offer You, may ever yield it’s fruit from heaven,   May the Spirit pour into our hearts, that we may walk in Your light and become like You.   May the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Grace and all Your Saints, help us in our striving for holiness.   Through Christ, our Lord in union with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.our lady of grace pray for us 25 june 2019

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The WORD

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart – Day Six – 24 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Six – 24 June

Sixth Day – Honesty in prayer

Today’s Scripture
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them about their brother.   When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home.   Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.   But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’   Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’...John 11:17-24

Reflection for the Sixth Day
St Ignatius Loyola said that we should always speak to Jesus in prayer just as one close friend would speak to another. Don’t be afraid to express your real feelings to Jesus – anger, hurt, joy, sorrow, etc. When you’ve made your complaint or expressed your joy, don’t forget one thing Listen for God’s response! It may come in surprising ways.

Today’s Prayer
Jesus, I have to be honest
and tell You that there’ve been times
when I’ve been angry with You
and I feel that You’ve let me down.
Help me to trust that You really do have
a loving plan for me and for everyone,
a plan that most times
I find hard to fathom.
For Your ways are not ours
and that makes it difficult for us.
But total trust, as a child trusts it’s parents,
is what I ask of You.

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY SIX- 24 JUNE 2019- SACRED HEART NOVENA

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 June – “The Benedictus”

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One Minute Reflection – 24 June – The Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist, Year C, Gospel:  Luke 1:57–66

“And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke, blessing God.”…Luke 1:64

REFLECTION – “The Benedictus, is prayed every morning in the Breviary and so, the Church remembers this “forerunner of Jesus” at the beginning of every day.   The opening words of this Canticle are the source of its Latin title, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel”.
What does it mean for Catholics, that we sing this song about John the Baptists at the start of every new day?   After having been “silenced” by sleep throughout the night, God opens our mouths and one of the first things we do, is to sing this blessing of God, whose dawn breaks forth to shine on us and guide our way to peace.
In the Benedictus, we join ourselves to the mission of St John the Baptist, who came to prepare a way for the Lord by being a witness of God’s salvation, living a simple and penitential life and calling others to do the same.   Our work each day, then, is to use our voice – like Zechariah and his son – and the witness of our lives, to make God’s presence known wherever we go and to whom whomever we encounter.”the benedictus - 24 june 2019- the nativity of st john the baptist.jpg

PRAYER –
The Benedictus – Canticle of Zechariah
Luke 1:68-79
The Messiah and His forerunner

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
He has visited His people and redeemed them.

He has raised up for us a mighty saviour,
in the house of David, His servant,
as He promised by the lips of holy men,
those who were His prophets of old.

A Saviour who would free us from our foes,
from the hands of all who us.
So His love for our fathers is fulfilled
and His holy covenant remembered.

He swore to Abraham, our father, to grant us,
that free from fear and saved from the hands of our foes.
we might worship Him in justice and holiness
all the days of our lives, in His Presence.

As for you, little child,
you shall be called the prophet of God, the Most High.
You shall go ahead of the Lord
to prepare His ways before Him,

to make known to His people their salvation,
through forgiveness of all their sins,
the loving kindness of the heart of our God,
who visits us like the dawn from on high.

He will give light to those in darkness,
those who dwell in the shadow of death
and to guide us into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever.
Amenthe benedictus 24 june 2019 NEW - 6.jpgthe benedictus 24 june 2019 NEW 2.jpg

St John the Baptist, Pray for Us!

st-john-the-baptist-pray-for-us-24-june-2018

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The WORD

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart Day Five – 23 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Five – 23 June

Fifth Day – Has no one condemned you?

Today’s Scripture
Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’...John 8: 10-11

Reflection for the Fifth Day
I read something recently which went like this: ‘You do not have to be good before God will love you; you do not have to repent before you will be absolved by God. It is all the other way around. If you are good, it is because God’s love has already made you so; if you want to be forgiven, that is because God is forgiving you.’

Today’s Prayer
Jesus, as I reflect upon Your Sacred Heart,
help me to have a deep felt knowledge
that You have already forgiven
the sins of which I have repented
and asked Your forgiveness.
Help me to examine my conscience each day,
for I know You long to forgive all my sins,
where Your Sacred Heart
is love made visible.

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
Amenday-five-novena-to-the-sacred-heart 23 june 2019.jpg

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 June – The Truine Love present in the Eucharist

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 23 June – The Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ 2019, Gospel: Luke 9:11–17

“…he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.”…Luke 9:16

REFLECTION – “The mystery of today’s feast has three aspects, as is the case with all the great feasts after Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.
First, the Gospel portrays it through the image of the multiplication of the loaves.   This is no bit of magic on Jesus’ part – to accomplish it He looks toward heaven, toward His Father, with both petition and thanksgiving (eucharistia):  “Father, I thank you for hearing me.” (Jn 11:42)   His lavish giving away of Himself in the loaves, will be a sign of the way the Father’s love utterly lavishes His Son on the world.
Then He blesses the bread, for the Father has left everything to the Son, including the bestowal of heaven’s blessing.
He breaks it, which points both to His own brokenness in the Passion and to the way His gifts will be limitlessly multiplied by the work of the Holy Spirit in every Eucharistic celebration.   Thus, through this visible image, we realise that truine Love itself, becomes present in the Eucharistic self-giving of Jesus.”… Cardinal Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988)luke 9 16 he looked up to heaven - he breaks it - hans urs von balthasar 23 june 2019 corpus christi

PRAYER – Lord Jesus Christ, You gave Your Church an admirable Sacrament as the abiding memorial of Your Passion.   Teach us so 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 and every, amen.corpus christi 23 june 2019 mark 14 22 this is my body

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, MORNING Prayers, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The WORD

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart Day Four – 22 June

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Four – 22 June

Fourth Day – How do we look at each other?

Today’s Scripture
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions….Mark 10: 21-22

Reflection for the Fourth Day
A Dominican theologian once wrote, ‘A person is enlightened not when they get an idea but when someone looks at them’. How we look at another has tremendous consequences for self-esteem. The Sacred Heart looks at each one of us with deep love, understanding and compassion. We are called to look at others in the same way.

Today’s Prayer
Jesus, You looked at the rich young man with love
and yet he could not respond to Your call.
Help our prayer
to become our looking at You
looking at us
and smiling with love
so that we will not run
from the love that You offer.

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY FOUR - 22 JUNE - SACRED HEART NOVENA.jpg

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 June

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One Minute Reflection – 22 June – Saturday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 6:24–34 and the Memorial of St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr

Look at the birds in the sky,they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? ..Matthew 6:26matthew 6 26 look at the birds of the air - 22 june 2019

REFLECTION – “I will not mistrust Him, Meg, though I shall feel myself weakening and on the verge of being overcome with fear. I shall remember, how Saint Peter at a blast of wind, began to sink because of his lack of faith and I shall do as he did, call upon Christ and pray to Him for help. And then I trust He shall place His holy hand on me and in the stormy seas, hold me up from drowning.”…St Thomas More (1478-1535)i-will-not-distrust-him-meg-st-thomas-more-11-jan-2018 and today 22 june 2019

“In the face of the situations of so many people, near and far, who live in wretchedness, Jesus’ discourse might appear hardly realistic, if not evasive  . In fact, the Lord wants to make people understand clearly, that it is impossible to serve two masters – God and mammon [riches].   Whoever believes in God, the Father, full of love for His children, puts first the search for His Kingdom and His will.   And this is precisely the opposite of fatalism or ingenuous irenics.   Faith in Providence does not, in fact, dispense us from the difficult struggle, for a dignified life but frees us, from the yearning for things and from fear of the future.
It is clear that although Jesus’ teaching remains ever true and applicable for all it is practised in different ways according to the different vocations – a Franciscan friar will be able to follow it more radically, while a father of a family must bear in mind his proper duties to his wife and children.   In every case, however, Christians are distinguished by their absolute trust in the heavenly Father, as was Jesus.   It was precisely Christ’s relationship with God the Father that gave meaning to the whole of His life, to His words, to His acts of salvation until His Passion, death and Resurrection.   Jesus showed us what it means to live with our feet firmly planted on the ground, attentive to the concrete situations of our neighbour, yet, at the same time keeping our heart in Heaven, immersed in God’s mercy.” … Pope Benedict XVI (Sunday, 27 February 2011).faith in providence - pope bendict 22 june 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Heavenly Father, we trust in You and abide in You. Grant us we pray, that by the prayers of our heavenly Mother, our Mother of divine Providence and St Thomas More, who said “I will trust Him”, that we too may ever know that You are with us and guide, help and feed us everyday.   Through Christ our Lord with the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.mary, mother of divine providence, pray for us 22 june 2019

st thomas more pry for us 22 june 2019

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, NOVENAS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The WORD

Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart Day Three – 21 June

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Novena to the Sacred Heart
Day Three – 21 June

Third Day – When I find prayer difficult

Today’s Scripture
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.   And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.   We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose….Romans 8: 26-28

Reflection for the Third Day
St Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897) once said, that love was her vocation in life.   Never was this vocation tested more than in the last nine months of her life as she lay dying with tuberculosis.   She wrote a note to her sister Céline:  ‘Here is great love, to love Jesus without feeling the sweetness of His love – that is love pushed to the point of heroism.’

Today’s Prayer
Jesus, I believe.   Help my unbelief!
Jesus, You are the real bedrock of my hope.
Help me always to rely on You,
especially in times of doubt and trouble.

Daily Invocation
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus, the needs of Your people,
open Your Sacred Heart in love for each of us.
You care for us when we are lost,
sympathise with us in loneliness
and comfort us in mourning.
You are closest to us when we are weakest.
You love us most, when we love ourselves least,
You forgive us most, when we forgive ourselves least
and You call us to spread Your love
in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart
is moved with compassion
when we are suffering,
when we need Your help
and when we pray for each other.
I ask You to listen to my prayer during this Novena
and grant what I ask.
—————————-
(Mention your intention silently.)
If what I ask, is not for my own good
and the good of others,
grant me what is best,
that I may build up Your kingdom
of love in our world.
AmenDAY THREE NOVENA SACRED HEART - 21 june 2019.jpg

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES on FREEDOM, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 June – “…A free heart…”

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One Minute Reflection – 21 June – Friday Eleventh week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel:  Matthew 6:19–23 and the Memorial of St Aloysius de Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”….Matthew 6:19-21matthew-6-19-21-17-june-2017.jpg

 

REFLECTION – “This is really Jesus’ message – have a free heart.   Otherwise, if your treasure is in wealth, in vanity, in power or in pride, your heart will be chained there, your heart will be a slave to wealth, to vanity, to pride.   On this line of reasoning, have a free heart, precisely because Jesus speaks to us about freedom of the heart.   And one can only have a free heart with the treasures of heaven – love, patience, service to others, worshipping God.   These are the true riches that cannot be stolen.   The other types of treasures — money, vanity, power — weigh down the heart, chain it, don’t allow it freedom.”…Pope Francis (Santa Marta, 20 June 2014)one can only have a free heart- pope francis - 21 june 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Father almighty, as we wait and work and pray and fast in joyful hope of our eternal life with You, grant we pray that we may always remain steadfast in Your love. Let your light so penetrate our minds, that walking by Your commandments, we may always follow You, our leader and our guide.   St Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us that we will fully utilise the many gifts our Almighty God has bestowed on us as we journey home.   We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord, in union with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever, amen.st-aloysius-gonzaga-pray-for-us-21-june-2018-pg.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, The LORD'S PRAYER, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 20 June – Part One “Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer” St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)

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Thought for the Day – 20 June – Thursday Eleventh Week of Ord Time Year C – Today’s Gospel Matthew 6:7-15 – Part One “Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer” St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)

Our prayer is communal

Saint Cyprian of Carthage (c 200-258)
Bishop, Father of the Church and Martyr

An excerpt from his Treatise On the Lord’s Prayer

Above all, he who preaches peace and unity, did not want us to pray by ourselves in private or for ourselves alone.   We do not say “My Father, who art in heaven,” nor “Give me this day my daily bread.”   It is not for himself alone, that each person asks to be forgiven, not to be led into temptation or to be delivered from evil.   Rather, we pray in public as a community and not for one individual but for all.   For the people of God are all one.

God is then the teacher of harmony, peace and unity and desires each of us to pray for all men, even as he bore all men in Himself alone.   The three young men shut up in the furnace of fire observed this rule of prayer.   United in the bond of the Spirit, they uttered together the same prayer.   The witness of holy Scripture describes this incident for us, so that we might imitate them in our prayer.   Then all three began to sing in unison, blessing God.   Even though Christ had not yet taught them to pray, nevertheless, they spoke as with one voice.

It is for this reason, that their prayer was persuasive and efficacious.   For their simple and spiritual prayer of peace merited the presence of the Lord  . So too, after the ascension we find the apostles and the disciples praying together in this way.   Scripture relates – They all joined together in continuous prayer, with the women including Mary, the mother of Jesus and his brothers.   They all joined together in continuous prayer.  The urgency and the unity of their prayer declares that God, who fashions a bond of unity among those who live in His home, will admit into His divine home, for all eternity, only those who pray in unity.

My dear friends, the Lord’s Prayer contains many great mysteries of our faith.   In these few words there is great spiritual strength, for this summary of divine teaching contains all of our prayers and petitions.   And so, the Lord commands us, Pray then like this:  Our Father, who art in heaven.

We are new men, we have been reborn and restored to God by His grace.   We have already begun to be His sons and we can say “Father.”   John reminds us of this – He came to His own home and His own people did not receive Him.   But to all who received Him, who believe in His name, He gave the power to become children of God.   Profess your belief that you are sons of God by giving thanks.   Call upon God who is your Father in heaven.we pray in public as a community - st cyprian on the lord's prayer PART ONE - 20 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WORD

Quote of the Day – 20 June – ‘…let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears!’

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Quote of the Day – 20 June – Thursday Eleventh Week of Ord Time Year C – Today’s Gospel Matthew 6:7-15

“So, my brothers, let us pray as God our master has taught us.
To ask the Father in words His Son has given us,
to let Him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in His ears,
is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer.
Let the Father recognise the words of His Son.
Let the Son who lives in our hearts, be also on our lips.
We have Him as an Advocate for sinners, before the Father,
when we ask for forgiveness for ours sins,
let us use the words given by our Advocate.
He tells us –
Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you.
What more effective prayer could we then make,
in the name of Christ, than in the words of His own prayer?”

Saint Cyprian of Carthage (c 200- c 258)
Bishop, Father of the Church and Martyr

An excerpt from his “On the Lord’s Prayer”let-us-pray-as-god-our-master-has-taught-us-st-cyprian-12-march-2019-lenten-thoughts-no-2- used again 20 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 20 June – Prayer is a petition for what God gives

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One Minute Reflection – 20 June – Thursday Eleventh Week of Ord Time Year C – Today’s Gospel Matthew 6:7-15

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”…Matthew 6:7

REFLECTION – Prayer is a petition for what God gives – “The Lord’s prayer, as I have said, contains a petition for each of these things.   First, it speaks of the Father, His name and His kingdom.   Second, it shows us that the person who prays, is by grace the Son of this Father.   It asks that those in heaven and those on earth may be united in one will.   It tells us to ask for our daily bread.   It lays down that people should be reconciled with one another and it unites our nature with itself when we forgive and are forgiven, for then it is not split asunder by differences of will and purpose.   It teaches us to pray against entering into temptation, since this is the law of sin.   And it exhorts us to ask for deliverance from the evil one.

For the author and giver of divine blessings could not but be our teacher as well, providing the words of this prayer, as precepts of life, for those disciples who believe in Him and follow the way He taught in the flesh.   Through these words, He has revealed the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3) that exist in Him as pure form. And in all who offer this prayer, He kindles the desire to enjoy such treasures.

It is for this reason, I think, that Scripture calls this teaching “prayer”, since it contains petitions for the gifts that God gives to us by grace.   Our divinely inspired Fathers have explained prayer in a similar way, saying that prayer is petition for that which God naturally gives us, in the manner that is appropriate.”…St Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662) Monk and Theologian – Interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer (Philokalia, Volume Two)matthew 6 7 your father knows before you ask - for the author and giver of - st maximus the confessor on the lord's prayer 20 june 2019

PRAYER – Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amenthe Lord's Prayer - matthew 6 9-13 - 20 june 2019

Posted in CARMELITES, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SILENCE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 19 June – “When you pray, go to your inner room”

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Thought for the Day – 19 June – Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 6:1–6 and the Memorial of St Romuald (c 951-1027)

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”...Matthew 6:6

“When you pray, go to your inner room”

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein OCD (1891-1942)
Martyr, co-patron of Europe

The Prayer of the Church (trans. Darlington Carmel)

In those who have entered into the unity of the divine inner life, everything is one – rest and activity, contemplation and action, silence and speech, listening and communicating, loving receptiveness, and loving gift of self in thanksgiving and praise… We need hours of silent listening, when we allow the divine Word to work in us, until it craves to become fruitful in the sacrifice of praise and of action.

We need the traditional forms and participation in the set forms of acts of regular worship, so that the inner life can be awakened and guided and find a suitable expression.   The solemn divine praise must have its homes on earth, where it is developed, to the greatest perfection possible, to human beings.   From these, it ascends to heaven, for the whole Church and becomes effective in the members of the Church, quickening their interior life, inviting their participation.   But, it must itself be quickened from within, even in these places, by leaving space for silence and depth. Otherwise it would degenerate into mere lip-service.   Contemplative houses where souls stand in solitude and silence before the face of God, are a protection against this danger. They wish to be, in the heart of the Church, the love that vivifies all.we need hours of silent listening - st teresa benedicta edith stein 19 june 2019.jpg

St Romuald, Pray for Us!st-romuald-pray-for-us-no-2-19-june-2018.jpg

St Teresa Benedicta, Pray for Us!st-teresa-benedicta-pray-for-us-2-9 aug 2017.jpg

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One Minute Reflection – 19 June

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One Minute Reflection – 19 June – Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 6:1–6 and the Memorial of St Romuald (c 951-1027) and St Juliana Falconieri OSM (1270 – 1341)

“Beware of practising your piety before men, in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven..”... Matthew 6:1

REFLECTION – ”Vainglory can find a place, not only, in the splendour and pomp of worldly wealth but even in the sordid garment of sackcloth as well.   It is then all the more dangerous, because it is a deception, under the pretence of service to God.
When one dazzles by immoderate adornment of the body and its raiment, or by the splendour of whatever else one may possess, by that very fact, one is easily shown to desire ostentatious display.   This person deceives nobody by a crafty semblance of holiness.   But if, through extraordinary squalor and shabbiness, one is attracting others’ attention to one’s manner of professing Christianity and if, one is doing this of choice and not merely enduring it through necessity, then one may determine by one’s other works whether one is doing it through an indifference toward needless adornment, or through ambition of some kind.   Indeed, the Lord has forewarned us to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing:  “By their fruits you shall know them.”
Trials of one kind or another, that cause these people to lose the very advantages they have gained, through their dress or claimed to deny, what they sought to gain by it, will inevitably reveal, whether it is a case of a wolf under a sheep’s skin or a sheep under its own.   But just as sheep ought not to change their skin even though wolves sometimes hide themselves beneath it, so a Christian ought not try to delight the eyes of others by needless adornment, just because pretenders very often assume that scanty garb, which necessity demands and assume it, for the purpose of deceiving those, who are less aware.” … St Augustine (354-430) (Sermon on the Mount, 2)matthew 6 1 - beware of practising yuor piety - vainglory can find a place - st augustine 19 june 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Lord God, in Your wisdom You created us.   By Your providence You rule us. Penetrate our inmost being with Your holy light, so that we may shine only by our service and imitation of Your Son and never seek to shine by our own efforts.   May we be mirrors of His meek and humble Heart.   Grant that the prayers of St Romuald and St Juliana Falconieri may be help on our way.   Through Christ our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.st-romuald-pray-for-us-19-june-2018.jpg

st juliana falconieri pray for us - 19 june 2019.jpg

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 18 June – ‘So love, dearest brethren…’

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Thought for the Day – 18 June – Tuesday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 5:43–48

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…

Matthew 5:44matthew-5-44-but-i-say-to-you-love-your-enemies-4-aug-2018

“Love your enemies”

Saint Caesarius of Arles (470-543)
Monk and Bishop

Sermons addressed to the people, no. 23, 3; SC 243

In all these works of true and perfect charity I am telling you about, nothing is to be done with hand or foot – in other words, no-one can say they are incapable of them or too weak. (…) No-one can plausibly raise any kind of excuse against them, saying, that they are unable to put these counsels into practice.   For you are not being told: “Fast more than you are able, stay awake all night more than you have the strength to do!” (…); no-one is obliging you to sell all your goods and give everything to the poor or to remain a virgin. (…)   Let someone who can do all these things give thanks to God.   And let someone who cannot, maintain true charity and they will possess everything in this.   For love suffices, even without all those good works but those good works, without love, are wholly useless. That is why I am saying and repeating these things to you, dearest brethren, so that you may evermore fully understand, that no-one can claim, they are incapable of, carrying out God’s commandments.

So hold fast to the sweet and salutary bond of love, without which, the rich are poor and with which the poor are rich.   What do the rich possess if not charity? (…)   And since “God is love,” (1 Jn 4:8) as John the evangelist says, what can the poor lack, if they merit to possess God by means of charity? (…)   So love, dearest brethren and hold fast to charity without which no-one will ever see God.matthew 5 44 - love your enemies - so hold fast to the sweet - st caesarius of arles 18 june 2019.jpg

“Prayer is an antidote against hatred.”

Pope Francis

19 February 2017prayer-is-an-antidote-against-hatred-pope-francis-18-june-2018 (1)

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on HUMAN DIGNITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TRUTH, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 18 June – ‘Love your enemies…’

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One Minute Reflection – 18 June – Tuesday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 5:43–48 and the Memorial of Blessed Osanna Andreasi OP (1449-1505)

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”…Matthew 5:44matthew-5-44-but-i-say-to-you-love-your-enemies-16-march-2019

REFLECTION – “You have often heard it said that we are living through a marvellous time, a time of great men… It is easy to understand why people long for a strong and capable leader to arise… This kind of neo-paganism [Nazism] believes all nature to be an emanation of the divine…; it admires a race that is nobler and purer than any other… From this comes the cult of race and blood, the cult of its own people’s heroes.

By starting out from so mistaken an idea, this view of things can lead to capital errors.  It is tragic to see how much enthusiasm, how many efforts are placed at the service of such an erroneous and baseless ideal!  However, we can learn from our enemy.   We can learn from his deceitful philosophy how to purify and improve our own ideal, we can learn how to develop great love for this ideal, how to arouse immense enthusiasm and even a readiness to live and die for it, how to strengthen our hearts to incarnate it in ourselves and in others…

When we talk about the coming of the Kingdom and pray for its coming, we are not thinking of a discrimination according to race or blood but of the brotherhood of all, for all men are our brothers – not excluding even those who hate and attack us – in a close bond with the One, who causes the sun to rise on the good and the bad alike (Mt 5:45).”…Blessed Titus Brandsma (1881-1942) Martyrall-men-are-our-brothers-bl-titus-brandsma-1st-sat-lent-16-march-2019

PRAYER – Almighty God, to whom this world, with all it’s goodness and beauty belongs, give us grace joyfully, to begin this day for Christ Your Son, in Him and with Him and to fill it, with an active love for all Your children, even those who may not like or who do us harm. Help us to love as You do so that we may become like You. Blessed Osanna Andreasi, you who spread your charity far and wide, pray for us. Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever, amen.bl osanna andreasi pray for us 18 june 2019.jpg

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 17 June – “Offer no resistance” – The Christian Revolution

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 June – Monday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel:  Matthew 5:38–42, First Reading:  2 Corinthians 6:1–10

“We are treated as deceivers and yet, are truthful,
as unrecognised and yet, acknowledged,
as dying and behold we live,
as chastised and yet, not put to death,
as sorrowful yet, always rejoicing,
as poor yet, enriching many,
as having nothing and yet, possessing all things.”

2 Corinthians 8-102 corinthians 8 - 10 we are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful 17 june 2019

“But I say to you,
offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.”

Matthew 5:39but I say to you offer no resistance to one who is evil - matthew 5 39 - 17 june 2019

“Love of one’s enemy constitutes
the nucleus of the ‘Christian revolution,’
a revolution not based on strategies
of economic, political or media power –
the revolution of love, a love that does not rely
ultimately on human resources but, is a gift of God
which is obtained, by trusting solely
and unreservedly in His merciful goodness.
Here is the newness of the Gospel
which silently changes the world!
Here is the heroism, of the ‘lowly,’
who believe in God’s love and spread it,
even at the cost of their lives”

Pope Benedict XVI

(Angelus, 18 February 2007)love of one's enemies - pope benedict 17 june 2019.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 17 June – ‘…Go with him for two miles.’

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One Minute Reflection – 17 June – Monday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel : Matthew 5:38–42 and the Memorial of Blessed Joseph-Marie Cassant OCSO (1878-1903)

“Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.”… Matthew 5:41

REFLECTION – “Do you grasp the excellence of a Christian disposition?   After you give your coat and your cloak, even if your enemy should wish to subject your naked body to hardships and labours, not even then, Jesus says, must you forbid him.   For He would have us possess all things in common, both our bodies and our goods, as with them that are in need, so with them that insult us.   For the latter response comes from a courageous spirit, the former from mercy.   Because of this, Jesus said, “If any one shall compel you to go one mile, go with him two.”   Again He leads you to higher ground and commands you to manifest the same type of aspiration.   For if the lesser things He spoke of at the beginning receive such great blessings, consider what sort of reward awaits those who duly perform these and what they become even before we hear of receiving rewards.   You are winning full freedom from unworthy passions in a human and passible body.” … Saint John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop, Father & Doctor (The Gospel of Matthew: Homily 18)matthew 5 41 should anyone press you into service - do you grasp the excellence of a christian disposition- st john chrysostom - 17 june 2019.jpg

PRAYER – King of heaven and earth, Lord God, rule over or hearts and bodies this day. Sanctify us and guide our every thought, word and deed according to the commandments of Your law, so that now and forever, Your grace may free and save us.  Teach us Lord to walk in the ways of the Cross of Your Son, our Saviour, as Blessed Joseph-Marie Cassant so lovingly and willingly inspires us to do.   Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God, forever, amen.bl joseph marie cassant pray for us 17 june 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

Saint of the Day – 11 June – St Barnabas, Apostle “Son of Encouragement”

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st-barnabas-pray-for-us-11-june-2018.jpghttps://anastpaul.com/2018/06/11/saint-of-the-day-11-june-st-barnabas-apostle-son-of-encouragement/

https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/11/saint-of-the-day-st-barnabas-the-apostle-11-june/

News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.   When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad and he exhorted them all, to remain faithful to the Lord, with steadfast purpose;  for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.   And a large company was added to the Lord...Acts 11:22-24

“While we cannot see God, there is something we can do, to open a way, for the eye of our understanding to come to Him.   It is certain that we can see now in His servants, one whom we can in no way see in Himself.   When we see them doing astonishing things, we can be sure that God dwells in their hearts…   None of us can look directly at the rising sun by gazing at its orb.   Our eyes are repelled as they strain to see its rays.   But we look at mountains bathed in sunlight and see that it has risen.   Because we cannot see the Sun of righteousness (Mal 3,20) Himself, let us see the mountains bathed in His brightness, I mean the holy apostles.   They shine with virtues and gleam with miracles…  The power of His divinity, is in itself, like the sun in the sky;  in human beings it is like the sun shining on earth…”

St Pope Gregory the Great (c 540-604), Father & Doctor of the Church

(Homilies on the Gospel, no 30)

when-he-came-and-saw-acts-11-22-24-when-we-see-them-doing-st-pope-gregory-the-great-11-june-2018-st-barnabas.jpg

Posted in NOVENAS, The HOLY GHOST, The WORD

Pentecost Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Seven – 6 June

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Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day Seven – 6 June

“But it is God,

who establishes us, with you in Christ

and has anointed us,

by putting his seal on us

and giving us his Spirit in our heart,

as a first instalment.”

St Paul

2 Corinthians 1:21

2 cor 1 21 - but it is god who establishes us - 6 june 2019.jpg

For the Traditional Novena, here with the Act of Consecration: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/pentecost-novena-to-the-holy-spirit-for-the-seven-gifts-day-one-11-may-2018/

Begin by reciting the following prayer…

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!
I adore You as my True God.
I offer You my whole heart,
and I render You heartfelt thanks
for all the benefits You have bestowed upon the world.
You are the author of all supernatural gifts
and enriched the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Mother of God,
with all favours,
I ask You to visit me by Your grace and Your love,
and grant me the favour
I so earnestly seek…
…………………………………. State your request here…
O Holy Spirit,
spirit of truth, come into our hearts.

Let us Pray:

Come, Holy Spirit,
creator of all things:
come visit our hearts with Your power.
Fill with grace, friendly guest,
the hearts which You have created.
You are called the Consoler,
gift from the hand of God,
source of life,
light, love and flame, highest good.
You are the pledge of sevenfold grace,
finger of the Father’s hand,
promised us by Him,
and You make our tongues speak the truth.
Cast light on our senses,
pour love into our hearts.
Grant our weak bodies strength
that they may never grow weary of doing good
and grant me the favour I so earnestly seek in this novena…
Keep the enemy far from us,
give us peace always,
let us willingly follow in Your footsteps
that we may be far removed from sin.
Grant that through You
we may grow in knowledge
of the Father and of the Son
and that we may ever strongly believe in You,
the Spirit of both.
Praise and honour be forever
to the Father on the highest throne,
in the risen Son of God,
in the Consoler.

Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of Your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
Amenday-seven-pentecost-novena-17-may-2018

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The HOLY CROSS, The LAMB of GOD, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 24 May – Firstborn of Many Brothers

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Thought for the Day – 24 May – Friday of the Fifth Week of Eastertide: Today’s Gospel John 15:12-17

Firstborn of Many Brothers

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide”…John 15:16

Blessed Isaac of Stella O.Cist. (c 1100 – c 1170)
Cistercian Monk, Abbot, Theologian, Philosopher

An excerpt from his Sermon 42

Just as the head and body of a man, form one single man, so the Son of the Virgin and those He has chosen to be His members, form a single man and the one Son of Man. Christ is whole and entire, head and body, say the Scriptures, since all the members form one body, which with its Head is one Son of Man and He, with the Son of God is one Son of God, who Himself with God is one God.   Therefore, the whole body with its Head is Son of Man, Son of God and God.   This is the explanation of the Lord’s words – Father, I desire that as you and I are one, so they may be one with us.

And so, according to this well-known reading of Scripture, neither the body without the head, nor the Head without the body, nor the Head and body without God, make the whole Christ.   When all are united with God, they become one God.   The Son of God is one with God by nature, the Son of Man is one with Him in His person;  we, His body, are one with him sacramentally.   Consequently, those, who by faith, are spiritual members of Christ, can truly say that they are what He is – the Son of God and God Himself.   But what Christ is, by His nature, we are as His partners, what He is of Himself in all fullness, we are as participants.   Finally, what the Son of God is by generation, His members are by adoption, according to the text – As sons you have received the Spirit of adoption, enabling you to cry, Abba, Father.

Through His Spirit, He gave men the power to become sons of God, so that all those He has chosen might be taught by the firstborn, among many brothers to say – Our Father, who are in heaven.   Again He says elsewhere – I ascend to my Father and to your Father.

By the Spirit, from the womb of the Virgin, was born our Head, the Son of Man and by the same Spirit, in the waters of baptism, we are reborn as His body and as sons of God. And just as He was born without any sin, so we are reborn in the forgiveness of all our sins.   As on the cross, He bore the sum total of the whole body’s sins in His own physical body, so He gave His members the grace of rebirth, in order that no sin might be imputed to His mystical body.   It is written – Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no sin.   The blessed man of this text is undoubtedly Christ, who forgives sins insofar as God is His head.   Insofar as this Man is the Head of the body, no sin is forgiven Him.   But insofar as the body that belongs to this Head consists of many members, sin is not imputed to it.

Just in Himself, it is He who justifies Himself.   He alone is both Saviour and saved.   In His own body on the cross, He bore what He had washed from His body by the waters of baptism.   Bringing salvation through wood and through water, He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, which He took upon Himself.   Himself a priest, He offers Himself as sacrifice to God and He Himself is God.   Thus, through His own self, the Son is reconciled to Himself as God, as well as to the Father and to the Holy Spirit.jut as the head of a body - bl isaac of stella - 24 may 2019 - firstborn of many brothers.jpg

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE, SPEAKING of ....., The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

Quote/s of the Day – 24 May – Speaking of Love…

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Quote/s of the Day – 24 May – Friday of the Fifth Week of Eastertide: Today’s Gospel John 15:12-17

Speaking of Love…

“This is my commandment,
that you love one another,
as I have loved you…

John 15:12john 15 12 this is my commandment that you love ...24 may 2019.jpg

“What is the mark of love for your neighbour?
Not to seek what is for your own benefit
but what is for the benefit of the one loved,
both in body and in soul.”

St Basil the Great (329-379)

Father & Doctor of the Churchwhat-is-the-mark-of-love-for-your-neighbour-st-basil-the-great-4-may-2018-speaking-of-love.jpg

“Since love grows within you,
so beauty grows.
For love is the beauty of the soul.”since-love-grows-within-you-st-augustine-3-may-2018.jpg

“God is always trying to give good things to us
but our hands are too full to receive them!”

St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Gracegod is always trying to give good things to us - st augustine - 24 may 2019 fav.jpg

“Nothing is sweeter than love,
nothing stronger or higher or wider;
nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller
and nothing better in heaven or on earth,
for love is born of God
and cannot rest except in God,
Who is above all created things.”

Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471) – Imitation of Christnothing-is-sweeter-than-love-thomas-a-kempis-6-april-2018.jpg

“Love knows no limit
to its endurance,
no end to its trust,
no fading of its hope,
it can outlast anything.
Love still stands,
when all else has fallen.”

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)love-knows-no-limits-blaise-pascal-6-april-2018.jpg

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 May – “You did not choose me but I chose you…”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 24 May – Friday of the Fifth week of Easter, C, Gospel: John 15:12–17 and the Memorial of Our Lady Help of Christians and Blessed Maria Gargani (1892-1973)

“You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide”…John 15:16

REFLECTION – “Oh, how happy and blessed are those who love God and do as the Lord Himself says in the Gospel – “You shall love the lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and your neighbour as yourself.”    Let us love God, therefore and adore Him with a pure heart and a pure mind…

And let us love our neighbours as ourselves.   And if there is anyone who does not wish to love them as himself, at least let him do no harm to them but rather do good.   But those who have received the power to judge others, should exercise judgement with mercy, as they themselves desire to receive mercy from the Lord…   Let us then have charity and humility, let us give alms since this washes our souls from the stains of our sins.   For people lose everything they leave behind in this world but they carry with them, the rewards of charity and the alms which they gave, for which they will have a reward and a suitable remuneration from the Lord…

Upon all men and women, if they have done these things and have persevered to the end, the Spirit of the Lord will rest and He will make His home and dwelling among them.   They will be children of the heavenly Father whose works they do.   And they are spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ…   Oh, how glorious it is, how holy and great, to have a Father in heaven!   Oh, how holy, consoling, beautiful and wondrous it is to have a Spouse!  Oh, how holy… humble, peaceful, sweet, lovable, and desirable above all things to have such a Brother and Son, who laid down his life for his sheep and who prayed to the Father for us, saying: “Holy Father, protect those in your name whom you have given to me…; and I wish, Father, that where I am they also may be with me so that they may see my glory in your kingdom” … St Francis of Assisi (c 1181-1226) Founder of the Friars Minor – Letter to all the faithful, 2nd version

(Biblical references : Mt 22:37-39; cf. Lk 6:37; Is 11:2; Jn 14:23; Mt 5:45; Mt 12:50; Jn 10:15; Jn 17:11-24)john 15 16 you did not choose me - oh how holy - st francis - 24 may 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Almighty God and Father, You gave us a new birth in holy baptism and a new life in Your Son, who gave His life for us.   Give us the grace to bear much fruit always striving after what He has taught who goes ahead of us to lead us to You.   May the prayers of His beloved Mother and ours and Blessed Maria Gargani, grant us help and inspiration as we travel the road to eternal life.   Through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God now and for all eternity, amen.our-lady-help-of-christians-pray-for-us-24-may-2018.jpg

bl maria gargani pray for us 24 may 2019.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FAITH, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 23 May – ‘… Believing is not enough’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 23 May – Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter, C, First Reading: Acts 15:7-21 and the Memorial of St John Baptist de Rossi (1698-1764)

“He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.” …Acts 15:9

REFLECTION – “Faith in God purifies the heart, the pure heart sees God.   But faith is sometimes defined, as followed by people, who wish to deceive themselves, —  as if it were enough merely to believe — some people, you see, promise themselves the vision of God and the kingdom of heaven for believing, while living bad lives.  Against these the apostle James indignantly took umbrage out of spiritual charity, so he says in his letter, “You believe that God is one.”   You pat yourself on your back for your faith, you observe that many godless people assume there are many gods and you congratulate yourself for believing that there is only one God.   “You do well. The demons also believe — and shudder.”   Shall they too see God?   Those who are pure of heart shall see Him.  Whoever would say, that the unclean spirits are pure of heart?   And yet, “they believe—and shudder.”

So our faith must be distinguished from the faith of demons.   Our faith, you see, purifies the heart, their faith makes them guilty.    So let us distinguish our faith and see that believing is not enough.   That is not the sort of faith that purifies the heart. “Purifying their hearts,” it says, “by faith.”   But which faith, what sort of faith?   The one, surely, which the apostle Paul defines when he says “faith that works through love.”   This faith is different from the faith of demons, different from the morals of dissolute and desperate people.   “Faith,” he says. “Which faith?”   The one “that works through love,” hopes for what God promises.   You could not have a more perfect, a more carefully thought-out definition than that.”…St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor (Sermon 53)acts 15 9 by faith he purified - faith in god purifies the heart - st augustine 23 may 2019

PRAYER – Lord God, we were sinners and Your grace made us holy, we were without hope and You filled us with faith and joy.   Stand by us, in Your saving work and stay with us, in Your gifts of grace.   May we never fail to persevere in the holiness that comes from faith.   Listen to the prayers of the Mother of our Lord and our Mother and those of St John Baptist de Rossi, whom we ask for supplication.   Through Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen.blessed virgin mary holy mother pray for us 23 may 2019

st john baptist de rossi pray for us 23 may 2019

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PEACE, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD, Thomas a Kempis

One Minute Reflection – 21 May – “My peace I give to you”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 21 May – Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter, C, Gospel: John 14:27–31 and the Memorial of St Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861)

“My peace I give to you”... John 14:27john 14 27 my peace if give to you - 21 may 2019.jpg

REFLECTION – “We could have great peace if we were willing not to busy ourselves with the sayings and doings of others, for which we bear no responsibility.   How can you remain long at peace, if you interfere in other people’s business, if you are on the watch for a chance to leave your solitude, if your inner recollection is slight and sporadic? Blessed are the simple, for they have great peace.   What is it that made some of the saints such perfect contemplatives?   Their whole study was to deaden themselves to every earthly desire and so they could wholly cleave to God, from the very depth of their heart and freely give time to Himself.    But as for us, we are too much taken up with our appetites, too anxious about transitory things.   We seldom perfectly conquer even one fault, so frigid and tepid we remain.

If we were perfectly dead to ourselves and free of all inner involvements; then we could also taste the things of God and have some experience of heavenly contemplation.   It is total and utter hindrance to me that we are not free from passion and lust and we do not undertake the perfect way of the Saints.   When we meet with even slight adversity, we are quickly thrown and we turn to human comforts.   If we were to try like gallant warriors, to stand firm in battle, then surely we should see the help of God upon us from heaven.   For He is ready to help those who struggle, hoping in His grace…   If you did but mind what peace for yourself, what joy for others your good dispositions would secure!   I think you would take much more thought for spiritual progress.”… Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) – The Imitation of Christ – Book 1, ch.11how can you remain long at peace - thomas a mepis - 21 may 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Loving Father, grant us the grace to strive after perfect love.   Help us to bring forth frequents acts of love so that we may grow in this greatest of virtues.   In the great love of Your divine Son, who gave Himself for us, He filled us with peace and hope.   May these gifts grow always in our hearts.   We ask for the intercession of Mary, the Blessed Virgin, His Mother and of St Eugene de Mazenod, who overflowed with love, they said his heart was as big as the world.   Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.holy-mother-mary-at-prayer-pray-for-us-21-may-2018

st eugene de mazenod pray for us 2 21 may 2019.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection -20 May – “We will come and make our home with him.”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection -20 May – Monday of the fifth Week of Easter, C, Gospel: John 14:21–26 and the Memorial of St Bernadine of Siena OFM. (1380-1444)

“We will come to him and make our dwelling with him”…John 14:24

REFLECTION – “My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.”   Consider, dearly beloved, how great this solemnity is, that commemorates the coming of God as a guest in our hearts.   If some rich and powerful friend were to enter your home, you would quickly clean the entire house, for fear something there, might offend your friend’s eyes, when he entered.   Let anyone then who is preparing his inner house for God, cleanse away the dirt of his evil deeds.

You see what Truth tells us – “We will come and make our home with him.”   He does indeed enter the hearts of some but does not make His home there, because through repentance, they acquire respect for God but during a time of temptation, they forget that they have repented and so return to committing sins, as if they had never wept over them at all.   The Lord comes into the heart and makes His home in one, who truly loves God and observes His commandments, since the love of His divine nature, so penetrates him that he does not turn away from it during times of temptation.   That person loves truly, whose heart does not consent to be overcome by wicked pleasures…   Hence the following clarification – “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.”   Dearly beloved, enter into yourselves and inquire if you truly love God.    But let no-one believe the answer his heart gives in his own case, apart from the testimony of his works….St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) Doctor of the Church Homilies on the Gospels no 30.john 14 24 we will come to him - if some rich and powerful friend - st gregory the great 20 may 2019

PRAYER – Lord, by Your grace, we are made one in mind and heart.   Give us a love for what You command and a longing for what You promise, so that, amid this world’s changes, our hearts may be set on the world of lasting joy.   May the angels and saints intercede for us and may our Mother, the Mother of God, be a constant assistant and guiding hand.   We make our prayer, through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God with You, forever and ever, amen.mary immaculate holy mother of god - pray for us - 28 may 2018

st-bernardine-of-siena-pray-for-us-2

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 19 May – The New Commandment

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 19 May – The Fifth Sunday of Easter, C

The New Commandment

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another…. John 13:34a new commandment I give to you - john 13 34 - 19 may 2019.jpg

Saint Augustine (354-430)
Bishop and Great Western Father of the Church

An excerpt from his Tractates on the Gospel of John, 65.

A new commandment I give you, that you love one another.   This commandment that He is giving them is a new one, the Lord Jesus tells His disciples.   Yet was it not contained in the Old Law, where it is written – you shall love your neighbour as yourself?   Why does the Lord call it new when it is clearly so old?   Or is the commandment new because it divests us of our former selves and clothes us with the new man?   Love does indeed renew the man who hears, or rather obeys its command but, only that love which Jesus distinguished from a natural love, by the qualification – As I have loved you.

This is the kind of love that renews us.   When we love as He loved us, we become new men, heirs of the new covenant and singers of the new song.   My brothers, this was the love that even in bygone days renewed the holy men, the patriarchs and prophets of old. In later times it renewed the blessed apostles and now it is the turn of the Gentiles.  From the entire human race throughout the world this love gathers together into one body a new people, to be the bride of God’s only Son.   She is the bride of whom it is asked in the Song of Songs:   Who is this who comes clothed in white?   White indeed are her garments, for she has been made new and the source of her renewal, is none other, than this new commandment.

And so all her members make each other’s welfare their common care.   When one member suffers, all the members suffer with him and if one member is glorified, all the rest rejoice.   They hear and obey the Lord’s words – a new commandment I give you, that you love one another, not as men love one another for their own selfish ends, nor merely on account of their common humanity but because they are all gods and sons of the Most High.   They love one another as God loves them, so that they may be brothers of His only Son.   He will lead them to the goal that alone will satisfy them, where all their desires will be fulfilled.   For when God is all in all, there will be nothing left to desire.

This love is the gift of the Lord who said – as I have loved you, you also must love one another.   His object in loving us, then, was to enable us to love each other.   By loving us Himself, our mighty head has linked us all together, as members of His own body, bound to one another by the tender bond of love.