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Posted in ADVENT, NOVENAS, The CHRIST CHILD, The NATIVITY of JESUS, Uncategorized

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Nine – 24 December

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Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Nine – 24 December

Day Nine

The Birth of Jesus in the Stable at Bethlehem

Reflection:
When the edict was issued by the emperor of Rome that everyone should go to his own city to be enrolled, Joseph and Mary went to be enrolled in Bethlehem.
How much the Holy Virgin must have suffered on this journey of four days, over mountainous road and in the wintertime, with its cold rain and wind!
When they arrived in Bethlehem, the time of Mary’s delivery was near.
Joseph, therefore, sought some lodging where she might give birth to her Child.
But because they were so poor, they were driven away from the houses and even from the public inn, where other poor people had found shelter.
So in that night they went a short way out of the town and there found a cave that was used as a stable and here Mary entered.
But Joseph said to his virgin wife, “Mary, how can you spend the night in this cold, damp cave and here give birth to your Child?”   Mary however replied, “Dear Joseph, this cave is the royal palace in which the King of kings, the Son of God, wishes to be born.”

When the hour of her delivery had arrived, the holy Virgin, as she knelt in prayer, all at once saw the cave illumined with a dazzling light.
She lowered her eyes to the ground and there saw before her the Son of God now born on earth, a poor little Babe, crying and shivering in the cold.
Adoring Him as her God, she took Him to her breast and fondled Him.
Then she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him on the straw of the manger that stood in the cave.
Thus did the Son of God choose to be born among us to prove His infinite love for us.

Prayer:
O Adorable Infant Jesus!
I should not have the boldness to cast myself at Your feet,
if I did not know that You Yourself invite me to draw near You.
It is I who by my sins have made You shed so many tears in the stable of Bethlehem.
But since You have come on earth to pardon repentant sinners,
forgive me also, now that I am heartily sorry for having spurned You,
my Saviour and my God, who art so good and who have loved me so much.
In this night, in which You bestow great graces on so many souls,
grant Your heavenly consolation to this poor soul of mine also.
All that I ask of You is the grace to love You always, more and more,
from this day forward, with all my heart.
Set me all on fire with Your holy love.
I love You, O my God, who have become a Babe for love of me.
Never let me cease loving You evermore.
O Mary, Mother of Jesus and my Mother,
you can obtain everything from your Son by your prayers.
This is the only favour I ask of you, that I might love Him more and more.
Please pray to Jesus for me, I beg you. Amen.

Posted in ADVENT, NOVENAS, The CHRIST CHILD, The NATIVITY of JESUS, Uncategorized

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Six – 21 December

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Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Six – 21 December

Day Six 
God’s Mercy Revealed In His Coming Down From Heaven To Save Us.

Reflection:
Saint Paul says, “The goodness and kindness of God, our Saviour, has appeared.”
When the Son of God made Man appearedon earth, then was it seen how great is God’s goodness towards us.
Saint Bernard says that first of God’s power was manifested in the creation of the world
and His wisdom in its conservation but His merciful goodness was especially manifested later in His taking human nature on Himself, in order to save fallen mankind by His sufferings and death.
For what greater proof of His kindness towards us could the Son of God show us,
than in taking on Himself the punishment we had deserved?

See Him as a weak, newborn infant, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.   Unable to move or feed Himself, He has need of Mary to give Him a little milk to sustain His life.
Or see Him again in Pilate’s courtyard, tied with fast bonds to a column and there scourged from head to foot.
Behold Him on the way to Calvary, falling down from weakness under weight of the cross that He must carry.
Finally behold Him nailed to this tree of shame, on which He breathes His last amid pain and anguish.
Because Jesus Christ wished that His love for us should win all the love of our hearts for Himself,
He would not send an angel to redeem us but chose to come Himself, to save us by His Passion and death.
Had an angel been our redeemer, men would have had to divide their hearts
in loving God as their Creator and an angel as their redeemer;  but God, who desires men’s whole hearts, as He was already their Creator, wished also to be their Redeemer.

Prayer:
O my Dear Redeemer!
Where should I be now, if You had not borne with me so patiently
but had called me from life while I was in the state of sin?
Since You have waited for me till now, forgive me quickly, O my Jesus,
before death finds me still guilty of so many offences
that I have committed against You.
I am so sorry for having vilely despised You, my sovereign Good,
that I could die of grief.
But You can not abandon a soul that seeks You.
If hitherto, I have forsaken You,
I now seek You and love You.
Yes, my God, I love You above all else;
I love You more than myself.
Help me, Lord, to love You always during the rest of my life.
Nothing else do I seek of You.
But this I beg of You, this I hope to receive from You.
Mary, my hope, do you pray for me.
If you pray for me, I am sure of grace.   Amen

Posted in ADVENT PRAYERS, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The CHRIST CHILD, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of JESUS, Uncategorized

Our Morning Offering – 19 December 

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Our Morning Offering – 19 December

A 10th Century Catholic Advent Prayer

Unknown Author

You are our eternal salvation,
The unfailing light of the world.
Light everlasting,
You are truly our redemption.
Grieving that the human race was perishing
through the tempter’s power,
without leaving the heights
You came to the depths
in Your loving kindness.
Readily taking our humanity
by Your gracious will,
You saved all earthly creatures,
long since lost,
Restoring joy to the world.
Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ,
and so possess us as Your shining dwellings.
By Your first coming, make us righteous;
At Your second coming, set us free:
So that, when the world is filled with light
and You judge all things,
We may be clad in spotless robes
and follow in Your steps, O King,
Into the heavenly hall.   Amen10th-cent-advent-prayer-you-are-our-eternal-salvation-16-dec-2017

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Pope Francis’ 82nd Birthday Cake

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I hope we don’t have indigestion with such a big cake!”
Pope Francis joked Sunday as he celebrated his 82nd birthday (December 17) with health care providers and families assisted at the Santa Marta Dispensary. The children presented the Holy Father with a huge cake.happy birthday to you - pope francis 82nd birthday 17dec 2018

In words of thanks to those gathered, the Holy Father said that if Our Lady had lived in Rome she would have surely taken Jesus to this dispensary.

He noted that “working with children is not easy but it teaches us a lot.”

“It teaches me, that in order to understand the reality of life, you have to lower yourself, as we lower ourselves to kiss a child. They teach us this. The proud, the proud cannot understand life, because they are not able to lower themselves.”

“All of us,” Pope Francis continued, “professionals, organisers, nuns, all – give many things to children but they give us this announcement, this teaching: to lower oneself. Lower yourself, be humble and in this way you will learn to understand life and people. And all of you have this ability to lower yourselves. Thank you so much for this, thank you so much!”

Posted in ADVENT, NOVENAS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, The CHRIST CHILD, The NATIVITY of JESUS, Uncategorized

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Three – 18 December

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Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day Three – 18 December

Day Three
The Life Of Poverty Which Jesus Led From His Birth.

Reflection:
God so ordained that, at the time when His Son was to be born on this earth, the Roman emperor should issue a decree ordering everyone to go to the place of his origin and there be registered in the census.   Thus it came about that, in obedience to this decree, Joseph went to Bethlehem together with his virgin wife when she was soon to have her Child.
Finding no lodging either in the poor inn or in the other houses of the town, they were forced to spend the night in a cave that was used as a stable for animals and it was here that Mary gave birth to the King of heaven.   If Jesus had been born in Nazareth,   He would also, it is true, have been born in poverty but there He would at least have had a dry room, a little fire, warm clothes and a more comfortable cradle.   Yet He chose to be born in this cold, damp cave and to have a manger for a cradle, with prickly straw for a mattress, in order that He might suffer for us.

Let us enter in spirit into this cave of Bethlehem but let us enter in a spirit of lively faith.
If we go there without faith, we shall see nothing but a poor infant
and the sight of this lovely child shivering
and crying on his rough bed of straw may indeed move us to pity.
But if we enter with faith and consider that this Babe is the very Son, God,
who for love of us has come down on earth
and suffers so much to pay the penalty for our sins,
how can we help thanking and loving Him in return?

Prayer:
O Dear Infant Jesus,
how could I be so ungrateful and offend You so often,
if I realised how much You have suffered for me?
But these tears which You shed,
this poverty which you embraced for love of me,
make me hope for the pardon of all the offences
I have committed against You.
My Jesus,
I am sorry for having so often turned my back on You.
But now I love You above all else.
“My God and my all!”
From now on You, O my God,
shall be my only treasure and my only good.
With Saint Ignatius of Loyola I will say to You,
“Give me the grace to love You; that is enough for me.”
I long for nothing else;
I want nothing else.
You alone are enough for me,
my Jesus, my life, my love.
O Mary, my Mother,
obtain for me the grace
that I may always love Jesus
and always be loved by Him. Amen

Posted in ADVENT, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRISTMASTIDE!, NOVENAS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The CHRIST CHILD, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of JESUS, Uncategorized

Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day One – 16 December

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Christmas Novena to the Christ Child – Day One – 16 December

DAY ONE
God’s Love Revealed In His Becoming Man.

Reflection:
Because our first parent Adam, had rebelled against God, he was driven out of paradise and brought on himself and all his descendants the punishment of eternal death.   But the son of God, seeing man thus lost and wishing to save him from death, offered to take upon Himself our human nature and to suffer death Himself, condemned as a criminal on a cross.

“But, My Son,” we may imagine the eternal Father saying to Him, “think of what a life of humiliations and sufferings You wilt have to lead on earth. You will have to be born in a cold stable and laid in a manger, the feeding trough of beasts.
While still an infant, You will have to flee into Egypt, to escape the hands of Herod.
After Your return from Egypt, You will have to live and work in a shop as a lowly servant,
poor and despised.
And finally, worn out with sufferings, You will have to give up Your life on a cross, put to shame and abandoned by everyone.”
“Father,” replies the Son, “all this matters not. I will gladly bear it all, if only I can save man.”

What should we say if a prince, out of compassion for a dead worm, were to choose to become a worm himself and give his own life blood in order to restore the worm to life? But the eternal Word has done infinitely more than this for us. Though He is the sovereign Lord of the world, He chose to become like us, who are immeasurably more beneath Him than a worm is beneath a prince and He was willing to die for us, in order to win back for us the life of divine grace that we had lost by sin.

When He saw that all the other gifts which He had bestowed on us were not sufficient to induce us to repay His love with love, He became man Himself and gave all of Himself to us.

“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us;” 
“He loved us and delivered Himself up for us.”christmas novena - day one - 16 dec 2017 God_s Love Revealed In His Becoming Man.

O Great Son of God,
You became man in order to make Yourself loved by men.
But where is the love that men give You in return?
You gave Your life blood to save our souls.
Why then are we so unappreciative that,
instead of repaying You with love,
we spurn You with ingratitude?
And I, Lord, I myself more than others have ill treated You.
But Your Passion is my hope.
For the sake of that love which led You to take upon Yourself
human nature and to die for me on the cross,
forgive me all the offences I have committed against You.
I love You, O Word Incarnate;
I love You, O infinite goodness.
Out of love for You, that I could die of grief for these offences.
Give me, O Jesus, Your love.
Let me no longer live in ungrateful
forgetfulness of the love You bear me.
I wish to love You always.
Grant that I may always preserve in this holy desire.
O Mary, Mother of God and my Mother,
pray for me that Your Son, may give me,
the grace to love Him always, unto death.
Amen.

Posted in ADVENT, MORNING Prayers, PAPAL PRAYERS, PAPAL SERMONS, The CHRIST CHILD, The NATIVITY of JESUS, Uncategorized

Gaudete Sunday – The Blessing of the Christ Child Figurine

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Gaudete Sunday – The Blessing of the Christ Child Figurine

Pope Benedict XVI St Peter’s Square
Third Sunday of Advent, 14 December 2008

This Sunday, the Third Sunday in the Season of Advent, is called “Gaudete Sunday”: “rejoice”, because the Entrance Antiphon of Holy Mass takes up St Paul’s words in the Letter to the Philippians where it says:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice”.   And immediately after he explains the reason, because “The Lord is at hand” (Phil 4: 4-5).   This is the reason for joy.   But what does “the Lord is at hand” mean?   In what sense must we understand this “closeness” of God?   The Apostle Paul, writing to the Christians of Philippi, is evidently thinking of Christ’s return and invites them to rejoice because it is certain.   Yet, St Paul in his Letter to the Thessalonians, warns that no one can know the moment of the Lord’s coming (cf. 1 Thes 5: 1-2) and puts people on guard against any kind of alarmism, as if Christ’s return were imminent (cf. 2 Thes 2: 1-2).

Thus the Church, illumined by the Holy Spirit, already at that time understood increasingly better that God’s “closeness” is not a question of space and time but rather of love:  love brings people together!

This coming Christmas will remind us of this fundamental truth of our faith and in front of the manger we shall be able to savour Christian joy contemplating in the newborn Jesus the Face of God who made Himself close to us out of love.

In this light, it gives me real pleasure to renew the beautiful tradition of the Blessing of the Christ Child figurines, the miniature statues of the Baby Jesus to be placed in the manger.   I address you in particular, dear boys and girls of Rome, who have come this morning with your Baby Jesus figurines that I now bless.   I invite you to join me, following attentively this prayer:

God, our Father
You so loved humankind
that You sent us Your only Son Jesus,
born of the Virgin Mary,
to save us and lead us back to You.

We pray that with Your Blessing
these images of Jesus,
who is about to come among us,
may be a sign of Your presence and
love in our homes.

Good Father,
give Your Blessing to us too,
to our parents, to our families and
to our friends.

Open our hearts,
so that we may be able to
receive Jesus in joy,
always do what He asks
and see Him in all those
who are in need of our love.

We ask you this in the name of Jesus,
Your beloved Son
who comes to give the world peace.

He lives and reigns forever and ever.
Amen.Gaudete sunday the blessing of the Christ child figurine - pope benedict 16dec2018

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Memorials of the Saints – 15 December

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Bl Karl Steeb (1773 – 1856)
St Margaret of Fontana
Bl Maria della Pace
St Mary Crocifissa di Rosa (1813 – 1855)
Biography: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2016/12/15/saint-of-the-day-15-december/

St Maximinus of Micy
St Offa of Essex
Bl Pau Gracia Sánchez
St Paul of Latros
Bl Ramón Eirin Mayo
St Silvia of Constantinople
St Urbicus
St Valerian of Abbenza
Bl Victoria Strata
St Virginia Centurione Bracelli (1587-1651)
Biography: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/saint-of-the-day-15-december-st-virginia-centurione-bracelli-1587-1651/

Martyrs of Drina – (5 beati): Also known as
• Daughters of Divine Charity of Drina
• Drina Martyrs
Five members of the Daughters of Divine Charity who were martyred while fighting off Chetnik rapists. They were –
Jozefa Bojanc
Jozefa Fabjan
Karoline Anna Leidenix
Kata Ivanisevic
Terezija Banja
Their martyrdom occured in December 1941 in Gorazde, Bosansko-Podrinjski, Bosnia-Herzegovina
They were Beatified on 24 September 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Martyrs of North Africa – (7 saints): A group of Christians martyred together for their faith in North Africa. The only details about them that survive are their names – Caelian, Candidus, Faustinus, Fortunatus, Januarius, Lucius and Mark.

Martyrs of Rome – (22 saints): A group of 22 Christians martyred together in the persecutions of Valerian. The only details we have are five of their names – Antonius, Irenaeus, Saturnin, Theodorus and Victor. c 258 in Rome, Italy.

Posted in JESUIT SJ, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Memorials of the Saints – 2 December

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St Francis Xavier SJ (1506-1552) (Memorial)

St Abbo of Auxerre
St Abran
St Agapius
St Agricola of Pannonia
St Alvaro González López
St Anthemius of Poitiers
St Attalia of Strasbourg
Bl Bernard of Toulouse
St Birinus of Dorchester
St Cassian of Tangiers
St Claudius of Africa
St Claudius the Martyr
St Crispin of Africa
St Edward Coleman
St Eloque of Lagny
St Emma of Bremen
St Ethernan
St Francisco Delgado González
St Francisco Fernández Escosura
St Hilaria the Martyr
St Jason the Martyr
Bl Johann Nepomuk von Tschiderer
St John of Africa
St Juan Bautista Ferris Llopis
St Julián Heredia Zubia
Bl Ladislao Bukowinski
St Lucius
St Lucy the Chaste
St Magina of Africa
St Mamas
St Manuel Santiago y Santiago
St Marcos García Rodríguez
St Maurus the Martyr
St Seleucus
St Stephen of Africa
St Theodore of Alexandria
St Theodulus of Edessa
St Valeriano Rodríguez García
St Veranus
Zephaniah the Prophet

Martyrs of Nicomedia: Christians martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian – Ambicus, Julius and Victor. c 303 in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey).

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War: Thousands of people were murdered in the anti-Catholic persecutions of the Spanish Civil War from 1934 to 1939.
• Blessed Alvaro González López
• Blessed Francisco Delgado González
• Blessed Francisco Fernández Escosura
• Blessed Juan Bautista Ferris Llopis
• Blessed Julián Heredia Zubia
• Blessed Manuel Santiago y Santiago
• Blessed Marcos García Rodríguez
• Blessed Valeriano Rodríguez García

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Blessed John Henry Newman may be canonised as early as next year, the Herald has learned

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Blessed John Henry Newman could be Canonised as early as next year after a second miracle was approved, the Catholic Herald has learned.

Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth said in an email newsletter last week that it “looks now as if Newman might be Canonised, all being well, later next year.”

Fr Ignatius Harrison, the Postulator of the Cause, confirmed to the Catholic Herald that there were now just “two more hoops” for the Cause to jump through before Newman is Canonised – approval from a commission of bishops, and a declaration by Pope Francis.

“I am praying for next year, but there’s no way of knowing,” he said.

Another source with knowledge of the Cause told the Herald that panels of both the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints had judged the healing of a woman to be miraculous.   The Canonisation is likely to take place after Easter 2019.

The Archdiocese of Chicago had investigated the inexplicable healing of a woman who prayed for Newman’s intercession after suffering with with a “life-threatening pregnancy”.   Doctors who treated her reported that they had no explanation for her sudden recovery.

Blessed John Henry Newman was one of the most prominent converts to Catholicism from Anglicanism of the 19th century.

He was already an esteemed Anglican theologian when he founded the Oxford Movement to return the Church of England to its Catholic roots, before converting to the Catholic faith.

He was renowned as a brilliant thinker and was made a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII.

He died in Birmingham in 1890, aged 89, after founding the Birmingham Oratory.

His prolific and original writings have led to many to call for him to be declared a Doctor of the Church.

Pope Benedict XVI beatified Newman in Birmingham in 2010 after the Vatican approved the first miracle, the inexplicable healing of Deacon Jack Sullivan, an American who recovered from a crippling spinal condition.

“He compasses me round 
and bears me in His arms. 
He takes me up and sets me down.”

Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

he-compasses-me-round-bl-john-henry-newman-13-april-2018-1

PRAYER FOR CANONISATION of Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

God our Father,
You granted to Your servant,
Blessed John Henry Newman,
wonderful gifts of nature and of grace,
that he should be a spiritual light
in the darkness of this world,
an eloquent herald of the Gospel
and a devoted servant of the one Church of Christ.
With confidence in his heavenly intercession,
we make the petition for his Canonisation.
For his insight into the mysteries of the kingdom,
his zealous defence of the teachings of the Church
and his priestly love for each of your children,
we pray that he may soon be numbered among the Saints.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Nihil Obstat: Fr Pat McKinney S.T.L.

Imprimatur: + Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham

30th March 2010pray-for-the-canonisation-bl-john-henry-9-oct-2017

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The INCARNATION, Thomas a Kempis, TOTAL Consecration to JESUS through MARY, Uncategorized

Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary – Third Week – Day Thirty-One – 16 November

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Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary – Third Week – Day Thirty-One – 16 November

Third Week

Day 31 of 33

Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis:   Book 4, Chapter 2

That the Great Goodness and Love of God Is Exhibited to Man in This Sacrament

In confidence of Your goodness and great mercy, O Lord, I draw near, sick to the Healer, hungry and thirsty to the Fountain of life, needy to the King of Heaven, a servant to his Lord, a creature to the Creator, desolate to my own tender Comforter.   “But how is this to me,” that You come unto me (Luke 1:43)? What am I, that You should grant me Your own self? how dare a sinner appear before Your?

And how is it that You vouchsafe to come unto a sinner?   You know Your servant and are well aware that he has in him no good thing, for which You should grant him this.   I confess, therefore, my own vileness, I acknowledge Your goodness, I praise Your tender mercy and give You thanks for Your transcendent love.

From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nos. 243-254 243.

Loving slaves of Jesus in Mary, should hold in high esteem devotion to Jesus, the Word of God, in the great mystery of the Incarnation, 25 March, which is the mystery proper to this devotion, because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, for the following reasons:           a) That we might honour and imitate the wondrous dependence which God the Son chose to have on Mary, for the glory of His Father and for the redemption of man.   This dependence is revealed especially in this mystery where Jesus becomes a captive and slave in the womb of His Blessed Mother, depending on her for everything.                       b) That we might thank God for the incomparable graces He has conferred upon Mary and especially that of choosing her to be His most worthy Mother.   This choice was made in the mystery of the incarnation.   These are the two principal ends of the slavery of Jesus in Mary.

245. a) Since we live in an age of pride when a great number of haughty scholars, with proud and critical minds, find fault even with long-established and sound devotions, it is better to speak of “slavery of Jesus in Mary” and to call oneself “slave of Jesus” rather than “slave of Mary”.   We then avoid giving any pretext for criticism.   In this way, we name this devotion after its ultimate end which is Jesus, rather than after the way and the means to arrive there, which is Mary.   However, we can very well use either term without any scruple, as I myself do.

246. b) Since the principal mystery celebrated and honoured in this devotion is the mystery of the Incarnation where we find Jesus only in Mary, having become incarnate in her womb, it is appropriate for us to say, “slavery of Jesus in Mary”, of Jesus dwelling enthroned in Mary, according to the beautiful prayer, recited by so many great souls, “O Jesus living in Mary”. o jesus living in mary by st louis de montfort for total consecration - 12 nov 2018

249. Those who accept this devotion should have a great love for the Hail Mary, or, as it is called, the Angelic
Salutation.   Few Christians, however enlightened, understand the value, merit, excellence and necessity of the Hail Mary.   Our Blessed Lady herself had to appear on several occasions to men of great holiness and insight, such as St Dominic, St.John Capistran and Blessed Alan de Rupe, to convince them of the richness of this prayer.

Recite: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Ave Maris Stella: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/saint-louis-marie-de-montforts-total-consecration-to-jesus-through-mary-first-week-day-thirteen-29-october/

St Louis de Montfort’s Prayer to Mary: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/11/05/saint-louis-marie-de-montforts-total-consecration-to-jesus-through-mary-second-week-day-twenty-5-november/
AND
Litany of the Holy Name and O Jesus Living In Mary: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/11/12/saint-louis-marie-de-montforts-total-consecration-to-jesus-through-mary-third-week-day-twenty-seven-12-november/DAY THIRTY ONE - THIRD WEEK - TOTAL CONSECRATION 16 NOV 2018

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Memorials of the Saints – 15 November

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St Albertus Magnus OP (1200-1280) (Optional Memorial)

St Anianus of Wilparting
St Arnulf of Toul
Bl Caius of Korea
St Desiderius of Cahors
St Eugene of Toledo
St Felix of Nola
St Findan
St Fintan the Missionary
St Gurias of Edessa
Bl Hélène-Marie-Philippine de Chappotin de Neuville
Bl Hugh Faringdon
Bl John Eynon
Bl John Rugg
Bl John Thorne
St Joseph Mukasa
St Joseph Pignatelli
St Leopold III/Leopold the Good ( 1073 – 1136)
Bl Lucy of Narni
St Luperius of Verona
St Machudd of Llanfechell
St Malo of Aleth
St Marinus of Wilparting
Bl Miguel Díaz Sánchez
St Paduinus of Le Mans

Bl Richard Whiting
Bl Roger James
St Shamuna of Edessa
St Sidonius of Saint-Saens
—
Martyrs of Hippo – 20 saints: 20 Christians martyred together and celebrated by Saint Augustine. The only details about them to survive are three of the names – Fidenziano, Valerian and Victoria. Hippo, Numidia (in north Africa).

Martyrs of North Africa – 3 saints: A group of Christians murdered for their faith in imperial Roman north Africa. The only details that have survived are the names of three of them – Fidentian, Secundus and Varicus.

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SILENCE, Uncategorized

Quote of the Day – 14 November

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Quote of the Day – 14 November

“There is One very near you
Who knocks at your door every hour of the day,
Who begs you to listen to Him
and to keep silence in order to hear Him.”

St Simon-Marie-Just Ranfer de Bretenières (1838-1866) Martyrthere is one very near you - st simon just de bretenieres - 14 nov 2018

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Quote of the Day – 13 November – The Memorial of St Agostina Livia Pietrantoni S.D.C. (1864-1894)

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Quote of the Day – 13 November – The Memorial of St Agostina Livia Pietrantoni S.D.C. (1864-1894)

“All, is too little for the Lord.”

St Agostina Pietrantoni (1864-1894)all, is too little for the lord - st agostina pietrantoni - 13 nov 2018

Posted in ON the SAINTS, papal ENCYCLICALS, PAPAL ENCYLICALS, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Thought for the Day – 12 November – “He gave his life for the unity of the Church” – The Memorial of St Josaphat (1584-1623) Bishop and Martyr

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“He gave his life for the unity of the Church”

Pope Piux XI
Bishop of Rome

An excerpt from Ecclesiam Dei

Memorial of St Josaphat (1584-1623) Bishop and Martyr “the thief of souls.”PopePiusXI

“In designing his Church God worked with such skill that in the fullness of time it would resemble a single great family embracing all men.   It can be identified, as we know, by certain distinctive characteristics, notably its universality and unity.

Christ the Lord passed on to His apostles the task He had received from the Father: ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.   Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.’   He wanted the apostles as a body to be intimately bound together, first by the inner tie of the same faith and love which flows into our hearts through the Holy Spirit and, second, by the external tie of authority exercised by one apostle over the others.   For this he assigned the primacy to Peter, the source and visible basis of their unity for all time.  So that the unity and agreement among them would endure, God wisely stamped them, one might say, with the mark of holiness and martyrdom.

Both these distinctions fell to Josaphat, Archbishop of Polock of the Slavonic rite of the Eastern Church.   He is rightly looked upon as the great glory and strength of the Eastern Rite Slavs.   Few have brought them greater honour or contributed more to their spiritual welfare than Josaphat, their pastor and apostle, especially when he gave his life as a martyr for the unity of the Church.   He felt, in fact, that God had inspired him to restore world-wide unity to the Church and he realised that his greatest chance of success lay in preserving the Slavonic rite and Saint Basil’s rule of monastic life within the one universal Church.

Concerned mainly with seeing his own people reunited to the See of Peter, he sought out every available argument which would foster and maintain Church unity.   His best arguments were drawn from liturgical books, sanctioned by the Fathers of the Church, which were in common use among Eastern Christians, including the dissidents.   Thus thoroughly prepared, he set out to restore the unity of the Church.   A forceful man of fine sensibilities, he met with such success that his opponents dubbed him “the thief of souls.”

The seeds of separation were sown in the fourth century when the Roman Empire was divided into East and West.   The actual split came over customs such as using unleavened bread, Saturday fasting and celibacy.   No doubt the political involvement of religious leaders on both sides was a large factor and doctrinal disagreement was present.   But no reason was enough to justify the present tragic division in Christendom, which is 64 percent Roman Catholic, 13 percent Eastern—mostly Orthodox—Churches and 23 percent Protestant and this when the 71 percent of the world that is not Christian, should be experiencing unity and Christ-like charity from Christians! (These figures from Franciscan Media)

St Josaphat, Ora pro Nobis!st jospahat - pray for us - ora pro nobis - 12 nov 2018

Posted in Against APOPLEXY or STROKES, NAPLES, Of a Holy DEATH & AGAINST A SUDDEN DEATH, of the DYING, FINAL PERSEVERANCE, DEATH of CHILDREN, DEATH of PARENTS, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Saint of the Day – 10 November – St Andrew Avellino CR (1521 – 1608)

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Saint of the Day – 10 November – St Andrew Avellino CR (1521 – 1608) Theatine Priest (Cong of the Clerics Regular of Divine Providence founded by St Cajetan 1480-1547), Canon and Civil Lawyer, Reformer, Founder of many new Theatine houses, Preacher, Spiritual Advisor, Confessor – born in 1521 at Castronuovo, Sicily as Lorenzo (called Lancelotto by his mother) and died on 10 November 1608 at Naples, Italy of a stroke. Patronages – against apoplexy or strokes, against sudden death, for a holy death, Badolato, Naples, Sicily, Italy.Antonino Cinniardi, Saint Andrew Avellino Intercedes for Piazza

After a holy youth devoted to serious studies of philosophy and the humanities in Venice, Lancelot Avellino was ordained priest by the bishop of Naples.   He was assigned to the chaplaincy of a community of nuns, sadly in need of reform, his intrepid courage and perseverance finally overcame many difficulties and regular observance was restored in the monastery.   Certain irritated libertines, however, decided to do away with him and, waiting for him when he was about to leave a church, felled him with three sword thrusts.   He lost much blood but his wounds healed perfectly without leaving any trace. The viceroy of Naples was ready to employ all his authority to punish the authors of this sacrilege but the holy priest, not desiring the death of sinners but rather their conversion and their salvation, declined to pursue them.   One of them, however, died soon afterwards, assassinated by a man who wished to avenge a dishonour to his house.avellino

He was still practising law, which he had studied in Naples, one day a slight untruth escaped him in the defence of a client and he conceived such regret for his fault that he vowed to practice law no longer.   In 1556, at the age of thirty-six, he entered the Theatine Order, taking the name of Andrew out of love for the cross.   After a pilgrimage to Rome to the tombs of the Apostles, he returned to Naples and was named master of novices in his Community.  Andreas_Avellino

After holding this office for ten years, he was elected superior.   His zeal for strict religious discipline and for the purity of the clergy, as well as his deep humility and sincere piety, induced the General of his Order to entrust him with the foundation of two new Theatine houses, one at Milan and the other at Piacenza.   By his efforts, many more Theatine houses rose up in various dioceses of Italy.   As superior of some of these new foundations, he was so successful in converting sinners and heretics by his prudence in the direction of souls and by his eloquent preaching that numerous disciples thronged around him, eager to be under his spiritual guidance.   One of the most noteworthy of his disciples was Lorenzo Scupoli, the author of The Spiritual Combat.   St Charles Borromeo was an intimate friend of Avellino and sought his advice in the most important affairs of the Church.   He also requested Avellino to establish a new Theatine house in Milan.

Though indefatigable in preaching, hearing confessions and visiting the sick, Avellino still had time to write some ascetical works.   His letters were published in 1731 at Naples in two volumes and his other ascetical works were published three years later in five volumes.Saint Andrew Avellino

On 10 November 1608, when beginning the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he was stricken with apoplexy and, after receiving the Holy Viaticum, died at the age of 88.   In 1624, only 16 years after his death, he was Beatified by Pope Urban VIII and in 1712 was Canonised by Pope Clement XI.  His remains lie buried in the Church of St Paul at Naples.death of st andrew

Body of St Andrew Avellino at the Theatine Church of St Paul in Naples

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran, Our Lady of Almudena (Madrid) and Memorials of the Saints – 9 November

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Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran (Feast):   The oldest and first in rank of the four basilicas of Rome, Italy.   The name is derived from the Laterani family, on the site of whose palace the basilica stands.   King Constantine presented this palace to the Church.   Its annual celebration throughout the Latin Church is a sign of love and unity with the Papacy and Pope.
The original church building, probably adapted from the hall of the palace, was dedicated to the Saviour and from its splendour was known as the Basilica Aurea. Though several times destroyed and rebuilt, the basilica retained its ancient form, being divided by rows of columns into aisles and having an atrium with colonnades.   The tasteless restoration of the 17th century changed its appearance.   A monastery was formerly between the basilica and the city wall of which the cloister still remains. The original apse survived until 1878, when it was destroyed and a deeper apse built.   The ancient mosaics have been preserved.   The high altar, which is of wood and is believed to have been used by Saint Peter, is now encased in marble.   In the upper part of the baldachinum are the heads of the Apostles, Peter and Paul.   The baptistery is an octagonal edifice with porphyry columns.   The font is of green basalt.   This basilica has been the cathedral of Rome since the 4th century.

More here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/09/feast-of-the-dedication-of-the-basilica-of-saint-john-lateran-9-november/

Our Lady of Almudena:   The Virgin of Almudena (Virgen de la Almudena) is a medieval icon of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ.   The image is the advocation of the Virgin that serves as a patroness of Madrid, Spain.
Intriguingly, however, its name derives from the Arabic term of Al Mudayna, or the citadel.   There are various legends regarding the ico.   One story is that in 712, prior to the capture of the town by the advancing Muslim forces, the inhabitants of the town secreted the image of the virgin, for its own protection, inside the walls surrounding the town.   In the 11th century, when Madrid was reconquered by the King Alfonso VI of Castile, the Christian soldiers endeavoured to find the statue.   After days of prayer, the spot on the wall hiding the icon crumbled, revealing the statue.   Another legend is that as Christian soldiers approached the town, they had a vision of Mary imploring them to allow her to lead them into the city.   Again the miraculous crumbling of the wall occurred, with the icon showing an entry route through the walls.
The Cathedral of Madrid is dedicated to this advocation of the Virgin and her feast day, 9 November, is a major holiday in Madrid.502px-Virgin_de_la_Almudena_-_Catedral_de_la_Almudena

—
St Agrippinus of Naples
St Alexander of Salonica
St Aurelius of Riditio
St Benignus of Armagh
St Eustolia
St Francisco José Marín López de Arroyave
St Gabriel Ferretti
Bl George Napper
Bl Gratia of Cattaro
Bl Helen of Hungary
Bl Henryk Hlebowicz
St Jane of Segna
Bl Ludovico Morbioli (1433-1485)
St Justo Juanes Santos
St Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi
St Luis Morbioli
St María de la Salud Baldoví Trull
Bl María del Carmen of the Child Jesus
St Pabo
St Sopatra
St Theodore Stratelates
St Ursinus of Bourges
St Valentín Gil Arribas
St Vitonus of Verdun
—
Martyrs of Constantinople – 3 saints: A group of ten Catholic Christians who tried to defend an image of Jesus over the Brazen Gate of Constantinople from an attack by Iconoclasts during the persecutions of emperor Leo the Isaurian. The group of was seized by soldiers, condemned by judges for opposing the emperor, and martyred. The only details that have survived are three of their names – Julian, Marcian and Maria. They were martyred in 730 at Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey).

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War:
• Blessed Anastasio Garzón González
• Blessed Francisco José Marín López de Arroyave
• Blessed Justo Juanes Santos
• Blessed María de la Salud Baldoví Trull
• Blessed Valentín Gil Arribas

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, TOTAL Consecration to JESUS through MARY, Uncategorized

Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary – Second Week – Day Twenty Two – 7 November

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Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary – Second Week – Day Twenty Two – 7 November

Second Week

Day 22 of 33

From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nos. 106-110
Marks of authentic devotion to our Lady

106.   First, true devotion to our Lady is interior, that is, it comes from within the mind and the heart and follows from the esteem in which we hold her, the high regard we have for her greatness and the love we bear her.

107.   Second, it is trustful, that is to say, it fills us with confidence in the Blessed Virgin, the confidence that a child has for its loving Mother.   It prompts us to go to her in every need of body and soul with great simplicity, trust and affection.

108.   Third, true devotion to our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary.   Her ten principal virtues are:  deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness and heavenly wisdom.

109.   Fourth, true devotion to our Lady is constant.   It strengthens us in our desire to do good and prevents us from giving up our devotional practices too easily.   It gives us the courage to oppose the fashions and maxims of the world, the vexations and unruly inclinations of the flesh and the temptations of the devil.   Thus, a person truly devoted to our Blessed Lady is not changeable, fretful, scrupulous or timid.

110.   Fifth, true devotion to Mary is disinterested.   It inspires us to seek God alone in His Blessed Mother and not ourselves.   The true subject o,f Mary does not serve his illustrious Queen for selfish gain.   He does not serve her for temporal or eternal well-being but simply and solely, because she has the right to be served and God alone in her.

Recite: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ave Maris Stella:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/saint-louis-marie-de-montforts-total-consecration-to-jesus-through-mary-first-week-day-thirteen-29-october/

St Louis de Montfort’s Prayer to Mary: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/11/05/saint-louis-marie-de-montforts-total-consecration-to-jesus-through-mary-second-week-day-twenty-5-november/ and the RosaryDAY TWENTY-TWO SECOND WEEK- TOTAL CONSECRATION - ST LOUIS DE MONTFORT 7 NOV 2018

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS, Uncategorized

The Commemoration of All the Holy Souls in Purgatory – 2 November

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The Commemoration of All the Holy Souls in Purgatory – 2 November

The Church teaches us that the souls of the just who have left this world with traces of venial sin remain for a time in a place of expiation, where they suffer whatever punishment may be due to their offenses.   Even if pardon has been obtained for our sins, satisfaction must be made to God, our Creator, in this world or in the next, for His sanctity has been, as it were, insulted by the self-will of one of His ignoble creatures.  The more noble the person offended, the more serious the offence, even according to human laws.holy souls 2

It is a dogma of our faith that the suffering souls are relieved by the intercession of the Saints in heaven and by the prayers of the faithful upon earth.   To pray for the dead is therefore an act of charity and of piety, certainly obligatory for a Christian who professes to have charity in his heart.   We read in Holy Scripture:  It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins. (II Maccabees 12:46)

When towards the close of the tenth century, Our Lord inspired Saint Odilo, (c 962-1049) Abbot of Cluny, to establish in his Benedictine Order a general commemoration of all the faithful departed, the practice was soon afterwards adopted by the entire Western Church and has been continued unceasingly to our day.holy souls

Let us always bear in mind the departed who have died in the love of God and offer up our prayers and sacrifices to help expiate for them.   By showing this mercy to the suffering souls in purgatory, we gain for ourselves very devoted friends, who will in their turn pray for us.   We shall then be entitled to be treated with mercy at our departure from this world and to share more abundantly in the suffrages of the Church, continually offered for all who have fallen asleep in Christ.

When we offer satisfaction to God in this life for our offences, there is merit attached to our penances.   There is no longer any merit in purgatory – others must provide  . Let us reflect well that if we do not ourselves repair our sins and faults, we place our burden on other, is that what we want?William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_(1825-1905)_-_The_Day_of_the_Dead_(1859)

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY SOULS, Uncategorized

The Commeration of All Souls Day and Memorials of the Saints – 2 November

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All Souls Day (Commemoration): Feast in commemoration of the faithful departed in Purgatory.   Abbot Odilo of Cluny instituted it in the monasteries of his congregation in 998, other religious orders took up the observance and it was adopted by various dioceses and gradually by the whole Church.   The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy on this day and Pope Benedict XV granted to all priests the privilege of saying three Masses of requiem –
• one for the souls in Purgatory
• one for the intention of the Holy Father
• one for the priest’s
If the feast should fall on Sunday it is kept on 3 November.
Patronage: Monselice, Italy
Details here:  https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/02/the-commemoration-of-all-the-holy-souls-in-purgatory-2-november/

St Ambrose of Agaune
St Ambrose of Agaune
St Amicus of Fonte Avellana
St Amicus of Rambone
St Baya of Scotland
St Domninus of Grenoble
St Erc of Slane
St Eustochium of Tarsus
St George of Vienne
Bl John Bodey
St Jorandus of Kergrist
St Justus of Trieste
Bl Luigi Campidello
St Marcian of Chalcis
Bl Margaret of Lorraine
St Mateo López y López
St Maura of Scotland
St Theodotus of Laodicea
St Victorinus of Pettau
St Willebald of Bavaria
—
Martyrs of Isfahan – 5+ saints: Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus were Persian priests who were imprisoned, tortured, interrogated and martyred in the persecutions of king Sapor II of Persia; he considered any Christian to be a Roman spy and anti-Persian. The three were brought back to life, miraculously healed, freed from their chains and began preaching Christianity, miraculously healing Sapor II in the process. This defiance enraged Sapor so much that he ordered them executed again; they were thrown into a cauldron of molten lead, but walked out unharmed. This miracle brought one of the torturers, Aphthonius, to convert; he was immediately martyred. Other attempts were made to kill them, and they emerged each time unharmed. Senator Elpidiphorus led a group speaking in favour of the Christians for their courage and faith; he was immediately executed. In the end the original three Christians were burned to death. Martyrs all – Acindynus, Anempodistus, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and Pegasius.
They were born in Persia and Died:
• c.350 in Isfahan, Persia
• relics transferred to Constantinople and enshrined in a church dedicated to them
• some relics taken to France in 1204 during the 4th Crusade
• relics in France were lost when hidden from anti-Christian forces in the French Revolution
• relics in France re-discovered in 1892 in Grozon.

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

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Quote of the Day – 29 October – The Memorial of St Gaetano Errico (1791-1860)

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Quote of the Day – 29 October – The Memorial of St Gaetano Errico (1791-1860), Founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary

“Let us toil, to the loss of everything,
not excluding life, if necessary,
to make known to all people,
the most ardent love of the Sacred Hearts
and to kindle this holy
and divine love, in the hearts of humanity.”
(From the Rule)

St Gaetano Errico (1791-1860)let us toil to the loss of everything - st gaetano errico - 29 oct 2018

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Memorials of the Saints – 26 October

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St Adalgott of Einsiedeln
St St Alanus of Quimper
Albinus of Buraburg
St Alfred the Great
St Alorus of Quimper
St Amandus of Strasburg
St Amandus of Worms
St Aneurin
St Aptonius of Angouleme
St Arnold of Queralt
St Bean of Mortlach
St Bernard de Figuerols
Bl Bonaventura of Potenza
St Cedd
Bl Celina Chludzinska
St Cuthbert of Canterbury
Bl Damian dei Fulcheri
St Eadfrid
St Eata of Hexham
St Pope Evaristus – (c 44 – c 107) Martyr
St Felicissimus of Carthage
St Fulk of Piacenza
St Gaudiosus of Salerno
St Gibitrudis
St Gwinoc
St Humbert
St Lucian
St Marcian
St Quadragesimus of Policastro
St Rogatian of Carthage
St Rusticus of Narbonne
St Sigibald of Metz
—
Martyrs of Nicomedia – 5 saints

Posted in MORNING Prayers, SAINT of the DAY, St JOSEPH, Uncategorized

Thought for the Day – 24 October – The Memorial of St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)

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Thought for the Day – 24 October – The Memorial of St Luigi Guanella (1842-1915)

St Luigi and St Joseph – “The Pious Union of St Joseph”

In his daily life, Fr Guanella had a great devotion to St Joseph, custodial father of Jesus and safeguard of the virginity of Mary, his wife, the Mother of God.   He reminded his priests and nuns that St Joseph is the administrator of all their homes.   All superiors must have the love and care of St Joseph, as well as the kindness and gentleness of Mary, in dealing with the residents.

His love and care had no limit.   His dear impaired people were assisted to the very end. When he was home, it was his duty to give his blessing for the dying.   His motto was, “Let us give them bread and paradise” and this was implanted in the hearts of all his nuns and priests.

In Rome, six years before his death and physically tired by his work, Fr Guanella was inspired to build a Church and start an Association in honour of St Joseph, patron of the dying.   Pope Pius X, a very close friend, expressed a desire to have a church in Trionfale, a very poor area near the Vatican.   The Pope’s desire strengthened Fr Guanella’sown ideas.   Trusting to divine providence, he put a down payment on the land and the foundation was immediately begun.   On the property, there was a barn which became the first Chapel of St Joseph.   The people called it the ‘Basilichetta’ (small Basilica.)     In 1912, Fr Guanella announced to the Pope that the Church was completed in honour of St Joseph and His Holiness, whose baptismal name was Joseph Sarto.

The Pope admired Fr Guanella for his courage and devotion to St Joseph and when he heard about the Pious Union Association of prayers for the dying, he said to Fr Luigi, “Please make me the first member.”

PiusX

In 1913, Pope Pius X gave his approval, making the Church of the Pious Union the main centre for all the universal church.   His beloved Pope Pius X died in 1914, one year before Fr Guanella’s own death.   The two saints understood each other so well.

St Joseph, Pray for us!st joseph pray for us - 6 jan 2018

St Pope Pius X, Pray for Us!st-pius-x-pray-for-us-21 aug 2017 no 2

St Luigi Guanella, Pray for Us!st-luigi-guanella-pray-for-us-2

Posted in Re-BLOGS, Uncategorized

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: 2018 STATISTICS.

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Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on SANCTITY, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Thought for the Day – 11 October – The Memorial of St John XXIII (1881-1963) “The Daily Decalogue of St Pope John XXIII”

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Thought for the Day – 11 October – The Memorial of St John XXIII (1881-1963)

“The Daily Decalogue of St Pope John XXIII”

  1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively, without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

  2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance – I will dress modestly, I will not raise my voice, I will be courteous in my behaviour, I will not criticise anyone, I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

  3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

  4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

  5. Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

  6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

  7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.

  8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself – I may not follow it to the letter but I will make it.   And I will be on guard against two evils:  hastiness and indecision.

  9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me ,as no one else who exists in this world.

  10. Only for today, I will have no fears.   In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness.   Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.the daily decalogue of st john XXIII - 11 oct 2018

St Pope John XXIII, Pray for Us!st-john-23-pray-for-us-11-oct-2017-2

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Our Morning Offering – 1 October – The Memorial of St Thérèse of Lisieux O.C.D. (1873 – 1897)

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Our Morning Offering – 1 October – The Memorial of St Thérèse of Lisieux O.C.D. (1873 – 1897)

Morning Offering
By St Thérèse

O my God!
I offer Thee all my actions of this day
for the intentions and for the glory
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart,
my every thought,
my simplest works,
by uniting them to Its infinite merits
and I wish to make reparation for my sins,
by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.
O my God!
I ask Thee for myself
and for those whom I hold dear,
the grace to fulfil perfectly Thy Holy Will,
to accept for love of Thee,
the joys and sorrows of this passing life,
so that we may one day be united together
in Heaven for all Eternity.
Amenmorning offering by st t of l - 1 oct 2018

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SUNDAY REFLECTIONS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, Uncategorized

Sunday Reflection – 30 September – Twenty sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

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Sunday Reflection – 30 September – Twenty sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

It is remarkable how it was the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament in Catholic churches that more than anything else impressed and moved Blessed John Henry Newman, even more than the Mass itself.

And so it was that the feature of his new religious life as a Catholic that most struck him came as a complete surprise – namely, the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament in Catholic churches.   He wrote in a letter to a close friend, herself about to become a Catholic a few months later:

“We went over not realising those privileges which we have found by going.   I never allowed my mind to dwell on what I might gain of blessedness – but certainly, if I had thought much upon it, I could not have fancied the extreme, ineffable comfort of being in the same house with Him who cured the sick and taught His disciples …

When I have been in Churches abroad, I have religiously abstained from acts of worship, though it was a most soothing comfort to go into them – nor did I know what was going on;  I neither understood nor tried to understand the Mass service – and I did not know, or did not observe, the tabernacle Lamp – but now after tasting of the awful delight of worshipping God in His Temple, how unspeakably cold is the idea of a Temple without that Divine Presence! One is tempted to say what is the meaning, what is the use of it?”

“It is really most wonderful to see this Divine Presence looking out almost into the open streets from the various Churches … I never knew what worship was, as an objective fact, till I entered the Catholic Church.”

“It is such an incomprehensible blessing to have Christ in bodily presence in one’s house, within one’s walls, as swallows up all other privileges …”

i never knew what worship was - bl jh newman - 30 sept 2018 - sunday reflection

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Quote/s of the Day – 27 September – The Memorial of St Vincent de Paul C.M. (1581-1660)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 27 September – The Memorial of St Vincent de Paul C.M. (1581-1660)

“Perfection consists in one thing alone,
which is doing the will of God.
For, according to Our Lord’s words,
it suffices for perfection to deny self,
to take up the cross and to follow Him.
Now who denies himself and takes up his cross
and follows Christ better than he who seeks
not to do his own will but always that of God?
Behold, now, how little is needed to become as Saint?
Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing,
on every occasion, what God wills.”perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-st-vincent-de-paul-27-sept-2018

“…We have all been called by God to work on a masterpiece!”we have all been called - st vincent de paul - 27 sept 2018

“Extend your mercy towards others,
so that there can be no one in need
whom you meet without helping.
For what hope is there for us if God
should withdraw His Mercy from us?”extend your mercy - st v de p - 27 sept 2018

“With renewed devotion, then,
we must serve the poor,
especially outcasts and beggars.
They have been given to us
as our masters and patrons.”we-renewed-devotion-st-vincent-de-paul-27-sept-2018

“It is not enough to give soup and bread.
This the rich can do.
You are the servant of the poor,
always smiling and good-humoured.
They are your masters, terribly sensitive
and exacting master you will see.
And the uglier and the dirtier they will be,
the more unjust and insulting,
the more love you must give them.
It is only for your love alone,
that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them.it is not enough to give soup - st v de p - 27 sept 2018

“Go to the poor – you will find God!”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)go to the poor you will find god - st v de p - PREFER THIS ONE - 27 sept 2018.jpg

Posted in MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The WORD, Uncategorized

One Minute Reflection – 27 September – Today’s First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2–11 – The Memorial of St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 27 September – Today’s First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2–11 – Thursday of the Twenty-fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year B – The Memorial of St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

What has been is what will be and what has been done is, what will be done..Ecclesiastes 1:9

REFLECTION – “Free your mind from all that troubles you; God will take care of things. You will be unable to make haste in this (choice) without, so to speak, grieving the heart of God because he sees that you do not honour Him sufficiently with holy trust. Trust in Him, I beg you and you will have the fulfilment of what your heart desires.”….St Vincent de Paulwhat has been is what will be - free our mind from all that troubles you - st v de p - no.2. colour - 27 sept 2018

PRAYER – Father, You endowed St Vincent de Paul with the spirit of an apostle to give himself to the poor and to the training of priests.   Give us, good Lord, a share of the same spirit, that we may love what he loved and do as he taught.   Fill us with hope and total trust and abandonment to Your Holy Providence.   Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.   St Vincent de Paul, pray for us, amen.st-vincent-de-paul-pray-for-us-27 sepy 2017

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, The HOLY FACE, Uncategorized

Our Morning Offering – 24 September – Monday of the Twenty-fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 24 September – Monday of the Twenty-fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year B

May We Seek Your Face
By Pope Benedict XVI

Lord Jesus, grant us restless hearts,
hearts which seek Your Face.
Keep us from the blindness of heart
which sees only the surface of things.
Give us the simplicity and purity
which allow us to recognise
Your presence in the World.
When we are not able to accomplish great things,
grants us the courage
which is born of humility and goodness.
Impress Your Face on our hearts.
May we encounter You along the way
and show forth Your image
to the world.
Amenmay we seek your face - pope benedict - lord jesus, grant us restless hearts - 24 sept 2018