One Minute Reflection – August 22 – The Memorial of the Queenship of Mary
My fruit is better than gold, yes than pure gold and my revenue than choice silver………….Prv 8:19
REFLECTION – “Mary is the stem of the beautiful flower on which the Holy Spirit rests with the fullness of His gifts. Hence, those who want to obtain the seven gifts of the Spirit must seek the flower of the Holy Spirit on the stem (Mary).
We go to Jesus through Mary and through Jesus we find the grace of the Holy Spirit.”…St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, You made Mary the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Help me through Mary and Jesus to reach the Spirit and obtain His surpassing gifts. Holy Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, be my companion and my guide. Amen
One Minute Reflection – August 21 – The Memorial of St Pope Pius X
You are sad for a time but I shall see you again; then your hearts will rejoice with a joy no one can take from you…………John 16:22
REFLECTION – Catholics are part of the Church Militant. They struggle and they suffer for the triumph of Christ.
They must never lose sight of their Divine Model, so that their trials will be turned into joy……..St Pius X
PRAYER – Jesus Lord of Sorrows, enable me to struggle and suffer in union with You. Let me keep ever before me the joy that will follow upon these passing sufferings. St Pius X Pray for Us. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 20 August – – The Memorial of St Bernard of Clairvaux
Hold fast to …. a good conscience. Some men, by rejecting the guidance of conscience, have made shipwreck of their faith…1 Timothy 1:19
REFLECTION – “A good conscience is a treasury of riches.
Indeed, what greater riches can there be – or what can be sweeter – than a good conscience?….St Bernard
PRAYER – All-knowing God, let me be able to stand in Your presence with a good conscience.
Help me to avoid anything that would sully my conscience and do all I can to remain united with You.
St Bernard, pray for us, amen.
One Minute Reflection – 19 August – The Memorial of St John Eudes “Apostle of Two Hearts”
…yet I live, no longer I but Christ lives in me….Galatians 2:20
REFLECTION – “A Christian has a union with Jesus Christ:
more noble,
more intimate
and more perfect
than the members of a human body
have with their head!”
PRAYER – Father of mercies and God of all consolation, You gave us the loving Heart of Your own beloved Son, because of the boundless love by which You have loved us, which no tongue can describe. May we render You a love that is perfect with hearts made one with His. Grant, we pray, that our hearts may be brought to perfect unity: each heart with the other and all hearts with the Heart of Jesus….and may the rightful yearnings of our hearts find fulfillment through Him: Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. – Collect from Saint John Eudes’ Mass, Gaudeamus, 1668 St John Eudes, Pray for us! amen.
One Minute Reflection – 18 August – The Memorial of St Alberto Hurtado
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’...Matthew 25:40
REFLECTION – “Christ roams through our streets in the person of so many of the suffering poor, sick and dispossessed, and people thrown out of their miserable slums; Christ huddled under bridges, in the person of so many children who lack someone to call father, who have been deprived for many years without a mother’s kiss on their foreheads…Christ is without a home! Shouldn’t we want to give Him one, those of us who have the joy of a comfortable home, plenty of good food, the means to educate and assure the future of our children?”…St Alberto Hurtado S.J.
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, teach us to follow Your Son in all things, to give and not to count the cost. Open our eyes to the distress and sadness around us. What we have may we learn to share with others, so that we too may be called “good and faithful servant” which St Alberto lived to fulfil in each moment of his life. St Alberto Hurtado, pray for us, amen.
One Minute Reflection – 17 August – The Memorial of St Hyacinth of Poland
Come, blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…Matthew 25:34
REFLECTION – “Mary, the Mother of our Lord, accompanied by the choirs of Angels, will come to meet you. What a day of joy that will be for you!”….St Jerome (343-420) Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – O Mary, Mother of God and my mother, watch over me at every moment and keep me free from sin. Then upon my death, come to meet me and lead me to my eternal home in heaven. As you, St Hyacinth, took Mary with you and she made smooth your path, pray that we too may always ‘take Mary with us’ to lead us safely home to her son, who is our Lord, amen.
One Minute Reflection – 16 August – The Memorial of St Stephen of Hungary
If you show favouritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law…..James 2:9
REFLECTION – “Do not show favour only to relations and kin, or to the most eminent – whether they are leaders or the wealthy or neighbours or citizens of the same country.
Show favour to all who come to you. By fulfilling your duty in this way, you will reach the highest state of happiness.”…St Stephen of Hungary
PRAYER – Just and Holy Father, help me to overcome all tendencies to show favourtisim in my life. Let me treat all persons as brothers and sisters in Christ and work and pray for their salvation. St Stephen of Hungary, pray for us, amen.
The Confessions – Book VIII – St Augustine’s Conversion to Christ. Augustine is deeply impressed by Simplicianus’ story of the conversion to Christ of the famous orator and philosopher, Marius Victorinus. He is stirred to emulate him but finds himself still enchained by his incontinence and preoccupation with worldly affairs. He is then visited by a court official, Ponticianus, who tells him and Alypius the stories of the conversion of Anthony and also of two imperial “secret service agents.” These stories throw him into a violent turmoil, in which his divided will struggles against himself. He almost succeeds in making the decision for continence but is still held back. Finally, a child’s song, overheard by chance, sends him to the Bible; a text from Paul resolves the crisis; the conversion is a fact. Alypius also makes his decision and the two inform the rejoicing Monica.
“For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, Do not fear, I will help you.”….Isaiah 41:13
REFLECTION – “And Thou didst put it into my mind and it seemed good in my own sight, to go to Simplicianus, who appeared to me a faithful servant of Thine and Thy grace shone forth in him. I had also been told that from his youth up he had lived in entire devotion to Thee. He was already an old man and because of his great age, which he had passed in such a zealous discipleship in Thy way, he appeared to me likely to have gained much wisdom–and, indeed, he had. From all his experience, I desired him to tell me–setting before him all my agitations–which would be the most fitting way for one who felt as I did to walk in thy way.”…St Augustine (From the Confessions – Book VIII – Chapter 1)
PRAYER – “Go on, O Lord and act: stir us up and call us back; inflame us and draw us to Thee; stir us up and grow sweet to us; let us now love Thee, let us run to Thee. Are there not many men … who, out of a deeper pit of darkess,.. return to Thee–who draw near to Thee and are illuminated by that light which gives those who receive it power from Thee to become Thy sons? “… (St Augustine – From the Confessions Book VIII – Chapter IV) St Simplician, pray for us, Amen.
One Minute Reflection – 14 August – The Memorial of St Maximillian Kolbe
Mine are counsel and advice; mine is strength; I am understanding….Proverbs 8:14
REFLECTION – “When we dedicate ourselves to Mary, we become instruments in her hands, just as she is an instrument in God’s hands. Let us then be guided by her, for she will provide for the needs of body and soul and overcome all difficulties and anxieties.”…St Maximillian Kolbe
PRAYER – My Lord and my God, You who are the fruit of Mary’s blessed womb and the most Divine Son of our Father, grant that I may always have recourse to You, through her who bore You. Grant that she may help and comfort me and lead me to You. Mary, Holy and loving Mother of God, pray for us all, amen
One Minute Reflection – 13 August – The Memorial fo Sts Pontian and Hippolytus
“Ask and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened.”…Matthew 7:7-8
REFLECTION – “Christ, like a skillful physician, understands the weakness of men. He loves to teach the ignorant and the erring He turns again, to His own true way. He is easily found by those who live by faith and to those of pure eye and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, He opens immediately.”….St Hippolytus
PRAYER – Lord God, Your Son has told us, ‘to knock and the door shall be opened’ – help us to be ever strong in faith that we may remember and trust that You will always open the door if we turn to You, at all times and in all circumstances, in true faith, hope, trust and love. St Hippolytus, pray for us, amen.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me…”…Matthew 16:24
REFLECTION – “These words are the foundation of all Christian and religious perfection.
To deny self is to renounce to all, the will of the flesh:
all our inclinations, desires, pleasures, satisfactions, softness, tastes, humour, preferences, habits, susceptibility, aversions and repugnance to rough things;
in other words, to renounce in all and for all, our perverse self.”…St Jane de Chantal
PRAYER – Lord, You chose St Jane Frances to serve You, both in marriage and in religious life. By her prayers help us to be faithful in our vocation and always to work against our perverse inclinations. Only in You and with You and through You may we attain perfection. Lead us Lord! We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. St Jane de Chantal, pray for us, amen.
One Minute Reflection – 11 August – The Memorial of St Clare of Assisi
(Wisdom) is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God….Wisdom 7:26
REFLECTION – “Every day, look into the spotless mirror that is Jesus Christ and study well your reflection.
In that way, you may adorn yourself, mind and body, with every virtue.”…St Clare of Assisi
PRAYER – Lord Jesus, help me to dwell often on the manner in which I am following You. Let me strive each day to become more and more like You in all things and eventually, to become the light of You to all the world around me. St Clare of Assisi, you who were a light to all those around you, pray for us, amen.
“I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.”…John 12:24-25
REFLECTION – “The Roman Church commends this day to us as the blessed Laurence’s day of triumph, on which he trod down the world as it roared and raged against him; spurned it as it coaxed and wheedled him; and in each case, conquered the devil as he persecuted him. For in that Church, you see, as you have regularly been told, he performed the office of deacon; it was there that he administered the sacred chalice of Christ’s blood; there that he shed his own blood for the name of Christ…And we too, brethren, if we truly love Him, let us imitate Him. After all, we shall not be able to give a better proof of love than by imitating His example; for Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that we might follow in His footsteps.” …(From a sermon delivered by St. Augustine in about 400 AD on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Lawrence.)
PRAYER – Lord God, You inspired St Lawrence with so ardent a love that his life was renowned for the service of Your people and his death for the splendour of his martyrdom. Help us to love what he loved and to life as he showed us. St Lawrence, Martyr for Christ and His Church, pray for us. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever amen.
Have no anxiety at all but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus…Philippians 4:6-7
REFLECTION – “Let go of your plans. The first hour of your morning belongs to God. Tackle the day’s work that He charges you with and He will give you the power to accomplish it.”…..St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
PRAYER – May St Teresa Benedicta pray for us Lord, as we celebrate with joy her yearly feast, her purity and strength of soul are precious gifts which light us on our way. Through our Lord Jesus Christ in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, please pray for us that we may manifest strength and courage with our hand in the hand of the Lord, amen.
Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully…2 Cor 9:6
REFLECTION – “We must sow the seed, not hoard it.”…St Dominic de Guzman
PRAYER – O God, Who has enlightened Your Church by the eminent virtues and preaching of St. Dominic, Your confessor, holy Father mercifully grant that by his prayers we may be provided against all temporal necessities and daily improve in all spiritual good. Through Christ Our Lord. St Dominic pray for us, Amen.
Though my father and my mother forsake me, yet will the Lord receive me….Psalm 27:10
REFLECTION – “If you want Christ to love you and help you, you must love Him and always make every endeavour to please Him.
Do not waver in your purpose because even if all the saints and every single creature were to abandon you, He will always be near you, no matter what your needs may be.”….St Cajetan
PRAYER – Lord God, You inspired St Cajetan to live and work like the Apostles. Help us, by his example and prayers, to trust in You at all times and continually to seek Your Kingdom. St Cajetan pray for us, amen.
Thought for the Day – 6 August – The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Commenting on the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor, St Leo contrasts the law, symbolised by Moses, with the grace of the gospel brought by Jesus Christ. He notes how this glimpse of the glory of His divinity and risen humanity was given to Peter, James & John to prepare them for the shock and scandal of the cross.
“The Lord reveals his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses. His body is like that of the rest of mankind but He makes it shine with such splendour that His face becomes like the sun in glory and his garments as white as snow.
TWO WITNESSES
This marvel of the transfiguration contains another lesson for the apostles, to strengthen them and lead them into the fullness of knowledge. Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets, appeared with the Lord in conversation with him. This was in order to fulfill exactly, through the presence of these five men, the text which says: Before two or three witnesses every word is ratified.
What word could be more firmly established, more securely based, than the word which is proclaimed by the trumpets of both old and new testaments, sounding in harmony and by the utterances of ancient prophecy and the teaching of the Gospel, in full agreement with each other?
The writings of the two testaments support each other. The radiance of the transfiguration reveals clearly and unmistakably the one who had been promised by signs foretelling Him under the veils of mystery. As Saint John says: The law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. In him the promise made through the shadows of prophecy stands revealed, along with the full meaning of the precepts of the law. He is the one who teaches the truth of the prophecy through His presence and makes obedience to the commandments possible through grace.
In the preaching of the holy Gospel all should receive a strengthening of their faith. No one should be ashamed of the cross of Christ, through which the world has been redeemed.”
St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Doctor of the Church
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”……John 8:12
‘Master, it is good that we are here; . . . ‘” Luke 9:28-33
REFLECTION – “Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven and — I speak boldly — it is for us now to follow him with all speed, . . .Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision and to be transfigured by that glorious transfiguration. Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the Creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here.'”…St Anastasius (died 628)
PRAYER – Father, at the Transfiguration in glory of your Only-begotten Son, You confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness to Jesus of the prophets Moses and Elijah. You foreshadowed there what we shall be when You bring our sonship to its perfection. Grant that by listening to the voice of Jesus, we may become heirs with Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever, amen.
6 August – The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
This feast became widespread in the West in the 11th century and was introduced into the Roman calendar in 1457 to commemorate the victory over Islam in Belgrade. Before that, the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated in the Syrian, Byzantine and Coptic rites. The Transfiguration foretells the glory of the Lord as God and His Ascension into heaven. It anticipates the glory of heaven, where we shall see God face to face. Through grace, we already share in the divine promise of eternal life.
Zuccarelli
Titian
Our divine Redeemer, being in Galilee about a year before His sacred Passion, took with him St Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Sts James and John and led them to a high mountain. Tradition assures us that this was Mount Tabor, which is exceedingly high and beautiful and was anciently covered with green trees and shrubs and was very fruitful. It rises something like a sugar-loaf, in a vast plain in the middle of Galilee. This was the place in which the Man-God appeared in His glory.
Whilst Jesus prayed, He suffered that glory which was always due to His sacred humility and of which, for our sake, He deprived it, to diffuse a ray over His whole body. His face was altered and shone as the sun and His garments became white as snow. Moses and Elias were seen by the three apostles in His company on this occasion and were heard discoursing with Him of the death which He was to suffer in Jerusalem.
The three apostles were wonderfully delighted with this glorious vision and St Peter cried out to Christ, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias” Whilst St. Peter was speaking, there came, on a sudden, a bright shining cloud from heaven, an emblem of the presence of God’s majesty and from out of this cloud was heard a voice which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” The apostles that were present, upon hearing this voice, were seized with a sudden fear and fell upon the ground; but Jesus, going to them, touched them and bade them to rise. They immediately did so and saw no one but Jesus standing in His ordinary state.
This vision happened in the night. As they went down the mountain early the next morning, Jesus bade them not to tell any one what they had seen till He should be risen from the dead.
Excerpted from Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
“In the Transfiguration Christ enjoyed for a short while that glorified state which was to be permanently His after His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The splendour of His inward Divinity and of the Beatific Vision of His soul overflowed in His body and permeated His garments so that Christ stood before Peter, James and John in a snow-white brightness. The purpose of the Transfiguration was to encourage and strengthen the Apostles who were depressed by their Master’s prediction of His own Passion and Death. The Apostles were made to understand that His redeeming work has two phases: The Cross, and glory—that we shall be glorified with Him only if we first suffer with Him.”
Rejoice, O highly favoured daughter! The Lord is with you………..Luke 1:28
REFLECTION – “The salvation of the whole world began with the “Hail Mary.”
Hence, the salvation of each person is also attached to this prayer.”…St Louise Marie Grignion de Montfort
PRAYER – Lord Jesus, let the great prayer to Your holy Mother be on my lps, morning, noon and night. Enable me to say it especially at the hour of my death – for she will come to me! Mary, Mother of our God, pray for us, amen.
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you…..James 4:10
REFLECTION – “Humility is like a pair of scales: the lower one side falls, the higher rises the other. Let us humble ourselves like the Blessed Virgin and we shall be exalted.”………St John Vianney
PRAYER – Lord God, light of the faithful and shepherd of souls, who gave blessed John Vianney to Your Church to feed Your flock by his teaching and form them by his example, grant that by his intercession, we may keep the faith which he taught and follow in the way he walked, through our Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit. St John Vianney, pray for us, amen.
…..At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love…1 Corinthians 12-13
REFLECTION – “We believe in the love of God for us. To believe in love is everything. It is not enough to believe in the Truth. We must believe in Love and Love is our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. That is the faith that makes our Lord loved. Ask for this pure and simple faith in the Eucharist. Men will teach you; but only Jesus will give you the grace to believe in Him. You have the Eucharist. What more do you want?”… St Peter Julian Eymund
PRAYER – Lord our God, help us to imitate the constancy and love of St Peter Julian in proclaiming the Real Presence and Love of Jesus Christ, who remains waiting for us all in the Holy Eucharist. By living the love and faith in the Holy Eucharist as St Peter Julian did, may we come to share the life of our Lord Jesus, Your Son, who waits and loves and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. St Peter Julian Eymard, pray for us, amen.
May the Lord…make you overflow with love for one another and for all.1 Thessalonians 3:12
REFLECTION – “The means for attaining perfect love is to accomplish frequent acts of love.
Fire is kindled by the wood that we cast into it and love is enkindled by acts of love.”….St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – Loving Father, grant me the grace to strive after perfect love. Help me to bring forth frequent acts of love, to all and sundry, to each of my neighbours, so that I may grow in this greatest of virtues. St Alphonsus Liguori pray for us, amen.
My brothers, I implore you by God’s mercy, to offer your very selves to him: a living sacrifice, dedicated and fit for his acceptance, the worship offered by mind and heart………Romans 12:1
REFLECTION – “We must speak to God as a friend speaks to his friend, servant to his master; now asking some favour, now acknowledging our faults and communicating to Him all that concerns us, our thoughts, our fears, our projects, our desires and in all things seeking His counsel.”…St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
PRAYER – Almighty God, grant that the example of Your saints may spur us on to perfection, so that we who are celebrating the feast of St Ignatius, may follow him step by step in his way of life to reach You in heaven. St Ignatius, pray for us, amen.
On the way of duty I walk, along the paths of justice, granting wealth to those who love me…..Proverbs 8:20-21
REFLECTION – “Mary’s grace has given glory to heaven; a God to earth and faith to the nations.Sh has conferred death on vices, order on life and a rule on morals.”….St Peter Chrysologus (c400-450) Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, grant me the grace to have Mary as my constant intercessor. In all difficulties let me call on her aid, for she is Your beloved Daughter. St Peter, you who so loved our Holy Mother, pray that we too may love her with total abandon and trust. Amen
Thought for the Day – 29 July – Memorial of St Martha
Martha’s great glory is her simple and strong statement of faith in Jesus after her brother’s death. “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord. . I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world’ (John 11:25-27). ”
Scripture commentators point out that in writing his account of the raising of Lazarus, Saint John intends that we should see Martha’s words to Mary before Lazarus was raised as a summons that every Christian must obey. In her saying “The teacher is here and is asking for you,” Jesus is calling every one of us to resurrection—now in baptismal faith, forever in sharing His victory over death. And all of us, as well as these three friends, are in our own unique way called to special friendship with Him….(Fr Don Miller OFM)
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her”…..Luke 10:41-42.
REFLECTION – “Without daily prayer lived with fidelity, our acts are empty, they lose their profound soul and are reduced to being mere activism which in the end leaves us dissatisfied. There is a beautiful invocation of the Christian tradition to be recited before any other activity which says : “Inspire our actions, Lord and accompany them with Your help, so that our every word and action may always begin and end in you”. Every step in our life, every action, of the Church too, must be taken before God, in the light of his word.”…….Pope Benedict XVI (General Audience – Saint Peter’s Square,Wednesday, 25 April 2012.)
PRAYER – Almighty ever-living God, Your Son graciously came as a guest to the home of St Martha. By her prayers give us grace to serve Christ faithfully in our brethren and bring us to Your home in heaven. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, in union with the Holy Spirit, amen.
Today is the feast of Blessed Rudolf Aquaviva S.J. (1550-1583), who laboured for four years at the court of the Muslim king at Agra, India, seeking converts to Christ. The mission failed. Shortly after, Bl Rudolf and four associates were martyred by a Hindu mob. He wrote movingly of patient hope in the face of apparent failure:
“You know how I longed for this mission and how delighted I was when it was granted me. I have been able to do what I wished for—to bear witness to the name of Jesus Christ before the kings and rulers of this world.
We cannot speak out the truth for fear that if we go too far we endanger the life of King Akbar. So we neither die because they do not kill us and yet we do not live for our zeal wears us out. Or we live only by hope, though that is very uncertain whether it may not turn out rather evil than good. Ours is a very uncertain outlook as far as the King’s conversion goes.
Still, the Lord makes us realise that our labours are just as pleasing and acceptable to His divine majesty as if we were to obtain that for which we are striving, for God is a witness of inmost feelings and a searcher of the heart (see Wisdom 1:6). For day and night we are toiling at a work of great service to God, the planting of his faith in a barbarous nation at such peril of our lives.”
….For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond alll measure…2 Corinthians 4:17
We do NOT give up – ever, for the Lord is with us and blesses our zealous hearts! Blessed Aquaviva please pray for us!
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day……2 Corinthians 4:16
REFLECTION – “We live only by hope…Still the Lord makes us realise that our labours are just as pleasing and acceptable to His divine majesty as if we were to obtain that for which we are striving, for God is a witness of inmost feelings and a searcher of the heart!”……Blessed Rudolf Aquaviva S.J. -Martyr – Memorial today 27 July
PRAYER – Almighty God, You give Your Martyrs the grace to lay down thei lives for Christ. Help our weakness, give us strength to do all for and to live only for You, for You know the inmost meaning of our hearts. Blessed Rudolf and St Panteleon, pray for us! Amen
How wonderful is God among his saints; come, let us adore him…..Psalm 94
REFLECTION – “Joachim and Anne, how blessed a couple! All creation is indebted to you. For at your hands the Creator was offered a gift excelling all other gifts: a chaste mother, who alone was worthy of Him. Joachim and Anne, how blessed and spotless a couple! You will be known by the fruit you have borne, as the Lord says: “By their fruits you will know them.” The conduct of your life pleased God and was worthy of your daughter. For by the chaste and holy life you led together, you have fashioned a jewel of virginity: she who remained a virgin before, during and after giving birth. She alone for all time would maintain her virginity in mind and soul as well as in body. Joachim and Anne, how chaste a couple! While leading a devout and holy life in your human nature, you gave birth to a daughter nobler than the angels, whose queen she now is.” – from a sermon by Saint John Damascene (675-749) – Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – O Lord, God of our Fathers, who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son, grant, through the prayers of both, that we may attain the salvation you have promised to your people. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Sts Joachim and Anne, pray for us! Amen
AnaStpaul 
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